The Dragonstone

CHAPTER 38

Just after dawn the next morn, Aiko was awakened by a tapping on the door. Sword in hand, she opened it to find two iron-collared footmen standing there, liveried in black and orange and gold. Their eyes widened at the sight of the yellow warrior, yet the elder of the two said, "Lady Aiko?" At her nod, he continued, his common tongue speech impeccable, "We have been sent by the lord chamberlain to fetch you and your companions to the queen's castle. At your convenience, milady, a carriage awaits below. We will stand by in the hall."

Aiko roused the others, and with Alos grumbling they performed their toilet and dressed and packed their goods. Aiko called in the footmen to bear their meager luggage as well as their costume trunk, and all proceeded downstairs. While the others stepped to the carriage, Egil went to settle with the innkeeper, who shook his head and refused to accept payment, declaring, "Nothing you owe me. The singing and sword dancing paid for all. Here to the Crown soon you will return, ja? Free room and board I will give, and handsomely will I pay, the profits even share."

Egil shrugged. "I know not when we may return, for the queen summons."

The innkeeper glanced at the carriage out front. "Ja, that I can see"-he drew in a sharp breath-"and answer you must if your necks you value. Hear me, now: your rooms for you I will save; in fact, the best will I hold that I have if come back you will do when done you are."

Egil smiled and nodded. "We'll think on it."

A landau had been sent by the chamberlain, and riding in style in the early morn, they were conveyed up the hill.

The way under the wall twisted and turned, and the coachman slowed the horses to a walk and maneuvered the carriage through, but as soon as they were clear of the barrier, he chrked the team to a lively step, and along the white pave they fared, hooves aclatter on stone. The way curved through ornate gardens, where topiary beasts stood tall and green and silent, flanking the pale granite road. And as they wended upward, from somewhere on the manicured grounds they heard a harsh call of some sort of creature-Karawah, karawah, karawah!-but whether beast or fowl or something altogether different, they knew it not.

At last the carriage drew up before the entrance, and one of the footmen sprang down and lowered the steps and opened the door while the other gathered up their goods. Egil stepped to the flagstone court and then handed Arin and Aiko down, and aided Alos to descend as well. They were met by a handful of servants, who were surprised at the lack of baggage. A steward bade them to follow, and led them through a grand foyer and into the hallways beyond, six thralls trailing after, bearing the small satchels and the costume trunk of the guests. They came to a chamber where sat a young man, peering at papers of state. He was but one of the chamberlain's many assistants, and he informed them they would be performing tomorrow night and directed the steward to show them to their quarters in the outer tower of the east wing.

They wended through passageways, bearing ever easterly, passing other servants and guests and members of the queen's staff. But as to which was which, they could not readily tell, though the steward bowed to several, and was bowed to by others as well.

One of these to whom the steward bowed was tall and black haired. Dressed in finery, he stood and watched as Arin and her comrades came toward him. His dark blue eyes widened at the sight of an Elf, and he sketched a bow. Then his eyes widened again as Aiko strode by, and once again he bowed. He merely nodded at Alos, but as Egil passed, the man's gaze narrowed upon seeing the Fjordlander's face and scar.

"Do I know you, sir?" he asked, holding out a hand to delay Egil.

"I think not," replied Egil, pausing. "I have not before come to these parts."

The man canted his head. "I am Baron Steiger of Duchy Rache. And you are…?"

Egil tilted his head in a like manner and said, "I am Egil… of here and there. If we had met, I would have remembered."

"Yet your face looks familiar," said the baron, "though it seems to me that perhaps I saw it in different circumstances altogether, just when or where I cannot recall. Yet give me time. I will recollect."

Egil smiled and said, "If you do, sir, then let me know. They say that each man has a double; perhaps you will lead me to mine." He glanced up the hall, where the others waited. "And now, sir, good morn to you." And he bowed and turned on his heel.

As Egil strode away and rejoined the others, Steiger stood stroking his chin. Just as the retinue began to move off, the baron's eyes widened, and he whirled and hurried away.

"What was that all about?" asked Alos.

"Someone who thought he knew me," replied Egil.

"Perhaps he does," said Aiko.

Egil shook his head. "If he does, then it was from elsewhere, for I've not been here before."

"Not to Jute?"

"No, no. Not to Koniginstadt. I've been to Jute with Orri, but it was a goodly distance up the coast."

"Mayhap," said Arin, "it has something to do with the memories thou canst not recall."

Egil's eye flew wide. "You mean the memories Ordrune stole from me?"

"Mayhap."

Egil turned and looked back at the way they had come, but Baron Steiger was no longer there.

They were ensconced high up in the east tower, in a modest room with a windowed doorway leading to a balcony looking west. The room itself was furnished with a large, canopied four-poster with heavy drapes hanging down, a long leather couch, a small table and two chairs, a tall, wide cabinet which proved to be a wardrobe, and a chest of drawers. A small chamber, with a curtain for a door, adjoined the room, and it held a privy pot as well as a low chest of drawers containing towels and linens and on which sat a large pitcher of water and a wash basin and soap.

"There is a common bathing room 'round the hall," said the steward, stepping to the door. "The chamberboy will show you the way." He turned and called, "Dolph!"

A slight, black-haired lad popped into the chamber. He was perhaps eleven, and an iron collar graced his neck. He bowed to the four, his pale blue eyes widening at the sight of the Dylvana and the yellow Ryodoan. The steward arched a brow at the youth, then turned to Egil and said, "Dolph will see to your needs." He then bowed and withdrew.

When the steward was gone, Egil turned to Dolph. "We caught but a glimpse of the estate as we rode in from the city, lad. May we freely tour the grounds?"

"Ja, sir," replied the chamberboy. "At liberty to roam you are where you will… all but the queen's spire."

"Queen's spire?"

"Ja, there." The lad pointed out the window at the central tower. "Her private quarters those are. The balcony to her bedchamber from here you can see."

"Oh, which one?"

"That is the one at the top, sir."

Egil glanced up at the balcony, but it stood empty.

Aiko stepped over and looked as well, then she turned to Egil and shrugged.

"Is there aught else you need?" asked the youth.

"Chewing sticks and mint leaves," said Aiko, and Alos groaned in response.

As the boy turned to go, Egil said, "If we are not here when you return, we will be exploring the castle and grounds, should anyone ask."

"Ja, sir. On your way back if finding these quarters you have trouble, any servant just ask for the way; the green room of the east tower this is. To direct you they will be able."

"What's your name again, boy?" asked Alos.

"Dolph."

"Well, Dolph, we've not yet broken our fast. When and where do we eat?"

"Each tower a dining hall has down below-of course is best the east one. At dawn and mid of day and twilight meals are served, anytime you can eat though as guests. Here to your room food I can fetch, if rather you would. Of course, to the great hall you'll be going for the banquet tonight. A bell all will summon."

"And the great hall?"

"The central wing, sir, it is."

"Well and good, boy. Well and good."

Dolph looked from one to the other. "Breakfast to fetch would you like me?"

Aiko shook her head. "No. Just the chewing sticks and mint. We will find our own way to a meal."

As Dolph sped from the room on his errand, Egil said, "Let us break fast and then explore, gauge the defenses and the lay of the land and the plan of the buildings. We may need a quick way out, and depending upon what we find, we can set our strategy. Too, I would look for Baron Steiger; perhaps he remembers where we met. If not, even so, he may yield a clue as to my stolen memories."

After their morning meal, they strolled the grounds, passing among flower gardens and limpid pools containing what Alos called "calico fishies" but which Aiko named "koi." Aiko stood a moment at the edge of one of the pools; the brightly scaled fish swam to the surface as if they expected to be fed. "My father told me that in the pools of Lord Yodama there were many of these uo. They are highly prized in Ryodo." She stood a moment more, gazing down as if lost in thought. Then she spun on her heel and walked away, wiping her cheeks with the heels of her hands.

On they wended 'round the hill, and they came upon a hedge maze. Arin grabbed Egil by the hand and, laughing, pulled him into the labyrinth. They wandered through its convoluted corridors, lost, but finally found themselves at what they believed was the center, for there on a pedestal stood a white marble statue of a nude young woman, life-sized and lifelike in every detail. Affixed to the base was a golden plaque engraved Die Konigin Gudrun die Schone.

"Dost thou think it is our hostess?" asked Ann, eyeing the form critically.

"If it is," replied Egil, grinning, "modesty is not among her virtues."

Now Arin smiled and, standing on tiptoe, kissed Egil on the cheek. Then she took him by the hand and turned to go, just as Aiko and Alos came to the labyrinth center.

"Huah," exclaimed Alos, walking around the sculpture and viewing it from all sides.

Aiko, though, glanced at the plaque and asked, "What does it say?"

"Queen Gudrun the Comely," replied Alos.

"Ah so," mused Aiko. "If faithful in every detail, then perhaps we look upon the like of our mad monarch."

Alos, completing his circuit, asked, "Why do you suppose she has such a work sitting out where everyone can see?"

Aiko shrugged, but Egil said, "Perhaps this is why she is called 'mad.' "

"Mayhap so," said Arin. "It is a puzzle, nevertheless."

Egil nodded in agreement, then said, "Come. Let us go. There is much yet to see, and I would know the ground on which we stand. As I said before, there may come a time when we will need to know the best way to take flight."

"Or the best place to stand and fight," added Aiko.

"Aye," replied Egil, "or fight."

"Don't forget the rutting peacock," said Alos. "It is, after all, why we are here."

All three looked at Alos, as if surprised.

"Well I said I would go this far," snapped the oldster. "But no farther, d' y' hear? No farther."

Arin smiled. "Come. Let us leave."

They wandered through the labyrinth only to find themselves back at the statue. "Well, this is a puzzle, all right," declared Egil. "Easy to get in; hard to get out."

Again they turned to go, wending through the hedges, but found themselves at the statue once more.

"Y' know," grumped Alos, "a person could starve in here."

As they strode away from the statue, Egil said, "When next we find ourselves at the center, we should think on marking our way so we'll know where we've been."

Moments later they stood at the statue again.

Aiko rested her hands on the pommels of her swords. "I am of a mind to hack straight through."

Egil looked up at the form. "Perhaps this is why she's called mad-putting such a trap on her grounds, a trap that just anyone can wander into."

"Do you think it's cursed?" asked Alos.

Suddenly Aiko's eyes flew wide, and she turned to Arin. "Dara"-Aiko gestured at the statue- "could this be the cursed keeper of faith in the maze?"

Now Arin's eyes flew wide. "Oh, my."

Egil shook his head. "The Queen of Jute? Could she be both?"

Alos frowned. "Both?"

Egil held up two fingers. "The mad monarch and the cursed keeper of faith in the maze?"

"Oh," said Alos, enlightened.

All three looked at Arin, but she turned up her hands. "I do not know."

Egil sighed. "That's the trouble with redes and prophecies: they are riddles: a person never knows what in Hel they mean until they come true. Why can't they simply be plain?"

He looked from one to another, yet none could answer his question, though Aiko said, "Who knows the ways of madmen and gods and prophecies?"

"Well, I think none of us will ever know even if we do escape from this maze," said Egil. "Regardless, let's get out."

Aiko nodded and started to draw her sword, but Arin gestured No. "I believe I can set us free from this trap, and then we shall deal with the question of the queen as the keeper of faith in a maze."

Arin turned and looked at the maze in her special way, as if attempting to ‹see›. To her eyes it seemed to glow with a faint aura. Leading, she walked them through the maze and into the open. The way out was simple, straightforward, and they could not understand how they had ever been befooled, though Alos said, "See, it was cursed… or magic."

Free from the hedge maze, they continued on 'round the grounds, encircling the castle proper, scanning walls and defenses, noting where stood doorways, eyeing places where they could conceal themselves if it came to such, noting as well the barricade encircling the hill, with its ramps and banquettes and gorges, and noting as well where men patrolled and where others stood sentry.

Directly behind the castle and a bit downslope they came upon a small granite courtyard enclosed by a low wall. The stone within was blackened, as if scorched repeatedly by fire. The way in was barred by a latched, low-set, wrought-iron gate. Scrollwork across the gate spelled out the word "Geliebter."

"What does it mean?" asked Aiko.

"Beloved," replied Alos. "Er, 'beloved man,' I think."

At a questioning glance from Arin, Egil said, "Funeral pyres."

Arin nodded, and they turned away.

They had circled perhaps three-quarters of the whole, when they came in among open-sided buildings set apart from the castle and housing caged animals on display.

"The mad queen's zoo," hissed Egil, so as not to be heard by nearby attendants.

They passed among confined snow jackals and cinnamon argali and mountain springers and black renders and other animals they could not name-all trapped in cages too small, where they paced or cowered or lay dull-eyed and inactive.

Now the four came in among the mews. Here they found raptors-trained hunting birds: grey falcons, red hawks, black kestrels, golden eagles. Among these raptors stepped an iron-collared attendant, removing the hoods from the perched birds and feeding them gobbets of raw meat.

"I say," called out Alos, "be these all of the birds?"

The thrall looked around and, spying them, removed his hat and said, "Die allgemein Sprache kann ich nicht."

"Ung," grunted Alos. "He doesn't speak common." The oldster then called out, "Mehr Vogel? Wo?"

The man's face lit up. "Ah." He gestured northward. "Don bei der Teich gibt es Geflugel."

Alos smiled and sketched a bow and said, "Wir danken Ihnen." The man held his hat to his chest and bowed low. Alos then turned to the others. "He says there's more birds, fowl, that is, down by the pond."

They stepped from the mews and turned to the north and started down the slope. Just ahead and below they could see a small mere dug into the hillside, its far perimeter an earthen dam. As they approached, quacking ducks and gabbling geese paddled toward them, as if expecting a handout. But these common fowl were not what captured the gazes of the foursome. Instead it was a large iridescent bird with a crested head and brilliant blue-green plumage. When it saw them coming it spread wide its great tail coverts, and each of these long feathers was marked with an iridescent eyelike spot.

"Adon," breathed Arin, "it is beautiful."

"Is it our rutting peacock?" asked Alos, turning to Aiko.

"A peacock, yes," she replied. "Rutting, I cannot say, for I see no peahens nearby." Aiko gazed about, then gasped and stepped down to the edge of the mere, where she squatted and plucked out of the water a floating tail feather of the peacock. She glanced up at Arin and raised the plume, its eye-spot scintillant. "Dara, is this a one-eye in dark water as well?"

Arin sighed and shrugged, but Egil said, "Damnation. Are we to be plagued with symbols and portents, none of which we can be certain represents the truth?"

"Ha," barked Alos. "Now we have three different one-eyes in dark water: Egil, a feather, and me." He gestured over his shoulder. "And back there is a statue that might or might not represent a cursed keeper of faith in the maze. And here before us is what might be a mad monarch's rutting peacock, except there isn't a thing to rut, unless of course he rides the ducks and geese. What progress we are making, eh?"

Aiko shook her head and held up four fingers. "You left out one of the one-eyes, Alos: the honeyed Troll's eye we keep in a sack."

"Eep!" squeaked Alos, shuddering.

At this, the peacock craned its neck and emitted a raucous call: Karawah, karawah, karawah!

Egil looked at the bird and burst out laughing. When Arin's wide-eyed gaze fell upon him, Egil dropped to his knees and laughed all the harder, but managed to gasp out, "Adon, if we steal this thing, it'll give us away with its shrieks."