by Eric Vall
“Hold this,” I said as I handed my goblet to Cayla, and I made my way toward Temin.
The king was nodding along through a conversation he clearly didn’t care about, and when I made to pull him aside, he immediately dismissed himself and followed.
“Who is that?” I asked in a low voice, and then I gestured to the guy in green who was skirting the edge of the room.
Temin furrowed his brow and considered the man. “You know, I haven’t the faintest idea. He must have come with one of the ladies, perhaps?”
My gut told me this wasn’t the case, but then the man posted himself beside a group of men and began muttering as he tipped his chin toward my women again, and I knew it wasn’t the case.
“Hmm,” Temin said at once. “I’m not entirely sure I like the cut of his jib, and I’d say he’s giving your women a rather strange look. Would you like me to have the guards remove him?”
“Nah, don’t trouble yourself,” I replied as I clapped him on the shoulder, and I studied the man’s face closely so I wouldn’t forget it.
Temin nodded. “If you’re sure. How are things going with the nobility?”
“Surprisingly well,” I chuckled. “Give me twenty more minutes, and I’ll probably be set.”
“Excellent,” the king said with a grin, “although I’ll warn you, the man who will speak against you is named Baron Ralish, and he’s not a fan of yours. Most of your opposition consort with him, though I hardly know why. The man only sells oats.”
“Fantastic,” I snorted, and I turned away to rejoin my women.
Cayla had put herself directly beside Aurora now, and as I approached, I sent her a discreet nod before looping my arm around Deya’s waist.
“We should visit the Elders before we tackle Lord Allen,” I told the women.
“Yes, it would probably help if Lord Allen saw the way they are with you,” the princess agreed. “I’ve been keeping an eye out, and the Elders really haven’t spoken to a single person here. Temin brought his servants over to refill their wine while we were with Lady Emonie, and they didn’t even bow.”
“This has been easier than I expected, though,” Aurora admitted as we headed for the table of surly looking dwarves. “Half the lords we’ve spoken with are dying to get to know you, Mason.”
“You sure I’m the one they want to get to know?” I asked, and I sent her a pointed look over my shoulder as she adjusted the taut red silk around her breasts.
“Honestly, yes,” Aurora laughed. “They looked terrified to be seen talking to us. Judging by how many times they looked your way, I’m pretty sure they’re afraid you’ll kick their asses.”
“Good,” I said with a grin. “What did you tell them?”
“Well, we mentioned you’ll be building up Falmount soon, and four of them want to make a deal with you to sell their crops in our market,” the half-elf explained.
“Six others want to buy steel from your mine, too,” Shoshanne added.
“And there were a handful who I am certain just want to be seen with you,” Deya giggled. “It’s been a very illuminating evening.”
“Agreed,” I muttered as I scanned the room for the man in green, and I found him still speaking with the same group of men.
I also caught sight of the Baroness, and yet another man was muttering quietly beside her while neither looked at one another. Then he walked off only to be quickly replaced with another, and I realized the woman must always be working every angle. I could only imagine the sort of secrets she procured amongst this lot, and when I saw Lady Emonie heading her way as well, I couldn’t help shaking my head.
All the Baroness did was stand there and sip her wine, and one noble after another seemed drawn to her while she kept her face an unreadable mask through every conversation. When she caught me looking at her, though, the faintest smile curled at her lips before it was gone in a blink.
“I saw that,” Cayla muttered, and all of my women began giggling.
“That woman is so confusing,” I sighed as we began mounting the steps leading to the table of Elders.
“Oh, I don’t know,” the princess said with a smirk. “I’m beginning to think I understand her quite well.”
“Me, too,” Aurora chuckled, but before I could ask what they meant, the Elders saw us approaching, and their scowls immediately faded.
Then Foreg stood to bow to us in greeting, and the others followed suit as I did my best not to grin like an idiot at the instant blush on Cayla’s cheeks.
“Defender Flynt,” Dogra said, and he considered my women each in turn with an approving nod. “Your women look as remarkable as ever, although I believe we have not met the elf.”
Deya paled as the Elders took their seats and eyed her with reserve, but I pulled her closer to my side as I responded.
“This is Deya Naera of House Quyn,” I told the Elders.
“House Quyn?” Agrokea croaked. “Of Qadir?”
“Yes,” Deya replied with pleasant surprise, “Qadir was my grandfather.”
“A formidable man.” Foreg nodded. “For an elf.”
“Ahh, yes,” Killick mused as he stroked his ruddy beard, and he narrowed his eyes. “The elf who forged the first enchanted blade. I have seen but one in my life, and I still recall how expertly wrought it was. Shame the old elf has passed. He was a visionary amongst his kind.”
“My brother has continued forging the Halcyan blades for the last six decades,” Deya told the Elders. “Mason has several on hand.”
“Do you really?” Dogra asked as he looked at me.
“I do,” I replied. “You should come to Falmount before you head back to Orebane. We have a train station there, and you can study the blades up close before you depart if you’d like.”
“We will do that.” Foreg nodded. “It would make our trip here more worth the while. I predict the tariffs will not be lifted.”
“I’ll do everything I can to see that they are,” I assured the dwarf. “Do I have your permission to mention your mines in the west? I think this might be just the incentive that’s needed.”
“Yes,” Dogra replied at once. “Do mention all the wares in the west, and make it known that none will be at the disposal of Illaria should the tariffs remain in place.”
“I will. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, this wine is plenty,” Killick said, and I could see his grin beneath his ruddy moustache. “I feel much at ease now that I have a decent drink in me.”
“Five decent drinks,” Dogra muttered as he sipped his own wine.
“Well, I’m glad to hear it,” I chuckled, “and I look forward to seeing you all in Falmount.”
Then my women and I bowed deeply to the Elders as they nodded in approval, and we turned to find several noble eavesdroppers abruptly looking away while we descended the steps.
“They bowed!” Cayla giggled, and I could tell she’d been holding in this excitement since we walked up.
“You’re ridiculous,” I sighed.
“Ridiculously turned on,” the princess corrected, and she pulled Shoshanne forward. “Now, go speak with Lord Allen before Temin calls the meeting, you’re running out of time. Remember, be very delicate about how you approach him. The last thing we need is him thinking you’re a shallow kiss ass. We’ll see what we can do with a few more lords for you.”
Shoshanne was glowing as she looped her arm in mine, and I sent her an admiring grin as I led her through the crowd.
“You look beautiful,” I murmured in her ear.
“Do you really like it?” Shoshanne asked anxiously as she smoothed the white silk, and I couldn’t nod fast enough.
“Yes, it’s perfect, although I’m gonna be honest with you, I’ll probably tear it to shreds the second we get home.”
Shoshanne giggled and blushed even more, and she still had bright pink cheeks when I caught sight of the large Lord Allen in his royal blue coat. His hair was a similar shade to my own and combed back in a d
elicate wave, and he swiped a bit of wine from his wiry moustache as he saw me coming. Then he sent me a broad grin, and to my surprise, he was pushing his way toward me a split second later.
“Baron Flynt!” Lord Allen boomed, and he met us in the crowd to extend his hand to me. “I’ve been wondering when I’d get a word with you. This must be the beautiful healer of yours, yes? With the lovely copper hair?”
I was instantly confused, but I played it off as his grip nearly crushed my hand while he shook it vigorously.
“Lord Allen,” I replied. “Yes, this is Miss Shoshanne. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Not so much as I have about you,” Lord Allen chuckled, and the sound was a full bellied one as he patted his blue coat with a merry grin. “My nephew has had a lot to say on your account. I’d like to thank you for taking him under your wing, so to speak. He’s really come into himself ever since he met you, and to know he helped lay the tracks of the railway is a point of pride with me these days. Truth be told, I brag about it constantly.”
The man tapped his nose as he winked like I was an old friend, and I furrowed my brow in complete confusion.
“Forgive me, sir,” I tried, “but who is your nephew?”
“Pindor, of course!” Lord Allen boomed. “Hasn’t he mentioned me?”
Chapter 10
I stared for a long moment as my world suddenly collided seamlessly with the formidable earl, and part of me honestly couldn’t believe it.
“You’re fucking with me,” I finally managed.
Lord Allen let out another guttural laugh and clapped me hard on the shoulder, and Shoshanne looked just as surprised as me as she smiled at the genial man.
“You’re exactly as he described,” Lord Allen informed me before he drained his goblet. “Hell of a refreshment, too, if you ask me. We need a man like you in the court. Tell me, how’s Pindor doing? I haven’t heard from him in a few weeks, but I imagine he’s busy with his training. He’s completely changed his tune about his studies since he met you. Before the railway, he wanted to putz around and learn my business, but I told him absolutely not! A mage his age ought to study his craft, not squander his gods given talents amongst this lot. Seems you were just the mentor he needed.”
I blinked as I considered how eager Pindor always was to learn more, and I couldn’t help feeling even more proud of the kid now that I knew how little time he’d spent taking his magery seriously.
“Pindor’s doing great,” I told the earl, and I tried to catch up to reality. “He actually uh … well, I don’t know if you heard about the recent attack at the Oculus?”
“I heard,” Lord Allen said, and he abruptly sobered. “Gods, Pindor wasn’t--”
“No!” I quickly assured the man. “No, he’s just fine. He fought like hell and really did us proud in the attack. That’s what I was gonna say, I wouldn’t have gotten there in time without him. He’s the one who sent word to me in Falmount. If he hadn’t acted so quickly, we would have lost the Oculus entirely.”
“My Pindor?” Lord Allen asked, and his eyes glistened a bit. “You don’t say.”
“Hell, yeah,” I chuckled. “That’s kind of just how he is, to tell you the truth. Pindor’s always right there when we need him. He helped me rescue a girl up in Orebane without hesitating, and he tore a mountain open in the process. He’s a hell of a mage.”
Lord Allen was practically bursting with pride now, and I was glad to see someone appreciating the kid considering how his reputation had been going south lately at the Order. Of course, now that I knew he was related to the Earl of Rainard, I kind of wondered if his cockiness was technically well founded, even if the delivery was shit.
“That sure is good to hear,” Lord Allen said with another proud pat to his belly. “His parents would be happy to know it, rest their souls.”
Now, my smile fell a bit. “Pindor’s parents are dead?”
“Sadly,” the earl sighed. “I raised the boy up myself since he was three. I suppose that’s why he didn’t value his magery so highly at first. Always knew he’d end up taking on my responsibilities one day, but that doesn’t mean he should squander his talents now. He really never mentioned?”
“No,” I admitted, and I realized Pindor and I actually had a lot more in common than I thought. The fact he was in line to inherit the earl’s domain was fucking news to me, though.
“Well, he’s always been a quiet kid,” Lord Allen said as he grabbed three goblets from a passing server and handed me and Shoshanne two of them. “Too shy to do much more than keep his nose buried in a book. I wish he’d find himself a nice girl sometime, but I suppose it’s enough that he’s come out of his shell and dedicated to pursuing his studies.”
“Yeah,” I said as I couldn’t contain my grin. “He’s uh … he’s definitely coming out of his shell.”
Lord Allen grinned broadly beneath his wiry moustache, and he was about to say something more when a bell began to ring across the room, and Temin invited the entire gathering to adjourn to the great hall so the meeting could begin.
Shoshanne sent me a wide-eyed look, and my knees went numb as I realized I’d spent all of my time talking about Pindor rather than solidifying some prestige with the man who could ensure me at least fifteen nobles.
“Ah!” Lord Allen sighed as he drained the last of his wine, and he prodded my own goblet as if to say I should do the same. “Time for the slaughter, I’m afraid.”
I drained my wine like a dying man as the hall began to empty, but then Lord Allen roughly grabbed me around the shoulder to drag me with him.
“Now, don’t let Baron Ralish get to you,” he muttered conspiratorially. “He’ll go after you on account of how little time you’ve spent in your position, but you just hold firm. His lot are a bunch of greedy imbeciles, but we can’t allow them to destroy this trade agreement. I’ve done all I can amongst the better half, so it falls to you now. Just remember, the citizens in the lower quarters are relying on you to help them maintain their circumstances, and if Ralish gets his way, they’ll drop right back into poverty in the blink of an eye.”
I furrowed my brow. “Really?”
“Certainly,” Lord Allen assured me, and he managed to grab two more goblets for us before we reached the door. “Half of his workers left his despicable working conditions as soon as the alliance with Orebane allowed their families to get by in Serin. So, don’t let his confidence fool you. He may have been the first to corner the market of oats in Illaria, but he’s floundering to remain relevant, and there are plenty of others who could knock him right out of the market with enough gumption to give it a try. So, stay the course. What have you got up your sleeves?”
I chugged my wine as the weight of the situation began to press heavier on my shoulders, and I was suddenly glad I had a decent buzz to keep the panic at bay.
“Well … I’ve got some news about mines opening in the west,” I replied. “That and the fact it’s my railway, and I could honestly close the whole thing down if I wanted to.”
“Good,” Lord Allen said with a nod. “Lead with that. A bit of a prod at his questionable labor force wouldn’t hurt either. No one’s had the nerve to come out and say it, but from what I hear from Pindor, you’re a man who stands up for what’s right, and there isn’t a single noble who still uses children in the fields except for Ralish.”
I stared as the earl tapped his nose once more before joining his wife and entering the great hall at her side, and Shoshanne looked as completely caught off guard as me while I slowed to a stop.
“So …” she muttered, “that was a lot to take in.”
I nodded. “I’m so fucked.”
“No, you aren’t,” Shoshanne assured me as she took my hand, and my other three women joined us as the crowd filed by. “You know everything you need to, and Lord Allen already supports you.”
“He does?” Cayla asked eagerly, and I walked ahead on numb legs while Shoshanne filled the others in about Pindor, Ralish,
and the lower class of Serin relying on me to maintain their circumstances.
When we entered the great hall, hundreds of gilded chairs lined the marble floor with the Elders seated in a shadowy pew high above, and they glared down at the nobility as if they already knew what direction this would go in.
King Temin saw us enter and motioned for us to take a row of seats in the front, and as I dropped down into a seat and willed the wine I’d just chugged to kick in as soon as possible, the king walked to his throne at the head of the hall. His advisers flanked him on either side in their own gilded seats, and I decided being a noble was definitely not something I wanted to do.
“Wait, are you nervous?” Cayla asked in disbelief as she noticed the look on my face.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I muttered. “I am about to address hundreds of nobles after only meeting two, and there’s apparently way more riding on this decision than just some swords for Temin’s army.”
“Mason, ten hours ago you had a princess chained to your bed,” Cayla whispered. “Remember that.”
“Let’s not forget you had your dick down the Baroness’ throat recently, too,” Aurora added.
I smirked now, and as the two women gave me their best know-it-all looks, I nodded.
“You’re right,” I agreed. “I should just whip it out. Problem solved.”
Then I grabbed at my belt, and Cayla barely contained a screech as she snatched my hand away.
“Mason!” she hissed. “Don’t do that to me! Just … approach this like you do everything else.”
“Exactly,” Aurora whispered. “You know you’re right, so just go out there and prove it.”
“Politely,” Cayla clarified. “Unless … well, unless that doesn’t work. Then speak your mind. That doesn’t always get you into trouble.”
“Great,” I mumbled. “Thanks for the advice.”
