Melina Marchetta - Quintana of Charyn

‘It’s a pity you can’t see it all from inside,’ he heard her say. ‘Windows would give you the greatest view all around.’

‘Why would I want to see more of everyone?’ he said. ‘Then they’d never leave me alone. The walls blocking out the mountain work just fine for me, Phaedra. It means I don’t have to see the sadness of their faces now that you’re gone.’

He spoke aloud to her often. This is what he was reduced to. Speaking to the ghosts of his father and his wife.

He was about to walk inside his cottage when he saw the horses travelling up the trail from the village of Balconio. Was it Lord Tascan returning? Lucian would have to hide, if so. But then he realised it was the Queen’s Guard and, fearing the worst, Lucian walked down the path back to Yata ’s compound and waited for their arrival. As they ventured closer, he saw his cousin Isaboe amongst them. They were usually forewarned that she would be staying so that Yata could organise her quarters. But he also knew that sometimes his cousin craved to be with her mother’s kin, because no one fussed over Isaboe like Yata and the aunts. She was still their little Mont girl despite being Queen of them all.

When she arrived with Jasmina and the Guard, he helped her dismount and they embraced. She seemed to want to hold on a moment longer and he let her. He took Jasmina from one of her other guards, Moss, and placed the imp on his shoulders.

‘Should you be riding?’ he asked Isaboe.

‘I’m with child, Lucian,’ she said dryly. ‘Not dying. And I’m actually on my way down to the valley.’

‘What?’ Lucian asked, stunned, looking up at her guard Aldron, who grimaced.

‘I’d appreciate you talking the Queen out of doing that, Lucian,’ Aldron said.

‘And I’d appreciate you both not talking about me as if I’m invisible,’ she said, rolling her eyes.

‘Did the Queen of this kingdom just roll her eyes?’

‘She’s been doing it all the way up the mountain,’ Aldron muttered.

‘And still you’re talking about me as if I’m not present!’ she said.

Lucian exchanged a look with Moss. No one seemed to like the idea of Isaboe travelling to the valley.

‘Stop doing that! All of you,’ she said firmly.

Lucian held up a hand in surrender.

‘If this is about your fight with Finn –’

Aldron was shaking his head at Lucian in warning.

‘My conversations with your beloved friend are of no one’s business,’ she said.

‘How come Finnikin’s my beloved friend whenever you fight and he’s your beloved husband all other times?’

Isaboe stared at him, unamused. ‘Take me to the valley, Lucian, or I’ll have Aldron here relay the conversation I just had with Lord Tascan as we passed each other. The one where he suggests an invitation to the palace next time you’re in town. With his daughter in attendance.’

Lucian sighed. Isaboe would do it to spite him.

‘Moss, can you take Jasmina to Yata and tell her we’ll be staying the night?’ she said, taking Jasmina’s little fingers and kissing each and every one of them. ‘I’m off to see Tesadora. I’ve not seen her for such a while.’

‘Then I’ll send Jory to fetch her,’ Lucian said. Moss and Aldron nodded, liking the idea. ‘Tesadora can eat with us on the mountain tonight.’

‘No,’ his cousin insisted. ‘Tesadora’s not one for fetching and I want to surprise her.’

Lucian insisted that Isaboe share his mount. Yata spoke often about the babe arriving at the end of spring. When Jasmina was born, the kingdom was in a state of euphoria for months. Lucian couldn’t bear the idea of the horses getting skittish and something happening to the Queen.

They rode down the mountain with Aldron and two of the other guards. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed his cousin’s company and how little time they had spent together lately. After sharing family gossip, they spoke of market day in the palace village and Lord Tascan.

‘Be careful,’ she said. ‘Lady Zarah trills. Finnikin used to flirt with her when he’d visit the Osterian court during his exile.’

‘Yes, but that was before he met you.’

‘I overheard Finnikin once telling Sir Topher that Lady Zarah’s voice was a soothing sound.’

‘Hmm, soothing voices are in decline on the mountain … and in the palace, the way I hear it,’ Lucian said. He peered over his shoulder for her reaction.

Isaboe’s eyes narrowed. ‘If I had the power to make anyone in this kingdom mute, I’d begin with her trilling voice,’ she said. ‘Nothing soothing about it. She speaks softly so men can step closer to ask her to speak again.’

‘You’re mean,’ he laughed.

‘It’s true,’ she protested. ‘The first time Jasmina heard her voice she held her hands to her ears and cried.’

He reached back and poked her side with a finger and they both laughed again. But the closer they came to the valley, the more silent they became. He knew he would never speak the words out loud to her, but he had been disappointed that she hadn’t acknowledged Phaedra as his wife. After her death, Isaboe had sent her condolences, but Lucian wished that she had come to know Phaedra in life.

When they reached the point on the mountain where they could see the first glimpse of the Charynites in their caves, he heard her sigh.

‘What are we going to do about this valley, Lucian? If it’s true that Alonso has refused to send grain, I can’t take food from my own people to feed an enemy.’

‘Perhaps … they could fertilise the land and grow more of their own,’ he said. ‘I’ve only allowed them a small patch, but they could grow much more along the stream and between the caves.’

Hadn’t that been Phaedra’s idea?

‘Do you know how we fertilised Kasabian’s vegetable patch?’ Phaedra had asked him with delight one time when they were travelling back up to the mountain. ‘We climbed to the higher caves and carved holes for the pigeons to … you know.’

‘No,’ he had said, pretending ignorance. ‘I don’t.’

‘So they can … you know.’

‘So they can shit.’

‘Well, I would have put it more delicately.’

‘Trust me, Phaedra. There’s no delicate way to shit. It evens out the entire land. Humans and other creatures. Queens and peasants.’

‘Then we collect the pigeon … droppings and mix them with the water and soil, and that’s how we fertilise our garden,’ she said proudly.

It’s what he told Isaboe, without mentioning Phaedra.

‘People who plant gardens and vegetable patches become part of the land, Lucian,’ Isaboe said. ‘We can’t have them forming an attachment. It means they’ll never go.’

At her campsite on the Lumateran side of the stream, Tesadora was boiling a broth that smelt too repulsive to be considered dinner. She was surprised to see them, but held out her arms to Isaboe.

‘Stomach upsets in the valley,’ she said. She looked suspiciously at Aldron and the guards as they began searching the area.

‘If you’re so worried about the dangers, why bring her down here?’ she snapped.

‘Don’t talk about her as if she’s not here, Tesadora,’ Lucian said.

But no one seemed in a mood to jest.

‘You know they won’t risk crossing the stream,’ Tesadora said, irritation in her voice and still watching Aldron and the guard. She returned her attention to Isaboe and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. ‘You look tired, beloved.’

‘I’m not sleeping too well these nights.’

‘I can imagine why,’ Tesadora said. ‘Your husband’s an idiot. Have I not told you that many times?’

Isaboe laughed, but Lucian could see worry in her eyes.