Avrin brought Stavin a plate, then looked at Princess Ellissan. Stavin nodded toward her and said, “Take good care of her, Avrin. I’ll be too busy to need you for most of the day.”
“As you command, King Stavin.” Avrin’s mouth had a slight quirk to it as he spoke, and Stavin shook his head.
“Don’t get too used to that, Avrin.”
Avrin bowed and said, “Of course not, King Stavin.”
Stavin shook his head and saw Sindal giving him a very amused look. Stavin just shook his head again and sighed. May as well let them enjoy it. He turned and ate quickly, then walked away without another word.
Stavin headed for the palace entryway, and ten of his Warriors ran to his side. Stavin glanced at them, then nodded and continued on.
The palace that had been constructed by the early Zel’Darvin governors was truly magnificent. Coravia had been much more affluent than Evandia in those days. They checked every room they passed, and Stavin stayed in the hall until the Warriors had done a thorough inspection.
Stavin began to dread going into the suites of the palace. Not all of them showed signs of a slaughter, but enough did that even the Warriors were leery after a while. Thankfully, there were no bodies, but the smell of spilt entrails and rotting blood was enough to turn them away in many rooms. In those instances, one of the Warriors would hold his breath and rush in to throw the windows and shutters open, then hurry out.
They found the Royal Suites by accident. In fact, the only way they knew it was the Royal Suite was a polished gold plaque the size of Stavin’s hand that said it was. They entered cautiously, but there was no smell of death here.
The rooms were spotlessly clean, and Stavin found that, in this at least, the Coravian royal suite was like the Evandian royal suite. The King’s Suite was in the middle, the Prince’s Suite was to the right, and the Princess’s Suite was to the left.
It was obvious that King Zel’Draval had been living in the royal suites. The man was a slob, or didn’t have any servants with him. Or possibly both.
“We need to get some servants in here to freshen this place for King Teravan and Princess Ellissan. And for Shari and the kids as well.” Stavin looked around and shook his head.
All ten of the Warriors answered, “Yes, Warmaster.”
Stavin led the way out of the suite. “I want you ten to lead Avrin and Sindal back here after the mid day meal. Gods Above, I wish at least a few of the king’s servants had survived.”
“If they were honorable, they wouldn’t have embraced Lebawan in betrayal of their liege,” Senior Sergeant Kel’Dennel said from the side of the room.
“Which means they were stoned to death,” Stavin replied. “Gods Below, how did they take over so fast and so thoroughly?”
A junior Warrior with just four white stripes said, “According to one of the Chosen lords we brought out of the dungeons, they came before the king to petition him. The man didn’t know why. When they reached the court, their mage struck down the guards and the priests took over. They used the guardsmen’s weapons to capture the court, and everyone cooperated after they killed several lords and ladies.”
Sergeant Kel’Davin continued. “The lady I was helping said she wished she’d had the courage to resist, but was afraid of the mage.”
Stavin shook his head. “Shari took care of him.” He stopped and looked at the men. He’d known all of them in Kavinston. “Do you realize that Shari has killed four men this trip, and two of them were magi?”
There was a general chuckle from the Warriors. “Warmaster Kel’Horval taught her well.”
“Yes, he did,” Stavin agreed. “Let’s go see what else we can find.”
Stavin and the Warriors searched until they got hungry. They did manage to find storerooms full of the necessities of palace life. “Remember where these are. The servants are going to need supplies.”
“Yes, Warmaster,” all ten replied.
Stavin chuckled. “At least that’s a title I earned.” He shook his head and smiled. “I can’t get used to the idea of King Stavin.” He looked at the Warriors and grinned. From their expressions, they weren’t so sure about it either.
They continued on, checking every space they found, but didn’t find anything but death. Stavin finally led them back out to the courtyard. “Come by after you eat, and lead the servants to the royal suites.”
“Yes, Warmaster,” they replied, coming to attention and then bowing. When Stavin returned their bow, they marched off in formation.
Stavin joined his family. “Avrin, after we eat I want you, Sindal, and Rahlf to go see to the royal suites.” He glanced at Princess Ellissan. “I want to move you and your father back into your suites. Shari and the kids will move into the Prince’s suite.”
“Are you sure about this, Stavi?” Sharindis asked.
“Yes. Beyond being more comfortable, they are made to be defended, just like back home. I’ll be posting the Royal Guards in the suite to protect you.”
“You’re not taking them with you after Zel’Draval?” Princess Ellissan asked.
Stavin shook his head. “No. I’ll take Kar and all of the Warriors, along with all of the troops I can gather, but Major Zel’Astel and the Royal Guards, and especially the Guardswomen, will be staying here.”
Stavin looked up and saw Mohriah Zel’Halvis watching him, so he waved her over. “Mohriah, you and your women will be staying with Shari and the kids when I go after Zel’Draval, along with about thirty of the men. I’ll be giving these same orders to Major Zel’Astel.” He saw the major walking to the cook tent. “Would you go get him and bring him back here?”
Mohriah bowed and said, “At once, Your Majesty,” and turned away. She was back in moments.
“Yes, King Stavin?” the major asked, bowing deeply.
“While we’re out chasing the Cutter’s followers, you are going to have to commission a new battalion of Coravian Royal Guards. You are going to have to interview and train them all.” Stavin grinned. “I’m giving you both temporary commissions in the Coravian Royal Guard. Warvin Zel’Astel, you are now General Zel’Astel. Mohriah Zel’Halvis, you are now Lady Colonel Zel’Halvis.” He let them react for a moment before asking, “Isn’t so funny when it happens to you, is it?”
Both of them looked uncomfortable as Stavin continued. “My first suggestion would be to find as many retired guards as you can, and use them as your training cadre. Just make sure they get trained to our standards.”
The newly minted general and colonel exchanged a glance before bowing and saying, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Stavin returned to his meal and saw Princess Ellissan looking at him. “Is there something wrong?”
“I don’t understand why you don’t want all of your guards with you.”
“Because he wants them all with us,” Shari answered.
“And because each of the Warriors has been part of the expeditions for at least five seasons. This isn’t going to be the kind of fight the Chosen guardsmen and women are trained for. This is going to be bandit hunting, and that is something the Warriors of Kel’Kavin know well.”
The sound of someone sobbing drew their attention, and they watched as Saralee led Daynah to their tent. Princess Ellissan jumped up and ran to them, and Stavin and Shari followed close on her heels.
Lady Saralee stepped out to face them with a sad expression on her face. She spoke very softly as she explained, “We found Nelistal. He died two days ago, according to his cellmates. He resisted, and they beat him before locking them up without food or water. One of the men with him said there was pink foam at his nose just before he died.”
Stavin closed his eyes against the pain in her voice. Looking around, he saw Captain Zel’Corval and waved him over.
“We need to arrange a burial party to honor the lords who resisted Lebawan’s priests. What arrangements did you make for the queen?”
“Her Majesty is being laid to rest in her family’s cemetery, Your Majesty.” He lo
oked at the ground and shook his head. “Queen Rowena was a follower of Lady Sahren, but,” he paused and shook his head again, “but we can’t find any of the Lady’s priestesses. We hope they fled and weren’t slaughtered. The temple was hideously desecrated.”
Stavin shook his head and sighed. “Lady protect them. There are still a lot of people to bury. We need help with the graves.”
“I would suggest leaving that to Lord Mayor Zel’Jarrel, King Stavin,” Princess Ellissan said, looking down at him. Even at just sixteen, she was already as tall as Shari.
Stavin’s eyebrows rose. “I didn’t know there was a lord mayor of Moravad.”
She nodded and continued. “There is, and a city council as well. They see to the city so Dad--the King--can see to the kingdom.”
Stavin gave Sharindis a wide-eyed look, then said, “Captain, send someone to invite the lord mayor and his council to the palace. Tell them what has happened, and that I’d like to see them before sunset. Today.”
The captain smiled as he bowed and said, “Yes, King Stavin.” Then he turned away and called several men to his side.
Stavin looked puzzled for a moment, then looked at Princess Ellissan and asked, “What ever happened to that sergeant we sent for the army message book?”
Princess Ellissan looked puzzled as well. “He never came back, did he?”
Stavin clenched his jaws on his anger, and a low growl rumbled in his chest. “That’s twice I’ve asked for that book, and twice it hasn’t arrived,” he said in an impatient tone.
General Zel’Astel looked at his men and said, “Ten guardsmen, go to the General of the Army’s office and retrieve that book.”
“Wait!” Stavin cried out as the men started to leave. “Help me with my back and breast plates. Take them with you as shields against magic in case there’s another mage.”
The guards hesitated, then helped Stavin take off his breast and back plates. The senior two took the plates and held them like shields as they walked into the palace.
Karvik looked at Stavin and shook his head. “Not your smartest move, King Stavin.”
“Oh?”
“Remember Barren’s Bridge and that fire arrow?”
Stavin’s face fell. “Oh, yeah.” He grimaced. “Didn’t think about that.”
“You should try and make yourself inconspicuous until you get your armor back.”
Princess Ellissan looked at Karvik and said, “Don’t you think you should be more respectful of the king?”
Sharindis placed a hand on Ellissan’s shoulder and sighed. “It’s not worth the effort, Princess. Those two have been best friends for years. Trying to get them to behave like grownups is a lost cause.”
Stavin and Karvik exchanged a look and a grin, then both of them of them started laughing uncontrollably.
Chapter 14
THE GUARDSMEN FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS THEY had received, and quickly made their way to the office of Lord General Zel’Manal. The door was closed, and the leaders motioned their fellows back. When the one to the left nodded, the one to the right threw the door open.
Four crossbow bolts darted out of the room, striking Stavin’s breast plate and deflecting into the wall and ceiling. The man with the back plate rushed into the room followed by the rest of the guardsmen.
Four men in the red robes of Lebawan’s Shear Priests fought desperately, but the armored bodies and fists of the guardsmen quickly took the fight out of them.
The guardsmen looked around and found the bodies of the three young cavalry officers and sergeant who had been sent after the message book. A pile of supplies, mostly sausage, cheese, and wine, was on the desk, and a stinking bucket of waste was in the corner.
“It smells like they’ve been in here since we arrived,” the senior guardsman observed as he wrinkled his nose against the stench.
The junior guardsmen tied the hands of the priests behind their backs, and looped ropes around their throats while the senior two searched for the book.
“You are all condemned,” one of the priests hissed once he could talk again. “You cannot touch a Priest of Lebawan. King Karvar Zel’Draval will have you all stoned.”
The guardsmen all chuckled at that. The most junior, a Warrior with one freshly painted red stripe topping four white stripes on his shoulder, grabbed the fool by the hair on the back of his head and turned his face toward the bodies. “For the murder of Coravian Army officers and troops, it’s you who’ll be condemned.”
“Only the king can condemn a priest,” another of the prisoners mumbled. “King Karvar Zel’Draval will never--” An armored fist to the side of the head silenced him.
“We found King Teravan still alive,” the guardsman said with a nasty smirk.
“He is condemned!” the fool shouted. “Coravia is Lebawan’s now!”
“No, it isn’t,” another of the guardsmen growled. “King Teravan abdicated in favor of Prince Stavin Zel’Andral. King Stavin is taking Coravia back for the Zel’Darvin dynasty.”
“We have the book,” the senior guardsman said, tucking the tome under his arm as he strode toward the door. “Bring them.”
“What book?” one of the priests asked, and received a punch to the back of the head in reply. The priests were quiet as they were led out of the palace. When they reached the courtyard, their expressions turned desperate. Everyone they saw was in a Coravian Army or Evandian Royal Guard uniform. There wasn’t even one person wearing a priest’s robe.
The guardsmen and their prisoners were surrounded as soon as they came out of the palace. None of the questions that were shouted at them were answered except to say, “King Stavin has to be informed first.”
Stavin was waiting by his tent when they arrived. The senior pair helped him armor up, and informed him of what happened while they did.
Stavin shook his head sadly. “They have earned a death sentence. Turn them over to the cavalry. It was their people who were murdered.”
“You can’t do that!” one of the priests shouted as he surged toward Stavin. “Only the king can condemn a priest!”
“And I just did. Let Captain Zel’Corval deal with them as he sees fit. Give me the message book.” Stavin took the book and opened it as the struggling, protesting priests were dragged away.
Stavin looked at the last few messages that had been sent. It was all routine. There was no report of the palace coup, or of Lebawan’s High Priest seizing the kingdom. Looking up, Stavin asked, “Does anyone know how this works?”
Princess Ellissan said, “You write your message, add your activation glyph, then close it.”
Stavin looked at her and asked, “What’s the activation glyph?”
“They are individual. It acts as a signature.” The princess smiled at Stavin’s surprised expression. “That way only authorized people can use the book.”
“Oh,” Stavin said as he looked puzzled. “Do you have one?”
“Yes,” she replied softly as her face fell. She was staring at the ground when she continued. “When I turned ten and became Crown Princess Presumptive, I was given my glyph.”
Stavin nodded and handed her the book. “You should do this, then. We have to inform all commands of the incidents here, and give orders for Zel’Draval’s capture.”
The princess gave him a slight, bitter smile, then took the book over to the table. Shari brought her Stavin’s ink and quill, then stepped back.
The princess wrote quickly in an elegant script.
“To all commands: EMERGENCY ALERT! The traitorous priest Karvar Zel’Draval has attacked the palace and murdered both Queen Rowena and Prince Caldan. King Teravan survives, but is grievously injured. King Teravan has abdicated in favor of Prince Stavin of Evandia. King Stavin has ordered the capture of Karvar Zel’Draval and his supporters for high treason. He and his followers are to be captured and held until they can be brought before the king.”
“For King Stavin, by my hand and in my name, Ellissan Glorana Betina Zel’Darvin, Crown Pri
ncess Presumptive of Coravia.”
She added a glyph and closed the book. There was a bright flash, then the book returned to normal.
“All army units who have a message book just received that, and their books will keep glowing until they acknowledge it.”
Stavin nodded, then muttered, “I always wondered how those things worked.” He smiled at the princess, then bowed. “Thank you. With any luck, we will receive a message about Zel’Draval soon.”
A scream interrupted his thoughts, and he turned towards it in alarm. It had come from the cavalry camp, and he hurried over to see what was happening. Karvik was, as always, right by his side.
A crowd of men was gathered by the wall, and Stavin and Karvik forced their way to the front. There they found the four priests tied to the horse rail, stripped of their robes and underclothes, while a line of men waited their turn to throw a stone at them. Stavin was sickened by the barbarity of it, but bit down on his reaction and turned away without saying anything. Gods Below, what a horrible way to die. Serves them right.
As they walked away, Karvik grasped his shoulder. “You’re not going to stop that?” he demanded as he pointed back toward the cavalry troopers.
Stavin shook his head. “No. It’s fitting punishment. Let them die as the poor souls they condemned died.”
“Stave?”
“I don’t like it, Kar. I hate it. But I have to wonder, how many hundreds of people they condemned to die like that? It’s fitting, however barbaric, that they suffer the same fate.” Stavin shook his head slowly as he looked up at his friend. “I studied the ancient religious texts in Kavinston. Lebawan didn’t decree stoning. He ordered quick, merciful deaths. It was only after he stopped appearing in the flesh that the stonings began. The priests started that to reinforce their own power.”
“Gods Above, Stave, you can’t--”
“The Gods Above have nothing to do with Lebawan, Kar. The Gods Below, maybe. I have to wonder who, or what, Lebawan really was. Or Lady Sahren, for that matter.”
Karvik looked at him carefully and asked, “What do you mean?”
The Coravian Conflict (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 5) Page 13
