A good days ride east. Most of the duns near the city have been razed and gone for years.
Thats what I was afraid of. Very well. Ill have the scribe compose the messages today, and well get the men on the road tomorrow at dawn.
They walked inside together and climbed the staircase, but when Elyssa went to the womens hall, Lilli returned to her chamber. She laid the little brooch upon her table beside the book and for a moment gloated over the task ahead of her. She too needed a distraction from her worrying over Branoic and the prince both. It did occur to her to wonder if Nevyn would approve this independent foray into dweomerwork, but since he wasnt there to ask, she went ahead with the job.
Nevyns dweomer book devoted a page to the process of charging a talisman, and Lilli had seen Nevyn work its opposite twice now as well. She would need to cleanse the brooch first of any and all evil influences it might have been exposed to over the years. That very evening, by candlelight she drew a magic circle around her table and chair to mark it as her place of working. The brooch she laid in the centre of the round table. Next, she sat down and meditated upon the Light to clear her own mind of troubled thoughts. That done, she rose and stood as shed seen Nevyn stand, one hand in the air.
Lords of Light, she called out. May my work be true.
In her mind she visualized the Light, streaming across the starry sky. She imagined light pouring down like water to drench her, light swirling round her upraised arm, light gathering at her fingertips. With a snap she brought her arm down and washed the little brooch in a beam of silver light.
Begone!
To her altered sight the brooch gleamed, as bright as molten silver from the jewellers ladle. The light flickered, then vanished. She broke the magic circle with a ceremonious stamp of her foot.
And any spirits trapped by this ceremony, go free!
The chamber once again was an ordinary room, lit only by dim candlelight. She stamped again to earth herself with the feel of solid things, then let out her breath in a long sigh. She was trembling and sweaty, she realized. When she took a step, she nearly stumbled; she had to catch the back of the chair to steady herself, an effort that left her gasping for breath. There will be plenty of time, she told herself. Youll simply have to work slowly, in stages. She wrapped the newly-purified brooch up in a bit of cloth to protect it, then went to bed.
Over the next few days Lilli worked on the talisman, stopping often to rest. The work was making her so tired, in fact, that she thought of leaving it undone, but she couldnt bear to disappoint Elyssa. She saw the servingwoman often, generally in the great hall, where Elyssa would always stop to chat and let her know how the princess fared. Finally, on the morning that she finished the talisman, Elyssa told her the news theyd both been dreading.
When the princess woke this morning, Elyssa said, she wasnt herself. She wept so piteously that it wrung my heart.
Ah ye gods! It aches my heart just to hear of it, Lilli said. Her brooch is finished, by the by. Come up to my chamber with me, and Ill give it to you.
Wrapped in cloth, the brooch lay on Lillis table by the window. Lilli took it out and handed to Elyssa.
Well, this is a pretty thing! Elyssa said, smiling. Did you have Otho polish it, too?
I didnt.
But see how it glitters in the sun! I dont remember it being so lovely.
Lilli knew then that her working had succeeded. Elyssa took the brooch and hurried off to the womens hall to give it to the princess. Lilli sat down to her studies, but her mind kept wandering to Bellyras plight and the brooch. Finally, when the morning was well advanced, Elyssa returned to the chamber.
How does she fare? Lilli blurted.
A bit better, though the sadness still grips her, Elyssa said. The brooch did please her, though. She pinned it to her dress and swore shed wear it always.
That gladdens my heart! Lilli tapped the book with her fingers. It says in here that sometimes talismans work slowly. Maybe it will help in a few days.
Ill pray so. Elyssa sighed, glancing out the window with exhausted eyes. Anything for a little hope.
Should we send off another messenger? Nevyn will want to know that shes Lilli could not bring herself to use the word mad, unwell.
Thats true. Elyssa considered this for a moment. But even if he does know, what can he do? He wont be leaving the princes side.
He cant, truly. I suppose well just have to wait till the men ride home again.
Just so. Elyssa looked up, studying the sky as if it could report the princes progress. Now, the messengers we sent off about the new baby? They should be reaching Maryn soon. Hell send them back to us with news.
And then I can write Nevyn a letter to go back with them. Well and good, then. Do you want me to come visit her highness?
In a few days. This this illness always seems to affect her the worst at the very beginning. In about an eightnight she settles down, like.
After Elyssa left, Lilli spent some time trying to think of other ways she might help Bellyra. She failed, except for the one obvious course of action: end her love affair with the prince. That, she felt, would be a harder thing for her to work than the mightiest dweomer in the world.
The princesss messengers caught up with the army just at sunset, as it was making camp in a grassy meadow beside a stream. In the midst of the purposeful confusion Nevyn was standing with the prince, waiting for the servants to finish setting up their tents. A sentry led up the two men, all dusty from the road.
Messages, your highness. From your lady.
The messengers knelt to the prince. Maryn grabbed the silver tube and shook out the tightly rolled letter inside. He glanced at it, laughed, then began to read it aloud.
To my husband, greetings. I was delivered of yet another wretched son, who now awaits your choosing of a name. I had my heart so set upon a daughter that I neglected to think of any suitable for a lad. At the moment my women are calling him Dumpling which, while plebian, will serve until the end of your campaigning.
At that point Maryn began reading to himself, a rare trick in those days and one he had learned from Nevyn. From his smile, Nevyn could guess that the message was unfit for public ears. At last Maryn looked up and turned to the messengers. You must be hungry, the prince said. My apologies for forgetting you. Here, sentry! Get these men fed, and then spread the news of the new prince among the noble-born.
Soon enough, Maryns vassals began appearing in twos and threes to congratulate him on the new princes birth, but none of them lingered. The smell of cooking in the camp drew them quickly back to their own fires. When Gwerbret Daeryc arrived, though, Maryn bade him stay a while. The servants brought out a wooden stool, and he sat down by the fire with the prince and Nevyn.
From the maps I have, Maryn said, were nearly to Glasloc. Do you think thats correct?
I do, my liege, Daeryc said. Once we reach the lake, and thatll be in about two more days, well have arrived at the edge of the Boar clans holdings. If I remember rightly, Glasloc marks half the distance twixt the Holy City and Cantrae town.
I see, Maryn said with a nod. Ill wager Braemys will meet us before we start trampling on his lands. He glanced at Nevyn. Do you know the lay of the land twixt here and Glasloc? Is it flat?
I see, Maryn said with a nod. Ill wager Braemys will meet us before we start trampling on his lands. He glanced at Nevyn. Do you know the lay of the land twixt here and Glasloc? Is it flat?
Mostly, my liege. Nevyn turned to Daeryc to explain. When I was younger, your grace, I lived near Cantrae.
Good, good, the gwerbret said. I havent been there since I was but a little lad, and well need someone who knows the lie of things better than I do. He rose with a bow Maryns way. If youll forgive me, your highness, Ill be leaving you. Im hungry enough to eat a wolf, pelt and all.
Provisions for the silver daggers travelled in their own cart, tended by a stout carter and his skinny son. That particular night, Maddyn was sitting with Owaen when the son, young Garro, brought the two captains a chunk of salt pork impaled on a stick. Green mould marbled the fat.
My Da, Garro announced, says it been in the barrel too long. Werent salted enough, either, Da says.
Your Das no doubt right. Maddyn took the stick from the boy. Owaen, what do you think?
Weve had worse, Owaen said. Any maggots?
Maddyn twirled the stick this way and that to catch the sunset light. None that I can see.
Werent none in the barrel, neither, Garro said.
Then it should do. Lets see. Maddyn drew his dagger. He cut off the green streaks and took a few bites of the rest. Its not bad but its not good, either. It wouldnt be worth fretting about, except Ill wager this is Oggyns doing.
Owaen swore so furiously that Garro cringed.
Im not angry with you, Owaen snapped. Go thank your da for us. Now. Give me that, Maddo. Lets go shove it up the bald bastards arse.
Unfortunately for Owaens plans, they found Oggyn attending upon the prince in front of the royal tent. Since not even Owaen could get away with violence there, the two silver daggers knelt not far from the princes chair and waited. Oggyn was congratulating Maryn for the birth of the new son in all sorts of long words and fulsome metaphors as if, Maddyn thought bitterly, Bellyra had naught to do with it. Exposed to the open air, the pork began to announce that truly, it was rotten. Once Oggyn paused for breath, the two silver daggers, or their complaint, caught Maryns attention.
Whats that stench? Maryn glanced around. Ye gods, Owaen! What have you brought me, a dead rat?
Ive not, my liege, Owaen said. The rat is kneeling there beside you.
In the firelight Maddyn could see Oggyns face blanch.
Spoiled rations, my liege, Owaen went on, waving the bit of pork. Your councillor there assigns the provisions, and I think me he gave the silver daggers the last of the winters stores.
What? Oggyn squeaked. No such thing! If you received spoiled food, then one of the servants made a mistake. He glanced at Maryn. Your highness, if youll release me, Id best go have a look at the barrel that meat came from. Ill wager it doesnt have my mark upon it.
Ill do better that than, Maryn said, grinning. Ill come with you. Lead on, captains.
Maddyn received a sudden portent of futility. No doubt Oggyn had been too clever to leave evidence lying about. The two silver daggers led the prince and his councillor back to their camp and the provision cart, where Garro and his da hauled down the offending barrel. By the light of a lantern Oggyn examined the lid with Maryn looking on.
Not a mark on it, Oggyn said triumphantly. This barrel should have been emptied for the duns dogs, not carted for the army.
Well, make sure its dumped now, Maryn said. But a fair bit away. I dont like the smell of it.
Of course, your highness, Oggyn said. Ill have a replacement sent round from my personal stores.
All at once Maddyn wondered if he should have sampled the pork. Too late now, he thought, and truly, weve eaten worse over the years. He put the matter out of his mind, but it remained, alas, in his stomach. He woke well before dawn, rolled out of his blankets, and rushed for the latrine ditch just beyond the encampment. He managed to reach it before the flux overwhelmed his self-control.
Nevyn, my lord Nevyn! The voice sounded both loud and urgent. Your aid!
Through the tent wall a dim light shone.
Whats all this? Nevyn sat up and yawned. Who is it?
Branoic, my lord. Maddyns been poisoned.
Nevyn found himself both wide awake and standing. He pulled on his brigga, grabbed his sack of medicinals in one hand and a shirt in the other, and ducked through the tent flap. Branoic stood outside with a lantern raised in one hand.
He ate a bit of spoiled pork, Owaen told me, Branoic said. But it came from a barrel that Oggyn gave us.
Branoic led Nevyn to the bards tent. Just outside, his clothes lay stinking in a soiled heap. Inside Nevyn found Maddyn lying naked on a blanket. The tent smelled of vomit and diarrhoea. Owaen knelt beside him with a wet rag in one hand.
Ive been wiping his face off, Owaen said. I dont think hes going to heave any more.
Naught left, Maddyn whispered.
How do you feel? Nevyn said.
Wrung out. My guts are cramping.
The effort of talking was making him shiver. Nevyn grabbed a clean blanket and laid it over him. In the lantern light his white face, marked with dark circles under his eyes, shone with cold sweat. Nevyn sent Owaen off to wake a servant to heat some water, then knelt down beside his patient. Branoic hung the lantern from the tent pole and retreated.
Gods, Maddyn mumbled. I stink.
Good, Nevyn said. Your bodys flushing the contagion out. Im going to make you drink herb water, though, to ensure that every last bits gone. It wont be pleasant, Im afraid.
Better than dying.
Exactly.
Maddyn sighed and turned his face away. The stench hanging in the tent was free of the taint of poison, or at least, Nevyn thought, free of any poison hed recognize. While he waited for the hot water to arrive, Nevyn sat back on his heels and opened his dweomer sight. Maddyns aura curled tight around him, all shrunken and flabby, a pale brownish colour shot with sickly green. Yet it pulsed, as if it fought to regain its normal size, and brightened close to the skin. Nevyn closed his sight.
Youll live, Nevyn announced.
Good. All at once Maddyn tried to sit up. The rose pin.
What? Nevyn pushed him down again. Lie still!
Ive got to find the rose pin. On my shirt.
All at once Nevyn remembered. The token the princess gave you, you mean?
It was on my shirt.
All your clothes are right outside. It can wait.
Maddyn shook his head and tried to sit up again. Fortunately, a servant provided a distraction when he came in, carrying in one hand a black kettle filled with steaming water.
My thanks, Nevyn said. Put that down over there by the big cloth sack. Ive got another errand for you. On the bards shirt outside
The rose pin, my lord? The servant held out his other hand. Branoic told me to bring it to him.
On his palm lay the token. Nevyn plucked it off and showed it to Maddyn, who lay back down.