Ardent

by Florian Armas

  “Stefan doesn’t have enough soldiers for a siege,” Father continued. “Stefan and Orban together have enough soldiers for a siege. You told me about some negotiation between them, but Stefan is not yet our enemy. Are they allies?”

  “No, as far as I know.”

  “Is there anything else I need to know?” Mohor asked.

  “Yes,” Codrin said, his voice hesitant. “It will be an uncomfortable thing.” He glanced at Mohor, who nodded, and I asked myself if it was about Saliné’s marriage “We need to recall first some things that happened in the past in Severin.” He breathed deeply and sipped some more wine. “Senal was murdered when he was writing an important letter to Jara, revealing that we have a spy in Severin. The letter vanished together with the killer.”

  “We were lucky that you knew that trick to reveal what was written on the letter by using the paper under it,” I said, and smiled at him.

  “A good Assassin’s trick,” Codrin shrugged. “Then Jara was poisoned, and Bucur took advantage of Saliné’s grief.”

  “Bucur drugged Saliné in the night when everybody thought that I would not survive. Did she not tell you?” I asked.

  “We didn’t discuss such things,” Codrin said thoughtfully, but his eyes brightened. “And there was that scenario Aron and Bucur played out in Mehadia, to kill me. That ended with Bucur being sent back to Severin.”

  “Before leaving, Aron asked us to keep Bucur in Severin during the campaign in Mehadia,” I said, before Mohor could react. “To … defend it from Orban.” With some effort, I was able to speak calmly.

  “I did not know that, but it simplifies our situation somewhat. So what I want to say is,” Codrin took a deep breath then coughed, “Aron is betraying you.”

  “I have enough trust in you to listen your arguments, but how much of this is your belief and how much of what you’ve said is fact?” Mohor asked. “Aron pushed me to make some mistakes, true, but from there to being a traitor and trying to poison Jara is a long way. And I hate to say it, but the relationship between you two – and I can add Bucur and that, hmm, awful thing he did to Saliné in this too – will always play a part in whatever you think about him. And they about you,” he shrugged.

  “Maybe this will add some clarity.” Codrin pushed a paper that looked old and read many times toward Mohor, and I suddenly understood why he was the last one to enter the castle. “I found it in Mehadia, in the archive, before we burned the castle.”

  The letter passed from one hand to another, and while for me things were now clear, I decided to let Mohor face this alone. I exchanged a glance with Father and he nodded discreetly. Mohor was too lost in his thoughts to observe, but Codrin’s avid stare caught us, and he turned his head away without reacting.

  “Unexpected indeed.” Mohor took back the paper from Father, and remained silent, reading it again. “Aron informed Mehadin about Saliné’s wedding with Devan. Aron informed Mehadin,” he repeated and knocked his head with the tip of his finger.

  “The same letter was sent to Orban,” Codrin added.

  “To Orban?” Mohor asked. He needed no answer.

  “And another letter from Aron informed Orban about the alliance between you and Devan,” Codrin added, his voice calm, only the fingers gripping the corner of the table revealing his inner tension.

  Mohor filled his glass with wine, moistened his lips without sipping, then pushed the glass aside with a nervous gesture. “Well,” he said. “We have a traitor. No, that was clear for some time already. We know who the traitor is. Traitors. Codrin, you refused to be my governor in Corabia. Would you accept to be my Spatar?”

  “In these circumstances, yes.”

  “I don’t see too much enthusiasm. You don’t really want to work for me,” Mohor frowned, his fingers rasping the table.

  “It’s not that, Mohor. A Spatar is too visible. I can’t be both Spatar and Lead Protector. Once I am officially linked to you, most of my sources of information will dry up. I doubt that Cantemir will show me other letters from your traitors from now on. I have served you and Jara better than I could ever do by governing Corabia.”

  “You like being protector,” I said, to give Mohor enough time to recalibrate his thoughts. “But you can’t remain just a protector all your life. You are noble born, and deserve more, and we will find a way to balance your loss,” I smiled.

  “My loss is your loss too. You know what the most successful Lead Protectors are called?” Codrin asked, and I frowned to remember; the name was hidden somewhere in my memory.

  “Wraiths,” Mohor said. “There are four of them in Frankis. Two in Peyris, two in Tolosa.”

  “I am one of the two Wraiths known to live in ... Tolosa. Only you know that my house is in Severin. See, Mohor? Very few know about the Wraiths, even fewer where we live, if we have families or friends, and we are not bound to any ruler. The less is known about us, the more valuable we are as protectors. It’s difficult for your enemy to find and bribe, or blackmail, a Lead Protector who appears only now and then to work for you, then vanishes without trace. Wraiths we are, indeed.”

  “Visibility,” Mohor said thoughtfully. “That’s why no one knows about Codrin in Arad?” he asked, and I kicked him under the table. “Well,” Mohor grinned, with no other reaction, “I can see some truth in that. Let’s drink to our new Spatar.” There was no trace of irony in his voice; he meant it, as we became aware of things that we had only guessed about Codrin. Mohor tried to fill his glass, only to notice that it was already full, and he raised it. “Fate, let it be in a good turn,” he said the traditional Frankis words, and we repeated it.

  Codrin drank too, yet something was bothering him.

  “Codrin?” I stared at him.

  “Would be possible to settle the things with Saliné too?”

  “Yes,” I smiled. “It would be quite a good political move to tie our Spatar’s hands through a marriage.”

  “Some of our Knights are gathered in Severin. Tomorrow we will make the announcement. The announcements,” Mohor corrected himself fast.

  “What will happen to Aron?” Father asked.

  “He saved my life once. For that, I will let him live, and Bucur too. Maybe I am being weak; they killed Senal and poisoned you,” he glanced at me, “but I will let it go. Aron will be stripped of his Knighthood and his castle, and will leave Severin with whatever he wants to take with him. As we know, he has some land close to Peyris,” Mohor shrugged. “Now let me enjoy my wine.”

  Chapter 5 – Codrin

  The night passed slowly, and the morning even slower. It was decided to make the announcements in the evening, after Mohor had talked with his Knights. A small celebration feast was also being prepared. Just before noon, a courier came with a message from Jara: my presence was requested in Severin. Four years ago, we settled in Pades, after we had escaped from Arenia. I wish Radu and Tudor could be here with me… And my sister, and my parents too. I mounted Zor, and went down to Severin, fighting to calm my eagerness. In the castle inner yard, I saw a few soldiers from Peyris. Duke Stefan has made his claim. At least now we will know what he wants. I left Zor in the stable, and took the secondary stair to enter the castle. Mohor’s council room was closer to it than to the main entry. Vlaicu was going down and we clasped hands.

  “What does the Duke want?”

  “Marc, the Spatar of Peyris, and the commander of his army at our border, came with a letter from the Duke. I don’t yet know the content, but if I don’t see an army at our gate; I think everything is fine.”

  In the council room, I found Jara, Mohor and Cernat. It was a sunny day which promised to be a great one, but they looked like they were at a funeral.

  “What happened?” I asked, realizing that Jara’s message was a herald of bad news. She pushed a letter to me. Before starting to read, I recognized Duke Stefan’s seal on it. It was a short letter.

  ‘Mohor,

  We have had good relations for years, mostly because I trust Aron.
It saddened me to hear that the links between Aron and you are no longer what they were in the past. I urge you to reconsider. Ruling is an act of balance. Aron is the rightful Spatar of Severin and he should remain so. I was glad to hear about the wedding between former Lady Midian’s daughter and Aron’s son. That wedding has my blessing. I request you to host fifty of my soldiers in Severin until spring to oversee my interests there. I also request you to send away from Severin that wicked man, Codrin, who has poisoned the atmosphere. This letter needs an urgent reply. I hope that your answer will not require a military reaction to enforce my interests in Severin.

  Duke Stefan’

  This is an ultimatum not a letter. Saliné...

  “Marc, the Spatar, gave us three turns to answer,” Jara said. “He refused to talk with us, and he is now in Aron’s quarters.”

  “What do you think?” Mohor asked.

  Aron is one step ahead of us. “Severin can’t resist long if it is attacked by Stefan’s and Orban’s armies together. We need to buy time. One month would be enough to delay the menace of an attack until late spring. Winter is coming and food will be scarce. And…”

  “How?” Mohor stared at me.

  “By accepting his ultimatum. Temporarily, until we understand what has happened between Stefan and Orban, and why Aron is so important in this game.”

  “What difference would make that?” Mohor seemed to be very concise today.

  “A disagreement between them would stop Stefan sending another army here – you have no direct borders with him. A quarrel will make you a natural ally for Orban. I know; it’s not a perfect solution…”

  “If they agree?”

  “It will not leave you much room for maneuver,” I shrugged.

  “You would make quite a good Secretary too. And you did not try to sell me your own interests.”

  “I will still insist on keeping our old agreement about Saliné’s wedding.” Every time we get near being married, something happens... Are we cursed?

  “Her wedding day should still be two years from now.” Mohor was quick to understand. “Codrin,” he placed a hand on my shoulder. “I will accept Duke Stefan’s … request. Temporarily, as you’ve said. I still see you as my Spatar and Saliné as your wife. And in my answer to Stefan, I will accept your exile from Severin … town, not the county. That will allow you to spend some time in your house. To avoid more complications, it should be done discretely and not very often.”

  “Thank you, Mohor. I will leave in two or three days. Vlad and Pintea will come to me. While we are in the county, we can use Vlad as a courier to align our purposes – he is not mentioned in Stefan’s letter. We can also meet in Cernat’s house if the need arrives. And…” I glanced at Jara.

  “Saliné is in her room,” Jara nodded. “She knows about the letter. Tell her what we have decided. I will come later too.”

  “We have one more thing to clarify.” Mohor stopped me from leaving, and Jara pushed me a piece of paper across the table to me. Before I could take it, Mohor grabbed my hand, took a knife from his sleeve and cut me lightly. He squeezed the cut until three drops of blood fell on the floor. “With the authority given to me by the Seigneury of Severin, I name you a free Knight of Cleuny. This is the title deed. It has been signed by Cernat too, so it stands from a legal point of view. Fate, bless the rise of this man to Knighthood. He has served you with honor. Here,” he gave me a second paper, “is your ownership deed for a hundred fifty hectares of land in Cleuny. And here,” he produced yet another paper, “is scrip for a thousand galbeni. They came from Mehadin’s vault. Don’t tell anyone about that,” Mohor winked.

  “Thank you, Mohor.” I bowed, unable to speak. Our agreement was that I would be made half-Knight after the campaign in Mehadia.

  “Saliné is waiting for you,” he said, hiding his feelings well.

  I found Saliné at the window, leaning her forehead against the cold glass. She turned her head when I entered and bit her lip. I embraced her, and she leaned back on me.

  How should I tell her?

  “Sometimes I try to find Grandfather’s house on the hill. From my bedroom there, I was able to see Severin. I am afraid that the house is too small to see from here. It’s staying hidden, like our future together. If only I had not done …”

  My fingers pressed gently on her lips to stop her self-recrimination. Unable to find the right words to sooth her, I kissed her neck, embracing her tightly. Saliné shivered, and after a while, she turned slowly in my arms, and I saw a thin smile that I thought she had forgotten how to make.

  “We still can have our moments together.” She caressed my hair, and I felt her warm lips on mine.

  “I have a bit of good news.” Jara entered the room, a turn later; her frown now less evident than in the council room.

  I was leaning with my back against the window, with Saliné in my arms, her head on my shoulder. Saliné’s head turned slowly toward Jara. Instead of speaking, Jara came closer, and her left arm embraced me, while her right embraced Saliné. I moved my right hand behind Jara’s shoulders.

  “For whatever reason, Aron has accepted limiting your exile.” Jara disengaged from us and smiled. It was not her best smile. There were both expectations and danger reflected on her lips and in the gleaming of her eyes. “You are allowed to return to Severin at the Spring Equinox. You are also allowed three days in Severin at the Winter Solstice Party. And as we agreed before, the paper to Stefan mentioned only Severin town.”

  “Is Codrin allowed to stay in the county?” Saliné asked, and Jara nodded, her smile expanding a bit. “Then I can see you,” she said, and her arms tightened around my neck.

  “From time to time,” Jara added.

  “I understand that, but it is still better than the awful nothing which was cast on us before,” Saliné whispered, unable to control her voice. She bit her upper lip and remained silent, then pressed her head on my shoulder.

  “We can dance at the party,” I said, trying to relieve her sadness.

  “Yes, we can dance.” The tightness of her hands around my neck diminished a notch.

  Unseen by Saliné, Jara nodded to me.

  “Saliné,” I said, fighting hard to control my voice, and took her hands in mine. “I have to leave now.”

  “I understand that too,” Saliné whispered, and I kissed her one last time.

  Before turning onto the road to Cleuny, I glanced once more at Severin: the roof of the castle was gleaming in the bright sun. Nothing bright for me… Two months and a half until the Winter Solstice will pass fast, but it will solve nothing. I still have two years until… Why is everything turning against Saliné and me?

  Built in Mehadia, at the border with Severin, and less than two days of ride from it, Cleuny was not a castle, but not a simple house either. It was slightly fortified, and able to host twenty soldiers, if needed, but it was impossible to defend well against a siege. And its last renovation was a long time ago. From what Calin had told me, Mehadin did not care too much about his small possessions, and Mohor got it only two months ago. I found there a family hired by Mohor as servants. There were also five guards I knew from my first year in Severin. They were in their early forties, the age when guards think of retirement, and have families. Two of them were already married and had children. I kept them all on, and after a week I left for Arad.

  ***

  Through the monotone rhythm of the horse the flash came, vivid and soundless. Somewhere close, a man was facing four robbers. Short as the vision lasted, there was enough clarity to understand that all of them were hardened soldiers. I glanced around: the place around us was motionless.

  “Ride!” I shouted and pushed Zor to a gallop. There was nothing in the flash to hint at the direction, just a feeling that the fight was somewhere in front of us, and the forest was quiet. Vlad and Pintea followed me, and Cantemir had no choice, though he glanced at me, waiting for a clue about my sudden hurry. I offered none.

  After a steep c
urve, between some tall black rocks, my intuition proved true: four men were fighting, one already lying dead on the gravel. Experienced, the lone man had chosen a place where they could not attack him mounted. Both Vlad and I used our bows to end the unequal fight. By that kind of minuscule mischance that can change the course of things, our arrows pierced the same robber. The remaining thugs mounted their horses and rode away. Heavily wounded, the man stuck his sword into the ground, and fell slowly into his knees, his hands gripping the hilt. Our eyes crossed. Despite all the pain, a thin smile spread on his lips, and he leaned back on the rock behind him. Matei... I did not smile; he was one of Valer’s mercenaries, part of the five-strong group that had guarded me during the Mehadian campaign. He knew me as Codrin and with Cantemir I was traveling as Tudor.

  By necessity, I was the first one to arrive and dismount. “Don’t speak,” I ordered, harsher than I wanted. “Let me see your wound.”

  “There is no need, I am dying,” Matei said, and his bloodied hand moved away from his belly to prove his words; there was a cruel rent in his ring-mail, and blood was pouring out. “Good soldiers make accurate assessments.” His bitter laughter was abruptly cut by a pang of pain.

  “Perhaps.” For no obvious reason, at the same moment I observed the dead robbers’ colors: they belonged to Boar, a vassal Knight to Lenard, Orban’s most powerful ally, and his former father-in-law. Orban’s second wife had died a few months ago from a miscarriage, but the political links between him and Lenard were still there. How will Cantemir react?

  “Yeah,” Matei half understood me, “Boar’s men. They wanted my money. I owe him for a stupid land purchase I made three years ago, but that greedy animal wants both my land and my money. Bastard thief! There is a purse on my horse,” he gasped, pain moving through him.

  That was when Cantemir arrived too, and the first thing he assessed was Boar’s colors on the dead robbers. He said nothing, and Matei did not react on seeing him.

  “Two hundred galbeni,” Matei continued. “Give them to my family in the Long Valley; if not they will lose both our house and land. They need it in one week from now. It’s not far from here. I have three children. The boys are young, but they are good fighters. Give them my sword too. It has belonged to my family for five generations.” It was indeed a Seigneur’s sword and Matei was just a half-Knight, though a skilled one in fight. “Co...”