6. Kasten
Callum walked into the room after a brief knock, a tea set rattling in one hand. I looked up from my desk. I’d been staring at the papers for so long, my eyesight was blurred.
“Kasten, you look like death. Have you slept at all?”
I ran my hand through my unruly hair. Did I really look that bad? “A bit. I’ll sleep better once this situation has been resolved. Any news on Robert?”
Callum shook his head. “Still missing since yesterday and no word to his friends and family. We suspect he’s still in Adenburg.” He slid the tray onto the table. “I added an extra shot of whiskey as I suspected it was one of those mornings.”
I grunted in agreement, pouring cups of tea for Callum and myself and moving to the armchair to rest for a few minutes, though I couldn’t settle. I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Where has that fool got to?”
Callum’s face was grim as he took the seat opposite me. “It’s not hard to guess. They killed his cousin. Robert’s body will be hanging from Traitor’s Square by tomorrow, I reckon.”
I clenched my fist and cracked the delicate handle off the teacup. Stupid, impractical things. “Well, we need to stop Robert, Callum, before he does something stupid. Bring him back unconscious and tied in the back of a wagon if we have to.”
My friend sighed. “You can’t save everyone from their own stupidity. You know that. People here are restless. We need to focus on not letting anyone else do something stupid and protect our backs. If they catch Robert or any of your men searching for him and link them to you, it will give any one of your numerous enemies an opportunity to attack us.”
I snorted. “People here will be more restless if Robert dies. Send more people to find him. More of the guard when Cley returns and some female servants too. His sister. Bella might be able to persuade him.”
Callum gulped down his tea and poured himself another with irritated movements. “Kasten, if we send too many people to the capital, it will look suspicious, especially after the attempted assassination. People will wonder what you’re looking for. If Robert does do something stupid, remember, we don’t want people to trace the connection and blame you.”
I massaged my forehead and the pounding headache that was developing. “I don’t care, Callum, just bring him home. If anyone is going to execute him, it’s going to be me.”
Callum sat still for a moment, swirling his fresh cup of tea before drinking it in one gulp as if it were straight liquor. “I hope so,” he said at last. He set down his cup and met my eyes with a curious expression. “She’ll be here in a few hours. I was going to double-check that her room was ready, but the servants tell me you’ve already done so twice. The place looks like it’s been attacked by a florist.”
I shrugged, ignoring the rise of nerves. “She likes flowers. Or at least, I think she does. Plants anyway.”
Callum gave me a strange look. I didn’t reply.
He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Well, are you happy with your new wife, Kasten? Has she said a single thing of interest yet?” When I didn’t reply, his smile gained a mean tilt. “Or is her mind full of nothing but clothes and furnishings?”
“Shut it, Callum, you know I’m not in the mood for this.” A strange surge of anger and protectiveness was rising up. I stood and strode to the window, but the feeling didn’t abate. I turned back to him and raised a finger. “I want to make something clear. If you say anything about my wife that isn’t respectful, you’ll be out on the street, do you understand? Any insults—veiled or otherwise—will end with you being run through.”
For once, Callum seemed to realize he couldn’t push me on this and frowned. His voice softened. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“Callum…”
He tilted his head as if he’d never seen me before. “When in all the kingdoms did this happen?”
I slammed my hand palm down on the desk. “We have five dead bodies from downtown to explain and a castle full of people bent on treason. We are not having this conversation. Get out and find Robert. Now!”
Sophie
Kasomere wasn’t frequently talkedabout in the capital, and I knew embarrassingly little about the rural estate that was to become my home. It was not a major trade post, and my father had never spoken of clients there. Its shadow loomed on the horizon, a great unknown ready to swallow me in its depths.
I steeled myself as I watched the dusty road pull us closer and closer, the sun beating stronger so far east. I would be fine. I was always fine. Beatrice and Lucy were pleasant. General Batton hadn’t been cruel or unkind. Maybe I would even find some happiness here. And if not, I was happy to know I was helping my family. I would go through this so my sisters and children didn’t have to—if I could ever bear a child.
“Good heavens, pull yourself back in!”
I stopped leaning out the window and sat straight, facing Miss Claris. Lucy and Beatrice had been dismissed to ride on the outside of the carriage on the rear seat, so I was alone with my original maid. She scowled at my head.
“My lady, the wind has messed up your hair. We must be doing everything we can to impress your husband. You must bear him an heir quickly to put a stop to the rumors, not to mention how that will solidify your position. You must be perfect.”
I blushed and looked down. “Sorry, Miss Claris. I know how long you spent doing my hair, but I’m sure his lordship won’t mind after a day on the road.”
Miss Claris tutted. “There is never an excuse for looking less than perfect for you, Lady Sophie. Not when your father comes from rags.”
I smiled to reassure her nerves. “Of course, Miss Claris. I will be more careful.”
The carriage rolled and bumped on the increasingly uneven road, making my maid grumble to herself. “With any luck, we’ll be able to return to the capital soon,” she muttered. “Maybe once you’re pregnant or when the general leaves on one of his campaigns.”
“I think the countryside is beautiful,” I replied, turning my head to look back out of the window while sitting far enough back to avoid the breeze catching my hair. “So much green. And the air is sweeter. I like the open space.”
Miss Claris didn’t reply, and I became distracted from everything but the small hazy city that was growing larger on the horizon. The road wound right up to its tall walls, and soon, a busy gate flanked by guards became visible. It seemed every person was stopped and checked before they entered Kasomere. I frowned. I’d never known such strict requirements to enter a city. I wondered if the general erred on the side of paranoia, or if there was a specific threat he was concerned about. Or maybe things were simply done differently this far east. Our country was at war after all, and Kasomere was much closer to the border.
As we neared the gate, the road became busier. One of the soldiers on horseback fell back to flank the door of the carriage. On the other side, Sir Cley, who was in charge of our party, bent toward the window. His short brown hair was still slicked back and perfectly in place, though he had to be sweating from riding for so many hours in this heat.
“My lady, I request you sit back from the windows and draw the curtains. Things are about to get very busy, and there will be time to show your face to the crowds later. Today, your safety is our top priority.”
“Of course, sir.” I did as he asked and moved back to the center of the carriage.
Miss Claris shook her head with a sharp tut. “I knew things would be more backward out here, but not even being able to show your face from a carriage? This place must be lawless. You must implore your husband to donate proper time to making his streets safe. He leads half the army. He should have enough men to do so.”
I bit my lip. “Shall I ask the maids to come inside?”
Miss Claris shook her head. “No, no, they’re from here. I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
I listened to muffled voices as the temperature in the carriage rose; the stuffy air felt devoid of oxygen. I expected us to stop at the gate like the other travelers, but we didn’t even slow, so we had been waved straight through.
In the closed space, my thoughts returned to my husband. Our first conversation yesterday had been so odd, I still didn’t know what to make of it. I was off kilter, unsure what he would expect of me and what my role would be. I knew that any marriage came with its difficulties, but what if I struggled to relate to him at all? What if he ended up being worse than Frederick? My normal optimism fell prey to nerves, and my heart rate picked up.
The heat increased in the gloom and the carriage rattled and jolted over cobblestones. A wave of nausea crashed over me. I swayed, trying to draw in deep breaths, but the dizziness increased, my stomach clenched, and saliva rushed to my mouth.
I could not be sick in here. Not when my new household was waiting to greet me. Not while my husband was still getting to know me. I had to make a good impression. I didn’t want them to think I was weak.
I fought with the curtain, yanking it back and sucking in the cool air from the outside before I could vomit. The nausea subsided with each deep breath, and the bouncing carriage felt more bearable when I could see where we traveled.
“Look! Look! It’s the lady! I saw the lady!”
My eyes darted to the voice. A woman wearing a neat white head scarf and holding a wide basket was pointing to me with a surprised expression. Everyone in the street who’d been paying minimal interest in the carriage now turned to face me.
Rough hands pulled me back inside. “What are you doing?” Miss Claris whispered harshly. “The guard told you to keep the curtain shut.”
As soon as the curtain fell back into place, the nausea returned with the stuffiness that made it hard to breathe.
“I need the air. I feel ill,” I managed.
The carriage was slowing, and the streets were becoming louder. I opened the curtain just a little, enough to keep the nausea at bay. The soldiers had completely surrounded the carriage, their tall horses forcing me to angle myself if I wanted to see between their legs or past the flick of tails.
A crowd was gathering on all sides, but they didn’t appear angry or dangerous. They seemed excited. The energy in the air made my heart beat faster. Something pale flew over a horse’s rump and hit the carriage door. A flower. It was small but dainty and quickly crushed by the carriage wheels.
The carriage slowed further as every inhabitant of Kasomere seemed to push against the ring of soldiers, blocking our way to the castle.
The guards shouted for them to clear the road, but their bellows were quickly swallowed by the shouts of the crowd.
“Lady Batton!”
“Welcome, Lady Batton!”
“Blessings to General and Lady Batton!”
Miss Claris was still tugging on my arm. “Now look what you’ve done,” she scolded from inside the carriage. “You should have listened.”
“They sound happy to see me.” I couldn’t help smiling. “Oh, Miss Claris, they’re welcoming me!”
The carriage was moving slower than a walk now, and the damage seemed done, so I pulled back the curtain and waved through a gap between the horses. A small girl held by her mother saw me and waved back, lifting her doll for me to see. I smiled and gave her doll an amazed expression. She giggled before disappearing behind the next horse.
Sir Cley cleared his throat. “There will be plenty of time to meet the people, my lady. Don’t worry.” His voice was deep and loud, but I strained to hear it over the cacophony.
“I had no idea they would be so excited.”
Sir Cley chuckled. “These people have wanted Kasomere to have a lady for a long time. The general is away frequently and often absorbed with war. You offer them stability and a future.”
I hadn’t thought of that. I looked at the excited, hopeful faces as more flowers were thrown, and I hoped I wouldn’t let them down.
When I’d married Frederick, my reception had been different. I had only been welcomed as a source of money, the status of my birth an unpleasant nuisance. When I had failed to become pregnant, I had quickly faded into the background, doing my best to run a household in which many of the servants made life difficult for me. I had been disliked by almost everyone because of what I represented.
Here, I was something else entirely. A dream. A symbol. Something I hadn’t earned, and possibly, something that could shatter into a million pieces if I didn’t cradle the people’s hope carefully.
I pressed my lips together and made a solemn, silent vow that I would do my best.
“Ugh, at this rate it’s going to be nightfall by the time we reach the castle.” Miss Claris finally joined me looking out the window, but only for a moment. “We will miss our tea.” She folded her hands tightly on her lap and pursed her lips, deliberately not meeting my eyes. “We have already been eight hours in here, I do not wish to add to it.” I could tell from her tone that she blamed me for the delay.
The sounds of horns caused me to look ahead. Mounted soldiers were pushing through the crowd toward us, forcing the people back, though there were no weapons or shouts of alarm. They poured from the castle walls, well over a hundred, and possibly even two. My heart raced as the smartly dressed soldiers lined the road and cleared a path for the carriage.
One man remained in the center of the road atop his huge destrier, dressed in black and barking orders. It was easy to recognize my husband. A strange tingle of pride trickled to my stomach as he efficiently handled the situation in a rather impressive display of power. I supposed, since he led armies, controlling crowds would be second nature to him.
He didn’t come to speak to me, but rode just ahead of the carriage, glaring at any citizens who tried to push past the horses. The citizens fell into order, but their shouts grew louder.
“General Batton! Lady Batton!” Over and over until my head was dizzy with it.
It was only when we clattered over the moat and reached the simple gate of the castle then tunneled through its thick, towering walls that the sound died and the crowds dispersed.
The gates clanged shut, and my cheeks warmed, knowing that I had been the source of so much fuss when Sir Cley had told me to keep my face hidden.
I looked for my husband so I could apologize, but he had vanished.