Shadow

returned later--with a message, I suppose, or else it had started pining. The name of the rider who took it from Schagarn has been scratched out, but it must have been a very short name. 'Foan,' perhaps?'

    He laid the paper on the desk, and the king stared at it. Then he almost snarled. 'Your mother was never at Schagarn,' he said. 'And the duke never went to Kollinor. I know that for granite fact!'

    'Quite possible,' Jarkadon agreed. He pulled out a second paper and laid it beside the first. 'Another copy, of course. WindStriker. Remember her? Day 1165?'

    Aurolron was always most dangerous when he was quiet, but now the silence dragged on, and it seemed to be the king who was at a loss for words.

    'I think you did meet the duke, Father?'

    There was an even longer silence, and then Aurolron sighed. 'Yes. But you will not report that to anyone--anyone at all, is that clear? Many men have died to keep that secret.'

    The unseen eavesdropper shivered, but the prince was undeterred.

    'Is it fair to me, Father? Look at me. Look in a mirror. When--in a long time, we all hope--you die, you are expecting me to kneel in homage to a bastard, sitting on your throne? I am your son! Would you do that?'

    'What are you suggesting that I do?' the king demanded in a low voice.

    'Obviously if you disown him, then you would have to put Mother to death,' Jarkadon said, 'which would certainly provoke gossip. Also Foan, which would mean a military campaign to catch him. I think you already found an easier solution.'

    Shadow shivered again.

    'What are you hinting?' the king asked.

    'Ingenious and simple, Father. All you had to do was say yes! But you are a perfectionist for security,' Jarkadon continued. 'Yet you let Vindax go off along the Rand, and you putNinomarin charge. He sent out proclamations announcing the plans! His family tree is very solid, but his head was carved from the trunk. You were not in character there, Father! And Mother--she detests scandal, I know, but even scandal could hardly upset her like this. She suspects!'

    The king was still looking down at the papers. 'She fears for his welfare, naturally.'

    'Naturally? But it would solve the problem, wouldn't it?' The prince was looking very pleased with himself. 'However, they have been gone a long time, and they have singles. We should have heard. I began to wonder if you had overlooked something, Father, so I thought I would point it out.'

    'What?' the king asked, without raising his eyes.

    'Harl.'

    'Harl!'The reaction seemed to astonish even Jarkadon.

    'He's good!' the prince said. 'I went along on a few of their practice flights, and I admit that I was impressed. And Vindax has put Harl-the-churl in charge. He lets him overrule Ninomar.'

    'Shadow?' the king muttered thoughtfully.

    'Shadow,' his son agreed. 'Obviously he has kept Vindax alive this long. Perhaps he is too good for you.'

    A trace of the earlier anger flamed at that, but it was the prince who was in command now. King Shadow had never seen anything like this before.

    Then Aurolron seemed to make an effort to assert himself. He picked up the two papers and started to tear them into small shreds. 'You are a meddlesome, snooping busybody--but I suppose you inherit some of that from me. Your paternity, at least, is not in doubt. You will find curiosity useful. Who else knows of this? Have you discussed it with that rat pack you favor?'

    The prince flushed. 'With no one, Father.'

    'Good,' the king said. 'Very well, I congratulate you. I agree that I may have overlooked something. Forget this conversation. I shall take steps to uphold my honor, and I suggest that you now be more concerned with your own. You may withdraw.'

    Jarkadon rose and bowed low, but as he turned for the door, his face broke into a wide smile. Hastily Shadow closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wing of his chair, feigning sleep, afraid to meet the prince's gaze. His clothes were soaked with sweat.

    He did not hear the equerry enter across the thick rug, and he jumped quite genuinely when the man spoke. He saw a few grins out in the anteroom. Shadow asleep on duty! Why had he never thought of that before? He must start dropping such hints, and perhaps he would win his retirement yet.

    No more audiences were scheduled, only a few petitioners.

    The king would not see them.

    The equerry withdrew, and the door was closed. For an endless time the monarch sat at his desk and stared at Shadow's chair, making its occupant melt with terror.Did the king know?Had he been pretending ignorance all this time? If he as much as suspected that Shadow had overheard, then Shadow's death was very near.

    And which story was correct? The king's mind was infinitely tortuous, and he had switched positions like a moth. Obviously he was betraying one son or lying to the other, but which? Or both?

    Aurolron ended his brooding. He reached for the bell rope and summoned his most trusted secretary and another man, whose name was enough to send shivers down Shadow's back--ostensibly an armorer, he also applied his skill with hot iron as one of the royal torturers. The door was closed and then opened almost at once as the secretary scuttled in.

    The king waited until the man was ready and then began. 'To the crown prince: usual greetings...

    'By our royal command: Terminate your journey at Gorr and do not continue to Ninar Foan. Return with all your companions as fast as practical. You may give your mother's health as a reason, but she is well.

    'While you are in Gorr, a man named Ovla will seek audience with you. Admit him privily and receive him in private, with only Shadow present. You may allow a day or two for him to appear.Usual ending. Also, prepare a warrant for the arrest of the holder of Hiando Keep--a baronet, last name Harl. Look it up. And his wife. To be held incommunicado during our pleasure. We will receive the aerie archivist after lunch.'

    The secretary rose.

    'Wait!' the king said. 'There is more.' He paused until the man was ready once more. 'Add this to the prince's letter:I know that this revocation will distress you greatly, but I have good reasons for it, and the man Ovla knows them and will disclose them to you. Then you will understand that I am acting in your best interests only. We have much to discuss when you return, my son, and I regret that I have not taken you into my confidence sooner.That's all. Bring the private seal; I shall have another.'

    Shadow watched the secretary's stooped shoulders hurry through the door and puzzled on what all that had meant. Even after five kilodays, he could never unravel the spider's webs, the depths of his duplicities. Aurolron prided himself on never having to cancel an order. The feint of a recall, the double feint of that apparently sincere and personal addition to the impersonal command, the irresistible hint of secrets to be disclosed by Ovla...then what? What else would the mysterious Ovla bring?

    Now the king had taken pen and parchment himself and was writing--and that was rare indeed. Only the most contrived machinations ever provoked him to use his own hand. For what seemed a long time he sat and wrote, while Shadow cowered in his chair and listened to the pen scratch like a fingernail on a coffin lid.

    The king finished, read it over, folded it carefully. He rang once more, and then received the armorer, who smiled at Shadow as he went past. The man enjoyed his work.

    'There is a Jion Paslo in the cells,' the king said quietly.

    'Yes, Majesty?'

    The king sighed. 'He is very stick.'

    Not expected to live.

    'Any questions, Majesty?'

    'None,' said the king. 'Quick and painless. I expect the warden's report within the hour.' He passed over a ring as payment.

    The man bowed. 'About one hundred breaths, sire.'

    He paused at the door and gave Shadow another friendly smile. He always did that, and Shadow always wondered if he were being measured for a griddle.