Shari shifted her attention to the man by the door as she closed her blouse. “What do you want?” she asked as she stood and grasped her staff.
“You’ve interfered in the running of our kingdom enough, Princess Sharindis,” the man said, and she recognized his voice.
“Lord Zel’Delvan, are you mad?” she asked as she stepped forward.
“No, I’ve come to my senses. Kalin and Marina were smart enough to let the ministers run the kingdom, but you had to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. Now we’re going to give Kalin a choice: He acknowledges that the ministers run the kingdom and relinquishes the power to us, or he gets your bodies thrown out a window.” A tremendous impact against the door drew his attention and he turned to yell, “I said they would all die if you try to break in here!”
Sharindis shouted, “Guardsmen, stay away from the door. They are threatening the children. All three bolts are thrown, and there is no way for you to break in here without endangering the babies. Tell my brother to stand down. I know him too well to think he’s going to let this go.”
“That was the smartest thing you’ve ever done,” the former minister said in a satisfied tone.
Shari moved into the center of the room as she asked, “What are your demands?”
“We demand that Kalin officially relinquish control of the kingdom to the Council of Ministers. We demand that he draft and sign an official decree saying that the Council of Ministers has full authority to do whatever the kingdom needs to be done.” His voice had become harsh for some reason, and the smooth, cultured lord was now a vile brute. “The time when the whims of one man could control the kingdom has ended, and it’s time for Kalin to acknowledge that.”
Sharindis shook her head. “He will not do that.”
“Then you and everyone in this suite will die.”
“You coward,” Sora snarled. “You threaten babies to get your way?” She had set Delian and Sahren aside and closed her blouse.
“And you as well, you low-born slut,” the disgraced minister said in a contemptuous tone.
A voice shouted, “Shari!” through the door, drawing everyone’s attention.
Shari turned toward the door and shouted, “Var, keep everyone away from the door. The bolts are thrown and they are threatening the babies if they hear a battering ram trying to break in.”
Varik’s voice was clear when he shouted back, “I understand.”
Sharindis motioned toward her desk. “If you’d care to write out your demands, you can slip them under the door.”
“Our demands have already been delivered to King Kalin. He has today to decide if he wants his power or your life.”
Shari was standing in the center of the room now, and she could tell Garrat Zel’Delvan was right in front of her. She could just barely make out a second man to her right. She sensed the third man two paces to her left. She could hear a fourth man over by the sofa where Sorandis was still sitting.
The man facing Sora smiled evilly. He said, “I think they need a demonstration. I’ll start with that one,” and pointed a long skinning knife at Dahran.
Glora screamed, “No!” and Shari and Sora reacted.
Several things happened in rapid succession. Shari’s staff shot forward, jabbing into Garrat Zel’Delvan’s unprotected throat. Sora kicked the elegant tea service off the table up into the face of the man threatening Dahran, and caught the serving platter in one hand as it flew upward. Shari screamed, “Now, Var!” as the butt of her staff arced up to crash into the temple of the man to her right. Sora swung the serving platter flat by the handle and the edge crashed into the forehead of the man she’d blinded with the hot tea. A sound like breaking glass came from the door as the dragon-scale blade of Stavin’s Dragon’s Tongue slid down the edge of the door to cut the bolts. The fourth man had taken a step backwards in order to draw his knife and attack Shari, but he never got the chance.
Varik burst through the door and saw a man threatening his sister, and reacted immediately. He threw the Dragon’s Tongue underhand; it darted out to split the man’s heart, earning Varik his first stripe. Half a breath later he reached his sister.
“Shari, are you all right?” Varik asked as Royal Guardsmen swarmed into the room.
“Yes,” Shari answered as she stood calmly in the center of the room. “Check the men on the floor, Var. One of them may still be alive.”
Varik knelt and checked. Garrat Zel’Delvan was still choking on his crushed larynx as he writhed on the floor, but the second man Shari had hit was just unconscious. “This one is alive,” he announced, “but he has a really nasty crease in his skull.” Several senior guardsmen bent over to drag the man away.
King Kalin arrived moments later. “Fools,” was all he could say. “I’m sorry, Shari, but I wouldn’t have acceded to their demands even for the lives of you and the children.”
“I didn’t think you would, Kalin,” Shari answered. “I don’t know why they did.”
Kalin was looking down at his former minister. “Did he say who else was in it with him?”
“No. He said ‘we’ a lot, but no names.”
King Kalin looked around at the Royal Guardsmen. “Bring all of the Ministers to the Court. We’ll see who else is involved with this.” Kalin stepped forward and kissed Shari on the forehead. He murmured, “I’m glad to see you’re such a good match for Stavin,” then turned and left the room.
“Get all of the children out of here,” Princess Marina ordered as soon as she arrived, and the Guardsmen and her maids immediately complied. “Shari, come with me. It’ll take some time to clean and repair this room.”
Shari chuckled as Marina led her past the bodies. “Garrat didn’t think we’d fight back. After all, I’m blind and the rest are just girls.” Then she giggled. “Oh, how I wish I could have seen his face when I crushed his throat.” It was probably a good thing she couldn’t see the look Marina was giving her. That would have really made her laugh.
Chapter 33
THE PACIFICATION FORCE MARCHED ON AFTER three days, passing the site of the battle and the Zel’Hestel estate. Stavin was still tired, and had deep bruises under his eyes. He remained wrapped in his own thoughts the whole time, leaving the decisions up to Gavlin and Dahvin.
I could have died, kept running through his mind over and over again. Dragon Blessed. It’s not a blessing. It’s a curse!
The force marched for five days before reaching the lands of the Zel’Anlar estate. No armed men met them. There was no sign of resistance at all. As the army marched through, the only people they saw were two men standing in front of the manor house, and each of them went to one knee in respect when Stavin rode past.
“That beats the reception we’ve been receiving,” Karvik said as he watched the men on the porch.
“I just wish it was real, Kar,” Stavin muttered. “I just wish it was inspired by respect and not fear.”
“That will probably have to wait a generation, Stavin,” Barvil said from his other side. “Maybe the lands to the west won’t be as bad.”
The force continued on, passing unopposed through the other three estates before reaching the mouth of the Kel’Indra valley and the estate of the Zel’Gastak family. They were met by Lord Marsen Zel’Gastak at the crossroads that marked the edge of his lands.
“Prince Stavin,” he said in a sullen tone as he bowed in his saddle, “I’ve received the message you’re bringing. We won’t resist the annexation.”
Stavin bowed his head and said, “Thank you, Lord Marsen. We want to set a border station on the road going into Kavadia. It is on your lands, and we ask for your indulgence.”
“Take what you will. We can’t stop you,” Lord Marsen answered in a tightly controlled tone.
“The necessary land will be taken off your taxes, Lord Marsen.”
“That road is on my land, Prince Stavin. My family has maintained it for generations, and now you claim it for the crown. What of that?”
“
You will no longer have to bear the expense of that maintenance, Lord Marsen,” Stavin replied with a slight bow. “Minister of Roads Zel’Cerran will be sending his people to do that every spring. I would presume to encourage you to found a village at or near the crossing. We are entering into an agreement with the Aravad Traders’ Council to encourage more trade between Evandia and Kavadia. We hope to have more traffic through here.”
“What kind of agreement, Prince Stavin?” Lord Marsen asked as he took a step closer.
“A reduction of the tax to bring goods into Evandia.”
Lord Marsen shook his head slowly. “There is no tax now. What makes you think reducing what has never existed will encourage trade?”
Stavin closed his eyes briefly before replying. “Because House Kel’Aniston, at least, will be shipping a lot of goods from Aravad to Evandia. I have some influence with the Aravad Traders’ Council, and I’ll be encouraging them to do likewise.”
“Going where?”
Stavin held his hands up at shoulder level with his palms to the sky. “Kel’Kavin and Kavinston, to start. Skykon will be rebuilt, and Trade Town will be encouraged to remain in operation. Other towns, such as Zel’Kaster, will also be rebuilt.”
“Zel’Kaster?” Lord Marsen said softly. “That’s the old mine!”
Stavin bowed his head. “Indeed. And it will be a new mine, operated by the crown under the auspices of Minister of Mines Zel’Justel. I would expect a lot of supplies and smelted copper to be shipped through here in the future. Much will be going to Kavadia, and the rest will be going south to the heartland of Evandia.” He gestured toward the road they just came up. “Expect a lot of traffic to come this way soon.”
Lord Marsen’s face took on a thoughtful expression. “The mine. If only I had the means to reopen it myself.”
“Hopefully the extra traffic through here will aid you, Lord Marsen. That’s part of the reason I suggested a village.” Stavin looked up at the sky and nodded to himself. “We have plenty of daylight left. We’ll be moving on now. Good day to you, Lord Marsen.” Stavin inclined his head slightly in response to Lord Marsen’s bow, then turned to Gavlin.
“Lord Colonel Zel’Fordal, dispatch your men and their supplies to the border. There is an old marker stone beside the road. They are to set up a full dragon this side of the border, and for the love of the Gods, make sure they’re polite about it. The Kavadian town of Markavia Cross is less than a day’s ride from here. Have them purchase their supplies there.” He thought for a moment, then added, “Set up on the south side of the road. As I recall, the north side would be better for a town.”
Gavlin bowed deeply and said, “Yes, Prince Stavin,” before turning to his left. “Lieutenant Zel’Barkal, take your detachment and set up your border station. You heard the prince. Don’t let me hear of you disobeying his orders.”
“Sir, yes, sir!” the lieutenant snapped before bowing to Gavlin, and again to Stavin. He led the way east on the road, and twenty men and a supply wagon followed him.
Stavin watched him go for a moment, then turned his horse west, toward home. This was the road that led to Kel’Kavin. The road he’d traveled so many times before, but this time there was a difference. This time it was, in a very real sense, his road.
The force traveled for six days before reaching the ruins of the old town of Zel’Kaster and the copper mine it was centered around. No one was surprised to see a number of people at the mine itself, eking out a meager living prying raw copper from the ground. The force stopped and Karvik rode forward alone.
When he was close to the mine he shouted, “Good people of Farindia, I am Warleader Fourth Karvik Kel’Carin of the Royal Guard. I call upon your leaders to come forward and speak to me.”
Two men, both raggedly dressed and dirty, walked cautiously forward. “You be with the Dragon Blessed, Guardsman?” the elder of the two asked.
“I am,” Karvik replied.
“We done heard that we’s Evandians now. We heard the Dragon Blessed was letting us keep what we holds.”
Karvik bowed his head deeply. “Essentially correct. The mine itself will be reopened by the crown, but if you have a home here, you will be allowed to keep it. Are you miners?”
“We is. We smelts our own ore and casts the ingots, too,” the elder answered as he bowed.
Karvik bowed slightly as he replied, “That is good news. Prince Stavin wants to keep as many people as possible where they are. I’m sure the manager of the mine will want you to stay and work here, and any land or house you claim before they arrive will be granted to you.”
The younger man looked at Karvik with a pensive expression and said, “Your pardon, Guardsman, but we lives in the mine. It’s warmer in winter and cooler in summer.”
Karvik paused for a moment as he considered that. He finally bowed slightly and turned toward the column and raised his left arm. A group of riders immediately started forward.
The elder looked panicked and said, “We didn’t mean no disrespect!”
Karvik turned back toward him in confusion, then shook his head. “No, no. It’s nothing like that. I just need guidance on this. We never thought of people living in the mine. That’s a decision that Prince Stavin is going to have to make.”
“The Dragon Blessed hisself?” the elder asked in a breathy whisper.
Karvik nodded, then turned back to greet Stavin. “Prince Stavin, these goodmen are miners and have been working the mine.”
Stavin nodded. “We expected that. What’s the problem?”
“They live in the mine, Your Highness. How can they be granted their homes when the crown will be taking over the mine?”
Stavin sat still for a moment, lost in thought. It made sense. The temperature just one horse-length below ground remained nearly constant, if a touch chilly, winter or summer.
“We need this mine open and functioning,” he said, more to himself than anyone else. “We need a full crew.” He looked at the men and asked, “How many of you are there?”
“Our two families, Dragon Blessed. Eleven people all totaled.”
Stavin took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Turning to Dahvin, he said, “Instruct Colonel Zel’Fordal to set camp. I’m going to have to consider this carefully.” Dahvin bowed and turned his horse toward the column as Stavin turned back to the miners. “I don’t want to displace you, but we’re going to have to. I’ll figure out some way to make it right by you.”
Both men bowed deeply as the elder said, “We’ll obey you, Dragon Blessed.”
Stavin nodded to Karvik and turned back toward the army. Karvik and Barvil took positions at his sides and Barvil said, “That wasn’t what we expected at all.”
Stavin nodded in agreement. “No, it wasn’t. People working the mine, yes. But not using it as a home. What should I do?”
Karvik shook his head. “They said they were miners. Order the supplies for a couple of houses for them to be brought up with the mine crews. Given the shape of the ruins, you’re going to have to build a whole new town in order to open the mine. It shouldn’t be too much more.”
“A fair-sized house should cost about ten gold crowns,” Barvil said, drawing Stavin’s attention. “Say four houses for the families. That’ll give them better than what they have, and be fair recompense for taking the mine away.”
Stavin was nodding as he thought about it. “Very well. I’ll write up orders to that effect today. In the morning we’ll discuss where they want their houses built. Once that’s set, I’ll leave a copy of the order with the elder and send another copy to Twin Bridges along with an explanation of why I’m doing it. And instructions for Marina to take the forty crowns from my account with the Gold Merchants. She and Shari both have access.”
Barvil frowned. “That’s going a bit far, Stavin.”
“Not really, Barvil,” Stavin replied. “It’s not like I need the gold. House Kel’Aniston made more last year than I’ve spent since I sold that ship. Honestly, I don’t e
ven know exactly how much I have in my account right now.”
“That’s sick,” Karvik said.
“That’s me with more gold than I know what to do with.”
Karvik chuckled. “Remind me to remind you when my birthing day anniversary is coming up.”
Barvil growled, “Kar,” but with an undertone of laughter. Stavin and Karvik both just laughed.
Morning found Stavin and all of the royal guardsmen and warriors walking into the ruins. All eleven of the inhabitants met them, and it was clear that they had made every effort to clean themselves up for the meeting.
“Good people,” Stavin began as they all went to their knees, “I have decided that the only fair recourse for moving you out of the mine will be to build you houses in the new town. I have a copy of the order instructing the men who are going to reopen the mine to build your houses at the same time they build the mine structures.” He handed the order to Karvik, who walked forward and gave it to the elder. “I am ordering that four houses be built to allow you plenty of room, and I’m including ten dragons of land with each house.”
The elder held the rolled parchment carefully as he bowed as deeply as he could. “We thank you most kindly, Dragon Blessed.”
Stavin fought back the urge to snarl a correction at the man. He took a deep breath and instead said, “Please call me Prince Stavin.”
The man gave him a frightened look, then bowed again. “As you command, Prince Stavin.”
Stavin nodded. “What we need to do now is decide where you want your houses. Warmaster Kel’Carin, Warleader Kel’Norlan, Warleader Kel’Carin, and Warleader Kel’Seran each have peeled stakes with my seal on them. They will go with you to delineate your holdings. Don’t move the stakes after they are set.”
“As you command, Prince Stavin,” the elder replied.
Barvil led the three senior Warleaders forward, and the rest escorted Stavin back to the army camp. “They should feel less intimidated with me away from them,” he said to Dahvin as they walked.
Dahvin looked at him sideways and said, “Oh, sure they will. A Warmaster and three Warleaders from Kel’Kavin are so much less intimidating that you, Stave.”
Farindian Summer (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 4) Page 20