Chapter Text
The details of the queen’s progress were becoming widely known, though nothing had yet been announced officially. She would spend about eight weeks travelling, taking the children and her husband to show to the people. There would be royal visits to the larger towns and to famous religious sites. There would be a brief excursion into Sounis, where they would be greeted by the king and queen. Several of the ambassadors to the court would travel with them, along with some of the courtiers, mainly those who enjoyed the hunt. They would take servants, including their attendants.
The royal party would travel inland across Attolia, and then head towards Pirrhea and the Sea of Olives, into land which was being newly populated by Eddisians as well as veterans of Attolia’s army. After meeting Sophos and Eddis, they would make a short stay at Baron Efkis’ villa near Ephrata before returning to the capital by sea.
Medon, quietly delighted by the queen’s favour to his family, was given leave to travel ahead of the royal party, and he left by ship, that being the quickest route to his home. Cleon’s family would also receive a brief visit. He was cautiously pleased, because his family had been followers of Susa. “I suppose it’s a nod to Susa, but the king suggested it, apparently.” The other attendants were encouraging; Cleon was making a success of a difficult role.
The queen called me into a private meeting along with Relius and Teleus. She spoke to me frankly. “I would like to make Lateras a base for visits to the smaller towns and the temples in the area. Moving the children around would be too disruptive. But I have to keep them safe. How sure are you of your people’s loyalty?”
I was a little taken aback, but now I understood why Teleus and Relius were present.
My grandmother Elata took oath to me. It was her own choice and I am sure she knew the implications of doing so. Dite and Juridius took oath at Lateras too, and many people there surely knew that. I am certain of my steward’s loyalty, and the household were friendly towards me. I have met the steward who acts as guard captain. There is no permanent house guard.
Relius had been translating my signs.
“We weren’t there for long,” he said, looking at Teleus, “but my impression was the same. I had no sense of hostility.”
“I had a brief discussion with the guard captain,” said Teleus. “Erondites – the old baron – only took a few retainers when he went to the Mede, and they never came back. This man was shocked about what happened, no doubt about it.” He looked at me. “Pheris travelled there without a guard and stayed for a month, your Majesty.”
“You felt safe there, Pheris?”
Yes, your Majesty. Everyone was friendly and respectful. I found it strange at first.
Relius smiled, translating. The queen raised her eyebrows.
I mean it was strange to be treated as if I was the baron. But certainly I felt safe.
“So,” said Attolia. She sighed. “The children are a complication. The king is looking forward to being able to hunt. I understand that Lortes was intended as a hunting lodge.”
Yes, your Majesty.
“My idea is that the king could take hunting parties up there. Sometimes useful discussions can take place in the hunting field.” And the king could work off the frustrations of a royal progress, I thought.
Certainly, your Majesty, but I have not been there. I will need to find out about the accommodation. I can correspond with the steward.
“Of course you don’t have anyone you can send,” she said, rather as if this was my fault. “But there’s time. Speak to Imenia.” She looked across to her attendant, who gave me a small smile.
Yes, your Majesty.
Around sixty people would travel with the queen, the annux and their children. There would also be five squads of guards, led by Teleus. Attolia asked Relius to come with her. “Orutus can’t leave the palace for so long.” Relius was not delighted at being a second-string Orutus, but did not mention this to anyone except Teleus and me.
Naturally the king hated the idea of a progress. He had lost the battle, because Attolia regarded it as essential to keep in touch with her people, particularly in the aftermath of the war and the redistribution of land, but he was still fighting the occasional rearguard action.
“You are taking all my senior attendants away from me,” the king complained.
The queen looked at Cleon and me. We were attending the king at breakfast. “Your senior attendant will be gone for all of two days.” Cleon’s home was some distance inland. He would be travelling a little ahead of the royal party and rejoin us there.
“You gave Etores leave yourself.” Etores and his brother would take the opportunity of the Sounis visit to see their family.
“We’ll miss Pheris,” said Imenia. The queen smiled at me, and the king laughed. “Once again he didn’t duck quickly enough?”
“Indeed, your Majesty, he has been most helpful with our plans.”
“We’ll blame you, then, for anything that goes wrong,” said Eugenides to me. I sighed, knowing that he would happily do so.
My friends Tarus and Austus were happy to be chosen as two of the four pages who would travel with the queen.
“Don’t you see, Pheris?” said Austus, “We’re all okloi.”
“My parents are really pleased,” said Tarus, “because it surely means she’s not holding a grudge about the tax case.”
“Are you not looking forward to the progress, Pheris?”
Too much planning. And I expect I’ll have to share tents or something with the others. None of these houses will have room for all of us.
“They won’t know what to do with you,” said Tarus. “A boy who is a king’s attendant who is a baron! You can share with us.”
I wish I could.
“Just don’t expect us to cut up your food.” He laughed. “Of if we do, you can help us get dressed, like the king.”
Wait till we get to Lateras. I’ll get you a valet.
Once the planning was largely done, I did begin to enjoy the prospect of travelling around the country in company with my friends. I was particularly pleased when Kamet told me he had been invited to come.
“The king asked me,” he said. “He said I had seen little of Attolia, which of course is true. He suggested I might like to travel in comfort for a change.” And of course Kamet had worked with Relius, I thought. Perhaps the king wanted his observations on the barons. Costis would remain at the palace, and was apparently a little grumpy.
The first morning a few of the servants who would accompany the progress went on ahead, but otherwise everyone rode out with the queen and king. Attolia wanted to make a good show for her people, and accordingly we rode slowly out of the palace and down through the city, watched by crowds of onlookers. I felt ridiculous among the other attendants who rode the king’s tall horses, and as soon as I could I dropped to the back of the group. On Snap I was much nearer the level of the onlookers, but people were mostly polite.
We left the city and followed the road up to the bridge which I had taken a few weeks earlier. Now we were away from the city, I looked back, trying to recapture the feeling I had on my last ride, my first day off, but I couldn’t do it.
We stopped for a picnic meal; food and drink had been brought from the palace. I went to attend the king. Tarus and Austus took up position near the queen, ready to hand food or run errands, carefully not noticing me.
That first night was spent at the country house of Baron Kallios. He had laid on an extravagant banquet, at which all the king’s attendants served. As I had feared, I was lodged with the others in an outbuilding.
“At least Pheris is used to this,” said Polemus, looking around disdainfully. “A home from home, for him.” I got up, ready to defend myself. Polemus still tried to provoke me occasionally, and I still didn’t much like him. I picked up a water jug. There was no point trying to argue with Polemus; he had never learned more than a dozen signs. But we had been given new embroidered waistcoats in honour of the progress, and Polemus was still wearing his.
“I don’t see us staying with your family,” said Phemios, an unlikely defender, but perhaps he just wanted some sleep. “Who’s on duty tonight?”
“Sontos,” said Etores. “And shut up, Polemus, it’s a long day tomorrow.”
We looked at him, and settled to sleep.
The next few days were indeed long, because looking after the king in unfamiliar surroundings was more of a challenge, and attending meetings on the move was impossible.
Eugenides told us bluntly not to bother.
“It’s all meaningless chat. Etores, if I need some kind of record of a discussion, I’ll dictate it to you or Pheris. Look after the meals and accommodation and have Pheris stay on top of the schedule, and that will do. Go and play.”
After that it was easier, and I was able to ride alongside Tarus and Austus when they were not on duty, or with Kamet, if he was not occupied in discussions with the ambassadors and courtiers, and occasionally Relius. I did not of course speak to Teleus, who was very much on duty, but the guards I knew nodded or gave me a wave as they rode up and down the line of the royal party.
Our next stay was at Cleon’s home. He was waiting with his family to greet the queen as we arrived. Having been warned in advance, Etores quickly organised tents for the king’s attendants, and I went with Tesedus to help the king dress for the evening. All six attendants were there, and like the others I took pride in attending as punctiliously as at court.
The following day, Kamet spoke to me, intrigued by the implications of our visits. “I understood that the visit of the queen was a sign of her favour. But there are subtleties beyond this.”
We were making a stop on our way to visit the temple at Oxinus, so I was able to use my slate to reply.
Cleon is our senior. But his family are indebted to Susa, who is not a strong supporter of the queen. So we are very pleased he was honoured. It will be different at Lateras, because there is no question of loyalty. It is just a convenient place to stay.
“No huge banquets?”
Not even a small one.