A CALLING, OF A SORT

The man whirled on Tuandre to the sound of screaming servants. The terriers barked and strained at their leashes. He raised his stiletto to plunge into the prince’s chest. In a blur of motion, Donal tackled him to the floor, wrenched his arms behind him, and knelt on the small of his back.

The prince stood. It had all happened so quickly that everyone else, including Laren herself, had frozen in place. Then chattering broke out among those present. Weapons made a barrier of themselves around Estora’s bed while Ellen assisted Donal with lifting the assassin to his feet and restraining him.

“Garmell,” Tuandre demanded, “what is this?”

The assassin replied acidly in Rhovan and spat at him. Donal and Ellen dragged him out, but as they did, he shouted in the common, “We will defeat you vermin! The empire rises!”

Estora’s bed chamber fell into shocked silence before a babble erupted once more, Prime Brynston muttering a prayer and making the sign of the crescent moon.

“I told you this was a terrible idea!” Javien jabbed an accusatory finger at Laren. “This is your fault.”

Exhausted and head throbbing, Laren sank into her chair. She hadn’t the energy to argue, and perhaps Javien was right.

“I beg your pardon, sir,” the prince said to Javien, “but I say nonsense. This messenger flushed the assassin out, which would not have happened had we not met. You should be praising her as I intend.”

“She is our Green Rider captain,” Les Tallman said, “Laren Mapstone.”

To Laren’s astonishment, the prince bowed to her. “I thank you, Captain. I had no idea we harbored a snake among us. Garmell had always been exceedingly loyal, but now we know it to be a sham.”

“I cannot see!” Estora was complaining. It took some convincing, but the Weapons parted so her field of vision extended beyond her bed and they could see her in turn. “You are unscathed, Prince Tuandre?”

Now he bowed to Estora. “Yes, madam, with thanks to your Green Rider captain and Weapons.”

“Your Majesty,” Javien said, “this is exactly why I discouraged this meeting—it exposed your person to treachery.”

“Javien, I wished this meeting to proceed even knowing there was some risk. I am thinking that perhaps it has been made all the more successful for now, in the prince’s regard, the threat from Second Empire is made even more real.”

“Indeed it is,” Prince Tuandre said. “Indeed it is.”

Estora insisted the talks continue. Zachary, Laren thought, would be proud of Estora for how she was carrying on despite the scare. She once more touched the minds of Prince Tuandre and his remaining counselor, but sensed no treachery from them.

Ben sidled over to her and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “How are you holding up?”

“Well enough,” she murmured.

He touched her shoulder and she felt a mild warming sensation. She glanced sharply at him and shook her head. He should not use his healing ability in a room with so many watching eyes.

He whispered, “It was not enough for anyone to see.” Then he backed away.

Her shoulder did feel easier, but her whole body ached, as it often did after using her own ability, and especially in addition to having been flung into a stone wall by the aureas slee just days ago. The meeting dragged on covering not just topics of alliance and security, but broaching trade once more. Estora, for all that her bed was her throne, presided with dignity and authority, speaking always in the realm’s best interest. Yes, Zachary would not only be proud, but well pleased. She made a fine queen.

For an odd moment, a vision of Karigan in Estora’s place came into her mind. Would Karigan do so well under such conditions? Laren was sure she would, but she had a hard time imagining her Rider confined to bed like this and not out in the world. It was not suited to her, but for all that Estora disliked the confinement, she was disposed to make the best of it.

It was to Laren’s great relief when the meeting came to a close. They all stood when the prince rose, she grimacing at her creaking joints. Tallman and Javien went immediately to speak informally with the prince, and Estora beckoned Laren over.

“Captain,” she said in a hushed voice, her eyes bright, “I think it went well.”

“Yes, I agree, and may I say that I don’t think Zachary could have done any better.”

A sadness shadowed Estora’s features. “I have no wish to dishonor his rule. I wish to reign in a manner that would honor his . . .”

His memory? Laren wondered when Estora did not finish her sentence. Now that they had admitted to Prince Tuandre that Zachary had disappeared, word would spread to the general population, and no doubt to their enemies. It would be a blow to morale, no matter they had Estora. There was much work to do on that end to bolster their people.

“If I may?” Ben stepped forward. “I am to check Her Majesty for strain, as Master Vanlynn has ordered. And Captain, I am ordering you back to quarters to rest.”

Laren scowled at him, but he was right. She’d had in mind to return to her quarters and put her feet up anyway. Maybe go over reports and—

“Rest,” Ben said sternly as if he could read her mind.

“I’ll send Anna with her to make sure she follows orders,” Estora said. “Now, now, Laren, do not frown. You are highly valued and I need you in good form for all that may come.”

Estora had called her “Laren” instead of “Captain” for the first time she could recall, as Zachary always had during times of informality. Was this another indication of Estora’s increasing confidence in her role as monarch?

“Anna,” Estora called. The girl came to her bedside and curtsied. “See that Captain Mapstone returns to her quarters. She is to go and rest.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Before Laren was dismissed, Estora said, “That was well done with the assassin. If you had not recognized his ill intent, he could have gone straight to Second Empire to report on all he heard here, or maybe even succeeded in assassinating the prince.”

Laren nodded. There was nothing more to say, so she and Anna left Estora’s bed chamber, Willis following closely behind. The outer rooms were crowded with Weapons, and the discussion between the prince, Javien, and Tallman had moved out there, the luin prime insinuating himself into the conversation. Les Tallman glanced at her as though to invite her to join them, but she shook her head and continued on her way.

In the corridor outside were more members of the prince’s retinue, blocked from entering the queen’s apartments by a line of forbidding Weapons. Among those who awaited their prince’s return were more counselors and aides, secretaries and body servants, the prince’s personal mender, and some military officers in red. There was also a pair of messengers. The entire retinue was male, for the women in Rhovanny played a much more limited role in their society. It had been heartening to Laren that Tuandre had responded so well to Estora, when not every Rhovan male would have. Of course, she was head of state and this was her realm, so it was required of him to show respect, but Laren also thought he had showed a natural respect.

One of the messengers stepped forward and said, “Green Rider?”

She halted, Anna stopping beside her. The man bore the rank of lieutenant on his shoulders. His gray uniform was ornamented with far more brass and piping than a Green Rider’s, the Rhovan messengers being more tied to the military. Fancier, perhaps, but not as practical. His mustache was also quite grand with curling ends. How did he keep it groomed while on an errand?

“Tell us,” he said in his thick Rhovan accent, his tone haughty, “what occurred within. Why was Counselor Garmell taken away?”

“I believe, Lieutenant, that is for your prince to tell you.” Not caring for his tone, she started to move on, but he stomped in front of her and blocked her.

“I asked you a question,” he snapped.

The other messenger, a corporal, murmured in Rhovan to the lieutenant. The lieutenant barked in Rhovan at him in what could easily be translated to: “Shut up!” The corporal shrugged. The lieutenant then muttered at Laren in Rhovan and she knew enough of the language to recognize that what he was saying about her was unflattering, and that he thought very little of women in uniform.

“I order you to tell me what transpired, woman.”

Order her, did he? She was not going to waste time on the fool, and was about to move on, when Prince Tuandre emerged into the corridor and made straight for her. The two Rhovan messengers straightened to attention.

“Captain!” Prince Tuandre said. The lieutenant glanced around trying to see who his prince addressed.

Laren bowed her head. “Your Highness.”

“I wish to thank you again, Captain, for saving us from disaster. I am going to go see the traitor now. We could use more like you in Randann.”

“Your Renhald is a good man,” she replied. The lieutenant, she saw, was looking dismayed. “I am sure he and the messengers he commands serve you and King Thergood to the utmost.” The lieutenant’s dismay increased. She was, of course, acquainted with her counterpart in Rhovanny, and he would not tolerate, she was sure, the lieutenant’s comportment, especially as a visitor in another realm.

“Yes, yes. Captain Renhald is excellent. But you are always welcome.” The prince actually shook her hand before turning away to speak with his aides.

The corporal spoke again to the lieutenant. She made out that he was explaining the gold knot on her shoulder and the rank it denoted. The corporal looked smug as he spoke, then he straightened and saluted her. The lieutenant, now looking both embarrassed and displeased, executed a precise salute, as well.

“As you were,” Laren said mildly in Rhovan.

Now the lieutenant paled realizing she had understood his unflattering remarks.

“Please give Captain Renhald my kindest regards,” she told him. She smiled inwardly. If the lieutenant worried that she was going to report him to his captain, it was well deserved. She would not, of course, waste her time. How that man had gotten the rank of lieutenant without knowing what her gold knot represented, and his poor behavior as a guest in a foreign kingdom, she could not guess. Renhald was indeed a good captain, and she couldn’t imagine him being pleased with such behavior from one of his officers, but then, things were different in Rhovanny.

Before she could be forestalled by any further idiocy, she strode rapidly down the corridor, Anna hurrying to keep up with her. Once she was down the stairs into the main castle hall, she slowed down. Willis kept at a discreet distance.

“I heard you helped expel the aureas slee,” she said to her young companion. “That was very brave. You prevented it from taking our queen.”

Anna looked down at the floor as they walked. “He-it-didn’t like fire. And I fainted after.”

“Well,” Laren replied, “you remained conscious longer than I did.”

“But you didn’t faint.”

Laren looked at her in surprise. She appeared genuinely upset.

“You or Sir Karigan wouldn’t have fainted,” Anna said fiercely.

Laren halted in the middle of the busy hall and let people flow around her and Anna. “Young lady, most people would have run away and hidden rather than face the aureas slee, even if it meant sacrificing their queen. Do you know what that means? No? It means you are not most people. Look, Karigan and I have a few more years of experience. Be easy on yourself. You’ve done the realm a great service even when no one would have blamed you had you run and hidden instead.”

They set off again, Anna looking only slightly less downcast. Why, Laren wondered, couldn’t this girl, who was earnest, a good worker, and quick thinking, not come into an ability so she could be a Green Rider? But maybe it was for the best for her if she never heard the call and didn’t have to face all the dangers that being a king’s messenger entailed.

Yet, Anna had come to Laren wanting to join of her own free will. Wasn’t that, she wondered yet again, a calling of a sort?