There was something in the Queen Dowager’s voice that was familiar to Lia, and the hint of recognition disturbed her. It was not her accent, her decidedly foreign way of speaking, but the intensity with which she spoke. Words with unspoken loathing lurking beneath, but sugary and soothing on the crust.
“My meaning, Aldermaston? You think you know my true meaning? As you say, I am welcome here but without my servants? Without my, how do you say, men at arms? This is dangerous country, Aldermaston. My lord husband was murdered in this Hundred. So you ask me to trust my protection in such lawless lands? Certainly these times say otherwise. Prudence, as you say. Yes, that is the word. Prudence. It would be prudent of you, Aldermaston, to grant my servants permission to enter the Abbey grounds.”
The Aldermaston’s voice throbbed with anger. “I beg you to excuse me, but I cannot allow that. When I last permitted the king’s men permission to enter these grounds, my hospitality was egregiously violated. You understand full well that these lands do not fall within the jurisdiction of the crown. Your late husband understood this.”
“Then why has there not been an inquest then into my husband’s murder? To see that those who brought it about are punished severely? It is wickedness to murder an anointed king. Your lack of interest in this matter, as you say, is of great concern to me.”
The Aldermaston’s voice became raspy. “Only the sheriff of Mendenhall has the authority to investigate the matter.”
“What sheriff of Mendenhall? There has been no word from him since he came to this Abbey! He was last seen in Muirwood!”
“Correction, Queen Dowager. He was seen riding the road with plans of joining up with the king’s army which was converging on a battlefield. In all likelihood, he was never numbered with the dead or he joined the marauding survivors and is one of them. The young king has not named a successor and what have I to do with that? I have not seen the sheriff since that moment. To insinuate that he met an ill fate here in Muirwood is preposterous. I must bid you good night, Queen Dowager. Your unexpected arrival this evening has caused added concerns for my cook as well as those I am responsible for. There are orders and instructions to be made.”
Her voice sounded dismissive. “I will not be troubled with your inconveniences. As you say, I am unwanted as a guest at this moment. We are waylaid by a storm, that is all. Our destination is the village of Winterrowd. I travel with my men at arms because this Hundred is lawless – a situation that you do nothing to prevent.”
“This is an Abbey, Queen Dowager, not a garrison. I have no resources to speak of, nor do I have jurisdiction in this Hundred.”
Her voice was chilling. “Then best you remember that, Aldermaston. You have no garrison here, as you say. You too are at the mercy of these roving bands of thieves and mercenaries from Pry-Ree. I should loathe to hear of any treachery disturbing the peace of your domain.”
His reply was cold and even. “Then we understand one another, Queen Dowager. I bid you good evening. Prestwich, show her to her rooms.”
The sound of a door closing and voices heading down the hall could be heard. Lia gently prodded open the antechamber door. The Aldermaston was in his chair, brooding, his face a maze of wrinkles and crags.
“Come in, Lia,” he murmured, raising an eyebrow when Colvin followed. “You were unsuccessful in finding Scarseth.” It was not a question.
Lia shook her head. “We followed his trail to the Tor when the Cruciger orb warned us of danger. Men on horseback, dressed in black tunics chased us into the woods. We just came through the tunnels.”
“As I feared,” he whispered. “There are a dozen of her men at arms at the Pilgrim. I have refused them entry, except for one bodyguard and two ladies of the chamber. I dared not let the rest inside.”
“With good reason,” Lia said. “One followed our trail, in the dark, to the tunnel entrance. His eyes were glowing.”
The Aldermaston muttered darkly under his breath. “She has no mastons in her employ. Her husband hated them too. She comes from a strong Family, from the royal line of Dahomey. Though she is young, she is trained in the cunning of statecraft. Be on your guard with her or any of her servants. They may try and befriend you to learn more about the Abbey’s defenses. Be wary. I do not know how long this storm will last, but I need you to be vigilant this evening, Lia. She may try to abduct…”
A knock rapped on the door.
Before an announcement could be made, it opened and the Queen Dowager entered, with Prestwich looking flustered.
“Aldermaston, I warned her that…”