Hearts in Cups (6 page)
"I bid you welcome
in peace to Pentarin, your grace," Percamber intoned formally.
"And peace unto
you, my lord regent," she answered as custom dictated. They both stepped
forward and he gave her a kinsman's embrace.
"You have come
quickly," he said quietly in her ear.
"I left as soon as
I could, after receiving your message."
"Your wing of the
palace has been prepared for your visit. Perhaps you would care to dine with me
this evening, if you are not too fatigued by your journey?" he inquired,
in a louder voice.
"I should be
honoured, my lord." She was conscious of the number of people standing
along the portico within earshot of them. With a fleeting smile of
comprehension, she motioned Benedict forward to order her company to settle
themselves, as she was escorted by the two eminent lords through the doorway to
be greeted by the waiting lords and ladies of Pentarin.
The palace complex of
Pentarin was extensive and sprawling, a vast maze of public and private rooms,
hallways and gardens enclosed by the palace walls. Each of the Great Houses had
its own wing within the confines of the royal palace. These residences were
sacrosanct to their denoted families and were maintained by their own
personally appointed household staff year-round. The privacy of the House
residences was such that no one ventured into them without the express
permission of a member of that House.
A small bodyguard was
chosen to stay within the confines of House Langstraad's wing of the palace and
the remainder of her escort were housed in barracks outside of the city with
the horses. Benedict set about ordering the disposition of men, horses and
baggage while Hollin withdrew into her own private rooms after the reception,
accompanied by Inara and Celia. Inara had been to Pentarin many times before
but this was Celia's first experience and she was obviously dazzled by it.
"It's so big! How
can you find your way about it without getting lost?" she wondered aloud.
"Oh," Inara
replied breezily, "it's not that difficult. You'll get used to it soon
enough."
A middle-aged woman
with a friendly and competent face came forward to greet them. Lady Clowen was
in charge of the household staff in Langstraad's quarters and had been so since
the time of Hollin's mother. She informed the duchess in crisp tones that a
bath had been drawn and was waiting for her. Hollin was only too glad to be
ushered in, undressed and deposited in a pool of steaming, scented water.
Celia was amazed at the
size and luxury of the room after the more spartan facilities of Castle Lir.
Inara tartly informed her that now that they were in Pentarin, especially for
an important state occasion like a council session, the duchess would adopt a
much more formal lifestyle. It was obvious that Inara relished the change, as
well as her chance to suitably employ her skills.
Hollin relaxed in the
water and allowed the accumulated grime of travel to be washed away. Lady
Clowen was sensitive to her mistress' impatience for excessive fussing and only
allowed two attendants for the bath. The duchess submitted to having her hair
washed and dressed, and her clothing chosen and arrayed on her body; then she
ordered everyone out. Wandering through her bedchamber and into her morning
room, she found Lady Clowen beside a tray of cakes and tea.
"You are
marvelous," Hollin complimented her. "You read my mind and produce my
wants."
Clowen looked
gratified. "It's not so difficult, your grace. I just try to make
everything as comfortable for you as I can."
"Please join
me." Hollin indicated the food on the table and sat down. Clowen poured a
tea of cinnamon and roses into a cup of translucent porcelain and handed it to
Hollin, then poured herself one. "Now I need some conversation of the sort
that only you can give me." The two women smiled in good-humoured
conspiracy at each other.
Among Lady Clowen's
valuable traits as mistress of the royal quarters was her natural ear for
gossip without its damaging tongue. She listened, observed and reported the
pulse of Pentarin's court without giving anything back.
"... and so your
grace, there is one contingent that wants a member of House Sandovar on the
throne, and another group that want Lord Percamber to adopt an heir, and still
another faction think that a High King should be elected by the Pentacle
Council from one of the Great Houses. It's all a bit muddled, but there does
seem to be a growing consensus among the people, high and low alike, that the
throne has been vacant for too long and that its present vacancy is a danger to
the peace and stability of the Pentarchy."
"There is also
talk," here Lady Clowen favoured her with a sly glance, "of the
Duchess of Langstraad as being a popular choice for the throne, seeing that the
Lady Bronwyn ap Gryffyd was your aunt."
"That hardly
points to me as first choice," Hollin demurred.
"Yes, but you are
admired and well-liked by the people. Lady Genvra is married into House
Pentarell and as for Lord Gervase..."
"Kicking and
screaming would be the only way my cousin could be dragged from Castle
Iscoed." The woman smiled indulgently. "Is there any other talk about
me and the throne?"
"Well, there is
the knowledge that a betrothal ceremony was performed between you and the
former crown prince. Of course, that took place long before you became head of
House Langstraad."
"Former crown
prince?" Her question was sharp, prompting her narrator to draw back in
surprise.
"Why yes, I'm
afraid that the general opinion is that he must be dead after all these years.
I think that's one reason there is all of this speculation and unrest. People
feel that if he was alive he'd have returned, and if he is dead then a new king
should be chosen."
"Then there still
has been no formal declaration of his death?"
"No, there's not
been that. I believe it is widely assumed that Percamber will make the formal
announcement at this council session." There was a soft knock on the door
and Celia entered to announce that the escort to conduct Hollin to her dinner
engagement had arrived .
"Is it so late
already?" Hollin glanced out the window at the westering sky.
"I've ordered a
personal guard of four men to accompany you," Clowen said, rising with her
mistress.
Hollin nodded
resignedly. "I always forget what a crowd I must travel with on these
state visits. Well, assemble them and I'll be on my way."
The Duchess of Langstraad was conducted from
her own chambers through a labyrinth of public rooms to the private quarters of
House Sandovar. In keeping with the fact that House Sandovar was the Royal House
and that Pentarin was the capital city, their residence was particularly
magnificent. Hollin had not spent much time in this section of the palace and
was impressed by the beauty and stately elegance of the rooms and their
furnishings. Walls and floors of polished stone of different colours were laid
out in elaborate geometric designs, and the many high vaulted ceilings, made
lighter with clerestory windows, were further enlivened with exquisite mosaics.
Lamps burning with sweet-smelling oil lit the halls between rooms. The
furniture that she saw was of carved wood, many pieces inlaid with gold and
silver, covered with rich fabrics. Windows and doorways opened onto a multitude
of tiny interior gardens. The servants and attendants they passed in the hallways
all bore the heraldic emblem of House Sandovar: griffon rampant argent on
azure.
She was brought at last
to a large gallery that overlooked a formal garden. A long reflecting pool,
palest blue and rose in the still evening air, extended the length of the
garden. The room itself was handsomely furnished, and hanging lamps of silver
and crystal augmented the light from the open windows. Across the room, the
silver and gold heads of Percamber and Colin were close together as they stood
in earnest conversation. A woman reclined on a low divan looking out of one of
the open windows. As Hollin entered, her escort announced: "Her Grace, the
Duchess of Langstraad."
"I'm so pleased
you could join us this evening," Percamber said, striding across the room
to take her by the hands. Hollin smiled at him and dismissed her guards.
"You have met Lord Colin's wife, the Lady Dinea, have you not?" He
led her to join the others.
"Your grace."
The woman on the divan stood in one fluid movement and curtsied. As she stood
upright again, Hollin recognized the rangy woman with prominent cheekbones and
beautiful chestnut hair which escaped her hairpins to wisp about her head like
a halo. She was of middle-age, with a light net of lines about her fine, dark
eyes set under rather severe brows.
"I don't think you
attended the last council session. It's pleasant to see you again," Hollin
remarked.
"Thank you. I was
indisposed last year and unable to accompany my husband." Lady Dinea's
voice was a deep contralto.
At this juncture Colin
came forward to bow and greet the duchess. The four of them stood talking with
one another as they waited to be summoned to dinner. Everyone was charming and
the conversation was congenial, though Hollin was aware of an undercurrent of
tension or excitement existing between her hosts. They went in to dinner and
the pleasantries continued.
"...and so my
father sent me off to the Scholastium at Dacara to see what could be made of my
talents. That is where I first met Dinea," Colin concluded
"You were in training
also?" Hollin inquired curiously of the woman seated across from her.
"Yes. My family is
of minor noble rank in Mirvanovir. I showed certain talents when young and,
since my father was having difficulty finding dowries for six daughters, I
volunteered to go and study with the mage masters in Dacara and thus reduce his
dowries by one. He was quite grateful. I had the least number of suitors and he
feared that I would command the highest dowry." She laughed and Colin put
out his hand and took hers. Hollin unexpectedly found herself feeling somewhat
enviousness of the loving regard these two exhibited for each other.
"Everything worked
out well in the end. I became quite proficient with my attributes, met Colin,
and my father married off all of my sisters." Dinea laughed again and
squeezed Colin's hand affectionately.
"Well, Lady
Hollin, are you ready to deal with the rumours and problems of the coming
council session?" Colin asked, turning to the duchess.
"I assume the rumours
that you are alluding to concern the question of succession. What particular
problems do you mean?" She looked forthrightly around the table at her
dinner companions, lastly at Percamber, who sat gazing into his cup.
"Who shall succeed
Lord Percamber?" Colin was also looking at the old man.
"Prince Brian ap
Gryffyd is still the heir-designate, is he not?" Hollin replied coolly.
Percamber raised his
eyes to meet hers over the rim of his cup. "Officially, yes he is. Tell me
Lady Hollin, what do you know about my grandson?"
Hollin considered her
company before speaking. "I know that he left the Pentarchy on a
diplomatic mission, was gone for a long while, returned briefly, then left
again and has not to my knowledge returned since. There has of late been much
speculation as to his health and whereabouts. Now tell me, why do you ask and
why did you request my early arrival?" She returned his look levely.
He sighed.
"Contrary to popular opinion, my grandson is safe and alive somewhere
outside the borders of the Pentarchy. There is much to tell you, many things
that should have been said long ago, but we have continued to believe that the
prince would reappear of his own volition and solve our dilemma. Lord Colin and
his wife have been my closest advisers over the last few years, and especially
in the past few months when the questions and rumours about the succession
began to be voiced in earnest. What I have to tell you is known in part by
many, but in full by few. It is highly confidential and since I have reason to
suspect that there are unwanted ears, even within my own walls, I would ask
that you join us now in my private study where I know we will not be
overheard."
Hollin had become very
interested and she readily assented. Percamber led the four of them to a small
library deeply embedded within House Sandovar's wing of the palace. Shelves of
books worn to a state of shabbiness lined two of the walls and a large table
laden with more books, rocks, shells, scales and a multitude of various
objects, witness to an inquiring mind, lay scattered about the entire room. A
fire had been laid and Percamber went to light this himself, while Dinea closed
the shutters over the windows and drew the curtains closed. Lastly, Colin
muttered words that Hollin understood to be a spell of warding. Only after all
of these measures were taken did Percamber offer her one of the chairs. He
lowered himself into the other, while Colin and Dinea took their places
together on the couch. By now, Hollin's curiosity was bordering on mild alarm.