“The outer wall, what we call the Fastness, went up during the Reiksbaurg reign by Tiwshand II. It’s the only one that’s completely intact; the inner walls have gaps where stones were pulled for other construction.”
“Then the only real wall is that last one.”
“The last time the city was invaded, it was by Anne’s great-great-grandfather, William I. Even after he broke through the Fastness, it took him days to get to the castle. The defenders threw up barricades in the elder wall gaps. They say the streets ran with blood.”
“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen this time.”
“Let’s hope it’s not our blood,” Anne said, hoping to be amusing. Cazio smiled, but Austra’s smile seemed more like a grimace.
“Anyway,” Anne went on, “I may not know the history, but I’ve been to the Gobelin Court before, and my father once told me the most unusual thing about it.”
“And what is that?” Cazio asked.
“It’s the only place in the city where two of the walls meet. Nod’s wall goes right into the Fastness. It makes a sort of long cul-de-sac.”
“You mean there’s only one way out,” Cazio said.
“More or less. There’s a gate near the place where they meet, but it’s not too large.”
“So that’s why you choose Gobelin Court?” Austra asked. “I didn’t know you knew so much about strategy. Did you and Artwair discuss this before you came? Was this all a secret plan of yours?”
Anne felt a surge of anger. Why did Austra have to question everything she did?
“I did not discuss it with Artwair,” Anne said flatly. “And this wasn’t a plan, it was an option. I would have rather gone into the castle as we had agreed, but I didn’t really think Robert would be faithful to his word. So yes, I had thought of this beforehand.”
“But why did you come in at all if you were so sure we would be betrayed?” Austra wondered aloud.
“Because I know something no one else does,” Anne replied.
“But you’re not going to tell me what that is, are you?”
“Certainly I am,” Anne said, “because I’m going to need your help. But not here. Not now. Soon.”
“Oh,” Austra said. Anne thought she looked a little more content after that.
Given Anne’s description, Cazio had no problem recognizing the Gobelin Court when they entered it, passing through a modest gate in a rather more impressive wall of reddish stone. Beyond a cobbled square, a single row of outlandish buildings butted up against another wall only about thirty kingsyards away. The second wall was even more impressive, of a nearly black stone, and Cazio recognized it as the Fastness.
Following his sword hand, he saw that the two walls indeed met, and right in the corner a weird, narrow manse seemed almost to lean into the juncture, looking sinister. The space between the walls widened a bit but stayed uncomfortably close as the walls climbed up around the hill and out of sight.
He didn’t know much about war and stratagems, but it didn’t seem like the sort of place easily held by fifty men. For one thing, the outer wall was surely controlled by the castle. What was to prevent hot oil and arrows being dropped on them from above? Or warriors from swarming down on ropes?
Nod’s wall was high enough, but houses had been built close on the other side of it, providing stepping-stones that might allow attackers to come within a few yards of the top even if there weren’t stairways up, which there probably were.
In short, Cazio felt a good deal more trapped than protected.
Despite his misgivings, he was fascinated. The buildings, the signs, and the pale faces peeping out from beneath broad-brimmed hats and veils all seemed exotic.
“Echi’ Sievri,” he said.
“Yes,” Anne acknowledged. “Sefry.”
“I’ve never seen so many in one place.”
“Just wait,” Anne said. “Most of them don’t come out until night. That’s when Gobelin Court really comes alive. People also call this the Sefry quarter. There are hundreds living here.”
Cazio knew he was gawking, but he couldn’t help it. The neighborhoods on the other side of the wall were dingy, to say the least: dilapidated huts with leaky roofs, stone buildings whose days of grandeur were decades if not centuries in the past, streets full of rubble, rubbish, and dirty children.
But Gobelin Court was neat, clean, and colorful. The buildings were tall and narrow, with roofs so high-pitched that they were comical. They were all tidily painted: rusty red, mustard, burnt orange, violet, teal, and other muted but cheerful shades. Bright clothing flew like banners from lines stretched between upper windows, and umber signs with black lettering proclaimed the shops of diviners, card readers, apothocaries, and other outlandish businesses.
“Majesty,” Sir Leafton said, breaking the spell, “we’ve little time to spare.”
“Very well,” Anne said. “What do you suggest?”
“The Fastness is the most important thing,” Leafton said. “We’ll need to scale it and take control of the Saint Ceasel and Vexel towers and everything in between. Next we need to throw up a barrier north of here; I think Werton Cross would be the best place. And we’ll need men on Nod’s wall, too. That’s easy; we’ve stairs on this side. The Fastness will be a bit more difficult.”
Who says I don’t know anything about strategy? Cazio thought to himself. Aloud, however, he offered a suggestion.
“That mansion in the corner goes almost to the top,” he said. “We might be able to climb the rest of the way.”
Leafton nodded. “Possibly. I’ll have some men strip their armor.”
“That will take time,” Cazio said. “Why not let me get a start?”
“You have to guard Anne,” Austra pointed out.
“But I’m already without armor,” he said. “If we give anyone time to position themselves up on that wall, they’ll be dropping stones on us before we know it.”
“He’s right,” Anne said. “Sir Leafton can guard me until he’s done. Go on, Cazio. The Craftsmen will be with you as soon as they’ve stripped.”
They rode up to the house, where Cazio dismounted and knocked at the door. After a moment a Sefry woman answered. She was so swaddled in red and orange cloth that Cazio couldn’t see much of her save a single pale blue eye surrounded by a patch of skin so white that he could make out the veins through it. She didn’t even give them a chance to speak.
“This is my house,” the woman said.
“I am Anne Dare,” Anne said from horseback. “This is my city, so that is also my house.”
“Of course,” the woman said matter-of-factly. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“Have you?” Anne asked a little coldly. “Then you know that my man needs to find the shortest route to your roof.”
“No, that I did not know,” the woman replied, “but of course I will help.” She focused her eye again on Cazio. “Go straight in. There is a central stairway that spirals to the top. The small door opens onto the uppermost balcony. You’ll have to climb from there to the roof.”
“Thanks you, lady,” Cazio said pleasantly. He doffed his hat and waved it at the girls. “I won’t be long.”
Anne watched Cazio vanish up the stairs, feeling Austra stiffen next to her. “He’ll be fine,” Anne whispered. “This is the sort of thing Cazio lives for.”
“Yes,” Austra said. “And the sort of thing that will kill him.”
Everyone dies, Anne thought, but she knew it wasn’t the politic thing to say at the moment. Instead, she turned her attention back to the Sefry woman.
“You said you were waiting for me. What did you mean?”