Free Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan Page B

menfolk do all the dangerous work. She's proved that already. She's already done more, seen more than most men will manage in their entire lives. The girl has a taste for adventure and you won't break her of it. Personally, when I see the character and courage of the person who will succeed you, I thank the good lord for it. You're a good King, your majesty. And she'll be a good Queen. But you have to give her the chance.'

King Duncan's shoulders slumped as he realised she was right. He allowed himself a tired grin in her direction., He spread his hands in a gesture of surrender and returned to the high-backed chair.

'What ever made me think you'd be on my side?' he asked her. Lady Pauline allowed herself a smile in return.

'We're re all on your side,' she replied. 'You were the only one out of step.' She paused, then urged him gently. 'Shall I call the others back in?'

He nodded. 'Why ask me? It's all of you who are making the decisions.'

    ***

The group filed back into the room, taking their former positions around the desk.

They cast curious glances at Lady Pauline, trying to gauge what had passed while they'd been waiting in the anteroom outside. But the diplomat was skilled in hiding her feelings and gave them no hint as to what had been decided.

Duncan sat, his elbows on the table, his head in his hands, while he marshalled his thoughts. When the usual shuffling and moving and settling into seats was done, he looked up at the group surrounding him.

'Very well,' he said at length, 'I've decided. Cassandra will carry out the negotiations with the Arridi.'

There was a quick intake of breath from his daughter, then she hurriedly rearranged her features, on the chance that he might change his mind. He glanced at her and nodded. Then he fixed his gaze straight in front of him again.

'Halt, you'll go with her as her chief adviser. Help her in the negotiations and protect her.'

'Yes, sir,' Halt said impassively.

'Will, you'll go too, of course,' the King said. 'You've kept her safe before. Do it again.'

'Yes, sir,' Will said, grinning broadly. He had assumed that he would accompany his mentor but one never knew. Then it got even better.

'Horace, just in case they can't manage it between them, you're going as Cassandra's personal bodyguard. Understand?'

'Yes, your majesty,' Horace said, and he and Will exchanged grins. Will mouthed the words 'like old times' and Horace nodded. Cassandra beamed at the two of them and moved a little closer to them. Off to one side, a frown touched Alyss's face.

'Right. Now, in addition to the three of you, I'll want to send a reasonable force as well. Say, twenty armed men from the Royal Guard.' The King paused as Halt raised a hand to interject. 'Yes?'

'Sir, we won't need them,' he began but the King interrupted him.

'This is not a matter of your ego, Halt. I'm not happy about sending my daughter on this mission in the first place and I do insist you need an adequate force to protect her. You three aren't enough in my estimation.'

'I agree, your majesty. But you're forgetting we'll have thirty fully armed Skandians with us as well. They're the best fighting men in the world.'

Horace couldn't help himself. He grunted in agreement, then hastily made a gesture of apology for interrupting. The King looked from Halt to Horace, then back to Halt again.

'You trust them?' he asked bluntly and Halt nodded.

'With my life, your majesty.'

Duncan fingered his chin thoughtfully. 'It's not your life I'm worried about.'

'I'd trust them with my life too, Dad,' Cassandra said firmly.

Halt added further reassurance.

"I'll have Svengal swear a helmsman's oath that he and his men will protect her. Once they've done that, you'd have to kill all thirty of them before you even got near Cassandra.'

Duncan drummed his fingers, considering. Eventually, he gave in. 'All right then. But I want to make sure.' He looked keenly around the room. 'Gilan, you'll go too.'

'Yes sir!' Gilan said eagerly.