The Born Queen - J. Gregory Keyes [88]
There was nothing like Thornrath or the fastness here, but Neil had to admit that the town was well made. He could only hope the Hansan army hadn’t been built by the same architects.
Muriele’s chest felt tight as they crossed the Donau. She was well and truly here now. Berimund had been willing to let her return home. Why hadn’t she? Once it had been made clear to her that Marcomir had lost any sense of tradition and honor, why had she continued? True, Berimund had promised her protection, but did that really mean anything?
Marcomir must know that keeping her hostage wouldn’t deter Anne. Robert had had her hostage, and Anne had attacked Eslen anyway. Everyone knew that story by now.
She was proud of Anne in a way that she had never imagined. Who could have ever foreseen her returning with such strength and character? Who could have imagined her as queen? But the changes in Anne that had made all that possible also made her very little like the daughter Muriele knew. Anne was distant, surrounded by her Sefry and the Vitellian swordsman, by warriors who loved her. She had become strange, inward, always listening to voices no one else could hear. There was even, at times, something a little frightening about her.
“What is it?” Alis asked.
Muriele looked up, realizing that instead of taking in the fresh sights of Kaithbaurg, she had been staring at her reins.
“I was just thinking what a relief it was, at first, to have the crown off my head,” she said.
“You mean when Anne took it?”
“No, actually when Robert took it. True, I was a prisoner, but that relieved me of any chance of making bad choices. Nothing was my fault anymore.”
“I suppose that’s one way of looking at it.”
“I’m just wondering if I’ve done it again.”
“You think you came here to be imprisoned?
Muriele looked up, but Berimund was ahead, explaining his city to Neil, and the other riders were giving the two women plenty of space.
“Anne sent me here, Alis.”
Alis frowned. “The embassy was your idea.”
“So I thought. But when I went to her about it, she already seemed to know. She tried to hide it, but she knew. One of her visions, I suppose. And she was very particular that I bring you and Neil along.”
“I would have been with you anyway.”
“But not Sir Neil. He should still be recovering.”
“Interesting,” Alis said. “I wonder what she expects us to do.”
“We shouldn’t talk about this,” Muriele said, remembering that there were monks who could hear a cricket chirp a hundred miles away. Maybe that was why they had been given the space to talk, so that they would. “It’s probably nothing.”
“Probably,” Alis said. “I think you’re worried over nothing. It will be much more dangerous to talk in the castle.”
“I know. How much do you know about the castle?”
“I know it’s called Kunijosrohsn.”
“I mean, was it constructed like Eslen? In the particulars of the walls, I mean?”
Alis shook her head slightly, showing that she understood the reference to Eslen’s secret passages. “I don’t know. Most of it is much younger than Eslen. I don’t think the same, ah, architects were involved. But I can’t be certain.”
“Well, let’s hope we know why we’re here when the time comes.”
“You came here to try to make peace,” Alis said. “Remember?”
“And I will try, earnestly. But I no longer have much hope.”
“The war is only just starting. Things will change when one side or the other begins to have an advantage. Then you will be Crotheny’s voice here.”
“That’s true. Of course, the last war with Hansa went on for ten years.”
“Well, let’s hope the food here is good, then.”
The Kunijosrohsn was something of a surprise, and even Muriele, who did not have the eye of a military man, could see that it hadn’t been