Part 57 (1/2)
”Her Highness, Princess Theophanu, sends greetings to her most honored father, King Henry of Wendar and Varre, and to her beloved cousin, Queen Adelheid of Aosta. Ill tidings stalk the land. There have been reports of plague in the south. Varingia suffered a bad harvest last autumn, and there is drought in the land this spring. A Quman army has struck west through the march-lands and has been reported as far west as Echstatt in Avaria. They burn and pillage, leaving nothing behind but ruin. No news has come from Sapientia's army since last autumn except rumors of a battle. I fear for the marchlands and indeed even for the heartlands of Wendar if this tide goes unstemmed. To this end, I have left Biscop Constance as regent in Autun while I ride with what forces I can muster to the east. Yet I lack troops, with so many taken south to Aosta. d.u.c.h.ess Rotrudis has taken ill, and her children are quarreling over their portions, all but her son Wichman, who rode east and vanished with Sapientia's army. Prince Ekkehard left Gent in Wichman's train and has also been swallowed up by the fighting in the east. d.u.c.h.ess Yolande claims that the Salian war for succession has bled away her fighting force, since many of her n.o.bles have been forced to defend their borders from renegade bands pushed east by the fighting in Salia. Duke Conrad has pledged his aid, but there is further news that makes me hesitant to trust him. He has married Princess Tallia. That is why he was not in Bederbor last winter. The deed was done while Constance was riding progress through Arconia, and when she returned Lady Sabella had already given Tallia into Conrad's hands. It is rumored that the girl is now pregnant. I pray you, Your Majesty. Let matters be settled quickly in Aosta. We need the army here in the north.”
Despite the questions burning to be asked, Rosvita remained silent a few breaths longer, in case the Eagle had not done. She knew better than to interrupt; an ill-timed interruption might jumble an entire message.
”What do you think?” asked Adelheid at last. A servant brought a cup of wine for the Eagle, who retired gratefully to a bench.
So much ill-starred news made Rosvita's head spin.” I am thinking that King Henry will not be glad to hear of this alliance between Conrad and Tallia. Conrad should have asked Henry's permission to wed the girl, since Henry is Tallia's guardian, in default of her mother, Sabella.”
”The one who is imprisoned at Autun,” mused Adelheid, who had until six months ago been ignorant of Wendish intrigues, ”for leading a rebellion against her brother.”
”Even so.”
”Is this alliance an advantage to us?”
Rosvita had to shake her head.” I fear not. Tallia has a claim to the throne of Wendar, just as Conrad does. Some would argue-as did the Varren n.o.bles who followed Sabella's revolt-that Tallia's claim to the throne of Varre is stronger than Henry's.”
”You believe Duke Conrad to be ambitious.”
”I do, Your Majesty. He is also strong-minded, a man of bold temperament.”
”And poor judgment?”
”That is harder to say. I would not speak ill of a man as powerful as Conrad without good cause. He has offered none yet.”
”Will he come to Theophanu's aid?” A servant came forward with a tray to offer her wine. The cup was, like Adelheid, a thing of beauty: carved sardonyx decorated with a filigree of gold wire studded with cabochons, an echo of those in her belt. Like Adelheid, it looked delicate, easily broken should it be dropped and smash into the floor. But Adelheid's youthful prettiness made her easy to underestimate.
”It would be foolish of any n.o.ble in the kingdom to let the Quman range freely,” said Rosvita.
”Won't the Quman just return to their homelands come wintertime? Can't they be bought off?”^delheid sipped at her wine before setting down the cup restively.” If only it were true that such raiding could be easily squelched. Yet how can we spare any troops from Aosta? The situation remains troubled here. Even in Darre there are still disturbances on the streets, people calling for this cleric or that biscop to be named skopos in place of Mother Anne. Bandits rule in Tarveni, and the n.o.ble houses of Calabardia refuse to send representatives to pledge loyalty to our reign. Henry fights in the south, but even so, half the southern provinces still lie in the hands of Arethousan thieves. I have pledged troops to rid my subjects of the Jinna pirates who plague our coasts. If Henry returns to Wendar now, all this will fall apart.” Her pa.s.sionate gaze would have broken a man's heart.” I know what it is to be a n.o.ble child at the mercy of her relatives' ambitions. When I became pregnant, I swore my child would not suffer what I suffered when I was young, thrown to the wolves. I swore that she would inherit what is rightfully hers, in a land at peace. What shall I do, Sister Rosvita? What do you advise?”
”Send the Eagle on to King Henry, Your Majesty.”
”I could go myself!”
”Nay, you are right, Your Majesty, in remaining in Darre while the king rides out to consolidate your allies.” And knock a few reluctant heads together, or frighten them into swearing allegiance.
”You must consolidate your power here so that the king can return to a place of firm ground. If you leave, Darre's support may crumble. No one questions your right to reign as queen.”
”No,” agreed Adelheid, more calmly, ”they do not.”
”Has there been news of the king, Your Majesty? As you know, I am but recently risen from my sickbed.” She did not feel it necessary to tell Adelheid that her clerics brought her gossip every day. No doubt the queen guessed as much.
”They have laid in a siege at Navlia. Lord Gezo had made certain pacts with Ironhead and now refuses to hand over the greater part of the treasure which he took from Ironhead in return for supplying mercenaries. d.u.c.h.ess Liutgard was lightly wounded in the fighting. I confess, there has been some talk of her marrying again.”
Something in Adelheid's expression alerted Rosvita. She said, carefully, ”Has there been? Shall there be an open compet.i.tion or does the d.u.c.h.ess have anyone in mind?”
Adelheid had the courtesy to blush.” I have suggested to Henry that Prince Sanglant might be an appropriate husband for a woman of Liutgard's rank and lineage.”
”Ah.” To get hold of her thoughts, now whirling violently, Rosvita folded her hands and bent her head, the better to contemplate the neatly laid out zigzag flooring, white stone alternating with black, beyond the pillow on which she knelt. Rosvita was certain that neither Liutgard nor Sanglant would welcome such a match, but she did not care to say so out loud. Liutgard had come early to her duchy and would not suffer any man for a husband who might try to rule with or for her.” Any gesture that opens the path of reconciliation is a welcome gesture, Your Majesty. Princess Theophanu's message said nothing about Prince Sanglant.”
Adelheid smiled thinly.” So it did not, Sister. There are some who say that the king was too lenient with his b.a.s.t.a.r.d son.” Her eyes were bright in the soft light of morning s.h.i.+ning in through the eastern windows to illuminate the handsome murals along the western wall, all of them depictions of scenes from ancient tales like the Lay of Helen and the conquests of Alexandras, the Son of Thunder.” Indeed, there are some who say that Henry's marriage to the Arethousan woman Sophia ought never to have been recognized as valid. There are some who say that her children, too, should have no rightful claim to the throne.”
FOR three days they traveled fast through spa.r.s.e woodland, well away from the road so that they would not be spotted. They rarely lost sight of the blood-knife banner. When they had a clear view down onto the road, it was easy to mark the progress of the high priest because of the startling headdress he wore, his feathers so l.u.s.trous that they seemed shot through with rainbows. Now and again they had to detour wide around a village and its vineyards and fields, careful not to be seen. The first time, Alain asked why they did not stop.
”Surely the folk here would aid us, if they all hate the Cursed Ones so much.”
Maklos pointed at the people working in the fields. It took a moment for Alain to realize that humans and Cursed Ones worked side by side, recognizably different only because of their complexions and because the Cursed Ones were, in general, shorter than their comrades. Some of the humans even wore their hair up in that distinctive topknot.
”They are slaves,” said Agalleos.
”They are dogs, licking the feet of our enemies,” retorted Maklos. He spat to show his disgust.
”They seem harmonious enough to me. Look. Do you see them laughing, there? See how that woman-she's as human as you or I-stops to touch that man, as she might her own brother- ”He is no man.” Maklos spat again.” He is a Cursed One. May he rot-”
”Hush,” said Agalleos.” My friend,” he said to Alain, ”you are a foreigner and do not understand what you see. Slaves may smile and bow, hoping to be spared the whip. Magic may twist a person's mind until she sees colors that are not there. Now, come. We cai not bide here or we'll lose track of our party.”
Maybe so. There was so much he did not understand. Here these lands even the houses were different, built of pale bricks ar roofed with wooden s.h.i.+ngles. But as they journeyed on he sa other villages where humans and Cursed Ones worked and livt together. The only places where the Cursed Ones lived separate was at the small forts, s.p.a.ced a day's march apart, where the hi; priest and his escort sheltered each night.
That third night as they bedded down in the pine woods with sight of earthworks, Agalleos could see that the matter still tro bled him.” You have not walked in those villages, friend Alai You have not walked in the ruins the Cursed Ones made of tl town where I lived as a boy. We follow the high priest and his e cort, yet can you say you have looked into his eyes, have you sei his expression? We are too far away to know any of those peop except by the color of their cloaks. That does not tell us what li inside their hearts.”
They lit no fire that night because the terrain had forced the close in to the road, well within sight of the low embankment a the wooden watchtower. Maklos took the first watch. Much lat Agalleos woke Alain for the final watch and lay down next Maklos. Rage and Sorrow both slept; better to let them lie. Th had come a long way without complaint, good comrades that th were. None better.
Alain leaned against the trunk of a pine, taking in the ni sounds: an owl hooted, insects chirped, Maklos snorted softly his sleep and turned over. After a while he moved cautiously to I edge.
The woodland had been cut back about an arrow's shot on sides of the little fort, an astounding amount of work. Sentry fii burned on either side of the gate, illuminating the glitter of rect; gular s.h.i.+elds set up along the embankment like a palisade. Th< was=”” no=”” moon,=”” but=”” the=”” stars=”” burned=”” piercingly,=”” so=”” bright=”” that=”” fo=”” moment=”” he=”” had=”” an=”” odd=”” desire=”” to=”” weep=”” with=”” joy=”” at=”” their=””>
A single figure pa.s.sed the limit of the sentry fires and, lighti its way with a lamp, moved slowly into the clearing toward Alai hiding place. The man swung the lamp from side to side, sean ing low along the ground. Twice, he crouched and, knife glinti in the lamplight, gathered plants best reaped on a moonless night. Alain dared not stir. Something about the figure seemed familiar to him, a haunting ache, a teasing memory, but he could not say what. Darkness shadowed the man's face, but as he came closer, Alain could see that he wore odd garb, not much more than a loincloth tied in a knot and draped loosely at the hips and, over his bare chest, a hip-length white cloak. Beaded sheaths covered his forearms and calves. Was that a feather stuck in his hair, bobbing in and out of sight as the lamplight caught its color?
The man crouched to investigate a spray of leaves among the ragged gra.s.s, lifting the lamp up at such an angle that all at once Alain saw his features boldly outlined.
It was the shadow prince, but not dressed as a prince in martial array and certainly not a shadow.
This man he had seen and exchanged words with in the ruins above Lavas Holding while an unseen shadow fort burned down around them. This man had led a column of refugees past Thiad-bold's cohort of Lions after Alain had negotiated a hasty truce, if there could in truth be any true intercourse between shades and people.
Maybe he gasped.
Maybe knowledge, like a knife-edged flower, opened in his heart. If the shadow prince was alive, Alain certainly could not be in the afterlife, because shades could not dwell on the Other Side; otherwise they would not be trapped as shades on Earth.
”Who is there?” said the man, lifting his head. He doused the lamp, but he had a habit, not unlike that of Prince Sanglant, of tipping back his head as though he were sniffing the breeze, trying to catch a scent.
A sentry moved out from the fires, crossing the gra.s.sy clearing quickly.” Is there anything wrong, Seeker?”
The prince waited a few breaths, still listening. Alain was achingly aware of the creak of the trees, the_ sigh of the wind through lush summer leaves, the soft snort of Sorrow, a stone's throw behind him, as she dreamed.
”Just an animal.”
”You shouldn't be wandering out here, Seeker,” continued the soldier sternly, hands gripped tightly on his spear.” There are bandits still, you know what beasts the Pale Ones are. They'd rip you to pieces and then eat you raw. That's what happened to my cousin. I hope we kill them all.”
”Even the folk in those villages we pa.s.sed? Even the Rabbit Clan lady who sells incense in Western Market? Even the sailors on White Flower, whose captain is a half blood?”
The soldier gestured toward the sentry fires and the earthen walls, eager to return to their safety.” Wild dogs can be taught a few tricks, but they're never tamed. And they'll bite you when you try to feed them.”