Chapter Eleven
THE PRINCESS AND THE FLOWER
My awakening the next morning was slow, for indeed I had been very tired; and at first my drowsy mind could not credit the events of yesterday. Surely it had all been a dream? --the white cloud-castle on the hilltop; the beautiful, russet-haired princess riding to greet us on that deer-like creature and my own ride; the great halls and the carven forest; the kind welcome from the ruler and his consort; the little, bright-eyed animal that had accepted me so readily--no, it could only have been a dream.
Yet, as I blinked myself awake in the darkened room, I heard a steady, contented crooning. There was Rascal, perched on the pillow beside my head, gazing at me with those big eyes of his. So it was all true!
What had happened at the end of the dinner? Oh yes, there had been music in the firelight. The chairs had been pulled up and we had sat in a circle, each person singing in turn save for the Chancellor, who had produced a little pipe and played it with a delicacy unexpected in a man so massive. Avran had whispered brief translations of the songs to me, but of them I remembered little. Instead I recalled strange cadences and surging melodies, and in particular the voice of Ilven, sweet as a linnet in springtime.
I remembered also my embarrassment when Prince Vindicon noticed that I was drowsing and my gratitude when he used his own weariness, not mine, as excuse for ending the evening's entertainment. Avran had shown me to this room on the fifth floor--odd, to have started our visit to the castle on the seventh level and to have gone downward as the evening progressed! --and bade me goodnight. How grateful my body had been for the soft sheets and pillows, after those nights on a hard ship's deck!
However, I must have slept long--too long, perhaps. I had no idea of the hour since my room, on the inner side of the tower, had no windows and was quite dark. Did Sandastrians lie late in bed or were they early risers? Were my hosts by now considering me discourteous, boorish, for sleeping so long? Whatever the comfort of this bed, I must rise!
I smiled at Rascal, tweaked his ears gently, and rose with extreme care so that I would not frighten him. It was an unnecessary precaution, for his trust in me was complete; but that was a fact I did not yet fully understand.
At my movement, the door of my room opened wide and sunlight flooded in. Rascal blinked and chittered resentfully; I was dazzled also, not immediately perceiving who had entered. When I did I was surprised, for it was a boy. He was scarce an ell in height and very stocky, broad in countenance and snub-nosed, with a shock of carrot-red hair, a mass of freckles and the cheerfullest of grins. He was carrying a silver jug of water which, when he poured it into a bowl on a stand by my bedside, proved to be steaming hot. As he poured, he beamed at me.
"You slept long, not so, did you not? I wait for you to wake. While I wait, I sit and think out my English words to make sure no mistakes happen. Good morning!"
I chuckled at this strange speech and responded: "Good morning! Well, it's most kind of you. A wash will be most refreshing and welcome."
Without more ado, I proceeded to lave myself more thoroughly than I had done since leaving Holdworth. As I did so the vasian and the boy watched me, Rascal chittering his disapproval of such a strange activity.
When I was done, the boy produced a rough cloth with which I might dry myself, then enquired politely: "Do you wish clean clothes in which to garb? The indreslef Avran thought yes. If so, may I fetch said clothes, that you might them wear?"
This combination of solemn courtesy and strange phraseology set me chuckling again; indeed, on that morning I felt wholly light-hearted. However, I noted that my amusement was causing the boy's smile to fade a little, so I answered hastily: "Yes, please; that is most kind of the indreslef. I'll be happy to wear whatever he has proposed."
The boy vanished from the room like a rabbit diving into a burrow. While he was gone, I looked around. My sword had been brought to my chamber and my satchel also; last night I had not noticed them. Good! After those nights on the ship, my own clothes were far from fresh; clean garments would be welcome.
Ah, here was the boy back again, beaming anew and with arms laden with those garments. First I donned an undershirt and briefs made of some material as fine and white as good linen, but softer and lighter. Next came a short, sleeveless jacket and hose of moss-green colour, made of the same light material; and finally, a tunic much like a cotehardie but brown in hue, not parti-coloured as English court fashion would have dictated. There were long brown boots also, much like those of Avran and of soft leather. All these garments, and the boots in particular, were so perfect a fit that I was sure my own clothes must have been examined carefully while I slept. In addition, however, I set my two belts about my shoulders and waist, for there might yet be need for my knives. Fascinating though Sandarro was, I knew also that it had its dangers.
The boy watched me wide-eyed as I dressed, but made no remark. When I was done, I smiled at him and said: "You are looking after me excellently. What is your name?"
"My name?--yes. Truly it is Brege Estantesec, but folk call me 'Brek'. My father last night greeted you, I think; he is Eldrett Estantesec, chancellor to our eslef. Since you are from England and he speaks not English, he charge me to look after you because of my good tongue!"
So this was the son of the massive Chancellor--and already so broad that surely he would grow up to be quite as huge. How fortunate that the boy was so much less solemn than the father! I decided that Brek's company would be fun, even though his English might not be quite so excellent as his father seemed to suppose.
"Well, I'm blithe to meet you, Brek. Tell me, what hour is it now? By the sunshine, it must be mid-morning at least--I fear I've slept much too long. Has the indreslef been seeking me?"
"The morning advanced indeed is; but the indreslevei instructed me not to disturb your respected drowsings. They and the aldreslef Ilven await your rising, I think, outside among the flowers, where they have food."
"Excellent; then please conduct me to them." I held out an arm to Rascal, who ran up it and settled on my shoulder; then I walked out into the sunshine of the corridor.
Here again the clever artists had been at work, simulating a second forest. This time, however, it was a much more open one, with bigger trees whose carven boles swelled out into the corridor and whose lowest branches appeared much higher overhead than the corridor's ceiling. As one looked toward the light, one seemed to be gazing out from the edge of the forest into a garden, with no wall between. So skilful was the depiction of flowers and grasses that only the bright sunlight showed where light was streaming in from the real garden beyond. For indeed, we were at the level of the rooftop garden that, yesterday, I had admired from above.
We walked only for a few paces along the corridor before stepping out through open doors into that garden. Only then did I appreciate how warm the day was; it matched the hottest July day I remembered. That was my first impression, but others crowded upon me. There was so much colour, more that I had known in any English garden. The flowers, massed about stone pathways, were so multifarious in form and hue as to bedazzle me. Fluttering above and among them were many butterflies, small or large, seeming like flowers that had forsaken their stems so as to weave a more intricate pattern of colour. Here and there were banks of shrubs and flowering trees, with branches bright with blossoms of orange, yellow or white. They seemed also in movement, for many small birds, green-backed but with breasts of yellow, orange or turquoise, were climbing and singing about those branches or hovering bee-like to drink nectar from the blossoms. The garden seemed athrob with the contented, quiet sound of insects and birds, as if the colour and heat had become audible; and oh!the sweet scents!
I stood stock-still for some minutes, gazing about me in wonderment as I strove to absorb it all, while Rascal crooned happily and Brek waited impatiently. Almost bemusedly then, I followed Brek to a place in the midst of the garden, where a table and some chairs had been set in the shade of a tree with flowers of a bright orange hue. Here were sitting Avran, Ilven, and their elder brother Helburnet. The Earl of Breveg was dressed in the same dark blue robes, gold-adorned, that he had worn yesterday, but Avran was resplendent in a new orange cloak and Ilven in cornflower-blue.
As they rose to greet me, Rascal leapt from my shoulders into the branches of the tree and, humming throatily, began climbing among them. The three paused in their greeting to watch him, then Ilven turned smiling eyes upon me. "I suggested that we sit here, Simon, for vasianar delight to eat the leaves of the ebelmek. Even so, I continue to be amazed. In truth, this is a unique happening. Never, never before has a vasian survived the death of his first master and accepted another. Evidently you are a remarkable person!"
"Well, sister, if you've found a tree for the vasian to eat, I've found something better for his master," Avran was smiling also. "Sit down please, Simon, and have your breakfast. Here are bread, cheese and fruit. Also you must try our Sandastrian ale; it is not made from malt, as in your country, but from the fruit--the nuts--of a tree. After sleeping so long, you have to be hungry!"
So indeed was I. The bread was like that I'd eaten on the ship, but fresher; the cheese, made with hasedu milk, had a slightly musky odour but tasted much like a ripe Wensleydale; and the ale had a particular bitterness that made it an excellent accompaniment to the cheese. I ate with enthusiasm.
Rascal, high above my head, was equally busy. He examined each leaf with the care of a distrustful housewife choosing her watercresses, rejecting some with the disdain of such a wife who had found snails among the bunch, but plucking others and thrusting them into his mouth. More and more went in, until his cheeks were bulging.
Ilven and her brothers, who had eaten already, alternated their attention between Rascal and me, seeming to find us equally intriguing; but Brek, who had squatted down with his back against the tree-trunk, concentrated his attention wholly upon me. I suspected that he was preparing in his mind some grandiose speech, by which I might shortly be amused and bemused!
After a while, Rascal ceased his investigations of the leaves. Moving deeper into the tree, he settled down on a branch and, crooning softly and drowsily, shut his eyes.
By then I had cleared my platter and emptied my glass. Amusedly Avran said; "Well, if both of you are satisfied now, we may resume our discussion."
As he spoke, Brek leapt briskly to his feet, to load the crockery and the remaining food onto a tray and take them away into the castle. Avran watched him go, then continued; "Brother Helburnet here has learned all about the happenings on the ship and your part in them. Our problem is that we'd like to know more about the late, unlamented assassins. So far as we can perceive, our only immediate prospect for doing so is by searching the possessions of the one on shipboard."
"If only it were a Sandastrian ship!" lamented the Earl in his quiet voice. "Then, that might be managed readily enough. However, as you are all well aware, the vessel is Mentonese; and they are always a difficult people to deal with. For our contacts with Europe, we depend greatly on them--more than we should, perhaps. How, without risking a breach of relations, can we justify a search of your late assailant's possessions? After all, he was not a passenger to Sandastre, but to Fachane. The situation is unprecedented."
"The ship is still in the harbour, then?"
"Yes, but it will sail shortly after noon, I understand; and how, legally, can we delay it?"
I thought rapidly. "Well, of course you might block the harbour mouth, with one of those great booms; but to justify such action... Ah, I think I have it! Avran, did you not say that the assassin's clan lived in Breveg--in your brother's lands?"
"Yes, it seems he was of the Akharns. They are Baroddans, but indeed they live now within the realm of Breveg."
"Well then, the matter is simple enough. You must inform the captain that you have received word of the presence aboard his ship of a notorious Brevegen rebel.You must ignore his protestations that the man went missing on the voyage and you must insist upon a search. Then, when you do not find him aboard, you must voice suspicions that the captain has landed him secretly in Sandarro. If you seem indignant enough and threaten--oh, to lower the boom and impound the ship, not only will the captain allow you to examine the man's possessions, but he might even suggest it! And, after all, you don't need really to delay the ship's sailing for so very long--though I suspect that even a few further hours may drive our poor Fleming friend close to apoplexy!"
Avran laughed aloud. "Excellent! Helburnet, what do you think?"
His quieter elder brother was considering the idea carefully. "Yes, I think Simon may have found a solution for us. The man was, after all, from Breveg. In fact, if not in spirit, he was my subject and the captain will know he was Baroddan. I believe this scheme will work well."
Having made this decision, Helburnet rose to his feet. "I must put this excellent scheme into practice immediately. Please excuse me." With a gesture of farewell, he turned and walked swiftly back into the castle.
"So simple an idea!" said Ilven wonderingly. "Why could you not have thought of it, Avran? Why must my brothers be always so stupid? As I said yesterday, Avran, it is well you found this new friend. Most urgently you need someoneto take proper charge of you!"
Avran was not in the least disturbed by these comments. "As to that, why could not my bright little sister think of it?"
He made a face at her, then grinned at me. "When I hear someone being really rude to me, I feel comforted, for I know that I'm home again! However, enough of these pleasantries. It's time we began formulating some plans, Simon, for there is much you must do. First of all, you'll need to learn our language. My dear sister, the worthy and entirely admirable Ilven who sits so demurely by our side, has volunteered to become your teacher."
"Yes indeed, Simon," she responded tartly. "I realized I must rescue you somehow from the inept attentions of my unworthy younger brother. He has no system and no patience. If you had to rely on him, truly you would be in trouble!"
Avran grinned cheerfully. "She's quite correct, you know. Still, I hope to teach you other skills. Riding a sevdru, for example. You began excellently, remarkably; but you will need to know more about the technique and about your mount's abilities. A sevdru can do many things that a horse cannot. And the use of weapons. You can never have used the sasayin, for example. Despite what you said on the Bristol quayside, I'm sure you're an excellent swordsman, but ..."
Here I interrupted him. "I would that I were! Honestly, Avran, though I'm a fair archer and able to throw things, I'm terrible with the sword."
He eyed me doubtfully, clearly believing me over-modest. "Well, that is as may be; we'll try a few passes shortly. As for myself, I'm no bowman; though I had lessons with the long-bow, they did not carry me far. You'll need to teach methat; and, of course, my father is eager that you train our soldiers in its use also. You won't be able to begin that instruction till you can speak some Sandastrian but perhaps, in the meantime, you might aid me in deciding the design and arranging the manufacture of the bows and the arrows. Suitable woods must be chosen, for your English trees do not grow here, and fletchings to replace your goose-feathers, for we have no geese. Moreover, you'll need to learn more about the peoples and history of this land of Rockall and the customs and laws of our own realm of Sandastre. All in all, Simon, I fear you have a busy time ahead."
While he spoke, Ilven had been surveying me with an intent frown; evidently she was paying little heed to her brother's words. When he finished, she asked; "Avran, why did you choose such subdued colours--such dowdy colours--for Simon's clothes? Surely you could have found him some garments of a cheerier hue?"
Almost for the first time in our acquaintance, Avran seemed embarrassed. "Well, you see--er... It's like this. Simon has such a valuable talent for being unobserved--watching unobserved, hearing things while unobserved... I didn't want to make him conspicuous. And, er--well, I desired not to make our friendship too obvious to the Grassads and their friends, for all our sakes. Simon," he appealed anxiously, "you don't mind, do you? We could find you different clothes, you know."
I hastened to reassure him. "No, that's fine; I like these and they fit me excellently. Truly, I'm most grateful."
Ilven was evidently unconvinced. "Well, Avran, I think it's because you want to show off in your bright colours, without any competition! But then, Simon, if you wore what he does, you'd frighten your poor vasian away once and for all! And you must not let Avran work you too hard. At the smallest encouragement, he'll be pouring out more of those complicated explanations of his; and he'll make you so confused that you'll never recollect anything!"
"Truly you make me know that I'm back, sister," said Avran in simulated ruefulness. "No-one else is ever quite so uncomplimentary! Well, Simon, what do you wish to do first? This evening we'll dine again with my parents, for they desire to become better acquainted with their new adoptive son. Until then, however, we are free to do just as we wish."
I considered for a moment. "Well, I'd like to see more of this wonderful castle of yours, so that I'll be able to find my way about it. Also I would like to have another ride on a sevdru. And--oh! there are so many new things--I want to see and do them all!"
Ilven smiled at my enthusiasm, then she said: "Well, let us consider the castle first. Wait a moment."
She rose from her chair and walked along a path some way, to kneel with a graceful swish of her skirts and pluck a flower from a tiny plant, a weed as I thought, thrusting up between the stone slabs. She brought the flower over to me.
"It is said that, long ago, our first prince, Selvar Dragat, was pondering how to design this stronghold. He was sitting on the grassy hill below us, where one of these little plants--we call it estringa, dew star--was growing. He was attracted by the flower, plucked it and examined it, thereafter building his castle to its plan. Look at the flower and you'll understand his design."
She handed the tiny flower to me and I examined it wonderingly. In its centre was a tall stigma, silvery white in colour, arising from a five-sided stock. Out from this there drooped five anthers, each silvery white also. The five petals, however, were dark red in colour. The shape of each petal was rounded, but with four tiny symmetrical projections. The whole flower was enclosed in a cup of green sepals.
"See now," Ilven said. "The petals have the form of the curtain wall that Selvar Dragat built. These"--she indicated the projections--"are the wall towers and gatehouses. Five petals; twenty projections. Five parts to the wall; twenty towers. Here"--she pointed to the anthers and stigma--"is the castle, with its five great towers and its keep. And about and below the wall"--she pointed to the sepals--"the great green hill of Sandarro."
I looked carefully and with wonder at the little flower. "But surely the fortifications are more complex than this?"
She nodded. "Yes indeed. The outer towers and the lines of padin were constructed by later princes, for it is a law of our land that each eslef must add to, or at very least, must repair, the defences of this city that is the heart of our realm. As the centuries have gone by, we have enclosed the hill in an outer city wall, built fortifications about our harbour, strengthened the bridges over the rivers, and so forth. It is a strong city now; but it needs to be strong, for there are enemies without and within our realm. I pray God that this city and we may withstand them!"
foreword chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (more chapters will appear in the future)
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