by Guy Antibes
“His wife is in the capital, so I let him have some time off. I hope it is permissible?”
“Tobia? Sure. You and he seem to get along very well. Are you interested in buying his contract?”
Ricky recoiled at the notion of purchasing a human, but perhaps he could help Tobia. “I would. I could use someone watching my back, even at the academy. I’m sure Saganet could put him to good use.”
“He would be farther away from his wife,” Jac said.
“Maybe I could get her contract, as well.”
“That might not be easy. I asked Mother about him. Tobia’s wife manages Lord Wamia’s affairs in the capital.”
“A capable woman,” Ricky said. “We will have to see what happens, then. I don’t think Tobia will return until we leave for the Griama estate. I’ll see if he thinks it might be possible.”
“I have some even better news. I arranged a private lunch tomorrow with King Courer, my father, Ticco, and all of us. Today, though, we will take in an afternoon performance. We’ll have to leave now to make the opening curtain.”
Ricky joked with his friends as they made their way to the theater. He stopped when he saw a poster displayed in a case on the theater’s front. He read the words and gasped when he saw his name.
Coming Soon to this Theatre
A GRAND SORCERY COMPETITION!
A Treat for All Sponsored by Princess Pira Dorgia of Paranty.
The Best Performance Sorcerers in Dimani and Paranty
Assembled for the First Time In this Hall.
Featuring the Winner of Last Summer’s Tossan Novice Competition
and Hero of the Applian Uprising, Hendrico Valian.
Ricky didn’t need to read anymore. What was Princess Pira doing to him? She had threatened to sponsor a sorcery performance in Dimani, but what was this all about? He hadn’t said he would participate, but evidently, she felt confident enough in his abilities to include him.
“You didn’t tell us you’d be performing!” Benno said.
“Princess Pira said something about it when we toured Sealio, but I didn’t take her seriously,” Ricky said.
“Imagine, a princess soft for little Ricky Valian,” Loria said. She didn’t have to lay on the sarcasm so thickly, Ricky thought.
“Maybe we could perform together,” Ricky said, knowing what her reaction would be.
Loria grunted her answer as she frowned and walked ahead of him.
Jac gave them the tickets the inn had procured.
“Hendrico Valian?” said Tirio Estippia, the local performance promoter. “I see I won’t be the one to discover you. You didn’t tell me you won the Tossan Novice Competition. We follow what goes on in Paranty. I didn’t know you were a hero. What was the Applian Uprising?”
“The Duke of Applia, the former one, decided he would remove King Leon’s soldiers from the city and start an insurrection. It didn’t get very far.”
“You stopped it?” Estippia said. “I don’t believe it.”
“He helped,” Mara said, coming to Ricky’s defense. “Quite a bit. I know, for I was there.”
“You certainly have the talent, young Valian. I’ll be watching you at the grand performance, for sure.”
Ricky gave the man a little bow. “I’m sure I won’t compare to the best sorcerers in two countries, but I’ll do my best.”
“I think you will. Enjoy my show,” Estippia said, as someone called for his attention.
The performance was entertaining, but Ricky could tell it lacked the spark that set Parantian sorcery performances apart. The story was a bit insipid, but Ricky enjoyed the mock duels. They walked out into the twilight.
“That was wonderful,” Ubbo said.
Benno smiled and said nothing. Ricky knew why. His friend had seen better performances in Tossa.
~
Ricky put on the best clothes he owned before they walked to the Falcon Castle across the square for lunch with King Courer. Jac beamed and bragged about knowing everyone, and indeed, everyone nodded to him as they passed. He took them up the front steps.
After conferring with a courtier standing in the foyer, Jac led them into a private dining room. Ricky guessed every castle and manor had one. Prince Ticco was already conversing with Lord Griama when they entered, but the king hadn’t yet arrived.
Ticco didn’t get up, but Jac’s father rose as he introduced Loria. Ticco nodded impatiently to Loria and gave her a pained smile, something she returned to Jac’s brother with a similar expression.
King Courer entered without announcement. “Ticco, Forari, I see you’ve brought Jac with his followers.”
Ricky didn’t consider himself a follower, but then he didn’t know how Jac’s friends had been presented to the king.
“Sit, sit. This is an informal luncheon,” King Courer said. He took his heavy brocade coat off, and when he did, Ticco and Lord Forari did the same. Ricky kept his on. Courer was a nice-enoug- looking man. He was surprisingly young, probably close to his friend Karian’s age, which was 33. With all the talk of Ticco’s ascendency to the throne of Dimani, it certainly looked like he’d have to wait decades before he took the throne. Courer couldn’t be more than ten years older than Ticco. With his youth, Ricky would have thought the king would have plenty of time to sire heirs to the throne.
Jac made the introductions to the king. Courer’s eyes grew when he learned the hero of the Applian Uprising sat at the table.
“You are King Leon’s man?” Courer said.
“I am his subject, as is any Parantian,” Ricky said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Ticco said.
Ricky pressed his lips together to collect his thoughts. Ticco seemed to set something angry off inside him. “I am not in the confidence of the king. I only met him just before we set sail for Dimani.”
“And the Princess Pira Dorgia?” King Courer said. “She is the one who sent the precise wording for the posters.”
Jac leaned forward. “Oh, that. She took us on a tour of Sealio before we left. She was impressed by Ricky’s powers.”
“And how much of the stories is true?” King Courer said.
“It depends on what you have heard, Your Majesty.” Ricky gave the king an abbreviated version of the Battle of the Barracks.
“Impressive, and you really did win the Tossan Novice Competition?”
“Loria and I did,” Ricky said and turned to Loria Mansali. “We both competed. We both won.”
She looked a bit flustered from the royal attention but bowed her head in agreement.
“Most of what a person accomplishes requires others to make it successful,” Ricky said.
Courer laughed at Ricky’s remark. “I should tell that to some of my courtiers when they pose questions asking why I haven’t gotten what they want done.”
Ricky wondered if King Courer knew he had just admitted he didn’t rule with unquestioned authority.
“Forari, would you ring the bell?”
Jac’s father rose and pulled on an embroidered pull, and then sat down. It looked like Forari didn’t question his king, but Ricky somehow knew that Ticco did.
They talked about inconsequential things until King Courer spoke up. “I understand all of you have learned of our gold discovery,” the king said. “What do you think of it?” He looked at Benno, who turned his head to Ricky.
“King Leon, to my very limited knowledge, covets natural resources. I would be worried about Paranty becoming overly interested in your mines.”
The king leaned forward. “Do you have any proof of that?”
Ricky smiled. “How would I have proof of anything? I’m not in the king’s inner circle, or outer circle, for that matter.”
“Or any circle, except mine,” Jac said. Ricky’s friend didn’t have any problem speaking to his monarch.
“I do know that soldiers are training outside of Sealio. An acquaintance of mine is currently helping to train them. It could mean something or nothing,” Ricky said
. He felt he had already talked too much.
Ricky looked at Ticco, who gave Ricky a nasty look.
“Prince Ticco is one of my more pro-Parantian advisors. Aren’t you, Ticco?”
“I am, my king,” Ticco said.
The king turned to Ricky again. “Have you been to the south?”
“Not very far south, your majesty,” Ricky said.
“And who do those in the south support, Vorria or Paranty?”
Ricky paused for a moment. He was in over his head in this discussion, but he decided to go with the truth, as he knew it. “I am not certain, but since their major trading partner is Vorria, rather than distributing their product primarily in Dimani, I would say Vorria.”
King Courer slapped a hand on his knee and pointed to Lord Griama. “I told you, that, but you want me to believe otherwise.”
Ricky was unimpressed by King Courer’s seeming fecklessness.
The king turned to Jac. “So what exciting things have you boys been up to?”
The king’s abrupt change in the subject surprised Ricky, but Jac beamed and told the king about the picnic and running into the great boar. Ricky tried to mimize his role in the story and was saved by a timely serving of lunch.
~~~
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
~
T HERE WASN’T MUCH DISCUSSION DURING THE RETURN FROM THE CAPITAL. They ended up in two carriages. Ricky sat with Jac, Mara, and Lord Griama, while Benno, Ubbo, and Loria had to endure Ticco’s incessant grumbling.
They missed lunch at the manor, although Tobia delivered a hearty afternoon snack that they shared in Ricky’s apartment.
“I didn’t get a chance alone with you. Did you have a good reunion?” Ricky asked.
“I did, or I should say we did. Thank you,” Tobia said.
“Would it be possible for me to buy your wife’s contract? I could bring her down here to be with you.”
Tobia’s eyebrows rose. “That would be excessively generous, Ricky. I’m not sure Lord Wamia would permit it.”
“It’s not that I don’t have the money. I would buy your contract out, as well, if that were permissible.”
Tobia shook his head. “That would be more than I desire,” he said.
“I’ll talk to Jac about it, and then to Lady Griama.”
“I couldn’t hope to repay you,” Tobia said.
“Why would you have to, assuming Lord Wamia will sell at a reasonable price?”
Tobia’s face darkened. “My wife is his most important employee, and this might be a critical time for Lord Wamia.”
“Oh?”
“He is an agent for Vorria,” Tobia said. “Your friend Sippa is a friend of his, but I heard them talking about a split. Vorria gets half, and Paranty gets half, but I don’t know what of.”
“I do,” Ricky said. He had put the puzzle together. Sippa was obviously an agent of Paranty and not of the Closed Fist.
“Sippa is in Dimani on a diplomatic mission,” Ricky said. “Paranty wants Dimani’s gold deposits, and Vorria would rather cast off the charade of the South being part of Dimani. I wouldn’t be surprised if ships aren’t already bringing troops to the north end of Dimani. Vorria might well have troops in southern Dimani as we speak.”
“How can you know this?”
“Remember the Princess Pira stories I told you?”
Tobia nodded.
“The one where Princess Pira stops the invasion of Cralt?”
“Oh,” Tobia said, understanding dawning on his face. “You suspect Paranty will do the same thing with Vorria as an ally?”
It was Ricky’s turn to nod. “Exactly. Paranty would probably insist on the removal of King Courer—”
“And put Ticco on the throne,” Tobia said. “Then what happens to the rest of Dimani?”
“It may be fought over. Regardless of what Sippa and Lord Wamia agree to, Ticco will give all of Dimani to King Leon. Can’t you see Ticco demanding the Parantians to help push the Vorrians into the sea to restore the South to his father?” Ricky said.
“That might mean the ruination of the Griama estate. But I suppose Prince Ticco wouldn’t care. With the capability to generate wealth restored, the Crown Prince may think it won’t take him long to recover any losses.”
“Or why worry about a noble estate when you can run the capital and a few outlying regions and be recognized as a vassal king to Leon of Paranty?” Ricky said.
“Aren’t you for Paranty?”
Ricky had to think for a few moments. “I’m not for Prince Ticco. I have no friends in the south. Vana Rasso is no friend of Dimani. So, I suppose I am neutral. In this case, I am for a stronger Dimani.”
“Then what should we do?” Tobia said.
“I’ve warned King Courer as much as I dare. I don’t think I can do anything else at this point except let things develop a bit more.”
~
Dinner hadn’t soothed the anxious emotions of the group. When everyone retired to the game room, Ticco made a comment that didn’t sit well with Vana Rasso. Ricky knew she would defend the South and Vorria, so their argument escalated. Ubbo began to take Vana’s side. Benno and Loria were forced into taking Ticco’s pro-Parantian position, which led Ricky, Jac, Mara, and Lady Griama to take up a neutral position. Lord Griama sat back and watched the disastrous evening unfold. Ricky knew he was for his son, Ticco, no matter what happened.
“I’ll be leaving for the capital tomorrow,” Ubbo said.
“And I’m leaving right now.” Vana quickly left the room.
Ricky looked at Lord Griama. “What can be done to stop all this? Will Dimani be torn apart by war?”
Lord Griama said, rather airily considering the violent emotions, “What swords can’t settle, diplomacy can.” He left the room and pulled Ticco with him with a crook of his finger.
“I think your father has it backward,” Ricky said to Jac, who sat with his head down.
“Did you detect any hint of conciliation?” Jac said.
Ricky didn’t and shook his head. It was clear that Ricky’s dreaded vision of what could happen to Dimani had become a reality much too soon. “I’ll go with Ubbo to the capital and do what I can. Being the hero of the Applian Uprising might get me in to see Lord Ducri Wamia.”
“You don’t have to do anything,” Lady Griama said. “I think you’ve done enough to stir the pot.”
“Me?” Ricky said.
“Yes, you. Forari told me about your comments during your audience with King Courer.”
Ricky could hear the bitterness in her voice. He felt he had lost his welcome at the Griama estate. “I can leave,” he said. “I’d like to take Tobia with me. Can I purchase his contract?”
Lady Griama stared at Ricky and then nodded her head. “I can see you’ve struck up a friendship with your servant. I’ll not hold him back, especially now.”
“You’re going?” Jac said.
“Who knows? Perhaps we’ve gotten each other riled up about nothing. If we have, then I’ll return if I can.”
“I won’t stop you, should you wish to return,” Lady Griama said, softening her tone somewhat.
~
Ricky and Tobia lugged Ricky’s things to the front of the guest house. Ricky had settled an amount on Tobia, which was much, much less than Ricky had anticipated. He was disappointed that Tobia’s life was so cheap.
Ubbo finally came out with Benno. Jac and Mara came out to say goodbye. Loria remained in the manor along with the rest of Jac’s family.
“You will return.” Jac said it as if it were a command.
“If at all possible. I’ll probably have some time on my hands until Princess Pira’s thing, so I will certainly try to be back.”
Mara put out her hand. He was surprised by her limp grip, and that was that. Ricky stuck his head out the window to look at the dwindling manor.
He looked at Ubbo, the only other passenger in the carriage. “So you don’t mind the Vorrians?”
Ubbo shrugged
. “King Courer is weak, and you can see that Ticco is weaker,” Ubbo said.
With Jac gone, Ubbo seemed to be more willing to talk.
“I thought King Courer looked, uh, vigorous,” Ricky said.
Ubbo laughed. “The king can’t sire an heir, on either side of the blanket, if you know what I mean…and he has tried many sides.”
“And he doesn’t have any suitable relatives?”
Ubbo shook his head. “Ticco is about as suitable as it gets, although Jac would make a fine king. Everyone knows it, but Ticco and his father have paid handsomely for the title Crown Prince.”
The lack of an heir seemed to be an issue all over the place. Ricky was heir to Naparra since Duke Noacci didn’t have a child. King Leon didn’t, and neither did King Courer. That seemed strange. Was that a coincidence or something else? Ricky didn’t know. The whole mess from yesterday’s lunch onwards was making him dizzy.
“So it’s certain Lord Griama bought Ticco’s position?”
Ubbo raised his eyebrows. “When Jac and I left for Paranty and the academy, there were rumors that the royal treasury was a little light. By the time we returned, Ticco had been named Crown Prince, so maybe. There aren’t a lot of suitable candidates for heir, and Ticco meets all the qualifications for being crowned.”
“But not for being a successful king,” Ricky said.
“That’s right. I just think the Vorrians will treat Dimani better than Ticco’s friends.”
Ricky didn’t know enough to support or argue Ubbo’s statement. They rode in silence for a bit longer.
“You bought your servant’s contract?”
Ricky nodded. “For cheaper than I thought I would.”
“He has a history,” Ubbo said. “Tobia is a killer.”
“I suppose that’s why he was a bodyguard before.”
Ubbo frowned. “I wouldn’t trust him.”
“I can always tear up a contract,” Ricky said. He felt uneasy about not reading Tobia’s contract in closer detail.
“Suit yourself. Just be careful.” Ubbo sat back and closed his eyes. Ricky guessed their conversation was over.
The driver let Ubbo off at an ornate townhouse that rivaled Lord Griama’s. Tobia joined Ricky in the carriage instead of continuing his riding with the driver.
