The Kinstrife

Part 4

In which Doronil and friends show no change; Aerin gains much glassware and small rodents; Hirluin reluctantly speaks of the banquet; Aerin proves it was the candles; and Ragnor has a strange, troubling but invigorating dream.

March 30^th 1441 – mid-morning

Taking leave of my father, Brand and I go to the Houses of Healing where I tell Aerin that father has chosen her to lead the investigation, as someone with no connection to any family or political faction in Pelargir. She admits to feeling honoured. (The healers accept Aerin for the nonce as knowledgeable about their profession, though how they react should they discover her mixed parentage is perhaps another thing. Luckily for her, her appearance and manner suggest nothing save full blood.)

Then the healers allow me to see Doronil. He and his friends are alive; they breathe and drink but remain unconscious. The healers have seen nothing like it. Fearful that whoever is responsible may try to finish the survivors, I warn the healers to guard against intruders. They offer to keep a watch over him but their ethos is to allow free access to all comers and they lack both the force and the mentality to prevent a determined assassin.

We escort Aerin to the Palace. She will need certain equipment: glassware, unguents and test animals. I direct Mirien to order her list of requirements and ensure delivery to Neithan's Pelargir house. We also take samples of the food and drink and forward them to Neithan's house.

Brand suggests all wines from the same cases as those on the table are locked away for safety though this is probably a little extreme. I ask Mirien to have the room thoroughly scrubbed by servants wearing gloves before ordering a cold lunch in an ante-room.

Then we leave her to it; she's more than capable of seeing to the myriad details than are we. Instead we enquire after the two people who left before the poisoning. I do not trouble Princess Telerien but her health is confirmed.

While Brand visits the Loremasters to enquire after magic that could do what happened last night, Aerin and pay a visit to Hirluin, who left the banquet in something of a huff, according to the servants. He is the brother of my brother's wife, Angawen, of House Alcariale, which means he is family.

We find him healthy, a fine figure of a man, tall and athletic, though clearly very worried over the consequences, both socially and from officialdom, of the events of last night. He is obviously aware that the authorities will be very interested in talking to the one person who dined with the Princess last night without ill-effects. He opens by asking if I come officially or whether I bring the Pelargir garrison. I assure him that I come as a private individual and introduce him to Aerin.

Initially he is very reluctant to discuss the banquet. Though he claims it is because he doesn’t want to repeat himself when the official investigators come, it is obvious that in truth he is scared of the repercussion to himself and his family. However, I remind him that we are family and he relents.

Princess Telerien organised the dinner with her six most eligible suitors. Hirluin uses the term 'ego-massage' – apparently she was merely basking in the attention, which is probably a young princess' privilege. I don’t expect her suitors found the event too onerous (until they started dying, of course).

Hirluin gives eloquent little précis of his fellow guests: Tegilbor – diplomatic and reserved; Valadan – making eyes; Merethin – talking politics; Nastarthil – playing on his elder statesman image. (I notice Hirluin tactfully avoids offering a character-sketch of my brother.) Hirluin brought wine from Dorwinion, Nastarthil something undrinkable from the Raj but most brought something, Doronil provided the premises, of course.

The Princess behaved appropriately according to her station throughout, which does not surprise me in the slightest, before withdrawing around midnight.

Obviously reluctant to talk about it, nonetheless I have to ask why he alone left early. He admits that he would gladly marry Telerien if for a moment he thought he had a chance, but evidently he feels he doesn't. This is interesting, as compared with the others, I would have thought his credentials: appearance, lineage, station and accomplishments, would give him as good a chance as any of the others and better than, say, Doronil or Nastarthil. If true, it suggests the Princess is still waiting for 'Mr Right'. It would also seem that she needs to mature a little herself, before entering matrimony.

After the Princess had withdrawn, shortly before midnight, Hirluin admits to having spoken his mind regarding his opinions of others around the table. I feel there is something missing here; why should it be Hirluin who speaks so provocatively when all the men around the table might be viewed as competitors? It seems everyone else behaved amicably enough, enjoying the party for what it was. Perhaps someone deliberately needled him?

I wonder if he might have had a contretemps with a specific individual? If it were with Doronil, he could hardly remain under the roof of our house. On the other hand, Doronil is not exactly a 'provocative' personality and it is more likely that such an argument might be with a suitor more likely to attain the Princess' hand. (Privately, I wonder if Telerien's occasional encouragement of my brother isn't simply a ploy to keep her other suitors on their toes.)

Despite what he says, I have a feeling that Hirluin cannot be far from the top of list of Telerien's suitors.

I'm sure Hirluin was not being entirely open with us, though it was hardly meet to press him. I may return to coax him in to being more forthcoming later – assuming his fears regarding arrest do not materialise.

Aerin asked if he could think of anyone who might be responsible for the poisoning. He named Falkor, Aragost and Haldan as all unpleasant men who might believe themselves with a realistic chance of marrying Telerien, but I thought he felt he was clutching at straws and does not really believe they're guilty.

I escort Aerin back to her lodgings, where Mirien's industry is apparent. I leave her setting to work while I return up the hill to keep father abreast of developments. I want to know what he thinks.

Later that afternoon, Aerin sends word that she has isolated a blueish substance from the candle stub that tests on rodents reveals to be the likely agent. She knows what it does but does not yet know what it is. Once she can name it, perhaps the Healers will be able to produce an antidote?

I turn in but my sleep is troubled. I dream of an ocean-going caravel tossed in a storm. The sails have been shredded and waves threaten to engulf the ship. The crew cannot understand why Uinen has withdrawn her blessing but one opines that their cargo, a treasure – and I just know, in the manner of dreams, that it is that treasure – is cursed!

The caravel founders but not before the master curses he who has brought this curse upon his ship, asking that Uinen withdraw her blessing from him (me) and his family.

As the sea closes over their watery grave, I hear a voice as of a Maiar, "Uinen may have withdrawn her blessing but she did not send the storm. You are now beholden to me, son of Olthador".

I awoke with forboding but feeling strangely invigorated, not at all as if I had awoken from a nightmare. Nonetheless I feel this was a true vision; I saw the fate of my father's treasure ship. The Queen's Treasure shall not reach her father in Umbar after all. I have no doubt this is a good thing, yet I fear the repercussions to my family. To whom did that final voice belong?

I may have to seek spiritual advice, should further repercussions manifest.