Chapter 17 Aleksis
17
Aleksis
The ride to Raven’s Watch had never seemed so slow. It was just as well he had the others with him, or he would have been tempted to push his horse too hard, just to get the thing over and done with. He’d managed to speak with Pavel before they left, asking him to keep an eye on the situation with Stasya, but Pavel did not hold much authority at Dragon’s Keep. It would have been better to leave Matiss at court. But the Ruler had made it clear Matiss was to go with him, and right now it was especially important not to anger the Ruler. As a second guard he’d taken Karolis, who had some knowledge of the warrior monks, having once briefly considered joining their order, a fact that was not known to Bishop Petras and would not be shared with him. And Karolis had a particular advantage: exceptional skills in hand-to-hand combat. When visiting the headquarters of the Church of the Godly, it was wise to take companions who were good fighters.
Since they were on the Ruler’s business, the way could be eased by the showing of credentials. Aleksis had his silver pendant engraved with the Dragon of the Northlands, marking him out as a member of Lady Elisabeta’s inner circle. All three men wore over-tunics with the same dragon embroidered on the breast. The robe Aleksis wore for official court duties was in his pack, carefully folded. Matiss and Karolis bore arms openly, as befitted their role as his protectors. Aleksis kept his own weapons concealed.
They spent the first night at an inn where Aleksis was known; the horses were ready for a rub-down, a good feed and a rest in well-kept stables. The next day’s ride took them along a river valley and across a lake on a sturdily built ferry that could accommodate horses and other livestock. After recent rain the day was fine and the air fresh and sweet. Aleksis found himself thinking how much Stasya would enjoy the beauty of the shining water, with blue sky and scudding clouds reflected there, and the majesty of the wooded hills in the distance. Birds were flying above the boat, perhaps looking for fish, and for a brief time he felt peace in his heart. That feeling dissipated when Raven’s Watch came into view on the far shore. He could never associate that place with peace, not since his earliest encounters with Bishop Petras and his warrior monks.
Lord Kasimir had been a peacemaker. Under his rule, the Northlands had not been involved in any major conflict, whether internally between landowners or town leaders or on a grander scale, with the rulers of neighbouring territories. As for disputes based on faith, belief or superstition, Kasimir had balanced taking a firm hand with a readiness to negotiate, to discuss, and to find solutions that kept everyone relatively calm, if not always delighted. The Northlands had prospered during those years. His death had been a great loss; that he had left only a single heir had been worse than unfortunate. Elisabeta had never lived at Dragon’s Keep prior to becoming Ruler. It had been suggested, once it became clear that she would be her uncle’s sole heir, that she might spend time at court in preparation. There was talk of an appropriate marriage for her, the thinking being to form an alliance with a neighbouring territory. But her visits to court had been brief and infrequent. She’d had a tutor at home and had perhaps believed that education was sufficient. As for a marriage, neither she nor her family had expressed any interest in that idea.
After Kasimir’s passing, it had fallen to Aleksis not only to advise the new Ruler, but to remedy any potentially disastrous gaps in her preparation for the role. At first, they’d done well together; Elisabeta had been eager to learn and unafraid of hard work. She’d seemed keen to do the job well. But as time passed it was as if something were distracting her, making her swift to anger and often impatient. She was apt to dismiss his suggestions if they did not suit her, and some of her decisions had been troubling. Dragon’s Keep itself had changed under her leadership. She dealt severely with those who angered her, was quick to order punishment for even minor offences against the law and allowed certain individuals among the guards remarkable authority when it came to dealing with offenders. He wondered sometimes whether she lacked understanding of what her decisions might mean for the lives of such folk, or whether she simply wished such unsavoury matters to be dealt with out of her sight. He feared she might take the same approach to her dealings with the highborn and powerful, such as Bishop Petras and the leaders of their neighbouring territories. Aleksis was senior adviser, yes. But as Ruler, Elisabeta would always have the final word. His unease had grown with every passing day.
As they crossed the lake and Raven’s Watch came closer, Aleksis found himself glad that Lady Elisabeta and Bishop Petras did not meet in person more often. The Church of the Godly frowned upon the idea of women in positions of authority; a woman as Ruler would be viewed as a disaster, almost an abomination. But the laws of the Northlands must be respected, in public at least, so Petras had attended the ceremony at which the new Ruler was confirmed in her role. He’d been accompanied by a sizeable complement of warrior monks, clad in full uniform and armed to the teeth. Their presence had been something of a challenge for the Ruler’s own guards, and indeed for the whole household at Dragon’s Keep. Petras had congratulated Lady Elisabeta as all the other distinguished guests had done, not once saying what was in more than one mind on that momentous occasion: If only … But there had been something in the Bishop’s manner, a certain note in his voice, that had set Aleksis’s nerves jangling with unease. Matiss had felt the same thing. The man and his all-too-expert fighting squad would need to be watched.
Aleksis himself was not a man of faith. Under Kasimir, many different spiritual paths had existed side by side in the Northlands, with disagreements sometimes played out in heated debate, but never developing into conflict. Bishop Petras was different. He had ambitions. The Church of the Godly had not originated in the Northlands, but in a nation of seafarers far to the south. Warrior monks, with their leaders, had brought the faith first to the Southlands, establishing the new beliefs and practices by force where they deemed it necessary. They had obtained land, and the towers and forts they had built were testament to the support provided by the nobly born and the wealthy. They had recruited new members with promises of a life of action and excitement as a warrior of the faith. Young men had flocked to join, dazzled by the fine uniforms and the demonstrations of martial skill.
Inevitably, the new faith had come next to the Northlands, where Kasimir, then a young Ruler, had already put in place various controls on all formally recognised religions. That had proved to be one of his wisest acts, and the leaders of neighbouring territories had congratulated him – in Petras’s absence – for far-thinking.
‘Nearly there,’ observed Matiss, coming up to the rail beside Aleksis to gaze ahead toward the fortress that housed Petras’s establishment. ‘I can think of places I’d sooner visit.’
‘Mmm.’ Aleksis regarded the somewhat forbidding form of Raven’s Watch, a high-walled establishment built of dark stone. It housed a place of worship and a training ground for warriors, as well as stables, kennels and accommodation for a significant number of men. Bishop Petras had his own private quarters within. There was a settlement of sorts outside the fortress wall; Aleksis had wondered whether, in time of siege, the bishop would allow those who lived there, including women and children, entry into the fortress, which was otherwise exclusively a domain of men. The deity followed by the Church of the Godly was known as the One and Only God. His rules could not be described as egalitarian. And they were strict. ‘Let’s hope we can get this business done quickly, whatever it is. There was scant detail in the message I was shown. I’m not sure why Petras asked for me; he hasn’t always welcomed my advice in the past.’
Matiss lowered his voice, though the nearest crew member was not close enough to hear. ‘He knows you have the Ruler’s trust. They’re closer to the border here; could be some kind of pressure from Vidrik of the Birchlands, or even from our neighbour in the east. On the other hand, he may have done this purely to distract her, set her off balance before the council. You might be given some kind of vague, unsettling news.’
‘Who knows? Keep your ears open. There’ll be training of one kind or another; it never stops here. You and Karolis can show interest, get involved maybe. That’s the way to pick up what’s on folk’s minds.’
Matiss grimaced. ‘Get involved? Get ourselves killed, you mean, or at the very least sent home with broken limbs or dented skulls. Aren’t we here to keep you safe?’
‘Broken limbs? You?’ said Aleksis with a grin. ‘Never. And if I were a wagering man, I’d put silver on Karolis to beat any of theirs.’
‘With the ride home still ahead, I intend to keep out of trouble. But I’ll be cheering from the sidelines and talking to whoever wants to engage. Ah. Looks like we’re about to disembark, and I see there’s a welcoming party.’
The monks were in full ceremonial dress. The outfit managed to suggest both a military uniform and a habit suited to members of a monastic order. The cloth was dyed an eye-catching kingfisher blue. There were touches of gold thread here and there, and a broad leather belt for weaponry. Over all, each man wore a hooded cape. Each carried over his shoulder an unsheathed sword. It may have been a welcoming party, but the monks’ faces all wore the same expression: sombre, verging on hostile. Their height, too, was startlingly uniform; perhaps that was a requirement in such a group. The aim, Aleksis thought, was less greeting than intimidation.
One man stepped out in front and performed a well-practised manoeuvre with his sword, whirling it around expertly, then lowering its point to the ground and placing both hands on the hilt. As a gesture of welcome it was somewhat startling.
Aleksis made sure he spoke first. ‘I bring the respectful greetings of Lady Elisabeta, Ruler of the Northlands, to His Excellency Bishop Petras. I believe His Excellency is expecting us. I am Aleksis son of Feliks, senior adviser to the Ruler. With me come these two court guards as escort.’ He indicated his pendant of office, which hung outside his tunic. ‘We would be grateful if our horses could be given a place in your fine stables; they are weary from the journey.’ He was tempted to add, Nice day, isn’t it? but kept the thought to himself.
‘Master Aleksis.’ The guard, whom Aleksis recognised from an earlier visit, favoured him with a nod. That was good; one never knew, in this place, whether one might need to whip out a weapon instead of a greeting. ‘Follow me.’
—
‘Master Aleksis, welcome.’ Bishop Petras’s tone was courteous, but his curious, pale eyes were cold and his face its customary expressionless mask.
‘Thank you, Excellency. I bring the Ruler’s respectful greetings, and I hope you are in good health.’
They’d been conveyed by one of the brethren to a reception chamber, where the bishop appeared to be in the middle of a solitary meal; a half-consumed platter of roast beef and vegetables was on the table, and a flask of what looked like mead stood nearby.
‘Brother Paavo, Master Aleksis will dine here with me. Show his men to the guest quarters.’
Without so much as a Yes, Excellency , the monk who had accompanied them ushered Matiss and Karolis back out and closed the door. Aleksis found himself glad that he still had his concealed weapons, though it would have been good to wash, change and rest before embarking on what might be an awkward discussion. ‘May I sit down?’ he asked.
‘Of course, Master Aleksis. Food and drink will be brought for you. And your men will dine with the brethren downstairs.’ Petras paused, scrutinising his guest. ‘You needed protection on the journey, of course. Those two look well up to the job. But you won’t want them dogging your footsteps during your stay with us. This place is full of trained fighters and, of course, we are under the protection of the One and Only God. Your men, I am sure, would welcome the opportunity to join the brethren in worship and in their practice of combat skills. The daily drills are quite something to watch.’
It was hard to find an acceptable answer to this. It would be a waste of energy to debate it. He did not let the bishop see how uneasy he was. Any fool could tell there were some tightly strung individuals among the monks, men who would snap at the least hint of insult or slight, men with the skill to bring a weapon almost instantly to hand and use it to lethal effect, but without the judgement to know when it was appropriate to do so. He’d prepared both his men for this. All the same, he would prefer that they be close at hand, for both their safety and his own. ‘Thank you, Excellency. I am eager to learn why you requested my presence here. Perhaps after our meal …?’
At this point a polite knock at the door announced two monks bearing platters of food, knives and spoons, another flask and a cup, all of which they set out on the table before leaving without a word.
‘Eat, drink,’ Petras said, with what might have been a smile. ‘Serious discussion can wait until tomorrow. You’ve had a long ride. You’ll welcome a hot bath, I’m sure, and a comfortable bed, as will your men. Enjoy your meal, Master Aleksis, and perhaps some of this excellent pear wine, which is brewed on our own premises?’
The man was hardly going to poison him. ‘Thank you, Excellency. I see the wisdom in not tackling whatever the issue is today. But I am rather limited in the time I can stay here; my presence is required back at court within a few days.’ This must not be allowed to drag out. And he’d better find some way to keep either Matiss or Karolis close whenever possible.
He helped himself to food and, at Petras’s gesture, poured his own wine, then topped up the Bishop’s drink. ‘Your good health,’ he said, raising his cup.
‘And yours, Master Aleksis. Are both your men strong fighters?’
That was unexpected. ‘They are trained court guards. Well-trained.’
‘We must set up some bouts for them, give them a chance to show their skills. The brethren would enjoy that. We don’t have a lot of visitors here.’
Aleksis said nothing. He’d talk to the others later, warn them that the man was full of tricks. He concentrated on eating. The beef was exceptionally good, though it was impossible to relax and enjoy it. And equally hard to make light conversation with Petras when all his instincts were urging him to get the business out of the way as quickly as he could.
‘You seem a little tense, Master Aleksis,’ the Bishop observed. ‘Something on your mind?’
‘I’m weary from the long ride. Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t fix.’
‘I’ll have one of the brethren show you around in the morning. I know this is not your first visit to Raven’s Watch, but we’ve done considerable building work since you last honoured us with your presence.’
Aleksis was certain he heard a note of ridicule in the Bishop’s voice. He maintained a politely interested expression.
‘An extension to the chapel, with new windows. And we’ve added an area for mounted combat. Our library, too, has been improved. You’ll hardly recognise it.’
‘Indeed?’ There were questions he could have asked, related to how they funded this work and why any of it was really necessary. ‘It sounds as if you have been very busy, Excellency. About tomorrow. Might you and I have a discussion after this tour, concerning the pressing matter you mentioned in your message to the Ruler? I see no reason to delay further. Unless you are waiting for others to be in attendance.’
Petras swallowed a mouthful of wine. ‘Others? Oh, no. This is a matter to be discussed strictly in private, Master Aleksis, between you and me. Behind closed doors, with two of my men on guard. I may be otherwise occupied tomorrow afternoon. Perhaps the following day?’
Aleksis suppressed a sigh of frustration. ‘Might you give me a general idea of what it relates to? I was under the impression that the matter was of extreme urgency.’
‘Best that we leave it until you are fully recovered from your journey. For now, enjoy the meal, make use of our bathing facilities and allow yourself a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is another day, Master Aleksis. You are not under the Ruler’s thumb here at Raven’s Watch.’
—
‘Got an invitation to a bout already,’ Karolis announced, as the three of them settled in the capacious guest quarters some time later. They’d been given two adjoining chambers, one with benches, a table and a hearth complete with firewood, the other with comfortable beds. ‘Day after tomorrow, against Brother Kalju, who’s more Matiss’s size than mine. Unarmed combat, which is something of a relief. Weapons can turn things rather bloody unless someone’s applying strict rules of engagement.’
‘You’ve agreed to it?’
‘It seemed the appropriate response. The brethren might have taken offence if I’d refused.’
‘What about you, Matiss? No invitations as yet? I would prefer not to have to ride home with either of you at less than full strength.’
‘No bouts for me. There is a tug-of-war at some point, I think tomorrow, and I’ll be on one of the teams for that. I’ll do my best not to strain anything. We should aim to keep one or the other of us close to you at all times, Aleks. We’re here to protect you. But that’s going to be a challenge, and it doesn’t help that folk keep telling us it’s unnecessary.’
Aleksis felt his mouth twist in a grimace. ‘Because the place is teeming with trained fighters, and the One and Only God is watching over us all? Funny, that. I don’t trust either of those parties to keep me safe even for a moment. Not that I would express such a view outside the four walls of these remarkably accommodating quarters. The place is so well set out I keep wondering if it’s a trap.’
Matiss laughed. ‘We already checked for hidden entries and exits, concealed passageways, trapdoors and the like. Found nothing. I’m inclined to think the man really does want to talk to you, if only so you’ll take word back to the Ruler that his establishment is more comfortable than Dragon’s Keep. With better food.’
‘He’s delaying, and I don’t know why. Not a hint yet of what it’s all about. I don’t want to be here too long; you know the reasons for that. Petras implied that our discussion may not even be tomorrow. Guided tour in the morning, and he’s busy with other things in the afternoon. A game in which only His Excellency knows the rules.’ Aleksis realised both men were regarding him with amused expressions. ‘What?’
‘That game, my friend,’ said Karolis, smiling, ‘is the kind at which you are an absolute master. Though you have let us in on some of the rules, it’s true, and just as well. You don’t want to find yourself alone with this, Aleks.’
‘It’s a risk I’m prepared to take, if it comes to that.’ Aleksis lowered his voice to a murmur. ‘Best not talk about it here, even if you have checked the place for secret listening spots. But keep your ears open for any kind of talk that might be relevant. Gather what information you can without arousing suspicion. We want to know whether Petras has travelled to talk to other leaders recently, and whether his attitude to the new Ruler has changed in any way. Continuing to show tolerance because he has no choice? More hostile than before? We know his capability in the event of any kind of armed conflict breaking out. This is his main establishment, but there are several others across the Northlands, each with its contingent of warriors. If it came to a confrontation, which way would he go?’
Karolis spoke in an undertone. ‘His own, would be my guess.’
A knock rendered them all instantly silent. Matiss opened the door to admit a small procession of monks carrying a bathtub, ewers of hot and cold water, and such useful items as soap, brushes and cloths for drying. When the bath had been set before the hearth and filled, Aleksis thanked the brother who seemed to be in charge.
‘When you are finished bathing, Master Aleksis,’ the monk said, ‘please ask one of your men to step out into the hallway and signal to the brother on night watch. He’ll be at the top of the stairs and will arrange for these things to be collected.’ A pause. ‘Of course, we also have a communal bath house, next to our own quarters. Your men would be welcome to use that whenever they wish.’ There was an unspoken message behind the polite words. Whether it was This has all been rather a nuisance or Guards don’t get the same privileges as royal advisers was unclear.
Once the door was closed, Matiss said, ‘I suppose communal bathing would be a good way to pick up useful gossip. Do monks gossip?’
‘When I last spent time in an establishment like this,’ said Karolis, ‘the communal facilities had only cold water. The fellows would conduct a drill or a mock battle or a series of exercises, then plunge in. Except, of course, in the depth of winter, when the water iced right up. There was some spiritual worth attached to that bracing experience. Today I’ll gladly share the royal adviser’s bath water. You go first, Aleks. Just don’t stay in until it goes cold.’