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Authors: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
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when I was a child,” said Rakoczy; it was the truth, but he did not mention that the priesthood had vanished before the Gardens of Babylon were built.
For the first time there was a trace of respect in Father Pogner’s manner. “Then why are you not now ordained?”
Again he gave a truthful answer, as far as it went. “I had to defend my native earth. Unfortunately we were not strong enough and enemies overran our country,” said Rakoczy, thinking of the hundreds of times armies had swarmed over the Carpathians since his youth, the Ottoman Turks being the most recent in a long line of conquerors.
Father Pogner studied Rakoczy as Fathers Komel and Brodski slapped at their clothes to neaten them. “How unfortunate,” he said at last. “You should have chosen the Church instead of your family. Your lands are in the hands of your enemies, but the Church grows greater with every passing day.”
“It is the tie of blood.” Rakoczy met Father Pogner’s accusing stare with an enigmatic half-smile, all the while preparing himself for what he feared would eventually become another battle, this one a question of power disguised as an inquiry regarding heresy. He knelt to Istvan once more, and kissed his hand.
“We will talk later, Rakoczy,” said Istvan, making his voice especially cordial.
“Majesty is gracious,” said Rakoczy before he rose.
'ext of a dispatch to Istvan Bathory, King of Poland, from one of is geographers.
To the most gracious Istvan Bathory, by Grace of God King of
bland, the greetings of his devoted servant Pavel Donetski, and
k prayers for the fruits of victory to be yours.
I have spoken withfur traders just arrived herefrom Moscovy. 'hey say that the road is difficult but it may be traveled without far of being detained for months because of weather. The kider of the traders warned that the rivers are unusually high u iere the ice has melted and warns all those going into the foritories of Ivan Grosny to be on guard against flooding. He a k> recommends that all river crossings be undertaken on fer- instead of bridges, for with such a wet spring, many of those forges will not be safe.
1 have also had the opportunity to speak with a horse breeder, has said he is willing to set aside two dozen of his strongest y°*ng horses for the use of your embassy going to Moscovy. He named a reasonable price and I have told him that this will £* acceptable. Since I understand that your embassy has al- reaiy begun its journey, I will have to assume that these prep a- rattans are part of your plan for their protection, along with the company of Lancers. From what we have been told, they should te bcpected to reach here in fourteen to seventeen days, providing C here is no more rain. The road from Minsk to Smolensk is ofl»i wet and marshy but there has been no fighting near it, so travel ^ not too great a risk.
I *iust warn you that thefirst word we have hadfrom Moscovy does n 0 t bode well for Czar Ivan, who is said to be caught in the center of his madness, thinking himself haunted by the son he killed, it ^ cause to be careful, Majesty, for if the Czar is demented, then no bargain struck with him will be regarded as having meaning. Your embassy could face tremendous dangers if the Czar is truly gone insane.
® will do what we can to keep you apprised of the changes in Russia as we hear of them, especially all the reports from Mosco 9 J y > a nd we will correct our maps as we gain more infor- mattoH. What lies beyond Moscovy remains uncertain; we are
attempting to learn more of the lands to the east. As geographers we occasionally have the aid of scholars, and they often bring information that a dozen spies could not procure. When your embassy stops here, I will do as you have suggested and avail myself of the knowledge of your alchemist. From what you have said, he is more widely traveled than most men we meet.
God hasfavored your cause thusfar, Majesty, and we all pray that He will continue to
For the first time there was a trace of respect in Father Pogner’s manner. “Then why are you not now ordained?”
Again he gave a truthful answer, as far as it went. “I had to defend my native earth. Unfortunately we were not strong enough and enemies overran our country,” said Rakoczy, thinking of the hundreds of times armies had swarmed over the Carpathians since his youth, the Ottoman Turks being the most recent in a long line of conquerors.
Father Pogner studied Rakoczy as Fathers Komel and Brodski slapped at their clothes to neaten them. “How unfortunate,” he said at last. “You should have chosen the Church instead of your family. Your lands are in the hands of your enemies, but the Church grows greater with every passing day.”
“It is the tie of blood.” Rakoczy met Father Pogner’s accusing stare with an enigmatic half-smile, all the while preparing himself for what he feared would eventually become another battle, this one a question of power disguised as an inquiry regarding heresy. He knelt to Istvan once more, and kissed his hand.
“We will talk later, Rakoczy,” said Istvan, making his voice especially cordial.
“Majesty is gracious,” said Rakoczy before he rose.
'ext of a dispatch to Istvan Bathory, King of Poland, from one of is geographers.
To the most gracious Istvan Bathory, by Grace of God King of
bland, the greetings of his devoted servant Pavel Donetski, and
k prayers for the fruits of victory to be yours.
I have spoken withfur traders just arrived herefrom Moscovy. 'hey say that the road is difficult but it may be traveled without far of being detained for months because of weather. The kider of the traders warned that the rivers are unusually high u iere the ice has melted and warns all those going into the foritories of Ivan Grosny to be on guard against flooding. He a k> recommends that all river crossings be undertaken on fer- instead of bridges, for with such a wet spring, many of those forges will not be safe.
1 have also had the opportunity to speak with a horse breeder, has said he is willing to set aside two dozen of his strongest y°*ng horses for the use of your embassy going to Moscovy. He named a reasonable price and I have told him that this will £* acceptable. Since I understand that your embassy has al- reaiy begun its journey, I will have to assume that these prep a- rattans are part of your plan for their protection, along with the company of Lancers. From what we have been told, they should te bcpected to reach here in fourteen to seventeen days, providing C here is no more rain. The road from Minsk to Smolensk is ofl»i wet and marshy but there has been no fighting near it, so travel ^ not too great a risk.
I *iust warn you that thefirst word we have hadfrom Moscovy does n 0 t bode well for Czar Ivan, who is said to be caught in the center of his madness, thinking himself haunted by the son he killed, it ^ cause to be careful, Majesty, for if the Czar is demented, then no bargain struck with him will be regarded as having meaning. Your embassy could face tremendous dangers if the Czar is truly gone insane.
® will do what we can to keep you apprised of the changes in Russia as we hear of them, especially all the reports from Mosco 9 J y > a nd we will correct our maps as we gain more infor- mattoH. What lies beyond Moscovy remains uncertain; we are
attempting to learn more of the lands to the east. As geographers we occasionally have the aid of scholars, and they often bring information that a dozen spies could not procure. When your embassy stops here, I will do as you have suggested and avail myself of the knowledge of your alchemist. From what you have said, he is more widely traveled than most men we meet.
God hasfavored your cause thusfar, Majesty, and we all pray that He will continue to
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