This Rough Magic

Erik nodded, glumly. 'She's as far above me as the earth is above the moon.'

'Oh, nonsense!' muttered Manfred.

'Oh, nonsense!' Maria snapped the words, like a whip. 'She was blubbering about you on the ship. The moment she found out your status was suitable—however those odd Vinlanders calculate such things—she stopped blubbering and tried to buy the damn ship to turn it around. I couldn't believe it! Then, when that didn't work, she got off here in order to wait for you. She was down on the dock, every day, watching for the galleys to come in. And her brothers didn't seem in the least unhappy about her interest, either!

'If that helps any,' Maria ended, a bit lamely, her voice now less sure of itself. It had just dawned on her that, under the present circumstances, the girl might as well have been on the moon . . . if not further away.

The same realization seemed to have come to Erik as well. He was subdued, now, punctilious in thanks and farewells, but not really there.

Maria watched them go, feeling obscurely sorry for him. The last time she had seen anyone that mad for someone, it had been Kat for Marco . . . Or maybe Benito . . .

She pushed that thought away, firmly.

Poor Erik! She felt savage for a moment. And this was all Captain Tomaselli's fault!

Well, if—or when—Erik discovered Svanhild had been hurt, or worse—

Umberto would be getting a promotion again, probably. Could someone be promoted from the Arsenal into the captain-general's job? Eh, it probably wouldn't matter; if the captain-general was dead at the hands of Erik Hakkonsen, and the siege was still on, the captain-general would be whomever the governor said it was, and the governor and his wife both liked Umberto.

Maria closed her eyes, and recalled to herself those huge brothers, and equally huge followers. Maria had never seen Erik Hakkonsen fight herself, but both Kat and Benito had described to her the Icelander's ferocious ability in combat. If these Northlanders were all like that—

Maybe Umberto wouldn't be getting that promotion after all. She hoped so. In fact, she prayed so.

* * *

They trudged back up the hill. Now it was no effort to keep pace with the Icelander, which was a pity. An idea was brewing in Benito's head, but he wanted to talk to Manfred about it first.

When they got up to the Castel a mar, Erik finally obliged him. Manfred suggested a spot of rapier practice.

Erik shook his head. 'I think I want to spend some time alone, Manfred. I've much to think about.'

'I'll give you a bout, Manfred,' said Benito, as Manfred stared open-mouthed at Erik.

Erik nodded. 'You go and give the boy a lesson or two. I'll be in my room, if you need me.'

He turned then to Benito. 'I am in your debt. I have used you very hard over the last while. Forgive me.'

' 'S nothing. I understand,' said Benito awkwardly. He'd rather have Erik chewing him out than being like this.

Erik nodded and went into his room.

'Well, let's get the quilted jackets and the buttoned rapiers,' said Manfred, far too heartily. 'They're with my gear.'

When they got to Manfred's chambers, Francesca said, firmly, 'Your swordplay will have to wait, Benito. I need to talk to Manfred.'

Benito grinned. 'So do I. And the truth to tell, all I feel like doing is falling asleep once I'm done talking. I didn't sleep at all last night. The last thing on my mind is rapier practice.'

Manfred grimaced. 'Except it is never the last thing on Erik's mind. I'm worried about him. Up till a couple of weeks ago I'd have thought he'd rather fence than make love to a woman. Cut line, Benito. Talk quickly. I need to discuss this with Francesca.'

Benito cleared his throat. 'Well . . . I thought . . . A siege, especially with that captain-general in charge, I'm not going to see a lot of action.'

He looked pensively at Manfred. The prince had folded his arms across his massive chest, and was now looking at Benito in the totally expressionless, ox-dumb manner that Benito recognized, by now, as a sign of Manfred in deep thought.

'So I thought . . . Well, I can't do a lot of good here. Maybe I should go to where I can—out there. I'm pretty sure I could swim with the current, using a float of some kind, and come out clear of the troops tonight. I could probably even have them lower a small boat over the walls on the seaward side. Then I could do what Von Gherens was hinting at: raise the peasantry against the Hungarians. And I could also find out what has happened to Erik's girl. It's not likely to be anything good. But he's going to be torn up until he knows.'

Manfred's eyes narrowed slightly. 'I'll think about it. The captain-general won't approve.'

Benito shrugged. 'I don't think I really give a damn. But I do need your help to signal back what I find out about the girl.'

'I'll think about it,' said Manfred. 'I'll come and talk to you later. Now go and get that sleep you need. I need to talk to Francesca.'

Francesca pointed to a seat. 'Actually, I think Benito had better stay. And no, Manfred, you are not going out there with Benito.'

Manfred shook his head. 'How the hell did you guess?' To Benito, plaintively: 'The woman's a witch, I swear it.'

Francesca smiled knowingly. 'Your face doesn't give anything away. But I know just how your mind works.