When the Saints

CHAPTER 35

Except that he did not arrive in the kitchen, but in the vineyard outside. That was what happened when workadays were present to witness. He must ask Justina to explain how this worked.

Justina was standing at the big table, chopping cheese into tiny fragments, but she was talking to someone in a tongue Wulf did not know.

He leaned against the stone table in the warm sunshine that always seemed to permeate Avlona and thought about all the things he must do, and in what order. When time was so short, it must not be wasted chasing false scents. It wasn’t sunset tomorrow that was his most urgent deadline, it was sunset today. Here in Greece the day was obviously closer to ending than it felt under Italy’s cloudy skies. Last night he had made an appointment with Crown Prince Konrad, a date he had never meant to keep, but now obviously must, even if it killed him, as it well might.

There were more discarded golden vine leaves lying under the trellises than there had been yesterday, so even at Avlona fall must come. Otto’s advice would be vital. Otto was still brooding at that same window. Why? Vlad was doggedly wading through the snow on thev battlements, his shadow going ahead of him. Neither man seemed to be talking to anyone. Anton… All he could detect from Anton was a shadowy fog, vague images forming and dissolving. Wulf had learned enough about talent now to know that this meant sleep. No doubt Anton had been interviewing candidates for the position of count’s chief concubine.

Otto, then. Wulf stepped through into the room and coughed politely.

Otto spun around. His face registered fright, then relief. The brothers took one pace apiece and crashed together in an embrace. They hugged like bears and thumped backs.

“We were so worried about you!”

Wulf laughed. “Not as worried as I was. And I’m not out of the swamp yet.”

“Then you haven’t been hired as the pope’s court jester?”

“Um… It does look like that, doesn’t it?” From Otto’s grin, Wulf knew he must be blushing. “Latest Italian style. You rustics can’t appreciate fashion. Seriously, I am frantically short of time and I need counsel. You’re the family expert on law.”

Otto faked a glare. “Are you looking for a fight?”

“No. Give me your hand and don’t let go.” Wulf gripped Otto’s wrist and pulled him into limbo. Otto yelped. “Don’t let go!” Wulf repeated. “You’re quite safe otherwise. This is limbo.”

“Where unbaptized babies go?”

“Haven’t seen any around. We can’t be spied on here, so please listen, because this is vital. The king is very close to death. The prince has yet to father an heir. Suppose he meets with an accident right after he succeeds?”

Otto’s eyes narrowed. “That is not a comfortable speculation, and could be a dangerous one to make in public. Are you hinting that he is likely to meet with an accident?”

“Let’s keep this on a just-suppose level,” Wulf said, with a smile meaning, Yes. “Next in line is his sister. A woman can reign, can’t she?”

“I expect so. Roman law doesn’t apply here. Jorgary has never had a queen regnant but many countries have: Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Bosnia. But-”

“But she is only sixteen and unmarried.”

“That does get tricky,” Otto admitted, rubbing his chin with his free hand. “Back in Dobkov we’ve never worried overmuch about palace politics. When the king calls, we go to war, and that’s tat?hat. A few kings have succeeded at that age or younger, but a woman… I imagine she would, but she’d get married off very quickly.”

“Who would choose the lucky bridegroom?”

“Even trickier. I’d think the Assembly of Nobles. Or a civil war.”

“But if she were already married to a personable, popular young man of royal blood with no especial enemies?”

Otto took his time responding, probably wondering what his kid brother had fallen into now. Yesterday lifting a siege, today settling the political future of the country? Whatever would he get up to tomorrow?

“Then her husband would probably be granted the crown matrimonial. In other words, be made king. Officially appointed by his wife, no doubt, but in reality by the Assembly of Nobles.”

Of which Anton Count Magnus must now be a member, while a mere baron would not. That was ironic, but Wulf did not mention it. “But what if she were married to someone totally unsuitable? Say a blind old invalid, or a boy much younger than herself, or a congenital idiot?”

Otto looked even more unhappy, appalled at where this was obviously leading. “Then I doubt if she would be allowed to rule at all. She might be allowed to wear the crown, but a Council of Regency would wield the power. With a civil war always looming on the horizon. She’d become a pawn… Very nasty. Does that answer your question?”

Wulf nodded glumly. “It’s what I expected.”

“So which do we have to look forward to? The personable foreign prince, or one of the horrors?”

“That will depend.”

“On what?”

Wulf shrugged. “Possibly on me.”

“And which side is planning to have the new king meet with an accident?”

“Both of them.”

“Then you must tell Cardinal Zdenek as soon as-” Otto stopped when he saw Wulf’s bitter smile.

Wulf said, “What was the name of those rocks that would clash together to crush the Argonauts when they tried to sail between them?”

“The Symplegades.”

“That’s where I am, except I’m between two clashing cardinals. One wants to marry Laima to his nephew, who may not be too bad but isn’t what he claims to be. The other plans to her planmarry her off to an impossible king so he will be left alone to run the country for the Assembly. I am almost certain that both sides intend to dispose of the young king before he can louse up the country too badly.”

“Is he really as bad as they say he is?”

Not knowing the answer, Wulf shrugged. “I remember Father saying that kings were like babies: you just have to take what you get.”

Aghast, Otto said, “And it’s up to you to stop them?”

“Me and Madlenka. I was a criminal idiot to involve her! Pray that she’ll come out of this safely. Now you’re up to date, and you’ve confirmed what I feared. I must go before the sun sets.”

“Wait!”

“What?”

Then Otto seemed to think the better of whatever he had been about to say. He shrugged and smiled wanly. “It doesn’t matter now. When will we see you again?”

“Tomorrow, I hope. The day after more likely. If not then, then likely never.”

Wulf opened a gate into the Unicorn Room. Vlad had returned and was standing at the window, staring out, so he did not notice his brothers’ arrival. Otto stepped through and Wulf went back to Avlona.