Chapter 36: May Their Souls Not Wander

Chapter 36: May Their Souls Not Wander

To say the crowd erupted was too tame a word. Mrs. White folded her ears down against her skull. The cries to order from the heralds began, but had no immediate effect.

Aaron kept his gaze on Orin. He didnt know what he expected to see: surprise, outrage, fear. Something.

The crown prince let the sound wash over him for a moment. Then he stood, and addressed the crowd. He did not yell. Nonetheless, his words carried. You are guests of His Majestys council. Be silent, or leave.

His calm did in moments what the heralds had been unable to accomplish: the crowd settled. He nodded to the duke.

Continue, Duke Sung. Present your evidence. He sat again, making no further show of things.

The duke met Orins eyes, and Orin met his. It was not until Sung had torn his gaze away, back to the king, that he seemed able to speak again.

The crown prince is the doppelgnger of a dragon. By law and by reason, his life is forfeit.

This threatened to send the room into turmoil again; a sweeping glance from the prince ended it. Aaron dodged Mabels kneecap as she leaned forward in her seat. John was scratching behind Mrs. Whites ears with an intensity that made the puss glance back in displeasure.

Your evidence, Duke Sung? Prince Orin prompted.

Do you not deny the charge? the duke challenged. We stand on kirins bone. Deny it, and all here will believe you.

I deny it, the prince replied. But when thirteen lords assemble, it is not to hear the one they accuse speak. We both know there are ways around kirins bone. I ask again: present your evidence.

Very well. The dukes lips compressed down to a line. Last spring, while serving near Salts Mane, Prince Orin and his unit were set upon by a dragon. During the attack, the prince was separated from his men by the beast. By your leave, my liege, I will put it indelicately: the crown prince was captured. Over a day passed before he was found. This was more than sufficient time for an injured man to have his will broken, no matter who he may be. The prince has been doppeled.

The duke took in a breath; let it out, slowly. Continued. He was addressing the king, not the prince.

I would that it were not so, Your Majesty, but the facts are as they are. To allow a man to live when a dragon wears his face is unthinkable; to allow the crown prince to do so would be insanity. The creature could infiltrate us at any moment it chose, and every day we wait is another that the dragon in Orins mind is allowed to fester. Our prince is an honorable man. Let him die while he is still a man, Liam.

No rush of voices started up to fill the void, this time. It seemed that the council chamber held its collective breath as they waited for the kings reply.

His Majesty did not look as ill today as when Aaron had seen him last. There was no cloak drawn over his shoulders to keep him warm, and the mans Death was keeping a respectful distance. He was thin, and he was pale, but there was a steadiness to the way he met the dukes gaze that made Aaron believe he could live a hundred years more, if only on willpower. But it was not the king who answered.

I am waiting, Duke Sung, Orin said. Your evidence. Present it, if you have any.

The duke glanced at him only briefly, before addressing his comments to the impartial air. Do you deny that what I have said is true?

The events you relate are accurate, Orin agreed. Our unit received word of a dragon en route to Waves Crest. We responded and engaged the creature in direct combat, buying time for the village to evacuate. I used my own person to lure it farther away; and yes, I was captured. These facts were related calmly, matter-of-factly: the prince may as well have been giving a military report.

It is the details you leave out, Duke, that I question. Such dangerous words were not often spoken so lightly. I was rendered unconscious during my capture. A head wound, from which I did not wake for many days. You may recall the seriousness of the injury: as I could not be moved from the healers house at Salts Mane, my father left the capital with all haste to be at my bedside. I recall he sent you a letter at that time. He leaned back in his chair, one hand draped lightly over the arm. You know as well as Ias well as any in this roomthat a beast cannot doppel a mans form unless it also copies his mind; and to get the mind, there must be consciousness. It is not possible that I was made a doppelgnger.

The prince tossed his head, sending his long red braid flicking across his back. Aaron noticed John staring at the man. He had clapped a hand over his mouth, covering a smile. Truly, though: the princes disdainful calm was a beauty to behold. There sat a prince, indeed.

To be frank, Duke Sung, it surprises me that a military man such as yourself would even try to raise such a claim. Much less the general of our joint forces. Am I not alive?

His shift in gaze was subtle. Almost by accident, it seemed, his dark green eyes swept the crowd. Many found themselves eye-to-eye with their prince, who did not implore them: he merely stated fact.

Dragons are too jealous to leave their doppels alive; they dont well tolerate men wearing faces they have claimed as their own. If you wanted to make such a claim, you would have better said that I was a foxs doppel, or a griffins; even a rats. If the dragon had copied me, it would have killed me. I, he repeated, am alive. And I quite intend to stay that way, if it pleases your lordship.

The twitch on his lips would have been a grin on any other man. It sent a ripple of surprised laughter through the roomsurprised, nervous, relieved.

His Majesty stirred; just a raising of hand to his cheek, and a tilt of head so mild it could only be a threat. It is a serious petition you bring before me, cousin. The burden of proof lies with you.

Aaron shifted his eyes back to Markus father. John leaned forward in his seat, until Mrs. White head-butted his chest in reminder that he was her seat, and she was not to be squished.

Well thats a cornered stag, then, Mabel quipped with hearty satisfaction. Whatd e think, that no one else was there? Ill testify mself. Three days e was laid out sleepin, and the healer chasin off all of us tryin to sneak in for a peek at im, the heartless old harpy.

The royal guard had no knowledge of this, the Captain of the Guard attested.

The militia knew that the men had died. But men die from battle wounds, thieves, and plague. It was not remarked. The Iron Captains jaw was set.

The Late Wake never ordered such a thing, the Lady said.

And yet the men are dead, the duke said, quietly.

And yet they are, His Majesty agreed. Duke Sung. Who is the next in line for the throne, should I disinherit Orin?

The question took the duke aback. Prince Connor, Your Majesty.

Is Connor old enough to rule? Liam persisted.

No, Your Majesty. It is five years yet until the age of his majority.

Who would serve as my regent? the king asked. When the duke did not answer, all in the court sensed where His Majesty aimed. The crown prince, my heir, yearly risks his life at our border. As we all must; as it is a nobles privilege to do. When I thought he lay dying, when I knew that I was dying, I wrote you a letter from his bedside in Salts Mane. Do you recall it?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Who, then, would serve as my regent, if Orin were to die?

The duke straightened his back, and squared his shoulders. I would be so honored with that duty, Your Majesty.

The king let that sink in. A moment; no longer.

And if Connor should die, and Rosewho is the next in line for the throne?

I am, Your Majesty.

Did you hear of the attempt on my childrens lives?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Are you aware of what occurred last night, after your party was settled for the evening?

Mabel leaned eagerly forward, hitting them both in the head. Aaron sat frozen.

No, Your Majesty.

Our four tails was murdered in his forest. His tongue was cut out. I trust you understand what that means.

At this, the crowd really did go wild; cheers, hoots. People stood up and hugged each other, reached around others to slap friends on the back. As if theyd had something to do with it, as if this was a victory they could claim.

Aaron sat frozen as a dream.

The duke made no move. Neither did the king. Slowly, the crowd returned to themselves, and quieted.

It means, Your Majesty, Duke Sung said stiffly, that all the kirins bone in the kingdom is worthless. If a mans eaten that beasts tongue, then its a foxs own tongue hell speak with. Such a man could stand here and say whatever lies he chose.

The dukes eyes flicked to the prince as he said it, but if the prince saw, he did not react. There was no lie in the grief still written on Orins face.

I do not imply anything by this, Niall, the king said. I speak before the council, and all assembled here: you are a man who does what he thinks is best for the kingdom. I only say that there are more to stories than what we see, and what is true in part may not be the whole of it.

The king settled back in his chair. The council has heard the petition of Duke Sung and his party. We will debate the merits of his argument. You have our leave.

They were dismissed; the crowd, the duke, all of them.