27. Pawn to black

Liva dipped her head and placed her hand lightly atop Kab's arm, but as her host made no move to step forward nor did she.

Rather, a call went up from the far end of the causeway, a language dark and harsh unlike any Angelica had ever heard before. The call was promptly followed by the sound to heavy boots on stone, crunching in time to a fast cadence. Preceded by the tips of their spears, two companies of soldiers ran at the march up from hidden ramps left and right of the far end, curving up into twinned lines of menace. Rather than form a line they kept to the left and right edges of the path, one by one dropping off the end of each line while running in place to keep time. When they dotted both edges, another order rang out, and as one their boots slammed down to silence; motionless statues. Another command, and they turned inwards, facing each other in pairs, spears set at an angle.

I wonder how long they have been practising that. Angelica mused absently.

A young girl appeared from one of the hidden ramps, her bright dress at odds with the brooding castle yet in keeping with the petals. She skipped towards them, wicker basket in one hand, the other dripping yellow and white petals upon the path, ending half a step before Liva's dress before falling into a deep curtsey which she held.

At Kab's subtle nod, Liva and he began to move forward, Liva's eyes drifting between Kab at her side and the castle ahead. "What is this place?" she asked innocently.

"It has had many names" the tall Mann replied thoughtfully "and yet we do not know its true name. It has fallen and been rebuilt many times, as well."

"Oh?" Liva replied with faked genuine interest. "The architecture, I've never even heard of such a style."

"Well..." Kab went on amiably, his words lost in the flicker of breeze as they drew ahead of the others.

"Anne" Antaryon had stepped to her left, as Kab had, and offered his arm. As Angelica placed her hand lightly upon his arm, she caught his quiet words "Don't be afraid."

Oh bravo. I'm not curious. Not afraid even. I am meant to be terrified by all this. My acting is as appalling as this plan.

Angelica's eyes wavered, as she took a hesitating step forward with Antaryon's support. She looked at every guard she passed, swaying slightly past each one, closer to Antaryon as she walked. He put his arm around her shoulders and whispered to her ear "come on, I remember you mimicking your brother. You're a far better actress than this."

She turned her face to his shoulder as he embraced her, whispering back "and?"

The flicker of surprise passed as quickly as the morning rain in summer, Antaryon pausing and whispering "this is all for show. Their real fortress is under the mountains, guards and towers facing each other, not outside." then more loudly "Have courage sister."

Angelica resumed her poise, a deep breath more real than acted helping to keep her on her way. She noticed that every petal pristine ... Liva was dancing through. Turning to glance behind, she saw yellow rapidly fading to brown where her she had ploddingly crushed them. Ooops.

A gentle shift in his arm had her attention back where it belonged, on the greatest role of her life. I am certain no-one is going to believe me. Not a chance.

Antaryon put his hand upon hers, a familiar, gentle gesture that shocked her back to the moment. Ahead strangers were greeting Liva and Kab, directing them to the right path that flowed around the stone base of the castle. Kab glanced and nodded for them to follow in the direction they were taking. Those they had talked were already walking off to the left. They have not even bothered to look at me! Angelica realized, bewildered.

Antaryon put his hand upon hers again, only briefly. She glanced down instinctively, and caught his fleeting signal as he withdrew his hand. Yes.

Bewilderment with a slight touch of terror now and then. I must remember never to play cards with Antaryon. Angelica thought, then with regret crushed her mirth and continued to follow the others as they walked sedately past this place built solely for death.

@->--/-----

The stonework was beautiful; large boulders and rocks fitted together artfully. Gentle rows of sleeping stone. Angelica looked about from behind the veil of her pretence, drinking in the details of all she could see, trusting to follow where Antaryon led in her distraction.

Ahead, beyond the castle, a tall arch of stone swept up over the path, bright cloth strung from its crown but its purpose obscured for now. To her right was a formal garden, artfully placed plants and carefully raked stones in intricate patterns that tugged at her memory, yet as much as she longed to pause she dared not. Beyond the garden she could see brightly coloured tents and marquees, strange banners fluttering softly before some. Servants carried wooden tables, chairs, and bundles.

But what caught her attention most was the fleeting glimpse of the outer wall. Cream in colour, low on the wall were arrow windows, the whole standing no taller than a normal building, and topped with dark grey tiles.

The stones. She thought carefully, glancing to check. Yes, the stones are different. The arch ahead looks as if it has been here forever, and this path too. The castle is new, and everything here is flat to that wall. No battlements, but low arrow windows. Likely they packed dirt behind a retaining wall, the same art as the castle base. Clever, and very different to home.

"Are you ok Anne?" Antaryon asked quietly, the concern in his voice very real.

Angelica looked at him and smiled meekly, nodding without breaking her thinking.

They fortified this place, ... but why? This is not their true fortress; that is the mountain. So what is this?

Antaryon put his hand atop Angelica's gently, the gesture enough to snap her back to the moment and avoid blundering into Liva. Kab had stopped, and turned to address them all. "Say nothing, to anyone, until I am with you again. Understood?"

They nodded silently; it was not a request.

Kab offered his arm to Liva again, and they turned off the path, entering the maze of canvas and artfully arranged furniture, the occasional servant fleeing before the unexpected presence of the Lord and Lady.

Angelica was struggling to recall the path they had taken when they rounded a corner and she saw a black marquee with silver ribbons. There was no standard or device, but the soldiers standing guard were all too familiar. Yet they stood to perfection, every belt gleaming, every buckle shining, long halberds perfectly still at their sides.

Kab swept past them without a word. Inside was as carefully planned as the out, with chairs and tables to the right and long couches to the right, with small low tables holding crystal glasses and pitchers of water. He gestured to the couches "Speak freely now. You must all be exhausted. We are very early, but it was necessary for your safety to be here before the sun set."

"Because?" Liva tried her luck.

"There are those who have too much time and not enough to do with it. There is a masquerade ball here tonight. I had no wish to be caught up in the dance before tonight's music plays."

"The dance?" Angelica offered with all the timidity she could muster.

"The game of power. Everyone in this place is a piece on the board, but alas, you my dear" he looked directly at Angelica "are not a player in this game." Kab turned back to Liva "Don't look so serious" He smiled "you are not dead yet. Take some rest, drink plenty of water. There will be wine and a banquet later."

"And you?" Liva pressed.

"You are unexpected pieces in this game; most welcome ones, but I need to check the rules."

Liva's eyebrows asked the question.

Kab laughed, a rich, deep, real laugh. "Yes, I said they had too much time. They have rules for everything; and shall we simply say if you get caught cheating there is a very deep pit waiting. Don't look so; I expect I shall need to bribe the Master of Ceremonies and give convincing names to the Herald. And you will be quite safe here until the music starts; the rules demand it."

"Thank you" Liva said with a curtsy hurriedly mirrored by Angelica.

Kab bowed formally, then walked out the way they had come in, with his guards dropping a heavy cloth awning for privacy within.

Antaryon dropped onto one of the couches, reached for a glass but winced in pain. Angelica beat him too it and poured three glasses of water.

"Do we trust it?" Antaryon lifted the glass, eyeing the contents suspiciously.

"Sure" Liva replied, lifting her glass and taking a long sip.

"Makes sense" Angelica sipped hers "they have forever ... poisoning water would be terribly boring."

Antaryon lifted his glass in salute, "Quite" and drained his glass, which Angelica refilled.

"What did you mean about the towers?" she asked quietly as she poured.

"Their defences are impossible" Antaryon said evenly 'it looked like the road went through many kingdoms, not just a single mountain."

Liva nodded, after a pause whispering "The heraldry was a babble, but the guards facing each other had the look of Menn at war, keeping to their battlements not standing about talking. If I had to guess, we passed through three major factions."

"Oh?" Angelica said louder than she intended.

"The heraldry ... more than a few had a sash colour over their arms. I noted black, red, and gold." Liva added.

"Well that all explains a lot" Angelica mused "Their true enemies are each other."

"Explains why it was so easy to get in" Antrayon added, looking to Liva and adding "M'Lady".

"Indeed" Liva replied. "Getting in poses no threat, merely another piece on the board. That is not the hard part ..." she left the words unspoken as she sat, letting out a long sigh.

"Get some sleep if you can" Liva ordered "no watch."

"M'Lady" Angelica and Antaryon replied as one, and after drinking their fill lay down, to see whether exhaustion or fear would win as the day dwindled into night outside.

Getting in is easy. Getting out alive, no so much.

“This place makes no sense” Antaryon said softly.

“It makes perfect sense” Liva replied softly. “I’ve seen how you kept your trunk back in the barracks. And I’ve read her poetry. Now imagine if I had to put up with that, forever.”

“Point” Angelica replied “but if I had forever, I might eventually spell courtsey correctly.”

“We are talking about forever, not eternity Anne.” Liva quipped with a gentle laugh. “Now, get some sleep.”

“M’Lady.”