by D. L. Carter
“I am unaccustomed to being the subject of gossip and curiosity. I don't know if I can endure it. Matriarch Netha used to gossip about her neighbors. The things she said were so cruel; I could not bear it if they were said about me.”
Eioth considered for a moment. “I am certain you misjudge yourself. You are a person of courage, Halidan. Were any to come near and give you the slightest impression they were thinking ill of you, I am certain you would cause them to regret it. At the risk of saying something you have heard before which might make you angry with me, this is not wrong, Halidan, merely new. You will manage very well.”
On the other side, Mitash snickered.
“I would bet on tor Halidan against any comer,” he said. “Shall we fetch one of those judgmental gossips and test the matter?”
“I was hired to train Netha's daughters so they might aspire to High Court husbands . . . Households. Not to seek one for myself.”
“Do not fear, I am confident you will serve in the role with grace,” Eioth assured her.
Halidan glanced toward the crowd and away. She was not so certain. Her usual technique for dealing with people who offended her did not seem appropriate for this level of society. There were too many people to stare down or threaten with a book brace. Even the presence of her guard did not reassure her.
She wished, yet again, that she'd been permitted to remain at Eioth's principle House.
A few of the watching Masters and Lords waved in an attempt to catch Eioth's attention.
“Will they be cross with you?” asked Halidan. “Will they give you cause to regret this?”
“One or two may try, but that is not the point. It is important to you and I that we have this moment.” A shadow passed over his face and he lowered his voice until even Mitash riding at his other side would have to strain to hear. “We cannot have a marriage you and I; therefore, this is the most effective manner to communicate to all that I have a Lady I honor. Once we are seen entering the Hub of Harmony together our relationship is public and set.”
“But, I thought you were giving me time to consider your . . . stated need.”
“You have accepted the role as my Lady. That will not change. The rest I hope will come in time.”
“I never said . . . you were the one who made that declaration.” Halidan clenched her jaw to hold back either a scream or tears. “I was content as librarian. I never wanted more. You demanded I be more.”
She turned her head from him and shifted her horse aside, out of reach of his whispers. What did it matter what she decided? Eioth was a High Lord. From the moment he'd seen her, her path was set. How could she have imagined her opinion had any weight? But, there were people watching and pride was her solace and strength. Blinking back tears of frustration she concentrated on ignoring the watchers.
The road ahead narrowed as they approached the first rise toward the bridge. The stone way was almost a lei long, wide enough for four carriages to travel side by side, and today already cleared to permit High Lord Eioth to approach unimpeded. Mitash held back his horse, permitting Eioth and Halidan to outdistance him. Their horses went from the hard cobblestone of the road to the smooth surface of the bridge in step, their hooves chiming in harmony.
She narrowed her eyes at him. This was no moment to say aloud that she still wasn't going to share his bed, but his laughing eyes told her he already knew that and did not care.
Spine straight . . . Halidan, Lady to the High Lord of the North West, entered the Imperial city, Hub of Harmony, with a churning stomach and unsettled heart.
Chapter Seventeen
“All things come to those who wait with patience and dignity,” said the Priest.
“Nonsense,” said Norfarland.“Does a hungry beggar wait for food patiently? The poor for money with dignity? The desperate for rescue? If so, more fool them. You cannot say that all will be satisfied. Even if the Elements were that kind, people are not. If it were true that all will eventually receive what they desire, then we would not have any hungry or poor or desperate. No. The truth is if you have need you must reach out your hand and struggle, and labor, and steal if necessary to satisfy it. You must do anything needed as you strive and drive yourself onward. Never permit your eye to leave your destination as you claw your way through the throng that stands between you and your desire. Most will not achieve their ambitions and I have no intention of being one of those many. Patience and dignity? Sir, I do not have the luxury of such things.”
The Adventures of Norfarland the Bastard ~ Book 23
Eioth's Hub of Harmony residence was located, to Halidan's complete lack of surprise, in the North West corner of Serenity Island. It was less than half the size of his principle House, but had half again more servants. Halidan would not admit to being nervous when she arrived, fearing a cousin-in-spirit to Tribel would be in charge and planning on causing trouble for Eioth's mortal Lady. But, this time Eioth presented her at the door to a calm Elven woman by the name of Jendi who greeted Halidan with respect, Mitash with a joke about the amount of food he ate, and welcomed them all. The House manager settled them in a comfortable receiving room where, since she knew Mitash so well, enough food and drink for a small army was set out.
“Why couldn't we have had someone like her?” whispered Halidan to Mitash. “Or her, herself. Wouldn't she prefer to manage the High Lord's principle House?”
“The search for a permanent replacement continues, Lady Halidan,” said Mitash. “It is not as if we were seeking a cobbler or bricklayer; certain requirements must be met. And we cannot ask Jendi to give up the prestige and delights of the city when she has never lived anywhere else.”
Halidan acknowledged the rightness of that opinion since she had been reluctantly removed from the only home she remembered. She put the thought to the back of her mind as she walked about the room, drink in hand. If she continued to do well with the House manager, she'd try to persuade the woman to move. A choice, if offered honestly, was not the same as being thrown out or compelled.
At least, that was her intention until Mitash spoke again.
“It hardly matters as long as I can find someone who is not insane. The High Lord spends so much of his time traveling that he rarely spends more than a few weeks there. He returns for the major Rituals, but that is all.”
Halidan halted and stared at him. “Then where does he live?”
“We travel all the year.” Mitash stared at her in surprise, then shook his head. “Oh, poor Halidan. Were you planning on settling into a nest?”
“I was told to regard that place as my home,” she said, pitching her voice to carry to where Eioth was resting. “I thought that meant it would be where I lived, not a place that I occasionally visited. And there is the library to be ordered. How can I do that when I am not present?”
“You cannot deny I had good reason to avoid that House,” said Eioth calmly. “But, now you have rid us of Tribel, no doubt we shall spend more time there.”
Before Halidan could ask how much time, Jendi announced new arrivals. A group of five Elves wearing Mastery sigils on their sleeves appeared and crossed the room to make their bows to Eioth.
“Halidan, come and be introduced to my other companions. Gentles all, this is Halidan tor Ephram, my Lady.”
If any of the Elves were surprised, offended, or disturbed in any way by his announcement, they kept it politely to themselves. They turned and bowed, giving her welcoming smiles as if such news was received with joy every day. Halidan, for her part, mirrored their greetings and would have retreated from the room, leaving them to their discussion, except Eioth intervened.
“We need to update the demesne records before the Synod convenes. Mitash explain our proceedings to Halidan while I receive the reports.”
It was soon apparent why Jendi had put so much food and drink in this room. The new arrivals arranged themselves about the room, each with folders of papers and entertained themselves with food while they waited for their turn to repor
t to Eioth. Mitash set up paper, ink, and a large book on a table at Eioth's right and gestured Halidan into the chair beside him.
Halidan studied the heavily decorated cover, embossed with North West's sigil in brilliant gold. It was an odd folder whose pages could be inserted and removed at will. The way the spine was straining now suggested to Halidan that the book contained more pages than was the original intent.
“Feuento, begin,” commanded Eioth, turning to one whose coarser features suggested some mortal blood in his past.
“He'll hand us a copy of his records after his report,” whispered Mitash to Halidan. “For tasks completed, take out the appropriate page and bind it to his report. We will place it in the records later. If he has a new request that he has not been able to fulfill, we put the page in.” He handed her a handful of bright colored ribbons. “We mark urgent problems thusly, with a ribbon to represent which Elemental magician is required.”
“There are a lot of urgent problems, already.” Halidan located a page turner and flipped through the book. It seemed to her that every second page was marked with either a red, blue, yellow or green ribbon.
“Regrettably so,” said Eioth. “One disadvantage of the High Court population decrease is that there are fewer magicians to see to all the necessary tasks.”
“And those who remain have raised their prices,” said Feuento. “I attempted to hire a journeyman to assist me and found it more cost effective to do the preparations myself. I don't know about others, but I cannot find anyone to train as an apprentice.”
“Even where there is significant payment, I find I cannot locate magicians with the necessary skills,” said Eioth. “I have one task, Ritual Magician for the Kelth family, whose payment includes the possibility of marriage into that ranked family and I cannot think of a sufficiently talented individual to offer it to. That far out on the edge of the demesne, I need someone with a strong bond to all the Elements. Has any met one with the appropriate gifts that they could recommend?”
The magicians all shook their heads.
“Master Dornet seeks another Master level Earth magician to work full time at Cedar Neck mines,” added Mitash.
“We shall get to all of that,” said Eioth. “I wish to receive your reports first.”
“If I may speak, High Lord, there is something more important to place before you,” said one of the magicians who Halidan could see was old enough that age was beginning to mark him.
Eioth raised both eyebrows. “More important? You intrigue me, Gerivan. Say on.”
“Morinmin, servant of Chandri, was visiting Lord Venrin while I was completing the task you set. It appeared to me that Venrin was less than pleased to see him, but was courteous as is required. Morinmin approached me one evening and suggested that I would receive greater consideration were I to serve at Chandri's command. When I refused to consider the offer, Morinmin affected to be unconcerned. I would have thought nothing more about it myself, except that everywhere I went thereafter I was subjected to questions. One person was moved to demand that I complete a spell, even though it was a casting that requires many stages each at a different season. He was concerned that I would not be available to complete it since he had heard a rumor that I was moving to the South East.”
The other magicians muttered to themselves, but silenced when Eioth glanced in their direction.
“You think Morinmin put the story about?” asked Eioth.
“That is my suspicion. Further, I listened more as I traveled and heard tell that several magicians of our demesne were planning on changing their allegiance to South East. You have been a generous and considerate employer. I am moved to speak because I do not want you to hear of it from another source the false report that I entertained their offer.”
“Odd,” said Mitash. “I have heard nothing of this.”
“And yet,” said Gerivan, “I hear that soon if one desires magical service for any purpose one will have to apply to Chandri, for he commands the greatest number of magicians.”
Eioth settled back in his chair and stared off into the distance. All waited for him to consider this piece of news. After a pause he turned his attention to the other magicians.
“And you, have you all been approached?”
The remaining magicians hastened to assure him of their continuing loyalty, but they had indeed been approached about employment.
“He made no serious offer, High Lord,” finished the Air Master. “Morinmin did not even mention money or obligations. I swear to you, he was barely at my table for long enough to drink one glass of wine and then he was off. I thought nothing more of it.”
“And yet,” said Gerivan, “I suspect if we were to inquire at some neutral location your name would be listed as a future member of Chandri's staff.”
“How can it be that he dares?” demanded the Fire Master.
“Enough,” said Eioth, his voice rising above the chatter. “Chandri's ambitions are known to me and I have the means to limit him. He is not as important at this moment as a discussion of the drainage ditches that need to be reinforced in Fleeting Dawn. We have work to do and should begin.”
No one protested. Mitash guided Halidan through the removal and adding of pages. It was not until the other Elves gathered themselves and departed, each respectfully taking their leave of Halidan, as well as Eioth, that she realized that Eioth had placed yet another duty on her. Mitash put his pens and inks away, handed the book to Halidan, and followed the other Elves from the room.
Halidan waited until all had departed and Eioth was staring out of the window, his chin resting on his hand. She raised the book high above her head and let it fall flat onto the table.
The loud slam had her jumping as well as the High Lord, even though she was expecting the sound.
To her surprise, Eioth did not rise in anger. He merely turned his head to regard her.
“And this is because . . . ?” he asked.
Halidan was trembling with rage made worse, she was certain, in the face of his calmness.
“Another task. Another duty!” she cried. “I asked you what was the limit of your demands and thought you had told me all, but you have managed to find yet another.” She pointed at the leather binder. “Have you no other servants? Why must it always be me?”
* * *
Never had time passed so slowly for Eioth. He'd given her the privacy she'd sought since the Sex Magic Ritual had gone so terribly wrong. And whenever he was in Halidan's company, it was clear that she held herself apart from him. She would answer questions, but not advance an opinion. Given a choice, she would flee his presence. His heart ached to see it each time she turned away. She was right, he would admit. Right to be angry. Right to be frustrated. Right to avoid him. He changed and changed again the terms of their relationship. There seemed to be no end to what he wanted from her, wanted to do with her. He saw her, desired her, and put all other thoughts away, except those turned toward keeping her with him and in the process he'd damaged their fragile friendship.
He was ashamed of his past actions, but if he had the chance, it was unlikely he would have taken a different path – the Ritual baths not included.
No. That was the only thing he would change if he had the power.
Hope was all that sustained him now. Halidan was not a person made for anger. She could not hold to her rightful grudges long. Elements willing! There was only the question of how matters would be in the end. Would she be as formal to him as his wives had been, horrible thought,or would her true nature assert itself? The generosity of spirit that she had shown to her previous employers, the sympathy she demonstrated for Tribel even as she defeated him – the hope for that mercy was all he could hold to.
The slam of book on wood shocked him out of his reverie. Halidan was standing, glaring at him with the full force of her grey eyes, her lips set in a straight line. Contrary as the emotion was, his heart lightened to see her so angry. At least she was looking directly at him instead of the
floor, his shoulder, or some other distraction. He rose to his feet and crossed to stand before her.
“I have many servants,” said Eioth. “Why do you ask?”
Halidan's body shook with barely restrained rage. “Because you keep pouring new duties upon me. Can you not find someone else to file your papers or record your commands? Why must it be me?”
Eioth lifted the book she'd dropped and turned it over to examine the bruised leather.
“This is not a duty, my dear Halidan. This was my acknowledgement of your responsibilities and privileges as the North West's Lady. The book rested in Mitash’s hands only because I had no Lady. The book and the responsibility is yours by Tradition. When we appear in the Synod you shall carry it. Expect that you will be approached by those seeking employment or to request a favor. As my Lady, you may bestow any task in that book on whomever you chose . . .”
“I would not know how or who,” cried Halidan.
“It is not as difficult as you might think.”
“And I must do this for you?” her voice dropped to a low growl. “Mitash cannot continue it. There is no one else that you can bestow this duty on?”
“I trust you.”
Halidan's only response was a low growl. With her hands fisted on her hips, her eyes wide and brilliant with temper, heat radiating from her skin, she was never so beautiful. So alive! Eioth reached to capture her hands and smile at her, but she was having none of that. Halidan shook herself free and stepped back.
“Why are you smiling at me? I trust you not at all when you are in this mood.”
He laughed at that and continued to regard her fondly. “I am pleased with you. Why should I not show it?”
“I am furious with you and that anger only increases when you disregard me.”
“Wonderful,” cried Eioth and had the satisfaction of seeing Halidan so stunned she rocked back on her heels.