Crown of Stars

He turned back to enter just as the hounds rose, stiff-legged and ears flat. First, two stewards entered and took down the two shutters. After them came a brace of guardsmen, then Captain Lukas, and finally Lady Sabella. She sat on one of the couches and examined Alain for a while without speaking. In this light, he saw that the tapestries depicted the famous battle of the Nysa River in which young King Louis, the last independent king of Varre, had met his death.



“They say,” remarked Sabella into the silence, “that no one knew whose hand struck the blow that killed Louis the Fair. In Wendar it is said he was killed by an Eika prince. But in Varre, it is said he was killed by a traitor in thrall to the Wendish king, who wanted all for himself.”



“I’ve heard that tale. I grew up by Osna Sound.”



“Within the lands overseen by the count of Lavas.”



“Yes.”



Her stare was meant to intimidate, but he accepted it placidly. The hounds grumbled very soft growls whenever she looked their way. Outside, rain hissed on the stones.



“Why have you come here? What do you want?”



“I have promised to discover the true heir to the county of Lavas.”



“Ah.” She smiled without showing her teeth. “You have heard that Lord Geoffrey betrayed me.”



Rage yipped as the door opened and half a dozen people flooded in, led by Conrad the Black. His presence filled the room. He was laughing.



“Squalling like a rooster!” he was saying to one of his companions. “Good God! What can she have been thinking, to believe the little lad was dead just like that?”



“I hope you slapped some sense into her,” said Lady Sabella.



Conrad looked at her with disgust, perhaps with loathing, and flung himself onto the other couch. He noted Alain standing with his back to the cold hearth, and then the hounds in shadow to either side. “Look at you!” he said in the tone of a man who loves and understands dogs. “What handsome creatures you are!”



Sorrow’s tail thumped once. Rage’s ears lifted, but neither hound moved one paw.



“He is the one,” said Sabella to Conrad as though Alain could not hear them. “Lavastine’s bastard.”



“Yes, yes,” he said impatiently, still admiring the hounds. “What matter to us?”



“Lord Geoffrey matters to us.”



“Ah! What benefit to us?”



“Geoffrey has betrayed us. He is sheltering Constance. There are rumors of unrest and discontent in his county in recent years. This one might provide the excuse we need.”



“I see. We ride to Lavas to restore Lavastine’s rightful heir, the man he himself proclaimed as his successor but whom Henry deposed. Tallia will protest. She was weeping and moaning and in a mad rant when I just left her.”



Sabella shrugged. “That makes no difference. She is shed of the child now. You can put her back in Bederbor, the sooner the better for my peace of mind.”



He grunted. “Your distaste for her does you no credit.”



“You like her?”



He shrugged. “I accept what is necessary. But my children will not grow up to become like her! I hope you will treat the little lad better, or I will have to take him away.”



“Do not insult me, Conrad.” Her hand tightened on a pillow, but she kept her tone cordial. “Or threaten me. Where are your daughters?”



“Admiring their new brother, since they will soon be leaving him. I admit, I have set them to guard him. I do not trust Tallia’s ravings. She says he is tainted, polluted.” He jerked his chin up to indicate Alain. “This one—what is your name?”



“I am called Alain.”



“He touched the little fellow, in the chapel. Didn’t you see it?”



“I saw it,” said Sabella. “Tallia is insane, Conrad.”



“Certainly she is weak-minded. So.” He nodded at Alain. “That child might have been yours.” He seemed about to say more but did not. He had an easy presence, dominating the room without needing to intimidate, as Sabella did. He studied Alain a while longer, and Alain watched him calmly in return. At last he grunted under his breath and nodded.



“You want Lavas County back, do you?”



“I am not the heir.”



“That need not trouble us. We can set you in the count’s seat easily enough.”



“Why would you do so? I have no retinue and no army to support you.”



“I want a loyal man in Lavas County,” said Sabella.



“Rumor is the strong driving wind that rattles the branches,” added Conrad. “They say civil war has broken Salia into a dozen warring factions. They say Henry and his favored child Sanglant have returned from Aosta and even now march on Varre to reclaim us.”