The Haunted Wizard - Wiz in Rhym-6 (19 page)

"Only the first?" Alisande caught the discrepancy immediately. "Did they finish their dispute so quickly?"

"I doubt that it ever ends," Papa said with irony, "but King Drustan did stalk out in wrath, to walk abroad for most of the second hour."

"Surely that would not have been time enough for him to murder his son and come back!"

"I should think not," Papa agreed, "and the guards have inquired, and assure me that he did not pass through the gatehouse or the postern in that time. Wherever he stalked, it was inside the castle."

"Prince John was in his chamber all the while," Mama sat a little straighter, her whole body expressing disapproval. "We have a witness to the fact."

Alisande glanced at her, caught the message of her body language, and did not ask for particulars. "And Prince Brion?"

"So far as I can tell," Mama answered, "he went out wenching with his brother, but was too much imbued with the ideals of chivalry to patronize a prostitute."

"But perhaps not too chivalrous to stab his brother in the back?" Alisande shook her head. "It is far too unlikely. Did no one see him at the Inn of the Courier Snail?"

"None I have talked to saw him there," Papa told her. "I can only think that he went to a different inn."

"Or came in disguise with a dirk," Mama said, troubled. "I think he loves Rosamund, but will not admit it. Still, Gaheris treated her most rudely, and Brion might think of killing Gaheris as defending Rosamund's virtue."

Page 93

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"He might have been right to have thought so," Alisande said grimly. "Did no one see the stabbing?"

"None," Papa said. "The assassin struck from behind, and none saw the blow itself. We only know that a Bretanglian guarded Gaheris' back as long as he could. Minutes after that soldier fell, Gaheris died."

"Brion, in a soldier's garb?" Alisande shrugged. "If they were to disguise themselves as commoners, it would have been the habit he would have preferred. Still, I cannot believe he would have fought to protect his brother one minute and stabbed him in the back the next."

"It is hard to believe," Papa said noncommittally. "Still, on the face of it, none of Gaheris' family struck the fatal blow."

"Nor did Rosamund," Mama said, "for she, too, was in her chamber all that time. None actually saw her sleeping, but none saw her come out, either."

"I think we must assume that if any of the family were involved at all, it was by hiring the assassin," Alisande said, "and Matthew's Man Who Went Out the Window is still the most likely to have been the actual killer, no matter his denial."

"What murderer would boast of his deed to the queen's husband?" Mama agreed.

"Or her Lord Wizard," Papa seconded.

There was a knock at the door. There were several knocks, then a storm. Alisande rose and turned to face the portal, calling, "Enter!" The door opened; the guards stepped in, and between them came a man in stout broadcloth leggins, tunic, and cloak, still coated with dust, his face lined with fatigue. "Your Majesty!" He sank to one knee and almost fell.

A guard caught him.

"Rise," Alisande commanded, and the guard helped the courier to his feet. "What news?" the queen demanded.

The man's words fairly tumbled over each other in his urgency. "The war is done, Your Majesty!"

"Done?" Alisande stared. "It has scarcely begun!"

"The king met the queen in the field, with an army six times her number," the messenger told her. "Prince Brion ambushed Earl Marshal on his way to the battlefield, but the marshal struck him down, vanquished his men, and took the princess sword."

"He let Prince Brion live, though?" Alisande demanded.

"He did, though unhorsed—and before the marshal's men had ridden from sight, a knight in blue armor came riding out of the mists and slew the prince. Earl Marshal carried his body to the battleground, but someone stole it away during the fighting."

"Stole a dead body?" Alisande stared. "Why?"

Page 94

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

The spy shook his head. "Your Majesty can imagine the reason far better than I."

"I can indeed." Alisande's face darkened. "We shall soon hear rumors that the prince was not slain, but lives, and gathers an army in the hinterland to free his mother and claim the throne. Queen Petronille is imprisoned, is she not?"

"She might as well be," the spy told her. "The king has sent her to Castle Durif, where she will have a score of servitors and every luxury but freedom."

"A gilded cage," Alisande said grimly. "What of the king and Prince John?"

"Prince John stands by his father's side in victory, even as he did in battle," the spy told her, "though Rumor says he fought like a cornered rat, not like a loyal knight."

"What else does Rumor say?"

The spy tossed his head in disgust. "That Prince Brion's body was stolen away by fairies, which I highly doubt…"

"But thus is discontent kept alive and given hope," the queen said, "and the next rebellion born. What else?"

"That the king won by sorcery," the spy said, "and will repay the sorcerers by letting them spread their heathen rites across the land."

"What need for sorcery, with six-to-one odds and the Earl Marshal by your side? Speak on!"

"There are folk who wonder why the Earl Marshal spared Prince Brion's life," the spy said darkly.

"Why, because the marshal is a chivalrous knight and a loyal servant of the king who would not slay his suzerain's son! What does Rumor hint?"

"That the marshal had a more personal reason. That is all, only a hint, but it will grow."

"Soon we shall hear that the earl was secretly in league with the prince, or left him alive because he had hired a murderer to slay him," Alisande said with scorn. "You do not believe any of this, do you?"

"Not a bit," the courier confirmed. "I know no details of the battle, but I would not believe them if I did. It will take weeks to thresh the kernels of truth from the chaff of gossip."

"Is there any rumor that you do believe?"

"One," the spy said slowly, "that Princess Rosamund is a prisoner in a moated grange near the king's castle at Woodstock."

"Alas, the poor child!" Alisande squeezed her eyes shut. "Is there word of her betrothal to Prince John?"

"Not even rumor, Majesty—but there is gossip as to the king's intent in keeping her so near to his castle."

Page 95

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"Even I do not need to hear the substance of that gossip!" The queen spun away to her writing desk and took up a quill. "I shall send to demand the princess be returned to me at once, since she is no longer betrothed to any prince of Bretanglia!" She paused with quill on parchment and turned back to the messenger. "Great thanks for your news, good fellow. Take food and drink, and sleep for a few days. Then back to Bretanglia with you, for I must have more news of what transpires there!"

"As Your Majesty wishes." The man bowed his head, his delight at her praise glowing through his weariness.

He turned away, but stumbled, and Alisande told a guard, "See him to food and a bed." The guard took the agent away, but Alisande directed the other guard, "Send word to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to lay aside ten pieces of gold for that man, and to send him a note saying it is held for him."

The guard bowed and stepped out, closing the door behind him.

Alisande scribbled a note, sanded it, and said, "That will be set into proper form in the morning, and dispatched to the king."

"Do you not risk war?" Papa asked, frowning.

"Risk?" Alisande laughed bitterly. "Drustan will declare war on us himself, as soon as he has rallied his forces and buried the dead. He has sought an excuse to capture away from us those provinces he feels should be his. It will probably do no good to demand the return of Rosamund, but it can do no harm, either. At least this spat between himself and Petronille has won us a month or two more to prepare for war."

"That will not help the princess, though," Mama pointed out.

"Yes, and if the rumor of her imprisonment is true, she will need help most sorely." Alisande scowled.

"What can I do, though?"

"For one thing, we can discover whether or not that rumor is true," Mama told her, "or whether she is safely gaoled with Queen Petronille."

"I doubt that," Papa said darkly.

"I, too," Alisande agreed, "and I am troubled about these 'details' that my agent did not yet know. Mind you, he did right to bring me the great news at once—but the small news can hide great problems." Mama glanced at Papa; he nodded. She turned back to Alisande. "If you wish, we can go among the people of Bretanglia and learn what news there is."

Alisande froze, glowering down at her desktop.

"I dislike leaving you alone," Mama said gently, "but surely the situation is now grave enough to ask Saul to come guard the castle from evil magic."

"It is grave enough that I need you here! Let the Witch Doctor go among the people!"
Page 96

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"He is young," Mama explained, "and less skilled at prying information from the unwary. Then, too, folk are more likely to confide in mature people."

Alisande had to admit that was true—Mama's motherly air had induced her to confide more than once.

"Then, too," Papa said, "it is perhaps more important that we do what we can to keep war from coming to Merovence, than help to win it once it does."

"Keep the war away?" Alisande looked up, frowning. "How can you do that?"

"For one thing, we can find our son and make sure he doesn't work himself into greater trouble than he can handle," Papa said with a smile. "More to the point, we may be able to find ways to distract King Drustan—say, by using magic to free Queen Petronille and spirit her away."

"He will not attack if he fears rebellion at home while he is gone," Alisande admitted. Her voice gained an edge of desperation as she asked, "But why must you both go? Surely Papa Mantrell is enough of a spy by himself!"

"He is quite capable, of course," Mama said carefully, "but you know as well as I that women know things men do not, and are reluctant to speak of them to any but other women. Matthew certainly will not be able to learn such secrets, nor will my Ramon."

"There is truth in what you say," Alisande admitted, "particularly news regarding Queen Petronille and Princess Rosamund. Yes, there is some chance you may be able to keep Merovence safe from war." The older couple relaxed. If it was better for her country, the queen would let them go. The queen went to the door, opened it, and told the guard, "Summon Ortho the Frank." Mama smiled at Papa and squeezed his hand. Ortho was Matt's assistant, and a powerful wizard in his own right. If he pronounced the castle safe in their absence, they would go. When Ortho came, he listened to Alisande gravely, then sighed. "Ah me! War again! Well, if we must face it, we must. But surely King Drustan will give us some warning—an embassy with a declaration, perhaps."

"He is chivalrous enough for that," Alisande admitted.

"Then I shall send to inform the Witch Doctor of events, and ask him to hold himself ready to come. There will be time enough to send for him once war is declared."

"But if evil magic is directed against us before that?" Alisande couldn't help glancing in the direction of the nursery.

"I can deal with it," Ortho said, with a quiet smile that bespoke a wealth of confidence, "or should I say that I believe I shall be able to cope with any magicks that are likely to be thrown against us, especially with the new spells Lord and Lady Mantrell have taught me. Surely if enemies attack, the ones that conjure defense by the name of El Cid should be particularly useful." He acknowledged his colleagues with a bow of his head.

They returned the nod, smiling. Mama said, "The Song of the Emperor Hardishane, which you have
Page 97

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv
erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

taught us, will doubtless prove most useful if we encounter difficulties, Master Ortho."

"Let it be done, then," Alisande sighed. "Go forth in disguise, lord and lady—go forth to protect your son and my husband and to discover the true nature of what passes in Bretanglia." Then her face creased with anxiety. "Though Heaven knows, I shall miss you both sorely!" Mama rose and went to her, and Ortho had the good sense to leave without asking his sovereign's permission.

Three days after Rosamund's escape, the guard threw her door open and bawled, "His Majesty the King!"

King Drustan marched in, resplendent in velvet cloak and satin doublet, crown on his head and a gleam in his eye. "My dear, good news! We have won!"

He saw Rosamund standing at the window in a cream-colored gown embroidered with pale roses—only gazing out at the moat, nothing more.

Drustan frowned at the lack of response. "Do you not rejoice with me?"

"Rejoice with you." The voice was dull; its owner raised dull eyes to his.

"Come now, is that any way to greet the conquering hero?" Drustan chided. He stepped over to her, snapping at the guard, "Close the door!" As it shut behind him, he cupped Rosamund's chin and lifted her lips to his. They were cold, unresponsive, but not repelling him, either. Somewhat surprised, he tried a deeper kiss, and again received no rebuff, but no response, either. Still, the flavor pleased him and he drank deeper.

His hands began to shake with years of desire as he caressed her more and more intimately. The taste of her was sweet, though it would have been sweeter if she had returned his ardor or, better still, tried to fight him off. Nonetheless, he was glad of her resignation, glad that he would finally make her his own, no matter who married her. With trembling fingers he stripped her gown, caressing as he went, stepped back to admire her naked body—though its contours were not quite as rich as he had hoped—then swung her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He was amazed at her weight. She watched him calmly, with a composure that was almost unnerving, as he undressed, and seemed to find the sight of his nudity neither repelling nor inflaming. Drustan frowned, determined to make her gasp with pleasure, and lay down be-side her, saying, "You'll learn now the delights of royal lovemaking, my dear, and I'll not let it cease till I hear you moan with longing." He reached out to touch her breast as the fast rays of the setting sun colored her pale flesh, pale flesh that suddenly hardened, roughened, darkened, and Drustan froze, staring at shaggy bark. He shot a glance up at Rosamund's face, but saw only a single knothole and the roughly sawn end of the log.