"Home is where the heart is." – Proverb
"I'll not be tried by a pack of grey-beards and cripples" Viscount Kadhael Corbie sneered at the Court assembled in Great Hall of Islip Castle, "not in my own home." Drafty and uncomfortable, the ancient fortress and official seat of the Corbie Family was rarely used, but its main hall was the only place in Islip large enough to hold the trial.
Not the wisest way to describe the people deciding your fate, Ragnar thought, but he had to admit there was some truth to Lord Corbie's remark. The members of the tribunal and jury were either old and distinguished like Duke Larkin and Marchioness Tyra Sayward or nobles like Baron Grayson Poldara whose injuries prevented them serving further in the war with Hardorn. All of them had distinguished themselves in the service of the Crown.
::The Corbies are not noted for their civility or their service.:: Mikizi commented.
"We are a tribunal and jury of your peers" Lord Perin said. "You hold Islip Castle as a vassal of the Queen and she or her representatives may appropriate it at any time for Her Purposes. At this time, we require it to try you for the charges laid against you. If you are convicted of violating the Laws of Valdemar, this tribunal and jury is also empowered by the Assembly of Nobles to determine if you are fit to hold your titles and to strip you of them if you are not."
"How dare you!" Lord Corbie shouted, waving his fist at the duke. "This is my home, my land and my people. You have no rights here! You old blackguard! I'll wager you have done the same. You just kiss the asses of the damned Heralds for the Queen's favor." He continued for several sunwidths, cursing Lord Perin and the other nobles, who listened impassively.
"If you are quite done, My Lord," Lord Perin said, "we will begin the trial." As he tapped the gavel, Kadhael exploded in another tirade. Lord Perin allowed him to run down, then turned to Marchioness Sayward. "My Lady Tyra Sayward, would you read the charges?"
Lady Sayward picked up the paper in front of her. Holding her reading glasses before her eyes, she began "Viscount Kadhael Kenton Chadwick Corbie, you are brought before this court on charges of abduction, soliciting abduction, rape, rape of minor children, accomplice to murder…" The Marchioness read out a long list of crimes including the names of a dozen victims.
Lord Kadhael stood defiantly in the dock, sneering contempt at the lady throughout her speech. When she finished, he shouted "Lies and slander! Not a word of it is true!"
::He has to know we have mountains of evidence. Does he really think he can lie his way out of it?:: Ragnar asked Mikizi.
::When you've gotten away with lying long enough, you begin to think you can fool anyone:: she said.
Lord Perin paused, waiting for Kadhael to say anything further. At last he sighed "The Court will take that as a plea of 'Not Guilty.'" He tapped his gavel. "Lord Astey, you may begin."
Earl Astey came forward in his chair, pushed by his squire. Ragnar was struck by the boy's resemblance to Kensie Poldara. ::That's Lord Cassius Poldara.:: Mikizi explained the resemblance. ::He's the son of Lord Grayson and Kensie's nephew.::
"The first case we know of is Miss Jessie Finch…" Lord Astey began.
It took over a sennight to present the evidence – all given under the Truth Spell. Lord Perin wanted no doubts, so he insisted it be put on even the guardsmen and family members of the victims. Lord Kadhael's only response was to shout "Lies" about everything said and claim the Truth Spell was 'fake.' The Heralds took turns holding it. On hostile witnesses like Jacob Spatz, they used the coercive form. (Herald Amos tried Jacob Spatz and the other members of his gang separately.)
When Ragnar, Niki, and Mercia testified, Lord Kadhael accused them of setting a trap for him. Earl Astey commented dryly "You did not have to take the bait."
Lord Kadhael summoned only one witness – his doorman – who complained about Ragnar's 'deceitful assault' and said he knew nothing about his master's alleged crimes. The blue glow of the truth spell vanished as the doorman spoke. Herald Mercia put the coercive Truth Spell on the doorman, who then told the court he saw several young girls brought into Islip Manor and taken upstairs. He did not know any of the names and had only a vague recollection of the dates. After the doorman's testimony, Kadhael summoned no further witnesses and confined his remarks to describing the witnesses against him as 'liars.'
Ragnar worked closely with Lord Astey during the trial and got to know the nobleman well. After the evidence and final statements, Ragnar spoke to Earl Astey while they waited for the verdict. They were certain the jury and tribunal would convict Lord Kadhael, but Ragnar wondered what the sentence would be.
"They'll probably hang him and strip him of rank," the earl said, "but they'll let the title pass to Lord Ellington."
"Who is Lord Ellington?" Ragnar asked.
"Lord Kadhael's eldest son and heir" Lord Astey said. "He was the rather sour-faced boy sitting behind Lord Kadhael during the trial."
Ragnar had noticed the boy. "I thought he was one of the victim's relatives. It didn't look as though he liked Lord Kadhael at all."
Lord Cassius, standing behind the earl, gave a dismissive snort. Lord Astey looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. Cassius flushed. "Apologies, My Lord, I should keep silent."
"Let us hear your opinion anyways" Lord Astey allowed a little irritation to show.
Cassius flushed again. "Lord Ellington Corbie doesn't care for his father. I've heard him say he can't wait for his father to die so he can inherit."
Earl Astey looked at his squire in astonishment. "Do you mean Lord Kadhael abuses his son?"
Cassius shook his head. "Far from it, My Lord. Ellington Corbie gets almost everything he wants, but always wants more. He complains his allowance is too small: He gets two hundred crowns a moon. He keeps talking about what he'll do when his father dies."
Astonished, Lord Astey said "Two hundred crowns a moon! How does he spend that much? He's only sixteen!"
Cassius shrugged. "I do not know, My Lord. Whores, horses, parties and gambling, I think. When we were both at Court, he would go into town every night with his friends. I don't know where he went."
Lord Astey sighed. "If his father hangs, hopefully his guardian will curtail that."
"Won't his mother take him?" Ragnar asked.
Lord Astey shook his head. "Azaria Corbie is unable. She left Kadhael about two years after their last child was born. A year later, she went mad, apparently due to eating poisonous mushrooms. She now lives in a Masran Temple, barely aware of anything." He caught Ragnar's suspicious look. "Everyone suspects Kadhael's father but no one could find evidence against Lord Merritt."
"So who will be Ellington's guardian, then?" Ragnar asked.
"I'm going to propose Baron Grayson Poldara" Lord Astey said. Cassius' jaw dropped. The young squire visibly checked himself and closed his mouth. Lord Astey noticed his expression. "You don't like the idea, Cassius?" He asked.
"No, My Lord" Cassius said. When the Earl asked him to go on, Cassius said "Ellington's a mean bully. I don't want him in my house."
"As my squire, you live in my house now" Lord Astey pointed out.
Cassius looked angry. "But Kenyon and Jocelyn still live with papa. Ellington will torment them. I know papa will put a stop to it, but Ellington will find ways to be mean. My brother and sister are worth a hundred of him."
Lord Astey chuckled. "You defend your siblings fiercely, Cassius."
"Kenyon is smart and kind-hearted" Cassius said. "He doesn't deserve to be bullied by Lord Ellington. And I don't want Ellington anywhere near my sister. Why do they have to put up with him? Why not put him with the Aitkens instead? The Corbies and Aitkens deserve each other."
Earl Astey smiled "Lord Cassius, if you want to know why I am recommending your father as guardian, look in a mirror."
The young man blushed. "Thank you My Lord." He grinned suddenly. "I don't think Ellington is going to like an allowance of ten crowns a month." Lord Astey and Ragnar raised their eyebrows. "That's what papa gave me" Cassius explained.
###
It took only a sennight for a Herald Courier to speed Kadhael's appeal to the Queen and return with the confirmation of the verdict and sentence. Stripped of his titles, Kadhael Corbie died on the gallows the next day, screaming curses at the tribunal, jury and the Heralds until the trap door sprang. Jacob Spatz and the other accomplices followed their master to the gallows within a candlemark.
Ragnar finished the circuit and returned to Haven in the spring.
###
"We're giving you Leif Kase as your intern, Ragnar. You will be on the Southeast Corner circuit" Dean Teren pointed to the district on the map. Kyril sat at the side of Teren's desk and Alberich sat beside him. Ragnar wondered at the Weaponsmaster's presence, which was unusual at a circuit assignment.
Ragnar did not look at the map; he had done the circuit twice before. Instead, he asked "Is there any reason I'm getting Leif as my intern?"
"Two reasons" Teren said. "First, Leif asked to go to the circuit. He wants to see where his uncle died. For that matter, Martin made a similar request with respect to his brother, but we're not going to load you with two interns on that circuit."
"Where's Martin going?" Ragnar asked.
"He's going with Herald Thor on the Central South West Circuit" Teren said.
"And the other reason?" Ragnar prompted.
"Leif's got that same mysterious gift you have. It's almost as strong as yours," Kyril said, "but we still don't know what it is. We're hoping the two of you might work it out together. His mindspeech is excellent and he speaks Karsite, Hardornen and Rethwellen fluently."
Ragnar nodded "Anything else?"
Teren nodded at Alberich.
"Things happening in Karse have been" Alberich said. "There is a new Son of the Sun, named Solaris. Supposedly by Vkandis himself Chosen after Lastern with a thunderbolt he struck down. There are tales of miracles and new laws. One rumor even says Solaris is a woman." Alberich shook his head at the inconceivable notion.
Teren looked at Ragnar. "We're not asking you to investigate, but you also have that Spirit Sense of yours which told you of a 'wrongness' in Karse. If you happen to be near border, you might test if there is any change in what you sense."
Ragnar looked at Alberich. "Do we have any indication Solaris is an improvement over Lastern?"
"Your friends Baron Kruków and his son received notices in the name of the Son of the Sun annulling their excommunications, declaring they were falsely accused and innocent. Baron Alikhan received the same and a letter from his father begging him to return to Karse" Alberich said.
"That's going to be a little complicated with his son riding a 'Demon Horse'" Ragnar observed. The senior Heralds chuckled.
"All three men are hopeful but cautious" Kyril said. "None of them wants to burn as a heretic. They're waiting for more information."
"Do you want me to go spying?" Ragnar asked.
Kyril and Alberich both shook their heads. They glanced at one another and Alberich waved at Kyril to speak. "We already have agents working in Karse." Ragnar assumed Kyril referred to Eldan and a few others, but waited for the Seneschal's Herald to go on. "Their initial reports are cautiously optimistic, but they're digging deep. We don't want to walk into a trap the way Kris and Talia did in Hardorn."
Kyril pointed at Ragnar. "You have contacts among the Irregular Traders. We'd like you to see if they have anything to say."
"I can do that," Ragnar said "but the Irregulars tend to be very close-mouthed, especially about politics." Ragnar thought of Szymon Lucja. The former trader was now firmly settled in Redruth as a local merchant, but he would certainly have contacts among the smugglers still plying their risky business. Ragnar gave Szymon a general pardon after the trader sought asylum in Valdemar. Hopefully, that would make Szymon willing to share information.
###
Leif placed four red roses at the foot of the stone cairn in the center of the clearing. He rose and rested his hand on top. "This is where you cremated Uncle Bredin, Herald Kensie, Lacaral and Losanir?" he asked his mentor.
"This very spot" Ragnar said simply. He glanced around. The Queen and Council forbade resettling the former lands of Thanesholding for a century. In the years since the destruction of the village, the forest reclaimed the land. Some of the trees were forty feet tall already. Only the cairn and the clearing around it marked the spot where the Holderkin village once stood. The guard maintained the memorial to the fallen Heralds and kept it open to the sky.
"I expected to sense something" Leif said. "This is peaceful, but I do not feel any presence."
Ragnar understood his intern's meaning. "That night, I saw them dance with the ancestors."
Leif grinned at his mentor. "The trainees have almost as many stories about the Shaman Herald as they do about the Weaponsmaster."
Ragnar gave Leif a sidelong look. "You mean Alberich or Kerowyn?"
"Either one" Leif chuckled. "So what does the Shaman mean about dancing with the ancestors?"
Ragnar explained how the Lake Clans believed the lights that moved in the sky some nights were the spirits of their ancestors dancing. He told Leif how four white shapes appeared amid the green lights after he lit the funeral pyre. "I believe they moved on, like Heralds always do." Ragnar saw a question in Leif's eyes and added "I have often sensed lingering spirits and helped them move on. I have never sensed a Herald or Companion lingering in this world." Ragnar did not add his suspicions about them returning. He sensed that secret belonged to the Companions, though he wondered what Leif's friend Martin might think of the Companion Keesen, who Chose their mutual friend Dietrich Alikan.
If anything, Leif looked even more puzzled. Before he could speak, they heard the sound of men and horses approaching. The two Heralds straightened their formal Whites and looked down the road.
After a few moments, a scout appeared around the bend leading the column. Ragnar grinned, recognizing Myn Woyjik from his days at Warford. He waved at his former mate, who was now the Sergeant of Scouts at Redruth. Myn waved back and trotted ahead with his two remounts faithfully keeping pace.
"Got a passel of highborn and their escorts, mostly Karsite, coming up" Myn said. "You sure you want to take them into Karse?"
Since the start of the circuit three moons ago, Ragnar tested the border on a dozen occasions. The 'wrongness' he formerly sensed was gone. "Our spies say Karse has changed and the highborn you are escorting have all received invitations and assurances. We've been at war with Karse for centuries. If there is a chance for peace, we've got to try" he said.
Myn sighed heavily. "On your head be it. Especially since our informers have been telling us the Sunpriests have been looking for your head in particular for the last decade or more."
Ragnar laughed. "Only one particular Sunpriest, as far as we know. And our best information is that he is very much in disfavor right now." According to Szymon Lucja, Rhithik was under siege at Kruk Góra, holding only the fortress with a company of troops, mostly Hardornen. The town was in open revolt against him, but the fortress itself was virtually impregnable.
The rest of the party entered the clearing, lead by a small contingent of guardsmen. Ragnar stepped forward to great Baron Kruków and his son Balázs. Lady Mary Kruków rode at her husband's side with their infant son Rhagyar carried in a sling across her breast. Behind them, Baron Khal Alikan and his family followed, including Deitrich Alikan in his formal greys.
"We'll rest here for a bit" Lieutenant Dwight Tewkes said. Most of the travellers dismounted.
Baron Kruków dismounted stiffly and Ragnar went to greet him. The Karsite Lord's age showed clearly on his face, but he still stood pike-staff straight. His handshake was strong and his usual dour expression was replaced with a smile and an eager glint in his eye. "A few more marks and I'll be home" he said after greeting Ragnar.
"It's still two days ride to Kruk Góra, My Lord" Ragnar pointed out. It was less than a candlemark's ride to the border, where they would meet a Karsite contingent who would escort them south to Fulda to join the Karsite force heading east to oust Rhithik.
"But it will be Karse" the baron said. "You have been good to me in Valdemar and kept every promise you made, but Karse is still my home."
After a quick greeting to Ragnar, Khal Alikan pulled a paper bundle from behind his saddle and went to the cairn. Deitrich, Felix and Ygritte followed their father. Khal knelt and bowed his head. Clasping his sundisk in his hand, the former Karsite officer prayed for a moment. Done, he picked up the paper bundle and unwrapped it, revealing a bouquet of white and purple flowers, which he laid beside Leif's roses. He bowed his head once more.
::The four white flowers are tulips. The purple flowers are hyacinths:: Mikizi said. ::In the language of flowers, they are a plea for forgiveness.::
As Ragnar nodded in understanding, Keesen came forward. The Companion stallion touched his muzzle to Khal Alikan's cheek. Started, Khal turned his head and looked in Keesen's eye. He froze for a long moment, then hugged the Companion's head, tears flowing down his cheeks.
After a quarter-candlemark, the group remounted and turned south. As they approached the border, they saw the Karsite party waiting for them. Amid the Sunsguard, there were several obvious highborn and a few Sunpriests, including one Black-robed priest who appeared to be in charge.
Before they could get close enough to exchange greetings, Khal Alikan broke from the Valdemaran party. With a cry of "Father!" in Karsite, he raced up to one particularly well-dressed nobleman and embraced him.
::That settles who one of our greeters is:: Ragnar said. He scanned the rest of the Karsites as he got closer. He noticed the Black-robe priest was smiling benevolently at the reunion of Khal and his father.
They drew up just on the Valdemaran side. Ragnar made the introductions for the Valdemarans. The priest introduced himself as Hierophant Eberhard and named his fellow priests, followed by the Karsite nobles.
::Well, now we know the order of precedence:: Mikizi observed.
Ragnar nodded absently. His mind focused on Hierophant Eberhard, though he tried to avoid staring at the priest. The man reminded him of Shaman Kadir: Underneath the stern exterior, Ragnar sensed Hierophant Eberhard was a good man and very powerful.
Introductions complete, the two parties merged and headed south towards Fulda, where they would spend the night. Ragnar rode beside the Sunpriest. They spoke only commonplaces - Hierophant Eberhard was courteous enough, but Ragnar caught occasional disapproving frowns when the priest was looking at Ragnar and Leif.
The nobles rode behind them. Their conversation was much more animated and Ragnar could hear the joy they took in their reunion. Duke Geerhard seemed to take particular pride in his grandson, frequently reaching over to pat Dietrich on his shoulder or back.
"Perhaps young Dietrich Alikan can be a bond between our lands" Hierophant Eberhard said when he noticed Ragnar glancing back.
"Perhaps he can" Ragnar agreed, "I do not know what duties he will have when he is a full Herald. With a Companion, however, he is sworn to Valdemar."
Hierophant Eberhard glanced back at Dietrich again, then over at Mikizi. "I can see for myself your Companions are not horses" the priest said. "I have noticed your Mikizi listening to us. You need not play coy with me, my dear."
The last was clearly addressed to Mikizi. Ragnar fought to hide his astonishment. "If you knew how often we have to tell people in Valdemar that Companions are not horses…" he said.
"I do not see with only my eyes, young man" the priest said.
Ragnar could not think of a polite reply, so he changed the subject. "I am curious how Lord Geerhard came to have an Ashkevron war stallion." Ragnar noticed the brand on the horse just as they formed up.
The priest made a face. "Duke Geerhard is an extremely wealthy man and can afford to import the finest goods. I think you would have to ask your friend Szymon Lucja as to how Duke Geerhard came by the horse."
This time, Ragnar showed his astonishment.
"We have our own spies, Herald Ragnar" Eberhard said tartly.
###
They reached Fulda by mid-afternoon. Ragnar stopped in the square, looking around. Years before, his life changed at this spot: He Chose Valdemar; Mikizi Chose him.
He shook himself and noticed Khal Alikan beside him, looking around as though the place were utterly strange. Baron Khal's gaze met Ragnar's. He smiled wanly. "The turning of the wheel has brought us back where we began" Khal said. Ragnar nodded. He clasped the medallions on his breast: The Windrider medallion and the Vkandis disc resonated in harmony. He sighed and dismounted.
Uber Priest Armin, one of the Red-Robe priests with Hierophant Eberhard, approached. "If you will follow me, we have arranged quarters for you and your – Companions." Ragnar could see a touch of fear in the man's expression, but sensed no threat. He, Leif and Dietrich followed the man to a simple building with a single room. There were four plain beds and a table beside the fireplace. Three of the walls had small windows and a door in the fourth wall led to a stable. Everything was spotlessly clean and, after a quick inspection pronounced himself satisfied.
"Hierophant Eberhard invites you to share his meals, or, if you prefer, you may dine with your own people" the priest said.
"Leif and I will be pleased to join the Hierophant, but I believe Trainee Dietrich would prefer to be with his father" Ragnar replied. The red-robe nodded and left.
After settling in to their quarters, Ragnar and Leif joined the others to discuss the recapture of Kruk Góra. Eberhard frowned at Ragnar and Leif as they entered. Ragnar wondered what he had done to offend the Hierophant: His spirit sense told him Eberhard was a good man and the priest was courteous and pleasant to the other Valdemarans, including Dietrich. Only Ragnar and Leif seemed to displease him.
Colonel Radka Svoboda, commander of the Sunsguard brigade assigned, laid out his plan. "We believe there are less than fifty men inside the fortress" he said. "The town is in open revolt against Rhithik, so we won't have to fight our way into the town, but that fortress is going to be tough."
"I believe Kruk Góra cannot be taken by force" Baron Kruków said. "The twenty-fifth baron, Janos, held the fortress for a year with only a dozen men four hundred years ago. There is no way inside and there are good springs to supply fresh water. As long as he has food, Rhithik can hold out."
"He's been using portals to steal food from the town" Colonel Svoboda said.
"My fellow priests and I can put a stop to that" Hierophant Eberhard said. The priest turned to Baron Kruków. "If we can open a portal within Kruk Góra, do you think a hundred men could take it?"
Miklos Kruków pondered for a moment. "You would have to place them inside the central keep" the baron said "but I think a hundred men could do it. You would need to include me or Balázs in the force – there's no one else who knows the rooms and passageways inside.
"However," the baron continued "if you can disrupt his portals, cannot he disrupt yours? Also, I thought you had to have seen a place to open a portal within it."
"I visited Kruk Góra many years ago, when I was an acolyte with Hierophant Glaucar" Eberhard said. "Glaucar insisted I learn locations for portals in each place we visited. I can open a portal in your private reception room. As for Rhithik, we can see he is distracted while I work." Eberhard cast another frown at Ragnar and Leif.
The discussion of 'portals' baffled the Valdemarans, including the two Heralds. Red Robe priest Armin, seeing their expressions, came over to them. While the Karsites discussed taking Kruk Góra, Armin explained portals to the Valdemarans. Ragnar shivered at the thought of an enemy suddenly appearing at one's back, even though Armin explained only a limited number could pass through a portal and would be disoriented for a few critical moments on arrival. "Also, it is fairly easy to disrupt them at the receiving end" Armin said.
Ragnar and the others accepted Armin's assurances uneasily and turned their attention back to the main discussion. The planning wound up within two candlemarks. Since the taking of Kruk Góra was a purely Karsite affair, the Valdemarans would only observe, taking no direct part.
The meeting adjourned for the Sundescending prayers. Ragnar joined the service, drawing numerous strange looks from the Karsites. He joined the line coming forward for the blessing afterwards. Hierophant Eberhard's frown turned briefly to a look of astonishment when Ragnar showed the tiny Sundisk then smiled broadly. Instead of merely touching Ragnar's head as he did the others, Eberhard raised his hands and said "Vkandis Sunlord, bless this Spirit Rider who comes to us in peace. Peace be upon him and all his peoples." A golden aura flared around Eberhard's hands and Ragnar was suffused with comforting warmth as Eberhard placed both hands on his head. Eberhard tilted Ragnar's head back and kissed him on the forehead, directly in the center of his scar.
The service over, Ragnar left. Now the Karsites seemed to stare at him in awe. Several approached him to exchange blessings, which he accepted and freely returned. By the time he reached his quarters, it was nearly dark. He noted the full moon rising and wondered if he should cast the stones tonight. He decided against it, thinking it might undo the goodwill he had gained.
After refreshing himself, he and the others joined a general welcoming dinner hosted by Eberhard. The food was good, though hardly a feast. The conversation was general and Ragnar got to know several of the Karsite nobles and officers. Captain Svoboda offered five hundred sols for any of Mikizi's foals, drawing an indignant mental snort from Mikizi. The only disquieting note was Eberhard resuming short frowns at Ragnar and Leif.
Just as they were about to leave, Uber Priest Armin approached Ragnar and Leif. "Excuse me, Heralds. Hierophant Eberhard asks you to meet him in his private office."
With a nod, Ragnar and Leif followed Armin, who showed them in, leaving them alone with the Hierophant.
Eberhard glowered at them. The priest looked displeased before, now he looked absolutely furious. "Is Valdemar utterly mad?" he said. "How in Vkandis' name can it allow two adept-potential mages to wander around with absolutely no training?"