Shapers of Darkness (32 page)

“Are you asking my opinion on the matter, Your Highness?” the master of arms asked.

“Yes, I am.”

Ohan took a long breath. “If we send soldiers by sea, we’ll need to send most of the fleet. And even then, I don’t like our chances against Braedon’s ships. Which means we’d have to send them overland, and in order to get them to northern Eibithar in time to do any good, we’d have to send them on horseback.”

“We have enough mounts to send a considerable force.”

“That’s true, Your Highness, but a mounted army is harder to provision. And of course, we’d have to ride through Caerisse or Wethyrn to get there. Their leaders may not look kindly on having our army cross their borders.”

The queen waved a hand impatiently. “I’m not concerned about that right now. I’ll be with the army, and I trust I can convince a Wethy noble that I’m not interested in conquering his dukedom. What I really want to know is what effect our army is likely to have on the course and duration of this war.”

“We’d be prolonging the war, wouldn’t we?” Alao broke in.

The master of arms glanced at Sertio, who shrugged.

“I can’t be certain, Your Highness. I think with our help the Eibitharians can repel the invasion, but as to how long such a conflict will last, I have no idea. Without our help, Kearney’s army might fall quickly, in which case we would be prolonging it. On the other hand, Eibithar might prevail even without our help, which would mean that our soldiers could bring the fighting to a swifter end.”

Olesya looked at Sertio. “What do you think, Lord Curlinte?”

“I have little to add to what Master Delrasto has already said.”

“Then you also feel that it would have been wiser for the emperor to delay,” the duke of Brugaosa asked.

Sertio stared at Edamo, the muscles in his jaw tightening. Even with Kreazur’s death and the conspiracy’s obvious involvement in the attempts on Diani’s life, Sertio still blamed House Brugaosa for Cyro’s murder. He and Edamo had not spoken in years, and Diani knew that her father still thirsted for the man’s blood.

“Yes, Lord Brugaosa,” Sertio said, his voice edged with steel, “I guess I do. Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious with everything else that’s happened? I believe the Qirsi may be behind this war, just as they were behind the attack on your daughter.”

Sertio narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth to reply.

“I’d like to know what the rest of you think,” Olesya said, before the duke could speak. “Clearly Lord Norinde opposes any involvement on our part. I believe that Lord Brugaosa now favors sending our soldiers north, as do Lady Curlinte and Lady Listaal.” She paused, eyeing the three of them. When they all nodded their agreement, she continued, “What about the rest of you?”

As it turned out, the other duchesses were split evenly, with the older women, Tamyra of Prentarlo and Rashel, opposed, and Ajy of Kinsarta and Naditia in favor.

Olesya made no effort to mask her surprise. “It seems a majority of you wish to honor Kearney’s request.”

“What about you, Your Highness?” Alao asked. “You were inclined to refuse him a short time ago. Surely your wishes in this matter carry more weight than our own.”

“You’re right, Lord Norinde. I did intend to refuse. But I find myself swayed by the arguments I’ve heard here, just as was Lord Brugaosa.”

“I fear you’re making a grave mistake, Your Highness.”

“I share your concerns, Alao. I’m not blind to the dangers.
Which is why I intend to send only five hundred warriors from the royal army. We’ll add six hundred from the armies of Brugaosa, Norinde, and Macharzo—two hundred from each of you. That gives us a force of eleven hundred in all.”

Vasyonne frowned. It seemed she was eager for this fight. “What about the rest of the houses, Your Highness?”

“It would take nearly half a turn to get messages to the Southern and Eastern houses and then await the arrival of your soldiers. As it is, we’re already well into the waxing and Kearney sent his request at the start of the previous waning. I don’t wish to delay any longer.”

“Then perhaps you should take more soldiers from the three houses you named.”

“To send a larger force would be to leave the realm vulnerable to attack.”

“Eleven hundred may not be enough,” Vasyonne said, shaking her head.

“It will have to be.” Olesya faced the master of arms again. “Choose five hundred of your best riders and prepare them for the journey. And inform the quartermaster. Tell him to provision the force as best he can without slowing us down. What he can’t provide, we’ll gather ourselves as we ride.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Ohan bowed, then strode from the chamber.

“Alao, Edamo, Naditia, the three of you should leave at once. Return to your homes, choose two hundred of your finest warriors, and provision them as best you can. We’ll meet in Brugaosa as soon as possible and leave for Eibithar from there.”

The three nobles stood and bowed to her, even Alao, who still didn’t look pleased.

“Your Highness,” Vasyonne said, before the others could leave the chamber. “What about the Qirsi? Will your ministers ride with you as well?”

Olesya’s eyebrows went up. Clearly she hadn’t given any thought to this. Since Kreazur’s death there had been little doubt that the conspiracy had indeed come to Sanbira. And as Diani and Sertio grew more convinced of the first minister’s
innocence, it became clearer to them, and to the queen, that there were still traitors at large, perhaps even in the royal court. The white-hairs had been excluded from the councils and kept under constant watch. The nobles still weren’t certain who remained loyal and who did not, and Diani couldn’t decide whether it was more dangerous to take suspect ministers into battle or to leave them here, where they could work their mischief in the absence of the queen and several of her duchesses and dukes.

“I think they’ll have to come with us,” Olesya said after a time. “I don’t wish to leave them where they can’t be watched.” She glanced at Diani. “And other remedies are unacceptable.”

After the attempt on her life, Diani had been so wary of her Qirsi that she had had every sorcerer in Castle Curlinte imprisoned. When the queen heard of this, she ordered Diani to release them all, but the duchess still believed it was the best way to ensure that any traitors among the ministers could be controlled.

“Your Highness—” Diani began.

“We’re talking about four Qirsi, Lady Curlinte. Abeni, and the first ministers of Norinde, Brugaosa, and Macharzo. And we’ll have over a thousand warriors guarding us. It won’t be a problem.”

The duchess looked away. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Go now,” the queen said, looking at the three nobles standing near the doorway. “I’ll see you at Castle Brugaosa.” The three left, and Olesya turned to the others. “As for the rest of you, you should return to your castles. Be watchful, not only of your Qirsi, but of your borders and shores as well. I believe that Eibithar needs our aid, but I fear for the realm.”

Vasyonne stood. “Gods keep you safe, Your Highness.”

The others stood as well, all of them invoking the gods before they began to file from the chamber.

“Lady Curlinte, Lord Curlinte,” the queen called before Diani and Sertio reached the door. “A word please.”

Olesya waited until the last of the duchesses closed the door behind her. “Have you learned anything more about the Qirsi in my court?”

Sertio shook his head. “Still nothing, Your Highness. The traitor—”

“Or traitors,” Diani added.

Her father merely glanced at her. “Whoever it may be, this person has been quite clever about hiding his or her treachery. We’ve neither seen nor heard anything that would indicate that there is a traitor in the court.”

“Is it possible that we’ve been wrong about all this?” Olesya asked. “Perhaps there are no traitors in Yserne.”

Clearly the queen wanted to believe this; it was written on her handsome face, in the hopeful look in her dark eyes. But Diani knew better. The conspiracy was everywhere, infesting the land like some pernicious weed, spreading its tendrils through all the houses in the realm, insinuating itself into every court. It would take some time to prove this, perhaps more time than they had. Which was why they had to expose the traitors in the queen’s court as quickly as possible. This was where the evil was rooted—she was certain of that, as well. Kill the thing here, and perhaps the tendrils would wither and die.

“The conspiracy is real, Your Highness,” Diani told her. “And it’s here, in Yserne. Whoever had Kreazur killed was thoroughly familiar with this castle and this city.”

Olesya had heard this from her before, but still the words seemed to pain her, bringing a grimace to her lips and leaving her looking bent and frail.

“I’m too old to be fighting two wars at once.”

“You’re not fighting either of them alone, Your Highness.”

The queen forced a smile. “I know that, Diani. Thank you. And thank you, Sertio. I wish you could have learned more, but I know that you did what you could.”

“Your Highness,” Diani said, sensing that Olesya was about to dismiss them, “I’d like to ride with you to Eibithar.”

“Thank you, Diani, but our force will be large enough with the soldiers from the northwest houses, and we really can’t delay.”

“Forgive me, Your Highness, but you misunderstand. I don’t want to lead my army to Eibithar, I merely wish to accompany you myself.”

Sertio looked at her sharply, drawing breath to object.

“To what end?” the queen asked, before he could.

“To keep watch on Abeni and the other Qirsi. You’ll be occupied with the war, as will Naditia and the others. But since I won’t be leading an army, I can give my full attention to the conspiracy.” She faltered, but only for an instant. “Besides, this all began with the attack on me. I’d like to see it through to the end.”

“This war may be only the beginning, Diani. It may be quite dangerous to allow yourself to be driven by vengeance.”

She hadn’t said no, at least not yet. Diani pressed her advantage.

“Vengeance has nothing to do with it, Your Highness. You’ve decided to grant Kearney’s request because you see in this war the hand of the conspiracy. We saw it as well in the attempts on my life, and who knows how many times we’ve failed to see what should have been obvious to us. Our enemies may be all around us, but they won’t show themselves until we’re most vulnerable. If this war is a Qirsi feint, shouldn’t someone be with you, watching for the hidden blade?”

“Why you?” Sertio demanded. “You’ve never been to war, and as good as you are with steel, you’re not accomplished enough to guard the queen’s life. You should be in Curlinte, with your people and your army. I’ll accompany the queen.”

She should have been grateful. He was trying to protect her, as any good father would. But she heard only his challenge, his questioning of her abilities and her judgment.

“No, Father. You can’t do this. Whoever goes with the queen must be able to spot the traitor before he or she strikes. And you’re just too trusting. What good is steel if it never leaves its sheath?”

His face shaded to crimson, and he leveled a rigid finger at her chest. “Just because—”

“Stop it!” Olesya glared at them both. “I haven’t even said yet that I’ll allow one of you to accompany me, and already you’re fighting over which of you will be riding.”

“She has no place in this war, Your Highness. Better you should go without either of us than take her. You can just as easily have one of your men keep watch on the Qirsi.”

“I believe you do her a disservice, Sertio. You love her; you fear for her. I understand that.” She paused, looking at the duchess. “You must understand that, too, Diani. What he said a moment ago was intended not to diminish you, but to protect you. You may have felt slighted, but until you’re a parent yourself, you shouldn’t judge your father too harshly.”

“Your Highness—”

“Let me finish, Sertio. I know that you want to keep her safe, but she’s not a girl anymore. She’s a woman, and with Dalvia gone, she is duchess of one of Sanbira’s leading houses. The attack at the coast has left you frightened, and rightfully so. But you can’t let your life, or Diani’s, be ruled by fear. Would you have her lock herself away within the walls of her castle so that no arrows can find her, no traitors can strike at her?”

His cheeks still red, Sertio shook his head and muttered, “Of course not.”

“Then let her do this. I think it a fine idea. The two of you have been watching Abeni and the others for some time now; it makes sense that Diani should continue to do so.” Diani’s father still did not look mollified. “I’ll take good care of her, Sertio. You have my word, not only as your queen, but as your friend.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Again they bowed to the queen, before leaving the chamber. Even after they were in the corridor, Sertio said nothing and for a time they walked in silence back toward their chambers on the far end of the inner keep. Only when they reached Diani’s door did her father finally look at her, his face like stone.

“You truly think me too trusting?”

“Father—”

“Do you?”

She took a breath. “Sometimes, yes.”

“And you believe this weakens me.”

“You’re a good man, Father, and a strong leader. You have fine qualities, among them your capacity to trust and the loyalty you show your friends. I just believe that some gifts, no matter how bright, have a dark side as well.”

“You may be right. And certainly the queen was correct when she said that I wish to keep you safe. But the real reason I don’t want you making this journey is that I fear your suspicions will get the better of you. I believe you want to accompany the queen for the same reason you imprisoned all the Qirsi in Curlinte. The attempts on your life have made you so frightened that you can no longer distinguish friend from foe, at least where the white-hairs are concerned. I may trust too willingly, but you see treachery behind every pair of yellow eyes. Tell me, Diani. Which is the darker gift?”

He left her then, and long after the click of his boots on the stone floors had faded to nothing, Diani still stood there, her hand poised on the door handle, her throat so tight she could hardly draw breath.