Being around Ash, Ashlynn, Edvard, Gwen, and Miss Haley was a fine thing indeed, but after a certain point, Riana found it overwhelming. Most of her life she’d only had her father for company. She’d had her grandparents until she was seven, but lost them to the epidemic. Her mother was lost when she was barely a year old to a flash flood in the mountains, buried under a landslide. To go from the company of one to being surrounded by a whole city was quite the change, and she wasn’t used to it yet.
When it became too much, and she found her head spinning, Riana would find a quiet place that was up high. The roof above the suite’s window was a fine perch for her, with easy access in and out. It also gave her a commanding view of the city. The sight in front of her settled her heart in many ways. In spite of all the trouble they had on a day-to-day basis, and the riots, and the trouble that Zelman tried to cause for them, Estole still stood. Seeing it spread along the horizon was reassuring in ways that words were not.
“Ah, there ye be, daughter.” Broden’s head appeared below her boots, half his body sticking out through the window. “Be it a good perch?”
“Come up,” she invited, scooting over so he had enough space to climb and sit next to her. This was something of a tricky maneuver as the roof was tin, and slick, but she managed to keep her place and not slide off.
Broden pulled himself out and up the wall like a squirrel, movements nimble. Within a thrice, he was seated next to her and gazing at the same section of the city. “Ah, fine view.”
“It be that,” she agreed.
For a time, they sat there in amiable silence, neither feeling the need to speak.
“Da…” she said slowly, the realization just now coming to her. “Did ye know we have no’ had a conversation just atween ourselves ever since Ash took us from Cloud’s Rest?”
Broden blinked at her, then a chuckle shook him as he silently laughed. “We be in high demand, daughter.”
“Well, aye, but this be ridiculous. From morning to sunset we do nothing but run from pillar to post.” Shaking her head at the situation, she added, “Although it be a fine change from being run out of the village at every turn, so I can no’ complain about that.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “I be no’ sure at first of staying here. It be just as dangerous as home, in some ways.”
She couldn’t argue about that. “But ye have changed yer mind since?”
“Ye’re happy here, daughter,” he answered quietly.
In those four words, she heard the answer to every question she’d ever had on why they had stayed in Cloud’s Rest even after it became dangerous for them, truly dangerous, instead of uncomfortable or hazardous. Why stay? Why not go? But the journey to Estole had told her that Broden had not been content to simply leave their home. No, he wanted something better, and blindly striking out on their own didn’t guarantee that. Finding a place that would accept them, that would offer them a true future, was the real goal he had in mind. It was why he had taken Ash’s offer even though they hadn’t known much about the man. It was why he was willing to try a new country even though it was unstable. This place, at least, offered them a chance for the future and real happiness.
Broden hadn’t wanted her to have the same miserable start in life he’d had, where he was forced to watch every loved one live without knowing if he could get any help for them if they needed it.
Of course, Riana had wanted the same for him, but hadn’t known how to go about finding it. Not until Ash came along, anyway. “I think, Da, that ye be happy here as well.”
“Aye, well…” he trailed off, a grin quirking up the corners of his mouth. “When a man be respected, happiness comes.”
“There be truth,” she agreed. “So what think ye? After the past few days of working with Ash, do ye prefer him over working with Ashlynn?”
“Hmm, hard to say. Ash be a gentle soul. He be easy to work with and guard, simply because he no’ be the sort to go looking for a fight. Ashlynn, on the other hand…”
“She be a firebrand.”
“Oh, aye, no doubt on that. In truth, it be the lass I worry about most. Ashlynn be the sort to stride right into danger without blinking or thinking about how much harm can come to her. That one needs three partners, no’ one.” Broden rubbed at his chin, his hand rasping against his stubble. “What do ye think, daughter?”
With a sigh, she admitted candidly, “I think Edvard be right. I think it best I go with Ash and ye go with Ashlynn. We can handle the criminals on the street just fine, but I have to riddle people with holes to get their attention. Ashlynn says ye just shout them down and they cower. Ye make her job easier.”
“I be afraid that would be the skinny of it. In truth, I feel better about ye being with Ash.”
She jerked her head around in surprise. “I thought ye did no’ like it as he was near to flirting with me.”
“He be flirting with ye, daughter,” Broden said in a long-suffering tone. “Ye just do no’ see it for what it be. But the last few days of working with the man have shown me that he be an honorable one, and I trust him to treat ye well. But also, he be so focused on building, like as ye will no’ face much danger while with him.”
Well, that was truth. “So should we switch back tomorrow?”
“Aye, I would prefer it.” In a casual tone that didn’t fool either one of them, he asked, “Do ye prefer that sort of man, then?”
Riana snorted. “Da, I would like to meet a woman daft enough to turn him away.”
“Ah. Well.”
Looking back out over the city, she added softly, “But even if we did no’ stay with them, I think I want to stay in Estole. With every day that passes, this place feels more like home to me.”
Broden nodded in understanding. “Me too, daughter. Me too.”
Watching anyone build a wall, even a wizard, became mind-numbing very quickly. At first it was entertaining enough, to watch the chips fly about as he milled the wood to the length and width he wanted with just a word. Riana had to stand well back to avoid getting covered in wood splinters, though.
Then he started raising one board at a time, directing into the right place with a motion of his hand, like a man herding sheep. The boards seemingly leapt to obey him.
Aye, it was entertaining enough at first. But after about an hour of watching boards come together to form a very tall wall, it got boring. But they had been at this for nigh on two weeks now, and whatever interest she had at first quickly faded. She had to admit, though, she preferred being out here than facing another riot in the city. Mayhap Edvard had been right, and it was best if her da was next to Ashlynn. He seemed to take the riot more in stride than she had.
Riana turned her attention away from what Ash was doing and instead looked about.
They were well away from the city. The land here was mostly flat, rich and green, and perfect for farming. Why all them folk always wanted to live right next to the city, well, she could not ken. Unless it was the lack of water out here. Belike it was easier to find water over there. A man would need to dig a well to have water handy if he got too far from the gates.
Estole Town sat right next to the Narrow Channel, and the scent of saltwater stirred the air and set the fine hairs about her face dancing. It was the only thing that kept the heat off as the day warmed up.
She spent the time thinking, as her wizard-partner worked. This crowded city life seemed strange to her. All her life had been spent in woods and mountains, after all. To have this many people this close, well, it grated along her nerves. Mayhap that was why things were such a fashrie inside the city—the people that lived there didn’t care for it either.
Not that Riana disliked the people that she’d met so far. They’d been right welcoming, in fact, and likeable. If she’d had a choice on who to work with, she like as not would’ve chosen the people about her. They were far better than the thrawn group she’d left behind in Cloud’s Rest. Glad she was to have left them behind, too. Her days there had been focu
sed on survival only. But here, here she was building something. Ash had not been joking about that. And he had not been joking about them being shorthanded either. They’d been put to work the minute they’d arrived, after all.
The riot of a week ago had been sorted without much issue. Even most of the damage had been fixed by now. After speaking to everyone there, it’d started because of an argument about the martial law in place. Some had said they were worse than the Bindings, not understanding it was a temporary measure. Then, somehow, a mass confusion had taken place that the Bindings were going to be reinstated. That just escalated the whole thing until it became an outright riot.
Edvard had vowed that he would create new laws, good laws, as soon as he could, so they could avoid having another riot in the city.
For hours, Ash worked without a complaint. The sun rose, stood high in the sky, then started back toward the far horizon without him once quitting. He milled four of those big trees, and had every scrap of lumber in place before he finally dropped his hands and announced, “That’s enough for today, I think.”
Riana looked at the long stretch of wall he’d built, impressed in spite of herself. He’d made a twenty-foot tall wall, with lookout towers, on a twenty-five foot stretch of ground in just under eight hours. If wizardry ever failed the man as a career, he’d make a fortune as a carpenter. “Shall we return, then?” she asked.
“Yes.” His footsteps were slower than normal, almost weary, and it was clear from the slump in his shoulders that building had taken a toll on him. But there was a quirk to his mouth and a satisfied look in his eye that said he hadn’t minded the work. “Riana, you must be quite bored just standing around watching me build.”
“Aye,” she admitted easily. “But I prefer boredom over dodging bandits and riots.”
He chuckled. “I must agree. By the by, Captain Bragdon had a firm word with me last evening.”
“About?”
“He reminded me that I’m supposed to be sharing you and your father.” Ash shook his head, amused. “Apparently he was serious about the two of you coming in and teaching his trainees archery.”
In all the madness and confusion of the past several weeks, she had forgotten about his offer completely. She lifted a hand and stroked the smooth wood of the bow and tried to imagine teaching someone else all that she knew. “Ash, I do no’ think I know how to teach.” Hastily, she added, “Oh, me da can. After all, he taught me. But I do no’ have a clue how to go about it.”
“Then follow him over there when he does stop in to teach,” Ash encouraged. “Watch how he does it and learn. Your skills are too valuable to die with you, Riana. If you can pass them onto others, that would be for the best.”
Well, she could not argue with that. “But when could we go?”
“Early in the morning was his request. Apparently he has duties that take up the bulk of his time in the afternoon, as you two do, but if you teach right after breakfast, it should work out well.” Ash contradicted his own words by adding, “At least, I hope it will. Sometimes Ashlynn gets emergency calls before she can even finish breakfast.”
At which points, Broden would have to go with her. Riana nodded understanding. “Still and all, ye be right. That probably be the best part of the day to teach in.”
“If you and your father agree, then tell the captain so he stops giving me dirty looks, alright?”
She grinned at him. “Aye, that I will do.”
His hand came up and wrapped around his magical necklace. “Yes, Ashlynn? No, we had a very quiet day out here and got a good section of wall built. How was yours?”
He stopped dead, and his head whipped around to stare disconcertingly at Riana. “Edvard wants Riana? Why?”
The king wanted to talk to her? Why?!
“Ashlynn says that Edvard was impressed with your common sense earlier,” Ash relayed, becoming more amused with each word. “He also thinks that the three of us have thought about this too much and need a fresh perspective. He’s requesting that we join him in his study before dinner so that we can talk about the new laws.”
“What new laws?”
“The ones he’s determined to make up today.” Ash shook his head. “Impatient man. I guess he’s tired of not having true laws to enforce. Yes, Ashlynn, I’m aware that we’re past due in needing them and it’ll make your job easier. That’s not what I’m saying. What? Oh. Oh. Fine, we’ll be there shortly.” His hand dropped and Ash abruptly picked up the pace, his fatigue from earlier dropping away. “Be thinking while you walk, Riana. Edvard has declared in all his kingliness that we don’t get supper until we’ve thought up at least the basic laws necessary to run this town with.”
Taranis take it, she was no lawmaker! She hadn’t meant to give Edvard the impression she was all wise either. She should’ve kept her mouth shut and just let them build the wall willy-nilly.
Resigned, she trudged along in Ash’s wake back to Edvard’s study.
They entered the study to find that Ashlynn and her da were already there, seated about the table, with Edvard saying, “—can’t have people going about starting riots because of the laws. Or the lack of laws. We need this situation resolved now.”
“Well, I agree with you,” Ashlynn responded in exasperation, “so what’s the hold up?”
“I don’t know where to start,” Edvard admitted sourly.
“We need a viable way to punish lawbreakers, Edvard.” Ashlynn said firmly.
“It would help, sister dearest, if we gave them firm laws first,” Ash retorted as they stepped fully into the room.
“Ah, Ash, Riana, glad you could join us. Sit, sit. I’ve decided that I can’t make up everything on my own—I barely know what’s needed—so I thought it best to form a council of sorts to help me. Now, since Ash has studied some law before, and Riana’s proven to have good sense on problem solving, and Ashlynn and Broden are out in the streets dealing with everything, you four seem to be the best suited to give me good advice.”
Rational it might sound, but Riana would bet that he was tired of thinking about it, and wanted it over and done.
“Now,” Edvard beamed at his coerced council. “Where do we start?”
“Now hold on, man,” Broden objected. “Do ye no’ even have something to build on? It be me own ken that ye were thinking about these laws of yers.”
“Well, I tried, certainly. But I never got far on my own. Ashlynn kept saying my ideas wouldn’t work.”
“You wanted to reword the Bindings and keep the ones you liked,” she pointed out, not at all troubled with his complaint. “But that leaves gaps in the laws. And it doesn’t deal with the more heinous crimes. You cannot keep the Bindings, Edvard, not in any form. The people here won’t accept them, and what good are laws that no one will accept?”
In an exaggerated movement, he slumped in his chair and put his face against the table like a sulky child. “But not all of them are bad. Can’t I keep at least some of them?” Edvard moaned pitifully against the table’s surface.
Seeing him face down, slouched against the wood like that, made him more comical in her eyes than anything. Riana bit her lip to hide a smile.
Ash leaned over enough to thump Edvard on the back, not entirely unsympathetic. “No.”
Edvard raised his head enough to give Ash a betrayed, wounded look as if that single word had sucked all the joy out of the world.
“You don’t want to be a tyrannical king, remember?” Ash reminded him patiently, eyes twinkling with unvoiced laughter.
“That was before I had to create all of these laws, and legislations, and figure out how to create a government from…from…” Edvard’s hands made this flighty, whirlwind gesture in the air, “nothing but hot air. Why did you let me do this?”
“I didn’t give you permission to do any of this,” Ash denied with false mildness.
“Yes, I know, but why didn’t anyone stop me?”
“We tried, remember? You have no one to blame but yourse
lf.”
Edvard let his head thump back against the table’s surface in a gesture of absolute despair.
Having a smidgeon of pity, Riana sank into a chair across from him and offered, “It no’ be that bad, Edvard. Just use some common sense, start from there.”
He raised his head just enough to stare at her. “Common sense?”
“Well, do ye want people going about murdering, or raping, or stealing from each other?” she asked in exasperation.
“Oh. No, I take your meaning. Start with the worst crimes, give them suitable punishments, and then…” he trailed off, pointing to a side desk that had paper and ink on it. “Ash, give me those. No, better, take notes. Your handwriting is more legible than mine.”
Agreeably, Ash grabbed a handful of sheets, ink and quill, and joined them at the table. “So, murder?”
Edvard nodded. “She’s right, I don’t want people killing each other off. So, murder is outlawed completely. I think anyone that is guilty of it should forfeit his own life.”
“Hold up,” Broden objected. “Ye’ve got to give some leeway. Be a man no’ allowed to defend himself, or his family?”
“You’ve got to make an exception,” Ash agreed. “Otherwise every person in this room is guilty of murder.”
Edvard waved a hand in agreement. “So, except in self-defense or in defense of another, murder is outlawed. Better?”
Her da looked at the king with narrowed eyes. “Ye sure ye want to execute murderers?”
With a sigh, Edvard met Broden’s eyes without flinching. “Broden, I absolutely will not tolerate crime in my country. I can’t, for one thing. Creating prisons and running them is a terrible drain on a country’s coffers, and I simply don’t have the funds for it at this point. But also, I think that giving people such leeway encourages them to commit crimes. After all, the consequences aren’t that bad, so why not? It’s that sort of thinking I want to avoid. Better to give them a strict sentence, something that they would think twice about.”
Arrows Of Change (Book 1) Page 11