Crown Disowned

One Rohan tightened his gripon the hilt of his sword, though he did not unsheathe the weapon. Much depended on this meeting between himself, as leader of the Sea-Rovers, and Tusser, leader of the Bog-people. Instead of returning to Rendelsham as Granddam Zazar had instructed him, or even to the Oakenkeep, he had gone south to New Vold, wanting the companionship of blood kindred. There he had learned that the Bog-people had resumed their raids on farms and small holdings. "Hunger drives them," Snolli said, "but that doesn't put bread on our table. These raids must cease." "I agree, but not for the reasons you think." "Then give me the benefit of your wisdom, young Rohan." Rohan did his best to ignore the heavy irony of his grandfather's tone. "We should make a treaty with, them," he said. "And I suppose that means we feed them as well," Snolli replied more than a little sourly. "Yes. It is certain," he told Snolli, "that we will need the help of the Bog-men when the Great Foulness from the North comes, and a little grain now and then is a small price to pay. Hard times are upon us all." Snolli shook his head. "I have almost come to believe that what we fled is no longer interested in us. If Kasai wasn't always stroking that drum of his" The Spirit Drummer looked up from where he sat near the fireplace. "Be glad I do it, Chieftain," he said. "You'd have been in more than one pretty pickle before now, if it wasn't for me." "But what have your foretellings come to?" the aging leader of the Sea-Rovers demanded. "Nothing!" "Not yet," Kasai muttered, as if to himself. "Not yet. But soon, yes, very soon..." "Rubbish," Snolli declared stubbornly. "Nothing but rubbish." And so, despite his grandfather's dismissive words but with the warning of the Spirit Drummer still in his ears, Rohan had decided to seek out the Bog-men on his own and make alliance. Surely Snolli wouldn't do it of his own accord, Rohan thought, and much as he admired and respected Gaurin, leader of the Nordors, husband of his stepmother Ashen, he doubted that Gaurin would have thought of such a move, either. Bog-men were of no consequence to the Nordors, nor to the people of Rendel, whence the Nordors had come for refuge, as had the Sea-Rovers. Yet, Rohan knew in his heart that all those who were able would be needed when the fighting came. With that in mind, he had sought Granddam Zazar's help in setting up this meeting with Tusser. Though word had come that Tusser's father, Joal, had gone to the deep pools alive, Rohan knew that it was just a story told to frighten those who heard it Even Zazar had been taken in until she realized the ruse to give Tusser's claim to be headman legitimacy. Joal had not died; he had merely been hidden away until Tusser was accepted by all in his village. Rohan's grandfather Snolli lived also, though both men had long ago retired from such pleasant pastimes as making war on each other. Rohan hoped to make of that a common bond, through which he and Tusser might come to an agreement. Also, though this was something he was reluctant to admit even to himself, it was in the direction of the Bog that he had last heard tell of this sweetheart, Anamara, traveling. Still under the effects of a spell the wicked Sorceress had put on her in Rendelsham, she could well be excepted to return to the place where, convinced she was a bird in human form, she imagined she belonged. Orhe hardlyNorton, Andre is the author of 'Crown Disowned' with ISBN 9780812577600 and ISBN 0812577604.