With a master’s ease, the harbor pilot guided the King’s ship into its appointed place. It was quickly made secure and the gangway run out.
Arutha watched as Lyam was the first to descend. As tradition dictated, he dropped to his knees and kissed the soil of his homeland. Arutha’s eyes scanned the crowd, seeking Anita, but in the press of nobles moving forward to greet Lyam he saw no sign of her. A momentary cold stab of doubt struck him.
Martin nudged Arutha, who, protocol dictated, was expected to be the second to disembark. Arutha hurried down the gangway, with Martin a step behind. Arutha’s attention was caught by the sight of his sister leaving the side of the singer, Laurie, to rush forward and fiercely hug Lyam. While others in the reception committee were not as free with ritual as Carline, there was a spontaneous cheer from the courtiers and guards awaiting the King’s pleasure. Then Arutha had Carline’s arms about his neck as she bestowed a kiss and hug on him. “Oh, I’ve missed your sour looks,” she said happily.
Arutha had been wearing the dour expression he exhibited when lost in thought. He said, “What sour looks?”
Carline looked up into Arutha’s eyes and, with an innocent smile, said, “You look as if you’d swallowed something and it moved.”
Martin laughed aloud at that, then Carline was hugging him in turn. He stiffened at first, for he was still less comfortable with a sister than with two brothers, then he relaxed and hugged her back. Carline said, “I’ve grown bored without you three around.”
Seeing Laurie a short distance off, Martin shook his head. “Not too bored, it seems.”
Carline playfully said, “There’s no law that says only men can indulge themselves. Besides, he’s the best man I’ve met who’s not my brother.” Martin could only smile at that while Arutha continued looking for Anita.
Lord Caldric, Duke of Rillanon, First Adviser to the King, and Lyam’s great-uncle, smiled broadly as the King’s huge hand engulfed his own in a vigorous shake. Lyam nearly had to shout over the cheer from those nearby. “Uncle, how stands our Kingdom?”
“Well, my King, now that you’ve returned.”
As Arutha’s expression grew more distressful, Carline said, “Put away that long face, Arutha. She’s in the eastern garden, waiting for you.”
Arutha kissed Carline’s cheek, hurried away from her and a laughing Martin, and as he dashed past Lyam, shouted, “With Your Majesty’s permission.”
Lyam’s expression ran quickly from surprise to mirth, while Caldric and the other courtiers were amazed at the Prince of Krondor’s behavior. Lyam leaned close to Caldric and said, “Anita.”
Caldric’s old face beamed with a sunny smile as he chuckled in understanding. “Then you’ll soon be off again, this time for Krondor and your brother’s wedding?”
“We’d sooner hold it here, but tradition dictates the Prince weds in his own city, and we must bow before tradition. But that won’t be for a few weeks yet. These things take time, and we have a kingdom to govern in the meantime, though it seems you’ve done well enough in our absence.”
“Perhaps, Your Majesty, but now that there is a King again in Rillanon, many matters held in abeyance this last year will be unloosed for your consideration. Those petitions and other documents forwarded to you during your travels were but a tenth part of what you will see.”
Lyam gave a mock groan. “We think we shall have the captain put to sea again at once.”
Caldric smiled. “Come, Majesty. Your city wishes to see its King.”
—
The eastern garden was empty save for one figure. She moved quietly between well-tended planters of flowers not quite ready to send forth blooms. A few heartier varieties were already beginning to take on the bright green of spring and many of the bordering hedges were evergreen, but the garden still seemed more the barren symbol of winter than the fresh promise of spring, which would manifest itself within a few weeks.
Anita looked across the vista of Rillanon below. The palace sat atop a hill, once the site of a large keep that still served as its heart. Seven high-arched bridges spanned the river that surrounded the palace with the loops of its meandering course. The afternoon wind was chill, and Anita drew a shawl of fine silken material close about her shoulders.
Anita smiled in remembrance. Her green eyes misted over slightly as she thought of her late father, Prince Erland, and of all that had occurred in the last year and more: how Guy du Bas-Tyra had arrived in Krondor and attempted to force her into a marriage of state, and how Arutha had come to Krondor incognito. They had hidden together under the protection of the Mockers—the thieves of Krondor—for over a month until their escape to Crydee. At the end of the Riftwar she had traveled to Rillanon to see Lyam crowned. During all those months she had also fallen deeply in love with the King’s younger brother. And now Arutha was returning to Rillanon.
The tread of boots upon flagstone caused her to turn. Anita expected to see a servant or guard, come to tell of the King’s arrival in the harbor. Instead a weary-looking man in fine but rumpled traveler’s clothing approached across the garden. His dark brown hair was tousled by the breeze and his brown eyes were ringed with dark circles. His near-gaunt face was set in the half-frown which he assumed when he was dwelling upon something serious, and which she found so dear. As he neared, she silently marveled at the way he walked, lithe, almost catlike in his quickness and economy of movement. As he came up to her, he smiled, tentatively, even shyly. Before she could muster years of court-taught poise, Anita found tears coming to her eyes. Suddenly she was in his arms, clinging tightly to him. “Arutha” was all she said.
For a time they stood saying nothing, holding each other tight. Then he slowly tilted her head back and kissed her. Without words he spoke of his devotion and longing and without words she answered. He looked down at eyes as green as the sea and a nose delightfully dusted by a small scattering of freckles, a pleasing imperfection upon her otherwise fair skin. With a tired grin he said, “I’ve returned.”
Then he was laughing at the obvious remark. She laughed as well. He felt buoyant to be holding this slender young woman in his arms, smelling the faint scent of her dark red hair, which was caught up in some complex fashion popular at court this season. He rejoiced to be with her again.
She stepped away but held tightly to his hand. “It has been so very long,” she said softly. “It was only to be for a month…then another, then more. You’ve been gone over half a year. I couldn’t bring myself to go to the dock. I knew I’d cry at sight of you.” Her cheeks were wet from tears. She smiled and wiped them away.
Arutha squeezed her hand. “Lyam kept finding more nobles to visit. The business of the Kingdom,” he said with a wry note of deprecation. From the day he had met Anita, Arutha had been unable to articulate his feelings for the girl. Strongly attracted to her from the first, he had wrestled with his emotions constantly after their escape from Krondor. He was powerfully drawn to her and yet saw her as little more than a child, only about to come of age. But she had been a calming influence on him, reading his moods like no one else, sensing how to ease his worry, stem his anger, and draw him from his dark introspection. And he had come to love her soft ways.
He had remained silent until the night before he had departed with Lyam. They had walked in this garden, speaking late into the night, and while little of consequence had been said, Arutha had left feeling as if an understanding had been reached. The light, and occasionally somewhat formal, tone of her letters had caused him worry, fear that he had misread her that night, but now, looking down at her, he knew he had not. Without preamble he said, “I have done little but think of you since we left.”
He saw tears come again to her eyes, and she said, “And I of you.”
“I love you, Anita. I would have you always at my side. Will you consent to marry me?”
She squeezed his hand as she said, “Yes,” then embraced him again. Arutha’s mind reeled under the sheer weight of happiness he felt. Holding
her close, he whispered, “You are my joy. You are my heart.”
They stood there for a time, the tall, rangy Prince and the slender Princess, whose head barely reached his chin. They spoke softly and nothing seemed of importance except the other’s presence. Then the self-conscious sound of someone clearing his throat brought them both out of their reverie. They turned to find a palace guardsman standing at the entrance to the garden. He said, “His Majesty approaches, Your Highnesses. He will be entering the great hall within a few minutes.”
Arutha said, “We shall go there at once.” He led Anita by the hand past the guard, who fell in behind them. Had Arutha and Anita looked over their shoulders, they would have seen the experienced palace guardsman fighting hard to overcome a broad grin.
—
Arutha gave Anita’s hand a final squeeze, then stationed himself next to the door as Lyam entered the grand throne room of the palace. As the King moved toward the dais upon which his throne rested, courtiers bowed to him, and the Court Master of Ceremonies struck the floor with the iron-shod butt of his ceremonial staff. A herald shouted, “Hearken to me! Hearken to me! Let the word go forth: Lyam, first of that name and by the grace of the gods rightwise ruler, is returned to us and again sits upon his throne. Long live the King!”
“Long live the King!” came the response of those gathered in the great hall.
When he was seated, his simple gold circlet of office upon his brow and his purple mantle upon his shoulders, Lyam said, “We are pleased to be home.”
The Master of Ceremonies struck the floor again and the herald shouted out Arutha’s name. Arutha entered the hall, Carline and Anita behind him, and Martin behind them, as protocol dictated. Each was announced in order. When all were in place at Lyam’s side, the King motioned to Arutha.
Arutha came to his side and leaned over. “Did you ask her?” said the King.
With a lopsided smile Arutha responded, “Ask her what?”
Lyam grinned. “To marry, jackanapes. Of course you did, and from that sloppy smile, she said yes,” he whispered. “Go get back in place and I’ll make the announcement in a moment.” Arutha went back to Anita’s side and Lyam motioned Duke Caldric over. “We are weary, my lord Chancellor. We would be pleased to keep the day’s business brief.”
“There are two matters I judge require Your Majesty’s attention this day. The balance may wait.”
Lyam indicated that Caldric should proceed. “First, from the Border Barons and Duke Vandros of Yabon, we have reports of unusual goblin activity in the Western Realm.”
Arutha’s attention was drawn from Anita at this. The Western Realm was his to govern. Lyam looked over toward him, then Martin, indicating they should attend.
Martin said, “What of Crydee, my lord?”
Caldric said, “No word from the Far Coast, Your Grace. At this time we’ve only reports from the area between Highcastle to the east and the Lake of the Sky to the west—steady sightings of goblin bands moving northward, and occasional raids as they pass villages.”
“Northward?” Martin glanced at Arutha.
Arutha said, “With Your Majesty’s permission?” Lyam nodded. “Martin, do you think the goblins move to join the Brotherhood of the Dark Path?”
Martin considered. “I would not dismiss such a possibility. The goblins have long served the moredhel. Though I would have thought it more likely the Dark Brothers would be moving south, returning to their homes in the Grey Tower Mountains.” The dark cousins to the elves had been driven northward from the Grey Towers by the Tsurani invasion during the Riftwar. Martin said to Caldric, “My lord, have there been reportings of the Dark Brotherhood?”
Caldric shook his head. “There have been the usual sightings along the foothills of the Teeth of the World, Duke Martin, but nothing extraordinary. Lords Northwarden, Ironpass, and Highcastle send their usual reports, nothing more, regarding the Brotherhood.”
Lyam said, “Arutha, we shall leave it to you and Martin to review these reports and determine what may be required in the West.” He looked at Caldric. “What else, my lord?”
“A message from the Empress of Great Kesh, Your Majesty.”
“And what has Kesh to say to Isles?”
“The Empress has ordered her ambassador, one Abdur Rachman Memo Hazara-Khan, to Isles for the purpose of discussing ending whatever contention may exist between Kesh and Isles.”
Lyam said, “That news pleases us, my lord. Overlong has the issue of the Vale of Dreams prevented our Kingdom and Great Kesh from treating fairly with one another in other matters. It would prove doubly beneficial to our two nations if we could settle this matter for all time.” Lyam stood. “But send word that His Excellency will have to attend us in Krondor, for we have a wedding to celebrate.
“My lords and ladies of the court, it is with profound pleasure that we announce the forthcoming wedding of our brother Arutha to the Princess Anita.” The King turned to Arutha and Anita, taking them each by the hand and presenting them to the assembled court, who applauded the announcement.
From where she stood next to her brothers, Carline threw Laurie a dark frown, went to kiss Anita’s cheek. While good cheer reigned in the hall, Lyam said, “This day’s business is at an end.”
TWO
KRONDOR
The city slumbered.
A mantle of heavy fog had rolled in off the Bitter Sea, enshrouding Krondor in dense whiteness. The capital of the Western Realm of the Kingdom never rested, but normal night sounds were muffled by the nearly impenetrable haze cloaking the movements of those still traveling the streets. Everything seemed more subdued, less strident than usual, almost as if the city were at peace with itself.
For one inhabitant of the city the night’s conditions were nearly ideal. The fog had turned every street into a narrow, dark passageway, each block of buildings into an isolated island. The unending gloom was punctuated slightly by streetlamps at the corners, small way stations of warmth and brightness for passersby before they once more plunged into the damp and murky night. But between those small havens of illumination one given to working in darkness was granted additional protection, as small noises were deadened and movements were masked from chance observation. Jimmy the Hand went about his business.
About fifteen years of age, Jimmy was already counted among the most gifted members of the Mockers, the Guild of Thieves. Jimmy had been a thief nearly all his short life, a street boy who had graduated from stealing fruit from peddlers’ carts to full membership in the Mockers. Jimmy’s father was unknown to him, and his mother had been a prostitute in the Poor Quarter until her death at the hands of a drunken sailor. Since then the boy had been a Mocker, and his rise had been rapid. The most astonishing thing about Jimmy’s rise was not his age, for the Mockers were of the opinion that as soon as a boy was ready to try thieving, he should be turned loose. Failure had its own rewards. A poor thief was quickly a dead thief. As long as another Mocker was not put at risk, there was little loss in the death of a thief of limited talents. No, the most astonishing fact of Jimmy’s rapid rise was that he was nearly as good as he thought he was.
With stealth bordering on the preternatural he moved about the room. The night’s quiet was broken only by the deep snores of his unsuspecting host and hostess. The faint glow from a distant streetlamp, entering the open window, was his only illumination. Jimmy peered around, his other senses aiding his search. A sudden change in the sound of the floorboards under Jimmy’s light tread, and the thief found what he was looking for. He laughed inwardly at the merchant’s lack of originality in hoarding his wealth. With economical movement the boy thief had the false floorboard up and his hand into Trig and Fuller’s hideaway.
Trig snorted and rolled over, bringing a responding snore from his fat wife. Jimmy froze in place, barely breathing, until the two sleeping figures were quiescent for several minutes. He then extracted a heavy pouch and gently placed the booty in his tunic, secured by his wide belt. He put the board
back and returned to the window. With luck it might be days before the theft was discovered.
He stepped through the window and, turning backward, reached up to grip the eaves. A quick pull, and he was sitting on the roof. Overhanging the edge, he closed the window shutters with a gentle push and jiggled the hook and twine so the inside latch fell back into place. He quickly retrieved his twine, silently laughing at the perplexity sure to result when the fuller tried to figure out how the gold had been taken. Jimmy lay quietly for a moment, listening for sounds of waking inside. When none came, he relaxed.
He rose and began making his way along the Thieves’ Highway, as the rooftops of the city were known. He leaped from the roof of Trig’s house to the next, then sat down upon the tiles to inspect his haul. The pouch was evidence the fuller had been a thrifty man, holding back a fair share of his steady profits. It would keep Jimmy in comfort for months if he didn’t gamble it all away.
A slight noise caused Jimmy to drop to the roof, hugging the tiles in silence. He heard another sound, a scuffle of movement coming from the other side of a gable halfway down the roof from where he lay. The boy cursed his luck and ran a hand through his fog-damp curly brown hair. For another to be upon the rooftops nearby could only spell trouble. Jimmy was working without writ from the Nightmaster of Mockers, a habit of his that had earned him reprimands and beatings the few times he had been found out, but if he was now jeopardizing another Mocker’s nightwork, he was in line for more than harsh words or a cuffing around the room. Jimmy was treated as an adult by others in the guild, his position hard won by skill and wit. In turn he was expected to be a responsible member, his age being of no account. By his risking the life of another Mocker, his own could be forfeit.
The other alternative could prove as bad. If a freebooting thief was working the city without permission from the Mockers, it was Jimmy’s duty to identify and report him. That would somewhat mitigate Jimmy’s own breach of Mocker etiquette, especially if he gave the guild its normal two thirds of the fuller’s gold.
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