Lescari Revolution 03: Banners In The Wind (54 page)

Aremil shook his head. 'You have nothing to answer for. It's Branca, Kerith and I who must explain ourselves.' His gaze slid to Serafia. 'She's coming too, her and Kip. I don't think they'll be coming back after everything they've endured here.'

'I think I understand.' Some part of Tathrin envied them. There were all too many memories that he wouldn't mind leaving behind.

A smile twisted Aremil's face. 'After that, provided Mentor Tonin hasn't banished me to the Wildlands beyond Solura, I will present myself to the University mentors. They can record my parentage however they wish as long as they grant me their ring and seal. Scholar is the only title I seek.'

'You'll secure their approval ten times over.' A shadow still dimmed Tathrin's tentative tranquillity. 'Though I thought we were done with all this travelling.'

'Why should you think that?' Charoleia smiled down. 'You'll need to meet at every festival to keep watch on each Conclave.' Her sweeping glance encompassed them all. 'I can already tell you who I've noted pleading rather too urgently for particular Guilds and towns.'

'We have shared much of Master Hamare's wisdom.'

Litasse's nod startled Tathrin. Didn't she know Charoleia had ordered the master intelligencer's death? He would have thought the erstwhile duchess would sooner have cut her throat as cooperated with her.

But Litasse continued, composed. 'I shall offer a sympathetic ear to those nobles who might fall prey to discontent.'

Sorgrad smiled fondly at her. 'While Gren and I will keep you all apprised of swordsmen getting too nostalgic for the old days.'

Tathrin looked at Aremil. 'Did you know about this?'

Aremil shrugged. 'No, but it makes sense. This new settlement is still so fragile and Lescar cannot thrive if we're caught unawares by some new Reniack.'

'Though the fear of some new Reniack might have its uses,' mused Charoleia. 'The longer the people's need to cooperate persists, the more ingrained the habit becomes. Then it'll be all the harder for anyone to upset the balance of the Conclave.'

Tathrin looked at Failla. 'So we're still not done with spies and conspiracies.'

'I'd rather talk of necessary vigilance,' Aremil reproved, 'to maintain this balance of rights and responsibilities that we have devised.'

All at once, Tathrin felt absurdly happy. Now he realised what had cast this black cloud over him in recent days. It had been the thought of everyone going their separate ways after they had shared so much. Knowing they would continue to meet united in common purpose? The prospect warmed him like the wine in his belly. He blinked, belatedly realising how strong that wine was on his very empty stomach.

He lay back on the cushions by Aremil. Kerith was discussing the different routes back to Vanam with Branca. Serafia was talking to Litasse while Gren was chuckling at some jest of his brother's.

'Sorgrad,' Tathrin called out. 'Where is Master Gruit? Don't tell me you don't know.'

'He's in Vithrancel,' the Mountain Man replied.

'Truly?' Tathrin marvelled at the thought of the bold old man braving the ocean crossing to Tormalin's newfound, unexplored lands. 'Well, I don't suppose his creditors will chase him all that way.'

'We have friends over there,' Gren commented. 'They'll lend him a hand if needs be.'

'Good.' Tathrin was pleased. After all, they owed the canny merchant debts that went so far beyond coin.

Failla was content to hold him close in companionable silence. Looking up, Tathrin saw the first stars appearing as the sun sank far away in the west. He yawned sleepily.

There was a great deal still to do but there were a great many people to do it, he realised with profound relief. It wasn't all his responsibility.

He wasn't some great man of history. He had simply been one of this valiant circle of men and women who had found themselves in the right place, at the right time. Who had fought to be there just often enough through this past year.

They had succeeded, and all they had done, all they had achieved, all they had endured, had forged ties between them that would never be broken.

He felt Failla slipping into sleep beside him and let himself drift into a dreamless reverie.

When he woke they would see a new dawn, a new day, a new life in a peaceful Lescar.

Dukedoms of Lescar

EXILES AND REBELS

Tathrin: Originally from the Lescari dukedom of Carluse, apprenticed to Master Wyess, a fur trader in Vanam.

Aremil: A nobleman crippled from birth living a scholarly life in Vanam.

Lyrlen: His loyal nurse.

Reniack: A rabble rouser and pamphleteer, born to a whore in the mercenary enclave of Carif. Leader of the mob that murdered Parnilesse's ducal family, thus breaking his ties with the Vanam exiles and rebels.

Jettin: An Aetheric adept of Lescari blood born in Vanam. Now wholly committed to Reniack's independent cause.

Lady Derenna: A noblewoman exiled from Sharlac when her husband fell foul of the duke

Lord Rousharn of Nolsedge: Her husband and would-be Duke of Sharlac.

Master Gruit: A Vanam wine merchant originally from Marlier.

Failla: Previously mistress to Duke Garnot of Carluse.

Anilt: Her daughter.

Lathi: Failla's cousin and Anilt's foster-mother

Serafia: Failla's cousin and mother to the orphaned Kip.

Derou: Their aunt and Ernout's sister.

Ernout: Priest of Saedrin at the shrine in Carluse town and Failla's uncle.

Master Settan and Master Findrin: Guildmasters of Carluse town, conspiring with Ernout to relieve local people's suffering.

Master Odlan: Their ally in Ashgil

Jerich Sayron: Innkeeper at the Ring of Birches. An ally of the Guildmasters and Tathrin's father.

Ersegan: His son by marriage, a farrier by trade.

Granal Camador: Priest of Misaen's shrine on the Losand Road. Ally of Master Ernout and the Woodsmen.

Reher: A mageborn blacksmith now commanding the Carluse Militia.

Milar: A Carluse innkeeper, ally of Ernout and the Guildmasters, Reher's lieutenant.

Vrist: Castle groom, Failla's cousin, now marching with the Carluse Militia.

Branca: A student at Vanam's University, born of Lescari blood. Adept at using the ancient enchantments called Artifice.

Kerith: Scholar and Aetheric adept, Vanam born of Lescari blood.

Mentor Tonin: A Vanam scholar unravelling the secrets of Artifice.

Charoleia: An intelligent and beautiful information broker.

Her aliases include Lady Alaric, Mistress Larch, Lady Rochiel,

Mistress Halisoun, Mistress Lanagyre, the Relict Den Sarascol.

Trissa: Her maid, murdered by the renegade mage, Minelas.

Welgren: Travelling apothecary now in charge of tending all those wounded in the course of the rebellion's battles.

Sorgrad and Gren: Mountain-born brothers. Mercenaries long involved in shady dealings the length and breadth of Einarinn.

Evord Fal Breven: Captain General of the Exiles' Army.

Dagaran Esk Breven: His principle lieutenant, also from the ancient Kingdom of Solura, to the far west of the Great Forest.

Sia Kersain: Dalasorian Clan Lord and commander of the

northern grassland lancers.

Rega Taszar: A Dalasorian clan lord.

Pata Mezian: A Dalasorian clan lord.

Mercenary companies hired by Captain General Evord include:

The Wyvern Hunters, commanded by Captain Arest

The Gallowsfruit, commanded by The Hanged Man.

Juxon's Raiders

The Tallymen

Longshanks

Vendist's Spearmen

Nyer's Watch

The Shearlings

The Sundowners

The Wheelwrights

Lescari Militiamen:

Dinant: Sergeant at Arms, Losand

Brimel, Halarey, Akaver and Quenel. Journeymen, Triolle.

THE DUKES OF LESCAR

CARLUSE

Insignia: a black boar's head on a white ground.

Colours: black and white

Duke Garnot: Slain in the fighting for Tyrle.

Duchess Tadira: Born sister to the Duke of Parnilesse, slain in the Carluse Garrison uprising.

Lord Ricart: Heir to the dukedom, slain in the Carluse Garrison uprising.

Veblen: Duke Garnot's bastard son, killed in battle two years ago.

Corrad: Carluse Castle's horse master.

Lord Zervan: a nobleman in exile in Caladhria.

TRIOLLE

Insignia: a green grebe on a pale yellow ground.

Colours: green and yellow

Duke Iruvain: Succeeded his father Duke Gerone barely a year ago.

Litasse: His duchess, born daughter of the Duke of Sharlac.

Pelletria: Her attendant and confidante. Also an enquiry agent. Previously confidante of the late Duchess Casatia. Killed in a fall down stairs.

Karn: An enquiry agent. Born in Marlier and orphaned as a child.

Lord Roreth: Duke Iruvain's brother and heir, slain in the Battle of Pannal

Hamare: Litasse's lover, Triolle's spymaster and erstwhile scholar of Col's university. Now dead.

Minelas of Grynth: A renegade wizard, treacherous and depraved, deservedly dead.

SHARLAC

Insignia: a russet stag on a green ground.

Colours: brown and green

Duke Moncan: Slain in the battle for Sharlac Castle.

Lord Kerlin: Second son and heir, slain in the battle for Sharlac Castle.

Lord Jaras: Heir to Sharlac previously killed in battle by Veblen of Carluse.

Duchess Aphanie: Mother of Litasse of Triolle, now widowed.

Lord Leysen: Still loyal to the old regime and a conduit for Duchess Aphanie's letters.

Lord Cullough of Satheron Manor: Acting as intermediary between Duchess Aphanie and the exiles and rebels in the interests of peace for all.

DRAXIMAL

Insignia: a golden brazier on a blue ground.

Colours: red and gold

Duke Secaris and Duchess Nisina: Aremil's parents.

Lord Cassat: Draximal's heir, slain in the fighting for Tyrle.

Lord Matrim: The dukedom's surviving male heir.

MARLIER

Insignia: three silver swords on a scarlet ground.

Colours: silver-grey and red

Duke Ferdain.

Ridianne the Vixen: His mistress and captain of his mercenaries.

Duchess Hidarin: His wife, living independently in her demesne of Saltebre.

Lord Jainen: One of Duke Ferdain's numerous, obsequious retinue.

Hamber: Horse master in Marlier Castle.

PARNILESSE

Insignia: a green wreath overlaying black sword and halberd crossed on a blue ground.

Colours: green and black

Duke Orlin and Duchess Sherista: Murdered by Reniack's mob along with all their children.

Lord Geferin: Duke Orlin's brother and commander of his army. Died in the Battle of Pannal.

Lord Brehard: Last of Duke Orlin's brothers. Murdered by Reniack's mob like every other relative by blood or by marriage.

Mercenary companies serving the dukes of Lescar include:

Wynald's Warband (defeated and disbanded after the battle for Losand)

The Moonrakers

The Red Hounds

The Slippery Eels

The Locksmiths

The Tunnellers' Sons

The Quicksilver Men

Steelhands

Alsar's Eaglets

The Flintstrikers

The Brassnecks.