Midst Toil And Tribulation – Snippet 19
“I don’t want to see them lose any more, either, Your Grace,” he said after a moment, then smiled quirkily. “On the other hand, I am their legal guardian and chief political advisor. I don’t doubt, somehow, that my notion of ‘any more’ probably won’t be exactly the same as the Empire of Charis’ notion.”
“Neither do I, My Lord,” Aplyn-Ahrmahk acknowledged with a grunt of laughter. “Neither do I.”
* * * * * * * * * *
“I don’t know how big those guns are, Daivyn,” Irys Daykyn said as patiently as she could. “Why don’t you go ask Hektor — I mean Lieutenant Aplyn-Ahrmahk? I’m sure he knows.”
“Can I?” Daivyn looked at that her, then shifted his gaze to the blonde-haired, gray-eyed woman beside his sister. “I promise not to get tar all over my pants, Lady Mairah — really I do!”
“Your Highness, you’re a ten year old on a sailing ship,” Lady Mairah Breygart, the Countess of Hanth, pointed out with a smile. “One ounce of encouragement and you’ll be swarming up the ratlines like a spider monkey, and you and I both know it, don’t we?” She shook her head. “You really shouldn’t go around making promises you can’t keep.”
“But I promise to try really hard!” He shot back with a smile of his own. “That should count for something!”
“Miscreant!” Countess Hanth smacked him on top of his head with a chuckle, then threw up both hands. “A charming miscreant, though. Go ahead — pester the Lieutenant. Maybe he’ll toss you overboard and your sister and I will get some rest.”
“I’m a really good swimmer, you know!” the prince assured her over his shoulder, his smile turning into a triumphant grin as he trotted quickly away.
“Is he really?” Lady Hanth asked, cocking an eyebrow at Irys.
“Not as good as he thinks he is . . . but probably a better one than I’m willing to admit, My Lady.” Irys shrugged, watching him slide to a halt by Aplyn-Ahrmahk, grab the lieutenant by the sleeve, and start gesticulating enthusiastically in the direction of the fortress. “He’d be perfectly willing to jump off the ship and swim to that island for a closer look at the artillery.”
“I shudder to think what’s going to happen when we finally get around to introducing him to young Haarahld,” Lady Hanth said, watching the same tableau. “Tell me, has Daivyn discovered marsh wyvern or duck hunting yet?”
“King Zhames wouldn’t’ve dreamed of letting him out with a firearm in his hands,” Irys replied with much less amusement. “And he was too small for anything like that before we left Corisande, of course.”
“Of course.” Lady Hanth agreed. If she was aware of Irys’ changing mood, she gave no sign of it. “I wonder if I’ll be able to convince Cayleb and Sharleyan to let the two of you spend some time with us at Breygart House? Young Haarahld’s only about a year older than he is, and Trumyn just turned nine. The three of them would have a wonderful time tearing around the countryside together, and Haarahld and his brother Styvyn — Styvyn’s only a year or two younger than you are, Your Highness — are both already accomplished hunters. Well, enthusiastic ones, in Haarahld’s case, anyway. I’m sure we’d have to take along an entire Guard company as bodyguards, but Hauwerd swears by the marsh wyvern hunting around Lake Zhym. I understand it’s a great deal of fun, and while I’ve never quite grasped the reasoning behind that myself, he seems delighted by it for some reason.” She rolled her gray eyes expressively. “I know he — and the boys — always come home covered in mud with all sorts of explanations for why the really big marsh wyverns got away from them this time, at any rate.”
Irys chuckled, the shadows retreating from her eyes.
“I imagine Daivyn would enjoy that a lot, My Lady. Assuming the Emperor and the Empress really would let him.”
“Oh, I imagine I could talk Her Majesty into it if I put my mind to it. I’ve known her a long time, you know.”
Irys nodded. If anything, “a long time” was a gross understatement, for Lady Mairah Lywkys had been Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm’s senior lady-in-waiting. A much younger cousin of Baron Green Mountain, Mairah was a decade senior to Sharleyan, and in many ways she’d been the older sister the youthful queen had never had. Mairah had accompanied Sharleyan to Charis to meet her betrothed husband, Cayleb Ahrmahk, and she walked with a slight but permanent limp from the “riding accident” which had prevented her from accompanying Sharleyan to Saint Agtha’s for the visit which had almost ended in the empress’ death.
Since that episode, Sharleyan had decided to dispense with formal ladies-in-waiting entirely. Charisian practice had never involved the crowds of nobly born attendants the mainland realms enshrined, and the Empress had become a firm proponent of Charisian traditions in that regard. Chisholm had been closer to the mainland in that respect, but she’d never really liked surrounding herself with ladies-in-waiting — an attitude which had hardened into steely determination since her unexpected ascent to the throne, when she’d been forced to fend off the sort of fluttery attendants most courtiers would have considered suitable for a twelve year-old queen.
As part of that campaign, she’d fought hard to convince Green Mountain to make Mairah her chief lady-in-waiting. The baron had resisted the idea, fearing the possible political repercussions if it had seemed he was deliberately surrounding Sharleyan with his own adherents and supporters. But Sharleyan had insisted, and Mairah had served as the child-queen’s buttress against all those other attendants, which explained why Sharleyan had insisted upon bringing her to Tellesberg with her when she’d gleefully left every other lady-in-waiting home in Chisholm. She hadn’t had any of those ladies shipped to Tellesberg since, either. Nor had she selected any Old Charisian ladies to add to Mairah. In fact, Irys suspected, the empress’ deep affection for Lady Hanth was the only reason Sharleyan had delayed two years after her wedding — until Mairah’s own wedding to the Earl of Hanth — before formally abolishing the post entirely.
Lady Hanth hadn’t explained any of that to Irys, but Phylyp Ahzgood hadn’t been her father’s spymaster for so many years without learning a great deal about the Kingdom of Chisholm’s internal dynamics. It hadn’t taken him long to update his information on her, and Irys agreed with his analysis. Having Mairah Lywkys Breygart named as Irys’ official “companion” (since the term “lady-in-waiting” had been so . . . enthusiastically eliminated by Empress Sharleyan) was almost certainly a good sign.
I
hope it is, anyway, she thought, gazing across the water at the slowly passing island. Phylyp’s right about this being the best option open to us, but “best” doesn’t necessarily mean “good.” And Hektor’s a good man, like Seijin Merlin, and he obviously trusts Cayleb and Sharleyan. But still, they’re both Charisians and—
“Sharleyan used to have an expression just like that when she was worried,” Mairah said thoughtfully. Irys glanced quickly sideways, but all she saw was Lady Hanth’s profile, for the older woman’s eyes were fixed on Lock Island. “About half the time,” she continued in that same considering tone, “if anyone could convince her discussing what worried her wasn’t a sign of weakness, she’d find out it wasn’t quite as bad as she’d thought it was while she was wrestling with it on her own. Not always, of course. But sometimes.”
So much for thinking Coris had wedding bells in mind. Clearly he sees Hektor’s treatment of Irys and Daivyn as a foreshadowing of how Cayleb and Sharleyan are likely to treat them, since Hektor IS a member of the Royal Family.
We somehow managed to be right, guessing the blond was Lady Hanth, although we’re no closer to knowing how she got aboard. Thank goodness it’s pretty clear there’s at least one snippet left in this scene.
Maybe Lady Hanth is as good a swimmer as Daivyn thinks he is and that’s how she got aboard! Bleek!
They do have ducks!
I suspect that Irys doesn’t have much to worry about from the Royalty, but I do see an attempt by the Temple to get at one of the two since it would be a great destabilization move. I just hope those bodyguards mentioned above are alert, and I hope there are no grand marter scenes involving lieutenants giving their life for …
Maybe I’m just being paranoid!
Imagine if you were Charles Darwin on this planet, trying to figure out why half the species are related to each other and the other half are also related to each other, but the two halves are not interrelated. You would probably never come up with the theory of natural selection.
I suspect that Merlin will take it on himself to explain the truth to Irys very soon despite the objections of the others. It is essential that Irys decide on real cooperation.
@3 Depends on what you’re talking about. Ultimately, (unless something significant changes) I don’t see her ever being happy with her kingdom being subservient to Charis. More importantly, she’s highly intelligent and likely to be able to do something about that in the long run.
@4 Darwin came up with most of his theory then went looking for evidence to support it. Besides you could just say that they evolved from two separate “origins” If you’re going to posit one animal appearing from goop it’s no problem to assume more than one did.
@5 Charles Darwins grandfather Erasmus was already thinking about it 60 years earlier….
@3 “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.”
I foresee lots of anti-ballistic nanotechnology in those two’s future – if an active 10-year-old won’t destroy it, or trigger it inappropriately. The hunting possibility reminds me of the assassination attempt on Sharley, although it won’t be a massed attack. Hanth was the home town of that Bishop who ran the assassination attempt, and there may still be one or two TL fanatics left. Or maybe this is just DW tweaking us.
I thought it was too soon for an astute political player like Irys to fall in love with Hektor. Friends, yes. Respect, yes. But if this is to be a romance, it will probably be a multi-book sequence. Further, I dont see her doing anything until Daivyn is back in Corisande and safe. Althoug who knows, maybe she will try to get involved with Merlin :^) At least the Regency Council isn’t going to try to replace Daivyn, and Irys may even be appointed to the council. I don’t see her encouraging Daivyn to give fealty to EoC, and in any case I would think how would need to reach his majority before it could be formally accepted. I’m also not sure if Irys would consider taking a 3+ month trip to Corisande without Daivyn, and in any case the Earl has to stay with him.
Appointing the wife of an Earl as a companion seems to show a great deal of respect (or concern) for Irys. How long an assignment do you think this is? Just for the trip to Tellesburg and until they are established, or long term?
I just hope this isn’t a “companion” in the Doctor Who sense.
@8 – BobG
Giving fealty to the EoC is a non-negotiable condition of Daivyn and Irys being permitted to return to Corisande. Given that, I think that Merlin, Cayleb, Sharleyan, or Stainyr (or perhaps all of them) will go out of his (her/their) way to make sure that Irys understands this and that she understands that feigned fealty will be met with harsh punishment once it is detected (and it WILL be detected, another point she must understand).
@1 – Nimitz13
I agree that the romance angle for Hektor and Irys will be a long, drawn-out affair, if it happens at all. On the other hand, if you notice in the dialogue, Irys refers to Hektor by his given name when talking with Daivyn, then corrects herself and refers to him by rank. That could signal the first sign of a budding friendship/romance, or it could be that referring to the Lieutenant by her father’s name was just a bit much for her to take emotionally at this moment.
Daivyn still sounds like a seven or eight year old. Oops – he is probably ten SAFEHOLD years old – now he sounds right.
It was just pointed out that Countess Hanth is a connection of Green Mountaain’s. He could have wanted her close to Sharleyan and he reluctance was faked ago to make it seem real. I bet she has not been veted because Sharleyan thinks she knows her. She had her leg broken to keep her from the Abby. This will bear watching.
Is Cayleb’s sister still unattached? A dynastic marriage or two would placate Irys about the loss independent sovereignity. If Sharleyan (or Nimue for that matter) have any say in the matter, the women of the royal family are not going to be subservient in the EoC, which should really appeal to Irys (didn’t her father lament that if only Irys had been born a boy). An eventual precursor to women’s suffrage. No staying home and knitting by the fire.
@10 Given how close Countess Hanth is to Sharleyan wouldn’t Merlin have assigned a SNARC to watch her? Often the best way to get at someone is through someone else that person trusts. It’s also been a couple of years since the attempt on Sharleyan’s life, I’m favoring that she’s not a ‘sleeper’.
@ 10 and 12
Remember at least one conduit of communication within the palace remained undiscovered, in connection with the attempt on Sharleyan’s life. Similarly, the new spy in Siddermark (the secretary to the Charisan ambassador) remains undiscovered to this point. Given the relationships involved and the prior assassination attempts (including the original one on Cayleb), it’s not at all out of the question that an attempt might be made on Daivyn’s life, and it might be successful too. In that case, Irys marrying Hektor and their ruling Corisande together also is not out of the question.
Breygart, Sir Hauwerd, Colonel, RC Marines, became Earl Hanath in 893.
IIRC he was assigned to the Tarot occupation/garrison force (military govenor??). I also remember a mention that his family/wife accompanied him.
A message could have reached Lady Mairah at the same time Sir Dunkyn Yairley got his raid/rescue orders, asking her to provide an escort if/when Irys was rescued.
@9 I would expect Irys to refer to her father as “daddy”, and her brother as “Hektor”. I expect Irys to see LT Hektor as a possibility now, and a suitor when he reaches 20 Safehold years old (a while yet).
If something were to happen to Daivyn (proven to be the work of the Gang of Four), or even if he simply abdicated, and his big sister was married to a Duke who just happened to be the adopted son of the Emperor, wouldn’t that help lock up the loyalty of Corisande?
Imagine Duke Hektor and Princess Irys installed as the governors/regents of Corisande and ruling in the name of Caleb and Sharleyan. Wouldn’t the last resentment of Corisanders evaporate if Irys was co-ruler over them? And wouldn’t the doubts by Charisians over Corisande loyalty be lessend if Duke Hektor – who, afterall, was enobled after the Battle of Dacros Sound – was ruling that contentious place for Caleb?
Well, it would be interesting to know if Safehold has the concept of a “consort”.
That is a man who marries a female ruler without “taking the throne” from her.
I imagine that the Carisandians would accept Hektor as Irys’s consort better than they’d accept him “taking the throne” by marrying her.
@4 Natural selection survived the existence of plants, and the separate existence of animals. There migth eb a question of how the competition between them stayed so even.
@16. Drak, don’t be silly. “Consort” wouldn’t be the first term that Merlinm reintroduced to Safehold. ;)
Especially as it seems doubtful. No word on whether Sharleyan’s predecessor as Queen was married–but either way, consort or not, she obviously had a short rein. (pun intended)
17. Why a question? The native plants have an edge because of their native environment, the Terran plants have human assistance.I woulkd assume that until every portion of the planet is terraformed in perpetuity, the (land plants, at least) would manage to reseed themselves one way or another. Especially as humans seem to have a use for some of them.
@13. I thought that was supposed to be a priest, who was the palace leak? Will have to look again.
@14. Obviously Mariah is Earl Hanith’s 2nd wife. (First one died???) If she married him years after Sharlean and Cayleb got married and the two boys are close to Iris’ and Dayvin’s ages the only option available is that they are from a previous marriage.
@20. Flip the coin. I don’t think it says anywhere that Lady Mairah has never been married before. The Brady Bunch says that one or two of those kids could be her own.
@21. True. She did say “Haarahld and his brother Styvyn”. If all three of them were full brothers, wouldn’t she have said “older brother Styvyn”? I do think at least Haarahld and Styvyn are her husband’s children. Styvyn because of his age and Haarahld because he is clearly named after the old King of Charis.
@22. Point. So…how soon before we start seeing toddlers named “Cayleb” or “Sharleyan”?
@23 – JeffM
Or Merlin?
Robert, don’t forget that Cayleb and Sharleyan named their daughter after Nimue.
Now, if their next child is a son, he might be named Merlin. [Wink]
Oh, do you want to bet that Irys or Daivyn *won’t* named a son Merlin. [Grin]
@25 – Drak
As a general rule, I don’t bet against dragons.
:-)
As it has planted several times, when is the kid going overboard, with Hector and Irys both rescuing him?
Oh, that’s too obvious.
No, no, no…Daivyn falls overboard, into the wake of the ship—and is snagged by a trailing kraken. Hektor makes a stupendous leap from the deck, plunges his katana repeatedl–oopsie! Never mind…. ;)