by Tamryn Tamer
“Thank you,” Desdemona said, rushing to the stables for a horse.
“Anyway,” Frost said, turning to head toward the temple to get some proper gear. “I better get moving myself. I don’t want to leave him waiting too long for me.”
CHAPTER 24
Frost prepared himself as best he could.
His outfit was a combination of leather, cloth, and plate. His black leather boots and pants were made primarily of wyvern leather but were enhanced with various pieces of monsters like fangs and scales. His tunic was a fine white cloth but over it he wore a leather vest. His gauntlets were crafted by the orc women and were created with the rarest metals they could find and there were several runic patterns etched with azurite, a soft blue metal ore. Finishing everything off was a black cloak that Lishri had crafted for him with all the same resistances as his consort’s cloak.
He also wore several pieces of jewelry that offered mild increases to his various magic resistances as well as some enhancements to basic abilities.
As for weapons, he carried several different weapons in his pouch but his primary weapon was a finely crafted longsword that hung from his waist, although he had several daggers hidden on his person. One of his enchanted packs held various potions and items that might come in handy in a pinch.
For most of the ride everybody was silent. The elves simply ruminated in quiet fury as Cassia cheerfully hummed to herself. The white-haired priestess wore high quality white robes that hugged her curves. Her only weapon was an ornate wand that she carried in her sleeve.
Renna, Ena, and Fayeth all changed into their combat attire. For Renna that meant extremely short leather shorts, a halter top, some leather gloves and ankle high leather boots. The only weapons she carried on her were two short daggers and a few enchanted pouches with various throwing weapons.
Fayeth wore a pleated leather skirt, a leather cuirass that pushed her large chest up to the point it might pop out, and long leather boots and gloves. On her back she carried a quiver full of arrows and around her waist were pouches containing several different bows as well as different types of arrows.
Ena was dressed in full plate, covering everything but her face while holding her helmet in one hand and a large kite shield in the other. Her cudgel hung from the strap on her waist and in her packs were several replacement hammers and shields.
Fiora and her mother Queen Valencia were dressed in their typical attire, lavish colorful gowns. Fiora’s was red with various gold highlights and her mothers’ was white with mild blue accents. The cuts were both similar, like ball gowns, but Queen Valencia’s highlighted her chest while Fiora’s sought to cover her smaller bust.
“Wow,” Cassia said as they approached Filan. “I suppose we’re a little late.”
“Seems so,” Frost said as he stared at the thousands of soldiers assembling on the opposite bank of the river. Sir Isaac and Sir Adamus, along with several other fully-armored knights stood on the bridge as if they were preparing to fend off the attack themselves. “We better hurry. Those two might do something stupid.”
“I can’t imagine they’d do anything smart,” Fiora said snidely as the group rode down.
They raced toward the village and the knights released a collective sigh of relief as soon as they saw him. It was obvious that none of them had any idea what was happening.
“Herald Frost,” Sir Isaac said, rushing toward him in his chainmail while gesturing at the royal guards standing on the opposite side of the bridge. He glanced at Queen Valencia and Princess Fiora, bowing politely before turning his attention back to Frost. “They just appeared and…”
“Don’t worry about it,” Frost said, nodding at the elves. “I’m going to handle it.”
“I see you brought your secret weapon,” Sir Adamus said while pointing at Cassia. The large man was decked in plate armor, giving him a more intimidating appearance than usual. “I know she’s strong but is she strong enough to defend against two thousand soldiers?”
“Let’s hope I don’t have to find out,” Cassia said while smiling at the guards.
“Still excited?” Frost asked teasingly.
“Well,” Cassia smirked. “I imagine you’ll handle everything fine. You are the Herald of Shalia after all. But I am looking forward to the prospect of some of them deciding to invade. I would love to rid the world of a few followers of Ziralia.”
“She still makes me nervous,” Sir Isaac said to Adamus as the two men stared at the white-haired prophet.
“You all weren’t really going to fight them, were you?” Frost asked pointing at the line of soldiers. He never expected the knights that defected from Blackwater to stand so firm against their former country. Even if that country was investigating them for treason. “That’s suicide.”
“Fuck no,” Sir Isaac laughed. “Normally they’ll send somebody to set terms of a surrender if they see soldiers lined up. It’s a matter of courtesy. So, we were waiting for them to send their terms.”
“Got it,” Frost nodded. “So, no intention of actually fighting.”
“Don’t look so disappointed,” Sir Adamus scoffed. “There are two thousand royal guards. It wouldn’t have been a fight. It would have been a slaughter.”
“Fair enough,” Frost said as they approached the bridge. He saw the soldiers on the far side relaying messages, clearly letting Herald Law know of his arrival. Frost hopped off Witch and handed the reins to Renna before walking toward the bridge. “Stay here. I’m going to wait there to discuss terms of this fucking duel. Cassia, be prepared for anything and as for the rest of you, if things seem to be going poorly, gather up the villagers and head west as fast as you can. Desdemona was going to get her brother.”
“Will do,” Sir Isaac said as Frost walked toward the bridge.
Frost arrived at the center of the bridge and waited. He wasn’t quite sure if Herald Law would come himself or if he’d send some sort of messenger, but he was positive that the man would make him wait.
After an unnecessarily long period he noticed Herald Law and Brynn trotting toward him, each on their own respective mounts. Herald Law’s was a giant golden warhorse and Brynn’s was a small white mare. She was wearing another demure white gown, this one with long sleeves and a turtleneck.
The two jumped off their horses and walked toward him.
“Brynn,” Frost said, glaring at the black-haired bard as she hooked her arm in Herald Law’s, leaning against him. “Care to tell me…”
“We are here to recover the prisoners that escaped from Blackwater prison as well as any treasonous scum you’re harboring,” Herald Law said smugly. “My little songbird sought her father’s permission for the expedition.”
“Brynn,” Frost glared at the princess while ignoring Herald Law in his gaudy gold rune-covered armor. “What the hell is going on?”
“It’s as he says Herald Frost,” Brynn said politely. “It took some convincing but I talked to my father and he approved Herald Law’s expedition. Of course, one stipulation is that we first give you the opportunity to hand over the traitors on your own. If you wish to protect yourself, and our territory, you’ll hand over all enemies of Zira.”
“You know I won’t do that,” Frost said, shaking his head.
“I know,” Brynn said cheerfully, hanging from Herald Law’s arm like a lovestruck teenager.
“Well,” Herald Law chuckled. “If you won’t hand them over then…”
“How about we quit the bullshit,” Frost said. “We all know that you don’t give a damn about the courtesans or the traitors. They were simply a way to get me to agree to this fucking duel. You want me dead. Do I have that about right?”
“That would be right,” Herald Law smirked. “In truth, even if you were to hand them over, I couldn’t let you live. I would have come up with some reason to invade and kill you. The fact is, you’re married to Princess Brynn Hilde and as long as she is married to you, she can’t marry me. So, you’ll need to die.”
&nbs
p; “So, this has all been about Brynn?” Frost scoffed. “You came to Blackwater and started this nonsense to get Brynn?”
“No. I came because I despise you,” Herald Law said, his golden eyes narrowing as he glared at Frost. “You disgust me and the thought of you touching my little songbird makes me want to vomit. But that was not the sole reason I came to Blackwater. You killed a prince, housed traitors, and blackmailed nobles as well as my followers. I came down here intending to find evidence that would convince King Leaucault to send an army to crush you before you became a problem. Killing you, that was my songbird’s idea. She seems to despise you as much as I do.”
“So,” Frost said. “You want to duel. If you win, what happens to my territory?”
“I take it,” Herald Law laughed. “The Arachne will need to be burned of course. The monsters will be slaughtered. And the demihumans will be sent to designated villages to complete work befitting the animals. Things will go back to how they were before you arrived. But you must admit, that’s better than me slaughtering them all.”
“What if I win?” Frost asked. “You expect me to accept a duel but I’m the only one staking anything.”
“The duel is for your benefit,” Herald Law scoffed. “I can march my…”
“You say that,” Frost interrupted. “But we both know you can’t. If you attempt to march your men through my territory, I’ll kill a fair number of them. Those that I don’t kill, Cassia will kill. And as for those Arachne and monster that you look down on, they’ll kill even more of your men. You will lose no fewer than a thousand royal guards. So, my question to you, what are the lives of a thousand royal guards worth? Oh, and Brynn’s life. Because I’ll put an arrow in her head from half a mile away out of spite.”
“Herald Frost…” Brynn frowned while attempting to maintain her composure.
“You would kill your wife?” Herald Law said derisively. “You’re even more putrid of a person than I imagined. Okay, I’ll humor you. What do you want if you win? Rel? Weapons? Land?”
“The way I see it, you don’t give a damn about the territory,” Frost said. “The only things you’re really interested in are my life and Princess Brynn. So, I suppose I’m after your life and a replacement for Brynn.”
“Replacement?” Herald Law scoffed. “What do you mean by that?”
“Well,” Frost smirked at the herald. “Do you really believe I’ll keep my wife after this treachery? I’ll need a woman of equal value to replace her.”
Brynn looked at the ground, unable to make eye contact as her face turned red. She was trembling, but fighting not to show it.
“You expect me to arrange a marriage between you and a different princess of Zira?” Herald Law scoffed. “I can’t compel a princess to marry you.”
“I said a woman of equal value,” Frost said, glancing at Brynn. “Brynn, any ideas on who might have equal value to you?”
“Isabelle Leaucault,” Brynn mumbled.
“Only Isabelle’s mother could promise her away,” Herald Law scoffed.
“I was hoping you would say something like that,” Frost said, waiving toward the elves on the far side of the bridge and then pointing at the queen. After a few moments Valencia Leaucault was permitted to march down the bridge. “Queen Valencia.”
“Herald Frost,” the woman said disdainfully while glancing at Frost before bowing to Herald Law. “My herald.”
“So,” Frost smirked. “The terms of the duel. Would you like to tell her, or should I?”
“I see,” Herald Law laughed. “Very well. Grand Counselor, I was wondering how I might hold you accountable for Fiora’s betrayal and it seems an opportunity has presented itself.”
“My herald?” Queen Valencia glanced nervously at Frost. “What do you mean?”
“Herald Frost will only agree to a duel if the stakes are equal,” Herald Law said, smirking at the anxious queen. “He is wagering both his life and Princess Brynn Hilde. I am only wagering my life. He wishes for a replacement for Brynn should he win. Your daughter.”
“Fiora is already promised to King Asmund,” the Grand Counselor said, shaking her head. “I don’t see…”
“Isabelle is still unwed,” Herald Law said cheerfully. “Your blood betrayed me so it’s only fitting that your blood atone for that betrayal. If you wish to wash away the betrayal, offer your eldest daughter to Herald Frost should he defeat me.”
“Absolutely not,” she said, backing away slowly. “I will not have my daughter married to this elf-bedding pervert.”
“If you wish to stay in my good graces you will,” Herald Law said sternly. “I consider it a fairly generous offer considering the circumstances. Your daughter is a traitor and by all rights I should have her put on trial and humiliated. I assure you I can find witnesses who’ll attest to her crimes and the entire Kingdom will hear about it. Or, you can offer up your daughter Isabelle as part of this wager. A wager that I am sure to win so you are in essence offering nothing.”
“If you lose my daughter will be humiliated!” she snapped. “You have not seen this man fight! I have! Although the battle was brief his abilities are exemplary.”
“Brynn has also seen him battle and was unimpressed,” Herald Law said. “She was positive I would be victorious and her words were undeniably true.”
“That is correct,” Brynn said, bowing her head politely. “Herald Law is sure to be victorious. I will be free of my husband, Isabelle will be free to do as she pleases, and Fiora will be forgiven for her betrayal.”
“I don’t believe you for a second you little snake,” Queen Valencia said, eyes seething with hatred. “Something doesn’t feel right about any of this.”
“Grand Counselor!” Herald Law snapped, his golden-eyes filled with rage as his face contorted. “If you do not accept this offer then I will remove you from your position, charge Fiora with treason, and excommunicate your family!”
“And if you die here, I’m out nothing,” she said callously. “If I don’t make this agreement and you win, my family will suffer. But if I make this agreement and you lose, my family will suffer.”
“I suppose I should be offended that you believe marrying me is suffering,” Frost said. “But, I like your logic. If you believe I’ll win, don’t agree to Herald Law’s demand. If you believe he’ll win, agree to his demands. If it’s any consolation, I’m betting my life and the lives of all of my followers. You’re getting off pretty easy.”
“That’s right,” Queen Valencia said, pausing as if something just struck a chord with her. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Frost. “You’re not a stupid man Herald Frost. You are a degenerate and foul being driven by their urges but you are not stupid. I’ve seen your village and I see the respect you garner from Darius Asmund and even my daughter. You could have evacuated your village into Rilia and King Asmund would have protected you but instead you’re choosing to fight.”
“Try not to sound so impressed,” Herald Law scoffed. “I’m also betting my life.”
“No,” Queen Valencia said firmly as she shook her head. “You believe whole heartedly you’ll win. You’re not wagering anything in your mind. Even if you were wagering your life, that’s all you’re wagering. Herald Frost won’t enslave or slaughter those you care about. He’ll just kill you. I can’t help but think it’s unwise to bet on a man with nothing to lose.”
“Excuse me?” Herald Law growled. His golden eyes fixated on Queen Valencia as he gritted his teeth. “What did you just say?”
“It’s something my husband says,” Queen Valencia said, pacing as she tapped her cheek. “You can’t trust a man with nothing to lose. They have no fight in them. Sure, they’ll accept suicide missions with smiles on their faces but half the time they’ll die. If you’re selecting soldiers, you want men with families. Men that are desperate to return to them alive. Men who want to hold their newborns in their arms and will do anything to do so.”
“Men like that run away,” Herald Law said.
/> “Sometimes,” Queen Valencia said. “But when they can’t, men like that are the most dangerous. Herald Frost is betting everybody he cares about. He’s a very dangerous man. And I can’t ignore the feeling in my stomach. I’m afraid I won’t be offering Isabelle up.”
“You are siding with this man?” Herald Law shook his head. “How far your family has fallen.”
“No,” Queen Valencia said calmly as she turned to walk away, still tapping her cheek as if deep in thought. “My family is climbing Herald Law. Fiora will marry the king of Rilia and if you die, I’ll be one of the three most senior members of the Grand Counsel.”
“You insolent…”
“Good luck finding an alternative wife herald Frost,” Queen Valencia said as she ignored the herald. “But it won’t be my Isabelle.”
“I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting that,” Frost said as Queen Valencia walked away. “I figured she’d agree to that in an instant. Seems like we’re at a loss…”
“Olivia Moray,” Herald Law said, his golden eyes practically on fire as he watched Fiora’s mother rejoin the elves. “I can promise you the hand of Olivia Moray.”
“She would be considered equal to me,” Brynn nodded approvingly. “Although not a princess she is extremely wealthy.”
“What assurances do I have that you can make that happen?” Frost asked.
“Sir Thomas Moray!” Herald Law shouted toward the royal guards and within moments a level sixty-two Holy Knight arrived beside them.
“My herald,” the armor-clad man bowed. “How may I serve you?”
“Your sister,” Herald Law said, still furious from the previous exchange. “Herald Frost will not accept a duel unless I offer up a woman who’s equal to Princess Brynn. I wish to offer your sister.”
“Sir?” the man seemed unsure of how to respond. “Are you saying that my sister will be forced to wed Herald Frost should you lose?”
“Yes,” Herald Law replied. “Do you have the authority to make this agreement?”
“I do,” he said pensively. “As the oldest living male in my branch I have that authority.”
