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Chapter FiveJanuary 23, 1464
El Cisne
Shortly after dawnThe night passed without further incident, allowing those on board the warded barges to get a few hours of much needed sleep. At daybreak, after carefully checking their surroundings both visually and by cautious extension of their Deryni senses,
Don Salim and
Don Riordan agreed that all appeared to be well and that it would be safe to dispel the protective wards. After checking with Prince Nicholas for permission to proceed, the convoy very soon thereafter resumed its journey downriver.
Nicholas and Sebastian conversed quietly on the stern deck as they broke their fast together. "It seems that my lady somehow managed to get involved in last night's fray," Nicholas told his squire. "
Don Salim has already shared a few of the particulars with me, but she seems very much shaken by having to kill a man, and...to be quite honest, I am having a lot of trouble imagining how such a delicate looking slip of a girl even managed to do so! If you could look into...." His voice trailed off as he noticed Sebastian shaking with laughter.
"No need for me to look into it, my lord, I saw it for myself. I can show you if you'd like. Admittedly, I was rather occupied myself to start off with, so I didn't notice whatever led up to all that, but if that 'delicate flower' has any sisters born on the wrong side of the blanket so I could stand a snowball's chance in Hell of wedding one, my father would be insanely proud if I could bring such a lady home and turn her into an Arilan."
Normally Nicholas found his squire's banter amusing, but that morning he was hardly in the mood. Sebastian picked up on his liege lord's ill humor and swiftly turned silent, simply extending his hand to invite his prince's contact. Nicholas took his hand and found himself seeing the scene through his squire's eyes.
He struck down the brigand, kicking the man out of his way. The man rolled into the river with a splash. Looking around quickly, his back against the cabin wall, he saw no nearby threat just at the moment, although a sudden flurry of movement on the deck of the second barge caught his eye.
Sebastian saw a man fall back against the cabin wall of La Santa Trinidad
, an arrow briefly slamming him to the wall, although as the man jerked forward again, the squire could see it had merely been a grazing shot to the shoulder, the thin arrow head piercing a small gap between the armscye of his brigandine and his pauldron. It had caused enough injury that the torn fabric of the arming doublet left pinned to the wall by the arrow was covered with blood, but the intended victim was still well enough to continue fighting, or at least he would have been had the door to the cabin not suddenly exploded outwards almost in his face.
The princess erupted from the cabin like some wrathful goddess of vengeance, an aura of emerald fire blazing forth from her as she skewered the attacking brigand with her steely gaze mere moments before her dagger winged its way into his heart. A crimson flower blossomed on his chest as he crumpled nearly onto Don
Salim's feet, the thud of his fall onto the wooden deck breaking the momentarily frozen tableau, stirring her distracted men into action once more.
The injured man, belatedly recognized as Don
Riordan, staggered forward, catching the princess around her thighs and unceremoniously hefting her onto his uninjured shoulder like a sack of turnips before depositing her into the arms of her alarmed camarera
and slamming the door shut.Nicholas broke the psychic link, snapping his shields tight again to conceal the tangle of conflicting feelings Sebastian's memory brought up within himself. Mingled with his initial anger and concern were a strange admixture of newer emotions–pride, confusion, respect, and even a swift punch of unwanted, frustrated desire. He found himself baffled by this lovely but fierce stranger who was to become his wife.
Looking up, he found Sebastian regarding him seriously, all former levity gone. "I wouldn't underestimate her, my liege. Even completely ignoring her defensive skills, that lady is formidable. She could end up becoming either your greatest ally or your most devoted enemy."
"So noted." Nicholas mulled over what he had seen. "And odd as it might seem to me, it all appears to have happened just as
Don Salim said."
Still, he couldn't help but feel that he had somehow missed something. But there was little time to ponder over the puzzle at the moment; there were other issues he needed to attend to before they reached their destination later that day.
January 23, 1464
Near the mouth of the Bhutti
The River Docks
Mid-afternoonThe convoy finally reached the Port of Fianna, slightly upriver of the capital city at the highest point of the Bhutti that was navigable for larger seafaring vessels. The closer they got to their destination, the wider the river grew, and the more barges and smaller vessels joined them from various river towns or small tributaries along the way, until they found themselves in waters crowded with river craft, mostly laden with cargo to trade in
La Cité or load onto one of the caravels or carracks bound for other coastal destinations.
Prince Nicholas felt strongly that they were being watched as the convoy drew closer to the docks. Watched with something more than the general interest and excitement that generally attended the common folk spotting three royal barges among them bearing personages of high rank, that is. Someone out there watched them with less than benevolent intent. He had no idea who, but from the tense atmosphere around him, he could sense the other Deryni accompanying him sensed this too.
Someone really doesn't want us to get home, I think, Sebastian whispered directly into his mind.
If you can spare me for a few minutes, I want to see if I can reach out to Father. Our ships ought to be here by now.Nicholas caught his squire's eye, giving him a terse nod of permission.
January 23, 1464
The caravel Queen of Heaven
Mid-afternoonGeoffrey Arilan frowned as he picked up his spyglass and examined the river traffic traveling downriver once again. So far he hadn't spotted any river craft of sufficient size to carry a royal entourage, much less one that was flying Andelonian colors.
But wait...in the far distance, there appeared to be three barges approaching in single file, not the sort of showy royal barge one might normally expect to see a sovereign use for an afternoon's pleasure cruise, but a sturdier, less open sort that might be used for a trip made out of necessity rather than pleasure, or to protect passengers from inclement weather. Or perhaps the sort that could be used to transport a unit of troops up or down the river. Could those barges contain the party he was expecting? They flew no colors that he could see...no, on second thought.... A shift in the wind caught what might have once been some sort of standard, only the fabric was in tatters.
As he waited for the barges to come closer so he could get a better look at them, he felt a familiar presence touch his mind.
Father? Are the ships berthed yet?
Sebastian! Yes, we've been docked since yesterday evening. Are you in port yet, or how far upriver are you?
We've just come within sight of the docks. I think we should be at our berths within the hour. But we had a very eventful night last night, and I am fairly sure we are being watched. In a quick burst of visual information, Sebastian shared a tightly focused cascade of memories of the previous evening's attack, including a close look at the embroidered insignia on one of the brigands' arming doublet sleeves.
Do you recognize this?
I do not. But I shall certainly look into it. Should I send an escort to meet you and accompany you the rest of the way in?
That might be for the best, though it might also draw more unwanted attention our way. Let me ask Prince Nicholas what he prefers. Sebastian's Mind-Touch withdrew for a few long moments, then the psychic presence returned.
He thinks it best to draw as little attention to our approach as possible, but keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. Also, is there a Portal nearby?
None that I am aware of here in the Port, but the chapel portal where you first arrived is only two miles distant, and there are horses for hire at the stables next to the city gate.
Hm. Coaches or carriages? Preferably closed ones, so the passengers can't be seen?
I can inquire. How many would you need, though? How large is your party?
We would only need enough horses to get the prince and princess and perhaps a few of her closest retainers through the portal to safety. The others and our cargo can continue on the caravels later as originally planned. We were 150 strong when we set out, a few less than that now. Nine casualties that I know of, perhaps more have died of their injuries in the meantime. Does the Castle have any Healers?Geoffrey swore under his breath.
I'll send a messenger to King Arnaud to ask. He will wish to be informed about this anyway, since Prince Nicholas is his nephew and the attack on him took place in Fianna waters.January 23, 1464
The River Docks, Cité de Fianna
Late afternoonIf some sort of second ambush had been imminent, it had not yet been carried out. It seemed likely that the arrival of a large contingent of armed soldiers marching from the Castle to the river port had proved somewhat of a deterrent to any skullduggery that might have been planned. The Deryni on board the three barges still had the strong feeling that watchful eyes were on them, keeping close watch on their movements with malevolent intent, but under the safe escort of the Royal Guard, they were able to disembark from the barges. A few uninjured men-at-arms and barge crew remained behind to help the captains of the
Queen of Heaven and
Destiny supervise the dock workers who were assigned to assist in loading cargo and selected baggage onto the waiting Gwyneddan caravels, but the Prince and Princess along with their closest retainers and the more severely wounded passengers and crew found themselves escorted directly to
La Palais de Fianna, those unable to ride on the horses provided for them being conveyed to the castle by means of carts lined with pallets to help cushion their short journey over the cobbled streets. Nicholas and Catalina had barely sufficient time to thank the barge masters and oarsmen for their service before they were quickly whisked away to a safer location, summoned for an audience with Prince Nicholas' eldest uncle, King Arnaud, the third of that illustrious name.
The injured were brought immediately into the Royal Infirmarium within the stout castle walls, where several skilled physicians and a trained Healer were waiting to tend to their care. The others were escorted to a large reception room where they were offered refreshments and comfortable seating. Of that remaining number, only the Prince and Princess and their closest retainers were invited to enter a nearby withdrawing room further down the corridor for a more private audience with the King of Fianna.
King Arnaud rose to greet them as the small group was ushered in, greeting his nephew with a restrained hug. "You look well,
mon neveu. I am glad to see it, after receiving Lord Geoffrey's message about the difficulties you encountered during your passage through my kingdom. Rest assured these are matters which we shall swiftly look into." Smiling at the Princess, he continued, "And you, Princesse, look as radiant as ever. I am glad the trials of the past day have done nothing to diminish the glorious beauty of the Rose of Andelon."
Catalina gave him a polite curtsey. Having met the King of Fianna before, she was little surprised by the somewhat extravagant compliment, and even less surprised as he paid her and her ladies scant attention afterwards, preferring to confer with the men regarding the details of the recent ambush and their suspicions that whoever had attacked their small convoy was still lingering nearby, keeping a close watch on them. That was perfectly fine with her, it simply meant she could listen more carefully and observe everyone else at greater leisure.
"And you say you did not recognize this band of brigands that attacked you?" the King asked his visitors after they had given him a brief summary of the events of the night before, each from their own slightly different point of view. "Did they seem like a trained company, or a roving group of outlaws? Could you tell if they followed a particular leader?"
"It was difficult to tell for certain,"
Don Salim offered, "but they did seem to have at least some level of training to coordinate the attack as well as they did, although they must not have anticipated we would be armed with handgonnes, or they'd likely not have risked attacking us in the river if they knew we could simply blow their dinghies out from under them. My guess is that their leader was not one of the men who directly attacked us at the river level, but someone directing the attack from one of the nearby bluffs, most likely the one nearest our barges. The Fianna side. Although we first spotted the signal to attack coming from the Logréine side, it's possible the effort was coordinated by two leaders working together from opposite sides of the river."
"Were they dressed similarly, or each man in his own individual style and choice of armor?"
"They weren't in livery, but they were equipped somewhat similarly," Nicholas told his uncle. "They appeared to be equipped with arming doublets of the same russet fustian cut along a similar style, but each man seemed lightly armored according to his preference, mostly brigandines or lamellar, some with pieces of light plate or mail added. Of course, any more heavily armored fighters may have simply drowned before I had a chance to take note of what they were wearing. I don't think any of them were expecting to find themselves needing to swim."
Catalina noticed the Prince's squire giving his liege lord a quick glance, and there appeared to be a silent exchange of some sort before Nicholas added, "Sebastian says he noticed one of the men he fought wore some sort of embroidered insignia on his sleeve. He noted badges on the other fighters as well, which he believes is likely the same insignia, but only got a close look at this particular fighter's sleeve before kicking the man back into the water."
"Nicely observed, young man!" The King took closer notice of his nephew's squire. "There is something familiar about your face and manner. Are you any relation to Lord Geoffrey Arilan?"
"His son, Your Majesty."
"Ah. Then I should not be surprised by your keen eye for detail. Nor do I imagine you will be affrighted by a small use of Deryni power. Might I see this insignia for myself through your eyes?"
Sebastian exchanged another quick glance with his liege lord before replying, "That much, I will gladly share." He knelt before the foreign king, offering his hand palm up. It seemed to Catalina that the squire was very careful not to give the impression of doing homage, his position and posture implying willingness to share what information he had been permitted to share, but no more. His face was a polite mask, but something in his eyes hinted of wariness. Then again, as a squire he was likely privy to more of his liege lord's secrets than the average man, so it was of little surprise that he might be on guard against having too many of his thoughts laid open to a foreign Crown, even though Arnaud was his lord's close relation. It was a complex world they lived in, when even the motives of one's closest kindred might not be completely beyond question.
She sensed King Arnaud had similar thoughts, judging by the slight crinkle at the corners of his eyes and the faint tilt of his lips as he placed his hand on young Sebastian's upturned palm. It struck her that she had seen that expression before, on his nephew's face when Nicholas had shown his amusement at something she had said. Her stomach did a mild, pleasant somersault at the memory, but she did not need that distraction at the moment, so she returned her attention to what was happening before her.
"Interesting." The King's eyes hardened as he removed his hand from Sebastian's. "It is an insignia I am aware of, but have never seen on my lands. The badge belongs to a mercenary corps, not very large as such armies go, not as well organized or well trained, but enough so to be a thorn in the side. They are becoming more of a problem in Logréine, or so my ambassador to that court has informed me. We have reason to believe they are under the employ of the King of Joux, at least indirectly. Have you made an enemy of Joux recently?"
Catalina fought the impulse to sigh.
"I may have." As all eyes turned towards her, she clarified, "Three years ago, I turned down Prince Rémy's offer of marriage. He might have taken it amiss that I accepted Prince Nicholas' offer."
"I see." Again, that amused crinkle. "Well, you are certainly a prize well worth fighting for, though I suspect there is a bit more motivation for this sudden attack than young Rémy's lust for a beautiful woman."
"So do I," she replied, mildly stung even though she had expected such a reaction from Arnaud, though she carefully kept the heat of her annoyance from affecting her tone. "I am not so vain as to think he would have sent an entire band of mercenaries just to retrieve me in hopes of a second chance to woo me. That would certainly be counterproductive to engaging my consent, much less my affection, not that I flatter myself that he particularly cares about either. But I do think he and the Jouvian King his father have many reasons to envy my affianced husband that go well beyond our proposed marriage, and that our need to travel back to Gwynedd through some remote and sparsely populated territory simply provided him with an opportunity he has heretofore lacked. He must have welcomed an occasion to avenge some perceived slight or grudge against my affianced husband as well as an opportunity to try to 'teach me my place'. Two slights dealt with for the price of one. I can see Joux being quite happy to leap at such a chance."
"Hm. You could well have the right of it. Whatever his motivation, he is certainly no friend to either of you. Fortunately Joux's power is greatly diminished in the Forcinn, but I'm sure you both know to be cautious of Renier and his ambitions nonetheless."
January 23, 1464
Fianna Royal Infirmarium
Late afternoonAfter their audience with the King of Fianna, Nicholas and Catalina along with their entourage returned to the Infirmarium, where they found Lord Geoffrey Arilan and the barge master Fernando de Montoya awaiting them just outside the entrance.
"How goes the unloading?" Nicholas asked.
"Quite well," said Lord Geoffrey. "Our ship captains are supervising the loading of the cargo holds now, as well as procuring the other goods that Queen Soraya requested that we purchase while we are in Fianna. Once all goods have been loaded and our men have reboarded, as well as the Andelonian men-at-arms you brought with you, we'll be set to sail homeward, likely no later than noon tomorrow so long as the weather holds. Captain Montoya here wishes to check with his injured oarsmen so he can determine how soon they will be fit for the return trip to Andelon."
"I wish to check on them also," Catalina said, "as well as our injured men-at-arms."
"Go ahead, my lady; I'll join you in a few minutes," Nicholas told her. "There are a few details about our cargo transfer and the journey to Gwynedd that I need to discuss with our barge captain and Lord Geoffrey first." It belatedly occurred to him that the two had not yet been properly introduced. "I beg pardon, my lady. Allow me to introduce you. This is Lord Geoffrey Arilan, one of my brother the King's chief advisors. Lord Geoffrey, my affianced wife the Princess Catalina of Andelon."
"Enchanté," Lord Geoffrey responded, bowing over the hand she offered to kiss the air just above it.
Catalina inclined her head in polite acknowledgement before glancing at her betrothed's squire and then back at the man standing before her. "The King of Fianna is right, there is a strong resemblance between father and son." She smiled. "I hope to have more time to make your acquaintance in future, my lord. For now, if the two of you would excuse me?" Dropping a swift curtsey towards Nicholas, she took her leave of them and entered the Infirmarium,
Don Salim and her ladies following her.
As they entered,
Don Riordan turned, quickly reaching for his shirt as he saw the Andelonian entourage approaching him. A swift perusal of his wounded shoulder showed that the injury had been fully Healed.
Noting the direction of the Princess' gaze as his head emerged from the collar of his shirt, he swiftly tied the collar lacings with a self-conscious shrug. "It turns out I was slightly more injured than I thought. The arrow merely nicked the tendon, but despite my efforts to keep using the joint normally, there were some adhesions beginning to form that would have greatly reduced my mobility for half a year, if not longer, had the Healer not spotted the damage and reversed its course." He reached upwards, testing his range of motion. "I'm to continue the exercises I've been doing to keep the joint limber, but with the tear in the tendon fully Healed, that should stop any tendencies to favor the arm when I'm not consciously remembering to keep it moving."
"That's good. We need you healthy and whole, even if this leaves you without a dashing scar to show off to my ladies," Catalina joked, setting off a chorus of titters from the ladies behind her who had been giving him admiring glances since the moment they arrived.
"
Su Alteza, I think you underestimate how cold it gets in Gwynedd, if you think I'd have many occasions to wander around Rhemuth shirtless!" he replied, chuckling as he picked up his arming doublet to inspect it. "This is going to need replacing."
"Easily done. Add it to the list of goods we shall need to purchase once we arrive in Rhemuth." She laughed, feeling a burden lifted from her now that she knew he was restored to full health. "Keeping my lists and ledgers
is a large part of what I pay you for, after all." She moved past him, looking around the large room. It was well lit, with high windows allowing plenty of sunlight into the chamber, and while there were some of the expected sights and odors attendant to a sickroom, the chamber was also well ventilated. The wall ahead of her was lined with beds for the more injured patients, while a door opposite the one she had just entered through hinted at other chambers beyond this one. A surgery, perhaps, or maybe smaller chambers where those patients with contagious diseases might remain quarantined? If so, she knew beyond all doubt that Salim and Riordan would not allow her to continue beyond that door, but it mattered not, for she could see at a glance that this was a room for tending the injured, not the sick, and most of her father's subjects who had been injured in her service would therefore be in here. By her swift head count, she could tell there was one missing.
"Votre Altesse!" A man in Healer Green hastened to greet her, bowing deeply over her hand. "As you can see, all of your injured have been tended to, aside from one poor lad we were unable to save. Some are still weakened by blood loss, which is beyond a Healer's ability to restore as quickly as we can mend torn tissue, but they have been given a draught to help them sleep while their bodies work to restore that precious fluid. A few days of drinking lots of liquid and eating hearty foods like red meats, seafood, or beans will soon have them back to full strength again."
"Thank you. How long do you estimate that might take, Master Healer?"
"For those with lesser injuries, an additional day or two of rest ought to suffice, I think. For those who were more grievously wounded, I think at least a week of rest and healthy food should restore them enough to return home, provided they allow the ropes men to do the greater part of the labor of moving the barges upstream. Will the King of Andelon be requiring their return sooner?"
"That's not an issue; he would wish them to make a full recovery before resuming their duties. Andelon's need would have to be extreme for him to require them to return to service while they are still at reduced strength."
"That is good to know. In that case,
Votre Altesse, I will recommend to the barge masters that the oarsmen at least be given leave to remain through the week, at least if accommodations can be arranged for them, since there is no longer any medical reason to keep them here in the infirmary."
"Of course. I will leave a purse sufficient for their food and lodging, in addition to any follow up care they might require and suitable recompense for your expenses. And as for the men-at-arms wounded in my service, are they whole enough now to withstand an ocean crossing on the morrow?"
"Since they will not be sailing the ships, that should not be a problem, except for those with weaker stomachs possibly encountering difficulties in keeping drink and foodstuffs down in rough seas, though I have a medicinal draught I can supply to help with that. Otherwise, they should simply endeavor to rest as much as possible for a week or two."
"Understood." Tilting her head towards
Don Riordan, she added, "Just inform my amanuensis of the expected total costs, and he will make the necessary arrangements."
The Prince had entered the room, also making his way through the large chamber along with Lord Arilan and Captain de Montoya to greet the recovering patients and their Healer before leaving the latter two to continue their discussion with the Healer. Catching Catalina's attention, he quietly pulled her to one side. In a voice so quiet she wasn't entirely sure it wasn't partly Mind-Spoken, he told her, "There's been a change of plan."
She glanced up at him, accepting the arm he offered as if simply accepting his invitation for a stroll.
What sort of change? she replied mind to mind.
Word has gotten back to our ship captains that someone in port is asking a great many questions about when our ships plan to depart. It's less certain whether the inquiring party is planning on some sort of attack before the caravels put out to sea again–which would be a foolish course of action, doing so right outside the Cité under King Arnaud's very nose, though stranger things have happened–or if they mean to follow us out of port or signal some warship waiting in open waters that we are en route back to Gwynedd. In either case, it would be best if we don't return to Gwynedd by ship.She considered for a moment, thinking through the implications.
You mean for us to go by Portal, then. But we can't bring my entire entourage through, much less the men-at-arms and cargo. What is the plan for getting them to Gwynedd?
They will continue on by ship, though if the caravels and crews are watched as closely as I think, they will likely be in less danger once it becomes apparent that you and I have not boarded the ship along with them before they leave harbor. My thought is to bring you and your ladies through the Portal, with the assistance of Sebastian and Lord Geoffrey.
The ships may be in less danger without the two of us on board, my lord, but my dowry goods and men-at-arms are still a substantial prize, should they be taken.
I agree, my lady. Though that's a risk we will need to take in any case, unless Andelonian magic can arrange for a Portal that can transport two caravels. However, Lord Geoffrey has also been informed that three armed Fiannese merchant ships are also planning to leave port tomorrow once the tide turns, heading for Concaradine. Captain Merivale agrees with him that there would be more safety returning to Gwynedd in their company. If the watchers are from Joux, then it's unlikely they can spare enough sea-worthy vessels to risk combat against five ships, given how small the Jouvian fleet currently is. Even if Renier is behind this, I doubt he'd take that much risk or move so openly against us, involving other witnesses, especially since his eldest daughter is Queen of Gwynedd now.
If he loves his eldest like he loves his younger two daughters, then Queen Alixa is less than nothing to him. For him, it would matter naught that Alixa would essentially be a hostage in your family's keeping, caught in the middle if open hostilities should break out between Gwynedd and Joux.
No, but it's still to his advantage to remain officially allied to us, no matter how grudgingly. From his point of view, he seems to assume the alliance will guarantee our neutrality, allowing his ambitions to go unchecked. He hopes that even though my sister is the Queen of Orsal and Tralia, the fact that his daughter is the Queen of Gwynedd will prevent us from siding with the Hort should Joux attempt to rebel against his overlordship again in future. And from our standpoint, as long as Joux is known to be allied with us, however loosely, Renier will hopefully refrain from making foolish overtures to our enemies.
I wouldn't count on that, my lord.
Oh, I don't. For that matter, I doubt my late Father did either. But Cinhil needed a wife, and at the time Alixa seemed the best option. Or at least the lady most amenable to the match.Catalina thought about the plan Nicholas proposed for a long moment.
When would we leave?
As soon as possible. There is a small chapel a short distance outside the castle walls, not far below the postern gate. We can leave straight from here with your ladies. It's sure to be noticed when Lord Geoffrey and Captain de Montoya eventually return to the docks without us, but the assumption will be that the rest of us are still enjoying the hospitality of the King my Uncle.The princess suppressed a sigh. She had never expected to turn up two weeks early as a refugee in Rhemuth without so much as a portmanteau of clothing and other essentials, but she could understand the urgency. And at least an earlier arrival in Gwynedd might mean the wedding could take place that much sooner, which would be to everyone's benefit under the circumstances.
My ladies and I will accompany you through the Portal, though some of my ladies are human, so I shall require a few moments to explain to them what to expect and allay any concerns they might have about the means of travel. Not to mention that I might need to explain the urgency and quiet their objections once they realize we will be unable to bring our baggage with us. Also, Don
Riordan and Don
Salim will be accompanying us. Catalina hoped he would take the hint from her phrasing that this condition was not negotiable.
There was a long pause before Nicholas replied.
I will allow it, on condition that they don't attempt to learn the portal signature here and will allow you to blur their memories of the location once we arrive in Gwynedd. It was only shared with me due to my close family connection to King Arnaud, and I am already stretching the bounds of my permission to use it by disclosing its physical location to the rest of you. The same restriction goes for those of your ladies who are Deryni.Catalina nodded.
That is acceptable, my lord. Certainly we would not wish to presume on King Arnaud's hospitality.January 23, 1464
Rhemuth Castle
Late nightCatalina lay between unfamiliar linen sheets on an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room, feeling as if the entire world had been turned upside down in a mere evening. Nearby, on pallets hastily collected for her ladies-in-waiting, most of the ten ladies she had brought to Rhemuth with her had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Catalina was equally exhausted, but could not seem to keep her thoughts from racing.
She had no idea where
Don Riordan and
Don Salim had been quartered. She assumed they were somewhere nearby, though not so close to where the ladies were housed as to cause a scandal. She would have to ask the Prince in the morning, assuming she could find him.
Their abrupt arrival in Rhemuth nearly two weeks before anyone had expected them had caught the entire Royal household off guard, and there had been a mad scramble to accommodate the unexpected arrivals. Fortunately some preparations had already been in progress, though since no one had anticipated the need to have Catalina's lodgings fully furnished so soon, what she had found upon first entering the apartment reserved for her use looked surprisingly similar to the state of her former chambers back in Andelon when she had last seen them. The rooms had been stripped nearly bare and there were signs that they had been given a thorough cleaning and that efforts had begun towards refurnishing them for the use of her household, but before she and her ladies could finally take their rest, there had been a mad scramble to get the rooms ready for immediate use before her ladies could settle in for the night.
At least they were safely in Rhemuth now, and having an apartment to finish furnishing and decorating would give her ladies something to do that would hopefully ease their homesickness and anxiety over suddenly finding themselves in a foreign land and culture. Between that and sewing an extra gown or two for each lady to wear until the ships arrived with their belongings, there was little danger of them growing bored from idleness. At least the Dowager Queen had managed to provide a small collection of chemises in various sizes that could serve as sleepwear as well as fresh undergarments in the meantime.
So here she lay, a stranger in a strange land, soon to wed a man mostly unknown to her who seemed kind enough but whose heart already belonged to another woman. Of course, on that matter she could hardly fault him, not with her own heart also quite thoroughly engaged, but the prospect of trying to build a successful marriage with Prince Nicholas under such circumstances seemed daunting, now that she had a moment's quiet to think it through.
She blinked away tears, determined not to weep. Amina would awaken, and the last thing Catalina wanted to deal with to end her day was the prospect of her
duenna hovering over her, indignantly proclaiming the wickedness of anyone daring to make her sweet
Señora cry. Amina was a dear, but inclined to be protective to the point of smothering at times.
She thought back to the last conversation she had with her mother, who had left her own homeland of Nur Hallaj as a maiden of sixteen to be joined in marriage to the heir to Andelon.
"It will be difficult at first," Queen Noora had told Catalina on that last morning in the privacy of the queen's bower, mere minutes before they left the palace to begin the procession down to the river and the waiting barges. "It was for me, anyway, marrying a man you hardly know, going to live in a land with customs you are not familiar with. At least for me, the differences in culture between Nur Hallaj and Andelon were not as pronounced, but still, there were more dissimilarities to discover than I expected to find when I came to live here. I am certain there will be many things you will find strange at first in your husband's land across the sea. But you must learn to keep your eye open to the similarities, and remember that no matter how odd their ways might seem to you at first, at the heart of things people are all still people no matter where you go, with the same virtues and vices, hopes, ambitions, and dreams. You will learn who you can trust and who you cannot. Which courtiers are your friends in truth, and which ones merely wish to use you to their own advantage, to gain your husband's ear. Use the wisdom and discernment that your father and tutors have taught you; that will serve you well. If possible, learn to love your husband, but also guard your heart a little until you have determined he has learned to love you in return. If he does not, then do your best to keep the peace with him regardless; his Kingdom needs stability, and it is unlikely to ever have that if its ruler and his consort are at war with each other. If his Kingdom prospers, so will you, at least if the people come to love you because they see you as their good and wise Queen who holds their kingdom dear and shows the King your husband the respect owed to their liege lord."
"I will do my best,
madre mía," Catalina had told her. "But there is one thing that concerns me that I do not have the experience to navigate, and it is hardly the sort of matter the King my father or my tutors would have thought to give me guidance about.
Don Riordan has made a few inquiries about Prince Nicholas on my behalf. It seems the Prince has a long term paramour–a genuine
affaire de cœur of many years' duration–by whom he has had three children. I do not know what approach I should take to turn his affections towards me, or even if that can be done."
The Queen looked thoughtful. "Yes, that is a tricky situation, but likely not unsalvageable. There is no simple solution for that sort of thing; you must carefully observe how the matter stands between them once you are able to see the situation for yourself. If the relationship seems to have run its course, then it might be a simple enough thing to use your beauty and charm to win the Prince over. If instead it seems likely to continue, then focus first on winning his friendship, trust, and respect. Do not seek to disparage his lady; that will simply turn his affections away from you. Model the type of respect and affection towards him that you would hope to receive in turn. He may not return it in full, at least not at first, but love sometimes has a way of shaping a man's heart over time the way water can wear away hard stone and mold it to a new form. As for the lady herself, she will feel herself on very uncertain ground. She is merely a paramour; you are his future Queen. She may be jealous of you or fear you, with perfectly good cause. You will not be able to control how she reacts to you, but you can fully control how you choose to react to her. If it is avoidable, try not to create enmity between you and your husband's paramour, because your Prince might turn against you in defense of her if she holds his heart. Remember, love cannot grow where there is no trust, so do your best to win his trust. Keep your bedchamber a place where he feels welcome, not on the defensive. Be honest with your man, but also be kind. Also, it is better to know a painful truth that helps you determine the best course to pursue, than live in ignorance and make mistakes that might have been avoidable, so never seek to punish his honesty. Above all, if he loves his natural children, or even if he does not, do not set yourself against them. You do not wish to make enemies for your future heirs, and no matter the circumstances of their birth, the children themselves are innocent. The world will throw enough slurs at them as it is; their father's wife does not need to also attach blame to their shame."
"Of course I would not! The Prince says he wishes his children to be educated at Court when they are old enough. I told him that is fitting for the education of a prince's children. But...I do not know if he means to move his leman to Rhemuth as well, when the time comes. I would find that difficult, I think."
Queen Noora gave her a knowing smile. "You are already beginning to have some feelings for the Prince, I believe. I have eyes. And I well remember the relief I felt at discovering Mikhail was young and handsome, even though I was so nervous at first, he wondered if I would ever speak!"
Catalina blushed. "I am not completely love-struck by a man I have known for only a few days,
madre mía. But I will admit that I find him quite personable and very attractive to look at, for whatever that is worth."
The Queen laughed. "It is worth
something, to be sure. When attempting to provide your husband with an heir, it helps greatly if you don't have to fight the urge to recoil from his touch!" She sobered. "Yes,
mi corazón, that situation you describe would be very difficult indeed. But while his kingdom might be his own to rule, your household is your own. If he insists on bringing her to Rhemuth, suggest that she will be far more comfortable if she is installed in her own little
casa in the city, outside the castle walls. That may be slightly less convenient for him, but it will help shield her from the stares and whispers of the Court gossips. He will hopefully see the advantages of that arrangement, but if not, remind him that keeping his paramour under his wife's roof will undermine your authority in the eyes of the Court. If he has any sense at all, he will not wish to disrespect you in that way, especially once you are Queen. The last thing a wise King wants is a divided Court with the sympathies of the courtiers more aligned with his queen."
Catalina twisted the betrothal ring on her finger. "And what if I don't know how to please him? I know you have already given me the basic knowledge of what to expect in the marriage bed, but so often simply understanding the theory of how something works is different from knowing the practical application...."
"Mi bonita, you are not expected to already know the practical application!" Her mother gave her a reassuring smile. "He will teach you what he likes, which as a man with children he certainly ought to know by now, or if he is too reticent to bring up such matters without prompting, ask him what you might do to please him. It would be the rare husband indeed who would not wish to show you, and hopefully he will also wish to know what you find pleasing, so let him know that too as you make such discoveries. You are Deryni, and there are definite advantages to our gift when it comes to sharing such knowledge with one another, even if he is only willing to allow the shallowest sharing of minds at first. He may be in love with another, but I have seen his eyes are drawn to you and that he finds you pleasing. Outward beauty is not enough to keep a man, but it will certainly serve to catch his attention, and you have gained that much at least. Be someone he looks forward to seeing at the end of his day, whose presence brings him pleasure and ease rather than anger or misery. He seems already disposed to like and admire you, so build on that. Be welcoming, so he does not feel like he is imposing on you for the getting of his heirs. Yet also, do not ever allow him to take you for granted or treat you poorly. I doubt he will do so, but in trying to emphasize the need to be amiable towards him, I wish to be clear that I do not mean to imply he is allowed to take advantage of your goodwill and disrespect you. Though I very much doubt he is that sort of man, from what your father told me about your Prince's offer of your dower 'for the honor of her lineage and person'. That is certainly a more polite phrasing than was customarily used in previous generations."
"What was customarily used instead?"
"'For the honor of her lineage and body.' It seems a small distinction on the surface of things, but it is not. In other words, what a bridegroom is saying with the traditional phrasing is 'Here is what I am offering to your daughter for honoring me with her royal bloodline and the use of her body so I can get sons of high pedigree.' At least Prince Nicholas seems to understand he is gaining a whole person with this marriage, not just the use of your body. If you have ever wondered, your father would never have allowed you to make a match with Prince Rémy, even if you had been willing and eager, because as you discovered for yourself, Rémy is not the sort of man who would ever make such a distinction."
"I doubt the word 'honor' would have even been included," Catalina scoffed. "'Here is the small purse of coin I will grudgingly offer up in exchange for me acquiring your purebred woman as breed stock' would be more Rémy's style."
The Queen chuckled.
"Sí, that seems more likely." She took her daughter's hands in hers. "It is nearly time for us to join the rest of the family, but there is one more thing I must add. I am given to understand that you specifically asked to bring
Doña Amina,
Don Riordan, and
Don Salim to Gwynedd with you,
sí?""I did,
madre mía.""It is good for you to bring others with you whom you trust, but make certain you select courtiers from your new husband's kingdom as well. Watch their interactions carefully and try to ensure that no factions or jealousies rise up between them. Do not favor your Andelonian courtiers over the ones from your husband's kingdom, lest such favoritism stir up rivalries. And above all,
mi preciosa, rely on your Andelonian retainers to assist you by all means, but do not become so reliant on them that you cannot bear to part with them. They may wish to return to Andelon someday, after all; it is their home, and
they are not marrying Gwynedd's Prince, you are. Also keep in mind that every marriage has its frictions and its moments of disappointment, even when there is no other woman involved to engage your husband's affections. Let me be especially clear in this. When you are feeling hurt, it is a natural thing to want to turn to someone else who you care for and trust in an effort to ease your pain. But you must resist the temptation to share too much about your problems with others outside of your marriage, no matter how much you might wish to, nor to seek consolation for your unhappiness even if it is willingly and discreetly offered. I think you understand my meaning, but must I speak more plainly of it?"
Catalina blushed. "You need not. I give my solemn promise. I know my duty, and I would not be forsworn on my vows."
"See that you are not. If the heir or sovereign of a nation is unhappy, he may seek the consolation of ten thousand other women if he so desires, and while his people might not think highly of such a solution, he will suffer no great consequence from it aside from the likely proliferation of children he shall need to provide for. His consort, on the other hand, would not simply be shamed and vilified if she turns to someone else, she and her lover would be found guilty of treason, to be imprisoned or even executed. It is neither right nor fair, but it is the way of the world, because above all other things a King requires of his Queen, the certain knowledge that his heirs are indeed his own is first and foremost. So if, as I suspect, you are in love with
Don Riordan, then if you are determined to bring him with you, the best proof of that love would be to never place him in a position where he might be tempted to risk everything in order to provide you with temporary forgetfulness of your sorrows. I would have insisted that he remain behind, but I know he has certain abilities that might prove particularly useful to you."
Catalina nodded, unable to meet her mother's eyes. "I did not realize that you knew about...about my affections. I assure you that his behavior towards me has ever been above reproach. And anyway, I shall have Amina with me as well, so given how seriously she takes her duty as my
duenna, I will be lucky if I'm even allowed to share a bed with my own husband!" She gave a shaky laugh. "But how did you even know?"
"My precious Catalina, I am a woman. And I am your mother. I know what it is like to love a man, and I also know my daughter's heart...."
Her father had knocked on his wife's door then, a discreet reminder that time was passing quickly and the travelers needed to be on their way. They descended to the outer bailey to lead the procession through Rhanamé towards the awaiting barges. Catalina thought back on her final parting with her family–the warm embraces, the kisses on her cheeks, the envious congratulations of her sisters while her young brother expressed greater excitement over the stately barges with their gilded ornaments and fine carvings, the scent of her mother's hair as they held each other close one final time, and the parting gift she had slipped into Catalina's belt pouch for safekeeping. Her father had smiled proudly as he placed her hand in Prince Nicholas' offered palm so she could venture forth along with him into the unknown. She would never bring dishonor to her House, no matter what the future might have in store for her.
And yet, as she lay here now in the darkness beside Amina, she wept quietly with the need for someone to hold her.
Next chapter: https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php/topic,3208.0.html
You are an amazing writer and I much enjoyed this. The talk between Catalina and her mother showed how building a relationship in a royal marriage is different and more demanding. And this one has the added stress of involving two people whose hearts are already engaged elsewhere. But I think these two can handle if anyone can. They are both aware of the complications. I do wonder if there will be a time when Riordan will request to return either to Abdelon or to his home in Lyr. That would probably be best. And I don't think Nicholas will try to keep Mellie too close. Hopefully he will give her a chance to build a life without him.
There is one other difference between Catalina and Nickolas. She knows about his love and their children and made clear her expectations related to them. But Nickolas does not know about her feelings for Riordan. I realize it would be much more dangerous for Catalina to reveal them but it is a difference. I still wonder if it is wise for him to remain in her service and close to her. And if both her parents saw it, can she keep Nicholas from seeing it and how would he react. I do think they are both honorable people, devoted to their countries, and if anyone can make it work, they can.
It's good to see that the mischief gene has not died out in the Arilan line (no, auto-correct, not Arian line, that would be an entirely different thread!).
I am sure there will be many troubled waters to sail through. Hopefully the currents will run true.
One of the many reasons I feel at home in the castle. Where else in fandom would this thread even begin.