by A L Issett
“You have a guest” Farald said.
“That niece of mine ain't no guest, neither is her Jinx Flinger” Tanner said as he stood up. “Whatever they need they can get it themselves, if they want to talk then they can come and find me, not the other way around.”
“The Queen mother has arrived early along with Her Majesty and Duchess Soves” Farald replied. “I have found all of them a room and have situated their servants.”
“Shit, it is happening already” Tanner said. “That is why I didn't want to go to no damn party for some girl. I should have stayed put and followed my gut, now I am going to have every chatty Cathy visiting and trying to tell me what is best for me.”
“Maybe you should listen boy” Farald said. “It would do you some good to have friends with some power.”
“I got friends with power” Tanner snapped. “I got these two fists and my sword, they have been sorting loud mouths out since I was knee high to a knee.”
“You know what the pit I mean” Farald said. “I didn't get this job from being scared of some lout with more muscle than brains. You got something good going on here and your people are happy and content. When you needed fighters I had to disappoint people by turning them away, even widow Castleman wanted to give it a go and the woman is over seventy summers. If something happens to you then the good times end, where would we all be if you let your ego hurt your economy? We have heard rumblings about a civil war, you just left one. People were scared of King Edward, with him gone they think the crown has become weaker, King Golden and Queen Caroline do not have his presence. If they are removed do you think the nobles that hate him are going to leave us alone? You will be the first person they come after, many see you as coddled and disrespectful and do not care about your reasons.”
“I wish they would come down here” Tanner said. “I ain't got shit to lose and I will carve their asses up like a freshly killed deer.”
“Be that as it may, how will your people cope?” Farald asked. “How many of them will be dead or maimed during this thing?”
“Why do I even keep you around old man” Tanner said as he walked past angrily. “All you do is either whine or complain about me doing something wrong. Aren't you supposed to be a servant? I ain't hired no damn advisors.”
“Sod off boy” Farald said. “Now go make yourself presentable, I already have your servants playing their part and they are in their actual uniforms.”
Tanner entered his house and shook his head at the smell, someone had put flowers all around the place, the smell of stargazers was easy to identify. Tanner grew the flowers all over, his Mary had loved them and every time he saw one he thought of her. Tanner had never decorated his home with them though, someone did and now the smell was everywhere. Tanner took a bath and got himself dressed, he cursed as he combed his hair but now instead of unruly it lay somewhat flat. Tanner could feel his stomach rumbling and figured it was time to eat, when he made it inside of his dining room he could see the Queen, the Queen Mother, Duchess Soves, his niece Carolina and a woman he was not familiar with.
“Alright Aundrea” Tanner said as he walked over to the Queen Mother. “You got my staff running around like chickens about to be plucked and had an old man yell at me about what is proper and what is not. None of this fancy shit is my style, I hope you appreciate this because if you visit again it ain't happening.”
“Come give an old woman a hug and stop barking at me” Aundrea said as Tanner gave her a hug. “That is better. I invited Jennifer and her daughter over because hardly anyone has been over here since you took up residence and I wanted company. Caroline came because she is angry at you for not coming to Ketol so your praises can be shared with all.”
“You can take those praises and-” Tanner began as Carolina cut him off.
“And stick them where your shit from” Carolina said deeping her voice and sticking out her lip.
“Very funny girl” Tanner said as he sat down.
“Tanner you charged into a war to save my daughter” Caroline said. “You deserved something.”
“How about peace and quiet and we call it square” Tanner replied. “I didn't want to go there anyway, you cheated by having the girl, the boy and the Jinx Flinger come begging.”
“You got to go out and have a little fun” Caroline said. “It didn't kill you although you made me and your king feel horrible about our part in you hurting that poor girl. Golden is a charmer and only wanted to make her feel welcome, despite what you think he doesn't really have any friends and misses you. Both of us saw her as a way around this stone wall you keep up. You are only person he trusts to be there for him, even with the history you have with each other. Even now he believes if he was in serious trouble that you would come through and try to dig him out of it. You would be cursing him the entire time but you would be there, he wants to end this feud. While you were in your self-imposed exile he still worried about you, especially on your birthday.”
“We both know me and the blessed one will never be chums” Tanner said. “It would be an insult to the memory of my Mary. Before you say she was just a woman, she was my woman and I miss her every day. I don't really see a way around all of that.”
“My Uncle welcomed you back even after you came with an invasion force” Jennifer, the Duchess of Soves said. It took Tanner some restraint not to jump up and slap the woman out of her chair, she was fifty-five now but was still very dangerous. Jennifer was the overall leader of the Black Hand Assassins, it was her group that kidnapped Mary to start off with.
“Your Uncle is a tosser who is lucky I let him die of natural causes instead of burning Ket down” Tanner replied. “He ain't gave me nothing I couldn't have taken for myself. Now why don't you silence yourself before I remember your part in all of this.”
“We are not here to revisit the past” Caroline said. “It is horrible and I doubt anyone here will change anyone’s mind. The kingdom is much better off for your sacrifice Tanner, that cannot be denied. You helped save hundreds of thousands of Ketians and from a logical point of view your wife was a small price to pay overall. Nothing anyone is going to say is going to change your mind, you would rather have your Mary and the kingdom burned to the ground and you would consider it an even trade.”
“You know damn well I would” Tanner replied.
“Then let's talk about something a lot more pleasant” Caroline said. “Like how I heard the Queen of Quet was enamored with you and Lord Perry.”
“He even asked for Quet to be spared retaliation” Carolina said playfully.
“Quet can kiss my ass” Tanner barked. “If you want to attack the place then attack it. Burn every house down, rape every woman and feed every child to the dogs. No one holds shit over my head anymore.”
“We are just teasing” Carolina said.
“I don't tease girl” Tanner replied. “Now why are you all really here? Especially you Jennifer?”
“Are your skills still up to date?” Jennifer asked.
“Doesn't matter, whatever you want my answer is no” Tanner replied.
“You don't even know what it is” Jennifer replied.
“How does this benefit me?” Tanner asked. “I am already rich and I don't need anymore money. I don't need or care for fame and I don't care about some silly title, I could have been Chief of the Barbarian horde if I wanted with ten wives and lot of other shit.”
“You can have the satisfaction of helping out a friend” Jennifer said.
“You ain't a friend and even if you were I have already done that before and it got me nothing” Tanner replied. “You have to come better than that.”
“I have something I can offer” Jennifer said. “I can offer you relief from the memories that haunt you. It is obvious you are still as angry today as you were twenty years ago, I can lessen your pain.”
“You are as mad as a bag of ferrets” Tanner laughed.
“No she isn't” Aundrea said. “Everyone has tried to give you the cure, you just refuse
it.”
“This isn't the green” Tanner snapped. “There is no cure.”
“I think I should know if there is a cure or not” Aundrea said. “My life wasn’t all roses during the time my Tazor died or have you forgotten.”
“You got me listening” Tanner said as he calmed down.
“I can tell you what the cure is but your problem is that you will refuse to take it” Aundrea said. “I don't want to waste my breath unless I secure a promise for you that you will at least try it.”
“You are asking a lot” Tanner replied.
“What do you have to lose Tanner?” Aundrea replied. “When I leave this world I can do so happily if I could do right by my greatest protector’s son.”
“You ain't playing fair” Tanner said. “And you roped in the girl in this too.”
“You can call this an intervention Uncle” Carolina said.
“I don't have to play fair, I am an old woman Tanner” Aundrea said. “Now swear it.”
“What do you have to lose Tanner?” Caroline asked. “You can always go back to being the grumpy country boy.”
“You got my attention” Tanner said.
“I want your promise that you will try it for at least a year” Aundrea said. “This isn't a magic potion.”
“Alright you got my promise” Tanner replied. “I have tried to calm it down but it is no use, I am only content when I don't have time alone with my thoughts. I need to be dead tired to relax, when I wake up they are back and I am mad as high priced whore in a room full of bums.”
“So then you are going to take me up on my proposal?” Jennifer asked.
“What is it, spit it out” Tanner said. “Last time I saw you I thought you said you were keeping your daughter far away from all of this.”
“I still am” Jennifer replied. “I just want you to join her guards and escort her to New Haven in what used to be Tavor. It is on the other side of the kingdom where they do not like this side of the kingdom. My Claudia is supposed to meet her betrothed, it will be a good match for the kingdom and continue the healing process.”
“All I have to do is guard your little girl?” Tanner said confused. “Any idiot can do that.”
“Not just anyone is the Earl of Tox” Jennifer said. “They still write horror songs and plays about you. I have seen some and I would be a liar if I claimed I did not enjoy it. You will be as much as a message as anything, especially since it is well known by now you stormed into Quet and rescued our captured. I want you to bring Claudia to a party thrown by former Tavorian nobles, they tried to be clever by having the party on the far side of the kingdom. They knew not many would make it which is the reason for it.”
“So I am supposed to go on down there like we are real cozy then do what?” Tanner asked. “I ain't got no problems with no Tavorians, they never did anything to me that I took personal.”
“Then you should not have any problem once you are there then” Caroline said. “Now I want to talk about this change I have heard Carolina went through. She has always been embarrassed of her magic and I hear you took her magic from her.”
“Your broke the Princess’s magic?” Jennifer asked shocked.
“No he didn't” Carolina replied. “I already showed you some of what I can do.”
“Is this a conversation you want to have here?” Tanner asked looking at the Queen.
“I trust everyone at this table” Caroline replied.
“I think the bracers can have their uses” Tanner replied. “The Quetians just want to get rid of their mages. I think it can allow low level mages the ability to become great fighters, it can even heal injuries if they are caught quick enough. I wouldn't make it as widespread as it is in Quet, I would keep Perry’s little secret and pretend all is well.”
“What are you all talking about?” Jennifer asked.
Tanner listened as Carolina showed off her brace and demonstrated what she could do with her dagger. Jennifer was intrigued until Tanner said he would not be making anymore and that they could take the duplicate hammer to make more but it would take a lot more mages being neutered. At the end of the meal Tanner agreed to take Jennifer’s daughter to New Haven but did not get any clues to the help they promised.
CHAPTER 9
KING GOLDEN
“So this is the great secret” King Golden said as he held one of the bracers Tanner had made. “The kingdom’s first three bolt swordmaster is nothing but a fraud.”
“He is dear” Caroline replied. “You should see your daughter move with the thing, she is a lot faster than she should be. Tanner thinks the real hammer could make a brace that is even stronger than what he did. Carolina is happy with her new ability, she is only waiting for Tanner to get back to see what she can do.”
“Why is she waiting for Tanner?” Golden asked.
“Tanner said that he will train her personally” Caroline said. “He plans on living back in his home in the city with your mother, at least until he is satisfied Carolina is on the right path.”
“I have people here who can train her” Golden said.
“I think he just wants to spend time with her and Edmonson” Caroline replied. “Besides, he is our best warrior and has walked me through the duel he had with Perry as many times as I asked. If he had the knowledge he has now he could have ended that fight a long time ago. He even gave us a way to make Duke Haggerty indebted to us.”
“How is that?” Golden asked. “Duke Haggerty is one of the people calling for our heads despite the friendship we have cultivated between Jessica and Carolina. Things went a little awry when our son decided not to court Jessica but Duke Haggerty should have still been friendly with us. You cannot tell me the man is one of our allies, he loved King Edward. That love did not transfer over to us, a Tavorian and a country blacksmith.”
“It hasn’t” Caroline replied. “But Haggerty and Wayne has always competed against each other and only see eye to eye in wanting us removed. Perry and Haggerty’s son Telrin have always hated each other and competed for various things. Perry far surpassed Telrin when he became a three bolt swordmaster, Haggerty had no answer to his rival who often boasted about how great his son was. Perry will receive credit for going to retrieve Carolina and we have no way to prove Wayne had anything to do with it.”
“But we can sow seeds of discord” Golden said as he started thinking hard about the whole situation. “I can have Haggerty come here and tell him how we think everything played out. Perry is rumored to be courting Queen Darlene to give the Wayne’s even more power. I think eventually Wayne would have his son try and attack us, there would be many who would welcome him. Perry could join both kingdoms together as one and many would see it as a victory. What the idiots wouldn’t take into consideration is that the people formerly of Tavor would want the same thing and our kingdom would splinter. I could tell Haggerty that I think Wayne had a hand in Jessica’s kidnapping and point to him having a Quetian bracer as proof. I could then give him two of these bracers to take with him along with swords to match. Haggerty would see it our way, he wouldn’t trust Duke Wayne much further than I could throw a pregnant horse.”
“That is what I was thinking” Caroline said. “Which is why I sent for Haggerty before I left Tanner.”
“How is he doing?” Golden asked. “Still the same?”
“He was ready to come across the table and kill Jennifer” Caroline laughed. “Once you see him with Carolina though you know without a doubt he loves our daughter. He is someone both Tanner and Carolina can depend on when things get tough. You have heard the stories Carolina and Jessica talk about. Tanner charged through an entire country and was ready to kill everyone or die trying. He has his gifts but he isn’t invincible, you saw the outcome of his fight with Perry. A stray arrow, a lucky sword strike, almost anything could kill him like a normal man. Yet he went anyway and brought all of his anger with him.”
“He is from Kol” Golden said. “He is Tanner from Kol. I miss him Caroline.
I miss having an ale with him and talking about things that are more meaningless than an armless swordmaster. The hardest part of it all is that I cannot blame him for wanting nothing to do with me.”
“He may never come around but you are a good man Golden” Caroline said with a smile.
“I just wish he was happy” Golden said. “I may have ruined that for him yet again with Tara.”
“Don’t you beat yourself up about that” Caroline said. “I have nitpicked and berated Tanner but I can see his point. Tanner is a very private person and Tara was the opposite of that. She wanted the noble life and we both know that never was Tanner. In his mind he is just a poor boy from the country and lives that way.”
“I wish I could do the same” Golden replied. “Being a King though means it is impossible.”
“Well just don’t blame yourself over Tara” Caroline said. “She wanted to stay at a party filled with people she didn’t know instead of seeing to her man who was obviously going through some things. She is doing well though and Tanner assures me she should have no problem finding someone else. She just wouldn’t be Countess Tox which is what she wanted.”
“Well enough about that, has Jennifer told you anything about Tavor?” Golden asked.
“Not yet but Tanner is there” Caroline said. “He is traveling with Claudia so she can meet her new beau. I doubt it will be long before someone says the wrong thing and find themselves on the wrong side of his emotions.”
“Tanner agreed to accompany Jennifer’s girl?” Golden said shocked. “What could you had of offered him for him to do that?”
“My mother offered him peace of mind” Caroline said.
“You can't offer him peace of mind, not from his demons” Golden said. “I was angry at King Edward about Mary to his dying day. In fact I am still angry at myself for letting such a thing happen. I thought she was just angry Tanner was gone and I couldn’t blame her, I never knew she was being tortured by whatever poison Edward gave her. It is the main reason I have little time for Baronet Greenley, I always see his son when I look at his face and it makes me madder than a scribe with no quill.”
