Free Tales of Downfall and Rebirth by S. M. Stirling Page A

shock or outrage in it, as there would have been if he’d been concealing his history and suddenly exposed.
    Lester belched. He was contemplating the Saskatoon jelly, the color of it, Finch suspected. How did he make his totems so lifelike? Carved Scouts, placed carefully at the Morrowland borders and hard to tell from real guards, might deter casual trespassers.
    *   *   *
    â€œIf Charlie was forced, Baron, would you leave him in peace?”
    â€œIf the story is true, certainly.” Huon shook his head. “If he’s one of the CUT magi we’ve been tracking, he’s a danger to you all.”
    â€œWe’ve bagged a couple of the tormented folk. We haven’t been worried about Charlie,” Chief Lundy said.
    â€œPerhaps you should be,” he said. “The damage a magus can do is incalculable.”
    â€œAww, he’s fine.” But Lundy’s gaze flicked to Lester, and he seemed disturbed by the suggestion.
    â€œOur King, Artos, carries the Sword of the Lady. It tells him whether someone is lying.”
    â€œMystic bullshit detector?” Lester said.
    â€œIf Charlie is one of them, or if he sought their influence at any time, it would reveal the truth.”
    â€œTell us about it,” Lundy said, by which he meant he wanted the whole story of the Quest. Huon told him, in detail, and if the hour it took wore on his patience, it did not show.
    â€œMay we tell this tale?” Lundy asked.
    â€œYes.” Huon had apparently had time, as he spoke, to think the present matter through. “If the baker was innocent, why did he run?”
    â€œLittle thing called fear, maybe?”
    â€œMaybe. If he returned with us and faced the Sword, I believe the King and Queen would show mercy.”
    â€œMercy? To someone who threatened their infant?” Lester leaned in.
    â€œThey have been reasonable, even kind, to those touched by the actions of traitors.” The Baron’s voice was steady.
    â€œI doubt the Council would agree to send Charlie off on a maybe.” Lundy shook his head. “Too easy to lose him on the way, have an accident . . .”
    The young knight stiffened, taking offence.
    â€œThese things do happen,” Huon agreed. “But no harm would come to him by our hand. And . . . I could give my word that if he was exonerated, he would be returned.”
    â€œYou’d guarantee your King’s mercy?”
    â€œMaybe.” Huon was considering, and Finch sensed that the prospect pained him.
    He could probably tell, himself, if the baker was still under CUT thrall—he’d come close to ending up that way himself. The question, with Huon, would be whether he had truly been surprised by the badge-wielding invaders, or had courted them.
    Lester gave him that hunter’s look.
    â€œWould you take warriors with you, some of the rodeo clowns? To see to his safety?”
    â€œCertainly.”
    â€œOr leave a hostage?” Lester gestured at Finch.
    Finch felt herself twitch as all the men’s attention focused on her.
    Say yes,
she thought, though her heart was hammering: the truth about this baker must be exposed, for everyone’s sake.
    Huon put his large hand over her mittened one.
    â€œTrust isn’t grass, Lester, to spring up after a night’s rain. It grows slowly, like the trees. Everyone here understands that this friendship between us has only just been seeded.”
    One of the musicians mouthed the words, clearly liking the phrases, or perhaps memorizing them.
    â€œThat is a diplomat’s answer,” said Chief Lundy.
    â€œYou’ve given me a lot to think about. But the Cree should think, too. Unless King Artos were to see Charlie, he might never believe he was forced, as he says.”
    â€œBetter make more friends here at the Hoedown, then,” said Chief Lundy. “If you want any chance of taking him.”
    All day they did exactly that,