“With all due respect, Kraljica, that command needs to come from Archigos Karrol, not you or even A’Teni ca’Paim. I’m afraid the Archigos doesn’t share your enthusiasm for the Numetodo, and his distaste for the Morellis stems mostly from his fear that Nico Morel might actually have enough power take his place, not from any particular disagreement with their philosophy. In that, they seem rather aligned.”
A small moue of irritation flickered across Allesandra’s lips, but was quickly masked by a smile. “You’re right, of course, Varina. As usual. But it’s what I could do, and hopefully A’Teni ca’Paim agrees with me. So perhaps we can do some good.” She reached over to pat Varina’s hand again. “I should leave you to your recovery,” she said. “If you need anything, please let me know. We-the Holdings-will need the Numetodo, I’m afraid.”
“The Tehuantin?” Varina asked. “It’s true, then, the rumors-the Westlanders have returned?”
The single nod was all the answer Allesandra gave. It was enough. “I should go,” the Kraljica said, rising from her chair. “No, don’t get up. I can see myself out. Don’t forget-tell me if you need anything. The Holdings is in your debt for your service, and for Karl’s.” The attendants stirred, opening the door to the sunroom as Allesandra pressed a hand to Varina’s shoulder in passing and left. Varina heard her own servants bustling as the Kraljica moved down the hall toward the main door and her carriage. She heard the doors open, and the clattering of the horses’ hooves and steel-rimmed wheels on the drive’s cobbles.
She didn’t move. She stared at the windows and the garden, at the desk with Karl’s cane, at the ornate pull of the drawer where the sparkwheel was nestled.
The front door shut again. Her downstairs maid knocked softly on the door. “Do you need anything, A’Morce?”
“No, thank you, Sula,” Varina told her without looking at her. She heard the sunroom door close softly again. She felt the breeze of it, like a caress on her cheek.
“I miss you, Karl,” she said to the air. “I miss talking to you. I wonder what you would tell me to do now. I wish I could hear you.”
But there was no answer to that. There never would be.
Brie ca’Ostheim
Jan was kissing someone, and Brie felt an immense tug of jealousy and irritation because he hadn’t even bothered to hide it. He was in the audience chamber of the palais, and everyone was watching Jan embrace his lover: Rance, Starkkapitan ca’Damont, Archigos Karrol, the children, all the courtiers and ca’-and-cu’. She couldn’t see the woman’s face, but the hair was long and black, and the sound of their passion was loud enough that Brie could hear a beating like that of a heart…
The quiet but insistent knock came from the servants’ door, and it shattered the dream. “Enter,” Brie said sleepily. She rubbed at her eyes, squinting toward the balcony, where the thin drapes swayed with only false dawn’s light behind them. Brie yawned as the door eased open and Rhianna stuck her head in. “Hirzgin, Rance sent me up. The Ambassador ca’Rudka has returned to Brezno.”
“Sergei?” Brie gestured to the young woman to come into the bedroom, sitting up in the bed. She did so almost shyly, standing with her head down at the foot of the bed. “He’s back so quickly?”
Rhianna nodded. “Yes. Aide ci’Lawli said that the runner from the Holdings embassy said that the Ambassador would be arriving at the palace as soon as he bathed and dressed. He has an urgent message from Kraljica Allesandra.”
Rhianna’s face seemed to twist as she said the last, as if the name tasted sour in her mouth. “I take it you don’t care for the Kraljica, Rhianna?”
Rhianna shrugged. “I’m sorry, Hirzgin. It’s not me. It’s my matarh. She… Well, she had dealings with the Kraljica. Before I was born. Exactly what her issues were I don’t know, but Matarh never spoke the Kraljica’s name without a curse following it. I’m afraid her attitude has affected mine.”
Brie laughed at that. “Well, a child should listen to her matarh, and your matarh’s attitude wouldn’t be all that unusual in this household, I’m afraid. Is your matarh still living?”
Rhianna shook her head. “No, Hirzgin. She passed to the Second World three years ago now.”
“Ah, I’m sorry to hear that. It must have been hard for you.” Brie pushed the covers down; the sky was beginning to lighten beyond the drapes. “Did Rance tell you what the Ambassador was in such a hurry about?” Brie was certain she already knew the tidings that had brought Sergei hurrying back to Brezno-a fast-rider from their own Ambassador ca’Schisler had come to Brezno from Nessantico not long after the ashfall, but Rance and Jan had scoffed at the rumors that ca’Schisler had given them.
They were about to be confirmed. Brie was certain of it.
Rhianna gave another shake of her head. “Aide ci’Lawli said only that the Ambassor claimed the message was urgent, and he asks you to come to the lower reception room as soon as you’re able. Aide ci’Lawli is having breakfast sent there; I’m told the Hirzg is already present and the Starkkapitan and the Archigos have been sent for as well.”
“Hmm…” Brie sighed and tossed the covers back completely. If this is true, if the Westlanders are coming again… “You’ll help me dress, then, Rhianna. In the closet in the dressing room, I’d like the blue tashta with the black lace trim. Go get it; I’ll be there in a few moments.”
Rhianna curtsied and left the room for the adjacent dressing room. Brie sighed as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
The morning air was chilly on her bare feet, and through the drapes she could see clouds that promised rain.
Jan ca’Ostheim
“You’re certain of this? Absolutely certain? ”
Jan stared at Sergi ca’Rudka as he asked the question, watching the man’s face and trying to ignore the distraction of the silver nose. Not that one could ever see a lie in the Ambassador’s ancient, lined, and practiced face, but he still watched. Sergei only nodded, slowly and carefully.
Jan heard the massed sigh from the others around the conference table: Archigos Karrol, Starkkapitan ca’Damont, Brie, his aide Rance.
“Oh, it’s certain,” Sergei answered. His voice sounded tired, and his travel cloak was still stained gray with the ash kicked up in his travel from the Holdings capital. He reached into the leather pouch that sat on the table before him and placed a stack of bound papers on the polished oak. “I have the transcripts here with me of the several fast-riders who came to Nessantico immediately after the ashfall-many of them are firsthand reports of having seen the Tehuantin fleet. The Kraljica has sent riders heading west to verify the sighting, but we’re certain what we’ll find. I came as fast as I could, but by now. ..” Sergei shrugged. “The Westlanders may have already landed their army. We’ve lost Karnmor to them; Fossano could already be under attack, or they could be heading past that city upriver toward Villembouchure.”
Jan found himself still wanting to deny the news. How was it possible that Westlander magic could have brought Mt. Karnmor to life? How could they have destroyed the Holdings fleet and the city of Karnor, how could they have caused thousands of deaths and this horrifying ashfall?
“Could the eruption of Mt. Karnmor have been a fortunate coincidence for the Westlanders?” Jan asked. “They didn’t necessarily cause that to happen.”
Sergei sniffed. “They didn’t land their army on the island. They took their fleet well north of Karnmor when it would have made more sense for them to move directly toward the mouth of the A’Sele. One of our eyewitnesses saw a Tehuantin ship at anchor at the flank of Mt. Karnmor the night before the mountain exploded, and lights on the slopes going to and from the ship. That doesn’t sound like a coincidence to me, Hirzg.”