‘But Your Highness, what if –’
‘That is all, Jaromir,’ she demanded without looking at him. She did not have to. He knew when to obey.
‘As you wish, my Lady.’
Tirsa heard hurrying feet, then a door opening and closing.
She could hear her sigh again more closely and the ruffling of a dress, and as the woman sat down, Tirsa felt herself moving to one side a little.
‘You can open your eyes now.’
Tirsa felt a little exposed as she did not really believe she could lift her heavy eyelids, even if she wanted to. When she tried; everything seemed a blur and the vague face before her eyes was bouncing up and down; as if she was on a ship on a stormy sea. It was not the first time she had been knocked out in her career, and she had been drunk a few times; which felt a little like this, without the pain. She could not seem to think at all. Tirsa shut her eyes again with a small moan.
‘It’s alright. I know you can hear me, just try it slowly. Try to focus your eyes on one thing first.’ Her voice sounded courteous and kind, and her warm hand seemed to give her new strength and energy through her forehead. It seemed to help to fight the pain.
Tirsa did as she was told; she focused on the eyes of the mysterious woman. It worked; her face no longer bounced before her; it even seemed familiar, but then again it was not a face you saw every day. It was unearthly divine; with those intelligent slightly slanted midnight ocean blue eyes; as if they understood all, and her scarlet wonderful mouth, which curled up in a faint smile. There was compassion in her face and something sad and wise at the same time. It was like looking into the face of love and life itself. Every worry seemed to slip away from Tirsa, like getting rid of an overweight chain mail after a long hard day. Feeling bare, light and flowing, she continued to stare at that divine beauty without any thought, any worry. If she wanted she could lose herself completely, right now …
Tirsa felt a tear slowly rolling down her cheek, which took her out of her dream state; as if that drop of soul water did not belong to her. All of a sudden she was feeling so much that she was weeping soundlessly. Weeping for the fact she had awakened finally; after months of living without seeing; without noticing things around her, without emotions, just doing her job in order to forget her pain and loss, avoiding any contact, any thoughts, and any feelings. Now she was not thinking either, only feeling; allowing herself to truly feel again, something she had blocked out for so long.
If she hadn’t just moments ago heard that discussion before, she would have thought she was on the other side and this was a goddess. That wouldn’t have surprised her at all. She didn’t really lead a safe life, especially over the last couple of years; she had been quite careless.
At that exact moment she was aware of who she was again; and most of all where she was, and that this unearthly enchanting woman wasn’t just any woman, but the Queen of Ceartas herself. Being Tirsa’s country as well, she was therefore her queen. She quickly wiped away the tears with the back of her hand.
This was the first time she had seen Artride at such a close proximity. Too often, she was away on a mission for the land with her company to have cared for what she looked like; if she cared at all for Royalty; which she did not.
She forced herself to look around and discovered she was indeed lying in a bed; moreover the bed of Queen Artride! She had indeed found her bedroom. She had made it all the way, but not without casualty, and touching her head she felt a wrapped bandage. A dull ache came from within her skull; at the back where she had been hit.
Slowly her thoughts came back and the veil was lifting. Again, she remembered the reason why she was here and she tried to sit up, opening her mouth to speak; but alas found no words when she looked upon that deceiving face again.
‘You were hit on the back of your head by one of my guards, wait,’ Artride said and she placed her hands on the spot. Tirsa could feel the pain subsiding. How does she do that?
‘There, that feels better, does it not?’
Tirsa wondered if she had bandaged her head as well. It didn’t seem possible, did it? A queen nursing a wounded knight!
She nodded and hastily clutched her head. Nodding hurt! Queen Artride smiled a warm comforting smile. ‘Try not to move your head too much, just lie down again and rest some more.’ It was impossible to disobey, and why would she want to?
Tirsa lay back on the warm soft sheets, feeling puzzled.
She seems so nice. But how can she be a nice person and responsible for so many deaths? That does not make sense at all!
‘I don’t reaaall –’, she tried with a thick tongue. It appeared she had bitten her tongue somewhere along the line. Her words did not make sense either.
‘Do not try to talk. We will converse later,’ she said, gesturing her to stay in the bed. Artride got up and whilst she was walking to the door, Tirsa observed her. The queen wore a long purple velvet dress with white laces and a dark blue girdle around her waist. There was something about her that just made you forget about everything else. As if she was the centre of everything; she certainly had that air about her.
I am bewitched! We all are.
‘No wait!’ she suddenly managed to say and she was surprised by the clarity and force of her own voice. The queen turned around and looked just as surprised at her.
‘Please.’ She added a bit awkwardly.
Queen Artride slowly walked back, and on her way she picked up a jug and poured some water in a glass, which she gave to Tirsa, settling herself on the bed again. Artride was curious enough to hear what she had to say.
She carefully took a few sips and quietly asked, ‘How long was I out?’
‘The whole morning; a couple of hours.’
Tirsa closed her eyes in distress. I might just as well have waited for that appointment after all! She cursed herself.
The Queen observed her calmly with a slightly tilted head, waiting patiently for her to talk. There were unmistakable signs of grief on her young face; Artride saw the same when she stared at her own reflection in the mirror.
Tirsa tried to avoid her penetrating, curious eyes. Instead, she looked at her own hands; fingers interlaced, lying in her lap.
‘I am sorry for bursting in like that. I … didn’t know what else to do … your Highness.’ Thank the heavens for remembering she was talking to a queen.
‘Well, I certainly hope you have a good reason for that error Commander. You do owe me a very cogent explanation. You could be fired for this and you should be aware that you will be punished.’ And she added more softly, ‘That is the law.’ And she turned her face away so she couldn’t see her eyes, as if she regretted this decision, but remained cool.
Tirsa met her eyes after a moment and felt weak. It was not that she was afraid of her own well-being, but thought again about her only concern now.
‘What was your reason to endanger yourself so?’
She swallowed hard and her voice quavered a little while she answered; looking at her hands again.
‘It’s my little brother, you see. You must have heard about him. Twelve he is. He probably came to pay me a visit when your guards imprisoned him and for what?’ She looked up and saw the queen opening her mouth slightly in shock.
‘Breaking a branch from an old dying tree! Because of your ancient laws, older than the tree, he will be hanged in three weeks time. Hanged!’ Her voice rose while she spoke and her face turned crimson from anger. She could feel a knot building up in her throat, as she tried to keep her eyes dry and head cool.
The queen tightened her face, dropping her head low and then glancing out of the window, ashamed, and as if she was waiting for some form of rescue.
For she knew perfectly well what Tirsa was talking about; although not realising it had been Tirsa’s brother. She sympathetically responded, facing her again, ‘Yes, it has come to my attention, naturally. I even talked to your brother. He did break off a dead branch indeed; not a live one,’ she ironically added, and rolled her eyes. ‘Unf
ortunately that tree was the Holy Oak on the castle square. The tree is dying, but still it’s not allowed for anyone except Royalty to even as much as touch it.’ She suddenly smiled sadly. ‘Heavy penalties are a result according to the Law Book. Your brother explained to me that he wanted to design a flute. He couldn’t have known he’d put himself in danger. However, according to the law; he should have, for at the time he was in Ceartas where everyone is supposed to know the law, basically. And the penalties,’ she added softly.
‘But certainly you cannot expect a child to know the law! A child!’ Tirsa forgot all about politeness regarding the queen for a moment. ‘I am begging you to make an exception for children, please …!’
Artride did not seem to mind her talking to her that way. She was upset herself. She was breathing heavily and her eyes were watery, avoiding Tirsa’s.
‘According to the book you reach adulthood at twelve in Ceartas, that counts for everyone, even visitors breaking a law,’ she said solemnly. ‘So we cannot consider him a child anymore; even if he is. You do not know how anything would gratify me more than doing something about changing the law, however …’ she lowered her face in shame, a strand of black hair covering her face.
‘My Lady?’ Tirsa asked questionably. The queen glanced again at the Commander of the seventh company and while she faced her with dignity she calmly shook her head, ‘I cannot.’ The words were out before she knew it. Why I am telling her this? It will only cause her more grief.
Tirsa shook her head in astonishment. She didn’t care if it hurt. ‘What do you mean, you cannot? You always have the last word in a penalty. Everyone knows that.’ That is why most despise you.
‘It is the law,’ she repeated, unaffected.
‘Then why don’t you change it, if you dislike it so much?’ she said defiantly with angry eyes. The queen raised one eyebrow at her remark.
‘It is an absurd and old-fashioned law-system that we have here in Ceartas and I do not care if I am punished for saying that; for it’s the truth. It never bothered me before; because maybe some things seem fair when it concerns criminals; they get what they deserve, right? Ceartas is a safe haven because of that, but you must admit there were cases when people were sentenced, even to death without a trial like they have in neighbouring countries – without having their side of the story heard. How can you be sure they are guilty? And even if they have committed a minor crime; the penalties are ludicrous!’ She narrowed her eyes and continued in a icy tone:
‘I am told that you watch them die; without trying to do anything, is that not the case?’ her fiery eyes shot like arrows when she saw the queen’s startled look. ‘How can you? Innocent people! If the law allows you to sentence little children, then I say it’s about time you changed it!’
‘You are right, of course,’ the queen replied after a short silence, composing herself. She stared out of the window, expressionless.
Tirsa looked incredulously at her; she agreed with her? ‘Then why not do something about it? You are after all the queen!’
Artride gave a half smile, but it did not reach her eyes. ‘It doesn’t mean as much as you think. Indeed, I have prestige, riches, wealth, servants and power over the army and my people. Even some influence on keeping the peace and staying out of war. However; much as that may seem, I simply cannot change the country’s laws, no matter how much I want to. My title does not mean an awful lot when I cannot change, nor control the law.’
Tirsa suddenly threw away the blanket roughly, jumping off the bed. ‘I cannot listen to this rubbish anymore!’
‘I know it must be hard to comprehend, but please hear me out,’ the queen raised her voice.
Tirsa turned around defiantly. ‘Know? How can you possibly know what I am going through; I and all those poor relatives and friends of the condemned? Just listen to yourself one moment!’
Artride also stood up; with her cheeks red and her voice wrathful, ‘Believe me, I try to do as much as I can for them, every time. Everything that lies within my power! You are not the first who comes to me begging to release their … child, friend, sister, brother, lover; you name it! I try to sooth them, but that is all I can do and that …’ and she swallowed away her words with a sob.
Tirsa narrowed her eyes in disbelief at the words and the emotions of the queen.
‘Is this your damn Law Book story you send them away with? This book, which drives so much terror into people’s hearts, even into yours? Am I supposed to pity you now; is that it?’
‘You have been listening to the stories very well,’ she stated calmly in a subdued voice. Her face showed hurt and her blue eyes were not as bright and sparkling anymore, but glassy and distant.
‘Perhaps it works for them. Gods, you almost had me fooled too!’ Her lips twisted in scorn.
‘But not me! I will not let this happen; we have done that for too long. I am no fool! It is time we made some changes around here!’
Tirsa had raised her trembling voice and when Artride saw her coiled fists and the anger in her eyes she thought: was Jaromir right, are they plotting against me? To throw me off my throne or worse? Well, if they are, maybe I deserve it. It is I who should be punished for letting this happen, not her, not her brother, nor all those people who died before him. Nevertheless … I do not have to show her that! Then she heard a loud knock on the door and the voice of her bodyguard, Jaromir call, ‘Everything alright in there, should I come in, Highness?’
‘No, all is well, Jaromir; please resume guard at my door.’
Tirsa was standing by the open window now; staring out as the queen had done before and trying to hold back her hot tears; knowing it would be pointless to reason with the queen and that her case was lost, her shoulders shook a little.
Artride remembered what she had heard about Commander Lathabris of the Seventh Company. She had to admit to herself that she had not known much about her existence before this morning. Stories of the people seldom reached her ears; no matter how hard she tried to spy on them. Any gossiping was kept from her; probably for the best. People were too terrified to speak their minds for fear of being caught and punished. However, Tirsa seemed different from that, like she was fearless. Why?
While Tirsa was unconscious, the queen had learned from Barkor, who was proud to get the chance to talk to his queen finally, that her father King Macdin knighted the young woman about four years ago, before his sudden death. Barkor said she was ‘a good brave knight; both in battle and in peace; always defending the weak and the truth’. Two years ago, she had slain the brutal company leader of the Umbraris; a neighbouring country, in their last war. All Artride had known was that a young female commander had killed the man herself. Her father had rewarded Tirsa and back then, Artride was still a princess and occupied with her training. After that war was won, a peace treaty was raised, which had worked well ever since for both countries.
In a way, Tirsa was responsible for that, and a medal alone could not repay her. They made her commander; against her will it seemed, but she was not allowed to refuse the honour. According to Barkor and members of her own company, she was never proud of her title and she had a major breakdown. Fortunately for the sad young woman there wasn’t much to battle; for peace ruled the land. There were also rumours that she had lost a lover in that last war and completely collapsed because of that, before she could continue her work. Barkor said she had not been the same after; she became very quiet and absent-minded. Nothing really mattered to her anymore and she periled herself a lot, just as she had done now. Like she embraced death more than life.
So young and already a leader of people; in a way against her will, what a life and responsibility! Then Artride suddenly realized that she herself was exactly that; only a few years older she guessed. We have more in common than we both realize.
She walked over to the young woman and knew she could not take away the pain, let alone ease her. Once again, she had to admit she failed as a queen and even as a person.
; I have to tell her the complete truth; about the secret … only then will she be able to understand.
‘Tirsa,’ and Artride raised her hands to touch her shaking shoulders, but there was so much anger and grief radiating from her, that she couldn’t. Her voice became formal and stern,
‘Commander Tirsa Lathabris, do sit down and listen.’
She heard her inhaling quickly. ‘How come you know my name?’
‘I would be an even worse queen, if I did not know who you are.’ However, I did not at first, so that says more than enough.
Tirsa sank down in a chair, next to the desk by the window. She had a spectacular view of the wooded hills and she stared into the distance. It seemed ages since she had dwelled in the woods and mountains carelessly. She found herself longing for those days, in which everything seemed so much simpler. Now she was stuck in this and she would act. Perhaps in order to get those carefree days back, somehow, but she knew that was just a wishful dream; impossible, for with all her bad memories she would never ever be carefree and happy again.
‘I will only listen if you release my brother; and I won’t listen at all if this is going to be a soothing talk about the ‘holy’ Law Book; for I am not having any of it!’
Artride admired her strong attitude and character, and found it difficult to be strict with her.
‘You will listen, even if I have to tie you up and put a muzzle on you!’ she replied loudly and it had the effect she hoped for. Tirsa looked up and closed her half-opened mouth. Artride’s face became like a rock. She was a professional and would not lose herself again. Somehow, she regretted this, but she had no choice. She perched down on another chair opposite Tirsa and arranged her long purple gown with her delicate fingers.
‘Now, it is a rather long story,’ Artride began, facing her. ‘And I will try to tell it as briefly as possible.’ Tirsa had the impression she weighed her words like a pair of scales.
‘You were right when you said it had to do with the Law Book of Ceartas. This time I will tell you the absolute truth; for I believe you of all people deserve it. Not everyone is ready for its facts, you see; and it would not be possible to tell just anyone safely anyway, even if I wanted to and believe me I want to.’ She sighed deeply while a terrible hurt contorted her face. It was not easy telling this and she felt confused, being on unknown territory. ‘I will clarify myself: you are a soldier of higher rank, a commander of my order so it is safe when I tell you this.’ She looked around gracefully and with weight when saying this, as if another pair of ears was listening.
The Queen's Curse Page 3
