by Tony Daniel
X X X
The next morning, Grim brought him coffee. He told Wulf that Albrec Tolas had asked him to smoke with him on the porch of the huge log house.
Wulf took the coffee, wrapped his new cape around his shoulders, and went out. Tolas was standing on a bench and leaning over the porch railing. His pipe was in his mouth, and he was sending clouds of smoke into the cold morning air.
The gnome motioned Wulf over.
“Glockendorf perique,” he said, indicating the tobacco in the pipe. “Odor of my youth.”
“I suppose I might take up a pipe one day,” Wulf said.
“Don’t,” said Tolas. “It causes dampness in the lungs when they overcompensate for the heat. Look at what’s happened to Keiler with his scrofula. The fellow was a constant pipe smoker when I was his aide de camp. Although how he ever stood the orinoco, I can’t explain.”
“Do you think Earl Keiler is dying?”
“Unquestionably,” Tolas said. “Scrofula is a terrible disease. You drown in your own bodily humors.”
“Yuck,” Wulf replied. “All right, you’ve convinced me to never draw a breath of tobacco smoke.”
“Too bad.” Tolas smiled. “It can be very calming.”
“But you said—”
“It’s time you started thinking for yourself a bit more,” Tolas said. “I can’t do all of it for you.”
“I can think for myself, Master Tolas,” Wulf said, feeling a bit of resentment rising inside himself.
Tolas looked at Wulf as if considering whether he’d failed at his job or not.
“All right, if we accept that, then I would say you ought to be thinking practically right now, for instance.”
“What do you mean? Tell me, and I’ll do it.”
“I mean the stick you carved with Lady Saeunn’s name on it. I saw it before you tucked it beneath your belt”
“What about it?”
Tolas took a long drag on his pipe and waited a moment before he puffed it out.
“You understand that to tempt Lady Saeunn to love you is dangerous for her,” Tolas finally said.
“I don’t think we have to worry about me tempting her.”
“Be that as it may, you cannot marry her.”
“I know that, Master Tolas. I know it very well.”
Tolas took another long drag.
“Someone like Ursel Keiler, on the other hand . . .” He turned to Wulf again with a smile. “I do not believe you understand how rich she is going to be when she is married.”
“Keiler said he was giving her a fat dowry.”
“Fat, as in his holdings in the entire western Shwartzwald. It is a fortune to rival that of a princess.”
“Good for her.”
“She likes you, von Dunstig, and you are attracted to her. Don’t deny it. I have not spent fifteen years as a teacher of boys not to see as much.”
“She’s very pretty…and very nice.”
“She’s a hunter, an expert archer. She’s trained in medicine. She knows how to handle bear people when they’re angry—something that is difficult to do and extremely useful for a son of the ruling family in Shenandoah to have at his disposal.”
Wulf shrugged. “What do you want me to say, Tolas?”
“I want you to consider Ursel Keiler as a woman. It would be a match that is extraordinarily good for the stability of the mark.”
He hadn’t thought of it that way. And he really didn’t like it.
Why can’t I just be a ranger, Wulf thought. Patrol the border. Go home at nights to my cabin and read a saga or two.
“Remain in the present, von Dunstig,” Tolas said. He was speaking almost…gently, Wulf thought. “Let the future and the past take care of themselves.”
“Okay, then. Here’s my answer: I wish I could, Master Tolas. Ursel’s incredible. To think she’s a foundling . . .”
Tolas shook his head. There was the slightest of smiles on his face. “I wonder about that,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing I wish to discuss at present,” the gnome said. “See here, von Dunstig, what I’m telling you is that frankly you must consider someone, anyone, besides Saeunn Amberstone. That way lies heartbreak for you. And for her, too. You must not force her to chose between you and her own immortality.”
“Are you actually giving me advice in love, Master Tolas?”
“It seems somebody has to point out facts that are as plain as the nose on your face,” the gnome replied.
“Well thanks.” He touched his nose to be sure it was still there.
From the stables, which were a separate building, a bear man brought out a smallish brown draft horse. It was saddled and looked prepared for a trip.
“Horse is ready, Master Tolas,” called the bear man. “Sure you don’t want a pack animal as well?”
Tolas chuckled. “I’ll be fine, Master Groom. Are my things in the saddlebags?”
“Yes, sir. That all you’re taking?”
“Yes. I’ll be there directly. Let me finish this pipe, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, sir. I’ll just give her a treat before she’s off.” The bear man pulled an apple from a pouch at his side and fed it to the horse.
“Where are you going, Master Tolas?” Wulf asked.
“South,” Tolas replied.
“You mean you’re leaving Bear Hall now?” Wulf felt betrayed. Then he thought about how immature that was. But there was an empty feeling that settled in his stomach. “Do you really have to? I could use…well, I would really like for you to be around.”
“Nonsense,” Tolas replied. “Your most immediate need is to discover how to be your own man.” He looked toward the town. “The gnomes are heading north on the Valley Road. I’ll meet them and fall in. I’m assigned to a pike unit.”
“Are you the captain?”
“Hardly,” Tolas answered. “I’m a foot soldier. But that’s the way it should be. I haven’t been able to drill with the brigade for years.”
“You could get killed,” Wulf said.
“Von Dunstig,” the gnome answered, “it is very probable that we will all get killed.”
“I think it would be a big loss to the mark if you in particular die,” Wulf said. “That’s what I mean.”
“I am flattered you think so, von Dunstig,” Tolas replied. “But you certainly don’t have enough experience to be making such judgments, especially regarding myself.” He pulled on his pipe. “We gnomes are fierce, you know, and deadly when we fight in an organized fashion. If we can just make it to Raukenrose in time, I think we’re likely to surprise you.”
“I will never underestimate a gnome again,” Wulf said.
“A worthy sentiment,” Tolas said. “Probably more honored in the breaking than in the keeping with you, von Dunstig.”
“Master Tolas, this is…I’m really worried…you’re right about me. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve…I’ve killed two men in the last four months. I’m not even sure how I did it.”
“Hardly surprising. They put a sword in your hand at six and Elgar Koterbaum trained you for ten years in the art of fighting. You were bound to be capable of it.”
“But I killed grown men.”
“Have you checked yourself lately, von Dunstig? You’ve filled out.” Tolas looked down at his pipe and saw the bowl was done. He knocked the ashes out over the railing.
“I never wanted to be a warrior.”
“If only we lived in the world where Wulf von Dunstig and Albrec Tolas were left alone to be scholars and adventurers who never had to make any hard choices.” Tolas dipped his pipe into his tobacco pouch and scooped more tobacco into his pipe bowl. “The question is how do we do what our conscience tells us is right.” Tolas tamped the tobacco down with his thumb. “You’ll find your answer in time,” he said. “Now I have to go.”
He hopped down from the bench he’d been standing on and walked to the porch steps. Wulf trailed behind him. The groo
m held the horse by the bridle as Tolas took hold of a stirrup and scrambled up on the horse as if he were climbing a mountain.
“Good-bye, von Dunstig,” he said when he was comfortable in the saddle. “Wait for the centaur archers to arrive, then make your decision on what to do. Listen to Keiler, but think for yourself. And I’ll see you in Raukenrose.”
“See you there, Master Tolas.”
The bear-man groom stepped away. Tolas bent down to speak in the horse’s ears. “After we get outside the village, we’ll find out what you can really do, girl,” he said. He shook the reins, and the horse started moving. Tolas passed between the buildings of Bear Hall. Wulf could hear the horse hooves clopping long after he lost sight of the gnome.
Wulf finished his coffee. He stood on the porch listening. From far away, he heard Tolas shout “Hyah!” and the whinny of a horse.
“Must have cleared the village, m’lord,” the groom called to him from the yard. He also had been listening. “She’s light on her legs, that one, but he’s nothing but a feather to her. Now he can really let her run.”
Chapter Thirty-Four:
The Hostage
The town fell, but the castle held. Four days had passed. Some of the guard and militia managed to break through the soldiers who had been hidden within the town and attacked them from behind. Many of the town’s fighting men were caught between the Sandhaveners who had overrun the walls and the Nesties who had appeared inside the township. They were cut to pieces. Those who surrendered were herded into makeshift cells in the catacombs of Raukenrose University. Those badly wounded were killed. The rest were put to work. Prisoner details cleared the dead.
Duchess Malwin had kept the castle gates open as long as possible to allow people from the town to flee inside. Now there were nearly a thousand people crammed into the keep. Each ate away at the castle’s precious stored food. Duke Otto had prepared for a siege, but had never expected a refugee crisis like this one.
Some crumbled inside after just a few days. Giesela von Kleist, a castle girl who had always been lively and popular, if a bit vicious, wandered around like a ghost. She might appear anywhere in the castle looking frightened and bewildered. When people asked her what she was doing or where she was going, she tried to answer but usually burst into tears.
Saeunn weathered being shut in better than most. She had her star to remind her of the world outside. She also had something important to do. She had made it her job to take care of Anya von Dunstig. The little girl was doing well. She was even enjoying the big crowd of children who had suddenly appeared.
Anya knew all three of her brothers were missing, and that her father, Rainer, and Ravenelle were missing, too. Saeunn understood that deep down Anya was terrified that something very bad had happened to them. She did her best to keep Anya and her new friends distracted. She led games of tag and hoop toss, put on puppet shows for them, and even tried to teach them the elven rainwater dance.
After three days, the food was already running low. Everyone in the castle could hear the shouts of the guard as they patrolled the battlements and fired down on the forces outside. Then, on the fourth day, a messenger from the guard came running to find Duchess Malwin.
When the messenger arrived, the duchess was in the game room with Saeunn, Anya, and Ulla. The older girls were teaching her to play Hang the Fool.
“Your Excellency,” the messenger said to the duchess, “there is something outside that Captain Morast thinks you should see.”
The duchess looked up, irritated at being interrupted when she was concentrating so hard on playing her hand. “Why don’t you just tell me? What is it?” she said.
The messenger hesitated.
Saeunn knew Duchess Malwin had no patience for this kind of behavior. Rules and manners were supposed to make communication easier. But the man’s troubled look put Saeunn on alert. He had come with bad news.
“Tell me!” said the duchess.
The messenger bowed stiffly. “Your Excellency, there’s a truce delegation from the Sandhaveners at the front gate.”
“Another one? Just tell Morast to say no,” she replied with a shrug.
“Yes, Your Excellency,” said the messenger. “But it’s Prince Trigvi…and he’s got Lord Otto with them.”
The duchess gasped. Saeunn felt her own heartbeat pick up.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, Your Excellency, except that they are both there.”
“Is Morast sure it’s Otto?”
“He says to tell you he’d swear by it, Your Excellency.”
“All right, then.” Duchess Malwin rose. “Ulla, you come with me. Saeunn, please stay here with Anya.”
“No!” Anya cried. She tossed aside her cards. “I want to see Otto! I want to see Otto!” she said, tugging on one of Saeunn’s sleeves.
“Saeunn, keep her here,” the duchess said.
“I will, Lady Malwin,” Saeunn replied. She bent down and put an arm around Anya. “Come here, Evinthir, and we will go see that new set of puppies under the kitchen stairs.”
“Moli, yay!” said Anya. “Moli” was the name of the mother dog. She led the way. Duchess Malwin and Ulla followed the messenger to the barbican, a guard tower that projected out from the wall near the castle gate.
They had gotten halfway to the puppies when Anya suddenly pulled away from Saeunn and slipped into the empty butcher’s stall on the west side of the castle bailey. Saeunn followed her inside at a run, but then she discovered a hole in the back of the stall that was big enough for a child but too big for her. She could hear Anya making her way behind the bailey shops.
“Anya, come back here,” she called. “This isn’t funny.”
How had the little girl kept the discovery of this escape route from her? Anya usually told Saeunn all her secrets.
She obviously counted on my believing that, Saeunn thought. She had to recover the child.
Anya emerged near the gate on the northern wall.
“Anya, come here right now!” Saeunn shouted.
“I have to see Otto!”
Before Anya could get to the girl, she bounded up the spiral stairs that led to the barbican where her mother and Ulla had gone. Saeunn followed after. She caught up with Anya on the stairs, but Anya let out a wail when Saeunn picked her up and started back down. She struggled in Saeunn’s arms. From above, a guard’s voice called down.
“The duchess said to let her up.”
“Are you sure?”
“She said if the little one wants to that bad it must mean something, so to come on up with her.”
Saeunn shook her head. She did not like this at all. But she set Anya down and, holding tight to her wrist, guided her back up the stairs to the barbican balcony.
Before the balcony, there was an observation room with arrow slits. This room had a door that led to the balcony. The balcony had a small protective wall, a balustrade, around it. From the balcony you had a full view of the area in front of the gate. But the balustrade was the only protection from arrows shot from below.
Duchess Malwin and Ulla were standing in the protected observation room, gazing through an arrow slit at something below. Both of them were very quiet.
“Mother, Mother!” said Anya. But when the duchess turned to her daughter, tears were flowing and there was a disturbed look in her eyes. Anya stopped short. “What is it?”
Duchess Malwin didn’t answer, but turned back to what she had been viewing. Saeunn scooped Anya up again and, mostly to keep the girl from throwing another fit, she cautiously held her to an arrow slit.
Below, a group of stern-looking soldiers had formed a line on the far side of the dry ditch that the castle drawbridge would cover when lowered. In front of them were two men. Saeunn didn’t recognize one of them, but the other was—
“Otto!” Anya said.
“Hush,” said Saeunn. “That man is speaking.”
The man identified himself as Prince Trigvi von Krehennest of Sandhav
en, in command of the forces that had taken Raukenrose township.
“Duchess, we truly wish to have an audience with Duke Otto to discuss the situation. Would you go and get him? Or is he on his death bed, as we’ve heard?”
So they don’t know he’s missing, Saeunn thought.
“I am the duke’s ears and his voice. Say what you want to me.”
“Otto looks really tired,” Anya whispered. “He’s just staring at the gate.”
Saeunn looked down at Otto. It was true. He was not responding to the sound of his mother’s voice. Then suddenly he jerked his head upward and stared with wide eyes at the barbican. Anya gasped. Otto’s face appeared expressionless.
“Duchess, I would like to see you. Your son would like to see you. I give you my word that you will not be harmed if you step out on the balcony.”
“Pardon us if we don’t trust your word, Prince Trigvi.”
There was silence for a moment. Then Otto cried out in a shrill voice, “Mother, please! Go out on the balcony.”
This was too much for Duchess Malwin. She did as she was told. The guards stepped aside, and she walked through the door that led to the balcony. With a whimper of worry, Ulla followed after her mother.
Then Anya did it again. She twisted out of Saeunn’s arms and ran after her mother, with Saeunn close behind. On the balcony, she clung to her mother’s dress.
“I’m so sorry, Duchess Malwin,” said Saeunn. “She’s being difficult. I’ll take her back inside.” Malwin put an arm down and drew Anya close. “Let her stay,” she said in a voice close to tears. “You stay, too. I think we are safe.”
Saeunn wasn’t so sure, but she went to stand beside the duchess. Anya slipped her hand into Saeunn’s. “I can’t see over the balustrade,” she whispered. “Pick me up, Saeunn.”
“They might shoot you with an arrow, Evinthir,” Saeunn told her.
“I want to see my brother.”
Saeunn lifted Anya up and held her on her hip.
“Thank you, Duchess,” Trigvi shouted up. “Now I can hear you better. You were muffled before.”
Duchess Malwin moved to the edge of the balcony and gazed down at Otto.
“What have you done to him?” she called out.