A Shore Too Far - By Kevin Manus-Pennings Page 0,14
I will leave it to my sister to set the terms of your stay here. You may tell your leaders that we would welcome formal relations with Kullobrin.” Eric paused and again studied the seaman standing across the table. “I wish your people well, Captain.”
Eric turned and moved to the horses behind us.
“I need a moment with the prince,” I said to Eglanna. “I won’t be a long.”
Eric was beside his horse when I reached him. He fingered his reins absently.
“You feel it, sister?” Eric asked at my approach. “They’re hiding something. And it’s more than their lies about not attacking those ships they encountered.”
“Yes,” I said.
He looked out over the sea, the fleet of massive ships dotting the face of the waters for as far as one could see.
“It might be the true value of what they carry,” Eric said, then sighed. “They could only be seeking to safeguard what they carry.”
“No,” I said quickly and then again more softly, “no.”
Eric looked at me, his eyes moving across my face.
“You’ll do fine at these negotiations and more if the need arises,” Eric said. “You’re better than you think at reading people.”
“What did Father’s note say?” I asked.
“What?”
“The message. Brought to you by the aglindor. You read the note and laughed.”
Here he studied me closely, his eyes working out a problem. At long last, he began, “Father and I have talked…many times…about your work, your duties as High General.”
“And?”
“You are good at war, Kara, perhaps better than anyone before you, but it has changed you, changed how you see the world.”
“Shouldn’t it?” I asked. “As the fire changes the sword. Isn’t that a good thing?”
“In some ways,” he said slowly, “but even the sword knows to fear the fire, sister. You seem to enjoy it.”
I said nothing, but I could feel my jaw clenching.
“Father wanted you to lead these talks to give your other strengths an airing,” Eric was saying. “He…and I…have long feared losing you to the work that has brought you so much success.”
“Am I to be punished, mocked for my successes?” I said.
“What did you see when we came upon this city of tents?” Eric said sharply. “I saw the need for clean water, for basic sewage. I estimated how much food these people would need and what taxes we would need to pay for those things. But what did you see?”
I looked away.
“You thought that the tents would provide them no defense from your arrows, that they would burn very easily, children and all.” Eric paused. “You need only tell me I’m wrong, High General.” He stared at me expectantly. “Do you already have the lay of the land? Do you already know where their soldiers will make their defiant last stand as they watch their cloth homes burn?”
“And if these talks fail and we find ourselves in battle? Am I to step aside and be ready for the peace talks?” I asked bitterly.
Eric turned away, his eyes searching the southern horizon for Abringol, though it lay miles beyond his view.
“Our father is no fool, Kara.” He let slip a dark, sharp laugh. “He knows that you are a sword now, and he will use it to protect the kingdom, to protect Abringol, even if he loses that sword forever.” He moved back toward me but could not meet my eyes. “It is the cost of being king.”
Eric leapt atop his horse, and his escort followed suit.
“Keep them north of the River of Ballads and south of the village of Trudven. The rest I leave to you, sister-diplomat…sword of our kingdom.”
Eric and his men turned their mounts and rode south for Abringol.
***** ***** *****
With Gonnaban by my side, arranging the details of the Kullobrini stay went smoothly. I added to Eric’s two borders that they could travel no further inland than the village Gan Barrow, a day’s ride east. The Kullobrini raised no objections to the limits we set on them; they only asked questions. Could they trade with the local populace? What is a good price for wheat in Avandi? What about cloth for sails and tents? All the while the sense of missing some fine point, some nuance, gnawed at me.
I had my war tent set up directly behind our former lookout spot, thereby reclaiming it from the Kullobrini. Peaceful or no, I would take what advantages I could, no matter how much this sword liked the fire.
I sent word to Gwey that he and a selection of merchants from Abringol should arrive immediately