Crown Of Stars - Child Of Flame Part 44

What betrayed them she never knew. Maybe it was only curiosity on the part of one of the Quman soldiers.

She heard it because, crouched down, she could see nothing except her companions, the crumbling parapet wall, and the sky. A soldier must have investigated the stairs, where one of the traps had been laid.

A scream cut abruptly through the sounds of looting. A body fell, wetly, in awful silence. At once, the Quman shouted to each other and a rain of arrows spattered down along the parapet walk. One slammed into the wall above Anna and flopped over to clatter onto the plank beside Heribert. She peeped out over the wall.

Crazy Lewenhardt had found himself cover on a slab of wall broken off on either side and therefore hard to climb. The best archer in Sanglant's troop, he started shooting now, picking his targets carefully. A dismounted Quman who was advancing on the tower fell writhing, then scrambled backward with an arrow sticking out of his thigh. Another shower of arrows followed; Anna ducked. Through the floorboards she saw Everwin grab at a rope just as Matto yelled.

"Three of them, in the left breach!"

Rocks tumbled as a winged soldier pressed through, leading with his spear. Either the rocks crushed him or he leaped out of the way; she couldn't tell as dust rose, screening her view. Surly was already hacking at the central breach, trading blows with an unseen foe. Shouts rose from Den and Johannes as Quman found the other usable stairs leading to the parapet. She heard the sharp "tw.a.n.g" of the last trap released. Wolfhere ran down the walk to aid them, but he hadn't gone more than ten steps when a Quman leaped onto the parapet between Wolfhere and the tower. The stone archway, all that remained of the old door, framed his frightful figure. His wings fluttered as the wind picked up; several feathers, sc.r.a.ped off from his climb, drifted out into the gulf of air beyond the wall.

Anna shouted a warning, leaping up as she drew her knife. Lewenhardt's arrow took the man from behind. He staggered and fell forward just as Wolfhere, turning, struck him down. But he still wasn't dead. Anna ran forward as he groped toward the wall. She kicked away his spear, then leaped back as Wolfhere rolled him over and slit his throat.

"Wolfhere!" shouted Heribert desperately. Anna turned to see Matto scooting up the narrow stair that led from the lower room to the upper. The youth jabbed his spear down, and down again with his right arm while his left arm was wrapped around Everwin, dragging him up as the other man kept kicking and kicking as though to shove away an enemy or to catch a step to propel himself upward.

"d.a.m.n," said Wolfhere casually. He tossed the dead man's spear to Anna." Do your best, child." He turned back to help Den and Johannes, both of whom she could now see being pressed backward up along the other stairs.

Heribert set Blessing down and leaped forward to pull Everwin free. Amazingly, the child had fallen asleep. Zacharias was nowhere to be seen.

Anna ran over to stand beside Matto as he heaved himself up onto the planks. Once Everwin was clear, she thrust the spear into his hands, then pried loose rocks free from the wall with Heribert's help and started dropping them down the stairs as fast as they could get hold of new ones. Wings shattered. Men cursed. The angle and ferocity of their attack stymied the Quman for the moment." Anna,.Anna, give me the baby!" Zacharias' voice called from below, from outside the guard tower.

Darting to the side of the tower overlooking the inner ward of the little fort, Anna peered over the side. Zacharias had actually climbed over the parapet wall and slid down the outside of the watchtower to the inner ward, where only the ruined square of walls protected him from their attackers.

A trio of Quman archers had Lewenhardt pinned down in his redoubt. Den was wounded, an arrow stuck c.o.c.keyedly out of one shoulder, and he had fallen back behind Johannes and Wolfhere, who retreated step by laborious step back up the stairs in the face of superior numbers. An arrow glanced off Johannes' helmet and he stumbled, only to be yanked out of reach of a Quman spear by Wolfhere.

"Rocks!" cried Everwin.

Two Quman riders leaped the fallen stones half blocking the entrance to the inner ward and pulled up inside. Zacharias shrieked in helpless fear and threw himself onto the ground in abject surrender. There was nothing she could do to help Zacharias, if he'd been so stupid as to leave the only refuge they had. But she could still, maybe, save Blessing.

As one of the Quman drew and aimed at the frater's prostrate body, Anna gritted her teeth and tugged another stone off the wall before staggering back to throw it down right on the helmet of the Quman soldier trying to push up onto the second floor. Matto cheered weakly as the Quman dropped out of sight. Blood ran from both his legs as he sat down hard, face pale, too weak to fight." They'll never take her," cried Heribert, grabbing the spear out of Matto's hands.

A horn rang clear and sweet. The Quman shouted to each other. The attackers below vanished between one breath and the next, and she heard them scrambling over rocks to get to their horses. The ring of swords over by Wolfhere ceased as abruptly. Anna ran over to the outer wall, standing on tiptoes and craning her neck just in time to see Wendish soldiers break out of the woods.

The lord of Walburg and twenty stout fighting men had arrived, thank G.o.d.

Good Wendish steel made short work of the last of the Quman. When they were all dead and sentries had ranged out to cover the ground, the lord pulled off his helm and coif to reveal that he was a woman.

"Well met, my lady Waltharia," cried Wolfhere from the parapet walk. To Anna's surprise, he was grinning, an odd expression on that normally secretive face. He shouted to the others." Best go down and pay our respects."

Zacharias staggered out of the inner ward, having suffered no worse injuries than sc.r.a.ped knees and hands. Only Anna and Heribert had noticed his ignominious escape attempt, and if Heri-bert meant to say nothing, then Anna decided she would keep her mouth shut, too. Surly was dug up from the first-floor rubble; he'd taken a hard blow to the head and was only now waking, but otherwise looked unharmed. The rest straggled over, limping, cursing, but otherwise victorious.

"G.o.d save us," said Lady Waltharia as the motley defenders gathered before her." I've never seen a more wretched crew than this one. Where's the brat?"

Heribert was carrying Blessing, who yawned sleepily and cracked one eye, twisted up her face in a delightful grimace, and decided against waking up. With another yawn, she snuggled her head against Heribert's shoulder and promptly went back to sleep.

Lady Waltharia dismounted to examine the child, although she was careful not to wake her." Handsome little thing. Although I suppose she'd be so, with the prince for a father. Who are you?"

"I am Brother Heribert, my lady. Brother Zacharias and I const.i.tute Prince Sanglant's schola."

She had a good laugh, friendly and open." A schola, an Eagle, a brat, and this nut-brown creature."

"I am called Anna, my lady," said Anna stoutly.

"So you are, if you say so, but why on earth does a girl of your tender years ride with Sanglant's war band?"

"I am the nursemaid, my lady."

"Ah. A good thing, too, for the prince to provide his child with a nursemaid if he insists on dragging her about with his war band. Are you practical? Do you scare easily? Can you endure the pace of his army?"

"That's a lot of questions, my lady."

"Nor should you answer them, if you're wise. Here's a few likely looking youths as well," she added, marking Matto and the other five soldiers with a comprehensive glance. She was perhaps thirty years of age, a tall woman made imposing by her mail and swagger, with ruddy cheeks and light brown hair pulled tightly back in a braid. Sweat beaded on her forehead. One of her ears was missing the tip of its lobe, and her easy grin revealed a missing tooth. She beckoned to Wolfhere, who stepped forward respectfully." So, Eagle, I hear a rumor that you've been banished again. Or that you deserted the king. It's so difficult to sort out rumor from truth, is it not? Ought I to send you on your way with the flat of my sword, or imprison you?"

Wolfhere smiled. To Anna's amazement, she could see that he genuinely liked this woman. He was always so reserved that it was remarkable to see a real spark of emotion in his face." I am pledged to aid the prince, my lady. I throw myself on his mercy in this case."

She snorted, delighted by his reply." On the mercy of the prince! Whom you tried to murder when he was but a mewling infant, if the old story is indeed true, and certainly my dear father believes it true, since he's the one who told it to me."

A sharp whistle, repeated three times, sounded from the trees.

"But I trust we can ask him ourselves," she finished, turning at the sound of riders approaching up the track.

Blessing woke up abruptly, lifting her head and squirming so determinedly that Heribert gave up in disgust and let her wriggle out of his grasp." Dada!" she yelped ecstatically as streaming gold banners appeared among the trees. A moment later the prince himself rode into view, quite splendid in his gold tabard, scarlet cloak, gleaming armor, and the intimidating dragon helm, gold dragon plating sculpted onto the helmet in such a way that it looked as if the dragon was about to launch itself into attack.

He pulled up his horse and dismounted at once, had barely gotten his helm off before Blessing was on him, clamoring to be picked up." Hush, Daughter," he said, laughing as he picked her up.'He looked at Waltharia, who was admiring the fine figure he made." It worked."

"It always does." She smiled as at an old memory, meeting his gaze straight on.

"Dada, look at me!" scolded Blessing, then shrieked with glee when he tweaked her nose.

"How is Hedwig?" asked Wolfhere.

Waltharia chuckled." Hates you as much as ever, or so I a.s.sume from the stream of oaths she let fly when she realized last night that it was you who had arrived in the train of the prince."

"I shall endeavor to keep out of her way," murmured Wolfhere mildly.

"So you had better, if you value all your limbs." She turned back to Sanglant." A timely visit, my lord prince. The Quman invested Walburg only six days ago. You saw what they did to the fields and orchards. There are a dozen farmers unaccounted for from the estates." She walked boldly up to him and fingered the hem of Blessing's tunic, smudged and ragged from play. The little girl eyed her suspiciously." I am surprised, though, that you expose the child to so much danger, riding on campaign with you."

"Less danger with me than with any caretaker." Anna knew how fiercely he loved his daughter. She could see it in his expression now as he glared defiantly at Lady Waltharia, as if her good opinion mattered to him." Better she die if I die than that she live without my protection."

"And her mother-? Ah. Best we leave that subject for another time, I see. I'll personally escort your schola and your nursery to the safety of my fortress."

"I thank you," he said stiffly, still looking irritated. He kissed Blessing." You go with Anna, little one. Nay, no arguments now." Nor did he wait for arguments. He handed Blessing over to Anna's care and left again with his war band, thundering down toward the plain, no doubt to track down and kill as many fleeing Quman as he could.

Lady Waltharia did indeed escort them to Walburg, but she left them at the gates in the care of a steward and herself rode off to pursue their enemies.

Planks had been thrown hastily down over the outer ditch to accommodate the sally. Anna walked over, feeling safer that way as a servant led her mule. The planks shifted under her feet, and she had to throw out her arms to keep her balance before she reached solid ground. The next bridge led directly under the wall, guard towers looming on either side and murder holes s.p.a.ced at intervals. She heard voices murmuring down the holes and glimpsed movement, soldiers watching from the safety of their fortifications. The gate creaked open; they pa.s.sed through into Walburg itself.

For a city under siege it was remarkably clean and orderly. Avenues wrapped around the hill where the original fort had risen. Newer streets, all of them lined with plank walkways, radiated outward from the cathedral square. Tents had been thrown up in the square and in a handful of vacant lots in neat lines to accommodate refugees, but most of the unbuilt ground had been given over to orchards and gardens, provision against the siege. Smaller than Gent's cathedral, the basilica of St. Walaricus had a tidy look about it, everything squared off, the lintels painted with intertwined spirals and linked circles flowering into wreaths and the tower decorated with a carved tree on each face, painted silver.

"The Villam sigil is the silver tree," explained Zacharias as they pa.s.sed through the cathedral square on their way up to the fortified palace.

"So it is," agreed Heribert, "but so also was St. Walaricus martyred by being hung from a tree by a heathen prince."

"Clever of Villam to dedicate the cathedral to Walaricus, was it not? Then he could have it both ways."

Heribert looked surprised. Anna liked him much better than she liked Zacharias, who had spit in G.o.d's face, but even so, he made her kind of uncomfortable just because he was always so tidy and clean even in the worst camp conditions. Sometimes she just didn't see the point of being so fussy.

"Do you think Villam chose to dedicate his cathedral to St. Walaricus just so he could display his own sigil upon the church tower without anyone calling him to account for such presumptu-ousness?"

Zacharias laughed." Do you suppose Villam did not? He's a more clever man than I, friend."

"Than I devoutly pray we be spared his intrigues."

Zacharias merely smiled. Anna didn't trust him when he smiled, no more than she trusted the old Eagle Wolfhere who, like any wolf, looked as ready to bite you as to lick your hand.

The men-at-arms, even Matto, were led to the barracks, but Blessing and her personal retinue were given a tower room in the palace, good enough to see out along the river. There was a bed all downy soft, a smaller trundle bed heaped high with a feather quilt, and four sleeping pallets stacked against one wall. A half-dozen braziers heavy with coals wanned the chilly room. Anna sat cross-legged on the thick carpet since Zacharias, Wolfhere, and Heribert took the bench and chair. Blessing decided to sit on the table, right in the center, where she could command the servants as they brought in a hearty meal of chicken basted in mustard and parsley, a juicy broth, leeks cooked in b.u.t.ter, slices of veal with a mint sauce spooned over it, and honey dumplings.

The rich meal made Anna burp. She curled up at the foot of the bed, suddenly so sleepy that she wanted nothing better than a nap. Woke to a shriek." Dada! Dada! See me up here!"

"Lord save us, Your Highness!" That was Heribert, frantic." You'll fall to your death!"

Hiding from the Eika, Anna had learned to wake quickly and with all her wits intact. She leaped up in time to see Wolfhere grab Blessing bodily and sweep her down from the window ledge. The girl shrieked louder, if that was possible, twisted in Wolfhere's grasp, and bit his wrist, hard. He yelped and dropped her.

"Now there's a child whose taste I admire." An elderly woman wearing the badge of an Eagle moved in through the door, leaning heavily on a cane. She measured each person in the chamber with a keen gaze more likely to chill than to warm. Even Blessing, drawing breath for a good, loud, outraged scream, deflated abruptly, staring at the new arrival with puzzlement." So, Wolfhere, I had prayed I might never have the pleasure of seeing you again."

"I beg your pardon, Hedwig," he said." Out of respect, I'll offer no 'hail, fellow, and well met.' " "I expected you'd be dead by now." "I heard you were."

She snorted." It will take more than five Quman arrows to kill me."

"I heard it was bandits."

She laughed dryly." Quman weren't the only ones who have tried to kill me. The bandits you speak of soon learned their mistake. Lady Waltharia strung them up for their trouble in Cathedral Square. They hung there until the crows and ravens ate them down to the bone." She dug in one of her dangling sleeves and after a moment fished out a string of finger bones." This is all that remains of them."

"A handsome trophy," observed Wolfhere." I keep it with me to remind me of what befalls those who make me angry."

He laughed, but Anna could see by the flush in his cheeks and the way he squinted his eyes all tight and shifty-like that he loved Mistress Hedwig no better than the elderly woman loved him. Anna scooted over to Blessing and made the child graciously accept the old Eagle's homage.

"So this is the child." They examined each other, the crippled old woman and the young princess. Blessing's hair had escaped its braid, and wisps curled around her sharp little face.

"I will sit," Blessing announced. She sat on the center of the carpet and gestured imperiously toward the bench, where Zacharias hastily moved aside to make room." You will sit."

"I thank you, Your Highness, but if I sit it will be a day and half before I can get my old bones to lift me up again. I am bid by Lady Waltharia to bring you down to the feast. She means to serve you and your father most handsomely, as befits a margrave hosting a royal prince."

"I thought Helmut Villam was margrave here," muttered Zacharias.

The comment earned him a cutting look from old Hedwig.

Wolfhere hastened to explain." Lady Waltharia is margrave in all but name."

"Her father isn't dead yet! He looked d.a.m.ned lively to me when I had the misfortune to be brought to his attention!"

Heribert shrugged." The secrets of King Henry's inner court are hidden to me. I am only a lowly cleric from the schola at Mainni."

Wolfhere grunted, half amused by the elegant cleric's protestation." Why do you think old Villam rides in attendance to the king? He and his daughter respect each other, but they don't get along. She's competent to rule the marchlands, and he can't live forever. He stays out of her way. It's a form of retirement, since he hasn't the temperament to abide the monastery. And better-" He glanced at Hedwig. When their gazes met, it was like blows being exchanged." Better for all concerned than rebellion. It's been known before for a restless adult to rebel against a parent when no independence is forthcoming. Villam is a wise man, and he did better than most to raise an heir as wise as he."

"That you respect her as she deserves is the only good thing I have to say about you," observed Hedwig.

"So be it." Wolfhere raised a hand, as if in submission." Let us not sc.r.a.pe old wounds raw, I beg you."

"Don't fight!" commanded Blessing, fists set on hips as she glared at them. She had such a fierce way of s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up her face that it was-almost-impossible to laugh at her. In another year, it wouldn't be funny anymore.

"As you wish, Your Highness," said Hedwig without expression." If you will allow me to escort you."

Anna admired Hedwig for the steady way she took the stairs, even though every step seemed to hurt her. The stairway twisted down, curving to match the tower. She'd never seen a tower so big built all of stone before except for the cathedral tower in Gent, and it had been square. This one was cold and dreary and dark, but once they reached the base they pa.s.sed through an archway girded with a double set of doors, each one reinforced by an iron bar, and out into a sizable courtyard where soldiers swarmed. Anna smelled blood and excitement like perfume, the heady scent of a victory won. A great pile of wooden wings lay in a heap to one side. Feathers drifted in the air like a fine chaff of snow. Prince Sanglant stood by one of the troughs. He'd stripped down to almost nothing and now sluiced water over his bare chest and arms, washing away blood.

Blessing drew in air for a shriek of delight, glanced at Hedwig, and abruptly thought better of it. Instead, she yanked and yanked at Anna to get her to move faster as she trotted through the crowd. Soldiers gave way before her, calling out her name, as she made straight for her father.

As they came up behind him, he spoke without turning around." Nay, little one, I'm in no mood for sport."

Sometimes, like now, the prince seemed consumed by a pa.s.sion for washing that put Heribert's fussy ways to shame. Anna had never seen a person scrub as hard as he might do when he got in one of those moods. But she remembered the way he'd looked when he'd been chained in Gent's cathedral, two years ago. Maybe he could never sc.r.a.pe all that grime and filth away, or at least not in his heart.

Lady Waltharia's soldiers spoke together in low voices, watching the prince as he bathed.

"Nay, I'd not have believed it. I swear those Quman would have run from him even if he'd been alone." "I've never seen a man fight so bravely." "I heard he went mad when his banner bearer went down." Lower still: "Is it true he can never be king?" A sudden arc of noise ended in silence as Lady Waltharia entered the courtyard with a broad-shouldered lord in attendance. He was still armed, cheeks as flushed as though he'd been running. Drying blood streaked his blond hair, cut short to frame a square face. Waltharia had already shed her mail but the padded coat she wore showed stains of sweat around the collar and under the arms, and tiny discolored rings where her mail had pressed into the cloth. At once, the soldiers broke into cheers.

She lifted a hand to call for silence." Let Prince Sanglant be honored. If he had not struck, we would still lie under siege."

As the soldiers hurrahed and shouted, Matto ran up with Sanglant's feasting tunic. He pulled it on over his damp hair, a fine wool tunic dyed a mellow orange, embroidered with yellow and white dragons stretching like snakes along the hem and at the sleeves. He did not ask for quiet but got it anyway as he finished belting the tunic at his hips.

"Don't rejoice too much." Though he did not seem to shout, his hoa.r.s.e voice carried easily over the throng." Drink your fill tonight, but remember that we have more battles to fight. This was only a small portion of the Quman army. Their leader isn't dead yet, nor are they running east like whipped dogs. As they will."

The soldiers liked such words. They shouted his name, and then that of their lady and her husband, Lord Druthmar. The celebration carried them into the great hall. Prince Sanglant hoisted his daughter onto his shoulders where she shrieked and shouted with the best of them, her high voice lifting above the clamor. Anna thought she herself would be overwhelmed and trampled, but Matto and Captain Fulk closed in behind her, protecting her in a pocket of s.p.a.ce behind the prince so she wouldn't be crushed. The months hadn't been as kind to her as they'd been to Matto, who had grown a hand in height and filled out through the chest. Although she never got bitterly hungry, she'd gotten lean. All the fat she'd earned in Mistress Suzanne's compound had melted away under the rigors of riding to campaign. Caught up in the rush of rough and ready soldiers, she felt like a stick thrown into a stream swollen with the spring flood.

It was hard to hear anything at the feast over the constant singing and toasts, the dull roar of a satisfied and triumphant a.s.sembly. Anna stood in attendance on Blessing, as always. At intervals, she nibbled at the delicacies heaped up on Blessing's platter as course after course rolled through: roasted goose with parsley and bread stuffing; a meat stew strewn with rose petals and sweetened with cherry preserves; oyster loaves; breads sprinkled with caraway and fennel; beef broth cooked with dill and leeks; a potage of ground hazelnuts, flour, and elderflowers; and honey dumplings again.

The victorious soldiers drank heavily. Lady Waltharia herself poured Prince Sanglant's wine through a gold sieve spoon that she had gotten, so she said, as part of her inheritance from her dead mother, who had been Villam's third and favorite wife.

Lord Druthmar seemed a steady sort of man, open, honest, good-hearted, and not one bit chafed by his wife's authority." We've heard reports that Bulke/u has captured Prince Ekkehard." "Has Bulkezu asked for ransom?" Sanglant chased off a greyhound that was trying to lick grease off the linen cloth laid over the prince's knees." Or do you think he'll kill him?"

Lady Waltharia sat down between the two men. Anna moved quickly to stop Blessing from feeding a choice morsel of meat to the rejected greyhound.

"It's only a rumor that the Quman captured Ekkehard," said Waltharia." Prince Bayan and Princess Sapientia wintered in Han-delburg. We heard that Prince Ekkehard was imprisoned there, but he escaped the biscop's custody and fled the town. The roads are cold and difficult in the wintertime, when he was last seen. I think he must be dead."

Sanglant sipped thoughtfully at his wine." It's an implausible story. You know Bayan as well as I do. How could a youth like Ekkehard escape not just Bayan's but also Biscop Alberada's watch?" He shook his head." For what offense is it said he was imprisoned?"

Blessing dropped her spoon. Anna crouched just in time to see the recalcitrant greyhound nosing the ivory spoon, licking off the remains of broth. She hissed, and the dog scrabbled away, kicking rushes up in her face. Half under the table, hands covered in rushes and a discarded bone digging into her knee, she heard Lady Waltharia's quiet reply.

"Heresy."