The two lines of Royal Household Guard rode up to the front of the tent, then parted so the King might ride to the fore. Rodric, King of the Realm, rode on a huge black war-horse, who pawed at the ground as he came to a halt before the two dukes. Rodric was dressed in a gaudy array of gold-trimmed battle armor, with many flutings and reliefs fashioned into the breastplate. His helm was golden, with a circlet crown. A royal purple plume flew from the crest, blown by the morning wind.
When he had been sitting for a moment, he removed his helm and handed it to a page. He stayed atop his horse and studied the two commanders, looking down at them with a crooked smile. “What, have you no greeting for your liege lord?”
The dukes bowed. Brucal said, “Your Majesty. We were just surprised. We had no word.”
Rodric laughed, and the sound was tinged with madness. “That is because I sent no word. I wanted to surprise you.” He looked at Lyam. “Who is this in the tabard of Crydee?”
“Lyam, Your Majesty,” answered Brucal. “The Duke of Crydee.”
The King shouted, “He is Duke only if I say he is Duke.” With a sudden change of mood, he said, in solicitous tones, “I am sorry to hear of your father’s death.” He then giggled. “But he was a traitor, you know. I was going to hang him.” Lyam tensed at Rodric’s words, and Brucal gripped his arm.
The King saw and screamed, “You would attack your King? Traitor! You are one with your father and the others. Guards, seize him!” He pointed at the young man.
Royal guards dismounted, and the soldiers of the West who stood nearby moved to stop them. “Stop!” commanded Brucal, and the western soldiers stopped. He turned to Lyam. “On your word, we have civil war,” he hissed.
Lyam said, “I submit, Your Majesty.” The western soldiers grumbled.
The King said coldly, “I shall have to hang you, you know. Take him to his tent and keep him there.” The guards complied. The King turned his attention to Brucal. “Are you loyal to me, my lord Brucal, or shall there be a new Duke in Yabon as well as Crydee?”
“I am ever loyal to the crown, Your Majesty,” came the answer.
The King dismounted. “Yes, I believe that.” He giggled again. “You knew my father thought highly of you, didn’t you?” He took the Duke’s arm, and they entered the command tent.
Laurie touched Pug’s shoulder and said, “We had best stay in our tents. If one of those courtiers recognizes me, I may join the Duke on the gibbet.”
Pug nodded. “Get Kulgan and Meecham, and have them meet us in my tent.”
Laurie hurried off, and Pug returned to his tent Katala was feeding William from a bowl of stew from the night before. “I fear we have found another pot of trouble, love,” Pug said. “The King is in camp, and he is madder than I dreamed possible. We must leave soon, for he has ordered Lyam imprisoned.”
Katala looked shocked. “Where will we go?”
“I can manage to take us to Crydee, to Prince Arutha I know the court of Castle Crydee as well as if there were a pattern there I should have no trouble transporting us.”
Laurie, Meecham, and Kulgan joined them a few minutes later, and Pug outlined his plan for escape Kulgan shook his head. “You take the boy and Katala, Pug, but I must stay.”
Meecham added, “And I.”
Pug looked incredulous. “Why?”
“I served Lyam’s father, and now I serve him. If the King tries to execute Lyam, there will be fighting. The Armies of the West will not stand idly by and watch Lyam hanged. The King has only the Royal Guard, and they will be easily defeated. Once that happens, it is civil war. Bas-Tyra will lead the Armies of the East. Lyam will need my aid.”
Meecham said, “The issue won’t be quickly decided. The Armies of the West are veteran, but they’re tired. There’s little spirit left in them. The Armies of the East are fresh, and Black Guy is the best general in the Kingdom. Lyam’s unproved. It’ll be a long struggle.” Pug understood what they were saying. “It may not reach that point, though. Brucal seems ready to follow Lyam’s lead, but if he changes his mind? Who knows if Ylith, Tyr-Sog, and the others will follow Lyam without Yabon’s lead?”