Blade Singer

by Martha Wells

  "Lord Grim?" Gaudulfus and Etienne spoke in chorus. Their expressions were incredulous and deeply worried at the same time. Etienne added, "Are you certain?"

  "Yes! Morrigan said that was his name. She called him Bloody Bones and Tommy Rawhead. He's helping her."

  "Oberon's teeth," muttered Gaudulfus. "That fiend is here? In Lutetia? Then Morrigan must be Queen Mab as Manny claims."

  Given that Gaudulfus had just wrestled with a small dragon, Manny found it deeply disturbing that Grim's presence in the city unnerved him. "Who is he?"

  Etienne got to his feet. "He's Queen Mab's assassin, the deadliest blade in all of Albion."

  Adriana said, "This Lord Grim was the goblin you saw at the tavern?"

  Manny nodded. "It was him all right. And he's a lot more creepy close up."

  "We can waste no more time," Etienne said, his face hard as he sheathed his sword. "We must get to the palace now."

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Manny followed Etienne and the others back up the spiral stairs to the tower's main floor. It was empty except for two nervous spriggan guards, armed with muskets. The spriggans exchanged confused looks, maybe because they were surprised to see that anybody was still alive down in the lower level. With Manny's ears still ringing from the wyrm's stone-shattering roars and the final explosion, he couldn't blame the spriggans for thinking there would be no survivors.

  "Where is it?" demanded the larger spriggan, his musket still aimed at the stairwell. "That monstrous creature—"

  Gaudulfus stepped forward, scowling ferociously. "The Foundry has just been attacked by a wyrm sent by Queen Mab! We're headed to the palace to save the king's life. Stop gawking and give us those muskets!"

  The two spriggans stared, astonished. One automatically handed his weapon to Etienne while Gaudulfus snatched the other out of its bewildered owner's hands.

  Adriana headed for the guard room and the racks of weapons. She took a stout quarterstaff leaning against the wall and a slender dagger in a leather sheath.

  Manny followed, remembering her pistol tucked in his belt. "Oh, Adriana, I found this." He handed her the weapon.

  She checked it. "Thank you, Manny." She handed him the dagger. "Don't throw that unless you have no other choice or you'll disarm yourself."

  Manny slid the dagger into his belt. "Got it."

  Out in the foyer, Etienne told the larger spriggan, "The two of you must hurry to the Hôtel Corvus and rally the Chevaliers who are still there. They must head to the palace at once. Do you understand?"

  The craggy-faced spriggan started to shake his bulbous head. "A plot against the king? But Queen Mab is surely dead! How can—?"

  Etienne seized him by the shoulders and shook him. "Listen to me! The king's life is in grave danger. This attack on the Foundry is only the beginning! Enemies of Aquitania prepare to attack the palace. It may already be too late!"

  The spriggan hesitated, but then gave Etienne a firm nod. "Yes, yes, of course. Yes, sir!"

  Gaudulfus clapped the other spriggan on the shoulder. "We're counting on you, lad. You'll be a hero to the people of Aquitania."

  The spriggans exchanged dubious glances but hurried out of the tower.

  "Will they really bring help?" Manny asked. He had seen enough of this place to know that a couple of spriggans running around telling people that a strange elf said there was an attack on the palace probably wouldn't be listened to.

  Adriana snorted. "No."

  Etienne gave her an exasperated look. "They will rouse the other guards who saw and heard evidence of the wyrm for themselves, and give them a task besides rounding up escaped prisoners."

  Adriana inclined her head to him, conceding the point. "True enough."

  Etienne started to follow the spriggans but Gaudulfus called, "A moment!" He had gone to the weapons rack, rummaging through it like it was the discount table at the department store. He discarded several rapiers that looked fine to Manny, then took up a stout axe. "There we are," he murmured. Flashing a grin at his companions, he cried, "Let's fly like the wind, my friends!"

  ****

  As Manny and the others left the tower, the sun was just setting. It was much darker inside the high walls and the inner courtyard was all torchlit confusion, with the spriggan and human guards and workers nowhere to be seen, though Manny heard voices and shouts from other parts of the fortress. The wyrm's attack had toppled the slate shingles from the roofs of the towers and collapsed a wooden shed. Manny followed Etienne and the others across the courtyard and through the open gate.

  The confusion was worse in the outer courtyard where some of the guards and people from the street gathered in a loud, frightened group. There was a lot of shouting and running. Etienne scanned the area, spotting two saddled horses near the wall, their reins held by a very small spriggan.

  Etienne took the reins from the confused spriggan. “My thanks, lad," he said, as if the spriggan had brought these horses specifically for him.

  Gaudulfus took the reins of the second horse, adding a cheery, "Well done!" to the spriggan, who still seemed doubtful but didn't object.

  Etienne handed his musket to Manny and swung up onto the first horse, then stretched his hand down. "Come on, boy."

  Manny caught his hand and was lifted easily onto the saddle in front of Etienne, still clutching the musket.

  "Hold tight, Manny," Etienne told him. The horse shifted impatiently under him, eager to leave the noise and confusion of the courtyard.

  Manny wrapped an arm around the musket, tucking it against his stomach, and grabbed the saddle horn to steady himself. "Got it!"

  Adriana took Gaudulfus' musket and stood back as the dwarf clambered into the other horse's saddle, not nearly as gracefully as Etienne had.

  "Hurry, my dear," Gaudulfus said to Adriana once he was mounted. She took his hand and vaulted into the saddle behind the dwarf, tucking her quarterstaff and the musket against her body.

  Manny felt a rush of excitement when Etienne spurred his horse forward with a "Hah!"

  The horse raced through the massive gates, hooves clattering on the stone bridge. They shot into the dark street, scattering passers-by. Manny gasped, clutching the heavy musket to his chest and holding on to the saddle horn in a death grip. This was bumpier and faster than any rollercoaster he had ever been on.

  The torchlit streets sped by in a dark blur. Manny had never been on a horse before and had no idea how hard it was to control one, but Etienne made it look effortless. The horse flew through the streets, dodging past barrels and crates and startled pedestrians. Manny was certain that had he wanted to, Etienne could have urged the horse to sail into the clouds.

  I hope we're not too late, Manny thought, his excitement dulled by this sudden worry. If Morrigan and Grim haven't already killed the king. Remembering the king was just a kid like him made it all the worse.

  ****

  By the time Manny and the others reached the Royal Palace, night had fallen and the sky glittered with stars. The moon, a scythe-like crescent, was poised ominously over their heads.

  The torches in tall metal stands flickered on an imposing building of white stone on three sides of the square, with elegant columns like a Greek temple.

  Etienne spurred his horse toward the guards posted near the arched entrance. They wore striped uniforms of blue and gold and shiny metal helmets that reminded Manny of conquistadors. Some were armed with swords and some with elaborate pole arms Manny recognized as halberds. There was not a single Sidhe among them, which couldn't be a good sign. I hope they believe us, Manny thought.

  The guards readied their pole arms as Etienne reined in his horse before them and leapt off the saddle. Manny wasn't sure how it had happened, but he suddenly found himself on the ground next to the Chevalier, his legs still a bit unsteady after the dizzying ride.

  "I am Etienne, Lieutenant in the King's Chevaliers," Etienne said, loud enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear. From the looks on the guards' fa
ces, Manny could see that several of them must recognize Etienne. Now all of them stood frozen, watching the Chevalier intently. "Assassins mean to take the lives of Their Majesties this very night!"

  Gaudulfus stepped up beside Etienne. "We've no time, noble soldiers of Aquitania! Come with us to the royal apartments so that we may defend our liege."

  The palace guards exchanged incredulous but alarmed glances. One said, "But all's been quiet—"

  "Because they are entering the palace by stealth," Etienne said. "Every second we hesitate they draw closer to the royal apartments!"

  The palace guards started to lower their halberds when dozens of Minister's Guards poured through the arches.

  "Stay where you are!" barked Vasseur. "Etienne has been placed under arrest as an enemy of the state." He drew his pistol and stopped a few yards from the Chevalier. "Surrender, Etienne. Or I'll order my men to open fire." The Minister's Guards knelt and raised their muskets to their shoulders.

  Etienne swung the barrel of his musket to aim at Vasseur. "I should shoot you where you stand, you traitor! We know you've conspired with Queen Mab to have the king assassinated."

  The palace guards all stared suspiciously at Vasseur. Manny got the distinct impression that the idea of a conspiracy didn't sound all that unlikely to them. Vasseur ignored the guards, still aiming his pistol at Etienne. "That elf is nothing but a liar, like all his kind."

  Gaudulfus' expression went cold. He stepped forward, his musket aimed. "Speak the word, Etienne," he said, "and I'll give that coward a third eye."

  "Worthless as your lives may be," said Vasseur, "why throw them away? You cannot prevail here. You are outnumbered. Drop your weapons and perhaps we can arrive at some understanding."

  Manny could see Etienne weighing his options. The Chevalier cast a glance in his direction, his eyes full of concern and indecision. Manny knew that if Etienne attacked, they would all be fired upon. Out in the open like this, with absolutely no cover, it would be a massacre.

  "Captain Corvus is inside," added Vasseur, as if he sensed the Chevalier's hesitation. "He can shed some light on this situation."

  "It's a trap," Manny whispered. If Corvus was inside, he was probably a prisoner.

  Adriana nudged him. "He knows."

  Etienne frowned. "You are the liar, Vasseur. Captain Corvus is not here."

  "Oh but he is," insisted Vasseur, lowering his pistol, his voice now taking on a conciliatory tone. "If you like, I'll fetch him. I'm sure he can explain. There is no need for anyone to die tonight."

  "Don't trust that viper," Gaudulfus said, still aiming his musket at Vasseur. "He wants to join the conspirators already inside the palace."

  Vasseur took a step back, his pistol now at his side, his other hand raised. "Don't do anything rash," he said. "Corvus is just inside with His Eminence. Wait a moment, and I'll call for him."

  "Stay where you are, Vasseur." Etienne moved forward, watching Vasseur warily.

  Vasseur lowered his hand. Manny couldn't be sure in the low light but he could have sworn the Minister's Guard smiled ever so slightly.

  Diving for cover behind a large stone column, Vasseur yelled, "Fire! Kill them all!"

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Manny hit the cobblestones face first as someone tackled him from behind. Musket shots rang out all around him, thundering just over his head. The courtyard filled with smoke and the cries of wounded men.

  Disoriented, Manny looked up into Adriana's face, inches from his. Etienne had dropped to his knee and had fired his musket into the ranks of the Minister's Guards. Next to the elf, Gaudulfus still stood, holding his own smoking musket.

  Several of the Minister's Guards had been hit. Too many, in fact, given that their side only had two muskets.

  A great cheer erupted from the courtyard as about a dozen Chevaliers, led by Rabican, charged forward from across the plaza. A few of the Minister's Guards hastily returned fire then drew their swords to meet the charge. Startled, the palace guards also drew their swords or readied their halberds, prepared to repel the invading force of Sidhe Chevaliers.

  Etienne drew Amechanteur and charged the Minister's Guards, his blade flashing in the torchlight as it struck here and there.

  Adriana got to her knees, her gaze on the fighting. "Are you hit?"

  Manny patted himself automatically, even though he was pretty certain he'd know it by now if he had been shot. "No, I'm fine."

  "Good." She hauled him to his feet and pulled him away from the battle.

  Gaudulfus dropped his empty musket and unslung his axe, then charged, hewing right and left, parrying sword strikes with the haft of his weapon and delivering heavy blows to any guard who drew near. Shocked, Manny saw the shoulder and side of Gaudulfus' doublet stained with blood. Apparently some of the enemy's muskets had found their target.

  Rabican the faun, armed with a slender rapier and a long dagger, engaged two guards who sought to flank the dwarf. "You're bleeding!" Rabican said to Gaudulfus as he parried sword strikes and knocked aside halberd slashes. "Has the mighty Gaudulfus forgotten how to duck?"

  Gaudulfus barked out a laugh. "You randy goat! You should know that the mighty Gaudulfus never ducks!" He bashed a Minister's Guard across the jaw with the haft of his axe, felling him like a tree. Toward Etienne, Gaudulfus yelled, "We'll deal with these scoundrels! Get to the king, quickly!"

  Etienne dispatched another guard with a quick thrust, then nodded at Gaudulfus. "Hold the line, my friend," he called before dashing under the colonnade toward the palace doors.

  "Just like the old days!" bellowed Gaudulfus, rushing into a knot of palace guards with his axe raised.

  Manny took off at a run, circling the melee and following Etienne.

  "Manny, come back!" Adriana cried.

  As Etienne neared the open double doors of the palace, Vasseur stepped out from behind a column, his pistol leveled at Etienne.

  "Etienne, look out!" Manny yelled.

  In one graceful move, Etienne spun and ducked low as Vasseur's pistol discharged. The ball punched a hole in one of the flaps of the elf's tabard. Manny gasped, horrified. But Etienne straightened, seemingly unhurt, his hard gaze on Vasseur. He leapt to the attack.

  Vasseur dropped the pistol and barely drew his sword in time to meet Etienne's downward cut. Blades clashed with a hard ring of steel on Fae glass. They traded vicious cuts and thrusts, the sword points stabbing perilously close to each other's chest and face.

  Adriana reached Manny's side. Manny stared in awe at how fast Etienne spun and lunged. The white sleeves of Vasseur's shirt betrayed small dark blotches—the blood from little wounds, received despite his best efforts to match his opponent. The Minister's Guard fought desperately for his life.

  "You don't understand," Vasseur said, backpedaling as he parried a flurry of strikes. "The king is not in danger! Stop this foolish attack!"

  Etienne halted, breathing hard but perfectly in control, his sword's point making small menacing circles in the air. "You're a liar and you shall pay for your treachery."

  "No, listen to me!" Vasseur's voice grated. Blood stained his doublet as he backed toward the open doors. "I don't know what you've heard, but the only intrigue here is controlled by His Eminence. That Unseelie witch and her footpads are Magneric's creatures."

  Etienne didn't look convinced. "She's Queen Mab, you fool. Don't you know what that means?"

  "I know who she is, elf! The minister knows what he's about. You are meddling in affairs of state beyond your understanding."

  Etienne lowered his blade, his expression turning incredulous. "Oberon's blood! She's tricked all of you. Magneric doesn't know she intends to murder the king, does he?"

  "Of course she will not murder the king," Vasseur said through gritted teeth. "She wouldn't dare oppose His Eminence. Not if she wants his help in reclaiming her throne."

  Maybe it's true, Manny thought. Maybe Morrigan had fooled Magneric, tricked him into going along with her, not knowing her real
intention was to kill the king. As if he was thinking along the same lines, Etienne asked, "So that was the bargain Magneric struck with that demon? In exchange for what? What does Magneric get in return?"

  Vasseur's jaw clenched. "This is your final warning, Chevalier. I'll give you one last chance. Turn and run."

  "You are a gullible fool," Etienne told him. "Mab means to murder Queen Giselle and the king, whatever her arrangement with Magneric. She intends to ignite an Aquitanian civil war, a struggle between humans and Sidhe. It's her revenge for our part in thwarting her designs on the throne of Albion."

  It was Vasseur's turn to hesitate. He shot a quick glance at the doors into the palace, his brow furrowed. "No, you're wrong. His Eminence is in control. The king is perfectly safe."

  Etienne took a step closer, his voice urgent. "This is your final warning, Vasseur. Step aside and let me go to the king. Or come with me if you wish. Together we stand a better chance of stopping Mab and her assassins. But whether you come or not, I'm going to the king. If that means killing you, then so be it." He raised the point of his blade and waited.

  The two swordsmen stared at each other for several tense moments. Manny held his breath. Then Vasseur lowered his sword and stepped aside, leaving open the path to the open doors. Etienne stepped forward, his attention never leaving Vasseur. The Minister's Guard had turned away, his gaze cast down to the paving.

  Etienne ran toward the doors as Vasseur reached down to the cuff of his boot. At the brief flash of luminous silver, Manny and Adriana yelled a warning. Vasseur pulled out a dagger, whipped around, and raised his arm to hurl it at Etienne.

  Manny flinched as a shot rang out. Vasseur hunched, the silver dagger slipping from his fingers. He clutched his chest, then sank down to a sitting position. His gaze locking on Etienne, he gasped a final time, then slumped over on his side.