The Angry Boy Chapter 78
"If we have the power and the means, then we must help." ― Seth Adam Smith, Rip Van Winkle and the Pumpkin Lantern
Bredin and Mani arrived at the town of Grenze a sennight before Midwinter. The border with Hardorn ran right through the town, marked by a wall that a child of six could scramble over.
Technically, it was two towns, one in Valdemar and one in Hardorn, each with its own mayor, council and magistrates, but no one paid much attention to the border. People shopped on both sides. Valdemaran crowns and shillings and Hardornen korony and marks changed hands freely among the buyers and sellers. Even the noble families – the DuGrenzes of Valdemar and the von Kleists of Hardorn – were related: Baron Piers DuGrenze had married his daughter to Graf Ulrich von Kleist.
As Herald, Mani could only deal with Valdemaran issues. When issues involving citizens of both countries arose, there would be careful negotiation as to what nation's law would apply. Sometimes, magistrates from both countries would judge those cases in tandem. In such cases, Mani legally could only advise the joint magistrates; while he could Truth Spell a Valdemaran, the rules forbade him to place it on a Hardornen citizen. Fortunately, relations were amicable and few cases were ever referred to the special court that the two nations had set up to handle matters that could not be settled locally.
At the Herald's hearings, Mani judged only cases that were purely Valdemaran. Even so, Bredin noted several Hardornens among the listeners. The Hardornens seemed impressed by Mani's fairness and his direct way of handling issues. They were a little nervous when Mani or Bredin placed the Truth Spell on a witness or complainant and quietly discussed it amongst themselves in Hardornen.
To Bredin's amusement, Hardornens approached Mani on two occasions to settle arguments between them. Mani deftly avoided hearing their disputes by pointing out that he had no authority to do so, then pointedly suggested a few questions that they should ask themselves.
Each nation had an army contingent with quarters near the official border crossing. Bredin and Mani stayed in the Valdemaran guard post, which was commanded by Colonel Ivan Meadows. His counterpart on the Hardornen side was Oberst Hans Kriegman. The two commanders and their men got along well; soldiers from both sides frequently visited the other's mess.
One evening, Hardornen Leutnant Oskar Weber sat beside Bredin. The young man had drunk a little too heavily. "I hear you have a little problem with your Heir being a bit of a brat." Bredin stared at him in shock. Bredin had heard rumors of the behavior of Princess Elspeth; like all Heralds and Trainees, he tried never to mention it. Bredin could see Oskar's fellow Hardornens staring at the young officer in horror as the Oskar went on. "We've got an Heir problem, too. Young Ancar, he's a mean little bugger…."
"Oskar, I think it is time we leave." Leutnant Max Mueller interrupted forcefully. Oskar stared at him for a moment, then realized what he had said and where he was.
Oskar flushed. "I apologise," he said, "I appear to have over-indulged in your fine beer."
He and the other Hardornens left together.
##
Mani finished the review for Grenze three days before Midwinter; he and Bredin would stay in Grenze until after the Midwinter celebrations were over. To celebrate, Mani took Bredin to an inn on the Hardornen side of the town for dinner.
Despite the friendly smiles of the black uniformed Hardornen border guards as they casually waved the two Heralds through, Bredin shivered as he entered a foreign country for the first time. The Löwentatze was only a hundred yards on the Hardornen side of the border, but even in the short walk, Bredin noticed subtle differences like the appearance of the Hardornen Oak instead of the Windrider on official buildings.
Bredin had studied Hardornen in the Collegium. Though he was nowhere near as fluent as he was in Karsite, his vocabulary was adequate and he had little trouble understanding the speakers as they passed. Many Hardornens recognized the Herald's uniforms and greeted them with waves and polite 'hallos' as they passed.
The host welcomed them to the Löwentatze and showed them to a table near some Hardornen officers; Bredin recognized Leutnant Mueller, but Leutnant Weber was nowhere to be seen. The officers greeted the Heralds courteously, then turned back to their own conversation, leaving Bredin and Mani politely alone. There was a minstrel playing on a raised dais to one side. The lighting was subdued and the room smelled clean with only the slightest odor of savory foods.
Unfamiliar with Hardornen fare, Bredin allowed Mani to order for him; the Senior Herald chose a veal schnitzel with roasted potatoes and red cabbage along with a white wine. Unlike the better inns in Valdemar, there were no salads and there were thick slices of fresh rye bread instead of rolls.
The schnitzel was tender; the rich gravy and light spices saved it from being too heavy. Bredin ate heartily, enjoying the food and wine while Mani explained some Hardornen dining customs.
Bredin choked. The strains of the minstrel's music penetrated during a lull in the conversation. The melody was unmistakeable, the words were Hardornen, quite faithfully translated from Valdemaran. The minstrel was singing 'The Grey Stallion'. A few of the patrons, including the Hardornen officers, were merrily singing along. Bredin heard Lacaral's mental snicker.
Mani looked concerned when Bredin choked, then his expression showed he was talking to Caiseal. Mani grinned at his intern and tapped him mockingly on the head.
::Don't you dare tell them.:: Bredin mindspoke Mani.
::Or what, greenie?:: Mani was still grinning. ::I won't. But only because they wouldn't believe me. Nobody expects the hero of a song to be in the audience.::
::I wouldn't call it heroic.:: Bredin said.
Mani snickered. ::It certainly sounds like a prodigious – feat.::
Lacaral's mental snort was so forceful that Bredin thought he could hear it with his ears as well as in his mind.
After the inevitable encore of 'The Red Gelding', the minstrel turned to other songs. Relieved, Bredin resumed his meal.
They finished the meal with a light honey-pastry and a kafé-mit-liqueur. They settled their bill and prepared to leave.
As they rose, the Hardornen officers invited Mani and Bredin to join them for luncheon at the Hardornen guardpost tomorrow.
##
Snow began as Mani and Bredin left the Valdemaran guardpost the next morning. It grew thicker as they wandered the Hardornen side of the town for a candlemark. Mani pointed out features of Hardornen decoration until the snowfall became too thick to make anything out. Fortunately, there was little wind and the snow settled gently as it piled up. By the time they reached the Hardornen guardpost, the snowfall was so dense that they could barely see a dozen yards ahead.
Leutnant Weber stood at rigid attention outside of the entry. Several inches of snow covered the hood of his cloak and his shoulders. The leutnant gulped as he recognized them. "Welcome, gentlemen." He said in Valdemaran. "You are expected. Please go in."
The two Heralds went to the door. A kapral gave a slight bow of greeting and opened the door for them; they returned his bow and went in.
Leutnant Mueller was waiting for them and greeted them with a friendly handshake. After a privaat took their cloaks, Mueller led them to the officers' common room.
"I had hoped you would bring your horses." Leutnant Mueller said. "They're magnificent beasts."
Bredin got the sensation of a mental eye-roll from Lacaral.
"Hardly necessary for such a short distance." Mani said smoothly in Hardornen. "Also, with the snow on the cobbles, too much chance of twisting a hock or fetlock."
"Very true!" Mueller agreed. "Please have a seat."
An orderly brought around mugs and poured kafé for them. The Heralds and officers conversed for a candlemark while the waited for luncheon.
The Hardornens asked if they had been to the Iftel border. When Mani said they had, the Hardornens became very interested, quizzing him on the experience.
"I have touched it myself." Leutnant Mueller. "Only touched it. I could not go a finger-length beyond."
"I have never been there," Major Huber said, "but I have heard stories of giant cat-creatures and flying monsters. I would dismiss such stories if I had not heard them from men I trust who were not noted for joking or telling fables."
"We have heard similar stories." Mani said. "I tend to believe them, but who really knows?"
Bredin could see Mani had no intention of speaking about what they had seen. He decided to keep silent. He guessed that the Hardornens would not believe his description of T'Charol, Tashiketh and Mochghar.
::They might think Heralds were a little madder than they'd suspected.:: Lacaral suggested wryly.
They passed the time in casual conversation until time for luncheon, when they moved to the officer's mess. Bredin noted that, unlike Valdemaran guard posts, the officers and enlisted men ate in separate rooms. Bredin and Mani, as guests of honor, sat on either side of Oberst Kriegman.
The fare was excellent, beginning with a thick, tasty fish soup followed by slices of cooked ham and finely chopped pickled cabbage and beets.
They had just moved on to the cheeses when an orderly rushed in, followed by a richly dressed man with a tabard of three lions on his breast. Oberst Kriegman and his officers jumped to their feet as the man entered. Bredin and Mani rose with the Hardornens. Obviously a highborn, Bredin thought. He noted the man appeared almost frantic.
"Graf von Kleist, what brings you here? How can I help you?" Oberst Kriegman said.
"It is Reinhardt." The nobleman said. "He rode out this morning before the snow started and has not returned. I need your help to find him."
As Graf von Kleist spoke, Bredin's farsight showed him the boy, frantically looking around, trying to find his way in the woods. His horse looked lame.
::I am on my way, Chosen.:: Lacaral said. The men of the guardpost would know to tack up the Companion as soon as Lacaral positioned himself in the aisle of the stable and demanded their attention.
Bredin cleared his throat loudly. The nobleman and commander looked at him, slightly annoyed at the interruption.
"I know where he is. I can find him." Bredin said. Both of the Hardornens looked at him incredulously. "Really, I can. I have an insight for such things. My Companion comes to me now and we will bring Reinhardt back to you."
Out of the corner of his eye, Bredin saw several of the officers make surreptitious warding gestures.
"I have heard that you Heralds have weirding powers." Oberst Kriegman said. "Are you sure you can find them? We would not have you lost as well."
Bredin nodded. "I can see your son even as we speak." He said to the nobleman. "He is wearing a bright blue cloak with black trim. His gloves are red and his breeks are white with a black and gold stripe down the side. His horse is black with white stockings on his back legs. Your son is in the woods about two hundred yards from the road, about a mile and a half from town."
Graf von Kleist's eyes widened as Bredin described his son's attire. He licked his lips and glanced at the Oberst.
"Really, Ulrich. I think he can do this." Oberst Kriegman said.
The nobleman nodded and Bredin went to the door. The privaat there handed Bredin his cloak.
The snow was falling steadily as Bredin went out the door. Leutnant Weber was staring bug-eyed at Lacaral, reaching for the bridle. "He just galloped up and stopped here." He said as Bredin took the reins himself.
Bredin mounted quickly and they disappeared into the flying snow. Behind them, Oberst Kriegman and the Graf prepared to follow.
Bredin and Lacaral shot out of the east gate of Grenze and into the Hardornen countryside. The guards barely had time to see them, let alone challenge them. The snow was already six inches deep. Bredin could see nothing; they moved in a world of featureless white. Bredin worried that Lacaral might misstep and injure himself.
::Don't worry, Chosen. I know where to put my feet.:: Lacaral reassured him.
In a few sunwidths, they reached the path nearest Reinhardt. Lacaral slowed to a trot as they moved into the trees, which loomed out of the white as darker shadows as they passed.
"Hallo!" They could hear the boy calling as they neared his position.
"Hallo!" Bredin called back as Lacaral headed for the sound.
They met the boy coming towards them. His face showed fear as he saw them.
"Junker Reinhardt von Kleist?" Bredin asked.
"Are you a snow-walker?" The boy asked. "How do you know my name?" He was obviously fighting down his terrors.
"I am Herald Bredin Kase of Valdemar. I promised your father I would bring you home." Bredin said as he stopped beside the boy.
"How did you find me? How will you get us home?" Reinhardt asked.
"I have an insight for such things. Believe me, you are safe and we will at your home in no time." Bredin said.
The boy gulped. "Very well. Lead on. But slowly. Odważny is injured and cannot run." He gestured at the horse.
Bredin glanced at the boy's horse and saw it was limping. Lacaral moved to stand beside the horse. "Get over behind me on Lacaral. Odważny can move more easily without your weight on him."
Grabbing Bredin's waist, Reinhardt moved over to sit behind Lacaral's saddle. Once the boy was firmly seated, Lacaral moved off slowly. The boy's horse followed, limping as it went.
"I thought you were a snow-walker, all white and on a white horse." Reinhardt said. Lacaral snorted.
Bredin laughed. "Lacaral does not like to be called a horse. But what is a snow-walker?"
They reached the road and turned back towards the town. Reinhardt told Bredin the legend of the snow-walkers, who were winter spirits that carried people off to the Ice Kingdom where the travellers would be lost for eternity.
By the time Reinhardt finished the tale, the town gate loomed out of the flying snow before them. A large group of people waited anxiously for them. A cheer went up as the crowd saw them.
A woman in a rich red cloak ran forward. "Reinhardt!" she cried, stretching out her arms. Reinhardt slid down from Lacaral's back and embraced his mother.
Graf von Kleist came up to Bredin, his hand outstretched. "My greatest thanks, Herald."
Bredin jumped down to shake the nobleman's hand.
After fervent greetings, the group moved away from the gate. Graf von Kleist, his family and their retainers headed for their manor house while Bredin, Mani and the Hardornen officers returned to the Hardornen guardpost.
Bredin and Mani intended to stop for only a moment, but the Hardornens insisted that they spend more time with them. When Bredin pleaded that they needed to get Lacaral back to the stable, the Hardornens invited the Companion into the officers' common room as well. Apparently, the officers brought their horses into the common room on some occasions; Bredin saw the orderly roll his eyes and shrug in resignation as Lacaral came in.
The Hardornens congratulated and thanked Bredin for rescuing Reinhardt. They expressed their amazement that he had been able to do it so quickly, but became uneasy when Bredin discussed his 'insight'. Instead, they preferred to discuss and admire Lacaral.
::I don't mind the admiration, but I wish they'd stop asking for breedings to their mares.:: Lacaral said with exasperation.
::Considering how often you and Caiseal have been enjoying one another for the last six moons, I would think you would be flattered.:: Bredin couldn't resist teasing.
Lacaral pinned his ears and mimed a bite at Bredin.
At last, with evening approaching Mani, Bredin and Lacaral made their excuses and took their leave.
Graf von Kleist was naturally grateful and invited the Heralds to join them for their Midwinter Feast. At his son's insistence, the nobleman included Lacaral and Caiseal in his invitation.
Bredin knew that the Valdemaran guardsmen expected Mani and him to attend the Valdemaran feast. Pleading the conflict, he suggested that he and Mani come the next evening instead, which Graf von Kleist agreed to.
::It would probably be wall-to-wall highborn anyways.:: Lacaral commented. ::Hardornens are very rank-conscious. Some of them would be quite snooty if they found out you were a saddle maker's son.::
The two Heralds attended the nobleman's dinner the night following Midwinter. Ulrich von Kleist and his wife Hera greeted them warmly. Someone had obviously briefed the nobleman that Companions were 'special' as the stables for Lacaral and Caiseal were immaculately cleaned and brightly lit. They were also well away from the real horses. Reinhardt was enthusiastic about the Companions and lingered as long as possible to visit them. His mother had to order him to return to the main hall.
The dinner was elaborately served. Bredin found the protocol far more stiff and fussy than any meal he had ever eaten. The food was extremely rich and varied, with a choice of several meat courses, soups, vegetables, fruits and wines. Even Baron Jan Nilsen's feasts had been nowhere near as ostentatious. There were also minstrels and other entertainers who performed as the Graf and his guests ate.
::You might have seen something like this at a High Feast in the Palace or at Lord Orthallen's, but Hardornens in general put on more of a display.:: Lacaral said. ::Part of the reason for the display is a competition to outdo their peers.::
Bredin's training in Courtly Graces served him well and he made it through the evening without any serious faux pas.
They remained in Grenze for another sennight until the roads were finally cleared of snow before moving on in their circuit.
##
After midwinter, Mani alternated with Bredin on the village visits: Mani would conduct the hearing and reviews in one village and Bredin in the next. Bredin would listen and ask questions when Mani took charge; Mani would listen and offer comments in the waystation when Bredin gave judgements.
Only once had Bredin had to ask for Mani's help: A series of deaths due to old age and disease had left four inter-related estates in utter confusion. Due to intermarriage between cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews over several generations, the family relationships were a confused tangle. Bredin snickered when he realized that one young man was technically 'his own grandpa' as the old joke went.
Together, Bredin and Mani had spent two days painstakingly putting together the family trees showing all the relationships. Mani said he had never seen such a mess himself and commented that there was no way to make the inheritance laws fit the situation.
Eventually, they hammered out a solution and, by convoluted negotiations, brought the heirs into agreement. Mani's only comment afterwards was "I still can't believe that. I think we did the best we could. Let's go to the tavern."
##
"That's about where I'd 'a put the post." Sammy Parker nodded at the marker "No more'n a foot from there."
"I'd 'a put it about ten feet that way." Giles Horne pointed to his own side of the line. "But if Sammy's fine with it there, I ain't gonna argue."
Bredin looked at the two men. Both had weathered faces and they were both a bit stooped from their years, but they still looked healthy. "If you two are so agreeable, I don't understand why you needed me to reset the line. It would have saved me a lot of work."
Bredin had spent the whole morning searching through old records in the Tappen village office to find the records of the original line and the triangulation points for the markers.
"Sorry, Herald." Giles said. "It just had to be done and figured you could do it for us."
Bredin stifled his exasperation. "Why did you wait so long? This should have been done ages ago."
"T'was never that important." Sammy said. "Me and Giles always got along and it never mattered between us. We've been friends over sixty years and a foot or two of land weren't no difference on way or t'other."
"So why now?" Bredin asked. "And you still haven't told me why you needed me to do it."
The two men looked at each other and then glanced pointedly at the two women who waited about fifty yards away. Bredin suppressed a smile; the way Giles and Sammy mirrored each other showed that the two men had known each other so well and so long that they thought alike.
"T'ain't us." Sammy said. "It's our sons' wives. They're set to fight at the drop of a pin."
Bredin glanced at the two women. They were speaking to each other with forced smiles on their faces that told him each would cheerfully murder the other if they thought they could get away with it. Bredin reflected that if either had turned those smiles on him, he would have jumped on Lacaral's back and ridden away as fast as he could.
::Fifty miles might be enough. But I wouldn't stop for a hundred miles just to be safe.:: Lacaral put in.
"We're gettin' on." Giles added. "We wanted this settled up for certain clear before we go so none's got reason to fight over it."
Sammy nodded. "'xactly. Thad and Liam got along fine, but their women hated each other from the start. They were always lookin' to prod Thad and Liam into saying the other cheated somehow. After the boys died, they fought over every little thing. Poisoned their children against each other, too."
Bredin knew that Thad Parker had died in the second year of the Tedrel Wars. Liam had succumbed to a congestion of the lungs the following winter. Now Bredin understood the wisdom of the two men.
"So, you figure if a Herald sets the boundary, they can't pick a fight over it?"
Both men nodded. "Right, Herald Bredin. They can't argue with none of you." Giles said.
Bredin laughed. "Well, if it saves one of my fellow Heralds an argument on a future circuit, I guess it is worth taking the time now." He glanced at Mani, who smiled his approval.
All of them returned to the village square. Bredin was grateful that the sun had broken through, warming the air enough that it truly felt that spring was coming. He much preferred hearing cases in the fresh outdoors to crowding into a stuffy village hall that was either musty and overheated or damp, drafty and cold. Sometimes, they were both, depending on where you sat. Even worse were villages without a village hall where he and Mani had to either a dusty threshing floor or a cramped, foetid tavern.
At the village, Bredin heard the last few cases for the visit, ending with a ridiculous quarrel over who owned the eggs a stray chicken had laid in the neighbor's barn.
"You should be grateful that Pol Black returned your chicken unharmed." Bredin scolded the owner. "For your ingratitude, I am ordering that you provide him with a dozen fresh eggs, whole and in a basket, within a sennight." Bredin specified to ensure that the owner did not find a way to cheat.
Done, the Heralds returned to the waystation. Mani questioned Bredin as usual, but offered no criticism. "You have done very well." He said. "I am sure you will do fine on your own."
Bredin smiled. Mani's next words put a chill down his spine.
"You are going to have to. Caiseal and I will be returning to Haven tomorrow. You will have to finish the circuit on yourself."
Bredin's jaw dropped in surprise.
"Caiseal is pregnant. I have to get her back to Companion's stable before she is too gravid to ride." Mani grinned at him.
Bredin looked at Lacaral. The Companion posed with his neck arched high.