Back From Chaos (25 page)

The contagion spread like mist, insinuating invisible tendrils into every nook and crevice, silently invading every home and alley, undetectable to all but a seer such as Liethis. Some lesser adepts felt it too, but could not interpret what they sensed. It showed no favourites. Rich and poor alike succumbed to its stealthy touch. It did seem to show preference for age; the older the victim, the more likely they would die. Children recovered best, though many would never see again to welcome Earth in Her new spring dress. They would shun bright light, as it always hurt their eyes. Or worse, blindness robbed them of sight altogether.

As Liethis had predicted, the gravediggers, those who still lived, could not keep up. Even mass graves could not prevent the bodies from piling up. Soon the stench of pyres almost masked that from the gutters. Also, as Liethis had predicted, the shelters set up for orphans and invalids overflowed with survivors. It became difficult to find enough able-bodied workers to cook and care for them, as they, too, fell prey to the disease.

Before it was all over, an eightday after the first hard frost, death claimed fully one fourth of the inhabitants of the city. Once the pestilence took full hold, no one had time even to mourn. That would have to wait until some order returned, until shops reopened to feed the citizens, and firewood could be bought once again, until the gates once more opened to wagons filled with goods from the outside.

As soon as it became clear there was contagion in Bargia City, Gaelen ordered the gates closed and declared quarantine. A futile gesture, he knew, as the plague had already travelled into the countryside via the carriages of the wealthy departing for their summer homes and the wagons of merchants and tradesman carrying goods to sell in neighbouring towns and villages. Yet, those who did not understand what he knew expected the measure. It also gave him some control over what went on within the city. And it avoided the added confusion and panic that always accompanied the mass exodus that would surely have occurred.

Once he ordered the gates closed, all Gaelen could do was oversee the organization of relief efforts and wait and hope that his enemies would not choose this time to attack. Perhaps Sinnath would wait to see if the disease would do his dirty work for him. The irony of that possibility was not lost on him.

~ 55 ~

ARGOST

Klast’s first business took him to a respectable but modest looking inn on the outskirts of the city. He needed a bath before meeting with Argost and wanted to take a few spans to sense the mood of the people. His mission here was twofold: to warn Argost of the coming contagion and to take back any relevant information he could gather. He and Gaelen both suspected that Sinnath had connections outside of Bargia, and that others might have designs on Catania as well.

As Klast entered the inn, the aroma of fresh mutton and onions made his mouth water and his stomach growl. He decided his bath could wait until he had eaten. A small table stood against one wall, a rough bench bracketing two sides. With his back to the wall, Klast could observe the entire room without inviting undue notice or risking that anyone would ask to join him, as it was still too early to be busy.

“
I be wantin’ a bowl o’ yer stew, sir, and a bath when I be done.” Klast made his request to the innkeeper at the counter before he sat down.

“
Yer coin first.” The innkeeper regarded Klast’s dirty, coarse attire with suspicion. “That be costin’ three coppers. And if ye be needin’ a bed it be four coppers more.”

“
No bed.” Klast handed him the three coins and took his seat. The mutton, when it came, was young, mild and tender, stewed in a rich onion broth. The bowl included boiled dumplings smothered in the same gravy and glazed new beets in a smaller bowl to the side. The dark bread was still warm and crusty. The only disappointment was the ale, which, while chilled, was flat and watery. Klast fell to with gusto as he let his eyes and ears take in what they could.

It soon became apparent he would gather no news here. The locals talked of good prospects for the upcoming harvest, where one might get the best new cheeses and the higher costs of wine, this last an effect of the burning of the warehouses during the invasion. Overall the mood seemed positive, and Klast sensed no unrest that might allow him to make inquiries without appearing too curious.

The inn had no public bath, so Klast took his bath in a private room and allowed himself to enjoy a few moments of leisure before entering further into the heart of the city. The hot water, plentiful soap, and clean linen did much to improve his outlook. The innkeeper had made it clear, though, that he must vacate the room within a span or pay the bed rate.

With no leads to follow, he made up his mind to seek out Argost next. After that, he would hire a room in the seedier part of city, where he could be more likely to find some leads. He put thoughts of Brensa and the tug he still felt firmly out of his mind and concentrated on the work ahead. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could return and report back to Gaelen. Only then would he allow himself to ponder this urgency regarding Brensa.

As he neared the central square, Klast spied Mikost and asked him if he knew where Argost might be found.

When Mikost recognized Klast, he asked, “Sir, how fare Lady Marja and Brensa?”

“
They were well when I last saw them. How fares Nellis?”

“
We have a strong son.” Mikost beamed with pride. Then he sobered. “But Nellis misses Lady Marja fiercely. Even the birth of our son is not enough. She is most unhappy. She wishes to go to Bargia, the three of us.” Mikost suggested to Klast that his skills might be put to good use in Bargia, perhaps even more effectively than in Catania. Could they possibly travel back to Bargia with Klast, so Nellis could rejoin the service of her lady?

Klast advised him that it was not safe to travel to Bargia at this time, but agreed to mention to Argost that Mikost might be needed there before winter made travel impossible.

Klast liked Mikost and knew that Marja would welcome Nellis. Brensa, too, might be cheered by the presence of her friend. Argost might agree to let Mikost go in the fall. Thinking of Brensa reminded him of the pull he still felt. He pushed the thought aside and brought his focus back to his mission.

He located Argost in the main square, conferring with two men. By the costly fabric and detailed embroidery on their tunics, they appeared to be persons of influence. He faded back into the shadows until Argost had finished, then followed him into the castle. Three men and two women waited in line outside the door to the audience chamber to meet with him. It looked like the usual mix, each person with some complaint that required advice, mediation or a decision of law. People came here for an audience when all other avenues had failed. Argost’s decisions were binding.

Again Klast waited, taking his place at the end of the line as though one of this afternoon’s regular petitioners. As he stood, looking unimportant and bored, he studied those in line and the two guards by the door. Other than one woman anxiously relating her tale about the apparent theft of her breeding ewe, nothing seemed worth anyone’s attention. The line moved in an orderly fashion, and the people exited the chamber with apparent satisfaction. Even the woman with the missing ewe huffed importantly as she left.

Klast stepped inside the doorway and watched as Argost checked the notations of the scribe.

When Argost’s raised his head his eyes lit up in recognition. He turned quickly to the scribe. “Your services will not be required until tomorrow. Thank you.”

The scribe looked puzzled for a moment, realizing the room still held a newcomer. When it became apparent the audience was over, he shrugged, picked up his sheets, ink and quill and departed.

Klast barred the door behind him and made sure there were no places for eavesdroppers to hide.

The precaution made Argost chuckle. “I chose this room carefully, my friend. You will find no extra eyes and ears here. Come, speak with me. Tell me the news of Bargia.” As he spoke he stood and indicated the chair the scribe had vacated.

Before Klast had a chance to sit, he found his hand and forearm in a warm clasp of welcome.

As Klast took the proffered seat, Argost reached for a goblet from the tray on his desk and filled it with rich, red wine which he handed to Klast, a wide smile creasing his face. “It is good to see you.” Then he sobered somewhat. “But if you are here, it must mean that either Lord Gaelen thinks he can spare you or he has urgent business only you can handle.” He watched Klast expectantly as he waited for him to swallow a large gulp of wine.

Klast managed a tight smile in return, the expression unfamiliar to his face. Yet Argost’s pleasure in seeing him was so genuine he could not help himself. He sensed once more that this man, at least, could be trusted. He had been impressed, too, with the order and sense of quiet normalcy in Catania. This had, no doubt, come about by Argost’s diligent work and sound decisions. Gaelen had left Catania in able hands. Klast set down his goblet, forming his thoughts as he did so.

“
It is good to see you again, too, Argost … and to see Catania so obviously recovering and peaceful. Lord Gaelen will be pleased.” Then he resumed his serious mien. “You are correct in both your assumptions, Argost. I have urgent news from Gaelen that he did not wish to entrust to another, and he was willing to have me away for a short while. The reasons are dire.”

Argost raised his eyebrows in question but said nothing.

“
Bargia is under quarantine,” Klast began. “Since I have not acquired the disease that plagues Bargia I am confident that I do not carry it into Catania. Otherwise nothing could be so urgent as to bring me among the citizens here. Lord Gaelen wishes you to know how to deal with the disease before it strikes, as it most certainly will. He fears closing the gates in Bargia occurs too late to prevent its spread.” Klast went on to share the instructions Liethis had given.

By the time he finished, Argost had gone grey with concern. Together they decided on a plan of action involving food, shelter and containment. Argost’s greater worry centred on the question of power in Catania, should his men be decimated by the disease. He himself was already past his prime and needed a plan that would cover the eventuality of his own death, should he succumb. Catania remained stable now, but that would not last if his carefully implemented recovery and governance fell apart due to a lack of trustworthy people or to panic among its citizens. He did not doubt that others existed who waited eagerly to take control.

Their conference lasted until well past dark, neither man giving any thought to hunger. Argost informed Klast he had received intelligence that Lieth, the demesne to the west, had spies in Catania. One had been caught and interrogated. Before his execution, the man had revealed that Lord Wernost of Lieth had an informant in the house of a former aristocrat from Lord Cataniast’s court, a certain Wilnor.

“
Wilnor owns a large estate well outside the city,” Argost explained. “However, without proof of treason, I have decided to wait and keep my ears open. Unless I receive more evidence of treasonous plans or activities, the improving stability and peaceful recovery in Catania should make it difficult for Wilnor to muster the support he needs.”

Klast agreed. Argost had heard nothing from Gharn or Handosh, but hoped no news meant just that.

Klast heard that recovery in Catania was proceeding even better than Argost had hoped. Most buildings had been repaired at least to the point where they were functional again. Most businesses had reopened, and those people who had lost jobs had found new positions. There appeared to be very little resentment against the presence of the soldiers from Bargia. As long as people could safely carry on with their lives and could look after their families, they cared not who ruled them. The harvest looked promising as well, a great source of relief to both Argost and the people.

Before leaving, Klast mentioned Mikost’s request.

Argost confirmed that Mikost had proven an apt informant and had learned valuable skills as a diplomat. He felt reluctant to part with him, but he understood that Nellis suffered from loneliness and missed Marja and Brensa.

“
Marja has only Brensa to trust. She would benefit from having another friend.” Klast filled Argost in briefly on Brensa’s ordeal in the cave.

Argost agreed that Gaelen could make good use of the skills Mikost had acquired. “I will consider sending Mikost to Bargia before winter. But only if I can find a party large enough to make attack from bandits unlikely.”

Klast’s further probing provided nothing more than Argost had already told him. Things seemed almost too quiet. Klast knew that would change soon, but he had done all he could to prepare Argost for the crisis the plague would bring.

The need to return to Bargia felt more urgent as each day passed. When he could find nothing worth his attention, his thoughts kept turning back to Brensa and the vague sense that she needed him. Two days short of the time he had planned to stay, he met with Argost a last time to receive any new messages, collected his horse and headed back to Bargia by the same way he had arrived, again travelling mostly at night.

~ 56 ~

RED FEVER

Marja took to pacing through the castle several times daily, a worried frown written on her face. Brensa attributed this to anxiety resulting from the attack at Summer Festival. She hurried dutifully after Marja, occasionally suggesting that she rest due to her condition. When the first reports of illness began to drift in, the frequency of Marja’s tours increased, along with the depth of the frown lines between her brows. Brensa got her exercise, as did the guards ordered to protect Marja, just trying to keep up. When Brensa questioned her lady, Marja gave distracted, evasive answers or ineffectual murmurs of reassurance. Brensa could get no more out of her. Eventually she gave up and followed her silently about. She even held back her admonishments to Marja about tiring herself.