Back From Chaos (42 page)

The remaining prisoners followed Sinnath’s fate in quick succession. The stunned crowd remained mostly silent. As soon as all the heads and bodies had been collected onto the waiting wagon, they were taken out of the city to an undisclosed burial place. Though rumours abounded, no one ever knew for certain where the bodies lay buried.

Gaelen raised his arms for quiet again as soon as the last corpse had been removed. He called Liethis to the dais, and she quietly took her place behind him. He moved aside to make room for her before he spoke again.

“
My people. You have seen justice carried out today. Now hear the seer Liethis. You know her as true seer to my court. Hear her message from Earth.” He stepped back a pace and indicated to Liethis to take his place.

Liethis’ face was chalk pale, and she clenched the rail with white knuckles, barely able to hold herself up. She clung on with sheer determination and took a deep breath to steady herself.

With the exhaling of that breath, Gaelen saw Earth channel strength into her. She spoke as Liethis, yet not Liethis, her voice somehow more melodious and richer. The sound carried to the far corners of the square, though Liethis spoke in a moderate tone.

“
Good people of Bargia. You have witnessed a cleansing. The stain of treason is removed. Soon another, more joyful, event awaits you, the birth of a son to your lord and lady, a strong heir. Bargia enters a new cycle of hope and prosperity. Prepare for the Harvest Festival with joy and confidence.” The channel left her, and Liethis sagged, once more ready to drop. She stepped unsteadily back from the rail and let herself be assisted from the dais. Gaelen stepped up quickly to distract the people from her weakness.

“
You have heard the seer, Liethis. Earth begins a new cycle which will bring an heir, good harvest and a bright future. Let us look forward to these joyful events.”

With that he spun abruptly on his heel, left the dais, and strode swiftly away from the scene. He indicated to Klast, standing inconspicuously to one side, to follow.

~ 99 ~

FESTIVAL

The day of Harvest Festival glittered at dawn with a thick layer of hoar frost on the trees and bushes. The people, accustomed to rising with first light, exclaimed over the sparkle it added to the garlands of red and gold leaves and herbs, the decorative sheaves of yellow barley and spelt and the tall stalks of maize tied to lintels and set by doorways. A coating of crystal limned even the rooflines of homes and sheds. Bargians, young and old, regarded it as a good omen. By midday, the frost had given in to the sun, which shone bright and warm and chased it into the sky in gauzy filaments of haze.

On this special day, all able hands set to making final preparations for the festivities. In the city, the cold almost masked the stench of the middens and the run-off trenches along the sides of the streets. As fires and ovens brought their wares to peak perfection, the aromas of cooking, baking, and roasting chased the last vestiges of unpleasantness away.

Around the outer edge of the square, great spits had been set over fires, where older children took shifts turning whole boar, late lambs and haunches of venison. Between these, smaller vendors set up stands where sweets could be found; honeyed fruits, nut cakes, fruited buns, and all manner of breads, new cheeses, and smoked meats.

Bakers in the city set up tables to the side of the square, in preparation for the gifts from their ovens. On them they lay cloths of snowy linen, with stones on each corner to prevent the wind from blowing them away, until the breads would hold them in place.

In the very centre of the square stood a huge platform, one corner covered with an oiled linen canopy. Musicians would perform under it later, and dancers would throng the platform. Those unable to find room on top would spill out onto the cobblestones below. Tonight, rich and poor alike would vie for space there, all differences of wealth or position forgotten for this one event. Even Marja and Gaelen were expected to join in for at least one dance.

This evening would be the one time in the year when artisans and shopkeepers would offer samples of their wares, free to all to eat at the Festival. Of course, this also provided a forum for enticing future customers. The better their products, the more patronage they stood to garner for the rest of the year.

By late afternoon, hawkers could be heard calling out to potential tasters in mock competition with each other.

“
Here, try the finest honey cakes in Bargia! None better in all the One Isle!”

“
Best cheese this side of the river! Chosen by Lord Gaelen himself!”

“
Taste the wines that grace the tables of the castle!”

“
Buy your sweetheart a shiny bauble. You will win her heart forever!”

A merry cacophony of sound filled the air, interspersed by the tinkling of bells, low thrumming on small drums and snatches of bawdy songs and gay ditties sung by roving minstrels.

In the trader’s field, travellers with carts and tents sold charms or brightly coloured scarves, hawked to young maids or to their sweethearts. Soothsayers made predictions of prosperity and love for all who entered their tents with coin in hand. Travellers set up tents in which all manner of strange sights could be seen for a small fee: a two-headed chicken, a man who could contort himself into wondrous shapes, a bearded woman. Small stages offered puppet shows and mime.

The feasting, music and dancing of Harvest Festival, the last important holiday before the hard winter, offered the people an opportunity to visit, to mingle, to make new acquaintances and renew old friendships. Many romances began here, often the result of a gift of one of the trader’s scarves or a bauble given to a chosen maiden. Harvest was the traditional time for joinings, when men and women agreed to bond their lives together. No surprise, then, that many babes were born nine or ten moons later.

As the first rosy glow of dusk appeared on the horizon, Lord Gaelen and Lady Marja walked out, arm in arm, and made a progress around the square, greeting subjects and accepting tokens of goodwill and wishes for the healthy arrival of the babe. Many women considered it good luck to touch Marja’s distended belly, hoping their own births, or those of their children, would benefit. Marja, though near her time and becoming uncomfortable, bore this with admirable grace. Gaelen kept his arm securely around her waist, ready to defend her. Klast hovered close behind, invisible among the revellers. Two guards walked to each side and in front and behind, at a discreet distance, their presence underplayed. This was a calculated risk Gaelen had to take, and fortunately greater security was not necessary today.

When their processional around the square had finished, Gaelen led Marja to the nearest table, where a waiting servant handed him two huge platters. He passed one to Marja, and together they made another round of the square, taking bits from each stand, careful not to show preference for one over the other. With their plates heaped high, they ascended the small covered platform erected to one side and sat in the two chairs set out for them behind a rough table covered in blue linen. There pewter goblets filled with wine, or cider in Marja’s case, awaited them.

Not until a broadly grinning Gaelen had placed the first bite in Marja’s mouth, and Marja followed with one in his, did the people raise a great whoop of cheer and begin to fill their own stomachs. The festival had officially begun. The din of happy talk, competing music, and the rumblings of the jostling crowd made speech between Gaelen and Marja impossible, so they contented themselves with indulgent grins and tired smiles.

After the musicians had eaten their fill, the first climbed the platform, took their place under the canopy and began the more lively dance tunes that would tire the children out. Soon, sated and exhausted, they would fall asleep in parents’ laps or on blankets to the side of the square. As darkness descended and stars peeked brightly over the scene, the feast grew more sedate. People found quiet spots to sit and listen to the ballads, lays and heroic songs that the musicians offered after dark. Then, in ones, twos and family groups, they melted into the darkness and headed for bed or to private trysts.

Many heads would suffer in the morning from too much ale and wine, but the work of the harvest had been mostly finished, and no one expected to rise with the dawn. Bakers would not bake, butchers would offer only cooked meats left over from the feast and shops would remain closed until after midday. Customers would be too tired to shop anyway.

~ 100 ~

A WARNING

As winter solstice drew near, Marja kept more and more to the castle and to her chambers. She complained of discomfort, and when she spent time on her feet, her back ached. She began to experience random cramps, which Lotha assured her were normal so near her time. Gaelen felt relieved that with the birth so near, Lotha kept close to the castle so she could be available at a moment’s notice. Her apprentice took on the burden of her other patients in the interim.

Lotha told them she did have one worry, however. “The babe has taken the upside-down, breech position. I hope the child will turn, but time is running short. It appears unlikely.”

While breech births often ended happily, it was not ideal for a first born.

When she expressed this concern to Marja, Gaelen became apprehensive. Liethis had foretold a healthy son and that Marja would survive. But Gaelen knew that such things sometimes changed, so he sent for Liethis to ask her advice. Too much hung on this birth to leave things to chance. If something still remained unresolved it needed to be taken care of now.

When the escort came for Liethis she met him waiting at her door, her horse already saddled and her bag strapped on. As usual, she wore the traditional, unbleached white of a seer, this time in warm wools for winter. Since the weather remained dry, the oiled skins that would keep out the wind and rain remained in her bag.

A guard informed Gaelen as soon as Liethis arrived, and he made his way hurriedly to his chambers. She would come as soon as she had brought her bags to her room, the guard told him. They reached the chambers at the same time.

At Liethis’ suggestion, Marja sent Brensa to fetch Lotha as well, though Liethis reassured them that this was only to keep her completely informed. While the two waited for the others to return, Marja had tea and a cold meal brought. The women engaged in general talk around Marja’s state of discomfort and the preparations of the nursery for the new heir.

“
I have already chosen a wet nurse,” Marja said, “against the event that I may be unable to nurse the child myself, though I dearly wish to.”

They all tacitly agreed to avoid the true purpose of Liethis’ presence until the others had arrived and been served tea. Brensa and Nellis rounded out the party.

While custom dictated that men should not be present on such occasions, no one ventured to suggest that Gaelen did not belong in this discussion. He took his customary chair as naturally as though this were a casual social visit.

As soon as everyone had taken their places, Liethis cleared her throat slightly to get their attention. Then, as was her wont, she got right to the point. “My Lord Gaelen, Lady Marja, friends. You wish to know what I see with regard to the birth of the coming heir. My vision has not changed. I still sense that Lady Marja will deliver a strong, healthy son and that she will survive the birth.”

She smiled her understanding when a series of shoulders relaxed and held breaths released. Then she grew serious again. “But the birth will not be an easy one. My lady, you must rest until then to conserve your strength. Your labour will be long and strenuous.”

Liethis looked at Lotha. “I know that the child is breech. You will need all your skill to bring him forth. Do not wander far. Once the birth starts you will be needed.”

She turned to Marja. “I am pleased that you have a wet nurse at hand. For the first days you will have little strength to feed the child, though I believe this will be temporary, for I have seen him at your breast.”

Everyone gasped, as Liethis suddenly froze, then glared at Lotha with eyes that held an eerie power.

“
You must not pull at the child. He will find his own time. Do not let fear make you haste.”

The trance left her and she found herself facing a group whose expressions bore signs of shock. Trembling with weakness, she sank back into her chair.

Liethis looked around at each in turn before speaking again, resting her gaze on Marja.

“
The danger that has been shown me is not to the son you bear, my lady, but to yourself. I suddenly saw much blood and it blinded my vision.” Turning once more to Lotha, she reiterated her warning. “Heed this, Lotha. I do not know why, but it is most important. Do not pull the child forth.”

Lotha looked as though she had been struck.

Liethis sensed her thoughts and added, “Lotha, I know that you have helped babes and mothers when they have been breech. You know your skills well. This time is different. Do not forget.”

Not until Lotha nodded obedience, did Liethis let go her gaze.

The chamber remained in stunned silence for several moments, until Gaelen found his voice. “Lotha, have you all you need? Will you require anyone with you aside from Nellis and Brensa, now that you have heard Liethis’ words?” His worry showed clearly, in spite of his firm voice and his attempt to appear normal. This warning had not been what he had expected, and it had shaken him.