One did not swear, even under one’s breath and in Brusterian, before one’s adopted lord.  No matter what nonsense he spouted.  I clamped my teeth.  A letter had come — to people who could not read?  From a country we’d never heard of?  Foolishness.  It had to be a trick of one of our known enemies.  Of which we had no lack.   

The Roth glanced down at the parchment trying to roll back up into a scroll.  “The messenger said it was brought by a ship half as tall as the cliff of Elbsridge.” 

His wife, sitting beside him, made a noise that would have been rude if it were louder.  “That’s impossible.” 

“A dozen men saw it.” 

“Not the boat itself.  Its size.  The cliff’s two hundred feet high.  No boat’s that big.”

Doubt tickled the back of my neck.  She was right.  No ship could be so large.  There must have been a ship, though, one that seemed bigger than normal.  That would be harder to fake.  Any kingdom’s Vere-trained clerk could produce a letter.  Boats were built only in Bruster, and were small.  But one could be hired, and perhaps made to seem bigger from a distance, and strange, as if from an unknown country.  Trickery still seemed most likely.      

“Roth Douglas,” I clasped my hands behind my back.  “Lady Elsbeth is correct.  But surprise exaggerates.”  I flicked a finger at the curling page.  “This seems meant to surprise.  And frighten.  Your interest in reading is widely known — and mocked.  It must be a ploy.” 

“I’m surprised.”  Lady Elsbeth folded her hands.  “But by your skepticism, Doctora Bann.  I’ve read that letter.  You taught me yourself.  Which of our skills do you doubt?” 

My right hand squeezed the fingers of my left until they stung.  “Neither, my lady.  But — ”

“You have read it.”  The Roth looked at her.  “She has not.”  He handed me the letter.  “Your pardon.” 

“And mine.”  Lady Elsbeth spread her hands, not quite concealing her impatience.  “It’s unfair to ask your thoughts about it before you’ve seen it.”

I barely heard her.  I read the letter, and then again, even more quickly: 

Douglas, son of Ailred, Roth of Elbany: 

Greetings. 

Saradena has not spoken in many years but our gaze has never left you.  We have watched you become lax in the behaviors and expectations of Carolingian tradition, and been troubled. 

We have been patient with — not blind to — the transgressions of Elbany.  Our patience is at an end.  Restore the neglected Henrican observances and show your compliance to us in Estane within one year.  Else we shall enforce your obedience with all the might of Saradena. 

His Eminent Lord, Spenser, Prester-General. 

From his own hand. 

What did any of that mean?  Saradena?  There was no Saradena among the kingdoms of the Three Lands.