The King of the Crags by Stephen Deas Page B

coming. It was obvious, and yet no one seemed concerned. The council was split, Vale decided, into two equal halves. Those who were too stupid to see and those who simply didn’t care.
     
    And then there was him, who would likely be expected to fight it. Presumably none of the rest of them were that bothered if the odd city full of their own people burned, as long as they kept their precious eyries. A cull. His heart beat faster at the thought. Would that not be for the best? At the very least it would make them pause and think.
     
    At last the one man who might have something interesting to say got to his feet. Zaster, the old palace spymaster. ‘Your Holiness, there have been movements among the dragon-knights of the north.’ Even Zafir straightened very slightly. Now she was only pretending to be bored.
     
    ‘Go on.’
     
    ‘Princess Jaslyn has left Outwatch and returned to Sand. Several dragons have been seen heading for the Desert of Salt. She may remain reluctant, but she is negotiating her marriage with King Sirion’s son, Prince Dyalt.’
     
    Zafir glanced at Lord Eisal, who shrugged. ‘Shezira promised her to my lord in exchange for his support.’
     
    ‘And then murdered Hyram, my husband and your lord, when that wasn’t enough.’ Zafir wrinkled her nose and turned back to Zaster. ‘And what about Almiri and Evenspire?’
     
    ‘My spies have seen several dragons flying from the Spur to Almiri’s eyrie. And a war-dragon flying back again, heavily laden.’
     
    ‘Is that it? You’ve seen a dragon? I could have told you that myself. My riders have eyes too, Zaster.’
     
    ‘Yes. The war-dragon your riders saw, Your Holiness.’ Zaster bowed low. ‘B’thannan. Rider Hyrkallan’s mount. It confirms that he is leading the rebellion, Your Holiness.’
     
    ‘Pshaw!’ Vale winced. The speaker had half a goblet of wine dangling from her fingers. She’d been known to throw it at councillors who annoyed her. ‘What else? Will you dazzle us with the revelation that the sun rises in the morning and sets at night? Of course Hyrkallan leads this insurrection. And Almiri? How much is she helping them? What about Sirion? Does he send aid to them too? Tell me something useful or be silent. I want proof of these treasons, not hearsay!’
     
    Zaster had always been too quick to take offence. His lips drew tight together. He started to sit down; as he did, Vale found himself rising. It was such a surprise that he didn’t quite understand what was happening at first, and then had to wonder whether some sorcery was at work. But no, his own legs, nothing more. He looked from face to face, suddenly uncertain. He wasn’t supposed to have opinions, so what in the realms could he be needing to say?
     
    His legs seemed to know what they were doing though, so he extended the same trust to his mouth.
     
    ‘Hyrkallan won the Speaker’s Tournament a decade ago when Hyram took the Speaker’s Ring, Your Holiness. And a decade before that as well, when it was Iyanza.’
     
    Zafir gave him a scornful look. ‘Since when do Guardsmen speak in the Speaker’s Council?’
     
    He bowed and fell silent, but he’d done enough. The spymaster nodded. ‘When the talk is of warriors, Your Holiness,’ he murmured. ‘Hyrkallan is a clever man, a good rider, strong, brave, with all the best qualities. Most of all he has experience and respect. The other riders of the north will follow him. They are much more dangerous with him than without, Your Holiness. As they have already shown.’ A thundercloud passed across Zafir’s face. No one spoke about Drotan’s Top, but it hung in the air throughout the palace. Hyrkallan had bloodied her nose there and it still stung, even if she’d bloodied him back since.
     
    ‘Give me dragons!’ shouted Prince Sakabian. ‘Let me smash them!’
     
    Zafir glared him into silence.
     
    He’s right though. Any other speaker would have summoned a hundred dragons, sent out the Guard