“And Harran said that Lord Daveed has been sniffing around here,” Java replied, and Marta nodded.
“I have already dealt with that problem. He has had a number of people in the county stirring up trouble. Trying to make you seem unfit.” Marta had to pause and take a drink. “We ran them out, and I made it clear to Lord Daveed that he was not welcome here. He tried to get snippy with me, but Maren and the Firewalkers convinced him that it was a bad idea.”
Java giggled and relaxed. If Captain Freeholm said it was all right, then it was all right. “That’s good to know. Have you had any other problems?”
“Just one,” Marta replied, pausing to look closely at Java. “Hunter Massen.”
Java covered her eyes with one hand. “Oh, no. What did he do?”
“He was in town, drunk, when some of the youngsters came down for a few drinks. One of them was Archer Geisler. She looks a lot like you, Java, and he attacked her. She suffered a broken arm and some cracked ribs. Hunter died with one of Mesta’s knives in his throat.” Marta looked down at the slight figure beside her, looking for her reaction.
“You judged her actions justified, I take it?” Java asked, looking up at Marta’s face.
“No,” Marta said softy, pausing to shake her head. “No, I’m too close to the Firewalkers for that. I asked Kellem to act as judge this time. He found her blameless. It’s the rest of the Massen family that you need to know about. Java, did you know he had six daughters? The two boys you sentenced were the eldest, but he had six girls at home, ages from two to twelve. And his wife! Oh, Gods Above and Below, what a woman! I would have been proud to have her in the Infantry. They all took the news of Hunter’s death rather well. I mean, laughter and cheering are not really what you expect when you tell a woman that her husband is dead,” Marta said with a wide grin.
“With Hunter Massen I would.”
Java and Jah’Moke slept in her bed in the manor that night, romping in the huge bed that had been Lord Darby’s. Marta had insisted she be assigned one of the guest rooms when she had arrived to take over, though she had picked out a good one. She explained to Java that “...I don’t want to have to move out every time you or one of the children come down here. This way I can keep my room.”
“But, there are no children,” Java said, puzzled.
Marta grinned and glanced at Jah’Moke. “Yet.”
Morning found Java and Jah’Moke closeted with Marta and the Linkville Council. “Good morning,” she began, gesturing to a table laden with breakfast breads and tea, kay, and cava. “Please help yourselves if you get hungry or thirsty.” She paused to smile at Captain Freeholm. The captain had used this format when having an informal officer’s meeting. “By now you all know that Jah’Moke and I are officially betrothed. Next year we will be wed, and Jah’Moke will be named as the next duke. During the time between now and then, we both have a lot of learning to do. I won’t be able to come down here for any but the most urgent problems. I wanted to assure you all that Lady Freeholm has my complete confidence, and that her decisions are to be carried out as if they were my decisions.
“Kellem,” she said, smiling at the mayor, “thank you again for your years of faithful service. You did very well in your management of the county. Lord Everit spoke highly of you when we met in Greensboro, and I never heard any complaints about you.”
Mayor Grendalstone stood and bowed deeply to Java. “It was no trouble, Princess. And at times, it was a distinct pleasure.”
Java nodded. “I would like to lay out my future plans for all of you. Several of you already know this, so bear with me.” She smiled at Barris Cartwright. “Lady Freeholm will remain as Lady High Chatelaine for Link County for the foreseeable future. Our firstborn will, of course, be the heir to the duchy. Our second born will be heir here. That means that, at the very least, Lady Freeholm will be here for the next twenty years, if not longer.” She again paused to smile at Marta.
“I have been approached by several individuals concerning changes in the county that Lord Darby did not approve of. Among these is a dam on the River Elind for another grist mill.” She looked at Barris and saw him nodding. “Barris has informed me that he is having a hard time managing all of the grains that are being produced, so I am giving my tentative approval. Lady Freeholm will, of course, be in charge of the project. Since no one else has the capital to finance a venture of this size, I will retain ownership of the mill when it is complete. I will, however, need someone who knows what they are doing to run it. The only candidate that I have heard so far is Eldric Cartwright. He has helped his father in the mill for his entire life, so I am confident that he will be able to handle it.
“The second project is the widening of the bridge here at Linkville and Linkton. Lord Everit will have to be consulted, but I have no objections so long as he agrees. Jah’Moke and I will be going over to see him before we leave, and I’ll bring the subject up then.” She smiled and looked around the room. “Is there anything else?”
Alic Galinden stood and bowed to Java before speaking. He was the innkeeper at the Silver Skull, an inn that was wholly owned by Java. “Princess, forgive me, but are you sure that you can afford all of these improvements? Lord Darby objected to the new mill primarily because it will cost at least five hundred gold royals for the dam and all of the supplies to build the mill.”
Java nodded and looked at Marta, her head slightly tilted to the side to ask the question. Marta stood and looked Alic in the eye as she spoke. “Princess Java’s account with the Gold Merchants presently amounts to over five thousand gold royals. That is the account for Link County alone. Lady Skyhaven informs me that the princess’ account for Mountainstand County is over two thousand gold. While the princess has made her accounts available to Duchess Samantha, very little has been drawn from them.”
“I can afford this quite easily, Alic,” Java said softly. “Especially now that the Firewalkers are back in town, filling the inns. As all of you have probably noticed, I do not engage in the type of partying that Lord Darby did. Neither does Lady Freeholm. Are there any other questions?” she asked, looking about the table.
Davin Potter, the baker, stood and bowed. “Princess, the roads in the county are in need of maintenance, especially those leading to Devon County.”
Java nodded and looked at Marta before answering. “We are aware of that, Davin, and plans are already being made for the spring, after planting.”
“Yes, Princess, I heard that. What I wanted to suggest was that you hire a Mage to aid with the bridges. There are two bridges between here and the Devon County border that have been damaged. If you could hire a Mage to spell them, they would last much longer.” Davin looked about the room and received nods of agreement from most of the councilors.
Java smiled. “I think I know a Mage who will be available to aid us with the bridges. Anything else?” she asked, still smiling.
Mayor Grendalstone stood and bowed next. “Princess, this is not a problem that you need concern yourself with, however, it is something that you should be aware of. As you can see, I am not a young man. Nor, unfortunately, a well one. I have been informed by the healers that I need to slow down, and, to that end, I’ll be resigning as mayor in the spring.” The councilors all murmured as they digested Kellem’s announcement. “Winter is a slow time for us, so there really isn’t that much to do. This spring, however, will be a busy one.” He looked at his friends and smiled. “You should all begin thinking about who you want as the next mayor.” Java was shocked, but not nearly as shocked as the other councilors.
“Kellem, why didn’t you say something?” Peony Weatherall asked, looking at her friend. “We all would have helped you if you had asked.” Her husband was the farrier, and she spent most of her time with his customers, but still had a large amount of free time.
“Because I didn’t need the help, Pen. The estate practically runs itself, and there hasn’t been all that much in the way of trade at the store with the Firewalkers gone. Now, the Firew
alkers are back, but Lady Freeholm is running the estate, so my workload is about the same. It’s just that I need more rest these days. The duties of mayor take a lot of time, and there are a lot of late nights handling the problems of our community that we do not want to burden the lady with.” He paused to smile at Marta. “There is also the fact that Ellis has presented me with my first great-granddaughter. A man with a great-grandchild has earned some rest.” He finished with a grin.
Java stood and nodded to Kellem. “You have done far more than your share over the years, Kellem, and you have indeed earned your rest. It will seem strange though. You have been mayor of Linkville for years, and you’ve set the tone for the town to a large extent.”
Kellem smiled and nodded his thanks to Java before continuing. “I have asked Vanden to come back and help with the store. He will inherit when I die, and he needs to start taking over. I believe you’ll like him, Princess. He has been traveling as a trader with his father-in-law.”
The rest of the meeting was routine, with Java deferring to Marta on most decisions. This gave the councilors a very clear message concerning Marta’s role in Link County.
After lunch Java found herself at loose ends and decided to ride over to Linkton and see Lord Everit. Jah’Moke came with her, along with Lieutenant Norstrand and her escort. Java frowned at that but didn’t try and prevent them from following her. The Greencastle Guards passed Java without even checking her identity, explaining that they had heard that she was in Linkville. Java frowned at their apparent lack of concern but didn’t question their actions.
Lord Everit was in his study when Java arrived and welcomed her with open arms. “Princess, welcome. Welcome indeed,” he said, hugging Java gently. “I heard you were down and had hoped to see you.”
Java smiled broadly. “Lord Everit, may I present my betrothed, Jah’Moke Cawfy of the Latté.” Java bowed to Lord Everit and he waved Jah’Moke forward.
“So, the mysterious Jah’Moke. Kaster sent me a note concerning the two of you. He was quite impressed by you when you passed through Greensboro, young man. Come, sit with me. I’m afraid the cold doesn’t agree with my joints anymore.” He motioned Java and Jah’Moke to chairs and a servant helped him back into his chair.
“Lord Everit,” Jah’Moke said from his place beside Java, “Java has told me of your kindness to her when she first visited Greensboro. Thank you. You made things much easier for her.”
Everit waved him away. “My pleasure. It’s not often that I get to play the gallant for a young woman these days. I...”
“Grandfather,” a young woman interrupted in a severe tone as she entered the room, “you’re supposed to be resting.”
Everit grimaced, then smiled. “Andrayah, come in here. We have guests. Princess Java, may I please present my eldest granddaughter, Andrayah Evanston. She and her husband, Dandel, will be the next lord and lady here.” Andrayah’s eyes widened, and she immediately went to one knee.
Java was puzzled by that bit of news. “Lord Everit, you told me that your son Gaden was the next Lord of Linkside County.”
Lord Everit suddenly looked sad, and Lady Andrayah explained. “My father went to Lender’s Dale with the Guard, Princess. He fell at the battle of Badden Bridge.”
Java was stricken by the sadness in her friend, and immediately went to hug the elderly lord in his chair. “I’m so sorry, Lord Everit. So sorry,” she whispered, and he patted her hand.
“It’s been nearly a year, little friend, but it still hurts,” he whispered back. Shaking himself a little, he straightened in his chair. “That cannot be undone, so let’s let it pass. Are you just visiting, or did you have another reason to come over here?”
Java smiled at his show of strength. “Both. I was going to come visiting and introduce you to Jah’Moke anyway, but the Linkville Council asked me about widening the bridge. Kellem thinks we might do better if it was wide enough to allow wagons to pass each other on the bridge. That way they wouldn’t have to wait until the bridge was clear to start out, and there would be fewer conflicts as to who came first, and who had the right of way.”
Lord Everit considered her proposal for a moment, then looked at Andrayah. “Andy, we are going to need Dan. Please go and fetch him,” he said, and smiled as she immediately left the room. “She’s a good girl. She and Dandel have been married for more than seven years and have three children already. Her only fault is that she sometimes treats me like one of the children.”
Java smiled but didn’t say anything. Andrayah looked like she was twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and Java had a feeling that she was going to be friends with her. After all, they were tied closely because of the two counties and their love for Everit. Andrayah returned within moments with a tall, elegantly dressed man in his late twenties.
Dandel Evanston was a handsome man, with deep brown hair, brown eyes, and a boyish grin that set Java at ease. He, on the other hand, was nervous with Java. “Princess, I am very pleased to meet you.”
“It is my pleasure, Lord Dandel,” Java replied. “May I present my betrothed, Jah’Moke Cawfy.”
Lord Dandel bowed minimally to Jah’Moke before turning to Lord Everit. “You wished to see me?”
“Yes, Dan, sit down. Princess Java has presented us with a proposal to widen the bridge, so wagons will be able to pass one another.” Lord Everit explained, looking the young man in the eye as he spoke.
Dandel considered the idea for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t think that that would be a good idea. We would have to close the bridge to do it properly, and neither of us could afford that. We might consider a second bridge just upstream of the existing one. That way we could designate one for traveling east, the other for traveling west. It will also provide us with some insurance should something happen to one of the bridges.”
Java thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “I will inform Lady Freeholm of our decision, and then she will be able to coordinate with you on the details. I’ll be stuck in Whitehall for quite some time. Duke Arten and Duchess Naria want us with them as much as possible, learning our duties as the future duke and duchess.”
“Have you placed that much faith in Lady Freeholm, Princess?” Lady Andrayah asked, sitting forward to look closely at Java.
Jah’Moke answered. “We trust Captain Freeholm implicitly, Lady Andrayah. Java has all but given her the county. She has the authority to make any necessary decisions without consulting Java.”
“She could ruin you, Princess,” Lord Dandel said softly, looking at Java.
“I don’t think so. But even if she did, I would still have full faith in her. Captain Freeholm made me what I am, with some help.” She smiled and looked at Jah’Moke. “I have entrusted her with my life. What’s a county compared with that?” Java smiled and laughed at the expression on Lord Dandel’s face.
“Marta Freeholm founded the Firewalkers when you were two years old, Andy.” Lord Everit interjected. “She has been handling dukes and duchesses, lords and ladies, and commoners of all ranks for more than twenty-four years. I think she will do quite well in Link County.”
Java spent a few more hours with Lord Everit, filling him in on her adventures since she had seen him last. He had her worried for a moment when she told him of the trouble at Wyvern’s Nest. He was laughing so hard that he started having trouble breathing.
Lady Andrayah put a stop to their conversation then. “Princess, please. Grandfather is not well, and he really should be resting.”
“Oh, Andy! Sometimes I think you forget who used to diaper you. I’m not one of your children,” Lord Everit said, scowling at his granddaughter.
“No, my children behave better than you do,” she shot back, making both Lord Everit and Java laugh.
“Lord Everit, I should go. And you should rest,” Java said, laughing. “I want you to be at my wedding next year.”
“Nothing could stop me, Little Friend.”
Java and Jah’Moke returned to Linkvill
e and informed Marta of the agreement with Lord Everit. “This is going to be a long-term project, Captain. Lord Dandel estimates at least two years.”
Marta nodded. “That sounds about right. Are you leaving in the morning?”
Java looked at Jah’Moke, then nodded. “Yes. We have to be back before Mid-Winter. That gives us ten days to travel before the celebration begins.”
The morning saw Java almost in tears as she said goodbye to Marta once again. “I’ll see you soon, Java.”
* * *
Java and Jah’Moke continued their journey back to Whitehall without interruption or incident. They passed through towns and villages, pausing to meet the local leaders, but refusing to stay the night unless they were planning to stop anyway. It took them eight days to reach Whitehall, and Java was relieved to be back.
After she and Jah’Moke had cleaned up, they went and found Arten and Naria. Robin was there, and Java was somewhat surprised until Arten explained.
“Robin has been acting as our House Mage while Adept Veldin is away visiting his relatives.”
Robin grinned broadly at Java and Jah’Moke, walking over to hug both of them before saying anything. “I like this type of work, Java. Marlan was right: Protective spells are much more pleasant to work with than combative ones.”
Java held Robin briefly. “It’s good to hold you again, Robin. I’ve missed you so much.” Looking up, she addressed Arten and Naria. “Father gave his permission, and we are ready to make the formal announcement.”
“We didn’t expect any trouble, so we already did,” Naria said, grinning broadly. “The Council is still a bit put out about it, but they’ll adjust. We’ve had a seat added to the Council Table at Arten’s right hand for Jah’Moke. The Council meets tomorrow, and we want both of you there.” Naria looked at Java and smiled. Her seat was at Naria’s left hand.
Jah’Moke glanced at Java and nodded. “I would like to make a suggestion, if I may?” He waited until Arten nodded before continuing. “Java and I should occasionally switch seats. That way the Councilors will get the idea that we will be working together, not one over the other.”
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