Echal noticed the two half Elven children who had been standing quietly behind the woman, but had overlooked by most of the others in the excitement. One a boy looked to be maybe fourteen or fifteen, and a girl not much larger than Sha, so maybe twelve. He stopped in his calculation and remembered half elf and jumped their ages by four years. Before he could come to the obvious conclusion on his own, Evan grasped his shoulder. "You can meet your stepmother in a moment, she deserves this time with Rea all on her own, just as I got with you upstairs. Still come I want you to meet your younger brother and sister."
'Step mother, brother, sister,' Echal's head was spinning again. I mean that cairn on the hill may be only two days fresh in his memory but it was nearly twenty years in his father. These things happen, but it was all happening damn fast for Echal. So it was he was kind of numb as Evan introduced his sons to each other for the first time.
New Realities
Catching Up
Everyone settled in. Jayen, Echal and Evan in one corner discussing the political situation back home. Sha, Pavel and Sha's mother Feylynn were off in the other discussing Tzadi matters and the exciting information about male Tzadi Jan, and Catrin sat with the two younger children answering all of their questions about the home they had never known.
Duke Evan listened intently as they described the situation. "It doesn't sound like much has changed though. Oliver is still King and he can never rest easy on the throne so long as you and I have a better blood claim to the title."
Echal grinned slyly. "Well, I have a little family surprise of my own. I think it may change everything."
Explaining the Harder situation strained Evan's credulity, and upon hearing him react drew Feylynn's attention. "Fey the boy has adopted a Litch! What makes you think you can trust him, son?"
Before Echal could answer Feylynn broke in "Did you say Harder Mclaughlinkor, as in the Butcher of Ellenvale? Do you know what he did?"
Echal's face hardened, and he turned on his new stepmother. "Yes, and I know why. He was more restrained than I would have been in his place." She recoiled from the intensity of his reply and Jayen winced remembering a small town that had paid a price for abuse of his family. "As to how can I trust him? Our goals mostly align at the moment," he shrugged. "The Oaths were sworn into place by Sha, and I'll always trust her to get it right. She's saved our lives too many times for me to start doubting her now." He shook his head. "Things are different now. You both left us," he held up his hand to ward off protests, "for good reasons to be sure, and in the best of hands." He smiled taking a moment to acknowledge both Jan and Jayen. "Still, we were on our own. We made what allegiances seemed best at the time and I will not apologize for it. Sha, you get to explain Ma'Li, because I'm going to need a moment." With that he took a deep breath and paced the far end of the room for a moment while Sha broke the news of the rest of their unorthodox allies.
The debates raged and stories were told until a young black woman in her late teens knocked politely on the door. She said something to Feylynn who answered her with a smile and then announced that dinner would be ready in about an hour if we would care to get washed up first.
When she said to get washed up,, Echal had envisioned at most a soaking tub like they had back in their mountain home, or maybe even a hot water spout like they had in the Red Spire. This was both grander than either and more primitive. There was simply a large underground lake with light stones glowing in from the bottom. The water was cold, shockingly cold compared to the heat outside. More than a few moments in the water would sap the heat from your bones. Still it was surprisingly invigorating. It was as if the cold spring fed little pond had an energy all of its own, though both Sha and Feylynn swearing that there was nothing magical about it.
Dinner
Sara, the young black woman who made the announcement about dinner, had the table set in a large dining room. Turns out she is Mo's daughter and that Evan had hid Mo and his wife from the slave hunters. Her mother had been their cook and Mo had worked the stables and the vineyards ever since. Jumping Fish also had a similar story. He was on a raiding party stealing horses of the new settlers. He had been shot several times by the time he fell off his horse at Evan's feet. Only Feylynn's magic saved him. It seems that this world had no Tzadi. Or what few they had were of little ability.
Evan told them that they were on the frontier of civilization here, a place called the NorthWest Territories in the Ohio River Valley. When they first arrived, there were only a very few white settlers scattered wide among the semi nomadic native tribes. It wasn't until the last ten years or so that actual towns had began popping up along the river. The lack of Tzadi had caused these people to invent some rather ingenious machines to compensate. It was decided that they would all make a trek into the local town in the morning. It was a four-hour ride there they would take rooms at the local inn and then travel back the following day so that they would have plenty of time to pack for their trip back home.
Evan smiled as he watched his family whole again, gathered around his table. Wild turkey and ham served with fresh butter and cornbread with a wine of his own inventing. He missed the Dutchy and his estates, but this was home. Maybe this was enough if the alternative was litches and Hedge Witches, he thought, but he also gauged the man his son had grown into. Jayen had done the job well, and he trusted the young man's judgement. If he thought this the best solution, Evan would make it happen. Oh sure, he would have a back-up plan, he always did, but it was time to show his faith and support for the son who crossed worlds to find him and bring him home.
Echal noticed that Sara and Catrin had seemed to get along well together. He wasn't sure if it was just that Catrin and Feylynn were trying to avoid each other at this stage or if Sara and Catrin were up to something. He decided it wasn't important at the moment and concentrated on finding out more about this new world. He found Jumping Fish fascinating, though they had to always have an interpreter it seems his people lived much as the Goblin Kin do but that they are just as human and he and his father. When he tried to get an idea of what his people were about, he just seemed to confuse Jumping Fish. To Jumping Fish the whole of existence was in the 'eternal now'. If he had a full belly and a dry place to sleep for tonight, then life was good. Tomorrow? Tomorrow was just a dream of today.
The food was down to scraps and most of the plates were empty. Jayen was dozing in his chair and Catrin was helping Sara clear the table. Pavel scratched at his massive beard. "Should we do a quick sweep of the perimeter before the sun sets?"
Evan grinned. "No the only people in the woods tonight is Jumping Fish's and maybe a few escaped slaves. We won't have to go out after those; they will find their way to us."
Jayen snored loud enough to wake himself at this point. He smiled sheepishly, "Dinner was too good I'm afraid. It's been a long few weeks."
Evan nodded. "Of course. Let's get you all settled into rooms and let everyone get some rest. Just don't turn in yet. I've got something you'll really want to see right after the sun sets."
Discovering the New World
It was still miserably hot and humid as they came out on the top of the tower just before sunset. Evan laughed as they all complained about it. "Yes, it will be this way for another several weeks, but then it cools off and can even get quite cold in the depth of winter. That isn't what I called you up here to see though. While we still have the light, Mo and Jumping Fish are going to put on a little show with their Kentucky Long Rifles." The name was still said in the tongue of this world and was difficult for Echal to pronounce but he didn't have to say it just watch it so he just nodded to his father who said something to the two men with him. They grinned at each other and picked up the long staves that they had carried at the gate.
Mo pointed off to a metal plate hanging from a tree branch a long bowshot away. Echal doubted he could hit it but a better archer could he was certain. Jumping Fish took aim first, the staff pointed toward the object then there was a loud boom th
at caused everyone who wasn't expecting it to jump. A large plume of smoke rose up from the end of the stave and when Echal looked he saw the metal plate swinging wildly on the tree branch. Jumping Fish nodded to Mo with a big smile on his face and Mo stepped up to take his aim.
Instead of watching the man, Echal forced himself to watch the target as it slowly stopped swinging. A moment later, Boom! This time, though he was expecting it and remained observant of the target which jumped and spun wildly again. Evan spoke up once the smoke had cleared somewhat. "You see this is the new weapon of this world. A bowman must train a lifetime to consistently hit that target; these men have only been shooting for a couple of years. Who wants to try it?" He grinned as Pavel stepped forward.
"This I must do." Pavel looked at the staff that was handed to him. It was heavier than he expected and the iron working was delicate. He had trouble getting his finger into the trigger guard which was a source of some amusement for Mo. Still once he was in place and they had carefully coached him the best they could they stood back and Boom! This time however the target didn't move. Pavel grunted and rubbed at his shoulder he had not really been expecting the kick back.
Evan smiled and clapped him friendly on the arm. "It's a long way and a small target. A good first shot. Now, Galan, care to give it a try?" Echal's little brother grinned big and stepped forward, he struggled a bit with the weight of the rifle that Jumping Fish handed him. Still to his credit he seemed to have found a way to manage. He moved to the low wall around the tower roof and knelt on one knee, he rested the staff upon the wall and took his time sighting down the barrel. Boom! Everyone looked, the target wasn't swinging it was gone. Evan laughed, "Not bad my boy. A bit high but you were at least on target. It looks like you cut the rope."
Galan shrugged, "Would have taken the deer, anyway."
Evan nodded. "Probably would have. Still maybe it is time for you to show them how to load it."
Galan went through the steps one by one and each of them watched intently in the fading light. Echal felt a cooling breeze begin to blow in and was relieved as the temperature continued to drop. Loading and shooting this seemed slower than a bow, but as his father explained, if you had a lot of men with them, you could fire them in ranks. He described the combat tactics of this world and with a hale of these 'bullets' as they called them that would punch though heavy plate, it sounded like a devastating technique. The smith work on this would be intricate but with a Tzadi to assist they could be made quickly and in large numbers. "I don't know that we want this back home." Echal said hesitantly, "If ever they fell into the hands of Goblin Kin, with their numbers..." He trailed off.
Evan's pride shown in his face even in the gathering dark. "My son, you make me proud. Yes, any weapon that you use, you have to assume will eventually fall into the hands of the enemy. Still it is valuable to have this knowledge, if one is desperate enough to use it."
Echal felt strangely pleased that his father was proud of him. He would have awkward had Jayen praised him, but his father the great general, the man he met only hours earlier, why should his opinion affect him so? Still there was no denying that it did and the grin on his face made it more obvious to those around him than he wanted. He changed the subject. "So the sun has set, what were you wanting to show us?"
Evan just nodded his head. "They will be more visible in another twenty minutes, but look up. Tell me what you see?"
Sha was the first to say it. "The stars are different? How can that be?"
Feylynn's melodious voice sang out from across the roof. "I have asked myself that every night for many years, and still I don't know. Oh, men of this world have many ideas, but they are more fantastic than the tears in the curtain of night that our Tzadi banished a century ago. There is so much here of value and interest, as you'll see tomorrow. I will be glad to be going home, but I will certainly miss this place as well. There is much to learn here."
Jayan yawned and Jan nudged him. Evan chuckled. "Jayan my old friend is right. It has been a long day and tomorrow will begin early. Let's get back into the cooler air below and get what sleep we may. I would like to be moving at dawn."
Alone Time
Before turning in Catrin and Echal slipped down to the bathing pool. After a cooling plunge, they lay on the side of the water just sharing a quiet moment. "You know your brother has it bad for Sara right?" she asked him.
"Huh?" Echal asked wondering what that had to do with anything.
"He's got a crush on her like nothing I've seen since we dropped you off with the Brotherhood." she smiled and kissed him to take the sting out of memory.
Echal grunted and started to nibble at her ear. The last thing Echal was worried about tonight with a fresh clean Catrin and a private room was his new brother's love life. Catrin giggled and pulled back. "Plenty of time for that. I think Sara should come with us."
Echal groaned inwardly, she was going to have this conversation so he would have to pretend that it mattered. "Ok. So tell him to ask her."
"Oh, she won't go for him, at least not yet. She sees him as the boy he looks like. Comparing your brother and sister to Sha, they both are so immature. I mean I get it, Feylynn treats them like Elven children so she doesn't expect them to mature any time soon. Galan is a little better because as your father's heir apparent here Evan demanded more of him than Feylynn would have but even so he is still closer to the fifteen-year-old boy he appears than the seventeen years he has lived should have given him. It's like the opposite of you and Sha. From what I can tell Esta is closer to ten mentally than the twelve she appears or the fifteen she actually is."
Echal didn't know how to answer her, but he would need an answer if he wanted to move this conversation along to the parts he was interested in. "Um. Tell her we do grow up?"
Catrin laughed. "So you want me to lie to her?"
Echal chuckled, he had walked into that one. Still, he went for the tickle, maybe this would get him out of planning other people's lives. He has enough to do keeping his own on track. No such luck.
"I'm serious. How do I help her? Here she would be made a slave if they could catch her and prove she escaped. Back home she could pass for an exotic foreign princess."
Echal sighed, "Ok, so tell her that. Either way, it's wet and I am starting to get cold laying here on this smooth rock. We've got a warm bed and a private room for the first time in a long time, and I don't plan to waste it." He got up and offered her a hand.
She took it and gave him a long and lingering kiss. "OK enough for tonight, but help me think of something. It's important for her, even if she doesn't know it."
"OK, I'll see what I can come up with. I promise. Let's go." he said, taking her hand and making their way back to the comfortable bedroom carved from the cool stone.
Town
Echal didn't want to wake up when the knock came at the door. They had been running from one crisis to another for so long now he hadn't gotten to sleep this comfortable since they left their own cave in the mountain. He knew down deep that he would probably end up stuck at the Red Spire for the foreseeable future once they put things to right with the Kingdom's succession struggles but one day he really did want to go back there. It was comfortable and had everything he would need.
The second knock forced him to his feet. For once Catrin wasn't already up, she too looked as if a day off was well overdue. He made it upstairs to the small kitchen area. Sara and her mother Anne were laying out a large breakfast of biscuits and ham and boiled eggs. All things that could travel well. Esta was standing at the edge of the table. "She says take twice what you think you'll eat, because left overs are lunch on the trail."
Echal looked at Catrin. "Did someone tell Pavel that so he could bring up a pack horse?"
Esta giggled. "You're so mean to him."
Echal grinned at her, "He's my brother, and I tease him just like I'm sure you do Galan. Come to think of it, since you're my sister maybe I should tease you too?" he said with a wink.
Echal almost choked and hurriedly made his way through the line. He looked back to see Sara shaking her head at Esta who must have been relaying the translation.
It surprised Echal when his father said no to the armor. Evan just shrugged, "It would only stop the natives arrows not the settlers bullets, and with Jumping Fish as our scout neither group should be a problem for us. Do take your blade; just beware there are smaller weapons called pistols. Less common, but just as deadly. Let's try to avoid a fight if we can."
Echal grunted, "Let Sha have a crack at them first then." Evan looked at him oddly, but when he didn't see any humor in his son's face, wondered just what his new step daughter was really capable of.
The sun was just peaking over the top of the rise when they got underway and was just past overhead as they arrived in the small town. Little more than a village it was wealthier and more prosperous looking than many good-sized towns back home. He couldn't help but marvel at this. The roads were just muddy tracks not the good cobble stone of larger towns but the houses could have been in any city. Many of the houses in Archive weren't this well built, at least not the ones less than a hundred years old. He didn't want to gawk like a tourist but he couldn't help it some. For a town less than twenty years old, it was thriving with industry.
Heir's Legacy Page 14