by R J Hanson
“Sir Eldryn,” Sir Sanderland called from the side. “A word, please.”
“Of course, Sir Sanderland,” Eldryn said, moving off to join the Paladin at a small table to the side of the crowds.
Sanderland poured Eldryn a drink, raised his glass, and nodded to Eldryn.
“A toast to the brave men who fought at Shrou Canyon,” Sir Sanderland said.
Eldryn nodded and took a drink.
“A toast to the Prince, Lord of Lawrec,” Sanderland said and raised his glass again.
Eldryn nodded again and drank.
“And, if you’ll permit me, a toast to the pending marriage of Lady Angelese to me, Sir Sanderland the Strong, Paladin of Silvor, Dragon Slayer,” Sanderland said as he drank and watched for Eldryn’s reaction. He was not disappointed.
Eldryn nearly choked on his drink.
“Easy with the wine,” Sanderland said. “It is quite expensive. Sorry to spring that on you. Did you not know I had slayed a dragon before? If you would like I’d be happy to tell you the tale.”
“You are engaged to Lady Angelese?” Eldryn finally managed to say.
“Well, yes,” Sanderland said, thoroughly enjoying himself. “Arranged by the Church, of course. She is quite fond of me though.”
“If you’ll excuse me,” Eldryn said as he struggled to move away from the table. His gut had turned on him and his dinner no longer sat easy in his stomach.
“Of course,” Sanderland said. “Perhaps another time.”
Sir Roland saw Sir Eldryn a few hours later off near a wall, drunkenly struggling to remain in his chair. Of course, Marnie was there offering him what counsel she could. Roland walked toward them.
“El, are you alright?” Roland asked.
“She is betrothed,” Eldryn slurred. “Betrothed to an ass!”
“What are you talking about?” Roland asked.
“Lady Angelese is engaged to Sir Sanderland,” Eldryn spat. “She is to marry that pompous, lying, cowardly, yellow-hearted ass.”
Roland was surprised for a second time that evening. The only insults he had ever heard Eldryn speak had all been directed at him, and usually for just cause.
“Good riddance is what I say,” Marnie interjected. “If that is the sort of man she wants, then let her have him. She clearly has no eye for character or bravery!”
Roland caught Tindrakin’s eye and motioned him over. Between the two of them they managed to get Eldryn to his feet with Marnie following close behind them. They got him to the stable and Roland helped Eldryn into the saddle.
“Can you get him back to our camp?” Roland asked Tindrakin.
“Of course, sir,” Tindrakin said, taking up the reins to Lance Chaser.
Marnie followed Tindrakin as he led Lance Chaser and Eldryn from the Keep.
Roland returned to the party, no longer in a jovial mood, and found Lady Clairenese.
“We should be going now,” Roland said. “Eldryn is in a bad way. I’m not sure what I can do for him right now, but I think I should be with him.”
“Certainly dear,” Claire was glad to say. Thus far the evening had been wonderful and more than she could have ever hoped for. She was afraid that any moment it would all be revealed as some sort of horrible prank or joke. She wanted to leave before this feeling of welcome could be poisoned.
Chapter XIII
Blessing?
Days had passed and hangovers had been nursed. The celebration held at the keep was only the epicenter of a time of rejoicing that spread throughout the city and, as news was carried, the lands.
“The Prince will see you now, Sir Roland,” the guard at the Prince’s door said.
“I thank you,” Roland said as he entered Prince Ralston’s chambers.
“What can I do for my newest knight?” Prince Ralston asked from behind his desk. He looked over charts, maps, and inventories that were spread across the large surface of his desk.
“May I speak of secrets here, my lord?” Roland asked.
“Secrets?”
“Yes, my lord,” Sir Roland said. “I have something to show you that must not be known by any other. It could compromise the item.”
“You make speak freely in this chamber,” Prince Ralston said. “My mages tell me it is safe.”
“Very well,” Roland said as his eyes scanned the room.
Roland reached into his pouch and removed a rolled-up parchment. He handed it to the Prince.
“You can see now why I required the privacy.”
“I can indeed,” Prince Ralston said as he looked over the map of Daeriv’s inner forces and formidable castle. Eldryn had delivered valuable information to the Price on behalf of Roland, but this map Roland had kept close.
“I would have given this to you earlier but there was never a time when we would not have been observed by possible spies,” Sir Roland said.
“I understand.”
“There are those who have skills that could make very much of that sort of information,” Roland said. “I do not possess those types of skills, but I am sure that there are men in your employee that do.”
Prince Ralston looked over the map until he found the place he was searching for. It was simply marked ‘throne room’ and ‘master bed chamber.’
“How did you come by this?” Prince Ralston asked.
“I took it off of the body of his mage, Yorketh,” Roland replied.
“You told me of finding the Hourglass of Time which holds the Sands of Time and the Tome of Fate in Nolcavanor,” Prince Ralston said, surprising Roland with the sudden change of direction.
“Yes, your grace,” Roland said.
“You failed to mention what became of those artifacts,” Prince Ralston said, letting the words hang in the air.
“It is because I do not know what became of them,” Roland said simply. “Our companion left with them. He could travel much faster than the rest of us and we were concerned about another attempt by Yorketh and Dawn.”
“You don’t know where he took them?”
“No, your grace,” Roland said. “He said he’d been retained by someone who preferred to remain anonymous.”
“You didn’t question him further?” Ralston asked.
“No, your grace,” Roland said. “I trust him.”
“I suppose it would be unseemly of me then to further question you,” the Prince said. “We’ll leave the matter there, for now.”
“Yes, your grace,” Roland said. “Lord, I came for an additional reason other than to deliver this bit of information.”
“I see,” the Prince said. “And what else is it you came for?”
“I came to ask for your leave for a few months,” Sir Roland said. “I have business in Vanthor, and abroad. I have several things to take care of.”
“I see,” Prince Ralston said. “Well you have certainly earned some time for your own affairs and Daeriv seems to have been driven back significantly for now. In fact, my scouts report that instead of advancing, his men concentrate on building defenses. We still have a few months before spring reaches us and we shouldn’t begin any major campaigns until the summer. I can give you five to six months. Will that be enough?”
“That would be generous, my lord,” Sir Roland said. “I thank you.”
Sir Roland turned and started for the door.
“Sir Roland,” Prince Ralston called from behind him. “There is one more thing I would speak to you about.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“I must know more about the nature of your association with the Warlock of the Marshes,” the Prince said.
Roland was hoping that situation was resolved, but deep down he understood it was never going to be that easy.
“I know him as a friend,” Sir Roland said. “I plan to ask his permission to marry his daughter, Clairenese.”
“What do you know of his goals where the lands of Lawrec are concerned?”
“Nothing beyond what I told you on the ride back to Skult, your grac
e. He saved my life and the lives of two good friends by pulling us out of a bad situation,” Roland said. “He then beseeched me to come to Lawrec to help drive Daeriv from these lands. He is also the one that helped me to find Lord Mandergane’s resting place. Having met him, I can understand why so many fear him, and his motives. However, I have seen nothing of the man’s actions to make me believe that he has any ulterior plans or motives. I honestly believe that he simply wants Daeriv driven from Lawrec. Daeriv, for a short time, had one of Lynneare’s daughters in his service and I think that was a thorn in Lynneare’s side.”
“You don’t think that Lynneare might simply be trying to get rid of the competition?”
“No, my lord, I do not,” Roland said.
“Very well,” Prince Ralston said. “I trust that you will not compromise Lawrec, or my faith in you, if Lynneare does reveal himself as an enemy to us.”
“You may put your faith in me, my lord,” Roland said. “I will not fail you.”
“You are to marry then?” Prince Ralston asked.
“If Lynneare agrees, we are to be married next spring.”
“Then take this small plot of land as my wedding gift to you and as a reward for you service,” Prince Ralston said as he handed Roland a deed and a small map detailing one hundred acres just south of the river outside of Skult.
“My lord, this is a mighty gift,” Roland said with appreciation.
“For a mighty man,” the Prince replied. “I also notice that you do not carry a shield. Why is that?”
“When I first left home I could not afford one,” Roland said. “I haven’t taken the time to purchase one since then. Quite honestly, my lord, it hadn’t occurred to me.”
“Well, you shall carry a shield now,” Prince Ralston said.
He walked over to the corner where his equipment was mounted on a wooden rack. He took up the shield of Mandergane that Roland had retrieved from the mountain.
“See that this protects one of my best knights and in turn protects our lands,” Prince Ralston said. “And see to you errands. Return to me soon.”
“Yes, my lord,” Roland said as he accepted the shield.
“I am told it will only take a few days,” Roland said. “I will return as soon as possible.”
“You just see that you return,” Eldryn said. “I know you are comfortable with the idea, for some reason. However, I don’t know that I trust the man.”
“Lynneare has acted as nothing other than our friend,” Roland said. “I must ask his permission.”
“I understand. Tindrakin and I will be here, waiting.”
Roland went into his tent where Clairenese awaited him. He would never get used to how lovely she was. It wasn’t just the vision of her, but rather the way she looked at him that called to such depths in his heart.
“Are you ready, my love?” Clairenese asked.
“I am,” Roland said. “I still don’t see how…”
Roland was cut short by Clairenese’s actions. She closed her eyes and began to mumble in a language he had never heard. As she spoke, she manipulated the forces of the world with her delicate fingers. A mist began to drift out of her voluptuous lips. The mist grew at a rapid rate and enveloped both of them. Soon the mist thickened to the point that Roland could barely make out the oil lamp, the only source of light in the tent. Roland detected a shift in his weight and then he could see four points of light pushing their way through the mist. Clairenese blew a gentle breath and the mist that had formed dissipated into nothingness.
Roland held his breath, although he didn’t know why. He felt the pull of the world around him shift and then settle. This was surely the magic that had rescued him from the battle ground near Modins. He looked around him at the four lamps that lit the study where he held his long conversation with Lynneare. It seemed that talk took place ages ago.
“Father?” Clairenese asked into the empty room.
“Yes, dear,” Lynneare said from behind them.
Roland turned to see Lynneare, just as he remembered him, standing where a moment before there was nothing but the ether.
“My lord, I come here to ask something of you,” Roland said. “It is something I have no right to ask.”
“It is good to see you too,” Lynneare said. He noticed the new colors Sir Roland wore on his over shirt and the two new sigils that clasped his cloak. “I see it is Sir Roland now.”
“Yes, my lord. I intend no disrespect by my directness, however, I would not ply you with soft words when I have the request on my mind.”
“Then ask,” Lynneare said.
“My lord,” Roland said with a tremor in his voice, “I ask for your daughter’s, Clairenese’s, hand in marriage. I ask for your blessing.”
Lynneare looked from Sir Roland to his daughter.
“It has been many centuries since anyone has asked me to bless anything,” Lynneare said, genuinely humbled by the request. “You asking for my blessing in this matter brings joy to me that I cannot express with simple words, Roland. I am honored that my daughter’s marriage to you should be my first blessing given since those long-ago days.”
Roland felt the blood drain from his face in one instance, and burn hot within it the next as relief and excitement battled for control of his emotions. Lynneare invited him to sit. Roland was glad for the offer of a chair, for he feared his legs might fail him at any moment. The three of them, Lynneare, Roland, and Clairenese sat for hours in the study discussing the wedding and the new couple’s future together. Clairenese excused herself to collect a few things that she would want from her rooms.
“Tell me of the Shrou Demon,” Lynneare said.
Roland and Lynneare talked of the battle with Daeriv’s forces and Roland’s plans in Vanthor. Lynneare noted that Roland did not mention the map found on Yorketh and was pleased. It was good that he was learning to be more careful with his words. They talked for two more hours before Clairenese returned.
“The rising sun comes, father,” Clairenese said. “We should be on our way.”
“Very well,” Lynneare said. “Go with my blessing.”
Lynneare began to speak and vapors spilled from his mouth and a familiar mist gathered around Roland and Clairenese. Soon they were back in their tent in Skult.
Sir Roland, Clairenese, Sir Eldryn, Marnie, Kodii, Tindrakin, Facl, Pala, and Tyll collected their belongings and headed southeast out of Skult. Roland pulled a particular leather pouch from his packs and gave it a curious look. Then realization came to his brow.
“Claire,” Roland said. “Would you have any use for these things?”
Roland handed her the pouch full of the jewelry, wands, and trinkets he had taken off of Yorketh. Clairenese took the leather bag and examined the contents.
“I might be able to use this wand,” Clairenese said as she removed the thin, black magical item. “The other things here would be no good to me. Father has seen to it that I am well prepared. There are a few very valuable things in there, though. I would treat this pouch with care.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Roland said. “Thank you, dear.”
“What exactly is it that you have planned?” Eldryn asked.
“Yes, Sir Roland,” Tyll said. “Why did you invite us to come with you? We are glad to be in your service still, however, I am fit for no kind of battle. As far Facl and Pala, well, all three of us have had our fill of war and wish to find trades elsewhere.”
“I have a number of things in mind,” Roland said. “First I need to travel to Modins. I am thinking of opening a weapon shop there. Tyll, there will be a job in that shop for you. The same thing goes for you Pala, and you, Facl. I will need men that I can trust to guard the shop and the valuables to be kept there.”
“I thank you, Sir Roland,” the three said in turn.
“Marnie, I know that you would likely prefer the road, but I could use someone who knows merchants, inventories, and manifests,” Roland said. “Would you consider a position there?”
Marnie’s eyes almost involuntarily darted to Eldryn and then away. Then, displaying rare maturity, Marnie said, “I’ll think about it.”
“You are opening a shop?” Eldryn said as much as asked.
“You heard me,” Roland said. “I have had enough of these vermin that make such profits from the warrior and the soldier. I plan on opening a fair weapons shop with the coin that Bolvii and luck have put in my purse.”
“Hey, while we’re in Modins we could go by the Silver Helms,” Eldryn said. “We could…”
“I haven’t had a chance to talk with Claire about that yet,” Roland cut Eldryn off in midsentence.
“Well,” Clairenese said. “Begin talking.”
“There is a boy in Modins,” Roland began.
He had not told Claire of this because he was afraid of how she might react. He loved her, and could not imagine a future without her. He loved Petie too. It is foolish for men to be afraid of hope, yet here he was. Afraid.
“He was an orphan and El and I took him in. I adopted him.”
“I know all about Peterion,” Clairenese said. “He is a fine lad, and I would be a lucky woman indeed to call him son.”
“Thank you, Claire,” Roland said. “That means a great deal to me.”
“I have heard you talk of Petie,” Tindrakin said. “I would very much like to meet the boy.”
“If you wish to ride to Vanthor and then spend two months on a vessel getting to Modins you may,” Clairenese said. “However, I could have us just outside of Modins in a matter of moments.”
“You could do that?” Eldryn asked.
“Of course, I could,” Clairenese said. “I can go anywhere that I have been to before in moments. I’m not just a pretty face you know.”
“My dear,” Roland began, “you are a continual amazement.”
Clairenese smiled at the love of her life and began to mumble a phrase that Roland couldn’t quite make out. It was, however, very familiar. He caught the syllable string lartha a few times and others that he was sure that he had heard. She began the long practiced art of weaving the motion of her fingers with the power of her words.