Sinner (28 page)

“
H
e’s
what
?” Caelum whispered. “Taken Kastaleon?” Askam shouted, rising from his chair.

The captain shifted uncomfortably. “He argues it is in part compensation for the losses your trading tariffs have caused him and Western Tencendor, my Prince. But,” the captain moved his gaze back to Caelum, “he says he will hand Kastaleon back if the StarSon is prepared to negotiate on the matters that Prince Zared raised when he was here for Council.”

“How could you have lost Kastaleon?” Askam said. He cared not for whatever message Zared had sent.

“My Prince, I had no reason to suspect that the Prince of the North meant to seize the castle. I greeted him in the courtyard with the respect he is due, and instead found myself invaded. StarSon,” again he looked to Caelum, “I did not realise we were at war with the North.”

“Neither did I,” Caelum muttered. “How many men did Zared have with him?”

“Perhaps five hundred, StarSon. Only lightly armoured.”

Caelum looked to Askam, still red-faced and upset. “Is Kastaleon stocked and weaponed for a siege, Askam?”

“What? Oh, ah…no. It could stand a few weeks, perhaps. But not long, and not with only a few hundred men.”

Caelum looked back to the captain. “Thank you, captain. You are dismissed. But do not leave Sigholt yet. I have no doubt that Askam will demand a few more answers from you than I have.”

The captain nodded unhappily. He bowed to Caelum and then Askam, and left the map-room.

Caelum sat silent, needing a few minutes to think. By the Stars! What had driven Zared to act so?

“It is Rivkah’s bad blood,” Askam said in an undertone. “First Borneheld, and now Zared.”

Caelum looked up sharply. “You forget that I carry Rivkah’s blood, too.”

Askam flushed. “My apologies, StarSon. But Borneheld tore this land to pieces in his quest for the throne of Achar. Committed murder to do so. Zared now appears intent on doing the same.”

“I never thought he would go this far,” Caelum said, looking tired and worried. “Taking over Kastaleon? What did he think he would accomplish?”

“My Lord, I request formal permission to lead a force to retake my castle.”

“No, no. Let us think this through a moment, Askam.”

“My Lord –”

“Askam, I am
not
going to rush into an ill-considered response. Now, sit.”

Caelum turned his face slightly to one side as Askam sat down. What worried him the most was what Zared might be prepared to do next – and who might be prepared to support him in it. FreeFall and Yllgaine would
never support Zared’s rebellion – for that is what it was – but what about the human peoples in their territories? Did Zared have good reason to act so precipitously? Caelum remembered Yllgaine saying he’d heard murmurs from among the humans regarding the throne.

“Askam,
did
Zared have a point about the peoples in the West and North murmuring that they wanted their throne restored to them?”

“No, I have never heard a word about it,” Askam said, but Caelum noticed that he spoke too quickly and would not look him in the eyes.

Caelum dropped his gaze again, thinking. Askam would have good reason to deny that his people were agitating for a restored Acharite king.

Were
the human peoples truly muttering about needing a king of their own?

Caelum repressed a shiver. If the people were willing to back Zared there was so much else a King of Achar could restore as well. The hatreds and divisions between the Icarii and the Avar and the Acharites. How well
had
the humans accepted the return of the Icarii and Avar into southern Tencendor? Not well, if they wanted their own monarch back. And if they wanted their king back, then what else might they consider resurrecting? The Seneschal? A limited war to wrest lands back from the Avar and Icarii?

This time Caelum did shiver. He could all too easily envision a King of Achar leading to another Wars of the Axe and the eventual destruction of Tencendor. Another thousand years of hatreds and bleakness and exile.

How could Zared even
think
of asking for the throne of Achar? Didn’t he realise the implications? Or did he realise only too well? What else did Zared have planned? A request for the Minstrelsea to be levelled once he had the circlet of king firmly on his brow?

Caelum took a deep breath. This was not just a crisis, but a test. The first real test of his reign. All Tencendor would be watching to see how he coped.

What would his father have done?

“We have to act,” Caelum said, and Askam jerked his head up from his own contemplations.

“How so, StarSon?”

Caelum did not answer immediately, but rose from his chair, walked to the door, and asked the guard to request Strike Leader DareWing FullHeart to attend him immediately.

“Caelum? What do you plan?” Askam said as Caelum walked back and sat down again.

Caelum looked at him, and Askam was stunned to see what appeared to be fear in his eyes. “I plan to quash Zared once and for all,” Caelum said quietly. This is what Axis would have done. “His push for power represents too many evils for me to watch it go by quietly. My father battled for years to reunite Tencendor in the face of Acharite opposition. I cannot lose it for him in just one generation.”

There was a movement at the door, and the Strike Leader entered.

“Ah, DareWing, sit down.”

DareWing, a birdman with sharp brown eyes and saffron wings, sat himself opposite Caelum. “StarSon?”

Caelum briefed DareWing on the situation. “I have to act, DareWing. I cannot let this pass.”

“I agree, StarSon, but surely –”

“
Damn it!
I cannot believe he would do this!” Caelum said. “Not with all the old hatreds so fresh in our minds. Well, if he has attacked
us,
then we shall attack him. DareWing, ready the Strike Force.”

DareWing shot an anxious glance at Askam, but Askam’s own face was lit with excitement, and DareWing knew he’d have to fight this on his own.

“StarSon, would it not be better to ask the advice of the other Five Families?”

“No time to call them, Strike Leader. I shall have to rely on my own judgment.”

DareWing took a deep breath. Gods! “Perhaps the StarMan.”

“
I
sit the Throne of the Stars, DareWing! My father has little to do with the world of mortals. This is
my
decision!”

DareWing tried one last time. “StarSon, at least discuss this with a wider circle. To use the Strike Force to attack humans in Kastaleon – well, nothing could be more guaranteed to provoke old hatreds.”

“Ah,” Caelum said tonelessly, “I do not intend to throw you at Kastaleon, DareWing. I want you and your Strike Force to take Severin for me.”

“But –”

“Seize it as Zared has seized Kastaleon.”

“But –”

“Do it, DareWing! I want to see your battle plans this evening! Now, leave us!”

DareWing rose stiffly and bowed.

“DareWing,” Caelum added as the Strike Leader walked to the door.

“Yes?”

“I want no word of this to get out. Severin
must
be taken by surprise.”

DareWing nodded curtly, and left.

“A city for your castle, my friend,” Caelum said. “I intend to grind Zared into the dust for his stupidity. For this piece of foolishness Zared will lose his seat of power.”

“Good.” Askam sat back. “You will not negotiate with Zared? You are not considering his rash request?”

Caelum grimaced. “A King of Achar is the very last thing that Tencendor or I need, Askam. Rest easy, your
lands will be safe. I shall send word that I request Zared to stay at Kastaleon while I summon the other Heads of the Five Families to meet at the castle to discuss the throne – peace, Askam! I simply do not want Zared moving anywhere else until
I’ve
had time to move. If he believes I’m prepared to negotiate he’ll stay in Kastaleon.”

Caelum smiled grimly. “By the time I’ve finished with him, no-one will support him.”

“When do we ride for Kastaleon, StarSon?” “As soon as DareWing sends word that he has secured Severin. A few days, no more. And within a month, Askam, no-one will want to offer Zared so much as an apple in case it be construed as support.”

DareWing FullHeart led the Strike Force himself, saddened beyond measure that the StarSon had asked him to do this. Severin was a lovely town, bustling and openhearted. It had no idea of the forthcoming attack, no reason to expect it.

DareWing did not lead the full twelve Wings of the Strike Force. Severin would offer no resistance, and six Wings would do as well as twelve.

Besides, once word of this filtered through Tencendor, who knew where else the Strike Force would be required? Damn Caelum for reacting this savagely, DareWing thought,
damn him!
Why couldn’t he have talked with Zared first? Surely this could have been solved around the negotiating table?

But he obeyed anyway. Not to do so would be worse than complying with his order.

DareWing attacked, if such a manoeuvre could be called attack, at dawn. The townsfolk were only just waking up, and most were still fogged by sleep. The militia were cold after a night’s watch – and, DareWing
noted, were sparse anyway. Zared must have moved most of his forces further south.

No-one offered much resistance. The six Wings dropped out of the dawning sun, subduing the watch with virtually no bloodshed. As had been the case in Kastaleon, the watch assumed that the Icarii dropping out of the sky were on a friendly, if puzzling, mission and did not offer any resistance until too late.

Once the militia were subdued, DareWings ordered guards be placed at the main roadways, public buildings, and informed the mayor personally that for the moment Severin was under martial law. StarSon Caelum’s martial law.

“What?” the mayor spluttered over his eggs and toast. “
Why?
”

“You have not heard what Zared has done?” DareWing asked.

“No.” But the mayor narrowed his gaze, and DareWing wondered if he had guessed.

“He has seized Kastaleon from Prince Askam, claiming it as compensation for the people of the West and North. As reprisal, Caelum has ordered Severin seized.”

“He can’t do that!”

“Nevertheless,” DareWing said, “he has. Now, I require a tour of the town and what fortifications and weapon stores it has. Immediately, if you please.”

The mayor pushed aside his toast and eggs and stood up. As he did so he glanced at his wife hovering in the kitchen doorway. She nodded slightly, and backed silently into the kitchen.

“This way,” the mayor said, and pushed past DareWing to the front door.

“Severin is taken,” the farflight scout reported to Caelum, standing in Sigholt’s central courtyard.

“Good,” Caelum said, and turned to Askam. “Then we ride for Kastaleon in the morning. Will we be able to get there before word reaches Zared of the Strike Force’s action?”

“Yes, StarSon. Severin is slightly closer to Kastaleon as the raven flies, but we can use the river transports on the Nordra. They await us at Gundealga Ford as I speak.”

“Good, then see to the final preparations.”

Caelum strode back inside Sigholt, irritated at his inner uncertainty. He
knew
he was doing the right thing. Surely. What else could he do? Negotiate with Zared over the throne of Achar? Never! A King of Achar would only ferment the hatreds of the past.

But would Zared do such a thing? Did he not say that he only wanted to create a ceremonial position?

“No,” Caelum muttered aloud as he strode along the corridors towards his private apartments. “If not Zared then his son, or his great grandson. I cannot allow even the seeds to be sown, let alone watch the harvest ripen into despair.”

Caelum opened the door to his apartments, and stopped short in shock. “
WolfStar!
”

He slowly closed the door behind him. “Why are you here, WolfStar? Is it the children? Are they closer?”

“No,” WolfStar said shortly and far too sharply, and gestured impatiently. “Caelum, where did your father secrete the Rainbow Sceptre?”

“Is that for you to know, WolfStar?”

“Tell me!” WolfStar stepped forward.

Caelum stiffened, but held his ground. “The Rainbow Sceptre is none of your –”

“Confound your objections, boy! I oversaw its birth!”

“But the Sceptre was my father’s, and through him, mine, and I would know why it is you want to see it.”

WolfStar breathed deeply, tendons standing out on his neck. “Yes, you are correct – the Rainbow Sceptre
is
yours by right and, by the Stars! I hope you will have the chance to use it!”

Caelum frowned, but WolfStar went on.

“I want to see it, Caelum StarSon, because I have every reason to believe it is no longer here.”

“
What?
”

“I think Drago has stolen it. I am sure of it.”

“No,” Caelum whispered. “No. It cannot be!”

Zared’s treachery had pushed Drago from Caelum’s mind over the past few days. He’d had patrols out looking for his brother, and had sent word throughout Tencendor for everyone to be on the watch for him, but no-one had heard or seen anything.

Now his nightmare came rushing back, and for an instant Caelum felt himself impaled at the end of DragonStar’s sword.
Had he seized the Rainbow Sceptre?

Was that the cry of the hunt he could hear?

How would Drago manage to seize the Sceptre?

Was that the thunder of the black horseman in the distance?

If Drago had it, what could he do with it?

“Caelum!” WolfStar said, and seized Caelum by the elbow, shaking him. “Where is it hidden?”

Caelum struggled with, and then mastered, his unreasoning fear. “Come with me,” he said, and led WolfStar into the corridor. They moved down until they reached a smaller hallway branching off to the left. It had several doors either side, but Caelum ignored them.