Movement I: Melodies and Harmonies

    Malron arrived in his lord’s room, summoned at Haldad’s order. But even when he entered and waited for Haldad to speak, he did not, and Malron knew that it was a very bad sign.
    He was pacing, even though he was tired from the battle today.At least they had finally beaten the orcs back without any deaths, but Haldad looked exhausted. Nor did he invite Malron to sit as he often did.
    Haldad suddenly stopped his pacing and wheeled around to face Malron. The two men stared at one another, Haldad controlling his anger, Malron impassive. “Haldar tells me that my daughter is learning swordscraft from the armsmaster,” he began after twisting his eyes—blue eyes like Haleth’s, but without the fire and ice—from Malron. “Do you deny this?”
    “Nay, my lord. ‘Tis true that I am instructing the Lady Haleth in swordscraft—and more.”
    “More?”
    “Not yet, my lord, but eventually.” As Haldad gestured for him to continue, Malron said, “I intend to teach her the rules of the Master of Battles.”
    He breathed sharply. “You refused to teach my son those and yet you teach them to my daughter! How dare you—”
    “I dare because I am not bound solely to you but also to battle and to Tulkas. It is to him I owe my allegiance, and not to you alone. I dare because it is I who determine who is worthy to learn what wisdom I have garnered, and that of my predecessors. Think you that the Rules came from the Valar to be given to all? Think again, then, for it is hard-won knowledge and wisdom from battles, passed directly onto the next armsmaster of our line—and others we deem worthy, as I have deemed Haleth.”
    “You are the first armsmaster of the Haladin—”
    “The first official armsmaster,” Malron corrected. “You forget that my line is one of warriors, and there is always one—will always be one—who trains the next generation and the next armsmaster. Eventually, perhaps, we will die out, but not yet. And I am not prepared to see my line dwindle into nothing when I could prevent it.”
    “Haleth has nothing to do with this.”
    “She has everything to do with this! In her lies the hope of our people.”
    “Our people do not believe so.”
    “But you do, my lord.” He paused. “Do you not?”
    Haldad sighed and sank down into a leather-covered chair, gesturing for the other to do the same. “Your word on this that you do not spread this about.”
    “And when have I ever gossiped?”
    Haldad simply inclined his head in acknowledgement, much as the armsmaster had to Haleth. “To tell the truth, Malron, I do desire my daughter to be my heir.”
    “Whether or not Haldar dies or not?”
    “Yes.” Malron could see the audible lump in Haldad’s throat; it had hurt him to acknowledge this, to acknowledge that he favored his daughter over his heir, his firstborn son. “I do want Haleth to rule my people. She is the only one I can trust to care for my people when I am dead and gone.”
    For all that these were the words Malron had wanted to hear, he felt impelled to defend Haleth’s brother. “Haldar is a good warrior, and he is popular with the people.”
    “He is good, but not gifted. And we both know why he is beloved amongst the people. My people may respect and fear me, but they do not love me, and that is how it should be. Respect is more valuable than love.”
    “They would respect and love Haleth if they were given a chance to see beyond her womanhood,” Malron said softly. “And she will be a master of battles.”
    “Haldar will never be. He may have what he thinks is their hearts because he is friendly and because he drinks with them, but he will never command respect. He will not be able to hold them to his will on the battlefield. He has the friendly aspect of charisma, but he does not have the strength necessary to become a leader. Haldar is more my wife’s son.”
    Malron looked at him in compassion and sympathy, remembering that Haldad’s wife had been one of the first to fall against the orcs, leading to Haldad’s everlasting hatred of them.
    “Haleth is my daughter, for all that she is a woman and will never be the physical match of Haldar, in her lies, cunning, and canniness. Haldar does not have the strength of mind and will never be able to lead my people.”
    “And will Haleth be able?”
    Haldad was silent for a long time. Then he said in a quiet but strong voice, “Yes.”

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