Midwinter

Purane regarded his son, taking his measure. 'Yes, I was about to say the same thing.'

Purane-Es swallowed hard and followed his father into the study, leaving the ladies to make polite conversation. Where the sitting room had been warm and inviting, the study was large, oppressive. The floor here was hard stone.

'There's been a development in the northwest,' began Purane, drawing a map from a set of tall slots in the study wall. 'It could not fit our plans more perfectly.'

Purane-Es winced. 'Our plans are the reason for my visit, sir.'

Purane took a long look at his son, his eyes cool. 'Speak, then.'

'You know, father, that I did not choose a martial life for myself. That was Purane-La's goal, not mine.'

'Go on.'

'Anne is a revelation to me. She reminds me of what I have always wanted. She encourages me. I've sung for her some of my poems and ballads and she believes…'

Purane laughed out loud. 'Poems? Ballads? What nonsense is this?'

'Perhaps you hadn't noticed that before Purane-La's death I was one of the most highly regarded balladeers at court. Given time I could be the best.'

'Rubbish.'

'It's not rubbish. It's what I want.'

Purane laughed even louder. 'What you want? What you want?' He sat at his desk and placed his hands carefully on the dark surface. 'Son, I see that I have not communicated clearly. Your desires do not enter into my thoughts at all.'

'Father!'

'Quiet, boy! Do you think I've worked all of these years building up the name Purane just so you could piss it away with your fancy new bride? If so, you're an even greater fool than I thought. I'd sooner see you dead than waste everything I've built.'

'And you don't care that it means nothing to me?'

'I believe I've made myself clear on that point. We have a great opportunity here, to ensure our position at court, in the military, with the Queen Herself. When you arrive at the palace with the object of Her Majesty's desires, whatever in hell it may be, and Mauritane's traitorous head on a stake, our places will be secure. Secure, perhaps, for all time.'

Purane-Es sat in a high-backed wooden chair. 'And if I refuse?'

His father reached into a desk drawer and laid a sealed letter on the desk. 'This comes from the Chamberlain,' he said. 'It's for you.'

Purane-Es took the letter warily and opened it. 'This is a set of orders,' he said. 'I've been called to Sylvan.'

Purane nodded.

'Why is the Queen sending me where you want me to go? It makes no sense.'

'If you'd been paying attention to current events instead of mooning over your new love, you might know why.' He leaned back in his chair. 'Our spies have sent word that Mab is moving south at her top speed. We believe she's massing forces at the border.'

Purane-Es stared. 'But it's been years since the last engagement at Midalel. Anyway, what's that to do with me? Is the Seelie Army no longer charged with protecting our borders?'

Purane shook his head. 'You have no military sense, boy. Think! When the Seelie Army begins to concentrate along the border, they will quarter in Sylvan. And what will happen then?'

'The Beleriand rebels. They'll go mad.'

'Exactly. Any concentration of force there will be construed as an offensive by the rebels. You're being sent to Sylvan to maintain the peace.'

'But the rebels know my face. They despise me because of Mauritane. My presence will only incite them further.'

Purane nodded.

'And that's exactly what you want, isn't it? You want to start a civil war! '

'The Beleriands and their Gossamer Rebellion are the only thing that stands between us and total control of the Kingdom. Mab is no threat during Midwinter. Her forces wouldn't make it to Midalel now, even if the border troops let them walk past. What better time to take care of the rebel problem?'

'And if the rebels attack first, then the Queen is not the aggressor and Her hands are clean in the eyes of the Arcadians.'

'Precisely. Maybe you aren't as stupid as I thought.' Purane paused while his son rolled his eyes. 'And while all of this is going on, you will `discover' Mauritane at large in Sylvan, wrest his prize from him, and present it to the Queen along with the heads of every Beleriand leader you can muster.'

'And you will have orchestrated everything, behind the scenes, no doubt taking full credit for all. I won't do it.'

'How childish you are! You are not my only remaining son. If you care not for your reputation, think of your younger brothers.'

'I'm sorry, father. I won't do it.'

'You won't do it.'

'No.'

Purane leaned back as far as his chair would allow and gazed at the ceiling. 'Son, who sent the order for Purane-La to reduce the town of Stilbel to ashes?'

Purane-Es moved backward as if he'd been slapped. 'What kind of question is that?'

'An important one. Who sent the order?'

'Mauritane sent the order.'

Purane stood and edged around the table. 'Mauritane sent no such order, and you know it. I was there, Purane-Es. I saw the look on Mauritane's face when he came upon the two of you. Had I been him, I might have slain your brother myself. He was enjoying himself a bit much for such a loathsome task.'

'What are you suggesting, Father?'

'Only one person could have forged those orders. Only one person was in a position to do so.'

Purane-Es lowered his head. 'How long have you known it was l?'

Purane's lips pursed. He leaned close into his son's face, and Purane-Es could smell the wine on his breath. 'I did not know it for certain until this very moment.'

'I only wanted to cause trouble for Purane-La. I wanted everyone… you, to see how cruel he'd become. If I had known how much trouble it would have caused I would never have done it.'

With a speed that belied his age, the Elder Purane lashed out at PuraneEs with the back of his hand, sending the younger man sprawling backward onto the floor. 'Why would you go out of your way to shame your own brother?'

Purane-Es pulled himself up onto his elbows. 'I hated Purane-La. With every bit of me, I despised him. I wanted to hurt him. I regret it now. Not a day goes by that I do not think of it.'

'How nice,' said Purane. 'And all it cost was the life of your brother and the career of one of our finest Guard Captains.'

Purane-Es stood, shaking with rage. 'I see that you have not suffered overmuch as a result,' he sneered.

'I made the best of an ugly situation. As I am doing now. If you are not in Sylvan in four days, I will go to the Queen Herself and tell her what I know about you and our dear Mauritane.'

'You wouldn't! You'd be ruined along with me.'

'Anything less than complete success is ruin, son. Your brother knew that, if nothing else. Before you had him killed.' Purane stood and adjusted his long coat. 'Now, will you go break the news to your lovely new wife, or shall l?'

Purane-Es swiped a tear away with his sleeve. 'I'm glad Purane-La is dead,' he snapped.

Purane brushed past him to open the door. 'I can't tell you, boy,' he whispered, 'how many times I've wished it had been you instead.'