Back From Chaos (18 page)

“
Welcome home, my lord. I am eager to hear your news. Here in Bargia we have little to report.”

Gaelen made himself sit in the lord’s seat. He poured himself a goblet of wine, which a young maid had just delivered along with bread and meat. The guard posted outside the door had admitted her on Gaelen’s orders. The others members filed in almost as soon as she had left.

At the last moment, Gaelen sent two guards to Marja’s door and posted two more at each end of the hall outside their chambers. Being home had almost made him forget the danger they were all in. He must not let his attention fail again. He gave the guards orders to let Marja move about freely, but to stay with her at all times. Gaelen also sent for Liethis, the true seer that his father had relied on and trusted. She refused to live within the walls of the city and so would not arrive until tomorrow. By then, Gaelen hoped to have the right questions for her.

When Grenth, the last member, entered, Gaelen bade him bar the door. He wasted no time. “Friends, we were attacked on our journey home. My lady’s maid has been kidnapped.” Then he brought everyone up to date. When the meeting finally ended, he was grey with exhaustion.

~ 37 ~

BANQUET

When a timid knock on her door woke Marja, she roused immediately and got off the bed. “Enter.”

The door opened, and one of the waiting women poked her head in. “My lady, if you permit, I will escort you to the great hall for the banquet. Lord Gaelen has sent word that he will be there anon.” She stood in the doorway, twisting her fingers nervously.

My, thought Marja with chagrin, I must really have made an impression. Aloud, she answered, “Thank you, Parna, I am ready,” and gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile. As she followed Parna, the two guards took their positions and kept pace.

Marja looked around as she entered the great hall. The hall was huge, much larger than its counterpart in Catania. The ceiling was hung with numerous pennants and banners, all in variations of the blue and yellow of Bargia. Tapestries showing scenes of the hunt and heroic deeds covered most of the walls between the four glowing hearths. Candles burned in profusion from chandeliers and sconces. More were set on the tables. The effect was of light and celebration, as if the whole room sparkled in anticipation. She knew that on other days, only the necessary candles and fires would be lit. Tonight it had been arrayed for a victory banquet.

But for me this is no victory, she thought. Oh, Brensa, where are you? How can I smile and act the lady without you by my side? Do you live? What is that horrid man doing to you? She pushed the thoughts aside, squared her shoulders and followed Parna in.

Marja saw Gaelen stride in just as she was being seated. He looked haggard and had taken time only to change his tunic. Her brief rest made her more charitable, and she felt a stab of concern for him. He needed to sleep, too. Marja marvelled that he was able to carry on at all. She resolved to put aside her worries for Brensa for now and do her best to make a better impression, for Gaelen’s sake.

Marja sat on Gaelen’s right at the head table, which stood on a low dais at one end of the great hall. The floor of the hall was filled with simple trestle tables and benches. Around these sat the heads of all the important families, their wives and their children past the age of twelve.

Beside them at the head table sat Sinnath, his wife, Marlis; Janest, his wife, Wendan; Grenth, Gaelen’s chief of the military, and his wife, Naila. Marja greeted each with a nod as Gaelen introduced them to her. The chair that Argost usually occupied remained empty.

Marja noticed that protocol here was similar to that in Catania. When Gaelen entered, everyone stood and waited until he was seated to resume their seats. First, wine was brought out and poured, then huge platters of meats; venison, wild boar, roast goose and stewed hare. Then came bowls of boiled onions and carrots, pitchers of gravies, fresh bread and cheeses. Fresh greens in oil, wine vinegar and herbs added a seasonal treat available only in early summer. Already on the tables sat salt cellars, butter and bowls of preserves sweetened with honey.

Marja’s anxiety rose when she watched Gaelen rise to address his guests as the last platters were placed on the tables. She hoped to Earth his speech would be well received. Not only was this his first official banquet and his first speech as lord, but she knew he would officially introduce her. How effectively he managed would determine how easily the people accepted her. She listened intently as he held up his hand for silence.

“
My people, we come together tonight both to celebrate our victory over Catania, and to mourn our losses … my father, Lord Bargest, and my brother, Lionn, as well as those brave soldiers who gave their lives so that we might be here today. I am sure my trusted friends and advisors, Sinnath and Janest here, have told you how hard won that victory came.”

Marja warmed to his voice. It came through strong and confident. He did not hide his sadness or regret over their losses, but he showed his pride in their victory. She smiled at him as he paused a moment, then looked around the room, meeting as many eyes as possible before continuing. Her admiration of his skill grew as she heard him speak.

“
I did not expect occupy this chair. My lord father was a great man, a good ruler and a wonderful teacher to my brother and myself. We all keenly feel his loss. But I pledge to you that I am ready to rule. We will recover from our losses and prosper. We will work together to hold Catania and rule there with the same strong and able governance you may expect from me here in Bargia.”

When Gaelen raised his goblet high and in a voice that carried to the far corners of the hall cheered, “To Bargia!” Marja felt as taken up in the fervour as the rest of the citizens. She raised her goblet and joined in the toast, as the room erupted in cheers. He is born to lead, she thought, watching how he played the crowd with another well-placed pause before he raised his wine again with, “To Catania, may we prosper together,” which brought another round of cheers.

Gaelen held up his hands for silence and indicated to Marja that she should stand beside him. She rose, holding his gaze with a proud smile, and let him take her hand in both of his.

“
Good people,” Gaelen began.

Marja shivered a moment as she realized that this was what she had waited for, what she had feared.

“
I have here the greatest prize of all. Please welcome your new lady, my wife and consort, Lady Marja. She has willingly agreed to do what she can to strengthen our union with Catania.”

The room remained silent for a moment, and Marja knew a second of panic. Then she heard Janest begin to cheer, “To the Lady Marja!”

At this, first Sinnath, then the others at the head table, joined in. To Marja’s relief the room once again filled with cheers. She saw Gaelen give Janest and Sinnath grateful nods before turning back to his guests. Someone on the floor started to thump his knife on the table chanting, “Kiss … kiss … kiss.” Soon the entire hall joined him.

Gaelen’s face split into a grin, and first giving Marja an apologetic shrug, he put his arms around her and kissed her soundly. The room erupted even more loudly that before. In spite of her embarrassment, Marja knew that this was just what Gaelen needed. She sent a silent thank you to the man who had started the chant.

She kept her wits about her. Not missing a beat, with a broad smile of her own, she addressed the floor. “Good people of Bargia, do you agree that one good kiss deserves another?” Without waiting for a reply, she took Gaelen’s face between her hands and firmly returned his kiss.

After his initial surprise, he beamed proudly at her amid raucous yells, whistles and much pounding of knives on tables and thundering of boots on the stone floor. Marja had passed another test.

~ 38 ~

LIETHIS

Liethis shunned court whenever possible. She found it draining to block the sendings that assaulted her mind among so many people. She preferred to live quietly in a small cabin, sparsely but cosily furnished, a half-day’s ride from the city. The sod roof kept out the elements. Her herb and vegetable garden supplied her with fresh produce. Those who visited to request her services paid her with the other items she needed: meat, eggs, flour and enough coin to purchase clothing and other necessities. This allowed her to avoid going into the city more than a few times per year. Those times almost always came at the behest of the Lord or one of his advisors.

She knew what had transpired in recent times. She had sensed the deaths of Lord Bargest and Lionn and Gaelen’s ascent to lordship. The terror and turmoil of the party’s return trip had filled her with unease. She knew, too, that treachery had been involved, although she had no name to put to it. No one needed to tell her these things. Earth’s sendings pressed so insistently she could not ignore them.

Liethis’ power as a seer was renowned. She intuited that Gaelen’s man would come for her. When she saw him riding up the path, she met him already mounted on her old roan mare, saddlebags packed. She handed the awed rider half a loaf of fresh dark bread, a slice of fragrant cheese and a skin of watered wine.

“
I know Lord Gaelen wishes to see me as soon as may be. These will refresh you on our way.” With that she led the way back to Bargia castle, leaving the dumbstruck messenger to catch up.

Liethis kept her senses open along the way, collecting as many impressions as she could. Once she reached the castle it would be harder to sort out the tumult that would assault her mind.

She knew Gaelen was aware how hard it would be for her at court. His father had always kept a private room prepared for her, deep within the walls of the castle. There the thickness of the stone filtered out at least some of the press of information. This is where she would meet with Gaelen as soon as she arrived. Her presence would be kept as quiet as possible, though she knew that would not last long.

Liethis enjoyed the ride to court in spite of the reason for it. This was late spring, almost summer. On the way through the low, rolling hills they passed several crofter’s steads.

Liethis lifted her eyes to meet those of a passing crow. The crow agreed to share his view, and through his eyes, Liethis beheld a varicoloured patchwork of greens interspersed with the occasional brown of a field not yet grown or a patch of an orchard in bloom. She saw pinpoints of colour where flowers grew amid the green and on the thatched roofs of the crofters’ cottages. When she had enjoyed the view she thanked the crow, and he flew on.

Bargia glowed verdant in its quilt of many shades of new growth: the blue-green of oats, the darker green of barley and the bright, vibrant green of new spelt. Meadows showed patches of white, yellow and lavender where wildflowers had not yet been cropped by sheep, cattle or the occasional mule or horse. Here and there, a willow waved its yellow-green withes in welcome, and evergreens stretched out new tips of fresh needles. Oak and maple still had not reached full leaf, and the sun played between their branches, leaving dappled patterns on the earth below. The paths to the crofters’ cottages were lined with bright patchworks of yellow, pink, purple and white, their doors framed in ivies or rambling rose vines, still vibrant with the newness of the season.

Soon the heat of high summer would mute the colours. The soil would dry and roots would reach deeper for the moisture that gave them their strength. Dust would cover the fields with its dun haze, and the world would settle into a slow buzz. But for now, Earth revelled in Her new life and danced in Her best clothes.

Liethis took all this in with quiet contentment. Her special sight allowed her to commune with Earth and feel Her joy at being reawakened. Another cycle begun.

Summer solstice was only days away, the time for Summer Festival. With crops planted and growing, the people had time for gathering together and celebrating the new season with dancing and music. They celebrated Festival with feasting, with fresh roasted meats, new greens, honey cakes and other small, sweet pastries made with hazelnuts and walnuts, with new ale and old wine. A prized treat was the tiny lumps of sugar boiled down from the sap of the maples.

The cheerful activities of the birds and wild animals were mirrored in those of the people, especially the women and girls busy preparing for the festivities. Hearths held bubbling stews and roasting meats, ovens filled with baking, and perfumes wafted from the garlands decorating doors and windows. The air filled with inviting aromas. Optimism and anticipation kept smiles on faces normally more dour.

Liethis felt buoyed by the new life around her. It helped her forget, for a while, the darker signs she knew Earth would expect her to understand and respond to.

In spite of her modest gown of unbleached linen, customary for seers, and her unremarkable mount, Liethis made an imposing figure. She was uncommonly tall for a woman, spare of build, with thick, chestnut hair that she kept in a single braid down her back. Though she did nothing to draw attention, she had an aura about her that caused those in her path to stop what they were doing and stare. To those who managed to catch her eye, she gave a simple wave and smile, which they returned with small bows of respect.

Liethis dismissed her guide as soon as she had made arrangements for him to stable and care for her horse. Only a handful of people knew the location of her chamber, and she preferred to keep it that way. She made her way there as quickly and unobtrusively as possible. At the door she paused, letting her senses flow into the room, checking for signs of occupation. While the door could be barred from the inside, the lock on the outside was a simple one that could be easily breached. Sensing no signs of life, she entered the room and barred the door.