“I am bidden by His Majesty to place the king—”
“Prince,” inserted the chancellor patiently.
“—of Kairn Telest under arrest.”
“On what charge?” Edmund demanded. Striding forward, he ignored the cadaver, glared at the chancellor.
“Of entering the realms of Thebis and Salfag, realms foreign to him, without first seeking the permission of the dynast to cross their borders—”
“Those so-called realms are uninhabited! And neither myself nor my father ever knew that this ‘dynast’ even existed!”
The cadaver was continuing its speech, perhaps it hadn’t heard the interruption. “And of attacking without provocation the town of Safe Harbor, driving off the peaceful inhabitants, and looting—”
“That is a lie!” Edmund shouted, his fury overtaking his reason.
“Indeed it is!” Jonathan cried impetuously. “My wife and I have just returned from the town. We can testify to the truth of the matter.”
“His Most Just Majesty will be only too pleased to hear your side of this dispute. He will let you both know when to come to the palace.” It was the chancellor who spoke.
“We’re coming to the palace with His Highness,” Jonathan stated.
“Quite unnecessary. His Majesty received your report, Your Grace. We require the use of your carriage to the city walls, but, when we arrive in Necropolis, you and the duchess have His Majesty’s leave to return to your home.”
“But—” Jonathan sputtered. It was his wife’s turn to restrain him from speaking his mind.
“My dear, the harvest,” she reminded him.
He said nothing, subsided into an unhappy silence.
‘And now, before we proceed,” continued the chancellor, “His Highness the Prince will understand and forgive me if I ask that he surrender his weapon. And those of his companion, too, I—”
The chancellor’s gray hood, hiding his face, turned for the first time toward Haplo. The voice ceased speaking, the hood paused in its rotation, the fabric quivered as if the head it covered were subject to some strong emotion.
The runes on Haplo’s skin itched and prickled. What now? he wondered, tensing, sensing danger. The dog, who had been content to flop down in the road during the lull in the proceedings, jumped to its feet, a low growl rumbling in its chest. One of the eyes of the mud dragon swiveled in the direction of the small animal. A red tongue flicked out of the lizard’s mouth.
“I have no weapons,” said Haplo, raising his hands.
“Nor I,” added Alfred in a small and miserable voice, although no one had asked him.
The chancellor shook himself, like a man waking from a doze he never meant to take. With an effort, the gray hood wrenched itself from staring at Haplo back to the prince, who had remained motionless.
“Your sword, Your Highness. No one comes armed into the presence of the dynast.”
Edmund stood defiant, irresolute. Duke and duchess kept their gazes lowered, unwilling to influence him in any way, yet obviously hoping he would not cause trouble. Haplo wasn’t certain what he hoped the prince would do. The Patryn had been warned by his lord not to become involved in any local dispute, but his lord had certainly not counted on his minion falling into the hands of a Sartan dynast!
Edmund suddenly and swiftly reached down, unbuckled his sword belt, and held it out to the cadaver. The captain accepted it gravely, with a salute of a white and wasted hand. Cold with outraged pride and righteous anger, the prince climbed back into the carriage and seated himself stiffly, staring out over the blasted landscape with studied calm.
Jera and her husband, prey to shame, could not look at Edmund, who must think now that they had lured him into a trap. Faces averted, they silently entered the carriage and silently took their seats. Alfred glanced uncertainly at Haplo, for all the world as if he were asking for orders! How that man had survived on his own this long was beyond the Patryn’s comprehension. Haplo jerked his head toward the carriage, and Alfred tumbled in, stumbling over everyone’s feet, falling rather than sitting in his seat.
They were all waiting for Haplo. Reaching down, patting the dog, he turned the animal’s head toward Alfred.