Chapter Four
The afternoon was turning towards evening, with the sun settling into the western horizon. Blue, cloudless sky was swallowed by unpleasant looking clouds. They rolled in with a bitter wind that was fragrant with the promise of rain. The change of weather seemed ominous, and certainly the young niece of the nobleman appeared to be unnerved by the approaching storm. She had wrapped her cloak tightly about her thin frame, her face lost in the shadow of the satin lined hood. Sparhawk felt a soft wave of pity for the young woman, for whom he did not doubt, was experiencing the world for the first time.
The rut in the road, pointed out by the nobleman, was alarmingly deep. Sparhawk looked at it with chagrin. It seemed to him the stretch of road between Cimmura and Lenda was in a constant state of disrepair, no matter how much money the Queen spent in its maintenance.
"And so I sent my nephew back to the city of Lenda to find a man to repair the carriage and to take my niece's maid to a physician," the man finished. He sighed heavily, "I suppose we'll just have to postpone my meeting with the Earl himself."
"Your business is with the Earl of Lenda?" Sparhawk asked, interrupting the man as he spoke the name of an old friend.
"Yes Sir Knight," the man said. He looked at his niece briefly and then returned his attention to Sparhawk. There was furrowing of his brow; concern and curiosity open in the Baron's face. "Is there something we should know?"
Sparhawk sighed, his shoulders slumping as the words found their way to his lips. "Lenda has taken to his bed. The physicians seem to feel that he hasn't many days left in this world."
"Is he alert?" the man asked. His niece moved from the carriage, joining her uncle's side, placing a gloved hand on his wrist.
"The message sent by my wife didn't say, that's our reason for returning to Cimmura," Sparhawk said with a gesture to indicate Kalten and Ulath, who flanked him. "Your business with Lenda was urgent I presume?"
"Well, more urgent now than it was a few hours ago I suppose," the noble said. He wrapped an arm around his niece's shoulders. The girl stepped closer into his protective embrace. The man's brows knit. "Did you say your wife sent you a message? You're not related to the Earl are you? I was under the impression that he had no living relatives."
"My wife and I are closely acquainted with Lenda," Sparhawk said with a smile. The deception wasn't necessary, and in the wake of it he felt a bit guilty for it. "I'm Sir Sparhawk – "
"The preceptor of the Pandion order, and Prince Consort to the Queen Ehlana," the man finished with a quick grin. He pointed to Sparhawk's face. "Your fame precedes you, and your nose precedes even that. Well met Sir Sparhawk, I'm Baron Baurduna of Dieros, this is my niece, Iona."
Sparhawk nodded towards Iona, who dipped her head but said nothing in response. Whatever she felt at this meeting would remain private as Iona kept her cloak firmly in place.
"My companions are Sir Kalten," Sparhawk said, gesturing first to the blonde Pandion on his left, and then to the hulking Genedian on his right, "and Sir Ulath."
"Well met all," the Baron said with a gentle incline of his head.
"I don't mean to be rude, but," Kalten trailed off and looked up meaningfully at the darkening sky. The wind had been gathering strength while Sparhawk and Baurduna had been talking. Kalten went on, "if we don't plan on getting rained on, it might not be a bad idea to get moving."
"Perhaps you and your niece would finish the journey with us?" Sparhawk asked. "The road ahead is rough, we would be glad to offer security to yourself and Lady Iona."
"That would be fine," Baurduna said.
"Will your niece be comfortable riding, and without a saddle?" Kalten asked. There was a doubtful expression as the knight regarded Iona.
"I'm an accomplished rider," the young woman said in an offended tone. She turned with a rustle of skirts and cloak and took the reins of one of the horses. Before her uncle could get to her side Iona had pulled herself onto the back of the beast. She looked quite comfortable there and, without waiting, pushed the horse into a canter.
"Forgive my niece sir knights," the Baron said mournfully, mounting another of the horses. There was a rueful smile on his face. "She is blessed with the trappings of youth."
Together the knights rode on, joined by Baurduna and Iona. The additional horses were tied behind the Baron's to prevent them from straying. The storm chased the party along the road as it twisted along the banks of the Cimmura river. The sun set was lost behind the clouds roiling with thunder. The edges were illuminated with lightening.
Rounding the last bend in the road the east gate came into view, and the guards recognizing Sparhawk, waved them through without emerging from their meager shelters. The streets were busy, despite the bad turn of weather, so they were forced to slow their progress. They pulled their horses to a walk, threading through the crowd just as the broken-nosed Pandion felt the first few drops of rain on his brown. Merchants were hurrying to close their shops, and in passing Sparhawk saw more than few pushing people from their establishments only to shutter the windows and close the door.
"Sir Sparhawk," Baurduna called, pushing his mount beside Faren. "Our inn isn't far from here, my niece and myself will say our farewell now."
"Nonsense, if your business is with Lenda it might be a better idea to stay at the palace," Sparhawk said. He shivered as a colder blast of wind assaulted them. It carried a wet drivel of rain that dampened his cloak and hair.
The Baron was regarding him with a doubtful expression, and Sparhawk was certain he was going to refuse. The Pandion had no desire to press the issue, but finally Baurduna nodded. "You have a good point Sir Sparhawk, let me speak with my niece."
"Your nephew won't attempt to travel the road tonight I hope?"
"Vesban may be a horrible gambler, but I'm certain he wouldn't take that chance," Baurduna told him. "He's smart enough to find an inn back in Lenda."
With that the massive Baron pulled gently on the reins and dropped back to ride alongside Iona. They pushed onto the palace, and by the time they reached the gates the streets were empty.
They rode into the courtyard and a few groomsmen emerged from the stables. Baurduna dismounted quickly and helped Iona from her horse. Sparhawk gave instructions to the grooms as the party dismounted in the courtyard. The young man who took Faren's reins from him eyed the massive war horse and did his best to stay as far as possible from it. The years had given the palace groomsmen enough experience with the aging war mount they no longer needed Sparhawk's warnings. As Sparhawk led the way up the stairs he glanced back. He saw Faren snort loudly, throwing his head in the direction of the groom who jumped and dropped the reins with a startled oath.
In the great hall the party was met by an older servant, a woman wearing clothes of plainly cut wool dyed in somber colors. She bowed respectfully to Sparhawk.
"Would you please see that the Baron and his niece are provided with comfortable apartments and ask the kitchens to bring them a hot dinner?" Sparhawk asked of her.
"And, please Sir Knight, might we borrow a messenger to deliver a note for my nephew," Baurduna asked, to which Sparhawk nodded and added a promise that the messenger would also bring news to their room about the Earl's condition.
"Until the morning then," Sparhawk said. He left the Baron and his niece in the hands of the servant woman. He said goodnight to Ulath and Kalten, and made his way for the private apartment that he shared with his wife and daughter. The sitting room was warmly lit, and a cheery fire glowed in the hearth. Sparhawk was immediately swallowed in the warmth of the room, and he took off the damp cloak even as Ehlana rose from the velvet sofa.
"Oh, Sparhawk," she breathed, putting aside the book that had been keeping her occupied. Unmindful of her husband's damp tunic Ehlana leaned into his embrace. Sparhawk threw his cloak onto the back of a chair and folded Ehlana within his arms. She looked up, rising to kiss him warmly and then murmured, "Welcome home."
I would like to thank ReginaAngelium for the excellent suggestions and hard work as my beta reader.
