Cale did not bother to read the rest.

"She is lying!" Tamlin sputtered. "Lying!"

Abelar nodded. "It is all a lie. My father did not murder the Overmaster, yet Mirabeta has condemned him to the Hole of Yhaunn." Uncomfortable glances pa.s.sed between the men from Saerb at that news.

Abelar continued, "Selgaunt and Saerb did not attack the Saerloonians, yet we are named traitors to the nation. The truth no longer matters. The people and the n.o.bility believe the lie because they prefer where it leads. Mirabeta has made you, and Saerb, the enemy that she will use to secure her rule."

"I will not have it," Tamlin said, shaking his head. "Sembia will not have it."

"It is already done, my lord," Abelar said. "Most of the n.o.bility in the realm are behind her. Only Daerlun stands neutral, but that's only because it contemplates secession to Cormyr. Mirabeta has won the rest with promises, fear, and false patriotism. Already she has sounded a muster in Ordulin and Saerloon, and troops from all over Sembia are gathering. Come spring, Selgaunt and Saerb will be a.s.saulted by her two armies. You have two options. You can accept her lies and go meekly to the gallows or you can fight. There is no other way."

"Fight?" Tamlin said. "Fight other Sembians?"

"Civil war, my lord," Abelar said, nodding. "It is already upon us though the armies have not yet met."

Tamlin was flushed, sweating. The combat and the news from the capital left him foundering.

"I need time to think," Tamlin said, rubbing his temples. "This is ... unbelievable."

Cale stepped to Tamlin's side, prepared to steady him by his presence if not his arm. "Where are you camped, Abelar?"

Abelar regarded Cale coolly. "Not far from here." He turned to his men. "Regg, have the men a.s.sist the Selgauntans in gathering their dead. Then we ride for the camp."

The Selgauntans, aided by the Saerbians, set about collecting their fallen. Afterward, the entire force rode south for the Saerbian camp. Tamlin, Cale, and Abelar trailed the main body.

"You spoke of civil war, yet you ride far east of your home to rescue us?" Cale said to Abelar.

Abelar looked at Tamlin as he answered. "I needed to ensure the safety and loyalty of the leader of my only sure ally. I have done the former. I hope I have done the latter?"

Tamlin nodded absently. Abelar glanced at Cale, then back to Tamlin.

"You keep unusual company, Lord Uskevren," he said.

Tamlin took his point. "Mister Cale is a trusted advisor and ... priest."

"Oh?" Abelar said, eyebrows raised. "Whom do you serve, Erevis Cale?"

"Yes, whom do you serve, Mister Cale?" Tamlin asked.

Cale came within a blade's width of punching Tamlin in the face. Had Tamlin not been Thamalon's son, had Cale not figured Magadon's fate to be tied up in Sembia's, he would have left Tamlin to his own counsel then and there.

He looked Tamlin in the eyes, then Abelar. He took the mask from his pocket and held it up for both of them to see. "I serve Mask the Shadowlord. I have for over two years." Tamlin looked shocked. Abelar frowned. Cale glared first at Tamlin then at Abelar. "I can read your face, Corrinthal. Say what you would."

Tamlin, perhaps thinking better of his verbal ambush, said, "Mister Cale has proven his worth to my father and to me countless times, Abelar. His loyalty is beyond question, irrespective of the G.o.d he serves."

Abelar held Cale's gaze throughout Tamlin's defense. Cale credited him for not faltering. If nothing else, he recognized Abelar as a man he could respect.

Abelar said, "I judge men by their deeds, Cale. Not their G.o.ds and not their blood." He looked at Cale's skin as if he could see Cale was not a mere man. "But Lathander has empowered me to look in men's souls, and there is darkness in you. It is apparent to anyone who can see."

Cale knew the words to be true but was too angry to acknowledge them aloud. "There is a darkness in every man, Corrinthal," he answered. "And I, too, judge men by their deeds. That holy symbol you wear carries no weight with me."

They stared at each other a moment longer. Finally Abelar nodded. "Well enough," he said.

"Well enough," Cale answered.

When they arrived at the Saerbian camp, Tamlin, Cale, and Abelar took counsel in private around the fire, amidst the Saerbian tents. The house guards and Saerbians a.s.signed men to a watch and the rest prepared for sleep.

Tamlin looked from Cale to Abelar. The firelight highlighted the circles under his eyes.

"If we fight ..." he eyed Abelar, "... and I say 'if,' because even if I agree with your course, I do not have plenary authority to send Selgaunt to war. The Old Chauncel must ratify any such decision."

Abelar said "They will fight. An army will arrive at your walls. They will fight or die."

Tamlin sighed, continued. "Who else can we count on as an ally?"

Abelar leaned back and shook his head. "No one. The n.o.bles have either sided with Ordulin or are trying to stay neutral until the storm blows over."

Cale found Abelar's choice of words ominous. Abelar continued. "Even the n.o.bles in and around Saerb have lost their nerve. My father could rally them, but he is in the Hole of Yhaunn-and I am not him." He looked at Tamlin steadily. "I have two hundred and eleven men in this company. Another two hundred, perhaps three, would rally to me back in Saerb. That, combined with your forces, is all that stands against Mirabeta."

Tamlin shook his head. "You have four hundred men? Five hundred at best? Mirabeta will have thousands. I can muster perhaps two thousand men, not many more, a.s.suming all the Old Chauncel agree that war is the only course."

"It is the only course," Abelar affirmed, and Cale found himself in agreement.

"How do we know that?" Tamlin asked, still grasping. "Perhaps Daerlun has the right of it. We stand by peacefully and let events unfold."

Before Abelar could reply, Cale said, "My lord, you read the proclamation. Mirabeta has declared Selgaunt and Saerb enemies of Sembia. If Abelar speaks truth, most of the n.o.bility appear prepared to back her play."

"I always speak truth," Abelar said to Cale.

"We will see," Cale countered.

Abelar said to Tamlin, "Mirabeta Selkirk does not want war. She needs needs it. It is the pretense for her to seize and hold power. I have looked in her eyes, Hulorn, seen into her soul. Nothing else matters to her. And her plotting is furthered by her niece, Elyril Hraven, and that one serves a dark patron. There is more afoot here than a mere grab for power by Mirabeta Selkirk." it. It is the pretense for her to seize and hold power. I have looked in her eyes, Hulorn, seen into her soul. Nothing else matters to her. And her plotting is furthered by her niece, Elyril Hraven, and that one serves a dark patron. There is more afoot here than a mere grab for power by Mirabeta Selkirk."

Cale agreed but kept his thoughts to himself. It all leads back to Magadon It all leads back to Magadon, the Shadowlord had told him. But you will not like where it leads But you will not like where it leads.

Abelar continued. "If we stand idle, we will hang as traitors. There will be no peace before there is war. Mirabeta cannot allow it."

Abelar's words weighed on all three men. They sat in silence for a time.

"What of Cormyr, or the elves of Cormanthyr?" Cale asked.

"No doubt both would be pleased to see Sembians fighting Sembians," Abelar said. "Perhaps one or the other would enter the war at some point, but not until the murk clears."

"I will send out envoys nevertheless," said Tamlin. "We need allies from somewhere."

"Aye," Abelar said. "That we do, unless Sembia is to fall under the rule of Mirabeta and whatever dark G.o.d she serves." He brightened. "In the meanwhile, we have one another, and Lathander."

And Mask, Cale thought, but did not say.

The next morning, a mounted force out of Selgaunt rode into the Saerbian camp and informed them that they were in danger of attack. Cale almost laughed.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

6 Uktar, the Year of Lightning Storms.

The next day, Abelar, Cale, Tamlin, and the combined force of Selgauntans and Saerbians rode quickly for Selgaunt. The sun stole Cale's shadowhand. Cale did not bother to hide it and Abelar noticed.

Cale looked him in the face and said, "I am a shade, Corrinthal."

He offered no further explanation. Abelar stared at him for a time, then said, "Lathander and Mask, light and shadow. War sometimes makes odd allies."

Cale looked at Abelar. "That it does. Let's find a few more and send Mirabeta to the gallows in our stead."

"Indeed," Abelar said grimly. "And her niece."

The journey to Selgaunt was somber but uneventful. Cale stayed near Tamlin but they spoke little.

"Mister Cale," Tamlin said to him as they neared the High Bridge. "I wish another were Hulorn."

Cale understood the feeling and appreciated that Tamlin had confided it to him. He'd had similar thoughts after becoming a Chosen of Mask.

"Responsibility is heavy, my lord. You will bear it."

"You must," Abelar said. "Or Sembia will fall to darkness."

Tamlin made a dismissive gesture. "You are seeing events through the lens of your religion, Abelar. This is not a battle between good and evil. This is politics. Nothing more and nothing less."

"You are mistaken," Abelar said with a soft smile, but left it at that.

Cale suspected that Abelar was nearer the truth than Tamlin, but did not say so.

Abelar reined in his mount near the monumental arch that spanned the Elzimmer. "This is as far as we go, Hulorn," Abelar said to Tamlin.

"What? No. You must enter the city with me. Your forces will join ours."

Abelar shook his head. "I am doing all I can to rally men to our cause, Hulorn. The n.o.bility may stand with Mirabeta or cower, but individual men will join us. We need all we can get. I will return to Selgaunt or send word within two tendays. Mirabeta will not start her war in winter. We have until spring to recruit men to our cause. After that, there will be blood."

He clasped Tamlin's hand, then Cale's. He held Cale's longer.

"I would have thought you and I more likely to cross blades than raise them together. I am ... pleased it is otherwise. Let it stay that way, eh?"

"Agreed," Cale answered.

They parted, Abelar to raise as many men as he could to stand against Mirabeta, Cale and Tamlin to muster Selgaunt's forces and prepare a defense.

"We must send for your mother, Thazienne, and Talbot," Cale said.

Tamlin nodded. Both of them knew it was safer to be in the city than outside of it.

[image]

Elyril watched from her position along the wall of the High Council Chamber as her aunt made her way through the crowd to the Speaker's dais. She wore a flattering but unpretentious green daygown. Elyril wore a violet gown, her amethysts, and her holy symbol The council chamber was filled. The open doors revealed more n.o.bles and their servants and wallmen packing the surrounding halls. Sunshine poured in through the domed ceiling, glittering off the dragon's h.o.a.rd of finery and jewels. Almost all of Sembia's n.o.bility was represented, either in person or by proxy. Much of the western n.o.bility had sent word of allegiance to Ordulin and support of the overmistress. Only the n.o.bility of Saerb, Selgaunt, and secessionist Daerlun were unrepresented, but they did not matter. Saerb, traitors in kind with Selgaunt, answered to Endren Corrinthal, and Endren Corrinthal was rotting in the Hole of Yhaunn.

Advocates for granting Mirabeta plenary power as Sembia's war regent had already spoken. No one had risen in opposition. All that remained was for Mirabeta to accept.

As Mirabeta ascended the steps of the Speaker's dais, the chamber hushed and Elyril silently thanked Shar. Only a few stray coughs broke the silence.

Mirabeta did not smile. She looked grim, as befitted the circ.u.mstances.

"You offer me a great honor, and great responsibility. My inclination is to turn it down. Sembia has not had a war regent in centuries."

Conversation rushed across the chamber, speculation that Mirabeta would refuse to serve. Elyril knew better.

"But I have recently received word that Abelar Corrinthal rides the countryside, rallying traitors to his standard, and terrorizing ordinary Sembians."

Elyril knew most of the words to be lies. Abelar was raising a force of riders in the northwest, but he had terrorized no one.

"I have also received word that Selgaunt is raising an army to withstand the will of this body. It does not please me, but if Selgaunt and Saerb wish war, then war they shall have. We refuse to let Sembia fall into the hands of traitors and thugs."

The chamber erupted into applause. Mirabeta nodded and waited for it to die down.

"Under these dark circ.u.mstances, in these dark days, I feel dutybound not not to follow my inclinations. Accordingly, I hereby accept this august body's directive to act as War Regent of the realm throughout the term of the insurrection." to follow my inclinations. Accordingly, I hereby accept this august body's directive to act as War Regent of the realm throughout the term of the insurrection."

Several hundred of Sembia's merchant n.o.bility rose to their feet as one and fairly rattled the dome with their cheers.

[image]

The next days became a blur to Cale. Tamlin met with the Old Chauncel a.s.sembly, with individual members of the Old Chauncel, with high priests and powerful wizards. He sent out word of a muster, dispatched envoys to Cormyr and Cormanthyr. Peaceful overtures to Ordulin went unanswered. It seemed Abelar was correct-Mirabeta would have her war. They expected no aid but sought it nevertheless.

Agents were sent abroad as far as Baldur's Gate, Ravens Bluff, and Arrabar, seeking to hire mercenary companies. Selgaunt's treasury was no match for Ordulin's, but it was a wealthy city nevertheless. Surely some swords would answer the call of coin.

Such events turned Cale's shadowy past as a guild "letters man" into a valuable a.s.set to the Hulorn, who used Cale and Vees Talendar to help him compose the constant stream of orders and proclamations that went forth from the palace.

Everyone in the city soon realized that war was imminent, that the matter could not be peaceably resolved. Some Helms abandoned their posts to join with the forces marshalling in Saerloon, and others arrived in Selgaunt seeking to join against Ordulin. The brewing civil war provided an excuse to bring long-buried regional and familial rivalries to the fore. Many in Sembia had long been jealous of Selgaunt's prominence.

Tamlin declared martial law and posted Helms and Scepters at the gates and along the walls. Trade came to a standstill. Everyone entering and leaving the city was questioned and checked. Repair crews worked on long-ignored defensive bulwarks. Captain Onthul and the Helms drilled and re-drilled the soldiers. All ships of the Sembian navy in Selgaunt Bay were pressed into service.

"It is not enough," Tamlin said to Vees and Cale as they sat in the parlor in Stormweather.

"No," Vees said. "It is not."