The lieutenant seemed about to argue more, but the messenger turned and looked at him. "We were instructed not to cause a fuss. Remain here. I'll have provisions sent out from the inn."
"There is no inn," one of the younger warriors said.
All of the Evandians turned to stare at him. "No inn?" the messenger asked.
"Nope. If someone needs somewhere to sleep, they stay with relatives."
"But what about travelers?" the lieutenant asked.
"We don't allow travelers. There is no other way in or out of the valley. Now again," Darak said, "we invite you to stay here in the old fortress with us. It's not something we do very often, but we'll allow it this time because you're soldiers."
The messenger looked at the lieutenant and then turned and bowed in the saddle to Darak. "Thank you, Warleader Kel'Norlan. I'll return as soon as I deliver the message to Lieutenant Kel'Aniston." He rode slowly forward as the youngest of the guards dashed back to send the message to Kavinston.
Warleader Kel'Norlan looked at the lieutenant. "If you'll follow me, I'll lead you around to the stables." He turned, not bothering to see if the lieutenant and his men were following.
Once the horses were seen to, he led the troops up to the living quarters in the fortress. "Someone should be bringing extra charcoal to warm a few rooms for you, and word will be passed around to get you something to eat."
"Your pardon, Sir, but what do you mean about word being passed around?" the lieutenant asked.
"I mean that each of you will be fed by a different family. That spreads the burden around. I'm sure Stavin will take care of the messenger while he's there. He brought back enough extra." There was subdued laughter from the other three guards.
"Excuse me, Sir, but what is this place?" a sergeant asked as he looked around the interior of the fortress.
"Fort Kel'Kavin," Darak replied.
"Yes, Sir, but why is it here?" the sergeant asked.
"It was built in Imperial times to keep everyone out of the emperor's hunting preserve," he explained, waving toward the valley. "There used to be one hundred Imperial Guards stationed here."
One of the other men was looking around, gazing at the ceilings and fine stone walls. "This is amazing. And just to keep some animals in."
Darak laughed. "Well, it was a retirement post for distinguished warriors. The men who were sent here were the emperor's favorites, and he wanted them kept comfortable. There used to be a town outside the gates, but it burned to the ground after the empire fell, and was never rebuilt. Our ancestors built Kavinston a bit over two hundred years ago."
The soldiers settled down, and soon a wagon arrived from town. "Here're the provisions you asked for, Darak," a woman said. "I brought extra blankets from supply as well. It's hard to heat these old stones." She handed over her bundles, and the Evandian troops immediately lent a hand.
"Your pardon, Sir," a younger soldier said, sidling around to get Darak's attention. "How long do you have to stay out here?"
Darak shrugged. "Until morning. The watch changes at dawn, and we spend the whole day and night here."
"That's a long watch," the sergeant said as he joined the conversation.
"Not really," Darak replied with a smile. "This is an easy post. We just monitor the gap and stop anyone from entering the valley. We split up the night watch. During the day we usually just play tiles or flip-stones."
"Flip-stones, eh?" the sergeant asked with a grin. In just a few moments Darak and the sergeant were engaged in a match of that ancient soldier's game while the others watched and made bets.
* * *
The messenger had ridden straight to Kavinston, and was met by Stavin. "You have a message for me?" he asked.
"I have a message for Lieutenant Kel'Aniston," the messenger replied cautiously.
"That's me. Come along, it's cold out here," he said, then led the messenger to his father's house.
The messenger followed Stavin with a hint of suspicion in his expression. Once they were indoors, he turned to Stavin and said, "Your forgiveness, but I don't know you by sight. Do you have proof that you are in fact Friend of Evandia Lieutenant Stavin Kel'Aniston?"
Stavin was about to answer when his mother's voice came from the kitchen. "Stavin, if you didn't wipe your feet again, you're sweeping the whole house!"
Stavin cringed and looked at the messenger. "I'll get my writ."
"That won't be necessary, Friend Stavin," the messenger said with a grin. He leaned forward a little and said, "She sounds like my mom."
Stavin smiled sheepishly and received the message tube from the messenger's hand, as instructed, and unrolled it. He read it aloud, because he was aware that Shari and his mother had come to the kitchen door to see what was going on.
"To Lieutenant Stavin Kel'Aniston, Friend of Evandia,
"From His Majesty Kalin, King of Evandia,
"Stavin, the man you captured and sent to us was not as helpful as we had hoped he would be, but he did provide us with a few useful bits of information. The Kel'Portan Guards are not involved in the plot against us. They were hired by a different group of traitors. Specifically, three traitorous traders in Valovad. The man provided us with the necessary information to track them down. Apparently, he was not aware that the gold they had been given carried a suicide spell, and was somewhat put out about it. The traders have been apprehended and tried for treason for conspiring to murder you. They died a traitor's death on their knees, strangled with pig gut.
"I think I know how you are going to react to this, and I hesitate to burden you with it, but nonetheless I must. Congratulations, Master Trader Kel'Aniston. All of the holdings of the former Master Traders Jolan Bel'Valat, Boldan Fel'Lovar, and Sarvba Bel'Orlav have been confiscated and, by my order, transferred to the Kel'Aniston Trading House.
"At Marina's suggestion, we assigned a caretaker to see to your holdings. I thought one of my Lord Minister of Trade's assistants would do, but Marina had other ideas. I understand that a young woman named Elain Fel'Carvin the Seventeenth has agreed to manage your affairs until you return to replace her yourself, or with someone of your choosing.
"Stavin, you have a remarkably diverse selection of friends in my kingdom. I took a moment to meet with the elder Elain. She assures me that her granddaughter will keep your business separate from hers.
"Until you return to us, I wish you well."
"Your friend,"
"Kalin"
“Your friend, Stavi?” Shari asked.
Stavin turned and grinned at his wife and mother. “Yes. King Kalin meant it when he called me friend. He really meant it.”
End of Book Two
The adventures of Stavin Kel'Aniston will continue in
The Andarian Affair May 2017.
About the author
A U. S. Navy veteran, Loren K. Jones served as a nuclear reactor operator on attack submarines for six years before his honorable discharge in 1986. Loren makes his living as an instrumentation and controls technician, and writes because the stories won't leave him alone until he does.
Stavin DragonBlessed series
All that Glitters -- Book 1
Traders and Traitors -- Book 2
The Andarian Affair -- Book 3
Traders and Traitors (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 2) Page 26