The Kinstrife

Part 8

In which Doronil and friends still do not recover from klytun root poisoning; a small party; Ragnor admits to talking to Conath while on the ship and a clever lawyer sets him free; Bauglir hints at a dark enterprise for Ragnor; Ragnor's dad is most displeased; a lesson in politics for Ragnor; no one knows much about klytun root but there's a book in Minas Ithil…; georgeous Iriel announces her new job in Lond Ernil.

Evening April 2^nd 1441

So while I am reading the entry on klytun root that Aerin shows me, she receives a letter purporting to be from Brindir, the 'rebel' associate of, Echadil, the poor girl Brand shot a few days ago. She and Brand obviously think it important but feel they must postpone visiting him until tomorrow and, since I have already announced my intention to treat everyone to a congratulatory meal, we all decamp to the Houses of Healing to bestow the happy diagnosis upon my brother's nursing team.

Of course it's a little late but we find one Aromen on duty and Aerin advises him on klytun root. Aromen is uncertain if they can find an antidote for such an exotic toxin in their stocks but will ask a herbmaster on the morrow. I also ask Aerin if she can find a herbalist among the expatriate Raj community in Pelargir. She says she will do her best but I expect if there were someone more experienced than Aerin, her own practise would hardly have got off to the flying start it has.

Lastly I pen a note to Orthelion concerning the latest news of the identification of klytun root as the active poison, as I promised two days ago. Then we all repair to a suitable restaurant. After eating, I join the reveries with a brief raconteur act on stage before retiring early, trusting Brand, Aerin, Pimm and Ilvren not to disgrace themselves too badly, though I am sure they will enjoy themselves thoroughly in my absence.

April 3^rd 1441

The next morning brings Conath's trial, at which I am to appear for the defence. I'm there early, in time to see the trial of the poor wretch caught trying to free Conath. He has no defence counsel and aside from confirming his identity is asked no questions. Instead Mate Elfhild gives a straightforward account of the fight and he is duly found guilty and sentenced to hanging next morning.

Then comes Conath's trial and immediately there's a difference; for a start, he has a lawyer – expensive, so someone must like Conath. After opening remarks (Bauglir is acting as 'prosecutor' in some sort of informal sense, representing the Pelargir Port Authority, I am promptly called as the first defence witness.

The experience is sobering. I'm asked to identify myself and then whether I spoke to the accused. Since we shared a cabin for the better part of a week, it would be foolish to claim we didn't converse and I confirm we spoke about the pirate life (I was planning to offer a 'vacuous noble seeking thrilling tales' story but as soon as the defence counsel had my admission of any conversation touching upon piracy he promptly claimed immediate release of the prisoner on the grounds of an illegal interrogation with no attempt at cross-examination or verification of whether our words amounted to an actual interrogation! Well of course there had been an illegal interrogation but that's not the point. Bauglir remained completely mute.

The contrast with Conath's erstwhile rescuer could not be more acute. In his case, everything had been slanted against him. He was presumed guilty and duly found so. But Conath not only had a defence counsel, but there was also a clear strategy to use the technicality to free him regardless of guilt. The man has friends, most evidently in the way that absolutely no one, not even Bauglir, made any attempt to argue the case against him. Remarkable!

Bauglir looks like he's eating lemons. I commiserate with him and frankly he is very gracious. Bearing in mind I had single-handedly sunk his case without a ripple, he offered that, whatever I had said, Conath would have got off, purely due to the fact that no one would have believed we had not talked at all. It seems certain people want him free and they are of a stature to get what they want.

But Bauglir, admitting that 'we've lost this one', says that there may still be a way to uncover the mole in father's organisation. He asks that father and I do not appear in public together for a while. It seems he wants to make the public believe that father and I have had a falling out, perhaps allowing me to 'run away to sea' and become a pirate? Intriguing, though dangerous.

Taking my leave, I drop past the Houses of Healing and speak to Gorathan the Herbmaster: he has heard of klytun root, they use a number of preparations as sedatives, but it doesn't travel well and they have little experience with its more negative aspects. Their learning just does not cover these more exotic poisons and he does not know of a cure. However, there is a book, 'The Herbal of the Haradan Kingdoms', which is the definitive work on the flora south of Gondor. The Herbal will list klytun root if any work does and Gorathan suggests I ask the loremasters if they can locate a copy.

Well I cannot put it off any longer and report my experiences in court to father, who is strangely available in the middle of the day and I suspect he was waiting for me to put in an appearance. He is not pleased, in fact I think he was more pleased the day I accidentally set fire to some rope in our shipyard and burnt half the rigging on our largest merchantman (I was eleven, if I recall correctly) but he stifles his anger and ruefully grants me a five-minute lesson in politics (long overdue).

There are two principal factions at court, the Queen's and that of the King's uncle Morlaen, (or three if you count those loyal directly to the king, but I get the feeling that they are in the minority and that real power is debated between Mûrabeth and Morlaen. I advise father of Bauglir's message and what I believe to be its import and in return father confers the aside that Bauglir is almost certainly Cor Aran and unquestionably of the Queen's faction. Interesting, and I rather like Bauglir, too. So the Cor Aran are not all brutal thugs, then? It certainly explains his secret rendezvous with his 'cousin' at the Ethir garrison.

Father agrees that we should avoid being seen together but asserts that if I choose to follow Bauglir's suggestion, it will almost certainly mean having to a) enrol in the Cor Aran and b) formally join the Queen's faction. Father suggests I think long and hard before deciding such a difficult question. Since I had asked whose side we were on just a few days ago, it seems strange that Father is almost warning me against supporting the Queen. It seems he has been doing some hard thinking about where the family's best interests lie. He has been unable to question Khoradûr as the steward has vanished, which is hardly a surprise. I am only shocked by how long he took over it.

Finally I remark on Aerin's identification of the poison and of Herbmaster Gorathan's comments about the Herbal of the Haradan Kingdoms. Father suggests it might be a good idea for me to act as his envoy in seeking out this tome. I can consider Bauglir's suggestion while I'm about it.

Finding Brand looking slightly the worse for wear (apparently he at least thoroughly enjoyed himself last night and only got up a short while ago) I get him 'breakfasted' and then drag him down the hill to the Loremasters. Of course he is a mere apprentice, with ambitions of becoming a journeyman, but he's the only man of learning I know so he will have to do.

Actually Brand is very knowledgeable, quickly finding the listing for the book and discovering there exist two copies, one in Minas Ithil and the other in Osgiliath, which has either been burned, looted, thrown in to the Anduin or else resides in one of the innumerable sealed crates here. Together Brand and I trawl through the acquisitions list, giving contents of boxes opened, but finding nothing. Alas it would take too long to open every crate so it looks as though I shall be Father's 'envoy' to Minas Ithil.

Before we leave, the rather gorgeous Iriel accosts Brand, asking him if he knows the whereabouts of Amlaith. This was the loremaster Brand was looking for a few days ago but I don't recall Brand finding him and he says so. Apparently Iriel believes her people in the Ethir will hide Amlaith if Brand can get a message to him. Nice of her to offer!

I ask Iriel if she speaks Haradaic, hinting at an invitation to Minas Ithil. Alas she doesn't, and she's also due to leave to take up a post as tutor to Tirazôr, third and youngest son to Prince Adazôr, Neithan's uncle. Iriel seems quite proud of her appointment. For myself, should I find a need to visit Lond Ernil some time in the near future, it's comforting to know I shall find a friendly (not to mention beautiful) face at the Prince's court.

So, Brand and I for Minas Ithil; he is already looking up famous graves in the vicinity. Of course this is right on the borders of Mordor, in the shadows of the Mountains of…well…Shadow. I think he'd better pick the right tombs.

But first there's our interview with Queen Mûrabeth, which should be an experience.