Arutha wiped the perspiration off his brow with a towel and said, “Don’t stand there waiting for me to guess. What?”
“News came this morning,” said Hull. “Guy is returning to Krondor.”
“Why?” asked Anita.
Amos said, “It seems our Lord of Bas-Tyra rode into Shamata and ran his banner up above the walls. The Keshian commander had the good grace to mount one more attack, for the sake of form, then nearly gave himself a ruptured gut racing back home. He left a handful of minor nobles haggling with Guy’s lieutenants over the conditions of armistice until a formal treaty can be drawn up between the King and the Keshian Empress. There’s only one reason Guy can be hurrying back here.”
Quietly Anita said, “He knows I’ve escaped.”
Trevor Hull said, “Yes, Highness. This Black Guy’s a wily one. He must have a spy in Radburn’s company. It appears he doesn’t even trust his own secret police overmuch. Luckily we still have people inside the palace loyal to your father, or we would never have learned of this turn.”
Arutha sat down near the Princess. “Well, then we must soon be gone. It’s either sail for home or toward Ylith to reach Father.”
Amos said, “Looking at the choices, it seems there is little to recommend one course over the other. Both have dangers and advantages.”
Martin looked at the girl, then said, “Though I don’t think the Duke’s war camp any place for a young woman.”
Amos sat down by Arutha. “Your presence in Crydee is not vital, at least not for now. Fannon and Gardan are able men, and should the need arise, I think your sister would prove no mean commander. They should be able to keep things under control as well as you.”
Martin said, “But you must ask yourself this: what will your father do when he learns Guy does not simply rule in Krondor as Erland’s aide but holds the city completely in his power, that he’s sending no aid to the Far Coast, and that he means to have the throne?”
Arutha nodded vigorously “You are right, Martin You know Father well. It will mean civil war.” There was sorrow on his face. “He’ll withdraw half the Armies of the West and march down the coast to Krondor and not stop until Guy’s head is on a pole before the city’s gates. Then the course will be set. He’ll have to turn east and march against Rodric. He’d never wish the crown for himself, but once begun, he cannot stop short of total victory or defeat. But we’d lose the West to the Tsurani in time. Brucal couldn’t hold them long with only half an army.”
Jimmy said, “This civil war sounds a nasty sort of business.”
Arutha sat forward. Wiping his forehead, he looked up from under damp locks. “We’ve not had one in two hundred fifty years, since the first Borric slew his half brother, Jon the Pretender. Compared to what this would be, with all the East marshaled against the West, that was only a skirmish.”
Amos looked at Arutha with concern upon his face. “History’s not my strong suit, but it seems to me you’d do best by your father keeping him in ignorance of this turn of events until the Tsurani spring offensive is finished.”
Arutha exhaled a long, low breath. “There’s nothing else for it. We know no aid will be forthcoming for Crydee. I can best decide what to do when I return. Perhaps in council with Fannon and the others we can work out some defense for when the Tsurani come.” His tone was one of near-resignation. “Father will learn of Guy’s plotting in due time, his sort of news is too hard to keep. The best we can hope for is he’ll lot hear of it until after the Tsurani offensive. Perhaps by then the situation will have changed.” It was obvious from his tone he didn’t think that likely.
Martin said, “It may be the Tsurani will choose to march against Elvandar, or carry the battle to your father. Who can say?”
Arutha leaned back and became aware of Anita’s hand resting gently upon his arm. “What a choice we have,” he said quietly. “To face the possible loss of Crydee and the Far Coast to the Tsurani or to plunge the Kingdom into civil war. Truly the gods must hate the Kingdom.”
Amos stood. “Trevor tells me he has a ship. We can sail in a few days. With luck, the straits will be clearing when we arrive.”
Lost in the gloom of his own personal defeat, Arutha barely heard him. He had come to Krondor in such confidence. He would win Erland’s support for his cause, and Crydee would be rescued from the Tsurani. Now he faced an even more desperate situation than had he stayed home. Everyone left him alone, save for Anita, who spent silent minutes just sitting at his side.