by Liam Carrack
“Safe Haven!” I shouted in the style of Lord Fistall’s own precinct. His head swung around and he pounded in on our heels. She slammed the gate door shut behind us and said some few words of power to seal the wards as the unknown soldier and I leaned against it panting like dogs. Why was I so out of breath, the heat of the moment, or the heat of the day? I had not exerted myself truly. As I looked about me I was surprised to see that no house guard or even a crowd of retainers with raised pitchforks barred our movement. Surely this place was fortified. The city had had riots in the past. Did they think their pitiful city guards would stand against what would come? They had no standing army. I had always assumed that each of the Guilds held its own private armies in their precious House Compounds.
I put these thoughts aside as one of the maids in Lord Fistall’s entourage fainted. Llanalla was in action while I stood numb to the scene before me. What had these soft ladies endured? Why were they here?
“Lord Fistall, what do you do here? Are things so far gone that you are reduced to escorting ladies?” I had meant that as a way to break his foul mood, but evidently I had chosen the wrong tack.
“We are lost Margrave Sorvil. Dynal Enge followed Dynal Emrys and at Dynal Korys King Jeivall was lost to us as well. His ‘Phiriaen’ wife was with child when he sent her into hiding, and died in childbed, but these three swear to me that the child is his. He must be sheltered. I carried Royal Documentation of all this and ‘Her’ seal, but those baseborn, dull witted, muttonheads back there ‘guarding’ the Council Hall would not deign to look upon them or him.” It was plain that he did not care for any of the Phiriaen at this moment. He had always had trouble with women in any form of power and had chaffed at His Majesties choice of bride, especially when her people had not come to our aide.
“You must not call me by my family name or give me any such honors while we are here. I have worked long and hard to be as simple and seemingly harmless as I can to the Phiriaen I deal with. It gets more accomplished than any pedigree I assure you. No, I do not ask you to be anything but who and what you are. You are more useful as you are.” I paused then, “You brought with you the heir?” I cast about and saw Him wrapped in the arms of a maid sitting near to hand. I owe no allegiance to Lord Fistall. He was a great man, but not from one of the Families. How many of the Families were left? Never-the-less I knelt before my King and whispered my vow of loyalty and continued fidelity for Crown and Country regardless of whether either still stood or no.
Scuf was returning in the wake of a very heavy woman moving at a speed that seemed unlikely for one of her bulk. She choked at the rabble she saw before her, but recovered and came on bearing water. The Lady did mean to help. I was stunned once more by the care she was taking with the downed maid. She tended to the woman herself. In all my dealings with the Phiriaen, even at the beginning when they had seemed more charitable I had not seen a Lady kneel in the dirt of her herb garden to tend to a dirty refugee. Garvyn had been right. I should have approached her sooner. Perhaps it was all this seclusion that left her heart so open and ready?
Next came an aging gentleman with a litter and a maid carrying sweetcakes as if we were here for an afternoon garden party. It was comical, but I noticed that neither of them denied help, nor balked as the large matron had nearly done. Llanalla had managed to get the collapsed maid back on her feet and was marching us all toward a covered patio that ran around her expansive Hall. It was truly Ancient, but beautiful and incredibly well built. I had seen a few of the rich Halls that this city held, but none was as striking, or as large, as this.
As soon as Llanalla had the young woman seated and comfortable (I fancied I saw a smile flit briefly across her face before her cheeks became inflamed and her head snapped down to stare at something beneath her feet) she straightened and walked purposefully toward Lord Fistall and myself in exactly the manor that would set Fistall’s teeth on edge. There was a light in her eyes that I had not seen before. I had thought of her as a lightheaded young lady only minutes ago, but now I would bet on age and intelligence. She wasn’t the young maiden Garvyn had grown up with and told stories about.
Lord Fistall’s stature was that of a man sent to execution, but bearing up to spite the executioner. What fell from her lips was more sensible than he probably would have given her credit for. “I must needs know who you are, and from whom I am sheltering you.” It was formal but concise. He looked to me at a loss for words then back to her.
“Lady, I owe you a profound thanks, but might I ask to speak with the Lord of this manor?” She was not phased, apparently she was prepared for this type of response. This caught me off guard. Most Phiriaen women with any power at all expected respect and immediate obedience from anyone they thought beneath them, and none thought kindly on men who felt them of the “weaker” sex. But, she appeared only mildly amused as if she had encountered some new form of play as yet untried.
“I am Lady here. I have no husband, nor is my father still living. If you wish to treat, you will treat with me.” Hah! This was perfect. Fistall should be red in the face and blustering in no time. The muscles of his jaw were working overtime and a vein began to bugle in his neck. It might be fun to sit back and watch him lose all composure, save that he needed her help. Garvyn did not overstate his family’s importance in this city. If this Hall meant anything at all he might have downplayed it. What I wouldn’t give to have him here now.
“You Lady, are Ruler of this Hall?” I longed to pinch him and remind him how much this woman had done for him already. Scorning her favor now was no way to conduct himself as an emissary.
She affirmed this and laid hands to hips. Her patience with his stubbornness would not last much longer. “Aahurn tells me that you were a man of great import in Dynal. It appears you have fallen on hard times.” At this I did lash out to remind him on whose soil we stood. I swift kick to his shin that he didn’t flinch from, and I do not believe she noticed. It had little effect on either his response or his demeanor.
“Your people do me ill, Lady. I have been rebuffed at every door and chased from your Council as a beggar and a ruffian though I carry Regal documentation.” I hung my head a moment in shame at his words. But she did not seem provoked as any other would be. She intrigued me more each moment.
“Perhaps it is your present appearance.” My head snapped up, perhaps her patients was through, all I needed was for Fistall to commit some act of violence on the first Phirean I had found who might be willing AND able to actually do something to help us. Instead she attempted to calm him and difuse the situation. Her patience was longer than mine would have been. She was remarkable. “What regal documentation do you carry and why?” As she continued I was in shock. She was offering clear aide and asking nothing in return. It was custom for these people to lay out all the stipulations of a deal at the first and any hidden pitfalls were frowned upon. I turned expectantly toward Fistall. He was a fool if he did not jump to acceptance. He was thinking too long and I looked to her. She seemed to expect this hesitation. I had thought her so sequestered and unreachable. Had she had dealings with Dynaly men in the past? Remarkable, just remarkable.
Finally he broke his silence though his tone suggested that it was he granting favors here and not the other way around. “Hmmm. I suppose I have no choice. My name is Lord Fistall. I was second to his Majesty King Jeivall and am now Guardian to King Maevall.” He motioned to the heir. “The maids are his wet nurse, and her maids. I do wish to have conference with your… Council, as soon as may be arranged.”
I was so disgusted at his behavior that I barely caught her next words. She had included herself in any party that would stand before the Council and had granted him asylum in her Hall until that time, but she had also told him what to do and when to attend her. This would cause him shame and in his eyes a loss of honor, but she had left our presence, and there was little he could do about it.
“How dare she. I am no servitor that she can order me about. These people
and their women! They need learn their place and lay quiet for proper mastery.” His words aroused anger in me.
I hissed my reply at him coldly, “Is that so? Look at yourself man! Would you have given such as yourself succor and free reign in such a manor as this? There are no guards on you. Think man. If any had come in such a state to you, acting as you have, they would be bound and gagged and awaiting authorities for their words alone!”
His composure was ruffled by my statement. “That by itself shows her unfit to wield such power. If I found my wife had let such a rabble in and not set them to heavy guard I would beat her until she found better sense.” He grumbled back sullenly.
I threw up my hands at this and turned my back to go once again toward the Heir. As I reached him two maids of the house, the one who had been carrying the cakes, and another much older, exited the house and stood before us.
“Ladies, please follow Dalla, she will guide you to bathing chambers and accommodations.” She was brisk but kind and her face held no censure. This expression changed drastically to that of a nursemaid looking to unruly children as she glared at us. Just the look my mother would give to cause fear regardless of the fact that she stood no taller than my chest, if that. “And you will follow me.” It was imperious, and brooked no argument. Lord Fistall trembled with unloosed fury and somehow I found myself among his company. “You sir,” she said to the still mysterious soldier, “may bathe behind the stables. Jesemn will be there if you have trouble finding it. I will send someone with any further instruction to you later.” I could tell from her glare at Lord Fistall that he would be sending no such instruction this evening. I could only assume that this Jesemn fellow was the elderly man who had brought the litter out earlier. Speaking of that, where had Scuf gotten to? I looked about as I continued to follow this formidable lady, but did not see him about.
“Gentlemen I have been instructed to house you in the West wing.” So, she meant to keep me here as well. If I could find him I would have to send Scuf back with a message to Mennia that I would be detained and that any operations to take place this evening would have to be postponed. At the end of a hallway she opened a door and swept an arm inward. I stood stock still, before me was a luxuriously appointed bathing chamber. “I assume that you are familiar with such amenities.” It was a question of sorts, but the tone spoke loud enough to tell me that if we didn’t, then too bad for us, we would simply have to make do on our own. “A clean set of clothing will be brought to you here. Please be sure to mark where it is that you may find it again.” She continued on without giving either of us a chance to make any response. “Lord, Fistall,” as if she granted him this title only at the request of her Lady, “These will be aired and ready for you forth with, and” she moved across the hallway and opened another door, “these will be yours.” She then turned on her heel and walked purposefully away leaving us alone in the corridor. I had not had a room of my own in years, let alone rooms. Why? She knew me only as a delivery boy and an old acquaintance of a long dead brother.
“Perhaps we should bathe as she suggests. It will leave us both in a better mood.” I was not going to play handmaiden to the general, but if I had the opportunity to splash about in such luxury I was going to do so. He stumped along behind me. He was most likely cursing me for a fool who had been changed in what he deemed alarming ways by these folderol Phiriaen.
On second inspection this chamber was more accommodating than I had first thought. The walls were tiled in a mosaic suggesting we were splashing about in a warm spring with lush plant life. Fantastical insects had been inlaid in the floor and flying on the ceiling, which was a clear luscious blue. There were several inset pools filled with bubbling warm water and three more porcelain basins large enough for me to submerge myself totally with copper cisterns and sluices to fill them. I walked up to the first and discovered the ingenious method of draining, not the bucket, by bucket method used even in some of the finest bath houses in the city, but another sluice system in a trench that I followed down the room to a corner where it became enclosed and disappeared into the floor. I looked up to find a series of wooden chambers to my left. I opened the door to one and discovered in was a steam room. This place was unimaginable. To my right were more enclosed wood chambers. They were smaller than the steam rooms and I walked to one wondering what they held. This door swung open to display an indoor privy. I was in shock. There was the basin and the sluice pull to wash it clear. I had heard that some of the wealthiest homes had such amenities, but I had not thought I would ever see one, let alone use it. How amazing a place this was! It may appear ancient on the outside, but it is at the height of technological advance on the inside.
Fistall still stood looking at the naturally fed hot spring tubs dubiously. It was a hot day outside and yet this place was cooler than one might expect for what it held. I was still sweating from my exertions earlier and I disrobed without care. I piled my clothing on a bench I hoped was left for that purpose and began filling one of the basins from the sluice. That water was clear and quite cool so I added some of the water from a heated copper cistern until I had it to my liking. This was all so ingenious. I slipped into the water enjoying the grandeur about me. It had filled more quickly than I had expected and I looked up to see Fistall eyeing me warily.
“This is true splendor Fistall, you can not argue with that. There is no loss of honor in accepting what is freely given, especially when it is better than most see in ten lifetimes.”
“Does she think to belittle me with such a show of wealth?” He was still fighting this tooth and nail. I noticed that he would not give such credit to a woman alone.
I thought on this seriously. “I think not. I think she only wishes to show you true hospitality. I think it would be less than honorable of you to refuse it. Besides you are filthy, and you do stink like a singed cat.” This was meant playfully as his crest was of the fighting cougar.
He eyed me with skepticism, but grudgingly caught my humor though he did not acquiesce to it. “Very well. It is quite a place isn’t it?” He said giving the room a less critical glance.
“It is sumptuously elegant, and I have never seen its like before.” He had just submerged himself in one of the naturally corralled pools when the door opened. Scuf’s mouth dropped opened and his eyes bulged round in surprise.
“Wow.” It was just a whisper of noise. “Cook said you were in a bathing chamber down the hallway, but I thought this door led outside to an outbuilding or something.” He was running at the mouth as usual. “Here are some clothes for you and the Sir. I think the Lady picked them out herself. She said I am to act as your valley or something like that. I wonder if I’ll get a chance to wash up in here. They have kept me pretty busy running about. Did you know there are only like a handful of people living in this huge place?”
“Scuf!” He didn’t have the longest attention span in the first place, but the rambling would have to stop before Fistall began to question my sanity again. I looked at him, but he was so lost in the soothing waters of his pool that I doubt he heard or cared. “She wants you to act as a VALET. That means you are helper of sorts. You will have to learn to keep your mouth shut though, and I need you to run an errand.”
“Cook wants me to go…”
“Yes, yes, but if we are going to play these parts I need you to run to Mennia and tell her what has happened. Listen close. Jeivall has died. His heir is here, and so is Fistall. We will be going to a hearing at the council soon. Go on with any plans she can. Don’t worry about us. Got that?”
“Course. Anything else?”
“No.”
He started fidgeting and picking at his hands. “Is his majesty really dead?” he said this much more quietly, but with a sincerity that was touching.
“Yes son, he is. I saw him go down in battle, sword flashing. It was a crushing blow, but I had my orders.” So, he had been listening. He was cleaning his fingers by the end of it and then dunked his head. Was he really sheddin
g tears?
Llanalla
I drew near the kitchen and heard Cook going over a list of goods she had laid up in an outbuilding. She was ticking off what she needed. As I came into the room I could see the young man who had come to my aid in the street earlier nodding in time. He had been a big help so far. Cook was a good judge of character. She wouldn’t lean on the boy so if she didn’t think he was reliable. One less thing to worry over. As he turned to leave, I realized Horice had not been apprised of the situation and I needed his take on my present situation.
“Where is Horice?” Cook looked up from her new charge without shock. She was never caught unprepared; even now her list had included some salted meats and goods I had not known we still held in our stores, as we had no need for them of late.
“Haven’t seen him since you left my lady. I suspect he is hiding out after yesterday’s disappointment. He can brood when his little experiments go awry.” She spoke to me, but her attention was for the ball of dough she was kneading.
“Perhaps, but I would have expected him to come see what the hubbub is about. You cannot deny that today has been out of the ordinary.” She frowned at this and looked up at me.
“True, my Lady. Perhaps he is not well?” She looked almost worried. “I would think he would come to do his own investigating.”
“Perhaps he doesn’t wish to embroil himself in this mess.” I nearly jumped out of my skin when Scinna said that from the doorway behind me.
