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"There. It is done, Your Grace. We are secure."
"That quickly?" said Edward, looking startled. "Thought you would have to
burn foul magic powders or recite an incatation incan "
"Incantation, Your Grace? No. Such are needed only by beginners in the Art.
One experienced in the Art is like a ruler who says 'let this be done' and it
is accomplished. Say what you will, now. No one will be able to overhear."
Edward looked at Jim with the first expression Jim had ever seen on his face
of frank admiration.
"Say you so?" he asked.
"I do indeed," said Jim.
"Good! That is all I desire. Well, James, the matter is this by the by, I am
making great strides upward in my father's estimation. Sometimes I think we
could almost be back in the happy days of thechevaucbiintoFrance that ended so
well atCrecy & Still, I must face facts.Cumberland will not stay long
separated from the King, the fount of all he's gained over the years, and then
I shall shortly have my reputation in my father's mind to do all over again.
What is needed is a voice other thanCumberland 's, when I am no longer with my
father to protect myself from my half-uncle's lies and slanders."
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He paused and directed a sharp gaze at Jim.
"You understand the need?"
"Yes indeed, Your Grace. Unfortunately, I and those who came with me are only
going to be here these three days "
"Yes, yes, we'll see how things work out. But by clever use of you while
you're here, much good may be done. Now, my father thinks well of Mortimer,
here. He has managed to let it slip into my father's ear that it was he,
rather thanCumberland , who suggested thiscastleofTiverton , with its
cleanliness and excellent staff, as a safe place for the King of England in
this time of plague."
"Ah?" said Jim.
"Yes indeed," replied Edward, "and well indeed he did so,Cumberland would
never have given him credit for it. Consequently, my father thinks well of
Mortimer but not enough to have his voice outweigh that of an Earl who is his
half-brother. Rank alone is not the problem witness Chandos, who has chosen in
spite of many chances to advance himself, to be no more than a knight, yet
Chandos' voice is the single one at court that my father will listen to in
counter to Cumberland's."
"He is a peerless knight," said Jim and meant it.
"Indeed. But above all there is one thing the lack of which will make
Mortimer's voice in my father's ears always less than that ofCumberland . It
is not that he is French which is slander. Not but what they are many great
men of war inFrance wearing the swordbelt and golden spurs of knighthood& No,
Chandos is a war captain of all inEngland the wisest. So isCumberland , and my
father, of course. But poor Mortimer here, through no fault of his own, has
never seen a battle, nor has he a name for recontres with other, single
knights."
"But a man can be a man for all that," said Jim, giving the customary answer
to this sort of personal history.
"Exactly. But the Countess said something exactly what, I forget that started
an idea in my head. I had watched happily my father's pleasure in accounts of
recontres and other weapon-work, and it occurred to me that if Mortimer should
fight one of you three paladins, with blunted weapons of course, for the
King's amusement, and do well I do not say win it might raise him greatly in
my father's opinion and make his words much more of a counterweight to
Cumberland's foul lies. It should not be you he should fight, of course, too
much honor in it, and of course there would be no hope at all of him looking
good."
If you only knew! thought Jim.
" and the archer, of course, is not a fit opponent for any belted knight. But
Sir Brian would be an excellent middling choice."
Edward paused, almost beaming at Jim and obviously waiting for applause.
Hell's bells! thought Jim. Aside from this assumption that a guest should be
casually drafted into a mock duel with blunted weapons only slightly less
dangerous to life and limb than sharp ones the idea was the worst in the
world. He had to spike the whole notion, somehow without offending the Prince,
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and do it right now.
"A charming thought, Your Grace!" he said. "And one which Sir Brian will be
overjoyed to hear. Yet if I might mention one point& "
"One point?" Edward's beam was suddenly a frown almost a scowl.
"Why yes, with your indulgence. I think you ought to know that after such a
trial with blunted weapons at Malencontri one day, it was Chandos himself who
named Sir Brian one of the best swords ofEngland ."
Edward stared.
"Chandos said that?" he managed after a moment. "He must have been speaking
of you."
"Forgive me, Your Grace, but I assure you he was not. I had not had sword in
hand that day, and it chanced that Sir Brian and Chandos, with sharpened
swords but in play, of course, were contesting Chandos' entrance to my Great
Hall."
The Prince looked visibly shaken. Inwardly Jim heaved a sigh of relief. He
had been afraid that Edward might have outgrown his younger hero-worship of
Chandos.
"Well, well!" said the Prince, still half-shaken but also half admiringly.
"He did indeed say it to Sir Brian, then!"
"So he did," said Jim, "and in such a voice that all around heard. So it
strikes me there is some danger he might show so much superiority over Sir
Mortimer as to diminish what credit Sir Mortimer would get from this, and as
you say, Daffyd ap Hywel is not of rank to encounter with a knight, while
certain obligations of my own to the Collegiate of Magickians& "
"Well, yes of course!" said Edward, rising like a buoyant ship from the
monster wave of a suddenly storm-wracked sea. "But Mortimer is no village lout
with his sword, and of course you could, you understand, mention to Sir Brian
how much I and for that matter he stands to gain from this exhibition if he&
well& you understand& "
Real anger was kindling in Jim, now.
"I fear, Your Grace," he said stiffly, "I would not know how to go about
doing that."
"Eh?" Edward stiffened, a thundercloud beginning to take possession of his
brow now at this, almost a direct denial.
"Sir Brian, like Chandos, has always most strictly observed his knightly
vows, one of which was to always do his utmost. I don't believe it would
accord with his honor to do anything else, and, to tell you the truth, I don't
think it would accord with mine to suggest it to him."
Braced as he was for the roof to fall in, to Jim's utter astonishment the
thundercloud vanished. Edward smiled ruefully, and his whole body relaxed.
"Certainly, all my hopes depend upon Sir Mortimer here making a good showing
to my father. But that the day should come that I ask a knight to go against
his vows, may Heaven forbid! We must trust in Mortimer's good right arm and
what skills he has learned from some fine swordsmen, and we all knowFrance has
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those who are among the best. Come, Mortimer!"
He started to turn toward the door, but Mortimer spoke up.
"By your leave, Your Grace," he said. "A moment more only. I would say just a
word to my lord."
Edward turned back.
"I would say two things, my lord," went on Mortimer, but now to Jim. "One is
that in spite of the accident of life that caused me to be brought up inFrance
a land that is dear to my heart but not my own land and named with a French
title "
Jim suddenly remembered that the French laws of inheritance differed from
those ofEngland . InEngland only the oldest son of a noble family was
entitled. InFrance , as in some other European countries, all the sons were.
That explained the hard time Mortimer had gone through, before finding a niche
at theEnglish Court , if he was only a second, or even later, son.
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