Prince of the Blood, the King's Buccaneer

by Raymond E. Feist

  Tired, they all sat upon the floor, stretching muscles sore from tension and being on their feet for hours. Ghuda said, ‘You know, Madman, this sneaking around in the palace gives a man an appetite. I wish I had one of Nakor’s oranges right now.’

  Borric was about to reply when a muffled sound caught his attention. Voices, indistinct but coming closer, caused him to jump to his feet and move to the door. Suli crouched down below Borric’s chin, so he might see. Borric was about to shoo the boy away, but the sound of someone approaching silenced him.

  Two men came into view as they moved past the door. One was stout, with a staff of office clutched in his hand. The other was dressed in a black cloak, hiding him from view, but as they passed he turned and Borric caught a glimpse of his face. Both men were intent in conversation and Borric overheard the stout one saying, ‘… tonight. We can’t wait any longer. If the Empress’s temper fades, she may seek a more reasonable solution. I convinced her to send Awari north in preparation for trouble there, but that ruse will not last long. And there’s this business of some maniac running loose in the palace that the guards can’t seem to catch. I don’t know what that means, but it must be presumed to be trouble …’ The voice faded as the men turned another corner.

  Suli turned and pulled emphatically on Borric’s sleeve. ‘Master!’

  ‘What?’ said Borric, trying to sort out a rush of images.

  ‘That man, the thin one in the black cloak. He’s the same man I saw at the Governor’s house in Durbin, the one who wore the golden torque. The one who worked for Lord Fire.’

  Borric leaned back against the door, and nodded. ‘That makes evil sense.’

  Ghuda put up his sword and whispered, ‘What’s this then?’

  ‘I know why trouble’s been nipping at our heels since Durbin,’ muttered Borric.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’ll tell you later. I hope you both had a nice rest. It’s over. Right now, we’ve got to find that servant.’

  Borric yanked open the door, rendering the squeaky hinge nearly inaudible. He moved out into the hall before Ghuda could question him further. Borric hesitated an instant, while the others moved through the door and closed it. He motioned for Ghuda and Suli to hug the wall.

  At the next corner, the corridor turned, allowing for only one choice, so Borric followed the turn. No lights were burning in this wing of the palace and Borric doubted it was usual for Keshian nobles to stumble around in the darkness, so there was likely no one about.

  As they reached the far end of that hall, Borric turned and whispered, ‘Someone’s coming.’ He motioned for Ghuda and Suli to move back against the wall, while he moved to the opposite side of the hall.

  A lone woman hurried around the corner and Ghuda stepped out to block her progress. ‘What—’ she began, then Borric seized her from behind. The woman was lithe and athletic, but Borric easily kept her under control as he dragged her into the first door in the hall.

  Light from a room across from a window gave a faint illumination to the scene. The woman was kept under control as Borric whispered into her ear, ‘Make an outcry and you’ll be hurt. Remain silent and no harm will come to you. Do you understand?’

  The woman gave him a single nod and he released her. Turning suddenly, she said, ‘How dare you—’

  Then she saw who had seized her. ‘Erland? What has gotten into—’ Her eyes widened as she saw the fashion of dress and the short-cropped dark hair. ‘Prince Borric! How did you get here?’

  All Borric’s life, James had been telling stories about his days as a thief in Krondor, and one common characteristic of James’s farfetched tales was his reference to his ‘bump of trouble.’ When something was wrong, James somehow sensed it. And for the first time in his life Borric understood what James had been talking about. Something inside of him screamed that there was trouble standing directly before him.

  Taking his sword out, he levelled it at the woman. Ghuda said, ‘Madman, that’s not necessary. That woman—’

  ‘Quiet, Ghuda. Woman, what’s your name?’

  ‘Miya. I’m a friend of your brother’s. He will be so thrilled to discover you still live. As will Lord James and Lady Gamina and the others …’ She looked down at the tip of his sword touching her stomach. ‘What are you doing?’ She laughed, and Borric knew it was as forced as it was artful, for it sounded too genuine and spontaneous. ‘I prattle. It must be the shock of …’

  ‘Seeing me in the palace,’ Borric finished.

  ‘Alive, I was about to say,’ said Miya.

  Borric said, ‘I don’t think so. When you first saw me, you thought I was my brother. Then you quickly understood I wasn’t. Anyone who thought I was dead would not have made that guess so quickly. And you didn’t say, “You’re alive,” you said, “How did you get here?” That’s because you knew I was alive and in the city below.’

  The woman fell silent, and Borric said to Ghuda and Suli, ‘This is one of those who has been trying to have me killed every step of the way from Krondor to Kesh. She works for Lord Fire.’

  Miya’s eyes widened an instant at the mention of that name, but she gave no other sign of recognition. She said, ‘If I scream loudly enough, a dozen guards will come here in a moment.’

  Borric shook his head no. ‘This wing has already been searched. We slipped behind the lines of those going room to room. Besides, they’re looking for one man.’

  The woman’s eyes flashed as she stepped away, her glance measuring the distance to the door. ‘Don’t think of it,’ said Borric. ‘It would be a close thing, but I’m faster than I look and I have four feet of reach which you lack,’ he said, pointing at her with his sword.

  ‘You won’t get out of here alive; you know that. Things are already beyond quick and easy explanations. Blood has been spilled and soldiers march. Your father marshals the Armies of the West in the Vale of Dreams, ready to invade.’

  ‘Your father?’ said Ghuda. ‘And just who might he be when he’s at home?’

  Borric said, ‘My father is Prince Arutha of Krondor.’

  Ghuda blinked like an owl caught in the light. ‘The Prince of Krondor?’

  Suli said, ‘And I am his manservant, and will be his manservant when he is King of the Isles.’ He grinned and puffed his chest out with pride.

  Ghuda stood quietly for a long moment, then said, ‘Madman … Borric … Prince, whatever I’m to call you, when this is over remind me I need to knock you down again.’

  ‘If we get out of this mess, I’ll be happy to stand still while you do it.’ To Miya he said, ‘My father is many things, but no fool. He’d no sooner march an army into Kesh than I’d run into a bog of quicksand carrying an anvil.’

  Ghuda said, ‘Well, from what I’ve seen you just might.’

  Borric said, ‘She’s lying. And we need to get to my brother.’ To Miya he said, ‘You’re going to guide us there.’

  ‘No.’

  Borric stepped forward, putting his sword against the woman’s throat. When Miya didn’t flinch, he said, ‘So, you have no fear of dying?’

  ‘You’re no murderer,’ spat Miya.

  Rough hands moved Borric aside. Ghuda said, ‘He might not be, bitch.’ Huge hands gripped the woman’s shoulders as he jerked her toward him, and from the expression of discomfort on Miya’s face in the gloom, Borric could imagine they were not gentle. Bringing her face scant inches from his own, he whispered, ‘But I’m a different stripe of cat. I have no use for you truebloods and your superior ways. I’d just as soon pet a snake as touch your soft skin. You could be on fire and I wouldn’t cross the street to piss on you. I’ll kill you slowly and painfully, girl – I’ll start by breaking all the little bones in your hands – if you don’t tell us what we must know. And I will do it so you can’t even scream.’

  The calm menace of the mercenary must have been convincing, for Miya could barely speak as she said, ‘I’ll take you.’

  Ghuda released her, and Borric saw tears of terro
r running down the girl’s cheeks. He sheathed his rapier, then pulled his dagger from his belt. Showing her the short blade, Borric then gave her a shove toward the door and said, ‘Remember, you can’t get away. I can throw my dagger faster than you can run.’

  Miya opened the door and they followed after. As they walked along, Ghuda said, ‘What tumbled you to her act?’

  ‘My bump of trouble.’

  ‘You could have convinced me you didn’t have one, for certain,’ said the mercenary. ‘I’m glad it finally woke up.’

  ‘Me, too.’

  ‘But you were already tumbled to something,’ he said. ‘What made you alert to her?’

  ‘She was heading in the same direction where I saw those two men heading, and one of them tipped me off.’

  ‘What about him?’

  ‘He’s been stalking me since we left Krondor. And he’s one of the few in Kesh who would recognize me on sight.’

  ‘Who is he?’ asked Ghuda, as they rounded a corner into a better-lighted corridor.

  As the first pair of sentries standing before doors came into view, Borric moved a step closer to the girl in case she decided to bolt or call for help. To the mercenary he said, ‘The man was Lord Toren Sie, Kesh’s Ambassador to my father’s court.’

  The mercenary shook his head. ‘He’s royal. Some very important people want you dead. Madman.’

  ‘And some very important people want the truth,’ answered Borric. ‘That’s what’s going to keep us alive a little longer.’

  ‘Gods, I hope you’re right,’ said the mercenary. Miya led them through the palace, past a series of guards standing before doors. If they thought it odd a member of the Empress’s household should escort three oddly dressed men past them, they hid it well. Miya turned down a large corridor, past another half-dozen unguarded doors.

  At the far end of the hall, Miya moved to a large closed door and said, ‘Your brother is in there.’

  Borric gave her a shove. ‘Open it and go through first.’

  The woman put her hand on the latch and moved it, pushing open the door. She entered and moved the door open wider for Borric. He followed, ahead of Ghuda and Suli.

  She led them through a short reception room to another door, where the opening procedure was repeated, but this time, once Suli passed through, she slammed the door behind him, and yelled, ‘It’s Borric of Krondor! Kill him!’

  Armed men in the trueblood guard uniform sat around the room and at Miya’s words they were on their feet, weapons slipping from scabbards.

  The servant announced Lord Nirome and Erland bid him enter. The stout noble hurried in and bowed before the Prince. ‘Highness, Lady Miya said you had something you urgently wished to discuss with me.’ Then Nirome noticed James and Gamina, who were sitting opposite Erland, just out of sight of Nirome when he entered. ‘My lord, my lady. I didn’t see you at first. My apologies.’

  He’s anxious to speak to you alone, Gamina sent to Erland. In fact, he’s very upset we are here.

  ‘Have you any word regarding Baron Locklear?’

  Nirome shrugged. ‘Had we, you would have been advised at once. I must make you understand that most of us who sit in council with Her Majesty are not so personally outraged. We lost a cousin at most, while She Who Is Kesh lost a daughter. While mother and daughter were often at odds over court matters and the politics of the nation, nevertheless the feelings they felt were very strong. And as you have no doubt repeated to yourself a hundred times over, there is no logic in any of this.’

  ‘That’s what I was hoping you’d say,’ said Erland.

  ‘I am a pragmatic man, Highness. My role throughout my time in the Gallery of Lords and Masters has often been that of a conciliator, for as you have no doubt seen, we have many diverse people in our Empire. Kesh is a pluralistic nation, with a very different history than your own Kingdom. You were a common people in ancient days, despite language differences. You have only two major subject people within your borders, those of Yabon and our former countrymen in your own Crydee, while Kesh is a nation of a thousand languages and customs.’

  He’s stalling for time, James sent via Gamina.

  Why?

  Gamina answered, He wants to speak with you alone … no, he wants to get you alone … his mind is racing … he’s not focusing the way you do when you speak to me … he’s thinking about … Suddenly Gamina’s face went white and a second later James almost leaped to his feet, his sword in hand. The stout noble sensed something from Erland’s expression or from the sound of James’s standing, but he turned quickly, his staff of office brought before him in a protective gesture.

  ‘What is this?’ said Erland.

  Gamina said, ‘Borric is alive. He’s somewhere here in the city. Nirome wants to take you somewhere in the palace where friends of his can kill you.’

  Erland couldn’t take it all in for a moment. ‘What?’

  Nirome’s face went ashen. ‘What … is the lady saying?’

  James said, ‘My wife has certain talents, my lord. And among those is sensing falsehood. Now, what part have you been playing in the murder done this night?’

  Nirome edged toward the door and James moved to cut him off. Erland had his sword out and said, ‘Where is my brother?’

  Nirome sought an exit, and when none was available to him, seemed visibly to wilt. ‘Mercy, my lord Prince, mercy. I will confess, but you must promise to intercede with the Empress. I did only a minor bit, to further the ambitions of Awari. He’s in league with others, General Beruck and Lord Ravi, who he’s promised concessions; they will use the Inner Legion and the Brothers of the Horse to check the Imperial Guards and the Order of Charioteers. They threatened to kill me and many others if I didn’t help; I was only trying to prevent the needless spilling of Keshian blood. It has gone so far beyond my worst fears … I will do whatever I can to make amends, but the culprit is Awari. It was he who plotted his sister’s death and is planning on killing you and marrying Sharana.’

  ‘His own niece?’ said Erland.

  James waved his sword a bit. ‘It’s been done before in the earlier dynasties of the Empire. If a succession was seen as weak, claimants married a cousin or even a sister or brother to bolster the claim on the throne. And with so many related to the Empress, a great many truebloods are cousins.’

  Nirome said, ‘Just so. But if we are to save your friend, we must hurry. He’s imprisoned in a lower level of the palace and injured.’

  James glanced at Gamina and she said, I can’t tell.

  What? asked Erland.

  He’s very clever and his mind is very agile. He may not know I can read his surface thoughts, but he suspects some magic is at play and keeps his mind repeating what he has told us. There are hints of other images and some feelings … he’s lying about the scope of his role, but I can’t tell how much. You must be wary of him.

  Erland said, ‘Now, what about Borric being alive?’

  Nirome said, ‘It’s thought to be true. A slave escaped within days after being brought to Durbin by desert raiders. It is thought he killed the wife of the Governor of Durbin to mask his escape. He matches the description of your brother.’

  He’s … hiding more. But that’s more or less true.

  Erland said, ‘We have to find someone whom we can trust.’

  A servant arrived at the doorway and Erland’s attention was drawn away for a moment. Nirome struck out with his staff of office, and far more quickly than his weight promised, he dodged James’s blow. Shouting ‘Get the guards!’ to the girl, Nirome swung widely with his staff.

  The girl hesitated only an instant, then ran screaming for the guards through the doorway. James grabbed at Nirome’s arm and got struck with the staff on the shoulder. Erland jumped forward and grabbed the staff, forcing the heavy courtier back. As the Prince brought his sword up to menace the court officer, soldiers of the Inner Legion, led by a Captain of the Household Guard, entered the room.

  Instantly swords and
spears were levelled at James and Erland and the guard Captain, in the white kilt of a trueblood, cried, ‘Surrender your weapons or die!’

  Erland thought about resistance for only an instant, then gave his sword to a guard. ‘I need send word to the Empress at once. There’s been a vile betrayal.’

  Guards took James and Erland by the arms and the Captain said, ‘Shall we kill them?’

  Nirome said, ‘Not just yet. Take them to the empty wing and for the sake of our lives don’t let anyone see you doing it! I have to find Miya and Toren Sie and we’ll join you.’

  Suddenly Erland realized that this stout man of obsequious manner had stationed men loyal to Prince Awari around this wing of the palace – which explained how he was able to murder the Princess Sojiana and cast the blame on Locklear.

  ‘You killed Sojiana,’ Erland said. ‘And Locklear.’

  Nirome’s manner changed. Instead of the fawning sycophant, he became a grim-faced man of determination and purpose. Picking up a walnut from the table, he crushed it with his bare hand before Erland’s face. ‘You silly boy. You’ve blundered into matters so far beyond your understanding.’ He studied the Prince. ‘Had your brother the grace to die in Krondor, and your father to send threatening notes to the Empress, none of this would have been necessary. If you cooperate and don’t cause a fuss, I’ll happily send you home in one still-living piece. I have no wish to deal with an angry Kingdom, and once the Empress accedes to our plan, we have no further need of you.’

  To the guard captain he said, ‘Take them now, and watch the witch woman. She’s from Stardock and has some sort of power to know what you’re thinking if you’re not careful.’ He glanced at her and said, ‘We may have to keep her. That would prove a useful talent. But if any of them causes you any difficulty, kill them.’

  The soldiers obeyed without hesitation and in a moment were taking the three from the apartment, making sure there was no chance of escape.

  The armed men hesitated a moment, startled by Miya’s unexpected alarm. Borric took no time to think; he reacted. He threw his dirk at the first man to rise, taking him in the chest. Another went down from a vaulting lunge that cleared five feet, and three men withdrew in haste as they brought up their own weapons.