The Andarian Affair

by Jones, Loren K.

  “How long will we remain here, Warmaster?” Princess Marina asked.

  “I would like to wait for the other wagons from Kavinston, or at least another group of guards, Your Highness.” He indicated the wagons. “What you see around you is what we’ll be eating all winter. There is no way to resupply after the snow blocks the gap.”

  Princess Marina thought for a moment, then nodded her acceptance. “Very well.” She looked at Karvik, then at the rest of the warriors around her. “My father will be pleased that I’m so well protected, but please don’t keep us too long, Warmaster. Carriann is talented, but I grow tired of her concoctions.”

  “We can do something about that, at least,” Karvik said, then blushed and added, “Your Highness.”

  Princess Marina fixed him with a curious stare. “How so?”

  Karvik looked around for help, but no one was coming to his rescue, so he said, “We can order from an inn, Your Highness. It won’t be what you’re used to, Your Highness, but it will be something different.”

  Princess Marina looked at Charvil and raised an eyebrow. He smiled and bowed slightly in return. “It’s your idea, Karvik, so you get to go fetch it. That will be the evening meal for forty-seven.”

  Karvik’s expression turned panicky for an instant as everyone laughed, and Stavin reached into his armor for his pouch. “Here, Kar. Arrange for morning meal as well. I agree with Her Highness. Besides, Carriann deserves a day of rest as much as any of us.”

  Karvik weighed the purse in his hand as he looked at Stavin, and Charvil said, “Anyone who doesn’t have a star go with him.” That caused some laughter because only the members of Tarvan’s group qualified.

  Princess Marina said, “Stavin, come with me for a moment,” and turned away with Stavin obediently following her. She climbed up onto the enclosed wagon and went inside, and he followed. She smiled when she turned around. “Your friend seems somewhat overawed, Stavin.”

  “No more than I was at first, Marina,” Stavin replied with a grin. “He’ll recover, though I wouldn’t bet on him joking with you any time before spring.”

  “So, what’s the real reason we’re staying here?” she asked, leaning forward to gaze into his eyes.

  “What Charvil said. We have at least ten wagons coming down from Kavinston. I’d personally like to load up extra for Shari and Karlin. I’ve got other things I want to buy as well, especially from the butchers.” He grinned. “There is one butcher who makes an absolutely delicious hard sausage. I also want cheeses and an assortment of spices. I knew I should have hit the markets in Twin Bridges, but I lost track of time. Buying here is a little more expensive, and I’ll actually have to send Karvik to get the stuff, but it won’t be bad.”

  She smiled and chuckled a little. “I saw you just toss him your pouch. Do you even know how much was in there?”

  “No. Kar won’t cheat me anymore than I’d cheat him. And let’s be realistic about it: I have a lot more than I’ll ever need. He’s buying us all food. I couldn’t expect him to use his own gold for it.”

  “But yours--?” she prompted.

  He shrugged again. “That’s what it’s there for.”

  She shook her head as she smiled. “Oh, Stavi. Shari and I are going to spend a lot of time talking about you.”

  Stavin chuckled. “Somehow, I’m sure you will, Mary.”

  Chapter 35

  IT TOOK THREE ADDITIONAL DAYS FOR the wagons to arrive from Kavinston, and Stavin sent Karvik with his pouch and all of the veterans to buy the rest of the supplies. Karvik might not have been up to Stavin’s standard when it came to bargaining, but word had made it to all the Trading Houses that the Kavinston order was theirs to lose, so none of them took outrageous advantage of his inexperience.

  Two other groups also joined them in that time, and Charvil was satisfied with his guards for the trip home. “Stavin, plan on leaving in the morning,” he commanded as the caravan settled in for the night.

  “Yes, Sir!” Stavin almost shouted, grinning up at Charvil.

  Charvil chuckled, and set extra watches that night. All eleven members of each team patrolled for part of the night, and by morning they were all grinning. Tarvan walked up to Charvil and said, “You should have seen the eyes watching us. The thieves knew how much was out here, but not one of them was foolish enough to come out of the shadows.”

  The thirty-two wagons of the supply caravan left Aravad on a fine autumn day, headed north to Kavinston. The trip took fifteen days, and soon the warriors were pointing out the landmarks that led to Kel’Kavin.

  Princess Marina was sitting on the bench beside Dahvin, looking for the valley, but she couldn’t find it. She finally got frustrated and looked at the nearest warrior and asked, “Where is it?” in a frustrated tone.

  “Right there, Your Highness,” the man answered as he pointed.

  “Right where? All I see is a rock wall.”

  He chuckled. “That’s it, Your Highness. That’s the outside wall of Kel’Kavin. If you follow that sliver of light down, you’ll see Fort Kel’Kavin once we round the next bend.”

  Princess Marina looked at the wall in front of her and sat speechless as they rounded the bend. The gap seemed to only be wide enough for a single person to pass at a time, and the tiny fort at the base of it was not impressive. Then the wall grew taller, seeming to loom over them, and the gap grew wider. And wider. And the fort grew to monumental proportions.

  “Gods Above and Below,” she whispered.

  Dahvin had to agree. “Stavin told me they can stop an entire army with just a dozen men in that fort. Uncle Kal was right, Mary. This place is safe enough no matter what happens.”

  The men on guard at the old fort saw them coming and rang the bell to get Kavinston’s attention, then used mirror code to signal who was approaching. The wagons rumbled through the gap as the Evandian members of the party gazed up in wonder at the massive walls that were to be their protection for the winter.

  Dahvin was shaking his head slowly as they passed through the gap. “These walls are at least ten dragons thick,” he murmured to Princess Marina. “Nothing could breach them.”

  It still took two spans for the wagons to reach Kavinston and nearly every man in the town was waiting to help unload. Stavin turned his reins over to the guardswoman who was riding with him and stood up, then called Karvik to his side.

  “Kar, take the princess’ wagon to the fortress and show her up to the Royal Suite.”

  “Why me?” Karvik asked as his eyebrows drew down in puzzlement.

  “Would you rather help unload the wagons?” Stavin asked and Karvik immediately wheeled his horse around. He swung in beside the princess’ wagon and had Dahvin follow him away from the rest.

  Stavin pulled his wagon to a stop in front of the community store, but waved everyone to the next wagon back. “None of this is staying here,” he said as he scanned the crowd for his family.

  Karlit was the first to find him. “Stavin, welcome home,” he almost shouted.

  “Hi, Dad? Where’s Shari?”

  “In the Archive. I went to fetch her, but she doesn’t want to bring Karlin out into this crowd. He’s been fussy lately.”

  Stavin laughed, then looked over at the storehouse. Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey was directing the unloading, so he tied his reins to the brake and walked over to join him. Charvil was at his side a moment later.

  “Mikal,” Charvil began, “Trader Bel’Serva has been cheating us far more than we suspected.”

  Stavin looked at Charvil and bowed. “Sir, about Marina,” he prompted.

  Charvil nodded. “Mikal, we need to convene the council immediately.”

  “Why, Charvil?”

  “We have a royal guest. There are a few other things I have to tell you as well, but that’s the most important one.”

  The Chief Elder looked at Stavin for a moment, then tilted his head to the side to see his shoulder. When Stavin obligingly turned his left side toward him he frowned.
“How many?”

  “Eighty-five, Chief Elder,” Stavin replied as he snapped to attention.

  The Chief Elder looked at Charvil and asked, “And you?”

  “I added three to my count, Chief Elder. And we lost Stoval.”

  Mikal’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, Charvil. Come with me.” He turned to go and Charvil and Stavin both started following him, but he shook his head to stop them. “Not you, Stavin. See to your family first. We’ll summon you tomorrow.”

  Stavin stopped and came to attention before he said, “Yes, Chief Elder.”

  Marinis and Karlit met him as he walked back to his wagon. “Stavin,” Karlit said, “Far and his family moved home when the wagons left. Shari, Karlin, and Sallin are still with us as well, and your brothers have been fixing up the little house for you.” He looked at the wagon. “How much did you bring home?”

  Stavin laughed. “Too much. It’ll wait. Right now, I have to go see Shari and Karlin.” Stavin grinned as he climbed up onto his wagon, and his parents laughed at his expression. Then Marinis’ expression changed.

  “Stavin! Three stars?”

  Stavin grinned. “Yes, Mom. My count is at eighty-five now. I’ll tell everyone about it tonight.” He grinned at their expressions, and then drove away.

  Stavin parked the wagon outside the fortress and hurried up to the Archive. He heard Karlin before he arrived, and then the baby quieted down. When he looked through the door he saw Shari sitting at her desk with Karlin suckling while Sallin was busy at the side of the room.

  “Shari?” Stavin said and her head snapped around toward him. “I’m home, darling.”

  “Oh, Stavi,” she breathed as tears began to glitter in her eyes.

  He was in her arms in a moment, hugging her and Karlin together as they kissed. Stavin took a moment to kiss Karlin’s head as he continued to nurse, and then kissed Shari again.

  Sallin stepped forward and asked, “Do you want me to take him, Mistress?”

  Shari shook her head. “No, Salli, we’ll keep him with us.”

  Stavin smiled at the girl, and then turned back to his wife. “I have so much to tell you, Shari, but it’ll wait. Are you ready to leave?”

  Sharindis laughed and picked up her bag. “Since the moment they announced you were back. Karli’s just been a little colicky and I didn’t want him out in the crowd while everyone is yelling.”

  Stavin took her by the arm and led her out of the Archive with Sallin a step behind them. They had managed to get out of the fortress before anyone said anything to them, and it was Bahrandik who found them.

  “Stave, I wondered where you disappeared to,” he asked as he walked up.

  “Family first, Bar. Would you mind bringing the wagon? Most of it will have to stay there until we can put it in the new house, but some of the food can come inside.”

  Bahrandik laughed and climbed aboard the wagon, then followed them at a slow walk back to their parent’s house. Farlit and his wife, Delia, met them on the porch.

  “Welcome home, Stave,” Farlit said as they climbed the stairs.

  “Thanks, Far,” Stavin answered as he helped Shari up the stairs.

  Delia looked behind him at the wagon Bahrandik was driving and asked, “How much did you bring back this time?”

  “That’s mostly books, Delia,” Stavin answered. “About three thousand of them.”

  Sharindis froze as she turned toward him. “Three thousand books?”

  “I’ll explain later,” he replied, and the timber of his voice made her smile.

  “Salli, take Karlin,” she said and the girl immediately came to her side. “We’ll talk later, Stavi.” She sighed, and then they both laughed as they headed toward the stairs.

  Chapter 36

  CHARVIL AND MIKAL WENT TO THE Council Chamber and the rest of the Elders’ Council was summoned. Barvil walked in and found Charvil sitting in his chair at the Council table and burst out laughing.

  “How many, Char?”

  “Three. You’re down by two.”

  Barvil laughed and shook his head, then took a seat anyway. “So, what kind of trouble did the little imp get into this time?” he asked.

  “Wait for the rest, Barvil,” Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey said in a soft voice. He seemed both excited and pensive, which confused Barvil. Mikal was seldom anything but confident. Now he seemed unsure. It wasn’t long before the other members of the council had arrived and Charvil began his report.

  “The most significant thing I have to tell you is that Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Marina of Evandia, has requested refuge in Kavinston for the winter, and possibly for next year as well.” Charvil paused as his friends reacted to that announcement with the excitement he’d expected. Even men as old and tried as the Elders wanted to meet a real princess. “The unrest in Evandia has developed into open war with Andaria. We were in Twin Bridges when it all started, and got in the way of a bunch of traitors bent on putting someone else on the throne.” He looked at the council and saw looks of shock mixed with excitement. “Stoval gave his life to protect King Kalin.”

  He continued after a moment, though it was obvious that his little brother’s death was still tearing at him. “Stavin was right in the middle of it, of course. His kill-count has reached eighty-five, and I reluctantly allowed him to paint his third star on his shoulder.” He had to pause until the cursing died down.

  “Are you sure about his count, Charvil?” Elder Kel’Naril demanded.

  “I am. I witnessed most of them. When the attempt was made against the king, he stood alone against over thirty men and dealt with thirteen of them himself. Then he added five more in the princess’ suite. There’s something else: Stavin is now a Ward of the Evandian Crown. In short, King Kalin has all but adopted him. Princess Marina is insisting that he is now her little brother.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Elder Kel’Naril said as he shook his head. “Making him a Ward isn’t the same thing as adopting him.”

  “That was my opinion as well, but King Kalin had one of his ministers show me the relevant Evandian Law. By Evandian Law, Stavin is now a member of the Zel’Andral family.” He looked around the room silently for a moment. “By rights, and this is the hardest part for me to accept, Stavin should be second in line for the throne. It’s only his birth to a Cat Clan that prevents it, and King Kalin can, and again, I saw this in writing, he can elevate Stavin to Chosen status if he chooses.”

  There was a deafening silence in the Council Chamber as all of the Elders considered that announcement. “Does he know?” Barvil asked after a long pause.

  Charvil shook his head. “Not all of it, Bar, but he knows enough. King Kalin intentionally kept part of it from him.”

  Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “We’ll have to deal with Stavin tomorrow. As for the princess,” he paused to grimace, “she is, of course, welcome. We’ll have to have the royal suite cleaned and properly appointed for her. Where is she now?”

  “I don’t know,” Charvil admitted.

  The Chief Elder stood and looked at his colleagues, then said, “We should find her immediately.”

  The Elders found Princess Marina in the Royal Suite, supervising her maids. Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey led them forward and they all went to one knee and bent their heads. “Princess Marina, welcome to Kavinston. I am Chief Elder Mikal Kel’Kaffrey, and these worthy gentlemen are the Elders’ Council.”

  The princess nodded her head deeply. “Thank you for your greeting, Chief Elder.”

  “Princess, please let us have some of our women clean the suite for you,” Elder Kel’Naril said as he looked around.

  “My maids can see to this,” the princess said. “Young Warleader Karvik was kind enough to provide us with supplies before he went to find his family.”

  Barvil stood and bowed deeply to the princess. “Princess Marina, I am--”

  “Karvik’s father, Warmaster Barvil Kel’Carin,” the princess said,
interrupting him. “I recognize you. When first we met, you wore three stars. Congratulations on your elevation.” She smiled at Charvil then. “You said you’re up by two?”

  Charvil bowed deeply, but he was grinning just as deeply. “Yes, Your Highness.”

  Princess Marina shifted her attention back to Mikal. “Chief Elder, in a day or so, once we’re settled, I would like to have a discussion with your council. My father had several proposals to lie before you. Chief among them is this: Any warrior of Kel’Kavin who desires a place in the Evandian Royal Guard is welcome. If not for Warmaster Kel’Horval and his men, especially Stoval Kel’Horval, we would be dead and Evandia in the hands of traitors.”

  All of the Elders looked at one another, and then Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey bowed deeply. “Thank you, Princess Marina.”

  * * *

  It was nearly dark before Stavin and Shari came back down the stairs. Karlit was the first to greet them. “Welcome home, son. I had Bar take the mules to the pasture. What’s all that stuff in the wagon?”

  “It’s mostly for our new house,” Stavin replied, hugging Sharindis to his side. “Sallin, bring Karlin over here, please.” He took the baby from Sallin’s arms as soon as he could and nuzzled his son. “Oh, you’ve grown so much,” he cooed while his family laughed.

  “Now what’s going on, Stave?” Farlit asked. “I saw a bunch of strangers with you.”

  Stavin smiled and began his story. It wasn’t long before he was retelling parts of it, clarifying special points, and having to assure everyone that he wasn’t making it all up.

  The next morning he was summoned to appear before the Elders, and joined Charvil and the rest standing at attention in front of the Council. Charvil recited the deeds of the past season, starting with Stoval’s death, and ending with Stavin’s kill count. Each man had lain out the weapons of his defeated enemies, and the Elders were all silent as Stavin laid out all of the swords, axes, and knives he’d collected.