Froi pulled on a pair of trousers that were small and uncomfortable. He would need to return later to retrieve all their goods.
‘I tried to be very polite, Sir, but the moment I stepped forward she pushed me away and spoke words that we won’t repeat, will we, Lirah?’
Lirah repeated the words all the same. Even Arjuro flinched.
Gargarin ushered them all towards the doorway that would take them through a passage to the town square. ‘And I warned her, Sir. Three times I warned her, not to press such a fist against me as she shoved.’
‘And?’ Gargarin asked, leading them through the darkness.
‘Well, I didn’t have a choice but to try and choke the life from her,’ Quintana explained. ‘Three times I warned her.’
Froi was furious. ‘Are you both fools?’
‘I’m going to have to agree,’ Gargarin seethed. ‘Fools.’
‘Three warnings?’ Froi asked with disbelief. ‘Three? There are to be no warnings. If someone touches you again, Quintana, you grab the first thing you can and hurl it at them.’
‘No. Not exactly what I would suggest,’ Gargarin said. ‘It would help if this kingdom didn’t see us as a family of savages.’
There was silence after that. It was too strange a word for Gargarin to use. Family.
It was after midnight that they heard a sound outside the stable door. Froi retrieved his sword and wordlessly instructed the others to stand back.
‘Gargarin,’ he heard a female voice whisper. Froi looked at Gargarin, who nodded.
‘Orlanda?’
The door was pushed open and the Provincara entered. Beside her were two guards, their eyes searching the room before she ushered them out and shut the door.
‘Orlanda, you cannot keep the Queen of Charyn in a stable outside the protection of your home,’ Gargarin said.
‘She fancies herself as the Queen now, does she?’ Orlanda said. ‘First the Princess, then the Reginita, and now she’s the Queen.’
‘She was wed to the heir Tariq before Bestiano’s men slaughtered him and his entire compound.’
Orlanda stared at Quintana. ‘Why would that fool boy do such a thing?’ she asked, not questioning Gargarin’s belief that it was Bestiano’s men.
‘Because in Tariq’s eyes it was the only way to protect Quintana. And her child.’
The truth was certainly the last thing Froi expected to hear from Gargarin.
The Provincara’s laugh was bitter and furious. ‘Gargarin. I’ve never taken you for a fool. Are we still to believe this lying spawn of a whore?’
Froi watched Gargarin’s face, but there was no reaction to the slur towards Lirah or her description of Quintana. Froi hated his weakness. Trevanion would have smashed a man in the face for such words. Perri would have had him limping.
‘Then don’t take me for a fool, Orlanda. Take me for the smart man you know me to be and ask yourself why I would believe a story unless I know it to be true.’
‘I want to see her belly,’ the Provincara said, grabbing Quintana by the arm. Although Froi could see no change in Quintana, when he had lain beside her the night before, he had felt the swell in her body.
‘If she touches her, I will bite off every one of her fingers,’ Lirah warned.
Orlanda slapped Lirah hard across the face.
Quintana pushed between them, grabbed the Provincara’s hand and placed it under her shift. Froi watched the woman’s eyes widen, saw the disbelief and then the flare of hope.
‘You can’t stay here,’ she said, her voice hushed. ‘I can’t protect her.’
‘Bestiano only has fifty or so riders,’ Gargarin argued. ‘You have enough in your army to fight them!’
Orlanda shook her head, unable to tear her eyes from Quintana. ‘Have you not heard, Gargarin? Bestiano is in Nebia. He has secured the confidence of the Provincaro and has the entire Nebian army at his disposal.’
‘What?’
Even Lirah and Arjuro were stunned by the news.
‘And if they enter my province demanding I hand the Princess to them, I cannot sacrifice my people for her.’
‘You’re going to allow another province to align themselves with a man who wants the palace?’ Gargarin asked.
‘What choice do I have?’ she cried. ‘Do I need to remind you of Serker? Ask anything from me but this.’
Gargarin took time to think and Froi saw a determination in his expression. ‘When the time comes, I want your army. I want it combined with armies from Paladozza and Sebastabol and Alonso and Desantos.’
She nodded, almost relieved to know she would be rid of them. ‘There’s a plague in Desantos. You don’t want an army from them.’
‘But you’ll pledge yours.’
‘Yes. But you need to go. They will know you’re here. Those in the godshouse baths who spy for the palace and now for Bestiano saw you and would already be sending word. When the Provincaro of Nebia and Bestiano come to my gates I will tell them the truth. That I will not be embroiled in this matter of Quintana of Charyn and that I sent you away. When the time comes and you ask for an army of men, I will honour my pledge to you.’
Gargarin nodded. ‘We’ll leave in the morning and we’ll need horses.’
The Provincara glanced at Quintana one more time.
‘Thank the gods this babe belongs to Tariq of Lascow and not one of the province lads. That would be all we need,’ she said bitterly. ‘One province believing they had the seed to break the curse.’
She went to leave.
‘Orlanda,’ Gargarin said. ‘An apology.’
She turned and smiled tiredly, but with gratitude. ‘Not required, dear Gargarin. For old times’ sake, I’ll forgive you.’
‘No. An apology to the Queen and to her mother.’
There was that tone again. The one that demanded so much without him having to raise his voice.
‘And who are you to demand an apology on her behalf?’ she asked, hurt in her voice.
‘It doesn’t matter who I am,’ he said evenly. ‘But I would hate to have to tell my king in years to come that I stood by and heard words spoken against his mother and his shalama and did nothing.’
The apology was not quick in coming, but the woman was no fool.
‘My apologies, Your Highness,’ Orlanda said.
‘Majesty,’ Quintana corrected.
‘My apologies, Your Majesty.’ The Provincara turned to Lirah. ‘My apologies.’ She turned back to Gargarin. ‘My guard at the gate recognised her. Both of them. It’s well known throughout the land that the King refused to allow his daughter and whore … his daughter and her mother,’ she corrected herself, ’to cut their hair. I’d be careful if I were you. If all is true, we do not want her dead before she births the cursebreaker.’
But we don’t care if she dies after. The words she left unsaid were clear.
After she was gone there was silence.
‘How big is this army?’ Froi asked them.
‘Big.’ They all spoke at once.
‘If you combine the armies of the other provinces, you can fight them,’ Froi said.
‘They’re not Charyn’s only problem,’ Gargarin said tiredly. ‘The moment the kingdom begins to war with each other, those surrounding us will surely invade. Belegonia and Lumatere have been waiting for the perfect moment.’
‘Lumatere will not invade.’
‘They’d be fools not to and I’ve never taken your queen and her consort for fools,’ Gargarin said tiredly. His eyes met Lirah’s.
‘Cut her hair,’ he ordered. ‘She’ll be recognised in an instant by anyone who’s been to the palace and by anyone who’s heard of how long and strange it is.’
Quintana started, horrified. ‘My hair? But Sir Gargarin …’
Gargarin walked away to one of the few stalls that didn’t accommodate a cow or pig or horse. Quintana followed. ‘I can cover it with Froi’s cap,’ she cried. ‘No one will suspect, Sir Gargarin. No one.’