The King's bastard

'Oh, Rolen. You haven't — '

'Enough!' he snapped. 'My second son is a traitor, but I will not kill him. Too many of my kinsmen have died on the altar of power.' The king lowered the sword point, his massive fist shaking. 'I cannot order my own son's execution, but I can banish a traitor. Before everyone here today, Byren formerly known as Rolen Kingson, I disinherit you, I disinherit you — '

The hall's great doors swung back on their hinges, reverberating as they hit the walls. A single pair of boots sounded on the polished wood.

'Where's Byren Kingson?' a rough contralto demanded.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Piro pivoted to see Florin stride through the forest of columns wearing her strained travelling clothes, a pair of skates slung over her shoulder. The image made no sense. For an instant Piro thought she had slipped into the Unseen sight, but Orrade gasped Florin's name so she knew the trader's daughter had really arrived.

Florin recognised Byren and made for him.

'Bad news, Byren Kingson,' she called even as she approached. 'Da sighted Merofynian soldiers — '

'Rubbish,' Cobalt snapped. 'Who is this rough female, dressed as a man?'

Florin cast him one swift glance then focused on Byren. She was close enough now not to have to shout. 'You know how Da was off visiting his sister? Well, he come back yesterday lunchtime, with the news. I've been skating ever since.'

'If there were Merofynians in Rolencia our warning beacons would be burning,' Captain Temor said. 'And our spies would have sent word of a build-up of soldiers at Port Merofyn even before they sailed, so — '

'I don't know anything about spies or why the beacons aren't alight,' Florin admitted. She turned back to Byren. 'But Da's awful worried.'

'No one makes war in winter,' old Lord Steadfast objected.

'It's almost spring cusp,' Piro pointed out

No one listened to her.

'Girl, I am your king,' her father said.

Florin made a deep bow. 'I beg your — '

The king waved this aside. 'Now, where are these soldiers?'

Florin's cheeks were bright pink when she straightened up, but she answered the question. 'Da said they were camped below the Cockatrice Pass.'

'Highly unlikely,' Captain Temor whispered to the king. 'Lence has just been to see warlord Rejulas.'

Rolen nodded, casting a sharp glance in Florin's direction. 'How many men, girl?'

'Florin. This is Florin Narrowsdaughter,' Byren said. 'She helped us kill the manticore pride. I can vouch for her.'

'You have been disinherited,' Cobalt interjected. 'You can't vouch for anyone.'

'What?' Florin muttered, looking to Byren for an explanation.

'How many warriors, girl?' the king repeated, raising his voice.

She fixed on him. 'Da guessed around five hundred.'

'An advance party?' Temor suggested.

'A trader's imagination,' Cobalt countered. 'Too much wine, a lonely crossroads. He overhears some other travellers, panics and runs home.'

'Here,' Florin rounded on him. 'Don't you say that about my Da. He's no fool.'

'Quiet, girl!' King Rolen snapped then turned to consult with Temor.

Piro glanced to her mother for help, only to realise that everyone had stepped away from the queen. It seemed that even though her mother had been married to the Rolencian king for nearly twenty-one years and had produced four heirs, she was still a Merofynian kingsdaughter in their eyes.

Voices filled the great hall as the old honour guard argued. Some refused to believe the Merofynian king would prepare an invasion while signing a betrothal pact. Others thought it all too likely.

'Byren?' Orrade approached him, lowering his voice, but Piro was close enough to overhear. 'If Florin is right, Dovecote is in danger. I must warn Father and Elina.'

'I'm going, too,' Garzik insisted.

'We've sworn service to Byren's honour guard,' Orrade told his brother. 'We can't both ride off — '

'I send you,' Byren said. 'Elina, your father and Lence are all at Dovecote. If Florin's father is right, you must save them and light the warning beacon.'

Orrade and Garzik nodded.

'You're sending them to save Lence?' Piro whispered. 'When he — '

Byren met her eyes, silencing her with a look. 'Don't you see what Cobalt did? He tricked Lence into distrusting me. I don't know how he led the manticores to us but — '

'King Rolen?' Their mother's high voice cut through the men's deep rumbling. She stood small, regal and alone. 'Husband, hear my counsel. If Old Man Narrows is right, the invaders could easily march between Rolenhold and the abbey, cutting us off from the warrior monks. We need to get word to the abbot — '

'Don't listen to her. She's Merofynian,' old Steadfast warned.

'Besides, for all we know there is no army,' Cobalt added.

'Myrella's right, Rolen.' Captain Temor turned to the king. 'If this is an advance attack, we can crush them between the abbey's fighting monks and our palace guard. We have to send someone to the abbey — '

'I'll go,' Byren offered.

'No, Byren. That would mean passing under the very noses of the Merofynians,' their mother protested. 'You could be captured and killed!'

Piro waited for her father to refuse to send Byren.

He hesitated, considering.

'Let me go, Father. Let this prove my loyalty to you, to Lence and to Rolencia,' Byren urged. 'Lence is at Dovecote. Orrade and Garzik will warn him — '

'Send Lence's honour guard with them,' Captain Temor suggested. 'We need the heir safe back here.'

Piro glanced to Byren. His mouth tightened. To them, he was disposable and it tore her apart.

'We'll go alone,' Orrade said. 'A small party can move quickly without attracting attention, and fifteen or twenty warriors cannot hope to stand against five hundred.'

'You're right. You've a good head on your shoulders, lad,' Temor told him. Piro blinked. Had he forgotten that Orrade was a lover of men?

Byren grabbed his cloak and fixed it in place. 'I'll go now.'

'Take — ' her mother began.

'I'll take no one else into danger. Besides, like Orrie said, I'll travel faster alone.' Byren glanced to their father, but King Rolen deliberately turned away to speak with his honour guard.

Byren looked stunned, then cleared his throat and spoke to Piro. 'Tell my honour guard I absolve them of their vows. They must not suffer dishonour because of me.'

She stared at him, horrified.

He turned on his heel and strode off.

Piro ran after him. She had to take two steps for every one of his. 'Wait, Byren. You'll be captured and killed — '

'I must prove my loyalty,' he said.

'Wait, Byren,' Orrade called as he and Garzik caught up with him.

'Kingson.' Florin hurried to join them, matching her stride to his. 'I don't know why you have to prove your loyalty but I do know that if your mother's right you'll be passing under the Merofynian army's nose. You should take — '

'Since when does a tradepost's daughter know better than a kingson?' Byren demanded. 'I go alone.'

Florin's mouth dropped open.

'Byren!' Piro protested, even though she couldn't blame him.

Byren caught Piro's face between his hands and pressed his lips to her forehead. 'Goodbye, little sister.'

She couldn't see him stride away for the tears.

'I fear you will have to be strong, Piro,' Orrade muttered, and hugged her.

'Be brave, Piro,' Garzik whispered as he planted the gentlest of kisses on her cheek. Then he and Orrade followed Byren out.

Echoing down the hall, she heard King Rolen order his honour guard to the war table. Still talking, the old warriors marched out. Cobalt issued orders to a wizened little man, some new servant of his, before following her father.