He was right! Said you'd go straight after 'em, sword and knife. What's with you?"
"You said, 'A trap.' I thought it was " I muttered through suddenly numb lips. "Wasn't it?"
"Didn't you see the riding of greeners?" Bran retorted. "It was Debegri, right enough. He had paid informants in those inns, for he was on the watch for your return. Why d'you think Vidanric sent the escort?"
"Vidanric?"
"His name," Branaric said, still staring at me with that odd gaze. "You could try to use it--only polite. After all, Shevraeth is just a title, and he doesn't go about calling either of us Tlanth." I thought, but I said nothing.
"Anyway--life, sister--if he'd wanted me dead, why not in the comfort of his own home, where he could do a better job?"
I shook my head. "It made sense to me."
"It makes sense when you have a castle-sized grudge." He sighed. "It was the Renselaeus escort, hard on their heels, that attacked Debegri's gang and saved my life. Our friend the Marquis wasn't far behind--he'd just found out about the spies, he said. Between us we pieced together what happened, and what I said, and what you'd likely do. I thought you'd stay home. He said you'd ride back down the mountain breathing fire and hunting his blood. He was right." He stared to laugh, but it came out a groan, and he closed his eyes for a long breath. Then, "Arrow clipped me on the right, or I'd be finished. But I can't talk long--I'm already feeling sick. Galdran is just behind Debegri. He's coming up to make an example of Tlanth himself. Talk all over the country-side…" He stopped, taking several slow breaths, then he squinted at me. "Ask Vidanric. He's the one explained it to me."
"First tell me, are we prisoners, or not?"
"No," Bran said. "But mark my words: The end is nigh. And we're either for Renselaeus or for Galdran."
"You mean Shevraeth is coming into the open?"
"Yes."
"Then--he's going to face the whole army?"
Bran breathed deeply again. "Galdran has very few friends," he murmured, then closed his eyes. "Go change. Eat."
I nodded, the numbness spreading from my lips to my brain, and to my heart. "Get your rest. We'll talk when you feel better.
"You said, 'A trap.' I thought it was " I muttered through suddenly numb lips. "Wasn't it?"
"Didn't you see the riding of greeners?" Bran retorted. "It was Debegri, right enough. He had paid informants in those inns, for he was on the watch for your return. Why d'you think Vidanric sent the escort?"
"Vidanric?"
"His name," Branaric said, still staring at me with that odd gaze. "You could try to use it--only polite. After all, Shevraeth is just a title, and he doesn't go about calling either of us Tlanth." I thought, but I said nothing.
"Anyway--life, sister--if he'd wanted me dead, why not in the comfort of his own home, where he could do a better job?"
I shook my head. "It made sense to me."
"It makes sense when you have a castle-sized grudge." He sighed. "It was the Renselaeus escort, hard on their heels, that attacked Debegri's gang and saved my life. Our friend the Marquis wasn't far behind--he'd just found out about the spies, he said. Between us we pieced together what happened, and what I said, and what you'd likely do. I thought you'd stay home. He said you'd ride back down the mountain breathing fire and hunting his blood. He was right." He stared to laugh, but it came out a groan, and he closed his eyes for a long breath. Then, "Arrow clipped me on the right, or I'd be finished. But I can't talk long--I'm already feeling sick. Galdran is just behind Debegri. He's coming up to make an example of Tlanth himself. Talk all over the country-side…" He stopped, taking several slow breaths, then he squinted at me. "Ask Vidanric. He's the one explained it to me."
"First tell me, are we prisoners, or not?"
"No," Bran said. "But mark my words: The end is nigh. And we're either for Renselaeus or for Galdran."
"You mean Shevraeth is coming into the open?"
"Yes."
"Then--he's going to face the whole army?"
Bran breathed deeply again. "Galdran has very few friends," he murmured, then closed his eyes. "Go change. Eat."
I nodded, the numbness spreading from my lips to my brain, and to my heart. "Get your rest. We'll talk when you feel better.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Crown Duel ]
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