Robert then turned to Talon. “It is clear from what Caleb has told me that you have become aware of issues that might have better remained unknown to you.’’
Talon shrugged. “I cannot claim the wisdom to know whether that is true or not. I do know that you’ve hidden things from me, and that you know more about the destruction of my people than you have thus far admitted. I also know that some of the men responsible for this horror are now in Latagore plotting to overthrow the Dominar and his council.’’
Kendrick glanced at Robert, as if seeking permission to speak. Robert shook his head slightly and turned back to Talon. “We know all that, and more.” He looked at Talon for a long time, then asked, “What do you think of all this?’’
Talon was torn between his natural frustration at seemingly pointless questions and the suspicion that Robert’s questions tended never to be pointless. He stopped and considered. Finally, he spoke: “There are several ways to look at the situation, Robert. Politically, I know from what I overheard when Count DeBarges was visiting that there’s a royalist movement in Latagore.”
Caleb smiled slightly.
“So it may be that the Duke of Olasko thinks it to his advantage to help them overthrow the Dominar and restore the old King’s grandson. But then the question arises as to why Duke Kaspar of Olasko would care who sat at the head of the Council of Latagore.”
“Care to wager a guess?” Robert asked.
“I can guess at reasons, but I do not know for sure.” Then Talon leaned forward. “Unless it’s a military reason.’’
“And that would be?” asked Kendrick.
Talon said, “Until this week I could not begin to imagine why the Duke of Olasko’s men would help an army of murderers to obliterate my people. But now I realize I had it backward. Raven and his company were working for the Duke. Their only reward was gold and perhaps slaves. The Duke, however, obviously wanted the Orosini out of their mountains.” He paused, as if considering what to say next. “I could not imagine the reason, until now.’’
“This military reason?” Kendrick asked.
“Yes. With the Orosini out of the mountains, and Latagore in the hands of a friendly ruler, or at least in the throes of civil war, then there is only one conclusion I can draw. He wants Latagore neutralized on his flank, so that he can attack the Duchy of Farinda.’’
Kendrick said, “Where did you learn about military strategy?”
Talon looked embarrassed. “I didn’t, or I mean I haven’t. But you talk a lot about your battles and things like keeping your flanks protected seem to be very important.”
“He’s a bright one, yes?” Kendrick said to Robert.
Robert smiled. To Talon he said, “Your deductions are clever, but incorrect.”
Talon said, “They are?’’
“Yes. There’s far more in play than you understand, but your ability to deduce as much as you have is very unusual. The Duke of Olasko does wish to have a friendly regime in Latagore, and eventually he will invade Farinda, but probably not for a few years yet. You’ve done well to spy out even a few pieces of the puzzle.’’
Talon looked a little embarrassed. “Then what is going to happen?’’
Kendrick stood up. “What’s going to happen is that a lot of soldiers from Olasko will be marching through the woods around here soon, so I’d better make sure we’re ready for them.’’
He left, and Talon asked, “Will they attack?’’
“Probably not,” answered Caleb. “They don’t consider us a big enough threat to leave behind them, and they can’t spare time to dig us out.’’
Robert said, “It’s known we have resources beyond the modest ones apparent to casual observation. I suspect that Kaspar will leave us alone while he commits his next act of bloodshed against innocents.”
“What are we going to do?” asked Talon.
“Why, we’re going to sit tight,” said Robert. “Latagore can fend for itself. It’s not that important whether Kaspar’s friends rule or the Dominar stays in power. What’s important is that we move ahead with our own . . .” He caught himself just in time, and said to Talon, “You may leave us now. Go and see if Leo needs help.’’
Talon hesitated, then rose and went into the kitchen.
As he returned, Meggie said, “What was all that about?’’
Feeling that he was included in a select group and not wishing to share the information, Talon said, “I can’t tell you.” He had expected some sort of reaction from the slight girl, but all he got was a shrug, as if secrets were nothing new to her, so instead he asked, “What can I do to help?’’
“Everything is just about finished,” she replied. “You can carry that bucket out and dump it.’’
Talon picked up the indicated bucket, then said, “I haven’t seen Lela. Where is she?’’
Meggie’s expression turned troubled. “That’s what I was trying to tell you when you came rushing through a while ago. Lela’s not here.’’