The Swordsman's Oath (Einarinn 2) (75 page)
“Planir wants me back in Hadrumal, so I must do his bidding,” replied Usara briskly, though I saw his eyes following Guinalle as she walked back up the wharf toward the gates. “Just at present, he’s not a man to be argued with.”
“I heard Naldeth trying to get out of staying here,” I agreed with a laugh.
“I don’t think Naldeth found Planir’s reaction very amusing.” Usara looked sternly at me.
“Chamry seems happy enough,” commented Shiv. “I think she’s had just about enough of the honor of being Shannet’s latest pupil.”
“I take it Mentor Tonin hasn’t managed to persuade Guinalle to come back to Vanam with him? What success have you had with her, ’Sar?” I asked, straight-faced.
Usara was betrayed by his fair coloring. “Mind your own business, Rysh. No, I support Guinalle’s decision. Of course she must remain here, to safeguard those we still have to revive, if nothing else.”
“So you’ll be back here, just as soon as you’ve found a solution for her, will you?” inquired Shiv.
“Me, or Parrail, or anyone else who finds the knowledge we need,” Usara said repressively.
“I don’t think you have much competition there.” Shiv patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.
I held my peace. Guinalle was persisting in tactfully not noticing Parrail’s transparent adoration of her, for the lad’s sake as much as to divert Temar’s manful attempts at concealing his jealousy. I could see him now, sitting on an empty barrel, face like a slapped arse, as he watched the love of his life walk away from him. I shook my head at the remembered pains of youth. “Excuse me, both of you.”
I clapped Temar on the shoulder. “Have you made your decision yet?”
He looked up at me. “What would I do if I came with you? Take this oath of yours to the Sieur D’Olbriot? I have no House or Name to return to.”
“The oath arose for men like that, set adrift in the Chaos after the Empire fell,” I said, recalling this with some surprise. Some of Temar’s contemporaries had probably been the first to swear it.
A faint spark of interest lightened the gloom in Temar’s eyes. “Did it?”
I nodded. “The Sieur offers security, the man swears loyalty in return.”
An echo sounded in my mind, of Messire’s words as he stood tall and distant on the dais above me, my own responses striking up from the stone floor as I knelt to offer up my honor all those years ago, the two of us alone in the great hall, as was customary.
As my walls shall shelter you
,
So my sword will defend you
.
As my food shall strengthen you
,
So my strength will serve you
.
As my hearth shall warm you
,
So my heart’s blood is yours.
That was the heart of the matter, wasn’t it? Those were the words I would have to ponder as I weighed Messire’s loyalty to his oath against my own actions.
A shout from the water broke the stillness of my reflections.
“You don’t have much longer to make up your mind,” I said gently.
“What? No, I know.” Temar sighed heavily.
“To make up his mind about what?” asked Livak, as she came up to us and slid herself inside the circle of my arm.
“Should I stay or should I go?” Temar looked up at her.
“Roll a rune for it,” Livak shrugged. “Anyway, no decision’s ever final, is it? Come to Zyoutessela with us. Messire D’Olbriot’s invited you, hasn’t he? If you don’t like it, you can be on the next ship heading this way.”
“Which won’t be before the spring next year.” I thought I had better add a note of realism to Livak’s cheerful unconcern. I looked at Livak, a woollen wrap incongruous over her jerkin and breeches. “I know it’s a lot to ask, my dearest, and I don’t expect an answer at once, but do you think you could possibly bear to wear a skirt when you meet my mother for the first time?”
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Table of Contents
The High Road toward Cotebridge, in the Lescari Dukedom of Marlier, 8th of Aft-Spring in the Second Year of Tadriol the Provident
The house of Viltred Sern, west of Cote in the Clay, Caladhria, 9th of Aft-Spring
The High Road between Upper Cote and Spring Cote, Caladhria, 10th of Aft-Spring
A great house of pale stone, full of empty echoes
Hill Cote, Lord Adrin’s Fiefdom, Caladhria, 11th of Aft-Spring
On the River Road, heading south, Lord Adrin’s Fiefdom, Caladhria, 12th of Aft-Spring
A spacious Formalin steading, set among gardens on a grassy hillside
The River Road, Eastern Caladhria, from Prosain Heath to South Varis, 13th of Aft-Spring
The Relshaz ferry, Caladhria, 27th of Aft-Spring
The ocean dock at Zyoutessela, before the watchtower was built on the heights and while the old fishmarket still stood
The House of Mellitha Esterlin, Relshaz, 28th of Aft-Spring
The House of Mellitha Esterlin, Relshaz, 29th of Aft-Spring
The outer court of Wellery’s Hall, in the island city of Hadrumal, 30th of Aft-Spring
The Barracoons, Magistrates’ House of Correction, Relshaz, 30th of Aft-Spring
The galley of Shek Kill, sailing the Gulf of Lescar, 33rd of Aft-Spring
A narrow strait between two steeply forested islands set in the heart of the far ocean.
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 5th of For-Summer
The Kel Ar’Ayen settlement, Autumn Equinox, Year One of the Colony
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 6th of For-Summer
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 6th of For-Summer
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 7th of For-Summer
The chamber of Planir the Great, the island city of Hadrumal, 7th of For-Summer
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 8th of For-Summer
The coast east of the settlement, Kel Ar’Ayen, 34th of Aft-Spring, Year Two of the Colony
A trading islet in the domain of Sazac Joa, Aldabreshin Archipelago, 20th of For-Summer
The hidden island city of Hadrumal, 29th of For-Summer
Up river, south of the settlement, Kel Ar’Ayen, 12th of Aft-Spring, Year Three of the Colony
The hidden island city of Hadrumal, 30th of For-Summer
The lost settlement of Kel Ar’Ayen, 42nd of Aft-Summer
Darkness, broken only by piecemeal dreams
The ruins of the Den Rannion steading, Kel Ar’Ayen, 43rd of Aft-Summer
The mining settlement of Kel Ar’Ayen, 43rd of Aft-Summer
Kel Ar’Ayen, 43rd of Aft-Summer
Kel Ar’Ayen, 22nd of For-Autumn
Table of Contents
The High Road toward Cotebridge, in the Lescari Dukedom of Marlier, 8th of Aft-Spring in the Second Year of Tadriol the Provident
The house of Viltred Sern, west of Cote in the Clay, Caladhria, 9th of Aft-Spring
The High Road between Upper Cote and Spring Cote, Caladhria, 10th of Aft-Spring
A great house of pale stone, full of empty echoes
Hill Cote, Lord Adrin’s Fiefdom, Caladhria, 11th of Aft-Spring
On the River Road, heading south, Lord Adrin’s Fiefdom, Caladhria, 12th of Aft-Spring
A spacious Formalin steading, set among gardens on a grassy hillside
The River Road, Eastern Caladhria, from Prosain Heath to South Varis, 13th of Aft-Spring
The Relshaz ferry, Caladhria, 27th of Aft-Spring
The ocean dock at Zyoutessela, before the watchtower was built on the heights and while the old fishmarket still stood
The House of Mellitha Esterlin, Relshaz, 28th of Aft-Spring
The House of Mellitha Esterlin, Relshaz, 29th of Aft-Spring
The outer court of Wellery’s Hall, in the island city of Hadrumal, 30th of Aft-Spring
The Barracoons, Magistrates’ House of Correction, Relshaz, 30th of Aft-Spring
The galley of Shek Kill, sailing the Gulf of Lescar, 33rd of Aft-Spring
A narrow strait between two steeply forested islands set in the heart of the far ocean.
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 5th of For-Summer
The Kel Ar’Ayen settlement, Autumn Equinox, Year One of the Colony
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 6th of For-Summer
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 6th of For-Summer
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 7th of For-Summer
The chamber of Planir the Great, the island city of Hadrumal, 7th of For-Summer
The Palace of Shek Kul, the Aldabreshin Archipelago, 8th of For-Summer
The coast east of the settlement, Kel Ar’Ayen, 34th of Aft-Spring, Year Two of the Colony
A trading islet in the domain of Sazac Joa, Aldabreshin Archipelago, 20th of For-Summer
The hidden island city of Hadrumal, 29th of For-Summer
Up river, south of the settlement, Kel Ar’Ayen, 12th of Aft-Spring, Year Three of the Colony
The hidden island city of Hadrumal, 30th of For-Summer
The lost settlement of Kel Ar’Ayen, 42nd of Aft-Summer
Darkness, broken only by piecemeal dreams
The ruins of the Den Rannion steading, Kel Ar’Ayen, 43rd of Aft-Summer