“Stay, now.” Breschius steadied her. “Why, then, would they take the body?”
“To prove they killed her,” said Sorgatani. “Such is the custom among my people. A trophy. A prize.”
How had it come to this, that she had found Liath only to lose her?
“This is not news that I look forward to bringing to Prince Sanglant,” Breschius added.
She shook her head and rose. After all, she would go on. It’s what she had done before. It’s what Eagles must do, even if their hearts were broken. “You don’t have to, because I will do so, as is my duty as the King’s Eagle.”
5
THE king’s progress arrived in Quedlinhame late of an afternoon to find an Eagle waiting in the audience hall of the old ducal palace, dozing by a warm hearth. She had been wounded in the left shoulder, and although she wore clean, mended clothing and a linen bandage over the wound, it was clear she’d been lucky to survive an arduous road.
“What news?” he asked her, before tasting the drink offered him, before taking off his armor. His courtiers crowded into the hall, a smoke-stained structure about half the length and breadth of any of the newer palaces built by either of the Arnulfs. It dated from a time when the lords of Quedlinhame had more modest ambitions. “When did you arrive?”
“Four days ago, Your Majesty,” she answered, overawed by him. If she wondered what had happened to King Henry, she knew better than to ask him. He had a vague memory that he had seen her years ago, younger, less weathered, but he did not clearly recall her name or her origin. Elsa, maybe, something common. “Ill news, I fear. I barely escaped with my life, as you can see. Kassel is fallen to treachery.”
“Kassel!” Liutgard grasped Theophanu’s arm to steady herself. “What news?”
“An unexpected attack by Lady Sabella’s troops, out of Arconia. They arrived asking for guest rights. Lady Ermengard offered them respite for the night. There was talk that the company had been attacked. They said creatures lurking along the forest road assaulted them with poisoned arrows. Maybe that happened, or maybe it was a lie. At night, they rose up and killed most of the palace guard and took your daughter prisoner. The steward—that is, not her, but her son Landrik—got me out, with a horse, but he was shot down defending me so I could escape. I was wounded.” She touched her bandaged shoulder, but it was obvious that the injury pained her far less than did the memory. “I knew some little-used paths, so I evaded them who pursued me. My lady, your daughter was alive last I saw her.”
Having spoken, she wept.