Chapter 30
Tak wanted to go to Hanja that night, to hold her, console her and share her grief, but Peto advised against it, suggesting she would need more time. However, the following morning neither she nor Samon were to be found in Vilgen or anywhere in the camp of the northern army.
The body of Artur was laid to rest where it had fallen and, to mark the place, a stone was carried from the river below. A mason was fetched from the town and brought up the hill, chisel in hand. He stared quizzically at Taneric as he knelt over the stone.
"Just the name; Artur," said Tak, "And the date. He was a boy of the Goddess, it seems, so let it be told that he died on the twentieth day of the boar in the fifteenth year of the Republic! And put the symbol of the Goddess above his name! Do you know it?"
The man nodded solemnly and went about his business, the sound of metal on stone echoing across the army of the North camped on the grassy slope.
It was decided that Taneric and Peto would ride north to Casbur, less than two days away, to be sure that it was secure. Ostin would take the main army south, following the defeated legions of the Emperor.
"We shall not linger there,Ostin," said Taneric, "But will hasten to rejoin you before you reach Cana. We shall take only one hundred men, speed being of the greatest importance now. There are no armies left to fight between here and Casbur."
Ostin counselled that Tak should take a larger force, but the prince was determined that only one hundred warriors with the freshest horses should join him. And so they departed at a gallop while, more slowly, the army of Vosgir broke camp and made ready for their southward journey.
****
On the evening of the second day, Peto and Taneric reached Casbur and picked their way through the rubble of the walls destroyed just two moons earlier by the Falcon's whale cannon which now stood abandoned beside the Road of Lakes. A small group of guards rode out to meet them, bearing the arms of Casbur on their surcoats but seeming dishevelled and wary of the northerners entering their city. They bade Taneric stop and wait on the field outside but he ignored them and rode on with his men as they watched impotently. Eventually Tak and his followers reached the gates of the citadel itself, which they found closed to them. Tak rapped on the huge oak doors with a battle axe demanding they be opened and eventually they were, revealing a small group of officials in the courtyard beyond, flanked by several dozen men at arms brandishing crossbows.
"Prince Taneric, you are welcome in the City of Casbur," said a portly figure with a messy mop of blond hair atop his head. "I am Joris, First Minister of Casbur, forever at your service."
"I recognise him, Tak," whispered Peto. "He was indeed a chief minister in days gone by; Charton's man."
"I will talk only with Queen Zantina," said Taneric to Joris rudely.
"Alas," sighed Joris, "I have sad news for you, Prince Taneric. Unfortunately young Queen Zantina, Rose of Casbur, beloved by her people, did not survive the assaults and indignities forced upon her by those monstrous invaders who so recently occupied our beautiful lands. The cruelty and degradations inflicted on her person by their villainous leader, Artur....well, they can barely be described! Tanta crudelitas! "
He took a kerchief from his pocket and, with a dramatic flourish, dabbed a tear from his eye.
"Tomorrow, Prince Taneric, we will put her to rest in the Cathedral of Wodh. A simple affair, you understand, for our City is only slowly recovering from the outrage inflicted upon it. However, you will be welcome to attend the ceremony. In the meantime you will find that some taverns are available, and there is food, although meagre. Please, enjoy the hospitality of Casbur, such as it is."
And with that, the gates of the citadel were once again closed on the visitors.
****
Later, in a tavern by the Detz river, Taneric and Peto sipped ale and spoke openly together.
"I know little of Artur," said Peto, "But I do not believe he would inflict such suffering on Queen Zantina. He may have been a traitor of sorts, but surely he was not without honour."
"He was Hanja's brother," replied Tak. "And she loved him. I cannot believe he was evil."
"And this Joris fellow," continued Peto. "He cannot be trusted. When in power under Charton he was known as a liar and trickster, concerned solely with his own base needs. Why, he sold his own people to Cargian slavers for profit!"
Taneric called over to the tavern keeper who came to them, asking if they required more ale.
"Come close my friend," said Tak. "Speak freely to us! What of this man Joris who now holds the Citadel?"
The man sneered, "He is a worm that cares little for the people of this realm. An ogre who once, when a great plague affected the people, insisted he be left alone to eat his cake. A man obsessed by lust, who was gelded by the queen after____"
"Thank you, and yes we will have more ale," said Taneric, interrupting.
"Tak," said Peto, a little more urgently, "While Joris was speaking at the gate, I looked beyond him into the courtyard. Do you remember the doors to the dungeon from whence the Cargian slavers were dragged during Queen Zantina's coronation? You do? Well, there were guards standing there on either side!"
"Gather the men, Peto! We must go back there, right now! But how will we gain entrance to the Citadel?"
"I know a way," said the tavern keeper, who had been listening, sharp-eared, from beside the ale barrels, and he reached behind the largest of them to grasp a long wooden club.
"I keep this here to pacify unruly patrons," he said proudly, "But I think it will serve just as well rammed up Minister Joris's fat arse!"
And with that, the tavern keeper walked out the door, leaving Tak and his men to gather up their weapons and run after him.
****
Entrance to the Citadel was gained easily enough in the end, through a secluded hatch below the stout walls. The tavern keeper opened the outer door to reveal an intimidating iron yett beyond, but he shouted loudly that he had ale to deliver and soon a gruff man came along, keys jangling, complaining of the late hour. It was easy for the northern warriors to stay out of sight until the heavy grate was swung back, and then they rushed in, pushing the startled servant aside. They found themselves in the Citadel's cellars, where provisions were stored; wine, ale, bread, eggs, some game-birds hanging in pairs, and an extraordinary quantity of cake.
"I will leave you now, Prince Taneric," said the tavern keeper, "For the way ahead is clear. Those steps there will lead you to the courtyard. I will go to the town and raise the people. I ask only that you save Joris for me."
He slapped the club twice into the palm of his free hand, testing its girth and nodding to himself in approval.
"My own son was taken by slavers," he continued, "While that fool sat and watched, gulping wine in my tavern and exchanging pleasantries with the captors. I swore then that I would have revenge. Please Prince Taneric, you must promise me!"
"It will be your Queen's choice," said Tak, "If she lives. Otherwise, I promise that you will have him. And that you will not be rushed."
When the man had departed, Peto shook his head and said, "He scares me, Tak. I would not want to fall afoul of him."
But Taneric was already leading his men up the steps to the courtyard where they quickly overpowered the guards, ripping keys from them and unlocking the heavy dungeon door. Beyond, all was in darkness, and Tak waited impatiently while torches were fetched from the cellars and kitchens so that the northern warriors could descend the steep steps. At the bottom, they found a cluster of cages but there was no movement and all of them seemed, at first glance, to be empty.
"Check carefully!" cried Tak.
Soon enough there was a shout and attention was drawn to a pile of rags among the straw in one of the farthest cages. Peto drew his sword, meaning to probe at it gently from beyond the bars, but Tak stopped him and there followed a frantic search for the right key among the dozens on the rings taken from the jailors above. Eventually, the cage was opened and Tak knelt over the object inside, thinking that it was indeed just a bundle of rags, for it seemed too small to be anything else. He rose and was about to turn away in despair. But then there was the slightest movement and, in the dim flickering torchlight, the face of Zantina turned weakly towards him and her eyes opened for just a few seconds, "Oh Tak! I knew you would come for me."
****
Tak ordered a captain of the King's Guard to pick Queen Zantina up from the floor of the cage but, though barely able to speak, she insisted that only the prince should carry her. And this he did, stunned by how little she weighed in his arms as he mounted the steps towards the courtyard. Above him was the sound of conflict; shouts and a clash of sword on sword, but his men called down, encouraging him to bring Zantina up.
"We have their measure, Prince Taneric! They are few in number, and even fewer are ready to fight us!"
In the courtyard, Tak shouted that a physician be found while Peto, in fury, turned on the dungeon guards, huddled by the open door, trembling.
"Bastards! Cowards!" he shouted. "You left your Queen to rot, with not even a light to comfort her! Someone fetch a rope!"
In a room off the courtyard a couch was found and Tak rested Zantina there, watching as water and food was brought to her from the kitchens. At first she did not want him to leave, but he promised to return quickly and she relented. He strode back to the courtyard and, with a great roar that echoed through every corner of the Citadel, he shouted, "JORIS!! JORIS!!"
Tak bounded up the steps of the great hall, and rushed through it, kicking away chairs that impeded him, making all haste to the chambers that lay beyond; the rooms where Zantina, flanked by her tigers, had taken joy in teasing him little more than a year earlier. With Peto and a dozen warriors struggling to keep up, he reached the door of the royal bedchamber and felled it with one great thrust of his booted foot, drawing his sword and barging in, again shouting for Joris in rage.
Inside, there was no life, but the large windows had been flung open and beyond there was a starlit sky and the Detz river snaking by, shimmering in the light of an almost-full moon.
"Look Tak!" said Peto, "There is a rope from above the window here, and it goes all the way to the far bank of the river. It must be five hundred paces at least! I'll warrant Joris has slid down it somehow to make good his escape."
"You may be right Peto," replied Taneric, "But look down there! The tavern keeper has kept his promise."
Below them they saw a great crowd of people, men and women of Casbur, shouting in excitement as they crossed the bridge to the far side of the river, running along the bank carrying torches to light their way and brandishing pitchforks above their heads. As they reached the area of the bank where the rope disappeared into dark shadows, their cries seemed to double in intensity.
"I can't see what is happening down there! By Wodh, Tak! Do you think they have him?" said Peto.
But now Taneric was running again, retracing his steps to the courtyard, calling for the Citadel gates to be opened. Soon enough they were, and the Sons of The North were running helter skelter down the hill towards the bridge, across which the crowd of townsfolk had gathered, and quickly they reached the scene of the commotion.
