The Jalakh Bow

by Jamie Edmundson

  Next morning, they were quick to pack up and leave, heading for Guslar, the capital of Rotelegen. After the devastation at the border, Belwynn was unsure what to expect from the city, but as they approached she could see that the defences were intact. Soldiers manned the walls and waved them through an open gate. It looked like a city open for business.

  The straight roads of Guslar took them to the central plaza. Belwynn enjoyed sharing Theron’s interest in the city, the layout and building designs all a novelty to him. Lyssa showed little interest, wondering instead when they would stop for lunch.

  It was agreed that Belwynn would accompany Theron as envoys of Kalinth and present themselves at the castle, while the others sourced supplies for the journey south. A brief meeting was organised with Adalheid, mother of the young Duke of Rotelegen, and with little ceremony they found themselves waiting in what looked like one of her private rooms. After a couple of minutes, the door swung open and Adalheid entered, accompanied by only one minister and a bodyguard, who stood by the door and looked straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with those in the room.

  ‘Lady Adalheid,’ said the minister, making the introductions, ‘Count Theron and Lady Belwynn.’

  ‘You’re on your way to the festivities in Coldeberg,’ said Adalheid with a note of sarcasm.

  ‘Yes indeed,’ replied Theron. ‘Will you or the Duke be attending?’

  Adalheid snorted. ‘We don’t have time for that. The rebuilding task here is enormous; never ending. Jeremias needs to be seen to be leading it, not trying to curry favour with the Emperor who will never lift a finger to help us here. He’d rather spend the Empire’s money on a party in Coldeberg.’ She shook her head in distaste. ‘Giving Barissia to his own brother...’

  At least, thought Belwynn, Theron and I are used to the awkwardness of the royal court in Heractus. It’s been good preparation for this.

  ‘The people of Kalinth offer their support to Rotelegen. If there’s anything we can do to help, please ask,’ said Theron.

  Adalheid studied him. ‘You in Kalinth know what it is to share a border with Haskany and the Drobax. When the time comes, fight them. You may buy us some time here. Should they come for us first, we will do the same for you. I think that is all we can do for each other.’

  ‘We noticed immigrants heading here from Trevenza and Grienna,’ said Belwynn.

  Adalheid turned to her. She looked prematurely aged to Belwynn, who thought she could just make out the features of a younger, carefree Adalheid. If she had really existed, that Adalheid must have disappeared on hearing the news of her husband and sons.

  ‘Yes. We’re depopulated. Many died in the fighting. Others, who were evacuated, have decided to stay where they are rather than return here to their homeland. So there are opportunities in Rotelegen for those from the north, and for those from across the Empire. Where else could you be given your own plot of land to farm for free? Unfortunately, it means that we have become a magnet for the indolent and the criminal. But that is what the Gods have given us to work with. We must do our best. Anyway, it was a delight to have met you both.’

  With that, Adalheid was on her feet, and as soon as Theron and Belwynn muttered their pleasantries she was gone.

  ‘I feel sorry for her son,’ commented Theron once they were out of the castle, ‘such a dragon for a mother.’

  ‘I disagree,’ said Belwynn. ‘Surely it’s better to have a dragon on his side than to have been left alone.’

  Theron nodded. ‘Alright, you win.’

  We’ve finished early, Belwynn said to Soren. Where are you?

  I’ll give you directions, Soren replied instantly. I think you’ll be surprised who we’ve bumped into.

  Intrigued, Belwynn led Theron a few streets away towards the market area of the city. Evander saw them and waved. He was standing with Soren and Lyssa, next to a carriage which had been parked up on the other side of the street. Attached to the carriage were four gaurs.

  ‘It can’t be,’ said Belwynn out loud, a stupid grin appearing on her face.

  Theron frowned at the spectacle, but followed on as Belwynn practically skipped over to the carriage. As she neared, Gyrmund came into view from behind the carriage, talking animatedly with two Caladri women. She recognised them immediately as Marika and Dora, the carriage attendants they had met when they had entered the lands of the Blood Caladri the previous summer. When they saw her they both let out a little scream and rushed over to give her a hug.

  Belwynn introduced them to Theron, and in their excitement they hugged him as well, making her giggle.

  She peered into the carriage, but it was empty.

  ‘They can’t be here on their own?’ she asked Gyrmund.

  ‘From what I can understand, the men are out buying provisions and left them here for a short while.’

  Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the Caladri returned. Amongst them was Hajna, Princess of the Blood Caladri. She walked over, poised and elegant, all the more noticeable when her attendants were so excitable and over-familiar.

  ‘How nice to see you all again,’ said Hajna once the various introductions were made. With her were Gyuri, the same carriage driver who had driven them before, and two of the male Caladri attendants, Vida and Joska. The three of them were carrying sacks of items they must have purchased at the market. In addition, Szabolcs, the wise man they had met during their visit, was with them. Soren immediately gravitated towards Szabolcs and drew him away for a private conversation.

  ‘I presume you are also on your way to Coldeberg?’ Belwynn asked.

  ‘You are correct. We were invited to attend by Gustav the Hawk. It is very important that Szabolcs and I meet with the leaders of Dalriya.’

  ‘Prince Lorant is not with you? Is he well?’

  A look of grief passed over Hajna’s face. ‘Lorant is well. We faced very serious fighting soon after you left, the worst I have ever known. My husband’s father, King Tibor, was killed in the fighting. So Lorant is not a prince anymore, but a king.’

  ‘And you are a queen?’

  ‘You are correct. We agreed to a truce with the Shadow Caladri not long after our king’s death, and it has held over the autumn and winter seasons. But Lorant dare not leave our lands and so I have come without him.’

  ‘Are you about to leave now?’ Belwynn asked.

  ‘Yes. We thought it wise to replenish our supplies here first.’

  ‘Can we accompany them?’ Belwynn asked, looking at her companions.

  ‘Of course we will,’ said Soren.

  ‘That is so kind of you,’ said Hajna.

  Gyuri climbed up to his seat, while Hajna and her four attendants took their places inside the carriage. Giving a shout and a pull on the reins, Gyuri got his gaur moving.

  Belwynn and the others looked at each other with a mixture of expressions.

  ‘So we just bumped into the Queen of the Caladri?’ asked Theron, disbelievingly.

  ‘I liked the cows,’ said Lyssa.

  Coldeberg

  III

  SPRING RAINFALL HIT THEM on the road from Guslar to Essenberg. It was incessant, and Belwynn soon gave up on trying to keep dry, reconciling herself to travelling while soaked through. Her inner things got sore from the constant rubbing of riding. The Caladri were able to keep out of the rain inside the carriage, the men taking turns driving the gaur. But their slow pace became a source of frustration. In the end, Belwynn bundled Lyssa into the carriage with Hajna and the rest of them rode on ahead: the sooner they reached Essenberg, the sooner they could get warm.

  The Great Road took them to the northern Castle Quarter of Essenberg and they went straight to the royal castle. Baldwin and his court were probably already in Coldeberg, but someone would have been left in charge of things, and both the Kalinthians and the Caladri were invited guests of the Emperor. After explaining who they were, Belwynn and the others were admitted to the castle but had to wait a while before someone arrived to greet them. That som
eone was a priest.

  ‘His Grace is on his way to meet you. I can take you to your rooms first.’

  Belwynn shared a little smirk with Gyrmund as they both recalled the pace at which the Archbishop moved.

  ‘Is Decker in charge in the absence of Baldwin?’ asked Soren.

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘Well, you might want to mention to him that the Queen of the Caladri is on her way here too.’

  The priest’s eyes widened at the news, but he otherwise kept his composure. ‘I will certainly tell him. Please, follow me.’

  It was a few hours until the Caladri were settled into the castle and ready to meet with the Archbishop. Outside, the sun was setting, and a chill descended, much to Belwynn’s disappointment, since she had only just got herself warm again. Hajna and Szabolcs attended, leaving the rest of the Caladri in their rooms. Theron left Evander to look after Lyssa, adding babysitting to the list of duties expected of a squire. Decker was alone. He had found them a cosy room to meet in, with a roaring fire, and while the Archbishop was best positioned to take full advantage of it, the heat spread nicely through the room. Belwynn wasn’t the only one whose eyes looked droopy, as the heat, a generous helping of Cordentine red wine, and a long day of travelling combined to make everyone feel sleepy.

  Decker was naturally eager to hear their news and mostly listened at first. But after a while Belwynn had a few questions for the Archbishop.

  ‘You did not want to go to Coldeberg, Your Grace?’

  ‘Well, I might have enjoyed it when I got there, but I don’t enjoy travelling so much these days. And a city this size needs to know that someone is in charge. Otherwise people get to thinking they might be the ones in charge.’

  ‘Wouldn’t you have been involved in the coronation?’

  ‘Dukes do not get crowned,’ explained Decker. ‘That’s what went wrong with the last one,’ he added mischievously.

  ‘Oh,’ said Belwynn, slightly confused with the politics. ‘They are just appointed by the Emperor?’

  ‘No, not that either. The duchies choose their own rulers, usually in line with the laws of inheritance. Emeric had no direct heir. In the situation they are in, the wise people of Barissia would want their ruler to be both able and, most of all, be loyal to the Emperor beyond a shadow of a doubt. I think you will agree that Walter is the perfect candidate.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Belwynn, not wishing to appear that she was suggesting otherwise.

  ‘And the not so wise people of Barissia?’ asked Soren.

  ‘Well, they are the ones who brought the duchy to its knees. Baldwin has been merciful with Barissia, placing all the blame for their treachery on Emeric’s shoulders. But neither he nor Walter will tolerate any further opposition. The Barissian rebellion nearly led to the fall of the Empire, let’s not forget. Emeric was in alliance with Erkindrix himself. And how would Emeric and his minions have treated us if Burkhard Castle had fallen and the Emperor had been slain?’

  ‘That would have been a disaster,’ suggested Hajna softly.

  ‘I agree, Your Highness,’ said Decker. ‘None of us have forgotten what Barissia did. This meeting of the rulers of Dalriya has many purposes, of course. But one of them is to affirm, for all to see, who is in charge of the duchy now.’

  Everyone was up early for the final leg of their journey. The sky was overcast, but the rain was holding off for now.

  Theron had a brief opportunity to see the sights of Essenberg, all of which held memories for Belwynn of their time in the city last year. On their left, Decker’s cathedral dominated the skyline. Ahead of them lay the River Cousel, swelled by the recent rain. They used Albert’s Bridge to cross the river. Downstream of them was the First Bridge, that used Margaret Island to cross the river. Belwynn pointed it out to Theron and Evander, explaining that they had spent a night on that island, hiding from their enemies.

  Far to their left, out of sight, was the Imps, the headquarters of the Imperial Army. It had been Walter’s to command, perhaps would be still, though surely he would be spending less time in Essenberg now that he had become a duke. It was to Walter’s duchy that they now headed, riding straight on through the Coldeberg Gate, from where a road took them directly to the capital of Barissia.

  The rain that had threatened them never came, and so they were content to ride along at the same pace as the Caladri carriage. Just as the light was fading Coldeberg came into view. They saw its distinctive slope, descending from the high point where the castle adjoined the city walls, down to the southern end at the bottom of the hill. The sight made Belwynn’s insides twist. Her memories told her that Coldeberg was a place of evil, but she knew it didn’t have to be, now that Emeric’s regime was gone.

  The gate into Coldeberg was closed for the night, so they had to request entry from the night watch. That would involve the soldiers finding someone with enough authority to give permission, so Belwynn expected a long wait.

  She was surprised when the gates opened after a few minutes. Waving them into the city was Rainer, Baldwin’s chamberlain, who had assembled a team of officials to expedite their arrival. As she entered the city a stable-boy ran up to grab the reins of her mare and take her away. Another boy jumped up beside Gyuri and guided him away to a suitable place to leave the carriage.

  ‘Lord Rainer,’ Belwynn greeted him.

  ‘Lady Belwynn,’ the chamberlain replied.

  She was impressed that he remembered her, but he had always seemed a man in control of the details.

  ‘May I present our travelling guests? Queen Hajna of the Blood Caladri and Count Theron of Erisina, representing King Jonas of Kalinth.’

  Rainer took their hands.

  ‘On behalf of Emperor Baldwin and Duke Walter may I extend you all a warm welcome. You are expected, and I have already organised your accommodation. Queen Hajna, Gustav insisted on taking charge of your rooms, so I will personally take you and your attendants to see him right away. As for the rest of you, I have a town house picked out for you by Duke Walter. I hoped you would be able to share it with Prince Edgar and his entourage?’

  Belwynn briefly checked with Theron, who nodded his approval. ‘Is Edgar here already?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, you are the last of our guests to arrive, everyone else who accepted our invitation is here.’

  ‘We are very grateful,’ said Theron. ‘I can only imagine the amount of work such an operation has given you.’

  ‘Yes indeed, but once I accepted the inevitability of the odd mistake here and there, I have been able to embrace the challenge. Werner!’ Rainer said, calling over a member of his staff. ‘Please take our guests to their house.’

  They said their farewells to Rainer and to the Caladri, before the six of them followed Werner on foot through the dark streets of Coldeberg. Belwynn had never felt safe in this city, and made Lyssa hold her hand as she peered down dark alleys suspiciously. In truth, however, Werner was leading them to the wealthy part of the city, where the houses were sheltered by the looming presence of the Duke’s castle. Whereas before the castle had been crawling with Emeric’s mercenaries, she knew that now it was Walter’s soldiers who kept an eye on things, and her fears subsided.

  When Werner approached the door of the building and gave a knock she almost gasped in surprise, for he had led them to one of the most expensive looking buildings she had seen. It was brick built and no expense seemed to have been spared in the choice of materials, with glass windows and clay tiles on the roof.

  The door was opened by a young woman who Werner introduced as Heike, before explaining to Heike who they were.

  ‘You will have a staff to attend to you here during your stay,’ Werner explained. ‘Any concerns please ask for me—I am more likely to be available than Lord Rainer himself,’ he said with a smile.

  With that said, Werner hurried off down the street and Heike took them all in to the hall of the house.

  As they gathered there, looking about them, the far do
or opened, and Edgar suddenly appeared in the room, flanked by Gyrmund’s friend, Farred. Farred and Gyrmund embraced; Edgar shook hands with Soren, then found Belwynn for a hug; Belwynn introduced him to Theron; and soon the hall was filled with so much talk that Belwynn couldn’t really follow any of it.

  In the end the travellers discarded their cloaks and were taken into the kitchen, where they were seated at a table. Heike began to pile the table with a cold supper and Belwynn, realising that she was famished, didn’t hesitate to begin tucking in. Soren and the others, even little Lyssa, all did the same, and so it fell to Edgar and Farred to relate their news first.

  And what tales they had to tell.

  Edgar went first. He began with the worst of it, recounting how Gervase Salvinus, Emeric’s Isharite wizard, Tirano, and their former friend turned traitor, Kaved, had broken into his camp, killing Soren’s mentor, Ealdnoth, before attempting to kill Edgar himself. His bodyguard, Leofwin, had died in the desperate fight, but not before killing Tirano. Belwynn took a look at Soren on hearing the news, who had bowed his head in grief. The others looked to her and she shook her head, indicating that Edgar should carry on with his account and let her brother be. Edgar then filled in the bare bones of the campaign in Barissia, which had ended with the surrender of the very city they were now in, and Salvinus emerging free from Coldeberg in return for the head of his former master.

  ‘This was Salvinus’s house,’ added Edgar, with a wry smile. ‘Walter thought it apt that we should be the ones to enjoy it.’

  Next it was Farred’s turn, whose story was no less dramatic. He had taken a force of South Magnians to the Brasingian Empire where, led by Ashere of North Magnia, they had engaged with the invading Isharite army. The idea of this small force taking on an impossibly large army sounded like it should be made into a song. Farred’s story had its own share of tragedy, when Prince Ashere died of the wounds inflicted on him. Farred then found himself, along with Emperor Baldwin and the imperial army, under siege in Burkhard Castle. They had been surrounded by the huge Drobax army that had descended the Great Road, having to defend their position from daily onslaughts. When Farred explained that the Isharites had suddenly and unexpectedly retreated north, he and Edgar looked at them quizzically, and it was time to tell their story.