PROLOGUE (99 page)

Blessing began to shriek in protest, then broke down into hiccuping snivels as Sanglant handed her brusquely into Anna's arms.” But, Daddy—"

He grasped one of her little hands in his and caught her chin with the other, so that she had to look at him.” Is this how Emperor Taillefer's heir returns through camp, crying like a helpless child taken prisoner in war? You'll take the punishment you earned, and you'll take it proudly."

She gulped several times, fighting down tears. Anger swelled, easy to see as she screwed up her mouth in a pout. She bit back several protests, then, finally, squirmed out of Anna's grasp and marched away with her back stiff and her hands clenched in fury. Anna and Thiemo hurried after her.

"Let me go," said Heribert softly at his side.

"Nay, my friend, she'll only twist you into softening the blow. I can't trust you with her when she's in this mood. As soon as she starts sniffling, you'll run out and fetch her honey cakes, anything to sweeten the punishment. I'll keep you with me, in case I need sweetening."

"Well," said Sapientia, sauntering up with an ill-disguised smirk i

on her face. She had seen the altercation and now returned with Bayan in time to savor the girl's scolding.” I trust we have seen more here than we had cared to see." She turned to her husband.” There are perhaps a score of slaves in the whole market worth freeing. I'll have my stewards take care of the matter. I trust we may leave the rest to rot in their chains." She indicated the Quman.” Don't you agree, Sanglant?"

Bayan kept quite still, neither speaking nor showing any emotion except that both his hands were clenched, and Sanglant thought it prudent to retire from the field on this matter, at least.” We've a long road, hunting Bulkezu," he agreed mildly.

She lifted her chin to examine Sanglant with what she evidently considered regal command.” Now that you have come to aid us with your troops, you may join our war council tomorrow night. We'll be leaving Machteburg the day after." She beckoned to her attendants and she and Bayan moved away together through the throng that had gathered, mostly soldiers come to survey the merchants' encampment and get a closer look at their commanders.

A youth pressed through the crowd in the opposite direction. When he saw Sanglant, he changed course.

"What is it, Matto?" asked Sanglant as the lad hurried up.

"The old man wishes to speak urgently to you, my lord prince. He says he's seen news."

The phrasing sent Sanglant's heart racing. He had a tremendous sense of impending action, that moment before a storm surge breaks over the wharf. They left the market. A ferry raft took them over the river to the neatly-laid-out encampment where his army, fully three hundred mounted cavalry as well as a number of other fighters, had set up their tents. The ditch being dug around the perimeter was almost complete, the easiest defense against a surprise cavalry attack should there be Quman lurking in the woods. Wolfhere waited for him in the shadow of his tent's awning, out of the sun. Blessing had gone inside the tent to sulk. He could hear her companions talking in low voices; Lord Thiemo seemed to be telling the child some kind of story about a phoenix. Harmless enough, and it might serve to keep her out of trouble for the evening.

"What news?" he asked Wolfhere. They walked away from the tent, giving them some privacy to converse. Only Heribert and Druthmar attended them. The rest of the pack waited restlessly under the awning, sipping mead.

"I found Hanna," said Wolfhere in a troubled voice.” I'd looked for her through fire and water both these past months. Since I couldn't spy her, I thought she must be dead—

"Who is Hanna?" asked Heribert.

"The young Eagle I rode with when we took you over the mountains," snapped Wolfhere.” Or do you even remember her?"

Heribert wisely did not answer, although it was clear by his puzzled expression that he did not really recall her.

But for Sanglant the name sent off a cascade of memories: how he'd first seen Liath during a sally outside the walls of Gent; the way her braid swayed along her spine, sensuous and inviting although she wasn't the kind of woman who meant to be inviting, not after the life she'd lived and the abuse she'd suffered at Hugh of Austra's hands. Hanna had called Liath a fool for marrying him.” She seemed a wise and honest young woman," he said at last, surprised to find himself smiling. It had been a long time since thoughts of Liath had made him smile.

Wolfhere's smile in answer was as soft as a tender kiss.” Truly, Hanna is more than she seems, so I've discovered. She wasn't dead at all but held captive and concealed by Quman sorcery."

Sanglant swung round.” Quman sorcery!"

"Bulkezu's taken her prisoner."

"Ai, Lord. A grim fate, indeed. Was Ekkehard with Bulkezu as well?"

"I did not see him, my lord prince. I saw her only briefly because—" It was so unlike Wolfhere to hesitate, to show any uncertainty, that Sanglant set a hand on the old Eagle's arm to coax him. Druthmar had the patience of an ox, if rather more virility, and he had evidently heard so many awful things about Wolfhere from Hedwig that he found the old man fascinating, in the same way one stands watching from the safety of a bench as a scorpion skitters around the room.

At last, Wolfhere sighed.” Because of the owl."

"Owl?"

"Many eyes watch," observed Wolfhere cryptically.” But what I saw where the owl dispelled the mists I recognized easily enough. It was the royal palace at Augensburg, burned now, all in ruins.

That's where I saw Hanna. As briefly seen and as briefly gone again, but without question it was her, surrounded by Quman soldiers. That means that Bulkezu and his army ride north along the eastern bank of one of the tributaries of the Veser River."

"God save us," said Druthmar.” Bulkezu has struck into Wen-dar. I thought he still wandered in the marchlands."

"Duke Burchard took a force south to Aosta, to support Henry," said Sanglant.” There's no one to stop Bulkezu from riding all the way north along the Veser to Osterburg."

"How can he hope to take Duchess Rotrudis' city?" asked Druthmar.” He'd have to besiege it for months."

"Truly, perhaps we're going at this wrong. Why lay in a siege at all, if he can just ride around them? Why go north to Osterburg when he could as easily strike west into Fesse and western Saony? Duchess Liutgard also rode south with my father. Who is left to protect Wendar?"

Yet the next night at the war council their debate hung up time and again not on the threat Bulkezu and his army posed but on the veracity of Wolfhere's testimony.

"You've no proof Bulkezu is in Avaria riding north along the Veser," said Sapientia for the third time as certain of her attendants nodded agreement.” I can't believe you let that Eagle Wolfhere ride with you, after the king outlawed him. That's as good as rebelling outright against Father's authority—

"Which I have not done, Sister." Like an ill-trained hunting dog, Sapientia kept veering back to the already gnawed bone instead of forging forward on the trail of fresh meat.” Yet he has served me well. I might never have found you and Bayan if not for his Eagle's sight."

"Dearly bought," she retorted, "if it means losing Father's trust."

"How much trust can any of us place in the words of an outlaw?" demanded Lady Brigida, Sapientia's favorite, a florid woman with, Heribert had murmured, more hair than sense.

The lords standing at Sapientia's back murmured in agreement with Brigida's complaint. Even Thiadbold, the scarred, redheaded captain of the two cohorts of Lions who marched with the princess, nodded his head uneasily.

"Yet I wonder what news Father gains of us in Aosta?" mused Sapientia.” Surely he has reached Darre safely by now. Can't your Eagle tell you that?"

"His army has come to Dane, so it seems. No Eagle's sight is perfect, and there are certain glamours and amulets that can veil that sight."

Murmurs rose from the assembly, hearing of such witchcraft.

"Nor have we heard from Princess Theophanu," interposed Lady Bertha, who despite being Hugh of Austra's half sister seemed to Sanglant the most sensible of the nobles traveling in Sapientia's train.” None of her messengers have gotten through to us, if indeed she has been able to send any."

"All the more reason to return to this matter of Bulkezu's army." Sanglant hoisted his cup and found, to his annoyance, that he had drained it. Bayan's Ungrian servants, two of them eunuchs, were as well trained as Bayan's Ungrian soldiers. A smooth-cheeked man hurried up with a pitcher of wine, a strong vintage that had already begun to make Sanglant's head swim. The Ungrians didn't cut their wine with water.

"If Bulkezu does intend to march on Osterburg," said Sapientia, "he'll be trapped for months in a siege."

Sanglant sighed, and for the first time he looked directly, and beseechingly, at Bayan, who had spoken not one word since the council began.

"If it is true," said Bayan finally. He paused. Every soul fell silent. It was easy to see who really commanded the army, although by every right and privilege the Wendish folk, at least, belonged to Sapientia.” If it is true we can trust this Eagle's sight, who says to us that for months there lies a cloud of sorcery over the land that hides Bulkezu. But I know the power of magic. None better than I! Maybe now the cloud parts and the Eagle gets a look. So. If it is true Bulkezu rides north along the Veser, then what prevents him from swinging wide, around this city, and going on his merry way, as Prince Sanglant says? Bulkezu can leave a force of small size camped outside the walls, and with this force he can trick Duchess Rotrudis so she will believe he sets a siege at her gates. Then, if she so believes, she will not harry him until for her and for Saony it is too late."

"And he can do as much damage as he likes," agreed Sanglant.” Or he could strike west before he even reaches Osterburg and go

for Kassel or the Rhowne heartlands near Autun. The best we could hope for in that case would be that he drives all the way to the western sea and spends his fury laying waste to Salia."

"What do you think we should do, Prince Sanglant?" asked Captain Thiadbold from where he stood behind the seated ladies and lords.

"I say we march hard and try to reach Osterburg before he does."

"Impossible," protested Lady Brigida. She giggled, as she was wont to do when she became nervous.

Lamps lit the interior of the spacious tent. By their fitful light, Sanglant saw the faces of the others, most of them regarding him with interest and mounting excitement. On the table around which they sat the leavings of their evening's feast congealed on platters of brass and pewter: chicken and goose bones; an eviscerated bread pudding with only the crusty sides and burned bottom left; fried griddle breads; small, sweet honey cakes; and berries flavored with a mint sauce—the kind of things easily prepared on the march.” Then even if Bulkezu strikes west, we'll still be in position to pursue him no matter where he rides before autumn rain and winter snows make the roads impassable."

Soldiers nodded. Lords and ladies murmured noises of assent. '

Bayan coughed, clearing his throat.” I have to piss," he said cheerfully, standing, "but how I hate to piss alone! Prince Sanglant, will you join me?"

Sanglant laughed.” Ah, my friend, what man could turn down such a proposal?" He rose, drained his cup, and only staggered slightly as he made his way through the assembled crowd in Bayan's wake.

Bayan's boisterous humor vanished as soon as they got outside. His faithful Ungrian guards, the kind of hard, hearty men who would rousingly toast you with a beaker of strong ale one moment and beat you to a pulp the next if you offended their master, kept watch as Bayan strode over to the horse lines. He did his business quickly and waited, whistling softly under his breath, until Sanglant was done as well.

"Now, my friend," he said quietly, "we must have the talk."

"Ah, the talk. Which talk is that?"

"You are not a fool, my good friend. So I will not insult you with lies, but I will speak the truth."

"You're scaring me, Bayan. Are you going to tell me I have to sleep with Lady Brigida lest she take her retinue and ride home in a rage? I'd sooner sleep with Bulkezu than with her. Or maybe with her warhorse."

Bayan snorted, amused, but he shook his head and paced down toward the end of the horse lines, Sanglant following alongside, careful not to step in any fresh manure. The night was cloudy, although comfortably warm, lit only by sentry fires, the dozen lamps hung around the periphery of the royal tent, and the distant reddish flare of a bonfire burning away the remains of the dead at Machteburg. South, Sanglant could see the scattered fires of the merchants' camp up on the rise where the ancient ring fort lay.