Pelya whispered into Ebudae’s ear, “They didn’t say anything about Zaan or . . .”
“Well that settles that,” Commander Coodmur said interrupting her, standing and patting Ebudae on the back. “Nicely done, Milady.”
Ebudae stood and curtseyed after stepping away from the chair. “Thank you, Commander.”
“I have recruits to terrorize after dinner. We’re doing nighttime drills.” He bowed to her before giving Pelya a hug that lifted her off the ground. “You come talk to me whenever you’re ready, lass,” he told her while waggling a finger.
Pelya nodded. “Yes, Uncle. I will.”
Clutz, Grinkin and Florsy approached Ebudae. “Thank you for all you did. You ever need anything, you come see us,” Grinkin told her.
“You’re welcome, and I will.” Ebudae smiled at them and hoped they wouldn’t try to hug her. Luckily, she escaped, but they hugged Pelya all the more fiercely for it before leaving.
“Lady Pallon,” Sir Imbra said from behind her. Ebudae turned in surprise, thinking he was talking about her grandmother for a brief moment. “May we give you a ride home?”
“No thank you. I have my carriage.”
“May we visit with you then? It’s extremely important.” Sir Imbra’s expression was grave.
“Of course. You may follow my carriage if you like.” Ebudae was curious and a little concerned.
“Will Frath and Pelya be accompanying you?” he asked.
“I know Pelya is. I’m not sure about her father.” Ebudae looked and saw they were talking to Captain Zephan.
“I’ll ask.” He moved to join the conversation, leaving Ebudae alone with Appana.
“My behavior was atrocious, Milady,” The priestess said.
The genuine apology stunned Ebudae. “Thank you, Your Holiness.” She decided to explain a little as a peace offering. “I learned magic younger than I should have and have spent all my life in the manor reading books. I’m also talented. It sounds lame, but it’s the truth.”
“Thank you for telling me.” She smiled. “How do you and Pelya heal if I may ask?”
The question stunned Ebudae. She had completely forgotten about it as she usually did. The priestess shouldn’t have remembered the incident either though. It was part of the enchantment. The mark clamped down on her jaw. Ebudae couldn’t say anything.
“Never mind. I see that you are unable to tell me. Therefore, I will not persist.” Appana curtseyed and turned to join Sir Imbra, leaving Ebudae to stare at her back in astonishment. The priestess was able to avoid being affected by the dragon mark and was also aware that it held a guise over Ebudae that prevented her from talking.
Pelya gestured for Ebudae to join them. When she did, Captain Zephan asked, “May we adjourn to your manor, Milady? There are matters we need to discuss with you.”
“I’ve invited Sir Imbra over . . .” Ebudae wasn’t sure if Captain Zephan was including him in the request.
The knight spoke first. “I believe our information may be important to each other.”
Captain Zephan chewed on her lip for a moment. “Very well. I believe you may be right and your assistance has proven to be valuable at every step.”
“Then let us resume the conversation at my estate,” Ebudae said. She was slightly surprised and pleased when everyone agreed, accepting her as Lady Pallon and according her the respect due her station.
***
Ebudae sat at the head of the dining table. To her right Pelya, Frath and Captain Zephan were enthusiastically digging into the mouthwatering food Bubbo had cooked. Sir Imbra and Appana sat on her left, also enjoying the food.
“Give my regards to your cook, Milady,” Sir Imbra said. “I usually can’t get Appana to eat more than three bites of a meal.”
Appana turned bright red. “I’m usually not hungry, but this is wonderful.”
“It is,” Captain Zephan agreed. “Who is your cook?”
Ebudae finished chewing her own bite. “His name is Bubbo. Frath hired him for me along with Bubbo’s sister . . .”
“Poolu,” Kitta said. She poured Appana more wine. The seneschal was taking care of everyone else while Tina looked after Ebudae and Pelya.
“Yes, Poolu. Frath also hired Kitta as my seneschal,” Ebudae said with a gesture toward Kitta.
“It’s my honor, Milady,” Kitta said as she moved to top off Sir Imbra’s glass. “I’ll inform Bubbo of your compliment, Sir Knight.”
“Thank you, Kitta.” Sir Imbra took a sip of the wine.
“Kitta, will you excuse us for a while?” Captain Zephan asked. “We have matters to discuss and need privacy.”
“Of course, Captain.” Kitta nodded and glanced at Tina who was standing behind Ebudae.
“Tina will serve us during the meeting,” Ebudae told the seneschal. Kitta bowed and left the room. To Captain Zephan, Ebudae said, “I trust Tina with my life and secrets. She’ll stay.”
Captain Zephan frowned. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. She has been with me since I can remember.”
“Very well.” The captain shrugged. “I wanted to speak to you and Pelya regarding certain matters that weren’t discussed during the trial and need to remain secret. I also wanted to let you know, Sergeant,” she told Frath. Then she looked at Sir Imbra and sighed. “I probably shouldn’t include the two of you in this conversation, but you already know some things.”
“We do not have loose lips, if that helps your decision, Captain,” Appana said.
“If I thought you did, I wouldn’t have agreed to your presence here,” she said with a smile. “I’m also curious about the information you have.”
“Is any of this about Zaan, the Rojuun?” Pelya asked. Ebudae knew it had been eating at her the whole day.
“My information is,” Sir Imbra said. “In fact, Zaan is at the Temple of Reanna now. He has sought asylum and we’ve granted it. In return, he’s told us a great deal about his people and why they’re here.”
“We spent the day talking to him yesterday,” Appana added.
“I would like very much to hear about that in addition to how he escaped our grasp,” Captain Zephan said. “I also have some information about the Rojuun, but that’s not the main reason I wanted to speak to the girls.”
“Are we in trouble for some reason?” Ebudae asked. She didn’t think they would be, but the worry had been nagging at her.
“No! Not at all,” Captain Zephan reassured her. “You and Pelya have been exemplary in your actions. We’re here because you uncovered much more than you may have realized.”
“Please tell us,” Pelya pleaded. “I’m dying of curiosity.”
Captain Zephan turned her chair toward the head of the table so she could address the girls more directly. “Your involvement started at Carnival with Aphry’s troupe and the rescue of her brother. You may have noticed that neither of you were asked about that incident, nor was it mentioned at the trial.”
“Yes!” Pelya exclaimed. “Aphry and Jovias were imprisoned and forced to sign over their stages.”
“I figured that was one of the small details the magistrate was going to have the clerks look over,” Frath said.
“No. In fact, that was the biggest crime Master Thanzin was committing on Master Blavoci’s behalf.” Captain Zephan crossed one leg over the other and folded her hands over her stomach, relaxing from the meal. “They were in the process of buying up everything in Carnival, not just the stages, but all of the vendors and shops that provided services like costumes and the such.”
“That’s impossible. Nobody could do that without being noticed,” Frath said with a shake of his head.
“Not to mention how much it would cost,” Ebudae pointed out.
“They had the deeds to one out of every ten stages and nearly half of the shops that supplied goods to Carnival.” Captain Zephan paused to appreciate the looks of shock before continuing. “Much of it was purchased legitimately, but Carnies don’t like to work for anyon
e as a general rule, so Thanzin was beginning to resort to kidnappings and intimidation.”
“That’s just unbelievable that they thought they would get away with it,” Appana said with a shake of her head.
“If it weren’t for these young ladies, they would have gotten a lot further,” the captain said with a gesture to Pelya and Ebudae. “It was the threat to Pelya that got Commander Coodmur involved and he pulled on every string he had in order to get the High Council to agree to the coordinated sting and immediate trial.” She paused again to let that sink in.
“Uncle Gilron made all of this happen . . .” Pelya trailed off in stunned silence.
“Yes. He made all of it happen to protect you.” Captain Zephan smiled gently. “And everyone involved did too. I gladly called in a few favors of my own. Captain Pumosa did too and there were others.”
Pelya tucked her chin against her chest and looked at her hands in her lap. Ebudae was upset for her friend. “That’s a lot of pressure to put on someone. Pelya doesn’t want people to do so much for her. You wouldn’t do that for anyone else and now she probably feels like she’ll have to save the world at least three times to make up for it.”
Pelya wiped her eyes and looked at Ebudae gratefully. Frath put a comforting arm around Pelya’s shoulders.
“She’s already paid any debt she may feel,” the captain said. They looked at her in confusion. “What Pelya doesn’t realize, and most people outside the Guard don’t realize, is that Pelya inspires us. Before she came to us, the Dralin City Guard was suffering. Morale was at historic low. Crime and evil were gaining ground and we found ourselves hiding from it instead of confronting it.”
Realization dawned on Frath’s face. “You’re right. It was bad, but I thought it had always been like that. Lately it feels like we’ve been doing more and more good.” He frowned. “Because of Pelya?”
“Yes. Because of Pelya. It’s surprising, I know, but she has changed the City Guard by being here.” The captain sat up straight and looked at Pelya intently. “We fight for you because you inspire us. Even as a baby, you changed our morale. Every time any one of us sees you, it brightens our day and reminds us why we joined the Guard.”
“I don’t understand,” Pelya said in confusion. “I haven’t done anything.”
“People sometimes underestimate the power of just being there. You didn’t have to do anything to inspire us. Just seeing you, so young and vulnerable, did that. Then as you grew up, you looked at us with hope and awe.” The captain leaned forward. “You saw good in every one of us. It was clear in your eyes. There have been times when I’ve had a hard decision to make and I’ve thought of your beautiful blue eyes staring into my soul. We all do.”
“It’s true,” Ebudae admitted. “You’re so much better than me and anyone I know.”
The admission horrified Pelya. “Ebudae, no! You’re amazing and you can do so many things I couldn’t even begin to comprehend.”
“But I’m not good.” Ebudae frowned. “I don’t mean to say I’m evil, it’s just that . . .” She took a deep breath and started over. “I haven’t told you this, but there’s something about you that’s vitally important to the world. It is a lot of pressure for you and I hate that, but I can’t help thinking that the effect you’re going to have in the world is epic like in the stories bards tell at Carnival.”
Pelya stared at her in horror.
“Being blessed is a great burden,” Appana said, her honey voice soothing the air like a salve. “I believe you are blessed, young Pelya. I don’t even think you have to do anything to create a positive effect on everyone around you if that helps you come to terms with it. But I’ve seen you in action and you desperately try to do good in the world. Whether that’s because you think it’s expected of you or because it is in your nature, I do not know.”
“You don’t have to come to terms with all of that right away if you do not wish to,” Sir Imbra told Pelya. “Take your time. In truth, you never have to come to terms with it if you do not wish.”
“I don’t?” The thought obviously hadn’t occurred to Pelya.
“Of course not.” The knight smiled gently. “Many tortured souls go through life not coming to terms with little things that affect their life. To ask you to handle such a great thing would be unreasonable. Just understand that you change people who know you. It may not be fair or even right, but you do.”
Pelya thought about it for a minute and everyone remained silent to let her do so. She looked up at her father who responded by simply kissing her forehead. With a deep sigh, she finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll think about that.” Pelya crossed her legs in the chair and held her glass of wine in her lap. “But why did Master Blavoci want to own all of Carnival?”
“Ah yes.” Captain Zephan stretched before continuing with the explanation. “We’re not entirely sure to be honest, but it seems to have something to do with the Rojuun. Blavoci has an exceptional amount of gold at his disposal. What the magistrate didn’t tell anyone was that over five hundred thousand gold pieces were confiscated.”
Frath gave a low whistle. “I don’t know of anyone who has that much money.”
Pallon Estate let Ebudae know that she had that much and more by communicating directly to her mind. Ebudae took a large gulp of wine and didn’t say anything.
“I know why they want Carnival. The Rojuun, Zaan, explained it,” Sir Imbra said. Attention turned to him. “Rojuun live in extensive systems of caves, primarily in the Caaldith Mountains to the north and east. However, they believe humans to be servants placed on Ryallon to serve them.”
“I remember him saying something like that to us,” Pelya said.
Sir Imbra nodded. “Master Blavoci has been helping a faction that wants to subjugate humans rather than treating us respectfully. All of the people that Blavoci has been taking are being shipped to Rojuun territories to serve them.”
The revelation was stunning. Frath snapped his fingers. “Is that why people have been disappearing more often than they ever used to? It seems to get worse every year.”
“It’s been noticed in many of the temples as well,” Sir Imbra said.
“It’s been noticed by the High Council as well.” Captain Zephan hesitated. “This is of the highest confidentiality.” She waited until they all nodded. “Thousands of people have disappeared from Dralin in the last twenty years, probably more than we realize because it’s impossible to get a census of the population. It may even be as many as twenty or thirty thousand.
Appana nodded somberly. “The temples try to keep track of the poor and twenty thousand is a modest amount. I believe representatives have been in touch with the High Council, so that may be where they got the numbers.”
“Most likely,” Captain Zephan agreed. “We don’t know how many Master Blavoci is responsible for, but it looks like it may be in the thousands. There are likely smaller organizations in Dralin that are involved as well.”
Sir Imbra had a piece of potato impaled upon his fork and was gazing at it as he spun it around in a circle. “Zaan said there was, but his faction of Rojuun is able to handle a lot of that. Blavoci’s organization had become too powerful though.” He bit the evasive piece of potato.
“Is that why he kept getting captured?” Pelya asked with a smirk.
“He’s a bit clumsy,” Sir Imbra said after swallowing his bite. “Zaan said that the Rojuun have vast amounts of gold and gems at their disposal though and that’s where Blavoci got all that money. They’re funding the takeover of Carnival in addition to the kidnapping of humans for slavery.”
“Why do they want Carnival though?” Captain Zephan asked in confusion. “We just can’t figure that part out.”
“It’s stupid and I don’t believe it,” Appana said in disgust.
Sir Imbra nodded. “Zaan told us that the Rojuun are artists and they desire Carnival so that they have a place to perform. They’re interested in the parks too, because they like performing in them.”
Nobody said anything for a moment. Captain Zephan shook her head. “That’s very odd. I don’t believe it either. But the motivations for trying to take over Carnival are best left to the High Council and the magistrates.” She stood. “It’s a nice night, so I’m going to walk back to the Guard District. I need to clear my mind and let this food settle. With the exception of information you need to share in your duties, Sir Imbra, can I count on all of you not to discuss this meeting?”
They agreed and stood with the Captain who hugged Frath and Pelya before coming to Ebudae. “Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Pallon. I want you to know that the Guard cares for you as well. If you need anything, please let me know.”
“Thank you. The Guard has my support in return. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you in the future too.”
“I will.” Captain Zephan shook Sir Imbra’s hand and nodded to Appana. “Thank you to the two of you for all you’ve done. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to aid you.”
“Thank you, Captain. It’s been a pleasure,” Sir Imbra said. He waited until the captain left the dining room and turned to Ebudae. “May I call upon you soon to guide me through the ruins to the temple you and Pelya mentioned?”
Ebudae had forgotten about that. “Yes, of course. Please give me some time to become settled though.”
He grinned like a little boy. “Excellent. I look forward to it.” Sir Imbra kissed Pelya’s hand much to the young warrior’s surprise. “It has been a joy to fight by your side, young Pelya Jornin. It is fated that we see each other again. Until such time, may Reanna’s light guide your way.”
“Thank you, Sir Imbra. I’m actually looking forward to that time,” Pelya told him.
The knight clasped Frath’s hand and shoulder in friendship. “You are a man I admire more than any other. May your soul know peace, my friend.”
Frath clasped hand and shoulder in return. “Thank you . . .” He tilted his head. “That’s not the blessing I expected.”
“I think you need peace more than sunlight, my friend.” Sir Imbra clapped Frath’s shoulder and turned to leave. Appana curtseyed before following the knight.
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