The Dog of the North (36 page)

Beauceron bit back a smile. ‘I do not take vengeance on ladies.’

Cosetta pursed her lips. ‘Your dismay on finding we were not Lady Siedra when you kidnapped us suggests otherwise. Do not tell me you planned a surprise ball for her.’

‘Lady Siedra is a special case,’ said Beauceron. ‘I admit to bearing her a particular animosity. I am conscious that I have wronged Isola more than she ever hurt me.’

Cosetta looked into his face. ‘Is that remorse? I never thought to hear it from the Dog of the North.’

‘Do not mistake me, Cosetta. I can accept that I have maltreated her; that does not mean I regret it. Regrets are for those who can no longer take action. I look only forward.’

Cosetta appeared to be suppressing a laugh. ‘The words “forward” and “Croad” would appear to be all but interchangeable in your vocabulary.’

‘My plans are no secret.’

Cosetta gave him a searching look. ‘They should be; that is your difficulty. I know about the conversation you had with Agalina.’

‘What conversation?’

‘Beauceron, do not play me for a fool. I have connections at the Summer Court. There is little I do not know.’

‘I understood Laertio had been banished to Far Niente.’

‘So he has; but Tardolio is too late. What man will slight Laertio’s friend, when he knows Laertio will be King?’

‘Friend?’

‘I use the term in its broadest sense. The Prince would be most displeased were anyone to offer me discourtesy. The result is that I retain all the influence I had when Laertio was here;
and he will be back soon enough.’

‘Laertio and Agalina take different views of the King’s attitude to the invasion. They cannot both be correct.’

‘No, they cannot.’ Her blue eyes fixed Beauceron’s gaze.

‘And?’

‘The situation is simple. Tardolio’s defeat at Jehan’s Steppe was so crushing that he will never take the field against Croad again. He knows that Oricien, backed by
Tre-varre’s troops, would destroy him.’

‘In that he is wrong,’ said Beauceron harshly. ‘Oricien has never been put to the test. I know how to take Croad; I need only the chance.’

Cosetta shook her head. ‘You will not get it; not from Tardolio, at least.’

‘I do not believe you. If you know of my conversation with Agalina, you will know her opinion of Tardolio’s intent.’

She said nothing for a moment. ‘Sometimes you are not as clever as you think,’ she said. ‘Agalina’s only interest was in assessing the scope of your obsession. You are a
dangerous and influential man, and the Summer Court hoped you could be persuaded that your cause was hopeless. Your conversation with Agalina convinced them that such persuasion would be futile. I
could have told them as much, had anyone asked.’

‘I do not understand.’

‘No. Tardolio is desperate to avoid the assault on Croad; the only possible outcome, whether you fail or not, is an army of Emmen coming north, perhaps led by Enguerran himself. You can be
sure it would not campaign in winter. Tardolio would be forced to defend a siege of Mettingloom while he sits the throne. He would take any steps to avoid it. His best hope was to persuade you of
the futility of your scheme. Now that has failed, he has only one recourse.’

Beauceron looked steadily into her face. ‘Assassination.’

She nodded.

‘Why are you telling me? And why should I believe you?’

‘Believe or not, I have done my duty. I feel a curious gratitude to you, which is why I am warning you. My life in Mettingloom is good; I hope it will improve yet further. You brought me
here, even if not for my benefit. Add that I like and admire you. I cannot force you to believe me; but if you do not, and neglect your safety, you will be killed. What harm can a little vigilance
do?’

Beauceron sat in thought. ‘I am grateful,’ he said, ‘but I am much vexed to find the Summer Court closed to me. I should have listened to your paramour.’

‘I do not want to know what Laertio said to you. He has not told me, and I have not tried to learn. I know that he respects you, and hopes to make you an ally in future: I suspect your
plans may have gone further.’

‘I will not convey information you do not wish to hear.’

She leaned forward. ‘You have two choices, Beauceron. Give up your scheme; or persuade Fanrolio.’

‘The first option is naturally impossible; the second was always my preferred strategy.’

‘You will need to overmaster Davanzato.’

‘I am aware of that.’

‘Your man Mongrissore is delving deep to learn more of Davanzato.’

‘He is a determined man.’

‘Undoubtedly; but he is looking in the wrong place.’

Beauceron gave her a quizzical stare. ‘You speak with great certainty.’

‘I know much that I never wished to know. May I send a man to Mongrissore?’

Beauceron weighed her up for a second. He had no real reason to trust her; her beauty made her veracity if anything less plausible. She could have no real reason to help him, unless it was that
she hated Davanzato more.

‘How much of my conversation with Agalina were you privy to? I will not embarrass you by asking how you came by your information.’

Cosetta gave an airy wave. ‘Oh, Laertio has excellent sources. I know the whole of the conversation.’

‘Including her speculation as to my original identity?’

‘“Speculation”? Her hypothesis seemed to me highly plausible.’

Beauceron pursed his lips. ‘The subject is displeasing to me. I would not have it the tittle-tattle of Mettingloom.’

‘Gossip is not amenable to control. It works its way through the cracks like water. No one will hear your secret from me.’

‘If you know as much as you say, you will be aware that I did not confirm Agalina’s guess – and it was no more than a guess.’

‘It is of no consequence. Now, may I send my man to Mongrissore? I think he has information about Davanzato he may find interesting.’

Beauceron narrowed his eyes. ‘Very well.’

Cosetta rose. ‘Excellent. Now, if you will excuse me, I am required once again at court. Do not trouble to call Kainera; I am adept at finding my own way out.’

1

Arren slipped out from the hall and went to find Eilla. She was alone in the servantry, polishing the silver plate: that evening there was to be a banquet in Lord High
Viator Raugier’s honour.

‘Arren,’ she said softly, ‘you should not be here.’

‘Come outside,’ said Arren. ‘I need to speak to you.’

‘Mistress Eulalia will be vexed if she finds me gone.’

‘Tell her to speak to Seigneur Arren if she has complaints.’

She followed Arren out into the Pleasaunce. A breeze ruffled the branches on the overhanging trees.

‘I have been with Thaume and the Lord High Viator. You know why he is here?’

Eilla looked away. ‘They say he has come to stamp out heresy.’

‘He is a cruel and dangerous man. This morning he threatened to depose Lord Thaume for allowing the Wheel to flourish.’

A flash of concern ran across Eilla’s eyes. ‘He cannot do that.’

‘He says he can, and has a writ to prove it. Thaume and Guiles seemed to believe him. He rebuked Thaume for having Viator Dince whipped.’

Eilla sat down on a bench under the shade of a dappling tree with a controlled dignity which wrenched Arren’s heart. ‘What will it mean for the Gollains?’ she asked.

‘I do not know,’ said Arren. ‘It must depend on how Thaume reacts. He may close the Temple, as Raugier wants, but I think he will resist. That will call Raugier’s
bluff.’

‘I was sent over to The Patient Suitor when he was staying there. I would not like to play bluff with him.’

‘What can he do? I cannot see how he can depose Thaume in practice, whatever his writ says.’

‘He can come back with an army. The viators’ faction is dominant at court in Emmen, they say. King Arren is in no state to stop him, and Prince Jehan is by all accounts a pious man,
willing to follow the Consorts.’

‘I do not think it will come to that,’ said Arren. ‘But you must be careful. That is why I came to see you. I am sure he will want to make an example of somebody. Your father
must stay away, and you must be invisible.’

A smile briefly animated her face. ‘I am wearing the servants’ livery,’ she said. ‘There is no better cloak of invisibility.’

Arren took her hand. ‘I am sorry it has come to this. Things were so simple when we were children.’

‘I do not object to complexity,’ she said with a sharp smile. ‘I object to being a servant.’

‘You could be a farmer’s wife,’ said Arren.

She kicked him. ‘Do not mention that lummox Chandry. My choices are not immediately promising.’

‘My mother always thought we would marry,’ said Arren with a sideways glance. ‘She predicted it from the cradle.’

‘So did mine,’ she laughed.

Arren frowned. ‘The contingency is remote, but surely not inherently ludicrous.’

‘You don’t understand, do you? You are Seigneur Arren, a favourite of Lord Thaume and an intimate of Lord Oricien. I am peasant girl Eilla, maid.’

‘I am no more Seigneur Arren than I am King Arren,’ he said. ‘My status is both illusory and irrelevant—’

‘Arren! Someone is coming!’

Arren too could hear footsteps along the gravelled path. ‘Stay sitting,’ he whispered. ‘Leave matters to me, and let us hope it is not Lady Siedra.’

In this Arren was in luck, for around the corner walked Guigot with Raugier’s attendant Erlard. They did not see the pair sitting on the bench.

‘. . . Your observations interest me,’ said Erlard, a portly young man of pleasant appearance. ‘I feel sure they will interest the Lord High Viator equally.’

‘I am always guided by the viators,’ said Guigot. ‘Naturally I abominate the Wheel, and seek only to Follow the Way. It surprises me that so few folk see matters with such
clarity.’

‘You must not concern yourself with the progress of others along the Way, my lord. Cleave to your own path, and take the counsel of the viators to heart. You will soon reach Equilibrium,
and thence Harmony.’

Guigot inclined his head. ‘Your wise words soothe my spirit, Viator – Arren! What are you doing here?’

‘Guigot; Viator. Please do not let us intrude upon your discussion.’

Guigot coloured. ‘I had thought the garden was unoccupied; I was merely showing Viator Erlard around.’

‘So it seemed,’ said Arren with a slight smile. ‘I am glad to find your advance along the Way so smooth. You never showed such leanings in our classes with Viator
Sleech.’

‘Do not judge a man on where he begins his journey, young Seigneur,’ said Erlard. ‘Harmony is achieved at the road’s end, not its start.’

‘And anyway, Arren, what are you doing in my uncle’s private garden with a serving wench – if I need to ask?’

‘Your thoughts are callow,’ said Arren. ‘Eilla had been overcome by the smell of the silver-polish. I thought some fresh air might help.’

Guigot smirked. ‘No doubt you would have been equally eager to assist one of the more elderly servants.’

‘Your remarks do you no credit,’ said Arren. ‘Viator Erlard will come to doubt your piety.’

Erlard leaned forward to look at Eilla’s dress.

‘Is that a brooch of the Wheel I see, girl?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘You are a Gollain?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘And you flaunt it in Lord Thaume’s household?’

‘My lord allows us to wear favours.’

Erlard pursed his lips. ‘Lord Thaume is a most tolerant master.’

‘May I go, sir? I am needed in the castle.’

‘For now. You may be certain I will comment on this matter to the Lord High Viator.’

‘You may assure Lord High Viator Raugier that the girl will be discharged,’ said Guigot. ‘Such flagrant heresy is inappropriate for Lord Thaume’s household.’

Arren rose from the bench. ‘How will you achieve the dismissal, Guigot? You are neither the Lord of Croad nor his seneschal. I am sure Viator Erlard is too wise to be impressed by your
bombast.’

‘Such wrangling is not on the Way of Harmony!’ said Erlard. ‘Lord Guigot, I have many interviews to conduct today, but I have enjoyed our conversation: I hope it is of profit
to us both.’ He bowed and followed Eilla from the garden.

‘What game are you playing, Guigot?’

Guigot spat into the flowerbed. ‘I did not know you were here, mooning over some servant girl. It is no secret that there will be changes ahead; it does no harm to sit well with the
viators.’

‘You hate them and their cant.’

Guigot shrugged. ‘What if I do? Prince Jehan holds them in high esteem. I may attend the Viatory more frequently in future. I advise you to do the same, rather than dally with heretic
servant girls. Lord Thaume has given you a great gift by bringing you into his household; it is nothing to me if you squander it.’

‘You are unscrupulous.’

Guigot grinned. ‘In my position I cannot afford scruples. What of the servant girl? Was she a good tumble?’

Arren tensed; but Guigot wanted a response, and Arren was not going to oblige. With an easy laugh he said: ‘Why don’t you ask her yourself, preferably when I am absent? The sight of
violence distresses me.’

2

The evening saw Lord Thaume host in his Great Hall the banquet for which Eilla had been polishing silver plate. Arren did not imagine that Thaume was displaying any
cordiality towards the Lord High Viator, but protocol insisted that the dinner be held, and that those who might more prudently be kept away would be in attendance.

At the head of the great table sat Lord Thaume and Lady Jilka, displaying no discernible amity. The Lord High Viator was seated to their right. Cyngier’s seating plan had placed caution
ahead of all else: Oricien sat close by, as did Master Guiles, with Viator Sleech opposite. Viator Dince, who might have expected a place of honour, remained in his quarters with an ague. Sir
Langlan was seated well away from the head of the table, as was Guigot, despite his cordial relations with Raugier’s attendants. In this group also sat Arren and Siedra.

Lord Thaume had insisted upon a well-set table, with venison, boar and fish fresh from the River Croad supplementing the fowl, beef and lamb more common to the board. He had judged Raugier
willing to indulge his stomach, and the gusto with which he attacked the early courses seemed to bear out the judgement.