Shari glared at the woman as she said, “Prince Stavin is not at your beck and call.” Then she focused on another woman, ignoring the sputtering outrage. The guards moved to block her from addressing Shari again.
“Get out of my way! Do you hear me? I am Lady Willowmena Renta Tordis Zel’Walkin! My husband is Lord Mayor of Denalvad. Move or I’ll have you—”
Mohriah Zel’Halvis snarled, “You will be silent and leave now, or I’ll have you removed from the inn, and your husband removed from his position as well.”
“How dare you speak to me like that? I should have you flogged within—”
“I am Lady Master Sergeant Mohriah Garland Lissan Zel’Halvis. And as of six moons ago, Lady of Zel’Halvis.” There was suddenly silence in the room. “You will go. Now. Or I’ll have the Guardsmen throw you out.” All the Royal Guards, especially the Guardswomen, had their hands on their hilts as they glared at the woman.
Lady Zel’Walkin’s lips quivered as she took a step back from a lady who was far more powerful than anyone in Denalvad. When she was two steps away, she turned and fled.
* * *
The common room of the inn was almost completely filled with people. Shari and the twins were in one corner, surrounded by the Royal Guards. Around them were what seemed to be every Chosen lady in the city. The sound of so many women talking all at once made Stavin cringe.
Major Zel’Astel met him by the stairs. “Princess Sharindis is holding informal court, Your Highness,” he said as he shook his head. “We’re only allowing one lady close to her at a time.”
“Very good,” Stavin said as he headed in the opposite direction. “I’m not going to interrupt. Just find me a quiet corner where I can have a beer.”
“There is no such thing as a quiet corner in this inn, Prince Stavin,” the major replied with a shake of his head. “About the best I can do is the far corner.”
Stavin nodded and allowed the guards to clear a path to the far side of the room. He and Karlin took seats with their backs to the walls while the guards kept everyone back at least two paces. A serving girl was the only person allowed past their shoulders, and she bowed deeply to Stavin before asking, “What is your pleasure, Prince Stavin and Prince Karlin?”
“Beer,” Stavin answered and looked at Karlin to see an excited expression on his face. “Your mother is going to kill me. A small-beer for Prince Karlin.”
The girl didn’t seem fazed in the least and bowed as she said, “At once, Your Highnesses.” Then she left, squeezing between two guardsmen.
Karlin whispered, “Thank you,” so softly that Stavin could barely hear him.
“Just don’t tattle,” Stavin whispered back just as softly.
The girl returned with two cups, but only one was a common beer mug. The other was the kind of cup inns used for more mild drinks. She set the mugs down and dared a smile and wink at Karlin before turning away.
Karvik had joined them by then and gave Stavin an arch look. “Me first,” he said and both Stavin and Karlin nodded. Karvik took a sip of Stavin’s beer and set the mug down, nodding. “Better than most.” He picked up Karlin’s mug and sipped, and his eyes opened wide at the taste. “Shari’s going to beat you unconscious if she catches you,” he said as he looked at Stavin.
“Don’t tell, Uncle Kar,” Karlin said as he looked up. “Grandpa lets me have a sip of his beer sometimes.”
“Your mom won’t club grandpa if she catches him. Besides,” he chuckled, “it’s grandpa’s job to spoil you.”
Stavin chuckled, then looked expectantly at Karvik. Karvik nodded, saying, “I don’t feel anything, so go ahead. Just don’t let Shari smell Karlin’s breath.”
“We won’t,” Stavin and Karlin answered together, then laughed. Stavin continued, “What’s she doing?” nodding toward the far side of the inn.
“She’s listening to the complaints of the ladies. It sounds like most of them just want to say they talked to Princess Sharindis, but some have real complaints. Major Zel’Astel had the Guardswomen move in closer when one woman got aggressive.”
“How’d Shari handle her?”
“Wonderfully,” Karvik replied with a grin. “It was just after we got back and the woman demanded that Shari bring you down to speak to her. Shari just froze her with a look and replied, ‘Prince Stavin is not at your beck and call.’ Then she shifted her attention to another woman while the guardswomen hustled the offender away. She objected, calling on her status as Lord Mayor Zel’Walkin’s wife, but all the Guardswomen are scions of Chosen houses. They were not impressed, and let her know it.”
Karlin laughed merrily. “Mommy can make a point when she wants to.”
Karvik nodded and said, “Master Sergeant Zel’Halvis made it even more clearly. She pointed out that as of six moons ago when her father died, she has been the Lady of Zel’Halvis. She outranks all of the ladies in this town, and they know it.” His grin was just a little evil as he looked at Stavin.
“How so?” Stavin asked.
“Zel’Halvis is in the royal line. She’s just behind Gavlin and Dahvin in line to the throne.”
“Oh!” Stavin said in a surprised tone. “I didn’t know that. How did you?”
“Dahv told me when they were in Kel’Kavin. Zel’Halvis is a lot like Zel’Fordal; big title, little estate. She’s letting her little brother run things, and has designated him and his son as her heirs. She’s not interested in having children of her own.”
“Why not?” Karlin asked, studying Karvik intently.
“Something you’ll understand when you’re older,” Karvik replied and smiled at the look of disgust on Karlin’s face.
“It’s something lovely-dovey, isn’t it?” the boy asked as an expression of distaste twisted his handsome young features.
“Yes,” Karvik replied. “Yes, it’s something lovey-dovey.” Stavin looked at Karvik curiously, and Kar reached up and stroked one finger down the back of his right ear.
Stavin’s back stiffened and his head snapped around toward the guardswomen. Master Sergeant Zel’Halvis had her back to him, but her hair was tied back so he could see her ears. She wore a single ruby stud in her right ear. Another of the women close to her wore a matching stud in her left ear.
Stavin shifted his attention back to Karvik and raised his eyebrows. At Karvik’s nod, he looked at Karlin. “Yes, you’ll understand in a few years.”
Karlin sipped his beer and shook his head. “I hate it when you say that. I really hate it.”
Stavin chuckled. “I hated it as well, Karli, but the private lives of our friends are not something we can courteously, or honorably, discuss without their permission. You will understand in a few years, and you’ll also understand why we don’t discuss it.”
Karlin gave his father an eloquent look, then sipped his small-beer again. “This is good.”
“Just don’t drink it all at once,” Stavin cautioned him. “Make it last. There won’t be many chances for you to have one without your mother finding out.”
“All right.”
They sat in relative isolation as the evening approached, and Shari finally stood and addressed the room in general. “Ladies, we thank you for your greeting. The hour is late, and we must get to bed early if we’re to be up with the sun. On behalf of myself and my family, I bid you good night.” There was a general sound of disappointment from the ladies, but the Royal Guards were ushering all of them out of the inn and not letting anyone close to Shari again.
Shari waited until the room was clear before walking over to her men. “That was exhausting,” she sighed, taking Stavin’s second beer and draining it. “What a bunch of grasping old hens.”
Stavin chuckled. “About the same as the roosters we had to deal with.”
The twins joined them at the table and Mahren said, “I’m hungry,” in a petulant tone that only a four-year-old girl could manage.
Stavin looked up at Major Zel’Astel and nodded. Word was passed, and the innkeeper quickly
appeared at their sides. “Yes, Your Highnesses?”
Shari looked at him and asked, “What kind of stew do you have?”
The innkeeper was visibly startled, then answered, “Stew, Your Highness? We have venison stew tonight, Your Highness.”
“I think that would be best for all of us. Stew, bread, butter, vegetables, and not a drop more beer for either of these two.” She fixed Stavin with a glare. “You didn’t really think you could get away with that, did you?”
Stavin smiled sheepishly. “Well--?”
“No, Stavin. Don’t even try. Honestly.”
Stavin let his head sink between his shoulders a little more and said, “Yes, Shari.”
Shari looked back at the innkeeper. “Prince Stavin and Prince Karlin will have milk with their meal. I think all of us will.”
The innkeeper was looking at Shari with wide eyes, then shifted his attention to Stavin. Stavin just shook his head and shrugged. “I have to obey her. You better obey her as well.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the man finally managed to say as he bowed and left.
“What were you thinking?” Shari demanded as she focused on Stavin again.
“One small-beer won’t hurt him, Shari.”
“You know my feelings about that, Stavin.”
“There’s less alcohol in it than wine.”
Shari glared for a moment, then said, “He gets watered wine, Stavin.”
“There’s still less alcohol in it, Shari.”
Shari growled, “Stavin,” in a tone he knew all too well, so he just shut up.
The food arrived soon after, and Shari nodded her approval when Karvik allowed her to taste the stew. “Very good. I think the thing I miss the most from home is simple dishes like stew.”
“Me too,” Stavin said around a mouthful. “This is very good. It’s like mom makes.”
Shari chuckled, “That’s high praise indeed.”
The guards had split into three watch-sections again, and two sections had joined the royal family as they ate. Karvik and his section had remained on guard, so he was standing behind Mahren.
“And what do you think, Mahri?” he asked as he leaned over to look down at her.
“Yummy,” she managed between bites.
“What about your vegetables?” he asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.
Mahren stuck her tongue out and shook her head in answer.
Shari looked at Karvik and said, “Stop encouraging her, Kar.” Shifting her attention to Mahren, she said, “You have to eat your vegetables, Mahri. They’ll make you grow.”
Sahren looked at her plate and said, “Greens are icky.”
“Greens are not icky,” Shari replied in a patient tone. “They are important to you. They have things in them that make you grow strong.”
Sahren and Mahren both looked at their plates, then turned appealing gazes to their father. Stavin just shook his head and said, “Don’t look at me. She makes me eat them as well.”
Shari sighed and muttered, “Sometimes I think I have four children.” Stavin and the rest of the children at the table just laughed.
* * *
Stavin and Shari stayed awake after the children had gone to bed. Shari asked, “Was it about trade?”
Stavin grunted before answering. “Yes, they are upset that we’re letting the Aravad Traders in here to compete with them. You saw the reports. Those arrogant bastards let people starve here. Here, in the center of Evandia, people starved to death. All because the Chosen want to enrich themselves.”
“I wish the Council hadn’t convinced Kalin not to prosecute them,” Shari said in a bitter tone. “It would have sent a message to all our traders that starving people for the sake of a spark was not going to be tolerated.”
Now Stavin chuckled. Shari turned to look at him and asked, “What did you do?” in a suspicious tone.
“I told Karli that he is going to make his first full donation to the Nurturer in the morning.”
Shari propped herself up on one elbow as she looked at her husband. “How did he react?”
Stavin chuckled again. “He was so excited that he forgot to take care of his horse. I had to remind him. Then Kar told him about the time I forgot to take care of my Tru and Charvil had to remind me.”
Shari giggled and said, “Oh, no.”
“At least he doesn’t have to see to every horse in the stable like I did. But in the morning our little boy is going to take a big step toward being a man.”
* * *
Late in the night, when everyone but the watch-section on duty was asleep, three men moved close to the inn. “What do you sense, Master Mage Fel’Walten?” one asked, and another shook his head.
“Nothing. They don’t have any protections of any kind except his armor.”
“As we were told,” the third said as he turned toward his companions. “They think the armor is enough.”
“It is for him, but not for his children or his wife.”
“When we take them, we take Evandia,” the first man said.
The other two replied, “As Lebawan commands,” in unison. Then all three eased away from the inn and vanished into the night.
Chapter 4
THE ROYAL PARTY HEADED OUT EARLY the next morning, and Stavin gave Major Zel’Astel his orders. “Find the Temple of the Nurturer and stop there.” When the major gave him a curious look, he continued. “Prince Karlin will be making his first donation this morning.” That drew a small, satisfied smile from the major and the men and women around him. The Goddess Sahren the Nurturer was worshiped by most of the Chosen in Evandia. Her place in the pantheon of the Empire of Luxand was honored above all but the ancient Gods Above and Below.
“As you command, Prince Stavin,” was his only reply, then he got his people organized.
The ride was not that long, just nine spans, and Stavin let loose a long, low whistle when he saw the temple. “That’s bigger than the temple in Twin Bridges.”
“Sure is,” Karvik agreed.
The Temple of Lady Sahren was huge. Three stories tall, and at least two dragons across the front, there were too many windows to count. The walls were white-washed with lime, and orange clay tiles formed an attractive counterpoint on the roof. Shutters beside each window were painted the same color as the tiles. There was even a tiled roof over the porch area, shielding the door from the weather.
Across the front of the building, fruit trees had been planted in neat rows. Stavin thought they looked like pear trees by the shape of the leaves. Each tree had a small thicket of berry vines wrapped around the base, taking advantage of the trunk as a trellis.
The entire procession, with the exception of the carriage and cargo wagons, rode to the front of the temple and dismounted. Stavin’s feet had barely touched the ground before the door opened and a dozen priestesses hurried out.
The lead priestess bowed and said, “Be welcome, Prince Stavin and Princess Sharindis,” as her followers bowed behind her.
“We thank you, Priestess,” Stavin replied as he and Karlin bowed. Shari and the twins were bowing right behind them. When he stood, he looked at Karlin and asked, “Do you remember the ritual?”
Karlin looked up at his father and nodded, then stepped forward and bowed to the priestess once again. “Priestess, I wish to make a donation to your temple for the benefit of the poor.”
The priestess bowed her head deeply. “Receive our thanks in return, Prince Karlin, for every spark will feed a family for a day.” She turned and motioned to the box that was mounted near the door. Lady Sahren’s Shepherdess and Lamb was carved on the front.
Karlin stepped forward and took a deep breath, then spoke loudly as he said, “Five gold crowns for the Gods Above. Six silver crowns for the Ages of Man, and seven copper sparks for the Provinces of the Empire.” He paused and displayed each of the coins as he spoke, and put them in the box one at a time as the ritual demanded, then turned and bowed deeply to the priestess.
Th
e priestess bowed deeply in return, then smiled at Karlin’s pleased expression. She turned to Stavin and Sharindis and bowed once more. “Your Highnesses, it is a pleasure to see the royal family honoring the old ways. On behalf of myself and my sisters, we thank you.”
Shari answered, as she and Stavin had agreed before the morning meal. “It is our honor to remember the old ways, and our pleasure to complete the ritual. We are bringing our children up to honor the rituals of our past, and make them the rituals of our future.”
The priestess gazed at her in silence for a moment, then stepped forward and spoke softly to Stavin and Sharindis. “It brings joy to my heart to hear that. You were well chosen, Prince Stavin, by the dragon as well as by our good King Kalin. May the blessings of the Lady follow you and your family through all your days, in whatever land you roam.” She looked at Karlin and smiled again at the expression on his face. Karlin looked as if he could hardly contain his joy.
Stavin bowed silently, as did Shari. Then the priestess turned away and led her fellow priestesses into the temple. When the door closed, Stavin asked, “How does that suit you, Karli?” Karlin’s bright smile and wide eyes was answer enough.
Stavin turned away as the guards stepped forward. While none of them were making the full ritual offering, every one of them was making some donation. Some a silver crown. Some just a few sparks. Karvik led the Warriors forward last and smiled as his men each dropped a silver crown into the box. Then he added a gold crown.
He said, “You know, that’s probably a year’s worth of donations,” as he walked away.
One of the other Warriors looked over his shoulder and said, “I think that’s what the Warmaster had in mind, Sir.”
Karvik chuckled and nodded. “Probably,” he agreed as they continued to walk toward their horses. “After yesterday, that is probably exactly what he had in mind.”
* * *
The Coravian Conflict (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 5) Page 4
