Gods Above and Below

by Loren K. Jones

  Tana snorted in a most un-queenly fashion as she covered her mouth. “That must be so very annoying.”

  Stavin chuckled as he nodded. “Yes, but once Marina had Oradal to take care of she stopped doing it so much. Now we just need to get Ellie married and with a baby of her own and I’ll be safe.”

  “How old is she now?” Daran asked.

  Stavin considered his answer for a moment, then said, “She will reach twenty years of age on the fifteenth day of the Fisher’s Moon.”

  Daran looked at his parents with his head cocked to the side. Jerlan just grinned while Alankira nodded and said, “Less than a year younger than you. That would make a suitable match.”

  Stavin was nodding as well. “There are no other suitably aged single princes. Jeff from Andaria is married and has three sisters, and Farkal has two sisters and a much younger brother. Farlad is only eleven. Teravan would probably welcome the alliance.”

  “What about you?” Callie asked. When Stavin gave her a puzzled look, she explained. “Right now, you are effectively the crown prince of Coravia. Daran would be displacing you.”

  Stavin laughed. “Good. I’ve been a king. I prefer freedom to power.”

  Alred gave him a sideways look. “Not many men are given an option.”

  “True,” Stavin agreed with a thoughtful nod, “but I was. I see how time consuming your duties are, and how restricted you have to be to avoid assassins. Kalin finally gave up trying to have me protected. Given my rank as a Senior Warmaster, I spend a lot of time instructing the Royal Guards, and receiving sword instruction.”

  Alred was nodding. “Most men only see the power of the crown and not the limits. I still hate being followed everywhere. And I hadn’t forgotten about your weapons skill, but do you think that will help you against the blessed of the Gods Below?”

  This time Stavin had to shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve faced a Priest Adept of the Evilest One and he could hardly even slow me down. And that was without Arandar’s blessing. Now?” He shrugged again.

  “Tell them the story, Stavin,” Ava suggested as she sat back. “I found it fascinating.”

  Stavin nodded and began speaking. “On my second expedition to the lowlands...” He told the story like he was giving a soldier’s report to the king, sticking to the facts. When he reached the end, Tana sat forward.

  “That is the first time I’ve heard that story, Stavin,” she said in a soft voice.

  Stavin nodded. “Not many people outside my family and the guards and traders who were with me know it.”

  “How were you able to cope with the guilt of killing Adept Sharindis?” Killian asked in a soft voice.

  “Her spirit helped,” Stavin whispered. “After I--After I killed her, I felt her spirit, felt her joy at finally being free. Trader Sahren, Warmaster Kel’Carin, and Karvik all supported me, helped me accept what I’d done.”

  “You don’t sound like you’ve completely accepted it,” Tana said in a soft, mother’s voice.

  “I accept what I did. I accept the necessity of my actions. I accept that she wanted to die. But late at night, I still see that instant when blade met flesh. The instant I killed an unarmed old woman.”

  “From the way you told the story,” Alred murmured, “she was hardly unarmed. No Adept ever really is.”

  “No,” Stavin whispered. “I was sure I was safe from her magic after facing that other Adept. The only reason I carried through with it was because I had agreed to try as the price for cleansing the amulets.”

  Prince Barindal had remained silent through the whole discussion, but now he sat forward and said, “I think you did the right thing, Stavin. You honored the verbal contract for services rendered. I do think giving the estate to the army was a mistake, but you didn’t live in the area so perhaps it was the right thing to do in that instance.”

  Stavin nodded. “I had no use for it and didn’t want it, or what it represented. After we moved to Twin Bridges, I did take Shari and the kids up to Pahlovad to visit the school. It is quite impressive. We spent a hand of days there, teaching and being taught, and both of us were satisfied with the job the scholars were doing. And the general as well.” Stavin grinned as he continued. “He had the girls who wanted weapons training learning sword, archery, and tactics. They’ll be officers if they join the army.”

  Mari asked, “Even if they’re not Chosen?”

  Stavin nodded. “As low as Revered Clans. When we were visiting there was one little girl who wanted to be like Marydyth Zel’Karyn.” He smiled as he shook his head. “She was only six.”

  Alred looked at Mari and chuckled as well. “Sounds familiar.”

  “Gran’pa!”

  “You were such a pest about wanting to be the next Mari Death. Thankfully, a moon later you decided you wanted to be a priestess. Then a dancer. Then a sea captain.”

  “Now she wants to be a queen. Finally,” Kira said with a grin for her oldest child.

  Princess Maridyn glared at her mother for an instant, then turned back toward Stavin. “Do you have to put up with this too?”

  Stavin chuckled as he nodded. “Of course.”

  Ava laughed uproariously for a moment. “Wait until you meet Karvik. He has no compunctions about telling stories about their childhoods. Especially about Stavin’s.”

  Stavin shook his head. “The price I pay for keeping him around.”

  Tana asked, “What do you mean?”

  “Major Karvik Kel’Carin is the leader of my guards,” Stavin explained. “We’ve been friends since we were kids and there was only one year when we weren’t on the expedition together. He’s a year younger than I am, but he’s already reached the rank of Warleader Third of Kel’Kavin, and Major of the Evandian Royal Guards.”

  “How?” Killian asked as he sat forward.

  “By being almost as good as I am with a Dragon’s Tongue, and better with a sword,” Stavin answered with a grin. “He’s got seventy-one combat kills.”

  “Gods Above,” Tana whispered as she sat back.

  “How many do you have, Stavin?” Killian asked as he looked Stavin in the eyes.

  “One hundred and thirty, including the three priests in Zel’Kassel. There were a bunch of mercenaries at Skykon, but no one kept count that time.”

  “Because of the Sword of Zel’Hallan?”

  Stavin nodded to Killian. “Partially. I had eighty-five kills before I picked up Shovar’s sword. I was already a Warleader Second before we went to face the Andarians.”

  “How old were you?” Callie asked.

  “Eighteen.”

  “Gods Above and Below,” Jerlan whispered as he looked at his parents first, then at his sons.

  “How many years had you been on your expeditions then, Stavin?” Alred asked.

  “Three. Just three summers in the lowlands.”

  There was a moment of silence before Ava said, “You must have been the Gods’ Warrior even then.”

  Stavin shrugged. “They called me the Dragon Warrior or the Dragon Blessed because of my armor. A lot of my kills were because people wanted me and my armor, or just my armor for their own purposes. And, honestly, if it weren’t for my armor I would have been killed or crippled several times.” He reached up and traced the faint scar that crossed his eye and cheek. “This was from an ax-blow that would have split a regular helmet and my skull as well.”

  “I thought you were invulnerable in your armor,” Jerlan said as he sat forward.

  Stavin shook his head. “Not by any means. I got my head rattled in my first fight by an ax-blow. That man was killed by Karvik. It didn’t cut me, but it gave me a concussion anyway. I got stabbed--” he paused and smiled when the young princesses all gasped--”but I wasn’t wearing my armor that time. I got my arm broken by a sword blow because I only have mail on my arms. And I got hurt pretty bad when I was shot in the back with a fire-arrow. I was stupid and didn’t take the time to put my back and breast plates on in the emergency.”

  “I
have never heard about you being injured, Stavin,” Alred said as he sat back in his chair.

  Stavin’s mouth twisted into a bitter grimace as he shook his head. “Minstrels and their lies are one of my greatest annoyances. Even the ones who know the truth embellish it until it sounds like a tale. The truth is seldom heroic enough to earn them any coin.”

  Alred nodded. “That is unfortunately true. I sometimes wonder what the truth behind some of our legends really is.”

  Stavin shrugged. “Given what’s happened to the stories about me, I suspect they were much less exciting at the time. I know the true story of Warnel Pah’Aflin’s Dragon is nothing like the legend. He and the dragon were both swatted by the God of Storms, and came together by accident. The dragon healed him as a last act of kindness, using the last of its strength before it died. Warnel had nothing to do with it other than being in the right place at the right time.”

  “You speak as if you know him,” Ava said as she looked into his eyes.

  “I do,” Stavin replied. “He lives in a fishing town on Evandia’s southern coast.”

  “So you’ve traded stories?” Killian asked.

  Stavin chuckled. “Drunken lies is more like it. I have very little memory of that night beyond Karvik’s stories. He was highly amused.”

  “Was this before or after you faced the Andarians?” Tana asked.

  “Over a year after. I went to Zel’Fray for a trade conference and stopped in Adak’s Cove on the way back. Warnel is older than my father, and he was delighted to trade true stories about the dragons we had encountered.”

  Stavin shook his head slowly as he continued. “He agrees that minstrels would be better named as singing liars. Not one of them has ever told a story straight, without elaboration. The truth isn’t good enough.”

  “So it is, and has always been,” Daran murmured, repeating a quote so ancient that no one knew where it came from.

  “Indeed,” his grandfather murmured just as softly.

  Chapter 17

  STAVIN SPENT THE EVENING WITH THE royal family, joining them for the evening meal in their suites before returning to his suite for the night. Karvik walked beside him on the way back.

  “How was your visit?”

  Stavin shrugged. “Cordial. They wanted to see who I really was for themselves before protocol and ceremony got in the way. I fit in with the kids, they’re about our age, and I was comfortable with the king and queen, and the crown prince and princess.”

  Karvik nodded. “Were they satisfied with what they saw?”

  Stavin let a chuckle shake his frame for a moment. “No. No one ever really is. The lies that the minstrels sing are so much more exciting than the truth.”

  Now Stavin got serious. “They warned me that we are going to be plagued by priests and priestesses, all demanding my time and attention. Including the High Priest of Lebawan.” Stavin shook his head as his hands balled into fists for an instant. “He’s the king’s little brother, so we have to be gentle with him. But the king will not back him against me. He said that in as many words, so we can just politely brush him aside. Arandar’s high priest is related to the queen, so we have to be nicer to him. He is the one priest that I do want to talk to. And Lord Arandar’s friend, Dahnav Zel’Tammal, as well.”

  “Sounds like we’re going to be busy,” Karvik said without looking at Stavin.

  “Yup,” Stavin agreed. “They are also insisting on providing me with a heavy hand of servants. They should already be at the suite.”

  They reached the suite and found two men and two women waiting with Orlan and the guards. All four went to their knees as soon as they saw Stavin.

  Orlan Fel’Cambar bowed deeply and said, “Blessed Prince Stavin of Evandia, these are additional servants that his majesty has assigned to see to your comfort. Joining us are Fortal Fel’Havat, Harran Fel’Artel, Harsan Fel’Keran, and Amarna Fel’Aniston. We are--Blessed One, did I say something wrong?”

  Stavin had taken half a step back when Orlan introduced Amarna. “No. No, I did something wrong several years ago involving a young girl named Amarna Zel’Hallan. The name just caught me by surprise.”

  “Blessed One, do you wish me to go?” Amarna asked timidly.

  “No,” Stavin whispered as he shook his head. “No, I am honored by your service.”

  “Blessed One, what did--” Amarna began to ask before Orlan silenced her with a gesture.

  “It’s all right, Orlan. She should know. Amarna, during my second expedition we rescued Amarna Zel’Hallan from child-thieves and returned her to her family. Like me, her grandfather, Shovar Zel’Hallan, was Dragonblessed. He’d been given a sword by a dragon long before I was born. When Andaria attacked Evandia, I was sent to challenge Shovar, champion-to-champion, with the fate of the kingdoms in the balance.” Stavin shook his head sadly.

  “We didn’t fight. Shovar yielded to me because--I really don’t know why. But when he announced that he wasn’t going to fight me, his own general shot him in the back with a crossbow. His last act was to pass the dragon sword to me. But Amarna and her father thought I had killed him and stolen the sword.” Stavin paused again and cleared his throat.

  “During the pacification of Farindia I encountered her and her father. When we met, Ambrin demanded the return of the sword, and I complied. Then he cut my cheek with it,” he reached up and touched the golden crescent-moon shaped scar on his cheek, “and the dragon magic flared. They were both burned to death by the magic less than an arm’s length in front of me. And I just knelt there and watched.” Stavin wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “I will never forgive myself for those deaths.”

  Amarna stepped forward a little. “Blessed One, it wasn’t your doing.”

  “Yes, it was,” Stavin answered softly. “I should have returned the sword as soon as the war was over, but I wanted it. My lust for that power let the magic change me. And that change was what caused their deaths.”

  Amarna bowed deeply and Stavin turned toward Orlan. “See to the suite. I prefer my baths very hot. Arrange for someone to see to my guards’ needs as well. They don’t need much, but they will need a few things.”

  Orlan answered, “Yes, Blessed One.”

  Stavin motioned toward Karvik. “Major Kel’Carin is the commander of my guards. Any questions involving them should be directed to him. Now I’m ready for another bath.”

  * * *

  Morning found Stavin being dressed in the most elaborate of his clothes. Orlan and Caster spent more than a span twitching his clothing to make sure everything was exactly right.

  Amarna arrived with a cook-cart and stood ready for Stavin’s desire. As soon as he saw her he breathed, “Kava. Please, Amarna, say you’ve already prepared kava.”

  Amarna smiled and bowed. “Of course, Prince Stavin. Do you like anything in it?”

  “No, black is fine.” He accepted a cup and sipped, then took another before sighing. “That is very good. I’ll have eggs, sausage, and fried tubers.”

  “For me as well, prepared with his,” Karvik added. “We mean no disrespect, Amarna, but I am required to test his food. King Kalin’s personal orders.”

  Amarna gave him an arch look, then bowed and began fixing their morning meals. On the other side of the suite Harsan Fel’Keran was fixing the morning meals for the rest of the royal guardsmen.

  “Whose team is the off-going watch?” Stavin asked.

  “Mine,” Varik answered.

  “Very well. Sergeant Zel’Fordan’s team eats first, and then goes and gets dressed for court along with Karvik’s team. Full dress kit, gentlemen.”

  Twenty-two voices answered, “Yes, Prince Stavin.”

  Karvik nodded his approval. “My team already has orders to get ready. We’ll leave one man behind to guard the suite while Var and his team sleep.”

  It took six spans to eat and get everyone dressed up for the ceremony, then Karvik, resplendent in his dress uniform, led the way out of the suite. They had almost
retraced their path all the way to the royal suite when they were met by a squad of twenty Reynadian Royal Guards.

  All the men and women went to one knee as the lieutenant bowed and said, “Blessed Prince Stavin of Evandia, we are here to escort you to the court.”

  Stavin nodded and said, “Rise, Guards, and lead on.”

  The guards came to their feet almost as one, and then the lieutenant pointed back the way Stavin’s party had just come. “It’s back that way, Your Highness.”

  Stavin looked at Karvik and chuckled, then waved for the Reynadian lieutenant to lead the way.

  The court room of the Reynadian palace was much bigger than the one back in Twin Bridges. Stavin stood in silence as a herald in a uniform even more elaborate than Karvik’s announced him.

  “If it pleases your Majesties, I am honored to announce His Royal Highness, Dragon Blessed Senior Warmaster Prince Stavin Markan Karvan Do’Kalin Ne’Aniston Zel’Andral of Evandia, Heir of Coravia, former King of Coravia, Blessed of Arandar the Bright, Minister of Trade for Evandia, and Master of the Kel’Aniston Trading House.”

  The court fell silent almost instantly. Then the king and queen stood, forcing everyone to stand with them. “We welcome Prince Stavin,” King Alred said as he looked around, “and honor the Blessed of Arandar.” Then he and Queen Alantana went to both knees and bowed their heads. Everyone else in the court was forced to do the same, though Stavin was certain that many of the lords and ladies would have rather spit in his face than honor Arandar.

  Stavin walked the length of the room and bowed deeply once he reached the dais. “I thank you for your greeting, King Alred and Queen Alantana, and I am honored. Rise now and let the Light of Arandar the Bright shield you from evil, and let the love of the Gods Above fill your souls.”

  The sound of more than a hundred people sighing, some in reverence, others in exasperation, swept through the room as the king and queen returned to their thrones.

  King Alred raised one finger and ten men and women came forward, stopping to bow to the king and queen, then again to Stavin.

  King Alred spoke once everyone was standing again. “Prince Stavin, in acknowledgment of your status as the Blessed of Arandar, the high priests and priestesses of the Gods Above and the Gods Below have joined us. The first is the High Priest of Arandar, Thanal Zel’Mestan,” the king paused as an elderly man stepped forward to bow. He shot a quick glance at the dais, then stepped back.