Respectant

by Florian Armaselu

  No one could be worse than Bucur. “If not Bucur, then...” Jara arched her brows, struggling to hide a sense of relief that Codrin would not have appreciated.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Would you mind if I join you? And perhaps Father too. We will go as far as Valeni. It’s not far from Tolosa.”

  “Are you fit to ride?” Cold, his eyes opened a little too wide, then looked away. Recalling that kiss transferred some of his bitterness toward Jara too.

  Jara though for a moment. He needs me. “I rode there two years ago; it should not be much harder. I won’t delay you. Perhaps I will return in a carriage. I will send one tomorrow.”

  ***

  “Joffroy, you need to calm down. I understand that you and Marie love each other, but for a Duchess marriage is political. And for you too. The fate of Frankis depends on Marie and Codrin. I can see him now. Codrin doesn’t know about you and Marie. Let’s keep it like that.”

  “Yes, Father,” Joffroy said thoughtfully, without looking at him. Three years ago, I lost Idonie, now Marie. I must be cursed.

  The sound of many hoofs hitting the ground focused the men waiting at the crossroads. The cadence slowed and, in a few moments, Pierre, the Spatar of Peyris, and his son, found themselves in front of Codrin. It was their first meeting since the siege of Poenari.

  “I’m glad to see you in good shape,” Codrin said, clasping hands with Pierre. “What’s new in Tolosa? Don’t tell me about Maud,” he laughed and clasped hands with Joffroy too. Sava and Vlad dismounted too, and they greeted the two men from Tolosa.

  “It’s spring. The wedding season. We have to attend three in Tolosa, one in Laurden and another one in Montpell. All in just ten days.”

  “Don’t complain; you have good food here in the south and the best wine in Frankis. Where does that road lead?” Codrin shielded his eyes against the bright sun with one hand, to see better. He did not see the pain reflected on Joffroy’s face.

  They were at the Sealand crossroads, one of the most important in the south; the road from the Pierens Mountains in the south to Rhiun’s Mouth in the north was the main artery of Frankis. The road from Genvas in the east, going toward Bardaux in the west, was important too. The ocean in the west and the sea to the south were faraway, and no one knew who had called it Sealand, or why, a long time ago. The crossroads was west of Tolosa.

  “That’s the Arrow Road; it goes to Laurden. The road is safe, it’s just that it goes straight south, like the path of an arrow. There are almost no bends in the road.”

  “To the east are Montpell and Grenble. I was once in Grenble. Is there any other large town in the south?” Codrin asked only to make Pierre talk. Sometimes a new Vision could be stirred like this.

  “And they called you the Wraith of Tolosa,” Pierre laughed.

  “I still don’t know why, but it suited me at the time.”

  “There are two more Seigneuries in the south: Massala and Nicea.”

  Codrin glanced up at the still climbing sun, and stretched his mind like when he was using his Farsight, but no Vision came to him. “It’s early, and I am not in a hurry to see Maud. Let’s make a half day detour. I want to see the land south of Tolosa, and we need to talk. Maud can wait.” He mounted Zor, and let his Farsight go east toward Tolosa. It was easier now, but he still fell slightly lightheaded when his mind returned to his body. His weakness was masked by the horse’s movement, and Zor did not need Codrin’s eyes to ride. Fifteen miles from here to Tolosa, he estimated. “Come with me, Pierre.” He stayed silent until they were far from their men. Behind them, at thirty paces, rode Joffroy, and Codrin’s captains: Sava, Vlad, Valer and Boldur. Pintea and Lisandru followed them.

  “The Lights of the Wanderers have predicted a Fracture,” Codrin said after a while.

  “Yes, Idonie warned us. She is a Wanderer from the south, the niece of a friend.”

  “Did she tell you about the Seer?” Codrin looked at Pierre, who shook his head. “When there is a Fracture, there is also a Seer. I am now the Seer of the Realm. I need to unify Frankis and gather a strong army before the next nomad invasion.”

  “I understand. Marriage to Marie will help you consolidate the crown.”

  “We will talk about that later. I am forming a Council of the Realm too. I need someone from Tolosa in the council. Will you join it? It brings you no wealth, no titles, nothing, only hard work and unexpected danger.”

  “I would be honored.”

  “Now tell me everything that’s happening here. The weddings included.” Codrin laughed, a bit edgily, but Pierre did not realize it. “I need to know my people.”

  After their long detour, they arrived in Tolosa in the evening. Laure greeted Codrin, and guided him to his suite, where a bathtub was waiting. An hour later, the meeting finally started, and Codrin was irritated to discover that Pierre was not invited. He was surprised to see that Drusila had traversed Frankis to be there.

  Being the last to enter the Council Room, Codrin bowed slightly and seated himself, saying, “We know each other well, there is no need for introductions. Although Marie was still a girl when we met last; and I was an unknown quantity at the time.” Their eyes locked, and they exchanged a smile. It was genuine on both sides, and that did not escape to the women in the room, who watched them like some hungry predators.

  “We will decide the future of Frankis today,” Maud said, and Baldovin, the Duke of Tolosa, and his wife, Laure, agreed with a solemn nod. Drusila did not react in any way, and Marie merely blushed.

  “Let’s resolve something from the past, first.” Codrin looked at her, his face locked in a slight frown of dislike.

  “Ah,” she smiled, “is this issue from the past related to Leyona?”

  “You paid allegiance to me, when I took Leyona.” He looked around and saw that only Marie did not know that he had taken Leyona and how Maud, who was both Secretary of Leyona and Master Sage of the Circle, convinced Garland to proclaim himself Grand Seigneur of Leyona.

  “Yes, the Secretary of Leyona paid allegiance to you, but was it the Secretary who ordered Garland to take the city from you? Or it was the Master Sage of the Circle?”

  “It’s hard to say where the Secretary ends and the Master Sage begins. I suppose that both find shelter in the same person.” Codrin inclined his head more in acknowledgment than clemency, and Maud was sharp enough to understand that the matter was closed; but she did not see further into his thoughts.

  “Thank you for understanding my position,” she said, her lip curled just slightly in relief. “Should we return to the future?”

  Codrin took the treaty he had signed in Severin, with Verenius from the Circle’s side, and placed it on the table in front of her. Maud took her time to read it, and tension mounted inside her, but nothing could be seen on her face.

  “I think that the man who signed this was ... punished, in some way that I don’t yet understand,” she said, tentatively.

  “Verenius signed, as the Circle’s man. What happened there was the effort of a team. The team included Octavian and Laurent.”

  “What would represent a satisfactory solution for you?” Maud asked, and only her eyes did not share the calm of the rest of her.

  “They must suffer my judgment.”

  “In the past, your judgment against the Circle’s men has carried a severe punishment.”

  “As severe as their sin.”

  “Would it be so hard to draw a line under it and start everything anew, without looking at the past? Perhaps we should look more into the future,” Laure said, trying to shield Laurent, who she wanted as her husband after Baldovin’s passing away. Judging by the parchment texture of his skin and his deathly gray color, it was not far off.

  “There is no future for the ten men Laurent killed in Severin. I was his liege, and he betrayed me.”

  “We should continue after dinner,” Laure said, relieved that she could delay an answer, when a page came to announce that the meal would be
served in half an hour.

  “I need to talk with Marie before that. Alone,” Codrin said.

  “There is a room there.” Baldovin pointed at a closed door, and both his daughter and Codrin left the office.

  The room was not large, but had the same beautiful view toward the mountains. Codrin took a chair and placed it in front of the window. “The light is better here,” he said, looking at Marie.

  Her black hair, contrasting with her fair face and blue eyes, made her one of the most beautiful young women in Frankis. She blushed under his stare, and let herself be seated.

  Marie waited, unmoving, but for her hands. She held a handkerchief, which she commenced to fold, over and over, into smaller and smaller squares.

  “I don’t bite.” Codrin smiled briefly and took her hands in his, undecided. He was feeling the pressure of a choice which would shape his future, Frankis and the Fracture.

  Still staring at her hands, Marie spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper, “You bite hard, but you don’t bite women.” As she spoke, her voice became more confident, and a smile transformed her beautiful face.

  “You could say that. Tell me about Tolosa.”

  “What I can tell you that the Wraith of Tolosa doesn’t know?”

  “You might be surprised how little I know about your city, or about you. Three years ago, I saw you once, the kind of beautiful girl men find hard to forget.”

  “You were with Joffroy.” Her voice stumbled a little at the young man’s name.

  “You were quite an observant girl as I recall. What’s between you and Joffroy?”

  “Do you really need to know?”

  “I would not have asked otherwise.”

  “We grew up together. I like him. This has nothing to do with our marriage. It’s a political thing, but perhaps it can be more than that. You are an attractive man, and I trust I am not a complete fool or an ugly woman.”

  “You are as beautiful as you are intelligent. Do you love him?”

  “Perhaps like you love Saliné,” she said, quietly. “I thought that we could talk about more pleasant things, about what can bring us together, not about what pulls us apart.”

  “What’s more pleasant than love? I will let you choose the man you want to marry.”

  “Why are you treating me like this? Pierre told me that you are different. He told me about the kind man under the tough exterior. Our marriage is necessary for Frankis, and I don’t see why we can’t love each other. Please stop this, Codrin.”

  “I am not mistreating you, Marie,” he said gently. “I had a Vision about you and Joffroy, and whatever decision you make, I will accept it.”

  “Please,” she whispered, to anxious to ask what he meant by Vision.

  “Then I will make the decision for you. I will announce that my wish is for you and Joffroy to marry.”

  Marie pulled her hands from his and stood up so suddenly that her chair fell back on the floor. She flew toward the other window in the room. Silent, she set her brow against the cold glass. The bright setting sun flashed through the branches of a large pine and struck playful sparks through the stained glass. She did not see them.

  Codrin placed his hands on her shoulders, turned her slowly, and seated her again. “Do you agree with me?”

  Marie breathed, tried to speak, but all she could manage was a graceful nod.

  “I think that we have an agreement.” Codrin kissed her hand, and then he pulled her up. “Let’s go and announce our decision.”

  For a while, they looked at each other, face to face. “Thank you, Codrin,” she said, raising her hands, which were still in his, until they reached the level of his chest. With a sudden impulse, she embraced him. “I did not plan that,” she said, a pleasant touch of redness on her fair face, when they separated. “But neither do I want to take it back. There is such strength in you. And kindness.” She smiled and touched his face with her delicate fingers. “Now let’s go see Grandmother.” Her voice sharpened, and Codrin recognized Maud’s strength in the girl in front of him.

  She would have been a strong queen, he thought, and his mind went back to those Visions of Saliné kissing the unknown man. Teeth gritted, he shook his head, furrowing his brow and struggled to ignore them. Walking in front of him, Marie saw nothing. I may lose both Saliné and Marie. And Tolosa too. Many will consider me weak. They will challenge me. What is left for me, if Saliné loves that man? Lanya? His mind recalled the carousel Vision that he was still unable to understand. She is still young, but she would be a fine wife too. Fate.

  They returned to the silent Council Room, the atmosphere heavy with expectation. The future of Frankis will be finally set on the right tracks. Marie struggled to hide both her happiness and fear at disobeying her parents. Maud said nothing, expecting Codrin to announce their agreement. Codrin simply waited to raise the tension in the room. His tactic failed, because Marie’s joyful eyes had deceived both Maud and Laure. Both women had been in a position of power too long to imagine that things might take a different path, against their will.

  “Did you tell them?” Codrin asked Drusila.

  Maud has put the cart before the horses, the First Light of the Wanderers thought, and Codrin wants me to play along with him. ”No.” I can play too, Codrin.

  Codrin arched his brow, and a little grin flashed across his mouth. Without speaking, he leaned against his chair, his sharp eyes urging the Wanderer.

  “What should we know?” Laure was the first one to cede and break the studied silence.

  Drusila’s brows rose, though whether in annoyance, or polite irony, Laure was not sure. You should know that the marriage will not happen. Codrin only wants me to prepare you. “For this occurrence of the Fracture, Codrin is the Seer of the Realm. His duty and power go beyond Frankis.” And his actions ruined the Prophecy. Again. Grand Master Tudor died before his time. This stubborn young man refused to play his part. Fate knows what will happen now. She forced herself to breathe long and slow, the Wanderers’ equivalent of the Assassin Cool. Perhaps I am overreacting. Perhaps we are misunderstanding the Prophecy. Codrin is the King of Frankis.

  Her face composed, Maud drew a deep breath, looking past Codrin. “Seer of the Realm, and soon King of Frankis. Things could not have gone better for you.”

  “I am already the King of Frankis, Maud, and I expect the Circle to acknowledge that. One way or another.” His cold smile was hard as a razor. “And I am expecting the Circle to behave appropriately from now on. Baldovin,” he turned toward the Duke. “I require your allegiance. Now.”

  Laure breathed angrily and tried to intervene. Under the table, Drusila gripped her hand and squeezed it hard. Maud just squinted her eyes – she was more experienced than her daughter.

  “Your majesty,” Baldovin bowed in acknowledgement. He was ill, not stupid, and he was tired of Maud’s schemes.

  “Can we talk about the marriage now?” Laure asked, her voice even, and Drusila released her hand slowly.

  “Yes, of course,” Codrin said. “It is my pleasure to announce the marriage of Marie and Joffroy. It pleases me, as I am fond of them both.” He placed a protective arm around Marie’s shoulders.

  I had no Visions about Saliné, Codrin, but right now, there is a shortage of quality brides in Frankis, Drusila thought. You will learn that soon. Since Rochil, I had no Visions about Saliné. Isn’t that strange?

  Chapter 29 – Saliné / Codrin

  “I think everything is ready. You look beautiful, my lady,” Martha, the dressmaker said. Saliné’s dress was a very pale green, a pastel reflection of her eyes, with a belt of dark cerulean, the color of sunset reflected in coastal waters. She would wear no other color on her.

  “Yes, it’s beautiful,” Saliné agreed, turning in front of the mirror, her dress rustling faintly. “Thank you Martha, you have done a wonderful job.”

  To a less sophisticated observer, there was apparently nothing striking in Saliné’s dress. Everything was made bright by her way of
moving; her smile that shed light around her; her straight, elegant body. As at the Winter Solstice Party, the simple dress was not noticeable on her; it was only her frame which captured the view – simple, natural, elegant.

  “I agree,” Eduin said from the door, his eyes absorbed in her.

  “Sir,” the dressmaker protested, her face turning red, “you should not have seen it before the wedding day.”

  “I am afraid that is now too late for that,” Eduin laughed. “I could not wait another two weeks. Let me see you better.” He took Saliné’s hand and walked her closer to the window, in the bright light of the morning sun. Discretely, Martha left the room, closing the door after her. “The dress is beautiful, but it can’t compare to you, Vio.”

  The compliment reminded her that she was to marry in two weeks, and she smiled. It was half genuine. “Thank you, Eduin. That was kind of you.”

  “What if you open my sealed letter?” he asked, a playful glimmer in his eyes.

  “Hmm,” Saline said and went to her cabinet; the letter was there, untouched. From his smile, he must have guessed it well. “Light green dress with a blue belt,” she read, and smiled coyly. It was meant to be.

  Looking at her, desire reflected in his eyes, Eduin pulled her toward him. Slowly, his mouth searched for hers. Saliné stayed still for a moment, then her arms laced around his neck. He parted her lips, and the kiss became more demanding, followed by a second and a third one, all answered by her. When their passion calmed, he held her in his arms, her head leaning on his shoulder. Saliné acknowledged that Eduin knew how to kiss a woman, and he took every opportunity to prove that to her in the days that followed and, day by day, a pleasant intimacy built slowly between them. She both enjoyed and feared it, but she felt very different from when Bucur pestered her, pretending to love her. Eduin did love her.

  Most of the evening before the wedding, Saliné did little but stare through the window. Her future husband, relatives and servants left her alone; brides were always shy and nervous before such an event. She set her brow against the glass and closed her eyes. It was cold and refreshing, but it did not help much to calm her emotion.