The Still

Chapter 23

I refused the quarters the earl’s chamberlain offered, insisting on connecting rooms for me and Rust. Let them think what they would; I knew that only in bed could we whisper our thoughts so none of the Earl’s minions could hear. That we’d be watched, I accepted as a matter of course.

I hurried to bathe and dress, and set again the crown of Caledon on my brow.

We joined the old Earl downstairs in his donjon. There, he introduced the highborn men and ladies of his retinue. He came to a tall graying fellow, dressed in good cloth, whom I recognized. “And this is Imbar, my valet and confidant.”

“My lord.” The man made too short a bow.

“Imbar.” I gave him no more than a nod. When Cumber was done, I introduced Elryc, Rustin, Hester. Then, reluctantly, Genard and Fostrow. Rustin hadn’t allowed me to insist they wait upstairs.

The keep was well appointed; it managed to look solid and light at the same time. The Earl led us to the blazing hearth, clapped his hands. Servants in matching livery brought wine and sweets. Imbar, the valet, sat with us as if such intimacy were common practice. I managed not to gape.

After polite small talk, Hester excused herself with dignity, taking with her the two boys, and asking Fostrow’s help with the stairs. It was nicely done. In a moment Rust and I were alone with the Earl and his valet.

“Now that you’ve won the first round, what’s your intention?” Uncle Cumber addressed me, ignoring Rust.

I stammered, “I think not of winning, my lord Cumber, but of seeking, ah, your advice.” I tried to read Rust’s face for direction.

“How charming. Isn’t he a pleasant lad, Imbar? He threatens my inheritance as if he had an army, then sits smiling over my wine.”

“Uncle Cumber, I ask your support-”

“The name’s Raeth. If you must speak to me, stop using the demon-cursed title.”

“Uncle-Raeth?”

“It’s the name I was born with, the one I used for thirty years before I inherited. Why should I abandon it?”

“Uncle Raeth, I-”

“And I’m not your uncle; I was your father’s. That makes me nothing to you.”

I cast Rustin a glance of despair. The man was impossible. “Lord Raeth-no, by Lord of Nature! Mother always insisted I refer to you as Uncle, and that’s how I know you.”

His habitual look of disapproval softened, if only for a moment. “My nephew Josip married well. She was true nobility.”

“Thank you. And also for rushing to her funeral.”

“That wasn’t for you; it’s what Josip would ask. You know I favored him.”

“I was but nine when he died, sir.”

“Aye, he had no chance to make a proper man of you. See the consequences, Imbar?” A sigh. “No wonder Mar has his hands full.”

Rust stood to warm his hands at the fire. “The mountain air is cooler than we’re accustomed, my lord Prince.”

The Earl nodded approvingly. “Well done. See, Imbar, how he reminds me of the boy’s rank without so much as a gesture of rebuke?”

For the first time, Imbar spoke. “Who are you?” He addressed Rust.

“Rustin son of Llewelyn, Householder of Stryx. Prince Rodrigo’s advisor and, ah, confidant.” There was nothing in Rust’s tone to which one might take offense. Nonetheless, Imbar flushed.

Uncle Cumber applauded quietly. “Again, nicely done. The boy has poten-”

I set down my goblet so hard it shattered. “Come, Rust. We’ve had our response.” I stalked to the door. “On, to Soushire.”

Rustin followed without a murmur.

“See how they take offense?” The old Earl’s tone was light. “Hold a moment, youngsires. Shall we treat with them, Imbar? They come from Shar so destitute they must camp in the woods, yet they spurn our mockeries. What shall we make of this?”

Imbar said, “That they’re not used to jests? Or, perhaps, that their hides are uncured and tender.”

“Which is it, young Rodrigo? Come back to the fire; we’ll talk of pleasant things.”

I took off the crown, fingered the dent Genard had imparted to it. “This deserves your respect, Uncle, if as yet I’ve not earned it.”

“Aye, it does, and you too, if you’ve the right to wear it. Come, let’s discuss that.”

I glanced to Rustin; he nodded slightly. We sat. I muttered, “Let us speak plainly, without derision.”

“Plainly, yes. But derision is part of our nature, Imbar and me. Best you learn to live with it.”

“Do you call yourself Earl and Councilor of Caledon, and protest not Margenthar’s usurpation?”

“Look, Imbar, how he flies to the point. What usurpation, if you’re but a child and unready for the crown?”

Rust spoke. “Judge him yourself, my lord. Is he that?”

I raised my eyebrow, at Rust. Had he not told me as much, at least a dozen times of late?

“He wears a noble mien today, I’ll grant you, Lord Rustin. That’s not what I recall a month past, at the Council meet.”

I said hotly, “Mar’s soldiers held me from entering.”

“Make allowances, sir.” Rust. “He’d just lost his mother.”

“There’s that. What shall I think, Imbar?” Uncle Raeth poured himself more wine, swirled it in his mouth before swallowing. “What would I say to Josip, if he admonished me?”

“He’s dead, Rae, and doesn’t know what you do.”

“But I know.” The Earl brooded. “He was my favorite, long before I knew you.”

I blurted, “Tell me about him.” Rust’s jaw fell, but I didn’t care.

“A lovely boy.” The Earl of Cumber sighed. “I was married, my wife was of the Norlanders, and whatever dreams lay within me remained fettered. Still …” He looked long into his glass. “Lovely.”

“And as a man?”

“His father sent the boy here for training. I taught him hawking, and we played at the bow. How fast he learned.”

Imbar cleared his throat.

“Yes, I know, but it’s an old man’s privilege to mourn lost occasions. How fast Josip grew. As a man? What can I say; he met and wooed Elena. And won her. Best she’d kept her Power a few years and shackled Mar, but she could wait no longer.”

I dared not breathe.

“Josip didn’t mind her predominance. She took his advice, and perhaps that made it easier. Even while she had the Still, and they’d not yet bedded, he guided her.” His eyes fixed mine, abruptly. “Are you virgin, still?”

I flushed.

“Answer!”

I said, “Yes. I am.” I took a deep breath, for strength. “And I will wield the Still, to restore my kingdom.”

He cackled. “Then don’t throw aside your, ah, confidant. You’ll have need of him.”

His double entendre made me blush furiously, but my gaze never wavered. “Concern yourself not with my needs, my lord. I will suffice, until Caledon is wholly mine.”

A long pause. “Imbar, I believe he means it. Well would it be to have a king with resolve, especially allied with us. No?”

“Perhaps.” Imbar’s face bore no hint of his thoughts.

“That’s merely my view. Certainly not Mar’s. And on this point, my opinion holds no water. Duke Tantroth devours Stryx even as we speak, and Mar is regent.”

“Only through vote of Council.” Rust.

“And I’m but one member. What could I do, even if I favored this lad?”

I growled, “Don’t speak past me, Uncle.”

“Don’t ‘Uncle’ me, Prince Rodrigo.”

The last strands of my temper snapped. “It was out of respect for my father Josip. I’ll do as you said, and show him as little honor as do you. You’re no uncle of mine, and curse him for a pretty boy, a sycophant who-”

“Stop!” Plea or command, it bore anguish I couldn’t have foretold.

Imbar. “He taunts you, to turn aside your resolve.”

“I know well what he does; also I know I ceded him the right. Rodrigo, forgive me. I honor Josip and wish that you do so. Call me Uncle if it pleases you.”

I said nothing.

“And it pleases me.” His tone was gruff. “Which is not to say that for Josip’s sake I’ll support your claim to the throne.”

“Of course not. You’ll do so for my sake, and Caledon.” I wasn’t ready to be mollified.

“You’ve more in you than I’d supposed. I’ll think on it.” He got slowly to his feet. “Come, let us dine. I’ll have answer tomorrow.”

It wasn’t a formal meal, with full ritual, but the Earl set forth far more than the light refreshments guests might receive who had no special favor. We sat at long tables draped with soft linen and joined end to end in the center of the great hall. Candelabras gleamed, their tapers flickering with promise of a prolonged feast. I noticed more plank tables stacked neatly against the far wall, enough to fill the length of the hall should the Earl mount a true banquet.

Elryc was accorded a place two seats below mine, which was at Uncle Raeth’s right hand. Rust sat across from me; Hester and Fostrow far below us. Genard I thought not even present, until I spotted him near the foot of the last table. Imbar was to Uncle’s left.

No one seemed to take notice of the Earl’s eccentricity. I tried to picture myself entertaining a visiting prince by seating him across from a servant. It was beyond my imagining.

They began with soup, and I tried hard not to slurp. To my right sat a comely young woman who would notice such things. Surreptitiously, I glanced at my fingernails, but thanks to Rust’s obstinacy on bathing they weren’t objectionable.

Great-uncle Cumber led us into small talk, steering us carefully from matters of state. Plied with wine, I felt myself begin to relax, and eventually to redden with the warmth of alcohol. Rust frowned, tapped pointedly on his water glass, and lest he make a scene, I diluted my drink until its color faded.

“Oh, I’m so glad; I’ll do that too.” The young woman followed suit with her own glass. “I feel such a child when I’m the only one to lighten my wine, and Uncle’s remarks can make me blush.”

The best I could think of was a polite smile, and I returned to my dish.

She added, “I met you once, in Stryx. I don’t suppose you remember.”

“Of course I do. You were …” I gave her time to supply the prompt.

Her face dissolved in pleasure. “How nice, my lord. A pity it was such a sad occasion.”

“Yes.” I tried to look solemn. “I’m sorry I didn’t have more time to chat with you, but it was difficult.”

“How could it not be?”

“Mother was a great lady.”

“I remember how beautiful she was that day.”

I frowned. “The coffin was closed.”

“Oh.” She put a hand to her mouth. “I know I ought not contradict you, sir, but it was open. Surely you remember.”

“Perfectly.” My voice was firm. “It was closed, for the public grieving.”

“If you say so, my lord.” Her manner took on a reserve it hadn’t held.

I gulped my wine, attacked the broiled trout and scalloped potatoes they placed in front of me. The woman, whatever her name-someone had mumbled it but I couldn’t remember-devoted her attention to her dinner.

I blurted, “Rust, was Mother’s coffin open or closed for her funeral?”

“Closed, my prince.”

I couldn’t help myself. “You see?”

“I wouldn’t know, my lord. I wasn’t there.”

I rolled my eyes. “Try to keep your story straight, my dear.” Perhaps she was the castle fool, put at my side for Uncle’s amusement.

We’d been left long enough to ourselves. “Tresa, what think you of our prince?” The Earl. “Will you take offense, Lord Rodrigo, if she speaks her mind?”

“No, Uncle Raeth.” What else could I say?

“Must I?” Her tone was plaintive.

“But of course, when you sit at my table.”

“The young Prince is … rude. He thinks I know not what I saw at the burial, and accuses me of lies.”

I threw down my napkin. “Madam, it was barely a month ago, and I have all my wits. When Mother died-”

“Who speaks of the Queen?”

I shouted, “You do!” Heads turned, and I lowered my voice. “You said you met me at her funeral!”

“You dunce, I said no such thing!” She scrambled from her chair, cheeks red. “Forgive me, Lord Prince, I meant no disresp-oh, Lord of Nature.” Eyes brimming, she scurried from the room.

Uncle Cumber sighed. “I’ll have to coddle her for days, to restore her spirits.” His tone mocked me. “Ah, boy, who can expect you to learn these skills, in your state?”

I gritted, “I’m sorry.” I covered my wineglass, before the steward could pour more. Perhaps I had ought to stick to water. “But why did she say she’d been to Mother’s burial, when clearly she hadn’t?”

Raeth, Earl of Cumber, smiled with gentle malice. “Not your mother’s burial, my lad. Your father’s.”

I reached for bread, knocked my glass into my lap. The remainder of the meal was lost in my indignity and self-recrimination.

Later, in the dark, Rustin curled alongside me like a spoon. “It wasn’t so bad, Roddy. It entertained him.”

“A fool of myself.” I’d repeated the phrase some dozen times.

“It’s all right. You’ve done it before.” If it was intended as consolation, it failed.

I whispered, “What now? Certainly he won’t support us after the fiasco I made.”

His hand covered my mouth. I thought to bite him, contained myself. Instead, to annoy him, I licked his palm.

Refusing to let me goad him, he wiped his hand on my bare shoulder. “This afternoon is what counted, Roddy. When you wore the crown, you were magnificent.”

“Hmpff.”

He spoke softly, in my ear. “Both outside the walls, and within. I was so proud of you.”

I lay listening, afraid to move.

“Often you’re such a spoiled child, I-” A sigh. “Roddy, it’s what you were today, whom I follow.”

After a time, I asked, “Really?”

“Yes, my prince.”

And I was comforted.