Part 30 (2/2)
Sorcerer and a Qentteman 265.
”Killed,” the Marshal said, to Gallitan.
”Dead, sir,” Gallitan said. ”1 have the men who appear to be involved under guard, sir.”
”My men-” began Golias, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng with anger.
”Didst not inform me of this,” the Marshal said, in that very quiet voice, cutting him off. ”Thou knewest who she was.”
”I was going to bring it up,” Golias said. ”You're holding my men prisoner?”
Prince Josquin was staring at him, his brows drawn together slightly. He turned his gaze on Ottaviano, coldly a.s.sessing him.
”Lady Miranda? You did not see fit to inform the Marshal that you found Lady Miranda here?” Prince Herne demanded.
”Captain Gallitan,” said the Marshal, ”what pa.s.sed?”
”It's still not clear, sir,” Gallitan said. ”I gather that the woman, with hands bound behind her, managed to escape the tent where she was held and started away, but was intercepted. The men claim there was a scuffle. She died of a stabbing.”
”Hold the men apart from one another, and let the body be treated with all due honor,” Prince Gaston said. ”Dismissed.”
Gallitan saluted and left as quickly as he'd entered.
Prince Gaston turned and fixed Golias with a brilliant stare, downward from his height to seated Golias, a burning glare. ”Art aware,” the Fireduke said slowly, ”of what furor this shall incite?”
”She was a spy,” Goiias said.
”She was Gonzalo of Valgalant's daughter,” Prince Gas-ton said. ”Regardless of her ident.i.ty, thou didst not inform me thou hadst privily such a prisoner.”
The snow hissed on the sides of the tent.
”I meant to tell you at this meeting,” Golias said sullenly.
Prince Gaston looked from him to Ottaviano, but said nothing. He sat again, and Prince Herne slowly sat down beside him.
”All prisoners henceforward shall be under Prince 266.
'Elizabeth Herne's authority,” said the Marshal. ”To return to our agenda,” he said, ”Prince Herne shall take the Sixth and Seventh to guard the convoy of prisoners to Perendlac. Prince Golias, shall accompany them with thy men.” He glanced at his notes for the first time. ”Item, the locals are being paid and dismissed. Any difficulties?”
”None reported, sir,” Prince Josquin said. He had brought the Emperor's gold and silver and the paymasters with him.
The meeting went on. Ottaviano, Josquin, Herne, and Golias reported on their total count of casualties; they discussed, in subdued voices, supplies and transportation of the wounded in a special convoy, and at the end, Prince Gaston said, ”The death of Lady Miranda hath placed a particular burthen on me. I shall carry her body to Landuc myself, through a Way, today. Ere I go I'll obtain a full account of the matter for the Emperor.”
”Don't be a fool,” Golias said. ”She was here as a spy, committing treason. Let her vanish-”
”Dost know,” Prince Gaston said, ”who Lady Miranda of Valgalant is? Was?”
Golias blinked.
”Nay, thy ignorance is clear,” said the Fireduke coldly. ”I'll speak with thee anon.”
”Uh, Your Highness, a word,” Ottaviano said, catching his cousin the Prince Heir outside the tent.
Prince Josquin, still with that remote, chill look in his face, looked at him expectantly.
”Who's Miranda of Valagant?”
”Valgalant. Gonzalo of Valgalant's daughter.”
”And who's he?”
”A prominent, n.o.ble, but exiled, partisan of Prospero whose daughter and sole child is widely speculated to have entered a private engagement, perhaps even a marriage, with her father's patron against the time when he would rule,” said the Prince Heir. ”Prince Prospero has the highest regard for her; he was her name-sponsor when she was born. Valgalant still holds much land around Landuc, di- Sorcerer and a QentCeman 267.
rectly and indirectly. Of the n.o.bles who supported Prospero, Gonzalo was the only one whom the Emperor did not execute after the last war.”
”Oh.”
”Oh,” Prince Josquin agreed. ”An ancient, ill.u.s.trious family, favored by Panurgus and still of consequence despite diminished numbers and unfas.h.i.+onable politics.”
”Do you-did you know her?”
”Oh yes,” said the Prince, and he bowed slightly, turned, and walked away.
”Prince Gaston-”
”Baron.” The Marshal nodded, preoccupied, sparing but a word for the Baron of Ascolet. His tent had been taken down; he was just finished speaking with Gernan the surgeon. Captain Gallitan, and Prince Herne, all of whom cast cold glances at Ottaviano as they all three left.
”Sir, I have a request.”
Gaston waited.
”I, um,” Otto looked down. ”I haven't been- It seems to me, sir, that my presence isn't needed to lead my troops; my second, Lieutenant Clay, is capable of doing that. I request permission for a leave.”
Gaston frowned slightly. ”To what purpose?”
”I'd like to see my wife, sir,” Otto said.
”Thy wife, the Countess of Lys,” Gaston said. ”The journey would take some time, Baron. More time than I prefer to have thee absent. I must deny thy request, but I shall endeavor to grant it when 'tis possible to have leaves of absence. Prince Prospero is at large; the war is by no means over, simply in hiatus.”
”Sir, we-it's been very hard on her, I can tell from her letters-”
Gaston lifted his eyebrows. ”The request is denied,” he repeated.
Otto gave it up, seeing that no argument would be accepted. ”Yes, sir.”
”Absent thee again without my leave, and the consequences will be severe, Baron.”
<script>