PROLOGUE (130 page)

"There! Coming out of the water!"

"Behind you, you idiot!"

"Got him!"

"God be praised!"

Fading again. She thought maybe she had dozed and heard the words in a dream. Strange that one of those voices should sound so like that of her old friend Ingo. Hope plagued her, making it impossible to sleep as the night dragged on.

Bulkezu squatted down beside her.

"You lost." She no longer cared what happened to her. She no longer cared if he killed her. Or at least, at this moment, her hatred drove her.” Now what can you do except run like a whipped dog?"

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"I am still the only man in the tribes to have killed two griffins," he said, but he did not laugh. He grunted, softly. She hoped the pain of his wound scalded him. She hoped he was suffering.” The beghs cannot turn their backs on me. One defeat does not mean the end of the war."

"What do you want? What have you ever wanted?" He was silent for so long that she sat up, brushing moldy straw from her lips with the backs of her hands. Thirst chafed her throat. Still, he said nothing. A shroud of silence fell, broken only by the sound of the river. This river didn't have the deep strength of the Veser. It flowed more lightly, singing over rocks and shallows, the bass melody of its main current almost lost beneath these higher notes and the constant roaring rush of wind through the trees. It reminded her of the rushing river after the battle at the tumulus, when Bayan's mother had called down a flood that had swept away the vanguard of the Quman pursuit, that had blocked the river, delaying Bulkezu's army long enough that Bayan and Sapientia had been able to lead their battered troops on an orderly retreat.

Was Bayan truly dead? What had happened to his mother? Was it her magic that had struck down Cherbu?

She could stand it no longer.” If the luck of a Kerayit shaman dies, what happens to that shaman?" "She dies."

"Why did you risk killing Prince Bayan's mother, yet won't risk killing me? Don't you all fear the Kerayit weather witches?"

"Any wise man does. But it was our only chance. The other prince was protected from Cherbu's magic, so I had to strike Bayan." Small at first, then growing, he giggled, that nasty, gleeful, mad laughter.” I've been wanting to get rid of him for a long time, anyway. But I do regret losing Cherbu." Nothing in his tone gave credence to this statement.

"Surely Cherbu understood that if he struck against Bayan, then Bayan's mother would avenge her son."

"Cherbu didn't like me anyway. He was jealous that I was the elder born and that he had to obey me."

"Did you care about him at all?"

He made no answer, as if she'd spoken to him in a language he did not understand.

"Then why not have me killed, if the wrath of my Kerayit shaman will not strike you but only the person whose hand strikes the killing blow?"

"Nay, it's not your young shaman I fear. It's the owl who watches over you, who is the messenger of the Fearsome One."

Hanna thought that she actually heard fear in his voice, quickly surfacing, as quickly gone. He rose and went outside so fast that he kicked dirt up into her face. She spat, wiped her mouth. Two guards crouched in the doorway, watching her. One held the rope that bound her at the neck. With a sigh, she lay back down No Lions' voices serenaded her as she dozed, waking at intervals with questions chasing themselves through her thoughts. Ai, God, what other prince was Bulkezu referring to? Who flew the gold banner she had seen emerging from the woods? Was it Sanglant who had saved the day? Was it possible that Liath was with him, hidden by magic?

The darkness lightened at last. When they came for her, she was able to walk without too much discomfort while one of the guards led her horse. They moved downriver a short way before attempting a crossing, but the first man to dare the water got caught in the swift current, not deep but strong. He slid off his saddle and his wings dragged him down. The horse fought the water before being lost to sight in the predawn twilight.

The soldiers made certain signs, as though to avert the evil eye. Even Bulkezu seemed unwilling to test the waters, although Hanna would gladly have swum, given the chance. She had never feared the water, but she was fiercely glad to see that they did. If they stayed here, trapped by the river, eventually their enemies would catch them.

A twig snapped behind them. A warning whistle shrilled, cut off abruptly. The Quman soldiers spun around, raising their weapons those who had them.

She saw her chance. She yanked hard on the rope, jerked it right out of Bulkezu's hand in that instant when his attention jumped away from her, and leaped into the river. Flinging herself forward, she hit the water with a mighty splash, head going under. When she surfaced, she floundered toward deeper water, thrust forward as Bulkezu cursed behind her and shouts rang out. A host of men broke out of the trees to surround the band of Quman and their horses. The current caught her. With bound hands, it was hard to keep
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her head above the water. The trailing rope caught in a snag and dragged tight.

"Hanna!"

Just as the noose pulled taut, choking her, just as her vision hazed and the water closed over her face, a hand gripped her. The rope came free, cut through, and she went limp, letting herself be hauled to the bank through the streaming water and thrown up on shore like a fish gasping for air.

"Hanna! We thought you were dead!"

Coughing and spluttering, she rolled onto her stomach and heaved a few times onto rocky shoreline. At last, she looked up to see the concerned and horrified faces of four very familiar men: Ingo, Leo, Folquin, and Stephen, her good friends from the Lions.

"Bulkezu!" she cried, heaving again as she struggled to her feet, but Ingo caught her easily as she staggered.

"Nay, we've captured a group of them, the ones that had you prisoner. Are you saying that lord with the broken wings is Prince Bulkezu himself?" He laughed aloud and punched Folquin merrily on the shoulder.” Won't we have a great prize to deliver to Prince Sanglant!"

"Ai, God," whispered Hanna.” I'm free."

Her legs gave out completely and, while Ingo held her, she broke down and sobbed uncontrollably, a storm of tears she could no longer restrain.

ROSVTTA rose at dawn and, after prayers, studied the first of the books Heriburg and Ruoda had found in the palace library the day before. This copy of the prose Life of Taillefer, by his faithful cleric and counselor Albinus, said in his time to be the most learned man in the world, confirmed what she already knew. Taillefer had had four daughters who lived to adulthood. Three had entered the church, including the famous Biscop Tallia. The fourth girl, Gundara, had after certain unnamed embarrassments been married to the Due de Rossalia, the most powerful noble in the kingdom outside of Taillefer's own family. Albinus said nothing more about Gundara's life, only mentioned that a set of rich bed curtains, three Belguise tapestries, a square table engraved with a depiction of the universe set out as seven spheres, and four chests of treasure including vessels of gold and silver were allotted to her in Taillefer's will.

"Here is the Chronicle of Vitalia." Ruoda opened the next book to the appropriate chapter. The cleric and deacon Vitalia, at the Salian convent of St. Ceneri on the Hides, had written an extensive history of her cloister, and it was owing to her superior understanding as a woman that they could therefore discover more of the details they desired to know. In the civil wars following Taillefer's death, the great emperor's nephew's cousin Lothair had emerged triumphant in the end and been crowned king of Salia in . Yet he had never been strong enough to claim the imperial title.

Eika raids that same year had devastated Rossalia, and the due had died defending his lands, leaving Gundara a rich widow overseeing the upbringing of three children. Lothair had himself claimed Gundara, sending his first wife to the convent in order to marry Taillefer's daughter. In the opinion of Vitalia, he had been cursed by God for this sin of arrogance and greed by having his old age disrupted by various rebellions hatched against him by his sons, all of whom quarreled incessantly.

"It still says nothing of the fate of Gundara's other children by the due de Rossalia," observed Ruoda.” The eldest boy, Charles, inherited the dukedom when he came of age, married Margaret of Derisa, and had a son to inherit after him. What are you looking for, Sister Rosvita?"

The crisp writing on the yellowed page gave no hints. It spoke only of words copied by a scribe, events recorded by a hand long dead.” At times I feel as though a mouse is nibbling at the edges of some secret knowledge hidden in my heart. If I only give the mouse a while longer to feast, then it will uncover what I wish to know. If I can only be patient."

She glanced, frowning, at Heriburg's bandaged hand. The girl had burned herself yesterday trying to scratch magical sigils into a tin medallion. The incident had frightened and disturbed them all, and for now Rosvita contented herself with hanging sprigs of fennel and alder branches over the doors and windows to ward off evil spying.

"My lady." Aurea appeared in the door.” Brother Petrus has come."

It was time to attend the king, although Rosvita thought it strange that a presbyter came to fetch her rather than one of Henry's own stewards. She took Fortunatus with her and sent the young women to the schola. They joined Henry and the court for midday prayers in the king's chapel while, as was customary in Aosta, Queen Adelheid and her entourage prayed in the queen's chapel. A colonnade connected the two buildings, and here Henry brought his retinue after the service of Sext concluded, to the royal garden.

"Walk with me, Sister Rosvita," the king said as he strolled out into the garden.

Statues of every beast known to the huntsman stood alongside gravel paths bordered by dwarf shrubs or hidden beyond the taller ranks of cypress hedges. Stags and wolves, boars and lions and aurochs, guivres and griffins and bears glowered and threatened. Yet their threats weren't nearly as great, Rosvita thought, as the busy courtiers of Aosta with their bland smiles and charming manners.

Beyond a square fence lay a captivating floral labyrinth whose twisting paths were delimited by beds of hyssop and chamomile, bee-flowers, a purple cloud of lavender, and the last pale flowers of thyme. Summer had leached away the strong fragrance, but there was still enough lingering that, when Henry opened the gate and beckoned to her to follow him onto the .narrow paths, it was like walking into a perfumed sachet.

She knew the path better than he did and had to guide him past two wrong turns until they reached the bench placed at the center, surrounded by a circle of neatly trimmed rosebushes. From here, they looked back out over the low box shrubs as Adelheid emerged from the queen's chapel, attended by Hugh and her ladies. Seeing Henry, Adelheid disengaged herself from her courtiers and struck out across the garden toward them.

"Let me speak quickly, Sister." The summer's campaign had tired Henry out. New lines nested at the corners of his eyes and he favored one leg.” It has become known to me that there is serious trouble in Wendar, more serious than anything here in Aosta. Duke

Conrad has married against my will. There are rumors he seeks to raise himself up as a prince equal to me, in the west. A Quman army has invaded in the east. Merchants bring stories of an Eika attack on Alba, more like an invasion than a raid, that might disrupt trading for many years. Plague, famine, and drought all trouble my loyal nobles. How can I reign in Aosta if Wendar falls into ruin? In truth, Aosta has suffered for years these manifold trials. Another year of campaigning and I surely can be crowned as emperor without any powerful noble family raising arms against me. But in my heart I know it is the wiser course to return to Wendar now. Yet I would hear your words, Sister, before I make any public pronouncement."

"This is a grave charge you set on me, Your Majesty." He nodded.” So it is. Villam has already made his opinion clear. He counsels that we ride north as soon as we can, given the rumors we've heard of early snow in the mountains. If we do not make haste, we'll not be able to cross the passes until next year. I cannot tell what might happen in Wendar over the winter and spring if I am not there to set things right. What do you advise, Sister Rosvita?" His gaze was keen, almost merciless. He wore an ivy-green tunic today, trimmed with pale silk, and the hose and leggings that any nobleman might wear, but no person, seeing him, would mistake him for anyone but the king.” I pray you, give me a few moments to think." Adelheid reached the gate, had it opened for her by one of her servingwomen and, with a sweet smile on her pretty face, threaded inward along the intricate paths. She knew this labyrinth well.

"There are those who advise against returning to Wendar." He watched his young queen with an odd expression in his eyes, like a man who is pleased and exasperated in equal measure. His gaze flicked outward to where Hugh stood in conversation with Helmut Villam, Duchess Liutgard, and other notables.” I have heard rumors." "So have I, Your Majesty, and I see no reason to believe what gossips will whisper. Speaking evil of others is a sin that hurts not one but three people, the one who is spoken of, the one who speaks the falsehood, and the one who listens to such slander. Queen Adelheid is an honorable woman, and a clever one. I do not believe you have any reason to fear that she has dishonored your marriage."