“There you are!” Emuin said sharply. “Do we find the town burned down? The cellars plundered?”
Tristen came down the steps, with Lusin and the guards behind him. “Did the lord viceroy say so?”
“He gave me dire reports of disorder. I expect ashes, at least active conflagration.”
450
FORTRESS OF EAGLES / 451
“The town is quiet,” he said. “The Bryaltine abbot came this afternoon. The Quinaltine father here is far friendlier than the Patriarch in Guelessar. He sent a basket of apples.”
“A relief, a decided relief.”
“Earl Edwyll is dead. His son has the earldom. Earl Cuthan fled to Elwynor, by boat; we found Mauryl’s papers in his possession, little use he could make of them. I think he only meant me not to have them.”
Emuin gave him a sharp look, and looked longer.
“I had to make decisions,” Tristen said, “and made them, sir.” It was no place to discuss details of policy, this swirling, bawling yard, but it was common knowledge now through all the town.
“Well,” Emuin said, seeming only moderately surprised.
“Well,” he said again, and said no more about it, choosing instead to shout at a servant to be careful with the boxes.
“You would not advise me, sir,” Tristen said, not without asperity.
“So I did not,” Emuin said. “Stand in the path of Mauryl’s working? I? I have come to provide counsel—not direction, young lord, as lord you are.”
“Mauryl’s working? Dare you say so, sir?”
“That is all I dare. You have made your path, young lord.
Now I am here. Not before.”
The wagon finally gained the courtyard, with Tassand and the others of his servants, whom he was glad to see, and to whom he only needed say, “Orien’s apartment,” to have Tassand completely informed, and immediately busy, and his baggage and belongings destined for upstairs.
He went inside, then, into the noise and confusion of arriving baggage, of a hundred more Guelen troops to be 452 / C. J. CHERRYH
housed, and clerks finding their accommodations. Boxes and bundles passed him. He retreated to the safety of the upper floors, leaving master Emuin to call on him when he pleased, since he knew he could never persuade master Emuin to leave his precious boxes—only two months removed from the tower, and now coming back again—in the hands of servants.
His household was complete, wizard, wardrobe, and all.
He settled again to the table on which the appeals and petitions waited, and took up those he hoped to accept. Master Rosyn, the tailor, was one who had served Cefwyn, and who now begged to deliver “werk of most excellent qualitie.” Master Rosyn had written the letter in his own hand. And he was a good and diligent man. Tristen put that down as something he might simply give to Tassand to arrange. Red and black was the banner under which the commons of Amefel had marched to Lewen field, and red was, in one of those small definite notions of his mind, the color of Amefel, the Aswydds only holders of it by conquest.
And whence that knowledge? For a moment he saw the hill on which the fortress of the Zeide sat as girded by winter wilderness, only the smallest hint of the town, and the sense of direction said that that town, almost a village, had stood where now the more remote stables were, exactly there. It was a night, and lights showed at the Zeide gate; and where the long, sprawling streets of the town went down now to the outer walls of a populous town, now there were only a few trees, a road that wended up to a wall little different from that which stood today, but gates of iron and oak.
“My lord duke,” Tassand said, arriving with another FORTRESS OF EAGLES / 453
load of baggage, snow in his disheveled hair. “Will ye mind the comin’ an’ goin’?”
“Not in the least,” he said. The stir of servants dispelled the vision, wrought its own magic. Tassand went to the window, drew the green draperies wide, let in both sun and chill. The light outside was white, white the adjacent roof, and blinding white the sky.
He had warded the window. But Tassand and the servants warded him. Uwen came up with a load of his own baggage, refusing the servants who offered to carry it. All the men were seeking out baggage that had arrived, belongings parted with, simple things they had done without.
He went back to his writing, sat down at Lady Orien’s desk, and took up his pen.
I have taken Henas’amef and dislodged the lord viceroy, who killed unarmed men against my orders.
Tasmôrden promised the earl of Meiden assistance against your army if the earl would seize and hold Amefel, which he had begun to do. Cuthan, warned by the letter from Ryssand which I sent Your Majesty, dissuaded the others at the last moment. Tasmôrden is occupied with Ilefínian, I am well sure, and would never have provided the help he promised: his aim was for Edwyll’s action here to distract you from the eastern approach you might make against his forces and to discourage Ylesuin from any relief that you might send to Ilefínian. So Tasmôrden 454 / C. J. CHERRYH
would have time to take firmer hold of the town before the spring, and meanwhile Edwyll would wear down your forces and engage you to the south. His attempt has failed. I have exiled Lord Cuthan.
The town has been quiet for four days. I have taken the oaths from all the earls, and I have confirmed Meiden’s heir, Crissand, who will fill his father’s place. I regret the deaths of the earl’s men, as well as your honest messenger.
Meanwhile I have secured the archives, and I am learning what I need to know.
I wish Your Majesty very well and Her Grace also, and do not forget His Highness’s kindness.
A dragon sat on the desk beside it, a dragon that held the inkpot, and spread wings wide on either hand. On all sides were the green draperies, the Aswydd colors, and he did not know when, in the need for more important things, they might contrive to change them.
He set the quill back into the dragon’s claw, rolled the message and tied it with cord. Then he tipped red wax, red for Amefel, onto the cord and stamped it with the ring Cefwyn knew, no ducal seal. It was enough.
The apartment was very quiet, very still, in a lull of the servants’ traffic, the bronze-and-gilt dragons looming dark against the light of the window.
FORTRESS OF EAGLES / 455
It was foolish, perhaps, to be afraid of them. They were metal.
But he thought of the oak and the carving, and the constraint of the wood to be what it was not.
He thought of wings, and of his silly pigeons, and of Owl abroad in a snowy, winter world. At least he found his household in some order today, if he might say as much of master Emuin, of whom he could detect cold feet, cold hands, a cold nose, and the taste of tea.
EPILOGUE
Pearls shone in candlelight, and the bride looked up, a hint of violets. Cefwyn closed warm fingers in his own, half heard the droning of the Holy Father, the promised blessing.
It was Ninévrisë that filled his eyes and shortly filled his arms.
It was the custom to kiss a Guelen bride.
And Cefwyn soundly did.
LEXICON
Concordance for the Fortress Books
YLESUIN
AMEFEL—southern province; banner: black Eagle on red field
Royalty / Lords
Aswydd Household
HERYN ASWYDD—Duke of Amefel, the aetheling His twin sisters:
TARIEN ASWYDD—Secondborn
THEWYDD—Heryn Aswydd’s man
Tristen’s Household
TRISTEN—Marshal of Althalen, Lord Warden of Ynefel UWEN—Lewen’s-son, Tristen’s man, sergeant of Cefwyn’s Dragon Guard, captain of Tristen’s guard Tristen’s Guard
LUSIN—Captain of Tristen’s bodyguard
SYLLAN—one of Tristen’s guards
457
458 / C. J. CHERRYH
ARAN—one of Tristen’s guards
TAWWYS—one of Tristen’s guards
ASWYS—
groom
CASSAM, CASS—Uwen’s warhorse, bow-nosed, blue roan gelding
DYS, DYSARYS—Tristen’s warhose, black, full brother to Aryny and Kanwy
GERY—Tristen’s light horse, red mare
GIA—Uwen’s light horse, bay mare
LISS—Uwen’s horse, chestnut mare
PETELLY—Tristen’s cross-country horse, a bay of no breeding
Amefin Earls and Their Households
EDWYLL ADIRAN—earl of Meiden, remotely related to Aswydds; banner: gold sun
CRISSAND ADIRAN—son of and successor to Edwyll AZANT—lord of Dor Elen province, which borders the ver orchard district
A daughter: widowed twice, once when married only seven days
BRESTANDIN—Amefin earl
CEDRIG—elderly Amefin earl living in retirement, owner of room Tristen lodges in, then where Ninévrisë lodges in Henas’samef
CIVAS—Amefin earl
CUTHAN—earl of Bryn, distant relative of Aswydds DRUMMAN—lord of Baradden, youngest of earls except for Crissand; his elder sister is Edwyll’s wife, Crissand’s mother
DRUSALLYN—elderly lord, married local gentry in Amefel DRUSENAN—earl of Bryn, successor to Cuthan; wife: Ynesyne, an Elwynim
DURELL—Amefin earl
EDRACHT—Amefin earl
ESRYDD—Amefin earl
FORTRESS OF EAGLES / 459
LUND—Amefin earl
MARMASCHEN—Amefin earl
MORIDEDD—Amefin earl
MURRAS—Amefin earl
PRUSHAN—Amefin earl
PURELL—Amefin earl
TARAS—earl of Bru Marden
ZERESHADD—Amefin earl
Other Persons
Clergy / Clerics
CADELL—Bryaltine abbot in Henas’amef
FAISETH—Bryaltine nun
EMUIN UDAMAN—wizard/tutor/priest, Teranthine, tutored Cefwyn and Efanor
DEL’REZAN—Bryaltine nun
PACHYLL—priest, Teranthine patriarch in Henas’samef Military
COSSUN—armorer
ENNYN—Guelen Guard second in Command
GEDD—sergeant in Tristen’s guard
AMAN—gate-guard
NEDRAS—gate-guard
NESS—gate-guard
SELMWY—cousin of Ness at town gate
WYNEDD—Guelen Guard commander
Minor Officials
TASSAND—started as Cefwun’s servant, now Tristen’s chief of household
HAMAN—stablemaster at Henas’samef
Local Gentry
ARDWYS—thane of Sagany, leader of the peasant contingent from Sagany and Pacewys
460 / C. J. CHERRYH
Miscellaneous
AULD SYES— witch, in Emwyn village, near Althalen PAISI—street urchin
SEDDIWY—Shadow, Auld Syes’s child
WYDNIN—former junior archivist
Places, Titles, et cetera
AETHELING, ATHELING—title, used instead of king in Amefel; royal in their province
ALTHALEN—old Sihhë capita, where last of Sihhë died, now Tristen’s in ruins, banner is silver Star and Tower on black
AMEFIN—of Amefel province
ANAS MALLORN—Amefin village, on riverside ARDENBROOK—brook after Maudbrook on way to Henas’amef
ARREYBURN—camping spot of Emuin on the way back to Henas’amef from retreat
AVERYNE CROSSING—crossing to Guelessar from Amefel on the way out of Henas’samef
ARYS—district/town, Arys Emwy, Emwy village: destroyed when Ináreddrin was killed; district contains Althalen and Lewen field
ARYS BRIDGE—bridge near Emwy to west, where Elwynor rebels could enter Amefel
ARYS DISTRICT—near Heans’amef, contains villages of Emwy and Malitarin
ASFIAD—old name for Aswyth
ASMADDION—place in the province
ASSURN FORD—river border of the province ASSURNBROOK—river
ASWYDD, ASWYDDS—surname, Heryn’s house, also Orien’s, Tarien’s; there is Sihhë blood in this line ASWYDDIN—of the Aswydds
ASWYTH—a village
ATHEL—Amefin district bordering Mediden’s land BARADDAN—Drumman’s district, contains orchards FORTRESS OF EAGLES / 461
BRU MARDAN—Taras district
BRYN—Cuthan’s estate
CEYL, TRYS—TRYS CEYL—Amefin village south of Henas’samef
DOR ELEN—Anzant’s district, orchard district DRUN, TRYS DRUN—next to Trys Ceyl, village south of Henas’amef
EALDORMAN, EALDORMEN—council of Henas’amef EDLINNADD—old name for Ellinan
ELLINAN—a village
EMWY—village/district, see: Arys, Arys Emwy, Emwy village EMWYSBROOK—brook near Emwy
FOREST OF AMEFEL—near Althalen
GRAYFROCK, GRAYROBE—nickname for Emuin
HAWWYVALE—village
HEN AMAS—old name for Henas’amef
HENAS’AMEF—capital of the province
KATHSEIDE—old name of Zeide, fortress in Henas’amef LEVEY—Amefin village, part orchard, part pastrurage for flocks
LEWEN—brook giving its name to area of battle LEWEN FIELD, LEWEN PLAIN—near Althalen, battlefield where Hausfin was destroyed
LEWENBROOK—brook
LEWENFORD—area of battle, see Lewen field LEWENSIDE—area of battle, see Lewen field LYSALIN—Amefin village
MALDY VILLAGE—Amefin village with crossing to Elwynor MALITARIN—Amefin village two hours from Henas’samef MALLORN, ANAS, ANAS MALLORN—Amefin village on riverside
MARGREIS—ruined village, haunt of outlaws, near Emwy 462 / C. J. CHERRYH
MARNA, MARNA WOOD—haunted forest
MARSHAL OF ALTHALEN—Tristen’s title, bestowed by Cefwyn
MASSITBROOK—camping spot on way to Lewen field for Cefwyn and troops
MASTER GRAYROBE, GRAYFROCK—nickname, refers to Emuin, wizard/tutor/priest, Teranthine MAUDBROOK—on the way to Henas’amef
MAUDBROOK BRIDGE—bridge on the way to Henas’amef MEIDEN—sheep district; banner: blue with gold sun PACEWYS—Amefin village, sent troops to Lewen field, commanded by Lord Ardwys, thane of Sagany PADYS SPRING—one hour south of Henas’amef, once called Batherys
RAGISAR—Amefin village
RAVEN’S KNOB—past Emwy on way to Lewen field, Lewenbrook near Althalen
SAGANY—Amefin village on way to Althalen and Lewen field, sent troop to Lewen field commanded by Lord Ardwys, thane of Sagany SAGANY ROAD—on way to Althalen and Lewen field TAS ADEN—town in Meiden
TRYS, TRYS CEYL—Amefin town near Trys Drun ZEIDE—shortened name for Kathseide fortress in Henas’amef
CARYS—northern province
GUELESSAR—north-central province; banner: quartered,
gold Dragon on red, gold Quinalt sigil on black
Royalty
SELWYN MARHANEN—Cefwyn’s grandfather, king of Ylesuin; banner: gold dragon on red
FORTRESS OF EAGLES / 463
INÁREDDRIN MARHANEN—king of Ylesuin, father of Cefwyn and Efanor
CEFWYN MARHANEN—third king of the Marhanen dynasty, brother of Efanor IDRYS—Lord Commander of the Dragon Guard ANNAS—Cefwyn’s chief of household in both Amefel and Guelessar. Later Lord Chamberlain
LASIEN—senior page at Henas’amef
EFANOR MARHANEN—His Royal Highness, Duke of Guelessar, Prince of Ylesuin
GWYWYN—soldier, Ináreddrin’s captain at Althalen, made captain of Efanor’s guard at Guelemara
Lesser Royalty / Household
ALWY—Ninévrisë’s maid and one of Cefwyn’s former lovers BRYSAULIN—Lord Chancellor after Cefwyn is crowned CRESSEN—Lady, one of Cefwyn’s former lovers FISYLLE—Lady, one of Cefwyn’s former lovers TRALLYNDE—Lady, one of Cefwyn’s former lovers PARSYNAN—Guelen gentry, Cefwyn’s viceroy at Amefel until Tristen’s appointment as lord of Amefel
Horses
ARYNY—heavy, warhorse, full sister to Dys and Kanwy DANVY—Cefwyn’s light horse
DRUGYN�
��Idrys’ warhorse, black stablemate of Cass, Kanwy, and Dys
KANWY—Cefwyn’s warhorse, black
SYNANNA—blaze-faced black, usually Efanor’s horse
Clergy/Clerics
PATRIARCH—priest, absolute head of Quinalt sect 464 / C. J. CHERRYH
JORMYS—Quinaltine priest, serves Efanor
BENWYN—Bryalt sect, assigned as Ninévrisë’s priest BAREN—Quinaltine doctrinist
NEISWYN—doctrinist among the Quinaltines UDRYN—Quinaltine doctrinist
Military
ANWYLL—captain of the guard, assigned to Amefel under Uwen
KERDIN QWYLL’S-SON—Kerdin, second-in-command under Idrys, captain of Guelen Guard, died at Lewen field ESSAN—captain of Guelen Guard in Guelessar ANDAS—soldier, eleven years in Dragon Guard; Andas’
son, Tristen’s banner-bearer, was killed at Lewen field BROGI—soldier
BRYS—soldier in Anwyll’s company
COSSELL—soldier in Anwyll’s company
HAWITH—soldier killed at Emwy, one of Cefwyn’s men JEONY—soldier, killed at Emwy
LEFHWYN—soldier, rode with Cefwyn at Emwy NYDAS—soldier, rode with Cefwyn at Emwy
PELANNY—soldier, Guelen scout, presumed dead or taken by Aseynéddin at Lewen field
PEYGAN—armorer for Cefwyn at Henas’amef, old friend of Uwen’s, married to Margolis
PRYAS—King Cefwyn’s messenger
Minor officials / Household
MARGOLIS—wife of Peygan the armorer. One of Ninévrisë’s ladies
MESINIS—slightly deaf clerk
TAMURIN—Cefwyn’s accountant
FORTRESS OF EAGLES / 465
Other Persons
ROSYN—Cefwyn’s tailor in both Henas’amef and Guelemara
Places, Titles, et cetera
AMYNYS—river, old boundary of Guelemara
AN’S-FORD—town, on road between Guelemara and Henas’amef
ANWYFAR—Teranthine retreat near Arreyburn BLUE HALL—place, in Guelemara, in palace CLUSYN, CLUSYN MONASTERY—Quinaltine religious house in Guelessar
CRESSITBROOK—town near Guelemara
CROWN WALL—Guelenfort’s official limit
DARY—Guelen village at first ring road outside Guelemara DRYSHAM—Guelen village
DURY—Guelen village