“What a horrid waste that would have been,” one of them said in a soft voice.
Stavin shrugged. “It’s an honorable profession, even if it’s not the most glamorous.”
Jarel met him as he came into his room, standing to bow before motioning to the bed. “I took the liberty of laying out a change of clothing, Ward Stavin.”
Stavin said, “Thank you,” as he headed toward the bed. “Were you able to arrange an appointment with a tailor?”
“Yes, Ward Stavin,” Jarel said with a hint of humor in his voice. “As a matter of fact, several tailors are now vying with one another to serve you.”
“Why?”
Jarel smiled and bowed slightly. “Because you, Ward Stavin, are now a member of the Royal Household. The gold aside, which will be substantial, there is a great deal of prestige involved in being tailor to a member of the royalty.”
Stavin shook his head. “I’m not royalty.”
Jarel gave him a patient look. “Yes, Ward Stavin, you are. If not for your bloodline, you would now be closer to the throne than your friend Lord Zel’Fordal.”
Stavin shook his head again, but this time it was in wonder. “That’s just too much. Thank the Gods Above that I’m not of a Chosen clan.”
“That’s an odd thing to say, Stavin,” the king said as he peeked into the room.
Stavin turned and automatically went to one knee. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. Jarel was just explaining what being made a Ward of the Crown would have meant if I had been born to a Chosen clan. The idea that I could be in line for the throne is frightening.”
The king chuckled. “Sarvan felt much the same when he was made Marina’s heir. Of course, he was only nine at the time. Now get dressed and come along. The evening meal is waiting.”
Stavin immediately began stripping out of his previous outfit and squirming into the change Jarel had laid out for him. In a matter of moments, he was dressed and Jarel was handing him a hair brush. After six quick swipes at his hair he walked over and bowed to the king. “I’m ready, Your Majesty.”
King Kalin chuckled as he turned away. “That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen anyone change clothes, Stavin. Most young men take almost as long as the ladies.”
Stavin had to laugh. “Most of the young lords are dressing to impress the young ladies, Your Majesty. I’m married. The only woman I have to impress couldn’t care less about what I wear so long as it’s clean.”
“Oh, no, Stavin. You have to dress to impress anyway,” the king said as they walked. “One-upmanship is the name of the game in the palace. As a Ward of the Crown, you’ll be expected to play right along with Sarvan, Dahvin, and the rest.”
Stavin sighed and didn’t rein in his tongue. “Peacocks. Peacocks in a flock of peacocks, all trying to have the most impressive tail.”
The king snorted, covering his mouth and stopping to lean against the wall as he laughed for a moment. “Too true, Stavin. Too true.” They continued to the dining hall, and Stavin went to his place at Marina’s side.
The princess smiled as he joined her. “How was your day, Stavin?”
“Very nice, Your Highness. I spent it in the Archive, and it was almost like being home.”
She smiled and nodded. “Master Fel’Larin was most interested in finding out about those glyphs. The idea that you men of Kel’Kavin have an older form of the glyphs than we do was quite upsetting to him. Our Archive supposedly contains the earliest surviving records from ancient Lux. He was quite insulted when I told him about that earlier scroll.”
Stavin smiled and had to shrug. “Kel’Kavin is an ancient fortress, but the scrap of parchment that had those glyphs on it was from the original settlement, before the fortress was built. Workmen and the first guards lived there for years while the fortress was being built, and much of the settlement was maintained for servants and lesser houses until the fall of the empire. Master Kel’Zorgan thinks what we have was part of a children’s teaching scroll.”
“Well you can expect to be teaching those glyphs to scribes from every kingdom soon. Now that the existence of that book is confirmed, scribes from all over are going to want to know everything you and your Master Scribe know.” She looked up and smiled. “Hush, now. Sarvan is going to make his request.”
Stavin gave her a puzzled look, then looked toward the center of the room and saw Sarvan walk to one of the side tables and go to one knee. His voice carried clearly across the suddenly silent chamber.
“Lord Chaldin Zel’Fordan, a year ago this day I faced you in this chamber and requested your lady daughter, Ehrwan, to be my wife. We have spent the year of our betrothal as custom demands, getting to know one another thoroughly to ensure we will stay together. I ask now for permission to take Ehrwan as my wife in fact.”
Lord Zel’Fordan stood and faced Sarvan. “Sarvan Zel’Andral, you have indeed spent the required year betrothed to Ehrwan. You have seen her at her best,” he chuckled a little, “and you have survived her at her worst. Your love has survived the tests of time and come out whole.” He looked up and gazed around the room. “Is there anyone who calls these claims false?”
“I do,” a young woman said as she stood. There was the sound of gasps and muffled curses from throughout the court. The question was a formality that no one ever took up. It simply wasn’t done.
Lord Zel’Fordan looked at the girl and his eyes narrowed. “Speak.”
“Lady Ehrwan has played Lord Sarvan false. She seeks his fortune and title, and the power of the crown.” Her voice colored with contempt as she glared at Ehrwan across the room. “She doesn’t love him. It’s a sham to join their houses together, as you well know, Lord Zel’Fordan.”
“Sashan!” Ehrwan snapped. “You spiteful little--”
“You know it’s true, Ehrwan!” the young woman shouted back. “His heart will never be yours.”
“My heart is hers, Sashan,” Sarvan said as he stood and looked at her. “What was between us is long in the past, dead, and best left buried.”
“Liar!” Sashan screamed. “You love me! You said you’d always love me!”
“That was fifteen years ago, Sashan,” Sarvan said in a soft voice that was laden with sorrow. “We were just children.”
A man stood at Sashan’s side and said, “King Kalin, I claim insult against your nephew. What he has done to my daughter is unforgivable.”
“I have done nothing to your daughter, Lord Zel’Faril. We were children with a crush, nothing more. For fifteen years we have gone our separate ways, friends,” he looked at Sashan, “I thought.”
“Your status in the royal family protects you, Sarvan Zel’Andral,” Lord Zel’Faril snarled, “but it does not protect Ehrwan Zel’Fordan. I call Ehrwan Zel’Fordan a deceiving harlot.”
There were gasps of shock as Lord Zel’Fordan snarled across the room, “I challenge you, Boldar Zel’Faril.”
“Tomorrow at dawn,” Lord Zel’Faril replied with a grin. “Battle axes in the circle.”
There was a new wave of outrage as the nobles reacted to that announcement. Boldar Zel’Faril was a large, robust man, but Chaldin Zel’Fordan was not. He was older by many years, slightly built and frail.
“Will someone be my champion?” Ehrwan asked the room at large, and Stavin immediately snapped to his feet.
“I champion Lady Ehrwan,” he said in a loud voice that silenced the room.
The king shouted, “Stavin, no!” but Lord Zel’Faril was already shouting, “I accept.”
“Stavin, I forbid this!” King Kalin snapped. “You are a Ward of the Crown. You cannot be challenged.”
“He cannot be challenged, King Kalin, but he has volunteered to champion another.” Lord Zel’Faril was all but smirking at the king. “No challenge was issued to him, so no protections apply.”
“Ward Stavin, I cannot let you do this,” Lord Zel’Fordan said as he looked up at the table. “The king is correct: you are a Ward of the Crown. I will face Boldar tomorrow.”
&
nbsp; “With all due respect, Lord Zel’Fordan,” Stavin said with a deep bow, “I disagree. Lady Ehrwan has been my friend, my protector, and my staunchest ally. In addition, I quite literally owe her my life.” Stavin smiled at Lord Zel’Faril. “Battle axes it is, Lord Zel’Faril. Make your funeral arrangements tonight.”
“Hah! You think you can handle an ax, boy?”
Stavin smiled serenely but said nothing.
Chapter 25
THE YELLING STARTED AS SOON AS Stavin walked into the royal suite. “Stavin, what the hells was that?” the king demanded.
Stavin turned and looked the king straight in the eye as he replied. “Your Majesty, I am doing what honor demands. I owe Lady Ehrwan my life--and Lord Zel’Faril owes me his.”
“What do you mean, Stavin?” Princess Marina asked, walking over to grasp his arm as she looked down into his eyes.
“I told you about the men in Kavadia who tried to kill me. The leader used a battle ax, and we thought they had no identification on them, but we were wrong. The ax had a decoration on it. I tried to find it in our records, but it wasn’t there.” Stavin looked the king in the eye again. “It was a six-pointed star made up of a golden triangle pointed up intertwined with a silver triangle pointed down.” The princess gasped as the king cursed. “You recognize it, don’t you, Your Majesty? I saw the same decoration on Lord Zel’Faril’s shoulder.”
“It’s the symbol of House Zel’Faril,” the king replied. “They have only existed as a separate house for about eighty years.”
Stavin bowed slightly. “King Kalin, I believe Lord Zel’Faril is a traitor to Evandia, and that he tried to have me killed last year.”
The king nodded as his jaws clenched. “Quite likely, Stavin. But, damn it boy, you’re too small to handle a battle ax.”
Stavin grinned, but it was not a pleasant expression. “Not all battle axes are created equal, Your Majesty.”
* * *
Stavin walked out into the palace courtyard once again, but this time Ehrwan Zel’Fordan was his second. Lord Zel’Faril was waiting in the circle with a large battle ax in his hands. He smiled when he saw Stavin coming, but his smile soon faded. Ehrwan was carrying a battle ax, but it wasn’t a big, heavy weapon like Lord Zel’Faril was holding. It was a light, double-bladed ax that looked like a pair of crescent moons attached to a short staff.
“What is that?” Lord Zel’Faril asked as Stavin stopped at the edge of the circle.
“It is a Farindian Royal Guards battle ax, Lord Zel’Faril.”
“It looks like a child’s toy! I meant an ax like this!” He shook the big ax in his hands at Stavin.
Stavin smiled. “Precision is required when issuing a challenge, Lord Zel’Faril. You said battle axes. This is a battle ax.”
“You’ll die anyway, interloper,” Lord Zel’Faril snarled. “Call it!”
Stavin received the ax from Ehrwan and stepped into the circle, then formally bowed to Lord Zel’Faril. “I am ready” was all he needed to say.
Ehrwan looked across the circle to Lord Zel’Faril’s second and said, “You can still save your father’s life, Sashan.”
Sashan screamed “Begin!” and her father struck.
Stavin moved closer to the old lord and sliced his leg open with the razor-sharp blade of Stoval’s ax. “First blood is drawn!” he shouted.
“I won’t be satisfied with blood, you fool!” Lord Zel’Faril shouted. “To the death!” He swung his ax at Stavin again, but it was impossible to move the massive weapon fast enough to keep up with Stavin’s darting form.
Stavin ducked under the big ax and sliced the lord’s arm. “You were the one who sent those men after me last year, weren’t you?” he asked. “The leader carried an ax with your house device on it. Was he family?” Stavin laughed as the older man twisted to try and kill him again. “Did you really think no one would figure out that you sent your men to kill me?”
“You’ll die with that knowledge, boy,” Lord Zel’Faril answered.
“Didn’t you wonder what became of them?” he asked as he dodged another swing. “We killed them all and took their weapons and horses.”
Lord Zel’Faril was showing the strain of trying to keep up with Stavin. “You can’t keep dodging, boy,” the old lord panted. “You’ll wear out soon.”
Stavin laughed. “Wear out? Lord Zel’Faril, I’m used to doing this in full armor. But thank you for confirming your treason against the king. Lord Zel’Sartan is listening, as are the king and princess. Win or lose, your whole family is going to be condemned.”
Lord Zel’Faril let loose a bellow of rage and rushed at Stavin. It was the last thing he ever did. Stavin ducked into the wild swing and cut the old lord’s belly open, then came up behind him. The ax in his hand flew in a backhanded arc that beheaded the older man with little effort.
Sashan screamed as her father’s body fell, and rushed at Stavin’s back with a knife in her hand. She never made it. Ehrwan, as Stavin’s second, had worn the ceremonial sword of her office as the Keeper of Mary Death’s Memorial. The sword slid from its sheath and into Sashan’s chest in one smooth motion. Sashan froze as blood filled her lungs, then she collapsed to her knees and spit a mouthful of blood on Ehrwan’s dress. “Harlot,” was the last thing she said as she collapsed across her father’s body.
A roar of outrage was building and people rushed toward Stavin, but this time it was the fifty-one men and women of Draiger Watch. No mob was going to get near him again.
Ehrwan was looking at the blood on her sword, and her hand began to shake. She vomited and fell to her knees as the sword fell to the ground, and Stavin was at her side in an instant. He held her hair and rubbed her back as she cried and vomited again and again until there was nothing left to come up. When she felt she could stand again, he helped her to her feet and guided her toward the palace door where Sarvan and her family were waiting.
Stavin let Sarvan take Ehrwan away as he joined Charvil and Stoval. He bowed slightly, then handed Stoval back his ax. “One day they’ll learn,” was the only comment he made as he handed over the ax.
“One day you’ll learn, Stavin,” Stoval replied. “That was the sloppiest ax work I’ve ever seen.”
Stavin shrugged. “Hopefully it’s the last time I’ll ever have to use an ax.”
“That isn’t going to save you, Stavin,” Charvil said and Stavin grimaced as he looked up at him. “Since you’re determined to meet every challenge issued to anyone, you get to learn ax work this winter.” There was a ripple of laughter as the guards around them saw Stavin’s reaction.
Stavin shook his head slowly as he was escorted through the palace. “It’s going to be a long winter.”
* * *
The king’s council met as soon as everyone calmed down. Lord Zel’Lamal could barely contain himself and stood as soon as the meeting was called to order. “King Kalin, how long will this continue? That boy has killed eighteen men since he arrived in Twin Bridges.”
The king was silently contemplating the council and put his hands flat on the table. “He has indeed. Lord Zel’Sartan, do you have anything to say?”
Lord Zel’Sartan stood and bowed. “I do, Your Majesty. As you ordered, I listened in on the conversation between Ward Stavin and Boldar Zel’Faril. Lord Zel’Faril confirmed his treason to Ward Stavin.” There was an inrush of breath as the council reacted.
“Impossible!”
“That’s a lie!”
“What do you mean?”
“Silence!” the king bellowed, drowning out his councilors. “I know many of you were friends and allies of Boldar Zel’Faril. Last year, after Stavin saved my life, a band of ten men were sent after him. They appear to have been ten of House Zel’Faril’s private guards.” The king stood and his glare swept the table. “Boldar Zel’Faril has committed treason against the crown, and his House is condemned. The Royal Guard is already seeing to the capture of the rest of the Zel’Faril family. And you, my lords, are hereby served notic
e: Boldar didn’t act alone, and we will find those who aided him. When we do, they and their families shall face the same punishment as he and his family.” The king walked out on his stunned council without looking back.
The eight lords who made up the King’s Council shared looks all around. The king had just condemned a whole Chosen clan. Any of them could be next.
* * *
The Royal Guard moved quickly, but not quickly enough. All but one of the Zel’Faril family committed suicide before the guards came for them. That one individual died with a sword in his hand, fighting the guardsmen.
Chapter 26
THE MARRIAGE OF SARVAN ZEL’ANDRAL AND Ehrwan Zel’Fordan took place two days after the duel. Nearly every Chosen clan in Twin Bridges and its surrounding communities was represented in the great hall of the palace. King Kalin and Princess Marina presided over the union of two of the most powerful families in Evandia.
Sarvan came forward first, dressed in white silk clothing adorned with gold and jewels that looked to have cost a hundred crowns. He walked alone to the base of the royal dais and went to one knee as he looked up at his uncle and cousin. “King Kalin, I come before you as second heir to the throne of Evandia in order to marry Lady Ehrwan Zel’Fordan. Should the succession one day fall to me, she shall be queen at my side.”
King Kalin smiled as he replied. “Sarvan, son of my brother, heir of my daughter, we welcome your marriage to the Lady Ehrwan. The Zel’Fordan family has a long and distinguished history in Evandia, and our Clans have joined many times in the past. I grant you permission to marry the Lady Ehrwan and make her your queen if the Gods Above lead you to the throne.”
The king’s declaration was the signal, and Chaldin Zel’Fordan led Ehrwan into the room to the accompaniment of gasps of wonder and surprise. Ehrwan’s dress was an elegant affair of white silk and velvet that had taken a team of six seamstresses half a year to complete. It billowed and flowed around her as she walked, and she seemed to be floating across the floor at her father’s side. When they reached Sarvan, Lord Chaldin kissed his daughter’s cheek one last time, then stepped back and looked up at King Kalin.
The Andarian Affair Page 17
