The Andarian Affair

by Jones, Loren K.

  “Warmaster,” Darak said to get his attention, “I think you should consider something else first.” Everyone’s attention was on Darak now.

  “Yes?”

  “He just hit eighty-five kills. He has his third star.”

  Charvil, King Kalin, and General Zel’Kordil all turned back to stare at Stavin. He smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “It was what I had to do, sirs.”

  Charvil continued to glower as he said, “You’ll have plenty more to do this winter, Stavin.”

  “But now you have something else to do,” the king said, looking at Charvil. “I called you Royal Guardsmen, and I meant it. Warmaster Kel’Horval, General Zel’Kordil, you have the names of some of the traitors. Arrest them.”

  The general looked at Charvil, but the Warmaster shook his head. “We are your men, General. Lead us where you will.”

  The general bowed slightly, then looked around. “Ocellen Watch, guard the royal family. Everyone else, on me.” The general strode from the room with his men close on his heels. Over a hundred armed men and women, many of them only partially armored, followed the general as he marched into the palace. His first target was the traitor in his own ranks.

  * * *

  Major Zel’Reval was in his quarters when the general burst through his door. He shot to his feet, but three other majors had swarmed past the general to attack him. He went down fighting, but a kick in the head took the fight out of him.

  The general announced the charge. “Montras Zel’Reval, you are charged with High Treason for conspiring against the king.”

  “General, no! I didn’t conspire against the--” A stinging blow across his face silenced him.

  “Your guilt will be determined in Court, but we have your name and the names of your compatriots from Adept Markal.” The major’s expression turned panicky at the mention of the mage. “Take him to a cell and chain him to the wall.”

  The majors led the struggling man away, and the general turned toward the door. “Lord Zel’Wallin next,” was all he needed to say.

  The arrest of the Zel’Wallin family was easy, but it was the only one. Cevin Zel’Harral and Varinis Zel’Cammar were found dead in each other’s arms. Staran Zel’Kestal fought with the ferocity of a cornered rat and died with a sword through his throat. His family was rounded up to keep them from committing suicide. Ander Zel’Jannin was found dead in his suite along with his entire family and their servants. Gavil Zel’Ravain fought desperately, but was overwhelmed by the sheer number of men who came against him. He and his family, along with the rest of the surviving traitors, were taken to the lowest level of the palace and held in cells like common criminals.

  * * *

  Morning saw the entire Court gathered as the king had the traitors brought before him. “Last night we were attacked by traitors. It was only the fighting skill and ferocity of our Royal Guards, backed by the Farindian Royal Guards, that saved me, Marina, and Sarvan. However, Sarvan’s wife, Princess Ehrwan, died in the attack, but she died fighting and took two of the traitors with her.” There was a flurry of reaction through the assembled nobles as they heard the news of Ehrwan’s death for the first time, and the king let them continue for a moment before bringing them back to the present.

  “Bring out the prisoners,” he commanded, and Ordan Zel’Wallin and Gavil Zel’Ravain were brought out, bound with iron chains. The king said, “Five others died either by their own hand or fighting against the Royal Guards,” as the men were led before him and forced to kneel.

  The king focused on the first man and said, “Ordan Zel’Wallin, you are accused of treason against the crown. You are accused of conspiring to murder my family, and arranging for men to carry out the deed. What say you?”

  Lord Zel’Wallin looked up at the king and spit. “You’re such a weakling, Kalin. You’ve had reason to go to war against Andaria for three years, yet you refuse to do so. You posture and parade, but you’re afraid. We need a real king on the throne. One who’ll fight to defend Evandia.”

  The king stared at him for a moment, then looked at the other man. “Gavil Zel’Ravain, you face the same charges. What say you?”

  Lord Zel’Ravain looked up at the king, then down at the floor. “What can I say? You’ve decided our guilt already.” He looked up again and shook his head. “Yes, Kalin, I did conspire against you. Evandia deserves a strong king. The Zel’Andral line has become weak and complacent. You sired only a girl and a sickly boy when your ancestors were known to have sired a dozen boys. Your blood line is diluted to the point that there is no saving it. And your rule is weak as well. You’ve let the Andarians provoke us over and over again, and done nothing. It’s time for a new ruling family in Evandia.”

  The king sat back and took a deep breath. “Who else was involved?” he asked, but neither man would say anything. “So be it. Take them away. Their fate is sealed, but they must be questioned as to their accomplices.” The king looked around the room as the Royal Guards hauled the prisoners to their feet. “I don’t believe for a moment that all of the traitors have been arrested or killed, and I intend to find out who else has been conspiring against us--” A commotion at the end of the room interrupted the king, and he frowned as a Royal Messenger ran down the steps. The Royal Guards formed a wall to stop him, but he stumbled to a halt before he reached them.

  “My Lord King,” the man called out, “Andaria has invaded the northern provinces of Evandia. We received a message that fifty thousand men have crossed the border.”

  “Who sent that message?” the king demanded as the court started to panic.

  “Lord King, it is from Lord General Zel’Rantal in Pahlovad.”

  “Gods Below,” the king swore. He looked at the two traitors below him and snarled, “You have your war.” Looking up, he all but shouted, “Assemble the King’s Council,” then turned and walked away with Princess Marina at his side.

  The King’s Council was in an uproar when the king and princess arrived. The king silenced them with a glare before he spoke. “The timing of this attack is too precise to be coincidence. Andaria is in league with the traitors here in Twin Bridges, as well as the traitors in our Army who have been causing the dissension along the northern border.”

  Princess Marina spoke next. “It is our belief that many of the northern commands have been compromised either by our malcontents or Andarian agents. For that reason, orders are to be sent to all Southern and Central Commands to begin moving north.”

  “Princess, that is not a good idea,” Lord Zel’Lamal said as he smiled at her, but the look she returned froze him in his tracks.

  “You are in charge of the Army, Lord Zel’Lamal,” she said in a low voice. “Why do you oppose our reinforcing the northern commands?”

  Lord Zel’Lamal’s mouth opened and closed several times before he found his voice. “Princess, I am just concerned that this may be a diversion.”

  “No,” Lord Zel’Sartan said as he shook his head. “No, you are not. Speak the truth, Alred.” Alred Zel’Lamal saw the trap that he’d walked into and closed his mouth.

  “Must you be encouraged, Alred?” the king asked.

  Lord Zel’Lamal looked down and shook his head. “No, Your Majesty.”

  “Then tell us the real reason you oppose the deployment of troops to the north.”

  Lord Zel’Lamal took a deep breath and said, “Because it is too late.” He looked at the king and a wry smile twisted his lips. “My men are already in charge of the northern forts. The Andarian Army will sweep south like a tide. The only thing sending more troops north will do is delay the inevitable.”

  “And what was your reward, Alred?” Lord Zel’Corvis asked.

  “What do you think, Evindal?” he asked with a smug smile. “My grandfather was an Andarian prince. My cousin is king of Andaria. What do you think my reward was going to be?”

  “The throne,” the king said. “But now you’ll face a noose of pig gut.”

  “No, Kalin. No, I won’t.�
�� He smiled as he brought his hand up to his mouth, but Princess Marina was faster.

  The princess’ goblet flew across the room and hit Lord Zel’Lamal in the face, blinding him with wine for a moment. That moment was all the other councilors needed to grab him and throw him to the floor.

  “Let me go! Let me go, you fools! You don’t know what you’re doing!”

  “We know, Alred,” Lord Zel’Corvis snarled. “We’re taking you prisoner so you can tell us who else is helping you.”

  “You can’t! You can’t force me to help you!”

  “We can, and we will,” Princess Marina said as she walked around the table. “Markal is dead, but he wasn’t the only mage in Twin Bridges. You will tell us all we wish to know.”

  “No!”

  The king motioned to the door and the servant let the guards in. “Take the former Minister of the Interior to a cell and bind him tightly. He’ll be questioned once we have acquired the services of a new mage.”

  Once the door closed again the king called his council to order. Almost immediately Lord Zel’Nestav stood. “King Kalin, what happened to Adept Markal?”

  “He was a traitor,” the king replied. “He was the one who provided us with the names of those we arrested, but he died before he could be brought to trial with the others.”

  “Those were all of them?” Lord Zel’Nestav asked.

  “No,” the king replied. “He named one other. A Royal Guards Major named Montras Zel’Reval. Unfortunately, the major had poison hidden on his person and killed himself before he could be questioned.”

  The councilors looked at one another and one by one they stood. Lord Zel’Nestav spoke first. “King Kalin, I swear that I had nothing to do with the conspiracy against you.” He looked at Lord Zel’Sartan and received a nod.

  “He speaks the truth.”

  Each of the councilors swore their innocence to the king, and each of them was passed by the Truth Seer. “And I, King Kalin, also swear my innocence, though you’ll have to take my word for it until a new mage is found,” Lord Zel’Sartan said with just a trace of humor.

  King Kalin almost laughed. “I know. Very well, let us begin.”

  Princess Marina spoke first. “The Andarian Army is smaller than ours, but they all seem to be in one place. What can we throw against them?”

  “If Alred was telling the truth, we have nothing in the north to slow them down,” Lord Zel’Corvis pointed out.

  “He probably was telling us the truth,” King Kalin said as she shook his head. “My orders went out by the Message Books before we convened this meeting. He was probably supposed to delay us, which may work in our favor. If the Andarians were counting on him to keep our forces in the south until they had consolidated their hold on the north, then they are in for an unpleasant surprise.” He smiled slightly. “That is our first order of business.”

  Chapter 30

  STAVIN WAS WITH DAHVIN IN THE Prince’s Suite while the king was in council. Dahvin was shaking his head slowly as he said, “It’s hard to believe that Major Zel’Reval was involved. I’ve known him for years, Stavin. He was my friend.”

  Stavin shook his head. “He was a traitor, Dahvin. He used his position in the Guard to betray the king. Think of how many friends we lost because of him.” Stavin took a deep breath and sighed. “Think of Ehrwan.”

  Something in the way Stavin was acting caught Dahvin’s attention. “Were you in love with her, Stavin?” he asked as he fixed Stavin with a piercing stare.

  Stavin bit his lip and nodded. “A little. She treated me better than just about anyone ever has, Dahvin. The first time we met in Mary Death’s temple she treated me like I was something special. Like I was important. Like a real man, not just a boy in armor.”

  “Like a Dragon Blessed warrior?” Dahvin asked. “That’s what she called you. Stavin, you were special before Uncle Kal and Marina named you a friend of Evandia. Ehrwan knew that.”

  “There was more to it, Dahvin. She was my champion. Remember that first meal in Court, when she took me under her wing? I think I--I don’t know what I think, Dahvin.” Stavin shook his head slowly. “I would have died for her.”

  Dahvin nodded. “I know. And she knew as well. Stavin, when you championed her against Lord Zel’Faril, I think she knew how serious you were about her. Sarvan certainly did.” He grinned crookedly. “If you hadn’t been married, I think he might have been jealous of you. As it was, he knew that he would never have to defend her with you around.”

  “But I wasn’t around!” Stavin all but yelled as he launched himself to stomp around the room. “I wasn’t there!”

  “No, you were here--where she would have wanted you to be.” Dahvin watched Stavin for a moment. “Yes, I’m sure she was terribly frightened there at the end. Yes, she probably wished you were there to save her. She probably wished I was there as well.” Dahvin paused for a moment. “But if it came to a choice between saving herself or saving the king, she would have chosen the king.”

  Stavin stalked back to the sofa and sat with his head in his hands. He was quiet for a few moments, then a huge sob wracked his frame. He cried like a child for the first time in years, shedding tears for a woman he’d hardly known, but loved as deeply as he loved his mother.

  Dahvin sat with him in silence until he sat back and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “I’m sorry,” Stavin whispered in a voice that was hoarse from crying.

  “Don’t be. I’m not in much better shape. Stavin, I’ve known her for most of my life. She was playmates with my big sisters. Ehrwan was one of my closest friends, and she married my cousin. But I didn’t love her the way you do. It’s odd, in a way.” He paused and shook his head slowly. “Maybe it’ll just take a while for it to sink in, like my father’s death did.”

  “I’m sorry about that as well, Dahvin. But you just reminded me of something. We have our orders from Marina.”

  “Avenge them,” Dahvin agreed. “But how?”

  * * *

  How was soon made evident. The king called for the full Court to assemble once again, and made the announcement. “My noble lords and ladies, Evandia is at war with Andaria.” He looked around the room to see the reaction of his nobles. Shock and dismay was most common, but a few heads nodded sagely. “This is not a coincidence. The traitors in our midst were conspiring with the Andarians to arrange this attack to take place at the same time as the attack on the palace.” He stopped speaking for a moment and studied the floor. “It is my unfortunate duty to announce that Lord Alred Zel’Lamal was among the traitors, and has been filling the northern garrisons with disaffected soldiers and malcontents in preparation for this attack.”

  The Court erupted in noise, but only one lord stepped out of the crowd to face the king. “King Kalin, what shall we do?” he asked, looking around the room at the rest of the lords and ladies for support.

  “We shall fight,” the king announced. “Orders have already been sent to all southern and central commands to begin forced marches north, but I fear that the north of Evandia may already be lost.”

  “King Kalin, we must sue for peace immediately,” an elegantly dressed lady said as she stepped forward.

  “No, Lady Zel’Jessal,” Princess Marina said as she stepped forward to her father’s side. “We shall not let this go unchallenged. Andaria has conspired against us with our traitorous lords. They shall face the same fate. Theirs shall be the peace of the grave.”

  “Last night,” the king said to forestall any further comment, “over a hundred of our Palace and Royal Guards were killed. One hundred and sixty traitors slew them and did their best to kill us, but they only succeeded in hardening our resolve against Andaria. Is Charvil Kel’Horval present?” the king asked, and Charvil stepped forward. “Many of you know the Warmaster. You’ve seen him and his men in and about the palace for quite a while now. Last night the Warmaster’s brother, Stoval, gave his life for me. In return, I give him this.” The king came to attention, then bowed
deeply as his nobles gasped in outrage. “Warmaster, you and your men are not sworn to my service, but the honor of the Farindian Royal Guards runs strong in you. I issue to you and all of your people an invitation: any who wish to join will be welcomed by the Evandian Royal Guards.”

  Charvil returned the king’s bow and said, “Your Majesty, I will convey your invitation to my people.”

  The king looked around the room and his expression dared anyone to challenge what he’d just done. When no one was foolish enough to step forward, he let a bitter smile cross his lips. “The Andarians will soon learn what it means to be defeated.”

  * * *

  It took three days to finish cleaning and repairing the palace. During that time preparations were made for the funerals, especially for Princess Ehrwan and Stoval. At dusk of the third day, all of the valley warriors gathered in a cemetery that was reserved for Heroes of Evandia. Their armor had been scrubbed and polished until it gleamed in the red light of the setting sun, and Charvil led his men as they honored his brother.

  “It is sometimes the fate of our men to die in service to their community. Stoval Kel’Horval had sixty and six kills to his name in twelve expeditions to the lowlands. He died saving King Kalin, and no higher honor can be said of a Royal Guard than that he died saving the king. His name will be read at mid winter with those of our honored dead.”

  Now General Zel’Kordil stepped forward. “It is the tradition of the Evandian Royal Guard that any guardsman who saves the king shall be granted an officer’s commission. Stoval Kel’Horval is hereby named a lieutenant in the Evandian Royal Guard.” He snapped to attention as two majors stepped forward and draped Stoval’s body with an officer’s cape.

  Stoval’s body was gently lowered into the ground, and the entire gathering came to attention as workers began filling the grave. Everyone remained where they were until the grave was filled and packed hard. Then a cap stone was brought forward slung between twenty Royal Guardsmen. On it was Stoval’s full name, his rank as Warleader Fourth of Kel’Kavin, and Lieutenant of the Evandian Royal Guard.