The Godspeaker Trilogy (109 page)

“Alasdair,” said Rhian, her hand raised. “It’s all right.” She looked at Helfred. “I’ve asked you to remain hidden, Chaplain, because I don’t wish to run the risk of you being recognised on the road.”

“Recognised?” said Helfred. “Why would it matter if I am—oh. I see.” His voice wasn’t quite steady. “My uncle.”

Rhian’s eyes were full of compassion. “Yes. Before we left the manor house Ven’Artemis came for you. I’m sorry.”

“He came for me? What—and you sent him away?”

“I did.”

Shocked, Helfred clasped and unclasped his hands. “You shouldn’t have done that, Majesty. Marlan will be furious. What did the most venerable say? Am I censured? Am I summoned before the Court Ecclesiastica? Am I—” His voice broke. “Am I still a chaplain?”

Dexterity didn’t like him overmuch, even now, but a statue would be moved by the grief in Helfred’s voice.

“I don’t know,” said Rhian, her gaze too steady. Dexterity, watching her closely, felt his skin prickle. She does, and fears to tell him . “I don’t want to know,” she added. “That’s why I refused Ven’Artemis’s request for your person. You’re my chaplain, Helfred, until I say otherwise.”

“Majesty,” whispered Helfred. “I—you—”

“You’re welcome, Helfred,” Rhian said with brisk kindness. “Now everyone leave us.”

Dismissed a second and final time, Dexterity stood back to let the dukes and Helfred depart the queen’s pavilion before him.

“Oh. And Helfred?” added Rhian, as the chaplain was about to disappear through the tent-flap.

“Majesty?”

“I’ll have no repeat of Heddonvale,” she said, voice and eyes stern. “ Stay in the van . Or I might change my mind.”

Outside the pavilion, as the dukes withdrew to fill their bellies, Helfred stood like a man transfixed.

“Chaplain?” said Dexterity. “Are you all right?”

“I might not be a chaplain,” said Helfred, stricken. “I might be sinning to wear these holy robes and conduct the Litany for the queen’s company.”

Oh, Hettie . Dexterity touched the man’s shoulder. “Helfred, what have you been saying since we left Linfoi manor? Interdict does not come from God so it can’t part us from his loving mercy. You’re not a chaplain because Marlan says so and you won’t stop being one because he says you’re not. If you’re a chaplain it’s because God says you are … and only God can take that away.”

Helfred looked at him, a little of the despair fading from his face. “Yes. That’s true.”

And now I sound like a chaplain. Oh dear . “Of course it’s true. Now are you coming to eat or not? Because I’ll tell you, I’m famished. Working miracles is hungry business!”

“Now that’s close to blasphemy!” snapped Helfred, falling into step beside him. “Shame on you, Mr Jones!”

Dexterity smiled, and let him scold.

Marlan met with the dukes of Meercheq and Hartshorn two days after their mudstained arrival in Kingseat’s capital.

It was important to keep them waiting. Damwin and Kyrin were ambitious men whose temporary alliance in the face of Rhian’s bold move strengthened their positions as defenders of Ethrea. As the only dukes whose duchies were free of interdict they enjoyed the favour of their ducal subjects. That favour would bolster their confidence, lead them to believe they were selected of God. Let the first flush of outrage and uproar pass, let them see the throne empty … and ducal ambitions would soon begin to stir.

Rhian is lost to them … No need now to give a relative the crown and enjoy power second-hand. Now they can dream of placing it on their own heads and wielding royal power for themselves.

So would Damwin and Kyrin eventually conclude, if they weren’t thinking such things already. Soon enough they would see each other as rivals, not allies. Enemies, not friends. Which meant that instead of troubling him they would simply trouble each other … to his satisfaction and ultimate reward. If that happened too quickly, though, before Rulf was established, Ethrea’s fragile stability would be further threatened.

So, for the moment, he needed them smiling and eager, engaged in the fight to bring Rhian to heel. Let them console each other as the prolate kept them waiting. Mutual condolence could prove a useful tool.

“Your Graces!” he greeted them, as they were shown into the late king’s audience chamber in the castle. “Can you forgive me this sorry delay? I am consumed with Church business. Interdict is a fearsome thing.”

Damwin, imposing still for all he was near to sixty and had lived a vigorous life, stamped up to the dais. Feet wide, fisted hands on his hips, he thrust out his chin and narrowed his eyes to slits.

“Kingseat’s streets are full of soldiery and empty of foreigners, Marlan. How much is that costing the Royal Treasury?”

He smiled, fingers caressing the audience chair’s carved wooden arms. “You’d prefer Commander Idson’s men amuse themselves dicing in the garrison while frightened citizens raise ruckus unrestrained and spies for the ambassadors milk every tavern for gossip they can pass to their masters?”

“Ha!” said Kyrin, his bearish body swathed in red velvet, precisely the wrong fabric for a man of his bulk and hue. “We’d prefer you end this nonsense, or better yet let us end it for you! Where’s Eberg’s misbegotten brat now, do you know?”

“She is still in duchy Linfoi. She’s travelling by road.” Or so Ven’Artemis had informed him. He was yet to hear from faithful Ven’Martin. Getting word to his prolate as he trailed Rhian discreetly might tax even Ven’Martin’s resourceful ingenuity.

“Then we’ll have her!” said Kyrin. “What a fool she is not to come down by river. My soldiery’s ready and so is Damwin’s. The minute that sly bitch sets foot in Hartshorn or Meercheq she’ll be arrested and that will be that .”

“You’ll do no such thing,” said Marlan. “Your Grace, are you mad? Rhian is Eberg’s daughter, newly bereaved and beloved of the people. Would you make of her a public object of pity, to drag her through Ethrea in chains like a criminal?”

“She is a criminal!” said Damwin. “As for the people, why would they care? Outside of this city they don’t even know what she looks like. They don’t love her, Marlan. They love the idea of her, if that.”

“Precisely. Which makes her even more dangerous. I will not make of her a martyr, a Rollin for our times.”

“You can’t let her run free about the kingdom, either!” said Kyrin. “We must drag her down, her and Linfoi and the rest of the bastards with her. They threaten everything , Marlan. She must be stopped, now!”

Marlan stood, using the advantage of the dais’s superior height to intimidate. “She will be stopped, Your Graces. When she reaches Kingseat she will assuredly be stopped. Let her parade among the people, gentlemen. Let her spread the despair of interdict and anathema in her wake. The misguided of Ethrea will cease loving her soon enough when they learn from my clergy what their loving has cost. And when she has crossed the border into duchy Kingseat, then will your soldiers, Damwin, and yours, Kyrin, line twenty-deep behind her. Once she is caught in Kingseat there’ll be no second escape north, for her or any miscreant riding at her side. Her calamitous rebellion against God’s authority will end and the peace of Ethrea shall be safeguarded once more.”

The dukes exchanged glances. “And the ambassadors will be silenced?” said Kyrin. “I tell you, Marlan, Niall is plagued hourly by their demands and requests. So is Damwin’s Porpont. They don’t like the port restrictions you’ve imposed. Your safety measures put our treaties to the test!”

“Have no fear,” said Marlan. “Our treaties have withstood the passing of centuries. One disobedient girl-child shall hardly imperil them. Thank you for coming, Your Graces. We’ll speak again, soon. In the meantime, I suggest you urge the people of your duchies to remain strong in faith. Alas, should any succumb to Rhian’s allure, interdict must surely follow.”

They didn’t care for the reminder or the abrupt dismissal, but nor did they seek to test this alliance just yet. They departed with promises and flowery compliments.

No sooner had he rid himself of them than Ven’Barto entered, his eyes filled with alarm. “Eminence, the ambassador from Tzhung-tzhungchai awaits you in the antechamber. I did encourage him to leave and return upon your summons. He declined to do so. He says he’ll see you now.”

Still standing on the chamber dais, Marlan felt the warm glow from his audience with the dukes chill. “Declined how, Ven’Barto?”

Ven’Barto swallowed, convulsively. “Eminence, he declined with a smile.”

The courtesy of Tzhung-tzhungchai could not be taken lightly. “I see. Then by all means tell the ambassador I am pleased to receive him.”

Ven’Barto bowed. His forehead was damp with the sweat of relief. “At once, Eminence.”

Slowly, Marlan sat down in the ornate audience chair. Damn Tzhung-tzhungchai and its unseen emperor! If he did not tread carefully, if he did not allay this inconvenient ambassador’s suspicions, Ethrea’s independence could come under real threat.

“Ambassador Lai!” he said, genially, as Ven’Barto ushered in the emperor’s man. “My apologies for keeping you waiting. I was collecting my thoughts after meeting with the dukes of Meercheq and Hartshorn. Was I expecting your visit? I do not recall the appointment …”

Ambassador Lai of Tzhung-tzhungchai was a splendid example of his race. Tall, elegant, with amber skin and long, straight black hair. He wore his national costume like a second skin, silk pants and jewelled silk tunic. His brown eyes expressed nothing but gentle pleasure … but beneath the urbanity cold dark currents swirled.

“Eminence,” he said, mellifluous, and offered a meticulous bow. “Surely friends might visit without first making an appointment.”

God save us from the friendship of Tzhung-tzhungchai . “Indeed, Ambassador. And you’re heartily welcome. How may I help you?”

Lai clasped his hands tranquilly before him. The movement sparked fire in his ruby-and-emerald collar. “My emperor is, as always, touched by your concern for our welfare. If ever the antique and glorious empire of Tzhung-tzhungchai should require assistance we will know where to turn. But I am here to offer our help to you, Eminence. Whispers have reached us of … internal discord. Unsettling rumours that all is not well in the royal House of Havrell and therefore in your precious kingdom.”

Dissembling popinjay. He knew perfectly well what Rhian had done. His spies were everywhere, they couldn’t be rooted out. They were all alike, these great sneering nations: Tzhung-tzhungchai, Harbisland and Arbenia. The three great trading nations of the world who carved it up to suit themselves and let the smaller, weaker countries gather crumbs as they may. They treated Ethrea like their personal property, as nothing more than an outpost of their wealth and influence.

“Ambassador, it is sadly true Eberg’s untimely death has left us somewhat disarrayed. But you can assure your emperor there is no need for dismay. If he has heard whispers that say otherwise he has been … misinformed.”

The people of Tzhung-tzhungchai did not age as other men. This Ambassador Lai could be a stripling of thirty or he could carry thrice that many years. There was no way to tell. His graceful eyebrows lifted. “These whispers come from Princess Rhian herself. Or should I say Queen Rhian? For so she signed her letter to my imperial master.”

With an effort that threatened his heart, Marlan kept his fingers unclenched on the chair. That bitch wrote to the emperor ? Who else did she write to? Did she write to them all ?

He never dreamed of such boldness. I will throw her down …

“Alas, these young unmarried women,” he said, forcing a smile. “Flighty and wanting a wise man’s advice. I urge you, pay no heed to the princess’ letter. She is mistaken. She is not yet crowned queen and lacks lawful authority to speak for Ethrea to your master. Grief has disordered her. I know you understand.”

“Yes,” said the ambassador. “What good fortune I came to you. I am so pleased to learn the truth.”

“And I am pleased you are pleased to learn it,” he said, still smiling. “Extend my warmest regards to your honoured emperor. Ethrea is moved to know he is our loyal friend.”

Ambassador Lai bestowed a smile of his own. “Always, Your Eminence. And as a true friend should, he will continue his concerned regard for your welfare.”

It was a warning. The unwelcome eyes of Tzhung-tzhungchai would be watching.

The ambassador departed, with more smiles and meaningless platitudes. Marlan stood alone in the audience chamber and let the hot rage warm his bones.

You’ll be sorry for this, Rhian. By God, I’ll make you sorry. You’ll weep tears of blood before I’m done with you.

L
ike fire running through a wheatfield, word of Rhian’s progress leapt ahead of her retinue. There was no time to stop in every township and village in duchy Linfoi, but everywhere they did stop Dexterity found the injured and ailing and healed them. Glowing with the power of God’s Living Flame, he proclaimed Rhian queen as the healed shouted with joy … and in those places the chaplains and venerables who tried to silence him were silenced.

“Seems to me you’re looking to change professions, Jones,” said Ursa, trying to make light of what none of them truly understood. “Should I take up toymaking? I think I’d be quite good.”

“Don’t be silly, Ursa,” Dexterity told her, and kept himself to himself. The miracles were draining, he slept more and more. He had to believe Hettie wouldn’t let them destroy him… but sometimes, in the dead of night, he woke startled and afraid.

Five days after leaving Linfoi manor the company crossed the border into duchy Arbat. By this time life had settled into a routine. At first light Rhian danced her
hotas with Zandakar, then he trained her bodyguards while Helfred held a swift service. She met with her council over a hasty breakfast and then the company moved on, continuing its circuitous road south. At nightfall they stopped and she danced with Zandakar again.

Dancing the
hotas was her only respite from thought.

Not every village and township in Arbat welcomed them, even though Duke Rudi, now riding with Rhian, told his people to ignore the prolate’s interdict and cleave to Eberg’s daughter, their lawful queen. In those places, faced with hostility that not even Dexterity and his miracles could overcome, for the chaplains called him “
sorcerer ” and the people heeded them, the company rode on and did not dwell on what might have been.