Gods Above and Below

by Loren K. Jones

  The mayor looked at Karvik’s men curiously, but if he had any objections to their presence he kept them to himself. Once Karvik had cleared the room, Stavin walked in and took the chair nearest the door.

  The lord mayor remained standing once everyone else was seated. “Prince Stavin,” he began and Stavin was glad his voice had returned to a normal volume, “we hoped you would stop for a few days on your way to Rey on the Glimmer.”

  Stavin bowed his head slightly. “We intend to, especially now.”

  “Has something else happened, Your Highness?” the mayor asked.

  Stavin nodded. “Yes. Ten days ago, we came upon a caravan that was under attack by bandits. My royal guards, led by Major Kel’Carin,” he gestured toward Karvik, “saw to the bandits, but unfortunately all of the traders were already dead. The caravansary manager mentioned someone called Bel’Corad when we brought the wagons in.”

  “Bel’Corad and his band are a scourge on Reynadia,” the mayor replied as he shook his head. “How many of his men did your guardsmen kill, Prince Stavin?”

  “Twenty.”

  The mayor looked surprised, as did his councilors. “That is five more men than he was reported to have. I’ll instruct Lord Javan to see to the disposition of the caravan. Do you know what House they were from, Prince Stavin?”

  Stavin nodded. “Feralan said they were from the Lake Arrowhead Syndicate.”

  The mayor shook his head sadly. “Another of the Syndicate’s caravans. It’s almost like someone was directing Bel’Corad to them.”

  “That is unfortunately possible,” one of the councilors said in a soft voice, “or directing the caravans into his area. I have a lot invested in the Syndicate. Hopefully this will mean an end to our losses.”

  Stavin nodded again. “Hopefully,” he agreed. “My main hope is that the roads will be safer for all caravans, mine included.”

  “Your caravans, Your Highness?” another of the councilors asked.

  “Yes.” Stavin spent a few moments sketching his plans for House Kel’Aniston in Reynadia. “Now, if you will excuse me,” he concluded as he stood, “I need to find a good inn and clean up.”

  “Of course, Your Highness,” the mayor said as he stood. “The Royal Bull Inn is just up the way. We would be pleased to escort you there.” Stavin nodded and allowed the entire city council to escort him the three dragons to the inn.

  Karvik nodded his satisfaction as he said, “Now this is more like it.”

  Stavin had to agree. The Royal Bull was huge. It was easily a dragon and a half across the front, and three deep down the sides. Four floors towered over the street, and wide balconies circled the building.

  When Stavin’s foot touched the first of the ten steps that led to the entry, the doors opened and a tall blonde woman stepped out, then went to her knees. She didn’t, however, bow her head.

  “Blessed of Arandar, Dragonblessed Prince Stavin of Evandia, we welcome you to the Royal Bull. I am Lady Ava Zel’Kellie,” now she did bow her head briefly, “owner and proprietress. My staff has been setting the Royal Suite to rights since we were informed of your arrival. If you would care to send in your servants, my people will take them to the Royal Suite.”

  Stavin bowed in return before replying, “I am honored by your greeting, Lady Zel’Kellie. I didn’t bring any servants this trip. I hadn’t intended on making much of a fuss.”

  Lady Ava bowed her head again. “I will assign Grantan to act as your butler--”

  Karvik interrupted her, saying, “We cannot allow non-bound servants near Prince Stavin.” At the look of rage that crossed her face, he bowed and continued. “We mean no insult to you or your people, Lady Zel’Kellie. Those are our orders from King Kalin, and not even Prince Stavin can countermand them.”

  “Then who sees to His Highness’ needs, young man?” she asked in a remarkably mild tone.

  Stavin chuckled. “He does. Really, there are only a few things I can’t do for myself.”

  Lady Ava bowed again, though it was obvious that she wasn’t used to being told no. “All of my servants are properly bound, young man. This is a royal inn. However, you may do as you wish, Your Highness. This way, please. I’ll escort you myself.” She bowed and Stavin moved to her side.

  “Our Royal Suite is on the fourth floor for your protection, Prince Stavin. Also for your security, there are gates at each corner of the balcony that are locked and cannot be opened from the opposite side.”

  Stavin was nodding. “I’m impressed.”

  Now she smiled down at him. “Alred stays with me whenever he passes through.”

  “King Alred?” Stavin asked.

  She gave him a sly wink and a smile. “My big brother Al.”

  “Ah, that explains--” Stavin interrupted himself and shook his head. “So I should call you ‘Your Highness’ as well, shouldn’t I?”

  “No,” she replied with a slight smile, “I renounced my claim to the throne to marry Kodan.”

  Stavin bowed slightly, then said, “Very well, Lady Zel’Kellie. We will be down in a span or so. Major Kel’Carin will be posting his men on guard, but they try to be discreet.”

  Lady Zel’Kellie bowed her head as she stopped by a wide door. “This is the royal suite, Prince Stavin.” She pushed the door open and stood aside to let Stavin enter the suite first.

  Stavin took two steps and stopped. “Gods Above--this is magnificent!” He turned around to find Lady Zel’Kellie standing beside Karvik.

  Lady Zel’Kellie chuckled at his tone. “It’s an exact duplicate of Alred’s suite in the palace. He had it remodeled to match not long after he ascended to the throne.”

  “It’s a pretty good match for King Kalin’s suite back home,” Stavin said as he looked around, “and much more elegant than King Teravan’s suite in Moravad.”

  Lady Ava’s head tilted to the side as she asked, “Really?”

  Stavin nodded. “Many of the palaces were built by the Imperial Architects as homes for the emperor when he was traveling to the provincial capitals. I don’t know if the emperors ordered it, but most of the palaces closely match the imperial palace in Lux. Those that were built later still used the old designs.”

  “How curious,” she replied as she tapped her lips with one finger. “I wish we had traveled more when I was young. I’ve never seen any of the other capitals or palaces.”

  Stavin bowed slightly. “Lady Ava, we will be down shortly.” She smiled and bowed, then walked away.

  Stavin chuckled as he closed the door. “I can’t imagine Kalin letting Marina run an inn.”

  “Can’t you?” Karvik asked. “What about running a trading house?”

  “But I’m not--King Alred is her brother, not her father, so she wasn’t the heir. She must have married into the Zel’Kellie family and come here to have something to keep her busy.”

  Karvik was nodding. “If you had to just sit around and look pretty all the time you’d go insane in short order. Besides, you might not have noticed before, but all the royal inns in Evandia are owned by the royal family. The innkeepers are hirelings, just like the servants. She said all of her servants were bound, but I’ll bet that’s because of her, not the king.”

  Stavin nodded. “You’re probably right, Kar.” Stavin started shucking himself out of his armor, heading unerringly toward the bathing room.

  Chapter 13

  STAVIN AND KARVIK RETURNED TO THE ground floor to find just a handful of people there.

  Lady Ava walked over to them and bowed, asking, “How can I serve you, Prince Stavin?”

  Stavin returned the bow before saying, “I’d like a beer, please.”

  Lady Ava’s smile deepened as she led them to a table. She gestured toward the bar and a serving man brought two tall glasses of light amber beer. She set them on the table with her own hand, then bowed.

  “This is my finest brew. My late husband and his brothers developed this recipe over the course of thirty years. I hope it meets your approval.
”

  Stavin nodded, then tried the beer. He and Karvik had settled whether or not Karvik would be ‘tasting’ the food here while they were bathing.

  “That is excellent, Lady Ava. It’s got a very light flavor.”

  “Indeed,” Karvik agreed before taking a second drink. “I think I’d prefer a stouter brew in the winter, but this is perfect in the summer.”

  Lady Ava bowed as she smiled. “Thank you. My cooks have prepared roast bison with roasted tubers and carrots, roast duck with boiled grains, and deep-fried rabbit with mashed tubers.”

  Stavin had tilted his head to the side as she spoke, and nodded when she finished. “The fried rabbit sounds interesting.”

  Karvik nodded. “I think I’ll try the roast duck.”

  Lady Ava bowed slightly and said, “As you wish,” then turned away.

  Karvik saw Varik and waved him over. “Normal watches, Var. This inn is a favorite of the king, so their security is probably sufficient, but we’ll continue on our regular schedule.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Varik replied as he bowed.

  Stavin added, “Var, Lady Ava is the king’s little sister. Pass the word for everyone to be on their best behavior. She might have renounced her claim on the throne, but she is still a member of the royal family.”

  “Yes, Your Highness. I’ll pass the word.”

  Lady Ava returned with a serving man following her with a tray. She again served Stavin and Karvik with her own hands, then bowed. “Here is your supper, Prince Stavin.”

  Stavin bowed in his chair, then said, “Lady Ava, this is my brother-in-law, Lieutenant Varik Kel’Horval.” Lady Ava nodded as Varik bowed deeply. “He’ll be setting watches on the fourth floor.”

  Lady Ava bowed her head again. “Maral will show you the gates and provide you with the keys,” she replied, motioning toward the serving man.

  Maral bowed and said, “This way please, Lieutenant,” then turned toward the kitchen.

  Lady Ava looked at Karvik and said, “Major, the remaining rooms on the fourth floor are available for your men to use. They are not elegant, but my brother’s guards have never complained.”

  Karvik stood and bowed. “Thank you, Lady Ava.”

  “Lady Ava,” Stavin said as he looked up at her, “I need rooms for eight traders and eight trade guards as well. Six of the traders are from Clan Zel’Aniston, so I’d like to give all of them good rooms. The guards and remaining two traders are from Clan Kel’Aniston, so they don’t need as nice a room.”

  “Kira’s clan,” she replied with a knowing nod. “You are aligning yourself with Clan Zel’Aniston?”

  Stavin nodded. “I was born a Kel’Aniston, Lady Ava.”

  She nodded as she replied, “I hadn’t forgotten that, Prince Stavin. Clan Zel’Aniston and Clan Zel’Karal have been allied for dozens of generations, extending well into the early imperial era. Alankira married my nephew Jerlan more than twenty years ago, and will be queen when Alred and Alantana die.”

  Stavin sat back and said, “Lady Sahrana didn’t mention that.”

  “Sahra doesn’t like to play on her relationship to the royal family, but she and I share a common great-grandfather. One generation closer and Jerlan wouldn’t have been allowed to wed Alankira.”

  “Oh,” was the most intelligent thing Stavin could say for a few moments. Once he regained his wits he continued with, “That puts her much better connected than I thought.”

  “Zel’Aniston was one of the premier Clans of the province of Reynadia. They are, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, still very influential. Are you joining or competing with the Zel’Aniston Trading House?”

  “Joining. We’re going to be seeing to the long-distance trade while Sindal concentrates on the local trade around Aniston and Zel’Kassel.”

  “That will please Alred. There are few Trading Houses that dare the mountains these days.”

  “Because of Bel’Corad, Lady Ava?” Karvik asked.

  She fixed him with an intense stare as she said, “Indeed.”

  Karvik stood and bowed again. “Unless he had more than one band of thieves out there, he’s dead.”

  Lady Ava froze for an instant, then giggled like a little girl. She asked, “You killed Bel’Corad?” in a voice that sounded like she was out of breath.

  Karvik bowed deeply. “We did. His band had attacked a caravan and we happened upon them before they had finished with the traders. We killed twenty bandits, but we were too late to save any of the traders. The last of them was a young girl. Her scream was what drew our attention.”

  Lady Ava shook her head. “That is going to anger some very influential people, young man.”

  “Lady?” Karvik asked as his head tilted to the side.

  “It’s been surmised that Bel’Corad was just the hands for someone else. He was too successful against certain Houses, and never touched others.”

  “Like the Lake Arrowhead Syndicate,” Stavin said as he tapped his lips with one finger. “One of the city councilmen mentioned something along those lines.”

  Lady Ava glanced at their plates and said, “Eat now. I think we’re going to have a long discussion about the politics of Trade and the trade in Politics here in Reynadia.” With that she bowed slightly and walked away.

  Stavin and Karvik ate quickly. When Lady Ava saw that they were finished, she walked over to the table and bowed. “Prince Stavin, the lord mayor and council request an audience.”

  Stavin nodded and stood. “Are they here, or do they want me back in their council chamber?”

  “They are here, Prince Stavin,” she replied with a grin. “They like my husband’s beer.”

  Stavin chuckled as he replied, “So do we.” He and Karvik picked up their mugs and followed Lady Ava into a large private dining room and found nine men and women waiting for him.

  Lady Ava said, “Prince Stavin, I leave you to your discussions,” as she bowed Stavin toward a seat.

  Stavin held up one finger to stop her. “Lady Ava, you are welcome to stay and participate in this discussion as my guest. Your knowledge of the political situation here in Reynadia could prove invaluable.” Lady Ava bowed her acceptance of the invitation and took the seat at Stavin’s right hand.

  The lord mayor looked uncomfortable about Lady Ava’s inclusion, but had the good sense to keep his opinion about it to himself. Stavin bowed his head slightly and asked, “What can I do for you, Lord Mayor Zel’Gestan?”

  The lord mayor stood and bowed to Stavin. “Prince Stavin, we are all curious about you and your remarkable accomplishments, and, of course, your newest accomplishment of becoming the Blessed of Arandar.”

  Stavin shook his head and said, “I can’t take any credit for being blessed. That was Arandar’s decision.”

  One of the women blurted out, “But I heard you went to the temple expressly to seek Arandar’s blessing.”

  Stavin chuckled and shook his head. “No. I went to Arandar’s temple because I had been tainted by the Evilest One, and Arandar reacted to me when I first arrived in Aniston.”

  One of the men stood and glared at the woman for a moment before asking, “What taint did Arandar find, Prince Stavin?”

  “It was a childhood matter,” Stavin replied with a slight shake of his head. “An old pain deep in my soul from something that happened when I was eleven. I encountered several of the evilest one’s priests on my second expedition, and carried four of His amulets for several hands of days before I could find an Adept to cleanse them. The evilest one touched me then.”

  The man shook his head. “I find it remarkable that Arandar would choose someone that Eshokanal had touched.”

  Stavin focused his gaze on the councilor and spoke softly as he said, “I will ask you not to speak that name in my presence.”

  The councilor smiled slightly as he asked, “Are you offended by the mention of the opposition?”

  Stavin tilted his head to the side, then pulled the cuff of his shirt back. As was his habit, he had
put his under padding back on after he’d bathed. Now the dragon-scale cloth glowed brightly as it came into view. “Just a little,” he answered as the man took an involuntary step back.

  The room was absolutely silent for a moment. Lord Mayor Zel’Gestan whispered, “You fools, shut your mouths,” as he looked at his councilors.

  Stavin looked at the lord mayor and said, “Explain.”

  The mayor looked at the table for a moment, then replied, “Not everyone worships the Gods Above, Prince Stavin.”

  Stavin nodded. “I have never encountered anyone who worshipped any of the Gods Below except those priests I mentioned.”

  Another of the councilors said, “The Gods Above are not the only Gods worthy of worship.”

  Stavin startled everyone into silence by saying, “Agreed.”

  Lady Ava turned toward him and asked, “Prince Stavin?”

  “Our natures, every one of us, are made up of bits and pieces from all ten Gods. No one is wholly good or wholly evil.” He continued to outline what he had learned from the Gods Above during his visits to the temples in Aniston.

  “So even you, the Blessed of Arandar, admit that you are controlled by the Gods Below,” the councilor who had spoken Eshokanal’s name said in a definitely satisfied tone.

  “As I said, all ten of the Gods influence everyone. It is the Gods who exert the most influence that determine if you are considered good or evil.”

  “But you admit Esho--” The councilor stopped talking when Stavin launched himself out of his chair and strode over to face him.

  “Do you really want to see how the Gods Below influence me?” he growled as he glared down into the man’s eyes. “I killed eighty-five men before I picked up the Sword of Zel’Hallan. Eighty-five kills before I saw the nineteenth anniversary of my birth.” He leaned forward so his face was less than a hand’s-width from the councilor’s face. “Are you really that anxious to see which of the Gods will claim your soul?”

  The councilor looked up into Stavin’s golden eyes and stammered, “F-F-Forgive me, Blessed One.”

  Stavin pushed himself away from the man and returned to his seat. Looking around, he asked, “Does anyone else want to try and provoke a response from me?”