by Greg Curtis
At least they weren't bronze any more, she thought. That had scared people. In the flesh they still attracted some stares and startled looks, but people were curious about them rather than scared. Their thin and angular bodies, strange clothing and crystals around their necks seemed very alien.
Today though they'd decided they wanted to speak to King Oster. She didn't know why or what they had to say. She also didn’t know how Lady Peri had arrived even as they were still discussing the matter with their visitors and offered to take them to the King. It seemed very serendipitous. Still, here she was, off to visit the King. Dragged along by Lady Peri because she and Tyrollan were the leaders of the gifted, and because the once bronze people had chosen to speak to them most often.
Maybe Hendrick was right to worship Vitanna she thought. Maybe the God of Celebration was the only true god. Because lately her life seemed to be one long series of drunken mist filled disasters. It didn't feel much like a celebration though. More a nightmare brought on by eating poisonous mushrooms. She just had to hope that this didn't turn into another disaster.
“If I may ask Lady Peri, how did you know that the visitors were with us?” Tyrollan asked one of the many questions that was on their minds as they walked up the road to the Council Chambers.
His question surprised Marnie. Partly because he'd been quiet for so long. But also because out of all the things he could have asked, that was the one that she was least curious about. Everyone in the city knew these visitors had arrived the day before and were questioning the gifted. It wouldn't have taken much guessing to work out that they'd decided to seek out Tyrollan and her this morning.
“I always keep an eye on my son. Just in case.” There was no hint of warmth in her voice as she said it though. In fact she showed about as much emotion as a person would about the weather.
“You spy on your son?” Tyrollan sounded surprised.
He shouldn't have been, Marnie thought. She'd already told him that the Lady had known her plans for the afflicted through her spies. And Lady Peri was as utterly calculating and controlled as any woman she'd ever imagined. Of course she spied on her son just as she spied on everyone else. The chances were that the King and the rest of the wives and most of his Court did much the same. The one thing that had become clear to her ever since meeting Hendrick and his mother, was that the nobles were nothing like normal people.
Besides, Tyrollan was gifted with Luminite. He had the spells of the mind. Ten anyway. Surely he already knew the answer? Was he simply being polite? Those who could hear people's thoughts usually tried not to unless it was necessary. It was considered rude.
“Really? You call a mother watching over her child spying?”
Marnie wouldn't. Normally. But this was Lady Peri. And Marnie knew enough about the Lady to know she didn't watch over her son out of concern or compassion. Marnie wasn't even sure that she knew what those things were. Everything in her world was about power and status. She was certainly a noble. Whether she was a woman however Marnie wasn't so certain. At least not at heart. She was more like one of those golems the bards kept talking about. Heartless mechanical men that the wizards had supposedly created.
Still, she put her thoughts to one side as the Council Chambers drew near. She needed to listen and watch what was about to unfold. Because whatever it was that these visitors had to say, it would be important. It would probably upset the apple cart that was her life lately.
They walked up the steps to the chambers. Though “steps” was an inadequate word to describe them. They were more a series of short, very wide flat terraces leading up to a concourse of a sort. All of the paving stones were made of white marble veined with cracks of brown and orange. It might have looked nice when they were first laid over a thousand years ago, she supposed. But now the veins reminded her of dried blood. The years and the rain had worn the tiles smooth. They would be slick underfoot when they got wet. The same was true of the marble blocks that the chambers were built of. A mere two story building that stood twice as high as it should and ten times as wide.
Completely surrounding it were a collection of fluted marble columns that supported absolutely nothing. Nothing that was save for the marble figures on top of them. Mythical beasts of every description, a lot of which that she couldn't even identify. Winged lions and unicorns she knew, and also the dragon with its tail curled up around one column and its wings stretched out – though it didn't look much like the ghost dragons they'd fought. But the four armed snake human hybrid and the beast with the tendrils dangling down from the top of the column, were a complete mystery. Others were even stranger.
Marnie found herself staring at them, studying them intently as they crossed the concourse, wondering if they had once existed or were simply the wild imaginings of the artists. What sort of world had this Malthas been before the wizards had destroyed it? Ever since she had read the book she had found herself wondering about that.
Soon they came up to the main entrance and when the guards pulled the huge oak doors open for them, the statues were quickly forgotten.
Instead she found herself lost in wonder at the chambers. Or rather just the atrium to the chambers. There was a reason that the mere two story building was so much taller than it should have been she discovered. The atrium ceiling was at least fifteen feet high! But that was in keeping with its scale. The actual chamber was surely thirty yards wide and fifteen long. It was larger than many halls she'd seen. And it was just an atrium!
They walked across the complex mosaic of hardwood floorboards to the passageway beyond, Lady Peri looking neither left nor right as she led them. But then she'd probably seen it many times before. Marnie also thought the woman might be trying to present the impression of royalty. She had adorned herself with what looked like priceless jewels and had a fur casually draped around her shoulders. She was also doing what Hendrick had called “the walk”. The one where she seemingly floated across the floor, her hands neatly folded behind her back and her head held high. If the soldiers all around bowed to her, she gave no sign of noticing.
The passageway was grand in itself. It was as wide as many houses and the oak panel walls were lined with paintings by the very finest of artists. Portraits of previous kings. They must have been saved from Styrion Might she thought. Though what the point was in saving the paintings was she didn't know.
They were halfway along the passage way when the doors at the far end were pulled open to allow another woman to exit. Marnie recognised her instantly though she'd never seen her before. Her portrait hung in a great many taverns and alehouses across the realm, alongside the King's. She was the First Wife, Lady Marda. She was dressed in purple finery, a silk dress which included not just a hooped skirt but a small train which dragged along the floor behind her, and she wore a sparkling gold diamond necklace. How tight must her corset be, Marnie wondered, to make her waist look that small?
To think, she had thought that Lady Peri was overdressed to be walking around the city, but Lady Marda had outdone her by many leagues. She looked as though she was dressed for a Royal gala.
Both women walked towards one another at a measured pace – Lady Peri pursed her lips a little as she saw the other woman, but still continued on at the same measured pace until the two women met in the middle. And there the two woman stood and stared at one another, each seeming to study the other closely. Marnie suddenly had to wonder if this was a chance meeting of two members of the Royal family or a show down between warriors. For all that no weapons had been drawn, it looked very much like the latter.
Both women were tall and straight, dressed in their royal finery and accompanied by their coteries. Lady Marda was older, being surely in her seventies, but for all that, stood impossibly straight. Lady Peri she guessed to be in her fifties and not quite as tall, nor quite as grand. But for all that she gave no sign of being cowed by the First Wife. Both were stern of face. The one thing they did not look like was family.
“Peri.” Lady Marda greeted Lady Per
i with a calculating stare and a voice that spoke of disdain.
“Marda. How lovely to see you again!” Lady Peri managed a polite smile in return that had all the warmth of winter in it. “Skulking around these corridors of power once more?”
“Simply visiting my … our … husband.” Lady Marda returned the smile. “You should try it some time. Unless you find it too much of a chore?” She raised an eyebrow in question.
But Marnie knew it wasn't a question. It was an accusation. Something she could take to their husband and complain about. These two women were at war.
“Not at all. I simply find myself busy with matters of family – as I'm sure you must have heard.”
“I heard. That boy of yours got himself hurt. I do hope he recovers.” Insincerity dripped from her lips.
“The healers say he will make a full recovery, once he has had some rest. And wasn't it a fine idea of our husband to allow certain of the afflicted to offer their services for sale? Those healers are a marvel!”
It was a good idea, Marnie thought. It would go a good way to help raise the status of their people even if payment was only being made begrudgingly. It was also what Hendrick had been promised by Lady Marda. But she doubted Lady Peri cared about that. She might care that her son would recover – Marnie wasn't completely sure. But she suspected the Lady cared mostly that it raised the status of her son, and thus the family and her position in the Royal household.
“He is a wise man indeed. But I notice that your son's affliction isn't listed as one of those services.”
“Yet Marda. Yet. But he is able to walk between worlds. The only one who can so far. I have a feeling that that may well be one of the “gifts” that our husband may soon add to the list.” The Lady's hand went to the gold ingot around her neck, seemingly absent-mindedly. “After all, when he can bring back pretty little stones like this, it would be a useful service.”
Pretty little stones? Marnie knew that that pretty little stone around her neck was probably worth enough royal stynes to buy a mansion. But that was the point she guessed. It was why she'd worn it instead of a finer crafted necklace.
Lady Marda's response was a scowl.
“Which reminds me,” Lady Peri continued. “How is your son? Safe in Minden Vale I trust? Or is it Dumas Line? I forget.”
Marnie winced slightly. That she knew, was an attack. A polite one though not particularly subtle. Lady Peri was simply pointing out that while her son had gone into battle and saved the city, Lady Marda's son had been nowhere to be seen. Lady Marda clearly knew what she meant as well judging from the thunderous look that appeared in her eyes.
“Have a care Peri! Besmirch my son's name at your peril. Life in the Court may not always be so pleasant for some.”
“Why Marda, have I given cause for offence to be taken?” Lady Peri managed a look of concern. The same look the lion gave its prey after having bitten off its leg. “If so I do apologise. I was merely enquiring after the health of your son. As you so graciously enquired after the health of mine.”
Did anyone believe that? Marnie doubted it. She doubted that even the guests they were escorting believed it. And they were from another world! But then Lady Peri didn't want people to believe her words she realised. She only wanted for it to sound possible that that was what she had meant.
Lady Marda's response was fortunately too quiet for Marnie to hear. It was followed by the sudden swish of her dress as she took off down the hallway, her courtiers in hasty pursuit. Marnie suspected she was anything but happy with the way the conversation had gone. She also feared there would be consequences. She just hoped they wouldn't impact on her and the rest of the afflicted.
“Now good people, shall we continue?” Lady Peri's polite smile had returned suddenly. This time Marnie thought she detected a hint of actual pleasure in it. Before they could answer she headed off along the passageway again toward the royal audience chamber. The rest hurried to catch up with her.
“Ah Lady Peri, should we be concerned?” Tyrollan somewhat hesitantly asked the question.
“About Lady Marda?” The Lady managed to look surprised. “Of course not. She is a dear woman. A dear, dear woman. You know she selflessly gave up her position as Queen to become instead First Wife of the King, simply to please him! So very sweet! I would not worry about her at all!”
Marnie almost burst into laughter as she realised that Lady Peri had just called the First wife stupid, but swiftly choked it off so that it appeared as if she had just had a coughing fit.
“The King is undoubtedly strong willed.” Tyrollan tried to soothe the troubled waters.
“Of course he is, as are all kings. But alas, not all queens are so capable in counselling them!”
Marnie's coughing fit grew worse, which if nothing else, stopped the downward spiral of the conversation. But she couldn't help herself. Lady Peri had a nasty sense of humour.
Fortunately they reached the audience chamber before the Lady could say anything else, and by the time the soldiers had opened the doors for them, she was once more in control of herself.
The first thing Marnie saw in the audience was the throne. But it was huge and right in front of them. It had been gilded by craftsmen and then covered in priceless furs. And it sat atop a circular dais of marble in the very centre of the chamber. And seated on top of it was the king, adorned in his very best armour. The polished steel had been inlaid with silver, but exposed his puffed purple velvet sleeves. On his head he wore a crown of silver and gold that sparkled with diamonds and rubies.
Where had it all come from, she wondered? She could understand the crown having been brought with them from Styrion Might. But the rest? Who could have carried a throne with them? Or all the massive tapestries she could see hanging in the room, depicting scenes of the royal history of the realm? These people had brought an entire throne room with them. How? And why?
It suddenly struck her as so pointless. All these soldiers in their brightly polished armour, and carrying pikes rather than proper weapons, just so that they could open doors for the royal family! They should be doing soldierly things. Courtiers were milling around the throne, dressed in their finest apparel and doing absolutely nothing of value. And of course all the artisans who must have laboured night and day to craft the dais on which the throne sat when they could have been working on something of use. Like houses for the refugees.
They were at war! Under attack by beasts more terrible than anything she could have imagined! Thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands were dead! They'd lost their Capitol! And yet those responsible for overseeing the realm wasted their time on this? Marnie thought just then that it was lucky she wasn't expected to speak. Because she feared what she had to say might not be what they wanted to hear.
“My King.”
Lady Peri walked half way to the throne and then did something that shocked Marnie. She bowed. Marnie would never have believed that she would bow to anyone. Not even to the King. She wouldn't have thought the Lady knew how to.
“Peri.” The King managed a perfunctory smile. He looked angry for some reason. “Marda informed me that you were coming.”
Marda had informed him? That surprised Marnie. They'd only just met the First Wife leaving the Royal audience chamber. How could she have? And then she realised the truth. Lady Marda like Lady Peri had spies. No doubt she'd heard of their coming ages before, and rushed to the King's side first. But what would be the point in rushing to the King's side to tell him in the first place? Marnie would never understand politics she realised.
“Marda is such a considerate woman, my King. Always determined to keep everyone informed.” By which Lady Peri obviously meant she was a tattle-tale if not a muck-spout.
“And you've brought guests I see.”
“Yes, my King.” Lady Peri bowed again. “These are emissaries of another realm who have asked for an audience with you.” The Lady didn't go on to add what realm they came from or why they wanted to speak to the King, beca
use she didn't know those things.
“Or spies and assassins of great magical ability!” The King suddenly raised his voice as he accused them of the crime.
“What?! My King!” Lady Peri raised her own voice in shock and disbelief. “No! I would never –.”
The King gestured and an explosion ripped through the air.
Marnie cried out in shock even as she jumped back and almost fell over. She knew the thunder of cannons firing only too well! Then she turned to face the source of the thunder, only to see hundreds of pieces of iron shot hanging in mid-air scarcely five feet from her. Behind the shot she could see a pair of cannons, one of which had streams of smoke billowing from its snout, while the huge tapestries behind which the cannon had been hidden, were shredded. But again the pieces of tapestry like the shot from the cannon and the smoke, simply hung there in the air.
Belatedly and feeling like a fool even as she did it, Marnie threw herself to the floor. Beside her the others did the same, save for the three guests. When she looked she saw that they were still standing calmly, as if nothing had happened.
