Too Many Princes (79 page)

“
I would,
”
Lottres objected.

While they hesitated, Oskar sighed dramatically, drawing all eyes back to himself. Immediately, Pikarus knelt beside him.

“
Your majesty,
”
Pikarus said,
“
let me help you up.
”

Oskar nodded and extended his hand. Pikarus dipped his neck, allowing Oskar to rest an arm across his shoulders. They straightened slowly, Oskar balancing against the soldier. His face was still ashen, but he seemed in control of his legs. Pikarus, who was slightly taller, had to walk bent over.

Lottres and Shaelen scrambled to their feet, she with the twisted grass still balanced on her palm.
“
Maybe I should just bring this with us for now,
”
Shaelen said.

Brastigan shrugged. He followed Oskar and Pikarus, making sure he didn't get too close so they couldn't demand his help. He was close enough to hear Oskar speak, though.

“
Is it true?
”
Oskar asked, panting a little with the effort of walking.
“
Did Ysislaw take my place?
”

As if Pikarus would tell him something else, Brastigan thought with disgust. Then he could ignore Brastigan and Lottres if he wanted to. But Pikarus gave Oskar no such satisfaction.

“
I'm afraid it is true,
”
Pikarus said.

“
Did you know he killed Father, too?
”
Brastigan interrupted. Despite the danger, he wanted to hear Oskar admit his guilt. It might not change anything, but he wanted to hear it anyhow.

“
He did not.
”
Oskar dismissed the suggestion, but his voice held a tremor of uncertainty.

“
Of course he did,
”
Lottres said, striding up beside Brastigan.
“
And you knew—but it was all to your benefit, wasn't it? It put you on the throne. That's why you didn't ask questions.
”

“
He was only supposed to kill Eben,
”
Oskar said.

Brastigan remembered all too well Ysislaw's bragging, how Oskar had begged for help when Eben revealed Oskar's conspiracy to Unferth.

“
Oh, he did that,
”
Brastigan said grimly.
“
He just didn't stop there. You see, Ysislaw agrees with you that the royal heirs should be eliminated. It's just that you're one of us, too. He only kept you alive so he could control Alustra if she got any notions.
”

Oskar didn't answer. Maybe he had to concentrate just on walking. Still, the less he said, the angrier Brastigan became.

“
You know, I can understand why you'd take Rickard down,
”
Brastigan went on.
“
He did plot against you with his uncle. And Mathas was always better looking, so maybe you were jealous of him. But why kill Luvan? He was just a boy.
”

“
He was a threat to me,
”
Oskar replied absently.

“
He was a poet!
”
Brastigan choked, fists clenched at his sides.

Oskar stopped, swaying as he leaned on Pikarus.

“
You're all threats to me.
”
Oskar met Brastigan's eyes without flinching. In that moment, he looked very much like Alustra and nothing at all like Unferth. Oskar said,
“
I could never be secure in my position with a pack of mongrels lurking around. You attract intrigues like flies. There was always someone
looking
at you, wondering who was the strongest and scheming to bring me down.
”

Oskar spoke with outrage, as if he considered himself the victim.

“
You are so full of it,
”
Brastigan snarled.

“
We're your brothers,
”
Lottres added sternly.
“
We came when you needed us. If we hadn't...
”

Oskar laughed at him.
“
I never knew you were such a dreamer.
”
There was color in his face again, and his eyes blazed with years of concealed fury. It seemed his hatred gave him renewed strength, in spirit if not in body.
“
I did what I had to for the stability of the kingdom. I only regret that my man-of-work missed his mark.
”

Brastigan stopped short. It was impossible to miss his meaning, that Oskar had hired the assassin in the Dead Donkey. He supposed he should have known it from the beginning.

“
Your majesty, please save your energy.
”
Pikarus spoke with perfect courtesy. You had to know him as well as Brastigan did to sense his complete contempt.

Pikarus started walking, half pushing Oskar along with him. His action had kept Brastigan from swinging at Oskar, king or not. Maybe he knew it. Pikarus shot Brastigan a warning look over his shoulder. The two princes trailed after, walking stiff-legged with fury.

“
Is it too late to put him back to sleep?
”
Brastigan muttered to Lottres without real hope.

“
Don't tempt me,
”
Lottres answered.

“
Wait!
”
Shaelen cried just as they reached the door.

She spoke too late. Brastigan heard shuffling steps in the stairwell. A moment later, armed men burst in the door. Brastigan glimpsed black surcoats, and the gleam of metal from hauberks and helms. Pikarus gave a cry of alarm. Brastigan jumped forward, drawing Victory. He heard Lottres coming after. They were helping Pikarus, Brastigan told himself. Pikarus deserved it, even if Oskar didn't.

It turned out not to matter. The lead attacker stopped, flung out an arm to hold the others back.

“
Sergeant!
”
A familiar voice exclaimed.

“
Javes.
”
Pikarus looked around from trying to steady Oskar and draw his own weapon at the same time.

Javes sheathed his sword and stepped forward. A group of Crutham soldiers filed in behind him. Javes nodded to Brastigan and Lottres.
“
I see you found them.
”

“
Yeah.
”
Brastigan let Victory slide back into her sheath.
“
Give Pikarus a hand, would you?
”

Javes beckoned, and two of his men stepped forward to support Oskar. Pikarus straightened gratefully.

“
Is that the king?
”
another soldier murmured.

“
Yes,
”
Lottres said.
“
This is the true king.
”

As the soldiers began to kneel, Oskar snapped crossly,
“
Don't do that! Form up, and let's get out of here.
”

“
Oh, yes, your majesty,
”
Brastigan sneered.
“
I would never have thought of escaping by myself.
”

Some of soldiers looked at Brastigan uncertainly, but they did as Oskar said. Soon they were moving down the stairs. Pikarus, Javes and Brastigan went first. Most of the soldiers came next, surrounding Oskar, and then Lottres and Shaelen.

“
It's good to see you,
”
Pikarus said to Javes,
“
but what are you doing here?
”

“
Princess Therula sent us,
”
Javes replied.
“
She was worried when she hadn't heard from you and then everybody left.
”

“
She was right to worry,
”
Pikarus said.
“
We fell into a magical trap. Did you say everyone left?
”

“
Yes. The Silletsian army appeared during the night, pfft—
”
Javes made an upward gesture
“
—
like mushrooms. They were hammering at the town gates before dawn. King Oskar led the princes and our armies down there. At least, we thought it was him.
”
He glanced uncertainly over his shoulder.

They had reached the lower landing. The door stood open. Brastigan motioned to Pikarus, and they went through with swords drawn. No guards were in sight. An empty passage stretched before them. A short way down, another stairway opened to the left, leading down. Distant noises suggested the panicked evacuation of the keep.

“
All right,
”
Pikarus called. Javes and his men filed out slowly, with Oskar in their midst. Brastigan drew Pikarus to the side. Ymell had warned him, less than a day ago, to stay away from Ysislaw and let the dragons handle their own. With Ymell absent, it looked like Brastigan got the duty after all.

“
If Ysislaw's gone to the gates,
”
Brastigan said,
“
that's where I'll go, too. Someone has to warn Habrok. Pup,
”
he called,
“
are you with me?
”

“
Yes.
”
Lottres's reply came ringing down the stairway. He didn't even ask what they were talking about.

“
Do you want my squad?
”
Pikarus asked.

Brastigan shook his head.
“
I'd love to have you, but you'd better stay here. Remember what I said? There are at least two Silletsians running around in Cruthan uniforms. Probably more than that. You'd better get Oskar to his chambers and block yourselves in.
”

“
The princess wants us to guard Queen Alustra,
”
Javes remarked from across the corridor.

“
They're probably together,
”
Pikarus said.
“
If we take his majesty to Alustra, we can defend all of them at once.
”

“
Good,
”
Brastigan said. The last of the soldiers emerged from the stairwell. Lottres and Shaelen came out last. He said,
“
Let's go, Pup.
”

“
What should I do?
”
Shaelen asked.

Brastigan paused, staring at her. There was no more time for holding grudges, he knew, but he still felt a familiar ache inside.

“
Bras,
”
Lottres began to scold.

“
If I may,
”
Pikarus interposed, as usual.
“
I'd like to have a witch with us, too. Lady Shaelen, would you mind?
”

She shrugged, trying to pretend the rebuff didn't bother her. Brastigan turned from her hurt-doe eyes to clout Pikarus on the shoulder.

“
Thanks,
”
he said.
“
Take care.
”

Brastigan strode past Oskar without a word and started down
stairs at a run. He immediately had to stop at the bottom of the flight. The level below was crowded as servants and nobles evacuated into the inner keep from the outer parts of the fortress. Brastigan paused, waiting impatiently, to let a pair of heavily laden serving men pass by. Lottres caught up with him.

“
You know it's not her fault,
”
Lottres began, aggrievedly.

“
Don't start on me,
”
Brastigan said.
“
I just can't deal with her right now. We have one big problem in front of us. I have to worry about him. Anything else will have to wait.
”

“
How long?
”
Lottres persisted.

Brastigan didn't answer. He darted across the corridor when a clear spot offered itself, and started down the next flight of stairs. As they descended, they passed a half
-
dozen soldiers coming up the other way.

The one good thing about the situation was that Brastigan and Lottres should be able to move freely, just two more armored men among many. If someone was looking for them, they should be hard to spot.

“
I hope you're right,
”
Lottres said, following Brastigan's thought as usual.
“
We don't have time for any more delays.
”