PART XII
The Saints of Bazeppe
35
Bona Dea;
One day before the Nones of Saturnalis
Velody leaned back against the cool leather of the train seat. It felt as if Aufleur was tugging on her skin, trying to restrain her from leaving. They were moving away from the city so fast, she couldn’t think straight.
Of all the people she might have expected to have sitting opposite her, Kelpie was one of the most unlikely. They had never been friends. Kelpie was the sentinel Velody felt she could count on the least. There was something about her that made Velody feel as if she herself wasn’t really part of the Creature Court, more an unwelcome visitor. It hadn’t surprised Velody that Kelpie chose Garnet and the Court over her, though the fact that she had turned her back on Ashiol at the same time was rather more shocking.
Perhaps that was why she was here — to make amends to Ashiol, not Velody.
‘If you have something to ask me,’ Kelpie said abruptly, ‘just do it. I’m not made of glass.’
‘Have you recovered from the poison?’
‘That’s not what you want to ask.’
‘Isn’t it?’ Velody fell silent. She should ask Kelpie about her motivations for coming to Bazeppe with her, but that wasn’t enough. ‘Why don’t you like me?’ she said finally.
Kelpie stared at her. It was rare to see her entire face; usually she hid behind her hair or swords, or in the shadows.
‘You haven’t earned your place,’ she said finally. ‘You don’t belong in the Creature Court. We’re family, and you’re not.’
‘The others seem to disagree.’
‘They’re stupid. We all know each other, inside and out. We start young, we grow up in the Court, that’s how it works. I don’t know you, and they all seem to … I don’t know. They love you, and I don’t get it. You’re not one of us.’
‘Why did you pledge your loyalty to me in the first place if you feel that way?’
‘Because you’re a King, and we don’t get a choice about loyalty. Because it was the only way Ashiol was going to stay with us. If we made him Power and Majesty, he would run, we all knew that.’ Kelpie smiled thinly. Her eyes looked so sad. ‘He ran, anyway.’
‘And if you have to choose again, between the three of us?’ Velody challenged her. ‘If it was down to you, which of us would you have as Power and Majesty?’
Kelpie sighed. ‘Maybe this time I’d be the one who chose to run away. It seems like the thing to do. Maybe I’m doing it already.’ She leaned her head back against the moulded leather and gave Velody an unfriendly look. ‘It’s an unfair question. Sentinels never get to choose.’
‘Do you think we can bring him back?’
‘Depends, doesn’t it? What’s in Bazeppe to keep him there?’
That, Velody thought, was a very good question.
The servants at the Palazzo in Bazeppe were of a different mould to those at home. Velody had expected to have to lie her way through a phalanx of factotums and stewards to get to Ashiol. Instead, she and Kelpie were sent directly to a chatty under-secretary who proclaimed how delighted he was to show them to the Ducomte’s office.
‘Office,’ Kelpie mouthed behind the under-secretary’s back.
It made as little sense to Velody, but she pretended to be unconcerned. The under-secretary gave them a rambling lecture about this particular wing of the Palazzo and its historical significance, which allowed her to gather her thoughts.
Her animor had sparked with life again once she stepped within these new city walls. It tasted different, but good. In the Palazzo, it truly awoke within her. Ashiol was here. She could feel the heat of him, though he was still several rooms away. His animor was awaking, as well, stirred by her own. She felt her skin prickle at his proximity.
‘Troyes, these demoiselles are here to see the Ducomte,’ the under-secretary said with a flourish as they entered a room in which a slender young man in a burnt-orange linen suit lounged behind a beautifully carved desk. ‘I believe they are his …’
‘Tailors,’ said Velody, her gaze steady and uncompromising.
‘Indeed,’ said this new secretary, eyeing her with an unfriendly gaze. He walked with deliberation to the connecting door and knocked before opening it. ‘Seigneur Ducomte? I’m afraid the lawyers have not yet sent up the draft contracts. But your … tailors are here to see you.’ His voice made it clear that he didn’t believe a word of it.
Kelpie hung back for a moment, but Velody seized her hand and pulled her into the office.
It was a gorgeous room, all green leather and carved wood. Ashiol sat behind a desk four times the size of his secretary’s, and he had a view of the wintry landscape outside.
He stood to greet them. He looked so different. He wore a plum-coloured brocade suit with a beautifully cut sapphire-blue morning coat — respectable and debonair, but obviously designed for a man ten years older and thirty years more respectable than himself. His hair was recently combed. Strangest of all, he seemed at peace with himself. Had Velody ever seen him when he wasn’t angry or afraid? She couldn’t think of a single occasion.
‘Mistress Velody,’ he said politely, treating them as near-acquaintances. ‘Mistress Kelpie. How kind of you to come all this way.’
‘I couldn’t entrust your shirts to anyone else, seigneur,’ said Velody, as the secretaries withdrew and closed the door behind them.
Immediately, Ashiol’s face changed. The old anger surfaced, most of it directed at Kelpie. ‘Changed sides again, have we?’
Kelpie stepped back as if slapped.
‘Garnet almost killed her,’ said Velody. ‘Don’t be horrible about it.’
Ashiol was unmoved. ‘I’ve missed much, it seems.’
‘That happens,’ said Kelpie sharply, recovering a little from his first blow, ‘when you run away.’
‘You’re a fine one to talk about running away.’
‘I did my duty,’ she flared, and then turned away from him with some effort, going to look out of the window. ‘Cushy set-up you have here. Very nice. Do they pay you in honey wine and figs?’
‘The Creature Court aren’t the only ones I have a duty to,’ said Ashiol, but he wasn’t looking at Kelpie now. His eyes roamed over Velody, dark and serious. ‘Why are you here?’
‘I came to bring you home.’
Ashiol’s face closed over, taking on some of that false formality he had shown in the presence of the secretaries. ‘I’m sorry you had a wasted journey. But I’m not going anywhere.’
Velody glared at him. ‘Is that all you have to say to me?’
‘I don’t need new shirts.’
‘Funny.’
He moved then, past Velody to the door. For a moment, he was close enough to touch her and her animor sparked hard. Didn’t he feel it?
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘If you want to know what’s keeping me here, I’ll show you.’
Velody followed him out, Kelpie trailing sullenly behind them. Ashiol led them down several flights of stairs and out into a wide courtyard lined with bronze statues. It was cold enough to make their breath steam, though there was sufficient heat rolling off Ashiol to keep all three of them warm.
‘What are we looking at?’ Velody asked.
Ashiol grinned, looking oddly carefree. Since when did he recover his humour that quickly?
When Kelpie stepped out into the courtyard, two of the statues moved, barring her way. ‘Hey,’ she protested.
One of the statues made a noise, all whirrs and chimes.
‘Is it talking?’ Velody said in astonishment.
The other statue flipped up Kelpie’s cloak and laid its hand on her swords. She stepped back out of range, fury evident on her face. ‘Don’t you dare! Ashiol, stop this.’
‘It’s not me,’ said Ashiol, enjoying himself far too much. ‘They don’t want you to approach me armed.’
‘Tell them I can kill you with my bare hands,’ Kelpie said sarcastically, then ducked back once more as all the statues turned to look at her. ‘That was a joke — eugh, what are they?’
‘The clockwork saints,’ said Ashiol. ‘They’re all over this city. These are just the ones that protect the Palazzo. They’re what the Creature Court of Bazeppe have instead of sentinels.’
‘I’ve been replaced by a few hunks of articulated bronze?’ Kelpie said in disgust. ‘Lovely.’
‘They’re more than soldiers,’ said Ashiol. ‘They fight the sky, as well. They’re the reason Bazeppe is in no danger of being swallowed like Tierce.’
Velody bit back a reply. Rhian had said that Bazeppe would fall before Saturnalia, and Aufleur would follow. But just because the Seer said it didn’t make it true.
‘It’s the clockwork,’ Ashiol explained, his voice alight with enthusiasm. ‘They don’t bother much with festivals here. They don’t need them. The clockwork holds the sky at bay.’
‘But doesn’t stop it,’ said Velody. ‘Doesn’t end it. The Court of Bazeppe are trapped in the same everlasting war that we are.’
‘No,’ said Ashiol, shaking his head furiously. ‘You don’t understand. They break all the rules. They don’t fight each other. They elect the Power and Majesty — they take turns, for f*ck’s sake. They’ve figured out the answer, the essence we were searching for when you took over in Aufleur. They’ve been doing it this way for years.’
‘And how is that going to help us with Garnet?’ Velody pressed. ‘How is it going to stop the sky falling?’
There was an intense light in Ashiol’s eyes. ‘If I can just figure out how it all works, if I can stay a little longer, I can save everyone,’ he said.
‘Can you do it by Saturnalia? That’s how long we have.’ Velody took a deep breath. ‘Bazeppe is under threat, too. Whatever is happening, whatever Garnet is up to, it will affect them.’
‘The clockwork saints are the answer,’ Ashiol said stubbornly. ‘I know they are.’
‘You won’t come home with us, then?’
‘No, I won’t.’
She darted a quick look at Kelpie, who was still being prevented from entering the courtyard as she refused to take off her blades. Velody stepped forward, telling herself it was necessary, and not just because her animor was screaming out to touch Ashiol and to be touched. ‘Do you know what the sacred marriage means?’ she said in a low voice.
He gave her an odd look. ‘Is that a proposal?’
‘Don’t be a fool. Garnet knows more about the Creature Court than anyone — not only its future, but its past. Power and Majesty was never supposed to be one person, it was two. A pair of Kings, joined together.’
Velody stared up into Ashiol’s face as he thought it over. ‘That makes a lot of sense,’ he said slowly. ‘How did we not know about this?’
‘I think the Creature Court have forgotten more about their own traditions and history than we ever guessed.’
‘That I’m sure of,’ he said firmly. ‘It feels as if each Court, each city, only knew a handful of the secrets. Why did we never talk to each other? If Bazeppe also had festivals and Aufleur also had clockwork, how strong would we be?’
Velody closed her eyes. He was so close, she could almost lean in and rest against his chest. She wanted to, so badly. He smelled like home.
What had Tierce had that the other cities did not? They’d had no clockwork saints, she was sure of that — she would have seen some remains of them when she and Garnet were alone in that city, surely.
‘My brother used to tell me stories of steam angels,’ she said. ‘Tierce was a city full of water, and they used steam to open temple doors and to push the boats. Do you think that was their secret? The steam?’
‘Perhaps,’ said Ashiol. She opened her eyes again and saw him gazing at her. ‘Did Garnet want you to be Majesty to his Power?’
Velody almost laughed. ‘I think he wanted to be the Majesty. But yes. He offered me that.’
Ashiol stepped away from her, marking a firm distance between them. ‘Perhaps you should take him up on the offer.’
‘You don’t mean that.’
‘Why not? By all means, let’s follow the pointless, long-dead traditions of our people. What else have we to lose?’ He was almost shouting now.
‘You’re such a child, Ashiol. If you and I could work together for half a day, perhaps we could take the Court back from Garnet,’ she threw at him.
‘I don’t want it back.’
‘Stop saying things you don’t mean! It only wastes time.’
‘If you want the sacred marriage from me, Velody, I can’t give you that.’
She folded her arms defensively. ‘I didn’t ask.’
‘I’m not stupid. Last time I opened myself up to a fellow King, he stole my power. I can’t do that again.’
‘Then what are we going to do?’ she asked him softly.
He almost smiled. ‘You are going to go back to Aufleur. I am going to stay here and find out the secrets of the clockwork saints.’
No, it wasn’t right. She couldn’t leave him here; couldn’t trust him to keep himself alive, let alone save everyone else. ‘It’s not enough.’
‘It will have to do.’
Ashiol turned and walked back towards the Palazzo. Halfway up the steps, he made an impatient gesture and the clockwork saints moved back to their original positions, releasing Kelpie.
Kelpie blew out a breath. ‘So what do we do now?’
Velody couldn’t take her eyes off Ashiol’s back. ‘Will you wait for me at the train station?’
‘What am I, a lady’s companion?’ Kelpie muttered.
‘I have to convince him he’s wrong, and he’ll never admit that in front of an audience.’
‘Fine. But don’t blame me if he uses those clockwork saints on you. He seems suspiciously fond of them.’