Blood of the Fold

Richard turned, letting the cape fall open as he relaxed. Standing tall between the two Mord-Sith was a sturdily built older man with a white-flecked dark mustache, the ends of which grew down to the bottom of his jaw, and graying black hair growing down over his ears. His pate shone through where his hair was thinning.

He wore a heavy, semicircular serge cape, richly lined with green silk and fastened on one shoulder with two buttons. A tall, embroidered collar was turned down over a tan surcoat decorated with a heraldic emblem slashed through with a diagonal black line dividing a yellow and blue shield. The man's high boots covered his knees. Long black gauntlets, their flared cuffs lying over the front, were tucked through a wide belt set with an ornate buckle.

As Richard became visible before his eyes, the general's face paled and he lurched to a halt.

Richard bowed. “General Baldwin, I'm pleased to meet you. I am Richard Rahl."

The general at last regained his composure and returned the bow. "Lord Rahl, I am honored that you would see me on such short notice."

Richard gestured. "Cara, please bring a chair for the general. He must be weary from hts travel."

After Cara had placed a simple tufted leather chair before the table, and the general had seated himself, Richard sat in his own chair behind the table. "What can I do for you. General Baldwin?"

The general glanced up at Raina standing behind his left shoulder, and Cara behind his right. Both women stood relaxed and silent with their hands clasped behind their backs, sending the unequivocal message that they had no intention of going anywhere.

"You may speak freely, General. I trust these two to watch over me when I sleep."

He took a breath and seemed to relax a bit, accepting the assurance. "Lord Rahl, I've come about the queen."

Richard had thought that might be it. He folded his hands on the table. "I'm very sorry about what happened, General."

The general rested an arm on the table as he leaned in. "Yes, I've heard about the mriswith. I saw some of the loathsome beasts on the pikes outside."

Richard had to stop himself when he almost said that they might be beasts, but they weren't loathsome. A mriswith, after all, had killed Cathryn Lumholtz as she was about to murder him, but the general wasn't likely to understand, so Richard kept it to himself, and said instead, "I deeply regret that your queen was killed while under my roof."

The general flipped his hand dismissively. "I meant no imputation, Lord Rahl. What I mean is that I've come about Kelton being without a king or queen, now thai Cathryn Lumholtz is dead. She was the last successor to the throne, and with her sudden death, it presents a problem."

Richard kept his voice friendly, but official "What sort of problem? You are part of us, now."

The man distorted his features in an offhanded expression, "Yes, we received the surrender documents. But the queen who led us is now dead. While she was in power, she acted within her authority, but we find ourselves at a loss as to how to proceed."

Richard frowned. "You mean you need a new queen, or king?"

He shrugged apologetically. "It is our way to have a monarch lead our people. Even if it's only symbolic, now that we've surrendered to the union with D'Hara, it gives the Keltish people esteem to have a king or queen. Without one the people feel that they are no more than nomads, without roots — without anything in common to tie them together.

"Since there is no Lumholtz in line of succession, one of the other Houses could come to the fore. None has the right to claim the throne, but one could eventually win the right, A contested throne could cause a civil war, though."

"I see," Richard said. "You realize, of course, that whoever you choose for your king or queen doesn't make any difference as far as your surrender is concerned. The surrender is irrevocable."

"It's not so simple. That's why I've come to seek your help."

"How can I help?"

The general kneaded his chin. "You see, Lord Rahl, Queen Cathryn surrendered Kelton to you, but now she's dead. Until we have a new monarch, we are your subjects. You are the equivalent of our king until a true monarch is named. However, if one of these Houses ascends to the throne, it could be that they see it differently."

Richard kept his tone from sounding as threatening as he felt. "I don't care how they see it. That river has been crossed."

The general waggled his hand as if to implore patience. "I think the future lies with you, Lord Rahl. The problem is that if the wrong House finally comes to the throne, they might have different ideas. Quite frankly, I would never have thought that the House of Lumholtz would have chosen to go with you and D'Hara. You must have been very persuasive to make the queen see reason.