Dennis McKiernan: Once Upon an Autumn Eve

“What be your business, my lady?” asked one of the guards, presumably the senior of the two.

“I am Princess Liaze of the Autumnwood, and I have come to call upon Comtesse Adele.”

Both warders bowed, and the junior guard asked, “My lady, is this your entire retinue?”

“Indeed it is, for I need none other than my mage to protect me.”

Somewhat apprehensively, the guards took a step backwards and glanced at Gwyd and Twk, no doubt wondering which one might be the spellcaster.

“Pass, my lady,” said the senior warder, and he and his companion stepped aside.

On beyond the two towers with their great counterweights rode the princess and her attendants: a Brownie, a Pixie, and a chicken.

They came to the main gate, where once again Liaze explained just who she was, and she and Gwyd and Twk and Jester fared into the passage under the walls and through the twisting way, machicolations overhead from which burning oil would flow down upon invaders, should they breach the outer gate.

They rode into a blue-grey flagstone courtyard, and attendants took their horses, the lads’ eyes flying wide in amaze at the sight of the Brownie and the Pixie, Twk now astride Jester.

Liaze handed her letter of credence to the majordomo, and his gaze widened to see King Valeray’s signature and seal, a signature and seal crafted that very morning by Gwyd, the letter of credence itself written by Liaze.

The steward bowed obsequiously. “Princess.”

Liaze canted her head slightly in acknowledgment, and, with a faint imperious tone in her voice, she said, “Would you convey my greetings to the comtesse, and tell her that her distant cousin has come calling.” It was not a question.

The steward’s eyes widened slightly, almost as if in furtive avarice. “Indeed, my lady,” he said, and he snapped his fingers, and a moment later an attendant appeared. The majordomo penned a note and, together with the letter of credence, he gave them to the lad and sent him running to the comtesse’s quarters.

The steward then stepped aside and made an “after you” gesture and said, “If you would, my lady, the hunt room is open.”

He led the princess and the Brownie, and the Pixie on the rooster, to a chamber off the great foyer. It was an intimate room, with dark red velvet-clad furniture set close for conversation ’round a fireplace. A wide tapestry hung along one wall, showing a running stag and hounds baying, with horses bearing men with bows and spears racing after. It reminded Liaze of the tapestry in the glamoured inn of the Wild Hunt.

The steward tugged a bell cord, and when an attendant appeared, he said, “Tea and biscuits and clotted cream for the comtesse and her guests.”

After the attendant had gone, he turned to the princess and bowed and withdrew.

A time passed, and then a lavender-gowned lady came into the chamber, followed by a maid bearing a tray with a tea set and scones and milk and honey and clotted cream thereon. Both of the women momentarily paused just inside the doorway, each startled upon seeing a Pixie riding a rooster, and a tatterdemalion Brownie. But then they came on inward.

As the maid set the service down, the lady said, “That will be all, Charlotte.”

“Yes, Comtesse.”

As the maid stepped from the room, the lady, puzzlement in her indigo gaze, turned to Liaze.

“Cousin Adele,” said Liaze, stepping forward and embracing the comtesse and kissing her on the cheek. And then she whispered in Adele’s ear, “You have the same eyes as Luc, and he is not far.”

Adele drew in a sharp breath, but then she frowned and slightly shook her head and glanced toward one wall. Then she in turn whispered, “They can hear but not see.”

They stepped away from one another, and Adele asked, “Tea, Cousin?”

“Please,” replied Liaze, resuming her seat. “For my attendants, too.”

“And a few crumbs for Jester, if you will,” said Twk, dismounting.

“What brings you to the Blue Chateau?” asked Adele, as she poured and served.

“I thought to catch up on old times,” said Liaze, looking at Gwyd and then Twk and frowning and touching a finger to her lips then glancing toward the same wall the comtesse had indicated.

“And how is your pere?” asked Adele.

“He is well,” said Liaze. “Queen Saissa, also. They send their greetings.”

Of a sudden the door opened, and a tall man with dark hair and dark eyes entered the chamber. Adele stood and said, “Liaze, this is my husband Guillaume. Guillaume, Princess Liaze.”

Liaze held out a hand, and Guillaume took it and bent over and kissed her fingers. “Ah, Adele, you did not tell me you had so lovely a cousin, a princess, no less, a daughter of King Valeray.”

“Oh, didn’t I?” asked Adele innocently.

“Non,” said Guillaume, a bit sharply. He turned to Liaze, a predatory smile on his features. “Perhaps, my lady, one day you will introduce me to your sire. I am certain that he and I have much in common.”

Not likely.

Liaze smiled and said, “One day I hope to introduce you to him I hold most dear.”

Guillaume smiled and nodded and said, “We must speak of this at dinner. But for now, I have pressing matters, and you and Adele must have much catching up to do. If you will excuse me?”

Liaze nodded in acquiescence, and the vicomte stepped away.

When the door shut behind Guillaume, Liaze handed Adele the letter from Leon and the note from Luc. And the princess kept up a running patter of inconsequential things, as Adele read Leon’s words and then Luc’s. The comtesse pressed the note from Luc to her heart, and, tears in her eyes, looked at Liaze. And she carefully folded the note and letter and slipped them into her gown, and then became engaged in the chitchat for a candlemark or so, she and Liaze making up a history as they went. Gwyd and Twk merely listened, the Pixie drinking tea from a thimble, and Jester continuing to peck at crumbs tossed to him by the comtesse.

Finally Adele said, “Would you like to see my gardens? The flowers are lovely at this time of the season, especially the roses.”

“Oh, please, let’s do,” said Liaze.

They stood and Twk hopped aboard Jester, and together they went from the chamber and down several halls to come to an outside door, where they stepped into a sunlit garden, flowers abloom. A small flagstone area lay in the middle of the plot, with a fountain centered and a bench at hand for resting. And as they moved toward the bench, “Eyes are watching,” said Adele, “but they cannot hear.”

“Come, we will take our rest, and I’ll have Twk and Jester put on a show,” said Liaze.

“Right,” said the Pixie. “Jester has always wanted to fly, we’ll give it a go.”

Liaze and Adele took seat on the bench, and Gwyd lifted Jester and Twk to the rim of the fountain.

Twk glanced at Liaze and nodded, and he whispered a word to Jester, and the rooster crowed and then took off flapping madly, Twk yet aboard the now-squawking bird.

And as the chicken fluttered and yawped, Liaze and Adele looked on and laughed, but their converse was anything but humorous.

Liaze said, “Luc has come to claim his birthright.”

“He is near, you say?” asked Adele.

“Both Luc and Leon. They are with the Widow Dorothee.”

“If he’s come to claim his demesne, Guillaume will not go willingly,” said Adele.

“Then Luc will challenge him to trial by combat.”

“Oh, no,” gasped Adele. “Guillaume is a mighty fighter.”

“You have not seen Luc,” said Liaze. “He is perhaps the finest champion in all of Faery.”

“Oh, Liaze, I would give almost anything to be rid of Guillaume, but not my son.”

“You cannot flee?” asked Liaze, pointing as Twk and Jester ran across the garden, the chicken yet squawking, Gwyd hooting behind.