The King's Blood

like that? If it’s not wide enough to bring a large number of men across at once, a couple of dozen bowmen could kill our full army a few men at a time.”
    “But Kalliam says they can’t move in the marshlands,” Geder said.
    “And he’s right. The reason Asterilhold and Antea split when the High Kings died was that river, the runoff from the mountains, and the mud between the two.”
    Geder cleared his throat.
    “That’s why I want you to go to Northcoast.” Daskellin looked up at him now. Geder wasn’t sure, but he thought there was a hint of pleasure in the man’s expression. “The gap between the mountain ranges there and there is hilly and it’s got about a thousand little holdfasts and garrisons, but if King Tracian were to move a force to his border, Asterilhold would have to draw men back from the south to keep them from invading, yes?”
    Daskellin paced the room to the fields of Ellis and looked back. He stroked his chin.
    “It’s possible, yes,” he said.
    Geder glanced over to Basrahip, who nodded. A small, relieved smile drew Geder’s lips wider.
    “He doesn’t actually have to invade, even,” Geder said. “If he’s just there looking as if he might…”
    “Have you told the Lord Marshal about this idea?”
    “Ah. No. Why? Should I?”
    Daskellin shrugged.
    “Dawson doesn’t like involving other kingdoms in Antean affairs. I think he finds having allies undignified. But yes, I have friends and contacts in Northcoast. Not all of them are in the court. I’m not sure what the situation is there, but I can find out. Where’s Bannien?”
    “Lord Bannien’s holding Anninfort,” Geder said. “Kalliam thought there was too much chance of a fresh rebellion. His sons are with the larger army. When can you be on your way?”
    “As soon as you’d like.”
    “Tomorrow, then,” Geder said. “I’ve sent to Lord Skestinin. He’ll have a ship ready to take you, provided Asinport hasn’t broken the blockade. But Skestinin doesn’t think it will have.”
    “I will do my best,” Daskellin said, with a small, crisp bow. He hesitated. “I don’t mean to be rude. But may I ask something about the southern front?”
    “Yes?”
    “I’d heard that Alan Klin was in the field. At the front, in fact. Quite far in the front.”
    Geder shrugged.
    “We’re hoping to lure the enemy out of position,” he said. “And I thought giving Klin the opportunity to regain some part of his honor seemed kind. Don’t you think?”
    “Of course, Lord Regent,” Daskellin said with another bow. “I understand.”
    After the door had closed behind him, Geder turned to the priest.
    “Well?”
    Basrahip cocked his head.
    “My prince?”
    “Was it true?”
    “Yes, he understood,” the priest said calmly.
    “What did he understand?”
    “He didn’t say, my prince.”
    “Does he approve?”
    “He didn’t say,” Basrahip repeated and showed Geder his palms as if offering him the empty air cupped there. “The living voice carries what it carries. If you wish to know these things, ask him. And then we will know.”
    Geder paced over to the small model of Kaltfel and squatted down. It was such a short distance. He could step to Kalliam’s command from there. He had the deep urge to step on the model, flatten the offending walls and street and towers. Grind them into the dirt. If only he could do the same to the real city. He became aware of a deep sound. Basrahip, laughing.
    “What?” Geder said.
    “Lord Prince—”
    “I’m regent,” Geder said, peevishly. “Regent’s better than prince.”
    “Lord Regent,” Basrahip said. “My friend. Your people are strange. They want to do something out there in the world, and so they lock you up in here, with little toys.”
    The priest rose from the table and walked across to the Seref Bridge, sitting cross-legged before it. He picked up the figure of the horseman that represented Dannick and pretended to address himself to it.
    “Why do you fight, little soldier? Mm? What do you hope to win? What does your heart tell you?” He pretended to listen. Or maybe he did, and pretended to hear. He looked up at Geder with merry eyes. “He doesn’t say.”
    “Well, it isn’t as if I could go out and be in the middle of it myself,” Geder said. “I have to see it all, somehow. This is how I can keep track of everything. I mean, all I need to do to see that the supply lines are getting too long in the south is look there. I can see