Children of Chaos

His manner made everything seem her fault. It peeved her and yet she sensed terrible hurt behind it. She wanted to hug him until his ribs ached, as Benard had hugged her, and she suspected he would hurl her to the ground if she tried. The world was forbidden to touch Flankleader Orlad.

'How much do you know of our family?'

'Nothing and I don't want to.'

Fabia knew this must be harder on him than it was on her. She had been prepared and he had not. He was on show before his lord. Flames of pain flickered behind his eyes.

'Even that name,' he said bitterly. 'Celebre! To be called after the traitor's city!'

'The what?'

'You didn't know? The vile Cavotti was a Celebrian.'

Cavotti must be one of the Florengian partisans. 'So are you, Brother. Our father is the doge.'

'What's that?'

'The ruler, elected for life. He's old now, and ailing.'

'Let him die. He gave up without a fight.'

'He did fight! His army was wiped out. When he dies, the elders will choose one of us to succeed him. I am going back to Florengia. I am to marry Cutrath Horoldson and—'

'Who?'

'You know him?'

Orlad glanced quickly at Saltaja; then at Therek, who was leering gleefully; then at Leorth's feline smirk; then back to Fabia. 'To be chosen to marry into the noble house of Hrag is a far greater honor than your ancestry justifies. Try to be a worthy wife to him.' He turned to Therek. 'In Celebre succession goes in the female line, my lord?'

Saltaja said grimly, 'It will this time.'

He must have felt that they were coming at him from all sides. 'My lady? I have not had the honor ...'

'Saltaja Hragsdor.'

He bowed again. 'A very great honor.'

'Perhaps.' As usual, her face was inscrutable. 'Do you speak Florengian?'

'Not at all, my lady.'

Therek said, 'You did fifteen years ago.'

'Then I have forgotten it,' Orlad said stubbornly. 'I am Vigaelian—by adoption, true, but proud of it.'

'Have you need or wish to talk further with your sister?'

'No, my lady ... Except to command her to be as true to your noble house as I will always be.'

Therek muttered, 'Quite, quite, quite ...' Then he spread his lips and gums in a predatory gape that was possibly intended as a smile. 'I think you should go on Caravan Six. You can keep your sister company ... when her husband doesn't need her! You tell the huntleader I ordered it. Such touching fidelity should be rewarded, shouldn't it, Leorth?'

'My lord is kind!' Orlad exclaimed.

'Expect Leorth can make room for you in the left flank, can't you, Leorth? Find him a billet for the night.'

'We don't need Fabia here any longer,' his sister said. 'I want her locked up and well guarded. Not harmed as long as she behaves.'

'See to that, Leorth.'

'Guarded on pain of death!' Saltaja snapped.

'Yes, yes, yes,' her brother said. 'On pain of death, you hear, Leorth?'

'On pain of death, my lord.' The warrior returned the hostleader's grin.

'Good, good. I wish you an interesting journey home tomorrow, Flankleader Orlad.'

thirty-seven

SALTAJA HRAGSDOR

waited until the youngsters had left, and then said, 'You are crazy, truly crazy. That boy worships you.'

Therek swung around, flushing. 'You can't trust Florengians! He'll break his oaths as soon as he gets the chance!'

'You were not exactly encouraging him to stay loyal.'

'Stay loyal? They slew all three of my sons!' He stalked across to the far side of the room, as far from her as he could get.

She sighed and wandered closer to the bell rope. Of the four sons of Hrag, Therek had been the hardest to mold. Left to his own devices, Therek would probably have grown up to be a reasonable farmer, but she and Hrag had shaped him into the son his father wanted, and in some ways Therek had become the deadliest fighter of them