The Prince of Krondor was the fastest swordsman William had ever seen, and the demon was not even close to reaching him.

William joined in with the others, worrying the creature's flank as he sought to close with the nimble monarch.

Across the stable floor the b.l.o.o.d.y dance moved, until the creature was on the verge of entering the light of day. It hesitated, turning to snarl at those on its right, and William took a step back. Then the creature, now clearly weakened, took another step into the light, seeking to close with Arutha.

William's arms and shoulders were starting to knot with fatigue, but still he forced himself to hack away at the creature's flanks. The demon's sides and back were a ma.s.s of shredded flesh. The fur upon its goat-legs was thickly matted with blood, and they trembled with every step.

If anything, Arutha appeared to get faster as the demon slowed. His blade flicked in and out, bringing agony to the demon with each thrust.

Finally the demon staggered a step, then fell.

Without hesitation, Arutha stepped forward and drove his sword deep into the creature's neck where it joined the shoulder. He pushed hard, plunging the blade halfway to the crossguard, then pulling it free.

With a moan, the creature thrashed, and after a while went still. Smoking blood dripped from Arutha's blade, and a small flame erupted at the demon's neck wound. The soldiers who were now surrounding the demon stepped back as the flame spread rapidly, a green blaze that filled the air with the stench of decaying flesh and burning sulfur.

Most of the men were coughing and a few were retching, but within moments the demon was gone, leaving only a blackened outline of its form on the ground, and a foul stench hanging in the air.

The Prince's attending page ran up, ready to do his lord's bidding. Arutha opened up the bag on the page's hip and withdrew a wad of bandages. He wiped off the blade, and where the demon's blood touched the fabric, it blackened and smoked. In a conversational tone, Arutha said, "Tell the men to be careful cleaning off the demon's blood, lieutenant."

"Sire!" answered William; but every man present had seen the Prince's actions.

Then Arutha said, "Well, I've seen worse messes, but not many and not by much." He looked around the group of soldiers standing ready and said, "Captain Treggar."

"Sire!" Treggar stepped forward.

"Well done, captain. Now, pa.s.s the word. We've got plenty of work ahead of us. I want squads in the hills in all directions looking for any a.s.sa.s.sins who weren't caught up in this carnage."

"Yes, Highness," said Treggar, turning to give instructions.

"Lieutenant," said Arutha.

"Highness," William answered.

"I can't fault your bravery, but if I ever see you doing something as stupid as running back into that stable again I'll have you standing guard over the Princesses' laundry until you retire. We had dozens of men in full armor, and you were wearing none. Not a very bright thing to do, lieutenant."

Blushing under the grime and blood, William said, "Sorry, Highness."

Arutha gave him a faint smile. "We all make mistakes. We learn from them . . . if we survive them."

Glancing around, William said, "I could do without another such as this."

Arutha put his hand on William's shoulder. "I was not yet a year into my rule of Krondor when I faced my first demon. That victory did not truly prepare me for this fight. Just as this fight will never truly prepare you for the next." Softly, so that William alone could hear, he added, "You're never ready, Will. You just make it up as you go. All your best plans fall apart the moment combat starts. The good general is the one who knows how to improvise and how to keep his men alive." Raising his voice he said, "Do you understand, lieutenant?"

"I think I understand, Highness."

"Good. Now, let's see what we can find inside." As Treggar sent out the hors.e.m.e.n to scour the surrounding hills, Arutha signaled for a dozen men to accompany William and himself as they searched the fortress.

As they walked into the b.l.o.o.d.y stable, William said, "James should be here. He's the one who explored most of this place."

Arutha smiled. "If I'm any judge, James is sleeping soundly now and he's earned every moment of slumber he can steal."

William nodded. "He was looking ill-used."

"As my old horsemaster at Crydee used to say, 'ridden hard and put away wet.'"

William laughed. 'That would be Algon, sire?"

Arutha's eyebrow rose in question.

"Father used to tell us stories of his boyhood in Crydee from time to time, and I've heard more than one quote attributed to his teachers. Kulgan supplied a few of the more humorous ones."

Arutha glanced around. "No doubt." He remembered the acid sense of humor the old magician could employ at precisely the moment guaranteed to cause the subject the most embarra.s.sment.

They entered the old armory and William again felt as though he would lose the contents of his stomach. Several soldiers did vomit at the carnage.

Here the demon had done most of its damage. Arutha whispered, "Black-hearted murderers they were, but no man deserves this."

He didn't avert his gaze, rather he studied the carnage, as if to fix it in his mind. Blood had been splattered over nearly every exposed surface. Bodies had been torn asunder. Every conceivable organ was on display, drawing clouds of flies as the sick-sweet smell of rot began to cloy the air.

"When we are done here, I want this place scourged by fire," said the Prince softly.

William nodded, and turned to two of the men. "Ride and find whatever wood you can." To two others he said, "There are jars of oil in rooms to the south; find them and bring them here."

Arutha spied the large tome the high priest had cast aside at the moment of his death and motioned for it to be brought to him.

A soldier complied and Arutha examined it. "What dark words are written here someone else will have to say."

"Highness, may I?" asked William.

Arutha handed over the book. "I am no pract.i.tioner of magic, sire, but I was a student." William gave Arutha a half-smile. "As you know better than most," he added softly, again embarra.s.sed.

William read only a few lines, then he slammed the book shut. "I don't know this language, but even so, these writings speak of power." He said, "It chilled me even to look at the words. This is a matter for a priest, I think. For safety's sake, Highness, don't let anyone read it until wards have been placed around it."

Arutha nodded. He handed the book to a soldier and said, "In the saddle-bag on my horse. Guard it."

The soldier saluted and carried the book away. Looking at William, Arutha said, "This more than anything gives weight to my decision to revive the office of court magician. If our new magician was here, what would she say, do you think?"

A spectrum of emotions pa.s.sed quickly over William's features as he considered a response to the Prince's question. He fought the impulse to say something acid about Jazhara or to feign ignorance of her competence. But at last, as men spread out to search the area, William said, "I can only guess, Highness. But I know she would be able to tell us much about what has occurred here. She . . ." He hesitated, then said, "She is an exceptional student of the arts and is well-versed in lore."

"Then doubly I wish she were here, today," said Arutha.

They traveled through a hallway to what appeared to be sleeping quarters. Men went quickly through the rooms, emerging with several leather-bound books. Arutha ordered these also be carried back to Krondor.

They reached the last room at the end of a short hallway, wherein two soldiers were rifling a wooden chest. Nearby, another chest sat unopened, and as Arutha entered a soldier said, "There is a seal upon that one, Highness, and I thought it best not to tamper with it."

"You did well," said Arutha. "Bring it to Krondor and we'll have an expert examine it."

From behind them a voice said, "Why go to Krondor when you have an expert here, Highness?"

They turned to find James standing at the door, hand upon the jamb. He held up a fine-looking pair of boots. "I wasn't leaving without them," he said.

"Are you well enough to be here?" asked the Prince.

"I'm here, aren't I?" answered James with a shrugand a weak attempt at bravado. "You didn't expect me to sleep with all that noise the demon was making while you were killing it, did you?"

Arutha smiled and shook his head slightly. "Tell me what you can about that chest."

James dropped to his knees and looked closely at the seal and lock. After a few moments of inspecting hinges, iron bands and sides, he said, "I can tell you it is a very good idea to take it back to Krondor. After a priest makes sure nothing particularly nasty will happen when that seal is broken, I'll pick the lock. My tools are back in my apartment in the palace, sire."

One of the soldiers who had been searching the open trunk held out a parchment, and said, "Sire, I think you should read this."

Arutha glanced at the doc.u.ment and said, "Do you know what this is?"

The soldier said, "Highness, I speak and read three Keshian tongues as well as the King's Tongue. This writing is akin to a desert tribe's language, yet not close enough that I can read it. But I do recognize a word here, Highness."

William restrained his curiosity, but James presumed to read over the Prince's shoulder. "What is it, sire?"

Softly, Arutha said, "It's a name: Radswil of Olasko." Turning quickly, he added, "William, stay and search every room. Ensure that every doc.u.ment you find here is brought back to the palace. James, you're with me. We leave at once for Krondor."

William snapped out orders and men started running.

Despite his calm demeanor and even pace, no man in the room could miss the urgency radiated by the Prince of Krondor.

William watched as Arutha and James vanished down the hall, and then turned to conduct the final search of this foul nest. Already men were returning with firewood and oil, and when it came time to leave, William was glad he would be the one to put the torch to this place.

Coming out of his momentary reverie, William hurried to begin as thorough a search as if Arutha himself were remaining to oversee it.

SEVENTEEN - Misdirection

Wind whipped the standards.

After leaving the fortress, they had pushed hard and ridden the horses to the edge of exhaustion to reach the closest Kingdom garrison, six days' travel instead of eight. Arutha pointed to the small fortress on the sh.o.r.e of Shandon Bay. Dust blew across the hills and the horses stamped impatiently, sensing that fresh water and food were not too far away.

James said, "Looks like we've got company." He had slowly recovered while riding, and though he was not as hale as he would have been with bed-rest, most of his injuries were healing. He was still sore in more places than he cared to count, but he had sustained no permanent damage.

Arutha said, "Apparently."

When Arutha had sailed from Krondor to this base at the south end of Shandon Bay, he had ordered the ship to wait for the return voyage. Three other ships now sat at anchor off the tiny wharf.

James laughed. "That's Amos's ship, isn't it?"

"The Royal Leopard Royal Leopard, yes," answered Arutha. "And The Royal Adder Royal Adder and The and The Royal Hind Royal Hind It's the better part of his squadron." It's the better part of his squadron."

As they rode into the fortification, the local garrison had turned out and was waiting at attention. The captain in charge had prepared a reception, but Arutha had no time. He dismounted and walked over to greet the burly man who stood next to the captain.

"Amos," said Arutha, "by what chance of fate do we find the Admiral of the Western Fleet waiting on our convenience?"

Amos Trask's gray-shot black beard split with a grin. His eyes had a merry glint, one that both Arutha and James knew never left him-even in battle-and he answered in his usual booming voice. "I always make a sweep of this bay when I come south. I find that Keshian smugglers and the odd pirate waiting to ambush traders like to hide in the lees of the north sh.o.r.e if the weather's nasty. I was making my usual rounds of the area when I spied The Royal Falcon Royal Falcon there-" he pointed to the ship anch.o.r.ed near the wharf"-flying the royal household banner. So I asked myself, 'What's Arutha doing in this forlorn corner of the Kingdom?' and I hove to and waited to find out." there-" he pointed to the ship anch.o.r.ed near the wharf"-flying the royal household banner. So I asked myself, 'What's Arutha doing in this forlorn corner of the Kingdom?' and I hove to and waited to find out."

Arutha said, "Well, as you have the faster ship, well be transferring my personal belongings to the Leopard Leopard."

Amos grinned. "Already done."

"How soon can we leave?"

"Within the hour," said Amos. "If you wish to rest a bit, in the morning."

To the captain of the garrison, Arutha said: "Thank you for preparing the welcome, captain, but matters of state require my rapid return to Krondor." To Captain Treggar he said: "Rest the men and horses for a day, then as soon as the baggage train catches up to us-"

"Again," added James under his breath. Arutha had intercepted his own baggage train along the way and had ordered it turned around as he had sped past.

"-board the Falcon Falcon."

"Understood, Highness," said Treggar.

William and his squad had caught up with Arutha late the second day after leaving the fortress, carrying a large number of doc.u.ments and a few items believed to have magical properties.

Arutha said, "Lieutenant, bring along what you've found and sail back with me." He turned to Amos. "We leave now."

Amos stepped aside to make way for the Prince. "I antic.i.p.ated your order, Arutha, so we weigh anchor as soon as you're aboard."

Arutha signaled and his horse was brought over. He retrieved the saddle-bag containing the books and papers taken from the a.s.sa.s.sins, and handed them to William, who was carrying a similar bag filled with parchments and books. Arutha then led the way to the water's edge where a longboat waited to row them out to the admiral's ship.

Arutha, William, and James boarded, followed by Amos. Sailors and soldiers shoved the boat out into the calm waters of the bay.

Within an hour they were aboard and the three ships were in full sail, departing on the evening tide. Arutha and James took the admiral's cabin; Amos bunked in with the First Officer, William with a junior officer. By the time James had unpacked, a knock on the cabin door announced the arrival of the admiral.

Amos sat down at his own table, and said, "I've sent for a little supper." Glancing at James he added, "Jimmy, me lad, I've seen you battered and bruised before, but this looks like a personal best. Good story?"

James nodded. "Better than most."

Arutha smiled at his old friend. "Glad I am to see you, and for more than the fast voyage."

Another knock came to the door and William appeared. "Highness," he said in greeting. "Admiral."

Amos said, "I know you. You're Pug's son. Haven't seen you in, what? Ten years?"

William blushed a little and said, "Something like that, sir."

"Well pull up a seat and rest yourself. Supper should-" He was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Enter!" he bellowed. The door opened and a pair of sailors appeared with food and drink. After they had served the meal, they departed. Amos took a long pull on a flagon of wine and said, "So, then, what's the story?"

Arutha outlined all that had happened, from the seemingly unconnected murders in Krondor right up to the raid on the Nighthawks' lair.