We didn’t know at the time that the swordmaster was pursuing them.”
“What?” Javan asked. He had been watching Aindreas all this time, as a seaman might watch an approaching storm. But now he stared at Keziah, a slight frown on his lean face. “The three of you thought you could stand against a thousand Solkaran soldiers? Are you truly that powerful, or just that foolish?”
“All three of us have mists and winds, my lord,” she said, giving no indication that his question discomfited her. “We were afraid that Aneira’s archers would attack the king’s army from behind. We merely wished to protect His Majesty.”
“Every time I turn around you seem to grow more powerful,” Javan said, looking directly at Grinsa. “I find myself wondering if your magic knows any bounds at all.”
Aindreas was staring at Grinsa as well. “I thought you were just a gleaner.”
“Grinsa’s a bit more than he seems, my lord,” Fotir said. “But there can be no question of his loyalty to the realm.”
“More than you seem, eh?” Aindreas asked, his eyes narrowing. “Is that how you got the boy out?”
“What boy?” Javan demanded, though clearly he knew.
“Yours, of course. This man put a hole in the wall of my castle that I could have walked through.”
Grinsa opened his mouth to deny it, but before he could Fotir said, “No, Lord Kentigern, that was me.”
“But you said that you couldn’t have done such a thing. Shurik told me much the same.”
“Normally I couldn’t have. But that night called for extraordinary measures, and somehow Qirsar gave me the power to win Lord Tavis’s freedom.”
In strictest terms it wasn’t a lie. Fotir had used his power on the wall, though without Grinsa weaving the minister’s magic with his own, augmenting and controlling it, he never would have succeeded. As for Grinsa’s presence there being an act of the god, the gleaner couldn’t say that he believed this, but neither could he say with complete certainty that it wasn’t so. In any case, Fotir’s confession appeared to satisfy the duke and lay the matter to rest. Or so he thought.
“It seems that our Qirsi friends are full of surprises,” said Marston of Shanstead, whose distrust of all Qirsi had nearly led the king to banish Cresenne and Keziah from Audun’s Castle.
Grinsa saw the dark-haired duchess nod slightly, her eyes fixed on Marston.
“You wish to say something more, Lord Shanstead?” Kearney asked, his voice hardening.
“Nothing I haven’t said to you before, my liege.”
“Fine then. I’ve heard it once, I needn’t hear it again.”
The thane lowered his eyes. “Yes, my liege.”
The queen of Sanbira cleared her throat. “Perhaps, Your Majesty, we should continue this conversation later. Braedon’s men have retreated for now, but I daresay they could renew their assault at any moment.”
Kearney nodded. “You’re right, of course, Your Highness.” He looked at Gershon. “I want the soldiers who’ve just arrived added to our lines as quickly as possible. Swordmaster, you’re to assume command of the King’s Guard-take the men who have been under your authority and combine them with those I took north from the City of Kings.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Lord Tremain, I’d like your men to join with the Curgh army. Lord Curgh, with Gershon’s men joining my own, the King’s Guard will take the center. I want you and Lathrop on the eastern flank.”
“Of course, my liege.”
“Lord Labruinn, I want your force in the west, along with Thorald’s army and what’s left of the army from Heneagh.” He paused, looking at Aindreas. “Lord Kentigern, you and your men will go with Caius. For now you’ll be under his command.”
“Very well.”
“You and I have a good deal more to discuss. But I’m afraid that’ll have to wait.”
Aindreas’s face reddened, but he merely nodded. “As you wish, my liege.”
“Your Highness, I would ask you to keep your army where it’s been today, unless of course you have another idea.”
“We are here at your request, Your Majesty,” Olesya said. “Use us as you will.”
The king smiled and bowed. “My thanks. That’s all,” he said, looking at the others. “I hope the empire’s men will think twice before attacking again. They’ve seen how easily their Aneiran allies were defeated, and they know that we’ve added several thousand men to our defenses. Still, I agree with the queen that we must remain watchful. I want your armies positioned quickly. They’ve surprised us before and may well do so again.”
Eibithar’s dukes and their ministers bowed to the king and began to move off, Grinsa following Fotir so that he might thank the first minister for helping him keep his secret a bit longer. Before he had gone far, however, Kearney called to him.
“A word please, gleaner.”
Keziah was beside the king, her face colorless, her lips pressed together in a taut line. Grinsa returned to where they stood.
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
Kearney hesitated. “Walk with me.”
They started away from the armies, skirting the portion of the moors where the battle with the Solkarans had been fought, and where bodies were now being piled. Glancing back, Grinsa noticed that Marston and the dark- haired duchess were watching them. They were too far away for the gleaner to see their expressions, but he could guess.
“The first minister didn’t make that hole in Aindreas’s castle, did he?” the king asked, drawing Grinsa’s gaze.
“Not alone, no. He couldn’t have without my help.”
“So he’s the other.”
“Your Majesty?”
“The day you told me you were a Weaver, you listed those who knew-Keziah, Tavis, Cresenne, and another you wouldn’t name. It was Fotir, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“And how much longer can our circle remain so small?”
Grinsa shook his head. “Not much, I fear.”
“Aindreas will call for your head. So will Shanstead. I don’t know about the others, but I can’t imagine they’ll be willing to embrace you as an ally.”
“They have to!” Keziah said. “Who else among us can fight the Weaver?”
“I don’t disagree with you, Kez. I’m just telling you what I know to be true.”
“The question is, Your Majesty, what will you do? If you support me, the others may follow. Perhaps not Kentigern, nor even Shanstead, but the rest. Certainly Javan will. He knows what I’ve done for Tavis, and the boy will speak to him on my behalf. I sense that the queen might support me as well, though some of her nobles might speak against it. Ultimately, though, this is up to you.”
Kearney looked back across the battle plain, then stared up at the crows and vultures circling overhead. “My father used to say that we don’t choose our allies so much as find them. The hardest part, he said, was recognizing them in time.” He met Grinsa’s gaze. “I’ll support you, gleaner. I haven’t much choice in the matter, and even if I did, you’ve proved your good faith time and again. I’d be a fool not to stand with you.”
Grinsa bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Shall we speak to them now?”
“Not yet. There’s something I want to do first. With your permission, I’d wait until morning.”
“All right. May I ask what it is you intend to do?”
“I’m going to try to enter the Weaver’s dreams.”
“What?” Keziah whispered.
“We need to know where he is, and, if possible, what he’s planning. This is the only way I can think of to learn both.”
“Is there any danger to you?” the king asked.
“No. I’ll be in his mind. The worst he can do is drive me out. But it may be that I can hurt him.”
“Very well.” The king halted, as did Keziah and Grinsa. “I’ll be eager to hear how you fare.”
