Firebrand

In the corridor outside were more members of the prince’s retinue, blocked from entering the queen’s apartments by a line of forbidding Weapons. Among those who awaited their prince’s return were more counselors and aides, secretaries and body servants, the prince’s personal mender, and some military officers in red. There was also a pair of messengers. The entire retinue was male, for the women in Rhovanny played a much more limited role in their society. It had been heartening to Laren that Tuandre had responded so well to Estora, when not every Rhovan male would have. Of course, she was head of state and this was her realm, so it was required of him to show respect, but Laren also thought he had showed a natural respect.

One of the messengers stepped forward and said, “Green Rider?”

She halted, Anna stopping beside her. The man bore the rank of lieutenant on his shoulders. His gray uniform was ornamented with far more brass and piping than a Green Rider’s, the Rhovan messengers being more tied to the military. Fancier, perhaps, but not as practical. His mustache was also quite grand with curling ends. How did he keep it groomed while on an errand?

“Tell us,” he said in his thick Rhovan accent, his tone haughty, “what occurred within. Why was Counselor Garmell taken away?”

“I believe, Lieutenant, that is for your prince to tell you.” Not caring for his tone, she started to move on, but he stomped in front of her and blocked her.

“I asked you a question,” he snapped.

The other messenger, a corporal, murmured in Rhovan to the lieutenant. The lieutenant barked in Rhovan at him in what could easily be translated to: “Shut up!” The corporal shrugged. The lieutenant then muttered at Laren in Rhovan and she knew enough of the language to recognize that what he was saying about her was unflattering, and that he thought very little of women in uniform.

“I order you to tell me what transpired, woman.”

Order her, did he? She was not going to waste time on the fool, and was about to move on, when Prince Tuandre emerged into the corridor and made straight for her. The two Rhovan messengers straightened to attention.

“Captain!” Prince Tuandre said. The lieutenant glanced around trying to see who his prince addressed.

Laren bowed her head. “Your Highness.”

“I wish to thank you again, Captain, for saving us from disaster. I am going to go see the traitor now. We could use more like you in Randann.”

“Your Renhald is a good man,” she replied. The lieutenant, she saw, was looking dismayed. “I am sure he and the messengers he commands serve you and King Thergood to the utmost.” The lieutenant’s dismay increased. She was, of course, acquainted with her counterpart in Rhovanny, and he would not tolerate, she was sure, the lieutenant’s comportment, especially as a visitor in another realm.

“Yes, yes. Captain Renhald is excellent. But you are always welcome.” The prince actually shook her hand before turning away to speak with his aides.

The corporal spoke again to the lieutenant. She made out that he was explaining the gold knot on her shoulder and the rank it denoted. The corporal looked smug as he spoke, then he straightened and saluted her. The lieutenant, now looking both embarrassed and displeased, executed a precise salute, as well.

“As you were,” Laren said mildly in Rhovan.

Now the lieutenant paled realizing she had understood his unflattering remarks.

“Please give Captain Renhald my kindest regards,” she told him. She smiled inwardly. If the lieutenant worried that she was going to report him to his captain, it was well deserved. She would not, of course, waste her time. How that man had gotten the rank of lieutenant without knowing what her gold knot represented, and his poor behavior as a guest in a foreign kingdom, she could not guess. Renhald was indeed a good captain, and she couldn’t imagine him being pleased with such behavior from one of his officers, but then, things were different in Rhovanny.

Before she could be forestalled by any further idiocy, she strode rapidly down the corridor, Anna hurrying to keep up with her. Once she was down the stairs into the main castle hall, she slowed down. Willis kept at a discreet distance.

“I heard you helped expel the aureas slee,” she said to her young companion. “That was very brave. You prevented it from taking our queen.”

Anna looked down at the floor as they walked. “He-it-didn’t like fire. And I fainted after.”

“Well,” Laren replied, “you remained conscious longer than I did.”

“But you didn’t faint.”

Laren looked at her in surprise. She appeared genuinely upset.

“You or Sir Karigan wouldn’t have fainted,” Anna said fiercely.

Laren halted in the middle of the busy hall and let people flow around her and Anna. “Young lady, most people would have run away and hidden rather than face the aureas slee, even if it meant sacrificing their queen. Do you know what that means? No? It means you are not most people. Look, Karigan and I have a few more years of experience. Be easy on yourself. You’ve done the realm a great service even when no one would have blamed you had you run and hidden instead.”

They set off again, Anna looking only slightly less downcast. Why, Laren wondered, couldn’t this girl, who was earnest, a good worker, and quick thinking, not come into an ability so she could be a Green Rider? But maybe it was for the best for her if she never heard the call and didn’t have to face all the dangers that being a king’s messenger entailed.