FORBIDDEN TALENTS (23 page)

“
Indeed.
”
Ragni glanced at the closed door to Neven’s bedchamber.
“
You’ll have to assign someone else to look into it. Someone you trust. You won’t have time now.
”

Dahl lowered his voice even further.
“
I need to keep a close eye on this. Perhaps I’ll get Fender to help me. Other than you, he’s the only one I can trust that much. If the assassin got Eirik to talk before he killed him, the investigation could reveal some rather awkward information. Especially since I must lead now.
”

And if Dahl were discovered to be Fey-marked, the Jarldom could fall to Ragni. His stomach twisted into a tight icy knot. No. Ragni refused to worry about that now.
“
Yes, of course. You’re right. You need to keep someone you trust on this.
”

“
Speaking of obligations, it’s just as well you were with Utta tonight.
”

“
We weren’t—
”

Dahl raised his brows, too much like Father for comfort.

Ragni shut his mouth on his protest.
“
Never mind.
”

Dahl continued.
“
I want the betrothal to go forward the day after tomorrow as planned—if you and she are willing.
”

Willing. Utta seemed to be. Was he?
An arranged union was what he’d always expected. But now with Neven struck down and Saeun dead, he found it difficult to consider the prospect with any enthusiasm.

“
Assuming Magnus still wants the alliance,
”
Ragni said.

“
I think he will. As long as you don’t give Utta any reason to change his mind.
”

Ragni remained silent. He couldn’t fault his brother for thinking of such things even as they worried about Neven. Father had trained him to think of Nuvinland and Quartzholm first. Dahl would need strong allies like Magnus if Neven died or couldn’t return to rule. Fortunately, while Utta had been angry when he arrived she had grown less so as they talked. She’d even seemed sympathetic about Saeun. He didn’t think Utta would withdraw from the betrothal. But then, she might not think him such a bargain if she could no longer ally her family to a Kon through him. She might prefer a different alliance.

Had
she left a lover behind at home in Dalrik?

*

“
He may well recover,
”
Dahleven said to the assembled Jarls the next morning. It wasn’t a lie, even if it probably wasn’t the truth either.

He’d waited until long after breakfast to summon them and tell them of Neven’s illness. He’d delayed, hoping for some sign of recovery, until he could postpone it no longer. At least Neven hadn’t grown worse.
“
Helbreden is confident this is a brain attack, but he refuses to predict the outcome. These things can vary considerably in their eventual resolution.
”
Dahleven was glad he didn’t have to deny the situation with Magnus, Solveig, and Hafdan. They were close allies. He’d be more cautious about what he told the Tewakwe.

Dahleven resumed his seat at the head of the table in Neven’s formal meeting room. He’d chosen this venue deliberately to emphasize his authority, but it felt strange to sit in his Father’s place. It was too soon.

He’d been born and bred for this, to take Neven’s place as Jarl. He’d known the eventuality of it was as inevitable as sunrise, but he’d never been eager for it. Now it had come to him, wanted or not, and sooner than he’d ever expected.

He surveyed the expressions of the Jarls. Apparently the rumors had run slowly this morning. Only Magnus had known of Neven’s illness before the meeting—from Utta. Hafdan looked stunned, Solveig worried, and Magnus grieved.

“
Hel and Loki,
”
Hafdan muttered.

“
Do the Tewakwe know?
”
Solveig asked.

“
I haven’t told them yet.
”

“
You shouldn’t,
”
Hafdan said.

Solveig rolled her eyes.
“
He can hardly keep it a secret. Not without insulting them with Neven’s absence.
”

“
It’s not likely they could be kept ignorant, regardless. Unless you know of a way to keep servants from talking,
”
Magnus added.

Hafdan shook his head.
“
What a time to lose our Kon.
”

“
He isn’t dead, and he may well recover,
”
Dahleven said, clamping down on his anger. Hafdan had only spoken the obvious.

“
Yes, that’s true,
”
Magnus said.
“
He may yet recover. But I know a little about these brain attacks. The victims are seldom whole again. A warrior may fight on though he loses a hand, but a Kon must be whole.
”

Dahleven hated the sad compassion in Magnus’s eyes. Hated that he was right. A Kon was the living symbol of the country’s health and well-being. He couldn’t be weak.

“
Then what of Nuvinland? We can hardly do without an active Kon,
”
Hafdan said.

“
What use is a Kon in the winter?
”
Solveig asked.
“
Come summer and the Althing, if Neven is no better, then we will elect another.
”

“
Solveig is right.
”
Magnus gestured toward the only woman at the table.
“
Dahleven can well stand in his father’s stead as Jarl. With winter soon to shut our doors, there is little a Kon need do.
”

Dahleven kept a neutral expression.
“
Thank you, Lord Magnus.
”
Even if he were Jarl in fact, as the least senior of the Jarls he wouldn’t expect to be chosen Kon. Still, Magnus and Solveig’s support came painfully close to sounding like,
“
Let the boy play, he can’t do any harm.
”
He was hardly a boy, and Neven had trained him well. He was certainly better prepared to take his place as Jarl than Hafdan had been when he’d assumed Jorund’s seat. But it served no purpose to dwell on that. He’d have ample time to prove himself.
“
There is another matter of some importance,
”
he continued.

“
Yes, indeed.
”
Magnus looked Dahleven in the eye.
“
The betrothal.
”

Dahleven watched Magnus carefully. Neven and Magnus had been allies and friends since boyhood. But with Neven ill, Magnus’s daughter might not be betrothed to a Kon’s son for long.
“
Perhaps the matter should be discussed in private?
”
If he had to renegotiate the terms of the agreement, he’d rather not have an audience.

Magnus shook his head.
“
No need. Whatever we decide will be known swiftly enough among us all.
”

Dahleven nodded once, keeping his air of authority firmly in place.
“
Very well. It’s Neven’s will that the betrothal take place tomorrow as planned, if Utta is willing.
”
Neven had not yet expressed his will about anything, but Magnus didn’t need to know that.

“
Utta has no objection.
”
Magnus looked Dahleven squarely in the eye.
“
Nor do I. Tomorrow it is.
”

*

“
That’s the situation,
”
Ragni finished, and leaned back in his chair in Wirmund’s chamber. He tried to read Wirmund, but could barely sense the Overprest’s dismay. Ragni ground his teeth, trying to get his emotions under enough control to use his Talent. What was wrong with him?
Nothing much. Just Saeun’s death, his father’s illness, impending betrothal, and an assassin in the castle
.

Wirmund frowned and tapped his hands on the arms of his throne-like chair. The gold ring on his right forefinger clunked against the lion claw carved into the end of the armrest.
“
The Kon’s ill health could hardly have come at a worse time.
”

Ragni nodded. There was no point feeling affronted by Wirmund’s callousness. The man was right. And while Wirmund and Neven had worked well together for the stability of Nuvinland, no one would call them close.

“
Your brother will be assuming Kon Neven’s duties, of course. I will assist in any way I can to smooth the way for a stable transition.
”

“
Thank you, Overprest.
”

“
Quartzholm will be kept safe until Neven recovers. I will have Father Sigg perform a Great Healing.
”
Wirmund rose and spoke briefly to the guard standing outside his door.

“
Sigg? I’m your Second. I should do it,
”
Ragni said. It was a difficult ritual. Dangerous. He didn’t want anyone else taking the risk.

“
Sigg is as capable as you. And we can’t have you depleted tomorrow at your betrothal ceremony. Or after,
”
Wirmund added with a wry smile.

A quick rap on the door preceded the entrance of Father Sigg and Father Vali, Wirmund’s Third and Fourth in order of precedence.

“
Father Sigg, I need you to perform a Greater Healing on Kon Neven. Father Vali, you will assist him,
”
Wirmund commanded.

Ragni’s Talent was still too clouded by his own emotions, but Sigg’s shock was apparent on his face.
“
Kon Neven! What’s happened?
”
He looked at Ragni.

Ragni forced himself to relate the details of Neven’s collapse again.

“
Oh, Ragni! I’m sorry.
”
Sigg put a hand on his shoulder.
“
I’ll do my best for him.
”

With his touch, Ragni could feel the man’s genuine sorrow and his determination. He stood and grasped Sigg’s wrist.
“
I know you will. There’s no one I’d rather have. Thank you.
”

“
We’ll both do everything in our power to restore the Kon.
”
Vali inclined his head, hand over his purple badge of office.

“
Very good. You may proceed as soon as your preparations are complete.
”
Wirmund waved a dismissal and turned back to Ragni.
“
Now, what else needs my attention?
”

“
At present there is nothing—
”

“
What of the investigation of the skald’s murder? To whom has Lord Dahleven given that duty?
”

“
He will continue with that himself.
”

“
Ridiculous.
”
Wirmund’s hand swept out in a dismissive gesture.
“
He has more important things to attend to now.
”

Ragni leaned forward. He didn’t like where this was heading.
“
The man was his sworn vassal. Dahleven takes such things very seriously.
”

“
And that is to his credit. But he is Jarl now, or acting as such. He will have many men sworn to him. He can’t focus on each of their concerns personally. His position now requires him to look at the broader ‘scape.
”
Wirmund paused, then nodded in decision.
“
I’ll do it. This requires immediate attention. We cannot have assassins killing within the walls of Quartzholm. Lord Dahleven can have no doubt I will give the matter all the attention it deserves.
”

No
! What little Ragni could read of Wirmund’s feelings vanished in an obscuring fog of alarm. If Halla or the killer had learned anything from Eirik before he died, it might well be damaging to Dahleven. Wirmund would never turn a blind eye to Dahleven being Fey-marked. The Jarldom would fall to Ragni, and he absolutely did
not
want it. Wirmund couldn’t be the one to look into this.
“
But you’re the Overprest. There’s no need for someone of your stature to concern yourself. Lord Fendrikanin will help him, or I can do this for Dahleven.
”

Wirmund smiled.
“
You are a loyal brother, Father Ragnar, but you, too, have other matters to concern you. You will be betrothed tomorrow, and that union will add to the stability of Quartzholm and all Nuvinland. Your father’s illness is strain enough. I will not command you in this as your Overprest, but I feel strongly you should not distract yourself further from your duty to Lady Utta, and to Quartzholm.
”