She still sounded rehearsed.
Hecht bowed in his seat, pleased. He had a job. It would keep him in Alten Weinberg, near Helspeth Ege.
With an adopted daughter lurking.
Lady Hilda startled him by stepping forward to fill his cup. She got a little close when she did. She and Helspeth were playing at something.
The Archbishop squirmed. Lady Hilda did not refresh his coffee unasked and he was not pleased by what he had heard. But a new wind was sweeping the Brothen Episcopal Church and that threatened to become tornadic.
Gervase Saluda talked a good game when he blustered and roared about the Church’s need to extirpate corruption. How sincere he was remained to be seen. If he meant it he would have to move fast, before inertia defeated good intentions. Cronyism, nepotism, simony, and abuse of the power to confiscate the properties of heretics were all time-honored perquisites.
Archbishop Brion dared not stand in favor of all that. That could cost him any chance for future gains. He was no Chaldarean fanatic. He was a functionary in the Church bureaucracy.
Hecht glanced at the Graf. The man’s steadfast silence made him uncomfortable.
Helspeth said, “Ferris Renfrow tells me you’ve acquired new personnel resources, Commander. He didn’t go into detail.”
Good for Renfrow. “We have gained the assistance of a small group of refugees with unusual skills and talents. They should be a great help.”
“Can you tell me more?”
“No, Majesty. Not now. If you really need to know more, consult Renfrow. He knows them better than I do.”
“He won’t talk. So, other matters. In particular, Count Raymone Garete of Antieux. What does his passing mean? Is it important?”
“Extremely. He resisted every encroachment from Arnhand and all of the Church’s bullying. If Arnhand had a king in place I’d expect the Connec to be invaded again. But there is no king. The new Patriarch is not obsessed with the Connec. And the Connec has Count Raymone’s wife. I hear she’s friendly with the madwoman who killed Regard. Those two, and Count Raymone’s cousin Bernardin, seem determined to baptize the Connec with foreign blood. I’m quite happy not to be Captain-General anymore.”
Helspeth said, “Arnhand’s ambassador has asked for troops to ‘Silence the heretic rebellion.’”
“And?”
“And nothing. It was a blatant show of arrogance. Since Anne of Menand got her talons into Charlve the Dim’s vague soul … No matter how much she’s embarrassed, no matter how heavy the cost in castles, towns, treasure, and lives, Anne goes on like she’s queen of the world.”
Everyone stared, surprised by her intensity.
Helspeth Ege did not become exercised about events in foreign places. Helspeth seldom became heated about anything. She had been schooled by years spent concealing her thoughts and feelings.
The Empress sipped coffee, asked, “What’s become of Anselin of Menand? Is he really missing? Renfrow says people have started looking. He could become important.”
Hecht shrugged. He had no idea. The Graf and the Archbishop apparently did not care. Algres Drear did but it was not his place to comment. Hecht made a mental note to find out if the Shining Ones had made any progress toward finding Anselin.
“Commander?”
“Excuse me. My mind wanders. I was pondering how we could communicate across the distances we’ll face next summer.”
Helspeth and the Archbishop scowled. Graf fon Rhejm seemed indifferent. Helspeth said, “Archbishop Brion asked what role you see for the Church in the coming crusade.”
Hecht did not respond honestly. He wanted the Church to stay out of the way. “There’ll certainly be a need for chaplains and healing brothers and someone to bless the men before battle and provide last rites to the fallen.”
“Commander, that isn’t what he meant.”
“I feared as much. I’ll try to state this politely. The business of the Church is the care of souls. The business of the Righteous is war. Whatever the goals of our enterprise, they will be achieved by military means. I won’t accept interference in military operations by persons not military. I, and the fighters who go, won’t be walking all those miles, suffering alien weather and climate and new diseases, nasty insects and enemy resistance, to feed the whims of anyone. I expect our goals to be stated clearly before we march. I expect to be left alone to attain them. That was the understanding the Righteous had with Empress Katrin. We have chartering documents stating that. Is that clear enough?”
Apparently so. But, predictably, the Archbishop was not pleased.
Hecht told him, “We have our appointment tomorrow, Your Grace. I will be pleased to discuss this further then.”
Helspeth glared. “You have a private meeting with the Archbishop, Commander?”
“Yes, Majesty. Much of my time, for the foreseeable future, is committed to meetings with individuals who insist they need a slice of that time.” He did not glance at Graf fon Rhejm. He had asked to see the Graf.
“I see.”
He thought she did.
He did not mention it but he planned to send her transcripts of his meetings.
Helspeth said, “Brion, was there something you wanted to discuss with the Commander that can’t be handled here? I’d rather he didn’t waste time on people who have no part in his project. We’re behind. He lost months taming Firaldia for my sister.”
Hecht allowed himself a private smile. The girl was donning the role, and she was her father’s daughter. She had made it clear that outsiders could approach the Commander of the Righteous only on matters pertinent to the coming enterprise.
Helspeth continued, “Commander, don’t waste time on the posturing and backbiting Alten Weinberg so loves. I know you’re a polite man. You don’t feel comfortable turning people away, so I’ll stand in as the rude one when the need arises. If the fleas can’t stop biting I’ll move you out to Hochwasser.”
Brion’s visage kept darkening. Graf fon Rhejm went on having a lot of nothing to say. Hecht wanted to argue. Hochwasser was not far, yet too far to lend quick support in an emergency. Still, he held his tongue. Helspeth was trying to insulate him from Imperial politics.
She did not yet understand that politics could not be avoided. He was not sure he grasped that fully himself. He did resent the loss of time it cost.
The Archbishop started to say something. He made an inarticulate sound, subsided when everyone looked at him. He shook his head.
Hecht decided that the man was not a villain. That kind, like Bishop Serifs and Bronte Doneto, were never shy, however hostile their audience. He glanced at Algres Drear.
Drear had, probably, thrown Serifs off a cliff in the Ownvidian Knot, for being himself. Bronte Doneto was a survivor of that same journey.
Hecht had seen nothing, ever, to suggest that Drear’s conscience bothered him.
The captain shifted slightly, made uncomfortable by Hecht’s regard.
Lady Hilda started to pour more coffee. Hecht raised a hand. “I’ve had enough.” But only because neither the Graf nor the Archbishop had been offered any, nor had the Empress herself been before the Commander of the Righteous. Hecht caught a fleeting smile from Helspeth.
She said, “You will receive every support that Katrin provided, Commander. Her great work must go forward. Also … the Graf fon Rhejm wishes to speak. A family matter. Uncle Albert?”
Fon Rhejm’s was not a voice made for oratory. It alternated between gravelly growl and squeak. He had taken a blow to the throat at some point. “Ferris Renfrow salvaged Katrin’s secret papers before the Grand Duke or his ilk could seize them. He managed to get them here before the old gentlemen of the Council Advisory could arrive. Among those papers was her will, properly executed, attested, and witnessed while she was staying in the Penital, just hours before her deadly ride.”
Guilt pierced Hecht. And terror followed.
He must have shown something. The Graf said, “She must have had a presentiment. She used the document to beg forgiveness of everyone she hurt. She confirms Helspeth as her successor, in accordance with Johannes’s wishes. She asks specific forgiveness for having been so cruel to her sister. She commands the lords of the Empire to be faithful to Helspeth. There is advice to Helspeth about being a careful and wise ruler, never forgetting that she is Empress of all the people, not just the loudest factions.