An Embarrassment of Riches (43 page)

“They are very young for such worries,” said Konige Kunigunde. “Agnethe is hardly more than half a year old, and Kinga is very much a child.”

“All the more reason to take precautions,” said the Episcopus. “They do not yet have the judgment that would keep them from becoming the servant of Satan. You know that children and women are especially susceptible to the workings of the Devil, and so must be diligent in preserving their souls from peril.”

“There are monks and priests at Court. Their presence must count for something,” said the Konige, trying not to bristle.

“Professions of faith do not keep the soul from falling into evil. Think of how readily the monks of Sante-Wisie succumbed to the temptations of the flesh so that not even imprisonment was sufficient to drive the Devil from their monastery, and they had to be burned to eradicate their iniquity.”

The Konige paled. “That was twenty years ago, Episcopus. Since then the Church has been more vigilant in matters of monks, and errors such as the ones the Trinitarians committed at Sante-Wisie are now guarded against by authorities, such as yourself. Surely, with so many holy men to watch over them, you don’t think that young children would become possessed by lust as the monks were? What child feels lust?”

“It is not what I may think, dear Royal,” said the Episcopus smoothly, “it is what the Devil seeks to do to bring about the destruction of the world.” He cleared his throat. “It would be well to encourage your courtiers to show their devotion to God and His Church with donations and public displays of penance, some of which could begin during your May Festival.”

So that was the bargain the Episcopus was seeking, the Konige thought. “What kind of donations and public penance did you have in mind?”

“Those who are burdened in their souls could carry a cross around the Konige’s Field, reciting such prayers as are determined to be appropriate to their sin; it would make all the Court aware of the demonic enticements that surround all men, and point them the way to a virtuous life.” He held up his hand as he considered the matter, his eyes rolled upward as if he expected to see a revelation in the air above him. “I would think that four times around the Konige’s Field, in homage to the four Evangelists, would provide a fine example, and one that would do much to expiate the sins in question. And those courtiers who want to improve their standing with the Church could make an offering of gold and silver—and jewels, of course. There is much virtue in giving donations to the Church.” He looked around the withdrawing room, pointedly noticing its luxurious appointments. “The Court is a magnificent place, as befits the Kingdom of Bohemia and its wealth, but surely God, Who has given the wealth to Bohemia, deserves equal splendor.”

Konige Kunigunde bit back a sharp retort, reminding herself that this man had it in his power to end the celebrations of spring and to impose severe self-abasement on all her courtiers. She took a deep breath. “It may be that there are some in my Court who would benefit from the penance you describe. And there may be some who may be moved to make donations to the Church in thanks to God for His smiling upon us.”

The Episcopus nodded benignly. “Your ladies-in-waiting will have to be examined, but I will postpone that inquiry until the May Festival has ended. Unless I see there is too much licentious behavior among those attending.”

“The penitents circling the Konige’s Field should dampen the urge to debauchery,” said the Konige more sharply than she had intended; the penitents would have a chilling effect on any revelry that might occur. With an effort she went on more humbly. “Your fears for my Court may be founded in the Confession of delusion, as you have already allowed, and it seems to me that had such excesses as Csenge has Confessed been occurring here, I must have known of it, yet I did not. I dislike having my ladies’ honor impugned, and as Konige it falls to me to see any aspersions cast upon them are not allowed to stand unchallenged.”

“That is your duty, yes,” said the Episcopus, his geniality fading. “As it is mine to guard against all the depravity of Hell.”

“You are most diligent in your task, Episcopus,” said the Konige in a tone that might be construed as praise.

The Episcopus offered Kunigunde a faint smile of approval. “Then we are agreed—members of your Court who wish to make an act of penance tomorrow will be allowed to carry a cross around the limits of the Konige’s Field for the purpose of acknowledging their sins and making an example for others to follow. I will attend the festival to monitor the penitents and to accept the donations of those courtiers who wish to contribute to the magnification of the Church in Bohemia. When the two days of the May Festival have concluded, you will arrange for your ladies-in-waiting to be questioned by me and four of my priests to determine whether or not the Confesssion of Csenge of Somogy is as she has described it.” He stared at the Konige. “You are wise to comply, dear Royal, for it persuades me that whatever Deviltry may be going on among you ladies, you, yourself, have no part in it.”

“For which I am grateful,” said the Konige. “And I will be thankful to Heaven when my ladies all stand exonerated of all wickedness.”

“May your faith in them be requited,” said the Episcopus, standing and motioning to the Konige to kneel. “May God bless and keep you safe; may He smile upon you and your children, may you ever serve His Will, and may the Devil never ravage Bohemia.”

“Amen,” said the Konige, crossing herself.

The Episcopus nodded again. “I will leave you to make the necessary arrangements for tomorrow.” He started toward the door, his crozier tapping on the rush-strewn floor. At the door he turned and regarded her fixedly. “God will surely look kindly on many penitents and on generous donations.”

“I thought He might,” said the Konige, her eyes downcast to conceal the flare of anger in them. The Episcopus would never make such demands if Otakar were still in Praha, she told herself, and schooled her temper so as not to give him cause to add further restrictions to her courtiers beyond what he had already imposed. As soon as the Episcopus was gone, she rose to her feet and raised her voice, summoning her page Albrech. “I must ask you to fetch Iliska of Szousa to me at once. I have a task for her.”

“Yes, dear Royal; at once,” the youth said, and ran off.

Alone, Konige Kunigunde paced her withdrawing room, trying to calm herself. She ran through her concerns in her thoughts: how am I to protect my ladies-in-waiting from the inspection by the Episcopus? What is it he wants of me? How am I to convince any of my courtiers to make public penance tomorrow? she asked herself. I would need at least a week to accomplish the task, and well the Episcopus knows it. She clapped her hands and called for another page: Bertik answered her summons. “I have a charge for you.”

“Dear Royal,” said the youngster. “Command me.”

“Listen to what I say to Iliska of Szousa and then go to the stable and to the barracks.”

“I will,” said Bertik.

“May I come in, dear Royal?” Iliska asked from the door, Albrech at her side; she courtisied the Konige. “You have a task for me?” She glanced at Bertik, then gave her full attention to the Konige.

“I do,” said the Konige. She motioned Iliska to approach her. “You are to call upon all of my Court who do not live within the walls of Vaclav Castle. You are to tell them that the Episcopus has set aside a part of the Konige’s Field for a penitential procession. Any courtier who wishes to show the Episcopus the depth of his faith should present himself to the Episcopus after morning Mass. Any of my Court who can do so are asked to make a donation of gold or jewels for the churches of Praha, or to the Church itself. You are to ask a pledge from all of them, and, if all goes well, half of the courtiers will promise to do their part for the Episcopus.” She felt her body clench as she gave this order. “The pages will know where all the Court outside the castle live, and the escort will protect your name and the reputation of the Court. Go and put on a grander bleihaut and be ready to enter your wagon by mid-day.”

Iliska courtisied the Konige again. “I am ready to serve you in all things, dear Royal. You honor me with your trust.”

“Then be about your duty, and my thanks for your service,” said the Konige.

As she backed out of the withdrawing room, Iliska tried not to grin; she was being allowed to go beyond the castle walls, and to call upon courtiers in their homes, a prospect that delighted her; long days in the Konige’s Court had left her yearning to be outside, if only for a few hours. To be received by all the Konige’s courtiers would add to her satisfaction, for she would enjoy hospitality at some of the finest mansions in Praha, and that would include calling on Rakoczy. Her step was bouncy as she went down the narrow hall toward the room she shared with Milica of Olmutz.

“What’s the cause of your light step, sister-mine?” Antal asked, stepping out of the shadows near the door to the Konige’s Garden. He had been gaming with some of the Konige’s Guards when the Episcopus made his visit, and had decided to seek out Iliska to learn more of what had transpired.

“I’m to be sent to give a message to all the courtiers outside the castle walls.
All
of them.” She laughed.

“That makes you merry?” He shot a questioning glance in her direction, not trusting her to observe the dignity of the Konige’s Court in such a frame of mind.

Her reply confirmed his worst suspicions. “That means I am to call at Mansion Belcrady.”

“Does the Konige require that you go there, or can you send a page to him?”

Iliska spun toward her brother, all laughter gone from her demeanor. “No, I cannot send a page. My task is explicit. I must deliver the Konige’s request in her stead, as her deputy, to all of her Court outside the castle.” She glowered at him. “You will not tell me that I am to defy the Konige’s commission, will you?”

“No,” he admitted.

“Then I will go to Mansion Belcrady to deliver the Konige’s requests, as I will go to all the others.”

Antal sighed. “That’s unfortunate.”

“No, it’s not,” she declared. “It is the Konige’s wishes. I know I shall do well in speaking with the Comes.”

“You will say no more than the Konige demands, and you will not spend any time alone with him. You will have an escort, won’t you?”

“Of course,” she answered, lifting her chin and glaring at him.

“Then make sure one of the escort is with you at all times. I won’t have you claiming he’s compromised you or made you an offer in order to force a marriage upon him.”

Her face paled. “I wouldn’t stoop to such devices.”

“You’re lying, sister-mine.”

“I am not,” she insisted but with enough hesitation to give him cause to doubt her; she stamped her foot, her eyes snapping with annoyance. “Besides,” she said more calmly, “his House is much older than ours and he has wealth enough to let us broaden our holdings. It would be a worthy gift to Szousa for him to add to our lands.” She met his eyes boldly. “Who in our family would not want to extend our lands?”

Antal’s face darkened and he took a step toward her, his fists clenched. “I’ve told you that you are not to fix your thoughts on him. He has a grand manner, no doubt, yet he’s a poor connection for our House, for all his riches: he is an alchemist, and were he not under royal protection, he might well be in the hands of the Church. More to the point, however, his fief is controlled by Konig Bela to prevent the Comes from taking up the heir’s cause, and that alone makes him ineligible as a husband for you. You will have to choose another, or have one chosen for you.”

“I won’t,” she told him. “Of all the men I have met, he pleases me the most. I will not marry if I cannot marry him.”

“But you will,” Antal said, his voice suddenly smooth. “You will abandon all hope of him, or I will send you home.”

“You can’t,” said Iliska, her defiance tinged with dread.

“I can. I have excellent cause if I decide to remove you. With Csenge of Somogy Confessing to dealing with the Devil, no one would fault me for taking you away from such dire influences as the Episcopus believes may be active in the Konige’s Court. Do not think that anyone in our House would take your part, for no one will.” He bowed to her. “So go about your mission, Iliska, but bear in mind that what becomes of you is wholly in your hands.”

She would not deign to look at her brother. “So you tell me.”

“You would be wise to listen,” he said.

“Because you tell me so? Because you have already chosen a husband for me, but won’t tell me who it is? Or are you still waiting for better offers?” She flung her accusations at him without apology.

“No—so that you may keep your reputation.” He lifted his brows in surprise. “Of course I tell you. Our father doesn’t wish to endow a nunnery for you, so marriage it will be, and not to some minor lord with small holdings and no influence.”

“I know that,” she said, carefully emphasizing each word.

“Our father will not let you throw yourself away on—”

“A nobody, I know. All the more reason to encourage me to fix Rakoczy’s interest,” she persisted.

“Not so long as he is an exile. His fief means nothing if Konig Bela will not allow him to live on it, and keeps him confined in Praha. If you continue to pursue him, he will have to be removed.”

“Konig Bela has sent him here to the Konige’s Court. You can’t remove him,” said Iliska, enjoying the satisfaction she got from besting her brother.