Gods Above and Below

by Loren K. Jones

  The expedition got ready to go soon after that. Varik took a moment to tell Stavin about his almost-visit by the girl, and Stavin sighed as he shook his head.

  “Should I say anything to her?”

  Karvik answered, “No. She’d probably just be humiliated by it. Just let it go unnoticed.”

  “You’re probably right, Kar. Is everyone ready?”

  When everyone had their horses saddled and ready to go, Stavin mounted and led the way to the town gates. As expected, the mayor and a broad assortment of townsfolk were there to see them off.

  “Prince Stavin, on behalf of our people, we wish you a safe and pleasant journey.”

  Stavin nodded deeply. “I thank you all. May the Light of Arandar the Bright protect you all from evil.” With that he kneed Tru forward and they passed through the gate.

  Karvik rode close to Stavin’s side and looked around. “This is beautiful country, isn’t it?”

  Stavin nodded as he looked out over the valley and up at the mountains. “Very. This is what I miss most about the expeditions. Twin Bridges is beautiful, but it can’t compare with this.” He gestured around them. “This is something new.”

  Karvik chuckled. “Yeah, but at least we’re not camping every night. Or pulling night guard duty.”

  Stavin laughed back at him. “I’m not, at least.” After that they settled into a comfortable silence, just pointing out interesting sights as they passed.

  They had been on the road for four more days before they reached another town. This one was much bigger than Big Red Rock.

  “Now that’s more like it,” Stavin muttered. Turning toward Karvik he asked, “What do you think? Twenty thousand?”

  Karvik nodded. “About. There’s a sawmill on the river,” he pointed out, “as well as a grist mill.”

  “How can you tell?” Varik asked.

  “The saw mill has a flume leading down from way up river to float logs down,” he said as he pointed. “The grist mill is farther downstream, and has an under-flow wheel directly in the river while the sawmill has an over-flow wheel driven by the water from the flume.”

  Stavin was looking at Karvik with wide eyes. He asked, “How did you know all that?” in a puzzled tone.

  “The first expedition I led went through a town a lot like this in Coravia. Darval Kel’Vandar pointed out the differences.”

  “Have I met him?”

  “I don’t think so. He’s Rahlina’s little brother, the one who got his vest the season before her. And you.”

  Stavin chuckled. “We’re going to pass through Aravad on the way home. Maybe we can detour up to Markavia Cross--and Kavinston as well.”

  Karvik nodded and pulled out the small parchment that held their itinerary. “If we can find a way to send a message from Rey, and don’t extend our stay there, we should be all right.”

  Stavin sighed mightily. “And figure the odds of that happening now that Arandar has chosen to join the fun.”

  “My math isn’t that good.” Karvik laughed.

  Stavin had to laugh as well. “There is always the option of paying the Gold Merchants to send it. I just don’t like the idea of paying them a gold crown to say, “We’re going to be a little late.”

  Karvik chuckled. “Yeah, but you would have paid it three years ago in Coravia if you could have.”

  Stavin’s eyes went unfocused for a moment as he breathed, “Oh yes. And I would have bought my own message book this time if I was crazy enough to have imagined the events in Aniston. Fifty gold crowns isn’t that much--for me at least--but I didn’t think anything major was going to happen this trip.”

  Karvik laughed uproariously for a moment, then gasped, “When have you ever gone on an expedition that didn’t get exciting?”

  Stavin just shook his head as he muttered, “Shut up, Kar.”

  Varik laughed at Stavin. “He’s got a point, Stave. Dad told me he didn’t expect any trouble when you went to Evandia to check your trading house, and look how that turned out.”

  Stavin glared at his little-brother-in-law and said, “You shut up too, Var.” He shook his head sadly. “Dragon Blessed prince of Evandia and Coravia, and blessed by Arandar the Bright, and this is the respect I get?”

  Karvik glanced at Varik and they both started laughing. Karvik gasped, “Yep,” as he continued to laugh.

  Chapter 11

  IT TOOK UNTIL MID DAY TO reach the city. The gates stood open, and just one old man sitting on a stool guarded them. He walked forward, straightening his uniform, as Karvik stopped his horse.

  “You’re a mighty pretty bunch,” the guard said as he looked over the expedition. “You escorting a prince or some such?”

  Karvik was startled and just said, “Yes, we’re escorting Prince Stavin of Evandia.”

  The guard stumbled back a few steps until his back was against the gate. “Prince Stavin, the Blessed of Arandar?” he asked in a husky voice as he looked behind Karvik.

  Karvik nodded. “Yes. Can you recommend a good Chosen inn?”

  “An inn fit for the Blessed of Arandar? The best Henley has to offer is the Hornet’s Nest. It’s easy--It’s actually pretty hard to find,” he admitted with a one-shouldered shrug. “Let me fetch you a guide.” At Karvik’s nod he stepped to the side and pulled a rope. They could hear a bell inside the walls and in just a few breaths a dozen armed warriors were facing them.

  “Stand down!” the old man bellowed. The warriors came to a stop and sheathed their swords. One stepped forward and bowed.

  “You summoned us, sir?”

  The old man nodded. “Five of you escort the Blessed of Arandar and his party to the Hornet’s Nest Inn. The rest return to the ready room.”

  Almost as one the men turned toward Karvik. Stavin kneed Tru forward, and as soon as they saw his golden armor they went to their knees and placed their foreheads on the ground. The old man was the only one to keep his head up.

  He said, “Blessed of Arandar, we welcome you to Henley,” in a loud, clear voice that carried to the back of the group, and also to the curious people inside the city.

  Stavin bowed slightly in his saddle. “I am honored by your greeting. You men, rise. You can’t guard your city on your knees.” The warriors stood cautiously, brushing the dust from their armor as they looked at Stavin.

  The old man stepped forward again and bowed deeply. “I am Major Serdal Kel’Froman of the Henley Guard, Blessed One. My senior men will guide you to the inn immediately.” He glanced at his men and the oldest five stepped forward and bowed.

  “At once, Sir. Blessed One, please follow us.” The warrior bowed again and headed into the city. Enough people had heard the major that the news of Stavin’s arrival had spread like wildfire.

  People from every walk of life were lining the streets, many rushing to the correct route and falling to their knees as soon as Stavin came into view. As Stavin passed, the people bowed their heads in respect, many going all the way down until their foreheads touched the ground.

  Stavin simply stared straight ahead. This is already getting old.

  The ride through the city took more than two spans, and Karvik was a nervous wreck by the time the Hornet’s Nest Inn came into view.

  The front porch of the inn was crowded with silently waiting people. When Karvik pulled his horse to a stop and Stavin rode into view, everyone knelt and bowed their heads.

  Stavin looked at Karvik and rolled his eyes. Karvik grinned, then asked in a loud voice, “Who is the innkeeper?”

  An emaciated old skeleton of a man stood and cautiously came forward. “I am Caralan Fel’Dervas, keeper of the Hornet’s Nest Inn, Blessed One.”

  Stavin nodded. “I need rooms for my party. Major Kel’Carin will be posting eleven men at a time on guard so that will reduce the number of rooms we’ll need.”

  The innkeeper seemed to be fighting down his reaction for a moment, though Stavin couldn’t tell if he was fighting elation or fear. He finally bowed and said, “Yes, of cour
se, Blessed One. I shall have my best suite prepared immediately.”

  Karvik nodded as he ordered, “Sergeant Zel’Fordan, take your team inside and check out the inn.”

  Sergeant Zel’Fordan and the ten men of his team dismounted and turned their horses over to Varik and his team, then went inside the inn.

  The innkeeper seemed on the verge of a breakdown so Karvik explained, “We don’t allow Prince Stavin to enter any building that we haven’t checked out.”

  The innkeeper sputtered for a moment, then bowed deeply and took a step back. “With the Blessed One’s permission, I will have my servants prepare the suite.”

  Stavin nodded and the innkeeper hurried back inside. Stavin turned toward Karvik and shrugged. “Not the friendliest place we’ve ever stayed.”

  “And that worries me,” Karvik murmured.

  “Me too,” Stavin murmured back. “Let’s see to the horses while the innkeeper is busy.” Karvik nodded his agreement and led the way around the building in silence.

  The horses had been seen to and everyone was ready by the time Sergeant Zel’Fordan came out. “Prince Stavin, Major Kel’Carin, the inn is secure and I have two men in the suite as well as two men in the kitchen.”

  “Very good, Sergeant,” Karvik replied. “Let’s go in and see what the innkeeper is so nervous about.”

  Karvik led the way and Stavin stayed behind him. He was no stranger to people being nervous around him, but nothing like the innkeeper’s reaction had ever happened before.

  The inn common room was all but empty. One of the royal guards was standing in the doorway facing out, refusing to let anyone in.

  Stavin shook his head. “We need to get upstairs so the innkeeper can have his inn back.”

  Karvik grunted his agreement and they headed for the stairs. Sergeant Zel’Fordan hurried to join them. “Third floor, to the right, Prince Stavin,” the sergeant said as they climbed. “It puts you at the front of the inn.”

  Stavin nodded but didn’t say anything until they reached the suite. “This will do for one night,” he said as he looked around.

  Karvik walked through the suite and returned to Stavin’s side. “Only one bed, Stave. I’ll have the innkeeper shift a second bed in here for me.”

  Stavin just nodded. “What is he so nervous about?” Stavin asked softly as he looked around. “This is a nice inn. Not up to the standards of a royal inn, of course, but way above average.”

  “He’s probably more concerned about the Blessed of Arandar. Did you notice that he, and really everyone we’ve met here insists on calling you ‘the Blessed One’ instead of Prince Stavin?”

  Stavin grimaced. “I noticed.”

  Karvik chuckled at Stavin’s tone. “There’s no bathing room. We’ll have to go back down-stairs to clean up.”

  Stavin looked around and shook his head. “I guess they don’t get many royal visitors.”

  Karvik laughed and caught up his kit, and Stavin was right behind him. The innkeeper met them at the foot of the stairs and went to his knees.

  “What do you desire, Blessed One?” he asked with his head bowed.

  “A bath,” Stavin replied.

  The innkeeper glanced up then bowed his head again. His left arm came up and he pointed down a hallway. “Our poor bathing room is through the last door on the right, Blessed One.”

  Stavin said, “Thank you,” and headed down the hall with Karvik right behind him. Behind Karvik were the ten men of his team.

  “Something isn’t right here,” one of the guardsmen murmured.

  “We noticed,” Karvik muttered back, “so keep your eyes open. Once we are done start cycling through two at a time. Pair up. No one gets caught alone. Two of you, go pass the instructions to the rest of our men, and pass the same instructions to the Traders.”

  “Understood, Major,” the men replied. The two in the back turned away to carry out the order.

  The bathing room, like the suite, was a disappointment. “That tub’s barely big enough for me,” Stavin muttered.

  Karvik chuckled as he replied, “It isn’t much different from the tubs we’ve used for most of our lives, Stave. You just got spoiled living in the palace and staying in royal inns.”

  Stavin shook his head and just bathed in silence. The water wasn’t hot, but it was plentiful. After Karvik had poured a final bucket of water over his head, he took over helping Karvik with his bath.

  When they were both dressed again, they left the bathing room to find the guardsmen facing off with a group of hostile men dressed in fining clothing.

  “Now what?” Stavin muttered.

  “Blessed One!” a man shouted, and soon every man there was shouting the same thing, clamoring for Stavin’s attention.

  The crowd started pushing forward, trying to get to Stavin, and Karvik bellowed, “Royal Guards, protect the prince.”

  With that order, the guardsmen stopped trying to politely hold the men back. Swords hissed like angry snakes as the guardsmen took an aggressive stance and pushed the men back.

  “You can’t do this to us!” one of the men shouted.

  “We are Chosen lords!” another added. “We’re above you common guards.”

  Eldick stepped forward with his sword at the ready. “I am Eldick Zel’Karyn of the Evandian Royal Guard, and Heir of Zel’Karyn. You are not above me.”

  “Stand aside, boy,” one older man growled as he stepped forward, only to stumble back when four swords swung toward his chest.

  “You will keep your distance from Prince Stavin or die where you stand,” Eldick growled right back.

  Stavin made his way toward the front of the guardsmen, stopping just behind Eldick. “You will find that my guardsmen are exceptionally hard to intimidate. I will take a few spans to meet with the lord mayor and council, but I will not be holding court.”

  “But Blessed One--”

  “No,” Stavin answered mildly. “I am only staying the night and moving on at first light.”

  The man who had tried to push past Eldick again stepped forward again, this time stopping well short of the guards’ swords. “I am Lord Mayor Eral Zel’Borland. I insist you stay and discuss your transformation with us.”

  Stavin shook his head. “No. I’m still trying to decide exactly what that ‘transformation’ is and what it means. I’m sure someone will be writing it all down eventually. You’ll just have to wait until then.”

  Another man demanded, “Who are you to deny us?” from well back in the crowd.

  Now Stavin stepped forward and replied, “I am Dragon Blessed Senior Warmaster Prince Stavin Markan Karvan Do’Kalin Ne’Aniston Zel’Andral of Evandia,” in an angry tone. “That I am also the Blessed of Arandar is secondary to that.”

  All of the men took a step back as Stavin’s golden eyes flashed with his anger. “You will find that I am not easily impressed by the rank of others. Rest assured that His Majesty King Alred will receive a full report of this incident when we arrive in Rey on the Glimmer.”

  The lord mayor took a step back, then pushed, or was pushed, forward again. “Blessed One, you must tell us what has happened to you. The information we’ve received from Zel’Kassel has been sketchy at best.”

  Stavin shrugged. “That’s because we were in Aniston rather than Zel’Kassel. After the followers of Lebawan attacked us--”

  “You were attacked!?” one of the lords demanded loudly.

  “Yes,” Stavin replied. “We decided that Aniston was a much more comfortable place to stay. Lady Sahrana is a gracious hostess and saw to my comfort in true style.”

  The men were murmuring amongst themselves and soon the lord mayor addressed Stavin again. “Blessed One, we noticed a number of traders among your party. May we ask who they are?”

  Stavin nodded. “They are going to be the masters of the House Kel’Aniston caravans that will soon be handing long distance trade from the Aniston and Zel’Kassel area.”

  Several of the men exchanged glances before one of
them stepped forward and bowed. “Blessed One,” he began, then paused to clear his throat. “Forgive me. Are you saying that your House Kel’Aniston is going into competition with House Zel’Aniston?”

  Stavin shook his head as he smiled. “No. House Kel’Aniston is taking over the long-distance trade in support of House Zel’Aniston, as it should be. We’ll also be helping with high volume trade during harvest. Cousin Sindal doesn’t like sending her caravans so far away.” He glanced at Feralan and nodded. “This is Feralan Zel’Aniston. I’m sponsoring her and seven others to be my Master Traders.”

  The man seemed surprised, but at the same time intrigued. “Will you be trading exclusively between Rey and Zel’Kassel, or are you going to branch out?” he asked with a definite look of avarice on his face. Then he hastily added, “Your Highness.”

  Stavin thought for a moment, then shrugged. “That will be up to my managers, Rhovan and Veralyn Kel’Aniston. I’m going to be much too far away to directly control this portion of House Kel’Aniston.”

  The man nodded. “I know Veralyn and her husband, Your Highness.” At Stavin’s raised eyebrows, the man bowed. “Perhaps I should introduce myself. I am Master Trader Cevin Zel’Winterhaven, owner of the Zel’Winterhaven Trading House and leader of the Henley Trader’s Council.”

  Stavin nodded. “I am pleased to meet you, Lord Zel’Winterhaven. We’re going to have four caravans, with five wagons each. But as I said, it will be up to Rhovan if we expand beyond that.”

  The trader bowed and backed away, and the mayor joined him. One by one the other men bowed and followed their leader out of the inn.

  Stavin looked at Karvik and shrugged. “I guess I answered their questions.”

  “No,” Karvik said as he looked out the door, “you stomped on the mayor so hard they were afraid to push for more information. That plus having all of us armed behind you.”

  Stavin glanced behind them to find all of his guards behind them with bared steel in their hands. A wry grin twisted his lips as he admitted, “Could be.”

  Karvik said, “Sheath your swords, men, and well done.” The guardsmen complied and the atmosphere in the inn became much more relaxed.