Stavin grinned, then started chuckling. Even the king wasn’t prepared for how positively evil that laugh sounded. “Yes, Your Majesty, you can count on me to put the Traders’ Guild in their place and keep them there.”
Princess Marina put her head in her hands and said, “You’ve created a monster, Dad.”
“No,” Sharindis said softly, “just let one loose.”
*
It was soon a time for tears again as the warriors prepared to leave on the long road to Kavinston and home. Shari and Varik said goodbye in private. “I’m going to miss you so much, Var,” she whispered in his ear as they hugged.
“I’m going to miss you too, Sis,” he whispered back. It was finally dawning on them that they were truly going to be apart for the first time since Varik’s birth, and neither of them was dealing with it well. Stavin and Sorandis gave them privacy, each having faced a goodbye like this. Karlin didn’t.
“Unca’ Var come back nex’ summer. Come back and earn ‘nother stripe.”
Varik had to laugh, and he got Shari laughing as well. “I’ll be back when the expedition leads me this way, Karli.”
“P’omise?”
“Promise,” Varik said as he looked into the little boy’s eyes, then picked him up for a hug. “You be good and listen to Mommy and Daddy.”
Karlin hugged Varik as hard as he could and said, “I be good.”
Beside them were Karvil and Sallin, waiting their turn. Stavin looked at them and grinned. “You two make a handsome couple, Sally. I’m glad you found the happiness you deserve. But you look like palace living has gotten to you. What’s that?” he asked, nodding toward her belly.
Sallin cradled her stomach and revealed a grin that lit up the suite. “Not something I ate, Prince Stavin,” she replied, and everyone turned toward her and a hugely grinning Karvil.
Karvil said, “The Healers confirmed it three days ago, Prince Stavin. Our first child will be born in about six moons.”
Everyone spent a moment congratulating the happy young couple, then Varik turned and faced Stavin. He had the golden Dragon’s Tongue in his hands. “Stave, thank you for letting me use it this year. It made all the difference in the world.” He held the Dragon’s Tongue out on his open palms and bowed his head.
Stavin moved forward and faced Varik for a moment, then reached out and closed Varik’s hands on the haft of the weapon. “Hold onto it until you get your sword, Var.”
Varik looked into Stavin’s eyes, then stepped back and executed a salute with the Dragon’s Tongue. “I will use it with honor.”
“I can ask no more or less of you, Varik Kel’Horval,” Stavin replied.
There was a knock at the door, and Kalin and Marina immediately entered. Everyone except Stavin and Sharindis went to their knees. King Kalin nodded and said, “Arise, my friends,” as he stepped forward. “Lieutenant Kel’Horval, don’t forget to drop by the general’s office and take your leave of him—and pick up your pay. He said you haven’t drawn your pay since you put that cape on.”
Varik looked at the king and stammered, “M-My pay, Your Majesty?”
The king chuckled. “Thought you might have forgotten, if anyone bothered to mention it in the first place. You’ve been earning a silver crown every ten days, Var.” He looked at Stavin and shook his head. “So have you, but it’s not like you need the extra coin. Still, you should clear the paymaster’s account books.”
Stavin’s mouth fell open in shock. “I totally forgot about that. Captain Zel’Astel mentioned it when I got back two summers ago, but I—” he shook his head slowly.
“I thought you might have forgotten. Are all of you ready to go?” he asked. When everyone bowed or otherwise indicated they were prepared, the king said, “Follow me then,” and led the way out of the suite and down to the Royal Guards Barracks, straight to Lord General Zel’Kordil’s office. His knock was answered immediately, and the major opened the door all the way and bowed.
“General, I’ve brought the strays along as you asked,” the king said as he stepped to the side of the general’s desk.
Lord General Zel’Kordil bowed deeply and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty. Lieutenant Kel’Horval, I understand that you are returning to Kavinston to continue your training. You have almost half a year’s pay built up, and my paymaster wants your account balanced before you go.” He set a bag on the table, and pointed to a ledger book. “Sign for your fifteen crowns, Lieutenant.”
Varik looked at the general with wide eyes, then bowed and stepped forward. He took the quill and dipped it in the inkwell, then signed his name in Imperial Glyphs. His was the only name in the book signed with glyphs. Then he picked up the bag and bowed again before saying, “Thank you, sir.”
Now the general shifted his attention to Stavin. “As for you, Prince Stavin,” he said in a severe tone, “the paymaster has been after you for three and a half years.” He pulled a larger bag from the drawer of his desk. “Sign by your name. You’ve built up one hundred and twenty-seven crowns.”
Stavin smiled bashfully and bowed. “I forgot I was being paid, sir.” Then he stepped forward and copied Var, signing his name in Imperial Glyphs. He hefted the bag, then turned and looked at the king. “Like I need the extra coin.”
The king chuckled and led the way out to the stables. The rest of the warriors were waiting for them, and Stavin chuckled when he saw Karvik. An idea was bubbling up in his mind, and he nearly laughed out loud as he approached his friend.
Stavin said, “Kar,” loudly, and when Karvik turned toward him, he tossed him the bag, “take that to my mom, please.”
Karvik caught the bag with a startled grunt, then tossed it like he was trying to judge how much was in it. “What’s this?”
“My Royal Guards pay for the past three and half years,” he replied and saw Karvik’s eyes bulge.
Karvik finally had to laugh. “Your mom is going to have some interesting things to say when I give her this.”
Stavin nodded and walked over to Karvik’s side. He laid a hand on Karvik’s arm and said, “Take care of yourself, Kar.” He glanced over his shoulder at the six greenlings and Sallin. “And take care of them as well.” Then he broke protocol and hugged Karvik, and Karvik hugged him right back.
“Take care of yourself, Stave. I’m going to miss you, but I’ll be back when my duties allow.”
“Just remember one thing, Kar,” Stavin said as he stepped back.
“Yes, Stave?”
“You’re down by sixty-two,” he laughed, then ducked away as Karvik violated the Royal Guards Oath and tried to smack his prince. Everyone around them joined the laughter as their prince and his best friend clowned for their amusement.
Chapter 54
STAVIN AND SHARINDIS SETTLED INTO THEIR new lives with little trouble. Things remained the same for three tens of days, then, on one of their rest days, there was a knock at the door to their suite. Avrin opened it and one of the guards said, “Lord Minister of Health Healer Adept Kel’Sarin craves a moment of Prince Stavin and Princess Sharindis’ time.” Avrin looked over his shoulder and, at Stavin’s wave, opened the door all the way.
“This way please, Adept Kel’Sarin,” he said with a deep bow.
Healer Adept Kel’Sarin came in with another man at his shoulder. Stavin stood and bowed his head in acknowledgement when both men bowed deeply. “Yes, Healer Kel’Sarin, what can we do for you?”
“It may be that we can do something for you, Prince Stavin, and for Princess Sharindis.” He bowed again, then pulled the man at his side forward. “This is a colleague of mine, Healer Adept Fel’Aezar. He specializes in ailments of the eyes, and I thought he might look at Princess Sharindis.”
Stavin looked at Shari, then turned back to the Healers with an expression of barely restrained excitement on his face. “Our Healer couldn’t help her. Do you really think you can?” he asked anxiously.
Healer Fel’Aezar bowed again. “That I cannot say, Prince Stavin. I can but tr
y.”
Shari stood and took a step forward, then said, “Stavi?” and held out her hand. “Stavi, if he can—?”
Stavin looked at the Healer and bowed as deeply as he could. “Look at her eyes, Healer, and if you can Heal her, do so. Any sum you ask for shall be yours.”
Healer Fel’Aezar stepped forward and bowed to Sharindis. “Princess, I must place my hands over your eyes.” Shari nodded her permission and the Healer took one step closer. He placed his hands with his palms over Shari’s eyes, and his fingers wrapped around her temples, then closed his eyes. “Hmmm? Indeed?” he muttered as his head tilted from side to side, then his hands squeezed Shari’s head slightly. “There is pressure on the optic nerve, but it doesn’t seem to have atrophied very much. Let me— Yes, I think that will do,” he said as he released her and stepped back. “Your vision should clear quickly, Princess Sharindis.”
Adept Kel’Sarin looked at his friend and said, “The post in Zigamarad is yours. No one would dare oppose you after this.” He smiled at his prince and princess, then led the way out of the suite.
Stavin watched the Healers go with a puzzled look, then swallowed to moisten his suddenly dry throat. Then he stepped forward and looked into Shari’s eyes. “Shari?” he asked softly.
Shari was blinking rapidly, and she cleared her throat several times. Her vision was clearing for the first time in over ten years, and as her eyes focused, she beheld a treasure: The handsome, youthful face of her husband. She cried, “Oh, Stavi, I can see you!” and surged into his arms.
End of Book Four
The adventures of Stavin Kel’Aniston will continue in
The Coravian Conflict
About the author
A U. S. Navy veteran, Loren K. Jones served as a nuclear reactor operator on attack submarines for six years before his honorable discharge in 1986. Loren makes his living as an instrumentation and controls technician, and writes because the stories won’t leave him alone until he does.
Farindian Summer (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 4) Page 31