The Coravian Conflict (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 5)

by Loren K. Jones

  Stavin replied, “Very well, Major. Have your leading element start out and we’ll fall in behind them.” Stavin shifted his attention back to Karvik. “You take the far side of the girls, Kar. I’ll keep Shari beside me.”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Karvik replied with a grin and a bow, then wheeled his horse around to the far side of Mahren. Unlike Stavin, he had managed to retain his first mount, and Chana hardly needed his commands. She seemed to understand what was needed as well as he did. At sixteen years of age, Chana was a matriarch in her own right. She’d given birth to five foals over the years, had a habit of taking any young horses to task if they misbehaved. Mahren was riding Restala, her youngest filly.

  The first thirty Royal Guardsmen led off, and Stavin brought his family in line behind them. Then the royal carriage joined the procession. Next came the remaining twenty Royal Guardsmen of Dragon Watch, and the nine new recruits from Kel’Kavin. The baggage wagons brought up the rear.

  Stavin looked ahead, then stood in his stirrups to look behind them. He let loose a gusty sigh and said, “We look like a parade.”

  Shari laughingly replied, “All we need are jugglers and a menagerie and we would be.”

  “Don’t say that so loudly,” Stavin said as he laughed back. “That would be right in line with what passes for Kalin’s sense of humor.”

  Shari laughed merrily and turned in her saddle, admiring the city as they passed. This was her first trip through Twin Bridges in anything other than an enclosed carriage. Those times she’d left Twin Bridges proper to visit Zel’Fordal House and Lady Glora.

  East Bridge, like her twin city of West Bridge, was really a suburb of Twin Bridges. The cities had grown up around the termini of the twin bridges, though they hadn’t been much more than caravansaries in the early days of the Land of Evand. With peace and prosperity, they had grown as Chosen families sought more land of their own. The area close to the bridges was dominated by the fine houses and mansions of the Chosen, but looming just behind them were the warehouses of the merchants. Often, the Trading Houses were owned, at least in part, by the Chosen lords closest to them.

  House Kel’Aniston, the Trading House that Stavin had founded during his second expedition to Evandia, had a warehouse in East Bridge as well, not too far from the bridge itself. He’d bought it out of pity for a Trader who’d run afoul of the Traders’ Guild and been stripped of his credentials. And his thousand-crown bond. Stavin had paid three thousand gold crowns for House Fel’Hesstan, enough for the Trader and his family to leave Evandia, and then just turned it over to his manager, Corinne Fel’Carvin. The purchase had made Kel’Aniston the third largest trading house in Evandia, much to the chagrin of the Traders’ Guild. Given Stavin’s position as Minister of Trade, as well as a prince, there wasn’t much they could do about it other than sulk.

  Farther along the road through East Bridge were the taverns and inns where common travelers could find beer, wine, food, and lodgings. And beyond them, at the very edge of the city, was the caravansary. It had been moved farther out just two years before by order of King Kalin to make room for more people in East Bridge. Where it had stood were now apartment blocks where the poorest families of the common workmen lived--built and managed by House Kel’Aniston.

  Stavin and Shari shared a grin when they saw the enclosed play yard. It was full of happy, laughing children, with a few old women to keep an eye on them. When the royal party was recognized, all of the women came to the fence and knelt, bowing their heads in respect. Many of the older children joined them. Because of Stavin, many of these people had a better roof over their heads than they could have afforded anywhere else. And that drove many of the other landlords mad, which, truth be told, had been Stavin’s main reason for the project.

  He’d been sickened and infuriated by the landlords charging the poor so much that mothers were prostituting themselves in order to keep their families in even the poorest conditions. But there was no law against it, and Kalin had balked at the idea of interfering too much. So Stavin had simply started construction on several apartment buildings, and offered them for what were indeed ridiculously low prices. He was still turning a profit, though it was slim. At the rates he was charging, the buildings would take a hundred years to pay for themselves, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that he was doing something for his people.

  They passed the apartments and caravansary, and ahead of them was the open road, bordered by fields of grain. Stavin heard Shari cry out in delight as a flock of pheasants flew across their path. The reason for their flight was soon evident. Dozens of men and women, and older boys and girls, were running to the side of the road, each going to his or her knees and bowing their heads deeply. A single file of Royal Guards moved between the commoners and the royal family, but they didn’t try to stop the people from seeing Stavin. He was still regarded as a near-mythic figure in Evandia as the man who’d turned away a whole army single-handedly. Or at least that’s what the bards and minstrels said he’d done. Personally, Stavin thought the sixty-thousand-man army behind him had something to do with it.

  Stavin, Shari, and their children waved at the people, smiling all the while. Stavin knew himself far too well to believe the stories, while Shari knew the stories were just a pale reflection of the man she had married. The kids just loved the attention.

  It took all day to reach the first town on their route. That was as it had been planned by the imperial architects when the province that had been called the Land of Evand had been founded by the Empire of Luxand. This road had been the Imperial Highway and ran from Twin Bridges all the way to Moravad, and on to Lux, the capital city of the Empire. Or the other way around, depending on how you looked at it.

  The city wasn’t much to look at. Being so far into Evandia let it do without walls. It was built mostly of wood, often with a stone foundation and half-walls. The roofs were mostly of thatch, and gave the impression of well-trimmed haircuts. Everything was as neat and orderly as could be expected of a farming community, but it boasted one inn that was fit for a king. Not many kings enjoyed camping on the side of the road. This building was built of all wood, with one of the few cedar-shingle roofs. The wood of the walls was so old, it had turned gray under Aranda’s light. Three floors were evident from the arrangement of the windows. The royal party came to a stop in the yard and Stavin chuckled as the innkeeper rushed out to meet them.

  “Your Highnesses, welcome to Fairlain. I’m Nester Bel’Kordan, keeper of the Silver Squirrel Royal Inn. Please be welcome.” He bowed very low, and Stavin waited until he was standing again to answer.

  “We thank you for your welcome, Innkeeper Bel’Kordan. Have you prepared the royal suite?”

  “Yes, Your Highness. Your messenger arrived just after mid day. The Royal Suite is ready for you and your family.”

  Shari sighed and said, “I’m so glad to hear that,” as she eased out of her saddle. “I’m spending part of tomorrow in the carriage. I’ve never spent that long in the saddle before, and I never want to again.”

  Stavin smiled but wisely kept his mouth shut.

  Karlin and the twins had alternated between their horses and the carriage and were in much better shape than their mother. “Let us help you, Mama,” Karlin said as he and his sisters rushed to her side.

  “Thank you, darlings. Innkeeper, lead the way. I think I’d like a nice hot bath first.”

  The innkeeper bowed deeply, then said, “As you wish, Your Highness. Follow me, please.” Shari and the children followed the innkeeper, and all four of their servants followed them. Behind them came all of the female Royal Guards. That was per their standing orders. Inside was also where the privies were.

  “Your Highness?” Stavin’s butler said from near Stavin’s right leg.

  Stavin looked down and nodded. “Take the travel bags up to the suite, Avrin. Get the drivers to help if you need them. I’m going to walk around a bit. I may not be as sore as Shari, but it’s been a long time since
I spent all day in the saddle.” There was a soft chuckle from his other side, and he didn’t even turn around when he laughed and said, “Shut up, Kar.”

  Karvik laughed out loud now that he’d been caught. “It’s too bad we don’t have a few greenlings along to see to the horses. That has to be the best part about leading an expedition.”

  Stavin laughed again, then dismounted and led his horse toward the stables. Five Royal Guardsmen rushed past him to check them out, then allowed Stavin and Karvik to see to their own horses. The rest of the royal party’s horses were being seen to by the most junior of the guardsmen--the Warriors of Kel’Kavin. Most of them were men Stavin and Karvik had known for years, and were at ease with Stavin in a way few of the Chosen guardsmen ever would ever be. They had known him in training. They had known him before he’d climbed up to the dragon’s cave. One or two had even called him The Runt on occasion. But now they knew him as Senior Warmaster Zel’Andral, the highest ranking Warmaster in their history, and obeyed him as they would obey any Warmaster. Such was their discipline and honor.

  The horses seen to, Stavin led Karvik and the rest in a long walk around the inn. It was a big place, as was to be expected of an inn that had been built to accommodate the emperor. Not that any emperor had ever stayed there. If one had, the name would have the word ‘imperial’ in it somewhere.

  Stavin led his men up to the inn common room. It was a nice place. The common room wasn’t all that large, but it was obvious that someone was spending a lot of effort maintaining it. The walls were of dark wood that had been sanded smooth and polished until they reflected the light. The beams that supported the second floor were as well tended, but they had lighter wood inlaid in intricate patterns.

  There were more Guardsmen than the inn could comfortably hold, but Major Zel’Astel had a solution to that. Twenty of his men, including the Warriors, were going to be standing watch for at least one third of the night.

  “Major Kel’Carin, you and the new men will be integrating into the watches. It’ll spread you out, but I think that’s a good thing. You’ve all got a lot more experience on the road than most of the guards.” He looked around to ensure his men were listening. “Try to pass on some of that knowledge.”

  “Yes, Major,” Karvik replied and bowed, then looked at the Warriors. “You heard the major. Divide yourselves out, three to a watch section. There are a total of sixty-one of us, so sections of twenty.” He looked around to ensure that all the guards were listening. “I’ll be joining the last watch. Ladies,” he paused to look at the female guards, “you’ll be best employed upstairs watching the royal suite. You all need to be available to the royal family. If any of them, especially the children, come down-stairs, two of you will accompany each them. Even Prince Stavin.”

  “Hey!” Stavin protested.

  “Even if he’s in full armor,” Karvik continued. He turned to look Stavin in the eye. “The king’s personal orders to me, and you can’t countermand them.”

  Stavin growled, “Kar.”

  “Don’t even try, Stave. Major Zel’Astel has the same orders, delivered at the same time.”

  Stavin took a deep breath, then blew it out. He muttered, “Figures.”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Major Zel’Astel said, “it does. But don’t worry. We’re all going to try and let you have a little fun on this trip.” He grinned broadly. “But just a little.”

  Chapter 2

  ARANDAR WAS JUST PEEKING OVER THE horizon when Stavin led his family downstairs for the morning meal. The innkeeper and his staff had done a magnificent job of providing for all of them, and the guards ate the same things as the royal family. If any of them thought it was odd that princes and princesses were eating common fare, they kept it to themselves. The Warriors had explained deep in the night that oat porridge, eggs, and lean meat were the best things to eat when riding long distances. Rich foods such as they enjoyed at the palace didn’t mix well with being bounced in the saddle all day.

  Shari was visibly limping as she crossed the common room. “I’m riding in the carriage. I don’t know what made me think I could ride that far on my horse the first day.”

  “We’re going to ride with you, Mama,” Mahren said. “My bottom hurts.”

  Karlin looked at both his parents and said, “I’d like to ride my horse. I don’t feel that sore.”

  “You can ride with me and Uncle Kar,” Stavin said around a mouthful of eggs as he examined his son, “but if you start feeling sore I want you to switch to the carriage. You’ve spent a lot more time in the saddle than your sisters, but this is still going to be a long trip. Don’t overdo it at the beginning.”

  “All right, Dad, but--”

  “No buts, Karli,” Karvik interrupted, drawing Karlin’s attention. “You can be seriously hurt if you try to ride too much too soon. Ease into it.”

  Karlin frowned, but nodded and said, “All right, Uncle Kar.”

  “Good man,” Karvik said as he chuckled and gently punched Karlin’s shoulder. “Ease into it and you’ll be riding all day by the time we reach Moravad.”

  * * *

  Major Zel’Astel came to Stavin’s side and bowed. “Our men and women are fed, and the horses are ready, Your Highness. We’ve put the princesses’ horses behind the carriage, and their tack on the roof. They’ll be available if needed.”

  “Thank you, Major.” Stavin looked at his family and asked, “Are we ready to go?”

  “As ready as we will be.” Shari stood and winced. “I’m so glad we brought extra pads for the carriage seats.”

  Stavin and Karvik escorted Shari and the twins to the carriage and made sure they were comfortable, then checked their own tack before mounting their horses. Stavin nodded to Major Zel’Astel and said, “Lead on, Major.”

  As in Twin Bridges, thirty of the guards rode ahead, then the royal family fell in behind. Stavin and Karvik kept Karlin between them. Stavin was, as always, in his armor, but not all of it. His mail, with all its protections, was on Karlin. The little imp was growing so fast it almost fit him. Stavin had tried to get the girls to wear his under padding, but they were just too small. Karvik was the only one who was close enough to recognize the change.

  “Good thinking,” was his only comment as he ran a finger along Karlin’s arm.

  The trip was routine, each day following the same pattern as the first. One Royal Guardsman would ride ahead of the party at mid day to ensure the inn at the next town was ready for them when they arrived.

  * * *

  It took five days to reach the first major city along their route. Denalvad was surrounded by suburbs of homes and small businesses, and Stavin remembered that the last census had reported that sixty thousand souls called it home. The royal party rode through the city for seven spans before reaching the low wall that marked the boundary of the original city.

  A brace of city guardsmen was waiting there and stood as Stavin approached. “Prince Stavin, we are here to escort you to the city hall,” the leader said with a sketchy bow.

  “The inn first,” Stavin commanded.

  “Our orders are to bring you to Lord Mayor Zel’Walkin, Your Highness,” the leader replied with just a bit too much arrogance.

  Stavin looked the man in the eye and snarled, “I am not subject to the mayor’s orders,” as the Royal Guardsmen crowded close to glare down at the city guards. “The inn. Now.”

  The city guardsmen looked around nervously, then bowed and led the way. The inn was just a short distance along the main thoroughfare, and they were met in the yard.

  “Prince Stavin,” an elegantly dressed man said as he came down the steps, “welcome to the Emerald Eye Royal Inn. The royal suite awaits you.”

  Stavin nodded to the innkeeper, then looked at Shari. “Take the girls and go get settled in. I’m taking Karlin with me to go see what the lord mayor wants.” He carefully didn’t say, Probably wants to whine at me about Trade, in front of the city guardsmen, but Shari had spent too many hours
at his side in the Council not to be able to deduce what was wrong for herself. He looked at Major Zel’Astel and nodded once. “Remain here with two sections. I’ll take Kar and the third section with me.”

  The major smiled wryly, then bowed slightly. “As you wish, Your Highness.”

  Stavin smiled back and shook his head a little. It was still hard for him to give orders to men he’d accepted orders from just a few short years before, but he was getting used to it. He urged his horse toward the waiting city guardsmen and Karlin and Karvik joined him. Behind them in a column of threes rode nineteen Royal Guardsmen. All the guardswomen were, per their standing orders, staying with the princesses.

  The city guardsmen led them at a walk halfway across the city to a large building. It was an impressive edifice, standing four stories tall and two dragons wide.

  Karvik whispered, “Think they’re impressed with themselves?” as they dismounted.

  “Just a little,” Stavin agreed while Karlin stifled his giggles with one hand.

  When the Royal Guardsmen had dismounted, Stavin turned to Karvik and said, “Major, detail your men.”

  Karvik bowed, then turned to the guardsmen and said, “Five men stay with the horses. Five more on the steps. Four on point, five on our heels.”

  Almost as one the guardsmen snapped, “Yes, sir.” No one was surprised when the nine Kel’Kavin Warriors immediately moved to bracket Stavin and Karlin. The rest of the men sorted themselves out with the most junior taking the horses and the rest taking the steps. When they had all reached their positions, Stavin nodded to Karvik and they headed into the city hall.

  The doors of the building were open and a group of people stood waiting in the shade. When they reached the top of the stairs the four Warriors in the lead split two-and-two to the sides and came to a stop, standing at attention with their hands on the hilts of their swords. Stavin, Karlin, and Karvik came to a stop facing the men. When no one said anything, one of the lords stepped forward.