“Well, perhaps he wouldn’t really need to,” Lord Tieran replied.
“Ambitious men often do not work in obvious ways, and they tend to surround themselves with underlings who know how to carry out their wishes, even if they are not obviously expressed. Lord Arwyn might decide to go out hunting with some of his knights one day, and that evening, over the campfire, he might choose to share some of his concerns about the empire. He might expound, in a casual sort of way, about how difficult it was to govern with a temperamental child on the throne, whose abilities were unproven and whose disposition was not conducive to instilling confidence in his subjects. He might sigh wearily and muse about how much easier things would be if only he didn’t have to worry about Prince Michael all the time….”
“And his knights would take that as an order for his murder,” Aedan said in a low voice as understanding dawned.
Lord Tieran shrugged. “No direct order would be given, of course, but his men would understand his meaning, just the same. And when Prince Michael turned up dead, no one would be more outraged than Lord Arwyn, who would vow vengeance on the regicides, whoever they may be. He would decree a period of mourning throughout the empire, during which he himself would mourn sincerely, and following which, for the good of the empire, he
would reluctantly allow himself to be persuaded to ascend the throne.”
Aedan shook his head, stunned. “How is it you can even think of such things?”
“Because it is my duty to think of them,” his father replied. “I do not say that this is what Lord Arwyn will do, merely that it is something he may do. It is a possibility, and it is my duty-as it shall be yours someday-to consider such possibilities and determine just how likely they may be. And in Lord Arwyn’s case, I think it is a very likely possibility, indeed.”
“Then we must leave here and return to Anuire as soon as possible!”
said Aedan.
“What reason would we give for our abrupt departure?” asked his father.
“My unfounded suspicions based on my personal dislike for our host?
Thus far, he has done nothing to warrant our distrust. We are barely halfway through the season and the entire court is here, so we cannot pretend that some urgent business of the empire has arisen that requires our presence in Anuire. Moreover, we cannot simply pack up and steal out in the middle of the night. For one thing, there is the matter of Lord Arwyn’s men-at-arms, and for another, we could not risk the journey without an escort. Even if we did not take the wagons and left most of the court behind, it would still take at least a day or two to organize the party, and the emperor is in no condition to travel at present.”
“Then at the very least we must get the prince to safety,” Aedan said.
“With a small escort, I could take him to Anuire myself and then we-“
“No, that is out of the question,” said Lord Tieran, 53 shaking his head. “Your courage is commendable, as is your initiative in suggesting such a course, but it would be far too great a risk. For a small party, the journey would be dangerous in itself, and the moment he discovered that the prince was gone, Lord Arwyn could send a party of knights after him, which he would doubtless lead himself, citing concern for the prince’s safety. Suppose he overtook you on the road, with none to see what would transpire?
It would be a simple matter for him to return and claim he found the prince’s party ambushed by unknown marauders and slain to the last man
…
and boy.”
“Then what are we to do?” asked Aedan with chagrin.
Lord Tieran sighed. “For the moment, there is nothing we can do. Our situation may indeed provide a great temptation to Lord Arwyn, but we do not know for certain that he shall give in to it. These are all merely suppositions, after all. He may surprise us and prove he is a better man than I suspect he is.”
“And if he is not?” said Aedan, with concern.
“Then he must still take care about appearances.
He cannot seize the throne in a way that would be obvious to everyone.
That could easily provoke a war. He would have to take his time and manage things very carefully. That factor, at least, is in our favor.
And we must pray for the emperor’s recovery … or at the very least, for him to survive the summer. I do not think Lord Arwyn would dare to act while the emperor still lives.”
“It was folly for us to come here in the first place,” Aedan said. “If Lord Arwyn cannot be trusted, why have
we honored him by holding summer court at a rrow? Why have we placed ourselves into his hands?”
“Because we need him to safeguard the Western Coast provinces from incursions by our enemies in the Northern Marches,” said his father.
“Political alliances can be very complicated things, very delicate and tenuous. A leader must often ally himself with men he does not like or trust. Such things are less important than whether or not such men can be controlled. Do you recall when you first learned to ride?”
Aedan blinked, surprised by the sudden change of subject. Yes. My horse threw me and I landed so hard I had the wind knocked out of me.”
“And you were afraid to get back on,” his father said. “Do you remember what I told you then?”
“That my horse threw me because he sensed my fear,” said Aedan. “And that if I did not conquer my fear and get back on again at once, I would never learn to
