by Alex Avrio
The tree was old, like the grandmother of the forest, her trunk so thick that three men combined could barely hug her, her body towering and breaking into hundreds of branches. On those branches hung moss, old bird’s nests, and tens of thousands of bones. Some were full skeletons, some isolated bones. Charlie looked in awe at the tree, bones instead of leaves, and wondered who or what had left them, and why. Or did the animals of the forest come there of their own accord to expire in the embrace of Grandmother Tree?
The three women stared at the bones, then Emilia sat down on one of the tree’s thick roots. She stroked the root gently in silent thanks for its shelter. Charlie looked around but couldn’t get her bearings. She reckoned she could retrace their steps back to the stone circle. Then what? She rubbed her nose thoughtfully. She wasn’t sure which way the soldiers would be, and she wasn’t sure of the way back to the outlaw camp. They had wandered last night for a long time, most of it running blind. She wondered what would be best, to try and find the outlaws a few hours away, or guess as to the direction to the soldiers? She was just sure she didn’t want to spend another night hiding from whatever was out there.
“I need some water,” Rosamynd said. “I fear I might soon expire from thirst.”
“I’m starving,” Emilia chipped in.
“My feet hurt,” Rosamynd grumbled. “The skin's torn. I’ve got blisters everywhere. My back hurts. My hands are in tatters.” She rubbed her feet. The silk stockings were torn, bloody and dirty. The skin on the back of her heels had peeled off in strips and a painful thin crust had formed on top like ice on a frozen river.
“My blisters have blisters,” Emilia said mournfully. She lifted up her scraped and bruised palms. “Look at this. How will I be able to show these hands again?”
Charlie thought it would do no good to point out again that they should have thought of all this before they ran off into the wilderness.
“I think we can meet back up with the brook if we go this way,” she suggested. The two women got up, reluctant to leave the protection of the bone tree. Charlie was tempted to stay in its shadow all day, but they had to keep moving if they were to find the Hussars. Charlie hoped the Merchant Blades were with them.
The women walked down a gentle slope, through a patch of evergreen trees, and found the babbling little stream meandering through the forest, and gray rocky slopes heralding the foot of the mountains ahead. All three women ran to the clear water, washed their hands and drank until their thirst was satisfied. Rosamynd put her feet in with a happy little sigh.
“I’m glad to see that you’re happy,” a man’s voice said, “but you three have been very troublesome.”
Charlie, Rosamynd and Emilia jumped up to see the Black Fox and ten of his men looking down. Their clothes were dirtier, several had scrapes and cuts. Charlie reckoned that the raid hadn’t gone as well as they’d planned. She hoped that the Blades were unharmed. Lieutenant Adler came to her mind, and she found herself hoping that he wasn't hurt either. She looked back at the Black Fox, who had a large purple bruise on his cheek. Charlie knew that at least two of the men would gladly let out their frustration on them if the Fox let them. She felt her dagger through her sleeve. If it came down to it, she knew where to cut them.
“Surprised to see us? A blind man could find you with all the tracks you ladies left,” the Fox said, crossing his arms. Rosamynd took her feet out of the stream and put them still wet into her shoes. All humor in the Black Fox’s eyes was gone. “If you try anything like this again, if you even think about wandering off again, I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you with my own two hands. Do you understand?”
The women nodded.
“Good. And just so you understand how things are, no food for you today.”
His words were meant to subdue the women. Rosamynd already looked miserable. Charlie pursed her lips, knowing it was best to stay silent. Emilia, on the other hand, drew up her body to her full height and glared.
“We are nobility and we will not be treated like this by the likes of you,” she said.
“Maybe I should let some of my men teach you a little lesson,” the Black Fox said menacingly. “Or maybe,” he said, grabbing Emilia’s arm, “I should teach it to you myself.”
Rosamynd gasped but Emilia pulled her arm from the Fox’s grasp.
“We are valuable to you, money bags on legs,” she said scornfully. “You don’t want to hurt us. If we are returned with as much as a scratch on our persons, you will be hunted like animals. Not only in Eressia, but also in Merrovigia and the Duchies of the south. Even the savages of the Eastern Steppes respect nobility. In the South Across the Water men are buried alive in the baking sand and left to die in the sun if they insult the king. When we get to Korthi, I will put a reward on your heads. Each and every one of you.”
One of the men moved towards her, fists raised. Charlie stepped in front of him.
“Steady, Billy. This isn’t a war orphan you bought from a brothel that you can rough up anytime you feel like it.”
Billy glanced towards the Fox like a confused dog. The Fox waved his hand dismissively and he stepped back with the others.
“Your mouth is bigger than your brain,” the Fox mocked. “What if I decide that you’re not worth the trouble and I kill you lot now? Bury you in the forest? Not even the wolves will look for your corpses here.”
Rosamynd whimpered. Charlie thought that the Fox had to show bravado in front of his men, but if things got out of hand he might kill them. She hoped Emilia would act appropriately afraid.
“Do you forget, you idiot, that a whole company of Hussars is after you? People already know that the Black Fox and his men took us. If we are never seen again, the Emperor of Eressia himself will avenge us. He will not take kindly to such an insult to his noble house. He shall put such a reward upon you that your own mothers will turn you in. The Emperor’s guard will come and kill you. Not just you. Your wives and children. Your animals and livestock. Even your dogs. They will kill all your neighbours. Every member of your extended family just for being related to you. Every member of your neighbours’ extended families for being related to them. Even their dogs. Let’s not pretend that you have any other choice here except to take us safely to Korthi and make sure that it’s a very reputable dealer you’ve chosen. So stop the empty threats and bring us breakfast right now.”
The Black Fox glared at her. His men were already staring at Emilia in stunned silence. Short of killing them he had only one option to quickly win back the situation. He laughed.
“By the Mother,” he said, “what a tongue this woman has on her. If she was negotiating with the Merrovigians for peace, Nassay-Beden would still be part of Eressia.”
26 THREADS OF CONSPIRACY
MORGENSTERN kicked the still smoldering logs, stirring up a storm of sparks. Schaefer put her hand on his shoulder and he stopped and took a deep breath. Regina swore under her breath. Jaeger said nothing, just nudged his horse towards Briggs and started giving him instructions. Regina couldn’t hear the details but got the gist that he was making plans for what to do when they reached Korthi. She felt a brief flush of relief that Jaeger was in command for this one. Given the speed with which this was turning to disaster and given the ensuing political complexities, she was glad it was Jaeger who had to deal with the Eressians. She doubted they’d take kindly to advice from a Merrovigian.
About a year ago, she’d made an effort to get a position in the personal guard of the Duchess of Korthi, she reflected. The results of that failed effort had put in motion the events that had resulted in this whole mess with Jaeger. Now it seemed like fate was drawing her finally to Korthi, and she felt uneasy. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why. She moved to join Briggs and Jaeger, but they were finishing their conversation. Briggs left with a nod of his head to Regina. Jaeger made his way to Morgenstern who was addressing his lieutenants. He made a sign for her to follow.
Jaeger waited patiently until Morgenstern was finishe
d and the lieutenants had left, except for one; Jaeger asked Schaefer to stay. He looked around, making sure no one could hear before he spoke.
“There's no way now we can catch them before they reach Korthi,” he said.
Morgenstern frowned. “You forget, I sent Captain Venn to intercept them further along,” he said without conviction, pointing at the map he was holding.
“We both know that’s not likely.”
Morgenstern didn’t reply. The map crumpled in the breeze and he tried to straighten it out, rubbing his finger on a particularly difficult crease. There was defeat in his eyes.
“What would you suggest?” Schaefer asked.
“As soon as they get over to the other side of the mountain, they’ll have crossed into Korthi,” Regina said.
“We know the geography of Eressia,” Schaefer said irritably.
“Then I guess you also know how you plan on getting the princesses back, once they’re in Korthi? The Duke isn’t going to hand them back for fun, and he's hardly going to welcome a troop of Eressian Hussars blundering across the border to the walls of his city,” Regina said, crossing her arms across her chest.
Schaefer was about to reply. Jaeger put his hand up to stop her. “If you’re about to give a speech, how about answering some questions first,” he said.
Schaefer looked to Morgenstern, who offered no support.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but we met a Baron Schaefer before we took this job.”
“That is my father,” Lieutenant Schaefer said.
“Which would one day make you Baroness?”
“Yes. I don’t see what this has to do with anything. We're in a hurry.”
“I hope at least you knew that,” Jaeger said to Morgenstern, who shot a look at Jaeger that could have incinerated him. Regina stayed quiet. She wanted to see where Jaeger was heading with this.
“You’ve made a right mess of this, but the Merchant Blades have a guild house in Korthi. The best chance is if we agree to help get the princesses back from Korthi before news reaches the Emperor,” Jaeger said. “Since you have utterly failed in your duty, Major Morgenstern, maybe you should consider doing the right thing.”
Jaeger was cold and dispassionate. Regina got the impression that he was reciting something rather than criticizing Morgenstern, who had turned pale.
Morgenstern took out a pistol from his belt. “I have every intention of doing the right thing, Jaeger, once the princesses are returned.” He pulled back the cock of the pistol. “But, if this is your condition for helping to retrieve the situation, I can do it now.” He calmly placed the barrel to his temple.
“That won’t be necessary,” Jaeger said, expressionless. “Think of the clothing. The blood of idiots is notoriously difficult to remove. Let us venture forward. But first, some straight answers.” Morgenstern slowly put the pistol back in his belt. His face tightened. Schaefer straightened up.
“That means mostly from you, Schaefer.”
“I do not have to answer or explain anything to you,” Schaefer said. “I answer only to my commanding officer.”
Morgenstern’s face was stone. “Actually, there are some points in this whole affair that I wouldn’t mind clarifying either,” he said.
“Really?” Regina asked. “You people are going to do this now? Do what you like when you get home, but we’ve signed a contract: if we don’t get those princesses back, we die. So start talking, if you want any chance of bringing them back. All of it. Because if we'd known everything that was going on from the start, none of this would have happened.”
“You are mercenaries,” Schaefer said tersely.
“We are soldiers. When you don’t tell your soldiers the plan, shit like this happens,” Jaeger snapped back.
“You think you can’t tell us because you'll be admitting to treason?” Regina said. “You don’t want to reveal the whole plan because that would entail revealing the people who came up with it?”
Schaefer’s look told Regina she was on to something.
“We are the Merchant Blades. Merchant Blades don’t take sides. We do the job we’re hired for. To get the princesses to the Winter Palace in Neidenwalde, we need to know certain things. That doesn't mean we'll go running to inform the Emperor.”
Schaefer glanced at Morgenstern.
“I think the Major wants to get the princesses back as much as the rest of us,” Regina said.
“I don’t care what happens to me, but Major Morgenstern must swear upon his honor that he will not reveal anything of what I say now.” Her voice was cracking as she spoke.
“At least I have some honor left to swear on,” Morgenstern said, glancing from Jaeger to Schaefer and back again. “The welfare of the princesses is more important than my pride. I swear upon my honor as a knight of the Empire.”
Schaefer let out a little sigh. “Very well. What do you want to know?”
“Don’t make us ask questions, please. Tell us everything, from the beginning,” Jaeger said calmly. “Questions allow room to withhold information not directly asked for.”
“By the Mother,” Schaefer sighed. She brought her hand up and rubbed her forehead as if trying to get rid of a headache. “You know how things are now.” It seemed to Regina that she was addressing mostly Morgenstern. They were an incidental audience.
“This was never meant to harm the princess. Neither of them. It was supposed to be a message. A message to the Prime Minister and the Emperor.” She stopped for a moment.
“From Baron Orsy and your father?” Morgenstern asked.
“And many others. We believe that there are many things that can be done to improve the situation in Eressia. We believe that we should be re-forging our links with Merrovigia to restore our trading relationship, with a view to improving the chance of negotiating the return of the Nassay-Beden principality to the Eressian Empire.”
“The wedding of the princess was aimed to help in that direction,” Morgenstern said.
“It was not enough,” Schaefer said passionately. “It was also a good opportunity to deliver a message to the Prime Minister that if he does not implement the necessary changes willingly, we are more than prepared to force his hand. To demonstrate that the army and most of the nobility is on our side, and no one, not even nobility, is safe from our reach.”
Morgenstern knitted his fingers together. “You already tried to recruit me to this conspiracy,” he paused. “Is this why you were sleeping with me?”
“I tried to recruit you because I thought you would be a good man to have on our side. That you would see that our cause is right and that Eressia is heading for disaster. In the beginning, yes, that was why I slept with you. But that changed.”
Morgenstern lifted his hand, interrupting her. “Not another word on that. We shall speak in private.” His face betrayed nothing. There was a frosty silence for a few moments, which he broke.
“How could you?” he asked Schaefer. “You knew I have sworn an oath of obedience and loyalty to the Emperor. I cannot break it. And so have you.”
“That oath is not for unconditional loyalty. We cannot stand by and watch our motherland destroyed and hide behind the claim that we have sworn obedience.”
“They are called obedience and loyalty because they are not questioned. We are not philosophers, we are soldiers,” Morgenstern said. “We are sworn to follow the Emperor.” Jaeger was listening silently. Regina wondered what he was thinking.
“Then maybe the Emperor should be removed. Then there will be no such dilemma,” Schaefer stated. Both Morgenstern and Jaeger turned deathly pale.
“Silence, Lieutenant!” Morgenstern shouted, his voice carrying clearly around the camp, alerting most of the Hussars that an argument was taking place.
“Entertaining as this is to me as a Merrovigian,” Regina said, “may I bring everyone back to the subject at hand?” All three Eressians looked at her with red faces. After a few moments of silence, Schaefer responded.
“The plan w
as for the convoy to be attacked: the raid would be fought off and no one would get hurt. It would have been enough to send the message we wanted.”
“An attack on a princess of Eressia is an attack on Eressia herself,” Jaeger pointed out.
“Which was why we changed their places. Adel suggested it as a joke to Rosamynd, as a bit of harmless fun. No actual princess would be attacked.”
“Which explains why more than half of the Hussars were expecting an attack,” Regina said. Schaefer nodded.
“How did you make sure that no one would be hurt? Who were the intended attackers? You surely didn’t arrange this with the Black Fox?” Jaeger asked.
“No, it was to be some of our men dressed as outlaws. The men would have a few convincing swordfights – no one would get hurt.”
“What about those who weren’t in on it, like the Major?” Jaeger asked.
“We drugged them to slow their responses.”
Morgenstern’s face turned scarlet. His scar remained white.
“You drugged me?” he asked incredulously. “You. Drugged. Me?”
Regina gave him a moment. “And how did Emilia come into all this?” she asked.
“She wasn’t supposed to be there. When she arrived to escort her cousin to the Winter Palace, she bought into the idea of changing places. She thought pretending to be a lady-in-waiting would be amusing. We didn’t think it would cause problems.”
Morgenstern’s face turned beet, his scar a white streak. “Idiots make moronic plans that turn to shit,” he growled. He put his hands over his face.
“And how did the Black Fox get involved?” Regina pressed on.
“That’s easy,” Jaeger said. “Someone somewhere talked.”
“Impossible,” Schaefer insisted, “given the nature of the plan.”
Jaeger gave her a sarcastic smile. “It doesn’t have to be someone of high rank. Maybe a maid overheard and informed someone. Or a minor officer said something to his mistress. Or during some pillow talk in a brothel. It doesn’t take much. Somehow the Black Fox found out and saw the chance of a lifetime. The question is, what happened to the pretend brigands, your soldiers who were supposed to attack?”
