“That is fine.” Flor pressed his advantage. “Now, your garments. Off with them!”
The swordsman was nearly his size. Both of them had the heavy build of their mountain stock, and the garments of the free swordsman would do for Flor’s purpose, even though they might not fit him perfectly. Who expected one of these roving soldiers of fortune to be dressed in the height of style? They were fighters, not models to show off the tailor’s art.
Flor watched as his prisoner started to disrobe, then pulled off his own single garment, carefully guiding it through the belt at his waist, so as not to disturb the talisman’s powers.
He threw the long shirt at the man before him.
“Here,” he ordered. “Put this on.”
He sensed a feeling of deep resentment—of hopeless rebellion. He repeated his demand, more emphatically.
“Put it on, I say!”
As the man stood before him, dressed in the rough shift of a serf, Flor smiled grimly.
“And now,” he said, “none will worry too much about a mere serf, or look too closely into his fate. Here.”
He slashed out with the sword, awkwardly, but effectively.
“I shall have to find a new name,” he told himself as he dressed in the garments of his victim. “No free swordsman would have a name like Flor. They all have two names.”
He thought of the names he had heard used by the guards of the Earl. Flor, he thought, could be part of a name. But one of the swordsmen would make it Floran, or possibly Florel. They would be hunters, or slayers of elk—not simply elk. He looked at the steel cap in his hands. An iron hat—deri kuna.
“So,” he told himself, “I shall be Florel Derikuna.”
He inspected his new garments, being sure they hid the belt, and yet left the bosses available to easy reach. At last, he put on the iron cap. It covered the coronet, effectively hiding it.
Taking up the sword, he replaced it in its scabbard and swaggered through the forest, imitating the man-at-arms’ song.
At one stroke, he had improved his status infinitely. Now, he could roam the land unquestioned, so long as he had money. He smiled to himself. There was money in his scrip, and there would be but slight problems involved in getting more. Tonight, he would sleep in a forest house, instead of huddling in a thicket.
* * * *
As the days passed, to grow into weeks and then, months, Florel wandered over the land. Sometimes, he took service with a captain, who would engage in a campaign. Sometimes, he took service with one of the lesser nobility. A few times, he ran with the bands of the forest and road, to rob travelers. But he was cautious to avoid the great Earls, realizing the danger of detection.
Always, he kept his direction to the east, knowing that he would have to reach the sea and cross to the eastern land before he could feel completely safe. His store of money and of goods grew, and he hoarded it against the time when he would use it.
Sometimes, he posed as a merchant, traveling the land with the caravans. But always, he followed his path eastward.
* * * *
Florel Derikuna looked back at the line of pack animals. It had been a long trip, and a hard one. He smiled grimly to himself as he remembered the last robber attack. For a time, he had thought the caravan guard was going to be overwhelmed. He might have had to join with the robbers, as he had done before. And that would have delayed his plans. He looked ahead again, toward the hill, crowned with its great, stone castle.
This, then, was the land of the east—the farthest march of the land of the east. It had taken him a long, cautious time to get here. And he had spent his days in fear of a searching party from Budorn, even when he had reached the seacoast itself. But here, he would be safe. None from this land had ever been even to the mountainous backbone of his own land, he was sure. And certainly, there would be no travelers who had guided their steps from here to faraway Budorn and back.
None here knew Budorn, excepting him. Flor, the serf—now Florel Derikuna, swordsman at large—was in a new land. And he would take a new, more useful identity. He looked at the stone buildings of the town and its castle.
They were not unlike the castles and towns of his native land, he thought. There were differences, of course, but only in the small things. And he had gotten used to those by now. He had even managed to learn the peculiar language of the country. He smiled again. That coronet he always wore beneath his steel cap had served him well. It had more powers than he had dreamed of when he had first held it in his hands in those distant woods.
Here in Dweros, he thought, he could complete his change. Here, he could take service with the Duke as a young man of noble blood, once afflicted with a restless urge for travel, but now ready to establish himself. By now, he had learned to act. It had not been for nothing that he had carefully studied the ways of the nobility.
The caravan clattered through the gate beneath the castle, twisted through the streets just beyond the wall, and stopped in the market place. Derikuna urged his mount ahead and confronted the merchant.
“Here is my destination,” he said. “So, we’ll settle up, and I’ll be on my way.”
The merchant looked at him with a certain amount of relief. The man, he knew, was a tough fighter. His efforts had been largely the cause of the failure of bandits to capture the caravan only a few days before. But there was something about him that repelled. He was a man to be feared, not liked. Somehow, the merchant felt he was well rid of this guard, despite his demonstrated ability. He reached into his clothing and produced two bags.
“We hate to lose you, Derikuna,” he dissembled. “Here is your normal wage.” He held out one bag. “And this second purse is a present, in memory of your gallant defense of the caravan.”
Derikuna smiled sardonically. “Thank you,” he said, “and good trading.” He reined away.
He had caught the semi-fearful thoughts. Well, that was nothing unusual. Everybody became fearful of the iron hat sooner or later. Here, they would learn to respect him, too. Though their respect would be for a different name. Nor would they be able to deny him aught. They might not like him. That, he had no interest in. They’d do his will. And they’d never forget him.
He rode to an inn, where he ordered food and lodging. His meal over, he saw to his beasts, then had a servant take his baggage to his room.
* * * *
Shortly after daybreak, he awoke. He blinked at the light, stirred restlessly, and got out of bed. Rubbing his eyes, he walked to the other side of the room.
For a few minutes, he looked at the trough in the floor and the water bucket standing near it. At last, he shrugged and started splashing water over himself. This morning, he spent more time than usual, being sure that no vestige of beard was left on his face, and that he was perfectly clean. He completed his bath by dashing perfumed water over his entire body.
He opened his traveling chest, picking out clothing he had worn but few times, and those in private. At last, he examined his reflection in a mirror, and nodded in satisfaction.
“Truly,” he told himself, “a fine example of western nobility.”
He picked out a few expensive ornaments from his chest, then locked it again and left the inn.
He guided his mount through the narrow streets to the castle gate, where he confronted a sleepy, heavily-armed sentry.
“Send word to the castle steward,” he ordered, throwing his riding cloak back, “that Florel, younger son of the Earl of Konewar, would pay his respects to your master, the Duke of Dwerostel.”
The man eyed him for a moment, then straightened and grounded his pike with a crash.
“It shall be done, sir.” He turned and struck a gong.
A guard officer came through the tunnel under the wall. For a moment, he looked doubtful, then he spoke respectfully and ushered Derikuna through the inner court to a small apartment, where he turned him over to a steward.
“You wish audience with His Excellency?”
“I do, My Man. I w
ish to pay him my respects, and those of my father, the Earl of Konewar.” Derikuna looked haughtily at the man.
Like the guard officer, the steward seemed doubtful. For a few seconds, he seemed about to demur. Then, he bowed respectfully.
“Very well, sir.” With a final, curious glance at the coronet which shone in Florel’s hair, the steward clapped his hands. A page hurried into the room and bowed.
“Your orders, sir?”
“We have a noble guest. Bring refreshment, at once.” The steward waved to a table. “If Your Honor will wait here?”
Florel inclined his head, strode to a chair, and sat down. He looked amusedly after the disappearing steward. The coronet of the old Earl, he thought, was a truly potent talisman. Even the disdainful stewards of castles bowed to its force. And, thought the impostor, so would his master—when the time came.
* * * *
The page reappeared with a flagon of wine and some cakes. Florel was sampling them when the steward returned. The man bowed respectfully, waited for Florel to finish his wine, and led the way through a corridor to a heavy pair of doors, which he swung open.
“Florel, Son of Konewar,” he announced ceremoniously.
The Duke flipped a bone to one of his dogs, shoved his plate aside, and looked up. Florel walked forward a few paces, stopped, and bowed low.
“Your Excellency.”
As he straightened, he realized that he was the object of an intense scrutiny. At last, the Duke nodded.
“We had no notice of your coming.”
Florel smiled. “I have been traveling alone, Excellency, and incognito. For some years, I have been wandering, to satisfy my desire to see the world.” He glanced down at his clothing.
“I arrived in your town last evening, and delayed only to make myself presentable before appearing to pay my respects.”
“Very good. Punctuality in meeting social obligations is a mark of good breeding.” The Duke eyed Florel’s costume.
“Tell me, young man, do all your nobility affect the insignia you wear?”
Florel’s hand rose to his coronet. “Only members of the older families, Excellency.”
“I see.” The nobleman nodded thoughtfully. “We have heard rumors of your fashions in dress, though no member of any of the great families of your realm has ever come so far before. We are somewhat isolated here.” He looked sharply at the younger man.
“Rumor also has it that this is more than mere insignia you wear. I have heard it said that your ornaments give more than mortal powers to their wearer. Is this true?”
Florel hesitated for an instant, then recognized the desired response. Of course this eastern noble would not welcome the thought that there were others who had greater powers than he. And he would certainly resent any suggestions that a young visitor to his court had such powers.
“Oh, that,” he said easily. “Legends, really. The truth is that the wearing of the coronet and belt is restricted to members of the older, more honorable families. And even these must prove their ability at arms and statecraft before being invested with the insignia. Too, knowledge of long lineage and gentle birth makes a man more bold—possibly even more skillful than the average.” He smiled ingratiatingly.
“You, yourself, recognize your own superiority in all ways over your retainers, your vassals, and your townspeople. And so are we above the common man. This insignia is but the outward symbol of that superiority.”
The Duke nodded, satisfied. He waved a hand.
“Sit down, young man. You must remain at our court for a time. We are hungry for news of the distant lands.”
Florel congratulated himself. Well embellished gossip, he had found, was a popular form of entertainment in camp and court alike, and his store of gossip was large and carefully gathered. Here at Dweros, far from the center of the kingdom, his store of tales would last for a long time—probably as long as he needed.
During the days and nights that followed, he exerted himself to gain the favor of the Duke and his household. Much of his time, he spent entertaining others with his tales. But he kept his own ears and eyes open. He became a constant visitor at the castle, finally being offered the use of one of the small apartments, which he graciously accepted. And, of course, he was invited to join the hunts.
Hunting, he discovered, could be a pleasant pastime—so long as it was another who was doing the hard work of beating. And his own experience as a beater proved valuable. He was familiar with the ways and the haunts of animals. What had once been a matter of survival became a road to acclaim. He was known before long as a skillful, daring hunter.
* * * *
At length, he decided the time was right to talk to the Duke of more serious things. The duchy was at the very border of the kingdom. To the north lay territory occupied only by barbaric tribes, who frequently descended on the northern baronies, to rob travelers of their goods, or to loot villages. Having secured their loot, the tribesmen retreated to their mountains before a fighting force could come up with them.
Florel came upon the Duke while he was considering the news of one of these raids.
“Your Excellency, these border raids could be halted. A strong hand is all that is needed, at the right place. A determined knight, established on the Menstal, could command the river crossing and the pass, thus preventing either entry or exit.”
“To be sure.” The Duke sighed wearily. “But the mountains of Menstal are inhospitable. Knights have occupied the heights, protecting the border for a time, to be sure, but the land has always escheated to the duchy. A small watchtower is kept manned even now, but it’s a hungry land, and one which would drain even a baron’s funds. I have no knight who wants it.”
Florel smiled. He had plans concerning the Menstal, and the great river, the Nalen, which raced between high cliffs.
“The merchants, who use the Nalen for their shipments, would welcome protection from the robber bands, I think, as would the travelers of the roads.”
“And?” The Duke looked at him thoughtfully.
“Possibly a small tax?” Florel smiled deprecatingly. “Sufficient to maintain a garrison?”
“And who would collect the tax?”
“That, Excellency, I could arrange. I have funds, adequate to garrison the tower of the Menstal, and even to make it livable for a considerable force of men. And I believe I could maintain and increase a garrison there that would serve to hold the barbarians at bay.”
“Let me think this over.” The Duke sat back, toying with his cup. “It is true,” he mused, “that Menstal is the key to the border. And the small garrison there has proved expensive and ineffective.” He tapped the cup on the table, then set it down and looked about the apartment. Finally, he looked up at Florel.
“You have our permission to try your scheme,” he decided. “We will invest you with the barony of Menstal.”
* * * *
Konar paused at the castle gate. It had been pure chance, he knew, that they had noticed this bit of equipment. The east coast earldom was known, of course, but somehow, searchers had failed to discover that the Earl held any equipment. Konar shrugged. He probably hadn’t inherited it, but had gotten it by chance, and his possession of the mentacom and shield weren’t commonly known.
“Well,” he told himself, “we know about it now. I’ll make a routine pickup, and he won’t have it any more.”
A pair of weary sentries stood just inside the heavy doors. One shifted his weight, to lean partially on his pike, partially against the stonework. Idly, he looked out at the road which led through the village, staring directly through the place where Konar stood.
Konar smiled to himself. “Good thing I’ve got my body shield modulated for full refraction,” he told himself. “He’d be a little startled if he should see me.”
The sentry yawned and relaxed still more, sliding down a little, till he sat on a slightly protruding stone. His companion looked over at him.
“Old Marnio sees you like that
,” he muttered warningly, “makes lashes.”
The other yawned again. “No matter. He’ll be drowsing inside, where it’s warm. Be a long time before he comes out to relieve.”
Konar nodded amusedly. The castle guard, he gathered, was a little less than perfectly alert. This would be simple. He touched the controls of his body shield to raise himself a few inches above the cobblestones, and floated between the two sentries, going slowly to avoid making a breeze.
Once inside, he decided to waste no more time. Of course, he would have to wait inside the Earl’s sleeping room till the man slept, but there was no point in waiting out here. He passed rapidly through the outer ward, ignoring the serfs and retainers who walked between the dwellings nestled against the wall.
The inner gate had been closed for the night, so he lifted and went over the wall.
He looked around, deciding that the Earl’s living quarters would be in the wooden building at the head of the inner courtyard. As he approached, he frowned. The windows were tightly closed against the night air. He would have to enter through the doors, and a young squire blocked that way. The lad was talking to a girl.
There was nothing to do but wait, so Konar poised himself a few feet from them. They’d go inside eventually, and he would float in after them. Then, he could wait until the Earl was asleep.
After that, it would be a simple, practiced routine. The small hand weapon he carried would render the obsolete body shield ineffective, if necessary, and a light charge would assure that the man wouldn’t awaken. It would be the work of a few minutes to remove the equipment the man had, to substitute the purely ornamental insignia, and to sweep out of the room, closing the window after him. Konar hoped it would stay closed. The Earl might be annoyed if it flew open, to expose him to the dreaded night air.
In the morning, the Earl would waken, innocent of any knowledge of his visitor. He would assume his talismans had simply lost their powers due to some occult reason, as many others had during recent times.
Idly, Konar listened to the conversation of the two before him.
The squire was telling the girl of his prowess in the hunt. Tomorrow, he announced, he would accompany the Earl’s honored guest from the eastern land.
The Fifth Science Fiction Megapack Page 26