“We could do something about that,” Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey said in a soft voice. The other Elders froze and then looked at him.
“What do you mean, Mikal?” Charvil asked as he tilted his head to the side. He’d known Mikal for most of his life, and could tell he was up to something.
“I mean, my friends, that we have watched our kingdom fall apart for over two hundred years and done nothing about it. We isolated ourselves here in Kel’Kavin and let the rest of Farindia fall to the anarchists.” He paused to look around, and everyone’s attention was focused strictly on him. “I propose that we take a few liberties with King Kalin’s annexation proposal. Instead of just Kel’Kavin, how about the whole of Farindia from Kel’Kavin south to the Evandian border?”
“Are you mad?” Elder Kel’Naril asked in a stunned tone as he sat forward to stare at the Chief Elder.
“We wouldn’t be allowed to do that,” Elder Kel’Vardil stated flatly as he sat back and folded his arms. He looked at the others, as if seeking some sign that they agreed with him.
“Who’d stop us?” Charvil asked, drawing everyone’s attention. He looked calm and sure of himself. He was, after all, the Warmaster.
“The Traders’ Guild, for one,” Elder Kel’Caval said with a sharp nod as if he thought that was the final word on the matter.
Charvil looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “How?”
“They could--If they--I mean, they control--” Elder Kel’Caval sat back with a stunned expression on his face. “They couldn’t, could they? We don’t need the good will of the Farindian Traders’ Guild anymore,” he said in a near whisper. “Aravad and the Kavadian Traders’ Guild would be more than happy, in fact they are more than happy, to have our business, both as guards and as customers.”
“Precisely,” Mikal said as he looked at each of the elders. A small, satisfied smile curved his lips.
“They will resist,” Elder Kel’Naril pointed out.
“With what?” Charvil asked with a chuckle.
“Mercenaries,” Elder Kel’Caval said with a nod. “We’re hardly the only ones available. They can hire an army full of mercs.”
Charvil looked at him with raised eyebrows. “We can field seven hundred of the finest warriors that have ever lived. For the love of the Gods, Stavin could defeat most of the Evandian Royal Guards with a sword, and he’s only had a year of sword instruction. I could take the boys under instruction right now and take Trade Town and everything between here and Evandia with ease. With real warriors? Veterans? Be serious.”
There was a brief silence as each of the Elders considered the idea. Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey broke that silence after a few breaths. “I call for a vote of the Council. All those in favor of presenting this idea to Princess Marina, please signify.”
“Aye,” Charvil said immediately.
Elder Kel’Naril nodded. “Aye.”
“I must be as demented as you are,” Elder Kel’Vardil said. “Aye.”
Elder Kel’Caval shook his head slowly. “Let’s make it unanimous, then. Aye.”
Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey nodded. “By unanimous vote, the Elders’ Council agrees to present a proposal to Princess Marina that Evandia annex all of Farindia from Kel’Kavin south. Charvil, ask Stavin to arrange a conference with Her Highness as soon as she finds convenient.” Charvil nodded once, and then the council moved on to other topics.
After their session, Charvil went to find Stavin. He was, as usual, buried in the Archive. “Stavin, are you in here?” Charvil asked as he looked through the door.
“Yes, Sir,” Stavin’s voice answered from somewhere in the stacks of documents.
Charvil looked around, but still couldn’t find him. “Where?”
A pile of documents shifted and Stavin’s head popped up. “Over here, Sir.”
Charvil chuckled and shook his head. “Stavin, the Council requests a meeting with Princess Marina when she has a few moments to spare for us.”
Stavin squirmed out of the room, carefully brushing past precariously stacked scrolls and books. “Yes, Sir. Am I permitted to tell her what it’s about?”
“The annexation. We’re going to propose that Evandia annex all of Farindia from here south.” Stavin’s eyes went wide and his lips pursed into a silent whistle. “That’s about the reaction we expect from her as well.”
“I’ll go ask--no, I’ll go home and clean up, then I’ll go ask her. Shari has been getting on me about my appearance.” He grimaced as his father-in-law chuckled.
“She’s got Sallin watching you, doesn’t she?”
Stavin nodded. “And Marina as well.” He let loose a long, martyred sigh, and Charvil slapped him on the shoulder before he walked away.
Stavin excused himself from his duties, then went home and cleaned up. He put on one of the least gaudy outfits from Twin Bridges, and covered it with a cloak so no one from Kavinston would see him.
The guards saw him coming and announced him before he reached the doors of the Royal Suite. The door opened all the way and he was passed straight through.
“Good day, Stavin,” Princess Marina said as he walked over to her. “What can I do for you?”
“Marina, the Elders’ Council wants to meet with you. They are going to propose that Evandia annex all of Farindia from here south.”
Princess Marina stared at Stavin for a moment without speaking, and then took a deep breath. “That’s a bold step.”
Stavin nodded. “Charvil didn’t say what else they wanted to discuss with you.”
“That’s quite enough,” Princess Marina said as she looked at Stavin. “Tell the Council that I would be pleased to meet with them tomorrow after the mid day meal. That way I won’t look pole-axed while I’m talking to them.”
Stavin chuckled and shook his head. “You never look pole-axed, Marina.”
She laughed and shook her head back at him. “I feel pole-axed. Will you and Shari join me for the mid day meal tomorrow?”
“We would be pleased to,” Stavin replied with a bow.
“Good. Dahvin is taking a turn with the night guards, and I really don’t like eating alone.” Stavin looked puzzled, so she explained. “Apparently, some of my guards are taking exception to the routine you and Dahvin set out for them.”
Stavin shook his head slowly. “They are just going to have to adapt. The watch and training schedule is for their own good. It keeps them occupied.”
“From what I gather, that’s the problem. Stavin, these men and women are used to having all Twin Bridges at their beck and call. They’re bored.” Princess Marina sighed and bowed her head. “I’m bored as well.”
Stavin nodded his understanding. “What would you like to do?”
The princess shook her head. “I don’t know. Really, Stavin, I’ve almost always had my duties as princess to keep me busy. When I wasn’t busy being the princess, I was busy in school.”
Stavin was pursing his lips as he thought. “Maybe the Council can help you with that. You’ve got a better education than any of us, even Master Kel’Zorgan. And given what your father and the Council have in mind, you are going to be our princess. Maybe the Council can use your knowledge of Evandia and the rest of the kingdoms for all our benefits.”
Princess Marina considered that for a moment, then nodded. “It would certainly be better than what I’m doing now.”
Chapter 41
THE MID DAY MEAL WAS PUNCTUATED with laughter. Karlin had started eating solid foods, and Marina absolutely adored holding him while he gnawed on a cracker or biscuit. As Stavin had predicted, Shari had become much more comfortable with Marina, even more comfortable than Stavin himself.
The young family was still there when the Elders’ Council arrived. Stavin and Sharindis immediately excused themselves, but Marina held her hand up to stop them. “Stavin, I’d like you to stay. This is going to involve you.”
Stavin froze, and then automatically bowed. “As you wish, Your Highness.”
The E
lders were looking at him and the princess curiously, but Shari didn’t notice. “Salli, let’s go down to the classroom. Our third-year students are waiting.” She smiled as she turned toward where she could hear the princess’ voice and bowed. “We will talk more when you are through with the Council, Your Highness.”
Marina chuckled. “Very well, Shari.” She turned to the Elders and nodded regally. “Gentlemen, shall we retire to the library?”
The Elders all shared a quick glance, then Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey bowed. “As you wish, Your Highness.”
Princess Marina led them all to the small library of the Royal Suite and gestured toward the table. There were seven chairs around it. “Please be seated, gentlemen. Stavin, take the seat at my right hand, please.” She took her seat at the head of the table and Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey chose the foot. The other Elders sat as they chose, and Charvil ended up on the princess’ left hand. Stavin, as requested, was opposite him. “Chief Elder?” the princess asked, and he stood.
“Princess Marina, as you were told yesterday, we wish to lay a proposal before you. Rather than having Evandia annex just the Kel’Kavin Valley, we propose that you annex all of Farindia from here south, and move the border up to the Zel’Dorvan Valley to our west across to the Kel’Indra Valley to our east.” He opened a map and placed it on the table, turning it so it was right-side-up to the princess.
Princess Marina was nodding. “That encompasses somewhat less than one third of old Farindia. It has been discussed before, but never seriously considered for several reasons.” She looked around the table and everyone’s attention was focused on her.
“First, we’ve never really wanted it. This portion of Farindia is the poorest part. There is little in the way of arable land. It is mostly the foothills of the Mountains of Fear, and the High Plateau. Little grows there except trees and brush. There are only a few valleys such as Kel’Kavin, Zel’Dorvan, and Kel’Indra where enough crops can be grown to support a decent sized population. Stavin, tell us what you know about the founding of Farindia as far as its borders are concerned.”
Stavin was startled for an instant, and then bowed in his seat. “Farindia was founded to encompass Kel’Kavin and the unclaimed lands between Kavadia and Evandia, and extended to the mountains to our north and east. When Andaria was founded some six hundred years later, the border was redrawn across the Mountains of Sorrow and Farindia was hemmed in. The arable lands to the north-west of the Mountains of Fear were kept as part of Farindia, and the capital and most of the large cities were located there.”
The princess was nodding. “I mean no offense, gentlemen, but southern Farindia is just the leftovers. That is why there is still hardly any population between here and Evandia. The second reason is the more compelling of the two: Andaria swore to go to war with Evandia if we tried to take this territory.”
“Evandia and Andaria are already at war,” Charvil pointed out, and the princess nodded.
“Indeed we are. That is why I am not rejecting this idea out of hand.” She smiled and shrugged one shoulder. “We threatened Andaria the same way if they tried to take Farindia. And the border with Kavadia--” she raised her hands helplessly. “We’ve never taken on that mess because it is such a mess.”
Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey nodded and cleared his throat. “Yes, Your Highness. However, these lands are essentially unclaimed now. The only body of any authority is the old Farindian Traders’ Guild. The Traders in the Skykon Trade Town control this portion of Farindia. The Traders in Kahrant’s Pass control the territory north of us.” He paused as a bitter grimace twisted his lips. “We’ve always bought our supplies from Kahrant’s Pass because they were the closest place in Farindia that had enough for us. As you said, the major portion of Farindia’s arable land is north and west of the mountains.”
“And you caught them cheating you,” the princess interjected.
“Indeed, Your Highness. That’s another reason why we would like to be part of Evandia. I would personally prefer not to be associated with those thieves.”
Princess Marina was nodding as she looked at the Elders. “I will consider this carefully, gentlemen. Please leave me that map. If you’ll excuse us?” she gestured toward the door and all of the men stood to leave, but she held her hand out to Stavin. “Stay with me, Stavin.” Stavin was startled again, but he returned to his seat.
Once the elders had gone, she looked at Stavin. “I kept you here for a reason, Stavin. What your elders are suggesting is far more than my father had intended.”
Stavin took a deep breath and shook his head. “I know, Marina. I was surprised yesterday when Charvil told me why they wanted to see you.”
“There’s more to it than that.” She grabbed the map and ran her finger across it. “This area to the east of the foothills is really the only part of Farindia in the proposed area that has any population.” She traced a circle around the area in question. “The bad part is that it may as well be Kavadia as far as those inhabitants go. There are just seven small towns, and they are not known to be very civil places.”
Stavin nodded. “Seven towns, controlled by the seven Chosen clans that remained intact after the civil war. If I remember right, they were the family seats of some of Farindia’s oldest and most powerful families. The only way they survived was because of the number of private guards and farmers they were able to arm.”
“Indeed. Stavin, is there anyone in the valley who has the Farindian Royal blood?”
Stavin looked at her as his neck twisted. “The royal blood? Yes,” he said slowly as he thought. “Yes, several of the higher-ranking families had blood ties to the royal family. Princesses,” he said with a sly smile, “seem to love warrior types.”
Marina’s expression was one of barely suppressed mirth as she said, “That’s enough of that, Stavi. Honestly. Very well, then. Who has it?”
Stavin shrugged. “Probably seventy percent of us by now. The way we intermarry among the families, it may be more.”
Princess Marina was smiling as she nodded in satisfaction. “You don’t try to keep the line pure the way we do. We intermarry to keep the royal line as close to straight as we can. That is all to the good as far as this discussion goes.” She paused and her expression became more somber.
She spoke softly, as if choosing her words carefully. “Stavin, as survivors of the Farindian Royal house, you are all in a much better position to establish order in Farindia. That’s another reason for me not to reject this idea immediately. There’s something else you should know now, before all of this gets out of hand.” She reached out and took him by both hands as she stared into his eyes. “I have the parchment, signed and sealed by my father, Sarvan, and myself, that changes your name to Zel’Andral. Dahvin knows about it. It will stay in my possession unless something happens to my father and Sarvan.”
Stavin was instantly upset, but he didn’t pull away. “Marina, no. I mean, why?”
She smiled sadly. “For the same reasons I’m here in Kel’Kavin, Stavi. Daddy is afraid that Andaria might win this war. There has to be a male heir to carry on the name.” Her smile twisted a little as her expression softened. “You are already a prince of Evandia, Stavi.”
Stavin was shaking his head in negation. “No. No, that can’t be,” he said as he tried to come to terms with what he’d been told. “What about Dahvin?”
“Dahvin only has two older brothers. They are both serving officers in the Army. If things go that badly, Dahvin will be Lord of Zel’Fordal. The same is true of all of the guardsmen. The guardswomen are here because I have to have female guards, but the men are all the younger sons of some of my father’s staunchest allies.”
“But why me?” Stavin asked as he looked into Marina’s eyes.
“Because you are Dragon Blessed, Stavin. You are already Chosen. Chosen by a dragon, just as my ancestors were Chosen by Dandarshandrake.” She smiled and giggled a little. “And to keep me from marrying you if you became available. I would. You a
re everything I asked for in a husband.”
Now Stavin looked at the table and squirmed a little. “Marina, I--”
Marina smiled tenderly as she said, “I know, Stavi. And I wouldn’t wish for anything ill to befall my friend Shari. But this is why I wanted you to be part of this discussion. If the worst should happen and I become queen, then you would be crown prince. This decision involves you as much as it involves me.”
Chapter 42
STAVIN WAS REELING FROM THE THINGS he’d just been told, and went home to be alone so he could think. Sharindis and Sallin brought Karlin home a little while later and found him sitting in the darkened library, staring blankly out the window.
“Master Stavin, are you all right?” Sallin asked as soon as she saw him.
“Stavi?” Sharindis asked, waiting for him to make a sound so she could find him. The room was far too dim for her to be able to see him.
“I’m all right,” Stavin said, and Sharindis moved toward him. “Sallin, prepare the evening meal, please. I have to discuss something with Shari.”
Sharindis walked confidently into the library and sat next to him. He touched her arm and she handed over Karlin. Stavin loved sitting with Karlin in his lap.
“What is wrong, Stavin?” she asked in a calm tone that didn’t reflect any of her concerns. Stavin sitting alone in the dark was disconcerting.
Stavin took a deep breath and let it out in an explosive sigh. “It’s a long story.” He told her what had happened and the revelations that Marina had made. All of them.
Sharindis was silent the whole time, just listening until he was through. When he was silent she caressed his arm. “A prince. And Chosen. And Marina.” She chuckled, startling him. “Oh, Stavi. If I was going to choose your next wife, I would choose her. But that is not something we need to discuss.”
Stavin chuckled as well. “No, we don’t. Shari, what do you think about what Marina said?” He shifted so he was looking at her while Karlin played with his hair. “About me already being Chosen because of the dragon.”
The Andarian Affair Page 27