Hearts in Zenith (Four Husbands and a Lover)

69. Vacuum Must Broil

I barely saw Idezza after we had arrived at its walls. The lines of the camp had to be drawn, the ditches dug up, the mounds for the guard towers established. Miccola fretted over the supply lines, horseshoes, fodder and appointments of the lieutenants. Finally, on a fine day, I left the camp and rode into the city.

My goal was the Piazza Divina. I didn't even have to ask if Idezza had a piazza of that name. Every village in the Courts' territory had the main square, inevitably called Piazza Divina. I had already seen Idezza's take on the theme and I loved it. I wanted to sit in the shade of its ancient colonnade with my back to the preposterous temple.

As I rode past the citizens of Idezza, the adults shouted 'Ismar, viva, viva, vivat!'

Barefoot children flocked after me waving their hands. Mangy dogs came with them, barking and wagging their tails. The boldest of the brats screamed on top of their lunges, threatening to strangle the Tigress with her own entrails. Empty threats, given that they were armed with sticks and stones. I hoped that Idezza's militia was better equipped, but I didn't spot many guards in the streets. They seemed peace-loving, cheerful, orderly folk. The Duke was due some compliments for kindling their patriotic zeal into martial fire.

I was also happy to see a steady stream of carts making a beeline to Idezza's Castle to fix the fortifications. As the sands of time flow, the walls of castles crumble to dust. A wise woman doesn't turn her back on either. Or, in this case, a wise man. The Duke was taking the threat of the invasion seriously. I approved.

With my vocal escort of dogs and kids, I made it to the piazza. Without the citizens packed into it to listen to their rulers, it looked huge. Still pretty lively, but Breva's hooves click-cloped on the paving stones.

"Hey you!" I beaconed one of the brats and tossed her a coin. She caught it out of the air and grinned.

"Look after my horse for me. I want to stretch my legs."

"I swear on the River Vash!"

I tossed the reins to the girl and she led my horse to a corner in the shade of the graveyard that stretched along the temple's side wall. Good choice. Quiet.

Unlike the horse, I wanted to linger in the sunshine. The ancient columns called to me. They proved as warm to the touch as I had expected, but more intricate in design. The stone was pitted by the wind and time. Smothered carvings, rather than the more common parallel grooves, covered them from top to bottom. I jammed my nail in and traced a beast's maw. Then his long neck, spread-eagle wings and a clawed foot. Just like Gala's temple of my childhood.

"There is an abandoned quarry and cave temples on the high bank of the river," a voice said behind me. A soft voice for a silent-footed man. It was the Duke of my Ashanti vision.

I turned to face Nirav. Soffika accompanied him that afternoon, squeezing her brother's hand. The siblings had identical eyes, black of the pickled olives. Dwarfism flattened her features next to his sharper ones, but the resemblance was so obvious, I was sure I was seeing the late Duchess' likeness. The girl's hair seemed to be a few shades lighter than the man's coal-black ringlets, though it was hard to tell. Nirav's hair was dulled by white powder. Mortar, probably, for I had reports that the Duke was laboring at the castle construction like a regular workman.

He did change out of his work clothes before seeking me out. The white lace at his throat and cuffs formed pristine folds, and the silver thread glistened on the unmarked indigo of his long vest.

I smiled at the brother and sister. "That's interesting. Where?"

He pointed with his walking stick. "My great-mother decided that the climb was dangerously steep after a mudslide destroyed the procession road. She ordered the rebuilding of the sanctuary here, in the heart of Idezza."