Ascendant

by Florian Armas

  “You are tense,” she said. “Tell me.”

  “I failed to free Saliné,” he sighed. “And I don’t know when another opportunity will arise.”

  “Tell me,” she insisted, and Codrin recalled the whole story, even though it pained him. “You must free Vio, then Saliné will follow you through the tunnel.” Her hands move back and forth on his shoulders and nape until she felt him become less tense.

  “It may be more difficult to use the tunnel again. Ferd wrote me that Aron learned about my visit, but he thinks that I met a man. The tunnel is now guarded.”

  “After a while, they will forget.”

  “Maybe. But she may soon be married and with child.”

  “Codrin, as I know you, it does not matter if she is with child. You will take them both. It’s not her fault if she is forced to marry. Free her, and you will be together. That’s the only thing that counts.”

  He nodded, biting his lip. “In three days, I will leave for Arad to look for Vio. I may be more luckier there, then Saliné... You wanted to talk.”

  “Yes,” she sighed. “I have wonderful news, but it may upset you.” She leaned against the table in front of Codrin, and placed her hands on his shoulders, her large black eyes locked on his. They offered such a strong contrast against her fair skin.

  Why would something wonderful for you upset me?” His right hand covered hers, and he looked up, intrigued, trying to read her face. She looked happy, but some shadow seemed to loom behind her eyes.

  “Fate blessed me, and I am with child. Somehow, my body had recovered after all those years of pain spent with my husband, and... I did not expect it, but I am happy. I feel like a normal woman again, and it’s only because you freed me and helped me to have a new life. Thank you.”

  Eyes half closed, Codrin tried to think and, caught in his inner struggle, he did not realize the tension in Mara’s body and her stare, fixed on him. Saliné’s beautiful face came into his mind. Saliné was not meant for me. Fate. Trying to control his weakness, he calmed his breath just before releasing a sigh. I like Mara, and she is a wonderful woman, one that I could love. “That was wonderful news indeed, and I am glad, for both of us.” When he spoke, nothing of his inner struggle transferred into his voice. He kissed her hand and, taking her waist with his free arm, he pulled her onto his lap. It was a gentle move. She should not think that I will marry her just because of the pregnancy.

  Mara did not resist him, if only from pure instinct, and her arm went around his neck. Their eyes locked, and a flash of their first and last night together came to her. Codrin’s reaction when she sneaked into his bed had amused her, biting into her inner tension. But now I am pregnant. She leaned against him, feeling comfortable in his arms. At that time, I was sure that I couldn’t have children.

  There were a few moments of hesitation in Codrin, a part of him fighting against his will. I am a man of honor. He pulled her even closer, and his lips covered hers, pressing gently until she answered him. “You will make wonderful children,” he said when they pulled apart, “and I am happy to be with a woman like you.”

  He wants to marry me. Mara’s eyes strayed away from him, and her hand moved gently through his hair. I would have liked it, but he needs a younger woman. We already agreed on that. Why did I have to marry a monster instead of having a man like Codrin? Fate... Now he needs to forget about Severin. He was not himself today. At least, I can help him to overcome this, she thought and laced her arms around his neck, kissing him. This time, they did not stop, and passion passed through their veins while their hands searched for each other.

  His fingers glided along the edge of her chemise, gently pulling it back to expose her warm skin. It didn’t take long for his hand to unbutton the upper part and slip inside. Mara stood up, and he pulled her between his knees. She helped his uneasy hands to undress her further, his keen eyes searching her body, absorbing it; last time when they were so close, it was fully dark. A mellow light flickered from the candles, enhancing their feeling of intimacy.

  “You seem less scared this time, but still... Don’t worry, I am already pregnant,” she laughed, her black eyes squinting in the low light.

  “When we were in Orhei, was it so obvious that it was my first time?” he laughed too, standing up. He lifted Mara in his arms, and walked toward the bedroom.

  “How should I know? It was my first time too. Being raped by a monster doesn’t count as making love.”

  He waited until she pushed the blanket away, and laid her in the bed, the trembling light of the candle playing on her body. “You are beautiful.” His hand touched her knee, then moved slowly, as if afraid of losing something important on its way up, then he leaned his head over her belly which, naked, showed some incipient signs of pregnancy. “You are so warm.” He stood up to undress himself while she moved to make place for him.

  “Make me feel even warmer,” she whispered when he came closer.

  His hands and lips went to explore her, and they got lost, lips against lips, body against body, rhythm against rhythm. At the end, they stayed entwined, her head on his shoulder, until their breaths and hearts slowed down.

  “Once we arrive in Poenari, we will marry,” Codrin said, his hand caressing her hair.

  “We already agreed that we won’t marry.”

  “Mara, it must be done, and I want you. You know it.”

  “We like each other,” she raised her head and pressed a finger onto his lips, then rolled over him, her breasts pressing on his chest, “but nothing will change my mind on that. I will always stand behind you, but I will never marry you. If you are lucky, you will marry Saliné; if not, another girl who can expand your power. I am too old for someone of your age. Never make a woman repeat that. For people of your rank, marriage is mostly a political thing. You need a Seigneur’s or even a Duke’s daughter, but my intuition is that you will be lucky, and Saliné will be your bride.”

  “Mara, I take full responsibility,” he said, moving his hand gently through her hair, “and we will marry...”

  She pressed her lips on his, and he responded. It was a brief thing, as she had planned it.

  “I am expecting that you will take responsibility for the child, but nothing else. Now that we are both agreed that we will not marry, let’s talk about our relocation to Poenari,” she said, disengaging from him.

  “Mara...”

  Her palm swiftly covered his mouth. “Please don’t insist. It will only harm our relationship, and I will have to leave. I don’t want to leave. My children are safe with you, but either we remain close friends or I will leave.” She stared at him, her hand still over his mouth, until she felt that, at least for the moment, he would no longer claim her. “Your relocation will bring unexpected costs, and I am still your Vistier. Father told me that Poenari is a beautiful ... ruin. To make it habitable may cost much more than your revenues, so we may need to carry all the furniture from here.”

  “I brought twenty thousand galbeni from Leyona,” Codrin said, “and another four thousand from Severin. The last amount belongs to Jara, but we will use it if needed, and I will give it back later. Sorry that I forgot to tell you about them.”

  “We can add your reserves – four thousand – and the other five thousand that Vava’s wife brought here from Leyona. That means thirty-three thousand galbeni. We are quite rich, aren’t we? My fingers are tingling at the pleasant thought that I can spend so much,” she mused. “And I need new dresses; soon I will become round. You don’t need to worry, that’s something normal when a woman is pregnant. Do you know how much women like to buy new dresses?”

  “Not really, I thought that they like jewels more.”

  “Well, I was thinking to take things slowly, but if you insist...”

  “Insist? What did I insist on?”

  “On spoiling me,” she laughed,“ but we must wait until we see Poenari; there are ruins and ruins, after all.”

  “Sava told me that it’s still inhabited.”


  “That may bring us some issues we will need to figure out. And there are your soldiers,” she sighed. “Your little army needs more than eight thousand galbeni per year. You may be a Seigneur now, and brag about having an army, but I don’t know if you have a Seigneur’s revenues.”

  “You know the south of Mehadia well. It’s mine. If there are problems, those hundred fifty soldiers will solve them. How much money it will bring?”

  “It’s the richest part of the former Mehadia Seigneury. Five to seven thousand, depending on weather and other things, but not from the first year, not even the second. It takes time to assert authority and collect taxes.”

  “Orhei?”

  “It’s a small, mountainous place, maybe six to eight hundred galbeni a year. Saunier may bring around one thousand.”

  “I have no idea about Poenari, but the eastern part of Severin, which I control, should bring three to four thousand galbeni a year. As you said, not from the first year; my power is still weak. So we need eight thousand for the army, and let’s say two thousand more to run everything else in Poenari. In a good year, we may gather thirteen thousand galbeni. Let’s say that we can count on six thousand galbeni this year, and ten thousand next year. If we are lucky, the third year should be normal. For two years we can use a part of our reserves and still have enough money to rebuild Poenari.”

  “Well, that’s a good start, but we can talk about it later.” She rolled over him and laced her arms around his neck while her lips touched his shoulder. “I don’t think that you will sleep much this night,” she whispered.

  Codrin woke alone in the morning, and for a few moments, he thought that everything was a dream. “It was not a dream,” he spoke to himself, shaking his head. “My life took an unexpected course, again. Today, I have to convince Mara. She carries my child, and I have to take responsibility. What difference would there be between me and men like Bucur if I make a woman pregnant and don’t marry her? And Saliné, what I will tell Saliné? I will always love her.” Head in hands, he stood at the edge of the bed, and for some long minutes, he could not think at all. “I can’t stay here all day.” He stood up abruptly. “There are things to be done. Poenari is waiting for me. Arad too. And Mara,” Codrin repeated and walked to retrieve his clothes. He dressed quickly, and left the bedroom just as Mara entered the antechamber.

  “Lazy man, you must come now if you still want to eat.” Mara glanced at him, and that brief moment was enough to let her see how troubled Codrin was. She walked in front of him, thinking what to say, yet nothing came to her. He is still not himself, and I am part of his worries. I did not expect this child, but how I want it now.

  “I am hungry,” he said, then took her in his arms, his mouth searching hers. Both stopped at the same time and burst into laughter. “I still need to manage Cleuny.”

  “During the day,” she said, a playful glimmer filling her eyes.

  “After breakfast, I will go to see the soldiers. Everybody is free today but, in the evening, I need the councilors. Sava will join the council too.”

  “Yes, master,” she smiled, and pulled him forward. Once they were out of the room, she relinquished his hand.

  I think that today she will accept, Codrin thought.

  After dinner, which was earlier than usual, all his people were gathered in the council room when he entered.

  “Poenari is not far from here.” Codrin tapped the map on the wall, and his finger traced a line between Cleuny and Poenari. “It’s less than a day’s ride, but we can’t go there yet. Moving so many people into a new city requires good preparations, and I have some urgent business in Arad. Mara, we need to feed two hundred people for at least three months. Fate knows what will await us in that ghostly fortress.”

  “It’s quite a savage place,” Sava said. “Not the fortress, but the surroundings. There are not many villages around, so it makes sense to buy provisions from here. We may find that we need to buy even more from Orhei, Saunier and other places.”

  “Orhei and Saunier are not famous for their wealth,” Calin said, “and I don’t think that we can buy too much from Leyona either.”

  “We can buy from Corabia. It’s a wealthy place. Mara,” Codrin looked at her. “Write a letter to Marat, the governor, and ask him to buy as much food he can and extract the money from taxes.”

  “I will write, but...”

  “Vlaicu will deliver the letter. Take fifty soldiers with you.” Codrin looked at Vlaicu. “That should convince Marat who owns the south of Mehadia.

  “Sava, you will take fifty soldiers and guard Poenari, just in case Garland or the Circle try to make a move. Discreetly, and at some distance; no one inside should know that the roads are watched.

  “Ban, you will guard Cleuny with the remaining soldiers. You know what to do.” Wondering if he covered everything, Codrin looked round at the people gathered in the room. “In two days, I will leave for Arad. Vlad and Pintea will come with me. And five soldiers.”

  There was a knock at the door and one of the guards at the gate poked his head inside “We have a courier from Peyris,” he said, and at Codrin’s nod, the guard let Costa enter the room.

  “Seigneur Codrin,” he bowed, “I have a letter for you.”

  “That’s good to know, Costa; I was about to call the guards when I saw you.” Codrin smiled, and Costa smiled back, more a deliberate reaction, the result of his survival skills at the court of Peyris. “Take a seat.”

  Peyris is more sophisticated, Costa thought, but full of people who can’t be trusted. Codrin may be raw, but... he almost shrugged, and pushed the letter across the desk. Cleuny is a small place.

  Codrin felt more eagerness to read the letter than he wanted to show, and forced himself to open it with deliberate leisure.

  ‘Codrin,’ he read.

  ‘There have been some developments in Leyona that will work against you. They are led by Maud, the Master Sage of the Circle.’

  Codrin’s eyes widened, and he read the passage again. Maud is... Well, that explains why I lost Leyona. I should be glad that it happened while I was not there. Maud would have killed me. I wonder if Garland knows about Maud being the Master Sage. He closed his eyes for a few moments, and all the eyes in the room turned to him.

  ‘You may lose Leyona soon, but don’t return there to fight for it, as you may be in danger. Let it fall, and go to Poenari. Cleuny is not easy to defend, and the fortress suits you better for whatever comes next. Next year, a two thousand strong army will gather to capture or kill you. You will need provisions for at least half a year; you need to rebuild the main gate and to replace the bridge with a drawbridge.

  Please burn this letter.

  Cleyre Peyris’

  “Who is Cleyre?” Codrin looked at Costa.

  “The granddaughter of Duke Stefan and a member of the Peyris Council.”

  “Thank you, Costa. I will write an answer... When do you want to leave?” He stared through the window and saw the strong yellow-red of the sunset filtering through scattered clouds. “You are welcome to stay here tonight. Pintea, take care of him.” Codrin started to read the letter again, ignoring the tension in the room.

  That letter seems to have burned you,” Sava said, after Costa went out. “I can smell charred skin from here,” he sniffed. “Bad news?”

  “Perhaps interesting would be a better word. How bad or good depends on us. Mara, by the winter we need to gather provisions for nine months. Send a letter to Laurent to buy us more food from Seged. Don’t mention the idea of nine months to anyone else.” Cleyre’s knowledge can’t be just a coincidence. He stared at the letter again. Why did she write this and not the Duke? Is Dochia behind it? This look like a Wanderer’s vision. “If you think that we can’t get everything we need, contact the Merchant Guild in Deva. I will give you names. We are done. Mara, please stay,” he said, when she stood up, and waited until everybody else left the room before speaking again. “Read it,” he offered her the letter, “and me
morize it. Keep everything to yourself. We will talk about it tomorrow.”

  “Interesting indeed,” she said after reading it. “Should I burn it?” Yes, he nodded, and she went to a candle and let the paper burn slowly, the scent of the melting wax from the seal filling the room.

  Codrin stopped in front of her and, as she was leaning against the table, took her hands and kissed them. From his pocket, he took out a ring set with a black gem and, before she could react, put it in on her finger. “The color matches your beautiful eyes,” he smiled. “I apologize for not doing it properly yesterday, but men are sometimes less ... sensible than women. Will you marry me, Mara?”

  “Why are you trying to make me leave?” she asked, her voice low, touched by sadness, and tears that did not fall filled her eyes. “I thought that we had agreed on this.”

  Codrin bit his lip, staring at her and, for the first time, he understood her determination, even though he did not fully understand the reason behind it. His right hand went around her head, and pulled it onto his shoulder, both to soothe her and to mask his confusion, and his left encircled her waist; the tough soldier, accustomed to making decisions in a split second, felt helpless. What should I do now? It’s not fair to her. “I don’t know what to...”

  “I do,” she cut in, a thin smile on her lips, and she leaned her head back, until their eyes locked. “We remain close friends, and I will keep the ring. It will be the link between us and our child. Now, you have to carry me in your arms.”

  Codrin’s eyes grew larger, but he obeyed without saying a word, and lifted her, walking toward the door going out into the corridor.

  “Men are so useless in these situations,” Mara chuckled. “The other door,” she pointed to the one opening into his bedroom. “You’ve upset me, and there is a price to pay for that.” Strange this desire burning in me. It must be love, but he was not meant for me, and I have to overcome my weakness. I am happy enough to have a child from him and to stay with him. It was her turn to hide the trouble in her eyes, leaning her head on his shoulder. But until his wedding, he is mine.