The Hero And The Crown Part One Chapter 1

To TerriThe Hero and the Crown takes place either(prenominal) considerable span of years before the clock time of The Blue Sword. at that place are a some fairly dramatic topographical differences amongst the Damar of Aerins day and that of Harrys.Part OneChapter 1SHE COULD NOT repute a time when she had non known the explanation she had grown up knowing it. She supposed someone must begin told her it, sometime, except she could non remember the telling. She was beyond having to blink nates crying when she fantasy of those things the figment explained, provided when she was feeling smaller and shabbier than usual in the large brilliant City juicy in the Damarian Hills she still found herself brooding slightly them and brooding sometimes brought on a tight headachy feeling near her temples, a feeling uniform suppressed tears.She brooded, enumerateing come along out of the closet over the wide low sill of the stone window-frame she looked up, into the Hills, beca social function the glassy sur look of the courtyard was wishwise bright at midday to stare at long. Her mind ran big bucks an old familiar track Who exponent hold told her the story? It wouldnt shit been her beat who told her, for he had rarely spoken more than a few words together to her when she was younger his slow kind smiles and slightly absent air had been the most she knew of him. She had always known that he was fond of her, which was something further she had yet recently begun to come into focus for him, and that, as he had told her himself, in an un transported fashion. He had the best the wholly right to have told her the story of her birth, but he would non have done so.Nor would it have been the hafor, the sept of the household they were polite to her always, in their wary way, and reserved, and spoke to her still astir(predicate) household details. It surprised her that they still remembered to be wary, for she had long since proven that she p ossess vigor to be wary some. Royal children were usually somewhat august to be in daily contact with, for their Gifts often erupted in hasty and unexpected ways. It was a small-minded surprising, point, that the hafor still b other(a)ed to treat her with keep, for the circumstance that she was her fathers girlfriend was supported by nonhing but the fact that her fathers conjoin woman had borne her. that and then, for all that was verbalize about her stimulate, no one incessantly suggested that she was not an honest wife.And she would not have run and told tales on some(prenominal) of the hafor who slighted her, as Galanna would and regularly did, nonetheless though e realone treated her with the niftyest conformation humanly possible. Galannas Gift, it was dryly said, was to be impossible to please. But perhaps from the hafors stand it was not worth the risk to nominate any points of similarity or dissimilarity between herself and Galanna and a life of servic e in a household that included Galanna doubt little rendered anyone who withs in any cased it automatically wary and respectful of anything that scratchd. She smiled. She could check into the wind stir the treetops, for the surface of the Hills seemed to ripple beneath the blue flip-flop the breeze, when it slid through her window, smelled of leaves.It might rattling well have been Galanna who told her the story, come to that. It would be like her and Galanna had always despised her still did, for all that she was grown now, and married besides, to Perlith, who was a sec sola of Damar. The only higher ranks were first sola and king but Galanna had hoped to marry Tor, who was first sola and would someday be king. It was no matter that Tor would not have had Galanna if she had been the only royal maiden available Id run rancid into the Hills and be a bandit first, a much younger Tor had told his really young cousin, who had gone off in fits of giggles at the idea of Tor cor rosion rags and a blue headband and dancing for luck under each pull of the moon. Tor, who at the time had been stiff with terror at Galannas real obdurate attempts to ensnare him, had relaxed enough to grin and tell her she had no proper respect and was a disheartenless hoyden. Yes, she said unrepentantly. Tor, for whatever reasons, was sooner over-formal with everyone but her but being first sola to a solemn, twice-widowed king of a land with a shadow over it might have had that effect on a far more frivolous young man than Tor. She suspected that he was as grateful for her existence as she was for his one of her earliest memories was riding in a baby-sack over Tors shoulders temporary hookup he galloped his horse over a series of hurdles she had screamed with delight and wound her tiny custody in his thick black hair. Teka, later, had been furious but Tor, who usually took any accusation of the slightest dereliction of duty with white lips and a set face, had only laughed. But whenever she decided that it must have been Galanna who first told her the story, she found she couldnt moot it of her after all. Having told it for spite and malice, yes but the story itself had too much vicious grandeur. But perhaps she only felt that way because it was about her mother perhaps she had changed it in her own mind, deliriouse a tragedy of nothing but sour gossip. But that Galanna would deliberately spend enough time in her company to tell her the story was out of character Galanna preferable whenever possible to look vaguely over the head of the least of her cousins, with an typeface on her face indicating that on that point was a dead fly on the windowsill and why hadnt the hafor swept it away? When Galanna was startled into speaking to her at all, it was usually from a motive of immediate vengeance. The tale of Arlbeths second wife would be too roundabout for her purposes. Still, that it had been one of the cousins was the best guess. Not Tor, of course. One of the others.She leaned out of the window and looked down. It was hard to recognize people from the tops of their heads, several stories up. object Tor she always knew him, still if all she had to go on was an elbow extending an advance or two beyond a doorframe. This below her now was probably Perlith that self-satisfied walk was distinctive even from above, and the way three of the hafor, dressed in fine livery, trailed groundwork him for no purpose but to lend to their masters importance by their presence pretty well assured it. Tor went about alone, when he could he told her, grimly, that he had enough of company during the course of his duties as first sola, and the last thing he wanted was an unofficial retinue for any gaps in the official ones. And shed like to see her father puff velvet-covered flunkeys in his wake, like a child with a toy on a string.Perliths head spoke to another dark head, the hafor waiting respectfully several arms1 continuance distant t hen someone on a horse she could not distinguish voices but she heard the click of hoofs emerged from around a corner. The rider wore the livery of a messenger, and the cut of his saddle said he came from the west. Both heads false toward him and tipped up, so she could see the unhinged blur of their faces as they spoke to him. Then the horseman cantered off, the horse placing its feet very delicately, for it was dangerous to go too quickly across the courtyard and Perlith and the other man, and Perliths entourage, disappeared from her view.She didnt have to hear what they said to each other to know what was passing game on but the knowledge gave her no pleasure, for it had already brought her both shame and bitter disappointment. It was either the shame or the disappointment that kept her mewed up in her rooms, alone, now.She had hardly seen her father or Tor for the week past as they wrestled with messages and messengers, as they tried to slow down whatever it was that would happen anyway, while they tried to decide what to do when it had happened. The western barons the fourth solas were making pettifoggery. The gossip was that someone from the North, either human or human enough to look it, had carried a bit of demon-mischief south across the Border and let it subject at the barons council in the spring. Nyrlol was the chief of the council for no better reason than that his father had been chief but his father had been a better and a wiser man. Nyrlol was not known for intelligence, and he was known for a short and violent formidability the perfect target for demon-mischief.Nyrlols father would have recognized it for what it was. But Nyrlol had not recognized anything it had simply seemed like a wonderful idea to break from Damar and the rule of Damars king Arlbeth and Tor-sola, and set himself up as King Nyrlol and to slap a new tax on his farmers to support the procreation of an phalanx, eventually to take the rest of Damar away from Arlb eth and Tor, who didnt run it as well as he could. He managed to convince several of his gent barons (demon-mischief, once it has infected one human being, will usually then spread like a plague) of the brilliance of his plan, while the mischief muddled their wits. There had been a further rumour, much fainter, that Nyrlol had, with his wonderful idea, suddenly develop a mesmerizing ability to sway those who heard him speak and this rumor was a much more worrying one, for, if true, the demon-mischief was very strong indeed.Arlbeth had chosen to pay no attention to the second rumor or rather to pay only enough attention to it to discount it, that none of his kin might think he shunned it from fear. But he did declare that the trouble was enough that he must attend to it personally and with him would go Tor, and a substantial percent of the army, and almost as substantial a portion of the court, with all its velvets and jewels brought along for a fine grand show of courtesy, to establish to disguise the army at its back. But both sides would know that the army was an army, and the show only a show. What Arlbeth planned to do was both tight and dangerous, for he wished to prevent a civil war, not provoke one. He would choose those to go with him with the greatest care and caution.But youre taking Perlith? shed look ated Tor disbelievingly, when she met him by chance one day, out behind the barns, where she could let her disbelief show.Tor grimaced. I know Perlith isnt a very worthwhile human being, but hes real pretty effective at this sort of thing because hes such a good liar, you know, and because he can say the most appalling things in the most gracious manner.No women rode in Arlbeths army. A few of the bolder wives might be permitted to go with their husbands, those who could ride and had been trained in cavalry act and those who could be trusted to smile even at Nyrlol (depending on how the negotiations went), and bob to him as befitted his r ank as fourth sola, and even dance with him if he should ask. But it was expected that no wife would go unless her husband asked her, and no husband would ask unless he had asked the king first.Galanna would certainly not go, even if Perlith had been willing to go to the trouble of obtaining leave from Arlbeth (which would probably not have been granted). Fortunately for the peace of all concerned, Galanna had no interest in vent anything resembling hardship did not appeal to her in the least, and she was sure that nothing in the barbaric west could possibly be worth her time and beauty.A kings daughter might go too a kings daughter who had, perhaps, proven herself in some small ways who had learned to keep her address shut, and to smile on cue a kings daughter who happened to be the kings only child. She had known they would not let her she had known that Arlbeth would not dare turn over his permission even had he wanted to, and she did not know if he had wanted to. But he could not dare take the beguile womans daughter to confront the workings of demon-mischief his people would never let him, and he too sorely needed his peoples good will.But she could not military service asking any more, she supposed, than poor stupid Nyrlol could help going mad when the demon-mischief bit him. She had tried to choose her time, but her father and Tor had been so interest lately that she had had to watt, and wait again, till her time was almost gone. After dinner last night she had finally asked and she had come up here to her rooms afterward and had not come out again. paternity. Her voice had gone high on her, as it would do when she was afraid. The other women, and the lesser court members, had already left the long hall Arlbeth and Tor and a few of the cousins, Perlith among them, were preparing for another aweary evening of discussion on Nyrlols folly. They paused and all of them false and looked at her, and she wished there were not so many of them. She s sur roundowed. She had decided against asking her father late, in his own rooms, where she could be sure to find him alone, because she was afraid he would only be kind to her and not take her seriously. If she was to be shamed and she knew, or she told herself she knew, that she would be refused at least let him see how much it meant to her, that she should ask and be refused with others looking on.Arlbeth turned to her with his slow smile, but it was slower and less of it reached his look than usual. He did not say, Be quick, I am busy, as he might have done and small blame to him if he had, she thought forlornly.You ride west soon? To treat with Nyrlol? She could feel Tors eyes on her, but she kept her own eyes fixed on her father.Treat? said her father. If we go, we go with an army to witness the treaty. A little of the smile crept into his eyes after all. You are picking up well-behaved language, my dear. Yes, we go to treat with Nyrlol.Tor said We have some hope of catching the mischief-one did not say demon aloud if one could help it and bottling it up, and sending it back where it came from. Even now we have that hope. It wont plosive speech sound the trouble, but it will stop it getting worsened. If Nyrlol isnt being pricked and pinched by it, he may lessen into the subtle and charming Nyrlol we all know and revere. Tors mouth twisted up into a wry smile.She looked at him and her own mouth twitched at the corners. It was like Tor to answer her as if she were a real part of the court, even a member of the official deliberations, instead of an interruption and a disturbance. Tor might even have let her go with them he wasnt old enough yet to care so much for his peoples good opinion as Arlbeth did and furthermore, Tor was stubborn. But it was not Tors decision. She turned back to her father.When you go may I come with you? Her voice was little more than a squeak, and she wished she were near a wall or a door she could lean on, instead of in the gr eat empty middle of the dining-hall, with her knees trying to fold up under her like an hour-old foals.The silence went suddenly tight, and the men she faced went rigid or Arlbeth did, and those behind him, for she kept her face resolutely away from Tor. She thought that she could not suffer it if her one loyal friend forsook her too and she had never tried to discover the extent of Tors stubbornness. Then the silence was broken by Perliths high-pitched laughter.Well, and what did you expect from letting her go as she would these last years? Its all very well to have her occupied and out from underfoot, but you should have thought the price you paid to be rid of her might prove a little high. What did you expect when our honored first sola gives her lessons in free rein and she tears around on that three-legged horse like a fry boy from the Hills, with never a gainsay but a criticise from that old shrew that serves as her maid? Might you not have thought of the reckoning to come ? She needed slaps, not encouragement, years ago she needs a few slaps now, I think. Perhaps it is not too late.Enough. Tors voice, a growl.Her legs were trembling now so badly that she had to move her feet, pleat in her place, to keep the joints locked to hold her up. She felt the blood mounting to her face at Perliths words, but she would not let him drive her away without an answer. Father?Father, mimicked Perlith. Its true a kings daughter might be of some use in facing what the North has sent us a kings daughter who had true royal blood in her veins .Arlbeth, in a very unkinglike manner, reached out and grabbed Tor before anyone found out what the first solas sudden move in Perliths direction might result in. Perlith, you betray the honor of the second solas place in speaking thus.Tor said in a strangle voice, He will apologize, or Ill give him a lesson in swordplay he will not like at all.Tor, dont be a she began, outraged, but the kings voice cut across hers. Perlith, t here is ripeice in the first solas demand.There was a long pause while she hated everyone impartially Tor for behaving like a farmers son whose pet chicken has just been insulted her father, for being so immovably kingly and Perlith for being Perlith. This was even worse than she had anticipated at this point she would be grateful just for escape, but it was too late.Perlith said at last, I apologize, Aerin-sol. For speaking the truth, he added venomously, and turned on his heel and strode across the hall. At the doorway he paused and turned to shout back at them Go slay a dragon, peeress Lady Aerin, Dragon-KillerThe silence resettled itself about them, and she could no longer even raise her eyes to her fathers face.Aerin Arlbeth began.The gentleness of his voice told her all she needed to know, and she turned away and walked toward the other end of the hall, opposite the door which Perlith had taken. She was informed of the length of the way she had to take because Perlith had taken the shorter way, and she hated him all the more for it she was conscious of all the eyes on her, and conscious of the fact that her legs still trembled, and that the air travel she walked was not a straight one. Her father did not call her back. neither did Tor. As she reached the doorway at last, Perliths words still rang in her ears A kings daughter who had true royal blood in her veins Lady Aerin, Dragon-Killer. It was as though his words were hunting dogs who tracked her and nipped at her heels.