Windhaven

Coll threw himself into the large chair near the fireplace. "I don't know if it is called war yet or not," he said. "But the story abroad in the streets was that the Landsman had just sent three warships crammed with landsguard to wrest control of that iron mine." He fiddled with his guitar as he spoke, his restless fingers striking soft discords. "And while we wait for the outcome of this little venture, no one is to land on or leave Thayos without the Landsman's express, personal permission. The traders are furious, but afraid to protest." Coll scowled. "Wait until I'm decently away from here! I'll make a lyric that will blister the Landsman's ears when it gets back to him. And it will, it will."

Maris laughed. "Now you sound like Barrion. He always said you singers were the ones who really ruled."

That finally drew a smile from Coll, but Evan remained grim. "No song will heal the wounded, or bring the dead back to life," he said. "If war is at hand, we must leave the forest for Port Thayos. That is where they will bring the wounded, those that survive the crossing. I'll be needed there."

"The streets are mad just now," said Coll. "Rumors and wild stories of all sorts. The town has an ugly feel to it. The Landsman has hanged his healer, and people are afraid to go to the keep. There will be trouble soon, and not just with Thrane." His eyes found Maris. "Something is going on with the flyers as well. I must have counted a dozen pair of wings coming and going over the Strait. War messages, I assumed, but I drank with a tanner in the Scylla's Head who said more. She has a sister in the landsguard, she told me, and she said her sister bragged of arresting a flyer not long ago. The Landsman has taken it upon himself to try a flyer for treason! Can you believe that?"

"Yes," Maris said. "It's true."

"Ah," said Coll. He looked surprised, and distracted from his speech. "Well. Could I have some tea?"

"I'll get it," said Evan.

"Go on," said Maris. "What other rumors?"

"You may know more than I. What of this arrest? I hardly believed it. How much do you know?"

Maris hesitated. "We were warned not to speak of it."

Coll made an impatient thrumming noise with his guitar. "I'm your brother, damn it. Singer or no, I can keep silent. Out with it!"

So Maris told him about their summons to the keep, and what they had learned there. "That would explain a lot," he said when she had finished. "Oh, I'd heard of it anyway — people talk, even landsguard, and the Landsman's secrets aren't as well kept as he imagines. But I never dreamed it was true. No wonder so many flyers have been about. Let the Landsman try to keep flyers in or out!" He grinned.

"The other rumors," Maris prompted.

"Yes," Coll said. "Well, did you know that Val One-Wing has been on Thayos?"

"Val? Here?"

"He has left again now. They told me he arrived only a few days ago, looking very worn, as from a long flight. He wasn't alone, either. Five or six others were with him. Flyers, all of them."

"Did you hear any names?"

"Only Val's. He's notorious. But some of the others were described to me. A stocky Southern woman with white hair. A huge man with a black beard and a scylla-tooth necklace. Several Westerners, including two enough alike to be brothers."

"Damen and Athen," Maris said. "I'm not sure of the others."

Evan returned with cups of steaming tea and a platter of thick sliced bread. "I am," he said. "Of one, at least. The man with the necklace is Katinn of Lomarron. He comes to Thayos frequently."

"Of course," Maris said. "Katinn. A leader among Eastern one-wings."

"Was there more?" Evan asked.

Coll set aside his guitar and blew on his tea to cool it. "I was told that Val came representing the flyers, to try to talk the Landsman into releasing this woman he's imprisoned, this Tya."

"A bluff," Maris said. "Val doesn't represent the flyers. All those you named are one-wings. The old families, the traditionalists, still hate Val. They'd never let him speak for them."

"Yes, I heard that too," Coll said. "Anyway, it was claimed that Val offered to summon a flyer's court to judge Tya. He was willing enough to let the Landsman keep Tya imprisoned until—"

Maris nodded impatiently. "Yes, yes. But what did the Landsman say?"

Coll shrugged. "Some say he was very cool, some say he and Val One-Wing quarreled loudly. In any case, he insisted that the flyer would be tried in the Landsman's own court, and that he would do the judging and sentencing himself. The word on the streets is that the verdict has already been reached."

"So poor Reni wasn't enough for him," Evan murmured. "The Landsman must have another death to avenge his pride."

"What did Val say to that?" Maris asked.

Coll sipped his tea. "I gather Val left after his meeting with the Landsman. Some say the one-wings are going to raid the keep and rescue Tya. There's talk of a flyer's Council too, summoned by Val. To invoke a sanction against Thayos, and shun it."

"No wonder the people are frightened," Evan said.