“Kalin Zel’Andral, King of Evandia, I bring my daughter before you that she may wed your second heir, Sarvan. They have been betrothed for a full year as the law requires, and have remained ever faithful in that betrothal. I am satisfied that my daughter truly loves Sarvan, and that he truly loves her.”
King Kalin stood and smiled down at the young couple. “Sarvan Zel’Andral, as is the custom of our ancestors, I ask you now: Why do you take this woman as your wife?”
Sarvan turned and took both of Ehrwan’s hands in his, and looked into her eyes as he replied, “I take Ehrwan Zel’Fordan for love. I take Ehrwan Zel’Fordan for life. I take Ehrwan Zel’Fordan for the mother of my children.”
The king smiled as he shifted his attention to Ehrwan. “Ehrwan Zel’Fordan, why do you take this man as your husband?”
“I take Sarvan Zel’Andral for love,” she replied, never taking her eyes off of his. “I take Sarvan Zel’Andral for life.” Now she smiled and blushed just a little. “I take Sarvan Zel’Andral for the father of my children.”
There was a moment of silence in the court, then someone in the back let loose a whoop of joy and the entire crowd began shouting their congratulations to the young couple. Noise ruled the court room for a time, and the king smiled tolerantly as the young couple below him embraced one another, kissing passionately as husband and wife for the first time.
* * *
Stavin stood with Dahvin and Glora, clapping his hands and shouting at the top of his lungs along with the rest of the court. He was all but bouncing in place as his friends, true friends, were married.
Dahvin shouted down at him, “Was your wedding like this?”
Stavin grinned as he shouted back, “No! We’re quiet about it. But this is what Ehrwan and Sarvan deserve!”
“Agreed!” Lady Glora shouted as she looked at her future husband. “Three moons, Dahvin!”
Dahvin and Stavin both laughed, then went back to cheering for their friends. An aisle opened and Sarvan led Ehrwan toward the doors at a run.
* * *
Days passed quietly after the wedding as peace once again ruled in the palace. Stavin worked with the scribes to provide them with as much information as he could about the ancient glyphs, but there were interruptions to his days as well: A party here, a picnic there, and the evening meal with the court every night.
Then one day, a very different distraction presented itself. “Ward Stavin, there is a--person--here to see you,” Jarel announced.
“Why do you sound like you disapprove, Jarel?” Stavin asked with a grin. “Who is it?”
Jarel took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Your visitor is a woman named Elain Fel’Carvin, Ward Stavin. She’s--”
Stavin chuckled. “I know who she is, Jarel. She’s a friend. Show her in.”
Jarel bowed. “Ward Stavin, the Palace Guards will not let her in. She is waiting near the west gate.”
Stavin stood and headed toward the door immediately. “That’s rude. I don’t care what her other activities are, she’s helped me immensely over the years.” He continued walking as his guards formed up around him. He strode through the palace to the west gate and found Madam Elain surrounded by ten Palace Guardsmen.
He said, “That’s all right, gentlemen. I know and trust Madam Elain,” as his team of Royal Guards joined the Palace Guards.
The Sergeant of the Guard looked at Stavin and took a deep breath. “Ward Stavin, this woman is--”
“I know, Sergeant, I know,” Stavin said with a raised hand. “We’re allies of sorts. Her granddaughter is running my Trading House. I’ll be fine.” The sergeant gave him a dubious look, then nodded and allowed Stavin to pass.
Madam Elain bowed deeply, and Stavin bowed just as deeply in return. “How may I be of service, Madam Elain?”
“Oh, Ward Stavin, you are such a gentleman,” Madam Elain exclaimed in delight. “Corinne just sent up three wagon-loads of fine wines from your house, and I came to thank you in person. That was so very generous.”
“It was my pleasure, Madam Elain,” Stavin replied with a slight bow. “You’ve aided me a number of times, and that was just a small down payment on that debt.”
“Ward Stavin, it is I who owes you.” Madam Elain smiled deeply and stepped closer as her voice dropped in volume. Her expression changed slightly as she bent forward and said, “Guard yourself well tonight, young Stavin. Change is in the wind.” With that she stepped back and bowed again, then turned away and headed up the street.
The sergeant stepped up to Stavin’s side and asked, “What was that about, Ward Stavin? I didn’t like letting that woman near you, even if we did search her before you arrived. She’s dangerous.”
Stavin looked at the sergeant, and the look in his eyes made the man take a step back. “Indeed she is, Sergeant, but you should remember just how dangerous I am. However, Madam Elain is my friend. She poses no danger to me. She came to thank me because I sent her all the wine that Master Trader Bel’Orlav had collected.”
“Why?” the sergeant asked.
Stavin smiled. “She risked her own standing with the Traders’ Guild when she sponsored me to the Guild. Besides, I don’t like wine. Excuse me now, I have to get back and dress for the evening meal.”
Stavin didn’t hurry as he went to his room, but once there his demeanor changed dramatically. “Jarel, I have to see General Zel’Kordil before the evening meal.”
“Yes, Ward Stavin. What outfit do you want?”
Stavin shook his head. “You pick. I’m never going to understand this fashion competition among the young Chosen.”
Jarel smiled and dared to chuckle as he picked out clothing for his charge. “You do well enough, Ward Stavin. Here now, this will do fine.” He held a turquoise blue shirt for Stavin and then presented him with silver pants that almost gleamed. “I think your new brown boots would be better than the black.”
Stavin shrugged and put the boots on, then stood and went to his armor. He stuffed the sheath of his thin dagger down his boot and bloused his pant leg out to conceal it. Jarel saw and frowned in disapproval.
“Ward Stavin, that is--”
“It may be needed tonight, Jarel,” Stavin interrupted. “When we’ve gone to the evening meal, get the rest of the king’s staff together and be ready.”
“Ready for what, Ward Stavin?” Jarel asked as his eyes grew wide.
“I don’t know. Maybe nothing. But it may be another attempt on the king’s life.” Stavin checked himself in the mirror and nodded to his reflection. “I have to go see the general.”
Stavin left the royal suite with his usual four guardsmen, but he set a brisk pace to the guards’ barracks instead of the dining hall. The guards gave him curious looks, but didn’t ask what he was doing. In a short time they reached the general’s office.
Stavin knocked on the door and it opened immediately. “Lieutenant Kel’Aniston requests a moment of the general’s time,” he said to the major. The major looked over his shoulder, then opened the door all the way. Stavin didn’t wait for an invitation. He walked in to face the general’s desk and came to attention.
“Sir, I just received a warning that we should use extra care tonight,” he announced.
“Who gave you this warning, Lieutenant?” the general asked, giving Stavin a piercing look.
“Madam Elain Fel’Carvin, Sir.”
“And what was the nature of this warning?”
Stavin caught the hint of suspicion in the general’s voice and nearly smiled. “Sir, she came to the palace and said, ‘Guard yourself well tonight, young Stavin. Change is in the wind.’ I took that to mean that there may be another attempt on His Majesty or Princess Marina.”
The general frowned as he looked at Stavin. “I don’t think I have to tell you that I consider your source suspect, Lieutenant. However, we’re better safe than sorry. Very well, I’ll have Ocellen join Dragon on watch tonight.” He sat forward and fixed Stavin with that same piercing stare as
he raised one finger. “I’ll remind you that you’re one of the protected, not the protectors. If something does occur, stay back with the king and princess and let us do our jobs. Do I make myself clear?”
Stavin stiffened his spine further and replied, “Sir, yes, Sir!”
The general continued to stare at him, then sighed. “I don’t believe that for a moment, Lieutenant, but it’ll have to do. Hurry along now. I’ll be right behind you.”
Stavin took one step backwards, did a parade ground perfect about-face, and left the general’s office, then headed to the guards dining hall. He had one more person to warn.
Charvil and the rest of the warriors were in the dining hall when he arrived, and he walked straight over to them. “Sir, Madam Elain was here a while ago. She warned me that something may happen tonight.”
Charvil looked at him for a moment, then nodded. “Did you warn General Zel’Kordil?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Very well.” He looked around at his men. “Be ready in case we’re needed. Other than that, don’t give any sign that we’re alarmed.”
“I have to go, Sir,” Stavin said and walked away as soon as Charvil nodded.
The sergeant of Stavin’s guards finally had to ask, “What is going on, Ward Stavin?”
“Madam Elain warned me that something might happen tonight.” He stopped and faced the guardsmen. “If it does, you four guard the king and princess.”
“Ward Stavin, we’re your protective detail. The king ordered us to protect you.”
Stavin nodded. “And you will, because I’ll be protecting them right beside you.”
The evening meal with the court was more subdued than usual for the palace, but not remarkably so. Several of the lords who normally kept things lively were missing, so everyone just ate and drank to the accompaniment of quiet conversation. Stavin was hyper alert, watching everyone and everything for some sign of a threat, but nothing occurred to disturb the lords and ladies as they ate. The king finally ended the evening, and everyone retired to their quarters.
One of Stavin’s guards caught his eye just before he went into the royal suite and shrugged. Stavin wasn’t so complacent.
“Your Majesty,” he said as soon as the door closed behind them, “Madam Elain came to the palace today and warned me to be on my guard tonight.”
The king looked at him for a moment. “Who else did you warn?”
“Just General Zel’Kordil and Warmaster Kel’Horval, Your Majesty,” Stavin replied with a deep bow.
“Why just them?” Princess Marina asked.
“Because I didn’t want to warn whoever it is that we’re expecting them, Your Highness.”
The king nodded. “General Zel’Kordil informed me,” he said as he smiled. “He’s of the opinion that your friend Madam Elain is not to be trusted.”
Stavin bowed deeply. “Perhaps not, Your Majesty, but perhaps so. She feels some friendship toward me, and her warning was for me to be careful, not for the Royal Guards to be careful.” Stavin shrugged a little. “It may be that it’s just someone after me again, but I’m too close to the two of you for comfort.” He looked back and forth between the king and princess.
“Perhaps so,” the king said as he stroked his chin. “Perhaps so. We’ll be on our guards anyway. Good night.” With that the king went to his bedroom and Stavin started toward his, but the princess called him back.
She fixed him with a piercing glare and asked, “Stavin, what are you planning?”
Stavin widened his eyes and tried to look innocent, but she just glared at him until he smiled. “I’ll be sleeping in my armor tonight, Marina.”
Marina sighed and shook her head, and there was real affection in her voice when she said, “You’ll never accept being protected, will you?”
Stavin had to smile as he shook his head. “It’s not in my nature, Marina. Jarel is going to have a kitten, but I will not be caught out if someone makes another attempt against your father.”
Marina nodded slowly. “You keep my daddy safe, Stavin. I don’t care about anything else.” With that she left to go to her own suite, and Stavin went to his.
Jarel was waiting, as always. “I’m pleased to see that the warning you received came to naught, Ward Stavin. I’ve drawn a bath for you, if you are ready.”
“Not tonight, Jarel. Help me with my armor.”
Jarel blinked several times before saying, “Your armor, Ward Stavin? Why are you putting on your armor?”
“Because I’m sleeping on the sofa across the king’s bedroom door,” Stavin replied. “Just as soon as I hear him snoring, you are going to help me move it into place.”
“I am?” Jarel asked suspiciously.
“You are. Then you’re going to barricade yourself in here until morning.”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“No, Ward Stavin. I will not barricade myself in here. If someone does attack, I will join the rest of the servants protecting the king.”
Stavin wanted to argue, but something in Jarel’s tone and body language warned him that it would be futile. “Very well.”
It was quite a while later that the king’s stentorian snore filtered through the door of Stavin’s bedroom. He shared a look with Jarel, then a chuckle. “That’s our signal,” Stavin said as he stood up and went to the door. Jarel was right behind him, and they went to the small sofa in the antechamber.
“Across the door, about a pace from the wall,” Stavin instructed. “I don’t want to trap him in his suite, just provide a barrier to slow down any attackers.” Once they were done, Jarel returned to the Prince’s Room, but he left the door open. Stavin nodded his approval, then settled back on the sofa.
Chapter 27
THE NIGHT PASSED SLOWLY. STAVIN DOZED on the sofa, but sometime after mid night a noise brought him to full consciousness. There was yelling and the sound of clashing swords from not too far away.
Stavin was on his feet in an instant and ready with his Dragon’s Tongue when the fighting hit the door of the Royal Suite. The sound of shouting carried clearly through the thick wooden door for a few moments, then a huge impact made the door shiver. A second, then a third impact sent the door flying against the wall and men in patched together armor charged through.
Stavin met them three paces from the door and began carving them to pieces. He didn’t go for clean kills. He just struck once, slicing away a hand, an arm, or a leg, then moved on as the disabled men fell. Several impacts against his armor drove him back or to the side, but he never slowed his attack. His Dragon’s Tongue was like a kayak oar as he fought his way upstream on a river of bodies. A shout from behind him made him turn, and a blow to the back sent him staggering toward the king’s door. Reflexes from his childhood caught him before he fell, and he turned the stagger into a run as he attacked the men who had gotten past him. Five more men fell, but then a huge blow drove him to his knees.
“Die, dog!” a man’s voice shouted, and Stavin collapsed sideways to avoid the blow he thought was coming. An ax narrowly missed his arm and crashed into his thigh guard, but his armor stopped the ax from cutting off his leg. His big water steel knife appeared in his hand, then disappeared into the gut of his attacker, driving up under the man’s breast plate and through his mail. A shrill scream accompanied the attack, but Stavin was already struggling to his feet with the help of his Dragon’s Tongue.
A new shout filled the room, and it also filled Stavin’s heart with pride. It was in Old Tongue, and only ten men in Twin Bridges could utter it. “Honor the Land of Farind!” Charvil’s voice bellowed, and the Farindian Royal Guards once again took up their ancestral occupation.
More than thirty men had forced their way into the royal suite, but Stavin had killed or disabled nearly half of them before Charvil and the rest arrived. In a matter of moments none of the attackers were left standing, and a new sound drew their attention to the king’s bedchamber door.
“Open this Gods damned door!” th
e king shouted, and Charvil had two of his men move the sofa and the bodies that had fallen onto it. The king kicked the door open and stalked out. He was in armor bearing the colors of the Evandian Army, and there was a gleaming sword in his hand. He stopped short when he saw the carnage in his suite and just said, “Damn.”
The sound of renewed fighting drew everyone’s attention, and Stavin all but screamed, “Marina!” as he sprinted for the door. The sound of pounding feet trailed behind him as he rounded the corner and saw the door to the princess’ suite open and partially blocked by the bodies of guardsmen and attackers.
The sounds of feminine screams still came from inside the room, and he prayed that he wasn’t too late. When he reached the pile of bodies he dove, rolling on his shoulders over the bodies to land on his feet in the princess’ antechamber. He immediately ran for her bedchamber and was clubbed to the floor by someone with an ax. He sprawled face down, but he used the momentum to roll away from the follow-up attack. An ax clinked as it drove chips from the marble floor, and Stavin grabbed the haft with his left hand and used it to pull himself closer to the attacker. His thin dagger was in his right hand and he drove it up into the axman’s armpit. The man gasped and let go of his ax as he backed away, and Stavin scooped up his Dragon’s Tongue as he once again headed for the princess.
Five Royal Guards, all women that Stavin had admired from afar, were fighting desperately to keep twice their number of attackers away from the princess. Stavin attacked silently and killed four of them before they knew he was there. When they turned to defend themselves, the guardswomen finished them off. Stavin stepped back and bowed slightly, then looked for the princess.
A pile of bodies was behind the guardswomen, and Stavin tried not to laugh as they sorted themselves out. It appeared that all of the princess’ maids and matrons had swarmed over her, shielding her with their bodies. Two of them were injured, their backs pierced by sword thrusts, but the princess was safe.
The Andarian Affair Page 18
