Guardian of Honor (42 page)

Thealia's face pinched white, and most of the others gave some
indication of discomfort. Good. Bastien wasn't feeling charitable.

"That mistake will haunt us forever. Collectively as
Marshalls and individually," Thealia sighed.

"As it should," Partis said. He met Bastien's gaze.
"We regret our actions. We have no excuses."

"We are not the ones being Tested here," Reynardus said.
He looked to the windows where the sunlight slanted in low. "Evening
comes. Let's continue with this."

Thealia rose and sailed gracefully around the table, passed
Bastien and stood by the door. "According to tradition, when the applicant
appears and chooses the Tests, word is spread of his name and the Tests, and a
spellsong is placed on the Castle information board. I have been informed that
we have a witness who will testify to Bastien Vauxveau's compassion."

Reynardus scowled. "Fast work by someone." He scraped
back his chair and sat, frowning at the atomball.

"By several someones, no doubt," Partis said.
"Bastien is well-liked."

Thealia opened the door latch and looked out. "You may enter
now."

Urvey marched into the room, a roll of papers in his fist. He
wore Bastien's colors, midnight blue and silver. From the
worn look of the clothes, they'd been altered from some of Bastien's castoffs.
The teenager appeared neat, clean and nervous.

Faith gestured to a chair. "You may sit here."

Urvey thrust the rolls at Faith. "Statements by Chevaliers
regarding Bastien's compassion."

From where he stood, Bastien could smell the smoke and liquor on
the papers. No doubt they'd been passed around the Nom de Nom. He wondered what
they said and if any of it was true.

"You're going to trust
those?
Trust
him?"
asked
Reynardus.

Flipping through the pages, Faith glanced at him. "They've
been sworn, witnessed and all sealed by Lady Hallard, Representative of the
Chevaliers to us." Faith plucked out a sheet. "She has included
testimony of her own, as has her flier, Marrec."

Bastien couldn't remember any good deeds he'd done for those
two. Maybe he'd been drunk at the time. But on the whole he
never consciously thought of doing good deeds.

"As for this youngster," Partis said, "have we
become so superior that we won't listen to what an honest lad says?"

"Yes," said Reynardus.

Thealia sighed.

"Your name and station?" asked Faith, ready with her
feather pen.

"Urvey Novins. I'm Bastien's squire."

"I remember you, and I think we have all seen you around the
Castle. Tell your story, boy," said Mace.

Urvey shifted in his seat, then haltingly explained his position
as stable boy at the Nom de Nom, talked about minor kindnesses Bastien didn't
recall, and continued to the night Bastien had announced that the jerir at the
Castle was available to anyone who cared to avail themselves of it.

"He came and he helped me in the jerir pool and he made me
his squire," Urvey finished.

"But he left you here, at the Castle, when he went back to
the Field, left you to fend for yourself," Faith said gently.

"He let me stay in his apartment in Horseshoe Hall, and he
gave me money. Since his return, he's taught me squirely things."

"He left you," Thealia repeated.

"He gave me status. Just by allowing me to dip in the jerir
with him. Just being in his rooms made me important enough for others to pay
attention to me." Urvey sat straighter in his chair. "A squire shows
initiative." His chin jutted. "Maybe he was just Testing me like you
are Testing him!"

Mace turned a chuckle into a cough.

Urvey met Bastien's gaze. "He gave me more and believed in me
more than anyone else in my life." Urvey's chest swelled with pride.
"Here I am
talking
to the Marshalls of the Castle. I have clothes.
I have good food—I ate sweetcheese just last night. I have a horse of my own.
Soon I will have flying lessons and a volaran. Which of you would have done
that for me? Which of you would have listened to me before this day?"

His hair stuck out at uneven angles. He looked no more than
what he'd been, a stable boy at a rough tavern. And he
looked very, very young. Bastien sighed inwardly. He didn't know why he'd taken
responsibility for Urvey, but now that he had, the boy needed a decent haircut.

"I've heard enough," Reynardus said.

"And I." Partis's tone was cheerful.

Urvey stood and awkwardly bowed to the Marshalls. Bastien would
need to teach him how to bow too. Lessons to Urvey and lessons to Alexa. He'd
become a preceptor. Who would have thought it.

Bastien clapped a hand on Urvey's shoulder. "Good job."

The teenager reddened, then grinned. He ducked his head.
"I'll be in our suite."

Alexa's suite. Bastien hadn't felt her in the back of his mind
lately. "How is she?"

"She sleeps. Umilla watches over her."

"Testing is in progress," Reynardus reminded him.

As Urvey left, Luthan opened the door and walked in. "Is
Urvey's testimony, along with the other witness rolls, enough, or do I need to
testify?"

"You have tales of Bastien's compassion too?" Thealia
asked wearily.

"Many." Luthan beamed. "And I will be glad to spend
all night in the telling of them."

Mace rolled his eyes. "I don't want to hear every
instance."

"But," Luthan continued, "I need only remind all of
you what happens to your old volarans, too wounded or too old to fly with the
wild herds, and who aren't welcome on the lands of the nobles they've served.
Or those volarans who have lost a human friend and don't wish to return to the
wild. They go to Bastien. And Bastien supports them. What is that if not
compassion?"

"Well said." Faith made a note on her paper, set her pen
aside and folded her hands. "I accept that Bastien Vauxveau has shown a
history of acceptable compassion during his life. Any objections to passing the
applicant on this Test?"

Reynardus grumbled under his breath. No one else said anything.

Luthan said, "As Representative of the Singer, I will
stay." He slid into his chair.

Faith glanced down at the last item on her Testing chart.
"Let us proceed to the greatest Test for you, Bastien—teamwork."

A bitter retort rose in his mind on how he'd cooperated with
independent Chevalier Pairs, landowner units, noble corps. He stopped them on
his tongue.

His emotions roused Alexa. She felt the cost of his control.
Bastien,
do you need help?
A wave of sleep threatened to pull her under, her body
and mind demanding more rest.

Sleep,
Bastien urged.

It's just a dream,
Alexa said.

Sleep. You would be awake and here if I needed you greatly, but I
sense your mind and body need more time to process the shock of fighting the
dreeth, and creating the blood-bond.

You make no sense.

Sleep!
It was more than a suggestion, it had
push
behind it. She
didn't want to face the memory of being crushed, so she gave in to the tide.

Bastien faced the Marshalls with a half smile. Just the brief
exchange with his sleepy, supportive, pliable woman made him feel better. He
wished he was back with her in bed.

He thought of the next Test, teamwork.
Merdel
Alexa would
have passed that one with flying colors, while he'd always preferred individual
fighting and only Paired temporarily and when absolutely necessary for the
battle.

"Do we have your attention again?" asked Reynardus in
mock courtesy.

"I was sending my lady back to sleep. We are Paired. She knew
of my nerves and has been with me thus far."

Mace snorted. "Nerves, ha!"

"I will do anything for my mate. It is the sole reason I am
here before you now, Testing. She is a Marshall and you will not recognize me
as her equal,
even if she does,
if I am not one, also. To be most
effective we must be in harmony and removing the distraction that I am
not
a
Marshall will do that." He'd have more status, more influence when he was
a Marshall. He could protect her more.

He loved her. He hadn't known what a true, loving Pairing was
before, didn't think anyone who hadn't experienced it could
understand how deeply it went. He straightened his shoulders, knowing what he
had to do to pass this next Test. He walked over to the table and offered his
hand to his father.

"The best Test of teamwork would be to act as Shield to the
Swordmarshall with whom I have the most problems. That means you."

Reynardus's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Bastien's
offered hand. Bastien knew if they teamed together the blood-bond between them
would kick in—a bond that would be unusual and strange since it would be the
first time in many years, the first time since Alexa had removed the
constriction of his Power.

Bastien smiled easily. "There are always lesser monsters
creeping into Lladrana through Sly Pass. It is close enough for this Test.
Shall we go, Father?"

His father stood, face stony. "No. I will not bond with
you."

Why was this blow
harder
than the dreeth's? Bastien hoped
his humiliation didn't show. He set his hand on his belt, curled his fingers
around tough leather until the edges nipped at his hand, grateful for the small
pain.

The rest of the room seemed as shocked as he.

Reynardus said, "I am not sure this whole business is
true." He gestured widely. "All his life, Bastien has been a rebel,
he has fought me, fought any rule that bound him, is one of those Chevaliers
loudest in his condemnation of us, the Marshalls. And I do not want his
black-and-white mind touching my mind."

"He does it for his lady," Partis murmured into the
silence. "He is Paired. But you know nothing of that, do you? You can't
comprehend that?"

Angry streaks of red showed under the skin of Reynardus's cheeks.
"I don't have that weakness."

"And I think it is a weakness to believe Pairing a
weakness," Thealia said.

Swordmarshall Johnsa, Paired to Faith, stood. "Bastien
Vauxveau and I are distantly related through his mother's line. I don't recall
that we have ever linked to work together. Since I believe we all expected
Reynardus's sons to be Swords, whenever we might have trained with them as
Marshalls, we would have Paired them with Shieldmarshalls. I will team with
Bastien." She glanced at the windows, now red with sunset. "Since
night is falling, perhaps we should use the Castle training grounds." She
dipped her head in Bastien's direction. "With your consent, of course, Chevalier
Vauxveau."

Bastien matched her nod. "I agree." Hurt tightened his
insides, but he'd had a lifetime of plodding on through emotional hurt
inflicted by his father. He wouldn't think about it. Couldn't afford to. This
evening he would survive the Testing. Tonight he would curve himself, body and
mind, around Alexa, and they would smooth this clash of chords into a melody
that would ease the pain.

"I and my Shield will take the field against you,"
Reynardus said, not even glancing at Ivrog for acceptance.

Ivrog's mouth opened, then he shut it. His face went impassive,
but Bastien sensed he was displeased.

Teamwork. When had his father ever truly worked as an equal
partner? Never. He'd always been the controlling partner of the Pair. That was
not teamwork, and surely the Marshalls knew it too, but they'd ignored it all
these years. If it weren't for Alexa, Bastien would walk out of this room in
disgust and leave the Marshalls to their fate.

Since he couldn't, Bastien wondered if he could exploit
Reynardus's need for control in the coming Test.

"Why don't we take to the air—a volaran skirmish. With
dreeths appearing again, flying skills will be vital." Bastien smiled.

Reynardus froze. Bastien's volarans were superior to anyone
else's.

"A good idea," Thealia said. She was giving him an edge.

Johnsa's face lit up. "It will be a pleasure working with
Bastien on volaran-back."

"Above the Landing Field, then—it's the largest area,"
Thealia said. "I'll broadcast word that all volaran landings this evening
should divert to Horseshoe courtyard until Testing is done."

Bastien nodded at Johnsa. "I'll meet you in Horseshoe
Stables."

He turned on his heel and left, fingers curling in excitement.
He'd
won!
There was no way Reynardus and Ivrog could best him and
Johnsa. Not when he and Johnsa were distant kin, not when his magic rolled
through him, free but steady. Not when he had the best volarans in Lladrana. He
laughed.

Something thunked on the door behind him.