that the Outlands Council had formally accused Sirus—as well as Fulmer of Hosea—of the
murder of Rilm Evenor via the hand of Baron Allemorte. The Outlanders were outraged, they
were mobilizing for retaliation, and amid all the fuss Ishbel could fade into the background and
keep to her room much of the time.
Sirus was furious that the Outlanders had the affront to accuse Baron Allemorte of the
murder, let alone concoct numerous false tales of Allemorte”s ride from and to Pelemere for the
murder, when Sirus had been entertaining Allemorte the entire time within Pelemere. There was
a flurry of diplomatic activity and messages passed between Hosea and Pelemere. Maximilian
spent some time cloistered with Sirus, but not too much. For the moment he wanted to remain as
distanced as he could from the discussions: Escator could hardly afford to become involved in a
war so far from home, and so far from Escator”s own interests.
In the third week after the marriage, Garth Baxtor returned to Sirus” court. Ishbel learned
of his return only when Garth appeared in her and Maximilian”s chamber late one afternoon,
when she was spending an hour or so alone before dressing for the evening dinner at court. He”d
knocked at the door and Ishbel, expecting a servant with her bathwater, bid him enter.
“My lady,” Garth said, bowing slightly as he paused inside the door, “I”ve startled you. I
apologize.”
“You”re forever apologizing to me,” Ishbel said.
“I have that habit with the ladies.” Garth walked farther into the chamber. Ishbel was
sitting with her back to the light, and he found it difficult to see her well.
“You had an enjoyable and profitable visit with your fellow physicians?” Ishbel said.
“Yes.” Garth had advanced enough now to see her face more clearly. There were bright
spots of color in her cheeks, and he wondered if she was embarrassed, or perhaps even shy in his
presence. “It is always good to meet with others of my profession, and exchange ideas and
experiences.”
She smiled, a little distantly, clearly uncomfortable.
“My lady, Maxel suggested I come to see you. He said you have little idea as to what to
expect with your pregnancy—and may I congratulate you on that, by the way, you must be
thrilled—”
Ishbel”s smile lost what little warmth it had.
“—and Maximilian thought I may be able to answer any questions you might have.”
Garth paused. “May I…” He gestured to the chair next to Ishbel”s.
“As you wish.”
That wasn”t precisely a ringing invitation, but Garth sat down anyway.
“We got off to a poor start, my lady,” he began. “I would do anything for Maximilian,
and now I will do anything for his wife.” He smiled a little. “He is besotted with you, my lady. I
never thought to see the day.”
Ishbel relaxed, her smile more genuine now, and for a few minutes they chatted about her
pregnancy, what she might expect over the next few months, how she should eat, what
precautions in her daily life she should take. Ishbel was guarded with him, but at least she was
talking.
“I had never thought to be pregnant,” she said, laying a hand over her belly. “I can still
barely comprehend it.”
Garth thought that a little strange. All other women he”d ever known had lived with the
possibility of a pregnancy during a marriage, whether or not they desired a baby. Surely she must
have given this some thought on her way to meet Maximilian?
“Perhaps I can set your mind to rest about the baby”s health,” Garth said, stretching out
his hand to her arm. “And yours, as well.”
“Don”t touch me!”
Garth reeled back, stunned by the vehemence in her voice and face.
Whatever familiarity that had been between them had now vanished completely.
“It is a great intrusion,” Ishbel said, her voice very cool, “that „touch” of yours. Surely
you ask permission of people before you scry out their innermost secrets?”
Garth sat back in his chair. “You”re right. I should ask.” Damn it, he was going to have to
apologize again. “I apologize.”
“Don”t do it again, Master Baxtor. I do not like it. It is a vast invasion of any person”s
privacy, and look what a disaster you made of it.”
“My lady—”
“You assumed all manner of things of me, and none of them correct. A harlot? A slut? Is
that what you called me to my husband?”
Garth wished the floor would open up and swallow him. He couldn”t believe Maximilian
had repeated the conversation to Ishbel. He was angry, partly with Maximilian, but mostly with
himself.
He was also curious as to what Ishbel had to hide. All this prattle of intrusion and privacy
was surely nothing but a defensive screen for a secret.
“My lady,” he said, rising, “I will not presume again.”
Then, because he was sick of apologizing, Garth turned on his heel and left the chamber.
Garth and Egalion met privately with Maximilian after evening court. Ishbel had retired
early, and Maximilian invited his two friends for a supper drink in a private chamber of the
palace.
They talked for some time about the escalating crisis between Pelemere, Hosea, and the
Outlands. Maximilian, as Egalion and Garth, could not understand how the
misunderstanding—as it must be—could have happened.
“Could it have been someone pretending to be Allemorte?” Egalion said.
Maximilian gave a shake of his head. “According to the Outlands Council, they have
obtained official likenesses of Allemorte, and Evenor”s guards have identified him as the man
they saw standing over their master”s body.”
“But how can that be?” said Garth. “Most of the court here at Pelemere can swear to
Allemorte”s presence every day for the past months. He cannot have gone to the Outlands.”
Maximilian shrugged. “Perhaps the Outlanders are lying.”
“Best not to say that within hearing of your lady wife,” Garth muttered. Then, at
Maximilian”s look, “Maxel, I”m sorry, but I can”t believe you told her what I”d said about her the
day I first met her.”
“She asked,” Maximilian said, “I told her. I will keep no secrets from her.”
Garth bit down irritation and, he was appalled to discover, just a little jealousy. He and
Maximilian had been close ever since Garth had been instrumental in rescuing Maximilian from
beyond the hanging wall, and Garth was now finding it difficult to consider the possibility that
Maximilian might put a wife first.
This, of course, was precisely what Maximilian should do, and Garth felt he would have
accepted it for any wife…but not Ishbel Brunelle.
“I don”t like her,” Garth said. “She”s not…likeable.”
Maximilian shrugged. “She has lived an isolated existence. She is not always good with
people.”
“I don”t understand,” said Egalion, “why you needed to rush into marriage with her. I
don”t like her either, I”m sorry. There is something hidden about her, something secretive.
Something bleak. And her association with the Coil…Maximilian, I am sorry, but I find her a
poor queen for such as you.” He paused. “Why the rush, Maximilian? For all the gods” sakes,
Escator can”t be in such bad straits that you need money that badly.”
Maximilian took a long time in answering.
“There are some things I cannot tell you,” he said eventually, very slowly, “but I do owe
you some explanation.”
He paused again, drinking his wine.
“As you know, I managed to see Ishbel before my „official” arrival in Pelemere. I
watched her for an hour or two, unknown to her, and I liked what I saw.”
“She is very lovely,” Egalion offered.
“Aye, she is very lovely,” Maximilian said, “but that was not the reason I liked her so
greatly. She is…quiet. I thought I might find her peaceful to be about.”
“There are many „quiet” women about, Maximilian,” said Garth.
“Who are prepared to marry me?” said Maximilian. “With such a large dowry at their
heels? But there”s something else. We talked, she didn”t like me—for which I am not surprised,
as I spied on her most intimate moments—and I discovered something.”
Again a long pause, and again Egalion and Garth waited patiently.
“The Persimius family,” Maximilian said, “is a very ancient family. We go back a long
way.”
Yet another lengthy silence as Maximilian struggled within himself.
“Ah,” Maximilian said, “all I can say is that when I touched her for the first time, when I
laid my hand to her skin, I knew that I had to have her as my wife, beyond any shadow of a
doubt. She and I are meant for each other.”
He gave a small, sad smile. “I know that—even if she refuses to believe it, and even
though you doubt it—and for the moment that will need to be enough.”
Ba”al”uz and his Eight were well on their way to Pelemere. They assumed the guise of
traveling peddlers, and no one bothered them overmuch. It was spring, and the nights were either warm and damp, or crisp and cold, but they spent those nights camped out under canvas and