The Bloodforged (36 page)

He was barely listening. “I suppose I'd better find Highmount, see if there's something I'm supposed to sign or anything now that Erik's back . . .”

Alix brought her tea to her lips, but it had gone quite cold.

*   *   *

Saxon was waiting
for her in the rose garden, as she'd known he would be. He had good instincts; it was one of the things that made him an excellent spy.

Rudi growled at the unfamiliar figure on the bench, but Alix put a hand on his head, and he subsided. “The famous Rudolf,” Saxon said in his grating voice, the hood rippling as he tilted his head to consider the wolfhound. “He is excessively large.”

“And a bit edgy, unfortunately, so I wouldn't make any sudden movements.”

“Always so much excitement with you, Lady Black. If only all my clients were this interesting.”

“I don't think civilisation could cope with having too many clients like me,” she said dully, dropping down beside him.

Saxon said nothing to that. He stared straight ahead, features obscured within the depths of his ever-present hood.

“How did you do it?”

“Now, now, Lady Black, you know better than that. Suffice it to say that everyone has a weakness, and a good spy network makes it their business to learn the weakness of those in key positions. In case the need should ever arise.”

“I suppose it doesn't matter. The job was done, however much I might rue it now.” Her voice didn't sound particularly rueful. It didn't sound like anything at all. It was utterly barren.
This is the worst thing you've ever done.
How would she explain herself to Erik? To anyone?

He turned to look at her, but once again held his tongue.
I must look as bad as I sound
, Alix thought,
if he's declining the opportunity to say
I told you so
.

She decided to say it for him. “You warned me.” She shook her head, dragged the toe of her boot through the gravel. “You tried to tell me that it was no way to stop a war.”

“You give me too much credit. I said that wars rarely end in such a way—not that they could not, or should not. I couldn't have guessed what effect Varad's death might have on the war.”

“But I could have. I knew the King was the weakest of the Trions. I knew it was the Priest who set the Trionate on the path to conquest, and the Warlord who revelled in it. Highmount is right; we had little to gain from Varad's death. And of course his murder would only rally his people.” She would have seen that, if only she'd paused a moment to think. But instead she'd done what she always did, rushing in, letting herself be guided by raw emotion instead of good sense. She'd been so angry, so tired of feeling powerless . . .

One of these days, your recklessness is going to cost you dearly. Cost all of us, perhaps.
Erik's words, a lifetime ago. He'd known she would do something like this someday. The memory only deepened her shame.

“I cannot say what you should or should not have known,” Saxon said. “I am no diplomat, only a humble spy.”

“A very effective one, it seems.”

He grunted. “I wondered. I suppose the rumours would not yet have reached you on the road.”

“What rumours?”

“I may not be as effective as you suppose. My network in Varadast has reason to believe that the attempt we set in motion was a failure.”

She frowned. “I don't understand.”

“Neither do I. No one can confirm whether the rumour is true, but they say the monk was killed by a member of the Crimson Guard before he could finish the job.”

“That makes no sense. Varad is dead. If the monk didn't do it . . .”

“I'm still trying to find out what happened. Varad was old and unwell. Perhaps he died of a heart attack, or some other nervous affliction. Perhaps someone saw an opportunity in
merely letting the public believe he was murdered.” He shrugged. “I truly do not know. Not yet. But I vow that I will do everything in my power to find out.”

Alix nodded, but in truth she didn't much care. Whether the assassin she'd paid for had succeeded or not, Varad was dead, and Erik blamed for the deed, so it amounted to the same thing in the end.
The worst thing you've ever done.
She would have to tell Erik. How he would react in his current state was anyone's guess.

It was as though Saxon read her thoughts. “There is something else you should know. Another rumour.”

“Go on.”

“Your arrival is barely two hours old, and already word is spreading that His Majesty is . . . unwell. That his ordeal in the Broken Mountains has left a terrible mark on his nerves.”

Alix's spine went rigid. At her feet, Rudi stirred, as though sensing her distress. “The king is unwell, it's true,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “A fever, such as afflicted many of us. I had it myself, and it's no small thing. It . . . inflames the emotions. Makes one nervous. But it will pass.”

The spy considered that. “What you have just told me—is this something you wish to get about?”

Alix feigned an indifferent shrug. “As you like. It's not very important.”

He glanced over, but he'd looked away again before she could meet his eye. There was no way of telling whether he believed her. “Is there anything else, my lady?”

“I would say we've done quite enough,” she said bitterly, “wouldn't you?”

Saxon rose. He started to walk away, but then he paused, looking back at her. “I told you once that it is a delicate business, being a spy. But it would seem it is not half so delicate as being Lady Alix Black. Do not punish yourself unduly.”

Alix watched him go, wishing to all the gods she could take that advice.

*   *   *

“It was a
bold stroke,” said Highmount, “and highly successful. Lord Black estimates that the Oridians lost several thousand men. Still a long way from achieving parity, but a tremendous
victory nonetheless. It will be some time before the enemy is able to regroup. Needless to say, it could not come at a better time, considering developments in Harram and Onnan.”

“The Harrami were always a long shot,” Erik said, “but the loss of the fleet is crushing.”

Liam's gaze dropped to the floor. “At least we stopped the saboteurs.” Scant comfort, but it was all he could offer. “The construction should move quickly now.”

“Six months is not my definition of quick,” Erik said. “Still, it's something. In the meantime, we will have to find a way to swell our ranks.”

Highmount lifted an eyebrow. “What did you have in mind, Your Majesty?”

“I'm not sure. I need time to think. At a minimum, we need to reduce the age of recruitment. Fourteen, perhaps.”

Liam swallowed down a bitter laugh. The irony was just too much.

As for Highmount, his left eyebrow climbed even higher. “Perhaps a consultation with Lord Black would be in order before reaching any decision, sire.”

Perhaps you would like to reconsider that truly awful idea, sire.
Liam's newly acquired language skills really were coming in handy.

Erik shrugged. “You're right, of course. Rig may have another brilliant solution tucked away somewhere. He never does cease to amaze.” He smiled at Liam. “We must think of a suitable way of rewarding your brother-in-law.”

Liam tried to return the smile, though he suspected it looked a bit mangled. He was doing his best to observe his brother closely without being obvious about it, but he wasn't at all sure he was pulling it off. He thought Erik might have given him a funny look earlier, but maybe he was just being paranoid. Treasonous thoughts did that to a fellow.

“Riggard Black is a banner lord and commander general of the armies of Alden,” Highmount said dryly. “One struggles to imagine what additional honours we might bestow.”

“Gold is always popular. Rig lost rather a lot of it when Blackhold fell, as I recall.”

“Indeed, but regrettably, the royal treasury is not what it once was.”

“That's putting it mildly,” Liam said. “We took a look in there a few days ago, and let's just say you have a spacious new room in the palace. You could barrack the better part of a battalion in there.”

Erik gave him a cold look. “That amuses you, does it?”

Liam shifted uncomfortably. “Well, no, obviously. Just trying to lighten the mood.”

“At a spectacularly inappropriate moment. How very unlike you.”

Sweet Farika.
Liam had been on the receiving end of a few of those looks from Arran Green, but he'd never had it from Erik. Never seen
anyone
have it from Erik. Alix was right, something was definitely not right here. Even Highmount let his eyebrows twitch just enough to betray unease. “Sorry,” Liam said. “I tend to babble when I'm nervous.”

The ice-blue eyes narrowed. “Why should you be nervous?”

Because you're starting to remind me of the Raven, and just the sight of him made me whimper like a kicked puppy.
“Just haven't seen you in a while, that's all.”

Highmount cleared his throat. “Perhaps we could move on to the matter of Varad's death.”

“What is there to discuss?” Erik said. “It's not as though we can do anything about it.”

“We should issue a proclamation. Deny any and all involvement.”

“I don't see why. It won't do any good. Besides, we may stand to gain from this rumour.”

Highmount's lips parted, but no sound came.

“Sorry, but”—Liam glanced at the struggling Highmount—“how exactly do we stand to gain?”

“We look strong,” Erik said. “First we took out Madan. Then Varad, then we smashed Sadik at the Gunnar, one event hard upon the other. Two Trions dead, the last humiliated. It will give our enemies pause.”

“The Warlord is not a man to pause, Your Majesty,” Highmount said, all but spluttering in his incredulity. “As the sole remaining Trion, he is greatly strengthened by Varad's death. A new King cannot be named until a full year has passed, and the priests show no sign of overcoming their deadlock and appointing a successor to Madan. For the foreseeable future,
Sadik rules alone, and without Varad's restraining influence, he will be more bloodthirsty than ever.”

“I have to say, Erik, I agree.” Liam regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth. Erik gave him another of those
looks
, only this time, there was an added bit of menace to it, a sort of
open-your-mouth-again-and-I'll-see-your-head-on-a-pike
quality.

“Thank you for your opinion, Liam,” Erik said. “Now may I ask you to leave us? The chancellor and I have much to discuss.”

“No problem,” Liam said, already halfway out of his seat. “Enjoy.”

He headed straight for the royal apartments, his step as brisk as he could make it without drawing attention to himself. He had to find Allie. They needed to talk.

They needed to
do something
.

*   *   *

“I suppose I
don't need to tell you,” Erik said when his brother had gone, “that I am not pleased with your decision to put Liam in charge in my absence.”

Highmount brushed at some imaginary dust on his breeches. “You have made your sentiments clear, Your Majesty. I regret the error. Obviously, I had not anticipated your concerns.”

“Quite frankly, Chancellor, that baffles me. After the wreck Liam made of the Onnani situation, I cannot understand how you thought it a good idea to make him regent of my country.”

“The Council all agreed. His Highness is very well liked, and after all, he is a White.”

“Half.”

Highmount paused a beat. “With respect, Your Majesty, not anymore. You made certain of that last year.”

Erik squeezed his eyes shut and massaged his temples. His headache was growing worse. “Though it pains me to admit, Highmount, I'm afraid you were right. I should not have acknowledged Liam in the middle of a war. It was sheerest folly. My position is too weak to have this kind of destabilising factor come into play.”

The old man grunted. “Be that as it may, it is done now. There is no going back.”

“I don't see why not.”

“I . . . pardon?” Highmount sat forward a little in his seat, as though he was not quite sure he had heard correctly. It was possible he hadn't; he really was very old. Past his prime, certainly, but perhaps worse than that.
I'll need to replace him soon
, Erik thought. But was there anyone else he could trust? Tom had poisoned so many against him . . .

Aloud, he said, “I'm sure we can find a discreet way of keeping my half brother out of trouble.”

“I am not sure I follow.”

“He has only been in the palace a short time. No one would notice if he were to spend a little time . . . away.”

“Away, sire?”

“I don't like it any better than you do, but the situation is getting out of hand. Anyway, it doesn't have to be anything drastic. He can be made comfortable, wherever we put him.”

“Put him?”

“Good gods, man, is there an echo in here?”

“I am simply astonished, sire. Where do you propose to
put him
? And what in the Domains would you do about his wife?”

“I can handle Alix.”

The chancellor gave a manic sort of laugh. “I am not certain what brought this on, but now is definitely not the time to quarrel with your brother. If nothing else, think of how it will look.”

“I know how it will look,” Erik snapped. He also knew how Liam had looked, the surreptitious little glances he'd been throwing Erik's way for the past hour. Erik had seen those looks from a brother before, though he hadn't recognised them at the time. He had trusted Tom blindly, and very nearly paid for it with his crown. He would not make that mistake again.