Chapter 5

The morning light in the tapestry room could barely be referred to as light. The heavy fabric dampened what little of the sun filtered through the west-facing windows, and without a lamp or several candles, almost nothing could be done there until the afternoon. The space was too large for intimacy, and even with the tapestries and a fire, often quite cold in the morning.

Rohesia well knew this was precisely why Rachel permitted her to use the room, at least until noon.

Still, she attempted to make the best of the situation afforded her as a prisoner at the Prince’s Palace in Rawdon. She had now been here for two and a half years, and she refused to let it be said that she was not a resourceful woman. In addition to an oil lamp, Rohesia had a mirror from her bedroom that she brought with her to reflect and magnify the lamp. And when she had a particularly tricky bit of embroidery, Joanna was kind enough to hold the mirror so she might have a bit more light.

However, that only applied when she felt it acceptable to pull Joanna away from her lessons with Alice or when little Helena did not require supervision. On this cold, gray February morning, Rohesia had to sigh in resignation that her embroidery would not be completed this day. Helena, daughter of her exiled brother, Lawrence, was a precocious and energetic girl, nearly 3 years old and in need of almost constant attention these days. And while Rohesia’s own daughter, Alice, was thankfully sitting quietly reading by the largest window, soon Joanna or Rohesia would need to discuss the reading with her. It was a history of the Sigor family—Alice’s ancestors—and Rohesia felt it of extreme importance Alice learn about her family.

Of course, Sigor history also encompassed their jailor—Aldrick Sigor, Duke of Newshire. He was the first cousin once removed of Rohesia’s late husband, King Edgar, and had tried to become Rohesia’s husband on more than one occasion. This fact was sadly well known to Aldrick’s current wife, Rachel, hence their banishment to the worst rooms in the palace.

Rohesia set down her embroidery and watched Joanna sitting on the floor with Helena, but barely attending the girl while she read slowly through a letter she had received at breakfast. Joanna Spurling was a nice enough young lady of 20 who had been helping Rohesia with the care of Alice and Helena for a year. She was lively and blunt, and while Rohesia was not herself either of those things, she could appreciate them in others.

However, Joanna was also the niece of Flora Byrne, whom Rohesia would never forgive for betraying Edwin. Also, Joanna had been appointed by Muriel Gramiren, and Muriel only ever acted out of spite, hatred, and self-interest. Since it had quickly become apparent to Rohesia that the girl did not particularly like children and was not any sort of scholar, Rohesia could only assume she had been appointed as a spy, a cruel joke, or both.

Rohesia turned to the door to see the silhouette of Rachel. Because of the poor light, Rohesia could only guess that she was sneering, but history showed that was likely an excellent guess. However, Rohesia refused to be baited. “Why thank you, your grace. I hope you are having an enjoyable morning.”

“Whether or not I am is immaterial to you, as well as wholly unrelated. Except, perhaps, that seeing you often leaves me dyspeptic.”

Rohesia wanted to ask, “Then why did you bother coming here?” but she did not. The answer in truth was merely so Rachel might have the opportunity for some petty cruelty, not that Rachel would have admitted as much. Or she might. She had very little compunction admitting that she often acted out of no other motivation than to make Rohesia’s life more miserable. In response, she finally settled on, “May I do anything for you?”

Rachel stomped into the room and tossed a small money purse on the floor next to Joanna, who was now holding Helena still in her arms. “Go buy your brats some new clothes. You, of course, remember the rules of going into the city.”

Rohesia well did, and she had no doubt that Rachel knew that she did. Still, she repeated the rules so that there would be no question. “Only streets between the palace and the Marreth Market, and then no farther. Only shops for our intended purpose, which today is clothes shopping for the girls. And one brief stop for refreshment.”

“Because of your magnanimity,” Rohesia completed, hoping the bile she could taste did not show on her face.

“And do not ever forget it.” Rachel scowled once more at Rohesia and smiled at Joanna, completely ignoring Alice and Helena. Without another word, she departed as suddenly as she had arrived.

“Well,” Rohesia said, straightening up and pretending as though this interruption had nothing out of the ordinary to it. “Shall we all go put on our boots and grab our cloaks? It appears as though we are going shopping.”

THE GIRLS REALLY DID rather need a shopping trip. Helena was at an age where she outgrew everything in a few months, but it had been nearly nine months since she had been permitted anything new. Rohesia and Joanna, in fact, had spent a great deal of time altering Alice’s old clothes to fit her. At 10, Alice did not outgrow her clothes as quickly, but even though she was primarily a studious child, she managed to be rough on what she wore. For Rohesia, not getting any new clothes for herself did not bother her at all. She simply loved that she could go into the city, even if only the few blocks to the Marreth Market.

By nature, Rohesia was not a person to rush unnecessarily, but she also acted efficiently. However, she had trained herself over the years of captivity to take as much time as she might reasonably get away with on her rare excursions out of the palace. Being in public and not confined to the same dozen rooms and stretch of private beach was a joy. Also, she knew it was an opportunity for the people of Rawdon to see their Queen Regent, mother of the true King Edwin. Even if she dare not speak to anyone or attempt to garner support, she could subtly remind everyone who saw her what real royalty looked like.

Well, there was one person she always spoke to when she left the palace. She had no idea how he never failed to discover when she went into town, since like today, she almost never had warning, but she never left the Prince’s Palace without Sir Robert Tynsdale finding her. Whatever else befell her, Rohesia would always have Robert, who for years had sacrificed spending time with his own wife and children so that he might be on hand to aid her in any way possible and bring her news and letters from Edwin, her brother Lawrence, and stepdaughter Elwyn in exile in Briddobad, as well as supporters in Myrcia and the Empire. The natural son of King Ethelred, her late husband’s brother, Robert had been knighted by Edgar and served her faithfully for decades. Oh yes, Rohesia could always count on Robert finding her.

Today, he found her in the tavern she, Joanna, and the children stopped at for lunch.

Normally, nothing would please her more than seeing Robert slide into the table next to her in the dark corner she had chosen with this possibility in mind. But Joanna did not know about her relationship with Robert or what he routinely did for her. Additionally, Robert was not alone. Never before had he met her with someone else, but sitting at the table with him was a suspiciously lovely, curvy blonde woman wearing a knowing smile. That smile, in fact, made Rohesia suspect who she might be.

“Your majesty,” he whispered, looking all the while at the woman next to him. “I am glad to see you looking well.”

“And I to be seen. What news?” It had been months since she had last seen him, posing as an extra servant for a Seefest party at the palace, and so much could have happened.

“Your family has returned to Myrcia. An alliance has been made between the Sigor and Byrne families.”

Rohesia’s mind and heart jumped at this news, but without knowing for certain how she should feel. Edwin, back in Myrcia? How remarkable to have him back in his own kingdom! And yet, she knew the danger. Was it wise for him to return? Particularly with the duplicitous Flora as his new ally? Rohesia looked at Joanna, met the dark eyes in her pale face, and wondered just what the Byrne family might be up to.

“That letter this morning,” Joanna said in answer to the question Rohesia had not formally asked. “It was from my Aunt Flora. The duchess wanted to inform me that the Byrnes are now officially pro-Sigor and I would do well to remember that.”

“But do you do the bidding of your aunt or the false queen?” Robert asked with a cold edge to his voice that Rohesia had heard him use but only rarely.

The way in which Joanna flinched, Rohesia knew Joanna did not mistake Robert’s tone. “I do no one’s bidding but my own whenever I can help it. But if you’re asking me if I’m pro-Sigor or pro-Gramiren, then the answer is you and her majesty can trust me.”

Rohesia hoped with all her heart this might be true, but hope, she well knew, guaranteed nothing. For now, however, she would have to pray that Joanna kept this meeting with Robert and his mysterious friend a secret. Which thought led Rohesia to ask....

“My loyalties, your majesty, lie with mutual friends to the north. I have something for you, by the way.”

More smoothly than Rohesia could follow, the young lady slipped three sheets of sealed parchment into Rohesia’s cloak pocket as she made her way up to the bar. Once there, she started chatting with the barkeep and serving girls, drawing their attention away from the tables in the corner.

“Cousin Alice, it is a pleasure to see you, your royal highness,” Robert said, now doing his part to amuse Alice. Joanna tried talking to Helena, an awkward event as always. Now with a moment to herself, Rohesia slipped the letters from her pocket.

She had no trouble recognizing the seals and handwriting—Vita, Faustinus, and Presley. Vita Ursicana had been her very great friend when Rohesia had lived in Terminium with her diplomat father. At that point, she had been a wise older woman, helping Rohesia decide if she ought to return to Myrcia and marry Prince Edgar, the king’s heir. Now she was the Empress of the Immani. Servius Faustinus had also been a good friend first made in those days in Terminium. He, of course, was also one of the most famous and powerful hillichmagnars alive. It was thanks to him that Vita’s husband, Tullius Ursicanus, had become emperor. And Presley Kemp. She had first met him when he had come to Terminium to help convince her to return to Myrcia and marry Prince Edgar. Since then, he had been Edgar’s trusted treasurer when he became king, and a loyal friend who had risked his life to come to Leornian during the siege to try and save them all.

Outside her family, there were no three people in the world she wished to hear from more. The only question was which to read first.

Her hand brushed Presley’s letter, knowing it was likely the most straightforward and informative. And a letter from Faustinus was a rare occurrence, so it tempted her as well. But Vita not only held a particularly special place in her heart, she was the only of the three who could speak on behalf of her husband, Emperor Tullius. With that in mind, Rohesia broke the seal on Vita’s letter.

Capitoline Palace

Albus Magnus

January 5, 358

My dear Rohesia,

I hope this letter finds you well, although, if not, I intend for it to bring you hope. Let me first tell you the state of things here.

As of now, Tullius can do little to help you directly, as much as he would personally like to. The blasted senate insists that as long as Broderick agrees to favorable trade terms, the Empire need not concern itself with the internal politics of Myrcia. Faustinus, of course, never misses an opportunity to remind our noble senators that Broderick is a usurper and a murderer, and therefore, not to be trusted. Sadly, the response he typically receives to this well-reasoned argument is that the Empire has had its fair share of usurpers who have managed to rule quite well, and that if anyone should appreciate that fact, it is Faustinus.

This, however, is not the only argument used against Faustinus’s reasoning. One of Tullius’s bitterest enemies in the senate has reminded everyone of the absurd rumor that your darling Edwin is Faustinus’s son. “Trying to take over the throne of Myrcia by other means,” is the disgusting refrain of that particular faction. It’s really quite grotesque and I hate to even mention it, but I know that you always want the complete and unvarnished truth.

But I said I would give you hope, so allow me to do so at once. Would you like to come to the Empire? Although there are some senators with rather appalling opinions about you, there are still people here who remember you and your family fondly, and who argue persuasively on your behalf. (There are too many to name, but truly, Presley is an utter darling, and spreads support for you and Edwin everywhere he goes.) Tullius and I have a palace waiting for you, Alice, and Helena here in Albus Magnus. We can keep you safe, and by your very nature, you will win allies and quash that absurd Faustinus rumor.

If you would care to do so, the young lady who delivered this letter will aid you. She is one of the women Moira, Faustinus, and I have been recruiting, and is a friend of Lily Serrana and Intira Stylianos. Should you not take us up on the offer, well, consider Vittoria our gift, and assign her to any task you may require. She is, naturally, incredibly resourceful, and willing to do nearly anything. But, please, consider using her to help your escape. I hate thinking of you living in the home of that worm, and in easy distance from Broderick and Muriel and their cruel whims.

With all my love,

Vita

Vita’s letter was so staggering, Rohesia was tempted to read it through a second time. This beautiful, painfully young woman could help her escape! She could leave Aldrick and Rachel and her horrible captivity. And in the Empire, Alice and Helena would receive proper educations. Yes, she would have to combat the ridiculous rumor invented by Broderick to help him seize the throne that Faustinus, not Edgar, was Edwin’s father. But she would be free!

If the offer had come the day before, Rohesia would have immediately started planning her escape with the Immani agent. But it had come today, when word had reached her about Edwin’s return to Myrcia. With her son, brother, and stepdaughter now in the country, could Vittoria’s talents not be better used elsewhere? The question framed thus, Rohesia only had one choice.

“You know the general contents of this letter, no doubt,” Rohesia said, as Vittoria returned to the neighboring table.

“Go and do whatever you can to aid my children. Keep them safe; do whatever you must.”

“But, your majesty,” Robert butted in, which was a terribly uncharacteristic thing for him to do. “You must go. Your own safety—”

“Means nothing. Only the true King of Myrcia matters. All else is secondary.”

“Mother, I don’t understand,” said Alice softly. “Are we going to see Elwyn soon? Is Edwin alright?”

Stiffening her jaw, Rohesia looked Robert in the eye as she answered. “I hope we will see them both very soon, which cannot happen if I am anywhere other than where I am right now.”