Through Wolf's Eyes (84 page)

Nothing could stop the noisy roar of acclamation that
exploded almost before her words were finished. Duke Allister nodded
solemnly, but something of how deeply he was moved showed in the line
of color that crept up from his collar to flush his cheeks. His wife,
Pearl, was less composed. When she burst into joyful tears, Duke
Allister was able to take refuge in comforting her.

The herald shouted the crowd to relative silence, and Queen Gustin continued, her tones now icy:

"My cousin has agreed that I should not make this
great sacrifice for my people's good without some fitting reward.
Therefore, the islands that have to this time been part of the nation
of Bright Bay will become my new realm. To guard and protect the
islands, I shall be taking with me a portion of Bright Bay's fleet. I
hope that relations between my new realm of the Isles and her sister
nations shall be characterized by mutual accord."

That last,
Firekeeper thought,
is as
true as if Blind Seer said he wanted all his fur shaved off. I doubt
either King Tedric or Duke Allister believe her. Neither are fools.

King Tedric stepped forward and resumed:

"I thank my noble sister and I shall devote my
strongest efforts in these last years of my life to maintaining mutual
peace. In the interests of this, I have decided that I can no longer
delay announcing my heir. At one point I had seriously considered Duke
Allister, but his new role as king of Bright Bay will heavily occupy
his time.

"I wish to state that my naming of one person as my
heir should in no way be taken as a slight to those who were not
selected. All of the men and women I considered had qualities that
might have made them good and able monarchs, but in the end, I could
only select one person. Unlike Stone-hold, my nation cannot be ruled by
a committee.

"In the interests of furthering an alliance with
Bright Bay, I decided to pass over my niece Zorana Archer and my nephew
Ivon Archer. My other nephew, Lord Rolfston Red-briar, bravely gave his
life on the battlefield before this decision was resolved, as did my
grandnephew Purcel Archer.

"The next generation holds many fine young men and
women. However, in choosing between them I let my desire for peace
between Bright Bay and Hawk Haven dictate my choice to a certain
extent. Duke Allister has four children. His eldest and his heir is a
young man, the heroic Shad Oyster.

"My desire was that the reunification of our nations
be delayed no longer than absolutely necessary. Therefore, my heir must
be someone who could wed Shad Oyster. Together, they would rule Hawk
Haven after my death and—with Allister Seagleam's enthusiastic
concurrence—upon Allister's passing to the ancestors, they would also
rule in Bright Bay.

"This narrowed my choices considerably, for only two
women of near marriageable age are among my potential heirs. Both young
women have shown true courage and fortitude in different ways during
the battle. One of these candidates, Lady Archer, is the sole heir to
her family duties. She is also just eighteen—not quite of marriageable
age. However, these difficulties could have been overcome. What made me
decide to select Elise's cousin, Sapphire Shield, over her was an event
that is already becoming legend.

"By now all of you have heard how during the final
battle of this recent war, Sapphire risked her own life to preserve
that of Duke Allister and how, when Shad Oyster fell defending his
father from further attacks, Sapphire herself carried him from the
field. Such events forge deep bonds. I am not such a fool as to ignore
the promptings of the ancestors. Therefore, I here name with all of you
as my witnesses,
Sapphire Shield the crown princess of Hawk Haven!"

Now, clearly, was a time for cheering and none
attempted to restrain the thunderous applause that arose as Duke
Allister led forward his son and his daughter-in-law-to-be. As the
young couple stepped decorously forward to receive the acclaim of those
who would someday be their subjects, they clasped hands tightly.
Firekeeper was pleased to note that this was not mere form. From her
elevated perch she could clearly see that the knuckles on both hands
were white from the tightness of that grasp.

When the shouts and cheers faded to a happy murmur,
King Tedric continued, "My voice is old and weak. Therefore, I ask my
nephew, Allister Seagleam, to continue explaining the terms of peace."

Allister stepped next to the woman he had deposed and
offered her a deep bow. Queen Gustin IV, soon to be Queen Valora of the
Isles, was gracious enough, but the tight lines around mouth and eyes
could not be smoothed away by mere intention.

Allister held up his hand for silence. When he spoke,
his strong voice seemed emblematic of the promise of the new days to
follow.

"My good people, tomorrow morning I shall depart for
Silver Whale Cove, the capital of Bright Bay. There, with the full
agreement of these nobles and the families they represent . . ." Here
he paused to gesture at the gathered representatives of Bright Bay's
five Great Houses. "I shall be crowned king of Bright Bay. However, I
will not be made King Gustin the Fifth. The name Gustin shall be
allowed to rest. Nor shall I be King Allister Seagleam. Instead, the
name I will take is King Allister of the Pledge, chosen as a reminder
of what has brought us all to this point.

"My son and heir, Shad, and Crown Princess Sapphire
will be married soon after, also in Bright Bay. Thereafter, together,
they will travel to Hawk Haven and renew their vows before their new
countrymen. When I pass on to the ancestors, Shad and Sapphire will
reunite the portions of our severed people. At that time, Bright Bay
and Hawk Haven will cease to exist, becoming instead a new nation
embracing the
best of our peoples. To commemorate
that change, a new name will be taken. Uncle Tedric has suggested we
call our new country Bright Haven. What say you all?"

Firekeeper thought there could be no doubt of the
people's approval. In keeping with the general festive atmosphere, even
Blind Seer threw back his head and howled enthusiastically.

"I want you to know," Allister said, "that this union
of our kingdoms is not contingent upon chance. If something takes Shad
before me, Sapphire shall still follow me and reunification continue.
The same is true if Sapphire dies suddenly. Shad is her heir, even as
he is mine. The child of their bodies will follow them—either of
them—to the throne. Their lives will not be easy for they must learn to
govern wisely not one, but two peoples. Yet our dream is that by the
time Bright Haven is born the people of that nation will no longer be
two but one.

"I have spoken long enough. You gathered here have
seen history made. The realm of the Isles is born. Bright Haven is
conceived. Each one of you is witness to those births. Guard that
responsibility as you would any newborn child, knowing that you stand
as ancestors to those great events. Blessings on you all!"

As Duke Allister stepped back, Firekeeper joined in
the new wave of acclaim, a thunder of cheering and shouting that lasted
until the noble party had retreated from the dais. As the joyful noise
faded, the crowd surrounding them began to break up, flowing about
their little wolf-guarded group like a stream parting around a rock.
Looking down from her seat on Patience, Firekeeper saw that Derian was
looking at her, a quizzical expression on his face.

"You look awfully happy for someone who just learned she isn't going to be queen," Derian said.

"I know that I wouldn't be for a time," Firekeeper
replied. "I was glad then and am gladder now because now Earl Kestrel
won't look at me that hungry, hopeful way anymore."

"I wonder what he will do about you?" Derian asked.

Ox spoke up for his employer. "Kestrel adopted her. The
earl won't dump her. He has too much pride of house for that."

Valet nodded agreement. "Firekeeper will never need search for a home. She has one in Kestrel."

Firekeeper thought about this as the group returned
to the Kestrel camp. On threat of Doc's wrath, she was immediately
returned to a cot. The others began breaking down the tents and storing
the gear.

Some of Hawk Haven's army—Race among them— would
remain in Bright Bay to make certain that Stonehold left as scheduled,
but Earl Kestrel had been released from his command to tend his other
duties. Immediately, he had arranged for a suite of comfortable rooms
at one of Hope's better inns. Valet was openly pleased.

"What if," Firekeeper asked the five men, "I already have a home? Am I to be Kestrel's prisoner?"

Derian looked embarrassed, Ox and Race puzzled, Doc carefully blank, but Valet understood and reassured her.

"You should have freedom to come and go," Valet said,
his hands busy stowing polished cookware. "Even if you are still nearly
a child by Hawk Haven's standards, you have lived a very different life
and Earl Kestrel will not wish you to be unhappy. Tell me, do you
intend to return to the wilds?"

Firekeeper shrugged. "Winter is hard in the
wolflands, but someday I would wish to see my pack, maybe in the
spring. Then you found me; then I could return."

"Forever?" Derian's voice sounded oddly choked. He turned away and made himself busy stacking some blankets.

"Forever?" Firekeeper laughed. "After I go to all such trouble to learn human ways! Of course I come back."

"I'm glad," a new voice entered the conversation as
Earl Kestrel walked into the camp. His followers sprang to offer him
proper bows, but he waved them down. "Be at ease.

"I am glad," the earl repeated, turning to
Firekeeper, "to learn that you plan to come back to us. Can I encourage
you to stay through the winter?"

Firekeeper nodded. "I was thinking that food is hard to get in winter and, even with Doc's help, I will be some time
yet making these cut muscles strong enough to run and hunt."

"Very good." Earl Kestrel beamed generally. "Before I
left the king's presence, the new heir spoke with me. Sapphire asked me
to counsel her on the needs of my house. Very prettily, she told me
that until now she has concentrated solely on those of her birth house."

Earl Kestrel looked more serious. "Crown Princess
Sapphire also wished to make certain that I would not hold any
resentment against you, Blysse, for not being chosen as heir."

"Do you?" Firekeeper asked bluntly.

"No," replied the earl with equal directness. "Given
the situation, the king could not have chosen anyone about whose
heritage there was the least doubt. Moreover, as a public sign of her
favor, the heir has asked if you will be an attendant at her
forthcoming wedding."

Firekeeper frowned. "Wedding attendant?"

Earl Kestrel actually laughed. "It is a formal-attire occasion of the highest honor."

"More honor than the ball?"

"More than a dozen balls," Earl Kestrel assured her.
He glanced at Derian. "I believe that Counselor Derian could teach you
what you would need to know. Lady Archer will also be attendant upon
her cousin. I believe that the crown princess wished to publicly
demonstrate their amity."

Firekeeper shrugged away the unfamiliar word, more concerned about this new social challenge.

"Will you teach me, Derian? You and Elise?"

Derian nodded, pretending dismay. "I seem fated to
act as lady's maid," he said in resigned tones, but Firekeeper saw the
sparkle in his eyes.

Blind Seer saw it also.
"More kings,"
the wolf grumbled,
"and queens and formal attire. What shall I do?"

Firekeeper scratched his great grey head.
"Be with me. Guard my back. There will be dangers there also."

"Despite what Duke Allister implied today," Earl
Kestrel said, unaware of the wolves' conversation, "the wedding and
coronation cannot be held for some weeks. Queen Gustin must be
permitted to move her belongings from the royal dwellings at Silver
Whale Cove. Nobles from both Bright
Bay and Hawk
Haven must be given time to prepare for the festivities. Duke Allister
will take up his responsibilities as monarch immediately—indeed, the
last thing we witnessed before the meeting ended was a representative
of each of Bright Bay's Great Houses swearing loyalty to their new
king—but further formalities will wait."

"I must return to Eagle's Nest" Earl Kestrel
continued, "and then to the Norwood Grant. King Tedric has asked that I
take Prince Newell's servant Rook into my custody. Apparently, Lady
Zorana wants him executed, no matter what promises he was given in
return for his confession. King Tedric might have given Lady Zorana
what she wished but this Rook claims that he is not the one who took
such liberties with Lady Zorana's person—he says another man, named
Keen, was responsible."

"I think," Firekeeper said slowly, "that Rook tells
the truth. I did not see faces, but I did see shapes and hair and such.
The man who pawed at Lady Zorana was not Rook. He was the one who later
I cut beneath the eye. I did not recall this at the time, but once or
twice I saw one who could have been this Keen near Prince Newell's
tent."

Earl Kestrel looked interested. "I doubt that such
information would change Lady Zorana's feelings. She would simply say
that Rook stood by and permitted this Keen his abuses. Still, I shall
pass your report on to King Tedric. For whatever reason, King Tedric is
standing by his promise to Rook and has asked that I secure the
prisoner in the Norwood Grant, where Lady Zorana would find it more
difficult to do him injury."

"My thought," the earl went on, "is to have Lady
Blysse remain here in Hope to recuperate from her wounds. Not only
would it spare her a trip in a jolting wagon, but when she feels better
she will have woodlands near for her pleasure. I must take Ox and Valet
with me, and Derian will certainly wish to visit his family and tell
them about his new honors, but I thought that you, Jared, might be
willing to look after my ward."