Mistress of mistresses (41 page)

The Vicar
meanwhile,
sitting in his closet alone with his cursed dogs, upon the very morrow of
Lessingham's setting out for Rialmar, sent for Gabriel Flores. 'Take ink and
pen: write.' Word by word he gave it him, and, when it was written, scanned the
letters; signed them: certified them with his seal vicarial. The same hour, he
took a secret person, commanding him go with these to the High Admiral, that
lay with the fleet in Peraz Firth, and to the Chancellor in Zayana. Another he
sent to Kutarmish, to Earl Roder. That done, he summoned Count Mandricard from
Argyanna, and Daiman, Thrasiline, and Rossilion from outparts of Rerek, and had
with them Arcastus besides, that was already at hand. With these men, all five
being creatures and instruments of his, and with Gabriel, he for a full day
till supper-time held talk in secret, showing them of his mind so much as he
deemed convenient.

Now
came answers again from those three great com-missionaries, not concerted, for
they had had no time to confer together upon them, yet as showing one common
mind; which, plainly stripped, was readiness indeed to
meet with him, but not as cattle with the lion in
the lion's lair: not in Owldale. Upon this, having considered with himself
awhile, he despatched more letters, and first to Jerommy in quality of regent
of Outer Meszria, to the intent that he did, as earnest of his friendship and
as not unfitting to the Admiral's charge and estate, give over and assign to
him Kessarey castle and the township and lands thereof and all the roadstead
harbour and sea-works of Kessarey, which, albeit within the March of Ulba, yet
by its situation threw far into Meszria the shadow of its power; and now there
let their conference be, in Kessarey instead of Owldale. And, for example of
friendship, he would thither come with no more but a bodyguard; and upon such
open and undoubtable terms of faith let them take counsel for the realm's good
and their own.

To
Kessarey then, about middle August, came these four: Beroald, Jeronimy, and
Roder, with the Vicar. There was nought given out, that folk might have known
what manner of fowl were hatched in these layings of heads together. The
Chancellor, after a day or two, betook him home to Zayana: the Earl to
Kutarmish: the Admiral settled him down in Kessarey with the fleet, and had
good strength of men both for land and sea. They-parted all with manifestations
of affiance and regard, the Vicar proceeding now upon a progress through the
March and Outer Meszria to take oaths of allegiance from towns and strongholds
in those parts subject to the regent Jeronimy, like as he had taken them from
the regent's self in Kessarey, for the acknowledging and receiving him as Vicar
and Lord Protector, and owner of their fealty in peace and war. It went not
unremarked that, whereas in the great King's day had forms and salutations upon
like occasion been as unto the King's highness, and if through viceroys,
commissionaries, or other, then but through them as middlers, and so expressed;
yet now in this progress was all taken by the Vicar in person as unto himself,
without all mention made of the Queen, principal and sovereign and fount of his
authority. Which, furnishing with mischief such as will still be tale-bearers
in matter capable of reward, came, upon such tongues, to the regent's ear in
Kessarey, To such kind of talk Jeronimy listened open-eared but close-mouthed.

The
Vicar, returning now to Laimak, caused Gabriel to write him a letter to Duke
Barganax as sweetly and amiably as could be devised. To this, after not many
days of waiting, the Duke answered as pleasantly again, excusing himself from
bidding the Vicar to guest with him in Zayana (which, had it been offered, the
Vicar would, for jealousy of his own safety, have upon no conditions been
minded to accept), and proposing instead a meeting in the Salimat. There, being
that it was the border betwixt Outer and South Meszria, he would about October
ceremonially receive the Vicar and do homage to him, as vicegerent of the
Queen, for the regency of South Meszria, by the Concordat of Ilkis upon such
terms of suzerainty conferred upon the Duke.

Now
autumn wore, and all quiet.

In
the first days of November the Chancellor came north again. Upon an afternoon
he with the Admiral walked the poop of the Admiral's ship royal, at anchor in
Kessarey haven. It was a tempestuous and cloudy sky, with gulls hanging in the
wind, and circling intercrossing flights of sea-swallows, and sometimes the
passing of a line of gannets, strong-winged, keeping their line like ships,
high through that windy grey tumult of wintry weather which swept in eastwards
from the high seas without. Elbow to elbow those two lords paced, cloaked and
hatted against the weather and in great sea-boots, keeping to the lee side for
the wind sake and spindrift.

Tn
Owldale,' said the Admiral: 'Owldale. I said, you did not carry your friendship
so far as accept that inviting to go to him in Owldale.'

'No.
And yet that showed a certain nobility, to trust us here in Kessarey.'

'The
measure of his trust is but the measure of his contempt.'

'For
my part,' said Beroald, 'I will trust no man these days. Saving present
company.'

They
took another turn or two. Then said the Admiral: 'Truth is, I have it by kind to
see clear and feel my power in a manner thus, with the tar smelling in my
nostrils and with good oak planks and salt water a-wash beneath my feet; never
so ashore. Remember,' he said, after a pause,
⁴
'tis alway stab i'
the dark with him. Attempt 'gainst Ercles in September, miscarried but by
accident, even as that 'gainst yourself last spring in Zayana.'

Beroald
said, 'O I take my precautions.'

Jeronimy
shot a sidelong look at him. 'And he is a layer of baits.'

'Well?'

'Well:
Sail Aninma.'

The
Chancellor's lip curled. 'So your lordship knew of that? It was propounded to
me upon terms of secrecy, and indeed I urged him keep it so. Yet in a ten days'
time I found my lady sister knew it, and had inspired the Duke and his mind
incensed to have made it matter of open quarrel with the Vicar. But he was not
to be moved: laughed at it: said I would never take it.'

'And
I doubt said rightly so?'

'Such
horses', said the Chancellor, 'are not to be looked too near in the mouth.'

'Perilous
counsel. Consider Kessarey: it is good, but I am not deceived. My lord, these
things are writ big, in a manner, for our instruction: that he, yes, as long
since as August, I say, hath said in his heart, " 'Tis time now: all lets
removed: now, in the happy absence of this Lessingham,
divide et impera."
Why, the action walketh apparent, smelleth so
rank a perfume of supposed seduction the gorge clean sickens at it: holding
out of himself to me with such crude blandishments as disinterested noble
guardian of her highness' rights: blackening the Duke to me with such palpable
lies and wrestings of plain honest—Faugh!' he said, checking in his walk;
'design is, gull and flatter us to the top of our bent: crush the Duke: that
done, crush us. The wind setteth where last May it set; and 'tis that voyage
over again: same lee shore, same weather, same tide-race 'twixt skerry and
skerry. With the Duke of our side, and with right of our side—well; but, fail
either condition,—good night! My lord Chancellor, forget not that.'

'I
forget nothing,' said Beroald. ‘I know the Duke. More, know my sister.'

'And
did your lordship foresee,' said the Admiral, 'upon that knowledge (as, by my
soul, I think few else did), that patience and loyalty whereby he did last
month do homage, meeting of him in the Salimat? 'fore all the folk assembled
acknowledging him and swearing fealty? even to taking in that ceremony the
Vicar's horse by the rein and humbly, while that other sat in the saddle puffed
in his insolence, leading it north to south over the beck in token of
submission? Did not that argue, in this loose age, a wonderful exampleless
example of noble truth and word-keeping? But I say 'tis the blood determines
it. Royal blood: and that will out.'

'It
was the act,' answered the Lord Beroald, 'of a disciplined and law-abiding
person.'

'Ha,
and, for law-abiding, what of those late proceedings in my own vicariate, a
month or so ere that? and of the Queen's highness no more mention made than had
the vile murderer, by will deputed overseer of our estate, been crowned King
and all?'

"That
too,' said the Chancellor, 'is not to be forgot.'

'I
wish', the Admiral said, after a silence, 'your lordship would, in a manner,
throw back flat this offer of Sail Aninma: might give him pause, where all till
now hath swum too easy.'

'It
handsomely becomes you, my lord Admiral, with Kessarey and the half of Meszria
into your hand, to lesson me in self-sacrifice.'

'O
take me not so thwart. You do know I mean not thus. More power to your hand,
the better for us all. But this, a fief in South Meszria: 'tis stamp on
Barganax's sore toe: 'tis wrongful, too, clean 'gainst the Concordat—'

'Not
so fast,' said the Chancellor. 'Hath been matter of legal controversy these
three generations and more, of the right status of Sail Aninma, whether of
Meszria, whether a demesne apart and of itself. Do me so much right as not
imagine I'd trepass one iota beyond the law.'

'Then
let only policy determine, and effect upon the Duke, already tried near
patience' ending. You have your own man holdeth Argyanna as governor, and that
is key of south Rerek, like as Kutarmish is and Kessarey of the Meszrian
Marches. So, and with Roder in Kutarmish, and me in Kessarey—albeit Roder, I am
sometimes apt to doubt, useth a little too much security in feeding on these morsels
from the table of Laimak—'

'My
good lord Admiral,' said the Chancellor, ‘I do fear your eye so vigilant bent
on Laimak importeth your too much negligence toward Zayana.'

They
came to a stand. The High Admiral, leaning with his elbows on the bulwark,
clasping and unclasping his hands, gazed landwards. 'Your lordship is known,'
he said, 'for the flower of legists in these days. And I applaud your politics.
But remember, my lord, neither to you is it given to see all and err never.'

The
tide was running. Like white horses ridden at barriers, now here now there all
the sea-length of the mole, breakers plunged and tossed mast-high in the wind
manes of spray. The castle, built of mighty blocks of sandstone mottled with
lichen and sea-scurf, stood bare and square upon the seaward point of the low
long shattered headland from which the mole, built of the like stone, takes a
sweep, first west and then south-about to the line of skerries, giving so a
sea-mile and more of sheltered water with good anchorage and safe riding in all
weathers. The ships of the fleet, a score of them besides lesser craft and a
few great carracks laden with costly treasure of merchandise, lay outward from
the Admiral's that was anchored scarce three hundred paces from the land. And now
those two lords, looking shorewards so through that flurry of wind, saw where
an eight-oarer put out from the quay under the seawall of the castle and began
to row towards them. Swiftly she rowed, as upon some urgency. 'Why,' said
Jeronimy at length, as she drew near, ' 'tis his grace's friend, young
Barrian;' and made ready to welcome him aboard.

When
greetings were done and they three alone upon the poop, 'My lord Admiral,' said
Barrian, 'I was directed to your excellence upon matter runneth to danger. And
'tis more than common fortune I should also a found your lordship,' (to the
Chancellor); 'Medor was sent to you, and some question where to find you. But,
for the business, 'tis shortest peruse this letter, that my lord the Duke had
but on Saturday evening from him we know on, out of Rerek. No forgery: the
signet is knowable; and trusty for bad, if less for good. And for what his
grace accounteth of it, let its plight acquaint you: ripped up the middle like
a pair of breeches.'

'Let's
read it,' said the Admiral, fumbling for his perspective-glass. He and
Beroald, holding it down upon the binnacle, read it together. 'Openeth very
sweetly: the hand I know too, (too well by now), that Gabriel Flores': unctuous
sweet beginnings wont to steam up in the end into assafoetida. Ha, and there's
the true whiff on't,' he said, scoring it with his thumb-nail: 'Mandricard to
be of Alzulma enfeoffed in fee simple. But, Alzulma? 'tis in South Meszria,
broad as barn doors: in by a dozen miles. Were I his grace, I'd answer: Good;
and to pay back the courtesy, I've gi'en to my Lord Barrian here Mornagay,
Storby, or Anguring itself. Nay, in sadness, 'twere fair comparison: he that
sits in Alzulma can say who shall pass and who pass not by the Ruyar road from
Rumala to Zayana; and his saying hath currency not in weak words, but in power
and deed.'

They
read to the end: 'And so, wishing God the Father glorious bee your conduct,
given by vertue of al powres and liabilities enabling me thereunto both for
mine owne Selfe and vicarially as Lord Protectoure for the Quens Highnes,
HORIUS PARRY. In Laimac, thys vij daie of Novembre
anno
Z.C.
777.'
And then the superscription: 'Unto hys Grace and
Excellent Lordshipp Barganax, cawld Duke of Zayana, regent under Me Meszriae
Australis. So obey and perform it. H.P.'-