Traders and Traitors (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 2)
Page 17
The king gave Stavin a wry look and said, "You wanted to shove it in their faces that you beat them at their own game."
Stavin studied the floor as he answered, "Yes, Your Majesty."
The king chuckled, making Stavin look up. "There's no shame in asking for help when it's needed, but I understand your desire to slap them down a notch. The Gods Above know I have to resist the urge often enough. And what is that star on your shoulder? Warleader Fifth, if I recall the old code correctly."
Stavin snapped to attention as he said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Has anyone ever managed a star on his first expedition before you?"
"No, Your Majesty."
The king chuckled again. "That dragon must have foreseen great things for you, Stavin. Have you learned anything new about the properties of your gift?"
"I have, Your Majesty," Stavin replied with a bow. "The armor resists magic. Human magic, at least." The king looked curious, so Stavin related the events in Ormund as concisely as he could.
The king's spine stiffened and he sat forward when Stavin mentioned the amulets and Eshokanal's glyph, though he avoided saying the name by referring to the Evilest of the Gods Below instead.
"You carried four of the Evil One's amulets across a quarter of the kingdom? Stavin, we value you far too highly to see that as anything but a foolish risk. Have you and your friends fully recovered from your exposure?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. My armor got a little loose for a while, but I seem to have made up for it." Stavin dared to grin at the king and got a grin in return.
"And what of the amulets? What became of them?"
In answer, Stavin reached into his armor and pulled out a thick leather pouch. "I keep them with me as a reminder of what I did, Your Majesty."
"Defeating the Evil One's servants is an accomplishment to remember," the king said, but stopped when Stavin shook his head.
"Not that, Your Majesty," Stavin whispered. He was looking at the floor again as he continued, "I keep them as a reminder that in order to get them cleansed, I had to kill a helpless old woman."
The king's face took on a slightly puzzled expression. "I've heard part of the story of Adept Sharindis before. From what I understand, and what you just told me, you did her a favor." The king paused as Stavin mutely nodded. "You don't see it that way, do you?"
Stavin looked the king in the eye as he whispered, "No, Your Majesty. In the end she was just a frail, helpless old woman. My armor protected me from her magic, right up until I beheaded her." Stavin was again studying the floor as he said, "I can't get the picture of her last instant out of my mind."
"So you torture yourself with the memory. You are a remarkable young man, Stavin. What will you do now that you have achieved more than just about anyone in the history of your valley?"
Stavin smiled shyly. "Your Majesty, I'm only on my second expedition. I have three more years before I can do anything else."
"Even with the riches and prestige you've acquired?"
"I am sworn to five years' service with the expeditions, Your Majesty, as are all men of my people. To do less for any reason other than physical infirmity would be dishonorable."
"And you'll not be called dishonorable. I agree completely, Stavin. There have been many times when I've done something for the sake of honor when I would have preferred another course. We're in the minority, though, sad to say. Too many of my people choose expediency and comfort over honor." Stavin remained silent and the king soon spoke again. "There will come a time when you no longer owe your people service. What will you do then?"
"I am apprenticed to our Master Scribe, Your Majesty. I will eventually take his place--unless he chooses my wife instead. She is smarter than I am, after all."
"Why do you say that?" the king asked with a grin.
Stavin smiled sheepishly. "Because it's true, Your Majesty. Shari has grasped concepts that I'm just beginning to understand. She's also been at it longer than I have. She's already teaching the first-year students."
The king smiled. "It sounds like you made a good match. It's also fortunate, for you and me as well, that you are safely married, and Marina was aware of it. I have already had to inform ten noble houses that you are not available to marry one of their daughters." The king grinned at Stavin's stunned expression. "You must be aware of the tradition of marrying for power, Stavin. Our favor, and your own remarkable achievements, make you a prime candidate for such a marriage. That, plus your account with the Gold Merchants. That's probably the more influential of the reasons. The fact that you are already married saves me from doing something distasteful like pressuring you to marry some horse-faced nitwit."
"Your Majesty, I--"
"Oh, don't worry about it, Stavin. As I said, I'd find that as distasteful as I'm sure you would. Marina and I--I said I was not to be disturbed," the king suddenly snapped, looking past Stavin toward the door.
"Your forgiveness, Your Majesty, but you also gave orders to be informed immediately when Lord Zel'Candan arrived," the man said, bowing deeply.
The king rubbed his forehead with his right hand while his left clenched into a fist on the table. "It's been a pleasure to see you again, Stavin, and to get to know you a little better, but this is something I can't avoid." Looking past Stavin, the king addressed the servant. "Send Lord Zel'Candan in here and see that Friend Stavin has an escort back to his caravan."
"At once, Your Majesty. Friend Stavin, this way, please." The man bowed and indicated the door.
Stavin bowed deeply to the king and said, "I am honored that you took the time to speak with me, Your Majesty." At the king's nod, Stavin backed away three steps, then turned and followed the servant toward the door.
An elegantly dressed man was coming in at the same time and he gave Stavin a nasty scowl as he passed. "Your Majesty," he said as he brushed past Stavin to face the king, "I am most insulted that I was kept waiting for the sake of a commoner."
Stavin slowed his steps and heard the king's reply. "I interrupted my audience with Friend Stavin for your sake, Lord Zel'Candan."
The servant was looking back at Stavin, making motions to hurry him along, but Stavin had seen something that was finally registering on his conscious mind: Lord Zel'Candan was carrying a knife in the presence of the king.
"You've insulted me for the last time, Kalin!" Lord Zel'Candan shouted, and then he drew the knife he'd refused to relinquish before his audience.
The king stood and stumbled back, shouting "Guards!" as Lord Zel'Candan advanced on him.
Stavin turned and saw what was happening and acted immediately, per the training he'd received for most of his life. The heavy bag containing the amulets was still in his hand, and he threw it, striking Lord Zel'Candan in the head and distracting him for a moment. Stavin was running as soon as the bag left his hand, and slammed his armored shoulder into Lord Zel'Candan's ribs, knocking him away from the king.
The would-be assassin turned and struck at Stavin, but his knife slid harmlessly off Stavin's armor. Stavin took the next knife strike on his forearm, silently thanking Elder Kel'Kaffrey for the rough lessons of the winter. He moved into his opponent's reach and brought his elbow up into Lord Zel'Candan's throat.
Suddenly there were twenty Royal Guardsmen surrounding them, and two of them grabbed Stavin's arms and pulled him away from the lord. What they thought had happened and what they intended to do about it was interrupted by the king's voice.
"Free Friend Stavin and place Lord Zel'Candan in irons," the king all but shouted, and the guards obeyed, even though it was obvious they were confused by the order. "Stavin, are you all right?" the king asked as he stepped toward where Stavin was standing between two guardsmen.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Stavin replied, bowing deeply to the king. "He isn't, though." Stavin nodded toward Lord Zel'Candan and everyone followed his glance. The lord was choking on his crushed larynx, and finally stopped moving as they watched.
"You seem to be as deadly without weapo
ns as you are with them, Stavin," the king observed mildly. "I wish you hadn't killed him, though. His trial for treason would have sent a message to the rest of his friends that even I have limits that cannot be exceeded."
Stavin looked down and bit his lips. "I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty. I'm trained to kill, not contain."
"Stavin, don't take that as an indication that I find any fault in your actions," the king replied, striding over to grab Stavin by both shoulders, making him look up into the kings face. "You saved my life. That's all that really matters."
Stavin swallowed and bowed his head. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The king turned his attention to his guards and his expression darkened. "How was he able to bring a knife in here? Your standing orders are that no one is to bring weapons near the royal family, and only Marina or I can override that order."
"Your pardon, Your Majesty," the servant said as he peeked around the guardsmen, "but you said to accede to any of Lord Zel'Candan's wishes, no matter what they were. He said that requiring him to relinquish his knife was an insult to his honor and wouldn't do it."
The king pursed his lips and shook his head slowly. "So the fool who let him keep his knife was me. I should know better." The king looked at Stavin and then bowed his head. "Thank you for saving me from my own shortsightedness, Stavin. As for you guardsmen and your orders, from now on, no matter who it is or how insulted they are, no one but the Royal Guard may bring weapons near the royal family."
The king bent down and picked up the dirk that Lord Zel'Candan had used and examined it. It was a heavy weapon with nearly a cubit of double-sided blade below an ornately jeweled hilt that was wrapped with gold wire. "Damned impractical as a knife. It's nearly a short sword." He pointed at the sheath that was still tied to the dead man's belt, and one of the guardsmen knelt and pulled it loose, then handed it to the king.
The king turned to Stavin and asked, "What reward would be appropriate for your actions, Stavin?"
Stavin bowed automatically as he thought, then said, "It was my honor to be of service to you, King Kalin. That's what friends are for."
The king let loose a loud bark of laughter, then smiled broadly at Stavin. The guardsmen were likewise grinning. "I have too few friends like you, Stavin. At this point you could have asked for just about anything, even elevation to Chosen status for you and your heirs. I really should give you the Zel'Candan lands and titles as the spoils of combat." The king stopped speaking as a look of panic crossed Stavin's face. He chuckled and continued. "I can see by your expression that's not anything you'd want, though. So I'll give you my thanks once again, and a warrior's due of his slain foe's weapon." He handed the knife to Stavin and patted his shoulder. "There'll be a celebration tonight honoring your service. You really should stay around for it."
Stavin bowed deeply. "As you wish, Your Majesty. I should, however, send word out to the caravan so my commander knows what's going on." He grimaced slightly. "I'm really supposed to be there. I am the only Master Trader in the caravan."
The king shifted his gaze to one of the guardsmen and said, "See to it. And inform Lord Zel'Corvis that Master Trader Stavin is staying in the palace, and I would be very upset if there was any trouble about it." He looked back at Stavin in time to see him hand the knife to one of the guardsmen who were bracketing him. "Why did you--?"
"No one but a Royal Guardsman may bear weapons near the royal family, Your Majesty," Stavin answered seriously. "I believe in that order and willingly obey it."
The king chuckled as he grinned at Stavin. "Not that you really need weapons. As you wish. There's something by your foot that belongs to you as well."
Stavin looked down, then squatted and picked up the bag of amulets. He opened it and poured all four amulets out into his open hand. "They were good for something after all," he mused softly.
A new voice intruded just then, saying, "That's got to be the most expensive item I've ever seen used as a weapon."
"General Zel'Fordal," Stavin said brightly, turning to smile up at the elderly general.
The general smiled and handed Stavin his helmet. He'd dropped it when he attacked Lord Zel'Candan. "It's good to see you again, Friend Stavin. The shouting in the halls is that you've save our good king from an assassin." Turning to the king, he nodded. "Is it true?"
The king waved a hand toward the body. "Indeed he did. We'll be celebrating his feat this evening. The full story can wait until then. For now, though," he turned his attention to a servant, "take Friend Stavin to a guest suite and see that he is properly cared for." Turning his attention back to Stavin he said, "While your armor is impressive, it is not appropriate for court. The chamberlain will see to it that you're properly turned out."
Stavin bowed to the king and general, and let the servant lead him away.
Chapter 21
"HE FAILED!" A VOICE SNARLED IN the darkened room.
"He was stopped," a more dispassionate voice replied.
A third voice, higher than the other two but not necessarily feminine, said, "By an unanticipated factor. If the nosy little barbarian had just left the room as he'd been instructed we would be in control of the palace right now. We've lost our primary weapons against the Zel'Andrals, but we have others."
"We've lost more than that. We've lost the element of surprise," the first voice snapped.
"Then we'll have to regain it," the higher voice said. "It's time to prepare for the celebration. Our good friend Stavin is to be honored for saving the king. We'll have to make plans to deal with him as well." There was the sound of swirling fabric and a door lock clicking, then the room was silent.
"We're going to have to make more arrangements than that, old friend," the second voice said in the silence that followed.
A chuckle came from the darkness, and a much more restrained voice replied, "The Royal Guard has to have someone to slaughter."
* * *
Stavin followed the servant across half of the palace to a suite of rooms that were bigger than any house in Kavinston. The man opened the door and led the way in, then closed the door behind them.
"Your pardon, Friend Stavin," he said diffidently, "but you're expected to bathe before the celebration."
Stavin looked at him and asked, "Where? And will the water be hot?"
The servant was briefly flustered, then answered, "In the bathing chamber, Friend Stavin." He pointed to a door at the side of the room. "The water is always kept hot in these suites."
Stavin all but sighed. "Good. I'm so tired of cold baths. It's all we usually get on the road, unless we stop somewhere that has a good bath house."
There was a knock at the door and it opened immediately, before Stavin or the servant could answer. An elderly man came in and bowed to Stavin. "Friend Stavin, I am Jarel Fel'Cortas, the king's third valet. He asked me to see to your needs."
The servant bowed to the valet and said, "I was just about to take Friend Stavin to the bathing chamber."
"I'll see to that. You can return to your duties." He stepped over to Stavin as the servant left the suite. "Now, Friend Stavin, let's get you out of that armor, shall we?"
Stavin let the valet help him get his armor off, and was even willing to put up with the man scrubbing his back, but that was as far as he was willing to let things go. "I assure you, I am capable of bathing myself. I've been doing it for years now. Really," he said as the valet tried to wash his hair.
"Friend Stavin, it is my duty to my liege to ensure you are properly turned out for tonight's festivities. Now hold still and I'll--"
Stavin didn't hold still. He ducked his head under the water and then began scrubbing his hair with the fine soft soap the room was supplied with. "I really can deal with this myself," he said as he lathered his hair.
The valet looked at him with an expression Stavin remembered all too well from his childhood. "We generally use this kind of soap for our hair in the palace, Friend Stavin," he said mildly, holding out a bottle of liquid.
The valet gave him a stern look as he surfaced. When Stavin stood to get out of the tub he held a towel ready, and Stavin gave him a questioning look. Sighing, he handed Stavin the towel. "Will you at least let me trim your hair? It looks like someone has been hacking it off with a knife," the valet said as he looked at Stavin's head.
"I have been. It has to be kept short under my armor."
The valet gave him another eloquent look, and Stavin followed him to a low-backed chair. "Sit here, please. Will the current style be sufficient, or would you prefer something else?"
Stavin shrugged. "I suppose whatever you think is best will be fine, Sir. I've never paid that much attention to hair styles."
The valet spent what Stavin considered to be an inordinate amount of time trimming his hair, then he stepped back and nodded. "That will do. Now we need to get you dressed. I had an assortment of clothing brought from the palace clothier for you." He shook his head as he looked at Stavin. "You're thin as a waif. I don't know how much of it will fit someone with your small frame."
"I could wear my under padding to bulk up a little, if I have to," Stavin suggested.
The valet looked at him curiously, then walked over to his armor and examined the padding. "It'll add the appearance of about twenty pounds to your frame. But you've been wearing this for a long time, haven't you?"
"I hardly ever take it off. Why?"
The man looked at Stavin with a pained expression, then took the padding to the bathing room. There was the sound of sloshing water, then he returned with the garment held out in front of himself. "What is this made of, Friend Stavin? It won't hold water at all, but it did seem to rinse clean."
"It's dragon scale, like all of my armor. Only the dragon knows how he made it."
The valet seemed startled for a moment, then looked at the under padding curiously. He rubbed the cloth between his fingers, then laid it aside. "Let's see what kind of clothes we have that will come close to fitting you while that dries."