69

Irina decided that she had not been getting out of the palace often enough. She sat in the back of a carriage and gazed through the window as the awe-inspiring homes of the Silver Ring slid past her view. The Aureumians may not quite have a handle on noble decorum, but they certainly understood decadence. Polished marble, delicately shaped bronze, and so much gold gilding it seemed like a national compulsion. The sheer number of homes that indulged in such extravagances made words like garish or gaudy meaningless. When everyone was doing it, it was merely the style.

The gardens, too, were breathtaking and highly impractical. Not quite as impressive as the gardens in the palace, but still, one sprawling bouquet of color after another. They were filled with so many delicate and finicky annuals that it would have been impossible to maintain without a full-time gardening staff, which Irina suspected was partly the point. Any household that could afford to keep a full gardening staff had a great deal of wealth, and it was clear the residents of the Silver Ring enjoyed showing off that wealth.

The city of Magna Alto itself was more humble of course, but still quite fine. Irina found the atmosphere refreshingly different from Gogoleth. Although she’d always enjoyed the rowdy bustle of Nadezhda Square, she had mostly done so from the comfort of her balcony. By contrast, the merchants of Magna Alto seemed to be a cultivated sort, imploring her to stop her carriage and take a look at their wares with a veritable avalanche of compliments and enticements. And what wares they had! Even a quick glance through the window made it evident that she would find beautiful treasures here that could never be seen, much less obtained, in Izmoroz. And when she did not stop, but merely smiled and waved to the merchants, they took the rejection graciously and expressed hope that perhaps she would stop on her return trip.

Sadly, Irina was not traveling through the largest trade hub on the continent to shop. In truth, she had no money to spend anyway, but even if she had, she was on a much graver mission. Before he left, Sebastian had entreated her to check in on Captain Reyes, for whom he had enormous respect, to make certain he was not being abused. Irina had agreed to do so, partly because she was pleased to see him expressing such thoughtful, mature concern, and partly because she hoped to find yet another potential ally within the walls of Magna Alto, should things get worse. She didn’t know exactly what she feared might happen, and that made her all the more uneasy. Best to be prepared for any eventuality.

On the far west side of the city lay the barracks, where the common soldiers were housed. Beside the barracks was the brig. It was a squat, unpleasant-looking brick building with only a few, narrow barred windows.

She asked the driver to stop in front of the brig. Once he’d done so, he came around to help her out of the carriage. He was an older Aureumian palace servant, and as she stepped down onto the cobblestones, he gave her a concerned look.

“Shall I accompany you, my lady?”

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine, I’m sure.”

If she did manage to discuss a potential alliance with Captain Reyes, she did not want a palace servant within earshot.

“If you say so…” The driver didn’t look convinced. “I’ll stay with the carriage, then?”

“Yes. Hopefully I won’t be long.”

She gathered up her skirts and approached the brig. There were no guards out front, so she opened the door and found herself in a small room with benches lining the walls. A large, locked gate was set into the far wall, presumably barring the way to the prison cells.

Off in the corner, a soldier sat behind a desk meticulously packing a pipe with tobacco. He looked up when she entered, and did not try to hide his surprise.

“Uh… ma’am?” He put his pipe on the desk and pushed himself to his feet, looking wary. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“My name is Lady Irina Turgenev Portinari,” she told him calmly.

She wasn’t sure if he was responding to her title or the Portinari name, but he suddenly looked stricken and his whole bearing took on a more conciliatory air.

“A-apologies, my lady.”

She nodded. “My son, Captain Sebastian Turgenev Portinari, has just been deployed with General Barone’s battalion to Raíz. He asked me to look in on his old comrade-in-arms, Captain Reyes, in his absence.”

“Oh, I see…” The soldier looked flustered.

“Is there some problem?” she asked.

“Er, no, it’s just… the cells ain’t exactly a fit place for a lady, begging your pardon.”

“Then perhaps you can bring him out here for a few moments?”

He looked even more uncomfortable.

“You do realize that only a month ago, Captain Reyes was a commanding officer in the empress’s army? And now you’re telling me you don’t trust him enough to fetch him from his cell for a short while?”

“With all due respect, my lady, a Raízian never commanded anyone but other Raízians. I don’t think the men would have stood for it.”

“Is that so? It seems the vaunted Aureumian cosmopolitan attitude toward other cultures does not extend far beyond the palace, then.”

“My lady?” Now he just looked confused.

She sighed. “Never mind. It appears that in order to carry out my son’s wishes, I must brave the unladylike atmosphere beyond that gate. Will you accompany me?”

“Of course, my lady.”

He unlocked the gate, took a torch off the wall, and looked back at her. “Please mind where you step, my lady. I wouldn’t want you to muss those fine shoes.”

“I appreciate your concern,” she said.

She followed him into the dark, windowless corridor beyond. It was lined on either side with iron-barred doors. The lone guttering torch did little to reveal much in the cells, but the smell of unwashed bodies and excrement was so overwhelming, she was forced to cover her mouth and nose with her handkerchief.

She observed a puddle trailing into the aisle from one of the cells, and understood what the soldier had been getting at. Apparently some of the inmates had either overturned their waste buckets or simply not used them. In either case, she had to pick her way carefully so as not to sully her soft leather shoes with urine.

As they continued, Irina became aware of mutterings and restlessness within the cells. She still couldn’t see anything beyond huddled shapes, however.

“YOU!”

A hand suddenly reached through the bars of one cell in an attempt to grab her.

“Back off, worm!”

The soldier accompanying her spun around and thrust his torch at the arm. The prisoner howled with pain and quickly withdrew. The muttering from other cells stopped immediately, and there was a sudden silence that was even more unnerving.

At last the soldier stopped before one of the cells. It didn’t look any different from the others, despite containing a decorated officer of the imperial army.

The soldier raised the torch so that it illuminated the cell better. Irina could see a man slouched on the floor in the very back of the cell. He had long black hair that had once been in traditional Raízian braids, but was now half unraveled. It was no wonder, since his hands and feet were still bound, despite being in the cell. He was also gagged.

“Why does Captain Reyes have additional restraints?” she asked. “He’s already locked in a cell, so the bindings seem not only cruel, but unnecessary.”

“He ain’t just a regular Raízian, my lady. This here is a Viajero. And one of the best. All it would take is one song or dance, and we could both lose our minds forever.”

“How does he eat?”

“Once a day, he’s ungagged while under guard by five men. He eats his meals with a sword at his throat, but he eats all right. We ain’t cruel, my lady.”

She gave him a withering look. “Is that what you think? Can you remove the gag now so that I may speak with him?”

“Apologies, my lady. Regulations say we need at least five men guarding him whenever the gag is removed.”

She sighed, then turned to the prisoner. She could not see his eyes in the gloom, but as far as she could tell, he had taken no notice of her.

“Captain Reyes, I apologize for my discourtesy. It’s hardly seemly for me to converse with a man who cannot respond in kind. And yet, I promised my son that I would look in on you.”

She waited, but there was no acknowledgment.

“My son, Captain Portinari, has expressed both his admiration for you, and his concern for your well-being. He asked me to tell you that his actions, though regrettable, had been intended to de-escalate a situation that likely would have resulted in severe casualties on both sides. He hopes that you still think of him as a comrade and ally, and upon his return to Magna Alto, he will do all he can to make certain you and your men are not only reinstated, but recompensed for your unfair treatment.”

She waited, but still there was no visible response.

“As for myself, Captain,” she said in a gentler, less formal tone, “I find your treatment not only unfair, but inhumane. Rest assured I will take it up with the empress personally upon my return to the palace.”

“Nnn.” He shook his head.

“No?” she asked. “So you have given into despair and resigned yourself to martyrdom, then?”

No response.

Her voice took on a more crisp, businesslike tone. “Well, I’m afraid that plan doesn’t quite suit me, Captain. As you may or may not be aware, the situation grows increasingly more fluid in Aureum. Alarmingly so, if you want my opinion. I count anyone who has earned the respect of my son among my allies, and I find in times like these, one does not squander allies or allow them to indulge in romanticized self-destruction. So I’m afraid that despite your wishes, I will speak to the empress about these deplorable conditions and do my utmost to see that they are improved.”

Captain Reyes leaned forward, his head cocked slightly to one side in curiosity, as if truly taking an interest in her for the first time. Then he nodded, and leaned back once again.

“Wonderful. I’m glad that’s settled.”

She turned to the soldier, who was looking at her with a great deal of confusion, as if he only dimly understood the agreement that had just transpired. Or at least, she hoped that was the case.

“If you would kindly escort me immediately from this dreadful place, I would be very grateful,” she told him.

“At once, my lady.”