Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest) (40 page)

"When?
You were always at her side. She has held onto you as tightly as any priceless gem."

"You
are a very resourceful man. You could have found a way to be with your own
wife. But the truth is you were too busy conspiring with Lady Sagawea and her
wealthy followers. And what does Captain Kalos get from all this?

"I'm
curious. What does he get?"

"Revenge.
You would give up everything dear to you for revenge. Including me. Most
especially me."

"I see."
Kalos examined her thoughtfully. "Perhaps there is some truth in what you
say. But there were other reasons for my long absence. Would you care to hear
why I did not push Lady Swiala aside and storm her castle to reclaim you?"

"I
doubt it will make any difference, but go ahead."

Kalos gave
her an odd smile.

"I have
known now for a long time that you have no real sense of who you really are,
being raised in isolation as you were in the frontier. And under the prompting
of Benfaaro."

"You
choose to blame everything on Benfaaro."

"Yet,
it is the truth. Do not bother to deny what is obvious to me. Medosa's
writings, too, confirm what I suspected. You were surrounded by madness, within
yourself and in the outside world where you grew up."

"It was
not all bad," Adalginza said in low voice. "In fact, some of those experiences
were quite good."

"I told
you before, I do not hold you accountable."

"Then
where have you been?"

"I have
stayed away to give you the chance to find yourself. Here in the Crescent House
world of the Prime Continent, you have found an esteemed place in the royal
courts. Your beauty and your charm are much celebrated, thanks to Lady Swiala's
considerable influence.

"And
you think I am happy?"

"You
wear your masque and your high fashions with the greatest of flair. I have
watched you from a distance, when you could not see me. I saw your face. You
never had this look of peace when you were with me."

"Are
you the father?"

"What?"

"Of
Lady Sagawea's child. The child I could never have for you."

Captain
Kalos regarded her with just a hint of the old arrogance Adalginza remembered.

"I have
been busy. But not that busy."

"You
think this is a matter of humor? I saw you walking with her! Your hand was on
her belly."

"You
were spying on me?"

"I had
business with Polyper at the Dome of Archives. I did not even know you were at
Lady Sagawea's estate. I thought you were in the frontier. Until I saw you.
With her..."

"Ah."

"Ah?
This is all you can say for yourself?"

"This
is most awkward." Captain Kalos gave Adalginza a soulful look. "Were
you with Polyper at the time of this appalling sighting of me and Lady Sagawea
together"

"Yes.
So?"

"And he
said nothing?"

Adalginza
could not remember the last time she had felt this angry. Or alive.

"What
does it matter what Polyper said?"

And then she
remembered something of the gnostic's words about the eyes betraying the heart.
And truth. And lies. And a most profound apology from him to her that made no
sense at the time.

She now
suddenly understood, mostly because the captain's eyes were twinkling.

"Polyper?"
Adalginza gasped. "Are you saying
Polyper
is the father?"

Kalos just
smiled. "The two of them are close neighbors. Very close."

"But
Polyper has taken vows! Gnostics cannot...do…that."

"A
gnostic is also a man. Or a woman. The instincts are natural."

"He said
he has a calling to the frontier," Adalginza muttered to herself. "He
said something about atonement. Maybe this is his way of finding redemption."

"Why
should love require redemption?"

Kalos raised
one eyebrow, and gave her his best come hither look.

She still
loved him, damn his eyes. The curve of his smile. The thickness of his hair.
And his irritating flippancy.

He held out
his hand to her.

"You
told me when we last were together that you would rather see the moons fade
from the sky than to lose me. Then let me say, in turn, that I would rather
face down a thousand of Benfaaro's savages in combat, alone, than be forced to
leave your side again."

It took
great strength of will, but Adalginza did not take his hand.

"Forced?
Did I not beg you to stay with me? To listen to me?"

"I had
that which I needed to complete," Kalos said softly. He swept his hand in
the direction of the weird contraption. "This."

"And
you did not trust me with your secret."

"No,"
Kalos agreed, his eyes narrowing. "I did not. Not with what has happened
in the past. And I still do not. But I will when I know we have both chosen the
same side."

Adalginza
took a deep breath, saddened to see him drop his outstretched hand.

"And
which side do you think that should be?"

"It
pains me to see you stand so firmly with Lady Swiala against your own husband
before the Prime Congress."

"And it
pains me to see you standing with Lady Sagawea and her mercenaries. Did you see
the eyes of her followers in the gallery? They were even more excited at the
mention of spreading disease and death among the savages than at the prospect
of surrender under the threat of your weapon. They are dividing the spoils of
the frontier as though they already own it."

"Why
can't you see I am working for peace in my own way? You cannot believe that I
take pleasure in killing."

"Which
is why you worked so diligently to build a killing machine."

"For
peace." Kalos gave her a look of wanting. "I hate that masque."

"I
know."

An aide then
appeared at the door.

"Captain
Kalos, you are wanted at the podium."

Kalos
hesitated, still looking at Adalginza. "I have to go."

"I
know. You always have to go." But as he turned away, she gently spoke his
name. "Kalos..."

He turned
back to her immediately, his eyes expectant as though hoping she might go with
him. And stand by his side.

Adalginza
swallowed hard. "Nothing. I must go."

He simply
nodded once, and walked away.

Adalginza
was very close to following him.

But at the
moment Kalos disappeared inside, Umbrea came running up the steps and into the
lobby of the Great Hall. She glanced cautiously around, then turned to
Adalginza and lowered her voice.

"Calasta
is gone, Lady Adalginza. She is on her way back to the frontier."

"Gone?
Did someone kidnap her?"

"Not
exactly."

"What
do you mean? Is she lost? Or did she run away?"

"There
was an accident."

"Was
she hurt?"

"It was
the incakit. It was in the street. A wagon rolled by, and Kit did not get out
of the way in time."

"Oh..."
Adalginza said. "Oh no."

"The
child was hysterical. And then, at that very moment, her memories returned. All
of them."

"
All
of them?"

"At
least most of them, Lady Adalginza. Past and present. She was most distressed."
Umbrea hesitated. "I told her who I was. She needed to know."

"Go on."

"She
demanded to be taken back to her father. And her mother."

"Did
she remember that Bruna tried to kill her?"

"She
didn't say. Oh, Lady Adalginza. Please do not be angry. The child threatened me
with the Curse Of The Blood!"

"Calasta
did that?" Adalginza would have found the matter humorous, had the current
situation not been so dire.

Umbrea
desperately kept explaining.

"I made
the arrangements through the network that delivers the messages. There was
danger in transporting a savage child so visibly. But as far as I know, Calasta
is already aboard a ship that has left from a secret harbor."

"Is she
safe?"

Umbrea
paused to look around, before answering.

"Yes. I
sent word to the crew of the ship that the child was to be watched. That Bruna
was to be watched even more closely."

"It may
not be enough, Umbrea. Calasta may yet be killed by her mother. And her death
will be on your hands."

"Please,
Lady. Please! I had no choice. She threatened The Curse..."

"Yes,
yes. I know. The Curse Of The Blood."

"There
is more."

Adalginza
battled the unreasonable sensation that she wanted to run away before hearing
the rest of Umbrea's pronouncement.

"What
is it?"

"Benfaaro
says your place now is with Talan. He says you must find a way to leave the
Prime Continent without creating suspicion. But you must go home. I am to
escort you. Lady Adalginza, your brother is enraged that you have not returned
sooner as he requested. He wants me to inform you that the price of any further
disobedience will be death."

This edict
sounded far more like Bruna than Benfaaro. And considering her growing
influence, Adalginza was not surprised. Nor did she doubt that she would be
killed if she delayed much longer.

"Benfaaro
will never surrender to the Crescent Houses. He would see us all die first,"
she said thoughtfully.

"Please,"
Umbrea said, her voice trembling. "This is my home. I like it here and I do
not wish to die in the frontier. And please tell me this. What will become of
the child I am sworn to protect?"

Stark fear
was on the servant's face. Remembering then that she must display the valor Of
The Blood for those who looked up to her, Adalginza reached out and touched
Umbrea's cheek.

Her next words
sounded far more confident that what she herself felt. 

"Calm
yourself. And worry no more about Calasta. You prudently sent word that she is
to be guarded carefully."

Adalginza
glanced around, realizing that there were too many people in and out of the
Hall of the Prime Congress to continue this conversation in public.

"Let us
stop at one of the markets for tea. This way, we can speak privately."

 Later, as they
sat sipping their brew at one of the outdoor pavilions lined with food booths,
Adalginza privately berated herself for ignoring Calasta as she had lately.

Maybe the
child would not have acted so rashly if she had believed she could turn to her
auntie for help.

But
Adalginza knew regrets at this point were futile. There was only now. The
threat to the tribes was great, and she must do something. She then related to Umbrea
what she had just seen and heard in the Prime Congress.

Instead of
reacting with horror, Umbrea simply gave Adalginza a look of utter faith.

"Then
what will Adalginza of the indigo eyes do to save her people?"

"What
does The Prophecy say I will do?" Adalginza asked this half mockingly, for
she wasn't yet sure she believed in such things.

Umbrea
answered by softly singing a few verses of a song Adalginza had never before
heard until this moment:

Fools who
had no ears to hear believed that death could win the world.

But death
joined greed, and greed swallows all that lives.

Hope will
die if the woman with eyes as blue as the skies fails to hear.

And the
one who loves her with the indigo eyes must forgive and let her live.

For if
she dies, then all will die.

And only
sorrow will survive.

Adalginza
gave Umbrea a caustic look. "This song of Prophecy is not particularly
helpful. It speaks more of choices to be made, rather than a fate that is
sealed."

"Is free
will not the price of freedom?" Umbrea asked with almost childlike
innocence.

"I do
not. And how can sorrow survive if everyone dies? There would be no one left to
feel the sorrow."

"You are
over-thinking this, my lady."

"I
suppose." Adalginza sighed heavily. "Let us go then and meet our
fate, whatever it may be. And may the moon gods help us make the right choices."

When she
returned with Umbrea to Lady Swiala's abode, her grandmother surprised her with
the announcement that a delegation appointed by the Prime Congress would
immediately join the captain's ship that was part of a waiting armada.

"Armada?"
Adalginza asked.