Joan of the Sword Hand

  CHAPTER XII

  JOAN FORSWEARS THE SWORD

  It was not in accordance with etiquette that two such nobly bornbetrothed persons, to be allied for reasons of high State policy, shouldvisit each other openly before the day of marriage; but many letters andpresents had at various times come to Kernsberg, all bearing witness tothe lover-like eagerness of the Prince of Courtland and of his desire topossess so fair a bride, especially one who was to bring him so coveteda possession as the hill provinces of Kernsberg and Hohenstein.

  Amongst other things he had forwarded portraits of himself, drawn withsuch skill as the artists of the Baltic at that time possessed, of a manin armour, with a countenance of such wooden severity that it mightstand (as the Duchess openly declared) just as well for Werner, herchief captain, or any other man of war in full panoply.

  "But," said Joan within herself, "what care I for armour black or armourwhite? Mine eyes have seen--and my heart does not forget."

  Then she smiled and for a while forgot the coming inevitabledisappointment of the Princess Margaret, which troubled her much atother times.

  The winter was unusually long and fierce in the mountains of Kernsbergthat year, and even along the Baltic shores the ice packed thicker andthe snow lay longer by a full month than usual.

  It was the end of May, and the full bursting glory of a northernspring, when at last the bridal cavalcade wound down from the towers ofthe Castle of Kernsberg. Four hundred riders there were, every manarrayed like a prince in the colours of Hohenstein--four fairest maidsto be bridesmaids to their Duchess, and as many matrons of rank andyears to bring their mistress with dignity and discretion to her newhome. But the people and the rough soldiers openly mourned for Joan ofthe Sword Hand. "The Princess of Courtland will not be the same thing!"they said.

  And they were right, for since the last time she rode out Joan hadthought many thoughts. Could it be that she was indeed that recklessmaid who once had vowed that she would go and look once at the man herfather had bidden her marry, and then, if she did not like him, wouldcarry him off and clap him into a dungeon till he had paid a swingingransom? But the knight of the white plume, and the interview she had hadwith a certain Prince in the summer palace of Courtland, had changed allthat.

  Now she would be sober, grave--a fit mate for such a man. Almost sheblushed to recall her madcap feats of only a year ago.

  As they approached the city, and each night brought them closer to thegreat day, Joan rode more by herself, or talked with the young Dane,Maurice von Lynar, of the Princess Margaret--without, however, tellinghim aught of the rose garden or the expositions of foreign customs whichhad preceded the duel with the Wasp.

  The heart of the Duchess beat yet faster when at last the day of theirentry arrived. As they rode toward the gate of Courtland they were awareof a splendid cavalcade which came out to receive them in the name ofthe Prince, and to conduct them with honour to the palace prepared forthem.

  In the centre of a brilliant company rode the Princess Margaret, in awell-fitting robe of pale blue broidered with crimson, while behind andabout her was such a galaxy of the fashion and beauty of a court, thathad not Joan remembered and thought on the summer parlour and the manwho was waiting for her in the city, she had almost bidden her fourhundred riders wheel to the right about, and gallop straight back toKernsberg and the heights of rustic Hohenstein.

  At sight of the Duchess's party the Princess alighted from off her steedwith the help of a cavalier. At the same moment Joan of the Sword Handleaped down of her own accord and came forward to meet her new sister.

  The two women kissed, and then held each other at arm's length for theluxury of a long look.

  The face of the Princess showed a trace of emotion. She appeared to bestruggling with some recollection she was unable to locate withprecision.

  "I hope you will be very happy with my brother," she faltered; thenafter a moment she added, "Have you not perchance a brother of yourown?"

  But before Joan could reply the representative of the Prince had comeforward to conduct the bride-elect to her rooms, and the Princess gaveplace to him.

  But all the same she kept her eyes keenly about her, and presently theyrested with a sudden brightness upon the young Dane, Maurice von Lynar,at the head of his troop of horse. He was near enough for her to see hisface, and it was with a curious sense of strangeness that she saw hiseyes fixed upon herself.

  "He is different--he is changed," she said to herself; "but how--waittill we get to the palace, and I shall soon find out!"

  And immediately she caused it to be intimated that all the captains oftroops and the superior officers of the escort of the Duchess Joan wereto be entertained at the palace of the Princess Margaret.

  So that at the moment when Joan was taking a first survey of herchambers, which occupied one entire wing of the Palace of the Princes ofCourtland, Margaret the impetuous had already commanded the presence ofthe Count von Loeen, one of the commanders of the bridal escort.

  The young officer entrusted with the message returned almostimmediately, to find his mistress impatiently pacing up and down.

  "Well?" she said, halting at the upper end of the reception-room andlooking at him.

  "Your Highness," he said, "there is no Count von Loeen among the officersof Kernsberg!"

  Margaret of Courtland stamped her foot.

  "I expected as much," she said. "He shall pay for this. Why, man, I sawhim with my own eyes an hour ago--a young man, slender, sits erect inhis saddle, of a dark allure, and with eyes like those of an eagle."

  A flush came over the youth's face.

  "Does he look like the brother of the Duchess Joan?" he said.

  "That is the man--Count von Loeen or no. That is the man, I tell you.Bring him immediately to me."

  The young officer smiled.

  "Methinks he will come readily enough. He started forward as if tofollow me when first I told my message. But when I mentioned the name ofthe Count von Loeen he stood aside in manifest disappointment."

  "At all events, bring him instantly!" commanded the Princess.

  The officer bowed low and retired.

  The Princess Margaret smiled to herself.

  "It is some more of their precious State secrets," she said. "Well--Ilove secrets, and I can keep them too; but only my own, or those thatare told to me. And I will make my gentleman pay for playing off hisCounts von Loeen on me!"

  Presently she heard heavy footsteps approaching the door.

  "Come in--come in straightway," she said in a loud, clear voice; "I havea word to speak with you, Sir Count--who yet deny that you are a count.And, prithee, to how many silly girls have you taught the foreignfashions of linked arms, and all that most pleasant ceremony ofleave-taking in Kernsberg and Plassenburg?"

  Then the Sparhawk had his long-desired view in full daylight of thewoman whose lips, touched once under cloud of night, had dominated hisfancy and enslaved his will during all the weary months of winter.

  Also he had before him, though he knew it not, a somewhat difficult andcomplicated explanation.