Donnel's Promise

by Mackenzie, Anna

  ‘I have had one,’ Risha said, with just a hint of smugness. ‘One of Bruer’s engineers is designing a bath-house for the castle, like the one we visited with Ciaran.’

  ‘Harbin told me there’s a place in Westlaw where the water rises hot out of the ground. He said the pools are naturally formed of a smooth white rock and step one below the other down the slope of the hill, each a little cooler than the last, so that you can find just the temperature you wish.’

  ‘Perhaps we will visit it one day.’

  Lyse would not be drawn. ‘Perhaps.’

  Risha turned to her third letter. It was from Barc. When she had read it she got up to fetch parchment and quill. She had almost finished her replies when a boy knocked on the door.

  ‘Begging your pardon, my lady, but there’s a rider in from Caledon.’

  Risha stood. ‘I’ll come down.’ It could be one of any number of people on any number of matters. She smoothed her hands down her skirt.

  At the foot of the stairs her composure deserted her. ‘Gorth!’

  He dropped to one knee. ‘My Lady Havre.’

  ‘Stand up.’ She gripped his hands. ‘You’re well?’

  ‘Aye. And better for seeing you. We’ve both had a time of it since I left you in Merren Bay.’

  ‘And not quite that we expected. How is Donnel?’

  ‘Much as ever. I’d be telling an untruth if I said he took the news of the Sitting’s vote well, but he’s settled to it now. Your involvement, he thought both admirably bold and foolishly perilous.’

  ‘A little like his decision to take Westlaw’s capital while Goltoy’s back was turned,’ she murmured.

  ‘A little,’ Gorth agreed. ‘The similarities have not gone unremarked.’

  She matched his smile. ‘You came through Caledon?’

  ‘I did.’ His tone made the entry hall seem suddenly too public.

  ‘Come. Do you need refreshments?’

  Risha led the way to her study, and sent a girl to the kitchen for food and ale.

  ‘You saw Quilec?’

  Gorth’s face expressed his opinion most eloquently.

  ‘What news of Ciaran?’

  ‘Quilec remains determined that she be punished “to the full” but Talben has at least been successful in having her moved back into decent apartments, albeit under guard. Quite how he achieved it isn’t clear.’

  ‘I wrote offering to stand surety if Ciaran was released into my custody. Quilec refused.’ She sighed. ‘I’m not sure what more I can do.’

  ‘Quilec has conceded that her fate be determined by the Sitting, even though the crime occurred on Caledon’s soil.’

  ‘She acted in my defence,’ Risha said. ‘The crime was Goltoy’s.’

  ‘As I’ve heard it there are conflicting accounts,’ Gorth said mildly. ‘Don’t raise your chin at me: I believe yours, and I’ll be happy to hear every detail. But the case will be heard by the Sitting.’

  Risha subsided in her chair. ‘We meet again in the spring. It’s a long time for Ciaran to wait.’

  ‘She seems resigned. To be truthful, she seemed almost not to care.’

  ‘If she has been treated ill—’

  ‘I don’t think it’s that. More that she’d accepted that what she’d done would cost her life, and was ready. What she wasn’t prepared for was finding a way to carry on.’

  Risha searched his face. ‘Is there anything I can do?’

  ‘Write to her. Keep her spirits up. I never thought I’d find myself saying it, but Timon seems to be proving of some use in that.’

  ‘Timon has been of considerable use,’ she said stoutly. ‘His claim to have dispatched word of Vormer’s perfidy to Cantrel and Spire is borne out. Both birds arrived within days of Athan’s death. At no small risk he kept Cantrel informed throughout.’

  ‘So it’s not true that he allied himself to Vormer after the coup?’

  ‘Only to discover the man’s intent. He had my interests at heart, Gorth.’

  Not all in Havre were ready to accept Timon’s innocence, which was one reason why she had despatched him to Caledon. Another was that his talent for loitering in dark corners would there be of greatest use.

  ‘Aye, well, you know best. But he’ll have to prove himself.’

  ‘He will. Did you see Olli in Caledon?’

  ‘And left my horse in his care. Fenn took me across the lake and supplied another — she seemed to think you might trade me a replacement for the beast.’

  ‘Not Mica? I can’t imagine how she found him, but I’ll give you any mount in the stables in return. Though pickings are a bit thin at present,’ she added truthfully. ‘How were things in Leighton?’

  ‘Settled. Nolan is making a good job of shaping the recruits who chose to stay on into a useful company of the guard. He’ll make a good commander.’

  ‘And he’s well?’

  ‘I should say so. He had the look of a man moving inevitably towards accepting his fate.’

  She frowned.

  ‘I told him I thought Lillet a fine lass,’ Gorth added.

  ‘Oh.’ She paused. ‘She dotes on him, you know. Even if she is a bit bossy.’

  Gorth’s eyebrows began a conversation she didn’t wish to engage.

  ‘The rumours we’ve heard about my father and Goltoy’s widow: are they true?’

  ‘Well now, that would depend on the rumours.’ He smiled placidly in response to her pained look. ‘She wasn’t overly grieved by news of Goltoy’s death, and she and Donnel do seem to rub along. If that answers your query. The dowager Lady Westlaw is outraged, and Rillon not best pleased with his mother’s choices I’d say, but he’s canny enough to know that an alliance with Donnel will prove of benefit in undoing some of the damage Goltoy left in his wake.’

  ‘So he will marry her.’

  ‘I wouldn’t go that far yet. Osser’s death hit her hard.’

  ‘Does she blame Donnel?’

  ‘Osser died through his own stupidity. He was heavily outnumbered and had no need to engage — it was a suicide attack. He sacrificed his men for no purpose. In my experience, widows and mothers tend to prefer the responsibility to lie somewhere other than with their menfolk, but that’s the truth of it. Aside from that, it wasn’t Donnel who led the force Osser attacked. That sorry weight sits on my shoulders, lass.’

  She blinked. She hadn’t known that.

  ‘In the final count it was Goltoy’s greed that led to his son’s death, though there’ll be some in Westlaw who will never see it that way, the dowager among them.’

  Risha had had enough talk of death. ‘What are your plans now, Gorth? Do you stay here or return to Donnel?’

  ‘I’ll stay if you’ve a use for me, Lady LeMarc.’

  She raised her hands against the title. ‘Don’t! I plan to see Donnel reinstated. Bad enough that I was obliged to denounce him in order to achieve our goal.’

  Gorth was shaking his head. ‘Can’t be done, lass — and not worth trying. Donnel won’t stand before them with his tail between his legs, and that’s what it would take. Can you picture him accepting a chastisement delivered by Quilec?’

  In truth she could not. ‘But—’

  ‘Apart from which, you’re better suited to the job. Donnel is too much an autocrat to bend a knee to the Sitting.’

  ‘But what will he do?’

  ‘In the short-term, he’ll be busy negotiating a peace with Rillon — in that Harbin is proving an ally. And the widowed Lady Westlaw is not without ways to occupy his energy.’

  Risha blinked.

  Gorth grinned. ‘I didn’t mean it like that: you needn’t look so shocked. Serillee has requested that he visit her estates, which have been a little ignored of late. From there I think he plans to call on Margetta in Fratton.’

  Risha felt a stab of an emotion she didn’t care to name. ‘He might have thought to tell me his plans.’

  There was a pause. ‘He will, lass. I expect he thinks that for now you’re bett
er left to find your own feet.’

  She was not appeased. Her father had once promised her — more than three years ago now — that they would soon get to know one another. It was yet to happen.

  ‘There’s something else,’ Gorth said. His face suggested he did not relish sharing it. ‘Donnel waited a long time to keep the promise he made when Cattra died. And at the last, his revenge was taken from him.’

  ‘By Ciaran, you mean?’

  Gorth shook his head. ‘He didn’t so much want to kill the man who brought about Cattra’s death as destroy him. But when it came down to it, he didn’t have the chance. It had already been done.’

  Risha felt as if the air had been sucked from her chest. ‘We did it between us,’ she said at last.

  ‘Aye. I know that. As will Donnel, when he’s had time to master the hole it’s left inside him. The truth is, lass, with the goal he’s held tight to all these years gone, he doesn’t know what to do with himself. Which puts him and Westlaw’s widow in the same boat,’ he added.

  ‘I … see,’ Risha said.

  ‘Now.’ Gorth sat back and set his hands on his knees. ‘Tell me about this army you gathered to take back your city. Thieves and cut-throats, they’re saying up north, with you riding at their head like a goddess of vengeance.’

  She snorted. ‘Kern lent me a troop of guardsmen, and at my request approached the hill people we settled in LeMarc. Thirty were waiting near Churton. Their leaders helped me negotiate a treaty with the renegades living in the Otharn Mountains on Fratton’s side of the border. It gave me a combined force of four hundred.’

  ‘So the stories are true. I should have known it.’ He grinned. ‘What deal did you offer the outlaws?’

  ‘They’re not outlaws, at least, not by choice. I gave them amnesty and in return for a year’s service with the guard, they earn the right to claim land sufficient to establish a smallholding.’

  Gorth frowned. ‘In LeMarc?’

  ‘Fratton’s southern valleys are empty, and shouldn’t be. And those who don’t wish to farm or remain in the guard can be accommodated by LeMarc and Havre.’

  ‘And Margetta has agreed?’

  ‘Barc, on her behalf. I had a letter today. He has conditions — we’ll negotiate it.’

  ‘It will need careful managing,’ Gorth said, beaming like a proud parent. ‘And I know just the woman for it.’

  ‘Speaking of which, forty women soldiers fought with the renegades,’ Risha told him. ‘Our guardsmen were sceptical, until the first skirmish. They held their tongues after.’

  Gorth looked dubious. ‘Next thing, our daughters will be wanting to join the guard. I’m not sure I approve.’

  ‘Better we achieve a peace that precludes the need for standing armies. If such a thing is possible.’

  Gorth gave a sceptical grunt. ‘At least you’ve achieved peace for the moment.’ He paused. ‘You knew that after Vormer’s death they found a vial of poison in his room? It would seem he died of the same mischance that took Athan and Lenora.’

  ‘Hardly mischance: Vormer murdered them.’

  ‘Aye, but who murdered Vormer? I doubt he dosed himself.’

  The conclusions Risha had drawn she did not intend to share. ‘I suspect we’ll never know.’

  Gorth raised an eyebrow, but let the matter drop. ‘Did you take Thatton?’

  She shook her head. ‘He fled Havreport as soon as my force came within sight of the city. From what we’ve heard since, Vormer’s former allies couldn’t abandon him fast enough. Bruer suspects he’s in Saithe.’

  ‘He’d have family there who might hide him, for a time at least. His wife?’

  ‘Hoping she never has to see him again.’ Risha straightened her spine. ‘Thatton must answer for his crimes. Too many died in the dungeons and northern marches for him to be excused his part in those crimes.’

  They were silent a moment. ‘What of you, lass: you’re coping?’

  She shrugged. ‘The new Council is taking shape. To be truthful I was hoping it would free a little of my time, but it seems only to generate additional tasks.’

  His smile was thin. ‘It will improve as things settle. What have you done with Vormer’s supporters?’

  ‘Some claim coercion. I’ve placed Feron in charge of determining each case. Those judged culpable will be imprisoned and their property and chattels will be seized to provide for those orphaned or made destitute by the coup. The estates of Vormer and Thatton alone will go a considerable way towards meeting the cost.’

  He gave a grunt of approval. ‘Shows you’re fair, but not to be taken lightly. Your father’s daughter.’

  ‘And Cattra’s.’

  ‘Aye. And Cattra’s.’

  Risha stared from the window, irritated by the rain that had been falling for days. Sea and sky were a single uniform grey, the water of the harbour pocked by wind flurries.

  ‘I don’t envy Croft a trip in this weather,’ she said.

  Lyse nodded absently. She had papers spread around her and was drawing up lists. Plans for her festival were well advanced. She shifted abruptly and set her hand on her belly. ‘He’s very busy today. At first it was just a flutter, but now it feels as though he’s swimming.’

  Risha knelt and placed her palm flat against the curve of Lyse’s belly. She felt a nudge. ‘You’re certain it’s a boy?’

  Lyse smiled. ‘Shallie says when you feel strongly about it, you’re almost certainly right. She knew both hers were girls. And she says boys kick more.’

  It would be months yet until the baby was born, and Lyse was thriving and content — while Risha seemed to feel no less exhausted than she had through the frantic weeks of summer.

  ‘Harbin has asked whether he might come to our festival,’ Lyse said.

  ‘What will you tell him?’

  ‘If you don’t object, I’ll tell him he’s welcome. It would be nice for the Westlarns who have chosen to settle here.’ Her voice was very careful.

  ‘I think it a fine idea, Lyse. And perhaps, as well as that, he would like to feel your boy kicking.’

  Two days later Croft arrived, wet, cold and accompanied by an equally bedraggled Timon.

  Risha greeted them with relief. ‘I was beginning to think you must have fallen into a bog and drowned. We’ve had reports that the El has broken her banks and is flooding across the southern plains.’

  ‘The bridge at Thursk is in danger of losing a pier. Whitelaw is sandbagged, but if the rain goes on they won’t be able to keep up.’

  ‘Is it as wet in Caledon?’

  ‘Aye. It’s not improving anybody’s spirits.’

  ‘Ciaran is grateful for your letters,’ Timon said. ‘She seems a little more engaged than she was.’

  ‘Has Talben made any progress?’

  ‘Only in intimidating Quilec. Last week I saw him break into a waddle — doubtless a run in his mind — to avoid coming face to face with Talben in a corridor. Your mother’s cousin makes a habit of turning up where he’s least expected.’

  ‘When you go back you might suggest to Quilec that if Ciaran is released to my care it would free him of Talben.’

  Croft’s teeth flashed. ‘Aye, I will, if I can get to him. To be honest, he’s not a lot more eager to see me.’

  ‘Diplomacy may win out where intimidation does not,’ Timon said. ‘And, if it comes to it, you hold the balance of power within the Sitting.’

  ‘I would rather spare Ciaran that trial.’

  The noise he made in response sounded less than hopeful. ‘She said I should ask whether you had any news of Kinnoc.’

  Risha shook her head. ‘The man has crawled back under his rock. And I trust he will find a viper there to welcome him.’

  ‘Talben said that if Kinnoc gives you any trouble he is most willing to help you deal with it. Though I can’t see the man being much of a threat.’

  Risha didn’t reply.

  A girl brought warmed ale and both men drank with enthusiasm.

>   ‘You should try the new bath-house,’ Risha said. ‘It’s the perfect antidote to a thorough soaking or too much time in the saddle.’

  ‘With pleasure, having suffered both.’ Timon sat back and stretched his legs.

  ‘I’m glad you’ll be here for Lyse’s festival. We’re expecting Harbin tomorrow.’

  ‘It’ll be interesting to see how he plays things,’ Timon said.

  ‘Very cautiously, I don’t doubt,’ Croft said.

  ‘While we will be nothing but courteous.’

  Timon smirked. ‘Have you ever known me anything else? By the way, your friend Marit is in Caledon. He sent you this.’

  Opening the damp packet he passed her, Risha scanned the trader’s prudently worded note and sat back with a startled exhalation. ‘He thinks he’s located my mother’s grave.’

  A silence stretched through the room.

  She looked up. ‘Both my parents are strangers.’

  ‘Look in a mirror, lass,’ Croft said. ‘And deeper. Likely you know them better than you think.’

  Margetta’s gift

  The Sitting proved tame compared to the last. A string of witnesses, including Lillet and Timon, were called to provide testimony of Goltoy’s death. Rillon listened to the accounts without expression.

  There was no dispute about Ciaran’s guilt, the argument lying in whether or not she had acted in rightful defence of her lady, and in that Harbin’s testimony proved conclusive.

  When the vote was called, Rillon abstained and Quilec cast a red rod. Margetta and Risha’s three yellows won Ciaran’s pardon, but not her freedom.

  ‘Without a unanimous verdict, the woman must remain under the supervision of someone not directly involved in the matter,’ Quilec said.

  Risha had no doubt he intended himself.

  ‘I support Lord Caledon, and propose Fratton take up that responsibility,’ Margetta said. ‘Having not met Ciaran prior to the last session of the Sitting, you can be assured of my impartiality.’

  Quilec’s bluster couldn’t trump the truth of her claim.

  ‘I further propose that the question of a scholars seat be set aside until such time as the needs of the five duchies are clear.’