Back From Chaos (37 page)

“
But I cannot!” she wailed.

“
Why can you not? Has he said so?”

“
No, he wants me. He has offered to join with me. But I cannot give him what a wife gives a man.” Brensa’s head dropped in dejection.

“
Did Lotha say you must not? Are you so damaged?”

“
No,” Brensa whispered, turning away, “my body is whole.”

“
Then what is it that prevents you from accepting?”

“
He will grow to hate me. I am too afraid to lie with any man, even him. I have not the courage.” Brensa no longer even tried to hold back her sobs.

Marja remained silent. Finally, she ventured, “Brensa, if we truly desire it, anything is possible … even this.”

After a moment she added in a decisive tone, “You must speak of this to Klast. Perhaps he will help you find a solution. He is resourceful and,” her voice gained confidence as she spoke, “his love for you will inspire patience. I do know him to be a patient man.”

Brensa’s sobs subsided. Marja gave her another quick hug and pulled back to meet her eyes. “Yes, that is what you must do. It will be hard, but just as you have done with me, you must find the courage to speak to Klast.”

Marja spoke this with such confidence and determination that some of it reached Brensa, and she began to think more clearly. She refused to meet Marja’s eyes for a moment. Then she nodded in resignation. “You are right. I must, though I do not know how.” She met Marja’s eyes again. “Oh my lady, I hope I can find the strength.”

~ 87 ~

REQUEST FOR AN AUDIENCE

Gaelen spotted Messalia’s man, Sorliss, waiting for him at the entrance to the castle, anxiously shifting from foot to foot. Sorliss hurried over to speak with him. The guards accompanying Gaelen intercepted him with swords drawn, demanding to know his business.

“
I have a message for you, Lord Gaelen, from Messalia.”

When it became apparent that he meant no harm, Gaelen waved the guards away. “What message have you?”

“
She respectfully requests an audience with you. She says to tell you she has important information concerning the security of Bargia that she believes you will wish to hear as soon as possible.”

“
I see.” Gaelen thought a moment. Then, aware of the position Messalia enjoyed, answered, “Tell her she may come to the council chamber at one span past dawn. Advise her that I will have a scribe and some of my advisors there as well. We will wish to record what she has to tell us.”

Gaelen planned to have all the members but Sinnath there, partly to impress upon Messalia that he had too much to do to meet with her alone, and partly to make her get to the point. If her information proved no more than speculation or hearsay, she would embarrass herself and understand that she had no influence with him or the council.

Sorliss bowed deeply. “Thank you, my lord. I will inform her.” He stood to the side and waited respectfully while Gaelen turned and entered the castle.

Once inside, Gaelen sent a separate guard to inform each of his council members, swearing them all to secrecy, and one to find Klast to make sure he would be there as well. He was taking a risk in calling this meeting, but if Messalia had information about Sinnath, all of them needed to hear it … before he informed them of Sinnath’s arrest. Until now, only Grenth knew of it. He also called on one of his spies to watch Messalia’s house and movements. Something about this did not sit right with him; he mistrusted it. He knew Messalia was no true seer. Liethis had confirmed that suspicion long ago. He wondered if the rest of the council understood it, too, or if any actually trusted her. Until now, it had not been important.

As Gaelen turned toward the stairs to his chambers he spotted Marja waiting on the bottom step. She had come down to greet him and accompany him to supper. A surge of pride squared his tired shoulders, and he beamed at her. She was so beautiful, now that she had recovered after losing weight during the plague. She bloomed with health, and her growing bulge had become obvious. A son, my heir, he thought, his smile widening as she approached.

“
You look tired, my love,” she murmured as she embraced him. “It is late, but I have kept a platter hot on the brazier for you. I think it will not be over dry yet. You have made do with cold meals too long. Come.”

Gaelen kept his arm loosely about her waist as they ascended the stairs together. “We have Sinnath,” he murmured, rubbing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

~ 88 ~

A SHOWDOWN

Messalia understood the warning in Gaelen’s response. That he wanted to meet with the council meant he did not trust her. Or that he considered her so important that he wanted them all to hear her story. Or he wanted everyone to hear her, so she could incriminate herself and be immediately arrested. Or … she could think of a few more possibilities but eliminated them as preposterous. Unless she had already been betrayed, she saw no possibility that Gaelen could be aware of what she wished to reveal. Or … Sinnath was a member of that council. If he were there he would know that she meant to expose him. If not, then Gaelen already suspected him. She had no idea which way it would go. An error in judgment or a slip of the tongue could be her undoing, and she might well find herself swinging at the end of a rope in the public square or with her head in a basket. If she had had it to do over again she would have waited. Too late to change her mind now.

So she stayed awake the rest of the night, going over every possible scenario and developing a strategy for each. Feeling as well prepared as possible, she put on one of her best, but most sober, daytime gowns, dressed her hair in a conservative braid, wound at the nape of her neck, encased it in a pearled net and dabbed on a hint of berry juice to hide the paleness of her cheeks from lack of sleep. Then she stepped into her waiting carriage. She arrived at the door of the council chamber at precisely the appointed time to find the door closed and Klast guarding it.

She noticed that Klast looked in both directions to make sure no one saw them before he opened the door and bade her enter. He followed her in and barred the door. Messalia quickly scanned the room. Noting that Sinnath was absent, she was relieved to eliminate at least two of the scenarios she had prepared.

Gaelen indicated an empty chair at the table with a goblet of wine already poured. “Messalia. We are pleased to have you meet with us. Please sit and be comfortable.”

Messalia observed that all the men also had wine in front of them, but she hesitated to drink. She had not lived this long through carelessness. Who knew what the wine contained? However, when Gaelen took a draft from his goblet, she had no choice but to follow unless she wished to appear suspect. She suppressed a sigh of relief when nothing happened. She decided that Gaelen had nothing to gain from poisoning her and she ought to enjoy the rest of the excellent wine.

She had seen Klast take up a position beside the door in the practised stance that rendered him of no apparent consequence. But she took no further notice of him. Instead, her attention went to Gaelen, who began without preamble.

“
Your messenger tells me that you have important information for me. I have asked my council members to attend, in the event that further discussion is required. Unfortunately, Sinnath could not be located last night. I have sent a messenger again this morning to see if he can be found and invited to join us.”

Messalia’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly at Gaelen’s explanation of Sinnath’s absence. She was not sure what it boded, but she sat just a bit straighter and put her best face on it. “My lord. As you are aware, I receive information that others are not able to see. My work as a seer puts me in contact with many persons who seek my advice.” She halted momentarily, trying to ascertain Gaelen’s reaction. He gave none.

“
We are all aware of your reputation.”

Her eyes darted from member to member, but they, too, remained inscrutable. She decided there was nothing for it but to be blunt.

“
My lord. In recent times I have received two visits from Sinnath. He was most interested in hearing predictions with regard to your lady and how Bargia would be affected by her presence. He also wanted to know if our people would accept your lady, and what would happen should she disappear … and if I saw rebellion in Bargia’s future.” Her observation around the room gave no indication that this was news. They gave no clues she might use.

“
You will need to be more clear, Messalia. Have you any knowledge of why he would be interested in these things? We need something more than questions.” This last came from Grenth. The directness of his approach unsettled her. She forced herself to relax into her chair.

“
Sir, he was most circumspect in his inquiries. But as a seer,” she decided to be bold, emphasizing the word seer, “I sense things that are not said. I have built my reputation on the accuracy of my interpretations and my predictions.” She took a deep breath. This needed to be said before Sinnath arrived, if he arrived. “I have reason to believe that he is plotting to rid Bargia of the Lady Marja, my lord.” Then she hastily added, “though I cannot prove this.”

Gaelen nodded, “I see. Have you anything more?”

“
No, my lord. I just thought it my duty to inform you of this. It may be helpful to you and to Bargia. I am your loyal citizen.” She watched for his reaction. His face still showed nothing. Earth, but he was good for one so young and inexperienced. She would not wish to contest him in a game of Bluff.

Gaelen nodded again. “Loyalty is always appreciated. Thank you, Messalia. We will discuss this. If you have anything later that can be verified, we will be interested to hear it.” Gaelen stood. The audience was clearly over. Messalia allowed herself a small sigh of relief and stood to leave.

Once out the door, she quickened her steps to make sure she was well away before Sinnath might arrive. As she approached her carriage she glanced around. Still no sign of him. Good. When she had taken her seat and had ridden well away, she let out a huge sigh. She still had no idea what to make of the meeting, and the uncustomary loss of control unsettled her greatly. She would need to be even more careful for a while. Gaelen and the council were not the gullible men she normally dealt with. On the ride back she went over all that had been said and, deciding she had said nothing to incriminate herself, allowed herself a small smile. Yes, she would wait, and watch, and she would survive, as she always had. She leaned back more comfortably with a satisfied smirk.

~ 89 ~

SUSPICION

When Klast had barred the door firmly behind Messalia, Gaelen invited him to take her chair and pour himself wine. “You observed her from the side, my friend. What do you make of her?

Klast made a derisive sound. “She cannot be trusted, my lord. She seeks to protect herself.” Then he added, “And she has given us nothing. A clever woman. But she is afraid. Of that I am certain.”

The others around the table nodded thoughtfully in agreement. Janest ventured, “She knows more than she has told us. What do you think it is?”

“
I do not know, but she will bear watching,” Grenth spoke up.

Gaelen looked around the room. “Friends, we have more.” He turned to Klast with a grim smile. “Klast has uncovered another piece of the plot.”

Gaelen pulled out the correspondence and the ring. He held up the ring first. “This ring was found in the possession of a man from Catania who now rests in the dungeon. He has not yet been interrogated. But Klast has information that Sinnath has been in correspondence with a Catanian from the old court, and that they plot the overthrow of Bargia. When the prisoner tells us what he knows, we hope to confirm this.

“
And,” Gaelen held up the messages taken from Sinnath’s desk, “these also confirm that Sinnath is plotting treason against Bargia.” He ran his hands across his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in the familiar gesture, then added sombrely, “And we have Sinnath. He was arrested early last evening. Now we must prove his guilt to the people.”

The room seemed to hold its breath a moment in stunned silence. Then it erupted as Janest and Kerroll both spoke at once, their questions tumbling over one another. Gaelen met Grenth’s eyes, and they waited for quiet.

Gaelen held up his hand for attention. “Friends, when we received this evidence last night we thought it best not to give Sinnath the opportunity to gather support. He awaits us in a cell far from any others. His guards have orders to admit no one but Klast and myself and to stay far enough from the cell that he cannot speak with them.” He sat down, placing the items on the table. “Let us examine the evidence. Then I will decide how to proceed with his trial.”

Gaelen looked at each man in turn. “I need not tell you this must not be spoken of outside of this chamber.”

~ 90 ~

INTERROGATION

As Gaelen and Klast had planned they met unseen, except by the guards, outside the cell where the prisoner from the inn was kept. They had agreed to find out if he knew anything useful before proceeding with the prosecution of Sinnath.

Gaelen had gained a great deal of respect among the people as a result of his leadership and work during the plague. But Sinnath’s history as a trusted advisor to his father stood in the way of convincing the people that he had turned traitor. Some would remember that Gaelen was the second son, not the one destined to rule, that he lacked the experience of age and still, in some opinions, remained untried. And he had wed a daughter of the enemy, a decision considered impulsive and dangerous by some of the older traditionalists. Unless treason could be proven beyond a doubt, some might side with Sinnath and plunge Bargia into civil war. Gaelen knew how disastrous that would prove. He had lost too many men between the invasion of Catania and the plague to fight such a war and be confident of victory. Some would take it as a sign that Earth did not approve of Gaelen. There were others, such as Messalia, who would be only too ready to use the chaos to their own advantage. And Bargia would be the ultimate loser. No, the evidence against Sinnath must be irrefutable.