Each One's Life and Bondage (3)
Benelia's interest had been caught.
She wanted to know more about Ashley de Pelgaroin.
So the princess asked the young lady herself to act as her temporary attendant and guide her to the guest chambers. A murmur passed through those nearby. Even an imperial princess might be thought discourteous for treating a daughter of so distinguished a house like a servant.
Count Leonberg looked startled by the request, but Ashley merely bowed and offered to show Her Highness the way.
Benelia took two of her knights and followed Ashley into the castle.
The corridors were decorated with gleaming armor, spears, swords and elaborate vessels. Benelia let her eyes travel over the collection, then spoke in a bored voice.
“So dazzling, and yet so empty.”
A faint smile curved her lips.
“Rather like the Empire itself.”
Ashley's shoulders stirred almost imperceptibly.
The imperial princess, of all people, had just spoken contemptuously about the country she was supposed to represent. Perhaps Benelia was watching for a reaction.
But the words hadn't been framed as a question. Ashley had no obligation to answer.
She kept walking, calmly considering something else instead: the announcement made by Benelia's herald upon her arrival.
Orc slayer, benevolent commander, commander of the Dawning Steps, pillar and hope of the Empire! Her Highness Princess Benelia von Esteban has come in person!
At first hearing, it had sounded like ordinary ceremonial praise.
Yet one part of the announcement had been peculiar.
Pillar and hope of the Empire.
Either expression might be used of a great noble or someone in the imperial family. Used together, however, they suggested something more specific.
They were the kind of words a herald might use for the heir to the throne.
Benelia was a princess far down the line of succession.
The herald would not have chosen such an announcement without authorization. Either Benelia had approved it herself or one of her officers had done so with her knowledge.
And she hadn't contradicted him.
She's hinting that she wants the throne. But why?
Was she seeking Count Leonberg's support? Was her visit to Pelgaroin part of that ambition?
There wasn't enough information to say.
Still, Ashley had reached a conclusion she could not dismiss.
The Dawning Steps answer to Benelia, not to His Majesty the Emperor.
The herald had publicly acclaimed the princess as the Empire's hope, and Benelia had criticized the Empire in front of her own knights without hesitation.
She either trusted their loyalty absolutely or had prepared matters so carefully that no one would dare report her words.
An informer could destroy her prospects.
And she chose to insult the Empire where I could hear it.
The Pelgaroin family was not generally regarded as particularly fond of imperial interference. Perhaps Benelia was testing that reputation.
There was nothing to gain by revealing her conclusions before she knew what the princess wanted.
Ashley walked on in silence and finally stopped before a door.
“We've arrived, Your Highness.”
The door was richly decorated without being ostentatious.
Benelia glanced at it and nodded.
Her knights opened the door and entered first. Their armor rustled as they moved around the room.
Ashley understood what they were doing.
They were checking for concealed surveillance devices, magical traps or anything else that might threaten the princess.
It was another insult, delivered without a word. Their search said plainly that they did not trust House Pelgaroin.
“Your Highness.”
Ashley smiled, though her gaze had gone cold.
Benelia shrugged with an air of complete innocence.
“Forgive them. My guards can be terribly overzealous. You there! That's enough, you fools. Get out!”
At the order, the knights abandoned their search and came back to the doorway.
Ashley watched them pass.
“Your Highness, House Pelgaroin has served the Empire faithfully for generations.”
“Of course it has. But service to the Empire isn't necessarily service to me, is it? I'd rather be cautious until our relationship becomes closer. I don't doubt you personally, Lady Ashley. But Pelgaroin is a large house. I can hardly promise to trust everyone belonging to it.”
There might be someone among the Count's people who wished Benelia harm. The princess spoke of that possibility as lightly as if discussing the weather.
She stepped inside. Ashley followed, and the guards closed the door.
With the room to herself and her guide, Benelia examined the furnishings.
“Better than I expected. This is larger than my room at the imperial palace.”
“I'm pleased it meets Your Highness's expectations.”
“And there's something else here I rather like.”
Ashley waited.
Benelia smiled lazily.
“You, for instance. Such a beautiful young lady, with a full chest and such elegant manners. It's no wonder the nobles admire you.”
There was amusement beneath the compliment.
Benelia still remembered how Ashley had held her ground before the drawbridge. She wanted to put that proud young woman off balance—and discover how ambitious she really was.
“I'm no matchmaker,” Benelia went on, “but I could introduce you to a fine husband. A man of considerable wealth and influence has just buried his wife. If you made good use of a grieving widower like him, you could establish quite a position for yourself in the capital.”
“Your Highness.”
Ashley's smile disappeared.
“Please be mindful of what you suggest. I'm already engaged.”
“You're not yet married, are you? Breaking an engagement would cause talk, certainly. But in the long run it might be to your advantage.”
“I'm grateful for Your Highness's consideration. But I truly love my fiancé. Even if His Majesty the Emperor himself tried to take me from him, I would refuse.”
Even the Emperor?
Benelia's interest sharpened.
Ashley had chosen a dangerous comparison, and chosen it deliberately. The princess couldn't easily condemn her for discourtesy when she'd opened the subject herself.
“Even if my father demanded you?” Benelia asked. “It's unlikely, of course. But refusing him could cost you your life. Would you still stand by that answer?”
“What joy could there be in a life where I had surrendered my love and my chastity to someone else's will? If keeping faith with my fiancé required my death, I would gladly offer my neck.”
“Indeed. How noble of you. Your fiancé is fortunate.”
Benelia smiled and walked to a nearby table, removing her gloves.
“I understand. You may go. I'll thank Count Leonberg for lending me such a capable guide.”
“As Your Highness wishes. Our accommodations may not rival the imperial palace, but we will do everything we can to make your stay comfortable.”
Ashley gathered her skirts and curtsied.
Every movement was exact, from the position of her hands to the angle of her head. Her court etiquette was faultless.
If Beynon could have witnessed it, even that knight might have learned something from her example.
“Then I'll take my leave.”
As Ashley turned toward the door, Benelia spoke as though the thought had only just occurred to her.
“You needn't worry too much about your second brother. The worst outcome you're imagining won't happen.”
Ashley stopped.
After a pause, she turned back with an awkward smile.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I don't know the details of what my brother has done, so I can't offer the answer you may be looking for.”
“I see.”
The warmth had vanished from the conversation.
For a time neither woman spoke.
At last Benelia waved her hand in dismissal. Ashley bowed again and left the room.
Neigh!
Beynon frowned and pulled on the reins.
Why were imperial warhorses so obstinate? He'd barely tugged, and the beast was already raising a dreadful fuss.
“Beynon!”
The horse finally settled.
Seeing Theorad approaching, Beynon dismounted, straightened his clothing, and spread his arms with great ceremony.
“Young master! Did you miss me that much?”
Theorad stopped a little way off. His expression was more burdened than delighted.
“Don't make such a spectacle of yourself. It hasn't been that long.”
“But you've come out to meet me! Surely you missed me at least a little.”
“The chief chamberlain told me you were returning.”
Beynon's expression fell.
He scratched his head.
“Even so, I'm the house's only vassal knight. Don't I deserve a warmer welcome?”
“Wouldn't it be strange for two grown men to embrace? You haven't been away for years.”
“…Well. When you put it that way.”
There was no denying the point.
Beynon nodded and looked his young master over.
“In any case, I'm back without incident. You needn't worry about me. Has anything happened while I was away?”
“Anything? Not particularly…”
Theorad broke off with a cough.
Beynon noticed at once. A knowing smile crept across his face.
“Don't tell me. You finally did it?”
“W-well, that's…”
“What else have you been doing here besides your work? Come, tell me. You won't shock me.”
Why is he only perceptive when I don't want him to be?
Even if Theorad said nothing, Havid would probably tell Beynon eventually.
He cleared his throat.
“I did as you advised.”
“Oho! Well done, young master! I knew you had it in you. You look a little more like a man already.”
“What…?”
The praise seemed to go straight to Theorad's head.
He straightened with sudden confidence.
“I lasted thirty-four seconds longer than you.”
“…Pardon?”
“There's no reason to be embarrassed. I wouldn't mock you for it. Natural ability can't be helped.”
Confidence was becoming outright arrogance.
“Don't take it too hard.”
Theorad smiled and patted Beynon's shoulder.
“Your opponent is me, after all.”
For several moments, Beynon was too astonished to answer.