Treachery in Tarnstead (Stoneblood Saga Book 5)

by Robyn Wideman

  Lambert shrugged. “Possibly nothing. But often in cities with high and strong walls the guards relax. They aren’t attentive or observant. That isn’t the case here.”

  Norton sighed and waved a hand flippantly. “It means nothing.”

  Lambert didn’t reply. Instead, he looked out the carriage window. The road was just leaving the narrow entrance into the canyon and now he could see it widen out into a valley. Orchards and farms were the first things they passed as they went up the road. Lambert made another mental note about the canyon. A prolonged siege would fail as they had ample food supplies within the canyon. Any amount of stored grain to go with the fresh fruits and vegetables they grew here would mean months of supplies, if not longer. The farms and orchards also indicated they had a fresh water supply, no doubt a stream coming down from the mountains that surrounded the valley. Whoever had picked this hidden valley, secured away in a canyon with its narrow opening, knew a thing or two about defense. It could’ve been a coincidence that the builders chose this spot, but Lambert found that highly unlikely. They’d pass several spots before the canyon that offered water, trees, and good soil for farming. Three of the most important things when considering building. Elderwood was a unique situation though. Most cities started as small towns or villages and just sprawled out as the population grew. Here they had transported an entire kingdom from one city. A logistics nightmare if handled incorrectly.

  The first sign of magic caught Lambert off guard. A statue of a woman carrying a basket alongside the road turned and waved to them. Lambert’s brow furrowed, and his face darkened. So much so Norton noticed.

  “What’s the matter. Don’t like magic? I thought the statue was intriguing, makes me wonder what else they have in store for us,” Norton said.

  Lambert pulled his tunic down, revealing a burn mark along the top of his shoulder that just missed his neck. “Had a run-in with a battle-mage once. The old bastard looked harmless enough and then he was shooting fireballs at me. I decided right then and there; I don’t trust mages.”

  “One should be more careful of who he tries to rob. You never know who a traveler truly is,” Norton said.

  Lambert eyed his travel companion carefully. The implication that he’d be a highwayman was almost insulting, if it hadn’t been so near the truth. “If it matters, I was a privateer at the time, boarding a merchant ship.”

  Norton smiled as if he’d won a point in an ongoing battle of wits. “A privateer? It’s funny how being a pirate can be legal if you are flying the correct country’s flag.”

  Lambert’s eyes narrowed, and he studied Norton’s jugular with new intent.

  Norton purposely looked out the window and pointed out the next statue to greet them. This one of a farmer with a hoe in one hand and his young son sitting on the opposite shoulder. This time it was the young boy who was waving and smiling at them as the carriage went by. “I tend to agree about mages, but you can’t deny that the statues are a creative and harmless use of magic.”

  Lambert ignored the comment. Instead, he debated how the king would react if a certain minister of trade went missing on the return trip.

  Upon arrival at the Sea Legs Inn, they were greeted by an older gentleman.

  “Welcome. Trade Minister Richards, good to see you again.”

  “Ambassador Appleton, how kind of you to greet us. Let me introduce my companions. I believe you’ve met Juran and Meghan before. This is Lambert Symons, Gadwell Maycott, and Harvey Brown.”

  “A pleasure to meet you all. I’m sorry that you’ve only just arrived. The festival is almost over. I’m afraid you’ve missed most of it.”

  “Yes. Unfortunately, our departure from the capital was delayed. We haven’t missed everything, have we?” Minister Richards asked.

  Aldwin Appleton shook his head. “No. You certainly haven’t. The presentations in the pavilion will be there all day, and there is an official dinner and dance for all visiting dignitaries this evening at the castle. Why don’t you get settled in your rooms, then I’ll give you a guided tour?”

  Minister Richards smiled and nodded his head. “Yes, that would be delightful.”

  Lambert stood stoically as the Minister talked to Ambassador Appleton. Thankfully, the task of pretending to be a noble from Progoh required little more than an overexaggerated self-worth, and a dislike for everything that wasn’t Progoh. Letting the Minister talk, as if it were beneath them to speak to a lowly Ambassador, was perfect. Juran and Meghan were seasoned liars and could fit in anywhere, but Gadwell and Harvey were warriors, and the less they had to talk the better.

  After being seen to their rooms, Lambert met with Gadwell and Harvey. “Alright, gentlemen. This is a fluid situation. I’m unsure how we are playing this. It could be just a fact-finding mission, or it could be something entirely different.”

  “I hope for the latter,” Gadwell said. “I didn’t come all this way for tea and a magic show.”

  Lambert appraised the warrior. Gadwell was known as the blackguards’ finest swordsman and had been used by nobles to represent them in duels. Perhaps there was something there that could be of use. “Just keep your eyes open. Don’t do anything without my approval. There may be a way here to solve the king’s problems without us having to run out of town with an army chasing us down. This dinner the Ambassador spoke of could be our opportunity. In the meantime, keep your heads low and your mouths shut. And scowl at everything that doesn’t have a skirt. You are supposed to be Progoh nobles.”

  20

  Nathan nervously pulled on his new tunic. The dinner and dance was Elderwood’s first formal gathering and he felt out of place, despite attending several formal dinners while in Balta. The difference being, in Balta he was a boy and could leave at any time. Now, he was Prince Stoneblood, ruler of Elderwood, and had to stay and meet with everyone. It was a strange feeling. He wasn’t a real ruler, Aunt Avera and Verin did most of the city’s management, and he didn’t feel like royalty. He was a simple blacksmith’s son, or so he’d thought growing up.

  “If you keep pulling at your tunic you are going to wreck it,” Sharon said as she came up and stood beside him.

  “I feel like it is strangling me.”

  “Are you sure the tunic is the problem? You’ve had a scared rabbit look all evening. Ever since those Venecian merchants started introducing you to their daughters.”

  Nathan groaned. “They are so ridiculous. I used to laugh at Quinton when all the nobles and merchants were pushing their daughters at him. Now it’s me, and I have to smile and nod and be polite when all I want to do is run away.”

  “But, you’re so handsome and smart, Prince Stoneblood, I think I’m in love,” Sharon said as she batted her eyes and ran her hand over his chest.

  Nathan laughed and pushed her away. “That’s not funny.”

  “It looks good on you. Besides, they stay away from Quinton now and I don’t have to cut out their little doe eyes for trying to steal my man. You’re the most eligible bachelor in Solotine now.” Sharon smiled as she started to walk away. “I’m going to go find Quinton before one of those doe-eyed girls you’ve rejected starts looking for another unmarried young royal. You two behave now.” Sharon winked and turned away.

  You two? Nathan thought as Sharon went looking for Quinton. He turned just as Camille walked up.

  “Hello, Your Highness,” said Camille with a smirk.

  Nathan sighed. “You too? Sharon just finished ribbing me about that.”

  Camille laughed. “What was she teasing you about. I only called you Your Highness because I’ve only heard people call you that about a hundred times tonight and I know how much you love it.”

  “Sharon was teasing me about all the visiting merchants and nobles who happened to bring their single daughters to dinner.”

  “Ah, yes. I did notice a lot of young ladies here tonight. I wonder if they would be so eager to marry you if they knew you didn’t like being a prince and spent all your time in a blac
ksmith shop or out in the country instead of attending parties. I’ll bet half of them would die of shock if they saw what your living quarters looked like.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with my living quarters,” Nathan said in protest.

  “Of course, there isn’t. I like them, simple and separate from all of this. But that is my point. They see the magical displays you’ve helped make, they see the huge castle, the fancy clothes, and dinner and dancing. They don’t understand that you don’t want a big castle, or to be a prince.”

  Nathan frowned. He could see what Camille was saying, but was there really any choice for him? He couldn’t walk away from his responsibilities, nor could he afford to be rude to his guests. “What do you think I should do then?”

  Camille was just about to answer when Verin interrupted. “My apologies, Lady Camille, but I need to borrow Nathan for a minute.” Verin grabbed Nathan by the arm and pulled him away from the girl.

  “What in the seven hells is going on?” Nathan asked as Verin pulled him away from the castle’s main lobby which was acting as the dance floor for the lunar ball.

  “Need you outside, right now. No time to explain.”

  Nathan rushed to follow his uncle outside. There, in the entrance to the gardens, a small crowd had gathered. They were circling around one man who was yelling loudly. “Get away from me, you bastards.”

  “He’s getting violent, and no one can calm him down enough to find out the problem. Maybe he’ll listen to you,” Verin said as he led Nathan to the crowd.

  Nathan pushed his way through the crowd. He recognized the yelling man as Lord Brandle, a visiting noble from Creyta. “Lord Brandle, what is the problem?”

  “I’ve been poisoned that is what is wrong. Look at me!”

  Nathan stepped closer to Lord Brandle, sure enough the man’s face was red and puffy and had red spots everywhere. “Do you know how you got poisoned?” Nathan asked.

  Lord Brandle nodded. “It had to be one of those damn cookies you are serving. They all tasted so good; I had one of every kind.”

  Nathan was close enough to smell Lord Brandle’s breath. Cookies were not the only thing he’d consumed lots of that evening. “Lord Brandle, do you have any allergies?”

  Lord Brandle nodded. “Yes, hawthorn berries, but I don’t think you have them in Solotine.”

  “I’m afraid we do,” Nathan answered. He then turned to Verin. “Go get Rose, tell her Lord Brandle has a hawthorn berry allergy and is breaking out.”

  “Rose? There are several healers here this even—”

  “Any of them have a room in the castle filled with herbs and medicines?” Nathan said as he interrupted Verin. “Hurry. Lord Brandle doesn’t have much time before the swelling makes breathing impossible. Tell Rose to come to the water fountain.”

  Verin ran back into the castle.

  Nathan grabbed Lord Brandle’s hand and pulled him further into the courtyard gardens. “Don’t worry, Lord Brandle, you are going to be fine. Now I want you to jump into the pool. The water will help cool you down.”

  Lord Brandle didn’t hesitate at all. Jumping into the pool without bothering to remove a stitch of clothing. Once in the water, Nathan held Lord Brandle’s hand and closed his eyes. He focused his mind on using his magic to help cool Lord Brandle’s body. He couldn’t cure him with just magic, but he could help ease his suffering while they waited. Nathan could see that the man’s throat was now swollen enough he had a hard time talking. Nathan used his magic to help keep him calm.

  Several minutes later, Rose rushed into the courtyard holding the edges of her dress up, so she could run. When she arrived, she handed Nathan a package.

  Nathan took the skunk cabbage leaf and used his hand to scoop out a portion of the salve. “Sit up please, Lord Brandle.”

  Lord Brandle sat on the edge of the pool, his feet still inside.

  Nathan slathered the salve around Lord Brandle’s neck. “This salve is going to reduce the swelling around your neck. You should feel it right away.” Nathan then applied more of the salve to Lord Brandle’s face. “I’m guessing you had a few pieces of that chocolate and elderberry fudge.”

  Lord Brandle nodded.

  Rose stood. “I’ll go grab a mug of ale from inside.”

  While Rose was gone, Nathan explained to Lord Brandle what was happening to him. “A very interesting thing about hawthorn berries. Normally for people with allergies to them they experience a mild rash, sometimes an upset stomach and bowel issues for a few days. Annoying symptoms to be sure, but hardly life threatening. However, elderberry is a close relative to hawthorn berry and if you consume enough of it the symptoms can be magnified.”

  Rose returned with a mug of ale and Helena Woods, Elderwood’s finest healer. “I wanted Mage Woods to check my work before you give any ale to Lord Brandle.”

  Helena smiled as she leaned in to check on Lord Brandle. “I’ve looked at her powders and they look perfect. Students tend to add too much nettle, but Rose has done a good job. It seems that taking her schoolwork home has been very fortuitous. If we’d had to go to the city, or to the school for supplies the situation would’ve been much more dangerous. Good on you, Prince Stoneblood. Your quick decision saved Lord Brandle.” Helena took the ale from Rose and added the vial of powder Rose had wanted her to check. She swished the ale around before handing it to Lord Brandle. “Swallow as much as you can, sir. This will help you sleep tonight and come morning you’ll be right as rain.”

  While Helena looked after Lord Brandle, Nathan found one of the city guards. “Have a carriage brought around. Take Lord Brandle back to his room and make sure he gets into bed safely. The swelling will go down fast, plus the potion Mage Woods just gave him will make him sleepy. Don’t want him sleeping in the back of a carriage all night.

  The guard nodded. “Don’t you worry, Prince Stoneblood. I’ll make sure Lord Brandle gets into his bed.” The guard took off running to the castle stables.

  Helena joined Nathan. “You send for a carriage?”

  “Yes. The guard is going to accompany Lord Brandle back to his room. Unless you want him sent to the infirmary?”

  “No. There isn’t anything I can do for Lord Brandle that you and Rose didn’t already think of.”

  “It was luck mostly. My mother had to keep salves on hand for elderberry pickers who’d develop rashes. And thankfully Lord Brandle knew he was allergic to hawthorn berries. That made the diagnosis fairly simple.”

  “Yes, but why the ale?”

  Nathan glanced back at Lord Brandle as he sat on the edge of the fountain pool soaking wet, waiting for his carriage. “Bulbous nose, bloodshot eyes, a heavy drinker. It would’ve been ten times harder to convince him to take a drink of water than a sip of ale. I’m just impressed that Rose caught that. You are teaching her well.”

  Helena shook her head. “As much as I would like to take credit for all my students achievements, I can definitely say Rose’s knowledge as a healer is far beyond anything I’ve taught her. When she asked me to go check her potions I got a look at what she was working on. She’s studying books I normally reserve for apprentices, not first-year students.”

  Smiling to himself, Nathan thought back to the way Ava had devoured books on healing once she’d decided that was her path. That Rose, with Ava’s spirit guiding her, would do the same didn’t come as a surprise.

  A guard came running up. “Prince Stoneblood, you are needed inside immediately.”

  “Better get going, Nathan. I’ll see Lord Brandle back to his room. I’ve had enough dancing for one night,” Helena said.

  Nathan sighed and followed the guard back into the castle. It seemed his night was destined to be dealing with emergency after emergency. Once inside, it didn’t take long to see what the guard was worried about. Camille was standing between Captain Vatkin and Gadwell Maycott, one of the men from Progoh. Both had hands on swords and looked ready for a fight. With tensions between the two cities already high; a duel here
could be disastrous.

  Nathan stepped up to the group. “What’s going on here?”

  “Ask your friend from the capital. He’s the one with the issue,” said Lambert Symons.

  “I was just asking the lady if she’d like to dance with a real man and not a slime-sucking stooge from Raumont,” Gadwell Maycott said with a grin as he taunted Captain Vatkin.

  Nathan’s brow furrowed as he studied the two men. Captain Vatkin was a dangerous man, but this Gadwell was obviously looking for a fight. Why? “Perhaps you should leave Tarnstead politics back in Tarnstead. You are both guests in Elderwood.”

  Gadwell sneered at Nathan. “You think I’m going to listen to some jumped up pretty boy prince? You only exist at the pleasure of King Parth, and the foolish words of Count Mavane. Why don’t you move along, little boy, and let the men sort things out?”

  “Let me take him outside,” Captain Vatkin said. “It won’t take but a minute.”

  Nathan shook his head. Gadwell was obviously to blame for the confrontation. Why the man was so eager to start something troubled Nathan. The last thing he wanted was bloodshed to be the thing people remembered the lunar festival for. He needed to defuse the situation. “No, that won’t be necessary. I think perhaps Mr. Maycott here has had a few too many drinks. I’ll have the guards escort him out.”

  Camille grabbed Captain Vatkin and pulled him away. “Come, Captain Vatkin, you can escort me to the refreshments table, our dance has left me parched.”

  Captain Vatkin smiled at Camille. “As much as I’d like to stay and deal with this trash, I simply can’t refuse such a pretty lady.”

  “That’s right. Take your whore and run,” Gadwell Maycott yelled.

  Nathan clenched his fists and stepped in towards Gadwell. “Your behavior is unacceptable. I will have the guards escort you out of Elderwood. It’s time for you to leave.”

  Gadwell grinned at Nathan. “You are throwing a representative of the king out? That is a serious breach of protocol. I invoke my right to trial by combat.”