“Is it Cargius?” Lea asked, her chest heaving for breath and her hands shaking as she retrieved the five diamonds from the trampled corn.
“One and the same,” Allius said.
The lord commander had rolled the Kathiusian druid onto his face and was tying his arms and legs. Bale had taken an amulet from his pocket and was quickly placing it around the man’s head. Lea recognised the silver charm. It prevented the wearer from transforming.
Allius and Bale dragged the unconscious man up and slung him between them.
Allius flashed her a rare smile, his eyes elated in the moonlight. “Well done, lass. This day will be remembered for all eternity.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“I will say it again, Abien will not yield.” The Duke of Frizliff’s voice thundered around the circular stone chamber, rising to the high dome ceiling above. The flickering yellow light from the iron braziers that stood at the foot of the ten stone pillars at the edge of the council chamber made his podgy scowl look more hideous than ever.
None of the eleven ambassadors seated at the round stone table or their respective delegations occupying the benches behind looked in the least bit surprised at the Duke’s outburst. Abien and Themia, the two Orthodox Goddian realms to the north had been stonewalling Arkaelyon’s proposal to stave off the famine in Vafusolum for three days now, and there looked to be no end in sight to the impasse.
“On its establishment, this assembly legitimated Abeian’s right to set and charge a reasonable tariff on every ship that plied the Marrian River between Amthenium and the borders of Vafusolum, and in accordance to that right we will set and charge what tariff we please. And for the purposes of this proposal that tariff will be an extra fifty Abien sovereigns per shipment of grain.”
Danielle was fast losing patience. She stood as the other member took his seat, her light blue gown rustling. As always she felt the eyes of a number of the lords and ambassadors admiring her for all the wrong reasons. From the chancellor’s chair, Lord Leefton nodded that she should proceed. “The operative word this council used when allotting riparian rights was ‘reasonable,’ and in no way does fifty additional Abien sovereigns per vessel fall into that category. It is five times the average charge—”
“We beg to differ,” Frizliff thundered. His knuckles were white as he leaned across the table. “If the number of shipments you are suggesting proves accurate, madam, we will lose significant revenue as more lucrative cargos seek to avoid crammed, and I dare say dangerous waterways.”
“Lord Frizliff, let’s not pretend this is about revenue,” Danielle counted. “For if it was, you would have jumped at the opportunity the Emperor offered to those who supported this proposal of unlimited access to Vafusolum’s wine and wool market.”
Frizliff snorted deridingly at her claim, ignoring the chorus of cheers Danielle received. “You have a nerve to finger Abien as the pretender, madam, when every member realm seated at this table knows categorically that this little venture of yours is intended to prop up a faltering ally—an ally, I should add, who was not ten years past the enemy of every civilised Goddian east and north of the Arkaelyon Mountains, including Arkaelyon, and who had bastardised this holy city for more than two hundred years.”
Before Danielle could reply, Faith said, “Your merchant class may not be overly impressed by your religious fervour, sir.” Faith had stood, her green gown and dark sultry looks drew pause among the male delegates. “And I’m sure your king would not want a repeat of the Bough Uprisings and the Karclair Plot.”
Frizliff thrust his meaty finger in Faith’s direction. His face twisted with fury and for once his eyes were not fixed on her cleavage. “You dare threaten my king and realm in open council. We know the wolf of Corenbald knew of those heinous and ungodly events, even if this assembly is determined to turn a blind eye and ignore its own laws.”
“No one is fooled by your attempt to constantly divert and delay the purpose of this meeting, sir. And I reiterate for all to hear. Corenbald’s position is with those who seek to feed the starving masses of Vafusolum.” She returned her attention to Frizliff, who had slumped back into his chair, scowling. “Many of whom are crossing your southern border, sir and by your own acknowledgement to this council, bringing unrest, lawlessness, and plague. With a little good sense one would think you’d want to help put an end to that, particularly since your realm can profit greatly as a result.”
Frizliff actually chuckled at hearing this. “And help an enemy who funds the pirates and cut-throats from the Black Isles who pillage our eastern coastline as regularly as the visit of a woman’s bloody moon while Lunwraith sends knights disguised as bandits to harass our mountain villages and border towns in the west.”
Both Lord Donnelly, consul from the Lunwraithian court, and the ambassador to the Emperor, the Lord Governor of the Nantow province, Yoon-lar, jumped to their feet in protest.
“These are unsubstantiated and outrageous claims.”
Lord Leefton called for order and demanded that everyone return to their seats.
Lord Valabee, Themia’s ambassador, grabbed the opportunity to speak. One of his aids had approached from the chairs behind him and whispered something in his ear. Danielle had been penning some notes and only noticed because Faith touched her arm discreetly and nodded in that direction.
Valabee flashed her a smug grin before turning his gaze to Lord Leefton. “Milord, we wish to table the motion that this proposal Arkaelyon’s ambassador has presented be ruled illegitimate and dismissed.”
“On what grounds,” Leefton asked, frowning.
Danielle was equally curious. She was absolutely sure she’d covered every angle for possible dismissal.
“It has come to our attention just now that Arkaelyon’s esteemed ambassador, Lady de Brie, has of late been expelled from her position as a member of Arkaelyon’s ruling councils and would have been whipped for dissent if not for the intervention of her protector. Thus it is fair to say that she does not speak for Arkaelyon’s nobles and by default, the interests of her realm.”
Danielle was on her feet in a flash. “My father, not the councils of Arkaelyon appoint ambassadors, sir, and I can reassure the representatives of the member realms of this assembly that I stand here as my father’s legitimate representative.”
“Irrelevant, Milady. As far as we are concerned, you do not speak for your nobles and hence, do not speak for Arkaelyon. Your father is no friend of ours,” Valabee said.
“We agree with the Themian Ambassador and second the motion,” Lord Frizliff piped in. “The lady should not be allowed to speak at this table let alone present a proposal until the truth of her legitimacy is verified. And if the assembly wishes to turn a blind eye, then Abien will withdraw from proceedings until reason is restored.”
Danielle was furious. “If Abeian’s representative wishes to table such a proposal then I move that this assembly revisit the arrangement governing ownership and control over the upper reaches of the Marrian River! And since Arkaelyon has historic claim on the area, and only ceded this claim to Abien on the agreement her vessels, royal and private alike, would have continued and uninterrupted access at a reasonable cost, I will, if this impasse can not be overcome and the attack on my legitimacy as a member of this assembly withdrawn, be renewing that claim as my father’s representative.”
Danielle knew she’d spoken hastily. The cries of protest and worried looks around the chamber that came at the possibility that riparian rights might be placed before the assembly again came as no surprise. Until the Shipping Treaty had been negotiated and ratified by the assembly shortly after its formation ten years past, hardly a year had gone by without contestation over one or other of the continent’s vital waterways, most of which usually led to bloodshed. The negotiations had proved just as arduous, taking two years before every realm was sufficiently satisfied to place their seal to the document. To threaten the fragile peace would win her no friends.
Lord
Frizliff was smirking at her as Leefton called for order. When it was eventually given the Duke said, “Seems you’re unlikely to find support for such a measure, Milady. So unless you are willing to accept and pay the tariff my king has set, you’ll have to take your grain to Vafusolum via another route.”
Everyone knew that was impossible and certainly in the time frame they had. The southern waterways were too narrow to handle the volume of shipping it would create. And to carry the grain by wagon via the eastern highway from Illandia, the Darvan Road from the Amthenium Region or the Hurlusian Pass in the south would simply take too long. The autumn rains would have arrived long before even a quarter of the grain found its way to Vafusolum storehouses. And even if it were possible the logistics and cost of a vast wagon train would likely make it more expensive than Abein’s exuberant tariff.
Leefton said, “How does Arkaelyon’s Ambassador respond.”
Danielle could see he was worried her proposal was about to fail and hoped she had something that could get them through this impasse.
She had. “If this assembly dares turn a blind eye to the suffering in Vafusolum, then I tell you now, Arkaelyon will fight fire with fire. This proposal will pass or Arkaelyon grain will not leave her borders this season, nor any other ships pass along the Amthenium Tributary without paying a tariff equal to that imposed by Abien.”
“You dare threaten us!” Frisliff said, standing in a rush.
“Yes, and openly,” Danielle said. “If the people of Vafusolum are to know famine this winter then so too will every other realm in the north. So this is my offer. In way of the shipping tariff we will offer you twenty gold sovereigns per ship for your trouble and not a copper more. This will be paid via our ambassador and your wharf stewards will not board or stop any of the vessels involved in this mission.”
Frizliff sat down, scowling at her. A hush had settled over the chamber at the end of her outburst.
Leefton lifted a quizzical eyebrow at the Abien ambassador. “Sir, how do you respond?”
Lord Valabee was whispering something in Lord Frisliff’s ear. When the two northern ambassadors were done, the Duke rose and acknowledged the Chancellors request. “Abien requests a recess. We need time to consider Arkaelyon’s offer.”
“Milady?” Leefton asked.
“My offer will expire at the end of the first session tomorrow.”
“As is your prerogative, madam,” Frisliff said acidly.
Leefton said, “Then the assembly will reconvene after breakfast tomorrow where we will have an end to this piece of business, one way or the other.”
The representatives at the table and their delegations began to file out of the chamber. It was nearing midnight, but with the agenda for the week containing more than one hundred and thirty pieces of business and the assembly already well behind schedule, and now facing an ultimatum, Danielle suspected most would be working well into the early hours or even all night. No one looked pleased for it and she knew her actions would draw complaints. Though, oddly, Lord Frizliff and Lord Valabee looked less concerned than most.
“Why are they so calm? Surely they know I’m not bluffing,” Danielle said quietly to Faith as they got up from the table. Bastion was already organising a meeting in Danielle’s chambers for all the Arkaelyon delegation—it was a usual formality. Danielle had hoped this night it might be a celebration, but she couldn’t help but think they were being ambushed somehow. At least that’s what her instincts were saying.
“You alright?” Michael asked.
“I’m not sure.”
“Lady de Brie, Lord Michael, Lady Galloway, if I might have a word.”
The request came from Chancellor Leefton. His stewards were helping him take off his white council robe. Danielle glanced over at Bastion, who gave her a nod that all was in hand and they’d be ready for whatever was required when she returned to Kathius Hall, the northern wing of the palace where the Arkaelyon delegation were permanently quartered.
Leefton dismissed his servants and the guards who were standing at the base of each stone pillar. When the doors closed on the circular chamber he filled four glasses with wine from one of the jugs on the table and handed them around.
“I have it on good advice that the Abien and Themian ambassadors are playing with you, and have no intention of putting their agreement to your proposal.”
“When did you hear this?” Danielle asked.
“As we returned from dinner.”
“Well I suspect I’ve given them something to think about?”
Leefton’s guileless blue eyes watched her as he took a sip of wine. “Do you?”
“So you noticed Frizliff and Vababee’s ease as well?”
“How can they not be worried,” Faith said, mostly to her uncle. “Without Arkaelyon grain, they’ll face severe hardship come winter.”
“Unless they’ve secured grain elsewhere,” Michael said.
“That is highly unlikely, given the poor harvests throughout the north this season.”
“I don’t know,” Michael replied. “I’m just saying. It’s possible they thought this through. Our dear Archbishop made sure they had forewarning of your proposal. They had time to plan.”
“If it were only politicking, as you say, Michael, we wouldn’t be standing here,” Leefton said. “Nor would I have bet against you winning this one, Dee. But I fear it’s something a great deal more troubling.”
“What?”
“I think they’re being overly belligerent because they don’t think they’re going to have to pay the consequences.”
“I don’t understand?” Faith said.
Danielle did. “You’re suggesting they’re in on the Archbishop’s plot to seize my father’s throne. That would explain their belligerence.”
“But if they knew they weren’t going to have to be accountable for their actions, surely they would put up the expected resistance and then sign with some concessions. It would waylay any suspicion, would it not?” Faith said.
“It would, but the might of Vafusolum’s rejuvenated military would be too much of a threat to the Archbishop’s plans for the Amthenium region to go unopposed, even if such opposition might show their hand to us.”
“Well surely this is good news. It means that they, including the Archbishop, have no idea that the Lady Winters has betrayed them and that our Archbishop has no idea he is within inches of his life,” Michael said.
“That’s not Leefton’s point, Michael. Abien and Themia may stoke the fires of Orthodox imperialism with or without our Archbishop. With Vafusolum as weakened as she is, there has never been a more opportune time to invade the empire,” Danielle said.
“What is to be done?” Faith asked.
“For you three, nothing,” Leefton said, “I have sent a bird to your respective fathers, hence my late return from dinner. In my respective letters I have outlined my concerns, and will be sharing this discussion with Yoon-lar shortly.”
“That doesn’t solve the problem of getting grain to Vafusolum,” Michael said. “If you are correct, Milord, Abien and Themia will call my sister’s bluff tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, I suspect they will.” He was already pulling on his day coat and preparing to depart. “And when they do, I suspect we’ll be talking about war rather than famine.”
Danielle could scarcely believe it. “Was this the plan all along? To use my proposal to test the water?”
“Partly, yes. And please don’t complain, because if we’re right, and war is coming, then your grain will get to Vafusolum all the faster with armies clearing the way. Now, I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Wait!” Danielle had a horrible thought. Everyone was staring at her. “What about the prophecy? What if we’ve misunderstood and the jealous priest isn’t our Archbishop as much as Orthodox Goddianism more generally? Or that his execution is in fact part of the plan?”
“Then I suspect your White Druid would have said as much,” Leefton replied, puzzled by her
concerns. He was a member of the Aquarius Brotherhood after all, and a good friend of Joseph and knew about all of what she spoke.
“What if they don’t know either? This prophecy was the work of Maig, not the First Mother.”
“Their concern is with finding and executing Kane,” Faith said. “The rest is immaterial.”
Danielle recited the passage that was concerning her. “When he comes to manhood, the religious zeal of an orthodox priest who thirsts for revenge on a blasphemous king will again bring the Arkaelyon throne—and my gifts to Larnius—within the ambit of your power. All orthodox clergy were enraged when my father ended the crusades to recapture Amthenium, and made peace with the Empire. All! Abien and Themia both threatened war.”
Faith said. “But does it matter what or who this vengeful priest might be? Kane is the key. When you’ve completed this ritual there will be no Hand to wield Maig’s gifts and lead her children back from the shadowed places.”
Leefton said, “And according to the letter Joseph sent, this Lord Cargius made it clear to you at Ra’majum that any proceeding Hand would be greatly diminished, and quite unable to secure these gifts, so I think, Faith has the gist of it; Kane is the key, not the nature of this priest.”
Danielle didn’t feel their certainty in this matter at all. She knew what she must do. “If you will excuse me.” She headed for the door.
“What do you intend?” Faith asked.
“We can’t leave this matter un-addressed.” Lifting the hem of her gown least she or her company of knights stood on it, she strode from the chamber and swept down the hallway. Sir Frankston, the young knight in charge of her retainer had been waiting in the hallway and he ordered his men after her. Michael and Faith caught up almost as quickly.
“What are you intending to do?” Michael asked.
“I’m going to summons Cargius.”
It was obvious neither her brother nor friend liked that idea. Then again, neither did she. But what else could they do?
“And the proposal?” Michael asked.
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