Dave Duncan - Tales of King's Blades 2 by Lord of The Fire

Author:Lord of The Fire [Fire, Lord of The]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-01-26T05:06:00.766000+00:00

triangle. Today some stools had been placed in

the center for the Chivian emissaries. Dad

rarely acted as his own moot reeve. If there was

anything serious to be discussed, he would appoint

someone else to keep order while he took his

place among the other earls. They liked that, he

said, and since he was now the longest-reigning of the

northern group, his seniority put him next to the

throne anyway. Cnihtas and pages trotted

around the outside, carrying messages. Tanists,

wives, sons, and other spectators sat or

stood wherever they could find room at the far side

of the hearths.

It took a long time for everyone to assemble and

find correct places. There were open mutters of

disapproval when Uncle Cynewulf took the

throne. Dad's most frequent choice for moot

reeve was Chancellor Ceolmund, his

predecessor as earl. Although the old man's

back was so bent now that small boys

followed him in the streets shouting insults, his

wits and honesty were widely respected. Perhaps

Dad thought Ceolmund would have enough to do in the

negotiating to come, or perhaps he was showing his

support for his tanist. Uncle Cynewulf was

little respected, because he had only gone on one

foering in his whole life; now his age and

potbelly and bulging red nose did not fit the

picture of a Baelish thegn. His only

qualification was being the earl's brother. Wulfwer

looked mightily pleased to see his father take the

chair, because there was open talk around Waroèdburh

that it was time to find a new tanist. The most

talked-about alternative was Brimbearn

Eadricing, who was probably the best ship lord of

them all--after Dad, of course--and also a

Cattering, albeit on a very minor branch, one

not considered royal. Radgar liked Brimbearn

and would not mind him holding the office until he was

ready to take it over himself.

He had managed to avoid close contact with

Mom, merely waving to her from the far side of the

hall so she would know he was alive. The rest of the

time his bad-tempered, bloodshot bodyguard

clustered around to keep him from public view lest

anyone report back to the Queen that her son was

a walking corpse. He wanted only to go back

and die quietly in his bed, but they found him a

stool and closed in on him like battlements. He

settled for that, leaning against Hengest's bulk and

paying very little attention to the proceedings.

A herald called for silence and eventually got

it.

The moot reeve informed His Majesty that the

witenagemot of Baelmark had answered his

summons, as if he were blind and could not see that for

himself.

Dad rose and explained to the assembly that the

King of Chivial, having realized that his nation had

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