Rhian’s bottom lip poked out in a pout and she said petulantly. “I was busy learning about other, more important things.” Her chin tilted up a little in defiance and Iolyn rolled his eyes, defending his own lack of knowledge. “We were in Taurova and there was no need to learn about a culture that was destroyed long ago in the war.” He gave a dismissive wave, taking a seat on the bench next to the small fountain, the water still bubbling from it despite its age and wear.
I tried not to look as dumbfounded as I felt as I stared at my siblings, but I failed miserably. Rhian’s frown grew and she retorted as she sat next to Iolyn, setting the parcel of honey cakes down as she began to unwrap it, taking one. “Why don’t you enlighten us then, Carys? Since you obviously know everything.” She glared at me, but I could tell she was a little embarrassed at not knowing, and perhaps a little jealous that I did. She hated looking foolish, and looking foolish in front of Brynmor was usually enough to result in a sour mood for days.
I took one of the honey cakes, finding a place to sit nearby as I took a bite. Chewing solemnly, I thought back to my studies. “Nearly every culture currently in existence can attribute some part of itself to the Velynesians.” I looked at Iolyn as though proving that it was indeed important to know, even for Taurovans. “The ancient Velynesian culture nearly died out entirely when their people were destroyed in the war. Their capital was located in the west, yes, but this land, and a lot of the lands west of the Scarlet Ridge was a part of their kingdom at the height of their power. There are ruins of their civilization all over, including Lund and Soruk, both built over top of their former towns.” I gestured around us to the courtyard, the others looking around curiously.
It was strange how so much of their history began to come back once I began talking about it. I hadn’t thought about those old stories in so long, though they had been some of my favorites in my youth.
“The Velynesians were the descendants of the gods themselves according to the legend, the first of them being demigods: the children born of a god and human. They were gifted with long life, many of them living to 500 years of age or more. They were taller, stronger, and faster than regular men, proud in bearing and their army was a powerful force, nearly unbeatable. They had cities rumored to be even grander than those of Taurova, and it was believed they could never be defeated. But the forces of Azkaelom in the North joined with those of Mor’aat Raan in the South in secret and then on two fronts, descended upon Velynese in full force and without warning, what we know as The Decimation. The Velynesians were overwhelmed and nearly wiped out completely, only the timely arrival of the elves rescuing what small remnant of their people remained, driving back the enemy to their own lands. The war was won in the end, but the damage was done, Velynese was destroyed, and what was left of its people when into hiding.” I explained, pausing a moment in reflection before taking another bite into my honey cake.
Rhian was frowning unhappily, picking at her honey cake. She murmured. “I have heard the talk about a war brewing...What if Azkaelom and Mor’aat Raan join up again? What will happen?” That sudden thought brought a worried look to her face, but Iolyn patted her hand, smiling at her with only a hint of condescension.
“Don’t you worry about that, Rhi.” Our brother reassured her. “You just leave those concerns to the menfolk and you just worry about looking pretty. Father says they don’t have the numbers to make war again, so it isn’t something we need to worry about for a very long time. Those beasts have been tamed!” He lets out a boisterous laugh, the sound echoing off the old stones of the courtyard.
Brynmor joined in with the laughter, though his was softer as he took a seat next to Rhian, taking her hand to squeeze it gently. “You have nothing to worry about. Really.” Rhian leaned a little against Bryn, looking relieved and she nodded up to him. Brynmor smirked and added. “Besides, we are in the middle of nowhere. Who would want to attack this town?” He chuckled again, Rhian’s soft giggle joining with his.
Madox was silent and distant as he kept watch on the pathways that led in and out of this courtyard, the talk of the forces of Mor’aat Raan bringing a slight grimace to his face though his attention on our surroundings never wavered. Perhaps he had felt the same sense of apprehension that I had felt earlier, sensing those unfriendly eyes following us. I glanced at Brynmor, who casually smiled and laughed at something Iolyn said, not seeming to share in our sense of foreboding. I think that was the first moment I realized that his guardianship over us might not be taken as seriously as it should. When had he lost his vigilance?
The conversation drifted to inconsequential things and I found myself lost in my own thoughts. I rarely thought of war, believing that such a thing would never occur in my lifetime. Yes, there had been whisperings in Taurova about the forces of Mor’aat Raan rebuilding, but they certainly were not winning against Taurova, even with the Southern forces added to their number. They were failing to win in the south, and the idea of them waging war on the North as well was ridiculous. The enemy might have laid waste to Velynese, but the elven retribution had been swift and brutal, and they had brought the enemy forces to their own ruin. Father was right, I decided. There was no need to worry of war. Mor’aat Raan alone can’t win without Azkaelom, and they are but a shell of their former selves.
And yet, the Azkaelomin had been in the Badlands and they had abducted my sister, their reasons still a complete mystery. A dark foreboding settled on my shoulders, knowing there was so much more to this than I could hope to comprehend, and so I was grateful that we had come away from the situation unharmed, and put some distance between us and them.
Rhian’s laughter brought me back to the present and she was standing, trying to pull Brynmor to his feet. “We should go back to the Inn. It’s going to be dinnertime soon and I want to freshen up.” She grinned. “Did you see all the people in the tavern last night? It was fascinating! So much gossip!” She laughed again, glancing over to me with a smile, her earlier resentment seemingly forgotten. After being so shaken by her abduction and her bad mood from our days on the road, her smile is a blessed relief.
Brynmor rolled his eyes, commenting wryly. “I think tonight I will put myself on stable duty. It sounds like there will be the same amount of dung.” He teased her, earning himself a playful whap on his arm as Rhian’s nose wrinkling in feigned distaste. Brynmor laughed and shook his head, gesturing for Rhian to go ahead of him, which she did with a flourish.
Iolyn chuckled at their exchange and looked over to me, holding out his arm with all the gallantry of a gentleman as he grinned. “Come, Carys. I think we should see if we can predict the scandal that will erupt tonight. Perhaps someone is caught in a torrid love affair?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me while I rose, smoothing my dress over my hips.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I took hold of his arm, thinking that actually sounded like an amusing way to pass the evening. “A torrid affair is quite possible, not to mention thievery, or cheating at games?” I gave him a knowing look, my brother being exceptionally talented at winning, honorably done or not.
He feigned shock at the suggestion, flashing an innocent smile in return. “I have no idea what you mean, Carys.”
CHAPTER 14
The banter continued all the way back to the Stag, Madox taking up the rear in a brooding silence. It only took a minute before I could feel those unwelcoming eyes on us again, and I found myself beginning to match Madox’s mood as my head swiveled, looking around in search of those who might be watching and plotting. The feeling of unease finally lifted once we walked through the front door and Madox guided us to a quieter table off to the side.
Dinner in the common room was a curiosity, watching the comings and goings of the townsfolk and other wayfarers. There was a certain appeal to watching and listening to the daily dramatics of these simple townsfolk, and I realized these people weren’t all that different than us. Some gossip was entertaining, and some, I admittedly found a little worrisome. I heard a couple
of men discussing the growing threats to travelers, referring to some dangerous folk they called the Wardens, though I wasn’t clear on whether they were brigands or something else equally threatening. From their discussion, these wardens were not to be crossed, and that seemed reason enough to avoid them.
As the evening grew late, my siblings slowly began to wander off from the table, Iolyn heading off to chat with a few others at the bar while Rhian finally heading to her room, escorted by Brynmor, when the lack of theatrics finally bored her enough to give up for tonight. Madox and I were the last two left, neither of us feeling inclined to socialize though not ready to retire for the night.
Madox still looked grim, and he nursed his ale that I insisted he have, despite the fact he refused to drink while on duty. I insisted that one ale wouldn’t do any harm, and finally he begrudgingly relented. It was a good choice on his part, as I was preparing to pour it down his throat with, or without his consent. We sat in silence for awhile before he spoke. “War may not be so far off as the others believe, Lady Carys.” He said quietly, not wishing to be overheard.
My brow furrowed in surprise even before the full weight of what he said settled into my mind. “What makes you say this?” I asked softly, assuming he knew more than I from his time spent in the army. His eyes were filled with apprehension, and as the full meaning weighed on me, the understanding that we might see war in my lifetime formed a knot in my stomach.
“You know I was in the army, Lady Carys, and that I was …discharged...but there were rumors while I was there.” He set his elbows on the table, leaning forward in order to speak lowly. “I heard that scouts were beginning to report increasing movements around the Iron Corridor of Mor’aat Raan, and our units out in the Eastern woods began to encounter small groups of the Yehketim making their way north. Rumors of the enemy’s messengers being intercepted as they headed West towards Azkaelom were beginning to filter through the ranks, and the Captains were tight-lipped on the truth. If Xeyruhn is beginning to gather his strength as the soldiers suspect he is…” he didn’t have to finish his thought, because I ended it for him.
“Then we will see war,” I whispered.
I’m not sure what I was feeling in that moment. There was a numbness in my core, sitting like a cold stone in the pit of my stomach. War. The thought of the Dark One gathering his strength was a terrifying thought, and my earlier belief that Mor’aat Raan would never be able to recreate it’s army was suddenly called into question. What if they could? Taurova and Yehket had been battling for decades, occasionally finding a mutual peace only to begin the skirmishing all over again. The U’sharrim of Mor’aat Raan had formed an alliance with them long ago to urge them to fight all the more, and now if what Madox claimed was true, they were becoming a part of Xeyruhn’s armored force. Is that why the Azkaelom were in the Badlands? Building their ranks with the hill men?
I let out a long, weary sigh, trying to rein in the tumultuous thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. Madox took another long sip of his ale as he gave me a faintly apologetic look. “It is only rumor, Lady Carys, but I thought you, at least, would understand the potential threat.” He cracked his neck and sat up a little straighter, looking around the room with a keen eye. I looked around the nearly empty room as well, the darkness through the windows reminding me of the late hour. “I am going to retire to my room, Madox. Feel free to stay and finish your ale, if you like.”
He shot me a look (one that I learned meant if-you-think-you-are-going-anywhere-without- a-guard-you-are-only-fooling-yourself) and tipped up his mug to drain the last of his drink, setting the mug on the table with a clunk. Rising to his feet, he rounded the table to offer his hand to me, helping me rise as he said. “No need, Lady Carys. I’m already done.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. It wasn’t that Madox was straight-laced, but when it came to doing his job, he took it very seriously. He knew the cost of failure in it, and wasn’t one to risk our safety for any reason, and that is why he had been hired despite his dishonorable discharge. It hadn’t taken long for him to earn our trust and our friendship, and in looking back, I think I miss his friendship most.
Madox entered my room first to look around before he would be satisfied in leaving me alone. He wandered to the window to ensure it was locked tightly, brown eyes scanning the small room before he finally looked satisfied. It was a small room, but I was grateful to have my very own space. Alone time was a luxury that I never found often enough, constantly surrounded by guards or family. Madox gave me a brief smile as he dipped his head and murmured his goodnight, and I was alone at last.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Madox’s words had filled me with unease, the realization that if those rumors were indeed true, Taurova was on the front lines: Mor’aat Raan straight to the East, and Yehket directly south. Battling on two fronts and bearing the brunt of their combined assault would be difficult to withstand, even with Taurova’s military strength. If Taurova fell, there would be little left to stop their progression across the land. We were thousands of miles away at least, and I had my doubts that Mor’aat Raan would march all this way to lands they already destroyed, but that niggling doubt remained. What if they allied with Azkaelom, as they had done long ago?
I pushed those worrisome thoughts from my mind as I got dressed the next morning, and a short trip with a very quiet Madox a little ways down the street brought us to the blacksmith’s, Stanveld clutching his hat anxiously as he awaited us outside. “M’Lady...I’m afraid the news is not good news.” That was not what I wished to hear, and I frowned.
“What do you mean by that, exactly?” I asked, my brow furrowing as Madox grunted softly behind me.
Stanveld gave me a deeply apologetic look as though accepting the full blame for our predicament. “Lady Carys, the...uh, wheel parts...they are very costly…” I had a feeling I knew what he was about to say and I released a preemptive sigh. “The coin you gave me will not be enough to repair the wheel.” I hate being right sometimes.
“How much more are you needing?” I asked, hoping it was a mere matter of copper or silver, but when Stanveld named the amount, I nearly dropped my bag. “For a wheel?!” I choked and shook my head. “Between our expenses for accommodations, food, stabling our horses, and the storage fee for our things, we can’t afford to fix the wheel.” Bleakness washed over me as I admitted this, finding tremendous shame in the words ‘we can’t afford it’. We were a wealthy noble house, and such words should never be uttered, and yet I had just said them.
I shut my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to think of something that would get us back on our way, but short of robbing the local vaults, I couldn’t think of any way to get coin in a hurry. “We will have to wait until our coin from Taurova arrives. That could be weeks yet, but in the meantime, see if you can’t bargain with them, or strike a deal with another. Do what you can to get the wheel fixed for a cheaper price, even if you need to chop down a tree or two yourself.”
Stanveld’s brows shot up in surprise, finally nodding warily though he knew better than to argue. “Yes, Lady Carys.” He turned to go back into the Smithy’s shop, a noticeable slump in his shoulders.
Madox murmured, “I hope that coin gets here soon, I doubt you are going to be able to earn enough from selling belongings to cover the costs of staying here for weeks.”
A grim thought was quickly followed by another with his comment, and a sick knot formed in my stomach as the full implications of our poverty hit. “Let’s go back to the Silver Stag; I need to go over the books.” I said through a dry mouth.
Our return to the Stag was met with an eager Rhian who quickly claimed Madox for an excursion around the city for the day. Her long list of intended stops was long enough to rival the chronicles of Taurova and brought a grimace to Madox’s face. I would be lying if I said I was sorry I wasn’t going, pitying the plight of my guard, though, I admit relief to have some peace in which to work.
Tucking our ledger
s under my arm, I wandered into the back hallways of the tavern in search of an empty sitting room in which I could spread the ledgers out all at once. Finding one to suit my needs, I leaned over the table as I studied them thoroughly.
Pulling a blank parchment out, I began to make calculations, trying to cut costs where I could all the while knowing it wouldn’t be enough to keep us from going into debt while we were here. My page filled quickly only to be joined by another as I tried to create some kind of workable scenario that would make our coin last as long as possible.
The late morning turned into afternoon, and as afternoon became dinnertime, Father’s large frame filling the doorway as he breathed a sigh of relief. “There you are. I hadn’t seen you all day, and I was beginning to worry. Madox told me what Stanveld said, and where you were.” He stepped into the room and pulled up a chair next to me, looking over the ledgers and my stack of parchments. “How dire is our situation, Carys?” He finally asked lowly.
I ran my fingers through my hair, shaking my head lightly. “With the costs of our expenses right now, we have coin to last a week. That doesn’t include repairing the wheel, supplies for the road, or any other surprise expenses, or salaries. The staff will have to go without pay for...probably a month, at the very least, more likely two, unless we get some form of steady income. In short, we are stuck here until we get our coin from Perinthas. We may need to resume camping if we cannot find coin soon.”
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