Now Shari giggled. That silenced the ministers far more effectively than a shout. “Karvik has a habit of calling Stavi a ‘sneaky little bastard.’ He lived up to it this time. King Stavin of Coravia didn’t go to Aravad. Master Trader Stavin of the Kel’Aniston Trading House did. There will be no war. There will be no trial.” She paused to smile serenely at the Ministers.
“Stavin, as is his right as a Chosen Master Trader and a full member of the Aravad Traders’ Council, brought an armed force into Kavadia in pursuit of someone who had committed offenses against him. Zel’Draval was condemned by the Aravad Traders’ Council, not King Stavin of Coravia, and he was executed in accordance with Kavadian Law for his crimes in Kavadia. Also in accordance with Kavadian Law, all of the surviving priests and soldiers who followed Zel’Draval into Kavadia were mage-bound and are being delivered to live out their lives in servitude to the families of the men and women they murdered.”
“Queen Sharindis, that is still outrageous,” Minister Kel’Martal said as she shook her head. “It’s splitting hairs on legality.”
Princess Ellissan shrugged. “It’s legal in Kavadia, and that’s all that matters. They are heading home soon, probably today. Once they are back you can discuss it with King Stavin. But I doubt you’ll get Dad to do anything against Stavin. Not after this.”
Chapter 22
THE ARMY RETURNED TO CORAVIA WITHOUT incident. Stavin released Lady General Zel’Neran to return to her post, but had Lord General Kel’Destar and Lady General Zel’Pardin stay with him. “After all, the remainder of your commands is already in Moravad.”
The trip took just fourteen days, and soon Stavin was sitting in a chair next to King Teravan’s bed, explaining what he’d done.
King Teravan listened in silence until Stavin was done with his story, then he closed his eyes. “A fitting ending for that murdering bastard, and his followers.”
Stavin smiled. “And since that is the end of the matter, I will be abdicating in your favor in the morning, once we have convened the full court.”
King Teravan looked at him intensely for a moment, then sighed. “You are still determined to give it all back?”
“Yes,” Stavin answered with a curt nod. “Coravia deserves a better king than me. I know just enough to be a bad king, but not nearly enough to be a good king.”
King Teravan shook his head slowly as he replied, “No one knows what kind of king they will be until they are wearing the crown, and by then it’s too late.” King Teravan smiled at Stavin. “I think you, King Stavin Zel’Andral, were a very good king for Coravia in her peril.”
Stavin smiled and bowed, then went to find his family.
* * *
The Court was nearly empty. Only the Chosen officers and a few lords and ladies from Moravad were in attendance, but that was not a problem. Many of the officers had been witness to King Teravan’s abdication in favor of Stavin, and now they nodded in satisfaction as Stavin kept his promise and abdicated in favor of King Teravan.
Princess Ellissan helped her father to his throne and eased him into it. He could still barely walk, but the weakness that had made his hands shake was just a memory. When King Teravan was in place, King Stavin walked out onto the dais.
Stavin walked to the edge of the dais and stopped, looking out over the few men and women who had come to bear witness to the event. He was dressed in one of his finest outfits, much to Avrin’s satisfaction, and he smiled as he looked at the lords and ladies. When he stopped, the room fell silent.
“Many of you were present when King Teravan proclaimed me King of Coravia. You also heard my promise to return the kingdom to the Chosen Clan of Darvin. Today, I keep that promise. I, King Stavin Markan Karvan Do’Kalin Ne’Aniston Zel’Andral, formally abdicate in favor of King Teravan Zel’Darvin. As of this moment, let your fealty return to where it belongs.”
There was a moment of silence, then the officers began filing forward to the base of the dais, going to one knee briefly to Stavin, then going to both knees in front of King Teravan.
“King Teravan,” Lord General Kel’Destar said loudly, “I pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor to you and your dynasty.” He stood and stepped aside, then came to attention as every officer followed his example. Then every lord and lady of Moravad pledged their loyalty to King Teravan Zel’Darvin, as they had when he had taken the throne more than eleven years before.
King Teravan managed to stand for just a moment, just long enough to say, “I accept your fealty,” before his knees buckled to drop him back in his throne.
Princess Ellissan stepped forward now and bowed to the court. “We are deeply indebted to Prince Stavin for his aid in this time of trouble. We wish to express our gratitude in a tangible fashion, but so far he has refused most of our ideas.” She paused to grin at Stavin.
Stavin was looking at her with a puzzled expression on his face. What’s she up to?
The princess turned back to the court and bowed her head deeply. “Since he has refused everything else we have offered him, we have decided on a course of action that he can’t refuse. As of this moment, Prince Stavin Zel’Andral is now, and forever more, a scion of Clan Zel’Darvin, and until I have an heir of my body, he is my heir.”
Stavin was stunned, but not nearly as stunned as the Chosen men and women below them. A low rumbling was building to a roar among the Chosen of Moravad, but most of the officers just grinned.
“We have chosen this course of action,” she continued loudly, “because almost every member of our clan was murdered by Zel’Draval and his followers. You officers have seen Prince Stavin in action. You lords and ladies of Moravad are free because of the actions of Prince Stavin. If the worst should happen and my father should die before I reach my majority, King Stavin will lead our kingdom once again. If another traitor should make a bid for the throne, King Stavin shall once again take it back for us.”
Stavin looked toward King Teravan and almost choked when he saw the expression on the king’s face. No cat in a bird cage ever looked so pleased with himself.
An elderly lord strode forward to glare up at the princess. “Your Highness, what’s to keep him from taking the throne for himself?”
“The same thing that kept him from keeping the throne this time: his honor.” Princess Ellissan looked at Stavin and smiled. “King Stavin did not have to return Coravia to us. Both my father and I made that clear to him. But he made a promise when father made him the king, and he kept that promise. We think his honor is sufficient to ensure that only the most dire of circumstances would lead him to the throne again.”
Stavin stepped toward the princess and bowed to King Teravan, and again to Princess Ellissan. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, I pledge on my honor, here in front of these witnesses, that the only way I will ever again accept the crown of Coravia is in the event of both of your deaths.”
King Teravan nodded, then held up one finger. “Or upon my death if it should happen before Crown Princess Ellissan reaches her majority.”
Stavin bowed deeply and said, “As you command, Your Majesty.”
“In addition,” King Teravan continued, “in honor of Prince Stavin’s service to the kingdom, Senior Warmaster Zel’Andral’s rank shall be recognized by all army units in Coravia. Normally, that would automatically make him General of the Armies of Coravia, but his other responsibilities prevent that.”
Princess Ellissan bowed to her father, then turned and said, “Court is adjourned.” Then she helped her father from the room as Stavin descended to talk with Karvik.
Karvik murmured. “Heir to Coravia as well as Evandia, and Coravia’s ranking Warrior as well? I can’t wait to see King Kalin’s reaction to this bit of news.”
Stavin shook his head slowly and looked at the floor as he murmured back, “I can.”
* * *
It took two more days for the palace to settle enough to get on with the business of the kingdom. Princess Ellissan took control of the Council in the
king’s absence, but Shari was always there to back her.
“We have to fulfill our obligations to Evandia,” Shari explained, “but we have obligations to Coravia as well. You do realize that by making Stavi your heir, you made me your big sister.”
Ellie smiled and giggled. “Yes, we knew what we were doing. Dad is still too weak to take an active role in the Council, and I still need you. I really shouldn’t be Heir by Right yet. I didn’t do my two years with the Army.” She looked at the table and sighed. “I was going to report this year.”
“You are—I’m sorry, Ellie. You are the only child. Your claim cannot be supplanted. And if you had reported before we got here, we might not have been able to do all the things we did.”
“King Stavin would have,” she replied softly.
“He--We would have tried. But Ellie, you don’t know Stavin all that well. I think his anger over the way Zel’Draval treated you drove him a little harder than anything else. He has very real hatred for rapists.”
Ellissan sighed again. “He was pretty mad about that. General Zel’Astel and his men certainly were. General Zel’Astel.” She turned and looked Shari in the eyes. “We have to find a new General of the Royal Guard.”
Shari nodded. “And General of the Armies as well. Stavin had an idea, but he wanted you and your father to make the decision.”
“Oh?”
“Lord General Kel’Destar as General of the Armies of Coravia. And Lady General Zel’Pardin as General of the Coravian Royal Guard.”
Princess Ellissan got a dreamy look in her eyes as she said, “General Cori—Oh, Shari, I would love that. But he is so junior.”
“Stavin and your father discussed it before he went after Zel’Draval. And Lady Revala seems to be flexible enough. Plus, well, Stavi said she has a forceful personality. It is going to take a forceful personality to whip the Coravian Royal Guard into shape.”
“Come with me to discuss it with Dad.”
Stavin and Shari went with Ellie to King Teravan’s bedside that night. “Dad, Shari said you and Stavin discussed making General Cori the General of the Armies. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to see if he came back before I said anything,” the king replied, smiling at his daughter. “I know how much you adore him, and I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case something happened. But I am in favor of it now as well. Cori will make a good general for our armies.”
Princess Ellissan looked at Stavin. “And Lady Revala?”
Stavin smiled and bowed. “Yes, Your Highness. King Teravan, I would propose that Lady General Zel’Pardin be appointed General of the Coravian Royal Guard.”
King Teravan grinned. “Revi Zel’Pardin is an excellent suggestion. While I hate to cast a shadow on the man’s memory, General Zel’Casten was perhaps a bit too much of a gentleman for the post. He and his men were too gentle, too restrained when Zel’Draval attacked. And none of them survived.” The king grinned, and then chuckled. “Revi has been accused of being a lot of things over the years, but she’s never been accused of being gentle or restrained. So we will let Revi have her way with the new battalion.”
“Daddy?” Princess Ellissan asked softly, with a hint of suspicion in her tone. “How well do you know her?”
The king grinned at his daughter and said, “I almost married her. She is the daughter of Lord General Kelistan Zel’Pardin—Cori and my first commanding officer at Fort Zel’Talgan.” When she just glared at him, he chuckled and continued. “She was too young, though. Just fourteen when I finished my tour. Your mom knew her as well. She’s your mom’s second cousin.”
“Daddy!”
* * *
The announcement was made the next morning. Lord General Kel’Destar stood shocked silent as Princess Ellissan pinned the insignia on his breast, then hugged him. “I am so glad you are going to be around, General Cori,” she murmured against his chest. “I need you.”
The general broke protocol by hugging her in return. “I will always be here for you, my princess.”
Lady General Zel’Pardin was a bit more shocked when Princess Ellissan told her of her promotion. “You’re making me the what?!”
Princess Ellissan giggled. “Dad said you are mom’s cousin, so you are family. And General Zel’Astel is leaving with Prince Stavin in a little while, so we are appointing you as the General of the Coravian Royal Guard.” She glanced over at a grinning Warvin Zel’Astel. “King Stavin was impressed by your flexibility and ability to think on your feet in the field. Our Royal Guard has a good start, but you are going to have to continue the work that the Evandian Royal Guard began with our troops. We will not be overthrown again.”
Revala Zel’Pardin nodded slowly as she said, “No, we won’t. Not on my watch.”
* * *
Stavin and Shari remained in Moravad for twenty more days, completing their original Trade Mission, and arranging Favored Trader status for the members of the Aravad Traders’ Council. “It’s only fair,” Stavin argued, “given the Aravad Council’s help with Zel’Draval.”
The new King’s Council that Shari and Ellie had appointed had taken to their responsibilities with remarkable vigor, and they and King Teravan agreed to just about everything Stavin proposed.
The time finally arrived when it was time to go home to Evandia. Stavin and Shari were able to take their leave of King Teravan and Princess Ellissan in the Court room.
All five of them walked to the base of the dais and went to one knee. Stavin said, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, we request permission to return to Evandia.”
King Teravan stood tall as he looked down on Stavin and his family. There was a fond smile on his face as he said, “Prince Stavin, the kingdom is forever in your debt. Return to your home, but remember that you are home here as well.”
The king sat down, and three small forms ran up the five steps of the dais. Karlin, Sahren, and Mahren all hugged the king, and he hugged them back. “You be careful, darlings,” he murmured as he held all three of them.
“We will, Gran’pa Terry,” Karlin replied for all three of them. Then they stepped back, bowed to the king, and turned to run down the stairs and rejoin their parents.
As they left the Court, Stavin looked at Shari and said, “I wonder if we could take a detour to Fort Kel’Vardil and see if Lord General Zel’Enred has dug up anything new?”
Shari threw her head back and laughed. “I don’t think anyone would mind, Stavi. I don’t think they would mind at all.”
Chapter 23
THE ROYAL PARTY RODE OUT OF Moravad on the same northerly road that Stavin had taken in pursuit of Zel’Draval. This time, however, he was much more relaxed.
“This is really beautiful country, isn’t it?” he asked Shari as he looked around. The trees were different here, and their colorful leaves tended more toward reds than the golds of the trees around Twin Bridges.
“It’s all so gorgeous,” she replied in a soft voice.
“It’s beautiful,” Mahren said in a delighted tone.
“It’s like the Lady painted the trees ‘specially for us,” Sahren agreed.
Stavin laughed and smiled at his son. “What about you, Karlin?”
“I wish I could paint like Aunt Sora. I’d paint a picture of the trees so we could keep them like this forever.”
Shari laughed with delight. “You can learn, Karli. Remember, Aunt Sora has been painting since Daddy was a little boy. You have years to learn how.”
“I know, Mama, but I have to learn to be a Warrior first. Then I can learn to paint.”
Karvik chuckled from the far side of the group. “You can do both, Karlin. Your dad learned to be a Warrior and a scribe at the same time. And there is a place with the army for artists.” He paused as all five members of the royal party focused on him. “Reports from the generals to the king often include detailed maps and sketches of the scene. Who do you think does that?”
Karlin was looking excited. “I could do that! I can draw, and
I can learn to paint!”
“Indeed you can,” Stavin said as he bowed his head to Karvik.
This road was not an Imperial Highway, so there were no royal inns for them to stay in. Still, this close to the capital the towns were only about a day apart. Nothing happened to disturb their peaceful travel until their eleventh day on the road.
The town of Serelan was a typical farming community, surrounded by a circular wall of peeled logs about two men high, with sharp points on the topl of the timbers. The gates stood open, and neat buildings in browns and muted whites lined the road, which appeared to pass straight through the town. There were only about three hundred souls who called it home, but probably twice that number lived within half a day’s travel.
Captain Zel’Corval and his cavalry still escorted Stavin’s party, and he sent a squad of riders ahead. The entire town council, all five of them, was waiting for Stavin in front of the only inn Serelan boasted. It was one of only a hand of two-story buildings to be seen.
As soon as the royal party stopped their horses, a rotund man with a wide grin on his face stepped forward and bowed.
“Prince Stavin, we welcome you and your family to Serelan,” he said as he bowed again, and the people behind him knelt.
Stavin bowed his head slightly. “We thank you for your welcome. Who are you, good sir?”
“Who--Oh, I must be losing my mind. Prince Stavin, please forgive me. I am Startan Fel’Estel, Mayor of Serelan.” He bowed deeply again. “Behind me are the members of our city council. Innkeeper Fel’Vanden has her staff setting the top floor to rights for you.”
One of the kneeling women stood and walked forward, then stopped to bow deeply when she was beside the mayor.
“Prince Stavin, I am Mahldan Fel’Vanden, keeper of the Dancing Frog Inn.” She bowed deeply again, sweeping her arm to the side toward the steps. “Please be welcome under my roof.”
Shari took the initiative and said, “We thank you for your welcome, Innkeeper Fel’Vanden. Please show us to the necessary and the bathing room.”
The Coravian Conflict (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 5) Page 20
