An Ill Fate Marshalling

„You didn't know? Prisoners said as much, but we didn't believe them. Lord Hsung was removed. With extreme prejudice, as some say. I was sent to replace him, apparently after you were out of contact with Maisak. I broke off the attack on Hammad al Nakir, as the Princess instructed, then detected you moving in the north. The trap I laid almost destroyed me instead of you. I hadn't given sufficient weight to your horsemen, not having served in the west during the war. Had we closed with you earlier in the day, our places would be reversed now. In fact, if your final charge hadn't succumbed to panic, the situation might be reversed."

„They ran. I vaguely remember. The finest soldiers I'd ever led, but they panicked when it counted most."

„Perhaps if their commander hadn't been killed at the begi

„Gjerdrum? Yes. Now I remember somebody saying he was dead. Maybe so. If he'd stayed alive to show the way... . But what does it matter? It's over. It's lost. Kavelin is lost. I played the fool, and handed all my enemies what they wanted."

„We all err."

„When I do, I do it right. One thing. I'll never understand why you didn't use the Power. You had us surrounded and pi

„Indeed." Shih-ka'i rose, began to pace. „I didn't use the Power because I was ordered not to. The Princess had been told not to."

„Who gives Mist orders?"

„She wasn't ordered. It was suggested. By your wizard friend."

„Varthlokkur?"

„He promised to remain uninvolved as long as we didn't call on the Power. I didn't understand it then, and I don't pretend to now. The man has been at your side for a decade. Why did he abandon you?"

„Personal conflict, I guess. But I don't understand either. So. Here I am. Prisoner for life, eh?"

Shih-ka'i nodded. „Your imprisonment won't be hard. You won't be treated as a trophy, or such. You'll live in comfort. You simply won't be allowed to return home."

„How about if I give my parole?" He was thinking of Sherilee now, and growing melancholy. Never to see her again? That was sad.

Shih-ka'i smiled. „I think not. It has long been the estimation of the Council that you are the empire's most dangerous enemy. Having met your army, with it at a severe disadvantage, and been thoroughly bloodied, I'm inclined to agree. I owe you a life. Don't ask for more."

Ragnarson smiled too. They understood each other, somewhat. „I was thinking of a woman. I'll miss her a lot."

„She's now Queen. And seems to be doing an unexpected­ ly competent job of maintaining order."

Bragi shied away from thoughts of Kavelin, except to remark, „I didn't mean Inger. She and I went our own ways before I came east. I was thinking of ... a girl I knew. A girl I'll miss. There was something special there."

Shih-ka'i paced. After nearly a minute, he said, „Perhaps something can be arranged. We'll speak of it after I've considered. For now, rest. You have a lot of recovering to do." He removed the pillows from behind Ragnarson's back.

As Shih-ka'i was about to depart, Bragi said, „Lord Ssu-ma? You're all right."

Shih-ka'i's eyebrow rose questioningly.

„Just saying I'm pleased that there are decent men among the Tervola."

Shih-ka'i smiled. „Thank you. Though I don't think my colleagues would enjoy hearing that."

„Probably not."

The stay at Sam Chordine's home had become a grinding bore for Sherilee. She was becoming neurotic, worrying about the King and fending off the fat man. „Kris," she said one morning, „I'll go crazy if we stay here much longer."

„We may not. We may go back."

„Back? We can't do that."

„I talked to Aral again a little while ago. He's heard from the Marena Dimura. Inger still thinks we're dead. Credence wants us to come back and prove we're not. To give him a rallying point."

„He wants young Bragi for a pretender, you mean."

„Yes."

„He could be that with us still here. The kids are too young for the Marena Dimura life, and that's what they'd have to live. I could do it if I thought there was any point... ." She burst into tears.

„What is it?"

„Kris, I miss him. We never had that much time together, but it's like part of me has been ripped out. I just can't believe he's dead."

Kristen took the smaller woman into her arms, comforted her. „I know. I know. It's still unreal to me, too. But we're going to have to accept it."

„I don't want to accept it. I want everything I'm never going to have. I hate politics."

„Take it easy." Someone pounded on the door. „What is it?" Kristen demanded.

„It's Slugbait, Lady. I got a message from Captain Trebilcock."

Sherilee turned off the tears. Both women answered the door. Slug passed the courier case inside. „Something wrong?" he asked. „Anything I can do?"

„Get Chordine to leave Sherry alone," Kristen snapped.

„He been after her again? I'll break his legs."

„No. No. Just get him to back off. Don't hurt him. We need him too much."

„I'll talk to him." Slugbait departed looking grim.

Kristen ripped at the pouch. The enclosed letter was long, convoluted, and often confused. In part, it was a diary of recent events. Michael had included his misgivings, his dreads, his battles with his conscience. He had used the letter the way he had sometimes used Aral Dantice during their morning rides, as a vent.

„What's it all about?" Sherilee finally asked.

„Basically, just that Inger thinks we're dead, and he wants to keep her thinking that. He's going to do the same job for her that he did for the King, only his loyalty will be to the kingdom instead of a person. If he can get away with it."

„That's all he says? In all that?"

„He rambles, but it's just fears and feelings and stuff. He sounds awful lonely. And if I didn't know him better, a little afraid." Kristen spared Sherilee news of the riots and deaths of so many friends.

„So what do we do?" Sherilee asked. „Go Michael's way, or Colonel Abaca's? Do you really want Bragi to be King?"

„I don't know. I just don't know. I don't even want to think about it."

Slugbait came around again late that afternoon. „Lady,

Mr. Dantice is back." His eyes were a little buggy, as if he had seen a ghost. „He has somebody with him."

„Who?" Aral was always bringing someone around with investment opportunities. He wasn't trying to take advan­ tage, just trying to help. He felt a little guilty about ru

Slugbait smiled and shrugged.

„Send them in." She told Sherilee, „Maybe I ought to let him invest something just so he can soothe his conscience."

Sherilee shook her head. „1 don't think so. Don't forget how thick he was with that Mist. He's still got the disease. She could be using him. Don't get pulled into some scheme of hers."

Someone tapped on the door. „Hush. He's here." Kristen opened up. Her jaw dropped. „Dahl. Dahl. Dahl, we thought you were dead. We thought the Itaskians got you."

Haas shifted from foot to foot. „I got away." He couldn't seem to go any farther.

Kristen pushed past Dantice, threw her arms around Haas's neck. „Dahl. It's really you." She rested her head against his chest. „Come on in. Come on in. Please? I'm so glad to see you." She grabbed his hand and dragged him inside.

Tear in eye, Sherilee left them. Dantice shrugged, smiled, gently closed the door, and returned to his underworld friends.

The rain had dispersed the rioters. The reappearance of troops had prevented further outbreaks. Rioting in Kavelin's secondary cities amounted to little, though, with the exception of Damhorst, they were reluctant to pledge fealty to the new regime. The major problem in the capital became the Quarter. Thousands had been burned out of their homes. Winter wasn't far away.