“Mistress Vidalia, I am pleased to meet you at last. I’ve heard so many stories about you that I feel as if we’ve been friends for ages. I’m in need of some dresses.”
Chapter 15
DRAKE RETURNED TO THE ESTATE LONG before Mellody. That was what he had expected. He went in search of his kitten, and found him in the kitchen.
“Well, little one, you seem to have found yourself a realm to rule.” He chuckled, and the kitten gave him a look of aloof boredom.
A boy hurried over and bowed deeply. “Lord Drake, I’m Cevin. Lady Mellody asked the cook for me to take care of your pet, m’Lord.”
“Very well, Cevin. He seems content here, so you’re doing a fine job. Back to work, now.” Cevin bowed again and hurried back to his task.
A short, rotund man had come over and now he bowed to Drake. “Lord Drake, I am Crandal Jakala, Head Cook to the Carstairs family since my father’s death sixteen years ago. How may I be of service?”
Drake nodded toward the kitten. “Just checking on my little friend over there. I’m sure Mellody is going to have some instructions for you, but I’m easy to please. I prefer beer or ale to wine in most instances. I’m common born, so my tastes aren’t as refined as Mellody’s.”
Crandal bowed. “As you wish, Lord Drake.”
“I’ve also spent quite a few years hanging around taverns and inns, and I fancy myself something of a brewer. I’ll provide a list of the supplies I’ll need, but that will be after we see to our new lands.”
Crandal again bowed deeply. “Yes, Lord Drake.”
Drake smiled and went over to the kitten. “You behave, Crawn,” he admonished the little beast, then left the kitchen.
Drake wandered the estate, aimlessly exploring his newest residence. He found the estate to be an elegant home with just a few traces of its martial beginnings. What had started as a defensive fort was now a palace in all but name.
Gavan found him after several hours. “Lord Drake, Lady Mellody requests your presence in the Lord’s Office.”
“Where’s that?” Drake asked as his eyebrows drew down in puzzlement.
Gavan bowed slightly as he replied, “It is next to the estate library, Lord Drake.”
“We have a library other than the one in our suite?”
Gavan bowed again as he said, “This way, Lord Drake.” He led Drake across half the estate to a library that rivaled the one in the palace.
“This is impressive,” Drake commented as Gavan led him across the room.
“We have copies of all but a few of the books in the King’s College Library in Mount Royal. In the distant past one of the Lords of Carstairs commissioned this library in an effort to establish a college here in Blue Ridge. It never came to be, but every time a new scientific or historical text is published, we buy a copy.”
Drake felt his eyebrows rise. “That must be expensive.”
“True,” Gavan agreed, “but the previous lords felt it was worth it.” The look he gave Drake asked a question, and Drake answered it.
“I guess I do as well. I’ve just never settled long enough to have a place to put one.”
Gavan opened a door and bowed Drake through. “This is the Lord’s Office, Lord Drake.”
Drake said, “Thank you, Lord Gavan,” as he passed into the room.
“There you are,” Mellody said as he entered. “Where did you get off to?”
Drake smiled and kissed her before saying, “Just exploring.”
“And?”
“I’m impressed. This place is nearly the size of the palace.”
Mellody’s smile deepened. “At one time it was larger. One of my ancestors had it enlarged to intentionally tweak the king’s nose. They were brothers, and the king was the younger of the two. They nearly bankrupted us with their contests. In the end the king’s palace was larger by three rooms. It’s been added to many times since then.”
Drake laughed. “I can just imagine you and Rochelle getting into a contest like that.”
Mellody shook her head as she laughed. “No, not us. The palace is about fifteen percent larger now. We’d never be able to afford that level of construction. No, we’re going to have to be content with having the most land. As far as I can tell, our lands now exceed the Feldman lands by about three percent.”
Drake shook his head. “And half of it is going to fight us tooth and nail.”
Mellody sighed and shook her head sadly. “Unfortunately. But we are going to get some help. I have a letter from Roe explaining that General Preston is going to remain here with his regular army units. It was waiting for us when we arrived. He is going to deal with the remnants of the Bresardian army and border guards. We just have to establish order after they are through.”
Drake nodded and walked over to the wall behind her. On it was a large map of the Carstairs lands done in fine detail with roads and towns laid out, and notations about the population and industry in each town. A large area between Carstairs and the channel was simply named Bresardia, and only showed the major trade routes that crossed from Vernardia into that area, and a few of the major cities. Drake wasn’t surprised to see that all but one of them were ports.
“It’s kind of odd shaped, isn’t it?” he murmured.
Mellody stood and joined him, snuggling under his arm. “There’s a reason.” She drew her finger across the border line. “That line is how far they managed to push into the mainland when Bresardia split off. That’s another reason Roe wants us to have that land: it originally was ours.”
“Oh?”
“The island belonged to the Bresard family, and was the largest single holding by a wide margin. When Lord Bresard proclaimed himself King Bresard and renamed the island the Kingdom of Bresardia, it caused a very uncivil war of secession. Thousands died on both sides. Eventually we came to terms, and the border was set where the troops stopped. Now our lands are whole once again. And it’s all because of you.”
Drake smiled. “Consider it a belated wedding present.”
Now it was Mellody’s turn to chuckle. “Don’t you think Roe deserves some credit?”
Drake’s nose wrinkled as he replied, “Yes, but just a little.”
* * *
Crandal had prepared a magnificent feast to welcome Drake and Mellody to their home. The entire estate staff, turned out in their most formal attire, lined the walls of the dining hall as Drake, dressed in a suit that Mellody had reluctantly allowed him to make for himself, escorted her to her chair at the foot of the table, then walked back to his own seat at the head.
Mellody smiled down the length of the table before saying, “Drake, Lord Carstairs, take possession of this, your table, and the estate in which it resides.”
Drake replied as she had coached him. “Mellody, Lady Carstairs, by this meal in the ancestral seat of the Carstairs lands, I take upon myself the duties, rights, and obligations of the Lord of Carstairs. I pledge myself to the prosperity of our people and our lands, as a father pledges himself to his children.”
“Then take your seat, Lord Drake Carstairs,” Mellody replied, “and take this estate and all who reside here as your own.” Drake sat, and Mellody sat just a breath later.
Gavan walked to Drake’s side and bowed, then asked, “Lord Drake, shall I have Crandal begin serving the evening meal?” At Drake’s nod, he turned and inclined his head ever so slightly.
Crandal, dressed in an immaculate white suit, walked forward while two servants in white pushed a cart behind him. Crandal stopped and bowed to Drake, then turned to the cart. At his gesture, the cover was removed.
“Lord Drake, in honor of your first meal under this roof, we present you with the Lord’s Feast: venison from the Carstairs woodlands, grain and vegetables from the Carstairs farmland, fruit from the Carstairs orchards, fowl from the Carstairs coops, fish from the Carstairs river, wine from the Carstairs vineyard, and beer from the Carstairs brewery.”
Drake nodded his approval, then said, “You may serve.” Cra
ndal placed a small portion of each dish onto Drake’s plate and filled both of his glasses, then stepped back, looking expectantly at Drake.
Drake kept his hands in his lap as he looked the length of the table, and smiled as he deviated from the ceremony. “Serve Lady Mellody as well. She is my wife, my mate, my love, and my equal in all things.”
Crandal bowed as his eyebrows rose, then guided his helpers to the foot of the table while Drake sat and smiled. Only after Mellody’s plate matched his did Drake pick up his fork.
“Mellody, Lady Carstairs, join me now as my equal in all things, as is the custom of my people in the north.”
Mellody picked up her fork as a trembling smile curved her lips. As Drake had done, she picked up a piece of venison and, at the same time as Drake, placed it in her mouth.
Gavan stepped forward again and bowed deeply. “By the consumption of the Lord’s Feast, Lord Drake and Lady Mellody have taken possession of the Carstairs lands and people. Let us celebrate their ascension.”
Almost as one the servants let out a cheer that rattled the windows.
* * *
Later, when they were alone in their bedroom, Mellody hugged him and asked, “Drake, what made you change the ceremony like that?”
Drake chuckled. “Just making a point. I am a stranger to this kingdom, and I have and always will have different ideas about how things should be done. If I’m off somewhere, you have full authority.”
“I would have anyway,” she chuckled. “The rights of the Lady come forth in the absence of the Lord.”
Drake chuckled. “But what about if I’m here and you see me making a terrible decision? This way you can overrule me and explain it later.”
Mellody sighed and laid her head against his chest. “You are so different.”
Drake chuckled again. “That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?”
Mellody pulled back a little to look up into his face. “Yes, my love, it is.” She patted his chest and then laid her head against him again. “Yes, that is precisely the point. Tomorrow we will hold Lord’s Court and you will meet all of the notable citizens of Blue Ridge.”
Drake nodded, even though he knew she couldn’t see. “Eventually I’d like to meet everyone. I’m interested in the common people as well as the nobility.”
Mellody stepped back and looked him in the eyes again. “And after Blue Ridge, we are going to have to tour our lands and meet the mayors. And then our new lands and appoint mayors there.”
“Do you think we should do that first? The new lands, I mean.”
Mellody shook her head. “No. I think we should let General Preston and his men clean out the Bresardian Army first.”
Chapter 16
KING MALCOM WAS IN A TOWERING rage as he stormed around his court. The room was populated by the lords and ladies of Bresardia in all their splendor. Most of them were still in shock at how quickly things had fallen apart, and a low buzz of conversation filled the room.
King Malcom turned on General Boatwright and shouted, “How dare that bitch seize our lands!? That is Bresardian soil! Prepare the army! I want our province back!”
General Boatwright stood and dared to glare at his king. “No, Your Majesty.”
The king shrieked, “What?!” as the nobles fell silent around them.
The general stepped closer to his king and explained, “Your Majesty, we are overmatched. We have no way to counter Lord Drake.”
King Malcom screamed in rage and tried to plunge a dagger into General Boatwright’s chest, but the general simply swatted his king’s rush aside.
“I wouldn’t try that again, Your Majesty. This debacle is your doing. Your obsession with Princess Rochelle gave that creature hold over you. But Lord Drake not only defeated it, he destroyed it! All that was left of the ‘almighty Ocellen Crawn’ was a smoking hole in the ground.”
King Malcom stumbled back a step then shouted, “How dare you speak to me like that!”
“I dare because it’s time someone did,” the general snarled. “Your fool notion of marrying Queen Rochelle and becoming king of a unified Bresardia and Vernardia was vanity. Pure and simple vanity.”
The general looked like he’d eaten something bitter as he continued. “I lost seventeen thousand men in the first part of the war before Lord Drake sent us packing. I lost another thousand before Lord Drake killed Crawn and sent us home with our tails between our legs the second time. Another twenty-five thousand are lost to us in the forts and guard posts on the continent. You and that creature have nearly bankrupted the kingdom with your dreams of conquest. The army will no longer support you.”
“What!? I am your king! Your lives are mine, pledged to my service!”
“We are pledged to Bresardia’s service, not yours. If it is in Bresardia’s best interest, we are not only allowed, but required to protect it from your excesses.”
King Malcom screamed, “Traitor!” then turned to his guards. “Seize him! Flavian Boatwright is no longer our general! Throw him in the dungeons!”
General Cavington of the Royal Guard stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Your Majesty, you are overwrought. Perhaps you should retire to your personal quarters and rest.”
The king snarled, “You traitor! You’re siding with him against me!”
The general stared his sovereign in the eye as he replied, “No, King Malcom, I am siding with Bresardia against you. As is my duty. You’ve succeeded in throwing away one fifth of the kingdom and half of the army.”
King Malcom screamed, “I have the right!”
General Cavington’s knife slid into his king’s chest to the hilt. He whispered, “And I have the duty,” as he looked into the dying man’s eyes.
Even General Boatwright looked disturbed by how quickly General Cavington had acted. Turning to the gathered nobles, he bowed slightly.
“My noble lords and ladies, a conclave must be convened to decide the succession. King Malcom has no heir of his body.”
* * *
Drake sat in the ornate chair at the end of the great hall and presided as the elite of the Blue Ridge society were introduced. As Gavan introduced each lord and lady, they bowed or curtsied as they pledged their loyalty, and Drake bowed his head in acceptance.
Mellody was obviously having a fine time off to the side, smiling as people she had known for most of her life met her husband. Watching the men who had tried to get Rochelle to force her to marry them bow to Drake drew an especially nasty smile.
Finally, just before the midday meal was ready, the last of them left the hall and Drake wilted in his chair.
He muttered, “I’d rather cut firewood than go through that again.”
Mellody laughed merrily. “That’s the worst of them. Most of our towns only have five or six noble families.”
Drake sighed mightily and shook his head. “I need a beer.”
Mellody laughed again and led the way to their sitting room. Rica was there and provided refreshments as soon as they indicated their preference. Mellody had beer with Drake for a change.
“I don’t want to go out until the rest of our servants join us,” Mellody said as she sipped her beer. “And we really should wait until the tailors deliver some more of your wardrobe. Making your own clothes sets a bad precedent.”
Drake nodded. “As you wish, my love. As you wish. Elwin will be bringing all my other stuff from Mount Royal as well. Did I ever tell you how much gold I was carrying?”
“You said a lot, but not a specific number. Why?”
Drake smiled at her. “I arrived in Vernardia with three hundred Shreverston gold crowns, and I’ve spent less than five of them.”
Mellody sat as still as a statue. “I knew you were carrying a lot, but that’s more than we have in our treasury. I don’t know what the exchange rate is, but still—” She shook her head sharply.
“It’s about eighteen Vernardian gold crowns to one Shreverston crown. That makes about five thousand Vernardian gold crowns. Lieutenant Cu
rtis told me I was carrying about a month’s pay for the army.”
“Much more,” Mellody agreed. “You really weren’t planning to work for a few years, were you?”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Why did you bring it up now?”
Drake thought for a moment, then smiled. “I wanted you to know that we’re financially secure enough to absorb the costs of our new lands.” Now he laughed. “I also don’t want you to scrimp on yourself. Carstairs is a well-off estate, but I noticed how you looked when we were talking about building. We can afford to do just about anything you want to do.”
Mellody smiled, then chuckled, and finally almost screamed with laughter. “Oh, Drake, so many of my friends thought you were just after my money! And you already had twice what was in the Carstairs’ treasury!”
“And now we have it.” Mellody looked puzzled, so he continued. “There’s an old marriage ceremony up north. At the end the man gives his wife his name, and with it everything he owns. I may have taken your name, but I still believe that when I did, everything I had became yours.”
“And everything I had became yours as well,” Mellody continued.
Drake nodded. “So, dear wife, what were you looking so wistful about?”
“I want to teach. It’s the responsibility of every Adept to teach at least two Apprentices. I want to have a mage school.” She grinned at Drake again. “And maybe a regular school as well.”
Drake nodded, hiding his surprise that it was something so practical. “So do it. I’ll help. I suppose I should fulfill my duty as well. After all, I am an Adept.”
Mellody’s smile deepened. “After we tour our lands and meet the nobles. We are going to have to manage our holding as well.”
Drake let his expression sag. “I knew there was a catch.”
* * *
It took an additional twelve days for their servants and baggage to arrive from Mount Royal. Mistress Jeanette led all ten of Mellody’s maids into the suite, while Elwin led Luther and Drake’s maids behind them.
Xylina Anderman had been added to Drake’s cadre of servants to replace Phyllis. Drake had seen her around Mount Royal, but hadn’t expected to see the woman again. She was a pretty, sharp-faced woman with almond-shaped eyes that marked her as having Cornardian ancestry. Fortunately for Drake, she was in her forties, and Mellody had chosen her.
The Chronicles of Amberdrake Page 13
