Fletcher

by P. S. Power

  That wasn’t about the display of motherly affection, either. When Depak looked at him again, his eyes flicked down to his throat, where there was still a line from where it had been cut. Not deeply enough to kill him, thankfully. It was enough that he’d probably have a scar from it.

  Captain Ford took a deep breath, seeming to be about to speak, then didn’t. Giving Anders room to lie to his Mother if he felt it was needed. The problem with that was the fact that word would travel. Prince Alpert’s part in things would be spoken about and they had men in the village who had been at the battle. They hadn’t been told to lie, so were likely already going over parts of what had taken place.

  The only course that made any sense would be in telling the truth. Especially since he had a small but real bag of coins on him, as well as jewelry. That would be hard to explain, if he’d been hiding away like she’d thought had happened.

  “Things didn’t go that way, unfortunately. I was in the fighting. Not too badly injured. Some cuts and bruises. I mainly stood watch on the lake, since it had been thought that would be harder to attack from. Which was right, after a fashion. The water slowed the attack there down a lot.” He glanced at the men there, with only Captain Ford nodding.

  His face relaxed a lot, the tension around his eyes fading as he glanced at Lyse.

  “That’s the word I’ve been told. Anders used magic and archery to defend them on that side. Some magical traps as well, which worked to good effect. We should go and get you settled, first thing. I wanted to go over exactly what you’ve been up to. I’m sure the story will bore these others. A lot of talk about bugs and poor food. That’s how such things go.”

  As it had turned out they’d gotten in, if not early, then still in the middle of the day. It was light out and hopefully his gear was being handled in some fashion, since otherwise he was going to have to hunt it down out in the stables. Not that it would be that huge of a hardship to do that. No one would walk off with his things, after all. Not from there.

  He let his face seem pleasant or tried for that. He didn't feel it inside, since it was hard to close his eyes without seeing scenes from the fighting. No one could do anything to make that better for him, so he’d decided to simply hold most of it to himself. Going on about how evil he was wouldn’t work for anyone there.

  “We should do that, Captain. I tried to collect what information I could about the enemy. That wasn’t a lot. They didn’t stop to visit, properly speaking.” After he spoke, as if it had settled something, the man started walking, drawing everyone else along.

  Toward Anders’s room. A place that he hadn’t been aware that Captain Ford would even know existed. As they headed in the correct direction, Depak Sona, smiled, touching his shoulder slowly. Hesitantly, as if he didn’t want to send him into a fury. Which was ridiculous. Anders wouldn’t get angry over it. He’d just suddenly start flinging deadly spells around, killing people. At least if he was too startled.

  A thing that hadn’t happened while he was traveling. No one really had touched anyone else or made sudden motions around them. These people, at least the others who had greeted them, had been acting far more normal that way.

  Rather than walk in silence, Lyse started chattering. Forcing words into a space that didn’t strictly need them at the moment.

  “Lady Martya was just telling me this morning that we should hold a special return party for you. Just a few of us. Naturally she’s inviting herself to come along. We could do that in a few days, if you have the time?” Her face seemed calm enough as she spoke. A gentle smile on her lips. She seemed the same as when he’d left. Still young and pretty.

  It hadn’t been that long, after all. Enough for him to feel ancient, without any real passage of time. About a month and a half. Not much longer than that, as far as he knew. Which got him to smile, meaning it this time.

  “I really wasn’t gone too long. Perhaps we could have tea? Something small and relaxed. In a few days would be good for that. As for having the time… I honestly don’t know. I have some projects to work on and with the declaration of war will need to keep to my work schedule, now that I’m back. Making bows and arrows. Practicing in the afternoons.” Glancing at Ford, he nodded once. “I did keep to my daily exercises fairly well. I managed to hunt several times as well.”

  That news had Lyse smiling. She touched his shoulder, too quickly, which nearly had him turning on her in response. He tried to hide the reaction, patting her hand instead of pushing her away with magic. It was close to happening. No one seemed to get that, thankfully.

  “Oh! That sounds like more fun than I would have figured. The fighting though… The soldiers there protected you? You were injured…” She sounded a bit clueless and almost vapid.

  Which wasn’t the way of the woman at all. She might be a bit sheltered, living in the castle. Then, normally that wasn’t the truth. The place was a pit of snakes and she made a point of knowing who was about to be bitten.

  Meaning that it wasn’t so much that she didn’t understand, as that she was trying to avoid the truth of the matter for some reason. Perhaps to hold her child in her mind a bit longer. Possibly to protect him from the facts of the matter. As if hearing about his adventure would be worse than living it.

  He didn’t speak until they got into his room. The window was shuttered, which he moved to instantly, walking directly to it without pausing. The place was stuffy, the heat of the day finally making it through the thick stone wall. His bed was well made, the covering blanket on it being different than the one he’d left in place. A lighter thing, which should be more comfortable than the one used in spring.

  Everyone just stood there, waiting for him to say something. Probably to send them away. He only had one chair at his little table, since that was all he ever needed. Waving at it, he smiled.

  “Everyone sit? Sorry about the lack of good places for that. Anyway… What’s been going on here, while I was away? We had word that Barquea and Modroc are at war, as well as the fact that Yanse declared against us. Did that affect Prince Erold’s wedding?”

  Being quick with words, Master Belford spoke first.

  “Only in that it was hurried along. The alliance marriage is well set and confirmed, so that’s one less issue for Istlan. Her entire retinue is still with us here, though Princess Sweyn moved on to permanent rooms, along with her maids. You’ll be happy to hear that young Daren managed to work into their acquaintance rather well, as you put into motion. With you as well, Depak Sona?”

  There was a nod then, which seemed regal, even if the man was bald on the top of his head.

  “Ah! Yes, a delightful young man. His ways are different than your own, of course, and his room cleaning skills, while adequate, lack something in speed and presentation. I cannot complain about his meal presentation or service.” There was, clearly, a hint in the words.

  That Anders take his old morning duties back up, given he was back now.

  Finding that he’d been missed like that was nice, he discovered. He simply nodded, even if nothing had been spoken about him taking the task up directly.

  “I’ll be by in the mornings then. Has Daren been doing all of it himself?”

  That got a nod, and a slightly sly look. From Master Belford. The man’s face was still shaved and tidy, just like always.

  “He has been. Also, I have word that the delegation from Modroc has missed you, personally. Especially Eltha Tennet and Duma Sett. They both asked me to set an appointment with you to talk, soon. If, of course, you have time for that?” The words were a way out, without really being one at all.

  “Certainly! It will be nice to talk to them again. Perhaps in a few days. I should spend some time with Mother, so she doesn’t think that I forgot her, being away for a few weeks like I was. Most of it was spent traveling. I am better on a horse now, I think.”

  Captain Ford just chuckled, even if no one else did.

  “Good to hear. Now… Are we hiding what actually happened from your
Mother, or are we going to set aside the pretense that she doesn’t already know it all? I can and will, pretend for you Lyse, if you need me to. It’s simply clear that Anders isn’t broken of mind or spirit, so coddling him won’t aid anything.”

  The woman made a face that spoke of something close to anger. She covered it with a rather unladylike snort.

  “Well! You do know that mothers are supposed to be kept in the dark about the exploits of their sons gone to war, don’t you? It’s how we all sleep at night.”

  That sounded about like what would be needed to Farad. Anders thought she was merely jesting with them, to deflect from the conversation.

  “Right. Well…” He nearly didn’t go on, wanting to let his Mother hold to her pretense of not knowing. A foolish thing that would be torn apart as soon as she spoke to almost anyone else on the matter.

  “Well… Master Tolan was able to keep us in awareness of their troop movements and scouting. I worked out how to use magic for hunting and fishing, as well as gather herbs, greens and fruit from a distance. Out to about a mile or so?” He glanced at Depak, who looked shocked at the news. “Which I can go over with you later, if you want. It isn’t that hard, though it’s pretty specific. Anyway… I managed to collect most of the needed food for us that way, so we were well enough fed. No one complained much. I was the only archer there, so only had to do a bit of fletching for anyone else. Some bolts for crossbows and not a lot of those.” Fighting a yawn, he went on with his tale.

  “When the fighting came, they sent in boats and rafts with archers and their magic users on them. Fire arrows. I… had to kill them and the swimmers they sent at us. It was about a quarter of their force. That plus more that walked or rode into the traps that I set up on the other three sides. We weren’t ready for them to come over the water.”

  Everyone looked at him when he stopped, as if there should be more of a tale to it. A grander thing that spoke of how he’d nearly died and had stood toe to toe with their mightiest warrior. Which wasn’t the real story at all. Rather than lie, he took a deep breath.

  “There is more, with most of it having to do with magic. Sending messages and things like that. I should see if I can work any of that out with you, here. I think I can make that work. So far, it’s only one way. Working with Master Tolan we were able to speak with Princess Aisla fairly well.” Making that work with other people might be useful.

  That way they could, in theory, connect with people away in the field, passing messages and information rapidly. The issue was that he needed to know a person somewhat well for it to work. At least as far as he knew.

  It wasn’t as if he and Aisla had been close for a long time. They’d met a few times, and she apparently felt close enough to him. That didn’t really go the other way, despite what he’d told people at the time. Given that, he might well be able to connect with anyone there, sitting on his bed, or floor.

  Seeing Master Belford doing that was almost humorous. He didn’t smile at it, since he was the one short on chairs. The other man was being proper and polite about the lack, Anders was certain.

  Depak took a long slow breath.

  “We should see to that? If I can learn your technique, we could communicate over vast distances. Not that I have been called home. Word came that I should hold here for the time being. We can continue this when you begin your practice in the afternoons again?”

  The words seemed to assume that wouldn’t be the next day. As it was, he felt lazy already, sitting there and talking, instead of getting his life back in order.

  “It isn’t that difficult. We can work on that tomorrow? For now…” The truth was that he wanted food. “How far are we from the mid-meal?” If it had been missed, well, he wasn’t going to die of a single missed meal.

  His clothing was hanging off of him, due to having lost weight. Even eating regularly, it had taken place. Probably due to how much magic he’d been using on a regular basis. Depak had mentioned that good magicians were rarely fat. That didn’t mean his stomach wouldn’t spend until it was fed trying to burrow through his middle to reach the outside, where the food was supposed to be.

  Everyone stood up then, Lyse fairly hopping out of the simple wooden chair she was in.

  “You must be starving. Yes, let’s go and get something. Or… I could have it sent here for you? I don’t know if you’re up to seeing people yet.”

  Everyone looked at him closely, even if that wasn’t truly an issue for him. As long as he didn’t murder someone for making too much noise or patting him on the head.

  “Why don’t we go and sit? I should hunt down Prince Erold and Princess Sweyn, to congratulate them on their marriage. I’m… Pretty well caught up on what’s been happening here?”

  Captain Ford stood straight then, his eyes narrowing.

  “The major things have been covered. The rest you’ll have to find out as you go along, like we all do. Shall we go to the meal? It’s near time for it. Then… What do you have planned for the rest of the day?”

  The truth was, he had nothing at all set up that way. Not even inside his own mind. Travel was unpredictable enough that he’d resisted doing that sort of thing, not knowing when, or if, they’d returned that day at all. A thing as simple as rain could have put them a day or more back. So could a horse throwing a shoe, if it happened on the return. A stone in the wrong place could stop a wagon for days or longer, since they didn’t have all the needed tools with them. Even if they did, he couldn’t repair a wheel on something like that.

  “Unpacking, then making sure I check in with everyone here. This is about half the people I need to do that with, which will speed things up. Then I was thinking about going over some new magical ideas. Nothing too bold or anything. I mainly just want to work for a bit on affecting things at a distance.” Glancing at Depak Sona, Anders grinned. “I can put things in your room for that. So that I can have a witness, if anything happens at all?” It wasn’t really his plan.

  Just setting something at a remove from himself would be enough.

  There was a return smile then. One that seemed at ease enough with the plan he was making up as they spoke.

  “What do you have in mind? Fires that descend from the skies themselves? I rather like the unsinged state of my room, currently.”

  The truth was that he really had been planning to set a log on fire, using the outdoor cooking area of the summer kitchen if no one else was using it. Rather than admit that, he thought for a moment and came up with something else.

  “How about making friends with a specific bucket, then filling it with water from a distance? I can do it from down the hallway, if that won’t make anyone uncomfortable. That would put it behind a closed door, which won’t make a difference to me.” Except that it did, on the level of his mind. It felt like it would be easier to do things where you could see them.

  Only the fact that he’d been doing the opposite for nearly two weeks, every time he collected food using magic allowed him to sound certain of that in the moment.

  Seeming wise, hand tucked into his blue silk sleeves, the mustache wearing dark haired man nodded.

  “We can arrange that, I do not doubt. I even have a rather friendly bucket I could introduce you to.”

  They made small talk then, changing the subject as the five of them made their way to the low hall. There they took over an empty table, near the top half of the room but not at the front. That was being used by several people that wore nice clothing, who Anders didn’t recognize at all. One of the men looked over at them as his group settled, then let his head come up, before looking away.

  What it was supposed to mean, he couldn’t tell. Next to him Master Belford made a soft clucking noise. It wasn’t particularly friendly. Not unfriendly, either. Just strange.

  “Baron Renner Kilroy. Rather known for being a hothead and prone to settling imagined slights with duels. It isn’t actually true. He’s not a hothead at all. Rather more than a few of those he’s fought have… Not s
urvived his attentions.” There was a slightly sly air to the words.

  They were also whispered. Belford not wanting to openly draw the man’s scorn. From the words it sounded very much like he might be an assassin, of some sort at least. That or the kind to enjoy death for its own sake.

  The man didn’t seem special, in any physical fashion. About three decades had touched him, without being unkind about it, compared to many. He had a full head of brown hair that ran toward natural curls. His clothing was very nicely done as well, if leaning heavily toward multiple stripes and heavy gold brocade on his shoulders and sleeves. His nose was long and sharp and his eyes…

  The truth was that in the distance Anders couldn’t tell anything about those. Not even that he looked mean or cruel, or perhaps seemed kind, even. That didn’t sound like it would fit what had been said to him moments before, naturally. Which didn’t mean it couldn’t be the truth. Just looking a given way didn’t dictate how a person would live their life.

  Lyse glanced over at the head table, then let her gaze linger, when she saw no one was watching them in particular.

  “Baron Kilroy, Countess Waters, Master Alchemist Tag Seness… An interesting group to be collected here. When in the castle they tend to be invited to the mid-meal with the King. Out of favor, do you think?” Her mouth barely moved and she looked away smoothly, before her gaze could be caught staring up at those sitting on the raised platform, above the rest of them.

  Thoughtlessly, Anders spoke. Forgetting he was supposed to be a young boy. Even if everyone around him was larger than himself.

  “Probably not that. Prince Alpert just arrived, so the King might be talking to him over the meal?”

  Everyone glanced at him then, the looks on their faces different for each. Depak seemed to be taking the words as being kindly. Captain Ford looked bored for the moment and both Lyse and Master Belford looked to be fighting a solid rolling of their eyes at how naive he was being.

  They didn’t correct him in public on the matter, if that was the case. Instead, they simply all waited there, for a servant to come and bring them food. That wasn’t a thing Anders normally bothered with when he ate there, since there was a table lined up along the side of the room for anyone to use. Everyone else was doing it, so he did too, even if it was exactly the same as what they could have gotten for themselves.