Gods Above and Below

by Loren K. Jones

  Karvik whispered back, “Agreed. I don’t feel safe here. The impostor has caused a lot of bad feelings among these people.”

  Stavin nodded to Trader Fel’Servat and said, “We’d like to get our supplies now.”

  The trader bowed as she replied, “As you wish, Prince Stavin. This way, please.”

  The entire group followed the trader through the town until they reached a very large building. The sign bore the bundled sheaves of the Grain Merchants, but Stavin could see a wide variety of goods through the windows.

  Only Stavin and Karvik followed Trader Fel’Servat inside. She went to a long counter and walked behind it before turning to face Stavin.

  “Now, Master Trader Zel’Andral, what supplies do you need? I remember you mentioning cured meats, grain, bread, beans, cheese, kava beans, and preserved fruit spread.”

  Stavin nodded. “The grain is probably the largest order.” Turning to Karvik he asked, “How much room do we have on the pack horses?”

  “Twenty of the horses are down to bare packs. We didn’t load up nearly enough in Rey.”

  Stavin turned back to the trader and said, “We’ll start with fifty bags of grain.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t have that much of any one grain, Master Stavin,” she replied, smiling at the delighted expression on Stavin’s face, “but I can accommodate you if we mix things up a bit.”

  Stavin bowed slightly before replying, “Barley, oats, and rye would be my choice. Kar?” Karvik simply nodded so Stavin returned his attention to the Trader.

  “Master Marshan, I would like thirty bags of oats, fifteen of barley, and five of rye.”

  “I have that quantity of each of those grains, Master Stavin. Now, as to price.” She paused and appeared to be lost in thought for a moment, then said, “Five gold.”

  Stavin choked. “I said I’d pay, not be robbed. One gold and five silver.”

  “Oh, come, Master Stavin. You are one of the wealthiest traders in all the kingdoms. Four and five.”

  “Two and five. I didn’t get wealthy by being a fool.”

  She gave him an offended look. “You admit to vast wealth, yet you’d deny me a modest profit? Four gold.”

  “Modest? That’s a laugh. Three.”

  She stepped back as her hand came to her breast. “Three and seven.”

  “Three and three.”

  “Three and five.”

  “Done,” Stavin agreed. “Three gold and five silver. Now, as to the rest of our order.”

  It only took three spans of bargaining to leave Master Fel’Servat smiling. “Master Stavin, it has been a pleasure bargaining with you. You truly are a talented trader.”

  Stavin laughed. “And you, Master Trader Marshan, are far better than I. I think you managed a full crown profit.”

  The Trader bowed deeply. “It has been an honor to meet you, Blessed One.”

  Stavin bowed slightly, then let Karvik lead him out of the building. All of the horses were loaded, so Karvik said, “Mount up.”

  A woman on the porch of the next building asked, “Blessed One, are you leaving?”

  Stavin nodded. “Yes. We are going to push on in search of the man who raped the mayor’s daughter.” The woman bowed, then backed away. Stavin glanced at Karvik as he urged Tru forward. They remained silent until they were clear of the town.

  “Something about all of that was wrong, Kar.”

  “I noticed. It may just be that the impostor left them angry and frightened, but once they knew for certain that you were the real Prince Stavin they should have tried to get you to stay.”

  “Unless they had a reason to want me gone.”

  Now Karvik gave him an intense look. “Or wanting the Blessed of Arandar gone.”

  Stavin paused, then turned in his saddle and looked back. He let his eyes close and just opened himself to his feelings. He whispered the word “Fear” and turned to face forward again. “They worship Rava there.”

  Karvik shook his head. “No wonder they weren’t very welcoming.”

  Stavin nodded. “We’ll still try to find this fool who is pretending to be me, but we won’t just execute him. He may be what the mayor accused him of being, but we’ve seen how girls have been throwing themselves at me. That girl may have been an eager and willing accomplice in her supposed rape.”

  Karvik nodded. “We, or at least you, should have spoken to her about it.”

  Stavin looked back again, then shook his head. “I don’t want to go back and ask.” Karvik just nodded and faced front.

  The next town was two days ride away. This town was bigger, but seemed deserted. No one met them. No one was on the streets at all.

  Karvik said, “I don’t like this. Swords!” Behind him every guardsman drew his sword and prepared for battle.

  Stavin had his Dragon’s Tongue in his hands as he guided Tru with his knees. He whispered, “Listen,” and pointed up the street. Karvik nodded and headed toward the sound of men shouting.

  The sound led them to an inn, and soon they could distinguish the voices encouraging someone. Then a woman’s scream cut through the shouts and Stavin leapt from Tru’s back. Karvik and all his men were right on his heels.

  Stavin burst through the door and found a dozen men in the common room. Several women were there as well, and it was all too obvious which one had screamed and why: she was being gang-raped on a table by four of the men.

  Stavin didn’t hesitate for more than the blink of an eye before attacking the rapists. None of them had a chance to defend themselves as his Dragon’s tongue cut their spines or drove through their hearts.

  Karvik had been barely a step behind Stavin and went after the others. Few of them were armed, but all of them were reaching for weapons when Karvik reached them. His father’s sword, handed down for six generations of Kel’Carin warriors, cut down two of the men before the rest of the guards joined in.

  In a moment, the only survivors were the women. Stavin started to speak when a large man appeared at the top of the stairs. He bellowed, “Who dares to attack the Blessed of Arandar?”

  Stavin looked over and saw Varik starting toward the stairs. He called out, “Var!” and when Varik looked at him he tossed his Dragon’s Tongue to his brother-in-law and shouted, “Take the kill!”

  Varik caught the weapon and spun around to throw in one fluid motion. He threw the Dragon’s Tongue with all his considerable strength, and the weapon passed completely through the man and lodged in the inn’s roof. The man knelt slowly as he held the wound in his chest, then fell forward to tumble down the stairs. He landed on his back at the bottom, already dead.

  Stavin ordered, “Var, take your team upstairs and look for any more of these bastards, and see if there are any more women up there. And pull my Dragon’s Tongue out of the roof.”

  Varik and all ten of his men replied, “Yes, Warmaster!” then they pounded up the stairs as fast as they could.

  One of the women stepped forward. She was crying and gulping for air as she snapped, “You fools! You’ve condemned us all. That was the Blessed of Arandar! The king will execute all of us!”

  The guard closest to her said, “Your pardon, good woman, but the true Blessed of Arandar is the short guy in the golden armor. Dragonblessed Senior Warmaster Prince Stavin of Evandia.”

  The woman gulped air and said, “But he said he was--He had a writ with the king’s seal!”

  Stavin said, “Find it.” All of the guardsmen started searching while Stavin walked over to the women. They had gathered around the rape victim and the woman who had confronted them turned to face him.

  Stavin bowed slightly and said, “Do what you can for her. Is anyone here from the inn?”

  “I am,” a younger woman said and stepped forward. “What do you demand of us?”

  “I do not demand anything. See to these women. I will pay for their care.”

  The woman seemed about to break down as she asked, “You’re real? You’re really the Blessed of A
randar?”

  “I am,” he confirmed with a slight bow. “Where are the rest of your people?”

  The first woman said, “The Bles--That bastard claimed the entire town was his and ordered everyone out. Except us. They chose twenty women to keep them happy.”

  Stavin bowed so she wouldn’t see the rage on his face, then straightened and looked her in the eye. “If any of you have any idea where they went, tell them the impostor is dead and they can return to their homes.”

  Stavin turned away as Varik came to the top of the stairs and said, “Stave, come up here,” in a flat, emotionless tone. Stavin and Karvik both ran up the stairs. Varik was standing with his men outside one of the rooms. He wouldn’t look into the room or look Stavin in the eye.

  Stavin paused and looked at Karvik, then went into the room. The ‘woman’ on the bed was no such thing. Stavin guessed she was no more than ten years old. She was huddled against the headboard and clutching the blanket to her breast as she cried. When Stavin took a step into the room she whispered, “No. Please no.”

  Stavin stopped where he was and looked at Karvik. “Go down and see if one of the women will come up here.”

  Karvik bowed and said, “Yes, Your Highness.”

  Stavin turned back toward the girl and removed his helmet, then pushed the mail hood off his head. “You are safe, child. The man who hurt you is dead.”

  The girl gulped air and said, “He called you highness.”

  Stavin nodded and said, “I am Prince Stavin of Evandia.”

  “But he said he was the Blessed!”

  Stavin bowed his head and shook it side-to-side. “He was an impostor, child. He was just a bandit pretending to be me.”

  Karvik returned with the woman who had confronted them. As soon as she looked into the room she burst into tears and rushed past Stavin.

  “Get out. All of you, get out!”

  Stavin backed away, closing the door behind him. “One man, post against the far wall. Offer any assistance they need, but otherwise leave them alone. Warleader Kel’Carin, detail Sergeant Zel’Fordan’s team to see to the horses. We’ll be here a day or two. And have those bodies hauled out to the dung heap.”

  Every man there answered, “Yes, Warmaster,” then turned away to carry out his orders. Karvik followed Stavin down-stairs and gave his orders while Stavin went over to the women.

  Stavin stopped more than three paces away from the women and waited for them to acknowledge him before he spoke. “We will be staying until the day after tomorrow. Is there a Healer left in the town?” All of the women shook their heads. Looking at the woman who had said she was from the inn, he bowed his head before saying, “We will need rooms for twenty-two of my men. The other eleven will be posted on watch.”

  She asked, “Why?”

  “They are tasked with protecting me.”

  She shook her head and corrected him. “No. Why are you staying?”

  Stavin took a half-step back from the rage in her tone. “I thought--If it is your wish we will ride on.”

  Another of the women asked, “You’d really go? You’d really just leave us alone?”

  “If you asked it of me we would.”

  “I ask it,” a voice said from behind him. He turned to find the woman and girl from upstairs behind him.

  Stavin bowed deeply and said, “As you wish. Major Kel’Carin, change of plans. We’re not staying. Everyone out of the inn.” He looked around and shook his head. “But get these bastards out of here first.”

  “At once, Prince Stavin,” Karvik replied, then turned to his men. “You heard him. Go out and stop Sergeant Zel’Fordan and his men. Drag the bodies out with you, then tend the horses and prepare to leave.” All of the guardsmen braced to attention, then filed out of inn with two men dragging each body. Karvik remained until Stavin turned toward the door, then joined him.

  Karvik muttered, “I don’t like leaving them alone and unguarded, Stave.”

  “I don’t either, Kar, but what can we do? I won’t force our presence on them.”

  Karvik shook his head as he checked the tack on his horse. “I said I didn’t like it, Stave. I didn’t say I don’t understand. Good thing we loaded up on supplies in Corsat.”

  Stavin climbed onto Tru’s back and looked at the bodies. “Tie ropes to their feet. We’ll drag them out of town and leave them for the scavengers.” Once all of his guards were mounted he led the way out of town. One look back showed that none of the women were watching them.

  Chapter 28

  THE NEXT TOWN WAS TWO DAYS away. It was also the location of a Reynadian Army fort, and Stavin led the way straight to the compound. As soon as they were all within the walls, the gates slammed shut and they were surrounded by five hundred armed troops.

  A voice shouted, “You are under arrest by order of his Majesty King Alred.”

  Karvik said, “Stave?”

  “Do nothing to provoke them, Kar.”

  A short, lightly built old man came out and announced, “I am Lord General Victan Zel’Horvak. You will all dismount and surrender your weapons. King Alred has ordered your arrest for treason.”

  Karvik gave Stavin a look of determined resistance, but Stavin just raised one finger to stop him, then raised his voice to say, “Obey the king’s order,” then dismounted.

  All the guardsmen obeyed as well and let the Reynadian troops take their weapons. The private who wrenched Stavin’s Dragon’s Tongue out of his hand grabbed his biceps and forced him forward to face the general. He tried to force Stavin to his knees as well, but Stavin stubbornly stayed on his feet.

  The private bellowed, “Kneel, you dog!” and brought his armored fist down on Stavin’s helmet.

  Stavin was driven to his knees, but not into submission. His elbow snapped back and up into the private’s crotch, then when the private bent over he pulled the man forward to bury his nose in the dirt at his general’s feet.

  Stavin had surged to his feet to face the general, but the troops were ready for a fight. Five crossbowmen launched their bolts at the same time only to see them bounce off Stavin’s armor and fly away.

  The general shouted, “Hold!” as his men reacted. “Hold your hands.” Turning toward Stavin he snarled, “You obey the king’s command poorly.”

  Stavin growled, “I am a prince of Evandia. Even if I had committed treason, I would still be treated with the respect due my station.” The general’s chin came up, but he was prevented from replying by the arrival of several elegantly dressed men and women.

  “Did you catch him?” one man shouted. “Did you catch that bastard?” The whole group forced its way to the general. “We heard he was here.”

  The general looked at them, then indicated Stavin. “He stands before you.”

  All the men and women turned and looked at Stavin, then one man looked back at the general. “Where?” The general mutely pointed at Stavin but the man shook his head. “That’s not him. The Blessed of Arandar is a big man, not a little runt like you, Vic. The Blessed One is the size of that sergeant.” He pointed to a tall man behind the general.

  The general looked at the others and received nods of agreement. Turning to Stavin he asked, “Who are you?”

  Stavin let a slight smile touch his lips as he replied, “I am Dragonblessed Senior Warmaster Prince Stavin Markan Karvan Do’Kalin Ne’Aniston Zel’Andral, former King of Coravia, current Heir of Coravia, Minister of Trade for Evandia, Master of the Kel’Aniston Trading House, and Blessed of Arandar the Bright.”

  One of the women said, “The big man just said he was the Blessed One. He had a writ saying he was the Hero of Reynadia.”

  “This one?” Karvik asked as he held up a piece of yellowed parchment.

  The woman walked over and snatched it from his hand. “Yes, this looks like it. How did you get it?”

  “We took it off the body of a man who was raping a young girl in a town two days’ ride behind us. I believe that was the man you mistook as the Blessed of Ar
andar.” Karvik shifted his attention back to the general. “As for Prince Stavin, there is one thing that no one can counterfeit. General Zel’Horvak, look into his eyes.”

  The general whispered, “Stavin Goldeneyes,” and looked as Stavin removed his helmet. A look of almost comical alarm crossed the general’s face, then he was on his knees with his forehead in the dirt, begging Stavin’s forgiveness.

  “Blessed One, we were just following King Alred’s command,” he all but whined.

  “General Zel’Horvak, return to your feet,” Stavin commanded in an angry tone. “I would like you to send a report of this incident to King Alred. The man we killed had also raped a young girl in the town of Corsat. He had a dozen followers, and was impersonating me to use my status in an effort to rape and rob the people of Reynadia.”

  The general scrambled to his feet and bowed, then backed away as Stavin turned toward the mass of troops behind him. “Return our weapons. Evandian Royal Guards always go armed.” There was some hesitation from the Reynadian troops until their officers started shouting, “Do it! Do it!”

  Stavin bent over and retrieved his Dragon’s Tongue from the private’s hand, then followed the general. A young lieutenant opened the door and snapped to attention as Stavin passed, and he wasn’t surprised when Karvik and Varik pushed in behind him. They found the general sitting at his desk, feverishly writing in his Message Book.

  It took half a span for the general to finish, then he closed his book and looked at Stavin. “Blessed One, your message is sent.”

  Stavin smiled slightly. “General, you may simply call me Warmaster. Now, why in the five hells do you let that crashing ass get away with calling you a runt? Especially in front of your men?”

  “And you by comparison, Prince Stavin. Please accept my apologies, Warmaster. That ‘crashing ass’ as you called him is my little brother, Edrin.” The message book started flashing and the general opened it.

  “To Lord General Zel’Horvak

  From King Alred,”

  “General Zel’Horvak, express our apologies to Prince Stavin. I should have known such an honorable man would never do the things you accused him of.