Free Darkening Skies (The Hadrumal Crisis) by Juliet E. McKenna Page B

Halferan to a scoundrel and a thief. You stood before our summer’s parliament last year and gladly assented to Minelas of Grynth’s guardianship on the basis of documents which we now know to be base forgeries.’
    His voice shook with fury and for the first time Corrain realised Lord Licanin was as angry with himself as he was with Baron Karpis, for taking so long to realise Zurenne’s true distress.
    Licanin strode forward, walking in a wide circle to command the whole parliament’s attention. ‘If we are to consider who has safeguarded Halferan, my faithful guardsmen fought and died when those corsair raiders last attacked, intent on razing the manor to the ground.’
    ‘While my men helped burn their ships when they came to shore.’ Lord Tallat rose slowly from his seat, sweating despite the thick stone walls shielding the hall from the lingering heat as summer turned to autumn. ‘Though this is little enough to set in Raeponin’s divine scales against my most grievous error in not questioning Master Minelas’s claims. To see him revealed as a fraud and a thief and worse—’
    As he broke off with a shake of his head, Corrain tensed. Had Tallat somehow discovered Master Minelas’s wizardry?
    Could the Halferan barony weather that storm, if the parliament learned that Master Minelas hadn’t washed up on Caladhria’s shore by accident? That Baron Halferan himself had suborned the man’s magecraft, both of them defying the Archmage and Hadrumal’s edict. Until Minelas had betrayed Halferan for the sake of the greater gold the corsairs had offered him. And Corrain had been one of the few men who’d known the baron’s secret.
    But that wasn’t what Lord Tallat was struggling to say.
    ‘I owe you a considerable debt, Lord Licanin, for rescuing the Widow Halferan from the unintended consequences of my dishonour. I can only beg forgiveness of the current Baron Halferan.’ The dark haired lord bowed awkwardly towards Corrain. ‘And if we are to consider who has defended Halferan most faithfully, there can be no doubt of his loyalty. His devotion has proved stronger than Aldabreshin slave chains!’
    As unexpected voices acknowledged that with loud approval, Lord Tallat’s nerve failed him. He sat down with a jarring thump.
    Baron Karpis wasn’t bested yet. ‘Yet Captain Corrain was nowhere to be seen when the corsairs last attacked. He had long since vanished on some mysterious journey which he still has not accounted for. Nor has he ever explained his miraculous escape from the southern slavers.’
    ‘More questions which have no bearing on the validity of this marriage.’ A soberly dressed lord rose from one of the middle benches.
    Corrain recognised him, as well as the barons to either side raising their hands to support his contention. Baron Saldiray, with the lords of Taine, Myrist and Blancass.
    They had been his dead lord’s allies. They had supported Corrain’s bold plan to demand aid from Hadrumal’s wizards, renewing Caladhria’s appeals to the Archmage themselves after the former Baron Halferan’s death.
    Even after the Archmage’s unwavering refusal had hardened the barons’ unease about dealing with wizards into outright dislike, it seemed they believed Corrain had somehow secured magic to defend Caladhria. So if they helped give him Halferan, he would be honour bound to give them such help if the corsairs returned.
    He could only hope they never discovered the true disgrace of his debt to wizardry.
    Baron Karpis snorted, this time with outrage.
    ‘My lords?’ Baron Ferl was on his feet, swift to read the mood in the hall. ‘Shall we vote? That will at least tell us if there is anything more to be gained by debate.’
    ‘I agree,’ Lord Licanin said promptly. ‘Let those approving this new Baron Halferan show their assent!’
    Corrain raised his head and squared his shoulders, standing in the middle of the flagstones. He looked at that far window as the lords muttered and argued