by Emma Miles
Kesta glanced around briefly but her throat muscles tightened. She heard the older woman grunt as she righted the table and then the glug of liquid into a glass. Rosa approached her as cautiously as she would a wild animal and held a glass of brandy out to her.
‘I heard that you have been offered a political marriage,’ she said. ‘I might be wrong … but I’m guessing you’re not too happy?’
Despite herself Kesta laughed. She reached out and took the brandy.
‘Thank you. I’m sorry for the mess.’
‘His majesty is talking to your father at the moment.’
‘Is the D … is Jorrun with them?’
She shook her head. ‘May I talk freely to you, my lady?’
‘Always.’ Then out of the corner of her eye she saw the mess she’d made of the room. Tentatively she called up her knowing; understandably Rosa was nervous, even a little afraid, but she could sense nothing but a desire to help. She wondered what in the spirits’ name she’d done to deserve sympathy; especially considering her behaviour.
‘Lord Jorrun is … he is quite daunting.’ Rosa looked out of the window rather than at her. ‘He’s powerful, but no one knows anything about the magic he uses except maybe the king. He’s very … solitary. It’s said he spends hours, days even, hidden away in his Raven Tower and no one knows what he does there. If it’s any consolation to you, I’ve never heard of him treating anyone badly. He is strict in adherence to the laws of the land and expects the same of everyone and as such, his rulings in court are often harsh. But that said, he and the king are close, and I don’t think Bractius would be friends with a bad man.’ She looked at Kesta earnestly with her large brown eyes. Fine wrinkles lined her face and there were strands of grey in her tawny hair.
‘Thank you.’ Kesta took a swallow of the brandy, savouring the burning sensation in her throat. It was sweet, and she could taste honey. Rosa’s words had not reassured her at all, but the woman’s kindness had left her feeling a little calmer; almost numb. ‘I hope the queen doesn’t mind me borrowing you?’
‘Not at all,’ Rosa gave a wince. ‘She has ladies her own age. Shall we see what we can salvage of this room?’
They re-set the candles and picked up the pieces of broken crockery and scattered fruit. The pastries had made more of a mess and they dropped the pieces into the fireplace. They were just shaking out the dresses when the door shook with an abrupt knocking. With a scowl, Rosa went to open it and stepped back as Arrus strode straight in.
‘Kesta, I’m so sorry!’
Rosa hesitated in the doorway and Kesta gestured for her to come back into the room as her father enveloped her in a bone-breaking hug. He lifted her chin to look at her red, swollen eyes and shook his head.
‘Bractius thought he was doing us a great honour offering you such a powerful marriage and his aid. He tells me that he didn’t know what an insult it would be in the Fulmers to force a woman to marry, let alone a walker.’ He sighed. ‘Despite that he won’t change the offer and I—’
‘We can’t say no.’ Kesta tried to reassure him despite her own feelings. ‘The islands come before one woman; even a walker.’
Her father looked at her, the muscles in his face moved as he ground his teeth, his cheeks flushed. ‘There is something else. I need to get back the Fulmers as soon as possible. Bractius tells me that he can have his men mustered and ready to travel with me in two days. Jorrun also insists that he has important work to do and cannot tarry here. The wedding is to take place in two days.’
Rosa quickly grabbed the decanter off the table. Kesta didn’t miss a beat and snatched up the candlesticks instead.
‘Two days!’
Arrus took a step back.
‘Did you not at least insist that they save the Fulmers first before you hand me over?’
He took another step back and dropped a heavy pouch onto the table. He cleared his throat. ‘Thane Jorrun has sent you some money so that you can purchase what you need for the wedding.’
She picked up the pouch and threw it straight out of the window. Rosa gave a cry of alarm and even her father gasped.
‘I’ll give you a moment to take it in.’ Lord Arrus, for all his size and strength, almost scuttled to the door. ‘I’m afraid we are expected at dinner tonight.’
The candlestick struck the back of the door as it closed.
Rosa ran to the window and looked down as Kesta clenched her teeth and fists. She took in short deep breaths but couldn’t stop the hot tears flooding her vision and spilling down her cheeks.
‘Hey you!’
Kesta startled at the volume from the older woman.
‘Bring that money up here at once and you’ll be rewarded; try to take it and you’ll lose both hands!’
She turned to see Kesta looking at her with her mouth open; she blushed and then shrugged. ‘My lady, I hope you don’t mind me saying … I respect your independence and pride; but there is more than one way to show it. When you marry Jorrun, you must look and act like a queen and show him from the start that is how you expect to be treated. Do you understand what I mean?’
Kesta clamped her mouth shut and tilted her head to regard the older woman. As much as she wanted to let her anger out and show her defiance she could see that what Rosa suggested was a much more mature and reasonable way of handling things. No amount of candle throwing was going to change her situation. But she needed an outlet for her turmoil of emotions.
‘I really need some air.’ She exhaled loudly.
‘If you give me a moment to fetch you a cloak and make sure that man is on his way up with your money, we could take a walk around the lake? If we go northward away from the wharves, there should be fewer people; especially on a wild day like this.’
‘I would be grateful.’ Kesta nodded.
While she waited for Rosa to return, she placed the candlestick back on the table and swapped the soft black slippers she’d been leant for her sturdy walking boots that reached almost to her knees. Rosa came back in with the barest of knocks. She was already wearing a long grey cloak, and she handed Kesta a black woollen one and then held out the pouch of coins.
‘I gave that scoundrel two gold; though I’m sure he would have made off with it all if I hadn’t caught him.’
‘I did throw it away.’ Kesta shrugged.
Rosa bit her lip and regarded her cautiously ‘Will you be willing to let me take your measurements later?’
Kesta smiled and snorted. ‘I promise to behave.’
They made their way down through the castle ignoring the curious looks they received.
‘What would you wear for a wedding in the Fulmars?’ Rosa asked.
She really, really didn’t want to talk about it. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, drawing in a deep breath. She knew it wasn’t fair to take it out on Rosa. ‘Usually something quite simple but we dress it up with flowers and vine leaves; or berries in the autumn. What about here?’
‘The more lace, silk, and jewellery the lovelier the bride is considered.’ Rosa frowned. Their eyes met, and both women laughed nervously.
Rosa opened a door into the kitchen courtyard. Kesta almost coughed at the smoke and metal tang of the air.
‘It will be better away from the city,’ Rosa said, seeing her expression.
They left through a wooden gate and followed a narrow, cobbled, road downward. They passed a loaded wagon and a group of women carrying baskets of fish. Rosa turned off the path and descended a set of steep steps to a wider street that followed the city wall. It was lined with houses, made of the same stone as the wall and the castle, that backed against the hill. Some people had built awnings outside their homes and sat beneath them plying their trades. There was a cobbler and a net mender, a baker, and a potter. Three women sat together sewing and Rosa wished them a good morning.
The way became busier and Kesta clamped down tight on her knowing. Rosa moved closer to her and steered her toward a wide set of steps that led down to a
plaza in the centre of which stood a well.
‘That’s the way down to the wharves.’ Rosa pointed. ‘But we’ll take the Forest Gate to the north rather than Lake Gate.’
They crossed the plaza, zigzagging through the crowd. Despite not using her knowing, Kesta felt goose bumps run up her arms and twice she glanced over her shoulder. She could see nothing amiss and put it down to being surrounded by so many people.
When eventually they squeezed their way through the Forest Gate, Kesta’s nerves were completely on edge. Rosa took them straight off the gravel road and onto the grass and headed toward the lake. There were a few small boats pulled up on the muddy shore and a group of young children ran through the lacy edge of the shallow water; but for the most part it was as quiet as Rosa had promised.
‘Is it far to the forest?’ she asked, searching the horizon with her eyes.
‘About a day if you rode; just a few hours by lake. The Raven Tower is deep within the forest,’ she added hesitantly.
‘Well at least that’s something,’ Kesta murmured. She glanced back toward the road; there was a man standing there looking down toward the lake. He appeared to be wearing a guard’s uniform of some kind and she dismissed him as harmless.
They wandered along the shore in companionable silence. Kesta tried not to let her mind wander to her future or dwell on what she might have to endure. Instead, she fell to wondering what had become of her mother and uncle and if they would send word by messenger to Taurmaline. Fire-walking too far and too often was incredibly dangerous and could lead to a coma; part of her thought it would serve everyone right if she was unconscious for her wedding!
‘I should have thought of organising a picnic, so we could go further,’ Rosa said.
‘Oh, are you hungry? We can go back, I don’t mind.’
‘Oh, no, I’m fine!’ Rosa reassured her. ‘I was just thinking of later. Perhaps it’s something we could do tomorrow if the rain stays off?’
Kesta nodded; reminded at once that tomorrow would be her last day of freedom. She gazed across the open lake, so wide that she could not see the further shore. The water was a sullen grey matching both the sky and her spirits. As she turned to look back toward the castle, she exclaimed, ‘That man is following us!’
Rosa stepped forward to stand beside her. ‘He is wearing the livery of the Raven Tower.’
Kesta strode toward him. The man visibly startled but drew himself up to stand his ground. He was perhaps in his mid-forties with thinning hair shorn close to his scalp. He was about five feet ten inches and erring toward broad; muscle softening toward fat.
‘Why are you following us?’ Kesta demanded. ‘Who are you?’
‘I am Merkis Tantony, my Lady.’ He rose up onto the balls of his feet and gave a slight bow; his grey eyes never leaving hers. ‘Thane Jorrun asked me to see to your safety’
‘My safety!’ she glanced at Rosa who was almost hiding behind her. ‘You mean he wanted to make sure I didn’t leave.’
Tantony cleared his throat, politely lifting a fist to his lips. ‘No, ma’am, his orders were to make sure that no one bothered you.’
‘Is he expecting someone to bother me?’
Tantony blinked but didn’t look away. ‘I was led to believe that you and your father were attacked on your way across Elden?’
‘That was out in the wilds. Surely you don’t expect bandits right here in Taurmaline?’
‘Not bandits, no,’ he replied evasively.
Kesta’s eyes narrowed, and she called up her knowing. The stocky man was uncomfortable and nervous; he wasn’t used to dealing with what he considered a ‘highborn women’ and he wasn’t sure what to expect from her. More than that, there was a real fear of failing the Dark Man. A real fear.
‘Well, the only person who has bothered me is you, so you had better go.’
Tantony’s skin reddened and Kesta felt a twinge of guilt; after all it wasn’t this poor man’s fault that Jorrun was being so controlling even before they got married.
‘Maybe we should just pretend he isn’t here,’ Rosa suggested.
Kesta tried not to let herself be affected by the hope in Tantony’s grey eyes.
‘Has he told you to stop me doing anything?’ she demanded.
He shook his head. ‘No, I was just to follow you and keep you safe.’
‘And if I was to set off right now for the Fulmers?’
‘I’d have a long walk, ma’am,’ Tantony replied quickly with a straight face.
‘And why would he send his Merkis and not a mere warrior?’
‘He … trusts me, ma’am.’
‘Well I don’t,’ she replied sharply. ‘Come on, Rosa, we’ll do as you say and ignore him.’
Kesta was fuming; how dare Jorrun treat her like a possession even before they were married! And did he really think that a woman of the Fulmers was defenceless? Then she remembered their supplies had been stolen by a gang of petty bandits and she felt a wave of shame. No wonder they think she was weak and helpless.
She gave a shake of her head. ‘Let’s go back.’
‘My Lady are you sure?’ Rosa looked at her in concern. Even Tantony halted and watched her with a frown.
‘Yes, it’s getting cold.’
They skirted back along the lake and up to the gate, Merkis Tantony keeping a respectful distance behind. As they crossed the plaza Kesta became acutely aware of a sentient creature in distress. It battered against her knowing even though she’d closed it down. She heard the squeal of the pony before she saw it; it had collapsed on the ground beneath a load of heavy sacks. Its owner was trying to drag it up by its halter at the same time as lashing it with a thin stick. Kesta darted forward, grabbed the stick, and struck the man in the face with it.
‘Let it go!’ she snarled.
The furious man made to grab her, but she stepped aside and caught him by the wrist. At once she summoned her knowing, and she transferred all the pain and distress the pony was feeling into the man. He collapsed to the cobbles, clutching at his stomach and chest.
‘Demon!’ he accused through gritted teeth.
‘That is what this poor creature is feeling!’ Kesta spat. ‘You have not fed her in four days. The load’s too heavy and not evenly balanced! She’s shoed poorly and on the verge of going lame!’
‘Come away, ma’am, please!’ Tantony appealed to her, aware of the growing crowd.
‘She has so many bruises she can’t remember when she last didn’t hurt!’ Kesta threw the stick at the man. ‘I am buying this pony.’
The man tried, but failed, to get to his feet. ‘It isn’t for sale! How will I get the salt to my buyer?’
‘I don’t care.’ Kesta took a step toward him and he shrank back. ‘Do you know what we do to people who abuse animals on the Fulmers? We make them live for a year as that animal. If I ever hear of you hurting an animal again, I will come and find you.’
She held out her hand and Rosa hastily took out the coin pouch and placed two coins on her palm. Kesta threw them at the man.
‘Your knife, Merkis.’
‘My knife?’ Tantony stared at her in alarm.
‘Cut the load off that pony, man!’ she ordered him.
Tantony scrambled to obey although she could make out a few mumbled curses as he worked. Kesta crouched by the pony’s head and opened her knowing to it, letting it understand who she was and what she intended. She removed the halter and as soon as it was free of its load it stood, with some difficulty, and then followed behind Kesta as she made her way toward the castle. Both Rosa and Tantony stared after her open-mouthed for a moment, before glancing at each other and hurrying to follow.
‘What are you going to do with it?’ Tantony asked carefully after a while.
‘You are going to see that it’s stabled and fed and cared for by a good farrier. Then you can tell Thane Jorrun that it’s coming to the Raven Tower.’
‘I’m not sur—’
She spun round to glare at him and
he closed his mouth quickly.
‘Yes, ma’am.’
***
They left the reluctant Tantony, and the rescued pony in the kitchen courtyard and Kesta returned to her room with a heavy heart. It was hours yet until she had to face another dinner with Jorrun and the king’s court and the room were already taking on the feel of a prison to her. Rosa seemed to sense her despair.
‘My lady, I must make some arrangements for your dress. Can I get you some books, perhaps? Is there something that you would like to do to occupy your mind?’
‘What I most want is to know how things fare in the Fulmars.’ She sighed. ‘I would be grateful for some books. I carve sometimes; but I’m not that good.’
‘Leave it with me.’ Rosa smiled, although she radiated concern. ‘I will try not to be long.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ Kesta forced a smile of her own.
When Rosa left, she dragged a chair over to the window and sat gazing over the wall to the lake. It was almost impossible not to let herself dwell on what her life would become but she fought again to turn her thoughts aside. As strong and adept as the warriors of Fulmer were, they were outnumbered many times over by the raiders of the Borrows. Add to them the necromancers and soldiers of Chem and they had the same chance of survival as a shrew in a bonfire. No matter which way she looked at it, no matter how she might wish she was somehow powerful enough to turn the tide, it all came to the same answer. Leaving in the night or even taking the drastic action of ending her life might free herself from an unhappy existence; but it would condemn her people to death not to mention bring shame and grief to her parents.
She was startled by a knock at the door. Whoever it was didn’t open it, so she crossed the room to do so herself. Two young girls stood there both bearing trays of food. They both looked terrified of her, so she threw out an aura of calm and invited them in. They placed the food out for her with shy smiles and then hurried back out of the room.
It was almost half an hour later when Rosa returned with her arms full. She’d brought a selection of books as well as some wood and a whittling knife.
‘You are very resourceful.’
‘It is a good idea to be indispensable at court.’ Rosa pursed her lips.
