The procession continued toward Coravia, stopping in each town for the night, and holding informal court each evening. It took another sixteen days to reach the border town of Kandalvad. The city actually straddled the border, with one street running north and south denoting the change. It was a wide avenue with a slightly raised portion down the middle where a wall had once stood. The wall was long gone, but it was still called Wall Street.
The royal inn was located on the Coravian side of the border, and the guardsman who had been sent ahead was waiting at the crossing with an array of Evandian and Coravian Army officers in full dress kit. The guardsmen and women in the front peeled off in near-perfect precision north and south along Wall Street to allow the royal party to reach the border. When they stopped, a man in the uniform of an Evandian Army colonel stepped forward and bowed.
“Prince Stavin, Your Highnesses, I am Colonel Dahlvan Zel’Garval, commander of Fort Zel’Keldan. It is a pleasure to meet you at last.”
Stavin returned the bow. “The pleasure is ours, Colonel. Is our crossing arranged?”
“Of course, Your Highness.” He turned and bowed slightly to a Coravian Army general, and that gentleman stepped forward. “This is Lord General Janival Kel’Eshen, commander of Fort Kel’Justat.”
The Coravian general bowed deeply. “Prince Stavin, Princess Sharindis, Prince Karlin, Princess Sahren, Princess Mahren, I am very pleased to meet you all.” He bowed very low again, then straightened and smiled up at Stavin. “It is my honor and pleasure to welcome you to Coravia.”
Stavin bowed in the saddle. “Thank you, Lord General Kel’Eshen.”
The general motioned for Stavin to proceed, and walked beside his horse as they headed toward the inn. “Prince Stavin, before you leave tomorrow I was hoping you would consent to visit the fort. Please understand that we mean no disrespect, but my men and I are very interested in your fighting ability. Your legend is a favorite topic of discussion among our soldiers.”
“And ours,” Colonel Zel’Garval said from Stavin’s off side. “If such an exhibition can be arranged, my people and I would appreciate an invitation.”
Stavin smiled and bowed his head. “I believe something can be arranged.”
The inn was a more modern structure than the others had been. It was also larger, nearly twice the size of the inn back in Denalvad, and even had tables arranged outside the bottom floor on a wide veranda. Stavin looked up and pursed his lips in a silent whistle. “Four floors?” he asked, not really expecting an answer.
“Yes, Your Highness. The old inn was lost to a fire long ago, and the new inn was built to be more accommodating.” A man hurried forward, and General Kel’Eshen nodded toward him. “This is Nordan Fel’Janda, innkeeper of the Royal Swan.”
The innkeeper went to his knees and bowed his head deeply, then said, “Prince Stavin, I am honored to welcome you and your family to my humble establishment. The royal suite is prepared and awaiting you.”
Stavin nodded his head deeply. “Thank you, Innkeeper Fel’Janda.”
Shari and the children had already dismounted. Shari said, “Innkeeper, I think the bathing room is the first place I’d like to go,” as she placed both hands behind her hips and stretched her back. “I’m still not used to riding that long at a stretch.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” the innkeeper said as he rose to his feet, bowing low and then turning to lead the way.
“You go ahead, Shari,” Stavin said as he placed a hand on Karlin’s shoulder. “We’ll see to the horses and join you in a little while.” Shari smiled as she led the girls, daughters, maids, and guardswomen alike, into the inn. Avrin and Rahlf had already taken the travel-bags off the carriage and followed them.
“The stables?” Karlin asked one of the servitors, taking his cue from his father’s example earlier in their trip, and the man immediately bowed and led the way.
“Well done, Karlin,” Karvik said so that only Karlin and Stavin heard him. Each of them led not only his own horse, but also that of one of the princesses. That was another lesson that Karlin was learning.
When the horses were seen to, Stavin and Karlin joined the rest of their family in the bathing room. Stavin climbed into the tub with Shari while Karlin joined his sisters.
“You know,” Karlin said from across the room, “I’ll be glad when these two can see to their own horses.”
“Don’t have to,” Sahren said loudly.
“Mama doesn’t,” Mahren agreed.
“But I can if I need to,” Shari said as she looked at her daughters. “We’re just lucky that Daddy and Karli and Uncle Kar are willing to do it for us right now. When you are big enough, you’ll have to learn how to tend your horse just like Karli did.”
Karlin looked at Mahren and splashed her. She and Sahren both splashed him back and soon they were engaged in a two-on-one splashing match that threatened to empty their tub.
“That’s enough!” Stavin bellowed, and the fight ended. “This isn’t the bathing pool in Kel’Kavin, or the swimming pool at Zel’Fordal House. If you’ve got that much extra energy I can find something for you to do.”
All three of them said, “Yes, Daddy,” in a sullen tone as the girls’ maids moved closer with towels.
“Come out now, darlings, and let your brother finish his bath while we get you dressed,” Helva said, holding her towel ready for Sahren. Her twin sister was right beside her with a towel for Mahren.
“Dress them nicely, ladies,” Shari instructed, “we’re likely to be up late holding court with the local ladies.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” both maids answered as they bundled their charges off.
“That goes for you two as well,” Shari said as she stood and stepped out of the tub. “Kandalvad is the last major city in Evandia and the first in Coravia, so I expect every Chosen lord and lady from both sides of the border to come looking for us.”
Stavin said, “Yes, Your Highness,” in exactly the same tone as the maids, and got a raised fist in reply. He laughed and sank under the water as Shari walked away with her robe wrapped around her.
Stavin and Karlin didn’t waste any time in the bath, and soon Avrin and Rahlf were drying them off and helping them into their finery. Stavin spoke without looking at Karlin. “I think we’ll try and split the lords off to one side of the room while your mom and sisters see to the ladies.”
Karlin glanced over his shoulder and laughed as he said, “Divide and conquer, just like Stratagem!”
Stavin laughed back. “Yep. But don’t call it that. We are just going to see to the concerns of the lords since that is what we are most familiar with.”
Karlin grinned. “Sure, Daddy. Whatever you say.” Then he giggled.
* * *
When Stavin and Karlin were properly attired, they went down to the common room to find that Shari’s prediction had already come true. The room was so crowded that Stavin could only see the top of the walls, and the dazzling spectacle made Stavin blink. Every lord and lady was dressed as if for the king’s court, presenting themselves at their finest.
Once Stavin was recognized, the noise in the room subsided, but never completely stopped, as the lords and ladies acknowledged his presence. Stavin and Karlin bowed slightly before taking the last two steps down into the room, and the Chosen of two kingdoms rose to greet them.
Karvik and ten guards joined on Stavin and Karlin and guided them over to the far side of the room. There were some nasty glares directed at them for their refusal to allow anyone near their princes, but no one dared to actually make a scene. Royal Guardsmen seldom showed deference to anyone but those they guarded. And not always to them.
When Stavin and Karlin had taken seats, the innkeeper appeared at Karvik’s side. “Your wish, Your Highnesses?” he asked as he looked at Stavin.
“Beer for me,” Stavin replied, then gave Karlin an apologetic shrug. “Sorry, Karli, but Shari threatened me. Milk, kava, or tea?”
Karlin gave his father a sour look and said, �
��Kava.”
The innkeeper vanished, and Karvik shook his head slowly at Karlin. “You know what your mom said, Karli.”
“I know, Uncle Kar, but it’s not fair.”
“Such is life. Your dad and I didn’t even get small-beer until we were ten. At least you’re ahead of us.”
“No, we didn’t. We didn’t get real beer until our fourteenth year, and not much of it then,” Stavin continued. “Your mom is pretty tolerant. Grandma Mari only let me have one beer before I left the valley.” Stavin grinned at Karvik. “She even got to Sahrena to ensure I didn’t get any over there. By the time I could have ordered one on my own, I was so used to it that I didn’t even think about asking.”
“And if you had, she’d have told your mom anyway,” Karvik said as he laughed back. “I only got two, and that was just because Dad snuck me a second when mom wasn’t watching.”
Stavin was struggling not to laugh as he said, “Barvil is the bravest man I know.”
Karlin heaved a huge sigh and muttered, “I can’t wait till I’m ten.”
The night wore on slowly as the Chosen lords and ladies of Kandalvad flocked to the Royal Swan for a glimpse of the royal family. For some, that was enough. For others, nothing would do but a personal interview with Stavin or Shari. Once Stavin had finished half his beer, he signaled Karvik to allow the lords through.
Karvik bowed and announced, “Lord Garvan Zel’Verdan.”
Stavin smiled and inclined his head slightly. “Greetings, Lord Zel’Verdan. Is there something I can do for you?”
The lord was an older man and bowed before answering. “Prince Stavin, there is a rumor that you will be putting on an exhibition of your martial prowess in the morning. I would appreciate and invitation to such a display.”
Stavin bowed his head slightly. “I was asked to visit Fort Kel’Justat tomorrow morning for that purpose. If you or any of your friends wish to attend, I have no objections.”
The old lord bowed deeply. “Thank you, Prince Stavin. Many of us are very interested in your abilities.” He smiled and bowed again, then turned away and left. HE spoke to several other lords as he left and many of them joined him as he walked away.
Karvik looked at Stavin and sighed. “I don’t like putting you out there like that, Stave. Especially in the middle of a fort full of soldiers and weapons.” Then he shrugged. “What did Kahn call you that time? A travelling show?”
Stavin chuckled. “Something like that. Who is next?”
Karvik let a very young man through next, announcing him as, “Lord Karlin Zel’Kevlan.”
Lord Zel’Kevlan stopped and bowed very deeply, but his eyes were on Karlin. “Prince Karlin, Prince Stavin, I am very pleased to meet you. Prince Karlin, our shared name is a source of intense curiosity for me. I was named for my father, as was he, and so it has been for the first-born sons of my family for more than a thousand years. Karlin Sterval Derantis Zel’Kevlan was a Hero of Luxand. I was curious about who you were named after.”
Karlin looked at Stavin, but Stavin just nodded toward the waiting young lord. Taking a deep breath, Karlin explained. “In Kel’Kavin, the first-born son is named to honor a renowned Warrior in the father’s line. I was named for my great-great-grandfather, Warmaster Karlin Kel’Aniston. Warmaster Kel’Aniston could claim one hundred and six kills in combat. That was the record until Grandpa Charvil and Grand-Uncle Barvil broke it. And Dad, of course.”
The young lord bowed deeply and turned away, then turned back with an odd expression on his face and asked, “Do they call you Karli, too?” Karlin sighed and nodded, and the young man turned away.
Stavin looked at his son and asked, “And just what is wrong with being called Karli?”
Karlin sank into his chair a little and muttered, “It sounds like a girl’s name.”
Stavin’s face took on a thoughtful expression. “It sounds like--Hmm, hadn’t thought of that. Are you being teased about it?” he asked, looking carefully at his son. Being teased about something he couldn’t do anything about was all too familiar to Stavin.
“Sometimes,” Karlin whispered back.
“What times?”
“At home. In classes. Some of the boys have been saying I must be a girl because Carli is a girl’s name.” There was a hint of real anger in his voice—and hurt as well.
Stavin was feeling a touch of anger as well as he asked, “And what do you say to that?”
“What I just said. And that they can take it up with you if they want to. Most of them just shut up and walk away, but some of them seem happy that they made me mad.”
Stavin sat back and thought as Karvik turned toward them and said, “Not till we get back, Stave.”
“No, but I’ll have a word with Shari about it.” He smiled as he looked back at his son. “We’ll try to limit the number of times we call you Karli in public. But in private you’ll still be our little Karli, all right?”
“All right, Daddy.”
The rest of the evening was taken up with lords, young and old, all seeking to have just a few words with the visiting princes.
Chapter 5
AFTER THE MORNING MEAL, STAVIN DRESSED in his armor and went downstairs with Karlin at his side. Karvik and Major Zel’Astel met them in the common room. “The girls are all staying in the inn to rest,” Stavin said as soon as he saw Karvik.
“Not surprised,” Karvik replied. “Ready to go show off?”
Stavin chuckled. “I think so.” They left the inn and found both Colonel Zel’Garval and General Kel’Eshen on the veranda, sipping kava at a table near the door. “Good morning, Lords.”
Both men turned and stood, then bowed deeply. “Good morning, Prince Stavin and Prince Karlin,” General Kel’Eshen replied. “There are probably five hundred soldiers and lords waiting in the parade ground for you.”
Stavin nodded and gestured for General Kel’Eshen to lead the way. It was a long walk to the fort, and they were joined along the way by people of every rank, many just joining them for a few dragons then drifting away. Others formed up behind the royal party and followed them all the way to the fort.
Fort Kel’Justat was an impressive edifice dating to the end of the imperial era. It had served as a border point during the last Coravian/Evandian War as well. Three hundred years of peace and prosperity hadn’t diminished its air of strength.
Stavin looked at the fort and then turned toward General Kel’Eshen and said, “I’m impressed.”
The general smiled and bowed as they walked. “With the peace between Coravia and Evandia, the early commanders of the fort used our soldiers as a labor force, rebuilding the original fort into a complex of buildings that covers more than ten times the original area.”
Karvik asked, “Why, sir?”
The general gave Karvik a sharp look, but Karvik’s major’s insignia and twin hollowed stars made him answer more civilly than he otherwise might have.
“Much of it was Crown projects. The granaries and storehouses of the area are all inside the walls. That way if there is a siege, all the food is already protected. Barracks make up nearly half of the fort, and we can house over seven thousand people if we have to. We also have the Archive--”
“Archive?” Stavin interrupted with a bright smile.
“Yes, Prince Stavin. We hold all official documents, or at least accurate copies of them, to keep them safe from fire or theft. Or forgery. There used to be an unfortunate amount of fraud associated with land titles and water rights. This way the official documents can’t be altered.”
Stavin nodded. “A wise precaution, and much more convenient than having to send all the way to the capital for them.”
“Indeed,” General Kel’Eshen agreed. “We also have a school that teaches the children of our soldiers reading, writing, and figures. It was the king’s command in the distant past and has been maintained until now. It helps develop a more informed and active populace. There are three schools out in town that teach the rest of the children
. And tutors for the Chosen children, of course.”
Stavin nodded his agreement. “King Kalin feels much the same way, as did my people in Kavinston. As an apprentice scribe, I learned everything I could, and Shari was actually teaching for two years before I was adopted into the royal family.” He chuckled a little. “Princess Marina spent a winter with us and taught a bit while she was there. Many of the younger children, especially the girls, remember her fondly.”
“How curious,” General Kel’Eshen said in a soft tone.
Stavin chuckled again. “She was bored. Kavinston is a very small, isolated town of about five thousand souls. Once the gap snows in, there is no way to get out and do anything. After spending her whole life in Twin Bridges, it was quite a change.”
Colonel Zel’Garval grinned and shook his head. “I remember the first time I was stationed away from Twin Bridges. I thought I had been exiled to the very wilderness.”
Stavin asked, “Where did they send you?”
“Zel’Marran,” the colonel replied. “Yes, Prince Stavin, I was there when you visited. I was a lieutenant in my third year then.”
Stavin shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you, Colonel.”
Colonel Zel’Garval smiled and shook his head. “No reason you should, Prince Stavin. We weren’t introduced. The general monopolized your time quite thoroughly.”
“General Zel’Fordal was very kind to me,” Stavin said as he looked bashful. “Dahvin and I are close friends now. You made rank remarkably fast.”
The colonel chuckled. “Good timing. I was a captain going up for major when the Andarians attacked. I was promoted and assigned three hundred men from Fort Zel’Fray. We almost missed the war because we were so far away. We only arrived twenty-six days before you did, but we got to see you end the war.” The colonel gestured to the gates before them. “And here we are.”
The gates to Fort Kel’Justat stood open to them, and Stavin marched through with Karlin at his side. The exercise and parade ground was huge. Stavin guessed that it was more than a hundred paces square. Faint lines in the packed dirt made him grin.
The Coravian Conflict (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 5) Page 5
