Paladin of Souls - Lois McMaster Bujold [204]
“Sit,” said Ista, not releasing Liss’s hands. “Tell me everything.”
“Lady Ista needs to be dressed before receiving petitioners,” said Lady dy Hueltar sternly.
“Excellent notion,” said Ista. “Do go and find me some clothing to wear. Riding dress.”
“Oh, Ista, you won’t be riding anywhere today, after all you’ve been through! You need to rest.”
“Actually,” Liss put in, “March dy Oby has sent some officers to see the camp is broken down and shifted to Porifors as quick as may be. Ferda is waiting with some of your brother’s men to guard you on the way, Royina, as soon as you are ready. Unless you prefer to ride in a cart with the baggage train.”
“She will surely want to ride in the wagons with us,” said Lady dy Hueltar.
“Tempting,” Ista lied, “but no. I’ll ride my horse.”
Lady dy Hueltar sniffed balefully and withdrew.
Ista continued eagerly to Liss, “Oh, you will laugh at my new horse. It has come to me as the spoils of war, I think, though I may persuade Illvin to make it a court gift, which would amuse him. It’s Illvin’s vile red stallion.”
“The one that possessed the stray elemental?”
“Yes; it has conceived a sudden adoration for me, and abases itself in the most appalling unhorselike fashion. You will find it quite reformed, or if you don’t, let me know, and I’ll put the fear of its god in it again. But say on, dear Liss.”
“Well, the castle and town are secured, and the Jokonans driven off or taken—most of them fled north, but there may be some stragglers still lurking.”
“Or just plain lost,” said Ista dryly. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Liss snickered. “We have captured Prince Sordso and his whole retinue, which has pleased Lord Illvin and March dy Oby no end. They say the prince has gone mad. Is it true you ensorcelled him to hack up the dowager princess?”
“No,” said Ista. “All I did was remove the sorcery that was preventing him from doing so. I rather think it was a wild impulse on his part, soon regretted. Joen was dead before his sword struck her; the Bastard took her soul. I wonder if it would be a relief or a regret to Sordso to know that? I should probably tell him in any case. Go on. What of Lady Cattilara, and our stalwart divine?”
“Well, we all watched from the walls as the Jokonans marched you off. And then it got all quiet for a little, and then we could hear some terrible uproar at the those big green tents, but we could not make out what was happening. Lady Cattilara surprised us all. After you and Lord Illvin were made hostage, or so we all thought, she rose from her bed. She drove her ladies to defend the walls, since almost all of the men were too sick to stand by then—it seems they make a game of archery here, and the Jokonan sorcerers’ spells had not destroyed their sporting bows. Some of the ladies proved quite good shots. They had not the power to penetrate mail, but I saw Lady Catti herself put an arrow right through a rude Jokonan officer’s eye. Learned dy Cabon stood with her—she swore that Porifors would not fall while she was still its chatelaine. Me, I threw rocks—if you fling one from a high enough tower, it hits quite hard by the time it lands on its target, even if you don’t have a strong throwing arm.
“We could see the Jokonans were just probing, but we bit them till they bled nonetheless. I think we could not have held for long against a determined assault, but we discouraged them from attempting the walls at once—and then it was too late, for the march of Oby’s forces struck and swept them away. Lady Catti was quite splendid when she opened the gates to her father. I thought she would break down and weep when he embraced her, for he did, but instead she was very stern.”
“What of Goram?”
“He helped hold the walls with us. He was exhausted and feverish this morning, which is why Lord