Reunion by Kara Dalkey Page A

motioned for them to get into the cage, which Corwin and Nia reluctantly did. Corwin tried to reach out mentally to the Farworlder prince. What do we do now?
    I cannot help you. Come find me. Hurry.
    Big help you are , Corwin thought and then immediately chided himself. The prince had done all he could to help. What more could one expect from a baby squid-thing? Corwin felt his gut clench at the thought of again meeting the king who killed Fenwyck. If we live, and I keep my magical power, maybe I’ll have the chance to teach Vortigern a lesson . It seemed like just another insane hope, but it gave Corwin strength.
    Anwir cleared his throat. “Now as to that reward, my good fellow . . . ,” he began, addressing the captain.
    â€œYou will be paid when the king is assured that these are the criminals he wished apprehended,” the captain replied.
    â€œBut . . . but . . . didn’t your wizard there just confirm that for you?”
    â€œAs I have said, the king himself must decide. Now be off to your business, man, and let us be about ours.” He rode away, leaving Anwir sputtering.
    Corwin smiled sourly. There’s no honor among thieves, Anwir. You probably won’t see a penny for betraying me.
    The driver at the front of the wagon shouted to the horses, and the wagon jerked forward with great jolts and bumps. The ride was going to be anything but comfortable.
    â€œWhat is this King Vortigern like?” Nia asked.
    â€œA nasty piece of work, really,” Corwin answered. “He doesn’t trust anyone, he’s afraid of everything. We definitely can’t expect justice or mercy from him.” Corwin noticed the guard riding closest to the wagon scowling at him . So I’m speaking treason. So what? I’m dead already. I can’t make anything worse than it is. “In fact,” Corwin went on, “people say he stole the crown by killing the king before him and that king’s son. And that he gave land to Saxon mercenaries in exchange for one of their women as a wife. And that he’s a heretic—”
    â€œThat’s enough!” roared the guardsman, drawing his sword. “You will speak no more treason, varlet, or I will cut your tongue out.”
    â€œI’m only saying what everyone already knows.”
    â€œYou are spreading vile gossip invented by the king’s enemies.”
    â€œHmm. Hoping for a promotion in the ranks, are you?”
    As the sword was thrust through the wicker bars, Corwin leapt back, protecting Nia. “All right! All right!”
    The mage in the scarlet robe rode back to see what the commotion was and had a soft word with the angry guardsman. The guardsman calmed down a little and sheathed his sword, but the scowl never left his face.
    â€œYou aren’t allowed to talk about your king?” Nia asked.
    Corwin shook his hand. “Kings are considered more than men here,” he explained. “The only person more powerful than a king is the pope.”
    â€œWhat’s a pope?”
    Corwin tried not to let his eyes bulge. It was so strange to meet someone who didn’t know these things. “He’s the leader of the Catholic Church,” he said.
    â€œWhat’s the Catholic Church?”
    â€œUh-oh—you’d better not say that in front of the king,” Corwin warned. “It’s . . . hard to explain. Tell me about who holds power in your country.”
    â€œIn my city we had ten kings,” Nia said. “Farworlders, each joined to a mermyd Avatar, the way you and I are joined to the prince. They ruled together in the High and Low Councils and used their magical power to run the city and heal people.” She paused, her eyes clouding over. “But I don’t know if any of them survived,” she added in a softer tone. She raised her gaze slightly to meet his. “Do you think King Vortigern will kill us?”
    Corwin’s jaw