“Stavin has achieved a count of eighty-five and the rank of Warleader Second.”
Warmaster Kel’Carin shook his head and said, “I thought we told you to stay out of trouble, Stavin?” but he sounded amused, not angary.
“Yes, Warmaster,” Stavin replied with a bow, “but I couldn’t honorably stand aside while my friends were in danger.”
“No, I suppose not,” Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey said as he considered Stavin. “You and Karvik are causing us no end of trouble. However, you seem to be worth it. Charvil reported your new status yesterday, and we met briefly with Princess Marina. Since you’re one of them, you’ll be our liaison officer with the Evandian Royal Guards. Now, as to the matter of our supplies, how much did they cost you in Aravad?”
Stavin remained at attention as he said, “Thirty gold crowns, Sir.”
There was a round of vicious cursing from the Elders before the Chief Elder quieted them. “And the bargain you made? How good was it?”
Stavin didn’t smile, though he wanted to. “Good, but not exceptional, Sir. With more experience, I believe I could reduce it further.”
Charvil was gritting his teeth as he addressed the Council. “Trader Bel’Serva has been doubling the price on us. There is absolutely no doubt at all.”
“Agreed,” Mikal said in a dangerously soft tone. “We will have to wait for spring before we can express our displeasure. Fortunately, Master Trader Stavin is here to see to our shipments from now on.”
“Chief Elder,” Stavin began, “in a few days I request permission to lay a proposal before the Council.”
“We’re here now, Stavin,” the Chief Elder said. “Or is it going to take a long time?”
“Briefly, Chief Elder, Sirs, I believe that as the owner of House Kel’Aniston I can make a better arrangement than sending our wagons out to buy supplies every spring and fall. I have already established a base of operations in the Evandian city of Zel’Mortlan. I also spoke with Lord Zel’Vandar while we were in Aravad about establishing a base in Kavadia, and he is willing to sponsor me to the Traders’ Council. If nothing else, it’ll give us a place to leave the wagons where we won’t have to tend the mules all winter. I can hire men for that.”
Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey looked at the other members of the council, and then said, “We will consider it, Stavin. For now, go see to it that Her Highness is comfortable.”
Stavin immediately came to attention, then bowed and left the room.
Chapter 37
STAVIN WALKED UP TO THE DOORS of the royal suite and was met by five guards. “I would like to speak to Princess Marina, please.”
The lead guard smiled and said, “Yes, Ward Stavin. A moment, please.” When he nodded, the man knocked on the door and announced him. The door opened immediately and Stavin was passed through.
“Come in, Stavin,” Marina said as he entered the suite. She was in the least elegant robe Stavin had ever seen her in. But she looked comfortable.
“Is everything all right, Marina?” he asked. “Do you need anything?”
“No, your Council has provided us with everything we need. What about you?”
Stavin smiled. “I’m home with my wife and baby. What else could I possibly need?”
Marina laughed at his expression. “I’m glad you’re so happy, Stavin. I would like to meet Sharindis and your son. Would it be possible soon?”
Stavin thought for a moment, then nodded. “She’s in the Archive. It’s in the west wing and down one floor.”
Marina chuckled. “How very convenient. Shall we?” She took Stavin by the arm and they walked to the door. Guards opened it and formed around them as they walked, and Stavin smiled up at the princess.
“The Elders have made me your liaison officer,” he explained. “Anything you need or want, just ask or have one of the maids ask me for it.” He guided her down the stairs and to the Archive door.
Master Kel’Zorgan saw them coming and his eyes widened, then he went to one knee and said, “Princess Marina, welcome to the Kavinston Archive.”
The princess nodded her head regally. “I have heard many wonderful things about you and your Archive, Master Scribe Kel’Zorgan. May we disturb your journeyman?”
“Of course, Your Highness,” he replied, then looked at his apprentice.
Stavin went to the door of the office and said, “Shari, can you take a break for a moment?”
“Of course,” she answered. She came to the door and grabbed him for a kiss before she realized anyone else was there. “Who is there?” she asked the shadowy figures, tilting her head to the side.
“My name is Mary,” Marina replied before Stavin could say anything.
Sharindis held her hand out and Marina took it in the clasp of equals. “I am pleased to meet you, Mary. Are you one of Her Highness’ maids?”
“Shari, this is Princess Marina,” Stavin explained and Sharindis immediately went to both knees.
“Your Highness, please forgive me,” she breathed, but Marina hadn’t let go of her hand.
“Stand up, little sister,” Marina said in a gentle tone. “Stavi didn’t warn you, did he?”
“Warn me, Your Highness?”
“You should be ashamed, Stavin,” Marina said as she pulled Sharindis to her feet. “Sharindis, my father made Stavin a Ward of the Crown. He’s now my little brother, and you are my sister-in-law. You need never again kneel to me.” Then she back-handed Stavin in the chest.
“Ouch!” Stavin nearly shouted. “Marina!”
“You should have warned her,” Marina scolded.
“I did. Sort of.”
Marina snorted. “Sort of?”
“He said he was a Ward of the Crown, and that you were treating him like his sisters do, Princess Marina, but he didn’t say you really thought of him as a brother,” Sharindis said as faced the shadow that she thought was princess.
“I do think of him that way, Shari. And please call me Mary. We’re going to be spending a lot of time together this winter.”
Sharindis bowed and said, “If that is your wish.”
“It is,” Marina replied in a warm tone.
Stavin put his arm around Sharindis again and squeezed. “Shari, there’s someone else you should meet as well.” He waved Dahvin forward. “This is Lieutenant Dahvin Zel’Fordal. I told you about him last year.”
Dahvin took her other hand and bowed in acknowledgment of Sharindis’ bow. “I’m pleased to meet you, Lord Dahvin,” Sharindis said in a voice that was tinged with uncertainty.
“I am pleased to meet you as well, Sharindis. And just call me Dahvin. You’re my friend’s wife. I don’t want formality from you any more than from him.”
Sharindis turned toward her husband. “Stavin?”
“Dahvin and I were roommates in the Guards Barracks before King Kalin moved me into the Royal Suite, Shari. He’s--”
Sharindis reached up and put her fingers on his lips. “Shh. We’ll discuss it later.” She turned toward Dahvin and smiled. “Dahvin, I am pleased to meet you. Mary, if there is anything I can do to make your stay with us more comfortable, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you, Shari,” Marina replied. “Is that your son?”
Shari didn’t turn to look. She just said, “Bring Karlin out here, Sallin.”
Sallin brought the baby to Sharindis and handed him over, then stepped back and went to both knees with her head bowed. Sharindis didn’t notice. She said, “Mary, this is Karlin,” and held him out.
Marina took the baby carefully and cradled him in her arms. “He’s a darling, Shari,” she all but whispered. Her smile said more to Stavin and Dahvin.
“When he’s sleeping,” Sharindis agreed. “When he’s fussy, though, that’s a different story.”
Marina smiled and rocked Karlin slowly back and forth. The tune of a lullaby was soon drifting around them as she looked down on his sleeping face.
Dahvin saw the look on her face and grinned at Stavin. “You ow
e me a crown, Stave.”
“For what?” Shari asked.
“He bet me a crown that as soon as Marina had a baby in her arms she’d be oblivious to everything else,” Stavin explained while he watched Marina hold his son.
“I’m not oblivious, Stavi. It’s just--” She paused as she sighed and shook her head. “So many might-have-beens.” She smiled at the top of the baby’s head. “I might have been a mother by now if Sardal hadn’t been killed.”
Stavin was caught off-guard by that. He’d been told the name of her dead fiancé, so he knew who she meant. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard her say his name. She still sounds sad.
Stavin looked at Dahvin and tiled his head to the side. “Shall we let the ladies discuss babies while you and I make arrangements for the Guards?”
“Well, they’re not going to pay any attention to us,” Dahvin agreed, “so we might as well.”
Marina sighed but didn’t disagree. She said, “Shari, come with me,” and turned away with Sharindis obediently following her. The men and women of her guard detail formed around them and Sallin trailed along behind.
Stavin chuckled as he watched them go. “Shari will adapt quickly. The guards can stay in the rooms on either side of the royal suite.” He led Dahvin after the princess’ party, staying back about twenty paces. “Men on one side, women on the other. She’s really not going to need that many guards. No one gets into Kel’Kavin if we don’t want them to.”
Dahvin smiled and said, “You tell Uncle Kal that. Me, I’m sticking to the regular schedule. Six watches?”
Stavin shook his head. “Four, I think. The more time they spend on watch, the less time they’ll have to bitch about how bored they are.” He grinned at Dahvin’s bark of laughter. “Training with the rest of the warriors on their off days.”
Dahvin looked at him sideways. “Are you sure about that?”
“I’m sure Charvil is going to insist on it,” Stavin replied. “Dahvin, most of us have winter occupations. Shari and I work in the Archive. Farlit is Dad’s journeyman in the carver’s craft. What are you and the rest of the guards going to do in your off hours?”
“We should have thought of that,” Dahvin said as his eyes went slightly unfocused. “What are we going to do?”
“I think Charvil, with a little help from Barvil, is going to drill you until each of you is as good as any warrior in town.” He grinned up at Dahvin. “Barvil is almost as good a sword-master as Charvil.”
Dahvin groaned, “Oh, no. More bruises.” Then he glared at Stavin’s laugh.
* * *
Marina led Sharindis up to the Royal Suite and to her sitting room, guiding her around a few places where the stones of the floor weren’t completely even. Maids quickly brought refreshments, and then the princess dismissed them. “You too,” she said when Sallin looked like she was going to stay at Sharindis’ side.
“Go on, Sallin. I’ll be fine,” Sharindis seconded, and tilted her head to the side as she listened to the sound of Sallin’s retreating footsteps and the closing door. “She’s very protective of us.”
“Shari, we’re going to have some long discussions about your husband over the winter, but there’s something that I should tell you first, before you hear it from someone else.”
Sharindis tilted her head to the side and smiled. “The rumors about you and Stavin?” she asked.
Marina chuckled. “He already told you? I should have expected that.”
“Stavin told me the truth, that there was no truth to the rumors. He also admitted that he is attracted to you.”
“He is?” Marina asked, genuinely surprised.
Sharindis chuckled at the tone of her voice. “From the way he described you the first time I would have been surprised if he wasn’t. He used the word ‘stunning’ at least three times.”
Marina hummed a little. “There is that. Or these,” she replied, motioning toward her breasts. “And I should admit that I’m attracted to him as well.”
“You are?”
Marina sighed. “Yes. He’s so cute--”
“Is he?” Shari asked eagerly as she sat forward. “Is he really?”
“You know he is--no, you don’t, do you?” Marina said as she looked at her new sister-in-law. “Shari, how much do you actually see?”
“Not much,” Sharindis admitted with a shrug. “Just shadows and shades of gray. I see you as a light shadow above a darker shadow, and light shadows for arms. I haven’t seen Stavin since he was ten. What does he look like? His sisters are no help. They all still see him as the baby.”
Marina chuckled again. “I don’t think he really looks all that different from what you remember. He’s still as small as a boy of ten or eleven. He’s cute rather than handsome. He’s still too boyish for handsome to really apply. He has very expressive eyes, and a smile that draws women--maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”
“He swore he was faithful to our vows,” Shari said in a soft tone, but she seemed unsure to Marina.
“As far as I know, he was,” Marina replied to reassure her, “and he was watched rather closely. Too closely, in some instances, which is what started those rumors. What I mean is that the ladies of the court, including my friend Ehrwan, were drawn to him.”
“Princess Ehrwan. He told me about her, about how she protected and helped him--and how guilty he feels that he couldn’t be there to save her. Do you know that he feels forsworn for not being able to avenge her?”
Marina sighed. “I know, but my father had already decided to approach Warmaster Charvil about me coming here this winter.” She paused and smiled. “Warmaster Charvil. I should just say your father, shouldn’t I? Anyway, we needed Stavin in his capacity as a Ward of the Crown to act as my guardian.” She chuckled and shook her head. “Evandian Law states that no unmarried princess can leave Twin Bridges without a male member of the royal family with her to protect her virtue. My father had intended to send Sarvan with me, to protect us both, but Stavin is the better choice. He is young, and only on his third expedition, but he is still a Warleader Second of Kel’Kavin. That status is as important as his status as a Ward.”
“He said he was made a Ward to stop men from challenging him,” Shari said with a puzzled frown.
“He was made a Ward to stop him from killing every Chosen hothead in the kingdom,” Marina replied in a sour tone. “Shari, he killed seventeen men in four days. While most of them were a waste of food and water, some of them were good men caught up in defending their honor, just as he was. No one who came within reach of that Dragon’s Tongue survived.”
Sharindis smiled as she sat back. “He’s been such a surprise as a warrior.”
“He is far more than just a warrior, Shari,” Marina mused. “Far, far more.”
“What do you mean?” Sharindis asked, sitting forward again.
Marina shook her head. “Shari, how many of your people could acquire the rank and wealth he has and still not believe in their own superiority? Oh, he has his conceits,” she said with a smile, “primarily about those glyphs from before Luxand and his ability to read them. But the gold means nothing to him beyond making it easier for him to do things like buy the wagons we came up here in.”
Shari tilted her head to the side. “More than you might think, but I take your meaning. Mary, Stavin was tormented as a child. Child! He was tormented right up until this time year before last. Four bullies picked on him from the time he stopped growing, saying he was a runt who should be killed so he wouldn’t breed and weaken the line.” The anger in Sharindis’ voice was palpable as she glared across the room at nothing. “Even when he came back with a star on his shoulder, they continued to harass him. They went as far as attacking him in the street.” Her expression lightened into an evil grin. “Dad got to discipline them through the winter. He set four of his fifth-year warriors on each of them every day they came to practice. But Stavin is still hurting from the years before that. He still can’t believe that he has actually o
utstripped every other warrior in the history of Kel’Kavin.”
“It does sound like the tale of an ancient hero,” Marina conceded.
Sharindis nodded. “And even he can’t see himself as that hero--but I do.”
“I do as well, and so does my father,” Marina said with a deep sigh. “That’s why he couldn’t go haring off across the kingdom to avenge Ehrwan. Evandia needs him as a hero--and so do I.”
“Dracl Fah Comman,” Sharindis breathed in Old Tongue, “Shaval Fah Sevah, Dovan Kel, Domain Farindia.”
“The burden of the Dragon Blessed,” Marina translated, “the Duty of the Hero, the Code of the Warrior, and the Honor of the Land of Farind. And now the Honor of Evandia as well.”
Sharindis shook her head slowly. “So much to place on his slender shoulders.”
“Indeed,” Marina agreed, “but he carries it well.”
Chapter 38
STAVIN GOT HIS FIRST LOOK AT Sallin’s Magic Lamp late on his second day home. He was telling his family about some of his adventures in Twin Bridges and Sharindis said she wanted to write them down. Sallin immediately went to get her writing materials and set up the lamp.
Stavin looked at the bright spot of light on the parchment Sharindis was writing on and sat speechless for several moments. When he finally found his voice, all he could do was ask, “How does it work?”
Karlit looked at the girl and said, “Sallin, you designed it. You explain how it works.”
“You designed it, Salli?” Stavin asked as he gazed at her in wide-eyed wonder.
“Yes, Master Stavin,” she said as she bowed deeply. “The bowl reflects all of the light from the lamp forward onto the glass bottle. The water in the bottle gathers the light together and focuses it onto one spot. It’s a little like Mistress Shari’s crystal.”
Stavin was on his knees, turning his head every way he could to examine every detail of the device without disturbing it. “Master Kel’Zorgan would love one of these.”
“He does,” Sharindis said as she laughed. “His was the third one built.”
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