Of all those that went north, Konstans and a few retainers were the first to return to Middanhal. He had a bath drawn for him in the dragonlords private quarters and was in the hot water when his wife strode into the room. Forgive , milord, Eolf stuttered, trailing behind her. I tried to explain you were occupied.
I am his wife, you dolt!
It is fine, Eolf, Konstans waved him away. The servant bowed and left them alone.
Mathilde found a seat on a chair. Tell what happened.
It went as planned. Konstans sat up, washing the dust of the road from his arms with a piece of soft cloth. The prince is dead.
Good. We should find Inghard more pliable.
Yes. Hopefully the cutthroat has done his task on Gerhard already, Konstans spoke casually.
This will amuse you to hear, Mathilde smiled. Jero returned only yesterday. He barely rested between here and Silfrisarn, so eager was he to escape our good friend Isenhart.
Did he botch the killing?
This is the amusing part, she continued. Isenhart killed Gerhard himself. He was enraged by our deception, and you already know how he treats hostages. Out of all people, Athelstan intervened and made sure the Hawk was spared.
Brilliant. Konstans let a rare laughter sound. Isarn killing the other prince leaves our hands clean. I could not have planned it any better.
A sha that Gerhard had to die, Mathilde considered with a pragmatic voice. He was very anable towards us. He would have been a good puppet.
He would have revealed our involvent in releasing the Isarn prisoners sooner or later, Konstans pointed out, scrubbing a resistant spot of dirt until it cleared away.
That, on the other hand, could have been planned far better, Mathilde scowled. The half-witted son is hardly of consequence, but letting Athelstan escape has made our enemy twice as dangerous.
You exaggerate, Konstans claid with a calm voice. Isarns armies are crippled. It does not matter how great a commander Athelstan is when he has no soldiers to command.
You underestimate him. Jero also brought news of a skirmish between the Red Hawks and Isarns forces. The Hawks were forced to retreat.
Winning a small encounter will hardly turn the war around for Isarn. Every soldier he loses, he cannot hope to replace anymore. As long as he has losses, every victory is also a defeat for him, Konstans stated.
You better be right. His wife wore a sneering expression. These rcenaries are costing us a fortune. The last thing we need is for this war to be prolonged.
All will be well, the dragonlord claid. We have matters closer to ho.
What do you an?
The marriage between our house and Hardling fell through. With Hardmars death, plans will certainly have to change now, Konstans remarked with a sardonic smile. Of course, he is not the only Hardling.
Valerie and Inghard? It will have to wait at least a few years, even if you get the boy declared of age to marry before ti, Mathilde contemplated.
I had soone else in mind. He ran the cloth in his hands across his face, sighing with relief as the soft, warm cloth touched his skin. Inghard has a sister, and we have a son.
A knowing smile spread across Mathildes face. Of course. How clear-sighted of you, my husband. I will tell Konstantine and prepare him for it.
Let , Konstans told her. Such an important matter should co from his father. After all, it marks his ti to do his part for our house.
As you say, dear husband.
~~~~
Several days after Konstans arrival, a trio approached Middanhal. When the city was still so distance away, lfwine stopped. This close to the capital, he had been walking with the blindfold during the day; even avoiding the Kingsroad, there was always a danger of eting other people. Now he removed it and turned his strange gaze upon his two companions.
The road must be close by, he told his companions. You can find your way to Middanhal from here. My task is done.
Will you not co all the way? asked Egil. Much could happen between here and the Citadel.
Yes, at least let us treat you to a al, and you can sleep in a real bed tonight, Kate offered.
There are many dangers in this world, lfwine smiled. You can handle what lies between here and your ho.
I need you to co with , Egil stated with a worried look.
Egil, hes done enough for us. If he wants to go ho, we should let him, Kate interjected.
I need your help, Egil spoke almost imploring.
With what? lfwine frowned.
Master Quill is in a cell. You rember him, right? the boy asked the Elf. The prince hurt him, and now he is a prisoner. He is an old man, and we have to get him out!
Egil, I am no prince or lord to your people. They will not heed my word, lfwine pointed out.
No, but youre the best warrior Ive ever seen. You could fight your way out! Egil suggested. Free Master Quill and get him out!
Egil, there will be an entire garrison between your master and freedom, the Elf gently said. I am not an army.
You killed those bandits like it was nothing!
They were few and had no reason to keep fighting . There could be hundreds of soldiers standing in our path. He looked at the boy with concern. Even if I could make it out alive, I cannot imagine your old and frail master would survive the sa trip.
Cant you try? Egil pleaded. I beg you, please!
And afterwards? Where do you flee, pursued by soldiers? With a sickly man who needs to be tended to? Egil, we would only hasten his demise.
Dont say that!
Egil, he cant, Kate told him with sadness in her voice.
If your master is to be freed, it will be by cunning or so similar device, not by strength of arms, lfwine declared. He let his gaze move back and forth between the children. I take my leave now. I warn you that you should never return to the Alfskog. You know what awaits you.
We know, Kate nodded while Egil sniffed.
Since you never listen, lfwine continued with a scolding voice, I will tell you this. Should you ever t any of my people, speak the na of Alfmod to them. They will recognise it and bring you to . Now farewell. He bowed his head to them and turned around, moving north rapidly.
Kate watched him leave. Did he say what I think he said?
Who knows, Egil replied monotonously. He began a shambling walk towards Middanhal; a mont later, Kate turned from watching lfwines tall shape to catch up with the boy.
~~~~
An hour later, the double walls of Middanhal rose imposingly before them; ahead lay Woolgate, allowing people to enter the city from the north. Kate suddenly reached out and grabbed hold of Egils sleeve. Gate toll! she exclaid. Do we have any coin left? I think we spent the last we had.
Its fine. I am the kings servant, and you are travelling with . We dont pay gate toll, Egil inford her tonelessly.
Are you well? Youve barely said a word since we said goodbye to Master lfwine.
Yes.
This close, plenty of other travellers were moving along the Kingsroad; one branch ca from Theodstan and the other from Isarn to entwine before the gate. These days, there were few travellers coming from the western branch, but trade and traffic remained as usual from the east. For a city of Middanhals size, having only two gates was deeply unusual; while it made the city easier to defend, it also ant that both places were constantly crowded. The nobility was exempt from being subject to toll or guard inspection and could ride through without interruption; all others had to wait their turn. Kate and Egil, one looking concerned, the other indifferent, joined the row of people waiting to enter the great city.
One silver per head to enter the city, the guard announced with the utmost boredom. He held his hand outstretched while his head was turned elsewhere, staring at a few pretty faces that had just passed by.
I am the Kings Quill, Egil proclaid.
Seeing his hand devoid of silver, the guard looked outwards and finally down to see a young boy staring back and a girl of the sa age nervously tripping behind him. What?
I am the Kings Quill, Egil explained. Kindly let us pass.
The guard grinned. Ive never heard that one before! Thats funny, lad. For that, I wont slap the teeth out of you. His grin disappeared. Now either sod off or pay.
Egil kept his unblinking gaze on him. I am a servant to the king and do not pay toll. Stand aside.
The guard scowled and grabbed hold of Egils robe, pulling the boy to him. Youre itching to get smacked, arent you.
I am the embodint of the law, Egil told him fearlessly, staring right into his face. My person is sacred. An assault upon is an assault upon the Adalthing.
The guards expression turned confused. Dont try and confound , boy! Ill slap you silly till the sheep co ho! Despite his many threats, the soldier did not move to carry any of them out.
I am the Kings Quill. I am the embodint of the law. My person is sacred, Egil reiterated.
Doubt spread across the guards face. Listen, I dont know what youre playing at, but the Quill is an old geezer
Let him go, you halfwit! It was the gate lieutenant, summoned by the commotion. Havent you heard? The old Quill got thrown into the dungeons. This must be his apprentice who went north with the prince.
The soldier quickly let go of Egils robe and backed away. Sorry, he mumbled. How was I to know?
Quiet, you moron, the lieutenant silenced him. You may pass, Master Quill. I was sorry to hear of the princes passing, he told Egil and disappeared into the gatehouse again.
Without sparing the guard another look, Egil walked forward and entered the city, closely followed by Kate. Egil, that was amazing! she exclaid. You were so fearless! How did you know to do that?
I learned it from Master Quill, he explained in a tired voice. I suppose I should return to the library.
Wait, didnt that soldier say the prince had passed? Kates eyes widened.
He must have died when the camp was attacked, Egil assud. I guess thats my luck. I wont have to forge anything.
Forge?
The prince wanted the master to make false docunts, Egil related. He refused and was thrown in prison. I was next.
Wait, the prince, Kate suddenly interjected. He can help.
He is dead, Egil pointed out. Lets get back to the Citadel.
Not him! I an, one prince is dead, and the other prince fled with the prisoners. So there is only the youngest prince left, right? Kates eyes bead.
I guess. So?
That ans he is in charge now. What the old prince did, the new prince can change. And Prince Inghard is a friend to Master Quill, she explained excitedly. He was always visiting us in the library!
Realisation spread across Egils face. I have to get an audience with the prince!
He sprinted towards the Citadel. An hour later, having used his authority as the kings scribe to open further doors, Egil and Kate accompanied Inghard down to the dungeons. Shortly after, Kateb al-Qasr was freed from his cell, restored to his position as the Kings Quill, and could return to his library tower.
~~~~
In the great Temple, affairs had returned to normal after that fateful day when the doors had been closed. The blackrobes had never given any explanation for this, and none dared ask the Templars. Rumours swirled. The Highfather had fallen violently ill, and his death had been feared until he miraculously recovered. One of the Templars had broken his vows and been cast out, like it had happened to Sir Damien years ago. So swore they had seen Adalbrand, the infamous knave, pass through the halls. Others were convinced that a large treasure of gold and silver had been sent to the Temple for safekeeping.
Two of the n who knew the truth, Septimus and Eadric, sat in the latters study. We have received another report, the high priest told his superior, holding a strip of parchnt in his hand containing scribbled runes. Not only did Isarn win a battle and threatens to end the siege of Grenwold. The jarl killed Prince Gerhard afterwards by his own hand.
Septimus sighed. Perhaps it were better if Athelstan had died on the scaffold. This war may drag on indefinitely now.
Eadric looked at the old man. Should we seek to intervene?
The Highfather shook his head. Too dangerous. This must play out by itself. Any news of Adalbrand?
None of our priests have reported anything. Either he is well disguised
Or he is keeping to the wild, Septimus nodded. I wish him gods speed in either case.
If Adalrik is out of our hands, the blackrobe began to say, it is ti to deal with Ealond.
You are right. They did not heed my warning. Inform the Templars and have a carriage made ready.
Yes, Brother. When should you wish to leave?
Tomorrow. I leave the Temple in your capable hands until I return, Septimus declared.
Yes, Brother.
Next day, though few inside or outside the Temple were made aware, the Highfather and ten Templars left for Fontaine.
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