Part 14 (2/2)
James said, ”I know. But this isn't a game, Highness. People are dying right now, and those who willingly take the Crown's gold for being involved in such business should know the risks involved. I don't want to set up anyone to be a decoy, and if I'm just fumble-fingered enough in setting up my snitches and bully-boys, and they're just inept enough to make our enemies think them harmless, perhaps they won't be asked to pay the price for our other work.”
Arutha said, ”I don't like it, but there are many things a.s.sociated with this crown I don't like.”
William sat silently, and Arutha looked at him. ”Do you understand?”
”Sir?”
”I mean, do you understand about doing distasteful things, even repulsive things, in the name of duty?”
William was silent for a long moment, then he answered. ”Sire, I've learned a lot in the last year about what it means to bear arms. Training was half of it. Killing men was most of the other half. But watching comrades, men whose safety had been entrusted to me . . . I think I understand.”
”Good, because you're the only junior officer I can trust fully, beyond even the normal oath of loyalty to the Crown. Your father never traded on his adoption into the family-he never needed to-but it was a most solemn gift by my father to honor a boy he thought dead, whom he had come to regard as worthy of bearing our family name.
”The children call you Cousin Willie, with affection, but it's more than a simple courtesy: you are a conDoin. If the responsibility that comes with that name hasn't dawned upon you yet, now is the time for it to do so.”
William sat back, comprehension dawning on him. ”It hadn't, Highness. But I think it's beginning to.”
”Good,” said Arutha with a half-smile. ”I have no doubt James will accelerate your understanding if he doesn't get you killed first.”
”What should I do, Highness?” asked William.
”Study, learn, listen, train, do your job. But from time to time James will pull you from your regular duties and you'll aid him in whatever task he requires. As your time here pa.s.ses, William, I want you to get to know every man in the command, and in your mind mark those who you think can be trusted with special duties. The Household Guard has been a ceremonial command of late. It's time to change that. I will eventually make it clear that my personal guards are the elite of this command, but not quite yet. To do so at this time would send a signal to whoever is behind all the mayhem in my city.”
Arutha sat back, formed a tent with his fingers and flexed them for a moment, the only nervous gesture James had ever seen him make. After a moment of reflection, he said, ”We have ample proof of agencies in our realm doing mischief. We do not know if we face one or many foes. The Nighthawks? Are they related to those Izmalis? Why would they mount so frantic an attack? Had they moved with more precision, I suspect you would not be here, William.”
William nodded in agreement.
”And of course,” Arutha continued, ”why kill magicians?”
James said, ”It would be nice if either Pug or Kulgan was here.”
Arutha nodded absently. ”Pug wants to send me a new court magician. After that affair with Makala and the Tsurani Great Ones, and now this business of shape-changers and murdering magicians. . .” He sighed. ”I think Pug is correct and I will send him word to have this Kes.h.i.+an girl sent here.”
William's eyes widened. ”Jazhara!”
Arutha said, ”Yes.”
”But she's-”
Arutha interrupted. ”I know. She's the great niece of Lord Hazara-Khan.” Glancing at James. ”Who is, I suspect, your opposite in the Court of Great Kesh.”
James said, ”You flatter me. It will take me a decade to put together agents as cleverly as he has.”
To William, Arutha said, ”You object to her coming here?”
”No . . . it's just that I'm . . . surprised, Highness.”
”Why?”
William's eyes s.h.i.+fted a moment, then he said, ”Well, she's a Kes.h.i.+an, and connected to the most influential family in the north of the empire. And . . . she's young.”
Arutha had to laugh. ”And you and James are ancient veterans?”
William blushed. ”No . . . it's just that all my life I've been surrounded by magicians, many of whom are elderly men of great experience. I'm just. . .”
”Just what?” asked the Prince.
”Surprised that she's my father's choice, that's all.”
Arutha reflected on that. ”Why?”
”There are older, more experienced magicians at Stardock.”
”Who?”
”Who?” echoed William.
”Who,” repeated Arutha, ”would you suggest is a more appropriate choice?”
William said, ”I. . . well. . . there are several.” His mind raced and he did a quick inventory of the magicians at Stardock who might serve as an advisor to the Prince of Krondor. He quickly realized that most were either too caught up in their own area of study to perform the required duties with any dedication, or they lacked the social skills necessary to be a harmonious addition to the court. After a moment, he said, ”Actually, I can't think of anyone. Korsh and Watoom are also Kes.h.i.+ans, and they are too involved with the conduct of the Academy. Zolan Husbar and Kulgan are too old. There are some others, but Jazhara has both the knowledge of court politics and a firm grasp of the mystic arts.”
”Do you fear treachery?”
”No,” William said without hesitation. ”Never that. If she swears an oath of fealty to your crown, Highness, she will serve with her life if need be.”
”I thought as much.” Arutha regarded William for a moment. ”There's something else you're not telling me, but I'll let that pa.s.s for now.” To James he said, ”I'll set up a special account for you to draw upon for whatever you need in establis.h.i.+ng this new network of agents. I want a weekly report, even if the report is 'nothing happened this week.' And I won't like hearing that.”
James nodded. ”There are three things we must deal with as quickly as possible. First, what is the relations.h.i.+p between the Nighthawks and the Crawler? Second, what is the purpose behind all the seemingly random deaths? And third, what is the significance of magicians being killed?”
Arutha rose, and the young men quickly followed suit. ”I must pay a visit to the Duke of Olasko and his family. You can add to that list why a visiting lord of a friendly nation was set upon so far from home.”
”Four things,” said James.
Arutha didn't wait for James to open the door, but just opened it himself as he said, ”Be in court tomorrow morning, both of you.”
After the Prince had set off down the corridor, William turned to James and said, ”Did I make a total fool of myself in there?”
”Not total,” replied James with a smile. ”What's between this girl and you?”
William looked down at the ground and said, ”It's a long story.”
”We have time, so tell me.”
”Time? I have to report in.”
”You already did,” said James. ”Treggar and the other officers will have been told you were with Arutha. From now on, when you're with me or the Prince, the others in the garrison will simply know you're on special duty. That's all.”
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