Realm of Dragons

Happy or not though, it had needed doing. It had taken everything Rodry had to keep from simply killing the ambassador. He had heard the stories of the past, of the conflicts that had shaped the two kingdoms, of knights and dragons and more. Those stories were clear about one thing: when there was a threat to the kingdom, a strong man always rose to fight against those enemies and drive them back. Well, today, Rodry had been that man.

“This is what happens when you threaten those I care about,” Rodry said, slapping the rump of the ambassador’s donkey to set it in motion. It hurried off with Kay and the two other horses hurrying to keep up.

Insults couldn’t go unpunished, whatever his father thought. And the ambassador’s threats meant nothing. Let the south play at war. Rodry was strong enough to keep them all safe.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Inside,” a guard said, and pushed Devin through a set of double doors.

Devin braced himself, afraid he was being thrown into a dungeon.

Yet to his surprise he found himself stepping into a living chamber, or perhaps a reception chamber backing onto other rooms. He froze in place, his heart stopping: there was the king.

There he was, seated and crowned. Prince Rodry stood to one side. On a table before the king sat a spear Devin recognized as one the prince had taken with him from the House of Weapons, and the sword Nem had given him. The guards had taken it from him as they’d kept him waiting. Apparently, they’d been waiting for the king.

Devin came forward, remembered himself in time, and bowed.

“This is the same boy?” King Godwin demanded.

“This is Devin of the House of Weapons,” Prince Rodry replied. “He made the spear.”

Devin frowned as he straightened up, confused as to what was happening.

“And that sword?” King Godwin asked him, gesturing to the messer on the table. “Did you make that, boy?”

Devin shook his head. “No, your majesty. That was my friend Nem.”

King Godwin took it and took the spear, staring at them, comparing them.

“I can see the difference,” he said, hefting the spear. “Fine work indeed. Are you sure you made this, Devin of the House of Weapons? If I find that you’ve lied to me after this, I’ll see you in more trouble than you can imagine, even for entering my hall.”

“I’m sorry,” Devin said. “I needed to speak to Master Grey, and I thought that—”

The king stopped him with a raised hand. “My magus has explained things, as much as he ever explains things. The spear; did you make everything?”

“I made everything,” Devin assured him. “From forge welding the metal billet to winding the haft to the head.”

“Impressive,” the king said. “Then it seems that I have a task for you.”

“Your majesty?” Devin said.

“Have you heard of star metal?”

“Y-yes, your majesty,” Devin said, even though the question caught him by surprise. Star metal was so rare that almost no smith worked with it today. They said it was stronger and sharper than any steel around.

“I know where you can find the ore for it,” the king said. “And I want you to make a sword for me.”

“For you, your majesty?”

“On my behalf,” the king corrected himself. “To give as a gift to my future son-in-law. There is a place on the slopes of the volcano where a lump of star metal ore fell many years ago. You will travel there, with the protection of my son Rodry and his companions.”

“We’re to go with him?” Rodry said, looking surprised and a little put out by that. “So that Finnal can have a sword? Have you heard the rumors spreading about him?”

“I have heard,” King Godwin said. “And I choose not to believe mere fishwives’ tales. The alliance with the duke and his family is too important. Besides, Devin will need protection. Grey says that the metal is in Clearwater Deep.”

“But that’s… they say it’s a place of magic,” Rodry said. “I mentioned it once to Master Grey and he refused to speak of it. The stories…”

“Nevertheless, it is where you will go,” King Godwin said. “Devin, you will gather the metal and forge it for me.” He placed a pouch on the table. “You will be well compensated for your efforts.”

Even if there had been no money, Devin might have said yes. The chance to work with star metal was too great an opportunity to pass up. Besides, he had the feeling that his fight with the king’s son was only being forgotten because he could be useful.

“But…” Devin began. “I’m not a smith anymore. They threw me out of the House of Weapons.”

“After what happened with my brother?” Rodry asked.

Devin nodded.

“It doesn’t matter,” the king said. “We will find you a forge. Will you do it?”

“Yes, your majesty,” he said. Devin wasn’t sure he had much of a choice.

The king passed him back his sword.

“Go with him, Rodry. I want you to set off at once.”

“Yes, Father,” the prince said, but Devin could see that he wasn’t happy. The two of them left the room almost in step with one another. Prince Rodry was silent until they were well clear of the room and the guards.

“I’m sorry for getting you into this,” he said. “I thought that by telling my father you were a fine smith I might save you after you ran in like that. Had I known that it was Clearwater Deep, I would not have mentioned you.”

“I am glad to serve, your highness,” Devin said. For the chance to work with star metal, he would have given far more.

“Then are you willing to serve me?” Prince Rodry said, turning to him with an earnest look. “After all, I’m the one who saved your life with my brother. And I spoke for you with my father.”

“What is it you need?” Devin asked. He hadn’t forgotten all that he owed the prince.

“We’ll go there, and you’ll forge the blade, but you’ll give it to me rather than my father. I will give it to my sister myself.”

“To your sister?” Devin said.

“If it’s given to her directly, it doesn’t form part of her bride price, and it comes back to her should the marriage be annulled,” Rodry said. “Finnal might seem perfect to Lenore now, but she’ll see what he is soon enough. Then I don’t have to suffer the indignity of watching him wander around with such a weapon on his hip. Will you do it, Devin? Will you do what I ask?”

Devin thought about it. He didn’t like the idea of getting between the king and his son in whatever conflict this was, didn’t like the danger of it, but the truth was that he did owe Rodry, and as far as he could see, the results were the same.

He nodded. “Aye, I’ll do it.”

“Then we go,” Rodry said. “And we just have to hope that whatever’s in Clearwater Deep isn’t as dangerous as a sorcerer’s silence suggests.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN