The Born Queen - J. Gregory Keyes [55]
“Surely you aren’t planning to go,” Artwair said. “You promised you were done with adventures.”
“This isn’t an adventure. This is the war you’ve been asking me to fight. And Copenwis isn’t so very far from Eslen. I can return at will.”
Artwair looked unconvinced.
“You need me, Duke. I promise you. You need my gifts.”
He bowed stiffly. “As you say, Majesty.”
She rose. “Tomorrow, gentlemen.”
Then she did go back to her rooms.
Just as she expected, Austra was there to fling herself into her arms and kiss her cheeks.
Austra was a year younger than Anne, a pretty young woman with hair the color of sun on grain. She had forgotten how good, how natural it felt to be with her; she felt her intentions falter a bit.
“It’s been so strange here without you,” Austra said. “In our old rooms, all alone.”
“How is your leg?”
“Mended, almost. And things went well at the monastery?”
“Well enough,” Anne replied.
“And is everyone, ah, well?”
“Cazio is fine,” Anne replied. “You’ll see him soon, although not as soon as you wish, I’m sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t come back with me. I sent him to Dunmrogh.”
Austra face seemed to sag. “What?” she said faintly. “Dunmrogh?”
“I still don’t fully trust the heirs to that place. They might yet give the Church the dark fane there, and I can’t risk that. I need someone I can rely upon watching the place.”
“But he’s your bodyguard.”
“I have other bodyguards now, Austra. And you cannot tell me you wouldn’t be happier with Cazio safer.”
“Happier, yes, but in Dunmrogh? For how long?”
“He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m giving him Dunmrogh. I’m making him greft there and sending him the men he might need to hold that title should what remains of Roderick’s family object.”
“He won’t be back, then?”
Anne took Austra’s hand. “Don’t worry,” she said. “You’re going there, too. You have my blessing to marry if you wish.”
“What?” Austra’s eyes were like plates, and her throat was working oddly.
“You once told me that although I felt we were like sisters, we never would be, not really, because you’re a servant and I’m—well, now I’m queen, aren’t I? And if something were to happen to me, what would become of you? As a girl I always assumed you would be fine, but I know better than that now. Well, under the law, there’s no way for me to give a woman a title. But I can give Cazio one, and he can make you an honest woman, and your children will be nobles of Crotheny.”
“But that means you’re sending me away. I won’t be your maid anymore.”
“That’s true,” Anne said.
“I don’t want that,” Austra said. “I mean, it would be wonderful to marry and be a greffess and that sort of thing, but you can’t send me away!”
“You’ll thank me one day,” Anne said.
“Give Cazio a castle in Newland or make him ward of some part of the city. Then we can all stay together!”
“Now you’re wanting the dress and the cloth it was made from,” Anne said. “No. You will go to Dunmrogh. I’ve said it.”
Austra’s eyes were full of tears. “What have I done? Why would you do this? Anne, we’ve always been together.”
“As children. We aren’t children anymore. Austra, this is for the best. You’ll see. Be ready to leave by tomorrow.”
She left Austra crying, went into her chamber, and shut the door.
The next morning she took her breakfast in the solar, accompanied by her new ladies-in-waiting. She’d put Austra on the road that morning, with Sir Walis of Pale and fifty men-at-arms. She hadn’t gone down to see her off, fearing her resolve would weaken, and she reckoned they were a league away by now.
She noticed that all the girls were looking at her and none were eating. “Ah,” she said. She picked up a piece of bread and spread some butter and marmalade on it. “There. The queen is eating.”
Lize de Neivless, one of the few Anne knew by name, giggled. A Lierish girl of fifteen, she had dark, curly hair and a stubby little nose.
“Thank you, Majesty. I was so hungry.”
“In future,” Anne said, “don’t wait for me to start. I won’t have you beheaded, I promise. Not for that, at least.”
That