"Oh, honey." Matrinka could barely contemplate the thought. She had heard Tae's report. She, and only a handful of others, knew the truth. If the continental allies lost this war, no one of their world would survive. The alsona would kill every last one of them: man, woman, or child. She would not burden Marisole with that knowledge, not now. She had enough for any adolescent to deal with. "Griff 's not a fighting king. He'll remain behind the lines, and Darris is pledged to stay at his side. Prince Barrindar's not a warrior either; and he's too young and valuable to risk. The loss of even one life is a tragedy, but those three are more likely than most to survive."
Marisole forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "You'll understand if I want to spend as much time as possible with Barri?"
Matrinka understood. The two could not present their case to the king or the Council until the war had ended; and, by then, one or both of them might die. We all might die. The thought became a dark, grim noose that she could barely contemplate. Matrinka could still recall the burning desire she had felt for Darris as a teen, a love that still flared inside her at the mere thought of him. The law prevented them from courting, from marrying, yet that had not stopped them. The flame was too hot, the need too great, to bow to laws and family. "Thanks for talking to me instead of sneaking around behind my back."
Marisole nodded and smiled hopefully.
"The intent of the royal incest law is to prevent the line of kings from becoming too inbred, just as other laws exist to keep it from straying from the god-blessed Bearnian blood that keeps the West in balance."
Marisole understood more than Matrinka expected. "You mean the law that kept you and Darris from marrying."
"Yes," Matrinka admitted. "Which is why it's unlikely the heir-test will select you or Halika."
"Or Ivana."
Matrinka bobbed her head. "The Council already decreed before Ivana's birth that no child born of an elf could take the throne."
"So, there's about a one-in-three chance that, if Barrindar and I are allowed to marry, Bard Darris will have to guard his own son-in-law-by-blood. Or I could be in the position of faithfully guarding my own husband." Marisole turned her mother a pleading look that spoke volumes.
Matrinka sighed. The queen understood so much more that Marisole had, apparently, not yet considered. To obtain permission for such a courtship meant announcing Matrinka's infidelity, which might violate significant law of its own. It might also subject Darris to serious, perhaps even capital, punishment. To protect them, Griff would have to admit his complicity, which could bring justice down upon his head as well.
All three had been very young when they spawned the agreement, the eldest only Marisole's current age. At the time, Matrinka had only wanted to dodge a loveless marriage, to couple with the man she truly loved. Although she had considered the danger and consequences since, the worst she had anticipated was the need to lie or to explain the deception to their children. It had never, in her wildest imaginings, occurred to her that her children might want to consort with siblings, like-blooded or not.
Nevertheless, Matrinka knew forbidding young love would only make it flare brighter, become infinitely more sure and desperate. Had Griff insisted on sharing her bed, she would have done her duty and never disgraced their marriage. However, she would have lived in the constant dark depths of depression, longing forever for her husband's bard bodyguard. Always tantalizingly in sight and always forbidden.
"Marisole, spend the time you have with the one you love; but you must keep it secret. I know some herbs that can help keep you… safer."
"Safer?"
Matrinka blushed, weighing her words.
As usual, Marisole blurted the ones Matrinka so cautiously tried to avoid. "To keep me from getting pregnant, you mean?"
Matrinka bit her lip. Now was not the time for pussyfooting or a lesson in manners. "You cannot, under any circumstances, allow that to happen. Even I can't help you, then. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Marisole looked her mother full in the eyes. "I'll use your herbs. Faithfully, I promise."
That did not satisfy Matrinka. "They're not foolproof, Marisole. It's better if you don't take things that far." Under ordinary circumstances, Matrinka would have demanded abstinence. Good women did not have intercourse before marriage. Even she had waited, though she could hardly give lectures on marriage and bedroom protocol. While staring down annihilation, even the most moral citizens of the continent might choose to engage in one last act of love or lust. She doubted many soldiers, married or single, would go to war with their manhood unsated.
"We'll be careful," Marisole promised. "In every way."
Matrinka's gaze drifted back to the ocean, and her concerns for Tae resurfaced. She did not wish to discuss the matter further. "The Council, and your father, have enough to worry about right now. If we win the war, we'll talk more about this."
Marisole fairly danced. "Thank you, Mother."
"Don't thank me yet." Matrinka turned her attention back to the sea. "Your behavior over the next weeks or months will determine whether or not I continue to assist you. And, if you get caught, you're on your own."
"We'll be discreet," Marisole promised. "Secret and careful."
Matrinka bowed her head. The whole conversation seemed trivial when the fate of the entire world hung in the balance. Yet, for Marisole, she knew, it meant everything. If the prince and princess of Bearn were going to die young, they should at least do so in loving arms.
CHAPTER 42
A spy's job is to remain invisible and inaudible-to hold the enemy's fate in his hands.
Crouched on his bit of ship wood in the shadows of the largest warship, Tae Kahn watched rowboats arrive from the other, clustered ships, each containing two or three men. One by one, their rowers called mentally for the lines. A team of sailors dropped hook-ended ropes that the newcomers fastened to giant iron eyelets on either end of their boats. The sailors hauled the occupants up the hull and over the gunwales, where they disappeared from Tae's sight. Moments later, the rowboats fluttered back down, minus an occupant. The man or men remaining freed their crafts and headed back toward their own ships.
When it became clear that the only mind-calls would come from rowboaters needing a lift, Imorelda dropped her coverage and spoke directly to Tae,*You're going to do something stupid, aren't you?* She stood beside him, lashing her tail.
Tae continued to watch, digging out the mahogany-colored wig from his supplies and placing it carefully on his head.*Don't I always?* He counted five generals and no more approaching boats. He guessed each man might command ten thousand men. Assuming the Kjempemagiska, the one they called Firuz, did not directly control a unit of his own, the alsona army might consist of as many as fifty thousand men. Fifty thousand. Tae shook his head. The continental armies might wind up with nearly as many by the time they all gathered, but under many divergent commanders and banners. The alsona, he felt sure, would act with an easy coordination the diverse-background allies could never match.
The cat's tail thrashed harder.*Well, don't expect me to risk my furry neck with you.You can be stupid all by yourself.*
Tae frowned, still calculating. When he put all his knowledge together, combined with logic, he guessed the ships would carry a half measure of sailors, led by the ship's captain, and a half measure of soldiers, led by a commander of some named rank.*All right, Imorelda. Don't come.*
The cat's head jerked toward him, and the tail grew even faster and more jagged in its movement.*You're not even going to try to talk me into it?* *Why would I? You're an intelligent creature; you can make your own decisions.* Tae held out his arms.*Matrinka's been wanting a replacement for Mior, and I imagine one castle's the same as another for a cat.*