Green Rider (57 page)

Martel glanced at Captain Mapstone. "Do you trust her word? Is she not the one who tried to kill you?"

The captain nodded tiredly. "She speaks the truth. The compulsion placed on her by the Eletian is mostly gone, as far as I can tell. There is still a residue of the spell, but I believe it is fading. Besides, the message brought to us by Karigan confirms Amilton's intent."

Karigan squirmed as the horse marshal's light gray eyes fell on her.

"Then we ride," he said.

"Just like that?" the captain asked. "You won't know anything about the prince's force or its position."

Martel stuck his chin out resolutely. It was covered by a dense but closely cropped flaxen beard. "My soldiers are well trained in reconnaissance, not to mention fighting if it comes to—"

"With all due respect, Marshal," Beryl broke in, "your soldiers almost panicked at the sight of this battle's aftermath. You expect them to face five hundred of the enemy?"

"Beryl—" Captain Mapstone said in warning.

Martel's eyes flashed in anger. "I will not have this Rider insult-“

King Zachary raised his hand to stop them. "Hold, my friends, hold. Captain Mapstone is right. We cannot rush in without knowing what we are up against. And the horse marshal is right, too. His riders are trained for reconnaissance."

"Do we know something of what we're up against, then?" asked one of the horse marshal's officers.

"Major?" said King Zachary.

Beryl inclined her head to the king. "Before we left Mirwellton—the governor and I—" She hastened a quick glance at the old man who sat some distance away with D'rang under the watchful eyes of cavalry guards. "—the governor mustered Mirwellton regulars and hired some merc companies to follow the prince to take the castle."

"Even with thousands of soldiers," King Zachary said, "he would be hard-pressed to take the castle. It is well fortified."

"And the castle has been warned," Captain Mapstone added.

"He was prepared for a siege, my lord, and do not forget he knows the castle almost as well as you. And there is one other thing…" Beryl looked about the group with haunted eyes. "You, my lord, were not the only one to have someone inside the enemy's court."

"What?" Zachary cried.

"Crowe," Captain Mapstone snarled. "It must be him."

"The castellan?" Martel's expression was incredulous.

"Yes," Beryl said. "On two occasions I tried to warn you. Once when Rider M'farthon delivered the ball and banquet invitation to Lord Mirwell, and a second time when I tried to speak to Karigan after the ball. Both times I was thwarted."

Karigan tensed as Beryl glanced at her, but the Rider's expression was not accusatory.

"I left Crowe in charge," Zachary muttered.

"It is because of him we arrived so late," Martel said. "He kept delaying me."

To Karigan, a shadow seemed to drop over the king. Another betrayal. First his brother, then one of his liege lords. Now one of his most trusted advisors. In his eyes, she could see him asking himself why, but he would never voice it. He could not, at least not now, for he was king and his duty was to lead fearlessly. In an odd way, his hurt pleased her, for it made him human and not simply a king with a hard visage who ruled without compassion. She hoped the intrigue and betrayals would never make him indifferent and callous to his people.

"I can send a small detachment for reconnaissance," Martel was saying. "They would not be detected in the dark. Once we know what your brother has achieved, we can plan our next move."

The king sighed. "If he has taken the castle, it means exile for me until I can muster a force large enough to retake it."

"I will be with you, my lord," Martel said with his fist to his heart. The others in the circle added their resounding agreement.

King Zachary was visibly touched. "Then there is nothing more for today, except to get some reconn—"

A shout went up from among some of Martel's soldiers on the perimeter. "Rider coming!"

Hands fell to swords and the group ringed themselves around the king.

"It's a Green Rider!"

All relaxed a bit with this news, but did not let down their guard. Soon, the approach of hoofbeats was clearly heard, and a Rider galloped at full speed into the valley. He hauled on the reins of his gray steed, dismounting simultaneously. He was a silhouette in the dusk as he approached with long strides. King Zachary's remaining Weapon, Rory, put himself between the messenger and the king.

"It's all right," Captain Mapstone said quietly. "I know him. It's Connly."

The young man's dark hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat. He had run his horse hard to reach them, and without slowing his stride, he came before the king and dropped to one knee.

"Sire," he said.

"Do you bear news, Messenger?"

"Yes, my lord." He stood up then and looked around at each of them. When his dark eyes rested on Karigan, they registered surprise. Just as quickly, his gaze shifted back to the king. "My lord, the castle has been taken."

The king seemed to sink into himself. Exclamations of dismay passed among the others.

"But I warned Captain Able," Captain Mapstone said.

"Treachery was at work, then." Connly placed his hand on her sleeve. "I am sorry, but he and some others hang at the castle gates."

"He was a good man," Martel said.

The others stood silently in disbelief in the midst of chorusing peepers.

Finally, Captain Mapstone shook her head. "He was a good man, and a good friend. We've lost so many… good friends."

"Yet I am grateful," Connly said, "to have found my captain and my king alive. I suspect our enemies believe you were defeated here, but when they hear nothing of victory by sunrise, they may grow suspicious and send someone to look things over. It is not safe to stay."

"We can withdraw to another place," Martel said.

The king waved the idea off. "We will do that, but first I want to hear what Rider Connly knows of the takeover."

"Actually, very little, Excellency, except no one in the city is panicked."

The king smiled grimly. "Another day, another king. Just so long as it does not interfere with their lives."

"I was spending some time at an inn I frequent on Chantey Street," Connly explained, "after a vigorous run. Osric, another Rider, was filling me in on the strange happenings over the past couple of weeks. We heard the hoofbeats of Prince Amilton's army riding in, followed by siege engines and infantry. They simply marched through the city gates. No one was there to close them or defend them. The city went on about its business, people moving aside as the prince rode in. Some along the streets even cheered and hailed him."

Zachary winced. "Yes, my brother has always had his supporters."

"Very true, Sire, though there was a show of force at the castle gates. Osric and I followed the army, watching and trying to keep out of sight, of course."

"How did they get in?"

"They scaled the scaffolding set up for repair on the castle wall, my lord," Connly said. "They climbed over the wall and took Captain Able and killed many others. The guard seemed to lose its spirit then."

Zachary shook his head. "The scaffolding. Crowe told me the wall needed repair."

"Beyond that," Connly said, "I don't know what transpired behind the castle gates, except the gates were opened and the prince rode right through."

"How did you know where to find us?" the King asked.

"Osric had heard of the king's annual hunt, where it was headed, and of a bunch running off after you. I fled the city before anyone noticed me, hoping to find you alive and well. Osric is still in the city, trying to locate other Riders and regular militia who are still loyal."

"Well done, Connly," Captain Mapstone said. She turned to King Zachary and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You cannot blame yourself for this. This is your brother's doing."

"There was a time when I would have gladly given him the throne."

"I know, but you gave up your personal freedom to lead Sacoridia, so your brother would not destroy it."

"He may still."

The evening darkened a shade deeper, and the chorus of peepers quickened like a heartbeat.

"Is there anything else, Connly?" Beryl asked.

"Yes." He settled his gaze on Karigan, and a tremor of fear ran up her spine. "Your father came seeking you."

"
What
?" Karigan stood ramrod straight.

"This was our second meeting, as Captain Mapstone can attest. He thought the captain or I would have information about your whereabouts. He must have seen me on the street and followed me to the inn. This was before Prince Amilton and his army came through. Of course, I had heard of your remarkable journey and arrival, but little more than that. He was surprised and more than a little gratified to hear you were even alive. He questioned me as to where he could find you. Last I had heard, you were still at the castle. I sent him there to find you."

It took a moment for what he had said to sink in. “You sent my father to the castle
before
Prince Amilton arrived?"

Connly looked at his feet. "I'm sorry. I assume he got caught up in events, but I didn't know what was about to happen."

Karigan thought she was going to explode with anger and frustration, but she just turned away with clenched hands, missing the king's look of sympathy.

"We must think about our next move," Martel said.

"I think I have an idea," Beryl Spencer said, "but it means we are going to have to move fast, and it means we need someone to go inside the castle gates to look the situation over."

"I'll do it."

Everyone looked at Karigan in astonishment, and she stepped right up to Beryl, her expression one of sheer determination.

"Karigan—" the king started.

"I said I will do it. I'll get into the castle."

Beryl started to protest, but Captain Mapstone motioned her to silence. "Yes. Karigan will do it."

WOMAN OF THE SHADOWS

The shadows absorbed Karigan.

She darted from the dark side of one building to another. She was like a phantom, fading in and out, and if anyone marked her passage through the streets of Sacor City, they might discount it later as some vision, or a trick of their eyes.

Karigan used her brooch to the full extent of its powers, using it to conceal her from the armed militia of Prince Amilton Hillander. Some roamed the open streets, others stood on the city walls. But the city was not closed, nor the populace molested.
Yet. A
wise move on Amilton's part— the more he left folk to their ordinary lives, the quicker they would accept him as their new king, and the less chance he would face a rebellion.

A few folk still meandered on the streets. Peddlers closed up their hand carts and pushed them away for the night. Others entered inns and pubs. A good portion of the populace was in for the night, and they did not notice if there was a green flicker where the gold light of their lamps spilled out into the dark.