Part 3 (1/2)

Tavi nodded, and they broke into a mile-eating lope down the winding lane. The sky began to lighten as they pa.s.sed the apple orchards, the beehives, and then the northern fields laid fallow for a season. The lane wound through a forest of mostly oak and maple, where most of the trees were so ancient that only the most meager gra.s.s and brush could grow beneath them. By the time the predawn pale blue had given way to the first tints of orange and yellow, they had reached the last stretch of woods before leaving the lands of Bernard-holt. There the forest was not so old, and smaller trees and brush, some of it still living despite the lateness of the season, stood thick and heavy. Golden and scarlet leaves covered the dried skeletons of the smaller brush, and the naked, sleeping trees swayed in a chorus of gentle creaking.

And then something in his surroundings brought an odd kind of pressure to Tavi's senses. He stopped and let out a short, warning hiss of breath. From a full jog, Bernard abruptly dropped to a crouch, and Tavi instinctively followed suit.

Bernard looked silently back at Tavi, c.o.c.king an eyebrow in a silent question.

Tavi stayed on all fours and crawled up beside his uncle. He kept his voice to a whisper between panting breaths and said, ”Up ahead, in that last stand of trees by the brook. There's usually a covey of quail there, but I saw them heading along the lane.”

”You think something spooked them out,” Bernard said He murmured, ”Cyprus,” and flicked his right hand toward the trees beside him in a signal to the lesser of his two furies Tavi looked up and saw a shape glide down from one of the trees-vaguely humanoid and no larger than a child. It turned pale green eyes toward Bernard for a moment, crouching down like an animal. Leaves and twigs seemed to writhe together to cover whatever shape lay beneath them. Cyprus tilted its head to one side, focusing on Bernard, and then made a sound like wind rustling through the leaves and vanished into the brush. Tavi was winded from the run and struggled to slow his breathing.

”What is it?” he whispered.

Bernard's eyes slipped out of focus for a moment before he answered. ”You were right. Well done, boy. There's someone hiding near the footbridge. They've got a strong fury with them.”

”Bandits?” Tavi whispered.

His uncle's eyes narrowed. ”It's Kord.”

Tavi frowned. ”I thought the other Stead-holders were supposed to be arriving later today. And why would they be hiding in the trees?”

Bernard grunted, rising. ”Let's go find out.”

Tavi followed his uncle on down the road Bernard walked with quiet purpose toward the causeway, as if he had every intention of traveling past the hidden men. Then, without warning, he spun to his left, arrow in hand, drew back the bow and loosed a grey-feathered shaft at a clump of bushes and detritus a few paces from the near side of the small, stone footbridge that crossed a murmuring brook.

Tavi heard a scream, and the leaves and bushes thrashed wildly. A moment later a boy about Tavi's age emerged from the bushes, one hand clenched upon the seat of his breeches. He had a broad, strong build and a face that would be handsome if it had been less petulant Bittan, of Kord-holt, Kord's youngest son. ”b.l.o.o.d.y crows!” the boy howled. ”Are you insane?”

”Bittan?” called Bernard in obviously feigned surprise. ”Oh dear, I had no idea that was you back there.”

From further down the trail, a second young man rose out of hiding- Kord's eldest son, Aric. He was leaner than his brother, taller, and several years older. He wore his hair pulled back into a tail, and pensive frown lines had already established themselves between his eyebrows. He watched Bernard warily and called, ”Bittan? You all right?”

The boy screamed, furious, ”No I'm not all right! I'm shot!” The boy screamed, furious, ”No I'm not all right! I'm shot!” Tavi peered at the other boy and muttered to his uncle, ”You shot him?” Tavi peered at the other boy and muttered to his uncle, ”You shot him?” ”Just grazed him.” ”Just grazed him.” Tavi grinned. ”Maybe you hit him in the brain.” Tavi grinned. ”Maybe you hit him in the brain.” Bernard smiled a wolfish smile and said nothing. Bernard smiled a wolfish smile and said nothing.

From still further back in the brush, leaves crackled and dead wood snapped. A moment later, Stead-holder Kord emerged from the bracken. He wasn't terribly tall, but his shoulders seemed too large for him, and his brawny arms looked unnaturally long. Kord wore a patched and faded grey tunic, badly in need of a thorough was.h.i.+ng, and heavy gargant-hide leggings. He wore his symbol of office, the heavy chain of a Stead-holder around his neck. The chain was smudged and looked greasy, but Tavi supposed that it made a better match for his unkempt greying hair and patchy beard.

Kord moved with an aggressive tension, and his eyes were cold with anger. ”What the crows do you think you're doing, Bernard?”

Bernard waved a friendly hand at Kord, but Tavi noted that he held an arrow along with the bow in his other. ”Little accident,” he said. ”I mistook your boy there for some kind of robber lurking by the road to attack travelers.”

Kord's eyes narrowed. ”Are you accusing me of something?”

”Of course not,” Bernard drawled, his smile not touching his eyes. ”This is just a misunderstanding. Thank the great furies no one got hurt.” He paused for a moment, his smile vanis.h.i.+ng before he said, quietly, ”I'd hate to have someone get hurt on my land.”

Kord snarled, a sound more b.e.s.t.i.a.l than human, and rolled forward a furious step. The ground under his feet rumbled and quivered, restless little hummocks rising and falling as though some kind of serpent slithered about just beneath the surface.

Bernard faced Kord without looking away, stirring, or changing his expression.

Kord growled again, and with a visible effort choked back his anger. ”One of these days I'm going to get upset with you, Bernard.”

”Don't say things like that, Kord,” Tavi's uncle replied. ”You'll frighten the boy.” ”Don't say things like that, Kord,” Tavi's uncle replied. ”You'll frighten the boy.” Kord's eyes flicked to Tavi, and the boy felt suddenly uneasy under that intense and angry regard. Kord's eyes flicked to Tavi, and the boy felt suddenly uneasy under that intense and angry regard. ”He come into any furies yet, or are you finally going to admit what a useless little freak he is?” ”He come into any furies yet, or are you finally going to admit what a useless little freak he is?”

The simple comment pierced Tavi like a thorn, and he opened his mouth to make a furious response Bernard settled his hand on Tavi's shoulder and said, ”Don't worry about my nephew.” He glanced at Bittan. ”After all, you've got other concerns. Why don't you head on down to the stead-holt? I'm sure Isana is getting something ready for you.”

”Think we'll stay here a while,” Kord said. ”Maybe eat a little breakfast.”

”Suit yourself,” Bernard said, and stared on down the lane Tavi followed close behind them Bernard ignored Kord until they had crossed the footbridge. ”Oh,” Bernard said, looking over his shoulder. ”I forgot to mention that Warner already came in last night, Kord. His sons are on leave from the Legions so that they could visit their father.”

”Bring them on,” Bittan snapped. ”We'll tear them apa-” ”Bring them on,” Bittan snapped. ”We'll tear them apa-” Kord delivered an openhanded blow to Bittan's face that knocked the boy to the ground. ”Shut your mouth.” Kord delivered an openhanded blow to Bittan's face that knocked the boy to the ground. ”Shut your mouth.” Bittan shook his head, dazed and scowling. He didn't answer Kord or look at his father as he stood up Bittan shook his head, dazed and scowling. He didn't answer Kord or look at his father as he stood up ”Go on down,” Bernard said. ”I'm sure we can get everything worked out.” ”Go on down,” Bernard said. ”I'm sure we can get everything worked out.”

Kord didn't reply. He beckoned his sons with a curt gesture and started down the lane. They followed him, and Bittan cast a harsh, hateful glare at Tavi as he walked. ”Freak.”

Tavi clenched his hands into fists, but let the comment pa.s.s. Bernard nodded his approval, and they waited as Kord and his sons headed down the lane to Bernard-holt. As they watched, Tavi said, ”They were there to attack Warner, weren't they, uncle?”

”It's possible,” Bernard said. ”That's why your aunt asked Warner to come in last night Kord is desperate.”

”Why? It's Bittan that's been accused, not him.”

”Rape is a realm offense,” Bernard answered. ”Kord is the family head, and he shares responsibility for offenses against the realm. If the truth-find shows that there needs to be a trial, and Bittan is judged guilty, Count Gram could remove Kord's claim to Kord-holt.”

”You think he'd kill to protect it?” Tavi asked ”I think men who l.u.s.t for power are capable of almost anything.” He shook his head. ”Kord sees power as something to satisfy his desires, instead of a tool to protect and serve the people beholden to him. It's a stupid att.i.tude, and it will eventually get him killed-but until then it makes him dangerous.”

”He scares me,” Tavi said.

”He scares anyone with good sense, boy.” Bernard pa.s.sed his bow to Tavi and opened a pouch on his belt. He withdrew a small gla.s.s b.u.t.ton from it and dropped it over the side of the footbridge and into the brook. ”Rill,” he said firmly. ”I need to speak to Isana, please.”

They waited there on the bridge for several moments before the sounds of the brook began to change. A column of water rose straight up out of the brook, taking on human form as it did so, until it had formed into a liquid sculpture of Tavi's aunt, Isana, a woman with the youthful form and features of a strong water-crafter, but the bearing and voice of a mature adult.

The sculpture peered around, eventually focusing on Bernard and Tavi. ”Good morning, Bernard, Tavi.” Her voice sounded tinny, as if it had come down to them through a long tube.

”Aunt Isana,” Tavi said, bowing his head politely. ”Aunt Isana,” Tavi said, bowing his head politely. ”Sis,” Bernard drawled. ”We just ran into Kord and his sons. They were waiting around in the brush near the north bridge.” ”Sis,” Bernard drawled. ”We just ran into Kord and his sons. They were waiting around in the brush near the north bridge.” Isana shook her head. ”The fool can't be serious.” Isana shook her head. ”The fool can't be serious.” ”I think he was,” Bernard said. ”I think he knows that with what Bittan did, Gram will get him this time.” ”I think he was,” Bernard said. ”I think he knows that with what Bittan did, Gram will get him this time.”

Isana's mouth twisted into a wry smile. ”I doubt having a woman appointed the truth-finder for this crime has pleased him, either.”

Bernard nodded. ”You might want to make sure someone is close, just in case. They're coming down the lane to you now.” Bernard nodded. ”You might want to make sure someone is close, just in case. They're coming down the lane to you now.” Isana's image in the water frowned. ”When will you return?” Isana's image in the water frowned. ”When will you return?” ”Before noon, with luck. Before dinner, otherwise.” ”Before noon, with luck. Before dinner, otherwise.”

”Try to hurry. I'll keep things civil for as long as I can, but I'm not sure anyone but you can make Kord back down without shedding blood.”

”I will. Be careful.”

Isana nodded. ”And you. Old Bitte says that Garados and his wife are brewing up a storm for us, by nightfall at the latest.”

Tavi shot an uneasy glance to the northeast, where the towering mountain of Garados sat glowering down at the inhabitants of the Calderon Valley. Its upper slopes were already growing white with ice, and clouds obscured the topmost peaks, where the hostile fury of the towering mountain conspired with Lilvia, the fury of the cold gales blowing over the great Sea of Ice to the north. They would gather in clouds like herds of cattle, feed them to anger on the day's light, and drive them down over the inhabitants of the valley in a fury-storm as the sun set.

”We'll be back long before then,” Bernard a.s.sured her. ”We'll be back long before then,” Bernard a.s.sured her. ”Good. Oh, Tavi?” ”Good. Oh, Tavi?” ”Yes, Aunt Isana?” ”Yes, Aunt Isana?” ”Do you have any idea where Beritte would have acquired a fresh garland of hollybells?” ”Do you have any idea where Beritte would have acquired a fresh garland of hollybells?” Tavi shot his uncle a guilty glance and blushed. ”I guess she must have found them somewhere.” Tavi shot his uncle a guilty glance and blushed. ”I guess she must have found them somewhere.”

”I see. She isn't yet of marrying age, she's too irresponsible to care for a child, and she certainly is too young to wear hollybells. Do you think she'll be finding any more?”

”No, ma am.” ”No, ma am.” ”Excellent,” Isana said rather crisply. ”We'll discuss the matter when you return.” ”Excellent,” Isana said rather crisply. ”We'll discuss the matter when you return.” Tavi winced. Tavi winced.