by N. C. Reed
*****
Parno made the short walk to the visitor’s suite occupied by Edema Willows in silence. He was followed by Karls and Cho as they were about to set out on their return trip to Cove Canton. No doubt Darvo would be near frantic by now. Parno rapped lightly on the door. When it opened, Edema had obviously been crying. She wiped gently at her face.
“Come in, sweet child,” she said softly. Willard and Feng each took places at the side of the door. Parno took two steps inside, then stopped at the sight of Edward Willows sitting at the table in the front room.
“My apologies, My Lady,” Parno bowed slightly. “I did not mean to interrupt. I sought only to see after your well-being before I departed.”
“Please, come in, Parno,” Edema pulled at his arm. “Edward has something to tell you. He’s already spoken to me. You should hear it,” she added when Parno resisted.
He couldn’t refuse her. Parno could never tell Edema Willows no. She was the mother he had never had. Slowly he walked into the room.
Edward Willows had the look of a beaten man, though no hand had been lain upon him. He had been drinking, Parno noted, but did not seem drunken. Edema sat beside him, Parno was surprised to see, and took his hand. Edward looked up at Parno, his eyes haunted.
“I. . .I’m sorry, milord,” he managed. “I. . .I am a fool,” he shook his head and lowered his gaze again. Parno frowned, something wasn’t right.
“Edward, look at me,” Parno ordered gently. Slowly the man looked back up.
“Tell me what it is that you have to say,” Parno’s voice was soft. “I daresay I already know, but to hear it from you might help.” Edward looked at him for a moment, then nodded.
“Your brother, Therron,” Edward told him, “took me aside when last we were here. He talked to me of you. He. . .he made some rather vile accusations, milord…and fool that I am, I believed them. Even when Edema refuted them to me, I still believed. Why would a Prince of Soulan lie, after all? To me, of all people. Who am I in the scheme of things? I’m a merchant that is wealthy, true, for Providence has been kind to me, but still just a merchant, Duke or no.”
“Therron convinced you that I had, or sought to, seduce Lady Edema,” Parno said it for him.
“He was very convincing, milord,” Edward nodded, “and, as I said, fool that I am I believed it. When you visited our home and I saw Edema leave your room I know now that she was simply warning you of something just like this. She told me then, but I wouldn’t believe her. Therron had convinced me you were the one I should watch, but it was him that betrayed me, milord. Not you.” He stood slowly.
“I hope, Parno, that you can forgive me. I acted as I did on Therron’s orders…or suggestions, I suppose, is a better way of putting it. The entire scene in the King’s Chambers was orchestrated by him. I was but playing a part, the part of a fool.”
Parno considered this for only a moment before speaking.
“Lay this aside, Edward,” he said softly. “Put it from your mind and work to repair the damage between yourself and your lady that my family has caused you. I apologize for that. You were caught in a scheme to ruin me devised by my own brother and I gave you every reason to believe his accusations. Please know that I meant what I said. Your wife is dearer to me than my own life. The closest thing to a mother that I have ever had, but,” he added, sadly, “I will visit your home no more, lest the idea continue to fester.” Edema gave a small cry at that, but Parno shook his head.
“My presence has caused you enough pain, Edema. It has nearly ruined your marriage and could have cost you your husband’s life. The fact that Therron manipulated this does not erase the fact that I made it possible with my behavior. Having a mother, even for a short time, was a blessing for me. I thank you for that kindness and will never forget it.” He bowed slowly.
“I take my leave, now,” he walked to the door. “I wish you, both of you, the best.” With that he was through the door and gone before anyone could object. Once in the hallway, he finally allowed his anger to show through.
Suddenly, without need for thought, he started for Therron’s apartments within the palace. His hand fell to his sword and his face was a stone mask. He had taken three steps before hands grabbed both arms.
“Milord,” Karls whispered. “Think what you do!” Both Willard and Feng were smart enough to know what was on the Prince’s mind.
“I have thought long enough!” Parno shot back.
“No, you have not,” Feng told him. “There are bigger, more important things at stake than your idiot brother. Have you learned so little, Parno McLeod?”
The words had the desired effect and the Prince ceased to struggle. He looked at them both for a moment, then shook his head.
“Let’s be away from here, while I can restrain myself.” Both nodded eagerly, as ready to get clear of the palace, and the city, as was their liege.
Without further words the three of them headed for the stables to collect their horses. Parno didn’t bother saying good-bye to anyone else. He knew they wouldn’t care that he was gone anyway.
Inside, however, his burning fury cooled to a hard-shelled hatred of his brother. Yet, along with that feeling of rage also came the calming realization that his father, despite his open dislike of the youngest son, had not been a part of this. It seemed little enough to be thankful for, but Parno would take it. Take it and be glad for it.
For now.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Doak Parsons sat stoically near the south bank of the Ohi River, the natural border between Norland and Soulan. Through a glass he watched from the cover of trees as a Norland infantry regiment received instruction in boat use. Sailors manning the boats showed the men where and how to sit and how to man the oars.
Even as he watched, several of the long boats slid into the water and the soldiers in each began to row. Five boats, carrying a full company of infantry it appeared, made a brief crossing of the river, touching the south bank and then returning without setting foot upon Soulan Territory. The river had always been ‘open territory’, free to all. Thus, so long as the men didn’t leave the boat, they had violated no treaty or law.
Lowering the glass, Parsons sat thoughtfully. No, no violation, but they were…very obviously practicing for just such an event. Raising the glass again, he observed the boats returning to the north bank, where the soldiers clambered out, replaced with yet another company and the process was repeated.
Again, no one set foot upon Soulan territory. Again, the boats simply touched and returned. This continued until each company had been across the river.
“Well, lads,” Parsons breathed to his men, “is there any doubt now that the Nor are up to no good?” No one in his small party had an answer for that.
He didn’t either. He carefully put the glass away and eased his horse away from the scene, followed just as carefully by his men. Once they were a mile or so from the river, Parsons increased his speed, heading south.
He needed to get back to Cove Canton. He had seen all he needed to in order to complete his mission. It was time to report back to the Prince.
*****
Parno and his escort returned to Cove Canton eight days after leaving. He hadn’t bothered to send a rider to inform Darvo of the outcome of the charges so he wasn’t surprised to see the older man come storming out of the Headquarters building in full storm.
“I see that you are alive,” he said testily. “May I assume that the problem is solved?”
“You may so assume,” Parno nodded, dismounting. “Just a simple misunderstanding, Darvo.” Karls Willard snorted loudly while Cho Feng smiled at his liege’s knack for understatement.
“Well, what the devil happened!” Darvo demanded. “You could have at least sent word that the problem was in hand!”
“I did,” Parno told him, blank faced. “A carrier pigeon was dispatched as soon as I arrived. Damn bird headed straight south, however,” he continued, unable to hide a grin. “Birds don’t care fo
r the winter, you know.” Karls laughed about that and even Feng smiled.
“Funny, funny,” Darvo’s face darkened. “Are you going to tell me what happened? Or will I have to beat it from your scrawny, worthless hide?”
“I tell you, the love, the respect, where does it go?” Parno shook his head sadly. “It’s almost. . . .”
“Damn you, you insolent, ungrateful whelp of a child!” Darvo bellowed and Parno finally laughed. He had succeeded in provoking the bellowing bull.
“Oh, relax,” he ordered. “Everything is fine. Seriously. Okay?” he amended when Darvo’s scowl didn’t recede. “I admit, things between Therron and me aren’t really that good at the moment, but hey! When have they ever been, right? It’s just life as usual in the House McLeod!”
Darvo listened as his charge tried to put on a light air, but he’d known Parno too long. Raised the boy from a wee lad, just out of diapers. There was more to things than just a rift between himself and the Lord Marshall.
“I take it the question of adultery has been, for lack of a better phrase, laid to rest?” he asked.
“It has,” Parno nodded, his voice darker now. More harsh. “It should not be raised again.” With that, Parno entered the house, leaving Karls and Cho Feng to explain to the Colonel how things in Nasil had transpired. Darvo looked at the two of them for a moment, scowling when neither spoke.
“Well?” the older man asked testily.
“It was a trap,” Karls told him flatly. “The Lord Marshall contrived to convince Duke Edward to lay the charges before the King in order to trap Parno into a duel…against my brother,” he added. Darvo’s eyebrows rose at that.
“Does your brother still live?” he asked, concern in his voice.
Karls smiled.
“Lives, and has a new respect for Prince Parno,” he informed Darvo proudly. “Therron wanted the rules of mortal combat, but Parno, when he had Enri at his mercy, offered him his life to yield. Enri took it.” Darvo nodded, not in the least surprised that Parno had beaten the Sword Champion.
“Indeed, there is much new respect in the city of Nasil for our young Prince,” Cho Feng nodded, “but there is also a potential new problem,” he added. “We had to physically restrain Parno from facing his own brother once the facts came to light, and the accusations have cost him his relationship with the Lady Edema, a relationship which was good for our liege. She doted upon him as his mother would have and treated him as a son. There is a black mood about Parno right now.”
“I feared as much,” Darvo sighed, shaking his head. “There will be no peace for him so long as Therron McLeod is allowed to continue his plotting.”
“He almost ceased to be able to plot,” Karls told him, his voice edgy with concern. “Had Cho and I not been with him when he discovered what had happened, I have no doubt that Therron would now be dead and Parno in dire trouble, if not dead himself.”
“I’m glad you were there,” Darvo told them both. “Rightfully it was my place, you know.”
“No more so than ours,” Feng reassured the older man. “We all have sworn to protect him, Colonel, and it was for the best that you remained here. Colonel Willard is correct in that, had things gone other than they did, you were the sole person who might have prevented a response from the men in this camp. They are very much enamored with the Prince.”
“True,” Darvo allowed. “I can only wonder, though, how the Lord Marshall will respond to this latest setback.”
“If the mood of the King is any indication, Therron will have to be very careful, at least for a while,” Karls said thoughtfully, “and Crown Prince Memmnon is well aware of the problem. I think, for the time being at least, the Lord Marshall will not be acting against Parno, not openly at any rate. I know not what he may try or be able to accomplish under the table.”
“He’s a snake, never doubt,” Darvo told them darkly, “and full of hate for the lad. We’ll have to be watchful, make no mistake and that includes Parno himself. He’s prone to act rashly when his dander is up.”
“Then we must ensure that he is not allowed to take any action that may endanger him,” Cho told the other two men. “Too much is at stake.”
“What?” both men looked at him questioningly. Cho simply shrugged.
“We will know, soon enough, I suspect,” was all the explanation he offered.
*****
Parno sat in his study, gazing out the window.
He had been lucky, he reflected. Therron had set a very neat trap for him and he had blundered right into it, blinded by his anger. Had he not been so skilled with a sword, thanks to Darvo Nidiad, then he might well be dead or maimed this very moment. His only other option would have been to withdraw his challenge, leaving both himself and Edema forever tainted by the accusations Edward Willows had lain. He frowned deeper at that. Therron had nearly ruined the Willows’ marriage in order to get at Parno and had caused them great pain. Parno would accept part of the blame for that, as he had given no thought to how it would look for him to spend time with Edema. The novelty of someone treating him well outside of Darvo had blinded him to any problems that might arise from his actions.
“Am I always to be an unthinking, rash, idiot boy?” he wondered to himself. He would never allow others to see his indecision, save for his three closest friends, Darvo, Karls and Cho. He almost laughed at how close he and Cho Feng had become. The man had a few short months ago been a prisoner and Parno a Prince. A black sheep prince, to be sure, but a prince none-the-less.
Fate does have a way of making us laugh, he chuckled mentally, but I must settle with Therron for this. His actions cannot be allowed to go unpunished. As his dark thoughts pervaded his mind, his eyes fell upon the blanket covered map. His frown grew still deeper.
There are bigger, more important things at stake than your idiot brother, Cho had said to him just three days ago.
Does he know what I know? Parno asked himself. Cho Feng had an uncanny—some might say unnatural—ability to know things he shouldn’t know. He always seemed to know what was on Parno’s mind. Had he, somehow, picked up on Parno’s concern for the Nor? There was no way to know.
But seeing the map had turned his thoughts away from Therron and back to the problem he had been working over when Benson had arrived with Edema’s note not even two weeks ago.
Rising, he uncovered the map. He opened a locked drawer at his desk and removed Edema’s information and the Tinker’s notebook. Slowly, carefully, he began to compare the two sources of information, making more notations on the map and in his own notebook.
Within a few minutes, he was lost in the numbers, descriptions, and other information contained there, leaving behind, at least for now, the troubles with his brother.
*****
“My Lord?”
Parno looked up from his notations, seeing Harrel Sprigs at his door. He stood casually, covering the map.
“What is it, Harrel?” he asked, smiling.
“I’m sorry to bother you, milord,” Sprigs said quietly. “It’s just. . .well, sire, it’s long past dinner and I was beginning to worry.” Parno glanced at the window and noted that it was dark outside. He had worked for how long oblivious to everything?
“That’s fine, Harrel,” Parno assured him. “If you don’t take care of me, then who will?” he smiled and Sprigs beamed at that. Harrel Sprigs had come to the regiment as a volunteer not long after the fort was opened. When Parno had spoken to the young man, he was surprised to find that Sprigs was not only a law abiding citizen, but also a very educated young man.
Parno had seized upon him as a secretary almost at once. The young man was not impressed with that idea as he had wanted to be a soldier. He had specifically chosen this regiment because it had promised to be a tough unit and one that only a few would be able to make. To mollify the young man, Parno had persuaded Cho Feng to take Sprigs under his wing, so to speak. As a result, Sprigs, for all his scholarly ability, was one of the best fighters in the regiment. C
ho had instructed him in several forms of hand combat as well as the sword. He had also, unbeknownst to Parno, charged Sprigs with protecting the Prince when he was engaged in something that would distract him from looking after himself. For that reason, Sprigs training was far greater than even Parno had known.
The result was satisfactory for all concerned. Parno had an able and educated secretarial assistant that could accompany him into the field when the need arose and Sprigs had learned more about the martial arts than anyone else in the regiment. Thus the triumvirate of Nidiad, Willard, and Feng had a man close to the Prince at all times, both ready and able to defend the Prince’s back, should they not be present.
All in all, a most satisfactory arrangement for everyone.
“I think I will retire,” Parno told his lieutenant. “It’s been a long day, anyway, and in truth I’m not hungry. Thank you.” Sprigs bowed slightly and left the doorway. His own quarters were there in the main house and he headed for them. Parno blew out the lamp on his desk and slowly went up the stairs to his own room, his mind still full of numbers, locations, and threats.