“I’m king, I can do what I want,” he denied pleasantly.
“Be ye mad?” Broden protested, hands held up in a warding gesture. “I be a simple archer, nothing more!”
“That simple archer gave me sound advice on how to make laws,” Edvard retaliated calmly. “And then he stood in front of a crowd of people and explained those laws. You have common sense and are patient with people, Broden. Those are the two most vital traits my provosts must have.”
Riana, seeing that appealing to Edvard would get her nowhere, turned to her partner instead. “Ash, speak sense to the man!”
Ash shook his head instead, eyes crinkling in a smile. “Riana, you not only helped us create laws, but you gave us sound advice in how to create the whole government. You’ve proven to have the head for this sort of thing. Besides, I’d rather serve with you.”
“We believe in you,” Edvard soothed.
Broden fixed him with a flat glare. “Do no’ believe.”
Ashlynn lost control of herself at that point and started laughing raucously. “Edvard, while I admit that those two would be fine governing those sections, I’m afraid you can’t give them the position. For that matter, you can’t give me or Ash the position. We’re too busy running around the kingdom fixing all of the odd problems that crop up.”
“As I told Broden this morning,” Ash added in with a stern glower, “we must have the freedom to go wherever and whenever it’s necessary. Being provost will tie us down here too firmly. That position needs someone that can be here on a day to day basis.”
Tierone, still standing behind Edvard, drawled, “I told you they wouldn’t go for it.”
Edvard heaved a resigned sight. “I could hope, couldn’t I? Very well, I will leave those spots open for now. There’s only a handful of people living in each section anyway, the prefects can handle problems that arise and report to the provosts that I’ll assign until a more permanent provost can be found to hold the position.” Lifting his paper again, he shifted to a second page before rattling off which prefect was supposed to be report to which provost.
Broden snorted in blatant disbelief. Fools, the lot of them.
Having more or less gotten his way, Edvard clapped his hands together and said, “That’s all for now. Meet with your prefects or provosts, map out a general idea of when to meet and discuss, and make sure that you do so on a regular basis. Provosts, I will meet with you this afternoon. We will make a general announcement to all of Estole at noon exactly, so be here before that point, and after that we will meet again in this room to discuss general matters. We have problems on a national level to be resolved, so sharpen your minds before you come.” With a more genuine smile he added quietly, “Thank you. For serving, thank you. Dismissed!”
Epilogue
Riana lay flat on her back in her new suite, a cool cloth over her eyes to combat the headache pounding in her skull like a sledgehammer. What a day this had been!
Edvard must have known that neither she nor her da would readily agree to a government post. But he also must have known that partnering with a court wizard came with its own position and responsibilities. Escaping the position of provost had not saved either she or her father from being a part of Edvard’s council. He let them know point blank that he expected them to attend with Ash and Ashlynn and voice their opinions. Edvard considered them to be government officials in their own right, and to act accordingly.
She thought it foolhardy in the extreme. What in the wide world did she know about ruling people?
The whole day had been a whirlwind. Edvard had asked anyone in Estole who was interested to come up and hear him speak of the new government. Most of the city had done just that. They’d filled the courtyards and doorways and even the street overflowed. Using a spell of Ashlynn’s, he magnified his voice so everyone could hear him, and explained how the new government was set up. Then he said that the prefects would soon mark their sections off, and go about meeting people so they knew who to call when trouble came about.
There were questions, of course, but Edvard took care to explain things simply and with great patience, and people liked what he outlined for the most part. They especially liked having a say on who would rule them next, and there was very little grumbling as the crowd split up an hour later.
While the prefects went out through Estole and started working, the provosts headed back inside with Edvard and reviewed all of the nation-wide problems that needed to be dealt with. Of course, the court wizards and their partners were also a part of this meeting. Most of the time they discussed issues that were a matter of continuing the groundwork already laid, like the wall being built around Estole, but not all of it.
At one point, everyone realized that the real issue was that they had too many people crammed into Estole and not enough land to support them. It took a full acre at least to feed just one person, and the land to people ratio just didn’t equal out. Not at the rate that people were flooding in.
By the end of the year, if they did not expand their borders, they would be on the brink of starvation. And a shortage of food in the dead of winter wasn’t a pleasant thing at all.
Her dark musings were interrupted when Ash sat on the floor, took off a boot, and started massaging her sore foot. She groaned in approval and relaxed into it.
Not that she forgave him just because of a good foot rub, no. Well, mayhap if he did her hands too….
“You’re thinking about what we discussed in council this afternoon, aren’t you?”
This bond of theirs was indeed growing strong if he could guess her thoughts just based on her mood. “Aye.”
“Your suggestion was sound, Riana. We don’t have any other real options.”
“Aye,” she admitted heavily. That was the problem, actually. They really didn’t have any other options.
In order to expand their borders, they only had one of two directions to go. Either south, into Iysh, or into The Land Northward. Going into Iysh would be more headache than it was worth, in her view. It would mean open war just when they had more or less convinced Iysh that sending an army to meet them was a bad idea. The whole council had been of one mind on this. No one wanted to tangle with Iysh again.
Riana was glad of this as she had no desire to put Ash through another battle. He had enough nightmares from the first two.
But the Land Northward wasn’t settled. Not really. Oh, Iysh claimed it, but they had never done anything with it. Cloud’s Rest was up there, of course, but it was little better than a bandit’s hideaway in some ways. Riana hadn’t realized that growing up there, not until she had something to compare it to, but Estole made her clearly see what Cloud’s Rest actually was. And it was pitiable.
So really, the territory up there was free and clear to claim, no matter what Iysh said. Did she think that they wouldn’t retaliate in some way later? No, of course not. Iysh was not that generous, especially not with unspoiled land. They would come up and fight in one way or another and the best that Estole could do would be to brace themselves for trouble.
But in the meantime, all they had to do was go up there and make settlements, then urge people to go up into the new land. Considering how much trouble they were having with crime down here in the city, Riana didn’t doubt that most people would be game to go, as long as they had the financial support of a government to help them set up. Which Edvard was fine with.
What Riana didn’t like was that someone would need to go up there, help them clear the land and construct villages, before people could really start building their lives there. It would take a wizard’s ability to do it before winter set in.
And Ash was the builder.
Riana in no way, shape, or form wanted to return to that forested land. But she loathed the idea of sending Ash up there alone even more. No, she couldn’t let him go up there without someone to watch his back, and his safety was her responsibility, not anyone else’s. She had to go. There was no other choice for her but to go.
She let out a long sigh. “That just be delaying the inevitable, and ye know it.”
“Well, yes,” Ash admitted. His hands paused. “But Riana, while I understand your reluctance to go back there, you have to see that it won’t be the same as before. You’re no longer an outcast of Cloud’s Rest—you’re a Councilwoman of Estole. It doesn’t matter if those people respect you or acknowledge you. It’s a matter of opinion, and their opinion does not matter.”
“Their opinion does no’ matter,” she repeated slowly. The idea was novel. Their opinion, no matter what they thought of her, did not matter. The notion settled into her mind and a smile slowly took over her face. Ha! And why should it? Why should it, indeed? Ash was right, she was no longer the woman that had left there, months ago. She was a government official, the partner of a wizard, a woman that was recognized and feared.
The notion was liberating. It was as if chains that had bound her mind suddenly fell away, and she was free of them, clearing up her heart in a way it had never been before. She laughed out loud and sat up abruptly, the towel falling into her lap.
Ash watched her with a slight smile on his face, his expression a pale mirror of her joy. Of course he had already realized all of this, known her fears and how silly they were, but he had patiently waited for her to come into the realization on her own.
Grabbing his head with both hands, she brought him forward and kissed him on the forehead.
He blinked, a faint blush teasing his cheeks. “Ah, does that mean I’m forgiven?”
“No,” she responded promptly, a wicked smile growing on her face. “But do me hands, and I will consider it.”
“Hands too, eh?” Eyes crinkling at the corners, he gave her a seated bow, as best he could while cross-legged. “Consider it done, my lady.”
In a sudden burst of enthusiasm, she suggested, “And after that, we need to sit down and discuss timelines for building villages, and the best locations. Oh, and we need to send out word of our plans and see who wants to go. Mayhap those people that did no’ get a housing deed can be sent northward?”
“In return for helping to clear the land and make settlements, you mean? A sort of payment in kind?” Ash looked intrigued by the idea. “That would solve two problems at once. I bet Edvard will like the idea.”
“If nothing else, we need to get a list of who wants to go,” she continued, thinking aloud. “Otherwise we will no’ know how much to build.”
“Good point.”
“And then, I think it best we send scouts ahead to find good settlement spots. If we act quick, mayhap we can get at least two or three places built afore winter sets in.” She frowned thoughtfully. “Although I do no’ care for the idea of leaving Estole for long.”
“Ashlynn and Broden can cover for us,” Ash assured her. “It’s only fair. We covered for them when they went harrying off to another part of the world.”
“I do like the way you think.” She beamed at him, already mentally laying out plans of what needed to be done next.
“Look at you.” Ash shook his head in wonderment. “Just moments ago you were on the floor worrying about everything, and now you’re ready to tackle the world. You’re no longer afraid?”
She regarded him with gentle eyes. “With you at my side, what can a lass be afraid of?”
Acknowledgements
This story came about because of two people—both men that I have never met face to face, and likely never will. The first is Przemek Koch, a photographer that took the picture I used as the cover for this book. It was this photograph that inspired the whole series for me. Kingmakers wouldn’t exist without it.
The second man is Lars Anderson, a modern archer that went and studied ancient techniques, re-learning true archery all over again. He posted a video on YouTube that explained how ancient archers worked, giving precise details on techniques, all of which have been incorporated into this series. Everything you see my characters do, I know is actually possible, because I’ve seen Lars Anderson do them. (If you wish to watch his video, go here, or search for: Lars Anderson: a new level of archery. )
Gentlemen, I salute you.
About the Author
Over thirty years ago, in the hills of Tennessee, a nice, unsuspecting young couple had their first child. Their home has since then been slowly turned into a library as their daughter consistently brought books home over the years.
No one was surprised when she grew up, went to college, and got her Bachelor's in English. Despite the fact that she has a degree, and looks like a mature young woman, she's never grown out of her love for dragons, fairies and other fantastical creatures. With school done, she's ready to start her career, hopefully by blending two of her loves: books and fantasy.
Her website can be found here: http://www.honorraconteur.com.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Arrows Of Change (Book 1) Page 28