"Apparently," replied Arutha. "But it's more like a small army of mercenaries if the numbers we've encountered so far are any indication." Arutha sat again. "I want you to take Jonathan here under your wing and start setting up an information gathering network. I will not tell you how to do it, but I will caution you to pick only people who are smart enough not to be caught out working for you and loyal enough not to sell you out for a pouch of gold. I will underwrite the costs and you only have to report direct to me."

To Jonathan, Arutha said, "Tell your father you'll be working for me from time to time, but not the specifics, and tell him that if you leave your post or do not show up for your a.s.signed watch, it's at my order."

"Sire," said the young man, nodding. He ventured a slight smile. "He won't like it, but h.e.l.l do as ordered by Your Highness."

Looking at James, Arutha said, "You have your company of men, squire."

James grinned. "Now can I get something to eat and a night's sleep?"

"Yes, but in the morning I want you about your business."

As he moved toward the door, James said, "How are our guests from Olasko doing?"

Arutha said, "I'm sending the duke and his brood on a hunting trip up to the mountains. We'll be shed of them for a week or so, then we'll have one more gala and wave good-bye to them as they sail off to Durbin."

James bowed. "Highness."

As he reached the door, Arutha said, "Before I forget, be here early tomorrow. We're commissioning the cadet officers and it will be a formal morning court."

James kept his grin frozen in place, but inwardly he groaned. By the time he finished eating and bathing, that would leave less than five hours before he had to be up again.

Jonathan bowed to the Prince and followed the squire from the office. As James stood aside for a page to close the door, he said to Jonathan, "Come to the kitchen and well eat together. That way we can talk and I can steal an extra half-hour's sleep."

With a small smile, the young constable fell in beside James, and they hurried toward the kitchen.

SIX - Confusion

Trumpets sounded in the courtyard.

Arutha led his court officials to the balcony overlooking the marshaling yard. As he took his place at the very edge, Swordmaster McWirth saluted and turned to order the cadets to attention.

Arutha paused, then said, "Today you young men are being awarded your offices and spurs. You will be privileged to add the t.i.tle 'knight' to whatever rank you gain. It is an ancient t.i.tle, its origins lost in the mists of history and lore. It is held that the original band of knights were companions to one of the Kingdom's earliest rulers, a small company of those pledged to defend the crown with their lives.

"So it is with you, today. Unlike soldiers sworn to the service of their liege lord, your oath is to the crown. You are obliged to show deference to any n.o.ble of this land, and if possible to aid him when called upon, but foremost your duty lies to the King in the east, and to my office in the west."

James smiled slightly. As long as he had known Arutha, he had never known the Prince to claim personally what he felt was rightly due the office he held. Other men would have said, "To me in the west," but not Arutha.

The Prince continued. "Today, some of you will be dispatched to garrisons along the frontier, or to join households of n.o.bles who are in need of young officers to serve until their own sons are of an age to command. A few of you may rise to the rank of swordmaster in those households, or return to Krondor when those sons are grown. Others of you will be a.s.signed to the castles of the border lords, and some of you will remain in Krondor. But where you serve is of secondary importance.

"What you have chosen to do is serve the nation, and her people, no matter where you are. Never lose sight of that. You may gain rank and privileges over your life, but that rank and those privileges are not rewards. They are, rather, the means by which you may further serve the Kingdom." Arutha paused, then said, "In the war with the Tsurani, what has become known as the Riftwar, we faced a foe with whom we are now at peace. But the struggle was terrible and long, for those that faced us on the battlefield were men with honor, dedicated to service. We met them with the same dedication, and that was the salvation of our nation."

Arutha paused, then said, "I am pleased to welcome you to the service of the Kingdom, young officers."

He nodded to McWirth who said, "At the sound of your name, come forward and accept your spurs." He then called the first name, and the first cadet stepped forward. Two pages stood close by to quickly affix the spurs to the boots of each cadet. Eleven young officers were quickly sworn to service and given their ranks. William was the last of these.

To Arutha's right stood Knight-Marshal Gardan, in his last official act before resigning his office. He started issuing orders. Four of the cadets were heading north, to the border barons.

Five were being dispatched to various garrisons and households in the west. Two were to remain in Krondor. William was one of those.

James caught a slight frown from William when this was announced, and wondered at the displeasure. Krondor was the best duty station in the Western Realm, both for amenities and political advancement. It might be different in the Eastern Realm, where constant battles with pesky neighbors close to the nation's capital could bring one favor from the crown, but in the west all advancement and political favors started and ended in Krondor.

Arutha turned to James and said, "You have business in the city, I believe?"

James nodded. "Ample business. When shall I return?"

As he headed back inside to his offices, Arutha said, "When you have something important to tell me. You're no longer senior squire."

James almost stumbled. "Highness?"

Arutha turned from the courtyard and gave James a slight smile. He left the balcony and entered the palace as James followed. "No reflection on you, squire, but I've had you running around the countryside so much of late, Master de Lacy and Jerome both complain bitterly they have to make up for those tasks you're not present to undertake. So, while you're to remain my personal squire, we'll elevate someone else to the rank of senior. Besides, spending your days overseeing a squad of boys might seem a little tame after commanding a garrison."

James smiled. "Annoying is the better choice of words."

Arutha laughed, one of his rare displays of mirth. "Annoying it is. One last task, though, before you dash off. The Duke of Olasko's party leaves at first light tomorrow for their hunt. For reasons I don't understand, they've requested that Lieutenant William be a.s.signed to the guard."

James's brow furrowed. "Paulina?"

Arutha reached his desk and sat. He waved across the room to de Lacy that he should open the door and admit those waiting upon the Prince to conduct the day's business. "The Princess, yes. She is to accompany her father and the Princes on the hunt. Why?"

"She's looking for a rich or powerful husband."

"The son of a duke, in other words."

James nodded. "Though I don't think anyone has told her that the Duke Pug is a bit of an . . . odd duke by most people's standards."

"But well-connected," added Arutha.

James grinned. "Well, there is that. Still, I think I'd better spend a little time today preparing William for his duties."

Arutha looked from James to the door as the first group of supplicants was escorted in by Master de Lacy. "I don't want to know," the Prince said to James. "You know what must be done, so go do it."

"Yes, sire," said James as left the Prince's offices. He hurried to the marshaling yard, intent on catching McWirth and William before the newly commissioned Lieutenant was a.s.signed a patrol down to the Vale of Dreams or through the bandit-infested scrub gra.s.s and woodlands between Krondor and Land's End. Then he would go hunt up young Jonathan Means and start building his network of agents.

James found William in the Cadets' Quarters, clearing out his gear from the small footlocker that had been the repository of his entire wardrobe and other personal belongings for the last six months. McWirth was overseeing the departure of the newly named knights, and his manner was changed. He looked upon the young men as a father would upon his children, thought James. Then he realized that in a few weeks another company of n.o.ble sons, ranking Kingdom officers and a few promising young soldiers would come to Krondor and once again the old soldier would be a tyrant who could never be pleased.

William looked up and before James could speak, he said, "Krondor! Why?"

James said, "I have no idea, but any other man in your position would be doing handsprings of joy. Here's where careers are made, Will."

William looked as if he was about to say something, but he held silent for a moment. "I have to move this over to the armory."

James knew that's where young bachelor officers had small, private quarters. "I'll give you a hand."

William nodded, his expression still dark. It would have taken him only two trips to carry all his personal belongings to the armory, but he welcomed the help. William strapped on his sword, which was the only item used in training he would take with him, and picked up a bundle of clothing, which he handed to James. He then picked up a second bundle with two pair of boots, a great cloak, and two books, and nodded to James to lead on.

James turned and walked to the door, pa.s.sing Swordmaster McWirth. As William reached the door he paused and said, "Swordmaster?"

McWirth said, "Yes, lieutenant?" His voice was calm and even.

James turned and saw William's surprised expression and realized that it hadn't sunk in yet that he was now an officer and McWirth wasn't going to be yelling at him any more. William hesitated and then said, "I just wished to thank you for all you've taught me. I hope I'll not disappoint you in the future."

McWirth smiled and said, "Son, if there had been the slimmest chance of you disappointing me in the future, you never would have been awarded those spurs." He pointed to William's boots where two new silver spurs adorned his heels. "You'll do fine. Now, hurry up and get your things over to the armory before the other lieutenants see you hauling your own kit in and start giving you grief over not having one of the pages or soldiers carry it over for you."

James stood motionless for a moment, then laughed. Suddenly William realized that as a knight-lieutenant in the garrison, he could have ordered a page or one of the soldiers to fetch his kit for him. Then McWirth turned to James and said, "Or you, squire, about being William's dog-robber. Get along now, the two of you."

"Yes, swordmaster," said James.

William hurried along. "Where did that term come from?"

"From what I hear, in ancient times knights weren't so prosperous and their squires had to be clever in where they got their next meal for their masters."

William grinned. "Should I make you my squire, squire?"

James returned the grin with a mock frown. "I'd pay a gold sovereign to see you accomplish that trick, sire" he said, sarcastically. "If you're certain you wish a personal squire, I can see if one of the less gifted pages would consider a career with almost no opportunity for advancement. And I'd be interested to see where you get the funds to pay him."

They reached the armory and hurried though the large doors, past racks of swords, shields, pole arms, and other weapons. In the rear of the armory they could hear the noises from the smith as he repaired weapons blunted by soldiers in practice. They reached the stairs at the rear of the building and climbed them to the upper floor. William put down his clothing on the floor and looked around. "That room looks unoccupied," he said, pointing to an open door.

James said, "I'll save you a drubbing. You're supposed to wait for the most senior bachelor knight to a.s.sign you a room." He pointed to the apparently empty room. "That room is almost certain to belong to Captain Treggar."

William grimaced. Captain Treggar was a humorless young man who according to gossip must have been an exceptional soldier to have hung on to his post despite being a bully and p.r.o.ne to petty rages. He also was considered to be unusually clever to have lasted as long as he had at the garrison with Gardan in charge of the military.

A few minutes later newly appointed Knight-Lieutenant Gordon O'Donald, youngest son of the Earl of Mallow Haven, topped the stairs, carrying his bundle. "Free room?" he asked.

William said, "We wait for Treggar."

Gordon dumped his kit right where he stood. "And isn't that the end to a perfect day." His voice carried a hint of the lilt common to the Kennararch people from the foothills of the Peaks of Tranquility. He was a broad-shouldered young man, slightly taller than William and James, with sandy blond hair and blue eyes. His complexion was fair, so he was constantly sunburned and freckled.

William said, "You both seem a little sour for having just received the best post in the west."

"The west," echoed Gordon. "My father, I'm betting, asked the Prince to keep me here and out of trouble. My brothers were both killed in war, Malcolm at the fight with the Tsurani at the end of the Riftwar, the one up in the Gray Tower Mountains, and Patrick at Sethanon. I'm the youngest, and Father is trying to keep me alive until I inherit."

"Staying alive is a worthy undertaking," said James with mock gravity.

"Well and good for those of you born here, squire, but a man gets little chance for promotion in the west."

James frowned. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're going to be an earl some day. Why would you worry about promotion?"

Gordon said, "We're a little earldom at Mallow Haven, and battlefield honors count for much in the east. You've got your goblins and Brothers of the Dark Path and all out here, but in the east we're constantly bagging away at the Eastern Kingdoms or Kesh. Advancement is fast, and you need all the advantages you can when arranging state marriages."

James and William looked at each other and grinned. In unison they said, "It's a girl!"

James said to Gordon, "Who is she?"

Gordon's sunburned face couldn't hide the blush as he said, "My Lord of Deep Taunton's daughter, Rebecca. She's the daughter of a duke, and if I have a prayer of winning her, I must return home with enough glory around my shoulders to blind the king."

James shrugged. "Well, it may have been once true that you couldn't find a decent war in the west, but that's not been true since I've been in Krondor."

William said, "At least you're in the best place in the west for advancement."

Footsteps could be heard from below as a dozen pair of heavy boots walked toward the door. "Pick up your gear," suggested James.

A moment later a dark head appeared, followed by a broad pair of shoulders as Knight-Captain Treggar plodded up the stairs. He was followed by the other unmarried knights. When he saw the two new lieutenants waiting for him, he frowned. When he saw James, his expression turned to one of open distaste. "What's this, then?" he asked.

William said, "Waiting to be a.s.signed rooms, captain."

The other lieutenants continued to come up the stairs until the hall was full. Several whispered and a couple shrugged. James recognized they were waiting for Treggar to act. The expected hazing of the newly-appointed knights wasn't proceeding as planned.

Treggar was about to speak, when James said, "The Prince is anxious to get Knight-Lieutenant William settled in, as he has a special mission for him."

Whatever Treggar was about to say went unsaid. Instead he pointed and said, "End of the hall. We're short of rooms, so you two will have to double up until someone marries or is rea.s.signed."

"Yes, captain," said Gordon, moving through the press of officers.

William said, "Thank you, captain," and followed.

James said, "I'll wait for you here, lieutenant."

"Off your usual beaten path, aren't you squire? I hear that you're far more often found in the sewers than the palace," observed Treggar.

James stared at the captain for a moment. He had deep, dark eyes, and there was nothing but anger and contempt in his gaze. His heavy brow always seemed knit in concentration except when he was on public display before the Knight-Marshal or the Prince. It was rumored that more than one younger officer and dozens of the palace garrison had been invited out to a beating after nightfall for displeasing Treggar. At last, in a pleasant voice, James said, "I go wherever my Prince requires." He was tempted to challenge Treggar, but years of dealing with bullies as a boy told James this wasn't a fight he could win. Embarra.s.sing the captain in front of the other young officers would turn dislike into hatred, and whatever else he might be, Treggar was an important member of the palace garrison. Besides, he would most likely take out any slight, imagined or otherwise, on Gordon and William.

Seeing that whatever fun planned for the new officers was not going to happen, the other officers drifted off to their own rooms or down the stairs to their duty stations. After a moment, Gordon and William appeared.

William looked at James. "What's the mission, James?"

Treggar turned and snarled, "When you address a member of the court, lieutenant, you will use his t.i.tle." He paused, then added, "No matter who he might be."

William said, "Yes, captain." To James he said, "What's the mission, squire?"

James said, "You're to take an escort of a dozen men and accompany His Highness's guests on a hunting trip. Report to the huntmaster with the escort an hour before dawn."

"Yes, squire."

Looking at Treggar, James said, "Come see me before you retire tonight, lieutenant. I may have some last-minute instructions for you."

William said, "Yes, squire."

James turned and departed quickly. He knew nothing would be gained by lingering, save to contribute to Treggar's foul mood. He would likely find something for William to do before nightfall that would either embarra.s.s or somehow punish the young man for robbing Treggar of his fun. James knew bullies. Eventually William and Gordon would have to come to their own terms with Treggar.