by Lee Abrey
“Well, if I can help,” he said, “it’s no hardship for me. You say, don’t be proud.”
“Thanks,” I said, and smiled, “it’s nice to know. If Uncle Theo ever throws me out I’ll come begging for livery fees for my beautiful horse.” I looked out the window. There was a group of boys walking on the other side of the road. “That’s Bailey Westwych,” I said, nodding out the window. “He’s the one pulled me off Indigo, the big blonde, who’s the one I was trying to castrate. Do you know them?” Azrael peered out and nodded.
“Aye,” he said, “Bailey’s alright, Indigo’s a prick. Bailey is the next King of Gyr so he’s nothing to prove. Indigo’s untitled and I hear he fancies himself my replacement.” I nodded.
“I heard that too, but afterwards. All I knew, he tried to hold me underwater. I didn’t even see who it was. I wouldn’t normally try to geld a man.”
“He’s limping,” said Azrael, pushing his hair back, “trying to hide it.”
“Ha, I think you’re right.” I sat back in my seat. “Are you growing your hair?”
“Aye,” he said, “just to annoy Grandpa.”
“Well, that’s a good enough reason,” I said, and laughed. He smiled and fiddled with a hank of his fringe.
“I know,” he said, “it seems petty, but I’m good otherwise. I try not to lose my bodyguards any more.” Fenric gave me a bland look when I glanced at him. Azrael saw me look and smiled at Fenric. “Before Father died, I used to lose them most times we went anywhere. Fenric reckoned I was trying to send him grey.” He paused. “Grandpa hauled me in last night, said did I know you did men?” I winced. He grinned. The bodyguards all tried to look elsewhere.
“Oh bugger,” I said. Azrael rolled his eyes at my joke.
“It’s alright, I told him you didn’t.”
“Uncle Theo believed you?” I said, raising my eyebrows, and Azrael nodded.
“I pointed out you were attacked in the baths by someone who would like to discredit me. And that you hurt the boy’s pride badly, so I imagined this was something to do with that.” I blinked. “By discrediting you,” Azrael went on in an earnest tone, “he was hoping to discredit me in the king’s eyes.” I held up a hand.
“Whoa, so someone reported me to the king, told him I was a nasty little trouser-bandit?” Azrael laughed and laughed, as did the other bodyguards. Even Fenric lost his composure and snorted with laughter.
“Trouser-bandit?” said Azrael, when he could speak.
“Stop your giggling,” I said, trying to be dignified, “it was what the soldiers at the garrison always said. Well, one of the things.”
“It must have been Indigo,” said Azrael. “Anyway, I told Grandpa you weren’t gay. I told him the truth. We did a girl together and you didn’t try to touch me up.”
“Gossip’s a nasty weapon,” I said.
“I could start my own rumours,” said Azrael, “serve them right, but Nanny says that sort of thing always goes wrong.”
“Aye,” I said, “and it’s against the tenets of Thet.” He gave me a serious look.
“I thought you were an atheist,” he said. I spread my hands.
“I am, but it’s not hard to learn about the gods. Their moral codes often have admirable themes. Father always said you can decide which bits suit you. You should study religions, they’re fascinating.”
“But you don’t believe in the gods,” he said, “do you?” I shook my head and said in an assured tone,
“Inventing gods is something we do to make ourselves less afraid, and huddled here on this little planet we’re so afraid, when once we roamed the stars.” I waved a hand. “Sophisticated peoples don’t need religions to run their lives.”
“I might use that in a speech one day,” he said, looking thoughtful, “especially about roaming the stars, if you don’t mind?”
“Help yourself,” I said. “So, what’s next on the princely agenda?”
“Morning tea,” he said with a grin, “at least, it’s the next planned event. If we walk up from the stables we’ll burn off what we ate at the cafe. Did you know it’s Father’s funeral on Sunday, day after my birthday?” He tried not to smile any more, putting on his serious face. I nodded. “My next major public ordeals are that I have to give speeches at my birthday and at the funeral.”
“Glad I’m not a prince,” I said. “Do you need a hand with the speeches?”
“Aye,” he said, smiling, “thank you, Polo, I do.” I’d never had a friend, well, not one my own age. It was a novel experience.
****
We arrived back at the citadel on our way to my suite, as I wanted to show Azrael a book Grandmama Daeva had given me, The Horse and Pony Breeds of the Old Kingdoms. It was illustrated, and the foundation sire of the Pesertine breed was there, a piebald like Magpie. Before we made it, we were headed off.
“Azrael!” someone called. We looked around. Jogging up was a stocky man in Beechwood servant livery, green tunic over black trousers. Azrael waved and hailed him, we stopped, the servant stopped running, and there was that moment of waiting as he walked up.
“Come on Innes,” said Ross, the officer in charge, swinging his arms, “shift it, some of us need a fire.” The servant Innes looked at him and kept walking towards us, refusing to hurry more than he was.
“Is it cold?” I said, wondering if I was sickening for something, “it feels fine. Pleasant in the sun, a bit chilly in here.” Azrael nodded.
“Aye, me too.”
“I’m just down from the north,” said Ross, who had very dark curly hair he kept cropped short. His cat’s-eyes were warm brown, a ring of silver stars round the iris. “We were on the coast, so this feels freezing.” Finally, Innes made it to us.
“Morning, Azrael,” he said, “message from the king. Himself wants you in his day study.”
“Thanks Innes,” said Azrael, “I’ll go now.”
“And if you’re Polo Shawcross,” said Innes, nodding his head to me, “Himself wants you too.”
“That’s me,” I said, “thanks.” Azrael and I looked at each other. I was wondering what we’d done, so was he.
“Is Cida here, Innes?” said Azrael.
“Aye, lad,” said Innes, sounding friendlier, “she’s arrived. We’ve a nice set of rooms over on the east side of the new fort, third floor.”
“Tell her I said hello,” said Azrael. “Someone remind me, where are the king’s offices from here?” Ross directed us to where the king’s offices looked out over the main entrance. We jogged up and were ushered in.
****
Chapter 15 – Ghosts and Gainful Employment
To my relief, and Azrael’s, we hadn’t done anything wrong. The king just fancied a chat.
“If you don’t have any appointments?” said Theo. We said of course not, and settled in for a visit. The mindweed, cake and coffee were on tap and, as always, I enjoyed the king’s company. I hoped he and Azrael didn’t fight. I needn’t have worried. They were both in a good mood, possibly both for the same reason, Azrael getting laid. Eventually I broached the subject of finding some part-time work around the place.
“I don’t mind getting my hands dirty,” I said, “I’ve always done chores on the farm. I need a bit of extra coin so I can save Grandmama’s allowance to fund a guild course. I’d be happy to work in the gardens or the stables?” Having done some stints kitchen-handing and helping at the bakery and inn in Lower Beech, I wasn’t going to volunteer for the kitchens if I could help it. Kitchen work was very hot.
“Got a better idea,” said the king, “I’ll pay you an allowance-” I tried to interrupt, to say I couldn’t accept that but he shushed me. “Call it a wage if it makes you feel better, but it will be dependent on you completing a series of challenges each week.” I was thinking oh dear, I just wanted a part-time job, something that wasn’t school. This sounded horribly like school.
“Challenges?” I said, trying to be polite but sounding doubtful. Theo waved a hand, as if they�
�d be nothing tricky.
“No more than one day a week,” he said, “mostly working in one of the departments that run the city and the citadel. Visiting with the Royal Keepers, sometimes lectures and demonstrations of the departments so you understand how the place runs. I plan on Azrael doing it with you. This connected some dots in my mind. What do you say?”
“Well,” I said, “sounds interesting.” It did. I was thinking that no matter what job I ended up doing in the future, this idea of Theo’s would be good experience. I might even find a vocation, and people expected you to have one. Adults kept looking at me funny when I said I didn’t know what I wanted as a career. Moreover, Theo’s plan sounded like being paid for having fun, not the school-in-disguise I was expecting. One day a week. I looked at Azrael. “Don’t you think?” I said. Azrael looked sceptical.
“When would we do it, Grandpa?”
“Probably best to do it on Saturdays,” said Theo, watching us. “Start early, finish by afternoon tea. I’m thinking you learn what’s involved in each post. Be good experience for a king, and for you, Polo, be excellent for your education.” I nodded. “Did you know there’s a course in Estate Management at the Harvesters Guild?” I raised my eyebrows.
“I don’t really know much about the guilds,” I said, “but that sounds good.” Estate management was well paid, especially at steward level, I knew that much. I didn’t know there was a course in it, imagining people started for a duke or a king as a stablehand or something, and worked their way up over decades.
“They’ve got copies of the various guild prospectuses in the library,” said Theo, “you should read them over.” I nodded, I would.
“So give me a for instance,” said Azrael, not sounding convinced.
“You spend the day with the Royal Keeper of the Bees,” said Theo, “see what’s involved in his post. You’ll have an appreciation for the effort involved by all those people to get the honey on your toast in the morning.” Theo was starting to sound impatient but Azrael took the wind out of him.
“Sounds good, Grandpa. You in, Polo?” I nodded.
“Aye,” I said, “sounds good to me too.” The king covered his surprise that we both agreed, said we’d have these holidays off then our new one-day-a-week job would start once school did.
“I’ve also arranged for Captain Fenric to tutor you both,” he continued, “seeing you both know a little self-defence. Talk to him about that.” I noticed Theo didn’t say ‘martial arts’ but self-defence, which implied neither of us would be going into the army. I wasn’t worried as I didn’t want to go, but felt a bit sad for Azrael, to be so protected that he couldn’t ever have his dream. “That new horse of yours going alright, Polo?” said Theo. I was smitten with the animal, happy to tell him how wonderful Magpie was and how great Theo was to give him to me. We chatted, and Theo said he’d have to go soon, an appointment with the Kavar ambassador before lunch.
“We’re thinking of using their troops as mercenaries,” he said, “the Kavar king’s very interested but he’s taking such a big cut of their fee we don’t feel the soldiers are being paid properly. They’d be open to bribes. The Sriamans are known for trying to bribe soldiers with gold. I keep telling the Army of the North, you have to raise wages. Especially, they have to raise pensions. Man needs to know he’ll be able to survive if the worst happens and he’s maimed, or his family will get recompense if they’re left without him. Sendren’s the only kingdom that provides a decent pension to our soldiers and their kin.” Azrael was paying rapt attention, loving this kind of political talk. It was his future so it was good that he took an interest.
****
I tuned out, not because I wasn’t interested, but because there was a man standing by the fireplace. From Azrael and Theo’s reactions, they didn’t see him at all. The man was sort-of transparent. I assumed it was a ghost. On the other hand, I might be hallucinating. Perhaps I’d gone mad. I didn’t want to look away in case he vanished. The ghost, if that’s what it was, seemed about my height, straight black hair down to the middle of his back. He was leaning on the mantelpiece, smiling gently, and was very good looking.
It seemed a strange thing to be noticing but it was what jumped out at me. The apparition was clean-shaven, had great cheekbones and a strong jaw, wearing a draping creamy-coloured shirt with soft pale trousers, and a pair of moccasins like the ones I was given for the Spring Ball, with beading on them. Not silk though, his looked to be soft leather with some bright beads, all of it slightly-not-there. I stopped examining his clothes and looked back at his face. Brown eyes, I couldn’t tell if they were bright or not, but from his build he looked Blood not commoner.
That made sense, a Blood ghost in a Blood stronghold like this. I wondered who he was. The clothes looked vaguely northern. When had long hair last been fashionable? About a hundred years ago? I was sure I was seeing things. Why wasn’t I panicking? A cat wandered in, sat and seemed to notice the ghost, then went past it, looking to cadge food from the king, who obliged with some cream from one of the cakes. I tried not to stare at the ghost too obviously.
Hello, said the ghost, sounding friendly. I glanced at Theo and then at Azrael. They can’t hear me, the ghost went on, and as you may have surmised not everyone can see me either. Even fewer can hear me clearly. We can talk later, but I wanted to say hello.
I blinked and he was gone. There was a kind of swirling in the air where he’d been, as if a tiny whirlwind was losing power on the hearth. A curl of ash raised itself in an eddy of impossibility, twisted into two, then floated for a few moments in a perfect double helix, a twisted twin spiral above the stone. Then it dissolved and the ash floated back to the hearth. I blinked again and tried to breathe. The cat walked over again, looked at the ash, and sauntered out.
“Are you alright, Polo?” said Azrael. He and Theo were both looking at me as if I’d failed to answer some question.
“Oh,” I said, sounding croaky, trying to smile, “sorry, million miles away.” A servant said the Kavar ambassador had arrived, and we were ushered out another entrance.
****
Azrael waited until we were out of earshot.
“Are you alright,” he said, “really?”
“I’m fine,” I said, “just a funny turn.” He smiled.
“You sound like Nanny Black.” I shrugged. Did she see ghosts too?
“I haven’t met her yet,” I said.
“She’s due any time now,” he said and sighed. “It’s been quite nice without her, but don’t ever say I told her that. She tends to get upset if I admit I can get by without her. Mother’s trying to get her to retire, but she likes to keep an eye on me.” Gods. I tried to be tactful.
“Isn’t that a bit inhibiting?” I said. He shrugged.
“She goes to bed early. And she’s staying in Mother’s tower, so close but not in my suite.”
I was expecting a little old lady, so when the roly-poly white-haired woman wearing a black skirt with a green pinafore appeared in the corridor ahead, I figured it might be her. Azrael waved. She waved back then sat down to wait for us.
Up close, Nanny Black looked pretty healthy and, despite the white hair, not that old. Maybe the king’s age, though Azrael said later she was older by nearly a decade. However she was barely five feet tall. I didn’t underestimate her on grounds of age, size or plumpness, because she looked as if there was a brain the size of Sendren behind the shrewd dark eyes.
“Hello Nanny,” said Azrael as we reached her. He leaned down and gave her a hug. “It’s good to see you.” He turned to me. “Nanny, this is Polo Shawcross. Polo, this is Nanny Black. We were just talking about you, Nanny.”
She offered her hand, I said I was pleased to meet her, and she nearly crushed my fingers. She smiled, looking smug, and said it was mutual. Azrael put his arm around her. I noticed she didn’t need me explaining and guessed she knew me already through some report or other. I had begun to notice everything I did became fodder for citadel gossi
p. It was only a matter of time before Mother or Grandmama wrote to me about something that they heard about me doing. Bernard had admitted he was taking notes, and I wondered if the king saw those, or if others spied on me.
“Nanny’s like my mother, really,” Azrael said, “aren’t you Nanny?”
“It does feel that way, precious,” Nanny Black said, focused on Azrael, “now, tell me, is everything alright?” Nanny Black was petrifying. And strong. She was a peasant, though her accent was a southern one and not particularly common. She could walk too, I was flat out keeping up with her. She had legs like steel springs disguised in black stockings. On her collar was the same silver dragon Fenric wore, signifying ten years service in the north. I wondered when that was, or was the pin for some man she’d loved?
“I thought we could eat together in your suite, dearie,” said Nanny. She was talking to me. “I ordered lunch in, or rather your man, Bernard was organising it. He’s very efficient, isn’t he?”
“Very,” I said, “I’ve only just arrived, when Azrael did. I’ve never had a servant before. Bernard’s very thoughtful.” I knew enough to tell her, so she would tell Bernard and he would get kudos. The way the servants judged each other was complicated. It webbed the Blood into a system of politeness that suited the peasantry. Feedback and the respect of one’s peers, both important.
“Saraia tells me your mother is a Casterton,” said Nanny Black. While we waited for lunch I explained my family, at least what I knew. Once she finished exploring my genealogy she began interrogating me personally. What were my interests? Liking reading and outdoor sports meant approving nods. What did I want to be? Thanks to Theo, I had an answer.
“I need to explore the options,” I said, “I barely know what the guilds teach, but I’m thinking Estate Management at the Harvesters.” It sounded good, and I hoped it would stop adults recommending the Military Guild. She nodded.