Farindian Summer (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 4)

by Loren K. Jones

  Dahvin was staring at him with a curious expression. “You really think they’ll mount a serious resistance?”

  “An arrow that can kill an elk or bison can kill a man,” Barvil said from behind Stavin’s shoulder. “A good hunting point will pierce any but the finest armor.”

  “And a hunter who can sneak up on a wild animal can sneak up on a soldier,” Karvik continued. “When we cross the border, we will be attacked. It may be simple harassment, but it may be organized resistance by the Chosen families. After the fall of Farindia, the seven families in the south formed an alliance. They maintain a minimum of twenty-eight hundred armed men to send against us.”

  “Against the six thousand men we have?” Dahvin asked.

  “Yes.” Stavin answered. “Twenty-eight hundred men shooting arrows from behind trees and rocks, then vanishing into the forest. Twenty-eight hundred men setting traps. Twenty-eight hundred men who are not going to face you. They’ll kill you in your sleep, or shoot you in the back. For all intents and purposes, they’ll be bandits, fighting in their own territory where every advantage is going to be theirs.”

  Chapter 20

  FIFTY MEN RODE UP TO THE Commons Gate at Twin Bridges and were stopped by the guards. They were dusty and looked ragged as they came to a stop. “State your business,” the senior guard said while he and his assistant stared at the force before them.

  “We have urgent messages for King Kalin and Prince Stavin,” Darak Kel’Norlan said as he faced the guards.

  “Who are you?” the second guard asked in a cautious tone.

  “We are Royal Guards from Kavinston, in Kel’Kavin.”

  The guards stepped back and the senior bowed a little. “Do you need a guide to the palace?”

  Darak shook his head. “No, I know the way.”

  The senior guard bowed deeply and said, “Pass, Royal Guards.”

  Warleader Second Kel’Norlan led his men ahead at a walk. He’d earned his third star in front of Kel’Kavin. Behind him rode an assortment of men, including Kahndar Kel’Horval. He was carrying the message for Stavin.

  The Palace Guards passed them around to the stables, where Darak had his men dismount. Captain Zel’Tarlin arrived moments later. “Darak, is that you?” he asked as he walked up.

  “Yes, Hardan,” Darak said as he smiled at his friend, “it’s me. I have urgent messages for the king and Prince Stavin.”

  “The king is in Council, but Prince Stavin left eleven days ago with the force that is going to Farindia. The treaty of annexation has been ratified.”

  Darak nodded and looked over his shoulder. “Kahn, go find your sister. I’ll inform the king. The rest of you go with Captain Zel’Tarlin and find beds.” Turning back to the captain, he bowed his head slightly. “We’ve been camping all the way down and all of us need beds and baths.”

  *

  Kahndar walked toward the palace door and a guardsman stepped out to meet him. “Where do you think you’re going?” the man asked.

  Kahndar stopped and bowed slightly. “I need a guide to Princess Sharindis’ quarters.”

  The guardsman sneered. “You think you can just walk up to the princess?”

  Kahndar looked the man in the eye as he replied, “I used to play horsy for the princess. She’s my little sister.”

  The guardsman looked slightly panicked, then bowed deeply. “This way, please.” He led Kahndar to the Royal Suite and presented him to the guards at the door. “This man claims to be Princess Sharindis’ brother.”

  The lieutenant in charge bowed slightly. “Your name?”

  “Kahndar Kel’Horval.”

  “A moment.” The lieutenant turned and went into the suite. He was back almost immediately. “Enter, but watch your step.”

  “Why?” Kahndar asked. “You don’t think I’m a threat to my sister, do you?”

  “I mean, watch your step literally. Prince Karlin and his little friends have blocks everywhere.” The man grimaced a little. “Damn near broke my ankle when I stepped on one.”

  Kahndar didn’t laugh, but the other guardsmen did. Kahn entered the suite and found chaos. Karlin, Noral, and six other toddlers had half the floor covered with wooden building-blocks. Shari, Sora, and another woman were on a sofa with the infants while the maids tried to keep some sort of order.

  “This is quite a nursery you have here, sis,” he said with a laugh as he stopped by the door.

  “Unc’a Kahn!” Karlin squealed and ran toward him with his arms out.

  Kahndar scooped Karlin up and walked the rest of the way to his sister. “You’re talking a lot better, Karli. Go play now and let me talk to mommy.” When Karlin had run back to his friends, Kahndar knelt in front of his sister. “How are you, Shari?”

  “As well as can be expected, Kahn. I hate having Stavi gone.”

  “They said he was on his way north. That’s why we’re here.”

  “Who is we?” Lady Glora asked.

  “Kahn, this is Dahvin’s wife, Glora,” Sora explained. “And this is their son, Dahran.” She ran a gentle finger over the baby’s head.

  Kahndar bowed his head deeply. “I am honored to meet you, Lady Glora. We are a force of fifty men from Kavinston with messages for the king. I have a personal message for Stave.” He turned and reached out to take both of Sorandis’ hands. “Sora, I’m very sorry to have to tell you that Bahrandik is dead.” He paused as Sora and Shari caught their breaths. “Kel’Kavin was attacked by about three hundred men. We beat them back, but we lost six men, including Bahr. I’m so sorry.”

  Sora choked on a sob, and Shari and Glora took the babies from her as she collapsed in tears. Shari was in little better shape, and cuddled the twins as she cried. She’d had a puppy-crush on Bahrandik when they were little.

  “Ut wrong, mommy?” Karlin asked, and Kahndar turned to pick him up again.

  “Nothing for you to fret about, Karli. Just some sad news from home.”

  “G’n’pa good?”

  “Yes, your grandpas are fine. Don’t fret.”

  “G’n’ma good?”

  “Yes, scamp. You really have learned to talk a lot better. Now go play.”

  Karlin smiled and went back to play. Kahndar turned back to his sister and stroked her hand. He didn’t say anything because there was nothing to say. Death in battle was the way of the Warrior.

  A tall presence made him look up and he found Varik standing beside him. “Var, what are you doing here? I thought you’d be with Stavin.”

  “He wouldn’t let me go,” Varik groused. Then he looked at Shari and Sora. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ll explain later. Who did Stavin take with him?”

  “Karvik and Warmaster Kel’Carin, and twenty-one Royal Guards led by Captain Dahvin.”

  “That’s all?”

  Varik smiled crookedly. “Them, and six thousand Army troops under the command of Captain Dahvin’s big brother, Colonel Gavlin.”

  “That might be enough,” Kahndar said as he nodded, then sighed. “That might just be—”

  The door opened and Princess Marina led her father into the room at a fast walk. “Oh, Sora, we just heard. I’m so sorry,” the princess said as she brushed past Kahndar to kneel by the sofa.

  The king had stopped a few steps back and was looking at Kahndar, who had gone to one knee and bowed his head immediately. “And you are?” he asked.

  “Your Majesty,” Varik said as he stood proudly beside Kahn, “please allow me to present my brother, Warleader Sixth Kahndar Kel’Horval.”

  The king smiled. “Charvil told me a lot about you. Stand up, Warleader. I’m pleased to meet you. Warleader Kel’Norlan told us what happened in Kel’Kavin, and the message you have for Stavin and Sorandis.” He ignored Varik’s intensely curious look. “Come with me. We’ll let Marina do what she can to help them though this.” He turned and walked away, and almost made it to the door before a small form wrapped itself around his legs.

  “G’n’pa play?” Karlin as
ked as he looked up.

  King Kalin reached down and picked the boy up for a hug. “Not right now, Karli. Grandpa and your uncles have some important things to discuss.” Karlin smiled and wriggled loose, running back to where Noral and their friends were building a fortress.

  Kahndar and Varik followed the king out of the Prince’s Room and closed the door. “What happened?” Varik asked as soon as he could.

  “Kel’Kavin was attacked by the Chosen of Farindia. We lost Bahrandik and five others.”

  “That’s why—” Varik said as he looked back toward the door.

  “Yes,” Kahndar answered.

  “Kahn,” the king said, “Warleader Kel’Norlan will be leading you and your men out again tomorrow. General Zel’Rantal has already sent for the Fifth Cavalry. You’ll be joining them and reinforcing the pacification force.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Kahndar immediately answered.

  Varik immediately asked, “Your Majesty, can I—”

  “No,” the king said, cutting him off. “Stavin assigned you to protect your sister, and I agree with his reasoning. Shari needs someone who is intimately familiar with her habits and abilities, and isn’t going to be awed by her. And who isn’t going to do what she says just because she’s a princess. I’d keep your big brother here as well, but I think his experience is going to be needed in Farindia.”

  Varik took a deep breath and managed to say, “Yes, Your Majesty,” without sounding like a petulant little boy. Almost.

  *

  Darak led his fifty warriors out of Twin Bridges just after dawn the next morning. They were supposed to rendezvous with the Fifth Cavalry two days north of Twin Bridges, and had along Captain Zel’Tarlin as a liaison.

  “Darak, the commander of the Fifth Cavalry is Major Zel’Devery,” Hardan Zel’Tarlin said as they mounted their horses in the early morning gloom. “I have his orders, and the king told me to share them with you. You and your men are not under his command. You’re Royal Guardsmen, and that’d make you the commander in normal circumstances, even if you didn’t have stars enough to be a full colonel yourself. However, the king asks that you let the major keep command of his men. He wants you to be free to separate from the Fifth if you need to.”

  “Understood,” Darak replied. “How long do you think it’ll take us to catch Prince Stavin’s army?”

  “We can ride about three times as fast as they march. They’re twelve days north now, so four days to where they are today and another for what they’ll do while we’re riding.”

  The warriors kept their horses to a walk while they were in the city, but as soon as they passed the North Wall they broke into a trot. The road north toward Farindia was a well-maintained artery of trade, so the horses had an easy time of it. The only time they had to leave the road was to avoid wagons. Darak maintained the Kel’Kavin standard of eight spans riding alternating with two spans walking.

  The warriors were all used to walking long distances in their armor, but Captain Zel’Tarlin wasn’t. “What the hells was I thinking?” he muttered after the third time they led their horses.

  “Are you all right, Hardan?” Darak asked.

  “For a damn fool,” Hardan replied as he panted. “Why did I ask for this?”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We don’t march around in armor that much, Darak. Stand around, yes, but not march long distances. I’m not in any shape for this.”

  Darak shook his head. “Once we meet up with the cavalry, you can head back to Twin Bridges.”

  “Not on your life,” Hardan panted. “Not when I finally get to leave the palace and do something. We’ve only got about five days of this. I’ll survive.”

  Darak nodded his approval of the man’s spirit and continued on in silence. They reached the crossroads where they were supposed to meet the cavalry halfway through the second day and made camp. They were early. Darak caught Hardan as soon as he dismounted. “Set up your tent and rest. Bandage your blisters, and stay off your feet as much as you can. I don’t need you crippled.”

  “I’m not that bad off,” Hardan muttered.

  “And I don’t want you to become that bad off. Once the cavalry gets here, we’re not going to be able to rest much. Use the time you have to take care of yourself.”

  The rest of the day and half of a second passed with no sign of the cavalry. “This is the right place, isn’t it?” Darak asked as he sat beside Hardan’s tent.

  “Yes,” Hardan answered. “They are coming from Fort Zel’Veslan. It’s supposed to be closer than Twin Bridges.”

  Darak fumed in impotent anger as the spans drifted by. Finally, near sundown of the second day, the Fifth Cavalry arrived.

  “Who is in charge here?” a tall, rail thin man in a major’s uniform asked as he strode into the warrior’s camp.

  “I am,” Darak replied with a slight bow. “Warleader Second Darak Kel’Norlan of the Royal Guard.”

  The major sniffed. “You and your—men—will form up behind us in the morning, Warleader. Have your cook prepare something for us while we set up camp.”

  Darak said, “No, Major Zel’Devery,” in a soft, angry tone. “While the king has requested that I don’t take command of you and your men, we are certainly not going to be under your command.”

  Captain Zel’Tarlin limped up to Darak’s side and said, “Major, I have your orders in my tent.”

  “I already have my orders.”

  “These are from the king himself, Major. Whatever orders you received are superseded.” Now Hardan took a step closer and looked the major in the eye. “And as Royal Guards, every one of us outranks you. Cook your own damn food.”

  The major seemed to swell up in rage. “How dare you—”

  Hardan growled, “I am Captain Hardan Zel’Tarlin of the Royal Guard, recipient of the Evandian Star for Valor. You will address me with the proper respect or I’ll have you up on charges.” The major took a step back, and it looked like his lip was about to start quivering. “Come to my tent for your orders once your camp is set. And have your cooks prepare extra. We’ve wasted two days’ worth of provisions waiting for you.”

  It took the Fifth three full spans to set up their camp. Major Zel’Devery walked up to where Darak and Hardan were sitting and snapped to attention. “You say you have new orders for me?” he asked.

  Hardan didn’t stand as he handed over the message tube. “By the king’s command.”

  The major broke the seal after examining it to make sure it hadn’t been tampered with, then read the message.

  “Major Kimmel Zel’Devery, you will provide any and all assistance that is requested of you by the Royal Guard. Warleader Kel’Norlan is in command of this force, but he will leave the day to day operations of your command to you. Make all speed to catch up to the Farindian Pacification Force and aid Prince Stavin in bringing our new territory in line.”

  “For King Kalin,”

  “Lord General Zelkav Zel’Rantal”

  “General of the Armies of Evandia”

  The major read the message a second time, then said, “Very well. My cooks will have the evening meal ready in three spans.” He snapped back to attention, did an about-face, and marched away.

  “Seems a bit put out about the whole thing, doesn’t he?” Hardan asked.

  Darak grinned. “I can live with it so long as I don’t have to eat my own cooking again.”

  The next morning the force broke camp, and Darak and the Royal Guard led off. He set an easy pace, but it soon became evident that the Fifth Cavalry was used to a slower, more leisurely ride. Darak kept his peace until mid day, when Major Zel’Devery wanted to stop to prepare food.

  “Major, what are you talking about?” Darak asked when the major broached the subject.

  “We must stop and allow the cooks to prepare a meal,” the major replied.

  “We’re two days behind schedule already, Major Zel’Devery. You want to stop and prepare a hot meal in the middle of a campaign?
”

  “The men must eat.”

  Darak took a deep breath and his lips moved, but he made no sound. He finally fixed his eyes on the major and said, “Very well, we will stop. But tomorrow, you will instruct your cooks to fix enough bread and sausage for every man to have a roll and a link at mid day. We won’t stop to cook again.”

  “This is an outrage,” the major shouted. “You have no authority over me.”

  “Are you forgetting the king’s order?” Captain Zel’Tarlin asked.

  “I am in command of my men. I have commanded them for five years. This is how the Evandian Army works, and why it works.”

  “And why it took an eighteen-year-old boy to throw back the Andarian Army,” Darak snarled. “Do as you wish with your men, Major. The Royal Guard will not wait for you.”

  The cavalry stopped and dismounted, but Darak kept the Guards moving. It wasn’t long before a turn in the road hid the forces from one another. As soon as he could no longer see the cavalry, Darak increased his pace.

  “What are you doing?” Hardan asked.

  “Getting as far away from them as possible before we dismount to walk the horses again. And have some bread and cheese. Damn, I didn’t want to do that, but if I stayed near that idiot for another span I would have gutted him.”

  Hardan shook his head. “I hate to say it, but I agree with you. We have another five days of hard riding to catch the army. Think you can manage to not poison us between then and now?”

  “Would you rather cook?”

  Hardan sighed deeply. “I’d rather fast than eat my own cooking. Maybe we can buy something in one of the villages we’re passing through.”

  Chapter 21