《Power & The Price》 1. Power & The Price From the large, open doors of the Church of Execot, Princess Katherine stared down the nave and tried her best not to focus on all the faces, familiar and unfamiliar, that were looking her way from the pews. Her whole body felt stiff and staticky, having been dressed in heavy brocade from head to toe, cloth of gold to boot, and around her neck strapped a tie that held the tremendously heavy cloak on her shoulders, covered by her new livery collar. She looked back over her shoulder, seeing the pair of women that held her cloak up from the ground as she entered, as well as the glint of her red hair laying on the ermine fur. On her left, Princess of Massouron Sophie de Chavanet. On her right, Princess of the North, Grace of Langley. Challengers and potential adversaries in another life, but now the women that helped Princess Katherine display her so-desired role as conciliating young Queen of Ilworth. At least, it was the role that the advisors had desired for her. Princess Katherine was nineteen, not the heir many people wished for, not the heir that was educated to one day rule, and in fact, had taken the veil three years prior, and so the role of intelligent negotiator, apt steward, or warrior queen were not available to her during her ascension. What she lacked in skill, however, councilors quickly realized she made up in simple charm. Thus the narrative was born: Katherine, daughter of the good King Richard, sister of the ill-fated Prince Edward, and mother of the bastard Johanna de Serra ¡ª now to be Johanna of Courtenay ¡ª was to mend the troubled relationships her elders had made, through the use of her ample charisma. Though the rumors during the ascension crisis were fierce and often true, and her challengers were cutthroat, the blessing of her late father was enough to at least get her to Execot, where she assumed, having seen the crown from a distance, that if her throat was slit on the way to Norbury Castle, at least she would have born the crown for a second. All of the mumbles fell silent as the people stood up to pay respect to their new monarch. Katherine¡¯s steps resounded as the only sounds in the entire building, though she herself heard the quickening beat of her heart and rhythm of her breath in tandem with it. ¡®The Archbishop of Milden Cross!¡¯ a man¡¯s voice boomed from across the hall. Half a dozen red-robed men came into motion and walked to stand before the altar of the historic church, one of which carried the crown and halted in alignment with the nave. Hesitantly she stepped forward, paying those standing by the pews no mind. Behind her cloak the nave filled up with officials, knights, councilors-to-be, and important members of the peerage, but before their steps could be heard, the silence was interrupted by trumpets. Katherine could not suppress her emotion and felt a smile creep up on her face as she made eye contact with the Archbishop. A choir joined the trumpets in their tribute to this new era by the time Katherine reached the steps that led up to her eventual seat. She knelt down before the Archbishop and held her chin flat to her chest, her eyes closed in anticipation. ¡®I here present unto you Katherine, your undoubted Queen,¡¯ he hollered loudly enough for every person present to hear. He then presented the crown, inlaid with red velvet and many glittering gemstones, holding it up and turning from left to right to allow a rare gaze at the priceless treasure. By this point, Katherine had goosebumps all over her body and had clasped her hands together like in prayer. Once more, it was quiet. ¡®Will you, Katherine of Courtenay, solemnly promise to protect and rule Ilworth and Otterdon Island, bring justice and peace to its plains and mountains, according to law and custom?¡¯ A shiver slid over her spine and ribs like a hostile, cold touch. She knew the question was age-old, and had never been changed since the first Courtenay conquered the islands, and yet from the imposing deep voice of the archbishop, it felt personal and potently heavy. ¡®I will,¡¯ she said proudly. ¡®And will you uphold our culture, our tradition, our God, and our dignity in the name of your ancestors and of your successors?¡¯ ¡®I will,¡¯ she repeated, her voice still unwavering and in fact becoming louder. He inhaled deeply, causing her to look up at him. His eyes were dark and kind, not at all how she had pictured him from the tone of his voice. If only to break the tension a bit, when she had caught his gaze, she winked and grinned. The aged archbishop continued. ¡®Will you shield us and lead us in times of hardship and war, with noble heart and a clear compass of morality?¡¯ ¡®I will. All this I swear are my duties. I shall keep my word to serve the people, so help me, God.¡¯ ¡®God crown you in honor and righteousness, may you keep His commandments and act in great courage and strength,¡¯ the archbishop then hollered. ¡®God save the Queen!¡¯ She looked down again when she stood up, and took her seat on the coronation chair when the archbishop stepped aside. The view was breathtaking. From the slight elevation, the sheer depth of the church was dizzying, and from the large open doors, a whole crowd of people were visible outside. The archbishop padded over to her, the crown in his hands, and placed it on her head, adjusting it after placing it in order to firmly attach it. Katherine felt herself sink into the chair from the weight, and when other officials gave her the sceptre and orb to hold, she felt that there was nothing else for her to do, nothing else to think about, except the nature of her people and her duties to them. Even those grandiose duties, the burden to care for more than a million people, did not sour her mood. The choir resumed, starting with the national anthem. She vacantly looked out over the hundreds of attendees, from near and far, and felt herself becoming less Princess Katherine, and more Queen Katherine right then and there. Absentmindedly she sang along, not realizing the entire crowd sang as well, including the archbishop who stood by her.
When the music waned and the knights began to march back out, Katherine herself stood up as well and only then felt how tense her body had been upon that golden chair. She straightened herself, balancing the crown on her head, and swiftly two velvet pillows appeared before her to place the sceptre and orb back on, now clammy with the heat of her palms. With her feet firmly on the velvet carpeting, Katherine knew she would never be the same woman that walked into the Church of Execot. Confidently she strode down the steps, making eye contact with as many guests, who were all now curtsying and bowing before her, and as Sophie and Grace took their positions at the tail end of her cloak again, she smiled at the January sun that streamed in from the open doors, where a crowd of people awaited her. Once she was out, the full extent of the crowd became apparent to her. The church was slightly raised compared to its lower-lying town centre opposite it. As far as the eye could see, gathered up to the alleyways that connected with the square, people were standing. Only a small space had been left by the guardsmen for Katherine to pass through in order to reach her carriage to Norbury Castle. They were cheering, and in the complete chaos Katherine felt, she forgot to exchange glances with them and respond to their congratulations like she had imagined she would. Her secretary of state caught up with her by the time she reached the carriage and lay a hand over her shoulder. ¡®Marvelous, Katherine!¡¯ he hollered, getting into the coach after her. Her new secretary of state was a middle-aged man with white hair, who had served her father before her. He was wearing the Courtenay house colours, blue and purple, and on his head perched a small coronet to signify his rank as Duke of Overleigh. Though his peers called him Lord Overleigh first and foremost, his name was Cuthbert Harcourt. As the door closed after them and they had both taken their seat, Katherine took off her crown and sighed. ¡®And?¡¯ he asked her giddily. ¡®How does it feel?¡¯ Katherine looked from beneath her brows mischievously. ¡®What¡¯s there to say, Harcourt? They love me out there. And I think you will find that when we return to Norbury Castle, your fellow dukes will be quite smitten too.¡¯ He huffed and imitated the stoic confidence he had seen her command on the coronation chair. ¡®Very convincing. Precisely what all of us needed in this uncertain time. Someone with a bit of charm. Besides, I¡¯ve yet to bestow my gift upon you before all my peers do. I imagine I¡¯ll be the only one who won¡¯t also drop in his portrait.¡¯ He took a small parcel from beside him and handed it over, wrapped in printed paper. ¡®You shouldn¡¯t have,¡¯ she said at first, but still began to unwrap it. The inside of the card paper was brilliant purple, and inside its wrap was a small box that Katherine wedged open with her nails. In it lay a delicate velvet cushion, upon which lay a signet ring. She grinned happily. ¡®How sweet of you,¡¯ she said as she exchanged one of the rings on her finger with it. ¡®What a darling little gift.¡¯ ¡®I thought to myself, given that I¡¯ve seen a few of your suitors in the flesh: we should all make sure that Her Majesty knows who her first love is,¡¯ he said. ¡®The people of Ilworth and Otterdon Island.¡¯ She clicked her tongue. ¡®You speak like my father.¡¯ Harcourt gazed at her wisely. ¡®I intend to speak for your father, given he has left us prematurely. Someone has to keep a rowdy young queen from doing anything unspeakable.¡¯ Silently she cast her gaze downward, playing with the signet ring between her fingers.
Katherine quickly realised once on the throne that Harcourt had not led her astray. The dukes of her country, even the ones not present at her coronation, had brought her gifts, and alongside those gifts, their portraits or those of their sons for Katherine¡¯s deliberation for her hand in marriage. The gifts themselves were plentiful to the degree that even Harcourt and his trusted colleague Dorothy Abell, the treasurer, were surprised. There had been horses, jewelry, bolts of brocade, dried and fresh flowers, silverware, porcelain, shoes, and an entire carriage thrown into the pit of the Ilworthian treasury. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Even through the festivity that it was for Katherine to sit on her throne and receive lavish gifts, there was some anxiety that crept up in her. The throne room was near the ballroom, and the music had already started. Hearing a happy crowd riled up with music and wine made her feel antsy to be away from. Besides, the Duke of Dolcotshire had not yet appeared. She worried he would never come. Dolcotshire was the duchy that was home to the convent she lived at the three years directly preceding her coronation, and the stories that made the rounds in the higher echelons of Dolcotshire politics were not for the faint-hearted. According to the rumours, Katherine had fled on multiple occasions, had slept with knights, been spotted in lowly taverns, and swam in the river at night, when only highwaymen and vagabonds could report it. Worst of all was the fact that all of these rumours were absolute truth. Just as she was meaning to get up, she heard footsteps in the hallway again, and one of the guardsmen that had entered alongside a fur-clad duke announced him: ¡®Lord Gregory Vale, Duke of Dolcotshire!¡¯ She was unsure whether to feel relieved or concerned. There was no way he could embarrass her, and she realised so, but still coming face to face with a man who knew too much about her made her uneasy. None of this showed, however. Instead she folded her hands over one another and smiled pleasantly. ¡®My host,¡¯ she said placidly, and extended her hand for him to take and kiss the rings. ¡®My liege,¡¯ he returned. ¡®Your Majesty. I come bearing gifts.¡¯ She let her eyes glide over his face, and then over his head towards the half dozen knights he had brought to accompany and guard him. Her eyes glided over their faces, dressed in becoming hats, and was relieved to find none of them rung a bell to her. ¡®You really ought not have,¡¯ Katherine said for the umpteenth time that day. ¡®It is a fine enough gift to be the lady and protector of loyal vassals such as yourself.¡¯ He exhaled sharply. ¡®It is no burden upon myself to prove this loyalty, please,¡¯ he said, and signaled to the door, where another pair of knights stood, one carrying the leash of a brilliantly white shepherd dog with an exquisitely bejeweled collar. Whatever impression it left on Katherine was however quickly overshadowed, considering the man who held the leash was not just familiar to her, but she had missed him immensely. ¡®What a thoughtful gift,¡¯ Katherine said, trying not to be distracted. ¡®A hunting dog, I assume¡­¡¯ Gregory guided his knight towards the throne in order to show the dog to her, the dog in question wagging his tail in anticipation of affection. ¡®Say,¡¯ Katherine said, much more to the knight than Gregory himself, ¡®I wonder if you¡¯ve any accommodations the coming days. I know like no other Dolcotshire is far from this place. I¡¯d hate to see you lot uncomfortable.¡¯ ¡®Oh, Your Majesty,¡¯ Gregory said. ¡®We have booked The Aere in full.¡¯ ¡®The Aere¡­¡¯ Katherine responded, letting the word percolate in her mouth, then leaned over to Harcourt. ¡®Is that considered a good establishment?¡¯ ¡®Well, I am sure, Your Majesty, it will befit the Duke and his men,¡¯ Harcourt said, his arms behind his back. She raised her chin as she listened, intermittently gazing out onto her former host, the Duke of Dolcotshire, as well as his knights. ¡®What a shame ¡ª I was planning on returning the favour of hosting by offering you and your knights a night within the castle walls. Of course for the grandiose favour of hosting me for as long as necessary. I think of the abbess often.¡¯ ¡®And the abbess speaks of you often,¡¯ Gregory said with a nod. ¡®Your Majesty. It would be an honour¡­¡¯
Katherine changed before tending to the party, exchanging the heavy furs and brocades for a shimmering cobalt blue gown of taffeta of which the hem rose to her ankles of ease of movement. She was grinning from ear to ear when she strode into the ballroom alone, a goblet in her hand, and watched as all eyes gradually drew to her. It was far more crowded than she had assumed. Surely five-hundred invitations seemed plentiful, but to see hundreds of people crowded in the ballroom, in the yard, and walking about, it felt far more prestigious than what Katherine had initially assumed. She scanned the room for familiar faces and noticed the desperation in the eyes of some of the party-goers though nobody dared to approach her just yet. The band, when they noticed the crowd reducing to a whisper, held their hands off of their strings. Harcourt too made his way from the crowd and hurried to a bit of scaffolding towards the mantle, where he reached his hand into the air and hollered: ¡®Announcing the Queen of Ilworth and Otterdon Island, Katherine of Courtenay!¡¯ She stepped up happily, taking Harcourt¡¯s hand to help steady herself, and nodded gratefully at her secretary of state¡¯s service. ¡®Thank you,¡¯ she said under her breath. ¡®I¡¯ll take it from here.¡¯ ¡®Everyone¡­¡¯ she then declared happily and rose her goblet. ¡®Or I should say: my dearest subjects. What an honour it is to face you as such.¡¯ It was quiet when she was not speaking, and only when she took a small pause, did she realize the dizzying effect this had on her. She had studied a speech, of course, but the words ceased to come to her that second, seeing the people in the crowd that had opposed her succession. ¡®The role I have within my country is that of the firekeeper at the fireplace in the great hall,¡¯ she suddenly recalled. ¡®I swear to meticulously tend to the fire, not fear for a little burn here and there on my hands, to always serve the fire and never let it burn out or wither, so that all of you may be warmed by it as long as I live. It delights me to tell you that I have inherited a lively, high, sweltering fireplace, and I promise to deliver it to my eventual heir as fiercely as it has come to me.¡¯ Katherine scraped her throat. ¡®It has appeared to me that I was often overlooked as successor by those who knew very little of me. Of course, my detractors will say, I was not the firstborn and therefore, by definition, a spare. I cannot deny these facts, and if I could, I would not choose to, for it is after all God who had chosen me for the Ilworthian throne. I will not bow beneath these men and women who say they know better than God who should be crowned, and instead I suggest they too find themselves in His good grace. ¡®Good people¡­ under my rule I shall aim to put to rest the Otterdon faction seeking their independence. Despite our warm relations, you may know of me that as a Courtenay, I do not recognise the Langleys as rightful heirs to the Otterdon throne. Lord Francis and Lady Grace, my dear friends who bear the title of Prince and Princess of the North, will remain so without land. My claim on the Massouric throne will, too, remain unclaimed. I aim to build bridges where I can, strengthen alliances, leave our children with a better Ilworth than we were left by our elders. Calmer, more prosperous, with more towns and cities, thriving ports, and rich culture. For all this and more, I am very pleased to see a crowd before me of talented, intelligent, and pure-hearted vassals, close alliances, and noble councilors. I wish all of you a wondrous night.¡¯ There was an applause brought on by Harcourt, and the moment she felt as though she would not be heard, she gasped for air and sighed. This had been the culmination of all that she had done until then ¡ª now all there was left was to enjoy the fruits of it. She stepped down and took the last swig from the goblet in order to calm the burgeoning nerves now she saw people approach. Harcourt was her first line of defense, speaking to everyone coming her way, but of course it was unseemly for a monarch not to speak themselves. Katherine marched out of the busiest part of the room and towards the windows, where she took another beverage from a servant and scanned the great hall. Suddenly her eye fell again on Duke Gregory, some of his most decorated men walking among him, but not everyone seemed to have come. The knight who had held the leash, the one she was so desperately hoping to see, was unfortunately not among them. She sighed. ¡®Lady Katherine,¡¯ she heard suddenly from behind her, Harcourt¡¯s excited voice. ¡®I need to introduce you to my wife¡¯s administrator.¡¯ She looked over her shoulder and saw him walking towards her with two others: Katherine¡¯s aunt Lettice of Courtenay, Harcourt¡¯s wife, and a mysteriously dressed man perhaps in his forties, with shoulder-length brown hair tied in the nape of his neck, and a sleek black court suit complete with red stockings and paned sleeves. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said with a bow. Lettice lay a hand on her niece¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Katherine¡­ you were marvelous up there. Did Bertie write that for you?¡¯ Katherine bowed softly before them and looked up at Lettice. ¡®Well, Cuthbert and I together. There were a few things I wished to say, and I believe together we managed to get it all out. It¡¯s been too long, hasn¡¯t it? You¡¯ve never met Johanna, I take it, it¡¯s been that long¡­¡¯ Lettice¡¯s face crimped at the suggestion. Johanna. A bastard, and with a bit of luck, Katherine could even include her in the line of succession. ¡®I am sure in due time our paths will cross,¡¯ she said placidly. ¡®Have you met the beating heart of my court, Lord William Lennard?¡¯ Katherine shook her head. ¡®I¡¯ve been far from Gartham for too long. How do you do, Lord William?¡¯ His face had a pleasant openness to it, and his hands were on his back. ¡®I am well, Your Majesty. My, we¡¯ve been blessed as a country with a queen as radiant and fierce as you. My expectations are high after seeing you so high-spirited. No pressure, of course.¡¯ ¡®We will try to put some actions to the promises rather soon,¡¯ Harcourt said. ¡®Your home court of Gartham might become a little bit emptier now, given that I¡¯ll be back in Norbury Castle for the forseeable future.¡¯ William smiled slyly. ¡®Lady Lettice and I can amuse ourselves, as you well know.¡¯ Harcourt¡¯s smile faded. ¡®Indeed¡­¡¯
The party carried on from the late afternoon into the evening, and Katherine had been dancing ever since Harcourt had ceased finding other undoubtedly incredibly important figures for her to socialise with. Each one of the dukes who had sent in his portrait, from Far Water in the north to Milden Cross in the south, with the exception of Dolcotshire, wished for a volta or a pavane with the Queen, and who was she, unmarried and as of yet without a legitimate heir, to refuse? It was a few goblets of red wine down, and numerous mixers and couple dances to boot, that yet another man came to her, but bowed very deeply before her, and wore no coronet or other signifier of his status. When he rose again, Katherine all but jumped from excitement. Henry. ¡®Where were you?¡¯ Katherine asked with a gasp. ¡®I was looking for you all evening!¡¯ Henry clicked his tongue. ¡®Your Majesty.¡¯ ¡®Stop that nonsense right now,¡¯ she whispered through the crowd. ¡®How did you keep a straight face when you gave me that hound?¡¯ He raised his dark, bushy brows. ¡®What¡¯s the matter? You hadn¡¯t expected me to come with Gregory? I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m his champion¡­¡¯ ¡®You told me all about it when someone put a lance through your arm and we had to endure your endless moaning in the convent,¡¯ she said. ¡®I do recall.¡¯ ¡®You know what I¡¯m about to say, right?¡¯ he asked with a chuckle. Katherine pursed her lips and felt the urge to chuckle at the insinuation. ¡®That it¡¯s mutual,¡¯ she said at last. ¡®We¡¯ve both had to endure each other¡¯s moaning.¡¯ ¡®Right,¡¯ Henry said, and put his hand through his black hair. Whenever Katherine looked into Henry¡¯s dark eyes, they reminded her of the endless days in Dolcotshire, where she would use the garden¡¯s ladder to climb over the fence, and on the other side, he would be waiting for her, generally just with a drink and a bite, though occasionally on his horse, to whisk her away into the wild forests in the area for just long enough to not rouse much suspicion. The abbess knew, Katherine had been told off for it a million times, but being the princess, there was no serious punishment for her. How different it all was in that ballroom in Norbury Castle. Katherine shook her head. ¡®You know, I¡¯ll miss you when you return home,¡¯ Katherine said dryly. ¡®And I you,¡¯ Henry said, crossing his arms before him. ¡®Maybe if I¡¯m granted a piece of land around these parts, you can buy my fealty...¡¯ A grin crawled up on her small mouth. ¡®What a horrific thing to say,¡¯ she said with a chuckle. ¡®You know I¡¯d give you Stansby and Astwick in a heartbeat, right?¡¯ He leaned in and quickly touched her shoulder, but withdrew the very same moment, suspicious already to be seen in her presence for so long. ¡®You can just say you¡¯ve swayed me with your divine charm and diplomatic efforts. I¡¯m happy to stay anyway.¡¯ ¡®Your Majesty?¡¯ Dorothy hollered as she approached. ¡®Sorry about the interruption, the Queen of Massouron just arrived and she wishes for Your Majesty to come outside so you may admire the beautiful carriages that she has purchased for you. Her son has brought quite the gift as well¡­¡¯ Katherine turned, and Henry made a swift exit in order not to have to identify himself ¡ª she considered that Henry had perhaps not been invited even under the guise of Gregory Vale¡¯s champion. ¡®Oh,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®Tell Queen Louise I¡¯ll be coming right up.¡¯ Dorothy¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®Who was that, Lady Katherine?¡¯ she whispered. She blinked blankly. ¡®One of the Duke of Dolcotshire¡¯s knights, Dorothy. He and I have crossed paths before ¡ª I healed his arm when I lived at the convent. He¡¯s thinking of professing fealty to the crown instead of the duke.¡¯ Dorothy cackled. ¡®Don¡¯t tell Gregory about that, he won¡¯t feel as high and mighty about housing you for three years if it turns out all of his knights have begun feeling more loyal to the Queen of Ilworth.¡¯ ¡®He jousts,¡¯ Katherine said, feeling relief that a story so true to reality could still appease her advisor, ¡®I think he¡¯s doing it for the quality of the equipment. Dolcotshire is a fine province ¡ª much finer when you do not wear armor purchased in Dolcotshire.¡¯ Katherine placed her hands behind her back and walked along with Dorothy, hoping that this was the last gift she would have to gracefully receive, the last prestigious guest to walk on eggshells with, and hopefully soon the last song she would hear from the band before she was allowed, after a long day, to withdraw into her new bedchamber in Norbury Castle, where she now lived. 2. News from the Island Freyza was never quite heralded as a king after his latest exploits to the Najan Isles to capture slaves for the Sultan¡¯s harem. In fact, oftentimes he had to wait a whole afternoon until the port¡¯s officers let him or any of his crew or newly minted odalisques leave the ship at all. He was in his cabin awaiting the checks, while his assistant Iskander was sent out to reason with the officers. They wanted gold for they knew Freyza had plenty, and holding him up cost him more than a little bribery ever could. Recently, Freyza had resigned from his post in the Sultan¡¯s court as Sword of the Treasury, and the next challenge lined up for him as Sbaian ambassador in Massouron soon made these trips to the Najan Isles a thing of the past. Perhaps it had even be his last. He considered that only now ¡ª far too late, as he answered a few letters that had been smuggled in with his assistant. ¡®Master,¡¯ Iskander began as he opened the door to his cabin with a creak in the door. ¡®They should be all set.¡¯ Freyza looked up from his paperwork and impatiently tapped the side of his quill against his index and middle finger. ¡®What did they take?¡¯ Iskander¡¯s face, already tainted in its expression by its littleness, turned grave. ¡®A girl ¡ª oh, and four-hundred akce for the trouble.¡¯ The slaver clicked his tongue. ¡®These goddamned animals,¡¯ he complained and stood up. He stormed out and climbed the stairs back to deck, where he saw the officers leaving, the tops of their padded turbans visible even as they lowered themselves onto port. Freyza whistled for their attention. ¡®Sirs!¡¯ he hollered, his arms crossed before him. Two of the three turned to him, the other holding the girl that Iskander had spoken of. Their faces were similar, both olive-skinned and black-bearded, but one of them had a much wider appearance than the other. ¡®Do you know the price of stealing from the Sultan for a common man?¡¯ Freyza asked, himself now carefully following them off of his ship. ¡®We¡¯re not common men, Master Freyza,¡¯ one barked. Freyza scratched at his beard. ¡®But?¡¯ ¡®Death,¡¯ he said at last. ¡®Mhm. Beheading typically,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®Now what¡¯s it for emissaries and staff members?¡¯ Freyza eyed them both up and down. Unlike Freyza, who despite his station wore simple working clothes when he was out on the sea, the two officers were dressed almost like sultans themselves. When the answer seemed not to come, he grinned. ¡®Slow death. Beheading with a butter knife. Burning with a candle that is blown out each time its flame rises above the length of an eyelash. Poisoned with mere drops of arsenic at a time. Hunger sustained for months.¡¯ He searched his pockets and brought out a gold case the size of a small playing card, and through its crystal lid, revealed a miniature portrait embedded in it. ¡®And this is what I¡¯ve sold the Sultan. Now I¡¯ve really enjoyed our dealings together and I¡¯d hate to lose the three of you to your own stupidity.¡¯ One of them narrowed his eyes and looked intently at the miniature. ¡®That¡¯s this girl?¡¯ Freyza chuckled. ¡®Made you look, didn¡¯t I? My men are good at what they do. No matter how specific, we¡¯ll find a shipment full of slaves with the exact characteristics asked for. With His Excellency, I¡¯ve found that this little worthless miniature of a banished Courtenay brood gets me to a place where very few are rejected from his harem. I¡¯d like the girl back ¡ª to save us both trouble.¡¯ One of the officers whistled which called the one that was still walking away back. He had his arm around her torso to keep her by his side, and Freyza¡¯s eyes were fixed on his hand, which the officer had placed around her breast. Her face was fair, and she squinted where the Sbaians could comfortably look out. Her eyes were a pale green color, and her red hair was in braids. As Freyza put the miniature back where it belonged, he marveled at the likeness. ¡®Leonora,¡¯ he said. ¡®My apologies.¡¯ She said nothing, her eyes cast downwards. ¡®Gentlemen¡­¡¯ Freyza said, gaving them each a long, disapproving look. ¡®I wish I could say that I look forward to seeing you again, but I am bound for Massouron.¡¯ As he turned, keeping Leonora at his side by clasping her tightly around the waist and squeezing his arm against his side for leverage in case she wished to run, he saw that Iskander was overseeing the rest of the operation and sighed. Thank goodness he did not have to make an excuse for the shipment of one fewer than the precisely three-hundred odalisques, rudimentary Sbaian-speaking, mostly virgins, and all flaxen or red-haired.
They arrived at the palace a several hour coach ride later and Freyza was starting to feel the old feeling of anxiety. Meeting the sultan was never easy for him, and since this was likely his last shipment, he expected to be informed of the date that he would leave and the conditions of his arrival in Souchon Palace while he was there. Reminiscing about the last few years only made the anxiety worse. When he was at sea, there was nothing but the briny water and the rowdy sailors, and his mind never wandered to court life, to his failed marriage or to the details of his own profession. He simply did as he had been told by the sultan; he did as his father did before him and his son was expected to after him. While the women he had brought were being received, washed, and clothed, Freyza had a moment to tend to his successor as Sword of the Treasury, the young Bayezid of Amouas, who had done well by making himself trusted by Freyza when he was still the Sword. Now years later when Freyza was becoming ambassador, he had to admit he thought he would miss catching up with Bayezid about all the happenings while he was out at sea. His office flanked a garden where the young aristocrat was often found reading or smoking, including on that very day. Freyza tapped the door that led out, and Bayezid turned his head, blowing a puff of smoke out all the while. ¡®Ah, old dog!¡¯ he said, and scrambled to his feet to embrace Freyza. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡®Bayezid¡­¡¯ Freyza said. Bayezid tutted him playfully. ¡®Look at how dark you¡¯ve gotten¡­ in winter, you¡¯d pass for a Baradran or even a dark-haired Massouric nobleman. Now look at you, just in time to move up north you look like you fell down a chimney and were grilled over an open flame.¡¯ Freyza looked down at his sun-specked hands coming out of the white sleeves. ¡®Unlike you, I work,¡¯ he said with a wink. ¡®Actual work that requires actual exertion. I¡¯m in the sun all day if I¡¯m unlucky.¡¯ ¡®You poor soul,¡¯ Bayezid sighed. ¡®At your advanced age, too. Good you¡¯re getting promoted. I¡¯ll hold down the fort here.¡¯ Freyza sat down and rolled his eyes. ¡®So¡­ from how you¡¯re acting I take it I haven¡¯t missed a single thing.¡¯ Bayezid joined him and took another drag from the waterpipe that stood between them. ¡®I¡¯d say so, yes. The only thing that comes to mind is that the King of Ilworth died and so did his son. But in a cruel twist of fate, though the heir¡¯s wife was with child, the fact that the son died before the father meant that the former did not succeed ¡ª and despite half a dozen claimants, the spare has been crowned.¡¯ Ilworth. It was a country Freyza had little interest in, but that was the primary alliance of Massouron after the Baradrans had started their descent into unrest, and that alone caused him to take note. ¡®Isn¡¯t the spare some small boy?¡¯ he asked. Bayezid shook his head with great amusement. ¡®In some fit of madness, that whore hadn¡¯t been taken off of the line of succession! She was taken from the convent and crowned! There¡¯s talk that her daughter will be brought to her again and given a princess¡¯ upbringing. Barbarians!¡¯ ¡®The redhead?¡¯ he asked. He nodded. ¡®The one His Excellency¡¯s smitten with.¡¯ Freyza snorted and searched his pockets for the miniature again. ¡®What a twist of fate,¡¯ he said, half to the painting itself. ¡®My dearest companion on my travels, my half-Baradran pocket odalisque has made something of her life.¡¯ ¡®You know, that little thing might be worth something now,¡¯ Bayezid said and laughed. ¡®There goes your wild idea to kidnap the girl from the convent.¡¯ Freyza shrugged and let himself slump over in his chair. ¡®They¡¯re hardly as pretty as on the portraits, and this one is rather vague. She probably wasn¡¯t worth the trouble, especially considering I¡¯d need to port in the north of Ilworth¡­ I wonder if she¡¯ll visit Souchon Palace during my position in office. Then we¡¯ll know for certain. Perhaps then she can be tempted into a life of the imperial harem and Sultan Selim will be paying me so much gold that my great-great-grandchildren will start their own country with the scraps. And Ilworth can return to having a proper monarch ¡ª all thanks to one humble Sbaian slaver turned diplomat.¡¯ The Sword of the Treasury was quiet for a bit, looking at the miniature Freyza had laid on his thigh. ¡®The operative word being humble,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®As it always is with you.¡¯ Freyza raised both his hands, palm up. ¡®Either it¡¯s dishonesty or it¡¯s arrogance, Bayezid, I cannot banish both at once within my personality. Has anyone spoken about my departure?¡¯ Bayezid¡¯s face theatrically soured. ¡®Your wife is wondering about your son¡¯s tuition.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s three years old,¡¯ Freyza barked. ¡®And she¡¯s not my wife. She was the one to make sure of that.¡¯ ¡®Well¡­ I don¡¯t think people assume you¡¯ll be back soon. Especially not when the Queen of Massouron¡¯s Sbaian ambassador arrived here a couple days ago with the necessary paperwork to cross Baradran waters.¡¯ Freyza reached for the mouthpiece of the waterpipe and cleaned the end on his tunic. ¡®I love how you¡¯ve started this meeting with the important news. Why can¡¯t I cross Baradran waters? What ambassador? We have a Massouric ambassador?¡¯ ¡®Calm,¡¯ Bayezid said simply. Freyza took a drag and hardly let the smoke into his lungs before he sighed again. ¡®You can see I¡¯m trying to calm.¡¯ ¡®You can¡¯t cross Baradran waters normally because¡­ I don¡¯t know, Freyza. Something something rival dynasty, something something Ilworthian princess who is the bastard child of one of these guys. They aim to make passage from places like the south Baradrans and the Najan Isles as difficult as possible so it can all neatly diffuse before it combusts.¡¯ Bayezid scraped his throat and signaled for the hose to be returned to him. ¡®As to the ambassador¡­ she¡¯s not particularly susceptible to being charmed out of information so I just know she arrived and has been looking for you.¡¯ ¡®Anything else?¡¯ Freyza asked. Bayezid shrugged. ¡®Shave before you see the Sultan. And wear something less¡­ poor-looking. That¡¯s all.¡¯ The last thing Freyza did before leaving was pass Bayezid the hose again.
A bit of his swagger had come back with a shave and a change of clothes in anticipation to meet the Sultan that afternoon. He was led through the enormous hallways, both hands on his back, with Iskander by his side and a small team of staff members behind him. He had been made aware of the fact that the girls had been taken to the palace and were being introduced to the guards, other women, and of course to the Sultan himself, after which there would be the possibility for complaint. It was precisely for that reason that his expeditions tended to take twice as long as those for the auctions: he needed to make absolutely sure that there would be no complaints ¡ª unlike for the alternative, where he guaranteed a fine experience right up to the doorstep but not a smidge further. When he was almost at the gate that separated the hallway with one of the many sitting rooms in the Sultan¡¯s private residences, it dawned on him that this would likely be the last time he would come there, perhaps even the last time he saw the aged Sultan. The guards opened it for him quietly and Freyza straightened himself. On the far end of the great hall stood a throne on which Sultan Selim sat. Freyza strode in confidently, leaving Iskander and the rest behind him, and made himself smile as he briefly locked eyes with the ruler. ¡®Freyza al-Khalas, Duke of Tougaf,¡¯ one of the emissaries spoke to Selim. Freyza bowed and when he came back up again, clasped his hands nervously behind his back until he knew for certain that Selim had little to no bad news to share with him. The Sultan was a little man, aged and with a long face accented with a pointed beard. On his head perched a padded turban in white, and in its middle gleamed a purple crystal. Dozens more were scattered on his fingers, around his neck, and as ouches on his tunic and trousers. His hands were clasped together and his face seemed kinder than it generally did. ¡®Oh, Freyza¡­¡¯ he sighed. ¡®What are we to do without you?¡¯ ¡®Your Excellency¡­¡¯ Freyza replied with a nod. ¡®I mean it. I¡¯ll miss your good eye,¡¯ Selim insisted. ¡®Immensely flattering,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®I¡¯ve taught Master Bayezid, though, my work in the Treasury, and I am certain that your purchasers will be fruitful at the auctions. If not, of course I may always be called back.¡¯ Selim smirked and crossed his arms. ¡®Lady Azeline of the Massouric court has spoken to me about the important happenings up north. It¡¯s a matter of little kings and little queens of course, but it is intriguing nonetheless. I believe you will have your hands full, and we require a strong and intelligent man in the embassy.¡¯ ¡®I take it, Your Excellency, that you have been informed about the Ilworthian succession,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®I was meaning to speak of that,¡¯ Selim said, and pointed his finger up. ¡®If you see the young Queen of Ilworth, give her my congratulations and well wishes. Say¡­ I almost daren¡¯t ask. Was she the one with the, uh¡­¡¯ Selim gestured to his head. ¡®The red hair?¡¯ Freyza asked. ¡®Indeed. Very well, Your Excellency.¡¯ He thought for a while and Freyza felt relief about the fact that not the quality of the odalisques, but the prospect of meeting the model behind the odalisques was to be discussed instead. ¡®I shall write her,¡¯ Selim concluded. ¡®Put in a good word for this old statesman, if you will¡­¡¯ Freyza smiled, trying his best not to cackle. ¡®I will have no choice and that will be twofold. Of course your magnificence knows no bounds ¡ª and equally, I am on the Sbai Empire¡¯s payroll to promote the magnificence.¡¯ ¡®And if you had a choice?¡¯ he asked, his voice hoarse. The slaver raised his brows. ¡®If I had a choice, it would be incorrect of anyone to assume that I will cease to be patriotic for my own country the moment I walk across the border. No matter what the frogs ask of me, if you will pardon my language¡­¡¯ The sultan laughed heartily, which was so contagious to Freyza that he himself began to smile. ¡®Good luck,¡¯ he said at last. ¡®You already talk like a parliamentarian. Tell the Queen of Massouron and her husband I said hello.¡¯ ¡®Will do, Your Excellency,¡¯ Freyza said at last, and bowed. 3. Dramatis Personae It was fair for early March, so fair in fact that the first suitor Katherine had decided to invite, Francis of Langley, who hailed from the north of Otterdon Island, had decided to attend the joust that day without a cloak on. The choice for Francis baffled Katherine¡¯s advisors. He was handsome in that characteristic Otterdon way: narrow-faced, dark-haired, tall, with a dancerly figure of elongated grace, and this gentlemanly appearance was accented by a delightfully royal upbringing of music, art, literature and language. His sister Grace had played an important role in Katherine¡¯s coronation by holding her cloak, and considering their frequent letters to one another, it appeared that Katherine may have at least found the Langley brood bearable. However, it was unlikely that Katherine was interested in the way that the advisors were planning to advocate for him: his uncle Hugh Dacre, the Duke of Far Water, had been a pain in the ass of Katherine¡¯s predecessor and was expected to be a pain in the ass to her. Katherine knew little of the situation and had little interest in it. She was the Queen of Ilworth first and foremost, and despite her proclamations, spoke little of Otterdon Island, which lay off of the northwest coast from the larger isle of Ilworth. It had been three-hundred years since Otterdon Island came under Courtenay rule, but still, the people had not forgotten their old rulers. The children of the patriarch were called Prince and Princess of the North, and despite there being no land to their name, just the title alone warranted a bow or a curtsy. Thus, Francis was the unexciting but likely most convenient match for the young queen. Francis was about the same age as her ¡ª he would turn twenty-one in the spring ¡ª and was willing to spend this time at Norbury Castle to see whether Katherine could tolerate him and whether the matter of dowry could be settled. Neither of them paid much mind to the strategic aspects, or so it appeared. Katherine was genuinely disinterested, preferring the hunt, joust, lively dancing and borderline bawdy theatre, and Francis preferred to appeal to Katherine¡¯s interests, rather than expect her to appeal to his. It was in such a fit of her fancy, that they ended up at a joust on the hunting grounds of Katherine¡¯s own estate. ¡®I¡¯ve never seen a grandstand with a royal box,¡¯ Francis told Katherine, giving her his hand so she could take the little steps to their superior seating. Katherine flashed a grin. ¡®No? I thought you lot were princes and princesses.¡¯ Once she stood on the top step, she quickly relinquished her hold on his hand, and instead firmly grasped his to hoist him up with. Francis looked at her with a timid expression. ¡®It¡¯s been a long time since anyone in Ilworth has told me that,¡¯ he said. ¡®I believe your predecessor preferred Lord of the North.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s a lot of things people have not said in Ilworth for a long time,¡¯ she gloated. ¡®And yet, here we are. Long live the queen, for example. Now nearly redundant in its use, but just two short months ago, unimaginable. I can prefer prince over lord and mean nothing by it, that¡¯s the beauty of words.¡¯ ¡®So I¡¯m being flattered by falsehood?¡¯ Francis asked. Katherine sat down and took her time to study her suitor¡¯s face carefully. ¡®I wouldn¡¯t say falsehood,¡¯ she said. ¡®It¡¯s more terminology than anything. It¡¯s in my best interests to inflate your titles, you know, if anything comes of this.¡¯ The trumpets called the attention of the audience to the grounds, where a horse trotted on either side of the tilt, a knight on their back. The visors of their helmets were not yet closed, and it only took Katherine half a glance to see which of these two knights was her honorable champion from Dolcotshire. It pleased her greatly to see him, taking the lance from the ground in which it had been staked. He looked the part even more so now the worst parts of his armour were steadily being replaced by the royal armourers. A full suit was in the works. ¡®Did you place a bet?¡¯ she asked Francis. ¡®I did, actually,¡¯ he said. ¡®On the reigning champion.¡¯ ¡®Hm,¡¯ she said. ¡®I placed one too ¡ª on the challenger. Though I have a bit of knowledge the likes of you don¡¯t have. I know Henry personally.¡¯ ¡®So I¡¯ve been told,¡¯ Francis said, and said no more, with the sort of knowing expression that Katherine was starting to get used to from him. Instead of asking for clarification like she wanted, she instead settled down to watch. While they were talking, Henry had challenged the current champion, Thomas Clifton, and the latter had agreed to be challenged. At that moment, the pair of them raised their lances to the queen in a salute. Katherine smiled happily. They began to charge, and an immense amount of sandy dirt was unearthed when the horses quickened into a gallop, on each one of them a charging knight with his lance extended, until they crossed one another, and the collision brought about a brilliant, splintering snap of Thomas¡¯ lance against Henry¡¯s armour. She sighed when they passed one another and it became clear that while Henry¡¯s lance was still in tact, Thomas¡¯ had been beheaded. ¡®One-nil,¡¯ she said to Francis, leaning into him briefly. ¡®Let¡¯s see if you bet right.¡¯ From the sheer frustration in her face, Francis already expected it to be the intelligent choice to leave Katherine be. Lances were exchanged for new ones, and the lull in activity was being filled with some modest music. Servants were crossing the grandstand with refreshments, but neither Francis nor Katherine chose anything off of the platters or from the wooden carriers. Katherine realised that they had barely talked up until that point, at least not about anything but the thing right in front of them. Whether the remark he had made previously meant that he knew about her and Henry, she could not know for certain. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The truth was that she had chosen to explore Francis first, for he had been described as the solution to the problems at court. It was clear to her within a few activities, however, that she would not be pursuing the match herself. The knights, now carrying a new lance each, spoke their last phrases to their squires before the latter scurried off. They charged again, this time more fiercely than the time before, and this time it was not Thomas who charged ahead, but Henry, who in the heat of the moment slipped the lance beneath Thomas¡¯, which left him in the perfect position to push straight into the middle of his breastplate. When he came close enough, he gave a firm shove against the other end, and in an instant, unseated his rival. ¡®Thank fucking God,¡¯ Katherine murmured under her breath. ¡®You¡¯re too expensive to lose.¡¯
Harcourt was reading hunched over his desk when Katherine entered with no announcement. ¡®I need to talk to you,¡¯ she said firmly, closing the door behind her. ¡®Congratulations on your champion,¡¯ he said instead, writing down a final signature. ¡®He appears talented.¡¯ Katherine sauntered in, her arms crossed over her stomach, beginning to understand the angle that Harcourt had. ¡®I¡¯m disinterested in your jousting review, we are not the city crier,¡¯ she said, and sat down opposite him. ¡®I am here to speak of matters of state. My suitor.¡¯ Harcourt put away his paperwork and folded his hands in his lap. ¡®Lady Katherine¡­ how may I help you?¡¯ he asked, his tone annoyed and somewhat sardonic. ¡®I don¡¯t think I can take much more of the Prince of the North,¡¯ she said. ¡®I¡¯m willing to entertain another suitor. Upon my marriage to him, you can be certain that when I die, you will have to crown a bastard for I will not produce any children.¡¯ He huffed with amusement. ¡®I suggest you reconsider your statement. Considering your champion and your suitor have a similar colouring, we may be able to pass it off¡­ my lady.¡¯ Though her face was lightly painted, her neck turned a splotchy red as she unpacked the insinuation he had made. She spat, ¡®I¡¯m not sleeping with Sir Henry.¡¯ ¡®I wasn¡¯t saying so,¡¯ Harcourt said. ¡®But it appears to me like it won¡¯t be long until you are. The two of you are close. He seems to entice you. It¡¯ll be convenient, Lady Katherine. Of course you are free to do what you wish; you are queen, after all.¡¯ Katherine scraped her throat. ¡®Indeed. Matters that concern my person are mine alone.¡¯ Harcourt stood up demonstratively. ¡®And you know what happens to young noblewomen with bastards,¡¯ he said carelessly. ¡®From experience. I would suggest that Your Majesty keep that in mind. Anyhow¡­ I will see about prominent suitors, and let the Prince of the North down easy if you still wish.¡¯ Katherine¡¯s heart was pounding loudly in her chest. There was no way she was forfeiting her life for the convent again, no matter how enticing indeed she found Henry. ¡®Why do you believe I may be interested in my knight?¡¯ she asked. He raised his brows. ¡®Why else?¡¯ he asked. ¡®He wore your personal insignia at the joust today. Not the country¡¯s.¡¯ Katherine looked up at him with confusion. ¡®I didn¡¯t see that,¡¯ she said genuinely. As he walked past, Harcourt chuckled and quickly took her shoulder in his hand. ¡®The plot thickens. Your Majesty¡­ I feel called to remind you that you serve your people. Your country.¡¯ Katherine turned her head. ¡®I feel called to remind you that you serve me, Lord Overleigh.¡¯ Sometimes reluctantly, Harcourt thought to himself.
Harcourt had to admit to himself that he had not heard a thing that his colleagues, Henry de Vere and Dorothy Abell, had said during their meeting. All he had heard were his own thoughts, mulling over the names and the faces and the words spoken, all until it culminated in a deafening soup that he had to rescue himself from by speaking it out loud. While Dorothy was talking, moving goblets over the table to demonstrate potential trade routes, Harcourt blurted out, ¡®I cannot deal with the queen anymore.¡¯ He was afraid of the words the moment he spoke them. Dorothy and De Vere looked at him dumbfounded. He added, ¡®We need someone to keep tabs on her. Someone she trusts. I cannot sit here while a knight has more influence over a goddamned country than the royal court does.¡¯ Harcourt lay his chin in his hand and awaited their reactions. Neither seemed particularly distraught. ¡®We can,¡¯ Dorothy said at last, and shrugged. ¡®That¡¯s not a problem. We can find someone. There¡¯s no need to panic right out of the gate.¡¯ ¡®And we need to secure the favour of the Otterdons,¡¯ he added. ¡®She won¡¯t humour Francis.¡¯ De Vere shot up. ¡®Invite Lady Grace,¡¯ he decided. ¡®Lady Katherine is short on ladies-in-waiting after all.¡¯ It was a good idea, Harcourt realised, but the fact that he was the only one who appeared to be concerned, made his blood boil. He had always been the prudent one, and yet only after everything had gone wrong did people agree to see how right he had been all along. No longer would he tolerate such behaviour. ¡®Do any of you care at all?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Court has become worse than the satirical pamphlets suggest it is.¡¯ Dorothy pursed her lips as if she decided not to speak her mind. Luckily, Harcourt could nearly read it after decades of cooperation. He knew what was on Dorothy¡¯s mind. What do you think we should do, then? And she knew his answer. Harcourt¡¯s eldest daughter with Lettice of Courtenay ¡ª Philippa ¡ª had been fifth in line for the throne. Intelligent, charismatic, bold, chaste, and with the characteristic Courtenay look that had been lost on Katherine. Whereas Katherine was small, narrowly built, with reddish hair and slate-colored eyes, a very Ginefort look after her mother¡¯s heritage, Philippa proudly bore the marks of a sturdy Courtenay woman: golden blonde hair, brilliant blue eyes, and a distinctly royal presence in her upright posture and long, shapely limbs. What Harcourt wanted was a different queen, but he would be too cowardly to express it, and much less so act upon it. The fact that he was left to serve this queen, as father to one of the most promising competitors, made Katherine¡¯s inconsiderate and callous behaviour even more irritating. ¡®Is it really so bad that Lady Katherine finds comfort in the only person from Dolcotshire that she can openly speak to?¡¯ Dorothy asked. ¡®From what I heard, she had saved his life once.¡¯ Harcourt tapped his hand on the table. ¡®Dorothy,¡¯ he said sternly. ¡®They¡¯re copulating.¡¯ She chuckled from the ridiculousness of it all and sought De Vere¡¯s eyes. ¡®An administrator,¡¯ she decided, ¡®Someone like Lord William from your wife¡¯s court. Keeps a registry of al those going in and coming out. I imagine it¡¯ll keep us occupied with matter of state while the administrator tends to the lady¡¯s more mundane needs.¡¯ Will. ¡®Well, I won¡¯t stand for it if this administrator is so close to Lady Katherine as Lord William is to my wife,¡¯ he said crankily. Then, as if struck by lightning, he added, ¡®You know¡­ perhaps Lord William himself can be asked for the position.¡¯ ¡®Won¡¯t your lady wife mind?¡¯ De Vere asked. ¡®No,¡¯ Harcourt said quickly. ¡®In fact, I think it¡¯ll be great for Lettice too. A bold new wind both in Gartham and in Norbury Lake, not just one or the other. Change¡­ change can be good sometimes.¡¯ ¡®And what of Prince Francis?¡¯ Dorothy asked. ¡®Who do we replace him with?¡¯ ¡®Nobody,¡¯ De Vere said. ¡®They will come to us bearing chests of gold. You underestimate how many eligible young nobleman, often princes, are interested in meeting the young queen. Let them come to us.¡¯ Dorothy added, ¡®Let¡¯s work on Lady Katherine trusting us before we proceed to trick her into a marriage we all know she will despise. If she trusts us, she won¡¯t mistrust our suggestions ¡ª really, demands, and with a bit of luck, she¡¯ll go through with them believing that she could have said no.¡¯ ¡®Well said,¡¯ Harcourt agreed, took a swig, and began to think about the graceful letter he was to write to Will, to finally remove the handsome devil from his wife¡¯s side. 4. The Courtenay Confidante Harcourt was feeling rather irritated when the feast had turned to a ball. William was supposed to have come before the dinner, and had left an empty chair at the most prestigious table on the continent instead. Needless to say, after having been disappointed by Katherine for months, he was not surprised to see his solution also disappoint. He supposed that the festivity looked rather beautiful and even tasteful. It was pouring down outside, but inside the fire was crackling, the band played, the chandeliers glittered, and so far, the young folks were dancing pavanes rather than voltas and galliards. In order to preserve the warmth, all the doors were closed, and so it was hot. A couple of days earlier, Grace had arrived and Francis had left. A sombre affair to the councillors, but once the dust settled, even they realised that Grace was the superior choice for a Langley alliance. The girls had been dancing all night, and had laughed since she arrived, exchanged meaningful glances, and appeared to have slipped so rapidly and so deeply into enduring friendship despite their differences. The thing about Grace was that she was highly intelligent, and her court had taken great advantage of this, pouring as much knowledge and wisdom into the young princess as they possibly could. She was a few years older than Katherine, but the discrepancy in learning could easily place them as tutor and student in many fields, despite both women being educated as princesses. It made her an unnatural choice for Katherine¡¯s lady-in-waiting, but the advisers had decided that it was far too early to unravel the paradoxes in Katherine¡¯s favour. They danced couple dances together ¡ª Grace, too, was unmarried ¡ª and took turns on the leading and following role, intermittently losing each other to dance with different partners. Once the exertion and the heat got the better of them, they sat themselves down in the windowsill, drank and talked endlessly about men, clothing, salves to banish the effects of the cold weather on the skin, their horses, the factors that could have held up William. Katherine talked about her daughter Johanna¡¯s return to court, and while Grace was childless, managed to placate Katherine more than any of her advisers had. It was comfortable. There was the feeling in the air that this was the tone of Katherine¡¯s reign, at least for now, filled with small and comfortable parties at court. Suddenly a cold wind blew through the room, and everyone turned their head to the source of the breeze, which was the large double doors that were being opened by a pair of guards. Harcourt suddenly got to his feet, and De Vere followed. The large oak doors opened with loud and extended sighing and scraping as they slid over the wooden floor. Through the opening came a cloaked figure followed by a couple of servants, all of whom soaked from the rain. Katherine sat in the corner with her goblet, leaning past the pillar next to which she sat to get a good view of the spectacle. The figure dropped his cloak while he strode in, and from the cocoon of soaked wool appeared William, dressed in perfectly dry court clothes in rustling, luminous silk. Even his face and hair were pristine, and his neck boasted a small, excellently starched ruff. There were four servants that he had brought, each of whom carrying a package of some sort, and he himself carried the smallest one of them all. Dumbfounded, the band had stopped. ¡®Apologies for my tardiness,¡¯ William said mostly into the silent crowd, but particularly to Harcourt, whom he was closest to, ¡®I was held up in Gartham. It appears Lady Lettice will miss me indeed.¡¯ Harcourt had to physically keep himself from rolling his eyes. ¡®At least I won¡¯t have to take the carriage ride up alone,¡¯ he said. ¡®Welcome, Lord William. We missed you grandiosely at the banquet.¡¯ ¡®And I you,¡¯ William insisted, his dark eyes widening in a mad flare. ¡®Say¡­ where¡¯s Her Majesty?¡¯ The moment her title fell, Katherine stood up. There was a strange magnetism to the man that she could not explain to herself, and likely baffled those around her. Confronted with his presence, she felt more like a bashful young girl than she did a promising new monarch. Yet she had no choice but to stride in confidently, grin gregariously, and clap her hands together. ¡®Lord William,¡¯ she said as she neared and extended her hand. ¡®What terrible weather you¡¯ve brought.¡¯ He playfully skimmed her features with his eyes and after a prolonged look, finally dropped to his knees, where he took her hand in order to kiss the ring on it. Katherine did not dare look down. ¡®Terrible weather, but I hope you will find my gifts more agreeable,¡¯ he said from below her. She chuckled. ¡®Stand,¡¯ she commanded. As he scrambled to his feet, Katherine put her hands behind her back. ¡®And I demand that the band resumes,¡¯ she added. The band picked their instruments off of the ground again, and the first eyes were beginning to wander off of William and Katherine, buying them a bit of privacy. William looked to the left and the right of him, and then leaned in: ¡®Life in the castle suits you, Lady Katherine. You look even more radiant than you did on your coronation day.¡¯ Then, she returned the favour, briefly looking him up and down before giving him an answer. ¡®I¡¯m wondering if the same thing will happen to you.¡¯ His hand crept up to the chest he was holding in the other hand. ¡®I¡¯m far too old to look any better tomorrow than I do today, my lady. Please, I¡¯ve been considering your reaction to my gifts since I left Gartham. It¡¯d be an honour to see the vision come to fruition.¡¯ With the chest still in his hands, Katherine twisted the hinge to open it, and mischievously looked back up at William. ¡®You think we¡¯re out of goblets, my lord?¡¯ Stolen story; please report. She took it out while William laughed heartily. The goblet in question was magnificent, inscribed with a Katherine¡¯s signet on one side and the date of her coronation on the other. ¡®I am but a humble baron,¡¯ William said. ¡®I intend to impress not with the glorious wealth that I do not possess, but rather simple thoughtfulness. That, and I considered the possibility that I may propose a toast.¡¯ Katherine nodded and meant to hand it over to him, still tittering along with all he was saying. He did not take it, instead placing his hand over the top to guide her hand down to her side again. ¡®Well¡­¡¯ he began, scraping his throat. ¡®You¡¯re going to need one too ¡ª and a bottle of something. Just a moment¡­¡¯ He walked to one of the servants and produced from their baggage another goblet and a large bottle of wine, which he took back to the queen. He popped the cork out with his teeth like a drunk in a lowly alehouse, and poured first in Katherine¡¯s goblet, followed by his own. ¡®Indeed if I now may¡­,¡¯ he said. ¡®I would first of all like to propose a toast to the stimulating knowledge that Queen Katherine¡¯s first suitor has vacated the premises, just in time for all of the unimportant old courtiers to feel as though they still have a shot at the queen¡¯s favour.¡¯ Katherine¡¯s cheeks were on fire, especially when he then clinked the goblet against hers and downed the half glass he had poured. Subtle. Of course Katherine could not fall behind, and once she had finished her glass, William poured them both another. ¡®A toast, then, to my great friend Cuthbert Harcourt, who was hardly ever home in the King Richard times, and now he will not have to ship himself off to Gartham in order to play chess with me, I believe he may never see his wife again.¡¯ Both downed their glasses again. Katherine could only just make out Harcourt¡¯s shameful face. ¡®Thirdly a toast to our new champion, whom I know to be of pure heart and noble spirit, and whom I will not suspect at all of any unsavoury behaviour without concrete proof,¡¯ William said. ¡®Despite the fact that his handsomeness and the shapely form of his shoulders and arms was enough to warrant my very presence at court! ¡®Come alliances, come prospects, come great irritation between ruler and court, come favourites, come particularly mouthy ladies-in-waiting¡­ I do hope to prove to you, my lady, that it is always favourable to have an adviser who is truly yours, and who cares very little about the way of country when compared to the exact specifications of the temperature of the water in your bath. How¡¯s the wine?¡¯ Katherine blinked in disbelief. ¡®The wine is splendid.¡¯
What constituted a council meeting had been stretched sufficiently by Harcourt over the years. This one, with just William and him, was fully conducted walking through the rooms of the castle, pacing as if they had somewhere to be. It was a few days after he had arrived so elusively, and the effects of that flamboyant entry still paid off, with Katherine hanging on his every word. It was bitter for Harcourt. He had thirty years of experience under his belt, and had been favoured above all by King Richard, to now be cast aside by an heiress he had barely ever met before. Worst of all, the favour was then bestowed upon the very man he had employed in Overleigh to take over his more menial duties. Considering the ear of the queen still had to be secured, if through the mouthpiece of his more handsome colleague, there was nothing he could do but use him. ¡®There is one last thing I want to talk to you about,¡¯ Harcourt said, beginning to feel his nerves rise now he was getting to the only meaningful thing he was to discuss that day with William. ¡®The knight.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ Will said, his brows furrowing. ¡®I¡¯ve been told there¡¯s a problem with a knight, yes.¡¯ Harcourt paced forth until they reached a large banquet hall with floor to ceiling windows. The table had not been set, and there was an eerie silence that filled the air. Harcourt turned to him. ¡®Of all the people that could win Lady Katherine¡¯s favour, I would prefer if it was not some lad from Dolcotshire. Worse, it appears he has Baradran descent.¡¯ ¡®And my task being¡­?¡¯ William asked. Harcourt demonstratively turned to the window from where the gardens were visible, stretching into the forest that was tautly formed over the elegant slope of the hills and mountains that bordered Norbury Castle. An exquisite sight on such a sunny day, and one Harcourt had cherished as his own for decades, and yet something was amiss. ¡®She would not forgive me if we shipped him off or killed him,¡¯ he said. ¡®But he¡¯s an athletic and active young man. There are many things that may happen. A hunting accident, a joust with a fatal conclusion¡­ Even if it is something small, something that will mar him out of her favour. Had he not been so handsome, I doubt we would be in this situation.¡¯ William padded over with his arms on his back. In the grass of the gardens they sat. The usual suspects, Katherine and Henry, but joined by Grace, and a young man he did not quite recognise given his back was facing them, wearing simpler clothes than the rest of them. ¡®I will consider,¡¯ he said. ¡®Though I am hard-pressed to make myself disliked by Lady Katherine.¡¯ Harcourt snickered. ¡®Surely, you¡¯d rather have the country in glory than the queen¡¯s ear to yourself?¡¯ He clenched his jaws and peered out of the window. The boy stood up from where he had sat cross-legged and walked towards the castle, where they could finally see his face. Fair, boyish, with tawny blond curls framing his face, and light, almost invisible eyebrows above dark eyes. ¡®Who¡¯s that?¡¯ Harcourt asked. William had a pit in his stomach. ¡®I think that might be one of my servants.¡¯ The secretary of state looked at his shoes and sighed. ¡®I fear that you have read the job description wrong, Will. You¡¯re here to serve the crown not through flattery and inviting strapping young lads to court, but through guiding a sinking ship to shore so it can be repaired. I received word that we will be expected in Massouron for negotiations concerning a marriage between Her Majesty and the eldest son of Queen Louise. If Katherine refuses to go, I shall hold you responsible.¡¯ William caught the eyes of his servant briefly and felt himself begin to think it through. ¡®She will go,¡¯ he said plainly. ¡®I think I¡¯ve got just the plan¡­¡¯ ¡®Well?¡¯ Harcourt asked. ¡®First of all,¡¯ he said, ¡®I¡¯ll see whether it would be possible to invite another lady-in-waiting. Distraction could be a help ¡ª far better if she herself is a young married lady with a title. Not some exiled princess.¡¯ ¡®A Massouric young lady?¡¯ Harcourt asked. ¡®Just so the ties to the country have time to brew and simmer?¡¯ William tapped the windowsill as he absentmindedly looked out onto the landscape. ¡®Is the crown prince a good man, Cuthbert?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ he said curtly. Both men watched Katherine from their distance, behind glass as if they were the walls themselves looking out. A soft rain began to fall, and she shot up in response, hurrying off to the dry safety of the castle. They heard a lilt of laughter as the door fell shut one room down, and Harcourt was sorry to know her fate ¡ª sorry to have decided on it. ¡®Though it¡¯s hardly better than the stories I¡¯ve heard of her,¡¯ he said later. ¡®We are both used to very elegant and noble Courtenays, who cannot be compared to this example.¡¯ ¡®She told me she worries about Prince Henry,¡¯ William said. ¡®That is why I asked. It appears I will not be able to console her with the truth, if I am to believe you.¡¯ Harcourt rolled his eyes. ¡®Do not console her with the truth. Comfort her with futile distractions. Hell, who knows? I¡¯m aware the Massouric way is to brag and exaggerate ¡ª Prince Henry might be a fine young man. We never had the pleasure of meeting.¡¯ When William looked at Harcourt¡¯s blue eyes, though, there was not even a speck of belief in his own words. William instead refrained from expressing that, and tried to find facility in the plan he had made. 5. Red-threaded Lady Azeline had been quiet all the way from the port Bourrac inland to Souchon. Freyza had heard that the little woman with grey hair and olive skin had been the Queen¡¯s marshal once, even though her black eyes and calm ways were unassuming enough. What brought her to the embassy, Freyza did not know, and was too uncomfortable to ask. In their shared carriage, both of them had been reading since they entered. When they had passed through Souchon proper, Freyza finally could not resist the urge to open one of the closed curtains. He was almost instantly disappointed to see Souchon Palace. A hillside covered in deep green grass, with straight paths and meticulously arranged flowers, flanked by a moat on all sides, showcased in its middle the large white castle with its red-and-grey banners flapping in the wind. Freyza recognized that it appeared to be rather oversized compared to the chateaus he had seen on his way there, and yet felt nothing at all that could come close to admiration for the dynasty that built it. The gathered crowd outside, however, made him grin. ¡®They¡¯re throwing a party,¡¯ he said, smiling as to signal to Azeline a personable nature both knew he did not have. ¡®Yes,¡¯ she said simply, having shot her gaze quickly out, before continuing to read. Freyza felt his heart sink with embarrassment. Had he spoiled a great surprise and now had to pay the price with Azeline¡¯s demeanour? ¡®Did I do something?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I¡¯ve read up as much as I could, and yet I still feel as a fish out of water. I¡¯m sure you understand¡­¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ she said simply, flicking a page. ¡®When we¡¯re there, ask for Lord Theo de Sainte-Vallac. He¡¯ll show you around much better than I ever could.¡¯ Freyza huffed indignantly. ¡®Am I wrong to say that we got off on the wrong foot, Lady Azeline?¡¯ Azeline snorted and looked up. ¡®Yes,¡¯ she said with the first grin of hers that he had ever seen, despite being cooped up with her for days. The rest of the carriage ride, albeit gracefully short, was enjoyed in silence. They got off at the coach house and before Freyza could thank her, Azeline was on her way, leaving him and the horseman in the stables. From there, he could hear loud music playing, and there was a roaring crowd. ¡®Are all ambassadors received so warmly?¡¯ he asked the horseman as the next few carriages rolled in containing his belongings and assistants. The horseman looked up from his work. ¡®Aye,¡¯ he said. ¡®Real warm Chavanet kings and queens in this place. If only you knew how warmly they treat their servants¡­¡¯ Though his Massouric was far from fluent, he detected the sardonic tone in his voice and said: ¡®Well, I come from a land where no wages are dished out at all, for most servants are enslaved, so I¡¯m afraid you cannot expect much sympathy.¡¯ The horseman threw him a disapproving glance. ¡®One cannot expect much sympathy from anyone wearing silk.¡¯ Starting to feel himself slip into frustration, Freyza separated himself and headed out into the yard, where he thought he spotted a wine fountain. The crowd was even larger than he imagined from the distance, and even though he was wearing his Sunday best ¡ª more importantly, in Massouric fashion as instructed to him by his correspondents ¡ª he felt frankly underdressed for the occasion. He was hoping that one of the uniformed men would come to greet him, but each time he caught their eye, they relented and continued their conversations some feet away from him. It was exasperating to him. He had asked half a dozen of them for Theo, but each time had been given an answer either from ignorance or malice. As he stumbled through the fashionable crowd, having been given a glass of sangria by one of the servants, a sudden burst of trumpeting stopped him in his tracks. The road he could see just behind the first row of trees after the moat was now lit up by several blue-torched purple carriages. Blue torches were something entirely unknown to Sbaians, though they were to Freyza a recognizable symbol: a blue-torched carriage may not legally be stopped by any authority but by the crown itself. Purple fabric was controlled under sumptuary laws all over the west for use by the royal houses exclusively. The sudden lull in the crowd seemed to bother him. Was some great guest impeding on his party, which nobody seemed to recognise him being at in the first place? It started to dawn on him that maybe he had been the one to impede on another¡¯s party. Did he have to leave? Before he knew it, a number of carriages had stopped in the yard, and servants were rushing to open the doors and help out those within. Freyza sipped from his sweetened wine, with the faint taste of alcohol reminding him that indeed he was far from home, when someone bumped into him to pass him. At the same time, the large double doors of the castle opened, and out came six people he finally did recognise: the King and Queen and their four children. Louise and Silouane, the royal pair, were each wearing their ermine cloaks, and the former had her crown on. Prince Henry, their eldest, was wearing cloth of gold. From his tiptoes, Freyza could just see how one of the half-cloaked courtiers held the door open and bowed before the woman that slipped out of the first carriage. The royal couple caught up with her and largely obscured her. Freyza considered who could have arrived, but the answer was rather unequivocal: it only could be the new Queen of Ilworth. Freyza tried to catch a glimpse of her as she bowed before the King and Queen of Massouron, curtsied before their eldest son, and waved at several of the attendees that were in her line of sight. Slowly the band music which had halted for the trumpeting returned, and conversations began again, but now the most important guests were pointed out to him, he could not help but be drawn into the whirlpool that was powerful company. As he wedged himself through the crowd, he kept his eyes on the ermine cloaks and Queen Katherine¡¯s blue-and-gold gown ¡ª a gown that looked suspiciously like the one she had been described as wearing during her coronation. He nearly stumbled over a small step, and when he used the railing to break his near-fall, noticed a raised platform that the steps led up to, from where he thought he might have a better view of the happenings. Moreover, it seemed many of the red-and-grey uniforms gathered up there. Freyza made his way halfway up, casting the occasional glance up and down to make sure he was not entering any place where he was not allowed, when a clearing in the crowd finally offered him a decent view of the mingling of the royal families. Prince Henry was facing Freyza with his back and shoulder, the shoulder upon which his red cloak rested, billowing in the wind, flapping to reveal occasionally its cloth of gold interior and the golden scabbard that must hold a ceremonial sword. He was speaking to Katherine, who he could finally see clearly. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Freyza took a step down just for a better view. There was an unimaginable goodness that he saw in her face, as if her particular type of beauty spoke of greatness. He had to admit she had no particularly attractive features: her eyes were much duller and framed with much lighter lashes than he thought to know from the portrait, and she was so lithe that it detracted from the youthfulness of her form, but she immediately entranced him. To him, a man who considered himself a connoisseur of beauty, she was strangely perfect. Her hair was loose and lay on her back, undoubtedly a reference to her coronation again, as it was considered unseemly for a woman in these parts to wear her hair loose, and even though it was hardly even red like the chroniclers made it out to be, the intersection of red and blonde lit up the porcelain blush of her complexion and the brilliant blue of her gown and jewellery. A kind of charm danced through her every moment and every expression so potently that it only could have been innate. Freyza took a few steps down, imagining it only appropriate to congratulate her in the name of the Sultan. There was disappointment in that thought. The Sultan. He was unsure whether he was still willing to put in a good word for him. Imagining the angelic Ilworthian creature, whose eyes were as liquid and glass as a bottle of arak and whose little chin was made to be tilted up by some noble prince or knight in an act of innocent love, in the hands of the old emperor, made his stomach turn. He was meaning to inch in, but there seemed to be guards around that did not entertain the notion of his introduction. In an act of desperation, he held up his hand and waved, and felt himself tense up when that caught her eye. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he hollered through the line of defence that kept him from her presence, ¡®Congratulations!¡¯ There was no use in introducing himself, and in fact he thought it more fruitful for her impression of him if he appeared as if he was just passing by. A smile crept up from her little rosebud mouth, and she waved back. Thank you, she mouthed. Then, she turned to the prince again. Freyza swaggered along in his little performance as to not look so pathetic in his inability to speak to the Queen, and suddenly he felt a hand on the arm he had outstretched to her and had not fully put down since. ¡®Freyza of Tougaf?¡¯ asked a young man with warm-white hair the way northern seafarers had been described as having. Freyza nodded. ¡®The very same.¡¯ He jovially outstretched a hand. ¡®Sorry about the strange welcome,¡¯ he said, then scraped his throat, ¡®I¡¯ll show you to your office and rooms once you feel as though you¡¯ve seen sufficient festivity.¡¯ ¡®Then, I imagine you must be Theo de Sainte-Vallac,¡¯ Freyza said, in his mind referencing a painting he had seen of Queen Louise¡¯s secretary of state. He grinned. ¡®My apologies if you have been fruitlessly looking for me. I¡¯ve been accompanying the queen for her encounter with the new Queen of Ilworth. How exciting that the crisis is over. At this rate of speed, we will surely be trading as usual by the end of the week.¡¯ Freyza pasted a calm smile on his face. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t that be grand?¡¯
¡®My apologies¡­¡¯ Theo murmured as he came into Queen Louise¡¯s cabinet, where opposite the Queen herself sat the two Ilworthian advisors ¡ª one of whom he had met before, the secretary of state Cuthbert Harcourt, and the other who had recently been appointed, the royal administrator William Lennard. ¡®I was held up with the new Sbaian ambassador.¡¯ He scanned the space for Queen Katherine and frowned. ¡®Was I supposed to pick up Her Majesty?¡¯ Harcourt shook his head. ¡®There is a fair amount I wish to say of Queen Katherine, Lord Theo, that I found unfitting to mention in her presence. Nothing grave, it is only uncomfortable to characterise one in one¡¯s presence. Moreover, I wish to be free to say what needs to be said in full.¡¯ A grin danced on the Massouric queen¡¯s face: ¡®There is little reason to speak so politely. We are all acutely aware that Katherine was not your first champion, or your second.¡¯ The statesman grimaced. ¡®So I have brought my more patriotic counterpart, the newly minted Lord Astwick, William Lennard. He never worked for the late King Richard so he has no comparison ¡ª but he hails from my lady wife Lettice¡¯s court in Gartham.¡¯ William nodded with an uncomfortable smile. He must have been the same age as Harcourt, perhaps a few years younger, but unlike Harcourt, whose blond hair had greyed, Will had a full head of dark hair coiffed elegantly beneath his smart hat. His face was broad and angular, with a pair of dark eyes that looked knowingly beneath his bushy brows. ¡®I am simply acutely aware of my luck, Lord Overleigh,¡¯ he said finally, ¡®We have yet to see what this new reign has in store for us.¡¯ The Queen was a middle-aged woman whose presence was imposing due to her impressive height and broad shoulders which she accented through the use of large, boned sleeves. She had changed since the arrival of Queen Katherine, where she had been wearing a deep red gown, and now wore a simple kirtle with a loose gown over top. ¡®Pleasantries,¡¯ she said, smiling. The word tasted grim in her mouth. ¡®There is a reason we do not often entertain those in my court. Overleigh¡­ what exactly are we to deal with?¡¯ Harcourt scraped his throat before he said, ¡®Well, for one, Lady Louise, she seems both intent on doing everything herself, as well as completely uninterested in the occupation. And I am sure you have heard her tale¡­¡¯ Louise¡¯s brows raised. ¡®You are going to have to be less vague. Katherine¡¯s mother is my sister-in-law. I¡¯ve heard a million tales of her.¡¯ His eyes darted to and fro the two other councillors. ¡®Her Majesty was meant to be removed from the line of succession due to her admission to the Our Lady of the Angels convent in Dolcotshire, where she served as prioress for three years after an aborted attempt at arranging a marriage with the De Serra son.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ Louise said and clicked her tongue. ¡®The bastard child. Overleigh, all I see is benefits. Let her and Henry roll about as much as they wish while we discuss the terms. With a bit of luck she will conceive by the fall and they will have no choice but to wed. At least, I will leave Henry no choice, and Katherine will be grateful to be considered. William. What is your impression of your new queen?¡¯ William shot up from lazily hanging over the table as he listened. ¡®It has not been long,¡¯ he began, and though he opened his mouth to speak again, Louise interrupted him. ¡®No, that is true¡­ is she capable in audiences, charismatic, diplomatic, pure of heart? Your secretary of state is biased against her, so I¡¯d like a fresher point of view,¡¯ she said. ¡®What my colleague has stated of her are facts,¡¯ Will began. ¡®She is a rowdy young lady who had been sent into a convent against her will. Of course the top priority now will not be pure of heart stewardship, queen or not.¡¯ A sly grin crept onto Louise¡¯s face. ¡®Theo,¡¯ she then said, languidly turning to her adviser, ¡®Characterise my son for these noble Ilworthian councillors.¡¯ Theo¡¯s arms were crossed and his eyes were fixed listlessly on a painting behind the two Ilworthians. ¡®Rakish for one,¡¯ he began, wiggling his brows once. ¡®Does not respect authority. Does not entertain anything against his will. Marriage prospects find him unbearable to deal with.¡¯ ¡®And I¡¯ve decided I would rather have him inherit with a warm hand,¡¯ Louise said. ¡®So I can supervise.¡¯ Harcourt felt his chest tense up. ¡®You are meaning to abdicate?¡¯ he asked. Louise nodded. ¡®Imagine if I passed and Henry was in charge without my mentorship,¡¯ she said. ¡®Especially with his new bride. I am trying to make sure the palace doesn¡¯t turn into a drunken brothel.¡¯ There was a profound silence that was so all-encompassing that they could nearly hear each other¡¯s thoughts. Harcourt, for one, was beginning to lose hope: he had been too quick to assume that a marriage match with the crown prince of Massouron would bring peace to the realms, and instead, came to the conclusion that the tumultuous young dynasty members seemed too much for either court to control. Louise saw her plan come to fruition with less enthusiasm than she had planned for, which in turn affected Theo. And then there was William, whose thoughts were the most opaque of any of them. ¡®Must we proceed with this course of action, given the risks?¡¯ Harcourt eventually asked. ¡®Is a mending of Courtenay-Chavanet ties worth all these lives, potentially?¡¯ Louise looked at the secretary of state sheepishly. ¡®My dear Lord Overleigh¡­ I have a son who must inherit my kingdom unless I do unspeakable things ¡ª you have a queen with an heir who will not be taken seriously until there is a young man by her side. Both are equally marred by reputation, impossible to marry off to anyone but one another, unless we are considering shamefully lopsided matches. Do we have much of a choice?¡¯ ¡®Your Majesty, with all due respect¡­¡¯ Harcourt began hesitantly. ¡®There will be war on the continent when you abdicate. In Ilworth, uprisings are burgeoning. The Baradrans are upside down. If we go, Neuhausen will go next.¡¯ Louise held up her hands and shrugged. ¡®It is not my job to keep the country out of despair, Lord Overleigh.¡¯ She pointed at him, and then to Theo. ¡®It¡¯s your job. I decide, you do. Council dismissed.¡¯ 6. King Henry That very night, William awaited for the maid to leave Katherine¡¯s chamber before he knocked and opened the door. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he began, his eyes still darting around to see whether someone had spotted him. Katherine was standing by the window. Her hair had been braided in two braids, and she wore only her shift and her red petticoat. It was not cold, but from the times he had seen her half-dressed, it appeared she always wore another layer around her legs for warmth. ¡®Will,¡¯ she said, grinning. ¡®Sit.¡¯ ¡®I just came from council,¡¯ he said, sitting on the edge of her bed and crossing his legs. ¡®You?¡¯ Katherine turned and put her hands behind her back. ¡®I just came from Henry. We discussed our interests and danced to some music. So far so good.¡¯ As she threw herself onto the bed and scrambled back up to a seated posture, William wondered how much was wise to tell her considering the confidentiality. The match had to work out for the common good of both the countries, both the people involved in the marriage, the houses¡­ and yet something gnawed at him ¡ª he imagined something could be gained by leveraging it against Katherine. ¡®Really?¡¯ he asked, gazing into her eyes. ¡®I¡¯ve heard he can be quite difficult to deal with.¡¯ Katherine made a face and sat down beside him, her posture shy. ¡®Well, I wished that I¡¯d known about the lovers,¡¯ she said. The corners of his mouth twitched. ¡®It appears a Massouric trait. I¡¯ve heard the Queen shares her bed with her secretary of state.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s still a young lad,¡¯ she said. ¡®In fact, Henry said they were classmates when he was being given his education in the countryside. He was a year up from Henry. Henry¡¯s own lover is yet another classmate.¡¯ ¡®Really?¡¯ he asked again. ¡®They teach women in this country¡¯s military academies?¡¯ Will already knew the answer, but was interested to see her attitude towards her suitor. Katherine sighed deeply and clicked her tongue. ¡®No,¡¯ she said, keeping her tone rather placid, ¡®Henry doesn¡¯t discriminate in love. Both men and women have found his favor.¡¯ ¡®And you don¡¯t worry that this will make him neglect you?¡¯ he asked. She chuckled. ¡®Perhaps if I were some pure Christian maid I would have. Admittedly, given what I¡¯ve seen of his treatment of his favorites, I¡¯d prefer to stay well-liked but certainly not favoured by him.¡¯ ¡®Wise,¡¯ he said, then felt himself grin at the forbidden knowledge he decided to pass through. ¡®Did you hear Queen Louise is to abdicate? She wishes to give him the kingdom with a warm hand, not a cold one.¡¯ Katherine lifted her head and held her breath. ¡®What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ he asked, chuckling. ¡®You¡¯re a queen in your own right, my dear. Were you expecting to stay his superior while you were courting?¡¯ She nodded slowly. ¡®Does Henry know?¡¯ she asked. Will shrugged. ¡®It seemed quite secretive. At least to us, and of course we are outsiders.¡¯ Katherine¡¯s turned her gaze down to the recently lacquered floor, playing with her braids that were so long that they rested in her lap, and felt herself lean on William again. ¡®All of this diplomacy has been very tiring,¡¯ she said. ¡®And very complex.¡¯ Will sighed contently and put an arm around her, dragging his thumb repeatedly over the bones in her shoulder. ¡®It¡¯s just a bit new, little hare. Remember: you were not raised for this. In due time, things will all reveal themselves for what they are. People, situations, plots, everything.¡¯ Mischievously, she looked up from beneath her white eyebrows. ¡®Almost a looming way to put it.¡¯ He knocked his head against hers briefly. ¡®Then, I¡¯ll rephrase. In due time, everything will be so clear you will be able to see all the way to the bottom.¡¯ ¡®I hope so,¡¯ she said. ¡®In the mean time, I will consider to seek your guidance.¡¯ ¡®A fine honour,¡¯ he began, his voice a mere whisper, ¡®To be bestowed upon some nobody from the city of Astwick¡­¡¯
William had hoped that the news would spread, and he had expected Katherine to be the way it would, but he had no idea whether Henry would be surprised or even believe her. When he received word that Henry would throw a party for his nearest that night, the day after he had told Katherine, in which the theme would be that everyone were to dress as if they were meeting the king, he was happy to learn that he had a seemingly perfect way to speak to Henry. That would prove useful, he thought, given that he was to rule. The next time he saw Katherine was again in the evening, but this time, he only saw her from his office, which overlooked a bit of the garden where the fountain now ran with wine again and the crowd was wearing immaculate court gowns and overdecorated doublets. Katherine was by herself then. She had her hair in curls, of which only a bit of hair at the front was visible, and the rest was modestly covered by a veil ¡ª a very Ilworthian style against a backdrop of Massouric and Argentan courtiers. Besides that, she had an usually shy look on her face as she looked through the crowd in search of Henry. Henry was sitting underneath the bridge that crossed the moat, in ermine robes and a crown borrowed from another prince¡¯s fancy dress chest, and so far too small for the pudgy young man. Among him, half-lying and half-sitting in the damp darkness of the makeshift cave beneath the slippery wooden bridge, was a small group of adolescents and young adults Katherine had learned to think of as his friends, lovers, confidantes, and his camarilla. Where Henry went, at least one of them did. They were men and women, of prestigious noble birth and from the streets, supernaturally attractive or unconventionally charming, and they were all equals in the eyes of their sun, around which their daily life revolved, Prince Henry. He had been awaiting Katherine, but when a cloaked figure scooted closer to him, he did not object to the presence of the other young lady. Her hair was dark and her face much more striking than the others¡¯ ¡ª the way her lips curved into a delicate bow, the red on her cheeks, the slate grey eyes beneath dark lashes each distinguished her to the point of uniqueness. With her mystical beauty, nobody had to work to remember her name: Diane Neville, heiress to Le Roumont. ¡®The King,¡¯ Diane said, and cast her eyes downward the way she would if she was curtsying. Henry grinned with great satisfaction. ¡®So, you¡¯ve heard¡­¡¯ ¡®Haven¡¯t we all?¡¯ she cooed. ¡®It¡¯s not every day that we hear such shocking news. And so soon after the succession crisis of Ilworth¡­¡¯ She briefly went quiet, her eyes sooty from charcoal or simply the light. Henry drew her in. ¡®Well, Mother isn¡¯t dim,¡¯ he said. ¡®If she thought it was a bad time, she wouldn¡¯t have done it.¡¯ He looked down Diane¡¯s face which pointed up at him, her large eyes full of ineffable knowledge and mystery, windows straight into her stormy inner world. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t she?¡¯ she asked. She clicked her tongue. ¡®Henry, do you still intend to wed¡­¡¯ She was quiet again and grazed her teeth across his cheek, then exhaled and continued, ¡®¡­ the foreign bitch?¡¯ There was just enough amusement in her tone to make him chuckle, and just enough depth to put him under her spell. ¡®Well¡­ who cares who I marry, right? At the end of the day, it¡¯ll be the way it always was. Just instead of screwing you lot, I¡¯ll be screwing you lot and occasionally whoever Mother believes I should marry for the alliance.¡¯ ¡®And she didn¡¯t come to the party?¡¯ Diane purred on. ¡®She did,¡¯ Henry said. ¡®At least she said she would. Diane, you¡¯d love her if only you met her. Quarrel with Mother, not with either of us, if you disagree.¡¯ ¡®Did you show her the cellar yet?¡¯ she asked. Henry huffed. ¡®I¡¯ve gone hunting with her and shown her how to use an arquebus. Hardly the sort of activity that leads you to explore an¡­ honorary dungeon. Really, Di, you should be happy for me. She hasn¡¯t run off yet.¡¯ Diane crawled closer to him and lay her head in his lap. ¡®My dear¡­ it¡¯s because you¡¯re marrying down,¡¯ she explained calmly as he stroked her hair. ¡®You¡¯re marrying down so far that even if she finds you as despicable as all the others, she¡¯ll stay.¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ he chuckled. ¡®She¡¯s¡­ the queen. Queen of Ilworth and Otterdon Island. That¡¯s one more title than what I¡¯m getting. I¡¯m not even king yet.¡¯ Her face turned stern, her eyes suddenly appearing much cooler and icier than before when framed with a slight frown. ¡®I don¡¯t take it that you¡¯ve been to Ilworth, then¡­¡¯ ¡¯Suit yourself,¡¯ Henry said. ¡®Perhaps you¡¯re irritated by the fact that there are no young bachelor kings crying for their Massouric duchess to whip them bloody and ride them bruised.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t there?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I can think of one.¡¯ This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. A shadow was cast across Henry¡¯s face, and Diane felt his legs tense up when he looked. ¡®Katherine.¡¯ ¡®There you are,¡¯ she said, chuckling as her shoes slid through the mud, holding herself tight against the stone of the bridge. ¡®I¡¯ve been looking for you all evening.¡¯ Diane rose and crossed her arms, quiet, observing the Queen. She awkwardly made her way further down, dressed in her purple gown that rustled so loudly that many conversations ceased from it, and was so awkwardly voluminous that the sleek styles of Henry¡¯s courtiers appeared feline against its ungraceful silhouette. Henry extended his arm for her, and she took his hand immediately. ¡®Who told you about my secret hiding place?¡¯ he asked. Katherine hesitantly stepped over Diane and stumbled her way to sitting down next to Henry. ¡®Nobody,¡¯ she said. ¡®I heard the noise.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ he said and scraped his throat. ¡®Katherine, this is Diane. Heiress to Le Roumont.¡¯ ¡®Pleasure,¡¯ Katherine said, extending her hand to Diane. Instead of kissing her hand as she had imagined, Diane shook it. ¡®My pleasure. Love the outfit, Lady Katherine.¡¯ Henry shot her an irritated glance. ¡®Lady Diane is a good friend of mine. I believe the two of you have a lot in common.¡¯ ¡®Do we now?¡¯ Diane shot. ¡®If you will tell me about yourself, Lady Katherine, it would delight me greatly to see our similarities.¡¯ ¡®Come now,¡¯ Henry replied. ¡®What¡¯s come over you?¡¯ Katherine chuckled and leaned over to Henry. ¡®I know you¡¯ve many lovers, but I hope many of them carry less jealousy than this one does.¡¯ ¡®And you?¡¯ Diane asked. ¡®Will we have to tolerate jealousy from yours?¡¯ The queen raised her pale brows. ¡®What lovers? I¡¯ve come straight from the convent.¡¯ ¡®If that is true, I imagine our prince hesitates to show you his real face,¡¯ Diane said softly. ¡®Perhaps you should ask him to show you his collection of correspondences. He cherishes it greatly. As his future wife, you really ought to know.¡¯ Katherine turned to Henry wordlessly, and the latter took the word instead, reluctantly: ¡®If you want to see, you¡¯re free to come with me.¡¯ ¡®Do you think I should?¡¯ Katherine asked. ¡®Sure,¡¯ Henry answered plainly. ¡®You¡¯ll see it down the line anyway. I¡¯ll take you now if that¡¯s what you want.¡¯ Henry began to feel nervous. As he slid back out of the cavern, Katherine trailing close behind, he straightened himself and patted the mud off of his breeches. His collection¡­ the thought of sharing it with his prospect gave him a rare bout of the chills. ¡®Shall we retire to my chambers instead?¡¯ he asked when they were out of earshot. ¡®It¡¯ll be far more entertaining. And besides, it¡¯s far closer. You can tell Diane you liked the collection.¡¯ Katherine caught up to him, kicking through the high grass that separated the path from the garden. She was shaking her head. ¡®I¡¯ll never hear the last of it. And you¡¯ll have to tell me what it is anyway, given that I¡¯m sure to be interrogated by Diane.¡¯ ¡®And that matters?¡¯ Henry asked. She looked over reluctantly. ¡®Yes, it matters. I¡¯ll be the butt of every joke if that whore learns you talked me out of it.¡¯ Henry rolled his eyes. ¡®You are already getting mighty comfortable, aren¡¯t you, Katherine? That whore is my friend. She won¡¯t have to learn, I¡¯ll take it to the grave.¡¯ ¡®Are you afraid of my judgment?¡¯ she suddenly asked. He huffed and opened the door for her. ¡®There are few things I¡¯m actually afraid of. Under no circumstance do you qualify.¡¯ Once inside, Katherine began to chuckle. ¡®I wonder¡­ will it be severed hands, bullets fished from dead men¡¯s chests, surgically removed nipples from children under the age of five¡­?¡¯ ¡®If that¡¯s what you¡¯re expecting¡­¡¯
He felt reassured that Katherine had listed such gruesome collections, and even felt his interest piqued in a way he had not before following her boldness. She had arrived a few days ago, and he had thought her to be an utterly dull creature with little to her both physically and mentally, but given her sudden charisma, he had to second-guess. Perhaps, he thought, her reaction to the collection would give a definitive sign of her character. They made their way to the courtyard and crossed the guards into the prince¡¯s own apartments, where Henry twisted the head of one of the statues. ¡®Is this a sign of what¡¯s to come?¡¯ Katherine asked, her arms crossed before her. Henry looked up mischievously. ¡®Not without your permission, of course.¡¯ She chuckled, but the sound was muffled by a deep dragging of a hidden door that opened with a hinge. Both of them stared directly into the dark, windowless room before them. Henry took a torch from the hallway. ¡®Follow if you dare,¡¯ he said with a theatrically thunderous tone. ¡®You don¡¯t scare me either,¡¯ Katherine admitted as she hurried after him, eager to remain in the dim light in the torch lest she were to get lost in the labyrinth of dark hallways. ¡®Give me a reason first.¡¯ Henry walked on, Katherine holding onto his arm, and dipped the torch onto another, which ignited it. He followed by igniting the next a few feet over, and then another on the wall facing it, and as it became brighter and brighter in the room, Katherine let her eyes glide over the windowless room. It had to be part of the original design of Souchon Palace ¡ª likely an armory. There were no windows and the walls were made of stones that were so thick she wondered if she could hear a thing going on in the next room over if only the door had been closed. In the middle there was a large table within which, beneath a pane of glass, letters were embedded. The legs of the table, elegantly curved and carved, showed stylized portrayals of skulls, scythes, axes, and various bones. On the wall were a couple of paintings, each portraying a famous execution. ¡®I was expecting more swords,¡¯ Katherine said. Henry looked at her with his brows raised. ¡®You don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re looking at. Go ahead and read one, if you¡¯re feeling so bold. You¡¯ll come back on your word.¡¯ Katherine gave him a look and took her hands off of his arm, sauntering towards the long table. She picked one, a particularly yellowed example with faded ink, dated a rough two-hundred years in the past. My liege, The incomparable King Henry, It has come to my attention that my stay in your cellar has been suspended not to be replaced by freedom, but to be snuffed out in death. As your trustworthy and ever-loyal counselor, I must urge Your Majesty that any such actions may result in an uprising much larger than the both of us. Despite my heinous crimes, which I have confessed at the first instance possible, it is my belief that after my frequent bouts with the pear of anguish, I consider myself having paid for my sins, and I shall now begin my life again as a guiltless innocent. I pray that you may reconsider. Your greatness is vast, and I believe you are capable of grace and forgiveness the same as any man of God. Yours expectant, most loyal, and yours sincerely, Raoul de Sainte-Vallac Katherine reread the letter quietly and looked up to Henry, who was standing on the opposite end of the table, grinning broadly. ¡®And they¡¯re all like this?¡¯ ¡®Some worse,¡¯ he said at last. Henry felt even slightly uncomfortable at the ease that Katherine portrayed. If this was not enough to deter her, he realized that he could have looked in that instance at a woman who could he could relate to. ¡®Was this the most recent King Henry he¡¯s appealing to?¡¯ she asked instead, sauntering around the table. He looked up in thought. ¡®Probably. The one whose blood I share most potently.¡¯ ¡®Promising,¡¯ she said. At that, he could not help but chuckle. ¡®This is among the stranger reactions that I¡¯ve received upon sharing the fact that I collect confessions and letters from those due to be executed. Recent and historical, might I add.¡¯ ¡®We¡¯ve all got our things,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®I¡¯ve yet to find mine.¡¯ Henry looked her up and down for the first time since she had arrived to Souchon Palace. ¡®You¡¯re short and slight. You might enjoy horse-riding. Perhaps that¡¯ll be your thing.¡¯ The room was hot and getting darker from the smoke that came from the torches. ¡®You¡¯d say that, but I really am no good.¡¯ He crossed his arms before him, the taffeta of his brilliant blue sleeves crinkling. ¡®Does that go for all animals?¡¯ The torch light shone yellow onto Katherine¡¯s purple dress, filling the air with smoke that began to thicken. ¡®What do you mean? The animals I can ride?¡¯ she asked, let a pause fall, and resumed, ¡®I can think of a couple of animals I can ride. Just not any horses.¡¯ Check, Henry thought. A happy grin appeared on his face. His mother had finally picked right, and he could not be more pleased with the choice. Recognizing the pause that it took for him to respond, Katherine raised her brows. ¡®You?¡¯ She casually hopped onto the table, careful to sit mainly on the wooden framing and not on the pane of glass, just in case it could not hold her. Henry said: ¡®I¡¯m decent on a horse.¡¯ ¡®And?¡¯ ¡®Well, I¡¯m not often the one riding any other sort of animal,¡¯ he said uncertainly. ¡®Given the fact I usually am a sort of animal.¡¯ The corners of her mouth curled up with amusement. ¡®So what I see here is quite straightforward. An animal who can be ridden, and a jockey suitable to ride it.¡¯ ¡®I suppose that much is true,¡¯ he said, feeling his cheeks burn red beneath the skin as he came closer to her. Katherine leaned back on her arms and gazed contently into her suitor¡¯s face. ¡®I¡¯m completely disoriented,¡¯ she said. ¡®How far are we from the Ilworthian wing of the palace right now?¡¯ Henry looked over his shoulder carefully and when he saw nobody passing them by, no footsteps to be heard in the deep silence of the eldest parts of the building, slid both his hands between the cold wood of the table and the smooth satin of Katherine¡¯s dress, weighed down by the weight of her warm legs, and pulled her up into his arms. ¡®Honestly?¡¯ he asked, shaking as he hoisted Katherine up comfortably, ¡®No idea where they¡¯ve put you¡­ but my apartments are above this place.¡¯ She wrapped her arms around him, leaning forward so her neck and chest fell right into the crook of his shoulder and the side of his face, and her face was plastered to the side of his, covering the curvature and shape of his head and chest with more ease than most of his suits of armour did. ¡®And the stables?¡¯ she purred. ¡®The stables?¡¯ Henry chuckled as he walked out, with a type of disturbing pride at his prestigious conquest-to-be, ¡®I think you¡¯ll come to regret that, Kathy¡­ you don¡¯t know how much straw you can fish out of your own ass until you¡¯ve fucked in a hayloft. We¡¯ve just met and I¡¯d like to keep up appearances as you may have gathered ¡ª so I refuse to take you anywhere decrepit or gnarly until I know you won¡¯t gossip about it after.¡¯ Katherine moved about in his arms, her legs wiggling beneath his grasp. ¡®Bold of you to say I don¡¯t know how much straw you can fish out of your own ass. You¡¯re forgetting I was a nun before I ascended.¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ he said, beginning to ascend the stairs slowly. ¡®Nuns. Known for fucking in haylofts.¡¯ ¡®Not like my abbess could do anything about it. They sent me to the nunnery for a good education in piety and virtue. If they¡¯d failed even that¡­¡¯ ¡®I imagine you¡¯re full of stories,¡¯ Henry said offhandedly, beginning to lose his breath from shuffling up the spiral stairs with Katherine still in his arms. ¡®Why don¡¯t you indulge in a bit of nostalgia for me? See what sort of a prospect I¡¯ve been brought?¡¯ ¡®If I must¡­¡¯ Katherine began. ¡®I always volunteered to prune the pear and apple trees. It was a horrid task, but it supplied me with a ladder, and put me out of sight for a few hours at a time. Now, when put against the wall, that ladder was just high enough to get me over the gate, and on the other side of that gate, I¡¯d await the company of my knight and champion, then just Dolcotshire¡¯s most exotic knight with two Baradran parents, Henry de Vega¡­ Funny that the two of you should share a name. And the times we¡¯ve shared were quite something, I¡¯ll have you know.¡¯ Once on top of the staircase, Katherine climbed out of is grasp and kissed him with such fierceness that Henry thought he would topple over and crack his skull open on the stone of the staircase. He yanked himself away from her and held her little face in his hands. ¡®And the abbess knew?¡¯ he panted. Katherine cackled darkly. ¡®You bet. Probably warmed herself right back up in those freezing Dolcotshire nights just thinking about it. I wonder, Henry, have you ever fucked a knight?¡¯ ¡®My Charlie is a knight,¡¯ he said. She grinned and leaned in. ¡®Not some girlish jockey like Charlie. I mean a real knight. One with arms the size of your thighs. Charlie¡¯s no more of a knight than Walter, and Walter¡¯s just a promoted footman.¡¯ Henry thought about the two lads ¡ª indeed, they rivalled one another when it came to scrawniness. Instead of replying, which was a useless affair as far as he was concerned, he picked her up again and threw her over his shoulder, his arms firmly grasped around her thighs. She yelped and almost immediately relaxed ¡ª a sure sign this had not been the first time she had been roughly picked up. ¡®Know,¡¯ she said with great amusement, ¡®If you bed me now you¡¯ll have to marry me later.¡¯ He huffed, and squeezed her butt in response. ¡®We¡¯ll see about that, Kathy.¡¯ 7. Paradise in Purgatory The night air was cold and damp, and the sucking sound the mud made when the horses tried to relieved their hooves of it was beginning to drive Katherine crazy. Henry and her were dressed in armour ¡ª cheap, thin, decorated with the insignia of their houses ¡ª which clanked with every scant movement. A cannonball was fired with such an enormous boom that while they were hardly close to the spectacle unravelling below them, down in the large empty plains, they uselessly covered their ears by holding the sides of their helmets. ¡®Fuck,¡¯ Henry murmured beneath his breath. Katherine tipped her visor up. ¡®Is that the last one of the night?¡¯ she asked, her furrowed brows and pained expression barely visible in the moon¡¯s milky light. ¡®What do you think?¡¯ he asked. ¡®We¡¯re reenacting the battle of Le Roumont.¡¯ It was not Katherine¡¯s idea of an evening well-spent, but this was Prince Henry: rowdy, impulsive, giddy Prince Henry. Soon to be the immature young King Henry. And much to the chagrin of his favourites, Katherine and Henry had started to become fond of one another, even if it was in the way that a child was fond of their newest trinket. Katherine looked into the burgeoning pile of people hacking at each other with blunt swords, axes and shooting false bullets and arrows at each other. ¡®Yes,¡¯ she said. ¡®I mean, roughly. I don¡¯t think there was such use of gunpowder two-hundred years ago, was there? Not even in the civilised state of Massouron?¡¯ ¡®It wouldn¡¯t look impressive to the modern eye otherwise,¡¯ Henry protested. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t sound nearly as impressive either.¡¯ ¡®Suppose so,¡¯ was all Katherine said. Henry reluctantly put his visor back down and brought his horse back to a slow trot, which Katherine followed. There was a fog of gunpowder that started to rise from the valley that they rode into. Their armours clanked awkwardly as the horses jostled the pieces against each other by the simple movement of their walking, mixing with the sound of guns, metal against metal, and the groans and pants of exertion. Katherine coughed when the smoke came into her helmet, and as she beat her forehead against the shoddily made thing, she decided to take it off. Their armours had some differences, and both of theirs were different than those actually reenacting the battle: Henry made quick work of the possibility that either one of them might be taken for a participant lest royal blood were spilled. The biggest difference between their armour was the fact that, despite the elegantly curved breastplate utterly unsuitable for battle and the helmet, Katherine was wearing barely any of it. She wore only a dress beneath it ¡ª a simple kirtle inspired by the early kingdom ¡ª no gambeson, no mail. After even the few minutes it took them to reach the valley, she was already soaked through from the steady rain. Why had she even come? She could not keep the question out of her own mind, and yet the answer was so juvenile. If she had not come, he would have asked Diane or one of his other girls. Now she had the pleasure that, while she was the one being rained on at a faux-battleground, wearing faux-armour, at least it was clear to all involved that she, and not that Massouric heiress, was to be his wife. Henry himself was already all but lost on the battlefield, high-fiving his friends that were to play generals, and calling over his shoulder for Katherine to catch up. ¡®Your boy is here!¡¯ he hollered through the shots and grunting. She really did find it gruesome even if barely anyone seemed to be hurt. The force they used hacking into each other¡¯s metal skin, the intensity of the acted screams, the horses in genuine panic. Henry¡¯s friends had all gathered near one of the camps, where many of the women of court were also, dressed as nuns to aid in the care for the wounded knights and soldiers. The nuns¡¯ habits were shoddy but accurate enough for Katherine to find them unnerving. Seeing the libertine ladies of Henry¡¯s favour dressed as women of the cloth brought her a certain type of discomfort she was not anticipating. ¡®What boy?¡¯ she asked, her helmet pressed against her side with her arm. Henry turned and pointed to a soldier on foot who stood next to him on his other side. ¡®Walter.¡¯ On Walter¡¯s other side was Charlie, also on horseback. Charlie ¡ª Charles d¡¯Archambeau, who took the androgynous name of Charlie within Souchon Palace walls ¡ª was a handsome young man, a year or so below Henry himself, a talented jockey, and had such a rare aspect of femininity to him that anyone in his orbit was either enthralled or disgusted by this bent expectation of masculinity. Both Katherine and Henry were the former. Though less feminine and decidedly less noble, Walter could have easily been mistaken for Charlie¡¯s brother. They were around the same age, and both were blond and more boyish than mannish. Walter had the added charm of his humble origins, beginning his voyage south as Lord William¡¯s servant. Now he too had the honourable position of royal bedwarmer ¡ª an honour usually only bestowed upon nobility. It was turning out indeed that the promise of Katherine¡¯s reign, to build bridges, was taking shape. ¡®Walt,¡¯ she said sharply, and pointed at her own jaw. ¡®Did someone hurt you?¡¯ If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The boy wiped away the dirt from his jaw and indeed noticed the blood on his hand. ¡®Doesn¡¯t hurt.¡¯ Katherine swung herself off of the horse and grinned as she tossed aside her helmet to the camp. She was reminded to the disappointment of Henry de Vega¡¯s absence when Prince Henry called Walter her boy. By all accounts, it was not this country youth, but the honourable knight who could have been called this, though he was far more man than boy despite their shared age. He was resting; there was a joust later that week. Given that Katherine always bet on Henry, she did not wish to disrupt his schedule in case that would tip the scale to his loss, but nonetheless, it made the fortnight leading up to any of his championships grimmer than they otherwise would have been. ¡®You knew he¡¯d be there?¡¯ Katherine asked Henry, who was already chatting with Charlie in the time it took Katherine to get down. He looked up with an air of amusement. ¡®Walter? Well, I asked him, and he said yes,¡¯ he said. ¡®Isn¡¯t that right, boy?¡¯ Walter blinked his pond-water blue eyes. ¡®Yes, my lord.¡¯ Katherine crossed her arms. ¡®He¡¯s hardly armed and he¡¯s wounded.¡¯ Henry pushed against Charlie, who was wearing leather armour instead of the plate of his liege, and then playfully knocked against his head, which was uncovered as well. ¡®Nobody but us is armed,¡¯ he said. ¡®Listen. Kathy. We¡¯re filthy rich on this side of the channel, sure, but we¡¯re not stupid. Mom wouldn¡¯t let me waste gold on making everyone plate armour. Besides, it¡¯s fine. All these weapons are blunt, most are wooden.¡¯ ¡®Stand back,¡¯ she ordered Walter. ¡®What the fuck?¡¯ Henry asked. Walter¡¯s gaze shot hesitantly between the two, and he was unsure of whether he would remove himself from the battlefield. The only steps he took were on the place where he already stood, awkwardly shuffling neither here nor there. ¡®Nobody¡¯s ever gotten seriously hurt in these things,¡¯ Henry clarified to Katherine. ¡®Are you being serious?¡¯ She felt her fascination for the prince slip. ¡®I stand by what I order.¡¯ Henry¡¯s demeanour changed from amusement to irritation, and he tugged at his horse¡¯s reins to turn himself away from her. Katherine by this point was fuming and had already unbuckled her breastplate to toss it aside as well. ¡®Come with me,¡¯ she told Walter, and now out of Henry¡¯s sight, he followed her into the fringe of the camp. ¡®Was it something I did?¡¯ he asked, meekly holding his hands behind his back. Katherine¡¯s jaws were firmly clasped when she looked over her shoulder to face him. ¡®What? No. I sometimes can¡¯t stand this man, that¡¯s the truth of it. Won¡¯t listen to a word I say. Knows everything better than I do somehow, that bloody imbecile. Too busy burying his cock in everything that moves to actually give a damn.¡¯ Wisely, Walter was quiet, generally his first response to any situation that called instead for a sympathetic word. He was handsome and kind, easy and cheap to please, and more often than not, magically in the right place at the right time, but to say he was any more intelligent than the average hound would be untrue. The nuns poured them both spiced wine, warm in the rainy evening that was cooling quickly, and Katherine swore from within the yellow light of the half-open tent, Diane had poured her glass. Before she could even take a sip, which she decided it was ill-advised to do if indeed her rival had poured it, a piercing screech filled the air. Katherine peered out of the tent as the fighting came to a slow halt, as if the realisation that there had been real hurt inflicted took a while to land. The rain beat on, now to be heard clearly in the newfound silence, and as it trickled down to wilt all the faces of those present, the crowd parted, and at the end of the schism lay a young boy with a dagger embedded somewhere in his face, exactly where was hard for Katherine to see. A few young men were hurried off of their horses by Henry, and were asked to carry up the injured lad to the castle. By the time they had configured a way to hold the young man, who was screaming again after a short period of worrying silence, and who was flailing his arms and legs in protest, Katherine had turned her head in disgust. Instead, she faced Walter, who had not dared to come out. ¡®I could have sworn that was Charles,¡¯ she said solemnly. ¡®There on the ground.¡¯ Louise had heard the ruckus from her chamber but had not wished to interact with it until Theo stood before her door. The curtains were drawn in her cavernous bedroom, and she was sitting cross-legged on her bed as a maid brushed her wild dark brown curls that reached down to the small of her back, each curl on its own, after which she wrapped the perfect coil around her fingers to avoid destroying its beauty. That being so, Louise could not turn to Theo as he entered, which meant that she did not see the horror on his face. He was wearing riding clothes, and his little hat lay limply on his wet hair. ¡®Katherine is leaving,¡¯ he barked at first. ¡®And Charles may not survive.¡¯ Louise raised her brows as Theo came into her line of sight. ¡®So that¡¯s what I heard? The death screech of my son¡¯s swain?¡¯ She was clearly disappointed. Louise had a strong distaste of her son¡¯s wishes, his promiscuous nature, though she was acutely aware that these attributes had crept into his blood through her. In fact, it could have been precisely this confrontation with her own nature, wrapped up not in the attractive Amazonian form of the queen herself, but in the short, stout prince that was to rule during her lifetime. A trick mirror would replace her. ¡®I believe so,¡¯ Theo said, sitting down on the stool by the vanity like a young lady, his legs crossed. ¡®And this has reached most everyone. In fact, I heard about it from Will Lennard ¡ª Katherine¡¯s administrator, I¡¯m unsure whether you¡¯ll recall.¡¯ ¡®Was he there?¡¯ she asked. ¡®No,¡¯ Theo said. ¡®He came to me because of an issue raised by his footman, who Katherine appears to be sharing a bed with, though after I raised that to Will, he retracted any suspicious statements¡­ he was present when Charles was hurt.¡¯ The maid finished up Louise¡¯s hair and left, and Louise shuffled forward on her seat. ¡®So? Theo, I certainly do not care to hear court gossip at this time of day. Whether Henry fucks Charles or the next jockey that he lets his eyes feast upon, whether a damned servant complains to a courtier ¡ª it matters not.¡¯ ¡®Katherine is leaving,¡¯ he said defensively. ¡®Because of this. Not permanently, I¡¯ve been told, though she is leaving nonetheless.¡¯ Louise shrugged. ¡®Scared of a little blood and gore, then? She¡¯ll come running back if she thinks she can get any better, even if she¡¯s doubting it now.¡¯ Theo folded his hands together and smiled. ¡®No. Rumours are doing the rounds that it was Norbury Castle court itself that means to withdraw ¡ª not Katherine personally. If anything, I believe the prospect of blood and gore interests her. Concerning as that may be.¡¯ She huffed indignantly. ¡®Let her go. In fact, when she arrives, have flowers waiting for her. Redo the castle garden. Spare no expense. If you must know, Theo, I believe that we should have the queen herself by our side ¡ª not her court. She is young now, but one day she will have had enough of her courtiers. I want to be there when this happens.¡¯ 8. The Hundred-Eyed Baron Ever since they had ordered for her return, Harcourt had relaxed some of the policy surrounding Katherine¡¯s contact with her favourites, for he knew that to keep his control so tight, would certainly push her to madness or personal anarchy. It had been a good time to leave. Summer was turning to autumn, and Ilworth was gearing up for harvest ¡ª the first harvesting of what the new court had sown as well. An age-old tradition of a settling of accounts come this time in the year, facilitated by the harvest festivals, were a shoo-in when it came to the backdrop. The fact, however, that the time had been good, did not make it any easier on the queen, or made the diplomatic ties between Ilworth and Massouron any easier. It had been the truth that Katherine did not mean to leave. Charles had survived, though he was one eye down and he was currently only seen masked given that the wounds on his face likely marred him for life, and thus Henry and Katherine¡¯s relationship too had mended. It was forgotten by the time Walter came to rat to Lord William. It had been William who planted the seed for them to leave. He was aware that Katherine was sleeping around: made aware, in fact, when he was informed that Katherine had complained about the taste of the small ale she was served for breakfast. It turned out that without her knowledge, the servants had been instructed to add silphium to one cup of ale daily to prevent any undesired externalities. The bad news of this was twofold. First of all, William did not cherish the idea of so many people having access to the queen¡¯s ear, for it was reserved for honourable men of wisdom, such as himself. Perhaps worst of all, however, was the knowledge that this had already reached Queen Louise within a few months, and that she not only believed it, but found it troubling enough to orbit around poison. So, a break it was. Harcourt was easily convinced, exasperated by tough negotiations. The rest simply followed. When they were making their way to the festival, Harcourt let Katherine pick her own carriage and choose her own company. Her champion Henry de Vega was expected, but her two ladies-in-waiting much less so. Especially interesting to Harcourt was the choice of the new wife of the Duke of Tillygate, Constance Sherrington.
The whirring of the wheels on the cobbles was the backdrop to their lively conversations. Katherine sat with her knees withdrawn, her arms around her legs, and Constance sat opposite her, playing softly on her lute. Constance was blonde and pretty in a provincial way, with a frizzy halo of hair surrounding her pale pink face, and wore a charming expression no matter her mood. Moreover, she was perfectly educated. She knew many musical instruments, court dances and had all the finest mannerisms of an upper class lady despite her modest age. A good influence, ruled the advisers. This way Katherine had both the council of the intelligent but peculiar Grace, and a role model when it came to ladylike behaviour. Next to Constance sat Grace, leaning against the wall of the carriage sailing between sleep and consciousness. Henry was opposite her, toying with his knife. It had been a long afternoon that had started full of chatter and was now slowly extinguishing as the last miles stretched on seemingly forever. Katherine had dreamed of her bed a thousand times. She was old enough to realise the silly nature of her infatuation with the knight but not wise enough not to spend such time looking at him as he idly carved a piece of wood, sliced a hangnail off with his knife, or gazed out of the window. Henry might have been the closest Katherine ever got to a perfect man, at least to her twenty-year-old eyes. He was Baradran ¡ª his father was born there, and his mother was Ilworth-born but half Baradran herself. This not only gave him an exotic air, especially in the backwater province of Dolcotshire, but also one of danger. The Baradran Kingdom was on the brink of war, and Katherine¡¯s little knowledge of current affair just about stretched to the happenings there, beyond Massouron¡¯s southern border. Queen Louise had been wedded to Silouane de Ginefort, who in turn was the brother of Joan de Ginefort ¡ª Katherine¡¯s mother. A marriage to Ginefort brood was considered the highest match that could be made, considering the Baradran Kingdom, ruled by Gineforts, had been considered for a long time a rich and stable land. Katherine herself had been a glanced-over prospect for King Ferdinand¡¯s younger brother, now nearly five years ago. Ginefort blood meant Ginefort alliance, something once upon a time very covetable, and now nearly worthless. Katherine had spent time in the Baradrans as a youth, in order to get to know her first suitor who was a son of an influential duke. His name was Domenico de Serra, and he is the man whose family name Katherine¡¯s bastard daughter could have born if their elders did not pull the plug from negotiations. As it may, it were the De Serras that the Gineforts were up against. It was yet another blemish that Katherine ¡ª or more accurately, her courtiers ¡ª would have to carefully polish away in order to have any chance of keeping a stable reign.
When they arrived, Harcourt took some distance from the encampment in order to get some air and clear his thoughts. The site of the festival was a valley between two large hills, both of which proudly showed a town each: Fownage and Landron. In between, lining the lazy river with countless bridges, was a darling meadow that was used each year to celebrate the first harvests. It had been raining for the past one-hundred years, and it had only just stopped for the Queen¡¯s arrival. Harcourt¡¯s feet and ankles were covered in mud by the time he reached the outskirts of the makeshift town ¡ª he knew he should have worn his boots. He was cloaked and hopefully difficult to spot, standing by the horse trough next to a temporary tavern that had been shaped out of tents and a small, wooden structure. He took a few deep breaths and considered the past nine months, which had been heavier on him than all of King Richard¡¯s reign together. Of course he and Richard grew up together, learned together, and when Richard ascended the throne as a thirty-something, he was graceful to Harcourt in the time he needed to fully understand the intricacies of his function as secretary of state. This was not afforded to him under Katherine. Not because Katherine was strict, much to the contrary, Katherine knew so little that all duties fell to him. The air was cooling rapidly and his thoughts were continually interrupted by the chatter of the people in the makeshift tavern. Standing by the trough, few even looked his way. He felt himself increasingly able to feel sorry for himself. ¡®Lord Overleigh?¡¯ he suddenly heard, as a young man stepped from the crowd towards him. He knew the young man ¡ª he was a prominent member of the innkeeper¡¯s guild, who were the proud patrons of the inns and taverns dotted along the festival. ¡®Thomas,¡¯ Harcourt said, appearing as heartily as he could. ¡®Can¡¯t find a single moment of rest and anonymity in these parts.¡¯ He chuckled, his moustache a layer of mousy blond down on his upper lip. ¡®What else?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Would it be better if we did not recognise the secretary of state?¡¯ Harcourt eyed the trough with amusement. ¡®Little do you know, but I am studying to become a horse these days.¡¯ Thomas¡¯ mouth jerked into a smile. ¡®Then I believe you have no interest in meeting our new guildmaster, the Baron of Milden Cross?¡¯ The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡®I¡¯ve met the Baron of Milden Cross,¡¯ he said carelessly. ¡®He has asked to see you,¡¯ Thomas added. He narrowed his eyes. ¡®You¡¯ve spotted me because you meant to gather me to see your guildmaster.¡¯ Thomas blinked. ¡®Indeed, my lord. The baron is under no illusion of urgency but still would enjoy a word.¡¯ ¡®Tell him that he ought to wait,¡¯ Harcourt said, beginning to raise his voice. ¡®I am currently not available to speak to him.¡¯ He regretted informing Thomas he was studying to become a horse, and because Thomas appeared to still enjoy their dialogue, he added, ¡®I have council in a bit.¡¯ ¡®Your administrator is inside with us yet,¡¯ Thomas said nearly prophetically. ¡®Must I fetch him for council?¡¯ Fuck.
Against his will, he slipped through the cracks of tent canvas that each opened to yet another tent where a few chairs each had been placed, where people were smoking, debating, and drinking, until after a few tents, he appeared to enter the wooden structure, where there was a large fire on top of which sat a large pot. It smelled of stew and ale, and the fire made his face tense up with the heat and the drought. He considered briefly that Thomas had lied to him to get him through the door, but there he indeed was, reclined on a comfortable seat, ale in hand, a raven-haired man bent at the waist to talk to him through the roaring crowd. William. Harcourt had entered quite hesitantly, but it irritated him deeply to see William already so comfortable, which prompted him to stand up straight. Instead of catching his colleague¡¯s eye, however, he caught the Baron of Milden Cross¡¯. It was not a lie that the men had met, though what Harcourt did not mention was the fact that it was one of those acquaintances that only took as long as the festivals did. Richard, the baron¡¯s first name, was always a patron. In fact, that likely contributed to his new office as guildmaster. In Harcourt¡¯s circles, barons were men of small means and humble origins, though they contained a magnitude of coin and status to commoners. Richard looked up in food chain rather than most barons, who would rather sit high and mighty above commoners rather than grovel at the feet of dukes and marquises. This already gave him a great advantage, that of humility. His face was placid but approachable. He had poured William a glass of his ale. ¡®Lord Overleigh,¡¯ Richard said with a bow. ¡®How delightful to see that you, too, have made it to the harvest festival. Good to see you again. I heard from your administrator that your ladywife is well. Good.¡¯ ¡®Ah, Lord Richard,¡¯ Harcourt answered. ¡®Indeed. Congratulations on the new position.¡¯ To be frank, Harcourt immediately felt himself tense up when his wife was mentioned, especially in the context of that slimy William. Another man with this amount of vitriol running through his veins could have knocked Richard out at once. However, Richard did not invite such sentiment: the intentional way in which Richard spoke rendered him so businesslike that Harcourt could not blame him. He smiled calmly. ¡®Ale?¡¯ ¡®No, thanks,¡¯ he said. ¡®Well, sit,¡¯ Richard said, and left briefly. Uncomfortably, Harcourt waddled over to the seating and sat down opposite William, who had just taken a sip from his ale. ¡®Is it good?¡¯ he asked. William looked up, his dark eyes appearing to look through Harcourt as if to read his thoughts. ¡®It¡¯s alright.¡¯ Harcourt leaned in. ¡®Why are you here?¡¯ He shrugged. ¡®I ran into someone who told me the innkeeper¡¯s guildmaster wishes to speak to me in my capacity as royal administrator.¡¯ The secretary of state exhaled sharply. ¡®And? What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ ¡®We hadn¡¯t yet met,¡¯ William bit, ¡®We took our time to do so. I believe as member of Queen Katherine¡¯s council, I should know of the guildmasters, even if I hail from the north and therefore did not have the privilege of simply knowing the Baron of Milden Cross just by association.¡¯ William¡¯s face spoke of great indifference to Harcourt¡¯s tendency to become upset with him. ¡®Sorry, gents,¡¯ Richard butted in. ¡®I had to tend to the fire. Lord Overleigh, thank you for your earlier congratulations. It is a wonderful thing to now be among such generous and talented colleagues. Running the show has been quite wonderful. And to meet your new recruit¡­ what a marvellous sight. Does he know what happened to the last royal administrator?¡¯ Harcourt eyed him suspiciously. As far as he was aware, there had been no royal administrator. Before King Richard, Harcourt could not be asked to recount life at court. ¡®No?¡¯ William asked, putting his ale down briefly. ¡®I wonder if I may have forgotten.¡¯ ¡®Oh, you wouldn¡¯t have forgotten,¡¯ Richard said, scratching the thick black stubble on his chin. William sat up in his chair and leaned forward. ¡®Then?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not up to me to tell you,¡¯ Richard said, raising his brows. Just as William was gearing up to protest, Richard clutched his own goblet in his two hands, and as he sat down and crossed his legs, knocked the bottom of it against his knee. It wobbled in his hands, and the dark red liquid spilled over the edge, first soiling his breeches, then as he recognised what he had done, spilling more over Harcourt. ¡®Bloody hell,¡¯ he mumbled, staring at his crotch, and as he realised the amount of wine missing, he looked to his side. ¡®Well, that¡¯s just fan-fucking-tastic¡­¡¯ Harcourt stood up and blushed immediately, unsure of how to behave now his cream-coloured suit was dyed half-pink with wine. ¡®Richard¡­¡¯ he mumbled hesitantly. ¡®Come along,¡¯ Richard said, and held Harcourt by his shoulder. ¡®Let me help you.¡¯ His grasp was forceful, more so than expected, and he led him down a path that mouthed out at the back of the wooden structure. Beyond it, there was only forest. Richard released him and sighed deeply. ¡®I¡¯ll cover the cost of your suit no matter how many of my wages you will take from me,¡¯ Richard began. Harcourt frowned, watching Richard¡¯s face turn redder. ¡®What is the meaning of this?¡¯ ¡®The meaning of this, Lord Overleigh?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I wish not to offend you, but as an old acquaintance, I need to inform you that your administrator is playing foul. I was told such a thing, but now we have met, I am certain of it.¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ he asked, almost beginning to laugh. ¡®You soil a silk suit just to tell me a rumour?¡¯ The red-faced aspect he had began to make sense. He smiled awkwardly. ¡®I talk to a lot of innkeepers, north to south and east to west. Some on Otterdon Island. Given the nature of the guild, we are the great cryptkeepers of everyone¡¯s vilest secrets. For example, your William Lennard, did you know a rumour is making the round that he has sold people counterfeit gold coins way back in the day?¡¯ From the expectant look on his face, Harcourt deduced that Richard was imagining a grander reaction from the secretary of state. ¡®I am sure rumours are making the rounds that I died a decade ago as well.¡¯ ¡®Lord Overleigh¡­¡¯ Richard sighed, exasperated. ¡®Cuthbert. I¡¯ve known you for years ¡ª you are not one to risk your life, your queen¡¯s reign, and your face for an administrator from Gartham.¡¯ There was strange intimacy in his tone that alerted Harcourt. ¡®What¡¯s it to you?¡¯ he asked. After all, they were but acquaintances. The lengths Richard was willing to go through to make his message heard were unlike any story he had heard of the guildmaster, who was often the very image of diplomacy and etiquette when it came to dealings with nobility. ¡®Nothing personally,¡¯ he said. ¡®But you are aware I hold land from Lady Dorothy Abell, I imagine, and unfortunately now I must broach the subject of the longevity of the current reign. I am doing my duty telling you what I know, for if this all goes tits-up and I hadn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive myself. My advice? Make up a bogus excuse. Fire William. Hire a decent administrator. Even if it is all falsehood, it is much-discussed falsehood.¡¯ ¡®Hire a decent administrator, like yourself?¡¯ Harcourt asked, chuckling. Richard clicked his tongue. ¡®Not like myself, no,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯m quite where I belong. I have no need to badmouth your colleagues to worm myself into royal court.¡¯ Harcourt¡¯s presumption of Richard¡¯s intent was shattered. He believed every word the baron said, believed the rumours making the rounds, and how they all reached him at once, bringing him to the state of urgency that warranted the soiling of his suit, the callous tone, the alertness. ¡®If I were to fire a man for falsehoods, I might as well install a new queen on the throne,¡¯ he said. ¡®God knows her falsehoods are much-discussed. Pardon my frankness, of course. And what does the poor man¡¯s past matter? Queen Katherine is drawn to his authority and understanding, and that is more than what can be said for her relationship with any other councillor.¡¯ Richard grimaced. ¡®You oughtn¡¯t think about the implications of her drawing to someone potentially in the pocket of criminals? Someone who, at least, does not share your agenda, but instead may keep his own?¡¯ ¡®How will I prove this? Lady Katherine will be shattered if I let him go,¡¯ he protested. Richard kept quiet and churned his thoughts in his mind, letting the whey of his wishes for his life fall from the butter of what needed to be done. ¡®Who is your spymaster?¡¯ he asked. ¡®We have none,¡¯ Harcourt admitted shamefully. ¡®Would it be of use to you if I were to inquire which of my men would be willing to set up a rudimentary scheme for this?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Given you have no man of your own to do it.¡¯ Harcourt¡¯s throat felt dry, and he recognised the impact it could have to add another person to this precarious plan. ¡®No,¡¯ he said. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t. If you wish to make yourself known as a true loyalist, let me introduce you to court as our spymaster. Please, I know you are like a fish in water when it comes to your guild, but if things are as grave as you say there are, I wish not to live another day in the dark.¡¯ He pressed his mouth shut briefly and gazed into the line of trees, dark and opaque. ¡®I suppose I owe you that. I will aid you in this, but when this issue settles, I return to my post, where I belong.¡¯ 9. Blood metal and its foreign equivalents It was Freyza¡¯s first winter in Massouron and the cold had been a surprising source of agony for him. The first snow had fallen this December, and whatever free time he had, he sat huddled in his furs by the fireplace as he read his correspondences. There were many correspondences these days that pleased him. He had weaselled himself into the forefront of the minds of courtiers, advisers and businessmen, and the amount of letters he received on a monthly basis rivalled the amount a monarch would. Most notably, however, there was one from his homeland. Bayezid often sent him letters to catch up on the latest happenings working beneath the sultan. Neither of the men would admit to missing one another, but the truth was that Bayezid had always taken Freyza for a wise elder brother, and Freyza was proud enough of his life and achievements to revel in the glory of Bayezid¡¯s admiration. Bayezid had married the Baradran noblewoman Freyza had spoken well of, Bayezid¡¯s and Freyza¡¯s sons often played together before Freyza¡¯s wife left with the boy, and Bayezid inherited Freyza¡¯s hatred of the red-headed devil-wife Yusra following this event. Even the despair of heartbreak and the shattering of Freyza¡¯s world that made him turn away from Sbaian court, Bayezid gladly wished to emulate. A few months after Freyza left for Massouron, Bayezid wished to leave for the Baradrans or Neuhausen or even Ilworth. Friend, I bear the unfortunate announcement that we have not been able to receive the desired amount of tin from our supplier in the Baradran Kingdom, and in fact have heard nothing from the Baradrans at all. Have you any news? If this situation continues, we are forced to look into a different supplier despite our best trading agreements. His Excellency, the Sultan Selim, wishes to have his residence available to him summer of next year. I wonder if you will be able to help us in this endeavour, given that the current ambassador of the Sbai Empire in the Baradrans has not written us for months. From where we stand, the seat of power is shifting away from Dos Lunas and into Souchon. You may be able to take advantage of that fact. Falcona is recovering well ¡ª thank you for your concern. Have you taken a Massouric wife yet? With regards, Yours sincerely, Bayezid of Amouas It did not shock him that Bayezid had not received word from the Baradrans. Souchon Palace too had been suddenly cut off. The King of Massouron was especially distraught by the news. Queen Louise had wedded Silouane de Ginefort, uncle of the King of the Baradrans, Ferdinand de Ginefort. Silouane was not just the brother of the old king, but also of Joan de Ginefort, who in turn was Queen Katherine¡¯s mother. All Gineforts had placed themselves well. In other words, all courts had a prominent Ginefort or half-Ginefort. Silouane had distanced himself from court. He had not heard from his family in the palace in Dos Lunas in weeks. Freyza¡¯s predicament, securing tin, was child¡¯s play considering that this family, which had offshoots within every other notable dynasty on the continent, had not given a sign of life since the harvest. Who was there to ask? Massouron mined tin, but Freyza considered that, while he was their guest, he could never have the upper hand in negotiations. He simply was too dependent. He had seen an Argentan ambassador walking about, swanning in lush silks and surrounded by a constant clinking of gold in the man¡¯s purse, but Freyza considered Argento¡¯s only export products to be sodomy and theatre. Then, among the last notables, were the kingdoms of the Courtenay sisters. Ilworth in Katherine¡¯s hands, and Neuhausen de-facto in Eleanor¡¯s. The latter was a small city-state burnished by revolution, with an Ilworthian nobleman placed at its symbolic head to at least give the impression of statehood. Neuhausen was parliamentary in a shocking sense, and the most prestigious part of the Viscount George¡¯s occupation, was his marriage to the younger of the two princesses, Eleanor, who was Katherine¡¯s dear baby sister of two years her junior. He would have to inquire as to their ores. He dragged his feet to do so, however, as long as he still had the option of Queen Katherine at his disposal. She was not in Souchon now, but rumours were making the rounds that she was to arrive soon. In their few exchanged words, it appeared from his side that Katherine was the perfect candidate to exalt to the honour of Sbaian supplier. Why precisely was a mixture of easily explained reasons and ones that were mysterious even to the man himself.
As usual, the oracle of rumours was correct. Katherine was said to arrive in Port Bourrac a few days later, and once that news had reached Souchon Palace, she was only an afternoon away, arriving early in the evening to a banquet under the enjoyment of a crackling fireplace and an early night after days on the road. Many of the Souchon courtiers did not realise that, had they counted Katherine¡¯s advisers, they could have known that the number had swollen by one. Not even Katherine paid him much attention. He sat on the far corner of the most prestigious table, that hundred-eyed baron, and simply looked for the whole evening. He had been fitted a royal purple uniform which suited his dark, striking colouring well, and the pensive look he had could not be swept off his face neither by food nor drink. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Harcourt was initially worried that he had attracted a freeloading bastard who had seduced him into offering him a position at court, but to his surprise, Richard seemed truly not to enjoy court life. Meeting Katherine for the first time, he was respectful and interested, but appeared unfazed by her interest in him, and left not even with half a smile. Getting to the truth of matters seemed to be his true motivation. One thing that Richard immediately noticed was Walter: that young man with his perfect golden curls, his provincial tan, the lanky form of his body. His acquaintance with Prince Henry and Sir Henry both, with the one-eyed jockey, and most importantly, with Lord William. It was almost as though he was reporting. As to Katherine, he saw nothing of what her many lover saw. To him, the young queen was frivolous, undisciplined, messy, and fickle. There was nothing intriguing about her except the folly of youth, which was destined to sink into a folly that overstayed past her youth. There was no beauty in a folly not of youth. Certainly, she was not the great and magnetic beauty that could ensnare anyone out of their duties. It seemed as though Richard missed something; there was something that made him doubt himself. William was well-placed and in a high position already, and his correspondences ¡ª which, as spymaster, he allowed himself to read ¡ª highlighted nothing out of the ordinary save for a semi-secret affair with Harcourt¡¯s wife. Moreover, after consulting Harcourt, it appeared that William mostly left the queen alone. So why did it all appear so fishy to him? What was the crook up to that was hiding in plain sight? Certainly, Katherine¡¯s fondness for William¡¯s servant was baffling. Despite the obvious lack of any attractive characteristics to Richard himself, even he knew that it was far below the queen¡¯s usual diet of princes, knights and high-placed courtiers to be found in bed with a retired footman, even if he bore a striking resemblance to Prince Henry¡¯s noble plaything, and had a certain charm to him. The boy did not strike him as particularly bright, and handsome young lads were a dime a dozen. After the banquet, Richard slipped out to see him in the great hall, where he sat entranced by a lute player¡¯s sweet melodies as he sipped his ale. Only a few steps away from the boy did the spell break, and did he look up to Richard. ¡®My lord,¡¯ he said, and ducked his head as if to bow. Richard noticed the clothes he was wearing: a full silk suit of light blue, with elaborately slashed and puffed sleeves, and delicate shoes of which he saw the bottoms had not been walked on much at all. One of the soles was staring at him as its owner was sitting tailor-wise. His chin-length hair lay flat beneath a velvet bonnet. ¡®Sir Walter,¡¯ he said. ¡®I don¡¯t believe we had the honour of meeting.¡¯ He extended a hand and a jovial expression. Walter took it hesitantly. ¡®No, my lord. But I¡¯ve heard of you. Richard Dauncey, was it not?¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ he said, and sat down besides the swain. ¡®I was wondering if you hail from Gartham, Walter.¡¯ There was no use in pleasantries anymore. Walter¡¯s tone was hostile in its simplicity. The fact he had heard of Richard was not received with thanks. ¡®No,¡¯ he said, and blinked sheepishly. ¡®I¡¯m from a town you haven¡¯t heard of.¡¯ ¡®I was once guildmaster of the Innkeepers¡¯ Guild, I¡¯ve heard of every town,¡¯ he said calmly with not an ounce of sarcasm. ¡®That¡¯s what they test you on.¡¯ ¡®Is that so?¡¯ Walter asked. Richard nodded. Both men fell silent against the backdrop of lute-playing. It was not that Richard had already grown hopeless of the idea of entering the mind of his would-be adversary through his footman, but promise was seeping from the cracks of the plan like it was an aged wineskin. Walter knew what he was not supposed to say.
That night, he arrived at Harcourt¡¯s cabinet to the side of his room, and was greeted by a goblet of mulled wine that sat on his side of the table. The secretary of state looked up at him expectantly as Richard sat down. ¡®Well?¡¯ Harcourt asked. Richard clicked his tongue. ¡®Little news. Likely it¡¯ll come to show through correspondences, but¡­¡¯ ¡®But, what?¡¯ asked Harcourt. ¡®There are a few things I learned but none are relevant issues of the state,¡¯ he said. ¡®Though some may be of particular interest to yourself, if I may be so bold as to make assumptions.¡¯ Harcourt raised his brows. ¡®Like what?¡¯ Richard pursed his lips in that characteristic way he had done a dozen times in his short career so far, the symbol of being unable to keep his mouth for much longer, against better judgement: ¡®Are you aware that William is sleeping with your wife?¡¯ Harcourt¡¯s eyes cast downward, and he chuckled softly. ¡®Why do you think I brought that devil down here in the first place? I may not seem partisan, Richard, but I did not employ you because I fear the day William Lennard¡¯s good name is disgraced ¡ª in fact, I welcome it.¡¯ ¡®And the Sbaian ambassador is begging to speak to you,¡¯ Richard added. ¡®More begging to speak to Lady Katherine, if I think about it.¡¯ Harcourt exhaled sharply. ¡®You learned from William¡¯s antics?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ve been stopped in the halls to this place by some dwarf that the ambassador¡­ owns? Employs? Who is to say? He asked me to give Lady Katherine this¡­¡¯ Richard fiddled with the voluminous space in his breeches, and fished out a tiny velvet pouch. ¡®Told me not to open it under any circumstances, lest the surprise be spoiled.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s a shame,¡¯ Harcourt said. ¡®Why?¡¯ he said, plucking at the opened end of it, and extracting a ruby pendant on a delicate silver chain. ¡®You don¡¯t gather that I listen to Sbaians, right? Or anyone, for that matter ¡ª there could have been a vial of poison in there.¡¯ His eyes laser-focused to the pendant. A faceted ruby, surrounded by tiny diamonds set elegantly in the white-gold or silver. ¡®Actually¡­¡¯ he hummed. As he gazed deeper into the blood-red abyss, he swore he could saw a shiver in the surface. He tilted it, and an air bubble danced shyly across its front. ¡®Fuck,¡¯ he murmured. ¡®It is a vial of poison.¡¯ Harcourt paid him a disturbed look, and in an instant, Richard swung the pendant by the length of its chain and bashed it against the wall, where the vial shattered into glimmering splinters, and red liquid splattered on the wall, though quickly turned transparent. The air was tense and heavy, and suddenly filled with the scent of jasmine. The two advisers looked at the absent stain, the diamonds tossed from their setting, the shards of crystal glass, and the chain covered in destroyed glittery sand. ¡®Would you say this counts as a spoiled surprise, Lord Richard?¡¯ Harcourt asked, visibly amused from the boyish grin on his lips and his mischievous look. ¡®Though I appreciate the thorough perfuming of my cabinet.¡¯ ¡®Better safe than sorry, no?¡¯ Richard asked. ¡®I¡¯ll have to apologise to Master Freyza¡­¡¯ 10. Declaration of Alliance Queen Louise let herself into Katherine¡¯s boudoir without even knocking. The latter sat at her vanity crosslegged, chatting to the pair of ladies-in-waiting sitting on the edge of her bed. Considering the great amount of clothes strewn across the floor, the amount of pillows on the bed, and the general mess, Louise thought they must have all slept there last night ¡ª it fit the reports of outgoing persons that she had seen of last night. Louise in the doorframe was the spitting image of her portrait, framed not in gold filigree but elegant stones in which the door normally rested. Her jewel toned robes contrasted against the froufrou pastels of Katherine¡¯s clothes and furniture, and drew all eyes to her as she strode in confidently: ¡®I hope I¡¯m not interrupting anything.¡¯ Katherine lifted a brush as thin and delicate as a handful of eyelashes from the corner of her mouth. ¡®Certainly not, mother,¡¯ she said, immediately discarding her focused expression of painting her face in favour of a kinder, more graceful one. ¡®Mother,¡¯ she said in saccharine tone. ¡®Never do you interrupt.¡¯ Louise¡¯s mouth twitched into a smile. ¡®Indeed¡­ may I have you a moment alone?¡¯ Katherine looked over her shoulder to Grace and Constance, who seemed to already understand their friend without so much as a word. Unnecessarily, she added: ¡®Please, both of you.¡¯ They were gone before she drew her next breath. Grace and Constance, perhaps everyone in the Ilworthian delegation, were deathly afraid of Louise¡¯s wrath. Though she appeared well-mannered and even careful in the presence of Katherine, those who had heard the tales, knew that this was but a fa?ade: Louise had a fiery leonine centre. She sat down, slowly and carefully, as if Katherine¡¯s ottoman was made out of glass or meant only to support the weight of fairies. Had it been made for Katherine, it may have even been true. Katherine was far shorter, with babyish small hands and feet, and a short and stout face that did not suit a crown. Louise, on the other hand, was a woman of Amazonian proportions. ¡®So¡­ is Souchon starting to feel like home to you, my dear?¡¯ she asked as the first real silence fell in the wake of the ladies¡¯ footsteps. Katherine turned sharply on the stool to face her future mother-in-law. Her half-painted mouth shivered. ¡®It is more home to me than Norbury Lake,¡¯ she said. ¡®I mean that. For you, and for Henry, surely, but also for Norbury Castle, where I am asked to reside in Ilworth, will always be my father¡¯s castle. My preference was always Hambledon House or the Hailstone Stronghold up north. Castles where I had never been as the king¡¯s daughter.¡¯ ¡®Indeed,¡¯ Louise began. ¡®Good to hear. My husband worries about you, as poor Silouane worries about all Ginefort children. Your mother not being alive does not mean you are not still, at heart, half a Ginefort. You¡¯ve heard of the Baradran troubles, I¡¯m sure.¡¯ Katherine nodded solemnly. ¡®Doubly so. My daughter is a De Serra.¡¯ Louise grimaced. ¡®We are well-aware. It jeopardises your position more than your advisers would like you to think. You heard that they have beheaded Ferdinand? Poor, poor Ferdinand. Your cousin. Silouane¡¯s nephew. King of the Baradrans. I wonder who let this all happen, who turned the other cheek to those murderous De Serra princes.¡¯ ¡®I wonder,¡¯ Katherine echoed as her eyes glazed over. She had not heard that Ferdinand had died but did not think to question it coming from Louise¡¯s mouth. ¡®I wonder who has taken power.¡¯ ¡®Anyone¡¯s guess,¡¯ Louise sighed. ¡®Well, you are a lucky one. Escaped within a hair¡¯s breadth of being stuck in that hellhole ¡ª and God knows what they would have made of you. You are the spitting image of your Ginefort mother. They would have beheaded you just to have your head to show to the angry mob.¡¯ ¡®Lucky¡­¡¯ she let the word¡¯s taste dance in her mouth. ¡®Perhaps an alliance with one of us could have served them. I remember little, my dear mother, but I do not recall my former suitor Domenico, who is reported to be the general, to be able to behead a defenceless woman just for the colour of her hair and the general composition of her face.¡¯ Louise scraped her throat. ¡®Do you not?¡¯ she asked. ¡®You¡¯ve spent years in a convent breeding peace in your spirit, I am aware. But I will continue your mother¡¯s task of raising you as a proud woman of Ginefort heritage. I see a bit of Silouane in you because I know how much he and Joan resembled one another. They would have killed you. Had you been in the Baradrans, you would have died. You are entering a time in your life where you know that God chose you, because if He had forsaken you, Katherine, your head would have been shipped to the poor unfortunate sibling of yours that would have your crown instead. With it, the head of your four-year-old Johanna and God knows what other forbidden brood you¡¯d have by now.¡¯ ¡®I am lucky to be your daughter-in-law,¡¯ Katherine concluded. ¡®Of that, I can be certain. I am lucky to be Prince Henry¡¯s bride.¡¯ She sat back, content, and wrapped her arms around one another. ¡®As to Henry, I¡¯ve come to ask a favour of you,¡¯ she said. ¡®Hopefully nothing that will worry you.¡¯ ¡®I would be happy to,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®I have made the decision for Henry to be crowned around the time of your first anniversary on the throne,¡¯ she said. ¡®I wish to hand him the kingdom with a warm hand, not a cold one.¡¯ Katherine knew, but knew just as well that she had to feign ignorance. She widened her eyes and inhaled sharply. ¡®Oh, mother, what frightening news. All of this novelty in such an unstable world.¡¯ ¡®It appears indeed that the world is not growing more stable,¡¯ Louise said, her gaze cast downwards, ¡®But I do not know how much uncertainty is yet to come, and how much time I still have. I would rather teach him now than to steer the country into darkness by dying behind the steering wheel. Captains leave their ships first. I¡¯m asking you to be a guest of honour so we may use our prestige for good. Let the people know that the Queen of Ilworth and the Queen of Massouron unite in their belief in the King.¡¯ She briefly thought in silence, scratching at the nape of her neck. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t you ask Harcourt about this?¡¯ she asked. ¡®What?¡¯ Louise chuckled. ¡®You are the queen, Katherine. You decide. It is up to you who to endorse and who to trust. If you wonder, truly, whether to endorse your future husband, you could talk it over, but¡­¡¯ This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡®I fear I will be flayed if I do not,¡¯ Katherine held fast. Louise winked with so little emotion it appeared to be a twitch. ¡®Another thing. I suggest you start declaring yourself an enemy of the new Baradran regime before your maternal family gets here. Your aunt Scemena wrote us ¡ª we received word this morning. They are on their way.¡¯
The music that came from the old cellar was audible even from the ground floor when the door that led to it swung open, Richard noticed. It was the middle of the night, and he was making his nightly rounds of stalking. He had near infinite authority to do so, stalk anyone from the baker¡¯s boy to the Queen of Massouron, granted to him by Harcourt when he took office. That being said, it did not mean that the prospect of being spotted was any less frightening. If any of Louise¡¯s men found out Richard had spent days making maps of the movements of her high-placed officers that ¡ª perhaps accidentally ¡ª crossed Katherine¡¯s path, he had no doubt in his mind that the pear of anguish would be used on each of his orifices that would scarcely fit it. That night had brought him to the precipice of an uncharted land: the infamous dungeons where Prince Henry was rumoured to retire to when his parties got too rowdy for the outside world to bear. Precisely that damned door was taken by his prime suspect William Lennard. Of course, Richard grumbled to himself, the administrator could not just be sleeping soundly at this hour, and instead had to be out in the epicentre of depravity. Like a lost dog, however, he followed him down the portal that led to a steep staircase down. There was barely any light that came down to the staircase, which was dimly lit with torches that turned the air stuffy, and all noise from the door was muffled by the music and sounds of the tactile. The furthest he could see, the bottom of the flight of stairs, was a silk sheet nailed to a red tapestry on the wall to shield the viewer¡¯s eyes from what lay behind, occasionally shivering with the movement on the other side of it. Richard braced himself as he walked down, disoriented by the fact that he had lost sight of William, and that he had likely snuck behind the curtain. It was hot at the bottom of the stairs. A fire appeared to be roaring close to him. No longer a roar of music, singing, and shouting, the closer he got, the more he could make out voices. He tried to peer through the side of the silk sheet, and saw nothing but the gold frame of a portrait, and a suit of armour on a stand. As he leaned over, though, he could just about see a crack on the other side of curtains, through which he thought to see more layers of silk. He crept over to the other side, and indeed, could see into a partitioned area with silks all around, only as he stood straight as a board against the cold stone of the walls, damp and spoiling the taffeta of his doublet. He could see a wall, clothed in another tapestry, and embedded with arrows. Just before it stood a bust of an ancient goddess with an apple, gleaming and with a bite missing, perched on her head. Richard recognised Henry by his pudgy form and brown curls, the former he had inherited from the god Dionysus and the latter from his mother. Opposite him stood the tall and dark haired royal administrator, clutching a scroll case in his hand. Through the general noise of the partying, Richard could still make out what they were saying to one another, especially when Henry¡¯s tone was not that of playful banter, but rather a declaration. In his hand he had a carafe of clear liquid, and in his other a goblet. He raised them both triumphantly, wearing what appeared to be either a toga or a sheet artfully draped over his naked form. Whether his buttocks were covered at all, Richard could not see from the scant angle. ¡®Aha, my Ilworthian friend,¡¯ Henry declared in thickly accented Ilworthian, ¡®I am willing to make an exception to the guest list tonight, but I will require you to complete one challenge! Worth it, I¡¯m sure, for the opportunity to see right into the privates of the most important people alive?¡¯ ¡®With all due respect, Your Highness,¡¯ William replied, holding his hands outstretched and his palms down as if anything would calm him out of his drunken frenzy, ¡®I¡¯ve just got to deliver something. I can roll it into the room without even¡ª¡¯ ¡®No!¡¯ he shouted, poured a glass, and pressed it onto William. ¡®Let me get the bow. Drink, or I¡¯ll have you executed.¡¯ William hesitated, much to Richard¡¯s secret amusement, but as Henry tossed the carafe carelessly out into the main room ¡ª or for all he knew, one of the main rooms ¡ª he decided that to drink was the safest bet. Henry turned towards Richard, but slid his gaze over the crack in the silk and did not seem to register the gleaming of his black eyes, and took a crossbow from the wall. There was an arrow ready to fire in its burrows. Henry held it up as if to fire, holding the end of it to the height of William¡¯s head. ¡®Now turn!¡¯ he said. ¡®Turn thrice, and fire!¡¯ He started to turn, first slowly, but when he heard Henry¡¯s bare feet tapping on the stone, he sped up, until he had seen the tapestry three times. Henry handed him the crossbow, and clapped his hands impatiently until he had fired: a miss, followed by a shiver that came from so far down his body that it could only be the result of the whirlpool of liquor in his stomach. ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake,¡¯ he grumbled under his breath, and burped with enough movement in his upper chest that he shuddered again. ¡®Tough luck, old man,¡¯ Henry said, and clapped his hands. ¡®Try again or leave.¡¯ Richard jumped when he heard the door up the flight of stairs opening and closing again. In the doorframe stood Sir Henry. Richard raised his finger to his mouth, and Henry nodded. He paced down the stairs and gave Richard a pat on the shoulder. ¡®Nice outfit,¡¯ he whispered to Henry, who was wearing an armour made out of leather, and seemingly nothing else. He rolled his eyes. ¡®I can¡¯t see you,¡¯ he replied sardonically, staring Richard down. ¡®So I don¡¯t know what to say about yours.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s the right answer,¡¯ he concluded. ¡®Because I¡¯m not here.¡¯ Henry passed through the silks ¡ª on the other side, as Richard had pointed him to ¡ª and impeded on the liminal moment where William was deciding whether or not he was willing to risk vomiting the contents of his stomach onto the cellar floor to deliver a parcel in the middle of the night. ¡®Ah, Baradran Henry,¡¯ said Prince Henry, and signalled him closer. ¡®Look! We¡¯ve a visitor. Shall we show the man how it¡¯s done?¡¯ Sir Henry, not a man of many words, only nodded, then took a swig of wine from a discarded goblet beyond the threshold of silks he could just about see, turned on his heels a couple of times, had the crossbow handed to him, and fired. William had to double-take. The apple had vanished. It was impossible to see from where he stood, but Richard saw it hit the floor just behind its pedestal. ¡®Well, off you go!¡¯ the prince said, lifted the curtain to a scene of writhing naked bodies, goblets, glints of gold and practice swords, and signalled the knight to go through. ¡®Well done once more.¡¯ ¡®Henry,¡¯ hissed William. ¡®Take this.¡¯ ¡®Not so fast!¡¯ the prince said, meaning to whip the scroll right out of William¡¯s hand. ¡®You haven¡¯t the right. Either try again or leave, scroll and all.¡¯ William sighed and looked over his shoulder. ¡®In that case¡­¡¯ he sighed again. ¡®It has been a pleasure, Your Highness, but it is time I call it a night.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll tell Katherine you came to see her,¡¯ Henry said, laying a damp hand on the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Shoo.¡¯ As William turned, Richard felt his heart leap into his throat. It was too late to leave, and even if he made it to the top of the staircase, the hallway that it led to was so wide and long that it was impossible to leave unseen. Instead, he felt himself petrify against the wall, and he hoped that by remaining as still as he could, he would not be seen. He angrily clawed at the silks to leave, stomping his feet, and Richard felt his face turn red when he was immediately spotted. William looked him up and down, his face coated in sweat, the copper scroll case foggy with condensation. He narrowed his eyes, and Richard narrowed his eyes in response. ¡®Good morning, spymaster,¡¯ William said. ¡®Good morning, administrator,¡¯ Richard replied in the same placid tone. William began to climb the stairs, and the obscene glint of his gold cloakpin nearly blinded Richard. Strange, he thought. His own was quite tarnished. 11. Masters Offer [end of Arc 1] Freyza imagined his gift was ill-received or had gotten lost in the undoubtedly many trunks full of lavish presents that Katherine would have received over the course of her year-long reign, when it took the Ilworthian delegation months even to respond to him. The need for metals such as tin and copper was burning red-hot in Freyza¡¯s mind, and for a time, that mind of his seemed to be completely lost, given the fact that he did not immediately respond when an offer of Ilworthian tin came through from Neuhausen. Luckily for him, his indecision was brought to an end manually by the hand of Lord Richard Dauncey, who after much consideration, had pronounced him of enough importance and sway to see the queen, along with himself and the treasurer, for an audience. In finer print was disclosed that the gift he had sent the queen had been confiscated and destroyed. A win and a loss, then. He could not be more excited. Freyza had spent months in Souchon Palace, gazing down upon the many garden parties, where the queen danced and laughed and amused herself, and he knew that she had the bizarre ability to draw people into her orbit. She had, aside from the bizarre ability, also the bizarre desire to humour those in her orbit, which gave her yet another layer of delightful erratic charm. Though the business side of things was incredibly important to Freyza, he was curious ¡ª perhaps even charmed from a distance, pulled into that very same orbit like a distant heavenly body in a mammoth trajectory. The morning of the audience, he was as well-groomed, perfumed, prepared and loaded with gifts as he was when meeting the sultan. His assistant Iskander was the one to carry them all in his little arms. When they walked side by side, and were not aware of these two court fixtures belonging together, people stared at them. Freyza was extremely tall, with long limbs and a naturally uncomfortable gait that came with being the sultan¡¯s dog, or somehow was the criterion to be considered for the position. Iskander, on the other hand, was a man of dwarven proportions, with short arms that held onto the chests with a childlike posture. Though Iskander was older than Freyza, Freyza looked far older. Perhaps it was the grey in the hair of his temples. Needless to say, he was early, and stood in the large hallway waiting for the Ilworthian guards to let him through the gargantuan doors. Freyza was impressed by the splendour of the delegation. Katherine was a guest in Souchon Palace, and yet a whole wing of it was dedicated to the seat of power, including this magnificent marble-floored hall that neighboured the best view of the gardens. One of the doors opened just a touch, and a smiley woman stepped from it. Dorothy Abell, treasurer ¡ª Freyza had seen her around. ¡®Lord Tougaf¡­ or?¡¯ ¡®Ah,¡¯ he said. ¡®Master Freyza is fine. It¡¯s unbecoming to lead with land, where I¡¯m from.¡¯ She snickered and walked leisurely out, studying mostly the dwarf. ¡®In that case, Master Freyza, that just makes me Dorothy.¡¯ She softly opened the door further, offering him a glance into the makeshift throne room, which was really not a throne room at all, and instead looked more like a massive chancery. Immediately in his line of sight stood Katherine, leaning slightly over the edge of the oval table. On one side, a chair pushed back, and on the other, her spymaster. Dorothy threw a glance over her shoulder. Only then did Freyza see how short her hair was cropped, just below her ears. ¡®And that makes my colleague just Richard.¡¯ Freyza smiled ear to ear, then signalled to Iskander. ¡®I¡¯m not kidding when I say this is just Iskander, my lady,¡¯ he said. She noticed how his knees were buckling from the weight of the parcels in his hands. ¡®Oh, do come in,¡¯ she said. ¡®Both of you.¡¯ He did not want to. Dorothy was kind, and her demeanour repelled him, for he was expecting the stiff dealings with the sultan, where he was primed by half a dozen emissaries before he could even conceive of seeing the sultan in the flesh. Here, he had to work to keep himself from making eye contact with the Queen of Ilworth and Otterdon Island. Though he was reluctant to do so, he entered swiftly, his hands behind his back, and bowed, keeping his eyes on his feet for fear of them wandering. ¡®You may look up,¡¯ Katherine ordered, perhaps a bit of giddiness in her voice. ¡®No need to appear humble ¡ª I¡¯ve heard the tales.¡¯ There it was: the moment he had been dreading. He looked up at once and right into her eyes, and from the sheer anticipation of it, thought he would vomit or faint or be controlled at once by reverence or lust or another strange emotion that had never overcome him before. The tales spun into legends, the legends that surely would spin into legacy, then the yarn spun from legacy woven into the fine silk from which Queen Katherine was fashioned. A split second passed: Freyza realised he was only looking at a young woman, and not the myth of one. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said. ¡®What an honour to be in your presence on this fine day. I come bearing gifts from the Sultan and myself.¡¯ Once the initial disappointment of being faced with a mortal woman, rather than a woven satin spun from legacy that forced his mind into subjugation, had worn off, another quieter impression began to brew. She had the face of a Ginefort: narrow, delicate, small in each direction. The sort of olive green eyes, nearing grey, that he found fascinating, especially against her rosewood eyelashes. Her red hair was demurely suggested underneath the blue veil pinned artfully against it. She had on a rather simple outfit of madder-dyed wool, and as if to prove the point of her humanity, was wine-stained. ¡®Gifts,¡¯ she echoed happily, and sat down. ¡®I love gifts, Master Freyza. It¡¯s unfair how much this will sway the proceedings. That¡¯s why I brought Richard and Dorothy. My eyes and my purse, respectively.¡¯ Freyza and Katherine shared a laugh, and the former terrified himself when it dawned on him that he was laughing with the Queen of Ilworth, who appeared more like the well-mannered and charismatic slaves of important Sbaian politicians, than she did any head of state he had met. The sort he had sold them, trained by himself and his subordinates to bring smiles to any face, so that their owner may go through life seeing only kind faces. He wondered how Katherine had picked up the ancient art of female mysticism and charm in a convent. and had to cease his thoughts before they brought him to the feared subjugation he had initially warded off so well. ¡®Your Majesty, I am surprised by your candour,¡¯ he said, as he gestured Iskander to come forward with the chest. Her eyes shot between Iskander, bowing by her feet after placing the chest before him, and Freyza, leaning expectantly over the lacquered wooden table. ¡®That¡¯s because Lord Overleigh couldn¡¯t make it,¡¯ she said, and winked at Richard. ¡®I try to enjoy my occupation, my lord. Today should be a joyous occasion. I am receiving a gift from the sultan, we are planning to agree to a deal that will enrich us both. You¡¯ve met me, I¡¯ve met you. Joyous. We¡¯ve plenty of time to be gloomy. May I?¡¯ The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡®Certainly, my lady,¡¯ Freyza said, chuckling as he was surprised to be asked at all. ¡®Master Freyza,¡¯ she said again, unhooking the clasp of the chest on the floor, ¡®I¡¯ve heard of your people. You really don¡¯t have any wine in the Sbai Empire?¡¯ A pleased grin danced on his mouth. ¡®No wine¡­ I don¡¯t believe there is a place on earth with no wine,¡¯ he said. ¡®The law forbids it. But the law forbids many things, and the eyes of its enforcement do not reach in every cup and each harem.¡¯ From the odd look in her eyes and the surge of interest, Freyza gathered that the queen opposite him may have not been sober. She swivelled the top of the chest up and focused on its interior. She began to chuckle. ¡®Richard,¡¯ she said. Richard looked over her shoulder and began to laugh along. ¡®I¡¯ll be gentle with these,¡¯ he said. ¡®I swear.¡¯ She hoisted up one of the vials: elegant blood-red vials with engraved florals decorating their glass. With great care, she twisted the cork off and smelled the end of it that had been on in the inside of the vial. ¡®These are made by the Sultan¡¯s perfumers, from the fairest floral arrangements,¡¯ Freyza explained. ¡®I have always had a great fascination for the craft. Thousands of jasmine flowers, roses and peonies are plucked for this modest selection. The Sultan extends his gratitude to Ilworth as a nation, and hopefully to the agreement to come.¡¯ ¡®I will have to write him my thanks. What a marvellous choice ¡ª especially after I came to learn a much more striking perfume vial had been unjustly confiscated from me. Pleased to know the Sultan holds me in such high regard. And yourself?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I swore you¡¯d said something about your own gift.¡¯ Freyza sat back in his chair, meaning to bask in the glory of being so beloved, if only for a second, by Katherine. ¡®I hold you in extremely high regard,¡¯ he said. ¡®If such is your query.¡¯ The truth of the matter was that while Freyza was being pulled into Katherine¡¯s orbit, which was an inevitability of their meeting, Katherine was gazing with great fascination up at the imaginary sky where she saw a wondrously bright new planet orbit her. Pleased to be in good company, she huffed playfully. ¡®So?¡¯ she asked. ¡®So of course I¡¯ve come prepared, Lady Katherine,¡¯ he answered. Iskander handed him a small, cloth-wrapped parcel, which he handed forth to Katherine, who scanned the shape and weight for any resemblance to objects she knew. When nothing came to mind, she began unwrapping the soft wool that it was packaged in for safekeeping, and with each revolution of the growing length of fabric off of the gift, Freyza began to worry that it had less grandeur. Many things came to mind. Had she wanted a bolt of fabric, a book of translated epics? It was a dagger with a blue and purple-dyed leather hilt, and a scabbard of silver with gold filigree. Elegantly narrow with Sbaian motifs to decorate it, the base of the blade had a subtle engraving. Each detail appeared considered and personalised. What a relief it was for Freyza to see her smile once more. ¡®What a gorgeous little thing,¡¯ she said, captivated by the narrowness of the blade. ¡®You need to tell me what it says, Master Freyza.¡¯ ¡®Your house¡¯s motto in Sbaian,¡¯ he said, ¡®Fearless in God¡¯s light and justice.¡¯ ¡®Wonderful,¡¯ she said. ¡®I will be sure to treasure it.¡¯ The pair of advisers, one to each side of hers, appeared restless, knowing how much Katherine could be swayed with a trunk full of perfume and a pointy dagger in a sleek scabbard. Dorothy butted in by scraping her throat. ¡®I do wonder to what we owe your generosity. Archduchess Eleanor had only received word from you, no gifts or pleasantries. And it concerns the same tin ¡ª Neuhausen and Ilworth have treaties to that effect.¡¯ ¡®I live in Souchon Palace by the grace of Her Majesty¡¯s future mother-in-law, which makes her the kin of my liege. Lady Eleanor shares a splendour with her sister the queen, but I believe gifts extended with letters instead of by one¡¯s own hand, are given cold. May she arrive to Souchon Palace or I to House Zuyleburg, you shall see I will treat her authority and grace the same, relative to Her Highness¡¯ character and prestige.¡¯ Richard perked up. ¡®Are you headed to Zuyleburg, then? For otherwise, none of this meant a thing. I¡¯m not sure it would mean anything if you were.¡¯ Freyza huffed. ¡®I have no need to cross the border if this goes well, Lord Richard. Sultan Selim demands me to speak with you, and naturally, I do. His gifts to Queen Katherine are absolutely not mean to insult Archduchess Eleanor, even if they are sisters and likely to correspond. What he does, small-minded men such as myself will not be able to understand regardless. And a personal gift should not have to be excused, in my humble opinion.¡¯ He immediately recognised the sensitivity of his remark. Eleanor was the Archduchess of Neuhausen, to Massouron¡¯s north, the newly minted wife of Archduke George, and Katherine¡¯s baby sister. The history of Neuhausen was an intriguing one. A rowdy city-state once under Ilworthian rule, some three-hundred years ago, which declared itself independent and subsequently elected their ruler. Thus the office of Archduke of Neuhausen was born. Elections were rudimentary, and each time, fewer men were allowed to cast their vote, until the high-and-mighty intellectual idea of a democratic process borrowed from the ancients developed into the outdated, medieval kingdom election, where prince-electors were selected based on heritage. It only took the Ilworthian royal family a couple of agreements and marriages to have each prince-elector speak native Ilworthian. Now, the most recent archduke had married a princess. The border that Neuhausen and Massouron shared was considered a testy subject, at least until Prince Henry and Queen Katherine tied the knot. The advisers were silent and Katherine was admiring the craftsmanship of the gift she had just received. ¡®The most recent price of a bale of tin was fifteen-hundred ak?e. Roughly sixteen-hundred grams of silver, which, converted to gold sovereigns, would be sixteen sovereigns,¡¯ Freyza said, hoping this would further the negotiation into the territory of a real agreement. Katherine looked to Dorothy, whose eyes were narrowed. ¡®We¡¯re not selling in silver coin,¡¯ she said. ¡®Sixteen sovereigns per bale is fine, if by a bale you mean roughly a hundred pounds ¡ª I take it you won¡¯t need a bale. What could you possibly need it for? And if you wish less than a bale, the price goes up.¡¯ Freyza looked down and shook his head. ¡®I¡¯ll need about eight bales for the next imperial palace. Bronze on everything, ceremonial armours, tableware, mirrors, roofing, fixtures¡­ after that, indeed, I believe our spend will reduce to below a bale per quarter.¡¯ Richard had been looking at Dorothy as she listened, and noticed her eyes widen and mouth nearly fall open. When the meeting commenced, there had been no awareness of the fact that Freyza was not a petty salesman in need of an ingot for a couple of forks, but instead willing to supplement the royal purse considerably. Was this what the Baradrans were earning from these southerners? ¡®I, uh¡­¡¯ she began to babble, ¡®I¡¯ll have to, erm, I¡¯ll have to see if it can be acquired. Sixteen ak?e, I mean, sixteen sovereigns per pound¡­ times eight, Master Freyza, hundred-twenty-eight¡­¡¯ Dorothy did not recall the last time the Ilworthians had built a castle, much less one that needed eight bales of tin to work into decorations and roofing. ¡®That should be a fine arrangement,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ll be sure to contact the Sword of the Treasury back home to see on what term it will be required precisely. Then, of course, he will send in the payment. I imagine you¡¯d rather have it in gold than goods, no? Though an exchange rate could be more favourable in goods.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ she decided before Katherine could argue for payment in wine and perfume, ¡®Gold, my lord.¡¯ ¡®Totally understandable,¡¯ he said, nodded, and stood up. ¡®My lord Richard, lady Dorothy. Your Majesty.¡¯ The advisers followed, Katherine standing up last but somehow skipping past Richard towards the Sbaian. They said their goodbyes, and Freyza and Iskander left again. As they walked through the hallway back into the main part of the castle, Freyza felt somewhat giddy. He imagined it would be a large deal for them, but to have the treasurer stumbling over her words, and to have the queen enthralled by a simple silver dagger¡­ he could not wait to write home with the news. He wondered what else he could purchase from them, as if he was a child seeking a gold coin to waste gambling in a card game. How many could he pour into this mechanism to see the Ilworthians light up with economic fortitude once more? And most importantly, how many more would it take to once more be blessed by the presence of that charming young lady? 12. The Crown Upon Another Head It was a strange sight for Katherine to behold: Souchon Palace in a state of buzzing bliss from the ascent of a new monarch. Naturally, not even a year into her reign, there was a feeling of recollection of her own coronation even when the two events were appearing to be nothing alike. For one, and most sorrowfully for Katherine, the King¡¯s mother was there to congratulate him. The exchange of headwear appeared only that. Henry arrived crowned to Souchon Palace, and Louise arrived bare-headed. Katherine tried to keep her sorrow at bay if only for the aesthetic impact her smile would have on tonight¡¯s accounts. She assumed it would be a long night ahead, and from certain nosey types at court she had come to understand what festivities had been planned both by Henry and against his will by his friends. There would be no time for Katherine to reminisce about her own circumstance, and yet, stepping out of the carriage into a magnificent party, a pang of jealousy popped as if it escaped from her sorrow. Henry¡¯s parents were both living, as were all of the siblings that he had known ¡ª an older brother had been returned to the heavens in his infancy, but the implication that Henry had once been a spare never dawned on him. His childhood was one where death happened to the elderly. It showed in his principles: if death could even exist, he must have thought, it turned the other cheek when provoked by a lad too young to know it. Henry was wearing his house colours, red and grey, and kept his crown on as he entered the ballroom with Katherine by his side. There had been talk of her wishing to appear in her own house colours, wearing her own crown, but these were overblown rumours that were falsified the second she entered, wearing a regal silver gown with real silver thread woven throughout, and long open sleeves that swept the floor. Her dress was cut in Argentan style, with the sleeves just off the shoulder. Her shoes and girdle belt were adorned by red gemstones to finish the nod to the Chavanet colours. The scratchy silver fabric dug into the tops of her arms. As she strode in, keeping her face smiling and kindly, she already tried to locate the nearest tray of alcoholic drinks to dull the great annoyances of both her wardrobe and Henry¡¯s unjust smugness. There was no denying it: Henry¡¯s coronation, in terms of the materials spent and the amount of people attending, would go down in history a thousand times before Katherine¡¯s would even be a footnote. Instead of a dusty great hall and a reception of a few vassals in the throne room, a ballroom of magnificent proportions had been decorated with unrivalled precision. The theme implied a celebration of Henry¡¯s person: most of the guests who had not appeared during the day, so that were not vassals, court officials, or his mother¡¯s circle, were part of the fashionable crowd of Massouron and Neuhausen, with a couple of Argentan, Sbaian, Baradran and Ilworthian guests to round it out. There was plenty of music, and the musicians themselves appeared to be roguish bard types rather than the sort of music a king may pick. Upon his entrance into the dimly lit ballroom that smelled of torches and sweat already so early in the evening, the crowd burst into applause and cheering, and Katherine took a few steps aside to join into the applause, just far enough out of the line of sight to snatch a goblet off of a stand. There had to be something she could do about the increasing agitation of her shoulders and her psyche¡­ Henry basked in the glory of the applause and held his crown as he bowed, nodding along with the cheers as if they were a song. ¡®My esteemed citizens¡­¡¯ he gloated when there was a lull in the noise. ¡®What a great thing to see: a room full of beautiful people who have all come to celebrate none other than the King of Massouron.¡¯ Of course this only invited more applause and cheers, and this time instead of joining, Katherine downed the contents of the goblet. It was oddly like the wine that had been served to her the first time she had arrived. Then, just while the crowd simmered down, hanging off of Henry¡¯s every word, Henry began to grow quiet. ¡®Yes,¡¯ he said to each congratulation thrown his way, and ¡®Thank you.¡¯ Thereafter, it was silent. Henry looked to his side to face Katherine, who was looking at him rather dumbfounded. ¡®Your wish for the people,¡¯ Katherine whispered, shaking her head all the while. ¡®I don¡¯t know. Think of something.¡¯ ¡®I wish to declare as the new king, that I will offer tax cuts on all spirits of Ilworthian make,¡¯ he said, his voice already hoarse. ¡®And I shall amend the advisers¡¯ uniforms!¡¯ Half due to the drunken nature of the guests, and half due to the out-of-touch nature, the crowd broke out again in cheers. Katherine chuckled to herself with the acknowledgement of his idiocy. ¡®Queen Katherine,¡¯ she suddenly heard from her side as the crowd roared on, spoken in accented Ilworthian, ¡®I was hoping I¡¯d run into you.¡¯ Katherine looked over her bare shoulder and stood eye to eye with a stranger with green eyes and blond hair, wearing an insignia she did not recognise. She narrowed her eyes and frowned. ¡®And you are?¡¯ He nodded. ¡®Robert Fairfax, my lady. I was hoping you would be willing to help us in our plan for tonight.¡¯ Katherine halted a servant to take a tiny wooden cup of spirit off of a platter shaped like a large leaf, and threw the two finger¡¯s worth of liquor back. She was unsure of what she had just consumed, burning bright all the way down, and with a faint rosewater taste underneath the singeing. ¡®And what sort of plan would that be, Robert?¡¯ she asked. ¡®You strike me as an Ilworthian lad, I imagine that means you know I¡¯m not a chambermaid or a whore, so I¡¯ve important plans of my own tonight.¡¯ He huffed indignantly. ¡®I bet you do, my lady. A few of us prepared a play for him. I was hoping you could aid us in removing Henry from the room briefly while we prepare the set. It is my promise to you, that it will be a hoot.¡¯ ¡®A satirical play?¡¯ she asked. Robert nodded softly. ¡®Indeed. Do not fret, my lady. You aren¡¯t in it.¡¯ She chuckled and crossed her arms with great discomfort, having the insides of her arms and her armpits scrape against the glittering fabric of her dress. ¡®I¡¯d hope not. Well, I¡¯ll see what I can do for you lot. Truth be told, I¡¯m interested to see what sort of dirt you¡¯ve got on him. Given I am to marry him¡­¡¯ There was a strange look in Robert¡¯s eyes, bewildered as if he noticed a shift in Katherine¡¯s demeanour or appearance. ¡®Right,¡¯ he said uneasily. ¡®Well, I hope you enjoy your night, Your Majesty.¡¯ Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. As Robert crept back into the crowd, Katherine kept her gaze on him. To be frank, she was starting to feel uneasy too, as if she had downed a glass of liquid anxiety. Following her departure from the convent, Katherine had always gravitated towards earthly pleasure, and her propensity to drink was no exception to that. Wine sat easily in her stomach, she had no problem with any ale, and her favourite above all was a good old Ilworthian gin. It seemed however that the strange concoction she had just had, had landed all wrong. She sought Henry, who found her before she him. ¡®Did I see that correctly?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Hm?¡¯ ¡®You and Fairfucks talking.¡¯ Katherine, still under the spell of the liquor, grinned and leaned into Henry. ¡®I don¡¯t think his name is actually Fairfucks, my love.¡¯ ¡®Might as well be. Anyway, they love me out there. Did they love you when you first got out there?¡¯ Henry was clutching another one of the tiny wooden cups. Katherine was entranced by it. ¡®What¡¯s that you¡¯re holding?¡¯ she asked, watching the dark red liquid pulsate with the rhythm of the melodies from the band. Only then did Henry notice the shift in Katherine. Her pupils were dilated to the point that the colour of her eyes had become hard to tell, and there was a dead and shaded quality to her features. He snickered happily and put a hand over her shoulder. ¡®Do you know why we call him Fairfucks, Katherine?¡¯ he asked instead. ¡®It¡¯s because he¡¯s fought a duel for the hand of just about every woman I¡¯ve ever met.¡¯ ¡®Is that so?¡¯ she wondered, trying to recall the face of the libertine before her just a moment ago. ¡®Yep. Generally wins as well, but beds them either way,¡¯ he said, and threw back his liquor, seemingly jealous of the enchanted place in the ether where Katherine¡¯s mind seemed to have been launched into. ¡®I don¡¯t give a shit which of my friends you wish to sleep with, but I¡¯d like to know in case one of them gives you syphilis. With the amount of partners he has on a weekly basis you¡¯re playing with your life. If I get syphilis, Katherine, all of Souchon Palace will, and I don¡¯t think mother would like that very much.¡¯ Just as Katherine was chewing on the right words to answer, the glassy gaze she cast into the ballroom focused as she saw a woman fall to the ground. Instead of a slow tumble, it looked as though she was slammed into the marble floor. A second later a second woman was swept off her feet as though she had been tripped. The crowd opened up and the pair of women had begun assaulting each other. One of them was a familiar face to Katherine ¡ª Diane, heiress of Le Roumont, with her raven hair in one long braid as Le Roumont was so backwater that the local fashion had not yet evolved to the far more modern and stylish crown braid most women there were wearing. The other was anyone¡¯s guess with her face so bloodied. Her hair was blonde and curled, tendrils framing her mangled features. Katherine leaned in, disturbed. ¡®Should we go?¡¯ she asked, remembering Fairfax¡¯s offer. Henry was entranced. ¡®You¡¯ve got to be kidding, Katherine. This is what we¡¯re here for.¡¯ A pair of guards were approaching, but Henry lowered his hand and shook his head, which caused them to back off. The two women were tumbling around on the floor, pinning one another down and trying to deliver blows to each other¡¯s face, while they both panted and screamed with pain and exertion. Various insults slipped from their lips, and the first guests were beginning to look more in horror than amusement. Soon thereafter, the blonde yanked at Diane¡¯s hair with such ferociousness that she yelped like a wounded animal, and caused her to kick the woman sitting on her knees. Diane scrambled to her feet and dashed through the crowd, leaving bloody stains on their doublets and gowns as she split it. From the mantle she took a sword and unsheathed it from its stand. Henry leaned in to Katherine. ¡®I wonder who¡¯d take that tonight,¡¯ he said, then added giddily, ¡®There are Sbaian herbs in the drinks tonight. Some sort of leaf that can turn you to violence with the drop of a hat ¡ª they give it to their soldiers.¡¯ Diane had run back to her victim, who had been helped up by bystanders, and took the sword in two hands, ready to swing it with as little technique as the weapon allowed. ¡®Ladies,¡¯ Henry said, stepping forward before his priceless weapon would be thrust into the belly of Diane¡¯s adversary du jour. ¡®I think you¡¯ve done quite enough damage.¡¯ It was true. The blonde¡¯s face was maimed particularly badly, but even Diane¡¯s collarbone looked to be shattered, and a gash on her temple was bleeding so gruesomely that her dress was soaked to the hem, a rivulet of blood in a slow march to the floor. Diane looked at Henry, still panting and holding her sword, with eyes that were as dead and shaded as Katherine¡¯s. The moment her gaze averted from her victim, a pair of women assisted her with leaving the room, holding her by her shoulders. ¡®Down it goes,¡¯ Henry said, speaking to the sword more than anything. Diane did nothing, and Henry calculated for himself whether it was safe to approach her. With a little bit of shuffling, he realised that he was not in danger, and put his arm around her instead. Katherine recognised a pang of jealousy she had not expected, but her recognition was followed by the awareness from Henry¡¯s words: she just had a drink meant to incite her. ¡®Let¡¯s go for a walk, Di,¡¯ Henry said to her, and started to push her forward, first small and unwanted steps, but once she had found a cadence, the movement came easier to her. ¡®And let¡¯s take that sword from your hand¡­¡¯
Constance approached Katherine when Diane and Henry had vacated, her hands behind her back. On her face was a cold and disturbed look. ¡®Congrats on your fianc¨¦¡¯s new crown,¡¯ she said dryly. ¡®Shame about the fight.¡¯ Katherine was standing by the wall, her back against the cold stone in order to control the amount of heat she felt on her skin. ¡®It was by design,¡¯ she said. ¡®It¡¯s what Henry must¡¯ve wanted.¡¯ ¡®I heard Blondie was a prospect of Henry¡¯s ¡ª her name is Camelia. Argentan lady. I suppose a fun night out turned into the end of her political career now her face is all screwed up,¡¯ Constance said as if reciting a rumour word for word. With Henry now gone, Fairfax and half a dozen young men had all gotten into costumes: Fairfax himself was a jester, someone was dressed as Henry ¡ª recognisable from his large spotted cloak, small crown, and twirled moustache, which in the actor¡¯s case was a fake ¡ª and others yet were dressed as whores, knights, and references to people Katherine probably had never met. They had gathered in the centre, waiting for him to return. It had been half an hour since they had left. ¡®Too bad for her,¡¯ Katherine said with no feeling. ¡®But she wasn¡¯t marrying Henry to begin with. I am.¡¯ Constance scratched at her scalp. ¡®That¡¯s approximately what Diane said before she bashed Camelia¡¯s head in.¡¯ ¡®Noted,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®I¡¯m tired of these whore-politics, I¡¯ll tell you that much.¡¯ One of the doors to the outside opened, but it was not King Henry who entered, but rather Sir Henry, who had come in with another Ilworthian knight who was invited, yet also asked to ride out with Massouric banners towards the beginning of the night. He was looking rather weary, at least until Katherine waved to him. He joined the pair of young women who looked out at the makeshift theatre group. ¡®Kathy. Constance.¡¯ There was a puzzled look on his tired face, which only somehow became more ruggedly handsome to Katherine the more downtrodden or beaten up he had been. Constance hollered: ¡®Henry! You missed the show. Well, there¡¯s going to be an actual show, but Diane just beat the living daylights out of some girl.¡¯ Henry¡¯s face still bore the markings of his helmet on his neck and the sides of his head. ¡®That explains a lot,¡¯ he said. ¡®Diane beats the living daylights out of some girl. King Henry fucks the living daylights out of Diane. A just new monarch ¡ª just what we needed.¡¯ With agitation still in her system, Katherine¡¯s heart dropped. ¡®I¡¯m going to have her killed in some gruesome way,¡¯ she said calmly. ¡®I hope that much is clear. I hope some chronicler eavesdrops on me when I say so.¡¯ Henry playfully bumped into Katherine and shook at her shoulders. ¡®If you need to loan one of my swords, let me know.¡¯ Katherine briefly thought of the dagger as she let the focus spill from her gaze until all she could see was Henry¡¯s face in a warm cloud of light and stone. Despite her fury, she managed a sly smirk. ¡®And in return, I guess you¡¯ll have to fuck the living daylights out of me.¡¯ 13. The Cloak Pin Conspiracy Richard had an afternoon to himself in the port town of Bourrac before the ship was ready to take the Ilworthian retinue to the motherland. Many of the advisers still had hangovers from Henry¡¯s coronation despite not having attended the ball: Richard certainly had had a splitting headache since hearing of the incident. The precise incident had been harmless to Queen Katherine or her rule, but the tone had been set: King Henry would rule as an triggerhappy chieftain, more like the kings of famous comedic plays rather than his ancestral line of conniving yet dependable Chavanets. Furthermore, if one of Henry¡¯s marriage prospects could be ruined for good in an evening, under the eyes of guards, knights and the king himself, who was to say that the next prospect to get her face smashed in was not Katherine? It was a ridiculous assumption given her high status, but Camelia had also not been a country lass. Even if it were to be the scandal of the generation, harm could be done. They were in some ways lucky to be bound for Ilworth regardless. Laws needed to be passed, audiences needed to be heard, and there was a confrontation that needed to be avoided. The moment they heard word that the exiled government of the Baradran Kingdom was on its way to Massouron, there was a grand shift in tone. How they would respond to Queen Katherine¡¯s De Serra bastard daughter, a de facto member of the dynasty that overthrew the ruling Baradran family, was unpredictably nerve wracking and therefore was preferably avoided. Bourrac was a town built on a peninsula with a rocky cliff to three sides out of four. The other side was a large, fortified city wall that hailed from the times were Massouron and Ilworth quickly oscillated between togetherness as an empire and mortal enemies. Aside from the gnarly history of it all, the town was quaint and historical, reminding him somewhat of the ancient cities in the north of Ilworth and on Otterdon Island. The peninsula had a peak upon which a castle had been built, and the street leading up to it wrapped around the hill, making for a dizzyingly inconsistent view of the city and landscape depending on one¡¯s exact location. In the market, shielded by the canvas tops of the tents, it was even more disorienting. Richard had walked down from the castle in order to get to the rocky coast, to think more clearly in the spring air than he could in the stuffy indoors. Richard was lucky with his appearance: when in less prestigious gear, he had the look of a travelling salesman before he did a nobleman even of the humble distinction that he had. The moment he had set foot outside of the castle, the people treated him accordingly. Despite the potent sunlight on his skin, the early morning still had much of the previous night¡¯s chill remaining, causing Richard¡¯s breath to trail behind him in steam. His nose was stuffy and his head was still pounding. Life at court was decidedly not for him, he thought, and brought him much less than life in the guild. Alas, he had not finished his mission yet. On the clearest of days, the island of Ilworth could be seen from the coast of Bourrac, but today was not one of such days. He looked out over the landscape and saw only unruly blue water and agriculture in the distance, behind the ends of the city. He looked down at the cobbles that had been arranged into steps with unfamiliarity that set him apart from the local bumpkins and attracted the eyes of the merchants at the market. To shield him against the cold and the prying eyes, Richard pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. Whether he was working or free, he was not sure anymore. With each knickknack he thought to bring back home to his wife, as a souvenir to his bizarre royal adventure, there was a gnawing thought that followed it. They were selling wax and wooden dolls of Queen Katherine, the former Queen Louise, and heretical goddesses whose religion had not yet been snuffed out fully despite the ringing church bells that coexisted with them. Despite having no real interest in them, having no daughter of his own, he lingered on them. There was a sort of crudeness to the dolls, outfitted in poorly fitting scraps of dyed linen, with twine for hair, and overrouged faces. Their crowns were fashioned out of metal wire. That notwithstanding, they looked rather sweet. Getting to know Harcourt in particular had changed his life for the better: the times they had shared in that short period already had granted him a close friend he would likely never forget. Dorothy and De Vere were dear to him as well. The care with which they treated Katherine of course had a practical use for the continuation of the monarchy, but if Katherine were to abdicate, likely Harcourt¡¯s daughter would succeed her. It seemed that a personal capacity of care grew between the advisers and the queen. Perhaps, the kindly painted face begged the question, the care was all warranted? His eye fell on a small alleyway perpendicular to the main market, closed off by the surfaces of the market stalls before him. One of the Katherine dolls stood out to him. Considering they all were quite different from each other in the way their hair was attached, their faces painted, what they were wearing, some were more accurate-looking than others, even if the craftspeople behind them likely had no clue what the queen actually looked like. One of them was particularly apt, wearing a raggedy red dress, her hair knotted, her face somehow with an air of mischief. ¡®I¡¯ll have that one,¡¯ he said to the merchant, hoping he spoke a word of Ilworthian given his Massouric stretched to greetings and famous foodstuffs only. He nodded. ¡®I saw you looking behind me,¡¯ he said as he took the doll from its stand roughly. ¡®If you want to pass, feel free. That¡¯ll be fifteen deniers.¡¯ Richard did not know whether that was a good price ¡ª trying to count it back to its silver value, it seemed like he was getting a steal. Though, he knew his conversion was likely not as precise as Dorothy or Freyza¡¯s would have been. ¡®Fine,¡¯ he said. ¡®You have a little girl, sir?¡¯ the merchant asked while Richard rattled his purse in pursuance of the correct coins. ¡®She likes the consort queen?¡¯ He could not bring himself to lie. ¡®Not my daughter, but I think I know a girl who will find her quite endearing. A redhead herself.¡¯ The merchant¡¯s eyes flared when he received the coins. ¡®I¡¯d like you to step aside so I can pass through behind you,¡¯ Richard added.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He knew it was a strange token, but it was oddly collectable to him. At council meetings, Katherine was nearly almost late or fully absent, instead sleeping in or riding out, and he knew that the first time he would place this wooden doll on her chair instead, propped up with pillows, it would bring some much-needed levity. When the jape had grown old, he might give it to Katherine or her daughter, or keep it as a memory of his time in her service. He was let through at once, and slipped into the alley. The houses to either side had no windows that faced the alley, and though the sun was potently shining, whole swaths of it were shrouded in darkness. Richard had to watch his step not to stand on bottles of ointment and potions that were being sold from blankets on the ground. From his dealings with the innkeepers in his guild, he knew exactly what one could find at the back end of most markets. Counterfeit gemstones, exotic liquors, forbidden literature, occasionally the directions to an underground brothel ¡ª there had been many times he had found rudimentary maps that would lead to a house of pleasure while he sat in an alehouse. He did not cherish the idea of scanning this criminals¡¯ den, but now he had already let his curiosity get the better of him, he decided in favour of it. The faces of the salespeople were like those of bugs that lived in cellars, light-eyed from lack of sunlight, squished and deeply wrinkled. Their arms were shaped like cones and sturdy like sausages, their sleeves rolled up to make a spectacle of their sunspots. Not the exotic animal pieces, nor the bottles of mumia, nor the excessively dyed fur that was being sold as if Massouron¡¯s wolves were brilliant pink startled Richard. The end of the alley became visible, the extension of which was the sea. On a good day, the furthest extension of it was Ilworth. Just below, at the height of the horizon, he saw something shimmer. It was clearly not jewellery or weaponry, and as he shuffled forward, his breath quickened when he realised precisely what he was looking at. His insignia. Like the real ones were, these were fashioned into cloak pins. Brass instead of gold was the most likely, and from the looks of them, cast into a mould and not expertly carved like the ones given out by the crown. Their intricate lattice design was indistinguishable from his own, and the heraldic animals of the Courtenay house, the hind and the cockatrice, were copied with precise detail. It was preposterous. These insignias carried an amount of unrivalled power just from the fact that they were unable to be copied, and therefore any man carrying them was part of Queen Katherine¡¯s inner circle. In Souchon Palace court, those wearing the insignia were rarely asked for their paperwork. In Ilworth, the symbol was regarded so highly that it was rare for a man bearing it to pay for his meal or stay at an inn, for anticipation of royal reward. It was hard for Richard not to look dumbfounded or utterly discouraged. Immediately, his mind shot to William and his polished cloak pin. Where else could the original pin have exited the hand of a trusted adviser? In his mind swirled images of the administrator bringing his cloak pin to some crook to be copied, or worse, writing down its exact specifications so it could be copied across the continent. He sighed and swaggered forward. ¡®What¡¯s that you got there?¡¯ he asked the merchant, pointing at a few of the emblems. ¡®Those who know, know,¡¯ he said solemnly. Touch¨¦. He was going to have to play another way. ¡®Are these authentic?¡¯ Richard asked. The merchant plucked one from the stand and handed it to Richard. ¡®See for yourself.¡¯ Richard examined it closely and cursed the fact he had come down here on his way to the coast. It appeared perfect, but he was a man who had only served Katherine for a few months, and therefore had not had time to inspect his cloak pin to the degree necessary for such an assessment. As much as he dreaded it, he needed to take it back to Harcourt. ¡®How much?¡¯ he asked. The merchant looked him up and down. ¡®For you? Three livres. Two pounds of your country¡¯s coins.¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡¯ he asked. ¡®You can get cloak pins for as little as one livre.¡¯ He shrugged. ¡®Then it appears you do not know what you ought to know¡­¡¯ Richard bit his tongue and sought his purse again. He swore he would remember this merchant¡¯s face.
When he returned, it was the middle of the day, and the castle had started heating up just a little. Next morning, they were due to leave, but until then, there seemed to be a thaw in the Ilworthians. Harcourt and William were playing chess, Constance strummed her lute, Grace was reading, Henry was outside practising archery, and on the chaise longue by the fireplace sat Walter and Katherine, the latter knitting a pair of gloves in delicate white wool. Richard was fuming at the idyllic scene, given that he was convinced one of those present was hiding a grave secret. ¡®Cuthbert,¡¯ he said as he entered the hall, ¡®We should talk.¡¯ He looked up from his game and scoffed at Richard¡¯s gloomy face. ¡®Something happened out there?¡¯ he asked. Richard ground his teeth and looked around. ¡®In fact, probably something that warrants royal presence. Lady Katherine¡­¡¯ Katherine looked up from her knitting. ¡®Must I?¡¯ she asked. ¡®No, you mustn¡¯t, but you ought to,¡¯ Richard clarified, ¡®my lady¡­¡¯ Harcourt got up: ¡®Lady Katherine, this means that you must.¡¯ Hesitantly, Katherine got up and dropped her knitting to Walter¡¯s side. A bit of amusement followed recognising that she looked just as dishevelled and poorly dressed as the doll Richard had purchased. ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ Richard said, then quickly eyed William. ¡®Matter of national security. I¡¯d like nothing more right now than to kick back as well.¡¯ They did not have access to a cabinet or chancery, so instead Harcourt led them to an outside terrace that overlooked the city. The wind was blowing through the trees that shielded the sitting area from sunlight and produced a high-pitched whisper through its branches. Before either of them could ask what the matter was, Richard took the purchased pin out of his pocket and delicately placed it on the palm of his hand. Harcourt and Katherine both looked at it intently. ¡®Your¡­ cloak pin?¡¯ Harcourt wondered. There was a certain madness in Richard¡¯s eyes. ¡®No,¡¯ he barked. ¡®Purchased this morning on the market, Cuthbert. It¡¯s a copy.¡¯ Harcourt took it from Richard¡¯s hand and examined it closely, unclasping his own pin from his cloak and comparing the two. The difference between them was that Richard¡¯s version was still unscratched, and Harcourt¡¯s had seen over two decades of service. ¡®But how can that be?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Down to the finest line¡­¡¯ ¡®I saw that William¡¯s pin is well-polished,¡¯ he said. ¡®Perhaps too polished. I imagine when they took a mould of the pin, the mould took all of the dirt with it¡­ Asking me, you¡¯ll hear that it was likely William¡¯s doing.¡¯ Harcourt looked at Katherine, who appeared deep in thought. It was no secret that Harcourt and William were far from friends, and so the secretary of state decided to keep quiet at least until Katherine had given her thoughts. Eventually, she sighed. ¡®We should probably change the official insignia,¡¯ she said. ¡®Overleigh, I¡¯d like your pin for a second.¡¯ ¡®We should arrest Lord William,¡¯ Richard added for emphasis. ¡®Overleigh?¡¯ Katherine asked. Harcourt handed Katherine his pin, and she immediately rubbed it against the fabric of her dress, getting the fibres into all of the angles and crevices, and triumphantly raised it to their eyesight, as spotless as William¡¯s. ¡®We¡¯re not arresting a man because he values his cloak pin, gentlemen. Now if you''ll excuse me, I''ll get back to my knitting. Change the pin. Discontinue its use until this is snuffed out.¡¯ 14. The Sacred & Profane Love Sun was streaming through the thick roof of trees of the royal grounds at Norbury Lake, and Katherine¡¯s hounds were barking up a storm. It was not she who was hunting, but instead some of her knights, including the prized Henry, who she had loaned her dogs including the shepherd. The shepherd, a female she had called Selkie, was as the name suggests not a hunting dog, but instead symbolised the Duke of Dolcotshire¡¯s desire for Queen Katherine herself to shepherd her vassals. Perhaps, then it was an ironic development that Katherine proceeded to train and utilise Selkie in the hunt. With her long white fur, she required frequent baths and brushing, and the servants prayed to God each night that Katherine would begin to see Selkie¡¯s use value as an oversized lapdog. Katherine herself was lying with her eyes closed in the high grass of the meadow. The hunting grounds were massive, perhaps the only way in which Norbury Castle was better suited to her than Souchon Palace was. It was built on a large hill colloquially called the Rock after its boulder-like shape, the steepest side towards the city of Norbury Lake. On the side facing away from the city and the coast, the royal gardens were built, that extended down a friendly hillside and flowed into a thickly forested area used as hunting grounds. In the valley, there was a meadow with a lazy river where the knights had built a shed on a bored afternoon, and just by the shed were the gates into the royal territory. She was listening to the sounds of the hunt and the river and letting her face be caressed by the sunlight. It was still breezy and only March, so the rest of her was bundled up. The happenings at Souchon Palace had impacted her greatly and caused her to need more time on her own or with company of her own choosing, than she had the capability of organising for herself in the castle. So instead, she rode down with the hunt, and often trickled off to make herself comfortable in the belly of the gardens with a book or her knitting work. In the short time that she had come home ¡ª for Norbury Castle was still home, despite having spent less than a month there since her coronation ¡ª she must have knitted each adviser a pair of mittens already. Sounds of steps wading through the high grass caught her attention, and she sat up to see who was approaching her. In the columns of sunlight that were let through the canopy, she saw Walter. ¡®Morning,¡¯ Katherine said, and lay back down. ¡®Katherine, they¡¯re looking for you,¡¯ he said. Invisible to Walter, Katherine raised her translucent brows and waited until he stood in her sunlight to open her eyes again. ¡®That might be so,¡¯ she said. ¡®Come sit by my side, Walt. Or did whatever or whoever is looking for me come blue-torched?¡¯ He sat down, kneeling by her side. His face was boyish, his brown eyes surprisingly soulful for his modest age. ¡®No,¡¯ he admitted. ¡®Lord Overleigh told me you¡¯ve a new suitor he wants your opinion on. Someone he hasn¡¯t met but you have.¡¯ Katherine shrugged and beckoned him to lie by her side. ¡®Portraits tend to be rather patient,¡¯ she said. ¡®Henry and I will be betrothed next time we see one another. It will be for the better, I think. He¡¯s got his life and I¡¯ve got mine. Little will be shared and that¡¯s what I prefer. Women waiting for their soulmate to become a marriage prospect, like Grace who cannot make up her mind, have something of a fool in them. Better marry someone with similar intentions to you.¡¯ Walter found his familiar place with his head against Katherine¡¯s. ¡®People like you are caged in this way,¡¯ he said. ¡®My mother and father loved each other.¡¯ He worried when Katherine briefly kept quiet. ¡®There is no question that there will be nobody that I love,¡¯ she said, ¡®Or who I have loved in the past. It¡¯s just unlikely that they¡¯ll be anyone but favourites. Your parents, though they loved each other, lived in filth. If I was content living in filth, I could marry for love as well.¡¯ Walter huffed and buried his face in Katherine¡¯s hair. ¡®You¡¯ve never tried living in filth. I think you¡¯ll find it much less stressful. You won¡¯t have to hide out in the meadow.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll never grant you your own land, Walter,¡¯ she said. ¡®I suppose I¡¯d only cage you. Who knows? If you¡¯d been a lord, perhaps you¡¯d had a shot at marrying one of my cousins or my ladies.¡¯ ¡®I am pleased this way,¡¯ he said innocently. Katherine looked out at the sky over the horizon of Walter¡¯s golden curls. ¡®Forever?¡¯ she asked. ¡®You¡¯d forever be happy as Lord William¡¯s retired footman, living at the mercy of your beauty in the hands of a queen with infinite power over you?¡¯ He chuckled grimly. ¡®I¡¯m happy living at court with you as long as your new husband doesn¡¯t have a knight stake my eye out, or provoke his mistress to mar my face.¡¯ ¡®Forever?¡¯ she insisted. ¡®I¡¯ll be the one who has to turn you away? You wouldn¡¯t want to retire from being some bedwarmer into owning a plot of land on which peasants work? You wouldn¡¯t want to marry a noblewoman and begin a legacy? It¡¯s not unlikely for people of your¡­ occupation, I suppose, to end up this way.¡¯ ¡®Maybe,¡¯ he said. ¡®Maybe one day. I guess I hadn¡¯t thought about it.¡¯ Katherine ruffled his hair and lay her head back down to stare into the flurry of dancing clouds. The birds were quiet. Walter was a humbling presence at court. He was among the few who did not grovel at her feet despite outranking him greatly. Walter was common folk, lucky to have the soulful eyes and cherubic curls so that he may have caught Katherine¡¯s eye. In fact, lucky to have been among the few servants William had brought from Gartham.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. He had not thought of the future because he had not constantly been attacked by it like Katherine was. There were no portraits for him to review, suitors to choose, no concerned advisers that spoke often of heirs and an easy succession after his death. Walter had nothing but what was bestowed upon him. Katherine blinked slowly. Perhaps she also had nothing but what was bestowed upon her.
When she did come in a few hours later, after the knights had brought in the game of that day and had returned the dogs to the kennel, she found the portrait and a letter in her cabinet, which she walked through in order to get to her bedroom. The top of the portrait was visible from where she stood, and she thought the headwear of whoever had been portrayed looked interesting. Out of curiosity, she got closer, and let herself observe. He was certainly handsome. Smooth skin, full and fashionably trimmed beard, striking green eyes. Upon his head, a velvet bonnet that reminded her of Henri¡¯s favourites. She looked for any identifying lettering, and once she noticed the crest, snorted. Fairfax. He looked more handsome on his portrait than he did when they had met, which she imagined might be the fate of all libertines in Henri¡¯s inner circle, with their hard-wearing lifestyle of liquor and sleepless nights. Imagining the letter would be his, she took it out of its scroll case and leaned against the desk in her cabinet in order to read. She felt rather repelled by the idea of Robert Fairfax having taken the time to write to her, or send her his portrait despite having interacted with her once. The attention he had given her on that fateful night of Henri¡¯s coronation, a night that was supposed to celebrate not only Henri¡¯s kingdom but the union of their two prominent houses, felt even more depraved than before. Much to her surprise, the letter did not belong to Robert, and instead intrigued her with its meticulous handwriting. Instead of reading it, she quickly looked at its signature. Master Freyza, Duke of Tougaf. Her interest remained. They had not seen one another since the deal had been closed, not even in the hallways of Souchon Palace, where previously they often met. Your Majesty, May this letter find you well in the comforting embrace of your homeland. The recent discussions that we began are, as always, on my mind. Your insights into the economic policies of Ilworth, as well as your sharp and strategic mind, have inspired me greatly so far and will certainly continue to do so. I find myself awaiting your return with more than expected anticipation. Not only has His Holiness the Sultan inquired to your copper, I am equally curious to learn more about the unique perspective and person that steers the ship Ilworth. Might we set aside a quiet moment in our next meeting to explore our values and strategic considerations? Such a discussion would, I believe, enrich the bonds between our nations and strengthen the alliance that I will proudly foster. Until then, I remain steadfastly yours in our joint pursuit. With highest regard, Master Freyza, Duke of Tougaf, ambassador of the Sbai Empire It caught her off-guard. She narrowed her eyes and decided to give the letter to one of her ladies, to see whether she was imagining things, or whether it really seemed likely that the ambassador was trying to get her alone. In its cowardly way, it was bold. Cowardly not just to ask in letter, or even to fit it a disguise of diplomacy, but to wait for her to be out of the country to do so. It seemed to her like rather juvenile dealings. Aside from that, it was rather charming. Far more charming than the shameless courage of Robert Fairfax: that was certain. As she wandered the halls in search of Constance, who was her first-in-command when it came to gossip and the analysis of letters, she considered the past few months. Since the last time she had left Norbury Castle, the Baradran government had fallen, Henri had been crowned, and it seemed that the Sbaians were vying for her attention in a world where Sbaians historically only vied for Baradran attention. She wondered whether these gilded desert people were not shooting themselves in the foot: after all, Katherine¡¯s daughter had De Serra blood, and as long as she remained otherwise without heir, supporting Katherine de facto supported a De Serra queen in the future. That, or an unstable future with another succession crisis. Either way, it was not the future most royal houses were vying for. Constance sat in the great hall, having just come in from a ride herself or so it seemed. She was wearing an expression of exhaustion, and her hair was windswept. When her eyes fell on Katherine, her eyes lit up and she sped towards the young queen. ¡®Tell me you¡¯ve seen the portrait,¡¯ she said giddily. Katherine smiled sardonically. ¡®Fairfucks,¡¯ she said matter-of-factly, ¡®Is not going to court me, Constance. I¡¯d rather marry you, if I¡¯m completely honest.¡¯ ¡®Ooh,¡¯ Constance began, ¡®At least you feel strongly about the guy. Besides, what¡¯s the point in Robert? He¡¯s a vassal of a vassal so brings in no money but tax money. Marry Henri and you¡¯ll have access to Robert as well. Likely at the same time by occasion. Seems like a better agreement. What did he write you?¡¯ ¡®Well, that¡¯s the thing,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®It was not Robert who wrote me, but the Sbaian ambassador.¡¯ Her eyes widened. ¡®No¡­¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ Katherine protested. ¡®He wants to arrange a meeting when I return to Souchon Palace. If I return would be more apt, but he doesn¡¯t know that, of course. From what I read: a meeting with him alone. What do you think: tryst or assassination attempt?¡¯ ¡®Assassination attempt,¡¯ Constance ruled. ¡®Really?¡¯ Constance rolled her eyes. ¡®Why wouldn¡¯t he say it to you if it had any personal implication? Your spymaster reads all your letters. He¡¯d be a fool to suggest anything lascivious through writing, because he ought to know it will mean that Richard is stalking by the door if you agree. Fine, Katherine. Tryst. But a very, very stupid and ill-conceived attempt at a tryst that you wouldn¡¯t want to be a part of.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re no fun,¡¯ Katherine huffed. ¡®You¡¯ve ever had a Sbaian lover, Constance?¡¯ Katherine had never seen Constance make such a concerned expression. ¡®No,¡¯ she said. ¡®I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen an attractive Sbaian man, actually.¡¯ ¡®Then how would you know?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Why not? I don¡¯t think attractive would be the right word, but he¡¯s far from repulsive. Intriguing. Somewhat mysterious.¡¯ Constance leaned in and brought the back of her hand up to Katherine¡¯s forehead. She kept it there a few seconds and withdrew. ¡®You don¡¯t seem to have a fever,¡¯ she said. ¡®Strange.¡¯ Katherine clicked her tongue. ¡®Quit being dramatic. You haven¡¯t even met the man! Haven¡¯t even seen him about, I¡¯m certain.¡¯ ¡®All these lovers,¡¯ Constance said with a sigh, ¡®And yet your instincts steer you wrong. You¡¯d think the sheer numbers should¡¯ve brought some taste into you, but here we are. Setting up a tryst with the Sbaian ambassador.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m asking Grace,¡¯ Katherine decided, tightening her grip on her letter. Constance smirked with great satisfaction. ¡®Grace will just tell you not to sleep around, Kathy.¡¯ As she turned, Katherine threw her lady a final glance. ¡®I know,¡¯ she said. ¡®And yet here we are. Finished talking.¡¯ 15. From Ilworth With Love Esteemed Master Freyza, It pleases me greatly to hear of your intent to offer my people the possibility to sell more commodities, and it would be greatly appreciated to speak with you anon. As to a meeting over other attributes, I believe confidentiality is at the root of our dealings and therefore will gladly arrange a meeting in my Souchon Palace cabinet. May you be in the vicinity of Norbury Lake one of these days, know you are a welcome guest. Yours, faithfully, Katherine R ¡®You¡¯re really sending that?¡¯ asked Constance. Katherine had been knitting on her bed and looked up with great irritation. ¡®Quit reading my letters,¡¯ she said. ¡®You mean to get to know the ambassador?¡¯ Constance insisted. Katherine wiggled her brows. ¡®You¡¯re so interested by the prospect, you¡¯d almost think there would be an ulterior motive. Yes, Constance, I¡¯m curious as to the ambassador. Dorothy was very pleased to receive his gold. Perhaps if he is as good a man as he is a salesman, I¡¯ll finally have a favourite that the advisers don¡¯t despise.¡¯ ¡®Hey,¡¯ said Henry, who had just taken a bottle of spirit off of his mouth. ¡®They don¡¯t hate me. They don¡¯t hate Walter either.¡¯ Katherine grimaced. ¡®Sorry to you lads, but I¡¯m afraid they may. Or rather, they¡¯d like you more if you gave them copious amounts of gold. Do not fret, however. That the sun shines brightly on one, does not mean it cannot shine as brightly on the others¡­¡¯ Much to Katherine¡¯s great jealousy, the pair of favourites had gathered with the ladies-in-waiting and Katherine herself before heading out. It was one of the things that she truly missed. Though she looked back on her time in the convent with some terror, there were certainly benefits. In Dolcotshire, nobody knew who she was. Rumours of a wayward princess with a bastard daughter made the rounds, but in her habit she was unrecognisable to anyone who had to rely on word of mouth for a physical description, and in the simple clothes she had for labour, nobody saw much of a princess of her. She knew each time she left the convent grounds was a risk, but occasionally, that risk was even an asset. The first time she had left was with Henry, who had convinced her after their initial meeting when he required the nuns¡¯ medical expertise, to meet in the woods behind the convent. It was not forbidden for Katherine to leave, but highly discouraged given the nature of her stay was to remain out of trouble. After a few trysts in the woods, she trusted the tavern in town also. To her knowledge, she had not been caught in those years, though of course now she had succeeded the crown, each man in the whole province of Dolcotshire had his own Katherine story. Now, however, with her face on the newest coins, her likeness spread across the country, and the sheer word of mouth that spread accounts of her appearance from border to border, there was no way she even considered it. Even in servant¡¯s clothes, it was too much of a risk. Henry, on the contrary, had become famous in a way that warranted the occasional outing. He had been undisputed as jousting champion, Katherine had famously bet on him many times, and his jousting had made other betters that followed royal example far richer than they had been. Famously unwed, Henry was something of a public spectacle that he enjoyed most of all. ¡®We know that the sun shines on Sir Henry regardless,¡¯ Grace said to that effect. ¡®Even at night.¡¯ Katherine withdrew her legs and wrapped her arms around them. ¡®I just wonder why you¡¯re going, Walter.¡¯ Henry huffed and meant to answer in his stead: ¡®The boy¡¯s never had money in his pocket. Same reason I take him to hunts. He might not appear so much like a man, but that does not mean we needn¡¯t develop his manly devotions to hunting, drinking, and women. Archery and the joust will be next. Boys as young and nimble as him often do great on a horse, you know. Look at Charlie.¡¯ ¡®Charlie is more athletic than he appears clothed,¡¯ Katherine said offhandedly. ¡®I can confirm that we cannot compare the two.¡¯ Henry clicked his tongue. ¡®Regardless. Athleticism can be built with daily hearty meals, strong ale, and long hours on the horse and the range. On the other hand, courage and chivalry are bred in the tavern ¡ª which is where we¡¯re going.¡¯ Constance had been filing her nails with a pumice stone as she listened to them talk. ¡®The same way, feminine virtues are bred by learning complicated braids and lying on one¡¯s back while thinking of Ilworth. As God intended. Which are coincidentally our plans for the night.¡¯ ¡®Yours,¡¯ Grace corrected her. ¡®Agreed,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®Anyone who has tempted me to lie on my back and think of Ilworth will be drinking copiously at the Aere or whatever establishment catches your fancy. I suppose I¡¯ll only be thinking of Ilworth.¡¯ Henry got up excitedly and gestured to the boy. ¡®I feel like if we continue to let the ladies discourage us from going, we¡¯ll never make it out. Right?¡¯ Walter nodded as weakly as a loose doorknob rattling in its fitting. ¡®Right,¡¯ he confirmed. ¡®Well, have a good night, both of you,¡¯ said Katherine. Henry furrowed his brows in protest and walked over to Katherine, then squatted down to be level with her. ¡®If I were to come look for you upon my return, would that be of use to you?¡¯ Henry asked. Katherine grinned. ¡®Perhaps,¡¯ she said. ¡®I suppose we will have to see.¡¯ With his face hovering over hers, he considered whether or not she wanted him to inch in. His uncertainty got the best of him. He stood up and beckoned Walter to come with him. ¡®I say, have a night,¡¯ Henry said. ¡®Let us go.¡¯Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Norbury Lake was most beautiful by night. During the day all the meritless parts were illuminated and by night, they were hidden. It was simply the stench of excrement in the streets, not the stench as well as the appearance. It was far quieter for the markets had ended. Because the city gates had closed, nobody was loudly passing through in their carriage or on their horse, and fewer people were looking for inns in the capital. Henry and Walter were heading down the Rock in their Sunday best. He may have been famous, but had Henry arrived looking like a vagabond, none of his jousting fanatics would likely recall who he is. He was handsome but not extremely so, with olive-toned skin and black hair, and furthermore a Baradran disposition to his features, which were taut and chiselled. As easily as he could have been a royal knight, and with that, a public secret of a royal favourite, he could also be a hapless vagabond. The same went for the most part for Walter, who oddly had the more noble features, but who really did belong to the lowest class of people that would find themselves at the tavern. In fact, for a man like him to find himself at a tavern at all was a display of luxury. From where he hailed, there were hardly any taverns to begin with. The gates were the most populated areas of the city at night, with its taverns and inns strategically placed by it. The port counted as one of these points of entry, but given the plethora of seafaring merchants, privateers and naval ships, those taverns were likely more populated by seamen and swabbers rather than by enthusiastic Norbury Lake natives. Walter was hesitant when he tied his horse by the trough. ¡®Aren¡¯t you afraid to get robbed?¡¯ he asked. Henry looked over his shoulder to where he could see the castle. ¡®What¡¯ll they take? My horse? We can walk back home if we have to. Anything else? You mean on our person? Look at us. Convincingly king¡¯s men. Queen¡¯s men. Nothing I¡¯ve got on me warrants the risk of beheading, I say.¡¯ Walter seemed less afraid of being robbed than he seemed of entering the tavern. ¡®Come along,¡¯ Henry said, following with a chuckle meant to incite enthusiasm in both of them. ¡®You should be excited.¡¯ Walter obliged, trailing behind Henry like a feral dog at the promise of treats. Henry passed through the entrance and took his first deep breath of the smokey, boozy air. The tavern was small ¡ª about the size of the bedrooms he had become used to in his short royal career ¡ª and chock full of people, many of whom carrying large goblets of ale, singing along with a sinewy bard who was standing on a makeshift podium only as wide as the man himself, and otherwise making merry. As more and more eyes landed on the pair of men, Henry recognised the importance of himself once more, and even Walter managed a soft smirk. The first guesses were being whispered. They were dressed like they lived in the castle, that was certain, wearing purple cloaks to signify their allegiance to the queen. ¡®Shall I get us some ale, Walter?¡¯ Henry asked amicably and in the earshot of the next people over. ¡®Uh,¡¯ he stammered. ¡®Fine.¡¯ Henry swaggered over, leaving Walter nearby the entrance, where the cold night¡¯s air still nipped at his exposed neck. ¡®Walter,¡¯ said a woman suddenly, leaning over the edge of her seat. ¡®Is that Lord or Sir Walter?¡¯ He stood dumbfounded. ¡®Sir Walter, my lady,¡¯ he said with some hesitation. ¡®And yourself?¡¯ She flashed a grin of crooked teeth, that did not detract from her appearance to Walter. ¡®Aha,¡¯ she said. ¡®A knight? Like Sir Henry you¡¯ve come with?¡¯ As if he had been called, Henry had come back with two large vessels for drunkenness. ¡®Heard my name,¡¯ he said. ¡®From a lady, in fact.¡¯ She looked over to Henry as well and withdrew a little into herself. ¡®Oh, I needn¡¯t be any trouble,¡¯ she began. ¡®Sir Henry, Sir Walter. Just wondering what two veritable sirs are doing in this establishment.¡¯ Coolly, Henry handed the goblet to Walter and gave him a cunning look, as if to catch his attention. ¡®If an establishment has stunning young ladies such as yourself, madam, I wonder why not more veritable sirs are going there. If the ale is good, furthermore, why would any veritable sir ever wish to leave?¡¯ He had a hearty laugh over his own statement, and clinked his goblet against hers. ¡®I¡¯m just wondering what your name might be. You look like a famous princess.¡¯ She began to blush. ¡®Really?¡¯ she asked. When she stood up, the extent of her appearance could be judged. Her face was indeed fair, her hair black and carelessly strewn over her shoulders, and from the tightly squeezed look of her bodice, it appeared the extent of her cleavage was simply from pushing everything as tightly as possible. ¡®The name is Theophania.¡¯ Henry raised his brows. ¡®Is it?¡¯ he asked. She shrugged. ¡®What is it to the both of you?¡¯ Walter felt nervousness bubble up in him. ¡®I¡¯m going to see the bard now,¡¯ he said to Henry. ¡®Don¡¯t leave without me.¡¯ Henry nodded once, before leaning in to Theophania and gesturing her ear to him. Walter instead pushed himself through the crowd, the bard on his platform like a north star towards which he was venturing. Further from the entrance, fewer had heard Henry call to him, and therefore did not know that they were being passed by a member of the queen¡¯s retinue. They grumbled at him when he nearly stood on their toes and struggled to pass them. When he looked over to the entrance, he thought to have lost Henry, but quickly spotted him, his face hidden by Theophania. He felt the alcohol enter his system. This was unlike the small ale of his formative years or even the spiced wine of Norbury Castle; it was far stronger than either of these. He felt immediately disoriented in the crowd, with his only anchor point the bard. The bard¡¯s story was largely fragmented in Walter¡¯s brain, with each fragment struggling to link back to the last. It must have been some sort of folk tale, with princesses and witches and dragons, valiant knights, evil elderly women, the meanest of fathers. Besides, it sped at a rate that Walter¡¯s intoxicated brain could barely handle. At the same time, Henry withdrew from Theophania, only giving up his grasp on her breasts at the last moment. ¡®I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯ve bet on you before,¡¯ she said slyly. Henry looked away. ¡®Have you, now?¡¯ he asked. ¡®M-hm. I technically owe you three silver coins.¡¯ He was trying to spot Walter in the crowd. ¡®Are you saying that will make our coming encounter free, Thea?¡¯ he asked pointedly. ¡®Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡¯ Theophania said. ¡®Of anyone here, you¡¯re the most likely to have the coin in your purse to pay.¡¯ His smile dropped. What he had said, he had meant largely in jest. To realise that he had just been making out with a harlot rather than an enthused fan of his sport, had put him off. ¡®Well¡­¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve lost my friend in the crowd.¡¯ She tried to gently take his forearm, but he slipped out of her grasp at once. Henry did not imagine Walter to be gone, but he cursed the knowledge that he was shorter than most men there, and therefore largely invisible. Unlike Walter, who had been sorry to step on toes or get in anyone¡¯s view of the bard, Henry manoeuvred through the crowd as if he were an escaping thief. He felt more or less like an escaping thief. Suddenly, he stood eye to eye with Walter, who appeared more sickly and pale than exuberantly enjoying the night. ¡®She¡¯s a harlot,¡¯ Henry said at his quizzical face. Walter frowned. ¡®Sorry?¡¯ ¡®Maybe go back home?¡¯ he asked. Walter nodded. ¡®I guess.¡¯ Unwilling to lose his drunken accomplice, Henry held Walter¡¯s wrist and led him back out. It was dark out, not even illuminated by the moon, which was a small sliver. Their breath fogged up their vision, and Henry was already readying their horses when he heard Walter drop himself down into the dirt. ¡®Good show?¡¯ he asked Walter. Walter just sighed. ¡®I¡¯m not sure. I don¡¯t think we belong there.¡¯ Henry untied the reins. ¡®Nah,¡¯ he said. ¡®Definitely don¡¯t belong there. Would¡¯ve liked to stay a bit longer, but I think any of the ladies who weren¡¯t on the job were likely disinterested by my¡­ interest in the lady¡¯s bosom.¡¯ ¡®Will you seek Lady Katherine?¡¯ Walter asked as he scrambled to climb his horse. Henry swung his leg over the horse¡¯s back with far more grace. ¡®Will you?¡¯ he asked. Walter shook his head softly. ¡®I¡¯m no use like this,¡¯ he began. ¡®I feel limper than a rag.¡¯ The knight eyed him amusedly. ¡®No shortage of honesty in you. Especially not with some ale in you.¡¯ 16. Luck in Exile Freyza had kept the letter safely tucked away from prying eyes, including Iskander¡¯s. It had arrived, he had revelled in its accommodating nature and secrecy, and had memorised each word, but thereafter he all but placed it in a safe. Though his initial letter had reeked of curiosity, curiosity partially of a kind that was unfitting an ambassador¡¯s decorum with a head of state, the head of state herself had taken yet another step forward. No longer was their correspondence seeking an anchor with which to moor. Now, the next step out of diplomatic interest and into personal correspondence had been taken. He was thrilled and horrified. There was nothing he desired and dreaded more, in particular after he had been informed that the Ilworthian retinue would return sooner than expected. The Ginefort caravan had gotten stuck still in the Baradrans and would not be on their way for a time, but other notable court officials that had been exiled had not been stopped. Suddenly, there was a great hurry. Neither Katherine nor Henri had released much of a declaration, while both were pressured by their blood to declare war on the impending regime of the Baradras Kingdom, might there be a regime impending. There were rumours that King Ferdinand, cousin both to Henri and Katherine, had been executed. Only a person such as Freyza, who lived in Souchon Palace and had a certain talent for connecting dots, recognised that the former Queen Louise, now incorrectly naming herself Queen Mother, still had tremendous power in court at large. Declaring war was something Massouron and Ilworth could do independently. Katherine could not be on her way just to put a signature, unless the declaration was waiting for her in her Souchon chancellery. Moreover, the two were betrothed and since Louise¡¯s plan of peacefully and cunningly transferring power had succeeded, she was likely looking to complete her plan of Henri¡¯s dignified match. Not only did that secure a bond with the Courtenays, it was likely a ploy to discourage any hostile regime that may form in the Baradras Kingdom from attacking them. There had not been a moment since Freyza had been appointed, that life was calm in Souchon Palace. There had been a succession crisis just before, with all of its fallout well within the reach of his diplomatic career, and then two more transfers of power, one voluntary and the other largely shrouded in mystery. To Freyza, who had been educated under the Sultan, they may all have been little kings and queens, more like dukes and duchesses compared to His Imperial Majesty, but the volatile nature with which they pushed and pulled their pieces of land, strategically granted them to one another, used their bodies and connections to enlarge or strengthen their territories, was largely unexpected.
The first carriages of exiled Baradran nobility were coming in already. No sign of Ilworthian court had been given. There was a small hope that with the Baradran nobility that had arrived, there would be tales of the last days of Ginefort court as normal, and the ambassadors had all lived. He thought of the ambassador the Sbai Empire had sent them. They had never met, but having experience now teetering on the edge of chaos, he could begin to understand what it would be like for all of court to slip off that edge and fall head-first into it. On the other hand, he felt sorry for the consequences of what had been not long ago a good plan. Katherine¡¯s suitor, the first and only before her unfortunate stay in the convent, had been a De Serra, the exact people that were now likely in power in the Baradrans. Her daughter, though raised as a Courtenay princess, had a maimed reputation despite her modest age of five. That reflected badly off of Katherine. If not willing to forsake her own daughter, she would struggle with the loyalty of the Gineforts despite having Ginefort heritage herself. His curiosity got the better of him and he headed down from his chancellery to the great hall, hoping to see some faces or at least hear rumours of the faces. The hall was full of familiar and unfamiliar faces, and Freyza placed himself against the wall, in the periphery of the entrance. Aside from Theo, who he counted under the royal family due to his involvement with them, none of the Chavanets were present or visible. He wondered why he had even come, thought back at the travesty that was his introduction to this God-forsaken court. Worst of all, his height made it so that anyone entering eventually had to lock eyes with him. He averted his gaze and sighed with great exasperation. The faces all belonged to strangers. Noble strangers, common strangers, strangers in heavy cloaks and strangers carrying large chests. Some of the women were veiled like the Sbaian women were, after a few years of Sbaian purchase on the southern coast of the Baradras Kingdom. He watched them go by, offered watery grins. That, until one of the faces appeared awfully familiar to him. He was looking a bit worse for wear, carrying his own trunk, and aside from the wisp of it on his chin, he had never seen his auburn hair, but it was unmistakable nonetheless, especially walking next to his wife. Freyza was at a loss for words, but before long, he had been spotted as well. ¡®Master Freyza!¡¯ he hollered. It was the sword of the treasury, Bayezid of Amouas.
Freyza had made his former colleague tea in his chancellery, and he warmed himself with the hot surface of the cup that held it. It was quiet but the crackling of the torches, there was no fanfare for the incoming nobles. After all, it was a solemn affair.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I was at the wrong place,¡¯ Bayezid offered when Freyza had inquired as to the circumstances that had led to this. ¡®Certainly the wrong time, but I¡¯d argue this time is wrong for us all. No?¡¯ Freyza put his tea down briefly. ¡®No,¡¯ he aped without a hint of Bayezid¡¯s questioning tone. ¡®I am of the opinion that it will all land paws-down and head-up. But I wonder, Bayezid¡­ you were at Dos Lunas Castle?¡¯ He shook his head. ¡®Not even ¡ª I was travelling to transport some Sbaian gold to Dos Lunas and I thought I would stop by my parents-in-law. Falcona thought she would come for her brother¡¯s wedding which was impending. It was there where we received word of the coup. We decided we¡¯d not wait it out, and rather pack our bags. Back to the Sbai Empire was not an option, they had taken the southern ports by that time.¡¯ ¡®They?¡¯ Freyza wondered. ¡®Hm. From what I know, it¡¯s the De Serra brothers,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®But I know your new alliance would warrant questioning on that front.¡¯ ¡®New alliance, Bayezid?¡¯ he asked. Bayezid scoffed with irritation. ¡®Sultan Selim was excited to hear you got your foot in the door with Queen Katherine. Queen Katherine of De Serra courtship infamy?¡¯ ¡®Had your gold been Ilworth-bound, you¡¯d be cold instead of exiled,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®To be fair.¡¯ Bayezid looked him up and down. ¡®I suppose that makes me more grateful for being in exile.¡¯ Freyza nodded. ¡®I know my audience,¡¯ he said. ¡®To anyone else I would¡¯ve said, you could have died out there.¡¯ There was a sudden smile on Bayezid¡¯s face. The light of Massouron, more scattered and clouded than it was in the Sbai Empire, made him look almost sickly. The sheer difference in his appearance brought Freyza to a realisation. ¡®You¡¯re not staying in Massouron, are you?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Why not?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Likely I won¡¯t stay in the palace, no, but where¡¯s there to go?¡¯ Freyza grimaced. ¡®Home?¡¯ he asked. Bayezid clicked his tongue. ¡®Right now, nobody will be going home. Perhaps not in a long time. Besides, who have you got at the embassy who knows business like I do?¡¯ His desperation made Freyza question his old friend. ¡®You were demoted?¡¯ he guessed. Bayezid tried to smile. ¡®Kicked out, actually,¡¯ he answered shyly. ¡®I suppose I underestimated your efficacy. I thought it¡¯d be easy, considering you only ever did it on the side.¡¯ There was some sick pleasure in hearing that. Freyza sat up a little straighter and sipped his tea again. ¡®We cannot all be talented merchants and swords of the treasury, Bayezid. So this casual get-together is your application to work for me, then?¡¯ ¡®Just resume the dynamic of yore,¡¯ Bayezid clarified. ¡®You lead in all of your aged wisdom. I¡¯ll be around to screw it up so you do not grow bored. There¡¯s loads of things I can do here.¡¯ ¡®If you make trouble, I will ask you to leave,¡¯ Freyza said immediately. ¡®Consider this your chance to do better. When we initially hired you, you were but a youngster. Now you¡¯ve come of age and need to start bringing return on our investment in you. I¡¯m not saying that to be rude, but I struggle to see what valuable skills you would bring to the embassy.¡¯ Bayezid demonstratively sat back. He was pale and sallow, with auburn hair and black eyes, a wisp of a beard, but dark and full brows. ¡®You got your foot in the door with Queen Katherine. I¡¯ll get my foot in the door with King Henri.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ he said. ¡®We¡¯re going to sluice our resources out of Ilworth where we can.¡¯ ¡®Would it hurt to compare prices?¡¯ Bayezid asked. ¡®If she hears of it, yes,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®Given they share a bed, I reckon she will hear of it. And when she hears of it, I¡¯ll hear of it during the next negotiation, and you and Falcona will be thrown out of this palace by my command. Yes?¡¯ Bayezid looked intently to follow Freyza¡¯s train of thought. He blinked in disorientation and clicked his tongue. ¡®How would you learn about it from Queen Katherine? Is there some reason why I¡¯m not allowed to compare these prices?¡¯ ¡®Well, it wouldn¡¯t be fair,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®Given the Queen and I have correspondence. Let us see where that brings us first, and we¡¯ll see about the prices down the line. It is not of the utmost importance to me now, whereas surpassing previous relationships with heads of state here is.¡¯ When Bayezid began to smirk, and eventually to cackle, Freyza also could not keep his face straight. ¡®What?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I¡¯m afraid to tell you, but I think the Queen of Ilworth has found a way to take advantage of you for good metal prices,¡¯ he said. ¡®I wonder what makes you say that,¡¯ Freyza said after taking the last sip that the cup still held. ¡®Why don¡¯t you think we, as the Sbaian embassy, are taking advantage of Queen Katherine¡¯s ear, against the small price of a slightly less advantageous tin prince? These are all little kings and little queens, but they are vicious. And moreover, if I can convince Her Majesty to take a short trip to Sbaian land, I think that not only will she be handsomely paid by the sultan and remembered in song forever, I think it¡¯ll reflect well on us. On me. Well, it¡¯s us now, I suppose.¡¯ ¡®Vicious?¡¯ Bayezid asked. ¡®M-hm,¡¯ he replied. ¡®At King Henri¡¯s coronation, they nearly scalped a lass.¡¯ ¡®So why wouldn¡¯t she be taking advantage of you?¡¯ Bayezid asked forth. ¡®If they¡¯re willing to go so far for their little treasuries and little plots of land.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s nothing for her to take advantage of, frankly,¡¯ he said. ¡®I haven¡¯t shared my desire to bring her to the Sbai Empire to enchant the sultan. I think she doesn¡¯t know what a good price is for tin, so she¡¯s happy when her treasurer is. We¡¯re good acquaintances, but given her famed charisma and beauty, I don¡¯t think she considers an acquaintance enough to make great steps for.¡¯ ¡®Have you told her about her cameo¡¯s perpetual presence in your last job?¡¯ Freyza shrugged. ¡®Why would I? Do you tell everyone you meet that the Sultan left you to rot in the streets because you could not fill my shoes? Some things are better left unsaid, or when absolutely necessary, insinuated and surrounded by grandiose lies.¡¯ A wicked smile crept onto Bayezid¡¯s face. ¡®I don¡¯t know,¡¯ he began. ¡®From the way you talk of her, and write of her, it seems that there is plenty she has that you would pay a high price for. Not in assets or glory, but¡­ I reckon beneath your ever-so-diplomatic veneer, there might actually be a person with human wishes and needs.¡¯ ¡®Nonsense, Bayezid,¡¯ he said and scoffed. ¡®Fine, then,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®I suppose in order to prove my loyalty to you, I shall have to offer myself to be taken advantage of by the Queen of Ilworth. Someone¡¯s got to do it.¡¯ ¡®Well, if I¡¯ve learned anything from every makeshift oracle in this damned place, and you¡¯ll learn each maid and lady-in-waiting pretends to be an oracle when it comes to royal matters, it appears Her Majesty has sufficiently disappointing taste in men for her to consider you.¡¯ 17. The Saviour from Sainte-Vallac ¡®You flatter me, Lord Astwick,¡¯ Katherine hummed, taking a number of cards out of the fan in her hand and giving them to the administrator. It was the morning, but wine had been flowing liberally in the carriage from Bourrac to Souchon, and considering it was only William and Katherine, there was nobody to tell her how unbecoming it was to appear before the King of Massouron intoxicated. ¡®I don¡¯t know how you do it,¡¯ he replied, gratefully accepting his loss, ¡®For you to always win at any card game I teach you.¡¯ Katherine beamed. ¡®The divine right to rule perhaps translates to cards as well,¡¯ she said. ¡®That may as well be,¡¯ he said. He was focused on his hand, what card could possibly save his sorry position. ¡®I spoke with Walter the other day.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®I constantly forget he is technically your footman, so I consider it strange when you speak among yourselves. Well, do tell.¡¯ ¡®Do you recall the pair of them were out drinking together one night?¡¯ he asked. ¡®From what I was told, Sir Henry wasn¡¯t looking to come home again.¡¯ Katherine rolled her eyes. ¡®And somehow, he did. You¡¯re becoming another Harcourt, Will, and I won¡¯t have it. What I do as a person, things that have no bearing on the state, are my business alone. I thought you understood.¡¯ ¡®I do, my lady, I just¡­¡¯ he scraped his throat, ¡®I find it a strange that he is the last bastion of your old life. You¡¯d imagine a Dolcotshire knight would not last in Norbury Castle.¡¯ She chuckled. ¡®I don¡¯t think, aside from my retinue that contains Walter, and I guess by association yourself now too, people really know about Henry¡¯s place at court. Am I wrong?¡¯ He had said too much and instead played one of his cards. ¡®Of course it doesn¡¯t concern me, my lady, but I¡¯d find it troubling if this ends up being a problem for you or any future children. I know Harcourt would tell you the same if he knew it, and the only reason I don¡¯t let him, is because I¡¯d rather he doesn¡¯t know it.¡¯ ¡®Normally being less nosy does not give you a pass to extract information from one of my favourites to badmouth another.¡¯ Katherine raised her brows. ¡®I¡¯m considering now that this may be the only reason you¡¯ve asked to share the carriage with me. Perhaps I¡¯ll ask Walter not to speak with you anymore.¡¯ William frowned. Katherine had been queen over a year by that point, and in their first year as queen and adviser, William had heard little in the way of disagreements. Where other advisers were let down softly, William generally succeeded in his efforts to get his way. ¡®Your Majesty¡­ Walter is my footman,¡¯ he said. ¡®I loan him to you against no fee at all, but he is from my land and therefore mine. He answers to me.¡¯ ¡®Does he?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Personally, I have never had trouble with Walter not answering to me. But if you so desire, I can make him swear fealty to me the same way as your great friend Henry has done. I¡¯ll knight him and he¡¯ll be formalised as my lapdog, bedwarmer, whatever you lot try to call him. That¡¯ll be his title. Would that please you, Lord Astwick? Perhaps in due time, he will indeed replace Henry in my affections. Who¡¯s to say? I am aware he sleeps around, if that was the whole intent of this. But you know that so do I, and so does my betrothed.¡¯ He looked down at Katherine¡¯s dainty hands clutching the cards like her life depended on it. ¡®I would gladly see Walter¡¯s title change,¡¯ he said feebly. ¡®I will not see to your bragging about having my ear just because you were born in the same shithole as Walter and somehow inheriting the barony, please,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®What I tell Walter, what he sits in on because of his position in my camarilla, is for his ears. If he tells you, I suppose you will have to scold him for it. This is what loyalty entails. Please, let us not argue. Do not tell me which of my lovers to remove from court, which ones to promote or demote, which ones to take or let go. It is my business and I shall see to it. I wish for us to play cards now.¡¯ ¡®Yes, my lady,¡¯ he said with a nod, letting go of the last shreds of the false idea that William had Katherine¡¯s ear for any other reason but chance and undue flattery.
They arrived in Souchon shortly and the palace gardens were aflutter with music, an excitable crowd, and the first clinking of glasses. Katherine opened the blinds of the carriage to see that old, familiar sight: Souchon Palace on its gentle hill, its banners flapping in the wind, and behind each window, a fortune of newly purchased furniture. The only constant of Souchon Palace was its adaptability to the latest fashions both in what was expected for the courtiers to wear, as well as the opulence of the decor. ¡®Each time we ride here, I wish for nothing more than a crossbow,¡¯ she said offhandedly. William chuckled. ¡®You are more like Henri than you imagine,¡¯ he replied. ¡®Perhaps we will all have to eat our words about your future heirs¡¯ legitimacy when they have all the excited cruelty of both the Massouric and the Ilworthian equivalent of the trait.¡¯ ¡®Not because I¡¯d like them to die,¡¯ Katherine added. ¡®It just happens to be necessary for me to anticipate a sane life.¡¯Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. He pursed his lips. If he had said anything further, he could have already anticipated Katherine¡¯s answer, and it would not be a positive one affirming the need of his presence or even his life. Luckily, they reached the gate of the palace without any need to talk, and were let through the gate at once. The carriage stopped by the fa?ade of the palace, and a number of servants came to open the little doors. Katherine gazed out over the crowd with boredom and annoyance, especially when she saw that it was not Henri or even Louise greeting her, but Theo, who was somehow still secretary of state after Henri promoted all of his friends to the most prestigious positions in court. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said and bowed. ¡®Welcome home.¡¯ ¡®Theo,¡¯ she replied offhandedly as she took his hand to help her descend the steps. ¡®I don¡¯t appreciate you calling this place my home, you know that.¡¯ His face softened into a smile and he took Katherine¡¯s shoulder with the had that had helped her. ¡®A queen is home wherever she rules. Take it as a compliment,¡¯ he whispered. ¡®Well, good to see you,¡¯ she said with a sigh, and after she had sufficiently scared Theo with her disapproving gaze, he noticed that it averted to just to his side. In a split second, her face turned from annoyed to interested. Theo turned to see what she was looking at, and noticed a man making his way through the crowd impatiently. In the moment that he had, he did not recognise him, and when he reached the precipice of the crowd, just on the other side of a patch of grass, Theo saw the glint of his pistol as he drew it from his scabbard. He took aim at once. ¡®Guards!¡¯ Theo hollered. Theo quickly drew Katherine to him and turned away from the attacker, hoping to brace himself against impact or await the guards¡¯ reaction. There was no way for them to run, there would be agonisingly long seconds between their decision to run, and their safety. The next moment, he yelped in pain. The following, two armed figures had brought the attacker down. As Theo gauged their safety, he relinquished Katherine and took a step back. Her neck and shoulder were covered in his, but there was no wound. He gasped at the knowledge he had not helped her, and then, woozy from the attack, saw his own upper arm and shoulder, where he had held Katherine during the attack. He grimaced and grasped at his shoulder, flinching again on the impact of his hand. He wanted to swear or curse, but kept his resolve to appear unshaken. ¡®Oh my goodness, Lord Theo,¡¯ said William, who had scurried out of the carriage just after the attack. ¡®Let me walk you to¡ª¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s no need, for I feel fine,¡¯ Theo said with surprising calm, then leaned into him and whispered. ¡®I hope you know that this should have been you, you miscreant.¡¯ He turned on his heels to the guards who had overpowered the attacker, taken his arquebus and were searching him for other weapons. On a dark blue cloak, he bore a peculiar cloak pin. Katherine, shivering from the intensity but unharmed despite all appearances, displaying only Theo¡¯s blood, looked sheepishly at the sight. ¡®Say,¡¯ she said, shaking with adrenaline, ¡®That looks a lot like our cloak pin.¡¯ ¡®You don¡¯t know this man?¡¯ Theo asked. Katherine shook her head slowly, watching him as he stared right back at her while the guards jostled him. ¡®Never seen this man in my life.¡¯ ¡®Hm.¡¯ ¡®Thank you, by the way,¡¯ she said at last, reaching for his shoulder but ultimately withdrawing her hand. ¡®This could¡¯ve been the end for me.¡¯ ¡®The fucker couldn¡¯t even aim,¡¯ Theo said coolly. ¡®This should¡¯ve been the end for me, given how much of a chance he had.¡¯
Richard held the cloak pin between his thumb and forefinger and used his other hand to spin it. His brows were knitted and he sat at the table with Harcourt, Theo, Louise and Katherine. Theo¡¯s shoulder and arm were bandaged but beginning already to bleed through, and Katherine had changed, though still had the orange-red cast of blood on her decolletage. It took all his might not to start with I told you so. ¡®First of all,¡¯ he said instead, ¡®I would like to thank Theo here for his self-sacrifice. From what I heard, arriving five minutes after the fact for Lady Katherine rode with Lord William¡­ you had your back turned to the assassin. Quite brave, I say.¡¯ ¡®It was hardly an intentional sacrifice,¡¯ Theo said. ¡®I am grateful to have been of such tremendous help to you lot, but do not expect me to do it again.¡¯ Louise nodded. ¡®You are a man of politics, not some human shield. Let it be clear even now I am no longer in power.¡¯ ¡®Fully understood,¡¯ Richard said. ¡®In fact, we would prefer it if a situation such as this never arose ¡ª we at this point wish to learn about how this man was led into the palace in the first place. After that, I will let you know how we, too, can be blamed.¡¯ Louise looked at her hands which lay on the table, balled into firsts but still relaxed. ¡®It was the cloak pin,¡¯ she confirmed. ¡®Our guards have been trained on finding simple ways of identifying members of court. One of the key ways in which you have historically been recognised is your pin.¡¯ Harcourt huffed. ¡®We changed it some months ago for this exact reason. We told you.¡¯ ¡®In between then and now, there ascended a monarch in Massouron, so apologies for the tardiness,¡¯ Louise said. ¡®We were busy otherwise. It seemed you hardly made a fuss about it either.¡¯ Katherine was staring at the grain of the wood, wishing the minutes would pass already until they got to the execution of the assassin. It was quiet briefly, and she withdrew within herself again. ¡®I say, it is time we arrest Lord William,¡¯ declared Harcourt. All eyes went to him. A great unspoken suspicion had been spoken. ¡®Agree,¡¯ Richard said calmly. ¡®I don¡¯t know how else this ¡ª¡¯ he pointed at the pin, ¡®¡ª could have ended up on that man¡¯s cloak.¡¯ Louise looked at Theo. ¡®William was in the carriage with her, but had not come out at the time of the attempted attack,¡¯ he said. ¡®I wouldn¡¯t go so far as to call that suspicious,¡¯ Katherine intervened. ¡®Often when I exit a carriage, the person by my side only gets out by the stables. It is customary not to have my light stolen by some random courtier.¡¯ ¡®Fine,¡¯ he said, reaching over his shoulder to support the bones that had been shaken by the attack. Harcourt leaned in. ¡®If you decide in favour, Lady Katherine, we can have him arrested when we get out of this door. Both him and the attacker can be questioned. We¡¯ll have an opportunity to at least consider the possibility that this could have come from him.¡¯ Katherine was at a crossroads. She looked over all the faces: Richard¡¯s greatly expectant face, Theo¡¯s pained face, Harcourt¡¯s concern, Louise¡¯s tinge of indifference. She wondered how she herself would have looked to them. William had asked her to relinquish Henry ¡ª the same Henry who had proven himself to be a great companion. All because he had her ear. ¡®Arrest him,¡¯ she ruled. ¡®Investigate him. If not for complicity in this attempt, the sale of royal property. I wonder what will come up. Ask for our shadowmen to be brought to Massouron. That is, Lady Louise, if we may borrow some space in a dungeon somewhere¡­¡¯ ¡®Anything,¡¯ she said, ¡®For my dear niece.¡¯ 18. Blackbirds & Thrushes Walter had not heard of the assassination attempt until much later, when he was looking for William. It was only then, that he heard of his lord¡¯s arrest. He stood before the lord¡¯s chancellery, asking to be let in while Massouric shadowmen sifted through his possessions. The callousness with which they tipped the dressers and let the drawers slide out drew his attention, if the clunky noise of the drawers on the stone floor did not. ¡®What do you happen to be looking for?¡¯ Richard asked him, having approached Walter so stealthily that he had no idea he had not been alone, or for how long he had been observed. Walter turned with suspicion. ¡®I am looking for Lord Astwick,¡¯ he said. Richard sniffed audibly. ¡®I was thinking you would say that. I can help you with just about anything else, but not with Lord Astwick. ¡¯ ¡®Why?¡¯ he asked simply. ¡®Why?¡¯ Richard repeated. ¡®If I were you, I¡¯d await the statement. Nobody in these halls will tell you straight, that is our policy right now. Maybe it is time that you take a long, hard look at your loyalties, Walter, whatever they are. I won¡¯t say much more than that.¡¯ Walter¡¯s heart was beating wildly in his chest. He swallowed the stale moisture of his mouth, attempting to swallow along some of the complicity that Richard had pushed on him. ¡®Whatever¡¯s going on, I know nothing about it,¡¯ he said, crossing his arms. ¡®I hope you know that.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s nothing I know,¡¯ Richard said somewhat prophetically. ¡®That¡¯s, in fact, all I know.¡¯ He started feeling anger bubble up into his face. Richard¡¯s disinterested face said it all. There was no point in keeping up the pretence ¡ª Richard had his mind already made up. ¡®I should be going,¡¯ Walter spat. ¡®Good day to you, Lord Richard.¡¯ ¡®And to you, Sir Walter,¡¯ Richard said calmly, his eyes on Walter until he was out of sight.
Instead of seeking logic in Richard, where he would likely not find it even if they discussed an eternity, he instead sought Katherine in her chamber. It was halfway the morning and yet she had not shown her face that day yet. When he found her chamber and entered, his eyes had to adjust to the darkness. The blinds were closed, and no torches were lit, casting the whole room in an eerie darkness only softened slightly by the bit of rogue daylight coming in through the cracks through the heavy velvet curtains. Due to her translucence, he could make out the shape of her arms and neck peeking out from underneath the sheets. ¡®How did you get past the guards?¡¯ Katherine croaked from her bed. Walter sniffed. ¡®They know who I am.¡¯ ¡®Do they, now?¡¯ she wondered. His heart sank. After Richard, now Katherine¡­ he still had no idea what he had done. ¡®Can I¡­ come closer?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Fine,¡¯ she said, almost hesitantly. ¡®If you tell me why you¡¯ve come.¡¯ ¡®Why do I come at all?¡¯ Walter asked. ¡®To see you, of course. What¡¯s the matter with everyone today? And what¡¯s happened to Lord William?¡¯ Coming closer to Katherine, he could see how weary she looked, how her eyes were lined in tired sunken darkness, how thin and frail her time resting had made her. She looked partly feral. ¡®Come sit with me,¡¯ she said instead, stretching out her arm. He could not help but oblige. Once in her arms, he returned to that safe haven of her magnificence, enveloped by the thoughts only of how well Katherine promised to take care of him. ¡®What happened?¡¯ he pushed. Katherine sighed deeply and lay her face into his hair. ¡®Someone tried to kill me this morning, Walter?¡¯ she cooed. ¡®Hadn¡¯t you heard?¡¯ ¡®No¡­¡¯ he admitted. He felt her hot breath as she huffed into the side of his face. ¡®Some lunatic with one of the old advisers¡¯ cloak pins. They think your master was responsible for the spread of those. Richard saw one in Bourrac but I didn¡¯t think much of it. I thought, we¡¯d just change the pin and be done with it. I trusted your master. I¡¯m afraid that was a mistake.¡¯ She softly raked her fingers through his hair as he remained quiet as his world crumbled down. Both of their worlds had crumbled that day, and neither of them was feeling militant enough to defend themselves against the terror. ¡®Any order I¡¯ve ever had from Lord William is to protect you,¡¯ he said eventually. ¡®Let that be clear. If unorthodox sometimes, he cares very much about you.¡¯ ¡®Is that so?¡¯ she wondered. She squeezed her eyes shut. ¡®I¡¯m afraid if you defend him, you¡¯ll be the baby to go out with the bathwater. I don¡¯t like the thought of that one bit, so I¡¯d reconsider your loyalties.¡¯ ¡®Richard said something along those lines,¡¯ Walter said, carefully repositioning himself so he faced her. ¡®Am I in trouble?¡¯Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Only when she opened her eyes again, he saw that she had been holding back tears. ¡®I don¡¯t know,¡¯ she said. ¡®Depends on how much you¡¯ll talk these coming days. Not to me, but to Richard. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t whisk you out of this mess like magic. I can¡¯t be sure how much of this mess was made by you. I¡¯m not even supposed to receive you these coming days.¡¯ He feared her emotions. He was used to her placid, cheerful, mischievous, lustful, but not distraught. It resembled a frightening storm more than a weeping young woman. ¡®You¡¯re the queen,¡¯ he said feebly. ¡®You decide who you receive.¡¯ She looked at him with a glare as dead as the glassy glimpse on a decapitated head, and lifted her head off of his curls. ¡®Go,¡¯ she said. ¡®Katherine¡­¡¯ he pleaded, but Katherine sat up in an instant and raised her hand to the door. ¡®GO!¡¯ she hollered. Frightened, he jumped upright and struggled to his feet, fearing she would ask him to be arrested before he could even make the door. He hurried the few steps it took to pass through the portal, and once he looked back to close the door, he saw she had once again collapsed in her bed. His heart was beating madly, and he knew he would have to make a grave confession.
¡®Sorry, Master Freyza,¡¯ said Katherine as she stepped across the hallway towards the door of her chancery, key in hand. ¡®I was occupied.¡¯ Freyza stood petrified and alone by the door. He had heard already. He has come to accommodate the tiny chance she would honour their appointment too ¡ª but harboured no idle hope of her presence. He noticed her poise. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he began. ¡®I imagined our meeting was off due to this morning¡¯s happenings.¡¯ She flashed her teeth in a grin. ¡®Then may I ask why you are at the door to my cabinet?¡¯ ¡®Well,¡¯ he said hesitantly, ¡®For the off chance that you may come after all. you hadn¡¯t cancelled, and even though I would not be speaking to anyone after someone had just made an attempt on my life, much less a vague acquaintance from a strange land, it would be devastating to learn that you had been waiting for me in vain. That that was even a possibility.¡¯ ¡®So you didn¡¯t imagine our meeting was off the hook,¡¯ she said as she pushed the door open. ¡®You just thought I¡¯d be too frail to make it.¡¯ ¡®No such thing, Your Majesty,¡¯ he said. ¡®You imagined how I would feel, based on how you would feel, without accounting for the fact that we may not be alike at all,¡¯ she said. Despite her stern tone, there was an air of levity. Her chancery was empty, with not a guard in sight, though he had seen many walking the hallway and standing by many of the doors. ¡®Something you ought to know about me, Master Freyza,¡¯ she continued, ¡®Is that my curiosity will always win from fear. Entice me with a strange offer, and you¡¯ll find me visiting the ends of the earth to sate my curiosity. It may be one of the worst traits I¡¯m willing to share with near strangers. Sit.¡¯ Freyza sat down before he even had the opportunity to consider her words. It was a rather small oval table that Katherine kept in her chancery. It was obvious that she did not sit there often, and little work got done between these four walls. ¡®You imagine I come with strange offers?¡¯ he wondered. Katherine sat down opposite him and raised her brows. ¡®Well, it¡¯s not often that someone dares to write me personally and not my advisers, then asks to arrange a meeting alone. That alone is a strange offer. You struck me as perhaps even over-diplomatic. Cautious and aware of what is expected of you. This was not expected of you. So what brings us here?¡¯ ¡®Your Majesty¡­¡¯ he began. ¡®Please, pretend I¡¯m the Duchess of Stansby. Lady Katherine.¡¯ ¡®You are the Duchess of Stansby,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®I needn¡¯t pretend.¡¯ ¡®Just the Duchess of Stansby, then,¡¯ she said. Stansby was a royal territory like she had implied, but bore a strange relationship to King Henri. The Duchess of Stansby, with no further name, was the pseudonym of one of Henri¡¯s lovers, appearing in pamphlets and administrators¡¯ registries. The identity of the Duchess was unknown to many, given that Stansby¡¯s duchess was indeed the distant Queen Katherine, unlikely to require a pseudonym, but Freyza began to wonder if indeed it was Katherine behind the charade, finding small ways to turn a likely dull court life to something more thrilling. ¡®Lady Katherine,¡¯ he said, it feeling wrong in his mouth to look upon the Queen of Ilworth and address her as if they were old friends or as if she was far less prestigious than she was, ¡®We have been made aware of the fact that your lead mines produce significant amounts of silver.¡¯ Katherine blinked slowly and put her elbows on the table. ¡®So you¡¯re here to talk about metals again,¡¯ she said. ¡®I thought that it would¡ª¡¯ ¡®Alright, Master Freyza. I haven¡¯t nearly been shot with an arquebus this morning to talk about something that hardly interests me. I heard you recently appointed a second-in-command who you bear no relation to. I¡¯d imagine you¡¯d want to place a member of your family in such a position. What¡¯s the matter with that?¡¯ ¡®I haven¡¯t much family to give these positions to,¡¯ he said. ¡®Even if it worked in this way, which I can assure you, Your Majesty, Sbaian ambassadors are picked based on their capabilities, not their ties to other highly-placed Sbaians. Perhaps in a decade I¡¯d wish to appoint my son Zahya, but at this point, he is six.¡¯ She chuckled. ¡®I¡¯d imagine you¡¯d have older children. Your son is just a year up from my daughter Johanna. We should attempt to remember this for when they¡¯ll be of age. Introduce them. Only if Johanna will have been replaced as heiress, of course.¡¯ ¡®The Sultan wishes him to be educated to make policies,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®It appears unlike his entire paternal line, he won¡¯t be at sea very much. Both a great development for the family name, and quite a shame for the legend of the family name.¡¯ ¡®Hm,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®And your wife? Does she come from a famous line of parliamentarians and lawyers, then?¡¯ ¡®Oh, his mother hasn¡¯t been my wife in a long time. To answer your question regardless ¡ª no. She is Baradran-blooded, from the Najan Isles, actually.¡¯ Freyza uncomfortably scratched at the side of his finger. Katherine briefly raised her brows. ¡®Sorry about that.¡¯ ¡®No need, Lady Katherine,¡¯ he said. ¡®I doubt that I would have moved here, had I still been tied to the country and my estate by marriage. Now, I am free to go where I wish to. It got me into this room, in a way.¡¯ ¡®I think I, too, would¡¯ve been somewhere quite different, had I married my daughter¡¯s father,¡¯ Katherine said with a smile. ¡®Arguably I wouldn¡¯t even be alive at all. Certainly I wouldn¡¯t be sitting around the table with you ¡ª the whole reason I¡¯m here is because of the match, of course.¡¯ He turned his head to the door and smiled. ¡®Quite the coincidence,¡¯ he said. She raised her brows. ¡®You think?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I like to imagine that the alternative Sbaian ambassador and the alternative Queen of Massouron to be would also get along great.¡¯ She wrinkled her nose in a smile, confident in the knowledge that she had shut him up sufficiently. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, did I say something, my lady?¡¯ he asked. ¡®No,¡¯ she said, shaking her head. ¡®You were unfortunate to have an appointment with me on the precise day that I learned one of my nearest men has betrayed me. I shouldn¡¯t even tell you, but there¡¯s no harm unless you¡¯d know who it is. That remains between my men and I. I imagine you wished to pick my brain and shuffle some contracts out from the Baradrans and into Ilworth, but I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have the sufficient information at the top of my mind to do the latter, and when it comes to picking my brain, it¡¯s quite occupied at this time.¡¯ ¡®I say this with much gratitude,¡¯ Freyza said, ¡®It is an honour that you¡¯d even come. Even if we just talked of our brood a bit and you took a few chances to make a fool out of me.¡¯ Katherine stood up. ¡®Not much is needed to make a fool out of you, Master Freyza. You do it so well yourself.¡¯ 19. The Gilded Lining Days had passed and Richard had spent them going through each written note William had left to himself or to others, each of his registrations, each of his meeting notes, and interrogating each of the servants he had had any contact with. What he learned was unsurprising: he did his work decently, opted out of lewd gossip, and generally kept to himself, aside from the occasional visit from Walter or one of the advisers. Rarely Katherine, but Richard assumed it was more likely he visited her when he needed her ear. On him, he had a surprisingly large amount of gold for his station. It was something most shadowmen would not deduce, for they were commoners and imagined a baron to have much gold on him, and the rest of Katherine¡¯s advisers would also not find it ¡ª they were dukes and duchesses, and for them that money would not be a shockingly high amount. Richard, being only different from William in terms of his loyalties and the duchy within which he was a vassal. Richard within Milden Cross. William within Garthamshire. Once he had sufficiently sifted through his chamber, his cabinet, his chancellery, and the objects found on him when he was arrested, he had to face the music: an interrogation would follow. Though he was plenty used to confronting crumb thieves, dishing out petty justice in his guild, and had a brave and swaggering way about him, this was within the realm of the spymaster¡¯s duties that he had no experience with. Harcourt kept himself away from it all, willing only to hear the finished verdict, in order not to sway himself based on his own bias against William. Dorothy and De Vere, as treasurer and marshal, had no reason to become involved. Walter was on house arrest as well, placed there by Katherine personally. Richard felt sorry for Katherine: out of her endless enthusiasm and lust for life, only an irritable, mean-spirited and cloistered attitude remained. He wondered if perhaps the key to this issue was her. One afternoon, he visited her after she had come back from the hunt, just before she would get ready for supper. He showed the guards his identification, his new insignia, and knocked the door. No answer. ¡®Lady Katherine?¡¯ Richard hollered through the crack in the door. ¡®It¡¯s me. Richard Dauncey.¡¯ ¡®Fine,¡¯ she hollered in return. When he entered, he already knew the room would be dark, and that he would find her on the bed. This time, lying on her stomach with her arms outstretched, forsaking the task of undoing the veil pins attached in a half circle formation around her crown braid. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said, and bowed as if she was on a throne. ¡®Richard,¡¯ she said, scrambling to a seat. ¡®What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ ¡®May I sit?¡¯ Katherine nodded slowly. ¡®Would it find you well, if I were to speak with you about the happenings of earlier this week?¡¯ he asked. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t find me well, but I might consider it necessary,¡¯ she said. ¡®So do tell.¡¯ ¡®Right,¡¯ he said. ¡®Well, one of these days, the only thing I have left to do is interrogate both William and Walter. They¡¯ve spoken much. I think Walter may have been responsible for getting certain information out of you. William is almost certainly fully responsible for anything pertaining the cloak pin or sluicing anything else out of the castle. You¡¯re going to have to make some decisions as to Walter¡¯s duties within your camarilla. Perhaps you won¡¯t trust it after what has happened. I certainly would think twice about it.¡¯ ¡®When are you interrogating them?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Depends,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯d like to do Walter first because I think he¡¯s the most likely to talk. Thereafter William. Thereafter the assassin ¡ª likely part of a completely separate plot, actually, I believe neither Will nor Walter had any intent for you to perish.¡¯ ¡®Then what?¡¯ ¡®Likely Otterdon independence,¡¯ he said. ¡®The assassin is just a poor Massouric lad but he was paid in part with those coins with your title and face scratched out. The ones that are maimed to read, Katherine out of Otterdon Island. Don¡¯t think they¡¯ve got many of those on this side of the pond. Arguably only a fanatic or an imbecile would agree to be paid in those.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®Richard, you¡¯re making me fearful that if I ever set foot in my own country again, I¡¯ll be shot in an instant. After all, many of my courtiers are Otterdon. Grace, for goodness¡¯ sake, is part of their former royal family.¡¯ ¡®Why¡¯d you be fearful, my lady? The attempt took place here.¡¯ Richard sniffed audibly. ¡®We¡¯ve arrested two men and another is on house arrest. You are safer today than you were last month.¡¯ ¡®I want to be present during the interrogations,¡¯ she said. ¡®Both for Walter and William. I need to know what they¡¯ll say.¡¯ Richard saw her face turn briefly fierce again and knew he had to honour her request. ¡®I¡¯ll think of a way, my lady.¡¯ She smiled. ¡®Please,¡¯ she said. ¡®I believe it is in all of our best interests if I decide to listen in.¡¯ He knew she was right. ¡®I will gather you when it is time. I swear that much.¡¯
He knew that Katherine could not be seen during either of the interrogations. If she showed her face, it would likely cause his subjects to act differently, take him more seriously or not be so candid. William, in a holding cell, would be easy to interrogate. Katherine could stand down the hall and the echo would carry their conversation. Walter, on the other hand, was in his own quarters. There was no way Richard could arrest him without rousing even more suspicion. Walter had a few rooms to himself within which he could roam these days, and he had the idea that it would be unlikely that Katherine could hear them from the hallway. As the afternoon was drawing to a close, Richard began to get antsy. There had to be a way. Solace came as the idea for an unlikely invitation. Katherine would hide in Richard¡¯s chamber, and Richard and Walter would sit in his cabinet. This way, Katherine¡¯s presence would not be implicit in the way it would be when he would be arrested or brought somewhere more likely for her to be, but there would still be an element of familiarity to the situation. After all, Walter had seen his cabinet before. When Katherine had been introduced to the plan, and then to the chamber, he took Walter out of house arrest. ¡®I¡¯ve been trying to talk to you,¡¯ Richard said, key in hand. ¡®Would you mind walking along with me?¡¯ Walter was staring out of the window when the door opened on him. ¡®I didn¡¯t do anything.¡¯ ¡®Sure, you didn¡¯t, but you saw a lot,¡¯ Richard admitted. ¡®Come on. Fresh hallway air.¡¯ There was no way the swain could resist that.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The way to his cabinet was fully silent. Walter did not know to what extent he could talk, and would rather not incriminate himself, even if he believed himself to be innocent. Richard opened the door to his cabinet and signaled him to go in first. It was far warmer in his cabinet than Walter¡¯s chamber had been, and he savoured the warmth for the time it was allotted to him. ¡®So,¡¯ Richard began. ¡®William.¡¯ Walter sat down and looked with great disappointment onto the glazed surface of the polished wooden table. ¡®What about Lord William?¡¯ Richard sat down opposite him and grinned. ¡®Great question. About Lord William: notorious in all of Garthamshire for his behaviour around Princess Lettice, has been in trouble previously for forging gold coins, likely used those skills or connections to forge and sell replica royal cloak pins, which were heretofore used for a plot to kill Her Majesty the Queen. Does any of that ring a bell?¡¯ ¡®I know that Lord William cared very deeply about Her Majesty,¡¯ he said. ¡®And he would be pained to hear that anything he has done, has harmed her.¡¯ ¡®And you?¡¯ Richard asked. ¡®Would you be pained to know that anything you¡¯ve done has harmed her?¡¯ ¡®Certainly,¡¯ said Walter. ¡®Without a doubt.¡¯ ¡®Just so I know, what sort of relationship do you and the Queen have? How should I interpret this dynamic?¡¯ Walter ground his teeth. ¡®The Queen comes to me for affection and comfort; I am happy to be of use.¡¯ That is one way to put it, Richard thought. ¡®And now, what is your relationship to Lord William?¡¯ ¡®Needn¡¯t you write this down?¡¯ Walter asked. Richard shook his head contently. ¡®Well, I was a footman in Astwick and I just happened to come along to Norbury Castle to be his footman there. We speak to each other because he is technically still the man I serve. I am his servant, not the crown¡¯s.¡¯ ¡®So you receive orders?¡¯ Richard asked. It was the question Walter had been dreading. He withdrew a little within himself. ¡®Orders are a big word. I am asked to do certain things, like learn things about others in the retinue. Things he wouldn¡¯t be able to learn from where he stands, things Lady Katherine only tells to people she trusts. I¡¯m asked to listen and forward anything that could be of use.¡¯ Even though he wished not to admit it even to himself, Richard was startled by the fact that this had never come up in his mind to question. ¡®Such as?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t know, the fact Lady Katherine enjoys gin rather than ale. He¡¯d use it to then buy a great amount of gin for her as a present. Or if I see that she feels insecure about managing a certain vassal, William will try to barter with the duke for a more favourable contact.¡¯ ¡®Benevolent types of things,¡¯ Richard tried to summarise. ¡®Helpful,¡¯ he added. ¡®Trying to make himself appear like he knows Lady Katherine better than he really does. I don¡¯t hesitate to say that some of the information might be used for unsavoury ends, but I was never asked to help with any of that. Just the flattery and poignant gifts.¡¯ ¡®Are you aware you¡¯ll have to remain in house arrest?¡¯ Richard asked. ¡®Until we know what to do with you?¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ Walter said. ¡®I¡¯m afraid so. Is Katherine mad?¡¯ Richard snorted. ¡®Mad is a weird way to phrase it. She¡¯s devastated but managing. I don¡¯t think her opinion will be coming out quite yet, not until the dust has settled. So for now it¡¯ll be house arrest, and once she comes to terms with what has happened, and most likely, once we¡¯ve finished all the edges of the case of your master, you¡¯ll be the next decision to be made.¡¯ ¡®Tell her I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ he said. Richard stood up. ¡®Yes,¡¯ he answered simply. ¡®I¡¯ll tell her that. I¡¯ll walk you back ¡ª no funny business, pretty please. Nobody walks faster than an arrow coming out from a bowstring, and nobody misses fewer times than those archers at the city walls of Souchon.¡¯ Walter stood up and put his arms behind his back as if to show that he was not hiding anything on his body or in any position to act fast. ¡®I¡¯ve nothing more to hide.¡¯
¡®Thought?¡¯ asked Richard as he entered his personal quarters, where he had just left Katherine. ¡®I¡¯m not happy,¡¯ Katherine said initially. ¡®And I don¡¯t care if he¡¯s sorry. The type of thing he knows about me¡­ quite terrifying to know William is walking around with all of that in his pockets.¡¯ Richard nodded. ¡®Well, if it¡¯s any help, personal things are of little use, considering everyone north of the Najan Isles has their own Queen Katherine story, and no matter how true his ones are, they¡¯ll just add to the cacophony. I¡¯m afraid you oughtn¡¯t be seen with him for a while, though. At least not alone. God knows, now he¡¯s without a master, who will be the next criminal he finds himself called to serve.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t believe I will be called to seek him out anytime soon,¡¯ Katherine admitted. ¡®I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ll feel compelled to seek anyone out. I did speak to the Sbaian ambassador, by the way.¡¯ Richard was surprised to hear that. ¡®Did anything notable happen? I¡¯m afraid without an administrator, what meetings you have tend to be harder to recall¡­¡¯ ¡®I think he¡¯ll ask for an amount of silver one of these days,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®Furthermore, nothing of note.¡¯ Richard walked her back to her own quarters, and began to feel quite sorry for Katherine. ¡®If anything suspicious happens these days, and even if it¡¯s completely within the realm of safety, please know you can speak to me anytime,¡¯ he said. ¡®Day and night. If you don¡¯t trust something, I¡¯ll be there to investigate it for you, or like this, with you.¡¯ Katherine nodded and came closer, not in any way that Richard considered forward or daring, but rather in a way that invited great care with what was left of her. ¡®I appreciate it,¡¯ she said. ¡®Really do. It may sound strange or reactive to you, but my world really has collapsed because of this, you know. I thought Souchon Palace was safe for me ¡ª it isn¡¯t. I thought William was in my corner ¡ª he isn¡¯t. I thought I could say everything to Walter ¡ª I can¡¯t. At this point, it feels to me like the question is when some other safety will collapse upon me, not if. I¡¯m afraid to overstay my welcome in this place. You know, Theo nearly died for me. I think if Queen Louise had had a say, she¡¯d have asked Theo to duck out of the way instead. What he did was incredibly brave but fully against what Louise must have wanted. I can see it in her eyes. She¡¯s upset with Theo because he sacrificed himself for me.¡¯ He considered reassuring her, but even he did not know what Louise¡¯s true agenda could be. Theo was dear to her, that much he knew. Whether Katherine was, was much harder to grasp. ¡®The important part is that you¡¯re alive and well,¡¯ he said. ¡®Be grateful to Theo. He¡¯s done you a great favour. One day, when duty asks it of you, I¡¯m sure it will be repaid, so don¡¯t feel too bad for him now.¡¯ Katherine looked down at the bottom of her door, where a small box, wrapped in ribbon, had been placed. ¡®I won¡¯t,¡¯ she said. ¡®But you¡¯ll have to help me with whatever someone¡¯s left for me now.¡¯ Richard noticed it too and picked it up, unravelled the ribbon, and gave Katherine a prophetic look. ¡®I¡¯ve never met a woman who receives more suspicious gifts than you do. First the poison vial, now something wrapped as if it would otherwise escape¡­¡¯ Katherine chuckled. ¡®I¡¯ve many enemies in disguise.¡¯ ¡®That, you do,¡¯ Richard agreed. Towards the end of the ribbon, he pulled it off and took the top off of the box. In it lay another vial, covered partially by a small slip of paper, and lying in a bed of silk. ¡®Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve been granted now¡­¡¯ Richard had to squint to read the handwriting. ¡®Oh,¡¯ he said. ¡®You¡¯ve been gifted a good night¡¯s rest. Perhaps for the rest of your life.¡¯ He held up the piece of paper. Your Majesty, This humble gift is intended only to fight the depths of your despair. In case you happen to be unfamiliar with the practice, consuming the contents of this vial will lull you into a gentle rest for a day or more, after which any ill effects of unbalanced humours will have been warded off. Please consider the presence of your physician upon consuming so you may not unexpectedly lose consciousness in an uncomfortable or dangerous position. Yours, M. Freyza ¡®He believes that I trust him with my life,¡¯ Katherine noted. ¡®Not sure if I should be flattered or somewhat disturbed.¡¯ ¡®Shall I discard it for you?¡¯ Richard asked. Katherine shook her head and gestured it to be handed over to her. ¡®No, I¡¯d rather have it so I can amuse my ladies-in-waiting with the madness of it all. I think I should bid you adieu at this point.¡¯ He narrowed his eyes, worried that she may be tempted to take it. Then. he relinquished. She had not asked him for his help. ¡®Adieu, my lady,¡¯ he replied. ¡®I will hopefully see you at morning council.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll see if I can make it,¡¯ she said. ¡®Tomorrow, we¡¯ll take William.¡¯ ¡®Indeed.¡¯ She went inside the dark alcove of her chamber with the curtains all shut. It was warm in there, against all odds, and Katherine sat down on her bed again. The reflection of the vial caught her eye again, tempted her. She thought briefly about the outcomes. She realised there was little to lose. It sounded pleasant enough ¡ª it was not death or illness she feared, but rather the pain and fear of the loaded gun. And now, what pleasure was there to be had except feeling consciousness slip away? With her teeth, she unstuck the cork from the knife-shaped vial and smelled it. Sugary, almost reminiscent of the green and sweet scent of the sugar beet, with some earthiness that smelled more addictive than the finest perfumes. Nothing suspicious ¡ª no almond undertone, nothing foul, nothing musty. She took a swig and lay herself on the bed, hands joined over her belly. There was an immediate sensation of calm, that she told herself was likely the fallout of believing she had taken something that would induce that feeling. She taunted her belief of how she felt, and by the end of that thought, had sunken from the surface of her bed, down to the warm, thick, abstruse underbelly of her unconscious mind. 20. Alleviation of the Head When Katherine regained consciousness, all of the curtains were opened, letting in an ungodly amount of light, and all of the retinue was sitting in her chamber. Not only her retinue, in fact, but three Sbaians had joined them. Two of them she recognised even half-conscious: Freyza and his servant Iskander. The other, fairer than these two, was unknown to her. Her eyes were half-open when the first great sighs of relief were heard. Katherine looked to her side and saw one of her maids, carrying a large vessel of heated water with herbs in it, that smelled like the most potent bath ever taken. ¡®Morning,¡¯ she cooed sleepily, stretching out her to her sides. ¡®Everyone¡­¡¯ Harcourt looked at her with the amount of fury she had expected him only to reserve for arch-nemeses. Then, he looked over at the Sbaians. ¡®Lucky. You¡¯ll live today.¡¯ Freyza nodded calmly. ¡®As you¡¯d been told, Lord Overleigh. My apologies for not being clear enough in my attempts to tell you that I am in fact not an assassin.¡¯ He scraped his throat. ¡®Your Majesty. Did you have a restful sleep?¡¯ Katherine felt as still as she had felt, occasionally, in the convent, where she would be dining in silence while some of her sisters sang hymns, or where she would fall asleep in her bed in the freezing cold, listening to the sound of the quietude of Dolcotshire, where nobody lived. The few stragglers left behind there only existed. ¡®Yes,¡¯ she said lucidly. ¡®Better than I¡¯ve slept in a while.¡¯ He smiled a guiltily satisfied smile. ¡®Then there is little for me to regret. Bayezid, shall we?¡¯ he asked. The man beside him nodded hurriedly. ¡®We shall,¡¯ he said. ¡®Before they change their minds about decapitating us.¡¯ Katherine, in the silence of a great absence of thoughts, chuckled. ¡®Gentlemen. If they were to wish you dead, they¡¯d have to go through me. Besides, my lord¡­ I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve had the honour of meeting your associate?¡¯ She still felt too weak to swing her legs over the edge of her bed and stand up, and so simply outstretched her arm. Bayezid looked at Freyza, who looked at him sternly and expectantly. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said, and bowed, before stepping forward and sinking to his knees by the side of her bed. He took her small hand in two of his and kissed the rings that she fell asleep wearing perhaps two days ago, perhaps just one. ¡®My name is Bayezid of Amouas. I have come to Massouron for my Baradran wife and I were exiled.¡¯ Katherine did not look at him, instead looking with her eyes glazed over more in the direction of Freyza. Instead, she smiled cryptically. ¡®Welcome, Bayezid of Amouas.¡¯ There was strange and sleepy amusement behind Katherine¡¯s eyes. ¡®Bayezid,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®Come.¡¯ He stood up hurriedly and followed Freyza. ¡®Loads of water,¡¯ Freyza said to Richard, who sat closest by the door. ¡®A warm fur. Broth tends to help. No loud noises for a while.¡¯ Richard shook off Freyza¡¯s hand, which had landed on his shoulder. ¡®I know,¡¯ he lied. ¡®You were leaving¡­¡¯ Harcourt scraped his throat when the Sbaians were gone. ¡®De Vere, will you write the embalmer that the corpse has returned to life?¡¯ he asked demonstratively. ¡®She won¡¯t lie easy when she can still talk, unfortunately. What a shame, I¡¯d nearly had the crown resized¡­¡¯ ¡®Very funny,¡¯ said Katherine, scooting towards her headboard to sit upright. ¡®Maybe next time, you should have some of this potion as well. I can tell you with some certainty, I am decidedly feeling more calm than you are right this moment.¡¯ ¡®Well, let¡¯s move past this,¡¯ Richard said. ¡®Overleigh and I will have to come to terms with the knowledge that you will drink from each vial given to you, regardless if it quite literally tells you it will knock you out, but we will do so on our own time. What he really means to say, Lady Katherine, is that he was scared to lose you.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t that a given?¡¯ Harcourt barked. ¡®I wept my bloody eyes out. We all thought you passed. Nearly decapitated that Sbaian on the spot.¡¯ Only then did Katherine consider how long she could have been under for. ¡®Say, what day is it?¡¯ she asked. Richard raised his brows. ¡®Right. It¡¯s Sunday, my lady. We last spoke on Friday, towards the evening. Let you sleep until Saturday afternoon, thought you needed it. Ever since Saturday afternoon, after we tried to wake you, we¡¯ve been keeping watch in episodes. Whenever anyone had a free spot, they¡¯d sit by you and the physician and see if you still had a pulse.¡¯ ¡®And a couple of times I was told you nearly didn¡¯t,¡¯ Harcourt added. ¡®So.¡¯ ¡®All very kind,¡¯ Katherine said, swinging one of her legs over the edge of the bed. ¡®Next time, believe Master Freyza, my dear.¡¯ ¡®Respectfully, no,¡¯ Richard said. ¡®Gentlemen, I should really bathe,¡¯ she said. ¡®I¡¯m covered in sweat. I¡¯ll talk to you on the other end of that ordeal. We¡¯ll talk about the fate of our prisoners. In the depths of my unconscious, I¡¯ve made a decision.¡¯ Richard stood up, and so followed the other advisers, who knew it was for the better to leave Katherine when she was asked, and thankfully Richard and the Massouric shadowmen had very recently inspected Katherine¡¯s chamber for anything harmful. Only Constance remained, aside from Katherine herself and the maid. She trailed behind the rest of them as if she was leaving too, but remained in the door frame after everyone else had left. The maid picked up the first cauldron of water from the floor by Katherine¡¯s bed, and put it back over the fire to watch it. ¡®What was it like?¡¯ Constance asked in a small voice, closing the door behind her. Katherine looked over at her lady-in-waiting. ¡®Well¡­ I fell asleep, I had a few dreams, and in an instant, I was at my own wake.¡¯ ¡®Overleigh was right,¡¯ Constance said. ¡®The physician told me as well that you didn¡¯t have a pulse for a while.¡¯ She found the energy to clap her hands together once. ¡®And miraculously, I lived. I think, barring any possibility that I¡¯ll be considered a saint down the line, this means that the physician was incorrect. Come on ¡ª Sbaians have loads of potions. I¡¯m sure they wouldn¡¯t be able to have a functioning embassy if it was loaded with poison. Louise wouldn¡¯t allow it.¡¯ ¡®Who was that Bayezid of Amouas guy?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I wasn¡¯t joking when I asked him to introduce himself. Why?¡¯ Constance shifted her weight from her heels to her toes and back again. ¡®Nothing. It was the first time I¡¯ve seen either of them.¡¯ Katherine stood up and took off her jewellery. ¡®You¡¯re trying to get me to say something,¡¯ she said. ¡®Yes,¡¯ Constance said, ¡®You¡¯re not irritated knowing that the man so intently courting you has a handsomer, younger associate?¡¯ ¡®First of all,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®I don¡¯t think he¡¯s intent on getting any closer to me than an adviser or a confidant. Second of all, I can¡¯t sleep with fellow redheads, and from Bayezid¡¯s beard I deduce he is one. I made that mistake once and now I¡¯m a traitor to the old Baradran regime. I¡¯m guessing you find him handsome?¡¯The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡®Relative to his countrymen,¡¯ she admitted. ¡®Though your ambassador, I¡¯ll admit¡­ very tall and mysterious. Didn¡¯t break a sweat when Harcourt all but condemned him to death. And my goodness, Katherine. Did you have a restful sleep? Stop it. You¡¯re saying you don¡¯t experience any sort of tension between the both of you?¡¯ Katherine blinked slowly. ¡®Ask me when I¡¯ve bathed,¡¯ she said. ¡®Freyza said no loud noises. Suppose that explains the splitting headache you¡¯ve given me with your yapping.¡¯
Bathed, Katherine put a riding doublet over the clothes that had been picked for her for temperate spring weather. She was freezing, exchanged the silk stockings for wool ones, took fur-lined shoes, and tried not to pay attention to the disagreeing glances of the fashionable crowd as she walked through the great hall. Despite all appearances, an air of distant drowsiness still on her recently washed face, she felt like she had ascended out of struggle. Despite the way she had returned to consciousness, Katherine felt like her humours were indeed balanced. The way she had felt before, still rattling from being attacked, the treason from her nearest men, it all felt so distant to her now. What to do with William was clear to her, but what to do with Walter was less so. ¡®I¡¯d like him executed,¡¯ Katherine told Harcourt and Richard towards the afternoon, when they had met in Harcourt¡¯s chancellery. Harcourt especially could not believe his ears. Finally, after years of having to put up with this devilish creature, he was allowed to put it down, on a foreign shore where his wife could not stop him. Besides, it was the queen¡¯s order. ¡®Yes,¡¯ he said instinctively. ¡®That would be a great decision, I say.¡¯ Richard stretched his neck. ¡®In your absence, I spoke to him,¡¯ he told Katherine. ¡®He won¡¯t confess to anything. I¡¯ve tried all the tricks in the book that have reversible damage, just in case you¡¯d change your mind. I believe you ought to know that. I see no other way in which this could have happened, but he will not confess.¡¯ Katherine wiggled her brows. ¡®We might as well try a thumbscrew or a pear of anguish,¡¯ she said. ¡®He¡¯ll be axe-bound regardless. Might as well get that confession. Then, confession in hand, his execution will be ordered and put into action in Norbury Lake.¡¯ ¡®We won¡¯t be bound for Norbury Lake for a while,¡¯ Harcourt said. ¡®A quiet, unknown execution may be better in order to save face. No country appears more stable when it starts putting advisers to death.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®He doesn¡¯t deserve that. He deserves to be shown to the extent of his guilt, he deserves to be executed before a crowd that will collect his goddamned earring from that conniving traitorous head of his when it falls down from the block. His grave will be unmarked, his head and body buried separately, and I will make sure that Astwick becomes a royal barony, and any mention of his name burned to the ground.¡¯ Richard and Harcourt looked at one another. Harcourt pleaded with his eyes not to cause so much of a stir. Richard relented. ¡®This sounds like the precise thing that King Henri would like to see,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ll run it through Theo and see if Henri is willing to be present as well. That way, any accusation of needless cruelty can be attributed to him, and you can withdraw into the role of a shocked, terrified queen who¡¯d nearly died.¡¯ ¡®William will know it was my doing, right?¡¯ she asked. ¡®No,¡¯ said Harcourt. ¡®You want that to be his last words, Katherine? In front of a massive, foreign crowd?¡¯ Katherine sat back in her chair and chuckled innocently. ¡®Of course, Lord Overleigh. Let it be a lesson to those who ought to take it. I will not see myself ruled by another. Not by an adviser, not by a husband, not simply by living at a foreign court, shall I ever be ruled. For me to relinquish my freedom or my fierceness is for Ilworth to be subjugated to its enemies. It is about time that I make it abundantly clear that nobody will see it done during my lifetime.¡¯ Harcourt had chills all over his body. ¡®Then, we know what needs to be done,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ll see to it.¡¯
The carriage door was locked. Walter forced his whole weight against it, but the door or its lock would not break. There were no windows, and it was pitch black but the cracks by the door hinges. He had been taken from his chambers, blindfolded, and thrown into it without a word spoken to him. Where he would be going, or what the meaning of this was, was fully unknown to him. To think of the worst only occurred to him when he heard a large crowd outside the carriage, by the time it had already halted. His body suddenly went cold. He had spoken the truth during his interrogation, and furthermore, he had not been bugged for another confession. He had said all that there was, he had apologised¡­ was this how it ended? After some time, the door was unlocked, and two guards firmly took hold of his little body. He was where he feared he would be ¡ª the city of Souchon. He began to struggle in their grasp, but could not escape. To his right, he could just about make out the city square where hundreds, perhaps thousands, had gathered, and upon seeing the block in its midst, fainted. He woke up in a tent erected on a base of scaffolding, his hands tied behind his back, but comfortable on a chaise-longue. ¡®He¡¯s back,¡¯ said Richard, who had been watching him from one corner of the tent. He recognised many of the faces turning to him. Katherine and Henri, both in full regalia, Louise and Theo on another chaise, and Richard keeping watch. It was Harcourt, from the look of his silhouette, that stood just behind the royal couple. Katherine looked upon Walter¡¯s face briefly, but her stare turned colder and colder, until it finally looked away. ¡®You¡¯re here to watch,¡¯ Richard told Walter, sitting down beside him. ¡®I hope you¡¯re willing to pay attention. There¡¯s a place to look to your right, it¡¯ll afford you a decent view of today¡¯s happenings.¡¯ Walter¡¯s teeth were chattering. ¡®So I¡¯m not dying?¡¯ he asked. Richard lay a hand on his shoulder. ¡®Not by our doing,¡¯ he said, then leaned in, ¡®In fact, after today, you¡¯ll be out of house arrest.¡¯ ¡®Oh¡­ thank you.¡¯ ¡®No need to thank me,¡¯ he said. ¡®Thank Her Majesty. If she had no say, you could imagine yourself with your head on that block.¡¯ He watched over the crowd through the opened flap to his right, where he could make out the exalted platform that separated the common people from the royal proceedings. The irony struck him. He had started on the ground, had unintentionally found himself in the royal caravan, but was threatened by the prospect of appearing with his head removed from his body for all to see. The crowd was stirring. The prisoner had arrived. Katherine and Henri swiftly made their way out to take seats on the thrones just outside the canvas tent, from where they had an excellent vantage point over the crowd and the holding cell on the corner of the street, from where William was taken in chains. He stepped up the first steps of scaffolding with great trouble. His face was downcast, bloody, turned hideous by his deeds, and the needful to give his confession. He did not look over or up at the thrones. His hands, tied behind his back, were wounded to the point where there was less skin to see than there was open flesh. William¡¯s hair, usually tied up neatly at the nape of his neck, lay over his face in shame. The executioner himself appeared ready, leaning on the handle of his axe, but the chaplain came forward to receive William, laying a hand on his shoulder as he walked forth. His other hand held a Bible. Once they had reached the block, the chaplain shared a final prayer with him in private, and the crowd went silent. William looked around, and quietly faced the bemused and revolted faces all the same. Once he had looked upon the crowd, his gaze turned to Katherine, who in return took Henri¡¯s hand and squeezed it. ¡®If my death can mend the the wounds I caused, then let it be so,¡¯ he spoke, and thereafter slowly sank to his knees. The lack of villainy in his words seemed to shock the royal retinue, raising a few eyebrows, but nonetheless the context coloured the words. His death would not mend the wounds he caused. His actions had changed the country for good. He lowered his head onto he block and seemed to resign to the sort of ease only to be attributed to the foolish. The chaplain took the word for William had not prayed, and the executioner took the axe out of the small space between the wooden planks on the scaffolding. The herald began to speak to the crowd, speaking of William¡¯s misdeeds and the trial that preceded, but Katherine sat forward in her throne to watch the minute expressions on the traitor¡¯s face. There were none. Katherine looked in vain, watching the closed eyes and neutral expression, until the executioner took his stand, and as the prayer intensified, the herald held his breath, and the axe swung up to create enough momentum, suddenly his eyes open. He looked at her. There was no madness anymore, no evil or manipulation. It was William. The same William she had met at her coronation, the William that had eased her mind about the alliance with Henri, the William that had stood up for her to keep her favourites. Katherine grimaced at the state of him. She had not sat in during the interrogation. His guilt was implicated by her advisers. Had she been played? The axe came down with vicious speed and severed his head at once. The crowd cheered, roaring at the gruesome deed and the head that rolled off of the block, long hairs dangling down and sticking to the blood that coated every surface of the head. Whether the executioner picked it up, what happened to it otherwise, who took his earrings, Katherine did not know. She was looking down. ¡®Well,¡¯ Henri said, next to her, ¡®I was hoping for a scream or something.¡¯ Katherine took it as a great excuse not to look on anymore, instead looking at Henri. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I suddenly feel quite sick.¡¯ He chuckled. ¡®Women,¡¯ he said. ¡®Can¡¯t stand a bit of blood and gore¡­¡¯ 21. New Prospects & Old Problems It was the middle of the night when Henri returned to his quarters, expecting to just head to bed, when he saw his mother sitting in one of the central halls of the part of the palace that the Chavanets kept to themselves. She was sitting at one of the ancient wooden tables that had belonged to them since the dawn at time, opposite Theo, who wore just his breeches and an undershirt as a servant wound a new bandage around his shoulder and arm. Louise looked up to her son. ¡®There you are,¡¯ she said. ¡®Mind sitting down with us?¡¯ Henri raised his brows and huffed indignantly. ¡®I was thinking I¡¯d go to sleep.¡¯ ¡®Me too,¡¯ she said. ¡®But I¡¯ve been thinking ¡ª and because I¡¯m not queen anymore, Henri, I have to run it through you. Do you mind?¡¯ He was not in the habit of respecting his mother¡¯s wishes, but something told him that she was not simply going to take no for an answer. ¡®Keep it short, if you will,¡¯ he said. He sat down next to Theo, opposite his mother, and therefore also opposite the fireplace that beamed dry heat onto his cold face. Louise¡¯s brows had been furrowed so intensely that, now they were back in their position, a deep wrinkle remained between them. ¡®What do you make of today?¡¯ she asked. ¡®The execution.¡¯ ¡®Weird,¡¯ he said. ¡®Inconvenient. I feel like Katherine¡¯s kind of lost the plot a bit, these last couple of weeks. Ever since the Gineforts lost power, really.¡¯ Louise nodded softly. ¡®And then there¡¯s what happened to Theo¡­¡¯ she sighed. ¡®You know, I don¡¯t even recognise my own court anymore, Henri. Instead of being a civilised country, we¡¯re being run by some Ilworthian charlatans and their merry missus on the promise of a good marital match, and they¡¯d almost killed your secretary of state. Who knows? Perhaps it was they, who smuggled their cloak pins out into the hands of an assassin. Perhaps it was Theo, who was supposed to be killed. Have you stopped to consider that?¡¯ Henri looked first at Louise, then at Theo, whose wound had been dressed fully now, and who was looking rather pained. ¡®I haven¡¯t,¡¯ he said. ¡®Why¡¯d anyone want to kill Theo, mother?¡¯ ¡®He sees things you do not,¡¯ Louise answered. ¡®As do I. Do you really want to wait until I am targeted? What¡¯ll come of the country? What¡¯ll come of you?¡¯ ¡®Must we speak of this now?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Yes,¡¯ Louise said. ¡®Thank you for asking. We absolutely must. Don¡¯t let yourself get carried away by the promise of an exciting life with a nun and her dozens of lovers. I promise you, marry Katherine of Courtenay and you set yourself up for a difficult reign. She killed her adviser in our Souchon, Henri. What more evidence do you need that she¡¯s completely deranged?¡¯ ¡®So?¡¯ he asked. ¡®You were in favour of the match to begin with. You¡¯re the reason she¡¯s here. I¡¯ll just marry someone else, just let us get on with it. Katherine and I are good friends. We needn¡¯t complicate it ¡ª I¡¯ll just tell her off.¡¯ ¡®Can you?¡¯ she asked. ¡®You like her. Cruelty and all.¡¯ ¡®How couldn¡¯t I? I¡¯ve been told for over a year now that we are to wed,¡¯ Henry said. ¡®Now in a week, it¡¯s turned from certain to cursed. The assassin pointed his gun at her, not at Theo. Had Theo not moved in to save her, he wouldn¡¯t have hit Theo. The fact that he swooped in to save her is entirely his fault, I say.¡¯ Louise looked over at Theo. ¡®Something I both agree with, and completely fail to understand as well, Henri.¡¯ Theo looked over his wounded shoulder to Henri. ¡®You wouldn¡¯t know what you¡¯d do if you had a split second decision to make,¡¯ he said. ¡®I looked into that fucker¡¯s eyes and all I saw was pure, unadulterated evil. I¡¯d have done it for just about anyone.¡¯ Louise knew that was a lie but smiled regardless. The purchase she was seeking on these men was nearly a lost cause. She had ruled the country for years, for better of her worse she would be remembered for her stability and reason, with the sort of intellectual streak that was not often expected of women. But now, she had done herself in. Katherine ¡ª far less pretty than Louise had been in her prime, unintelligent, reactive, with little forethought ¡ª was the woman against whom Louise had started to lose the battle for the loyalties of her nearest.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡®Truly ridiculous,¡¯ she sighed. ¡®I want her out of the country, gentlemen. Before we are once more part of the great Ilworthian empire of yore, even de facto, out.¡¯ ¡®Fine by me,¡¯ said Henri. ¡®You won¡¯t hear me protest about it.¡¯ ¡®And you¡¯ll wed another,¡¯ Louise said. ¡®Soon. I won¡¯t die without vetting your heirs. And in order to vet them, Henri, they must first exist, and secondly they must have a certain age.¡¯ He pouted briefly. ¡®When must she be sent away?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Soon,¡¯ she said. ¡®Tie a bow in any outstanding matters and then be done with it. Understand that her stay is costing you money, not just because she is here, but also because it is costing us trade agreements. From what I hear, the Sbaian Sultan loves her. Wouldn¡¯t you rather he love you, my dear?¡¯ ¡®Well, I do, but I also feel as though that wouldn¡¯t matter if we were married,¡¯ Henri said. ¡®But you¡¯re not,¡¯ she answered simply. ¡®So it does.¡¯ Henri sighed. His mother, whether she was queen or princess, would likely never tire of her ambition.
Nobody missed the news in Souchon Palace. Queen Katherine was leaving. For Freyza, it was as if he woke up with the worst hangover of his life. Of all of the contracts he had signed in his short career in Massouron, the majority were with Ilworthian alliances. There was no way he would be able to move again on short notice, not given the fact that he likely would not be granted passage out of the country of Massouron legally to pursue that career, but at the same time, there was no way he would be able to replicate the grandeur of the operations with anyone but the Ilworthians. And then, there was the prospect of letting go of the Queen of Ilworth. In their short collaboration, the correspondences with her were a highlight in his memory, and he gladly sat in on any and all meeting if she were present. Though they could not be more different, he found that they had a lot in common and could talk for hours if they ever got the chance. That chance, however, had quickly vanished from the possibilities offered to him. It was over. Everyone was leaving, under the guise of an urgent need to return to Ilworth, but many assumed that it was over for good. The Ilworthian delegation still acted casually about it, as if they would return sometime soon. They were set to leave with one man down from how they had arrived, and it had certainly taken a toll on the rest. With unrivalled hurry they were packing up. On one of the last days, however, on a sunlit afternoon, Constance had come up to him while he was eating in the great hall. She was wearing a light blue gown, with her sleeves pushed up like a servant, and with all the brilliant lights coming in, she was nearly as luminous and pale that there was an angelic quality to her. ¡®Master Freyza,¡¯ she said, and curtsied. ¡®Sorry to interrupt you. I¡¯ve a request from the crown. May I?¡¯ He nearly dropped his spoon. ¡®Certainly, Lady Constance. Nothing bad has happened, I hope?¡¯ ¡®No, you needn¡¯t worry,¡¯ she said. ¡®As you might have heard, Master Freyza, we are Ilworth-bound for a short time. Queen Katherine is wondering whether you would be able to accompany her in her carriage to the port of Bourrac. Likely coming Thursday, and all things considered, you¡¯d be back on Saturday or Sunday. Could you free up your schedule?¡¯ ¡®Yes, but why?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I¡¯d like to know if there is anything in particular I am asked to do. You are certain you have the right man?¡¯ Constance shrugged. ¡®My lord, if I were to ask for a why and a how for everything Her Majesty asks of me¡­ I¡¯d never stop asking why and how. She has asked for you, and I¡¯d like to make that abundantly clear.¡¯ ¡®You are aware I am simply the ambassador of the Sbai Empire?¡¯ he asked. She chuckled and put her hands on the table to lean on. ¡®Have you hit your head or something, my lord?¡¯ she asked. ¡®We talked a few weeks ago ¡ª remember, when Lady Katherine was unconscious? You introduced yourself to me. Of course I know who you are.¡¯ ¡®Right¡­¡¯ he said. ¡®If you will, tell Her Majesty I will see to it.¡¯
When Constance returned to the archery range, where Katherine was to catch the last few glimpses of the knights, of Henri, and of her life in Souchon Palace at large, she was grinning like a madwoman. ¡®Katherine!¡¯ she hollered. ¡¯Katherine! I have come bearing news.¡¯ Though not downtrodden or unhealthy-looking, Katherine looked unwell if just rattled by the last time. She leaned over the tilt, which was currently not being used as such for jousting practice, but looked over to Constance who was running towards her. ¡®What?¡¯ she asked plainly, then made to laugh by Constance¡¯s own laughter, repeated, ¡®What is it?¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re sharing a carriage to Bourrac with the Sbaian ambassador,¡¯ she said. Katherine blinked once in disbelief and then again with the beginnings of fury. ¡®Why?¡¯ she asked. ¡®What do you mean, why? You¡¯ve been trying to get to know Master Freyza. Now you¡¯ll leave. Perhaps we can choose not to make it quite as miserable as it otherwise could be by choosing our company.¡¯ She clicked her tongue. ¡®Or I could¡¯ve just gotten drunk with you lot and slept with Henri¡¯s brother as some sort of misguided revenge. You¡¯re aware he lives in Bourrac?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ Constance said plainly. ¡®And frankly, it matters not. It is my gift to you, Kathy. Perhaps it will cheer you up when you realise all that I do for you.¡¯ ¡®You are a gossipy fool, you.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ Constance said, ¡®I¡¯m the great curator of favourites. Mistress of festivities. A gossipy fool would be someone who would have told Master Freyza of my intentions. The great curator of favourites, however, told Master Freyza that his presence in your carriage was required, however not why. Therefore, I expect him to be bearing parting gifts, and if all else fails, I¡¯d smuggle in some gin just in case. You may thank me, I don¡¯t really get shy about compliments.¡¯ ¡®A fool,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®I¡¯m mortified. I want you to know that, Constance.¡¯ 22. The Ride There Freyza closed the carriage door behind himself and the sound of it nearly made him jump. Towards the end of the bench, having shimmied over, sat Katherine, comfortable as always, already digging into the basket Freyza had brought for the way there. He sat down opposite her, slanted towards the other door of the carriage, and watched her in silence, digging out a porcelain bowl that he knew was slotted, carrying strawberries on one side and whipped cream on the other. Her feet were on the bench before her, next to Freyza. ¡®D¡¯you want anything?¡¯ she asked, having put the bowl on her lap. ¡®Sorry, I just started eating. I¡¯m absolutely famished. I heard Prince Louis is preparing a banquet for us when we arrive to Bourrac, so you won¡¯t have to go back home hungry. Favours ought to pay.¡¯ Freyza wrinkled his nose in a smile. ¡®Gracious and generous, but no thank you, Your Majesty. In fact, accept what I¡¯ve brought as a gift. It¡¯s particularly thrilling to have been asked to come along with you on this expedition, if slightly mysterious to me still.¡¯ Katherine huffed. With great satisfaction, she wiggled the toe boxes of her shoes against the side of the carriage. ¡®Who said it would be thrilling, Master Freyza? Perhaps all I wanted to do was read a book on the way to Bourrac. Never told you otherwise, have I?¡¯ With the soft clattering of hooves on the cobbles, the carriage began going, slowly at first due to its heavy weight packed upon its back. Freyza was smiling somewhat madly when met with Katherine¡¯s mischief. ¡®Do you insist on inviting me when you mean to ignore me for the duration of our time together, and then send me back on my own?¡¯ he asked. ¡®No,¡¯ she said, dipping a strawberry into whipped cream. ¡®You¡¯ll get fed halfway through. Wine, Lord Freyza?¡¯ She opened the curtain, letting the forest daylight stream in. The way the sun shone on her hands made them appear almost ghostlike, with long translucent nails extending them. He loosened the ruff around his neck. The tight sensation of the starch linen never completely waned when he wore them, and whenever he left the great hall of Souchon Palace, he was eager to get it off. Besides, Katherine had already undone the lace of her partlet as well, leaving her neck looking ruddy and scratched from the collar. ¡®Please,¡¯ he said. ¡®If I may advise, that purple-toned bottle holds an old Baradran. From the Ginefort days.¡¯ Katherine looked up. ¡®Sneaky,¡¯ she said. ¡®How come? I might not drink in my homeland, but what inspires you to imagine I do not stray from my belief when in Massouron?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Believe me, I care very little to inspire frustration in you by not supplying a good wine. We are stuck together for a number of hours, after all.¡¯ She pulled the cork out with her teeth. ¡®Unless,¡¯ she said lisping from the cork still held by her teeth, ¡®Halfway through I ask you to get out of my carriage, and you will oblige.¡¯ ¡®Certainly,¡¯ he said, taking the half-filled goblet from her. ¡®And I will certainly die before I make it back. Which is, I assume, what you wanted to hear, is it not? So now we¡¯ve established the frame of this ¡ª you won¡¯t be speaking to me, you¡¯ll have me fend for myself in the wild, but if I behave, at least I¡¯ll be at a luncheon. Is that a fair representation?¡¯ ¡®Well¡­ I was hoping I¡¯d be meeting a different Freyza once he¡¯d be out of his office,¡¯ Katherine said, putting the cork back on and withdrawing her legs. ¡®One that doesn¡¯t wish for a fair negotiation but instead I could speak to more candidly. But to answer your question, yes, that is what I said.¡¯ She held his gaze briefly, before she wiggled her brows and held up her goblet. ¡®Hook your arm through mine, if you will.¡¯ Freyza hesitantly wove his arm around hers, trying as hard as he could not to accidentally touch her. Even hovering the littlest amount of space above her, he could feel the heat of her skin through the satin sleeves of her gown. ¡®Chin-chin,¡¯ she said resolutely with a wink. He leaned in to be able to tilt his goblet back, knocked accidentally into her knees with his. ¡®Sorry,¡¯ Freyza said moments before he downed his glass. He swore he saw her smile past the edges of the goblet. Freyza knew she was toying with him in the way he had been so warned about, but knew there was no way out. When she hooked her arm out of his, having finished her half-glass, she leaned back to the embroidered cushion behind her. The air had the scent of spring flowers carried onto it, or perhaps they were already beginning to lose their mind. The light pitter-patter of May rain softened the silence. He noticed that she was eyeing him up and down. From below her downcast blonde lashes, her eyes slid from the point of his beard down the buttons on his doublet, lingering by its hem, and then all the way through to the toebox of his shoes. And yet, she said nothing. Intuitively he crossed his legs, wiggling his foot nervously. ¡®I brought a game of chess,¡¯ he said. ¡®I imagine you¡¯ve been taught to play.¡¯ ¡®I have,¡¯ she said, grinning. ¡®But I¡¯m amused already.¡¯ The carriage came to a slow halt and Freyza peered out of the window. ¡®Horses,¡¯ he said. It was a herd of over three dozen wild horses, spotted and taupe, standing on the dirt road and the bushes on its side. Katherine shimmied to his side of the carriage and looked out alongside, her back pressed against his shoulder. ¡®I see,¡¯ she said. The coachman waddled off from his seat to scare the horses, which all just looked at him with annoyance and unwillingness to move, grazing peacefully in the bushes. Katherine opened the little door and slipped out, demonstratively stretching her legs out on the path. ¡®We¡¯ll be sitting all day,¡¯ she said. ¡®Might as well take advantage of the cards that we¡¯ve been dealt.¡¯ Hesitantly, Freyza followed her out, putting his feet down into the thick crud that had coagulated onto the dirt road. The horses were not just before them, some of them had started to gather around the carriage. The horseman came back to them. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said, his Massouric accent coming through, ¡®I¡¯m afraid we will have to wait for them to leave.¡¯ Katherine shifted her weight from her heels to her toes and back, and looked over her shoulder to the caravan of carriages from her retinue that were beginning to pile up behind them, separated by some of the horses. ¡®Well, then,¡¯ she said, turning to Freyza. ¡®We may have to break out the chessboard out after all.¡¯ Freyza looked out over the meadow just behind the row of trees, where there was a small town. He reached for his coins and gave a few to the coachman. ¡®If we must wait, I¡¯d rather do so under the enjoyment of a fresh pastry,¡¯ he said. ¡®You don¡¯t mind, do you? The rest of the gold is yours.¡¯ He looked over at Katherine, who remained quiet. ¡®Indeed, my lord,¡¯ he said, with a small bow. ¡®And you, Your Majesty.¡¯
¡®You really can¡¯t help yourself,¡¯ Katherine said to Freyza once their servant was out of earshot. ¡®Always showing just how fabulously wealthy you are ¡ª and for what? As if I¡¯m the least bit impressed. It really shows you¡¯re not from here, you know, or it¡¯d equally show that you¡¯ve very little to do with those in power. Those who serve us need to know their place. It is not to be constantly rewarded with tips like a favourite.¡¯ He looked over at her. Her arms were crossed tightly over her ribcage, and she refused to look his way. ¡®I mean well,¡¯ he said, beginning as well to get agitated. ¡®These horses aren¡¯t my doing either.¡¯ Katherine sighed wearily and sat down on the step of the carriage. ¡®We¡¯ll miss the banquet,¡¯ she said. ¡®That¡¯s for sure.¡¯ Carefully he approached her, his arms behind his back, and took a seat on the very edge of the step beside her. ¡®It is very unfortunate,¡¯ he said. ¡®They may begin to think something happened to us on the way.¡¯ She was quiet a while, leaning onto him since there was nowhere else to lean her back against. The horses¡¯ intent chewing and shuffling grew louder the longer that she kept quiet. Finally, she sighed once more and said: ¡®I¡¯d kill for another drink, I¡¯ll have you know that. I hope nobody from the retinue comes to talk to us.¡¯
Stolen novel; please report. It was hours later when the herd dissipated, and despite the pastries and other foodstuffs that Freyza had brought, the drinks had been flowing too freely for any nutrition to ground them. They were back on their way, and the wine seemed to have materialised the silent desire of both parties. Red-faced, they now sat next to one another, facing away from the front of the coach, the windows half-shut as they were approaching the civilised world again. Both of them were jubilant to be back on the road. It had been surprisingly cold to stand on the crud, and now with their shoes kicked off and yet another drink in their respective hands, it felt to them as if they had escaped death. ¡®Master Freyza, Master Freyza,¡¯ Katherine said, beckoning to him despite his face being inches from hers, after their never-have-I-ever questions had run out finally. ¡®You¡¯ve travelled your whole life, haven¡¯t you?¡¯ He nodded, clutching his goblet with two hands. ¡®How so?¡¯ ¡®Didn¡¯t it get tiring?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Is that why you came to live at Souchon?¡¯ Freyza scraped his throat, wondering how he could skirt around the issue despite his inebriation. In these past few months since they had met, and had thrown themselves headfirst into their trades, he had tried to say very little about himself. Even though he knew that gossip travelled like wildfire especially in such a place as Souchon Palace, he felt the need to appear civilized and buttoned-up before Katherine. ¡®Tiring¡­¡¯ he began. ¡®Not quite. Rather I saw my time in the Sbai Empire come to a close a little ¡ª a chapter had ended. But I owe the Sultan all that I have and for that, I remain at his service.¡¯ That had not satisfied Katherine. ¡®I¡¯ve heard from my ladies-in-waiting you used to sell harlots to the sultan,¡¯ she said. ¡®And you used to be married to one of these girls.¡¯ Freyza¡¯s cheeks burnt red immediately. ¡®Odalisques,¡¯ he said, more instinct than it was intentional to correct her. ¡®I, uh. I come from a long line of traders, Lady Katherine. My father¡¯s ship supplied two sultans with women. One of my father¡¯s women gave birth to Sultan Selim. It may not sound like a very honorable position to you, but it has been one of the greatest blessings in my life to have been born to such a great man with such great shoes to fill.¡¯ Katherine leaned in further, putting her temple on his shoulder. ¡®So what¡¯s the job like, exactly? What¡¯s a day in the life like?¡¯ He narrowed his eyes. ¡®I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll think of me differently, Lady Katherine,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ve practiced an occupation unknown in your culture, and frowned-upon. And then, even moreso, to consider the type of women Sultan Selim asks for¡­ no. Simply distasteful to elaborate.¡¯ ¡®How on earth so?¡¯ she asked, chuckling. ¡®I¡¯ll have you know, Freyza, I¡¯m a head of state. Not some feeble doll locked up in a tower somewhere. In fact, I was until recently King Henri¡¯s betrothed, so there appears to be little left that could shock me.¡¯ Freyza clasped his hands together. It scared him to speak freely to her: all this time, his responses had been carefully chosen, most of them studied. He knew that anything he said off the cuff threatened to unveil his nervousness around her. ¡®I travel to distant parts of the world and either purchase people off of the tribes, or take them in case there is no trade possible or we¡¯ve found a place that is hostile to us. Then we teach them the basics of Sbaian or Baradran, depending on their market, and sell them either on the auction or directly to some customers, such as the Sultan.¡¯ Freyza scraped his throat. ¡®I had a few customers about who I knew what they were looking for. There was a duke in the Baradrans who took in any and all young man who could fight. The Sultan had a particular profile for his women, and so I had very warm trade relations with the tribesmen of the Najan Isles. Those were his favourite. Still are, but the Najan Isles are hard to approach without a rapport, since they speak their own native tongue and are naturally not interested in harbouring kidnappers.¡¯ ¡®The Najan Isles¡­¡¯ Katherine repeating, having heard of the small island group off the coast of the Baradrans, but knowing very little about them, as was common with continental nobility. Only in the Sbai Empire were they recognized as the breeding ground of such fine specimens. ¡®So what does one of these women cost?¡¯ Freyza bobbed his head softly. ¡®Anything from six-hundred to twelve-hundred akce in an auction. Depends on factors such as age, appearance, whether they can be sold as virgins, whether they have any particular skill. Weirdly, it¡¯s most lucrative to teach them an instrument. I¡¯ve learned the lute just so my father could use me to teach it to slaves back when I was a young man.¡¯ The carriage whirred on softly. ¡®Must I be worried?¡¯ she asked. ¡®What would you say a person like myself would auction for?¡¯ He thought he would faint. He had the answer ready to fire, having considered and discussed it a million times, but instead of blurting it out he knew he had to rein himself in. ¡®What a horrible question, Lady Katherine,¡¯ he said. ¡®And something I can only speculate on. Women don¡¯t generally come to us dressed up as the Queen of Ilworth speaking perfect Baradran and knowing how to play a harp. I¡¯d probably not bring you to the auction and instead send you straight to the Sultan ¡ª I think I¡¯d be sacked if I¡¯d auction someone who fits the description to your degree.¡¯ Katherine grinned. ¡®What description?¡¯ ¡®Small,¡¯ he began, ¡®Delicate, white as a moonlit sail, red-ochre hair, freckled like calico cloth. At an auction, just for your proximity to the Sultan¡¯s wishes, you¡¯d probably make a slaver¡¯s month. A thousand or towards the eleven-hundred. As princess, you may have broken a month record.¡¯ She held his gaze and her smile grew. ¡®And that¡¯s without you knowing about my lucrative skills.¡¯ ¡®Indeed it is,¡¯ he said, finally caving into the desire he had had all day to put his hand beneath her chin. ¡®If ever you wish for a detailed appraisal, you¡¯ll have to tell me about those.¡¯ Her eyes were glazed over and peered out of her skull with giddy amusement. ¡®You say that with such interest that I¡¯m worried that even if I decide that I¡¯d rather not get appraised, I¡¯ll have to tell you about them.¡¯ Freyza did his best to shrug coolly. ¡®I suppose so, Lady Katherine.¡¯ Katherine clicked her tongue and leaned in further. The scent of her perfumed body in her clothes, mingled with the scent of food and drink in the fibers of her clothes and her hair, the smoke that warned them of impending civilization, the salty sea air already present so far from the shore, all of it reminded them of their circumstances. She would leave for good. They were alone, it was dark out, their carriage was blue-torched. Freyza could hardly believe his own ears and eyes. In his mind, he heard Bayezid. Each time he had come to Bayezid, thrown into the dungeons of his own longing, his advice had been the same. You don¡¯t know until you know. Though, even though he was petrified with her so close, it was obvious that Katherine had little of the same reservations, having already propped herself up on her knees in order to reach him, seemingly in a split second having gone from sitting at his side to her hands beneath his collar, half in his lap. ¡®Isn¡¯t seeing believing?¡¯ she asked. The implication only petrified him further, and he was suddenly sober as could be. ¡®I, uh¡­¡¯ She left him little time to respond, instead silencing him with a kiss. As she helped herself out of her sleeves, ready to next attack the laces on her dress, suddenly the carriage found itself on an incline, which pushed her off of his lap. The moment briefly stretched as she slid down to the other side of the carriage. Worried she had hurt herself, Freyza reached down, putting his feet against the opposite bench. Katherine, however, was laughing. ¡®For fuck¡¯s sake,¡¯ she chuckled. ¡®We¡¯re nearly there now. That¡¯s Bourrac, the gate is on a steep hill.¡¯ Freyza took Katherine¡¯s hand and helped her back up to the bench, after which she began pulling the knitted sleeves of her dress back on. ¡®Act normal,¡¯ she said with a wink. To leave like this seemed like the greatest injustice in the world to Freyza. ¡®Will do, somehow,¡¯ he said. ¡®You have little choice, I¡¯m afraid,¡¯ she said. ¡®You should probably put your ruff back around your neck. Perhaps Louis will let you in then.¡¯ ¡®I suppose¡­¡¯ he said. He felt his hands grow cold. The last thing he wished for in that moment was to have to sit opposite the King¡¯s flamboyant brother tonight, before then being whisked away in a carriage or taken to a local inn to spend the night thinking about a woman who was not only perfect, but now for good out of his reach. She had let it slip herself: once, she had been Henri¡¯s betrothed. The tense was decidedly past. Her time in Souchon Palace was over. She smiled. ¡®Or you may come to me to Ilworth, but I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve duties to tend to, don¡¯t you? Very important duties that you can¡¯t possibly be putting off.¡¯ He looked at her rather solemnly, his ruff framing his pointed beard like a platter would a pig¡¯s stuffed head. ¡®I really do,¡¯ he said. The carriage door opened, with the coachman before them. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said. Katherine got out of the carriage and Freyza followed her. It was squarely night, with the sliver of the moon lighting the steep incline of the gardens of Bourrac¡¯s estate, and a couple of torches by the door. They were greeted by a servant woman who wore a neat blue doublet over her plump form, even before the rest of her retinue rolled in. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ she repeated as if she had heard the coachman. ¡®Finally you made it. His Highness Prince Louis has been worried sick with you all day.¡¯ She smiled, taking her cloak from the hook on the carriage door. ¡®There was no need,¡¯ she said, briefly eyeing Freyza, ¡®Just a herd of horses on our way. Though I brought Lord Freyza to keep me company, I hope Prince Louis doesn¡¯t mind the visitor. I don¡¯t think it would be wise to send him back through the night. Besides, what¡¯s one more?¡¯ The servant looked him up and down. ¡®Hm,¡¯ she said. ¡®I am afraid I will have to request His Highness about the possibility of another chamber for your visitor.¡¯ As they began to walk towards the estate, Katherine felt her eye twitch. To Freyza she said, leaning in, ¡®I wonder who told this woman that Louis could disobey me.¡¯ Freyza shook his head. ¡®It is indeed rather uncalled for.¡¯
There was a sense of cameraderie with Katherine that Freyza was pleasantly surprised to feel. He felt as though they were part of a secret plot, though instead of causing anyone¡¯s demise, the plot instead would conclude with them alone, preferably in a bedchamber fit for royalty with plush flannel to keep out the cold, but if necessary, at this point Freyza would have settled for a cupboard he could lock. They entered through the main hall and were whisked up the stairs into a little dark walkway that ended in a half-opened door to a comfortable sitting room by the fireplace. Happily, feigning heartbreak, Katherine did not hear much from her court. By the hearth sat Louis, dressed in comfortable home clothes and looking rather weary. His white skin had been sallowed, and especially his eyes had turned hollow with sleeplessness. His blond hair was combed in such a way that his part seemed to look much wider in the dim light than it must have been in reality. ¡®Lady Katherine,¡¯ he said, poking the embers. ¡®You came after all.¡¯ He stood up and embraced her, then turned his attention to Freyza. ¡®We indeed made it,¡¯ Katherine said, getting between the pair of them. ¡®And I brought company. It¡¯s a hell of a journey to Bourrac from Souchon, Louis. I¡¯m sure you understand.¡¯ Louis raised his brows. ¡®I do,¡¯ he said. ¡®I just wonder why your carriage-warmer is here, that¡¯s all. You don¡¯t happen to have anyone at court who could do the job?¡¯ ¡®The most honorable Lord Freyza, Duke of Tougaf?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Why, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s a carriage-warmer to me, Louis. In fact, you won¡¯t even know he¡¯s here and tomorrow he¡¯ll be on his way. Isn¡¯t that right, Freyza?¡¯ Freyza nodded softly. ¡®Your Highness.¡¯ ¡®Come now. You won¡¯t even have to show him around, for I will do so. Please. As a favour to your sister-in-law,¡¯ she said. Louis defeatedly sat back down. ¡®I¡¯m heading to bed. If you are too, and if he¡¯s gone by the time we breakfast, I¡¯m happy.¡¯ Katherine clapped her hands together. ¡®That¡¯s all I needed to hear.¡¯ 23. Chance of Confession Outside of the sitting room, a pair of young men were awaiting them. Once they were out of Louis¡¯ earshot, having bowed by the doorway, one of them scraped his throat. ¡®His Highness the Duke of Bourrac wishes to offer you two bedchambers,¡¯ he said rather formally, though he obviously had a country drawl to him. ¡®Though due to the suddenness of your visit, Your Majesty, my lord, currently one of the cabinets adjoining the bedroom is still being readied in case it would be necessary.¡¯ ¡®A cabinet?¡¯ Katherine asked. ¡®Well, I don¡¯t suppose we are expecting visitors through the night, and if we are, then I recall my room has a sitting room.¡¯ It was the middle of the night by now, and Freyza could think of little else but to sleep. He followed the servants, making sure to walk slightly behind Katherine as he was used to doing with Louise in Souchon Palace. ¡®Very well, my lady,¡¯ he said. ¡®Besides, we¡¯ll be leaving early in the morning, Master Freyza even earlier than myself, so I believe it would be better to begin winding down.¡¯ Their rooms were next to one another, with to the other side a cabinet to his room and a sitting room to hers. These rooms, with a similar layout as those Freyza knew the guest wing of Souchon Palace to have, were meant for diplomats. He chuckled at the thought of knowing that this rather unimpressive, nearly ancient castle would be the temporary home for any diplomat, though he himself now fit the description well. ¡®Well¡­¡¯ Katherine sighed as the door was opened before her. ¡®I suppose now is the time to thank you for your service. I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t have to be stuck in a carriage on my own.¡¯ ¡®Oh, you needn¡¯t say,¡¯ Freyza said, waving it off. ¡®It is an honor to have been in your presence, as it always is an honor to be in your presence.¡¯ She smiled softly and pressed her head down in a single nod. ¡®Speak to me in the morning, will you? So I know you¡¯re safely on your way.¡¯ He could barely even look at her. ¡®I will,¡¯ he said. ¡®Good night.¡¯ ¡®And to you,¡¯ she said.
The room itself was rather simple. The castle in Bourrac was ancient, and thus despite the warmth of the recent weather, Bourrac was cold. The freezing sea air also carried salt, salt which took every opportunity to attach to the stone and weather it. There were no panes in the windows. The sea roared in Freyza¡¯s ears. He had not brought much but a spare shirt and a few adjustments for the weather, so he was pleased to find his bed loaded with furs, and the fire crackling softly. The bed itself was cradled in the embrace of an inky blue canopy made from velvet, which he imagined he would have to close to have any chance of warming up sufficiently to fall asleep. As he unraveled his turban and brushed out his hair with his fingers, his reflection in the large standing mirror caught his eye. He looked much worse than what he had hoped. His beard looked unruly and excessively curled from the moisture in the air, and in his eyes he saw an expression of pure exhaustion. As he unhooked the first hook from its eye, after which perhaps twenty-five would follow to undo his doublet, he decided to keep his eyes off of his reflection for now. Beginning to feel himself get so drowsy that he threatened to fall over, he swiftly made his way to bed. Once there, between layers of soft wool and beneath so much fur, he struggled to find the rest to sleep. The air was cold, and the wind howled madly due to the altitude and proximity to the open sea. He turned over from his back to his side, then flopped over to his stomach. Despite being so comfortable, his heart was racing. The last few hours had felt surreal. Over and over he conjured up the image of Katherine¡¯s knitted sleeve discarded on the bench of the carriage, felt again and again the weight of her legs in his lap. It was not a happy covetousness, and Freyza felt very little ease with the knowledge that his longing for her was not one-sided. There was more to it than simple desire to him, but there was no reason to suspect that Katherine¡¯s disposition was anything more than that. He looked up to the hours in the carriage that he would have to spend on his own, on his way back to Souchon Palace. Alone for good. He looked up at the canopy of his bed, tracing each fold of navy-blue fabric with his eyes, to soothe him into dumbly falling asleep. With each blink, the spiderweb of pleats grew fainter and fainter, and for a fragile moment of calm exhaustion, he felt himself drift off¡­ Until a door opened, likely down the hallway, with such a heavy thud that it shook him awake immediately. Then, laughter from down the hill, somewhere in a Massouric tavern he would never visit. The sounds had started and never again halted. He turned again, trying to find a comfortable way for legs to fit within the grooves of linen and feather, growing less easy by the moment. Not just mental restlessness claimed him, the day in the carriage had battered his back and neck, and he was eager to stand upright again. Fine, he told himself. Walk around, then try again. Freyza got up out of bed and breathed hot air against his freezing fingers before throwing on the clothes of the day previously and slipping into his shoes again. For a moment, it felt empowering to him. He took his cloak from its spot, wrapped it around himself, and headed out. It was quieter than he thought it would be from the sounds that kept him up. There was an eeriness to it. Where he had first heard Ilworthian whispers in the hall, they were now deserted. Only in the staircase leading down to the central hall of this ancient place was there any remaining light that did not come from the moon. Perhaps it would bear guards, or remaining courtiers unable to find sleep. Best to take another route. The other way he went, walking down the moonlit hallway until a large window faced him. There were no panes, and the wind blew up the edges of his cloak and whipped it against his stocked legs. He neared it, then peered down the cliff that followed it and instinctively had to hold the edge of the window not to dazzle himself, sleep drunk after all, to fall in. Unlike his own footsteps, which had been hurried and careful, scared to wake anyone, he heard others now: slow, dragging, with seemingly a train of fabric behind them. ¡®Pondering the end?¡¯ asked Katherine, her voice shooting through the silence like an arrow through game. Freyza looked up, rubbed his eyes, and saw her there, rather far down the hall, with a goblet in her hand, sauntering his way. Her hair was loose, red waves from her braids falling down her form in disarray, and she was wearing a robe over top of a shift. She was wearing house slippers rather than shoes.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡®No,¡¯ Freyza admitted, looking down at his own attire which juxtaposed against hers. ¡®I can¡¯t sleep.¡¯ Katherine reached the edge of the hallway and predictably, also briefly looked down. ¡®Me neither. My God, you¡¯ve chosen a cold place to pause.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re shivering,¡¯ he said, almost sighing when he saw how the cold blew right through the dainty silks and linens she was wearing, that formed around her frame in the relentless wind. ¡®Let me give you my cloak.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ she said, but he already unfurled the knot in the tassels and lay it over her shoulder. As she pulled it over her chest, their hands knocked against one another, and his landed briefly on her clavicle. He withdrew quickly, but in his mind, the harm had been done. ¡®Why¡­ why can¡¯t you sleep?¡¯ he asked, not so much unaware of the answer as he was attempting to talk over the ever-growing hunger neither had acknowledged nearly a year since they met. ¡®I went out to get a nightcap,¡¯ she said, then scraped her throat. ¡®I¡¯m feeling rather jittery. You¡¯re aware I¡¯m leaving for good, right?¡¯ Freyza nodded solemnly. ¡®It hadn¡¯t been confirmed to me, but¡­¡¯ ¡®Yeah,¡¯ she said. ¡®Likely will never set foot on Massouron again. It¡¯s been my home this year ¡ª and moreover, it¡¯s been my first home where I was expected to stay a long time. As spare, it was unlikely I¡¯d stay in Norbury Lake for my whole life. The convent, I sure as hell hoped to leave. Then when I ascended, it was assumed I would marry Henri and go back and forth Souchon and Norbury Lake. Maybe even rule just out of Massouron. But alas, Master Freyza¡­ all of our attempts to reason were futile. Now I stand here, petrified in the cold, clutching a glass of wine in my sorry hands¡­¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡¯ he said, meaning it truly but finding it hard to find the correct tone. The rest of his confession of devotion died on his lips. ¡®It¡¯s strange to me that I spent such a long time trying to fit in with the Chavanets that I never considered the possibility I¡¯d be thrown out on my arse,¡¯ she continued. He ached at the pain in her voice, and as he looked down, to where she had crept closer to him, found himself looking into the half-drunk wine. ¡®It¡¯s all so unfair,¡¯ he agreed. She suddenly looked up at him. ¡®And you¡¯ve always been the most kind to me,¡¯ she said. ¡®The most generous, accommodating, unintentionally hilarious at times. I mean it, Freyza. I wish¡ª¡¯ Katherine inhaled and closed her eyes. ¡®Never mind,¡¯ she said. ¡®I caught myself on the precipice of saying something foolish.¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I¡¯m just a stranger now, aren¡¯t I? I¡¯ll go to the grave with whatever foolishness you wished to tell me unsaid.¡¯ ¡®The gist of it is that I wish I¡¯d learned earlier that I enjoyed your company so much,¡¯ she said. Immediately, he wished she had not said it. There would be no sparing them from the terror that was the truth, when it came time for her to leave in the morning. The more that was left unsaid, the less there would be to mourn. ¡®Thank you,¡¯ he said, offered a painful smile. ¡®That¡¯s not so foolish.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t it?¡¯ she asked. His eyes were glued to the horizon, which was ever-so-slightly lit up just above the shimmer of the moonlit sea. ¡®Not necessarily,¡¯ he said. Suddenly, the spell of the sea broke, and he looked over at her again. ¡®It¡¯s not foolish to me. It shames me to say, however, that from the moment we met, I¡¯ve given you much thought. Had I been a bolder man, you would¡¯ve perhaps found out much earlier.¡¯ ¡®Is that so? And tell me, what would have been so different if you were a bolder man?¡¯ Freyza smiled shyly. ¡®It is hard to imagine, because I am not a bolder man.¡¯ ¡®Oh, please. You¡¯ve got me here all to yourself. Surely you can summon up a little imagination.¡¯ A moment passed during which he gazed up at the sky and licked his dry lips. ¡®I suppose¡­ Well, perhaps the first thing I would have done is invite you to see my homeland. I think you would have liked it.¡¯ Katherine laughed. ¡®Very forward, are you not? And what would I have seen there? Or would we simply spend time at your home?¡¯ A blush crept up his lips. ¡®And who is forward now?¡¯ ¡®Oh, I am completely innocent, I assure you. I¡¯m only putting myself in a man¡¯s shoes. Imagining what a man might imagine. Or are you saying you do not find me desirable?¡¯ ¡®That is not a serious question¡­¡¯ ¡®But it is. How could it not be?¡¯ ¡®You are a noble queen. It would be strange for a man not to find you desirable.¡¯ Kathy pursed her lips and leaned forward. ¡®So your answer is that I am, then?¡¯ He inhaled deeply and slowly released his breath, trying to find his balance once more. ¡®I do not think you have seen things such as exist in the Sbai Empire. There are dunes of sand. There are palaces greater than what you would find here ¡ª and they do not belong to kings, either.¡¯ ¡®Do you have a palace?¡¯ ¡®Not yet.¡¯ Katherine made a face. ¡®Oh, but you will? I suppose that is the idea then. You take me to the Sbai Empire and I shall have a much better life in a bigger palace?¡¯ Freyza could not help but laugh at the absurdity of it, though the idea of it made him travel inward into thoughts of things that could not be. ¡®Nevertheless, you would like it, I think.¡¯ Katherine leaned in close enough until he could feel her breath on his face. ¡®Perhaps you can still take me one day.¡¯ He gulped, lowering his eyes, barely able to hold her gaze. ¡®It is¡­ very¡­ beautiful¡­¡¯ ¡®Like me?¡¯ Freyza¡¯s gaze dropped to her lips, and Katherine¡¯s breath hitched, her fingers tightening on the edges of the cloak. His mouth opened as if to respond, but no sound followed. Her remark hung around them, a playful challenge he would not so easily find the courage to answer to. His heart hammered against his ribcage, louder than the wind sweeping through the corridor. Katherine tilted her head slightly and chuckled, studying him with an intensity that made him feel as if they had been lovers in a past life and had run into one another again, against the will of some higher being. Make one a lowly Sbaian slaver, make the other the Queen of Ilworth. Marry them both unhappily, curse them with each other¡¯s presence, just out of reach at all times. The scent of her skin so close to him smacked the last bit of coherence from him. ¡®Well?¡¯ she prompted, her voice softer this time, somehow more earnest. ¡®Yes,¡¯ he said at last, his voice weighted, ¡®Like you. Though that¡¯d be insulting ¡ª to say like you, it means there is anything that would compare. There isn¡¯t.¡¯ The faintest smile curved her lips, and her eyes softened. ¡®That wasn¡¯t so hard, was it?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Stop resisting, I beg of you.¡¯ So he did. The kiss came fast and with a desperate intensity, his lips crashing against hers as if the weight of a year¡¯s restraint had finally worn their decorum thin all at once. She gasped softly into his mouth, her free hand sliding up to tangle in his hair, and he found her waist with tentative reverence. She was flush against him. When they finally broke apart, Katherine caught her breath, her eyes wide and searching his face. Freyza looked back as though he could scarcely believe what had just happened. ¡®Not here,¡¯ he said when Katherine meant to lean in again. Katherine¡¯s eyes flared. ¡®Would you look at that?¡¯ she chuckled. ¡®What an exciting development. Not here? Soon you¡¯ll be inviting yourself into my chambers.¡¯ If there were any days left, he added in his thoughts. ¡®Or mine,¡¯ he said. ¡®I still have a fire going. Got some gin to waste. If you want me to¡­ I mean, that goes without saying, right? Just¡ª¡¯ Mischievously she pressed a kiss just below his ear, then climbed upon her tiptoes, and whispered, ¡®Say less.¡¯ Though the awkwardness had made way for giddiness, they soon reeled it in, given that the echoes travelled far and no part of the guests¡¯ bedrooms were very far from the others. When they reached his door, he quickly undid the lock, and waited just at the threshold. Katherine stepped in, turned to him, and before he had even taken his first step into the sad little room he got to call his that night, she was already beginning the work of the many hooks and eyes that were threatening to come between her and his body. ¡®This was really inevitable,¡¯ Katherine mumbled as she stepped back, synchronised with him stepping into the room. Freyza sighed and held her chin in his hand. ¡®I suppose we made a valiant effort of resistance for as long as we could¡¯ve.¡¯ He softly knocked against her forehead with his. ¡®If I ever can, I¡¯ll have you knighted,¡¯ she hummed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and joining them just beneath the curve of his skull. ¡®I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen this much determination in a man.¡¯ Freyza rested his hands lightly at her waist, holding her as if she might disappear if he would mishandle her. Then, he felt within himself a bit of unrestrained courage come up, a trait he would not have attributed to himself under any normal circumstances. ¡®It is rather odd,¡¯ he began, ¡®How I spent a full calendar year, every moment of it, pretending not to desire you. How tiring that has been. Now, at its curtain call, I find myself unable to keep the fa?ade.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve already surprised me tonight,¡¯ she said, mischievously brushing her nose against his, her smile widening, ¡®I didn¡¯t think you had it in you.¡¯ His lips twitched upwards. ¡®Neither did I.¡¯ She laughed softly, unhooked the last closure from his opulently decorated doublet, and averted her eyes to the inky blue of the canopy bed. ¡®Let¡¯s see if we can surprise ourselves again.¡¯ 24. The Greased Wheel of Bureaucracy They watched the sun come up that morning in that same bed through the cracks of the canopy¡¯s heavy velvet drapes. Katherine¡¯s laugh by that point had reduced to a sleepy croaking. ¡®Good morning, I guess,¡¯ she said, toying with the length of fabric with her leg, hooking onto it with her foot and flashing the sunlight in his eyes just briefly. He put his arm around her and nuzzled in her hair. ¡®No,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯d rather not have a good morning yet, or any morning, for I haven¡¯t slept.¡¯ ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ she asked. ¡®You¡¯re the lucky one. You¡¯ll be on your way to Souchon again, likely you can sleep through the entire ride. I will be on my way with my court. If Constance finds this out, I won¡¯t hear the last of it, and she¡¯ll likely want a Sbaian lover for herself.¡¯ Freyza huffed. ¡®Is that my performance review, then? Likely to inspire lust in ladies-in-waiting?¡¯ ¡®M-hm. Constance has been eyeing your associate, actually. If I told her about my time with you, she¡¯d likely not board the ship.¡¯ Absentmindedly, he traced the surface of her collarbone. ¡®Then perhaps we should not tell Constance,¡¯ he said. ¡®Or anyone. It could get us both into trouble, given that I am to return to Souchon Palace¡­ and you are to return to Norbury Castle, where perhaps this won¡¯t look very attractive to suitors.¡¯ She pulled her hair away from under him and sat up in the bed, looking over at him. ¡®You don¡¯t regret it, do you?¡¯ she asked, something vulnerable lacing her tone. ¡®No,¡¯ he said immediately. ¡®Of course I don¡¯t. Do you?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ she repeated innocently. ¡®In fact, had you had the opportunity to do so, I¡¯d have invited you to Norbury Castle. I am becoming rather fond of you. You could have become an adviser. We¡¯re looking for an administrator, you know that¡­¡¯ He could have said yes. It would have ruffled many feathers, but he knew he could have said yes regardless. Was it worth the scrutiny? Everything in his body but his most self-conscious mind screamed at him to do it. ¡®I have always been fond of you,¡¯ Freyza confessed. ¡®I hope you¡¯re aware of that. I cannot go with you, however.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m aware,¡¯ Katherine lied. ¡®The sultan will have you put down or something. He wouldn¡¯t be impressed to see you surge the ladder of diplomacy into my inner circle, because to him, as you¡¯ve told me, we are but little kings and queens. It¡¯d be to him like becoming the king of a sandcastle. Oh, well¡­ I suppose considering the political climate, we won¡¯t be able to correspond either.¡¯ ¡®A very sorry fact indeed,¡¯ he said solemnly as she returned to her place by his side, filling the void that the cold had left in her brief absence on his bare chest. ¡®If you receive any Sbaian gifts, no matter what for, know that they will be from me. I¡¯ll do the best I can to teach Bayezid my craft, so I can be placed in Norbury Lake instead. I swear that I¡¯ll do my best.¡¯ He read Katherine¡¯s emotionless face and felt the futility of it all. ¡®There¡¯s a difference between you and I, Freyza,¡¯ she said. ¡®You say you¡¯ve coveted me from the beginning and yet I¡¯ve heard naught of it. You could leave Souchon if you wish ¡ª yes, it will cost you, but within my court, you can soar. Henri doesn¡¯t care about you, neither does Louise. Unless, of course, you do this will all of the prominent noblewomen you get to know. That this is just the way in which you grease the wheels of bureaucracy. Had I been in your shoes, I would¡¯ve taken the chance. You are too afraid, I don¡¯t know of what, to do it.¡¯ ¡®I am repelled that you even consider the possibility,¡¯ Freyza said. Briefly, he was quiet, tapping the featherbed with his free hand nervously. ¡®Katherine, you are oblivious to how fond I am of you. It might strike you as mere fancy, and it could be that you feel for me but a mere fancy, but had our situation been different, I won¡¯t pretend anymore that I wouldn¡¯t have pursued you. What is there left to do now? Not only are you Ilworth-bound, perhaps for good, but even in Massouron, I cannot court you. We will never be anything but lovers.¡¯ ¡®And now we won¡¯t even be that,¡¯ Katherine added wryly. ¡®If you loved me, you¡¯d have taken lovers over past acquaintances.¡¯ ¡®Would I, though?¡¯ he asked. ¡®With all due respect, would I choose to take a meagre place among half a dozen royal favourites? Encourage you to drink and fuck yourself into the ground, until nothing remains but a caricature of your vices? I¡¯ve refrained for as long as I¡¯ve known you. I can refrain until I die. It will be easier for me to refrain than it would be to share.¡¯ She clicked her tongue. ¡®Men,¡¯ she grumbled. ¡®And say, you marry a vile creature, a Fairfax or someone like him,¡¯ he continued. ¡®Am I supposed to witness your suffering? No, thank you, Katherine.¡¯ Slyly, she looked over at him and caressed his hair. ¡®Then that¡¯s settled,¡¯ she said. ¡®It¡¯s clear you don¡¯t actually care for me as much as you say you do.¡¯ ¡®How much more clearly can I say it?¡¯ he asked, feeling dread build up in every word. ¡®Katherine: as little as I know you today, as little as I will ever know you, I know for certain that I revere and worship you, that there is nothing that could be done to kill the depth of my admiration. Would I have bedded you, pray tell, if not to express that? Have I appeared anything but genuine to you?¡¯The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Katherine chuckled. ¡®I think many bed me expressly to kill the depth of their admiration for me,¡¯ she said, then kissed him softly. ¡®You are a very thoughtful man. Should¡¯ve become a scholar, really, or a bard. This complexity of emotion doesn¡¯t suit an ambassador.¡¯ Subtly, her body was charged with the beginnings of frustration. She added, almost in exasperation, ¡®I know for a fact that, had you become my favourite, I could¡¯ve loved you. I¡¯m mad at myself for thinking I¡¯d be able to head out the door this morning and feel nothing.¡¯ His own words rang in his ear. He could not court her, he would refrain the rest of his life. She could have loved him. Fuck. In the midst of his dizzying storm of paradoxical anguish and honestly, he could not keep it to himself anymore. ¡®If you¡¯d let me, I could have loved you even today.¡¯ He could feel her heartbeat against him, padded and shrouded by the opaque and soft flesh of her chest. Suddenly, she turned to her stomach and lay her arm across his shoulder, burying her face in the crevice between his shoulder and neck. With hot breath, she began to sob. Freyza sighed with the pressure, held her head and turned his head to the side to hold his cheek against her forehead. ¡®We¡¯ll find a way,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ll write you somehow. I¡¯ll write the Sultan to get myself placed in Ilworth. I¡¯ll do it for you, if that¡¯s what I have to. You do not believe me now, but if these are the trials, Katherine, I will see them through for you.¡¯ ¡®I should really get going,¡¯ she said, her breath heaving from her tears. ¡®Before they find me here.¡¯ It was the time that they both knew was coming. ¡®Alright,¡¯ he said. ¡®Well, I remain at your disposal for the time we still share a host.¡¯ ¡®Sure,¡¯ she said, unclasping herself from him, wiping her tears away, and beginning to seek her clothing strewn about the floor. The door on the woman Katherine had closed ¡ª only the famously detached monarch remained in her body. ¡®We¡¯ll breakfast with court, you¡¯re free to come.¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ Freyza sat up in bed and looked with great confusion at the sudden coldness before him. ¡®Katherine, just a moment ago I told you that I love you.¡¯ Katherine only offered him a wry smile. ¡®That may be so. However, it is strikingly obvious to me that this is already the end of our affair. We wasted a year on pleasantries alone, and I¡¯d rather not waste another year on missing you so miserably. You were right this morning ¡ª let us never talk about this to anyone, ever. Go into the grave with this.¡¯ She pulled her shift over her head and straightened its hem, before bending down to pick up her robe. He protested, ¡®What if I can bridge the gap?¡¯ She chuckled. ¡®I¡¯ll believe it when you¡¯re at my doorstep, Freyza, and don¡¯t wait too long.¡¯ ¡®And what if you¡¯re with child?¡¯ he asked forth. Slipping into her shoes, Katherine turned her back on him. ¡®Then I suppose my next betrothed will be said to have sired it. Or, if that¡¯s not believable, my former. Who knows, Freyza, perhaps your greatest achievement after all will have been that your child will be the next King of Ilworth. See you at breakfast.¡¯ ¡®And you,¡¯ he said, exasperated by her cruelty.
He planned not to go, but as he was putting his ill-fated doublet back on, with still the scent of Katherine¡¯s perfumed hands on its seams, he considered it too monstrous not to. What Katherine had said, he imagined, did not stem from any realistic hatred or frustration with him, but rather a type of hurt that he knew she could not face. She was weak in the presence of her own turbulence. She was far younger than he was, and he had only learned to weather the storms of his own making with time. Of course she had not yet conquered them. Freyza was among the last to arrive in the banquet hall, as it was customary for those attending to appear in order of rank. He therefore stood among lower-ranking officials from Ilworth as well as a few noblemen that lived in Bourrac, or otherwise stayed there before he was called over to greet the main table that housed Katherine, the advisers, and her ladies. His hands were clasped together at his back when he was called over, and he bowed gratefully some feet before the table. Only briefly did he look at Katherine, who was again dressed in her finery, with a goblet of wine at her mouth. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said. ¡®My lords Overleigh and Dauncey. Lady Constance of Tillygate, Lady Grace of Hellister.¡¯ Katherine put her goblet down at once. ¡®Master Freyza,¡¯ she said, and her lip trembled. ¡®Please find a seat. We are pleased to welcome you.¡¯ Constance eyed Katherine and waited until Freyza was out of earshot. She leaned in and asked, ¡®Well?¡¯ Katherine looked down at her plate. ¡®Nothing,¡¯ she said, and shook her head. ¡®It was good to be in familiar company on the way here. For that, I am grateful to you, Constance. But we needn¡¯t have had any ideas.¡¯ Harcourt looked over his shoulder at the Sbaian ambassador, who was tall in isolation, but virtually towered over anyone he stood by as he sought a seat. ¡®I was already wondering what he was doing here,¡¯ he said. ¡®I don¡¯t imagine he has business in Bourrac.¡¯ Katherine shook her head again. ¡®No,¡¯ she said. ¡®Constance thought it¡¯d be a fun jape to invite him, for we were fast becoming friends as my time drew to a close. There. Now you¡¯re all caught up.¡¯ ¡®You do look rather deflated,¡¯ Richard noted, crossing his arms with his elbows on the table. ¡®I guess it¡¯s hard not to be in this draft. Sucks the life right out of you ¡ª but still.¡¯ ¡®Aren¡¯t you shaken by the last few weeks, then?¡¯ she asked. ¡®The rug was pulled out from under us. I nearly died.¡¯ ¡®Twice,¡¯ Richard added. ¡®Once due to that same Sbaian ambassador, you may recall. Though from what I hear, Constance is to be blamed for his presence.¡¯ Did Richard know? Katherine could not escape the thought. Richard had eyes everywhere, and his shadowmen even more so. Though his gaze was always sardonic, the way he knowingly looked at her with his pitch-black eyes, his nonchalant posture¡­ she could not be sure that her secret was safe. ¡®He hasn¡¯t harmed me any further,¡¯ she said. ¡®So I wonder what the matter is. Perhaps a misplaced grudge, Lord Richard¡­?¡¯ ¡®Oh, no,¡¯ Richard said. ¡®As you say ¡ª it¡¯s been a shaken fortnight. We¡¯re all a bit sensitive, we¡¯re all a bit uneasy. I¡¯ve nothing seriously against the man, of course. Given we will never meet again, there¡¯s no reason to hold a grudge.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll be happy to forget everything that happened in this god-forsaken country, for none of it has brought me anything but great distrust and anguish of my fellow man, and in many cases, those appearing closest to me,¡¯ Katherine said at last, and took another long sip. 25. The Burden of Reverence [end of Arc 2] Katherine had a nervous knot in her stomach when she entered Racleigh Hall. Their trips, Richard as new recruit, her insatiable hunger for exotic wine and fine silk, all of it had beat a dent into the treasury that not even Freyza¡¯s order of tin could fill. In over a year of her reign, she had never set foot in Racleigh Hall, much less so for an extraordinary summons such as this. The hall filled up with influential merchants, landowners and knights from the pair of kingdoms, and Katherine watched them from her throne, dressed in black and veiled modestly to appease the clergy that would follow in the House of Lords. Briefly, she saw Dorothy talking to one of the seated men. When it was full, the crowd was hushed, and Katherine straightened on her throne and lay a hand on either armrest. The last time parliament had been summoned had been in the earlier days of her father¡¯s regime. Despite its disuse, Racleigh Hall was beautifully maintained, with large marble slabs on the floor, limestone pillars, and iconography exalting the royal family towards the religious. ¡®Her Majesty the Queen!¡¯ cried the herald. ¡®Gentle folks of Ilworth and Otterdon Island,¡¯ she began. ¡®Today my secretary and state and I have come with a gravely urgent request to you.¡¯ Despite her nerves, she looked around and looked each man in the eyes, whether they were dazzled by her presence or had already resigned themselves to tighten their purses the moment they learned that parliament had been called together once more. Old or young, from Ilworth or Otterdon Island, Katherine smiled upon them all. She required a favour, after all. ¡®The reason we have called you to parliament today, is because we are anticipating the need of increasing taxes ¡ª for small duchies no more than a few shillings, but larger sums for larger territories. Considering we will only tax the needful in order to continue operations in Norbury Castle, and the grand unrest on the continent, we expect that this will not cause any problems among the likes of you. ¡®This past year, I have learned much about my duties and of the great love of one¡¯s country that each of you share with me. I sit in a hall full of patriotic, intelligent, good-hearted Christian men, each of whom rational and graceful in their decisions. I recognise many faces from this past autumn¡¯s festival and am very pleased to be continuing our acquaintance. ¡®As many of you know, negotiations have ceased with the King of Massouron, to whom I was betrothed this past year. This means that an expected financial gain from the alliance and the strengthened trade relations has sadly fallen through. At the same time, I am at the gracefully accepting end of a favourable agreement on certain metals with the Sbai Empire, and the fortunate facts extend to the knowledge that I am, now unburdened with Massouric politics, able to maneuver the new situation of the Baradran Kingdom. Once it is confirmed to us that there is a De Serra king in the Baradrans, we shall not hesitate to acknowledge the new regime. This gives us a great financial advantage, for we have gathered no other country in the region is willing to accept the regime due to pressures from the old Ginefort dynasty. ¡®Once this happens, any superfluous gold ¡ª and there shall be superfluous gold ¡ª shall be paid back in full to the territories. Just these following months shall require me to lean more heavily on you than you may be accustomed to. Any and all discomfort shall be worth the trade-off in the near future, and I hope that you all comprehend the extent of the compromise I, too, have made in the past, and shall continue to make. Do not make the mistake of looking at me as if I have just ascended from an ivory tower. I too am an Ilworthian citizen. I too know of the unrest. In fact, just recently, I have been assaulted as a result of this tension. When I see it rising, I see not my people against me, but instead I see myself as the whole of my kingdoms¡­ and I see an enemy encroaching upon it. A wolf upon a doe.¡¯ Katherine briefly halted, bit her lip in response to her impending grimace. ¡®And most of all, I see the hunger of the wolf and I mourn it. Good people, I know what makes a wolf kill, and it is innocent suffering. To end it, then, we must reconsider how to treat the enemy. Unlike my predecessors, I shall use your funds not to kill the enemy, but instead to appease it. Allow me to make this leap into a new and brighter Ilworth.¡¯ The applause that followed chilled her to the bone, but those who remained still in their seats, unwavering, looking upon Katherine as if they knew the truth of each misstep she had taken in her life, only chilled her further. The applause died as quickly as it had begun, and when the option had been given to the parliamentarians, the first one stood up: a long-haired livery collar-wearing guildmaster. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he began, ¡®Your kin is being butchered in the Baradrans. What has moved you to make the decision to accept the impending regime despite this fact? One may not forget that one, too, is Ginefort-blooded.¡¯ ¡®My blood does not concern me,¡¯ Katherine said immediately. ¡®It is the blood of my people that concerns me. Good sir, what matters are the lives of the Ilworthian citizens, not the lives of other children of my ancient ancestors. It is you that I represent and you who I will bargain for. Besides, it is utterly besides the point of my request to you all. I can ensure you that any and all direct family members of mine are safe from the axe.¡¯ Another followed when the guildmaster had sat back down. ¡®Your Majesty. Any word on the demise of Lord William of Astwick, perchance?¡¯ Katherine raised her brows. ¡®Perchance not,¡¯ she said. ¡®You were all informed of his death and the reasoning thereof, and I have been advised to keep it at that. Have faith in my heart, sir, when you entrust me with these sensitive matters of justice.¡¯ It shut him up well enough, but soon another followed, and others were standing up yet. Katherine rolled her eyes, anticipating equally sensitive questions she would be unwilling to answer. It was the closest that the House of Commons ever got to disagreeing with a royal decision, and this amount of pushback already appeared outrageous to Harcourt, who was sitting red-faced on the first bench by the throne. ¡®Has Her Majesty been informed of the betrothal of King Henri of Massouron to Lady Isabella de Ginefort?¡¯ Katherine¡¯s heart dropped. It had not been more than a month since she had left. Already? Katherine had not even looked at a single portrait since arriving back home. Whenever she wished to orient herself on her options, all she thought about was her recent affair with the Sbaian ambassador. It was so dire that she held a small disappointment in her heart with the knowledge that she was in fact not with child, and therefore had no reason to dramatically abdicate and exile herself to Massouron. ¡®Yes,¡¯ Katherine lied with a wide smile. ¡®A fair union for a fair young king. I wish them many children and happy years together, and I obviously wish for Lady Isabella to arrive to Massouron safely from her war-torn court. You will be glad to know that Lady Isabella is my fairest and sweetest cousin on the Ginefort side. He will be smitten ¡ª a very exciting development.¡¯Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡®Will your daughter succeed you in case you abdicate or perish, my lady?¡¯ another inquired. ¡®No, my heir today is my sister Princess Eleanor, and thereafter my brother the Prince Thomas,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®Then Princess Johanna. But you needn¡¯t worry ¡ª once I get out of Racleigh Hall, my first deed will be related to my coming marriage, and the next time I will call together parliament, I¡¯ll do so as mother of the next King of Ilworth.¡¯ Another man, this one an elderly man in vibrant chartreuse, stood up. ¡®Your Majesty, has there been deduced why there was an attack on your person in Souchon Palace? Given you speak of the attack as having a specific agenda.¡¯ It was a sly question, Katherine knew. Among these men, about a third had connections to Otterdon Island. This was the degree to which parliament was organised, based on the population figures of the kingdoms. She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows. ¡®All we know is that the assassin has been put to death,¡¯ she said. ¡®Among some traitors. What his agenda may have been, what any traitor¡¯s agenda may be, I cannot say for certain, but I know that it is against us. There are a few groups of people who wish to see me either without crown or without head, and to give any attention to these groups in polite society would frankly be a waste of your ability to listen to me. Besides, my spymaster would give me a firm talking to if I told you the sort of things we are working on behind closed doors. Gentlemen: the tax increase, please? As much as I would love to entertain you all about the realities of my life, it appears to be in your best interest to detach a little and instead think about your lived realities instead of living in a fantastical reality where the particular deeds in my personal life matter. With all due respect, of course.¡¯ Harcourt shuffled in his seat uncomfortably. For the amount of money she was asking of them, he thought, they have all the right to know. The comment caused a stir in the crowd. They began to talk among themselves, speaking of the boldness coming from this new young queen, how she dared to oppose them, what secrets were hidden by her sly way of skirting the issues. ¡®Gentlemen,¡¯ Katherine repeated. ¡®Settle down.¡¯ It was to no avail. Harcourt looked at her breathlessly as more and more stood up to speak, and Katherine herself felt herself grow smaller and smaller with each opposition. She had entered as a regal figure, representing the countries under her wing. Now instead, she sat again as that princess she had once been, exiled to Dolcotshire for her misdeeds, to be disciplined into correct conduct. ¡®Gentlemen of the House of Commons!¡¯ Harcourt boomed through the crowd. ¡®This is an act of treason! Settle down when Her Majesty demands it of you!¡¯ He stood up, had flown from his seat to just before the throne, and now sternly looked on as the men of parliament found their seats again, grumbling all the while. ¡®Shall you stand in opposition,¡¯ Harcourt declared forth, ¡®While your queen barters to save your country? Treason shall not be forgotten, I can assure you all. Raise a serious concern or quiet down forevermore.¡¯ The wrong had already been done, at least for Katherine. Harcourt managed to control the knights and bailiffs, effectively enough to forward her request to the House of Lords without further grumbling, but it was yet another thing Katherine felt her grip slip away from.
When the extraordinary summons was past, and the members of parliament resumed being bailiffs, peers, clergy and knights, Katherine defeatedly stumbled into her carriage, after which Harcourt followed. She tore the pins from her hair, pulled at the veil, and buried her face in its silken cloth. ¡®You got the increase you were asking for,¡¯ Harcourt said initially. Katherine looked up from the cloth in her hands. ¡®You got the increase,¡¯ she corrected. ¡®They don¡¯t want to listen to me, Overleigh. They don¡¯t respect me ¡ª that¡¯s the whole problem.¡¯ He could not bring himself to disagree with her. He crossed his legs and sighed. ¡®You are very distractingly young and unmarried,¡¯ he began. ¡®Perhaps even distressingly so. These men are your father¡¯s men. They respect the law of the land and they respect an authoritative masculine leader, which even among queens, you are not. You are charismatic and playful and keener than given credit for. Your power asserts itself in another way. Please do not let yourself be discouraged ¡ª I will handle parliament, you can benefit more from toying with noblemen and ambassadors who will gladly give you all you ask for. ¡¯ She muffled the sound of her own frustrated screeching with the veil she held in her hands. When she came back up, she shook her head. ¡®Horrible,¡¯ she said. ¡®Let some old fart as yourself handle the meat of my occupation while I busy myself with fancying and being fancied. I am the queen, Overleigh, not some whore. They will bow to me.¡¯ ¡®They will not,¡¯ he disagreed, ¡®I¡¯m not sure how to tell you this, Katherine, but¡­ unless you are planning on changing every single thing about you, you will always be a woman with a naturally accommodating disposition, who was raised not to rule but instead to be married off well. It¡¯s a completely different skill set that was taught to you.¡¯ ¡®And I¡¯m not even fucking married either!¡¯ she fumed. ¡®Language, missy¡­¡¯ Harcourt said. ¡®You¡¯re not my father, Overleigh, I hope that¡¯s clear to you,¡¯ she hissed. ¡®Sadly not,¡¯ he said. ¡®If your father was in this carriage with you, we wouldn¡¯t be in this predicament.¡¯ ¡®I am replacing everyone in this fucking parliament,¡¯ she said. ¡®Seriously. First thing I¡¯ll do.¡¯ He clicked his tongue. ¡®You can¡¯t do that, I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ he said. ¡®Parliament is elected. The best you can do is disband it. I really don¡¯t understand, though: you got what you wanted. So what they want to know which eligible prince is most likely to be chosen as royal muff-duster? Do you think nobody ever asked Queen Louise? If anyone¡¯s life has been scrutinised, it would be hers. And yet, she came out on top. You can, as well.¡¯ ¡®And what if I don¡¯t want my life scrutinised?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Would a king¡¯s life be? I don¡¯t suppose so. Just because decisions were made on the nature of my life, the nature of the use I would have to you lot in the future, does not mean that you get to decide on where I shall go! I will disband parliament. I do not want to come out on top, I want to be a person again! Not some diplomatic ragdoll dragged from court to court in hopes of finding any support for the common good of man! I¡¯m abdicating!¡¯ When the word had come out, Katherine winced at the impact it had on Harcourt. She had expected him to be jubilant: had she abdicated a year before, he would have been. But instead, he knitted his brows and looked at her in desperation. ¡®This is something I cannot stop you from doing,¡¯ he said. ¡®But if I were you, I would think twice about it. You¡¯ve made great steps so far. Do not forget that I could not have said anything to make you abdicate last year. You were dead-set on becoming the queen. Now, look at you.¡¯ She was breathing heavily, and there was a chaotic pattern of hand-wiped marks on her painted face, through which the reddened skin beneath showed. ¡®I¡¯m abdicating,¡¯ she said again, her voice low and gravelly. ¡®I don¡¯t care what I said last year. I have no appetite to be part of some obscene theatre where they will behead me in the end. I know how this tale goes, and I am opting out.¡¯ Demonstratively, Harcourt opened the curtains to one side of the carriage, through which a warm late spring breeze entered. They were far out of Racleigh, so far in fact that the city was simply a short wall creeping towards the horizon. He inhaled through his nose and slowly exhaled through his mouth. ¡®Your country,¡¯ he then said, gesturing towards the open window jovially with his hands. ¡®Beautiful and fecund and brilliantly accommodating. A vision in springtime especially. It is a rare honour to be able to steer a ship that is so mesmerising, glittering like a jewel, with revitalising lakes, majestic peaks, a different dialect every hour you spend in a carriage, skilled craftsmen, outstanding universities.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t care for it,¡¯ Katherine snapped. Harcourt smiled knowingly. ¡®Doesn¡¯t matter, Katherine. You are it. To deny that, would be to sever at least two of your limbs. You are the soul of this country which you seem to hate so, just as fickle ¡ª showers one day, making way for burgeoning sunlight the next ¡ª just as beautiful, just as majestic, just as vast. Abdicating cannot change that, I¡¯m afraid. You will always be Ilworth, with all of its qualities, good or bad.¡¯ 26. Awaiting the Queen Souchon Palace had just sloughed off its last potential new queen, and it quickly had to ready itself for a new contender. Isabella de Ginefort, daughter of Scemena de Ginefort, was a cousin to Henri from the same side of the family that Katherine was. From her portrait she was sweet-looking, slight, redheaded, and had something of a mischievous look in her eyes that the painters managed to capture. Aside from that, she was young and untainted by previous attempts at finding her a husband. A beauty such as herself likely only had to attempt it once, after all. Readying court for her arrival from the war-torn Baradrans was a multifaceted operation, and contained the first real changes that Henri had to make to his palace now he was the king. First of all, now Katherine¡¯s retinue had left, much of the fashionable crowd dispersed over the continent. Souchon Palace was no longer the hub of depravity and debauched festivities; neither was Norbury Lake, for neither Henri nor Katherine had much potency as host and hostess independent of one another, and therefore much of the ne¡¯er-do-goods moved their home base to the city-state of Argento. Given Isabella¡¯s strong faith and connection to her prestigious family name, there was not much use for Henri¡¯s beloved wine fountain or his dungeons, and yet, he struggled to rid himself of them. Now the libertines had moved out of Souchon Palace shortly after Katherine, Henri began enlisting the services of the Sbaian embassy. His contact went through a young woman, previously enslaved, whom the Sbaians had given the name Rima, and occasionally, he met with Freyza of Tougaf. These diplomats supplied him with anywhere from half a dozen to three dozen slaves whenever he inquired, whichever sex, skin colour, height, experience level, sundry skill, or particular characteristic he desired. She had no business to know, but Louise somehow always did, and it ruffled her feathers greatly. It was a humongous expense and nearly just as much as a risk to her son¡¯s security and health. She had hoped, after Katherine¡¯s disappearance, that Henri would draw nearer to his great noble ancestry rather than straying further each day from God. What she consistently reminded herself of, was the fact that that very same Sbaian ambassador that sold Henri hundreds of slaves per year, had been asked to accompany Katherine on her final voyage out of Massouron. According to Louis, who had been their host, she had denied any personal relationship to him. This bothered Louise: she knew Katherine was candid about her relationships, and there would be no way to keep an appearance of purity towards Louis given she was already on her way out of the country. The Sbaian emissaries themselves, however, were occupied with far more pressing matters than King Henri¡¯s risk of syphilis due to their wares. Freyza had arrived in awful spirits and had sulked around, letting his beard grow long and ragged ever since. It had not bothered Bayezid initially: he was used to Freyza¡¯s quirks for better or for worse. Only when a large shipment arrived in Bourrac, and Bayezid learned that Freyza was not yet on his way, did he begin to worry. In normal circumstances, he was known to be a week early. In a great rush, Bayezid entered Freyza¡¯s chancellery. He was sitting hunched over some papers, quill in hand, yet only toying with his hand rather than writing with it. ¡®Master Freyza,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®My apologies for my sudden appearance.¡¯ He looked up one half bewildered and the other frustrated. ¡®And why might you suddenly appear?¡¯ he asked. Bayezid had held his breath until he had calmly closed the door behind him. ¡®Well, Master Freyza, a shipment has been awaiting you some time now. It is waiting to be cleared. Not only is this a grave inconvenience, it also strikes me as much unlike yourself.¡¯ ¡®Why don¡¯t you go to Bourrac?¡¯ he asked. Bayezid sat down and folded his hands together. ¡®You have not asked me ¡ª any previous time, you would not have let me. I cannot help but wonder what has happened to you.¡¯ Freyza raised his bushy brows as far as he could, touching the curl that escaped his hat over his forehead. ¡®Nothing,¡¯ he said. ¡®Nothing that you could help me with, anyway.¡¯ His face appeared grave and his hair, which had had grey in it since his late adolescence, took on a ghostly impression against the green tone of his translucent skin. His hands were clasped together and supported the side of his jaw. ¡®Trouble in paradise?¡¯ Bayezid asked. ¡®I¡¯d rather not return to Bourrac, Bayezid. I left on bad terms last time.¡¯ It was already hazy in Bayezid¡¯s mind. ¡®You were accompanying Her Majesty the Queen of Ilworth and you were looking forward to it,¡¯ he recalled. Freyza shot him a frustrated glance. ¡®Even if you learn everything there is to learn, there is nothing you could help me with, so there is no reason for you to inquire. Besides, you¡¯d likely think I¡¯d lost my mind.¡¯ His associate blinked lazily. ¡®Frankly, with how you¡¯ve been appearing in court these days, I imagine some of us already believe that,¡¯ he said. ¡®Myself not included, obviously. I know how you can be. You appear so stoic, Freyza, but deep down, you¡¯re as soft as a down-stuffed cushion. I remember when Yusra left, and you¡¯d stay in my office for hours just listening to my stories. Attempting distraction. It is a noble quality, but it¡¯ll kill you if you let it. If you continue looking like this, it will at least end your term as ambassador.¡¯Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡®Who cares what I look like?¡¯ he asked. ¡®We live in a country where the king occasionally steps out of his chamber stark naked save for his ermine cloak. And I have to keep up with the shape of my beard, Bayezid? You are ridiculous.¡¯ ¡®Allegedly so,¡¯ he began. ¡®But what happened in Bourrac?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®I won¡¯t tell you.¡¯ ¡®Does anyone know?¡¯ Bayezid asked. ¡®No,¡¯ Freyza admitted. ¡®Tell me alone, and if the word travels, you shall know that it was me,¡¯ he said. ¡®Feel free to handle that fact accordingly.¡¯ Freyza scraped his throat and sat back in his chair. Bayezid looked at him not expectantly or hopeful, but rather attentive, giving the impression of an empathetic friend rather than the court oracle that he had feared. He attempted to speak, thought twice again paused, then, when it had been altered sufficiently, said: ¡®I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve made the grave error of becoming infatuated with someone in the Ilworthian retinue.¡¯ Bayezid raised his brows. ¡®Oh?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Well, that¡¯s quite inconvenient.¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ said Freyza with a nod. ¡®And what is worse is that both the infatuation and the terror upon her departure were mutual. We¡¯d met in Souchon Palace before, but hardly spoke of personal matters. Somehow we both had had an eye on one another and never found it quite befitting our respective stations to pursue it. Then we had the opportunity, the absolute last possible opportunity to see one another in the flesh for likely the rest of our lives, and this caused us to pursue it if only for the time remaining. Now I have returned, I find that it is consuming me. I had no illusions of harbouring no emotions towards her, but equally, I harboured no illusions of having a chance with her.¡¯ ¡®Goodness,¡¯ said Bayezid with genuine concern in his tone and eyes. ¡®Have I met her?¡¯ Freyza¡¯s heart nearly leapt out of his chest. ¡®In passing,¡¯ he said. ¡®You¡¯ve not spoken much, I don¡¯t think.¡¯ ¡®Someone high up?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Quit prying,¡¯ he said. Bayezid clicked his tongue. ¡®I am trying to help you. I imagine someone high up, considering you did not just buy her off of the advisers or however they¡¯d want to call it. Not a chambermaid, at least. Someone very beautiful? Do you think she has caught my eye too?¡¯ Slowly, Freyza began to smile. ¡®Bayezid,¡¯ he chuckled. ¡®I do not believe I have ever met someone more beautiful in my years of service to the Sultan¡¯s great quest to attain the most beautiful women in the world. And besides that, she has the most buoyant soul ¡ª genuinely captivating to witness. I would gladly die to spend one more day in her presence. Had I known this was in the cards, I¡¯d have written her letters and gifts and serenaded her by her window each night if it meant that I could have caught her eye sooner.¡¯ ¡®You are mad,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®In the way of your usual madness, that is. There is always one young lady that makes you want to do these ridiculous things, Freyza, you ought to know by now.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ he said. ¡®This is precisely what I¡¯d feared. Bayezid, I¡¯ve been offered a job in Ilworth. My beloved can set me up with the advisers.¡¯ ¡®Grace of Hellister?¡¯ Bayezid asked. ¡®Of course not,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®I find the Otterdon nobility more distant and regal than I find the crown.¡¯ ¡®Well¡­ if you feel as though it¡¯d be a great development to step out of the light of your liege and into that of your lover¡¯s, you should do it,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®You are wise enough to understand the repercussions of that. I¡¯d like to remind you to what happened the last time you ran after your cock, though. You ideally want to be more certain than you were last time.¡¯ ¡®I shall not go,¡¯ Freyza decided. ¡®While I stand by that decision, that same decision causes me much grief. There is much regret within that ¡ª both options break my heart.¡¯ Bayezid grinned. ¡®Only an old man would choose the regret of inaction over the regret of uncertainty. How about her, Frey? What did she say?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s the issue,¡¯ he said. ¡®As much as I thought the infatuation was mutual, the moment it became clear that I would not be leaving with her, all of that warmth and comfort was ripped from me at once. It was as if she cared not for me, but rather that I was an investment of her future. It makes no sense, absolutely no sense¡­ she does not need me, she wouldn¡¯t be bored without me, plenty seek her affection. It couldn¡¯t have been so cold as it seems. None of it felt cold while it happened.¡¯ ¡®Men like you should be forbidden from ever frequenting a harlot, for you¡¯d likely bankrupt yourself as soon as she¡¯d call you some soulless affectionate term,¡¯ he said. ¡®Will you stop berating me?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I¡¯m in the absolute depth of longing. I will drown in a sea of unanswered desire. I can¡¯t go to Ilworth. I can¡¯t leave this all behind. I¡¯ve lived without her for thirty-five years, and now it seems impossible to live one more day without her. I was content living in a darkness I did not even notice.¡¯ Bayezid began tapping the edge of Freyza¡¯s desk, and his eyes were downcast. His patience appeared to be running out. ¡®This is, by all measures, a ridiculous situation to be in. What did she look like? I¡¯ll find you a copy that won¡¯t leave your side, if you wish.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not interested in a copy; I want to drown in the sea,¡¯ Freyza protested. ¡®Nonetheless,¡¯ said Bayezid. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t you like to indulge a little, given that I¡¯m the only man you¡¯ll tell?¡¯ He sighed deeply and relaxed his clenched jaw. ¡®If she¡¯d been Najan, I¡¯d sold her to the Sultan. White as the moon, pinpricked freckles all over her face and body as if she¡¯d spent her life lying nude in the sun, olive green eyes, and the most exquisite head of red hair.¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ he asked. ¡®A redhead in Queen Katherine¡¯s retinue?¡¯ Freyza had purposefully left the crumbs for Bayezid to follow, but even though it was the case, watching Bayezid follow them before him gave him a feeling that surpassed anxiety. ¡®Is this some elaborate joke?¡¯ Bayezid asked. ¡®I sure wish it was,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®Honestly I do.¡¯ ¡®Katherine of fucking Courtenay has invited you to Ilworth with her?¡¯ he asked, with his voice reduced to a whisper. ¡®Are you kidding me?!¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s what you find most notable of all of this?¡¯ Freyza replied in the same tone. ¡®You should go,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®No,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m too late now. Likely replaced in her affections. She¡¯s a cruel woman, Bayezid. By the morning, she had asked me to take all of this into the grave with me. And yet, I wonder what would have happened, had I chosen to leave this all behind.¡¯ ¡®Who knows?¡¯ Bayezid asked. ¡®Maybe one day, she might have even granted you the honour of sitting by her side at a banquet or something.¡¯ Freyza crossed his arms and wondered if he should tell Bayezid anything more, given that his impression was far more rudimentary than it could be. Though, beneath all of his longing, and beneath even the mask of diplomacy on him in most occasions, he could not help but indulge in some bragging. ¡®Well,¡¯ he said with amusement, ¡®I understand that would be an honour for somebody like yourself. Given, however, that I was offered a position as royal favourite after sleeping with her, I imagine that if I¡¯d said yes, that¡¯d just be where I would sit during most banquets.¡¯ ¡®Alright,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®I see a smile. I¡¯ll ready your carriage to Bourrac, you fucking liar.¡¯ 27. The Archers Apprentice Eleanor, especially when her hair was covered and she held the hand of the famously red-haired princess Johanna, could easily be mistaken for her sister Katherine, though the former was in all ways more agreeable. They stumbled down the steep hill together that led down the lazy river and the small cabin that were tucked away and noticed the knights practising their swordsmanship with their wooden swords, while the ladies watched on and indulged in sweetened wine and the savoury pies that they had brought. Once on flat terrain, Eleanor released Johanna and sent her forth to run towards them, which she did babbling and laughing, drawing their attentions to them. Katherine was leaning over a short fence when she heard her daughter and her footsteps, and perked up immediately. In line with her, however, Eleanor caught her eye. ¡®Ellie!¡¯ she hollered and began to laugh, bending to embrace Johanna as she pulled at her mother¡¯s skirts. ¡®You knew aunt Ellie would come, my love?¡¯ Johanna was small and shy-looking, with oversized saucer-shaped blue eyes, and a type of fluffy red hair that still would not grow past the stage of baby-fine curls nearly reaching her shoulder. She had always been quiet, and being moved from court to court certainly had not helped her to develop a bolder disposition. To answer her mother¡¯s question, she just nodded, her feet turned in awkwardly. Eleanor came towards them and first embraced Katherine. ¡®You look fantastic,¡¯ she told her elder sister. Katherine lovingly knocked her head against Eleanor¡¯s. ¡®You¡¯re one to talk,¡¯ she gloated. ¡®So beautiful. You just got here?¡¯ Eleanor nodded. ¡®Thought you needed a little distraction. George and I both came from Neuhausen, and first I ran into this little thing ¡ª¡¯ she nodded at Johanna, ¡®and I thought I¡¯d come right down to the grounds before we ate.¡¯ ¡®Was the trip any good?¡¯ she asked. ¡®The sea is fine.¡¯ Her eyes travelled across the ladies¡¯ faces, and she smiled gratefully at each of them. Katherine noticed it and offered, ¡®Ellie, these are my closest ladies-in-waiting: Grace of Hellister, Princess of the North, as well as Constance Sherrington, Duchess of Tillygate. Grace is my second brain and Connie is my second pair of eyes. Grace, Connie, this is Princess Eleanor, my second heart. Eleanor, Archduchess of Neuhausen, these days.¡¯ Instead of curtsying, Constance embraced Eleanor, and even Grace was swayed to do so as well. Beyond the fence, Walter was being reprimanded for risky use of his training swords, almost landing its blunt and splintery tip into Henry¡¯s eye, but it appeared only Johanna was still watching. ¡®So,¡¯ Eleanor said to Katherine. ¡®You¡¯re back home.¡¯ ¡®It doesn¡¯t feel like home yet,¡¯ she said. ¡®It feels as if I am now confronted every day with everything that I have attempted to escape for the entirety of my life. I¡¯m unmarried, my daughter barely knows me, parliament recently tore me a new one, and I have been used by the Chavanets to temporarily stuff their court with my grandeur in a great ploy to increase their own status while their transfer of power was taking place. Now, I return to the home where I grew up, and I see none of the promises made to me here have come true.¡¯ Eleanor took Katherine aside and lay a hand over her shoulder. ¡®Well, that¡¯s no walk in the park at all,¡¯ she said. ¡®Last thing I heard of them was that Isabella de Ginefort arrived. I believe the first regrets may be creeping in.¡¯ Katherine could not help but snicker. ¡®Good,¡¯ she said. ¡®I spent more than a year on that scoundrel. I hope he regrets it a lot more than I regret the time I spent there.¡¯ ¡®It will make it possible for you to find another,¡¯ Eleanor said cheerfully. ¡®I¡¯ve met Henri recently for Overleigh had instructed George to finalise some dealings for Ilworthian wares in Massouron, and I wouldn¡¯t have gladly seen the two of you together. He¡¯s a cruel young man, I say. Plenty of foreign and domestic noblemen to take his place.¡¯ They sauntered onwards into the beginnings of the forest, where the path turned more winding and muddy, and where they left the earshot of court. Light danced across their faces with the wind that blew through the leaves and cut out a different shape from the sunlight with each passing moment. Katherine kept her eyes on the ground and her arms behind her back. ¡®It feels strange to say,¡¯ she began. ¡®But each time I see the portraits that had been sent to me, I feel great dread. How did you feel upon meeting George? Were you nervous? Are you supposed to be?¡¯ ¡®Not nervous,¡¯ she said. ¡®Excited, unsure of how it¡¯ll go. George sent me a very sweet and long letter that put me at ease. Then again, Kathy, I imagine you have far more suitors than I ever had, and because you are so visible, it may attract bad apples. And because you are older and now twice burned, I imagine you could feel more dread over the risk you take.¡¯ ¡®And even though Henri wasn¡¯t perfect, he gave me the possibility or organising my life in a way I enjoyed,¡¯ she said. ¡®I¡¯m afraid any other man might disprove of my lovers. With Henri, the worst reaction I could reasonably anticipate, is that he would wish to join us.¡¯ Eleanor chuckled. ¡®In my mind, that is worse than forbidding you,¡¯ she said. Katherine pursed her lips and gave her sister a mischievous look. ¡®Katherine¡­ are you serious?¡¯Stolen novel; please report. She finally gave in and laughed. ¡®You¡¯ve got to do something to impress your suitors, Ellie, you wouldn¡¯t know,¡¯ she protested. ¡®There are worse things one can do. In fact, there are worse things I have done for that ape¡¯s favour.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯d rather not ask,¡¯ Eleanor said. ¡®I¡¯d prefer that,¡¯ Katherine said. She sighed deeply and sauntered on. ¡®Though I know what you mean. It¡¯d be horrible to share a lover if I did love him.¡¯ ¡®George and I have always been in love,¡¯ Eleanor said, ¡®Since we met. I¡¯ve never wished for another.¡¯ ¡®And yet, no babes of your own,¡¯ Katherine mused. ¡®Are you drinking Queen Louise¡¯s arsenic wine?¡¯ ¡®Luckily no poisoned wine as far as I am aware,¡¯ Eleanor said, ¡®Well, I am still young, and I try to appease God where I can and keep Him on my side. Sadly I no longer have a sister who is a nun, so I¡¯ll have to do all the praying for my eternal soul myself.¡¯ ¡®I pray for you still,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®How did you know you were in love with George?¡¯ Eleanor frowned. ¡®We married and I haven¡¯t wished not to be ever since. Why?¡¯ ¡®No reason,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®Really?¡¯ she asked. ¡®You talk as though you are wondering about a feeling that you might have.¡¯ ¡®I am wondering about the legitimacy of a statement that I made some time ago,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®But it appears you are of little help to me.¡¯ ¡®There is a lover you¡¯ve come to appreciate more?¡¯ she wondered. ¡®Not that knight of yours, I suppose?¡¯ ¡®Henry and I are great friends,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®I love him as I love all my friends, but there is no feverishness longing when we are apart. I appreciate him for what he has done for me over the years. Same with Walter, who you have yet to meet. I care for him deeply, and I would be reluctant to see him go, but we are not in love. I¡¯ve had the honour of sharing a carriage with an ambassador who has been trying to get my favour since I came to Souchon. Nothing very exciting or passionate had happened between us during that time, though I was given many gifts and addressed with the utmost respect and care all the while. That final day, that final night in Massouron, I believed it would be a fine idea to spend the night in his quarters. Foolishly, I believed in the idiotic feeling that there was more than just the ill effects of my exile that was coursing through my veins.¡¯ ¡®And now?¡¯ Eleanor asked. ¡®Now I struggle to feel anything for whatever suitor writes me, and all I want is to turn back time and profess my interest the first instance that it was piqued,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®I am no longer in charge of my own heart.¡¯ ¡®This appears to be one of the less foolish things you¡¯ve said,¡¯ Eleanor said. ¡®You sound far less crass in your discussion about this ambassador than any other man I¡¯ve heard you speak of. You told him that you loved him, Katherine?¡¯ Katherine nodded uncertainly, her brows knitted together. ¡®I think that¡¯s rather lovely,¡¯ said Eleanor. ¡®You can¡¯t tell anyone,¡¯ Katherine added. ¡®He¡¯s not of the faith.¡¯ That was when Eleanor frowned for the first time during their conversation. ¡®What ambassador isn¡¯t of the faith?¡¯ she asked. ¡®The Duke of Tougaf,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®The Sbaian ambassador. His first name is Freyza.¡¯ ¡®I see¡­¡¯ Eleanor said. ¡®I believe I met him last time I was in Massouron ¡ª in passing, of course. Or perhaps it was his associate, I cannot be sure. They have a fine embassy. You¡¯ve asked him about the faith, or¡­?¡¯ Katherine clicked her tongue. ¡®My dear, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever asked one of my lovers about their faith. I was not planning to start that tradition with a Sbaian man.¡¯ ¡®Well, if he is a duke, and you profess to love him, and he wishes to accept the true faith¡­ write him?¡¯ Eleanor offered. ¡®You do not understand,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®It would be lopsided. I¡¯d marry a prince for his prestige and keep lovers, rather than marry a duke I could love.¡¯ ¡®I might not agree,¡¯ Eleanor said, ¡®But I will be praying for clarity in this matter. The people of Ilworth deserve to know for certain who the father is of their next king of queen, Kathy. And that man deserves to be a man that you believe in ¡ª beyond any physical merits he may have.¡¯ She chuckled darkly. ¡®Oh, so you¡¯ve heard of physical merits?¡¯ she asked. ¡®You treat me as if I¡¯m some virgin priestess,¡¯ Eleanor said. ¡®Aren¡¯t you?¡¯ ¡®Despite your fixation with the sensuous realm, I think I am more experienced when it comes to love at large,¡¯ she said with great satisfaction, ¡®You profess love to a man and you fear it. Though it makes for a great pastime to pine, consider that this might be an uncomfortable reality bred from sleeping with men just because you thought it would be fun.¡¯ ¡®If you¡¯re in Massouron,¡¯ Katherine said, turning on her heels before they would stray too far into the forest, ¡®Tell him I think of him often. Please. I require no more judgement from you, even though I know you mean well. And when you do see him, do not prompt him to write, and do not tell him that I told you this. Definitely do not tell him that I professed my to love him again.¡¯ ¡®He won¡¯t hear it from me,¡¯ said Eleanor. They walked back to the cabin again, hoping to see the knights finish up their games, when they noticed that there were a number of guards walking around, and Richard faced them with his back. Katherine felt her heart sink when she did not see Johanna walking around. She ran towards the cabin, her skirts hiked up in her hands, and once she was back at the fence, she saw that Johanna was being guarded by her ladies instead. The knights were gone. ¡®Ah, Your Majesty,¡¯ said Richard, looking upon a now thoroughly red-faced Katherine. ¡®We were wondering where you had gone.¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s the meaning of all this fanfare?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Have we a traitor in our midst once again?¡¯ Richard asked prophetically. ¡®It appears that your champion Henry de Vega has been shot between his shoulder blades by the late Lord William¡¯s old footman with his very own bow.¡¯ Katherine¡¯s breath quickened. ¡®Fuck¡¯s sake,¡¯ she murmured under her breath. ¡®Are you sure that it was not an accident? How is Henry? What have you ordered?¡¯ ¡®You were gone,¡¯ said Richard, beginning to feel defensive about Katherine¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡®Henry was accompanied to the physician. Walter is, once again, on house arrest in his chambers. How often will this have to happen before it is your shoulder blades with an arrow between them, or your torso with a bullet hole?¡¯ ¡®It was an accident,¡¯ said Grace, who walked towards them. The weather changed dramatically in an instant, turning from a gentle crowd-sprinkled blue sky to a breezy grey one. Katherine swore she felt the first rainfall on her face. ¡®Henry is trying to teach Walter the ropes.¡¯ ¡®That may be so,¡¯ said Richard, ¡®But there may be thoughts he has that not even you can see, Lady Grace. Thoughts that may require investigation. Moreover, do we need a courtier who is so prone to accidents?¡¯ Katherine¡¯s eyes glazed over. From the serious consideration in Richard¡¯s tone, it appeared that Henry had been badly hurt. She did not dare ask if he would live. She kicked herself for leaving ¡ª perhaps she could have warned them for a risk they did not see, and that the ladies were too busy watching Johanna for to notice from the sidelines. A pit of deep anguish filled her stomach and threatened to swallow everything in its path. ¡®Enough bickering,¡¯ she said. ¡®I¡¯m going inside for a drink.¡¯ 28. The Business & Art of Changeability Thaw was sudden. A scapegoat had been found. The relief from William¡¯s death had been underwhelming and careened the remaining courtiers down a steep hill of distrust of one another and of Katherine, because even if the assassin himself was killed, the fact that a courtier had been ordered to death by another, as nobody believed Katherine to be the brain behind this operation, meant that all of their lives were in one another¡¯s hands. This was a reality that especially prominent vassals and advisers were not willing to accept. Nobody admitted to ordering it. Nobody admitted to the partisan belief that Lord William had deserved his fate. It was now far simpler: Walter was associated with William, and therefore held some suspicious history, and he was a favourite, which was a group of courtiers that was universally despised by the others. Condemning him was not challenging. Yet, this time, Katherine did not give the word, and in house arrest, Walter remained for weeks, though each council increased the pressure on the queen to relent one of her lovers. She was more concerned with Henry¡¯s health, and often came by his quarters. One of these instances, when Katherine had found a moment to check on her injured knight, she found herself standing behind his squire, who was observing the physician as he put a fragrant ointment on Henry¡¯s upper back, where a wound was slowly withering into the shape of a stitched scar. There was no herald to announce her, and so an awkward shuffle and the scraping of her throat would suffice. The squire turned and ducked out of Katherine¡¯s sight. ¡®My apologies, Your Majesty.¡¯ Katherine looked over at the squire, who had a youthful face and was of short stature, but did not appear to be an adolescent boy. ¡®Say, have we met?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I don¡¯t recall Henry having a woman as a squire.¡¯ ¡®No, Your Majesty,¡¯ she said. Katherine chuckled. ¡®You needn¡¯t call me Your Majesty twice, please. Very distracting, lady¡­¡¯ ¡®Lady Jamesina, my lady,¡¯ she said, and curtsied awkwardly in the men¡¯s clothing she was wearing, ¡®Or just Jaime anywhere but at court.¡¯ ¡®I see¡­¡¯ said Katherine, and then disregarded her completely in favour of Henry, who was lying on his stomach and hissing with the pain of the ointment. ¡®Your back is looking better.¡¯ ¡®It doesn¡¯t feel better,¡¯ Henry mumbled, scrunching the feathers of his pillow in his closed fist. The physician¡¯s gaze was blank, and Katherine tried to peer into his blue eyes, trying to gage how badly he was still doing. ¡®Surely you are on the way back to health,¡¯ she said. ¡®You¡¯ll be good as new when that gash closes properly.¡¯ ¡®If they stop feeding me just broth and bread, it may go faster,¡¯ he complained. Softly, Katherine landed her hand on his shoulder, tracing his shoulder blade as far away from the wound as he could. ¡®I would be very concerned if you ceased to complain about whatever food given to you. I¡¯m sure the physician has your best interests in mind.¡¯ ¡®Would a bit of meat hurt?¡¯ he asked. Katherine looked at the physician, who was shocked to be addressed at all, even soundlessly by her. He nodded uncomfortably and Katherine sighed: ¡®Yes, it would.¡¯ ¡®God damn it,¡¯ said Henry. ¡®That boy really does deserve to burn.¡¯
To hear such a thing from Henry of all people rattled Katherine greatly. That night, when a servant girl was brushing out her hair, she gazed out of the window into the moonlit night, while Norbury Lake proper shimmered below. On a night like this, she often anticipated the departure of her maids in favour of the arrival of one of her lovers, but there was nobody left for her. She withdrew her legs to her body and covered them with her arms. She felt like there was nothing to look forward to, nothing to appreciate in the life that she had. It was foolish, even she knew, but at that moment, she considered Eleanor¡¯s words about the nature of love. The maid left her after her hair was brushed out and pulled into a single braid to keep it from tangling in her sleep, and Katherine let herself fall down onto her bed. She gazed up at the deep red of her velvet canopy and sighed. Nobody would be seeing to her. She would be left to her own devices until the morning. She considered getting up to write her lover back in Massouron, but ultimately decided against it. The letter would likely go through many hands before it reached his, and she was unsure whether she could ever face Richard after knowing that he had read what she was meaning to write. Instead, Katherine thought of Walter, who was likely feeling just as lonesome as she was, except far more terrified than she ever could be. All because of an accident. She truly believed that he had not done it on purpose, and was feeling rather upset about the prospect of punishing him for an unintentional act, but the pressure had been applied to her, and it was hard for her to imagine letting him go without some act of punishment. It was likely to reek of the worst rumours of her: that she was sensuous and had no direction as a ruler but that of her private person. She crept under her silk sheets and took one last look at the glimmering lights of Norbury Lake and the sea, after which she undid the knots in the ties that bundled the canopy¡¯s curtains. After that, it was darkness, and surrounded by velvet, she finally felt as though she could sleep.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
The next day, she checked on Henry again, and crossed Jaime on the way back to morning council. ¡®Oh, Jamesina,¡¯ Katherine said, and halted her by laying a hand on her shoulder. ¡®Considering you are out of a job and spend your court-salaried days looking at my knight¡¯s back¡­ may I borrow you for a moment? I¡¯ve a very important assignment from you.¡¯ Jaime, with her hair hidden in a cap, and wearing a boy¡¯s uniform, looked rather terrified. ¡®Yes, Your Majesty, of course¡­¡¯ ¡®Wonderful,¡¯ she said. ¡®Do come with me.¡¯ Katherine had not thought it over much, and she found herself opening the first door to her left, which opened to a linen cabinet. She sighed and yet entered, gesturing Jaime to come along. It was cramped with the pair of them in it, and Katherine stood against the door still, leaning so she could feel when it was being opened. Out of a small embroidered bag at her waist, she took a set of keys and waited for Jaime to raise her hand. When she did, Katherine dropped them. ¡®Tonight, I will make sure that the gate is open,¡¯ she said. ¡®And the stables are readied. This key opens the door to Sir Walter¡¯s chamber. Leave it open and tell him to seek the stables.¡¯ Jaime pursed her lips. ¡®Lady Katherine¡­¡¯ she began. ¡®Are you testing me? I can assure you that I have been nothing but loyal to the crown in my short career¡­¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ said Katherine plainly. ¡®In fact, had I believed your loyalties to lie elsewhere, I wouldn¡¯t have asked. Don¡¯t get any illusions. I just imagine you have taken up the lowly occupation as squire despite your advanced age for such an occupation simply to shag my champion. Thus, making you somewhat non-partisan. You likely do not care either way.¡¯ Jaime chuckled awkwardly. ¡®My lady, I wouldn¡¯t dream of seeing Sir Henry in any way except as a patient and wise mentor,¡¯ she said. ¡®I am the daughter of a priest. I have nowhere to go but the streets, my lady; I have a modest talent in archery and was noticed by one of your knights.¡¯ ¡®Have it your way,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®I prefer honesty, but I can work with pity and a flattering lie. My point is that I wish for you to do my bidding. And if we are to do any more dealings together, Jamesina, understand that I don¡¯t care for sob stories.¡¯ Jaime clenched the keys in her small hand. ¡®I will see to it,¡¯ she said. Katherine¡¯s face cleared up into an agreeable smile. ¡®Well, isn¡¯t that nice?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Have him ready by matins.¡¯
Jaime spent her evening hours wondering what she should do about the strange request, and worried whether the true course of action should have actually been to toward all of this to the spymaster. Rumours of Katherine¡¯s madness were making the rounds already, and considering that this was the first she had ever spoken to the queen, she did not find them challenging to believe. The keys jingled in her hands as she passed them between her left and right. She had agreed to it, and was waiting for matins. She pondered Walter¡¯s complicity of all the plots she had ever heard, whether through Henry or through the grape vine. Henry had always treated Walter as a younger brother, taking him on hunting expeditions, to taverns and speaking of him well despite his skittish disposition which he did not tolerate from anyone else. And now, Henry lay wincing three times a day when the physician smeared ointment on him, and had screamed bloody murder when his stitches were put in, all because of that same boy. Why did Katherine feel the need to save him? Was Henry not as dear to her as Jaime thought he was? Henry¡¯s connection to the queen was much-publicised. He made no secret of the fact that they were old friends, and hinted at the rest of it, which always concerned Jaime as it put a target on his back. She did not realise that the target would be literal. Against her will, once it was midnight, she left her chamber and walked, shrouded in her navy cloak and carrying a faintly lit torch, to the wing where she knew Walter to be kept in house arrest. The keys were burning in her hand. She was happy to see that the respective wing of the castle was not, in fact, where Katherine and her nearest courtiers slept, for it was nowhere near Henry¡¯s room either, and it seemed that this part of the castle was hardly guarded. That was until she looked down. By the bottom of the door lay two unconscious guards that startled Jaime. Her first instinct was to check their pulse, but what good was it really whether they were dead or alive? Besides, if they were alive, perhaps the touch of her ice-cold hand would wake them. Instead, she fumbled with the keys until she held it forward, jittery from nerves, and stuck it into the lock with some hesitation. She inhaled, then exhaled sharply, and turned the key. She stepped over the guards, be they corpses or simply unconscious men, and pushed the door open at the same time. A waft of hot air came towards her that melted the night¡¯s frost off of her hands and feet. ¡®Sir Walter,¡¯ she said, her voice but a whisper, before she had even located the man. ¡®You may go.¡¯ Walter was sitting in the windowsill in his undershirt and a pair of breeches, with stocked feet but no shoes to be found. He looked at her breathlessly. ¡®Go,¡¯ Jaime repeated when Walter did not move. ¡®Why?¡¯ Walter asked. Jaime did not know. ¡®You don¡¯t want to escape?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Who are you?¡¯ he asked in return. ¡®I¡¯m not sure how to answer that,¡¯ said Jaime. ¡®Lady Katherine gave me the keys, if that helps. You should really go, I think they¡¯re putting you to death.¡¯ That at least got him to stand up and seek his shoes. ¡®Death, you say?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Where must I go?¡¯ She did not have the heart to tell him that nobody would be awaiting him with an embrace and a warm bath, but rather that he would have to fend for himself from now on. ¡®The stables,¡¯ she said, not missing a beat, ¡®Be careful out there.¡¯ He shuffled into his shoes and passed her in the door frame. For a moment, he observed her face and gave her a pat on the back. ¡®Thank you, kind stranger,¡¯ he said. ¡®Perhaps one day I¡¯ll repay you.¡¯ As he ran off, Jaime stood dumbfounded at what had just happened. Worse, Walter had not even brought a cloak or a warm doublet with him, and she doubted that he had any money.
Walter ran as fast as he could, skipping down the staircases and picking up the pace in the final hallway. He knocked the door open with his whole body, then made a sprint for the stables, where one of the horses had been tied to a post, with a saddle on his back and a note clipped to it. In the darkness he tried to make out the lettering, and the more he squinted and racked his brain, the further he got. It is only a line or two, he thought. Perhaps one day I will seek you again. Good luck and much love. Katherine R He scrunched the note in his hand and took the reins, the words of his mistress still with him, holding his hand in some way. He realised he was to leave ¡ª really, to leave. He had not imagined ever fending for himself again since he had learned the warmth and the pleasant air of Katherine¡¯s favour. Yet, here he was, cold and shivering, about to leave Norbury Castle and descend the Rock. Likely he would spend the night in Norbury Lake for the gates were closed, but he had no gold on him¡­ Walter took in the majesty of the castle one last time, and on his horse, made his way to the edge of the estate, where one of the gates had been left open. As he left the castle for good, he heard a whistle that made him look over his shoulder. On the parapet walk stood Jaime, holding a large sack filled to the brim, waving madly with her arms. ¡®For you!¡¯ she hollered, holding the sack over the edge, ¡®Catch!¡¯ Shocked by the kindness, Walter held out his arms and the sack fell into them, closed securely and full of clothes, gold and supplies he could identify just by the feel of them. ¡®Thank you!¡¯ he hollered back. ¡®Who are you?¡¯ But by the time he looked up at the parapets, she was already gone. Even with all of this with him, it would be a long night to come. The Known World - Primer on the world of P&TP Dear reader, if you¡¯ve just begun Power & the Price, feel free either to skim this chapter or to skip it altogether. The story itself should give you a good idea about the known world and remind you on any important information. However, if you ever are curious about more context, if something is insufficiently clear to you, or desire a bit of a primer on a new character you¡¯ve just met, feel free to look below! This is a spoiler free zone, as all information is based on the world as it is in Chapter 1. I¡¯ll be editing this as I write P&TP because the world is quite large and I might change or add details here and there. I also am still torn on the names of some characters that appear later in the story, so those won¡¯t be included yet! This also means that, if you¡¯re reading it while it¡¯s coming out, this document is more spoiler free than it will be in the future. Notable places will also be added to when they are mentioned in the story. I hope that this is comprehensive enough and explains the world quite well. However, if at any point things are unclear, feel free to leave a comment to that effect. I will be sure to respond to any questions. Intro into the world Power & the Price takes place in a fantastical world inspired by late medieval and early modern Europe, particularly the countries of England, Scotland, the Low Countries, France, Aragon, Venice, and the Ottoman Empire. The story takes place in the countries of Ilworth, Otterdon Island, Neuhausen, Massouron, the Baradran Kingdom (sometimes referred to as the Baradrans), Argento, and the Sbai Empire.

Ilworth

Ilworth is a large island off the coast of Massouron and Neuhausen, and it is the country that the story takes place in most prominently. It is currently ruled by the Courtenay family. Notable places:

Otterdon Island

Otterdon Island is a large island west of Ilworth which is markedly less developed than Ilworth, but still ruled by the same family. In the past, Otterdon Island had its own royal family, namely the Langleys. Otterdon Island is home to many independence factions.

Neuhausen

Neuhausen is a satellite state of Ilworth, that borders Massouron to the north. It is a democratic city state with an elected Archduke, but many of the higher-ups are Ilworthians. Also, its birth as a country comes from Ilworthian interference in Massouric border regions. Notable places:

Massouron

Massouron is the most powerful country on the continent, ruled by the Chavanets. The head of their power is in Souchon, which is a very popular court for the elites all over the continent. The Courtenays originate from Massouron and were once their ruling family. Notable places:

The Baradran Kingdom

Also referred to as the Baradrans, the Baradran Kingdom is a country historically ruled by the Ginefort family, though has known many uprisings, most recently being challenged by the De Serra family. Their ruling family is considered to be one of the most prestigious, meaning many characters in other countries are related to one another through Ginefort heritage. They border Massouron¡¯s south, and Argento¡¯s west, and a channel runs to separate their border with the Sbai Empire. They also have a range of islands named the Najan Isles.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Notable places:

Argento

Argento is a city-state most notable for its civilised culture and strange fashions. Argento is a prominent trading port.

The Sbai Empire

The Sbai Empire has about the same size as all of the above countries combined. It is ruled by a sultan, the first of which named in the story is Selim. They have particularly warm trading relations with the Baradrans and Argento. Characters introduced in Arc 1

A

Azeline: Massouric courtier

B

Bayezid of Amouas: previously Freyza¡¯s assistant, promoted to Sword of the Treasury

C

Charles (Charlie) Archambeau: knight and lover of Prince Henri Cuthbert Harcourt, Lord Overleigh: secretary of state in Ilworth, husband of Lettice of Courtenay Constance Sherrington: Duchess of Tillygate, lady-in-waiting to Katherine

D

De Vere: Ilworthian adviser Diane Neville: heiress of Le Roumont, marriage prospect of Henri de Chavanet Domenico de Serra: father of Johanna de Serra, erstwhile suitor to Queen Katherine Dorothy Abell: treasurer in Ilworth E ? Edward of Courtenay: previous heir to the Ilworthian and Otterdon throne, who passed away just before his father King Richard Eleanor of Courtenay: Katherine¡¯s younger sister, archduchess of Neuhausen

F

Falcona: Bayezid¡¯s Baradran wife Ferdinand de Ginefort: King of the Baradrans Francis of Langley: Prince of the North (heir of the old Otterdon Island dynasty) Freyza, Duke of Tougaf: previously slaver and Sword of the Treasury in the Sbai Empire, just beginning his career as Sbaian ambassador in Massouron

G

George Marbury: Archduke of Neuhausen, married to Eleanor of Courtenay Grace of Langley: Princess of the North (heiress of the old Otterdon Island dynasty), potential challenger of Katherine when it comes to the crown of Otterdon Island Gregory Vale: Duke of Dolcotshire

H

Henry (later: Henri) de Chavanet: crown prince of Massouron Henry de Vega: knight from Dolcotshire

I

Iskander: Freyza¡¯s servant J ? Joan de Ginefort: Richard of Courtenay¡¯s wife, mother of Edward, Katherine, Eleanor and Thomas of Courtenay Johanna de Serra / of Courtenay: Princess of Ilworth and Otterdon Island, bastard daughter of Katherine of Courtenay

K

Katherine of Courtenay: Queen of Ilworth and Otterdon Island

L

Leonora: slave girl captured by Freyza in the Najan isles Lettice of Courtenay: Princess of Ilworth and Otterdon Island, Richard¡¯s sister, who is married to the secretary of state Harcourt Louise de Chavanet: Queen of Massouron

R

? Richard of Courtenay: late King of Ilworth and Otterdon Island, father of Edward, Katherine, Eleanor and Thomas Richard Dauncey: Baron of Milden Cross, guildmaster of the Innkeepers¡¯ Guild

S

Scemena de Ginefort: sister of Silouane and Joan de Ginefort Selim: Sultan of the Sbai Empire Silouane de Ginefort: Louise¡¯s husband, consort king of Massouron Sophie de Chavanet: Princess of Massouron, twin sister of Henri de Chavanet (in earlier chapters called Henry)

T

Theo de Sainte-Vallac: secretary of state of Massouron Thomas: notable in the innkeepers¡¯ guild

W

Walter: William¡¯s footman William Lennard: Duke of Astwick, administrator to Lettice of Courtenay

Y

Yusra: Freyza¡¯s former wife Characters introduced in arc 2 and 3

C

Camelia: Argentan marriage prospect for King Henri

I

Isabella de Ginefort: Henri¡¯s marriage prospect after Katherine

J

Jamesina (Jaime) Aldesgate: squire to Henry de Vega

L

Louis de Chavanet: Henri¡¯s younger brother, Lord Bourrac

R

Robert Fairfax: famous Ilworthian rake living in Massouron

T

Theophania: Norbury Lake-based prostitute

Z

Zahya: Freyza¡¯s son with Yusra 29. Circling the Light Walter was worried about losing the contents of his burlap sack in the corner of some inn where he could only rent a spot in a giant bed, so he stayed in Norbury Lake during the night, camping out by the forested area that was separated from the royal territories with a large fence to which he tied the reins of his horse. When the sun hit his face, he found himself cradling the large sack like a beloved, his feet crossed over top of it and his arms in an embrace. He was beginning to grow hungry, and worried about the next few days in particular. When he left, he had made a plan: he would travel back to Gartham, where he had spent his life up until his late adolescence, and rejoin his parents. His time as footman, and even more so, as a royal favourite, he would look back upon as a massive mistake that he had learned from and would vow never to do again. Whatever glittering status offered to him, he would kindly reject. Gartham was far, nearly by the Hailstone Stronghold where one could cross the narrowest bit of sea to Otterdon Island. And not only was it far, the further north one went, the worse the roads got, and the fewer towns one would find on their path. With the less-developed land came a relatively higher amount of highwaymen and other scoundrels that would threaten his safety, especially if they had any reason to suspect the contents of his sack being what they were. He looked rather well-kept even after a week on house arrest. Any weathered criminal would recognise him as a duke¡¯s son, or a high-up official. A young, naive man with more money on him than he could have feasibly spent on his way to wherever he was going. He stopped by a cook shop on his way for a pastry and ate it on horseback. He remembered the nights he would go out within these very same city walls with Henry, and just the picture of Henry¡¯s face in his mind made him deeply regretful. It was hard for him, at least at first, to feel any amount of hatred for Katherine, but when the first showers began once he was firmly out of the city, he began to feel it. He was irritated knowing that the queen and her retinue were likely enjoying a peaceful game inside while his horse and him were trudging through the mud on a trip that would take days, after which his only reward would be to return to his life as a Gartham-based serf. There was no positive spin he could give it. He was cornered. Part of him wondered whether they were looking for him, whether he should disguise himself or make more of an effort not to take main roads where he eventually started crossing carriages. However, when he was in Norbury Lake, nobody seemed to be on high alert, and the guardsmen did not even stop him at the edge of town. Perhaps simply nobody cared. He was thoroughly soaked through when he arrived in the next town, which was more of a hamlet than anything else. There were a few cabins, a small alehouse, and a church, and the square in the center of these half a dozen buildings was but a muddy pitch with evidence of there having once been market stalls. Walter looked down at himself. The silk of his breeches had warped and discoloured with the rain. He cursed the weather briefly and scrambled off of his horse, only taking off the heavy sack when he had tied the reins to one of the beams that marked the porch of the alehouse. With the sack draped over his right shoulder, he stumbled into the alehouse were a few villagers were drinking, and all of the eyes were suddenly on him. He was even unsure of what he wanted: Walter had gone in to sit down and rest from his uncomfortable posture on the horse, to give said horse a rest himself too. ¡®Good day,¡¯ he said uncomfortably, laying the sack down by an unoccupied chair and then walking forward to the large pot of ale where the villagers sat closeby. It was a corpulent young woman that stood stirring the pot. ¡®Young lad,¡¯ she said. ¡®What can I do for you?¡¯ Walter narrowed his eyes. ¡®Ale, please?¡¯ he asked. She chuckled softly. ¡®Aye¡­¡¯ ¡®And¡­ I was wondering if there was perhaps an inn nearby? I didn¡¯t see it while entering town. I¡¯m somewhat passing through.¡¯ ¡®Where will you go?¡¯ she asked, handing him a ceramic cup full of watery ale. Walter took it gratefully and took his first sip of the diluted, but comfortingly spiced cup. ¡®Gartham,¡¯ he said. ¡®Where I¡¯m from.¡¯ ¡®Never heard of it,¡¯ she said. ¡®Is it far?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m no longer so sure,¡¯ he said. ¡®I was hoping you¡¯d know. I am just a day away now, and I am starting already to feel disoriented. I came from Norbury Lake.¡¯ ¡®That explains the posh outfit,¡¯ she said. ¡®A Norbury Lake laddie. It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve had one of your kind in here.¡¯ He snickered uncomfortably. ¡®Is there an inn nearby?¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ll want to go up to Stansby or Hambledon for an inn,¡¯ she said, stirring. ¡®Here, there¡¯s little more than the hospitality of the people. No inns, nothing. Just a lonely alehouse here.¡¯Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. It was decidedly not what he wanted to hear. ¡®Have you heard of the escaped prisoner?¡¯ he asked. Her eyes turned big as saucers. ¡®Escaped prisoner?¡¯ she asked, her accent getting thicker each word she spoke. ¡®No, what of him?¡¯ Walter pursed his lips. ¡®I am the escaped prisoner,¡¯ he said. ¡®I hurt a knight by accident and now I¡¯m on the run. I was wondering if a herald had warned you of me. Luckily, at least that much has not been done.¡¯ She extended a mead-stained hand. ¡®In a way, that makes us acquaintances,¡¯ she said. ¡®I am Eliza. Elizabeth to the church. You owe me my name for that bit of honesty you¡¯ve just bestowed upon me¡­ unless you may lie. Then, who is to say my name truly is Eliza?¡¯ ¡®Eliza!!¡¯ hollered an ancient woman as she sauntered into the alehouse. ¡®Alright¡­¡¯ said Eliza, ¡®You may be certain that this is my name.¡¯ ¡®I also do not lie,¡¯ said Walter. ¡®I am an innocent man charged with harm that was done unintentionally. I was once a favourite of the queen. My name is Walter.¡¯ He had imagined that mentioning his first name alone would be enough to set her off, but instead of a wide-eyed recognition, Eliza poured the regular a cup of ale and smiled at Walter thereafter. ¡®I thought Her Majesty only had eyes for that Massouric prince.¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ Walter said, choosing to talk along rather than deny anything she had said. Royal life was so far removed from them that it was almost comforting to him. For Eliza, there was no Sir Henry, no failed engagement to King Henri, no crime that he had done, and she could not have possibly heard of William Lennard. For Eliza, there was likely only her alehouse and its regulars. ¡®Well, Walter¡­ you¡¯re kind of in the way,¡¯ she said. ¡®You came on a horse, correct?¡¯ He nodded meekly. ¡®Then it shouldn¡¯t be hard to reach Stansby by nightfall,¡¯ she said. ¡®Follow the path north. Stansby should have an inn called Ferdinand the Unfaithful ¡ª after the fairytale, of course. The innkeeper is called Ferdinand as well. Mention Ale Eliza and you¡¯ll be sure not to be turned away.¡¯ ¡®That is very generous,¡¯ said Walter and drank his ale. Only when he sat back down did it dawn on him that mentioning that he was the fugitive could bite him down the line. He had thought nothing of it when he had said it, for he had been taught to be earnest and for his thoughts to be on his tongue, but instead of his warrant not having been made, it could also be that the warrant just travelled ever so slightly slower than he did, and that a veritable caravan was making their way across the country as he rested, publicising the details of the escaped man. He gulped and promised himself to finish his ale quickly. Mention Ale Eliza, he thought. Ferdinand the Unfaithful.
He would have stayed longer due to the showers still going, and he would have preferred a quiet place to change, but instead, he just draped his cloak over his wet silks and mounted his horse again. He found the path north and resumed his trek through his country, from one nameless village with a nameless alehouse to the royal duchy of Stansby. For a misguided moment, he worried that House Stansby would currently be occupied by a Courtenay. Duchess of Stansby was Katherine¡¯s title, but nonetheless, many of the houses would sit unoccupied many days out of the year if she did allow her relatives to live there. Either way, it was likely better informed than these nameless hamlets were. His horse valiantly carried him over the increasingly hilly landscapes where he saw few men, and where he clutched the dagger that the mysterious short-haired lady had thought to include in his sack in case of highwaymen. Stansby was a sight. It was built on a hill and looked over a wild valley through which a roaring river ran. On the top of the hill was House Stansby, which was an especially beautiful royal estate that reminded him of the portrayals of castles in illustrated manuscripts. It was ancient but well-maintained, with many turrets boasting Courtenay flags, and many buildings within its bailey. In fact, most of Stansby was still within that bailey of limestone. Despite his back that was killing him, and his nerves only a little behind, he found it charming. He rode into Stansby and upon entering, indeed was not asked to identify himself nor halted at all when he made it to the bailey. Perhaps he was a free man after all. Perhaps he could be calm, knowing that, while the royal sun no longer shone upon him, at least he was not at risk of being randomly arrested. When he smelled the delightful scents of the cookshops and taverns, and saw the content townspeople walking with their pastries to the tavern or their ales to the cookshop to finish their meal, he felt like he could have stayed here if he could. Before entering the inn, he walked around after walking his horse to a trough that belonged to Ferdinand the Unfaithful. The first place he went was to the river. Though it bore no resemblance to the lazy river of Norbury Castle¡¯s gardens, there was still a strange sense of belonging that he felt in Stansby. The rain had ceased, and Walter squeezed the water out of his doublet before putting on another that had been packed for him. It did not match his breeches like the original one did, and for a moment, it bothered him. Katherine would have found it unbecoming, a waste of his slender waist not to accentuate it with the shine of satin or the charming effect obtained with matching the doublet to his breeches. Starting with that fateful archery lesson, however, what Katherine thought had become irrelevant to him. She had purchased these clothes for him, but he was free from her judgement on their combination. The water was too rapid to see his reflection in. Beyond it, there was only forest, and not another church tower or peak of a castle in sight. From towns that were a few hours apart, he worried that the next inn beyond Stansby could be two or three days away. Perhaps he could seek refuge in a monastery, but he wondered if he would even cross one of those as he had no knowledge of their location. How he wished that he could just seek lodging in Stansby House, where the men and women slept that he now associated with, but alas: a lowly inn, now far below his new station, would have to do. He sauntered back to the bailey on foot, his sack draped over his shoulders, and sought the inn that had been recommended to him. It would be a long night, sleeping in a likely lice-infested bed with a dozen strangers that had all paid for just a spot, where he would likely not catch a wink of sleep in the snoring, wheezing and coughing of the commoners who shared his sorry fate. He vowed to barter some of his prestigious, if precious and sentimental, items against a map or a compass. 30. Settling of Accounts Richard came into Harcourt¡¯s chancellery without an appointment or even a simple knock, so the latter shot up with alarm until he saw that it was indeed his colleague. ¡®Sorry,¡¯ he said. ¡®Something blue-torched came in that you might want to know about.¡¯ ¡®Blue-torched?¡¯ Harcourt asked. ¡®For us?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ Richard said slyly, slinking down onto the chaise-longue in the chancellery that faced the window and bathed him in gentle sunlight. ¡®For Her Majesty ¡ª but I make a point in reading letters to and from her in case something is awry. Needless to say, something is awry.¡¯ Harcourt absentmindedly set Katherine¡¯s signature below the text of a policy, a signature he had mastered over her reign so far, and which he was free to use on anything they had spoken of earlier. It saved her her wrist. Only a member of the inner circle knew the subtle differences between Harcourt¡¯s and Katherine¡¯s version: the former made sure to always gently smudge the tail of the letter R ¡ª the capital R in Katherine Regina ¡ª in a certain direction. Katherine herself often just signed Katherine R. ¡®What¡¯s it this time?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Have they found the boy?¡¯ ¡®We haven¡¯t been looking,¡¯ Richard said. ¡®I was expressly asked to leave my shadowmen out of it. We imagine he may have perished in the woods. According to accounts, he fled with nothing on him. The stable boy that accompanied the hounds during the night saw him leave on horseback. He¡¯s just got that to trade and the clothes on his back, and if he does, he won¡¯t have a horse nor clothes. So¡­ it¡¯ll manage itself.¡¯ ¡®Fine,¡¯ said Harcourt. ¡®You haven¡¯t told me what is awry.¡¯ Richard grinned and pulled a sheet of paper folded into an envelope and with its seal popped from beneath his arm where he had been clutching it. ¡®I¡¯m afraid that, at this point, I will never be able to return to the guild, for whenever a plot is resolved, something else rears its ugly head.¡¯ ¡®Do not lie to me, Rich, you love it here,¡¯ he said, taking the letter. ¡®It is better than I thought,¡¯ Richard admitted. ¡®I have found myself even beginning to like a few of my fellow courtiers. Hell, I¡¯ve found myself beginning to like Her Majesty.¡¯ Harcourt smiled and began to read. ¡®While you read,¡¯ Richard began, ¡®Begin to think about the fact that this was sent blue-torched. Urgent, unbreachable, elaborately expensive.¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ Harcourt complained, ¡®I understood that much.¡¯ My beloved Katherine, Your aunt Scemena has arrived to Souchon Palace and has asked for you. Souchon Palace misses a shimmering star in its night sky without you, we are indeed afraid. Despite the bitterness of the end of our dealings, we all look back on your stay with a fitting remorse for the way things have gone. Many ambassadors and courtiers, too, mourn your loss as an apt trading partner and welcome sight in their hallways. We thought to write due to the impending nuptuals between our King Henri and his Lady Isabella de Ginefort. We would be honoured to receive you for the ceremonies as a dear friend of the family and of the kingdom. If you happen to prioritise your ties to Massouron and the Baradran Kingdom, your presence would be greatly appreciated. In case you are tied by the prospect of a suitor¡¯s presence in your court at this time, please do write. Yours faithfully and adoringly, Louise de Chavanet ¡®I see both a threat and a request for confidential information,¡¯ said Harcourt. ¡®Phrased in a way that Lady Katherine is likely to comply to.¡¯ ¡®Exactly,¡¯ Richard said. ¡®And nothing very urgent that would warrant blue torches, unless a quick answer is desired due to an unstable factor we don¡¯t know of.¡¯ ¡®And I imagine you have done some thinking to that effect?¡¯ Harcourt asked, folding the letter back up. ¡®Could they be disappointed in the match?¡¯ Richard asked. ¡®I recall it was quite difficult appeasing Louise, the Massouric peers, and Henri himself. Isabella had appeared to me, through our correspondences, a fine, upstanding young woman, but an alliance with the Gineforts means a tie of blood with the faltering regime of the Baradrans. We know Louise wants this, for her husband too is a Ginefort, and she still believes in the Ginefort regime, but¡­ could the peers stand in the way?¡¯ Harcourt was stunned by Richard¡¯s insight, and began to grin widely. ¡®Don¡¯t expect to ever return to your post,¡¯ he said giddily. ¡®I¡¯m going to require a man like you by our side. Brilliant. Do you think they would have preferred the alliance to Ilworth?¡¯ ¡®What else?¡¯ said Richard, sitting up straighter from the praise, ¡®Not only do we know that Lady Katherine is capable of bearing a child, her sister is married to the Archduke of Neuhausen which will ease trade relations to their north. Besides that, she has ties both to the Gineforts by blood and the De Serras by association. Her hand is valuable for both sides, as long as she does not make her opinion on the conflict known. Looking back, Louise opening the country for members of the Ginefort dynasty may have been a mistake. Yes, it concentrates power to Souchon Palace, but there may be a far larger price for it than bargained for. What if they breach the borders, for example? Will Massouron be plunged into war with the new Baradran regime?¡¯ ¡®Yes and no,¡¯ said Harcourt. ¡®There is no way they would do such a thing. It¡¯d plunge the whole continent into chaos. I think it will be more likely to be a diplomatic attack ¡ª shutting down the embassies, breaching trade agreements, the like.¡¯ ¡®Do I show Katherine this letter?¡¯ he asked. ¡®What would you say, Richard? You appear to have a grasp on this that rivals that of any seasoned diplomat.¡¯ Richard¡¯s face soured. ¡®Not within a week,¡¯ he said. ¡®So we¡¯ll have the stinger of urgency pulled out from it. Then, consider our options. Massouron is one of the trickiest alliances to form, making an effort for her hand will not be easy but may be worth it down the line. They are distant neighbours. Basically the inverse Otterdon Island. We¡¯ve much to lose by losing their favour ¡ª if anything, we¡¯ve Neuhausen to lose. Displease Lady Louise and next thing we know, they march upon Zuyleburg and George is shot through the skull. Then, I wish you good luck on steering Katherine the way you¡¯ve been trying to. She¡¯ll abdicate in an instant.¡¯This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡®That wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing,¡¯ Harcourt grumbled. The spymaster raised his eyebrows and snickered. ¡®No?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Please, Overleigh. You and I both know you wouldn¡¯t have hired me if you wanted the ship to sink. You want to steer her, not sink her. Come on, now. Then what? Queen Eleanor? King Thomas? These two are even less prepared than Katherine was. We are nearly two years in now. We have shaken off Lord William. We are down a lover. God save the Queen.¡¯ ¡®I suppose you are right,¡¯ said Harcourt. ¡®We should probably ask her about the portraits sent her way, though,¡¯ remarked Richard. ¡®True,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ve a nagging feeling that the Chavanets are not yet done with us, though. Perhaps she will send Louis¡¯ portrait, given that they met in Bourrac.¡¯ Richard¡¯s mouth twitched upwards. Harcourt did not know as much as Richard did about that fateful night in Bourrac, and found it difficult to navigate the multifaceted approach that this required. Katherine would kill him if he said it forth, and he was unsure of whether to trust Harcourt. Surely he was used to her whims, but the Sbaian ambassador was not a beloved man in his book, and though filthy rich, Harcourt made no attempts to please him. If Harcourt went out of his way not to benefit someone of such economic magnitude, certainly something bothered him about them. ¡®Perhaps,¡¯ said Richard. ¡®But I have a feeling that Prince Louis had quite a repellent reaction to Katherine¡¯s presence. He appears one of the few.¡¯ ¡®She was with that damned Sbaian,¡¯ added Harcourt. ¡®That probably had something to do with it.¡¯ Richard could not say more, but in his mind, he was nodding all the while. ¡®Did it?¡¯ he wondered. ¡®To my knowledge, all that man has ever done for us is put money in Dorothy¡¯s grateful hands based on some mines nobody even really knew about around these quarters, given they¡¯re all up north. You tolerate less useful men.¡¯ ¡®Just one man now,¡¯ said Harcourt. ¡®The other one is a fugitive. I tolerate one and apparently, one or more bailiffs tolerate the other.¡¯ ¡®Alright,¡¯ said Richard. ¡®You tolerate one less useful man. I suppose that too is proof that you are being too critical of a potential alliance. He wants us to see the Sbai Empire. From what I hear, one of his sons will court Katherine. If they wed, it¡¯ll go one of three ways.¡¯ ¡®What? He¡¯s beheaded, she¡¯s behead, or they¡¯re both beheaded?¡¯ ¡®Actually, no,¡¯ he said. ¡®If he converts he will give up his title in the Empire and he will live. If not, either when his father dies, he ascends ¡ª making him the sultan ¡ª or he does not ascend, and in trying to secure his title, perishes. So we have a one in three chance of sharing a treasury, if even de facto, with the Sbai Empire, one of three chance of having another shot at securing a marriage for her, and a one in three chance of normality.¡¯ Harcourt scraped his throat. ¡®When you put it like that, I believe a one in three chance of normality is higher than it is if we pursue that Massouric match¡­ Still, I¡¯ll hear none of it. I shudder to think of how their brood would look. I¡¯ve met the Sultan before. I won¡¯t be doing it again if I have the choice.¡¯
They were hardly missives. Walter had started learning to write before the end of his term as favourite, and had left in his chambers a few sheets of practised letters. Reading had been easier for him to pick up. It was as if he had just too little control of his fingers to place the letters in a satisfyingly spaced way, let alone their anatomy. However, as Walter¡¯s departure vanished into the horizon of the past, where the sun had set that morning and every morning, Katherine found herself revisiting them, looking them over, trying to distil them into a sort of final message to her. Nobody knew but Constance, who had slept in Katherine¡¯s room every night after his departure. The first few nights on a fur by the fireplace, but shortly thereafter simply in her bed next to her. ¡®Constance, do you believe William was responsible for that assassin?¡¯ she asked, looking up from the sheets of paper she held over her face. Constance was braiding her hair to coil it over her skull in a crown formation. ¡®I wouldn¡¯t know. Ask Richard?¡¯ she asked. Katherine huffed. ¡®Isn¡¯t that silly?¡¯ she asked. ¡®What does Richard have but his word? What did William have but his word? If William was here, nobody would have let us touch Walter¡¯s position in court. And now look at us!¡¯ ¡®You were convinced before,¡¯ said Constance. ¡®I don¡¯t see what has changed. Isn¡¯t it proof enough that he escaped that he¡¯s guilty?¡¯ ¡®We would have needed to kill him,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®Same trap that caught Will. Connie, I may have meddled.¡¯ Constance¡¯s gaze was straight on Katherine via her mirror. Her mouth fell open and she blinked in disbelief. ¡®You may have meddled?¡¯ ¡®I may have ordered his release,¡¯ she said. ¡®Through less than official means. I imagined he would have been picked up for a petty crime by now, or fell through somehow, but no¡­ nobody knows where he is. I refuse to have an official warrant go out ¡ª God forbid the people learn of my relationship to him. They¡¯ll flay him.¡¯ ¡®They might have done so anyway,¡¯ Constance said. ¡®Same trap, different trapper.¡¯ Katherine squinted at the letters and tried to read them through her lashes. ¡®I may seek him one day. I¡¯m afraid that before that day, I¡¯ll have to pick a suitor. I¡¯ve been told Henry still isn¡¯t well. I¡¯m loathed to admit I keep sinking to worse grades of loneliness each month.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve got me,¡¯ Constance said. ¡®And Grace. Ellie just left, but she¡¯s just a letter away. You have a court full of people to whom you are the shining sun.¡¯ Katherine rolled over to her stomach and lay the parchment to her side. ¡®Funny,¡¯ she said. ¡®You think Walter and Henry are like perfumed court ladies to me, with whom I have banquets and dances, my dear?¡¯ Constance¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®I feel compelled to inform you as well, that Robert Fairfax is also just a letter away.¡¯ ¡®I swear to God, Constance, even if I never had the pleasure of being loved again, I¡¯d rather keep Fairfucks at arm¡¯s length.¡¯
Swaddled in a large quilt, Henry came stumbling down the hill where the knights were practising, and Jaime caught his eye as she was wielding a wooden training sword. The rustling of the high grass against his legs made a few knights look over to him. He felt the need to smile, but could only do so wryly. He still walked with a limp from the impact that each step would have on the patched-up disaster on his back. ¡®Morning,¡¯ he said. ¡®Henry,¡¯ Jaime said, and ran towards him to support his arm as he made the last few steps. ¡®Let¡¯s get you seated.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not an old man,¡¯ he grumbled. ¡®The physician said I could go for a short walk now the weather is fair. I decided I¡¯d see how my colleagues are doing. See if Lady Katherine has replaced me in her affections yet.¡¯ ¡®She hasn¡¯t been around here,¡¯ Jaime admitted. ¡®Neither as Walter, I gather?¡¯ he asked, looking about. ¡®He must still be feeling guilty¡­ there¡¯s really no need.¡¯ Jaime¡¯s heart sank. She had spent all of her time with Henry since the incident trying not to mention it. Henry looked deeply pained, with his brows uncharacteristically knitted, and a sallowness on his unshaven cheeks. ¡®About that¡­¡¯ she said. ¡®You were aware that Walter was being investigated, right?¡¯ ¡®Yes, but isn¡¯t everyone after a member of the camarilla is injured by someone¡¯s fault? It is but a formality. The boy was just clumsy.¡¯ ¡®Well, he escaped,¡¯ Jaime continued. ¡®With a lot of goods on him, on a horse. Nobody has been able to find him yet.¡¯ ¡®Oh¡­¡¯ said Henry. ¡®But we¡¯ll find him again, right?¡¯ ¡®I hope so,¡¯ she lied, knowing his fate if he were, ¡®I think he was afraid of what could follow. He saw his master executed not long ago. From what I gather, he was not the brightest boy.¡¯ Henry huffed. ¡®If he was the brightest boy, he¡¯d be a priest of a professor, not a courtier. You didn¡¯t know him, Jaim, but he was like a brother to me. I hate to think he is out there in the wild trying to make it without our help. He was but a serf, and then was catapulted into all of this. He hasn¡¯t lived a day as a middling man in his life.¡¯ Jaime looked out upon the grounds and recalled the place of the accident. ¡®I¡¯ve met him once,¡¯ she said, imagining his princely air and golden blond curls, ¡®I see why he caught Lady Katherine¡¯s eye.¡¯ Henry shook his head. ¡®I imagine one day he could have retired wealthy. It¡¯s a shame it came to this.¡¯ 31. The Shimmering Past and its Mendacious Dancing The estate of Gartham could be seem from far, and Walter took notice to it immediately as it came upon his horizon. Miraculously, he still had his horse, and though he had bartered with many of his personal possessions, owned a change of clothes still, as well as a new blanket to keep him warm. He had abandoned the prospect of inns as they were fewer and further between than ever, and therefore overpopulated by pilgrims and ne¡¯er-do-wells. Instead, he became handier each night at setting up a rudimentary camp, and he ate during the day in the few towns he came across that had cook shops. The last night of his exile between courts, he made camp not far from the city walls of Gartham, and he dreamed of reaching it in the morning, which had been what he had dreamed of for weeks by that point. Still there was no sign of anyone on his trail. Walter was mostly concerned with his survival, and when he could, his comfort, and not at all with secrecy. When he rode into Gartham the next morning, he was not stopped by the guards but to be asked to pay their fee. A small price to pay for the prospect of home. He had never noticed that his land of origin was so much colder than Norbury Lake. The landscape, rather than the lush hilltops and valleys full of placid meadows of his most recent residence, were covered in velvet grass, giant oaks, and bald peaks in the distance. The wind blew right through his good clothes and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up straight. By this part of his journey, he knew the way. There was no fear in his mind that his old mistress would take him back in an instance, that the princess would be gracious with him and allow him to slip right back into his former anonymity. Though he had always had the name Walter, the way in which Walter was the name on everyone¡¯s lips, his former life may as well be nameless. He did not recall a single person but his family had said his name out loud until William introduced him to Katherine. Would he miss Katherine? He still had her note and cherished it, kept it dry in his blanket when he was not using it, and slept with it in his hand for fear of it blowing out of his tent. Besides that, he was initially sick with longing for his old life, of which a large part was spent by her side. She was the first woman who ever took notice of him. Now, on the other side of all that had passed, he could not imagine his future in Norbury Castle. All eventualities led to his demise. He was comfortable, beloved, well-known, and as far from safety as he could be. Much rather than that, he thought of his life in Gartham as he rode through the town like a king. It was his respite, he imagined, to live fully unaware of the monarchs in the south, their quarrels and trouble, their jealousies. The only person he would truly miss, was Henry. Though it seemed reasonable that the two of them would grow apart due to aspiring to win the same prize, being Katherine¡¯s attention, they were more like brothers than adversaries. Henry intuitively cared for him in a way he had not experienced in his life. It was to Henry, subsequently, that he felt truly remorseful for leaving. There was no way he could have even said his goodbye. At this point, he was unsure Henry was even alive. Walter gulped. It was a guilt he would learn to live with, or so he hoped. He had never entered Gartham House the way the nobles did, and his proximity to them was not enough to make him change that about himself. Instead, he went the winding path behind it, through a forested area, and saw it before him. At once, he began to weep. The midday sun beat down on the yellow fields of wheat and the bleached cotton aprons of the women that were carrying the early harvests in them, waddling like ducks across the fields. Small huts and cabins blew steam. Some were in disrepair, as always, and most were lovingly broken in. A few shepherd dogs barked at the livestock as they controlled it, their shepherds sunstained and straw-hatted. Walter could not believe it. His breath quickened as he made his horse gallop, and he held onto the reins tightly for fear of falling, his eyesight blurred by the significance of it all. He had been unsure all of his travels, and once he saw it, he knew his questioning was all for nothing. He knew this is where he belonged. He was born and raised here, ripped out of its idyllic landscape against his will, but it was clear he did not belong anywhere else. He vowed to die here, either in the far future or tomorrow. Quickly he tied the reins to a fence post and made a run for the familiar cabin. It smelled of fresh bread and ale, and he rapped the door hastily. Open, open, open¡­ The door opened and Walter immediately flew into the arms of the girl who had opened it: ¡®Martha!¡¯ he wept. ¡®Martha, I¡¯m back!¡¯The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Martha shared Walter¡¯s face but was younger still, and instead of the shoulder length blond curls, had hers in a long braid down her back. She graciously embraced him and wiped away some tears of her own. ¡®We thought we¡¯d never see you again,¡¯ she said. ¡®That I was down one brother¡­ mother, father! Walter is home!¡¯
He unpacked his things in the cabin and shared them generously with his family, and only then accepted a bowl of porridge in return while he gloated at seeing his parents and sister enjoy the bits of gold and finery that he managed to hold onto. ¡®I should say hello to everyone,¡¯ Walter said, rejuvenated from the plain and wholesome breakfast, the likes of which he had not had in weeks. ¡®So they¡¯ll know I¡¯m back. I cannot believe it has been so long.¡¯ ¡®Well, we¡¯ll be here,¡¯ said Martha. ¡®I¡¯ve got to help mother with the loom anyway.¡¯ He stood up and left the cabin, and looked for familiar faces in the fields, when a number of horses could be heard trotting onto the dirt path he was walking on. He looked up and almost jumped. Princess Lettice ¡ª back from the hunt, presumably. Her men were just behind her, carrying the game they had shot. He never quite realised the resemblance between Lettice and her niece Katherine, and it had not dawned on him even when he became rather close to the latter. But now, with Katherine so recent in his mind, he could not help but be startled. ¡®Your Highness,¡¯ he said, more a knee-jerk reaction rather than anything genuine. Lettice bent her white-blonde head down. ¡®What might you be doing here, sir?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m back,¡¯ he began. ¡®I¡¯m Walter. Walter Hussey. Back from Norbury Castle.¡¯ She eyed her knights and gestured them to go forth, while Lettice herself dismounted. She gave him a long look and concluded it with a confused frown. ¡®I wonder what your master thinks of this, Sir Walter,¡¯ she said. ¡®Aren¡¯t you needed down south?¡¯ Did she not know? Walter was afraid to be the bearer of bad news. ¡®Not needed,¡¯ he said. ¡®Dismissed, in fact.¡¯ ¡®Strange,¡¯ said Lettice, ¡®I imagine William would¡¯ve written me if anything was the matter. And he has not. In fact, he has not written since the royal retinue has moved back to Ilworth. I say, to where it belongs.¡¯ He could not keep up the lie. He sighed miserably, looked at the dirt by her feet, and said it: ¡®Lord William was beheaded some months ago. I think your husband chose not to write you until the last possible moment.¡¯ She laughed at first, and held Walter¡¯s shoulder. He looked up into her face, which crept slowly from amusement to terror. ¡®Tell me you¡¯re joking,¡¯ she said, with not an ounce of humour. ¡®I¡¯m afraid, my lady Lettice, that I cannot tell you so, for I saw it with my own eyes,¡¯ he began. ¡®I was present as to be my warning.¡¯ She inhaled through her nose and brought herself to exhale in shocking, hitching breaths. ¡®The only man I¡¯ve ever loved,¡¯ she mumbled under her breath. ¡®Dead without even a goodbye.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m so sorry,¡¯ he offered, putting a cowardly hand over her shoulder as well. ¡®If I knew¡­¡¯ ¡®Whose order was it?¡¯ she asked viciously. ¡®Who is responsible for this?¡¯ Walter gulped. ¡®I don¡¯t know, my lady.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t you?¡¯ she asked in that casually dismissive way that Katherine would, too. ¡®I think you do, but you don¡¯t want me to write that person. Is that right?¡¯ ¡®My lady, I have become a fugitive for an innocent accident. I am unsure of who to trust.¡¯ Lettice lucidly looked him in the eyes and began to grin. ¡®Why should I be mistrusted, Walter? Have I ever been anything but accommodating of you, in your modest station? You return to me a bonafide lord. You may trust me. I¡¯ll take you inside if you tell me, and I swear that, may your arrest be warranted, you won¡¯t hear a peep from me.¡¯ ¡®Well¡­¡¯ he began. ¡®I¡¯m afraid it was your husband.¡¯ She clicked her tongue. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I saw that coming already. Let¡¯s go inside, Walter. It appears that we have much to discuss.¡¯
As Lettice watched the servant pour them wine, Walter could not help but ask, ¡®Were you serious when you said that Lord William is the only man you had ever loved?¡¯ Lettice chuckled. ¡®My darling, you¡¯ve become quite comfortable speaking to those who outrank you this much. Was Lady Katherine so candid to you? Would she have told you?¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ he said shyly. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ ¡®No need,¡¯ she said. ¡®It¡¯s not strictly true, but I would¡¯ve preferred him to return rather than to die. Love is a strange and fickle bird.¡¯ Walter sniffed. ¡®I¡¯m aware, my lady.¡¯ She chuckled and reached over the table they sat at to pinch his cheeks. ¡®Sure you do. Well, what are you on the run for? Must I be afraid that you¡¯ll cause a big stir around these parts?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ he said solemnly. ¡®It was an accident. I hurt someone important. Maybe even killed him, I can¡¯t be sure ¡ª but it was an accident. They put me in house arrest and someone helped me escape. Lady Katherine was behind it. The strange lady who helped me¡­ she told me they were planning to have me put to death as well.¡¯ Lettice grimaced and inhaled through her teeth. ¡®Yes, I¡¯d heard the regime has been¡­ feeling a little under the weather, let¡¯s say? Weird executions, a hell of a fall in parliament, a broken-off engagement. I say, before this year is out, little Walter, Katherine will just be some girl again, my husband will come home from Norbury Lake for good, and Pippa will be on the throne. I can¡¯t imagine this going on for another few decades, can you? She¡¯s only sat there for two years, and we have all collectively aged twenty years. My goodness.¡¯ ¡®May I stay here?¡¯ he asked innocently. ¡®Can I be safe?¡¯ She huffed. ¡®Of course!¡¯ she exclaimed. ¡®In fact, while Cuthbert is away, feel free to resume your life as a courtier. Do you have any interests you¡¯d like to pursue? I¡¯ll accommodate them for you. It¡¯s the least I can do ¡ª not for you, necessarily, but if I can poke the eyes out of the people that put William to death, I¡¯d bankrupt myself over it in an instant!¡¯ ¡®Love is a strange and fickle bird,¡¯ Walter repeated breathlessly. ¡®You¡¯ve got it,¡¯ said Lettice. ¡®Welcome to Gartham House. I don¡¯t anticipate you will find anything unbecoming about it, but if you may, feel free to ask for me. Whatever you do, tell anyone and everyone your story. It¡¯s important that people learn the extent of the cruelty. My daughter Philippa would never be caught dead executing her courtiers ¡ª spread the word.¡¯ 32. An Illustrious Omen It stopped Katherine in her tracks when she saw it in the hallway. She completely forgot about where she had come from and where she was going. It lay on the ground wounded. She was standing between tiny slivers of the wood that framed it, now shattered. Her cheeks burned up, she felt anxiety build up in her lungs and nose. She began to wheeze. She had just passed it before and it had been fine. It was the portrait of Isabella de Ginefort and her painted face was skewered by the small bust that previously stood just below it, but that it had now fallen upon. She sank to her knees and wept. When she raised her hand into her vision, it appeared her nose had been bleeding. A black flag hung by accident by the view from Lady Isabella¡¯s bedroom flapped briefly. The end whipped fiercely in the wind. Hundreds of crows gathered by the fa?ade of Souchon Palace. In a blink, the sky turned red. The roaring sea. An empty coffin. The visions came faster and faster. Candles going out, her reflection distorted, her shadow blowing away like it were made of sand, church bells, every mirror broken, shattered all at once, the mangled face on her portrait, church bells, church bells, church bells that were deafening. A funeral procession through the main hall of Souchon Palace. Right through the tables that normally stood there. Everyone translucent and ghostly.
Grace woke up with a pounding headache, and when she looked out into the view from her window, a blood red dawn smiled back at her. She sat up in her bed and groaned. Her black hair pooled in her lap, and when she looked at her vanity, she looked haggard. Despite the many questions her dream had left her, she knew she had to tell someone quickly. She jumped out of bed and dressed herself simply, full of anxious jitters. She stepped out, turned the key in her lock, and broke it off in a clean snap. Confronted with just the stub of the key, she grew even more uneasy. For a moment she wondered whether it was Isabella¡¯s death that was being foretold to her, or whether it was Katherine¡¯s. Both were Gineforts, redheads, current or past fiancees of Henri, current or past residents of Souchon Palace. It felt so clear in her heart: Isabella had died. For fear of scaring Katherine, she first visited Richard, who was in the library, seemingly referencing an ancient script while he wrote notes below a written letter. ¡®Sorry,¡¯ she said by way of a greeting. ¡®Grace,¡¯ said Richard with some confusion. She knew she was beyond red-faced and had likely all the hideous marks of a recent uneasy night¡¯s sleep on her face. ¡®Are you at all superstitious?¡¯ she asked. Richard chuckled slyly. ¡®I might be a little superstitious. Why?¡¯ Grace spontaneously began to weep. ¡®I think Isabella de Ginefort has died,¡¯ she said. ¡®I had a vision in my dream.¡¯ ¡®Poor girl,¡¯ he said, standing up to embrace her. ¡®Poor, smart, tired girl¡­¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s the truth,¡¯ she protested. ¡®It¡¯s that horrid red dawn,¡¯ Richard said, then shushed her. ¡®Causes all sorts of trouble in the mind. Put it to rest, little Grace.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not little, Lord Richard,¡¯ she said. ¡®Let go of me. I¡¯m the same age as Katherine and at least a handspan taller.¡¯ ¡®I worry for you,¡¯ said Richard as he relented. ¡®I fear you may go mad. Correction: I fear you have gone mad.¡¯ ¡®I thought you said you were a little superstitious,¡¯ said Grace. ¡®I¡¯m willing to believe in small things here and there,¡¯ he said, ¡®But I believe we will be written, may Isabella have come to perish. Until then, no hocus-pocus application of your bad dream, please. I¡¯m afraid if rumours start here pertaining her death, we shall be looked upon weirdly when Lady Katherine¡¯s ship rolls into Bourrac port in a few months¡­¡¯ ¡®So you do believe me,¡¯ Grace stated rather madly. ¡®I wouldn¡¯t say I believe you¡­ it just would not be the absolute strangest thing that had ever occurred,¡¯ he began. ¡®Hell, it wouldn¡¯t even be the strangest thing that has occurred in Queen Katherine¡¯s reign so far. But very importantly, it was the full moon last night, and this morning we had a red dawn, so it¡¯ll be anyone¡¯s guess.¡¯Stolen story; please report. ¡®That¡¯s real superstition,¡¯ Grace added. ¡®This is¡ª¡¯ ¡®Fake superstition,¡¯ Richard said, implying Grace¡¯s dream. ¡®I¡¯m well aware. Whatever you do, you don¡¯t tell Katherine, or suddenly all over the continent, people shall know.¡¯ ¡®Please, do not tie her to King Henri,¡¯ she said. ¡®Even if she is dead. And she is. I¡¯m afraid it will be a horrible omen for Katherine¡¯s life.¡¯ Richard again took Grace¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Gracie, snap out of it. Nobody is dead, nobody is dying, and Katherine shall wed someone who is not currently engaged to another. If next time, you could have a vision in which she does indeed marry, please let us know the personalia of this husband, and we¡¯ll have something actionable on our hands. I¡¯m actually bound for Katherine, so don¡¯t even think about weaselling your way into her chambers before me¡­¡¯ Grace¡¯s eyes shot daggers as Richard passed her by. ¡®I warned you!¡¯ she hollered to him as he left. ¡®Don¡¯t forget: I warned you.¡¯
Richard passed by his quarters to pick up the doll he had bought her in Bourrac and promptly forgotten about thereafter, and made his way to Katherine¡¯s room, which was unlocked as Constance had left, but Katherine herself was, as reported by the maids, still in bed. He knocked softly. ¡®May I enter?¡¯ he asked. ¡®It¡¯s your spymaster. No news, just wanted to see the state of you since you weren¡¯t at morning council.¡¯ ¡®Come in,¡¯ he heard from the other side. He entered and saw her clutching a pair of pillows in her arms like a lover. ¡®Morning,¡¯ she crooned lazily. ¡®What¡¯s that? Why are you suddenly so interested in the state of me?¡¯ Richard sat down on her chaise-longue by the fire and held up the doll. ¡®I bought this doll of you in Bourrac and I thought you might find it amusing. Do you want it?¡¯ Katherine raised her brows. ¡®Were you planning to use it in the dark arts, Richard?¡¯ He looked at it almost lovingly. ¡®No,¡¯ he sighed. ¡®I like how carefree she looked. In a row of twenty of them, this one had the most strawlike uncombed hair, with the most tattered dress, and overrouged cheeks. I think if we left you to your own devices, you¡¯d look a lot like her. It opens a room in my mind, you know. Where you¡¯re happy and free. I thought the idea was precious so I bought the thing that gave me it. Katherine, please tell it to me straight¡­ would you return to Souchon Palace?¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ she said breathlessly. ¡®Why, did something happen to Isabella?¡¯ The synchronicity did bother him a little, even if he was still not convinced of the verity of the vision. ¡®No,¡¯ he said for now. ¡®I just wanted to know. You¡¯ve not been taking any interest in your suitors, I notice. Nobody has been invited yet. Is a piece of you in Souchon still? Or perhaps¡­ in Bourrac, where I bought this dolly?¡¯ Katherine clenched her jaws. ¡®Why would it be in Bourrac?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Because it is in Bourrac where you slept with Freyza al-Khalas, the Duke of Tougaf, no?¡¯ he asked in return without missing a beat. ¡®Indeed no,¡¯ she countered. Richard chuckled. ¡®Did you know I can detach my ear and put it nearly anywhere, Katherine?¡¯ ¡®Funny,¡¯ she said. ¡®I, too, can detach your ear and put it nearly anywhere. Likely the only difference is that, when I do it, you won¡¯t be able to get that ear back. It¡¯ll be mine. I¡¯ll have severed it from your head.¡¯ ¡®This is probably not what you want to hear upon awakening,¡¯ he said, ¡®But it is important.¡¯ ¡®How is it? Even if it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll never see him again,¡¯ she said. ¡®What¡¯s the matter with you? Are you so short on compliments that you need to show off your investigatory prowess on matters that do not concern you? What did Harcourt say when you told him about Freyza, Richard? Did he say good job? Did you manage to approximate the exact sexual acts that were performed that night? Are you proud of your work? If it¡¯ll even spoil a bit of your sick pleasure, Richard, I¡¯ll tell you that I don¡¯t regret a second even if you¡¯re printing a derelict pamphlet with all of the details. Fuck you. I¡¯ll behead you too if you betray me.¡¯ ¡®Katherine, please¡­¡¯ he said. ¡®In fact, I condone it. That¡¯s why Harcourt doesn¡¯t know. He¡¯d freak and so would most people, but I think, of your options, it was an intelligent choice. More intelligent still is to not invite him to your court. All things considered, I applaud this choice of lover. I would just like to know who exactly you have told.¡¯ ¡®Eleanor alone,¡¯ she said. ¡®She condoned it also.¡¯ ¡®Ah, that¡¯s not a bad choice either,¡¯ he said. ¡®I was worried you¡¯d say Constance. Or Grace ¡ª has Grace mentioned any visions of the future to you lately?¡¯ Katherine blinked lazily. ¡®No,¡¯ she said. ¡®All things considered,¡¯ Richard repeated, ¡®Good.¡¯ ¡®I am glad to have roused your enthusiasm,¡¯ she said, ¡®But I don¡¯t understand what you appear to be doing. If you find out any more salient secrets about my private life, do keep them to yourself.¡¯ ¡®I do,¡¯ he said. ¡®It is in your best interest, my dear Katherine, to know what I know of you. Even more so, what I have been able to keep to myself thus far. I truly do not care for the details, but I care for matters of our national security. It is in all our best interests that I know these things to a rather detailed extent ¡ª and you would have found out somehow. Let it be said: I do not squander this position on gossip.¡¯ ¡®Do you think I would have found out?¡¯ she asked, looking past him towards the window. Richard raised his brows. ¡®You surround yourself with very observant women.¡¯ She just hummed. For a moment, Richard wondered what was on her mind, as it appeared completely absent from where he looked. However, once he followed her gaze out of the window, he thought to see what was concerning her. The weather was so fair that the first Massouric ships trawling their coast could be seen. They looked tiny but the fact they could be perceived at all was a rarity. He got chills. ¡®The cliffs of Bourrac,¡¯ he said. ¡®It seems rather busy by the shore, no?¡¯ He took his spyglass and inched in on the window, worried about what he would find. They did not seem to be going away from the Massouric coast, even if for a moment he wondered if these were naval ships there to attack them. He looked through his spyglass and instantly felt his whole body freeze. ¡®Black flags,¡¯ he said without any further context, ¡®Half-mast.¡¯ Grace¡¯s words repeated themselves to him, and he grew colder still. There was no declaration of anyone¡¯s death. Could it be? Did Grace perhaps know more? Was she somehow involved? When Katherine did not respond, Richard took the spyglass out from his sight, and turned over his shoulder, where the first thing he saw, was the blood pouring from Katherine¡¯s nose. ¡®Katherine, we have reasons to believe that Isabella de Ginefort has passed,¡¯ he said. ¡®Henri¡¯s fianc¨¦e.¡¯ Katherine snickered innocently and plugged her nose with a handkerchief. ¡®You really are magnificently talented, that you can see that all the way from here.¡¯ 33. Katherine the Huntress Freyza was giddy with possibility when he got the news, albeit terrible. Isabella had suffered a terrible and fateful accident and had passed as a result thereof. Immediately a number of servants had been arrested and hung ¡ª but Freyza, along with many other courtiers, were under the impression that it was not a needless act of cruelty from below, but rather a cutthroat strategy from above. There was no real justice being served in Massouron, he began to understand. The fact that there was no real justice, however, did not mean that there was no petty justice. In fact, there was plenty of that to go around. The servants had been those much-hated lads and lasses who made fools out of their fellows and were alleged to spit in the ale of the nobles, for one. Nobody mourned their loss. For another, it became clear nearly immediately as the little corpse of the seventeen-year-old Isabella was shipped back to the war-torn Baradran Kingdom, that King Henri had already spoken the magic words. Write to Katherine. That, too, was petty justice, at least for Freyza. When the news undoubtedly trickled down, and it was Bayezid to tell him the fine new announcement, he could not imagine feeling more elated and jumped right out of the state of unshaven and unbathed frustration. As for Katherine, she was acutely aware of the fact that it was no longer Queen Louise in the saddle the way it was the first time she arrived, but rather King Henri who ran the show. This begged for a different strategy, that would suit the rowdy king¡¯s desire for excitement and madness enough, and somehow disturbed the interests of the Massouric peerage very little. She did not write when she was coming, and was granted passage through Bourrac with a dozen naval ships that all arrived intermittently. None of them were outfitted in a way to betray Katherine¡¯s presence, and instead of a blue-torched royal carriage, she was shipped out of Bourrac in a carriage that belonged to the Massouric royal courier. It stopped a town before Souchon. Katherine remained there for a night, setting up a camp with her retinue just outside of town, and in the morning, she dressed in her riding clothes, complete with a pair of riding boots, the likes of which rarely worn by women. From this point forward, she wished to be alone. Having her retinue with her would cause too much attention, and though she was dressed finely, on her own in the rather unremarkable trek to Massouron, there would likely be little attention to draw. It was the first time she had been alone in the world since she had ascended ¡ª years ago at that point. She was excited as well. What she thought to pull off, would make the kind of impression that would be carved into the mind¡¯s eyes of hundreds of courtiers and likely go down in history. Henri would be smitten in an instant. His boredom-induced cruelty would likely never surface again, and Louise, though seething at the manipulation that she could see right through, would have to simply deal with the consequences of having let Katherine go earlier. No longer was she a timid young queen awaiting the approval of her peers, a doe to be shot by a hunter. The roles had reversed: now, she carried the bow. Though it was likely too on the nose for the more delicately tuned courtiers, she chose literally to carry a crossbow. She was lucky that her target was a far less delicately strung instrument. As had been discussed with Katherine¡¯s shadowmen, which had never left Massouron ¡ª in fact, had never even left Souchon Palace ¡ª the guards by the palace gates were expecting her, and looked up with a sort of perverted fascination with the foreign queen¡¯s endeavour. She neared them on her horse, which trotted along elegantly albeit slowly. ¡®Gentlemen,¡¯ she began, scraping her throat at her disuse of Massouric. ¡®As long as I¡¯ve seen this wondrous gate, I¡¯ve noticed six eyes on me. I imagine not much comes through here?¡¯ There were three of them. Two rather burly figures, and one sinewy type that was half a head taller than either of them. It was him that they looked towards when Katherine began to await the answer, or at least the opening of the gate. He bowed, and the others followed. ¡®Your Majesty¡­¡¯ he said. ¡®We were simply awed. Our sincere apologies.¡¯ Katherine huffed and waved it off as the gate opened. ¡®Well, if things go my way, you¡¯ll have to bear seeing me every day. Often in riding gear as I am now. For the continuation of your employment, I¡¯d advise you to lose the gaping mouths and bulging eyes, or at least learn to work despite it. No reason to be awed. I imagine you¡¯ve seen hunters before.¡¯ Her face appeared austere and cold as she gazed down, perhaps with some disdain, upon the guards. ¡®Indeed, Your Majesty,¡¯ he said simply, and the guilty look in his eye told her enough to pick up the pace of her horse¡¯s steps. Despite all appearances, Katherine¡¯s heart was hammering in her chest, and the bow was burning on her back. There were a few scenarios that she had thought of beforehand. If Henri was, as the least convenient option foretold, out on a hunt, she would somehow have to shoot the precise animal that Henri was planning to. If that was impossible, there was a small chance she would have to shoot someone in his retinue for his attention. It was not unlikely, but highly undesirable to her. Far more desirable was the prospect that he was simply watching his knights practise, where just shooting a target would be sufficient for his attention. Either way, the amount of precision asked to complete this nearly mythical impression of her weighed on her heavily. She was fine with a bow and arrow, certainly more suited to it than the sword, and though she was hardly trained as a child, she had been taught by Sir Henry over the course of their years of their affair. Shooting from horseback was hardly her speciality, though, and perhaps even more worryingly, she was hardly stable on a horse with two hands on the reins. The winding path that led her through the forest were quiet at first. She stopped here and there to listen intently for sounds of others or horses, but to no avail. She trotted forth, beginning to feel her cheeks burn up from the nerves. Perhaps she should not have come there. Perhaps Henri was indeed a doomed prospect.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Even she had to admit: the uncertainty was somehow delightful, one of the few things in her life that she had any semblance of control over. And if she got back in with Henri, that would set her up for a life filled with pleasure and drunkenness, and none of that humiliation she had felt in parliament. She had reached the edge of that damned forest before even seeing a single soul, animal or otherwise. The gardens stretched out before her, gaping almost in a horrifically open manner, and only a gardener looked up, his light blue doublet sun-bleached on the back from standing bent-over days on end. Katherine felt all of her plans fall through, and yet had no way out ¡ª how would she return to camp with this glorious tale still in its pen? Was camp even still made, or had they packed up in anticipation of her grand entrance? There was nothing to do but to continue. The notion of the plan¡¯s silliness began creeping up on her, but she was not the self-conscious type, and managed not to scare herself to abandon it altogether. In fact, as she rode her horse through the manicured garden, she felt compelled to giggle at the ridiculousness of it all. As the hooves trudged through the flowerbeds especially, she could not contain her excitement about the reports that the chroniclers would give of this very day. She had never expected to hear horseshoes on marble, but that was precisely the clanky noise that followed her up the gentle stairs up to the main entrance, which was closed with a pair of guards alongside it. Katherine leaned over to one, and drew a lilac blossom from the floral arrangement that was woven in between her braids. ¡®I¡¯ve come to see my fianc¨¦,¡¯ she cooed as nonchalantly as she could, then handed him the blossom. ¡®This is for the gardener over there. That and my apology.¡¯ ¡®Your Majesty?¡¯ he asked, surprised to recognise her by her voice. ¡®I am afraid we cannot let a horse into the palace.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m afraid I cannot wait here,¡¯ Katherine countered sharply. ¡®So I suppose that puts us at an impasse.¡¯ She sat back up again and scraped her throat, then declared: ¡®You will let me in. I am the Queen of Ilworth and Otterdon Island, and before long, I shall be the Queen of Massouron. Besides, I happen to be armed.¡¯ Wordlessly, they opened the doors for her, and she passed through into the great hall, which was lit up in torchlight and very crowded with courtiers. The familiar air of the scented oils in their candles put Katherine at ease ¡ª she was back in Souchon Palace. Those eating had stopped lifting their spoons, and everyone stared in a newfound silence as their eye fell on the woman on her horse, wearing heraldic dress and a wreath of flowers on her head. She briefly scanned for Henri, but upon realising he was nowhere to be found, took a turn into the hallways. The explanation would come later. He had to be somewhere. Katherine sincerely hoped he would not be up or down a flight of stairs, given she was already surprised to see this horse, a jennet with a glossy deep brown coat and a luscious black mane, ascend any steps at all. Whenever a door was opened, she lowered herself briefly to check for familiar company. ¡®Lady Katherine!¡¯ hollered Theo behind her. ¡®My lady!¡¯ Katherine turned her head but did not halt the slow walking of her horse. ¡®Theo,¡¯ she said, ¡®Just who I was looking for. Does Henri happen to be around?¡¯ ¡®You have a crossbow,¡¯ Theo said dryly. ¡®I do,¡¯ she said. ¡®But I¡¯m plain shite when shooting from a horse, so you needn¡¯t worry. And Henri is, where precisely¡­?¡¯ He ran to catch up with her. He looked good: his shoulder was no longer bandaged and he walked gracefully again. ¡®Lady Louise will wish to see you about this,¡¯ he said. ¡®You¡¯re leaving a trail of dirt and confusion, my lady.¡¯ ¡®And where is Henri?¡¯ she insisted. ¡®He will wish to see you about this: hindering the goddess of the hunt in her quest to see the great King of Massouron.¡¯ He sighed. ¡®Between us two, Katherine, does this mean that you did not succeed the pursuit of a more¡­ apt suitor for your hand? I thought this would not be very hard at all. Alas, we meet again.¡¯ She scoffed. ¡®Don¡¯t kid me, Theo. And where are your manners?¡¯ Theo scraped his throat. ¡®I welcome you to Souchon Palace, lady Katherine. King Henri is in the library. I wish I could have welcomed you as a distinguished guest rather than a cat returning to the house in which it lost its last life.¡¯ Katherine felt herself tense up at Theo¡¯s words, but once she turned again, and spurred her horse to stop, he was already on his way back to the main hall. ¡®I am not here to be bludgeoned to death like an unwanted cat,¡¯ she hollered after him fiercely. ¡®I am here to bludgeon to death anything and anyone in my way. Do not fear for me.¡¯ ¡®Haven¡¯t you Henri to surprise with¡­ all of this?¡¯ Theo asked. ¡®I¡¯d make it quick before he leaves and surprises you with it instead. We should talk if you choose to stay ¡ª talk about who will take the next arrow or bullet for you.¡¯ ¡®Fine,¡¯ she said and turned to face away from him. ¡®Have it your way. All I wanted was directions.¡¯ She knew the way to the library, that large beating heart of Souchon Palace where one was usually all alone, for all the bookish types had fled Souchon when Henri made it a hub of libertines and rakes, and all the rest could not read, but which connected one wing of the palace with the next. It was a shortcut through its halls that barely anyone knew. It was a secret in plain sight. She rode through the rest of the hall and took a left turn underneath an archway that opened up into the cavernous marble library with its blue-painted walls, ancient tapestries, and shelves upon shelves of ancient, historic, rare and legendary titles, all of which were collecting dust. On the carpet, her horse¡¯s loud hooves were muffled, and before she knew it, she was eye to eye with him. He stood bent over a large, oval table, upon which a large map was spread, with a motley collection of items sprawled on top: chess pieces, cups, carved wood figurines. Henri did not stand there alone, instead he had gathered a dozen of elder men that all immediately cowered or jumped at Katherine¡¯s presence. She did not recognise a single one of them. ¡®Gentlemen,¡¯ she began, smiling widely. She had decided to leave the crossbow on her back, as one of the men had already drawn their sword, ¡®I¡¯ve been told my presence was requested by His Majesty the King.¡¯ ¡®Katherine¡­¡¯ began Henri, and great happiness surged through her. ¡®My God. Uh¡­ you¡¯re all dismissed. Leave us a moment.¡¯ Katherine looked down as the men, many of whom in livery collars and coronets, left Henri¡¯s side. As they exited through where Katherine had entered. He watched them go, granting her a view that she had missed so much: his perfectly noble face¡¯s profile, with its sloping nose and prominent brow. Once they were out of earshot, Henri picked up a carved figurine that had stood on Ilworth on the map, and brought it to Souchon Palace. ¡®Now that is an entrance,¡¯ he gloated. Her crossbow sat unused on the cord that held it over her shoulder. She smiled shyly. ¡®I was hoping you¡¯d be out so I could startle you a little more,¡¯ she admitted, eyes downcast. Henri snickered and took his hat from the top of his head, holding it up. ¡®What a shame that element of surprise was taken from you. I suppose you¡¯ll have to surprise me with that crossbow again someday, perhaps on some early hungover morning one day soon. I¡¯ll tell you which lovers I don¡¯t mind losing, and we can even add an element of fate into it. I¡¯m just wondering ¡ª¡¯ he waved the bonnet around, flopping from side to side ¡ª ¡®if your aim is any good.¡¯ Katherine did not skip a beat, took the cord from her shoulder, pulled back the string of the crossbow, and shot it in an instant, sending a rapid arrow through the sky with a force she would otherwise never be able to put behind it, if not for the power of the crossbow. She panted as it hit the hat and cast it out of Henri¡¯s hands, to be embedded in between two spines of dusty books, where the velvet lay limp and impaled like a rabbit¡¯s corpse in a hunting range. ¡®Oh, how I missed you indeed!¡¯ Henri said, and clapped his hands. ¡®My bloodthirsty, unhinged Ilworthian missus!¡¯ 34. The Fool & The Faithless Queen She was surprised to see him again. To be entirely frank, Katherine had forgotten that Freyza was not just the product of a particularly lewd fever dream she had the last time she had left Massouron, but instead was a man of flesh and blood that lived in Souchon Palace, and that she would be running into again. Though she had pined to relive that night ever since it passed, she had not given their future much thought. Now, towards the end of a balmy night spent dancing in stocked feet underneath the full moon, the thought of him was forced upon her, since she noticed him in the crowd. Had he talked himself up to Henri¡¯s inner circle? ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said, bowing as he smiled, forcing his way through the crowd to greet her. He smelled strongly of amber and wood, as if he had been conjured up through a pagan ritual. ¡®I was hoping to run into you tonight.¡¯ Katherine, who was feeling the ill effects of the wine, was shocked to find herself charmed again. It had not just been her desperation: Freyza was, if over a decade her senior, handsome in an exotic way that she had not found in anyone else since their separation. His eyes were a rich, warm green that shimmered kindly towards her. ¡®Ah, Master Freyza! Out of anyone who I know lives in Souchon Palace, I hadn¡¯t been expecting you,¡¯ she said, laying a hand on his shoulder. ¡®Who invited you?¡¯ He leaned in shyly. ¡®A number of gold pieces did, Lady Katherine. I don¡¯t associate much with this sort of crowd.¡¯ She had to keep herself from grimacing. It had been a few days since she arrived, and ever since she did, this sort of crowd had been a welcome respite from her dull days at Norbury court. Her trysts and adventures had been multiplied each passing day, as all of Henri¡¯s nearest courtiers and favourites demanded their own little piece of Henri¡¯s beloved huntress. Recognising Freyza¡¯s distance from the crowd made him less appealing to her, especially since winning Henri¡¯s favour was on top of her mind. Making friends outside of his camarilla was a dangerous game that could demote her from the most desired young woman in Massouron to an old matron dallying with diplomats. ¡®Oh, why not?¡¯ she asked, grinning faithlessly. ¡®I¡¯ve been having a blast ever since I returned.¡¯ Freyza pressed his lips together briefly and raised his brows. ¡®I¡¯m glad,¡¯ he said. ¡®I just care very little for these types of festivities. You must admit that they are far duller when less wine is involved. I often start my work day early. I needn¡¯t have the curse of poison in my blood by the morning.¡¯ ¡®Awfully wise,¡¯ she agreed. ¡®If a little dull, might I add. I¡¯ve never been a woman of wisdom. Certainly I did not build my life around that trait. The more I live, the more I recognise that I can indeed build a legacy and a reign around things I happen to be quite talented at.¡¯ ¡®For a woman who calls herself unwise, I would consider that quite the wisdom,¡¯ he said, clasping his hands together behind his back. ¡®Lady Katherine, I was meaning to have a word with you?¡¯ Katherine¡¯s face was dewy from the moonlit air that had grown foggy with the dark, and her eyes shone brighter still. Despite her intoxication, she understood clearly that Freyza¡¯s intent was to begin again where they left off all that time ago. ¡®Aren¡¯t you already having a word with me?¡¯ she wondered. He chuckled darkly. ¡®How much more explicit must I be?¡¯ Katherine looked around and leaned in when she noticed nobody paid her any attention. ¡®Frankly, no matter how explicit, I¡¯m not quite looking to have words.¡¯ He felt himself begin to go red. ¡®Your Majesty¡­¡¯ ¡®Have you missed me?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I feel as though you must have missed me.¡¯ ¡®Each and every day,¡¯ he admitted. She kept her face straight, but she felt as though she would grimace. At least she made a strong impression. She was not one to let a perfectly good opportunity for debauchery go to waste, however. Through her teeth she lied, ¡®And I you.¡¯
Katherine beckoned him from the main entrance of the palace, where she awaited him with her hands clasped behind her back, looking over her shoulder. Just before he caught up with her, she slipped into the hall and ducked into one of the smaller hallways that it mouthed into. ¡®Have I told you how marvelous you look?¡¯ he asked when the chatter of the party died down, unable to penetrate the thick walls. Katherine looked over her shoulder. ¡®He says, three steps behind me. How flattering.¡¯ ¡®Is something the matter, my lady?¡¯ asked Freyza. ¡®How have you fared in my absence?¡¯ she asked instead. ¡®Have any Ginefort-looking redheads caught your eye?¡¯ ¡®Not quite,¡¯ he said. ¡®Have any Sbaians caught yours?¡¯ Katherine turned and wrapped her arms over his shoulders. ¡®Who¡¯s to say, perhaps I¡¯ve replaced you? Do you still have any use in my roster of favourites, you think?¡¯ Now Freyza grimaced. He let his hands find the sides of her ribcage, even let one of his thumbs softly trail the side seam of her dress, but he shook his head. ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I had expected my positive performance review to buy me more time than a couple of months. Was I wrong to assume?¡¯ Happily, Katherine stepped up to her tiptoes and innocently kissed him on his mouth. ¡®Desperation can pass in an instant, my dear. No offence meant. Despite having cooled in my demeanour, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯d rather lose you than have you tonight. Whatever I said, barring the sentimental nonsense, still stands.¡¯ ¡®Sentimental nonsense¡­¡¯ he mumbled. ¡®Do you really wish to spoil a night with sentimental nonsense?¡¯ she echoed, her brows raised and a grin baring her charmingly misaligned teeth lighting up her face. ¡®I¡¯ve come to Souchon a free woman. My path lies clear before me and I will walk it ¡ª I will not just be a queen, or the queen, but I¡¯ll be the queen of this place. Let¡¯s rejoice. We are both home today. My greatness falls over everything like snow.¡¯A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡®I¡¯ve reached the great orator, then?¡¯ he asked. ¡®A great drunk orator, that¡¯s for certain.¡¯ ¡®A great sober one too, it¡¯s just that it¡¯s far less fun being a great sober orator,¡¯ she explained. ¡®Freyza¡­ I¡¯ve a great place we can go. I¡¯ll show you around ¡ª this all is mine now too, you know?¡¯ He nodded, stuck between excitement and concern. He had heard about what had happened to Walter, though he had never understood that Katherine and him had been lovers, and he had always considered Walter to be somewhat of a benevolent animal that the retinue kept for his cuteness. A slave the way he sold them back in the day ¡ª a companion animal to a powerful person. ¡®Is it on the roof?¡¯ he asked. ¡®No,¡¯ Katherine said slyly, her eyes darting up and down his form. ¡®That¡¯s low, even for me. Or¡­ high. It¡¯s not on the roof. Do you trust me?¡¯ ¡®I do, actually. These are the things men come to regret, I suppose.¡¯ Freyza scratched his beard, which had recently transformed from a frizzy mass of thorns into a short, glossy version of itself. ¡®Good thing I don¡¯t let this happen to me often.¡¯ She chuckled and wriggled herself out of his now one-armed grasp. ¡®What?¡¯ she wondered. ¡®I thought we¡¯d put down this time each day. Well, well. I¡¯ll be disappointed if you¡¯re disappointed, so I¡¯d begin practising your impressed face now.¡¯ As they began to walk again, Freyza could not help but feel amused at her insistence. There was no way that she did not know that all she had ever seen on him was his impressed face. Whatever gregariousness she felt towards him, whatever charity, was towards his impressed face. Was Katherine happy? He found it hard to decide. Her skin and words felt prickly and sparkly, a torch lightly dusted with gunpowder, that not only shimmered excitedly, but made worrying pangs and hisses all the while. They entered the Ilworthian wing that had been reinstated since her return, though it still carried the remnants of being uninhabited, and Katherine beat her body against a door that opened with a heavy groan. What bared itself to them was only a blackness that led down a flight of stairs they could not discern with a light. Katherine took a torch from the wall and waved it around until she found a candle that lay on a notch¡¯s surface, and lit it. It was far colder in the door frame than it was a step or two out from it, and the smell coming from the abyss could only be described as a combination of cork and must. ¡®Is this where you¡¯ll have me killed?¡¯ he asked, his voice resounding threefold into the staircase below, that Katherine began to walk down. She looked up with great amusement. ¡®Only if you insist,¡¯ she said. ¡®Don¡¯t be such a coward, Frey. Come right along. You know, and I¡¯ll never forgive them for changing this, this used to be behind a false wall.¡¯ Hesitantly, he followed her, with only the long flame of the candle in its holder to illuminate their path. Another notch in the wall, only briefly on show, revealed a wooden sculpture of two lovers copulating. ¡®Right,¡¯ he said. ¡®Be careful, Katherine, these steps are quite tricky¡­¡¯ Katherine reached the bottom and used the candle to light another couple of candles that sat on a ridge, as well as a torch of which the fire slowly bloomed as she waited for him to descend. ¡®Don¡¯t worry, old man.¡¯ It was still largely dark, dimly lit at best, but Freyza could make out where they had gone. Bottles lined the wall, all amber and green glass reflecting. The smell was far more intense, and mingled with a faint rot. As he took it all in, his eye fell on a skull that stood between a pair of bottles, as well as an alcove where hangers hung gemstone necklaces. ¡®Katherine, I am unsure of why you¡¯ve brought me here, but¡ª¡® Katherine reached for him and lay a hand on his jaw. ¡®I wanted to show you the cellar,¡¯ she said innocently, ¡®Why else?¡¯ Freyza¡¯s eyes slid across Katherine¡¯s reddened face. Behind the pastel veneer of her translucent skin, a berry-red blush lit up her cheeks. ¡®I¡¯ve meant to write you often,¡¯ he began, leaning into her, ¡®You have managed to make quite the impression.¡¯ Whatever words she had spoken to him that fateful night, were now erased by the knowledge her pursuits all this time were not futile after all. ¡®I¡¯ve got something even more impressive to share with you,¡¯ she cooed, beginning to feel her intention rot in her chest. If he was as infatuated with her as she assumed from the way he spoke to her, she recognised humouring him would perhaps do more harm than good. She slid out from his grasp again, and passed a barrel that was so tall that it reached almost up to her shoulders, of which the surface so freezing cold that it almost appeared to carry ice. Some of the oaken planks were stained a cruddy brown red. Freyza lingered by it suspiciously while Katherine sought against the edge of the wall with the back of her hand. Katherine looked over her shoulder. ¡®What¡¯s the matter? Feeling the urge to bathe in an oversized barrel?¡¯ ¡®No¡­¡¯ he said. ¡®Wondering why it¡¯s so cold.¡¯ She snickered. ¡®They say Henri drowned a man in it,¡¯ she said. ¡®Explains the stains as well. I¡¯ll be curious to taste whatever wine is bottled from it.¡¯ Freyza got chills and removed his hand from the surface. ¡®You have an awfully cruel streak in you, Katherine. Are you aware of that?¡¯ Katherine shrugged and pushed against the door at the very end of the room. Locked. The hinge she had found behind the dusty bottles of wine had been the one to lock it. ¡®I¡¯m the queen, Master Freyza, were I some fainting young maiden who did not understand the use and art of bloodshed, I¡¯d have abdicated long ago.¡¯ ¡®In my dreams, you abdicated,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®What a coincidence,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®In my dreams, I¡¯ve also abdicated.¡¯ They both laughed and took the opportunity to once again get closer. ¡®I¡¯d hoped to see you again,¡¯ he said, ¡®Upon your return. But to have been taken to a libertine¡¯s den of human remains, some of which steeped in wine, and a significant amount of bone and wooden statuettes of obscene acts, I hadn¡¯t expected.¡¯ Katherine hummed softly. ¡®I¡¯d hoped to see you again as well. You had made my stay in Bourrac far sweeter. For a brief period of time, my judgement was genuinely veiled by adoration for you. Do you think you can conjure that up again?¡¯ His broad shoulders cast a shadow over her as he turned away from the torchlight. ¡®Katherine¡­ you¡¯re not being serious, are you?¡¯ he asked, hesitant to reach his hands any lower than the small of her back. ¡®I¡¯ll be the first to say it. I¡¯ve no need to conjure anything up. This morning, I was in the same depth of longing and adoration that I was when I saw you leave. I recall you saying you think you could have loved me.¡¯ Katherine carelessly undid the lacing on her bodice and flew into his arms as the first eyelet was undone ¡ª the pressure of her body against the fabric would do the rest. ¡®Shut up,¡¯ she whispered. ¡®Enough about what I have said.¡¯ Freyza felt his blood rush out of his brain, and yet, it felt wrong to let himself fall into the warm embrace of whatever unfeeling lust stood before him. ¡®But¡ª¡® Katherine kissed him, and when she withdrew, she grinned happily. ¡®You may stop pretending to be in love with me ¡ª let¡¯s not kid ourselves and have a good evening despite it. I didn¡¯t bring you to this depraved underground storage room in order to receive any grand gestures.¡¯ Her grin quickly melted when her eye fell on Freyza¡¯s expression, which was closer to irritation and horror than she had ever seen on him. ¡®I thought you felt more for me than just the tactual,¡¯ he admitted awkwardly. ¡®I¡¯m not sure we should go on anymore¡­ I feel quite sick, actually.¡¯ Months of waiting, a culminated longing of many lonely nights, evaporated in an instant. Katherine¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®Was this place not the right one?¡¯ she wondered. Freyza clicked his tongue. ¡®No, well¡­ I suppose, Lady Katherine, all of this would be far easier if you weren¡¯t a head of state. I am sure you agree.¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ she chuckled sardonically. ¡®Freyza ¡ª you may as well be saying that it would be a far easier situation, if I were some Najan peasant girl kidnapped by your subordinate.¡¯ ¡®Wouldn¡¯t it?¡¯ asked Freyza, a bit of anger in his tone. ¡®You may not prefer it, but the truth of the matter is still the same.¡¯ ¡®Now I feel rather sick too,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®I suppose without conjured urgency, there is not much left of us.¡¯ Freyza clenched his jaws. ¡®I shall walk you back to the festivities, if you so desire.¡¯ She nodded softly. ¡®Courteous.¡¯ 35. The Regents Lair It was not often that Katherine was called into Louise¡¯s private quarters, let alone to have breakfast with her and Theo. The breakfast hall was almost entirely at the top of a tower, and clad in fashionably brocaded wallpaper, white furniture and scented with sumptuous white bread and pastries. Katherine was awkwardly seated directly opposite the large window through which the sun shone. Katherine felt as if her stomach was being squeezed from the inside ¡ª the last thing on her mind was the food on the table. Louise, as always, wore a placid lopsided grin. She was buttering a brioche bun when she finally began to speak, sitting on the other side of the particularly small table, a show of the intimacy of the setting. ¡®Katherine, would you be able to hand me the raspberry compote?¡¯ she asked, darting her eyes from the bun up to Katherine. ¡®Sure,¡¯ she said, and sought the correct porcelain dish. ¡®Here you go.¡¯ Louise smiled as she sampled the jelly. ¡®You know, you can be very helpful sometimes, Katherine.¡¯ ¡®Only sometimes?¡¯ The older queen took a moment. She bit down into her bun and chewed, her eyes smirking all the while. ¡®I suppose you could be useful all the time, should you choose to.¡¯ ¡®Useful to you?¡¯ Louise giggled. ¡®Don¡¯t be silly, my dear. Useful to the world, of course. However¡­ I suppose with us both being queen of such high standing, world-movers, as it were, it¡¯s only natural that we collaborate in this regard.¡¯ Katherine made a face as she sipped her wine. ¡®I thought we had been.¡¯ ¡®I thought so too. But lately, it seems to me like you¡¯ve grown cold. Distant.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t see how you could say that with all my visits.¡¯ ¡®Hmm, your visits¡­¡¯ Louise chewed and let out a small giggle. ¡®But your visits are done to see Henri, not to see yours truly. Therefore, should we truly count them?¡¯ ¡®I cannot imagine the queen mother would not appreciate me taking care to see her son. Especially during such times.¡¯ ¡®If you see him too much, my dear, we may not be able to separate him from you any longer.¡¯ Katherine raised an eyebrow. ¡®And that would be a problem?¡¯ Louise put aside her food, drumming her fingers along the table. ¡®Why, not at all. What greater pleasure could there be for me than the two of you coming together? I just wouldn¡¯t want Henri to hurt you. He can be so insensitive. I¡¯m sure you understand my concerns.¡¯ Katherine, for only a moment, swore she could see through Louise¡¯s face all the way to the mass of dark brown curls bundled up into braids. She reached for a bun as well and poked it with her fork to sever its top and bottom. ¡®You have been nothing but good to me,¡¯ she said. ¡®You, Henri, court proper. The camarilla.¡¯ Louise clicked her tongue. ¡®For you¡¯ve changed for them,¡¯ she said, her tone turned from calculating to frustrated. ¡®I am your aunt, Katherine, I¡¯ve known you since you were a little girl. You aren¡¯t the sort of young lady to enter a castle on a horse, or shoot a hole into Henri¡¯s hat, or God forbid, enjoy these sordid affairs Henri enjoys. They love you, for they have turned you to a second Diane Neville, and once you show your own face again, it will be trampled.¡¯ ¡®Do you worry for me?¡¯ asked Katherine. ¡®I believed you would be the reasonable prospect,¡¯ she clarified. ¡®A wife that my son would love, who is respectable and dignified, and a just ruler for Massouron. Are you aware of the reason why you were sent away, Katherine? Has Henri ever shared that with you?¡¯ Katherine shook her head bashfully. ¡®Hm.¡¯ Louise lifted a goblet of ale to her lips and shrugged. ¡®You gave us all an unstable impression. Hell, you¡¯d just tried to shuffle yourself off of this mortal coil and immediately thereafter murdered your adviser. You should be pleased that Henri still wishes to see you ¡ª certainly had one of my suitors made such a mess of himself, he would be my suitor no more. We were all mortified.¡¯ ¡®I, too, was mortified,¡¯ Katherine responded, ¡®A man tried to shoot me! I was betrayed!¡¯ ¡®Katherine, please,¡¯ said Louise. ¡®You may stop trying to appease Henri with your theatrics. Leave winning his favour to his favourites and mistresses, please. I¡¯ll try to be as clear with you as I can now, for fear of overestimating your perception of subtlety. You are Ilworthian, after all. There is a reason why his most beloved mistresses will never be his wife ¡ª it is because they bark up the wrong tree. I am giving you the opportunity to bark up the right one to come out of this as victor. I am the tree. You come to me, not to him, if you wish to live here for a long time, or at least a time that does not end in your untimely death.¡¯If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Katherine scoffed lightly and let her eyes wander around the room at the indignity of it all. ¡®You think I am yours to command?¡¯ ¡®Command? Where do you get that idea? Katherine, we may be ladies of power, but we are ladies nonetheless. And I am older than you are. More experienced in these matters.¡¯ ¡®Truly? You¡¯ve been in my situation?¡¯ she snapped. Louise breathed in sharply and clicked her tongue. ¡®Not precisely the same, no. But it would be foolish to think I¡¯m not looking for a solution that works best for everyone.¡¯ ¡®What I think is that you¡¯re forgetting yourself.¡¯ ¡®I beg your pardon?¡¯ ¡®I am Queen of Ilworth. My word is law¡ªand much of that is due to the fact that I have no king. You, on the other hand, are the mother of the king. You may call yourself as you like, but we both know it is Henri who rules, not you.¡¯ ¡®Why the need for this aggressive tone, Katherine?¡¯ she said, clearly annoyed. ¡®Do you truly wish to see who rules Massouron?¡¯ ¡®You overstep yourself!¡¯ ¡®And you will not disrespect a queen in her own home!¡¯ Louise shouted, rising to further impress the point with her magnificent height. ¡®I have not been your enemy. But I can be.¡¯ Kathy remained seated and shrugged innocently. ¡®I want no enemies. But you are not my queen; nor are you my mother. My business with the king is mine alone.¡¯ ¡®You are nothing but a nun with an impressive lineage,¡¯ said Louise. ¡®Do not forget you are a spare, Katherine.¡¯ ¡®You are nothing but a false power broker who cannot deliver her promises,¡¯ Katherine replied. ¡®I will cast you away again if that proves my capacities to you,¡¯ Louise answered sharply. ¡®It¡¯d simply prove your fickleness,¡¯ she replied with a smile. ¡®What will the people think?¡¯ Louise huffed indignantly. ¡®That the Queen of Ilworth rode into Souchon Palace on a fucking horse, threatened to shoot the king with a crossbow, and is sleeping with most of his friends? Surely, the people will be upset with me when they find all of that out¡­ God forbid that day ever comes, huh?¡¯ ¡®It will look better than how you disposed of the last royal redhead that came to claim Henri¡¯s side,¡¯ Katherine continued. ¡®Or is that how you plan to do away with me as well?¡¯ ¡®You believe that?¡¯ Louise almost whispered. ¡®You¡¯re more foolish than I thought.¡¯ For the first time since Katherine handed Louise the compote, she looked up to Theo, who had been looking at Katherine for a while, though he had not openly reacted. ¡®I do still remember the day I found out you were poisoning me,¡¯ said Katherine wistfully. ¡®It was the first doubt that was sown in my mind.¡¯ ¡®So what?¡¯ Louise asked. ¡®If you cannot handle the strong stuff, are you truly right for Henri? I¡¯ll be the first to admit it ¡ª Isabella was poisoned. Is that what you were fishing for, Katherine? But you¡¯re not a fifteen-year-old saintlike virgin who¡¯s never had a drink but small ale and whose place of origin was sacked about ten times since her birth. What you are, Katherine, I¡¯d rather not say in polite company.¡¯ Katherine snickered. ¡®Oh, no, do say,¡¯ she said, crossing her arms. ¡®You¡¯re my aunt ¡ª you¡¯re soon to be my mother-in-law, considering it is still Henri¡¯s call. I should know what you think of me.¡¯ Louise inhaled deeply and took a few steps towards her, keeping her eyes locked on Katherine¡¯s. ¡®I can break your mind if I want to,¡¯ she stated sharply. Katherine, unwilling to let the pressure get the better of her, simply flashed her teeth in a smile. ¡®I break your son¡¯s mind every other night, and for the most part, he seems to still be alright.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re a whore, your mother was a whore, certainly any daughter you¡¯ll have will be one too,¡¯ Louise continued. ¡®Be glad about this fact. It is likely among your better traits, and certainly your most persuasive one in negotiations of all sorts. You think yourself untouchable. I give it a month or two until everyone finds out your tricks and tires of them.¡¯ Katherine cocked her head. ¡®I will certainly let you know,¡¯ she said. ¡®In fact, I should be doing. I¡¯ve had great fun at breakfast with the both of you this morning, but I fear that my time has come to a close.¡¯ ¡®Oddly prophetic,¡¯ said Louise. ¡®I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find it quite fruitful to spend some time reflecting on my words. Once more, I needn¡¯t find you my enemy. Whatever circumstance throws our way, however, I will have to react to accordingly. I stand for my people and my class, not for the whims of my son.¡¯ She stood up and smiled placidly, curtsying as she walked back a few steps away from Louise. ¡®Quite right,¡¯ she said. ¡®If you require my presence again, I will gladly lend you a morning.¡¯ Louise grinned and crossed her arms. ¡®Alright,¡¯ she said. ¡®Tell your spymaster I said hello. I imagine he knows a thing or two about the conversation that we just had.¡¯ Katherine¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®I wish for your nose to permanently take itself out of my business, Louise.¡¯ Without more words, Louise watched Katherine leave, undoubtedly into the arms of her court who would hear what had happened that morning. Louise did not worry for the fallout. If anything, she had been looking for the right moment to mediate Katherine¡¯s thoughts and ideas into a shape that suited her more. Gifts and kindness rarely had the right effect. Louise knew only an iron fist would tame a girl as spirited and stubborn as Katherine was. There was more that she had to accomplish that morning, another brewing plot that could serve as another option for the predicament that she was in. Louise may have appeared calm, but below the surface, something brewed that was much less contained. Theo looked up at her quietly when the sound of Katherine¡¯s shoes muffled. ¡®Well?¡¯ asked Louise. Theo ironed his lips into a wide, flat line. ¡®As long as Henri rules, we will have to put up with the type of women that Henri wishes to marry,¡¯ he said. ¡®Which, I wouldn¡¯t say is what we were looking for when you abdicated.¡¯ Louise pursed her lips. ¡®Well, the alternative, which is picking a young woman that we¡¯d like dealings with, has obviously also fallen through. Let¡¯s just hope she does not relent when under a bit of pressure such as today. I like her more than the others.¡¯ ¡®As do I,¡¯ said Theo. Louise giggled. ¡®You¡¯d take a bullet for her, wouldn¡¯t you?¡¯ she asked sardonically. Theo rolled his eyes. ¡®Come now. You may ridicule me all you like, but if it weren¡¯t for me, we¡¯d have to negotiate with far more barbaric women than her, and I don¡¯t know how you¡¯d fare.¡¯ She sat back down and took another brioche bun from the basket. As she tore it with her hands, savouring each crackle and snap of the hard crust and the soft tearing of the stretchy insides, she mused, ¡®Not well. It¡¯s just a damned shame what it did to your shoulder, Theo, that¡¯s all. I¡¯d use you as a human shield as well if I could.¡¯ 36. A Duel of Conspiracies It was a strange request that came into the Sbaian embassy one day from Theo, not by him walking into Freyza¡¯s chancellery like he was used to, but rather with a neatly penned missive with a rather simple, yet disturbing request. I wish to inquire as to any lethal poisons that could be ordered. Preferably neutral tasting. Lay a vial of precisely two lethal doses in my writing desk at your earliest convenience. There you will find an apt sum as payment. Destroy this missive upon receipt. Inability to do so will not be appreciated by the crown. Theo de S-V The Sbaians were known to be carrying a myriad of potions, given that their territory was large and fecund, and a massive variety of herbs and medicinal plants could be grown there, which would not be able to survive the frigid winters of Massouron. Besides, they were apolitical when it came to Massouric business. Their embassy thrived on a laissez-faire attitude: both spies of the kingdom and spies against it found respite in the signature Sbaian shrug of washing one¡¯s hands in innocence. So what, if Theo wished two people dead? What sort of businessman would Freyza be not to oblige? When he received it, he instantly threw it into the fireplace and looked up to Iskander, who was answering letters for him. ¡®Get Bayezid,¡¯ he said quickly. Iskander looked up at once and stood up. ¡®Yes, master,¡¯ he said, and excused himself. The impression of the missive still darted through his mind. Who could it be that Theo ¡ª or rather, Louise ¡ª wanted dead? Why were it two people, or was a double dose simply to make doubly sure of one person¡¯s demise? His first instinct was the royal couple. A double killing, both Henri and Katherine dead, leaving no bitter half of the union to avenge the murders. He gulped. Perhaps Katherine had made a terrible mistake to return, after all¡­ ¡®You were looking for me,¡¯ said Bayezid when he entered. ¡®When am I not?¡¯ asked Freyza, trying to appear sunnier than he felt. He clicked his tongue. ¡®Say, Bayezid, have you picked up any animosity as of late? I feel like I¡¯ve been stuck within the walls of my own mind ever since Queen Katherine left, and thereafter, still¡­¡¯ Bayezid flared his eyes. ¡®Is that so?¡¯ he asked. ¡®That¡¯s right, I totally forgot about Queen Katherine. How has that been faring for you?¡¯ From Freyza¡¯s suddenly soured expression, Bayezid already understood what he was to say. Bayezid knew Freyza a long time, and he happened to be wholly predictable. ¡®Forget what I told you about Queen Katherine,¡¯ he said, trying to keep his face steady. ¡®Ah, that¡¯s rough,¡¯ Bayezid said. ¡®No no,¡¯ he said as he always did, ¡®Nothing bad. Just a¡­ slightly uncomfortable encounter. Nothing to worry about. I¡¯ll fill you in, in due time. But my question still stands. Animosity.¡¯ ¡®Animosity?¡¯ he echoed. ¡®Well, it appears not. Not after those servants were noosed up.¡¯ ¡®Right¡­¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®And you¡¯ve been paying attention?¡¯ Bayezid sat back in the chair opposite Freyza and looked at him with questioning eyes. ¡®Was I supposed to? If I¡¯m supposed to, I¡¯ll do a better job next time.¡¯ Freyza briefly closed his eyes and exhaled. ¡®Bayezid,¡¯ he began, stating his subordinate¡¯s name with a tone so sharp Bayezid nearly felt the cut of it against his throat, ¡®A demand has been made of me that can take a number of people out. People I care for, people I deal with, perhaps even myself. Perhaps even yourself. I am too occupied to be my own eyes and ears to the degree that I need to be. While you are out watching Louise¡¯s ladies-in-waiting bathe in the moat and frolic, while you are out stalking Rima¡ª¡¯ ¡®I had dealings with Rima, you know¡ª¡¯ ¡®Shut your mouth,¡¯ Freyza snapped. ¡®While you were an idle man, I¡¯ve run this embassy as if I¡¯ve twice as many hours in a day as I do. And now I¡¯m risking my death because Master Bayezid of Amouas knows the favourite flower of every woman at court, but not whether there¡¯s a conspiracy against our nearest associates? Be very ashamed of yourself.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s not true,¡¯ Bayezid protested. ¡®I¡¯ve kept myself out of Queen Katherine¡¯s business, for one. I know she was your project.¡¯ ¡®One day, I wish to tell your wife all about you,¡¯ Freyza said, ¡®But meanwhile, I fear that if I tell the truth, she will behead me also. That just leaves one person to be the cruel voice of reason for you, Bayezid, and that would be myself. Queen Katherine is not my project, never was, sure isn¡¯t now. Perhaps instead of staying out of her business, you should have paid a little more attention to it. That spymaster of hers would gladly scalp you and wear your gorgeous auburn mane as a winter hat.¡¯ Demonstratively, Bayezid ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t suit him.¡¯ ¡®Very funny,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®I¡¯m asking you to help me, or I¡¯ll make like the sultan, and kick you out on your arse. You and Falcona both. Perhaps confined to your other half, you¡¯ll finally realise that she exists.¡¯ Bayezid stood up. ¡®Sorry,¡¯ he said. ¡®Sorry doesn¡¯t buy much,¡¯ Freyza refuted immediately. ¡®I know¡­¡¯ Bayezid answered with a sigh. ¡®I¡¯ll see what I can do now. And the next thing I¡¯ll say ¡ª please leave it if it doesn¡¯t apply. If you¡¯ve had your heart shredded recently, which I have felt comfortable assuming by the tone of your voice and the fact you¡¯ve been close to tears this whole time, seek out someone else that you are certain you won¡¯t care about. It¡¯s like the hair of the dog that bit you, except it¡¯s the tits of a bitch that didn¡¯t bite you.¡¯ Freyza sighed. ¡®You should probably go now.¡¯ He watched Bayezid leave with a long, disapproving look that did not fade once the door shut. Bayezid was, although his closest friend, an utterly useless associate to him. Even Rima, his secretary who had been captured in the Najan Isles by Freyza¡¯s very own ship, had more sense in her head than this overeducated and underexperienced diplomat.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. On the other hand, Bayezid knew him better than anyone else did. The world had felt complete for a fortnight after he had left Bourrac, though his feelings had been conjured up out of nowhere. Had Katherine never returned, he would have likely gone to the grave believing that she was the one. How foolish he thought himself to be now, now it was him who had broken it off. Perhaps these drives could be conjured up again, and with an open visor of all options, a less intimidating conquest could be chosen. He smirked. A certain power had distilled within his mind: somehow, he would drag himself out of this trench of his own digging.
Ever since Katherine arrived, much of the youthful crowd that had fled to Argento upon her departure returned with chests full of new games, unknown textiles, and spirits the likes of which were wholly unavailable in Massouron or Ilworth. It had steeped Henri¡¯s camarilla in drunken afternoons down in the dungeons, where the partying resumed after a short pause due to Isabella¡¯s short stay in Souchon. Henri and Katherine were late to one of these afternoon gatherings due to the need of their presence elsewhere in the region. They gathered in one of Henri¡¯s chambers to dress for the occasion. Henri straddled a cork with his teeth as he eyed his fianc¨¦e, one leg ankle-deep in a pink silk stocking. ¡®I spoke with your mother a few weeks ago,¡¯ Katherine said seemingly out of nowhere as a maid laced her into her kirtle. ¡®Did she ever mention it?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ he spoke through the obstacle in his teeth. ¡®Why?¡¯ ¡®She accused me of theatrics,¡¯ Katherine began shyly. ¡®I was wondering if she¡¯d trickled it down to you yet. I¡¯m disinterested in spending time by your side and being cast away soon.¡¯ ¡®She has no power,¡¯ said Henri. Katherine reluctantly smiled. She knew Henri was fully unaware of the power that his mother wielded. In Katherine¡¯s eyes, Louise was truly a wicked woman, one who wielded her grey eminence like an axe, ready to dish out justice on terms that were fully disturbing. ¡®I¡¯m not sure,¡¯ said Katherine. Henri chuckled. ¡®My darling¡­ nobody can hurt you as long as my sun shines on you.¡¯ ¡®And it will continue to do so?¡¯ she wondered. Henri looked her up and down. ¡®I asked for you to return, did I not? That should be all the confirmation you need. Let¡¯s go, they¡¯ll get started without us.¡¯ Katherine slipped into her mules and looked up at him with the worry that her issues were being underestimated ¡ª a potentially fatal reaction in slow-time. She had a pit in her stomach that accompanied the knowledge that there was no choice but to oblige Henri and leave the safe alcove of his chamber for the hallways and the dungeon. Ever since she had returned, Henri had adopted the strange habit of hooking his arm through the crook of Katherine¡¯s when they walked down the hallway together, more as a measure of camaraderie than romance. ¡®Much has changed since you left,¡¯ he said absentmindedly. ¡®You knew Fairfax left, right?¡¯ Katherine nodded. ¡®He was at the coast undergoing some herbal remedies and he returned wearing this¡­ cone over his privates,¡¯ Henri continued. ¡®What?¡¯ Katherine chuckled. ¡®Really. A cone full of sage and lavender. You needn¡¯t laugh when you see particularly fashionable young men imitate it. Some say it¡¯ll be quite in vogue. In fact, though I ridiculed it as he came in, sprigs of lavender sticking out as if it was his pubic hair, it¡¯s growing on me. I am starting to see breeches without these¡­ codpieces, is the only way I can describe them politely¡­ as somewhat incomplete and sexless.¡¯ Katherine laughed and shook her head. ¡®None of this would have happened in Norbury Castle, you know?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Here instead of being asked to insert his junk into a lavender-filled cone by the coast, our best doctors would have just hacked it off.¡¯ Henri chuckled as well and sighed happily. ¡®I missed you,¡¯ he said. ¡®You¡¯re, like, me but as a girl. And from some backwards fucking island.¡¯ He was hardly a poet, and Katherine found herself charmed despite his incoherent ways. ¡®I¡¯m not from a backwards island, I am a mythical queen from the foreign land of Ilworth, Henri. Here to show you our ways of drinking and whoring and stepping on Massouric faces, as we have done for hundreds of years. Sorry to say, but demeaning Chavanets is kind of in my blood.¡¯ ¡®Your people would castrate Fairfax due to your own incompetence but you still feel comfortable counting Massouron as Ilworthian province. Classy broad, you are.¡¯ She looked at him slyly. ¡®Of course I am. I¡¯m you in the shape of a woman, like you said.¡¯ They began their descent down into the dungeons, and Henri walked half a step before Katherine in order to hold her hand as they walked down. With each step, the air got warmer and more oppressive, and the sound of lute music and laughter became more and more potent. ¡®They did start without us,¡¯ Henri said. Katherine clicked her tongue. ¡®We should¡¯ve started without them.¡¯ As they reached the lowest level and made their way through the silks, some of which had tattered in the year that Henri had ruled, they noticed most of the women gathering around Diane, whose brown hair fell down her body, obscuring it, and who wore nothing besides her hair and a full set of diamonds that dangled from her ears, neck, fingers and speckled upon hairpins in her hair. It pained Katherine how Henri looked at Diane, though it had not changed in the years that they had known each other. Whereas Katherine felt certain that of his real prospects, she was the favourite, and not just that, even without her lineage, circumstance could have made her his mistress, his pull towards Diane was inevitable. Her features were as feline and sharp as they were angelic, with upturned blue eyes that danced with grey and green, and a stunning gold centre, a narrow straight nose, and shapely, narrow lips upon an iridescent complexion. Besides her perfect face, her body was taut and girlish, with long lanky limbs, despite being half a decade Henri¡¯s senior. She would be twenty-eight in the summer, to Henri¡¯s twenty-three and Katherine¡¯s twenty-four. If not his most favoured mistress, ancient to in boyish eyes. She bloomed with the king¡¯s attention, and only when she cast a sly gaze upon her competitor, did Katherine begin to pay attention to her words, which had been spouting out of her since before the royal pair arrived. ¡®Henri, Kathy,¡¯ she said. ¡®I was telling the ladies about my new lover.¡¯ Nobody but Henri called Katherine Kathy. She scoffed quietly. ¡®Were you now?¡¯ asked Henri. ¡®What¡¯s a new lover to a Souchon Palace native such as yourself? I imagine that in your time, you¡¯ve screwed everyone that you might have fancied.¡¯ Her large liquid eyes looked up with mischief. ¡®Well, there¡¯s new folks every day. And it¡¯s not every day that we receive a rogueish tall gentleman from a faraway land who gives me diamonds and desert glass to boot. I¡¯ve been wooed for months now before anything happened. I was just telling everyone about the diamonds. Aren¡¯t they gorgeous? Supposed to be worn with nought but a smile.¡¯ Henri raised his brows as he kicked his shoes off and unfurled the bow on his ruff that attached it to his shirt. ¡®I¡¯m not a jealous man, but you shouldn¡¯t push me,¡¯ he said. ¡®I only began to see him as such just before Isabella arrived. I thought he¡¯d be a dull nightmare, but quite the contrary,¡¯ Diane said and briefly paused. ¡®If he were, that would¡¯ve been a shame of him. I consider him quite gifted in some ways.¡¯ Katherine chuckled. ¡®Bayezid of Amouas?¡¯ she wondered. ¡®I hear that he fucks anything that moves. Lovely diamonds, though, Diane. Really.¡¯ She pursed her lips. ¡®No,¡¯ she mused carelessly. ¡®Freyza of Tougaf.¡¯ Katherine¡¯s heart dropped. She was unsure why it bothered her so to see her rival dripping in Sbaian diamonds, hopefully unaware of Katherine¡¯s very own history with the ambassador, though part of her felt relief that he had likely moved on from the affair as well. However, a side of her remained filled with a great anger and jealousy; after all, it had been Freyza¡¯s will to reject her. ¡®Ah,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®I believe I may have dealt with him.¡¯ ¡®Have you?¡¯ she asked. Katherine bit her tongue. More than anything, she wished to tell the story from start to finish. She had been there first. Diane had no honour ¡ª it was a shame that Katherine had received no diamonds to prove it. ¡®You¡¯d be surprised,¡¯ said Diane. ¡®I¡¯ve been told his duchy, Tougaf, is actually larger than some of our neighbouring countries. It¡¯s larger than Ilworth, for example. No wonder the gold keeps flowing.¡¯ She frowned. There was no way that Diane had gotten close enough to Freyza to wear his diamonds, and not learned of his trysts with Katherine. Was this an outright attack? ¡®Well¡­¡¯ Katherine began. ¡®I¡¯ve been told he gets rather attached, so if you wish to stay at your post as royal mistress, you should thank him kindly for the diamonds and move along.¡¯ Diane looked Katherine up and down, and swiftly moved to Henri. ¡®I don¡¯t know¡­¡¯ she cooed. ¡®I feel like even our king can learn a thing or two from the Duke of Tougaf.¡¯ 37. A Sliver of Hope Sharpened to a Sword Katherine was reluctant to admit to herself that she had her heart broken, if only with the implication that, while her own lust had to be seated upon a chair of truth and fidelity, the same rules did not apply to Diane. She did not care for Freyza in particular, but this made him far more interesting to her than he ever could have been as favourite. Thankfully, there was much to distract her. Henry and Henri, the unfortunately named duo, had resumed their practice together with the former¡¯s friends and the latter¡¯s knights, and Katherine enjoyed watching them greatly. The ladies amused themselves well. Grace even befriended Henry¡¯s squire, who Katherine had not realised had been a young woman all this time, though obviously not a type that Henry would come to be infatuated with, or so she told herself. Much was to be done to avoid Louise or any prying eyes that might lead to her. A spontaneous trip to the countryside, causing a carriage to break down so Henri and her may spend the night blue-torched on the side of a winding country road in the wilderness, and a growing base of intimate knowledge about the secrets of Souchon Palace¡¯s many unused passageways, were each weapons of her resistance. It only took a few more weeks for Katherine to be invited to a banquet by Louise. It was the middle of the week, two days before Charlie¡¯s birthday that would be celebrated with an elaborate ball, as he was still in Henri¡¯s greatest of grace despite his missing eye and the chip in his cheerfulness that the loss of his eye had caused him. Katherine reserved the hair washing for that party instead, where she hoped to arrive to the ballroom with a full head of artificially crimped curls that only turned out as brilliantly unnatural if they were done on freshly laundered hair that was just a hair off from fully dry. She arrived, therefore, at the banquet wearing what she wore to council that morning, with her hair roughly pulled into braids and covered with a sheer veil as was Argentan fashion. It was only midday and the occasion was not specified. The fire was roaring to get the humidity of the recent rain out of the walls and flooring, and Katherine was one of the first to arrive as to greet other guests later on. At the table sat Louise and Silouane, with Sophie and Henri to Silouane¡¯s side and Theo and Azeline to Louise¡¯s. There was a single spot for her reserved to Henri¡¯s side. ¡®My beautiful family,¡¯ Katherine mused as she entered, dragging her feet somewhat. ¡®What an honour to be invited to your side today.¡¯ Silouane smiled ¡ª it was the nearest thing to hospitality that she would expect. ¡®The honour is ours.¡¯ Louise was quiet, not even appearing particularly fierce by the look on her face. Katherine studied the minutiae of it as she sat down after having bowed softly before them. After a while, other guests began to pour in. Dukes and counts, then knights, high-placed courtiers. Katherine looked directly at the entrance, with no chairs being seated just to her opposite. The other tables were filling up, after everyone paused by the main table to bow and say their thanks for being invited. The last man to arrive was Freyza. Katherine rolled her eyes. Of course it¡¯s the ambassador¡­ He walked in, eyeing the others nervously, with his hands behind his back and his posture slightly slouched. She noticed how much less prestigious he looked compared to the day that she came back to Souchon. He wore simple clothes that were distinctly Sbaian: instead of the doublet and breeches, he wore loose trousers and a belted tunic. On his head, which usually bore a turban, paradoxically now carried a flat cap. His hair was uncombed and ungroomed, causing both the hair on his head as well as his beard to appear frizzy and dull. He bowed somewhat halfheartedly before the table at which the royalty sat. ¡®Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness, my lord, my lady,¡¯ he said, nodding at whoever he intended the greeting to, ¡®I wish to thank you for your hospitality in extending an invitation to this grand affair this afternoon.¡¯ ¡®Our pleasure,¡¯ said Louise, and wrinkled her nose. The ruggedness looked rather fitting on him, Katherine thought. Perhaps his dealings with Diane, and therefore at the edge of Henri¡¯s camarilla, had taken some of that decency out of him. They briefly exchanged a glance before Freyza cast his eyes down again. His eyelids coloured grey against the olive tan of his skin. It was the sort of handsomeness she could appreciate, rather than the overly cut and trimmed dandy type he had imitated before, approximating a Lord Fairfax in suaveness and polish. It mattered not, she wished to repeat to herself. This was the only man at court she could not conquer, and that made him all the more fascinating.
He sat down at a table of ambassadors and their administrators: a crowd in which he felt himself both physically and hierarchically uncomfortably big in. The ambassadors of Neuhausen and Argento were barely even nobility, and whatever was left of the Baradran ambassador, it was common knowledge that the small twitchy grandfather opposite him had too little life in him for a conversation. He was not there for the banquet or the company. He had not been left a choice but to go. Freyza was pleased to see Katherine again. Though she was simply dressed and seemed to care little, the delicate white silk of her veil coloured her skin a pastel peach and her eyes a milky green. He could not speak his mind, but he hoped at least a sliver of it came through in his gaze. Even now, he felt himself drawn to her as she agitatedly swivelled the wine in her goblet. The longing was interspersed with shame about his own appearance ¡ª had he known she would be present, at least he would have trimmed his beard and worn appropriate headwear.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. His stomach turned when he realised the implications of her presence at the table, considering that he had an inkling about why he was invited in the first place. A few days ago, he had placed the poison into the drawer that Theo had requested it to be put into. In its place lay the invitation to this very banquet as well as a pouch of gold. Though Freyza did not particularly want the gold, he imagined leaving it there may have been insulting. The invitation, however, was worded in such a way that he imagined not going would have a treacherous effect¡­ Katherine looked at him again, and he could not help but return the stare of unrequited longing. The lie would have worked ¡ª hell, if Bayezid even believed him, it was likely a good one. He was glad to see that his recent developments conjured up some royal interest. He had thought for a while about Katherine¡¯s return and each passing thought began to realise he wished to kick himself more and more. Had he had just one more opportunity to see her, speak to her, explain himself, he was sure of it once more that she would understand¡­ It only took a generous bribe of gold pieces and a set of diamond jewels to convince Diane to undertake the theatre production that was pretending to be his lover. If Katherine wished to be wooed by a rake, a rake he would become. If she wished to prove her superiority to her great rival, she needed who she had to sway. He hardly believed that the plan had worked, at least insofar as that she looked at him as if to beckon him nearer. That very second, servants began to ventilate dainty little glasses with a black tarry liquid in them. One for each attendee. Freyza immediately got the chills and sought Louise, but realised that Theo was on his way over to his table. The chair on his right was empty. Theo sat down with a thud and took the goblet in his hand. ¡®Master Freyza,¡¯ he began, coating the glass with the thick fluid by swishing the glass by its stem. ¡®Impressive, no?¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s impressive, my lord?¡¯ asked Freyza hesitantly. ¡®Is this your poison?¡¯ Theo asked, raising it up to Freyza¡¯s nose. ¡®If you were to guess.¡¯ Freyza sniffed it and looked at Theo¡¯s amused face. ¡®Yes,¡¯ he said. ¡®I smell something off about it, if that¡¯s what you ask of me.¡¯ Theo snickered and threw the glass back. ¡®That is a fantastic compliment,¡¯ he said, going so far as to lift the remainder off of the surface of the glass with his finger. ¡®If a rather grim observation.¡¯ Freyza was unsure of how to react. He whispered, ¡®Why did you ask me?¡¯ ¡®Loyalty, Freyza,¡¯ Theo said. ¡®Have a drink.¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ he scoffed. Another chill went down his body when he saw the royal table drink their glasses of black goop dry. ¡®Where have I ended up, Theo?¡¯ Theo clicked his tongue. ¡®The precipice of our trust,¡¯ he said. ¡®Drink.¡¯ He braced himself as he brought the glass to his lips, and took the first sip. He was mortified. For certain he knew that what he was drinking was the poison he had supplied to them. Was it both doses, or would another theatrically fall with him? Who would that unlucky someone turn out to be? He finished it in grave defiance of his fate and put it down, knowing that he would fall to the floor any moment now and disgrace himself one final time before Katherine. Yet, that did not happen as fast as he thought. Theo sat beside him, his lips pursed, paying attention to Freyza¡¯s every move, as more and more guests began to sip their drinks under the enjoyment of their conversations. His breath quickened in anticipation, and yet, nothing happened. Even though he was fine, suddenly he heard a loud coughing coming from another table, where a coronet-wearing duke and his family sat. An adolescent boy stood up, bent his shoulders and back over, wheezed and coughed until the rest of the attendees had gone quiet. That was until one of the servants, a middle-aged woman with golden hair, dropped a platter and joined the cacophony of choking and wheezing. That was two, thought Freyza, and was ashamed to notice that he calmed knowing that it was unlikely that he had been poisoned. Theo chuckled as both victims fell to the floor and the crowd turned to terrified shrieks, some even fleeing altogether. ¡®Funny that it was a servant,¡¯ he said, leaning into Freyza, ¡®Because she shouldn¡¯t even have had any.¡¯ ¡®This was a gamble?¡¯ asked Freyza, his jaw falling open in disbelief. ¡®Anyone could¡¯ve died?¡¯ Theo nodded slowly as the royal family was hurried towards one of the doors. Louise was the last to leave, carrying the act of the surprised mother terrified by the happenings rather well. As she turned to Theo and Freyza just as she was about to slip out of the room, Freyza swore he saw her smile.
That night, shortly after the family had left, the rest of the banquet disbanded, and Freyza returned to his quarters beaten by the happenings and itching for a bottle of something strong. Anyone could have died. Theo¡¯s affirmation of that statement haunted him. He had gambled his life. He had gambled the lives of Henri, of Katherine, of Louise and Theo¡­ And yet, Theo surrendered it so willingly. He had scraped the custardlike crud from the bottom of the elegant glass and licked it off of his finger. He had forced Freyza to join this lethal exercise in trust ¡ª trust that Freyza really had no business having. He was sick to his stomach and yet drunk wine from a bottle, letting himself fall into the chair by his writing desk in order to flop over, his chest and head leaning onto the cold surface of the wood. Only then did he realise the heat that had been coming from his face, and how red it must have looked. There was a sudden knock on the door, and when he looked up, saw Iskander standing in its frame. ¡®Master¡­¡¯ he said. ¡®A lady is here to see you.¡¯ Freyza lowered his head again and said, muffled by his arm, ¡®Sure there is, at this hour.¡¯ ¡®A lady from Ilworthian court.¡¯ ¡®Tell her that it¡¯s Bayezid who requested the services of a whore,¡¯ he added. ¡®Two doors to her left.¡¯ ¡®Master¡­¡¯ Iskander began uncomfortably. Nothing followed, so Freyza looked up, just in time to catch a glimpse of Lady Constance¡¯s blonde head as she turned to the side. ¡®Oh, dear,¡¯ he said and straightened himself. ¡®I, uh. I¡¯ve had a day, Lady Constance. I¡¯m sure Her Majesty must have told you. If you heard me before, rest assured it was meant in jest ¡ª none of the Sbaian ambassadors or their staff are requesting the services of any prostitutes. Nor are there prostitutes within Souchon Palace as far as I know.¡¯ Constance smiled knowingly and entered, fidgeting with a slip of paper between her fingers. ¡®Good evening, Lord Freyza,¡¯ she said and nodded once. ¡®Not a problem. I know Lord Bayezid and you like to jest. He told me so himself.¡¯ ¡®Aha,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®What were you meaning to seek me for?¡¯ Constance held out the slip of paper. ¡®From what I gather, my lord, you were seeking Her Majesty¡¯s eye tonight. She would be rather pleased to see you at her soonest masked ball, and you have her blessing to ask her for a dance.¡¯ Freyza took it wordlessly and looked Constance up and down, awaiting any sign that this was meant in jest as well. Constance continued: ¡®Must I tell Her Majesty anything upon my return to her side?¡¯ Freyza felt himself blush. ¡®Yes! Yes¡­ well, please if it would suit you, tell Her Majesty that I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to attend and I fully intend to ask her for a dance. And that I wish her a good night, of course, and that she looked stunning tonight.¡¯ She chuckled softly and crossed her arms. ¡®I won¡¯t tell her, Master Freyza, that you were flushing and scrambling for words when you say this to me. Is that alright by you?¡¯ ¡®Certainly,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®I¡¯m afraid my usual eloquence has faded tonight.¡¯ 38. The Eve of the Coda The crowd was immense and Freyza wondered whether he would ever spot Katherine among its masked crowd. Ever since he had entered, he had drawn eyes for his flashy choice of costume, as its cloth of gold fabric was far too prestigious for a man of his status. The invitation had been innocuous enough: there was to be a masquerade, and aside from just a mask, a full costume of fancy dress had to be worn, the theme of which being the enchanted garden. The decor mirrored this: silk vines creeping up the curtains, drinks with edible flowers in them, as well as a diverse and magnetic cast of bands, acrobats, and other such entertainment. Freyza had little eye for all of these priceless ways in which Katherine, as their hostess, had wished to woo her guests, but instead sought the woman herself. In his mind¡¯s eye, he had imagined the night going much more smoothly than the awkward evening he had had so far. He had imagined that he would strut into the ballroom, dressed unmistakably like the only man who could possibly afford such a spectacle, and that Katherine would willingly present herself to him. Alas, it seemed that she had other plans. His jaws were firmly clenched: to expect Katherine ¡ª the Queen of Ilworth, whom he had only had a handful of moments alone with ¡ª to come looking for him only occurred him as ridiculous when he was disappointed that she had not. He wondered what she thought when she sent him the first invitation he had ever gotten to a royal ball. Hesitantly, after downing a few violet-ornamented drinks, he reluctantly made his way to the dance floor. If she was indeed still in the building, and had not scurried off with some knight, chances were that she would be dancing. Freyza, on the other had, would never dream of willingly subjecting himself to this torture. He had come up to the edge of the dance floor where a crowd of men and women were waiting for a rowdy mixer to come to an end, while they were already beginning to make pairs for the next. Freyza had little interest in striking up conversation with one of the many masked ladies present among them and instead kept his eye on the dance that was happening, hoping to see a mass of red curls appear between the bobbing heads of the dancers. He audibly sighed when he realized that none of the women twirling around were the one that he was looking for, and defeatedly walked off when he realized he was being followed by one of the women he had spotted beside him. ¡®My lord!¡¯ she hollered after him, hiking her skirts up to her calves so she could run his way, even if they were already shortened to ankle length for dancing. ¡®Were you not going to ask me for a dance?¡¯ Freyza blinked with disinterest. ¡®My apologies,¡¯ he said, attempting to appear sorrowful. ¡®I happen to be no good at the volta. Might I add that you are simply radiant, my lady. If I had been any more refined, I would have decidedly asked.¡¯ Rather than leaving as he had hoped, ashamed of the rejection, she stuck around and in fact came half a step closer. ¡®My lord,¡¯ she continued, her speaking voice far more familiar to her than her shouting voice, ¡®Have we met before? I could¡¯ve sworn we¡¯ve signed agreements. Tin?¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ Freyza said, looking her up and down once more. On a second look, it was indeed unmistakably Katherine. ¡®My lady, would you have this dance?¡¯ She chuckled and came closer. Indeed it could not be anyone but Katherine: her hair was neatly tucked away with an opaque veil, but her lashes which could only be seen through her mask in specific light were indeed a reddish blonde the way he remembered, and her svelte form and playful poise were nothing short of the sort of feminine grace Katherine had in common with the Sbaian odalisques. ¡®I would love to,¡¯ she cooed happily and took his hand. There had been certain rules that he had been made aware of, the most important one of them being that it was not allowed to mention the identity of oneself or of anyone that would be present. Sharing the news of being invited to one of Katherine¡¯s masquerade was equally forbidden for the same reason. The amount of secrecy that she upheld about these feasts was second only to the secrecy she maintained about their affair. ¡®You have a rather princely look about you,¡¯ Katherine said while they were walking back. ¡®Certainly anyone who would lay eyes on you would assume that you were a southern king.¡¯ Freyza smiled and looked down. ¡®If only I were able to disclose my identity, my lady,¡¯ he said. ¡®But I am afraid I am no King of the Baradrans.¡¯ ¡®I wouldn¡¯t know,¡¯ she cooed. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if the King of the Baradrans wore something more humble than this to his coronation.¡¯ He was unsure whether she was toying with him, or whether she was genuinely surprised to see him in head to toe cloth of gold like the rest of the attendees had been. Hoping that it would be nearer to the former, he said: ¡®That may be so, but if I might add something, I imagine the Queen of Ilworth would have outshone me by a mile at her coronation.¡¯ The band had left a few beats for the dancers to come up, leave, or change partners, and Freyza held Katherine¡¯s hand, the familiarity of its warmth and the shape of her little palm and short fingers once again confirming that he was indeed speaking to Katherine even though he was not allowed to confirm it, as they came up. He felt himself grow anxious at the thought of spending the rest of the night in pretence of enjoyment rather than to be whisked away to quieter places. ¡®Funny you should say that,¡¯ Katherine said as she assumed her position in the dance, tilted towards Freyza in order for him to hold one hand over her waist and one on the small of her back so he could lift her. Her arm was placed over his shoulder.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡®How so?¡¯ he asked, in his head more occupied with counting the beats to orient himself as to when he should lift her. ¡®I was considering gold too but I was afraid that¡¯d be a dead giveaway as to my identity,¡¯ she whispered between steps. ¡®Hm.¡¯ He carefully lifted her as she jumped and supported her on the way down. ¡®Well, I imagined that cloth of gold would be the opposite of a dead giveaway as to my identity.¡¯ She chuckled. ¡®Well, I haven¡¯t a clue as to who you are, of course,¡¯ she said. ¡®So I wouldn¡¯t know.¡¯ Freyza narrowed his eyes. ¡®Really?¡¯ She remained quiet, though began to grin from ear to ear. As he braced himself to lift her up a second time, the music suddenly came to an abrupt stop. He looked around and noticed that it was Theo speaking to the band, convincing them to drop their instruments, after which he moved on to the crowd. It was quiet from the moment he had been spotted, wearing his dark grey uniform as well as a rain-soaked cloak. ¡®Good evening,¡¯ he said with his booming voice. ¡®It is unfortunately time to reveal your identities.¡¯ Freyza and Katherine intuitively unclasped from each other, imagining that their time together was coming to a close. Few took off their masks ¡ª certainly Freyza would not before he had been given an explanation. Realizing that many of the attendees would not willingly give up their ambiguous presence free of identity, Theo sighed. ¡®I¡¯m looking for any guests of Baradran descent ¡ª including the Queen of Ilworth ¡ª at this point in time.¡¯ Katherine rolled her eyes but stepped forward, untying the strap of her mask behind her veiled hair. ¡®I¡¯ll catch you later,¡¯ she whispered to Freyza. Her irritation was palpable. Now she had left, he walked back to the side of the ballroom and looked at the group of Baradrans softly trickle to perhaps a dozen people, including Katherine. He could tell Theo was speaking to them, and was beginning to escort them out, but the beginnings of chaos had already taken over the rest of the guests, and so he was unable to understand a single thing they were saying. Once they left, Freyza too headed out.
When in the morning no statement had been issued, Freyza was beginning to feel the chaos of last night kicking in. His appointments had been cancelled, Henri did not show up at his lev¨¦e, and it appeared that they had drawn up the bridge over the moat. He had not yet seen Katherine since she had been so rudely taken from him by Theo. In the later hours of the morning, when it was coming up against noon, Freyza had completed all of the administrative tasks still before him in the morning, and followed the path to the Ilworthian wing so well-known to him. He was hoping to at the very least see Katherine, and hopefully gain some kind of understanding. He realised while he was going that the idea was a rather bold one, and yet he powered through the anxiety in his chest while he brought himself to their wing. It was awfully quiet and heavily guarded. With the showing of his paperwork, Freyza made it past the initial line of guards, which he had never seen there before, but in the hallway advisers were sitting in an improvised formation a few doors besides Katherine¡¯s. He gathered his strength and poise in order to walk past them without being understood as an intruder. Freyza had his arms on his back and a scroll in one of his hands, and with confident stride walked past them. He did not immediately acknowledge them, but offered them a bow when he was already past, in order to then knock the Queen¡¯s cabinet door. No matter how carefully he listened, there was not even the sound of a chair slipping back to be heard, let alone did the door open. He knocked again, to the great annoyance of the advisers, until Richard stood up from his makeshift post. ¡®May I just ask what you¡¯re doing?¡¯ he asked. Freyza turned theatrically. ¡®I have an appointment with Her Majesty.¡¯ ¡®All appointments are cancelled today,¡¯ Richard explained. Freyza did his best to smile. ¡®And why would that be?¡¯ ¡®The Queen is in mourning,¡¯ he said. ¡®And there is a threat of national security concerning her safety.¡¯ ¡®Is that why the bridge is drawn?¡¯ he asked. Richard leaned in. ¡®Listen here, you arrogant Sbaian dishcloth,¡¯ he began. ¡®I know what you¡¯re here to learn. The King of the Baradrans was shot in the head last week. The bridge is drawn because we haven¡¯t a clue what a De Serra-run Baradrans will think of us. Her Majesty will not talk to you at this moment for she is mourning the death of her cousin and the demise of an upstanding Ginefort-run nation.¡¯ Freyza took a step back. ¡®I see,¡¯ he said, genuinely shocked to hear this from Richard. ¡®You should probably leave,¡¯ Richard said. ¡®I may at least leave a message for Her Majesty,¡¯ Freyza protested. Richard chuckled and shook his head. ¡®Though I appreciate your insistence and I am sure you use that to your advantage often, I¡¯m afraid I cannot sign off on such a thing.¡¯ From Richard¡¯s posture, Freyza could tell that things would take a turn for the forceful if he did not remove himself quickly. ¡®I see,¡¯ Freyza said simply. ¡®I will return when the waters have calmed.¡¯
As information trickled in over the next days, Freyza noticed his workload beginning to grow. He had not seen Katherine, and as far as he knew, nobody had, but he did not write her yet for fear of interception, though ideas were beginning to form about how he would manage to get them alone once more, as really they should have been towards the end of the masked ball. As for his own work, the embassy opened again after a few days of confused closure, and with that, letters were beginning to come in. There was one that intrigued him the most: a gold filigree scroll case, given to him by a perplexed Bayezid, who had just come in from the countryside amidst this new, locked-down Souchon Palace the same day as the scroll did. He opened it swiftly and was immediately intrigued by the strong scent of incense that the paper carried, as well as the fine nature of the handwriting. It was not a letter at all ¡ª rather, a list of quantities signed off by the Sword of the Sbaian Treasury. Not just tin, but certain types of wood, paper, weapons, wool, and in such quantities that it made Freyza uneasy. As he stared at the perfumed list of goods that he was being asked to supply to the Sultan, an idea began to roll out in his mind. What had been coming out of the Baradrans since its government¡¯s fall, aside from details about King Ferdinand¡¯s murder, was sparse, though all communications with the embassies was forbidden or otherwise cut. Nobody had been crowned yet. The Castle Dos Lunas was likely still under siege, but nobody knew for sure. At this stage, it seemed the Sultan was already beginning to grow agitated by the disrupted stream of goods. His solution was simple: to put it on Freyza¡¯s plate and see if he could retrieve it from the Baradrans¡¯ eloquent neighbors. However, Freyza knew not to take it through King Henri, but instead issued a request to be received by Lord Overleigh and Lord Milden Cross, in order to discuss trade relations between the Sbai Empire and Ilworth. Katherine, though more direct, would be too suspicious, or so he thought. 39. Insatiable Selfish Longing The isolation of the last week was starting to get to Freyza once his audience had been granted. Briefly he considered wearing his cloth of gold, but he decided against it on grounds of being slightly too ostentatious. Ostentatious, however, was the point. He had brought good bottles of wine for the both of them, as well as a timepiece, two things that had impressed westerners to such a degree that he tended to have them around for such occasions. Armed with his quotations, a sly smile and the unwillingness to not let this work for him, he appeared by their door and waited to be called in. Where the advisors received him, was likely Harcourt¡¯s office, given the large landscape of Gartham, his wife¡¯s birthplace, gracing the wall behind his desk. As he came in, both gentlemen were seated behind the desk: Richard¡¯s arms were crossed, and Harcourt leaned over. ¡®My lord the Duke of Overleigh,¡¯ Freyza began with a bow, ¡®My lord the Baron of Milden Cross. I¡¯ve been meaning to speak to you on behalf of His Imperial Majesty, our exalted Sultan Selim.¡¯ He was impeccably dressed, wearing the sort of clothes that would suit an audience with royalty, not with their advisers, but with colours deep enough to appear with sufficient gravitas. Freyza took the small chests in which he carried their gifts and placed it before him as he sat down, not yet revealing its insides. ¡®Lord Freyza,¡¯ Harcourt replied with a simple nod. ¡®It always dazzles me to receive word from the sultan, given it is never directly from His Imperial Majesty.¡¯ Freyza chuckled. ¡®Ah, it is a shame indeed that you have not been graced by his radiant presence,¡¯ he explained. ¡®However, as someone who has often seen his lordship, I can assure you that I hope to capture a bit of his excellent manners through my own form.¡¯ He scraped his throat. ¡®And the matter about which you were meaning to speak¡­¡¯ Freyza straightened his back. Ilworthians ¡ª they rarely appreciated an aside, that much he knew. ¡®It will not be a surprise to hear that your Queen has a way of ensnaring those she interacts with,¡¯ he began hesitantly, awaiting their facial expressions. ¡®I am afraid that His Excellency wishes to import more from the Ilworthian isles compared to the Baradran Kingdom ¡ª of course due to the instability ¡ª but given the increased costs of transport, it appears His Excellency wishes for a diplomatic exchange of sorts.¡¯ Richard raised his hand. ¡®I¡¯m afraid Her Majesty is betrothed,¡¯ he said, flashing a grin. ¡®Let us proceed with that in mind.¡¯ ¡®My goodness, Lord Milden Cross,¡¯ Freyza chuckled. ¡®Even if this were a marriage proposal I wouldn¡¯t forward it to you ¡ª you wouldn¡¯t like the terms he¡¯d set. No Ilworthian woman would. No, I¡¯m afraid this may have all the perks of your most fruitful trade agreement, your most gentle diplomatic alliance, and your most prolific creative endeavour. But none of the perks of a marriage.¡¯ ¡®And just why would the sultan want to import his goods halfway across the known world?¡¯ Harcourt wondered. ¡®It is not so far from the Baradrans,¡¯ Freyza protested. ¡®And besides, we all know the other option of Massouron¡­ His Imperial Majesty knows not to grant too much power to a Chavanet, if you know what I speak of¡­ Souchon Palace will continue to stand and have the most elaborate embassies even if His Majesty refuses to give it a single piece of gold from now on. And, like I said before, I believe there would be much waiting he would do for a shipment of Ilworthian sycamore wood, if Her Majesty writes the cover letter for it. I believe His Imperial Majesty to be quite impressed, and I might add rather easily amused, at the marvel that is a female ruler.¡¯ He wondered how the sentiment would fall, taking the chest from between his feet and opening their hinges, in order to sit them, unlocked, on the desk. ¡®I hope that honesty is not lost on you,¡¯ he said. ¡®It is meant only in a positive if lighthearted sense.¡¯ Richard was the first to cave, effortlessly pushing the lid off of the chest. He raised his brows as he peered in. ¡®I am left to wonder about a term or two,¡¯ he said. ¡®Where does this sudden admiration come from, do you think? It could be that the actions behind your court may be as hidden to you as they are to us, but I still do wonder.¡¯ Freyza¡¯s smile was more like a nervous twitch than anything he could have meant. ¡®Of course His Imperial Majesty wishes nothing more than to strengthen an alliance now another has fallen through,¡¯ he said. ¡®Is that not what your country requires of you, too? Will a treasury filled to the brim cause any problems for you? It¡¯ll cost you nothing but a bit of Her Majesty¡¯s time and a shipment of goods that will be handsomely paid for. Am I wrong to say that this is one of the better offers you¡¯ve had in recent times?¡¯Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡®The catch being, what exactly?¡¯ Harcourt asked, admiring the timepiece. Freyza shrugged. ¡®It¡¯s but a formality and really not necessary, but I believe for the amount that His Excellency is willing to offer, it would be impolite ¡ª and therefore imprudent ¡ª for Her Majesty not to at least write to our exalted Sultan in the Sbaian tongue. It¡¯ll just be a matter of finding a teacher, for I believe the Sbaian language is so varied that a polite letter in one dialect will appear scathingly vulgar in the next.¡¯ The advisors looked at each other, and Richard was the first to break his placid, expressionless face. ¡®Well, I am sure someone lower down in your embassy will be willing to take that as a job,¡¯ he said. ¡®Am I incorrect?¡¯ ¡®The Sbaian tongue is complicated and requires involved engagement with it,¡¯ Freyza continued. ¡®There¡¯s an alphabet, the grammar is nothing like Baradran or Ilworthian, and the expressions are plentiful. I wonder if you ought to trust a lower emissary to spend so much time with Her Majesty, and I wonder what Lady Louise will think of the ordeal. Do not fret, though, gentlemen. Personally I have Friday mornings open already and I could manage a consistent slot mid-week.¡¯ ¡®Against what sort of compensation?¡¯ Harcourt asked. ¡®Given the fact that this is being asked of us, I¡¯m afraid it is not budgeted for.¡¯ ¡®Certainly not supposed to be budgeted for either,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®Ridiculous of me to ask anything at all for it. I am salaried by the Sultan and earn good commissions from work I do on the side. If you feared this would impede on any profit you would make, fear not.¡¯ Their hopeful glances to one another made Freyza feel giddy ¡ª he knew he had done it. His legs were crossed, afraid to come off as in any way impolite or barbarian, instead appealing to the sophistication often attributed to his people. It was Harcourt who broke the silence. ¡®I take it that you have experience as a teacher?¡¯ Freyza had to keep himself from smiling any wider. ¡®Oh, certainly! My lord, I¡¯ve spent my youth teaching Baradran nationals the Sbaian tongue. It was my first task once I learned Baradran. This will be as simple for me as it would be for your lordship to teach me about the intricacies of Ilworthian stewardship.¡¯ ¡®Really?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I recall you were employed at the slave auction before you inherited your title.¡¯ He raised his brows briefly. ¡®My lord,¡¯ he began calmly. ¡®Odalisques don¡¯t come with knowledge of the Sbaian tongue when they are sold into slavery, and few masters are willing to spend such valuable time teaching it to them. It happened to be that the Sultan preferred the fair Baradran kind.¡¯ Harcourt scraped his throat again. ¡®I see. Well, we will ask Her Majesty and discuss your proposal.¡¯ Freyza stood up and bowed. ¡®Please keep in mind, Lord Overleigh, Lord Milden Cross, that any questions you or Her Majesty may have, I would be more than happy to address. Especially from Her Majesty ¡ª as you may know I have been happy to be her acquaintance and there should not be any boundary between this proposal and the general workings of my embassy at Souchon Palace. We are here to help.¡¯ Richard stood up as well and walked towards the door. ¡®Master Freyza,¡¯ he began, his hands behind his back. ¡®I would say it has been a productive audience.¡¯ Freyza turned to face him and offered him a single nod. ¡®Well, do get back to me,¡¯ he said. ¡®So I can write His Excellency. I wish not to hurry you, but His Excellency despises waiting.¡¯ ¡®Will do, will do¡­¡¯ he said as a guard opened the door for Freyza, and the latter passed through the portal. Once out, Freyza could barely contain himself. He took two deep breaths, stretched his neck which had felt incredibly tight with nerves, and took a confident stride back down the hallway, careful not to whistle to himself out of sheer glee at having his plan execute according to his desires. The hallway was relatively crowded, with servants and court natives walking to their destinations within the Ilworthian wing. All of a sudden, he felt himself being tapped on the shoulder. Instinctively he turned and had to look down to meet the eyes of Lady Constance, who wordlessly handed him a piece of parchment that had been folded down and sealed. Before he could ask for her explanation, she was already gone. Freyza looked into the crowd, hoping to spot Katherine, as the two were never far from one another, but to no avail. He held the note in his hand; it was sealed only by Katherine¡¯s personal signet and not by the crown¡¯s, which made him grin. That being so, he did not dare to open it in public. He was walking out, past the guards, and found himself taking a lesser known about shortcut through the library, at each end of which there was an entrance that made it so one could cut right through Souchon Palace. His heart was beating in his throat as he took the note out again, only just noticing it was a piece of parchment torn from Katherine¡¯s lavender-colored stationary. He carefully put a nail between the seal and the parchment to sense if it had been lifted before, and when he realized it was not, all the while walking through the library, lifted the seal. It was hurriedly written, and smudged on the opposite ends of the paper that had been used to close it. The nights have become unbearable without you. There is an insatiable selfish longing I harbour for you that consumes me, and that only you can lift off of me. Until you return, I remain, Yours, desperately, Katherine He kept walking but felt himself go red. He folded it up again and neatly tucked it away, took a wrong turn into the library, and promised himself to quickly follow up on the Ilworthian council¡¯s decision, as well as impress her with an invitation of his own. 40. Fools Errand It had been a welcome change of subject matter when, through a number of strategically placed notes, Katherine understood that her presence was required in the stables the next morning. She had not spoken to the Gineforts that had come from the Baradrans into the warm embrace of Souchon Palace, for the Chavanets had not given her the opportunity to, but their presence weighed heavily on her. The notes were unsigned, bar one note being precisely only a signature ¡ª Freyza¡¯s. It did not surprise her to find his severed signature away from any letters, as their dalliance had been cut short during their last encounter, and she knew that his blood ran hot in anticipation of their meeting. And then there was the matter of the impending diplomatic relationship between her and his magnanimous Sultan. To be frank, Katherine had expected more from the ambassador. A romp in the hayloft, through generally a more secretive answer than many to the question that they found themselves having, was something she had started considering unrefined. Perhaps, she thought, Freyza did not yet have the wealth of experience to consider it so. Needless to say, there was no doubt in her mind about whether she would go ¡ª she had the morning off save for council which she tried to never attend anyway. After receiving the notes and trying with all her might not to forget one of the details lest they be relevant later, into the fire they went just in time for Grace and Constance to join her during the evening, as they wound down and picked kirtles to wear the next morning. Katherine said not a word about her plans.
Perhaps it was a silly idea after all, to imagine going unnoticed through a heavily guarded Souchon Palace, but when she had the idea to discontinue her search, she had already gone down to the main hall and out into the courtyard from there. She had had the most visible places and now only had only a shortcut to go until she would end up, through a little known door, into the back of the stables. Fine. The door croaked when it opened, and Katherine immediately scanned the stables for any sign of life, though initially was only greeted by the horses, and a large carriage seemed to be getting ready to leave. Her back straightened instinctively as she thought of an excuse for her presence there, in case those in the carriage were of a questioning sort. ¡®Your Majesty!¡¯ she suddenly heard Iskander holler. Katherine narrowed her eyes. Why was Freyza¡¯s assistant here? ¡®Iskander,¡¯ she replied, her eyes darting between his small pudgy form and the carriage. ¡®Where¡¯s your master?¡¯ ¡®Oh, wouldn¡¯t you like to know, Your Majesty¡­¡¯ he began mischievously. ¡®Alas! I am but a simple servant and cannot help you with such queries. However, you might be enticed to know that Master has left gifts for you in the carriage¡­¡¯ Katherine was somewhat taken aback. ¡®I¡¯ll be leaving,¡¯ she announced before turning on her heels, but Iskander ran after her. ¡®No, no, no, Your Majesty¡­¡¯ he begged. ¡®Master is awaiting you.¡¯ Katherine looked over to see Iskander reduced to his knees on the dirty hay-covered stable floor. ¡®Know that these tactics may work in your south, sir, but to an upstanding Ilworthian woman, your pleas sound like the perverted cries of a man trying to lock me into a carriage.¡¯ Iskander looked up at Katherine expectantly, some mischief brewing beneath his despair. ¡®Your Majesty, my master would not dream of locking you in a carriage and luring you in with gifts and food.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re smiling,¡¯ Katherine noticed. ¡®Yes¡­¡¯ he replied. ¡®I fear that I must tell you all of Master¡¯s plans to convince you to go, must I not?¡¯ She peered at the carriage ¡ª roomy, painted pink and gold, immaculately maintained¡­ ¡®Do you think your master would be disappointed to learn that I asked?¡¯ she asked, turning to face him again. He nodded and scrambled to his feet. ¡®Your Majesty, Master would be sick for the rest of his days if the simple honour would not be bestowed upon him to surprise and delight Your Majesty.¡¯ She thought briefly. There was little that was asked of her today, and if this rendez-vous fell through, she would likely spend the rest of this still young Thursday knitting and gazing wistfully at people having more fun than her. No, that simply would not do. ¡®If I learn that you have deceived me, I will have your head,¡¯ she ordered. ¡®Do you understand?¡¯ Iskander nodded quickly and with a type of subservience that almost appeared nonhuman, like a well-trained cattle dog. ¡®Yes, yes, Your Majesty. Please, take a seat.¡¯ Iskander¡¯s insistence brought new doubts to the surface, but she decided to ignore any glimmers of worry in favour of an adventure. She walked past him as he stood, still dumbfounded by the glamour of being in her presence, and waited for him to open the carriage door for him. Inside the carriage, the upholstery was all pink velvet, thick and cushioned, decorated liberally in gold as was the outside, and on one of the two benches lay a large basket, a small chest, and judging from the shape of its neck, a bottle of Baradran wine. On the other bench opposite it, lay just an envelope. Here goes nothing, she thought, half-expecting Iskander to close the door behind her and lock it in an instant, no doubt accompanied by wicked laughter. But once seated, she was not confronted with anything, and instead could find a comfortable seat, begin to wonder about the destination, and consider the contents of the basked and chest before her instead. Yet, the envelope called to her most. She broke the seal in two to free the edge of the paper, and just as she began to read, she noticed the carriage was beginning to move. I wished to accompany you, Lady Katherine, but I was held up in bartering. All sweets and treasures within this carriage are for your enjoyment ¡ª I hope this may be a small consolation. Worry not of your schedule, your advisers believe you are headed for my country house in order to be taught the basics of the Sbaian tongue. I shall leave it up to you to decipher in the mean time, how much of this is a fabrication, and how much of it is elegant use of language. MF Katherine smirked. Her letter was finally replied to ¡ª though she believed little of his excuses. Likely he was too cowardly to act upon his instinct so directly, and wished to buy himself some time. How much time, however, was still unsure to her. She imagined even the shortest trek would warrant a carriage. Though Freyza was not prestigious, he was filthy rich ¡ª even richer than Katherine had known before she saw him in a full suit of cloth of gold. Even King Henri was not so easily seen in gold, let alone a man who was by name a Duke, but referred to himself just as Master Freyza: MF. The lack of hierarchy had caused her to imagine him as an unimportant merchant, a slaver with a decent lineage, not a man in head-to-toe gold. He was far wealthier than he let on, but somehow willing to share a bit of his frivolity and splendour on her. Dorothy would have vetoed the type of spending Freyza seemingly did with no issues ¡ª then again,unlike her, it was his very own coin that he spent. His country house¡­ somehow she thought she would be headed to the coast, but when she took the first look out from the velvet curtains, they seemed to be headed to the mountains instead. She frowned and recalled, as the first sting of annoyance, Diane¡¯s property of Le Roumont. If she was to be taken to that whore¡¯s estate, if he would even suggest that this would be his country house, she would not be responsible for her own doing¡­ Luckily, the chest and basket demanded her attention. From the former, she plucked a delicate and surprisingly long chain of emeralds set in white gold, long enough to be worn over one shoulder like a scabbard. It was an unusual piece of jewellery, were it not that Katherine had been wearing this style of necklace far more as of late with her doublets and riding suits, harked back to men¡¯s clothing in a way that made the Massouric royal family wonder about Katherine¡¯s intentions, but were utterly clear to Henri. Even their first informal meeting had made this very clear to him. An animal who can be ridden, and a jockey suitable to ride it. Though, she would be surprised if Freyza understood even the reference to the scabbard ¡ª had he known that the animal in question was now the country of Massouron rather than any mortal man, he would likely make more from soothsaying. Still, it was an oddly suitable gift to be given on her first day back in Massouron out of the grasp of the Chavanets.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Then, there was the matter of the basket, with its two elegant crystal glasses waiting to be filled, the pastries piled high and divided with elegant pale lilac tissue papers, each of which covered in powdered sugar and whipped cream and strawberries. She began to believe him in his letter: there was no way that he would organise this amount of pastries to just serve one.
Freyza was exasperated. He had sent the carriage in the early morning, and now the afternoon was slipping out of his hands rapidly, did he begin to have time to consider his actions of the day. He had spent the full morning mapping routes, bribing innkeepers and locals, and checking the temperature of the ancient baths to be just right, so that the steam mixed with the eternal fog in the mountains and the snow melted, revealing a couple of snowdrops he had not expected. It was one of his maddest ideas yet, the only antipode he had to the masked ball, for Freyza¡¯s prestige did not reach all the way to the western world, but his coins surely did. As he looked over the minute sleeping town that he had bribed to remain quiet about the coming events, he was satisfied. He stepped back in, greeted by the warmth that had been whisked away for a thousand years previously, and lay eyes on the carefully scrubbed floors, the newly painted details on the murals that had chipped off before, and noticed the smell of mulled wine. In his mind, he was counting up the hours since the carriage left the town of Sanlieu. He resisted the urge to change out of the fur-lined rough leather doublet he wore padding around the snow, the riding boots that were more practical than the slippery shoes of court, to tame his hair which had turned to the curliest version of itself now he had been out in the snow without the possibility of pomading it into submission again. It was Diane¡¯s doing that he felt more comfortable in this more salt of the earth version of himself. Apparently, it had more power to these overdone court ladies not to see Freyza as an equal, a powerful nobleman in his own right with likely far larger territories, but rather like a mysterious merchant who scandal followed wherever he went, with the type of lanky build and exotic colouring that made him even more intriguing, for it was so unusual. He learned, too, that the most impact that he had made on Massouric court was when he had gifted Queen Katherine that fateful potion that rendered her three days unconscious. That he was known as something of a mischievous entity. With all of the qualities he was concerned with controlled, both inside and outside the ancient baths, he considered the time of Katherine¡¯s arrival would be soon. He had informed Lord Overleigh and Lord Milden Cross of his intent to have their first meeting in a small monastery town in the mountains, not to teach her the basics but rather to make her aware of the mission before them, and they had seen no trouble with it. When they would return was equally uninteresting to the secretary of state and the spymaster. Surely, there would at least be a spy sent his way, but he had not caught anyone shadowing him during the planning of it. He hoped that Katherine was equally willing to make the appointment. He had dreaded the process of invitation: the idea to meet in the stables was a rather unbecoming one, the implications of which he did not enjoy. Though he wished to be near her, he knew for certain that lowering himself to the status of the common favourite would only make him replaceable. Halfway up the mountain, he suddenly noticed torchlight through the fog. Freyza stood dumbfounded as the light floated just below the effervescent surface of the fog, first left and then right, until it reached the town just below him. Unmistakable: it was the pink carriage he had sent to Souchon that morning. He took one last look behind him at the Roman architecture, and then put his arms behind his back, where he could nervously pick at the hangnail on his thumb with the knowledge that his nervousness would not come across when, a few moments later, the carriage stood before him on the cobblestone path and halted. Iskander, bundled up in a heavy woolen cloak, was beaming. ¡®Master,¡¯ he said. Freyza raised his brows. Did this cretin expect to be praised just for doing his simple job? Furthermore, he kept seated with the horses¡¯ reins in his hands. Freyza gestured him to get off, but when Iskander appeared not to understand, he sighed and strode towards the carriage doors himself to open them. He knocked twice ¡ª one simply never knows ¡ª and opened, bearing the widest grin he could bear without dipping into disingenuousness. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said. ¡®Welcome to Sanlieu.¡¯ Katherine had certainly gotten comfortable. She sat with her legs extended over up on the bench opposite her, her lap bearing crumbs and across her chest, her new necklace. Freyza clenched his jaw. He wished that he had been able to pick her up as had been the plan. ¡®You¡¯ve a summer house in Sanlieu, of all places?¡¯ Katherine chuckled, taking his hand to leverage herself out of the warm confines of the carriage. ¡®I thought this place was deserted.¡¯ She looked up over Freyza¡¯s shoulder and caught sight of the baths. ¡®Your country house is an ancient relic of a past civilisation?¡¯ He chuckled awkwardly as he looked upon the carnage that Katherine had left behind of the many pastries. ¡®A guise, I¡¯m afraid,¡¯ he said. ¡®I had to consider the possibility that an adviser would read it before you, or that we were being shadowed.¡¯ ¡®I wonder ¡ª if I ask Lady Diane about Sanlieu, will she know this trick as well, despite her lack of royal advisers, and far too little importance to ever be shadowed?¡¯ Freyza¡¯s face turned sour briefly. ¡®Let us go inside for now. I have a bit of a confession to make on Souchon Palace life, if you do not mind.¡¯ ¡®So instead of Sbaian language in a country house, it¡¯s a confession in an ancient bathhouse?¡¯ Katherine asked. Freyza began walking. ¡®I have a cold predisposition and I know that so do you. I¡¯d say the natural springs are the only way I reckon we can comfortably stay up here, and the view truly is marvellous.¡¯ She paced forward not to fall behind. ¡®I do not enjoy the knowledge that I am so far from civilisation that I would likely never make it back if anything were to happen to me up there.¡¯ Freyza opened the door for her and let her pass through the entrance. ¡®I¡¯ll have you know, my lady, the next town over really is a monastery town. I¡¯m sure the monks will be happy to help no matter what befalls you, no?¡¯ There was a certain sardonic tone in his voice that Katherine picked up on. She looked at him and flared her eyes. ¡®Is this a do-over of that time you rejected me, though I came to look for you upon my return?¡¯ He shook his head and signalled her to look forward and upon the frescoes, the skylight that had its snow removed just a few hours ago and was still spotless, and the tricking water into a small basin from which a small amount of steam rose. ¡®Decidedly not,¡¯ he said. He sighed then. ¡®Please, my lady, you know why I requested your presence.¡¯ Katherine let her eyes glide over the artworks that were older than her dynasty¡¯s legend, and slowly let herself look back upon Freyza. ¡®I did not even think to thank you up until this point,¡¯ she said. ¡®This must have been an ordeal.¡¯ Freyza scraped his throat and nodded once. ¡®I am honoured to say that winning your attention and your favour has caused me to make even more effort. So far, quite fruitlessly, and I hope my efforts do not come across as unwarranted or undesired. Let us walk on, please, I¡¯ve arranged a sitting room. Thereafter, I will happily show you around.¡¯ ¡®It is fruitless by your own hand,¡¯ Katherine cooed and followed. The corners of his mouth twitched ¡ª it was that very thing Katherine said, that he had been saying to himself for months. The sitting room was fully redone and had both a Massouric and Sbaian element. Its refinement, in a way that would be legible to a Massouric nobleman, came from the paintings on the wall that portrayed ships at rough sea and hunting scenes, a harpsichord in one corner, and a couple of elegantly upholstered chaises. The Sbaian elements were introduced merely as touches: a choice of fabric harking back to the textile industry of the empire, a deep red carpet, a taxidermy wild cat that Katherine had never seen before. ¡®Katherine, I wish to make things right,¡¯ he said as she sat down on one of the chaises and raised her legs to dangle off of the end of it. ¡®I¡¯m acutely aware of my own foolishness. I have set terms between us that were not only ridiculous, they were also not my true intentions. If, in order to remain close to you, I must grovel at your feet, so be it. I am willing to admit this to you.¡¯ She stared at him and remained quiet, and brought him to sit down just with the oppressive nature of her long, judgemental look. Her hands were clasped together in her lap in a way that, compared with her regal posture, read as conniving and poised rather than bashful as it would on any other young woman. ¡®You¡¯ve entered Henri¡¯s camarilla,¡¯ she said all of a sudden, her voice cutting through the calm air, ¡®And still, you consider it groveling to become my favourite. Does Diane treat you like you wished for me to treat you, Freyza? Are you the elegant Sbaian nobleman with a duchy the size of a country when you are with her, or are you the exciting slave merchant who put me under for three days? Are you a prince or a rogue to her?¡¯ ¡®Lady Katherine, I frankly was nothing more than a source of income for Lady Diane ¡ª the rumours of our affair or relationship or whatnot were fabricated and paid for handsomely on my end.¡¯ Freyza scraped his throat again. ¡®It was my belief that it would catch your eye. That is what I was meaning to tell you.¡¯ She pouted. ¡®What about the diamonds?¡¯ she asked. Freyza chuckled. ¡®They look good in candlelight, don¡¯t they?¡¯ he asked. ¡®They¡¯re not real diamonds, however. Not that it matters. I¡¯d build you a castle made out of diamonds if you insinuate that it will win your heart. I¡¯d spend my life mining diamonds if it be your will. Have you thought to forgive me, Katherine?¡¯ ¡®Be warned, Freyza. If I find out that you are lying to me and I do forgive you based on this fact, I¡¯ll have to do your next object of desire a favour and castrate you.¡¯ ¡®Understandable,¡¯ he said. ¡®I¡¯ll ask Diane to inform you, but if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to keep the story alive to court proper. It¡¯ll reflect badly on me if I am caught fabricating.¡¯ Katherine¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡®So I hold a grave and terrible secret, then?¡¯ she wondered, her brows raised. ¡®I¡¯ve thought to forgive you. You could¡¯ve just asked me in the stables, you know? Would¡¯ve likely given you a bit more of a hard time, but I would¡¯ve come to forgive you as well. I have thought too. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve changed your position on our terms, and I am glad that so have I. If you wish not to be part of my public life as favourite, so be it. But then it will mean that our dealings will remain completely in secret. You¡¯ve given me something to leverage over you ¡ª I will not be returning the favour. If anyone learns of it, your head and your neck will soon be distant acquaintances.¡¯ ¡®That is equally understandable,¡¯ he said. ¡®I can keep a secret. Your advisers have given me carte blanche to teach you the basics of Sbaian as to strengthen the alliance between our countries. I say this is a good starting point. For some reason, Lord Overleigh and Lord Milden Cross might as well believe me to be a eunuch. I don¡¯t think they suspect anything.¡¯ Katherine snorted. ¡®You¡¯re not my type,¡¯ she admitted. ¡®My favourites have up until this point haven¡¯t been diplomatic ambassadors, rather crude knights and unduly exalted footmen ¡ª I¡¯m not known to appreciate an agreeable and noble demeanour like your own. I believe this may have been enough talking. My throat is parched. Show me around, won¡¯t you?¡¯ 41. The Accent of Tougaf Their diplomatic relationship had gotten off to a false start, what with their initial retreat devolving rather quickly from an introduction to the Sbaian language to a day and a half of the sort of debauchery that Freyza hardly knew himself capable of. Yet, when they returned to Souchon, at the time that he had promised to return the Queen, both sore and hungover, with their fingertips still shrivelled from the bathwater, they had to face the music: there was not a stitch of Sbaian that she had learned. It was still to Freyza¡¯s great amusement to find that he would be teaching the Queen of Ilworth Sbaian twice a week, and that even a little room in the Ilworthian wing would be cleared. Whether her lessons would continue during her time in Ilworth, considering time would come where she would be asked to return, was yet to be decided, and Freyza had the impression that this depended mostly on how Katherine herself would vouch for their necessity of them. Freyza had set up in the room, unfavourably located in the top of one of Souchon Palace¡¯s towers, drafty and cold, a desk with two chairs, one on either side, a chaise-longue by its little window, and an assortment of Sbaian books, knickknacks and other cultural objects he still had lying around. He found it difficult to admire his work, as he was used to adhering to impossibly high standards, but the short notice and the odd shape of the room left him grappling with the little things he still had to put in it. Besides being drafty, a single footstep two floors down could easily be heard, which left him feeling rather somber about the plans he had, even if he had tried to muffle the sound of the room with carpets. It was unfortunate to know that despite all his efforts, if he heard the footsteps coming up, he was certain that whoever was coming up the stairs in that moment could hear him sit down in his chair, scraping the legs over the carpet. That morning would be the first of the Sbaian lessons to come. Though Freyza was nervous, in fact had not slept and was living off of sheer anticipation, he had kept himself resembling calm by imagining that there would likely be a chaperone to accompany her, who he just had to bore so thoroughly and give the impression of his purity, in order to get rid of them. Therefore, when he did indeed hear footsteps, he managed to remain somewhat cynical even though he had not seen Katherine, even out on the estate, since they had returned together from Sanlieu. He opened the door as if to signal that the person coming up may enter, and peered down the spiral staircase. His heart leapt when he heard the footsteps at the threshold, but as he looked up to meet Katherine¡¯s gaze, it could not have disappointed him more that not Katherine, but another young noblewoman greeted him with a bow. She was wearing a riding habit and her face was red from exertion; from her dated headdress a few bits of ruddy brown hair escaped. ¡®My lord,¡¯ she began timidly with another bow. Freyza raised his brows. ¡®I¡¯m afraid you have the wrong person.¡¯ ¡®No, my lord,¡¯ she said with a snicker, her Massouric accent thick and noble-sounding. ¡®Her Majesty unfortunately sent me for she was doubly booked this morning, so your appointment will unfortunately be rescheduled to next week Friday. Her Majesty is out hunting at this point in time.¡¯ ¡®We have each and every Friday blocked, so I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s not much to reschedule,¡¯ he sneered. ¡®May I have your name, at least, my lady? I¡¯m not used to my appointments being cancelled by people I¡¯ve never seen before.¡¯ She smiled. ¡®Lady Margot,¡¯ she said, ¡®Lady-in-waiting ¡ª since a few weeks.¡¯ ¡®Lady Margot,¡¯ Freyza began. ¡®Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I¡¯m afraid I will need you to forward a message to Her Majesty. Quite simple. Tell her, if you will, that of course the royal agenda is packed tightly, and that it is with the utmost understanding that our lessons will commence next week. However, please do mention my name ¡ª that¡¯s Lord Freyza of Tougaf.¡¯ Margot seemed to be slightly worried by Freyza¡¯s insistence. ¡®Will do,¡¯ she said, then quickly added, ¡®My lord.¡¯ Freyza offered her a watery smile. ¡®Often, Massouric nationals wish to write it down so they don¡¯t forget. It is a rather unusual name.¡¯ ¡®I needn¡¯t,¡¯ she said. ¡®But I will be on my way, Lord Freyza of Tougaf.¡¯ He watched her leave and waited for her to go before sighing deeply. What was he to do with all of the anticipation that had plagued him for days now, that had built up as friction and agitation in his body? Out of sheer frustration, he picked up one of the books and slammed it with as much force as he had in him into the carpeted ground, letting out yet another sigh when its paper produced a muffled thud into the pile. When he had recovered from the initial frustration, he looked around himself and cursed his idiotic thoughts. That he had convinced himself, and much worse, Katherine¡¯s advisers, of this idea, was now beyond him. The gaudy Sbaian carpets, the ugly little desk with its plain legs, the mismatched chairs, the hopefully soft and elongated chaise-longue, it all looked childish to him now. It was clear that there was little he could do to contain Katherine within his grasp, and that she would always step out of reach just in time, that she would only appear at her own time like a cat seeking food at an unfamiliar doorstep. It was then when he started considering taking it all down, starting with the landscape painting of his own shore. That painting, small and clumsily done by a local artisan early in his career, having hung opposite a portrait of a redheaded odalisque, now felt too vulnerable to keep out. All of a sudden, he heard footsteps again, and feeling annoyed already at yet another intruder, he got up to lock the door. As he looked down, however, it was not the face of yet another intruding lady-in-waiting, there only to trample on his heart, and instead it was Katherine there for likely the same reason. She too was wearing a riding habit, and unlike Margot¡¯s heart-shaped hood, Katherine wore a man¡¯s flat cap with feathers that matched her dress. She was looking up when he looked down. ¡®Morning,¡¯ she cooed. ¡®Sorry I¡¯m late.¡¯ Mischievously she sprinted the rest of the way up the stairs, hiking her skirts up with her hands so she did not stumble, and made her way past him through the doorframe. Freyza had his jaw clenched at first. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he began. ¡®I thought you¡¯d cancelled for you were out riding.¡¯ Katherine sat down and looked around, putting her hat down before her. ¡®What?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Well, I¡¯ve had a change of priorities. I wasn¡¯t having so much fun after all. Besides, I¡¯m hardly any good on a horse. Given that my advisers told me I¡¯ll have to be taught the Sbaian tongue after all, and I can¡¯t precisely wait it out for the Sbai Empire to fall, I should be prudent.¡¯ With newfound poise, Freyza sat down opposite her. ¡®Had you decided upon the hunting trip no longer being fun before or after Lady Margot told you that it was I who would be teaching the class?¡¯ he asked. ¡®More importantly, perhaps, that it was only I?¡¯Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡®Margot hasn¡¯t said anything of the sort,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®And I knew it would be just you here ¡ª you hadn¡¯t told me and it would have been likely that you were accompanied by a member of the embassy, but¡­ I was aware this would be the situation, of course.¡¯ ¡®Really?¡¯ Freyza asked. ¡®I¡¯d asked her to mention that - suppose I¡¯ll ask her when I see her around.¡¯ There was a shift in Katherine¡¯s demeanor from sly to rather bashful. ¡®There¡¯s¡­ really no reason to question it,¡¯ she said. ¡®She¡¯s new.¡¯ He decided it was best to drop it, lest the checkmate he had created turned her against him. ¡®My condolences, by the way,¡¯ he said. ¡®For your cousin¡¯s death. I did not know about this when we were in Sanlieu, of course, so I haven¡¯t been able to extend my condolences.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ Katherine said, chuckling a bit. ¡®Thank you. We know very little at this point. I don¡¯t even know if it¡¯s been confirmed that condolences are in order.¡¯ It was the truth that Freyza did not know either whether condolences were in order, he had just assumed that they would be. Shamefully, he scraped his throat and stood up again. ¡®Tea, my lady?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I¡¯ve been looking ever since I received word that this would be an activity I would undertake, for a good supplier of Sbaian teas. It¡¯s been quite the journey.¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ she said simply, not even turning her head. Putting the full kettle ¡ª filled strategically in order not to idle with servants that would bring him water ¡ª on the heat, he asked forth, ¡®Long or short tea?¡¯ Katherine perked up. ¡®What on earth does that mean?¡¯ Freyza smirked. ¡®Why, Lady Katherine¡­ you¡¯ve never heard of long or short tea? You¡¯ve much to learn until your advisors send you, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, to meet His Excellency.¡¯ ¡®It feels as though you are making a fool out of me,¡¯ she said. He stood by the fire until he thought the water would be hot and took a pair of cups from their equally calculated position on the dresser. ¡®I suggest you pick one. If it¡¯s not to your liking, I¡¯ll happily make the other for you.¡¯ Her eyes narrowed. ¡®Long tea,¡¯ she declared. ¡®Long tea, as the lady wishes,¡¯ he mused. There was just one tin of tea by the cups. Freyza placed a sieve over the cup, spooned in some of the tea, and spread it out over the surface of the metal sieve. Katherine still sat, but was leaning over to the side so she could see what he was doing. When he had filled the two sieves, he placed one on the ground, just by the fire. The moment Katherine saw him taking the kettle and pouring the piping hot water over the sieve, all while holding the kettle at chest height, she was unsure of whether to laugh or to scoff, and instead she sat looking rather mesmerized by his unlikely gift of nerve. He had briefly looked whether he was pouring into the cup, and even so, much of the water ricocheted off of the bottom of the cup or the surface of the water, but thereafter he completely ignored what he was doing, and instead looked to Katherine. ¡®Do Fridays suit you, actually?¡¯ he asked. Katherine was perplexed by the display. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, but is long tea just tea poured from a high place?¡¯ she asked. ¡®Indeed,¡¯ he said. ¡®And short tea is tea poured from a lower place.¡¯ ¡®And the point of this is¡­?¡¯ Freyza quickly poured himself a cup as well, from a less acrobatic height, and swiftly walked over to the desk. ¡®Frankly, the point of this is breaking the ice,¡¯ he said, handing her her cup. ¡®Consider it broken,¡¯ Katherine said with a smile. ¡®Though you needn¡¯t play these charades. There simply is no point. You know as well as I do, that you live in my grace. It is high time you become more comfortable in my presence.¡¯ ¡®That is simply an honour too great to accept,¡¯ he said quickly, taking a small moment thereafter to bask in the glory of his accomplishment. ¡®You needn¡¯t say it. I am honoured to teach you.¡¯ She smirked, flicking her gaze up to his face and down at her hand, the teacup perched elegantly against her fingers. ¡®That¡¯s another thing,¡¯ she said. ¡®Whose idea was this, if I may ask? I¡¯ve not heard of the grandeur of your countrymen, at least not from my advisers. What¡¯s the hurry?¡¯ He scraped his throat. ¡®Interesting that you should ask. The thing is, Lady Katherine, the Sultan has had a warm trade relationship with the Baradran Gineforts for as long as he¡¯s purveyed anything. Many of his women are Baradrans, and those of sultans before him as well ¡ª you and him may be related by blood, I¡¯ll say as an aside. Now those are unavailable, a slot has opened up for a new trading partner. I imagine Lady Louise will wish King Henri to fill that role, but the Sultan has spoken warmly of you, and at the embassy we decided that it would be the wisest to see if you would be responsive to learning the Sbaian tongue and humouring him. We all believe this will be enough to cull any budding cooperation between him and the Massouric king.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m glad I¡¯ve had a say in this, then,¡¯ she complained. ¡®What did Richard and Harcourt say? Whatever to get her out of our hair? As long as it won¡¯t cost us anything?¡¯ Freyza felt called to briefly raise his voice if only to stop her. ¡®A brief interjection, Lady Katherine! You¡¯ve any idea what this may bring Ilworth?¡¯ Katherine clicked her tongue. ¡®I haven¡¯t a clue and I don¡¯t particularly care.¡¯ ¡®Do you care what it would bring you?¡¯ he asked. She simply shook her head, exasperated. ¡®I think that you¡¯ll be happy to know that the Sultan has agreed to a fool¡¯s bargain,¡¯ he began. ¡®When I say he speaks warmly of you, by God, do I mean it. If you manage to write him in Sbaian, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be granted whatever you wish for. Houses, bolts of brocade, gold, gemstones, military interventions, ships, servants, wine, whatever your heart desires. And aside from that, isn¡¯t it nice to have a little alcove to yourself twice a week, and not have to worry about your impending husband?¡¯ Katherine huffed. ¡®Do you really think I¡¯d rather sit with my nose in the books rather than amuse some dimwitted, inbred Massouric prince? You imagine my talents are more suited to learning a whole new script and language, than they are to smalltalk and bawdy entertainment?¡¯ ¡®Indeed, I do,¡¯ Freyza said in protest. ¡®I believe you are more intelligent and scholarly than your upbringing has taught you that it is ladylike to be.¡¯ ¡®Well, you¡¯d be wrong in believing,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®Sorry if this was your idea. I don¡¯t think this is a very good way of strengthening the relationship between our countries.¡¯ ¡®Humour me,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®You won¡¯t be sorry you tried. Nobody ever regrets learning a skill. With all due respect, of course, Lady Katherine.¡¯ Her expression suddenly softened, and she put the cup down. ¡®Say¡­ this is your idea, isn¡¯t it? I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve spoken to many others in your delegation. Everything goes through you.¡¯ ¡®I¡ª Well, Lady Katherine, I appear to be responsible,¡¯ he began. ¡®And as you know, we of course have a great rapport, what with the plentiful negotiations in our past.¡¯ ¡®Negotiations¡­¡¯ she echoed, ¡®Is this your way to have an appointment scheduled with me twice weekly, simply to see me?¡¯ The corners of Freyza¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®Would that be selfish of me to wish, or would this be mutually beneficial?¡¯ he asked. She remained quiet, sitting back in her chair and grinning with the sort of sly madness brought on by realizing she had been right. ¡®I do look forward to our mornings together,¡¯ he continued. ¡®I¡¯ll say that much. To say that the initiative is purely amicable, however, would be too far.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re too diplomatic,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®What is it that you really mean to say? Or am I reading too much into it, perhaps?¡¯ Freyza began to go quite red in the face. ¡®You are owed a prosperous relationship with my country,¡¯ he said. ¡®That is the price I pay for the occasional presence of you that I have secured ¡ª a sort of diplomatic loyalty I cannot extend to your host, for example. I will cherish our time together but I do intend to teach you Sbaian.¡¯ ¡®You speak to me like you intend to send me your portrait,¡¯ she chuckled. He laughed with her and leaned over his desk, elbows on the edge. ¡®Lady Katherine, I harbour no illusions. And besides, if I were to pursue you, or anyone else for that matter, you wouldn¡¯t question ¡ª you would know.¡¯ ¡®Hm. Almost threatening,¡¯ she said. ¡®Threatening? Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡¯ ¡®In a good way,¡¯ Katherine added, gesturing with her hand playfully. ¡®Threatening in a good way.¡¯ Freyza huffed. ¡®There is such a thing?¡¯ ¡®Certainly,¡¯ Katherine said, furrowing her brows. ¡®No man would be half as interesting if not for the mystical intersection of tenderness and vehemence.¡¯ He chuckled, realizing he had reached the great orator Queen Katherine rather than the woman Katherine of Courtenay, the former of which he did not admire nearly as much as the latter. Demonstratively, he dusted off what appeared to be an ancient tome and opened it with a loud thud. ¡®And the Sbaian language would be half as interesting if not for the mystical intersection of you writing the sultan a letter, and the sultan sending you a chest full of gold pieces back,¡¯ Freyza said. Katherine chuckled. ¡®I¡¯ll consider paying attention now.¡¯ Intermission: The Breakfast Story It had been a challenging night of doing offers to and fro and negotiating the terms of the contract that would go into effect in October of that year ¡ª or at least so it would appear from the notes of the evening. In reality, which had become the fickle beast of what was not in the notes and would be forgotten by history as soon as it happened, the agreement had gone easily. The signature was all but a formality to codify the price Dorothy had whispered into Katherine¡¯s ear earlier that day, and whatever price she asked was still lower than what the Sultan was happy to pay. Then, after pretending that the price really was a favour from him to her, the pair of them began their justifications for what were to happen next. No, Freyza really could not agree to the price she asked for, but perhaps if she threw something in to soften the deal, he could pay the difference out of pocket. No, Katherine certainly had nothing of monetary value to contribute further than she already had done. Of course, then, the only logical conclusion available to seal the deal as it were, was for them to spend the night together. The notes were often written by Freyza just before Katherine¡¯s morning council, or during it if the particular contract called for just a few more hours of difficult negotiations. Such a contract was signed that morning and so Freyza had asked for breakfast to be served in his office, which he then cheerily brought over to his chamber, where Katherine was reading the notes he had written in order to justify them to her advisors. ¡®Any questions, Your Majesty?¡¯ he asked, lingering on the back of the parchment and the way it reflected in the silk sheets within which Katherine lay. ¡®Your conversion appears to be wrong,¡¯ she said. ¡®Honest mistake or did you mean to screw me?¡¯ He chuckled. ¡®I did mean to screw you but not through fraudulent conversion of currency. You can cross out the amount in akce if that¡¯s better for you, we¡¯ll use the conversion Dorothy proposed. Fine by me.¡¯ Katherine looked up over the agreement and the platter of food caught her eye. ¡®Say, is that a custard pie?¡¯ Freyza placed the platter down in the middle of the bed and looked over at the dish he most suspected of being what she had seen. ¡®I¡¯m not sure. Are there generally blackberries on those?¡¯ ¡®Nobody knows I¡¯m in here, right?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I wonder why your servant picked all of my favorite things. And much too much for one person.¡¯ ¡®If it helps, this is supposed to be the same breakfast Lady Louise had at her lev¨¦e this morning. I suppose this is kind of a lev¨¦e in and of itself, but the audience is a lot smaller.¡¯ Freyza looked at the abundant assortment of cheeses, salads, tarts and breads, and began to doubt himself. ¡®Perhaps it would be for the better if we sign no more paperwork until October, just to be sure.¡¯ She quickly took a cherry from one of the silver platters, though only noticed that it was part of the decoration on a sugared fruit tart until after she had plucked it from its generous whipped cream throne within the crust. It was perfectly ripe, sweet enough especially with the wet cast of whipped cream still stuck to it, yet so tart that her jaws tensed up slightly. As charmingly as she could, she drew the pit from her tongue and put it on the silver filligree platter, towards the edge. ¡®Yes,¡¯ she said, ¡®Or I¡¯d propose we continue negotiations in Bourrac, or even in Ilworth. I¡¯d like to not go three months until I am by your side again. And more importantly, I¡¯d like to not go another second without a slice of that pie.¡¯This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Freyza had gotten used to Katherine¡¯s casual way of talking about their affair but still had to keep himself from going red-faced whenever she did so. He took the delicate butter knife in his hand and decided upon a place to cut, just between two plump blackberries embedded in the hard caramel that had formed a crust on the custard. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have a single plate,¡¯ he said. ¡®It¡¯s hard to convince someone you¡¯re eating alone if you ask for two plates with your breakfast.¡¯ ¡®Did you ask for something to drink?¡¯ she asked, easing herself out from under the sheets. ¡®I¡¯ll try to eat above the platter.¡¯ He shook his head. ¡®All is good. The sheets will be changed today either way, so make a mess if you wish. Let me see if we have any wine.¡¯ She had hoisted herself up and sat tailorwise opposite him, her loose shift backlit to reveal the narrow shape of her body. It had amused him since they had started seeing one another that it had never occurred to him just how small Katherine was. Years of seeing her from a distance, dressed up to create the illusion of regality, had made him imagine her as being Louise-sized, sturdy, tall and even muscular for a lady. However once she sat opposite him those months ago, and especially once he had held her hand in his, he realised that compared to her, he almost felt grotesquely oversized. Yet that was not for how much she ate. While he sought the wine he had hidden in his room ¡ª hidden just in case his fellow Sbaian nationals were to visit him ¡ª she lay a hand beneath the slice he had separated and held the bottom of it while she took the first bite. The flaky crust had gone soft from the weight of the heavy custard, jiggling as a bite was removed from it, thick as cheese. The top, caramelized from baking, almost had a salty tang to it, that mixed with the sour blackberries. The scent of the pie alone, with the sweet eggy custard and the delightful foresty note of the foraged berries, was enough to make one¡¯s mouth water. ¡®Do you ever miss your own country, Freyza?¡¯ she asked, still delicately holding the end of the slice she had been handed, both hands covered in flaky pastry and scraps of custard, blue-black juice having stained her mouth and fingertips. ¡®Even though they don¡¯t have custard pie there? And no wine?¡¯ He had returned and now looked closely at what was left of the pastry. ¡®If I missed it so much, I¡¯d go back,¡¯ he said. ¡®Which I likely will one day ¡ª even without custard pie and without wine. Perhaps I¡¯ll ask King Henri if he would agree with me bringing a few Sbaian cooks one of these days, so we can expand your cultural education.¡¯ She snorted. ¡®I consider my cultural education quite expanded since before our first deal, Master Freyza, I must admit I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much more stretch to it.¡¯ Freyza had not even had a bite yet. Now Katherine picked up food for herself and had a goblet to her side, he felt like it would be all right for him to begin his breakfast as well. His stomach was rumbling. ¡®Usually it only hurts for a second, no?¡¯ he asked, turning to a bunch of green grapes and picking a few off the stem with a delightfully crisp snap. They were hard and had a juicy crunch between his teeth. ¡®In all seriousness, though, Lady Katherine. Right now there is nothing there for me in Tougaf, from where I hail. One day, however, there will be.¡¯ Katherine ate contently for a while, attacking the pillowy brioche buns stacked with salty-sweet cheese so soft she had spread it with the butter knife. The supple bread was so airy that it melted the moment it was bit into. ¡®I¡¯d like to not consider that day yet,¡¯ she said. ¡®We¡¯ve much to trade. You¡¯ve got a lot of money to make and so have I. The treasury needs it.¡¯ ¡®Many contracts to sign,¡¯ Freyza added, absentmindedly biting into a fruit tart. Katherine hummed in agreement, her mouth still full. ¡®Likely many missed morning councils for you, unfortunately,¡¯ he said. Katherine shook her head and raised her hand to gesture him to wait before speaking on until she had swallowed the bite she had just taken. ¡®If I could I¡¯d never have morning council again,¡¯ she said. ¡®In fact, I¡¯d never be out of bed before noon if I could. So that¡¯s nothing to mourn.¡¯ He smiled a watery smile: he knew she hated morning council, breakfast with the advisors, being dressed by her maids, the occasional lev¨¦e. Whenever he could keep her away from them, he would. Freyza took a sip of his wine. ¡®Finish what you want to,¡¯ he said. ¡®Leave the rest here so my assistant may take it without having to see you here. I have some matters to tend to this morning. It¡¯s been a pleasure once again, Your Majesty.¡¯ Her jaws were clenched. There was no embassy business to tend to on a Sunday. 42. The Squire That Wasnt Henry felt the irritation boil up inside him as he waited for Jaime to pick up new training swords from their proper place. It was as if each day a bit of his easygoing demeanour, which had been a layer of protection against the irritants of court life, was beginning to erode. He waited in the middle of their pitch, his hands on his hips, and sought the eyes of the so-called ¡°friends¡± that had brought him. Charlie, that one-eyed weasel. Fairfax, the pervert. Henri, that slimy Massouric piece of work calling himself a king. His own squire was not even a man. When he looked about in boredom, he noticed that his Massouric namesake was looking back at him. Henry felt himself wanting to make a face, but stopped himself short. Henri snickered all of a sudden. ¡®Have you noticed yet that your hairline¡¯s receding?¡¯ he asked. As reflex, Henry lay his hand on his forehead. ¡®Yeah,¡¯ Henri continued. ¡®You probably don¡¯t feel it yet, but it¡¯s because of wearing those helmets to joust.¡¯ It was Fairfax who responded before Henry could. ¡®Come, now,¡¯ he said. ¡®Henry¡¯s not getting younger, you shouldn¡¯t make such a fuss. Perhaps when you¡¯re his age, you¡¯ll be far less lucky.¡¯ His age? Henry frowned. He had never seen Henri or Fairfax as younger than him. He had been nineteen, close to the following birthday, when he had ended up by accident in Queen Katherine¡¯s retinue, following their years of camaraderie in Dolcotshire. He quickly counted the summers. He was twenty-six. Had it really been that long? Had Walter been arrested over a year ago already? He was unmarried, and he wondered at what age his popularity would fade. At what age he would no longer be the golden boy of the joust, at what age he would have to give it up if he wanted to remain unbeaten. It was far sooner than he thought before. ¡®I¡¯m only two years older than him,¡¯ he bit. At that point, Jaime came back carrying wooden swords in her arms, running down the small slope, her cropped blonde hair bouncing in the wind and her steps. She was smiling: Jaime was far away from home as well, but for her, home was not the duchy of Dolcotshire where she ran the show the way that it was for Henry, it was in the hands of the charity of the church. Jaime was a nun¡¯s bastard. ¡®Sorry, gentlemen,¡¯ she began. ¡®I got held up.¡¯ Henri looked at his namesake in anticipation. Fairfax and Charlie took a sword each, but Henry kept his arms at his sides. ¡®With what?¡¯ he barked. ¡®You got held up with what?¡¯ His words spat themselves out with frustration that he did not recognise within himself, and it seemed that Jaime did not recognise it in him either by the way she slowly blinked and backed away a little, frowning her pale blonde brows. ¡®I¡­ I ran into Lady Katherine,¡¯ she said. ¡®By the stables. She was getting ready to ride out with a few of the ladies. Lady Constance, Lady Margot, Lady Grace, Lady Diane. Some others.¡¯ Henry looked her up and down, lingering on the delicate curve of her hip, and moving down to her beanpole legs. ¡®So?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Are you a lady-in-waiting or are you a squire?¡¯ ¡®A squire,¡¯ she answered sharply. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, she needed my help. Isn¡¯t it your duty too, to assist Her Majesty? Why is it that you must berate me for doing your duty?¡¯ Jaime had been but a girl when she came into Henry¡¯s care. He had mistaken her for a boy initially, and she had much enjoyed that, though the older she got, the more she ingratiated herself with the ladies-in-waiting, and the less she could pass as a young lad, no matter how short she kept her hair cropped. ¡®You think that¡¯s my job?¡¯ he huffed indignantly. ¡®Out of my sight.¡¯ ¡®Sir Henry,¡¯ she protested. Fairfax frowned all of a sudden. ¡®Lady Diane?¡¯ he asked, his Otterdon accent in Ilworthian far thicker than it was in Massouric, ¡®Lady Katherine is out hunting with her?¡¯ Jaime nodded dutifully. Fairfax snorted. ¡®Diane left court three weeks ago. You bullshit.¡¯ ¡®Well, she looked like¡­¡¯ Jaime began. Henry groaned and threw his gauntlets off of him, turning on his heels and headed off. Jaime struggled to keep up with him, calling out his name, stomping in the high grass, until a few steps into the meadow, Henry halted. ¡®I said: out of my sight,¡¯ he said once again calmly. ¡®Before I send you back to that shithole where you belong.¡¯ ¡®Henry, what¡¯s the matter?¡¯ she whispered. ¡®They cannot eavesdrop here ¡ª you can drop the act.¡¯ Henry balled his fists and felt his face redden, with the epicentre of the furious heat just below his nose, where he felt his tissue tingle with great agitation. He looked upon Jaime. Her face was placid, calm enough to be an insult to him, and the wind ruffled her hair like it did the awns of wheat. ¡®Act?¡¯ he asked after a moment¡¯s deliberation. Jaime grimaced. ¡®You¡¯ve not been the same since Walter left,¡¯ she said. Henry felt himself come undone slightly, and sighed, hoping that the air that had poisoned his mind would come out with his breath. ¡®I don¡¯t know¡­¡¯ he began. ¡®Hullo-ooo?¡¯ resounded Fairfax¡¯s voice over the plain as he ran over to the pair of Ilworthians. He padded over to them through the high grass, awkwardly stomping down with his elegant little shoes on his spindly legs. ¡®The king is getting bored,¡¯ he said. Henry scoffed. ¡®Is he? Shouldn¡¯t he come tell us that himself? We do not answer to the King of Massouron, and certainly not to Rob Fairfax.¡¯This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡®You¡¯re a sorry excuse for a knight, all you do is quench your thirst on ale and quench your sorrows with women,¡¯ he said. ¡®Least you can do is entertain the king now you Ilworthian lot have to be in our presence. You and your whore queen and your snake councillors.¡¯ It seemed to Fairfax that the person Henry was, briefly stopped shimmering through in the gloss of his eye or the twitch of his mouth. The very next moment, the knight¡¯s fist beat against his skull.
Though he could not imagine regretting what he had done, and hearing Fairfax scream out in pain was still a pleasant ring in his ear, Henry knew he would have to pay for it somehow. He was asked to appear before Harcourt and Richard later that afternoon, who received him wearing their uniforms and carrying their insignia as if they did not bet bags of gold on the jousting champion or did not drunkenly sing with him on occasion. Henry entered the chancellery hesitantly, wearing a bloodied gambeson, breeches and riding boots, his hair in his face in order to hide the potential beginnings of the receding hairline that had been the catalyst of the whole ordeal. Hands behind his back, a sorry shuffle in his walk. Harcourt gave him a long, cold stare, while Richard hid some amusement behind his diplomatic veneer. It was a long-standing theory of Henry¡¯s, that Richard had been a rowdy young man in his youth as well. ¡®First of all,¡¯ Henry said as he sat down, ¡®I just want both of you to know that he called you snake councillors, and he called Katherine a whore queen.¡¯ ¡®It is the Otterdon way to speak so of Courtenays and their allies,¡¯ Richard said at first, having oppressed Harcourt with his gaze so that he may have the first word. ¡®Back in the day, at least they had the decency of speaking unintelligibly so we could not understand. Unfortunately, they have evolved to speak our tongue. That leaves us with the duty to forgive them for their idiocy.¡¯ ¡®What Lord Milden Cross means to say is that Lord Fairfax speaks ill of us for he is taught to,¡¯ Harcourt interjected. ¡®We¡¯d prefer to keep you out of more trouble. You¡¯ve seen how freely the poison flows around here.¡¯ ¡®Yes,¡¯ said Henry. ¡®Order me toothless. You all know this court situation has all but castrated me ¡ª you might as well finish the job by ordering me mute, deaf and cut off both my hands while you¡¯re at it.¡¯ Richard clicked his tongue. ¡®For a man most notable for the amount of women that claim that he sired their bastard child, you sure do speak much of being castrated,¡¯ he said. ¡®We are serious, Henry. You know not of what you speak.¡¯ ¡®Can I ask you something?¡¯ Henry asked, hunched over on his chair. ¡®Something that has been bothering me, actually.¡¯ Richard scoffed and held up his hands. ¡®Why not?¡¯ he asked. Even Harcourt smiled. ¡®What happened to Walter, really?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Did he conspire with Lord William?¡¯ The smile on Harcourt¡¯s face was quickly lost. ¡®Walter is well, if you must know. I have received information from a trusted source that he is well.¡¯ Henry remained quiet, and instead begged Richard with his eyes. Richard, in turn, faced Harcourt. ¡®He won¡¯t say a thing,¡¯ Richard said of Henry. ¡®I don¡¯t believe he would.¡¯ ¡®So?¡¯ asked Harcourt. Richard again looked at Henry pointedly, steepled his fingers and raised his brows. ¡®What¡¯s the angle? What must you know and why must you know it?¡¯ Henry¡¯s heart ached when he thought of Walter. There were memories embedded in him of the early days of his life at Norbury Castle, riding out with Walter, Grace and Katherine. When he thought of the sun of that first summer coming down through the oak and sycamore, the sunlight was as potent as the first time he saw it, even if it only existed behind his eyes these days. ¡®The boy was like a brother to me,¡¯ he said finally, his voice gravelly and cracking. ¡®And I know Kathy loved him too. The real deal.¡¯ Richard held his gaze, and some pity ¡ª acted or not ¡ª danced on his expressionless face. ¡®You weren¡¯t jealous of that?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Of Lady Katherine¡¯s love of him ¡ª purported love of him, I mean.¡¯ ¡®Sure,¡¯ said Henry. ¡®I would not have been here if I did not wish to be in her presence, but I would not want to hurt those I care for. She¡¯s someone I care for. If you must know, there is little left of the Dolcotshire prioress I got to know. I¡¯m not big into intimidating monarchs. She stands by me and I stand by her, whether that be as favourite or simply as champion. But Walter¡­ the boy was innocent. I don¡¯t blame him a second for hurting me. It was simple misfortune that did it. I probably had it coming.¡¯ ¡®Hm,¡¯ said Richard. ¡®A knight out of love. Very theatrical.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m getting older,¡¯ Henry answered proudly. ¡®It is what it is, and it is better than the alternative,¡¯ said Richard, chuckling. ¡®And your squire? She¡¯s not your type?¡¯ Henry made a disturbed face and laughed. ¡®No,¡¯ he said. ¡®She is seventeen summers old, which means she was thirteen when we met. You cannot meet your future wife when she is a child, Richard. It may be the nobleman¡¯s way, but it is not mine. Besides, I have a suspicion that Jaime has great plans already of becoming a famous knight¡­ somehow.¡¯ ¡®I see. As to Walter, I will indulge you a little. He has not conspired against us and there will be no action taken to arrest him if he stays out of our sight. There is no conspiracy one way or the other.¡¯ Richard scraped his throat and sat back in his chair. ¡®It has helped Her Majesty greatly with staying interested in her fianc¨¦ that there is one favourite fewer begging for her attention. Well, if we are to count your change of tune¡­ two fewer. Walter is well. Now, with what you just did to Robert Fairfax, dear Henry, will you be well?¡¯ ¡®Send me back if you must,¡¯ said Henry dryly. ¡®Would that soothe the trouble?¡¯ Harcourt declared: ¡®You are so lucky to have timed this incident so well with the arrival of the first royal Gineforts to Souchon. If Louise has even been informed of this at all, she has likely waved it off. Perhaps good to know for you, I don¡¯t believe many care for Fairfax but King Henri. Consider this a dress rehearsal for the next time you find yourself seething in his presence.¡¯ Richard¡¯s eyes darted around mischievously. ¡®Or we will have to return you to your Lord Gregory,¡¯ he added with grave tone. ¡®As I¡¯ve been given the impression that Her Majesty shall not protest.¡¯ Henry folded his hands together in his lap, his left still bloodied with Fairfax¡¯ blood, and looked down upon them with the sorrow of the last half a decade spent on the side of a woman whom he no longer related to, who rarely asked for his presence, and who was on the precipice of an alliance that would bind her to a country, residence and man that Henry utterly despised. ¡®I¡¯m afraid not,¡¯ he said solemnly. ¡®It appears that my presence has become unnecessary, and the only use I have is to entertain noblemen who despise me.¡¯
As only few men whistled so loudly and sharply, Richard knew it was Theo who was seeking his attention as he strode down the hallway. He turned, offered a fraudulent grin, and crossed his arms before him. ¡®If it isn¡¯t the Secretary of State,¡¯ he said. ¡®Theodore.¡¯ Theo caught up to him, eyeing the guards as he did. For a second, the mysterious nature of his gaze made Richard think that Theo was about to arrest him, but the order never came from his sly mouth. ¡®Haven¡¯t seen you in a while,¡¯ said Theo, ¡®I was wondering if you had any leads on the poison incident during the banquet. The cooks were arrested but they haven¡¯t said much of use.¡¯ Richard huffed and felt his heartbeat quicken. ¡®If no missive has been sent your way, you may be sure I have nothing more to say,¡¯ he said offhandedly. ¡®It is a purely Massouric incident. The only way in which we were involved, is that we were present. There is little for us to investigate.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t there?¡¯ Theo asked. ¡®Interesting. You¡¯d think you would value the life of your queen more.¡¯ ¡®Funny you should say that,¡¯ said Richard. ¡®Your queen sat next to mine.¡¯ Theo grinned. ¡®We have a king, Lord Milden Cross. Soon we shall share the same queen.¡¯ Richard carefully lay his arm over Theo¡¯s shoulder, making sure to push on the side where he still had splinters of the bullet wedged in his tissue. ¡®My bad, old pal,¡¯ he mused, ¡®Of course I¡¯d never assume Lady Louise still rules from behind the crown. I¡¯d be silly to say that ¡ª Lady Louise would not have stood for this.¡¯ Theo¡¯s eyes glazed over somewhat, sorry that he had asked at all. Things had not been the same since the Ilworthians left. It seemed to Theo that Richard was fully aware of the origin of the poison after all ¡ª and unfortunately the blame was not on the Sbaian who was responsible for its procurement. 43. The Heiress Katherine knew she was in hot water the moment she heard Louise wished to receive her as guest of honour at her lev¨¦e. There had been rumours Katherine had been trying to ignore: not just about her own daughter being ordered to Dos Lunas as heiress of the new Baradran regime, but equally about a new member of the Chavanet clan that made good chances of being legitimised. The details were blurry. It was like she was intentionally being left out of the conversation in order to confuse her or somehow to close her into the perfect space that had been fitted for her by her hosts. Despite her great reluctance to be trapped, and with the memories of her last meeting with her aunt, she dressed herself in morning dress and headed out to appear by Queen Mother¡¯s side. Morning dress had started meaning something different since she moved in Sbaian grace. From a bolt of gifted silk chiffon from the embassy she had a loose dress fashioned, pale purple and so airy that it seemed to float over the floor as she walked, the rustling of the silk as loud as her footsteps. Over the past few weeks, as the Baradran debacle unfolded without offering her any information on the matter, Katherine¡¯s attitude had begun to shift. Instead of worrying about the statement it would make to so boldly display her other alliances, it now appeared more like armour than bragging, to show that there were still important people on her side even if the King of the Baradrans had been slain. Many were left scrambling for friends in powerful places: Katherine¡¯s ease in this realm was not treason to her family, but rather padding against the blow. The room was cold though the fire was roaring. Her arms were crossed, the hanging sleeves of her dress obscuring much of her skirts, and she felt immediately watched by the servants who were pouring tea and fussing about Lady Louise. ¡®Morning, my lady,¡¯ she cooed, pressing a smile onto her face in an attempt to avoid the humiliating loss of composure that Louise had drawn from her the previous time that they met. Louise was being made up by her maid. The audience had not yet arrived, and Louise¡¯s glossy brown hair was still dressed in curlers. Though the ceremony was meant to show the Queen Mother at her toilette, the most informal audience of them all, and would showcase her great natural talents and charm, Louise was hardly one to turn away from artifice. When the first guests arrived, she invariably already had her hair unwound from the curlers, and her lashes augmented with charcoal. Before that, only her nearest were allowed to see her. She was regal and beautiful even before the charade, sipping wine as she greeted her niece. ¡®If it isn¡¯t our Courtenay darling,¡¯ she drawled. ¡®You look like a doll. Sit.¡¯ Katherine did as she was told, crossing her legs over each other to reveal the embroidery of her pink stockings. ¡®You¡¯ve asked for me.¡¯ ¡®Of course,¡¯ Louise said. ¡®I¡¯ve been in and out of crisis councils over the past month. Hardly had any time at all to check in with my son¡¯s beautiful fiancee.¡¯ She did her best not to scoff. ¡®I would have preferred to meet with you not under the prying eyes of your court,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®But I suppose I too have been busy.¡¯ Louise let her eyes glide over Katherine¡¯s body, shielded by frothy silk. ¡®You¡¯ve been doing well, I take it,¡¯ she said. ¡®Making new friends.¡¯ ¡®Not precisely,¡¯ Katherine snapped back, taking a wine from the servant. ¡®Worried sick about my future, trying to find solace in opportunity.¡¯ ¡®Solace in opportunity¡­¡¯ Louise repeated. ¡®You really are a poetess.¡¯ Katherine wondered about the exact amount of sarcasm Louise¡¯s tone hid, but it was too late to ask, for the audience began to creep in. Louise¡¯s hair had just been combed, one curl at a time, revealing a shiny mass of perfect corkscrews that framed her face like a lion¡¯s mane. For much of her life, Katherine had thought that Louise naturally appeared so intimidatingly perfect. The guests were Massouric courtiers, both from Souchon Palace as well as the provinces, Ilworthians, the first Baradran refugee Gineforts, and ambassadors ¡ª Katherine hoped that if Freyza were to be present that she would spot him among them, considering she would be required for Sbaian lessons after this. So far no luck, but the guests were still trickling in. Katherine felt uncomfortable being viewed besides Louise. Both women were dressed the way they would be for a private breakfast, and yet were now expected to answer any pressing questions from court. Louise, as power behind the throne, had much less to fear than Katherine, especially given that it was Louise¡¯s de facto court they were up against. It only dawned on Katherine then that Louise was wearing her house colors: a simple grey kirtle of wool, covered by a black and red taffeta gown belted at the waist. It had not occurred to Katherine to represent her house, and she was beginning to wonder if this was the first mistake she had made that day. The amount of red-topped heads in the crowd was alarming ¡ª all Gineforts. As the last guests came in, and the door closed behind them, Katherine combed the bits of hair out of her face that had been stuck to her forehead with sweat. Louise took the word: ¡®Good morning, ladies, gentlemen. It pleases me to see you so well on this fine summer¡¯s day. It pleases me to see so many living Baradrans. I¡¯ve brought my own living Baradran as well, as you can see. Half of a Ginefort, my guest of honour.¡¯ There were mumbles of affirmation. Katherine shifted in her seat, clutching her glass with both her hands. ¡®I am happy to have been extended an invitation by my gracious former liege and gentle-hearted mother-in-law to-be,¡¯ Katherine said, smiling all the while. ¡®And of course to see my kin. In particular, my dearest aunt Scemena. Gabriel.¡¯ The sorrow on their faces would not fade easily from Katherine¡¯s mind no matter how she looked away. Scemena had aged significantly since she had last seen her in Dos Lunas, having become much frailer and thinner than the vivacious and athletically lanky woman she recalled. Her children mostly appeared uneasy, as if they found Katherine an equally hard sight to behold as she found them. ¡®And, how could I forget,¡¯ Louise said. ¡®It is not all doom and gloom in Souchon Palace. Our beautiful and yielding Lady Diane Neville will be on her way when she is in a position to do so, she wrote us this morning.¡¯ Katherine narrowed her eyes. ¡®Lady Diane?¡¯ she asked. ¡®It¡¯s been a very long while since I¡¯ve last seen her. Does she have any business here this coming time?¡¯ Louise¡¯s mouth slipped into a wide grin. ¡®Oh, you haven¡¯t heard?¡¯ she asked. ¡®My darling, you¡¯ll be happy to hear, it¡¯ll lessen the burden on your own little body in the coming years. Lady Diane has very recently given birth to a healthy full-blooded Massouric noble child which our great king sired. Given his miraculous Chavanet characteristics already at such a young age, it cannot be other than God¡¯s sign for us to have him legitimised.¡¯ Katherine thought she would retch out of shock, or combust into ribbons, but to her own surprise, she sat petrified in her chair and quieted her chattering teeth. ¡®What a spectacular achievement,¡¯ she said, not breaking eye contact with Louise even if she felt the moisture of her eyes seep over their edges. ¡®I cannot believe¡ª I cannot believe I must have been in Ilworth when this was announced. What a terrible fact to miss.¡¯ It seemed that Louise responded in her way to Katherine¡¯s obvious shock, as scandalised mumbles began to float through Louise¡¯s boudoir. She reached over to Katherine, but Katherine shot up as if to shake her off. At this point, while her face still appeared placid, she wiped the beginnings of a tear from her eyelashes. ¡®Sorry,¡¯ she said beneath her breath. ¡®Oh, you needn¡¯t be sorry, my love,¡¯ Louise said forth, loud enough so anyone could reckon Katherine had apologised, clearing up any confusion around Katherine¡¯s gesture. It was clear she had started to cry. ¡®I understand that it has been a hard month for you as it has been for us all. Especially considering the impending departure of your daughter.¡¯ Katherine felt herself go cold as if finally the last bit of insecurity and vulnerability had been wound out from the ball of yarn in her guts by Louise. ¡®There is no impending departure of my daughter,¡¯ Katherine said, scraped her throat, and added, ¡®I¡¯ve been made out to be the enemy over the past three weeks for a failed courtship, now coming up to six years dissolved, to a man who I have not chosen, let alone to be wedded into a house I had not chosen, to live in exile at your doorstep, Lady Louise, not for the character of my person, but for the character of a man whom I had been promised to, and whom I had inadvertently given too much in the folly of my adolescence. I will not then choose for my daughter¡¯s life to repeat mine, being shipped from court to court not for her deeds or even for her nobility, but for the deeds and nobility of those bearing only the faintest of familial relations to her, but whose name she unfortunately must bear. My daughter lives under my protection ¡ª I am her remaining warden. I stand with my people, first and foremost, the Ilworthians and the Courtenays, and I stand with the Gineforts second for they are my mother¡¯s blood, but among the Courtenays I count my Johanna.¡¯This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. A few gasps made their way around the small crowd, and one of Scemena¡¯s ladies took her flag fan from her girdle belt to wave it. Louise sat back as a servant rouged her cheeks, remaining languid in the illusion of the lev¨¦e as a recreation of her morning ritual. She looked regal, her face installed onto her large skull, resting atop of her wide shoulders. She appeared to be scaled up like in a portrait of a goddess. ¡®You have just one child,¡¯ Louise said once her servant had finished painting her lips. ¡®If you are, against all odds, blessed with the unlikely fecundity to one day have more ¡ª given your age, I believe that it may come to be, that you regret forfeiting your alliances against your daughter¡¯s immediate well-being. Besides, she shall be with her kind. De Serras have this particular temperament. I¡¯d be afraid of her turning into one of them, and I¡¯d be eager to get that possibility out of my mind. But of course, we are very different queens.¡¯ The heads of those in attendance moved from one queen to the next whenever one began to speak. ¡®Indeed, we are different queens,¡¯ Katherine agreed and cast her gaze downward. ¡®Unlike you, Lady Louise, I know that a forfeiture of an alliance is but the price of an unwavering loyalty to one¡¯s people. I am not here to benefit myself, or my fellow nobility. I am here to benefit Ilworth. That may not suit many of you, but I can assure you that when the chronicler walks out of this room having writ my words, they will resonate with those in the majority: the common people. At the end of the day, I am not a duchess in a coronet sucking up to my high-born peers. I have been chosen by God to protect my people. In order to do so, I can forfeit a war-torn Baradran Kingdom for a wealthy Sbai Empire.¡¯ She stood up and felt the eyes stick on her. ¡®We are different queens, Lady Louise,¡¯ Katherine repeated. ¡®You stand for your class, which is a noble task as queen mother, and fitting as you have not ruled a populace in years. However that may make you forgetful of the fact that the crown on my head is placed by thousands of merchants, peasants, labourers and craftspeople, and the price of that crown is the fierce defence of their lives.¡¯ Louise held her hands up. ¡®You¡¯ve studied a speech,¡¯ she said. ¡®I would¡¯ve preferred it if you¡¯d chosen your own time to present it. Your people are dying in the streets of the Baradran Isles, this isn¡¯t the time for a political campaign.¡¯ ¡®I haven¡¯t studied a word, Lady Louise,¡¯ Katherine said bitingly, gesturing flamboyantly as she spoke. ¡®I cannot stop any Baradran citizens from being slaughtered, indeed, without slaughtering my own men. I will denounce the government but I will not send troops there to be fed into the fire of chaos, and I will not send my daughter into the lion¡¯s mouth, and I will not be made to feel like a spineless queen for having the best interests of my people at heart. If you will excuse me, I¡¯m running late elsewhere.¡¯ Katherine threw a furious glance towards the door and servants opened it. With all of the calm she still had within her, she strode out, not giving anyone a last glance until she had dragged the stones that seemed attached to her feet out onto the hallway, where she balled her hands into fists, clenched her jaws firmly, and attempted to blink away the heated tears that were welling up and the great loathing she had for her mother in law and everyone present at the lev¨¦e. She was crying again and cursed them all underneath her breath; her heart was beating so violently she worried it may leap from her chest. She was not late ¡ª if anything, she was early. She hurried up the stairs, the stones cold on her stocked feet, weeping desperately and breathing heavily, and once she had arrived by the door in that spindly little tower, she was brought to her knees by the exertion and depth of emotion, and after that she collapsed as she wept and her quickening breath made her wheeze. Her teeth were chattering ¡ª from where she stood, the game had been played. Not only had she spoken up against Louise, she was lined up to be replaced by Diane ¡ª after all, she already had an heir ready. The image of Diane¡¯s face, interrupted by images of what she thought the Chavanet babe to look like, flickered by each time she blinked. While she was being tormented by her own thoughts, the door opened a little and light came into the dark corridor. She looked up and saw Freyza standing in the doorframe, his jaws clenched so tightly she could see the tips of the muscles contract just above his beard. She chuckled madly, wiping the tears from her eyes. ¡®I can explain,¡¯ she said. His face was grave as he bent through his knees to look at her closer, unclasping his short cloak to offer to her. ¡®I¡¯m not quite sure of what to say,¡¯ he admitted. ¡®Except¡­ you¡¯re early.¡¯ With chattering teeth, Katherine accepted the cloak and draped it over her shoulders. He helped her to stand back up, though he noticed that besides her shivering and the deeply disturbed look in her face, there seemed to be little wrong with her physically. It was not the dreadful state he had assumed her to be in judging by the little pile of her on the floor that he found. She sat down in her spot and looked lifelessly at the writing equipment and examples of Sbaian characters that Freyza had written for her. ¡®Tea?¡¯ he asked. Katherine nodded. ¡®I¡¯ve forsaken my family,¡¯ she said, sniffling. ¡®Hm.¡¯ Freyza walked towards the hearth and put the kettle on. ¡®Do you wish for me to know more?¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ll hear it from the court gossips anyway, so I might as well,¡¯ Katherine said, hoisting her legs up to hold them, ¡®I was called to the lev¨¦e this morning.¡¯ Freyza broke eye contact with her to keep tabs on the water, but when she stopped talking, he looked over again, and saw her slouched over the desk, staring vacantly. ¡®And it didn¡¯t go well?¡¯ he asked. Katherine shook her head and wiped a tear from her cheek. ¡®That bitch Louise invited me just to show all of court my weakness. To make herself look better or to force me to cower before her in marriage negotiations, I don¡¯t know. Perhaps she really is deep in the pockets of the Gineforts, that she must act this way. Either way, I may as well be a prisoner.¡¯ He was quiet a while when he poured the hot water over the tea leaves in the cups. At last, when he brought them over to his desk, he said: ¡®If you feel as though you are being provoked intentionally, and if it causes you such distress, perhaps it would be wise to inquire with your advisors if you can leave Souchon Palace until the continent is in calmer water. Otherwise, another possibility would be to invite a guest of honour who can take some of the focus off.¡¯ He sat down opposite her and offered her a sympathetic smile. ¡®As much as I look forward to our lessons and our negotiations, it pains me greatly to see you hurt.¡¯ Katherine had both her palms cupping her chin and jaw, her fingers resting on her cheekbones. ¡®And then what? Sit idly by as they legitimise Diane Neville¡¯s bastard, and sing the first notes of the goodbye song they¡¯ll sing me when they cut me off, or make like Isabella and ship my body off in a noble oaken coffin?¡¯ ¡®Diane Neville¡¯s bastard?¡¯ Freyza asked. Katherine tried to smile. ¡®It¡¯s foul play, Freyza,¡¯ she explained. ¡®I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the ways Louise keeps me from amassing too much power.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not sure I am authorised to know,¡¯ he said. ¡®Ah, I don¡¯t give a damn,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®She doesn¡¯t deserve the secrecy. I¡¯m being poisoned, no matter how far-fetched that sounds, so that I won¡¯t be in Diane¡¯s position of power, for I won¡¯t be healthy enough to carry a child, and therefore I won¡¯t have a Chavanet bastard to parade around when negotiations go awry. Unfortunately this doesn¡¯t seem to be policy, for Henry¡¯s others prospects are treated by the same Lady Louise like goddamned breeding mares.¡¯ He looked calmly into the cup, gazing at the softly stirring remainder of the tea leaves that he could not remove. ¡®It¡¯s not far-fetched at all,¡¯ he said. ¡®I recall Lady Louise was known to do the same thing to herself in her youth to keep up the belief of her purity before she married Lord Silouane. Besides, you have much power already. It is women such as Diane who scavenge for it wherever.¡¯ ¡®Well, don¡¯t say it forth,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®Richard figured this and we¡¯ve been letting it happen. I am safe, and in its way, it is convenient to live at Souchon Palace at the feet of the world¡¯s largest embassies, unburdened by the possibility of carrying a child. Especially now I¡¯m starting to think there may be better suitors for me, if less prestigious.¡¯ Freyza huffed. ¡®You don¡¯t have to tell me that, Lady Katherine. I¡¯d be a fool to say anything at all forth, and while you¡¯ve seen me foolish, you won¡¯t see me so foolish it warrants separating my head from my neck.¡¯ She began to sip her tea, calming just from the silence around them. ¡®I hope not,¡¯ she said. ¡®I would be particularly reluctant to let you go. Your foolishness is an amusing respite from your formality.¡¯ ¡®I will try to keep my head on,¡¯ he said after all. ¡®Do you wish to hear my thoughts on this, Lady Katherine, or shall I drily continue with the alphabet? I wouldn¡¯t want you to think I¡¯m underestimating your intelligence by giving you council or meaning to do favours for you, but¡­¡¯ ¡®But what?¡¯ Katherine asked with a chuckle. ¡®You can¡¯t let the opportunity pass to help a damsel in distress against her evil keeper?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ he said carefully. ¡®I feel called to toil in your name.¡¯ Katherine snickered and was only just beginning to revert back to her regular, self-possessed posture. ¡®I hope you know, Master Freyza, that even though I am considering new suitors, you needn¡¯t harbour illusions. Your toiling will remain unknown and unappreciated. Why do it at all?¡¯ As if to read the answer in his porcelain cup, Freyza intently peered at the remaining leaves. ¡®I happen to have a couple of reasons that have barely anything to do with my illusions of your hand.¡¯ 44. Queen of Many Courts Katherine had entered Freyza¡¯s makeshift chancellery, the centre of Sbaian culture in Massouron, soundlessly this time, while Freyza was reading in one of the tomes he had used for his curriculum. He sat tailor-wise in his chair, with a cup of tea held over his stomach for warmth, one foot hesitantly hooked onto the desk. ¡®Morning, Freyza,¡¯ she hummed. Immediately, Freyza uncrossed his legs, put his tea on the desk, and straightened himself. ¡®Katherine¡­ you¡¯re getting too good at this,¡¯ he chuckled. ¡®Perhaps if this queen thing falls through, you could pursue a career as spy.¡¯ Katherine pointed down at the ground and lifted the hem of her skirt with her stocked feet. ¡®By design,¡¯ she said. ¡®You can hear me coming a hundred leagues away in my shoes, but in my stockings, not so much so.¡¯ There was an obvious line of demarcation that showed where her shoes had ended, for the delicate silk just above this line was stained with dust, and anything below was slightly crumpled by the buckle on her erstwhile shoes. Freyza found himself blinking lazily at the sight. ¡®And to do what, exactly? Do you mean to sneak about from here on out?¡¯ Katherine laughed heartily and tiptoed over the floorboards onto the chaise-longue, where she let herself delicately descend upon the purple velvet cushions and tuck her legs up as well. ¡®Just curious what a man like you does when there¡¯s nobody around,¡¯ she said. ¡®You always keep your composure so well when you teach me. I hear of your great restraint in negotiations. There must be some kind of secret that you hide. As you know, I¡¯m far less composed than you ¡ª I, too, wish to know what it takes.¡¯ Her eyes were heavily lidded and the smile dancing on her lips was faint but teasing. Freyza shook his head. ¡®You do not become the Sbaian ambassador by having a personality naturally predisposed against composure and restraint. Katherine, I¡¯ve been thinking about how to proceed with your debacle concerning the lev¨¦e.¡¯ As Freyza talked, Katherine held his gaze as she undid the two clasps that were holding her partlet closed, and once undone, slipped it down her shoulders to bare her upper chest. Her skin was lily-white but accented with a threesome of bruises along her collarbone, her uppermost rib, and the beginnings of her breast. ¡®And?¡¯ she asked as she delicately plucked at the edge of her dress to search the end of the lace that held her bodice together. ¡®What is it that you¡¯ve found?¡¯ Freyza felt himself cleaved in two. On the one hand, he was but a man. He had found himself, months ago, utterly obsessed with her, willing to throw all caution to the wind to be with her. Had a djinn offered Katherine¡¯s willing presence for a single afternoon against the whole of his damned soul, he would have made the trade in an instance. Even if it were an unsophisticated trick from her end, Freyza found her boldness exciting and magnetic. On the other hand, the bruises were so fresh that the skin was still dimpled from teeth marks around them. Though he was enthralled by her, it was always in the shape of a lover rather than a palace whore. ¡®Where did you come from?¡¯ he asked, which came out in an unbecomingly parental manner that made her snicker. Katherine stood up once she found the end of the lace, and tugged at the bow mischievously. ¡®Will you scold me if I say I just left Henri¡¯s side?¡¯ she asked. ¡®That I didn¡¯t make afternoon council today?¡¯ ¡®Rather from Henri¡¯s side than from Henri¡¯s lap,¡¯ Freyza mumbled absentmindedly. Katherine wrinkled her nose. ¡®Not necessarily,¡¯ she commented. ¡®There¡¯s much that can be done from one¡¯s side.¡¯ She loosened the laces of her bodice idly, shimmied her arms out of her sleeves. ¡®I can see that from the look of you,¡¯ he said. ¡®Katherine¡­ I hesitate to let you continue. I¡¯ve important news.¡¯ Freyza smiled despite his better judgement, given that he was beginning to notice his resolve of diplomacy slip away from him. ¡®And what would that be?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I wonder if you¡¯ll invite the Sultan to Norbury Castle to receive him,¡¯ he blurted out before he could be swayed into any illusion of spontaneous adoration that she was so obviously fishing for. ¡®You and Henri and whoever. Anyone you trust. Anyone important. Make the cultural exchange of a lifetime out of it.¡¯ It made her look a bit silly. Katherine¡¯s posture changed from playful to pensive, yet she still stood, the loosened bodice of her dress bunched up at her waist, sleeves flopping at her side, her chemise lopsided on her shoulders. ¡®You don¡¯t think that¡¯s a bit dramatic? Louise will have my head.¡¯ ¡®What for? Aren¡¯t you and the Sultan to be fast friends, Katherine?¡¯ he wondered. ¡®It is what I¡¯ve promised your advisers, at least.¡¯ As if the folly of her entrance had been forgotten, Katherine pulled her sleeves back over her arms and hoisted herself into the chair opposite Freyza. ¡®Why would you do all this?¡¯ she asked. ¡®You don¡¯t need to scoop me out of this just for your trade agreement. You don¡¯t even need to do so to sleep with me.¡¯ ¡®But isn¡¯t it the right thing?¡¯ he asked. ¡®No honest work is ever lost. Especially not if it benefits someone you care for.¡¯ She leaned back in her chair. ¡®Tell me what you¡¯re thinking, then. How we¡¯ll plan all of this.¡¯ Freyza scraped his throat. ¡®We can write the Sultan and ask him if his court and him will appear in Norbury Castle as an exchange of sorts. He shall say yes for he has been enthralled by the country of Ilworth since you ascended, and you shall go home to sleep off all of the horror, and men below the two of you arm-wrestle for wool prices. It¡¯ll buy you time to make decisions, actually learn some Sbaian. Perhaps an even finer suitor awaits you there and your men will totally forget about King Henri. We¡¯ve marvellously charming, rich, powerful, influential noblemen there as well, you know.¡¯ Katherine was quiet briefly and grinned, as she laced her gown shut again. ¡®What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ Freyza asked. ¡®Marvellously charming, rich, powerful, influential noblemen, Freyza?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I sure hope some of them younger than yourself, or is this your attempt at making your intents known?¡¯ ¡®Goodness gracious. I don¡¯t think your council would like that very much ¡ª besides, though I¡¯m rich I¡¯m hardly powerful,¡¯ he said. ¡®But if you think I¡¯m marvellously charming and the rest of it, I¡¯ll take that as one of the better compliments. So, Queen Katherine. What do you say?¡¯ Katherine took her time to ponder. His offer seemed to nearly be too good to be true, and the undertone she picked up on was one of particularly desperate longing, despite the diplomacy. ¡®Write him,¡¯ she ordered. ¡®It¡¯ll show Lady Louise that I need not beg for alliances. And moreover, I am overdue for a change of scenery. Beware of the difficulty obtaining the permission to cross Baradran waters, though. It should not be forgotten.¡¯ He grinned happily. ¡®A formality,¡¯ he said giddily. ¡®I¡¯ll have a servant girl write your letter today. They¡¯ll recognise my hand otherwise.¡¯Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Katherine narrowed her eyes. ¡®Why don¡¯t we do it now, so I know what you¡¯re writing in my hand?¡¯ ¡®Certainly,¡¯ he said. ¡®How silly of me to assume that you would trust me.¡¯ She watched him go and rolled her eyes. ¡®You treat me like you¡¯ve known me forever. You are my favourite, Freyza. I am your keeper.¡¯ He was speeding down the stairs when he hollered, ¡®Your favourite what, Lady Katherine? Your favourite teacher of the Sbaian language, perhaps?¡¯
Freyza came back up a short while later, followed by a young woman in simple attire: a loose gown as the old matrons often wore in Ilworth, completely unfitting this radiant flower of a girl. ¡®Lady Katherine,¡¯ he began, theatrically bowing before her as he would before the sultan. ¡®This is Rima. Rima was born in the Najan Isles ¡ª Baradran is her native tongue, like your mother¡¯s ¡ª and she was taught Sbaian by one of my underlings when she was taken to be sold. In this case sold into one of the cushiest job any enslaved girl could have: writing work in the embassy. Her job is easier than mine and she answers to the kindest of masters, unlike myself, as I answer to two of the most demanding masters. Rima, this is Her Majesty the Queen of Ilworth. She and I meet twice a week for Sbaian lessons, and a few times a month to renew our trade agreements and follow up pricing and such things. She is a most demanding mistress to whom I must answer. You¡¯ll be writing a translated letter in her stead.¡¯ Rima bowed as well. Her eyes were a brilliant green and shone brightly against the deep, freckled tan of her skin. ¡®Your Majesty. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡¯ An enslaved woman. Katherine was unsure of what to think about the fact that the woman before her, seeming rather content from the look of her, well-fed and tall with a bright look on her face, was bound to Souchon Palace, to Freyza, by purchase rather than by salary. ¡®Rima,¡¯ she said, continuing in Baradran. ¡®I¡¯ve never spoken to a Najan girl before.¡¯ ¡®That you know of,¡¯ Freyza added, admittedly in a Baradran that was far more accented than his Massouric was. ¡®You might be surprised to know that most of the embassy¡¯s staff is Najan.¡¯ He seemed proud of the fact. The corners of Katherine¡¯s mouth twitched as Rima took a chair from by the door and placed it on the short side of the desk, as far away from Freyza as it was from Katherine. ¡®I say we get started,¡¯ Freyza continued, straightening a large empty sheet of parchment. ¡®We¡¯ll discuss in Baradran, and Rima will translate it by the sentence with my supervision for accuracy. That way, Lady Katherine, you¡¯ll know what is being said, and there is very little room for an unfair translation or foul play. Unless you¡¯d like to pick your own writer, if you feel as though Rima was put here to deceive you, in which case we could go down to the embassy right now.¡¯ Katherine looked at Rima, who looked back expectantly, and nodded in agreement: ¡®I believe trust is an important aspect of our dealings, Freyza.¡¯ ¡®Agreed ¡ª if happy that you type our dealings as such. Let us start with the beginnings,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®Esteemed and honourable Sultan, defender of the noble Sbai Empire, emperor among kings...¡¯
When the letter was sent off, a weight had been lifted off of Katherine¡¯s shoulders. The fallout of the ill-fated lev¨¦e remained small at first. Her advisers redacted most of what she had said, and Katherine remained far away from any courtiers of the Baradran regime. During a following Sbaian lesson Freyza triumphantly translated the letter that Katherine was sent by the Sultan. Freyza silently noted the great amount of content glances from Katherine ¡ª he imagined things were looking up, until he realised much of this had been organised between the pair of them without any word spoken to Ilworthian court, despite them being responsible for the reception and the hosting at large. That very Friday, Freyza had requested an audience with all three: Richard, Harcourt and Katherine herself. He came in cloaked, wearing his cloth of gold doublet he had worn during the masquerade if only to reference the instance that their time had been cut short, and the sort of impeccably starched, gold-edged ruff tacked on that Katherine knew he found irritating to wear. To watch her face soften into a smile, even if a sardonic one, was one of the things that gave Freyza purpose. ¡®Lord Overleigh, Lord Milden Cross,¡¯ Freyza said, scraped his throat, ¡®Your Majesty.¡¯ ¡®Lord Freyza,¡¯ Katherine said. ¡®Gentlemen, I¡¯ll just introduce why the Duke of Tougaf has sought our audience. There¡¯s been an exciting development within our dealings with the Sultan. Would you care to translate, my lord?¡¯ Freyza stepped forward, unfurled a pair of letters, and placed them by the advisers. ¡®I¡¯ve brought an authenticated translation, Your Majesty, of the reply from the Sultan, translated by a third party as to not create an imbalance in knowledge between the two embassies¡­ translated by the bureau in Sainte-Vallac just the other day.¡¯ Richard began to read, and upon recognising that it was addressed to Katherine, shot his eyes up to the Sbaian. ¡®So not just she and you have read this confidential letter, but also a random assortment of translators down south?¡¯ Freyza shrugged and tapped the seal that was still attached to the scroll, even if it had not been sealed when he gave it to them. ¡®That is an imperial seal,¡¯ he said. ¡®I wasn¡¯t left a choice ¡ª the translation was sent to us as well, a few days after the original. It speaks of the considerate nature of our leader, I would say. Besides, as you¡¯ll read forth, you¡¯ll find that not much would be considered in the slightest confidential. And before I forget, Lord Milden Cross, alongside these flattering descriptions and appealing trade offers, your court was sent an amount of gold you shouldn¡¯t wish to ignore.¡¯ Richard read it first and silently passed it to Harcourt, who took notes as he read. Freyza noticed that, unlike Richard¡¯s remaining steely gaze, Harcourt¡¯s face began to shift favourably while he read. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said, and she turned. ¡®You wrote him in Sbaian?¡¯ Katherine had her answer ready. ¡®I had some help from the Duke of Tougaf and one of his secretaries, but that was more to make sure I didn¡¯t unintentionally write something out of the ordinary.¡¯ Freyza hooked into it despite not having been asked: ¡®Her Majesty¡¯s has spoken Baradran since her youth, of course, and I have noticed that this creates some ease in her Sbaian that other Ilworthians initially lack. There was a large body of grammatical knowledge and intuition already there. It may not sound similar, but Baradran knowledge is exceedingly valuable when learning. Besides, she appears to be very interested.¡¯ Harcourt disbelievingly looked at the exchange and back down to the letter. ¡®I see¡­¡¯ he said meekly. ¡®Well, so it certainly appears. And what would one need to receive a Sultan in their home?¡¯ Freyza smiled. ¡®First of all, you will need enough men and women of the embassy to help you navigate the customs and language barrier. I, for one, will be willing to cover the cost of, let¡¯s say, sixty out of a hundred if you decide to bring the entire delegation that¡¯s in Souchon today, and the rest shouldn¡¯t bring too exclusive of a price. I wouldn¡¯t dare estimate costs such as foodstuffs, entertainment, lodgings ¡ª I am aware that I am in the presence of the King of the Innkeepers, so I likely am less informed.¡¯ ¡®And in return?¡¯ Richard asked. ¡®You lot don¡¯t work for free. What are you getting out of it?¡¯ Freyza rolled his eyes at the spymaster. Damned baron. ¡®Well, among those sixty I¡¯ll be paying, I will be. That¡¯ll at least save me one person¡¯s salary, and given that I¡¯m responsible for lighting the Sbaian fire in this court, and willing to take a leap of faith, I believe that is not so unreasonable.¡¯ ¡®And?¡¯ he added. ¡®I¡¯ll need you to trust me from here on out,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®You needn¡¯t think of me as a member of your council, and even though with my qualifications I could advise the Sultan, I wouldn¡¯t desire to be treated as such. However, for all of the selfless acts that I¡¯ve so generously undertaken in your name, extend me the loyalty that you extend to domestic tutors, staff members, and ambassadors.¡¯ ¡®We treat you with the amount of distrust you inspire, Lord Freyza,¡¯ Richard said, rolling his eyes as well in protest. ¡®Same as we do for anyone. Unfortunately between the incident of Queen Katherine¡¯s ill-fated poisoning by your hand and the eerie insistence on our favour, you inspire an amount of distrust I can hardly quantify. Be very pleased with yourself, that Lady Dorothy Abell is in your corner.¡¯ ¡®You mistrust any person who dares approach me,¡¯ Katherine said, leaning back in her chair. ¡®All of the men who have your favour, fear for their lives when they see me. That¡¯s the real distinguishing trait. I can assure you that the Duke has been nothing but gracious to me. In fact, how about you accompany the two of us to Port Bourrac when we leave for Ilworth? I¡¯ll be happy to share a carriage with the two of you if that means you finally get to bury an undue hatchet for once ¡ª for it is undue.¡¯ Richard and Freyza both crossed their arms as if they were vindicated children. Katherine knew that Richard was loyal to her, but did not feel any inclination to believe her arguments for Freyza¡¯s presence as he knew the truths just behind the falsehoods, and she equally knew that for Freyza, being in a small space with his least favourite courtier while his absence meant their union, was akin to being rejected altogether. And for each their own reasons, Richard and Freyza both found it necessary. ¡®If we absolutely must,¡¯ Richard said. Freyza raised his brows. ¡®What Lord Milden Cross said is how I see it as well. I will not cherish it, but I will likely cherish the result of this trial.¡¯ ¡®Good,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®We are an intelligent, result-oriented bunch here ¡ª most importantly we are a result-oriented bunch very attached to the result that is getting out of Souchon Palace before I tear out all of my hair. Let us plan, let us be fast while doing so, and let us begin to pack.¡¯ 45. The North Has Questions The night was set up to be joyous. A bard danced merrily between the tables, lute in hand, as the tales of chivalry, nobility and scandal filled the main hall of the estate. The stench of turkey legs brought in from the outside, sweetbread and sweat permeated the smokey air. Walter sat in a corner with a tepid cup of mulled wine from earlier that night, leaving it half-drunk not to rouse the interest of a servant offering him another, as the spices were too pungent and the wine too brutally intoxicant for a young man of his constitution. He barely recognised the main hall of House Gartham on its more festive nights, though there were multiple reasons for that. During the day, it was a solemn place that was sweltering in summer and frigid the other eleven months of the year, held together by the occasional stipend from the crown as the lord, Her Majesty¡¯s Lord Overleigh, earned a good living that he never fully spent on his own. The parties had become more solemn too, however, and Lettice had not been herself, as far as Walter could judge or learn from the servants he quickly befriended. Quickly after Walter had been taken in, there appeared to be a surge of interest in the humble court at which he stayed. The amount of courtiers multiplied overnight, all Norbury Lake and surrounding towns in terms of the accent they spoke, though there appeared to be more interest, too, that the islanders paid them. Gartham was suspiciously near to Otterdon Island and had long be considered, aside from the warm relations that Lord Overleigh had with the crown, to be a home away from home for conspirators and scoundrels of the Otterdon distinction. Every third coin Walter held, had Katherine¡¯s noble profile defaced. He saw Katherine out of Otterdon Island on the coins more than he saw Katherine of Courtenay of Ilworth and Otterdon Island. It should not have been surprising to him that he recognised a young man who sat down on the bench next to him, mulled wine hesitantly in his two hands, and that he smiled kindly. His face was long, with a pointed chin, and kind green eyes. Out of his head grew a thick layer of black hair, cut short, that shone like a pile on a particularly well-made velvet. ¡®Good evening,¡¯ he said with a humble nod. Walter was surprised still. Where had he seen his face before¡­? ¡®Good evening,¡¯ Walter echoed. ¡®I just arrived¡­¡¯ the man continued, and scraped his throat. ¡®It¡¯s true what they say about you, Sir Walter. You can be recognised out of a thousand straw-haired country youths.¡¯ Walter felt himself withdraw a little into himself from the overt compliment. ¡®Really?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Is that what they say about me?¡¯ ¡®Yes. That, and how Queen Katherine left you to rot,¡¯ he said just as casually as his previous remarks. ¡®How rude of me, I haven¡¯t even told you my name. I¡¯m Francis of Langley.¡¯ ¡®Prince of the North,¡¯ Walter finished, from years of memorising Grace of Langley, Princess of the North. ¡®Hugh Dacre sent me,¡¯ Francis said, ¡®The Duke of Far Water.¡¯ The humility with which he spoke was magnetic to Walter. He knew that Hugh was Duke of Far Water ¡ª everyone did, especially living so close to it. Francis could have introduced himself just with his first name and made it clear who he was. Even his face was a token of the resistance. Walter found himself staring at the prince as if he had never been in the same room as royalty before. ¡®Why, my lord?¡¯ Walter asked. Francis peered down his cup. ¡®I think both of us were damaged at the hand of the same woman, Walter. And for me, my people suffer every day. The queen has made it very clear that she does not intend to return the Otterdon Kingdom back to its dynasty. That would not be the end of the world, of course, but I can sense a thaw¡­ we are about to unearth the relics of the Otterdon spirit that we thought were forever frozen over¡­¡¯
Francis had reminded Walter of the smiling nobility and generosity that he had initially felt about Norbury Lake¡¯s camarilla. It was as if a piece of his heart had finally come home. The morning after they had met, Francis and Walter rode out onto the great plains from where the mountains of Otterdon Island were visible. Walter was tucked cosily into his roomiest doublet, with a gambeson beneath it just for warmth, and he wore his thickest knitted tights, that he had taken from Norbury Castle. Francis rode out from him all of a sudden, after they had made the whole trek side by side. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. His navy blue cloak flapped in the wind, and the coat of his dark horse had a deep and glossy shine. Walter realised that aside from the camaraderie that was already brewing between the two, a sort of reverence or awe began to creep in, that never really grew for the nobility in Norbury Lake. Though he had loved Katherine for her attention to him, for what she could give him, he began to doubt whether he found Katherine a noble spirit at all. This, before him now, galloping into the windy meadow: that was a noble spirit. He turned and gloated, waiting for Walter to come. ¡®Walter!¡¯ he hollered. ¡®Son of Gartham, companion of rulers, great martyr of the Courtenay regime! Look upon your great neighbours ¡ª their mountains just across the sea, the white sands, the ports.¡¯ Walter looked down and smiled as he came closer. He had an idea about why he was brought there but understood as well that he was endangering himself to spend time with this mysterious man. He knew Katherine before him, he was cast away long before there was a chance he would be chewed out. There was a possibility for answers within Francis that he could find almost nowhere else. Then, of course, was the matter of the delightfully radical politics of this man, that in the depths of Walter¡¯s ignorant loathing, he found attractive. The mountains were the first thing he saw when he looked back up: large, snowcapped, jagged, and most of all, these mountains were majestic. He sat awestruck astride his horse. ¡®I came here to ask you something rather important,¡¯ Francis said, his voice carried by the wind like a prophecy. His face was kind and calm and noble. ¡®Something for the beautiful island you see in the distance.¡¯ Only when Walter came closer did he realise that the mountains were not attached to the mainland, but were visible there from their position on Otterdon Island. ¡®Anything,¡¯ said Walter. Francis huffed and smiled. ¡®It¡¯s a fool¡¯s thing to say. Anything. I imagine that gets you in trouble with those who do not mean well. Luckily, my first and foremost calling is to do well. Anything that I get done aside from that, is merely a boon.¡¯ He chuckled from his own statement, then turned to the island again. ¡®Walter, I hardly know you. I had left Norbury Lake by the time you developed yourself into a prominent player there, and I¡¯ve hardly ever looked back on that short time. Why would I? I¡¯ve been suitor at a few more courts. In fact, under that pretence I might remain in Gartham as well.¡¯ ¡®Hm,¡¯ said Walter, ¡®Pretence? You¡¯re not looking to marry?¡¯ ¡®I am,¡¯ said Francis. ¡®Eventually, that is. I¡¯m not in a rush. Given my country¡¯s sordid reputation in Ilworth, I would be better off waiting a little for the tide to turn. But you caught me, Walter. I hope I¡¯m not treading into your waters. I am seeking the hand of Philippa of Courtenay. Considering that she is likelier to inherit the crown than many, I might have to settle for her sister Blanche. Either way, I consider it a good move to show my face in these parts.¡¯ ¡®Lord Overleigh¡¯s daughter,¡¯ said Walter. He looked up at the swirling clouds, deep in thought. ¡®You aren¡¯t treading into my water. I¡¯m but a country youth, or so they tell me. I have no business meddling with Princess Lettice¡¯s daughters. What were you meaning to ask of me, if you do not mind?¡¯ ¡®Speak to Lettice,¡¯ he said drily. ¡®I know that she trusts you, after the narrative that you stood by William until the end. Put in a good word for me. Really, it¡¯ll mean the world for me if I get my feet on the ground in this court. It¡¯s likely the last to invite me, and the nearest to me. Princess Lettice tolerates us ¡ª the Otterdons, I mean. I¡¯ve seen the coins, of course. The message inscribed upon them is of course not the kindest, and I personally find them rather crude, but to see them used¡­ it makes me feel at home somehow. We can build the movement from here. I said that the Duke of Far Water sent me. I would like, when I can confirm that it is safe for him to do so, to invite him over.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re building some sort of base here,¡¯ Walter said, absentmindedly looking at Francis¡¯ sharpening features. ¡®I thought you would be sympathetic to that,¡¯ he replied. ¡®I am,¡¯ said Walter. ¡®I just¡­ wouldn¡¯t have guessed before.¡¯ ¡®Will you help me, Walter?¡¯ he asked. ¡®It won¡¯t cause you trouble. Perhaps, down the line, I will be able to help you in return.¡¯ Walter chuckled awkwardly. ¡®How would you do that?¡¯ Francis awkwardly passed the length of his reins through his hands back and forth. ¡®I intend for the people of Otterdon Island to make me their king once we are free from this tyranny. It¡¯ll be easier with a prominent bride by my side, but either way the line of our old kings most notably leads to me. I am the eldest son, so was my father, and so forth. I will be king one day, Walter. Good things happen to men who befriend monarchs. I¡¯ll make you a duke.¡¯ The spell was lifted off of Walter. ¡®Bad things happen to men who befriend monarchs too, you know,¡¯ he said. ¡®You¡¯d be surprised. I¡¯ll think it over, Francis.¡¯ He turned in the high grass, and began to make his way back to Gartham. Francis waited before going after him. Walter¡¯s heart was beating in his chest, discordantly against the sound of the horse¡¯s hooves. He was older now than the first time such a promise had been made to him, he had been hurt by the previous attempts at turning him into a human shield. Everyone in power is of the same evil creed, he thought. Everyone who can smell power is the same as well. The price of power is paid by those complicit in its acquisition. 46. Sons of Monarchs Theo had a knot in his stomach when he was sent out into the thickly forested countryside to inform King Henri of the impending state visit to Ilworth. He had been sent, as always, by Her Highness, the Queen Mother, to Le Roumont, where the king was visiting Diane, who had just had her much-publicised first son. His name was to be Henri Fitzroy ¡ª Henri, son of the king, and so the king himself would not let the spectacle pass without showing his own face. Le Roumont was a bonafide borderland, not for its location today, but rather to its rocky history of capture and conquest, and the hostility of its history resounded in the landscape. The mountains dwarfed the little red carriage, blue-torched, as it made its way through the winding roads that connected Le Roumont to the rest of the known world. Its peaks were wrapped in snow and the trees were all pines, and though Theo had left with fair weather, at this altitude it was a bitter cold. The knot in his stomach had little to do with the location or even his quest to seek King Henri. Though Theo hailed from Sainte-Vallac, which was nearer to the Baradran seat of power Dos Lunas than it was to Souchon Palace, and therefore preferred the heat over the cold, part of his education had led him to exchange the slow life of the south with the treachery of the thick woods in the east of Massouron. It had not come naturally to him, but he had made the deep green colour of this particular abyss part of the palette he painted with. It had a different character altogether: since Louise abdicated, his primary duty was to advise Henri. His loyalty to Louise, being of a personal nature rather than a professional one, made him malleable to her. The shape he ended up in, the positions he was asked to take, were hardly the shapes and positions most favourable to Henri. There was always a chance he would figure Theo out, discontinue his position, or worse¡­ His arrival was anticipated by the steward and chamberlain, who received him in a clearing nearby the estate. They expressed their surprise at Theo arriving alone. Nonetheless, he was brought to the great hall, where only a fire awaited him. Theo stood uncomfortably in the middle of it, unsure of whether to take place at the table on the dais, or whether this would be unbecoming. Instead, he attempted to pass the time by looking at the tapestries on the wall that showed the historic battle that made Le Roumont into a name that everyone in Massouron and beyond knew. It was already beginning to turn yellow with age, the iron of the chainmail turning bronze and the horses¡¯ deep rosewood coats bleeding. A few footsteps caught his attention by the banisters. Henri had sauntered in, head to toe in royal purple, and wearing a cap. ¡®All alone?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Mother couldn¡¯t come?¡¯ Theo frowned. ¡®Had you been told Her Highness would come?¡¯ he asked. ¡®Your mother has business in Souchon, as she so often does.¡¯ Henri stood so high above him, pacing behind the banisters, that it was impossible for Theo to read the expression on his face, hidden by the shadows of the dimly lit estate. He peered down on Theo with some disdain likely stemming from impatience rather than any real animosity towards him. ¡®So?¡¯ he asked. ¡®What brings you, alone, to Le Roumont? Fear I¡¯d stay here to start my life anew as a backwater duke with the woman you don¡¯t want me to marry?¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s something more to it,¡¯ Theo began, shifting his weight from his toes to his heels and back again. ¡®Come summer, possibly the largest showcase of cultural exchange of this century shall be taking place. Sultan Selim, ruler of the Sbai Empire, will visit Ilworth. It appears to be a product of an alliance strengthened under our roof, my lord. While we have housed the Queen of Ilworth and Otterdon Island in order to strengthen the alliance that she has with us, it appears she has drawn the eye of those who could potentially be of great use to us. Instead, we have bet on the Baradrans ¡ª looking back, an unfortunate choice.¡¯ Henri shook his head in confusion. ¡®So? What is it you want from me? Let¡¯s use this as an opportunity to stop bitching about the marriage terms and get Katherine and I hitched already. Then it matters not whether it¡¯s myself or her who does the strengthening. What¡¯s good for gander will be good for goose. Good for her, Theo, I hope whoever is strengthening that alliance is making good use of her many talents.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not unlikely,¡¯ Theo said offhandedly and scoffed. ¡®We would like to have you present in Norbury Castle in order to make a fair impression on the imperial court. Of course, we will do the talking, it¡¯ll just appear strange to arrive there without a king. It appears you¡¯ll need to return with me today if you wish to make it in time, and learn a word of Sbaian. Your betrothed apparently can write whole letters in the language.¡¯ Finally, Henri answered Theo¡¯s silent prayers by descending the stairs. He stepped hurriedly an with his arms crossed, and Theo worried Henri may trip over himself. ¡®Listen,¡¯ Henri ordered, waving his index finger at him, ¡®I don¡¯t give a flying fuck about these goddamned sand eating heretics. Katherine can have them. Let¡¯s focus on what¡¯s actually important: just get us married and this whole ordeal will be over.¡¯ Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! The truth was that Theo also did not understand why that knot had been tied yet. It had lay with Louise and there the question still resided, unanswered, in that brooding way that Louise kept questions unanswered when the answer would not yet please anyone but herself. The truth was yet to land. There was no answer that Theo could give that was truthful. ¡®The terms are horrific,¡¯ Theo lied. ¡®All that matters to me is to leave this behind us,¡¯ Henri retorted. ¡®Besides, now we¡¯re even. She has a bastard she wishes to legitimise. I have a bastard I wish to legitimise. Now we are both beggars who cannot be choosers. Let us just share our coffers and that¡¯s that.¡¯ Theo scraped his throat and looked at the tiles. ¡®I was worried it would come to this,¡¯ he said. ¡®Your mother ordered you to come.¡¯ Henri was brought to stillness at once. ¡®Fine,¡¯ he said, his hands finding one another behind his back. ¡®If mother considers it wise, so it will be.¡¯
The two eldest sons of the Sultan, Murad and Mehmet, were difficult to distinguish even by their closest family, even if they did not share their mother. Their mothers were both Najan slaves, brought to the Sbai Empire by the previous Duke of Tougaf, whose reputation was even more glimmering than the reputation of his son Freyza would be some thirty years after Murad and Mehmet were born. This half-Najan descent gave both men fair blue eyes and a colour of hair that was such a pale shade of brown that it shimmered blond in the light. They were born close to one another and had grown up with one another as their primary playmate. Through their youth, the boys remained close but their personalities and roles diverged strongly in their adolescence. Whereas Murad was inquisitive, assertive, agile in battle, and quick-tongued, Mehmet had in him a spirit of great justice, compassion for the less fortunate and a surprisingly streak of unfeeling cold when it came to decision-making. Some said these differences could be explained by the day in May in which either boy was born. No matter the cause, it was obvious to the imperial court that one day, Mehmet would be slain in the succession of his brother, Murad. This appeared not to make an impression on either of them, as they were still inseparable even in adulthood, even if their father did indeed grow ever more fragile. Their role in the state visit was simple: to begin a diplomatic relationship with the Ilworthians now the thoughtful and calm Mehmet could still temper his fiery brother. The Ilworthians had been responsible for the arrival of palaces full of bronze and tin, after all, and losing the alliance so carefully curated by their father if he were to pass, would bring on the tedious affair of seeking it again. There was a subsidiary goal, at least for Murad. His father had long sung the praises of the Ilworthian queen, her precious handwriting, the constrained command of the Sbaian language with just enough flair to betray her Baradran heritage, the reported shade of her ginger hair, her small stature when compared to her siblings and father in the portrait painted of them together in her youth. Truth be told, Murad was more interested in the scandal behind it all. Either way, though it had been ill-advised, he wondered whether it could be his doing to solidify the new alliance with these strange, redheaded northerners, and turn it into the type of agreement that one can sign. When they left for the port, together as always, Mehmet was learning about the culture and customs of the people, and Murad cut wood into figurines. ¡®Did father tell you about the joust?¡¯ Mehmet asked all of a sudden, his leg bouncing nervously as his foot lay upon the opposite knee. ¡®Joust?¡¯ Murad asked. ¡®M-hm. A sport, or rather a type of tournament, that these people appear to enjoy. Two men, each on their respective horse, ride down an alley in opposite directions carrying a lance, and they both attempt to unseat one another. Freyza told me one of these tournaments is being prepared in our honour.¡¯ Murad clicked his tongue. ¡®Father¡¯s honour,¡¯ he said. Mehmet shrugged. ¡®Still ¡ª it appears to be the sort of thing that you enjoy.¡¯ ¡®Freyza of Tougaf would set himself on fire and fight a bear to the death for father¡¯s honour,¡¯ Murad said. ¡®It is not the least bit impressive to see a man grovel using whatever colourful customs he can muster up. From what I hear, he shall leave the Sbaian embassy as soon as a fitting position opens up in Ilworth.¡¯ Mehmet gazed knowingly at his brother. ¡®Well¡­ you may enjoy it for its own sake. And besides, if you wish to ingratiate yourself with the queen, and Lord Freyza takes a job there, wouldn¡¯t you be treating yourself to a life full of a man you despise?¡¯ ¡®Any sane man would have him exiled or killed,¡¯ said Murad bluntly. ¡®Why do you think he lives in Massouron these days? Father no longer wished for his presence as the Sword. Not that the man from Amouas was any better, but at least he had the dignity not to be sycophantic.¡¯ ¡®We are princes. Men with less fortune do not become immortal, mountain-moving figures without having to be sycophantic for something. If Lord Freyza wishes to grovel to grow the honour of our regime, are we not mad to judge him?¡¯ Impatiently, Murad looked out of the window and sighed. ¡®You may be right, but I find the fact that we are to treat these little kings and queens of countries the size of mere duchies, with any sort of respect, rather irritating. The fact that Lord Freyza treats them as such, to get them to host these sorts of things¡­ it boils my blood. They ought to know they are below us.¡¯ Now, Mehmet clicked his tongue. ¡®It¡¯ll irritate you too, that the sun sets on Ilworth far later than it sets on our empire. Calm yourself. We are invited to prove that we are a sophisticated people, not that we harbour great irritation ¡ª even if we perhaps do. Do you think the ambassadors think otherwise? Do you think Freyza does not consider himself at the same rank as the king and the queen of these fields of grass?¡¯ He sucked his teeth. ¡®If I had the choice of standing in the light of your wisdom, or remaining in the dark, I would pad my turban, so any confrontation with the wall that I would miss due to the darkness would be far less painful.¡¯ 47. A Lesson in Cultural Exchanges There was not much for Freyza to unpack in his temporary chancellery in Norbury Castle. Quills, ink, vellum, wax tablets, sealing wax, maps, charts, and hourglasses were all kindly provided by the advisers. It was the least they could do, Freyza thought, after the hellish carriage ride there, locked in a constant interrogation by Richard. Had he passed Richard¡¯s many trials? By that time, he was largely unsure what any of his prying questions had meant, or what they had to do with what Richard had assumed Freyza to know, be part of, or to be plotting. Bayezid and him had made their way there immediately upon arrival, given the great feast that had been promised to them would commence in a few hours, and Rima and Iskander joined the pair. Freyza was clearly on edge, tapping on the surface of his writing desk with his nails, eyeing his associates quickly and in rapid succession, and his posture slouching as it always did when he did not pay it any mind. It seemed not to concern him how he appeared. ¡®It could be tomorrow or the day thereafter,¡¯ he began, ¡®That they arrive. There¡¯ll be a joust, a feast, a potentially ill-advised soiree, after which we have been given the reins ¡ª or at least initiative ¡ª when it comes to any activities that they might find engaging. Bayezid, thoughts. Rima, notes. Iskander, tea.¡¯ Rima was the first to move, snatching the vellum on his desk to the side at which she sat, scooting closer and dipping the quill into a pot of ink she opened. Iskander stood up to the fireplace upon which a kettle had been placed. Bayezid simply sat in his chair with his arms crossed. ¡®A¡­ hunt?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I fear you should have brought an Ilworthian associate for this. Perhaps an afternoon in one of the universities?¡¯ ¡®Both could be good,¡¯ Freyza said. ¡®Perhaps we could visit a mine as well.¡¯ Bayezid looked lucidly at Freyza and nodded. ¡®Yes,¡¯ he said. ¡®A mine. This is some engaging country, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ ¡®Well, they could go up to the mountains in the north as well,¡¯ Freyza added, beginning to feel exasperated as he knew Bayezid was right. This country was dull for such prestigious and well-travelled men as the Sultan¡¯s ¡ª he knew from experience. ¡®Look, Bayezid, I know it¡¯s no Massouron or Baradran Kingdom, but let us set this straight. There will be plenty of theatre in Norbury Castle and when they make it to Stansby House in a week. Nobody will be bored. Besides, we are here to exchange culture and diplomacy ¡ª we are not seeking the next spot for the Sultan¡¯s newest palace. Whether it is pleasant, we do hope so, but it is not elementary to the cause. All we are asked to do is to shortlist a few activities that we, being Sbaians ourselves, would be enjoyable and inoffensive to our countrymen. A bit of initiative would be fantastic.¡¯ Iskander poured them all tea, starting with Freyza and ending with himself. All the while, Freyza¡¯s eyes were upon him. Amusingly, he could barely reach the kettle upon the hearth. ¡®If all else fails, you may humiliate me before the delegation. I know the Sultan has enjoyed that pastime before,¡¯ said Bayezid. ¡®Throw in a few cracks of a whip, Freyza, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have the King of Massouron amused as well.¡¯ ¡®Should I have left you in Massouron?¡¯ Freyza asked instead. ¡®Would that have been your preference, then?¡¯ Before Bayezid could answer, his mouth already opened in anticipation thereof, there was a knock at the door, followed by a soft opening of it. In its frame stood Katherine, still in the clothes that she travelled in: a loose gown of fine wool, with a collar in purple silk. Her hair was in braids crossed over her head but uncovered. ¡®Oh,¡¯ she said at first, when she saw the crowd of four rather than what she had likely expected ¡ª just Freyza. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect the whole delegation.¡¯ ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ said Freyza and stood up just to bow, rolling his shoulders back in order to return to his state of propriety. ¡®My apologies. We were just talking over the first few days of the state visit¡­¡¯ ¡®Great,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®Quite right¡­ well, I was wondering if I could have you to myself for a moment? I have some matters to discuss that are not fit to be heard by a secretary, a dwarf, and an exiled treasurer.¡¯ Bayezid looked over his shoulder to catch Katherine¡¯s attention, but it was firmly on Freyza, looking him up and down to where the desk cut off her view of his thighs. Freyza in Ilworthian clothes always amused her so, given his legs were just too long not to look like spider legs sticking out from pumpkin breeches. ¡®Your Majesty¡­¡¯ Freyza repeated, attempting some gravitas to counteract her playful tone, ¡®I will have you know this is likely the most important duty I will carry in my lifetime, and I am intent on delivering magnificent work. For that, I need time to myself and with my fellow countrymen. I please urge you to consider¡ª¡¯ Katherine simply shrugged. ¡®No, I think you¡¯ll have this gathering after the great feast tonight, when I¡¯ll have a gathering of my own. I do not believe our schedules will align much these coming days, and it is rather urgent. I won¡¯t say please but I will urge you.¡¯ She raised one eyebrow in joyful defiance. ¡®Or would it be above my station, somehow, to command you?¡¯ she added. Freyza huffed softly and narrowed his eyes. ¡®Well, you heard the Queen of Ilworth. Let us continue after dinner. It¡¯ll be good to have some time for initiatives. If you can, speak to a few courtiers.¡¯ One by one they stood up, and Katherine stepped into the chancellery when space began to open up for her. Freyza whistled Iskander back, at which Katherine rolled her eyes and sat in the chair where Bayezid had sat. ¡®I didn¡¯t mention the dwarf?¡¯ asked Katherine. Freyza chuckled as he sat back down as well. ¡®You don¡¯t want a cup of tea, then, Your Majesty? For it is he who makes you that, and not I.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve had quite enough to drink,¡¯ she said. ¡®He may go.¡¯ Iskander begged Freyza with his eyes, who signaled towards the door. ¡®You heard the lady,¡¯ said Freyza. Once the door shut again and the pair were alone, Freyza took a long sip from the cup before him and looked at Katherine. He loved her dishevelled. Though it was without a doubt the queen in her coronation dress that he had fallen in love with, perhaps even the princess in her portrait, time had introduced him to the messy, practical and frankly youthful woman behind the crown. It appeared that the intense shine of her public persona was not just the polished gold of her regalia: it shone through even the most stately of disguises, but it was very much her own. It was a dangerous situation to be in for a diplomat just seeking to reach the end of his list of tasks. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡®You look silly,¡¯ she said. ¡®It¡¯s the highlight of this trip so far.¡¯ He chuckled uncomfortably and brought his hands together. ¡®I am pleased to have caused you such joy even if it is at my expense.¡¯ Katherine grinned. ¡®You¡¯re very serious, though.¡¯ ¡®I am under great pressure.¡¯ ¡®Are you?¡¯ she asked. There was a type of irritation in her voice that made him wince. ¡®Did you tire of your fianc¨¦ and choose to seek me instead?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I really should be getting back to my tasks, Lady Katherine.¡¯ She sat back and exhaled sharply, amusement and playfulness dancing on her face. ¡®How are you taking to Ilworth, Freyza? Have you considered that this could have been your home after our get-together in Bourrac?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯d have done a poor job of advising you,¡¯ he said. ¡®Given I¡¯d likely be distracted most days. You have a way of stealing my time and attention rather well, and I take enough of a liking to you that I would find it worth it. Souchon Palace is my home today.¡¯ Freyza scraped his throat and demonstratively crossed his arms. ¡®Aside from this reminiscing, is there a reason for your exalted and honourable presence?¡¯ ¡®You act as though I¡¯ve offended you,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®Is that right? More importantly, is that right for the woman who invited you here? Is that right for the liege of this very nation?¡¯ He shook his head. ¡®Certainly not.¡¯ ¡®I am sick of Henri,¡¯ Katherine sighed at last. ¡®I was hoping for a little respite before the sultan arrives.¡¯ Freyza¡¯s mouth twitched upward. ¡®Sick of Henri,¡¯ he aped. It was a chamber in his mind that Freyza hardly allowed his thoughts to wander in: the union between the monarch was not inevitable. He had started to despise Henri more with each passing day, not just due to his proximity to Katherine. And yet, he could not begin to lose his formality ¡ª even he did not know what stopped him. ¡®What¡¯s on your mind?¡¯ Katherine asked when the fallen silence began to get on her nerves. Freyza blinked slowly. ¡®Sorry,¡¯ he said. ¡®I was wondering about what I wished to tell you about when the Sultan came.¡¯
The weather was unusually hot, the sky blue and the wind had reduced to a gently warming breeze. Katherine stood in the great hall which was aflutter with the last preparations both to the castle and to her person. As a servant painted her mouth, it was Freyza who came up to her. ¡®Glad I came upon you before the Sultan makes it here,¡¯ he began. ¡®I have a few pointers.¡¯ Her eyes swivelled towards him, and the moment that the tiny brush lifted off of her lips, she chuckled, ¡®Morning, Frey.¡¯ The smile on his mouth was one more formal and placid than any that he could have meant. ¡®Good morning, Your Majesty. May I have a word?¡¯ ¡®Make it quick,¡¯ she said dryly. Freyza¡¯s hands were awkwardly clasped behind his back. ¡®I have been informed that Prince Murad has decided he wishes to court you. Unless you are happy to be one of many, I would resist. Speak as little as possible ¡ª they assume you speak Sbaian. Keep Rima close if you can. Do not touch anyone. Do not let anyone touch you. That shall be all.¡¯ She chuckled and put her hand on his shoulder. ¡®I touch who I like,¡¯ she said. ¡®Clearly. And if Murad wants me, he shall have to bid. Whether I am one of many or the only one, I did not intend on marrying for love anyway. I was hoping for a bit of advice rather than a list of acts you forbid me. I hope you are aware: my power is in my ability to bend rules.¡¯ ¡®Certainly, but¡­¡¯ Freyza began. ¡®If I do not let my advisers rule me, why would I let you?¡¯ Freyza sighed. ¡®At least keep Rima by your side. She will interpret for you where necessary. You know you don¡¯t speak Sbaian to the extent you¡¯ve sold yourself at.¡¯ ¡®And whose fault is that?¡¯ Katherine asked. Yours, Freyza wished to say. He had been fully willing to teach her the language, were it not for the sprawling and intensive nature of their affair. Strange how little of that urgency of Souchon Palace¡¯s Wednesday afternoons had carried over to Ilworth. ¡®Let us not speak of this in public,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®I suppose this is wise,¡¯ said Katherine, and turned her head. ¡®I should head out.¡¯ Rima came with her: she had come with Freyza, dressed as aristocratically and properly as a lady-in-waiting was expected to be. Her hair was modestly covered with a heart-shaped bonnet as was the latest fashion, though Katherine had never taken to the style ¡ª for this occasion, somewhat misguidedly, she wore only a sheer veil over an intricate hairdo swollen with false braids and pearls. Harcourt caught up with her as she walked towards the door, and Freyza thought he would combust with frustration. If there was anything worse for Freyza than being second fiddle to Henri, it would be being second fiddle to Prince Murad. Then again, it appeared that rather than playing second fiddle at all, he played fiddle in a discordant orchestra composed solely of other violins. He wondered where he would stand when they arrived. The Ilworthians had not given him seating with the peerage, and to stand in the crowd with the minor nobles would be too humiliating if it meant that his former liege and peers were to see him like that. Instead, he thought to be invisible when they arrived, watching from his chancellery with Bayezid. At the banquet, they would make their way down again and greet the Sultan. Bayezid seemed even less excited than he was. In his hand he had already had his first unit of gin ¡ª they were in Ilworth after all, and Ilworth was gin country ¡ª and was leaning out of the window when Freyza arrived there. ¡®Talked to the lady?¡¯ he asked, only giving Freyza a short look as he entered. ¡®To no avail, of course,¡¯ Freyza replied as he took a seat opposite Bayezid, the window in between them. ¡®Sometimes I wonder what I do it for. She hardly ever listens and I catch myself being paralysed in her presence. Petrified by all I¡¯ve done to catch her eye and now unable to deliver on the promises I¡¯ve made to do so. If I¡¯m honest¡­ I catch myself beginning to grow unsettled knowing that she sees me as her favourite.¡¯ Bayezid blinked slowly. ¡®Rather than?¡¯ He huffed and shook his head with disdain. ¡®If I¡¯m a favourite, that would mean that without her crown, I would be nothing to her. Only monarchs keep favourites. And it¡¯s not having a favourite or being with a favourite, it¡¯s keeping one. I am not one to keep: certainly not upon a shelf with a dozen others. I wish I could have advised myself before this all happened. I wouldn¡¯t have left the Empire if I knew I¡¯d be sitting here with you in a ditch of my own digging, toiling night and day for a woman who so kindly repays me by keeping me in constant anguish.¡¯ ¡®Freyza¡­¡¯ Bayezid began. ¡®Do you hear yourself?¡¯ ¡®By definition, I do,¡¯ Freyza snapped. Bayezid sighed and shook his head, after which he took a sip of gin. ¡®Let¡¯s put it this way. If you feel that you are too good to be the queen¡¯s royal favourite because you want her all for yourself, it is about time you make a clean break from the arrangement. Walk away. The state visit will continue without you ¡ª and you won¡¯t be in self-proclaimed anguish anymore.¡¯ ¡®Preposterous. You know I couldn¡¯t leave,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®My life would be over.¡¯ Bayezid poured Freyza a goblet of gin and handed it to him. ¡®Then I suppose anguish it is. Cheers to that. The type of anguish that inspires envy in millions of men, and that nobody would ever wish to hear anyone complain about. That does include myself.¡¯ ¡®I should at least be seated with the advisers,¡¯ said Freyza. Bayezid peered out and scanned for familiar faces. ¡®Why?¡¯ he asked. ¡®I don¡¯t see any other lovers of hers sitting there.¡¯ Freyza felt himself being seduced to look out as well. There was no music playing yet to declare the arrival of their guests, and so he felt safe enough to look down upon them as well. Though Katherine stood below a canopy that had been erected upon some scaffolding, he could see the tail end of her train sticking out on the back of it. In the crowd, indeed he did not see any faces that had become known to him in his adventures of inadvertently becoming part of the inner circle of Souchon Palace¡¯s royal couple. ¡®I¡¯m basically an adviser,¡¯ snapped Freyza. ¡®Those aren¡¯t in the crowd for they stand with her.¡¯ Bayezid chuckled. ¡®You keep telling yourself that. It¡¯ll be hard enough to make it through this fortnight, Freyza, let us drop any of the pretence and instead enjoy the show for as far as we can. In many years, when we will be sour old men, you will likely wish for your anguish back.'' 48. Art of Translation By the time the banquet had commenced, Katherine had already formed her first impression of the Sbaians, which had been favourable. The pair of eldest princes Murad and Mehmet were handsome and polite, with sophisticated airs that made them quite a natural fit to sit at her table. On her right sat Mehmet, and on her left Rima, who had been instructed to become Katherine¡¯s shadow, and who made suspicious eye contact with Freyza, who sat with other important emissaries and diplomats, on numerous occasions throughout the feast. Wine was flowing, and much to Katheine¡¯s surprise, the Sbaians drank merrily. Katherine herself had no choice but to drink along, and by the time the roasts appeared, she had already dropped a utensil out of her hand twice out of sheer intoxicated lack of coordination. It was then, that the closed doors opened again with a low whoosh deserving of the weight of the wood they had been carved from, and let in the air that was cold and untainted by the fireplace that crackled and hissed despite the hot temperatures of the day. It was still Ilworth, and by night it could cool down to the degree of discomfort even in summer. In the doorframe stood a pair of short and stout people, one male and one female. ¡®The Archduke and Archduchess of Neuhausen!¡¯ Katherine immediately lit up with the announcement but contained her desire to shout out for her sister. Rima had her hand on Katherine¡¯s leg as if to tell her not to stand up, at least yet. Once they came into the light of the hall, eyes were firmly upon the archduke and archduchess. Eleanor, who looked rather a lot like Katherine, however had a particular loveliness that had escaped her elder sister, had golden blonde hair that caught the light beautifully and framed the fair yet lively complexion of her face perfectly. No matter in what light she stood, the delicate nature of her face made her appear straight out of her portraits. George, who was only half a head taller than the diminutive Eleanor, had always had something mysterious. Though he was rarely spoken of, this was more of a testament to his solipsism rather than the inability to produce anything interesting to say about him. He kept to himself, and from the pleased smiles nearly omnipresent on their faces, it seemed to work. They came towards the table set upon the dais and bowed softly. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ George said as he came back up. ¡®Lady Katherine,¡¯ Eleanor chimed in. Katherine chuckled happily and clapped her hands together. ¡®My lovely neighbours,¡¯ she said, ¡®Whom I see from two of my illustrious borders. More importantly, my cherished sister and the beloved Lord Marbury. Welcome to Norbury Lake again. I wish I could say that I had been expecting you.¡¯ Eleanor eyed her sister mischievously. ¡®Then we would have missed the element of delightful surprise, I am afraid.¡¯ Katherine smiled contentedly and briefly winked at her sister, whispered, ¡®We¡¯ll talk soon.¡¯ They made their way to their seats and Murad, sitting by Katherine¡¯s side, narrowed his eyes. ¡®Your Massouric prince?¡¯ he asked. Katherine shook her head, surprised that he had chosen to talk to her in Baradran after a few ill-received Sbaian phrases had been lost on her. ¡®No,¡¯ she replied, ¡®My sister and her husband. Rulers of Neuhausen.¡¯ He raised his brows. ¡®My apologies. I¡¯d always assumed Neuhausen to be an extension of Massouron.¡¯ She had brought the goblet to her lips again but lowered it with great amusement. ¡®If it is the extension of any state, Your Highness, it would be mine. You¡¯d be surprised how much we little kings and queens up north may fuss about such small units of land.¡¯ It amused Murad by the look in his eyes. Katherine had no doubt that she had made a great impression on him, and felt safe in this impression enduring that she chose to sat by his side, no matter how Freyza had protested when he heard of the plan. The sultan had excused himself for the earlier part of the night, perhaps in reaction. How he had heard, was still largely unclear¡­ ¡®You must manage a lot,¡¯ said Murad amusedly. ¡®Perhaps more than any other woman.¡¯ ¡®Do I look particularly burdened by it?¡¯ she asked. Murad let his eyes glide softly over her, pausing at her eyes briefly. ¡®Burdened? Not quite. But I would not be surprised to hear that you scheme. You appear to know your gifts rather well. You play into your supposed weaknesses ¡ª you call yourself a little queen despite knowing no queen greater than yourself. A lesser man would consider you toothless. I find myself at the foot of distrust.¡¯ ¡®I know of one queen greater than myself,¡¯ Katherine said immediately, ¡®That is, within my lifetime. I can name at least a half dozen greater queens this country alone has had in the past.¡¯ ¡®This is precisely what I mean,¡¯ said Murad. ¡®I¡¯ve learned from my brother that the less one barks, the harder one bites.¡¯ Katherine threw her head back and laughed. ¡®Dear Prince Murad,¡¯ she began. ¡®I bite and bark at random. I¡¯ve noticed that yields the best results. God forbid I may one day see an inheritance of the Sbaian seat of power, and God willing it will be you who shall be victorious, I would advise you err to the side of bark, and bite when you intuit it to be the right time.¡¯ Rima tapped her open palm against Katherine¡¯s leg. De-escalate. ¡®Hm. I suppose we¡¯ll have to write when that day comes, then, Your Majesty. Unless, of course, we keep in touch,¡¯ Murad said. Katherine had squeezed Rima¡¯s hand so tightly that she had no choice but to retrieve it from Katherine¡¯s side, all but yelping from the discomfort. ¡®I have no doubt in my mind that we¡¯ll be fast friends by that point. I¡¯ve noticed in my past dealings with rulers that the foot of distrust, as you¡¯ve so elegantly said, is great ground for an enduring alliance.¡¯ Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Though she was drunkenly enthralled with the power bestowed upon her by Murad, she saw over his shoulder that Freyza slipped through the cracks of the door on his way out, and she found herself scowl. ¡®What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ asked Murad, noticing the change in her expression. Katherine straightened her mouth and softened her eyes. ¡®Some men really insist on expressing their displeasure in the most irritating of ways, Prince Murad.¡¯
The first thing that Katherine did when she settled into her chambers for the night was to dismiss Rima and call for Eleanor, who had come by the time a servant had collected a bottle of gin. So far, she did not wish to be dressed in her robes, or for her hair to be brushed, no matter how small the hour was, or how odd she must have looked in her Sunday best sitting drunkenly on her chaise, her shoes discarded yet. Eleanor seemed in far better shape, looking far more rested than her elder sister did, and sat down opposite her. ¡®Where¡¯s the Massouric court, actually?¡¯ she asked. ¡®I just noticed I haven¡¯t seen your betrothed yet.¡¯ Katherine had not looked up while Eleanor spoke, instead transfixed by the clear liquid in the goblet in her hands. ¡®Don¡¯t call Henri that. I¡¯ve been having doubts. They will arrive in a few days ¡ª we are meaning to get as much time without them in order to sway the opinion of as many fixtures of Sbaian court.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ said Eleanor. ¡®Well, I¡¯ve told you before what I thought. Henri is a cur.¡¯ ¡®A cur with a new bastard son from a whore I cannot stand,¡¯ Katherine added. ¡®Whom they shall legitimise may I ever become a problem to them. Besides¡­ you¡¯ve seen who was sat beside me, Ellie. Purely based on face, I¡¯d say Murad is a better choice than Henri. I had been warned that he would be handsome, but the young man is charming as well.¡¯ ¡®Did you not have a Sbaian lover already?¡¯ Eleanor chuckled. ¡®I¡¯m struggling to keep up with your whims.¡¯ ¡®Did you not see him leave halfway through? He¡¯s a jealous man with far too little prestige to be so jealous,¡¯ Katherine spat. ¡®He wished for me not to be seated next to any of the princes lest they may become too smitten with me. What else did they come here for? I¡¯ve not made a single alliance based on any other factor.¡¯ ¡®You sell yourself short ¡ª your Sbaian lover has a point,¡¯ said Eleanor. ¡®I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve had the honour of meeting, but in my mind, from your tales, he has become quite the voice of reason.¡¯ Katherine had withdrawn her legs from the side of the chaise in order to hold them, her skirt baring her stocked calves and feet. Even those stockings appeared to be made in a far, foreign land, based on their refinement and the sheen of the fibre that had been used to make them. Eleanor thought that there was nothing she wore but her signet rings, that was stil Ilworthian. ¡®He left,¡¯ she said. ¡®He told his secretary to keep me out of trouble and he left. God knows what he¡¯s doing. You cannot be the voice of reason and leave at the same time. In that case, you are the absent voice of reason. The silence of reason.¡¯ ¡®Silence of reason is still better than the voice of madness,¡¯ said Eleanor. ¡®With which you mean Henri? Ellie, I¡¯d love to marry for love, and I¡¯m happy that somehow you¡¯ve grown to love the man promised to you since your childhood, but like you said, you struggle to keep up with my whims. I think anyone would. At least Henri relates, and we can both go our merry ways, if he is who I decide will be worthy of my hand. I do not know whether that will be the case.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll have to talk to him,¡¯ Eleanor decided, her heels clicking on the ground. ¡®No, you will not,¡¯ Katherine ordered. At this point, Katherine was beginning to flush through the painted veil on her face, which now appeared blotchy and sickly from the redness beneath. Her rouged lips were looking chapped and crackled. Her hair was a frizzy mess. Eleanor struggled to see her sister like this, this buttress of majesty and grace in an intoxicated and irritated state within which such mortal and trivial matters mattered to her. ¡®You¡¯ll just live your life like this?¡¯ Eleanor asked instead. ¡®I come here to speak with you like sisters, like confidantes, and though you struggle not to bring up your Sbaian beau, you then entirely discredit your own feelings. You reduce yourself to a fool. When you deny yourself what you want, you are not the master of it. When you let yourself only indulge in a fraction, it may only keep you sated a short while. You need to stop seeking out favourites if you wish to not appear to me a blubbering mess.¡¯ Eleanor¡¯s gaze was uncharacteristically sharp. Katherine cradled the goblet in her hands, wiped the rim of the red paint left by her mouth, and peered down the liquid abyss with the same conviction she had peered down the window at Bourrac House. ¡®Freyza is the only man who I am positive would rather leave me than remain,¡¯ she said finally. ¡®I have no grasp on him. He is immune to me. Having any sort of expectations of him will surely result in the demise of my belief that I am indeed this mythical queen. I¡¯d rather waste my life on those who appease me than have my heart ripped from my chest once.¡¯ ¡®Had he not taken you into the mountains for a surprise?¡¯ Eleanor asked. ¡®Has he not made ample time for you thereafter?¡¯ Katherine lifted a hand to her face and wiped the beginnings of tears from under her eyes. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I am but a tool to him,¡¯ she said. ¡®He¡¯s ambitious and serious and diplomatic. He¡¯s half a scholar and half a lawmaker. Most men are lucky to see even a glimpse of me ¡ª he has now accustomed himself to my throwing myself at him. I am trapped. What he has done in my name and to strengthen my reign, I can never repay him. Yet, I¡¯ve come to understand that it not only benefits me. His glory is great: far too great ever to waste on becoming a royal favourite to a whore queen who keeps many. He told me once that hard work is never wasted. Though I thought it was silly at the time, I¡¯ve come to realise that indeed it is not.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ said Eleanor, blinking limply. ¡®Much appears to have changed, then.¡¯ ¡®How so?¡¯ Eleanor wiggled her white brows and sat back, appearing rather smug. ¡®The last time we spoke about this, you were worried about the intensity and the seriousness of his feelings. Now that is the very thing that you seem to crave.¡¯ ¡®Not true,¡¯ Katherine bit. ¡®I am looking to be continually entertained, that is all. I do not allow foolish uncertainty and that is all. He has put me in a sour mood by leaving, and it has cast a light on the fact that not a single interaction this past time has gone my way at all. It¡¯s all work, work, work with him. Doesn¡¯t he understand? I make fate by speaking it. You can work as hard as you want but if I will you into power, into power is where you are cast. Talk about barking up the wrong tree¡­¡¯ When she was finished, Katherine made an observation that deeply severed her ties to her own words. She heard Louise in her words. Both women willed their favoured courtiers into power with no regard for the lives of others. Dismissal of her favours was perhaps the noblest thing one could do. Eleanor grinned. ¡®I understand. A bit of a conundrum, I think. I suppose there is nothing to be gained by talking it out, is there?¡¯ Without grasping even a fraction of the irony in Eleanor¡¯s voice, Katherine shook her head. ¡®All there is to be done is to try to continue getting my way and denying him his way. There is no compromise to be made. We should head to bed.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not a bad idea,¡¯ said Eleanor. ¡®What¡¯s on the itinerary tomorrow?¡¯ ¡®God,¡¯ Katherine sighed. ¡®A joust, a hunt. Lots of time spent in musty halls talking to an aged pervert and his nearest and dearest, despite the fair weather. The day after, Henri and his cohort will come. By that point, I should have already made an impression on these sand-eaters, considering I do not particularly cherish the idea they¡¯ll have of me when they realise Henri and I are still technically to wed.¡¯ Both women stood up, and Eleanor amicably put an arm around her sister. ¡®I¡¯m sure that you, of anyone, will be able to shine your light upon anyone so brightly that it blinds them.¡¯ ¡®For better or for worse,¡¯ said Katherine. 49. Man of the Hour Much to the annoyance of the elders, advisers and negotiators, King Henri¡¯s arrival, alongside his many favourites, mistresses, rowdy friends both of no and some distinction, was celebrated among the younger crowd and appropriately heralded with a ball. Surely, though Katherine had been advised against any more Ilworthian or Massouric celebrations where the ale flowed freely and one danced with all, she had taken quite the liking to a number of Sbaians, none of whom seemed too differently from their Occidental counterpart. In fact, when she informed Murad in person, he seemed thrilled. The ambiance was abuzz with excitement that was so contagious that even Freyza initially did not protest, even accepting his invitation tentatively. It was only when he sat with it through a meeting he had with the Ilworthian treasurers, that he began to feel as if Katherine had made a grave mistake. Her budding friendship with Prince Murad ¡ª knowing intimately how a friendship with Katherine could turn ¡ª had already irritated him greatly. Any friendship or alliance with one of these princes would have been more likely to result in a pleasant, if short dealing. Murad, Freyza expected, would inherit. Therefore, anything that Katherine did was a permanent scar between the Sbaian-Ilworthian alliance for likely her whole reign. Given his own displeasure with dealing with her lately, he worried that Murad would be far less impressed with her eventual coldness. Despite his reluctance to see her again, which was a reluctance that oscillated between pride and secret nervousness, he decided to seek her out before the fact. When he thought she would be free from the hustle and bustle of her day, he sought her cabinet. The door was open, and hesitantly he stepped in, knocking the heavy door on his way. Instead of a desk, Katherine¡¯s cabinet had a large, oval table with eight chairs tightly at its side, save for one which was pushed out. Upon the table, which was meticulously lacquered to reflect the glorious portraits of Katherine¡¯s ancestors on the wall, stood a number of sundry items like a sundial, a bottle of wine, and some tome that Freyza thought that it could have been a Bible. When he scanned the faces on the walls upon his way in, there was one by the fireplace staring back at him. She looked like Katherine but was not her. ¡®My apologies,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®I must be in the wrong place.¡¯ ¡®Wait, wait,¡¯ she said hurriedly and wiped her charcoal-stained hands on the fine wool of her dress. ¡®You don¡¯t happen to be the Duke of Tougaf, do you?¡¯ Freyza felt himself tense up. ¡®I¡ª It¡¯s a title I go by only incidentally and generally just for my countrymen,¡¯ he said. ¡®Is there anything awry, my lady?¡¯ She chuckled with the same dancing lilt as he had come to expect of her queenly likeness. ¡®Katherine¡¯s on her way,¡¯ she said. ¡®The spymaster called her to council just now. She and I were talking¡­ and how rude of me not to introduce myself! I¡¯m Eleanor, Archduchess of Neuhausen.¡¯ ¡®That explains your Courtenay look,¡¯ Freyza said and bowed, perhaps lower than he should have. ¡®More specifically, your Courtenay-and-Ginefort look. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Eleanor. You may have referred to me as the Duke of Tougaf, but Freyza is fine. Lord Freyza here, Master Freyza in the south, during this time of great cultural exploration you may choose.¡¯ They both laughed and Eleanor¡¯s hands disappeared behind her back, her blue eyes remaining still on Freyza¡¯s. ¡®Hm,¡¯ she hummed. ¡®I almost daren¡¯t ask¡­ I fear Freyza may be a common name from where you hail and I¡¯ve got the wrong man before me.¡¯ It was as if he already knew what she would say, and yet Freyza felt trapped into acquiescing, ¡®Not at all, my lady. I am the Sbaian ambassador of Massouron, if that helps you at all.¡¯ ¡®Then are you the royal favourite Freyza I¡¯ve heard so much about?¡¯ she asked, quickly after his reply. Freyza reeled. Her sharpness was uneasily dissimilar to her sister¡¯s languid way of speaking. ¡®Lady Eleanor, you are purported to be a brilliant diplomat and the shining sun that the court of Zuyleburg revolves around. Yet, you indulge in a little gossip. I find it worrying that my name now appears to roll off the tongues of so many so easily, just because I was strongly drawn to a bond with¡ª¡¯ ¡®No need to hide behind pleasantries,¡¯ Eleanor cut again. Pleasantries was about the last thing Freyza considered his ill-fated attempt to disguise himself to be. ¡®I fear I¡¯ve come off wrong,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®What you hear to be pleasantries, Lady Eleanor, are truthful statements.¡¯ ¡®Well,¡¯ she said, her gaze finding an empty corner of the cabinet, ¡®I believe that, were you to insist to Lady Katherine herself that you weren¡¯t a royal favourite, you would likely be shown the door. You are aware of that, right?¡¯ Freyza nodded. ¡®Why do you tell me this?¡¯ he wondered. ¡®I am aware of my own predicament.¡¯ ¡®Katherine and I talk about you on occasion,¡¯ she said. ¡®I find the stories of you rather endearing. See, I love my sister. We both want the best for one another, and we¡¯re awful close despite the border between us. Despite our differences, as well ¡ª we could not be any more different in temperament. You appear to be well-mannered, wise, courteous. I know that she finds you very charming and dare I say it, quite handsome. I¡¯d be a fool not to intervene if I worry about this situation going somewhere tainted. If you remain in my good graces, I¡¯d be willing to put in a good word for you, honestly.¡¯ Freyza felt himself beginning to smile. He was unsure, still, if he had found himself an alliance in the queen¡¯s younger sister, though the sharpness of her wit made her appear far older than Katherine, whose unrestrained demeanour gave her a youthful aspect. Even though the uncertainty he felt in her proposition was palpable, he knew he had been on the spot by her. ¡®I wonder what you mean by that,¡¯ Freyza said facetiously. ¡®First of all, my Sbaian friend, I think it¡¯d give you a clue if I told you that I find King Henri one of the few mistakes that God has ever made,¡¯ she said. ¡®On par with lice.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve heard many others complain,¡¯ said Freyza. Before he could continue, Eleanor¡¯s eyes glazed over and looked past Freyza into the direction of the doorframe, then began to smile. ¡®You¡¯re not stealing my ambassador, are you?¡¯ sounded Katherine from the hallway. She entered and Freyza turned towards her, though some resistance followed since he was still reluctant to be seen by her. ¡®She was doing nothing of the sort,¡¯ said Freyza. ¡®It was you I was looking for, Lady Katherine.¡¯ Upon hearing that, she swaggered in and slid between the space that was left between the back of the chair and the table. ¡®Ellie, could you give us a moment?¡¯ Eleanor narrowed her eyes at Freyza as if to mean to tell him, This is your moment! Though, in protest, Freyza said: ¡®No need for more secrecy than absolutely necessary. I¡¯ve found that your sister, Lady Katherine, is rather agreeable.¡¯ ¡®Most of your colleagues are too blinded by her beauty to comment on her character,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®My business is beauty, as you know. I¡¯m not easily blinded by it,¡¯ he said. ¡®Beauty gets a woman far when she is of a certain status, though when not paired with wit and charm, is only a good way to heighten the fall that she will inevitably make. Such is the price of beauty ¡ª it can be a very costly power.¡¯ Katherine seemed not so impressed by his monologue, leaning on her fist with her chin. ¡®You talk with the speed and voraciousness that I worry that you are just postponing telling me something uncomfortable.¡¯ Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡®I am,¡¯ he admitted, realising that Eleanor¡¯s words had rattled him more than he had let on initially, ¡®When you celebrate King Henri¡¯s arrival tonight, I beg of you to ask his many scoundrels to behave, and to keep much of the wine corked. I worry for your reputation. Ilworth is regarded as a barbarian state to begin with, let us indulge them in the finer aspects of your culture.¡¯ ¡®It is not a matter of fine or crude culture,¡¯ protested Katherine, ¡®Sbaians cannot hold their drinks. It is not my fault that they indulge in them regardless.¡¯ ¡®They¡¯re really not supposed to,¡¯ said Freyza, shuffling with his feet awkwardly. ¡®We should not give them reasons to do it.¡¯ Katherine tapped the table with her nails. ¡®Freyza, just¡­ a small little thing. I¡¯d like to have a little fun before I return to the warm embrace of my hostess the Lady Louise, and the reality that my betrothed is about to legitimise his child with another woman. Do not stand in the way of that, for it is my priority, and you will not win. I¡¯d like to see you alone at a short notice. Organise that with the administrator.¡¯ Before he could reply, Katherine stood up again and paced out, this time through the other door, which led to her private apartments. The door locked after her. Freyza sighed and again found Eleanor. ¡®I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡¯ said Eleanor. ¡®Incorrigible. You like a challenge, I assume?¡¯ Freyza hummed thoughtfully. ¡®I consider myself one of the few capable of taking on the challenges that I take on.¡¯ Eleanor laughed and snorted. ¡®That¡¯s a great line.¡¯
When night fell, there appeared to be no change in the itinerary, and the glittering chaos of fireworks filled the sky when Henri entered the open-air ballroom, breathing steam like a dragon in the cooling air. He was one of the last guests to arrive, favouring the dramatic effect that came with arriving when everyone had already settled in. The neat hedgerows and the fountains had become the backdrop, illuminated by countless lanterns and torches meant to give the party a shimmering and sophisticated atmosphere. The bowers were threaded with silk of a pale blue hue that flapped in the breeze. There was a large orchestra raised upon scaffolding that played the more delicate tunes as they were composed by Massouric and Ilworthian nobility, and there was tentative dancing on the boards that were placed upon the grass. Above the dance floor, a false sky punctured by star-shaped holes kept the guests from the worst of the pitter-pattering rain that was certainly not invited. Above all of those invited, was of course the Sultan, who had chosen to attend, and favoured a place by the castle, where a tent had been erected and clad in the finest furniture, supplied with sophisticated food and drink, and where Sbaian music sounded. Unlike what most assumed of Henri, it was there where he went first. Katherine caught up with him as he swaggered into the tent and bowed, gold chains dangling from his neck. She noticed a few familiar faces, like the princes and Bayezid, but quickly let the distraction of those familiar faces go in favour of Henri. ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ he said, with the poise of a young king rather than a brash crown prince. Selim, who had been seated for most of the evening so far, smiled and restlessly shuffled in his chair. Selim had been far shorter than his grandiose letters had let on, or than the myth of him made him appear. He had a swarthy aspect and a full head of white hair, most of which was routinely hidden beneath an opulently padded turban. His beard, which still had streaks of brown among the grey, was long and pointed, a style which was imitated by Murad and some of the sultan¡¯s nearest. All of a sudden, he stood up, half a head shorter than Henri. Though he did not now, he nodded his head sharply and offered Henri his hand. ¡®King of Massouron,¡¯ he said, ¡®Soon of Ilworth, no?¡¯ Henri chuckled and took Selim¡¯s hand, looking over his shoulder at Katherine briefly to check just how bold he could be. ¡®Put in a good word for me, sire, and you may be correct,¡¯ he said. Selim amicably tapped his shoulder. ¡®Good to meet you after all. I¡¯ve heard much of you.¡¯ ¡®I hope nothing unbecoming,¡¯ said Henri. ¡®It is an honour to make your acquaintance.¡¯ When Henri turned to her again, Katherine noticed that there was some strange jealousy that came over her. Though Selim had showered her in gifts, they had not shared a handshake or even a candid word about anything to do with her reign. He had never told her, Queen of Ilworth, soon of Massouron. ¡®Henri,¡¯ said Katherine when their conversation wound down. ¡®You haven¡¯t spoken to me since you arrived.¡¯ Henri walked over to her, smugly as a man who just shook hands with the most powerful man in the known world. ¡®You approach based on the hierarchy. You were next, I promise.¡¯ ¡®Who taught you that?¡¯ asked Katherine. He looked around at the Sbaian emissaries, then nodded his head at Freyza, who was listening to Prince Mehmet just out of their earshot, surely feigning interest in one of Mehmet¡¯s now-famous tangents. ¡®We made a deal,¡¯ said Henri. ¡®I¡¯m supposed to make a good impression.¡¯ Initially, she did not realise why that infuriated her. Henri making a good impression on the sultan was one of the most slippery yet most important variables in the whole visit. Henri was about as easy to persuade as a cannonball which had just been loosed. Yet, when they were to marry, his reputation would be hers, and it would reflect poorly if the Sbaians thought of them as the great barbarian couple of the north. Then, she recognised the root of her feeling. She was not one entity with Henri, his behaviour did not reflect well off of her ¡ª in her mind, she had shelved the possibility of their marriage. That left him simply as her competition for the admiration of the sultan. ¡®Good,¡¯ she said, now horrified at her own subconscious thoughts that she had dug from the base of her skull upwards to the forefront of her mind. ¡®Shall we dance?¡¯ Henri nodded softly. ¡®I¡¯ve yet to greet some princes,¡¯ he said. ¡®The deal¡­ remember? Save some mead for me, if you will.¡¯ Then there was the matter of Freyza. How she wished that it was not Henri who had sought out before the feast, but herself. With each passing thought, she felt herself turn madder. ¡®Fine,¡¯ she said, more bluntly than she intended. ¡®I understand you couldn¡¯t have arrived three days earlier to greet them alongside myself. You must have them to yourself. I understand.¡¯ He clicked his tongue, but by the time he wished to rebut, she had already turned away. In fact, she had turned to Murad himself, who she was certain would be next on the list of his illustrious greetings as somehow orchestrated by Freyza. Murad was outside, observing the festivities from a distance that appeared safe. ¡®You¡¯re not into dancing?¡¯ asked Katherine, waddling out of the tent. Murad looked to his side, where she stood, and shook his head. ¡®I¡¯m far too afraid of standing on some poor woman¡¯s toes ¡ª besides, they¡¯ll speak poorly of me if I indulge in anything you lot entertain. With all due respect, Your Highness.¡¯ Though she had let it slide a couple of times before, Katherine¡¯s patience had been shorn. ¡®I wish not to come across poorly, Prince Murad, but I am to be referred to as Your Majesty, or if we were on Otterdon Island, Your Grace.¡¯ ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯ corrected Murad. ¡®I really do not mean this with any ill intent, I hope you understand. Entertaining song and dance is a fine way to live, but it is not ours.¡¯ Katherine eyed him mischievously. ¡®I¡¯m well aware of your customs. I thought you, being the more bushy-tailed of the delegation, would be tempted. You haven¡¯t had even a sip of something difficult to acquire since you arrived here?¡¯ Murad amusedly shook his head. ¡®I fear father will see me incapacitated and lose all faith in my ability to carry his great legacy.¡¯ ¡®My father sent me to a convent when I was seventeen years old,¡¯ said Katherine. ¡®Somehow the faith recovered. Or rather, though I had long assumed my succession to be a mistake, it seemed to be by design.¡¯ ¡®It is considered a myth,¡¯ Murad began, ¡®That you are the sole red-haired child of your father. Supposed to signify your ties to the Baradrans, I suppose. I always thought it was an exaggeration but the truth has a mysterious way of being greater than the myth. You have the face of the women we know from back home.¡¯ ¡®The enslaved women?¡¯ asked Katherine. He was hesitant at first, but then nodded. ¡®We are not supposed to bring it up, but knowing that your teacher of the Sbaian tongue is Master Freyza, I think it is safe to say you are comfortable with some level of knowledge about this fact of our culture.¡¯ ¡®Freyza speaks little of this,¡¯ said Katherine, following the dancers in their volta with her eyes, ¡®And that is what I prefer. I imagine it is incredibly suggestive to you that this country is ruled by an odalisque-shaped and odalisque-coloured woman, but the country is not ruled by an odalisque. It is ruled by God and His direct choice of monarch.¡¯ Henri exited the tent as well, his hands modestly tacked together at his back. Just as he noticed Murad, the latter sighed and said, ¡®Master Freyza speaks little of this to you, perhaps. We speak of far different things. For example, we speak of the fact that I¡¯ve grown rather fond of Your Majesty. I asked him if there would be any possibility that I could extend you a portrait of mine and he seems not to have brought that knowledge to you. Has he?¡¯ ¡®Prince Murad?¡¯ asked Henri. He smiled. ¡®King Henri, I take it?¡¯ he asked. Henri bowed, but having heard Murad, struggled to keep the placid smile. ¡®It is an honour to make your acquaintance, though it would be preferable if Your Highness kept from any undue offers towards my betrothed.¡¯ Murad looked him up and down and shrugged. ¡®I do not answer to little kings. Return to me with a broken stick or a thrown gauntlet, and let our swords speak for us.¡¯ ¡®As you wish,¡¯ said Henri, and left, not to be seen again for the entire evening.