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Riding close behind； Guthwulf of Utanyeat restrained a scowl。 He； too； held an earl's title…and supposedly the king's favor…but he knew beyond doubt that the siege of Naghmund had changed everything。
He had always envisioned the day when his old rade Elias would reign as king and Guthwulf would stand at his side。 Well； Elias was king now； but somehow the rest of the story had gone wrong。 Only a fat…headed young idiot like Fengbald could be either too ignorant to notice。。。 or too ambitious to let it bother him。
Guthwulf had shorn his graying hair close to his head before the siege had started。 Now his helmet fit loosely。 Even chough he was a strong man still in the prime of his health； he felt almost as though he were shrinking away inside of his armor； being smaller and smaller。
Was he the only one uneasy； he wondered？ Perhaps he had grown soft and womanish in his too many years away from the field of battle。
But that could not be true。 It was true that during the siege a fortnight ago his heart had beaten very swiftly； but that had been the racing pulse of exhilaration； not of fear。 He had laughed as his enemies had swept down upon him。 He had broken a man's back with a single blow of his longsword； and taken blows in turn without losing his scat； handling his mount as well as he had twenty years ago…better； if anything。 No； he had not grown soft。 Not that way。
He also knew that he was not the only soul who felt a gnawing disquietude。 Though crowds stood by cheering； most of them were young bravos and drunkards from the town。 A goodly number of the windows facing Erchester's Main Row were shuttered； more than a few others showed only a stripe of darkness； out of which peered those citizens who did not care to e down and cheer the king。
Guthwulf turned his head to look for Elias； then experienced an unsettling chill when he discovered the king was already staring at him…a rapt； green stare。 Almost against his will。 Guthwulf nodded his head。 The king stiffly returned the gesture； then looked sourly out on the weling folk of Erchester。 Elias； feeling the pains of some undisclosed but minor illness； had only left his tented wagon to climb atop his black charger a furlong or so before their arrival at the city gate。 Nevertheless； he was riding well； concealing any disfort he might feel。 The king was thinner than he had been in some years； the firm line of his jaw could be seen quite plainly。 Except for his pale skin…not as obvious in the blotchy afternoon light as it sometimes was…and the distracted glare of his eyes； Elias looked slender and strong； as befitted a warrior king returning in triumph from a successful siege。
Guthwulf stole a worried glance at the double…guarded gray sword bumping in its scabbard against the king's hip。 Cursed thing！ How he wished that Elias would throw the damned blade down a well。 There was something wrong about it； Guthwulf knew that beyond question。 Some among the crowd obviously felt the uneasiness the blade engendered as well； but only Guthwulf had been in Sorrow's presence often enough to recognize the true source of their distress。
And the sword was not the only thing troubling the people of Erchester。 Just as the mounted king of the afternoon had been a sick man in a wagon at mid…moming； so also had the breaking of Naglimund been something less than a glorious victory over a usurping brother。 Guthwulf knew that even far from the scene； the citizens of Erchester and the Hayholt had e to hear something about the odd； terrible fate of Josua's castle and people。 Even if they had not； the faintly sickened expressions and bowed posture of what should be an exulting； victorious army proclaimed that all was not as it should be。
It was more than shame； Guthwulf thought； and it was more than just feeling unmanned…for him as well as for the soldiers。 It was fear they felt and could not quite hide。 Was the king mad？ Had he brought evil down on them all？ God did not fear a fight； the earl knew； or a little blood…in such ink were His intentions written； a philosopher had once said。 But； Usires curse it； this was different； was it not？
He sneaked another look at the king； his stomach churning。 Elias was listening closely to his counselor； red…robed Pryrates。 The priest's hairless head bobbed near the king's car like a skin…covered egg。
Guthwulf had considered killing Pryrates； but had decided it might only make things worse； like killing the houndkeeper when the dogs waited at one's throat。 Pryrates might be the only one left who could control the king…unless； as the Earl of Utanyeat sometimes felt sure； it was the meddling priest himself who was leading Elias down the road to perdition。 Who could know； God damn them all？ Who could know？
Perhaps in response to something Pryrates said； Elias bared his teeth in a smile as he looked over the sparseness of the cheering throng。 It was not； Guthwulf saw； the expression of a happy man。
〃I am very angry。 My patience is strained by this ingratitude。〃 The king had taken to his throne； his father John's great Dragonbone Chair。
〃Your monarch returns from war； bringing news of a great victory； and all that greets him is a paltry rabble。〃 Elias curled his lip； staring at Father Helfcene； a slightly…built priest who was also the chancellor of the mighty Hayholt。 Helfcene kneeled at the king's feet； the top of his bald head facing the throne like a pitifully inadequate shield。 〃Why was there no wele for me？〃
〃But there was； my Lord； there was；〃 the chancellor stuttered。 〃Did I not meet you at the Nearulagh Gate with all your household who remained at the Hayholt？ We are thrilled to have Your Majesty back in good health； awed by your triumph in the north！〃
〃My cringing bondsmen of Erchester did not appear to be either very thrilled or awed。〃 Elias reached for his cup。 Ever…vigilant Pryrates handed it to him； careful not to slosh the dark liquid over the rim。 The king took a long draught and made a face at its bitterness。 〃Guthwulf； did you feel that the king's subjects showed him proper fealty？〃
The earl took a deep breath before speaking slowly。 〃Perhaps they were。。。 perhaps they had heard rumors。。。〃
〃Rumors？ Of what？ Did we or did we not throw down my treacherous brother's keep at Naglimund？〃
〃Of course； my king；〃 Guthwulf felt himself far out on a slender branch。 Elias' sea…green eyes stared at him； as insanely curious as an owl's。
〃Of course；〃 the earl repeated； 〃but our 。 。 。 allies 。 。 。 were bound to cause rumor。〃
Elias turned to Pryrates。 The king's pale brow was furrowed； as though he were genuinely puzzled。 〃We have acquired mighty friends； have we not； Pryrates？〃
The priest nodded silkily。 〃Mighty friends； Majesty。〃
〃And yet they have served our will； have they not？ They have done what we wished done？〃
〃To the exact length of your intent； King Elias。〃 Pryrates snuck a glance at Guthwulf 〃They have done your will。〃
〃Well； then。〃 Elias turned； satisfied； and regarded Father Helfcene once more。 〃Your king has gone away to war and has destroyed his enemies； returning with the allegiance of a kingdom older even than the long…gone Imperium