Lydia straightened, despite her gaudy, dyed hair looking every inch the military figure. “I will, indeed, and hold your trust in safety till King Amber does appoint a new overlord.”
But then she whispered to Kevin, “How’s that? Sound properly high and noble?”
He almost spoiled the whole thing by bursting into helpless laughter. “Oh, it—it does, indeed!”
“This is all well and good,” Naitachal murmured. “But what happens now?”
“We get the crowd out of here, for one thing,” Lydia said, and snapped out commands to the guards, who, only too glad to obey someone, began to make order.
“And someone has to take care of Count Volmar’s body,” Kevin added.
“That, I shall do,” a precise voice said.
“D’Krikas!”
The seneschal bowed as best an Arachnia could. “I let myself refuse to see what was truly happening. I stained my own honor by sheer blindness. You have cleansed that honor, and won my gratitude.”
“Uh ... yes,” Kevin said uncertainly. “But—”
A blare of trumpets cut into his words. A column of horsemen came riding into the courtyard beneath King Amber’s gold and crimson banner.
“Well, what do you know?” Lydia said drily. “Looks like the cavalry has arrived.”
The Great Hall was crowded with royal guards, casde folk—and of course, Berak’s troupe, all wide-eyed with excitement. At the High Table, Kevin sat with the captain of the royal troop, a strong-faced, fierce-eyed man who explained:
“... and so, when my royal master received your message, he knew no man could reach this casde by normal means. The court wizards, working all as one. cast a spell to transport us, men and horses, here as swiftly as they could.”
“They transported someone else,” a familiar voice added.
Kevin sprang to his feet so suddenly his chair overturned with a crash. “Master Aidan!”
He raced to the Bard’s side, then staggered to a stop, staring. This was still plainly Master Aidan—but he was now a man of middle years, his hair and beard only slightly streaked with gray. “It worked,” Kevin breathed. “Casting the spell really did restore your years.”
“It did.”
Kevin couldn’t stand on ceremony a moment longer. He caught the Bard in a fierce hug. Master Aidan chuckled. “Lad, lad, you’re cracking my ribs!”
“Oh! S-sorry! But Berak told me you were ill. How do you feel?”
“Ah, Kevin.” Master Aidan touched Kevin’s cheek tenderly. “Amazingly well, now. When I sent you to retrieve the spell,” he added with a laugh, “I never expected you to be the one to cast it! And you cast it so successfully, my young Bard.”
“Wh-what did you—what—”
“I called you Bard, Kevin, and Bard you most assuredly are.”
“He’s more than that,” the captain of the royal guards called out. “If you would. Bard Kevin?”
Bard Kevin! Struggling not to grin like an idiot, Kevin returned to his place at the High Table. The captain continued:
“My royal master suspected that even with the spell of magical transport, we might well arrive after things were ... ah ... settled, one way or another. And since you have proven yourself a loyal subject of the Crown, a most brave and worthy subject from all we’ve been told, I have orders from the King himself, may the gods favor him.”
“Want to cut through all the courtly talk?” Lydia asked. “Kevin’s brave, all right, and worthy as they come. Get on with it, man!”
To Kevin’s surprise, the captain grinned. “Anything to oblige a lovely lady,” he said so urbanely that Lydia actually looked flustered. “Of course. Bard Kevin,” the captain continued, “you’ll have to go to the royal palace to get this all done properly, but King Amber, in gratitude for service rendered, hereby cedes to you (he rank and all the lands and honors pertaining to the late traitor, Volmar”
Kevin stared. “Wh-what are you saying?”
“He’s saying that you’re a count now, kid!” Lydia told him. “Looks like this castle really is going to be your home.”
“But what about you?”
“Oh, I guess I’ll just go on traveling.” But a hint of loneliness was in her voice.
“The hell you will!” Kevin exploded. “Look you, I’m going to need someone I can trust to oversee the casde guards. What do you say, Lydia: do you want to be my commander-in-chief?”
She broke into a slow, happy grin. “Sure, kid! Someone’s got to keep an eye on you.”
“And I, Bard Kevin,” D’Krikas added, “will serve you as well.” The being paused uneasily.” If you will have me.”
“I can’t see myself running a casde without you.”
“Oh, I shall have help.” Humor glinted in D’Krikas’ great eyes.
“He means me!” Tich’ki piped up.
“Exactly.” D’Krikas gave a short chitter, almost a chuckle. “I was fooled once by a count who feigned nobility and by you—a natural noble who feigned commonness. With this little one by my side, I shall not dare slip into complacency again.”
Kevin laughed. “Agreed!”
“But what about Naitachal?” Lydia wondered.
Kevin glanced down the cable to where the Dark Elf and Master Aidan were deep in discussion. The young Bard could have sworn he heard Naitachal murmur, “But I won’t fetch your laundry. I’m a bit too old to be an errand boy.” And surely Master Aidan was chuckling and agreeing?
“Naitachal?” Kevin called, and the Dark Elf looked up. And for the first time since the young Bard had known him, true, peaceful joy shone in his blue eyes.
“Kevin, Master Aidan and I have come to an agreement I am going off with him to nice, tranquil Bracklin —as his apprentice. I shall take your advice, my friend, and study to become a Bard.” His smile was a beautiful thing. “I’ve had quite enough of Death,” Naitachal said. “I want to try the magic of Life for a change.”
Kevin smiled in return. “And may you enjoy it, my friend.”
“That’s that,” Tich’ki said in satisfaction. “All the loose ends are nicely tied up. All right, everyone, enough talk. We’ve some heavy celebrating to do!”
The End
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Castle of Deception bt-1 Page 27