Chapter ten

The High Lord’s Residence, Eth City

Lady Anne was severe in her long black dress; she was wearing her best pearls. Elizabeth was feeling underdressed, in her grey skirt and white blouse – but that was how it should be, given their relative positions. They sat on comfortable chairs on the High Lord’s patio, sipping wine. The sun was drooping but the light was still strong.

‘So, what can you tell me?’ asked Anne.

Elizabeth smiled. No small talk this time; that could only mean that any news would be highly valued. But how highly?

‘That depends…’

‘On what, dear friend’

Elizabeth’s reflex smile turned into a mannered tactical one.

‘On what you can tell me’

Anne sighed.

‘Do we have to play games?’ she asked. She looked tired.

‘Games, dear friend, what can you mean?’ said Elizabeth

Lady Anne took a gulp of red wine. An opened bottle of white wine stood undrunk on the table.

‘We’d better be quick, Will will join us in a minute. Would you like me to go first?’

Elizabeh nodded; Anne spoke.

‘The Lion has returned to his pride, but he has lost his mate’

Elizabeth had no idea what this meant; should she admit that or ask for clarification? She said nothing. After a while, Anne became impatient.

‘You have nothing to say to that?’

Elizabeth had to force herself not to shake her head. She felt stupid.

‘The Lion is in the east? An enemy?’

Anne was theatrically wide eyed; Elizabeth felt stupider by several degrees.

‘No – in the south west, and not an enemy…’

‘The Emperor?’ Elizabeth mouthed, soundlessly.

Anne smiled sympathetically. It was a genuine smile, but it sat in Elizabeth’s guts like a blade.

‘Yes, dear Lizzy – him. You really are not playing very well today, are you?’

Elizabeth’s eyes welled up in frustration; but she turned away before Lady Anne could see the weakness.

‘Your turn’ said Anne

Elizabeth needed to recover quickly. She failed.

‘The Lion’s mate – he has gone?’

‘Sacrificed herself, for her mate and her brood’

The switch of gender confused Elizabeth even more; she was usually good at this game. Her face was miserable.

‘General Titanius… is dead?’

‘Of course. What else could I have meant? But the Emperor is still in Visnea, grieving I suppose’.  She illustrated this possibility with an airy wave of her hand, ‘but still politicking. He has a disgruntled senate to deal with’

‘But at least Ortia is safe’

Anne nodded

‘An obscure Imperial city a long way from here still hangs on, yes. But that is scarcely central to Ethian foreign policy’

‘You never know’ muttered Elizabeth, mildly rebelliously.

Anne glared at her.

‘Is there something about Ortia that you should be telling me?’

‘Only that it is important to the Council; but I can say no more’

Anne changed tack.

‘The elf-woman who rules there; I have heard she is competent’

‘I hardly know her – but yes, she rules well’

Anne laughed, a high nervy laugh.

‘What a lovely idea; a woman ruling…’

Elizabeth frowned, but was glad the mood had changed.

‘There is ruling and ruling…’ said Elizabeth, warily. Anne had no time to respond. A round, jovial man, his hair black but thinning, strode on to the patio. He made a point of pausing to look at them before speaking.

‘Jolly good: my two favourite ladies’
They both stood and curtsied decorously. He was the only person that they would dream of offering that gift to.

‘Will’ said Anne,

‘My lord’ said Elizabeth

Will smiled.

‘All these years and still standing on ceremony, eh, Liz?’

‘Yes, my lord. After all, you are my ruler’

Will’s smile changed into a grin.

‘That I am, old sport, that I am. But you can call me “Will” informally, such as, say…  now’

‘Yes, my lord’ said Elizabeth, rather painfully.

‘Will you join us for drinks, brother?’ asked Anne

‘I rather think that I will have a snifter, if you’re offering’

‘It’s your wine, Will’ muttered Anne

Will laughed

‘If it’s grown in Eth, then it’s all my wine, I suppose!’

Anne winced, but Will didn’t notice. Elizabeth laughed, obediently.

‘In a manner of speaking’ Anne said.

Elizabeth poured him a large glass of sweet Hinter white wine from the other bottle.

He sat on the chair next to Anne, bolt upright, his posture was extraordinary.

‘So, Lizzy, how are things in the magic trade?’

His eyes twinkled; but it was light from a very heavy star.

‘It’s fine; we keep busy’

‘And how’s John? I haven’t see him for a long time. There’s a man who knows his wine’

Elizabeth had forgotten that her president and her High Lord got on surprisingly well. However, this was dangerous ground: what she might be willing to tell Anne is confidence she was definitely unwilling to tell her friend’s brother.  The siblings had rather different views on the value of the council.
‘He’s well, my lord, but very busy’

Will took a lusty swig of wine.

‘He needs loosening up. Too busy to find a wife; that’s his problem’

Elizabeth couldn’t resist a ‘how true’ out of the corner of her mouth. But she knew it was safe to make that sort of remark, once the High Lord started talking he didn’t listen to anyone else.

‘I don’t think he’s looking for one’ said Anne

‘More fool him’ said Will, ‘a good wife is a wonderful thing’

Elizabeth wondered where Will’s wife, Elaine, was and what she would say to that. However, she was a shy woman, who generally avoided socialising, except at the most formal of state occasions.

The two women nodded vaguely. Neither of them had ever desired to be someone’s wife.

He carried on, apparently unaware of Elizabeth’s presence.

‘The Emperor is in trouble; he keeps sending me these notes banging on about what a good friend I’ve been Nonsense, of course, never could stand the jumped up little brown creature, with his unnatural practices. I’m minded to dump him and offer help to the senate. Don’t those senatorial families have a better claim than Pallatian, anyway?’

This was a complete surprise to Elizabeth.  Anne nodded with a minimum of movement.

‘A better blood claim, yes’

‘Well, that’s good enough for me’

‘But not a better legal claim’ continued Anne, ‘ Juvian adopted Pallatian officially – he was his closest relative, he had no other issue. Pallatian was the rightful heir. ‘

‘But still’ murmured Will

‘Siding with the senate would be supporting rebels’

Will thought for a moment. He was a slow, conventional man, but he was his sister’s brother and wasn’t stupid.

‘But Pallatian has no heir; unless he’s hiding a wife and family somewhere…

‘That seems unlikely…’  admitted Anne

‘So, without an heir; all that’s needed is a helpful accident. And someone in the senate would rule, yes?’

Anne stared at him, calibrating her response.

‘Yes – Senator Scipio would be Emperor’

‘Skippy! I know him very well – he and I have hunted together on several occasions. Marvellous archer’

Elizabeth panicked.

‘You do realise I’m here, do you?’

Will laughed, but care lines appeared on his face momentarily. 

‘Of course. My sister and I were just thinking aloud’

‘We’re always having talks like this’ Anne’s voice grew astringent, ‘there’s no reason to take them seriously'

‘Of course not’ laughed Elizabeth. The noise was high and quavering.

Will knocked back his glass of wine and smacked his lips. He leant over and pinched Elizabeth’s arm, playfully. She had to struggle not to flinch away, but failed to disguise the reflex. Much to her surprise, he let go immediately.

He looked across at her, with a mildly wounded look in his eyes.

‘Lot’s to think about, eh. Lizzie. But you’re a very clever woman, you know about that stuff’ Elizabeth began to babble something supportive, but then he was up and gone, leaving them with the half-drunk bottle of the High Lord’s red wine.

‘foolish ideas he has, sometimes’ said Anne, ‘but he’ll soon forget it’

‘Yes, of course…’

Anne glared at her.

‘And probably best if you forget about it, too’

Elizabeth filled up her glass almost to the top; she didn’t offer any to her friend.

‘My dear Anne. I’m not quite certain I know what you’re referring to’

Anne smiled and reached over for the wine bottle. It was soon empty.