Pirchburg (2)

For a small town, there were many things to do and see in Pirchburg. Every morning, Talia would meet Ilya in the dining hall and ask to visit her sister's grave, and he would glance outside and declare the weather was far too rough to travel to the royal tomb.

Instead, he gave her coins and took her to the open air markets where she bought roasted sweetnuts and dried fruit. He took her also to the public baths, which were natural thermal pools that the town was extremely proud of. He took her out of town to see the rainbow ponds, which were large smoking bodies of oddly colored water in sky blue and sea green and even orange and yellow. They were lovely to look at, especially against the pure white snow, but they stank like rotting eggs.

They visited Blacksmith Row, where she was fitted for a new shield gauntlet and even bought a pair of sharp and prettily wrought Unarian daggers. Ilya quickly and firmly insisted that he would keep them for her.

Everywhere they went, people called out greetings to Ilya or stopped to chat with them.

By the time Talia laid down in the evenings, she was generally exhausted.

On the third morning after their arrival, Talia awoke to clear skies. She dressed quickly, without waiting for her maid, and hurried to the dining hall.

"It's stopped snowing," she greeted Ilya.

"Yes, I'd noticed," he answered without glancing up.

"Today, we must visit my sister's grave," she insisted.

Ilya did not meet her eye. He stirred his porridge and frowned.

"Ilya, today we must--" she began.

"Not today, Princess. Today... today... there have been reports of bandits attacking travelers on the road. We shall wait until Prince Mikhail returns from the Highlands with our soldiers," he said quickly.

"We have our own guards--" she argued.

"We will wait!" he snapped. "Today, I thought you might enjoy visiting the foundry. We can have a meal at that bakery near the south wall. The one that has those small cakes you admired and--"

"How far is the royal tomb from the city wall?" she demanded.

"... and we might visit the ruins of the old temple if there's time," he continued as if she had not spoken.

"Ilya! How far?" she repeated.

"Too far to consider without a proper guard!" he snapped. "Now, what do you say we-"

"No! I've had enough of your distractions. You insisted that I leave Fioria behind, Prince Mikhail rode out with a full troop of soldiers in the dead of night, and I doubt you've been honest about his mission. You drag me halfway across the Empire through a blizzard and then tell me that a little snow prevents us from riding a few miles more. What is this plot? What are the two of you up to? No more lies!" she stomped her foot.

Ilya considered her for a moment and then frowned again and returned his attention to his porridge.

"Ilya!" she prodded.

"You see a plot when there is none," he shrugged. "We shall visit your sister's grave as soon as the Prince returns, and then-"

Talia turned on her heel and stormed from the dining hall. It did not matter that their argument had drawn the attention of other guests or that all the eyes in the room followed her as she left.

Returning to her room, she slammed the door and sat down to wait. It wasn't even a minute before the door to the small adjoining room opened, and the maid hurried out and bowed.

"Princess, I did not know you were awake. Is there anything I can--"

"It's Melinda, isn't it?" Talia demanded, studying the young woman's nervous face.

"Yes, princess," she agreed quickly.

"Is it true what Ilya said, that Fioria stayed behind because she was unwell?" Talia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, Princess. Fioria is a slave. A slave cannot leave the territory where they are registered. Pirchburg is too far from Bludston," the girl answered.

Talia nodded. She was attempting to trick the girl and see if she would say the truth or agree with whatever she thought Ilya said.

"And you are not a slave?" Talia asked.

"No, princess."

"Did Prince Mikhail travel to the Highlands with his troop?" she asked.

"I am merely a serving girl. I wouldn't know that, Princess," the girl bowed again.

"Is there a royal tomb outside of Pirchburg?" she demanded.

The girl glanced up again, panic in her eyes as her face paled. She looked away quickly.

"I... I... don't know, Princess," she insisted. "I only follow what I am told to--"

"You have lived in the Empire your entire life and yet you have no knowledge of where the royal tombs are located?" Talia scoffed.

"There are many such tombs, and the Empire is a vast--"

"Then find out!" Talia demanded.

"Princess?" the girl questioned.

"You are a servant. You will not be easily recognized, and there are no eyes on you. Find out if there is a royal tomb located outside of Pirchburg. Ask the stablemen or the kitchen maids or a merchant in the market but find out and be discreet about it!" she ordered.

"Y-yes, Princess!" she agreed and then hurried from the room.

Talia gave a frustrated sigh before standing up to pace the floor.

There were too many strange signs. The Emperor's messenger in the middle of the night... the Prince's hasty departure soon after... leaving a girl who was a dead ringer for her in her place while she had been quickly and secretively relocated to the far north... it all added up to something very suspicious. If the Emperor wanted to torture or sacrifice her in secret, he needn't have sent her so far from the Capitol. Unless... unless...

"My Princess!" Melinda cried as she burst through the door.

She took several deep, panicky breaths and then fell to her knees bowing before Talia.

"What... what has happened?" Talia demanded.

"Master Ilya, he... there is no royal tomb outside of Pirchburg. Forgive this servant, Princess, please. I must do what I am told. I did not think that he meant you harm, but just now... just now in the stables... he... I..." The poor girl panted for air as her wide eyes rolled fearfully.

"Compose yourself," Talia commanded. "I am well aware now that the grave story was merely meant to more easily move me here. I do not blame you for following your master's orders. What is his purpose for bringing me here?"

"I swear I had no prior knowledge of his plans, Princess! I swear I was only told that we would travel to the Northern Territories and that I must pretend that we were on pilgrimage to the grave of the late Queen Ora. I thought he meant no harm, but just now... just now in the stables... Princess, they mean to hand you over to the rebels!" The girl said, dropping her voice to a terrified whisper.

"The rebels? What rebels?" Talia demanded, feeling for the first time in months a surge of hope in the depths of her heart.

"Duke Yevin's men! Princess, I did not know that Master Ilya meant to defy the Emperor! I will be branded a traitor along with him and--"

"I understand. Just tell me what you heard!" She ordered.

"I went to the stables because they told me Master Ilya was there. I meant to ask him what I should say to you, but he was talking to our guards, and I heard him... I heard him say that you had figured out that we had not come to Pirchburg to visit the Queen's grave, and that they might have to restrain you until Duke of Yevin's men arrived this evening. Master Ilya said that you should be watched carefully, that they have to hand you over alive, or... or... Vezda would not ally itself with the rebels!" the girl hissed, covering her mouth as though someone might be watching, even within the room.

Talia took a step back as though she had been struck and sank into the chair. It was a great deal to take in.

Could Ilya actually be a rebel? He was also the son of a conquered territory. He was certainly more at ease in his home, and he had reason enough to hate the Empire.

However, betraying the Empire meant betraying Prince Mikhail, and he had appeared entirely loyal to the Prince.

That could be faked. He had waited several days, until Prince Mikail was safely away on the Emperor's business until he'd even mentioned the trip to her.

If this mysterious Duke of Yevin did, in fact, want Vezda for an ally, he would have a difficult time of it. By the treaty she had paid for with her life, Vezda was receiving much needed food and aide from the Empire. They would not revolt and join him unless the Empire failed to fulfill their promises.

However, if their Princess broke the treaty first, by escaping and joining a rebel force, the Emperor would surely punish Vezda. Not only would he have a reason to stop sending aide, but he might take away Vezda's fragile independence as well. Vezdans would either have to starve and submit or ally themselves with any faction that offered and fight back.

It was not a bad plan for the Duke and his rebels. It would be Vezda that would bear the worst of the Emperor's wrath. She could not let it happen.

The servant girl watched her fearfully while wringing her hands together. She was still kneeling but rocked nervously as though she wished she could get up and run away.

"You've done very well to tell me what you heard," Talia commended her. "I will make sure that you will not be harmed. I must escape and flee to Bludston to alert Prince Mikhail to this news when he returns. If you help me, I assure you that all will know that you bear no responsibility in Ilya's activities."

"H-Help you?" the girl repeated nervously.

"Yes. I dare not travel unarmed and with no supplies. You will need to bring my bags from the stables. Also, there are two daggers that Ilya has stashed in his luggage. I will need those and any gold coins you can find, and you must hurry and be as discreet as possible. We are in Ilya's home town. He may have countless allies here," Talia explained.

"B-b-but that's stealing!" the girl cried.

"It's only stealing if you get caught," Talia argued. "Don't get caught."

"B-but Master Ilya will--"

"Either steal from the enemy of your Empire, or you will fall along with him as his ally," Talia reasoned.

"Y-y-yes," the girl stuttered.

"Now hurry," Talia said helping her to her feet.

Once the girl had gone, Talia glanced out the window to the street below. It would be difficult to leave Pirchburg without being noticed. Ilya had done his job well, parading her through every street in the town on the pretense of sightseeing. She would have to think of something.

Ironic that she was now desperate to reach for help from the man she considered to be her greatest enemy. Would he even believe her? She would find a way to convince him, surely.