The King of the Crags (31 page)
‘She’ll starve everyone else as well. Even herself.’
Jeiros got up and walked to the window. Outside, the sun was close to the horizon.
They’ve probably finished building the cages now. Shezira and Valgar will be hanging outside the gates. What’s left of them.
They’ve probably finished building the cages now. Shezira and Valgar will be hanging outside the gates. What’s left of them.
‘I don’t think she’s going to have much of a choice. Or she may not care. If she’s got half her mother’s stubbornness . . . Have you met her?’
‘No.’
‘Pity.’ He was pacing back and forth now, unable to contain the nervous energy crackling through his limbs. ‘I can’t take any chances, Vioros, and neither can you. If the potions run out among the Adamantine eyries, who do you serve? Zafir or the Order?’
‘I serve the Order.’
‘Of course you do, of course you do. If the speaker goes to war, we shall stop supplying and stockpile at the redoubt instead. We simply can’t afford to lose any more. I shall tell the speaker. I’ll have to tell the other master alchemists too. Warn them. I suppose I’ll have to tell all the eyrie-masters that they might have to fly to Valeford and pick up their potions from there. Make sure your alchemists are ready to do what needs to be done if it comes to the worst. Make sure they’ve got plenty of what they’ll need. Ancestors! I know we’ve put down dragons before, but has anyone ever put down an entire eyrie of them? I don’t think they have! How soon could you be prepared here? I mean if you had to be? If it had to be done?’
‘A matter of days.’
‘You realise that
everyone
will try to stop you. You won’t only have the speaker’s riders and servants and probably half the Scales against you, you’ll have the Adamantine Guard to contend with as well.’
everyone
will try to stop you. You won’t only have the speaker’s riders and servants and probably half the Scales against you, you’ll have the Adamantine Guard to contend with as well.’
‘They rarely pay much attention.’
‘So be it. I shall come for an inspection of the Adamantine eyrie before the week is out. Now to warn the others.’
Vioros groaned. ‘More letters?’
‘More letters.’
Jeiros was halfway through writing the first when a violent knocking shook the door. He jumped, startled by the sudden sound. He looked at the letter. His hand had twitched in the middle of a stroke and the word was ruined. He’d have to start again.
‘Who is it and what do you want?’ he snapped. No one ought to be banging on his door. The juniors in the order were permitted a timid knock and the speaker wouldn’t bother; she’d simply barge in.
The banging came again. With a growl of irritation, Jeiros got up. He opened the door.
‘Tassan.’ He blinked, taken aback. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the Night Watchman here. Usually they avoided each other, following some ancient unwritten law that the Order and Adamantine Men simply didn’t get along.
Apart from a few nights ago. But then these weren’t usual times.
‘Acting Grand Master.’ Vale Tassan bowed politely.
He got my title right
, Jeiros noticed.
A little too much accent on the Acting though.
He got my title right
, Jeiros noticed.
A little too much accent on the Acting though.
‘We are extremely busy, thanks largely to you, so I would appreciate it if you were brief.’ Jeiros didn’t move aside. He certainly didn’t want the Night Watchman seeing the letters on the desk.
‘I have two things on my mind.’ Vale stepped forward. Jeiros still didn’t move. The Night Watchman cocked his head. ‘May I come in or shall we discuss my business out here where anyone might overhear us. Both my matters are somewhat sensitive.’
Jeiros glanced over his shoulder. Vioros had already cleared the desk. With a sharp nod, Jeiros moved aside.
‘I shan’t ask what you were writing,’ said Vale. ‘I’m sure it’s not my business.’
‘We’ve been writing all day, Night Watchman. You made three new queens today.’
Tassan smiled. ‘Two. Jehal’s not dead yet.’
‘That is merely a matter of time, Night Watchman.’
‘I am not so sure of that.’ Vale sat down in the chair Vioros had vacated. Somehow that only emphasised how massive the man was.
He could probably rip me apart with his bare hands.
He could probably rip me apart with his bare hands.
‘Well I am
quite
sure,’ snapped Jeiros. Something about the Adamantine Man was rubbing him the wrong way.
Maybe I’m just tired. Or maybe he should have done something weeks ago. Or maybe I simply blame him for wielding the sword. He said it himself: ‘The Guard obeys orders. From birth to death. Nothing more, nothing less.’ Is that really all he is?
quite
sure,’ snapped Jeiros. Something about the Adamantine Man was rubbing him the wrong way.
Maybe I’m just tired. Or maybe he should have done something weeks ago. Or maybe I simply blame him for wielding the sword. He said it himself: ‘The Guard obeys orders. From birth to death. Nothing more, nothing less.’ Is that really all he is?
‘I’m sure you know best.’ Said in the tone of voice of someone quite sure that Jeiros
didn’t
know best.
didn’t
know best.
‘Night Watchman, we have a very great deal to do thanks to your work today, so I would appreciate it if you got to the point. What can I do for you?’
‘All right, I’ll be blunt then. There’s a war coming. Let’s start with that.’
Jeiros felt insulted. ‘You think I’m blind? I seem to remember coming to
you
for some help in stopping it.’
you
for some help in stopping it.’
Vale shrugged. ‘So many eyes seem to be screwed wilfully shut these days. Since you’ve seen it coming, I’m sure you’ll be well prepared to support the speaker’s dragons in whatever may come. I am, of course, at your disposal if you need any help. In securing the supply of potions to the speaker’s eyries, for example.’
‘I see.’
Had he been listening at the door?
No, he couldn’t have been; it was a very thick door, and for precisely the reason that Bellepheros hadn’t wanted anyone pressing their ear against it and finding out things that they shouldn’t. So what then?
Or is he simply cleverer than I thought?
Jeiros’ thoughts grew petulant.
But if he’s that clever then he can bloody well do something about keeping this from getting completely out of hand.
‘Then I am grateful to you for your offer. The threat of the Red Riders is a real one and I shall examine what you might do to be of assistance. You might encourage the speaker to use her dragons to supply the eyries of the realms with our potions, perhaps.’
As if that’s going to happen.
Had he been listening at the door?
No, he couldn’t have been; it was a very thick door, and for precisely the reason that Bellepheros hadn’t wanted anyone pressing their ear against it and finding out things that they shouldn’t. So what then?
Or is he simply cleverer than I thought?
Jeiros’ thoughts grew petulant.
But if he’s that clever then he can bloody well do something about keeping this from getting completely out of hand.
‘Then I am grateful to you for your offer. The threat of the Red Riders is a real one and I shall examine what you might do to be of assistance. You might encourage the speaker to use her dragons to supply the eyries of the realms with our potions, perhaps.’
As if that’s going to happen.
‘The speaker does not listen to me.’
Jeiros gave an unsympathetic shrug. ‘And the second matter?’
Was that regret I saw there, Night Watchman?
Was that regret I saw there, Night Watchman?
‘The second is a little more . . . awkward.’ For a moment the Night Watchman seemed unsure of himself, something Jeiros had never thought he’d see. ‘When Speaker Hyram died, did you examine his body?’
Jeiros shook is head.
Why is he asking me this?
‘No. We were not asked to do so.’
Why is he asking me this?
‘No. We were not asked to do so.’
‘Do you have to be asked?’
‘Unless there is some reason for suspicion, yes.’
Vale smiled thinly. ‘And Hyram falling off a balcony did not strike you as a matter of suspicion?’
‘Obviously so, but a hundred of
your
men came forward to say that Shezira had been with Hyram when he fell. What was there to question? He was pushed.’
your
men came forward to say that Shezira had been with Hyram when he fell. What was there to question? He was pushed.’
‘What if he wasn’t pushed? What if he fell?’
Jeiros had to laugh at that. ‘You’re asking
me?
I thought that was quite impossible.’
me?
I thought that was quite impossible.’
‘What if I was wrong?’
‘Then the council of kings and queens has made a terrible mistake, Night Watchman, and so have you.’ He watched Vale’s face harden, his lips pinch together.
He means it: he really doubts. This could be an opportunity . . .
‘And the rest of us,’ he added. ‘We could not have known though, even if we had examined the body. We could have said which of his injuries had killed him, and whether he’d received them from the fall or whether he’d received them
before
he fell. But we could not have said whether he fell or was pushed, nor if he was pushed, whose hand was guilty. We are alchemists, Night Watchman, not magicians.’ Which was mostly true. Mostly.
He means it: he really doubts. This could be an opportunity . . .
‘And the rest of us,’ he added. ‘We could not have known though, even if we had examined the body. We could have said which of his injuries had killed him, and whether he’d received them from the fall or whether he’d received them
before
he fell. But we could not have said whether he fell or was pushed, nor if he was pushed, whose hand was guilty. We are alchemists, Night Watchman, not magicians.’ Which was mostly true. Mostly.
‘You might have known if he had been poisoned.’
‘We might, that is true.’ Jeiros frowned. ‘Do you have reason to suspect such a thing?’
And, if so, why bring it up now when you’ve just executed someone for his murder? Where are you going with this?
And, if so, why bring it up now when you’ve just executed someone for his murder? Where are you going with this?
‘No.’ Vale shook his head and stood up. ‘No real reason. It was only a thought.’ He walked to the door. ‘Thank you for your time, Acting Grand Master. Do think about how my soldiers might best help you to ensure a steady supply of your potions to the speaker’s eyries in the times to come.’
The Night Watchman left. The door closed behind him with a soft click. Jeiros and Vioros looked at one another.
‘After all that, what does he want?’ asked Vioros.
‘Nothing good,’ sniffed Jeiros. ‘I think he wanted to let us know that no one is safe.’ He looked Vioros in the eye and smiled mirthlessly. ‘Do you want some more good news? Something else no one will have told you? You know that I’ve been counting dragons, trying to find out whether we’re still missing one?’
Vioros rolled his eyes. ‘I
do
apologise for that. I’ve been dropping hints where I can that counting dragons is
not
the way . . .’
do
apologise for that. I’ve been dropping hints where I can that counting dragons is
not
the way . . .’
Jeiros couldn’t help himself. He started to laugh, then struggled to get himself under control. ‘I’m sorry, old friend. Very rude of me. But counting dragons has been more informative than I thought. Did you know that, for the last three months, the number of hatchlings that won’t take has doubled? They’re putting down dragons every week in most eyries. Most of the dragon-kings don’t even know yet.’ He glanced at the letters on his desk. ‘Nor our soon-to-be-queens either, but the eyrie-masters do. Across the realms our eyries are still hatching as many good dragons as they used to. But I’ve had letters back from every eyrie-master now and they all say the same. The number of hatchlings that refuse to eat has almost doubled. Just like that, and they’d like to know why. They’d like to know what’s happening. You can understand why they are nervous, with their dragon production rates at risk.’ Jeiros shook his head in disbelief.
‘And
do
we know what is happening?’ Vioros raised an eyebrow.
do
we know what is happening?’ Vioros raised an eyebrow.
‘Yes, of course we do. And it is not what
is
happening, it is what
has
happened, and it is certainly not good. But beside our current difficulties that’s by the by. The rogue dragon is definitely alive.’
is
happening, it is what
has
happened, and it is certainly not good. But beside our current difficulties that’s by the by. The rogue dragon is definitely alive.’
‘It is?’
‘Unquestionably.’
‘And you found this out through accountancy? I’m impressed.’ For a moment, Vioros looked truly amazed. Jeiros hesitated, savouring the moment before he ruined it.
‘No, I’m afraid not. It’s rather more straightforward. Reports have reached me from Valmeyan’s eyries. It was seen two months ago. It’s been burning things.’
‘Are we sure it was the rogue?’
‘Yes, quite sure.’ Jeiros shook his head and sat heavily back behind his desk. ‘There aren’t any other white dragons and there were rather a lot of witnesses, I’m afraid.’
27
Useful Food
Kemir left the boat carefully tied by the lake shore in case the boy came back. He was probably dead. If he wasn’t yet, most likely he would be soon.
But that can’t be my problem. I didn’t do this. The dragon did it.
But that can’t be my problem. I didn’t do this. The dragon did it.
You keep telling yourself that
, shot back another inner voice.
You just keep telling yourself that.
, shot back another inner voice.
You just keep telling yourself that.
He left some food as well. What was left of the cow. The meat was starting to turn but it was all he had. Snow watched him at his work. He could feel her curiosity.
Why are you are leaving food for someone who tried to kill you?
Kemir snarled, ‘Because I’m a man, not a dragon. But how would you understand?’ She was at her most frightening when she was like this. She would sit on her haunches, wings folded, tail curled around in front of her, absolutely still. She’d watch in silence until Kemir forgot that she was there. Then he’d turn around, and there she was, looming thirty feet over him, blotting out the sky. Just watching. Or else she’d idly stretch her wings and cast what felt like half the world into shadow for a few seconds.
Do you want to leave this food too?
She dropped half a donkey onto the ground. There were the remains of some kind of harness around the donkey’s head. It clearly hadn’t been minding its own business wild in a field somewhere when Snow had taken it.
She dropped half a donkey onto the ground. There were the remains of some kind of harness around the donkey’s head. It clearly hadn’t been minding its own business wild in a field somewhere when Snow had taken it.
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