Epilogue
Among the Trumpets
The order of battle was set. The autumn sun had barely risen, and the troops would march within the hour.
Grey was in the stable block, checking Karolus’s tack, tightening the girth, adjusting the bridle, marking second by second the time until he should depart, as though each second marked an irretrievable and most precious drop of his life.
Outside the stables, all was confusion, as people ran hither and thither, gathering belongings, searching for children, calling for wives and parents, strewing away objects gathered only moments before, heedless in their distraction. His heart beat fast in his chest, and intermittent small thrills coursed up the backs of his legs and curled between them, tightening his scrotum.
The drums were beating in the distance, ordering the troops. The thrum of them beat in his blood, in his bone. Soon, soon, soon. His chest was tight; it was difficult to draw full breath.
He did not hear the footsteps approaching through the straw of the stables. Keyed up as he was, though, he felt the disturbance of air nearby, that intimation of intrusion that now and then had saved his life, and whirled, hand on his dagger.
It was Stephan von Namtzen, gaudy in full uniform, his great plumed helmet underneath one arm—but with a face sober by contrast to his clothing.
“It is nearly time,” the Hanoverian said quietly. “I would speak with you—if you will hear me.”
Grey slowly let his hand fall away from the dagger, and took the full breath he had been longing for.
“You know that I will.”
Von Namtzen inclined his head in acknowledgment, but did not speak at once, seeming to need to gather his words—although they were speaking German now.
“I will marry Louisa,” he said, finally, formally. “If I live until Christmas. My children—” He hesitated, free hand flat upon the breast of his coat. “It will be good they should have a mother once more. And—”
“You need not give reasons,” Grey interrupted. He smiled at the big Hanoverian, with open affection. Caution was no longer necessary. “If you wish this, then I wish you well.”
Von Namtzen’s face lightened. He ducked his head a little, and took a breath.
“Danke. I say, I will marry if I am alive. If I am not…” His hand still rested on his breast, above the miniature of his children.
“If I live, and you do not, then I will go to your home,” Grey said. “I will tell your son what I have known of you. Is this your desire?”
The Hanoverian’s graveness did not alter, but a deep warmth softened his gray eyes.
“It is. You have known me, perhaps, better than anyone.”
He stood still, looking at Grey, and all at once, the relentless marking of fleeting time stopped. Confusion and danger still hastened without, and drums beat loud, but inside the stables, there was a great peace.
Stephan’s hand left his breast, and reached out. Grey took it, and felt love flow between them. He thought that heart and body must be entirely melted—if only for that moment.
Then they parted, each drawing back, each seeing the flash of desolation in the other’s face, both smiling ruefully to see it.
Stephan was turning to go when Grey remembered.
“Wait!” he called, and turned to fumble in his saddlebag.
“What is this?” Stephan turned the small, heavy box over in his hands, looking puzzled.
“A charm,” Grey said, smiling. “A blessing. My blessing—and St. Orgevald’s. May it protect you.”
“But—” Von Namtzen frowned with doubt, and tried to give the reliquary back, but Grey would not accept it.
“Believe me,” he said in English, “it will do you more good than me.”
Stephan looked at him for a moment longer, then nodded, and, tucking the little box away in his pocket, turned and left. Grey turned back to Karolus, who was growing restive, tossing his head and snorting softly through his nose.
The horse stamped, hard, and the vibration of it ran through the long bones of Grey’s legs.
“Hast thou given the horse strength?” he quoted softly, hand stroking the braided mane that ran smooth and serpentlike down the great ridge of the stallion’s neck. “Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?…He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.”
He leaned close and pressed his forehead against the horse’s shoulder. Huge muscles bulged beneath the skin, warm and eager, and the clean musky scent of the horse’s excitement filled him. He straightened then, and slapped the taut, twitching hide.
“He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.”
Grey heard the drums again, and his palms began to sweat.
Historical Note: In October of 1757, the forces of Frederick the Great and his allies moved swiftly, crossing the country to defeat the gathering French and Austrian army at Rossbach, in Saxony. The town of Gundwitz was left undisturbed, the bridge at Aschenwald never crossed by an enemy.
“Lord John and the Haunted Soldier”
“Haunted Soldier” was actually written specifically for this collection, and has (so far) not been published anywhere else.
The chronology of Lord John Grey stories (to date) is as follows:
“Lord John and the Hellfire Club” (short story)
Lord John and the Private Matter (novel)
“Lord John and the Succubus” (novella)
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (novel)
“Lord John and the Haunted Soldier” (novella)
So, if you have this volume and the two novels, you’re in great shape!
There is a third Lord John novel to come—titled Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner—but this is not yet written.