The Born Queen - J. Gregory Keyes [25]
He released her and stepped back a little. “Well, yes,” he said. “But you weren’t interested, and then Austra…” He floundered off.
“So all of those things you said in Vitellio, when we met, and on the road home were nothing, just lies?”
“No,” he said. “No, but it was before I knew who you were and before—”
“Austra,” Anne finished, crossing her arms. “Before you and Austra.” She frowned. “You’re no good for her.”
“No good for her but fine for you?”
“I’m different,” Anne said. “Austra—you could hurt Austra.”
“But not you?”
“Once, maybe. Not now.”
“Well, I’ve no intention of hurting Austra,” Cazio said.
“No. Otherwise you might do something like, oh, kiss her best friend.”
“You kissed me!”
“That’s how you tell it,” Anne replied.
“Now, wait,” he began, suddenly feeling that everything was out of control.
Anne suddenly laughed and picked her wine back up. “Hush, drink,” she said. “Your virtue is safe. I just wanted to know.”
“What?”
“If you really love Austra. If you’re really faithful to her. If you can be trusted.”
“Oh,” he said, his head whirling. “Then this was all for her?”
“Well, it certainly wasn’t for you,” Anne said. “Now tacheta, and drink your wine, and don’t try to explain it to me anymore.”
Cazio did as he was told, desperately trying to sort out what had just happened. He’d felt more competent on his brother’s boat, and he not only knew nothing about the sea but never felt adequate around his brother. He tried to sneak a glance at Anne, to see what the expression on her face was, but was a little afraid to.
When he’d first met Anne, she’d been in love with a man named Roderick, or thought she was, the way girls often did with their first paramours. Still, Cazio had always felt he had a chance. Anne had never given him much hope, though, and when he’d discovered she was in line to be queen of one of the most powerful nations in the world, he’d given up the matter for lost. Besides, his feelings for Austra had been strengthening that whole time, and he was happy with her, missed her even now.
So why did he want to grab Anne and return her kiss? Why did he find it so hard to picture Austra at the moment?
A light rap at the door caught his attention. He glanced up and saw that it was one of Anne’s Sefry pages.
“Majesty,” he said. “Duke Artwair of Haundwarpen begs a word.”
“Yes, of course; send him in.”
A moment later the duke appeared, an imposing man with steel-gray eyes and close-cropped hair. One of his hands was made of wood.
“Majesty,” he said, bowing.
“Cousin, it’s good to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
He smiled uncomfortably. “I was riding in the area.”
“That’s an odd coincidence. This place is rather out of the way.”
“Indeed. I was riding in the area because reports were that you were here.”
“I see. You’ve come to collect me. Is that it?”
“You are the empress,” Artwair said, “I cannot ‘collect’ you. But you are needed in Eslen. Your people need you on your throne.”
“My people have seemed rather pleased to see me freeing their towns from torture and oppression.”
“Yes, I agree. Your…adventures…have made you very popular. But now some begin to wonder if you are neglecting the larger issue of the war that seems sure to come.”
“I’ve you to general my army.”
“And you’ve an army to do the sort of thing you’ve been risking your life at these last few months. And this place—why did you come here? A monastery in the country, not so far from the Hansan border. Have you any idea how exposed you are here?”
Anne nodded. “I won’t be here long. And this is the last.”
“The last what?”
“The last of my ‘little adventures,’ as I was just telling Cazio. When I’m done here, I’ll return to Eslen, I promise.”
“Well, you’ve reduced the place,” Artwair pointed out. “What more did you have in mind?”
“Don’t you know where we are?” Anne asked. “The saint this faneway is dedicated to?”
The duke’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t—”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“B-because that is the business of the