The inn common room was filled with his men, so Stavin just picked a table and sat down. It wasn’t long before Karvik joined him.
“Sleep good?”
“Like a rock.”
Karvik nodded. “I already asked for eggs, meat, and oat porridge with honey.”
Stavin sighed, “Good,” as he looked around. His men were already eating, and the smell of kava filled the room. One of the mayor’s daughters brought a tray laden with steaming cups to the table and Karvik grabbed two, then waved her on. He took a sip of the first one, then handed it to Stavin.
“Not too hot,” he muttered, “but it’s strong.”
Stavin had to agree. “It’s still better than I make.”
Karvik nodded. “I detailed Sergeant Zel’Fordan’s team to get the horses ready.”
“Good. Tru likes him.” Their food was delivered then and Stavin didn’t waste any time once Karvik had given the food his nod of approval.
Their meal completed, Stavin stood and walked to the mayor’s side. “As agreed, three gold and three silver crowns.”
“As agreed, Prince Stavin. We wish you a prosperous future, and smooth roads ahead.”
Stavin bowed then led the way outside. Tru greeted him with a toss of her mane, and he spent a moment caressing her neck. “Don’t act like that. I know you too well to think you’re really mad at me.” She shook her head as he mounted, but that was the extent of her objection.
Stavin rode around the inn to find the caravan waiting. He guided Tru to the lead wagon.
“We’ve got to pick up our supplies before we go.”
“We took the liberty of bringing them, Prince Stavin,” Jaspan replied.
Stavin nodded. “That was a bold step, Master Jaspan.”
A female voice came from behind the wagon saying, “That was my idea, Stavi.”
Stavin turned his head slowly and whispered, “I know that voice.”
Jaspan said, “My wife, Rahlina.”
Stavin shouted, “Rahlina!” and reined Tru around, urging her to the next wagon in line. “Rahlina, what are you doing here?”
Rahlina laughed and said, “Going home, Stavin,” as he climbed onto her wagon.
“Wait, Jaspan said you’re his wife. What happened to Hardan?”
Rahlina’s eyes narrowed as she growled, “I caught him with Meran Bel’Flonis! The prelate granted me a dissolution of our bond.”
“That’s surprising.”
“What, you think I should have stayed with him?” she demanded hotly.
Stavin shook his head. “No, I’m surprised you let him live.”
Her expression changed rapidly for a moment, then she shook her head. “I wanted to kill him, but I left him alive. That was three years ago. Jas and I were bonded last winter.” Rahlina patted his shoulder. “That’s quite striking.”
Stavin said, “Huh? Oh, the glow. Arandar’s blessing has some side effects.”
Rahlina chuckled but was prevented from saying anything by Karvik’s arrival. “Rahlina, what are you doing here?” She repeated her story for Karvik, and he laughed at her.
Stavin asked, “Why didn’t you come see us last night?”
She smiled and spread both hands across her belly. It was only then that the men noticed she was heavily pregnant.
She smiled at her old friends and said, “I couldn’t walk. My ankles were too swollen.”
Stavin looked at Karvik, and both of them carefully didn’t laugh. Stavin asked, “How much longer till you give birth?”
“A moon or so,” she answered with a smile. “We were supposed to be home by now.”
Karvik looked at Stavin and said, “We might not make it.”
Stavin nodded. “I’ll drive the wagon if needed.”
Rahlina burst out laughing. “You two are so gallant. We have enough drivers, Stavin. The trouble will come with having a Master on the lead wagon. I want Jas to be with me, and we’re the only Master Traders.”
Karvik looked at the lead wagon. “Couldn’t you--”
Rahlina shook her head. “There’s no room in his wagon, not with Kimber cooking in there. I’ll be giving birth in this wagon.”
Karvik looked at Stavin and received a nod. Smiling at Rahlina, he said, “I think between the two of us we’ll be able to keep the wagons straight.”
The sun broke over the buildings and Jaspan shouted, “Zel’Kaudell, let’s go home!” With that his wagon started rolling, and Rahlina flicked her reins. Karvik was still mounted, but Stavin just settled down at Rahlina’s side. Grinning, Karvik tied Tru’s reins to the back of the wagon, then went forward to ride beside the lead wagon.
Chapter 31
RIDING WITH THE WAGONS WAS MUCH slower than the riders alone had been. Stavin estimated they were only going to cover two days travel for every three days they plodded along at the wagons’ pace, but he really didn’t mind. Not having to be on alert as they rode let him think.
The worship of Lady Sahren was the official religion of Evandia and the Evandian royal family. King Kalin’s reaction to Arandar’s blessing might not be completely favorable.
Stavin wasn’t sure how he was going to handle the conflict. He knew there was an ancient temple of Arandar in Twin Bridges. He’d seen it a double hand of times. It was two buildings down from the temple of Mary Death. Still, he’d never paid it any attention. He’d never even bothered to go into it.
He shook his head and became aware of Rahlina watching him. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Stavin,” she replied with a smile. “I got used to you drifting off like that, lost in thought, years ago. What were you thinking about this time?”
“Arandar, Lady Sahren, and how I’m going to explain all of this to King Kalin.”
Rahlina nodded. “You are going to tell him the complete story, every bit of it. Let him make up his own mind. I’d bet he’s already heard at least two versions of it.” Stavin gave her a curious look that made her giggle. “Stavi, I’ve heard three versions of it. But,” she said with a raised finger, “I’ve never heard the truth. I’ve never heard your version of how you became the Blessed of Arandar.”
Stavin took a breath to begin, but she put a finger across his lips. “Not now,” she said with a tender smile. “Wait until we stop for the night. You can tell all of us at the same time after we eat.”
Stavin bowed his head deeply. “Yes, Rahlina.”
Somewhat to his surprise, Stavin found himself easily falling back into the rhythm of the caravan. The day passed with the gentle rocking of the wagon lulling him toward sleep.
Rahlina nudged him awake and said, “Stavin, take the reins.”
He did so automatically, then asked, “What’s wrong?”
She said, “Just drive,” and struggled past him into the back of the wagon. She returned after a short interval and sat beside him. “I really wanted to be home by now.”
Stavin looked at her sideways before asking, “You’re not going into labor, are you?”
Rahlina gave him an exasperated look and sighed, “No, of course not. She just keeps standing on my bladder.” Stavin clenched his teeth together and stared at the mules’ ears. Rahlina muttered, “That’s right, Stavi, you’d better not laugh, or prince or not, you’re getting thumped.”
* * *
The caravan pulled off the road into a wide field just as the sun was setting. Stavin could recognize that it was a prepared camping spot by the covered well at one side, near the road. He was driving again, so he followed Jaspan’s wagon as he circled for the night.
Rahlina stuck her head out and said, “Thank you, Stavi. I’ll come help with the team.”
Stavin laughed. “You’ll have to fight Kar if you do. He stopped by and volunteered to take care of them. You, Master Rahlina, have enough to do.” He nodded toward her belly.
Rahlina muttered, “Why is it that men always assume pregnant women are helpless?”
Stavin shrugged and said, “Preservation of the species,” e
ven though he knew she wasn’t expecting an answer.
Stavin climbed down just as Karvik and Jaspan arrived. Between the two of them they almost lifted Rahlina off the wagon and placed her feet on the ground. She saw Stavin grinning and shook a fist at him.
“It’s not funny, Stavi.”
Karvik asked, “What’s not funny?”
“How we treat pregnant women,” Stavin replied, then dodged out of harm’s way. “Don’t do that, Rahli. You’ll just hurt your hand.”
Rahlina glared at him, then shook her head and walked away. Karvik and Stavin saw to their horses first, and then the team. Tru would never have forgiven him if he’d seen to the mules first.
The caravan had settled down and an excellent meal was behind them when Rahlina nudged Stavin with her toe. She was seated on the ground, reclining against Jaspan, and she had her hands clasped across her belly.
“Tell us what really happened to you, Stavi.”
Stavin smiled at her and proceeded to tell the entire caravan the story of what really happened in Aniston. He finished his tale with, “...so that’s it. Like being Dragonblessed, I had nothing to do with it. Arandar chose me for His own reasons.”
One of the traders blurted out, “But what about Rey and the Blessed of Ravashanal?” and everyone gasped when Stavin’s armor pulsed with light.
Stavin said, “Arandar doesn’t like them being mentioned by name. As for the draiger we called Servallan, we didn’t know about the trouble she was causing until we were almost to Rey on the Glimmer. Our guess was that Arandar chose me to fight her, but it’s only a guess.”
Another of the traders asked, “Is this why the dragon blessed you?”
Stavin shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t know, but I don’t think so unless Arandar influenced her to do it. None of the stories I’ve read about Dandarshandrake or the other dragons mentioned the ability to see the future.”
“Why do you say ‘her’ when you talk about the dragon?” one of the younger traders asked in a timid tone.
“Because of Skykon,” Stavin replied. “When I let the dragon-magic take control I felt so many things, and among them was what I believe to be a distinctly female sentiment. I could be wrong, but that’s what I believe.”
Rahlina looked at him and said, “You never told me that.”
“It was years later, Rahli, when we were pacifying Farindia.” Rahlina gave him an eloquent look, then snuggled back against Jaspan.
The caravan settled for the night with the eight guards Jaspan had originally hired taking the watch two at a time. Karvik detailed an additional team to patrol with them. That left the common mercenary guardsmen looking over their shoulders, but Karvik wasn’t going to leave Stavin’s protection to men he didn’t know.
Morning arrived far too early, and Sergeant Zel’Fordan made the rounds to awaken Stavin. Stavin hurried into his armor, then went to find food.
Jaspan’s cook was an older woman named Kimber Bel’Kaudell. Where Sahren’s cook, Endar Bel’Vandar, had been portly verging on huge, Kimber was a tiny woman who would actually have to look up into Stavin’s eyes, not that she’d ever be that brazen.
Stavin went to the cook fire and was met by Karvik, who handed him a cup of kava and a bowl of oat porridge sweetened with honey.
Kimber turned and saw what Stavin was eating and fell to her knees, crying, “Oh, Blessed One, I never intended to serve you such poor fare. Please, tell me what you prefer and I’ll do my meager best to please you.”
Rahlina had arrived just a breath before and saved Stavin from having to answer. “He’s eating it now, Kim. Stavin’s favorite morning meal is oat porridge with honey or dried fruit. About the only thing he ever eats with it is some lean meat or eggs.”
Kimber begged, “Mistress, forgive me.”
“For what?”
“I didn’t add anything.”
Rahlina put her arm around the woman and turned her toward Stavin. “Stavi?”
Stavin stood and bowed slightly. “Mistress Kimber, that was exactly what I wanted. I started out as a caravan guard, and I guess down deep inside that’s what I still am.”
Rahlina patted her shoulder and said, “You see? Stavin Kel’Aniston was born a Warrior of Kel’Kavin, and Dragonblessed, Prince, or Blessed of Arandar, that’s what he will always be.”
Kimber bowed deeply, then turned back to her cooking. Rahlina gave her a fond smile, then turned toward Stavin. “What else can we get you?”
Stavin shook his head. “I’m good. We’re ready to go when you are.”
“Very well,” Rahlina said with a nod, then looked around for her husband. When she spotted him she called out, “Jas, mount up.”
Jaspan started shouting and soon the traders were loading their wagons and hitching their teams. Stavin and Karvik saw to their horses while several of the junior guardsmen helped Kimber pack her gear.
Karvik leaned over and asked, “What do you think she’d say if she knew the Heir of Zel’Karyn and a descendant of Mary Death were among her helpers?”
Stavin laughed. “She’d faint.”
Stavin stayed on Tru’s back until mid day, then climbed up beside Rahlina again. She smiled at him and shook her head. “Stavi, I’m not that fragile.”
“True,” he agreed. “You’re about as fragile as Shari, but that’s not the point. You, my friend, need a little help, and I’m here for you when you need it.” Rahlina shook her head and muttered something about men that Stavin carefully ignored.
They had traveled for three more days before they reached a line of forested hills. Just after the last wagon passed the edge of the trees, six men jumped out in front of Jaspan’s wagon.
“They’s a toll on this road, and we’s the collectors,” an unkempt man shouted.
Karvik led his team forward at the gallop, passing the wagons in an instant. The bandits hesitated for that instant, and it cost them their lives. Varik had ridden to the back of the caravan, but if any bandits were there they didn’t show themselves.
It wasn’t until they camped for the night that Stavin learned the details. He looked at Karvik and asked, “How many?”
Karvik shrugged one shoulder and said, “None. I let my men have them all.”
Stavin grinned and shook his head. “We’ll award their stripes in a little while. What could those fools have been thinking?”
“They probably thought there were only those eight guards Jaspan originally hired. I’d bet there were more men set to jump out behind and to the sides of the caravan, but after we rode by they thought better of it and just left the lead group to be slaughtered.”
Stavin had to nod his agreement. “I noticed those guards didn’t make a move.”
“Their leader did. He rode by my side and claimed one kill.”
“Really? I haven’t met him yet.”
Karvik grinned. “His name is Grovet Fel’Vanis. He’s a little put out by us taking over, but he’s not fool enough to say anything. Jaspan is still going to pay them, so all he’s missing out on is what he might have earned from his kills.”
Stavin nodded, then went to the fire and settled down beside Jaspan and Rahlina. He accepted a cup of kava from Karvik, then sat back.
Jaspan chuckled as he said, “Those fools were so horribly surprised when Major Kel’Carin attacked. On the way out they attacked us at the same place. There were twenty of them, and they charged a silver crown for each of them to let us pass.”
Rahlina was nodding. “They’ve been here for years. No one knows for sure, but we think they have a settlement near here.”
Grovet was just outside the circle of light, and now he stepped forward to bow. “Your pardon, Master Jaspan, but that is quite likely true. I got a good look at the leader when they waylaid us in the spring and he was among the men killed today.”
Stavin shrugged. “So maybe we made the road a bit safer today. It’ll be up to the Council and Guild to deal with them from now on.”
Rahlina was shifti
ng uncomfortably. She finally said, “Unless the Guild decides to hire them instead. They are going to need someone to collect tolls on bridges and maintain the roads through rough territory like this.”
Stavin grinned at Karvik and asked, “Wouldn’t that be a shock to their systems? Forced to become legitimate employees of the people they’ve been robbing.”
Grovet shrugged and said, “That beats a sword in the gut, Your Highness.”
Chapter 32
THE CARAVAN MOVED ON IN THE morning, and was out of the hills before they camped again. Jaspan had a map and was openly disappointed by their progress. When they camped three days later he laid it out by the fire.
“We’re days behind, even allowing for our late start. We should be at Neravad by now.”
Rahlina put her hand on his forearm and said, “Calm down, Jas. We’re only about two days behind schedule.”
He put his hand on her belly and sighed. “I just want to get you two home.”
Rahlina cuddled close and put her head on his shoulder. “We’ll be fine.”
Two days later they did indeed reach Neravad. The caravan slowed to a halt, and Karvik rode back to Stavin’s side. “Trouble,” was all he said before wheeling his horse around and riding forward again. Stavin swung down from Rahlina’s wagon and mounted Tru, then rode forward at a gallop. He reined her in beside Karvik.
“What now?” he whispered. In front of the city were several hundred men in an odd assortment of armor and uniforms, but all of them were armed.
A delegation of men rode out to meet them, and Karvik and Varik moved in front of Stavin. The men pulled their horses to a stop ten paces from Karvik, and an emaciated little old man shouted, “By order of the Traders’ Guild, all caravans must be inventoried and taxed.”
Stavin said, “Let me through,” and his men parted. As soon as Stavin’s golden armor was seen everyone got excited.
“I am Prince Stavin Zel’Andral, Minister of Trade for Evandia. I’m the one who negotiated these treaties between the kingdoms. There was no mention of a tax being levied in the middle of the kingdom, only at the borders.”
The old man looked like he wanted to spit at Stavin’s feet. “You may be a prince in Evandia, but this is Kavadia. You have no standing here.”
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