The Swans' War 1 - The One Kingdom (3 page)

"Is it true the people of Inniseth sacrifice their dead to the river and will not venture near it after dark?" Baore asked.

Alaan smiled.” Well, it is hardly a sacrifice. They pour the ashes of their dead into the river and will not be buried in the ground. They believe that is the worst curse you can place on a family—to bury one of them in the ground. It is their punishment for murderers. But it is true the ritual of sending the ashes down the river is partly done to appease the river or its spirits, in some strange way. Outsiders are not welcome at their funeral rites, so I can't say what is done, but they seem to believe they've made a pact with the river: it will leave them in peace during their lives if they are surrendered to it in death."Fynnol laughed, but Tarn and Baore did not join in and he fell quickly silent.

"And do they not venture near the river after dark?" Baore asked.

"Well, the town lies on the high ground across the river from the fields, which flood in spring. Each day the people must go there to work. It's true that they'll not cross the river after dark and that those who live nearest to the water bolt their doors and gates at night and leave no windows open on the river side." Alaan looked around at the others and suddenly smiled.” But these are old wives' tales and I promised not to indulge in those."The traveler looked off into the darkness, concentrating as though listening. Tarn wondered where the man might be going and where he had come from. There were signs in his speech that he was a man of education, and clearly he'd traveled. It was hard to say why such a man was here, so far from the inhabited lowlands, for the Vale was one of the few settlements in a vast wilderness. Occasionally men would appear traveling up the old road, seeking gold and silver in the far valleys, but the mines there had been emptied long ago and few men carried anything but disappointment home again.” You've been digging in the old battlefields and mounds, I take it?" Alaan nodded to the artifacts that Baore had been cleaning. When no one answered right away: "There must be many a broken blade and shield still buried beneath the earth hereabout, though I would guess that time has left little of it in peace. Will you carry it down the river to sell? I ask only because I know a man who takes an interest in such things and might like to see what you have." "We don't disturb the mounds," Tarn said quietly, "just the open meadow of the battlefield. Anything of iron or steel has long ago decayed to dirt. We find the occasional streak of rust where a sword might have lain, but I would imagine few objects of any size were left on the field—shields and swords and armor would have gone into the mounds with the dead." "What do you find, then?" Tarn saw Fynnol give him a warning look, but Alaan noted it as well and held up his hands as he had earlier.” It is wise to be wary of strangers. You need tell me nothing." "It's not that we've found anything of great value," Fynnol said quickly.” The odd coin, sharpening stones, some buckles, and strangely, a few bits of women's jewelry ..." "Oh, that is not so strange," Alaan said.” Knights often wore some piece of their ladylove's jewelry into battle as a token of their feelings and as a charm against injury. Gold and silver will long outlast steel and iron, or even copper and bronze, so you would be most likely to find them. Jewels, of course, last even longer." "We've found no jewels," Tam said, "though we would wish otherwise. It is our plan to visit Inniseth. We'll buy horses there and ride back.""You'll find good stock at Inniseth, though the Wold of Kerns might treat you better, but it is farther on, of course. You must have discovered some fine things if you will go so far to trade them for horses?"Tarn shrugged.” It is partly the journey. We've never been beyond the hills and would like to see a little of the lowlands while we may.""Before you marry, you mean, and settle down to the serious business of populating the wildlands?"The young men all smiled a bit shyly.

"Well, it's a good thing to see the world," Alaan said, his tone a little more serious.” But you must take care. Travel causes some affliction of the eye, and after a while no place it rests looks like home. No woman the right woman." His face became more serious.” I speak from experience. Have you found anything marked with the devices of Knights of the Vow?""Just this one thing, and of that we are not certain." Tarn gestured to Baore who looked surprised for an instant, then handed over the dagger handle he had been polishing. Tam passed it to the stranger.” 'Tis so faint one can hardly tell, but is that not the swan and the lion?"Alaan held the handle close to the fire, turning it slowly. He poured a little wine into the ashes at the fire's edge and stirred them with a stick. Taking up a bit of this paste, he rubbed it over the crest on the handle, a few faintly etched lines appearing as though by magic.

"Most would think this belonged to a Knight of the Vow," he said after a moment, "but I'm sure it didn't. It's hard to tell, as you say, especially in this light, but this is not the swan and the lion. Oh, it is similar, and intentionally so, but this is a crane. Do you see? The arms of the princes of Alethon— allies of the Knights through many years of struggle. The last prince fell at the battle of Telanon Bridge. Here." He waved the handle toward the dark wood.” But there is even a more compelling reason. The devices of the Knights changed over the years. The swan and the lion they were given by King Thynne when first they formed, but this was replaced in later years by the silveroak tree, and finally by a fan of silveroak leaves. If this handle bore the swan and the lion it would be very ancient indeed. So ancient that I hardly think it would have survived so long in the ground. But it is a valuable piece all the same. Don't take less than five eagles for it. Who will you sell it to?" "There is a man named Truk in Inniseth town," Fynnol said.” He is said to pay fairly for such things." "Morgan Truk has never paid fairly for anything in his life!" Alaan laughed.” You've heard of him?" "I know him. He is as kindly an old bandit as you will ever meet. But he will pay you a tenth what he can get for it himself, that is certain. And don't think of buying horses from him. As I sit here, he will charge you four times as much as any other man. Don't be taken in by his gentle manner." The three Valemen glanced at one another.” You say this is worth five eagles?" Fynnol asked.” Oh, easily. It would sell in Westbrook for three times that. So if you sell it in Inniseth town you must consider their efforts to carry it downriver and find a buyer. If Truk won't give you five for it, tell him you travel to the fair at Westbrook. That will change his tune. I should be glad to look over what you've found and give you my own opinion of its worth, if that would be of any help." "That would be kind of you," said Baore, looking around at the others, obviously delighted to hear that they might make significantly more than they'd expected. Perhaps the journey would look more attractive to him now, Tam thought.” It's all down in the boat," Tam said.” If you have time in the morning, it can be seen properly." "I have time, and it is the least I can do to repay your kind hospitality." Alaan looked around the dark walls.” I would guess many a man has made his camp here and spent his days searching for the treasure of the Knights of the Vow. Is that what you truly seek?"Embarrassed silence from the three young men, and then Tarn spoke up.” When we were young and first came here we had such dreams, but we found only a few trinkets. Then we learned that the lowlanders valued antiquities, so we have come back each year after planting and spent some time digging and sifting through the soil. It will pay us back now, or so we hope.""Tarn's grandfather tells us that there was no treasure. That there weren't even any Knights of the Vow at the battle fought here," Fynnol said.

Alaan shifted where he sat, gazing into the fire.” Well, that might or might not be true. This was a tower of the Knights, as you no doubt know, for they kept guard over the gold and silver that came from the mines high up in the mountains. Rich, those mines once were, and the Battle of Telanon Bridge was fought for their control. It is said the Knights no longer safeguarded the treasure then, for their toll had grown for this service and the King forbade them to continue it. But even so, there is an old song that suggests at least one Knight fought here, at the battle."Alaan cleared his throat and then began to sing in a pure, clear tenor.

"Through crimson leaves and failing light, And battle lost upon the ridge. Dark birds fell like leaves from flight. As four rode over Telanon Bridge.

The first was a knight who'd broken a vow, And one was a captain whose shield bore an oak. The third hid a wound that robbed him of life, And last came a child in his dead father's cloak.

A treasure they bore more valued than gold A treasure they bore from the battle-seared ridge Four riders went forth, Four riders went forth over Telanon Bridge. Through wildlands in winter they carried their charge No friend to succor them in bitterest cold. Of those sent to warn them, none were met And three riders arrived at the black Dukes hold. A treasure they bore more valued than gold, A treasure they bore from the battle-seared ridge. No riders returned to tell the tale Of the four who crossed over Telanon Bridge." Tam glanced out an opening in the stone, where stars hung among the branches of the trees. The river voice echoed in the gorge below, and a nighthawk peened over the keep.” The song is incomplete, but it is clear that the child is the treasure, unlike many another version of the same lyric. It was originally recorded in Eaorel, but it was well rendered as I have sung it. But you see, 'one was a captain whose shield bore an oak.' A Knight of the Vow, one would have to admit. Though of course it is only a song." Alaan shifted to stretch his legs, stiff as though he had been riding long days. They fell silent and a small gust whispered through the trees, speaking a tongue Tam could not understand. For a moment they all seemed to listen.” I've heard an old song much like that," Tam said.” My grandfather knows many old tales and songs, and taught them to my father, though only a few were sung to me. My grandfather lost his heart for teaching them when my father passed on." Tam was embarrassed suddenly to be telling this to a stranger, but Alaan's kindly manner and obvious interest seemed to draw him out.

Alaan began to gently rub one knee.” Perhaps you can sing some of these songs, for I've an interest in old lyrics." He would perhaps have said more, but a bird alighted in a window opening overhead, half lost in shadow. The stranger extended his hand and made odd noises, partly whistling and partly the noises some made to babies. The bird, which seemed to be a small crow, strutted nervously on its perch but would not come down.

"He is shy with strangers," Alaan said, giving up.

"This is your crow?"

"Mine, yes, but not a crow. A whist. Perhaps a cousin to the crow and the jay, but smaller and with a far prettier song, though when he is alarmed he makes the warning cry that gives him his name. The whist will also fly at night. I don't know what it is they hunt in the darkness, but they go abroad in the hours when only the nighthawks and owls are hunting. I found Jac, for that is his name, in the trunk of a tree that had been struck by lightning—the only survivor of his family, I fear. I raised him and have not been able to rid myself of him since. Where I go, he goes, though he is endless trouble: a thief of any small thing that glints, though the gods know what he does with them. Often I don't see him for days, but he always returns." The stranger reached into one of his bags and took out a few nuts, which he spread on the ground.

"You know the older languages?" Tarn asked, wondering about Alaan's comments on the history of the song.

"You see before you the bane of several worthy scholars. I fear I was a bitter disappointment to them, but I have a weakness for the old songs and tales, all the same."The whist dropped to the ground then, scooped up a bill full of nuts, and leapt back to its perch with only three beats of its wings.

"He seems dark blue in the firelight," Fynnol said, always observant.

"Yes, in the right light he can seem blue, at other times dark gray, but usually black. A good color for a bird that flies by night." Tarn looked up at the bird as it worked quickly on the nuts it had dropped on the ledge.” Aren't the whist from For-lyn? You've traveled far if you have been there." "Far, yes." Alaan turned to Tarn, his look both surprised and curious.” How long has your family been in the Vale, Tarn?" "My great-grandfather was the first. From Kell, it's said, though I'm not sure anyone really knows." "A family that passes down the old songs and doesn't remember their own history? What is your family name?" "Loell." "Not an uncommon name in the Vale, I should imagine," Alaan said.” From the Helfing Wold to begin with, though spread across all the lands now." He kept his eyes fixed on Tam. A fluttering of wings caused everyone to look up just in time to see the whist disappearing into blackness.” Now I'll worry that he will be an owl's dinner until he appears again," Alaan said, shaking his head.” And what manner of life did your ancestors follow in Kell?" Tam shrugged.” Men-at-arms is what I suspect, though no one seems to be sure." "And your father, you say, passed on?" Tam nodded.” When I was a boy." "I'm sorry to hear it," Alaan said softly, and began to poke at the fire with a small stick.” After the last wars many a man left his past behind and took on a common name. Their descendants can be found in all the little corners of the land between the mountains. Better not to stir the fire," he said, doing just that.” Not that anyone cares now." A flame flickered up from Alaan's efforts, wavering before them like a snake.” It is astonishing what is lost in war: places of learning are destroyed, libraries burned, people of knowledge put to the sword or starve or die of disease or any of the other hundred scourges that travel in war's train. Before the Renné and the Wills split the kingdom, the land between the mountains was a civilized realm... ." He stopped, as though embarrassed by this outburst.

"Do the Renné and Wills still carry on their feud?" Baore asked.

Alaan pulled his stick out of the fire, a small flame attached to the end.” Oh, there is a peace of sorts, though I believe they will never give it up," he said.” The Wills are so! reduced in circumstances these last years that they've not! been able to keep an army. Would that the same thing befell the Renné and then we could all rest easily—for a while. Perhaps they will one day realize that this fool's feud is what! brought them to their present states—two families much reduced in circumstances if not in pride.