The "gypsy" encampment was finally breaking up. Dana thought it odd to be moving. This place had been their home for months. But they were travelers, and the sense of something long awaited about to happen was almost palpable.
The wyverns had gone. She'd been up this morning, avoiding annoying Emil and his guards, back to their usual place. But the wyverns weren't there. Miu was.
"Where are they?" she demanded.
He pointed up slope, towards the snow-clad peaks. "They go back to the lacul Podragul. It is covered in ice now, but they will break the ice. It is important that they go there to ask the old questions."
"Old questions?"
"Of the water. And the things that live in it. The time is coming."
"I don't understand."
"Neither do they, and that is important," said Miu annoyingly. "And like you, they will get no answers. Now, your watchdogs are looking for you. You want me to create a distraction while you get back to the camp?"
It would be a wolf.
She wasn't supposed to know, but she wasn't that stupid.
The gypsies had converted their carts into sleds. The went east, for the track across to the Olt valley. It was hard traveling, and, from what Dana could gather, they were expecting the Jiu valley-where she found out they were headed-to be worse.
Dana found it all incredibly irritating. She wanted to go straight over those snowy mountains, straight as an arrow southwest. She eventually said so.
Angelo nodded. "That is where we go, little one. But we have to go around the mountains." He seemed satisfied. Dana was not. She wanted to get on. It was pulling her. And they were going the wrong way. She rode some of the time. It was a better option than sitting in the cart, listening to her mother.
Elizabeth consulted her scrying tools. Excellent. They came. They came from the Olt Valley with the girl, and also from the northeast. Vlad.
Excellent! She must send Dorko and Ilana-Jo into Caedonia to buy some extra provisions. She sniggered. Why, they'd be entertaining soon. By the looks of it the girl would be here first. There was no time for seduction. It would be straight into the dungeon with her. She could scream with the others. Elizabeth had taken serious measures, both physical and magical, to ensure that they could not be heard. She still had fifty of Emeric's troops at her disposal. They would be useful for snatching the girl from the wolves. She had been very busy putting up magical defenses against them, because they would be desperate to get the girl back… especially once they realized their foe had Vlad too.
It was a good thing that Emeric had gone to Irongate. She didn't want him getting any of his silly ideas about Vlad or his little sister. Irongate should keep him happy. Of course, he couldn't actually go into Irongate. Or past it. No, not any more. The place was infested with a river's worth of beautiful naked women with green empty eyes.
She laughed nastily. The local people would be taking some priests along to try and exorcize them soon. A pity that they could only get there by boat. Drowned priests appealed to her. She suspected that the Ban would be all eagerness to reach some kind of accommodation with his overlord. It was a pity he had not been in the island-castle. Her spies said that he was marshaling rather a lot of his followers. He was strong among the southern boyars.
Dana was wholly unprepared when it happened. She was riding a little way behind the caravan of sleds and horses. As usual, her brother's three men were riding close by. They looked… edgy, she thought. And then, suddenly, at a gallop they came towards her. "Hungarian Patrol!" they shouted. "We must flee." And they swept her along with them, up a trail into a side valley. She clung to her horse.
And then there was a rude surprise. At least half a company of King Emeric's soldiers. Waiting.
One of the three tried to draw a fire-arm… and was promptly killed.
Dana had never seen death before. Not… close. "You… murderer!" she screamed.
Emil-the sergeant in charge of the other two-grabbed her. "We need to move," He said, as the troopers calmly shot the other man. His voice sounded very odd. Almost a sob.
Dana bit him, but it didn't help. He didn't even seem to notice. They tied her up. And tied her to the saddle.
The troopers pushed their horses along the trail someone had painstakingly cleared of snow, obviously deliberately for this purpose. They covered several miles before coming to a bleak stone castle.
There she was cut free of the horse. The troopers plainly had no intention of staying. She, and that vile traitor Emil, walked up the stair to the heavy doors, with the sound of their departing hooves in her ears.
Emil knocked. The door was opened… by a dwarf. A man with a thoroughly venomous expression. "Come. You are expected."
They were marched down several corridors, and to a large, luxuriously appointed salon, heavily furnished with mirrors.
It appeared the person expecting her was fond of seeing her own reflection.
That was not surprising. She was truly celestially beautiful. Her skin was exquisite and her hair so gold it almost glowed. She had a little rosebud mouth. Dana had expected King Emeric, or some general. But not… her.
Emil groveled at her feet, but she did not even seem to notice. Instead she walked over to Dana and raised her chin with a perfect forefinger. "What a lovely child," said the woman. "My favorite age. But I think we need to restore you to your true appearance first."
Dana felt her hair twitch and straighten. "The complexion too, I think," said the witch. Looking at herself in one of the mirrors Dana saw the brown stain drain away, leaving her skin its usual white, with just a touch of color at the cheeks.
Dana had been alternately frightened and angry, and plotting revenge ever since the kidnaping. Now… she was just terrified.
"Beautiful! And so virginal and afraid," said the woman. She licked her lips. "Almost I am tempted to play, now. But your brother comes. He should be here before Vespers."
There was a big beefy woman, with a face like cold pork-fat standing waiting. "Take her below, Dorko."
Dana was propelled away. And when she tried to lie down rather than co-operate, she was picked up like a screaming kicking sack of meal and carried. He last view of was of Emil, still on the floor. His expression was both adoring and, somehow, anguished.
Hearing the sound of gunfire, they halted. The small army was moving with a strong perimeter of scouts, with two companies ahead, mounted infantry and Szekeler cavalry, and another riding the flanks, with a fringe of scouts beyond that, wading their way through snowdrift and forests-this was not territory which had declared itself for the new Duke.
A Szekeler Primore came gallopingh up and reported: "The scouts found signs of a large group of horse. Fifty or so. We followed them. They were Hungarian soldiers, Drac."
"I thought your informant said that there were none within seventy miles and Caedonia was ready to declare for you, Vlad," said Manfred.
"I suppose they could have moved. Where have they gone, Primore?"
"We're burying most of them Drac. We asked the survivors some questions. They say the King himself was here three days ago, with a thousand men. He's gone south, to Irongate. They were supposed to join him. They say there are no other troops near at hand."
"I do hope the countess Elizabeth is all right," said Vlad. "She has played a difficult double game for me."
"Well, provided there are no other nasty surprises, I think we'd like to make the castle before dark. It's going to be a bitter night."
"It is nearby," said the Primore. "Maybe half a mile away."
They rode on, and soon could see the turrets on the skyline. It was a big monolithic place, with looming high walls of featureless dark stone, broken only by tiny window-slits. "She's a wealthy woman," said Manfred, impressed.
The snowy silences were suddenly torn by a terrible howling.
"This is a bad place Drac," said the Primore. "Listen to those wolves. "
"We have two thousand men, Primore. We should be able to cope with a few wolves."
The man looked doubtful. "They say," he said darkly. "That wolves can turn to men in these foreign parts."-as if they were ten thousand leagues away, instead of twenty leagues from his village.
Mirko grinned. "Ah, but they also say that the king of the wolves of the mountains, also answers to the Prince of Valahia."
Soon they were at the castle gates. The gate-house was empty, and the gates open. They rode on to the great hall itself. Vlad dismounted and walked up the steps to the great doors. These were flung open.
"Why, Vlad!" said the stunningly beautiful blonde woman in the doorway, flanked by the footmen who had flung it open. "I was expecting just you. Not an army."
She didn't sound wholly pleased to be receiving one.
"It is hard for me travel without one, Countess. Especially when we found some of Emeric's troops waiting for us," said Vlad. It was odd. They said that absence made the heart grow fonder. But seeing her, Vlad realized it was not so. He had felt conflicted before. Now… she was very beautiful. A lovely woman in the flower of her youth. But he missed Rosa.
"They can't come in here, Prince Vlad," she said, glancing at the troops.
"Then we must leave and find lodging elsewhere, Countess. It is cold and I will not have them sleep outdoors tonight. You told us Caedonia was ready to declare for me, and it is not. They fired on my banners," he said, grimly. He gestured at the castle. "It is a large establishment. Can you not make space for them? They'll bed down in the halls if need be."
Elizabeth was furious. There was going to be some servere punishment for a lesser demon. He had deliberately deceived her. Deliberately! He had not shown her this force. "It is Emeric's doing," she said angrily. "Caedonia was ready to declare for you. But he led a force up here. I managed to send him chasing off to Irongate."
She paused. "Well. What can't be cured must be endured. Caedonia is my city. I will have messengers sent… " she saw Vlad's expression. Was he becoming even more resistant to her magics? "Not tonight. Tonight, somehow we will cope. I just ask that you order the men to stay out of the cloisters!"
She looked onto the field. At the bright silver shields and their three red crosses. She wanted to be sick. How did they get here? If there was one thing she feared…"Who… who are they?" she croaked. She would lash that little demon with white fire.
"Ah. Let me introduce you," said Vlad beckoning them closer. Several knights dismounted. "These are my good friends. Prince Manfred of Brittany. Ritter Erik Hakkonsen of Iceland, and the good Ritter Eberhart of Brunswick. Remember how you said that I was weak politically. Well, I have found a wonderful advisor!"
Elizabeth bowed, recovering herself. Manfred of Brittany. Here? Well, what a prize for little Emeric. Manfred's Icelandic ladies-delight companion looked a little unwell. "Forgive me for being so abrupt. I was… rather surprised. Come in. If you will pardon me I will go and speak immediately to my castellan and chatelaine about arrangements for your men." She turned to her dwarf retainer. "Refreshments. Mulled wine, Ficzko."
The dwarf bowed. But the look he gave Vlad was one of unmixed hatred and fear. She would have to discipline him.
Erik struggled to control his stomach. How could they live with the stink in here? Something had died and was rotten. Castles stank as a rule. You got used to it. But perhaps he had been outdoors for too long. It didn't seem to be bothering anyone else.
She would have to delay. Her castle, her castle stables… they bulged indecently. The passages were full of common men-at-arms. Lascivious commoners, devouring her with their eyes. Did they not know who she was?
Well, no. That was the point. Anyway, she still had three days. The moon and the sun were still moving toward their appointed places. Tomorrow she would send the troops off. She would bring intolerable pressure to bear on that stupid mayor, by magical means, tonight. Well. She could not chase them all out. She would have to allow Vlad the appearance of having a guard. Perhaps thirty or forty men. She could manage to deal with twice that number easily enough.
The Knights of the Holy Trinity worried her most. They were protected, curse them. On the other hand… they could be trapped. Confined to a wing, while she did her work on Vlad and the girl. Then the two could be magically prepared for the rape, murder and bloodletting that she planned to turn their ancient ritual into. Oh yes, the Prince and Princess of Valahia would share blood. Her share would be all of it. Every drop drained from those bodies. And a dark rite and a binding of the water-dwellers. First of course they would need to be driven into her net. Betrayal and self-disgust would break their wills. She could start on the girl tonight…
Then she realized she couldn't. Not even with her abilities. There were just too many of them. She couldn't even walk down her own corridors. And she would need all her power tomorrow. She would even forgo the seduction-stopping just short of actual penetration, that she had planned for Vlad. But he was no longer a virgin. Would it matter? The book had clearly stated 'innocent and willing' were requirements for the blood-letting. Count Mindaug had assured her that bending Vlad's and Dana's wills to her purpose would work. They would be "willing."
On the snowy hills beyond the barrier she had set up, very nearly the entire pack-only old Silva, left to tend Dana's mother-men, women, and children roamed. The barrier held them back. But… she would have to lift it. Have to move them to the place at the head of the Jiu valley where it all began.
And somehow they had to stop her. The wyverns might have the power to cross the barrier. But they were busy, busy with the call. Calling the ancient dwellers of the forest to come to the open place, the place of stones… to be betrayed, enslaved and killed.
In the filthy cell, Dana cried. No one came. But there were others, weeping. Screaming too. Eventually, Dana found something. Her courage. Her pride. And she began to sing. A hymn. A prayer. It seemed the only thing appropriate for this place."Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. "
"Hush," said someone in nearby cell. A frightened tearful child's voice. "They will hurt you if you sing… that. Maybe even kill you."
"They dare not let me live," said Dana, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. "So I may as well sing. God may hear me. And when they kill me, God having heard me will be of more use to me." She began again. This time, by the third repetition, the other child in the nearby cell began singing too. More voices joined. Some called for them to shut up. Some still screamed or cried.
Vlad had found a place to be alone, and outside the walls. On the top of a turreted tower, he had them erect his little Ger. And he stood, breathing great breaths of icy air that no-one shared, that was not confined by walls. He felt faintly guilty at taking over Elizabeth's castle like this. But the welfare of his men came first.
A wolf howled out the night. Vlad gave in to his inner self. He howled back. And was answered by a chorus…
"Talking to the wolves?" said Erik.
Vlad smiled. "They can go south. I must stay here."
Erik looked at the Ger.
Looked at Vlad. Looked at the Ger again. "Do mind if I share your quarters tonight?" he asked, abruptly. "I can't take it down there. I have a bedding roll."
Vlad felt a little nonplussed. He liked his privacy. But… He nodded. "Of course."
Erik smiled. He looked a bit pale. But perhaps it was the moonlight. "Thank you."
Somewhere, far away, Vlad could hear someone singing the Ave Maria. A sad, young woman's voice. Sad yet strong. It must be one of the nuns.
"Where is Erik?" demanded Bortai. "The tall blond man…"
"I know who you mean," said the shaman grinning at her. "Where are your chaperones, Princess?"
"Down the hall, eating. They do not worry about you," said Bortai calmly. "Now, have you seen Erik?"
"The witch-smeller was looking unwell. Maybe he went to look for some air," said the shaman.
"You really think he is a witchsmeller?" It was something of very high status among the Horde.
"I think so, yes. He is untrained though. No one has taught him. But I see magic and the workings. He smells it. There is much here. This place is full of spells."
"I don't like her," said Bortai, abruptly, feeling foolish. She sounded like a jealous young fourteen year old. "Her smile isn't real. It doesn't go to her eyes."
The old Shaman nodded. "She is full of spells. All over."
"I'd better find him. We should leave this place."
The shaman nodded. "The tengeri here… are afraid."
"I'm not going without him," said Bortai, knowing that she was being stupid and utterly transparent.
He nodded. "I think that would be a mistake." He pointed to Manfred, making his way past. "Perhaps he will know."
Manfred did. He laughed. "On top of one of the turrets, with Vlad. Both fast asleep in that felt tent. How they got it up there I do not know. They're a sight. Both sleeping with their swords laid like crosses on their chests."
"They are all right?" That was how they had laid the knights for burial… "They are not dead?"
Manfred shook his head. "Trust me. No one snores quite like Erik. He and Vlad were doing a beautiful duet. He woke up when I looked in. He sleeps like a cat. I was worried about him, so I went to check," said his overlord. He grinned at Bortai. "You'll get used to the snoring, really, after a week or two. Francesca had a very ladylike little trumpet. She used to get very angry when I told her about it."
"I do not know what you mean," said Bortai a little stiffly. Maybe she didn't understand as much Frankish as she thought.
He grinned. "We'll see. Good night. I don't think I'll find entertainment or even strong drink tonight."