“This isn’t a story. I wish it was. Do you know a lot of stories?” They were both stroking Butter now. The cat lounged between them with the moonlight peeping in.
Elesbed considered. “I suppose.”
Eagerly, Isabeau asked, “Do you know one about how to learn to do enchantments?”
“Well, you must go to the Lost Lands,” said Elesbed, after a moment’s thought. “And live with the korrigan-queen for a year and a day and she teaches you enchantments. But sometimes she keeps you forever and sometimes you go home and find a hundred years have passed.”
“My sister said that’s what happened to the man that came from Brocéliande. If he’s telling the truth. Only it was two hundred years for him.”
“The autumn-haired man? I don’t know. He was talking on the way but it didn’t make sense. All about blue water and a city and a king with a message. Sometimes he said,Go away,but no one was near.”
Softly, Isabeau said, “I think he has more to say. He might have been in the court of the korriganed. Mightn’t he?”
Elesbed didn’t really have any doubts on that score. “Well, yes. If he was in the Lost Lands for long and long, like he says. But his wits are astray.”
Isabeau ignored that. “He must have learned about enchantments.”
“He might have, but so? You aren’t supposed to trust enchanters. And there hasn’t been one in the world in—forever. Since Emrys.”
“Who? Oh, you mean Merlin? Well, maybe there is another now.”
Elesbed thought how strange it was that in all this great vast house, there was no one to tell the duchess and her sister that they shouldn’t storm round poking at enchanters or galloping their huge, frightening horses through the korrigan-queen’s forest. Isabeau leaped up. “Perhaps the stranger is in his right mind now, perhaps he is awake for the watch. In the morning I shall not be allowed to go. Come on.” She was already making for the door.
Elesbed had never known royal authority, certainly not embodied in a girl no older than she. She crossed her arms. “I think you are not allowed to go now.”
Isabeau turned imperiously. “Come with me, I order you.”
“I will not. Who knows what he learned in Brocéliande? My gram said that sometimes the korriganed eat your eyes.”
“Oh!” said Isabeau indignantly. “Here, then, if you’re afraid.” She thrust her hand into her robe and brought out something pink. Elesbed eyed it suspiciously. “It’s nice,” said Isabeau. “It’s cotignac. My sister and I made it together, from the quinces.” Her lip started to quiver. “You eat it.”
Elesbed stuffed the whole thing into her mouth. She almost cried too, for joy, because it was very delicious. She’d never tasted real sugar.
Isabeau said, “I’ll give you more if you come with me.”
Elesbed said fervently, “I’ll do anything you say.”
“Goodness,” said Isabeau. “It wasn’t that— Oh, all right. Let us go. I know where they put the stranger, perhaps he will be awake— Wait, what’s this?” A stray beam of moonlight had revealed a large kerchief lying forgotten across the vast great coffer. “Oh,” said Isabeau appreciatively. “It’s nice and soft. I shall wear it tied round me—there. Now I am almost wearing a dress.”
Elesbed hadn’t realized that Isabeau’s long and very beautiful robe wasnota dress. Before she could say anything, Isabeau was gone.Elesbed ran down the stairs after her, Butter following behind. It seemed the wakeful hour was ending; the smell of banked fires wafted through the castle. One last time, Elesbed tried, “You can’t speak to the autumn-haired man in daylight?”
Isabeau didn’t look round. “No. In daylight there are tutors and governesses and attendants and Hawiz, and they will tell me I have to be sensible for my sister’s sake.” Shadows appeared in the corners of Isabeau’s mouth, as if she was trying not to cry again.
They went down one stair, through three darkened rooms, across a short stretch of courtyard, and finally up a third stair, to a door that was closed. A guard stood before it, leaning on a spear. Isabeau lifted her chin and marched up to him.
“Monsieur, I must speak to the sick person within. I am sent by my sister, the duchess.”
The guard looked very doubtful and did not stir from his place. “Forgive me, Demoiselle, but I have orders to let no one pass, save the physician and the priest.”
“And me. For I am theduchess’s sister.”
The guard looked anxious. “Well, no. I should hate for the duchess to behead me if any harm were to befall you, Demoiselle.”
“No harm will befall me, I tell you—”
“What is that?” asked Elesbed, urgently.
They both fell silent.
