by Logan Jacobs
“Good job, Dalwin,” I complimented. “Keep an eye on our visitors’ horses and make sure all their needs are met, okay?”
“You got it.” Dalwin nodded emphatically before he turned and trotted back inside the stables.
“You assisted a lowly stableboy with his duties,” Cristoff observed with a furrowed brow. “What kind of Archduke are you?”
“The best kind.” I shrugged, but then I clapped my hands together and gestured toward the street. “Now, if you’ll follow me, I will show you to Stryker’s tavern where you can get some hot food and cold drinks. Once you have washed down a little of the road dust, perhaps you’d be ready to share your message from the king.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Cristoff inclined his head respectfully, and the rest of his men saluted. “Lead the way.”
I had a big grin on my face, and my chest was puffed out proudly as I led the troop of the king’s soldiers to the tavern. The townspeople were all still cowering from the alarm bells that had rung out at the strangers’ arrival, so the streets were deserted.
“All clear!” I called out in a loud voice, and then I began to see a couple of faces peering out windows and door frames. I chuckled to myself as I watched the town come to life before us, and the soldiers who followed me all tensed up for a moment as the street became crowded in a matter of moments.
“Your people obey your commands very well,” Sir Cristoff said in a low voice.
“You’re making a lot of observations about me,” I pointed out. “Are you taking notes or something?”
“I must confess something,” the knight said, and he paused for a moment as his cornflower-blue eyes met mine. “I worked hard to earn this job posting so I could have the opportunity to meet you. I have heard rumors of your greatness and your power, but I had to see it with my own eyes.”
“You’re far from the first person to say that,” I laughed. “It’s all good, Cris, can I call you that?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Cristoff bowed his head respectfully.
I was beginning to like this honorable knight dude.
I flashed him a friendly smile before we continued on our way to the tavern. The soldiers’ armor clinked noisily as we all trotted up the steps to the entrance, and the sounds of their footsteps echoed through the empty bar.
I suppose it was still early in the day for a drink, but I’d expected at least a few travelers to be in here eating breakfast.
Stryker greeted me with a jerk of his head, and I crossed the distance to the bar.
“I heard the bells,” the tavern owner said with a frown, and the tall, dark-haired bartender shot a scathing glare at the soldiers who stood waiting by the front door. “Everything okay? Who are the guys in armor?”
“Men from the king,” I explained. “We are to treat them like royalty, you understand?”
“Royalty, huh.” Stryker spat on the floor then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t know, Bash…”
“Please, Stryker, be nice.” I gave him a pointed look. “For me?”
“Aye, I’ll get ‘em drunk,” the bartender sighed, but then he shot me a shrewd look. “But I’m sending you the tab.”
“Fair enough,” I laughed as I held up my hands in surrender, and then I rapped my knuckles twice on the bar top as a farewell before I turned back to Cristoff and his men.
“Make yourselves at home,” I insisted as I gestured toward the comfortable chairs and tables in the dining area. “Everything is on the house.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Cristoff inclined his head, and he signaled to his men. The armored soldiers moved as one, and they all sat around a large circular table that occupied the middle of the room.
It reminded me of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and I stifled a chuckle.
Then I waved goodbye to the soldiers, and I headed out of the tavern. I wanted to let Jax and Riondale know the coast was clear and explain what was going on, but it didn’t take me very long to find the two men. They were marching my way from the direction of the gate the king’s messengers had entered. The young lieutenant had his sword drawn, and the tall blacksmith had a warhammer slung across his shoulders. They looked like two good friends taking a stroll in search of bad guys to kill, and it reminded me of one of those buddy comedies.
“Bash!” Jax greeted with a hand in the air.
“Sir.” Riondale saluted.
“Hey, guys,” I greeted with a wide smile. “I was just coming to find you. Everything is just fine, the soldiers we saw are messengers from the king. They have a message for me, that’s all.”
“That is good news.” Riondale nodded.
“I figured ye had it handled,” Jax laughed, and he planted a hand on my shoulder. “So, what’s this message, then? Ye off on another quest?”
“I don’t know yet.” I shrugged. “I’m letting them eat and drink the road weariness off first.”
“Butter ‘em up,” Jax agreed with a nod. “Smart man.”
“I figured we’d want any travelers who came to Bastianville to be welcomed with a friendly smile and warm food.” I grinned. “That’s what this place will be known for soon. That and having the best tradesmen in all of Sorreyal, but for now I’ll settle for the best blacksmith.”
Jaxtom let out one of his loud belly laughs, and then the three of us turned and headed toward the tavern, but Riondale paused at the steps.
“I still have some drills to run with the recruits,” the young lieutenant said in a reluctant tone. “I will catch up with you later, sir.”
“Thanks, Ri-guy, have fun!” I chirped, and I waved goodbye to the young man before I turned my attention back to the steps. “Give ‘em hell for me!”
Jax followed me in, and I was willing to bet his curiosity about the message drove him onward. He gave me an innocent look as he made his way to the bar, and I shook my head in amusement as I joined him.
Stryker appeared before us a moment later with two full mugs of ale, and I nodded my gratitude before I lifted the foamy beverage to my lips.
“So, why did the king send them here?” The barkeep leaned forward and spoke in a low, conspiratorial voice. “Tracking criminals? Or something worse?”
“Nothing like that.” I laughed. “They’re just messengers from the king.”
The barkeep inhaled sharply, and he shot a shrewd glance over at the soldiers. “Some fancy gear for messengers.”
“Sorreyal is a dangerous place.” I shrugged. “Vallenwood is quite a ways away, after all. They’d have to be able to defend themselves if anything happened during their journey.”
“Fair point,” Stryker sighed. “I suppose I shouldn’t always assume the worst of folk.”
“You’re growing already.” I grinned.
“Shut up.” Stryker shot me a playful glare, but then his expression relaxed into one of amusement. “In all seriousness, though? You’ve changed us, Bash. All of us.”
“He’s not wrong,” Jax mumbled around his mug of ale.
“You guys are cute,” I chuckled to myself, and then I turned my attention back to my drink. By the time it was empty, however, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I swiveled around on my barstool to see Sir Cristoff standing before me.
The blond man had his helmet tucked under one arm, and his shoulder-length hair was pulled back into a knot at the nape of his neck. His cornflower-blue eyes looked more relaxed than they had when we’d last talked, so I knew the meal and drink had done him some good.
“Thank you for the hot food,” the knight said with a bow of his head. “My men wanted me to pass along their gratitude.”
“Of course,” I replied as I mirrored his gesture. I definitely felt like a noble when I did that, and I resisted the urge to laugh out loud at myself. “You and your men can stay at the inn tonight. I am sure you are weary from your journey, so please enjoy what accommodations we can spare for the night.”
“You are more than generous.” The knight shook his head. “We
are accustomed to camping, so we do not mind striking our tents on the edge of town near the stables.”
“For the king’s men?” I scoffed. “I wouldn’t dream of it. No, you’ll have rooms at the inn, and that’s the last I’ll hear of it. Now, about this message from the king?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Sir Cristoff inclined his head, and then he pulled a roll of parchment from a bag hanging from his belt. “You are the only nobility present in Bastianville, yes?”
“I believe so…” I scratched my beard as I thought this over. Elrin would be the only person who would come close to being considered a noble, but my three women were by association. Perhaps I should have them be here before the message was delivered.
My impatience got the better of me, though, so in the end I shook my head.
“Very well.” Sir Cristoff held the roll of parchment up at chest height, and then he unfurled it with a flick of his wrist.
I had a feeling he’d done this before.
“Hear ye, hear ye! By order of His Majesty, King Frederick of Sorreyal, a summit of nobility has been called. Anyone of noble blood must report to the palace in Vallenwood before the new moon is dark in the sky. An appointment to the dukedom of Arginold will be made, as well as the selection of a new court wizard. A formal gala will be held to honor the new duke. Glad tidings and safe travels to all, His Majesty, King Frederick of Sorreyal.”
Sir Cristoff finished reading his proclamation, rolled it back up, and then fished another piece of parchment from his bag.
The king had obviously learned of the death of Racine and the Duke of Arginold, but I was surprised to hear he was already choosing a replacement. A part of me had hoped the Arginold territory would just be split up between the remaining dukedoms, but that was a long shot anyway.
It didn’t seem like anyone suspected my involvement in the duke and wizard’s death, though, so it looked like I was in the clear.
Still, it also looked like I had another journey ahead of me, and I was going to be headed back to the palace in Vallenwood. There were worse destinations, that was for sure. Plus, all the other nobles would be present, so I’d get to know everyone who held a position of power in Sorreyal at one time.
Then my thoughts turned to my enemy, the Duke of Edinburg. He’d have been summoned to the palace as well, so this would be a perfect opportunity to size him up.
The summons couldn’t have come at a better time, but I supposed my actions had somewhat caused it, so I had myself to thank for my good fortune.
“What’s this?” I asked with an arched eyebrow as I accepted the roll of paper the knight handed me.
“It’s an updated map of all the territories,” Sir Cristoff explained. “It will show what holdings belong to which dukedom.”
“Perfect.” I grinned. “Thanks, man.”
“You are most welcome, Your Grace.” The knight bowed his head yet again, and this time I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“Please, call me Bash,” I said instead.
“Very well… Bash…” Sir Cristoff didn’t sound very sure of himself, but I was pleased with the progress we’d made.
“Will you be waiting in town for my party to leave?” I asked as the thought struck me. It could be useful to travel with extra men, but it may slow us down, too.
“No, Your Gra-- Er, Bash.” Sir Cristoff actually blushed a little bit. “I must return to Vallenwood immediately.”
“Why the hurry?” I frowned.
“The king’s orders,” he replied with a small shrug. “But we do appreciate the lodging for the evening. It is too generous.”
“Only the best for the king’s men.” I grinned. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must begin my plans for the journey ahead of me.”
“Very good, Your Grace.” Cristoff nodded.
I wasn’t even going to fight him on it, so I just shook my head in amusement and returned to the bar where Jax was waiting with a forced nonchalant expression on his face.
“How much did you hear?” I asked as I signaled to Stryker for another round.
“Enough,” he grunted in response. “Sounds like yer leavin’ us again.”
“Sure am,” I sighed. “It was nice while it lasted, but a god’s gotta keep busy.”
“Ye do that well enough.” Jax nodded. “Don’t forget to bring all your gear by for some upgrades before ye go.”
“I’d like to make sure all the girls are properly outfitted,” I said. “Eva needs some daggers of her own, and Elissa’s armor needs some repairs.”
“I can handle that.” Jax shot me a wink before he emptied his mug in one gulp. Then he pushed himself up from the bar, tossed a couple copper coins on the counter, waved goodbye, and headed to the door.
Stryker put down a full mug in front of me with a nod, and then he walked out from behind the counter to go collect the empties from the knight and his men.
I took my time and gingerly sipped at the beverage as I thought over everything I needed to accomplish. I’d have to leave within the next few days if I wanted to make it to Vallenwood before the new moon. I needed to talk to the girls about our upcoming trip, though, so I downed the rest of my drink and headed back out into the streets of Bastianville.
I stopped by the inn to tell Torya to set up rooms for the knight and his men, and then I made the short trek home. The girls had been asleep in bed when I’d left that morning, but I would be surprised if Mahini had slept in this long.
The desert goddess was always one of the first to rise, after all.
I trotted up the steps to my house, and I burst through the door full of exuberant energy and enthusiasm. I skipped down the hall toward the stairs, but I skidded to a halt when I passed the kitchen doorway and spotted the three beautiful ladies sitting at the table.
“Where have you been?” Mahini asked with a coolly arched eyebrow as she paused with a piece of bread halfway to her mouth.
“I was talking to Jax and Riondale when soldiers approached the gates,” I explained.
“Ohh,” Elissa said with a worried frown. “We didn’t hear the alarm bell. What soldiers?”
“I’m sure there was no problem since Bash doesn’t seem to be worried at all,” Eva said as she placed a comforting hand on the back of my wife’s hand.
“She’s right.” I grinned. “They came with a message from the king.”
“Oh?” Mahini’s ice-blue eyes scanned my face for any clues, but finding none, she gave me a pointed look. “What sort of message?”
I just loved building up the suspense, and I resisted the laughter bubbling out of my throat as I paused dramatically.
“We’re going back to Vallenwood,” I finally informed them. “The king is hosting a summit of nobility to celebrate the newest dukedom appointment.”
“So, he’s already replacing Arginold,” Eva snorted. “That was fast. I wonder if he had someone in mind before the duke’s death.”
“That’s a fair point.” I stroked my growing beard as I thought this over. “It really wasn’t that long ago that we were in Arginold ourselves. How did the king find out about it so soon?”
“Well, Arginold is equally distant to Bastianville and Vallenwood,” my wife pointed out in a scholarly tone. “Plus, we spent over a week in Wyndvale.”
“Another fair point,” I laughed. “What would I do without you smart ladies by my side?”
“Be godly, of course.” Eva shrugged.
“When do we leave?” Mahini asked in a no-nonsense tone.
“Slow your roll,” I chuckled. “I just found out about the quest myself. There’s still a lot of planning left to do, and there are more tasks around town that I’d like to accomplish first as well. The summons said to arrive before the new moon, though, so we should probably head out within the next few days.”
“Oooh, just think about how many people will be at the palace,” Elissa squealed as she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. “Everyone will be in their best dresses and outfits!”
“We’ll have to get you girls stocked with some party gowns from Bellona before we leave,” I pointed out. “And Jax volunteered to upgrade your armor, too.”
“You are right, Great One,” Mahini murmured in an apologetic tone. “I let my excitement get the better of me. I will be patient and await your commands.”
“It’s all good.” I grinned. “I just want us all to have fun with this quest.”
“It will be a nice change of pace from the dangerous things we’ve faced recently,” Eva mused. “I am much more familiar with the etiquette of the nobility than I am with fighting mercenaries, no matter how much more fun the latter is.”
“I’m sure there will be plenty of challenges for us to face,” I assured her. “And many chances for you three to exceed all my expectations.”
“My father will also be present at the summit, I suppose,” Eva added in a thoughtful tone. “It will be strange to see him while I’m by your side.”
“I’m sure he’ll be over the moon to see how happy you are,” I said. “In his last letter, he was mainly concerned about your well-being.”
“Yes, of course, on paper my father would only be concerned with my health and safety,” Eva agreed with a nod. “But once he sees me in person, it may be a different story.”
“Fathers are a strange lot,” Elissa sympathized. “I thought my father’s head was going to explode the first time he saw Bash looking at me. It was wonderful, but now he accepts that I am the wife of the Great One.”
“It will be a little bit different for me,” Eva pointed out with a wry smirk. “I chose a less than honorable route to join the Great One, but I have no regrets. I just hope my father understands as much as he says he does.”
“We will find out one way or the other soon enough,” I reminded her. “Better to tackle the problem head on than to spend our time worrying about it.”
“You’ve always had such a positive outlook on life,” the duke’s daughter observed with a sideways tilt of her head. “It is probably one of my favorite things about you. That and your many talents.”