A Crown Disowned Read online

  The Dowager shook her head. Then she grew pale and clenched her fists—convulsively, Rohan thought. An odd gesture on her part. Her entire manner changed. She smiled, though to Rohan it seemed more than a little strained.

  "Wait, perhaps you are right," Ysa said, her voice eerily gay in stark contrast to her imperious manner of a moment earlier. "But on my own terms, as I may. A warrior-queen. That suits me. I will take a diadem with me." She turned to her ladies. "Very well, it is decided. Of you all, Lady Ingrid is the youngest and, therefore, best likely to endure the hardships of both the journey and the sojourn in—what interesting name did you call it, Sir Rohan? The Snow Fortress.

  Therefore, you, Lady Gertrude, and you, Lady Grisella, will stay behind."

  The two thus singled out began to protest, but privately Rohan thought the one chosen to accompany the Dowager looked the most dismayed. To give them as little time as possible for lamentations, he set them to work. "Please have the baggage returned to Her Highness's apartment and unpack it all. While you are doing this, I will see to acquiring boots and the fur-lined cloaks I spoke of. Then I will help Lady Ingrid pick out the best and most practical garments for our royal lady to take with her." He turned to the Dowager. "I realize that, in my zeal to keep you warm and comfortable, I came too close to forgetting that great ladies must be beautiful as well as valiant. I apologize. Believe me, Madame, between us, we will have you turned out in such a fashion as to dazzle our warriors and daunt our enemies."

  Then he bowed himself out of her presence, grateful to have avoided yet another crisis involving Her Gracious Highness, the Dowager Ysa.

  Both Anamara and Rannore were openly amused at the task Rohan proposed for them though they strove to be serious.

  "I know who sewed the best woolen garments, here in the castle," Rannore said helpfully, "and I think there is still a small store of them. I will take care of that part of the errand."

  "And I will find the boot maker who served us so well, and the man who made your cloak," Anamara said. She was biting her lip to keep from laughing out loud.

  "Please don't tell anybody who these things are intended for, lest the tale get about," Rohan pleaded. "I don't know why, but I feel it would be far better if

  Her Highness did not leave Rendelsham with any great pomp or display. She might be annoyed at this, but that is the way it must be."

  "Annoyed? She will be furious. No doubt you will have to promise her a grand triumphal parade upon her return," Rannore said, "complete with a victor's crown and rose petals strewn in her path."

  Their sobriety stretched until it broke and both ladies dissolved into mirth.

  Even Rohan had to smile at the picture his kinswoman's words had painted.

  "Dear husband," Anamara said, struggling to regain her composure, "I know that you have given us the lighter tasks here. How much more difficult it has been for you, first to persuade the Dowager to go with you, and then to impose on her the conditions under which she must live. I do not envy you."

  "I don't envy me either," Rohan replied, "especially not when she might break her promise at any moment, and never give it a second thought."

  "Then we must work quickly, before she changes her mind," Rannore said decisively. She turned to Anamara. "Come, sweet coz, and let us to our tasks.

  Painful though it is—and none knows it better than I—the quickest gone is the soonest returned. Let us hope that this scheme of Zazar's has the desired effect and brings a quick end to this dreadful war. And our loved ones will then come home to us again."

  "Let it be so," Anamara said somberly.

  Rohan took her hand and held it against his heart. "Aye, in truth, let it be so."

  With the Dowager Ysa and her lady-in-waiting, In-grid, hastily outfitted for their sojourn in the bitter northern cold, Rohan could no longer delay his departure.

  "Would that I could stay with you, my Anamara," he said, "but duty calls me."

  "I know." Anamara's wonderful deep blue eyes filled with unshed tears. She touched the sling that still held his injured arm. "Only this keeps you from being in the thick of the fighting that is yet to come, and for that I am thankful."

  Rohan knew that if the Four Armies were not successful in the coming battle that he, and even Lord Royance for all his years, would be called upon to try to delay the onslaught that would carry the enemy even to the gates of Rendelsham.

  Then such laggards as Gattor of Bilth, Valk of Mimon, Jakar of Vacastar, and

  Liffen of Lerkland would have to take up arms. But, he reminded himself, wars were fought by men in their prime, and these lords of Rendel were long past their fighting years. Also, they had not stinted when it came to rallying men loyal to them, and maintaining supply lines. All had done their part, as it was given to them to do.

  He kissed Anamara's eyelids and the tears spilled down her cheeks. "Do not worry, my dear," he told her. "I am certain that Granddam Zaz has something very special and surprising in mind, with her insistence on the Dowager's journey to the Snow Fortress."

  Anamara tried to smile, though her lips were trembling. "Maybe she wants Ysa to lead the next charge," she said. "That would undoubtedly frighten them all away."

  Rohan laughed aloud. "That's my brave girll" he exclaimed. "Now, give me a kiss to remember in the days to come."

  "I will," she said, "and more than that." Suddenly she lowered her head, and her cheeks blazed red. "I—I thought I could tell you straight out, but I cannot."

  Rohan tilted her head up again, studying her features. Then it came to him, what she was trying to say. "Is it true? Are you with child?"

  "I think so, though it is still too early to be sure."

  "Now, more than ever," he told her solemnly, "will I endeavor to return to you quickly, and in one piece. You, and our child—"

  She nodded. He pulled her into an awkward one-armed embrace.

  "Now go," she said with as much bravery as she could muster. "Do not worry about me. After all, Rannore is here, not to mention young Hegrin, and I will be looked after with great care."

  It took all of Rohan's resolve to bid her farewell, but somehow he managed it.

  The Dowager would be waiting, and, as he had told Anamara, his duty bade him go when he would much rather have stayed.

  In the short space of time when Rohan had been gathering what he considered the proper gear for Her Gracious Highness, the Dowager Queen, Ysa had found a moment to send for a certain other lady and give her instructions.

  Lady Jacyne was, to Ysa's amusement, very uncomfortable at being summoned into the Dowager's presence. And well she might be, Ysa thought. After all, as the last of a long string of the late King Florian's mistresses, she had been deeply involved in Florian's scheme to poison his half-sister, Ashen. That Jacyne had been duped by Florian was of small concern; what did matter was that she was the only survivor of the plot, other than Ashen, of course. Florian was dead; Obern of the Sea-Rovers, Ashen's former husband, was dead; his replacement Gaurin, cemented a better alliance than the Sea-Rovers had ever offered; and Ashen had ceased to be a constant irritation. Ysa smiled to herself. No doubt Jacyne hoped that she had been forgotten, now that she had discovered honesty and faithfulness to her husband.

  "You sent for me, Madame?" the woman said nervously.

  "I did, indeed. Come here."

  The stale smell of the woman's flesh reached the Dowager long before Jacyne approached. Ysa could see the grime in the lines of her throat, and the grubby, untended hands. Her clothes were none too clean, either, even though they were a rusty black that might have hidden some of the soil. Apparently the Lady Jacyne now believed in the mortification of the flesh.

  Ysa folded her own clean, well-manicured hands so that the Four Great Rings were clearly visible. "I have decided to go to the encampment of the Four Armies, and hearten our brave men by my presence. One of my wards, the Lady He-grin, needs a reliable guardian in my absence. You seem to me to be suitable. A purse goes with it, of cours
e."

  "But Madame," Jacyne said, "is not the Lady Hegrin already well looked after by her kinswomen? Even your own former daughter-in-law—"

  Despite her overall contentment at Jacyne's appearance and apparent great change of character, Ysa straightened and turned the full force of her displeasure on the lady. "You dare to question me? Lady Hegrin needs a change of guardians.

  That is all you need to know!"

  Jacyne wilted at once, and Ysa had to struggle to hide her smile.

  "Beg pardon, Madame, it is just that I never dreamed—"

  "Well, your rediscovered virtue is something that I felt deserved a reward," Ysa told her, softening. "I expect you to keep a close and strict eye on Hegrin and not allow her to fall into wanton ways because of—well, call it unfortunate associations." She named the figure she had decided to award Jacyne. "Will that amount be satisfactory, for you to maintain the girl in comfort, if not luxury, and still keep some for yourself?"

  "Oh, more than satisfactory, Madame!" Jacyne cried.

  "Please, know that you can count on me to oversee your ward very carefully indeed!"

  Ysa could fairly see the woman calculating sums, and knew that Hegrin would probably not get the benefit of any of the money that Jacyne would receive. No new dresses every week for Hegrin. That did not entirely displease the Dowager.

  After all, Hegrin probably had funds of her own to maintain herself, and in any event, she was the Bog-Princess's daughter.

  She dismissed Jacyne. "Now go," she said, handing the woman a folded paper.

  "This is your warrant both for the custody of the girl, and to call on my privy purse."

  Lady Jacyne bowed herself out and when she was gone, Ysa allowed herself to smile openly. So much for that stupid little snip Anamara, who had slipped from the Dowager's control, and so much also for that slut who had trapped Flo-rian into marriage and now was on the verge of bearing a child of someone little better than the lowest rank of noble.

  Ysa could not prevent Hegrin from associating with King Peres, for it was by his command that she now lived in Ren-delsham, inside the very castle. But with

  Jacyne now playing watchdog, the chances of an unfortunate alliance were lessened. She could now go off with a clear conscience on that fool's errand the

  Wysen-wyf of the Bog was insisting upon.

  A week later, Hegrin and Peres sat at a table facing each other, with a game board set up between them. Hegrin leaned her head on her hand, her mind obviously not on the game. Peres glanced at her keenly. The placement of the pieces, determined by a roll of the dice, seemed certain to give Hegrin an early, easy win. She had not, however, taken her opening advantage, and Peres knew this was unlike her.

  "Is anything wrong, sweet coz?" he asked.

  She looked up, startled, opened her mouth as if to speak, and shook her head instead.

  "Be frank with me, my dear cousin. I feel there is something amiss. How can I help if I don't know about it?"

  "Please, Your Majesty, I don't think there's anything you can do."

  Peres turned over a game piece, ending the contest. "I am the King," he said, smiling. "What is there I can't do?"

  "But it's your granddam's order—" Hegrin clapped her hand over her mouth.

  "Aha," Peres said, keeping his tone neutral. Her again, he thought. "It is my orders that count, coz. Remember that. Now, what has Granddam Ysa done this time? Let us see what we can do to make you smile again."

  The urge to confide in him overrode any instructions Hegrin might have been given to hold her tongue. "I am no longer in the care of my Aunt Anamara and my

  Aunt Ran-norel" she said hotly. "Instead, I am given into the keeping of Lady

  Jacynel" The way she spoke her name told Peres plainly how odious Hegrin considered the lady to be.

  Despite his best intentions, Peres raised his brows in some surprise. Naturally, he had heard all the rumors and knew that his late father had been involved with

  Jacyne in a sordid relationship just before his death, and before he, Peres, had been born. Now why would his granddam replace Lady Anamara and his mother with this one-time trollop as her guardian?

  The answer lay in thinking the way Granddam Ysa did.

  Peres was schooled enough in this, having observed it all his life and, on occasion, had used his granddam's scheming ways to outmaneuver her. He knew his granddam was very vexed with his mother, Rannore, even though she now strove to hide it. She must be vexed with Anamara, too, though there had been nothing even remotely like the row that had occurred between the two women when his mother had returned to Court, married to someone she loved, but whom Granddam thought beneath her. He smiled at the thought that even while this row was going on, he was knighting Lathrom a second time and granting him lands and manors enough to make him rich. Granddam had been very wroth indeed, when she learned of it.

  Therefore, the Lady Jacyne must serve some other purpose. Then he understood.

  Jacyne owed the Dowager much, while the other two ladies—his mother especially—did not. Granddam was using Hegrin to punish Anamara and his mother.

  And Peres knew this to be grossly unfair.

  "Whom do you wish to have as your guardian?" he asked Hegrin. "There must be someone, while your mother and father are away."

  "Of course," Hegrin replied. "I was most happy with my aunts. There was no cause to tear me from what family I have close at hand during these perilous days."

  "And you aren't happy with Lady Jacyne?"

  Hegrin made a face. "She tries to be very holy. She is always reading to me from some book on how to behave, and she makes me go to the Fane twice a day, morning and evening, and she never laughs or even smiles. I must embroider—not clothes for Aunt Rannore's new baby, but silly little mottos instead that are supposed to 'improve my mind.'

  She makes me eat gruel for my supper because she thinks I am too fond of sweets—well, I suppose I am, but eating gruel won't cure me of that. But the worst is—" She leaned closer and her voice assumed a confidential tone. "She doesn't wash and she smelbV

  "Smells."

  "Yes. And won't even use any perfume to try to cover it up. Neither Aunt Rannore nor Aunt Anamara smell, but that's because they wash every day." Hegrin looked down again, and her cheeks grew pink. "Lady Jacyne even disapproves when I wash." Then she gazed at Peres, a plea in her green-blue eyes. "She's trying to make me over to be just like her! And I hate it, coz, I simply hate it!" She bit her lip. "Your Majesty, I mean."

  "When we are alone, you may call me 'coz,' or even by my name," Peres said. "I am your friend, just as you are mine. We two are like bits of sea-wrack, washed up on shore just now. And I will not have any sweet coz of mine so ill-treated."

  He got to his feet and went to a desk in this room he had designated as his own, where he could play games or read or talk, or otherwise behave as one his age and not necessarily as the King of Rendel. Rummaging through the mess he had allowed to accumulate atop the surface, he found a piece of paper and then, eventually, a quill and inkwell. With a sure hand he wrote a few words, sanded the writing, folded the paper and dropped wax from the nearest candle, sealing it with his own signet. Then he tugged on a bell pull and a few moments later his personal body servant, a youth named Tamkin who was a few years older than he, appeared.

  "Please find the Lady Jacyne and inform her that I will see her in the Council chamber within the hour," he told Tamkin.

  "Yes, sire," Tamkin said, and hurried off to do the King's bidding.

  "Here, coz," Peres said, handing Hegrin the paper. "This officially rescinds

  Granddam Ysa's orders, just as I will inform your former guardian. You are now returned to the care of your aunts, just as before."

  He was rewarded by seeing a veritable sunrise of a smile break over Hegrin's features. "Oh, thank you, Your Majesty 1" she cried.

  "Then I take it you are pleased."

  "I am happier than I can tell you."

  "Good. I don't ha
ve to see the Lady Jacyne for an hour, and if it's a little longer than that, the wait will do her good. We still have time to play that game, and do it properly this time, if you like."

  The dimple at the corner of her mouth danced mischievously. "Oh, I do like, coz, and this time I'll beat you fair and proper, too!"

  He laughed aloud, pleased anew that he had thought to have his fair cousin brought to Court. Sometimes he felt that the weight of the entire world was on his shoulders, and she provided exactly the kind of gay diversion he needed. He was growing very fond of her.

  And also, he admitted to himself, thwarting one of Granddam Ysa's mean little actions was quite pleasant as well.