The Complete Krondor’s Sons 2-Book Collection: Prince of the Blood, The King’s Buccaneer

Erland said, ‘No. I’m still angry.’

‘Who are you mad at, Erland?’

For a silent moment the frustration was clearly etched on the young man’s face. Then it seemed to wash away as Miya continued to probe at the knots of tension in his neck and shoulders.

‘The universe, I guess. The gods of fate and chance. You. My father. Everyone.’ Then his voice fell away. ‘Mostly I’m furious with Borric for getting himself killed.’

James nodded. ‘I know. I feel that way, too.’

Erland let out a long sigh of tension released and said, ‘I guess that’s why I did what I did. I just couldn’t see that boy killed by that lion. Maybe the boy’s got a brother …’ Words failed him as tears came unbidden. For a moment, Erland sat in the warm pool, his grief manifested for the first time since the bandit attack. James waited while the young Prince cried for his dead brother, neither showing nor feeling embarrassment at the display. James had done his crying a week before, in the arms of his wife.

After a moment, Erland looked at his teacher with red-rimmed eyes. ‘Why, damn it?’

James could only shake his head. ‘Why? Only the gods know and they aren’t talking. At least not to me.’ He reached down and stuck his hand into the water. A moment later he withdrew it and wiped his brow. ‘Some things make sense, others don’t. I don’t know.’

James was reflective a while, then said, ‘Look, I’ve not told you this. Your father saved my life. A couple of times. Now I’m no more an expert on why a Prince of the Isles should save the life of a boy thief than I am on why another Prince of the Isles should die in an ambush on the way to a birthday party. I can only tell you that no one ever told me, ever told me, that life makes sense. It just is.’

Erland sank back against Miya’s soft body and let warmth infuse him. He sighed and felt something leave from within, an ache that had been there every minute since the ambush. ‘It’s so odd,’ he said quietly. ‘It just hit me now that Borric must be dead. Yet …’

‘What?’ James asked quietly.

‘I don’t know.’ Erland looked at James and there was a question in his eyes. ‘How is it supposed to feel? I mean, Borric and I haven’t spent more than a few days apart ever. It’s like we were … just part of each other. I thought that if I lost him, or he me, we’d … feel it. Do you know what I mean?’

James got up. ‘I think so. At least, I think I know as much as anyone can who has never had one in their life to be as close with as you two were with each other. But I’ve watched you since you were babies and I’ve seen you fight and play. I think I know what you mean.’

Erland sighed again. ‘I just thought it would feel different. That’s all. It’s not like he’s dead, you know, just very far away.’ Erland’s eyes got heavy and he closed them. A moment later his breathing became more regular and he dozed.

James motioned for the servant who held his cloak to return it. To Miya he said, ‘We dine with the Empress again, tonight. Wake him when it’s time.’

She nodded, not speaking so as not to wake the sleeping Prince. James folded his cloak over his arm and departed.

Erland finished dressing as Miya announced Lord Jaka. The Prince was not surprised, as he had a feeling there would be a reaction from Diigai’s father over this afternoon’s business. Erland motioned for the servant to admit the Keshian noble and a few moments later the tall warrior entered. Miya moved a discreet distance away, out of earshot but close enough should Erland need her.

Jaka bowed before Erland, then said, ‘My lord Prince, I trust I have not come at an inopportune minute?’

‘No, Lord Jaka. I was just finishing my dressing in anticipation of dining with your Empress.’

Jaka made a gesture with both his hands, held parallel and moving them downward and out, the meaning of which Kafi had told him was, ‘May heaven protect,’ or ‘May heaven give bounty,’ an all-purpose benediction.

The old warrior said, ‘I have come to speak to you of this thing you did this afternoon.’

‘Yes?’

Jaka seemed to struggle with the words he wished to say. ‘As a hunter of great reputation, it would have been a shameful thing to my family for my son to have failed in his manhood hunt, today. It is difficult to accept such a thing.

‘There are those who will say that you robbed my son of a courageous death, or that his kill is tainted because of your interference.’

Here it comes, thought Erland. He had half-expected something like this.

‘Yet,’ continued Jaka, ‘you did but annoy the animal, distracting it long enough for my son to recover his spear.’

Erland nodded. ‘The kill was his.’

‘This is true. So, while I am partially mixed in my feelings as to the elegance of the kill, as a father of a boy I love deeply, I wish to thank you for allowing him his manhood.’ Softly he added, ‘And for saving his life.’

Erland stood motionless an instant, struggling with what he should say. Then he took the course that would allow the father the most pride possible under the circumstances. ‘I acted impulsively. As you know, my brother was recently lost to me, and your son in a way puts me in mind of him. In another time, I might have merely observed. But your son showed nothing but courage. Perhaps he would have regained the spear without my aid. Who can say?’

‘Who, indeed?’ said the old man. ‘It was a young cat, inexperienced and in great pain. A more experienced hunter would have struck it in the face with the flat of the shield, no damage, but noise and pain. If the cat attacks the shield, the experienced hunter lets him and attempts to recover the spear. It is a thing we teach, though in the heat of the moment, it is easily forgotten. Easily forgotten. Your Highness.