“Good people, by Princess Java’s wish, this town is no longer a garrison. The name is officially changed to North Kilber Pass, effective immediately. Now, I need some information about all of you. Would the head of each household please step forward?”
Shair waited as the people sorted themselves out and found herself facing fifteen men and two women. She nodded to them, then addressed the old man who had spoken to her the night before. “Will you start, Sir? Please introduce yourself, your family, and state the position that you hold here.”
The man nodded and bowed before speaking. “I be Orka Havel, Lady. I be here with me wife, Del. I be a woodsman by trade.”
The next man stepped forward as Orka stepped back. “My name is Prentice Norstead, my wife is Moran. We have three boys, Bin, Neval, and Grel. I’m a farmer, and we have a few fields south of town, east of the road.”
One of the women was next, and she looked nervously up at Shair as she spoke. “I am Sindis Portersdoter. My husband went home to help fight for Lender’s Dale but didn’t come back for us. I’m a tanner’s girl and keep handy with the pelts from those that hunt. My son Nalin and daughter Perdit are here with me.”
The next man glared at Sindis as he stepped forward. “I’m Andel Cooper. As my name implies, I’m a cooper, though there’s little enough call for me here. My wife, Willa and sons Geof and Gren are also here. We have a small house and shop near the south gate.”
The next man was obviously a smith with thick arms and numerous scars from his trade. “I am Berd Porter, Blacksmith. I’m alone here.”
The next man stepped forward, and Shair was impressed by his lithe grace as he moved. “I am Sahrif Delinton. I am a hunter, and have my wife, Lerna, with me.”
The rest of the people were farmers who had managed to scrabble a decent crop from the stony ground of the area. Of the fifty-two people present, only twenty-seven were adults. Shair nodded to each as they introduced themselves, but she inwardly cringed. There are so few of them. The last reported population prior to the invasion of Lender’s Dale had been three thousand, not including the Guard. They had brought the total up to over forty-five hundred.
Shair took a deep breath before speaking again. “Thank you all for the information. I must confess that we had hoped there would be more people here, but that cannot be helped. With any luck, there will be some more settlers coming. Before I leave, I will meet with each of you individually and formally establish your claims.”
The second woman, Maldin Barden, stepped forward again. “Lady, will we be able to keep our holding? I have no man to take title.”
Shair nodded. “That’s not a problem, Maldin. Princess Java does not object to women holding land.” Her pronouncement caused a stir among the men, several of who looked outraged by her announcement. Shair smiled at their expressions. “Remember, Princess Java does not have a man to take title for her either.”
Shair and her patrol spent five days establishing the status of the residents of North Kilber Pass. There were a number of problems that Shair solved, the most pressing being the isolation that the people felt. They felt safe enough in and around the town, but there were too few of them to safely send parties into Greencastle or Lender’s Dale for news.
Shair nodded when the lack of news was brought up. “This is a very isolated area, and the pass isn’t the easiest way to Lender’s Dale. I can’t see a way to get more people to come this way. However, I can assure you that you won’t be as isolated from now on. There will be patrols from the mercenary companies coming up this way every few weeks. I’m also going to try to get more people to move up this way. Maybe not as many as there were before the end of the war, but enough to make this a viable community.”
Lieutenant Parkinston snorted derisively when she said that. “Who would be fool enough to move up here? There’s nothing here to draw settlers. There’s barely any farmland, and what there is of it is poor quality. There aren’t enough trees to rate a lumber operation. Who do you think you’ll get to come up here?”
Shair pointed to the massive granite mountains without looking and shrugged. “Maybe a quarryman or two.” That silenced the lieutenant quite effectively.
The next town was located three days’ travel south on the southern branch of the Kilber Pass. A river that ran out of the mountains from an alpine lake had cut a gorge that provided an accessible, if treacherous, route to Lender’s Dale. The water flow varied from a trickle in the winter to a raging torrent in the spring. The Guard had built the garrison close to where a natural widening of the river made a small lake, though it was located in a canyon that was easily thirty feet deep. Shair and her patrol received much the same greeting here as at North Kilber Pass.
“That’s close enough! Identify yourselves,” a disembodied voice shouted, and Shair halted as she looked for the speaker.
“I am Lady Skyhaven, Lady High Chatelaine of Mountainstand County. Who are you, and where are you?” she shouted back, still searching the wall for the speaker.
A shadow moved on the top of the wall and resolved itself in to the figure of a man in a Guard uniform. “We wondered when someone was going to come relieve us,” he said as he disappeared again, then reappeared at the gate.
Shair shook her head. “We’re not here to relieve you. I’m on an inspection tour of the county for Princess Java. How many of you are there?”
The man, a corporal, looked startled by that. “There are six of us, Lady.”
Shair nodded. “And how many civilians?”
“That’s counting civilians, Lady,” the corporal said, stopping five paces from Shair. “Five Guardsmen and Granny Painter. She stayed to see to us.” He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “Said she felt sorry for us, eat’n our own cook’n.”
Shair and the rest of the patrol were shocked. “They all left, Corporal? All of the guards and refugees?”
“Yes, Lady. Our captain ordered us to stay until Princess Mountainstand sent someone to occupy the garrison,” the corporal said, his disapproval of being left behind apparent. “We’ve been waiting for several months.”
Shair sat with her face in her hands for a moment before speaking again. “Very well.” Looking at the men and women behind her, she considered the best course of action. “I want ten volunteers to stay here. Couples if you choose.” The men and women looked at one another and six couples rode forward. “All right, twelve volunteers. Java liked the name Roaring River for this town. Let the old woman have a house or inn if she wants one and keep her safe. She’s the only settler here.”
Verris Carstead saluted Shair and led the volunteers in to the town while Shair addressed the corporal. “Who’s your officer?”
The man shook his head. “Sergeant Williamston is in charge, Lady,” the corporal said as four more Guardsmen walked out of the gate.
The sergeant stepped forward and received a report from his subordinate before addressing Shair. “Lady Skyhaven, we are very pleased to see you. Are we relieved?”
Shair nodded. “Give my people a day or two to get settled. Please show them anything they should be aware of. Granny Painter is welcome to stay if she chooses, or to leave. If she does leave, I count on you men to see her safely delivered to wherever she is going. You can call it an order if anyone asks. Any questions?”
The sergeant shook his head, then saluted. “No, Lady. And thank you. Granny has been a mother to the lot of us since we first built this town.”
Shair nodded, then directed her abbreviated patrol to continue on. There was plenty of daylight left, and no reason to stay. There were a few grumbles, but without an inn or beer, they weren’t serious.
The third town was four days’ travel from Roaring River, and came as a definite surprise to Shair. The town was anything but deserted. The Guard had not left. Nor, apparently, had many of the refugees. They were again stopped short of the gate, but the sentry recognized the Firewalker uniforms and called for his officer immediately.
Lieutenant Philip
Wright walked quickly forward and looked up at Shair. “Princess Java?” he asked cautiously.
Shair smiled and shook her head. “No, I am Lady Skyhaven. The princess has appointed me as her Lady High Chatelaine. Are you in charge, Lieutenant?”
“Oh, no, Lady. Lord Captain Frontain is still here. Please follow me. I will take you to him immediately,” the lieutenant said as he headed back into the compound.
Shair smiled and followed closely behind him. This is more like it. There are enough people here to make this a real town. The town wasn’t overflowing, but it was still full enough to be called a community. The lieutenant led Shair to what had to be officer’s country. They were met there by the captain and a few officers. Shair dismounted and walked forward, smiling at the captain.
“Lord Captain Frontain, I am pleased to meet you at last. Princess Java told me quite a bit about you. I must confess, I’m surprised to see so many of you still here.”
Lord Captain Frontain frowned, then nodded. “General Warles sent a message about you, Lady Skyhaven. He seems quite taken with you. Please join me. Lieutenant Wright, please see to the billeting of the lady’s escort,” he said, then turned away without acknowledging the lieutenant’s salute.
Shair followed along, curious about the captain’s continued presence. He ushered her into his office and offered her a glass of wine before he would answer her questions.
“Lady Skyhaven, we are still here because we don’t dare leave. As you noticed, there are a large number of refugees still here. There are a number of lords and ladies of Lender’s Dale still here as well, and they have been causing an inordinate amount of trouble, trying to establish their rights of precedence. Every time we try to leave, fights break out between the Houses.”
Shair shook her head in disbelief. “Why don’t they go home and reestablish themselves there? This area won’t support a large population.”
“Because several of them want to take over as lord of this area, if not the county. The princess had not appointed anyone, so they decided to appoint themselves.” Lord Captain Frontain’s expression spoke louder than words concerning his feelings toward the recalcitrant nobles.
“Then I suppose I should address them all. Would it be possible to call a meeting of the nobles?” she asked, her grin drawing an echoing smile from the captain.
A bell brought a lieutenant to the door and a meeting was called for that evening. Shair was shown to an officer’s room and left to freshen up. An orderly knocked discreetly at the door several hours later and informed her that the nobles were waiting. She was shown to an inn and led to Lord Captain Frontain’s side.
“Lords and ladies,” he said, standing with his arm raised to catch everyone’s attention, “I am pleased to present Lady Shair Skyhaven, Lady High Chatelaine of Mountainstand County.”
Shair stood next to him and waited for the room to quiet before speaking. “Noble lords and ladies, as of a month ago, Princess Java appointed me to see to her county. My commission is quite clear: The disposition of these lands and the towns that the Guard built is at my discretion. Any claims on these lands must be approved by me. Lord Captain Frontain has told me that he has had trouble with some of you trying to take over this town and the surrounding area for yourself.” Shair paused to survey the faces of the nobles. “That will not happen.”
An older man stomped forward, glaring at Shair. “I have been here for four years! I have a rightful claim on this town. I...”
“Have nothing!” Shair snapped, interrupting him. “How much of your personal fortune went into building this town? How much work did you do, building it? The only person who has a claim here is Princess Java. Or Duke Kaster. However, the duke has presented these towns to the princess. Her will, and her will alone, controls them.”
Another lord stepped forward. “We lost everything in Lender’s Dale! We have a right to establish ourselves here!”
“I agree,” Shair said levelly. “You do not, however, have the right to take over another noble’s holding. You may petition any of the County Lords for land in their counties. You must, however, go to the trouble of making that petition. You cannot simply claim that this town, or any land, is yours by right of possession.”
“But there hasn’t been anyone to petition!” a lady said, striding forward to glare at Shair. “Where has Princess Java been? She hasn’t spent any time here since she was awarded this land.”
Shair was instantly furious with the woman for daring to attack Java. “Where has she been?” she shouted, startling the gathered nobles. “She has been here, fighting to keep Frander out of Greencastle! She has been in Lender’s Dale, fighting to retake your lands! She has been sacrificing herself for you, and you dare to criticize her for it? You conceited bitch!”
The nobles recoiled from Shair’s outburst, shocked beyond words by her use of foul language. Lord Captain Frontain was even more shocked. General Warles had shared the secret of Shair’s identity with him, swearing him to secrecy. Princesses did not generally speak like that.
The first lord who had spoken went from shock to anger in the blink of an eye. “Lord Frontain, are you going to allow this woman to speak to us in that manner?” he demanded, glaring at Shair.
“Oh, yes,” the captain replied, grinning. Lord Simonson had been the instigator of most of the trouble. “She is, by her birth, far higher ranking than anyone here. And, by her appointment as Princess Java’s Chatelaine, she is the lady of these lands. You are, one and all, her guests.”
Shair glanced at the captain when he mentioned her birth. What does he know? She shook her head and let it pass. Questions would wait. “Who are you?” she asked softly, her eyes again fixed on the man before her.
The lord stuck his chin out belligerently. “I am Lord Harvey Simonson, Lord of Frost County in Lender’s Dale.”
Shair nodded minimally. “And why haven’t you gone home, Lord Harvey? Frost County has been freed.”
“It has also been ruined!” he snapped. “That damned lake that’s covering Lender’s Dale is covering most of Frost as well!”
“That, Lord Simonson, is not our problem. If you wish to reestablish yourself, I would suggest that you offer your assistance to Duchess Samantha. Lender’s Dale has a great deal of untenanted land at the present time,” Shair said, glaring at him. “You will not, however, be granted a piece of Princess Java’s lands.”
“That’s not your decision to make!” he growled, but Shair cut him short.
“It is my decision. As is the disposition of any other lands in Mountainstand County. Lord Harvey, your presence in Mountainstand is no longer welcome. Go home or go to another county. The choice is yours. You may not, however, remain here.” Shair glared at the lord with such fury evident in her eyes that he took a step back. Turning to the captain at her side, she nodded her head. “Lord Captain Frontain, please have an escort remove this man from Princess Java’s lands.”
To the shock of the assembled nobles, Lord Frontain bowed to Shair. “As you command, Lady Skyhaven,” he said, snapping his fingers. Two junior officers immediately stepped forward and saluted. “Escort Lord Simonson back to Lender’s Dale. Duchess Samantha will surely present him with a suitable reward for his service to her duchy.”
The officers stepped forward and took Lord Harvey by the arms. “This way, Lord Simonson,” the one to the right said, applying gentle pressure to get the stunned lord moving.
Shair watched the scene with satisfaction. “You may all join him, if you choose. If you wish to stay, you may file a petition with me while I’m here.” She turned and walked away, ignoring the outraged comments of the nobles.
Lord Captain Frontain covered his mirth as he followed her, satisfied beyond words with her handling of the nobles. He escorted Shair back to his office and poured wine for both of them. Raising his glass in salute, he grinned broadly. “Lady Skyhaven, you are magnificent.”
Shair nodded and grinned back at him. “Thank you, Lord Frontain. You have me c
urious, though. What did you mean about my birth?”
The captain had the grace to look embarrassed. “Evand told me who you were born as, Lady.”
Shair was taken by surprise by that. “Why would he do that? I asked him to be discreet.”
“Well, Princess, he is the other grandfather of my grandchildren. My son is married to his daughter,” Lord Frontain said, grinning. “I was surprised, but it did explain a great deal about Princess Java. You were her lieutenant?” he asked, tilting his head to the side to look closely at Shair.
“I was. Once she was ennobled I started working with her, preparing her for her role as a County Lady,” Shair replied, nodding her head slightly. “Sammy had a lot to do with it as well.”
“Sammy, as in Duchess Samantha?” he asked, and grinned at her nod. “I understood that the duchess and princess were friends.”
“More than friends, Captain. They are family. Java has given Samantha unlimited access to her accounts with the Gold Merchants.” Shair watched the captain carefully and smiled at his reaction to that announcement.
“Unlimited access? She could be ruined!” Lord Frontain said in a breathy whisper, his disbelief evident in his wide eyes.
“So long as it helped Sammy, she wouldn’t care. Java is that type of woman. She measures her wealth by her friends, not her accounts.”
* * *
The morning sun saw Lord Simonson and three hundred of his followers departing for Lender’s Dale under the watchful eyes of Shair and Lord Frontain. He stopped to glare at Shair before he rode through the gates. “Duchess Samantha will hear of this outrage.”
“Tell her I said hello.” Shair smiled as she replied, then laughed at his curse. Once the group had passed through the gates, she asked Lord Frontain to join her in assessing the petitions that she had received overnight.
“Lady Skyhaven, if I may, I would like to make my own petition,” Lord Frontain said as he escorted Shair to his office. “I am well past the age where I should have retired. My family are not landholders, so I have few options open to me. I would like to petition for one of the houses here in the South Garrison,” he said, watching her closely.
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