Sharindis took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “She’s right, up to a certain point. In one of the histories there is mention of Dandarshandrake saying, You are my Chosen people, to the King of Lux when he first arrived. But, if I remember right, they called themselves the Chosen before that. It meant something else. Dandarshandrake just made it official, and they all adopted the Zel’ prefix to designate who they were.”
Stavin was nodding. “And the warriors were all Clan of the Cat. I remember part of that. But am I Chosen?”
Sharindis didn’t laugh, though she wanted to. He always had such a hard time accepting good things. “Well, the dragon didn’t exactly choose you. You kind of forced yourself on it. But it didn’t kill you, either. It saw something special in you, an unusual courage, and honored you. So, yes, that makes you Chosen.”
Stavin sat back and hugged Karlin to his chest. “There was a time when becoming a prince would have meant the world to me. Now,” he bit his lips and took a deep breath, “now it would just mean my friends were dead.”
“Stavi,” Sharindis said in a very gentle tone, “your friends knew that. King Kalin had to have known it. That’s why Marina didn’t mention it before. She knew how you’d react.”
Stavin blinked a few times as he considered her statement, then nodded. “You’re probably right. Sometimes I just have to wonder why this all happened. I just can’t understand.”
Sharindis reached over and caressed his face. She felt the worry lines across his forehead and the tension in his jaw. She whispered, “Dracl Fah Comman.”
Stavin closed his eyes. “Dragon Blessed. Sometimes I have to wonder exactly what that means.”
* * *
Dahvin joined Marina for the evening meal. She seemed preoccupied at first, so he just ate what was in front of him until she finally said, “I told Stavin everything.”
Dahvin froze for an instant, then looked her straight in the eye. “How’d he take it?”
Marina let a sardonic smile twist her lips. “Like I’d clubbed him over the head.”
Dahvin nodded. “About right. Does he believe it?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Marina looked at the table. “I haven’t told you everything.”
“Oh?”
“They want us to take over all of southern Farindia, not just Kel’Kavin.”
“Gods Below,” Dahvin breathed.
“Indeed. I am going to ask Master Kel’Zorgan to research who in the valley has the closest blood ties to the Farindian Royal family. Stavin says most of them have some royal blood. If we do this, it would be helpful to have someone with ties to the old royal family as prince regent. I’ll bet a gold crown that Stavin is high on the list.”
“No bet,” Dahvin replied with a grin.
She smiled right back at him. “He has the nobility that we’re all supposed to have, doesn’t he? Gods Above, if only we’d seen this earlier.”
“It would have made no difference, Marina. He had to come to the realization on his own. There at the end in Twin Bridges he was coming into his own. He was finally accepting that he was as good as any of us. Well, maybe not you, Sarvan, and Uncle Kal, but the rest of the Chosen guardsmen.”
“And now he has to accept that he’s better.”
* * *
The winter settled down after that. Stavin and Karvik were once again pressed into service training the young men who were in their last year with Dragon’s Tongues. The Royal Guards on their off days trained under Charvil and Barvil. Princess Marina found an occupation as well.
The princess was wandering through the fortress, looking for a distraction. I miss Twin Bridges. I miss the palace. I even miss the Council. She shook her head as that thought formed. I hate the Council, but I miss being busy. Mostly, I miss Daddy. Except for a few short intervals, she and her father had never been separated. Especially not since her mother’s death.
She wasn’t really going anywhere, just getting out of her suite, when she’d passed the classroom. The children were reciting multiplication tables, and she stopped by the door to listen. She smiled as fond memories of the lessons of her childhood surfaced. Those were such happy times with Mommy and Daddy.
The lesson had concluded, and the children were silent when Sharindis’ voice asked, “Who is there?”
Princess Marina stepped into the doorway and said, “It’s just me, Shari.” There was the sound of desks and chairs scraping on the floor as the students, all thirty-nine of the seven-year-olds, quickly went to their knees. Princess Marina grimaced and said, “My apologies, Shari. I didn’t mean to disturb your class. Children, return to your seats,” she commanded and the children all quickly obeyed.
“Please come in, Your Highness,” Shari said with a bow. “The children have all been dying to meet you.”
Princess Marina walked over to Shari’s desk and turned toward the class and nodded to the class. “Good day, children.”
Almost in unison the children replied, “Good day, Princess Marina.”
Sharindis turned toward the princess and asked, “What can I do for you, Your Highness?”
“I was just out strolling around the fortress when I heard the children reciting their lesson. It brought back so many happy memories of my childhood that I decided to stop and listen.” There was the sound of surprised gasps from the room and she turned to smile at the children. “Yes, I went to school just like you. All of the Chosen do.” She looked at the doorway to where her day guards were standing and grinned. “They did as well.” There were smiles and nods of agreement from the guardsmen and women.
A little girl raised her hand hesitantly, and the princess nodded to her. “You have a question, child?” she asked courteously.
The girl stood, then went to her knees. “Princess Marina, why did you have to go to school? Don’t you have people who do your figuring for you?”
Princess Marina considered the question carefully for a moment. “I do have people who spend their entire day looking at the figures that define so much of Evandia’s commerce, but it is important for me to be able to confirm those figures sometimes. If I am in council with my father, I can’t just ask someone else to check the sums. If it sounds wrong, I need to be able to check them myself.” She smiled a little and then continued. “Really, I have to be able to do the figures in order to tell if something sounds wrong in the first place.”
The girl stood and bowed, then returned to her seat as a boy raised his hand. Princess Marina looked at the boy and nodded as she said, “Yes?”
The boy knelt, then asked, “Did you have to study history, Your Highness?” His tone and expression made it clear that he hated it.
Princess Marina actually laughed at that one. “Yes, I did, and still do. Have you heard the saying that those who forget the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them? You must know the history in order to avoid the mistakes.” She paused for a moment, then continued. “Let us take an example. In the early days of Lux, the empire expanded into the territory that is now the Kingdom of Coravia. When they did, they simply conquered the people who lived there and said, We are your lords now. They didn’t try to assimilate them, to make them part of the Luxandian culture. Ten years later, those people rebelled.” She paused and looked around. Every eye in the room was on her. “Fifty thousand people died in that rebellion. That is why, from that point forward, Luxand didn’t just conquer territory. New territories were brought into the empire and made part of it, not just servants to the Chosen.”
The boy returned to his seat, and the sound of many young voices intruded from the hall. Sharindis said, “Your pardon, Princess Marina, but it is time for these children to go and the next class to come in.”
The princess nodded and Sharindis waved the children on their way. The next class was the eight-year-olds, and they all knelt to the princess as they entered the room. Princess Marina sighed and waved toward the desks as she said, “Take your seat
s.” The children immediately obeyed.
Princess Marina turned to Sharindis and said, “I should go.”
Sharindis bowed her head. “You are welcome to stay, Your Highness. Stavin told me something of your education. Perhaps you could teach with me. I’m certain,” she turned toward the children, “that they will listen to you. This class is here for their history lesson.”
There was a certain eagerness in the princess’ voice as she asked, “May I really?”
From that day forward, Princess Marina could be found in the classroom, teaching alongside Sharindis or Master Kel’Zorgan. She didn’t teach every class. In some classes, she joined the students, especially when the history of Kel’Kavin came up. It wasn’t long before the children were as comfortable with her as they were with Shari.
Chapter 43
THE WINTER PASSED SLOWLY. MIDWINTER AND the eleven days of the Mid Winter Festival came and went, and both Marina and Dahvin joined Stavin’s family for the ceremony on Mid Winter’s Night, huddling together in the small house and talking all night, telling stories of their families as far back as they knew them.
Princess Marina spoke softly. Karlin was bundled in a thick blanket as he slept in her lap. “Zel’Andral was from right outside Lux. We owned, or claimed we owned, about two thousand dragons of prime farmland. The farm was called Andral, which meant something like ‘very rich land’ back then. According to the old maps and deeds, it was about where the Weaver’s Quarter is now. For three thousand, six hundred and seventy-one years the Zel’Andral family has been a part of our culture.
Dahvin grinned at his cousin. “Zel’Fordal is actually as old as Zel’Andral. We were farmers in the far eastern corner of Luxand. My ancestor Revandar Fordal was in Lux when Dandarshandrake arrived, and changed our name from Fordal to Zel’Fordal. For three thousand, six hundred and seventy-one years Zel’Fordal has stood with the empire and kingdom.”
Stavin spoke so softly that his voice was barely audible. “Kel’Aniston is from Reynadia, but we don’t know that much about it. Our history was lost during the rebellion after Dandarshandrake left us. The entire family, or at least our branch of the family, was wiped out except for three children. My ancestor Malvan Kel’Aniston grew up and rebuilt our line, and for five hundred and thirty-nine years the Kel’Aniston family has protected Farindia and the Farindian Royal Family.”
Sharindis leaned her head against Stavin’s shoulder. “Kel’Horval is as old as your families. Master Warrior Selmar Horval was a member of the king’s guard when Dandarshandrake came to Lux. He and all of the king’s guard swore eternal service to the king, and took the Kel’ prefix as their own. For three thousand, six hundred and seventy-one years, Kel’Horvals have served the empire and kingdoms, usually as Royal Guards.”
All four of them spoke together as they said, “And may our families continue into the future as far as they extend into the past.”
* * *
Stavin seldom saw his old tormentors. His elevation to Warleader Second, along with his status as a Ward of the Evandian Crown, had left them nothing to say. Their glares still resounded, but none of them dared even approach him.
It was on one of those rare occasions that Karvik pointed something out to him that he’d completely missed. “Harner isn’t here.”
“What?”
Karvik nodded to where the other three bullies had gathered. “Harner is missing.”
“He may just be busy,” Stavin pointed out. “He is the oldest son now. Jorvan may just have him working.”
“No. He’d have switched his practice days around to be with them.” Karvik looked at the bullies and said, “Lanik, come over here.”
All three of them came over and snapped to attention. “Yes, Warleader Kel’Carin?”
Karvik asked, “Where is Harner?”
“Andaria, Warleader Kel’Carin,” Lanik answered.
Karvik and Stavin shared a significant look, then Karvik nodded to the young men. “Thank you for the information. You may go.” They bowed deeply to him, then turned and walked away.
“No wonder this has been such a quiet winter,” Stavin muttered, and Karvik laughed at him.
“Three stars, and you’re still worried about a one-striper like Harner?”
Stavin sighed deeply. “I know, Kar. I know!” He threw his hands up in exasperation. “It’s just habit, I guess. I’ve been afraid of him for so long that I keep looking for him in the shadows.”
“No need to look any longer,” Karvik pointed out. “How’s big-sister Marina treating you?”
Stavin groaned. “Big-sister Marina has joined forces with Shari and Sora. Those two are a bad influence on her.”
Karvik laughed at that. “Serves you right. Gotta find some way to keep you humble. And speaking of humbling, Dad is looking at us and he has an ax in his hands.”
Stavin closed his eyes and took two deep breaths before reopening them. “Well, there’s no avoiding it. Lucky for me, I’m scheduled in the Archive tomorrow.”
Karvik chuckled. “Serves you right for showing off. Go get beaten. It won’t be any better later.”
Stavin walked resolutely over to Barvil and bowed. “My turn again, Warmaster Kel’Carin?” Barvil simply nodded once. Stavin picked up the ax near Barvil’s side and walked into the circle.
Barvil joined him and took a ready stance. “Do you think you can stay on your feet this time, Stavin?”
“I thought I could stay on my feet last time, Sir. Right up until my butt hit the ground.”
Barvil grinned and attacked. Stavin’s reflexes saved him from the first attack, but Barvil’s ax clanged against his back plate a moment later. Barvil shook his head. “You’ve got to keep moving, Stavin. You know that better than anyone. You are too small to go toe-to-toe against just about anyone, so you’ve got to use the advantages you have. You are nimble and quick. Stay close, inside my swing. Don’t let me get a good swing that you can’t avoid. Now again.” He attacked Stavin again, and this time Stavin managed to stay alive through six exchanges before Barvil’s ax slammed into his chest.
“Better,” Barvil said, “but not good enough. Again.”
Four spans later Stavin was a sodden, sweat-soaked mess in spite of the cold. He was breathing heavily, and had to keep blinking sweat out of his eyes. Barvil was in better shape, but not exceptionally so. “Go get cleaned up and dry off before you catch a chill,” Barvil commanded as he removed his helmet to dry his face. “You have two days to recover before your next session. I expect you to do as well at the beginning of that session as you did at the end of this one.”
Stavin snapped to attention, then bowed deeply. “Yes, Warmaster.” At Barvil’s nod, he walked away, going home to bathe and put on warm clothes.
* * *
“That wasn’t bad,” Charvil said as he stepped up to Barvil’s side.
“Not bad, but not good either,” Barvil said as he looked at his cousin. “He only scored once, and just a glancing blow. It wouldn’t have done much damage even with real axes.”
“Yes,” Charvil agreed, “and I remember a smart-mouthed cousin of mine who spent two winters with the ax before he scored even that well against the Warmaster.”
Barvil grinned at him. “Must be some other cousin. Couldn’t have been me. I was never smart-mouthed.”
Charvil let loose a harsh bark of laughter. “No, smart and your mouth were never associated.” He grinned at Barvil’s glare. “Our guardsmen are waiting.”
Barvil nodded and joined Charvil in front of the guards. Two men and three women faced them. What Barvil found most remarkable was that the women seemed to be as good, and in some cases better, than the men. Their swords were identical to the men’s. Their uniforms, with a few minor tailoring changes, were identical. Even their armor was the same. There was also the fact that one of them bore the name Zel’Karyn. She was a descendant of Mary Death’s youngest brother.
The training was the same, no matter who they were. Advanced sword wo
rk was what they all had to know, and both Charvil and Barvil were experts in that craft.
Charvil, as the official Warmaster of the Academy, detailed their lesson for the day. “Gentlemen, ladies, you have all done very well in the time you’ve been here.” He paused to let them absorb the unusual event of being praised. “Now it’s time to begin phase two. Multiple opponents.” He smiled at their looks of shock. “You will be facing off against two of our fifth-year men.”
Two men in full armor stepped forward and bowed deeply to Charvil. “Sergeant Zel’Halvis, you first,” Charvil said, and the woman stepped forward. Both of the warriors gave her dubious looks, but joined her in the circle. “Standard drill, two-on-one. Begin.”
The staccato clash of the wooden blades sounded like a child running a stick across a picket fence. Sergeant Zel’Halvis lasted for half a span before one of the men landed a killing blow. She and both men immediately stepped back.
The sergeant bowed to the man who’d struck her, and both men bowed back. “That was very good,” one of them said as he stared at her.
“Very good, but she needs to be better,” Charvil said, interrupting the men. “Again.”
Dahvin had come down to watch, and walked slowly over to the Warmaster’s side. “Your pardon, Warmaster Charvil, but how far are you planning to take my people?”
Charvil turned to him and bowed slightly. “Lord Dahvin, I plan on taking each of them as far as they can go. And you as well. I understand that you’ve been sparring against Karvik and Stavin. Could you beat either of them if it really counted?”
Dahvin took a deep breath, then nodded. “Stavin. Most of the time. As for Karvik--he’s as fast as Stavin and as strong as Barvil.” He glanced at Barvil and saw the smug smile on the older man’s face. “The best I’ve done against him is two strikes before he got his third. Once.”
Charvil smiled slightly. “You can beat Stavin with a sword, but even I can’t beat him with a Dragon’s Tongue in his hands. That’s why he and Karvik are teaching the final year boys. What you and your guards have to do is get to be as good as those two. With swords, at least. I promised the king and general that we’d train you as well as we could this winter.”
The Andarian Affair Page 28