Druid's Bane

by Phillip Henderson

  “You’ve said yourself she won’t marry anyone beyond the borders of the old kingdom,” Helidon put in.

  “And she’s certainly not in danger of getting with child. The whole realm knows she’s as pure as the snows of Mount Hellion,” Isaac said.

  “I’m not so sure about that,” the Archbishop said. “But she is too smart to end up with child.”

  Kane placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. The pessimism in the room was beginning to grate on him. “Gentlemen, let me make something very clear. I’m convinced that our bill will pass tomorrow. However, I’m equally convinced that over the coming months my sister will move Helhar and Vellum to overturn it. I assure you that with something as momentous as we are suggesting, she will not let this matter rest.”

  “Then let her labour all she wishes,” the Archbishop replied, “for there is nothing she can do to overturn the bill once it is made law—we have seen to that.”

  “You see, Your Eminence, that is where I beg to differ,” Kane replied, wagging a finger at them.

  “You differ?” the irascible Helidon put in. “Ye bloody well sold this thing to the nobility using that exact line.”

  Ignoring the man, Kane continued. “She may not be able to get to you or me or Lord Helidon here, but that little wasp will buzz about until she finds the weakest link. And we all know that there are technicalities that can have the bill overturned, and weak-minded men who know them.”

  “Be that as it may, there is little we can do.”

  “Again I must humbly disagree,” Kane went on. “Certainly we cannot make her wed a foreigner. However, a child out of wedlock is a possibility.” He waited; inwardly amused by the puzzled expressions his comment drew.

  Isaac Gilmore was first to reply. “I don’t really see how that would be possible.”

  “Come along, now, Isaac; don’t be so naive. I know for certain that there are plenty of spurned suitors among the gentry who would take great delight in teaching Danielle her place in the world. Some might even pay, and certainly the one who got to deflower her, assuming this fellow in Lunwraith I hear she has struck up a friendship with done the deed already. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “You speak of rape, sir,” said Isaac. “This is your own sister. The retribution would be terrible.”

  Repulsed by the suggestion, Lord Helidon sat up straight. “By all the mercies, we can’t honestly be considering this. Gentlemen, some of us here do not butcher or rape our own. The woman is no peasant maid; she is Arkaelyon’s first lady—maiden or not.”

  “All the more reason why this is a good idea,” Kane said. “The experience of being so used by several men might bend her will or maybe even drive her utterly mad, don’t you think? Besides, gentlemen, there is not a man here who has not taken a woman against her will once or twice before, so don’t be so skittish about it.”

  “What if she doesn’t become with child, Milord?” Isaac asked.

  “I doubt that it would matter much. With her reputation in ruins and her spirit broken, I suspect that my father would be predisposed to send her from Arkaelyon for her own good and to ease his guilt for having placed her in danger in the first place. Or at the very least she would withdraw permanently from public affairs, unable to face the shame of it—we all know how maidens are about such things.”

  “Gentlemen,” the Archbishop said with a hint of impatience, “we will not be sanctioning the rape of the Lady de Brie, so might we move on to the third option—expulsion for serious misconduct?”

  Kane had known it would come to this.

  “Yes, well, I think we would all agree, gentlemen, that a charge laid against her for these rumours of late, and force the matter to the general council, the nobles’ will happily vote to see her expelled, ” Kane said.

  “Getting it there is the problem, sir,” Issac replied. “We all know the matter cannot be raised with the General Council unless the High Council has first voted on it and found her behaviour wanting. And since Danielle enjoys a majority there, I don’t see how this could be done. No body can it seems. We’ve been down this path before.”

  “Renwick is the key,” Kane replied. He once again counted off on his fingers. “Danielle has Father’s vote, and Eden’s, Michael’s, and Leithfield’s. We have my vote, Dunston’s and his Eminences …”

  “Yes, and Renwick usually sides with your father, and almost certainly where Danielle is involved,” Helidon replied.

  “Then we will have to convince him that on this matter he had best side with us, since a hung council will automatically have the matter sent to the General Council. And it has to be said that of late Renwick has not be so easily swayed.”

  The Archbishop seemed interested, Kane noticed, but Helidon continued to argue, saying, “Even there I’m not absolutely convinced they’d vote to expel her completely. Certainly from the General Council, and High Council, but the king will not remove her from his Inner Council, and as much as it pains to say, she has proved to be quite an asset as our Ambassador to the Assembly of realms.”

  “I think the issue is whether we can get sufficient proof to justify a charge of this magnitude,” the Archbishop said.

  Kane sat back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. “Gentlemen, let me make this as plain as possible. You will work to have my sister expelled, or I will have her ravished by a mob—the choice is yours. You have until the High Council meets in just over week. Now, if you will please excuse me, I have a bill to memorise for tomorrow.

  Helidon went to protect, but the archbishop got in first. “Perhaps something along the lines of what you are suggesting can be arranged. Leave it with me.” He stood.

  Kane acknowledged the comment with a nod and watched as his associates left the room. He felt rather pleased with the out come of the discussion. He’d be more pleased when the deed was done and his sister could no longer meddle in their affairs.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Danielle felt her spirits lift considerably as she rode under the raised portcullis at Illandia’s eastern gate. All around her were the familiar sights and sounds of her beloved city, and despite her terrifying ordeal on the highway and the pending interview with her father—both of which were weighing heavily on her mind, it was comforting to be home again.

  “Welcome back, Milady,” the captain of the guard said, removing his helmet and offering a deep bow.

  “Thank you, Mr. Driar. It’s good to be home,” Danielle replied.

  “Milady, you should know that your father has requested that you wait upon him immediately upon arriving at the palace.”

  She had suspected it would be just so. “Of course. Thank you.”

  She rode on into the city. The crowded eastern promenade stretched out before them, running nearly two miles to Illandia’s bustling grand Central Square. Beyond that the palace loomed above the city, its white stone towers and ramparts shimmering in the sunlight. A smile touched her lips despite her father’s urgent summons and the dread that produced in her.

  Home.

  “It’s the Lady de Brie,” someone shouted over the noise of the busy street. The call was immediately taken up as people stopped their chores and turned to look. The city seemed to stir at the news, and in moments people were pouring from the doorways of inns and trade shops, peering through windows or coming out onto balconies, hoping to catch sight of their returning princess. A group of children who had been playing at sword fights near the city gate ran after the entourage, laughing and giggling and nearby someone had begun to clap. Others were joining in and the street quickly rang with applause for their lady.

  Mr Slurry, who was riding beside her, flashed Danielle a grin. “You are truly much loved, Milady. I don’t know another soul, other than your good father, whose very presence engenders such adoration and loyalty.”

  “I hardly deserve it, Mr. Slurry. And if this engenders anything in me, it is the knowledge that I must endeavour to do better by them,” she replied, feeling utter
ly undeserving of the welcome unfolding around her.

  “And if it’s not too bold for me to say so, I suspect you will, Milady.”

  They were quiet for a short while. But as Danielle graciously accepted the adoration of the citizenry, even kissing the head of a baby that a blacksmith’s wife held up to her, she noticed the troubled look on the head man-at-arms’s face. “Something bothering you, Mr. Slurry?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “Then speak freely.”

  “The incident on the highway…”

  Danielle had suspected as much. “As I said earlier, I will take it up with the Lord Protector. You needn’t worry yourself. I intend to tell Joseph everything and he’ll know best what to do.”

  “Nevertheless, Milady, I’m sworn to make this matter known also.”

  “So you’d break your oath to me?”

  The prospect clearly pained him. “No, Milady. But it’s a serious incident when the princess of this realm is abducted and assaulted on a busy highway in broad daylight. And please forgive me for speaking out of place, but it’s a good deal more serious than you are making out. What if it were to happen again?”

  “You needn’t concern yourself about that,” Danielle said, forcing a smile.

  “With all due respect, Milady…” Mr. Slurry hesitated a moment. Then he lowered his voice again and said, “I had no business letting you stop my men and me from protecting you.”

  “That’s nonsense. You acted wisely,” Danielle said dismissively as she waved to the crowd. They had reached the square, and people were abandoning their stalls and streaming from the nearby inns to catch a glimpse of her. Someone had started to chant her name and champion together. Others adding to the call took up the cry, their voices punctuated by the clapping. “An engagement would only have led to bloodshed, and such a brash action could have gotten me killed,” she continued. “So do I still have your silence?”

  “Of course, Milady. I only wish we’d served you better; that’s all I’m saying.”

  “You couldn’t have served me better than you did. And I won’t hear otherwise.” She twisted in her saddle and thanked the rest of the men of her entourage. Then, with one last wave and gracious nod to the crowd, she put her heels to her horse’s flanks and cantered through the open gates into the palace grounds—a great, swelling cheer from the crowded city square following her entrance.

  Anxious to slip back into court with as little attention as possible, Danielle rode straight to the stables. A groom looked up from where he was checking a horse’s hooves as she enter the yard. He immediately abandoned his task and came running over to take her reins. She thanked him and dismounted, wincing at the pain in her ribs and stumbling a little as she found her feet.

  “Are you all right, Milady?”

  “I’m fine, just a little out of practice.”

  “Danielle, Danielle, my dear...” It was Joseph. He was coming down the stairs from the palace. She straightened up, fixed a smile on her face to hide her pain, and went forward to greet him, hoping he hadn’t seen her stumble and a little surprised that he should be about this part of the palace. At this hour he would usually be seated at the table of the Inner Council offering advice as her father held court in the throne room.

  “It’s so good to have you home, lass,” he said, approaching across the yard, his walking stick tapping on the cobbles as he came on. Despite his cheerfulness, she could see the caution in him; as if he wasn’t sure what mood she might be in after their last meeting.

  Danielle felt a swelling of regret. As they meet she kissed his bearded cheek, slipped her hand under his elbow and headed for the palace. “What are you doing here?”

  “Tending to a small matter. Nothing of importance.”

  That usually meant he had been talking to one of his spies around the palace.

  “I heard the cheering out in the square and guessed it must be our dear Dee returning.”

  “It’s good to be home.” She squeezed his elbow. “Joseph, I’m sorry I was so hard on you yesterday. This business with Father and Kane, and then the news of Wyatt and Glomar, and James—it was all just so much to think about at once. And I know none of it was your fault.”

  He smiled good-naturedly. “Frankly, I think you handled it as well as could be expected, though I am pleased you reconsidered. Very relieved in fact.” As they climbed the stairs to the palace entrance he motioned to five guards to follow, before saying, “Your father wishes to speak with you at once.”

  “I’ve been told as much. I suspect he is in the throne room?”

  “He is.”

  “How concerned should I be?”

  “Let me be plain.” Joseph fell silence as they entered the Brother’s vestibule and two maids hurried passed. As they began to climb the wide stone staircase on the other side of the hexagonal chamber, he lowered his voice and continued, saying, “Before James arrived with your letter early this morning, your political future in your father’s court looked bleak indeed.”

  Danielle was slightly taken back. She had realised her father was less than pleased with her. That had never been in doubt. And she thought the appointment of a protector was to be her punishment, as well as a remedy to her conduct since James would be her shadow, shield and likely jailor if she gave her temper and free-spirit too much leeway. But she had not realised things were that direr that she had broken through the proverbial ice and fallen so badly out of her father’s graces.

  “And now that he has received my letter and apology?”

  “It helped considerably. He knows your value and importance to the realm’s future. However, there are going to be some changes. One quite significant.”

  “Meaning what exactly?”

  “Your father will give you the details.”

  “How concerned should I be?”

  “Some of what he has to say will no doubt bother you. Some should please you greatly, but you’ll be relieved to know that none will adversely affect your present endeavours at court or at the Grand Assembly of Realms.”

  “That is a relief to know.” All the same, she was a little shaken by this news.

  They walked down another wide passageway. Danielle acknowledged the polite curtseys and bows she received from those they passed with a nod and smile. At the very least it was nice to be home.

  “There’s also going to be a banquet in your honour this evening,” Joseph was saying.

  She had expected as much. Though with her thoughts occupied by a raft of more worrisome issues, she really was not in the mood for frivolities. But formality demanded it and she was long used to that.

  “Are Eden and Michael here? And where’s James?” She was a little surprised she hadn’t seen them by now for word of her arrival was almost certainly known across the palace by now.

  “I’m afraid Eden and Michael are hunting with Lord Gambly and his sons. The latter arrived from Themia three days ago. The arrangements were already made before word of your early return reached us. They’ll be back tonight for the banquet. As for your protector, last I saw James he was on his way to the city. Some business he was concluding on Lord Sydney’s behalf. He intended to return before you arrived, so he can’t be too far away.”

  They turned a corner in the wide passageway and climbed the curved marble staircase to the large vaulted vestibule that served as the waiting and announcement chamber to the throne room. The latter was on the left through two arched oak doors. Directly across the chamber were two identical doors that gave access to the even larger chamber that was used by the General Council of nobles. It was a particularly warm day for mid spring and Danielle wasn’t surprised to hear banter and argument coming from the throne room, for her father often instructed that the doors be left just so to allow the breeze to issue through the passageways and halls of the court.

  She braced herself as they approached. She had taken to heart James’ suggestion last evening that cooperation should be her priority and with what Joseph had just to
ld her she intended to fortify that with a healthy dose of humility.

  The two palace guards stationed at either side of the arched entrance to the throne room offered a deep bow at her approach. Danielle smiled politely, before squaring her shoulders and stepping through the door they swung open for her and Joseph. As was etiquette at Illandia, she stopped just inside and waited for the court herald to introduce her.

  Her father, arrayed in his royal robes, was seated on the gilded throne on a raised stage at the other end of the long chamber. He was conferring with the members of the Inner Council who were seated around a table in front of him. All the members save Joseph, Eden, and herself were seated at their usual places. There was a sizable party of delegates from New Arkaelyon’s merchant class seated on the front benches of the large audience seatery. Even with their backs to her, Danielle recognised many of these men.

  “Mr. Johnson and his shipping fraternity, I see,” she said to Joseph as she waited for Master Leflin to look up from a conversation he was having with a court scribe.

  She was in no hurry for him to do so, for her father seemed to be in an irritable mood. Likely because of her early return.

  “Been here the past couple of days,” Joseph said quietly. “They’re arguing for a deduction in the shipping levy charged to every foreign cargo vessel that uses our waterways—nothing exciting.”

  Master Leflin, attired in his court robes, noticed them at last and hurried over, nodding most apologetically for the delay.

  “Welcome home, Milady. This place will be a great deal brighter with you returned. You have been sorely missed,” he said, his smile genuine.

  Danielle thanked him, grateful for his kindness and more so, since he had likely lost money betting on her to win the tourney. The man was a notorious bookkeeper.

  She nodded that she was ready and he drew in a deep breath, turned in the direction of the throne and rapped his long speech stick on the marble floor three times before announced her arrival, his voice rising above the talk.