by AC Cobble
“Ilyena…” Ben’s mind raced but all he could think about was getting his hands on her soft skin again. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to lead you on. Really, I didn’t even know you thought that. I’m not a lord, but I’m still a good man. A better man probably. That doesn’t change what we did last night, does it?”
“That doesn’t change last night,” she fumed, “but it changes what we’re going to do this morning.” She snatched up her clothes, spun around, then stormed out of the storage room door, naked as the day she was born.
Ben sighed and lay back on the lumpy burlap sacks of dried beans. He could only manage to pull up his pants and give a small wave when one of the cook’s assistants peered curiously through the open doorway.
13
Venmoor
Lord Reinhold’s river sloop pulled smoothly away from Kirksbane’s dock and Ben leaned against the gunwales, staring morosely into the murky water below. He felt awful.
“I heard there was a bit of commotion this morning,” drawled Rhys. He hitched his sword belt and looked back at Saala and Renfro, who were clustered on the other side of the ship. “I’ve been asked to talk to you about it. Give you a shoulder to cry on or something. I feel like I should be buying you an ale. I’m not sure why you’re so whiny about this.”
Ben sighed. “I don’t need to cry, Rhys, and I’m so, so glad you’re the one they sent over.”
“Despite his silky smooth and bald charms, the blademaster isn’t as experienced with women as you’d think. Spends a lot of time with his sword. And Renfro, well, I think he messes his pants every time he even talks to a woman, so you’re stuck with me. Now, what the hell is the problem? You got laid by a beautiful woman. Enjoy it. That doesn’t happen every day.”
“She thought I was a lord, Rhys. That’s the only reason she did it, because she thought I was someone else.”
Rhys snorted. “That’s the way it works, mate. Perception is the reality when it comes to how other people see us. You got lucky and it worked out for you last night, even if you didn’t mean it to happen that way. Think about this. You weren’t trying to deceive her. She got whatever impression she did because of what she saw. The person she saw acted like the kind-hearted, heroic, highborn lord that she wanted to share her bed and probably a lot more with. Is what she saw, your actions, is that a better reflection of who you are than whether or not you were born into a family with a title?”
“I see what you’re saying,” muttered Ben. “But what she wanted isn’t what she got. She wants the title and the gold and lifestyle that come with it.”
“Ah.” Rhys gripped Ben’s shoulder. “And that’s where you’re really lucky. With a woman like that, you got what you wanted last night. Now you’re better off leaving on this ship without her. Enjoy the memories, but you don’t want a woman like that in your life worrying you. I’m sure you’ll get plenty of worry from the women who are in your life now. Once they hear about this, at least.”
Ben groaned and his head slumped down to his folded arms on the gunwale. He hadn’t thought about that yet.
The river sloop, true to Lord Reinhold’s and Captain Fishbone’s word, practically flew down the river. They darted around the slower-moving barge traffic with Fisheye, the first mate on the vessel, deftly handling the tiller and steering sweeping turns around the slower-moving obstacles.
Towaal, Amelie, Lord Reinhold, and Captain Fishbone had been shuttered in Reinhold’s cabin all morning. Ben had barely seen them as they’d breezed out of the inn to depart. By lunch, they emerged onto the deck, which was the most pleasant place to sit on the vessel. The speed they were moving kept a steady breeze moving across the deck and the tall sails provided shade.
Ben, Renfro, and Rhys were sharing a loaf of hard bread and jerked meat. Rhys nodded to Ben. “Watch it. Here she comes.”
Ben turned to see Amelie striding across the deck with a look of determination on her face. “Do you have a moment, Ben?” she asked and then beckoned for him to follow her across to the other side of the ship.
“Yesterday in Kirksbane made me realize something,” she started.
Ben grimaced. He had hoped this conversation wouldn’t happen. When he imagined how it would go if it did happen, it was never good.
“I need to be able to defend myself,” she said. “Saala, Rhys, and you have been there to watch over me, but you can’t be there all of the time. I may not be able to become a blademaster, but I can learn enough to help. I can do something.”
“Wait,” responded Ben. “You want to learn the sword? I thought you were…”
“Going to ask about Ilyena?” she finished for him with a harsh look.
Ben blushed. “Yes. That’s what I thought you wanted to talk about.”
“What is there to say?” she asked bluntly. “I am highborn and you are not. It’s nice to think otherwise, but those are the facts. I should have listened to Tomas when he… Well, when I heard this morning, I was reminded that we come from different worlds. You have the freedom to choose whom you love, and I do not. I don’t understand why you wanted to be with that awful slut, but that is your choice. Maybe it was for the best.”
Her eyes glistened and Ben swallowed hard.
“Amelie, it wasn’t like that. I was drunk and…”
“I know, Ben.” She sighed. “Let’s not talk about this now, okay? With going to the Sanctuary, Meredith’s death, the attack by Rishram, there is just a lot going on. I’m not myself and I’m not thinking clearly. I can’t add another thing to my list of worries. I need a friend, Ben. Despite last night, I know I can trust you. I’d like you to be that friend.”
“Of course, Amelie. Of course we can be friends.” He didn’t know what else to say.
“That is why I came to talk to you. I need your help and I am asking for it as a friend. Saala is in my father’s employ and he will train me with the sword if I ask. I am certain I can convince Rhys as well. When we get to the City though, both of them will eventually leave. That is what they do. I would like it if you stayed. I can set you up with a business and we can practice the sword together. Because of my birth, I will be treated differently at the Sanctuary. With Meredith gone, I have no one else to turn to.”
“I-I hadn’t thought about what I’d do once we got there,” stammered Ben.
“Do you need time to think?” she asked.
“No.” He really hadn’t decided what he would do once they arrived in the City. At the start of the journey, he’d planned on returning to Farview. But now the thought of making that trip back alone and rejoining life in the small town where nothing ever really changed didn’t seem very appealing. Compared to living in the City and being friends with a lady, what was he thinking? “I’ll stay if you’re sure you want me to.”
“Good,” she said and placed a hand on his arm.
Shortly after lunch, Lady Towaal called everyone together for a quick meeting on the deck. “We’ll be in the City in a week according to Reinhold,” she began. “I’ve asked him to push hard down the river with no stops. I don’t want another incident like we had with Rishram. After signing the Conclave agreement, the risk is too great for Amelie. When we arrive, Amelie and Meghan will begin training immediately at the Sanctuary. Rhys, you know what to do and who to check in with. The rest of you are free to remain or go as you please. If you remain, I’m sure Rhys can recommend some places to stay in the City.”
“I think I’ll stay for a bit,” Ben said to an encouraging smile from Amelie. He ignored Meghan’s bitter look. She wasn’t happy about the Ilyena thing.
“I as well,” added Saala, “at least until I know Amelie is secure and I get further instructions from Issen.”
Lady Towaal scowled. “There is no doubt about security once we make the Sanctuary, but suit yourself. It is your time.”
“I’ll stay too!” exclaimed Renfro before glancing around the group sheepishly. “I don’t really have anywhere else to go.”
That evening, they
got back to practicing the Ohms. It was difficult on the ship, but they could do the first Ohm which required the least amount of balance and skill. It felt good after the long pause they’d taken in Sineook Valley. Ben missed the stretching exercises and felt more energized once they’d finished, but he was glad they hadn’t done it in front of Rishram.
Afterward, the young people sat near the bow of the ship, enjoying the breeze and watching the sun set over the countryside as they passed.
“So, what will you do in the City, Renfro?” asked Meghan. She had been pointedly ignoring Ben since they’d left Kirksbane. Sisterly affection came with sisterly disapproval.
“Oh, I don’t know. Find a trade I suppose,” the young thief answered, scratching absentmindedly at his arm. “Is there much fishing around there? The City sounds grand, and for me, it is just as good as anywhere. Fabrizo is the only place I’ve known and I can’t go back there.”
“Oh, I don’t know about fishing,” replied Meghan. “It’s on a river, isn’t it?”
Renfro glumly looked down at his feet. “Yeah, I guess it is. Since I was a little one, it was go to sea or join the thieves. Not sure what else I can do.”
“Maybe Ben will hire you at this new brewery he’s starting.” Meghan smirked.
Ben enjoyed Renfro’s company, but his work ethic was questionable at best. Renfro was probably the last person he’d consider asking for help with a business. Meghan meant it more as a barb for Ben than a knock on Renfro. She was always kind to Renfro.
Luckily, Renfro didn’t pick up on the subtext. “Oh really? That would be great! Ben, we could be partners together.”
Ben raised an eyebrow.
“Well,” allowed Renfro, “You could be the senior partner, of course, since you know about brewing already and I’d just be starting.”
“I think that would be wonderful,” chimed in Meghan.
“Sure Renfro. We can see how it goes when we get to the City.” Ben hoped the idea of how hard the work will be to start a new business in a new city would eventually creep into Renfro’s thoughts and he’d drop it. A change of subject seemed best for now though. “Amelie and Meghan, how about you? Are you excited to begin at the Sanctuary?”
“I think so. Maybe,” hedged Meghan.
“Lady Towaal has been explaining some of the training regimen,” added Amelie. “It sounds… challenging.”
Meghan sighed. “There is a great deal of study involved and successive tests of willpower. I’m sure Lady Towaal is exaggerating to mentally prepare us, but yes, challenging. I think that’s the right word.” The two girls shared a glance. “Lord Reinhold also said something to Amelie that worried us a little,” she continued. “He said it when he first heard we were joining. He said, ‘The Sanctuary? Who would commit two decades of apprenticeship just to become the Veil’s stooge? There are shorter paths to power, girl.’ I’m sure he didn’t mean it like it sounded.”
Ben blanched. “Surely not.”
Lord Reinhold kept to himself aside from the occasional discussion with his captain or Lady Towaal. His and Towaal’s communication was strained. It seemed she was paying him a very large amount of gold to get them to the City quickly, and they weren’t moving quickly enough for her. The two would not remain friends after the journey, Ben was sure.
He was able to gather that while Reinhold was a landed lord, his primary business was various merchant banking interests up and down the Venmoor River. He spent most of his time on the river sloop checking up on things.
Ben watched him stalk around the deck peering intently at the countryside as they passed. He constantly mumbled under his breath, and, from what Ben could overhear, seemed to be tallying figures in his head. Unlike the merchants Ben was familiar with who had wagons or ships heaped with goods, Reinhold dealt in coin.
Before Amelie stopped him, Ben considered asking Reinhold for a loan to start a business for himself in the City.
“That’s not his kind of business, Ben. Men like him, they think on a grand scale. He’s not a moneylender like you would know. He’s out here looking to see if there’s a bad wheat crop in one area then he’ll buy up all the rest of the wheat elsewhere or have it imported in. He’s not going to loan money to an individual for a business. He’s going to finance a moneylender who will do the hard work of collecting loans for him. Men like him, they wait for situations like this with Argren’s Alliance. He will buy goods to support the war effort, swoop in, and buy land or other war spoils on the cheap afterward. Besides, you know I will give you the money to get started. You don’t need to worry about doing business with some chiseling lender.”
“I know you said that, Amelie, but I feel bad taking money from you.”
“Don’t think about it as taking then. We can make it a loan or an investment. Really, I trust you’ll do well for me. I don’t want you to have to get tied up with lenders. Many of them are unsavory people.”
After that, Ben watched Reinhold with a certain fascination. Alistair Pinewood used similar tactics on a smaller scale in Farview. Men like these only cared about the gold. Ben had never understood Alistair and his desire to always have more. He wondered if Lord Reinhold motivated by the same things.
One afternoon, Rhys caught him watching Reinhold.
“Thinking about getting into merchant banking?” quipped Rhys.
“No, just wondering what makes the man tick,” responded Ben. “How does someone like that only care about having more gold and more power? If I had all of the resources he does, I would help people. A man like him could change the world and make it better, or at least a part of it.”
“It isn’t always as simple as that. He’s helping us after all, isn’t he?”
“Only because Lady Towaal paid him,” replied Ben.
“Sometimes paid help is the best help. And changing the world, well, when this war between the Alliance and the Coalition breaks out, people like Lord Reinhold will be the first ones there with medical supplies, food, and other things people need. The lords and ladies have other concerns and are looking at a different picture. Don’t get me wrong—you pay him, pay a very high price maybe—but when the need is the greatest, it’s men like him who will be there. Trust me. When you’re on the front lines and you’re starving, you’d don’t really care how much the food costs, you just know you need it.”
Ben shrugged uncomfortably. He hadn’t thought about it like that.
Rhys continued, “Those locks around Kirksbane? If it weren’t for men like Reinhold, they wouldn’t be there. You don’t have to like it, but it’s worth understanding. Things happen and progress is made when there’s profit at the end of it. Making grand speeches, fighting off the bad guys, and giving alms to the poor isn’t the only way to change the world. Something to think about.” Rhys pointed down river to a grey cloud hanging low on the horizon. “Speaking of which, we’re coming up on the town of Venmoor. How do you think a brewer boy from the country knows all about this roughneck former bandit town on the other side of the continent? The people here found a new and better way to make steel, and in their way, they changed the world.”
Venmoor had the earmarks of a former roughneck town just like Rhys described. As they glided past, Ben could see squat stone buildings spreading out from the river. Dark smoke was belching out of many of the buildings where the famous forges of Venmoor produced the steel the town was so famous for. The art of forming the extra strong Venmoor steel was a closely guarded secret of the Blacksmiths’ Guild. The stories were full of tales of the length the blacksmiths went to keep that secret.
In addition to the forges, there was a sturdy-looking keep built up on a low rise. The sprawl of one and two story stone buildings scattered around it had little organization Ben could see. He’d heard all the buildings in Venmoor were stone due to fire risk.
In the distance, there was a huge structure carved into the side of a hill. Ben craned his neck to see and thought there were hundreds or even thousands of seats built up around
a flat space at the bottom. From the river, he couldn’t tell what it was for.
“What is that?” he asked Rhys, pointing toward the large structure.
“Venmoor’s College Arena. They have one of the more famous Colleges of the Sword and that’s where the students show off. There are regular competitions, examinations, and what not. Of course, the most attended events are trials to become a blademaster. Most of the students are highborn and fail the test, which makes it popular with the common folk.” Rhys shrugged. “The king built it years and years ago when they first created Venmoor steel. They needed a place to demonstrate the superior quality. They keep it up now because the competitions lead to some pretty lively wagering and the king takes his cut.”
Other than the College Arena and the forges, the town itself was unexciting after seeing Fabrizo and Whitehall. It was just as large but it didn’t hold the romance the other two did. Venmoor was about industry. They passed under a series of ugly-looking bridges then drifted downriver away from town. Maybe another time, Ben thought.
More tributaries joined the river and it widened south of Venmoor. The barges still cluttered the waterway but other vessels began to join them.
The barges hung close to the shoreline where on one side they were pulled up river by horsepower. There was a well-worn path that dray horses slowly plodded along. Long ropes were tied to the empty barges and a lone man would be stationed at the tiller to keep the shallow-drafted ships from butting against the bank. On the other bank, the loaded barges floated down at the speed of the current with just a few bargemen on board to steer and keep watch over the goods.
In the center of the river were wind-powered vessels or rowboats. Fisheye, the first mate, explained that closer to the City, they would see more of the smaller craft.