Young Warriors (Wine of the Gods Book 10)

by Pam Uphoff

  Xen returned to the Tavern with Mister Mackey who drove a hard bargain, finally dropping to three royals on the understanding that his son was coming right back, and could bring back some fares or cargo if he wanted to. Xen slipped out and moved his corridor opening to the outside wall so the wagon didn't get jammed trying to make the corner, and Easterly drove the foursome through. The horses took it much better than the driver.

  "Wolfson, we're going t'have a chat when I get done with this job."

  "Stop looking so alarmed. Put on that excellent blank idiot stare, and drive around the corner to the front. Umm, the corridor loops. Karista is that way," Xen pointed.

  Easterly stood up and looked around, squinted at the mountains. "Right. A long talk."

  Flare put up supplies for the nine of them and they left immediately. Wacolm cursed his inability to go along with the carriage, and stomped back through the corridor with even more curses.

  "Hey, spies are better than an out-and-out invasion." Xen followed him.

  ***

  "We have to keep our response low key." Rufi sat back with an unhappy huff. "So far there's nothing but a pack of scientists and their guards. I don't need more warm bodies, I've had two hundred troops out there for years; this is the first time they've had something to do. Besides playing poker with the Charliesville city guards."

  "Do you recommend diplomacy?" King Leano, for this meeting, was sitting to the right of his half brother.

  "Not yet. Let them get a good look around, reassure themselves that the Earth has no presence here. If they'll calm down, we can try for diplomacy. Right now . . . I think I need to train more troops in using corridors. Specifically, Lieutenant Wolfson, your corridor to the Crossroads. I'll start—just a few officers at a time—taking them through. Then branch out to the troopers. Then at need, I can bring in whole companies from the big forts in Havwee and Farofo in less than a day."

  Heads nodded around the table.

  Xen swallowed. "Sir, they'll be moving very fast, if they come."

  "Yes. We'll have to watch for the first signs of a buildup of personnel on the far side of the gate."

  Xen's follow up, "Very fast," was lost in a confusion of other comments.

  "They sent small teams of killers, when they were here twenty-five years ago . . ."

  " . . . It is clear from the reports we got from Fascia when the Amma was cozy with them, that the Oners are a huge empire. They have all the machinery that Earth has, and magic as well."

  " . . . could be an assassination squad. Watch them closely . . . "

  "Bah, magic, my ass."

  Xen blinked as the comments ping-ponged around the table. Two men were taking notes, off to the side.

  "If we can get out of this mess without a war, all to the good." The king looked to Rufi.

  "I'll make sure we've got an experienced officer on top of this." Rufi told him.

  Janic was nodding. "I've got Wacolm on it."

  We need more magicians. Maybe I ought to talk to Deena again? And that Easterly person. Even a natural wizard is hard to fool, magically.

  Xen started making notes of his own.

  Check with the troops, see if any of them saw the eight men come out of a gate.

  Check especially the men on the Arrival gate duty.

  If they did not see the men, check for spell residues.

  If they think they saw the men walk all the way down the road . . . check for memory spells. Then ride up the road, paying attention!

  How did those eight men get to the gate? Are there more newcomers?

  What are their plans? More study of the gate, or are they getting ready for war?

  I need to spy on them. Intensely.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Summer Solstice 1391

  Ash, Foothills Province, Section Two

  Ash was empty.

  Garit noticed the absence of women immediately, and nodded to himself. Off on Mount Frost. I wonder if they dance naked? He suppressed thoughts of the voluptuous Obsidian. She hadn't shown any interest in him beyond that one casual roll in the hay. He'd met her sister, and Xen's sister and both parents. A huge tangle of alliances and relationships, and as an outsider, Garit suspected he was missing at least half of the connections.

  "The only witches in town are too pregnant to hike to the Mountain." Mot brought Garit an ale and a sandwich. "Which means Pixie does all the cooking."

  "Not that I mind or anything." Pixie stuck her head out the kitchen door. "But the witches always doing dinner is so nice, because I have to get up early to start the breads and rolls and pastries for breakfast."

  "Your Colonel Trick, did he come? Azure had a baby girl last week."

  "Almost two weeks ago, now." Pixie said.

  Garit grinned. "I left him at the gates of Hell and came ahead. He's been trying to get her to marry him for months. I wonder if he'll have better luck, this time?"

  ***

  "She's beautiful." Tanner whispered. He slipped an arm around Azure's shoulders and leaned his head against hers as he touched the tiny little girl.

  "Azure. I want you two forever."

  "I can't marry you."

  "There is no legal barrier, just these customs that keep you trapped." Tanner stroked the baby's cheek and she blinked slate baby-colored eyes at him as if studying him as much as he was studying her.

  "I am not trapped."

  "You're not free, if someone else is dictating your life. The local custom in Karista, or anywhere else I am likely to be stationed, is for a man and woman to pledge to stay together to raise their children. If you will come and live with me, it will simplify many things, especially your social status, if we are married."

  Azure snorted. "I do believe all this pledging is supposed to predate the baby by at least nine months."

  "Well, I'll be stationed here for at least another two and a half years. If your parents will allow you to stay here, by the time we get to Karista, Halo will be about two and a half, and it wouldn't be hard to claim she's not quite two." He stroked her face, traced her elegant eyebrows. "Will you come and live with me?"

  Azure leaned on him gently. "I want to, but it will be so horribly complicated on my side of things."

  "You can always divorce me."

  She laughed quietly. "And admit that I need a lawyer and a judge to free me of an overly demanding male?"

  "Let's take a stroll. It's a beautiful day." He held the door for her, and escorted her out to the road. They sauntered along in the bright sunshine, and Tanner talked about his family, his much admired father, his shy mother, his little sister. His home.

  "I've met your father. He's very much like you. Your mother doesn't come to the city very often, he said."

  "She had a traumatic . . . several months as a teenager. She doesn't like crowds, and especially strange men who might touch her." He sighed. "I think she was shy anyway."

  "Trebidor sounds lovely."

  "It is. And of course we have a City house too, that would be our home whenever I'm stationed there, so you'd be close to your parents. It's mostly closed up, Dad just keeps a small apartment there for when he comes to town. So the rest of the house would be yours to manage and decorate however you wished."

  She shook her head. "Mother would . . . well, once she reamed me out, she'd be on my side against the World, but the reaming would be painful."

  "What about your father?"

  She sighed. "Witches don't have fathers. And if we did, Lord Hell would be my step-father."

  "What does he think of marriage?"

  A snort from the porch of the Tavern. Tanner shaded his eyes and spotted Lord Hell and the Mayor.

  "He thinks you are beating your head against a very solid rock. Azure, are you going to live with your mother and sisters all your life?" The very tall man stood up and towered over them both.

  Azure hesitated. "Well, no. But . . . "

  "And you won't ever get tired of doing nothing more significant than preparing to
go to balls and practicing magic? Never want to go to interesting places, meet new people? Never building the spiritual and psychological foundations of a home all your own? Never want to find out how much work being an officer's wife is? Assisting the Land Grant Holder, be he Father-in-law or husband, with the business of his grant?"

  "Well . . . "

  The mayor chuckled. "Making complex what is really so simple. Do you love the man? Is he the one that will be your match and your mate forever?"

  Azure blushed and looked up at Tanner. "Yes."

  "Then it is time for a wedding."

  Tanner dropped to one knee. "Will you marry me?"

  "Yes."

  Tanner stuck his head inside long enough to summon Garit, and they all walked over to the Mayor's office—a desk in an alcove of the bank—to sign the papers and pledge themselves to each other. The bank manager—who was the entire staff—held the baby, Sir Romeau produced flowers, and Lord Hell presented the bride, while Prince Garit supported the groom, grinning widely. The colonel had been carrying the ring since it had arrived from the city jeweler he'd commissioned it from, so Tanner was ready with the necessary token of his everlasting love.

  "Now, Mr. and Mrs. Trick." Lord Hell was beaming. "I highly recommend you repair to the Twin Inn and get private while I inform Trump."

  Tanner met Azure's shining hazel eyes and agreed.

  ***

  Garit strolled down the street to the big house, and knocked quietly. Lady Scarlet answered the door.

  "Oh, my, Prince Garit actually calling on a Lady? Which of us has done the impossible?" She grinned wryly and folded hands over quite a large belly.

  "Actually, I should have realized that most of you would be, er, gone this week. I was going to warn you all that, umm, your Mother is going to throw a major fit . . . "

  "Starting right now." Trump stomped up behind him. "Prince Garit, if you'll excuse us, we are going to have a family discussion."

  Heliotrope and Sandy were right behind her, and Garit caught the edge of a twinkle in Lord Hell's eyes as he followed them. "It was rather scary breaking the news in front of eighty-six witches. Of course, three quarters of the scare was due to Answer alone . . . " He strolled in, completely at ease. The four Hell Hounds all laid down outside the front door.

  "Smart dogs." Garit muttered, and wondered if he should wait until the rest of the witches walked home, just in case they were inclined to burn his colonel at the stake, or whether he should just leave now and avoid any sideways spill of ire.

  He strolled back to the Twin Inn, and finally decide that his loyalty to his commanding officer meant he ought to stay close, but not necessarily too close.

  The solstice had been the week before, so the witches were probably very nearly home already, even walking instead of having a god magically transport them from place to place. So he saddled up and rode south out of Ash, to the big horse farm. As far as he could tell, it was a co-operative enterprise of Nil and Dydit, the two farmers they'd met on their first visit to Ash. The horses they raised were an interesting collection. About half of the mares appeared to be good solid work horses, but their shoulders were sloped and their strides long enough to be all around useful animals for riding or faster driving. The other half of the mares were outstanding riding horses. Some heavier, some longer in the leg, all gorgeous. And they all had good legs, even the spotted Travelers' horses. Garit smiled to think of the Royal Horsemaster, and how he'd hem and haw and try to avoid admitting the pinto horses here were well up to his standards. Nil apparently had some nostalgic liking for pintos; he'd heard from the old timers at the fort that he always had a few around. Garit contemplated the effect of showing up at the fort riding one, and snickered.

  It was easy to pick out the foals by the lighter weight stallions, from the medium and heavy sires. He spotted Dydit riding a young horse in a small corral. The colt was definitely feeling frisky, and he hung back, not wanting to give the colt a reason for more energetic displays of athleticism. He tied Joker beside a pinto mare. Despite the spots she was a really fine animal.

  A man he'd seen around a few times was leaning on a tree, talking to Nil and watching Dydit. Garit walked out, admiring the muscular colt.

  Nil looked over. "Nice youngster, eh? Two and half years old."

  "Oh yes. Who's the sire? I never have managed to sort out your breeding scheme."

  Nil chuckled. "Insanity, according to most of the people hereabouts. That's one of Jet's colts, you probably haven't seen Jet. The Auld Wulf keeps him tucked away most of the time." He glanced shrewdly at Garit. "And you don't often ride out of Ash, once you are there."

  "Thought I'd stay close in case it got nasty, yet perhaps out of sight when the witches got back from the mountain. Everyone seems to think they'll be a bit upset about Azure marrying Colonel Trick."

  Nil tilted his head and a slow smile bloomed. "Married. I'll bet Answer had a litter of kittens when she found out." He waved Dydit over and passed on the news.

  Dydit started laughing, and the black colt tried to buck him off. "Now, quiet down you turkey. You do realize, Nil, that our own witches are probably going to take it out on us, don't you?"

  Nil chuckled. "I'll just look sweet and innocent, and pretend I have no opinion on the matter. After all, it's just a custom, not a law. There isn't anyone to enforce the matter." He cleared his throat. "Except Answer."

  "Hmm, we could argue that the Karista environment was such that adding the option of a witch adopting their practices isn't so much scandalous, as simply practical." Dydit's eyes twinkled. "Adding, of course, that we wouldn't dream of marrying a witch ourselves."

  Nil pursed his lips and nodded thoughtfully. "Never's right. You do have a death wish."

  Garit perked up at that. "Never? I think Xen's mentioned her, err."

  "Xen? Met him have you? My grandson, and Never's." Dydit looked smug.

  "We were in the same two year rotation." Garit grinned. "My uncle Rufi asked me to keep an eye on him, but it seemed to work out the other way around."

  Nil raised his eyebrows. "Really? I always thought he was much too nice to be allowed out alone."

  "The sword fighting ability tended to keep people from pushing him around," Garit frowned. "But generally speaking very few people ever tried. He was nice, but not naïve. He finds most people out-and-out funny when they try to get snooty. They tend to retreat, baffled, when he doesn't respond properly. I guess most of us aren't used to people who just don't take offense."

  They looked at him in surprise. "You're right." Dydit smiled faintly. "I guess we're just used to the nice boy that rode that horse—bareback and bridle-less, mind you—all over creation, and never caused a problem. Has he learned to not talk out loud to him?" He turned the black colt away and rode two laps of the small pen before dismounting.

  "No, sir. He chats away, replying to and arguing with silences from the horse. Everyone seems to have decided it's one of his more charming eccentricities. And it goes so well with him pretending to be Harry's stable boy. He's got this horrible old dun draft horse trained to occasionally nod, too. It's pretty funny watching the three of them carry on a conversation."

  Nil snickered and intercepted a look from Dydit. "Hey, don't glare at me. He's your grandson. Why don't we give you the tour of the place, it'll keep us all well out of the excitement in the village. Do you know Damien? He's got a bunch of witchy nieces that he visits occasionally."

  "I don't think we've ever been introduced." Damien grinned. "It sounds like I picked a good day to go for a ride."

  Garit nodded. "I just hope I don't have to try to rescue my colonel from the witches."

  They all thought it over. Dydit finally spoke. "Hmm, I suspect Answer will completely ignore him—he's just a man, after all—and concentrate on poor Azure."

  They looked beyond him suddenly. "Oh ho, they're back."

  Young Quicksilver on a big black stallion trotted up grinning. "Justice asked if you two would please stay awa
y until the fireworks are over? Answer is nose to nose with Trump discussing the quality of her training of the Karista Bay Pyramid. Trump says Azure is off on her honeymoon, and no, she isn't going to call her back. Answer said she should send Curious to Karista so the Pyramid has some proper leadership. Trump asked where she was planning on staying, and speculated on whether—or not—any young witches would join her pyramid. Then it started getting nasty, and mother sent me away."

  Nil chuckled and stroked the big stallion's neck. "And I suppose she sent you on Phantom to distract us?"

  "Dad did say something about giving you less dangerous ways to get into trouble." She hopped down, a fair drop for her. "But I'm sure you've already bred all the mares you intended to, and aren't the least bit tempted."

  "Ha! Phantom was with Havi in Rip all Spring." Dydit glanced at the colt he'd been riding. "A few more years and he'll have some competition. Maybe. In the meantime, do let me put your horse away, Granddaughter." He abandoned his colt, stripping off saddle and bridle, and leaving him in the corral.

  "Thank you so much Grandfather." She grinned up at Garit. "And you are sensibly hiding out too, I see."

  "Absolutely. If I didn't feel like a deserter, I'd have bolted for the Fort hours ago." His eyes followed the black horse as Dydit led him away.

  "In this case, putting Phantom up will probably involve putting him in a paddock with several mares. Then next year they'll complain about not having any horses to ride.

  "Old Gods! I understand that. And I swore I wouldn't breed that old mare again." This Damien was equally impressed by Phantom.

  So Garit and Damien got a tour of the Ash stud farm from Quicksilver, rather than Nil.

  Garit was delighted to find Clowny's sire in residence. "So this is Sun Gold. Old Gods! Is he Pyrite's sire? They look a lot alike."