Free Knights of Dark Renown by David Gemmell

chattels taken by the crown or the crown’s agents. In Mactha the agent will, of course, be the Duke.’
    ‘And how, may I ask, are we to describe who is a Nomad? They have been among us for hundreds of years; it is said that many noble families have Nomad blood.’
    ‘You know of such families?’ Okessa asked, leaning forward, his eyes gleaming.
    ‘Not with any certainty.’
    ‘Then be careful of what you say. It is decreed that the Nomads are a tainted people and they must be removed from the kingdom.’
    ‘Thank you for this advance intelligence,’ said Errin, forcing a smile. ‘Be assured I shall act upon it.’
    ‘I hope that you do. By the way, this matter of Ollathair intrigues me. Tell me, would you know of any craftsman or landholder around Mactha with only one good eye?’
    ‘I do not make it my business to mix with the lower orders, Lord Seer, but I shall have enquiries made for you.’
    ‘Thank you. Would you treat the matter with some urgency-?’-
    ‘I will indeed.’
    Errin had gone straight to the Duke, who took him to his private apartments in the west tower.
    ‘It is not for us to question a royal decree,’ the Duke pointed out. ‘And let us not forget the question of increased wealth. You and I are in a fortunate position. Neither of us has any Nomad blood in our family lines; we can only benefit.’
    Errin had nodded. He had always known the Duke was a hard and cruel man, but he had believed there was also a certain nobility of spirit in him. Now as he looked into the Duke’s dark eyes he saw only greed. The Duke of Mactha stood and smiled. Taller than Errin - who had once been his page - he was a handsome man approaching forty years of age, with a carefully cut and combed forked beard. ‘Do not fret about a few peasants, Errin. Life is too short.’
    ‘I am thinking of my manservant, Ubadai. He has been a faithful companion - and he saved my life. You remember? The bear hunt, when my horse fell? The beast would have torn me to pieces, but Ubadai leapt from his horse to the bear’s back.’
    ‘A brave move, but is that not what we expect from our followers? Give him money and send him to Gar-aden. Now, let us move to happier matters. The King is coming to Mactha in the spring and I want you to be the Lord of the Feast.’
    ‘Thank you, my Lord. You do me great honour.’
    ‘Nonsense, Errin, you are one of the finest organizers I know. The worst swordsman and the finest cook!’ The Duke had chuckled, and Errin had bowed and left the room.
    Now, here before the fire, his heart was heavy and his mind full of foreboding.
    Okessa was a snake, and it would be long before Errin would forget the malevolence in his eyes as he had asked,
‘You know of such families?’
It was that alone which had saved the one-eyed Craftsman, Ruad Ro-fhessa. Errin would never deliver any man into the hands of the Lord Seer. But where did that leave him?
    Lost in thought, he did not notice Ubadai approaching. ‘Food,’ said the servant, placing a silver tray beside Errin’s chair.
    ‘I am not hungry.’
    Ubadai looked long into Errin’s pale face. ‘Some bad thing, hey? No drink. No food.’
    ‘You must leave Mactha... tonight. Take all Nomad servants with you and make for the forest. Beyond it is the sea. Get as far from the realm as you can.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘To stay is to die. All Nomads are to be herded to Gar-aden. It is a place of death, Ubadai; I can feel it. Prepare the servants.’
    ‘It is done,’ Ubadai assured him.

    Ruad adjusted the silvered mirror and stropped his shaving blade against the leather hanging from the wall. Satisfied with the edge, he wetted his face with warmed water and carefully cut away the black and grey stubble.
    The face he saw was one that merited a beard, he thought: a heavy, all-disguising beard, to cover the lantern jaw and mask the gash of a mouth with its crooked teeth.
    ‘You are uglier now than ever,’ he told his reflection. Returning to his table he