Guns & Flame: The Sara Featherwood Adventures ~ Volume Three

by Guy Antibes

  She knew the students and at least some of the faculty only tolerated Obed Handy, remembering the way the students had made fun of the Royal Genealogist. She saw him take the comments in stride, but they were nasty nevertheless. Derision of women students didn’t exist at Tarrey Abbey, but evidently Banna somehow discovered that it would at the University and, because of that, perceived the emergence of the Women’s College as a long process. No single battle would gain the Women’s College acceptance, and it would be a series of skirmishes along with a lot of politics.

  This time they would be the rebels, establishing a presence within the University. This might have been how West had originally perceived his role with the Red Swallows. However, the discovery of percussive powder had become an obsession that led to hasty decisions that had cost him his life. Sara saw that her position was closer to West’s than to her own in Shattuk Downs in regards to the Women’s College and that made Banna right, despite Sara’s anxiousness. The best strategy would consist of continually breaking down the opposition, not through force.

  “I understand. We’ll have to plan layers into our approach that will not be shown to the Dean and maybe not even the king.”

  Banna grinned. “That’s my girl. I knew you’d be able to comprehend how the game will have to be played. Now, tell me about your personal journey through Shattuk Downs.” She stepped away from the slateboard and sat down in a wing chair by the fireplace. “This reminds me of my office at Obridge.”

  “It does.” Sara collected her thoughts. “How well did you know Duke Northcross?”

  “Oh.” Banna said and didn’t press further.

  “Before I left Parth, I had a few visits with the Royal Genealogist. He’s responsible for this Countess nonsense. However, he’s a cousin of the King and Duke Northcross and he records as much as he can about the nobility.”

  Banna didn’t respond.

  “It seems my mother and Renall Passcold had an understanding. The separation wasn’t because Mother’s father died, it was because the King demanded that Duke Northcross accompany him to Parth and support him as he ascended the throne. My grandfather’s death happened at about the same time and ended up being a convenient excuse for my mother to use to restructure her life since the title and lands passed on to the now-deceased Jeramy Hardwell, Duke of Goldfields.

  “I was a five-month baby.” Sara looked into Banna’s eyes for some sign, but the woman remained impassive.

  “The Duke is my real father and Ben Featherwood is my stepfather. Ben has certainly acted the part after Mother died.” Sara said, not hiding the exasperation in her voice.

  “You can’t prove that.”

  Sara pulled on her ponytail. “This is Passcold hair. It is somewhat unique and just like the King and his brother’s. Duke Northcross has even acknowledged to me that he had a relationship with my mother in Obridge.”

  Banna bit her lip. “I told Sythy that I would never tell you any details about her time with the Passcolds. But you have told me. It’s true. She did get pregnant and didn’t find out until after the brothers left Obridge. I’m amazed you were able to figure it out.”

  Sara shook her head. “Not difficult when you have the facts that Obed Handy has. The Duke, I can’t call him ‘Father’, and I will get things straightened out when he returns. I don’t expect it to be a warm relationship. The man has spent his adult life pulling on the strings of the kingdom. But we do have a mutual respect. This is his house, after all, and I did save him from being murdered by Jeramy Hardwell.”

  “I wondered,” Banna said. “I suppose this relationship is a state secret?”

  “Please keep the information as secret as you have for my mother. At some time it will come out, but not yet. Now you know why I was so driven to take off for Shattuk Downs. Soldiers abducted my father and then Anton came in with his news, so I had to leave.”

  “How do you feel about Brightlings?”

  “It’s only a memory now and Ben would never accept me back, so it is lost to me regardless. I saved Belting Hollow, but Ben still hates me. With the house gone, I don’t feel that I have to go back. I may be in Parth to stay.”

  “I’m afraid I may be here as well with Lisha ensconced as the temporary Headmistress of the Women’s School. It’s good to have such a close friend in this awful city.” Banna leaned over and grasped Sara’s hand. “You’ll be in the first cohort of students or, who knows, maybe you’ll teach instead.” She smiled at Sara.

  Sara returned the smile. A year ago she’d have thought that teaching might be her way out of Brightlings. The thought astonished her. How she had changed! Her talents and inclination now seemed to lead her elsewhere, but she wasn’t quite sure where.

  ~

  Duke Northcross hadn’t yet returned to Parth, when Banna let Sara know King Terrant wanted to know their progress.

  “Could he make a decision on this?” Banna said as she worked with Sara to create a presentation portfolio for the King.

  “He seems to want the College to happen, but I’m a little uneasy with the King after how he treated his brother, forcing him to leave Obridge.”

  Banna stopped writing and put down her pen. “I don’t think force is the proper term unless Obed knows for sure. He made a choice. He didn’t have to follow his brother to Parth.”

  Was that her mother’s point of view? That Renall deserted her, or could Banna be giving Sara her personal version? Sara could only be certain of the fact that her mother hadn’t told Renall of his paternity and Renall left to serve King Terrant. She would keep her own counsel and observe the King as she had been trained in Obridge.

  ~

  Although the sun shone brilliantly in the morning, Sara’s shoulder began to ache as it still did from time to time. She wanted to exercise her arm, but the dress Willa had picked out for her audience with the King wouldn’t permit that kind of activity. The restriction as well as the pain only added to her anxious thoughts. As Banna and Sara stepped out of their carriage in the upper reaches of the Palace Grounds, clouds began to gather.

  “Looks like rain,” Banna said.

  Sara growled, “I didn’t bring a cloak did you?” Banna shook her head. This wasn’t an auspicious start to their meeting.

  A page led them up the steps and into the King’s study. At least they wouldn’t be competing with courtiers. Sara sat down and pulled out the three copies of the portfolios in her satchel. She gave one to Banna, placed one on the King’s desk and kept the last.

  Since the two women had gone over and over the presentation, they had little left to say as they waited. Sara walked around the King’s study while two guards dressed in blue and gold livery stood outside the open doors. She walked on carpet so thick that it reminded her of walking on a pillow. Books lined every inch of the room where there wasn’t a door, window or fireplace.

  Sara recognized many of the books as basic works she had read at School, however the King had more geography books and political texts. She noticed thick portfolios that might have contained personal reports since they had a single name and a range of dates. The room darkened and soon they heard the pelting of raindrops and observed an occasional burst of lightning followed by thunder.

  “Stand for the King!” a guard said. Sara already stood, looking through one of the portfolios. They were reports. She had to quickly put it back when King Terrant strode in.

  He laughed and gave Sara the tiniest of bows. “Have I caught you reading my dispatch collection, Countess?”

  She immediately curtseyed along with Banna. “You have, Your Majesty. I wondered what these were. I hope I haven’t seen information that will put me in any danger.” She smiled, hoping that a bold reply might defuse any anger that King Terrant might have.

  “No. Those aren’t here.” He stepped to his massive desk and sat down. “Now, I have about half an hour to give you. First of all, I have received a very thorough report from my brother. His reports are all kept where I keep myotherdispatches,” he win
ked at Sara as he said it, “You have performed some remarkable deeds for a young woman—for any woman. Parthy is grateful and you have proven your worth to the crown while being exposed to mortal danger. That is why I have moved up the Women’s College audience. Now what do you have for me?”

  Sara noticed that the King didn’t speak with the ‘royal we’. That encouraged her as Banna began. Sara and Banna presented the King with their plan. He asked good questions and spent some time discussing academic philosophy with Banna. Sara put aside her misgivings about him.

  He rose from his seat. “You will receive your charter, only if Banna Thresher will accept the post as Dean. Will you, Miss Thresher, or shall I say Mrs. Hedge?”

  Banna colored at her married name.

  “I’ve been asked by many people to develop the old camp by the University. I can’t think of a better place for your Women’s College. You will have to live at the College while your husband continues to work with my brother, here on the palace grounds. But I suspect you’ll have plenty of time together at the end of each week and on holidays. I have a personal fund, so we won’t need to go through my Council. I would imagine you could get your institution started as soon as you are able, perhaps by the end of the summer? Now I have a meeting in another chamber. Parthy thanks you for your work and wishes you much success.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Sara curtseyed.

  The King looked at her face and picked up an errant tendril of her hair. “You are definitely a Passcold, Countess.” Terrant looked a bit alarmed and glanced at Banna. “Obed told me that you know most of the details of Sythea Goldagle’s life. Isn’t that correct?”

  Banna nodded and the King seemed to relax.

  “Anything I can do to help you, please ask. I must be somewhere else, but expect an invitation to a reception, Sara. It’s time you were properly introduced in Parth.” He nodded to Banna and gave Sara a deeper bow and left the room with Banna and Sara gazing at his back, dumbfounded.

  “Well, that was…” Banna blinked her eyes in surprise, “successful, but abrupt.”

  Sara put her presentation in her satchel and put her hand out for Banna’s copy. “I suppose my efforts in Shattuk Downs have yielded us a significant prize. Klark had given me some doubts about getting Council approval, but it appears that we won’t need it.” Sara smiled, but couldn’t be more stunned as she put her hair behind her ear again. The King went through the presentation, but he had obviously already made up his mind before he stepped into the study.

  The page that escorted them to the study, stood at the door. “I will take you to your carriage. We have a covered drive for days like today.” His words were punctuated by a peal of thunder. The young man cringed. “Sorry, I don’t like bad weather.”

  Banna laughed. “Don’t worry. We’ll protect you.”

  Sara smiled as they made there way down the many stairs and corridors and were soon on their way to drop off Banna.

  “I am still dumbfounded,” Sara said.

  Banna put her hand to her neck. “I’m still a-whirl, myself. I knew I’d be stuck in Parth with you my dear—in the nicest way, of course, but this. I had a dream or two of starting the Women’s College when asked to help Lady Worthy, but I thought they’d pick a man to create the thing.” Banna looked at the rain pelting down the carriage window.

  The gift had been unexpected. If the King awarded the charter in part because of her trip to Shattuk Downs, she’d accept it. Sara only had sought the release of Duke Northcross, though and even if her exploits led to the College, she’d never have undertaken the trip just to earn the King’s charter.

  She didn’t know what to think about the reception invitation. With Grianna always putting her off, the King might not follow through on his threat to present her in a more social setting. Banna said something and Sara asked her to repeat it.

  ‘You’ll be one of my first students, Sara.” Banna proclaimed. “Now I’m a bit afraid. Planning is always the easy part.”

  Sara nodded. “Yes, now we get to implement and we’ll see just how much resistance we’ll get.” The coach let Banna off at Hedge’s townhouse and proceeded on to Sara’s.

  ~

  The next day, Banna showed up on Sara’s doorstep with a bag of notebooks. The rain still pelted down and made the day seem more like winter than spring. She stepped in and went directly to the study.

  Sara brought Willa in with her. “I’d like Willa to be part of our implementation team. You are the academic expert and Willa and I can handle getting the camp ready to hold students. She has a degree in Practical Mathematics from the Women’s School and used to help Lord Worthy with his various building projects at their Eastern Parthy estates.”

  Banna looked askance at Willa. “Building and renovations?”

  Willa smiled. “I did indeed and I know my way around Parth’s craftsmen, Mrs. Hedge.”

  “Banna,”

  They put their heads together and, using the implementation plan they didn’t show the King, began to work out who would work on what.

  ~~~

  Chapter Two

  The Battle of Women’s College

  One week later, a messenger from the King delivered a framed charter to Banna and a sheaf of documents including the deed to the camp and a funded bank draft. The King had been generous indeed.

  “It’s time for a visit to the Dean,” Banna said, as Willa and Sara joined her for a little celebration lunch atThe Pretty Penny, a palace grounds restaurant close to the Hedge home.

  The thought of the confrontation had been in Sara’s mind for days. The three of them had concluded that they couldn’t depend on the Dean’s cooperation. Even Doctor Hedge surmised that the Women’s College would be meeting massive resistance.

  “He needs a bribe,” Willa said. “The man probably won’t listen to reason because his mind will be closed, however giving the man something he wants might soften him up a bit. What is it that we want the most from him?”

  Sara thought. “Degrees recognized by the University.”

  “No, my dear Sara, that won’t happen any time soon. A University degree will legitimize our College.”

  Sara thought a bit while they were served little baked hens on beds of rice with bits of mushroom and diced vegetables. After a few bites she said, “Not University degrees but something that they will acknowledge as certified learning.”

  “Like they accept Tarrey College degrees?”

  Sara had to shrug. She didn’t know how College degrees stood with the University.

  “They recognize the educational attainment, but they don’t recognize equivalence.”

  Willa laughed. “That should be worth a little leg of this.” She pulled a leg from the tiny bird and waved it in their faces. “However he’ll want something more substantial.”

  “A bribe?” Banna’s face soured. “I won’t pay him any of our money.”

  “What about an endowment of camp land—perhaps a training field? Do they play any field games? We could give them enough bare land to use. Perhaps to share with the Women’s College?” Sara said.

  “Rumball!” Willa said. “I’ll bet the University doesn’t have a Rumball field.”

  “Of course. They need a field one hundred yards by forty yards with another twenty yards on each side for team members and spectators,” Sara said. Tarrey College men played Rumball in an unused pasture nearly three miles from the center of Obridge. She had gone a few times and helped set up the field. The camp’s training grounds could fit many Rumball fields.

  “But what if they already sneak onto the property and use the camp’s land?”

  Willa squinted and let her face turn grave. “They won’t be able to now. You hold the deed Banna. We can find out. If the land is adjacent to the University you can give them a thirty-year lease for a gold crown—a nominal sum. No bribery, but an exchange of values.”

  Banna pursed her lips and closed her eyes. “I suppose it’s worth a try. We’ll need to find out
what field the school is currently using. It might make a difference.”

  “Ask your husband,” Willa said.

  Banna shivered at the woman’s stare. “I certainly will. A nice business transaction between friends.”

  “Friendly enemies.” Willa smiled and rubbed her hands. “Let it turn into a negotiation only after the Dean refuses to recognize our degrees as certified instruction.”

  ~

  After half an hour waiting in the anteroom, a secretary led them into the Dean’s office. It was nearly as opulent as the King’s Study. Books of many disciplines lined the walls. Sara wondered if the library had them all catalogued.

  The Dean walked around the desk to greet Banna and Sara. Willa had volunteered to stay home. Sara laughingly called it cowardice on the field of battle.

  “Please be seated. Miss Thresher, I’m so glad you’ve come to visit. I received notification of the King’s charter for your Women’s College. I am sorry, as you can see, we have no facilities available on the University grounds.” He unrolled a plan of the University.

  Except for the side that bordered the camp, Parth hemmed in the University from every side.

  “Oh my,” Banna said. “You are so right. All the buildings are taken?”

  The Dean colored a little. “Not taken, but all are spoken for.”

  Sara remembered the library. “The University looks ahead to expansion, Banna. The Library is only half full of books.”

  The Dean adjusted his collar. “You’ve been inside of our Library, Countess?”

  “I have, indeed. I’m a friend of Obed Handy, the Royal Archeologist.” She gave the Dean her pass. “I believe you signed this yourself.”

  “I did indeed. I didn’t realize the Countess of Brightlings was Sara Featherwood of Belting Hollow,” he said, giving her a smile.

  “You can call me Sara, Dean.”

  He looked a bit uncomfortable. “I’m sorry I can’t exchange first names, I’m still Dean Hotspring. But you are right, uh, Sara. Not all of our buildings are fully used so we can expand. Land is at a premium you know.”