“What about--- Your pardon, Prince Stavin. Who is going to be the new Lord Mayor?” Lady Zel’Martes asked.
Stavin thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t know. How are mayors appointed in Coravia?”
“By the king,” Shari answered from his side, “or his Chosen representative.”
Stavin bowed to her before turning back to the delegation. “Lady Zel’Martes, until the king can make a final decision, you are appointed interim Lady Mayor of Deltar. Who you pick for your city council is your decision.”
The lady bowed deeply, and the men and women behind her followed her lead. “We thank you, Prince Stavin. With your permission, we will consult the City Archives and find the original property deeds for the seized properties.” She shook her head slowly. “In most instances, the entire family was condemned, so we will have to find their closest living relatives.”
Stavin bowed slightly and said, “Then we leave the task in your capable hands. I will ask that a copy of what you find be forwarded to the king’s Minister of Justice. These crimes will be addressed, but the king needs evidence to use against these priests. Then he can legally execute them.” The entire council bowed again, then turned and walked away.
Karvik was standing behind Stavin’s right shoulder. “I think the new Lady Mayor has her hands full. That priest murdered a lot of people, a lot of whole families.”
Stavin nodded his agreement, then turned to the more pleasant task of tending to his family.
Early the next morning, just after first light, Stavin sent a squad of ten cavalry troopers toward Fort Kel’Vardil with a call for help. It was a short time later that Captain Zel’Corval approached Stavin with a new problem.
“Prince Stavin, several of Lebawan’s priests are demanding to see you. They seem to be upset that you are taking Deltar back from them.” The captain grinned as Stavin shook his head.
“Where are they?”
The captain bowed and said, “In their temple. Per your orders, we aren’t letting anyone out--or in. They are upset about that as well. Apparently, they have limited provisions of food and water in the temple, and demand that more be brought to them.”
Stavin shook his head. “No. No one in or out. No deliveries of food or water.”
“Stavin!” Shari exclaimed, “That’s--”
“That’s no more than they deserve,” Stavin snapped. “King Teravan and the Chosen didn’t get any food or water in the dungeons.”
“Stavin, that’s wrong. You cannot solve this problem by echoing their behavior. We are better than that!”
Stavin glared at her with both hands balled into fists for a moment, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Very well. Captain, find out how many of them there are, then provide half a loaf and a short bucket of water for each of them.”
Shari was still glaring at him. “That’s sufficient. Cruel, but sufficient.”
Stavin shrugged as he fought to control his raging emotions. “They are misbehaving prisoners, so they get treated like misbehaving prisoners. As for me meeting with any of them,” he turned back toward the captain, “no. They will face the king soon enough.”
Captain Zel’Corval bowed and went to carry out his orders. Stavin turned away from Shari and all but stomped his way over to the horses.
Shari caught Karvik’s arm and held him back. “What’s wrong with him?” she demanded in a low tone. “He’s been touchy for a while, but nothing like this.”
Karvik shook his head as he gazed after Stavin. “I don’t know, Shari. He hasn’t been the same since Trade Town, but he’s gotten worse since what happened at Moravad, and especially Aravad. He’s becoming vicious.”
Shari took a deep breath, then just sighed. “Hopefully he’ll calm down once we get home. Maybe it’s just the stress of having this whole mess dumped on him by King Teravan.”
“I hope so,” Karvik whispered. “I certainly hope so.”
The day progressed quietly after that. Stavin spent far too much time grooming his horse and talking to her, repeating his behavior of his younger years when his only friend had been Tru, his first mare.
Stavin finally returned to his family in a better mood. Shari didn’t say anything about the morning, and the twins soon had him occupied in one of their games.
It was after the mid day meal when another group of people came out to the camp. Karvik talked to them first, then escorted them to see Stavin.
“Your Highness,” he began, grinning as he bowed, “the innkeepers of Deltar crave a moment of your time.” Stavin and Shari exchanged a glance, then he nodded. Karvik waved the group of thirteen men and women forward.
An older woman took the lead, bowing very deeply before speaking. “Your Highness, I am Elanstan Fel’Neran, keeper of the Snow Goose Inn. My fellows and I wish to invite you to stay at one of our inns. We would all be honored, no matter which inn you chose.”
Stavin shook his head. “Thank you, but we are staying out here until the army declares the town safe. That vile priest had too many followers. Until the army and the Royal Guards declare the town clear of the Cutter’s followers, I will not risk taking my wife and children inside its walls.”
“But-- But, Prince Stavin, they--”
Stavin shouted, “I said no!” as he rose to his feet. The innkeepers bolted, running away from Stavin’s anger.
Shari shook her head slowly. “That was unnecessary.”
“I’m tired of arguing with everyone,” Stavin angrily.
“Then stop starting arguments,” Shari snapped. “Keep it up and no one is going to want to talk to you.”
Stavin stared at her for a moment, then snapped, “I didn’t start that!” in a tone that made it clear he thought she was being unfair.
“Yes, you did,” Shari snapped back. “You don’t know what she was going to say because you cut her off. We may be here for twenty or thirty days before Lord General Zel’Enred gets here. I, for one, would like a bath, and you, for another, need a bath.” Shari snapped to her feet and walked away while Stavin sat in silence watching her.
Stavin finally looked at Karvik and asked, “Am I doing that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Karvik walked over and sat in Shari’s chair. “Stave, I don’t know why. But I think I know when. Ever since Trade Town you’ve been on edge. Ready for a fight, even when there was no threat.”
Stavin sat still for a moment, then nodded slowly as he considered what Shari and Karvik had said. He whispered, “Since I let the dragon take control.”
Karvik nodded again. “You don’t show it very often. Only a few of us have seen it. But when you’re angry, the dragon still influences you. Do you even hear yourself growling?”
“When did I growl?”
“You were growling just now,” Karvik replied, turning Stavin to face him. “Growling like an angry dragon.”
Stavin’s anger cooled into dread. “When else?” he whispered.
“In the palace. In the dungeons. At Fort Zel’Karyn. Anytime you get really angry about something.” Karvik leaned toward Stavin. “Any time someone makes you really angry.”
“I was growling at Shari?” he asked, looking up at Karvik with an expression of dread on his face.
Karvik nodded slowly as he replied, “Yes.”
Stavin sat forward and put his face in his hands. After about ten breaths he sat back. “I have to go apologize to Shari.”
Karvik nodded, but he was grinning. “Yep. And you better be ready to say ‘Yes, Shari,’ a lot, because she’s not going to let you off easy.”
Stavin got up and walked toward the carriage. Shari met him with her hands on her hips. “What?!”
Stavin cringed. He knew that tone of voice. “Shari, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’ve been acting like this.”
Sharindis glared at him for a moment, then stepped forward and cupped his face with both hands. “Stavin, I know you’ve been changed by the dragon magic. I know you’ve been
under enormous pressures on this trip. But you are not like this. You are not cruel.” She stepped back and shook her head. “Something has changed you, made you into someone I almost don’t recognize. Someone I don’t like.”
“Kar says I’ve been growling like a dragon.”
“Yes, you have. You’ve growled at me. You’ve growled at him. You’ve even growled at the children a few times. You need to start thinking and not just reacting.”
Stavin bowed his head in shame. He whispered, “Yes, Shari.”
“Those innkeepers had every reason and right to invite us into town.”
“Yes, Shari.”
“You are going to task the cavalry and guards with clearing that town. You are going to get rid of as many of those bastards as possible in the next three days.”
“Yes, Shari. Why three days?”
“Because my moon starts in three days, and I want a bath!”
Stavin shrank back, then said, “Yes, Shari.” She turned away from him and he beat a hasty retreat.
Karvik was looking at him with an odd expression on his face. “I’ll get with Captain Zel’Corval in the morning and arrange sweeps of the city.”
Stavin nodded. “And find out if there is a bath house. I can send Mohriah and her women in with Shari, backed by the cavalry women. You know, I forgot how important baths are to girls.”
“Us, too. Especially in this heat.”
Stavin shrugged one shoulder. “She said I need a bath, too.”
“I heard.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. We all do. All other considerations aside, you know the reasons for camp hygiene as well as I do. Do you want a case of foot-rot? Or worse?”
Stavin shook his head emphatically. “No. Have I spent so much time in the palace that I’m making greenling mistakes?” he asked, tilting his head to the side to look up at Karvik.
Karvik was nodding slowly as he replied, “It’s been over three years, Stave. You got used to staying in royal inns on the way out. Traveling with the army, we all used the facilities when we were allowed. But Shari and the kids, and the rest of the women as well, need to keep cleaner than we do.”
Stavin shook his head slowly as he muttered, “Basic camp hygiene and discipline, and I forgot it.” What else am I forgetting?
Chapter 25
THE MORNING BROUGHT SURPRISES. DELTAR BOASTED three public bath houses, and all it took was mentioning them to Shari to send her, the twins, the maids, and every woman from the guard and cavalry into town.
Stavin watched them go with a sigh. “Where is my mind?” he asked the morning breeze.
“Daddy?” Karlin asked.
Stavin looked down at his son and shook his head. “Karlin, there are so many little things that I’ve been forgetting lately that I’m worried.”
“Mommy’s mad at you.”
“Now that, my son, I knew. When the women are done with the baths, we’ll take our turn. Mommy says I stink.”
Karlin giggled. “She says we all need baths. She says this is worse than Kavinston in the winter, because it’s hot and we smell like our horses.”
Stavin smiled at his son and bowed his head. “And she’s probably right.”
The day continued with one watch section at a time cycling through the baths. Per Shari’s orders, the Royal Guard and cavalry were investigating the city, seeking the followers of Lebawan.
Karvik reported to Shari and Stavin after the evening meal. “We’ve only found a few of the Cutter’s followers. Most of them seem to have died fighting the cavalry or tucked their tails and ran when the fighting was done.”
Shari said, “Thank you, Kar. And what about the other thing I asked about?”
Karvik bowed as Stavin turned toward Shari with a puzzled expression. Karvik said, “The Blue Heron Inn is considered the best by all of the Chosen I spoke to.”
Shari nodded. “Very well. Stavin, we should move tomorrow after the morning meal. That will give the guards time to thoroughly check out the Blue Heron.”
Stavin replied, “Yes, Shari.”
Karvik bowed and turned away, managing to keep his mirth in check until he was three steps away. Then he started chuckling.
Stavin shook his head. “Shari, I’m sorry I forgot how important baths are to women.”
Shari scowled at him. “You’ve forgotten a lot of things lately, Stavin.”
“I know. I just don’t know why.”
Shari looked at him for a moment, then shook her head. “We, you and I, need to work on this, Stavin. Courtesy aside, you are a very dangerous man. You are dangerous because of your weapons prowess, and because of the authority you have as a prince and a Warmaster. Losing your temper could cost hundreds of lives.”
Stavin sat staring at the ground for a moment, then nodded. “Kalin once told me pretty much the same thing. He said I had to consider everything I did and said in the Council because it could affect so many people.”
Shari nodded slowly. “You need to step back and consider all of your options now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Stavin, when Lord General Zel’Enred gets here, you should turn this mess over to him, and we should leave.”
“Why!?” Stavin demanded loudly. Shari just looked at him for a moment, and he shook his head as he realized what he’d done. “I’m sorry. You’re right, of course, and I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”
“You are seeing threats and challenges where none exist. It’s like--it’s like you’re jealously protecting everything.”
Stavin looked at the ground between his feet and whispered, “Like a dragon guarding its territory.”
Shari nodded and then took pity on him. “Stavi, you’ve been thrust into the center of so many fights, so many challenges, it’s not surprising that your ‘fight-or-flight’ reflex has locked in ‘fight-mode.’ We need to get you home, back to Twin Bridges or even Kavinston. We need to get you someplace safe. Someplace where you can be Stavin Kel’Aniston again, and not Warmaster Zel’Andral.”
* * *
The Blue Heron Inn was fit to be a royal inn. Built of yellow brick, it stood four stories tall and had a red tile roof. Glazed windows reflected the morning light, and a wide balcony circled the building at the level of each floor.
Karvik and a diminutive woman met them at the foot of the stairs. “Prince Stavin, Princess Sharindis, please allow me to present Mistress Hannan Bel’Herral, Innkeeper of the Blue Heron Inn. Her master and mistress died opposing Lebawan’s priests and she took over.”
The woman went to her knees and bowed her head deeply. “Your pardon, Prince Stavin, but I---” she paused and swallowed before she continued, “I swore to Lebawan to save myself.”
Stavin was silent, so Shari took the lead. “You saved more than yourself, didn’t you?” she asked.
“Yes, Princess Sharindis. My children, Sahra, Michan, and Jelan.”
“I can find no fault in a woman who bows to a false master to save her children,” Shari replied. “For as long as we have existed as a race, women have done what we had to do to protect our children.” Shari looked at Stavin, then elbowed him in the ribs when he didn’t say anything.
“Oh, y-yes, women must protect their families,” he stammered as he rubbed his ribs. He was looking at the woman with an odd expression.
“Stavin?” Shari asked, leaving the question open.
“It’s just that I’d forgotten how hard it must have been for the common folk of the kingdom,” he replied in a soft, confused tone. “We chased his army, but Zel’Draval turned the Priests of Lebawan loose on the people of Coravia like a pack of wolves on a flock of sheep.”
“Yes, he did,” Shari agreed, then turned to the innkeeper. “Mistress Bel’Herral, show us to a suite. We will be staying here until Lord General Zel’Enred arrives.”
“At once, Princess Sharindis,” she replied, then stood and bowed again before leading the way up the stairs. Mohriah Zel’Halvis and her women were right on Shar
i’s heels, but Stavin and Karvik remained outside.
Karvik asked, “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that there was so much more to this than I thought. Moravad and chasing down Zel’Draval were just small, isolated parts of a much bigger event. It’s like looking at the center of a tapestry, thinking that’s all there is, and ignoring the rest of picture.” He looked at his hands and shook his head. “I held the fate of the entire kingdom in my hands, Kar.”
“And you delivered it back into the hands of its rightful king, Stave. You did what you had to--”
“It wasn’t enough!”
“Yes, Dragon Blessed Senior Warmaster Prince Stavin Markan Karvan Do’Kalin Ne’Aniston Zel’Andral, former King of Coravia, it was.” Karvik put both hands on his friend’s shoulders, forcing Stavin to look him in the eyes.
“Stave, I don’t think anyone else could have done what you did. I’m certain no one else would have tried what you did in Aravad, and I’m just as certain that if they had they wouldn’t have succeeded. You captured Zel’Draval in Kavadia without triggering a Coravian/Kavadian war, or raids across the border. You need to stop obsessing over what you didn’t do, and start being satisfied with what you did.”
“But so many people died!” Stavin cried as he pulled away from Karvik.
“You can’t take the blame for that, Stave. You weren’t the one who killed them, or let them be killed. Most of what happened here,” Karvik waved one hand at Deltar, “happened before we even reached Moravad. You didn’t do this, and you couldn’t have stopped it.”
Stavin shook his head and turned away. He was aware of Karvik and twenty other Royal Guardsmen following him, but he was used to that. His feet led him around the inn to the stables. He found Tru and automatically started currying her. He needed that simplicity, that sense of accomplishment: the simple act of doing a job with results he could see.
Stavin turned away from Tru to find Major Zel’Astel standing beside Karvik. “Your Highness, there is a woman outside who claims to be a priestess of the Nurturer.”
The Coravian Conflict (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 5) Page 22
