kushiel's scions

[marrinikari]

Deep in the wilds of Camlach, a horse is picking its way through the forest trails. The rider is wrapped in his cloak, long and luxurious and well-made, to protect him and his satchel as they brave the mountains to Skaldia. The road from Kusheth is long indeed, and they are tired; they will be glad enough to stop for the night. But not just yet. Ahead is the river, and the little wooden bridge that spans it. It is but a few leagues past the bridge to the clearing he is seeking, and there they can rest.

Comments

[sicaria]

"Yes," she says. "This one does require your involvement, naturally. I would take however much of the Royal Navy I could convince the Master of the Straits to let pass, and the first person I could find who speaks Cruithne but is not widely known for it, and someone else unremarkable to provide entertainment - Thelesis de Mornay crossed that way once, but if I take her along, someone will notice. The idea is not to be noticed. And I'd bring my sister, too. And when we arrived, I would find Drustan and tell him that we were there to help him regain his kingdom, and would appreciate a similar favour from him come spring."

[children_of_elua]

"It's too risky." Barquiel glares at Ysandre, displeasure writ on his face. He nods curtly at Sarafiel. "Oh, it might work, I grant you that. But there are too many factors here, too many things that could go wrong. And if they do, Elua help us! We face thirty thousand Skaldi with no reinforcement."

[children_of_elua]

Ysandre regains her composure, drawing herself up and gazing steely-eyed into her uncle's glare. "We may discuss such things at our council," she says. "It may be that we can address your concerns there. But you are right; this is too grave a matter to be discussed by merely us three." She stands. "We will retire to the King's hunting lodge in L'Agnace in a fortnight. A gathering of friends, upon your long-awaited return from Khebbel-im-Akkad."

[children_of_elua]

He smiles at her sardonically. "Useful, that."

[children_of_elua]

"Until L'Agnace, then." She turns to Sarafiel. "Lady Fortier. It is hard news you bring, and I regret if I have seemed unkind. Know that you have the gratitude of your country, for the warning you bear us."

[sicaria]

"Thank you," she says. "And know that I do this not for my country's gratitude but for her safety. I will begin looking for an entertainer and a translator, but I will not speak with them until after the council. My sister already knows as much as she needs to."

[children_of_elua]

"Elua help us all, there's another of you?"

[sicaria]

...Sarafiel laughs.

[children_of_elua]

Ysandre smiles slightly. "Until the council, Lady Fortier. I dare not invite you openly, but I trust you will find yourself there nonetheless."

In a fortnight, as promised, Ysandre lets it be known she will be retreating to the Courcel's country estate in L'Agnace to visit with her uncle, newly returned from the Akkadian court as he is. Also invited are Percy de Somerville, Duc of L'Agnace and Royal Commander; Gaspar Trevalion, Comte de Fourcay, cousin to the disgraced Duc de Trevalion but whom her father had trusted; Thelesis de Mornay, for her long knowledge of Alba and simply because Ysandre trusts her. And, of course, Barquiel L'Envers. There is no one else the Dauphine dares invite, on a matter so grave.

They gather in one of the larger rooms, well appointed but informal. Once her guests have taken light refreshments and the servants have withdrawn, Ysandre enters. Her guests, as one, offer her deep bows and curtsies.

"Rise, gentles," she tells them. "We will not stand on ceremony here. You may find it difficult indeed, when I have told you why I've asked you here." She looks around. "Lady Fortier?"

[sicaria]

Sarafiel shows herself. She is wearing grey again today, a gown the colour of thick stormclouds.

"Did you bring the letter?"

[children_of_elua]

Wordlessly she produces it and offers it to Sarafiel.

[sicaria]

She takes it, and turns to display the unbroken seal to those assembled.

"This is a letter from Melisande Shahrizai to Waldemar Selig of the Skaldi," she says. "To explain the problem in brief: Selig plans to conquer Terre d'Ange in the spring with thirty thousand Skaldi and the half-unwitting aid of Isidore d'Aiglemort, who believes that after he lets the Skaldi into Camlach through the southern passes they will sign a trade agreement worked out in advance and then turn around and go home. Melisande plans to be Selig's queen, or perhaps betray him in some subtle way she has not committed to paper where I can see it, but in any case Selig believes her his conspirator and she is acting the part in full."

[children_of_elua]

The peers listen to her in silence, in varying degrees of disbelief. Ysandre waits patiently as they all read the letter, passing it around to allow them to view the damning proof of Melisande's plans. At last she continues. "It is our view that this invasion is now inevitable. We do not dismiss the threat of Isidore d'Aiglemort or Melisande Shahrizai, and they must be addressed, but I wish to start with this. How best to protect the people of Terre D'Ange?"

She eyes Thelesis, and continues quietly. "At the age of sixteen, I was betrothed to the Cruach's heir, his sister-son Drustan mab Necthana. It is my thought to send support of his claim to the Alban throne, that the Picti might in their turn lend us their aid. I would hear your thoughts on this matter."

[marrinikari]

"You could not possibly get an army past the Master of the Straits," Gaspar Trevalion objects. "None have ever managed it."

"Not an army, no," Thelesis de Mornay agrees softly. "But a ship- you might get a ship across. It has been done."

Gaspar inclines his head to her. "One ship then, mayhaps. But how? And even so, that is scant help, to a prince without an army. Maelcon the Usurper still holds Bryn Gorrydum."

[sicaria]

"How did you cross?" asks Sarafiel of Thelesis.

[marrinikari]

"When I returned from my exile there? He let me pass for the price of a song," she says reminiscently, rich voice resonant. "Once thence, and once back. As best I can tell, he is governed by whim. To what whim did the Cruarch of Alba cater, when he visited our fair land for the purpose of your betrothal?"

[sicaria]

"A very good question," says Sarafiel. She looks at Ysandre. "Do you know the answer?"

[children_of_elua]

"They came following a dream," Ysandre says. "A vision, of the King's sister, of a black boar and a silver swan." She smiles, a little. "Drustan told of mermaids who arose from the sea to hear their tale, and grant them passage; I know not how much truth lies in that tale."

[marrinikari]

"There are mermaids, right enough," Thelesis says. "They are the face of the Master of the Straits as he passes over the waters. If he was intrigued by their vision- that might have done it, truly."

[sicaria]

"Mermaids?" inquires Sarafiel.

[marrinikari]

"Not people, or their like. Their bodies are made entire out of the water, and they drift alongside the ship as a fish might. For the most part they are female, girlish and playful; there was a larger one, with a male form, who spoke to us in thanks as we passed. His voice-" she shivers slightly. "It cannot be described, not truly. But he was the avatar of the Master of the Straits, right enough." She smiles then, fondly. "He came to listen to me sing, he said."

[sicaria]

"Interesting," she murmurs. "I wonder how—? I suppose it isn't all that relevant." At a more conversational volume, she adds, "He spoke to you directly? What did he say?"

[marrinikari]

"The female ones, first. They are his servants, or very like; they asked us our purpose, and accepted my offer of song. And then he appeared, rising from the waters to listen. He said-" she thinks, very briefly, then quotes, "You have a lovely voice, my lady. I thank you for the song. My waters will carry you safely."

[sicaria]

"I see," says Sarafiel. "And did they? I would assume so."

[marrinikari]

"They did," she agrees. "We were carried along on his winds safely to the shores of Alba."