The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,19

do that unless he was your lover?'

He strode to the door, checked the hall and, seeing no servants, pulled on the bellrope, jerking it angrily. No one spoke as they waited for the servants to come. The old lord thrust the damning pendant into his vest, muttering under his breath, 'I must be cursed. First my eldest son, now this one!'

Orrade swung his legs off the bed, to stand in his night-shirt and bare feet. With his head wrapped in the bandage he looked vulnerable but determined. 'I can't let you suffer for me, Byren. I swear, father -'

'Silence. You are foresworn. Your word is worthless!'

Several worried servants bustled into the room.

Lord Dovecote straightened to his full height, silver hair bright against his pale, partly paralysed face. 'Before the gods and these servants I disinherit Orrade Dovecoteson. I disown you. I disown you, I disown you. Now leave my estate and never set foot on it again.'

The servants stood there stunned, a plump middle-aged woman with a damp apron, an old man with a candle trimmer, two girls of thirteen carrying clean washing and two boys of fourteen, who must have been out chopping wood for they were sweating profusely.

'I'll go, and gladly.' Orrade stood stiff and regal, looking like a younger version of his father.

The puppies whimpered. When one nearly fell off the bed Byren went to save it, but Elina scooped it up from under his hands.

'Don't touch it. Don't touch any of them.' She gathered all the puppies in her arms. Face damp with tears, eyes glazed with shock, she turned on him. 'Don't come near me. I never want to see you again!'

'Housekeeper, escort my daughter to her room. She's had a shock.'

'Father!' Garzik protested, as Elina marched out with the three women.

'Come, son and heir.' Lord Dovecote beckoned him.

Garzik glanced to Orrade and Byren.

'Now!' Lord Dovecote's voice cracked dangerously.

Garzik looked to Byren, who did not want to trigger another brain spasm in the old lord so he gave a slight nod.

When Garzik joined his father, the old man steered him towards the door then turned to the wood choppers. 'See that these two are out of the house and off Dovecote land by dusk.'

The two boys nodded mutely and Lord Dovecote marched out with Garzik, who cast one desperate look over his shoulder then was gone.

Orrade sagged. 'Byren, can you ever forgive me?'

He was too stunned to speak, even to think.

The silence stretched.

'Master Orrade?' one of the wood choppers finally ventured, out of his depth.

'Don't worry. I can find my own way off the estate.' Orrade waved a hand in their direction. 'Go, all of you.'

They fled.

Orrade sank onto the bed. 'Byren, I swear before Halcyon and Sylion, if I could undo this, I would.'

'Can't be helped,' Byren muttered, mouth dry. Then anger flashed through him. 'Why did you have to wear that bloody pendant?'

'If you hated it so much, why didn't you get rid of it?' Orrade countered.

Why hadn't he? Byren snorted. 'I forgot I still had it.'

Orrade grinned ruefully. 'You always were too easy-going.'

They said nothing. The great house was oddly silent, as if all the servants were creeping about and speaking only in whispers.

'Suddenly I am a man without home or allegiance,' Orrade said, his voice gradually gathering strength. 'But I can still hold to my ideal, a world where a man who follows Palos is respected for his intrinsic worth, not despised for his -'

'Eh, Orrie. I don't think Rolencia's ready for you or your ideals,' Byren muttered. He did a mental calculation. 'It's been nearly thirty years since the last Servant of Palos was executed, but their betrayal is still fresh in the minds of my father's generation -'

'Their betrayal? What of all the times the warlords betrayed Rolencia? What of King Byren the Wicked who locked his nephew in Eagle Tower? Little Lence was the rightful heir, but he never lived to rule!'

'You're right, our history is a litany of betrayals but -'

'The Servants of Palos are particularly hated because they are lovers of men. I know. I'm sorry, Byren.'

He shrugged, forgetting Orrade couldn't see. 'What's done can't be undone. I guess we should pack and go.'

'Go where? You can go back to Rolenhold. Father will keep his word and Elina and Garzik will not reveal the reason I was disinherited. You can be sure I will never betray you, so you will not lose your inheritance because of me.'

While Orrade spoke, the ramifications hit Byren. What would his