28

Ætharr watched as Ferric's corpse was burned on his funeral pyre. It was fitting that the great of Calador and a number of other clans were there to give their respects to the weasel. Ferric's widow had been inconsolable, and it broke Ætharr's heart to have to tell her. He didn't mind doing it for Ferric; he owed to the dead weasel.

He had almost forgotten that a new theign would have to be chosen. Likely they would have their own family, and so Ferric's family would be forced to leave. Ætharr assured her that she would have her own estate and enough wealth to raise her children on her own as she wished. If she remarried, then the wealth would remain hers and her husband's.

But right now Ætharr had to think of a replacement for Ferric. It would have to be someone of equal trust and value.

That person was, without a question, Ptolemy.

Ptolemy had been raised in Æthelly with Ætharr, Ædall, and Jinn. His family had lived on Gæruff's lands, and when his studies were done, he had returned, much to Ætharr's disappointment. He had liked Ptolemy and would have liked to have him in his most intimate circle of friends. Certainly he and Ptolemy wrote frequent letters, and they saw each other as often as they could.

When Ætharr had been banished, Ptolemy had joined Gæruff's fyrd, when he knew for sure that his theign would resist Ælfer's rule. Then, when the devastating attack upon Gæruff's lands, Ptolemy lost his brother in the massacre. He swiftly led his sisters and parents to Ulric, and begged to join his forces. Ulric brought him along when they routed the same force that had killed Gæruff, and Ptolemy made a name for himself not only as a warrior, but as a tactician.

It suited Ulric to send Ptolemy to Ætharr with the second batch of reinforcements. Ptolemy had not been made one of the officers, but had fought with Ætharr nevertheless. With the death of Aletorix, Ætharr had temporarily given command of his troops to Ptolemy during the fights to liberate Calador.

Now he appointed his friend as theign to replace Ferric.

Judos did not really know Ptolemy. He had barely been with the weasel, let alone spoken with him. He hoped Ptolemy could be trusted.

In the end, Ptolemy made the first steps to get acquainted with Judos. The weasel met him after the funeral of Ferric as they were leaving back for their theignships. Since Ferric's and Judos' lands were next to each other, Ptolemy and his entourage walked with Judos.

"I've heard how you met Ætharr.' the weasel began, 'I was thinking about reasons why an otter lines himself with a weasel."

Judos looked at him, stung by the thoughtfulness in his voice. He felt as though the weasel was mocking him.

Ptolemy noticed the look, "If I was going to insult you I would not do it in these circumstances."

Judos ignored that, "So why question my loyalty?"

"Who said anything about loyalty in question? I'm wondering why you, an otter, chooses to be most loyal to a weasel. Usually we would not meet in this fashion."

"True,' Judos allowed, 'and I don't really know why I've done all this. It's hard to explain."

"Then don't explain it to me. If you don't want to talk about it, then don't." Ptolemy did not pursue the subject, but respectfully changed the subject, "I grieve for Ferric."

"Me too,' said Judos, and he meant it. Ferric had been a kind weasel, and a good leader. Judos looked at Ptolemy. The weasel looked like he often had something on his mind, but the hard, muscular body also sported a number of scars.

"So I heard you were in the resistance with Gæruff and then Gyras,' Judos asked. He wanted to learn more about this interesting character.

"Aye I was. I've found that you can be taught everything about battle, but it never helps you for the real experience. You have no preparation against the bowel-loosening fear of your first fight, and that's where we truly grow up.

Judos knew exactly how that felt, and he nodded in agreement. He could somewhat connect to the weasel, for they both could talk of the feeling of their first battles. Ætharr and several others did not bring up the topic unless they were instructing youngsters. It was an experience that was held as something necessary, but meant to be forgotten.

Ptolemy turned out to be a very charismatic speaker with many topics to discuss. Judos learned a lot from the weasel in terms of history of the tribes. He was able to connect the events in the tribes' history to the history of Mossflower, and was surprised that some events happened near the same time.

Just as they were about to part ways to their homes, a runner came up behind them. One of Ptolemy's guards called his lord and Judos to the young messenger.

Judos recognized the weasel, "You're Agricola's eldest son aren't you? You're Antigonus."

Antigonus gave a bow, "Aye, lord, I am. My father sent me to tell you two that there will be a meeting tonight in secret. You must bring no one but the guards here." With the last sentence, he looked at the eight guards gathered around their lords.

Ptolemy frowned at Antigonus, "There is only one reason Ætharr would hold a secret meeting at this moment."

Antigonus shrugged, "I'm just the messenger." And with a final bow, he hurried off towards Horal's lands after accepting some provisions from Ptolemy.

"" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ""

When Judos arrived at Æthelly and entered Ætharr's hall, there were only four others there. Aside from Ptolemy and Horal, there was Jinn and Ædall. Judos knew then what this meeting would be about.

Ætharr entered from the other entrance, his face grim with the subject he had to deal with. He nodded at the five friends sitting down, "You five I can trust. Four of you were my closest friends as pups. One of you has given up everything to fight for me and has now become a true Calador. That is why you are all here."

He stood with them, as they sat around, or leaned against the columns, "The creatures did not come from the Loptrio tribe. They may have paid them off, but I cannot attack them now. We are unprepared for that. But someone must have given these creatures refuge." He looked at Jinn, "Who?"

Jinn pulled out a sheet of paper and looked at it, "There's no chance it was Gyras or Ulric or Cynefrid. They were at the feast, and they fought as hard as the rest of us."

"That proves little. They could have pretended, not to mention the fact that they were all there,' Ædall interrupted.

Jinn shook his head, apathetic to the fact that he had been interrupted, "No, I don't think so. They've already given so much to our cause that it would be ridiculous to change their minds now."

Ptolemy waved his paw, "Go on."

Jinn continued, "It seems that Viggo is also innocent. He's made no sudden movements at all. Neither has Burg or Agricola."

Ætharr frowned at Viggo's name, but sighed with genuine relief when Jinn spoke of Burg and Agricola. Both were dear to his troubled heart, helping him hide in the swamp upon his father's death, and it would destroy him if someone so close as they would prove treacherous.

Jinn looked further down the list, "Keld has also shown no sign of treachury, though he did little to help you this past season."

Ætharr's eyes darkened, "Do you really think they haven't plotted against me?"

Jinn looked at the others, then looked back at his old friend, "They sided with Ælfer, but never openly fought against anyone."

Ætharr sighed, "And what of Vogel?" He spoke of Vogel as though he already knew the answer.

Jinn nodded, "Vogel's been acting odd, but merely in the alehouse."

Ætharr nodded. That could not be helped. He looked at Ptolemy, "You've been close to Æđelstan these past weeks. Any news?"

Ptolemy's face fell, "Aye. He's growing ever more loose in the tongue over you. He's been complaining that he's being ignored."

Ætharr frowned, "A person that sides with the opposite side should not expect the winning side to spoil him. I've not deprived him of anything."

Jinn looked at his list, "It seems as though he's made contact with a group sent by the Loptrio."

The atmosphere darkened profoundly. This was serious.

Judos wrapped his cloak over his shoulders. He felt cold, "What's the proof?"

Ædall did not look at the otter as he spoke, "The assassin we tortured said that Æđelstan had given him information on how to better get a chance at Ætharr's life."

Horal shuddered, "Surely he may be lying?"

Jinn sighed, "No. We interrogated several villages along the border, and the assassin seemed to have passed through Æđelstan's lands."

This was dark news indeed. If a border theign proved treacherous, it would become very dangerous.

"Æđelstan will have to face trial. We must be sure of this." Jinn said, and Ætharr nodded.

Ptolemy looked at the Ealdor, "That's the end of the list, apart from us."

The Ealdor's face nodded, "Do any of you have any suggestions?"

Judos was about to ask what he was talking about, but then Horal spoke up, "Keld was always close to Æđelstan. He's surrounded by enemies, nobody likes him. He'd likely help his friend."

The others nodded, except for Judos. He looked at them in turn, "But Jinn just said that Keld's done nothing has he not?"

Ætharr turned a baleful look upon the otter, "Judos, it's about time Keld was punished for siding with the murderer of my father."

And never, Judos reckoned later, had he ever been more shocked by Ætharr. It was the dark nature of a ruler given full reign. Absolute power had to be maintained by the Ealdor, and he would use absolute measures to keep his people safe, especially if it removed him of troublesome political enemies.

"Keld won't be able to be easily convicted in a trial." Ptolemy said, worriedly. He looked at Ætharr, "Perhaps Judos is right, and we could succeed in scaring Keld with the execution of Æđelstan."

Ætharr frowned darkly (Judos shuddered), and turned to Ædall, "What say you?"

His cousin shrugged, "It's difficult. We don't know if Æđelstan will be proven guilty, however much evidence we can find to support it. We would have to secure this in another matter."

Ætharr nodded, "Then go, Jinn. I will give word to Vogel that you, Keld, and Craterus will be going out for a hunt on his lands."

Jinn nodded grimly, inclined his head to his friend and wrapped a black cloak over his dark leather armour. He slipped out of the hall.

Judos looked at Ptolemy, "Who is Craterus?"

"Craterus is the son of Cynefrid's brother-in-law."

Judos' worst fears were confirmed.

He had conspired to murder an innocent creature on the pretense of being associated with a guilty one.

He was beginning to see why vermin were so hated by Redwallers.