He turned back to Regis. A fire burned behind his eyes, but perhaps that was only the reflection of the hearth. “What am I to do? How can I keep faith with my calling? How can I reconcile the cloister and the crown?”
Regis stood up and moved into the heat of the fire. They were of a height, Rinaldo and himself, so that their gazes met levelly. On impulse, he placed his hands on Rinaldo’s shoulders, almost a brother’s embrace. The physical contact brought no hint of laran communication, yet Regis felt a deep emotion resonate through Rinaldo’s spare frame.
“Be generous of spirit, as I know you are. Send the children back to their families. By all means, keep the schools open, but offer the teaching freely to any who desire it. Then . . . when your son is born, become an example and inspiration to others.”
Regis saw the hardness lift from Rinaldo’s eyes. The brother he had longed for emerged from the mask of despotic fervor.
The moment could not endure. Rinaldo sighed. “I will have to explain this change in policy to Luminosa. It was at her urging that I took this step. She was convinced it was Divine Will. I see now that cannot be, for the Holy Bearer of Burdens would never add so greatly to the pain of the world.”
Regis restrained himself from pointing out that Rinaldo, not the wife of the Terran Legate, was the king. “It might be better to create an advisory council so that in the future, no one person can unduly influence your decisions.”
“Yes, yes, I had thought of that. But she has always seemed so sure, her vision so clear.”
“I’m certain it is . . . to her.”
Rinaldo nodded. “I see your point. You have saved me from a grievous misstep this day. I have missed your counsel recently. You will not fail me again?”
Regis shied away from the reassurance his brother so clearly wanted. “If you will heed my own recommendation, seek out people of wisdom and experience, even if—or especially if—their beliefs and opinions differ from your own. That way, you will be able to choose among the different arguments the one that seems most wise and just.”
Rinaldo agreed this was a good plan, and the brothers parted amicably.
31
Regis could not leave the Castle without reassuring Javanne of the results of his discussion with Rinaldo. He wound his way through the maze of stairs and corridors, passing from one era to another as the architectural styles changed. Once or twice, he was stopped by Castle Guards and asked his business. No one challenged his right to visit his own family. Other than the Guardsmen and a few servants, the halls were empty.
There are too few of us Comyn to lose even a single one.
When Regis arrived at the apartments where Javanne and Gabriel had set up their housekeeping, he found Gabriel sprawled in a chair, staring at nothing in particular. Regis felt a spasm of sadness to see him thus, a man of action forced into idleness.
“Regis!” Astonishment lit Gabriel’s face, immediately coalescing into a frown.
“I heard about Bertram Monterey,” Regis said. “I’m sorry.”
“Regis! Lord of Light, you just disappeared! With no word, nothing! Where in the Nine Hells have you been?”
Regis cast about for an acceptable explanation and failed miserably. “I’m here now.”
“We would have suspected Rinaldo had you killed if Linnea hadn’t been so calm about it. Javanne’s ready to wring your neck the next time she sees you. She went to you for help, and you just left—D o you have any idea what’s been going on? Ariel—”
“Yes, Javanne told me. I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything sooner. Is she about? I have good news.”
“She’s hiding in the linen closet, counting kitchen towels,” Gabriel growled. “That Terrananwoman is everywhere, bossing everyone about. Not that Javanne has the heart to run the Castle now.” Regis had never heard his brother-in-law so downcast.
“As for Bertram Monterey, that rabbithorn!” Gabriel went on. “Rumor has it that he’s placed cristoforoagents in key positions. You don’t know whom to trust.”
He paused, his expression hardening. “I never thought to say this, Regis, but I’d be happy to leave Thendara. I was proud of my work here and even prouder of the cadets I’d trained and the Guardsmen I led. Now that’s all gone. There’s no more honor, not in the Comyn, not anywhere in the city. I’d take Javanne away to Armida tomorrow if we could get Ariel back.”
“It’s not like you to run away from a fight,” Regis said. “If things are as bad as you say, we need all the sane men we have. Ineed you—your experience, your strength. Since Rinaldo has taken Danilo, would you consider acting as my paxman?”
A series of emotions passed over Gabriel’s features. He turned away. “I have no desire to abandon everything the Comyn have stood for, the old ways of respect and decency, but I have my family to protect.”
“As do I.” Regis grasped Gabriel’s shoulder. “My brother is my family, too. Rinaldo is easily led astray by others, but he still listens to me. I can reason with him. We’ll sort this out. Meanwhile, I need a strong man to guard my back, someone I can trust—”
Suddenly the door flew open. Javanne rushed into the room. She wore a gown that had once been green but had faded to gray, covered by a dust-streaked apron. Her hair was tucked beneath a pleated cap. The muscles around her eyes seemed too tight.
“There you are! I heard—” She swung from Regis to confront her husband. “Regis is here and you didn’t send word to me!”
“I came directly from speaking with Rinaldo, and he has agreed to release the children,” Regis broke in.
“Just like that?” Javanne demanded. “When will this miraculous event take place?”
“You doubt my word?”
“Not at all. But I have more than enough reason to doubt Rinaldo’s.”
“Regis, do you know where they are?” Gabriel said. “Somewhere in the Castle? One of those temples? A hovel in the city, one of those areas no sane man walks unarmed? Spirited away to Nevarsin?”
“They could be anywhere!” Javanne threw herself at Regis, hands raised as if she would tear his eyes out. “If it had been Mikhail, your precious Heir, instead of my daughter, you would have saved him! Why are you doing this to me? I hate you! I hate both of you!”
Gabriel caught Javanne in his arms, holding her with surprising gentleness. “Hush, love, you don’t mean that.”
“It’s not fair!” She allowed herself to be led to the divan, where she collapsed, burying her face in her hands. “She is lost, lost! And all you men do is talk! What good is that to my sweet girl?”
Javanne spoke truly. What was Rinaldo’s agreement but empty words?
Regis knelt, but she would not look at him. “ Breda,I swear to you, I will restore your daughter. She is my kin as well.”
“I wish you’d left Rinaldo at Nevarsin!” Javanne wavered on the edge of hysterical tears. “I wish he’d never been born!”
Gabriel rested his hands comfortingly on his wife’s shoulders and said to Regis, “Or that you never had the notion to hand so much power over to someone not trained to handle it.”
“Trained?” Regis shot back. “As Grandfather trained me? I would not wish that on my dearest enemy, let alone my only brother.”
“Who has run amok—”
“Yes, but under the influence of men like Valdir Ridenow!” Regis said. “I admit I failed to prepare him. What else should I have done? Become king myself? That’s absurd!”