Nalda stared at me as strangely as perhaps I had at her a moment earlier.
“That one-she is widowed, not wed! No, it is the Lord Kerovan, he who has been so long wed to our dear lady! He rode in three days since – to rejoice our hearts. Lord, my lady has asked all to watch for you, to urge you to hasten to the keep – “
“Be sure that I shall!” I said between set teeth. Who this false Kerovan was, I had no idea, but that I must see him, must save Joisan from any danger. Someone who knew of our marriage, who perhaps thought me dead, was taking advantage of the situation. And the thought that he could be with Joisan now was like a sword through me. That she might in time turn to another I had tried to endure, but that another had come to her in false guise – that I would not countenance.
For now I could call on my repute as an Old One of unknown but awesome powers. I could proclaim Kerovan dead, unmask this intruder, and she would believe me. Thus I had only to reach the keep, confront the impostor.
I urged my weary Hiku to a trot, though I longed to fling myself from his back, go pounding ahead into the keep, to call out this thief of another man’s name and slay him out of hand – not because he had taken my name, but because he had boldly used it as a cloak to reach Joisan. In that moment how I wished I was truly what she thought me, one who could summon forces beyond the understanding of men.
Angarl, the one-handed, was on sentry duty and gave me a greeting I forced myself to answer. Very shortly I was in the courtyard. The deserted emptiness which had restrained me on my first visit here from too detailed exploration was gone. Life had returned to the hold, and it was now a place for humans.
Two men loitered by the water-trough, chaffing with one of the village girls, their deeper laughter banishing even more the atmosphere of the alien. They wore House badges adorned with my gryphon on their over-jerkins.
Before they looked up, I studied them. Neither was familiar. I had begun to wonder if survivors from Ulmsdale might have been drawn into this. However, the fact I did not recognize them meant little, for I had been away from Ulmskeep for months before my father’s death, and he might have hired newcomers to augment his forces, taking the places of those who rode south with me.
That they wore such badges meant this was no hastily improvised scheme on the part of someone who had heard a rumor or two. Here was careful preparation – but why? Had Joisan still had Ithkrypt with men and arms, then I could have understood such a move. The false Kerovan would have ruled in Ithdale. But she was a landless, homeless fugitive. Why then?
One of the men glanced up, saw me, and nudged his fellow. Their laughter was gone; they eyed me warily. But I did not approach them. Rather I slid from Hiku’s back and walked, stiff with the weariness of the trail, toward that tower room Joisan had made her own.
“You – !” The call was harsh, arrogant.
I swung around to see the two armsmen striding toward me. It was not until they fronted me that they seemed to realize I differed from their kind. I faced them calmly, bringing into my bearing the stiffness of one who has been approached by those beneath him in rank in a manner highly unbecoming.
“You – “ the leader began again, but he was now uncertain. I saw his comrade nudge him in the ribs. It was the second man who now pushed a little to the fore.
“Your pardon, Lord,” he said, his eyes searching me up and down. “Whom do you seek?”
His assumption of a steward’s duties here fed my anger.
“Not you, fellow.” I turned away.
Perhaps they would have liked to have intercepted me, but they did not quite dare. And I did not look to them again as I came to the tower doorway, now curtained with a horse blanket.
“Good fortune to the house!” I raised my voice.
“Lord Amber!” The blanket was thrust aside and Joisan stood before me.
There was that in her face at that moment which hurt. So he had won this already, this radiance! So ill had I played my part I had thrown away all. All? Another part of me questioned it. I had already decided that this was not for me. How could I then question her happiness if one she believed to be her lord had come to serve her in the depths of her need? That he was an impostor was all I must think on, that she must not be deceived.
“Lord Amber, you have come!” She put forth her hand, but did not quite touch mine, which I had raised against my will. Having spoken so, she stood looking at me. I could not understand.
“Who comes, my fair one?”
I knew that voice from the dusk of the room behind her. Knowing it, my hate near broke bounds so that I thirsted to draw steel and press into combat. Rogear here – but why? “Lord Amber, have you heard? My lord has come – hearing of our troubles he has come – “
She spoke hurriedly and there was that in her voice which made me watch her closely. I had seen Joisan afraid. I had seen her rise above fear and pain of heart and mind, be strong for others to lean upon. But at this moment I thought that it was not joy that colored her tone. Outwardly she might present this smiling face, inwardly – no –
Her lord had not brought her happiness! Excitement stirred in me at that which I thought no guess but honest truth. She had not found in Rogear what she sought.
She retreated a step or two, though she had not answered his question. I followed, to stand facing my mother’s kin. He wore a war tabard over his mail, with that gryphon to which he had no right worked on it. Above that his face was handsome, his mouth curved in that small secret smile, until he saw me –
In that instant the smile was wiped from his lips. His eyes narrowed, and there was about him watchfulness as if we both held swords in hand and were set against one another. “My Lord.” Joisan spoke hurriedly, as if she sensed what lay between us and wished to avoid battle. But she addressed me first as the higher in rank. “This is my promised Lord, Kerovan who is heir to Ulmsdale.”
“Lord Kerovan?” I made a question of that. I could denounce Rogear at once. But so could he me. Or could he? That which had been my bane, my deformity – would not Joisan continue to think it proved me alien? At any rate, Rogear must not be allowed to play any dark game here – whether it meant Joisan turning from me in disgust or not
“I think not!” My words fell into the silence like blows. In that moment Rogear’s hand came up, something flashing in it – . From it struck a ray of light straight at my head. Pain burst behind my eyes, I was both blind and in such agony that I could not think, only feel I staggered back against the wall, fighting to keep my feet. My arm was upflung in a futile effort to counter this stroke I was unprepared to face. I heard Joisan scream, and hard upon that cry another of rage and pain. Still blind, I was thrust aside and fell to the floor. Joisan screamed again, and I heard sounds of a struggle.
But I could not see! Not trying to rise, I threw myself toward the sounds.
“No! No!” Joisan’s voice. “Loose me!” Rogear had Joisan! A foot stamped upon my hand, giving me a second thrust of agony so great I could not stand it, yet I must! If he had Joisan, could drag her out –
I flung out my sound arm, touched a body, embraced kicking legs, and threw the weight of my shoulder against him, bearing him under me to the floor.
“Joisan – run!” I cried. I could not fight when I could not see; I could only hold on, taking his blows, trying to keep him so she could escape.
“No!” Her voice again, and with a cold note in it that I had never heard before. “Lie you very still, my Lord.”
“Lord Amber,” she said now, “I hold a knife blade to his throat. You may loose him.”
He did indeed lie as one who would offer no more fight. I backed away a little.