“No, lord. Not but the Dragon Blessed. Him I’s heard of.”
“Prince Stavin of Evandia,” Dahvin said from the side. “Stavin Dragon Blessed.”
“Yes, lord.”
Gavlin ran both hands through his hair. “I’m going to send you home with fifty warriors of Kel’Kavin. Do you know who they are?”
“The Royal Guards of Kel’Kavin?” the man asked as he looked around. “Everyone knows of them, lord. Why would they be with you, beggin’ your pardon.”
“Because Prince Stavin is one of us,” Barvil said as he stepped closed to the man. “I am Warmaster Kel’Carin of the Royal Guard.”
The man seemed to become even more afraid. “Y-You be a Warmaster of the Old Guard?”
Barvil bowed his head slightly as he said, “Yes. Evandia has annexed the south of Farindia, including Kel’Kavin. We are now part of the Evandian Royal Guards, and Prince Stavin is our charge.”
The man swallowed convulsively and looked at Barvil with a terrified expression on his face. He seemed to shrink in on himself as he said, “I begs your forgiveness, Warmaster.”
“Granted,” Barvil said with a slight nod. “My men will accompany you to, what did you call it? Juniper?”
“Yes, Warmaster. It’s a day’s trek north.”
“Tomorrow,” Colonel Zel’Fordal said. “Today we’ll bury our dead. And Warleader Karvik is right about—his concern. Tomorrow we’ll march north, and send you ahead to tell your people why we’re here, and who we are. Until then, you’ll be kept under guard by the Royal Guards. No harm will befall you.”
The man bowed as deeply as he could. There was nothing else he could do. Dahvin signaled two Guardsmen forward. “Take him to get some food, then keep him company. Gently.”
“Yes, sir,” the Guardsmen answered and stepped forward to take the man by the arms. “Come with us,” the more senior of the two said and they led the man out of the tent.
Once they were gone, Dahvin sighed. “Pacifying the people of Farindia isn’t going to be easy.”
“No, it’s not,” Gavlin agreed. “Not when they think we’re invaders.”
“There may be a way to make it easier, Colonel,” Barvil said as he stepped forward, but he had his head down and was rubbing his chin in thought. “I think we need to rethink this. Tomorrow, I want the Warriors to ride ahead. All fifty of them, in Farindian colors.”
“Are you sure?” Dahvin asked. “Isn’t that asking for trouble?”
“With the Chosen, maybe,” Barvil agreed, “but with the common people, people like that man and his village, I don’t think so. Did you see his reaction to finding out that I was a Warmaster from Kel’Kavin?” He paused to look at the young officers around him. “It’s like he expected me to kill him for what he’d done.”
“They attacked—” Dahvin started, then cut himself off as he thought of the answer. “They attacked the Farindian Royal Guards. And Stavin is a Farindian. I think he just figured out that he and his friends committed treason by the laws of Farindia.”
“I think you’re right,” Gavlin said.
*
Stavin crawled out of his tent well after mid day to find his army waiting for him. “We’re not ready to move?” he asked.
“We’re staying here today, Prince Stavin,” one of the guardsmen replied.
Stavin nodded and went to the table. The remains of the mid day meal were still there, and he began stuffing his mouth with bread and cheese immediately. One of the guardsman said, “Prince Stavin, let me summon the cooks,” and Stavin nodded permission, but he didn’t stop eating.
“Here,” Karvik said as he handed Stavin a cup of kava.
Stavin took a long drink, grimaced at the taste, then started eating again. “Gods, I’m hungry.”
“I’m not surprised,” Karvik said as he refilled Stavin’s cup. “You missed two meals on top of showing off this morning. How do you feel, other than empty?”
“Like I spent the morning at ax instruction with your dad.” Stavin sighed and stretched his back muscles. “I hurt everywhere.”
Karvik retrieved Stavin’s plate armor, and he and a guardsman helped Stavin armor up between bites. “What did the prisoner tell us?”
“I’ll let Dad and the colonel tell you what we found out about the attackers and what we’re going to do about it. For now, though, just be aware that you, Stavin Dragon Blessed, are well known in Farindia. That man is as awe-struck as anyone I’ve ever seen.”
Stavin’s mouth twisted into a bitter grimace. “Lovely.”
Once he’d taken the edge off his hunger, Stavin let Karvik lead him to the command tent. The officers all stood when he entered, and he bowed his head in acknowledgement before asking, “What have you decided, Colonel?”
Gavlin looked at Barvil, so he answered. “We are sending Darak and his men forward with the prisoner.” He explained what the man had told them. “I think you’ll agree that we don’t want to slaughter the common folk when they think they are just defending their homes.”
Stavin sighed and nodded. “I agree completely. Send Darak and his men as planned, but have them carry my flag as well.” Stavin pointed to the Evandian Royal Flag that was set by his tent. “Where is Darak?”
“With Captain Zel’Kordil of the Fifth Cavalry,” Dahvin answered.
“Is he related to Lord General Zel’Kordil?” Stavin asked as his eyebrows drew down.
“Distantly,” Dahvin replied. “They are about eight generations removed.”
Stavin considered that for a moment, then shrugged. “Very well. Were there any other survivors from the cavalry group?”
“One, but he’ll never fight again,” Gavlin replied.
“And from the camp itself?”
“Six dead, nineteen wounded, three seriously.”
Stavin sighed and shook his head slowly. “Damn. Barvil, what do the old maps show about this area?”
Barvil directed Stavin over to a table and pulled one map out from under the others. It was the map Stavin had copied. “The prisoner says that his settlement, which they simply call Juniper, is located about here.” He pointed to the map and made a circle. “He couldn’t be very specific, because he’s never seen a map like this before. He says it’s off the old road by quite a bit. Lestalin Ford is the closest of the old cities, but he says it is just a ruin and there is no one there except some vagabonds and scavengers. And maybe some bandits.”
“That fits with what we already knew about this area,” Stavin said as he looked at the map. “Colonel, what do you think? Do we stay on the road and just send Darak and his force to Juniper, or do we divert the entire force up that way?”
Gavlin shook his head. “I don’t think we can afford to take everyone up there, Prince Stavin. The prisoner says there is no real road, just a wagon track. Taking all of the infantry and support staff up there would be difficult, and probably wouldn’t make much more of an impression than Darak and his men will. They are, after all, Farindian Royal Guards. My only concern is if we need them someplace else.”
“What about only sending half of them, Sir?” Karvik suggested. “Send twenty-five Royal Guards backed by twenty-five cavalrymen.”
“Make two advanced forces to let the common people know who we are and why we’re here?” Barvil asked. He looked at his son and smiled. “Maybe have someone with a good dose of the old Farindian Royal Blood lead the second force.”
Karvik’s eyes widened in shock. “Are you serious?”
“Why not?” Stavin said as he laughed. “You outrank all of the royal guards except Darak and your dad.”
“Prince Stavin and your father have a point, Warleader,” Gavlin said with a hint of humor in his voice. “You’d rightfully be a major if we converted your rank.”
Karvik was looking around the tent with wide eyes and fixed them on Stavin. “You can’t be serious.”
“Sure I can.” Stavin laughed at Karvik’s expression. “We’ll send someone else with you.’ He glanc
ed at the officers. “Captain Zel’Tarlin, most likely. He’s the senior Royal Guards officer. But you’ve got the most Farindian royal blood of any of us. More than I do.”
“Dad, you’re—”
“I’m staying by Prince Stavin,” Barvil interrupted. “That was a royal command from both King Kalin and Princess Marina before we left Twin Bridges. And Shari was—insistent—that I not leave Stavin’s side.”
Karvik grinned at his dad and chuckled. “I’ll bet she was.”
Chapter 26
DARAK AND TWENTY-FIVE OF HIS men, backed by twenty-five men of the Fifth Cavalry, put the prisoner on a borrowed cavalry mount and took him home the next morning. Stavin met them before they left, and spoke to the prisoner.
“Tell your elders that we are not here to invade Farindia. Evandia has annexed this portion of Farindia to reestablish order. The Farindian Royal Guards of Kel’Kavin, led by myself and Warmaster Kel’Carin, are here to see that this is as orderly a transition as we can manage. The lack of a king in Farindia has cost all of us dearly over the two hundred years since the revolt. It is time to let go of the past and embrace the future.”
The man bowed as deeply as he could in his saddle. “Yes, Your Highness. I’ll tell the elders what you said. They’ll obey the Dragon Blessed.”
Darak led off, leaving Stavin and the rest watching them go. He spoke to the prisoner as they cleared the edge of the camp. “You’ll have to lead us to your village, Goodman,” Darak said, and the man seemed startled.
“I’s just a farmer, Warleader,” the man said in a soft, timid tone.
“You’re Prince Stavin’s messenger,” Darak replied. “You’re the one who is going to tell your elders what you’ve heard and seen.”
The man nodded and led them deep into the forest, and finally onto a barely discernable wagon track. It was only half a day on horseback to Juniper, and they received a suspicious greeting from twenty or so men armed with bows, axes, and scythes.
“That’s far enough,” one old man shouted. “What you done, Par?”
The prisoner answered, “Mayor Dannis, these men’s Royal Guards from Kel’Kavin. They’s escortin’ Prince Stavin Dragon Blessed. He’s one of ‘em.”
Several of the men facing them immediately lowered their weapons. The mayor walked forward slowly and looked up at the prisoner. “You say the Dragon Blessed is here?”
“He’s with their main army. These here is some of the Royal Guards. They’s gots a message from Prince Stavin for you.”
The mayor focused on Darak, and his eyes bulged when he recognized the Royal Guards tabard and the three stars on Darak’s shoulder. He bowed deeply and said, “You be welcome in our town, Royal Guardsmen.” He walked backwards until he was behind some of his men, then turned and headed for the town store.
Darak nodded for the prisoner to lead the way, and they dismounted in front of the store. Just the prisoner and Darak went inside. The mayor and three other men met them. “Par, is you sure about this?”
“I done seen him, Mayor, and talked to him. The Dragon Blessed hisself was the one what captured me. He said to tell you that we’s Evandians now. Evandia done ann—asne—”
“Annexed,” Darak supplied.
“Thanks to you, Warleader,” Par said with a deep bow. “They done split Farindia with Andaria. We’s got us a king now, and he done adopted Stavin Dragon Blessed as our prince.”
The mayor looked Darak in the eye, then bowed his head. “We beg forgiveness fer attacking you, Warleader. We thought we was being attacked.”
“Prince Stavin understands that, Mayor,” Darak replied. “It is his desire to limit the number of casualties on all sides. If possible, please send word to the communities around you about what has happened here. Prince Stavin and King Kalin desire to establish order in these lands once again. To reestablish the laws of the crown, not just the rules of the traders and warlords.”
Another of the elders asked, “What should we do, Warleader?”
Darak smiled. “Continue to live in peace. It will probably take some time to convince everyone, but peace is the desired result of the annexation. Soon, Evandian Sheriffs and Magistrates will begin heading into these lands. Their goal will be to establish the rights of the citizens. Proper land deeds, water rights, and ownership of property titles will be established, mostly based on the information that councils such as yours will provide them.”
“We’ll obey, Warleader,” the man replied with a deep bow.
Darak nodded, then looked at the prisoner. “You are released, Goodman. Return to your home, and we’ll return to Prince Stavin with the news that Juniper is safe.”
All of the councilmen bowed deeply, and Darak left the store. Once he was mounted, he called out, “Royal Guards, return to the prince.” All of the horsemen wheeled their mounts and headed back the way they had come. Behind them, the people of Juniper stood silent.
Darak veered his force to the east once they were clear of the town. “Colonel Zel’Fordal said they weren’t going to wait for us,” he explained. “We’re going to have to catch them.”
“As slow as they move, we won’t have to do much in the way of catching,” one of the warriors quipped.
They reached the road, and a quick examination of the surface showed that they were ahead of the army. It took until after nightfall to reach them. “Halt! Who goes there?” a sentry bellowed as soon as Darak led his men around a curve in the road.
“Royal Guards Warleader Kel’Norlan and his force,” Darak shouted in reply as he and his men stopped. The sentries sounded an alarm, and soon over a hundred men were facing Darak.
Captain Zel’Tarlin himself came forward to identify them. “Got ahead of us a bit, didn’t you Darak?” he asked.
“Just a bit, Hardan,” Darak answered.
Captain Zel’Tarlin shouted, “It’s all right, men. They’re ours,” to the soldiers, and then led the way back to camp. “Prince Stavin is in the command tent.”
Darak and Hardan went to the tent while the rest of the men went to find something to eat. Stavin smiled when he saw Darak. “How did they take our message?” he asked.
“Pretty well,” Darak answered. “Their mayor and council listened, at least. Having one of their own swear he’d met Stavin Dragon Blessed made quite an impression.”
Stavin rolled his eyes and sighed. “I have a feeling I’m going to learn to hate that title.”
“Could be worse,” Dahvin said as he chuckled.
“How so?” Karvik asked.
Dahvin grinned slyly. “By rights, he should be called His Royal Highness, Dragon Blessed Prince Stavin Markan Karvan Do’Kalin Ne’Aniston Zel’Andral.”
Karvik stared at Dahvin for a moment, then turned to look at Stavin. He clamped his hand over his mouth, but his strangled snort of amusement was audible anyway.
Barvil was in better shape, and wagged a finger at Dahvin as he said, “You forgot Senior Warmaster. I think it would either go before or after Dragon Blessed.”
“I think after,” Gavlin said as he stroked his chin. “Dragon Blessed Senior Warmaster.”
Stavin was staring wide-eyed at all of them, shock warring with amusement. “You are not calling me that.”
Gavlin laughed out loud now. “It is a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it? But when we face the Chosen, it might be necessary. At the very least, you should be ready to sign all of your titles if someone demands a treaty.”
“I didn’t have to put all of that on the treaty with Andaria,” Stavin complained.
“No, you didn’t,” Dahvin agreed, “but only because everyone involved was already aware of your titles. Stave,” he said as he stepped closer and put a hand on Stavin’s shoulder, “you know there are Chosen who don’t respect anyone who doesn’t have a mouthful of titles. You met enough of them in Twin Bridges.”
Stavin nodded. “I know, Dahvin. Gods Below, what a name. I may as well accept it, though.”
“Might as well,” Dahvin agreed. “You
don’t actually have a choice in the matter.”
Chapter 27
LESTALIN FORD WAS ONE OF THE largest old Farindian cities along this road. Fifty-thousand souls had once called it home, but now it was a tumbled ruin. The city had burned at some time in the past, and the forest had moved into the nitrogen rich soil the ashes had left behind.
The road had been maintained for the most part, and the bridge that had once been the pride of the city had been rebuilt. The shells of stone and masonry buildings could be seen through the trees and underbrush, but it appeared that many of the stone buildings had been scavenged to provide building materials elsewhere. The surprise was the number of people who could be seen out among those ruins.
Karvik rode forward alone and stopped in the center of a clearing. “Good people of Farindia,” he shouted, “we are here to reestablish the kingdom under King Kalin of Evandia.”
“Who are you to do such a thing?” a woman’s voice shouted back.
“We are the Royal Guards of Kel’Kavin,” Karvik shouted in the direction the woman’s voice had come from. To his surprise, a figure stood and cautiously came forward.
“You’re Royal Guards?” the woman asked as she looked up at Karvik. He ran one finger down the edge of his tabard. “You’re really the Old Guard?”
Karvik bowed in the saddle. “We are. Who are you, good lady?”
“Me!? I’m no lady, not by half.” She shook her head slowly. “I’m no one of any consequence.”
Karvik bowed again. “You’re educated enough to speak properly, and you’re brave enough to come forward and ask questions,” he replied in a patient tone. “That makes you someone of consequence in these parts.”
The woman shrugged one shoulder. “My name is Eve Fel’Cassan, lord. I was a servant on Lord Zel’Esten’s estate.”
“And why are you here?”
The woman took a step backwards as she gave Karvik a suspicious look. “I ran away,” she replied softly. “I didn’t like being Lord Shardan’s concubine.”
Karvik simply shrugged. “Do you hold any sway over the other people here in Lestalin Ford?”
Farindian Summer (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 4) Page 16