one of the kigh—the Bardic Captain stood and flipped up the latch that held the multipaned window closed during inclement weather. As he pulled open the left panel, he kept a tight hold on the frame lest the kigh decide to slam it back against the wall just for the joy of hearing things break. The wind-sketched outline of an elongated body separated from the bell, dove into the office, looped once around him, and delivered its message.
Kovar Sang his answer as it raced up and out of sight, then stepped back and closed the window.
"He's needed where he is?" Tadeus repeated behind him.
"You're all needed where you are," Kovar said wearily, turning to find the other bard standing barely an arm's length away. "Over the last four quarters we've had five losses to age and one to accident. Six dead and only two fledglings found. We haven't bards enough to lose one on this fool's quest."
"Shouldn't that be an individual choice?" Tadeus asked seriously, all affectations gone.
"No. Our duty is to Shkoder."
Recognizing a dismissal, Tadeus shook his head and walked unerringly to the door. With one hand on the latch, he paused and faced the Bardic Captain again. "I remember my oaths, Kovar."
And the blind bard's voice was so exquisitely controlled, Kovar had no idea where his emphasis lay.
The small assembly room had not been changed in living memory. From the carved rosewood throne, to the stained glass in the narrow windows casting multihued reflections on the polished stone floor, to the seal of Shkoder carved into the great roundel in the center of the ceiling, the room had been designed to quietly impress. Those standing before the throne at the edge of the low dais were left in no doubt of the power they faced. While much of the actual business of the realm was conducted in Council Chambers and in the monarch's private office, the small assembly room was used for the exchange of information, for the meeting of ambassadors…
… and to make a point.
"It has come to my attention, Bardic Captain, that you are denying your permission to those bards who wish to volunteer for the voyage." No need to define what voyage. Jelena's fingers were white around the arms of the throne. "Would you care to explain yourself?"
"I have not had to deny my permission, Majesty," Kovar told her matter-of-factly. "The only bard who has shown an interest does not Sing water."
The young queen leaned slightly forward without releasing her grip on the carved wood. Her knuckles were white and her voice suggested she barely kept her temper in check. "What of Benedikt? Or were you not planning on telling me he had requested a position on my ship?"
How had she known? Kovar wondered, trying to think past the sound of blood roaring in his ears. The kigh had brought the news directly to him and then left with his answer. He'd been alone at the window and Tadeus… Tadeus, that had to be the answer. He'd forgotten how far into a building the kigh were willing to go for the blind bard.
" I remember my oaths, Kovar ."
No doubt where the emphasis lay now.
"Captain?"
He started, pulling himself back into the assembly room. "If you have had an opportunity to read Pjazef's report of flood at Janinton, Majesty, I think the situation amply illustrates my belief that all the bards are needed where they are."
"Let me reassure you, Captain, that I read both the day's reports and any new recalls nightly—" Her lips curled up into a tight, warning smile. "—as did my mother and my grandfather before her, and I value the work the bards do in maintaining Shkoder. The Starfarer will not leave Elbasan until the third moon of this quarter so, you see, I don't pull Benedikt abruptly from your pattern but give you a chance to reweave it."
"Majesty, you may not realize that Benedikt Sings only water."
"Then removing him will disrupt your pattern even less." Jelena sat back as
Kovar Sang his answer as it raced up and out of sight, then stepped back and closed the window.
"He's needed where he is?" Tadeus repeated behind him.
"You're all needed where you are," Kovar said wearily, turning to find the other bard standing barely an arm's length away. "Over the last four quarters we've had five losses to age and one to accident. Six dead and only two fledglings found. We haven't bards enough to lose one on this fool's quest."
"Shouldn't that be an individual choice?" Tadeus asked seriously, all affectations gone.
"No. Our duty is to Shkoder."
Recognizing a dismissal, Tadeus shook his head and walked unerringly to the door. With one hand on the latch, he paused and faced the Bardic Captain again. "I remember my oaths, Kovar."
And the blind bard's voice was so exquisitely controlled, Kovar had no idea where his emphasis lay.
The small assembly room had not been changed in living memory. From the carved rosewood throne, to the stained glass in the narrow windows casting multihued reflections on the polished stone floor, to the seal of Shkoder carved into the great roundel in the center of the ceiling, the room had been designed to quietly impress. Those standing before the throne at the edge of the low dais were left in no doubt of the power they faced. While much of the actual business of the realm was conducted in Council Chambers and in the monarch's private office, the small assembly room was used for the exchange of information, for the meeting of ambassadors…
… and to make a point.
"It has come to my attention, Bardic Captain, that you are denying your permission to those bards who wish to volunteer for the voyage." No need to define what voyage. Jelena's fingers were white around the arms of the throne. "Would you care to explain yourself?"
"I have not had to deny my permission, Majesty," Kovar told her matter-of-factly. "The only bard who has shown an interest does not Sing water."
The young queen leaned slightly forward without releasing her grip on the carved wood. Her knuckles were white and her voice suggested she barely kept her temper in check. "What of Benedikt? Or were you not planning on telling me he had requested a position on my ship?"
How had she known? Kovar wondered, trying to think past the sound of blood roaring in his ears. The kigh had brought the news directly to him and then left with his answer. He'd been alone at the window and Tadeus… Tadeus, that had to be the answer. He'd forgotten how far into a building the kigh were willing to go for the blind bard.
" I remember my oaths, Kovar ."
No doubt where the emphasis lay now.
"Captain?"
He started, pulling himself back into the assembly room. "If you have had an opportunity to read Pjazef's report of flood at Janinton, Majesty, I think the situation amply illustrates my belief that all the bards are needed where they are."
"Let me reassure you, Captain, that I read both the day's reports and any new recalls nightly—" Her lips curled up into a tight, warning smile. "—as did my mother and my grandfather before her, and I value the work the bards do in maintaining Shkoder. The Starfarer will not leave Elbasan until the third moon of this quarter so, you see, I don't pull Benedikt abruptly from your pattern but give you a chance to reweave it."
"Majesty, you may not realize that Benedikt Sings only water."
"Then removing him will disrupt your pattern even less." Jelena sat back as
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