“Anything worthwhile?” Bren asked as he flipped through the large stack.
“Not really,” Phena admitted. “None of it is very reliable and most of them are conflicting about different issues. How is everything going with the round table preparations?”
“Too slow,” Bren said sighing heavily. “At best the first monarchs won’t arrive until the day before the meeting, but knowing my mother, she will be here two days before hand and there is no telling about the others. Farlan is fairly easily traveling so Abla might arrive before my mother or slightly after, for all I know they might end up traveling together.”
“Your mother and the king and queen of Abla are friends?” Phena asked slightly shocked.
“In the way that a viper and mouse are friends,” Bren said laughing. “I think they only talk to each other so they can see who can make the most insulting comment while appearing to be giving a compliment.”
“Do you need some help?” Phena asked, surprising Bren. “Master Sae-Thae thinks that having a few trusted people around during the round table would make things move along more smoothly.”
As he thought about Phena running around having to listen to his mother and Eloen’s crazy demands, Bren couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t know if it would make things easier, but they would sure make them livelier.”
“Is there anything that you need me to do?” She asked, her eyes narrowed dangerously.
“In all honestly, I can use all the hands I can get,” Bren admitted, trying to reign in his laughter. “If you could head over to the Silver Harp, and World’s End inn’s and make sure to rent them out completely until the end of the round table, I would appreciate it. I keep meaning to get over there, but there is just too much to do.”
“You need the two biggest inns in town?” Phena asked curiously. “Honestly, I could probably get by with one, but I don’t think having my mother and Eloen in the same building for an extended period of time will be a good idea, and we don’t know how long the round table will last so it’s best just to get two places.”
“What about king Killian?”
“He won’t stay in town,” Bren said, dismissing the question. “Even if he is a king now, whenever he visits foreign soil he and his men make camp outside of the capital cities, or at least that was what he did whenever he visited my mother.”
“Anything else?” Phena said, turning back toward the door.
“Yes, have one of the guards downstairs call for Jacob and Flynn, I am going to need both of their help to make sure everything runs smoothly over the next few days,” Bren said, turning his attention back to the large stack of papers that were piled up on his desk.
Aside from the problems with the monarchs, the round table was going to cost a great deal of coin and Bren had been forced to request more from the elven holdings. He had hoped not to have to rely on it too much and while he doubted that he would run short on coin, it wasn’t worth the risk.
Jacob and Flynn both arrived at the same time and instead of having to wait while he made time to go down to the throne room, Bren asked they both be admitted to his study. For most people, Cass would have denied the request and Bren would have had to abide by his decision, either that or find another person to head his guard, but thankfully Cass trusted Jacob, and Flynn was in Bren’s direct employ as the general of his armies.
Though Cass trusted the two men, he still didn’t neglect his duties and was present in the room with two other guards waiting outside. Bren thought it was ridiculous, but he let Cass do as he pleased for the most part.
“Do you need something majesty?” Jacob asked, bowing his head just enough to show respect for Bren’s station.
“Please don’t call me majesty, Weapons Master, it feels like an insult coming from you,” Bren said, hanging his head.
“Names aside, why did you call us here?” Flynn said in his normal annoyed voice.
“As you know, there will be a round table with the reigning monarchs of the surrounding countries held here shortly,” Bren said, sitting back in his chair. “It is customary for the hosting king or queen to offer protection to those who are visiting. I am sure that King Killian will deny this offer, but if possible, I would like to hire some of your more proficient students for this honor Weapons Master. For Queen Maria and Eloen, I would like you to pick out twenty of your best soldiers to guard them Flynn. We can’t let anything happen to them during their visit.”
“Very smart,” Jacob said smiling. “If you chose us to guard King Killian, there is less of a chance that he will decline since in a way, we are also a part of his own country. In fact, I don’t think he could decline, otherwise it will show that he doesn’t have faith in his own training schools and that would mean that there is a larger chance they would start to get a reduction in students and less countries would be a willing to allow them. Do you mind if I offer one bit of advice?”
“What would that be?” Bren asked slightly curious, knowing that Jacob hated dealing with anything political in nature.
“I would suggest that you also hire personal guards out of my trainees for each of the other royalty. While I am sure that Jacob’s men can get the job accomplished, it will make King Killian happy and he will look more kindly on you, should you ever request aid.”
“I didn’t think about that,” Bren admitted. “Let’s do that. My mother will always be a sore spot for me and Abla is too far away to offer help in a tight situation. Not to mention that King Killian has already started building ties with many of the other countries so having him on my side could be useful.”
“If that’s all, you could had simply sent me a note,” Flynn said irritably.
“Master Flynn, when it comes to guarding monarchs, it is always best to get your orders directly from your commander. As you are the highest official currently, it was best of his majesty to talk to you personally. Normally this would mean a large affair with you spending most of your time idly waiting before you go to see him. If I were you, I would stop complaining and bow your head to the person who continues to allow you to earn your bread considering your lack of grace,” Jacob said, with the glowing eyes that he had often used on Bren when he was one of his trainees.
“Thank you for your care majesty,” Flynn said while even making himself looking abashed.
As soon as the two were outside the door to his study, he could hear Jacob’s raised voice as he continued to lecture Flynn. Bren felt slightly sorry for his friend. They had settled on an uneasy set of rules about when and where Flynn would act according to rank, and when it was a meeting between the two, it wouldn’t be needed.
With the Guard details and quarters decided, all that was left was to make sure that there were enough suitable engagements to keep his guests busy. Bren didn’t have a large enough hall to throw a grand ball, but thankfully the tower had answered that problem for him. No king or queen would be able to say that their reception was lacking, that was for sure. The tower had only given him a glimpse of their plans, but to say they were grand would have been an understatement.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was the best he could hope for on such a short time frame and with his limited resources. All that was left was paperwork and waiting. Bren hated not knowing when everyone would arrive, but he didn’t have anyone skilled enough in spying that he was willing to send the out when there was still chances of freak snow storms, no matter how low the risk.
The waiting was the worst, it made Bren’s stomach clench whenever he thought of anything that might go wrong. He decided it was best to spend the days leading up to the round table with his friends, and working when he had too. There was no reason that he should wear himself out before the other monarchs arrived.
That night as he drifted off to sleep, Bren’s mind was full of thoughts of his memories of the three different monarchs that would be coming to his land. He had met each of them many times and they were all different, but in a way they were all family or at least they had treated him
as such on the other meetings.
********************
“What do you have planned now?” Thad asked, looking at the god carefully.
“The same thing I have had planned since the beginning, but I don’t think I will let you in this time. I think it will be much more fun for you to see it firsthand. No one likes it when the story is given away before it even starts,” Humanius answered mysteriously.
“I think I would rather know,” Thad replied anxiously. “I don’t like the idea of my son being in danger and even less so if I don’t know if he’s making a mistake that could cost him his life.”
“What would you do if he was making a mistake?” Humanius asked with a large smile. “Yell at him at the top of your voice and pray that he hears you. That might be fun to watch, but I think I will keep my secrets close to my chest this time.”
“Whatever you’re planning, I am sure that it will end badly for what is left of your people,” Thad declared. “Don’t think that King Killian will let you simply march past his land to get to my son. He will see every one of the Brotherhood dead if they step a foot on his land.”
CHAPTER IX
Queen Maria of Farlan was the first to arrive, along with Queen Eloen and King William of Abla. To Bren’s surprise they arrived three full days before the round table, making Bren glad that he had Phena get their lodgings ready early.
The mages had been looking for the arrival of the delegates so Bren was alerted a few hours before their arrival and was ready to greet them at the edge of the town, along with master Turneal who had been chosen to attend the roundtable with Bren. The master was his last choice for an escort, but if it helped earn points with the council, then he was willing to make the sacrifice.
When the carriages appeared, it was all Bren could do to keep from laughing. His mothers and Eloen’s carriage were side by side and even from a distance one could tell that both were going far faster than necessary. “We better get out of the way,” Bren told Master Turneal, as he quickly moved out from the center of the street.
Turneal gave a derisive humph and ignored Bren’s warning. When it became clear that neither carriage was willing to slow, a wild look came over the master’s face. Bren could tell that he was torn between stopping them with magic, or moving out of the way. Thankfully the master opted for the later. Bren didn’t know how his mother would feel about being forcibly stopped.
“What is wrong with them?” Turneal asked, as he dusted himself off.
“I can think of many things wrong with them, but in the end I think I will stick with one of Thuraman’s favorite sayings…They’re women,” Bren said, before breaking into a fit of laughter.
“I have seen children act with more decorum,” master Turneal said hauntingly.
“I wouldn’t let them hear you say that,” Bren told the master. “Neither my mother nor Eloen like to be scolded by others and doubly so if the other is about. Take it from someone who has dealt with both women, duck your head and try your best to come out alive.”
“I will take your advice under advisement,” master Turneal said, before marching down the road after the two speeding carriages. Bren let out one longer laugh before rushing after the elder mage.
When they caught up with the carriages, they found two women in their forties arguing over who had been the first to arrive. As Bren watched, it reminded him of some of the arguments he and his sister used to have. “I see that you two are doing well,” Bren said loudly, drawing both of the women’s attention.
Bren was surprised to find that his mother seemed more than a little embarrassed about her actions when she noticed him. On the other hand, Eloen didn’t even pause to say hello, she rushed over to where he stood and wrapped him up in a tight hug. “Bren, you have grown up so much since the last time I saw you,” She said, nearly lifting him off the ground. “You look so much like your father. If I was ten years younger, I would kick my useless husband to the curb and grab you up in a heartbeat….I might just do it anyway, be a lot easier if I raised my own husband. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about him embarrassing me.”
“Embarrassing you,” A deep voice said from behind Eloen. Bren couldn’t tell where it was coming from, but there was a hint of laughter in it. “Who was it that was yelling like some child for the driver to go faster? Telling the poor man that she refused to lose to the red haired devil queen.”
Eloen let go of Bren and turned in the direction of the voice.
“They say act as old as you feel, and I still feel as if I’m twenty,” She said defensively.
“If we were going by how you act, your age would be more around nine or ten at most dear,” King William said laughing.
“Say that again and you will spend the entire trip sleeping in the carriage with the excess luggage,” Eloen said in a serious voice. “That is if I decide to let you live when I got such a cute replacement right here.”
“Bren, if she kills me, I would suggest you run and hide until she finds another fool to marry her,” King William said, shaking his head.
“Aunt Eloen, please don’t kill the king. It would make me look badly to have a monarch die, even if he was killed by his wife while he was visiting,” Bren said, trying his best pleading look.
“You’re no fun,” Eloen said with a wry smile. “Looks like you got a protector this time dear, but don’t push it too far or I might forget that he asked me to keep you safe.”
“I shall guard my tongue every waking moment and at least half of those while I am sleeping,” King William said laughing.
While they waited for the other carriages to arrive, Bren explained the lodgings and protection he had arranged for them. Eloen pouted a little that she wouldn’t be allowed to stay in his official palace, but he quickly explained that allowing one to stay and not the others would be paramount to a political slap and that he just didn’t have the room to accommodate everyone.
Luckily for Bren, she didn’t press the issue. Bren did well dealing with many of the women in his life, but Eloen didn’t care what someone said. If she wanted something, she went straight after it. Bren’s heart was still thumping in his chest about her jest about marriage earlier, because no one could ever be certain when she was joking and when she was serious.
As the other carriages began to unload, Bren noticed a lot of familiar faces. His sister had come as well as his father’s adopted sister. She had graduated at the top of her class from the royal school and taken up an office with Maria, now she worked as the queen’s right hand in foreign affairs.
Bren looked around, but was glad to see that Eloen had left her children at home. It was bad enough to have to deal with Eloen, having to deal with her daughter would have made the roundtable nearly unbearable for him.
Once everyone was settled, Bren escaped back to his own palace and let master Turneal handle the greetings. He knew that formalities demanded more from him, but he was already past his limit.
As soon as he stumbled through the door of the palace, Bren found a nice comfortable chair and collapsed into it. Looking around, he noticed that Elyse wasn’t with him. She must have lost track of him in all the fuss and been left behind. For a brief moment, Bren felt sorry for her, but even if her life was in danger, he didn’t think he had the nerve to go back and save her. There were just some fates that were worse than death and dealing with those two women at the same time were one of them.
“You look as if someone drug you through town behind a warhorse,” Lillian said, placing a cold glass of wine on the table in front of him. “Did it go that badly?”
“It went better than anyone could hope, but even then, dealing with Eloen is tiring. She is like using a lit fire in a building full of lamp oil. You just have to pray that she doesn’t destroy everything,” Bren said, laughing at his own joke. “Add my mother into the mix and then it is more like trying to juggle fire in the same building.”
“That bad?” Lillian said with a worried look on her face. “Will everything be o
k?”
“Nothing that will look badly on me will happen,” Bren said, giving Lillian an honest smile. “They have known each other for years and have loved to hate each other for just as long.”
“When do you expect King Killian to arrive your majesty?” Lillian asked.
“Killian is a prompt man, but one who also likes to be early, but not too early. In all the years he has visited my mother, he has always arrive the day before the meeting without fail. He is the one I am least worried about during this affair,” Bren said dismissively.
Behind him, Bren heard as the door to the palace opened. “Bren Farlane, just where did you run off to?” A loud voice yelled from the doorway.
“Miss I don’t know who you are, but you cannot just…” Bren heard one of the guards say before the air was filled with a loud groan.
“Get in my way again and I’ll cut you into small pieces,” the voice said and was quickly followed by another groan. “Good boy.”
“So she did come,” Bren said, letting his head fall onto the table with a loud thud.
“Who came?” Lillian asked, her face troubled.
“Brenda, an Abla princess, but it would be better to call her a walking natural disaster.”
“I heard that,” a tall girl with light brown hair and blue eyes so dark they nearly looked black. “And here I came all the way to visit you and even brought a few others who missed you at the reception.”
Nearly as soon as the words had left Brenda’s mouth, Shariel walked through the door, dragging behind a very angry looking Sandrea. “I see that you have your father’s knack for disappearing,” Shariel said with a warm smile.
Out of the three visitors, Shariel was the only one he wanted to see, but now that they were here, it wasn’t going to be as easy as asking them to leave. “My apologies for my hasty departure, but I have many other things to organize and the tower has taken over the duty of entertaining the royalty. I am sure that if you were to head over to the tower, there would be plenty to keep you…”
Silver Mage (Book 2) Page 7