Lord Thomas Cromwell
Cromwell,
You make me laugh, sir, at the thought that I would concern myself with petty squabbles with a man such as yourself. Henry has already informed me of your schemes. I will meet with you when I am returned from my estates.
Lord Charles Brandon
Lord Cromwell,
Please find enclosed an account of the correspondences of Their Majesties. As you requested, I have been more thorough of late and as usual, Your Grace is correct – there were several curiosities that may be of significance. Namely:
- Queen Aragon has invited her nephew’s diplomat to stay with her at the Palace of Daven thrice of late, whereas in previous years she has invited him but annually.
- Queen Cleves still corresponds with one of her old ladies-in-waiting: a Mistress Paston. This would not, of course, usually be of note except that, as you know, Queen Cleves famously maintains a small household and rarely corresponds with her nobility outside of necessities. However, the correspondence is of little note and largely concerns the Lady Paston’s ailing health and their memories of the queen’s first year at Cnothan where, it seems, Mistress Paston proved herself a loyal and useful friend.
- I have intercepted several brief letters from Queen Parr addressed to minor nobility on the continent. The letters merely invite them to visit. I have looked into the nobility in question and can find no record of anyone of that name. Further enquiries suggest that the letters are being passed on to someone, but I can as yet find no trace of them. With your permission, I will continue my enquiries into this matter.
Your faithful servant,
N. Ackworth.
Nicholas,
I am particularly interested in Queen Cleves’s correspondence with Lady Paston. Look into this further, if you please.
Cromwell
His Majesty King Henry, eighth of his name, Monarch Almighty of the great Empire of Elben, King of the Isles of Feorwa and Protector of the Oracle of Evenesis, issues this PROCLAMATION, to be read in every town square and marketplace in the land.
Let it be known that, in his great care for his people, the king wishes to rid this land of the issue of CRONES which has plagued our kingdom for so long. A REWARD of ten gold coins shall be given to anyone, whomsoever they may be, who can bring a crone, alive and caged, to High Hall. They shall thenceforth be catalogued and destroyed by the king’s men.
In his desire for the good health of his people, our kind and bountiful king desires that his people do NOT place themselves in danger by attempting to kill or otherwise harm the crones. This shall be executed by the king’s men ALONE.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Cleves
It is two nights before Cleves hears word of Seymour. She knows that Cecilia’s ship was destroyed by the bordweal, and all she can do is hope that this was Seymour’s doing. All she can do is drive from her mind the images of Seymour losing control of the bordweal and being destroyed alongside the vessel.
Johana wakes her at midnight. “I have them,” is the first thing he says as he slips into her bedchamber and she locks it behind him. “But there is a problem.”
“She is alive?” Cleves says, then wonders why this should be the first question upon her lips. Johana pauses. “Yes,” he says.
“Where is she?”
“Right here.”
Johana goes to a corner of her chamber, knocking on it in a specific pattern,pum pa pum pum. An answering knock, and then a panel in the wall slides back. First to step through is the Feorwan servant, Clarice. They bow to Cleves, then hold an arm out to help someone through.
There she is. Seymour’s once fine gown is stiff with dried salt, her hair loose and wild. She looks very different from the polite, contained queen Cleves met on a hill not far from here. She looks more worn, and more regal, than the woman Cleves danced with.
The two stare at each other. That dance – the last time they were in the same space – pregnant between them.
“How fare you, my angry queen?” Cleves says at last.
There it is – the flicker of a smile at the corner of Seymour’s mouth.
“I knew you would help me,” Seymour says. “It was as if mysunscínawas reassuring me. The bordweal – that was you?”
