The ship rolled into the harbor, and unlike the Kingdom cities or Roldem, no pilot came aboard. The captain simply directed the ship to the Duke’s personal slip, at the far end of the quayside, closest to the most direct road to the citadel.
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With years of practice, the captain saw his ship safely into its berth, and by the time the lines had been tied, the ship made secured, and the gangplank run out, the Duke was on deck, ready to depart. He hurried down to his waiting carriage, followed by his sister and his senior captains.
Tal followed in the third carriage, along with a Lieutenant Gazan, whom he knew only slightly, and a junior clerk who had come to the dock to give the Duke messages his staff felt needed his immediate attention. Amafi rode above, on a small bench behind the carriage, next to the coachman.
By the time they departed for the citadel, Tal was genuinely curious about Opardum. He considered his expectations about the place might have been colored in part by his attitude toward Kaspar. While affable enough on the surface, the Duke was a man without scruple, capable of wholesale murder. For that reason, perhaps, Tal had expected the city to be a somber, even dour place. In the midday sunshine, it looked anything but.
Broad-bottomed skiffs plied the harbor, running small loads of cargo to and from ships. Smaller trading vessels up from the southern islands deposited their wares on the quay. As the carriage rolled through the city, Tal saw that most of the buildings were whitewashed, made brilliant by the sun, and the roofs were mainly of colorful clay tiles of red or orange. Many small temples dotted the squares, which were centered around graceful fountains. Traders hawked their wares in the markets, and many shops were thronged with customers.
By all appearances Opardum was a prosperous, thriving, and busy city.
They passed over a canal, and Tal saw more signs of commerce, as riverboats just off the Anatak River were _______________
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slowly maneuvered through a series of locks by polemen labouring on the decks, heading for the harbor quays for loading and unloading. Olasko had two cultivated regions, the islands to the south, and the great rolling mead-owlands and hills between Olasko Gateway and the border with the Principality of Aranor. Most of the land between Opardum and Olasko Gateway was forest and wild prairie, very dangerous to cross, so most commerce between the two cities was by the river.
They reached the citadel and entered the main gate, but had turned at once to the right, moving around the side of the old bailey past what looked to be a parade ground to what was obviously the stabling area. A huge carriage house and stables large enough for perhaps fifty or more horses were snug against the outer wall.
Grooms ran out to take the horses while the coachmen opened the door. A page sought them out, asking,
“Are you Squire Talwin?”
“Yes.” Tal glanced around, realizing that Kaspar and Natalia were already up the stairs and into the citadel.
The boy smiled and said, “I am Rudolph, Squire. I am to guide you to your quarters.”
To Amafi, Tal said, “See to the luggage,” and turned to follow the boy.
Rudolph was a lad of about eleven or twelve years of age, from what Tal could judge, handsome in his palace togs of red leggings and a black tunic. The crest of Olasko, a charging boar of silver on a field of black, was sewn above his heart.
The boy moved quickly, and Tal had to hurry to keep up. “You’ll like your quarters, Squire,” said the lad. Moving purposefully on, he barely gave Tal time to take note of his surroundings.
They entered a side entrance to the citadel, one that _______________
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Tal assumed the Duke preferred, which meant it was probably close to his personal quarters. Tal took note of landmarks, which door they entered, the corridors they used, what stairs they climbed, and while he had a rough sense of where he was by the time they reached his quarters, he was certain he had a good chance of getting lost for a while if he ventured out on his own.
The suite was comprised of a full four rooms. A sitting room with large windows greeted Tal as he entered.
It was decorated with tapestries to minimize the cold from the stone walls, a fine carpet, and several tables and chairs. He could entertain up to six people here in comfort, he judged. A big fireplace rested between two other doors.
To the right, Rudolph showed him a large bathing room, with a drain in the center of a tiled floor. A brass tub sat nearby and there was a pair of seats, as well as a particularly well fashioned mirror. “A barber will call upon you every morning, sir, if you wish.”
“I prefer to let my manservant shave me,” said Tal.
“I’ll mention that to the housecarl, sir.”
He then showed Tal the bedroom, which had a low but huge bed, with multiple comforters, many cushions and pillows, and a smaller fireplace, which Tal judged must share the chimney with the one in the sitting room.
A door to the right led to a small room, which also had a door onto the sitting room. It was a servant’s room, and would be given over to Amafi.
On the left was one more door, which led to another, smaller bedroom, which Tal assumed meant that once a family with children had occupied these apartments. He said to Rudolph, “Thank you. I think I shall be fine now.
Make sure my servant arrives with my luggage.”
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and asked, “Is there anything you require before supper, sir?”
Tal judged supper to be several hours away. “I wouldn’t mind a bit of a tour of the citadel.”
“I can arrange that, Squire. I’ve been detailed to be your page until you’re at home. I’ll run to the housecarl and tell him about the shaving, sir—I mean about you preferring to have your manservant shave you—then I’ll be straight back.”
“Not too straight,” said Tal. “Say an hour after my luggage arrives. I need to bathe and change out of these travel clothes.”
“Very well, sir. I’ll have hot water sent up straightaway.”
“Good,” said Tal, taking a liking to the affable boy.
“The Duke will expect you at supper, Squire, so we must be back in time for you to change again.”
Tal raised an eyebrow in question, but said nothing.
Reading the gesture, the boy said, “His Grace always has a gala when he returns home, so something festive is in order.”
“Very good. Come back when I’ve finished cleaning myself up.”
The boy stepped into the hall. “Here comes your man with the luggage now, sir,” he said. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
Amafi showed the porters where to put the two large bags, then dismissed them. Then he glanced around the rooms. “Very nice, Magnificence.”
Tal said, “Get used to it. It’s home for a while.”
But inside he knew it would never be home, and he knew that he had to blend in and become one of Kaspar’s creatures, or his long-term plans for the Duke’s destruction would never succeed. But he couldn’t help but feel _______________
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that he had walked straight into a trap, like a wild bull charging into a net with a band of hunters just out of sight.
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Tal followed Rudolph as the boy scampered up yet another flight of stairs. Tal was working diligently at memorizing every hallway, flight of stairs, and significant room in the citadel. He was drawing a map in his mind.
They reached a landing where stairs headed down in two directions, to the right and left, and Tal said, “That way leads back to my quarters.” He was pointing to the right.
“Yes, Squire. Very good,” said the boy with a grin.
“Where does that lead?” He pointed to the left.
The boy said, “I’ll
show you,” and they were off.
For almost two hours they had been exploring the vast edifice that was Opardum’s citadel. Tal believed the boy when he said that between the extra rooms, outer buildings inside the wall and some of the older tunnels into the rock, the entire population of the city might take shelter there if the need arose. The place was massive. For some reason the Dukes of Opardum had over the years felt the need to keep adding to the citadel.
Half an hour later, they reached a hallway and Rudolph stopped. They had just passed the large hall that led to the Duke’s great hall and his private quarters, a vast apartment comprised of more than a dozen rooms.
Rudolph said, “Down this hall is a stairway, Squire. No one is allowed to go there.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The Duke is most emphatic on that subject.”
“What’s up there?”
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“Leso Varen,” whispered the boy, looking as if even speaking the name frightened him.
Tal pretended ignorance. “Who or what is a Leso Varen?”
The boy took Tal’s hand as if to pull him along. “We need to keep moving. He’s an advisor to the Duke. He’s supposed to be a wizard, everyone says. He looks like everyone else, but . . .”
“But what?”
“I don’t like him,” said the boy again in a whisper. “He scares me.”
“Why?” said Tal with a laugh, as if trying to make light of it.
“I don’t know, Squire. He just does.”
Tal feigned indifference, but he marked the entrance to Varen’s quarters clearly in his mind. Then a faint aroma came to him, and his eyes widened. He recognized the scent, the particular perfume and the hint of the skin that it had touched. Alysandra! Or Lady Rowena, as she was known here. The other agent of the Conclave of Shadows, a woman of cold calculation and remarkable beauty. What had she been doing near the magician’s lair?
“We should start back now, Squire,” said Rudolph, bringing Tal out of his reverie with a solid yank on his hand. “We need to make sure you’re ready for the Duke’s gala.”
Tal nodded as Rudolph released his grip on Tal’s hand and Tal fell in behind the boy. From what he’d learned of the citadel thus far, Tal knew the lad was taking a circuitous route back to his quarters to avoid passing by the hall leading to the wizard’s quarters. As he followed, his mind returned to the question of what Rowena had been doing in the company of Leso Varen?
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Tal had been astonished to discover new clothing waiting for him. Amafi had laid everything out. The jacket was sewn with seed pearls and what appeared to be garnets, on a fabric of lavender hue. The leggings were white, and a pair of ankle boots with silver buckles stood by the bed. A new belt for his sword from the King of the Isles completed the ensemble. There was no hat, so Tal went bare-headed.
The Duke’s hall was huge, almost as large as the King of Roldem’s. Tal recognized that once this had been the central keep of the citadel, a huge single room in which an ancient noble and all his retinue once lived. A massive fireplace housed a huge fire behind the Duke’s chair, far enough away that Kaspar and those at his table were comfortable. The Duke’s table sat on a raised platform; two lower tables running perpendicular to the head table, forming a U. From his elevated vantage point, Kaspar could see every guest at his table. Sitting at Kaspar’s right hand was Natalia, and at his left was the Lady Rowena.
Tal caught Natalia’s eye and smiled slightly, but purposely ignored Rowena, though he marked her. Once again he found himself amazed at her ability to be whoever she wished to be, and yet at the same time the beautiful girl who had beguiled him on Sorcerer’s Isle, overwhelming him to the point of his thinking he was in love with her, only to discover she was completely without compassion or affection. Now, effortlessly, she was a lady of Kaspar’s court, a lovely trophy for the lord’s arm, and one who enthusiastically shared his bed. Tal wondered if it was possible that Kaspar suspected the woman he bedded was one capable of plunging a dagger into his throat without feel-
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ing an echo of remorse. Probably not, Tal concluded. For if he had, Rowena would be dead already.
Tal was escorted to the left flanking table near the Duke. He sat next to a man of middle years who introduced himself as Sergey Latimov, the Duke’s Assessor, or collector of taxes.
The dinner went on quietly, without the entertainers in other courts. As the last dishes were being removed, Duke Kaspar stood up. “My friends,” he said, loudly.
“There is an addition to our company I would now like to introduce. He is a clever young man of many talents who will be an asset to Olasko. Squire Hawkins, please stand.”
Tal stood, and Kaspar said, “It is my pleasure to introduce you all to Squire Talwin Hawkins, late of the Kingdom of the Isles and Champion of the Masters’ Court in Roldem. Tonight he enters our service.”
There was a polite round of applause. Lady Rowena displayed just the right amount of interest, then returned her attention to the Duke. Tal noticed one significant member of the Duke’s table was not applauding. Special Captain Quint Havrevulen, most senior of Kaspar’s officers, sat silently, observing the young stranger. As Tal resumed his seat, he wondered if the Captain’s lack of enthusiasm stemmed from a general dislike of Islemen or because at the Masters’ Court Tournament he had killed one Lieutenant Campaneal, Havrevulen’s aide-de-camp.
As the meal ended, Kaspar stood up, and said, “Squire, please attend me.” He walked away from the table, leaving the Lady Rowena unattended.
Tal nodded to Amafi—who had stood behind his chair throughout the meal—to return to their quarters, then hurried to the Duke’s side. Kaspar put a large hand on Tal’s shoulder and said, “Now is as good a time as any to get the matter of your oath taken care of. Come with me: _______________
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there’s someone I want you to meet.” Over Kaspar’s shoulder, Tal could see Natalia’s expression was drawn as if she were concerned.
To Tal’s surprise, no servants or guards accompanied them as Kaspar led Tal through a series of hallways. Then Tal saw they were at the flight of stairs that Rudolph had said were forbidden. Kaspar said, “This area of the citadel is not to be entered unless you are summoned by myself, Squire. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
They climbed the stairs and went down a hall to a large wooden door. Without knocking, Kaspar opened the door and motioned for Tal to enter.
The room was large but sparsely furnished, containing just one table and a chair. Tapestries covered the wall against the cold, but otherwise the room was without comfort. A fire burned in a large hearth, and three men were waiting.
Two were guards, who quickly came to stand on either side of Tal and grip his arms. “Tie him in the chair,” said Kaspar.
Tal realized the futility of resisting, and let himself be lashed to the chair as the third man came to examine him.
He was slender, of middle height, with long dark hair that reached past his shoulders. His face was almost pinched, with a prominent nose that would have dominated his face had it not been for his eyes. The eyes were black, and something in them made Tal fearful. The man came to stand before Tal, and said, “Hello, young man. Duke Kaspar says you are a talented lad with great potential. I certainly hope so.” He looked past Tal at Kaspar for a moment, then back at Tal. “Because if you are not, you will not leave this room alive.”
He turned his back on Tal and went to the table. He _______________
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picked something up and returned to stand before Tal.
“Shall we begin?” he asked the Duke.
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Tal sat motionless. Behind him
Duke Kaspar said,
“Begin.”
Suddenly there was a faint buzzing sound in Tal’s ears, just at the edge of being recognizable. It sounded like the distant murmuring of voices. He found his eyelids growing heavy and he felt his body become heavy, as if he were on the verge of sleep.
Then a voice said, “Your mind is mine, and you may not hide any falsehood.”
Tal felt an oddly familiar tingling along the base of his scalp, just above his neck, and recognized the use of magic. He had known such a sensation many times at Sorcerer’s Isle as he had been subjected to many different types of magic spells. He could only trust that whatever Pug, Miranda, and Magnus had done to him over the time he was there would see him through this ordeal.
Duke Kaspar came to stand within Tal’s field of vision. “Do you, Talwin Hawkins, swear an oath upon your life, to serve me and my line until such time as you are released by me? Do you serve freely, without reservation, emendation, or subterfuge? Do you offer your life if false?”
“I do,” said Tal, and his voice felt thick in his own throat. He thought of his father, near a fire late one night, and the words that he could still recall. “Never offer an oath lightly. For you pledge not only your life and sacred honor, but your people’s honor as well. To break an oath is to be without honor, to be without a spirit, and to be apart from the people.”
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“I do,” he repeated.
After a moment, the strange sensations vanished and the odd-looking man said, “He offers his oath truly.”
“Good,” said the Duke. “Untie him.”
Tal sat rubbing his wrists for a moment as the Duke said, “I have many enemies, Tal, and my enemies have many agents. You wouldn’t be the first of those to seek my service.” He smiled. “I had no doubt you would be found to be a man of your word.” Turning, he said, “This is my most trusted advisor, Leso Varen.”
The man inclined his head politely, but his eyes were fast upon Tal. “You are an unusual young man, Squire,” he said.
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