Elliott, Kate - Crown of Stars 3 (41 page)

Judith and the Ungrian ambassador had walked over to the outer wall to watch the last of Conrad's impressive retinue pass from sight. Rosvita moved closer to listen.

The man spoke with the aid of an interpreter. "This daughter he has taken away, she is the granddaughter of the Alban queen, is she not? How does Duke Conrad gain for his wife a daughter of the Alban queen, when he is no king himself?"

Judith had a smile that softened her mouth and made her gaze quite hard. "If you wish your suit to succeed, I would not ask that question of the king."

"So I did not do so," he said, laughing. Cousin to the Ungrian king, he had a jovial face, long, dark mustaches that he greased with oil, and a wispy beard no thicker than that of a sixteen-year-old boy although his own hair had white streaking it. "But it is said that men work as slaves in Alba while women rest as queens, and that no daughter of their ruling house before this one left her mother's side. So I wonder."

"Many have wondered," replied Judith, looking faintly amused. "Duke Conrad traveled to Alba when he was young. Some say he charmed the Alban queen into agreeing to the betrothal. Some say he charmed the daughter and ran off with her when her mother refused his suit."

"But he do not run off with the Princess Theophanu, although the king refuse his suit."

"Alba is an island. Henry will not need a fleet of ships to pursue Conrad, should Conrad displease him."

"Ah, I see much truth in your words." The Ungrian ambassador wore a fine silk tunic of Arethousan design but spoiled the elegance of his dress by draping a heavy fur cape over his shoulders despite the summer heat. He stank of a sickly sweet perfume that gave Rosvita a headache. "Will the king bless this wedding, or will he prefer the Salian prince?"

Judith only smiled coolly. "I, too, wish the Quman raids to end. My lands have been hit hard these last two years, as have yours, and if Wendish and Ungrian armies join together, then perhaps we can strike into the heart of Quman lands and put an end to their plundering. But of course there is the problem of worship, my friend. The Arethousan deacons you keep in your retinue do not adhere to the church practices observed by the skopos in Darre. A Wendish princess cannot marry an Ungrian prince who does not worship according to the correct manner. King Geza must recognize the primacy of the skopos in Darre rather than the illegitimate patriarch in Arethousa if he desires this alliance with King Henry."

"Henry's blessed wife was an Arethousan."

"Blessed by the skopos in Darre."

"As King Geza is willing to be, if Henry offers him this alliance."

Judith shrugged to show that she was helpless in this matter. "Then you have done all you can. The king will speak when the king makes up his mind."

The king did not speak that day, but the next night at the feast in honor of the birth of Sts. Iskander and Dawud, the holy twins, he rose to toast Sapientia and to announce her betrothal. Rosvita's fingers were sticky with honey; it was traditional at the feast of the twins to drink honey mead and eat honey cakes because of the famous miracle of the bees. She licked her fingers hastily and grabbed the cup she shared this night with Princess Theophanu. Henry had not asked her advice as he usually did, but since the debacle with Sanglant four days ago Henry had spent his days and evenings carousing with no apparent thought for serious matters.

There was a pause while the king watched his court hoist their cups in anticipation.

Brother Fortunatus, behind her, muttered to Amabilia. "Have you laid a wager yet? Which worthy prince will the king choose? The civilized Salian or the half-barbarian Ungrian?"

"It is sinful to lay wagers," announced Brother Constantine in a low voice, "and more sinful for clerics to do so than ordinary folk, for God have forbidden us to take on ourselves what only the angels may know."

"I say he will favor the Salian prince," murmured Sister Amabilia, ignoring Constantine as usual. "That will give him an alliance with the Salian king in case the Varren lords rebel again."

"With Sabella in prison? Nay, my dear Sister, he will choose the Ungrian, and if I am right, then I think you will give me those last two honey cakes you have on your platter."

"Gluttony is a sin," interposed Constantine primly.

"You think he will favor the Ungrians? But King Geza didn't even offer his own son but only his younger brother as bridegroom!"

"A younger brother who is an experienced war leader, and who has fought the Quman and other barbarian tribes. With success. Whom better to ally with Sapientia, if she becomes Margrave of Eastfall? Someone who understands the situation there."

"I accept the wager," said Amabilia, "but what will you give me if I am right?"

"I've already eaten all my honey cakes. What else could you possibly want?"

"Your owl quill, Brother. That is the only thing that will content me."

Hush, my friends," said Rosvita, but with a smile. Princess Theophanu's expression remained as bland as those on the sculptures from the Octagon Garden. Her gaze was fixed on her father, who extended a hand to Sapientia and bid her rise.

Sapientia was flushed. Somehow she managed to keep silent while her father spoke. His voice carried effortlessly to the four corners of the hall and even outside where servants and hangers-on thronged at the doors to listen.

"Let the Salian ambassador ride west with one of our Eagles and bring presents to our brother, Lothair, as a sign of our good will and our mutual love. Let the Ungrian ambassador ride east with one of our Eagles, and let him give this message to King Geza: Let your brother, Prince Bayan, meet my daughter at the city of Handelburg not before Matthiasmass and not after the Feast of St. Valentinus. Let them be wed in the presence of Bis-cop Alberada, who rules over the souls of the marchlanders and those of the pagans who still live in darkness. After a three-day feast in celebration, let them then proceed to the Eastfall, there to protect and defend the people of Eastfall against the depredations of the Quman raiders. Such is my will."

Theophanu hissed a word, but it was lost in the hubbub that arose, cups lifted, a shout rising from the lips of every person there. Sapientia was still flushed. She glanced toward the Salian ambassador, then the Ungrian one. She did not look displeased. She looked happy.

"Betrothed at last," said Theophanu, taking the cup from Rosvita and draining it. She called for a servant, who filled it again. "Will you drink to my sister's good fortune, Sister?"

"Assuredly." Rosvita drank gratefully. It was hot and stuffy in the hall, and she wished suddenly to be walking alone in the Octagon Garden, where she could hear herself think. But she had no time to think. Theophanu had not done speaking, her voice pitched so low that only Rosvita could hear.

"If Henry means her to rule after him, then why did he betroth her to a foreign husband who cannot expect to receive much support from Wendish courtiers? They say the Ungrians still sacrifice horses at the winter solstice, even if they pray to God the rest of the year. Is that the man my father means to be the next king consort?"

"We know little about Prince Bayan except that he is a renowned fighter who has won many battles," replied Rosvita reflexively.

The Ungrian ambassador called for another toast. He had cast aside his fur cloak and now, with his odd mustaches and thin beard, looked incongruous in his elegant yellow silk tunic. The Ungrians had been raiders like the Quman not two generations ago. They had not lost their barbarian look, not quite, even if they mimicked the sophisticated Arethousan way of dressing.

"They are all blind," said Theophanu sharply.

"Who is blind?" asked Rosvita, taken aback by the unusual passion in Theophanu's voice. "What is it they are not seeing?"

"It matters not." She smoothed her expression and took the cup from Rosvita, but she only sipped at it. "Not if you don't already know."

"You're thinking of Sanglant."

"My father has thought of nothing but Sanglant these last four days. Can you not tell by his manner, and by the way he never mentions him? I am not blind."

"Blindness comes in many guises." Rosvita watched Sapientia drink in triumph and kiss her father, the king, on either cheek as the assembly roared with approval.

Blindness comes in many guises and a furious heart overflows down unexpected channels. Rosvita had cause the next morning to reflect bitterly on this theme. The king sent for her early.

He sat in the forecourt watching his stewards oversee the loading of wagons, such provisions and in particular gifts of treasure and fine stuffs that Sapientia would present to her bridegroom as the seal of their alliance. Now and again he raised a hand to show that a certain item should not be loaded; now and again, he gestured, and a certain item, held aside, was placed in one of the chests being filled for the dowry.

Courtiers attended him, among them Helmut Villam and Judith.

All three of his children stood behind him. Sapientia looked smug, Theophanu calm. Ekkehard shifted restlessly from one foot to the other, looking for someone in the throng of nobles. He would have been a handsomer boy had he not frowned so much.

"Ah, my faithful counselor." She knelt before Henry and was allowed to kiss his hand. He had a glint in his eye that made her uncomfortable.

"There will be more partings on the morrow." Henry beckoned to Theophanu. "You, Daughter, will ride to Aosta as my representative. Aid Queen Adelheid as you can and if you must."

"Gladly. But surely, Father, I will ride south only after the council at Autun."

"Nay, Daughter. You must ride now if you mean to cross the Alfar Mountains before the passes close. Our cause will be lost if we wait too long. You will start south tomorrow."

"But you know I must testify at Autun at the trial of Father Hugh!"

"I have spoken," said Henry without raising his voice.

"But if I am not there to testify at Autun—!" Red stained her cheeks and she broke off, glancing toward Judith.

Rosvita recognized the look of a campaigner who knows that both her flanks are protected and that her center will hold: Judith wore it now.

"You will ride to Aosta, Theophanu. It is the place of the biscops to judge one of their own, not yours."

"But my testimony—!"

"You may dictate what you wish to the clerics. That way your voice will still be heard at the council."

There was nothing Theophanu could do unless she meant to defy her father—as Sanglant had done. But Theophanu was nothing like Sanglant. She recovered herself, murmured cool words of agreement, and retreated. But the look she shot Rosvita was anything but mild.

"Promise me," she whispered, stopping beside Rosvita, "that you will yourself read my words aloud at the trial. The biscops will listen to
you!"

"Sister Rosvita." Henry's mild voice wrenched her attention away from Theophanu. "So that my daughter need not negotiate the treacherous paths in Aosta alone, I would send you along with her to advise and counsel her."

"Y-your Majesty." She was too shocked to stammer out more than that.

"Is there something wrong, Sister?" he asked gently.

It took no educated cleric to envision the scene: with both Theophanu and Liath gone, and Rosvita not there to argue their case, the accusations against Father Hugh would carry little weight. Especially not if Judith brought her own witnesses to argue for Hugh's innocence.

Who suspected her?
What did Henry intend by this sudden change of plans?

"I have never seen the holy city of Darre," Rosvita said, stumbling, all eloquence lost. She could only register Theophanu's eyes, bright and fevered, and a look on her face that made Rosvita think the princess was about to shriek in frustration. But there was nothing she could do.

Rosvita took Theophanu's testimony herself that afternoon, wrote it down in her careful hand, and sealed the parchment. Then she wrote a letter and took Sister Amabilia aside.

"Amabilia, I wish you to personally deliver this letter to Mother Rothgard at St. Valeria Convent. Fortunatus and Constantine will come with me to Aosta, and I regret you will not set foot with us in the skopos' palace, as you deserve. But you must serve me in this way. If Mother Rothgard will not heed the words I have written, then beg her yourself to come to the council at Autun. She can give testimony of what she observed when Theophanu lay sick at the convent."

"Surely she will think it strange that Sister Anne has vanished." Amabilia frowned at the letter. "According to Princess Theophanu, Sister Anne witnessed the whole as well, the fever and the ligatura they found. Where do you suppose Sister Anne could have gone?"