Euleilla grinned. She picked up the staff she had prepared for her that morning – the one which had iron nails driven in either end so that she knew where it was. With that, she began a practice exercise her father had called a “kata”, a complicated pattern of moves that involved an impressive array of twists and spins. She knew her husband was watching her as she worked, jaw open as he found himself unable to believe exactly what he was seeing.
She grinned at him when she was done. “What, did you really think that Ruznak, one of the greatest military minds of his generation and a hero to Svieda, would allow any foster-daughter of his to grow up without knowing anything about how to fight?”
She could feel the embarrassed grin he wore as he selected his own weapon. It wasn’t one she was familiar with – in fact, it was made of wood, so she couldn’t sense it even to tell its length, but she could make a fairly accurate guess based on how far apart he kept his hands. It was an escrima stick, not quite a full-length staff like her own. It could be used almost like a sword, though, for someone not trained well with a staff... like Maelgyn.
She nodded. “Ready?”
“Begin,” he called, taking what she knew was a defensive position.
She made the first few strikes, probing to see where his strengths and weaknesses were. She was pleased when he responded with an attack of his own – a poorly executed one, resulting from him holding back too much of his strength, but an attack nonetheless. Good – he was taking her seriously, even if he was still treating her too delicately.
They started trading blows – she using his hands to find just where the attacks were coming from, he treating his staff as a sword while defending from her own. She could tell he was tiring faster than normal, however, and decided to end it sooner than she would have liked – she was having fun, but his health was her first priority.
With a quick move, she pinned his escrima stick to the floor to counter a poorly executed attack. Continuing her motion, she brought the other end of her staff up to his shoulder, throwing the entire weight of her body into a cross between a hook motion and a tackle. She landed on top of him, the butt end of her staff right under his chin. “Do you yield, husband?”
Something tapped her on the shoulder. “I think we’d better call this one a draw. I think you forgot about my schlipf,” Maelgyn replied wryly.
“That, husband, is an unfair advantage, and you know it,” she answered, not even acknowledging the vine tapping her shoulder. “By the way, when is your, uh, friend going to do whatever it is he plans for me?”
“My friend? Oh! Sekhar, right – I’d forgotten about that. Let me talk to him for a second.”
She waited, noting once again the odd magical fluctuations traveling back and forth along his arm while he communicated with the odd Elven plant. She noticed also that he was getting agitated about something, but finally whatever the problem was resolved itself.
Are you there Sekhar? Maelgyn asked, immediately recognizing it to be a bit of silly question.
Of course - where else would I be? Sekhar responded sarcastically. I need to ask your lifemate a question. To do so I need to put a root inside her.
That sound like a big step. She should know what you wish to talk with her about, first. Maelgyn thought about it for a minute. If you can you tell me what you need to ask her I will relay the question, however.
It will take longer this way, but I see your point. Maelgyn listened carefully while Sekhar explained his question. When he was done, Maelgyn looked at Euleilla.
“Sekhar has something he wishes to ask you, but he cannot speak to you directly unless he plants one of his roots inside you so I’ll relay it for him,” Maelgyn explained. “Sekhar says he’s about six years old, which is the age his kind starts dropping seeds. He wants to know if he can put a seedling in you. You will have the same benefits I do with him, and as the schlipf will be in you from seed to sprout, you won’t have any adverse effects from the bonding, and in fact the only discomfort you will have will be a brief weariness and a momentary sharp pain when it sprouts. Sekhar will be able to help the sprout nurture you, ensuring your lifespan will be extended as mine is, and you’ll have a schlipf of your own to help protect you. He adds that his son may be able to help you in other ways, as well – it might help further compensate for your... uh, eye problem.”
“I don’t need the help,” Euleilla answered defensively, but then bit back the automatic reaction. “But it would be appreciated nonetheless. The added lifespan sounds nice, too, especially since it will be spent with you. Yes, I am willing to accept Sekhar’s child.”
Euleilla heard Maelgyn’s relieved sigh. She felt the pull of the magic, and then noticed a slight pinching sensation on her arm before she started bleeding slightly. “Sorry, but I needed to make a slight cut in order for him to plant the seed. I tried to make it as painless as possible.”
“You did a good job. I didn’t even notice it was me you were using that magic on until I felt the blood,” Euleilla replied as she felt the addition of something new – one of Sekhar’s vines entering her wound. That stung a bit, but she was distracted enough that it didn’t hurt much.
Indeed, a ghostly voice almost breathed into her mind. He is more talented than he realizes. My apologies, but I have to make a brief connection with your nerves while I search for a good place to put my offspring.
Sekhar? she asked mentally. Is that you?
Yes. You surprise me – your husband wasn’t able to figure out who was talking to him for quite some time, nor how to talk back to me.
Well, he wasn’t expecting a plant to talk. There aren’t many who do in this world, Euleilla noted. If I hadn’t known of it being possible, I wouldn’t have realized it was you, either.
My son won’t be able to talk for some time, Sekhar warned. It may come as a surprise when he does.
Will he talk before or after he sprouts? Euleilla asked, wanting to know just what she should expect.
I am not sure. Some of us get that ability before, some after. Rest assured he will talk to you, though – we always talk with our birth host, if we have one. It takes a lot of trust for one of us to be willing to plant our offspring inside a human rather than the ground, Sekhar explained.
I hope I live up to your expectations. I will never intentionally betray that trust, she vowed.
You won’t, Sekhar declared. I can sense the truth in you. A piece of advice, though, before I leave.
Yes? Euleilla asked.
Do not doubt Maelgyn, the schlipf demanded. I am aware that you both love each other, but do not know if you can make your lifemating work due to the pressures and expectations upon each of you. You may face difficult problems, but know that I have tasted both your minds, and I am confident that you will succeed. Stay with him always, and you will never regret it.
Thank you, Euleilla thought back... only to discover that she was thinking to nothing, as Sekhar’s roots were no longer in her. “Tell him thank you,” she said aloud.
“He heard you,” Maelgyn replied. “But what were you thanking him for?”
“Oh, he just gave me a piece of advice,” she answered with a mysterious smile, not really wanting to explain. “A piece of advice I think I’ll take.”
“Ah. Mind getting up, by the way?”
Euleilla grinned, enjoying the fact that she still had him pinned on the ground. “Hmm... I dunno. I seem to have you at my mercy right now – and Sekhar seems to have deserted you in this situation.” She sensed what she now knew was a mental conversation between Maelgyn and the schlipf before something finally made him snort in laughter.
“Yes, it seems he believes his use in this situation isn’t called for. Okay, you’ve got me. Now, what do you want?”
She thought about it for a moment. She could continue the moment of playful teasing, but she had something serious to discuss.
“You are leaving soon on the campaign, I understand. The army is assembled and organized, the navy is prepared to
break the blockade against Largo, and all we’re waiting for is the completion of the supply train and word from Mar’Tok that it’s safe for the army to cross over.”
Maelgyn nodded slowly. Euleilla could feel the smile leaving his face, and was sorry to be the cause of it. “Yes, that’s true.”
“I will not be separated from you,” Euleilla stated. “I want to join you on the journey.”
“No,” Maelgyn answered softly. “Please, no. It’s not your place—”
“Yes, it is,” she answered. “You could be gone for years, and I will not be left in this castle for years without my husband. My place is by your side – always. It is one of the conditions of our marriage – I will not be left behind.”
“But—” he started to object, then stopped. After a few moments, she could tell he was talking once more with Sekhar, and seemed dissatisfied by whatever answers he was getting.
“You talk of my ‘place,’” Euleilla quietly added, watching for his reaction. “Where is that? It certainly isn’t here – this castle is a fine home as long as you are with me, but it would become oppressive if I were left on my own. Here I’m not even a true Princess but a mere Princess Consort – an emblem with no power. My place isn’t back with my foster father – while I would love to stay with him again for a short visit before he dies, I don’t think I could live in that town any more. Especially not if anyone else ever learns that I was married to you – I would become as much of a public spectacle there as I am here, and I wouldn’t have the protection of these castle walls or your armed guards. I have no ‘place’ any more, except with you. So please, let me take my place and stay there.”
Maelgyn sighed deeply. “I... I’m not sure I can say yes. It’s... I’ll be so worried for you.”
“Surely,” she answered him desperately. “Surely, you know I can take care of myself in a fight. We’ve fought in battles on each other’s side three times. I just beat you in a sparring match. Ruznak trained me to fight, trained me to know strategy, and trained me to know everything there is to know about combat! I am ready to fight in a war. Probably just as ready as you are. Possibly more so. Please... let me come with you.”
“Okay,” he replied somberly after some time lost in thought. Euleilla finally relaxed – he had given in. “I’ll let you join me at first. If things get too hot, though, if I think that there’s no hope for survival, I may—”
“You’ll do nothing,” she answered. “I will be at your side through everything. Even death. Do you understand?”
“No,” he answered after yet another pause. “I don’t understand. But I don’t seem to have a choice, do I? You may go where you wish, by my side or not. I just hope I never have cause to regret that.”
“You won’t,” Euleilla promised, squeezing his hands tightly. “I swear you won’t.”
“Can you help me back to our room?” he asked. “I’m feeling a little tired....”
She noticed he didn’t respond to her promise. She didn’t say anything, however; it wasn’t the time. “Sure,” was all she said, standing up and helping him to his feet before surprising him with a deep kiss.
Together, they made their way back to their bedroom. It appeared he wasn’t too tired, after all, as she guided him into bed before joining him. The kissing continued, getting more and more intense. Euleilla started tugging on Maelgyn’s clothes, and he was all too happy to help her remove hers. Soon they were completely naked before each other, and Maelgyn was starting to take the lead...
And then the “brief weariness” Sekhar had warned them about kicked in, and Euleilla found herself getting lightheaded.
“I... think we need to do this another time,” she managed to say... right before passing out.
Chapter 23
Valfarn set the parchment down in front of Maelgyn. “I’ve made the changes to your address tomorrow, as you requested, Your Highness.”
“Very good, thank you.” Maelgyn wrinkled his nose. “I’m not fond of public speeches, you know. Oh, my tutors’ protocol lessons were thorough enough. But it’s not something I look forward to, especially under these grave circumstances. It almost seems, well... frivolous.”
“I think perhaps presenting oneself for adoration by the masses is never something a liege lord truly relishes, or at least not those who deserve the honor. But you’re their new Duke, and the people will want to see you and judge for themselves what kind of man you are. And your first order to them will send us out to war, which makes it worse.” Valfarn grimaced. “You should expect some of the peasants to speak out on that.”
“I hope not,” Maelgyn said. “We were betrayed and attacked without any provocation, our King slaughtered in brutal fashion and our capital city sacked. This war is a fight for our very survival, and it would be foolish for anyone to complain at this point.”
Valfarn tipped his hand in the air thoughtfully. “Some, too, will want to reassure themselves that you’ve really recovered your health. They’re good people, and they’ve trusted me to lead them for a long time, but some may find it, ahem... alarming, if you were to disappear from public view precipitously after so grave an injury.”
Maelgyn nodded thoughtfully. He had no worries on that score. Euleilla’s attentions proved to him that his recovery had gone smoother than expected, and between his magical exercises and Sekhar’s guidance he was even stronger than he had been before the incident. Unfortunately, the night she had passed out had been the only opportunity he’d had to consumate his marriage – despite his promise to stay by her side, Wodtke had chased him out of their bedroom the next morning. He had been fine and could resume the business of being a Duke, but Euleilla had now fallen into exhaustion. Not wanting the doctor to know about the still unsprouted schlipf, they had allowed Wodtke to believe that Euleilla’s incapacity had come about because of the amount of time and energy she had put into treating Maelgyn. That led Wodtke to forbid them from spending their nights together until Euleilla was healthy, as well. Maelgyn sighed with frustration at that thought.
“Something on your mind, milord?” Valfarn looked at Maelgyn curiously.
“A moment,” Maelgyn said. “There’s another I need to have to join us, for a bit.”
He stepped to the door, and spoke quietly with one of the guards, who nodded and dashed off. Maelgyn started to move away, but Sekhar interrupted him.
Don’t bother, Sekhar thought to him. I can already sense your young servant heading here now. A minute or two later, there was a quiet knock on the door, and Maelgyn opened it again, taking a scroll from a short, squat figure. “Thank you, Tur’Ba,” Maelgyn said appreciatively. “Right on time.”
“Also, your highness?” Tur’Ba asked hesitantly.
“Yes?”
“Since I’m still being trained by Reltney, I tend to talk with your other servants a lot. Rumor has it that nobody will question your wife’s unusual hairstyle – some people seem to think your wife is a powerful sorceress and her hair is part of some ritual. I think people are too scared to ask.”
Maelgyn looked at him closely. There was no way anyone who knew anything about magic would ever believe that story... or come up with it. While magical knowledge seemed lacking in Sopan, he found it hard to believe a Human would come up with such a tale. “So what do you know about the origin of this rumor?”
“I beg pardon, your highness?” Tur’Ba’s innocent expression was uncanny.
“Never mind.” Maelgyn shook his head, and waved him away. It wasn’t likely to do much good, but he wouldn’t dress Tur’Ba down for the effort.” These papers seem to be in order. That’s all I need for now.” Tur’Ba bowed and left as swiftly as he had come. Valfarn raised an eyebrow, a bit amused at the exchange with Maelgyn’s Dwarven assistant.
Maelgyn turned back to Valfarn. “I have here,” he said, “a proclamation, appointing one Duke Valfarn, Regent, to the position of First Advisor.” He smiled. “I thought it wise, on the eve of war, to have that clearly stated.”
&n
bsp; Opening a drawer, he retrieved a quill, an ink bottle, and a stick of red-brown sealing wax, which he promptly employed while continuing to speak. “I have but to affix my signature and signet, and it’s done.” Maelgyn re-rolled the scroll carefully into its case, handing it to Valfarn. “And now, Regent Valfarn, I believe you have accumulated yet another duty – arranging for a herald, to read this at the conclusion of my address.” Maelgyn extended his arm, and the two men grasped hands.
Maelgyn’s speech was largely uneventful. Valfarn’s concern about the people being upset at the war wasn’t exactly justified – they were angry, yes, but at Sho’Curlas and not at him. If anything, it made the speech easier to give – they were so primed about the war that any time he talked about bringing their armies to face Sho’Curlas, the people erupted into cheers. It was entirely possible his people were more ready for the war than he was.
The speech taken care of, Maelgyn joined with the council of war Valfarn had assembled during his recovery period. His plans to counteract the Elven incursion were proceeding well, although he was sure in time there would be more issues on that front to deal with. One of the interesting effects of his proclamation was that Euleilla was officially made a noble outside of their marriage – the newly promoted Earl Terekalo, to make up for his own illness during the planning stages of his cavalry’s movements, had directed one of his also-just-promoted Barons to create a Baronetcy for her. It was a bit of a sop to some of the traditionalist nobles, and it gave Euleilla some authority separate from him. Not that she particularly cared, but they both had appreciated the gesture and wished the man well in his recovery. He would not be a part of the initial stages of Maelgyn’s campaign, most likely, but he would resume training new cavalry forces to support the war effort... once his health permitted it, that is.
Maelgyn desperately hoped the Elves wouldn’t become an issue again until after the war was over, but it was good to know there would be competent people left in Sopan to help defend it if they made a move. He couldn’t deal with them now, however, beyond his initial counterstroke – he felt worried for his family fighting on the front, and they needed his help as soon as possible. Patience, he decided, was not his strong suit. “Honestly, the only significant decision I see remaining is how to divide our military leadership on the journey to the rendezvous point,” he noted.
In Treachery Forged (The Law of Swords) Page 29