Gravity Box and Other Spaces (19 page)

“Welcome,” King Prester said, “on this special day. Step forward, my son.”

Stephen had been with the rest of the king's family on the opposite side of the throne from where Mindan stood with the ministers. The boy moved to the dais and gave a bow to his father.
Not a boy anymore
, Mindan corrected himself. Stephen was not tall, but he was well-built, with an intelligent face and thick black hair.

“Father,” he said.

“Ready to meet your future wife?” King Prester said.

“I am, Father.”

“Bring the legation,” King Prester said.

From the far end of the hall, doors swung open, and a retinue of brightly-clothed figures came up the central aisle. Mindan felt his insides tighten as they neared. He had never before experienced an anticipation of disaster like this. He wanted to leave, to shrug out of his own self to get away from the guilt of his own part in what was to come. He realized then that, despite Fama's assurances, he still believed in the powers of the horn.

Believing that, the next shock was all the worse. As the legation from Masady neared, he began to discern faces. They seemed familiar, though he could not at first place them. Then he saw the princess, the bride-to-be, and his entire being lurched. She looked up, and he recognized the girl from the inn. Virith.

“Damn,” he breathed. Loud enough for Cestic to hear him. Cestic looked at him, frowning, but Mindan only shook his head and kept his eyes fixed on the procession.

The entourage stopped the traditional twelve feet from the base of the dais. The six men and three women bowed formally. The lead man, whom Mindan now recognized as one of the men who had returned with Cestic to the inn, stepped to one side and said, “Your Majesty, King Prester, I extend the cordial greetings and good wishes of King Staban and the people of Masady. We are honored to be here in your Court and most especially it is my honor to present Her Royal Highness the Princess Virith, daughter of King Staban and intended to your son, Stephen.”

Mindan leaned toward Cestic. “That morning I left, I saw a contingent of soldiers from Masady.”

Cestic nodded. “They were looking for someone, but that's all I know. There was a row. I thought it best to get our people moving.”

Virith, very different in a crimson bodice and copper skirts from the girl Mindan had known on the road to Ethalic, stepped forward. Her hair was intricately coifed, her lips lightly rouged, and her demeanor regal. She made an elaborate bow before King Prester, then straightened and looked at him directly.

“Welcome, Princess Virith,” King Prester said. “All Catanac looks forward to the benefits of your presence and the promise of your union with my son.”

“You are most gracious, Your Majesty,” she said. “I have looked forward to meeting your son since the proposal first came to my father. I have heard many fine things about him.”

“And we about you,” King Prester said, coming down the steps. “It would be amiss for us, however, to take everything at face value. Exaggeration is the bane of honest relations.”

Virith's mouth twitched into a brief frown. “As you say, Your Majesty.”

“I have something for you,” Prester said, “something which will seal our bond and guarantee a beneficent future for both our kingdoms. Alistar?”

The geomancer stepped out of the dignitaries gathered alongside the family. The lines of his dark robes seemed to match the length of his face. He carried a small pillow on which lay the horn.

“We have gone to great effort to bring this for you,” Prester said. “My philosophers have confirmed that it is as claimed.” He took the pillow from Alistar, who bowed. “This is so, geomancer?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I and two of my colleagues, men of learning with whom you are well acquainted, have studied it carefully. It bears the marks and we attest to its authenticity.”

“Authenticity,” the king said. He held the pillow toward Virith. “This is a horn of the sacred einhyrn. We thought it the most appropriate of betrothal gifts. Please, accept it.”

Time stopped for Mindan. Virith did not move for what seemed like minutes. Then, curiously, she gazed along an arc at the nearer people, pausing at Stephen, who appeared on the verge of anger. She continued her sweep until she saw Mindan. Her eyebrows rose for a moment and she almost smiled. She looked back at Prester and dipped her head. Time resumed and she picked up the horn. She held it slightly elevated as she studied it.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said. “I have heard of these but never seen one, much less held one in my hand. This is a rare and special gift. I trust I shall live up to the expectations that prompted you to seek such a treasure and give it to me.”

Through all this the horn remained as it had always been, unchanged. Virith turned to the left and one of her retainers accepted the horn from her. She folded her hands primly on her stomach.

“May it please you now to introduce me to your son?”

Mindan saw the growing rage on Prester's face. He stared at the girl, motionless.

“Damn,” Cestic whispered. Mindan looked around and saw several of the regular Court officials with frowns or open-mouthed expressions. Others looked clearly relieved.

For a few moments it seemed King Prester would yield and continue the formal presentation, but suddenly his lips parted from clenched teeth and he shoved past Virith to the retainer, who tried to back away, startled by the lunging monarch.

King Prester grabbed the horn from the pillow and whirled on Virith. “How did you do that?” he bellowed. “I—”

As Mindan and the Court watched, King Prester frowned, puzzled, and looked down at the horn in his hand. He opened his fingers. Then he turned toward his geomancer, who stood to the left of the throne, watching with panicked eyes. Prester opened his mouth and a scream erupted, filling the room. He dropped the horn and clawed at his hand. Mindan saw wisps of smoke rising from his quickly blistering palm. As he rubbed his hands together trying to quell the smoke, both began to burn.

Mindan, heart hammering, started forward, but Cestic stopped him. People backed away from King Prester as he turned in place seeking someone to help him. At last, he staggered off the dais and disappeared through the door hidden behind his throne.

Prince Stephen stepped forward, hands raised. “Please, everyone. Stay.” He turned toward Alistar. It was clear he was working hard to control the rage within him, so like his father.

“See to him. Now!” he demanded. The geomancer bowed and retreated.

Virith picked up the horn from the floor. Mindan watched, amazed and troubled, as she took it back to her retainer and placed it on the pillow. She said something to him. The man bowed and hurried away. Virith faced Stephen.

“My lord,” she said. “How shall we proceed?”

“I believe we are to be wed soon,” Stephen said. “We should be formally introduced, establish that fact, and then I must see to my father. First minister?”

Karl came forward and at first awkwardly, made the formal presentation, Princess Virith to her future husband.

Mindan left as soon as he could. He made it as far as the corridor leading to his room before his legs gave way. He leaned against the wall, trembling. Finally, he managed to go all the way to his room.

He sat on his bed, riding out the waves of fear and relief and bewilderment. Something momentous had just occurred and he knew he understood only a bit of it, but it affected him as if he comprehended all.

The door banged open and he jumped to his feet. Karl entered, flanked by two guards. “He wants to see you.”

“Now?”

“Sooner would be best. Come.”

Mindan maintained himself even though he was frightened as they escorted him to the king's chambers. Karl brought him up to King Prester's bed. Alistar stood nearby, hovering over a bowl containing a sharp-scented liquid. The geomancer sweated and his hands trembled.

Prester lay against the pillows, pale, his recent vitality reduced. Both his arms were blistered and purple-black from the elbows down to the fingertips. His skin was slick with sweat and he writhed with pain. It took some time before he recognized Mindan, and then his eyes focused on him.

“I will not be cheated!” he hissed.

“My lord?”

“Alistar may just survive this,” the king said. “As to the others, no matter. You did what I asked without question or fail, but obviously I was wrongly advised. The wedding itself will not be for two weeks. Time enough for you to do another journey.”

“To where?”

King Prester closed his eyes as a wave of pain passed through him. He licked his lips and continued. “Back to Githira. Evidently I need the entire animal. Alive. I should have known a mere piece of one wouldn't work for this.”

A calloused mass of distaste formed in Mindan's mind. “My lord, forgive me for saying, but what if the girl is pure?”

King Prester scowled. “You may be forgiven for your naiveté, gamekeeper. You are not a regular at Court. I have reliable reports that she is not.”

Mindan shuddered. “What if Stephen takes to her?”

“He's not a stable boy! This is politics, not love! Go quickly and return before the wedding.”

“What if I cannot bring one in time? Will you delay the wedding?”

“I can't. I can only allow it or end it, so do not be late.”

Mindan bowed and backed away. Karl took him escorted him to his room. Without a word, he dropped a purse on Mindan's table.

“The king is committed to his course. If this way doesn't give him what he wants, he'll find some other way. I wouldn't blame you if you did not return.” Karl spoke his words with exaggerated care.

“I take it that your problem is already solved.”

“It's all a matter of price sometimes.”

Mindan turned away. “I think I'd rather not know more.”

Karl opened the door. “Be safe, gamekeeper.”

“You were going to leave without even a note?”

Mindan started at the voice and turned from cinching the saddle of his horse to see Virith standing in the stable door. He looked around for others, but apparently they were alone.

“My pardon,
Princess
,” he said. “It would be inappropriate for a gamekeeper to seek an audience—”

“Stop it. That is exactly why I was where I was.” She glanced around. “I regret nothing. It would have been nice to spend another day, but I was interrupted.”

“I saw them.”

“Father can be overprotective, and Court life is stifling.”

“Do you think it will be any better here?”

“Stephen—he's not what I expected. I think it will be fine. I knew all along that I would be bartered for advantage. I never hoped it would be to someone I might actually enjoy. It may be that I'm more fortunate than I deserve.” She smiled. “That was a mean trick your king played on me.”

“I think you played a meaner one on him.”

“Meaner? I can't fathom your meaning.”

“How did you do that?”

She shrugged. “A special oil to coat my skin. I wasn't sure it would work, but I couldn't very well refuse it, could I? That would have served for an excuse just as well, but I wasn't worried. The legends are just legends, unless they're made to be true. I didn't realize just how anxious your king was for war. My people were here, preparations were made. I'm not sure what we'd have done had the king left well enough alone. As it his, he fell into his own trap.”

Mindan was stunned. Deceit on deceit, and this time played by a girl. No, hardly a girl—

“I wish you every happiness, Princess.”

“I think I can manage that on my own. Wish me success, though. That can be more elusive.” She frowned. “You're leaving?”

“On another mission for my king.”

“Should I wish you success, then?”

Mindan shook his head. “I think I shall not succeed.”

“Would you consider returning and serving me?”

“As what?”

She smiled. “Gamekeeper, of course.”

Mindan considered it—briefly. He shook his head. “Thank you, Your Royal Highness, but I think I would prefer service with fewer ambiguities.”

She nodded. “I can understand that. Do you think you can find it?”

“I believe so.”

“Then—at least safe travels.”

He mounted his horse. “May I ask, Your Royal Highness, what were you doing?”

She held up a hand. “A last summer's day of freedom. A foolish act of will, but I'm grateful it was with someone I think I can respect.”

“Thank you. I'll try to deserve that.” He hesitated, weighing what was left of his loyalty against the problems of a troubled conscience. He chose.

“You should know King Prester wants to conquer Thessany. A breach with Masady would give him the excuse to go to war over it.”

“I know. That's one reason I agreed to all this. A small sacrifice to preserve peace, don't you think? But thank you for the warning. Be well.”