Crown of Renewal(59)

“Yes. I asked Gird’s help for the children—and myself. And he sent a cat—”

“A cat?”

“Well … perhaps it was just there, but it helped me find Cedi—the boy—twice, when he had hidden. And yes, Gird spoke to me, in my head … several times.”

Marshal Cedlin nodded. “I thought so. Arvid, you are just what we need.”

“Me?” That came out in a squeak that annoyed him. He swallowed and tried again. “Marshal, I was lucky—”

“Not lucky. Gods-guided. Lucky to meet Paks, perhaps, in Brewersbridge that time, but even that—I dare not say it wasn’t Gird’s doing, for both of you. Who else here could have done what you did?”

He wanted to say Anyone who thought of it, but he knew that wasn’t true. Fin Panir was woefully short of thief-assassins trained to climb sheer walls, infiltrate buildings, and carry out such missions as rescuing captives … or killing the Master of a Guildhouse. His breath caught, remembering the Master in Valdaire and the child in his bed. He looked at his son, who looked back at him, eyes wide this time with wonder and hope, not fear.

“They … might have.”

No.

Arvid shook his head. Gird would not let him alone, and … truth be told in his own head … at this time he did not want him to. “No,” he said then. “You’re right. I don’t know everyone in the city, but I doubt there’s another with my training. A retired mercenary specialist, maybe. So … what are you creeping toward here? Surely not that you want me to be Marshal-General?”

A look passed between them that he could not quite read, but they did not laugh.

“No,” said the Marshal-General. “Not yet, anyway. But we are short good Marshals now since some have left the Fellowship. They claim I had no authority to prohibit killing children who showed mage power. And few—if any—hear Gird’s voice clear. Or are now being hailed as heroes by those whose children they saved. The children were able to give a good account of what happened from the moment the child-killers came into the grange. You can expect to be showered with gifts—”

“But—it was only what I should do,” Arvid said.

“Yes, I thought you’d say that.” She sighed. “Arvid, I know you’re abiding by the Code. Girdish do not accept gifts for doing their duty. And you saw rescuing those children as your duty and talked me into letting you try. Honestly, I thought it was hopeless. One man alone against those child-killers, and no one even knew if there was a way in. But you did it—”

“It would have been better if I’d taken one other up to the roof, with another crossbow,” Arvid said.

She shook her head at him. “Quit trying to put me off my topic, Arvid. I want you to be a Marshal—and before you start, no, you’re not quite ready, much as I need more Marshals. But Marshal Hudder needs a yeoman-marshal now—Mador died. Marshal Cedlin and I both think you’re suited for that. I’ll appoint you Marshal as soon as you’re ready, which we all suspect will be sooner than you think.”

“But—but—I’m not—”

“Arvid, we need you. If Gird doesn’t care what you were before, why should I? Why should anyone? It’s time you gave over defining yourself by your past.”

It wasn’t that easy. But even as he thought that, he remembered what else he’d done. It had not been easy to get Paks out of the Thieves’ Hall in Vérella, to protect her from Barranyi’s malice … or anything since.

“Marshal Arvid,” he said, testing the sound of it. No sillier than Marshal Hudder or Marshal Donag. He looked at his son. “What do you think, Arvi?”

“It’s … it’s what you are, Da.” The boy’s face held no doubt at all.

“Well, then, I’d better start living up to it,” he said. “But first—yeoman-marshal. And more study, I assume?”

“Yes, quite a lot. Marshal Hudder will be glad to tutor you in grange organization and record keeping.”

“Will I need to move there?”

“No, because you have a family and I think Arvi will be happier staying with his friends in Marshal Cedlin’s grange for another year or so. My suggestion is that you continue to live here—Marshal Hudder has agreed that you will have night duty only every third night.” She turned to the boy. “Arvi, will you be afraid to stay here the night your da is down the city? If so, we can find you someone to stay with.”

“He could stay at the grange,” Cedlin said.

“I won’t be afraid,” Arvi said. “I will do as Sera Pia says, and she will tell me to go up to bed and bar the door, and I will.”