Arrows Of Change (Book 1)

by Honor Raconteur

  The discussion of the laws went by peacefully and without any real discussion, as they were straightforward enough. With those agreed upon, Edvard fell to discussing the government next. “I haven’t really put any of this into place yet,” he admitted frankly. “Partially because it takes a certain amount of setup to do so, partially because I wanted to find the right people for the posts before I made any of this official. But if there’s something you see that should be changed, tell me now, as I’d rather leave things be after it’s started.”

  “Fine.” Tierone crossed his arms over his chest in an intent I’m listening posture. “Go on.”

  “I’ll start from the ground up, then. The whole country will be divided up into sections, and that will be based upon how many people are in the area. The outlying land that doesn’t have many occupants will be larger in geography, the city sections smaller. You follow? Good. Over these sections will be prefects. They are like sheriffs over their sections and they deal with the day-to-day running of things. Anything small or needing immediate attention goes to them. They, in turn, report directly to provosts. The provosts are a select twelve that rule over specific sections. They form a council that will discuss matters, go over problems, and rule over the more serious cases that affect the nation. They also are the ones that suggest new laws and regulations to the king. Now, the king will sit in judgment on important matters and will of course listen to his provosts, but he’s the one that has the power to make laws. No one else can do so unless he is indisposed for whatever reason. If that happens, the provosts can manage the kingdom by voting on issues. The majority opinion is what goes.”

  Tierone sat on this for a long moment, brows drawn together slightly as he turned this over in his mind. Finally, he said, “It’s a simple system, but I like it. I think it will work well. Once you retire or die, who takes over?”

  “My son or daughter, I suppose,” Edvard responded. Clearly, he hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.

  “Edvard,” Tierone chided, mouth flattening. “Think, you idiot. Half the reason why Iysh is in its current state is because it’s relied on inheritance to keep the kingdom supplied with a king. Do you really think that’s a wise system? We’ve had terrible kings in the past because of it.”

  “Oh.” Edvard tapped a finger against the table’s surface as he slowly nodded agreement. “No, you’re right, I didn’t think that through. What do you suggest?”

  “Find a way to appoint someone. Have the people vote for a leader, or have your provosts be responsible for picking the next person. Don’t rely on your bloodline. The next person born to this family might not be suitable to be king. Or queen.”

  “Not the provosts,” Ash objected. He had been scribbling away on a paper, no doubt working on that agreement that both kings wanted, but he hadn’t been focused solely on that. His head came up as he continued, “Part of the reason why Iysh is what it is at the moment is also because their council of advisors are divided up and supporting different heirs. You need your council united as much as possible at all times. Having them appoint the next king will lead to political in-fighting.”

  Tierone inclined his head in Ash’s direction. “He’s right. Put it to the people’s vote, then. Have your prefects in charge of collecting their votes.”

  “How will they know who to vote for?” Edvard objected.

  “Have the provosts suggest candidates,” Riana offered. “If it be me, I would no’ know who be the right person for the job, but I would trust that the provosts would know. Have them choose a few people, list their qualifications, have the people meet them, and then let yer citizens decide.”

  Edvard let his head fall back, staring blindly up at the ceiling. “This is sounding more like a democracy than a monarchy. And the only democracy we had in history lasted about five hundred years before falling apart.”

  “If it’s the democracy I think you’re referring to, they had elections every few years, and their government system was much more complicated. I think it was the complexity that did them in.” Ash put a hand on Riana’s shoulder. “Her idea is valid, Edvard. I certainly can’t think of a better one. Whoever should be king or queen next will need to know how the government is run and have experience with it. They also need to know who the players are. The provosts will naturally work with these candidates on an everyday basis, so of course they will know who is good at leadership and who isn’t. Our citizens won’t, not entirely. Some campaigning is inevitable. I realize you’re not thrilled with the idea, buts it’s better than letting a royal idiot ascend the throne and then be manipulated by his own provosts his entire life.”

  “Arghhh,” Edvard groaned. “Point. But I want it put in that the provosts cannot be candidates. I don’t want them fighting with each other over the throne either.”

  “Wise,” Tierone agreed. He clapped his hands together and rubbed them, expression satisfied. “I like it. There are minor details to be worked out, but that can be done in due time, I think. Once we have a better feel for it. For now, let me see how you divided up your land exactly. Do you have it marked on a map?”

  “Oh, yes. It’s here.” Edvard gestured to his desk, and Tierone followed him over there.

  It suddenly hit Riana that she was seeing a government formed in front of her eyes. And had a say in how it should be done, no less! Before she had been focused on making the laws fair, so it hadn’t really sunk in that these laws would be used to govern a nation. But here, now, she was advising men that were kings in their own right. Both kings had listened to her say her piece, which was remarkable enough, but then they had valued her opinion enough to take her advice. It was something that would never have happened in Cloud’s Rest.

  It was unbelievable, in that sense. To go from an outcast, as someone who shouldn’t even be breathing according to some, to an advisor of a king—of two kings! The sensation was a heady one and she reeled from it. A sense of relief and joy swept through her that she was no longer there but instead here, in this wonderful new country.

  Ash’s quill paused in mid-word and he looked up at her in surprise. “Riana. Are you…really that happy?”

  She turned to him slowly. “Aye. But how did ye…?”

  “I felt it.” His mouth went into a lopsided smile. “It was like a burst of sunshine swept over me.”

  Her eyes widened in wonder. “Ye felt it?”

  “Aye.” He lifted a hand and smoothed it over her hair, eyes soft. “It looks like your wish will come true. I can sense strong emotions from you now. In time, we’ll feel each other properly.”

  That thought alone brought another burst of happiness, and she nearly vibrated under the force of it.

  “Are you truly that happy to be here?” he asked, smiling at her mood but also somewhat puzzled by it. “We’ve had a hard road ever since you came. No part of this has been easy.”

  Riana snorted, amused. “Ash, life be hard. I did no’ expect that to change just because I went to a different country. But here, I be wanted. Here, people listen to what I have to say. That be a powerful thing and I would no’ trade it for anything else in the world.”

  “Ah.” This time, he understood completely. Sliding an arm around her shoulders, he drew her into him and kissed the crown of her hair before whispering, “I’m glad you came with me, Riana.”

  She relaxed into the embrace with a content heart, feeling in that moment more at home than anywhere else she had ever been. Eyes closed, she whispered back, “Me too.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Tierone and Edvard stayed holed up in Edvard’s study for three long days discussing matters and finalizing things. Broden knew good and well that they were also handpicking the people that they wanted to serve in the prefect and provost positions. But that was their business, not his nor Ashlynn’s. Their job was to see to Estole, and that’s what they did while the kings schemed.

  Tierone’s wizard, Parlan had come along with him and had (out of the goodness of his heart) offered to help
while in Estole. With Ash working nonstop on the Estolian border wall, the carpenters were left to build all the houses. But Parlan cheerfully chipped in and helped with that. It seemed that every time Broden came near the outskirts of the city, a new house had popped up.

  With this obvious sign of improvement, the fights over the housing deeds fell to mere grumbling, and some of the tents started disappearing. Only, of course, to be replaced by new ones as new immigrants came in. Broden did not blame people for wanting a better life—he had come to Estole for that exact reason, after all—but could not they come in a little slower? Paced further apart? Estole would bust at the seams at the rate things were going!

  The fourth day dawned bright and early. Broden was a trifle foot sore from the day before, as he had spent the majority of it running after thieves and vagabonds. He might be getting too old for this. Mayhap. Rolling out of bed, he found a set of clothes more by feel than sight, and pulled them on. He found a tie in the pocket by sheer chance and ran his hands roughly through his hair, pulling it back at the nape of the neck, and tying it there. After a shave, and a spot of breakfast, he might be able to face the rest of the day.

  Ashlynn gave a quick rap on the bedroom door before sticking her head inside. “Rise and shine, you two. Edvard just summoned us.”

  Ash lifted his pillow enough to glare at her with just one eye. “Before breakfast?” he objected fuzzily.

  “He, apparently, woke with the birds.”

  “That doesn’t mean he has to inflict his energy on us.”

  Broden chuckled softly. Ash was many things, but a morning person was not one of them. Not when he had a soft bed under him, leastways.

  “Up,” his sister commanded mercilessly. “Oh, and Broden, after you meet with Edvard, you can move into your own room. They’re finally ready.”

  Broden blinked. In between rescuing people, calming down riots, and creating new laws, it had escaped his mind that his own room was being prepared further down the hallway. “I will mind it, lass. Riana?”

  “Hers as well. Sorry it took this long, we’ve just been a little distracted.” Her smile was quick and sardonic. “But we’ll help you move later. Up, Ash.” With that, she closed the door.

  Ash grumbled, grunted, and snarled a few choice words, but he rolled obediently out of the bed and up to his feet. As he stumbled about getting ready, a thought struck Broden. “Ash. Ye do no’ suppose that Edvard be ready to appoint people and start ruling?”

  The wizard paused with his shirt half on and jerked about sharply. “Already?”

  “It be only the fine details he be working out,” Broden said with a half shrug. “And some of those I bet he can no’ guess at until his government be working. So really, be there a reason why it would take him longer than three days to get ready?”

  “Well, I guess not.” Pulling the shirt all the way on, Ash finished getting ready, seeming to wake up during the process of dressing. “Broden. A thought just hit me. Who is Edvard going to appoint as provosts?”

  “You and the lass be on the list,” Broden assured him dryly.

  “But we’re his wizards!” Ash wailed in objection.

  “That will no’ save ye.” Tsking him, Broden chided, “Think, man. How many people can Edvard trust, truly trust? And of that lot, how many of those have the skills to rule and oversee the people?”

  He must have realized what the archer was getting at, as his panic went out like embers under a wet blanket. “Oh.”

  “And me and me daughter will be right there with you, because we be yer partners,” Broden sighed. “It be inescapable. This be more than I signed up for.”

  “What, you think I had any choice on this?” Ash grumbled sourly. “But I hope that you’re wrong. He really can’t assign us as provosts—we’re here to handle emergencies more than anything, after all. We can’t afford to be tied to the day-to-day governing of a section. We must have the freedom to go whenever and wherever needed.”

  A point he had not considered, but Ash was right. Frowning, Broden asked slowly, “So does Edvard have enough people to call to fill all the posts?”

  “Maybe that’s what took him three days to figure out.”

  From the other side of the door, Ashlynn called, “Anytime you’re ready, we can go!”

  Both men heaved a sigh of resignation before leaving the bedroom.

  Broden came to a stop inside the main room as he realized that not only were both lasses ready, but had put a bit more effort into their appearance than usual. Oh, they wore the same divided skirts and boots as usual, but they had fitted coats on today that accentuated their figures, and instead of their hair being simply tied up, it was braided up in an elaborate way. Did these two know something he did not?

  “Broden, you haven’t shaved,” Ashlynn chided. Coming to him, she lifted a glowing hand and smoothly ran it over his jaw. “There, that’s better?”

  Blinking, he lifted a hand to his own face and realized that she had shaved him in one swipe. If the lass could do that, why did he bother with a razor every morning?

  “Well, you two look presentable enough.” Nodding in satisfaction, Ashlynn shooed them toward the door. “Let’s go.”

  Ash eyed his twin suspiciously as they headed downstairs. “You know something, don’t you?”

  With an impish twinkle in her eye, she caroled, “Maaaaybe.”

  “What, and you didn’t tell me?”

  “It’s not my fault you don’t invest in informants.”

  “Your informant is Miss Hailey, everyone knows that,” he accused her.

  “Tish-tosh. She’s only one of them.” Reaching the ground floor, Ashlynn went promptly to the left.

  As much time as Broden had spent in the castle, there were still parts of it that were not very familiar to him. He’d only been given a full tour of the place once, and after that, he only went the places he needed to go. This direction held something called a ballroom, and a court room, and…some place that was like an indoor garden. They had a fancy name for it, but he could not recall it off the top of his head.

  They went in to the court room.

  Broden had more experience with this room than most of the others (when one is partnered with the Sheriff of Estole, it’s inevitable to be called to the court room often), but it had been a good two days since he’d been here last, and it had changed in those two days. No longer was there a single, ponderous table in the front of the room. Instead, it had been moved to the middle of the room. Where the table had been, sat thirteen chairs, all identical, except the one in the middle. It was larger, with more padding, although the same dark grey.

  On this side, near the door, new wooden benches had been added. On those sat several people, mostly faces he recognized. Captain Bragdon, Amber Bragdon, Marissa Allyn, Seth Robinson, Konrath, Mark, and several others he had served with out in the city. Broden did a quick headcount and realized that Edvard had enough people in here to appoint as prefects and provosts, plus a few more. (Not that he and Riana truly counted.)

  Behind the table stood Edvard and Tierone. Tierone seemed to be there just for moral support, as he stood a good pace back from the table, distancing himself from the proceedings, but showing his approval of it. Edvard nearly bounced on his toes, hands on several papers lying flat on the table.

  “It looks like we have all arrived. Excellent. Now, to business. Everyone, we are finally ready to establish the government and its time to appoint people into their proper posts.”

  Yes, and with that mood he was in, Edvard would not take ‘no’ for an answer.

  “Now, when I call your name, step forward. I will give you a map that details your exact area and a paper that will list your duties and who you will report to. We have twenty-four sections, so this might take a while, but let’s get through it quickly. I expect you to start today after all.”

  Of course he did. Broden shook his head in resignation. Worse than a runaway horse, this young king.

  “Section One, Se
th Feibelman.”

  Seth went up to the table, seeming a little shocked by this sudden promotion and appointment, but readily shook hands with Edvard and accepted his paperwork.

  “Section Two, Kirby Nessan!”

  And so it went, all the way through and down to Section Twenty-four. Broden was not surprised that he recognized every person that was appointed to prefect. They were all good people, solid and dependable, and he had no doubt that Ashlynn had recommended the majority of them, if not all. No, the real mystery were the other faces that he didn’t know that were standing patiently by. Were those to be the new provosts, then?

  “Now, onto the provosts. Ladies and gentlemen, you will be in charge of two sections, so mark which prefects are yours now. I suggest a quick meeting with them before you go out and start things rolling.” Everyone understood that the suggestion was actually a command phrased nicely. “That said, let’s begin. Zorich, you have Sections One and Two. Ross, Three and Four. Ranun, Five and Six. Haney, Seven and Eight. Towan, Nine and Ten. Troi, Eleven and Twelve.”

  Broden blinked. Troi, Master of Spies, was to be a provost? Well, well.

  “Captain Bragdon, Thirteen and Fourteen. Amber Bragdon, Fifteen and Sixteen. Oh, tell me if you need to switch sections, you two. I assigned those arbitrarily, but they are rather large, so if you need to switch one between you, I’m amiable to that. I just wasn’t sure how to divide things up equally when it came to the port side. Alright? Good, good. Now, let’s see…” Edvard glanced back at the page in his hands to find where he had left off. “Ashlynn, Seventeen and Eighteen. Ash, Nineteen and Twenty.”

  Broden shot a look at Ash that said I told you so. Right until Edvard looked right at him and with a winsome smile proclaimed, “Broden, you are Provost of Twenty-one and Twenty-two. Riana, Twenty-three and Twenty-four.”

  Broden and Riana spluttered out protests in near unison. “Edvard! Ye can no’ make us provosts!”