Juliet E. McKenna - Einarinn 2 - The Swordsman's Oath

The Swordsman’s Oath

the second tale of einarinn

Juliet E. McKenna

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents

are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously

and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual

events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely

coincidental.

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For Steve, sternest critic and staunchest support.

Acknowledgments

I continue to rely on the invaluable assistance of Steve, Mike and

Sue, for their dedicated scrutiny of each line, while Liz and Andy

valiantly take on the big picture and Helen comes up with those key

questions. Everyone reading these books has reason to be as

grateful to them as I am. I am also indebted to Jenny and to Sharon

for friendly, flexible childcare and thereby peace of mind as well as

peace and quiet.

As my most immediate contacts within Orbit, I am most fortunate in

having Tim and Lisa for good-humored editorial expertise, while

Cassie and Adrian spread the word. Of the many booksellers whose

enthusiasm is doing so much, my local Ottakar’s team is closest to

me in every sense. My thanks go to all, as well as to their colleagues.

I would also like to thank the ever expanding circle of friends,

family, friends of family, family of friends and members of IPROW

who continue to support me with curious facts, plausible names and

ongoing interest.

This circle has, however, been sadly diminished by the untimely

deaths of Zoey Ducker, through tragic accident, and Graham

Skinner, after long illness. They are not forgotten.

Chapter One

^ »

From Planir,

From Planir,From Planir,

From Planir,

Archmage of Hadrumal,

Archmage of Hadrumal,Archmage of Hadrumal,

Archmage of Hadrumal,

to Messire Guliel D’Olbriot,

to Messire Guliel D’Olbriot,to Messire Guliel D’Olbriot,

to Messire Guliel D’Olbriot,

Sieur of that House and Keeper of the Honor

Sieur of that House and Keeper of the HonorSieur of that House and Keeper of the Honor

Sieur of that House and Keeper of the Honor

of the Name, Adjurist of the Convocation of

of the Name, Adjurist of the Convocation ofof the Name, Adjurist of the Convocation of

of the Name, Adjurist of the Convocation of

Princes and Patron of the Empire,

Princes and Patron of the Empire,Princes and Patron of the Empire,

Princes and Patron of the Empire,

Solstice salutations and most heartfelt wishes for

Solstice salutations and most heartfelt wishes forSolstice salutations and most heartfelt wishes for

Solstice salutations and most heartfelt wishes for

prosperity and health in the year to come.

prosperity and health in the year to come.prosperity and health in the year to come.

prosperity and health in the year to come.

My dear Sieur,

My dear Sieur,My dear Sieur,

My dear Sieur,

I am most grateful to you for intelligence of the

I am most grateful to you for intelligence of theI am most grateful to you for intelligence of the

I am most grateful to you for intelligence of the

Elietimm ships wrecked on your coasts over the

Elietimm ships wrecked on your coasts over theElietimm ships wrecked on your coasts over the

Elietimm ships wrecked on your coasts over the

For-Winter season. I have not forgotten the narrow

For-Winter season. I have not forgotten the narrowFor-Winter season. I have not forgotten the narrow

For-Winter season. I have not forgotten the narrow

escape of both your man and mine in their recent

escape of both your man and mine in their recentescape of both your man and mine in their recent

escape of both your man and mine in their recent

encounter with that race and may I assure you I

encounter with that race and may I assure you Iencounter with that race and may I assure you I

encounter with that race and may I assure you I

remain sensible of the threat to your domains and

remain sensible of the threat to your domains andremain sensible of the threat to your domains and

remain sensible of the threat to your domains and

the wider peace of the Empire. Beyond such important

the wider peace of the Empire. Beyond such importantthe wider peace of the Empire. Beyond such important

the wider peace of the Empire. Beyond such important

but necessarily impersonal concerns, I would venture

but necessarily impersonal concerns, I would venturebut necessarily impersonal concerns, I would venture

but necessarily impersonal concerns, I would venture

to remind you that just as you lost a sworn man in

to remind you that just as you lost a sworn man into remind you that just as you lost a sworn man in

to remind you that just as you lost a sworn man in

Aiten, I lost a scholar in Geris, a man of much

Aiten, I lost a scholar in Geris, a man of muchAiten, I lost a scholar in Geris, a man of much

Aiten, I lost a scholar in Geris, a man of much

learning who might have aided us both against this

learning who might have aided us both against thislearning who might have aided us both against this

learning who might have aided us both against this

threat, though of course, nothing outweighs the loss

threat, though of course, nothing outweighs the lossthreat, though of course, nothing outweighs the loss

threat, though of course, nothing outweighs the loss

of both their lives. I do not forget such debits in

of both their lives. I do not forget such debits inof both their lives. I do not forget such debits in

of both their lives. I do not forget such debits in

the scales, as I am sure you do not.

the scales, as I am sure you do not.the scales, as I am sure you do not.

the scales, as I am sure you do not.

Your letter encourages me to think that you

Your letter encourages me to think that youYour letter encourages me to think that you

Your letter encourages me to think that you

realize, as do I, that our interests lie along the

realize, as do I, that our interests lie along therealize, as do I, that our interests lie along the

realize, as do I, that our interests lie along the

same road in this matter. Just as you face the very

same road in this matter. Just as you face the verysame road in this matter. Just as you face the very

same road in this matter. Just as you face the very

real danger of hostile forces landing on your

real danger of hostile forces landing on yourreal danger of hostile forces landing on your

real danger of hostile forces landing on your

coasts, or worse, to lie concealed in the

coasts, or worse, to lie concealed in thecoasts, or worse, to lie concealed in the

coasts, or worse, to lie concealed in the

unpopulated reaches of Dalasor or Gidesta, so I am

unpopulated reaches of Dalasor or Gidesta, so I amunpopulated reaches of Dalasor or Gidesta, so I am

unpopulated reaches of Dalasor or Gidesta, so I am

faced with the threat of a complex magic whose

faced with the threat of a complex magic whosefaced with the threat of a complex magic whose

faced with the threat of a complex magic whose

mysteries we in Hadrumal are still unravelling. On

mysteries we in Hadrumal are still unravelling. Onmysteries we in Hadrumal are still unravelling. On

mysteries we in Hadrumal are still unravelling. On

that subject may I assure you that there can be no

that subject may I assure you that there can be nothat subject may I assure you that there can be no

that subject may I assure you that there can be no

shame or blame attached to your man Aiten for his

shame or blame attached to your man Aiten for hisshame or blame attached to your man Aiten for his

shame or blame attached to your man Aiten for his

attack on my mage Shivvalan. There can be no doubt

attack on my mage Shivvalan. There can be no doubtattack on my mage Shivvalan. There can be no doubt

attack on my mage Shivvalan. There can be no doubt

that had his mind not been invaded by the foul

that had his mind not been invaded by the foulthat had his mind not been invaded by the foul

that had his mind not been invaded by the foul

enchantments of the Elietimm, he would have fought

enchantments of the Elietimm, he would have foughtenchantments of the Elietimm, he would have fought

enchantments of the Elietimm, he would have fought

to the end in defense of his honor and your Name.

to the end in defense of his honor and your Name.to the end in defense of his honor and your Name.

to the end in defense of his honor and your Name.

Thank you for your enquiries after Shivvalan; he

Thank you for your enquiries after Shivvalan; heThank you for your enquiries after Shivvalan; he

Thank you for your enquiries after Shivvalan; he

is quite recovered and eager to do his part in

is quite recovered and eager to do his part inis quite recovered and eager to do his part in

is quite recovered and eager to do his part in

foiling the schemes of the Elietimm. You also

foiling the schemes of the Elietimm. You alsofoiling the schemes of the Elietimm. You also

foiling the schemes of the Elietimm. You also

mentioned the pleasure with which you received the

mentioned the pleasure with which you received thementioned the pleasure with which you received the

mentioned the pleasure with which you received the

sword that I discovered so unfortunately concealed

sword that I discovered so unfortunately concealedsword that I discovered so unfortunately concealed

sword that I discovered so unfortunately concealed

by an elderly and somewhat eccentric wizard, but

by an elderly and somewhat eccentric wizard, butby an elderly and somewhat eccentric wizard, but

by an elderly and somewhat eccentric wizard, but

your thanks are unnecessary. It is sufficient

your thanks are unnecessary. It is sufficientyour thanks are unnecessary. It is sufficient

your thanks are unnecessary. It is sufficient

recompense that you approved my suggestion to

recompense that you approved my suggestion torecompense that you approved my suggestion to

recompense that you approved my suggestion to

present the blade to your sworn man Ryshad Tathel. I

present the blade to your sworn man Ryshad Tathel. Ipresent the blade to your sworn man Ryshad Tathel. I

present the blade to your sworn man Ryshad Tathel. I

was most impressed by his resourcefulness and

was most impressed by his resourcefulness andwas most impressed by his resourcefulness and

was most impressed by his resourcefulness and

courage in the face of dire trials and it seemed

courage in the face of dire trials and it seemedcourage in the face of dire trials and it seemed

courage in the face of dire trials and it seemed

only fitting that such an heirloom should be used

only fitting that such an heirloom should be usedonly fitting that such an heirloom should be used

only fitting that such an heirloom should be used

once more to defend the Empire, in service of so

once more to defend the Empire, in service of soonce more to defend the Empire, in service of so

once more to defend the Empire, in service of so

great a House.

great a House.great a House.

great a House.

On that subject, I have a favor to request of you.

On that subject, I have a favor to request of you.On that subject, I have a favor to request of you.

On that subject, I have a favor to request of you.

I continue my researches into the mysteries of this

I continue my researches into the mysteries of thisI continue my researches into the mysteries of this

I continue my researches into the mysteries of this

ancient magic. As you will know from your own

ancient magic. As you will know from your ownancient magic. As you will know from your own

ancient magic. As you will know from your own

nephew’s fate, this seems to attract the unwelcome

nephew’s fate, this seems to attract the unwelcomenephew’s fate, this seems to attract the unwelcome

nephew’s fate, this seems to attract the unwelcome

attentions of those Elietimm at large in our lands.

attentions of those Elietimm at large in our lands.attentions of those Elietimm at large in our lands.

attentions of those Elietimm at large in our lands.

While my wizards have many talents, swordsmen they

While my wizards have many talents, swordsmen theyWhile my wizards have many talents, swordsmen they

While my wizards have many talents, swordsmen they

are not. Should you be willing to grant me the use

are not. Should you be willing to grant me the useare not. Should you be willing to grant me the use

are not. Should you be willing to grant me the use

of your man Ryshad, I can certainly put his

of your man Ryshad, I can certainly put hisof your man Ryshad, I can certainly put his

of your man Ryshad, I can certainly put his

undoubted talents to a use worthy of your House. The

undoubted talents to a use worthy of your House. Theundoubted talents to a use worthy of your House. The

undoubted talents to a use worthy of your House. The

more we learn of these Elietimm and the quicker we

more we learn of these Elietimm and the quicker wemore we learn of these Elietimm and the quicker we

more we learn of these Elietimm and the quicker we

do it, the better it will go for both of us.

do it, the better it will go for both of us.do it, the better it will go for both of us.

do it, the better it will go for both of us.

»¤¤¤«

The High Road toward Cotebridge,

The High Road toward Cotebridge,The High Road toward Cotebridge,

The High Road toward Cotebridge,

in the Lescari Dukedom of Marlier,

in the Lescari Dukedom of Marlier,in the Lescari Dukedom of Marlier,

in the Lescari Dukedom of Marlier,

8th of Aft-Spring in the Second Year of Tadriol

8th of Aft-Spring in the Second Year of Tadriol8th of Aft-Spring in the Second Year of Tadriol

8th of Aft-Spring in the Second Year of Tadriol

the Provident

the Providentthe Provident

the Provident

How do you apologize to a grieving mother for not being the man who killed her

son? Another might have Aiten’s blood on her hands but I was still more deeply

stained with shame that I had been unable to raise my sword against my friend of so

many years to free him from the foul enchantment that had claimed his mind and his

will, even at that ultimate cost. I’d tried to explain away my failure but my halting

words had hung in the air, twisting awkwardly like crows on a gibbet. Had that visit

to his family all been a dreadful mistake? No; my honor demanded it, if I were to be

able to look myself in the eye as I shaved of a morning and see a man true to his

oath.

Things had improved a little when Aiten’s father and brothers had decided getting

soaked in homemade applejack was the best way of honoring his memory. Everyone

had told a story about Aiten and some of them even stayed funny when I recalled

them sober. A sour morning-after with a head as thick as winter fog and my mouth

tasting like a pissed-in boot had been a small price to pay.

My smile faded as I recalled Tirsa, Aiten’s sister. A middling brown-haired girl

with soft brown eyes and a pleasant smile; the sort of lass you see by the handful at

markets clean across the Old Empire. Only I’d be able to pick her out from a festival

crowd at a hundred paces, and it would still cut me like a whetted knife in ten years

time, she was so like Aiten to look at.

Remembering the grief in Aiten’s mother’s face as she clutched the bundle of his

possessions to her breast, trying to breathe in the last scent of her lost child, had me

sufficiently distracted not to notice the bandits lurking in the hedgerow. Showers of

rain on and off all morning had left the sky as gray as my mood, and despite it fairing

up I still had my hood raised. None of this excuses my lapse; I certainly should have

remembered that the roads in Lescar are always more dangerous outside the fighting

seasons, as perverse as anything else in that benighted land.

One of the vermin had my bridle before I could gather reins or wits. The startled

horse reared backward, and as I felt its hooves slip in the mire of the sodden road I

kicked my feet free of the irons, barely keeping my own footing as I leaped clear.

Shaking and sweating, the horse snapped at the grabbing hands of the bandits and

escaped up the road, leaving me facing the filthy gang of them.

“Pay your toll, pal, and we’ll let you pass,” the foremost said, grinning widely,

blackened stumps in his slimy gums.

I shook my head at the leader. These sorry discards from some defeated militia

weren’t going to be much of a challenge. They were all gaunt and hungry, matted

and filthy, driven to scavenging like desperate dog-foxes after a long winter of lean

pickings. Still, desperation makes for dangerous men, I reminded myself.

I backed down the rutted road a few paces, to draw them out far enough to be

sure there were only four of them. Lescari, cowshit between their ears as well as

between their toes since I could now be certain they had put no one behind me to

cut off any retreat. I could certainly outpace them if I chose to turn tail and run, but I

didn’t fancy trying to make my way through the unknown muddy byways off the

highroad. As my hand moved toward my sword-hilt, parchment in my pocket

crackled, reminding me of my duty to my patron’s orders.

Besides, I didn’t feel inclined to run; Dast’s teeth, why should I? I wanted my

horse back too. It was a good beast from Messire’s own stable and I’d been riding

it no more than seven or eight leagues a day to husband its strength.

“Sorry, friend. You didn’t say whose authority you had to levy a toll.” I kept my

voice neutral.

“This is all the authority I need!” He struck a challenging pose with his notched

sword, evidently aiming to impress in his rusty breastplate fringed with inadequate

chainmail.

His pack grinned, all bold in remnants of ill-fitting armor.

More fool them; the leather of my thick buff coat covered a layer of metal plates

without the vulnerabilities I was assessing in my opponents as they smirked. I don’t

wear a hauberk; it attracts notice and my usefulness to my Prince depends on going

unremarked. I laid a hand to my own sword. It sparkled silver on the pommel, the

polished scabbard bright in a watery gleam of fugitive sunlight now that the rain had

stopped.

“What’s your charge?” I asked, face calm, mind anticipating the next moves. I

spend long seasons trying to teach the militia raised for the House of D’Olbriot that

there’s no virtue in fighting if you can avoid it, but Lescaris learn the opposite in their

leading strings, from their warring dukes down, to the endless grief of their torn and

bleeding land.

The leader finally registered my unfamiliar accent. “Tormalin man, are you? Fancy

words, fancy horse and blade. What you’ve got in your purse, that’ll be the rate for

the road!”

Evidently a man with no more sense than Dastennin gave a flatfish. “I’ll give you

the price of a meal.” I smiled without humor. “You can thank the Lord of the Sea for

that.”

The other three looked tempted by the thought of food they could pay for rather

than a fight for their dinner, as I had suspected. The leader scowled, unwilling to

back down. “We’ll spare a coin to Talagrin at the next shrine, when we’ve selled

your horse and your gear, thank the Hunter for sending us a plump pigeon ripe for

the plucking.”

“You want to try for my feathers?” I drew my sword. It slid gleaming from the

scabbard with a steely rasp and the rusty weapons facing me wavered. “Why? I’m

carrying nothing but letters from my patron.”

I wouldn’t have been bandying words with outcasts before I’d visited Aiten’s

family, I reflected. Not when I’d been carrying enough true-minted Tormalin gold to

buy up half this sorry fiefdom. I wasn’t the only one looking to defend my honor,

the coin reflecting the value Messire D’Olbriot put on Aiten’s oath now his death

demanded its redemption. I forced myself to lay aside the burden of my own guilt

while I dealt with these vermin.

“Sworn man, are you?” the foremost sneered, letting his sword point dip as he

scratched his lice-infested head. “Lick-spittle to some fat-arsed Prince who spends

all his days with his head in a jug, playing with himself. That’s how you pass your

time, isn’t it, wringing the goose’s neck?”

His fellow footpads snickered at this, but I am long past the days when cheap

insults enraged me. A true swordsman knows hot fury kills more men than cold

steel. I backed away another pace, drawing him forward beyond the dubious

protection of his fellows. Messire’s militia are never so easily gulled, not after I’ve

brought them to heel.

“So what have you got to say for yourself, curly? Come on, hand over your coin

and that belt-pouch for a start! Well, answer me, curse you, unless you’re too busy

shitting yourself.”

My continued silence was unnerving Foul-Mouth’s supporters by now, as I

intended.

“All right, lads, let’s have the bastard!” He took a bold step, rusty blade leveled.

I glared at the closest one to Foul-Mouth’s off hand, who took an involuntary

pace back. Idiocy was about to kill his mate, that and my sword, but if any of them

chose to run I wasn’t about to waste my time hunting them down.

Foul-Mouth lunged at me, off hand flailing. I stepped sideways to smack his

blade up with the flat of my sword. He took his chance to swing his dirty blade

around for a skull-splitting strike. I moved in and as his arm came up I rolled my

wrist to drive the point of my keenly polished sword under and deep into his armpit.

He collapsed like a ruptured wineskin, blood frothing from his mouth, drowning his

shrieks of panic and pain. The others swore in guttural Lescari and one rushed me,

stupidity apparently something they shared along with their lice. Sure of my footing,

I brought my sword around at belly level, his instinctive parry sending him staggering

back. He swung wildly, I evaded the blow with ease and swept low but he managed

to leap sideways in time to save his kneecaps and I found I was facing two of them,

his mate having found some semblance of courage.

If they’d had any more training than learning which end of a sword was the handle

I might have had some trouble, but a few rapid strokes hacked through his guard and

dropped the first to his knees, clutching the bloody ruin of splintered bone that had

once been his sword arm. I punched the luckless mongrel with my off hand and he

scrambled into the bushes, howling through split lips, while the slowest to join battle

took to his heels like a scalded hound, slipping in the mud in his haste to save his

boil-scarred skin, not even the wit to try grabbing my horse.

That left me with a lad, tears carving pale streaks down his filthy face, slime

running from his crooked nose as he panted in terror through broken teeth. Life had

been kicking this lad in the face since before he could walk.

I managed to rein in my anger; it had been a long and none too happy season for

me thus far but that was no excuse for losing control. It had certainly felt good to

give vent to the slow-burning rage at Aiten’s untimely death that I kept locked in the

back of my mind, but I could not afford to indulge such feelings.

I glanced quickly round, saw my horse now browsing on a patch of new grass

and considered simply ignoring the boy. No, Dast curse him; he had done nothing to

merit such consideration. I feinted to his off side, he swung his trembling weapon in

a futile stroke but I had my blade at his throat before he had a hope of recovering.

He dropped his stained sword and steam coiled damply around his feet as he pissed

himself.

“Mercy, mercy,” he stammered. “Please, your honor, I’ll not do the like again, I

swear it, any oath you like, mercy, for pity’s sake, Saedrin save me—”

I leaned the edge of the blade into the soft skin of his neck to silence him. Could

he be trusted? I doubted it; what would a lad like this know of honor, in a land where

the so-called nobility change allegiance with every passing season, scrambling for

advantage with rival dukes who have wasted ten generations in a futile struggle for a

worthless throne?

“I swear,” he whimpered, desperately trying to swallow without cutting his own

throat.

The issue here wasn’t his honor, though, was it, but my integrity and self-respect.

How could I kill some idiot boy who was begging to surrender, frantically offering

me his paltry oath?

“Lie down,” I snarled and he dropped into the filth as if he’d been clubbed.

Putting my boot heavy on his neck, I hurled his sword deep into a tangled thicket of

thorns. I laid my own blade against his face, one red-rimmed, crusted eye blinking at

the blood-clotted point as I stroked it slowly up his cheek. “You lie here and you

don’t stir until you can’t hear my horse’s hoofbeats. If I see you again this side of

the Otherworld, I’ll gut you like a herring, do you hear me?”

He nodded frantically, eyes flickering between me and the crumpled heap of his

erstwhile leader, the life drained out of him into the clotted mud. I backed away,

ready to finish the lad if he was stupid enough to make a move. No, he had that

much wit at least, more motionless than the still-quivering corpse next to him.

Checking there were no more surprises lurking among the unkempt hedgerows, I

walked slowly toward the horse, not wanting to spook it with the smell of blood.

However, it came readily enough; half a season on the road told it I meant fodder

and water. This was definitely a relief; my chances of getting a remount in Lescar

were about as slight as that boy’s chances of dying in his bed.

I spared a glance back before the curve of the road took me out of sight; the lad

was looting the body of his late friend. I rode on, unconcerned. Even if he caught up

with me, killing him would be no great task and no dishonor, since he’d have

forfeited any claim to mercy along with his oath. The horse halted, raised its tail and

dropped a heap of steaming gurry on the road, an entirely fitting comment, in my

opinion.

The fire in the blood that comes from a fight, however trivial, warmed me for a

while and in any case, this late in the season, the weather was increasingly mild. Still,

a little anger at myself for getting caught like that seared me as the noon sun rode

high above me, drawing wraiths of steam from the sodden ground, the spring air full

of the green promise of renewal. I found myself gripped by sudden sadness and

reined in to take a drink of water, trying to wash the tight dryness from my throat.

How long would it be before I could think of Aiten without that strangling ache? It

was riding alone that was doing it, I realized, after so many years. I was missing his

endless supply of dubious jokes, his blade matching mine as we protected each

other in any fight we couldn’t talk our way out of. One of the cornerstones of my life

was gone, a certain loss of confidence leaving a hidden hole threatening to trip me,

even if it was apparent to no one but me.

I unlaced the neck of my coat; a warm garment in the spring sunshine. My fingers

caught in the thong of my medallion, the insignia I bore as a physical reminder of the

oaths I had sworn to my Prince and he in turn to me. I had Aiten’s as well, the

bronze disc sewn inside my sword-belt, waiting for me to exact a double reckoning

in blood from the bastard responsible for his death. Was I going to shove it down

the enchanter’s throat or ram it edgeways up his arse? I mused. Whichever, I’d

sharpen the edges first, just to make a point. By rights that debt was our master’s to

claim or remit, but I had made a private vow of vengeance and hammered a nail deep

into the door of Dastennin’s shrine to affirm it. We make no formal vows as we do

to our patron, but the loyalties between sworn men are no less strong.

No, it was time to move on, I told myself. After all but losing myself to the

drowning sorrow of my sister’s death from fever in my youth, I had found new

purpose in taking service with Messire, hadn’t I? My duty was to him, my sword his

to command.

The usual rat-infested hovel that passes for an inn in Lescar came into view as I

crested a rise in the road. I was still holding my sword at my side, sticky with bloody

detritus, so I gave my horse his head at the water trough and took possession of a

rickety bench where I spread out oil and rags to clean the solstice gift Messire

D’Olbriot had given me in recognition of my trials in his service the previous year.

It says a lot about Lescar that it wasn’t the sight of a man cleaning a bloody

weapon that startled the pinch-faced little maid coming out to empty her ash bucket,

but my accent; my Lescari has all been learned on Messire’s business around the

border with home. I couldn’t fathom her concern; she only had about ten words of

Tormalin, though I doubt she could have counted them. Eventually I gathered there

was no fresh roast, so I took the gritty bread and sour cheese offered but declined

the grayish stew, congealed in the pot from the night before. Evidently exceeding the

reckoning with good Tormalin pennies, I won a startled smile when I declined the

halved and quartered coin pieces she tried to offer me. I have no use for Lescari

coin, even when it’s whole.

As I ate I fished out the letter I carried, brought by the Imperial Despatch to

rescue me from the taut emotions of Aiten’s sorrowing family and sending me to

ride the empty roads of Lescar over the Equinox festival. Well, that at least had been

preferable to lining up with my brothers to entertain the nicely eligible daughters of

Mother’s sewing circle. I took up the letter and the description on the outside caught

my eye again, still making me smile.

Ryshad Tathel. An armspan and four fingers tall,

Ryshad Tathel. An armspan and four fingers tall,Ryshad Tathel. An armspan and four fingers tall,

Ryshad Tathel. An armspan and four fingers tall,

thinly built but muscular. Hair black and curly,

thinly built but muscular. Hair black and curly,thinly built but muscular. Hair black and curly,

thinly built but muscular. Hair black and curly,

eyes brown, dark complected, clean shaven. Softly

eyes brown, dark complected, clean shaven. Softlyeyes brown, dark complected, clean shaven. Softly

eyes brown, dark complected, clean shaven. Softly

spoken but with a determined manner.

spoken but with a determined manner.spoken but with a determined manner.

spoken but with a determined manner.

My father would have phrased it rather differently: “stubborn as a mule and twice

as hard to shift when he digs his heels in” is what he had said of me to Messire’s

Sergeant-at-Arms. That last sentence was written in a different hand. So, Camarl was

rising rapidly in Messire’s counsels if he was being allowed to add personal notes to

the Sieur’s letters. Saedrin grant it will be many years before the men of the family

have to gather to elect a new head for the House of D’Olbriot, but it was starting to

look as if I could win a tidy sum with a wager on Camarl. Perhaps I should lay some

coin soon, while the odds were still long on a sister’s younger son succeeding.

From Messire D’Olbriot, given at his Toremal

From Messire D’Olbriot, given at his ToremalFrom Messire D’Olbriot, given at his Toremal

From Messire D’Olbriot, given at his Toremal

residence, the 26th day of Tor-Spring, to Ryshad

residence, the 26th day of Tor-Spring, to Ryshadresidence, the 26th day of Tor-Spring, to Ryshad

residence, the 26th day of Tor-Spring, to Ryshad

Tathel, sworn man.

Tathel, sworn man.Tathel, sworn man.

Tathel, sworn man.

I send my greetings and my wishes that your trip

I send my greetings and my wishes that your tripI send my greetings and my wishes that your trip

I send my greetings and my wishes that your trip

provides consolation both to yourself and the family

provides consolation both to yourself and the familyprovides consolation both to yourself and the family

provides consolation both to yourself and the family

bereaved by Aiten’s loss.

bereaved by Aiten’s loss.bereaved by Aiten’s loss.

bereaved by Aiten’s loss.

I take this opportunity to repeat my own sorrow at

I take this opportunity to repeat my own sorrow atI take this opportunity to repeat my own sorrow at

I take this opportunity to repeat my own sorrow at

his fate as well as the esteem in which I held him.

his fate as well as the esteem in which I held him.his fate as well as the esteem in which I held him.

his fate as well as the esteem in which I held him.

I ash you to communicate this to his parents once

I ash you to communicate this to his parents onceI ash you to communicate this to his parents once

I ash you to communicate this to his parents once

more.

more.more.

more.

You are no longer required to attend me in Toremal

You are no longer required to attend me in ToremalYou are no longer required to attend me in Toremal

You are no longer required to attend me in Toremal

when your visit is concluded. I have received a

when your visit is concluded. I have received awhen your visit is concluded. I have received a

when your visit is concluded. I have received a

request from the Archmage of Hadrumal, Planir the

request from the Archmage of Hadrumal, Planir therequest from the Archmage of Hadrumal, Planir the

request from the Archmage of Hadrumal, Planir the

Black, that you travel to Caladhria and join with

Black, that you travel to Caladhria and join withBlack, that you travel to Caladhria and join with

Black, that you travel to Caladhria and join with

one Shivvalan Ralsere, mage. You will find him with

one Shivvalan Ralsere, mage. You will find him withone Shivvalan Ralsere, mage. You will find him with

one Shivvalan Ralsere, mage. You will find him with

a recluse called Viltred Sern who dwells in the

a recluse called Viltred Sern who dwells in thea recluse called Viltred Sern who dwells in the

a recluse called Viltred Sern who dwells in the

forests to the north of Cote, seat of one Lord

forests to the north of Cote, seat of one Lordforests to the north of Cote, seat of one Lord

forests to the north of Cote, seat of one Lord

Adrin, on the highroad to Abray.

Adrin, on the highroad to Abray.Adrin, on the highroad to Abray.

Adrin, on the highroad to Abray.

This mage requests your assistance in continuing

This mage requests your assistance in continuingThis mage requests your assistance in continuing

This mage requests your assistance in continuing

the pursuit you shared in at the end of For-Winter

the pursuit you shared in at the end of For-Winterthe pursuit you shared in at the end of For-Winter

the pursuit you shared in at the end of For-Winter

past. At such time as the Wizard Ralsere no longer

past. At such time as the Wizard Ralsere no longerpast. At such time as the Wizard Ralsere no longer

past. At such time as the Wizard Ralsere no longer

has need of you, return to Toremal with all best

has need of you, return to Toremal with all besthas need of you, return to Toremal with all best

has need of you, return to Toremal with all best

speed. In the interim, keep me apprised of your

speed. In the interim, keep me apprised of yourspeed. In the interim, keep me apprised of your

speed. In the interim, keep me apprised of your

movements with letters by Imperial Despatch or such

movements with letters by Imperial Despatch or suchmovements with letters by Imperial Despatch or such

movements with letters by Imperial Despatch or such

other discreet means as you judge secure.

other discreet means as you judge secure.other discreet means as you judge secure.

other discreet means as you judge secure.

I am confident that you will perform this

I am confident that you will perform thisI am confident that you will perform this

I am confident that you will perform this

commission with your usual capability.

commission with your usual capability.commission with your usual capability.

commission with your usual capability.

It was smoothly written in the fluent hand of Messire’s personal scrivener. I could

just picture the Sieur, sat with a pile of documents, disposing of each with terse

commands. My spirits rose; I’ve worked for Messire long enough to read what

wasn’t written into the letter. I was to be his eyes and ears, his link to the

Archmage’s plans for foiling the Ice Islanders. This offered better prospects of

vengeance for Aiten than chasing garbled reports of foreigners in the backwoods of

the ocean coast, which is what I’d spent the latter half of winter doing.

I’d had no real dealing with wizards before getting caught up with Shiv the year

before and we generally prefer to keep them at arm’s length in Formalin. I wondered

what Shiv was up to; he and I owed each other a measure of our lives after that

cursed trip to the Ice Islands. Still, his loyalties to his Archmage meant a different

lodestone from mine governed his course, I reminded myself.

I ate and headed for the river. The false hope of the noonday sun faded, fine rain

mizzling down like exhausted tears. I passed the remnants of a sacked village,

reeking with the smell of burned wood rotting after the long winter and weeping

black stains into the scorched earth. So much for the Dukedom of Marlier, where life

was supposed to be safer than most. I found myself longing for the clean scent of

salt on the wind from the ocean at home.

I looked across the valley with its coppices of hazel and ash, past the sprawl of a

turf-roofed village amidst a striped patchwork of open fields and over the rough

common grazing to the stark crag where the local Baron had his reddish stone castle.

Formalin villages cluster close to the protections of their patron and have done since

the Chaos when lordless and landless men ransacked the ruins of the Old Empire.

Lescari peasants grub a living from the land as best they can and hope the battles

pass them by. I noted the battlements were being raised, straw and clay that had

protected the half-built fortifications from frosts stripped away; that could be useful

intelligence for Messire. What threat did Marlier see waiting now the Equinox had

opened the fighting season? I knew the Duke of Triolle had fouled his own nest

comprehensively after heavy losses in the previous year’s fighting with Parnilesse.

Did he have ambitions here?

Arriving at the river in the mid-afternoon, I found a silent line of grim-faced

peasants waiting by the bridge, salvaged possessions in bundles and handcarts, little

children all unknowing smiles, older ones wide-eyed and glancing at parents for

reassurance seldom forthcoming. I’d been passing pitiful groups like this all through

Lescar, trudging along, heads down, locals stopping their work to watch as the

strangers passed, hoes and plow-staves in hand, ready to keep anyone moving who

might be thinking about trying to stop. My own purse had lightened by a good

measure on the road, common coin gone to those who would take it or else spent on

as much bread as I could reasonably carry, so I had something I could casually offer

those still clinging to the shreds of their dignity.

I rode to the head of the queue, not about to risk hanging about and getting drawn

into the quarrels erupting here and there along the line.

Juliet E. McKenna - Einarinn 2 - The Swordsman's Oath

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