“Stavin, how certain are you they were really our troops?” Lord Sarvan asked.
“The sergeant said, ‘Friend of Evandia, are you? You’ll have a hard time explaining this attack to His Majesty.’ All of their horses had Evandian Army brands as well.”
Lord Sarvan looked at Lord Dahvin and Lady Ehrwan. “We have to get this information to the king and council immediately.”
Lord Dahvin looked over his shoulder and snapped, “Form up!” All of the guardsmen immediately gathered in a tight formation around the four of them, and Lord Sarvan guided them toward the palace.
A dozen turns through the palace corridors delivered them to the council chamber, and the guards didn’t hesitate to open the door when Lord Sarvan said, “I must see my uncle the king immediately.”
Most of the guardsmen stopped outside the door, but Lord Zel’Fordal kept a hand on Stavin’s shoulder to keep him moving. The four walked into the council session, and the room fell silent.
“King Kalin,” Lord Sarvan began in a strong tone, “we have information that you must hear immediately.”
The king nodded as his eyebrows drew down in puzzlement. He was openly surprised when Dahvin guided Stavin to his side. “Friend Stavin, welcome back to Twin Bridges.”
Stavin bowed deeply as he said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“What news do you have for us?”
Stavin took a deep breath and knelt, going all the way down to both knees and bowing his head deeply as he clasped his hands in front of him. “King Kalin, I have something shameful I must tell you.”
The king looked at Stavin, then at Dahvin and the others. Shifting his attention back to Stavin, he commanded, “Say what you have to say,” in an uncompromising tone.
Stavin told the king and council the same story he had told the young nobles. By the time he was finished, hardly anyone in the room was breathing.
The king asked, “Why didn’t you tell me of this last year, Stavin?”
“I was ashamed, Your Majesty. We had killed Evandian Army troops. They were bandits, but they were also troops.”
The king was quiet for a moment, then he took a deep breath and shook his head. “Traitors, Stavin. Those men were traitors, not troops.” He looked around the room. “Does anyone else see what I am beginning to see?”
“I see a man who has admitted to killing our troops, Your Majesty,” the Minister of the Interior snapped. “He should be arrested and executed immediately.”
“Weren’t you listening?” another minister asked in an angry tone. “They were engaged in banditry against our own citizens.”
The room was soon filled with shouted comments and insults, but the king silenced them all by slamming his open hand down on the table. “That’s enough!” he shouted, glaring around the room. “I have no reason not to believe Friend Stavin’s story, and take it at face value. It explains a lot.” He sat heavily in his chair and rubbed his temples. “It explains so very much.”
Princess Marina stood and walked around her father to stand in front of Stavin. “Stavin, what else can you tell us about the bandits you encountered?”
Stavin looked up at her, then quickly down again and answered. “They were all older men, in their thirties at least.” There was a rustle of in-drawn breaths and muttered imprecations as the councilors reacted to Stavin’s statement. “I only recognized the sergeant, and he must have been nearly forty.”
Princess Marina looked at King Kalin, and her eyes narrowed. “Someone is using our own malcontents against us.”
“Agreed,” the king said. “Sarvan, Dahvin, take Stavin out, but don’t go far. We may need him again soon.”
Stavin stood and bowed deeply to the king, then let the young nobles lead him away. Sarvan led them to his suite. “Stavin,” he said once there were only four of them, “I would like you to drop my title when we are alone, just as Dahvin requested.”
“And I would appreciate it as well,” Lady Ehrwan said.
Stavin looked around, then bowed deeply. “If that is your wish, I shall honor it.”
“It is. Dahvin, are you all right?” Sarvan asked as he shifted his attention away from Stavin. Davin had a terribly hurt expression on his face, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just learned. He was sitting forward, staring at the floor. At Sarvan’s question he looked up and shook his head.
“It’s just--Sarvan, I’ve comforted myself with the idea that it was Andarian agents who murdered my father. To think it might have actually been our own troops who did it--it’s just too much right now.”
Ehrwan was at the side of the room and said, “Stavin, lend a hand, please.” Stavin went to her side immediately. She handed him two short glasses of dark amber liquid. “Give Dahvin one of these.”
Stavin walked over and slid one of the glasses into Dahvin’s hand. He was about to give the other to Sarvan when Ehrwan gave him one she had carried. “Have you ever had Draiger’s Tears, Stavin?” she asked.
“No, Ehrwan. It smells like Tiger Sweat.”
“Very close,” Sarvan said as he sipped his drink. “Sip cautiously, and don’t inhale.”
Stavin did as he was instructed, and it was all he could do to swallow the burning liquid. “Wow.”
Dahvin sipped his drink as well and sighed. “Wow indeed. Stavin, you should probably know that my father was quite impressed with you, both for your actions at Zel’Marran as well as your actions here.” He finally looked up at Stavin and the expression on his face was bleak. “He was of the opinion that we could learn a lot from your people.”
Stavin nodded. “My father-in-law is here in the palace. General Zel’Kordil wanted to talk to him and get his opinion about our troops.”
“What is your father-in-law’s rank?” Ehrwan asked.
“Warmaster. He is one kill behind Warmaster Kel’Carin right now. That’s one reason he’s here: to get ahead again if he can.”
“You make it sound like they’re in competition,” Sarvan said as he looked at Stavin with his head tilted to the side.
Stavin took another sip of his drink and wound up closing one eye and shaking his head vigorously in a manner that made the others laugh. “They are, in a manner of speaking. It started on their first expedition. They are cousins, and only a few moons apart in age. They started competing to see who would reach the highest rank, and have continued the competition since Barvil earned his fourth star.”
“Why is it so important?” Dahvin asked.
Stavin began a dissertation on the meanings of their ranks and the importance of each, and Dahvin was actively participating in the discussion in just a few moments. Sarvan and Ehrwan shared a smile as Dahvin became more involved, and Stavin realized that they had maneuvered him into drawing Dahvin out of his destructive mood. He gave no indication that he’d realized what they had done, but he did make every effort to draw Dahvin out further.
“So, you’re a Warleader Fifth,” Dahvin said as he swirled his drink slowly. “Does that make you the second in command of your group?”
Stavin laughed, then sipped is drink. His whole body shivered as the liquid burned its way down to his stomach. “No, Dahvin. No, I’m still the lowest ranking member of the team. Charvil brought all veterans along. Even though I technically outrank three of them, they have made all five of their expeditions while this is only my third.”
“Isn’t that unusual?” Ehrwan asked.
Stavin sighed and nodded. “Very, but there is a lot more to this year’s journey than usual as well. We are going to Valovad to inspect my holdings there, and to make arrangements for their management. I’m probably going to ask Corinne Fel’Carvin to continue to manage everything.”
“Isn’t she--?” Dahvin asked, leaning forward.
“She’s Madam Elain’s granddaughter,” Stavin confirmed. “She’s actually Elain the Seventeenth, but she goes by Corinne to avoid confusion. Marina arranged for her to take over, and King Kalin spoke to Madam Elain about it.” He paused and looke
d at his host. “Isn’t it strange that the king would appoint a known criminal as my caretaker?”
Dahvin snorted as he tried not to laugh. Ehrwan didn’t. She laughed uproariously and leaned on Sarvan. “Oh, Stavin, calling Elain a criminal is like calling the Zel’Horgan a creek,” she howled.
“The Fel’Carvin family has been involved in organized crime for centuries,” Sarvan agreed.
Stavin nodded. “Marina told me about her and what the king does and officially doesn’t know, and why Elain and those like her are allowed to continue their operations.”
Sarvan smiled and shook his head slowly. “So you know why the king chose her, don’t you? Putting Madam Elain’s granddaughter in charge means that no one is going to try to steal from you. Uncle Kal taking to the elder Elain made sure she wouldn’t steal from you, either.”
Stavin looked at Sarvan sideways. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard anyone refer to the king as anything but ‘His Majesty’ or ‘the king.’ It’s surprising.”
“He’s been my uncle longer than he’s been the king, Stavin. My father was his little brother, but I was born a moon before Marina. Dad didn’t have to wait for granddad’s permission to marry. He wasn’t the heir.”
Dahvin said, “Aunt Carissa was younger than your mom, Sarvan. The way I heard it, my grandfather was the one who held them up. If it hadn’t been for dad--” Dahvin stopped speaking abruptly, then shook his head. “If dad and Prince Kalin hadn’t been friends for so long she probably wouldn’t have married him. As it was, she fell in love with him when she was only thirteen. Granddad made them wait until she was sixteen to get married. And then she did her two years with the Army while Prince Kalin continued to serve. She had to be eligible to hold land and dispense high and low justice in order to be queen.” He paused and thought for a moment. “She was assigned to the Fort Zel’Terdal Supply Depot.”
Ehrwan saw the look of intense concentration on Stavin’s face and chuckled. “We’re all related to some degree, Stavin. The Royal Genealogists have to keep careful records of who marries who so we don’t intermarry too closely.”
“Yes, Ehrwan, it’s like that for us as well. It’s part of the Master Scribe’s duty to track bloodlines in Kavinston. That’s why I find this so fascinating.”
“It can be frustrating as well,” Ehrwan continued with a sigh. “Especially if you fall in love with someone and it turns out that you’re too closely related. I did.” She smiled sadly and leaned her head on Sarvan’s shoulder. “Fortunately for both of us, it just turned out to be a puppy-crush. A moon later we’d both moved on.”
Stavin nodded and said, “We receive a list of girls we can court when we turn fourteen. We usually know who is going to be on it long before then, though. With less than five thousand people in the valley, it’s not that hard to keep track.” He chuckled and grinned. “Shari wasn’t on my list because she’s older. Given our example, the Edlers have had older single or widowed girls added to the boys’ lists.”
“Speaking of people in your valley,” Ehrwan said as she leaned forward and grinned, “last year you said your wife was expecting your first baby. Boy or girl?”
Stavin laughed. “Boy. We named him Karlin.” Stavin went on, falling naturally into the new father talking about his son mode, and kept the young nobles entertained for several spans. A knock at the door interrupted him, and they stopped talking as a servant opened the door.
One of the guardsmen outside said, “His Majesty has summoned Lieutenant Kel’Aniston.”
Stavin immediately stood and said, “Very well,” then turned and bowed to the young nobles. “I hope to see you all again before we leave.”
“I don’t think you’re leaving as soon as you think you are, Stavin,” Sarvan said. “The King’s Council is going to want more information from you concerning those traitors last year. Now go. He’s more tolerant than some, but it never pays to keep the king waiting.”
Stavin bowed again, then followed the guards back to the council chamber. He was passed through immediately, but found just three people waiting for him: the king, General Zel’Kordil, and Charvil.
The king smiled and motioned toward a chair. “Please have a seat, Stavin. I was just discussing you with your father-in-law.” He stopped talking as Stavin took the indicated seat.
“Stavin,” Charvil began, “His Majesty wants to keep you here in Twin Bridges for a while. I have agreed to allow you to stay here while the rest of us take a contract. There’s no sense in all of us staying. The king’s Minister of Trade has arranged for us to guard a caravan to Barren’s Bridge and back. We’ll be gone for about twenty days.”
Stavin was quiet for a moment, then bowed his head. “Yes, Sir. I think I can stay out of trouble that long.”
The king and general joined Charvil as he laughed at Stavin’s comment. “I hope so,” Charvil agreed.
“Lieutenant, you’ll have a room in the Guard’s Barracks,” General Zel’Kordil explained. “As a matter of fact, you’ll be sharing a room with Lieutenant Zel’Fordal.”
“Stavin,” the king interrupted, “Dahvin is still a bit shaky about his father’s death, and your revelations about our traitors--” The king shrugged. “He needs a friend close at hand.” He paused and raised a hand when Stavin seemed about to interrupt. “I know, he has Sarvan and the others, but he’s a warrior at heart. He was raised in Dahral’s commands, among soldiers, not in the court. I think he needs someone with a soldier’s background to talk to. There are few members of the Royal Guard that meet that requirement. You are one of them.”
Stavin took a deep breath, then bowed in his seat. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You will be joining his watch section as well, Lieutenant,” the general said when the king looked at him. “It’s Snow Cat, not Dragon, but you’ll fit in.”
“Stavin,” Charvil finally said, making Stavin whip his head around, “the general and I identified several weaknesses in the Royal Guards’ training, starting with no experience defending against staff weapons. While you are here you will work on that. Given your specialty, if they can defend against you, they should be able to defend against just about anyone.”
“Yes, Sir,” Stavin answered.
“Very well,” the king said, standing. Everyone else stood as well. “Warmaster, it was a pleasure to meet you.” He turned away and left the room as Charvil bowed.
“Lieutenant, escort your father-in-law back to his inn and retrieve your gear.” Then the general smirked. “I’m going to go inform Dahvin that he’s getting a roommate.”
Chapter 7
STAVIN LED CHARVIL OUT OF THE palace, stopping by the general’s office to retrieve Charvil’s sword and knives before going to the stables. Charvil sighed and shook his head as they walked. “Stavin, I am really not happy about this, but I couldn’t think of a way to politely tell the king no. You are, after all, a lieutenant in his Royal Guard. Just, for the love of the Gods, don’t kill anyone unless it’s in the line of duty.”
Stavin chuckled. “I won’t, Sir. And Dahvin is one of Lord Sarvan’s guards, so we’re not likely to be in the path of another assassination attempt, either.”
Charvil shook his head as they retrieved their horses. “Someone is fomenting trouble in Evandia, Stavin. You put yourself in the way last year, and it has continued this year.”
Stavin and Charvil rode back to Elain’s, and Stavin picked up his belongings before riding back to the palace. He was met in the stables by a man in a captain’s uniform.
“Lieutenant Kel’Aniston? I am Captain Warvin Zel’Astel, commander of Snow Cat Watch. I’ve been informed that you’ll be joining us.”
Stavin dismounted and came to attention, then bowed. “Yes, Sir.”
The captain nodded sharply. “Turn your horse over to the grooms and bring your gear. I’ll take you to your room to await Lieutenant Zel’Fordal.”
Stavin grabbed his saddlebags and weapons, then followed the captain. The captain glanced back at hi
m and asked, “Is that all you have?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“You can’t have much in the way of clothing in there.”
Stavin was surprised by the comment and answered, “No, Sir. We don’t wear anything but armor on the expedition.”
“Huh,” the captain grunted, then shook his head. “Maybe Dahvin can arrange the loan of some suitable clothing for your off-duty hours.”
“Sir?”
“Our watch rotation only puts us guarding the royal family one of every three days,” the captain explained in a patient tone. “You can’t wear your armor all the time.”
Stavin considered that idea for a moment, then shrugged. “Yes, Sir, but why would Lieutenant Zel’Fordal need to arrange for clothes to be lent to me?”
The captain scowled as he stopped and turned toward Stavin. “You expect him to buy you clothing?” he demanded.
“No, Sir, of course not,” Stavin answered in a shocked tone.
“Then where would you expect such clothing to come from?”
Stavin paused and took a deep breath. “Sir, I’ve read of people called tailors who make and sell clothing. There’s also the castoff lane, but--” Stavin shrugged as well as he could in armor.
The captain glared at him and said, “Tailors are expensive. You don’t get paid that much, Lieutenant.”
Stavin suddenly caught the direction of the captain’s comments and couldn’t help but laugh. “Sir, I have over twenty thousand crowns in my account with the Gold Merchants, and there are the holdings of the Kel’Aniston Trading House as well. No one has to buy me anything: I can buy it myself, I just don’t know who to go to.”
“How did you come by that much gold, Lieutenant?” the captain asked, his tone still conveying suspicion.
Stavin gave him a brief explanation about his first and second expeditions. “The Trading House is the only thing I’m not sure of. The king’s letter about the holdings he had transferred to me didn’t elaborate very much. He just said the assets of those three Trading Houses had been transferred to my Trading House.”
The Andarian Affair Page 6
