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  Alric walked to the tall balcony window where the afternoon light spilled into the royal banquet hall of Essendon Castle. The hall served as the Royal War Room out of the need for a large space to conduct the defense of the kingdom. Where once festive tapestries hung, great maps now covered the walls, each slashed with red lines illustrating the tragic retreat of Melengar's armies.

  "I just don't understand it," Alric repeated. "It's so peculiar. The Imperial Army outnumbers us ten to one. They have scores of heavy cavalry, siege weapons, and archers-everything they need. So why are they sitting across the river? Why stop now?"

  "It makes no sense from a military stand point, sire," Sir Ecton said. He was Alric's chief general and field commander, a large powerful man with a fiery disposition. Ecton was also Count Pickering's most accomplished vassal, and regarded by many as the best knight in Melengar. "I would venture it is political," he continued. "It has been my experience that the most foolish decisions in combat are the result of political choices made by those with little to no field experience."

  Earl Kendell, a pot-bellied fussy man who always dressed in a bright green tunic, glared at Ecton. "Careful with your tongue and consider your company!"

  Ecton rose to his feet. "I held my tongue, and what was the result?"

  "Sir Ecton!" Alric shouted, but his voice sounded high-pitched and feminine. "I am well aware of your opinion of my decision to attack the imperial encampment."

  "It was insanity to attempt an assault across a river without even the possibility to flank," Ecton shot back.

  "Nevertheless, it was my decision." Alric squeezed his hands into fists. "I felt it was…necessary."

  "Necessary? Necessary!" Ecton spat the word as if it were a vile thing in his mouth. He looked like he was about to speak again but Count Pickering rose to his feet and Sir Ecton sat down.

  Arista had seen this before. Too often Ecton looked to Count Pickering before acting on an order Alric gave. He was not the only one. It was clear that although her brother was king, Alric failed to earn the respect of his nobles, his army, or his people.

  "Perhaps Ecton is right," the young Marquis Wymar spoke up. "About it being political, I mean," he added hastily. "We all know what a pompous fool the Earl of Chadwick is. Isn't it possible the earl ordered Breckton to hold the final attack until Archibald could arrive? It would certainly raise his standing in the imperial court to claim he personally led the assault that conquered Melengar for the New Empire."

  "That would explain the delay in the attack," Pickering replied in his fatherly tone that she knew Alric despised. "But our scouts are reporting that large numbers of men are pulling out, and by all accounts are heading south."

  "A feint perhaps?" Alric asked.

  Pickering shook his head. "As Sir Ecton pointed out, there would be no need."

  Several of the other advisers nodded thoughtfully.

  "Something must be going on for the empress to recall her troops like this," Pickering said.

  "But what?" Alric asked to no one in particular. "I wish I knew what kind of person she was. It's impossible to guess the actions of a total stranger." He turned to his sister. "Arista, you met Modina-spent time with her in Dahlgren. What is she like? Do you have any idea what would cause her to pull the army back?"

  A memory flashed in Arista's mind of her and a young girl trapped at the top of a tower. The princess was frozen in fear but Thrace rummaged through a pile of debris and human limbs looking for a weapon to fight an invincible beast. Was it bravery or was she too naive to understand the futility? "The girl I knew as Thrace was a sweet, innocent child who wanted only the love of her father. The church may have changed her name to Modina, but I can't imagine they changed her. She did not order this invasion. She wouldn't want to rule her tiny village, much less conquer the world." Arista shook her head. "She is not our enemy."

  "A crown can change a person," Sir Ecton said while glaring at Alric.

  Arista rose. "It is more likely we are dealing with the church and a council of conservative Imperialists. I highly doubt a child from rural Dunmore could influence the archaic attitudes and inflexible opinions of so many stubborn minds who would strive to resist, rather than work with, a new ruler," she said, glaring at Ecton. From over the knight's shoulder she saw Alric cringe.

  The door to the hall opened and Julian, the elderly Lord Chamberlain, entered. With a sweeping bow he tapped his staff of office twice on the tiled floor. "The Royal Protector, Royce Melborn, Your Majesty."

  "Show him in immediately."

  "Don't get your hopes too high," Pickering said to his king. "They're spies, not miracle workers."

  "I pay them enough for miracles. I don't think it unreasonable to get what I pay for."

  Alric employed numerous informants and scouts, but none were as effective as Riyria. Arista herself originally hired Royce and Hadrian to kidnap her brother the night their father was assassinated. Since then, their services had proved invaluable.

  Royce entered the banquet hall alone. The small man with dark hair and dark eyes always dressed in layers of black. He wore a knee-length tunic and a long flowing cloak and, as always, showed no visible weapons. It was unlawful to carry a blade in the presence of the king, but given he and Hadrian had twice saved Alric's life, Arista surmised the royal guards did not thoroughly search him. She was certain Royce carried his white-bladed dagger and regarded the law as merely a suggestion.

  Royce bowed before the assembly.

  "Well?" her brother asked a bit too loudly, too desperately. "Did you discover anything?"

  "Yes, Your Majesty," Royce replied, but his face remained so neutral that nothing more could be determined, for good or ill.

  "Well, out with it. What did you find? Are they really leaving?"

  "Sir Breckton has been ordered to withdraw all but a small containment force and march south immediately with the bulk of his army."

  "So it really is true?" the Marquis Wymar said. "But why?"

  "Yes, why?" Alric added.

  "Because Rhenydd has been invaded by the Nationalists out of Delgos."

  A look of surprise circulated the room.

  "Degan Gaunt's rabble is invading Rhenydd?" Earl Kendell said in bewilderment.

  "And doing quite well from the dispatch I read," Royce informed them. "Gaunt has led them up the coast, taking every village and town. He's managed to sack Kilnar and Vernes."

  "He sacked Vernes?" Ecton asked shocked.

  "That's a good-sized city," Wymar mentioned.

  "It's also only a few miles from Ratibor," Pickering observed. "From there it's what-maybe a hard day's march to the imperial capital itself?"

  "No wonder the Empire is recalling Breckton." Alric looked at the count. "What were you saying about miracles?"

  ***

  "I can't believe you couldn't find anyone to ally with," Alric berated Arista as he collapsed on his throne. The two were alone in the reception hall, the most ornate room in the castle, which, along with the grand ballroom, banquet hall, and the foyer, were all that most people generally ever saw. Tolin the Great built the chamber to be intimidating. The three-story ceiling was an impressive sight and the observation balcony which circled the walls provided a magnificent view of the parquet floor inlaid with the royal falcon coat-of-arms. Double rows of twelve marble pillars formed a long gallery similar to that of a church, yet instead of an altar there was the dais. Built on seven pyramid-shaped steps sat the throne of Melengar-the only seat in the vast chamber. As children the throne had always appeared so impressive, but now with Alric slouched in it, Arista realized it was just a gaudy chair.

  "I tried," she offered, sitting on the steps before the throne as she had once done with her father. "Everyone had already sworn allegiance to the New Empire." Arista gave her brother the demoralizing report on her last six months of failure.

  "We're quite a pair, you and I. You've done little as ambassador and I nearly destroyed us with that attack across the river. M
any of the nobles are being more vocal. Soon Pickering won't be able to control the likes of Ecton."

  "I must admit I was shocked when I heard about your attack. What possessed you to do such a thing?" she asked.

  "Royce and Hadrian had intercepted plans drafted by Breckton himself. He was about to launch a three-pronged assault. I had to make a preemptive strike. I was hoping to catch the Imperials by surprise."

  "Well, it looks like it worked out after all. It delayed their attack just long enough."

  "True, but what good will that do us if we can't find more help. What about Trent?"

  "Well, they haven't said no, but they haven't said yes either. The church's influence has never been strong that far north, but they also don't have any ties to us. They are at least willing to wait and watch. They won't join us because they don't think we have a chance. But if we can show them some success they could be persuaded to side with us.

  "Don't they realize the Empire will be after them next?"

  "I said that, but…"

  "But what?"

  "They really weren't very amenable to what I had to say. The men of Lanksteer are brutish and backward. They respect only strength. I would have fared better if I'd beaten their king senseless." She hesitated. "I don't think they quite knew what to make of me."

  "I should never have sent you," he said, running a hand over his face. "What was I thinking, making a woman an ambassador."

  His words felt like a slap. "I could have been disadvantaged in Trent, but in the rest of the kingdoms I don't think the fact I was a woman-"

  "A witch then," Alric lashed out, "even worse. All those Warric and Alburn nobles are so devoted, and what do I do? I send them someone the church tried for witchcraft."

  "I'm not a witch!" she snapped. "I wasn't convicted of anything, and everyone with a brain between their ears knows that trial was a fabrication of Braga and Saldur to get their hands on our throne."

  "The truth doesn't matter. Everyone believes what the church tells them. They said you're a witch, so that makes it so. Look at Modina. The Patriarch claims she's the Heir of Novron, the descendant of the god Maribor and everyone believes. I should have never made an enemy of the church. But between Saldur's betrayal and their sentinels killing Fanen, I just couldn't bring myself to bend my knee.

  "When I evicted the priests and forbade Deacon Thomas from preaching about what happened in Dahlgren, the people revolted. They set shops in Gentry Square on fire. I could see the flames from my window, for Maribor's sake. The whole city could have burned. They were calling for my head-people right in front of the castle burning stuffed images of me and shouting 'Death to the godless king!' I had to use the army to restore order. It's quiet now, but the people are restless." Alric reached up and pulled his crown off, turning the golden circlet over in his hands.

  "I was in Caren at the court of King Armand when I heard about that," Arista said, shaking her head.

  Alric laid the crown on the arm of the throne, closed his eyes, and softly banged his head against the back of the chair. "What are we going to do, Arista? The Imperials will return. As soon as they deal with Gaunt's rabble the army will come back." His eyes opened and his hand drifted absently toward his throat. "I suppose they'll hang me won't they, or do they use the axe on kings?" His tone was one of quiet acceptance, which surprised her.

  The carefree boy she once knew was vanishing before her eyes. Even if the Empire failed and Melengar stood strong, Alric would never be the same. In many ways, their uncle had managed to kill him after all.

  Alric looked at the crown sitting on the chair's arm. "I wonder what Father would do?"

  "He never had anything like this to deal with. Not since Tolin defeated Lothomad at Drondil Fields has any monarch of Melengar faced invasion."

  "Lucky me."

  "Lucky us."

  Alric nodded. "At least we've got some time now. That's something. What do you think of Pickering's idea to send the Ellis Far down the coast to Tur Del Fur and contact the Nationalist leader-this Gaunt fellow?"

  "Honestly, I think establishing an alliance with Gaunt is our only hope. Isolated we don't stand a chance against the Empire," Arista agreed.

  "But the Nationalists? Are they any better than the Imperials? They're as much opposed to monarchies as they are the Empire. They don't want to be ruled at all."

  "Alone and surrounded by enemies is not the time to be choosy about your friends."

  "We aren't completely alone," Alric corrected. "Marquis Lanaklin joined us."

  "A lot of good that does. If we get more help like that we'll go broke just feeding them. Our only chance is to contact Degan Gaunt and form an alliance. If Delgos joins with us, that may be enough to persuade Trent to side in our favor. If that happens, we could deal a mortal blow to this new Nyphron Empire."

  "Do you think Gaunt will agree?"

  "Don't know why not," Arista said. "It is to our mutual benefit. I'm certain I can talk him into it, and I must say I'm looking forward to the trip. A rolling ocean is a welcome change from that carriage. While I'm away have someone work on it, or better yet order a new one. And put extra padding-"

  "You aren't going," Alric told her as he put his crown back on.

  "What's that?"

  "I'm sending Linroy to meet with Gaunt."

  "But I'm the ambassador and a member of the royal family. He can't negotiate a treaty or an alliance with-"

  "Of course he can. Linroy is an experienced negotiator and statesman."

  "He's the royal financier. That doesn't qualify him as a statesman."

  "He's handled dozens of trade agreements," Alric interjected.

  "The man's a bookkeeper!" she shouted rising to her feet.

  "It may come as a surprise to you, but other people are capable of doing things, too."

  "But why?"

  "Like you said, you're a member of the royal family." Alric looked away and his fingers reached up to stroke his beard. "Do you have any idea what kind of position it would put me in if you were captured? We're at war. I can't risk you being held for ransom."

  She stared at him. "You're lying. This isn't about ransom. You think I can't do the job."

  "Arista, it's my fault. I shouldn't have-"

  "Shouldn't have what? Made your witch-sister ambassador?"

  "Don't be that way."

  "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, what way would you like me to be? How should I react to being told I'm worthless and an embarrassment and that I should go sit in my room and-"

  "I didn't say any of that. Stop putting words in my mouth!"

  "It's what you're thinking-it's what all of you think."

  "Have you become clairvoyant now, too?"

  "Do you deny it?"

  "Damn it, Arista, you were gone six months!" He struck the arm of the throne with his fist. The dull thud sounded loudly off the walls like a bass drum. "Six months, and not a single alliance. You barely got a maybe. That's a pretty poor showing. This meeting with Gaunt is too important. It could be our last chance."

  She stood up. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I apologize for being such an utter failure. May I please have your royal permission to be excused?"

  "Arista, don't."

  "Please, Your Majesty, my frail feminine constitution can't handle such a heated debate. I feel faint. Perhaps if I retire to my room I could brew a potion to make myself feel better. While I'm at it, perhaps I should enchant a broom to fly around the castle for fresh air."

  She pivoted on her heel and marched out, slamming the great door behind her with a resounding boom!

  She stood with her back against the door, waiting, wondering if Alric would chase after her.

  Will he apologize and take back what he said and agree to let me go?

  She listened for the sound of his heels on the parquet.

  Silence.

  She wished she did know magic-then no one could stop her from meeting with Gaunt. Alric was right, this was their last chance and she was not about to
leave the fate of Melengar to Dillnard Linroy, statesman extraordinaire! Besides, she had failed and that made it her responsibility to correct.

  She looked up to see Tim-or Tommy-leaning against the near wall, biting his fingernails. He glanced up at her and smiled. "I hope you're planning on heading to the kitchens, I'm starved-practically eating my fingers here," he chuckled.

  She pushed away from the door and quickly strode down the corridor. She almost did not see Mauvin Pickering sitting on the broad sill of the courtyard-facing window. Feet up, arms folded, back against the frame, he crouched in a shaft of sunlight like a cat. He was still wearing the black clothes of mourning.

  "Troubles with His Majesty?" he asked.

  "He's being an ass."

  "What did he do this time?"

  "Replaced me with that sniveling little wretch, Linroy. He's sending him on the Ellis Far in my place to contact Gaunt."

  "Dillnard Linroy isn't a bad guy, he's-"

  "Listen, I really don't want to hear how wonderful Linroy is at the moment. I'm right in the middle of hating him."

  "Sorry."

  She glanced at his side and he immediately turned his attention out the window.

  "Still not wearing it?" she asked.

  "It doesn't go with my ensemble, the silver hilt clashes with black."

  "It's been over a year since Fanen died."

  He turned back sharply. "Since he was killed by Luis Guy you mean."

  Arista took a breath. She was not used to the new Mauvin. "Aren't you supposed to be Alric's bodyguard now? Isn't that hard to do without a sword?"

  "Hasn't been a problem so far. You see, I have this plan. I sit here and watch the ducks in the courtyard-well I suppose it's not really so much a plan as a strategy really, or maybe it's more of a scheme. Anyway, this is the one place my father never thinks to look, so I can sit here all day and watch those ducks walking back and forth. There were six of them last year. Did you know that? Only five now. I can't figure out what happened to the other one. I keep looking for him, but I don't think he's coming back."

  "It wasn't your fault," she told him gently.

  Mauvin reached up and traced the lead edges of the window with his fingertips. "Yeah, it was."