was almost his father's age, had come to the warlordship at fifteen and held it for thirty years. He had at least four strapping sons to help him now, so he had nothing to prove. The spar's emblem, the blood-red-furred Affinity beast with the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion, glinted in the light of many candles. Repugnance filled Byren. What kind of warrior would swear allegiance with one breath, while sending assassins in the next? Or perhaps he wronged Corvel.
Corvel of Manticore came to his feet but, before the next warlord could take his place, a youth of about seventeen shoved through the servants who were clustered near the kitchen entrance and ran into the centre of the hall.
'He lies!' the young warrior accused, his voice ringing in the arched vaults above. 'Even while Warlord Corvel was dining at the king's high table, his raiders attacked my village.'
There was a hushed intake of breath.
'Rubbish!' Corvel dismissed the accusation.
'You can prove this?' King Rolen asked the youth.
He nodded and pulled a torn spar symbol from inside his jerkin. Byren noted how the youth's hands trembled, but he did not think it was with fear.
With a flick the youth unrolled the emblem to reveal a red manticore on a field of black.
'That tattered thing?' Corvel sneered. 'That could have been taken during a raid any time these last thirty years. I admit I've sent raiding parties over the Divide before, but I'd be a bloody fool to let my warriors raid while King Rolen's guest.'
'You thought you'd be gone before the news came,' the youth insisted, voice rising. Tears glittered in his furious eyes. 'You didn't gamble on me skating day and night to get here. I want justice for my village, for my kin!'
'Justice,' voices echoed from the watchers, moved by the youth's conviction.
'I am falsely accused!' Corvel roared.
'It is possible,' the queen whispered. 'One of his own sons, ambitious to impress his men, might have gone raiding without asking Corvel's permission.'
'Father?' Byren leant past his mother, having to raise his voice to be heard above the talk of the crowd. 'What if he's telling the truth? Remember the raiders I saw skating across Rolencia's valley?'
'Proof is easy,' King Rolen muttered, then slammed his fist down on the table and the hall fell silent. 'I gather your villagers defended their homes, lad?'
'With their lives!' he bristled.
'Then we can identify the bodies of the raiders killed. That will prove who...' he ran down as the youth was shaking his head.
'They took their dead with them. Those of us who could run fled into the caves. While we were hiding, they took their dead and burned the village.'
Byren stiffened. Raiding was commonplace, but the warlords didn't destroy the villages they raided. They left enough intact for the people to rebuild, otherwise there would be no village to raid the next time.
'This is a new development,' Queen Myrella whispered.
'Captain Temor, take this youth aside,' King Rolen ordered. 'We'll hear his case after the loyalty pledges.'
As Temor escorted the youth to a private chamber, the words his mother had spoken echoed in Byren's mind and a kernel of worry solidified in his gut. Sending assassins into Rolenton had been a new development, too.
What was keeping his twin? Lence knew he was supposed to sit on their father's left while the warlords swore their fealty. What if he had become separated from his honour guard? What if spies had reported Lence's riding out? What if whoever sent the last assassins seized this chance to send more?
'What is it?' his mother whispered.
'It's Lence, I -'
'I know, he's late!'
'I should go down to Rolenton. He might be in trouble.'
'Yes... but if he's not, he won't thank you for coming after him.'
She was right. Byren couldn't just turn up and announce that he was there to take Lence home. At least he knew where they were. Temor had reported that Rejulas had taken over a private chamber at the Three Swans. But if Byren knew, others would know too. The more he thought about it, the more Lence's absence worried him.
'But it would be perfectly natural for you and your friends to celebrate Lence's betrothal tonight by going down to Rolenton's taverns,' his mother suggested softly.
'And meet up with Lence at the Three Swans.'
'Exactly!'
At that moment the last warlord finished his oath and the musicians began to play as great plates of food were carried up from the kitchen.
'Suddenly I'm not hungry,' Byren muttered.