I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. – Samuel 24: 4
It was a glorious spring day, Kensie, Lovat and Rubin decided on a ride together on the paths. Kensie arrived early. He entered the stable to find Mik bringing his saddle to the crossties, where Blood was already waiting.
"I seen you coming from the Palace, Lord Kensie," Mik said, "so I brung Blood out. I know you like ta groom him yerself, so I jus' got everything ready fer you."
Kensie laughed and thanked Mik. "I'm surprised. Most of the stablehands find Blood hard to handle."
"Ah, he's just a big pussycat that likes to pretend he's a lion." Mik laughed and scratched one of Blood's favorite spots. The stallion rumbled and leaned into the scratching. As Kensie moved closer and scratched Blood himself, Mik whispered. "Got some news fer you."
Kensie looked around to ensure no one was near, then back at Mik. "Yes?"
Mik leaned closer and whispered. "The Prince an' a bunch o' his frens, they been goin' out fer rides jes' about every day. Mos'ly, they's talking in 'thwellan, but t'day they had couple o' Val'mar highborn with 'em. Sez they's goin' out ter the 'ome Farms 'cuz tha's where 'she' likes t' go fer a rest. Sez 'she' gonna want a break soon."
Kensie puzzled at this for a moment. "Who is 'she'?" He asked.
"Dunno. Di'n hear 'em say. But alla 'em kep' checkin' their swords an' lookin' aroun' suspicious-like."
Kensie tried to imagine what the Prince and his friends were about, but could not come up with an explanation. He handed Mik two pennies. "That's good information, Mik. Keep your ears open if you get the chance, but don't let them catch you listening. If they think you're spying on them, I don't think your life would be worth a groat. Be careful."
Mik grinned as he took the coins. "I'll jes' be muckin' stalls two row over." He flipped an ear with a finger. "Got a good ear an' soun' carries in here."
Kensie laughed and sent the boy off. He would share the information with his father this evening. Count Wyeth might have an explanation.
Kensie's friends had not yet arrived, so he took Blood to one of the riding rings while he waited. There was no one else in the ring, so Kensie tied off the reins and took his boots out of the stirrups, riding with only his seat and legs to signal the horse. It was Kensie's favorite exercise with Blood. When he did it, he felt as though he and the stallion were one being.
In the Heralds' ring nearby, Bredin watched Kensie sourly as he waited for Keren to arrive for the afternoon's lesson. He envied Kensie's easy posture as he worked with his horse. Noting that Kensie rode without reins or stirrups, he muttered "Show off" under his breath.
::Instead of envying him, you might try imitating him. He rides well. Watch what he does and work on doing it yourself.:: Lacaral chided.
"Oh, yes. It's so easy for him. We're not all made for the saddle."
Lacaral gave an exasperated snort. ::He's been riding ten years longer than you have. Do you expect to learn it in a day? At least you have me to help you instead of spooking or resisting like an ordinary horse.::
"At least an ordinary horse doesn't give lectures." Bredin retorted.
::An ordinary horse doesn't have to listen to you whining. Let's get started on our warm-up. You're not going to become a better rider by just sitting there and carping about him.:: Lacaral moved into a trot, forcing Bredin to pay attention to his own riding and posture.
By the time Bredin had a chance to look around again, Kensie was gone from the ring. He watched Ari and Pania go over a series of jumps while Ari stretched her arms out like wings.
"Very good, Ari." Keren said. "Try not to tip forward…"
::The Queen!:: Lacaral's mindvoice was a scream. ::They are attacking the Queen!::
Bredin and his yearmates looked around in confusion for a moment, wondering what to do. Bredin saw Alberich and a large group of trainees shooting across the grounds, headed for the gate. He noticed that their Companions wore armor.
Dantris galloped into the ring. As Keren vaulted onto her Companion's bare back, she shouted to the trainees. "Get healers! Go to Healers' Collegium and bring them!" She turned and galloped away, following Alberich. Other Heralds were mounting their Companions and racing after them.
The alarm bells began to ring as Bredin and the others galloped to Healers', where people were running out the door to meet them.
"Bredin! Give me a hand!" Syd Nugent stood on the steps. Bredin grabbed Syd's arm to help him up. Syd's wooden foot made it awkward for him to get up on Lacaral's back, so the others were already off by the time Syd was securely seated behind Bredin.
Bredin and Lacaral galloped through the city and out the South Road.
Kensie and Lovat laughed at Rubin's story about Lord Gartheser and the chambermaid. "Serves the old goat right." Lovat said.
::The Queen! They are attacking the Queen!::
"Let's go!" Kensie shouted, turning Blood and spurring him into a gallop.
Lovat and Rubin looked at each other, baffled. Rubin shrugged and the two young lords followed Kensie. They caught up to him at the Palace gate, where a crush of Heralds and guardsmen were all trying to squeeze through at once.
"Heralds first!" The captain at the gate shouted. "They can get there fastest! Heralds first!"
The guardsmen pulled back and allowed the Heralds to race through, then filed after them. A group of Herald Trainees carrying Healers double on their Companions went through next.
As they waited for the jam to clear, Rubin shouted to Kensie. "What is going on?"
"They are attacking the Queen! The Prince is trying to kill the Queen! Didn't you hear?" Kensie called back. The last of the trainees flowed out and Kensie followed. Rubin and Lovat went behind him.
Their horses were no match for the Companions and the three young lords quickly lost sight of them. However, the astonished looks on the faces of the people pressed against the walls along the streets made it clear which way they had gone. Even as they galloped down the streets, more Heralds and trainees – some armed, some carrying guardsmen or healers behind them – passed the three.
They raced out the South Gate and down the road. Ahead, they could see a tangle of fighters and the flashes of light as the sun reflected off the combatants' swords. As they got closer, Kensie saw a Herald Trainee charge in from the side, launch himself from the saddle and tackle a man threatening the Queen. The Trainee and his target tumbled to the ground and disappeared under the horses and Companions.
The attackers now realized they had been caught. Groups began breaking away, trying to flee. A small group headed towards Kensie and his friends. The three young lords drew their swords and formed a line to cut them off. Rubin was in the middle, Kensie on the left and Lovat on the right. As they closed, Kensie recognized Evan Aitken. Here was his chance to repay all the insults Evan had flung at him. He aimed himself at Evan.
Evan peeled off from the group, attempting to evade Kensie. Kensie spurred Blood, ramming his stallion against the shoulder of Evan's horse, sending horse and rider tumbling to the ground. As Evan scrambled to his feet, Kensie jumped down from Blood's saddle to face him. Evan swung his sword wide, the same error Kensie had seen him make scores of times. Kensie forced Evan's sword up and, with a twist, sent it flying. He brought his point back to the base of Evan's throat.
"Evan Aitken, I arrest you for high treason." Kensie grinned with satisfaction as he spoke.
Evan dropped to his knees. "Don't kill me!" He pleaded.
"Why Evan, your steel seems to have taken flight." Kensie could not resist the gibe. He noted a wet stain spreading down Evan's breeks. "And you've pissed yourself."
"Please, please, let me go! My father will reward you!" Evan begged.
"Why Evan, I am a true subject of Her Majesty. My reward will be seeing you swing from the gallows." Kensie gloated, enjoying his revenge.
Kensie looked around quickly. Rubin and Lovat were still on their horses. One man – Kensie thought it was Lord Pereteasan – lay on the ground in front of Rubin's horse, his throat sliced open. A third attacker knelt beside Lovat's horse. There was a cut on his brow and another deep cut on his right bicep. Kensie noted that Lovat's captive appeared extremely young.
Guardsmen arrived. They bound Evan and Lovat's prisoner and took them away. Kensie sheathed his sword and remounted Blood.
"That was a damn fool move." Rubin said. "Why did you dismount? You should have just run the little prick down."
Kensie blushed. "You're right." He admitted. "I just wanted to take him personally."
Rubin shrugged, then smiled. "Alright, I guess. You got him anyways. Personally, I would have trampled him into the dirt. He's not worth risking yourself. Bad strategy."
Kensie grinned back at his friend. "Please don't tell the Weaponsmaster."
Lovat and Rubin both laughed.
A Herald approached, eyeing the three young lords suspiciously. "What are you three doing here?" She demanded. Rubin spoke for them, explaining that they had heard there was an attack on the Queen and had come to defend her. He said they had only come at the end of the fight and had stopped three of the attackers who had attempted to flee.
"How did you know there was an attack on the Queen?" The Herald asked.
Rubin looked puzzled and turned to Kensie. "Yes, Kensie. How did you know?"
Kensie looked back at Rubin. "You didn't hear? I heard a shout that there was an attack on the Queen. That's why I came here."
"I didn't hear anything." Lovat said. Rubin echoed Lovat.
"What?" Kensie said. "I heard it loud and clear 'The Queen! They are attacking the Queen!' I know I heard it."
The Herald's eyes narrowed. "Where were you when you heard this?"
"We were riding along the grand curve in Companion's Field." Kensie said. "When I heard it, I shouted out to my friends here and we came to help."
The Herald looked even more skeptical. "Who was near you when you heard the shout, other than your friends?" She asked.
Kensie paused, recalling the moment. "I don't remember." He said.
"There was no one around." Lovat said softly. Kensie's friends now looked at him.
"I swear! I heard a shout!" Kensie protested.
"How did you know to come here?" The Herald asked.
Kensie paused again. "I don't know." His voice was almost a whisper. "I just knew it was happening here."
The Herald sighed. "So you came to defend the Queen." She said. The three young lords could hear the skepticism in her voice. "What did you do?"
The three repeated their story. Rubin pointed to the body of Lord Pereteasan as guardsmen picked it up off the ground. Once the Herald had questioned each of them, she said. "Your stories will have to be confirmed. I am Herald Ylsa and I am giving you an order that you are to return to the Palace under escort and not leave until you have given your statements under the Truth Spell. Is that understood?"
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the three young men agreed. They returned to the Palace escorted by a Herald Trainee, who introduced herself as Herald Trainee Tanis.
It was almost dark before the three young lords were summoned to give their statements in front of Herald Mirilin. Each young man gave his statement separately. Herald Ylsa held the Truth Spell on them while Mirilin asked detailed questions, checking and cross-checking everything they said. They questioned Kensie last. Kensie could not explain how he had heard the outcry while his friends had not. At last, the Heralds dismissed him.
"Well?" Mirilin looked at Ylsa.
"He's a mindspeaker." She said. "A potential one, with a gift just beginning to waken. He heard the general mindshout that went out when the attack began. It was loud enough that anyone with a touch of mindspeech would have heard it and picked up where it was happening. I could also sense bits of mindspeech when he tried to convince us that he really 'heard' something."
"I'll mention it to Talamir." Mirilin said. Both Heralds knew the Queen's Own had been watching the boy for evidence of mindgifts. "In the meantime, we've got a small matter of treason to clear up." He gathered his papers together and tapped them into a neat stack as they prepared to leave.
Count Wyeth waited for his son outside the room. "Kensie! What happened? There are rumors that you were involved in the attack on the Queen." The Count's expression showed his anxiety.
"I wasn't involved in the attack. At least, not as a plotter. I went to join in the rescue." Kensie said. Briefly, he told his father what had happened. Wyeth's face relaxed as he listened to his son.
Kensie remembered Mik's information from that afternoon just as Ylsa and Mirilin emerged from the room. Kensie stopped them. "Heralds, I just remembered something." He told them what Mik had said. The Heralds and Wyeth listened carefully.
Mirilin looked at Ylsa before turning back to Kensie. "It might have been useful if we had learned in advance, but I don't think it helps much now. Since we have plenty of evidence to try them on, I don't think we'll need to call upon your contact in the stables." Mirilin put a slight emphasis on 'contact' to make it clear he understood that Mik was Kensie's spy. Mirilin and Ylsa nodded to Wyeth and Kensie and went to meet Talamir.
Bredin and his yearmates returned together to the Palace once it was clear that everything was under control. Syd Nugent reassured Bredin that he would ride back on one of the wagons brought to take the injured back to Healers'. When Lars said that he didn't see any point in bringing the wounded attackers back and he thought they should just be hanged on the spot, Bredin silently agreed.
::That is not justice, Chosen.:: Lacaral said. ::That is just vengeance.::
"What do you mean?" Bredin said. "It's obvious they were guilty. They were caught in the act."
Lacaral's chest heaved in a sigh. ::Justice must not only be done, Chosen. It must be seen to be done. Even if you are absolutely, perfectly right that someone is guilty, how does anyone not there know you are right? How do they know you didn't just concoct a story to justify your actions? How do they know that you will not turn on them for no reason if they do not know the reasons that another is punished? If you have laws and trials where an accused may defend himself, then people can see that justice is done.::
Bredin was still contemplating what Lacaral said when they arrived at the stable. He untacked and groomed Lacaral before heading back to the Collegium. It was nearly dinner time. Bredin and his yearmates bathed and ate quietly in the dining hall, which was quieter than it had been at any time since Bredin's arrival. None of the trainees spoke beyond asking each other to pass plates and bowls.
After dinner, they went to the common room. After a fruitless candlemark while they attempted to study, Jan broke the silence. "Gadar says the trials will begin in three days."
Cautiously, the group began to discuss the day's events. Every one of them had had a conversation with their Companion's similar to Bredin's with Lacaral.