Dragon Prince 03 - Sunrunner's Fire (67 page)

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Authors: Melanie Rawn

BOOK: Dragon Prince 03 - Sunrunner's Fire

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Andry was so stunned that his knees gave way, and he only realized it when he landed hard on the rough planks of the floor.

Ianthe’s other sons never would have served; much as all of us value pure line of descent from our ancient forebears, the combination of our blood and the Sunrunners’ has made Pol more powerful than any of our own people could ever be. Bitter this might be to admit; but we saw it in Urival and to a lesser extent in Camigwen and now her son Riyan. Thus it is with Pol—but his line being stronger than that which produced these others, it is only to be expected that his powers are the greater. He will be a High Prince of inestimable gifts. Under his rule, we will be safe—for he is one of us and knows it.

Andry turned the sheet over with hands that shook so hard he could barely grip the parchment. There was only a little more.

In the spring, subject to your approval, I will present myself at Dragon’s Rest and learn all I can of Pol. Should he show willingness, I will reveal myself and teach him those things he needs to know about the battles you have foreseen. By the Nameless One, what a warrior he will make! I will come to you, if I may, and school myself in the details of history and defense, that Pol may be sword and shield. For he belongs not just to the Sunrunners or the common folk he rules, but to us as well.

The letter was signed by the woman Nialdan had just killed. There had been no salutation; Andry surmised that the silver circle around it was identification enough. He levered himself up off the floor. There was a bucket of clean water hanging from a nail near the hearth, and he dipped several cupfuls to flood his dry throat. Stronger drink would have been welcome, even tainted with
dranath
as it was bound to be, but he saw no wine bottles. He placed a chair at the table and sat down, still shaky but more ready now to think.

Forget for the moment whether or not this was true; should he keep it or destroy it? Would it be more valuable in his possession or was the knowledge alone enough? How could it be used? Was it really proof that Rohan and Sioned had lied all these years? Did Chay and Tobin know? Was there advantage in revealing Pol’s ancestry?
Was this incredible thing true?

The questions were coming too fast. He rubbed his temples and stared at the parchment. Keep it or destroy it?

But then he remembered its last few galling sentences about battle and Pol’s prowess as a warrior. The words forming again in his mind brought him to two decisions: first, that the whole of it was true—his own visions had been too real, and this
diarmadhi
had evidently seen, too.

His second conclusion was that the letter must be destroyed. Proof though it was of Pol’s heritage, the frank words about his strength and power were too dangerous. Additionally, if the letter existed, it might be seen by someone Andry might not wish to know its contents.

He conjured Fire in the hearth and burned the parchment to a crisp. When it was ash, he extinguished the flames with a thought. A pity he could not know to whom the letter had been addressed. He might have learned much before that person died.

Quelling all the insistent questions, he pocketed the silver circle and left the tree cottage. Nialdan was tamping down the last clods on top of the mirror. He replaced the shovel neatly beside the vegetable garden, kicked the soil from his boots, and gave a mighty sneeze. Andry laughed.

“Come, let’s ride on and find you a hot bath somewhere. And remind me to buy you a pocket-cloth the size of a battle flag. You nearly bolted the horses with that last sneeze.”

Nialdan shrugged good-naturedly and they mounted up. Andry fixed the location of the disturbed earth in his mind and glanced once more at the strange little cottage. With the next
diarmadhi,
he’d wait to inspect and question before ordering the execution.

Genealogy (as of 719)

Index of Characters

ABIDIAS (658-701). Lord of Tuath Castle. Died of Plague.

ADILIA (697-). Mother of Miyon’s bastard daughter Meiglan.

AJIT (657-719). Prince of Firon. Killed by Pandsala.

ALASEN of Kierst (696-). Volog’s daughter. m719 Ostvel.

ALLUN (685-). Lord of Lower Pyrme. m719 Kiera.

AMIEL of Gilad (716-). Son of Cabar and Kenza.

*ANDRADE of Catha Freehold (649-719). Lady of Goddess Keep 677-719. Twin sister of Milar. Killed by sorcery.

*ANDRY of Radzyn Keep (699-). Lord of Goddess Keep. Son of Chay and Tobin; Sorin’s twin.

ANTALYA of Waes (679-701). m698 Eltanin. Mother of Tallain. Died of Plague.

ANTO. Guard at Dragon’s Rest.

ARLIS of Kierst-Isel (710-). Son of Latham and Hevatia; heir to both princedoms.

*ARPALI (704-). At Tiglath.

ATHIL (680-703). Father of Ianthe’s son Segev; killed by Ianthe.

AUDRITE of Sandeia (670-). m692 Chadric. Mother of Ludhil, Laric.

BARIG of Gilad. Cousin to Cabar.

BIRANI of Kierst (688-). m708 Obram of Isel.

CABAR (687-). Prince of Gilad. m705 Kenza. Father of Amiel.

*CAMIGWEN (676-701). m698 Ostvel. Mother of Riyan. Died of Plague.

CHADRIC of Dorval (664-). m692 Audrite. Father of Ludhil, Laric. Fostered at Stronghold 677; knighted 683.

CHALE (645-). Prince of Ossetia.

CHALIA of Ossetia (650-695). Chale’s sister. m680 Haldor of Syr. Mother of Jastri, Gemma.

CHANDAR. Guard at Castle Crag.

CHAYNAL (668-). Lord of Radzyn Keep. m690 Tobin. Father of Maarken, Jahni, Andry, Sorin. Battle Commander of the Desert 695-.

CHELAN (670-). Father of Ianthe’s son Ruval.

CHIANA (698-). Roelstra’s daughter by Palila. m719 Halian.

CIPRIS (687-708). Roelstra’s daughter by Surya; killed by Pandsala.

CLADON (681-). Lord of River Ussh. Father of Edrel.

CLUTHA (644-). Prince of Meadowlord.

DAMAYAN. Guard at Dragon’s Rest.

DANLADI (694-). Roelstra’s daughter by Aladra. m720 Kostas.

DAVVI of River Run (665-). Lord of River Run 680-705; Prince of Syr 705-. Sioned’s brother. m686 Wisla. Father of Kostas, Tilal, Riaza.

*DENIKER (705-).
Devri.

*DONATO (671-). Accompanied Sioned to Desert 698. At Castle Crag.

EDREL of River Ussh (715-). Son of Cladon.

ELTANIN (678-). Lord of Tiglath. m698 Antalya. Father of Tallain.

*EOLIE. At Graypearl.

EVAIS (674-). Father of Ianthe’s son Marron.

FEYLIN (684-). m706 Walvis. Mother of Sionell, Jahnavi.

GARIC (642-). Lord of Elktrap Manor. Grandfather of Ruala.

GEIR of Waes (707-). Son of Kiele and Lyell.

GEMMA of Syr (694-). Daughter of Haldor and Chalia. Fostered at High Kirat 704-719. m719 Tilal.

GENNADI of Meadowlord (667-). Regent of Waes 719-. Daughter of Clutha.

*GERIK. Ancient Sunrunner.

*GEVLIA (705-). Itinerant in Gilad.

HALDOR (656-701). Prince of Syr. m680 Chalia. Father of Jastri, Gemma. Died of Plague.

HALIAN of Meadowlord (680-). Son of Clutha. m719 Chiana.

HEVATIA of Isel (682-). m707 Latham. Mother of Arlis.

*HOLLIS (691-). m719 Maarken.

IANTHE of Princemarch (676-704). Lady of Feruche 699-704. Roelstra’s daughter. Mother of Ruval, Marion, Segev, Pol. Killed by Ostvel.

IAVOL. Steward at Castle Crag.

ILIENA of Snowcoves (697-). Sister of Lisiel, Yarin.

INOAT of Ossetia (644-719). Father of Jos. Killed by Pandsala.

JAHNAVI of Remagev (711-). Son of Walvis and Feylin.

JAHNI of Radzyn Keep (693-701). Son of Chay and Tobin; Maarken’s twin. Died of Plague.

JELENA (689-701). Roelstra’s daughter by Palila. Died of Plague.

JOFRA. Guard at Castle Crag.

*JOLAN (702-).
Devri.

JOS of Ossetia (709-719). Son of Inoat. Killed by Pandsala.

KABIL (692-). Lord of Tuath Castle. Grandfather of Rabisa.

KENZA (683-). m705 Cabar. Mother of Amiel.

KIELE (681-719). Roelstra’s daughter by Karayan. m704 Lyell. Mother of Geir, Lyela. Executed.

*KLEVE (681-719). Itinerant Sunrunner killed by Masul.

KOLYA (696-). Lord of Kadar Water.

KOSTAS of River Run (687-). Dawi’s son. Fostered at Fessada 700; knighted 708.

LALLANTE of The Mountain (655-679). m673 Roelstra. Mother of Naydra, Lenala, Pandsala, Ianthe.

LAMIA (683-701). Roelstra’s daughter. Died of Plague.

LARIC of Dorval (698-). Prince of Firon 719-. Son of Chadric and Audrite. Fostered at High Kirat 710; knighted 718.

LAROSHIN. Guards commander at Dragon’s Rest.

LATHAM of Kierst (683-). Son of Volog. m707 Hevatia. Father of Arlis.

LENALA of Princemarch (674-701). Roelstra’s daughter. Died of Plague.

LISIEL of Snowcoves (699-). Sister of Iliena, Yarin.

LLEYN (637-). Prince of Dorval. m660 Aliana of Adni River. Father of Chadric.

LUDHIL of Dorval (694-). Son of Chadric and Audrite. Fostered at Fessada 705; knighted 714.

LYELA of Waes (709-). Daughter of Kiele and Lyell.

LYELL (683-719). Lord of Waes. m704 Kiele. Father of Geir, Lyela. Executed.

*MAARKEN of Radzyn Keep (693-). Lord of Whitecliff. Chay and Tobin’s son; Jahni’s twin. Fostered at Graypearl 702; knighted 712. At Goddess Keep 712-719. m719 Hollis.

MAETA (670-719). Commander of Stronghold guard. Myrdal’s daughter. Killed at Castle Crag.

MARRON of Feruche (701-). Ianthe’s son by Evais.

MASUL (698-719). Pretender to the throne of Princemarch. Killed by Rohan.

*MEATH (673-). Accompanied Sioned to Desert 698. At Graypearl 698-.

MEIGLAN of Gracine Manor (710-). Miyon’s bastard daughter.

*MERISEL. Ancient Sunrunner.

MILAR of Catha Freehold (649-701). m670 Zehava. Andrade’s twin. Mother of Tobin, Rohan. Died of Plague.

MIREVA (659-).
Diarmadhi.
Lallante’s kinswoman.