In The Name of Love

Minna and Adalberto stand hand in hand on the steps of Zosya, watching as the Aethyrozian ambassador and the rest of Princess Josefina’s retinue make their way out of the gates to return to their homeland. Thunder rumbles overhead and rain drums against the earth of the courtyard. Minna’s eyes are fixed on the rider amongst the Aethyrozians, slim and resolute, completely covered by a long, dark, hooded cloak as protection against the elements.

“Do you think you’re doing the right thing?” Minna whispers to Adalberto. Her grip tightens on his hand as the hooded rider passes through the immense gilded gates.

“I think we had best get you inside, away from this miserable weather,” he replies, loud enough to draw glances from the guards on the wall.

She looks up at him and surprise. His dark eyes meet hers, his brow furrowed in consternation, and then he glances around them, reminding her that there are dozens of people present for the departure of the Aethyrozian delegation. Right. Anyone could overhear, Minna remembers. And we can’t have that.

“Of course, my lord. Perhaps we could go to the Royal Library?” she offers. “I don’t think I’ve seen it yet.”

“Anywhere you wish, my sunbeam.”

Minna cannot help smiling at his pet name for her, despite the anxiety roiling within her about Fifi and the future of Syazonia. Neither she nor her new husband are comfortable speaking of love yet, but with every day that passes, she finds herself liking and respecting him more. They walk in companionable silence as he leads the way through Zosya’s cool, shadowy corridors. This castle is far gloomier than Adelhyod, in Minna’s opinion, but she hopes that in time she can be comfortable here, or at least learn her way around. It stands to be some time before King Celestino allows them to leave for Nysia.

Adalberto does indeed take her to a library, although it is quite unlike the one where she took her lessons as a young girl. Although the walls are lined with shelves of books, a layer of dust coats most of them, and the room is small and stuffy and windowless. A large fireplace occupies much of one wall with a fire burning on the hearth.

“No one will disturb us here,” Adalberto assures Minna, his voice low, as he closes the door behind them. “Ramiro has long since read every book in this room, and no one else has any interest in it.”

Minna nods and gingerly settles herself in a chair laden with overstuffed cushions near the fireplace. Adalberto pulls the other chair over to hers and sits down next to her.

“Now. Are we doing the right thing?” he repeats her question from earlier, then releases a heavy sigh. “I wish I knew.”

“Do you think Fifi will be all right?”

“She seemed plenty vivacious when she was telling you how to take care of and direct that bird of hers. And just now she was riding astride better than some of our soldiers, though I’d wager she was taught sidesaddle. I know you’re worried about her, and I understand why, but she stands a far better chance of getting the life she wants than Syazonia has of avoiding war with Barhesta.”

“I’m just not sure if they can carry the ruse we’ve agreed on…. Agda and the other maids seem very suspicious.”

Adalberto’s jaw tightens with a grim expression. “I have it on good authority that the Aethyrozians will be waylaid by at least two groups of mercenaries under the direction of the Syazonian crown but dressed as common vagrants and Barhestans. Their orders are to cause chaos and confusion but no harm. If your sister is half as smart as I think she is, she’ll be able to get away unnoticed. From there it’s up to her.”

Minna stares at the flames in the fireplace, finding herself without the words to reply. And then what? she wants to ask, but she’s sure Adalberto has no way of answering her beyond what she already knows. Before she left, Fifi spoke of many fantastical things—seeking guidance from trees and squirrels, sending a message ahead to the other heretics she intends to join by way of a bird, listening to the wisdom of the rocks and rivers—but the time that has passed since then has not made these ideas make any more sense to Minna.

“And then…Barhesta,” she says eventually. “I’m glad that your father has made a full recovery, but…. I wish he would think of what revenge will cost.”

“As do I.” Deep furrows form in Adalberto’s brow. “But you’ve met with him just as I have. He will not be swayed. Have you written to your father yet?”

“Yes, though I don’t know what it might accomplish, beyond the message your father has sent him. King Ansgar will do whatever he thinks best for Aethyrozia.”

“But we have an alliance now.” He squeezes her hand meaningfully. “He cannot think to abandon us in a time of war.”

“No, but he may choose to send resources instead of troops, or focus his forces on recovering my sister.” Minna doesn’t want to think, even for a moment, of what King Ansgar might do to Fifi if he finds her, once he realizes what she is and how she’s shirked her duty and deceived them all.

“Minna. I know it’s hard, but there’s nothing more we can do for her. Except, perhaps, pray that whatever power she used to heal my father will keep her safe from those who would harm her.”

“I still can’t believe…. Even after hearing her explanation, and her showing us with Algot and the flowers in your mother’s solar…. All of it feels like memories of dreams, too fantastical to be true.”

“I understand. I feel much the same way. But she is smart and capable, and we have an entire kingdom to worry about.”

Minna turns to meet her husband’s gaze. “There’s nothing we can do to keep war from coming, either, my lord.”

Now Adalberto stares into the fire, avoiding Minna’s eyes. “No. Not now. And any other ruler in my father’s position would do the same.”

“Except for you,” Minna guesses after a few moments of no sound except the fire crackling.

Adalberto glances at her, his eyes full of pain and guilt. Disbelief chills Minna’s midsection. Would he really wish his own father dead, and have us King and Queen as newlyweds, in order to avoid a war? she wonders, hoping she’s misjudged him.

“Rulers must put their people before themselves,” he answers eventually. “Both my father and the Emperor of Barhesta have failed in this regard. And it will be the common people who suffer for it, which I cannot abide. But he will not listen to me.”

“You’ve tried. You’ve done all you can.” Even to Minna, her heartfelt assurances ring hollow.

“I suppose time will tell. The Barhestans haven’t responded yet, to my message or to King Celestino’s. Perhaps there is still hope.”

Minna offers him a halfhearted smile, but she knows he’s grasping at straws to try and comfort her.

“Perhaps we can take a page out of Fifi’s book, and run away to Nysia?”

Adalberto’s lips curve up with a slight smile of his own. “We might as well, if he will not take our counsel. I don’t know why he has requested that we stay.”

“Why don’t we ask him? Perhaps he can be swayed on that point, if not…more important ones.” His war shouldn’t have to cost us our happiness, she wants to add, but shame at her own selfishness stills her tongue.

“I will ask him at supper tonight, my sunbeam.”