‘You wished to see me, my lord?’ Audren stepped forwards, through the door and into the presence of the Dire Master. The large stone room was sparsely furnished with an ornate bed in one corner, a desk in another, and not much besides. As the Black Fay standing by the desk turned towards him, he gave a perfunctory bow, then awaited his sworn lord’s pleasure.
The Dannang looked him up and down, scrutinizing him with his black eyes. ‘Yes, and no.’
‘My lord?’
‘I do need to speak with you, but I really have no desire to be in your company.’
Outwardly, Audren showed no sign of alarm, but he flinched mentally. To receive such an insult so soon in their meeting was a definitive signal that all was not well. He made a quick review of all his recent actions; he could think of nothing he had done that might have displeased. He had followed every order given him...
The harsh and unforgiving voice of his lord slammed into his thoughts, driving them apart. ‘I have not been very impressed by your efforts as of late, Audren.’
‘Why not?’
The Dire Master regarded him coldly. ‘We lost the war, did we not?’
‘Yes.’ Audren caught a glimpse of what the Dire Master was getting at and realized that he might well be in serious trouble not too far in the future if he did not watch his step. ‘But that was not my fault. I did all you asked of me.’
‘But nothing more.’
The halfling felt his short temper wearing thin. ‘I stopped Lador from fighting, just as you commanded.’
‘Lador? What is Lador to me?’
‘That is what I was told to do!’
‘And so that is all you did? Had even Iradale stayed behind...’
‘You wanted me,’ Audren asked incredulously, ‘to keep both Lador and Iradale from the war? If that is so, why didn’t you say?’
‘It was not precisely my plan, but-’
Audren interrupted him, to angry to care that the Dire Master could have him killed if he so chose. ‘And even if you had, it would have been impossible! I hold no power in Iradale!’
‘You are the son of the daughter of the Master there, and yet you say you have no power?’
‘That is so.’ Had he not been hoping to ask a favor of the Dire Master, Audren would have left right then and there. ‘It was hard enough to keep the messengers away from Lador. My lord, you accuse me unfairly. I have done more than asked of me.’ He fixed the Dannang with his gaze. ‘Or have you forgotten that I killed my father for you? My own father. It is true that I had no high regard nor love for him, but he was my father all the same. And for you, for the Deathring, I put the dagger in his throat myself.’
‘And saved your own hide at the same time. That, I believe, was more important to you than the Deathring’s triumph at the time. Go now; I have no more need of you at the moment. Watch carefully what you choose to do.’ He sat at the desk and paid no more attention to Audren.
The halfling spoke. ‘My lord, wait.’ The Dannang looked up and stared at him expectantly. ‘Could I stay in the Deathring? Lador will find out that the war is finished at some time, and-’
‘And you don’t want to be there when that day comes.’ Audren nodded and waited for the reply. ‘No. You will return to Lador. I will watch you; if you are still living in a month, you may come to live here. And if not...’ He let the silence hang uncomfortably for a moment before going on. ‘Then I think you will deserve what the Ladorans give you. Now leave.’