Whelp.'
Piro turned. Fyn had told them how he'd failed to assassinate Palatyne, finding the noble Power-worker in the bed instead. That was the night Dunstany had locked her in the cupboard, to protect her, he'd said. To keep her away from Fyn more like. And to think they had been so close.
'I had to get you safely out of Rolencia.' A wry grin tugged at Tyro's lips, reminding her of Dunstany and how much she missed him. Only he had never existed. At least, the Lord Dunstany she knew hadn't existed. There was an odd pain in her chest.
'I could not believe my luck when you tried to kill me,' Tyro confessed.
Piro laughed outright.
Isolt and Fyn both stared at her. When Tyro met her eyes, his held a smile. He understood.
She found this unnerving so she confronted him. 'Lord Dun… Agent Tyro. I can understand why you let Palatyne give me to Isolt. You had no choice. But why did you leave Merofynia just when Isolt needed you?'
'The mage called me back. He has many irons in the fire.'
'Another thing,' Fyn said. 'If you knew Seelon was Piro all along, why didn't you tell me? Why did you send me off to… rescue Isolt?'
Piro caught the slight hesitation and guessed Fyn had not been sent to rescue Isolt, but to abduct her.
Lord Dunstany… Tyro knew Isolt. He had to realise she wouldn't want to marry Palatyne. Ahh, he had been testing Fyn. She let the revelation slide, eager to hear what Tyro had to say.
'Serving Isolt was the safest place for King Rolen's daughter. But I was not sure if Piro would be with her when you found her.' The agent drew something from his pocket, fingering it absently. Piro recognised a Kingdoms piece, a monk. 'The mage was testing you, Fyn. You had to pass or your piece would have been flawed.'
'You speak in riddles.' Fyn bristled.
'Forgive me,' Tyro said, but Piro could tell he didn't mean it. He meant, y ou have to forgive me, because you have no choice. She really didn't like him. 'Being obscure is a failing of those with Affinity and I was raised by the master of all mages.' He changed topic abruptly. 'Do you want to see your brother restored to the throne of Rolencia, Fyn?'
'Of course I do. But what is it to you, or the mage for that matter?'
'For you to understand, I must tell you a little about my master. Mage Tsulamyth has been playing the game of Duelling Kingdoms for nearly two hundred years, gradually building power and influence. A hundred and fifty years ago, he convinced the five powerful noble families of Ostron Isle to elect a ruler, instead of assassinating each other in a bid for power.
'Under this system Ostron Isle has prospered. Not that there haven't been attempts by ambitious nobles to set themselves up as kings instead of electors,' Agent Tyro admitted with a half-smile. He spread his hands. 'Then the mage spent many years trying to bring about a peace between Rolencia and Merofynia, only succeeding when Myrella Merofyn Kingsdaughter married King Rolen.'
Piro looked away, recalling the price her mother had paid for that peace. Rather than reveal her Affinity, Myrella had let her own father sail off to his death.
'So Rolencia is part of Mage Tsulamyth's Duelling Kingdoms game?' Fyn asked.
'It is hardly a game, Fyn Rolen Kingson. When Palatyne unleashed the hounds of war his warriors ravaged your kingdom.' Tyro lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. 'Palatyne is ruled by ambition. While playing Lord Dunstany, I did what I could to lessen Palatyne's evil influence, and I did save the kingsdaughter.' He nodded to Piro. 'Not that she wasn't doing a good job of saving herself.'
Piro flushed. Was Agent Tyro trying to charm her? She had instinctively wanted to trust Lord Dunstany, but he had never existed. Instead, this agent had played on her affection for an old man. At least that explained why Dunstany had entrapped her soul in the amber pendant. It was something Agent Tyro would do, because he did not truly trust anyone. How could he, when he was so good at deceiving people?
No one spoke. A ship passed by on the Ring Sea, the tips of its masts level with the balcony. They heard someone on board singing a song about parted lovers.
'So, do you want Byren to become king of Rolencia, Fyn?' the agent said.
'Of course.'
'What of yourself?'
'I was never raised to be a kingson. I was meant to renounce the world this midsummer when I became a monk.'
Fyn cast Agent Tyro a wary glance. 'Since the mage's spies know so much, they probably know that some of Halcyon's monks survived. My friends are waiting for me to return. When Byren is king we will rebuild Halcyon Abbey.'
'Very well. Captain Nefysto will take you to Rolencia.' Agent Tyro retrieved something from inside his deep sleeve. 'Take this to Byren Kingsheir. It will convince the remaining warlords to support him.'
Fyn eyed the brass message cylinder. From here Piro could see it was embossed with an image of the abeille, the butterfly-winged bee of Ostron Isle.
'What is it?' Fyn asked.
'An offer of alliance from the Elector of Ostron Isle.'
Relief flooded Piro.
But Fyn did not accept the cylinder. 'The elector is failing. He'll be replaced and this will be worthless.'
'A fair point, Fyn, but the warlords don't know that,' Tyro countered. 'While they're fighting for your brother in the belief that Ostron Isle supports him, the mage will be negotiating the support of the new elector.' He offered the message cylinder again.
Fyn accepted it, speaking stiffly. 'I thank you, Agent Tyro. It seems I have misjudged you and your master. I'm sorry. I was not trained for the game of Kingdoms.'
'Sometimes our path chooses us. Perhaps it is not your fate to renounce the world, Fyn Kingson. Here.' Agent Tyro passed Fyn the Kingdoms piece he had been toying with. 'Your piece.'
'But I wasn't playing,' Fyn said, taking it. 'It's warm to touch.' He glanced down at the piece and his eyes widened. 'Why, it looks just like me!'
Piro and Isolt hurried closer to study the Kingdoms piece. It was unmistakably Fyn. Did that mean…
Piro ran to the far end of the war table, locating Ostron Isle. The elector's piece wore his turbaned crown and there was a hooded piece, the mage. Amongst the many others were also two female pieces. 'Come look, Isolt. It's you. Why, it has your high forehead and small nose.'
'Don't touch,' Tyro warned, as he joined them.
Isolt leaned close. 'Why am I holding a sword?'
Agent Tyro gave her a rueful smile. 'The war table is Mage Tsulamyth's invention. According to this you are on the way to becoming a warrior queen.'
'Me? But I hate war!'
Fyn laughed. 'What about you, Piro? What does your piece reveal?'
She blinked, skin suddenly cold. 'Why do I have no face?'
As Tyro glanced to the piece, she read surprise and alarm, quickly hidden.
Isolt slid an arm around her shoulder. 'Don't worry, Piro. It is only a game.'
But they all knew it was much more. Fyn turned to the agent. 'What will happen to my sister and Isolt while I'm gone?'
'They will be safe here on Mage Isle. Even the elector has no power over this island. Wait.' Tyro held up his hand. 'Before you go. You wear a pendant around your neck?'
'Yes.' Fyn tugged on the chain, bringing Halcyon's Fate into view. 'Do you want it? You let me keep it in Port Marchand.'
'I've been hiding King Rolen's kin from the Utlander since Rolenhold fell. That Fate was nearly your undoing, Fyn. It was lucky I was the one who sensed it the first time you used it. I've felt it each time since, and others will feel it too. Don't use it again until I can train you in the art of defence.'
'That's it!' Isolt announced suddenly. They all turned to her. ' Tyro is an old Merofynian word for apprentice. You are Mage Tsulamyth's apprentice. That is why you have such strong Affinity.'
Agent Tyro gave her a mocking bow. 'You have exposed all my secrets, kingsdaughter.'
And still Piro didn't like him.
