“We should take the wagon and get on the road today, Var,” one of the more senior of the men said as he looked around. “We should get out of Trade Town’s territory as soon as we can.”
Varkal nodded. “We already have the wine, so let’s go.”
The warriors all saddled their horses while Farlit hitched the team, then they formed up with five in front and five behind the wagon and headed out. They traveled through the day unmolested, and Varkal relaxed as the sun set.
“We should keep going until we reach one of the camping spots. I don’t like the idea of having too much cover close to the camp.”
Chapter 16
CHARVIL AND THE OTHERS RETURNED TO Twin Bridges after twenty-three days. Stavin went out to Elain’s to meet them as soon as he was informed. “Welcome back to Twin Bridges, Sir,” Stavin said as he came to attention in Elain’s common room.
“It was a good trip, Stavin. Uneventful, pleasant weather, and profitable. How has your stay here been?”
Stavin gave his father-in-law and the rest a brief rundown of what had happened. Charvil had to sit down early on, and one of the others ordered beer long before Stavin was finished.
“So, you see, Sir, the king may be approaching you about hiring us as trainers. From what I’ve observed, they really need it. Honestly, what they need is about three years’ worth, but that won’t work.”
“How would you rate their sword work?” Charvil asked as he considered the idea of telling his daughter that he hadn’t brought back her husband.
“First year at best, Sir. The champion didn’t present me with any challenge with a staff. None of the privates I faced were a challenge with a sword. I think they just spar instead of fighting to win.”
Charvil swatted at Stavin. “I hardly presented you a challenge with a Dragon’s Tongue.”
“Enough that I had to get Shari to rub heating salve on my back as soon as I got home,” Stavin admitted with a grin. “The general seemed to like the idea as well.”
Charvil nodded and looked around. Each of his men seemed to be considering the notion carefully, and his brother was actually grinning. “I like the idea. It might not earn us as much gold, but it’ll let us sleep in beds instead of on the ground. It’ll also give us a chance to show off. If Stavin can beat them with a sword, any of us can.” There were some chuckles at Stavin’s expense, but he just grinned.
The next day Stavin was sent to Elain’s with the king’s formal request. “Charvil, the king wants to hire us, just like he said he might. He’s offering a gold crown a day, with food and lodgings in the Guards’ Barracks.”
“A full gold crown a day? Is that your idea?”
“No, Sir. I told the king that we usually only earn five silvers a day, but he thinks what we’re going to be doing is far more important than guarding a caravan: We’re teaching the Royal Guards how to protect his daughter. And him, of course, but he said he’s more worried about Princess Marina. She’s more worried about him. Lord Sarvan, the second in line to the throne, is worried about both of them because he really doesn’t want to be king.”
“You seem to be spending a lot of time with the royal family, Stavin,” Darak said with a chuckle.
“I get invited to a lot of parties, Sir. Some of the younger nobles have been including me in their social circle.”
Charvil frowned. “How is that working out?”
Stavin shrugged. “Pretty well, Sir. I’m accepted by the princess and her circle, including the majority of the Royal Guards. There is a faction of older lords that disapproves of me because I’m from a Warrior clan instead of a Chosen clan. They aren’t a real problem, though, because they support the king’s decisions just because he’s the king. Then there are the lords who oppose the king. He tolerates them, but I was present after a council session when the king kicked a chair so hard he broke one of the legs. They give me occasional problems, but Dahvin is usually nearby and he is the king’s nephew. Few of the young nobles are willing to challenge him because of his birth or me because of the king’s favor.” Stavin grinned up at Charvil. “That, plus the fact that I’ve beaten all but the best of the Royal Guards.”
Charvil nodded, then turned and bowed to Madam Elain. She had been listening discreetly at the side of the room. “Madam Elain, it appears we will not be in need of lodgings after all.”
“So I hear, Goodman Charvil. It will do the Royal Guards good to have some real challenges.” She shifted her attention to Stavin and bowed her head. “Friend Stavin, I understand that Corinne is going to be retained by your house. Do you know when you will be able to go to Valovad?”
Stavin shook his head. “I--Madam Elain, I don’t know, but I doubt it will be less than a moon before I’ll be able to find the time. By then we should have the Royal Guards sorted out enough for two or three of us to leave.”
Stavin led Charvil and the rest to the palace and guided them to the general’s office. General Zel’Kordil stood as the ten of them came into his office and snapped to attention. “I see you’ve accepted the king’s contract. Good. After the drubbing my men have been receiving at the hands of Lieutenant Kel’Aniston, they should be properly motivated to pay attention.”
Charvil glanced at Stavin, then asked the general, “Drubbing, Sir?”
“That’s what I’d call it.” The general smiled at Stavin as he continued. “He was dissatisfied with the performance of the guards he was assigned with while on duty and has been providing them with encouragement to stand at attention and not slouch about.”
Charvil looked down at his son-in-law and asked, “Stavin?” in a severe tone.
Stavin turned so he was facing Charvil and explained, “It was just short disciplinary drills, Sir. Practice swords in the circle. Three strikes and back to formation.”
“And how many strikes did you receive?”
“I got hit nine times, Sir.”
Charvil’s eyebrows drew together. “Out of how many bouts?”
Stavin blushed, and the general took the opportunity to answer in his place. “Forty-three.”
Someone snorted behind Charvil, but he was focused on Stavin. “Did you learn anything?”
“Yes, Sir. Full-sized practice swords are a lot harder to handle than that little blade of mine.”
Now it was the general’s turn to snort, and it turned into a full-throated laugh a moment later. “After the last few men went limping back to formation, everyone decided to stay at attention. He left several very good swordsmen with sore ribs.”
Charvil shifted his attention back to the general. “Lord General Zel’Kordil, if Stavin was that successful against your men then they are in need of all the skill we can impart to them.”
“That, Warmaster Kel’Horval, is what the king and I are counting on.”
Chapter 17
THE NEXT MORNING CHARVIL LED ALL of his men, including Stavin, out to the exercise field in full armor. All of the Royal Guards except Dragon Watch, which was on duty, were there as well, mostly watching from the sides. Ocellen Watch was formed up, in armor, with practice weapons in their hands as they faced them across the field.
“Ocellen Watch,” General Zel’Kordil said as he walked between the two groups, “your task is to stop these ten men from reaching Lord Sarvan. Your odds are five to one, which is probably better than you will ever face.” He walked to the side of the field and turned to watch as Charvil snapped, “Flying Geese.”
The valley warriors spread into a “V” formation behind Charvil as the Ocellen Watch moved into a ten wide by five deep rectangular formation, weapons at the ready. Charvil led his men forward at a trot until the last instant when he broke into a full run. The clash sounded like woodsmen at work, but it was bodies being felled instead of trees.
Stavin was armed with the shortened quarterstaff and hit the guards at full speed, driving swords from hands and smacking heads, arms, ribs, legs, and stomachs as he passed. As he’d told the guards, real combat was usually over in one or tw
o strikes. Five men fell as he darted among them and passed through to race to Sarvan’s side. All but one of the valley warriors soon joined him. Ander Kel’Coris was left standing in the middle of the field shaking his head. Thirty-two of the fifty-one men and women of Ocellen Watch were either down or standing with empty hands looking stunned as they gazed after the Warriors.
“What happened to you?” Stoval asked Ander.
Ander took his helmet off and shrugged. “Got a sword in the chest while I was busy with another one.”
Sarvan was shaking his head as well. “Five to one, and you only lost one man. General Zel’Kordil,” he said as the general walked up, “you and your men have your work cut out for you.” He smiled and slapped Stavin’s shoulder before walking away with his eleven guards in tow.
“Lord Sarvan is quite right,” the general said loudly so all of his men and women could hear him. “During the next moon or so, you will all be learning from these warriors. You’ve just seen a demonstration of why they are here. You will all,” and here he paused to look at the group of officers, “be working out with the Kel’Kavin warriors. Learn what they have to teach. Each of them has earned a star in combat. Some, like Warmaster Kel’Horval, have earned several. Warmaster, the field is yours.” The general walked over to his officers, then turned to join them. He’d sparred with Stavin in private and was severely disappointed by his own performance.
Charvil split the Ocellen Watch into teams of six, including the officers from the sidelines as well, and put one of his men with each group. Stavin found himself facing a group of men that included two he’d faced before. He asked, “Are there any questions before we begin?”
“Yes, Sir. Can we keep our armor on?” one of his former opponents asked.
Stavin nodded deeply. “For now. I’ll tell you what I observed on our run though. You men fight as individuals, not as a team. Individual combat is fine if you are alone, facing an individual. Only once did one of your companions move to engage an opponent while he was engaged with someone else. In that one instance, Warleader Fourth Kel’Coris was killed. He has fifty-nine combat kills, if any of you are curious.” He let them digest that for a moment. “Now, what we need to work on--”
All across the yard the valley warriors began teaching the Royal Guards. They were rough lessons. The Code of the Warrior is brutal, but it is that brutality that makes it so effective. Chivalry is for sparring on the tournament ground. Real combat requires a different set of rules.
All but three days of a moon had passed before Stavin brought up the idea of going to Valovad. “Charvil,” he said as the relaxed after their day of instruction, “do you think it would be possible for you and me to break off and go to Valovad?”
Charvil nodded. “I believe so. The guards are coming along nicely. Sergeant Zel’Karyn actually managed two touches against me before I got my third.” He chuckled and shook his head. “He seemed surprised by it.”
“He shouldn’t. He was our watch sword champion. Will you come with me to speak to the general?”
Charvil nodded and stood, then strode to the door with Stavin following closely behind him. They were admitted to the general’s office as soon as they arrived.
“Yes, Charvil, what can I do for you?”
“Sir, we request permission to go to Valovad and see to Stavin’s Trading House,” Charvil said from where he stood at attention.
The general simply nodded. “Very well. Are all of you going?”
“No, Sir. Only Stavin and I will go. The rest will stay here and continue with your men and women. I am satisfied with their progress up to this point and don’t think our absence will adversely affect them.”
The general nodded again and looked at Stavin. “Take your leave of the princess and His Majesty before you go, Lieutenant. How long do you anticipate being gone?”
Stavin thought for a moment. “Four days there and four back, plus two or three to make arrangements in Valovad. Ten or eleven days, Sir.”
“Very well,” the general said, then grinned at Charvil. “With you two gone, some of us will have time to let our bruises heal.”
Charvil led Stavin back to the barracks. “Go take your leave of the princess and king. I think we’ll leave in the morning.”
“Yes, Sir.” Stavin immediately went to the princess’ suite and came to attention facing the guards. “Lieutenant Kel’Aniston craves a moment of Her Highness’ time.”
The lieutenant turned and knocked on the door. When it opened, he repeated Stavin’s request. The door closed again for a moment, then it opened and the princess’ chamberlain said, “Her Highness would be pleased to receive Lieutenant Kel’Aniston in her library.”
Stavin followed the man to the princess’ library, a room he openly lusted after, and found her in conference with three elderly ladies. He stopped three paces away and went to one knee, bowing his head formally and waiting to be acknowledged.
“Yes, Friend Stavin. Did you need something?” the princess asked.
Stavin looked up and spoke directly to the princess. “Yes, Your Highness. I beg your leave to go to Valovad and see to the needs of my Trading House.”
“Very well, Friend Stavin,” she replied absently. “Return when your business is completed.”
There was something different in the princess’ voice, a coolness that had been missing in even the most formal of their previous meetings. He stood and bowed deeply, taking the opportunity to study the faces of the other women. Each of them wore an almost identical expression of disapproval. He backed away until he reached the doorway, then turned and walked out of the suite.
Once he was out of the princess’ suite he walked slowly toward the king’s chambers. Marina had looked miserable, and he had the feeling that he was in some way the cause of that misery. At the king’s chamber he was made to wait for several moments, then escorted to the king’s side. He again knelt and made his request, and the king nodded.
The king said, “That is probably a good idea, Friend Stavin. Take your time.” Then he turned away and ignored Stavin completely.
Stavin stood and bowed deeply even though the king wasn’t watching, then accepted the escort back to the door. There was something going on, and he knew who to ask: Dahvin.
“I have no idea, Stavin,” Dahvin said as they prepared for bed that night. “Marina hasn’t said a word to me about it, but the last few times I’ve gone to her chambers she’s had one or another of the old Royal Matrons present. I can hardly even talk to her, and certainly not in private.”
Stavin shook his head. “I know I don’t have to say this, but keep an eye on her. Something is making her miserable, and I’m afraid it has something to do with me.”
“A bit self-centered, aren’t you?”
Stavin shook his head slowly. “It’s just a guess, but the way those old women were glaring at me made me feel like a child who’d been caught peeking up someone’s skirts. The last thing Marina needs is someone making her miserable about befriending me.”
Chapter 18
STAVIN AND CHARVIL MADE AN EARLY start the next morning, riding out of Twin Bridges across the West Bridge, then turning south along the mighty Zel’Horgan River. They pushed their horses a little and rode late, but they stayed at inns for all except the third night. That night they camped, eating jerked meat and journey bread. Arandar was almost down when they arrived in Valovad the fourth day.
Stavin led the way to the Traders’ Guild and approached one of the guards. He’d put on his Master Trader’s vest, and the man immediately bowed as he walked up. “I am Master Trader Stavin of the Kel’Aniston Trading House. I was wondering if I could get a guide to the houses of the former Traders Bel’Valat, Fel’Lovar, and Bel’Orlav.”
The guard looked at him curiously, then bowed again. “Yes, Master Stavin, but you only need to go to House Fel’Lovar. Master Trader Corinne is in residence there.”
“Very well. Can you get me a guide?”
The guard almost
smiled, but not quite. “You don’t need one, Master Stavin. It’s right there.” He pointed across the road and up a little. “Number three-thirteen.”
Stavin shared a look with Charvil, then they led their horses across the road. At the door marked three hundred thirteen he knocked three times and stepped back. An elderly woman opened the door a crack and peeked out.
“May I be of service, Lords?” she asked in a timid tone as she looked at the ground.
“I am seeking Master Trader Corinne Fel’Carvin,” Stavin replied.
“If you’ll allow me your name, lord, I’ll tell her you are here.” She still hadn’t looked up at their faces.
Stavin smiled. “I am Master Trader Stavin Kel’Aniston.”
The woman looked up and seemed frightened for an instant, then she opened the door all the way. She bowed deeply and said, “Your forgiveness, Master Stavin. Please come in.”
“Who is it, Canis?” a woman’s voice asked from another room, and the old woman closed the door then rushed to the other doorway and bowed without going through.
“Madam Corinne, Master Stavin Kel’Aniston is here.”
The woman who came into the room was twenty-two at most. Tall and handsome, she was also wide and squarely built. She had her grandmother’s blue eyes and golden blonde hair, but it was tied back in a severe knot. She was wearing a sleeveless blue tunic, and her arms were as massively muscled as Charvil’s.
She smiled, then said, “You’re exactly as Nanny described,” as she came forward and bowed. “Master Stavin, welcome to your house. One of them, at least. What can I do for you?”
“You can stop calling me Master Stavin. Stavin is just fine. Are there enough rooms for us to stay here?”
Corinne looked at him, then Charvil. “Just the two of you? Of course. Do you have horses?” At Stavin’s nod she turned to the old woman. “Canis, have Feld gather the horses and take them around to the stables.” The old woman bowed and vanished though the doorway into the back of the house. Turning back to Stavin, Corinne said, “I only kept a few servants. The eldest couple, in this case. Each of the houses has two caretakers to see to things until you decide what you want to do with them.”
The Andarian Affair Page 12
