soon. For weeks at a time, she could be seen in the castle, cheerful, younger than her years, but when the Baron returned she would vanish. Her marriage started smoothly but the Baron quickly became moody, muttering about King Yeates and the throne. It became an obsession that drove them apart. She did not offer her bed to him anymore; he had to force her, and he did. She did not truly hate him yet, but the hate grew slowly. Only the sight of Sir Kirkes held back insanity. Her pulse would quicken at each stolen glance, each whispered endearment, but their time was short and infrequent. Still, it was there and she craved it.
From time to time, she would see someone from the Brotherhood of the Rose and she would feel ashamed of her longings. Several times, she thought to speak to one of them to confess her sins. However, she never did, until this morning.
She had reviewed the market, returning to the inner bailey, stopped suddenly, and turning around. A brother bumped into her from behind.
"Pardon me, Baroness. I am so clumsy."
"It matters not. Please, come with me. I wish for you to hear my confession." She spoke impulsively, not wishing to think about the consequences lest she turn coward again.
"I am not worthy," said Brother Carle.
"I will hold you to your oath of secrecy," said Richela. Her face was stern. "You are a shriven brother?"
"Yes, of course." He wondered how he could tell the Vizier that he was under oath not to speak of the Baroness's doings. A dangerous situation. He would have to talk to Dellana. However, he would have to hear the confession first.
She led him into her outer chambers. She offered a chair and wine; both he accepted gratefully. She sat across the room from him, watching. He imagined she could read his mind; he did not trust his voice.
"What does the Brotherhood of the Rose think of me?"
"I wouldn't know. I am merely a lowly brother."
"I see. You have no access to Lord Daass?"
"Not for myself. As I said, I am a minor figure in the Brotherhood."
"Well, then, what do the minor figures of the Brotherhood say?"
Carle shifted in his chair. "You are not merciful."
"No, I am not. I follow my husband's example; beast that he is. I want to know what people think of me; people who are not angling for personal gain. I know I do not show an example of the supportive wife. But I want to know more."
"There are rumors of a tryst," began Carle. The Baroness paled.
"These rumors, might they reach the Baron?"
"They might. They are widespread."
"Widespread? Everyone talks about it? I have exercised extreme care. How can this be possible?"
"People such as myself, Baroness. People of your station often dismiss servants, merchants, and clergy. But everyone has ears and eyes. Somewhere someone was in the wrong place and spoke of it."
"I see. There is no way to alter the situation?"
"None that I know of. Please be assured that most people are sympathetic with your ordeal and wish you only the best."
"Thank you, Brother Carle. That means a great deal. I am ready for confession now."
Later, Carle found himself wandering, full of the confession Daass dearly wanted but he was oath bound to keep to himself. He knew Dellana had rented a room in south Nantitet, near the estate of Sir Kirkes, who was still in the field. His return date was yet unknown, so Dellana waited, learning about the man from the people who lived near and worked for him.
Carle tried to breathe slowly, keeping his eyes in front of him. Each time he glanced right or left he seemed to find someone watching him, and then turning their eyes away abruptly. He told himself that they were more frightened of him, a brother of the Rose, and had guilt they could not face. Still, it was difficult to believe that Lord Daass did not have someone watching him, although he knew he had little importance in the Brotherhood.
He found the inn where Dellana lived and asked the innkeeper if she was home. One look at his habit brought courtesy from
From time to time, she would see someone from the Brotherhood of the Rose and she would feel ashamed of her longings. Several times, she thought to speak to one of them to confess her sins. However, she never did, until this morning.
She had reviewed the market, returning to the inner bailey, stopped suddenly, and turning around. A brother bumped into her from behind.
"Pardon me, Baroness. I am so clumsy."
"It matters not. Please, come with me. I wish for you to hear my confession." She spoke impulsively, not wishing to think about the consequences lest she turn coward again.
"I am not worthy," said Brother Carle.
"I will hold you to your oath of secrecy," said Richela. Her face was stern. "You are a shriven brother?"
"Yes, of course." He wondered how he could tell the Vizier that he was under oath not to speak of the Baroness's doings. A dangerous situation. He would have to talk to Dellana. However, he would have to hear the confession first.
She led him into her outer chambers. She offered a chair and wine; both he accepted gratefully. She sat across the room from him, watching. He imagined she could read his mind; he did not trust his voice.
"What does the Brotherhood of the Rose think of me?"
"I wouldn't know. I am merely a lowly brother."
"I see. You have no access to Lord Daass?"
"Not for myself. As I said, I am a minor figure in the Brotherhood."
"Well, then, what do the minor figures of the Brotherhood say?"
Carle shifted in his chair. "You are not merciful."
"No, I am not. I follow my husband's example; beast that he is. I want to know what people think of me; people who are not angling for personal gain. I know I do not show an example of the supportive wife. But I want to know more."
"There are rumors of a tryst," began Carle. The Baroness paled.
"These rumors, might they reach the Baron?"
"They might. They are widespread."
"Widespread? Everyone talks about it? I have exercised extreme care. How can this be possible?"
"People such as myself, Baroness. People of your station often dismiss servants, merchants, and clergy. But everyone has ears and eyes. Somewhere someone was in the wrong place and spoke of it."
"I see. There is no way to alter the situation?"
"None that I know of. Please be assured that most people are sympathetic with your ordeal and wish you only the best."
"Thank you, Brother Carle. That means a great deal. I am ready for confession now."
Later, Carle found himself wandering, full of the confession Daass dearly wanted but he was oath bound to keep to himself. He knew Dellana had rented a room in south Nantitet, near the estate of Sir Kirkes, who was still in the field. His return date was yet unknown, so Dellana waited, learning about the man from the people who lived near and worked for him.
Carle tried to breathe slowly, keeping his eyes in front of him. Each time he glanced right or left he seemed to find someone watching him, and then turning their eyes away abruptly. He told himself that they were more frightened of him, a brother of the Rose, and had guilt they could not face. Still, it was difficult to believe that Lord Daass did not have someone watching him, although he knew he had little importance in the Brotherhood.
He found the inn where Dellana lived and asked the innkeeper if she was home. One look at his habit brought courtesy from
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