REUNION
Vasper was unbuckling Karigan’s backplate from the breastplate when Estora appeared in the doorway of the arming room. He paused and bowed. “Your Majesty.” He moved as though to abandon Karigan to attend to Estora’s armor.
“Finish with Sir Karigan first,” Estora told him.
Karigan was relieved. Her head hurt and made her feel a little unwell, and all she wanted was her bed, although her superiors might have other plans for her.
“Karigan,” Estora began, as Vasper resumed the removal of Florence’s armor, “I thank you for what you did today. Those men were so well concealed. How did you know there was an ambush about to be sprung?”
“I didn’t, exactly,” Karigan replied. She hesitated as Vasper removed the back- and breastplates at last. She observed more fully the new and numerous scratches and dents the armor had received from Second Empire’s arrows and her fall off Pumpkin.
Estora, picking up on her hesitation, said, “Vasper, please leave us for a few minutes.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After the armorer disappeared into the adjoining room, Karigan said, “It was Florence.” At Estora’s blank expression, she explained.
“The spirit of Princess Florence.” Estora murmured when Karigan finished. She shook her head. “Thank the gods you were out there with us to see her warning. I guess we should have assumed Birch would cause a breach of custom with so underhanded an act.”
“You were prepared for the possibility,” Karigan said, thinking of all the Weapons who had accompanied their queen onto the field. They just hadn’t been expecting that level of stealth. “It would have turned out worse if you hadn’t.”
“Still, I am glad you were there,” Estora said quietly, “and Zachary, too, through Connly and Trace. Birch is a vile man. He demanded I turn myself and my children over to him.”
Karigan rubbed her temple. “Did he figure out the king was advising you through Trace?”
“I do not believe so. I hope he does not figure it out, or other things, either.” Estora did not elaborate, but called out into the corridor for tea to be brought.
When she had turned in the doorway, Karigan observed a new dent or two in Estora’s armor, as well.
“Tea should help settle my nerves,” Estora said. “Fortunately, we do not seem to be short of it. You look like you could use a cup, yourself.”
Servants soon brought a tray of tea and biscuits, and Estora enjoyed a cup while Vasper finished disarming Karigan. Though the plate had not been terribly heavy or restrictive, its removal was a relief. Karigan sipped tea while Vasper, in turn, disarmed Estora. While it did not cure her headache, it warmed and heartened her.
“Queens do not seem to have squires to help with their armor,” she said as Vasper pulled off one gauntlet, and then the other. “Jayd, who dresses me, wouldn’t have the faintest idea of how to deal with this.” She chuckled.
“Most queens,” Vasper said, “would not ride out to parley.”
“It had to be done.”
When Estora’s armor was removed, it revealed her plain shirt and breeches beneath. Vasper brought her cloak to wrap around her shoulders. He then carried her armor off to the adjoining room to be polished, and he did not return.
Estora sat beside Karigan, sighed, and closed her eyes. “This is all very difficult. I do not wish to step out the door where I must face the reality of what we are up against. My advisors and officers, and very likely the lord-mayor, await me.”
Karigan did not doubt it was difficult to have the defense of a city on one’s shoulders, and not just any city but the royal seat of Sacoridia. Should Second Empire overcome their defenses, it would be a huge blow to the realm and would allow Birch to attack from a place of strength. It was certainly not a burden Karigan would care to carry. Estora looked small and fragile beneath her cloak in that moment.
She poured more tea into Estora’s cup and handed it to her. “I think you have time for another cup and a biscuit before you have to go out that door.”
“Thank you, my friend. You save me yet again. And I am remiss. I haven’t inquired as to how you are after that fall you took off Storm.”
His name was Storm? She supposed it was a more appropriate name for a warhorse than “Pumpkin.”
“I’ll live,” she said.
“See that you do,” Estora replied. “You’ve proven yourself too valuable to this realm. I would miss you a great deal, besides.”
Karigan smiled, sipped her tea, then sobered. “What happens now?”
Estora tugged her cloak closely about her as if to stave off a chill. “As I understand these things, Second Empire will array themselves outside our walls just out of arrow range. They have already tested our defenses, so they have an idea of our capabilities, which I fear are not great in the advent of a sustained attack. But we’ve strong walls and good people.”
“And the king is on his way,” Karigan added.
“Yes, yes he is, but his army is being harried by Second Empire. His soldiers are being picked off—the enemy does not stand and fight in the usual way but attacks in small numbers from concealment. It takes time to bring them down, and the chaos they sow slows the army even more. But they will come, and Birch will be caught between the city walls and the might of Sacoridia.”
“What about our allies?” Karigan asked.
“I sent messengers to Mirwell and Adolind for additional help, and also to Rhovanny, but I fear Rhovanny is now entrenched in battles with Second Empire themselves, and they will not be able to come. We have not heard anything from our emissaries to the p’ehdrose, and, of course, nothing from Eletia. I fear those two peoples do not consider Second Empire to be worth their effort. They await the awakening of Blackveil. Unless you know more?”
Karigan shook her head and thought Estora was probably right about the Eletians and p’ehdrose.
Estora sighed and set her teacup aside. “I have tarried overlong and must now face what is to come.”
When she rose and stepped through the doorway to the outer world, Karigan peered after her. A crowd of advisors, officers, and nobles descended on her, all talking at once. She watched them all move down the corridor with their queen at their center. No, in this she did not envy Estora one bit.
Karigan wrapped her arms around Condor’s neck, his hide silky warm against her cheek. He blew gently through his nostrils.
Finally, she was reunited with her friend, her partner, her beloved companion. She petted him, scratched him in his favorite places, snuck him a handful of oats, and told him how much she had missed him. He, in turn, lipped at her hair and nickered to encourage more scratching. The world might be falling apart around them, but they were finally together again, and together they could face anything that came their way.
After she left the arming chamber, she’d made her way to Rider stables carefully so that she would avoid anyone with the authority to order her elsewhere. It was wrong of her to do so, but she didn’t care. She supposed, as she stroked Condor’s velvety nose, that she should report to the mending wing as she’d been instructed, but it would have to wait.
She gazed into Condor’s shining brown eye. “I think we’ve got some hard times ahead,” she murmured. He flickered his ears. “I’m afraid.”
Those two words surprised her, spoken aloud. I’m afraid. Speaking it to her gentle friend unlocked something inside, freed her to not hide what frightened her. She’d been hiding it, not just from others but from herself. With her admission, a sense of peace settled over her, enhanced by the quiet whickers and shuffling of content horses in their stalls.
She was afraid of what was to come for the realm and those she loved, and she was afraid for herself, too. Accepting her fear would not stop the nightmares or the all-too-vivid memories, or the hesitations, but maybe now the true healing could begin.
Healing, her other self said contemptuously. You can’t show your fear. They’ll take advantage and use your fear against you.
Karigan pressed her face against Condor to block the image of her other self leaning against the neighboring stall, her dark attire merging into shadow as she tugged black gloves on. There was truth in her words, that it was important to show strength, to not let them, whoever “they” were, take advantage. But didn’t it make sense to acknowledge one’s fear so one knew what to prepare for?
Thankfully, her other self did not offer an opinion, but Condor made a deep rumbling sigh of contentment that she could feel through her contact with him, and everything was once more all right.