Now, Lillian saw Mrs. Claymark sitting at Natan’s elbow, her quill scratching. She periodically glanced from her parchment to the map and back, before working the quill some more.
“I think we’ll still have enough of a surplus to meet all our goals and commitments,” Mrs. Claymark said, her eyes roving over the parchment. “We won’t have quite as much leeway in case of a diseased field or some such, but with Roensil out of the picture, we don’t need to worry about so-called bandits pillaging our fields.”
Paul and Lillian arrived at the fringe of the group surrounding the desk, and Lillian saw that Mrs. Claymark’s parchment was nothing but figures and math. In fact, Mrs. Claymark was the first to notice the new arrivals.
“Paul? I thought you went to Qar’Zhosk. Is everything well?” Mrs. Claymark asked.
Paul glanced at the foremen before saying, “We should discuss that. There were some unexpected developments.”
Natan looked up and met Paul’s gaze. His eyes narrowed and he asked, “Unexpected developments?”
“Yes, Father…unexpected developments.” With that, Paul handed the folded summons sealed with Terris’s personal signet to his father.
Natan accepted the parchment and didn’t even look at the seal as he unfolded it. He pulled his eyes away from his son and looked at the document in his hands, his jaw clenching as he read it.
“We will have to resume this discussion at a later date,” Natan said. “It seems I have been summoned to the capital. Lady Mivar has agreed to expedite our journey.”
Mrs. Claymark gasped. “Whatever for, Natan? Did he say what’s going on?”
“He did not,” Natan replied. “But on a personal note, he indicated you were welcome to come as well if you wanted to visit our granddaughter.”
“Do you have any idea how long this visit will be?” Mrs. Claymark asked.
Paul and Lillian glanced at each other before Paul answered, “I really have no way of knowing.”
“Very well,” Mrs. Claymark replied. “Come along, Natan. We’ll pack for three days. That will keep the baggage manageable.”
* * *
Lillian’s first view stepping through the gateway to the palace courtyard was Kiri standing on the palace steps. She didn’t grin or smile. She beamed. The moment the gateway faded, she ran forward and threw her arms around her grandparents. Both Natan and his wife let out little oofs as they arrested some of Kiri’s forward momentum.
“Should the Crown Princess be acting like this in public?” Natan managed to ask.
“Don’t care,” Kiri countered as she buried her face in her grandparents’ shoulders. “I spent two long, brutal years thinking I’d never see you or anyone I loved ever again. If some fop decides to comment, whoever it is had better be godlike in their job and not have an immediate replacement, or they’ll join the embassy in Kyndrath.”
“Now, Kiri,” her grandmother began in a reproachful tone, “is that really the way the future Queen of Vushaar should act?”
Kiri broke off the hug and stepped back just enough to meet her grandmother’s eyes. She took a deep breath before saying, “No, probably not, but I was a granddaughter long before I was Crown Princess.” Her grandparents each gave her a smile with indulgent undertones. “Yes, yes…I was Crown Princess the moment I was born. I learned to be a granddaughter long before I learned to be Crown Princess. Better?”
“I think we’ll have to accept it,” Mrs. Claymark answered. “Do you know why your grandfather was summoned?”
Kiri’s expression clamped down into complete neutrality. “I should let Father discuss that with Grandfather. He’s waiting in his study. I’ll escort you.”
After delivering her grandfather to the door of her father’s study, Kiri swept her grandmother off to the royal apartments, almost pulling the older woman into her suite. In no time, they were comfortably ensconced in Kiri’s sitting room.
“Now that we’re alone,” Mrs. Claymark said, “why did your father summon Natan? He’s never done that before.”
Kiri looked down at the floor, working her lower lip between her teeth.
“Kiri,” her grandmother said after several moments of silence, “you’re starting to scare me.”
“Gavin took Father to Qar’Zhosk to ask the dracons for aid under the terms of the old alliance. The aid involves rounding up the former siege camp outside and protecting any former slaves.”
“Wait…former slaves?”
Kiri grinned. “Didn’t you notice I’m missing something, Grans?”
Kiri watched her grandmother’s eyes go to her left shoulder and saw her jaw slacken just a bit as she processed the lack of a slave mark.
“How?”
“Gavin,” Kiri replied, shrugging. “I don’t know exactly how he did it, but he removed every slave mark, ruined every brand, and killed anyone who had ever used a brand…all in one go.”
“In the capital?”
Kiri shook her head. “Not just the capital, Grans…the world. There are no more slaves or slavers. Anywhere.”
Mrs. Claymark paled. “By the gods…he really is Kirloth.”
“He’s the Archmagister of Tel now, too.”
Mrs. Claymark gaped, and Kiri nodded.
After a few moments, Mrs. Claymark said, “So, back to the summons?”
Kiri winced. “Well, the dracons have learned that Grandfather banned Gavin from the family lands. They asked Gavin for confirmation, and from what Father said, Gavin tried telling them it was between him and Grandfather. The dracons didn’t seem to care and pressed for an answer. Gavin confirmed it was true, and they are not happy. Father said more than a few wanted to send Uncle Paul’s corpse back as their response…along with a declaration of war.”
Mrs. Claymark gasped. “At least your father talked them out of it.”
“He didn’t,” Kiri replied, shaking her head. “Gavin did. And from what Father told me, it wasn’t so much that he talked them out of it as they knew he would never support it. But Father had no doubts it was solely because of Gavin that Uncle Paul left Qar’Zhosk alive. He said the dracons were ready to leave the old alliance if he tried to use the treaty to force their help with this hanging over everyone. The dracons also said that anyone wearing Claymark colors who enters their lands will not return until this is resolved.”
Mrs. Claymark sagged against the back of her seat. “Thank the gods we’ve always kept that buffer between our fields and the border. We can’t afford to lose hands right now over border disputes, with everything else that’s happened. This is such a mess. You know how well your grandfather admits he’s wrong about something.”
“That’s just it,” Kiri countered. “Gavin doesn’t feel Grandfather’s wrong. For that matter, Gavin doesn’t care at all. He tried telling the dracons it was none of their business, but they wouldn’t listen. He…uhm…he tried explaining that he’d informed his people that all Claymark holdings and people were no longer to be protected after Grandfather’s decision, but the dracons didn’t care about that, either.”
Mrs. Claymark blinked. “Protected? What does that mean?”
“If Grandfather hadn’t done what he did,” Kiri replied, “the two of you and all your holdings and people would’ve been…well, for lack of a better term, protected by Gavin’s people. Like if Roensil’s assault started again, Gavin’s people would inform him while doing all they could to hold it off until Gavin responded. I don’t know a whole lot about Gavin’s people, but I can’t say what I do know. I know enough, and I’m not about to break that confidence.”
* * *
Terris saw the door open and forced himself not to let out a heavy sigh. This was not going to be pleasant, not at all. Q’Orval sat in an armchair to his right, near the hearth, and they had positioned a third chair to face them.
Natan stepped into the room, and as he approached, Terris gestured to the empty chair. Natan eased himself into the chair and didn’t quite glare at Terris. Things had been strained at best betwe
en them since Rionne’s death. Natan blamed Terris for it, arguing she wouldn’t have been targeted by an assassin if she hadn’t been Queen. Terris had never had the heart to tell him that the target hadn’t been his daughter. No, the man had been sent to kill Kiri. At least, that was what the papers in his belt pouch had indicated.
“Very well, Terris. I’m here,” Natan said, almost growled. “What do you want?”
“There’s no good way to say this, Natan,” Terris replied. “The dracons learned of how you treated Gavin, and they wanted to send your son’s corpse back to you as their declaration of war because of it.”
“If those scaly bastards want a war…” Natan’s voice trailed off as he frowned. “Why didn’t they? Send his corpse, I mean.”
“Gavin,” Terris replied and enjoyed seeing Natan flinch, though he hid it well. “They didn’t do it because they knew Gavin would not approve. And with Gavin right there, there was a good chance he would’ve brought down Qar’Zhosk if that’s what it took to save your son. He’s the Archmagister of Tel now, also.”
Natan reacted as if physically slapped. For all his crotchety contrariness, he was no fool. He knew how it would look if word spread that he’d banned the Archmagister of Tel from his lands and given how most of the populace regarded the boy, it wouldn’t be long before they made their opinion of his conduct known.
“I really stepped in a pile of cow dung, this time, haven’t I?” Natan said at last, sighing.
“It wasn’t one of your better decisions, no,” Terris agreed.
Terris watched Natan while he stared at the floor. Finally, he lifted his head and met his king’s eyes. Natan took a deep breath and asked, “How do we fix it? Can we fix it?”
Terris nodded. “I think we can, but I think we need to include someone else in the discussion.”
Terris turned to Q’Orval and nodded. The majordomo pushed himself to his feet and left the study.
“By the way,” Terris said, filling the silence while they waited, “did you notice Kiri’s missing her slave mark?”
Natan blinked. “She is? How did you manage that?”
Terris smiled. “Gavin. He removed all the slave marks everywhere. I don’t know how he did it. Beyond the marks, every brand turned into blackened, twisted metal, and everyone who’d ever used a slave brand died. Slavery is over.”
“He could wipe us off the face of the world for what I did, couldn’t he?” Natan remarked. “Why didn’t he?”
Terris shrugged. “Knowing Gavin, I’d say he didn’t care. Your decision didn’t threaten his friends in any way, and it didn’t interfere with bringing Kiri home. And if we’re honest, it’s not like being banned from your lands was any great hardship on him. Beyond that, Kiri wouldn’t have liked it, so with all of that combined, it doesn’t surprise me at all that he just walked away.”
The study door opened admitting Q’Orval and Gavin. Terris felt a bit surprised that Gavin wasn’t wearing his gold robes. Terris and Natan both stood they approached, and Terris realized the study only had three chairs.
“Forgive me, Gavin,” Terris said. “I’ll have another chair brought at once.”
Gavin grinned. “No need.” He placed his hand on the back of Natan’s chair and invoked a Word, “Nythraex.”
In the blink of an eye, a fourth chair sat facing the three, and it appeared to be a perfect replica of Natan’s, who gaped.
“It’ll disappear by morning,” Gavin said, “but it’ll do for now. I’m guessing you wanted to discuss the dracon matter.”
“Yes,” Terris answered, nodding as he gestured for everyone to sit.
Gavin almost flopped into his conjured seat, his expression shifting into a frown. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s none of their business. The matter is between Natan and me, and quite frankly, I couldn’t care less whether I’m banned from Claymark lands. It doesn’t affect me at all.”
“And it’s not like Natan could enforce the ban if you decided to prove a point,” Terris added.
Gavin shrugged. “Sure, if I wanted to be a bastard about it, I could walk through the gate to his manor house and dare him to make me leave. But again, what does that get me? I’m already on rocky enough shores with Kiri as it is; I don’t need to add to the situation.”
“Oh, so my reaction doesn’t affect you?” Terris asked, his expression curling into a smile.
Gavin laughed. “Truth be told, any concern I have over how it would affect relations between Tel and Vushaar rank a distant third or fourth after Kiri’s feelings on the matter. No offense, but I would like to ask your permission to propose one day. Hating the sight of me doesn’t speak well for the odds of her agreeing.”
“No,” Terris agreed. “I don’t imagine it would. So, how do we fix this?”
“I think we all need to go back to Qar’Zhosk,” Gavin said after a couple moments. “We need to hash all this out with the Council of Clans.”
“But Terris said they’d kill anyone wearing Claymark colors until this is resolved,” Natan countered.
Gavin smirked. “I’d like to see them try to harm you while I’m around. If they won’t see reason, that cavern of theirs isn’t so structurally sound that I couldn’t bring it down.”
Terris locked eyes with Natan and said, “Told you.”
“You would really kill all those people, just to keep me safe?” Natan asked.
“Depends on how far they force the issue,” Gavin replied. “If I could get by with just eliminating the Councilors forcing the issue, I’d leave it at that, but if it comes to it, I’ll go as far as I have to go to see you leave Qar’Zhosk alive and safe. That’s what it means to be under my protection.”
“You as the Archmagister?” Natan asked.
Gavin shook his head. “No. I would have done that long before Bellos convinced me to accept that particular albatross. When I offer someone my personal protection, that person is protected by Kirloth.”
Chapter 11
Gavin led his party into the cupola that served as the Council of Clans’ meeting space. Terris, Natan, Paul, Kiri, and Lillian clustered behind him. The councilors recognized Paul in short order, and they inferred Natan’s identity from the family resemblance. Their reaction was not kind. Several councilors surged to their feet, baring teeth far too similar to dragons’ teeth and flexing their clawed hands.
Gavin stepped forward to stand between the Council of Clans and his people. He squared his shoulders as if preparing for a fight before he spoke.
“If you would harm them, you must first face me.”
That simple statement, delivered in a tone far closer to ‘Kirloth’ than Kiri or Lillian had heard in a while, set the councilors back. They all focused on him.
“You would defend those…humans?” one of the councilors asked, and Gavin suspected it was an act of will to refer to Natan and his son by species instead of epithet.
“I defend any who have accepted my protection,” Gavin replied. “I told the lot of you what happened between Natan and myself was our business and no one else’s. You chose to stick your snouts where they neither belonged, nor were needed, and we have come to settle this amicably…before the lot of you do something even more stupid than withdrawing from the world. Are we going to act like civilized beings, or will you force my hand and perpetuate Qar’Zhosk requiring a new Council?”
Xask was the first to speak. “We should talk.”
Soon, the rest capitulated.
Gavin made eye contact with the Councilor from the Qar’Kirloth Clan and nodded his thanks.
“What would you have us do?” one of the councilors asked. “We’ve already made the proclamation regarding Claymark’s conduct.”
“Revoke it,” Gavin replied, without missing a beat. “I’m not aware of anyone walking the face of this world who is infallible. You made a mistake. Admit it. Apologize to Terris and Natan and move on.”
“Apology is a sign of weakness,” the same councilor said, “and humans are weaker than dr
acons.”
“I’ve never believed that nonsense,” Gavin countered. “Apology is not a sign of weakness, and humans aren’t as weak as you think. Dracons surpass humans in some regards, of course; it cannot be denied. But at the end of the day, each of us need the others. None of us are as strong as all of us.”
“Claymark should not have done what he did,” another councilor hissed. “It was an affront to all we hold dear.”
“You people really need to adopt the concept of jurisdiction,” Gavin said, sighing. “First, you have no authority in Vushaar, and if you try to push your values and beliefs on others, you will be stopped.”
The most recent speaker seemed to sneer. “And just who will stop us?”
Gavin looked the dracon right in the eyes and held his gaze in silence for several moments before he spoke with utter certainty. “I will, and if you don’t believe I can do it, you’re a bigger fool than you seem.”
The dracon seemed to realize where he stood and whom he faced, and he stepped back.
Gavin kept his eyes locked on the councilor for several more moments before he shifted his attention to the others. “You might want to keep an eye on him and his clan. He seems a bit more militant, and perhaps expansionist, than is good for your people. But back to the matter at hand.
“Second, Natan Claymark has every right to decide who visits his property, and to be quite honest, banning me from it matters less to me than the average annual rainfall of Vas Edrûn. It doesn’t threaten me or anyone under my protection. It certainly didn’t keep me from achieving my goal of returning Kiri home.
“Third, I understand your view of the matter; you feel your entire people owe my family a debt that you cannot hope to repay. Don’t bother denying it; it’s utterly apparent in every ‘tradition’ you’ve established regarding how your people interact with me or my family. There’s just one thing none of you seem to understand. My mentor—the man you call the Liberator—didn’t count debts. Debts, especially debts of this type you’re trying to force on us, simply did not exist to him. I’m not exactly wild about your near-slavish reverence for me, either. People shouldn’t be thanked or revered for doing what’s right. That says such conduct is far too rare, and I don’t like that. I would rather it was the rule than the exception. Now, I’m finished talking for a while. Get your scaly butts over here and work this out with Terris and Natan. No one’s leaving until and unless we part as friends.”
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