by Ryan Evans
I took the seat below the two windows as Tristan and Selene positioned themselves on the wall behind and to either side of me. The other nobles, led by Karsam, took seats across from me. Inspecting everyone more closely, they looked tired, but no worse for wear. Maxon was the worst of the lot. He had angry red claw marks running down his face at an angle. They’d miraculously missed his eyes and lips, but stitches held his nose and face together. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but his face was swollen with black, yellow and blue bruising all over it from the damage he’d sustained.
“So, how would you like to start?” I asked Colonel Karsam as none of them seemed to want to speak first. I could cut the tension in the room with a knife, and I didn’t foresee it getting any better. This meeting was like lancing a wound; it was uncomfortable as hell, but had to be done to encourage healing. I didn’t think we’d be on positive terms any time soon, but I hoped to avoid bloodshed between us. There were plenty of enemies available without turning on each other.
“What’s this, then?” Major Vinea asked in an irritated voice, ignoring my question and gesturing at Tristan and Selene. To their credit, neither Tristan nor Selene moved or reacted to the major’s hostile tone or aura. Honestly, if anything did happen in this room, I had a feeling the real threat would come from Lathian. He’d silently taken up a position behind Colonel Karsam upon our entrance.
Lathian stood relaxed but ready in his protection of Karsam. I found it intriguing that he moved so freely around the other nobles as a slave. Despite his unconcerned posture, his eyes told a different story. They surveyed the room with a haughty arrogance, speaking to what he thought of our dealings with one another, but cataloging every detail. After his assessment of the room, his gaze fixed on me. His blatant staring was a constant irritation goading my inner beast.
“They are my bodyguards, major. A lot has happened in three days, and my soldiers decided a protective detail was in order. I wouldn’t deprive them of their honor by not allowing them to fulfill their duty,” I said to the major. I kept my eyes squarely on Lathian’s as he continued to stare at me with equal parts amusement and threat. The message was clear; I recognized the threat he posed but wouldn’t be intimidated.
The major snorted in derision, but other than that, no one made a sound for a long moment. Even the temperamental Aaryn stayed quiet. Karsam finally broke the stand-off. “That’s enough. Lathian, I gave my word he’d be unharmed, stand down. Valian, you’re right, a lot has happened. I suggest we share our stories and then find our way forward,” he said with a steel in his voice I admired.
After that, the hostility seemed to come back down to a neutral level, and we shared our stories of the events of the last several days. Karsam and the others painted a picture of an organized attack targeting the officers and senior sergeants among the army. As I’d guessed, the saurians had infiltrated the camp before springing the attack. To hear them all tell it, they’d barely made it to the horses and away with their lives.
Following their story, I told my own. I detailed what we found in the villages and what awaited us at Vega Point. I then told the state of the Silvanti army when we found them and how we used staying busy and engaging in training the militia to raise moral. Lastly, I described the attack against us and the remaining trek to the fort.
The other nobles stayed quiet throughout my story. At first, it was a grudging silence based on Karsam’s orders, but by the end of my story, they were genuinely listening. After I’d finished my telling of the events, I waited as the others contemplated what my story meant. Occasionally, I’d see eyes drift to the trophies around my neck.
Aaryn was the first to speak. “That’s quite the tale, Valian. Even if we accept it as truth, many things need to be worked out now that you’re here. Obviously, the soldiers will fall back under our command. Though, I wonder about the best method to deal with the refugees. They’re using Silvanti swords and shields and have been eating our field rations. That’s Silvanti property for which they didn’t pay. What about this symbol that the refugees have painted on everything? I even saw it on the soldiers’ shields and uniforms.”
It was clear by her tone that she wasn’t impressed by what she’d heard from me, and her attitude appeared to infect the Vineas. Their expressions went from neutral to aggressive as Aaryn spoke. By the time she finished, it was as if nothing I’d said mattered.
Had the townspeople’s sacrifices meant nothing? Families lost children, mothers and fathers. Their homes were surely destroyed by now. Despite their losses, they’d fought with pride and honor against both fear and the enemy. How could anyone so callously dismiss them?
I tried to hold back my temper, but Aaryn’s response and mis-aligned priorities pushed me over the edge. My aura radiated out, letting everyone in the room feel how angry I was. My hands and forearms shifted into their deadly beast forms as I slammed them down on the top of the table and dug deep furrows into the wood.
Speaking in little more than a growl, I addressed those before me. “The symbol is a sign of their respect and loyalty. It’s also a promise from me that I’ll do my best to protect them. A concept that Silvanti House seems to have forgotten. They know that I’d sacrifice myself before I left them abandoned. I’ve made that promise in blood.”
None of the nobles before me had an answer for that. They sat there in stunned silence after seeing my power and anger radiate out in such a manner. Even Lathian had gone pale at my display.
Using the moment of quiet to calm myself, I shifted my hands back to normal and forced myself to relax. I slowed my breathing and closed my eyes. I took a moment to tighten my vambraces back since I’d stretched their metal clasps during my partial shift. When I continued speaking, it was in a calm, even tone. “The soldiers with me will not be redistributed among you. They have no faith in a group of leaders that would leave them in the manner you did. As to the supplies and equipment the refugees are using, consider all of it as a loss. If I hadn’t organized the survivors and refugees, the equipment would be left to ghosts, and the rations would be rotting in the sun,” I said with a finality
“Everyone leave us. Lathian and your bodyguards can stare at each other in the hallway,” Colonel Karsam suddenly said. Tristan and Selene both looked to me at his order. I nodded for them to honor his request. The other nobles started to protest, but the look the colonel gave them left no room for argument. Colonel Karsam and I looked at each other without saying a word until everyone had left and the door had been closed.
“You’re sure you want to continue down this path?” Karsam asked as soon as we were alone. He appeared relaxed as he spoke, and his tone conveyed no emotion.
I let out a frustrated sigh before responding, “I have thought about it and see no alternative. The soldiers will not follow you and the other nobles after what has happened, and the refugees have all but sworn themselves to me. I’m not sure that all of them realize how difficult things will be, but they all know that a threat is out there. For some reason, they trust me to protect them from it. I’m hoping that by focusing on training and preparations, I can keep any panic at bay.”
Karsam nodded at my response before continuing. “I understand the soldiers’ anger. I’d be just as angry if I was in their position. That being said, my orders from my brother were clear. This campaign was supposed to be a chance for Aaryn and Maxon, as the future heads of Silvanti House, to grow closer and rub elbows with young members of other houses. I couldn’t risk losing either of them,” he said with a troubled look in his eyes. It was clear that his duty as the leader of the army and the instructions given to him by his brother left him conflicted.
“It would seem that the House of Fero has been born again,” he said as much to himself as he did to me after a moment of silence. His eyes were on the table before him, but they looked as if they were seeing something far away.
Chapter 18
It took a while to agree on all the details pertaining to the creation of my new house. Ka
rsam was clever enough that even though my soldiers were angry with Silvanti House, there was still a bond between us. It seemed that he was playing the long game.
He agreed to overlook the insult to Silvanti House from my early dissolution of my oath as an officer. In return, Fero House would fulfill Silvanti’s obligation to the campaign since he no longer had the soldiers to do so. He also agreed to continue to pay the wages of the house-trained troops during the campaign if I would allow those that chose to stay with Silvanti to do so. I agreed, but with the caveat that it work both ways. He had to let any of his soldiers that wanted to join my forces do so without penalty.
The only sticking point was Bashita. She was an expensive acquisition for Silvanti House, but it didn’t suit her to stay in the academy stables. I ended up waiving my wage as an officer for the entire campaign to keep her. The money would have been useful, but, compared to her actual worth, it was a pittance to pay.
As we were finishing up, Karsam let me know which stable she was being housed in, as there were many within the fort. We then shook hands, and he asked if I wouldn’t mind giving him and his nobles the room so he could explain the situation. He assured me he’d do everything in his power to keep the others from causing me problems.
I stepped out of the conference room as Karsam called for the waiting Silvanti nobles to re-enter. Questioning looks fixed on me as we passed one another. Instead of speaking, I gave a slight bow to the others and signaled Tristan and Selene to follow me out. I headed down the hall towards the stairs without looking back. I was nearly out of the building when I heard the outraged shouting on the second floor. The other nobles were obviously not taking Karsam’s agreement well.
Most of the soldiers were still in formation in the drill square though Sergeant Iglias had allowed them to relax quite a bit. Some were even sitting down on the paving stones. They all stood up as I exited the building, and Sergeant Iglias called them to attention.
Looking at the formation before me, I decided that bluntness would serve me best. “All right soldiers,” I said loudly enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear me, “Colonel Karsam and I have come to an agreement. As of this moment, I’m the head of House Fero. The crescent moon with five slashes will be my symbol.” At this, the formation broke into excited whispering, and it took Sergeant Iglias and several of the others reminding the soldiers where they were to re-establish order.
I continued as if nothing had happened. “While I am starting a new house, any who wish to stay with Silvanti may do so without penalty or judgement. Likewise, any of the soldiers that retreated with the Silvanti officers may join my ranks without question or condemnation. Furthermore, I’ve worked out a deal with our former house. We will fulfill Silvanti’s obligation to the campaign in exchange for the sum of your wages.” Again, the formation fell into disorganized whispering, but this time a stern look from Sergeant Iglias was enough to get them back under control.
“I know that me making a deal with those who left you may not be a popular decision, but it is what I feel is best. Besides this formation, we have nearly nine hundred townspeople to protect and feed. We also have a militia of over three hundred soldiers to train. Those things take money, and Silvanti’s coin is as good as any. The saurians are outside the gates. Until we’ve defeated them, this is our home,” I continued. As I spoke, I saw the light of understanding and acceptance within the eyes of most of the soldiers. In that moment, I was truly proud to be their leader.
The rest of the evening was a blur of planning and delegating tasks. The townspeople readily swore their allegiance to Fero House. We split the soldiers between the two barracks that already had my crest hanging over them. Silvanti Soldiers delivered one hundred gold pieces from Karsam. A note was attached saying Silvanti had covered all of Major Vinea’s debt to Fero House. Fifteen of the twenty soldiers that had retreated with the Silvanti Officers also joined my ranks. They now had the same number of soldiers as they did officers.
I tasked several sergeants with organizing the militia and house-trained troops into one coherent force and establishing a training regimen for them. Others collected the old Silvanti tabards to trade for tabards representing my new house. We chose the colors of black and blue, and a shop guaranteed completion of our order within three days.
The most daunting and expensive task was the purchase and fitting of armor for over three hundred militia troops. I’d expected it to diminish our coffers, and I wasn’t disappointed. In the end, we managed to find several traders carrying used leather armor that fit our budget.
While we secured all the things necessary for the success of our house, I had several townspeople go out and buy as much preserved foods and traveling supplies as they were able. We ended up with a sizable surplus that could keep everyone fed and sheltered for over a month should we need it. The empire guaranteed everyone associated with a campaign a certain amount of food from the imperial stores, but I didn’t want to depend on it should things go poorly.
In all of our preparations, I was constantly moving. Whether it was training, strategy meetings, inspecting the new recruits, or one of a hundred other things, I was always busy. In the week following our arrival at the fort, though I had a room in one of the barracks, I was rarely there. I’d clean off and change in my quarters periodically, but that was about it. I’d never been so relieved to not need regular sleep, as it had become a commodity I couldn’t afford. Eventually, I had to add more soldiers to my bodyguard detail as Tristan and Selene couldn’t keep up by themselves.
A couple of days into my new role as a house leader, Karsam found me to deliver orders from the imperial force. It was Silvanti House’s, and by extension Fero House’s, turn to provide wall and security details for the main fort. The noble houses on campaign rotated through guard duty on the outer wall alongside the imperial troops. Luckily, the sergeants under my command were familiar with the practice and handled everything while providing me a report of the activities and time tables.
Things were running smoothly. We’d gotten our soldiers outfitted and replaced our tabards. The training of the militia forces was going well. The fact we were a house of many beast-kind species, while rare, had caused no issues or friction. Even our wounded had made it back to us. Only five had died while twenty were slowly being reintroduced to our ranks. We had to integrate fifteen amongst the refugees as their injuries left them no longer able to fulfill their military duties.
We’d been training and preparing near on two weeks when I received a surprise visit from Stephan Umbra. The last time I’d interacted with him was shortly before the duel, and I hadn’t seen him when I confronted the other Silvanti nobles. I didn’t know what he could possibly want. My impression of him had been that he was a sadistic and entitled noble. I wasn’t prepared for the man who found me in a conference room turned office looking over reports.
Gone was the smug, self-important look I remembered. He still stood tall and confident, but his eyes were darker and his disposition more somber. He had a long scar on his left cheek that looked to be from a saurian claw.
“Stephan, what brings you here today?” I asked as I stood to clasp his forearm in greeting. He returned the gesture stiffly. We’d only known each other for a short time before everything turned chaotic.
“House Leader Valian, I wanted to speak to you about my possibly joining your ranks,” he said bluntly as we both took seats at the conference table. It was the last thing I would have expected from him. “I’ve already talked to Colonel Karsam about it and even have a letter here from him.”
I took the letter he held. It was folded neatly and had the Silvanti House crest stamped into red wax at the fold. I opened the message and began to read. It only took a little while to finish, but its contents took me longer to process.
The letter told me that Stephan was the last of his line after his father’s and sister’s deaths. His mother had passed away during Saundra’s birth. It also spoke of the confrontational position t
hat Gortros Umbra had taken against several of the more influential nobles in Silvanti House. It then detailed what that position would likely mean for Stephan without support from his family. The last part of the letter talked about the change in Stephan since his family’s passing.
“You know what this says?” I asked Stephan cautiously. I didn’t want to insult him after he’d put himself out there to join my house.
“I do. I also know you’re probably hesitant to let me join your ranks after the way I treated you,” he said as he looked at the floor, not meeting my eyes. He took a moment to calm himself before continuing. “I know how I’ve acted. I took advantage of everything I had and only ever cared about my family’s position and myself. That’s gone now.” His gaze lifted to mine. I saw a sadness and loneliness there.
“I need a new beginning, a place to direct my energy. You’re starting from scratch, and I can be of use to you. I might not have acted like it, but I watched my father in his dealings. I learned how to manage a house and how not to act from his example. You can’t do this alone, and I’m asking for a chance to prove myself. If, you’d have me,” he said with a conviction in his voice I’d have never expected to hear from him.
Looking him in the eye, I saw a fire there that would either spur him to work tirelessly or cause him to self-destruct. I felt my inner beast stir, and I was surprised that it was with a feeling of anticipation. That fire would make Stephan fierce, and I needed ferocity if my house was to survive.
“Very well, but know that until we’re established, there will be little wealth or comfort for anyone,” I said, giving him the chance to change his mind. He didn’t hesitate to accept my statement and give his oath of allegiance. Following that, I sent him to find Sergeant Iglias and figure out what task needed his attention. I gave the clear expectation that he listen to the senior sergeants. They were instrumental in keeping Fero House afloat.