by Kal Spriggs
“I am afraid that I am left with little choice,” Knight Captain Harald said. Aerion tensed, ready for an attack. Instead, he bowed low, “Captain Aerion Swordbreaker. You have the demeanor of a fighting man and have shown honor and compassion as a soldier in Lady Katarina's army. The Order of King Gordon has authorized me to offer you a place in our ranks, in order to join our quest to restore the Starblade.”
Aerion blinked in shock, “Are you serious?”
“Most definitely, as long as Lady Katarina will release you from her service,” Knight Captain Harald said. “I must apologetically state that should you reject my offer, I will be forced to challenge you to a duel and take the Starblade from you through combat of arms.” He nodded at Eleanor, “And I am well aware that you would attempt to kill me in that case. It would be most regrettable.”
“I'm sure,” Eleanor said dryly.
Aerion looked between Katarina and the knight. “I... I think I'll need some time to consider.”
“I can only offer you a single day,” Knight Captain Harald said. “After that, I will need to report to the Order, either having retrieved the blade myself or bringing you back with me. Time is short and my oaths compel me to depart tomorrow.”
“I will have an answer for you,” Aerion said. “But if I chose to fight you, I will fight you with everything I have. I can't allow you to take it from me.”
“I would expect nothing less,” Knight Captain Harald said. “I'm certain you will acquit yourself well and I will be certain you are buried with full honors as you would deserve.”
Aerion stared at him in shock. The man seemed to completely disregard any chance that he might lose. Aerion glanced at Aramer and his mother, both of them wore grim expressions. Surely he's not that good, Aerion thought, right?
“Well, thank you for your time,” the knight said with a polite nod. “Lady Katarina, congratulations on your ascension to your father's seat. I hope that you will continue to honor your oaths to the High Kings. Grand Duke Tarken, thank you for your introduction.” Knight Captain Harald turned and walked out.
“Well,” Aramer muttered, “that went as well as can be expected.”
***
Lord Garrel of Olsztyn
Garrel paused as he saw his father waiting outside his tent. “Father,” he said. He tried to put some emotion in his voice, but it still came off as flat.
“Son,” Earl Joris said with forced joviality. “I wanted to meet with you. I've heard that Katarina will take her oath as the Duchess tomorrow and that she plans to have the wedding right after that. I thought I would give you some advice on how to best serve our interests...”
“No,” Garrel said and tried to brush past him.
“What?!” Earl Joris grabbed him by the arm. “Listen to me, boy--”
Garrel shook his father's hand off and something of his anger must have shone on his face, for his father stepped back in fear. “No... you listen to me. You abandoned the battlefield... you left not just your men, but me to die out there. I just finished making a case to Lady Katarina about how she shouldn't have you executed for desertion... and the only reason I made that case was because your surviving allies would also have to be executed. Creating a power vacuum like that would cause more issues than it would solve. So I don't need to listen to anything you have to say.”
His father seemed to deflate, “Well, I'll take my sword back,” Earl Joris said.
“This?” Garrel drew the blade and it ignited with a soft golden glow. “You left it on the field, too, father. I remember how you lectured me that thirty nine generations have carried it, always with honor, you said, always with good breeding.” Garrel spat to the ground, “Well, father, this is my sword now... take it if you dare.”
“You can't speak to me like that,” Earl Joris snarled. “You might be my eldest surviving son and heir...”
“But I am not your eldest son, am I?” Garrel said. “That would be Covle Darkbit... who I think is a better son for you than I could ever be.” He shook his head, “You always said I took too much after mother, too absorbed in books. I think I did that to escape in a way that poor James never had a chance to do. Covle Darkbit is a treacherous, lying, murderous coward... so I think he's just like you... the perfect heir to you.”
His father had gone red with rage, but he seemed too shocked to find words. “Now, Father, I'm going to get some rest, it's been a very long day.” Garrel looked at Bulmor, “Armsman, if my father is still here in ten seconds, please remove him with whatever force you feel appropriate.”
***
Lady Katarina Emberhill
“Sir Harald, thank you for meeting with me,” Katarina said. “It might surprise you, but I’ve actually heard of your exploits.”
“It does not surprise me at all that you heard of the good efforts of the Order of King Gordon,” Sir Harald said. “We always strive to do good deeds in the name of the High Kings.”
“Well,” Katarina said, “While I’ve heard good things in general about the Order, I meant I had heard stories of you in particular. An officer, one of the ones with me from the very beginning, he served with you at some point and considered you a companion and friend, I believe.”
“Ah!” Sir Harald said, “I am always eager to be reunited with friends. Tell me, where might I find this friend?”
“He perished, I’m afraid,” Katarina said. She felt a familiar ache as she thought back. Arren Smith had been with her from the beginning, there when she had no one with her besides Bulmor and Gerlin… and he had paid for that loyalty with his life at the Ryftguard, slain by Covle Darkbit’s treachery. “Captain Arren Smith, he was a good advisor and I considered him a friend.”
For some reason, Sir Harald’s eyes narrowed. “A… Captain Smith? I’m not sure that I recognize the name. You say he was a companion of mine?”
“Yes, an older man, long beard,” Katarina cocked her head, “he told many stories, some of you…”
“This is peculiar,” Sir Harald said. “I shall have to investigate.” Katarina noticed a hardness around his eyes as he said that, as if something about this investigation would be unpleasant. It was such an odd thing, but she didn’t know how to bring it up, so she let it be.
“In any case,” Katarina said. “I wanted to broach the subject of your intentions as far as the Starblade. Not only have I given my oath to the High Kings, but Captain Swordbreaker is one of my subjects, therefore, I would like to know what dangers he may face if he takes your offer.”
Sir Harald nodded, “Of course, my Lady. My intentions are simple. It has been some time since we have assembled a full strength company. We will ride south to the ruins of Southwatch and pay our respects to our fallen companions and the spirit of that place, if it survives.” He stood a little straighter, “From there, I intend to detach a component to restore Southwatch and continue to the Ryft Watch Towers and to do the same.”
Katarina frowned, for both Southwatch and the Ryft Watch Towers were technically within her lands. “Do you intend to make a long-term presence for the Order here?”
“Of course,” Sir Harald said. “To both secure lands long gone to brigandage and to spread the word of the High Kings. You have given your oath, so I would assume that you would welcome us.”
Katarina sat back. She had to admit to herself that that was the real question. On the one hand, the Order represented a large number of armed troops, equipped with advanced weapons and expert military training. They could be invaluable allies as their service at the battle had proven. On the other hand, their loyalties are to the High Kings and their Order... not to me, she thought. So long as she maintained her oaths to the High Kings, that wouldn’t be a problem… though who knew what the fanatical organization might take into their heads to do in the name of rulers dead a thousand cycles or more?
With the Armen threat, I’ll need what allies I can get, she thought. She’d spent the past couple hours in conversation with Hector, learning as much as she could ab
out the defenses he had constructed against those threats in the north. And the Norics in the mountains are always an issue, especially after a rough winter like this one, there’ certain to be raids. The monsters from the Black Fortress were yet another threat…
Against that, the presence of some of the Order’s warriors in remote areas, where they could fight her enemies for her, was a minor thing.
“Of course,” Katarina said. “We can discuss some of the particulars as far as supplying your men and lines of communication another day.”
Sir Harald waved a hand, “We shall supply our own troops. The Order has a treasury for such purposes and we receive many donations from various sources, mostly as thanks for our services.”
Powerful noblemen and merchants, she would guess. Which suggested that the Order might well do occasional work as mercenaries… or simply that they had wealthy connections. Though if they do have such connections… “On your way south,” Katarina said, “would you mind doing something of a display of force?”
“How do you mean?” Sir Harald asked.
“Well,” Katarina said, “I would think that since a company of your knights is such a rare assemblage, then putting on a bit of a show… perhaps a parade or even a display of your skill at arms in some of the cities as you march south would impress the citizens of my realm, let them feel a bit more secure knowing your knights will be preventing Noric raids and stopping bandits.”
Sir Harald gave her a shrewd look, “And perhaps cow some rebellious noblemen with ambitious ideas?” He held up a hand, “no, my lady, it is quite a good idea. I fully understand the importance of producing a stable and steady authority here in the Duchy of Masov. The last thing we would want would be for it to turn into a state of constant conflict like the Duchy of Asador.”
“Thank you,” Katarina said. “What about after your efforts to restore old fortresses?”
“Ah, that is where things will grow more interesting,” Sir Harald said, as if marching into mountains where the Norics had driven out all remnants of civilization was a trival thing. “The other two remains of the Starblade are the shards of the top half of the blade and the tip. As you may know, Moral Blackheart had the shards of the Starblade set into a crown, which he wore until his assassination by his nephew. The would-be-Emperor Dalton discovered the Sundered Crown, and he wore those pieces right up until his defeat by the combined armies of Taral and Masov.”
Katarina nodded, “Yes, and after that I believe the Duke of Taral took the crown for safekeeping… correct?”
“Exactly,” Sir Harald said. “And the dragon Kalamanth laid waste to most of the Duchy of Taral, backed by the Kras-nar-Thak tribal alliance of Norics. Presumably the crown is within the ruins of Tair, the Ducal Seat of Taral. I intend to lead my company and those with me to retrieve the crown.”
Katarina stared at him, uncertain if she had misunderstood. “But to do that, you’ll need to face tens of thousands of Norics and the mad dragon Kalamanth.”
“Precisely,” Sir Harald said with a broad smile. “It will be quite the adventure. So, I trust I have reassured you about my intentions?”
***
Captain Aerion Swordbreaker
After the many revelations of the day and the entire afternoon spent walking around, looking for some sign that the sword trusted someone else, Aerion felt utterly exhausted. All he wanted to do was go back to his tent and sleep.
He'd finally left Kerrel and Aramor and decided to do just that.
Which of course, was when one of Katarina's armsmen found him.
The boy was even younger than Aerion, yet there was something about the set of his shoulders and the cold look to his eyes that made Aerion nervous. “Captain,” the boy said, “Lady Katarina would like to see you.”
Aerion nodded with resignation. He followed the young armsman to the inn where Katarina and several others of the nobility had rooms. Mihiata led him up the back stairs and then into Katarina's suite. Along the way, he passed several more of her armsmen. The stocky ones at the door he recognized as Bulmor's sons, and he gave them nods, but they just stared at him with stony expressions.
Inside, he found Katarina with Anghel and Gavril. “My Lady,” Aerion bowed. The room was probably the finest one the inn had, but that wasn't saying much, he supposed. Certainly Solis's old inn had been nicer. The room was clean and it had an actual bed, which he supposed was more than most of the other rooms could boast.
“Aerion,” Katarina said. She didn't seem to be able to meet his gaze. “It has been quite the day, hasn't it?”
“Yes,” Aerion said. He felt too tired to make small talk and too resigned over everything else to hide how he felt. “I understand you marry Lord Garrel tomorrow.”
She looked up and fire flashed in her blue eyes, “Really? Is that all you can say? Do you think I want to do this? At least he isn't a toad like his father, but that's not exactly something to build a marriage on, now is it?”
“I'm sorry,” Aerion said. It was his turn to look away. “I suppose you want to know about the Starblade?”
“I think we've both had our share of secrets,” Katarina said softly. “I'll assume that you've learned that I knew about Hector being my half-brother.” Aerion nodded, he had noticed how she hadn't seemed surprised. “Hector's mother told me. In fact, she told me quite a bit, more than I think she realized.” Katarina sighed. “I just finished speaking with her again, where she informed me that she and my father stayed here once... I understand they even made love in this very bed.”
Aerion winced at the bitterness in her voice. “From what I understand, they did that in most every place they stayed,” Katarina continued. “From the earnestness of her words, I gather that she not only wanted it to hurt me, but she would gladly have pulled my heart out and eaten it.”
“I'm sorry,” Aerion said again. The words seemed painfully inadequate. At least his family didn't have such bitter rivalries. Not that he had much of a family… he didn’t even know his father’s name.
“You have no reason to be,” Katarina said. “You've at least treated me like a woman while everyone else sees me as an object.” She let out an angry sigh, “I do marry Lord Garrel tomorrow. I will also be made the Duchess of Masov, the first in ten generations and the last, Duchess Alexandra, was deposed by her brother. It is something I studied at Ember Castle. You have to go seventeen rulers back to find a Duchess who ruled in her own right and for a real span.”
“You can do it,” Aerion said, his
“See, that's what I spoke of,” Katarina said, “you see me as a person. Everyone else, including my new Guard Captain Ferrakan, thinks I'll manage for a few cycles at most before some ambitious nobleman succeeds in killing me or deposing me.” She sighed, “I'll assume you are going to take Sir Harald's offer?”
Aerion shrugged, “I think it would be best, don't you?” It would remove him from temptation. Perhaps in time his emotions would cool. Maybe he would even die in this quest and that would be the end of it entirely.
“Yes,” Katarina said and he felt some part of him die. “Though it is the last thing that I want.” He looked up in surprise and she gave him a tearful smile. “I'm about to give everything I am, everything I have, in duty... and I realize I have not once done anything purely selfish.”
“Anghel and Gavril, that will be all, please wait for me in the hall and see that we are not disturbed.” The two women warriors left without response, though he could see the disapproval on their faces.
Aerion felt his heartbeat rise.
“Now,” Katarina said, “I'll go to my wedding bed as the Duchess of Masov tomorrow night. Tomorrow you'll take the oath for the Order of King Gordon. Tonight, however, you are just a man and I am just a woman.” She stepped forward and Aerion's arms came up of their own volition. He held her close as his lips met hers.
Aerion pulled her to him and neither of them had time for words after that.
***
Commander Kerrel Fla
mehair
Kerrel paused as she heard a faint moan of pleasure from down the hallway of the inn. She felt a flush climb her cheeks. Clearly one of the nobles staying here had found some companionship for the night. Good for them, she thought, not entirely without a pang of envy. However this next part went, she didn’t expect to find it ending with anything similar.
She nodded at the guard outside Hector's door, he opened it as she approached. Her eyes widened a bit as she saw Hector. He looked haggard and worn. His hair was unkempt and an open bottle of wine sat next to him. “Hector?”
He waved at the chair next to him. “Welcome, please forgive my appearance, it's been a bit of a rough day.”
Kerrel let out a tense breath, “I'd prefer to stand, my Lord.”
He frowned at her formality. This was not something that she wanted to do... but she knew that it was for the best. She'd become too close, too attached and she hadn't been able to see what she needed to do. Her oaths to the Luciel Order had been tested and she saw now that she needed to be more impartial.
Yet seeing him like this twisted her guts into a knot. “Lord Hector,” Kerrel said softly, “I'm afraid I must resign from your service.”
“I'm sorry, what?” Hector asked.
“I feel that the time has come for us to part ways,” Katarina said as gently as she could manage.
“Is this about my surrender?” Hector asked, his face blank with shock. “Katarina has assured me that there will be no repercussions to any who supported me...”
Kerrel shook her head, “No. This is about what is best for me.” She didn't know what would befall Hector, though she doubted that Katarina would have her half-brother executed. In the purest of calculations, it would be a waste of a good military commander, one who had already shown his dedication to defending the Duchy of Masov.
