Garia leads a party into the wilds of Blackstone Vale - and everything changes. Certain unpleasant truths are revealed and plans must be changed accordingly.
Garia visits the hairdresser, Merizel finds a dajan tuner and Brydas tells Garia that some of the townspeople find the shoemaker's attitude objectionable. The afternoon planning meeting covers mine positioning, railroads, zoning, sewage works and concrete, but others in the town are making plans too...
by Penny Lane
81 - Coal Town
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
"What
made you decide to have your hair this short, milady?" the woman
asked as she combed it. "Was it because of an illness?"
"Oh, no! Where I come from, lots of girls wear shorter hair styles," Garia replied. "Short styles are common with adults, too. In fact, by some standards my own hair would be considered long."
"I would find that quite strange," the woman said. "My own hair has been so long for all of my life. I don't know how my head would feel if my hair were as short as yours, milady."
Garia smiled, the woman catching her reflection in the polished metal mirror.
"I've never had hair that long," she said. "It's been down to touch my shoulders in the past but never longer. I have often wondered what it must be like to have hair that reaches below your waist."
The woman paused. "Well, I don't know, milady! As this is all I have ever known it just seems natural to me. Now, since I am not familiar with your style, perhaps you would guide me."
"As you say. I had to instruct Mistress Shelda in the palace salon how to cut and shape my hair at first, since she had not seen hair this short either. Um, first we'd better see to my bangs. Trim them straight across so there's barely a finger's width between them and the top of my eyebrows."
Garia carefully instructed the hairdresser how to trim and shape her hair, being particular about how the bottom was layered so that it curled under by itself. The woman's eyes widened as she considered the effect of what she was doing and Garia could see that the new technique would be tried out on other customers.
She grinned. "You've already tried this style on some of the town girls, haven't you?"
The hairdresser stopped, her face pale. "Milady! I did not think to ask! Do you approve?"
"Yes, of course! If you are okay doing it and there are no objections from the girls' parents then it is fine with me. I don't mind introducing a new hairstyle to Palarand, it will be one of the smaller changes to come, trust me."
The woman was relieved. "Thank you, milady. I had to guess how to make the style, only having seen you in the courtyard before today. Now that I know how the effect is made I can produce a better result on others."
"They don't all have to be the exact same as mine, you know," Garia noted. "You can use the same ideas but make the sides longer or shorter. I think the shape of your face makes a difference how your hair works with it."
"But, milady, the girls wanted 'hair the same as the Baroness'."
"Maybe, but they don't all have the same shape face as the Baroness, do they? Some are rounder than me, some have longer faces than me, or squarer faces. And that's before you consider their necks. I saw one girl yesterday with a much longer neck than I have. If you gave her my hairstyle it would probably look better if the hair came much lower than her jawline."
"You are right, milady. I had not thought of that. You are very clever to understand the differences between women the way you do. Many so young would not notice such things."
"It's because I'm used to it, I guess. Because we have hair all different lengths and styles where I come from we take more notice of how it works. Here, where almost everyone has longish hair, it hides some of those differences."
I'm getting better at this. Before, I knew squat about female hair but I've had plenty of occasion to notice it since I arrived at the palace. Still, any person with their eyes open could work out what I just did.
Nope, make that any woman. I'm beginning to realize that a lot of men don't see half of what's in front of their noses.
"As you say, milady!" The woman used a soft brush to sweep Garia's shoulders clear of loose hair clippings. "It gives a most interesting effect to your shoulders, if I may say so. Does the sun not burn you there? On most women their shoulders would be hidden beneath their hair."
"I had to be careful when it was really hot," Garia replied. "Now that the weather is cooler I usually have a coat or a light scarf so there's no problem. You might want to warn those other girls about the sun, though. I wouldn't want anyone burned on my account."
"I will, milady."
"And you might want to consider the effect of these shoulders on the men folk. I am told they find it most attractive."
"That is a most interesting point, milady. I will think on it further, if I may. There, I think I'm finished."
Garia turned her head. "That's great! Thank you so much for doing this. I know it's not something you are familiar with."
The woman gave a rueful smile. "Milady, I suspect I shall be cutting more hair short in the coming days. You have started something. I will have much practice in short styles in the days and weeks to come."
~o~O~o~
Merizel was waiting outside the hairdresser's house, tapestry bag clutched in hand.
"Oh, Garia! That style looks so good!" She looked wistful. "I still wonder if it would suit me."
Garia cocked her head. "I've gotten so used to the way you look that if you cut yours short it will come as a shock to everyone for a while. If you want to try it out I would suggest you wait until we return to the palace. Mistress Shelda will be far better at handling your hair, she will have had so much more experience by now." She smirked. "Besides, what will Terinar say?"
Merizel reddened. "Ah, perhaps you have a point, Garia. Maybe I shall leave any experiments until we return to the palace." Her eyes lit up as she remembered her big news. "You'll never guess what I just found out!"
"Oh?" Garia's eyes went to the bag as they began walking down the main street. "You got your dajan fixed, then?"
"Yes! One peg definitely needed replacement but Horbelan looked at all the others and replaced another one as well. He's examined the dajan all over and says that it should play well even though it looks a little old and worn. If we had time he would like to have it in and re-varnish it for me." Merizel became animated. "But that's not the news! I talked to him about your ladders and he knows how to play them! He says that few people now remember the old way of tuning a dajan, just people like him who are in out-of-the-way places like Blackstone. I told him what you told me and he pulled out another dajan and played a tune on it using your method! It really sounded different but I liked the way the notes blended."
"Really? Oh, that is good news, Merry. I did wonder whether all knowledge of the Earth method had vanished by now."
"The way Horbelan tells the story it seems that it almost has, Garia. But he has offered to teach me the method, if I have time."
Merizel looked at Garia, the question unspoken.
"Would you have time?" Garia asked. "I'm sorry, Merry, I know you are busy, we all are, but I don't know how busy you are right now. Can you - we - afford the time?"
"I think so, Garia. It would be for a bell or so in the afternoon but not every day. As the guildsman who makes and repairs all musical instruments in the town he has other work which has to be done. Sookie has both Master Brydas and Senidet helping her now and of course there is much overlap between the Claw's business and your own so the work is being shared. I should be able to manage."
Garia grinned. "Okay, but can you fit everything in around our rides?"
"Ah, now that's an altogether different question!" Merizel chuckled. "Rides take top priority, do they not? I think that we should sit down later and look over our schedules. As you once said, I could almost have need for a secretary of my own."
They walked down the street, stopping to acknowledge the bows and curtseys from the occasional bystanders. Outside one grand building two people stood who did not bow or curtsey. The shoemaker glowered at the small party, his fists clenched by his side while his wife looked sullen, her arms crossed tightly beneath her copious bosom. Garia was glad that only Jenet and Lanilla had accompanied them, leaving Jasinet away from any possible confrontation.
"There's two who have reason to dislike us," Merizel muttered.
"Yes," Garia responded. "We interrupted their little schemes to get extra prosperity and influence with both Trogan and me and then we stole their daughter away from them. It isn't surprising they feel aggrieved. Brydas did tell us when we first came here that there would be a few who had tried to get on Trogan's good side -"
"- Assuming he ever had one."
"Yes. It must be like trying to be friends with a wild animal, a predator. You can feed it all you want and make out that you are friends but you'll never know if it will bite you or not."
"What does that make you then, Garia? A predator, as you name it?"
"Me? I don't think so. I don't think I'm made like that." Her expression hardened. "But I will defend what I think is right, and I will defend my friends and my people. What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing at all. But, remember, some of the other nobles you'll cross paths with might be real predators. Like Jarwin, for example."
"How can I forget, Merry?" Garia remembered Brydas's warning again. "Do you think there will be any trouble from those two?"
"Unlikely, Garia. Almost all of the town is solidly behind you, and between you and His Highness we have twenty armsmen. People like those two will just keep quiet and sulk. In any town there will be a small few who try to be difficult, we had them at home. So long as they do nothing but voice their opinions then father used to leave them alone. He said that if you could hear them you knew who they were. It was the ones you didn't hear who would be the dangerous ones."
"Aye. I guess you are right."
They reached the Claw and turned into the carriage entrance.
Garia sighed. "Jenet? We'd better go and fetch some towels and some fresh underwear. I'll need to have a wash before lunch. This Call is somewhat heavy at the moment."
Merizel gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know just what you are feeling, Garia. But if you would excuse me -"
"Go on. I can see Sookie over there and I think she wants a word with you."
Merizel walked off as Jenet remarked, "Milady. It is thirty days since your last Call."
"It is?"
"Aye, milady. It seems your body is adjusting from your Moon to our Kalikan. Each Call so far has been about four bells later than the last. In two months your Call may be the same as that of any woman of Alaesia."
"Well! I don't know if that's good or bad, Jenet. Let's go and get those things. I need a bath."
~o~O~o~
"Milady, if I could have a brief word before the meeting begins? I do not want to spend much time on this today but there may be a problem in the town."
"Go ahead, Master Brydas. I would prefer to find out about problems sooner rather than later. What is it?"
"Milady... or perhaps I should call you Guildmistress, since this is a problem of craft and guild, not one of law or property." Brydas hesitated. "M-, Guildmistress, I have had several townspeople approach me recently asking if it would be possible for the town to employ another shoemaker. It seems that a number of them express disapproval at his attitude toward you. There is also the matter that his wife beat her daughter, your new maid, in defiance of custom and practice. They are unwilling to go to them for new footwear or repairs, seeking to show their displeasure."
Garia opened her mouth and then closed it, thinking.
Why come to me about this matter? Can't they just get another shoemaker to set up in town? Why is there only one anyhow?
Wait a minute! Guildmistress... how does this crazy guild system work anyhow?
"Uh, Master Brydas, I might theoretically be a guildmistress now, but I have no idea how situations like this are supposed to work. Could you explain?"
"Guildmistress, I don't want to delay the meeting... but, in a town like this, a chartered guildsman is given a chance to practice his craft for the benefit of the people. In exchange for accepting the work of all he will have freedom to practice without competition. That, for example, is why I am the only smith in Blackstone. For larger towns, of course, the situation is different. The number of guildsmen in any craft is regulated by the local hall with reference to the town assembly. Here, you could vary the usual rule since we have no hall but you are a guildmistress."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, Master Brydas, but we both have a conflict of interest here, don't we? I'm the local liege lady as well and you are an assemblyman as well." Garia grimaced. "If I were to permit another shoemaker in here it's not going to make the current one like me any better, is it? But if I don't, I'll upset the other townspeople. Almost anything we try to do will be wrong."
Brydas started. The political implications of his request hadn't occurred to him.
"Milady, you are right. Perhaps we should separately think on this problem, since I fear it may only become worse with time. There must be some answer to this difficulty."
Garia gave a twisted smile. "I could always get all high and mighty and just banish the shoemaker from Blackstone. I am only joking, I assure you. Yes, we'll have a think about it. Let's get into the meeting."
~o~O~o~
"As you are well aware, milady," Yarling said, "we have identified three seams of coal which run across the valley. These seams are all thicker on the east side, where the town is, and the thickest is the lowest, lying just above the town. However, it seems that the quality of the coal is good wherever we look, assuming I have understood correctly what you mean by 'quality'. Our problems will not be with the supply of coal but rather with the means of removing it from the town to wherever it is needed."
"I agree," Garia replied. "I really don't know much about the mechanics of mining but even I can see that. That's what we have to decide today. How to get it out and send it off without destroying the town in the process."
There were many interested parties seated around the table in the common room of the Ptuvil's Claw. So many, in fact, that the table was in fact two pushed together to make more room. There were several heaps of documents, both paper and parchment, in evidence, along with a number of small cloth bags containing samples. Most of those present had tankards of beer or mugs of pel in front of them while plates of pastries helped ward off any hunger pangs.
"One problem I'd like to settle first, milady, if I may," Yarling continued, "is that of jurisdiction. How much of the lands surrounding the town need we take into account? Are we restricted to your original grant or can we also consider the lands across the Bray? If so, how far shall your writ run?"
The miner, although addressing the whole table, looked at Keren as he spoke.
"I don't think that will prove so great a problem, Master Yarling," Keren responded. "Duke Gilbanar has given me specific authority to vary the Baroness's grant if it should become necessary. You all understand that the original grant was but a token to provide Lady Garia with her title. From what I have seen and heard these last weeks since I have resided here it is clear that the whole valley must be considered as part of the same plan. Therefore I am minded to extend her grant to include the whole width of the valley and from the border set by the Stone Sea all the way as far as the forest."
Yarling was surprised. "Your Highness, I did not imagine so great an increase. Do you expect that our works would extend so far?"
"Not at all, Master Yarling, but it will ensure that we control what does happen here and prevent excesses such as those at Holville."
Yarling gestured with a hand. "That is why we sit here today, Highness, to prevent such chaos."
"We have to remember," Brydas commented, "that whoever resides in Blackstone in the future will still require bread and meat. The Prince's suggestion to reserve those lands means that some portion will be protected as farmland. That will be as important to us as how the works will be planned."
"Aye, you are right," Yarling said. "The extra mouths will require food as well as water. The town already has barely enough grain for bread and I fear for the water we shall need."
"The wagons which take the coal out can bring in the required grain," Jaxen said. "Although I have noticed that the wagons become extremely filthy with coal dust. Cleaning them down each time will require yet more water, although that is a problem for the other end of the route." He shrugged. "We will find some method for managing the traffic, we always do. Water will be more of a problem, we cannot possibly bring enough in to satisfy the demand."
"How does your own world manage such matters, milady?" Brydas asked. "Surely you must face the same problems."
"We move much more around than you do here," she said. "We use huge self-propelled wagons called trucks to bring in food and take away raw materials or finished goods. Water can be piped or channeled long distances if required. There may be ways to bring water in from other valleys. For coal, though, there is another method I would prefer and that is called a railroad. It is really a very large version of something that Master Yarling is already familiar with in his mines."
"Milady?"
"You have small wagons that run on tracks in and out of your mines?"
"Aye, milady, to bring out the ore and spoil." Yarling looked puzzled. "But I fail to see... you cannot possibly mean to run such wagons all the way to Tranidor, surely?"
Garia grinned. "All the way to Palarand, in time. We wouldn't be using those little wagons you use in the mines, though, but much larger versions. Much larger versions, specially designed to travel long distances carrying heavy loads."
"But how would they get there, milady? We use manpower, frayen or sometimes dranakh to move the wagons and they are already heavy. Do you expect these giant wagons to roll all the way down to Tranidor? How, then do they return?"
"Steam engines, Master Yarling. Much larger versions of the one you have seen running in the courtyard. But we are getting ahead of ourselves, putting the cart before the, uh, dranakh. Let's start with how and where you would like to place your mineshafts and follow the process on from there."
"As you wish, milady. First, I would open a new quarry beyond the one used by the townsfolk, as we discussed before. Then..."
Yarling described how he would place the shafts into the hillside and where the coal would come out. Since the seams were exposed and apparently more or less level it would be a simple walk-in process, at least at first.
"I have been thinking, milady," he added, "that I am minded to drive a shaft northward at the head of the valley. The seam is thinner there but still substantial. Any material I took out would be good coal, there would be no waste. If I drive it far enough I would eventually reach the limestone of the Stone Sea, would I not? You mentioned that the water would sink below the surface and it occurred to me that I might find it within the rock. If there is one thing that Blackstone will need more than any other, it will be water."
"Would you not be in danger if the mine floods?" Keren asked.
"Aye, Highness, there is always that risk, but we would be aware of it. It is my belief that, since the spring where the Bray rises is below the level of the coal, that the risk of flooding is low enough to make the task worthwhile. We would use pumps to bring the water to the town, using milady's new steam engines."
"That's a good idea, Master Yarling," Garia said. "If the water is there, then we'll make use of it, if not, you'll just have another working mine entrance. It won't be wasted effort at all. So. One thing we do in American towns is called zoning. That's where you divide up the land and assign different uses to each part as required. For instance, you'd have residential, then industrial, commercial and agricultural, uh, that's farming. There are some other kinds as well like leisure but we can ignore those for now. Obviously the current town where we're sitting gets zoned as residential or possibly mixed, I guess. I notice that many of the trades have workshops on the lower slopes between the town and the Bray so that would count as commercial." Garia frowned. "Or would that be industrial? I'm not sure how each zone is defined but what we want to do in Blackstone is clear enough, I think. We can think up the names for each zone however we want, it's the idea that's important."
"Zones," Brydas said thoughtfully. "An interesting idea, milady. That would mean separating where a man works from where he lives, would it not? But it would also remove the noise, smell and dirt from where he lived which would mean a more peaceful life. Is this how all towns are divided in Kansas, milady?"
"It is, but there are always exceptions, Master Brydas. We're talking business use here. If you wanted to have a small workshop at the end of your yard for... domestic use, say, or a hobby, then that would be permitted." She shrugged. "Maybe. We get to draw up the rules for what can be done in each zone, after all."
There was an intense discussion about the new idea of zoning with several sketches being drawn proposing ideas for dividing up the area around Blackstone. Garia felt it necessary to point out some items they had overlooked.
"We'll have to decide how to deal with waste water. We can't just carry on letting it run into the Bray. Master Bezan, is that the usual way of disposing of waste in Palarand?"
"It is, milady, although there are two towns I know of, one in Palarand and one in Brugan, which have interesting arrangements left behind by the Chivans. These are mostly derelict now since no-one knows how the system worked but seem to involve artificial rapids and great shallow lakes. Is this the kind of process you mean?"
"That sounds about right to me, although I have about as much knowledge of how they work as you do. Um, perhaps a little more. The idea of the rapids is to ensure the waste water is mixed with air. If you don't do that the water gets stagnant and the wrong kind of reaction happens. The lakes are used to allow..."
Bacteria. Now how do I explain tiny creatures too small to be seen with the naked eye?
"Milady?"
"I've just realized this could be tricky to explain." She pursed her lips. "Um, beer. How do you make beer?"
"Why, milady, the grain is boiled and then fermented to produce the brew."
"It's that fermenting part I'm interested in. You use yeast?"
"Aye, milady, of course. As we do for making bread."
"Yes, well. There are tiny plants and animals in the water, almost every water, some of which behave like yeast. What happens in those big lakes is that the waste products in the water are essentially fermented out. They are turned into materials we can take out and spread on the land as fertilizer, the water which remains can be filtered and then released into the river. I have heard that the waste water can be cleaned up so much it can be drunk again, although I personally wouldn't recommend it until we know what we're doing."
Bezan leaned forward. "Ah. You wish us to leave room for such a..."
"Water treatment works."
"As you say, milady. A water treatment works, which by its nature must be below the town." He thought, then tapped a finger on the crude map he had been drawing. "Here, milady. The other side of the bridge from the town and between the road and the Bray."
"That's what I had thought, yes. Only, it won't be quite so easy as that since we'll also have the waste from people like the tanning works to deal with. You can't put that through such a plant, it would just poison everything, we'll have to figure out some other way to deal with it."
There was another discussion about how to handle the inevitable industrial waste during which Garia pointed out that zoning would help them isolate the problem away from town.
"Merry, can you ask Parrel to send up a microscope with their next delivery? I have a feeling we're going to need one once we get started processing water."
"Of course, Garia."
Bezan asked, "What is a microscope, milady?"
"It is sort of like a small telescope, but instead of looking at things that are far away it magnifies things that are very small. You'll be able to see the tiny creatures that live in the water."
"I'm not sure I wish to know what lives in the water, milady. Are these creatures harmful?"
"Oh, yes, some of them can be. Some can even kill you. There are tiny creatures called bacteria all around us, even on our skin, and some of those cause deadly diseases. Fortunately most can be killed by boiling the water."
"On our skin, milady? Are we at risk?"
Garia smiled. "Yes and no. You have to realize that this situation has been going on for ever and that both we and the bacteria have adapted to each other. We tolerate them on our skin but if they get into a cut, or they get breathed into your lungs, that's when certain kinds can make trouble. Our bodies are designed to fight off infections and we can usually do that well most of the time. Other times," she shrugged, "that's when the healers get called in."
"Back to the main subject," Keren said. "I am interested in the idea of a railroad, although it sounds like a tremendous amount of work."
"Okay," Garia replied. "To begin with, we all know that we'll have to use Master Tanon's wagons to take away the coal and to bring in people, food and building materials. It will take some years before we begin producing enough steel of good enough quality to even think about a railroad, but we can lay the groundworks - literally - to help ourselves when it does become possible. I want to begin construction of a new road from here to Tranidor which we can later lay track on. Master Bezan, didn't you say that you thought we would have problems hauling the wagons over the existing road?"
"Aye, milady. The road climbs to meet the trade route and that will mean that the amount we can put in each wagon will be limited."
"Which is why a new road is the answer. Master Bezan, I'm going to ask you to lay out a new route down to Tranidor which just slopes gradually downhill the whole time. It doesn't have to go anywhere near the other road, in fact it might be an advantage if it doesn't. The key points will be as shallow a grade as you can make it and very gentle curves along the way. Pave it with crushed rock for drainage and whatever you need to provide a surface for heavy wagons. Later on we can lay railroad track on top and it will replace the wagons completely."
"That may not be possible, milady. Remember where we stopped when we first came here, alongside the river in that forest? There was a steep drop there of ten strides or so."
"I remember. So, you'll have to dig a cutting out one side and an embankment the other to even out the slope. There's always a way and if it's done right you should find that all the rock you dig out one place can be used to fill in holes in other places."
"As you say, milady. And... if the coal traffic uses this new road, we would need to build another roadhouse for the crews and animals."
"Oh! Yes, you are right." She looked at Keren, who nodded. "That's acceptable, given the circumstances. Once we get regular railroad trains running we won't need that roadhouse but there will be at least a couple years before that happens."
"Won't need the roadhouse, milady?" Bezan repeated, puzzled. "Why not? Surely your trains will need to stop?"
Garia grinned at Bezan. "Not overnight, Master Bezan. Once we get trains running they will go from here to Tranidor in... what did you say the distance was?"
"Um, seventy marks, milady. Perhaps a mark or two less."
"Then a railroad train, which would be a steam engine pulling perhaps thirty wagons, could make the trip from here to Tranidor in three bells. The way back would be uphill so might take four bells, although the wagons would be mostly empty for the run back. And that's just at the start. Once we can develop decent engines and freight wagons we can push the speed right up. Imagine doing that journey in just over a bell!" She beamed. "That railroad engine can pull cars as well. A car is a special kind of carriage designed for the railroad which can seat maybe sixty people. You could go to Tranidor in the morning and be back here the same day."
Everybody except Keren leaned back, stunned by what she had described.
Bezan spoke, his mouth dry. "Now I understand why you are so anxious to have your railroad, milady. It changes everything, does it not?"
"That is but the half of it," Jaxen said. "If I understand this right, milady, your train will have how many people to... operate... it, two? Six? Ten?"
"The engine would usually have a crew of two, wagonmaster, and there would be a caboose at the far end to control the braking with one or two people in it. A caboose is a small roofed wagon where a brakeman would sit. He's there so that the train doesn't run away down a steep grade or in case of accidents."
"Three or four, then," he mused. "To pull thirty wagons from here to Tranidor, none of which would need a wagoneer or a dranakh. And no armed guards either?"
"There's nobody around who we would really call hostile, is there? Just the occasional bandit like Trogan. Yes, you'll still need a few armed guards to begin with. But, consider, when you can call for help from either end within a couple hours - excuse me, bells - and get that help there on a special train in the same time, then it will become very difficult for bandits to succeed."
"Still, to move so much with so few people, and using no animals at all... the world begins to look very different, milady."
"The train crews aren't the only people involved, Master Jaxen. You'll need depot staff each end, track crews to make sure there are no obstructions and the line is kept clear, signalmen to permit trains on the line, people to clean and maintain the rolling stock, uh, I mean the engine and wagons... you'll need fewer people, it is true, but there will be more than just those riding the trains."
Bezan was sketching another map, one of the whole valley system.
"Now I understand, milady, why your new route requires gentle gradients and large curves. It is because of the speed of these new... trains, is that not so?"
"That's right, Master Bezan. Partly that and partly the size of the trains themselves. Our engines could be from eight to twenty strides long and the wagons the same size. Each. But we're getting ahead of ourselves again. To begin with, we just need to find a route from here to Tranidor we can use later for the railroad. We'll start it the other side of the Bray so as to keep it away from the town."
"Milady," Yarling asked, "how shall we get the coal down from the mines to the end of the new road? You do not plan to bring the... railroad to the mines themselves?"
"I don't think so. The mine entrances will move around as the seams become exhausted, won't they? I thought we could use your small wagons to transport the coal around Blackstone on temporary tracks. Or, you could use a chute or a conveyor belt."
"What is a conveyor belt, milady?"
Garia described the principles of a conveyor belt and Yarling was impressed all over again.
"That sounds like an interesting idea, milady. I wonder why nobody has thought of it before?"
Keren answered. "Because, if I understand Garia's idea correctly, the arrangement she describes will require the kind of power that animals or a windmill, for example, could not easily provide. That is, a continuous effort that only makes sense when you have the power of a steam engine available. Or," he suddenly thought, looking at Garia, "perhaps electric motors? Is that what you had intended?"
"Hmm. We use electric motors on Earth, of course, because that's what we have available. Electric is useful because you can spread the motors out along the length of the belt, but we can make them work with steam engines to begin with."
"I'm still not sure I understand, milady," Bezan said. "How long are these belts of which you speak? What happens at the end of the belt?"
Garia grinned. "The belts can be as long as you like, Master Bezan. I know of some that are miles, excuse me, marks long. If you have an open-cast pit a long way from where you want to process the ore, then a conveyor belt is one way of moving your ore, coal, or whatever else you are digging out of the ground."
"Marks? But... your engine would be dragging the entire belt along and that could be some long distance, by your own words."
"That is what His Highness and I were discussing. In Kansas we use a method where you have small, um, slave engines spaced out along the line, all powered from someplace else. But you can have shorter belts, individually powered, each one emptying into the next one along. You can run these up and down hills, don't forget, and even make bridges to take them up and over roads and rivers. The main principle is that you can think of a conveyor belt much like a pipe which moves solids instead of liquids. At the end of the belt it usually rises to dump the rock into a hopper of some sort. A chute, perhaps, positioned over a wagon."
"Oh. Oh! Milady, you have given us much to think about."
Garia grinned again. "That's not the only use for conveyor belts! Think about using them around farms and warehouses to shift crops like grain and root vegetables, or even fruit. You'll discover more uses for the technology as time goes on, I'm certain."
Yarling said, "Milady, I had wondered... we have yet to discuss Blackstone Vale. As yet there has been no real survey done. It concerned me that there is no road running along the vale and it might be a problem getting the coal out. With these belts of yours, the problem is resolved."
"That's right, but until we go and visit we won't be able to decide any other details, will we? Like, if there is anywhere to put a mining camp and what the quality of the coal will be."
Keren said, "Garia, we'll only be here another three or four weeks. If we stay here too much longer we won't be back in Palarand before the bad weather sets in. It won't be pleasant crossing the Sirrel then, I can promise you."
"I know that," she replied. "How many days will we need to organize a ride up the vale? Anyone?"
Brydas asked, "Milady, how far do you intend to go?"
Garia shrugged. "I don't know, as I've no idea how far the vale goes."
"It is difficult to say, milady, since the vale gradually becomes the higher ground. Perhaps eight, maybe nine marks. I have not traveled to the end myself. But you will not be riding the whole way, milady. If you are taking pack animals then for part of your way you may be walking."
"What are you suggesting, Brydas?" Keren asked. "How many days should we be planning for?"
It was Brydas's turn to shrug. "That depends on how much you find of interest, Highness. Nine marks would probably take your party a full day, so allow a day each way for travel to the end and back. Any extra time for Master Yarling's investigations, say, would require perhaps a third day."
"Garia? We'll plan for a minimum four days provisions, then. When did you want to leave? Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is going to be too soon for me, I'm afraid." The others looked at her and she smiled back. "One of the joys of being female. Allow me four days to get over... this. I'll be fit and ready by then." She turned to Feteran. "Commander? Is that going to be too soon?"
"Milady, I think it will be enough time to organize the expedition. How many shall be going?"
Garia waved a hand. "We'll talk about that later, I think. We've gotten side-tracked again. Let's just say for now that we'll travel up Blackstone Vale in four days time."
"As you say, milady."
"I am concerned, milady, over the quality of stone for the new buildings," Bezan commented. "I have seen the sandstone on the ridge and it would make good building material but it is very hard to work with. Limestone, which masons would prefer to use for most buildings, is available from the Stone Sea but it is essentially rotten and would be difficult to use. I do not remember seeing any other useable stone on our journey here."
"Will you use stone for all the new buildings required?" Keren asked.
"No, Highness, I imagine perhaps half will be temporary structures of wood of some kind, probably thatched, but we will require a number of permanent buildings in the area to service the mines."
"Have you thought of using concrete?" Garia asked the mason.
"Why, yes, milady, but concrete is only suitable for foundations or as infill between dressed blocks. Did you have some other use in mind?"
"I do, Master Bezan. In the land of my birth concrete has been used as a building material for thousands of years, though it is only recently we have learned how to make the best use of it." Garia thought. "You treat it like liquid stone, which is really what it is. You can pour it into molds to make whatever shapes you wish. I think there are two ways, basically, it can be used. The molds can either be where you need the structure to be or you can treat it like pottery and make smaller shapes to be used for building later. For example, you can cast a whole bridge if you want. We do that all the time. Or you can set up a factory and turn out building blocks by the thousand for use elsewhere. Those building blocks can be brick-sized or larger or smaller as needed."
"You can pour concrete into molds, milady? How do you stop the concrete sticking to the mold when it is set?"
"I'm not sure, actually. It depends how you make your mold, I guess. For buildings we make sheets of wood or steel supported by scaffolding to hold the concrete. When it is dry enough we can knock the different sheets away one by one. Where I've seen wooden ones used, on my uncle's farm, the wood was oiled before use to prevent sticking."
"Ah, I see. Milady, I would ask you to draw some diagrams of this process. I cannot entirely make sense of it without something to see."
Garia smiled. "Any time, Master Mason."
Yarling asked, "You say you can build bridges entirely from concrete, milady. I would not have considered it strong enough for such use."
"You'd be right, once the bridge is a certain size," she replied. "We have spent many years learning how to make reliable concrete and that involves quality control of the ingredients. You have to make sure the sand, gravel and cement is all uniform grade and made the exact same way. The mixing, pouring and setting is all critical as well. Concrete made in winter will set different than concrete made in summer, for example. Sometimes additives are put in to help it set properly, or for other reasons." She grinned. "Imagine making your walls green or pink or yellow!"
"This sounds like something the Mason's Guild will need to investigate in detail, milady."
"You'd be right. In fact you could probably set up an entire Concrete-Maker's Guild, except that the guilds are all going to be merged together at the end of the year. But, yes, you'll need to discover how to use concrete for construction." She grinned. "Remember that dam we visited yesterday? At home we have huge dams made out of concrete because there is nothing else strong enough." Bezan's eyes widened. "Dams, I don't know, maybe a hundred strides high and anywhere from two hundred strides to several marks wide. Of course, they took years to build, pouring a little concrete each day and waiting for it to set before the next layer was poured."
She held up a finger. "There's another crucial part I forgot, which is important in most concrete structures. Inside them there is a web of steel wire or rod holding the concrete together. It is called rebar and it is positioned in place before the pouring begins. It is rebar which allows us to construct building fifty stories high or bridges that can cross rivers as wide as the Sirrel."
Bezan swallowed. His whole craft had just been blown apart.
"Milady, I had several questions to ask but it seems that you have answered them all with concrete. It is not just the railroad which will change all Palarand."
"Indeed not," Keren agreed. "Master Mason, we have discussed concrete before in high council. For myself, I do not see why the material Lady Garia describes should not be used in our project but before we begin I wish to consult my father on the subject."
Bezan inclined his head. "As you command, Highness." He looked an appeal at Keren. "Would you permit me to speak to Lady Garia of such matters while you await your reply? I foresee a need for copious notes."
Keren considered. "Very well, Master Mason, but on the understanding that your notes remain in Blackstone, and that nothing any of you have heard today is spoken of or written about to anyone else. Agreed?"
"Agreed, Highness."
"Then perhaps, I think we should consider closing our meeting. Merry, have you a list of the main points?"
Merizel leafed through the wad of paper in front of her.
"Aye, Highness. Perhaps I should read them out to make sure we have everything recorded. Firstly, ..."
~o~O~o~
In the yard was a group of armsmen, both Keren's and Garia's, clustered round Feteran. He saw her enter and the group opened, saluting her.
"That will be all, men," he said, "we'll finish this later." He spoke to Garia. "Milady, if I could have a moment?"
"Of course. What can I do for you, commander?"
"The expedition, milady." Feteran frowned. "Although I have, of course, taken part in several exercises like the one to come I have never organized one myself. Before I joined your house I was, after all, just one of His Majesty's men, not even a file leader let alone a Quadrant Officer or a Captain."
"I would have been surprised if you had. You are wondering if you can do it or not?"
"It is not complicated, milady, and there is always a first time for any task. But... would you object if I should consult my father?"
"Feel free, commander! Consult your father by all means. If he can pass on some of his wealth of knowledge, then why not? I'm sure he'll be delighted to help his son out. While you're at it, you could also talk to Michen, who must know what we will be facing. And Jaxen, if he's still in Blackstone. I know we won't have wagons and such but I imagine he's faced similar situations in the past." Garia thought for a moment. "Have you decided who will be going, yet?"
"We will not be able to take many, milady. If we were still at the palace, with a host of frayen to choose from, then I would take as many as I could. As it is, more than half the men must be left behind. I have begun with His Highness and yourself, milady, then there is myself, of course, and Mistress Jenet." There was a faint flush to Feteran's cheeks as he named Jenet. "I assumed we would require our local guide, Michen, and of course the expedition would be pointless without Master Yarling to examine the landscape. That is six, I thought to take at least as many men if it were possible."
"Twelve..." Garia considered. "Yes, you're right of course. If we have a pack animal each as well as our mounts we'd need twenty-four frayen. We'll have to leave some mounts behind, in case there's trouble or some reason they need to get a message to us or to Tranidor."
"As you say, milady. Was it your intention that Lady Merizel came with us?"
"I think she'll be disappointed, but I can see the reason why it wouldn't be easy." Garia smiled. "She has discovered that the music guildsman here knows something about tuning dajans. He has offered to pass on some of his knowledge to her. She'll be happy enough doing that while we're gone."
"I was a little... anxious at her inclusion, milady. Not that I don't trust her to look after herself but because there will be ladies present the planning will be more complicated."
"Commander, you're on dangerous ground."
"Milady, I speak only the truth. Were we to be just a company of men, certain activities become easier. For example, the men would change clothes in front of one another. With yourself and Jenet present we must take a screen to use. I did not mean that I expected you to travel with chests of clothes, though I know of certain ladies who would insist."
"Relax, Feteran, I was mostly joking. I'll only be taking my riding and fighting gear and I expect Jenet will manage on less as well. It's hardly likely we'll be holding any balls where we're going, is it?"
~o~O~o~
"Boss? It's been a while."
"It would have been even longer if I hadn't gotten your letter. We should have realized that the announcement that she would be returning to the palace was a ruse. Now I'm here, perhaps we can do what we were paid to do."
"Aye, boss. I've seen you around, here and there, but it's been difficult for me to get away to speak to you. Even now I can't afford to stay too long, someone might become suspicious."
"Not a problem. The less we speak, the less chance of anyone noticing us together. You've been around the whole while, what do you think our chances are?"
"Of snatching the bitch? In this town? Almost impossible, boss. Somehow she has all of them eating out of her hand. Twenty armed men around her, the building guarded at all times." A smirk. "Even if one of those guarding it is me."
"What do you propose, then? Wait until she leaves? That could be weeks away."
"She'll be visiting her lands shortly, boss. That means a small party will be taking pack animals up the vale. Since they only have so many frayen that cuts the numbers in half at least. It should be manageable if we can ambush them somewhere along the way."
"How many?"
"I'm guessing, boss, since the planning only started today. The bitch, for sure. Her maid, the Prince, a local guide, the miner, her commander, how many's that? Six. There'll probably be another six men-at-arms as escort."
"When do they plan to leave? Tomorrow?"
"Nah, boss. The bitch has moon-fever. The fourth day from today, I'm hearing."
"That's good, it gives us plenty of time to set something up. Who can we muster? Do you know of any who would take such an enterprise?"
"Not among her men, no. Nor his. I did have one piece of luck, boss. I found the two men of Trogan's who got away. You heard about Trogan?" The other nodded. "They have shelter and supplies and three frayen. They are hiding out up one of those narrow canyons you must have noticed on your way into town. They have sworn to me that they would be part of anything that got back at the bitch who murdered their boss."
"Knowledgeable with arms, then?"
"Oh, yes. Not up to man-at-arms standard, naturally, but they can take care of themselves."
"Good." Fikt smiled nastily. "The bitch, as you call her, is not the only one with new ideas. I have samples of some new weapons which should more than make up for any difference in our forces. Can you get away, when the time comes? Have you a mount?"
"Yes and yes, boss." The man grinned. "One of Trogan's men died by accident and I found his frayen before anyone else did. It's now with those two men and the other three mounts. It might take me a bell or so to slip away but I'll be ready when you call." He frowned. "Four is not enough, boss. Have you any others?"
"Of course. There is a miner and four workmen up at the camp who are our men as well as another wagoneer like me. I have also found some in the town who dislike the new regime. Three, maybe five I can convince to join us. That should be sufficient, once the bitch is away from the town. Our weapons should prevail."
"Getting her is only part of the story, boss. How do we get her away, with the whole town up in arms?"
"That's the beauty of going after her out in the wilds. It's a journey of exploration, right? Who knows how long they'll be away? It may be days before anyone in the town finds out. We can be long gone by then."
The man grinned. "As you say. So, what do you want me to do? Anything?"
"No, you sit tight, you've done your part. When we're ready I'll leave a chalk-mark on a post opposite their building to alert you, and you can slip away that evening."
Fikt discussed a rendezvous with his man and the two slipped away into the night.
Garia rides out with her men to learn about the lands the King granted her. Along the way they discover a tale of theft, neglect, innocence and family feuding. Stott proves he can use a bow before the company make their final camp at the head of Blackstone Vale.
by Penny Lane
82 - Into The Wild
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
The
yard was crowded with men, women and beasts, though there seemed to
be an underlying purpose to the apparent chaos. This early it was
cold enough to warrant sleeves and Garia was glad of her pea coat.
Again she wondered if someone should have suggested that she had some
long-sleeved tunics made before they had departed the palace... that
was long ago, though, when the weather had been considerably warmer.
Wearing her pea coat had a drawback. Her swords had to be lashed to her saddle harness out of the way, rather than being in their preferred position on her back. She could still draw the blades if it became necessary, although to use them effectively she should be on foot instead of frayen-back. Five of the armsmen had short lances set in sockets in front of their saddles. The sixth armsman was Stott, who instead had a sheath for his longbow, with a full quiver set on the other side of his mount. Every man had a crossbow hanging from the other side of the saddle from lance or bow. Every man was also armed with sword and knife.
Garia looked around at the men who were checking straps, adjusting bundles. One frayen had a huge bundle of kindling as cargo. It looked unwieldy but she had been assured that it had little weight. Another had rolls of canvas and two-stride long poles, these would become the latrine and the 'changing room' whenever they set up camp. Further canvas rolls would serve as sunshade, groundsheet, shelter or windbreak as required.
Feteran came to her, accompanied by his father.
"We appear to be ready, milady. Is there anything else we must do before we leave?"
"I don't think so, commander. Let's get going, I'm getting twitchy."
"Twas always the way, milady," Bleskin said. "The men are eager to ride and something is left behind or undone."
Garia smiled at him. "I take your point, captain, but really, we've done nothing for days but plan this trip out. It's not as if we're going far, in any case. We'll be back before you know it. Now, are you happy being left in charge?"
"Aye, milady. I deem it an honor. Leave it to us, we shall order all."
'Us' seemed to include Brydas, coming through the carriage entrance at that moment with Senidet.
"He has the right of it, milady," the smith said, bowing. "With the Captain's help you shall not find your town in disarray when you return. Go, enjoy your ride."
"I agree," Merizel added, standing beside Sukhana. "You know how much you like riding, go and have some fun."
"I intend to," Garia replied. "I'm sorry you couldn't come as well."
"Me? Go on a camping trip, living rough and sleeping under the stars?" Merizel grinned. "Not me! I'm a noblewoman, I'll have you know. We have servants to do that sort of thing for us." She grinned again. "Actually, it sounds like it could be fun, Garia. Out in the wilds with all these tall, strong men to look after you... I don't want to come now, but perhaps next year we can arrange something together."
"Why not?" Garia agreed. "I've promised the townspeople I would come back at least twice a year so there's potential for the odd side trip. Why don't we see if we can invite Terinar to come with us?"
"Stop that, milady! You're giving me a bad reputation. Now look, everybody else is ready and waiting for you."
Jarrin pushed his way through the crowd.
"Milady, excuse me, I cannot find Durko! His bed has not been slept in."
Bleskin turned. "Some problem, Jarrin?"
"Captain, he is missing. I cannot find anyone who has seen him today or even yesterday evening."
One of the nearby guardsmen interrupted, "Captain, he told me yesterday that it was four years since his mother died and that he was going to get drunk. I doubt not he is sleeping it off in some alley of the town."
Feteran frowned. "He is Lord Gilbanar's man, not ours or the King's. I do not know what discipline they keep in the castle." He turned to Jarrin. "Is Durko absent from his duty, Jarrin?"
Jarrin shrugged. "Commander, we are but wagoneers of the Duke's company. We are not trained as his men-at-arms are, though we do practice with the sword on occasion. I do not know if Durko has a duty this morning, sir."
Bleskin said to Feteran, "Go, son. If you stay to handle this problem half the morning will be wasted. There are men enough left behind that we must find him in time."
"As you say, father." Feteran turned. "Milady? I see His Highness is already in the saddle."
Garia looked around and found that most men were now standing waiting.
"Aye, commander. Let's get going."
Garia pulled herself into her saddle and twitched her skirt into position. Checking her equipment quickly she also turned round to give the pack animal tethered to Snep's harness a brief inspection before looking up and nodding to Feteran.
"Mount up, men!" Then, "Lead out!"
Riding in pairs they followed the same route to the dam that Garia had taken just six days previously. Their frayen were more heavily laden than they had been on that occasion so climbing the bank to reach the top of the dam was more difficult, especially for those who had lances attached to their harnesses. In single file, now, the riders followed the narrow track which ran on the northern side of the lake.
At the far end of the lake the valley narrowed rapidly and kinked to the right, south-east. The way grew sufficiently narrow that Michen recommended that they dismount and lead their animals. The sides of the valley soon closed in until they were walking along a narrow defile at the bottom of what was almost a gorge. Above to either side the walls rose steeply to the hard sandstone which capped the local rock. At the narrowest the valley was only about fifty strides wide at the top. Garia noticed Feteran eyeing the slopes above them.
"Expecting trouble, commander?"
"Not especially, milady, but this is unfamiliar country for all of us except Michen. It is wise to note places where an ambush may be made, even when times are peaceful."
"I guess you're right. Perhaps one day you may even need to set an ambush here."
"Are you sure that your people are not all warriors, milady?"
"Absolutely not, commander, but we do have a heck of a lot of stories involving fighting and warfare."
The defile soon opened out and Garia could feel everybody relaxing around her. Most had been uncomfortable traveling through a narrow place in unknown country, especially on foot. Ahead the slopes began slowly to spread wide with meadows and pastures interspersed with clumps of brush and the occasional small cluster of trees. With a gesture from Feteran they all remounted, and without a word being spoken the party spread out over the close-cropped grass. Ahead, in the distance, a column of smoke was rising.
"Milady?"
"We know there are two farms out here, commander. That must be the first one." Garia looked around. "I wasn't sure, when we first came up as far as the dam, that anyone could make a living out here but looking at the valley now this part seems quite fertile, doesn't it?"
"Aye, milady. I admit to being surprised myself. But these people are a half-day's ride from Blackstone and the town is nearly two day's ride from Tranidor. To live out here these people must be mostly self-sufficient."
"It's not very different to the way rural folk live in my birth country, commander. Provided you can make that ride when you need something special you can generally manage, though I guess you aren't going to get rich out here. At home nobody really became rich from farming except the land-owners. It was machinery that enabled people to make money out of crops and livestock."
"Aye, milady. And this is not fertile land like the valley of the Sirrel or the Palar. I am no farmer but I doubt they can produce much here but pakh wool, hides and meat."
"As you say, and we plan to take even that away from them. Feteran, where's Yarling? We ought to stop here and let him get an idea of the rocks."
The armsmen spread out to provide cover while the others gathered in the middle. The arrangement was awkward because of the pack animals but they could make themselves heard without shouting.
"Master Yarling," Garia said. "What do you think of our chances of finding coal here?"
"It is here, milady, look, there and there." Yarling pointed. "The slope of the land disguises everything but there are sufficient outcrops to let me see the seams. The big seam, the one that we see behind the town, that is some strides below us now. We would need to drive vertical shafts to get to that coal." He hesitated. "If we were to do that, we must take care with the river above us."
Everybody looked at the river, here little more than a fat stream about three strides across sunk in a channel made stony with shale.
"There is little water flowing here," Keren observed. "Surely we could provide a properly lined channel to carry it, would that take care of the problem?"
"Perhaps, Highness, but you have to remember what this river must look like during the rainy season. Those banks are so high for a reason."
"Aye," Keren said, nodding, "I forget sometimes. We are not in the city, I forget that the rains must fall here as they do in the Valley."
They looked around more carefully now, noticing for the first time the layers of debris marks over the lower parts of the valley floor. When the rains came here, the excess water overflowed the channel by many strides.
"There is ample room in this part of the valley for a miner's camp, milady," Yarling continued, "But bringing supplies in and taking coal out could be interesting." His glance went back to the gorge they had just come through. He nodded to himself. "We shall find a way, milady."
"Thank you, Master Yarling," Garia said. "Shall we go on?"
As they rode toward the holding Garia's spirits began to rise. This was what she wanted! To be on the back of a trusted animal, riding in open country with her friends around her, the blue sky above her and the air filled with sweet smells and the sounds of... avians. As she watched, small flocks of them rose and fell, clustering around the shrubs and brush which dotted the landscape. These particular avians were tiny, little more than winged jewels sparkling in the sunlight. Garia looked around for larger species but couldn't spot any. That didn't mean that they weren't there, of course.
The dwelling was on the other side of the valley in order to catch the most sun, so the party splashed across the stream and approached. It was large and solidily-built, of one-and-a-half stories, stone at the bottom, roughly-plastered panels above and a steep thatched roof with glassless windows poking through. To the north, on the river side of the building, a large vegetable garden showed what these people ate while beyond the farmhouse was a corral filled with pakh. Waiting for the party in a line outside the house were a surprisingly large number of people. As the party pulled to a halt they bowed and curtseyed low to their visitors.
"Greetings to you all," Keren said, his hand raised. "We are just passing through, no need to be alarmed."
"Greetings, Your Highness, My Lady," the man of the house said, bowing again. "Though we have little, we offer you the hospitality of our house."
Garia quickly glanced at the dwellers. There was a young girl of maybe six or seven, a boy of perhaps ten, another as old as herself. Beside them stood who she presumed was the man of the house and his wife, next to an older woman who Garia judged from her features as being the mother of the wife. Sitting in front of them in a wicker chair was an even older woman who must have been from the previous generation again. To their side stood two girls of maybe twelve or thirteen.
The man addressed Garia. "Milady, you have come for the coal."
It was a statement, not a question. From the expression on Garia's face he must have seen her puzzlement because he continued, "My wife and I were in the street when you spoke to the town from the balcony, milady. We know there is great wealth in the ground, we do not begrudge the taking of it to any."
Garia dismounted, several of the others following. She and Keren came to stand in front of the family group.
"I am so sorry," she said. "We knew that people's lives would be disrupted when we first thought of taking coal out but only when you see it in front of you do you realize what effect it has on people's lives. I wish there could be some other way."
"Aye, milady," the man said. "Many a lord would make a decree without considering his people." His eyes moved to Keren. "Begging your pardon, Highness. From what I have heard of the King he is a good man to have rule of our country."
"Thank you, goodman." Keren smiled. "My father tries to take the interests of his people into account but there are some few times he must make uncomfortable decisions. Garia, what shall we do for these people?"
"If you were there in Blackstone when I announced myself," Garia said to them, "then you will have heard me offer relocation - um, I will compensate you with another farm of at least equal worth if you decide to move away. I can't promise where that might be, though. It might even be in another lord's lands. Whether or not you can find somewhere else suitable for farming pakh I don't know."
The man nodded, remembering.
Garia continued, "If you want to stay here, you can, although I don't think that you'd be able to continue farming the way you have been. I'm sure the miners could find work for you and your sons, or you could set yourselves up to provide services they need, like cooking or laundry or running a stable, something like that. If you wanted to move into Blackstone I'm sure there will soon be plenty of people who will want extra help as the town grows. But whatever you do it will be your decision. We won't just throw you off this land and move you on."
The man bowed. "Milady, you are gracious. It will take us some time to decide what to do." He hesitated, unsure of involving himself in the affairs of his betters. "Can you tell us when the miners will come, milady?"
Garia looked around for Yarling and he stepped forward.
"Not until next spring at the very earliest, goodman," the miner said. "Possibly not at all next year. There is much to be done before we open any shafts so far from the town as this." He gestured to the two older girls. "If you decide to stay here I would advise sending your girls into town, they will be safer there. A mining camp is no place for young women, if you take my meaning."
The man's face flickered as he understood the warning. "Thank you, Master..?"
Yarling bowed to the man. "Guildsman Yarling, Master Miner at your service. I am planning the mines for the Baroness. When the time comes doubtless we shall devise some satisfactory arrangement with you. I will reside in Blackstone over the winter, if there is need you may consult me there."
"As you say, Master Miner." The man turned his attention to Keren and Garia. "Highness, Milady, it is about the time of morning we would normally have a drink and a snack. Would you and your party eat with us?"
Garia looked at Keren. The situation was delicate, since it would be unfair to eat these people out of house and home, but equally important to acknowledge their hosts' hospitality. Keren understood her concern.
"Goodman, we will join you to eat and drink but we will eat our own provisions, if we may. Twelve extra mouths will deplete your stores. If you could show us somewhere to picket our frayen?"
The older son showed Feteran where the animals could be picketed, with enough forage to satisfy their own appetites. Garia took off her bowler hat and the two older girls gasped, turning immediately to their mother.
"Milady's address that day had much for me to remember," she told them. "I noticed her style of hair but I had more important matters to think about." The woman turned to Garia. "Milady, I am Rathina and these are my daughters Venna and Kalisel. Welcome to our home. My husband is Brethen, this is my mother Tarina, in front of her his mother's mother Jorilda but we all call her Ganna. Our two boys are Denesar and Matwin, our youngest daughter is Portra."
"I'm pleased to meet you all," Garia said gravely. She turned. "This is my maid Jenet. The Prince you know. Master Yarling you have just met and I'm sure you know Master Michen from the town." Rathina nodded. "The commander of my men is Feteran," Garia continued. "His father has just retired as Captain of the Palace Guard and lives in Blackstone now."
"Oh? Then we may meet him next time we go to town. If you will give me leave, Highness, Milady, I will get some water on the fire. Girls? I'll need some help, please."
The two older girls, with frustrated expressions on their faces, followed their mother into the house as the rest crowded round.
"Jenet? Can you find those pastries? I'm sure this is the perfect opportunity to share them around."
Sukhana had presented them with a batch of freshly-baked pastries before they left and these were brought out, the ones in the center of the wrapped cloth bundle still faintly warm from the oven. There were enough for everybody to have two each and by the time they were distributed Rathina and her daughters were bringing out mugs of pel. The armsmen had found the party's mugs and taken them into the house to be filled, along with a bag of leaves for the pot. Soon they were all seated on the turf swopping news and stories.
"Goodman Brethen," Keren said, "this is the edge of my father's Kingdom. I am recently an adult and so I travel to learn about his most distant lands. I assume that beyond the ridge to the north lies the Stone Sea."
The farmer nodded. "Aye, Highness, that is so."
"What lies over the southern ridge, then? Would those be Palarandi lands or is it perhaps Vardenale or some other country?"
"Highness, nobody claims those lands. Beyond the ridge is another valley, and beyond that yet another and so on. I believe the borders of Palarand - so far as I understand the matter - follow the Rule of Rivers, as is custom in these parts. That is, the lands belong to us if the rivers in them flow into the Palar. The Sirrel, of course, is somewhat different." He shrugged. "I and others graze our herds into the next valley on occasion, Highness. The small river that runs through it flows east and then into the Stone Sea so it is claimed by no-one."
"Do many frequent such lands, do you know?"
The man shook his head. "Very few, Highness. Only a few pakh farmers like me from this vale or from Blackstone. The network of valleys beyond here is like a maze, Highness. A man could easily lose his way there, we do not venture far ourselves. There are herds of wild gavakhan which occasionally stray this far and there are several kinds of beasts which prey on them, like zinakh and drekhil. Of course, we always have to look out for grakh and we have even seen ptuvil on rare occasions."
Stott, alerted by the subject, asked, "Goodman, are any of these beasts you name seen in this valley?"
"Rarely, sir. Only when the wild gavakhan stray here do they follow."
Stott explained to him with a grin, "Before I became an armsman of the King I used to hunt such beasts, among other things. You'll forgive me if I don't explain the circumstances. But it might be as well, Highness, Commander, if I was to take the lead when we set off again."
Keren looked at Feteran. "Commander?"
"I have no objection, Highness, and I don't think milady will object. It is well to have someone familiar with such matters at the front of our party."
Garia had become warm in the sun and she decided to take off her pea coat. Jenet took it, folded it and strapped it to Snep's saddle, returning with her swords.
"Maker! You wear swords, milady! Is this now the custom in Palarand, Highness?"
Keren gave Brethen a twisted smile. "The wielding of swords is a custom of milady's own people, goodman, although there are women elsewhere in Alaesia who practise a similar custom. It is possible that other women in Palarand may take up the art of swords in time, having seen the Baroness so equipped."
Garia added, "I wear these for defense only, Goodman Brethen. I'm not stupid enough to get involved in a pitched battle, trust me."
Garia stood so that Jenet could strap the swords on her back and then, in one smooth motion, drew them over her shoulders and held them crossed in front of her.
"Like that," Keren explained, "she can trap the sword of any attacker. I have trained with her in the use of her swords and I can confirm that they are very difficult to get past."
"As you say, Highness." Brethen examined Garia's swords from a distance. "I am no expert in such matters, Highness, but there appears to be no edge to these blades."
"That is correct," Keren replied. "The blades are only sharpened at the tip, to stab your assailant with. We train with blunted blades, and I have many bruises from our sessions."
Brethen nodded. "An interesting idea, Highness. If I wished to learn more of such matters..?"
Keren grinned. "Apply first to your smith in Blackstone, goodman. Master Brydas has some slight knowledge of those arts we speak of, although the palace is where you will find the best information. But Blackstone Vale is a peaceful place, I deem. It is well to be able to defend yourself, and your family, but I do not think you will have much need to do so."
"As you suggest, Highness."
After Garia resheathed her swords she turned to Keren. "Perhaps we ought to be leaving? I don't know how far we have to go, and we shouldn't impose on these people."
Michen said, "We do not have far to go, milady, but perhaps it would be best if we resumed our journey. We do not know what might await us at the far end of the vale."
It seemed but moments before everything was cleared away and repacked. The farmer and his family watched as Stott led the column east away from their farmhouse. Ahead, the land looked broader, the valley flatter, the sky wider.
~o~O~o~
The other farm wasn't too far away, as such things go, but the terrain became more broken as the company ventured further east so the building wasn't immediately visible. Garia estimated that to walk from one to the other would probably take a bell or so, so these people must have visited one another from time to time. They were, after all, each others' nearest neighbors.
Which made her wonder why nobody had said anything about the other farm while they were at the first one. Some disagreement over land or stock? She knew of people in Kansas that had held grudges for decades over some trivial thing, perhaps the same had happened here.
As soon as the house came into view she knew something was wrong. No smoke, no reception committee, poor building maintenance, no stock to be seen. As the frayen came to a halt outside a man came out the front door and looked at them. His shoulders slumped as he took in the company, all in uniforms and carrying serious weapons.
"Lord, I cannot do this. I have not the strength."
He addressed this speech to Feteran, who he had assumed led the expedition.
"Goodman," Feteran replied, "you mistake me. Our party is led by Lady Garia, Baroness Blackstone," he gestured at Garia, "and His Highness, Prince Keren of Palarand attends her." Another gesture, as Feteran added, "What has happened here?"
"Baroness? Prince?" The man looked bewildered. "What has happened to Lord Trogan?"
Garia and Keren had slid off their frayen and approached the man.
"Trogan is dead, executed after a trial in town for his crimes," Garia said. "He was an imposter, probably a bandit who waylaid and killed the real tax assessor. You need fear him no more. I am the rightful liege of Blackstone now. I'm riding my lands to find out what there is. What is the matter?"
The man fell to his knees. "Lady, my wife... she fell sick after Trogan's men last came. She is no more, I burned her remains but twelve days hence. I have two children and an infirm grandfather. I cannot tend this land any more. What is to become of me?"
Keren said, "If we can help you, goodman, then we shall. Rise, please. Do they know of your distress at the other farm yonder?"
The man shook his head. "No, H- Highness. Though I am cousin to Brethen, we do not bespeak one another. An old disagreement."
"I would have thought," Keren told him sternly, "that your circumstance is dire enough you would overcome such reluctance. Do you starve? Are you well provided? What of your beasts?"
"Highness, Trogan's men took our frayen. We have pakh but they are scattered, I dare not leave the house to find them. There is enough food for now, but I fear we shall not survive the winter."
Garia looked at Feteran. "Commander, send a man - two men - back to the other farm and ask them to come and rescue these people." She saw the alarm and shame in the farmer's eyes. "Ask them to take them back and look after them until we return." She turned to the man. "I want all of you to go to the other farm. You obviously can't manage by yourself, all the way out here. If you have young children - how old are they?"
"Ten years and six, My Lady," the man said. "My daughter Renys is the elder, my son Toren is but a boy." He remembered himself and bowed. "And I, Your Highness, My Lady, am called Brandar."
"Okay, Brandar," Garia resumed. "I can't imagine that any argument you might have had with your cousin is known to either of your children, is it? And you have just admitted to us that they would probably die this winter. You are responsible for their lives, I'm asking that you give them that chance at life. Take them somewhere where they will be warm, well-fed and looked after. We're heading off up to the end of the valley to explore. We'll be back either tomorrow or the next day, and we'll call at the other farm to see how you are. If you want to stay there, fine. If you want to abandon this place, and come back to Blackstone with us, then we can do that."
Brandar bowed low. "As you command, My Lady."
Feteran detailed two men to ride back to the other farm. After they set off the rest of the party dismounted and settled their beasts in nearby pasture. Garia gingerly investigated the house, finding it dark, damp and musty. The absence of a woman's touch was plain. The girl and boy appeared, looking at her with astonishment. They had never seen a woman who rode or carried weapons. Right at the back of the single room lay an old man, his body frail with age.
Brandar nervously led Garia to him. "Grandfather, this is Lady Garia. She is the new liege of Blackstone, if you can believe such a thing. My Lady, this is my grandfather Hamenar. If you would excuse him, My Lady, he cannot walk."
"New liege?" The old man spoke. "In our town? What happened to that other man? Is he gone?"
"Gone, Master Hamenar," Garia replied. "He was a bandit pretending to be the Duke's man. He caused a lot of trouble in the town. When we arrived at Blackstone there was a battle and he was taken captive. We gave him a proper trial and he was executed by hanging for a number of different crimes. You have no need to fear him any more." She forced a smile. The situation at this farm had been entirely unexpected and she felt keenly for the four remaining inhabitants. "Collect what you wish to take with you, I have instructed my men to make sure you are all taken to Brethen's farm for your own safety until we return. If you so desire you can come with us back to Blackstone. There was a pile of treasure left by Trogan which we are unable to return so we have set up a fund for the poor and deserving. You would certainly benefit from that money, I think."
The old man's eyes had flared at the mention of Brethen but he made no complaint at her instructions. With Brethen and Renys beginning to bundle up the things they would take away with them Garia returned outside to a scene of industry. The men had started two fires and begun to prepare food for their lunch. Toranar approached her.
"Milady, I hope we did right?"
"Absolutely. I mean, of course. Have we enough to feed these four as well?"
"I think so, milady. I will make sure that enough is prepared for all."
"Good." She scowled. "What a mess."
"Milady?"
She gestured. "These people. They live about a mark and a half from kinfolk but they don't speak to one another. The poor man's wife died and nobody back there knew about it or even cared. I don't understand these people."
"I know what you mean, milady. Country folk can be strange, sometimes. Living in the palace we forget how hard life can be out here."
"You got that right."
The two men came back just as lunch was ready. With them were Brethen and Denesar, both mounted and leading two other frayen. Brethen dismounted and stood facing Brandar, neither saying anything.
"I don't care what it is between you two," she told them, "but this farm is finished. Brethen, you are to take the four people left here back with you and look after them, understand? We'll be back tomorrow or the next day and we'll call at your farm to figure out what to do with them. If you can resolve your differences, or make a truce, or whatever, then fine. If not, then just keep quiet and get on with it. I'm not about to leave four of my people out here to starve and die, understood?"
Brethen turned to Garia. "The quarrel is not ours, milady, but of our father's time and perhaps beyond. We only did what our fathers bid us do. I will take these people in, they are kin. It may not be easy, though. Four people? Brandar, what of your grandfather?"
"He lives," Brandar said, "though my wife does not. He cannot walk or climb on any beast, though."
"Kathena is dead? I did not know. Cousin, we have kept ourselves apart too long. We were not there for your need. Your grandfather, we will find some way to carry him. Have you beasts?"
"No. The tax assessor's men took the frayen. We still have pakh but they are scattered on the hills. I cannot manage this place without... Kathena."
"No beasts? And Kathena dead... Maker! There has been much ill done in this place. And we did not know any of it!" He shook his head, turning to Garia. "Milady, it is time these wrongs were put right. I shall look after these people, they are kin whatever has happened in the past. You can rely on me."
"I had better," she said, looking Brethen in the eye. "I get that people might argue with one another and that you might not even like each other, but when it comes to people dying because of some stupid disagreement, that's taking a feud too far, I think. Now, my men are preparing enough lunch for all of us, so sit yourselves down and start finding out what's been happening to each other all these years."
The two men bowed low, Brethen's son following moments later.
"As you command, milady," Brethen told her.
Everybody gathered around the two fires. By unspoken agreement Feteran, Yarling and their armsmen took one fire while the rest sat round the other. Hamenar, still in his bed, was brought out and placed in the ring to join them taking food. He looked at Brethen and Denesar from beneath lowered brows but made no comment.
The meal was just the usual trail lunch of bread, cheese, meats cooked over the fire and a little fruit. Brandar was unable to contribute very much but some berries from bushes in their neglected kitchen garden and some leaves of pel which made a very strong-tasting beverage.
During the meal Brethen and Brandar talked in low voices together, bringing each other up on events of recent times, Denesar occasionally joining in. But Denesar's eyes were usually to be found on Renys, who had just reached the age where interesting things would start happening to her body. Despite living barely a mark apart it appeared that he had not seen her for many years.
Renys's eyes, however, were fixed on Garia. Garia thought this was to be expected and gave her encouraging smiles throughout the meal. It seemed that the interest Renys showed her was not all hero-worship, though, as she came to Garia at the end of the meal, while the men were clearing everything away.
"Milady," she began tentatively, "I don't know how to ask this of you. Do you perhaps know someone with the art of healing? Is there any like that in Blackstone?"
Garia nodded. "There are healers in Blackstone, good ones. What's the problem? Is it your... great-grandfather?"
Renys looked troubled. "It is me, My Lady. Uh, my Mommy fell sick and died... and I think I have the same thing."
Garia's eyebrows rose. "What makes you think - uuh, wait. Feteran, Jenet and I are going to take Renys here round the side of the house to have a private talk."
Feteran nodded. "As you wish, milady." He detailed two men to stand where they could see the women but out of earshot.
Garia, Renys and Jenet walked to the side of the house out of the main area of bustle and men.
"Now, Renys. Tell us what's wrong."
"Well, I'm not sure what it is made my Mommy sick but father said it was to do with... down there. Just this last few days I have had pains down there and I found blood. Oh, My Lady, am I going to die like Mommy?"
Heart sinking, Garia took a good look at Renys. She was still very young, completely undeveloped. Perhaps her mother never had a chance to..?
"Renys, did your mother ever talk to you about Kalikan? It has a very special effect on women."
"Kalikan? Why, she talked about Kalikan coming to her... but I never understood what she meant about it. Why?"
Garia and Jenet looked at each other.
"Do you think she never had the talk?" Garia asked her maid.
"She is of an age, milady, yet has the body of a girl. Perhaps her mother became ill before she could teach her the way of Kalikan." Jenet gave Garia a regretful smile. "I do not think any of the men would know how to explain to this maiden what will happen to her body."
"In this day and age? I wouldn't think so, Jenet. Renys, listen to me. You might find this a very strange thing for me to tell you, but what you are feeling is completely normal for a woman. Your body is changing from that of a girl to that of a woman. Do you understand me? Soon, if you haven't already, you'll start growing breasts like we have. Every woman has breasts, don't they? Well, every woman also has the Call of Kalikan, when unpleasant things might happen down below."
"Growing breasts? Like Mommy had? I know my chest has been itchy, I thought that was vermin in the bedding. But... blood?"
Garia sighed. "Renys, I'm really not the best person to be explaining all this to you, and I'd like to take the time to help but we really can't. You must go with Brethen and ask his wife to tell you everything you need to know. As for the blood, well, it's messy, it's smelly, it can be painful, but it is your sign that your body is able to make babies. Just remember that, in the years to come."
"But... babies, My Lady? Like Mommy?" Renys was suddenly thoughtful.
Garia asked Jenet, "Is she going to be all right until she gets there, do you think? Do we have to lend her some underclothes or pads?"
Jenet thought. "Milady, I think she should survive the walk to the other farm. Once Mistress Rathina has spoken to her she will take her in hand, I doubt not."
"Right, then. Let's go back and terrify the men."
Garia strode back to the fires with Renys by her side and Jenet trailing.
"Brethen! Brandar! Please come over here!"
Feteran turned. "Milady? Is there some problem?"
"There is, Commander, but it concerns female matters."
Feteran backed away, making a sign to the men. Brethen and Brandar cautiously approached Garia and bowed.
"Yes, milady?"
"Brandar, your daughter has just started her first Call of Kalikan," Garia announced.
The two men blanched, the armsmen who had overheard put some distance between themselves and the group.
Garia continued, "I know this is a bad time for you, especially after her mother died, but she needs the advice and reassurance of an adult woman right now. For various reasons I'm afraid that can't be me. Brethen, take Renys to your wife the moment you get back to your farm and mention Kalikan. She should take care of the rest."
Trembling, Brethen bowed. "As you command, milady." The glance he gave Renys was full of sympathy.
Brandar said, "My Lady, I did not know how to deal with this. I know that it comes to women but it is all a mystery to me."
"I understand, Brandar. You've had much else to occupy your mind recently. But your daughter's body has begun to develop and nothing will stop that happening. She needs help, and she needs it now."
"As you say, My Lady. I will make sure she gets the help she needs."
"Good. Then let's pack up here and go our different ways."
By re-rigging the harness of the four frayen a way was found for them to each support a corner of Hamenar's bed. Everybody else, apart from the young boy, would have to walk, but it was only a mark's distance of easy country. Some carried bundles of clothing. A few small items, mostly of sentimental value rather than monetary, went in a small sack which was tied to one of the frayen. Garia and her men watched them set off.
"You did well there, Garia," Keren said as he came to stand by her. "This could have been difficult but both parties appear to have agreed not to make a fight of it."
"I didn't do very much, did I?"
"You'd be surprised. Sometimes these rural feuds can get very bitter and last for centuries. I've stood and watched my father try to end some of them and it can get very unpleasant, even with the King threatening both parties. With any luck we should find some kind of truce between these people when we call there on our way back."
"I hope so. I just did what I thought necessary."
"And that is the mark of a good ruler, Garia. Or at least, so I am told."
"If you say so. I noticed you stayed well clear?"
"These are your lands, Garia. You must learn to administer them as you think best. That is the only real way to learn. If you wished advice or help, you know I would always be nearby to offer it, but I would not have you rely on me for every decision."
"You're right again, Keren," she said with a smile. "I have to learn how to make my own decisions sometime."
"So far I've seen nothing to worry me."
"I'm glad to hear it." She glanced up at the sun. "And we'd better be on our own way, don't you think? We want to get as far as we can before we have to camp for the night."
"Aye. By my reckoning we still have some marks to go."
~o~O~o~
Stott held up his hand and the company stopped instantly. He turned, came back and spoke to Feteran in a low voice. Feteran beckoned to D'Kenik and the three went into a huddle. Finally Stott and D'Kenik dismounted, Stott collected his bow and quiver and the two set off on foot. Feteran came back to report to Garia and Keren.
"Highness, Milady, Stott reports a flock of ganifil in the rough ground ahead. He thinks to supplement our provisions since we have used of our supplies to feed others at the two farms."
"What are ganifil?"
"A kind of avian, milady. About so big, usually." Feteran held his hands about a foot apart. "We have eaten them at table, milady."
"Feteran, you know as well as I do that I couldn't tell you what most of what I eat is, especially when it is cut up and covered with some kind of sauce. Is it like a..." Garia cast her memory back. "...a brifil, perhaps?"
Feteran nodded. "Aye, milady, very like. I do not know how many he has seen or how easy it will be for him to shoot them. All we may do is wait for them to come back."
"Very well. Let's dismount, stretch our legs and have a drink, then, while we're waiting."
It didn't seem very long at all before Stott and D'Kenik returned, each carrying two ganifil by the neck. Even Feteran showed surprise how quickly the hunt had been achieved.
"He is very clever, sir," D'Kenik said. "He used but seven arrows to bring these four down, and without scaring away the flock while he did it."
Stott looked smug. Feteran stared at him and at the avians.
"Stott, you do know that you'll have to gut and clean those before we can eat them?"
"Aye, sir. That won't take me long, once we get our camp set up. I might pick up some herbs along the way, if that's all right, sir."
"Very well. But remember, you're supposed to be leading the party. I don't want us to get attacked just because you spotted some herb and got distracted."
Stott grinned. "I'm not stupid, commander. Not with His Highness and Her Ladyship in our party."
"As you say. Mount up and let's get going again. The sun is westering and the day won't last forever."
"Aye, sir."
The landscape was becoming flatter and flatter the further east the company rode. Yarling pointed out to them when they went over the highest of the coal seams and then they were in a high moorland, the gently undulating ground broken only by groups of large sandstone boulders fallen from the capstone layer. Feteran was very suspicious of these at first but then realized that a suitable configuration might be the best place for a camp.
"If we can find a group of boulders with a large enough space at their center," he explained, "it would be easier to defend than if we camped out in the open. Such a place might also give us shelter if it rains or becomes windy."
Garia pointed. "Like those, you mean?"
"Aye, milady, though there would not be enough room for our beasts as well. The group yonder may be more suitable for a party of our size."
The rocks he indicated were half a mark's ride away, and as they approached Garia could see that the boulders had fallen in a large oval formation. Feteran headed for the rocks.
"Looks good, commander," Garia said as they approached.
The boulders were about man-height and spaced so far apart that the narrowest gap would have let a wagon through. Nevertheless Feteran declared himself satisfied.
"What about the ridge?" Garia asked, aiming a thumb up the slope.
"It is at least a mark away, milady, perhaps two on this gentle slope. If anyone comes from that direction we should have sufficient warning. Highness, will this meet your approval?"
"Aye, commander." Keren dismounted, stretching his legs. "Let's get our camp set up, the light will soon be gone."
The frayen were all unloaded, packs and saddles removed, so that only their halters remained. They were then taken out to be picketed while the camp was set up. Two men, grumbling, were picked by lot to dig a latrine and set up the screens, some way from the boulder ring. Another two were sent down to the stream to collect skins of water for cooking. Stott began the process of gutting and butchering the avians while others made up a central fire. Garia and Jenet picked a large boulder to set their packs and blankets against and then sat watching the almost magical way in which the others organized the camp without more than the odd word being spoken.
Garia sighed, but this time with happiness.
"Milady?"
"I like doing this, Jenet. I don't care if we get cold at night or the food is underdone or burnt, there's something about camping out in the wild that makes me feel so... content, I suppose the word is. I used to enjoy doing this on Earth every chance I had, which unfortunately was only once a year. I hope that we can do some more camping in the future, that we can get time off from all the work that the guilds and questors will want me to do. This is just what I need to relax myself, recharge my batteries."
Jenet had seen just enough of Garia's electrical experiments to understand what the phrase "recharge batteries" meant, so was diplomatic to say only, "As you say, milady."
"Oh! I'm being selfish again, Jenet! Do you mind coming out here like this?"
"A servant must go where her master or mistress goes, milady. But... if you ask for my personal preference, I would prefer not to be too far from a clean bathroom, toilet and kitchen. I do understand why you might wish to come away from those who require your decisions, your commands or your signatures."
"Oh, yes! It's only going to get worse, you know. I really didn't know what I was letting myself in for, did I? Still, I should have considered your needs more when we planned this trip. My apologies, Jenet."
"Milady, it is not so bad so far. We have had good weather, there have been no bandits or wild animals and we have enough provisions for almost a week. We are taken care of by men experienced in expeditions like these. I do not think that this journey will cause me much discomfort, milady."
Keren, Michen and Feteran came to join them.
"Milady," Feteran began, by way of a report, "the camp is established and we have begun preparing the evening meal. The latrine is ready should you need it and the other enclosure is there if you or Jenet desire to change. After we have finished eating we will have to bring the frayen inside the circle before we prepare ourselves for the night. I would ask you not to venture too far, as you can see, the light is fading."
Garia looked up to see the last rays of the sun making an orange glow over the hills in the direction they had come.
She nodded. "As you wish, commander." She switched her attention. "Master Michen, how far are we from the end of the vale, do you think?"
"Perhaps a mark, milady, perhaps a mark and a half. As you can see, the valley is so shallow it becomes difficult to say where one ends and another begins. In this terrain, it will take us no longer than a bell, I deem, to ride to the ridge ahead of us and back to this camp."
"Good. I want to do that tomorrow. I want to see what's over the edge, get an idea of what lies to the east. Oh, and the south as well. I'm guessing Master Yarling will end up putting mines in the next valley as well, won't he?"
"I have not his art, milady, but I would be surprised if the coal does not flow under these valleys into others. If that is so, then others will desire a share of the wealth."
"I'm already thinking about that, Master Michen. I don't want to start a war with anyone but just the same I don't want rogue miners causing trouble either."
"I leave the politics to others, milady, but you are right."
Keren said, "Once we get home again we are going to need a long, hard talk with father. It is just as well, perhaps, that Malann married into the Vardenale royal family."
The last rays of the hidden sun disappeared and the heavens revealed themselves to the company. There were, of course, no lights in any direction except for the camp fire and so the stars stood out hard and bright all around them. The Veil appeared as the twilight faded, now in the west and about to follow the sun below the horizon, but for the time being it made a glorious sight in the sky.
"Keren."
"Aye, Garia?"
"On Earth, we began to light our homes, towns and cities as soon as we could. Electric light is easy to put up and means that our time awake each day extends well into the evenings. But we made a big mistake."
"Oh? I find the idea of lit buildings and streets interesting."
"It is! But lighting the world up was so cheap we didn't give a thought to what we were doing to the sky, Keren. The glow from our cities and roads blinds us to the kind of sights that are normal here. Promise me that when we introduce electric lighting here we'll make sure to leave our skies dark. Everybody on Anmar deserves to be able to see that in their sky." She pointed to the Veil.
"Aye, I cannot disagree, Garia."
The avians, while of modest size, each provided a meal for three people and tasted absolutely delicious. Stott's use of local herbs gave the meat a flavor Garia had never experienced before and she was delighted by the meal. With the others they gathered round the fire and told each other stories while munching fruit and drinking pel.
Keren and Feteran escorted Garia and Jenet for their last visit to the latrine for the night. As they walked back, she asked Keren, "Have you thought any more about our problem?"
"Aye, I have," he replied. "I cannot see there is any way to keep us apart, Garia." He put his arm around her waist. "It is now clear to me that we are meant to be together and that will be my aim as it is yours."
Her mouth was dry. "What about your father?"
She felt his shrug. "He will do whatever he decides is best for the kingdom, Garia. If that means I do not become King, so be it. If it means that other countries protest, so be it. I have made my decision, let others make theirs."
She snaked her arm under his and round his waist, so that she snuggled under his arm. This was right. They reached the circle of stones and selected a spot to sit out of earshot of the others. Feteran and Jenet walked a little further and sat between them and the men to provide privacy.
"If you are not King, who is eligible? Elizet? Malann?"
"No, neither of those can rule Palarand since they are married into other families now. No, I think it would be Uncle Gil if anything happened to father and then Terinar after him." He was silent for a moment, then, "Would you mind, if I gave up the throne or was made to?"
"No," she whispered. "I will follow you anywhere, my love. I love the man, not the Kingdom."
"Oh, Maker! I know you do, just as I love you. I wish that I had never been born Prince, to have such a decision to make."
She smiled in the darkness, not caring about the tears of happiness running down her cheeks.
"You will always be my Prince, whatever happens to us in the future."
She pulled his head down to kiss him. The kiss was different, since they both knew that they were bound to each other now, whatever others might decide. The Veil had long departed the sky before they separated, each to their own sleeping spot.
Garia steps in something unpleasant... and that is the start of a desperate, terrifying struggle for life against foes both unexpected... and unimaginable! With the company in disarray she begins to show the qualities that any Queen must have.
by Penny Lane
83 - Thunderbolt
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
Garia
blinked and opened her eyes. She was momentarily confused. Why was it
so bright? Ah! She remembered then, how she was wrapped up warm in
their camp, with nothing but the sky above her. She snuggled down
inside the cloak which was wrapped completely around her, tasting the
smells of the open countryside, listening to the sounds of the camp
slowly coming to life. A faint crackling told her that someone had
prodded their fire into life, so it must be about time to think about
rising.
Her breath came out white so it was still somewhat cool, but Garia wasn't too concerned about that. Although they had brought nightgowns both she and Jenet had decided to sleep fully dressed, aware of how cold it could get at these altitudes at night. She loosened her wrappings and lifted herself on one elbow to survey the campsite.
One man was about, adding kindling to the fire to bring it to life. Another was leading two of the frayen out of the ring, she knew not where. Twisting, she saw Keren still sleeping nearby and then remembered what else had been decided overnight. A wave of joy enveloped her body as she recalled again what he had said to her. The die was cast now, let the chips fall where they may.
A figure came striding across the ring to her, crouching beside her and speaking softly.
"Milady? It is about dawn. You may sleep a little longer, if you so desire. It will be some time before we can break our fast."
Garia sat up, stretching. "No, thank you, Feteran. I'm happy being nice and warm down here but I won't sleep again, I don't think. Anything to report?"
"All is peaceful, milady. We have seen nothing, neither animals nor men, all night. We are taking the frayen down to the stream to drink and then picketing them out so they may find some forage." Feteran looked at the cloudless sky. "I think it is going to be another clear day."
"That's good," she said. "I'd hate to think we came all the way out here and then had to sit and watch it rain all day."
She untangled herself from the cloak and climbed to her feet, smoothing out the creases in her clothes.
"Um, I have to go to the latrine. Best if I go now, before everyone else rises?"
Feteran nodded. "As you say, milady. Will you require help?"
Garia looked at Jenet, still sleeping beside her.
"No, I don't think so, I'll manage."
The two walked over to the canvas enclosure. Feteran checked that it was empty and then stood outside while Garia did what was necessary. She came out looking at her hands.
"Hmm! Tricky business, that, if you're female."
"So I understand, milady."
"I need to wash my hands in the stream, then I'll help get the frayen sorted out."
"As you wish, milady."
As they walked down the gentle slope to the stream Feteran said, "I believe His Highness came to a decision last night."
"He did, commander. You know what it is?" Feteran nodded. "Do you approve?"
Feteran hesitated before replying. "It is difficult for me, milady, and I expect that Jenet will find it difficult also. We are sworn to you, and we will follow you as we are sworn, but before we came to your service we were both sworn to the King. His Highness's decision is going to cause trouble for the Kingdom, milady."
"I know, and I understand. I'm not planning to do anything that will upset the Kingdom, Feteran. We'll figure out some way round this, just you wait and see." Now it was Garia's turn to hesitate. "But do you approve? This is going to be important to all our futures, Feteran. Speak freely, if you will."
"Milady, the attraction between the Prince and yourself was plain for me to see, that first time we formally met in the training room. It might have just been the normal attraction of two young people but as I have become familiar with you both it is obvious that your feelings run much deeper. You must needs work closely with each other in the future, in this great enterprise which will transform Palarand, so it makes sense - to me - that you are naturally close to each other." He paused, considering his words. "Unfortunately, others may not see what we who have been close to both of you can see. I cannot guess the future, milady."
"I'm not expecting a smooth ride, Feteran," she agreed, "and I have no idea how various factions inside and outside Palarand are going to take it, but Keren has decided that, to him, I am more important than the Kingdom. We'll just have to see how everyone else deals with that."
"As you say, milady. I will add that I think you are more important to the Kingdom than the Prince, at this present time. He is but a King to be, you are Palarand's future."
"I'm not sure I care to be that important, Feteran. And don't underestimate Keren either." After some steps she said, "I think we're not the only ones to have reached an agreement, are we? What about yourself?"
Feteran nodded. "You are right, milady. Mistress Jenet and myself have spent most of our lives in the palace in the service of His Majesty. Despite that, our tasks were separate and, while we knew of each other, our paths seldom crossed. It is only since we began this adventure with House Blackstone that we have come to know each other well. We have much in common, of course, but there is also much we have to learn of each other, and I find that I look forward to that exploration. Do you approve?"
"Of course! If that's the way you both feel then I'm happy for you and I do approve."
"Thank you, milady. We will try to ensure that our... relationship does not affect our duties too much."
"Heh. I am having much the same problem, commander. While we're out here at the back end of nowhere, we have to keep clear heads, don't we?"
"As you say, milady."
Reaching the water, Garia cleaned herself up in the stream. The two retraced their steps to collect a frayen each, which they watered and then staked out on long lead lines to graze between the camp and the river. After doing two Garia found Jenet waiting for her when they reached the ring of stones once more.
"Milady! You let me sleep on!"
"That's all right, Jenet. Good morning. I knew once I woke I wouldn't be able to go back again, so I got up and helped move the frayen. How did you sleep?"
"Very well, milady. It was strange to sleep out under the stars but I can find no ill effects."
One of the men called, "Commander, Milady, there is pel ready."
Keren joined them at the fire, yawning. After exchanging carefully bland pleasantries they took mugs of pel and then the business of breakfast began. While some of the men chose bread and cheese most preferred the staple of grain porridge, even though it meant more cleaning up afterwards. After the breakfast dishes and pots had been taken down to the stream to clean, Feteran called a meeting to detail the day's activities.
"Milady wishes to ride to the head of the valley, which Master Michen informs us will take barely a bell for the round trip. I think His Highness, the Baroness and myself would all like to see what lies beyond our borders, since these are also the borders of Palarand. For that purpose we should also venture north and south to make ourselves familiar with the country round about. I don't think we need take all the gear or pack animals, so I'll ask for two volunteers to remain here and mind the camp while we ride. That will take us to about lunch time, so I propose having lunch when we return here and then we may pack up and start back. Is that agreeable to you, Milady?"
"It is, commander."
"Highness?"
"I see no problems, commander. But perhaps Master Yarling wishes to spend some time examining the rocks around us."
Yarling shrugged. "It will not take me long, Highness, although I would like a look into the valley to the south, if you would permit me."
"Garia? Perhaps we can ride part of the way back along the ridge. That will allow Master Yarling to see what lies beyond."
"That's an idea. We don't have to return the exact same path we came here on."
"As you say, milady. Is there anything you must needs do before we begin?"
Garia considered. She was warm enough while wearing her pea coat but she couldn't wear her swords if she did so. Coat or swords? There was a more pressing task, however.
She asked, "You'll be bringing the other frayen back into camp? Very well, commander. While you're doing that, we'll go visit the latrine and then I'll put my swords on."
"Of course, milady."
As Garia made herself ready she was joined by Keren and Feteran.
"Milady, since the men are all busy we shall escort you and Jenet to the latrine."
"Expecting trouble, commander?" Keren asked with a grin.
"Highness, I am always expecting trouble. I would not be doing my duty if I did not."
"Lead on, then."
When Garia emerged from the latrine Keren and Feteran were having an animated discussion nearby. She was so intent on their conversation as she walked to join them that she did not take care of her footing.
"Oh, shit! Eww! Literally!"
She had stepped in something soft, smelly and thoroughly unpleasant.
"What have you done?" Keren asked as the two men joined her.
"Been careless... look, it's all over my boot and my foot as well. When Jenet comes out I'll have to go down to the stream and wash this off."
"No matter, milady," Feteran said. "This will cause only a little delay, I am sure."
When Jenet joined them she pulled a face at the mucky boot. Because of the 'knitted string' construction of the uppers, the frayen-dropping had gone right into the weave and all over Garia's left heel.
"We can rinse this off, can't we?" Garia asked. "Down at the stream?"
"We can, milady, but it will forever stain the boot upper. It will take some clever work by the palace wardrobe to restore the color."
"That's not so important right now. Let's go, I want to get this cleaned off as soon as possible."
The four walked down to the stream, Feteran calling out the reason for the delay to the men as he passed. The stream was about two feet wide here, sunk in a deep channel between banks they had to scramble down. There were easier ways to the water but they had been churned up by the frayen when they were drinking. Jenet unlaced Garia's boot and then tried to wash it clean while Garia attended to her foot, scrubbing it dry with tufts of grass pulled from the bank.
"That is about as good as I can manage, milady," Jenet said, holding up the boot. "Of course, it is almost impossible to dry this material."
"It'll do," Garia said. "We've spent enough time on this already. Dab off as much as you can and then the rest will dry as we ride along."
The boot was refitted and laced. Garia was about to stand when a bugle blast shattered the calm. She immediately stood to see what was happening but Feteran roughly pulled her down again.
"The alarm, milady! The camp is attacked!" He glanced significantly at Keren. "They may not yet know we are outside, Highness."
"Good thinking!" Keren said. He aimed a finger upstream. "If we keep low, we can put some distance between ourselves and the camp."
"As you say, Highness!"
Crouching low under the lip of the bank, the four scrambled along, attempting to avoid making too much noise or disturbance which could attract attention. The noise of the stream covered a certain amount of sound but an accidental splash might reveal their presence.
Garia had no idea how far they had come. It may have been a hundred strides, it may have been half or double that, it was difficult to tell while they were in the stream bed. While she was scrambling along behind Feteran, with Jenet behind her and Keren bringing up the rear, there was a strange thump which brought them all to an instant halt. Garia risked a peek over the lip of the bank to see a small cloud of brown smoke rising into the sky.
"Maker! What was that?"
"Dunno." But she had a very good idea, and it meant bad news. "Let's keep going."
After another fifty strides or so there was a loud boom which stopped them again. Involuntarily all four stood to see what had happened, ducking down again immediately, but the damage was done. There was a shout from the direction of the camp.
"We are seen! Run!"
The four stood and began to run, initally along the stream bed, since the bank was not easy to climb. Stealth was pointless now so the only defense was speed. Unfortunately, she soon realized that she and Jenet were hampering the chase, since while she was fit her own legs were short and Jenet was not accustomed to this kind of exercise at all.
No swords! Her precious blades, provided for just such a circumstance as this, were still with her pack in the camp. Apart from the utility knife attached to her right boot she had no weapon. Keren and Feteran both had swords, of course, but that was all. For the first time in many weeks, she began to feel real fear.
"Fet! Slow down," Keren gasped from behind. "The women cannot run as fast as us."
Feteran slowed right down and turned to look behind them.
"We are pursued," he said, panting. "Four or five, I deem."
He began to look around for a place to make a stand.
"I've no swords!" Garia told him between breaths.
Keren scowled. Would his romance come to a sticky end before it had even begun? He felt desperately angry with those whose chased them.
Feteran pointed. "Up there! We may find a place to face them!"
A group of large boulders lay along the skyline to their north. Although there were visible gaps, like with their camp, others promised a chance where their attackers could not come at them from all sides. The chances were slim, but they were all that the four had.
Panting, they struck off up the slope toward the boulders. It seemed that they were larger, and further away, than anyone had realized. Halfway there, Garia's lungs were on fire and she wondered that Jenet was still on her feet at all. Feteran must have realized the same thing because he came back and began helping Jenet to climb. Garia's legs were turning to rubber and she looked despairingly at Keren, who appeared to be in little better shape.
They staggered through a gap at one end of the cluster of boulders to find... that it was not any kind of enclosure at all, merely an open arc of stones perhaps three to four strides high and fifty long. There would be no protection to be found here, unless -
"There!"
The three boulders at the far end had fallen together, leaving a narrow gap at the bottom a man could squeeze himself between. Keren stuck an arm around Garia and ushered her along the line of immense rocks. Behind them, the shouts grew louder as their pursuers gained on them. Garia and Jenet were practically stuffed into the gap between the rocks as Keren and Feteran drew their swords to face their attackers, backing into the crevice themselves as they did so.
- * -
The predator had about reached the western end of the range it normally covered. There had been a herd of gavakhan it had been taking to feed its young, but these had gotten leery of late and split into smaller groups which were harder to track. It cast about and, finding nothing of note, turned back to hunt elsewhere. The day, after all, was yet young.
The sudden, sharp noise drew the beast's attention. The small, strange cloud fixed that attention on a group of different prey animals, doing something not far from where the predator was. These animals were usually avoided, since they sometimes fought back in ways that gavakhan could not, but the meat had an interesting flavor and the carcases were easier for it to carry. It turned again, noting more activity on the nearer hillside.
- * -
The six men burst through the line of stones the same place that Garia had come through. The men, all waving swords, slowed momentarily to get their bearings. One, who might have been their leader, spotted Keren and Feteran and gestured with his sword.
"There they are! Get the bitch, kill the rest!"
The six men charged across the space separating them from Keren, Feteran, Garia and Jenet.
Death fell from the skies.
Garia, standing behind Keren, had a brief glimpse as a huge shadow blocked out the daylight before the immense beast landed squarely on top of the chasing men, felling them like tenpins. Keren and Feteran were knocked back into the crevice by the downdraft of prodigious wings, which promptly folded along the flanks of the creature.
The head was about the same size as that of Tyrannosaurus Rex but more streamlined, with teeth that were in proportion. It cast about on the long neck, trying to see what it had caught. One of the men, merely knocked over, scrambled to his feet and tried to flee but the beast turned, the neck snaked out, the head twisted and the man was caught with a rib-crushing crunch. Of the others, two were definitely dead, crushed beneath the claws of a foot like that of an eagle but a stride across. The others might have been dead, since they did not move, and two would certainly soon die from terrible stomach wounds.
Garia and her friends crushed themselves as far back into the crevice as possible, hoping the beast wouldn't bother with them. She could see glimpes of the shimmering hide, covered with red-brown scales that sparkled in the sun as the underlying muscles shifted. She had never been so frightened in her entire life. This was far worse than when one of the same species had flown across during the Harvest Festival.
The beast, of course, hadn't noticed them at all. Its attention had been fixed on the six chasers, and now it considered briefly what to do. It could carry two of these small creatures, and with luck the rest would still be here when it returned. Perhaps it could convince its mate to join it, there would be enough to feed all of them if no other creature found the meat before they returned.
It closed a huge taloned foot around one of the bodies, which screamed in agony. Ignoring the noise it picked up the man who had tried to get away in its mouth, spread its wings and launched itself into the air. The downdraft floored the four hidden in the crevice. Picking themselves up they went to the entrance.
"Quick!" Feteran urged hoarsely. "We don't know how far that thing has to fly. It will come back to take the others!"
They staggered out of their hiding place and were confronted by the slaughter left by the great beast. There were four bodies on a carpet of grass splashed with blood. Three were still possibly alive, the skull of the fourth being crushed. One of the men, his intestines spilling out of his body, hauled himself onto his elbows.
"Mercy, Lord! Mercy, Lady!"
Feteran went directly to him, sword poised, but Garia stopped him with a shout. She might have been full of fright but her sense of justice still functioned.
"No! Leave them!"
Feteran hesitated, turned.
"I heard what you said!" Garia shouted at the man. "Get the bitch, kill the rest, you said. You'd keep me and kill the Prince? You'd kill my maid? Death is too good for you! The ptuvil started this, let the ptuvil finish it! Commander, get their weapons. I don't want any of these taking the easy way out before that creature comes back."
"Milady?"
"Get their weapons, Feteran. No suicides here."
Keren added, "This time, I agree. Do it, Feteran."
"As you command, Highness."
Garia picked up a sword from those scattered by the ptuvil's attack for herself. Everything else, swords and knives, they collected and threw away between two of the boulders. The dying man watched them with horror.
"My Lady!" he pleaded, "You can't -"
"I just did. You started all this, you bastards! Now you'll have to accept the consequences." She turned to her companions. "Let's get out of here, this place stinks."
They retraced their route up, swords ready in case the six had been followed by any more of their party. Occasionally one or other of them turned quickly to look behind, fearful that the huge flying creature had returned. Garia wondered if anybody had survived at their camp. She staggered down the hillside, kept upright from time to time by Keren's touch.
Eventually it all caught up with her. Her sight began to fade and there was a strange roaring in her ears. Her knees began to buckle as the adrenalin drained and the magnitude of what had just happened sank in.
"K- Keren..."
He grabbed her as she collapsed, swinging round and lifting her into his arms like he had done so many months before. He called to Feteran.
"Tend you Jenet, Fet! I have Garia."
Somehow they all kept hold of their swords as they carried on down the hillside as fast as they could. Feteran couldn't pick Jenet up but he had his arm around her waist, supporting her. Halfway down to the stream they met Toranar and Brendel coming up, swords at the ready.
"Highness! Thank the Maker! We feared - after seeing the monster - that no-one survived."
Keren came gratefully to a halt. "We survived, though those who sought us did not. What of the camp?"
"We live, Highness, but there are grevious wounds, caused by some new evil we have never seen before. We beat them off, Highness, Commander, but three got away."
Feteran asked, "It is safe? We may approach the camp? Do they not try another attack?"
Toranar shook his head. "No, Commander. Of those who fled, at least two carry Stott's arrows. It is only Stott's skill with the bow that saved us, commander." He frowned as he saw Garia in Keren's arms. "Milady! Is she hurt?"
"No, Toranar," Keren replied, "Merely exhausted and frightened, as am I. I do not mind admitting it, not after being so close to such a beast. Now, let us get back to the camp because it will come again, to collect the men who are left behind."
Toranar did a double take. "There are some alive, Highness? Should we not make them prisoner?"
Keren shook his head wearily as he began walking again. "They are meat, Toranar, only meat. Come, I need to be sitting down somewhere. Milady becomes heavy in my arms."
~o~O~o~
Garia regained her senses as they crossed the stream and insisted on being put down. She felt weak but was able to walk on her own, if only in slow, cautious steps. A few of the frayen remained picketed on the lower slope, including Snep, but there were other mounts scattered all over the hillside where they had been abandoned or frightened off by the noise of the attack. The group reached the circle of stones and passed inside, where they were immediately offered skins of water to drink from. Clutching their skins, they sank down against two nearby boulders, utterly spent from their fight and fright. D'Kenik came to stand in front of Feteran and salute, though his leg was bloody.
"Commander, Thoran is dead. He has a terrible chest wound made by a strange weapon the bandits used. He lived, though we did not believe he would survive for very long. Most of the rest of us also have wounds from this weapon, most are painful but no more. There was a second weapon, but something happened to it and the two who carried it were killed, also with grevious injuries. Three survived to ride away but two take Stott's arrows with them in their bodies."
Garia put her skin down. "Those people aren't bandits, D'Kenik. They are agents of Yod, I think. How many do you think there were?"
D'Kenik scratched his head. "As you may know, milady, it can be difficult to account numbers during battle. Three escaped, there are five bodies though two are dead by their own hand. I do not know how many saw you and gave chase."
"Six," Keren said wearily. "We were but four, and milady without even her swords, or I would have given us an even chance against them. But for the ptuvil we were lost."
Garia said, "We need to find out everything we can about these people. Collect all the bodies, all the weapons, everything. We want to gather up all those frayen before they wander away, there may be clues in their saddlebags or packs. Not to mention if the ptuvil comes back and sees them wandering around... What about these... evil weapons you mention?"
"We dare not touch them, milady," D'Kenik replied. "We have left them where they lay. Not knowing how they work we fear to trigger them again."
Garia nodded. "A wise move, although they are probably safe. I have a strong suspicion I know what they are and how they work."
Oh, God, please let them be primitive! If they have any smart engineers among them, we are sunk!
Keren raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "You do? Should you be saying anything about them here?"
"Keren, they're already here and somebody else has them. The secret is out, all we can do now is make sure we're not too far behind because, believe me, these people will press ahead with development as fast as they possibly can."
Keren sighed and leaned back, exhausted. "I take your point. But there are other dangers for Palarand than Yod."
"True. Look, let's get ourselves cleaned up and the camp organized and then we can talk about future strategy. D'Kenik, you mentioned something about wounds?"
"Aye, milady. It is as though all were stabbed by some round spike or nail. Most wounds are small but some bleed freely. Master Michen has an arm which appears smashed."
Garia began to lever herself to her feet. "Jenet, are you ready and able to help? I think we have a bandaging job to do."
"Of course, milady." Jenet also began to rise.
D'Kenik objected, "Milady, it is well in hand -"
"Wait a while, D'Kenik. I want to inspect those weapons first. If I'm right, you'll have stones or metal embedded in those wounds which has to come out. If you don't you'll most likely get poisoned."
D'Kenik took her first to the weapon which had 'failed'. Garia saw at once that the barrel of the crude gun had exploded at the breech end, possibly through bad powder, poor training or a flaw in the metal. A man lay either side of the weapon, both had most of their faces blown off. The other weapon lay beside a man with an arrow sticking out of his chest. Garia thought he looked familiar.
"Is that Durko?"
D'Kenik looked closely. "Aye, milady, I do believe you are right. That explains how they knew where we were."
Keren joined them. "Aye, and it was Durko's wagon that had the bad axle, remember? It seems we carried our own spy around with us the whole time. This is the weapon?"
"Yes," Garia said. "Looking at it, I would call it a very crude shotgun. You simply hold it up and point it at your enemy, then light whatever is inside the barrel. What comes out the end we call shot, which can be small, spherical balls of metal or perhaps just scrap metal or even stones. That's what is inside every one of the wounds our men has. If that shot or those stones stay inside the wounds they can go bad and infect the wound. You'll need tweezers to get them out, and there aren't any this side of Blackstone."
"Not so, milady," D'Kenik said. "We can make tweezers from what we have in the camp, if there is need. It is something all guardsmen learn during training in the field. What must we do?"
Garia spun, her decisions already formed. "Okay. We need to clean all the wounds using water from the stream which has been boiled. We'll need fresh bandages as well. Jenet, go find my nightgown and start tearing it into strips."
"But, milady -"
"We're not wearing them and judging by the amount of bloody bodies I see around me we'll need more bandages than we seem to have available. I want the bandages to be boiled before use and I think we'll boil the tweezers as well. Keren, Feteran? If you would take some skins down to the stream, we'll get the fire going ready. Toranar? Are you the only one not injured?"
"No, milady, Brendel and Stott are also unscathed. Your commands?"
"Start fetching those frayen back here, right away. Start on the east side, please, because that is the direction that ptuvil is going to return from when it comes. Bring them inside the stones. I know it will be crowded but if we can keep them close to us it should stop them from panicking. If we lose those mounts it's a heck of a walk back to Blackstone, especially with wounded."
"As you command, milady."
Garia's body was desperately tired but her mind was working overtime. Somehow she had sized up the situation and worked out exactly what had to be done. Keren and Feteran glanced at each other but grabbed skins and went immediately down the slope while Toranar and Brendel left to entice their mounts back.
She looked down at the body of the gunman, noticing for the first time the bag half hidden beneath the body where he had fallen on it. She bent down and pulled it out, having to untangle the diagonal strap first from the body and then from the arrow still sticking up from the chest. Opening the bag she saw what she had expected to find, ammunition for further discharges of the crude gun. She took the bag back to her stone and sank down against it, taking another swig from her water skin.
"Milady, can we help?"
It was Stott, crouching down beside her. Most of the other men had gathered round.
"I don't know, Stott," she said. "I might get some clues as to how those things worked from what's in here."
She spread her skirt and emptied the bag into her lap. There were ten small bags, five each of blue and white, made of silk and cylindrical shaped - to fit in the barrel, she guessed. There were rough wads of wool and a bundle of lengths of stiff string each about as long as her middle finger. Pinching the blue bags she decided that these were powder, although how they worked she did not yet know. The white bags were full of hard lumps so she took the knife from her boot and opened one with the point. Small stones, all roughly the same size, tumbled out onto her skirt. She nodded.
"Right. Two things. First, every wound made by that weapon will have one of these at the bottom. That's what you are looking for with those tweezers. We need to get those out and make sure the wound is flushed out and clean. Second, Stott, I want you to fetch that gun over here, please. It will be heavy but it is safe to carry."
The field tweezers were an education for Garia. A twig was selected from the kindling and carefully stripped of bark. The wood was then split lengthways. One end of a strip of bark was then placed between the halves to keep them apart and the rest wound tightly round one end to provide a spring. Some whittling with a knife to achieve the right shape and length and it was ready.
Stott returned with the gun as the less wounded men went off to boil their tweezers. He laid the cumbersome object carefully beside Garia, who examined it properly for the first time. A heavy cylinder of wrought iron, about two feet long with a bore of about an inch and a half. The iron was less than half that in thickness. The stock was a crudely carved piece of wood with the front jammed into one end of the barrel and secured by two rivets which went through holes bored through the barrel from side to side. At the far end, a T-shaped piece of wrought iron had been lashed to the barrel with wire. On the dependant part of the T a piece of wood had been riveted to provide a forward grip. There was no obvious sign of a firing mechanism apart from a small hole in the top of the barrel. The mouth of the barrel had been flared slightly but she couldn't tell whether that was deliberate or not.
"Okay." She smiled at Stott. "You need to find me a... stick, about as long as this barrel. It will probably have a small pad at one end and a brush at the other, or something like that."
"Milady?"
"Uh, the men who fired this will have had them. They are needed to clean out the barrel after each shot and to push the next shot down the barrel."
"Ah! Milady, I think I saw something like you describe somewhere near the other weapon. I wondered what it might be."
Stott returned with the blood-soaked ramrod and handed it to Garia.
"Milady, why did you call that pipe a barrel?"
"Um, I think when these were first made they were constructed of long strips of iron and bound round with rings of iron. It's sort of the same construction as a barrel, with staves and hoops, so the name stuck." She thought. "There's a lot of words we use with these things that come from someplace else. Like we refer to 'shooting' and 'shot', though it isn't the same as using your bow."
"Will you teach us the art, milady? Or is this something that has to remain secret?"
Garia sighed. "I wanted it to remain secret, Stott, because the wars that we had after guns came into use were far more terrible than anything you might have experienced here. Only it seems Yod isn't giving us that chance. I'll explain all to the camp, but only after we're all cleaned up, fed and rested. I wanted to see if I can get this thing set up if we need it later. Remember, there's a damn great flying creature out there which thinks we'd make it a fine lunch."
"What about those men?" Denard asked. "Milady, do you think they will return?"
"I don't think so. God, I hope not, not with us in this state! No, the numbers are against it, Denard. We know six died up there," she waved an arm toward the place where they had encountered the ptuvil, "and there are five bodies here. If three got away then that makes fourteen. There's no sense, in this kind of action, leaving men behind in case they need a second try. If there had been any more men they would have used them, to try and overwhelm the camp." She thought. "Which direction did they come from, do you know?"
"Over the ridge to the south and down the slope, milady. They were halfway down before we spotted them, though fortunately everyone except yourselves were inside the ring. When they arrived -"
Garia held up a hand. "Stop right there. I want a proper debriefing from everyone once we are in a fit state to do so. That way everyone can hear what happened and learn from our experiences."
"Of course, milady."
Garia had recovered a little by now and she, Jenet and Feteran did the bandaging while the others, including Keren, prepared lunch for the company. The wounds were first bathed in boiled water and then probed for the shot. In Yarling's case the stone had passed clean through his upper left arm, so bandaging was all that was required. D'Kenik had one stone taken out of a thigh, Denard had three stones, two in the thigh and one in the shoulder. Michen was worst out of those that had survived. He had been standing alongside Thoran, who had taken the main force of the blast, and several stones had shattered his right upper arm bone. Removing the stones had proved very painful but they had attempted to set and splint the bone as best they could. Nobody knew whether he would ever regain the use of that arm.
While this was happening the frayen were being recovered and brought into the circle of stones. The previous night their mounts had all been kept inside but this time they seemed to take up more room, so they were forced to rearrange their camp. All the frayen were bunched into the western two-thirds of the camp while the men, their packs, saddles and equipment together with the new weapons and six corpses filled up the eastern end. This was because, Feteran explained, if the ptuvil came back and spooked the beasts at least they would stampede away from the men and not trample them.
Even the camp fire had to be moved. This had delayed the making of lunch so while they waited Garia asked Feteran about the apparent increase in frayen numbers.
"We have gained some beasts, milady, and we have taken losses of our own."
"Oh? I guess some of those are the bandits' beasts, then."
"Aye, milady, although not all that they must have had. We have lost two also. Denard's mount broke his neck against the stone in panic when the first of those weapons was..."
"Fired. That's what we generally call the operation."
"Ah, I see, milady. Fired, then. And the men discovered a pack beast outside, with a crossbow bolt through its ribs. It must have been released from a very close range to have penetrated so tough a hide. I regret they were forced to put it out of its misery. There are also two pack animals with flesh wounds made by the shot. We have, with difficulty, removed the stones but of course there is no way we may bandage so large a creature. They will just have to take their chances."
"That could be a problem. Go on."
"We recovered eight frayen belonging to those who attacked us, milady. All carry the traditional style saddle so we know they are not ours. Three more must have borne the survivors away but there must be more, perhaps as many as three, that have wandered away out of sight."
"Hmm. We'll have to take those bodies back, I guess, and we'll need to shift some packs about, so we'll be making use of those extra beasts. Good work, commander."
Finally, it was a very subdued company that gathered round to take lunch. Yarling, Michen and Denard discovered the utility of forks as they could manage to eat using only their uninjured arms. There had been no spares so the utensils were shared, after cleaning. Mug of pel in hand, Garia went to sit by Keren, who had his back to a rock in the sun. She intended to sit down beside him but he extended his arm so she ended up with her back leaning against his chest.
"Mmmm, that's good," she said. "I feel so tired."
All her muscles relaxed and she let her head tip back to rest on his shoulder. The sun was in her face so she closed her eyes.
"I agree," Keren said as he put his arm round her waist. There was no reply.
Feteran found them moments later. Keren's head had slid sideways to rest on Garia's head and both were sleeping soundly. The others gathered to watch.
"Let them rest," Feteran said softly. "They have done much hard work this day."
"Aye to that, sir," Stott said. "She will make us a fine Queen."
"If I ever doubted that," Feteran replied, "I doubt it no more. But first, we have to get them back alive to the palace."
When Garia awakes from her inadvertant nap it is to the realization that the ptuvil will return... The camp must be prepared for another possible battle. Help arrives from an unexpected source, however. What are dranakh doing here? Somehow the company must survive the afternoon and make their way back to safety.
by Penny Lane
84 - Dranakh, Ptuvil, Guns
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
Garia was upset that the men had let them fall asleep. Feteran was
unrepentant.
"Milady, you needed the rest, as did His Highness, myself and Jenet. After being chased up that hill, then facing that creature, I am surprised you lasted as long as you did. Then, when we returned, you and Jenet saw to the wounds of all the men! You and His Highness are still young, you have not yet obtained the stamina of an older person. We judged it was safe to let you rest, we would have woken you both had there been any alarm."
"Oh." Garia yawned. Keren, still asleep, held her in a firm grip around her middle, but she was content with that at the moment. "How long?"
"Perhaps half a bell, milady. We have all taken the time to rest for a while, but there has always been someone on watch. No-one has seen any man or beast in any direction."
"Oh," she said again. "Thank you, Feteran, that was considerate of you."
She moved her head and Keren came awake.
"Did we sleep?" he muttered, yawning.
"Half a bell or so," she told him. "It was a calculated risk by the men but I do feel a lot fresher now, don't you?"
"Aye." He yawned again. "Any chance of a mug of pel, commander?"
"Of course, Highness," Feteran replied. He gave orders for the brew to be started.
"Commander," one of the men called. "Company."
Keren and Garia hastily scrambled up as everyone looked east to see what was coming. Men grabbed at swords, those who could still wield them.
"Not that way, milady," another said. "The other - and I don't think there's anything to worry about."
Stretching the kinks out of their legs, they peered out between two of the boulders to see... four dranakh, approaching with some speed.
"Dranakh? Where did they come from?"
Garia looked closely at the animals as they approached the camp site. Like frayen they all appeared very similar unless you spent time with them every day but she knew which dranakh these were almost immediately.
"They've come all the way from Blackstone," she said. "These are our dranakh. They must have been grazing on the hillsides along the valley when they detected that we were under threat."
The four large draft animals came directly to where Garia was. The lead one let out a complicated-sounding bleat.
Wookie! The dranakhs speak wookie. At least, that's what it sounds like.
"Beth. You must be Beth, I guess. Whatever are you doing here? Have you come to help us?"
The animal let out another bleat and then the four turned and began to investigate the circle of stones from the outside, peering in at every gap. They bleated at the frayen, who eyed them warily, and sniffed at the corpses before ambling a short distance to the east side and settling down to munch grass.
"What is happening, milady?" Feteran asked. "You seem to understand these beasts better than any of us."
"I have no idea, commander. Let's see. Last time we saw these they were grazing above the reservoir, weren't they?"
"Aye, milady."
"Then, I'm guessing they began to come this direction the moment we were attacked. It's taken them this long to get here and I don't think they wasted any time coming. Now they are here, notice where they decided to graze? They know that ptuvil is coming back."
"You think they seek to defend us, milady? Is that possible?"
"I have no idea." She smiled. "I've been saying that a lot lately, haven't I? Well, in this case it's true. I really don't understand what's going on here, but, believe me, I'm glad those four are on our side."
"Aye, milady. All know that dranakh can be fierce adversaries but are steadfast at defending those who they account friends. The question I must ask, milady, is how long do we have? What defence may we make against such a beast?"
Garia looked at the men clustered around her. Four were bandaged, two just able to walk but no more. The others... well, there was little anyone could do against something that size. Not yet, anyhow. She needed more information, and the best way to obtain that was to find out what had happened while Keren, Feteran, Jenet and herself had been busy running away.
"If it comes back right now we're screwed, let's face it," she said. Most of the men got the sense of her comment. "We can't hold the frayen, not with so few able bodied men left, and the only means of defence we have is those lances and our swords, for those still able to use them. How much use they'll be against something that size..." she shrugged, "I don't know. I don't know how much those dranakh can do either, so we can't rely on them to save us."
Garia glanced to the east, seeing nothing. "I reckon we might have a little time before we have to worry about defending ourselves. Let's have that pel and while we drink it we'll all describe what happened to us during the battle. I need to find out some more about those weapons. They are the only thing that might defeat a ptuvil, if it ever gets that bad."
"Can we afford to take the time for this, milady?"
Garia looked Feteran in the eye. "What would you have us do instead, commander? All stand around waiting for death to arrive? Not a good plan."
"We could pack up and leave, milady. Abandon the camp before it returns." But her commander looked doubtful even as he said it.
"How long will it take us to put saddles and packs on all the animals? Especially with half the troop wounded? What happens if the ptuvil comes back and finds us strung out just leaving the camp? Better to wait here in some kind of defensive position, let it pick up the rest of its lunch order and leave."
Feteran nodded. "You are right of course, milady." He quirked a smile. "I am now convinced you come from a race of warriors, milady."
Once they were sitting with mugs of pel, Garia began the debriefing.
"Denard. You first. You said that you saw the raiders coming down the slope behind us."
"Milady, Toranar saw them first, being on watch. He called the alarm and then grabbed the bugle, hoping to alert you since we had all seen you walk down to the stream. The riders surrounded the stones at a distance and then two approached that gap over there on foot, holding the weapon -"
"It's called a gun, Denard. That is the general name for most kinds of weapon that work that way. I'll explain later. Carry on."
"The men pointed the... gun inside at us and then there was a loud noise, a red flash, a cloud of smoke and I was knocked over. I did not see what happened next, milady, as I discovered I had been injured. I crawled to the nearest stone for cover. There was a lot of smoke and shouting and I heard several crossbows being loosed. Then there was some more shouting from the raiders and some of them must have seen you because they ran off that direction. There was a much larger noise from another gap, some screams, and then someone outside shouted out orders and whoever was left rode away. That's about all I saw or heard, milady."
"Thank you, Denard. One detail, the men who held the gun, how were they standing? I mean, was one on one side and one the other? Did one have the gun to his shoulder like this?" Garia demonstrated.
"That's right, milady! One stood either side, but the one to the right was holding the gun up as you describe. I don't know what the other man was doing."
"To the right, you said. Your right or his?"
"I beg pardon, milady, I was not clear. The right as I looked at them."
"Did you see the ptuvil come? I'm not sure about when that happened."
"We saw it, milady, and we feared the worst, especially after we saw those men go after you and His Highness. The raiders who were left here rode away when they spied the ptuvil descend. We waited until it departed, for we were as afraid as those who attacked the camp were. Then we had a meeting and decided to send Toranar and Brendel off to see if any of you survived, as they were yet without any wounds."
"Thank you, Denard. Who's next?"
The others who had been left at the camp all gave similar stories. There was one unanimous comment.
"It was Stott, milady. We wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for Stott and his bow. He just stood there and let fly whenever he could."
"Stott?"
"It is as they say, milady. I could hit them while they were still outside crossbow range, though if they was sharp-eyed they would have seen the arrow coming and gotten out of the way. When that first gun-thing went off the arrow for the man who was holding it was already in the air. Then I started hitting them while they were still riding and that made 'em keep their distance. When that second gun-thing went wrong the leader had enough and called his boys off. I still got one as they rode away, though." Stott smirked. "Traditional saddles, they all had. And old-style stirrups!"
Keren said, "You'll doubtless have a few free beers waiting you when we get back, guardsman. And I'm certain you'll receive the King's thanks when we return to the palace! You have served Palarand well this day, Guardsman Stott."
"Sir!"
"And the rest of you," Keren cast his eyes round the group. "You have performed well under difficult circumstances. You have my thanks now for saving the company."
"But, beggin' your pardon, Highness," Stott said, "we didn't save you or Milady Garia. What happened to your party?"
Keren related what had happened at the stones on the ridge, with Garia, Feteran and Jenet supplying a few extra details. Since they had been all together, their stories coincided for the most part.
Toranar asked, "Is that thing really going to come back, Highness?"
"It took two and left four. I'm guessing that if it doesn't roost too far away it will return. It was easy meat, after all. If you are asking, will it seek a meal at this camp, then I cannot answer."
Garia added, "I want to get that remaining gun ready, in case it does come back. It may be the only way we can stop it."
Keren objected, "The other gun exploded, so the workmanship cannot be very good. What happens if the remaining one explodes also?"
"If we are ever in a position that we have to fire that gun, Keren, then we are about to be eaten. In that case I think I'll take the chance."
"When you argue your case thus, I must agree with you. Very well. So, what shall you tell us about guns, milady?"
"Let's get that intact gun and all the parts over here in the middle of us. I think first I'll show you how it works, since that's the most important thing right now." She addressed the men. "One of you is going to have to use the gun, I'm afraid, should that become necessary. I might be able to lift that thing but I don't think I'm strong enough to use it properly. You all need to know this because it will be impossible to know how any attack by the ptuvil will play out. Any one of you may get the chance."
A cloak was spread on the ground and the gun, bag and contents laid out on it. The men gathered around as Garia began her examination.
"When we talk about using a weapon like this," she said, "we talk about firing it. That's an accurate word because the gun works by burning material extremely fast. In this case it is the powder which is in these blue bags. The powder is made by mixing certain common substances together but the way of mixing the powder is an art. When the powder burns up the smoke and residue which is left behind takes up a huge amount of space more than the powder did. That smoke and residue has to go somewhere. Since the barrel - this part - is pretty solid and the back end is blocked off by this part, the stock, it all tries to come out the front part, the muzzle. Because the shot, which in this case is a handful of small stones in each of these white bags, is in the way, the shot gets pushed out by the smoke and other residue. Very fast. So fast that you won't be able to see it fly and so fast it won't drop appreciably before it hits the target."
There were some raised eyebrows when she said this.
"So," she continued, "to aim this you point it at the target, not above it as Stott would with his bow. To aim, you sight along the top of the barrel with your eye. I'm guessing the range is nothing special, which is why they use shot in the first place. Shot will spread as it comes out of the barrel so that your aim doesn't have to be perfect. That's why so many of you were injured, this is a perfect short-range crowd control weapon. The fact that you were all gathered in the camp was a bonus to the gunman as well. When you face weapons like these, your tactics will have to change or you'll be dead in short order.
"Don't think that you can protect yourself in future by wearing armor either. These stones, or the more likely lead or steel balls they will use in time will go straight through any armor you currently possess. There is armor that can stop most things fired from a gun but you won't have that for many years yet. Let's get on to loading this thing. I'll clean it out first." She looked up at the men. "After each shot there will still be bits of these bags down the barrel so we want to clean them out first."
Garia used the crude brush on the end of the ramrod to clean out the barrel as best as she was able.
"The first thing to go down the barrel, obviously, is going to be a bag of powder."
She frowned as she lifted one of the small silk cylinders up. Something wasn't clear. How did they fire these guns? She looked at the bundle of stiffened strings.
"I'm not happy about this," she said softly. "If I put one of these bags down the barrel, how do I light it?"
Keren pointed. "What about that small hole on the top? Is that where it is lit?"
"Ye-es," Garia said slowly. "In early Earth guns there would be a hole like that, but it would be bigger. You'd put powder down the barrel, usually loose, and then pour more down the hole so that you could see it on top. Then you'd light that. There would usually be some kind of trigger mechanism to press down a smouldering rope or strike a spark from flints, but this hole... I wonder, I thought these pieces of string were just for cleaning out the hole, but now, I'm thinking..." She looked up. "Can somebody find me a small piece of flat stone? About the size of your hand."
Some searching outside the camp site revealed a flake of shale suitable for Garia to use. She put it down in a clear space, near one of the gaps between the boulders, and away from the frayen. On it she laid one of the pieces of string.
"Now, we need a brand from the fire. A longish one, if you can find one."
She took the length of wood and held the smouldering end to one end of the string. Everybody watched from as far away as they could. The string caught, flared up and was consumed within a second.
"That explains it, then," she said, turning to the men. "These are what is called a fuse. They aren't often used in this kind of weapon but are used in other kinds. The fuse goes in the hole, as far as it can. When the top is lit, the flame goes down the hole and burns its way through the silk bag and ignites the powder. Got that?"
As the men nodded she pushed a piece of string into the hole as far as it would go, being careful not to force it. About half remained sticking out. Then, using the ramrod, she pushed a bag of powder down the barrel. This was followed by one of the wads.
"We use a wad because it helps wedge the powder bag against the fuse," she explained. "That way we can be sure that the gun will fire. If the fuse burned and didn't set off the powder we'd have a difficult job getting everything out again and we'd have wasted a shot. Now, we put one of the white bags full of shot down the barrel. The stones should help keep it in place, but if you used solid shot another wad would be used to stop it rolling out again."
A bag of stones followed the powder and wad.
"That's done! Now, the gun is ready to be used." She looked up at the men. "Who wants to volunteer to use it?"
"I'll do it," Keren said.
"No. If you and I are the last two people standing then, yes, you'll have your chance. But you're going to be King, we need to protect you as long as we can. If this gun misfires or explodes you'll be as dead as those over there." Garia pointed to the corpses.
Keren looked frustrated but reluctantly agreed with Garia's argument.
"Then it seems that I must step forward, milady," Feteran said. "Of those of us who remain whole I am the strongest, I deem. What must I do?"
"Pick it up and hold it like this -" Garia showed him how to hold the gun to his shoulder and aim by looking along the barrel.
"Okay," she said once she was satisfied. "Two things. We'll need a second person to stand by with a brand or a smouldering rope to light the fuse with. The man who holds the gun is in charge. Only when he says 'fire!' does the other man touch the rope to the fuse, understood? Any one of us can do that job, it doesn't need strength. The other thing is... when the gun fires, there will be a strong kick back to the person holding it. There's always a recoil when you fire a gun like this. Since nobody is familiar with how these things work you'll probably get knocked over and have a bruise on that shoulder from the kick."
"Why is that, milady?"
"It's a long explanation and we really don't have time for that right now. We've been lucky that thing hasn't returned already. Let's wait until we are somewhere else entirely, safe and secure."
Brendel asked, "Should we not try the weapon, milady, to become familiar with it? You have spare..."
"Ammunition, that will be called. No, for several reasons. One, it will scare the frayen off and possibly our large friends out there as well. Second, those ptuvil might be near enough to hear us and be attracted by the noise. Third, if the gun does go wrong, we could have more injured - or dead - and no defense. Fourth, assuming we survived the practice shot, we'd have to wait for the gun to cool before we can clean it out and reload it."
"If we are attacked, milady," Feteran asked, "where should I point this gun?"
"A good question. I wouldn't point it at the body, because the shot would probably bounce off and you'd only make it mad. Don't aim at the wings, either. That would madden it and you'd prevent it flying away, so it would just thrash around near us instead. Aim for the head. If you can manage to do it, aim down the open mouth. We're trying to destroy that thing's brain rather than wound it. If you can't go down the throat aim at the throat from underneath. That's soft tissue, if a ptuvil has such a thing. If even that's not possible try for an eye. The eye socket is weaker bone and a stone might get through into the brain."
Most of the men had gone pale at her blunt description of how they might tackle a ptuvil.
"What of the rest of us, milady?" Stott asked. "What may we do?"
"Obviously," Garia replied, "don't stand in front of the gun, unless you want your head blown off. Some of you carry lances, they are just as good if you can get close enough. The weak points are just the same, the gullet, the throat from below, the eye socket." She shrugged. "Other than that, keep out of the way and try not to get trampled by the frayen... or eaten."
"The ptuvil has not returned yet," Keren noted. "Do you think it will do so after this length of time?"
"I know nothing about those things, Keren," she replied. "Actually, you've been closer to it than I was. We don't know how far it had to go or even if it was returning somewhere! It might have eaten what it took and then decided to go fishing for all we know."
With a strict watch kept - in all directions - the company settled down to a tense wait. It had occurred to all that, despite Garia's reasoning earlier on, they could not rule out the possibility of the attackers coming back. The next time, however, they would get a completely different reception. Garia and Jenet kept the men supplied with drinks and snacks as they prepared for any possible assault.
Those not actually watching occupied some time in fitting saddles and pack harness to all their frayen, so that they could move out once the coast was clear. Since the boulders which defined the camp could not be fenced the frayen were all attached to lines and they were becoming restive. Some hadn't eaten that day since before the original attack.
The sun had moved appreciably across the sky before Stott, watching the east, gave the alarm.
"Highness! Milady! They come!"
"They?"
"I see two, commander." After a distinct pause, he added, "They are of two different sizes, sir."
Garia could see that the dranakh had already detected the flying predators and had moved out slightly, standing ready... to do what? The beasts approached and began to circle the general area. The larger one spiraled down toward the outcrop of rocks where one had landed before but the other noticed the campsite, packed with men and animals, and stooped to the attack.
The dranakh let out a ferocious roar so loud and low-toned that goose-bumps stood out on Garia that she never knew she had. The effect was immediate. The ptuvil snapped shut one wing and flipped its tail, changing direction in an instant. They watch as it climbed away in some confusion before a shriek from its mate caused it to fly over to join it at the boulders.
Garia found it hard to breathe. She tore her eyes away from the distant boulders and discovered that Keren's free arm held her in a vice-like grip. His right hand, the skin white from the pressure, held a lance so firmly she wondered if he would crush the wood. Glancing around she saw that the other men were similarly afflicted. Feteran, of course, held Jenet as firmly as Keren held her.
Now that the spell of the creatures had been broken she used her own arms to force Keren to release his grip. Startled, he looked down at her, realizing what he was doing. His grip on his lance also relaxed as he took in their position.
"Men," he said into the tense silence, "Relax! If you freeze up when those creatures are a mark away you'll be dead meat should they approach us more closely."
There was a startled sigh from the men as they noticed what they were doing. All relaxed, turning back from frozen potential prey to professional men-at-arms. Most changed their grip on their weapons, all relaxed the stance of their feet.
Since all the action had happened the other side of the distant boulders all they could see was the occasional wingtip or hear the two creatures shrieking at one another. Finally, as before, the larger one rose in the air with a corpse clutched in one rear foot and another in its mouth. The smaller one followed, similarly burdened and staggering under the load. Struggling to gain height, the two set off directly to the east, ignoring the tense camp behind them.
"I shall dine on the retelling of this adventure all my life," Feteran said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I doubt many have made such close acquantance of ptuvils as we have." He turned to the party. "Let us leave this place immediately, should they decide six are not enough. Milady, how shall this gun be carried?"
"A good point. We'll need to tie something waterproof over the muzzle and over the fuse-hole. Once we've done that it can be lashed to one of the pack animals." Garia thought. "And do the same to the other gun. It may be useless as a weapon but we can still learn from it. I want the bag of ammo - um, ammunition - wrapped up safe as well, please. Powder and water don't mix."
"As you desire, milady. Which direction should we go?"
Feteran must have had a good reason for asking such an obvious question, so Garia considered.
"Yes, that's a good idea. We'll go up to the ridge line as we originally decided. I'm not too worried we might be seen against the sky. From up there it won't be obvious how many of us are injured or how, so we'll look like a strong party. If we go that way we might get some clues how those men came here."
Feteran nodded. "And we'll have the advantage of height, milady."
Yarling asked, "Highness, Milady, what shall we do with the dead? Your man Thoran deserves the respect of a pyre but what of these others?"
"Master Yarling," Feteran replied, giving the miner a severe look, "we shall take them with us to Blackstone. We must show these people that we are better than them. If we do not, guildsman, we are all lost. There are sufficient frayen for the task, and I would not leave any, friend or enemy, to be carrion without sufficient reason."
Feteran gave Garia a measured look, then continued, "It may be possible for some in Blackstone to give names to these people. I have noticed that some wear the clothes of workmen while others are in garb more befitting those of higher status. We know that there are those in the town who did not approve of the arrival of the Baroness, though I find it difficult to believe that any would stoop to such treachery as we saw this morning."
Michen offered, "Master Yarling, I feel I ought to know two of those here slain. But we have no time to investigate further. As Commander Feteran says, we must leave this place as soon as we may."
Their gear was packed. Some of the extra frayen carried the corpses of those who had once ridden them. Each was wrapped in their waterproofs and lashed over the saddles. Most of them, even those injured, now towed two pack animals, the only exceptions being Feteran, Stott, Toranar and Brendel who each towed one. This was so they would be more easily ready for action should any problem arise. Nobody suggested going up to the larger boulders on the ridge to see if anything useful had been left behind.
The injured were helped to mount by the others before they, too, gained their saddles. Garia found that Snep relaxed as soon as she was on his back. The day had been a disturbing time for all their animals and with everybody mounted it was clear to them that they were all about to depart. Snep had had the benefit of being able to graze for longer than some of his companions but even he wanted to be far from this place before he felt safe eating again.
Stott led the column out of their camp. Behind him, the party rode in pairs with Toranar bringing up the rear. The four dranakh took up their own flanking positions, two either side. It did not take them long to reach the ridge, and when they did it was to find country no different than that behind them.
"See anything?"
"No, Highness. The grass grows too dense here to allow tracks to survive for long. We may spot droppings but if those men came over the ridge at the charge then there may not be any to find."
"As you say. Feteran, should we risk going into the next valley or should we continue along the ridge?"
"I would recommend staying up here, Highness. If we go down there we allow another to hide behind the ridge on this side. From here we can at least see both valleys."
"Of course. Stott? Carry on."
As they moved west the valleys became steeper and narrower, even if the changes were barely perceptible. Brush began to be seen both to the north and to the south. Garia was more concerned about the daylight since the sun was getting noticeably lower in the west, making it difficult to look that direction.
"Where do you think we should camp, commander?"
"If we are not delayed, milady, we should be able to reach the upper farm before the light goes. There is nobody there now but we should be able to make camp nearby. More usefully, milady, there are corrals at the farm we may use for the animals. I suspect many of them are somewhat hungry by now."
The ridge became more like the name would suggest, with steepening slopes on both sides. It appeared that this was a route often used by the farmers since the track along the crest was well-defined if overgrown. Garia looked ahead with her eyes shaded with a hand, hoping to spot the deserted farmhouse but nothing was visible. At the head of the column Stott halted and held up a hand.
"What is it, Stott?"
"Down there, milady," he replied, pointing into the other valley. "Look. Is that not a frayen, bearing a saddle?"
Garia, Keren and Feteran soon had their telescopes out, surveying the lone animal, which appeared to be just standing still near the small stream at the bottom of the valley.
"Is it from those who escaped after the attack?" Keren asked.
"It could be," Garia replied, "but it could be from one of those we killed. We didn't find them all, remember. It might be from somewhere else. It might be one of those of Trogan's men who escaped, for example."
"Who could also be among our attackers," Feteran pointed out.
"As you say. Do you think this could be a trap? Could the survivors of those men be waiting for someone to investigate?"
"Impossible to tell, milady, from this distance. If the frayen is not tethered then we may leave it for another journey. It will not go hungry in these vales."
"There's a body," Keren said suddenly. "Look to the... east, near to the stream."
"Aye, I have it, Highness." Feteran turned to Garia. "What shall we do, milady? I cannot offer you counsel in this situation."
Garia looked at Keren. "What are the risks, do you think? If it is a body, the frayen down there can carry it. If that man is still alive, though..."
"...we may be able to get some answers," he finished for her. Turning to Feteran, he said, "Send two down. If that man is dead they can bring him back. If not they may signal us down. If it is a trap, then fewer will be put at risk."
Stott and Toranar relinquished their pack animals to the others and cautiously descended the slope. It was soon apparent that the man was dead, since they could be seen rolling it over and examining it before loading it over the saddle of the loose frayen. It did not take long for them to rejoin the company.
"Milady, he is dead," Stott reported. "He is one who I shot as they departed earlier. There is an arrow wound in his back." His face changed. "And a sword thrust in his chest, milady. They deemed him too injured to continue but would not leave any behind who could talk. On the ground there were many frayen tracks and signs of a camp. They stopped here on the way back, that is certain, since I recovered the two arrows they took away when they fled. I am guessing that the other man with an arrow wound was not so badly injured as this man."
"Or was the leader of the band," Keren muttered.
"Aye, Highness. They must have pulled the arrow down there and bound the wound. The band may also have camped here before the attack also."
"If they camped down there," Garia asked, "they may never have used Blackstone Vale at all." She turned in her saddle. "Michen, is it possible to get out from this valley into Bray Vale?"
"Aye, milady, it is, although I would not care to do it often. There is a narrow canyon which reaches from there into the top of this valley. Sometimes a pakh may stray and become trapped there."
"I see," Garia said. "Let's go, we can talk about this later. The daylight's beginning to go now. There won't be a light at that farmhouse and we'd never find it in the dark."
"Aye, milady."
A little further on the trail forked and they took a route which descended to their right, back into Blackstone Vale. As twilight began to deepen the terrain started to look familiar and soon the farmhouse loomed up in front of them. No time was lost in relieving the frayen of their burdens and putting them all into the paddocks - after first checking that the fencing was secure. A fire was started to give them light and the men gathered round to prepare the evening meal. Nobody wanted to enter the deserted farmhouse, since it still held possessions and memories of the family that had so recently lived there, but the vegetable garden was raided for supplies.
With some light available Garia and Jenet insisted on checking the wounded mens' bandages, finding need to change them on two. Having completed that task they joined the others for a subdued meal. With the day's unhappy events still fresh in their minds nobody was feeling too cheerful.
"Who were those people?" Michen asked as he struggled to eat with his fork. "I did not think that what we sought had provoked such strong resistance, milady."
"There's more to it than you know, Michen," Keren said. "This is but another attempt to kidnap milady, the fourth since she came to Palarand. You may already have realized that she holds knowledge greater than any we already possessed before she came to our lands. There are others who covet that knowledge and seek to reserve it for themselves. We think that they may be of Yod, although we have no definite proof. There was an attempt to kidnap her from within the palace, a few days after she arrived, and another while we were in the crowds in the Shevesty Field celebrating the Harvest Festival with the King. On our way to Blackstone we stayed some time with my uncle in Dekarran castle, another attempt was made there during which the Baroness killed one man and Jenet injured another, who proved to be a hireling. Two more escaped, then, despite our best efforts."
"Highness, I had no idea!"
"Milady's journey to Blackstone was made in secret, with another girl returning to the palace as her double. No-one knew about her journey here but it seems we carried an agent of the enemy - for that is what they have proved to be - with us in the shape of Durko, a wagoneer of Duke Gilbanar's retinue. He must have somehow alerted confederates to mount this morning's attack."
"Which would have succeeded," Garia added, "if not for that ptuvil."
"That's not the worst of it," Keren said. "Consider, Garia, if you had not stepped in those frayen droppings! We were about to mount up and leave the camp, were we not? We would have been almost to the ridge when the attack came. The two left behind would have been slaughtered and all our pack animals captured."
"And that's the exact moment that the ptuvil would have found us," Garia finished, "exposed on that ridge." She shuddered. "I shall never think of droppings in the same way again."
The men sat in silence, considering the narrow escape they had all made.
Feteran said, "Highness, Milady, we have named one, the man Durko. Who might these others be? Where did they come from?"
Yarling stirred. "I cannot tell yet, commander, but I think that two at least are from the party of miners recently arrived at Blackstone. I wonder, did they come especially for that attack? Might there be more waiting us when we return?"
"I think," Keren said, "that one or two are directly in the pay of Yod or whoever is directing this enterprise. Others may be hirelings, not knowing the entire story but yet having reason to object to the Baroness's presence here in Blackstone." He shrugged. "We must consider all these matters when we get back to the Claw. Master Miner, I think we will be safe when we return to the town, though of course we must keep our wits about us. When we arrive back with so many draped over their beasts, the townsfolk will be in an uproar, you can be certain, and I think few will consider moving against the Baroness in those circumstances. It is also certain," he directed his gaze at Garia, "that once the King and Queen learn of this attack we will be commanded to return to the capital at once, and probably under heavy guard. This is too strong an attempt to be ignored any longer."
Garia's mouth was dry. "You're right, it is certain, isn't it?" she said. "There will be ten or so days before any letter can get back from the palace. Can we get everything we want organized in that time? I would hate to leave the place in a mess."
"Milady," Yarling told her, "you need have no fear of what you leave behind. Between myself, Bezan, Brydas and Jepp we understand what needs to be done. You would soon depart Blackstone in any event, we are well prepared."
Garia and Keren met each other's gaze.
"He is right," Keren said. "We wouldn't be here much longer should all have gone as planned. There will be time enough to settle all before we return."
"As you say. Keren, what do you think your father will do? Will he declare war, do you think?"
"On whom, exactly? He cannot name Yod simply because the Resident came to call the night before the first abduction attempt. Yod will say that there were others who resent the interference of this foreigner in Palarand's affairs and that the Ascendancy would be happy to render any assistance to the Kingdom to resolve the problem. Besides, most will see what happened today as an attack by bandits in a remote country region." He shook his head. "No cause there to declare war on anybody."
Garia's face fell. "You're right. It's easy to focus on Yod and forget that there's a whole world out there, some of whom are every bit as bad. We have nothing to go on at all, do we?" Then her face lit up. "We do have something to go on! Oh, not concerning Yod but concerning Earth. Those guns are conclusive proof that there is someone else around who came from Earth. There's no way else that a gun design like that could have been home-grown, not looking like that, and I'm the only person who could have noticed that!" Her eyes glowed as she looked at Keren. "Somewhere here in Alaesia, and probably somewhere in the Valley, there is another person like me from Earth. We must look for clues, see if we can find out where they are or what technology they have handed out that didn't come from me."
"Milady," Michen asked in a tentative voice, "if it is permissable to ask, who or what is Earth?"
"Are you tired, Master Michen?" Keren asked the guide. Michen shook his head. "Then," Keren continued, "we have time to tell you all a story before we bed down for the night. One day, in the middle of last summer, Tanon the trader was bringing a caravan through the high pass from Moxgo. Along the way..."
~o~O~o~
Garia sat in the darkness, her arms wrapped around her knees, the sky lit by the hard, bright stars. She gazed sightlessly at the embers of the fire, now just enough of a glow to reveal the camp and those sleeping around it. Not far away sat Jenet and Feteran, their bodies touching, talking together in a low murmur. Garia had noticed that Feteran's arm was curled around Jenet's hip and she was glad for them. Mostly, though, her vision was far away, re-enacting the violent events of earlier that day.
Keren came and sat down next to her, his arm automatically going around her waist, and she snuggled without thinking into his body. They sat that way for some time, savoring each other's touch, before Keren spoke.
"I thought that you might be tired out after what we faced this morning."
"So did I. I guess that little nap we took after lunch helped more than I imagined it would."
"Aye. That was somewhat of a shock, wasn't it? Two attacks, almost at the same time. We were very lucky, Garia."
"I think that ptuvil was the worst, Keren. Armed men we can always deal with. They are what happens in this world I live in now. But that creature... that was something different."
"Armed men? Even armed with guns?"
"Yes, that was an unpleasant surprise all right. But we missed all that, and in some ways I'm glad we did. We went to the one single spot in that entire landscape we could be safe from men and ptuvils. At least," she amended, "men without guns." She looked up at where his face would be in the darkness. "How are you feeling? I bet you've never faced anything like this."
"About the same as you, my love." Garia felt a glow at those last two words. "And I hope it will be a long time before I have to face either man or beast again. I'd rather face angry nobles, I think."
She twisted a smile he couldn't see. "Even nobles with guns?"
He made a grimace she couldn't see. "Garia, you see the most dangerous things in our futures, don't you? I dread the day when all may know the secrets of guns and gunpowder."
"We managed, but it took us centuries. I hope, when we get back to the palace, that we can somehow find a way to manage guns and gunpowder better than Earth did."
"Ah. You mention returning to the palace. Our greatest test lies there, I deem. I admit to some reluctance to face my father, I must confess."
"You worry too much, Keren. It is a long road back to the palace and anything can happen along the way. If you had told me before we left the palace just how we would end up traveling to Blackstone I would not have believed a word of it. Don't concern yourself over something weeks into our future, Keren. Worry about what will happen when we get back to Blackstone instead."
"Aye." His voice was sober. "The rules have changed, my love. We can no longer be two young people out on a tour of their lands. That tour ended this morning. I think you were right, earlier. We are at war, now, even though it may not be open war between countries. We have people, property and ideas to protect and we must use every means we possess to do so."
Garia put her arm around Keren's waist. "Enough, man of mine! That's talk for tomorrow or the day after. We might no longer be two young people on a tour of their lands but we're still two young people, people who have made a pledge to each other. Let's just enjoy that for a moment or two."
"Aye. This I could easily come to like."
Overhead, the stars blazed.
The company waken and continue their trek back to Blackstone. On the way back to the Ptuvil's Claw the news of what had happened goes round the town and a crowd gathers when they arrive. Now must come the tricky task of discovering, if possible, who their attackers had been.
by Penny Lane
85 - Who are these men?
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
They
had managed to circle the wagons in time, but the Indians were still
galloping round and round, occasionally firing at them with their
crossbows. The situation was desperate but the men seemed confident
that they would win in the end. After all, they had pump-action
shotguns, didn't they? All they had to do was figure out how to use
them...
Then Chewbacca shouted, saying that the dragon had come back.
Huh?
The dranakh bleated again. Garia swam up to consciousness from a very confused dream. Around her were the sounds of a camp coming to life. She untangled herself from her cloak, rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"A man comes, milady," someone said as they noticed her awaken, "riding a frayen."
Garia sat up and noticed Feteran putting his telescope to an eye.
"Easy, men," he announced, "it is one of the farmers." A little later he added, "It is the man who lived in this house, Brandar."
She was standing, pulling her clothing into some semblence of order, when Brandar rode into the camp and dismounted.
"Thank the Maker!" the farmer said. "My Lady, I did not know you had returned. I saw the smoke and thought, perhaps we had left a lamp burning or forgot to douse the fire before we departed. I feared for the farmhouse. I see now it is your camp fire." Brandar looked around, taking in the appearance of the men around the camp for the first time. "Maker! What has happened to you?"
Feteran grimaced. "As you can see, goodman, we were attacked at the head of the vale by a party of armed men. Though we have injured we are in better case than those who sought to try us." His eyes narrowed. "Have you seen any ride past your farms in recent days?"
Brandar shook his head. "None at all, my lord. Apart from your own party, that is."
"I am no lord, goodman," Feteran replied, "merely the commander of the Baroness's forces, few though we may be. So, if those who attacked us - perhaps fourteen or fifteen in number, we think - did not come this way, perhaps they came through the valley to the south. Is this possible?"
"My - uh, commander, there is no valley to the south, not here. There is merely a narrow cleft in the rock one could barely walk a frayen through." Brandar nodded thoughtfully. "It is possible to travel from Bray Vale, south of the town, through to the valley you speak of. Sometimes we must needs go that way to find an animal lost from our herds. The narrow way is usually choked with brush and the pakh become entangled in it."
Garia was joined by Keren and he entered the conversation.
"We did make a search for the last pair of Trogan's men still free but I doubt any thought to try the way our good friend here has spoken of. Suppose that they used such a place as their lair? Would not these others have joined them, since their purposes were so similar? We must examine this narrow way once we are back in town and better organized."
Feteran nodded. "Aye, Highness. Now that we know such a route is possible, I will arrange a search party to look for evidence. I doubt we will find the survivors, they will be long gone."
Brandar looked startled. "Survivors? You were not victorious?"
"We were saved by unusual fortune, goodman," Keren told him. "While we were yet at battle, a ptuvil decided to join the fray. Because of this, three escaped, of whom we later found the body of one. So, two are still at large, though I believe them no longer nearby."
"A ptuvil? Where, Highness? Are our herds in danger?"
"Right at the head of Blackstone Vale, goodman. It flew away east and returned some bells later with its mate to collect more of those it had killed. Because of the time it took I do not think it lairs anywhere nearby, but it may be well to keep your herds close to hand for some days." Keren remembered who he was speaking to and added, "But I forget, goodman. Your herds are scattered, are they not? What of your own situation? Are you well received in yonder dwelling? Must you accompany us to town with your children?"
Brandar gave Keren an embarrassed smile. "Highness, the situation is not entirely as we believed it to be. We have discovered that Brethen and I are not cousins... but brothers. It seems that Brethen's father Selmenar had a dalliance with his brother's wife Jerina, my mother, unknown to both families. Great offence was caused when it was discovered and the two families never bespoke one another again, until the day you came to us. We have resolved to combine the families and reside together in the same household." He turned to Garia. "My Lady, does this meet with your approval?"
Garia, still trying to come fully awake, considered the question for a moment until she realized what Brandar was actually asking.
"Goodman Brandar, if you can all live together, and everyone is happy with that arrangement then I have no problem with it. You're asking about the farms, aren't you?"
"Aye, My Lady. If we reside together, would we forfeit this farm? I do not know if the herds Brethen possesses are enough to keep our enlarged family."
"We-ll, seeing as some of the land will likely be eaten up by the mine workings, it might be as well to combine both holdings into one." She nodded. "I can't see that becoming a problem. Look, it's early, and I've only just woken up -"
"I beg your pardon, My Lady. I did not mean -"
"- that's all right, goodman. Let me get back to my office and I'll ask Master Jepp how we can do this. Okay?"
Brandar made a low bow. "As you command, My Lady."
Keren asked him, "Shall you break your fast with us? We have not yet eaten."
"Ah, Highness, I think it would be better if I returned. I came immediately I saw the smoke, they may not know where I have gone."
"As you wish, goodman. Once we have broken our fast and made ourselves ready, we shall call at the other farm on our way back to Blackstone."
"Then we will await your coming, Highness. If you will excuse me?"
Brandar bowed again, mounted his frayen and rode off back the way he had come. Keren turned to Garia.
"That explains the family feud, then. Hungry?"
"Of course. But first, Jenet and I must go down to the river."
"As you say. Breakfast will be waiting when you get back."
The men had dug a latrine since they were wary of using the outhouse attached to the farm. The numbers would have made the building even more unpleasant than such places usually were so they preferred to set up their own, a duty they were becoming accustomed to. Garia and Jenet paid a visit there before she walked to the edge of the stream and cleaned herself up, splashing water on her face to try and come fully awake.
When they returned to the camp Keren and Feteran silently handed them each a mug of pel. The men were busy with the usual grain porridge and Garia stood, sipping her pel, while she watched them at work. She took comfort in the fact that they were here to protect her, Keren and Jenet, but she was also disturbed by the fact that if it had not been for her wish to explore the valley none of them would have been hurt - and one killed.
"You look thoughtful this morning."
"Yes. I've had a lot to think about recently. I don't think that what happened yesterday has fully sunk in yet. I have gotten a man killed and four others injured because of a silly girl's whims." Her voice lowered. "And I watched a huge beast tear six men apart in front of me. I don't deserve any of this. You don't deserve me, none of you."
Her eyes started to run and Jenet began rummaging in her bag for a cloth. Keren reached out an arm and clutched hers, but she broke his gentle grip and turned away, aware that all the men had noticed but were studiously avoiding looking at her. Keren tried again, grabbing both arms firmly and clutching her to his chest. She resisted at first but then sagged against him, weeping.
"I've told you before," he said, "if there's one thing you are not it's a silly little girl. You are a brave, resourceful and amazing person who has done more for Palarand than anyone else I can think of. Yesterday was a shock to all of us, I admit that, few of us have seen any kind of battle before and nobody I know has ever seen a ptuvil on the ground, at least not and lived to speak of it. I admit, freely, in front of you and all these brave men that I was as frightened of what happened to us as you must have been."
Feteran spoke up and Garia turned her head to him with tear-stained cheeks.
"The Prince is right, milady. In such regions as these it is always possible to meet a wild animal but none expected a ptuvil, of all creatures. It is no shame to be frightened of any encounter with such a great beast. And none could have predicted an attack by so many armed men, though had we all been gathered at the camp I deem we would have beaten them off without their use of guns. Against guns, milady, no-one could prevail except by chance, and chance is what we had that day."
"But I brought you all out here!" Garia protested. "I'm responsible for what happened!"
"Aye, milady, and if you asked us to come here again, we would all come again. We are sworn to you, it is true, but we have all seen enough of you to know that we would do it anyway, should you but ask. You are a very rare person, milady, a noble who is worth serving. If your service requires that we give our lives to protect yours, milady, then we shall do that which is required."
There was a muttering of "Ayes" from the other men and Garia suddenly became horribly embarrassed. She buried her face in Keren's tunic, not wanting the men to see her flaming cheeks.
This is too much! I can't do this!
They are putting me on a pedestal, I can't possibly live up to expectations like that!
Keren spoke softly, so low that only she could hear.
"You have my pledge as well, my love. You are worthy of my service and you shall have it as long as either of us shall live. You are a truly special person, one who comes so rarely the last is only a legend to us. Our world needs you, my love, and it is my duty to keep you safe so that you can do your duty."
"It's too much, Keren," she wailed. "I can't live up to that!"
"You can, Garia," Keren said, raising his voice so that the others could hear. "We're still young, both growing up, and nobody expects us to be able to do things the way my father or Uncle Gil does. That comes with age and experience. We have much to learn and these fine men will make sure that we have the chance to get that experience." He smiled down at her. "We'll keep you safe."
"But... the dead and injured!"
"Would have happened eventually, whether you were involved or not, Garia. This is what life is like in Palarand. Men die, men get injured. So do women and children. In time the changes you bring will make life better for all, but this is the world you live in now, and you must accept it as I do, as the men do."
Garia was silent a while but then pushed away from Keren. He let her go and she turned to face the men.
"I'm sorry," she said to them, "I shouldn't be making scenes like this. Thank you all for your concern. I'll try to do better in future."
"Milady," D'Kenik said, "I think we would have been more concerned had you not been affected by what happened yesterday. You show yourself a liege who is thoughtful for her men and her people. Such care does not pass unnoticed."
There were more mutterings of agreement from the others. Jenet passed a cloth to Garia and she wiped her face.
"Perhaps," Keren said, "We ought to concern ourselves with breakfast."
~o~O~o~
When the long line of men and beasts reached the second farm they found a subdued reception committee, warned by Brandar what to expect. The women noticeably paled when they saw the seven frayen with bodies stretched over their saddles. Brethen approached the mounted party and bowed.
"Your Highness, Milady," he began. "Brandar told us there had been a battle... I did not know if he exaggerated or not, I see he did not. As before, you are welcome at our farm."
"Thank you, goodman," Keren replied, "but we must press on to Blackstone, for reasons which are plain to see. We will not disturb you any longer."
"They are plain to see, Highness," Brethen agreed. "Are we in any danger here? Brandar said that two escaped. And what of the ptuvil? We are used to the occasional raid by zinakh and drekhil but nothing more."
"I don't think you need worry unduly, goodman. The attackers are long vanished and wild animals do what they will. Is all well with you and your expanded household?"
"Aye, Highness," Brethen confirmed, nodding. "Brandar told you what we discovered when his family arrived?"
"That you are brothers? Aye. Such things may happen in the town as well as in the country. Do not think that any will blame you for an indiscretion which your parents shared. "
"Thank you, Highness."
"You have all settled in together?"
"Aye, Highness, though we have yet to come to terms with having so many in the house." Brethen paused, licking his lips. "With both families become one, Highness, it seems to me that our choices have changed. If we may reside away from the mining works then we could build a larger house from which to run the combined farm. Would Her Ladyship consent to us dwelling elsewhere on her lands?"
Garia thought briefly. "I don't know the rules or customs, Brethen. For myself, I have no objection, but let me talk to Master Jepp when we get back to Blackstone." She gave Brethen a knowing look. "If we do this right, you might be able to get the miners to contribute towards your new farmhouse."
A startled Brethen stood back, thinking.
"I hadn't thought of that, My Lady. I give you thanks for your suggestion."
She smiled at him. "Any time, goodman. And now, we must go and leave you in peace."
"Fare you well, Highness, Milady."
The company pushed on down the valley. Garia now wanted to get back to the Ptuvil's Claw as fast as possible. There was certain to be an uproar when they arrived, and besides, neither she nor Jenet had washed properly for three days. She wanted a bath. They continued following the path beside the small river towards the gorge which offered their way out. Feteran examined the high rocks ahead with care.
"Worried they might be up there, commander?"
"Unlikely, milady, but without scouting either side from above we cannot tell. I wonder, since this is the obvious place for an ambush, why they did not choose it. Why wait until we were in a defended place instead?"
Michen answered from nearby. "Commander, I'll wager that few in that band was familiar with these remote lands. Seeking to remain secret from the townspeople, they would not choose this way since all knew there were farms nearby."
"Those two men of Trogan's would have known about this place," Keren objected.
"True, Highness, but they would also have known about the farms. Those men would wish to remain undiscovered themselves by the townspeople. But I deem that even those men would have known little of the lands beyond the farms."
Feteran said, "Then what you are suggesting is that most of these men are strangers in Blackstone, unfamiliar with its lands. That makes sense, Highness, Milady."
Garia shrugged. "As you say. It wouldn't be the townspeople, would it, because there were only a few who objected to the new order of things after we arrived. It had to be foreigners, of which we have had a few lately."
"Let's get back to the Claw," Keren said. "This speculation is without answer until we can identify some of these men."
The company threaded its way through the gorge and came out at the top end of the reservoir, walking alongside the water until they reached the dam. Looking down at the foot of the dam they noticed a group of riders who looked up at hearing them appear. Garia could see the upturned faces of two women and four men, all dressed in House Blackstone colors.
"Merry?"
"Garia! You're back! How was your trip?"
Garia shouted down, "Come up! We've had problems."
The party below urged their mounts up the steep valley slope until they stood on the aqueduct in front of Garia's company. They were Merizel, Sukhana, Briswin, Tedenis, Brazan and Frando.
Brazan saluted to Garia. "Well met, milady." His eyes narrowed as he took in the line of bandaged riders and those frayen with other loads. "What has happened?"
"We were attacked almost at the head of the valley," Garia explained. "Fourteen, maybe fifteen men, most with swords but two with weapons that had to come from somewhere else entirely. The attack was beaten off but we have injuries, as you can see. Two got away."
Brazan had counted the frayen with cargo. "There are only seven bodies, milady. And I do not see Thoran."
"Thoran is one of the bodies, Brazan," Keren said shortly. "And the other attackers... were eaten by a ptuvil."
"A what?" That was Merizel, her face turning pale. "Are you serious, Highness?"
"The beast was less than ten paces in front of us, Merry," he replied. "I am very serious. We were lucky to escape with our lives, those who remain."
"Merry," Garia broke in, "We can tell you all about it when we get back to the Claw. We'll have a lot to talk about, this is going to have huge implications." She looked at the slope, doubt in her expression. "Feteran, do you think the wounded can get down there?"
"No, milady, not with those wounds, unless we had no other way. Think you to take the broad path back and walk down through the town?"
"It would be safer, don't you think? And it will alert the townspeople to the facts better than any rumor could. Merry, Sookie, go back the way you came, please, and warn everyone that we'll be coming in. I'm sorry to have interrupted your ride. Sookie, can you get some bath water started, please? I don't care how near lunchtime it is, I just have to have a clean-up and I bet Jenet is the same."
"As you desire, milady," Sukhana said. "What will you do with the... bodies?"
"We'll lay them out in the yard," Keren told her. "One is Thoran, who perished defending our camp. The others are yet unknown to us. We thought to have the townspeople come and attempt to identify them before we burn them."
Sukhana nodded. "As you desire, Highness. And with so many animals as well... we'll lay them out under my windows."
Garia said, "As soon as we've unloaded these faithful creatures we'll turn them out into the paddocks, Sookie. Their diet has been a bit interrupted the last couple days, they need to fill their bellies in peace."
"Aye, milady. We'll go back, then." She paused, halfway through turning her mount. "I suppose this means you'll be departing soon, then?"
Keren sighed. "Aye, Sookie, I think father will want us home as soon as he finds out about all this. Still, that will take eight to ten days and we weren't planning to be here much longer." He flicked a hand. "We can talk about that this afternoon. Garia wants a bath, and I believe I might want one as well, once the women have finished."
"As you desire, Highness."
"We'll see you shortly," Garia said. "Brazan, everything okay while we were gone?"
"Aye, milady. These two boys are developing fine." He gestured to Tedenis and Briswin who both looked suitably solemn.
"Alert the others," she instructed. "We might get a crowd round the Claw when people see what we're bringing in."
"Aye, milady."
Brazan saluted and then turned, leading the two women and their escorts carefully back down to the valley floor. Garia and Keren watched until they were safe at the bottom before resuming their ride along the top of the covered aqueduct to the upper end of town. When they reached the clear area in front of the cistern there was a wave from the two men keeping watch on the roof. Soomit and Chinnar came down quickly once they realized the situation.
"Highness, milady." Both saluted. "You have injured," Chinnar said, "...and dead! What has happened? Is there any threat to the town?"
Garia answered, "Everything is okay, as much as it will ever be. We were attacked at the far end of the valley so the town should be safe. Have you had any trouble here?"
They both shook their heads. "No, milady, no trouble," Soomit replied, "but we are told some of the miners' men have disappeared."
Garia and Keren looked at each other.
"Perhaps it is as we thought," he said. "Some of our attackers came with the mining teams."
Behind the two armsmen miners and workmen were beginning to collect from the workings beyond the town, drawn by the unexpected activity. They stood in silence as the company appeared around Garia and Keren, some frayen carrying bandaged men and some carrying what were obviously bodies. Keren eyed the growing crowd thoughtfully.
"Best we say nothing yet," he decided. "Let us get to the Claw and freshen ourselves up first. There will be time for inquests and accusations later."
Yarling added, "Aye, Highness. If miners are among those we brought back stretched over saddles there will be hard questions asked." He set his jaw. "And I will do the asking!"
Garia and Keren led the procession down the main street toward their center of operations at the Ptuvil's Claw. Some townspeople, forewarned by the inevitable rumor mill, gathered silently on the sidewalks to watch the procession pass. There were one or two gasps when they saw the bandages some were wearing. Brydas hurried out from his workshop, wiping oily hands on a rag.
"Trouble." The single word seemed to describe everybody's mood fairly accurately.
"Aye, Master Smith," Keren confirmed. "Join us after lunch, we have much to discuss." He added, "Alert the healers, if you would. We have injured, some quite badly. Master Michen is the worst."
"Aye, Highness. Is there danger to the town?"
"We don't think so. Two escaped, we believe that they flee elsewhere. The town is likely safe."
Brydas nodded. "As you say, Highness. I'll send runners for the healing women. Is four all your injured?"
Keren sighed. "Physically, yes, though we have all had a fright." He eyed the smith. "There is something else, though, that should not be spoken of in public. It concerns your craft and a new weapon."
"Ah?" His eyes flicked to Garia. "From somewhere else entirely, perhaps?"
"You have it, Master Smith. Say no more presently."
There was a sizeable crowd gathered around the Claw by the time the company reached it. Garia gazed over their heads and made a decision as they turned into the carriage entrance, but the reception committee pushed her decision to the back of her mind. Lined up waiting were Bleskin, Merizel, Sukhana, Lanilla and Jasinet. Garia pulled Snep out of the stream of riders and slid from the saddle.
The old captain saluted. "Milady, you have tasted battle."
Garia's eyes filled. "Captain, there was a battle! And I ran away!"
Bleskin regarded her carefully. "You have said, milady, that you had no business in any pitched battle. I do not blame you for refusing it, you are young... and still a woman, whatever your martial qualities."
Garia shook her head. "No, captain! They were after me! They said, to kill all the others. Even Keren and Jenet!" In a lower tone she added, "They nearly did, too. They only failed because Stott was with us and because a ptuvil joined in."
"A ptuvil? Maker!"
"A chance encounter, captain," Keren said as he joined them. "I was with Garia, Jenet and Feteran when the attack happened. We were out of the camp by chance. We'll tell you all about it later on, you'll need to hear all the details."
"As you say, Highness." Bleskin studied the succession of frayen bearing bodies. "It seems to me that not all who ventured forth with you have returned."
Keren's face fell. "No, captain, they did not. Thoran fell defending the camp."
"Aaaah. He was a good man." He nodded abruptly. "Well. It seems I have an eulogy to perform when he goes to the pyre. What of these others? Your attackers?"
"Some." Bleskin's eyes flickered as Keren added, "It was not a classic battle, captain. We'll tell all later, but milady desires, most urgently, to enter the bath house, and I will follow her as soon as it becomes convenient." He eyed the apparent chaos in the yard." I suspect that may be some time yet."
In the yard servants and armsmen took orders and began to strip all the animals of their loads as soon as they were able, leaving only a loose halter on each before taking them out to one of the rear paddocks. Garia spoke to Keren briefly before both headed for the stair to the mens' dormitory. Keren checked the big room was in a presentable state before both walked through to the front balcony.
"It's your town," he said. "Are you in any condition to talk to your people?"
"I'll manage, Keren." Garia leaned over the railing at the crowd, now augmented by those who had followed them down the street.
"Men and women of Blackstone!" she called out. "We were attacked at the far end of Blackstone Vale by a party of armed men. There might have been fourteen or fifteen of them. One of the Prince's men was killed and four of our other men were injured. Twelve of the attackers were killed, though we could only recover six bodies. We know two have escaped. We managed to win out by sheer chance. We're tired and filthy and those with injuries are in pain. You'll excuse us while we get ourselves cleaned up and fed.
"We've brought back six bodies of our attackers and want to see if you can identify any of them. We'll lay them out in the yard after lunch and we want as many as possible to have a look at them. One or two have nasty injuries of a kind you won't have seen before and it might make it difficult to find out who they are. Sometime later, probably tomorrow, we'll come back out here and give you all an update on what happened and what we plan to do next. Thank you."
Back in the yard Garia was approached by Sukhana.
"Milady, the healers want use of the water to tend the wounded," she explained. "I think you will all wish to make use of the bath house but there is yet insufficient water for all. As lunch is now ready, will you not eat first? That would permit us time to boil more water for all to bathe."
Garia sighed. Having worn the same clothing for three days she wished to strip off at the earliest opportunity but the injured obviously had a higher priority.
"As you wish, Sookie," she said. "Let us go and wash our hands and faces first, please. I can't eat with dirty hands unless there is no choice."
Sukhana and her helpers had a large task to provide lunch for the new arrivals since there had been no warning, but since it was only the normal number who would have been in the Ptuvil's Claw there was food available. Everybody sat quietly in the common room eating and drinking, except for the four wounded. Healers took these off one by one to Garia's office, which they were using as a temporary aid station. These men were conducted to the bath house to have their wounds cleaned and then dressed again in fresh strips of linen.
It seemed that Garia's original prompt action and attention to detail had saved the men from any significant permanent damage, although all would bear scars the rest of their lives. The healers declared that Michen's arm could be mended, since the bone had merely been broken in several places, rather than completely shattered as originally feared. However, recovery would be slow and damage to muscle and ligament meant that he would only ever regain limited use of that arm.
"My Lady," one of the healers asked her, "what caused such wounds as these? We have not seen the like before."
Garia put down her mug, opened her mouth and then closed it again. How could she describe what a high-velocity projectile would do to a body, to people who knew nothing faster than an arrow? She looked at Keren for help.
"A new type of weapon, mistress," he told the woman. "I can only tell you that a small object, such as a stone or metal pellet, strikes with great force and makes these wounds by traveling deep into the body. The stone or pellet must be removed from the bottom of each wound since, milady tells us, it will cause the wound to fester and great damage can be done to the body."
"Indeed, Highness. But... some of these men have several such wounds."
"Aye. The weapon's action is like that of a handful of gravel thrown at the victim, but with much greater violence. Some may strike the victim, some may strike another nearby. Most of the violence of the shot was taken by Thoran, who died immediately. These others were mere bystanders."
"Highness, I cannot imagine what kind of evil may do as you describe. A sword thrust is bad enough, but this..."
"I regret, mistress, that you will see more wounds such as this in the future, unless I am greatly mistaken. The healers among us must needs discover ways of treating such injuries."
The woman curtseyed. "As you say, Highness. I wish it were not so. If you will excuse me, I will return to the others."
As the woman reached the rear door to the common room one of the serving boys came in and approached their table.
"Highness, Milady, Brazan asks to tell you there is a press of people at the carriage entrance. What shall he do?"
Garia said, "Tell him we'll be right out and to keep them out of the yard."
"As you command, milady."
"What's going on?" Merizel asked as the boy ran outside again.
"Since we want to find out how fifteen people suddenly appeared near our camp and we have no idea who any of them are," Garia explained, "I asked the townspeople to come and see if they could identify the bodies. Some are only here out of curiosity but we may get some leads. Let's finish our lunch and get outside. Feteran, I don't think we want a huge crowd in the yard, do we? We'll let them inside in batches of ten or so and that will give us a chance of managing the situation."
"As you say, milady. There is still much tackle and traveling gear in the yard, I do not want any to tamper with it." He remembered what some of that cargo was and continued in a lower tone, "Milady, what of the guns? We should remove them before any see them."
"You're right. Bring them in and put them in my office for now, out of sight. I'm assuming the healers will have finished?"
"Aye, milady, Master Michen was the last and he comes in now."
"Good. Let's go, then."
"Guns?" Bleskin asked. "Are these the same devices you have mentioned in council, milady?"
"They are, captain, a very crude version of such a weapon but still deadly enough. It was a single shot from a gun that killed Thoran and caused all the other injuries. I want you and Brydas to join us when we examine the guns, if you would."
"Of course, milady! I may have retired but that does not mean my knowledge and interest of such matters is ended. I am curious to see what these devices look like."
Keren said, "You haven't yet drawn the conclusion Garia did, captain. She informs us that she did not tell anybody how to make these weapons, therefore there must be another here from Earth, working for our enemies."
Bleskin's eyes widened as he understood the implication. "But that means -"
"Aye." Keren nodded. "Such weapons are no longer secret in Alaesia. We must adjust our policies accordingly."
Outside in the yard Feteran located the guns, still partly wrapped in case of damp or rain, and had them carried into Garia's office. Then they began allowing the townspeople to enter in small groups to view the bodies. It soon became clear that two of the bodies belonged to workers from the miners' camp. The gangmaster of the mining camp confirmed their names when he was summoned.
"Aye, Highness, these are two of my men. Jerren and Koltar, they were called. A bad business, it was. A whole group of men suddenly up and left night before last, stealing frayen and supplies as they went. We didn't know what to think, the work is almost the easiest they have ever done and the conditions are good. We thought maybe they had gone back to Tranidor. Tell me, Highness, have you seen more? Six went missing that night."
"We probably saw the rest of them, gangmaster, but what became of them we do not know." Keren didn't want to mention ptuvil snacks just then. He had a thought. "Tell me, gangmaster, did you contract these six together? Or were these just casual hires? Do you remember?"
"Ah, Highness, most of the men are provided by the miner's Guild Hall in Tranidor. But now that you mention it, the six we speak of did seem to know each other already." The man shrugged. "That is not uncommon, Highness. Miners who become friends often move in groups from one contract to the next. Do you wish me to find out for you how and where these men were hired?"
"No, that won't be necessary, gangmaster, though I thank you for your offer. You know that we will be leaving Blackstone in a week or two to return south so we will make our own inquiries when we pass through Tranidor."
"As you desire, Highness. What will happen to these two bodies now?"
"We will probably commit them to the fire tonight or tomorrow evening, I think, once we have their story and all have been given names. Why?"
"The men who departed have left personal effects behind them in the camp, Highness."
"Oh? Could you collect them and bring them down here? They may provide us clues as to what is behind this whole business. You will have them back once we have examined what you bring."
"As you wish, Highness. Uh, Highness, what of the frayen these men stole? Do you have any of them with you or are they lost?"
"We did catch some of those mounts, gangmaster. Can you identify them?"
"Aye, Highness. I have the tally-boards in the camp, I can match the brands before witnesses if there is need."
"Fetch your boards and you may have your animals back, gangmaster."
"Thank you, Highness. I will return presently." The man bowed and departed.
Garia and Keren were next approached by a weatherbeaten man who said, "Your Highness, My Lady, I believe I know one of these laid out here."
"And you are?"
"Your pardon, Highness, I am Lorkan. I work for Master Bezan at the new road house in the forest. I am presently in Blackstone to obtain certain supplies we are short of, from Master Smith whom I see yonder. Hearing the commotion I came in here to find Warsel one of the bodies. What has he done?"
Keren gave the man a brief summary of the attack and then asked, "This man, Warsel did you name him? What task did he have at the roadhouse? When did you discover him gone?"
"Highness, he was a woodcutter employed bringing down the trees around the site and cutting them up with saw, adze and ax. He was good at his work, too. As to when we last saw him," the man scratched his head, "ah, that would be day before yesterday, Highness. I remember, there was a wagonload came through from Tranidor for the miners, they stopped at the site for a pee and a brew, as you do, and we all got talking. I don't know what was said but the wagon went off and that was the last time I remember seeing Warsel. I don't think he went with the wagon, we'd have noticed that. He often has to go deeper into the forest looking for firewood so we didn't think it strange he wasn't around until he couldn't be found yesterday morning."
"Has this man personal belongings at the road house, do you know? Are there others who disappeared the same day?"
"Not that I know of, Highness." The man grinned. "We don't own much, most of us, and what we get soon goes again, don't it? As to others, no, we did a count up after we noticed Warsel gone and there's no-one else who isn't there."
"Thank you, Lorkan, for naming this man for us."
"It is only my duty, Highness. If these men caused death and injury it is the duty of all to assist."
"Lorkan," Garia asked, "this wagon that passed through. Did you recognize anyone on it?"
"Why, yes, My Lady. It is one of those which goes regular like between Blackstone and Tranidor, carrying the ore. The wagoneer's name? I don't know that I ever knew it, My Lady. Everybody knew him as 'Sopo'. But I don't think any mother would name her child after a tiny rodent, would you?"
"Perhaps not, but you never know. Thank you again, Lorkan."
Garia was wondering if she could make a break for the bath house when a woman from the town came over to them.
"Highness, milady, one of these is a man of Trogan's."
"What? Show us."
She took them and pointed to a body.
"That is he. I'd know that evil face anywhere. He is one of those you didn't catch, I think."
"Is that so? Then the other may also be here. Did you look at all?"
"I did, Highness, but he was the only one I could recognize. There are two with battered faces... Highness, what happened to those men? Were they attacked by wild animals, perhaps? I do not think it is possible to discover who those two might be, except perhaps by their clothes."
"It would be difficult to explain the circumstances of their deaths, mistress. It was... something unusual, you need not concern yourself further. But you can name this other man?"
"Aye, Highness. I think he was the one called Vordan. Many in the town would know him."
"Thank you, mistress. Master Brydas is here, perhaps he will confirm the name."
Keren beckoned the smith over and showed him the body.
"Aye, Highness, that is he. If the other of Trogan's men who fled is also here, we may have solved an old mystery."
Brydas moved along the row of bodies but found nothing. He returned shaking his head.
"Master Brydas," Garia asked the smith, "can you find Sethan and get him down here? It occurs to me that he might be able to confirm the identification. Better, he might be able to tell us if any of Trogan's frayen are among those we rounded up."
"Yes, milady, a good idea." He smiled. "Sethan is in my workshops presently, helping my journeymen make steel. We are using the special oven Master Parrel sent you, Sethan is proving a willing worker at the making of coke. I shall send a runner for him."
Brydas looked again at the row of bodies and then his gaze fixed upon their feet. Turning, he beckoned a boy standing nearby and sent him running off with a message before looking at Garia and Keren.
"Highness, Milady, I think I may have discovered another. Look at the boots these people wear."
The boots of the two miners were scarred and stained, made from leather so heavy that it might easily have been dranakh hide. The woodcutter, Warsel, also had heavy boots as befitted his trade but calf-length. Durko and Vordan had short boots which were tough but lighter, made of a finer leather, the sort a wagoneer might prefer. The footwear of the sixth body was altogether different, carefully cut and fitted and maintained to a high polish. The face of this man had the left side blown away, the right side a twisted ruin.
"A townsman," Keren stated.
"Aye, Highness, and one who is practised in the care of footwear. I believe this to be our shoemaker."
Garia caught on quickly. "You've sent for his wife, haven't you? What are we going to do when she gets here?"
"Why, show her the body, milady... ah. She has no love for any here, has she? She will blame you for all."
"Yes, and we need to question her. She might be the one person we can get information out of."
"Milady, once we convince her that you did not kill her husband, she might be more ready to co-operate." He gave Garia a stare. "Milady, your men did not kill him, did they?"
"No, Brydas," she sighed. "He and another man were using one of the new weapons -" she lowered her voice, "- and it malfunctioned." Brydas looked blank. "Um, it didn't work the way it was supposed to. You remember, when we ran the steam engine, I explained how it might explode? That's what happened to the weapon and it blew the faces off the two men using it. They died instantly."
Brydas let out a whistle. "Maker! Such damage." He looked at Garia and Keren. "There is more?"
"Later, Master Smith," she said, "but I'll tell you now that there was a second weapon that didn't malfunction. It killed Thoran and injured Michen and three of the men. We have both weapons."
Sethan arrived first, looking a question at Brydas, who gestured at the row of corpses.
"See if you can name any of these, lad."
Sethan crouched by each body, looking at the faces carefully and then stood, facing the group.
"Sir, this one is Vordan. Was he of the party that attacked the Prince and the Baroness?"
"Aye, lad, he was. Is the other that escaped with him among these others?"
"Kasmar, you mean? No, sir. None look like he, although it is difficult to tell when two have ruined faces."
He looked a question at Brydas who just shook his head.
"Never mind, lad. You have named Vordan, that's what we wanted. Now, I am told that milady's party captured many frayen that the attackers were riding. They are presently in the paddocks behind. Could you identify those which you, Vordan and Kasmar were using?"
Sethan nodded. "Surely, sir. I could not forget those brand marks so easily. Do you wish me to find them now?"
"Aye, lad, if you would."
Garia added, "Don't bring them out, just let us know if they are there. We didn't round them all up, so you might not find all of them."
Sethan bowed. "As you say, milady. If you would give me leave."
He bowed and then walked out the back entrance, just as the shoemaker's wife came in at the front. She marched over to stand in front of the group, puzzled as to why she had been summoned.
"Highness, Milady, I am come. Have we done aught wrong? The fine was paid but two days ago. Is the coin not to your satisfaction?"
Keren asked her, "Milady, where is your husband? Why does he not attend with you?"
"Your Highness, why, he is in Tranidor by now!" She gave them a fierce and angry stare. "Since we did not have the coin to pay the fine we must needs borrow. My husband has gone to Tranidor with our eldest son to sell enough to repay the debt." She looked wildly around, noting the disarray in the yard. "If I may ask, Highness, what is your business with me? What has happened here?"
Brydas said, "Mistress, did you not know? Prince Keren and Baroness Garia have just returned from a journey to the head of Blackstone Vale. Once there they were beset by a band of brigands and there were many deaths and injuries." He gestured to the row of bodies. "They have asked us in the town whether any can identify these rogues."
"I knew they had left town, but... not where they were bound, it is not my business."
I'll bet, Garia thought. She probably knew what underwear I had on!
The woman continued, with an expression of distaste, "You want me to look at these bodies? Have you not asked others to do this unpleasant task? What can I, a woman, tell you that the men of the town cannot?"
Brydas replied blandly, "We have asked many, mistress, and received several answers. To make all clear we wish as many as possible to see if these are known to them." He added, "I must warn you, mistress, that two have bad injuries to their faces. You might know them by the cut of their clothes however, or perhaps they have had boots repaired by your husband. Any little clue you may provide, will assist us in this unwelcome task."
Clever. He's trying to get on her good side by telling her she'll be helping us. Unfortunately...
The woman scowled. "As you wish, Master Smith. Which end shall I begin? Here?"
Brydas shrugged. "Do as you will, mistress. Take whatever time you need."
She turned back the sheet and shook her head. "Don't know this one. Looks like a farmer or a woodsman to me." She moved on. "I know this one! He worked here for milady, didn't he?"
Garia nodded. "Yes, mistress. That's Durko. He was their spy, the one who knew where we were going and when. What about these others?"
"A spy?" Despite herself, she was interested in what had happened. "These were not merely brigands, then?" The woman moved to the third body. "Not this one, no. What happened to his face? Were you attacked by wild animals?"
"Aye, mistress," Keren reluctantly agreed. "Wild animals were most certainly involved."
The woman glanced up sharply at his tone but lowered the sheet and moved on.
"Ah! This man, he was one of Trogan's men. Vordan was his name, and I would swear to that."
"Thank you, mistress," Brydas said. "Another has confirmed that name as well. He is one less the town has to worry about."
"As you say, Master Smith." The woman lifted the next sheet and recoiled. "Urgh! The face! I cannot..."
Her voice trailed off as she noticed the clothes for the first time. She gave a scream and sank to her knees at the foot of the body, her hands to her face.
"Chorandar! It cannot be!"
With some speed the woman stood and faced the group, her face livid with anger. "What have you done, milady? How is this possible? Was he attacked along the road? What could cause such injuries? Where is Perril, our son?"
Garia had expected some kind of outburst and opened her mouth to reply, but a cry of anguish came from behind her.
Oh, shit. I completely forgot Jasinet. What do I do now?
Garia has a tricky family problem to sort out when Jasinet's father is found amongst the dead brigands. Then, her mother must be gently questioned to find out who these people were. Later, possible threats to Blackstone must be considered.
by Penny Lane
86 - The Widow's Tale
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
Garia
turned, attempting to keep both Jasinet and her mother in view. Big
problem! She had forgotten completely that both her junior maids
would be standing there behind her. When Brydas had identified the
body with the badly-damaged face as being that of the town's
shoemaker, she had forgotten that he was also Jasinet's father.
And that her mother, the wife of the deceased, had beaten Jasinet so badly that Garia had been obliged to levy a stiff fine.
And that Jasinet wanted very little to do with her mother ever again.
The maid took one step forward, hesitantly, looking at Garia for guidance.
"Do what you must," Garia said. "We'll be here when you need us."
Jasinet ran as far as Garia's side and then stopped, because her mother was still facing Garia, Keren and Brydas with anger in her eyes.
"Mistress," Keren said firmly, "we have not traveled the road to Tranidor at all. Your husband likely did not either, whatever he may have told you. Nor did we have any part in his death, though for his part he tried very hard to cause the death of all in our party."
"What say you, Highness?" the woman demanded. "He is dead! How else can it be but by your hand? We sought only to better ourselves, as any must. Is this what Blackstone can expect under the new rule?"
Keren spread his hands wide. "Explain, mistress, if you will, what weapon caused the injury to your husband's face. It is certainly none that we carried with us. This calamity befell him by his own hand, mistress. Our camp was attacked by fourteen or fifteen, we were but twelve. They carried strange instruments with them none had seen before. One such instrument killed Guardsman Thoran outright and injured four others. The other instrument failed and killed those who held it. Your husband was one of those, mistress."
The first sign of uncertainty flickered over the woman's face. She turned her head to look at the ruined face of the man she had been married to.
"But I thought... wild animals, you said."
"While the attack was yet happening, a ptuvil decided to join in," Keren explained. "Strange as it may seem it is the only reason any of us are left alive. The ptuvil did not touch your husband, mistress, he was already dead when it came to us."
"This cannot have been my husband," she said, although there was uncertainty in her tone. "He told me that he was going to Tranidor, as I have related to you. There could be brigands along the road, it is true, but... what you describe is treason, Highness! A guardsman killed? Chorandar would never be party to such matters!"
Jasinet ran round her mother and knelt at the side of her father, examining what remained of his features. She bowed her head, resting her hands on his body. Her mother turned, perhaps to try and remove Jasinet, but thought better of it. Slowly, the full horror of her situation was beginning to unfold on her. She looked up at Garia and Keren.
"What of Perril? Where the father went, so did the son. Where is he? If he is dead, his body is not here."
"We were not able to recover all the bodies, mistress," Keren explained gently. "The ptuvil -"
The woman looked horrified and began to scream, but the scream was cut off as her eyes rolled into her head and she slumped to the ground. Jasinet scrambled up and went to her mother, cradling her head.
"Milady! What..."
"I think she's just fainted, Jasinet," Garia told her. "She'll be all right if we can get her somewhere quiet. What about you?"
Keren called for a healer and some hands to lift the woman.
A distraught Jasinet replied, "Milady, it is too much. Father is dead and Perril is gone." She began weeping over her mother's body.
Two of the men came and lifted Jasinet's mother, carrying her gently into the common room. Jasinet climbed unsteadily to her feet and was clasped by Garia in a gentle embrace. Garia felt that her natural reaction to do so was right, but it still felt odd consoling an older girl.
"Let's go into my office," she suggested. "That way we won't cause any problems when your mother revives. Lanilla, ask someone in the kitchen to make us some pel, please."
Garia led the way into her office and made a reluctant Jasinet sit down. Maids didn't sit down in the presence of their betters but the other girl obviously had more serious matters to worry about. Keren took a look from Garia and made himself scarce, so it was only women in the room to share Jasinet's tragedy and comfort her.
Garia, Merizel, Jenet, Lanilla and Sukhana stayed with Jasinet for nearly half a bell as the young maid began to accept what had happened to her family. Eventually she asked to see her father's body again.
"You are sure? We can delay if you need more time."
"I am sure, milady. I must make sure it is he."
"Did you want to go back to your family? There is only your mother now."
Jasinet gave Garia a brave smile. "I would not, milady. I am sworn to your service and I made my choice then. You are my family now."
Merizel scolded, "She won't go back to her mother, Garia! Not after the beatings she received. She knows that she is in better hands now."
"Even so, the situation has changed, hasn't it? I would release her from her oath if that was what she wanted."
"Milady," Jasinet said, "I could never return to my mother's care, not after how she treated me. An oath is an important thing to make and I intend to keep mine."
"Very well, but I have your mother to think about as well. Let's go outside."
The women gathered at the foot of the shoemaker's body and looked down at it. Jasinet carefully checked it over, recognizing the clothes and footwear but staying away from the ruined face.
"It is he," she said simply. "Milady, how did he die? Did you see it happen?"
"I didn't, I'm afraid," Garia said. "This band of men came down the hill and attacked our camp, but some of us weren't there at the time, we were down by the stream at the bottom. We hid, hoping they wouldn't see us, but that means we didn't properly see what happened. If you really insisted one of the men might have seen your father die and tell you but it was a strange thing, so strange they might not be able to describe it in a way you'd understand."
"As you say, milady. What of Perril? Did he die at the same time?"
"Well, those of us down at the stream were eventually seen and six men chased us along the stream bed. We saw some rocks we hoped to use for cover but they followed us up to them. Just as they charged, the ptuvil came down and flattened the whole lot of them. Some were killed immediately, others had their guts ripped out or had many broken bones. We left them for the ptuvil to finish off, because we wanted to get back to the camp, help the others."
"Ah, I understand, milady. So it is possible that Perril was one of those six, then."
"It's possible, though we didn't recognize anybody." Garia thought. "Do you know what your brother would likely have been wearing? Remember, as far as anyone in the town knew, he would have been traveling to Tranidor."
"I regret, milady, I do not. My mother would know, though."
The women turned as one to look at the door into the common room.
Garia said to Jasinet, "Do you want to come in with us? You can stay away if that would prevent any problems."
Jasinet hesitated. "I'll come, milady, but if I may have leave to depart..."
"Of course you may. Come on, then."
Inside the common room Jasinet's mother was slumped in a chair with arms that Bleskin usually sat in. Standing beside her were two of the healer women who Garia had seen earlier treating the men. They curtseyed as she approached.
"Milady, she is recovering well. We have given her something to quieten her, she has had a great shock." The healer noticed Jasinet and nodded. "Daughter, you have lost your father and brother. Do you wish anything to help you through this time?"
"Thank you no, Mistress Lendra. My Lady and her retinue have given me much comfort. If I have such need in time I will know where to come for it."
"When do you think we can speak to her?" Garia asked the women. "She may be the only person who can help us find out what happened."
"You had best wait until after the evening meal, milady. Such a cruel blow may take some time to accept." The woman eyed Garia. "Milady, I know she bears you no good will. Must you question her? She may be reluctant to offer anything to you."
"It appears that her husband and son were two of those who attacked our camp. We need to find out who sent those men and why at least two men from the town decided to join them. We did not kill either of them. I'm hoping that once she understands that she may be more co-operative."
The healer nodded. "An unpleasant business, milady. To know that there are those in the town who dislike you, that I cannot understand, though I knew that such existed. To take arms against you! It is not surprising that Mistress Sandara is so distraught, to be associated with any such."
"Yes," Garia agreed. "Her whole world has collapsed, hasn't it? Though we dislike each other I'm still responsible for her and for the town so I'll have to tread carefully. But we have to find out who is behind it all."
"As you say, milady. I would suggest that you let her rest for some bells more before speaking to her."
Garia thought. "That's fine. Perhaps I can go and get myself cleaned up while we wait." She turned. "Sookie?"
"Ah, milady." Sukhana looked embarrassed. "We were closeted with Jasinet, so His Highness decided not to waste the abundant hot water..."
"What! You're saying he snuck in before me?"
"Just so, milady. You must needs wait until he has completed his bath."
"Well..!" Garia resigned herself to the inevitable. "I guess he hasn't had a wash any sooner than I have, so I'll let him off this time. Come on, girls," she beckoned to her maids, "let's go upstairs and unpack the bags we took away."
Garia thanked the healers and then went upstairs to spend some time sorting out her clothes. She took the time to select something to wear after her bath, something different this time, something softer, more comfortable to wear while wandering around the Claw. Less than half a bell after reaching her rooms a servant girl came up to tell them that the bath house was now clear.
"Ah, good! Who's going to come in with me? I know Jenet wants to scrub off the dirt of the journey, how about you others?"
"If it please you, milady," Jasinet offered, "We bathed this morning, not knowing when you would return. We will enter with you if you wish, but it will soon be time to prepare for the evening meal so it may be better if we kept ourselves ready."
"Quite right, too. I'm being selfish again, aren't I, dragging you into the tub whether you need it or not. Jenet and I will go, then, by ourselves." Garia smiled. "After all, it's only what we did in the palace. Help us take off these filthy clothes, please."
Garia and Jenet scrubbed themselves clean and then returned to their room where the others helped them dress. Garia wore this time a more formal, long-length gown of her favorite green with wide elbow-length sleeves. The cleaning-up and the fresh clothes combined to lift her mood so that by the time they were ready to descend for the evening meal she was smiling again.
"I meant to ask you two," she said to her two younger maids as they walked down the stairs, "how did you manage to get house colors so quickly? I haven't seen anyone else in the town wearing these greens so I thought there wasn't any suitable cloth available."
"Milady, the reason the cloth was there was because few chose to have any clothes made of it. Now that it is known that these are your colors, no-one will wear these shades without your permission."
Merizel added, "And you saw our two boys this morning, Garia. Their tunics are the same cloth. The colors of the cloths are not exactly the same as that of the palace material but close enough, don't you think?"
"I think it's close enough, Merry, and it will give the local people some sense of ownership, don't you think? But these were paid for, weren't they?"
"No, milady," Jasinet said. "The townswomen consider it a privilege to provide uniforms, especially for those of your people who came from the town."
Garia shook her head. She still had difficulty understanding such a peculiar arrangement as these people seemed to have.
"All right," she said as they reached the yard. "I'll allow them to do that but we'll make sure we pay fairly for whatever else they provide for us. If it's for the town, fine. If it's for my retinue, we pay. Do you think we can make that stick, Merry?"
"I'm not sure, Garia," Merizel said. "The townspeople are very grateful for what you have already done for them and for what is to come. They wish to show you how much they value you. If you insist on paying they may take offence."
"Hmm. We have to find some middle way, I think."
At the entrance to the common room Keren was waiting, scrubbed clean and dressed in a fresh tunic. He smiled appreciatively as he saw how Garia and Merizel were dressed.
"My Ladies." He gave them a wide, florid bow. "If I may conduct you to your table."
Garia smiled. "You old smoothie, you." But she took the proffered arm.
As they entered the common room everybody stood and bowed or curtseyed. They remained standing until Keren, Garia and Merizel had taken their seats. Two remained standing at the far end of the room.
"Oh! I'd forgotten about -"
Garia came to a quick decision and beckoned.
"Captain! If you and your guest would join us at our table tonight."
Bleskin turned and spoke to his companion and then ushered the obviously unwilling shoemaker's wife to the top table. The servants quickly adjusted the settings to accommodate another diner as Bleskin held out a chair for the woman to sit down. Her face was stiff.
"Milady, I do not understand."
"You are here, mistress. We are about to eat. It would be insulting of us to make you leave and return to an empty house." She gestured. "Please. After the shock you had this afternoon there's no reason to make you feel any worse. We may not be friends but we aren't enemies either."
The woman's eyes flicked in Jasinet's direction but then she turned to Garia and nodded. "Thank you, milady. You are gracious. I did not expect -" She looked unhappy. "Milady, I do not understand you."
Garia waved a dismissive hand. "I'm not local, remember. I'm not even from Palarand, originally, although I now call it my home. The customs of the land where I was born are very different than those around here. Just enjoy the meal while you are here."
"Thank you, milady."
Bleskin added, "Milady, I talked with Mistress Sandara this afternoon when she recovered. We have shared, in certain ways, a similar loss and so, I believe, I may have been of some help to her."
Garia realized what Bleskin was telling her and felt grateful. Counselling the bereaved was a difficult task and Bleskin had indeed been there and done that. He probably also had, after many years of service, experience of speaking with families of men killed in action.
"Thank you, captain," she said. "Anything you need, just ask."
The meal was a strange affair. Garia wondered whether the men would be subdued after losing one of their number, but they seemed almost as cheerful as normal. At her own table there was a little small-talk but the topic everyone had in their forethoughts was carefully avoided, especially in front of the shoemaker's wife. Instead a purely artificial conversation was started concerning the rebuilt road house and what that might mean for Blackstone, who would doubtless supply the staff for it.
Garia noticed the absence of the smith. "What happened to Brydas? When did he disappear?"
"Milady," Bleskin replied, "Master Brydas received a message while you were closeted with your maid. He was required immediately at his furnace. I doubt not he will come here again as soon as he is able."
"Oh. Right. Yes, he did say something about steel making." She frowned. "Do you have any idea what he is doing, captain?"
Bleskin shook his head. "Not me, milady. I am not familiar with the arts of the smith." He showed his teeth. "Except, perhaps, where it concerns weapons of war. But I think this time Master Brydas is doing something clever with the coke he has made."
"Ah! That could be interesting."
At the end of the meal most of the men dispersed to their usual evening activities but Garia's table remained seated while the servants cleared away. Everybody knew what had to happen next.
"Mistress Sandara," Keren said across the table, "do you think that you would be able to answer some of our questions, or is it too soon for you? We bear you no ill will for the acts of your husband but we seek to understand what happened. We would know why your husband thought to do what he did, and we need to discover those who organized this plot."
Sandara licked her lips. "Your Highness, I will try and answer whatever you ask. I, too, seek to understand what my husband did -" She stopped and fought back the tears, "- but I do not know how much I can bear."
Keren was gentle. "Mistress, we shall not press you. If we see it is too much for you, then we will stop. But, the questions that must be asked will be asked at another time instead."
She nodded. "I understand, Highness."
"Then, if you would tell us what you know, and what you suspect."
"As you command, Highness. It was the fine, I think, that started it." She turned to Garia. "My Lady, the fine was too much for us to bear, though I cannot fault you for requiring it. But, even though Chorandar was a good shoemaker, there is not the trade in Blackstone for him to earn the kind of coin the fine demanded. We have some wealth, it is true, but only in jewelry and valuables, which meant that he must needs travel to Tranidor to sell something. My Lady, we doubted whether he had enough days to travel to the town, conduct what business he must and return in due time."
Garia nodded. "I did not know if you had that kind of money in your possession, mistress. I didn't set the fine, Master Jepp did. If you had come and made a case, we could probably have made some arrangement."
"As you say, My Lady, but we did not know that. A chance meeting with one of the men from the mining camp offered a way to pay what was owed by means of a loan. You must understand, My Lady, that as tradesmen we do not approve of taking loans ourselves, even as we offer them to customers from time to time. But time was short and we saw the gold in the man's hand. He only had ten crowns, he said, but he was leaving for Tranidor in the morning and could return with more if that would help us out."
Keren remarked, "One of the oldest tricks, I believe. Did he demand something in exchange, then?"
"Not then, Highness. At least nothing that Chorandar ever told me. I was not privy to all their conversations."
"So, what happened? Did this man return with more coin?"
"Aye, Highness. That was the day before yesterday, when he came back with his empty wagon from Tranidor. He produced the rest of the coin and I brought it right away to pay the fine. Master Jepp returned my necklace and even wrote out a receipt for me." She sighed. "But the lending needed to be repaid, so my husband said that he would take some valuables to Tranidor to sell. It seemed easier to do it then, since there was no longer any hurry to travel back. He could also bring back certain supplies needed for his business."
"When did he decide to make this trip?" Garia asked sharply. "Before or after he met this man from the miner's camp the second time?"
The woman's eyes lost focus for a moment. "Ah, My Lady, I did not think... it was afterwards! Is that important?"
"I think so, mistress. I am beginning to think that this man from the camp you speak of might have been the organizer of what happened. His wagon passed by the road house earlier that day and one of the men from there - a woodcutter - subsequently disappeared. So, you thought your husband was going to Tranidor? I assume he packed up as though he was going to do that. Do you remember anything that might have seemed odd?"
The woman shook her head. "No, My Lady. He had his usual traveling gear and his saddle-bags were packed as usual. That wouldn't have been the first time he rode to Tranidor like that, though once the new Tax Assessor came of course no-one left the town. No, everything seemed normal to me. We bade each other farewell and he and -"
She broke off with a sob, unable to continue. Bleskin put his arm round her and spoke to her quietly. A goblet of water was placed in front of her and the rest waited patiently while she recovered.
"Mistress?" Keren asked. "Do you wish to stop?"
"No, Highness. I am seeing how blind I was to what was happening. It is painful but I would continue a while."
"As you wish, mistress. You had remembered your son, I think."
"Aye, Highness."
"How do you think he fits this business, or is he an innocent, do you think?"
"I am no longer sure, Highness. I would like to believe he is innocent, but perhaps he is no more innocent than Chorandar was."
"I take your meaning, mistress." Keren leaned forward. "I believe that your husband harbored some resentment at the treatment he received from Lady Garia, and that your son was of like mind. Do you agree with that?"
"Aye, Highness," she replied miserably. "You have the right of it."
"But I also believe that he was duped into what he did, by a man who had words to convince him, to fan the flames of his resentment. And the son followed the father willingly. I do not believe that either of them really understood what they would be asked to do, but once they had passed a certain point there was no hope for them but that they must continue, with an enterprise that would almost certainly be considered treason."
"As you say, Highness."
She had begun to come to terms with the actions of husband and son, but to hear the blunt words spoken was still a shock. She grabbed the goblet and had another gulp. When she had recovered she looked at Keren.
"Highness, I have the body of my husband. Do you know what has happened to my son?"
Keren's expression was grim. "Mistress, if your son is not among those we brought back then he must have been taken by the ptuvil. We were chased by six of those who attacked and it was only by chance that we found the shelter of some rocks when the great beast descended. Some of our pursuers were killed outright, all were fatally injured. We did not stay to attend those yet alive, since the beast could have returned and finished us as well."
Garia added, "We didn't know anyone who attacked us, mistress. It was all too quick and we were busy defending ourselves. We don't know if any of those might have been your son, I'm sorry. Some of those who chased us were youngish, but..." She had an idea. "What was your son wearing? Did he have clothing we might recognize?"
""My Lady, when he departed he was wearing a dark blue tunic and gray tights, his normal traveling wear. I don't remember if he had his cloak on... the tunic, I recall, has a dark green border around the neck and hem."
Garia closed her eyes and tried to remember those few hectic moments of sheer panic and confusion. After a moment she opened her eyes and sighed.
"Yes. There was a young man, killed outright when the ptuvil came down. Had his head crushed, I remember." She looked at the shoemaker's wife. "He would have died instantly, mistress. I don't think any of those men knew the ptuvil was there at all. It was a complete surprise to everybody."
"My Lady, I thank you for your words. Even though I know he was engaged in evil, it is a comfort to know that he did not suffer." She paused, thinking. "And my husband? Did he suffer?"
Garia shook her head. "No, mistress. What happened to him was just as unexpected, a failure of the weapon he held. He would have died with any warning at all."
"My Lady, would you permit him a normal funeral? Must his actions be held against him?"
"I - I'm not sure of the customs of Blackstone, mistress. We will have to consult with the Assembly."
Sandara bowed her head. "I understand, My Lady." She lifted her head and looked at Garia, her eyes red-rimmed from her tears. "You are merciful, My Lady. After... what happened before, you need not have treated me this way."
"You've just lost your entire family, mistress. I was never a vindictive person and I don't intend to start now. You have enough to think about without me adding to your problems."
I wonder if she has realized yet. Not only has she lost her family, but she has lost her position in the town as well. She's not the wife of the town's shoemaker any longer. I wonder what the customs are regarding lone widows?
"I have no more questions, mistress," Keren told her.
"I have one," Garia put in. "Mistress, do you know the name of this wagoneer?"
"He would not tell us his name, milady, but I have heard others about the town refer to him as Sopo." She thought. "When he spoke to Chorandar, though, the first time, I overheard the very last part of their conversation. He said to name him Fikt. That seems a strange name, does it not, milady?"
"It does, mistress, and it explains a lot. We have heard that name before, but it shouldn't be any worry to you. I think we've heard enough, Keren."
"Aye, we certainly have," he agreed. He turned to Sandara. "Shall you return to your home? Do you need an escort?"
"I will escort her, Highness," Bleskin said, rising. "I will ensure that she has the company she needs," he smiled, "just as you and milady once did the same for me. We will manage this, death is ever part of our lives, as you are all aware."
"As you say," Keren said. "Thank you, captain."
Bleskin helped Sandara to her feet and the rest watched as they made their way out into the early evening. Keren turned to Garia, releasing a long breath.
"Whoo! That went better than I expected. Thank you for letting me do the talking, Garia. I judged that she would listen to me easier than to you."
"That's what I thought too," she agreed. "Of course, your higher status probably helped as well. Being questioned by a prince is undoubtedly more impressive than being questioned by a mere baroness."
Keren spluttered. "If there's one word that could never describe you, it would be mere. But I take your point. So, what do you think of her testimony? The name Fikt explains much, I think."
"Doesn't it! It looks like the same bunch of people are still after me, whoever they are. And with Durko keeping them informed wherever we went, it was only a matter of time before they had another try."
Yarling, who had sat at the top table but kept out of the questioning, had one now.
"Highness, Milady, you speak of Durko and Fikt. I know the wagoneer came with you from Dekarran, what of this man Fikt? It cannot be his real name, surely?"
"Oh, no!" Keren agreed. "There was an attack made within the castle at Dekarran, an attempt made to kidnap Garia. Four made the attempt, two escaped." Keren briefly described what had happened. "Afterward, when we were questioning the captured survivor, he told us that the one who had planned the attack said to name him Fikt. We thought he had run off back to his masters, but we were apparently wrong. With Durko in our camp he could remain nearby and find out where we might travel."
"Oh, no!" Garia said in a different tone, one of dismay. "Does this mean our whole attempt at sending a double back to the palace was for nothing? All that effort was wasted?"
"The situation is not so bad as you suggest, milady," Feteran put in. "Remember, that Durko would not have known that you traveled north until Jaxen's wagons met those of the Prince. Until then he would have thought you went south to the palace as any other might."
"That's right," Keren agreed. "And until we reached Tranidor he would not have had any opportunity to send a message south, and then several days must pass before his master could come north."
"If Fikt was posing as a wagoneer for the miners, and traveling regularly between Blackstone and Tranidor," Garia mused. "He would have had ample time to set something up." She thought back. "And if he bought our substitution at Dekarran, he may even have crossed the Sirrel and followed the King's party back as far as the city. He would have had to come all that way back, once Durko's message reached him."
"I have a question for you, Master Miner," Keren turned to Yarling. "We suspect that several from the miner's camp were involved. Do you think they may have been casual hires, much as the shoemaker and his son, or do you think they were brought to Blackstone specially to assist the attack?"
Yarling looked unhappy. "Highness, the entire business troubles me greatly. There is a suggestion that some miners are disloyal to the crown. We may be a grasping, independent lot who dislike being told how to do our jobs -" he smiled briefly at Garia, "- but the Guild of Miners is as loyal to Palarand and our King as any other guild might be. How and why some decided to follow this Fikt is unknown to me."
"I don't think we were suggesting that the miners were disloyal," Garia said. "I think what is more likely is that some of the men up at the camp weren't really miners or workmen at all, only pretending to be. Fikt would simply have made sure that his men were picked in Tranidor when the contract was announced. That way he could bring them here and nobody would suspect anything."
"In fact," Feteran added, "it is possible that honest men were chosen in Tranidor and substituted along the road somewhere. This Fikt has shown that he does not scruple to kill."
Yarling looked shocked at the idea of miners being murdered and their places taken by heavies.
"Aye," Keren said, "it is only our fortune that has saved us these several times."
"But, Highness! How can we prove any of this?"
"I do not know, Yarling. Perhaps we must speak with your gangmaster, and with the others at the miners' camp. Someone may know something, might have heard a tale that did not ring true."
"As you wish, Highness." Yarling's expression was grim. "The honor of the Miners' Guild is at stake, you shall have what assistance I can provide."
The street door opened and Brydas, Jepp and Fedren entered. They saw the group sitting at the far table and made their way to it, bowing when they arrived.
"Highness, Milady," Brydas greeted them. "I regret my absence this afternoon, there were matters at my forge that required immediate attention." He threw open his hands. "Then it was meal time. I beg your pardon for not returning sooner."
"Do not apologise, Master Smith," Keren said, gesturing at them to seat themselves, "we all have many demands on our time. You arrive at a suitable moment, we are about to discuss recent events and your counsel - indeed, the counsel of all of you - will be greatly appreciated."
"You are too kind, Highness." Brydas indicated the door. "As I walked down I noticed Captain Bleskin and Mistress Sandara walking up to her house. How... is she taking her loss?"
"As you may expect, Master Smith. In one week she has lost daughter, husband and son. And heard her husband named traitor. Not news that any would wish to hear, were they friend or foe of milady."
Brydas nodded. "Aye. A cruel blow for any to bear. The town will do whatever it can, but Mistress Sandara is not one of our more popular residents." He gestured at his companions, now adjusting their seats. "We have come to hear of your journey and of the attack, Highness. We must needs understand if there is any danger to the town."
"I do not think you need fear for the town, good masters," Keren replied. He considered. "Except, perhaps for the ptuvil and its mate. They have now tasted man-flesh and may return seeking more. Enough! You shall hear our tale told in the right order, masters, and then make your own conclusions."
So Keren, Garia, Feteran, Yarling and others told what had happened during their trip along Blackstone Vale. There was silence when they finished, as their listeners took in the unexpected violence that had happened and the sheer luck which had saved most of their company. Eventually Brydas spoke.
"Highness, Milady, after what happened the day you arrived in our town I had supposed life to settle down but this tale makes me wonder. I agree, it is unlikely that the town is threatened by such as those who attacked you, but what might we face in future? So many new faces will come among us and we know not whether they will be friend or foe."
Garia replied, "Master Brydas, the men who attacked our party were after me, specifically. Once we return to the south you should only have what normally happens in towns like these. Okay, you'll have miners and wagonmen but I'm guessing your biggest problem is likely to be drunkenness and petty pilfering. After Trogan and now this I suspect you'll be a lot more careful in future, won't you?"
Brydas gave her a wry look. "Aye, milady, it is a poor smith who touches the hot metal more than once. We shall be wary in future, I have no doubt. But, milady, you must arrange a strong and regular watch for the town before you leave. Before Trogan came to us there were but three, and those three had other, full time employment to pay for their needs."
Garia grinned at the smith. "What you're saying, in your roundabout way, is that you want me to pay for a Sheriff and deputies to police the town. I think I can do that."
"What is a... Sheriff, milady?"
"Oh!" She smiled at Brydas. "I'm sorry, that kinda slipped out. Um, let's see. On Earth, in the country where I was born there was a tradition in the older times where a small community like Blackstone would have certain peace officers appointed. The main one of these would be called a Sheriff and he would be responsible for seeing that law and order was maintained. He'd have some deputies who would assist him when required."
"Ah, I understand, milady. These would correspond with our Watchmen, I think. Is it your desire to call such persons by different titles, milady?"
Garia was momentarily thrown. "Um, I don't know. If you have customs and such like, then perhaps I shouldn't interfere."
Jepp said, "It is your town now, milady, and none would dispute that Blackstone will change greatly as time passes. Customs will also change. If it is your wish to give your... what did you call them? ...peace officers... another name then that is your right."
"Keren? What should I do? I don't want to make things difficult for everybody just because I can."
"As Master Jepp says, Blackstone will change and I don't think the old watchmen arrangement will work as it once did." He bent his head in thought a moment before addressing the whole table. "I think we have an opportunity here to prepare for the future, would you all not agree? I have heard from Garia how the cities and towns of her world have to manage the huge populations they hold and of the specialized forces they use to maintain order and seek out criminals. Perhaps Blackstone may be used as an experiment, a way to determine how we can adapt those ideas to our own needs. Yes, Garia, I believe that you should attempt this new method."
"If you say so, Keren." She scowled, sighed and then spoke to the three men. "Okay. What I'll need you to do is to select someone from the town who you think will be able to do this job full time. In Kansas the equivalent official would be elected, and by that I mean that everybody who is considered a resident adult of the town would be able to vote, both men and women. I don't think we can go that far this time but when his tenure is done we'll consider trying some kind of vote. He'll be your choice but I'll reserve the right to approve him or otherwise."
Fedren said, "Milady, he would become the Sheriff as his only employment? Is that what you intend?"
"That's right, Master Fedren. Once he's in place what happens is that he can choose as many deputies as he needs to handle the workload. Um, I'll allow the Town Assembly to approve or deny anyone he chooses, to make sure he doesn't just pick his own family, for example. I'll pay him a salary out of House Blackstone funds and there'll be an allowance based on... I dunno, probably the number of residents in the town and how bad the level of crime gets. That's what pays the deputies. We'll see how it goes."
"Sounds interesting, milady. You would like us to suggest a name before you depart, I would imagine."
"If you can, yes please. It will be much easier than arranging the whole thing using letters." Garia blinked. "How did we get on to this subject? We were talking about what happened up the vale."
"It does make sense, Garia," Keren said. "If Blackstone already had an officer such as you describe then perhaps this Fikt may not had been able to gather his band as he did. When we arrived here and threw out Trogan and his gang everyone relaxed because we all thought it was finished. What we forgot was that others might have their own likes and dislikes, much as the late Master Shoemaker did. A... Sheriff might have known who in Blackstone was likely to cause trouble and help prevent what happened."
Brydas added, "As His Highness says, milady. Everyone thought our troubles were ended when you and your party arrived." He suddenly looked embarrassed. "Uh, milady, I didn't mean to suggest that you are not capable of governing your town -"
Garia stopped him with a hand. "Relax, Master Brydas, I know what you mean, there's no need to apologize." She looked thoughtful. "You are partially right, you know. Neither His Highness nor myself has any experience of government, especially at this level. We began to fix the immediate problem but forgot about the rest." She nodded. "That's how it has to be, I think, out here in Blackstone. When we leave you'll have to run your own affairs as you did before we, I mean Trogan, arrived."
Bleskin pointed out, "Milady, you must appoint a Steward before you leave. He will be your eyes and ears in Blackstone while the Assembly manages the town."
Garia nodded. "I know, captain. It's on a very long list of things we have to do before we leave. Let's get back to what we were discussing. Can we hold the funerals tomorrow evening?"
Brydas nodded. "Aye, milady, if you are content to release the bodies. I have already asked several of the town to find wood for the pyres."
"That's good. It's not high summer but those bodies won't keep for ever."
"As you say, milady. Have you obtained all the information from them that you desire?"
"I think so. We haven't looked at any of their belongings yet, all there might be in their saddlebags, for example."
"Which reminds me, milady. You have gained a number of frayen by your adventure. By right of conquest you could appropriate those beasts, much as you did with Trogan's beasts."
"I don't think we'll keep all of them, Master Brydas, we already have more than enough for everyone to ride. Those that the miner's gangmaster has identified he can have back, and if we find the shoemaker's frayen or that of his son his widow can have those as well. I believe Sethan found two of those that Trogan's men used, we'll keep those for a while. Any others we'll donate to the town."
"You are gracious, milady."
Garia grinned. "Not really. If we hang onto those beasts then we have to feed them and look after them. The miner's mounts were essentially stolen anyhow, so I'll be happy to see them go back to the camp. As for the rest, well, Tedenis and Briswin will require mounts for when we leave and we'll need remounts as well. I think the numbers are about right."
Fedren asked, "You mention departing, milady. Must you leave so soon? We have barely come to know you."
"I'd like to stay a little longer, Master Fedren, I really would. But, His Highness and I will have to write a detailed report for the King and Queen about what happened here. What do you think they are likely to do when they read that report?"
Fedren opened his mouth and then closed it.
Bleskin said, "Milady, I cannot see but that the King will order you and the Prince to return immediately, under heavy escort."
"Just so," Keren agreed. "That is what we predict will happen. So, we will have about six to ten days before the order comes back, depending on how upset they are. We have those few days to prepare the town and make ready for our departure."
"It is possible, Highness," Bleskin said firmly. "There are good men in the town who can arrange whatever milady requires for her people. Allow them their experience in this matter and you shall be rewarded. I know these people."
"Thank you, captain," Garia said. "I don't see we will have much choice in the matter, actually."
"Milady," Jepp said, "What of the ptuvils who attacked you? Should they threaten the town?"
Garia shrugged. "Don't ask me, Master Jepp. I know nothing about them. Local knowledge is going to be more reliable here. Although... commander, it seemed to me the ptuvil flew away for a long time, didn't it?"
"Aye, milady," Feteran replied. "We had no means of noting the time but I would guess it was two bells or so ere it returned. I would deem they roosted far to the east, Master Jepp, and so would be less likely to annoy the town." He grimaced. "Your problem is more likely to be grakh. We saw them near the town, remember, when we went to investigate the Stone Sea."
"You are right, commander," Jepp agreed, "but the season for grakh is nearly past for this year. We may rest easy until spring returns, when the grakh will fly back from their wintering grounds."
Two of the serving girls brought pots of pel and mugs which distracted the meeting. When they had retired Feteran leaned forward and said quietly, "What of the guns, milady?"
Brydas added, "These are the new weapons of which you spoke, milady?"
"They are, gentlemen," Garia replied. "We'll have to leave examination of those until tomorrow morning." She sighed. "Along with much else, I'm afraid. I'm beginning to feel just a little tired, after what we faced the last couple days." She made a face. "Keren and I will have to write a detailed letter to Their Majesties, and I don't think either of us are looking forward to that."
"Milady," Feteran said, "there is much to plan if we must leave Blackstone. We are short a wagoneer and I do not think the wagons we have will take all our gear."
"You're right, commander. We used Jaxen's wagons ourselves and we borrowed the two that are here from Dekarran, didn't we? We don't actually own any of our own wagons at all," she smiled, "although we are beginning to collect some more frayen. Look, let's leave all this for the morning, when our brains at least will be fresher."
"As you say, milady."
~o~O~o~
"I can't stay out here long, Keren. I'm nearly asleep on my feet."
"I'm not surprised. I feel weary myself. We've had three days of incident and seen much death, been terrified by a ptuvil and threatened by men with guns. It's not what either of us is used to."
She looked up at his face. "We're not children any more, are we? We've been forced to grow up quicker than we would have liked. Still, I'm glad you were there. I'm not sure how I would have managed on my own."
"I'm glad I was there to look after you, Garia, though I doubt not you would have succeeded even without my help. I could but wish the return to Palarand to be a more peaceful journey, though."
"Don't we all! You think that has much chance of happening? I'm not so sure."
"Father and mother are going to insist on a strong escort for us, all the way. I'm sure the journey will be completely boring."
She chuckled. "Yeah, right! But we have a much better idea of what we face, don't we? We shouldn't be caught out like that again."
"No, I agree. But what other tricks might our enemy have to try us with? There will be something new the next time."
"Yeah," she said more soberly. "If they use guns again, they might not be so easy to deal with. Something else we have to think about."
"As you say. Well at least we have a good team looking after us here and looking after Blackstone. We should be safe until we depart."
"Yes. Everybody has rallied round, haven't they?" She stood on tip-toe. "Kiss me, Keren, before I fall asleep in your arms."
He grinned at her. "Wouldn't be the first time, would it?" He bent down to meet her lips.
Garia realizes that her men need to know all about Yod's wonder weapons so teaches them what she knows for their own safety. Jepp makes a surprising suggestion, Merizel has an idea and Garia and Keren spend an exhausting afternoon writing a report for the King. In the evening funerals are held for all those killed during the attack.
by Penny Lane
87 - Guns and Pyres
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
The
men's dormitory was packed, since every member of Keren and Garia's
party was present. This included Bleskin and the two youngsters
Tedenis and Briswin. Also in the room was Brydas in his capacity as
Master Smith and Yarling, the Master Miner. Garia had chosen that
room because it could hold her audience and at the same time keep
anyone else from overlooking what she was about to discuss. The
bedding rolls, saddlebags and packs had been stacked against an end
wall and the men were sitting and standing in a circle such that all
had a good view. Merizel, Jenet, Jasinet and Lanilla were also
present, sitting on a bench at one end of the room. On the floor in
the center of the audience lay the two guns, the ramrods and the
ammunition bag.
"I'm probably going to have some objections to this," Garia began, "but I think this is so important that I'm prepared to tell you all anyway. You all have to know what these new weapons are and how you should behave if somebody points one at you."
"You can't do that, Garia!" Keren protested. "Not after what you said to us at the council meeting. I thought this was one secret that you wanted to keep for as long as possible."
She nodded. "That is exactly right, Keren. I would have fought as hard as I could, for as long as I could, to prevent this information coming out into the open."
"So... why are you doing so now? And in front of everybody?"
"Because I didn't let the secret out, Keren, Yod did. Which means that very soon, we could all face such weapons again. And, if that's so, then I have a responsibility to everybody here to tell them what they might face should they come across them in the field and what they can do about it. We've already had one death and four injured by a single gun discharge and I don't want to see any more." She sighed. "It's going to happen, but if people understand what they face then maybe we can keep the numbers down."
Keren had known that Garia wouldn't do something like that without good reason but it had been necessary to spell it out for everyone to hear. The fact that she was prepared to expose an important secret to protect her people - and himself - would make a great difference, too.
"A hard decision to make, Garia. What do you think the King will say?"
"I hope that he will see that the protection of my people - and yours - is important to me, Keren. And that if we are to be faced on the field of battle by weapons like these, we must have our own guns to fight back with."
He nodded and gestured. "As you say. I think I agree with your reasoning. Proceed, then."
Garia knelt and patted the undamaged gun. "This is called a gun," she told her audience. "Actually, the word gun is used as a general term for any weapon that works the way these do. What we have here is a particularly crude weapon designed to flatten a crowd at close quarters I would probably call a shotgun. There are many, many words for types of guns, almost as many as there are varieties of gun. Guns on Earth can range from something so small it would fit in the palm of my hand to monsters that I could almost walk inside.
"The way guns work is almost the same whatever size they are. This metal tube is called a barrel, and that's because they used to be made in a similar way to barrels when they were first invented. That is, a series of strips or staves, welded together at a forge with rings or straps around to hold them together. In most types of gun one end of the barrel is usually blocked off some way. What we call an explosive is placed inside the barrel at the blocked-off end and some kind of projectile stacked on top of it. When the user of the gun sets fire to the explosive by some means then it catches fire and expands greatly. Because the fire is trapped inside the barrel the only way it can relieve the pressure is to push the projectile out with great force. The barrel makes sure that the projectile can only go in the direction the user aims the gun."
Feteran raised a hand. "Milady, you use the word projectile. To us a projectile is an arrow, a bolt or spear. Do you mean the same by that word?"
"Not at all, commander. In theory you could push an arrow or a bolt down the barrel but there's almost no need and it's an expensive way to make ammunition. These guns use bags of stones as their projectiles. Very crude. On Earth a gun like this would use lead balls, either a single one that just fits into the barrel or many tiny ones to give a scattering effect. Older guns could use almost anything to hand that would fit down the barrel. More modern guns use turned, shaped projectiles called bullets which can travel much faster and more accurately."
"More accurately, milady? How accurate can these guns be, then?"
"Let's talk about the weapons in front of us first, I think, since these are what we are likely to face in the near future. We'll talk about more modern ideas afterwards, and then you can all understand just why I wanted the subject kept a secret." Garia frowned. "All right. I've just remembered that this thing is still loaded. Fet, can you give me a hand, see if we can unload it?"
"Aye, milady. What must we do? Is it dangerous?"
"Oh, yes! The first rule of gun ownership is never point the barrel at anyone, including yourself! You may have no idea if it is loaded or not and whether it might go off. I don't think that will happen with this particular weapon but we don't even know what the powder is like. Powder, by itself, can be extremely dangerous. Let's try up-ending it and knocking it on the floor to make the stones fall out."
Feteran picked up the gun by the stock and banged it gently on the floor. There was a rattle and two stones rolled out. He repeated the action and suddenly the bag fell out, now torn to shreds, leaving stones rolling in all directions.
"Let's collect these all up," Garia directed. She grinned at her men. "They are harmless stones but you'll still feel it if you step on one in your bare feet. Fet, keep knocking, please."
After some patient thumping the powder bag was dislodged and fell on the floor, scattering the contents on the boards. Garia pursed her lips.
"This powder is dangerous, everybody. I think the amount here won't damage the building but we must make sure to sweep every grain up, and very carefully. Do you know what can happen to flour dust in mills? It can go bang and cause damage, right? This powder is like that only the bang will be much bigger. This floor will need to be washed over where the powder fell to make sure we've cleaned it all up."
One of the men was sent downstairs to fetch dustpan, brush and mop. When he returned the powder was carefully swept into the pan and then the floor thoroughly cleaned.
"Good," Garia continued. "Now, I'll take a small amount of this powder and put it on this scrap of paper so you can see what happens. We must make sure that the dustpan and the ammo bag are kept well away."
A tiny pile was placed in the center of a small square of paper, which was placed on a clean, dry area of the floor. Garia warned the audience that there would be a bright flash and probably a cloud of smoke. She asked Feteran to light one corner of the paper, which he did with some trepidation. Everybody stared at the paper as the flame gradually consumed it.
There was a sudden whoomf as the powder caught and the center of the room was filled with a cloud of brown smoke which had several men coughing. Windows and doors were opened to clear the smoke before Garia called them back to order.
"You can see just how much smoke and dust was made from that tiny pile of gunpowder. Imagine just how much would have been made if we'd used the whole lot in that little bag! And, it's all trapped inside the barrel, remember? That's what makes a gun so deadly. If we had fired that gun in here I have no doubt that those stones would have gone straight through the nearest wall.
"Now here's the thing. If you get hit by any projectile fired from a gun then it will go straight into your body. In that respect it's no different to being hit by an arrow or a crossbow bolt, I guess. But the projectile will get covered by all that filthy residue left after the powder burns, and possibly even some of the bag it was in. If any of that stays in the wound it will go bad and you'll lose a limb or die, understand? So, if there are any wounds from gunfire then they must be cleaned out straight away and the stone or whatever else removed. Use boiled water and boiled bandages. Boil any instrument you use to probe the wound as well. If you can, make sure you wash your hands properly before starting."
Most of the men nodded. They had seen the wounds which the gun had already caused.
"So, the next point. If you don't want to get wounded, don't be in front of the gun when it is fired. That means throwing yourself on the ground or behind the nearest cover if you can. Don't assume that any armor will stop what comes out of a gun, it won't in most cases. Don't assume that walls will stop projectiles either. Wooden walls like these are almost useless." She paused, considering. "Okay, if a wooden wall is all there is then use it for shelter. It may mean the difference between a fatal injury and one that you can limp away with. Stone walls would stop the kind of shot this gun can fire but even they won't stop what can come out of bigger guns."
Bleskin asked, "Milady, does that mean we must construct fortresses of stone wherever we might face the enemy?"
"Stone walls will stop what we call small-arms fire, captain, which means weapons a man can hold, but as I said a larger weapon will eventually batter such walls down. No, you have to go the other way. The walls would be made of earth and very thick, to absorb any shot and spread the blow."
"Ah, I understand, milady. But such ramparts would be easy to scale."
"There are ways round the problem, captain. For example, one method is to face your wall with wicker baskets filled with earth. That way you can make them steep enough that climbing would be harder. Remember, if someone is climbing a wall then someone else can lean over and shoot them."
Bleskin nodded. "As you say, milady. I can see that the existence of... firearms, did you call them? must change warfare considerably."
"Yes," she said, her eyes hard, "especially if your enemy knows how to use them and you do not."
She reached for the ammunition bag and emptied it out on the floor.
"So, to load a gun before using it, you need one of each of these things here. A bag," she held one up, "filled with powder, a projectile like these bags filled with stones, something like this stuff to pack the barrel which is usually called a wad and one of these." Garia held up the bundle of stiff strings. "These are called fuses and are how you get the fire from outside the barrel to inside."
She turned. "Let's assume that we have to load this gun. The string, the fuse, goes in this tiny hole on top first. Then the bag of powder is rammed down the barrel with those sticks so that it is pushed against the inside end of the fuse. Next comes a wad to make sure nothing comes loose and finally a bag of stones, or shot, or a lead ball or whatever. There may even be another wad on top to stop everything falling out while you carry it. Unlike Stott's longbow, you can load up a gun well before you need to use it, provided that you can keep it dry. Okay. Commander, if you'd like to pick the gun up and hold it to your shoulder like you did before."
Feteran obliged and Garia inspected the result.
"As you can all see, because Feteran is right-handed he automatically rested the stock against his right shoulder. That means he can lean his head over and sight along the barrel with his right eye. When he is happy with his aim he can..." Garia paused, considering. "Ah! So that's why there are two men to each gun. The other man stands the other side of the gun, with a length of smoldering cord in his hand. When the aimer says 'fire!' the other man touches the fuse with the cord and sets it on fire. The fuse burns very quickly through the hole in the barrel and fires the powder. The powder explodes and forces the shot out the barrel. Because it is going so fast you don't have to allow for drop like you would with an arrow."
"So fast, milady? How fast, exactly?"
"I don't know exactly, captain. All I can say is that you won't be able to see the shot fly with your naked eye. Thinking about it, the fuse doesn't burn instantly and neither does the powder, so if you can see the puff of smoke as the fuse is lit, you might just have enough time to dive out of the way. Don't bet your life on being able to do that, though."
"Milady, what is the range of a weapon such as this?"
Garia shrugged. "I don't know, captain. I've never seen them in use. To find out things like that we'd have to set up a testing program and work it out for ourselves. My guess is, inside five strides it would kill. Ten strides and you'd be wounded, an unlucky shot might kill. Beyond that, you'd have minor injuries. I doubt that shot like this would even make it to fifty strides."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Keren remarked. "That isn't even as far as a crossbow could manage."
"Don't underestimate these things, Keren, and that goes for the rest of you. If there's an assault and someone fires this thing at you a lot of men are going to go down. You can't do that with a single crossbow bolt. In a corridor, also, a single gun could take out a lot of defenders." Garia frowned. "Something that's puzzling me is the shot they used. These stones are, frankly, rubbish. At the speeds that most shot is fired air resistance becomes important, even though you might not have thought of such a thing. These stones will tumble over and over when they come out the barrel and that will slow them down, which is why I said they won't travel very far. They won't be accurate, either. The best shot for this kind of gun is smooth balls, big or small, because they won't be slowed down by the air so much and they will be more accurate."
"But, milady," Bleskin objected, "it would appear that this weapon can only be used once. Must one then reload it? How long does that take?"
"You're right, captain, and that is the weakness of these guns at the moment. Any self-respecting archer can put many arrows in the air in the time it takes to fire this gun and reload it. But there will be guns in the future which will be self-loading and fire many rounds so quickly your archer wouldn't have time to drawn a single breath. That is one reason why guns become irresistible. Another is the fact - Stott, how long did it take you to become proficient with your bow?"
"Milady, some ten years or so."
"And you have to keep exercising to keep up your strength and accuracy?"
"Aye, milady. It requires two to three bells every day, when I am able."
"It takes very little to train a man - or woman - to use a gun. Provided he - or she - is physically able to pick the thing up and point it in the right direction it requires little to no exercise at all. Your aim and accuracy can be improved by training but you don't need that for basic use. That's the other reason why guns replaced bows. It's just so much easier to use and doesn't require continuous physical training. An army can quickly be raised from the population and trained to use guns in maybe ten to fourteen days."
There was a silence in the room as her audience digested her words.
"Milady," Feteran asked, "what of the disadvantages of these weapons? There must be some."
Garia nodded. "Of course, just as with any weapon there are two sides. The powder has to be kept dry at all times or it won't work. When the powder explodes it acts on the gun as well as on the shot. Now, the shot is very light so it leaves the barrel quickly but the gun also has a recoil which will kick the stock back into your shoulder. If you don't know that's going to happen, you won't brace yourself and you could get hurt. The recoil could even spoil your aim if you don't allow for it. Also, the explosion will attempt to come out wherever it can and that includes the fuse hole. If your face is too close, you'll get burnt. The smoke, as we have seen, is nasty and can choke you. It will also blacken your face. After a shot or three the barrel is going to get hot. If it gets hot enough, the powder may explode as you push it down the barrel."
Garia's eyes narrowed as she thought about this. She turned to Feteran.
"Okay, commander, I think you can put that down now. I want to take a look at the other one."
All eyes turned to the defective gun. About a quarter of the top, at the stock end, had peeled away to either side revealing the inside of the barrel. The barrel end of the stock itself was all splinters and hung loosely.
"Master Brydas, your opinion, please. I think this barrel was made from a slab of iron folded over into a pipe and welded along the top."
The smith squatted down by the gun and examined it, running his finger along the top of the barrel.
"I agree, milady. The work appears well done but there is an obvious weakness along the seam."
Garia frowned. Why would anyone use such a poor technique? She joined the smith beside the weapon.
"Several things don't add up here," she mused. "Look! The stock is attached by means of rivets drilled through the barrel. The rivet holes make another weakness. You can see where those on this side have torn." She turned the barrel over so that they could all see. "And the end of the barrel is blocked off by the wood of the stock. Whoever designed this had to know that each use of the gun would burn away some of the stock! Eventually this gun has to fail."
"As you say, milady," Brydas agreed. "A poor design indeed. If you were to design such a gun, milady, what would you do?"
"A solid rod of steel," she said promptly, "bored out using a lathe. I'd either not bore it right out or screw or weld in a plug of steel to close off the end. I'd also weld flanges on the outside to fix the stock to." Garia shrugged. "Some of these early weapons, made before things like steam engines existed to power lathes, were cast in one piece and then bored out by hand. There are a number of different ways to do this, and these particular guns aren't made using any of them."
She looked at the exposed inside of the barrel.
"This is all pitted," she said. "The gunpowder residue is corrosive so you have to clean the barrels out thoroughly to prevent them getting eaten away from the inside. I wonder." She stood up and turned to Keren. "I think we have just gotten a lucky break. These guns were deliberately designed to fail after a little use. I think that whoever Yod has is telling them how to make weapons that work for a while, so that their men get used to using them, but will then fail when they need them to work in the field. What do you think?"
"Garia, I don't know enough about the smith's art to make a judgment. Master Brydas is our expert here."
"Yet, Highness, I am no expert in the making of guns. However, I believe that milady has the right of it. Knowing how a gun should work, I would not have made one in this fashion. What does this mean, Highness?"
"If Garia is right, and Yod has someone from Earth helping them as Palarand has herself, then I believe that they may not be providing help freely. They are revealing just enough to seem to make an advantage but no more."
"Or," Garia added, "they might not know any more. Depending where they came from this may be the extent of their knowledge of guns." She gestured to the weapons. "We don't know, and I can't see how we'll ever find out, do you?"
"Only when the next nasty surprise comes," Keren said.
"Milady," Bleskin asked, "What must we do if we find these weapons in the field? I understand that we may capture them, as you have done with these, but what if that is not possible? How may we destroy them?"
"Another good question. If you can't take them away, then you can disable them several ways. The weak point is the powder. That has to be kept dry. Throw it in water or dump water on it. If you have to, pee on it." Some of the men laughed. "If it is safe enough to do, then spread it out and set fire to it - but you'd best have somewhere to hide when it goes up. Actually, strike that. If you can capture the powder, do that even if it means leaving the guns. The guns will be useless without any powder, while powder has other uses." She considered. "Bend or flatten the barrel if you can, using a mace or a big rock or something. Block off the muzzle, uh, that is, the open end. Hammer something like a lump of wood down it. Even jamming it into earth or mud will make it impossible to use a gun until it is cleaned out again. Throw it into the sea - I don't think dropping it into a river will do it much harm, but something like the Sirrel which has some salt water in it will corrode the barrel and make it useless. If you have time, and the guns are bigger than these, hammer nails into the fuse holes so they can't be fired."
Keren said, "You mentioned modern weapons. Should you say something about those here?"
Garia thought. "I'm not going to give you all a history of guns," she decided, "but guns aren't the only way that you can use explosives. For instance, if Master Brydas were to make a bottle shape out of iron, and fill it with powder, you could light a fuse and throw the bottle at your enemy. When the bottle explodes it will break into bits of metal which will fly everywhere, killing anyone close enough. We call that a grenade. If you then combine the idea of a gun with a grenade, you'll see that you could fire a grenade - or shell, we would call it then - out of the barrel at your enemy. If you do everything right it would explode just as it lands the other end. We call that a mortar.
"Thinking more broadly, you could use a powder charge to demolish stone buildings, forts, castles or even things like that dam up the valley. That's why capturing powder is a good idea. Powder and the explosives which followed it are widely used in mining, Master Yarling. By drilling a hole, putting explosive down the bottom and filling the hole in before detonating it, you can split rocks, even make large tunnels inside mountains."
Yarling sat up. "This is true, milady?"
"Oh, yes. But, of course, it's dangerous. If you don't set your charges right you could bring down the whole tunnel, or you could set off some of the gases that are found underground. But used right you can tunnel places you never could just using hand tools. Remember I told you we could remove whole mountains? That's how we do it. We blast a layer of rock off the top, turn it into rubble and then we have huge machines to take it away."
"Milady, might we experiment with the powder you have there? I would like to see what happens."
"I would rather not, Master Miner. We have no idea how this powder is made so we don't know how strong it is. I'm not against the principle of trying it out, you understand, I just don't want anybody hurt using something we know nothing about. There'll be plenty of time spent making our own powder and finding out what it can do, I promise you."
"Thank you, milady."
"I'll tell you all a little about the kind of guns we use in Kansas, but don't imagine that I'm telling you everything. If I did, we'd still be here when winter arrives. As I briefly mentioned, we have guns that essentially load themselves. The powder or other explosive is put in a brass cartridge - a cylinder, that is - along with a bullet. You can have a stack of these cartridges in a holder called a magazine. When you fire one, the recoil throws out the spent cartridge and loads the next one ready. Or the cartridges can be on a long belt that goes in one side of the gun and out the other. These guns are bigger but can still be carried by one or two men and can fire up to twenty to fifty rounds in a single heartbeat.
"Getting larger, we have big guns called cannon. I guess that these guns here are actually a kind of hand cannon, but what I'm describing is big enough it has to be mounted on wheels and towed by animals or a self-propelled wagon. These guns can throw iron balls this size," she held her hands eight or so inches apart, "maybe five hundred to a thousand strides. These are the kind of gun that I mentioned could batter down stone walls."
Bleskin nodded as Garia continued, "Instead of iron balls these days we use projectiles called shells. These are shaped to fit down the barrel and fly straight and true. Inside the shell is an explosive charge and a fuse of its own that goes off when it lands the other end. Modern guns can throw a shell weighing as much as me as far as thirty marks or so. Accurately. Some shells can even be guided once they leave the barrel."
Some of the men whistled in amazement.
"As for accuracy," she continued, "There are specialized guns used for hunting and for particular tasks in warfare called sniping. These guns would have a long, thin barrel, a small telescope for sighting on the top and can hit - and kill - a target over three marks distant. Once we get started on this road, men, your world will become very dangerous. On Earth we have had several wars which involved most countries in the whole world. Millions of people died in those wars and not just soldiers. I really really don't want that to happen here if I can help it. That's why I wanted to keep this secret, but since the secret is out then I want you to be able to keep safe. Do you all understand?"
There was a chorus of "Aye, Milady," from her men.
"Right," she said. "I think we've spent enough time on this topic. Sookie must be wondering what we are all doing up here. If anyone has questions you all know where to come."
Bleskin clapped his hands. "As milady says, perhaps we had better all get back to work. Lads?"
"You paint a bleak picture," Keren said as the room emptied.
""We didn't know what would happen, when we thought up these weapons on Earth," she replied. "Of course, it took many centuries and it all happened very slowly. Here, the jump in technology may make things worse, not better. Let's go and find Sookie. My throat is raw, I need a drink."
~o~O~o~
Feteran joined Garia and Keren in the stables just before lunch.
"Milady, I have chosen four men to send out on patrol, with your permission."
"Of course, commander. Patrol? Any particular reason?"
"I would like to send them to find that ravine the brigands are said to use, milady. I do not expect the two survivors to still be there but the men will take the necessary precautions. It may be useful to see what traces they may have left behind."
"And we still have the belongings of those that were killed," Keren pointed out. "We haven't had time to inspect those yet."
Feteran inclined his head. "As you say, Highness." He gave a wry smile. "We have been somewhat busy of late."
"Is four men enough?" Garia asked. "I don't want them to end up on the wrong end of a gun. We don't know that there were only two."
"Milady, I believe I have chosen carefully of those men with experience in country such as this. Stott, of course. His history of hunting means that the party will have less chance of being surprised. Toranar grew up on a rural farm and knows the ways of the wild. Those two have already faced a gun. Henard, while a palace man, was brought up near Teldor and is familiar with rock-climbing and narrow places. Briswin, because he is local and claims knowledge of the ravine we suspect."
"Briswin?" Keren questioned. "You would risk a novice on such an expedition?"
"Highness, he says that most of the young boys of Blackstone have explored such narrow places as this. He is aware of the likely danger but with the others nearby he should be safe enough. After all, we do not expect to find anybody. He is also beginning to show promise with the long bow, Highness. I believe that he will be an asset to the others."
"Very well. Garia?"
She nodded. "Agreed. Commander, how long do you think they will take?"
"If they leave immediately after lunch, milady, I would expect them back before the evening meal. It is not, after all, very far away."
"And if there's a problem? Do you have a back-up plan?"
"Milady, if they are not back by the time we are finished eating this evening, then we will have the whole town to help us find them. Even now, men are building the pyres for the funerals."
"Of course. Then that's agreed. Let's go, we have to clean up for lunch."
~o~O~o~
"Master Jepp! What can we do for you?"
Garia, Keren and Merizel were sitting in her office, about to begin writing the letter which they both knew would cause consternation when it reached the palace. Jepp had knocked on the door while they were deciding tactics.
"Highness, Milady, Milady Merizel. Am I interrupting anything?"
"No, Master Jepp," Keren said with a smile. "Not yet, I think. We have a difficult report to make to my parents and we were considering our options. Come, have a seat."
"Thank you, Highness." When Jepp was seated he continued, "Your announcement to the town was well received, I think. To discover that our shoemaker was prepared to commit treason," he pursed his lips and shook his head, "that came as a shock, but as milady explained, once the bait was taken he may have had little choice. Milady's suggestion of a peace officer, a... Sheriff, is a good one. With miners and carters arriving daily in the town we must work hard if we are to have peace in Blackstone. We hope that the town will still be in good order when you next return to visit your people, milady."
"So do I, Master Jepp," Garia replied. "I'm hoping things will quieten down once we leave. So what can we do for you today?"
"Milady, I wish to consult you in your capacity as Guildmistress." He considered his words. "I have worked these several weeks with Milady Merizel and I have found her to have exceptional ability in the arts I practise. I am considering sponsoring her for membership of the Guild of Scribes as journeyman. Or, as would be the case, journeywoman. Before you came to Blackstone, milady, I must confess it would never have occurred to me to sponsor any woman but your own presence is proof that others may harbor similar talents. Would you countersign my proposal, Guildmistress?"
Merizel flushed with embarrassment while Garia's mouth opened and stayed there.
Keren asked, "Is what you propose customary for your guild, Master Jepp?"
"Not customary, Highness, but not exceptional either. It is occasionally the case that a chartered scribe may discover someone among the people who has learned to read and write sufficiently well that their abilities would be furthered by attaining guild membership. Such people are usually the sons of tradesmen but not exclusively. Milady Merizel is such a person."
Garia said, "You don't need me in order to make your case, do you?" Jepp shook his head. "But no doubt having someone of my rank signing the proposal helps." She thought. "Would it matter that we are closely associated?"
"I do not believe so, Guildmistress. Looked at one way, it could be said that you have apprenticed Milady Merizel so it is natural for her to progress to the next stage."
Garia smiled. "I agree, Master Jepp. Merry, would you accept this proposal? It would mean that you became a guild member as well as being a noble."
"Master Jepp, Garia, I don't know what to think," Merizel said. "This is a complete surprise." She looked thoughtful. "Aye, perhaps I have learned a little of the scribes' art. Garia, would you let me do it?"
"Of course! I would be a bit biased if it was only my own opinion but since Master Jepp has come right out of the blue with it, then I'll fully support it."
"Thank you, Guildmistress," Jepp said. "Then, if I may, I shall go and write my proposal so that it may travel to the capital with your own missive." He began to rise.
"Before you leave, Master!" Merizel hopped to her feet. "There is something I wanted to discuss with you and I think Garia will be interested as well."
Jepp sat down again. "Mistress?"
"The day before yesterday, when His Highness and Milady Garia were busy being attacked, I went to see Master Horbelan to learn about tuning my dajan the old way. I discovered that he remembered a method which Garia says is like that used on Earth."
"As you say, milady. I remember you mentioning it the last time we spoke. Go on."
"Well, as I was coming back down the street I was stopped by one of the local girls. Julina, I think her name was. She told me that she was able to read and write, but only just about enough to read such letters as her family would likely receive. She didn't think that her request was important enough to bother the Baroness so she approached me instead. She wanted to know if I could possibly be able to help her with her letters. I said that we were all very busy and we would be leaving in a week or two but I would try and find out what we could do."
Jepp nodded. "It is true, there are a number of townspeople, youngsters as well, who can read and write in Blackstone. Many cannot, of course, but some few can. Milady, what do you advise?"
Garia frowned. "I don't know, Master Jepp. If we are not going to be around much longer it will fall to you to provide support. Would you be prepared to set up a... school, perhaps, for anyone in the town to come and learn to read and write? I'll contribute funds and supplies, if you will."
"Why, milady, it is a good idea, but I am not sure that I can manage a school as well as those tasks already laid upon me. Will you give me leave to consider this proposal? And I may ask advice of Lady Merizel for further details."
"Yes, of course, Master Jepp! It was always my wish that everybody - everybody - should be capable of reading and writing in due time. Where better to start than here in Blackstone? Keren?"
He nodded. "Aye, Garia. This is a good plan and I am sure that my father would approve as well. Master Jepp, bring to us a proposal for setting up a school and you shall be assured of my full support. You would doubtless have to find someone - from Tranidor, I deem - to be your teacher, someone who would need to be paid."
"Aye, Highness. With milady's permission, the costs of setting up such a school and paying the teacher would come from the town's funds." Jepp smiled. "We find those funds increased lately, for some reason."
"That's the way I would do it," Garia agreed, nodding. "Bring us a plan, Master Jepp."
Jepp stood again and bowed. "By your leave, Highness, Milady, Milady." He turned and left.
Keren groaned and put his head in his hands.
"We've been putting this off long enough. Perhaps it is time we started writing. Do you agree?"
Merizel shuffled her pile of paper and took a fresh pen. "Whenever you are ready, Highness."
~o~O~o~
When Keren, Garia and Merizel emerged blinking into the yard in the late afternoon light it was to find it filled with men and frayen. Feteran noticed them and came over, his expression one of surprise.
"Highness, Milady! It is as though you have fought another battle."
"Aye, Feteran, you could say so," Keren replied. "We strove mightily to present all the facts to Their Majesties without coloring the account with our fears or mistakes. I fear Milady Merizel's fingers will not take a pen again this day, she has rewritten our report so many times."
"You could say that, Highness," Merizel agreed, flexing her right hand. "But, I think you were right to choose your words carefully. When that report reaches the palace it will be as carefully considered by its readers, we had to make sure they did not misunderstand anything."
"As you say, Merry." Keren looked at the sky. "We've left it too late to get it away today, haven't we? But there is time for the packet to be taken to the Messenger Office and for Selden to arrange a rider to leave at first light tomorrow."
"Do you wish me to do that, Highness? There is time before we have to prepare for the evening meal."
Keren nodded heavily. "Aye, Merry, if you would. The sooner it is out of our grasp the better, since we will not be tempted to make further changes."
Merizel grinned. "I can approve of that, Highness, since it would be me who would have to make those changes! With your leave, I shall take it."
She curtseyed and returned to the office to pick up the package. Keren turned an inquiring expression to Feteran.
"Highness, we were returning the captured frayen to their rightful owners," Feteran explained. "There are four for the miners, two which belonged to the shoemaker and his son and two which Sethan says were those of Trogan. There is a ninth which no man can recognize. Highness, Milady, I intended to return the gangmaster his mounts and retain those of Trogan's men as we did before. What should be done with the others?"
Keren looked at Garia. "Any ideas? How many are we likely to need for the return journey, Garia? Our numbers have increased, we will need more mounts."
She nodded. "That's true. Um, commander, return those back to the miners and hang on to the rest for now until we know how big our party will be going back and how many will be riding." Feteran nodded. "I'd like to return the shoemaker's two back to his widow if I can but not if it leaves us short. He did commit treason, after all."
"As you command, milady."
Keren asked, "Have you looked at their gear yet, commander?"
"Briefly, Highness. There appears to be little of interest to us in any of the bags, except that most had larger sums of coin than one might expect for a miner. Milady, would you wish to confiscate the coin and any valuables we find?"
"Yes, commander, do that. We'll keep that money, I think. Call it compensation for the injuries we received."
"As you command, milady."
"Oh, and any personal effects you find, they can go back to the families - I guess that would be through the gangmaster for the miners."
"Aye, milady."
Four riders came in through the carriage entrance from the street, the last towing another frayen. Garia recognized the patrol Feteran had sent out earlier. All dismounted in front of them, Toranar saluting her as he approached.
"Highness, Milady. We have returned, we saw no-one," he reported, "but discovered this beast loose at the further end of the narrow way."
"Another beast!" Keren said. "Perhaps we should start up a company trading in riding animals."
"Toranar," Garia said, "There's too much going on right now, we'll hear your report later. Get all the beasts sorted out first, it will be time for our meal and then we have to go down the street for the funerals."
"As you command, milady."
Garia turned to Keren. "Now, if you will excuse us, it takes a little longer for us to make ourselves ready than it does for a man. I'll see you at table, Keren."
~o~O~o~
"I remember Thoran joining His Majesty's Palace Guard," Bleskin said to the crowd. "I cannot tell you that he was a talented youngster, at least not at first, nor was he one of those who may try the patience of all they encounter. But I can tell you that he understood his training well and became a reliable member of the guard. Life in the palace is not for those who wish to do great deeds and win high honors, since the lands of Palarand are peaceful enough nowadays and the palace even more so. Rather, palace life is for those who would do their appointed tasks diligently and quietly, for the routine of the palace does not change much from day to day."
There was a smothered cough from Keren and Bleskin remembered who his companions were.
"Ahem!" he continued, "Of course the routine of the palace has been turned upon its head by the appearance of your Baroness... His Majesty's troops have needed their wits about them these last few months." There were some chuckles from the crowd. "But this is the day when we remember Thoran, not those who still live among us. He became a tried and trusted member of the guard, conscientious in his duty and always ready to help when such was required. He was not one of those who strictly kept the rule but rather one who was able to see the intent instead of the word. In barracks he was ever neat, tidy and clean and I do not recall any occasion when his conduct was questioned. I wish more followed the example he set to us. He will be missed by all of those who wear His Majesty's uniform."
Feteran spoke next, describing their journey north with Bleskin and their subsequent arrival at Blackstone, ending with the battle and Thoran's death at the hands of 'an unknown weapon'.
"I do not think he suffered," he said, "indeed, I do not think he even knew that he was in any danger. What happened to him happened so fast that he died as quickly as by an arrow through the heart. I was proud to serve beside such a man as him."
Keren spoke briefly, followed by some of the other men who had been his companions since they had all left the palace. By arrangement the eulogies were said before any of the pyres were lit, because the noise of the flames would drown the later ones. Once the words for Thoran had been said it was the townspeoples' turn to say their piece over the two bodies that concerned them most, for they were two of their own, the shoemaker Chorandar and his son Perril. What happened next was a surprise for Garia, for the townspeople made no attempt to soften their words. As with the life of whom they spoke, their memories were of both good and bad.
"I remember 'ee when 'ee was birthed," one very old woman said. "'ees mother 'ad hard time bringing 'im out. We thought 'ee was one of those wouldn't live long but 'ee did, it was a struggle all 'is child'ood. Quiet boy 'ee was, di'nt bother no-one but di'nt get on with most 'is age neither. I thought it was good when 'ee were taken in by old Jerzan the old shoemaker, I though it were what 'ee needed t' set 'im roight. But when 'ee came back a journeyman, 'ee were different. 'Ee 'ad airs and graces then, thought 'isself above us of the town. I won't say no more 'bout that but I will say 'is work was good enough. Why, these 'ere boots I 'ave on now are 'is, and they be at least ten year old!"
Many others took a turn, spelling out for all both sides of the character of the man who had made and repaired every item of footwear worn in the town. Garia understood that this was the way that the man's memory would be preserved, this was the way that most had known him. It contrasted sharply with earthly practices where a man considered good would have his faults glossed over but a bad man would have nothing remembered but the evil he did.
Less was said of the son, since the son was not likely to have a funeral pyre of his own. True, he had less years to make his mark on the world, but it was obvious that his father had been his prime influence and that he had agreed with his father's attitude to those around him. He came across as a thoroughly unpleasant young man with a nasty, vindictive streak. Several were of the opinion that his early death was the best that could happen to him, before he became any worse.
Everybody present ignored the five bodies on the largest pyre. The traitorous wagoneer Durko and Vordan the bandit were known to the townspeople but the others were strangers. Best to keep it that way.
The priest stepped forward and recited the simple words that signaled the ending of a life. Once he had finished Bleskin took the offered torch and applied it to Thoran's pyre. He then bowed and handed it to Sandara who did the same to her husband's wood pile. Everybody stood back as the flames took hold. Bleskin handed the torch to the priest who walked over and tossed it onto the third pile. The crowd watched in silence as the roaring flames reduced all to ashes the same color as the clothes most wore before they all turned away and began the short walk back to their homes. Bleskin escorted Sandara up the street as Keren led Garia through the carriage entrance into the yard.
"I hope it is long before we must needs do that again," Keren said. "Yet we know it must come to all one day."
Garia was silent as they waited for their men to disperse. Then, "What do you think your father will do when he reads our letter, Keren? Will he jump up and down and shout?"
"I do not think so, Garia. He is not one of those who shows his anger thus. He will read our dispatch carefully and then, once he has considered all, he will issue commands. You know what those are likely to be."
"Was it a mistake, do you think, to send you - us - off the way he did? We're both young with little experience of places like Blackstone. Trogan is one thing but this other - have we all been incredibly naive, Keren?"
He smiled at her. "Yes, and no, Garia." She pouted at him. "We are naive, aye," he continued, " as any our age might be, but we are both accounted adults and we must needs learn those lessons all who would be adults must - or die in the attempt. Aye, perhaps my father misread the situation as we all did, but I believe his decision to send us forth was correct. After all," he grinned, "we survived both challenges, didn't we? He may have misread the threat from Yod but he did not misread our abilities, did he?"
"Perhaps. But it was frayen shit and the chance appearance of a ptuvil that got us out of the second one, Keren. We can't keep riding our luck like that, and the King knows it."
"Aye. But we are about done with Blackstone, are we not? I have grown to like this small place and I will be sad when we are forced to leave. But leave we must, if we are to return to the palace before winter begins. I'm sure that there are many Guildsmen and Questors who are anxious to consult you, too."
"Yeah." Garia was deep in thought. "I'll certainly be busy once we get back to the palace! There are still one or two details to be sorted out here before we go, though. A Steward and a Sheriff. I must speak to Bezan about town zoning. And Yarling about his proposed mineshafts. And the seamstresses about some traveling gear." She gestured around her with a hand. "I have to decide what to do with this place once we go. I can't just close it down until we come back next spring."
"Why not? There are nobles who do just that, moving between summer and winter quarters."
"It's not the same, though. It would be a waste to leave a building like this standing empty when Blackstone is going to be getting bigger." Garia turned. "Hmm. Lots to think about, Keren. Let's go and look in on our animals and then turn in. It's been a tiring day."
"Aye. At least they aren't faced with such problems."
Garia learns where the brigands were hiding out before getting stuck into the inevitable paperwork. Brydas brings an interesting proposal and asks advice about Senidet's situation. The afternoon brings letters with news of more developments in Palarand before Garia tackles the problem of the smith and his daughter.
by Penny Lane
88 - The Baroness at Work
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
Garia
beckoned to Toranar the next morning, right at the end of breakfast.
"My Lady?"
"We never had a chance to hear your report about what you found yesterday," she said. "Sit down and tell us now, while we're all together."
"As you desire, milady. But... should we not be attending our morning exercises?"
Garia jerked a thumb at the window. "If you fancy training in all that rain, be my guest. If we have to fight while it rains, then we'll do so, but there's no reason we have to do it otherwise. There's nothing special we can learn by doing the moves in the rain."
Toranar bowed assent. "As you say, milady. Should I ask the others to join us?"
"Of course. This would be a kind of de-briefing, I suppose."
Toranar waved his hand and the three who had been with him on the patrol came over to the top table and took seats. Some of the others gathered round, curious, but Garia had no problem with that. The more that people knew about their surroundings the better.
"So, what happened?"
"Milady, we took frayen expecting to ride but quickly discovered that, although our mounts could be walked through the narrow way, it would not be practical to ride them. As it happens there is a small-holding not far from the entrance and the holder was willing enough to allow our beasts to share one of his fields. The family appears content with your rule, milady, and were anxious to offer any assistance."
Garia nodded. "I hadn't thought of that, that the passage might be that tight. But you could walk a frayen through, you said."
"Aye, milady, as we eventually discovered. The entrance is but a brush-choked crack in the hillside, and if Briswin had not pointed it out to us we would not have noticed it. It is behind some short scrubby trees so anyone entering or leaving would be concealed most of the time. We entered on foot with our weapons ready, milady. It was immediately apparent that others had been that way, and recently. There were many footprints of men going both ways - and those of frayen. We pressed on, taking care against ambush, and the way grew wider after a space."
Garia nodded. "Go on."
"There were many signs of booted feet, milady, so that we could not say how many gathered there." Toranar glanced at the window. "We were lucky to have determined to go yesterday, milady. If we had delayed then all evidence may have been washed away." He continued, "We progressed further through the narrow passage and Briswin pointed out a hidden place above us. Milady, it is on a shelf of rock some four to five strides above the trail, being concealed from both above and below. Briswin climbed up and found that a camp had been made there. There were signs of a small fire and some rubbish piled at one end."
"Was that where they laired, do you think?" Keren asked.
"I do not think so, Highness, not all of them. The place was too small. From the rubbish Briswin though it possible this was the hiding place of those two of Trogan that had escaped. To know of the existence of such a place one would have to be a townsman or know somebody local. Briswin said that all the local boys knew of the ledge."
"Ah, I see. And then?"
"Highness, we found a widening further along where there was another, larger, camping place. This, I deem, was where most hid themselves. There was a latrine dug nearby so some may have stayed there for several days. Another fifty or so strides beyond that the canyon opened out more widely, with a small pool or pond in the middle. It was here we thought that their beasts had been kept, we found places where lines had been fixed to some of the shrubs growing there. Highness, Milady, it was there we found that beast we brought back with us. It was loose and apparently waiting the return of its owner, who was most likely one of those killed in the battle. It did not care to come with us at first, but we circled it and encouraged it towards the narrow way, the way we had come. Eventually it could go no further and we secured it."
"It couldn't come out?" Keren asked, curious. "How, then, did you manage the feat?"
"Highness, it could pass but not while bearing a saddle or pack. Once we removed those, leaving only the bridle, it could be coaxed through to the vale beyond, while others brought the gear it carried."
"Ah! Aye, of course, Toranar. Garia?"
"Did you find anything left behind, Toranar?"
"Besides the rubbish, milady? Aye, there were some sacks of meal and grain stored under an overhang near the main camping area. From the number of empty and half-empty sacks I deem they had prepared well for this venture, milady. We left such items behind, having to deal with the captured beast. Did we do wrong, milady? Perhaps we ought to have returned, once we had brought the beast through."
"That's fine, Toranar. They'll be safe enough under that overhang, I take it?"
"Aye, milady, if this rain is your concern."
"You didn't go any further along than that pool, then."
"No, milady. The ground becomes more open and we feared ambush, should any remain to contest the area. We did see several small groups of pakh, milady, grazing the hillsides in the distance. Might those have belonged to that farmer we spoke to? The one in the second farm?"
Garia shook her head. "I couldn't say, Toranar. I don't know anything about farming pakh or how the herds are identified." She glanced at the window. "Once this rain lets up we'll send another party through there to clear out those supplies you found, I think. There's no sense leaving them there for someone else to make use of, someone who could cause more trouble."
"As you say, milady."
"Did you notice anything else while you were there? Meat bones, for example?"
Toranar nodded. "Aye, milady, there was a pile by the larger fire. Most likely of pakh, I think. It would not have been hard to bring down one of those we saw." He thought. "Also brifil bones, both there and on the ledge. Trogan's men might have thought the taking of a pakh would lead to discovery, milady. That's how I would read it." He grinned. "Milady, the fires we saw were of wood only, as much as I can recall, yet around them were seams of coal, plain to the eye. It seems that those men were not familiar with the secret of coal."
"Really? That's good work, Toranar. Would you be prepared to describe what you saw to Master Yarling, when we next see him? It might be more useful to take coal out that way from that area. The miners could widen that crack easily, I think."
"Of course, milady. After our expedition I am beginning to notice such signs in the ground. I will tell all to Master Yarling. Ah, there is one more thing, milady. In the saddlebags of the stray frayen we found nondescript clothing that could belong to any man, but there were also some small items that Henard recognized as belonging to Durko. It seems we have found the beast he used, milady. When we returned to the Claw the man Sethan was sent for and he identified the beast as being the one Narrin usually rode. That means we have accounted for all those used by Trogan's men."
"So," Keren ventured, "Durko found the tenth frayen - Narrin's beast - and hid it out somewhere, knowing that eventually Fikt would appear and arrange an attack. I wondered how he found a mount, since those from the mining camp took only their own beasts."
"I wish we'd thought about this sooner," Garia added. "We assumed that whoever had those beasts just wanted to escape. We couldn't have imagined that they would hang around just to get their own back on us." She waved a hand. "Never mind. We're never going to find out the full details, are we? Toranar, that's good work. Thank you."
The others all gave their reports and the table discussed what they had seen and found for a while before Garia wound the session up.
"Right, I think that will do for now." She thought, then turned to Feteran. "Commander, I don't think we'll be doing anything in the yard this morning, so you may assign the men the usual sort of tasks bearing the weather in mind. As for me," she rolled her eyes, "I have more letters to write. If you need anything we'll be in the office."
"Aye, milady."
~o~O~o~
Garia's fingers ached as she put down the pen. Although Merizel was perfectly capable of writing any and all that Garia wanted she felt it important to write some herself, if only to improve her own abilities. Compared to the Latin script she had been brought up with the local letters were strange to write, especially with an unfamiliar tool. The language spoken in the Valley states was reasonably phonetic but, like many Earth languages, the written form retained certain historical quirks which made writing something of an art. Garia could appreciate why Master Jepp had recommended Merizel for further training and why she needed to improve her own attempts at writing.
A knock came at the office door and the three writers turned to see what the interruption was about. The door opened to reveal Brydas and Jepp, swathed in the customary wet-weather gear.
"Milady, we were told you were here. Do we interrupt anything?"
"Not at all, gentlemen! Take off those wet things and come in."
There were pegs outside the door, on the covered walkway, where their gear could drip while the men sat inside. Garia sent Jasinet off to fetch some pel for everybody, glad of the break from routine.
"What brings you here today, Master Smith?"
"Guildmistress, Master Jepp has told me of his desire to enter Milady Merizel as Journeywoman." Merizel blushed as Brydas gave her a look of approval. "It then occurred to me that, with your consent, we may make use of you as a member of high guild rank while you yet reside in Blackstone. We know, guildmistress, that you must shortly begin your return journey to the capital."
"Well, Master Smith, I'll do what I can, of course, but you know that my rank is more of an honor than something earned after years of study. What did you have in mind?"
"Guildmistress, as you know Blackstone is too small a town to have a Guild Hall of its own or any offices for the crafts. Those of us who are guild members meet informally from time to time, usually in the Bell or occasionally, when the weather is good, at the campsite above the town. While we have many members of many crafts we have no-one of your rank, guildmistress. If there is anything that requires such authority we must needs travel to Tranidor or request a visit by one such from there. After hearing Master Jepp's proposal and your consent it occurred to me that we have an opportunity to hold a proper Guild Court in the town while you yet reside here. Amongst other things it will give you a chance to meet all the guildsmen of the town before you depart. Would you consent to such a court, guildmistress?"
"I don't know, Master Brydas. What would it involve? How many people would there be?"
"It would be much as the courts you hold as Baroness, guildmistress. We bring forward disputes and problems which cross craft boundaries, usually. There are occasionally, as with Milady Merizel, proposals for apprentices, journeymen - ah, and journeywomen, I deem - to approve and maybe the very rare trangression of guild rules to cast judgement upon. As for numbers, guildmistress, we would fit in your common room, if you would consent."
Garia nodded. "Yes, of course. The Claw is the largest building in town, isn't it? But you wouldn't have used it while it was derelict."
"As you say, milady."
"What about the rules and regulations, that kind of thing? I know nothing about how the guilds conduct such meetings. The only one I have been to so far is a lunch at Palarand's Hall of the Guilds, accompanied by the King."
Jepp said, "Have no fear, guildmistress. Knowing of your inexperience, we shall guide you through the necessary obligations, which -" he caught sight of her expression "- are not onerous. After all, we have conducted such meetings without the presence of a Guildmaster before now. We do not stand on ceremony in this remote place."
She gave Jepp a wry smile. "Master Jepp, you have no idea how relieved that makes me feel. Okay, then, we'll do it. What kind of notice does everybody need?"
"We could arrange it for tomorrow, guildmistress, for our part. There are no tradesmen away from the town at present. Of course, we do not know what you may have already planned in your other capacity, guildmistress."
Garia turned. "Merry? Anything planned we can't put off?"
"You have a court session arranged for the townspeople tomorrow morning, Garia. I don't think it will be possible to re-arrange that because so many people will be there. Other than that, there is nothing for tomorrow. Of course, we have some planning of our own to do but as it is raining we might as well do that today."
"Very well. Master Brydas, Master Jepp, we'll hold the meeting tomorrow afternoon after lunch, say at the sixth bell. Will that do?"
"Aye, guildmistress, it will serve well. We will walk the town when we leave, notifying all who should attend."
"What about the miners? Should we be inviting them as well?"
"An interesting question, guildmistress. I had overlooked the miners up at their camp. Perhaps, when we reach that far, I shall speak with the gangmaster. He may delegate one or two of their number to attend." Jepp considered. "There is also Mason Bezan, presently at the road house. Should I send a rider for his attendance tomorrow, guildmistress?"
"That's a good idea, actually, yes please. Master Bezan is going to be overseeing the changes to the town so a chance for the rest of you to see what ideas he has can only help. Yes, if he can come, then ask him to."
"As you desire, guildmistress."
Jasinet appeared with a tray of steaming mugs.
"Please," Garia said, "have a hot drink before you go. The rain at this time of year is cold and miserable, isn't it?"
"As you desire, milady." Brydas took a mug and sipped cautiously. "I understand your men discovered another stray frayen yesterday."
"That's right. It looks like the attackers were camped out in that first crack beyond Blackstone Vale. It is possible that the two of Trogan's men who escaped had been holed up there ever since they had gotten away. Toranar says that there was a much bigger camp further in with traces of many men and frayen."
"To think that they were there and we did not discover them," Jepp remarked.
Keren answered, "I do not think that they resided there immediately after their escape, Master Jepp. I deem they returned once the hunt had quietened down. As I recall, we searched all those places once we had their numbers and realized two had fled."
"As you say, Highness."
"Another matter, Milady," Brydas said. "Or should that be Guildmistress?" He grinned. "I do not know which hat you ought wear to answer me. It concerns Senidet, milady."
"Senidet?" Garia smiled. "She's spending more time down here than she is in your forge, Master Smith. Is this causing you a problem?"
Brydas smirked. "Yes and no, milady." Garia grinned back at him. "I cannot fault her for coming to those who she may learn most from, milady, but my concern is for her future, not her present activities. Aside from any possible romantic considerations, I feel she may not wish to remain in Blackstone when you depart, but rather obtain with you that learning I cannot provide, nor any in the town."
"I had wondered what to do about her," Garia said slowly. "She has obvious talent of both a practical and theoretical kind. Why don't you teach her yourself?"
"Milady," Brydas spread his hands wide, "She knows almost all that I may teach one such as her. She has not the build to take hammer or file so I cannot make her a smith, even should I wish to. You spoke to us once of engineers who will design and build these wondrous devices you are introducing to our world, milady. I wondered if she could become one such."
Garia thought. Senidet was a problem, since she would be on her own once Garia left. Could she take her away from her father, to the other end of Palarand? Would that be fair to either of them? What would she be? Garia had enough maids to run a hotel and Senidet wasn't the maid type anyway.
"Let me think about that one, Master Brydas. I'll give you an answer when we meet tomorrow, if you would."
"As you wish, milady."
"What about yourself? Would you wish to come south with us? You once thought that you might. It would keep you and your daughter together if you did. I don't want to be the reason your family splits up."
Brydas ran a hand through his hair. "Milady, like many I would dearly wish to come to the capital and enjoy the wonders our guild brothers are bringing forth at your direction, but I feel that I must stay and guide our own town through what is to come. It seems to me that Blackstone may change faster than any other place and it will need men familiar with the surroundings and people to guide it through those changes." He looked at Garia. "I trust this is what you had in mind, milady?"
"Well, yes, but as I said I didn't want to break up your family." She frowned, her gaze on the table. "Let me think about all this, please. There has to be a way to get what we want."
"As you say, milady."
~o~O~o~
Lunchtime came and went. The afternoon brought sacks of mail so they spent most of the time reading letters from friends in the capital.
"What letters, Garia? Anything of interest?"
"Of course, Keren! It looks like the guilds are going crazy down there, inventing things I barely thought of. You know Fulvin had that vertical press designed to make bra buckles?"
"Aye, I saw the samples he sent us."
"Well, he realized that the same idea could be used elsewhere. It's only using sheet brass at the moment but they have experimented with sheet steel as well, so he says. But they are making belt buckles, harness links, pen nibs, buttons and any number of other items that way now. They even tried to turn out blanks for knives, forks and spoons but the metal for those is too thick for the press to make an impression. He's talking about making a much bigger press if he can find somewhere to put it. And, Keren, he wants to use steam to lift it up for the drop! He's realized that a vertical press is just like a steam engine cylinder, really."
Keren blinked. "So it is! That didn't occur to me. I wonder what other methods like that are staring us in the face that we just haven't noticed?"
"A few, probably. But if someone like Fulvin, who isn't familiar with things the way we are, comes along and takes a look they might just spot something useful. That's the way progress sometimes happens, Keren."
"As you say."
"Master Hurdin says he is opening two more factories. One is for sheet glass, which is what I expected. The other is for jars of various shapes and sizes. You remember, when I first talked about glass-making at council, Keren? About using molds and compressed air? Well, it seems he remembered as well and he's been doing some experiments. The compressed air part was the hardest but he realized that if you used a boiler shape you could pump it full of air with a steam engine and then use that to blow molten glass into molds. The results aren't usable right now but he says that it's only a matter of time. And there's a shortage of lead in Palarand now, since there is so much demand for lead-acid batteries."
"What do they want those for? Surely the devices we have are too crude for ordinary people to make use of."
"That's true at the moment. Some are for experiments by both Questors and Guildsmen, but most are for welding experiments. Welding with electricity is so useful that the development has been made a top priority. There's just too much you can do with it to ignore it."
"There is? I understand what you have said about wagons and boats of steel but those are for the future, surely. What else may it be used for?"
"So much, Keren! Taking an immediate example, which Master Parrel describes, arc welding is going to revolutionize the making of plate armor. You can just cut out the bits you want in any shape and then weld them together. You don't have to worry about holes for rivets or plate overlaps or any of that. The result would be stronger and fit the wearer more comfortably." She frowned. "Of course, gun warfare is going to make armor obsolete in a very short time, isn't it? I'd better warn Parrel not to get too carried away with that idea."
Keren grimaced. "I like not the notion that I must go naked to battle, so to speak. While most dislike the weight of armor there is a certain comfort given by wearing it. Are you so sure this is what will happen, Garia?"
"It's what happened on Earth. The idea with gun warfare is to be able to move out of the way quickly, I guess, and all that armor just slows you down. If you're wrapped up in a set of full armor and you have to throw yourself on the ground, then how quickly are you going to be able to get up afterwards? Much better to have as little weight as possible and be able to move that much quicker." She thought. "We do wear helmets, though. The head is your most vulnerable part and any hit, even a ricochet, could cause serious injury."
"What is a ricochet?"
Garia had to explain the idea of a round entering an enclosed space at high speed and bouncing off everything it touched. Keren was horrified.
"Ow! That's... not nice, Garia. What you're saying is that, even if I take shelter, so that I'm not visible to whoever has the gun, he may still hit me? Maker! Now I begin to see why you wanted to keep gun warfare quiet."
"Yeah... I know, Keren."
"So... welding, you were saying."
"Yes. Once we have enough steel coming off the production line we can start using it for construction. I'm thinking of things like buildings and bridges but there are doubtless other uses. It is a lot easier to build bridges, for example, by welding sections than by riveting or bolting. Some of the early iron and steel bridges on Earth had millions of rivets holding them together. That means drilling at least two holes per rivet and local furnaces to heat up the rivets and... let's just say we can save a lot of time and effort and end up with a stronger product."
"What sort of bridges would these be, then? I mean, how big? What would use them?"
"Oh, not around here, Keren. Crossing biggish rivers... not the Sirrel, not yet, that would be too much, I think. But we could bridge the Palar at Dekarran, high enough up that ships with tall masts could sail under it. Most other rivers up the Palar valley as well."
Keren's eyebrows rose. "A single bridge that wide? A single span?"
"Yep. We might need piers like those going out to the King's Tower but basically yes. And for use, a lot will be for the new railroads, to take them over roads, rivers and even other railroads. Or as a viaduct to carry them through or over towns if there isn't enough room to lay them at ground level."
He nodded. "You are familiar with your own towns and cities so I must accept what you say, but I find it difficult to imagine some of these ideas. It is a pity that you had no sketches or drawings with you when you arrived."
"Sketches... oh, you means pictures! There were some pictures on my cellphone but I don't know if that would be anything but junk by now, if it came across at all. And I wouldn't have bothered taking photos of bridges on the off-chance I was going to be yanked off somewhere else entirely." Garia grimaced. "It's no good, Keren. I didn't have any choice in what came and what didn't. We just have to work with what we have and," she grinned at him, "I don't think I'm doing so badly, am I?"
He grinned back. "Am I complaining? You have already done more than I could believe any single person could do. And you have not been with us a year yet!" His eyes glowed. "I look forward to the future with eagerness, Garia, if this is how it is meant to be."
~o~O~o~
"I've sent a letter off to the factor at Tranidor, Keren, for him to forward to Jaxen, wherever he is right now. We're going to be short some wagons going back. You remember, we had to rearrange the numbers when we had to sneak out of the castle instead of joining your party in the normal way."
Keren nodded. "Aye, of course. And then Feteran went off separately with his father. Tanon provided two, didn't he? And we are more returning."
"That's right. We're down one man-at-arms but we still have to return Thoran's effects to his family. We also have two trainee men-at-arms and two new maids to consider. The boys will ride, of course, but they will have gear to transport. I don't think either Lanilla or Jasinet will ride so they'll need a wagon seat each, plus room for their chests."
"They won't have much, surely? I would think you mean to equip them once we reach the palace."
"I do, but they can't wear the same gown from here to the palace, can they? If they can't wear colors all the time they'll have to have good traveling clothes like the rest of us."
"As you say. There is another that may accompany us. What of Senidet?"
Garia scowled in frustration. "I'm not sure, Keren. There's no reason she shouldn't go but I'm not sure how she'll fit in the organization. I don't want to make her a Blackstone servant, that would limit any advancement she might make in the future once we get to Palarand."
"That need not be a problem, Garia. If Merry can be noblewoman, secretary, your vassal and guild journeywoman all at the same time, why cannot Senidet be many things?"
She was suddenly thoughtful. "Merry's a special case as we both well know. But, then, I'm a special case, aren't I? ...but Merry was already a reasonable scribe when I met her. I'm not sure of the level of Senidet's education." Her eyes narrowed. "Let me think on that one, Keren. I have a vague idea but it will need to be thought out somewhat."
~o~O~o~
When they emerged onto the covered walkway Garia spotted Tedenis and Senidet across the yard hiding from the rain, which was now little more than a light drizzle. When they saw Garia the two separated guiltily.
"I'll be right there, Keren," she said, "I need a word with those two."
She led the way round the walkway towards them, Keren peeling off at the door to the common room.
"Tedenis! Are you supposed to be on duty?"
He saluted. "No, My Lady. I have the evening watch." His eyes showed alarm. "Is it not permitted -"
Garia dismissed his concern with a wave. "No, that's fine. Just so long as you two mind your own businesses when Ted is on duty, that's all. Don't forget that the Commander will be on your case if you ignore all the other things you are supposed to do when you're off duty, like keeping your clothes clean and making sure your gear and weapons are ready for action."
Tedenis gulped. "As you say, milady."
"How are you getting on with the longbow?"
He gave Garia an embarrassed smile. "Milady, I can barely pull the string. At least my arrows fly in the right direction. The commander says my sword work is promising, though, and I am to try out with spear when an opportunity occurs. As for longbows, Briswin is the better, milady, by far. Stott saw his talent immediately."
Garia nodded. "That's good to hear, Tedenis. I wanted a word with Senidet here but you can stay since it might involve you."
Both perked up at this, their eyes becoming bright.
"Senidet," Garia continued, "you must know that we will all be leaving Blackstone soon to return to the palace. Aside from the obvious attractions of Tedenis here your father thinks you might wish to leave as well. He thinks your education would be better served elsewhere. Would you tell me your own thoughts?"
Senidet was shy, lowering her gaze.
"Milady, I do not know how to begin. When I was young father permitted me into the workshops because he saw that I was interested in the work he did. Like some few in Blackstone I learned my letters and numbers, the better to help him at his work. I saw that there must needs be... drawings? sketches? of each workpiece before it may be made, so that all may be correct when it is fitted together. I found I could read the drawings and imagine the pieces that could be made from them and father found it useful. Now he says he has little more to teach me. Until you came I did not know that it was possible for girls such as us to be guild members, milady. My eyes were opened and I realized that, should I move south, I might, might be able to prove my worth in a way I may not in Blackstone."
"Ah, well, at the moment I am the only female guild member, and that is because of my special circumstances," Garia cautioned. "If you want to go that route you'll probably have to serve an apprenticeship just as the boys do. Although, the way things are going right now you might be better off in one of the newer subjects like electricity." She grinned at a thought. "If there's anyone else who might become a guildwoman soon it will be a girl I met in Dekarran. Her situation was different, she was a kitchen servant in the castle, but she's about my size and shape so she was asked to be my double and ride back to Palarand with the King and Queen."
Their eyes were round with excitement. "Will you tell us the story, milady? Please?"
Garia grinned. "If you travel with us then yes, I will. It's a proper adventure, at least the part I know about. Anyhow, that girl reached the palace and immediately attached herself to a young man I have there who is making electrical things."
Their expressions changed to puzzlement at the strange word.
"Ah, you'll find out soon enough, I guess. Don't worry about it now. But it seems that the girl is better at the subject than the boy is. She has already made inventions that are going to change Palarand."
"Oooh," Senidet breathed. "Then I must come, milady, if such things are possible."
"It's not a regular guild position," Garia warned. "Tarvan is a guildsman, true, but, uh, the girl is not, so far as I know. At least not yet. They both work for me, in the palace, at a workshop I have there."
"You have your own workshop?"
"Oh, it used to belong to the old Royal Questor before he was murdered." Senidet gasped. Garia smiled. "Don't worry, there's no danger. We've started to clean it out and we've found many interesting things there, including a device that came from the same world I did."
"From another world?" Tedenis said. "I was not sure that was true, milady."
"You'll hear all about it, soon enough. It's true. So, Senidet, tell me. Do you still want to come? If you did, what would you do when we reached the palace?"
Senidet curtseyed. "Milady, it is not my place to invite myself into your retinue. But I feel that there is more for me to learn and the city is the better place to do it. I had thought... perhaps, that I might apprentice myself to someone there, now that I know it may be possible."
Garia considered. "I have thought about this and I'm not sure what to do. I don't think I can take you as part of House Blackstone. You don't want to be a servant, do you?"
Senidet shook her head. "No, milady. It is true that there are guildsmen attached to some of the noble houses, or so I have heard, but they are guildsmen and not servants. I must needs serve as apprentice before anyone would accept me." She thought. "Milady, I would be content to become your vassal."
"How old are you? Are you an adult?"
"I have been adult these seven months, milady." She blushed. "Father says I must discover some answer soon or risk becoming a housewife and mother. Not that I would mind that," she said, with a hurried glance at Tedenis.
"Now, I don't know the rules here," Garia cautioned. "Are you old enough to be apprenticed, or is it too late? I don't know when these things are supposed to happen."
"They are not so strict on years, milady," Tedenis explained. "From time to time the young men of the towns must go off to battle so the guilds allow older apprentices. This much I know. Senidet would qualify, though the very words seem strange for me to say."
"What about your health? Are you recovered from that business with Trogan and his men?"
"I... believe so, milady. The healers can do nothing more for me, they consider me whole again."
"And what about your father? He has talked to me so I know he wants the best for you, even if that means moving away. But it's not just about education, is it? If you leave Blackstone he won't have you around any more. I gather that it's unusual for an unmarried daughter to move away like this. If you leave Blackstone he won't be there any more when you need someone for comfort and support. It's not all going to be..." Plain sailing? Roses and chocolates? "...fun and interesting, you know. You'll be a young woman in a strange place with few who know you or care."
"Is that not what you faced, milady, when you came to Palarand?" Senidet reddened slightly. "And I would know some few in that place, since I would be near you and your party, would I not?" Her eyes slid to Tedenis once more. "Father is content for me to leave Blackstone, milady, and he trusts you to ensure that I am not placed in danger. For himself, it is true he is left here but not alone. I deem I would be invited back next year to share the joining of himself to Mistress Sukhana. Do you not agree?"
Garia nodded. "Very well. Since your father agrees, Senidet, we'll find some way to take you with us. I'm not entirely sure you're going to end up a guildswoman, though." She grinned. "But I can guarantee that life in the palace won't be boring."
~o~O~o~
The rain had ceased, but the yard was cold and damp. Tonight there were four couples standing at different points on the covered walkway, much to Garia's surprise. In front of the kitchen stood Sukhana and Brydas, their bodies almost touching. At the rear of the block which held the women's rooms stood Garia and Keren and they were a lot closer together. At the junction between that block and the front building, beside the entrance to the common room, stood Jenet and Feteran. At the far end, by the carriage entrance were Senidet and Tedenis.
"I didn't set out to be a matchmaker, you know," Garia said casually. "It all just happened."
"Chance meetings by those who would not normally come together," Keren replied. "I am told that this is the way such things sometimes occur." Garia thought that a tinge of bitterness crept into his tone then. "I would not know, myself. The affairs of rulers are not as those of common men and women."
"Would you like to put that right? I know that some royal families on Earth marry commoners, in fact one or two insist on it, to maintain a connection to the people."
"I would hardly name you commoner, Garia. It is a thought. Assuming I ever become King."
"Now, don't talk yourself out of a job! We have a long journey back to the palace and a lot can happen along the way. You know that."
"Aye. I shall be sad to leave this place but happy to be back in the saddle again. As will you, I know. What of these others, Garia? Jenet and Feteran will of course be at your side, but I'm thinking that Sookie will remain here. She seems much attached to the smith. And what of his daughter? What did you talk about this afternoon?"
"She's coming with us, Keren. I think she's bright enough to do well down south. Perhaps not such a big spark as Milsy but bright enough she should have the chance to show us what she can do." Garia frowned. "I'm not sure how I can do it, though. She wants to become an apprentice but I think things are changing too fast for that to be the best way of teaching her more. I'm working on it."
"And, of course, she will follow her boy. Do you think she will wish to ride? There is no time to order more saddles."
"Huh. I never thought of that. Oh! That's going to be annoying, isn't it? We almost certainly won't be staying anywhere long enough to have saddles made, for her or anyone else in fact. They'll have to wait until we get back to the palace."
"As you say. Now, come here and let's just have a cuddle."
Garia sighed. "I wish we could do more, Keren. This is good - no, this is great - but I know how much more there could be between us, don't you?"
He snorted. "We are fortunate to be so far from the palace and with friends who understand us, my love. If Fet and Jenet desired it, we would be kept apart by custom. What mother would think I can well imagine! Best enjoy what we have while we may, I think. It must change once we return."
"I know," she replied miserably. "I know."
~o~O~o~
Garia and her friends have much to do before they will be forced to leave Blackstone. She sits as Baroness to decide the minor problems of the town and then, after lunch, as Guildmistress for Blackstone's craftsmen. Along the way she introduces more novel ideas to the locals and the fate of several of her friends is determined.
by Penny Lane
89 - Garia Presides
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
It
still surprised Garia how many people took such an interest in her
activities. This morning she had done only the Tai Chi with the
sixty-odd people also interested and had come back into the common
room to find it crowded. It had been re-arranged to give a sort of
courtroom setup with a single table at one end facing rows of
benches. Even so, the space behind the benches was full with standing
townspeople, curious to see how she would handle the business of the
morning.
They are still testing me. They need to know that I am going to be fair and just to them.
After Trogan, I don't blame them one little bit.
Everybody rose when Keren appeared but he waved them back down.
"Those who have seats, please be seated. This is not my court," he told them. "I am here to learn my people's needs and this is a good place to begin. This is the Baroness's court, I am merely an interested onlooker, much as yourselves."
He pointedly took a seat at the end of the table, beyond Merizel and Jepp. Garia sat in the middle with Brydas, Fedren and the tanner Sinidar on her other side.
Garia said, "Let us begin, please. I have an announcement before we start taking petitions. As you all know, we recently fought brigands on our journey through Blackstone Vale. The Prince and I have written a full report of the incident for His Majesty and it was dispatched by rider yesterday morning. I'm sure you can all guess what His Majesty's reaction to it is likely to be."
There was a murmuring in the room which quickly stilled.
"This means," she continued, "that we will probably be summoned back to the palace as soon as it is practical for word to reach us. That in turn means that the whole party will have to leave Blackstone at that time. I'm sorry, I had hoped to stay here a little longer but it can't be helped. So, if you have petitions and such, then there will probably be just one more court like this one before we have to go. By that point I hope to have a Steward appointed and he can deal with any future problems along with the Town Assembly, of course."
Garia paused. "This also means that I'll have to hurry up and make sure that all the other appointments are made before I go. Since Trogan and his men came you've been without any kind of law enforcement in Blackstone, not until we arrived. With the miners arriving in numbers you're going to need someone to keep the town safe, someone who knows the town well. I'll be taking all my men-at-arms away so we need something to replace the old Watch system. In Kansas, where I came from, we have a man called a Sheriff who does that job, and that's what I want to try in Blackstone.
"Unlike the Watch, he'll have a full time job and he'll be paid by me. The first Sheriff will be chosen by the Town Assembly from among the townspeople and whoever is chosen will become an Assembly member. He won't be my man, he'll be one of you and he'll be familiar with the town and everyone in it. He will be able to choose Deputies as he needs them and we'll make arrangements to pay for them as well.
"The Sheriff's job will run for two years. After that, I want you to have elections to choose whether the old Sheriff is good enough at his job or whether he should be replaced by someone new. By election I mean that every adult registered as living in Blackstone can choose, secretly, who they would like to be Sheriff for the next two years. We add up all the votes and whoever gets most votes is chosen. That means that you should end up with a man you can trust to do what the town needs."
There was an excited buzz round the room as her audience discussed this novel idea. After a while Garia held up her hand for silence.
"That's it, that's all I have to announce today. Let's have the first petition, please."
Over the rest of the morning Garia discovered what governing a small town was like. Most of the petitions were trivial but involved appellants who didn't like each other, or there was some obscure point of law, or no law at all... most of these she referred to the assembly members who were present for advice, having them argue their positions out in open court so that everybody could learn why things had to be decided a certain way or the other.
One of the appellants was Brethen, and she gave him formal leave to amalgamate the two farms along Blackstone Vale although she didn't completely explain the circumstances. Most in the town knew there had been a feud but very few knew why and what the result had been. Let the town grapevine enlighten them all! Yarling was sitting on one of the front benches and she asked him to talk with Brethen about what the miners might do to the Vale.
"Is there anything else anyone wished to raise? Yes, you?" She pointed.
"Milady, since Chorandar is dead the town has no shoemaker. Must we petition the guildsmen to obtain a replacement? There is already need for repairs."
"As it happens I am at a meeting of the guildsmen this afternoon. I'll raise the matter then. I shouldn't think there would be any problem."
Some of her audience looked at her strangely.
"Milady, how is this possible?" one asked. "You are, if you would excuse me, a woman."
She smiled back. "I can go to this meeting because I have been given the legal rank of Guildmistress. Yes, the first one ever, in appreciation for the work I have done for Palarand's guilds. Some of the guildsmen thought to make use of the presence of somebody my rank to have a formal guild meeting in Blackstone. That way they don't have to send out to Tranidor for someone."
There were many expressions of disbelief in the room.
"I see some of you are having trouble believing all this," she added. "I'll have to get my charter out for this afternoon's meeting so if anyone else wants to inspect it some time you just have to come and ask. Is that all? I'll ask about the shoemaker, I promise."
Soon enough the court had ended and everybody had to clear out so that Sukhana could set the room up for lunch. Keren and Garia joined the others in the courtyard.
"You did very well, I think," he said to her.
"I am surprised myself," she responded. "I was unsure how this would all work out but it's mostly common sense, isn't it? There was that obscure argument over boundaries that even had Jepp stumped but we found an answer, didn't we? And almost everybody went away happy."
"Aye. That's what a good ruler does if he can, Garia. Sends them all home happy."
"Do you think this is what you'll be facing when you're King?"
Keren laughed. "I hope not. No, my boundary quarrels will be between counts and barons each with a small army of men-at-arms to back them up, not between two farmers over a boundary stone that fell in the river. There will be much more at stake but," he nodded, "the same principles apply."
"As you say." She squinted up at the sun. "Almost lunchtime, then the guildhall court after our nap. Do you think their concerns will be like those we faced this morning?"
Keren shook his head. "I cannot help you there. I regret, guildmistress, that I am not permitted to attend your court. I am no guildsman."
"But you're -"
Garia paused to think. The King had a pass, of course, because he was King and therefore automatically head of everything. She was there because the guildsmen wanted her to be. Keren... maybe one day, when he was well tutored in electricity and some of the newer technologies she would give them, but not now. For now, for them, he was just another noble.
"Oh," she said. "I'm sorry, I forgot. What will you do?"
"By your leave, I'll join Feteran and look over our beasts and riding gear, I think. There's also the gear we won from the brigands. If we have new riders we will need to put some of it to use."
"No problem. Naturally I'll tell you if anything important comes up. Oh, here's Bezan!"
The mason rode into the courtyard, nodding a greeting to all who stood there. He dismounted and a stable hand took the reins of his beast.
"Highness, Milady, Milady." He made a bow and then smiled. "I am pleased to see that all goes well with you. If I may tell you of the roadhouse while we eat. You will excuse me, I must make for the bath house."
Once settled around the table, with a steaming lunch in front of all, Bezan began.
"The roadhouse is about finished, milady. The first stage, that is. There is a functioning kitchen, two dormitories about the size of those you have here and a new bath house. Your idea of modular buildings is proving successful, I deem. It took me some while to adapt my designs to such a scheme but I believe you will be pleased by the result. When the time comes to expand the establishment it will be easy to do so for those who will be contracted. Of course, I expect to be here making changes to the town so I will be nearby if advice is required."
"That's good news, Master Bezan. Are the buildings in use yet?"
"Of course, milady. We began with the kitchen block first to serve the construction crew and then expanded from there, using the new buildings as they were finished. The wagoneers now use the rooms and express pleasure at the cleanliness of the place compared to others they have used."
"It's a new building," she pointed out, "of course it's going to look clean. Let's see what state it's in after a year's time. What about the animals? How are they managed?"
Bezan frowned. "A possible problem, milady. The dranakh seem to have no difficulty foraging in the forest but we are reluctant to clear land to graze frayen. For now we have constructed corrals under the trees but that means we must bring in fodder. Fortunately that is not a big problem, since some wagons would otherwise arrive empty from Tranidor."
Keren gestured with his fork. "What you say is true now, Master Bezan, but in a year's time the number of animals will be much greater. It is even possible that the dranakh will graze every leaf from the forest floor should we not take care. We must consider forage for all of the animals, not just frayen."
Bezan was moody. "Animals are a big problem, Highness. There is need for one dranakh for each wagon and already I have complaints from Tranidor that the price of dranakh hire has risen. Would that we had milady's railroad here already, where the beast only requires feeding with coal and may pull many wagons."
Keren and Garia looked at each other.
"Hmm," Keren said. "Perhaps we must needs speak with father concerning priorities. The railroad assumes greater importance the more we think on what must be done."
"It's a question for the council, I think," she replied, knowing that Keren would understand the reference. Changing the subject she asked, "What staff is there at the moment, Master Bezan?"
"Milady, we have a cook and two kitchen women, one his wife. There are presently two manservants for the men's quarters and two women for the women's quarters. I have asked the guildhall in Tranidor to contract some outside staff to manage the beasts as the numbers grow. All who live at the roadhouse reside in a separate block behind the kitchens, milady, so that there is somewhere they can rest without disturbance. There is room for many more staff as required."
Garia nodded. "That sounds good, Master Bezan. I'll inspect it when we pass through," she smiled, "although I am just a customer, you understand, I don't have any knowledge of how to build or operate roadhouses."
Bezan nodded. "As you have already explained, milady. But did you not say that there were similar places on your own world?"
Garia shook her head as she replied, "Well, yes, but because our transportation is so different you can't really compare the two. I'm sorry, it looks as though that part of my knowledge isn't going to be useful for some years yet."
~o~O~o~
"Captain! If you can spare a moment."
Bleskin smiled. "At your service milady. Do you nap?"
"I do, but I have a question for you, that you might like to consider while I'm in with the guildsmen this afternoon. You realize, of course, that when we leave Blackstone this place," she gestured around them, "will be left empty? I'm considering several options for its use but I don't think I want it left around for six months waiting for me to return here. It's not my home here, we just used it because it was derelict and available."
"As you say, milady. With the extra commerce that is coming into the town the accommodation will be sorely needed, as it was when pakh wool was the reason for Blackstone's fame. You say you have options, milady."
"Yes, but that wasn't my question for you. If the Claw gets turned over to some other use, where would you go? Would you move across to the Bell?"
Bleskin smiled. "Milady, I have anticipated you. I have discussed this very subject with Mesulkin and he has offered me room as guest in his house. Excuse me, milady, in the Steward's house." The smile disappeared. "Of course, it is likely that you will appoint someone new as Steward. Would you then make provision for Mesulkin? He has served Duke Gilbanar faithfully these many years and deserves a decent retirement."
"Of course! Mesulkin needs all the help he can get and I'd be happy to help. But he is Uncle Gil's man, so I'm not sure how that is going to work." Her eyes narrowed as she considered a startling new idea. "I may have an idea," she said slowly. "Look, I have to go lie down a few moments, let's talk about this again this evening. I think I have just figured out a way to solve several problems at once."
~o~O~o~
Once again when Garia entered the common room she found it crowded. She frowned as she took her seat, considering the numbers in the packed room. So many guildsmen in a small town like Blackstone! Of course, apart from herself and Jenet this gathering was exclusively male, and some of those finding their seats looked askance at her, one or two positively disapproving. She sighed internally because she knew that the inevitable resistance to her presence had to be resolved before anything else could be done.
Turning to Blackstone's Master Scribe, she said, "Master Jepp, there is a charter on the table in front of you. Would you please read it to the assembly?"
"Objection! This is not the customary way that guild proceedings start! And why is a noblewoman here today?"
To the heckler, Jepp replied, "The guild proceedings have not yet begun, Rostan. The document... milady refers to should establish her right to be present at this meeting." He bent low to Garia and told her in an undertone, "Guildmistress, titles are not customarily used at guild meetings. This is to ensure that there is no rivalry between the different Halls. The use of our familiar names is sufficient unless two or more are named the same."
"Oh. As you say... Jepp."
These people are normally so polite. Dropping their titles is going to be difficult, especially as it seems to depend on circumstances. Why did nobody warn me?
"What does this document say, then?" Rostan asked.
Jepp regarded him patiently. "If you would give me leave, Rostan, I shall read it out to all and you can decide for yourself."
The red-faced heckler shut up and Jepp unrolled the parchment and read out Garia's award as Guildmistress, ending by telling them, "This document is signed by Guildmaster Hurdin, Royal Armsmaster Haflin, Guildmaster Parrel, Guildmaster Selvar, Guildmaster Braydor... need I go on? It bears the Great Seal of the Hall of Guilds of Palarand, as all can see."
He held the document up so that all could see that it appeared to be a legally-attested document.
Garia added, "I was awarded the honor at a lunch at the Hall of Guilds in Palarand, attended by the King. I regard this as an honor, not an entitlement. I know that I am not equal to any of you sitting here today but the guildsmen decided there were good and sufficient reasons for giving it to me anyway. Those of you who are still in doubt, come up to the table and read it for yourselves."
Six men climbed to their feet and approached the table. While they were inspecting the document Garia looked over those in the room, seeing a mix of old, lined men, obviously masters of their crafts, middle-aged and younger men, the fittest and strongest who probably did the bulk of the work and men only a few years older than herself who were probably journeymen. Surprisingly the objectors were not exclusively from the older generations.
One of those at the table turned to her.
"Guildmistress," he paused, having uttered such an unusual title, "Guildmistress, you are too young to know our ways. I deem you are barely an adult, so how may you preside over such a gathering as this?"
Jepp answered for Garia. "Waldan, she gives the meeting legitimacy through her rank. You are not so stupid to believe she intended to preside without assistance? In the business of guilds she is as an apprentice and we shall guide her as we would do in any other craft. Does that satisfy you?"
The man considered. "Aye, Jepp, it does. I may not like it but it is clear that this document is well-wrought." He peered at Jenet. "What of her maid?"
Garia answered, "Jenet has been given the right to enter the Hall of Guilds as my servant. As noblewomen are always attended by their maids they felt that it was necessary to do this. She has been given a suitable badge as you can see. Jenet is also advising the Guildmasters how to adjust hall practice to accommodate women and female servants in the future."
With mutterings the rest regained their seats as Jepp whispered instructions to Garia.
She stood and announced, "As Guildmistress of rank I call upon the Guildsmen of Blackstone to this assembly of the crafts. Mas-, uh, Jepp will take the roll of those attending."
Once he had written down the names of all those present, together with their craft and rank, Jepp whispered again, and Garia said, "The first order of business is that of awards made since the last meeting. Will anyone stand forward?"
There was silence and nobody moved. Finally Jepp, turned and said, "Guildmistress -"
Garia put up her hand. "You just told me that ranks were not used here."
Jepp looked unhappy. "You hold two ranks and the use of neither makes me uncomfortable, Guildmistress. Garia. Especially as you are a noblewoman." He frowned and fell silent.
"I understand your problem, Jepp," she said, then turned to the body of men. This was familiar ground. "This is probably a strange circumstance as I can't imagine many nobles becoming guildsmen, can you? Let alone noblewomen." There was subdued laughter from some. "I had a similar problem back at the palace when I was teaching the Palace Guard how to do unarmed combat." There were several startled glances at that statement. "If you will permit, I think the answer is to use a special form of address just for meetings like this. How about... I am presiding here so you could call me 'Mistress President'. If it is a man in future call him 'Master President'."
There was an intense and lively discussion in the room but no-one seemed to be against her proposal. A show of hands indicated agreement and Jepp made a note in the meeting records.
"As I was about to say, Mistress President," he began again, "I believe the reason for the lack of recent awards is the isolation of the town from the rest of our country. We have had no messages from outside until recently nor means to send any. Doubtless this will soon change but there is no-one present who has an award to be announced today. Perhaps we should move on to the next matter, and that is the proposals."
Since their isolation several of the journeymen had done their time and were proposed for full membership. There were a number of proposals for apprentices to become journeymen and young men to be taken on as apprentice. Most of these were routine and the meeting proceeded quietly until Jepp dropped his bombshell.
"Mistress President, I propose Milady Merizel, daughter of Baron Kamodar of South Reach as Journeyman in the craft of Scribe."
There was an immediate uproar. Garia let those opposing work themselves out while she sat and waited. Once the furor had died down she held up a hand.
"Firstly, guildsmen, I can't take sides in this since I am Lady Merizel's employer. You'll have to work this one out amongst yourselves, as is proper. I'll countersign whatever decision you make, whatever that is, without fear or favor. I will, however, offer background if you ask me. After all, I am the one who knows most about how this came about."
Rostan asked, "You will not show her favor, if we ask questions of you? You would answer plainly?"
Garia shrugged. "There's no reason why I shouldn't, Rostan. After all, she'll carry on doing what she does whether she gets this honor or not. This is all Jepp's idea and I was as surprised when he suggested it to me as you are today."
Rostan nodded. "Thank you, Mistress President. Jepp, make your case."
Jepp stood and said, "I have only known Lady Merizel these past weeks since the Prince and Baroness arrived in Blackstone. She is formally Secretary to the Baroness and was taken on because the Baroness did not yet know our letters."
This produced an intense discussion as Garia revealed she could at first speak their language but could neither read not write it. Jepp went on to say how impressed he had been with the quality of Merizel's work and her knowledge, especially of the new arts of printing and typewriting, as well as her speed at handwritten work. Then came questions for Garia.
"If she is to be Journeyman, Mistress President, then she ought to be apprenticed presently, is that not so? How may you explain this circumstance?"
"Merizel was employed by me as my secretary at the suggestion of the Queen," she replied. "This happened before I became a Baroness, let alone a Guildmistress. But though she technically became my servant she was still a lady of the court, being the daughter of a baron. We saw that having more than one status was unusual but not impossible and that may have contributed to the Guildmasters making me one of their number. It could be argued that Merizel was therefore apprenticed to me."
"But, Mistress President, at that time you could not read nor write our words. How, then could you be her mentor?"
"She spent a lot of time with Master Pitchell and others who are Scribes attached to the royal household," Garia explained. "These guildsmen readily accepted her help in the work which they did together. It was these palace scribes who mentored Merizel and indeed myself. You have all by now received notices from your halls printed on paper? Both of us had a hand in that development. When the first typewriters were made one was sent here to Blackstone and Merizel now uses it to write letters to all where clarity is required. Even if she has not been formally accepted as an apprentice she certainly has the knowledge."
There was silence in the room at that. Finally a man with a sour expression asked, "Is this what the future may be, Mistress President? Do we now accept anyone who may show themselves at our doors into our crafts? Is there to be no careful training, no thorough understanding of the particulars each man must gain?"
"As always, the answer is yes and no," she replied. "Yes, a thorough understanding of each craft is needed, and I know of several where mastery must come the traditional way. But there are other crafts which are going to have to adapt to new circumstances. Already many crafts work together in the capital. Paper making and printing have brought together many guilds, and for that reason the Guild Masters have agreed that from the New Year's Festival all the guilds will be merged into a single body called the Royal Palarand Institute of Engineers. It is likely that any new members will need to learn a part of several crafts in future."
Garia stood and rested her hands on the table. "Guildsmen, everything is going to change in the future. Changes are coming so fast no system of apprenticeship can possibly keep up with them all. There will be whole new areas of engineering in subjects you know nothing about in Blackstone. You will need many more men and there will be no time to train them all the way you've done so far. In fact, you'll need so many more people that you'll be forced to consider women as well, which is one of the reasons I was made a Guildmistress. The Guild Masters recognized that permitting women to do such work was the only way they were going to have enough people to do what will be necessary."
There was, of course, another uproar. Garia listened with interest as the craftsmen of Blackstone finally understood as a group what would happen to themselves and their town. The consensus, fortunately, was in her favor since many had attended demonstrations of the steam engine and knew what it represented. When a lull came in the discussion she called them to order.
"Guildsmen, we were discussing a proposal that Lady Merizel be admitted as Journeywoman in the craft of Scribe. Before you answer I'll tell you now that she will be just the first you will have to consider. I know, for example, that Brydas's daughter Senidet will likely want to do the same thing. I'm certain there will be others in the town."
Everybody knew about Senidet and her talents. Merizel's proposal was approved with no dissent.
"Mistress President, what of Senidet? Should we be proposing her for guild membership today? If so, in what craft? What grade? Brydas, shall you inform us?"
Brydas stood and faced the others. "You all know that Senidet has been help to me while not having any guild rank herself. Her letters and numbers are sufficient that she assists Mistress Sukhana in her accounts some part of her time. I have taught her all that I can but she has not the build to become a smith, were that possible. In many respects she exceeds my abilities, where strength is not needed. I would have her made apprentice, but I do not know what craft may be considered suitable. Since the steam engine arrived here she has been running it for some of the demonstrations, and she knows how to clean and maintain it properly. I deem that if she is to reach her full potential she must leave Blackstone. Milady, uh, Mistress President has pointed out that there are new craft specialties in Palarand that have not yet come to Blackstone. It seems she must travel there to complete her education."
There was a buzz of talk then, "Brydas, how may we propose to apprentice someone to any when we do not know the craft she will take or the master she will serve?"
Jepp pointed with his reed. "There is an answer before us, guildsmen. We know the Guildmistress, why should she not prentice the smith's daughter herself? She has the right."
Garia was startled. Not knowing exactly how the guild system worked, it hadn't occurred to her that she could take on apprentices herself. If she did so, of course, she could assign Senidet to any of the many projects now getting under way in Palarand. Perhaps Tarvan and Milsy could use some help? Or would she want to get involved with printing, typewriters, or any of the other new ideas now surfacing?
She cleared her throat. "Jepp, I didn't know I could do that. I thought anything like that would have to go through a Master of a craft."
Jepp smiled. "As you say, Mistress President. Your rank is not obtained the regular way, we know, but all who otherwise hold such rank would already have been masters of their crafts. They do not lose the right to take apprentices of their own, though in practice the obligations of rank mean that few do so."
Garia nodded. "Then I'll do that, if somebody tells me how the formalities work. I'm going back to Palarand, so Senidet can come with me and work with me at the palace. I know there are many projects going on there which need extra hands so she'll have plenty to think about when she gets there."
It seemed that interviews were required before the documents could be signed and approved. Merizel would be interviewed by Jepp and Garia would interview Senidet. Both of these would likely be formalities. Since both girls would thus be leaving Blackstone shortly the local guildsmen would not have to solve the question of how to deal with female guild members themselves immediately, and this was evident in the relief on many faces.
"Guildsmen of Blackstone. Does any here have any other matter to discuss?"
"Mistress President, we presently have no shoemaker. May we send to Tranidor for a suitable replacement, as is customary?"
"Do whatever you would normally do in these circumstances. I would add that, since the town will grow, you could have enough work for more than one shoemaker here soon. Indeed, that will be true of many crafts here today."
Jepp made a note to send a letter to the appropriate hall in Tranidor.
Garia asked, "Who is Blackstone's saddler?"
A man at the back stood up. "Here, Mistress President. Your men know me well, my name is Waldan."
"Yes. I remember the face, couldn't remember the name. Look, until we can get someone in from Tranidor or elsewhere to make and mend shoes, would you be willing to carry out repairs? I thought about what having no shoemaker would mean to the town and what we could do in the meantime. A lot of what will be needed would be replacing worn leather or redoing stitching, which I'm sure you know how to do. I'm not asking you to make new shoes or boots for anybody. Would you do that?"
Waldan shrugged. "As you wish, Mistress President. It is not the normal way of things but in such a small town as this the crafts have been known to help each other out. I will do as you request, Mistress President, though I must confess I am already busy making saddles to the new design."
"That's all I ask, Waldan. Just a bit of help for people who need it most." She looked at the rest. "Is there anything else to talk about?"
"Mistress President, since you say there will be many new guildsmen coming to Blackstone, I ask if you have plans for the future you would put before us."
"That depends on what plans you mean, Stonald. If you mean, who will be allowed into the town and how they will trade, that will be up to you and the Town Assembly to decide. If you mean, how any new buildings and roads would be laid out, then I do. With the help of Mason Bezan we have laid out some general principles for how the new building in Blackstone should be managed. Bezan, would you come out front and describe what we decided?"
Behind Garia was a board on which Bezan had previously drawn a rough scale map of the area around the town, up to the tops of the surrounding hills. Bezan pulled away the sheet covering it and the audience rearranged themselves so all could see it clearly.
"The first idea milady had..." Bezan paused. "Should I refer to you as milady here?"
Garia nodded. "I think so. I have my Baroness's hat on here, because some of what you are about to tell them isn't strictly guild business."
"As you say. Milady's first idea, then, was that of zoning. This is an idea where the land is divided up and certain parts allocated for particular purposes, like so..."
As Bezan went through the plan he was heard in complete silence. Most of them were astonished that someone like Garia could come up with such ideas but she told them that what they saw was the same as practices where she came from. Many were surprised by the sheer scale of her plans. When she told them how much coal Yarling had estimated there was and what would be involved in getting it out and down the valley they were stunned.
"But, Mistress President, if this comes to pass then Blackstone will be the size of Tranidor!"
"That's true," she replied, "and being that size will bring its own problems. That's why we have emphasized the water supply and sewage arrangements in the planning process. We also want to put any industry across the Bray, away from the town so that the dirt and mess is kept away from where people live."
The miners' gangmaster spoke up. "Mistress President, Bezan spoke of something he called a railroad. Is this like our wagonways?"
"It is, but a much larger version."
Garia gave them a potted description of a railroad that could take coal away from Blackstone and could bring almost anything back in its place. There were more thoughtful expressions when she finished.
"Mistress President," Rostan said, "I see now that the Guildmasters were right to honor you by adding you to their number. I had not believed that such ideas as this were possible."
"Thank you, Rostan." She held up a finger. "But all this won't happen right away. What we're talking about is how Blackstone might look in maybe fifty years' time. For the near future it's going to be confusion and chaos."
"Not with these plans before us, Mistress President," someone said. "With the knowledge that we are working to this scheme, we can ensure that Blackstone remains a fitting town for those who reside here."
"That's exactly why we drew up these plans," she said. "I've seen what happens elsewhere when a town just grows without any thought put into it. We have an opportunity here to lay everything out before the mining starts so that we end up with a town everybody can be proud to live in."
Garia waited until the discussion died down before beginning her next subject.
"While we are all here," she began, "I have a new commission for the guilds. Now, strictly speaking I'm asking this as Baroness not Guildmistress but it concerns the crafts so this is probably the best place to ask it. This morning I held a Noble's Court and this afternoon we're holding a Guild meeting. Both times we've had to hold the meeting in here because this is the biggest room in Blackstone."
Jepp said, "Mistress President, you're mentioning this now because you're leaving and the Claw won't be available for future meetings."
"Not entirely. If you all remember, when we tried Trogan and his men we had to hold it in the yard because that was the only space big enough, unless we held it in the open down by the bridge." Several of her audience nodded. "So what I want to commission is a hall -" she stopped.
"A hall, milady?" Brydas asked. "Do you mean a Guild Hall? We would certainly have need of one in the future, if so many guildsmen travel to Blackstone for their work."
"I was actually thinking of something more multi-purpose," she replied. "A town hall? No, that doesn't sound right either. What I'm thinking of is a very large building that can hold most of the townspeople at once. It can be used for my courts - baroness's courts, I mean - guild meetings, trials, concerts, even festivals if the weather is bad. What do you think?"
"An intriguing idea, Mistress President," this from Bezan, who was definitely interested. "Did you have any more to describe to us? The shape or size, for example?"
"Just a big room on its own, I think. The ceiling at least twice as high as this one, maybe double the length and width. I haven't done the numbers, I only realized we needed it after we started this meeting. It doesn't have to be square, it could be round or some other shape. Lots of big windows to let in the light. You won't need much else but I would suggest a block of toilets and a kitchen that can serve drinks and snacks. You might need some way of heating it in the winter months."
"An admirable suggestion, Mistress President," Bezan said. "But such a large building, it would not be used but a few days each year."
"We have these buildings where I come from," Garia explained. "They get used for all kinds of purposes so the number of days it is idle is quite small. Apart from what I just said you could hold concerts, dances, that kind of thing. Weapons practice. Tuition. Weddings. Even certain sports which can be played indoors."
"Concerts? Dances?" Brydas repeated. "As you say, Mistress President. Blackstone has hosted some such but only on the campsite or down by the bridge. Needless to say, any may be affected by the weather. Such a hall as you describe could be a useful addition to Blackstone. Where would such a building be placed, have you thought?"
"Not at all, Brydas. I barely thought of the need for it. You'll have to organize all that yourself as I'm not going to be here for many more days."
Bezan asked, "But, Mistress President, while you are yet with us, we may ask you more?"
"Of course, Bezan. There's no point me having all this knowledge if I can't tell it to others, is there?"
~o~O~o~
After the evening meal Garia sent a runner over the road to fetch Bezan.
"Milady?"
"Thank you for coming, I won't keep you long. That building, the new hall, it will be called the Community Hall. Does that sound all right?"
Bezan smiled and bowed. "Aye, milady, it does. That is exactly what the new building is. Do you wish to discuss the building now, milady?"
Garia grinned back. "No, I'll let you get back to your beer tonight. Thank you for coming over."
"As you desire, milady."
Bezan bowed and retreated.
"What was that about?" Keren asked. "What's a community hall?"
Garia explained and the others listened attentively.
"See?" He said when she had finished. "You still have many new, fresh ideas to come."
"So far. One day I'm going to dry up. I can't keep on doing this forever."
"You have two hundred years of knowledge inside that head -"
"- most of which I know little or nothing about," she interrupted. "You wouldn't believe just how much I am getting away with right now. Sometimes I wish I was ten or twenty years older, so I might have experienced so much more that could be useful."
"I don't know. I like you just the way you are."
"Flatterer. Now, you've reminded me. Captain Bleskin!"
"Milady?"
"I asked you earlier today what would you do when we shut down the Claw. You told me that you had hoped to lodge with Mesulkin as his guest."
"Aye, milady, so I did. But then I remembered that you would appoint a new Steward."
"So you did." She smiled at him, "What would you say if I suggested that you lived in the Steward's house but with Mesulkin as your guest?"
Bleskin's eyes widened. "Milady! You cannot mean -"
"Exactly," she said. "I know that it is short notice but would you do me the honor of becoming my Steward? I know you wanted to relax a bit after your retirement but certain recent events have changed that, haven't they? You know this region, you have friends here and you may rely on the Town Assembly to do most of the hard work. What do you say?"
"Milady!" Bleskin came to his feet and then attempted to kneel.
"Stop, captain! Rise, please. If there is one man in Palarand who does not need to swear any oath to me it would be you. You have my complete trust in this matter."
Bleskin's eyes were brimming. "Milady, the honor is mine. You shall not find me wanting."
Behind him Feteran stood, turning to the men beyond.
"Men! To your feet! Hail Blackstone's new Steward, Captain Bleskin!"
The men surged up and began clapping and stamping their feet, their pleasure being obvious. Bleskin turned and bowed to them, most of whom he had known for years.
Keren bent to speak to Garia over the noise. "You have done well today."
"So it would seem," she replied. She waved an arm. "Sookie! Beer for everybody!"
~o~O~o~
It was late. Most had gone to bed, the few who remained were gathered at either end of the common room. It was raining again, heavily and chilling, so nobody wanted to stand outside. At one end, near one of the fireplaces, the four men-at-arms about to begin the night shift idly rolled dice and talked in low voices. At the other, Keren, Garia, Merizel, Jenet, Feteran and Sukhana sat at a table near the other fireplace. Both fireplaces had small mounds of glowing coals flickering in the late evening gloom. Everyone else had retired to their homes early to avoid the worst of the downpour.
"Today was tough."
Garia folded her arms, put her elbows on the table and let them slide forward until her forehead rested on her forearms. Her nose just clear of the wood, she stared cross-eyed at the grain of the table top.
"Tough?"
With a sigh she raised herself back up to a sitting position.
"Oh, I didn't mean today was hard," she explained. "It's just... I had the Court this morning and there were a lot of small problems to sort out... even though Brydas, Fedren, Jepp and Sinidar handled most of it, I had to say the words. Then there were the guildsmen after lunch, a different set of procedures and more problems to pronounce on. I had to try and not forget things all the time around all the distractions. Nothing I couldn't handle, at all, but so many... that's what I meant by tough."
"Aye, Garia, I understand. A lesson, I think, I would do well to take to my own heart. It is easy to forget that the quantity of petitions may be as important as the quality. A continual line of apellants asking simple judgments may be as wearing as one complex problem. Perhaps that is why my mother insists on an afternoon nap each day."
"I never thought of it that way. You may be right." Garia grinned at Sukhana. "Mind you, that beer of yours doesn't help. It's rather strong, bearing in mind the size of my body. Interesting flavor, too. I quite like it."
Sukhana smiled back. "You must thank your poacher for the flavor," she replied. "He has brought me some local herb which makes the brew somewhat distinctive." She frowned. "I do not know how much more to brew, milady. I know you must leave soon, what is to become of the Claw?"
"I haven't decided yet, Sookie. I've had several suggestions: a school, a guild hall, offices for the Assembly, turn it back to an inn, keep it as my residence... one or two other odd ideas as well. I don't want to just shut it down like it was before. I had hoped to speak to your brother before I had to decide. I take it you want to stay in Blackstone, whatever happens to the Claw?"
Sukhana blushed. "Aye, milady. I never believed that I would ever settle down, that I would forever travel the roads and towns of Alaesia until I fell from the wagon dead, but yonder smith stirred things I did not know were within. I would keep him company while his daughter finds fame and fortune in the capital, as I have no doubt she will."
"I'm pleased for both of you. Life on the road can be fun, as I already know, but it can be hard as well. A small town like Blackstone may suit you well."
"Thank you, milady."
"This new Community Hall sounds interesting," Keren remarked after a while. "I deem that most towns would benefit from such structures."
"Yeah... maybe. Let's get this one up and working and we can learn from what happens here. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Merry, what are we doing tomorrow?"
"Tai Chi and mat training as usual in the morning," Merizel replied, "then I suspect you will be waylaid by guildsmen wanting to know about this new hall of yours. After our nap I wondered if we could get a ride in. When we eventually leave I don't want it to come as a surprise to my backside." She shrugged. "Other than that, nothing official, but that means little these days."
"That's the truth! And I agree about the riding. If we are about to ride all the way back to Palarand we need to make sure that riders and beasts are ready for the journey. Yes, an afternoon ride sounds like a good idea."
"Provided it isn't raining like this, of course."
Sukhana said, "Milady, I am assured that tonight's rain is unusual, normally the days of fall are merely cool and damp. Those who know such things say that this will soon pass."
"I ought to find out a little more about the weather patterns around here," Garia mused. "Merry, add climate and weather forecasting to the list!"
Garia dredges her architectural memory to explain how to build a lightweight roof and Brydas fashions a present for his departing daughter. The inevitable happens with the arrival of a large caravan, bringing unexpected visitors both welcome and unwelcome. Sookie is surprised by an offer she can't refuse.
by Penny Lane
90 - The Decree
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
True
to Merizel's guess a deputation of guildsmen turned up the next
morning wanting to know more about the Hall Garia wished them to
build. Looking at Bezan's master plan and heading out the back
entrance to the yard it seemed that the new building could be placed
somewhere east of the main street, higher up the valley side. Further
discussion indicated that some kind of road or street would have to
be built for access, which fitted in with the general development
guidelines that had been agreed.
"We can ask the miners to level the ground for the building," Bezan said. "The main problem we face will likely be bringing timber to the site for construction. Milady, do we have permission to select trees from the forest for building?"
"That's a tricky one," Garia replied, "as the forest isn't actually mine. I had an agreement from Duke Gilbanar to provide timber for the roadhouse," Bezan nodded, "but not for anything more. What would we do instead? If we can't use the forest, would it have to be brought all the way from Tranidor and beyond?"
"As you say, milady. I think it would grieve me to haul wood all that way, passing by suitable timber as we did so."
"I agree. The problem is, of course, that this will just be the first new building of many and we could end up chopping down the whole forest if we aren't careful."
"If we could use lesser timber, milady, then we may use trees nearer Blackstone. There are some small groves nearby we may choose from, but," Bezan wrinkled his brow, "we will need lengths of some width and length to span such a wide roof."
Garia grinned. "Not necessarily."
"Ah?" Bezan grinned back at Garia. The others stared at her, unsure what would be coming. "There is some method you can instruct to us, guildmistress?"
"Oh, probably any number of ways to do the job, Bezan, depending on what materials you have. Why don't we all go into my office, we can use the blackboard there."
Once inside, with the guildsmen gathered round, she picked up a piece of chalk.
"Now, there are many ways to do this. You'll have to experiment since I don't know the exact details here, but I can tell you what I saw and how my uncle described it to me. You see, he runs a big farm and one year when I was on vacation they were extending one of the big barns. To hold the roof up they used something called a truss. It looked like this..."
~o~O~o~
Garia and Brydas watched the guildsmen disperse. She turned to him.
"Is Senidet ready to leave, Brydas? We might have to go at short notice, though I think we have a few days yet."
"Aye, milady, she is. Her chest is packed, though she awaits some new garments from the seamstresses. She looks forward to the new adventure."
"And you? It will be quiet for you without her there."
"As you say, but all fathers know their daughters must eventually depart for new homes. This is not the normal way a daughter leaves her family home, though I do not begrudge it. She has a thirst for learning that cannot be quenched in this small place, at least not yet."
"That's true! Perhaps she'll come back one day soon, as a engineer to help Blackstone grow."
"Aye, milady. Then I will welcome her back as any loving father should."
"Have you thought of a leaving present for her yet?"
"I have not, milady. I thought, being a smith, perhaps a brooch or a bracelet. Have you a suggestion? Such matters are a mystery to me."
"You could always ask Sookie." Brydas colored. "But I have a better idea, why don't you make her a riding hat? It wouldn't take you long and the covering is easy for the seamstresses to add."
Brydas smiled. "Of course, milady. The perfect gift, made by her father's hand and yet both feminine and practical. I will begin as soon as we part company."
~o~O~o~
Two days later an interested group gathered in the courtyard again, with a number of curious townspeople looking on from the carriage entrance. The guildsmen had unloaded some demonstration models from a small two-wheeled cart and these lay on the cobbles in front of the group.
"These look good," Garia told them, "though of course I don't know how strong they are going to be. Have any of you tested them yet?"
"Guildmistress," the carpenter Torin said, "I did test this one, since I could not believe something so... insubstantial could be so strong. It bore my weight easily."
"Let's set them up and try them out," Garia suggested. "If we balance them across the corner here, on the walkways, that should allow us to try them out without putting anyone in danger."
With a guildsman holding each end so it stayed upright, the first sample was positioned from the walkway under Sukhana's window to that in front of the bath house. It was about two strides long and less than a foot high, and made of offcuts of sawn wood the carpenter had found in his workshop, the pieces glued and nailed together in a trellis pattern, with a narrow plank along top and bottom.
Garis stepped onto the top and carefully walked from one end to the other. She was followed by several of the heavier guildsmen, all marveling at the strength of the construction.
"That's good," she remarked, "though the weight of one of us is not like that of a whole roof, is it? Let's see how many people it can take."
Five people were able to stand on top before the first signs of strain were heard from the structure.
"Okay, that's good enough," she said when they had all hopped off. "That was just scrap timber, wasn't it? If you were making this for real, you'd probably be able to take twice the weight. Let's try the next one."
The second girder was made from two planks with a zig-zag arrangement of iron strips running between them. This proved as strong as the first, although the planks bowed alarmingly between the strip fixings when a man stood on them. The third girder was a box construction with trellis on all four sides and proved strongest of all, although walking along it was difficult as there was no flat surface.
"There you have it," she summed up. "You can make girders up any width you want and you don't need massive lengths of heavy timber to do it. You can make them all wood, a mixture of wood and metal or all metal. Brydas, if you were to make them of metal you could weld them as we discussed the other day, but riveting or bolting is just as good. It just depends on what you want to use them for or how easy it is to build them where you need them. Obviously you'll have to run tests to make sure they will be strong enough before you use them for real. Any questions?"
"Guildmistress," Bezan asked, "We began by asking about erecting a large roof for the new hall. It occurs to me that this method could be very useful elsewhere as well. Could we, for example, use this method for bridges?"
Garia nodded. "Absolutely! There are lots of bridges on Earth built using these methods. You'll have to remember to scale everything up if you want to make bridges this way though. You are thinking of the railroad?"
"Aye, guildmistress."
"The loads going across a railroad bridge can be extremely heavy. Even so, making a bridge this way could be cheaper and easier than using stone or concrete, at least for now."
"For now, milady?"
"We use concrete for most road and rail bridge construction these days, Bezan. But that depends on having cheap, volume supplies of concrete and the reinforcing rods to go with it."
"Ah, yes, guildmistress. I remember your description of the technique. We have coal, we have limestone from the Stone Sea, it should not be difficult for us to build a factory to produce the required cement. In fact, I have wondered whether the making of concrete blocks may be more useful to us than the transporting here of bricks made elsewhere."
Garia's eyes narrowed with thought.
"You may be right, Bezan, but remember that making cement and concrete blocks could use a lot of water, and water is one thing we don't have too much of round here."
"As you say, guildmistress." He smiled at Garia. "Then we shall just have to construct concrete pipes to bring water from elsewhere, guildmistress."
Garia grinned back. "You're catching on fast, Bezan. That's exactly the way to solve your problems."
"Lots and lots of nails, screws and bolts," Brydas mused. "Guildmistress, I must needs build another workshop. And employ more journeymen. The expansion of Blackstone has begun."
"You would need to expand anyway," Garia reminded him. "The miners will need all those things and more. Perhaps you need some more chartered smiths to assist? I could ask in Tranidor."
"I have already done so, guildmistress. Together with our carpenters, joiners and masons we have applied to our halls in Tranidor for guildsmen to join us. There has yet been no reply."
"Why am I not surprised? Most people there still think Blackstone is this little town at the back end of nowhere. Nobody will want to come here to work until they find out just what we are attempting to do."
"They must soon change their tune. They cannot ignore all those wagonloads of coal passing their gate without wondering what is happening."
"Aye," Bezan added. "I have heard, unofficially you understand, that the Lord Trosanar casts coveteous eyes on those wagonloads. Mayhap he intends trouble, guildmistress."
Garia grinned. "Mayhap he does! Well, I'm guessing we'll be staying with all the nobles along the route back, Bezan. We'll probably be answering a lot of questions along the way, answers few of them will understand. Or like, if they do understand."
"As you say, milady. Perhaps your double status as noblewoman and guildmistress may be of use in your endeavor."
Garia grimaced. "Maybe. We'll see."
~o~O~o~
"How do you feel? Sore?"
A mostly-female group had arrived back in the courtyard after a short ride around the hillside behind Main Street. Garia was speaking to Senidet, who was wearing borrowed riding gear and sitting on Merizel's frayen Topik, Merizel herself being restricted by Kalikan's call.
"It feels odd, milady, but no, I do not notice any soreness." Senidet eyed Garia apprehensively. "Should there be soreness, milady?"
"There's usually some discomfort at first, Senidet, because you're sitting in an unusual position with an animal moving under you," Garia explained. "Once you've been riding a week or so you usually adapt to the saddle and then everything feels comfortable. Any other thoughts on your first ride?"
"It seemed strange to be so high up, milady, with a great warm body under me." She smiled shyly. "I thought the ride was everything I imagined, milady. I look forward to further rides."
Garia smiled back. "That's great, Senidet. I'm not sure you're going to be able to do much riding until we get back to the palace, though. We just haven't the time to have a saddle made, though we can probably find enough clothing for you to wear. Your father's hat, how does that fit?"
"It is comfortable enough, milady, though I am not used to having something so heavy on my head. I shall become used to the weight if it permits me to ride."
"That's the attitude to take! Good! And remember, if you are to become an engineer, you will probably have to wear hard hats similar to your riding hat when you go on site. We don't want you to have rocks or tools falling on your head."
Everybody dismounted, Senidet with assistance, and they stood in the yard talking casually for a few moments. They would need to remove saddle and harness from their mounts before rubbing them down in their stalls, but a breather before the work was agreeable to all. Sukhana looked up at the sun.
"I should check the boys and girls have begun preparing the evening meal," she said to Garia. "If you'll hold Tixi for me, milady, I'll be but a moment."
As she walked off toward the kitchen Tedenis came running through the carriage entrance, to halt breathless in front of Garia. He saluted and gasped, a curious expression on his face.
"Milady, it is as it was before... there are many wagons and a host of men on the road."
"What? Who can you see?"
"Milady, there is dust, as before... but I have seen their colors, and they are those of my lord Trosanar. Is this what you expected?"
"Ted, I don't know. Run upstairs and alert the guard, please. I don't want us to be caught out by people pretending to be what they're not. Where's the commander?"
"He went up to the cistern, milady. They must have seen -"
A bugle note sounded, then three more short notes.
"Ah, right," Garia nodded. "The plan's being put into action. You know your place?"
Tedenis nodded. "Aye milady, upstairs out of view."
"Go, then." She turned to the others. "Let's get these frayen in their stalls. We'll take off saddles and harness but leave the rest for now. If necessary the stable lads can do that later."
Keren, Merizel and Bleskin came out of the common room. They walked smartly over to join the frayen party as they took their mounts into the stable.
"It looks like Trosanar's colors," Keren confirmed. "But we've no reason to expect him to come to Blackstone with a strong party, is there?"
"Unless your father ordered him to," Garia replied. "Whether it's him or not, there's no harm being ready."
"Aye, that's the truth. Do you think everyone will be in place?"
"Probably. If there's that much dust they won't be able to see much of what's happening in town, will they? Did you see how many wagons there were?"
Keren shook his head. "No, too much dust. They may have seen more from the Cistern."
The frayen were put in their stalls and relieved of their saddles and harness. Garia made sure Snep was properly settled before turning her attention to Tixi. A stable lad came and took over as the group returned to the courtyard. Sukhana stood apprehensively at the door to the kitchen.
"Carry on for now," Garia called, "but keep an eye open for anything unusual."
Sukhana gave a brief nod and then retreated inside the kitchen.
Keren looked at Garia. "Perhaps it is time we greeted our new travelers."
While the other women retreated to their upstairs quarters, Garia, Keren, Merizel and Bleskin walked out through the carriage entrance to await the arrival of the caravan. The first wagons were already across the bridge and approaching the town proper and Garia could see that the leading wagon looked familiar, as did the driver. Ahead of the wagon rode three men, one in colors of dark red and black, the other two in ordinary traveling garb - and very familiar. Garia stood out in the road to greet them.
"Jaxen! Welcome back to Blackstone."
Jaxen slid from his frayen and bowed to Garia. "Thank you, milady. As you see I bring company, not all of it as welcome as I, by most accounts."
The other two men dismounted and Garia walked to the other traveler, grasping his hand.
"Master Tanon, it is a great pleasure to see you again. You are always welcome to visit."
"Thank you, milady."
"It's a long way out of your way, though," she continued. "Any special reason for your visit?"
Tanon frowned at Garia. "Wagons, milady. You consume all I can find for the traffic. I thought to come and see for myself what manner of industry you have created here, where there was none before."
Before Garia could say another word the uniformed man stood in front of her and saluted.
"I am Severel, First Quadrant of Lord Trosanar's retinue. I am bid here by my lord to escort His Highness Prince Keren and Baroness Blackstone back to Tranidor with us. Where might I find the Prince and the Baroness?"
Garia swung and indicated Keren but before she could even open her mouth the man strode off and saluted him. Beside her Jaxen chuckled.
"I told him, but he wouldn't listen. I'm sorry, milady, I believe he thinks Lady Merizel is yourself."
Keren was wearing his usual palace fatigues - and Garia was still wearing her riding outfit in palace colors. Merizel, by contrast, was wearing a loose day gown of blue and looked every inch the noblewoman. Garia could see how that might look to someone who didn't know them.
"Rise, please," Keren told the man. "I am indeed Prince Keren, but you mistake my companion. Yonder is Lady Garia, Baroness Blackstone, with Master Tanon."
The man spun, shocked. Clearly he did not know what to do, since the two objects of his instructions stood apart. Garia grinned at Tanon and Jaxen.
"Come on, let's put him out of his misery." She led the way to join the others. "I am Baroness Blackstone," she told Severel.
"My Lady, my apologies. By your attire I thought you a servant of His Highness." He bowed again. "I am instructed by my Lord Trosanar to escort you and His Highness, as soon as may be arranged, to the safety of his castle at Tranidor, and thence on the southern road back to Palarand. I understand that other nobles along your route will provide further escort for you as you travel beyond Lord Trosanar's lands."
Keren asked, "Lord Trosanar has received some direct instruction from my father, then?"
"Aye, Highness, most explicit instructions. I believe that that Master Tanon's man bears a similar document addressed to you."
"Does he now? Very well, we'd better let you get camped up and we'll meet this evening to decide how to proceed."
"Camped up?" Severel stared around at the buildings. "Highness, we knew not what to expect. We thought you beleagered, at bay from armed men. Is there no place my men may reside this night?" He indicated the Claw behind Keren. "Who lives in this place?"
Garia looked at Main Street and wondered what Severel saw. The place, although now busy, still looked run down. Jaxen had brought paint on a previous visit but few had found time to spruce up their properties. Because of the warning given from the Cistern lookout, there was almost nobody on the street.
"I'm afraid we don't have any room," Garia told him. "While we've been in Blackstone I've taken over this old inn, but it is full of our men. Jaxen's men already have an arrangement with the Bell, over there, and they will fill it, so you'll have to camp up at the end of the street with the miners."
Severel looked at the dilapidated buildings with disdain. A poor, remote town. What was the Prince doing out here? No wonder his retinue had gotten into trouble! He looked at the indicated building. Bare wood, a faded sign with every last flake of paint weathered away, the name only readable because it left a darker mark: The Ptuvil's Claw. It seemed to be the largest building in sight, however. Surely..?
"There is no room in so big a building?"
Garia shook her head. "Not a spare corner anywhere." She smirked. "Unless you all fancy squeezing into the Womens' Dormitory. That's about the only room we're not using." She became solicitous. "How many of you are there?"
Severel replied stiffly, "Fourteen and myself, milady. You jest, surely. My lord understood you to be a small party."
Garia smiled. "Then he was mistaken. We are nineteen men and six women, Quadrant. Our men fill the Mens' Dormitory, the Prince has his own chamber, as does Captain Bleskin here. The rest of the space is taken by the many servants the townspeople have provided during our stay." She added, "The stables have near forty frayen and two wagons already. You'll have to go up the road."
Severel looked disgruntled. "As you wish, milady. But who will provide guard while we are yet distant? Shall I detail my men..?"
Keren spoke sharply. "You insult us, Severel. There is no danger here, not now. Look!"
He stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled, two short blasts. From balconies and roofs, from alleyways and windows, armed men appeared pointing crossbows and, in two cases, longbows. Severel looked shocked as he realized the whole caravan had been covered since it had entered the town.
"Most of these men are of His Majesty's Palace Guard while the rest are of milady's troops, and most of those came from the Palace Guard as well. After recent events we are not so stupid as to admit a caravan if we do not know the people."
Severel went down on one knee and bowed his head. "Highness, forgive me. It seems all have misread the situation here. If you will give me leave, I will take my men and find them a place to camp."
Jaxen offered, "The coal wagons are going up there as well, Quadrant. They'll show you where to put your gear."
Keren said, "Rise, please. Join us in the common room here when you are settled." He turned. "Jaxen, we'd better be having that letter Severel spoke of."
Keren turned again, facing the street, and made another series of whistles to stand down the watching armsmen. Garia noticed some knowing grins from those of Jaxen's men who had been with them the first time they had come to Blackstone.
- - -
In the office were Garia, Keren, Merizel, Bleskin and Jaxen. The wagonmaster presented a thick, sealed document. Keren opened it and whistled.
"Looks like father was upset when he wrote this."
Garia waited until Keren had flattened it over the table and then began to read.
By the Maker's Grace I, Robanar, presently King of Palarand and all those lands that comprise the Kingdom of Palarand, do this day DECREE:
That my Son and Heir Prince Keren SHALL immediately and without delay DEPART from our distant lands and present himself as soon as is practical at the Royal residence;
That my Daughter Garia, Baroness of Blackstone in North Palarand SHALL immediately and without delay DEPART from our distant lands and present herself as soon as is practical at the Royal Residence;
That the said Prince and Baroness SHALL RESIDE at night in the protection of residences of nobles through whose lands they must journey;
That every noble through whose lands the said Prince and Baroness must journey SHALL PROVIDE an escort of troops so as to avoid interference in their journey by those seeking to kill, injure or abduct the said Prince and Baroness;
That the party of the said Prince and Baroness SHALL NOT suffer delay nor pay any toll at any bridge or ferry on their journey.
Made this day 14th Bretherin in the Year 1174 since the Great Flood.
Underneath were both Robanar's and Terys's signatures and the whole document had a thick red ribbon attached to it with the wax impression of the Great Seal of Palarand.
"Yeah," Garia agreed. "He was definitely upset when he wrote this. What do you think? Do we have to start back tomorrow?"
"Can we do it?" he responded. "I don't think we can, Garia. It will take us a day to sort ourselves out and organize the wagons, won't it? We don't even know how many wagons Jaxen has brought for us. There are some outstanding matters to complete and you can't leave like this when Tanon's just arrived, can you?"
"You're right. But that stuck-up Quadrant is going to want us down the road as soon as possible, isn't he? Think we can put him off?"
"He can't make me leave if I don't want to go," Keren said, tapping the document, "even with this in front of us. When we leave we're not going to go in a hurry and leave matters half-finished."
"That's good enough for me," Garia agreed. "Jaxen, how many wagons did you bring us?"
Jaxen ran a hand through his hair. "Milady, I have three for your use, a kitchen wagon and two for your gear. I remembered that you had the two wagons of Duke Gilbanar still here, milady, so estimated another two would be sufficient." He flipped a hand. "That Quadrant brought two wagons of his own, with all their gear, there are four more with supplies for the town and five to go up to the mine for coal." He smiled. "It was just like the good old days, milady. I can barely remember leading so large a caravan."
"What did you think of the new roadhouse?"
Jaxen smiled again. "A good building, milady. An interesting design but one I approve of." He grinned again. "Especially as Master Bezan asked advice of me during the building of it! It held us all comfortably, milady." His expression changed. "Ah, that reminds me. I wouldn't trust that Quadrant nor his men, Highness, Milady. They are not, let us say, of the quality of the Palace Guard. Severel left six men behind in the roadhouse when we left. I kept my mouth shut."
"Is that so?" Garia was becoming irritated by Severel's behavior. "We'll deal with Several later. Do you know why Master Tanon came with you?"
Jaxen shrugged. "To see you, milady, and to find out what giant hole has appeared in Blackstone to consume wagons, dranakh and men. That is all I know."
"So, let's ask him over and find out what he really wants."
A runner brought Tanon from the Bell, where he had been settling himself into a room.
"Highness, Milady." He studied both of them. "You have passed some trial, I deem. You are neither the young man nor woman who began this expedition, I think."
"Tanon, I cannot disagree," Keren said. "If we have time we will tell you the tale. Sit down and tell us why you have come."
Tanon found a chair and made himself comfortable. He scratched his chin while he thought what he had to say.
"Highness, Milady, firstly I am delighted to find you both here, both well and in full command of the town. You must understand that there are rumors of events here all over our lands and most seem to me to be highly exaggerated." He smiled. "For one, I have heard that you battled a ptuvil with your bare sword and survived."
Keren gave a wry smile in return. "Tanon, the story is partly true. I had my sword, aye, but the ptuvil battled for us, not against us. Rather, it was more interested in the men who were pursuing us than with ourselves. We escaped with our lives but barely."
Tanon looked surprised. "If you would permit, Highness, I should have the tale from you, that I might better tell fact from fantasy." He continued, "To my presence here, as I mentioned outside, the transportation of coal now occupies more than forty wagons, Highness. I expect the numbers to grow in time with the demand. I have workshops building wagons the length of North Palarand and the price of hiring dranakh has risen greatly. There is disruption of trade and much confusion along the valley of the Palar. It seems to me that I must needs open an office in this place to manage the traffic. By your leave, of course, milady."
"No problem, Master Tanon," Garia agreed. "It looks like Blackstone is about to have a building boom anyway, I'm sure we can find space for an office." She stopped, arrested by a thought which resulted in a big smile. "I have an idea."
Keren and Merizel rolled their eyes while Bleskin and Tanon looked on with interest.
"It's too near meal time to go into this, I think," she decided. "If you'll all join me in the common room after our meal, I think we can solve some of our outstanding problems." She looked at them, grinning. "We'll need all of us plus Sookie and Brydas."
"Sookie?" Tanon asked, surprised again. "She is still here in Blackstone? Does she travel with you when you depart, milady?"
Garia shook her head. "She's staying here, I think. She has discovered that our town smith has certain unexpected attractions for her. At the moment she's here running the Claw for me. I wondered what she could do when we left, now I think I know." She added, "I didn't know you were in the north, Master Tanon. I wrote Jaxen asking for wagons."
"Aye, milady. I was in Tranidor arranging wagons and dranakh for other cargoes when Jaxen received your letter. It occurred to me that I could spare the necessary days to come here and discover what you had made of your town. We have brought three wagons for your retinue, milady. Together with the two of Dekarran's origin we thought that might be enough for you, the Prince and all your retinue." He frowned. "Hearing you number your men and women in the street makes me wonder, milady. The wagons will be crowded with so many women."
Garia and Merizel grinned. "Not so crowded, Master Tanon," Garia told him. "At least three of us will be riding our own frayen. It will be more a case of squeezing all our gear onto the wagons than people." It was Garia's turn to frown. "We are short a wagoneer, though. One of the two Dekarran drivers turned out to be a spy for the enemy."
Tanon's eyebrows rose. "Do you tell me? That is grave news, milady. What happened to him? Is he prisoner?"
Keren said, "That business with the ptuvil, Tanon. He was one of those that attacked us. He died during the attack."
"An unexpected blow, Highness." Tanon nodded, thoughtful. "I may be able to lend you a man for your wagon, at least as far as Dekarran. Doubtless Duke Gilbanar can provide another for the rest of your journey."
"Thank you, Tanon. Your help is appreciated, as always."
A knock at the door revealed one of the serving girls stating that the evening meal would soon be ready, and would His Highness and Milady like to freshen themselves beforehand?
"I must go," Tanon said, rising. "I have asked Mistress..."
"Yanda?" Garia supplied.
"Aye. ...Mistress Yanda for my meal tonight, but I will join you here afterward."
"As you say, Master Tanon."
~o~O~o~
It was toward the end of their meal that Severel entered the front door of the common room to stop dead at the sight in front of him. All around were men seated at tables, eating their meals and talking together with the familiarity of long association. Serving boys and girls carried plates, trays of food, goblets and tankards back and fore. In the corner of the room a partitioned area was filled with a rack of barrels from which a woman was dispensing beer. At each end of the room fires flickered, banked down with so many bodies present.
He turned and saw the Prince, the Baroness and others of their party seated at an end table. The women had changed into presentable gowns but they were still all seated among their vassals, servants and armsmen. His lips pursed into a disapproving expression which he swiftly cleared. He was the guest here. He approached the Prince's table and bowed.
Keren waved an arm. "I'm sorry, Quadrant, if I had thought I would have invited you to dine with us. Find yourself a seat, man. Sookie! Beer for our guest!"
Severel found a space on the simple benches which all used and gingerly sat down.
"Thank you, Highness, for your thought, but it was better I saw to the laying out of our camp. I have eaten, thank you." He turned to Garia. "Milady, is there no public bath house in this town? I asked some local folk but none seemed to understand me."
"There is not, Quadrant," Garia answered. "We're not on the way to anywhere, you see. I guess that most people who came to Blackstone in the past came to visit family, or, if they did not, they would have stayed in the Bell Inn. Oh, or here in the Ptuvil's Claw before the wool trade collapsed." She turned to Bleskin. "Perhaps that is something that ought to be added to the town plan? What do you think?"
"Indeed, milady. If there are to be as many new people come to Blackstone, many of whom would stay only a short while, then we will need a public bath house." He nodded. "It may benefit those of the town who do not have their own bathing arrangements, milady. Aye, I will speak with Bezan in the morning."
Severel asked, "Your pardon, sir. We have not been introduced."
"I am Bleskin, Milady's Steward in her lands here."
Keren smiled. "What the good captain has modestly failed to add is that he is Captain Bleskin, lately commander of His Majesty's Palace Guard in Palarand, recently retired and familiar with these lands near those of his birth."
Severel hastily stood and banged his chest with a fist. "Sir! Your renown has reached even these distant parts of the Kingdom."
"Seat yourself, please, Quadrant," Bleskin said. "I am no military man any more, merely a guiding hand in Blackstone should such be needed." He waited until Severel had sat down and taken a sip from the tankard a servant boy had placed in front of him. "Quadrant, where are the rest of your men?"
"Ah, captain, not knowing the circumstances in Bray Vale, I left six at the roadhouse as my Lord Trosanar instructed me."
Bleskin looked as if he would burst a blood vessel but Keren held up a hand.
"Captain, Quadrant, this is not the time. We have more urgent matters to discuss this evening. Quadrant, have you or your men any needs other than a bath house? You have food and drink? Shelter? We think it will not rain tonight but in the mountains one can never be sure."
"Highness," Severel answered, "Thank you, we need for nothing. May I ask your plan for departure?"
"We cannot leave tomorrow, if that is what you are thinking, Quadrant. It is but two bells since we learned how many wagons our party would have for our gear, and it will take us most of tomorrow morning to properly pack them. I would add that even a town so small as Blackstone requires some careful governance. We knew that we would have to prepare to leave, once news of the attack reached the King, but there are still some essential tasks left to complete before we do so. We shall depart after breakfast the day after tomorrow."
"Highness, my Lord's instructions were most clear -"
"- as were my own, Quadrant. But we cannot leave for such a journey without making the necessary preparations, else we leave something undone. One day is all we need."
Severel nodded stiffly. "As Your Highness commands. Can I or my men be of assistance during that time?"
Keren leaned back, thoughtful. "I don't see why not, Quadrant. As you have no doubt realized we have little need for escort or watch duties within the town but we do keep a look-out post on top of the Cistern."
"You pardon, Highness? Cistern?"
"The big white stone building beside your camping place. It is where the town's water is collected before delivery to all the houses."
"Ah! Highness, I wondered at such a structure. All is explained." He nodded at Keren. "You shall find us ready in the morning, Highness."
Severel stood and took his leave. As the men finished eating most left to begin packing up their few belongings or to make themselves ready for their watch shifts. Soon, only those still seated at the top table were left, while the serving staff cleared the tables down and cleaned them ready for the morning. When Sukhana had finished overseeing the tidying up she washed her hands, hung up her apron and approached the table.
"You wished to see me, Highness?"
"Not me, Garia here. Have a seat, Sookie, until Tanon and Brydas arrive."
The two men appeared shortly afterward, talking together as they came through the front door. Keren waved them to seats and then all eyes turned to Garia.
"I had a thought this afternoon," she began, "after Master Tanon made a comment about all the wagons the coal is using. He said that he wanted to set up an office in Blackstone because of all the extra traffic we've generated."
"As you say, milady," Tanon agreed.
"Now I have some related problems which have to be sorted out before I leave. There's the Claw, which of course will be empty once we go, and there's Sookie, who has decided that she wishes to stay in Blackstone - if at all possible. If she does stay, what will she do? Somehow I get the impression that she wants to be more than just Brydas's wife... um, that didn't come out the way I meant it, honestly! I mean, she probably wants to take an active part in town life."
Sukhana's face was flaming red but she didn't deny Garia's statement.
"Milady, is my fate so plain to you? Brydas and I... we have not gone so far as you believe but as for Blackstone, you are right. Much will happen here in the coming years and I would be part of it."
Sukhana turned to Tanon. "Master Tanon, I enjoyed riding the wagons and tidying up the messes your men left behind them." There were several broad grins around the table. "I enjoyed traveling to distant lands as well. But since coming to Blackstone I have discovered that I like being in one place for a time, with a solid roof over me and a proper kitchen from which to prepare food. I have liked organizing this place for Milady Garia to reside in. Should you have some special commission that might interest me, I might consider it, but I would prefer to remain here if I can." She blushed again. "Personal reasons aside, that is."
Tanon looked taken aback. "Why, Sookie, I would not think to stand in the way of your happiness. You have been a valuable member of the company and I must needs look far to find a replacement for your talents, but I would not deny you your desires. This is the man?"
Brydas nodded. "Aye, Master Merchant, that I am. Milady Garia has the right of it, I am sorry to have stolen her from you."
Tanon turned back to Garia. "You have some plan, milady."
"I do. Sookie, you are comfortable running the Claw, aren't you? As my housekeeper you ran it one way, would you be capable of running it as a commercial establishment?"
Sukhana nodded. "Aye, milady. With Senidet's help I have understood the accounts, and your numbers make all the difference. When she departs with you I will apply to her father should I need further lessons."
Brydas rolled his eyes and grinned.
"My trade is smithing, not the tallying of accounts. I am no clerk but we will muddle through." He became serious. "Milady, do I understand that you wish to turn the Claw back into an Inn? The town could certainly use another such."
"Not... quite," Garia grinned. "Sookie, what I propose is this. I will lease you the Ptuvil's Claw at an annual rent of a Crown a year."
"Me? But milady..."
Garia held up a hand. "You'll sub-let it to Master Tanon as his Blackstone base at some suitable price you two can work out between yourselves. That means that you'll stay in charge here and you'll have the authority to hire and fire as you will. Master Tanon gets his office in Blackstone and a secure place to keep wagons, animals and men when they are in town. You won't have to worry about having the place full of rowdy miners or anything like that, you'll just have the wagon men, most of whom you probably know anyway. What do you say?"
As Sukhana stared at Garia in surprise Tanon stood and reached a hand across the table.
"Done, milady, and a better piece of business I have not made in many a year. I have not inspected the building but I do not doubt it will serve our purposes, which you are already familiar with, of course. Sookie is the perfect proprietor for such an enterprise, and you have my word she shall be fairly treated in all our dealings."
Garia took Tanon's hand and shook it, smiling. "Done, Master Tanon. I just wish all my problems were that easy to solve." Her smile changed. "Now I have to go and tell Mistress Yanda that I've taken her guaranteed trade away from her."
"Oh!" Sukhana said. "You need not worry about that, milady. She's already told me she's had to turn people away because of all the new faces around. I think she'll be happy enough to see the wagon traffic come over here. It's not as if we're in competition, anyhow. There will be plenty new visitors to keep her rooms filled. Perhaps we will need another inn in Blackstone soon."
"You'll do it, then?"
"I think so, milady. I will have to pay staff which I don't now, but I would rather do that anyway. Like you I do not like this notion that the townsfolk give service to their lieges for free, but what do I know? Without such service your own visit to your lands would have been more difficult, that I know. But I would prefer to pay coin for service given."
"As would I. Perhaps things will change in the future. So, the moment our wagons roll out onto the street the place is yours, Sookie."
There were tears in Sukhana's eyes. "Thank you, milady."
~o~O~o~
"That was clever, what you did."
They were standing in the yard, as usual, but the yard had three wagons in it and goods and tackle lying all around. Because of this there were extra guards present which meant that Garia and Keren couldn't be as intimate as usual.
"It was one of those things," she replied. "I couldn't see what to do with the Claw and I knew Sookie wouldn't be happy just keeping house for Brydas. She has to be running something."
"Aye. I know the type. My father is married to one."
"That's the truth! Anyway, along comes Tanon - who I never ever imagined would show up in Blackstone - and the whole thing just fell into place. So, I have a Steward, I've started them on a Hall, I've found a future for the Claw, now all I need is a Sheriff and I can go away content."
"So," Keren said, "you're expecting a quiet ride home, then? What about these men of Trosanar's? Do you think he's up to something?"
"At the moment I think they're all running round like headless chickens, uh... brifilis, with almost no idea of what really happened out here. I don't trust those men but between our own men and Tanon's men - who I do trust - we should be able to stop any funny business." She flicked a hand. "That's for the future. Let's get ourselves organized and ready to leave first."
"Aye, Garia. Tomorrow will be a busy day. We still have much to do."
"Good night, then, my love. We will be one day nearer solving the big problem, won't we?"
"Aye. I would like it to be solved, but I suspect the solving will be more difficult than we expect."
The final meeting of Blackstone's Town Assembly brings together all those in whose safekeeping Garia will leave her town. Once details have been finalized she hands out as gifts all those objects sent to her during her stay. Then comes the serious business of packing, and finally she and the others must make their farewells to the town she has come to know and love. The company take the road south and make their first night's stop at the new roadhouse.
by Penny Lane
91 - On the Road Again
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
The
common room was empty except for those seated around the long table.
At one end sat Garia, Baroness Blackstone, presiding over the
meeting. At the other was her Steward in these lands, Captain
Bleskin. Ranged either side were members of her Town Assembly:
Selden, the new Agent for the Messenger Service; Fedren, keeper of
the Bell Inn; Brydas, town smith; Torin, carpenter; Blandel,
mason; Sinidar, the tanner.
At one side of Garia sat Jepp, the town scribe, who was making a formal record of the meeting. At the other sat Merizel, who was there only in her capacity as Garia's secretary, ready to take notes should they be necessary. Two others sat at the table, for these were new men who had just been co-opted to the Assembly by Garia. These were the mason Bezan and the miner Yarling.
"Does anybody have anything else to add?" Garia asked the attentive faces. "You've all seen the plan, is there something we've all missed?"
Bleskin answered her. "We are many differing points of view about your table, milady, as is preferable for such an assembly. If there is aught that is amiss, then you have provided us authority to take decisions in your name. The chance to plan a town such as ours is a rare circumstance and we will make certain of our arguments before we move a single stone. That you leave such decisions in our hands speaks well of your own judgement, milady."
The others nodded.
"Thank you, captain," she responded. "I'm glad you think so, because I know nothing about town planning! Besides, once I get back to the palace I'm not likely to have time to think about what's happening up here. I believe it's better to leave such decisions to those who have to live here."
"Milady!" Bezan protested, "You are too modest. Building zones, concrete, the Community Hall, the railroad, there is much you have suggested that would never have occurred to us. Though you have little experience in these arts you still have much to teach us."
"Aye, milady," Bleskin agreed. "You have a fresh point of view about such matters and knowledge of how such a town might develop over the years which we have not. Though we shall direct the development here we will always attend carefully to your words whenever you visit us."
It's true. Most towns on this world will have developed the old-fashioned way, I guess, with people just throwing up buildings and streets as they needed them. There's no tradition of founding new towns like we did in the West. Perhaps they have a point.
"I guess you are right, captain," she nodded. "Let's move on to the next bit of business, then. Brydas, has the badge for the Sheriff turned out okay?"
"Aye, milady. I have it here."
Brydas reached into his pouch and pulled out a small object wrapped in a square of thin leather. Opening it onto the table it revealed a badge which looked both familiar to Garia and yet appropriate for this world. A round metal disk bore the inscription "BLACKSTONE" around the top and "TOWN" around the bottom, while the word "SHERIFF" went across the middle in larger letters. Around the disk protruded six triangles, the points being well rounded so as not to catch in clothing. Garia picked it up and turned it over so they could see a spring-loaded pin to attach the badge to the holder's clothing.
"That's a fine piece of work, Brydas. How did you make this so detailed, if I might ask?"
Brydas considered, then remembered who he was talking to.
"Have you heard of a method of casting called 'Lost Wax', milady?"
"Yes, I have. You make a carving - um, there's no need to go into details, is there? This is your usual good work and I assume you can make more for the deputies when they are needed?"
"Aye, milady, and for this one if it is damaged or destroyed. I have the original carvings securely stored."
"So, all that remains," she smiled, "is for you to tell me who you have all chosen as Blackstone's first Sheriff."
"As you say, milady. We have had many discussions with interested parties and decided that someone who was familiar with all in town would serve the office best. We decided on Fedren."
Garia though briefly then nodded. "A good choice, I think. Fedren, you are happy to do this? What about the Bell? Will Yanda be able to run it without your help?"
"Aye, milady, she is content. You will recall, she ran the inn for some weeks when Kasinna and I were locked away by Trogan. Though the town is busier now, she maintains that she has all in hand, especially if the wagon men come over here to the Claw."
"And you would help out when the business of Sheriff is quiet, I assume?"
Fedren grinned. "Aye, milady, but I know where my first responsibility shall be. I shall not fail you."
"Then, if you'll stand and come round here, we'll ask you to swear an oath to accept you into your new office. Master Jepp?"
Fedren stood and spoke the words Garia, Jepp and Bleskin had agreed and then signed the document Jepp held forward. Garia pinned the badge - carefully - to his tunic and he returned to his seat.
"Master Jepp, are we done here?"
"I think so, milady. Has anyone else anything further we should mention?"
There was silence, so Garia spoke.
"Good. That's over, and I can happily leave Blackstone in your capable hands. I want to ask you to think of a couple of things, though, before I go. Firstly, almost all of the Assembly are guildsmen. There's only Fedren who isn't a guildsman at the moment. Now, I guess that's because you are the most educated in the town but it does mean that you don't have a really representative mix of the townsfolk here. I'd like you to think of adding others to the Assembly in time and of casting your nets wider. For instance, women make up half the population but there are none here except me - and Merizel, of course, but she isn't on the Assembly, she's here to take notes for me. Think about adding one or two women - perhaps you could start with a healer, say. They talk to people and they know what goes on."
The whole table of men looked at Garia in silence.
"But, milady -"
"But nothing, Brydas. You have myself and Merizel here as examples, and you are sending your own daughter off to be a guildswoman! You really need those different viewpoints if you want this assembly to work better. Don't you think that the townswomen already complain because a bunch of men tell them what's going to happen? Get one or two in here and they'll be able to say that they are helping make the decisions."
Eyes were downcast to the table but there was a muted rumble of, "Aye, milady."
"The other thing I wanted to mention is, beware of outsiders." She held up a hand. "I know, after your experiences with Trogan you won't make that mistake again! But this group of Trosanar's soldiers makes me wonder if he's up to mischief somehow. He has no rights here and he's not going to get any. There may be others turn up trying to make a quick... Solly. I know you are all tradesmen - even Fedren - that pride yourself on giving good service for money received, but there are others out there who won't care so much, so long as they can pocket your money."
Sinidar asked, "What of Trosanar's men, milady? I trust they will depart when you do."
"They had better, since the only reason they are here is to provide an escort." Garia smiled. "The Prince and I have one or two ideas about how to make sure they behave. Fedren, it will be up to you to make sure no other trouble-makers get a hold in town. If you need to, I'm thinking that Yarling can provide some tough bodies to help you make your point."
Yarling was grinning. "Aye, milady, that we will do, and thank you for your confidence in us."
She smiled back. "I'm glad we understand each other, Master Miner." She turned to Merizel. "Merry, anything else we ought to deal with here?"
"You were disposing of items received, Garia."
"Oh, yes, right! The gifts and gadgets we received are staying here. There's no point us taking any of them back and they will be of more use to the town. Brydas, you get the steam engine. I'm not taking it back and there's no point leaving it in the Claw. I'm sure we can find someone to help you get it back to your workshop."
"Thank you, milady. I have already considered how to construct my own, but the use of your model will be most helpful. The pity is that Senidet will not be there to run it, but doubtless my journeymen will learn the duties."
"Good. Jepp, you're getting the typewriter. It makes sense for you to have it, doesn't it?"
"As you say, milady. You have my thanks."
"Um," Merizel said, "It needs some minor repairs, Master Jepp. Best let Master Brydas look it over first. Some of the soldering is a little suspect."
Both Jepp and Brydas nodded. Garia continued, "And we'll leave you most of the spare paper, as well. I know you had a request to set up a school so that will help get it started. Fedren, I'd like you to have the mirror over there." She pointed to the silvered glass, mounted on the wall of the common room. "It doesn't make sense for it to be in here any longer, it ought to be somewhere public but out of the weather, so I thought you could put it in the Bell."
"Thank you, milady. It will certainly help to attract people to the Inn."
"As if they needed anything other than beer to make them come in! Yes, have the mirror, and I'm also giving you the big telescope as well as you are the new Sheriff. It will be your choice if you want to keep somebody on lookout on the cistern or not but I think that is the best place for the telescope."
Fedren nodded. "As you say, milady. I will consult with Captain Bleskin about the town's future needs."
"What else? Our exercise mats can stay here if anyone can find somewhere to store them. They'll probably end up in the Community Hall when it is built."
"Milady," Brydas asked, "What of the... guns?"
"They'll have to go with us, Master Brydas," she replied. "I know you're interested but they are too dangerous here. I don't think you'll face any more of them once we have left, do you?"
"As you say, milady."
"I want to get them back down south and set up a task force of guildsmen to evaluate what we have and start production of our own weapons," she explained. Noticing the puzzled expressions of those assemblymen who did not know of the weapons, she added, "Ask Master Brydas to explain about the guns once we've left. He knows as much as any of us do right now." Garia shrugged. "I'd like to say more but we're out of time. I'm done talking, I think. I'm off to have a muster of the men before we get down to the real business of packing."
The meeting dispersed. Garia and Merizel went out and into her office, where Sukhana appeared with a tray of drinks.
"Thanks, Sookie. Is your brother around yet?"
"Aye, milady. His men are waiting for His Highness and Feteran to come back down from the cistern."
"Ah, right. We'll see them come in the yard from here."
They had time to finish their drinks before Keren and Feteran came through the carriage entrance accompanied by Jaxen. Garia and Merizel walked outside to meet them.
"All set? Did you find something for them to do?"
"Aye," Keren replied. "I sent a strong patrol up the back to investigate the Stone Sea, of which Severel had heard but knew little about." He smirked. "I may have overlooked mentioning the occasional appearance of grakh, now I think on it. Some others are on the cistern mounting a lookout and the rest are guarding their own camp. I don't think they'll cause any problems, Garia."
"Good. It's only for today, in any event." She turned to Jaxen. "All set?"
"Aye, milady. We're in position."
"Then let's get upstairs before anyone comes to interrupt us."
Garia led the way up the men's stair as Jaxen's men fanned out across the yard and around the entrances to guard the Claw while her muster was held. Inside the Men's Dormitory they found, as on the day she had explained the guns, every member of their company. This time, Jaxen accompanied them, raising an eyebrow when he saw the crowd.
"All right," she called them to attention. "Keren has some words for us."
"Men, and women of course," he began. "We'll set off for Tranidor immediately after breakfast tomorrow morning. That means we have today to pack our gear and put most of it on the wagons. The wagon train will be more than just our own five wagons, at least as far as Tranidor. Jaxen?"
"Aye, Highness. I'm taking back three that brought goods for the town and there will be four from the mine, laden with sacks of coal. That means our forces will have to cover twelve wagons."
"As you say. Now none of this would be anything unusual but for this detachment of Trosanar's men. I'll tell you now bluntly I don't trust them. Fortunately I don't think their Quadrant knows anything but ceremonial work so I don't believe he will set upon us along the way, or something foolish like that. We are too many for them, I deem. But this may not be all his number, and he may play a part for us to relax our suspicions. Now, all Jaxen's men have traveled with us on the journey north so are known to all of you. We trust them and they trust that we know what we are doing. We can't ignore Trosanar's men but we can make sure they are never in any position to make mischief.
"So that we may all be recognized I propose that we travel this first part of the journey, until we depart Tranidor, attired in our Palace Guard uniforms. I know that you all have them, even you Blackstone men, since we would normally change to those colors once we cross the Sirrel. If we appear to Trosanar and his men as one united party he may think again of any scheme he may have brewed against us. I believe he has underestimated our numbers and the sight of so many of the King's uniform may give him pause."
The men murmured among themselves at this request. Some rolled eyes and there were some exasperated looks together with nods of agreement. For some, it would mean repacking their gear.
"Highness," Brazan asked, "Are you sure that we all have palace colors? What about Tedenis and Briswin?"
Tedenis spoke up. "Sir, the townswomen have made us tunics and hose in the King's colors. We are well provided for our journey south." He added, "They may not be as fine as those made for the King's men, perhaps, but they are of a like color and style."
"Well I don't own any, Highness," a voice came. All turned to Jarrin, who added, "I was concerned that my own colors, those of Duke Gilbanar, might stand out along the road. I thought to ask if I could ride in traveler garb as Jaxen's men will do."
Keren nodded. "Aye, that would be acceptable, Jarrin. I would not expect Jaxen's men to wear the King's colors," he smiled, "though it seems that several of them once did so."
"Thoran," Chinnar said. "There is a spare tunic in Thoran's gear, Highness, if any might need it."
"Well said, Chinnar. We will remember that, should it become necessary. Any more questions?"
"What about the women, Highness?" Jaxen asked. "I know Milady Garia and Milady Merizel have such gear for I have seen them wearing it. What of the others?"
"Garia?"
"Jenet, Lanilla and Jasinet have servant's dresses in palace colors, since they would need to change as we do once over the Sirrel. They have no riding gear in colors, and Lanilla and Jasinet don't even ride yet. I don't think Senidet has anything useful, she just has the usual traveling clothes."
Jaxen waved a hand. "Milady, I don't think you need worry about women riding the wagons. All would be expected to wear traveling clothes. I thought more of those of you who would be riding frayen and of what might be needed when we arrive in Tranidor."
"Ah, yes! I hadn't thought that far, Jaxen." She frowned. "You think we might have trouble when we arrive, then?"
The wagonmaster shrugged. "Milady, I have no idea, but that is where I deem Lord Trosanar would make his move, rather than along the road. These troops he has sent here as your escort are not his only men at arms."
Garia looked at Keren. "Are we making too much of this? Or are we not taking it seriously enough?"
"All we can do is what we can think of and keep alert. Once we are back on the road we'll get a better feel for the conditions as we travel. For now, Trosanar is our first potential obstruction."
"Speaking of obstructions," Garia said, "Master Yarling is traveling with us to Tranidor. If you remember, the Guildmaster there had some schemes of his own and Yarling wants to make sure the situation is not misunderstood."
Keren nodded. "His assistance will be useful, I think. Can he yet ride? I did not think his arm was mended."
"He says he can get on a frayen but it isn't comfortable to ride yet. He is content to ride on a wagon."
"Good. Any other business? Your gear is all clean and ready for action? Then we'd better end this meeting and start packing those wagons."
~o~O~o~
That day held one final surprise for Garia. After her nap a servant girl came to tell her that there was a deputation of townswomen waiting to see them. Puzzled but half-expecting something of the sort she had them shown up to the Women's Dormitory, at this point just an empty room but large enough to hold everybody while keeping their meeting private.
"Milady Garia, Milady Merizel," the seamstress called Jorine began, "we have some small gifts for you, that you might remember your town when you are far away. We thought to provide you and your girls with practical items which might keep you warm as you travel through our lands."
Garia, Merizel, Jenet, Lanilla and Jasinet were each presented with a long-sleeved shirt of woven pakh-wool, fitting close enough to lie comfortably under their day clothes or riding tunics. These were accompanied by woolen gloves and scarves. All items were undyed, which meant that they would tone gracefully with either Blackstone or Palace colors. Garia thanked the women profusely.
Senidet had been roped into the meeting and received gifts of her own. These were a riding skirt and a matching pair of breeches. Since there was no time to obtain or cut leather for the patches, a double layer of canvas had been used instead. She also received a shirt, scarf and gloves.
The next item to be presented was a pennant, which the women said was for her men to fit to a lance while riding. It had the two Blackstone greens, lighter above, with a red ptuvil embroidered on top, and was almost a stride long.
"You and your men have survived a meeting with a ptuvil, milady," Patilla told her, "It is customary to mark such an encounter with a token to show the luck of the bearer."
"I don't know what to say," Garia replied. "I do know that the men will carry this with pride. I can't thank you all enough for your thoughtful gifts. We will treasure all these items."
The women all curtseyed but made no move to go. At Garia's questioned glance Patilla brought out a cloth package and opened it.
"We were not sure about this, milady," she said, "but we decided that you could not go to your marriage bed with nothing of your lands beside you. We would not care to make you a wedding gown, that we know is for those more talented than ourselves to sew, but perhaps we can offer you this, to be worn on your wedding night."
Patilla held up a nightgown of finest pakh wool, woven in such a way that it looked almost like smoke. There was delicate embroidery on the yoke but otherwise it was completely white. Garia was speechless.
Oh, God! What do I tell these people? They obviously believe I am going to marry Keren.
Garia chickened out by stammering a kind of acceptance and took the parcel, carefully re-wrapped to preserve the contents until the appointed day. Her face was red and she found it difficult to face the women, knowing what they assumed and what the truth was.
I just wish it were so, and so does Keren! But there are bigger stakes to play for than our personal happiness. We're just digging a hole for ourselves and everybody is helping us dig. A lot of people are going to be upset whatever happens.
The townswomen departed, seemingly satisfied with their efforts, and Garia was left looking at her staff, who returned her stare.
"What? I don't want to disappoint these people, I really don't. They have all done so much for us. We would have had a much harder time without all the help we have been given, and that goes for you three as well." Garia indicated the three town-born girls. "So, now we know what we're all wearing tomorrow, let's get the other chests packed and ready for the men to load."
~o~O~o~
The mornings were definitely chilly now, and Garia was glad of the extra layer under her riding gear. She knew that Snep would help keep her warm from below but head and arms could still feel the cold, especially once they moved into open countryside. The pakh cloth was so soft, she wondered whether there was a market for quality fabric but then remembered that in a few years there would be no room for pakh, at least not in her valleys.
The yard was full of men, women, frayen and dranakh, their breath steaming, and there was the usual apparent confusion as everybody prepared their animals or made sure that loads were secured and covered. There wasn't enough room in the yard for all the men, animals and wagons so two of the wagons were already waiting in the street. Feteran stood at one side doing a head count while Keren was in front of the kitchen talking to Sukhana and Brydas, whose arm was around Sukhana's waist. Senidet stood by her father's side, knowing that once she left with the company she might not see him again for at least six months.
"Milady."
Garia turned. "Brazan?"
"A fresh waterskin for your journey, milady."
"Oh, thanks."
Garia secured the skin behind her saddle as Varno blew a soft toot on the bugle. All turned to where he stood beside Feteran.
"The women of the town have made us a talisman," Feteran said to the crowd. "A token of our encounter with the ptuvil." He held up his lance with the pennant attached, holding the tip with his other hand so that the embroidery was clearly visible. "Men! Whether you are sworn to the King or to Baroness Garia, know that those of you in this company shall feel proud to ride behind such a device. I know that not all of you were there that day but you also know we all share the battle-bond. This is ours, men, and none shall take it from us."
There was a round of applause at his announcement. He continued, "Is everybody ready? Then, with His Highness and Milady's permission, we should mount up."
Garia indicated assent by hauling herself into her own saddle. Sukhana curtseyed and Brydas bowed to Keren, and he made for his frayen while Senidet gave her father one last hug. Soon everybody was waiting and Feteran gave the signal to move out. For practical reasons the frayen moved out first and the wagons used the freed space to manoever out of the yard into the street.
Both sides of the street were lined with townspeople, waiting to see them off. On the balcony of the Ptuvil's Claw two of her men pulled her standard in before hurrying to join the caravan. Garia twisted to see a line of wagons carefully descending the street behind them, pausing when they reached her own company. Jaxen's men came from the carriage entrance to the Bell, their wagons were already lower down the street. He came to join Garia and Keren.
"All set, Highness, Milady?"
"I think so, Jaxen," she replied. "Where are Trosanar's men?"
"Right at the back, at the moment, milady. Once we get free of the town eight will ride ahead as advance guard and six will remain behind." He snorted derision. "Not that we needed any of them, of course."
Down the street came Severel, halting beside Keren and saluting. "Highness, we are -"
He stared in shock at Garia, Merizel and Jenet, all in their palace riding gear mounted on frayen. His eyes followed down to their feet and widened at the unusual brass stirrups and placement. His attention then went to the other riders, realizing that they were all dressed in the same colors.
"Highness," he choked, "Forgive me. I did not realize..."
"What, Quadrant?" Keren responded. "Did you think our journey here an afternoon's light exercise? Our party is well provided against whatever we may face on the road. What troubles you? Surely you have seen a woman astride a frayen before?"
"It is true, Highness, yet... I did not expect... Milady, I have seen women riding before but rarely."
"Well, I guess you're going to see more of us in the future," Garia replied. "Lord Trosanar saw us riding at Dekarran, were you there with him?"
"Alas, milady, I did not accompany him that time, there was only limited room as you know."
"So, Quadrant," Keren asked, "Are your men ready to start? We await but a single rider."
"Aye, Highness, that is what I came to report."
Tanon came out of the Bell astride a frayen, joining them.
"A loose strap, Jaxen. Good morning, Your Highness, My Lady. My apologies for keeping the caravan waiting."
"Not a problem, Master Tanon," Keren told him. "We awaited those camped at the top end of town, they have now joined us. Jaxen? You are wagonmaster today. Direct us, if you please."
The long string of wagons, surrounded by armed men, rumbled into life and they were away. The townspeople waved and cheered until they had crossed the bridge and then they were in open country, the sunlight of a fresh fall morning raising their spirits.
Damn! I do like doing this, Garia thought. Chugging down the valley on the railroad will be nowhere as much fun.
True to his word eight of Severel's men rode past the caravan and took up position some distance ahead. Their own men rode on the grass verges either side of their wagons while Jaxen's riders took station beside their wagons and those loaded with coal. Initially Garia rode beside Keren and they talked of light matters for a while, then Tanon came alongside and started a long discussion with the Prince. Garia listened for a while but then hung back and found the wagon with Merizel aboard.
"Are you doing this deliberately, knowing I can't ride today?" Her friend asked plaintively.
"I came to keep you company," Garia replied, smiling. "If you like, I can go ride beside Keren again."
Merizel gave a mock scowl. "You wait, milady, your time will come."
"Aye, I know it," Garia said. "Just today?"
"Just today, then I may ride again, I think," Merizel confirmed. "Still, it has meant that Senidet has a chance to ride Topik while I may not. She is not so enthusiastic as some I might mention but the beasts respond well to her touch. You were right to suggest it to her, Garia."
"I wasn't sure, Merry. She seems to like machinery more than she likes animals but if we can get her riding it must make her future easier. She'll have a level of independance few other girls will have experienced. She'll need it if she wants to become an engineer."
"Aye, Garia. Sometimes I feel so stupid beside all these clever women."
"Don't undersell yourself, Merry. I may know a lot but I'm not really clever, and you can organize way better than I ever could."
"Aye, I cannot disagree with that!"
The caravan continued on its sedate way south, through the open countryside which made up this part of Bray Vale. Garia now knew that these were her lands, so took more interest in the landscape, wondering how far south the inevitable industrial sprawl would reach. She wondered if the botanist had found any more suitable plants for crops and how many years it would take to prove how useful they would be.
They stopped mid-morning for the inevitable brew-up at a flat, basic pull-in that showed signs of heavy use. Garia frowned as they returned from the obligatory latrine visit.
It's not just the roadhouse, is it? We'll have to improve all these stopping places if the volume of traffic is going to grow like crazy.
"How are you doing, Senidet?"
The smith's daughter pulled a face. "Milady, it is hard work riding, is it not? I have aches in places I did not know that I could ache." She rubbed a hand in the small of her back.
Garia smiled encouragement. "That's because you are having to balance in the saddle as you ride along, and you're using muscles you don't normally use. Your body has to adapt to the new position and movement. It will all get better in time, I can assure you." She had a thought. "I don't know how much exercise you used to do, Senidet. That will make a difference. You're probably not used to much heavy labor, are you? I would think that few girls of your age and station would be."
Senidet smiled. "I have been attending the Tai Chi sessions, milady. I have noticed the difference they have made to my own fitness and flexibility. I wonder... might I learn some of your own exercises, milady? I am no warrior but I can see how they may improve my strength and reactions."
Garia was startled then thoughtful. "Well, I don't see why not! But you'll have to wait until we get back to the palace. We won't have time for any of that on the road, and I don't want to do any while we're guests of any of the nobles, it will just cause delay and confusion."
"Milady," Senidet said with a grin, "I saw the confusion on Severel's face. Is it like this wherever you go?"
Garia grinned back. "Pretty much, yes. I might be the first but I sure am not going to be the last! Welcome to my crazy world, Senidet. I hope you'll find it fun."
"As you say, milady. It catches my interest in a way I find difficult to resist."
Garia decided that the air had warmed up enough to remove her pea-coat, so Jenet carefully folded it and secured it behind Garia's saddle, replacing it with her tabard - and swords. It was not long before an overwhelmed Severel spotted her and approached.
"Milady, I have never seen a woman bearing swords before!"
"Quadrant, I won't put you out of a job," Garia said, careful not to laugh. "We'll need men-at-arms to protect us for some time to come, I believe. But the King and Duke Gilbanar both train women for their household troops now. Has your lord not told you what he learned in Dekarran?"
"Milady, he has mentioned in passing of his visit there but he would not speak of what he learned to any mere man-at-arms as myself. We are not considered of high enough status to know the business of Kings and Dukes, milady."
Severel reddened as he realized who he was speaking to. Garia just nodded.
"I understand, Quadrant. I keep forgetting how this society works sometimes. Trust me, the meetings can be as boring as you probably think they are." She smiled. "Shall we get back on the road?"
Another ten marks or so, another camp site, this time for lunch. There was another train of four wagons already parked, headed for Blackstone. Jaxen wandered off to exchange news while the rest ate the usual traveler's fare and drank pel. Back on the road Severel found Feteran and rode beside him.
"Commander, your liege confuses me. She rides as though she has done so all her life and bears arms, something I have never seen a woman do before, let alone one so young! Tell me, what manner of person is she? She is young to be a Baroness. What happened to her parents, to make her head her house so young?"
Feteran shook his head. "We do not know if her parents are alive or dead, Quadrant," he replied. "She is not Palarandi born but comes from a distant land beyond Alaesia called Kansas. She knows not how she came to our lands or how she might return. The King has given her sanctuary and she has pledged herself to him, offering knowledge of all that the lands of her birth might reveal. In return the King has granted her Blackstone."
"Ah. I did not think that Blackstone was a barony before."
"As you say. I believe the lands were Duke Gilbanar's before the grant. The King intended them as little more than a token, to provide her with armsmen and a basic income to support her." Feteran kept a straight face as he added, "It was chance that we discovered the coal which will make the production of steel so much easier. Even your own lord will share in the increased wealth which will flow in these lands."
"My lord Trosanar wonders about the coal, commander. He is irritated that the traffic passes his gates and pays no tolls to the town. But, my question! Is the land whence she comes so different that the women ride frayen and wear swords as men do?"
Feteran chuckled then. "No, indeed, Quadrant! Her people ride beasts much larger than frayen, a creature called a horse not known in Alaesia. And they do not use swords any longer either, preferring weapons much more dangerous and lethal. No, the folk of her lands learn the use of swords for fun. But do not mistake me, Quadrant, the Baroness is indeed a warrior. She has taught us two new ways of fighting and knows more. Despite her size and apparent age, she is not to be trifled with. While we were in Dekarran she killed a man with a single kick."
Severel's eyes were wide. "Do you tell me? How is this possible?"
"A long story, Quadrant." Feteran craned his neck and looked up and down the length of the caravan. "All seems in order, I have time to tell you the tale. It was like this. Milady was in her chambers..."
~o~O~o~
The clumps of trees increased gradually in size and number so that it was soon impossible to see very far across the valley. Eventually a point came when it was indistinguishable from forest. The caravan continued at the steady pace of the dranakhs but the outriders paid more attention to the terrain either side. It was unlikely that their large caravan would be attacked by 'normal' bandits but the attack at the head of Blackstone Vale had been unlikely, too. Nobody was taking any chances.
As they moved on Garia noticed that the trees became taller and more numerous. There were still ditches either side of the roadway but nowhere near the size of those nearer Blackstone. In fact, in some places there was no separation between forest and road at all. The trees now overhung the road and provided welcome shade from the sun. She recognized the road from their initial journey and wondered what the new roadhouse would look like.
Soon came a brightening of the light and a clearing appeared to their right, the ground leveled and paved with crushed rock. Beyond the pull-in were two large buildings with a wide road leading between them, all new. Of the original buildings there was no sign. The first block showed only windows to the road but the other had several doors showing at the rear of the inevitable covered walkway. To Garia's surprise the caravan turned and went along the new road between the two buildings.
There were more buildings, confusing to the eye, but all the other travelers had been here before so knew what to do. The wagons were led between two other blocks, then another two, then pulled to the left. The dranakhs were released and promptly went back to the access road and continued left toward the forest. Their frayen, once unsaddled, were led to covered stalls between the buildings on the other side of the road. Garia, Merizel, Senidet and their maids were standing beside their gear, wondering what to do, when Jaxen approached with a smile.
"Milady, what do you think? This arrangement, although unusual, is well-suited for the traffic that will pass through here. Master Bezan has a good eye for detail."
"I'm not sure, Jaxen," Garia replied. "This looks different than the last plan I saw, and it always looks different on a sheet of paper than the real thing. What am I looking at?"
"As you say, milady. Ah, the buildings this side of the road are the men's dormitories, excepting the first block we passed on the way in, which is the kitchen, and the next block, which is the women's dormitory. Wagons are parked between the blocks, as you can see, and any frayen put across the road like those."
"I see. So what are those blocks over there?"
"Those are the bath houses for each block this side, milady. You can see we have a walkway down the outside of both rows of blocks to give access during the rains so that servants can start boiling the water easily."
"So we have to cross the road to have a bath or use the toilet?"
"Aye, milady. There is a robing room to permit you to pass while wearing a cloak or, indeed, while fully clothed. I have not found the experience to be uncomfortable so far, though we have not suffered much bad weather since the site was rebuilt."
Garia looked around. At the outside edge of each row of buildings a covered walkway connected them, so that people could walk to and from the kitchen area without getting wet. There was a rudimentary wall of slats on the outside but the inside was open. The space between the blocks was partly covered so that their wagons would be sheltered, but getting from the dormitories to the bath houses meant crossing an open space - and a heavily used road.
She looked up, realizing that though the trees had been cleared around the site to 'a bowshot' Bezan had left trees that stood inside the site. This meant that the whole area was well shaded and sheltered. She nodded appreciation.
"If you and your party would bring your gear, milady," Jaxen suggested, "we can get you settled before the evening meal. You'll most likely have the women's dormitory to yourselves."
"Thank you, Jaxen."
With the help of some of their men their gear was soon installed in the women's dormitory, which consisted of two large rooms and four smaller chambers. Garia opted for them all to take one of the larger rooms. These were made from sawn timber, caulked with clay, much like pioneer cabins from the Old West, and Garia felt comfortably at home. The wood was all recently-felled which meant that there was a strong smell of wood sap in the building, powerful but very pleasant.
A girl entered while they were checking through the contents of the single chest each girl had brought into their chamber. She located Garia and curtseyed.
"Milady, there is hot water if you and your attendants wish to bathe before eating."
"That's a good idea! We'll have to cross over to use the toilets anyway, what do you girls think?"
There were nods of agreement and each selected a gown to wear for the evening meal, carrying them over an arm as the servant led them through the block and out a door at the far end. They crossed the access road and entered the bath house. The servant showed them where to hang their gowns while they used the toilet cubicles. There were four of these nearest the road, then two large chambers with tubs sunk in the floor, linen stores and finally a boiler room before the walkway on the further side of the site.
The tubs were big enough that all six could sink into the water and all promptly did so.
"Ooooh! That's nice," Merizel remarked, luxuriating in the steaming water. "I do like to ride but it makes the muscles stiff. Don't you find that, Garia?"
"It depends, but this time I agree with you, Merry. Senidet, I guess you'll appreciate this dip, won't you?"
"Aye, milady, parts of me are very sore! This water is a boon after such a ride." The young girl gave a shy smile. "I will not venture a saddle tomorrow, milady, if it please you. Though I find riding to be a pleasing activity my body does not. I will ride a wagon tomorrow and perhaps chance a saddle another day."
"That's no problem, Senidet. You practise riding at your own pace." Garia grinned. "Besides, I think that tomorrow Merry will want her own ride back."
Senidet was unused to communal bathing but reluctantly participated, relaxing as it soon became apparent that the others made no distinctions of rank at all, soaping and rinsing each other as circumstances required. Soon, they were all wrapped in towels, seated around the tub drying off.
"How did that girl know I was the Baroness?" Garia asked.
"Your hair, silly," Merizel replied. "They must have been warned we were all coming by an outrider who would have been sure to describe yourself and the Prince."
Garia palmed her forehead. "Duh! I forgot about the hair. And that's why all this hot water was ready, of course."
"Aye. I think this routine must be fairly standard with such places as these. What do you think of these buildings?"
"It's... different, I guess, but the traffic through here is not like that on the other routes, is it? And the location is such that almost everybody going between Blackstone and Tranidor is going to stop here overnight. I'm impressed how much they have done in the time."
"So am I. But the timber they needed was just outside. Bezan and his men have worked hard to build so much in the time."
"Considering the numbers of wagons already on the route they had little choice! Are we all dry, girls? Let's get dressed and see what the kitchens have to offer."
The space between their dormitory block and the kitchen block had been covered with awnings and floored with more sawn timber. Groups of tables, chairs and benches had been provided and by the time they had all prepared themselves the evening meal was ready to be served. When the girls arrived most of the men were already there, including a group of miners headed the other way. Garia waved an arm to prevent everybody rising at their appearance and led the others to a table where Keren, Feteran, Tanon, Yarling and Jaxen were waiting.
Keren smiled as they found seats. "Lots of hot water to sooth aching muscles?"
"Oh, yes." Garia smiled back. "Bezan and his friends did a good job here, didn't they?"
"They did. I'm sure that this design, or variations of it, will appear in other parts of Palarand soon," he added. Garia looked surprised. "Remember, the coal traffic will go at least as far south as Teldor just for the metal working. Once coal begins to be used in Central Palarand almost every stopping place will need to be made bigger."
"You knew that this would happen, milady," Tanon said. "The increased traffic can only be good for all of us."
The serving staff appeared and everyone decided what they were eating. To make life simpler the food was placed on the table and they all took what they needed, thus saving the serving staff from having to bring individual meals to each diner. There was wine, beer, fruit juices, pel and water to drink and Garia found herself beginning to doze as the meal came to an end. It had been a long day.
Severel appeared as the servants were clearing the table. He bowed to Keren.
"Highness, with your permission I will set my men to guard the Women's Dormitory during the night. This will permit your own men, and those of the Baroness, to have an uninterrupted night of sleep."
Keren frowned as he thought of possible problems or catches but he could find none. He nodded. "As you wish, Quadrant. Tomorrow's ride is the longer part so we must make sure that we do not delay our departure."
Severel bowed again. "As you say, Highness. We will be ready whenever you wish to leave."
In their dormitory the girls found that the roadhouse staff had prepared their beds and made everything ready. The girls sat on their beds for a while, talking in low voices, before the effect of their meals began to make them feel sleepy. As most of them climbed under the sheets Jenet walked around extinguishing all of the lanterns except one before she, too, slipped into bed. It was not long before all were sleeping soundly.
Garia awakens to strange noises in the women's sleeping chamber and assumes the worst. However, it seems sufficient precautions have already been taken. She recognizes that the nature of their expedition has changed and makes a suggestion to Keren which has unexpected side effects. There is talk of containers, soils and the problems of trans-shipment before the company prepare to discover if Trosanar has laid plans for them at Tranidor.
by Penny Lane
92 - Prince Keren Takes Charge
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
As is often the case, it was some time before Garia realized that the
noises weren't part of her dream. As she swam back up into awareness,
parts of her mind did what they usually did, trying to analyze the
noises to fit them properly into the real world. Irregular. Scratchy.
Perhaps. Metallic.
With a supreme effort she fought to prevent the adrenalin flooding her body from giving any sign that she had suddenly exploded to fully awakening. She controlled her breathing rigidly, maintaining the steady repetition of the unaware sleeper. Her body, briefly rigid, she forced to relax, to gain some time before whoever was in the room became aware that she knew they were present.
Behind. That means he can't see my face. Unless there is more than one, of course.
Very carefully she opened one slitted eye just enough to observe her surroundings. Gray, the light of pre-dawn. In her view was a recently-trimmed and caulked wall of sawn wood and she remembered where she was and just what might have happened.
Those men! We were idiots to trust them! Oh, crap!
What do I do? I can't turn over and leap out to attack, since I don't know where they would be standing. I can't see anyone this side, so I'll come out over here. That will put the bed between me and whoever, give me time to assess the situation.
Decision made, Garia moved. The covers were flung off in a convulsive move, directly at where she supposed the noises to come from. At the same time she rolled out of bed the other side onto her feet, spinning and coming into a ready stance, facing the apparent threat.
The servant girl shrieked, jumped a foot in the air and dropped the poker which clattered as it rolled on the bare floorboards.The combined noise was sufficient to rouse the other sleepers in the room, some barely awake, others alarmed by Garia's position and attitude.
"My Lady!" The girl stammered. "My apologies, I did not mean to waken you." She bent and scrambled after the hot iron, turning to give Garia a curtsey once she had picked it up. "I thought to warm your room this cold morning."
The girl turned and Garia could see the flames flickering in the stone fireplace in the corner of the sleeping chamber. A bucket of coal stood beside the grate alongside a bundle of kindling.
"Garia? What..." Merizel asked, sleepily.
Garia relaxed, embarrassed to have woken everybody up that way. She smiled at the servant girl.
"It is I who has to apologize," she said. "I think I must have been dreaming. I'm sorry I made you jump." She felt the faint chill in the air. "Please, carry on, a little warmth wouldn't go amiss." She turned to Merizel, but her words were directed at all the women, now rubbing sleep from their eyes. "I thought those men of Trosanar's had decided to do something," she explained. "You remember, something like this happened to me before."
"Oh, yes, Garia! But that was before I came to the palace, wasn't it?" Merizel reminded her. She frowned. "You didn't really imagine those men would try something, with all our own men here as well?"
"I don't know, Merry." Garia smiled. "But all's well that ends well, I guess. Now that I'm awake and up, I think I have to go across the road. Coming?"
Without waiting for an answer Garia moved to the wall and removed her traveling cloak from its peg and wrapped it around her. Merizel groaned, climbed out of bed and found her own cloak.
"Milady," Lanilla asked, "do you bathe now? Shall you require our presence?"
"I don't think so, Lanilla. The toilet is my immediate concern and there are only four cubicles. If you want to wait until we're done that's fine."
"Thank you, milady. My needs are not as urgent as yours, I deem."
"Jenet?"
"Coming, milady."
Garia led the way to the door at the end of the building but the servant girl stopped her.
"Milady, you cannot go out by that door. The way is blocked."
"Blocked?" The men must have done something to stop anyone getting in that way. "Uh, okay, we'll go round. We can go round, I take it?"
"Aye, milady, if you go through the eating area."
Garia led Merizel and Jenet out the other end of the dormitory and onto the covered walkway, turning left to enter the eating area. Two servants were there setting out the tables for breakfast but paid the women little attention. Garia walked between the tables and chairs, reaching the roadway to discover... six dranakh asleep, sprawled out over the roadway, one actually spread all over the steps leading to the end of the Women's Dormitory.
"Blocked is right," Merizel commented. "I don't think I'd care to go climbing over a sleeping dranakh, do you?"
"Dead right there," Garia agreed. "Looks like the situation was well in hand whether we wanted it to be or not! Come on, lets get moving else I'll be walking funny."
When they emerged from the bath house all the dranakh had gone, the roadway now empty except for a few men making their way to an early breakfast. The coal fire had made their sleeping chamber pleasantly warm and they spent some time organizing themselves while they waited for the others to take their turn in the cubicles. The servant girl, her fireplace and other duties complete, came and curtseyed before Garia.
"Will you wish to bathe this morning, milady? I have started the water boiling but it will need attention if so many of you wish to bathe." She gave Garia an apologetic smile. "It is the first time that women have used our roadhouse, milady, and I know a women's needs are different than those of the men who pass this way."
"What do you think, girls?" Garia asked. "We had a good dip last night but we've a long way to go. Whatever we do we'll be dirty again by the time we get to Tranidor, so it might be better to forgo a bath this morning to save some time." She remembered something and turned to Merizel. "You might need a dip, Merry. Is your Call finished?"
"Aye, Garia, it is about over but I think I will just take a wash before we leave. With your permission?"
"Of course! I've no problem with a wash but I don't think we all need to jump in the tub, is what I'm saying. The men would only complain if we did."
"The men always complain," Merizel responded. "It seems to be a man's part to complain about the length of time a woman takes with her cleanliness and appearance."
"And somehow it never rubs off, does it?" Garia grinned. "Come on, let's get dressed and get some food inside us. I'm starving."
Garia and her staff joined Keren at his table and for a time all concentrated on the business of breakfast. When they had finished she turned to him.
"I was surprised when you let Severel's men guard the blocks," she said. "Did you know the dranakhs would turn up like that?"
"No I didn't! I had no idea they would do such a thing. No, Feteran and I had a good, long talk with Severel last night after you retired. Firstly I told him that if he wanted a fight he'd have to take on all Tanon's men as well as our own men, which meant we outnumbered him significantly," Tanon, further along the table, nodded agreement. "And secondly," Keren continued, "I showed him the decree and told him his lord had received one just the same, so if he tried anything and either of us was adbucted, hurt, killed or even just delayed, he would be committing treason and nothing in the world would stop my father or Uncle Gil coming after all of them. I think he got the point."
Garia nodded. "Yes. That decree is kind of blood-curdling, isn't it? Simple but with the hint of naked violence under it."
Keren grinned. "Aye. Father's usually much more subtle but where his son and heir is concerned... That wasn't all we did, though. Without telling Severel we set up watches, three men in a spare room in the servant's block over there and three in the coal wagoneers' block at the far end. Two bell shifts and each party had a bugle. Any sign of trouble and the whole camp would be awake in moments."
"Well, thank you, Your Highness! I must say we all slept well last night."
"...Until you woke this morning and thought we had been invaded," Merizel corrected her. "Jumping out of bed that way just isn't natural."
"What's this?"
Merizel explained and Garia reddened at the description, but Keren merely flicked a hand.
"Crazy foreign girl, what do you expect? Perhaps in Kansas she has men climbing in and out her windows all night."
Garia stared at Keren with slitted eyes. "You will pay for that, barbarian! Wait until I get you on a mat again!"
"You and which army might that be?"
"Why, yours, of course! I'm not stupid, you know."
As they rose to get ready to leave Garia stopped Keren with a hand on his arm.
"Keren, I have a request, if I may."
"Oh?"
"Would you wear your headband today? I think it might be important."
"Headband?"
"You know, the gold one."
Recognition came to Keren's eyes but he raised an eyebrow to Garia.
"On our journey here," she explained, "it was basically my journey, to visit my lands. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it the way we did, especially as we were able to stay in the towns and see how the real people live. Okay there was a certain amount of sneaking about and pretending but we just rolled along like the other travelers, didn't we? Only going home isn't going to be like that at all, is it? We're going to travel from noble's house to noble's house, surrounded by numbers of men-at-arms and the journey is going to be completely different. We're going to be official, and that means that you're in charge because you have the highest rank of everybody we're ever going to meet. You need to be that rank, and your headband will help you do that. Would you do that for me?"
Keren stood and thought about what Garia had said, realizing that she was right, the nature of their procession had fundamentally changed. He was now an adult and fully entitled to the perquisites of his position - and, given the places they would likely be staying, that might make all the difference how they were treated.
He nodded. "Your counsel is wise, milady. I will do as you suggest, and gladly." He gave her a glance. "Are you expecting me to protect you? Is that it?"
She considered, then gave him a smile. "Yes and no, Keren." He poked out a tongue at her. "You know I don't quite think in those terms yet but sometimes a girl needs a big, strong man to look after her." She looked pensive. "If my Call is about due, you know how that can affect me. I'm beginning to understand that there's a reason the world works the way it does. And if Trosanar's a sample of what we might face, we need all the help we can get."
"Aye, Garia. Did I ever tell you that you were smart as well as pretty?"
The wagon train was swiftly reassembled and stood waiting for the riders to take their positions. Keren, Feteran and Jaxen did a swift count to make sure everybody was present. Frowning, Keren turned to Severel.
"Quadrant, where are the rest of your men?"
"Highness, all who came with me to Blackstone are here waiting."
"That was not what I asked. What of those you detached to remain at this roadhouse? I want them out here now, they are riding with us."
Severel looked unhappy. "Highness, Lord Trosanar gave me instructions to leave a small guard behind to protect this place. Since hearing of the banditry you encountered he feels that the roadhouse must have some trained men to provide reassurance to the staff."
Keren shook his head. "Quadrant, the roadhouses of Palarand are not the concern of you or your lord unless they are on your lord's lands. Bid your men collect their belongings and join their fellows."
"Highness, I must protest! I may not refuse the direct commands of my lord."
Keren said patiently, "This forest is a private hunting reserve, the property of Duke Gilbanar, my uncle. The writ of your lord does not run here. His men have no business here, except as we do, as travelers passing through along the highway. Bid your men collect their belongings and join us, else we shall gather their belongings... and add them to the pyres of your men."
Severel turned white. Behind her Garia heard men shifting in the saddle as they reached for sword or bow. Ahead she could see her own men eyeing up those in black and red.
Severel bowed in the saddle and replied, "As you command, Highness!"
He wheeled his frayen and chopped out commands, whereupon two men rode off to the far end of the site. They returned moments later, followed by six more who were leading their mounts, some still stuffing clothing into saddlebags. These men stood staring resentfully at Keren.
"The coin, if you would."
He held out a hand. The men looked at him nervously.
"What?" he asked. "Did you not think we spoke to any along the way? We knew you demanded coin from those who came to this camp, coin you had no business to ask." His face showed contempt. "I might still be young but I am not stupid. What did you call it? A protection fee? Guard retainer? Security services? Your lord holds no writ in this place and what you do is theft. The coin, if you would, before I have you tried as common thieves."
One of the men produced a small pouch from his saddlebag and handed it reluctantly to Keren.
"Prepare your animals and mount up," he instructed, sliding from his own saddle. "When I return we leave for Tranidor, where I shall have an interesting conversation with your lord about the laws of Palarand."
Garia glowed through this confrontation. Just putting on the thin gold fillet had changed Keren completely. Nobody could now deny that he was a Prince in fact as well as in name and she watched almost in awe as he strode off toward the kitchen. She noticed others take account of the change in his manner and even Feteran viewed him with a look of respect. Wow. The future King sure shines through, doesn't he? Soon he was back and pulling himself into the saddle, his expression serious as he surveyed their company.
"Ready? Garia? Feteran? Good. Let's go, Jaxen. We have wasted enough time here already."
Merizel was now mounted again and she rode beside Garia as they turned onto the road.
"It's funny how such a simple thing can make such a difference," she said. "My! He shows that he has the authority, doesn't he? You are very fortunate to be able to lay claim to him, Garia."
"Me? I'm not sure I had much say in the matter. What happened did so before I knew much about what was going on here. I'm not sure either of us really had much choice, considering the way we were thrown together." Garia smiled. "Do you see me complaining? Anyhow, I see you're riding again. Is your Call finished?"
Merizel sighed with relief. "I'm glad it's over," she remarked. "Riding a wagon is tolerable but I much prefer a saddle. Thank you, Garia, for showing our betters that their fears were unfounded."
"As you say, Merry. But I think this will be the last day Snep gets to carry me, I'm afraid. When we leave Tranidor tomorrow I'll be on a wagon myself."
"Milady?" Jenet asked from behind. "It is not time, surely? You are at least a day early."
Garia scowled. "Yes, I know. I don't know why it is happening now but there are definite signs. Perhaps my body is still settling down, or maybe it's something to do with the seasons." She shrugged. "This whole thing was a mystery to me before I came to Anmar, I have no clue what is happening now."
Merizel was ticking the days off on her fingers. "If I'm right, that would take you all the way to Dekarran, Garia. You'll be able to cross the Sirrel on Snep, though."
"Gee, thanks. Well maybe Senidet can ride Snep some of the way, assuming her aches and pains have eased up."
The road angled up the slope of the mountainside to their left and began to climb, heading towards the fork where it joined the trade route to Chaarn. The pace of the wagons slowed, those carrying the coal more so than the rest. When they reached the fork, at about the highest point of their route, they waited for the slower wagons to catch up. Tanon rode up to Garia as they watched.
"This is the biggest problem, milady, as no doubt you know. To carry such loads up such a gradient takes much time and effort."
"As you say, Master Tanon. There's nothing we can do about that for now but we're planning either a new road or, later, a railroad through the forest so the wagons won't have to make this climb."
"But that will not happen for a year or perhaps more," he said. "To commission a new road through country such as this forest will take time."
"That's what Master Bezan will be doing, now that we have laid out the town," she explained. "He'll be spending next spring and summer surveying the land and working out the best route. To begin with it will be just a road for the heavy traffic but the intent is to convert it into a railroad once we can get enough steel for the rails."
"I see, milady. And how far will the railroad go? To Tranidor?"
Garia shrugged. "To begin with, just far enough to get us past the forest and then we can set up a wharf on the river somewhere. If we can do Tranidor, fine, but I know this kind of project will take time and money."
Tanon frowned. "There are serious problems with trans-shipment, milady, that we had best discuss over lunch. But you need not worry about money, milady. Though we have to take this coal all the way to Central Palarand by wagon, barge and ship there is still profit in it for all of us. Our main concern, if I understand Master Parrel's plans correctly, is the time it will take to build these new blast furnaces of yours."
"I agree. I can speed up the process by so much but some of it will just take time. Of course, once we prove out the system we can build blast furnaces nearer the materials, which will save everybody time and money. But, coming back to these wagons I see approaching, I have an idea. What about a banker?"
"A banker, milady? I do not understand that term."
"Oh, I suppose you wouldn't. It's an old railroad term, as I recall. Look, the idea is you get, say, five or six extra dranakhs and keep them at the roadhouses either side of this hill. When a train of wagons comes along, you hitch them to the front of each wagon and double-team them up the slope. When you get to the other roadhouse you unhitch them and they're ready to help a wagon going the other way. Every wagon going to Blackstone has to come back so you won't get too out of balance with the numbers. What do you think?"
Tanon looked at Garia with respect. "Milady, once again you amaze me. Such a simple solution to the problem. I will make inquiries immediately we reach Tranidor." He eyed her. "Though, as I have reported, the demand for dranakh is greatly increased. The initial costs may be heavy."
Garia shrugged. "I don't see how we can do anything else in the short term, Master Tanon. Unless you know a way to make dranakh breed large numbers of offspring we're stuck with the supply there is, and if everybody wants them then they will get expensive. I only offered a possible answer to getting those heavy wagons up these hills."
"Your... railroad... would, of course, solve this problem by replacing dranakh with steam engines, as I understand the matter."
"That's right, Master Tanon. That's why I wanted to get a priority put on getting the railroad system started, before we ended up with other problems like a shortage of dranakhs."
"As you say, milady." The lead wagon reached them and Tanon turned away, thoughtful.
Within a short time the caravan had reassembled and they began the careful process of rolling the wagons down the other slope under careful control. Since the coal wagons were the heaviest they were put at the front of the train so that any incident wouldn't cause them to run into wagons in front. As on their previous day's travel, Severel and his men scouted ahead and behind, leaving their own troops and Tanon's men to guard the flanks of the procession.
It was lunch time when they reached the next roadhouse, one they had visited on the way out where Jaxen had first become wary of what might lay ahead. At this roadhouse, because of the location and altitude, the whole kitchen and eating area was enclosed. This time, there was no question in their minds about using the facilities and they all piled inside, leaving only some token guards around the wagons. The innkeeper was taken aback to have so many customers at once but found places for all to sit and eat, content with the likely profit from their visit. He appeared not to recognize them from their previous visit which Garia thought was probably just as well. The company soon cleaned themselves up and ordered food and drink.
"Milady," Tanon began, "You remember that you mentioned trans-shipment of your goods earlier. The situation is... complex."
"Oh?"
"Aye... the river Bray is large enough here to permit small barges to travel, probably at least as far upriver as this, though I know the river must be a mark away from the road by now. I had considered a wharf somewhere nearby which could take the coal from here to Haligo. You know, of course, that no boat or barge can pass the gorge and rapids at Haligo."
Garia nodded, the others looking on with interest. "Yes, of course. Oh, I see. That means that you would have to trans-ship here, then again above Haligo, truck the coal through Haligo on wagons then trans-ship it again the far side. You're saying it makes more sense to leave it in the wagons all the way to Haligo, then."
"Aye, milady, though that is only one way to view the problem. We would needs employ more men to lift the sacks in and out of the wagons and barges each time. There would thus be bunkhouses at each wharf for the men, stables for beasts and other expenses. I am not telling you it cannot be done, but the costs would certainly rise."
Keren put in, "Tanon, the alternative, surely, is to run wagons to Haligo as you do now. I'm thinking that you need more men as wagons and guards than you would on a fleet of barges. Do barges carry bigger loads than wagons do?"
"You are correct, Highness. The use of wagons over the whole distance means more wagons, more men, more dranakhs but this is an established method of carrying goods and the extra costs are not so great." He gave a wry smile. "Until we run out of wagons, men and dranakhs, of course. But establishments like these," he waved his hand at their surroundings, "are already positioned along our major routes and we may make use of them at advantageous rates."
"There might be a way," Garia said slowly. "On Earth there's a recent thing called containerization."
Tanon frowned with concentration. "You speak of containers, milady. I assume these would be all the same size and shape, able to take goods of different kinds?"
Garia nodded. "That's it exactly, Master Tanon! Now, the ones we use on Earth are monsters. You wouldn't be able to make anything like those here yet, since they are of course made out of steel. Let's see. Roughly, those are about three strides high and three strides wide, and made in certain lengths to stack easily, three, six, nine and twelve strides long."
Twelve strides is about forty feet, isn't it? If so, the short size doesn't sound right. It doesn't matter, just so's they understand how big those things can get.
"So big, milady? Many country folk live in dwellings not so large as that."
She waved a hand. "Those sizes aren't right but they give you an idea how big the ones we use are. The trick is how the containers are handled and for our coal traffic I thought of something much simpler but related. Suppose you build a wagon but with just a flat bed." Tanon nodded. "At the corners you have a rounded peg sticking up to stop the container slipping. The container itself is just a big box which locates over the pegs. It can have a roof or it might be open. When you get it to the wharf you can just crane it from the wagon bed into the barge, which is sized to fit the containers and has pegs to stop them moving about as well."
Tanon nodded slowly. "And your crane would have a steam engine to raise and lower the loads, milady. I see. It would require the wagons and barges to be specially made, of course, but since we are already building new -" He looked at Garia. "An excellent idea, milady. I will speak to the guildsmen about containers once we reach Palarand."
"Make a note, Merry," Garia instructed. "I want to make sure I tell the guildsmen all I remember about containers, because some of the details are important."
"As you wish, Garia," Merizel replied, pulling a sheet of paper from her bag.
Garia turned to Tanon again. "There's something about the pegs and sockets," she explained. "It's not important to explain today but they are key to the way the whole thing works. If we can get that right to begin with it will set a standard for many decades to come."
"I shall look forward to your explanations with interest, milady," Tanon replied. "As one of those who makes heavy use of wagons to carry Palarand's goods it is certainly a subject I should acquaint myself with."
"There's a possible bonus here, Master Tanon," Garia added. "If you do make something like that, you could just fill the container with coal without needing bags. Your men wouldn't need to handle it at all along the journey. At the far end you could drop the whole container into a special revolving frame which dumps the coal out in one go. Less handling, less mess, less loss of cargo, which are some of the reasons we developed containers on Earth."
Tanon looked at Garia shrewdly. "You make an interesting point, milady. Such containers could also be used for carrying grains, fruits, vegetables and other products, would they not?"
Garia smiled. "That's it exactly. If it will fit into a container, somebody somewhere will have used one to do just that. The containers we use can be locked and sealed so that what went in one end can be guaranteed to come out the other."
Tanon gave her another wry smile. "First you make me dig canals and build barges, milady, then I commission more wagons than the Valley has ever known, then there was the small matter of a stage coach, and now this. I can foresee many uses for these containers of yours." He thought, his expression changing. "But forgive me, I was explaining the problems with our present enterprise, milady. Besides what I have already described there are... political difficulties."
Keren sat up, his eyes intent. "Oh, Tanon? Explain."
"These forests, as you described this morning to our errant Quadrant yonder, belong to Duke Gilbanar. Once we ride beyond the forest the lands either side of the Bray are those of two barons. The lands on the further side of the Bray belong to Baron Werrel who is a vassal of Count Trosanar. He will do nothing without the permission of his lord, and it has been made clear to us that no such permission will ever be given.
"Those lands on this side of the Bray are those of Baron Charzon, who as far as I have been able to discover has never visited them. I understand the lands came with his wife many years ago. He lives in some splendor in a mansion in Palarand and has interests in the ocean trade. I know him well, but even our friendship will not allow him to permit me a wharf on the lands we will pass through. Though he is not Count Trosanar's vassal it seems he would not draw the attention of the count at any price."
Keren's eyes narrowed. "He applies pressure? Even though Charzon is not his vassal?"
Tanon spread his hands. "Highness, there are villages on his lands, and the only nearby access to goods and markets is Tranidor. I am told that Trosanar has made it plain that, should a wharf be build on Charzon's lands, the tolls for the local people to enter his town would rise."
"He directs this at the coal traffic deliberately, then?" Keren was angry. "Since the wagons have no need to enter and leave Tranidor by the same gate."
"As you say, Highness. There is no need, and with the bridge toll Trosanar demands, few wagons would wish to make the detour under normal circumstances."
"Wait a moment," Garia said. "You're saying that the locals have to pay the bridge toll every time they go to market? That's evil."
"That's life, Garia," Keren explained. "A toll will always be charged, though usually it would be much smaller for local folk, just going to and from their own market town. Most of the bridge revenues come from the long-distance caravans such as Tanon's."
"Aye, milady," Tanon confirmed, "and we are glad to pay those tolls, since they are used for the maintenance of the roads we travel. But I deem Count Trosanar becomes greedy of late."
"Milady," Yarling added. "Master Tanon puts his finger on it. The reason we miners dislike Lord Trosanar is his petty meanness. He seeks to obtain every soo for any object or person that passes his town. You may know that some of our workings are difficult and of less profit, Lord Trosanar does not understand these things but seeks only what coin our efforts may deliver him."
Garia put her head in her hands. "Oh, great. Now we have to deal with a tightwad as well." She looked up at Keren. "Are we sure that's all he is? Someone in love with other people's money?"
Keren smiled at Garia. "Interesting expressions you use, milady." The smile faded. "Perhaps. He dare not disobey the King's decree so I doubt our party will be troubled for a donation. But, it might be as well that we prepare ourselves against any plans he might lay against us. Yarling, you and Master Tanon would know this town best. Advise us, if you would."
~o~O~o~
The way became flatter, the forest richer, even the slopes to their left became more gentle and covered with rich vegetation. Eventually the forest ended and they were in the farmed lower region of Bray Vale. Garia remembered this region from their outward journey and, as earlier, studied the view with increased interest.
Most of the land had now been plowed ready for some kind of winter crop but some fields still had late summer crops growing in them. What they were she could not tell, never having been exposed to agriculture since she had arrived. There were still folk about in the fields, turning the soil or weeding, doing other inscrutable farming tasks.
Occasionally she would see small villages, some no better than hamlets, smoke rising from many of the houses even though the day was now warm. None of the villages was close to the trade route but lay some distance away, toward the river, accessed by narrow tracks between the fields. Her expression grew frustrated as she compared these fertile lands with the near-wastelands she had acquired the other side of the forest.
"Milady?"
"Hm? Oh, just wondering why these lands are so rich yet Blackstone's are so poor."
Feteran nodded. "It is a stark contrast, milady. Doubtless there is some power in the rocks which makes the soil so. Perhaps Master Yarling can answer you when we stop for our next break."
They pulled off the road mid-afternoon and the men soon had some water boiling for pel. Feteran remembered Garia's comment and directed Yarling to her side, where she stood talking to Keren.
"Highness, Milady. I trust I do not interrupt anything."
"There is nothing private about our words, Master Miner. Join us."
"Thank you, Highness. The commander has told me that milady pondered the difference in soils between this end of Bray Vale and her own."
"Aye, Master Yarling. I have noticed the same myself. Have you an answer for us?"
"Perhaps, Highness. Do you remember, on the journey out, we had to leave the road and make camp in that ruin by the river?"
"Aye, I do." Both Keren and Garia nodded.
"You remember, of course, the waterfall? It would seem to me that there is some kind of discontinuity in the rock there. On this side are the rocks which provide us miners with veins of ore and make these fields so valuable for food. On milady's side, maybe the rocks are of a different kind, carrying coal instead of metals and less able to grow much at all."
Keren's eyes narrowed in thought. "Then, Master Yarling, it would seem to me that this discontinuity you speak of is not restricted to Bray Vale, is it not so? We have seen that the Stone Sea is such a discontinuity, perhaps there are others which cross this part of Alaesia. Perhaps we must concentrate our search for coal to the regions north and east of the forest."
"I cannot disagree, Highness. There are thin seams to the west but none like we have discovered on milady's lands." Yarling smiled. "Although, perhaps, it is I who will be searching for signs of coal rather than yourself or milady."
Keren grinned. "I spoke of the project, not the people, Yarling. But, there is a point here. The trade route to Chaarn must pass through those regions we will be interested in. Should Palarand therefore attempt to incorporate those regions into the kingdom?"
"Highness, those are properly matters for your father, not myself. But, if you will leave the expedition in my hands, by the time the next rains arrive I should be able to tell you if the coal we have discovered extends to the east and perhaps how far. There would be little point obtaining those lands if they are, indeed, wastelands."
"As you say. Garia, does that all sound reasonable?"
"That's the way I would do it," she replied. "Where does Palarand's responsibility over the trade route end?"
"Legally at the ridge, milady, although we would maintain the road as far north as necessary to permit wagons to pass. We may learn more from Jaxen or, indeed, Master Tanon, though they would probably not have noticed coal seams as they passed."
Garia asked, "How long is the trade route, do you know?"
Yarling shrugged. "A long way, milady. I have ventured a day's travel beyond the ridge, no more. Maybe three weeks travel, maybe longer. And the route is a complicated one, climbing in and out of valleys all the time." He shuddered. "I would not like to bring coal out that way, milady."
"Okay," she said, ending the discussion with a chop of her hand. "We're only speculating here. We need to sit down, all of us, with a good map of the region and plan things out. Will we have time to do that in Tranidor?"
Keren shook his head. "Not this time, Garia. We know we'd be safe in Tranidor but my father was most specific. One night is all we may be permitted to stay."
"Do not concern yourself, milady," Yarling added. "I must return to Blackstone directly and then winter will be upon us. This matter will wait until spring, and by then we will have all the facts available to us."
Garia sighed. "You're right, Master Yarling. We'll have to do it that way, I guess."
~o~O~o~
It was late afternoon when the caravan approached Tranidor. At this time of day the sun was setting and their route lay almost directly into it, so Garia had to squint to see anything ahead of them. Shading her eyes she could see the dark mass of the mountain to her right, with the Bray close beneath it. Against the colors of sunset the castle stood out in silhouette, perched above the town on the slope of the mountain.
The caravan reached the road junction and Severel's leading file turned smartly towards the bridge over the Bray, where a fortified gate awaited them on the far side. The first four wagons carried on along the main route south causing a shout, and Severel wheeled his frayen about to come back beside Jaxen.
"Wagonmaster, why do your wagons go thusly? Should not all your party enter the town?"
Jaxen shrugged, hiding a smile as best as he could. "Why need they, Quadrant? They have no business in the town and there are no accommodations arranged for their party. They merely rode with us from Blackstone to take advantage of the extra protection we provided them."
Severel's expression was black as he asked Jaxen, "Will any others of your party be taking their leave, wagonmaster? I did not know which of you would accompany His Highness and the Baroness to the south."
Jaxen thought. "There are three wagons which brought goods to Blackstone," he admitted. "These will probably remain in Tranidor in order to take provisions back to the town. I do not know the plans of Master Yarling nor Master Tanon, although I suspect Master Tanon will likely accompany the Prince. The rest of us will be traveling south. Are you answered, Quadrant?"
"Aye, wagonmaster," Severel replied, fuming. He turned away, to cross the bridge and speak with the gate sentries.
Garia turned and watched the coal wagons disappear in the distance. About half a mark away she could see a pull-in where other wagons waited and she guessed that they would stop there for the night. There were one or two booths visible at the site and it was obvious why Trosanar was becoming upset, if none of this land was his.
"Garia, come on."
She turned and smiled to Keren, then followed the other across the bridge into the town. The wagons threaded their way through the narrow streets and halted at a junction. Tanon rode forward to join Jaxen at the front.
"I'll take Master Yarling to his hall," he said, "and then we'll go and find our accommodation in the Weaver's Arms. If we don't meet later tonight then send one of the boys to find me in the morning."
Jaxen saluted his employer. "As you wish, master."
Tanon turned to the lead wagon, where Yarling sat waiting.
"Are you ready?"
"Aye, Master Tanon. Lead the way."
The three wagons turned away from the castle and along some narrower streets, finally pulling up in front of the Miners' Hall. Yarling climbed carefully down.
"Shall you join me within, Master Tanon? This is as much your business as mine."
"Aye, Master Yarling, that I will. Your invitation is welcome. After so many marks in the saddle it will be a relief to stand for a change."
At the door they were challenged by two of the hall's servants. Yarling being recognized, he and his guest were shown within. The man who greeted them in the entrance hall was not who Yarling expected.
"Guildmaster Horran! We did not expect to find you here. What happened to Master Moriswin?"
Horran curled a lip. "That thief has been skimming guild funds. What I mean is, more than the usual slice. He's been demoted and sent up the Sufen." Horran eyed Yarling up and down. "What happened to you? Get tripped in a tavern somewhere?"
Yarling looked offended. "I had this wound defending His Highness and the Baroness from brigands, I'll have you know. A single shot from a new kind of weapon killed one of the Prince's men and wounded four others at the same time." He paused for dramatic effect. "That was before the ptuvil attacked us, of course."
"What? You mean that crazy story was true?"
"Aye, Guildmaster. Shall we find a room? There is much to tell you and, perhaps, not much time. What of Trosanar? Does he still weave his plans?"
"Aye." The Guildmaster nodded. "You have already had trouble, then? Come, let us sit in here and exchange news." Horran held out a hand. "Master Tanon, you are welcome in our halls. Wine! Bring wine for our guests!"
The caravan enters the castle... and suspicious are aroused. But Trosanar's information is wrong, so the confrontation which results has an unexpected end. Later, Garia finds a way to educate the count, and discovers an unexpected ally.
by Penny Lane
93 - Castle Tranidor
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
Jaxen
watched Tanon and Yarling as their wagons disappeared into the
streets of Tranidor, then turned sharply at the junction and led the
way through streets that rose as they approached the castle. Ahead,
to the north, lay a typical gate with a tower over and crenellated
walls to either side. Visible on the walls were men-at-arms in
Trosanar's colors, spaced evenly along and holding either a crossbow
or a man-high flaming torch. The wagons reached the gate and went
under the wall, arriving at a wide open space, grassed, between the
outer wall and another, even higher barrier. There were men lined out
along this wall as well. Behind this second wall the castle itself
could be seen, a large fortified house standing out from the point of
the mountain where the valley of the Bray met that of the Palar.
Jaxen slipped alongside Keren. "Highness, I don't like this."
"I agree. Why would he put so many on the walls? To show me honor?" Keren came to an abrupt decision. "Circle the wagons. Make it look natural, as though we were making camp here."
"Highness, I deem the wagons would be left here in any event. But you are right."
A quick command, a startled glance from the lead wagoneer and a grim nod that showed recognition of the circumstances, and the wagons pulled off the access road, quickly forming the usual camp circle. Unlike the usual night stop, there was no attempt to put up the awnings or start a cooking fire. Most of the men gathered in the middle and dismounted, leaving a few facing outward at the front of each wagon. The fact that the dranakhs remained hitched in the shafts meant that the circle was big enough there was room for their frayen inside as well, although it was crowded. Garia was forcefully reminded of their situation after the battle when they awaited the return of the ptuvil and its mate.
Severel turned and saw what they had done, reined his beast round and made for the inner gate. Most of his men had either headed for that gate or stayed near the one through which they had all entered.
"Shit!" someone muttered. "Do you think this was a set up?"
Garia eyed the men along the walls, fully aware that they were within easy crossbow range.
Of course, that means that they are within our crossbow range as well.
As if that fact is going to be any help.
How many of there are there up there anyhow? Surely a two-bit count like Trosanar doesn't need all these men?
There was a confusion at the inner gate and a small group of men came hurrying across the grass to join them. Leading them was Trosanar, who Garia remembered from Gilbanar's conclave at Dekarran. As he reached a gap between a dranakh and the wagon in front Keren's men parted to allow him to enter. The count made a bow toward Keren.
"Your Highness! Forgive me, I expected you to follow my Quadrant into the inner ward." Trosanar looked around, seemingly disconcerted by the large number of uniformed men he faced. "So many of you! I did not think you had so large a party." He spotted Garia and did a double take. "Milady! I did not expect... to see a young girl like you bearing blades." He bowed again. "I trust you are well?"
"Well enough, my lord," she replied.
Trosanar turned to Keren, his expression one of confusion. "Highness, were you so beset in the wilderness that even the Baroness must needs go armed? I am pleased to see you safe returned and arrived here at my humble castle where you can be properly protected, as befits someone of your age and station."
"Rise, Trosanar," Keren said, and Trosanar finally took in the Prince's appearance. "It seems you have been misinformed about our company."
"Highness, I did not know you came this way, until I had the message from your father." He looked reproachful. "You did not stay with us on your journey north, or even come to call. We would have been delighted to receive you as befits your status."
Keren was not taken in by Trosanar's apparent concern for his welfare. "We had sufficient reasons of our own to conceal ourselves, Trosanar. And what of my status now? Am I to be threatened by your men-at-arms? Do you expect an immediate attack by those of Yod, perhaps? Your demonstration of force is unnecessary, we merely reside with you for a night, an honor guard would have been sufficient. Call them down from the walls, if you would."
"Ah, Highness, I sought merely to provide a befitting welcome for our next King. Will you and the Baroness walk with me, that I might share the hospitality of my home with you?"
Keren didn't answer but turned to Feteran. "Feteran! Count to twenty, and if the count has not issued commands for his men to leave the walls you may begin picking them off one by one."
Feteran saluted and turned to Stott, who began stringing his bow. Trosanar's eyes bulged. Keren turned a cold gaze on him.
"Do you think they would return fire, Trosanar? While you are yet stood in our midst? And if they fired on me, why, that would be treason, would it not? You thought I would arrive with but a few retainers, did you not? Why are your men really up there, Trosanar? Are you besieged by the people of the town? From what I have learned they would have good reason! Get your men off those walls!"
Trosanar turned in a panic. "Do it. Do it!" He turned back to Keren,trembling. "Forgive me, Highness, I did not mean to give offense."
Keren watched as orders were shouted to the gatehouses and from there to the men on the walls. He waited until the men-at-arms had begun to move toward the access points before he returned his attention to Trosanar.
The count's expression became oily. "Would you not consider returning inside with me, Highness? The night will soon turn cold."
Keren sniffed. "If this is the welcome I am given I would prefer to remain out here with my men. Besides, as you have lately discovered, count, we are too many for you. I know your treasury is hard-pressed, I would not wish to cause you unnecessary expense. I have learned that there are places in Tranidor which will provide hot food for travelers, we may take advantage of them. 'Take-away' food, I believe it is called."
Trosanar's expression showed what he thought of that idea. Attempting to split Keren and Garia, he turned to her and made an even bigger mistake.
"And you, milady. Should you and your women servants not join us within, away from these uncouth wagonmen?"
There was a sustained hiss as every single man except Keren drew his sword. Trosanar was shocked, he had never imagined such a thing. The front of his formal tights became wet. He looked wildly at Keren, who held up a placating hand.
"Easy! Easy, men. I am certain the count misspoke. I am certain he intended no slight to Lady Garia nor any insult to our worthy wagonmen. After all, without the wagons on Palarand's highways there would be no tolls for the count to collect, would there? Please, put your swords away." He looked at Trosanar. "You would not know, count, that milady knows every wagonman here and trusts them all completely. They have traveled with us throughout our journey. Indeed, some of these men are the very ones who first found Lady Garia in the southern mountains, all those months ago. You offer them abuse at your peril."
"Highness," Trosanar said miserably, "I did not know. Those wagonmen who accompany your party may be fine fellows but I have experience of others less worthy of the name." He lowered himself to one knee. "Highness, I abase myself. My castle and all who reside within are yours to command."
Standing beside Keren, the show of swords had totally taken Garia by surprise as well, almost driving her to her knees. The spontaneous demonstration by forty men that they would fight to the death for her was outside anything she could possibly have imagined. She sagged against Keren's arm.
Wow. Oh, wow. I am just not worthy of this!
Yet she knew that, deep inside, she understood why they had made the gesture. They believed in her, they trusted her, and no good-for-nothing count was going to prevent her giving her gifts to this world. Furthermore, she was a woman, a young one, and while she certainly had significant martial abilities of her own it was their business to protect and shield her, even it it meant that every single one of them died that evening doing just that.
But she also recognized the awful power it gave her and she shrank from it. She was not old enough or wise enough to be able to lead these men. Yet. She glimpsed the potential of the future and was terrified.
"Rise, Trosanar, rise! Your ignorance is excused." Keren noticed Garia's weight on his arm. "And you have distressed Lady Garia!" Now that Trosanar had ostensibly given in Keren felt relaxed enough to take control. "Lady Garia, her retinue and myself will partake of your hospitality, but we shall take our own men for our escort." Trosanar bobbed an agreement, he could do little else. Keren continued, "Jaxen, you may arrange the camp as you require. Feteran, post a strong guard about the wagons. Brazan, signal the town, if you would."
Brazan lifted the bugle to his lips and blew a rustic folk tune. An answering tune came from beyond the walls. Trosanar looked on, astonished. Keren gave him a cold smile.
"We had suspicions of your welcome, Trosanar, and made plans against you. Beyond the walls we may call upon every miner in Tranidor, should you have decided to break your oaths to Duke and King. They had orders to take your castle apart, stone by stone, should there be no signal this night."
Trosanar's face darkened at the mention of miners but he knew he was beaten. He bowed low again.
"Your Highness, I am your most humble servant. Please, enter my mansion and you will find nothing amiss."
The wagon containing the women's chests was wheeled out of the circle and those chosen to go into Trosanar's mansion followed on foot. They entered through the inner gate to find a narrow yard, with the house one side and on the other, buildings made against the inside of the wall. At the entrance to the mansion several women waited anxiously.
"My dear!" Trosanar greeted his wife with a fixed smile on his face, "Forgive us the delay, there has been some misunderstanding. His Highness joins us tonight, together with Lady Garia and her women servants. His Highness provides some of his own men as escort. The rest of his men will make camp in the outer ward, obtaining their own food from the town. Highness, Milady, I'm sure you recognize Lasalenne from when we attended the King at Dekarran."
Lasalenne's eyes narrowed at the dark stains on Trosanar's legs but she composed herself and curtseyed to Keren with a smile.
"Be welcome in our house, Highness," she said. "If I may ask you and your men to follow Norson he will show you where you may refresh yourselves while I will conduct Lady Garia and her women to their quarters for the night."
As Lasalenne led the women through the corridors she pointed out where they would be eating later.
"But I'm sure the first thing you all want is a tub of hot water, is it not? I notice your men trailing behind, they shall stand guard outside the doors to prevent any... accidents, shall we say." She gestured. "This is our guest wing, these will be your sleeping chambers. We have laid out two, we did not expect to see such a large number of women!" She frowned. "I do not remember... there were but four of you at Dekarran, were there not? Yet I see six here."
Garia smiled. If Trosanar was suspect there was no such feeling from his wife, unless she was a good actress.
"Our story is complicated, My Lady -"
"Just Lasalenne, please. There is no need for formality between us women, is there?"
"If you have no objection. I don't really understand the rules of precedence yet, I'm afraid. And you should call me Garia, then. It is a long story and two of these are new under-maids we took on in Blackstone." Garia remembered her manners. "Do you remember Lady Merizel? She is my secretary and is the daughter of Baron Kamodar of South Reach."
"I do, Garia! You're the one who played the dajan, are you not?"
"As you say, Lady Lasalenne," Merizel confirmed.
"Oh, no! You shall call me Lasalenne as Garia here does. I am but a baron's daughter like yourself. Do you know Baron Kentof of West Bridge? I deem he would have known your father."
Merizel thought. "Perhaps, Lasalenne. The name is familiar, of course, but I regret I had little to do with him myself."
"Ah. I have lived here in the north so long it is easy to forget how far apart such places in the Valley truly are."
Garia said, "And this is Senidet, who isn't actually one of my retinue at all but is traveling with us to Palarand to become my apprentice."
"Your apprentice? But..." She waved a hand. "Complicated, as you say, Garia. Here we are, you must all be in need of our facilities. Go in and make yourselves at home. There are two female servants who will do your bidding should you require anything."
"Thank you, Lasalenne." Garia looked into the two chambers. "We can manage in these two tonight, I think. Girls? Let's get ourselves cleaned up, we'll need to make ourselves presentable before..?"
"A modest banquet, Garia. I'll have your chests brought in from that wagon and placed in your chambers while you bathe. I will come and collect you all when it is time."
Lasalenne turned and walked off as Garia and the others followed the servants into the bathing chambers. When they emerged, in fluffy robes, it was to find their chests had been placed in the two sleeping chambers.
"They have mixed up all our chests, I think," Garia noted. "No matter, we'll only need to rummage in them for something to wear this evening, we can go between rooms if we have to. This one's yours, Merry."
"Aye, Garia. What sort of formality do you want to present tonight?"
"You're the expert here, Merry! What are we expecting?"
"Um, a 'modest banquet', Lasalenne said. That means he won't be inviting any of his barons to join us," she shrugged, "except maybe one or two who happened to be close by, I think. Keren will be in the seat of honor, so I suggest you make it as formal as possible. We want to present ourselves as being honorable noblewomen supporting Our Prince as fully as we can. Sashes, badges, everything." Merizel smirked. "I think you can leave the swords off for tonight."
Garia nodded. "Oh, right. Let's see... Jenet, where's my chest? I think I'll have the pale green evening gown tonight."
"I'll find it, milady."
Garia turned to Merizel. "That reminds me. Those swords, outside."
Merizel's face lit up. "Aye, Garia! Wasn't it marvellous? I have never seen such a thing."
"I was overwhelmed. The thought that all those men would do that for me -"
"Of course they would, Garia! You must know that you are the third most important person in the kingdom right now. Um, perhaps the fourth. Her Majesty would certainly dispute the rankings."
"Yes, but... that's not the point. That's a whole lot of responsibility I have to bear all of a sudden."
"All of a sudden? Have you been asleep all these weeks, girl? The men have been looking after you - us - ever since we left Dekarran. They are not going to let anything happen to you if they can possibly prevent it, and that includes Keren. He knows, more than anyone, what is at stake here. If he has to kick Trosanar in the face to get respect he'll do it."
"I wondered... he acted hard outside. Do you think they really wanted to trap us in this castle?"
Merizel looked shifty. "I'd rather not talk about that here, if you don't mind. Lanilla, you're holding that gown the wrong way round. Look, that's the front."
While they were putting the final touches to each other's outfits Lasalenne entered the room, looking disturbed. She approached Garia and bent down to whisper.
"Garia, do you have the ear of the Prince?"
"Of course, Lasalenne." She took note of the other's concern. "What is it?"
Lasalenne sighed. "He is my husband, and I love him dearly, but I fear he goes too far. He is foolish, weak... and fanciful. He will not achieve it, he has not the ability to rule his men, but he may be the cause of turmoil and distress if the Prince cannot rein him in." She took a breath. "He fancies himself Duke of Tranidor... and master of his own lands, not those of the King."
Merizel had joined in their huddle. "What's this?" she whispered. "Do you tell us he plots treason?"
Lasalenne grimaced, shaking her head. "He is not capable of the deed, Merizel, but imagines that one day he may make himself an independant duchy here in the north, with all Palarand's mineral wealth at his command. The new discoveries you have made in Blackstone, Garia, just add fuel to his fevered imaginings." Lasalenne realized what she had just said and smiled. "Fuel... so to speak." Her eyes pleaded with Garia. "Can you speak to the Prince? I would have my husband whole, even if he is no longer ruler of Tranidor. I would not wish his head removed, he is not right, these are merely fantasies but many others may suffer for his dreamings."
"Oh, wow. Lasalenne, we'll do what we can but I don't know if the count will give us any opportunity to talk this evening. You should know that Keren... uh, the Prince, is already angry because your husband tried to charge tolls at the new roadhouse on the Blackstone road. I'm not sure how he'll react if we tell him this."
"As you say, Garia, but if the news came from you he may react much better than if he learned of it another way." Her eyes were pleading again. "Save my husband, please, Garia. He is a silly little man with an exaggerated idea of his own importance but he doesn't deserve to die."
"Are we safe here? Do you have any idea if he intended to hold us? I think the Prince wondered if Trosanar would keep us hostage or something."
Lasalenne looked startled. "Oh! I never thought of that!" She considered briefly, then shook her head. "No, I don't think he would have the nerve to do that now, Garia. Not after receiving Robanar's decree. He would know that nothing in the world would stop the King coming here with troops and besieging the castle." She nodded positively. "Garia, I do not think he would delay you or the Prince now, not after what the Prince did outside." She gave a smile. "If we have a moment or two in private later, I would like to hear the details! But I am sure he would wait until you two left his lands before he thought again about his impossible plans."
Garia nodded agreement. "Then we'll do what we can, Lasalenne. Are we ready, girls? Then, with your permission, milady, we can go."
"Garia," Merizel intervened, "How's your temper this evening?"
Derailed, Garia turned to Merizel with a frown. "What?"
"Your temper... you know what happens about this time of month."
"Lady Merizel?" Lasalenne asked. "Of what do you speak?"
"Kalikan," Merizel explained. "Garia tends to become a little short-tempered at this time. She says she'll be starting tomorrow."
"Yeah," Garia agreed. "That's true, and of course I had forgotten it. I'm okay at the moment but it's a reminder to keep my cool during the meal tonight. Thank you, Merry."
There were sixteen people present in the main hall where they dined, mostly castle functionaries but including Trosanar's two sons and three daughters. Keren, as the highest status person present, had the seat of honor and the biggest chair. Trosanar sat to his left, and Lasalenne sat to his left. Garia, to her annoyance, sat opposite Trosanar with little opportunity to have a quiet word with Keren throughout the meal. Either side of her sat Trosanar's sons, one in his early twenties and one about two years younger. Merizel, as a noble's daughter, had a place at table and sat opposite Lasalenne. Seeing the setup Garia had Lanilla and Jasinet provide table service for herself and Merizel while she sent Jenet around the table to serve Keren. Feteran, as the senior military official of their party had a place at table but poor Senidet, being a mere daughter of a smith, was sent to eat with the women of the household in a separate dining chamber.
The meal was every bit as awkward as Garia had expected. Only Garia's party had forks and this provoked an embarrassed silence as the food was served. There was no point not using the tools once they had been revealed but every time they did they just emphasised how useful the things were, and Trosanar received several disgruntled looks from members of his own entourage. Fortunately the food itself was of good enough quality and the beer and wines excellent so that offset the poor atmosphere in the room.
Keren looked annoyed as the meal went on and Garia was sure that he would eventually start an argument with Trosanar, a confrontation which could quickly become deadly if tempers were to rise. Without any means to have a quiet word before they had been seated there had been no way to agree tactics so Garia desperately tried to think of a way to defuse the situation and at least hint to the Count that he was on dangerous ground.
Ah. Let me see if I can tell him a story.
"My Lord," she began as the meal drew to an end, "I have heard it said by many that the taxes in your lands are excessive."
Keren's face darkened but Garia held up a hand.
"Your Highness, I merely wish to tell a story, a tale of what happened in some lands near those of my birth when the taxes were thought to be too demanding."
Yeah, well, "near" is relative, isn't it? Anywhere on Earth has to be near compared to wherever I am now.
Keren relaxed slightly. Trosanar regarded Garia with apprehension.
"I'll keep this brief, my lords," she began, choosing her words with care. "The country is called France, and many years ago, about two hundred fifty or so, there was a grand and magnificent King of France, who thought that he was so magnificent he called himself the Sun King. This King wanted to show off his power so he decided to build himself a grand palace. This palace was so grand it had a thousand rooms and all the rooms were decorated with the finest goods and furnishings and everything was covered in gold leaf so that it all shone like the sun."
Trosanar was interested but sceptical. "You exaggerate surely, milady?"
Garia shook her head. "Not really, milord. I'm not sure about the exact number of rooms but essentially what I'm telling you is true. However, that's not the point of my story."
"Oh? Then continue, if you would."
"To pay for this palace, and all the other things this King wanted to do to show off his power and authority, he raised the taxes. He raised them so much the people got poorer and poorer but the King didn't realize because he was kept away from them by all his courtiers who told him exactly what he wanted to hear. In the end his people had enough of being taxed into the dirt. They rebelled against their King and got rid of him. In fact, they cut off his head and that of all his family and all of his nobles as well. To this day that country has no King."
Trosanar paled at that. He licked his lips. "So, milady, what ought that King have done instead?"
Garia shrugged. "I don't know, milord, this all happened two hundred fifty years ago and more. Customs were different then. But perhaps he ought to have listened a bit more closely to his people before making unreasonable demands of them."
"You think my demands are unreasonable, then?"
"I don't know, milord. I'm just passing through, remember. I have heard enough talk from miners," Trosanar's face darkened, "and travelers to know that something isn't right, and there might come a time when they will just stop paying the money to you."
"But the miners and travelers have no choice, milady. The ores are in my lands, the trade routes pass through my lands. They must pay whatever tolls I ask of them."
"My Lord, there is always a choice. Whether it is to find another trade route or to abandon the mine workings, there is always a choice. If the mines here are too rich for them to abandon, you may find that the miners will appeal to the King for relief. If you do not reach some agreement soon, the miners might decide to take matters into their own hands."
Trosanar turned to Keren. "Highness, you suggested outside that the miners might attack the castle. Was this not exaggeration? They would not do such a thing, surely, against the appointed authority?"
Keren let out a breath, wondering just what Garia had started. "You forget, count, that I am the appointed authority here. I did indeed give such instruction before we ever reached your walls. We were not sure of our welcome, such arrangements were necessary, but I do not believe milady speaks of such actions."
Trosanar spread his hands. "Your Highness, I admit to being clumsy in my welcome. We did not know the time of your arrival and so I though to light the walls to help you find your way."
Keren didn't buy the explanation at all. "Did you really need so many men, Trosanar? Do you need so many? Tranidor is a peaceful town and we have had no trouble from beyond the northern borders for many years now. Roughly counting those I saw on the walls I deem you have more men under arms than does the King himself! Do you have pretensions to something more, Trosanar? If you do then you are making a big mistake. Tell him, Garia."
Garia thought, then spoke. "Tranidor is essential to the future of Palarand, My Lord. The ores and coal that comes from these northern valleys will be what drives the new developments now taking place to the south. For this reason King Robanar would not tolerate anyone who thought to set himself up an independant duchy. Any suggestion of such an idea would be met immediately with deadly force."
Trosanar's eyes were round and Keren's expression wasn't much different. Whatever both had expected, neither had imagined she would voice such a thought so openly.
"That wasn't my original point, however," she continued, aware that Trosanar had understood her warning. "I was speaking of taxes... and revenue. My Lord, do you not yet realize that you may get more revenue by lowering taxes? It is a policy practised in my own country. If you make it cheaper for merchants to travel through Tranidor then it follows that more may wish to do so. If you levy less taxes on the miners, you will find them more willing to dig holes in your lands."
"I do not understand, milady," Trosanar said, shaking his head. "Are you then so knowledgeable about matters of coin and revenue? How is this so, for one so young?"
"It is our way," she replied. "I don't know the detail but every child knows the principles involved. In any case I think you are underestimating what is going to happen to Tranidor in the next few years. Once we start building up steel production Tranidor is going to grow rapidly in size, because it is where the coal and iron ore supplies meet. It is the obvious place to build the new blast furnaces. I would not be surprised if the town is four times the size in ten years. In time it will probably fill this valley from side to side. There will be so much traffic in and out you could charge less than a fenik per cart and still have enough to pay all your troops - which you probably won't need, anyway. You'll be spending your money building highways and railroads instead."
"You speak of matters unknown to me, milady."
"You were at Dekarran when Garia demonstrated her abilities?" Keren said sharply. "You met with Duke Gilbanar, did he not tell you what was to come? I attended some of those meetings myself, his message was plain."
"Highness, I must confess I did not understand much of what was said in those meetings. Much sounded like... fantasy." Trosanar gazed at Garia, realizing that whatever had been said, it was definitely not a fantasy.
"Then we must make it plain to you, Trosanar. Come, let your servants clear this table and we shall educate you about what is to come in your lands."
Trosanar wanted to take Keren off to his parlor but Keren wanted Garia there as well. Garia decided that she wanted Lasalenne present and Trosanar reluctantly agreed. The four settled themselves in the small, richly furnished room attended only by Jenet and Lasalenne's personal maid. Keren came straight to the point.
"Trosanar, you sent out Severel with instructions to station men at a roadhouse not in your lands, the men to demand coin from every wagon passing through. This is naked theft, Trosanar. How shall you answer?"
"Highness, I admit, I exceeded my authority. I sought merely to recover the costs associated with maintaining the highways."
Keren regarded him critically. "What costs? The Chaarn road, the Blackstone road, the Haligo road, they do not cross your lands, none of these are your concern. Why then should you levy tolls on wagons traveling by those roads only? I suggest to you that you are annoyed at seeing the wagons pass by your gates without obtaining their coin, is that not so?"
Trosanar bent his head. "Highness, it is so."
"Another matter. You have sought to prevent a wharf being built on lands in the lower Bray Vale for the transportation of coal. You have even threatened the people of a baron not vassal to you! All because you knew that no barge would pay you tolls in passing from the Bray to the Palar and thence downstream. This shall cease immediately. If I discover that you charge any person a different toll than any other to enter Tranidor then I will ask for your arraignment before the Court of Nobles."
Trosanar was pale. "As you command, Highness."
"Then we have the question of the miners. You will stop whatever it is you are doing, count, or I will ask the Duke Gilbanar to send a strong force to remove you from your seat. The ores they dig are too important to Palarand to make enemies of the miners. Do I make myself clear?"
"But, Highness, if I do not ask the taxes then my treasury will soon be empty."
"Then perhaps you should reduce the numbers of your men-at-arms to those required for your personal safety only, Trosanar. You are in no danger here, you do not need so many men. There is no threat from western nomads or bands of brigands any more."
"But, Highness, what of those who attacked you? Might more be roaming the countryside?"
"Those who attacked us did so at the instruction of Yod. They specifically target Lady Garia." Trosanar gulped as Keren continued, "The defence of Palarand from other Valley states is properly the concern of Brikant and you may be sure that they will be taking precautions now the danger is known."
"As you say, Highness."
Keren came to a decision. "Count Trosanar, I deem that the matters I put before you are too serious for me to judge, and you are not my vassal. Shall you accompany our party to Dekarran, there to plead your case before your own liege? I would require no restraint and you may take a file of your own men as your escort."
Trosanar bowed low. "As you command, Your Highness. But, who shall run Tranidor in my absence?"
"I shall write a warrant for your wife the countess to rule in your stead during your absence. Since we arrived here I have found her to be of good character and clear-headed. She runs your household, I doubt not that she can run your lands as easily."
"The countess?" Trosanar, startled, looked at his wife. "Highness, are you sure?"
Keren raised an eyebrow. "You doubt the abilities of your own wife, Trosanar? Perhaps you have looked for treasure in the wrong place, all these years. Do you not trust her?"
"Well, yes, but -"
"Then it is settled. Make arrangements for yourself and those who will travel with you, my lord. We will leave after breakfast and you know the journey, it is a long ride." Keren added, "Bring me parchment and reed. I will write immediately a warrant that nobody shall doubt Countess Lasalenne's authority while you are absent."
Trosanar bowed low again. "As you command, Highness."
A servant brought parchment, reed and ink and Keren wrote a short document which he then signed, sealed and handed to Lasalenne with a bow.
"Milady," he told her with a smile, "I trust that you will not declare war on any while your husband is away. We trust that you will govern your lands and your people wisely in the absence of your lord and husband. Do we ask too much of you?"
Lasalenne stood and curtseyed to Keren. "Your Highness, I have governed this household on my Lord's behalf these many years. I shall not fail you."
There was an awkward silence as Lasalenne sat down. Trosanar was still nominally in charge until he departed but for the moment he had withdrawn in the face of superior forces. He looked miserable and shrunken.
Garia decided to try and educate him. "Instead of telling you what you should not do, milord, perhaps we can tell you what you could do instead. There are many changes coming to Tranidor in the future. In a few years you could become very rich indeed."
Trosanar wanted anything at that moment to stop the Prince bringing out more charges. He turned to Garia.
"Then instruct me, milady."
She smiled at him. "Certainly, my lord. Do you have, by chance, a blackboard and chalk that I can use?"
~o~O~o~
Keren checked the corridor to make sure they could not be overheard. The only people in earshot were Feteran and Brazan, but he kept his voice low.
"How did you know?"
"Lasalenne told me while we were dressing for dinner. I couldn't tell you because we had no chance to speak, so I thought I'd make the point another way."
"It certainly got Trosanar thinking. It had me thinking. That tale of that palace, was that real, or something you thought up?"
"It was all real, Keren." Garia sighed. "It was called the French Revolution and it was extremely bloody. Many, many thousands of people died and it ended up with an emperor who tried to take over the whole world."
"Oh. One of those things you want us to avoid, I take it?"
"Absolutely! Oh, some good did come out of it but the cost was extremely high. What do you think Uncle Gil will do to Trosanar?"
"I'm not sure. But if you were right, and he was really threatening to break away from Palarand, he'll be lucky to escape with his life."
"Perhaps. I don't think he has the guts to go that far myself. See if you can have a quiet word with Lasalenne before we leave. She'll tell you what she told me."
"Aye, I will. She's quiet but sensible. I think she'll probably run Tranidor better than he did, don't you?"
Garia smiled. "I do, but then I might be biased. See you in the morning."
"Aye. I wish... but it will be impossible now. We must wait our chance."
"As you say. Good-night, Keren."
"Good-night to you, Garia."
The party's departure from Castle Tranidor does not go smoothly as there are interruptions, first from Kalikan and then from unexpected visitors. Garia finds time to explain a pivotal financial institution before the party finally leave for the south.
by Penny Lane
94 - Money Matters
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
Keren
started awake, one hand reaching for the dagger beneath his pillow.
As his eyes opened, he saw Denard near the chamber window, one hand
raised to reassure the Prince.
It was barely daylight. Keren relaxed immediately and then sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. It was only then that he noticed the second man, in castle colors, crouched in the fireplace making up a pile of kindling ready to light.
"Uh... what time is it?"
"About a quarter after the dawn bell, Highness," Denard replied. "Our apologies for waking you, but I am told it is necessary to light fires in certain of the castle chambers every morning."
"Every morning?" Keren asked, still only half awake. "Even in the hot weather?"
The castle servant rose and bowed. "It is so, Highness," he explained. "If there is no draft made by means of these fires then the air can become very foul. We do not know the reason why."
"Oh. Thank you. Carry on."
"As you command, Highness."
As the servant resumed his task Keren switched his attention to Denard.
"Everything quiet last night?"
"Aye, Highness. I have not heard of anything you should have been told about."
"Good."
Keren swung his legs off the bed and sat on the side, considering his choices.
"I think I may as well rise, now that I am awake. I'll join the men outside for our Tai Chi session and breakfast will be ready by the time we finish."
The servant rose, flames flickering behind him in the grate.
"Highness, forgive me for asking, do you yet shave? I can bring hot water if you desire."
Keren rubbed a hand across the sparse stubble on his chin and grinned at the man.
"Aye, I am no bluebeard but there are bristles here to remove. Yes, bring me water, if you would."
* * *
When Keren strode into the dining chamber later that morning it was to find some diners already waiting, including Trosanar and Lasalenne. The count was dressed ready to travel, in well-used and comfortable riding gear while his wife wore a more formal day gown. Trosanar made a respectful bow to the Prince but Lasalenne's curtsey was more thoughtful.
"Your Highness," Trosanar began. "I observed you exercising with your men this fine morning. Is this a regular activity of the palace guard?"
Keren nodded. "It is, my lord. I regret that I have to tell you it is another of Milady Garia's ideas, and one we are in complete favor of. Although the exercises look simple they are of benefit to all both young and old. Many of our people in Blackstone have also taken up the practise."
"Do you expect all to follow your example, Highness?"
"I would not demand it, Trosanar, and there are circumstances when the exercises would not be possible, convenient or practical. But I would commend you to try. For such as we who can spend time in the saddle it prevents stiffness and many of the aches a rider can suffer. That is my own experience, in any event." Keren looked around. "I see our women are not yet arrived."
"Highness," Lasalenne said, "they but approach. I deem Lady Garia has had an awkward night."
Garia led the other women into the chamber and came towards the group. She was dressed for traveling in a palace tunic and circle skirt but it was plain that she would not be riding her frayen today. Her face was pale, with only spots of color on the point of each cheek. There were rings under her eyes. Keren couldn't bear to see her looking like that so stepped forward to take her in his arms and comfort her.
She recoiled.
"Easy," she muttered. "It is all too sensitive. Take it easy."
Gently, she approached him and wrapped her arms around his waist, sagging with a sigh as her head touched his chest. His arms went around her shoulders to support her.
"That bad, eh? Are you going to be able to travel today? Should we delay?"
"I'll be okay in a minute," she muttered. "Assuming I can get some food to stay down. The castle healers have been great, really."
Remembering where she was, she pushed away from Keren and attempted a curtsey to Trosanar, who waved a hand to excuse her.
"I am sorry to see you suffer so, my lady," he said. "Shall you join us at table? I would not wish to distress you further."
"I'll manage, my lord," she replied.
Trosanar regarded the pair carefully. He had had many of his preconceptions shattered since the arrival of the Prince and his party and he was still adjusting to the change. His original notion that they were a pair of young, inexperienced adolescents who had traveled into the wilder parts of the Kingdom for adventure had turned out to be very far from the truth. The Prince had shown a surprising maturity for one so young and he had never met anyone like the Baroness. Her blunt and confident descriptions of what Tranidor might be like in ten year's time had shaken the count considerably.
"If you are sure, milady," he said to Garia, "then perhaps it would be better were you seated. Come, let us take our places and food shall be put before us."
The group drifted toward the table to find their seats, all except Senidet who stood, uncertain.
"Senidet, my dear," Lasalenne said, "you shall eat with us today. It was discourteous to send you away last night, when you were of the Prince's party. I will apologize to you now for my husband's lack of manners. Here, you shall sit by me and tell me what you hope to do when you reach Palarand."
Senidet bobbed a curtsey. "Thank you, my lady."
As was often the case, the first warming mug of pel improved Garia's spirits and she even managed to eat some food. The conversation around the table was reasonable but everybody knew that Trosanar would be leaving with the Prince because he had overstepped his authority, so there was a certain reserve in the air. Lasalenne was astounded to find that Senidet was going to become a guildswoman.
"Why should we not do as the men may, milady?" Senidet argued. "There are many crafts and trades which do not rely on the brute strength of a man, where a woman's careful touch can be as good as that of a man. And I am told that there will be new trades and specialties where a woman's attention to detail may exceed that of any man."
"What manner of trades and specialties do you describe, my dear?"
"Well, I don't know, yet, milady, since I have not yet arrived. Lady Garia, perhaps you can explain?"
"Certainly, Senidet. In the future the new machines which will make everybody's lives easier will be both large and small. The larger items, of course, we'll leave to the men, but the smaller stuff can be made by men and women. There will be openings for many young men and women to invent and make the new devices and we'll need all the people we can get, because once everyone finds out about the new things they'll all want them." She waved her fork. "Like these, for example. Now, I don't know yet what you'll be doing when we get back to the palace but it might be mechanical or it might be electrical, or you might be making engineering drawings or instruction booklets or any of a thousand new things we're all going to need."
Trosanar raised an eyebrow. "Instruction booklets? The smith's daughter is no scribe, surely?"
"My lord, Lady Merizel is the daughter of a baron but she is to become a journeywoman scribe when we reach the city. Senidet herself has been helping her father with his forge work for many years and can read and interpret the drawings his guild sends him with no trouble." Garia smiled at the count. "We're not talking of Senidet scribing books, though. What we'll do in future is to write the books once and then print them off, many copies at a time, on the new printing presses. Don't you have some examples of printing here already, my lord?"
"Uhhh, Lady Garia, how can one tell if something is printed, as you call it? I do not understand what you mean."
Keren said, "Were you not given a sheet of paper describing the Garian numbers, my lord? I remember Duke Gilbanar handing them out when we met at Dekarran."
"Oh! Highness, I did! I was more interested in the material that was used, I did not pay much attention to what was written, I must confess. It was a busy meeting, as I recall. That was paper, was it not? Can printing only be done on paper, then?"
Garia replied, "You can print or write by hand on anything you wish, my lord. Paper, parchment, anything. For printing, it just has to be flat enough to go in the presses. But the whole point of printing is that, once you have the whole page set up ready, you can just keep printing fresh sheets from it. We are already producing booklets with diagrams and recipes for the healers and instruction manuals on how to make and run steam engines. I know that the tables needed to regulate the bells will also be printed in future since the letters are so much easier to read."
"And these sheets can be made in such numbers, then? Is that the secret of printing?"
"One of them, my lord," Keren explained. "A sheet can be printed in what, a hand of moments? Then, while it is hung up for the ink to dry, the printers are already laying out the next sheet ready to be printed. The other advantage is the reduction in mistakes. Once a page is made up, a sample is printed and checked thoroughly for errors. When it is approved printing can begin. If the same document were to be copied out by scribes, every single copy may have errors, a different set of errors for every copy perhaps. So printing ensures that what you read is as reliable as the original document."
"Highness, you amaze me. It seems there is much more to these new inventions than I had supposed. And I must confess, your own knowledge of such matters is impressive."
Keren shrugged. "I find some of the new processes to be of interest, my lord, and I was present when Lady Garia described them to the assembled guildsmen. But no-one will be obliged to learn anything new unless it will be required for their use by themselves. I would not ask you, for example, to learn how to print, since you will have your own staff to do that for you, but some of it you may find of interest for its own sake."
"As you say, Highness."
As the servants were clearing the breakfast dishes away the main chamber doors opened and two men entered, both dressed in Trosanar's colors. They approached the table and the older man saluted.
"Highness," Trosanar said, "this is First Quadrant Pargrum and File Leader Yorth who will accompany us south to Dekarran. Pargrum has served my father as well as myself and you may rely on him, he is an honorable man."
"Quadrant," Keren acknowledged with a nod.
"Highness." Pargrum turned to Trosanar. "My lord, all is about ready outside. The baggage of His Highness and his party have been loaded and the camp of their men is being struck. We may depart whenever you are ready, my lord."
"Give us a quarter bell or so, would you?" Trosanar instructed. "There are one or two minor matters to settle before we leave."
"As you command, my lord."
As Pargrum began to turn away Keren stopped him. "Quadrant, I must warn you, this journey will not be just a ceremonial ride." Pargrum's eyes flashed with resentment at the thought that he should act his master's jailer, but his expression changed as Keren continued, "There is a very small but real risk that we may be attacked along the road. There have already been a number of... incidents... in our journey so far and you and your men should be aware that there may be real work for them to do as we travel. I would not want your lord's safety to be risked because you did not know of the possible danger."
Pargrum saluted again. "Highness, I thank you for your warning. I will ensure that the men take their responsibilites seriously."
As Pargrum and Yorth made their way back outside they were passed by a servant, running in from the door. This man bowed to Keren and Trosanar before speaking to his master.
"My lord, there are some men at the door who insist on speaking with the Prince and Baroness. I told them that your party was about to leave but they asked that I brought word to you before you made to depart."
"Some men? Who are they? Do you know any?"
"My lord, one of them is a miner from the local guildhall." Trosanar scowled. "Another is the Master of the Town Watch, also the trader Tanon and another who I believe is a moneylender."
Trosanar looked at Keren, who decided, "It is not so urgent that we depart immediately, is it? These people did not know we had arrived in Tranidor and this will be their only opportunity to meet us. Let us spend a bell or two, perhaps, finding out what they want and we may satisfy their needs. There is yet time for us to travel a distance along the road once our work here is finished."
"As you say, Highness." Trosanar turned to the servant and said, "Bid them enter, then take a message to Pargrum and to the Prince's camp telling them of the delay. The men can find something to do while they await our coming."
The servant bowed and departed. Most of those who had been seated around the breakfast table stood and took their leave, making room for the newcomers. Trosanar requested fresh pel for his visitors. Shortly a small group of men were ushered into the room and made obeisance toward Keren and Trosanar before the Prince bid them join the others at table. Mugs were served and the servants withdrew.
Tanon made the introductions. "Highness, this is Jalmond, the Master of the Town Watch. I met him yesterday evening at my lodgings and it was then he discovered that you and Milady Garia had arrived in Tranidor. He mentioned sketches you had made during the trials held in Blackstone and wanted to give you and milady the latest news." Tanon gestured to the other man they didn't know. "This is my good friend Moshan, who provides coin and financial services for my operations in Tranidor. He is the person who is handling Milady's letters of credit, and he was particularly interested in some of the ideas she has mentioned in her letters to him. If it will not delay our departure too much, I thought that it would be useful for him to meet face to face so that she can satisfy his curiosity."
"You did right, Master Tanon." Keren addressed the men. "I am, as you can see, Prince Keren and this is Lady Garia, Baroness Blackstone. Beside her is her secretary, Lady Merizel."
The moneylender looked at Garia with surprise. "My lady, I had not expected you to be so young."
Garia forced a smile. "I hear that a lot." She turned to Keren. "Would you ask the questions, please? I'm still feeling a bit fragile."
To Moshan's questioning gaze, Keren replied, "Lady Garia endures the fate of all women under Kalikan this day. We will do what we may to ease her discomfort." He turned to Jalmond. "Watchmaster, I had all but forgotten those sketches. You have information for us?"
"Aye, Highness, I do, but perhaps you might tell me more of what lies behind them before I speak. I have read the report of the trials in Blackstone but they barely list the crimes of evil men and the sentences made upon them."
"As you will." Keren then described, briefly, what had happened when they had originally arrived in Blackstone and the events which followed. He explained that some of the men had traveled into Tranidor from time to time to dispose of stolen goods and animals.
"Ah." Jalmond nodded. "It is as I suspected, Highness. These men are known to us - were known, I should say - and I am glad they are no longer alive to continue their misdeeds. The names you give them are not those they used in Tranidor but that is not so surprising. We suspected that they preyed on lone travelers but could prove nothing. You say they may have hidden coin here in Tranidor, perhaps with a confederate? Now that we know what has happened, we will attempt to track down those whom they sold beasts and gear to and try and find out what happened to their profits."
Moshan looked embarrassed. "Highness, it may be that I am one of those who you seek. I can only assure you that if that was so then I did not know that any coin these men may have given me was obtained illegally."
"How could you?" Keren asked. "If a man comes to you and asks you to turn his coin into a letter of credit, then you are no judge, are you? You cannot assume that all who approach you are criminals."
"Indeed not, Highness. My clients are among the most respectable in the town and I endeavor to follow all the laws that apply to such matters."
Trosanar stirred. "I have used Master Moshan's services myself on occasion. But there are others who may not be so careful whom they deal with."
"As you say, my lord," Moshan agreed. "If you will give us leave, I will pursue this matter with Master Jalmond. Such dealings as you describe can only lower the reputation of all involved."
It was Trosanar's turn to look embarrassed. "Ah, you may proceed, Master Moshan, as you deem fit. I am departing for Dekarran immediately, leaving the governance of the town in the hands of the Countess. You may apply to her for any further assistance and information while I am away."
Moshan looked surprised again but kept his mouth shut. Jalmond said, "We already know the associates of these people, Highness, and the places where they used to meet. What shall you wish of us?"
Keren thought. "These would be people buying and selling the proceeds of robberies and possibly even of murder. Watchmaster, treat them as you would any criminal you find in the town."
"As you command, Highness."
Moshan could barely contain himself with curiosity. "Milady, I came to learn more of this idea you call a bank. It seems both similar to what I provide but different. The letters you wrote to me explain much, but I am missing some essential part."
Garia asked, "Master Moshan, I'm not sure exactly how you do what you do, but I'm assuming that you are just a one-man business, is that right?"
"Aye, milady, that is so, though I do have clerks and scribes working for me. You mean that I provide the coin to lend from my own coffers, do you not?"
"That's right. Well, I can only describe how a bank operates in my own lands, and I have to add that I didn't really make use of a bank myself, because I'm not yet old enough to do so. But the basic principle is fairly simple, I think. Think of a bank as a company of people who group together to borrow money from some people who have a surplus and then lend it to others. You lend money out at a slightly bigger rate than you borrow it and the bank lives on the difference."
Moshan nodded. "Aye, milady, that is how my business works." He frowned. "I can see the benefit of having more than one person, the company as you name it, running the business, but there is more to it than that, I believe."
"Oh, yes. The idea is that the bank looks after your money for you, rather than you having to keep it all in your own house where people can steal it or it can get mislaid. What you do is give most of your money to the bank for safe-keeping, except for a small amount you need for day-to-day expenses, and then the bank keeps a record of what they hold on your behalf. When you need more, to buy food say or to pay a tradesman, you can go to the bank and draw more out or you could instead give the other party a special letter of credit we call a check. This is a bit of... parchment or paper... with the date, your name, the payee's name and the sum owed on it. The other party then brings the check to the bank and one of three things can happen. He can take all of the money owed, as cash, I mean coin, just as he would do now, he can pay the check into his own account at the bank or he can take part payment."
Trosanar looked confused. "Lady Garia, this seems a complicated way of paying someone the coin they are owed. Why should I not just hand my tradesman a bag of coin as I do now?"
Garia's smile was genuine this time. "Because, my lord, it means that your tradesman has to walk through town with a bag of money in his hand, whereas a check is just a document which is useless except to the payer and payee. Much safer and easier to carry. There's another good reason why this works, as well, and that's because the coin, as you call it, is being used out in the town instead of sitting in a chest in your treasury. This way the actual bits of metal stay in circulation for others to use."
Horran grunted. "My lord, I agree with Lady Garia here. One of the local miners' complaints is that, while their customers are yet ready to buy their ores and services, there is no coin for them to pay with."
Jalmond nodded agreement. "My lord, it is so. You have much of the town's coin hidden away in your treasury where it is of no use to anyone else. Our businesses suffer for it."
Trosanar was bewildered. "But, the coin is the taxes that have been collected. I do not understand how I can keep the taxes yet not keep the coin."
Keren said, "This is the essential point, gentlemen, of a bank, and that is to separate the coin that we use from day to day from the wealth that it might represent. If such a bank as Lady Garia proposes holds your wealth for you, then the bank will keep an exact account of how much you may pay in or take out. Once you have paid the coin into the bank, it then becomes available for others to spend in the town."
"But..." Jalmond said slowly, "If I understand you correctly, milady, then logically the bank will hold most of the town's coin, will it not? Will this make such a business a target of thieves and robbers?"
Garia nodded. "Oh, yes, it will. Banks in my lands are usually very thick stone buildings with protected strong rooms. One reason is to keep the money safe and the other is to keep the records safe. Accounts will be written down and that makes them vulnerable to fire, of course."
Trosanar said, "Highness, let me see if I can understand how this bank would work for me. I would give -" he shuddered, "- all my coin to this company who would keep a record of it for me. Then, when I desire to pay someone, I would write a check to give to the tradesman who would take it to the bank and receive the coin he was owed. Is that right?"
Keren replied, "Aye, that is so."
Garia added, "You wouldn't send all your money to the bank, my lord. You'll still want to keep some ready cash here to pay people like your armsmen, for example. They'll be spending their pay in the town, in the markets and taverns, so there would be no point handing them a bit of parchment. When your funds look like they are getting low you write a check for cash to the bank and send some men to collect the coin. Same as when someone pays in their taxes, you send the coins to the bank and get a receipt for it from them, which will also tell you exactly how much they hold for you."
Trosanar muttered. "It all sounds complicated, milady. But you may be right, if the money is sitting, as you say, in chests in my treasury it is both a worry to me and an inconvenience to the town." He looked up at Garia. "Is there any profit in this for me? Will the bank pay me for the use of my coin?"
"Of course, my lord. It would not be a large sum but enough to make your use of the bank worth while."
Moshan added, "As milady says, my lord. You are essentially lending the bank money, for use by others, and the bank will pay you for the privilege." He turned to Garia. "Milady, your description implies that many may have accounts with such a bank. This would mean more scribes, more clerks."
Garia nodded. "Yes, probably more than you have now. But it won't be so bad, right at the start. Most people will still be using cash, er, coin, just as they do now. It's only the bigger sums of money that would be handled this way to begin with, say the replacement of a window or buying a frayen, that kind of thing. But the main point is it keeps the bulk of the coinage in circulation for others to use." She had a thought. "If he wanted, my lord Trosanar could become a partner in the bank rather than just a customer. He would advance part of his treasure as a stake to be used to lend to others and he'd get a bigger return than if he just opened an account. The same is true of anyone who had a spare sum of money to invest. There are always people who need to borrow money, for new projects, for example or to make repairs or settle sudden debts."
Trosanar suddenly looked thoughtful. "You give me much to consider, my lady."
Lasalenne spoke up for the first time. "Garia, dear, in the castle we keep separate accounts for different parts of the business. If all our coin goes to the bank, how would we know how much to allocate to say, food, or fodder, or building repairs?"
"There is no reason at all why you couldn't have separate accounts at the bank, my lady," Garia explained. "Or you could just keep your own reckoning here like you do now. If you do it at the bank you'd just have a different account number on the checks for each account."
Moshan burst out, "You are the one who has given us the Garian numbers! I did not make the connection until now. My Lady, all Alaesia owes you gratitude for this wonderful idea. I cannot tell you what a difference it has made to my business. Everything is so much easier to do now!"
"Uh, it really wasn't my idea, Master Moshan. We've used numbers like those for centuries. But it was something you really needed here to help you all face the future. The easy use of numbers for math is going to be essential, whether you are a nobleman, a banker or a builder of bridges."
Trosanar frowned. "Garian numbers? I remember now, that was what was on that sheet of paper we were given at Dekarran!" He shook his head. "I remember, I looked at it but saw many strange symbols I did not understand. We were busy, I put the document aside and forgot it in the press of other business. Highness, I apologize for my forgetfulness."
"Think nothing of it, my lord. Much happened while we were at Dekarran."
"Indeed, Highness. Perhaps I may receive instruction in these new numbers as we travel? I may not be as fond of accounting as Master Moshan here but my own holdings must be administered properly. If there is any means to ease my burden then I will gladly pursue it."
"Of course, my lord. Merry, have you any spare sheets of the number document with you? I would also leave a copy with the countess before we leave."
Merizel thought. "Highness, the spare paper will already have been packed. I have one copy in my document case for my own use, that I can leave with the countess. Once we reach our stop for tonight I can seek out any further copies for my lord's use."
"As you will, Merry. Master Moshan, you had a question?"
"Aye, Highness. I can see the usefulness of this check method Milady Garia describes but that still means that most people have to hold or carry heavy coin about with them. From mentions in her letters to me milady suggests that her own people do not do this any more. Surely, milady, you cannot conduct all business using checks?"
"Well, sort of, Master Moshan," Garia replied. "Alongside the checking system we have another similar system which works almost the opposite way. What we use is something like an anonymous letter of credit we call a Treasury Bill. These are printed on special paper, to protect against forgery, by the government and issued by the millions to everyone to use instead of gold and silver. They don't have anyone's name on them and they are for standard amounts people might want to use to buy and sell things. For very small purchases we still use coins, of course, but for larger amounts dollar bills are what everybody uses."
"Dollar bills?"
"Oh, a dollar is what we call our money, Master Moshan. One dollar is probably worth about... two feniks, I guess. I don't think you can really compare the values, though. We print dollar bills in ones, fives, tens, twenties, fifties and hundreds. You simply use them instead of coin."
"But... your money is entirely paper, then? Is there no gold to correspond with these... bills?"
"There is, and it's usually kept in special vaults in guarded... castles. But each bill guarantees that if you were to take it to the treasury, the government will give you the value in gold, if you insisted. Nobody does, of course. It's far easier to hold and carry dollar bills than it is a great heavy bag of gold coins."
A light dawned on Keren's face. "So that's what those were!"
Garia looked at him.
"In your wallet, when you first came to the palace, there were two sheets of paper we didn't understand. Now I realize, those must have been these dollar bills you describe!"
She nodded. "That's right. I had two ten dollar bills and some small change." She made a face. "Then Morlan went and stole the wallet. I got the wallet back but the money had gone. It's no use to anyone on Anmar, of course."
"As you say. And I agree, a handful of bills is easier for all to carry and use than a bag of coin would be. But it will take a long time for such a system to be introduced in Palarand, I deem."
"Oh, yes. To begin with, the quality of paper-making would have to improve greatly, and then the printing process has to develop so that you can end up with bills that can't be faked easily. But it is almost certain to come in time."
"You describe our future, milady," Trosanar observed.
"Sort of, my lord. All I can tell you is what happened to us in my own world. What happens here on Anmar is almost certainly going to be different to that both because your society is different than ours was and because I'm giving out hints where we went wrong."
Trosanar nodded. "As you say, milady. Much is now made plain that I did not pay attention to before."
Garia stood suddenly, causing everybody else to rise as well.
"Highness, my lord, I beg your leave. I am... indisposed."
"Of course, milady. Lasalenne, will you attend Milady Garia? We have taxed her enough with our questions."
Garia smiled as Lasalenne came to take her arm. "Thank you, my lady. Do you think your healers would let me have a little more of that green stuff? It seems to do the trick."
"Of course, my dear. Come, let us attend your needs."
Trosanar watched with the others as the women retired.
"Highness, it pains me when I see our women suffer so. How does milady travel this day? Surely, not in a saddle?"
"I don't think so, my lord. It is four days to Dekarran, she will likely spend them all on a wagon bench."
Trosanar winced. "A rough ride, Highness."
Keren shrugged. "It is what she did on our journey here. She even managed to ride the last day, though that was not so successful."
"Highness, if you will permit me, I shall offer a carriage for the use of milady and her maids." Trosanar gave a wry grimace. "I will be traveling the same journey, after all. The carriage can return to Tranidor with me or my remains, as the Lord Gilbanar determines."
Keren hesitated. The addition of another vehicle meant more drivers and animals, making their caravan even larger than the original intent. Finally he nodded.
"My lord, I thank you for your offer which I will accept. It will ease her journey, I have no doubt." He smiled at Trosanar. "I doubt not you will be judged fairly by Duke Gilbanar at your journey's end. I do not think you need fear a heavy fate."
"Thank you, Your Highness. With your permission?"
Keren nodded and Trosanar spun to a servant, ordering a carriage, four frayen and a driver to be made ready immediately.
After the interruption was concluded the men settled down at the table again to wait, fresh pel in front of them.
"She is a remarkable woman, is she not?" Trosanar remarked. "One so young, and yet so knowledgeable. This is why she is sought by others, I deem?"
"Aye, my lord. But she tells us that she is not remarkable in her own world, that all women have like qualities. We wonder if we have done our own fair folk a disservice by treating them as we have. What talents are we missing, simply because we dismiss them as a woman? Mistress Senidet here is proof of that."
"Highness, I begin to wonder what else we may have missed through custom and precedent. She is sure to change Palarand in the future by her example. It will be difficult for older folk as myself to accept such changes, we are too used to our present ways."
"I don't think you need worry too much, my lord. The King and Queen recognize what she brings us and will attempt to ensure that we obtain the benefits of her knowledge while we find our own ways to reduce the problems they may cause."
Horran said, "These early days will be expensive, my lord. We have an avian-and-the-egg problem where we must begin new construction in order to make the new materials to sell to pay for the construction itself. We are fortunate that milady funds the initial expansion of mines in Blackstone and steel-making elsewhere."
"She does? How is this possible? Did she bring treasure with her from wherever she came, then?"
"Only what was in her head, my lord," Keren explained. "But some of the ideas she brought are among the simplest, like forks, paper, and printing, and they have already paid rich rewards. The guildsmen fairly pay her the usual portion as her design right and it has made her a rich woman already. She funded the new roadhouse on the Blackstone road entirely out of her own earnings."
Trosanar looked startled. "So much coin, then? I did not realize..."
Moshan told him, "My lord, I have handled several letters of credit for milady, to provide funds for miner's contracts, wagon and dranakh purchase and materials for the roadhouse. All were countersigned by the Queen and I deem that Milady Garia has already spent twice the worth of your own holdings, if not three times as much."
Trosanar stared at the moneylender in disbelief.
Tanon gave a small smile. "My lord, there are other means of making money than by taxing people. Some of milady's coin comes my way and my business, and those of others like me, are better for it. By her gifts she enriches us all."
"Master Tanon, Highness, I am humbled. It seems the world turns and I did not know it. You have given me much to think about as we journey."
Keren replied, "My lord Trosanar, she has given us all much to think about.There will be much change to come to the Valley states and I deem we shall all see such changes in the next several years to come. The King has realized that Lady Garia was sent to us for this purpose and accepts that what is to come is inevitable. For myself, the hints of what could be are sufficient for me to desire what knowledge she offers us. I know that some would rather the world stayed as they have always known it but that doesn't really happen, does it? The world turns, men and women grow older, some die and more are born. All that Lady Garia brings to us are ideas which would happen eventually were she not here to guide us."
"As you say, Highness."
Keren turned. "Master Moshan, you look thoughtful."
"Aye, Highness. I deem the idea of a bank one worthy of serious consideration. Has the Baroness spoken of such to you? What I mean is, can you answer questions while we await her return?"
Keren nodded. "Some. Like Lady Garia, I am not fully familiar with the details of accounting." He grinned. "I leave that to the King and his treasury clerks, though I fear I shall not escape their clutches for too much longer. Ask, and I will answer what I can."
"Highness, it seems to me that a bank is a purely commercial enterprise, like that of Master Tanon here. Do you know if there would be one such bank in every town? Would each bank be a business to itself or could there be connections between those in separate towns?"
"From what she has told me there could be more than one in any place, just as Master Tanon is not the only merchant in Tranidor. She explained that competition between banks would help to keep the costs to customers down, just as one might find in any market. Again, just as for Master Tanon, there is no reason that a bank could not have what she calls branches in several or many towns. In a large town or in the capital, there could be small branches near to where the most business is done."
Tanon nodded. "Branches, I like that, and it is clear what they are and how they relate to the main office. It would be just like my own business. If these banks come to pass, Highness, you can be sure that I would be one of the earliest to take advantage of their presence."
Horran added, "Highness, it occurs to me that branches could be placed near mining settlements, the easier to pay the men, while the accounts are held in a nearby town such as Tranidor." He nodded agreement. "We, too, will consider using such a bank once Master Moshan agrees to open one here."
"Now, wait a moment!" Moshan looked surprised. "I have barely heard the word bank but a bell since and here you all want me to open one! I will promise you all that I intend to consult with the other moneylenders in Tranidor and see if we can discover how such a business can work in practice. It would be some months before we could set up such an enterprise, perhaps not until next spring."
"That will be soon enough, Master Moshan," Trosanar said. "The winter will be a time for talk, not for fresh projects. There will be plenty of time to find out how a bank should work to the benefit of all."
The men talked for a short time until Garia and the others returned. She looked much better, her expression less strained and with more color to her face. She curtseyed to the men, who rose at her approach.
"Highness, My Lord, I apologize for the interruption. I am now ready," she said.
"Then," Keren said, "If there is no more to be said, perhaps we should join our men and start our journey."
"Aye, Highness," Trosanar agreed. He turned to Garia. "My Lady, seeing your discomfort, I have ordered you a carriage to take you as far as Dekarran. You will find it much more comfortable than riding a wagon seat, I deem."
Garia was flustered. "My lord, I couldn't -"
"Think of it as part of my apology for mistreating you when you arrived, my lady. It seems you are more important to us than I realized, we must make sure you are suitably protected. Highness?"
"Aye. Lead the way, my lord. Garia, this is a sensible thing to do."
"As you wish, Highness."
Outside in the yard a gray coach awaited, harnessed to four frayen. A servant opened the door and Garia climbed in, followed by Jasinet and Lanilla. Jenet would ride beside Merizel and Senidet.
"Ooooh! I like this!" Jasinet exclaimed. "I've never been in a carriage this fancy before. These seats are really soft to sit on!"
"I've never been in a carriage before," Lanilla said. "Only on a wagon seat or inside, when it was wet."
"What, never? Oh, of course... Milady, do you have your own carriages? Will we ride like this when we get to Palarand?"
"Well, actually, since I live in the palace I just use the palace carriages, or sometimes the guildsmen send one for me. I don't own any wagons or carriages myself." Garia thought. "At least, not yet, anyway."
Trosanar stared at Garia as the servant closed the door. He had just noticed, for the first time, the scabbarded knife sewn to the outside of her right boot.
"Highness, milady carries a knife on her boot!"
"Aye, my lord. It seems that because of a woman's body shape it is not practical for her to wear a rider's knife from a belt as we do. Putting it on a boot is just as practical, indeed, I have thought of having the same for myself. For that reason also, and because she is so short, she wears her swords on her back when she rides."
"But... two swords? And so short... Is there some secret to their use? Might this be of benefit to our armsmen?"
Keren grinned. "They are intended for defense by women, should the fight become desperate. Come, let us mount, I have no doubt you shall discover the secret as we travel."
Trosanar bade his wife and children a tense farewell and then the party mounted their frayen. The carriage rolled through the inner gates to join the waiting caravan on the open space beyond. There was a buzz of activity as everyone saw them approaching and mounted up. The castle visitors, walking alongside the carriage, stopped to give their own farewells.
"Milady," Horran said, "I must remain in Tranidor to oversee guild matters until a replacement arrives from the south. I will write if there is news, the letters will await your coming to Dekarran."
"Thank you, Master Horran," she replied. "Your assistance in organizing the new mines has been appreciated."
"My Lady," Moshan said, "Thank you for entrusting your coin to me in Tranidor. I will write to you also, concerning this bank. I doubt not that when you next return to Tranidor in the spring you shall find us open for business."
"I'm impressed, Master Moshan. I'll look forward to your letters." Her eyes narrowed as she had a thought. "Moshan? Are you perhaps... a Jew?"
Moshan looked thunderstruck. "My Lady! I have not heard that name spoken in forty years or more! Do you tell me you know of the Jews? Aye, I am accounted one, by those who follow the fortunes of our families. It is true, then! You do come from the other world, as my people are said to have done. We do not make that claim any longer, ever since the Great Convocation, but a few of us still wonder if it could possibly be true."
Garia sighed. "I'm sorry, Master Moshan, I didn't realize sooner or we could have spoken more about it. Yes, there are Jews in the world I came from. Their history is a... controversial subject with some people. I guess that one or more of your ancestors came to Anmar many, many years ago the same way I did." She nodded. "When I return in the spring, I'll tell you all that I can remember, but I warn you that you may not like some of what I have to tell you."
"The old histories, My Lady, speak of war and exile and destruction. If you will tell us, then we shall bear it as before."
"Yes, I suppose you will."
The carriage jolted into motion. The procession formed up, led by Feteran carrying the ptuvil standard, then a squad of palace men, Keren riding with Trosanar one side and Tanon the other, Merizel with Senidet and Jenet either side, Garia's carriage, more armsmen and then a long line of wagons with more men making a rearguard.
Jasinet leaned out one of the windows to watch as they left the castle grounds and entered the town.
"What an amazing sight, milady! So many people, so many wagons! Is it always like this in the south?"
"I didn't see any caravan as big as this when we came up," Garia replied. "Oh! Except the one which brought the King from Palarand to Dekarran. There must have been more than two hundred people in that one. But that was different, of course. Normally the caravans are two, four or six wagons or so."
There were crowds lining the streets, cheering, as the procession made its way through the town. Once word had gotten round that their Prince was passing by everybody wanted to have a good look. There was a snarl-up passing through the market place when they met a wagon train coming the other way, obviously bound for the northern trade route, but Tanon's men were expert at such encounters and skilfully eased the wagons past one another. Then the procession turned toward the eastern gate and suddenly they were crossing the Bray and back on the open road.
Feteran rode back to consult with Jaxen, who was now riding beside Keren.
"Wagonmaster, how far should we go? Is there a suitable stopping place for a train this big?"
"On this road, commander, most stops will have room for many more wagons than we bring. I have been giving thought to where we can stop for tonight. Perhaps we shall ride for two bells and stop at the next lunch place. That will let me judge progress." Jaxen scratched his chin. "I know where I would stop were we but trading wagons, but we have extra men - and women - to consider." He nodded. "Let's get going. We have delayed long enough."
After an overnight stop the caravan resumes the journey south. Most have remembered passing through Holville and do not look forward to doing so again, but there are surprises in store for all when they arrive, including Merizel!
by Penny Lane
95 - The Road South
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
Garia carefully wiped the steel disc
and handed the cloth back to Lanilla before peering at her face in
the metal mirror. There were windows in the bath house, but because
of privacy concerns these were high up and the early morning light
made it hard to see clearly. Garia's main features were still plain
enough to examine and she let a sigh of relief escape.
"Milady?"
"It looks better than yesterday, doesn't it? I hadn't realized how bad my face was when I went down to breakfast then."
"As you say, milady. But, if you'll excuse me saying so, those beds weren't very comfortable, at least mine wasn't, and I didn't think your own was much better. I expected... something better for the guest chambers of a nobleman, somehow. The chambers in this roadhouse were better than those of the castle."
"You're right, Lanilla. But a place like this gets all kinds staying overnight so they have to make sure the beds are comfortable, while I guess Trosanar doesn't have too many guests staying in his chambers. His own bed will be nice and soft but I bet the guest rooms will be neglected - unless a Duke or a Prince comes to call."
"I never thought of it like that, milady. But then, I know very little about how the nobility live."
Garia smiled at her maid. "Well, don't use me as a guide to how it all works, will you! I'm new at the noble game myself and don't know what I'm supposed to be doing half the time. Come on, let's go and get some breakfast."
Garia and Lanilla emerged from the bathhouse to find her armsmen forming a perimeter around the building. There were very few other women at the overnight stop so no-one was inconvenienced, but it was apparent that her men were taking their duties seriously. In the distance the palace men were working through the last of the Tai Chi, watched with interest by a small knot of Trosanar's men. The count himself was sitting at a table with Keren and the other women of their party, apparently waiting for Garia before beginning breakfast. They all rose as she approached.
"Good morning, my lady," Trosanar greeted her. "If I may say, you appear in better health than you did yesterday."
"Thank you my lord," she replied, curtseying to Keren and Trosanar. "I'll not go into details but it seems every time is different and it is always the first day that is the worst. Your Highness."
"Garia. Join us." Keren indicated one of the carved wood chairs which served diners at this particular stop, and then waved to the waiting staff to attend. "We were discussing Holville before you arrived. Lord Trosanar has heard of the problems there but did not realize that the situation had gotten so bad. Since we recently - relatively speaking, that is - traveled that way I described to him what we saw as we passed."
"Lady Garia," Trosanar added, "I may be to blame for some of Holville's problems. Certain of the miners along the Sufen would not accept the levies I asked them and left looking for... cheaper places to delve for ores. If I have caused this problem by driving miners away then I must accept some of the responsibility. We passed that way ourselves when we returned from Dekarran and, though the works seemed untidy to my eyes, I saw nothing I did not expect to see. I saw no carcases, smelled no fumes, saw no tainted water. But I do not really know what is considered normal for such activities." An embarrassed smile. "As you may understand, I am not popular at such places so I do not visit them unless I must."
"As you say, my lord. Most mine sites are untidy to the eye and I don't think that will ever change. But Holville is something else... I think something has gone wrong there."
Keren nodded. "Aye, most definitely. But here is our food, let us break our fast as we talk."
The usual traveling fare was put out for them, bread, sliced meats, cheese, fruits, ale and pel.
"Whose lands are those of Holville, do you know?" Keren asked Trosanar as they ate.
"Aye, Highness. Those lands properly belong to Baron Kachmar of West Kendeven these days, I believe. He obtained them through marriage as dowry from his wife, the second daughter of Count Vestran, who presently resides along the Telar, as I recall. Now Kachmar is an old man, a widower, and these last four years has been stricken by a palsy of the left side. I do not know if he has ever visited the lands where Holville now appears. Perhaps once, just after his marriage, but no more. As far as I know, he is confined to his castle in Kendeven most of the time, he is too ill to travel far."
"I see." Keren frowned. "Has he children? Should they not take some of his responsibilities for him?"
"Highness, I do not remember. Lasalenne would certainly know! I believe there was at least one daughter... as a vassal of Kendeven, he did not attend any of the same conclaves with our lieges, as you will appreciate."
"Of course. So, the land is left without supervision and is settled upon by mining folk seeking cheap ores to dig. We will doubtless find some local official who takes a small fee for letting them do whatever they want, without the knowledge of the landowner."
"We sent letters to Uncle Gil - I mean Duke Gilbanar," Garia pointed out. "Do you think he's done anything about the situation since we first passed through?"
"We'll find out today, won't we?"
Breakfast over, everyone rose and headed for the corrals to collect their animals. It had occurred to Garia that, since she would not be mounted for the next few days she did not need to wear riding gear, so she had chosen one of the gowns she had worn when disguised as a traveler on their original journey north. This was more comfortable in her present condition and warm enough given the turn in the weather. There was a long-sleeved undershirt and hose of fine pakh wool next to her skin and her feet were shod in sturdy travelers' ankle boots. Sukhana's original provision of clothes had included gloves, scarf and even a bonnet of quilted cloth padded with pakh wool but Garia had decided that the weather wasn't yet cold enough for those extremes.
The reaction of the animals in the paddock to their approach was interesting. The dranakh, way over the back, took no notice of anybody but kept on grazing. They would come of their own accord when the time was right. Of the frayen, one group grazed unconcerned, a second group stared apprehensively at the humans but the third made straight for the rails and the gate. Trosanar's men, joining them to collect their own animals, looked surprised to see the reactions of the approaching mounts.
"Morning, Snep! Have you missed me?" Garia reached out and stroked her mount's head as he poked it between the rails. He sniffed her carefully and then gave her a questioning look.
"Sorry, boy. I can't ride you today. It's a female thing, you know? Here, have a small consolation instead."
She dug out a piece of fruit she had saved from the table and gave it to Snep, who took it carefully and chewed it with some appreciation.
Garia turned to Senidet. "Are you happy to ride Snep again today? I don't want to force you to ride if you think you've had enough for now. If your backside is getting sore we've plenty room for you to ride in the carriage, you know."
"Thank you, milady," Senidet replied, "I will persevere with the riding today, if you would permit me. I am becoming accustomed to the saddle and the needs of riding, and I feel I must practise this new craft while I still have the chance. I may accept your offer of a carriage place another day, perhaps."
"Any time, Senidet. Don't think we're forcing you to ride, that's all. Is Snep behaving himself?"
"Certainly, milady. I have discovered that our beasts have more sense than most people believe. When I think of how some of the townspeople mistreat their beasts I am ashamed. There is so much more that they are willing to give if one but treats them with respect."
"I agree! As you have seen, it's made a big difference to the way we all ride. There are always going to be those who mistreat their animals but I hope with better education we can get more out of them and make their lives happier at the same time. Do you need help with that halter?"
"Thank you, milady, I can do it." Senidet blushed. "Tedenis showed me the proper way when we were at the Blackstone roadhouse."
"Ah. I'll let you carry on, then."
The gate was opened and the frayen filed out, to be haltered by their riders ready to be taken back to their wagons for saddles and gear to be fitted. Trosanar's men stood together watching this process with amazement and eventually Pargrum made his way over to the palace group.
"Commander," he addressed Feteran, "how is this possible?" He waved a hand at the procession of docile animals. "There are few of our own beasts who will come readily to hand yet all of your own do. Is there some trick to this? Have you some special training, perhaps? For our own beasts, we must enter the paddock and chase them down."
Feteran's mouth twitched. "Aye, Quadrant, there is some training involved, but most of it requires training the rider, not the beast. Milady Garia showed us the way some time hence, when we discovered that she was already an experienced rider before she came to Palarand. Come, it is no secret, I shall explain to you as we ride. It will require an adjustment in the way you treat your animals but I can tell you you will ride better for it - and be able to serve your lord better." Feteran turned to regard the animals still in the corral. "Do you require assistance to round up your own mounts? I can detail some men to help, if you desire."
Pargrum nodded. "If it is no trouble, commander, then aye, I would. It will save us some time making ready for the road." He hesitated, then asked, "We noticed yesterday that you have different saddles. Are these part of what makes your frayen behave as they do?"
"Partly, Quadrant. Our saddles, another of Milady Garia's improvements, sit further forward on the beast and, we believe, are more comfortable for it to bear the rider's weight. It does require the rider to sit differently and it can take some time to adjust to the new position, but I would not return to the old saddle now. Come, let me find some men to round up your animals and we can speak of such matters as we ride."
Soon the roadhouse camp was full of men and animals getting ready to leave. Garia reluctantly approached her carriage to find Jasinet already aboard.
"Look, milady! I felt sure that there would be something like these if we needed them." Jasinet had lifted one of the seats to reveal a storage space below filled with folded traveling blankets. "Do you want me to get any of these out for you?"
"I'm warm enough at the moment, Jasinet, but if you or Lanilla are feeling a little cold then by all means get some out. We've a long way to go still and I don't want you catching a chill or something."
The procession set off and resumed heading south. Garia had already discovered the drawback of carriage travel, namely that her view of the countryside was restricted compared to everything she could see while mounted. She contented herself with relaxing back on her seat and watching the river flow past to the right of the road. Soon the river swung away and the view was that of tilled fields, some left to overwinter and other with fresh crops already sown to come up in the early spring.
Jasinet, on the other hand, was more interested in what was happening elsewhere and hung out of the left-hand window whenever she could. Garia had to call her back in on several occasions, especially when a bump in the road nearly made the maid exit the window completely.
"I don't see this Holville yet, milady," she said after one of these episodes. "Is it not a town like Blackstone or Tranidor, then?"
"Nothing like," Garia confirmed. "It's just a lot of holes dug all over the place by a bunch of miners. There's no real town at all, there's just shacks and workshops thrown up wherever they can find a bit of flat land. And the smell! I think you'll smell it long before we see it. Let's hope we can get past it as quickly as possible, on the way up even the frayen were coughing."
Jasinet screwed up her face. "Do people really live like that? Are the ores so rich, perhaps?"
"I don't think so, in fact it's probably the opposite. From what I understand the land belongs to an elderly noble who lives in Kendeven who can't look after the place. Miners went there because it was somewhere cheap and unregulated. You'll see."
But the situation was not what any of them expected at all. As their caravan approached the area they discovered a checkpoint across the road, with a group of tents pitched nearby. The men operating the checkpoint were all dressed in a variety of uniforms of different colors. Seeing the Prince's men approach they saluted and stood to one side, but Jaxen halted their train so that Keren could question them. Garia leaned out of a window to hear the conversation.
"Your Highness! We did not expect to find you on this road. Your caravan may pass freely."
"What purpose does this barrier serve, if I may ask?"
"Highness, it is to keep out those of the artisans who resist the imposition of the law on Holville. Some small number object to what they see as confiscation of their mining claims."
The officer waved a hand at the tents and Garia noticed men now emerging from some of them, to stand looking resentfully at the armsmen. As their own caravan was so heavily surrounded by armed, uniformed men as well they kept their distance but the ill-feeling was palpable.
"Who imposes the law here?" Keren asked.
"Why, Highness, the Duke Gilbanar does, since there is no other willing to do it. We are levies asked from nearby towns and holdings, content to do our liege's bidding if it will remove the stain that Holville has placed on our countryside." The officer glared at the men from the tents. "Most have consented to assist the laying out of a proper town but some few object. I do not think they will give you any trouble, Highness, you are too strong a party."
"Sir!" an armsman called. "The Count approaches."
All eyes turned along the road where a group of mounted men rode towards them. Noticing that some wore Dekarran colors, Garia opened the door and climbed out, followed by her two maids. The lead rider held up a hand as he approached.
"Well met, Highness! I wondered if I would meet you on your return journey."
"Terinar! So, Uncle Gil sent you up here to clear up this mess, then?"
"Aye, Highness, he did. Thought it was time I did something useful with my life instead of moping about the castle all day. Is Garia with you? Ah, I can just see her back there. And..?"
Terinar turned and his eyes met those of Merizel. Their two frayen walked forward until the two were side by side, facing, their eyes locked into each other's.
"Well met, My Lady Merizel."
"Well met, My Lord," she murmured in reply.
They stayed facing one another, silent, until Keren cleared his throat to break them out of their trance.
"I think we have more important matters to attend to, don't you agree? We can't stay here blocking the road."
Terinar broke contact, turning round to face Keren. "As you say, Highness. We have made a proper camp at the south end of the town, if you would follow us we can get your wagons and men off the road. By the time we have done that it will be almost time for lunch, so you may rest easy we will not delay your journey for too long." He turned and waved at Garia. "Garia! We have all heard about your adventures in Blackstone, you must join us and tell us what happened. I am not sure I believe all I read in your letters to my father."
Garai answered Terinar's wave and then turned to her maids.
"Back inside, girls. We don't want to hold everybody up."
Garia waited until her two maids had climbed inside the carriage and then shut the door on them! She briefly examined the outside of the carriage before hauling herself up to sit beside the astonished driver.
"Move over a bit! I want to see what's been going on here and I can't do that properly from inside."
"Uh, as you say, My Lady!"
Terinar took a startled glance back at Garia, now perched on the driver's seat, before turning to Keren and making a comment. Keren laughed and then gave instructions to Jaxen, who started the whole caravan back into motion. The lengthy line of wagons and men followed Garia's carriage along the roadway through what had once been desolation.
No more. The fires were out, there was no smoke, foul water or animal carcases. To her left, on the higher slopes of the hillside, every ramshackle hut, workshop and charcoal mound had been demolished leaving only the pits and spoil heaps from the mine workings. At places there were groups of men filling two-wheel carts with spoil, others apparently filling in some of the holes. At one point, beside a small stream which run down between the workings, some men were busy building things which involved tapes and blocks of stone, she could not work out what. Further along a roadway was being driven at an angle up the hillside to join what appeared to be a terrace higher up.
To her right, along the lower valley slopes leading down to the distant river, the changes were much greater. Here, the highway had a ditch on the lower side only and men were building access bridges across it to developments on the other side. Beyond the ditch a road ran parallel to the highway with short cross-streets joining it to another road perhaps a hundred strides away. Along both sides of the cross-streets plots had been laid out, many of these had tents and wooden buildings already present on them. At the bottom, along the lower road, could be seen much larger wooden buildings which appeared to be of a communal nature. Beyond these larger buildings was a separate region where fresh, larger charcoal mounds were being constructed, together with the beginnings of large workshops and warehouses.
At the south end of the highway an area had been cleared which had military camp written all over it. The tents were of a different type and laid out in strict, close rows. A paddock leading back up the hill held the frayen of the motley force of armsmen organizing the apparent occupation. Terinar led the way into a small space near the check point which defined the lower end of the site and Jaxen supervised the parking of the wagons. With a 'thank you' to the carriage driver, Garia let herself down from the seat to join the others.
"Garia!" Terinar grinned. "Welcome to Holville, such as it is."
"I'm astonished," she replied. "I didn't think that Uncle Gil would take our letters so seriously."
"It was a combination of things. Father wasn't sure what to do, as the lands didn't belong to one of his vassals, so he had to send off to Kendeven to find out the whole story. By the time we had word back we also had your first letters from Blackstone describing how your mason was reorganizing the town and how you set up zones for different activities. There was a deputation of guildsmen at Dekarran at the time and he learned much of your plans, which he completely approves of, by the way. He had also sent someone out here to report first-hand on what was here and when he heard the truth he decided to take a personal hand in the matter." He grinned again. "Of course, he's too busy to get involved himself so he sent me out instead. He has proclaimed eminent domain over the whole territory and instructed the guildsmen to build him a new town here according to your own principles."
"The original land-owner?" Keren asked.
"Will be fully compensated for the value of the land... in the state in which it was originally left, before the miners arrived." Terinar turned at a face he recognized. "Lord Trosanar! You travel in company with His Highness?"
"Lord Terinar." He bowed to Terinar. "That could be said to be the case, my lord. I am bid to Dekarran to answer faults in my administration of my lands. His Highness has no jurisdiction, yet I must admit I have overstepped my authority. I accompany him to your father's castle voluntarily."
"Oh?" Terinar's eyes narrowed but he asked no further questions. "But I am forgetting my manners. Highness, My Lord, Ladies, please join us in our mess tent and I shall send to see if an early lunch may be provided."
Keren turned. "Jaxen?"
"Aye, Highness. I'll see to the wagons, men and beasts." He scratched his chin in thought. "Providing we do not delay too long, Highness, we may make the campsite before the Haligo gorge before dark. That would be preferable to fighting our way through the town at night."
"As you say, Jaxen. We'll bear it in mind."
"Um," Garia said. "Before we sit down I have to pay a visit to the bath house."
The men all turned toward her, confusion on some of the faces.
"Bath house?" one echoed. "Milady, we have a latrine yonder..."
"It is a bath house Lady Garia requires," Keren stated, "not a latrine. Is there one nearby? What would travelers use when they come to Holville?"
He realized the answer to his own question as Jaxen supplied it. "Highness, no-one would make camp anywhere near Holville if they might avoid it. You saw yourself what the place was like when we passed on our way north. That is why we camped beyond the... town, I suppose we must now call it." He pulled a face. "I doubt there were any bath-houses built for those who lived here, Highness. Those we saw as we passed before did not seem to be much concerned over their personal appearance."
"Aye, you are right. But Milady has need of a bath house today. Is there any remedy she may use within the town?"
One of the armsmen said, hesitantly, "Highness, there is a place... at the lower end of the town. Quadrant?"
The officer he addressed reluctantly nodded. "Aye, Treb, it is the only place, until the town is properly built." He turned to Garia. "Milady, if you would follow me, I will take you there. I cannot guarantee what reception you will receive when we approach the establishment, however."
Garia nodded. "I'll take that risk, Quadrant. My needs are more pressing than that." She turned and raised an eyebrow at Jenet.
"Milady, it were best we all came, if there is no other place a woman may use."
Garia gestured at the Quadrant. "Lead on, please."
With her men and some of the wagon guards surrounding them, the party set off for the highway and crossed it. Keren looked at Terinar and, with a nod, the pair followed more slowly, accompanied by some of their own men. Across the ditch on the lower side a crude bridge had been built of four immense poles lashed together, with a single taut rope at waist height for balance. Fortunately the poles were large enough that the crossing was stable, men helping the women on and off at each end.
They continued walking down the street facing them, which Garia saw was just surfaced with spoil from the workings which had been roughly leveled. Either side, here, there were plots laid out ready but no tents or more permanent buildings had yet been raised. Beyond the plots to her left a fence had been staked out to mark the boundary of the town development, the other side of which stood some more of the mineworkers who had apparently refused to assist in the new building, silently watching as the procession made their way down the slope.
At the bottom was the lower street and facing them was a substantial canvas building. Standing outside this building were two women, one of whom immediately went inside when she saw the approaching group. Shortly afterwards a number of women spilled out of the doorway and faced the party, forming a committee that looked anything but welcoming. The largest and oldest of the women stood forward, her arms folded under her breasts.
"What's this? Have you found some more poor women, not performing to your liking? Well, we can't take them in here! We've barely enough to feed those you have forced upon us anyway, we can't take any more."
"Mistress," Terinar began, "these are but travelers upon the way. Milady here," he gestured at Garia, "has need of a bath house."
The expression on the woman's face changed in an instant. "And why is there no bath house in Holville? Your men tore it down, that's why, without thinking what us women might have needed! Milady, eh? Come here, girl, we'll get you cleaned up, the best we can, though it will be no thanks to these miserable men. Kath, you and Yel show our guests inside, will you?"
Two of the women came forward and beckoned to Garia. It suddenly occurred to Garia what this place was and why, possibly, there was a conflict between them and the soldiers now running the town.
It's a brothel, that's what! This could be... educational.
The five were escorted inside and Garia saw that the whole place was a big canvas tent. The framework was of wooden poles lashed together, the floor had roughly-sawn planks covered with rugs and some of the walls were covered with thick hangings to keep out the chill but the whole thing looked extremely basic. The ceiling had some wood slats to hold the canvas roof up but there would clearly be problems once winter set in.
There were partitioned alcoves where the women slept... and possibly worked, but their guides took them through to a second enclosure behind the main tent where a table and benches stood in the middle while a range to one side kept the air warm. On the other side were three cubicles of canvas in two of which a half-barrel bath was just visible.
"Mistress," one of their guides said, "If you can but wait a moment or two we shall try and find you enough warm water to wash yourself with. Kalikan, is it?"
Garia nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. Our journey was urgent, I couldn't wait until I was clear."
"Sometimes the way, isn't it? We must do as men demand."
"So it would seem. I'm sorry, your name?"
"Kathira, mistress, and that's Yelena putting the water on the range. I'm sorry, there won't be much water because we have to fetch it from the other end of Lower Street and the soldiers don't like the men helping us, but there should be enough for your needs. If you other ladies would like to make use of the privy at the end?"
Merizel walked off to the third cubicle and entered. Garia sat on the bench, indicating to the others that they should sit as well.
"So, what's the situation here in Holville, then?" she asked Kathira.
"What, the whole town, or just us? Well, it seems that Mandel, he's commander of Lord Grabin's troops, he was the senior officer here until the Lord Terinar came, he don't take to whorehouses and he shut them down almost the first thing he did. Got his men to put this place up and then made us all come and live here but won't let us earn a living. He begrudges us the food he sends us and I think he wishes we would just leave and go elsewhere, I dunno, maybe Haligo or Tranidor."
"They're a long way away, aren't they? So you're stuck here with nothing to do and no way to earn a living."
"Nearly, mistress. Mandel will let us do what he calls 'proper woman's work', such as cooking, cleaning, washing and seamstressing, those sort of things, because if we do the men don't have to do those things and they can work harder building his town for him. But most of us came here because we didn't want to do those things where we came from, if you take my meaning." Kathira made a rueful smile. "It seems we all have time on our hands these days so we've done quite a bit of making and mending of our own clothing, and we have to clean and cook for ourselves so we're doing what he wants whether we wanted to or not, wouldn't you say?"
"Are the other officers like Mandel? What about Terinar?"
"I don't think the Lord Terinar agrees with what Mandel does but for some reason he doesn't want to interfere. Perhaps it's because all these men-at-arms come from different lords and don't answer to one another."
Garia nodded. "Yes, I can see that might be the case."
The other woman said, "Mistress, the water should be ready now. If one or two of you could help me lift the pot into the bathing chamber -"
Jenet and Senidet helped Kathira and Yelena carry the heavy pot into the cubicle and added it to the fresh, cold water already there, then Garia and Jenet retired to do the necessary business.
Yelena spoke to the others. "I heard the older woman call your girl milady," she said. "That can't be true, surely? Is she really a noblewoman?"
"It is true," Merizel answered, coming out from the privy. "She is a noblewoman, as am I. She is Baroness Blackstone and I am Lady Merizel, her secretary. These two are Jasinet and Lanilla, her under-maids, and Mistress Jenet her senior maid is at bath with her. The other of our party here is Mistress Senidet, who is traveling with us to Palarand to become a guildswoman."
Yelena boggled. "A guildswoman? Whoever heard of such a thing? Only men may join the guilds!"
Merizel smiled. "Times are changing. Lady Garia is herself a Guildmistress, acclaimed by all the guildmasters in Palarand's Hall of the Guilds itself, in the presence of the King."
"Surely you tell us fables, milady!"
"It is true," Senidet confirmed. "I have seen her charter myself, and the King's signature on it. I desire one day to be awarded a similar charter, though I know I may never be as clever as she is."
"Baroness... Blackstone," Kathira said thoughtfully. "That's the name all those guildsmen keep saying, whenever they want to change anything. Are you telling us she is behind what has happened to Holville?"
"Probably," Merizel agreed. "Look at it the other way, though. Would you want Holville to be as it was when we passed through traveling north, all dead animals, bad water and choking fumes? Anything has to be better than that, surely?"
The two women looked at one another.
"Put that way," Yelena said, "I can't disagree. But what we have now is no better. At least before we could make ourselves a living off the miners."
Merizel grinned and raised her voice. "Garia! You listening?"
"Of course!"
"Will you do something about this problem?"
"Of course!" There was a pause, followed by splashing. "It will delay our departure, you realize."
"Nothing new there, then!"
There was some muttering from behind the canvas curtain, too low for anyone to hear it properly.
Eventually Garia emerged from the cubicle, clean and with relief on her face. The two women uncertainly attempted a curtsey but Garia waved them back to their feet.
"Don't bother with all that nonsense, please. We're just a bunch of women here, aren't we? I'm a guest in your home, such as it is. Let's leave it at that, shall we?" Her expression changed, her smile became harder. "Now, let's go and right some wrongs, shall we?"
Garia led the way back to the front of the building and they emerged into a conversation between the big woman and Keren.
"...your proposition sounds most interesting," he was saying, "though I think my father might disapprove."
"Your father?" the woman asked. "What has your father to do with the matter? You carry a sword, you are a man, aren't you?"
"As you say, mistress. But my father is the King and the Heir to the Throne must abide by different rules than ordinary men."
"You make fun of me, young master! What would the King's son be doing in a miserable place like Holville?"
"Passing through on his way back to the palace... Ah, Garia! Has all been done that needed to be?"
Garia deliberately curtseyed. "It has, Your Highness. And I have learned much while we were inside."
The big woman's eyes widened and several of the other women began to curtsey as they realized that the young man in front of them just might be someone more important than they had imagined.
The woman turned to Garia. "Is it true? He is our Prince?"
"He is, and I am Lady Garia, Baroness Blackstone. I may owe you an apology, mistress. It was my report on conditions here when we rode north that started this whole business off."
"But..."
Garia turned to Keren. "We can fix this, can't we, Keren? It seems that one at least of the troop commanders has a thing about brothels, and he won't let any of the women work. They're just stuck here on basic rations while he hopes they'll just go away and stop annoying him."
Terinar said, "That's true, Garia. I don't have the authority to interfere with anything he says, unfortunately." He grimaced. "It seems that while I may be the son of a Duke my power to order these armsmen is limited. I must go through their lords and that takes time, even if those lords agree with my wishes."
"I was thinking," Garia said. "Keren, you have this handy bit of parchment, don't you?"
Keren grinned. "You mean that document which has Uncle Gil's signature on it? Aye, let's see if we can straighten out whatever has been happening in this place. Are you ready to return to the camp? I admit to feeling a little hungry, I think." He turned to the group of women, who stared back at him with expressions that varied from surprise to naked interest. "Ladies, we must return to the camp where a meal awaits us. Afterward I shall attend to your plight as best I can. Terinar may not have the authority to judge this matter but I do. Shall one of your number join us?"
The large woman, who appeared to be their leader, nodded. "I will come, Highness, if you will accept my presence."
Keren shrugged. "I asked for one of you. Why should you not be acceptable?"
"There are those in the camp who would keep women as far away from it as possible, Highness."
Keren's expression hardened. "Is that so? Then you may certainly accompany me, if you would. How are you named, mistress?"
"I am no mistress, Highness. I am known by all as Triss." She turned. "Sel, Manda, take the others back inside and prepare lunch for yourselves. I'll come back when I may."
Triss accepted a shawl from one of the other women and wrapped it around her shoulders before nodding to Keren. The group of men and women began to walk back up the rudimentary street towards the highway, their armed escort keeping a watchful eye for any trouble.
Keren turned to Garia. "Tell me what you have learned."
"It looks like when one of the troop commanders arrived here he rounded up all the women he found on the site, whores or not, and stuck them in that tent behind us. He forbade them, ah, plying their trade, so to speak. He'll let them do the menial jobs around the site because that lets the men do the heavy work of rebuilding. Now some of that sounds almost reasonable but the basic principle is wrong, isn't it?"
"As you say. Does this man have a name? Who is his lord?"
"He's called Mandel but I didn't hear who he answers to. It looks like there are a number of detachments from different local lords out here but they aren't part of a unified command structure. That's why Terry can't do anything with them, their own lieges seem to want to keep control."
"I begin to understand. What about the other men out here? Those who must be guildsmen? Who's organizing them, if anyone? I can't interfere with guild business but you might be able to make a difference if needed."
"We haven't spoken to any of them yet. I don't even know if they are allowed into the camp."
"They are not," Terinar told Garia. "Except for one or two of the Guildmasters, those who are known to certain troop commanders. This entire business is a mess, and I'm sorry you had to walk into it."
"Highness," Triss said, "Mandel answers to Count Grabin of Telar Minor, I believe."
"Does he now? A count from another mining area. I wonder, does he have instructions from his lord concerning the works here? We may find out shortly. Your thanks, Mistress Triss."
The party reached the rough footbridge and crossed over, making their way into the soldiers' encampment. Heading for the mess tent they were confronted by a heavy-set officer in his forties.
"My lord!" He addressed Terinar. "I must protest! Such women should not be permitted within the camp! Especially not when we are entertaining noble folk such as these." He indicated Garia and her retinue.
"Mistress Triss is here at my personal invitation," Keren said, taking charge of the conversation. "I am Prince Keren, and who are you?"
The man stammered and then made a bow. "Your Highness, I did not know who you were. I am First Quadrant Mandel, sent here by my Lord Grabin of Telar Minor to assist the clearance of this foul place. Highness, I must protest the presence of this woman in the camp. Her very existence is an affront to discipline."
"The women in that tent provided what this camp could not," Keren told him quietly. "A bathing place for women travelers on the highway. It is not for you to decide by what means people should live their lives but to do your duty as I must do mine. Now, we are hungry and I see that food awaits us within. We shall eat and then I will ask for all the troop commanders to assemble so that I may address them."
Mandel was obviously furious but there was little he could do. Everyone went into the big tent and took places at the several tables, Triss being deliberately seated next to Keren. Garia and her own women took a separate table together with their armsmen. Soldiers came and began serving out the midday meal, which consisted of basic provisions no better than Garia had eaten on the road. There was ale for the men but it had been watered, Feteran pulling a face when he had his first sip. Other than that, there was only water, not even pel.
"Milady," he said, "this food is not acceptable as fare even for soldiers in the field. Either some lord is saving himself coin or some commander is not spending it wisely - or at all."
"It is pretty bad, isn't it? I'd say that some of Gilbanar's vassals have done just as little as they can get away with to satisfy his instructions, wouldn't you? And they can play off one another by acting independently. It's a wonder there's any food here at all."
"Milady, I cannot disagree."
While they were eating two men were admitted and, after some discussion with the serving staff, approached Garia's table. They looked at everyone seated there and bowed.
"We apologize for interrupting your meal," one said. "I am told that one of you is Baroness Blackstone? We are two of the guildmasters supervising the town construction, we would speak with her if it is at all possible."
Garia put down her goblet of water. "That would be me," she told them. "Um, can we make room for these gentlemen? I need to find out what is going on here as soon as possible."
Three of her men immediately stood and made space for the guildsmen to sit, and they began.
"You are younger than we expected, guildmistress," the spokesman said, "but we have been fully informed by the Hall of the Guilds who you are and what you have already done for our crafts, so we will assume that you will understand what we have to tell you today. We have been in correspondence with Master Bezan and others in Blackstone and we seek to use the same principles in laying out the new town of Holville."
"Well," Garia replied, "We'd only intended to stop over here for lunch and then move on south this afternoon. It looks like we're going to be delayed, doesn't it?" She smiled. "That seems to be happening just lately. Why don't you tell me what's on your mind, gentlemen?"
* * *
Once the meagre meal had been consumed the two guildsmen rose and excused themselves. Keren, seeing the movement and the gap at Garia's table, came with Terinar to find out what she had learned.
"Those were two of the Guildsmen who are in charge of the development," she explained. "Halkor is a mason who's a colleague of Bezan and is trying to do much the same job here. The dark-skinned one is Zathros, he's... more concerned with the water systems, let me say. Supply and sewage both. There have been disagreements with some of the detachment officers who seem to think that they have a better idea how a town should be laid out than the guildsmen do. Harassment, even. Some of the troops are interfering with the works under progress and there are tools and materials missing, though the word I would use is stolen. Keren, I'm going to need to sit down with them and some others before we leave here. I can't just head off down the road and leave them with questions I can easily answer."
Keren nodded. "I had come to a similar conclusion myself. There are many things wrong in this place and I cannot say that Terinar here is responsible for any of them. The situation with the brothel is one and it is entirely unnecessary."
Garia said, "Part of it is the lack of overall organization. It seems that each contingent of men answers only to its own officers, and the officers only to their liege lords. There's no hierarchy in place here."
"That's what I was explaining before," Terinar said. "If I had enough men I could probably impose order myself, but as it is..."
"It isn't as simple as that," Keren said. "This isn't just a purely military matter, Terry. We have troops, we have guildsmen and their workers, there are miners and there are others who lived in Holville such as traders, merchants and freemen - and prostitutes." He frowned. "What we need is a legally-appointed governor for the town and the works, which likely means a nobleman. Terry, I'll make a decree ensuring that these blockheads have to do your bidding."
Terinar shook his head. "That's what should happen, I agree, but in fact I'm supposed to be returning south with your party to Dekarran. I was only supposed to stay here a short while to oversee the establishment of the construction process."
"But, then, who..? Very well. It seems I must needs hold an audience here, this afternoon. We can use this tent and then, afterwards, Garia can use it to meet with her guildsmen." His shoulders dropped. "Another delay! Are we fated never to get back to the palace?"
Garia smiled at his expression. "You haven't forgotten the journey north already, have you? This trip is easy by comparison. If we are to be here this afternoon then we'd better find Tanon and Jaxen and give them the bad news. Oh!" She pulled a face. "And we have to do something about the food!"
"Aye. I will not eat another meal like that one. Feteran! I have orders for you and our men."
"As you command, Highness."
Every stone turned reveals more problems for Holville and Keren and Garia are forced to take direct action to remedy the worst of the chaos. Keren uses his executive powers while Garia reminds the guildsmen to remember the future in their plans. As it becomes too late to leave Holville, the women find an unusual place to spend the night.
by Penny Lane
96 - A night in Holville
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
The remains of the meal were cleared
and the tables removed to the sides of the tent to provide space for
the assembly. Keren sat in the center of a bench with Terinar and
Trosanar to one side and Garia on the other. At a side table sat
Merizel, documents, paper, ink and reeds in front of her with Senidet
at her side. On a bench to the other side sat Triss with Jenet,
Jasinet and Lanilla standing behind her. Seven men stood in the space
before the nobles, one of them in Dekarran colors who Garia thought
she recognized, the rest in differing colors according to the houses
they represented. The rest of the space was packed with junior
officers, with Tanon and Jaxen, some armsmen and another group who
Garia thought might be guildsmen or possibly miners' representatives
filling in the gaps.
"I am Prince Keren, son of King Robanar of Palarand. Does any here dispute this?" There was no reply so he continued, "I travel our country discovering the lands which I will one day rule. Here, as you all well know, is Count Terinar, son of Duke Gilbanar of North Palarand. He is also, should you have forgotten, my cousin and a nephew of the King. Beside him sits Count Trosanar of Tranidor, who travels with my party to Dekarran, and at my other side is Baroness Garia of Blackstone, who has been adopted by the King and Queen. I hold a charter from your overlord Duke Gilbanar of North Palarand, my uncle, which grants me authority to act in his stead while in his lands and with power to issue commands in his name. If any desires to examine the charter he may do so."
Merizel held up the document so that all could see the seal. Everybody turned to look at it but nobody seemed prepared to dispute Keren's statement.
"The circumstances here at Holville were bad enough before you all arrived," Keren told his audience. "Your purpose was to establish law and order - the law of Palarand, that is, not whatever you may decide is the law - and to make the region secure so that our guildsmen may construct a new town in safety. We do not need groups of armed men squabbling over who should defer to who and setting every man's hand against that of any not of their own house or land. For that reason Duke Gilbanar sent his son Count Terinar here to oversee the operation and I have learned that several of you have wilfully ignored his authority.
"This is my first command. When you are within the bounds of Holville you will answer to the appointed authority and no other. If you feel that you are unable to obey this command, that your fealty to your own liege takes precedence, then you may depart this camp and this place and return whence you came. You must all know that in any military organization no man may answer to more than one officer since that way leads to certain defeat. The building of a town is at least as great an enterprise as any battle and there must be no confusion over who is in charge. Am I understood?"
Mandel and one of the other men glowered and said nothing. The other five bowed.
"Quadrant Mandel, you disagree?"
"Highness, I do. With respect, I have made you no oath. My instructions come from my liege and I am bound to answer only to him."
"Then your duty is clear, Mandel. Pack up your belongings and depart this camp. I want you beyond the boundary by sunset."
Mandel flushed. "Highness, my lord's instructions do not permit me to depart."
"Quadrant," Keren said sternly, "your lord has no writ here. These are Duke Gilbanar's lands and you are here by his command. If you refuse his command, you no longer have any authority in Holville, and, by your own admission, no reason to remain. Am I understood?" When Mandel hesitated Keren added, "If you continue to resist my commands I shall have you returned to your liege in chains."
Mandel promptly dropped to his knees. "Your Highness, I intend no insult to your authority. I will do as you command."
Mandel climbed to his feet, banged his fist on his chest, and turned to leave.
"Quadrant, I have not given you leave to depart this audience," Keren said. "I have much yet to say from which you may learn something."
The officer flushed, turned and came to attention. "Highness, my apologies."
"My next concern is the interference made by some of the men-at-arms now camped here with the construction of the new town," Keren resumed. "The guildsmen themselves have brought such meddling to the attention of Baroness Blackstone, who also holds a guild rank."
There were startled looks at Garia by many in the audience who had no idea of her connections to the guild system.
Keren continued, "This interference may be the result of instructions given their officers by their liege lords or it may be from personal preferences or dislikes. Let it be known that no man may obstruct the work of the guilds of Palarand for any reason without penalty. This new town will be properly planned by those who understand such matters and any interference will be dealt with severely. I do understand that some may question why certain matters must be handled the way that the guildsmen prescribe, you may take your concerns to them and they shall give you sufficient reason for their decisions. Am I understood?"
There came a murmur of assent from those watching, and several of the onlookers nodded as if they agreed with his instructions.
"I am also informed by the guildsmen that tools and materials have been... mislaid from the works," Keren added. "This is outright theft and if any man is found to have taken such things he will be dealt with as any common criminal would."
There was a certain shuffling of feet at that announcement.
"The next matter I have to speak about concerns you personally, Mandel, but I see I must make myself clear to all those present here today. Despite the desires of a number of people, the activity known as prostitution or whoring is not illegal in Palarand. Nor, so far as I am aware, is it forbidden in any of the Valley states. Those who practise such activities, and their customers, have every right to do so," he held up a finger, "except that Holville is not yet an established town and most normal activities are restricted for one reason or another. Those who provide and run any brothel shall maintain it no different than any other business in this town, provided that they comply with reasonable requests from those trades and craftsmen who are contracted to the construction of the town. This command also applies to any other business which resides in the town, of course."
Mandel looked outraged but he said nothing. The second officer who had shown dissent now spoke.
"Highness, I beg you reconsider. If there are whores in the town they will distract the men from their duties."
"If the men are distracted while about their duties," Keren replied sharply, "then they have not been trained properly. Do you admit to me that the men under your command do not follow your orders?"
"Highness! Well, no, but..." The man broke off in confusion. He considered, then spoke. "Highness, I feel I must withdraw from Holville, to request guidance of my liege lord. If you will give me leave?"
"I will. Your name?"
"Tilmar, Highness. Second Quadrant of Baron Fossmar of North Teldor."
"Very well. Tilmar, you may collect your belongings and depart once this audience is finished."
Tilmar saluted.
"The final matter I wanted to mention before you all is the food!" Keren announced, his face showing his displeasure. "Nothing I have eaten here today is fit to put before animals, let alone able fighting men. The beer is watered, there is no wine and no pel for those who forswear wine and beer. I have eaten better food camped in the wilds of Palarand's far borders, cooked by the hands of my men while grakh flew overhead. Who is responsible for meals in this camp?"
Tilmar said, "Highness, the beer is watered to prevent the men becoming drunk. I cannot answer for the food, that is provided by Mandel's men."
"The reason the beer should not be watered, Tilmar, is because it prevents disease among the men. By watering it you dilute its medicinal properties. Wine and pel have similar properties to well-brewed beer." Keren turned to Mandel. "Quadrant, how shall you answer? Is the food you provide these men that which you would normally eat in your lord's domain?"
"Your Highness, it is not," Mandel replied, but he looked unsettled. "We did not know that it would be necessary to provide for so many for such a long period of time. There have been difficulties... obtaining supplies from the farms and towns round about."
"Highness," one of the other officers interrupted, "this is not true. We have had several offers of supplies from nearby farms but Mandel will not speak with the farmers."
Another said, "We think he has better food stored in the equipment tent of his men, Highness."
Keren raised an eyebrow. "He has been withholding food? Perhaps that is not all he has been withholding. Feteran!"
"Highness?"
"I want a search made of any who will be leaving this camp today. Find out what food and coin they intend to take with them. Do any here have a record of what their lord provided them for this expedition?"
Three of the officers nodded. One said, "Highness, we have kept a full accounting of our expenses, as our lords require us to do."
"Mandel, do you have such a record of your expenses?"
Mandel was silent for a while before he admitted, "No, Highness. I rely on my memory, I would usually write such a record when I return to my lord's residence."
Keren regarded Mandel thoughtfully. It was apparent he had been skimming the funds provided to him and pocketing a certain amount of the money. Was that all he had done?
"Perhaps we must look more deeply into this matter," he said finally. "Feteran, detail our own men to make a thorough search of the whole camp, making a note of what they find in each place." He held up a hand to calm the protests. "Take one man from every company to provide witness to all that the search is conducted fairly. Remove nothing from where you find it." He turned to look behind. "Master Tanon!"
The trader walked forward. "Highness?"
"As the nearest thing we have to an accountant would you go with the search party and ensure that any treasure found is properly recorded? I know that many of the men struggle with their numbers."
Tanon bowed. "I will, Highness."
Keren pointed a finger at the seven officers. "You will all remain here in this tent until the search is completed. One or more of you is stealing money from your own lord and it is your own men who are suffering. Conditions in this place are wretched enough without you adding to the misery." He pointed to a side bench. "Sit. You shall await the results of the search while I confer with my nobles."
The men found places on the bench while Feteran gathered a search party and left the tent.
Keren turned to Terinar. "Terry, who did your father intend to run this place when you left?"
Terinar shrugged. "I'm not sure, Keren. Perhaps one of the minor lords who lives close by... perhaps a letter went astray. I intended to leave matters in Yilden's hands but given that no-one will obey even me I feared for the safety of the town." He pointed to one of the officers. "That's Yilden, he's father's Fourth Quadrant and a good man but I don't think he has the experience to handle this mob." A grimace. "Neither do I, for that matter. The holding of command is not so easy when you have to do it yourself."
"Aye, as you say. I have been lucky so far, but I have only had to command men I already knew and trusted, and men who knew and trusted me. But we still have a problem, who to set to rule over Holville."
"Highness," Trosanar said, "we four are the only nobles present in this place, I deem, and none of us will remain here long. Will you send for someone to assume command? I can offer names, if you need them."
"It may come to that, but first I want to see if we can find some other way." Keren turned. "Garia?"
"I have a thought," she said slowly, "but it would be radical and I don't know if you have the power to do it. What about turning one of those guildmasters into a baron? Can you do that? They are the people who will be managing the construction anyway, why not give them a legal backing?"
The three men gave her a double take. She smiled back at them.
"What? Did you forget who I am? If we're going to mix and match this is the place and time to do it."
"I'm not sure," Keren said thoughtfully. He turned, holding out a hand. "Merry, bring that charter over here, would you? I need to read it again."
"I'm still not sure," he said after a while. "In theory, I suppose, I have the authority to make such grants by virtue of my rank but anything I do would have to be ratified by Duke Gilbanar - or my father, of course."
"Like a battlefield promotion," Garia said.
Keren nodded. "Aye, that is what it would be. Very well. I assume you have one of those two who came earlier in mind, which shall it be?"
"Halkor," she promptly replied. "He tells me he's been managing men and projects for many years so he's more or less doing the job anyway. Zathros has a bigger job to do here and he doesn't need the distractions."
"I forget that Lady Garia is Baroness and Guildmistress both," Trosanar remarked. "Is this to be Palarand's future? Where any may achieve rank in craft or trade as well as become a noble?"
"Look at it from my point of view," Terinar told him. "I'm the son of the King's brother and there's little chance of me having lands of my own of any consequence. I intend to follow the Prince and Baroness down to Palarand and become a Guildsman myself, or perhaps even a Questor."
Trosanar stared at Terinar and then smiled wryly. "Every time I think I understand what our future will be my notions are turned upside down. You are right, sometimes high rank is harder to bear than lower, a nobleman sometimes has less choice than those he governs."
"And a Prince has very few choices at all," Keren added. "My duty, and the course of the rest of my life, was set at birth. Trosanar, there will be change in the future. Not for myself, it is true, but there is no reason why any other man might not become noble, guildsman or questor or possibly all three together. Only time will tell."
Garia gave Terinar a sly grin. "So you're coming down to Palarand," she said. "That wouldn't just so happen to be convenient for other reasons, would it?"
Terinar's expression was unrepentant. "You may be the cleverest person in all Alaesia but I do have the occasional idea now and again. The capital is where all the new developments are going to take place, my father is making a much better job of managing North Palarand than I ever would and yes, that is where Merizel is going to be, so moving south makes sense to me."
"I'm sure we can find something useful for you to do."
"Garia," Keren interrupted, "This is interesting - for several reasons - but the guildsmen must be summoned back here. Would you mind?"
"Of course."
Garia beckoned to one of the watchers, issued instructions and the man walked rapidly out of the tent. While everybody waited for those sent on errands to return Garia walked across to Triss.
"What do you think of it so far?"
"He's good, isn't he? I don't know much about what the high-and-mighty do but I like the way the Prince handles everybody. He don't take no nonsense, does he? I'm sure that Mandel has been stealing food and coin, just look at his expression, sitting there!" Triss scowled. "I hope that lab gets everything he has coming to him!"
"Well, maybe," Garia partially agreed. "Some of it must be his own idea but I wonder if he had instructions from his lord to do things a certain way, slow down the development, or make sure his lord got favorable contracts, that sort of thing." She sighed. "Trouble is, finding out is going to slow us down even more. The decree we were sent by the King wanted us back in the palace as quick as we could and was worded very strongly. Every day we delay is just going to make matters worse."
"The King ordered you back? You were returning south, surely, without being ordered to."
"Yeah, well, there was this small matter of an attack by a band of armed men while we were out in the countryside. Oh, and the ptuvil that decided to join in."
Triss's eyes were wide. "Maker! Perhaps the King has the right idea, then. I'd love to hear that tale before you depart, milady."
"You may have your chance. I don't think we'll be leaving today, now, it's going to be too late to pack up and find a roadhouse to stop at."
Feteran, Tanon and a sizeable group of armsmen came into the tent and assembled in front of Keren. Garia resumed her seat by his side as the two guildsmen joined the crowd. She beckoned to them.
"The Prince needs to have a word with you," she explained in a low voice. "Wait over there while he deals with another problem."
Tanon stood forward as the two guildsmen withdrew.
"Highness, we have found much that needs explaining. In Quadrant Mandel's tent, which he alone uses, we found concealed bags of coin to the value of four hundred and seventy three crowns. There were other bags not so concealed which hold two hundred and thirty one crowns. There are two tents assigned to his men which are used for provisions, there is more food in those tents, and of better quality, than there is in that of any other company's stores. Further, the men discovered food concealed beneath equipment chests in another tent."
Tanon went on to detail what the search party had found in all the other tents, whether used for stores, provisions or by any of the men at the camp.
"We have discovered some of the tools reported missing by the guildsmen," he added. "Those men of the companies who were with us have given Commander Feteran the names of the men in whose belongings they were found, but it is possible that they are not those who stole the items, Highness."
Keren nodded. "I take your point, Master Tanon. Continue."
"In Quadrant Tilmar's tent we found many bottles of wine beneath the clothes in his chest. It seems he does not follow the commands he gives to others, Highness."
"Anything else?"
"Highness, we have not visited the whole town, just the tents of this camp. I could not say what else might be found but there would be problems extending the search, as you must realize."
"As you say, Master Tanon. Thank you for your efforts, please find yourself a seat. Feteran!"
"Highness."
"Mandel and Tilmar are hereby seized pending trial concerning their activities since arriving at Holville. Charges to be decided once the appropriate authorities have made a full investigation. They are to be disarmed and confined in tents away from their men and belongings. If that means chains, then so be it."
"As you command, Highness."
"Which reminds me. In order for there to be an appropriate authority, I must first provide one. Guildmaster Halkor, please stand forward."
Puzzled, the guildmaster stood in front of Keren and bowed.
"Guildmaster, this town has suffered because there is no authority sufficient to provide order while construction takes place. It requires a legal hand of authority to ensure that every man knows who is responsible for each task and who is his master. Normally, that would fall to the noble who ruled this place but there is no such noble appointed to Holville, since Holville was not established in the normal way.
"We four are nobles, it is true, but we will all depart this place either today or tomorrow. Since you are the senior guildsman at Holville you are already providing much of the direction this project requires. I am minded to give your authority legal backing by creating you Baron Holville. How say you?"
Halkor stared at Keren, astonished. "Highness! You cannot do such a thing! I am already a guildsman, how may I become a noble?"
Keren smiled and gestured at Garia. "Here is a person who is Baroness and Guildswoman both. The precedent is already set. Where one may lead, others may follow."
"Highness, I am overwhelmed. I had not thought such a thing was possible."
"I had not thought such a thing was needful until we came here. Shall you accept? I must warn you that, though I can create you Baron at this time, Duke Gilbanar may wish to grant Holville to someone else once the works are complete. I cannot say whether you would retain the rank or privileges, this business is too new for that, we would needs confer with our legal men in the palace. But, while the town is unfinished, you would rule with the full rank, status and privileges of Baron which would mean that you could order all, direct every man here not a guildsman and even dispense high and low justice."
"Highness, if you would give me leave to think for a moment or two." He beckoned to Zathros and the two held a hurried, low conversation before turning back to Keren. Zathros bowed and retreated.
"Highness, this is entirely unexpected. I will do my duty as well as I can."
"That is all that we may ask of any man. You are decided?"
Halkor went down on one knee. "Aye, Highness."
Keren drew his sword and tapped Halkor on the shoulder.
"As special representative of Duke Gilbanar of North Palarand, I thus create you Baron Halkor of Holville. You shall enjoy the full status and privileges of the rank of Baron and, as this is a special barony, your liege shall be the Duke himself."
He tapped Halkor on the other shoulder.
"You must also undertake the duties and responsibilities of any noble as required by the laws of Palarand. You understand this?"
"Your Highness, I do."
"Then rise, Baron Halkor of Holville. Your demesne shall presently be those lands within the boundary you have marked out for the town of Holville and any such lands as Duke Gilbanar or his representatives may determine should be added to those lands to assist in the construction of the town."
Halkor bowed his head. "Highness, I understand."
The new baron climbed to his feet as Keren resheathed his sword. Trosanar stepped forward, hand outstretched.
"My congratulations, my lord."
"What? Oh, thank you, my lord. As you say." Halkor grimaced. "This is all so sudden, it will take time for me to become familiar with my new titles and responsibilites."
Keren smiled. "Not so long as you might suppose, my lord. If any man could be said to be in charge here in Holville already it would be you, so you may find that much remains as it did before. There is one change you will find welcome, though, and that is one of the reasons you are now one of my uncle's nobles."
Keren turned and faced the bench where the company officers still sat, watching the proceedings with a mixture of expressions.
"Rise, if you would," he instructed, "and approach." He placed a hand on Halkor's shoulder as the five remaining men stood in a line in front of the nobles. "This man, as you have all witnessed, is now by my hand created Baron Halkor and I have given him the demesne of Holville as his barony. He represents the authority of Duke Gilbanar and, through him, the King my father. Shall you and your men obey his commands while you are yet within his lands?"
Yilden, the officer in Dekarran colors, immediately dropped to one knee, the others following almost immediately.
"Highness, we do."
"Very well. I suggest you choose one among you who will become Acting Captain over all the armsmen presently at camp, answerable to Baron Halkor, and you will need new officers for the men of Count Grabin and Baron Fossmar's companies."
"Highness?" Yilden asked. "Will not their men follow Mandel and Tilmar back to their lieges, if that is what is decided?"
Keren gave a hard smile. "Those men were levied at Duke Gilbanar's command. If there are any here who are not party to the crimes of their officers, there is no reason why they should be sent away. There is work here at Holville for all who remain."
"As you command, Highness."
The tent bustled with activity as arrangements were made to organize the armsmen into the new system. Garia led the women outside to leave room for the several meetings that needed to be held. Two of the armsmen staggered out with one of the tables before returning to fetch another, placing the two side by side. Halkor and Zathros appeared shortly afterward bearing a roll of parchments.
"Guildmistress," he greeted Garia, " I thought to present our plans out here where there is better light. There will be more room, and less distractions from the men-at-arms. Ah! Here come the other guildsmen who I wanted you to meet today."
Four men walked into the camp and were introduced to Garia. They looked carefully at her but had obviously been forewarned about her age and appearance. Halkor gave the parchments to Zathros who set about spreading them out over the table tops as everyone gathered round to watch.
"As you can see, Guildmistress," Halkor began, "These two plans represent the upper slopes of the hillside with the highway along this edge. The middle set are where we intend to build most of the new town and the other two are the area between the town and the river, although as you can see, the course of the river is only partly mapped."
Garia inspected the plans carefully before saying anything. There was detail on the maps she was not accustomed to but also features which were missing. She frowned, despite her experiences in Blackstone, she was no expert at town planning! Finally she tapped a finger on the street plan.
"This all looks well though out, guildmaster," she said, "but I wonder, have you thought about the future at all? It seems to me that you have laid out a mining camp whereas Holville will soon become a proper town."
"Guildmistress, I do not understand," Halkor replied. "I thought Holville was a mining town, and that we were to provide clean water and proper housing for the people who lived and worked here."
She nodded. "That's right, but that is only the first step. Think what this place will be like in, I dunno, even ten years' time. I bet that Holville will be four times the size you have planned for it." She turned and pointed north. "And, look, it is a day's travel from Tranidor that way, and a day's travel that way to Haligo. The only reason nobody stopped here overnight is because it was so filthy, smelly and dangerous. Once there's a proper town here you'll need inns and the suchlike for travelers. Oh, and I'm guessing there will be a market here as well, for local farmers, given the distances involved to Tranidor and Haligo."
"Oh! As you say, guildmistress."
"Another thing I've noticed. Where do the sewer lines run?"
"Sewer lines, guildmistress? Why, along the lower edge of Lower Street, right there."
"What happens to the sewer after it leaves... is that it, that line there?"
"Aye, guildmistress." Zathros pointed. "It empties into the river over there."
"No sewage plant, then? Uh, I mean, no treatment works for the sewage?"
"Guildmistress? I do not understand what you mean."
"Ah, okay, I'll need to have a talk with you about what we're intending to do with sewage in Blackstone, and perhaps you'd better start exchanging letters with the Blackstone guildsmen. Now look, you've just told me that that line is where the sewers run in the town. Is that all? Just along Lower Street? Why not along the backs of the plots on the cross streets as well?"
"We did not think it necessary, guildmistress," Halkor said. "The plots will be occupied by miners, we assumed that they will use communal washing and eating facilities along Lower Street."
"...And in ten years' time those streets will be in the center of town and occupied by merchants and tradesmen," she told them. "They won't be happy to find there are no sewers... and, I guess, no running water either? What about runoff from the rains? Are you just going to let that run down the streets?"
The guildsmen looked at her with consternation. They had not expected someone who they knew was a young woman to have a better idea of town planning than they did.
"Guildmistress..." Halkor said into the silence. "We did not realize you had such understanding of such matters. We were instructed to provide comfortable dwellings for those who would mine in this place and that is what we intended to do, but we have never designed a complete town before." He bowed toward Garia. "Guildmistress, guide us."
"Uh, I'm no expert in town planning," she said, her cheeks reddening. "I can only tell you what I know and judging by the speed the sun is going down we won't have much time to do that in. I think all I can do is give you the basics of the way we thought through the situation in Blackstone, although I know Holville will be different because it will be new.
"Look, all you really need to do is think about all the other towns you've been in and try and work out what they have and how well the layout works. Here you don't have to worry about old castles or lumps of rock getting in the way, the only real feature you have is the highway. There's not even any inconvenient road junctions or river bridges to worry about. You'll need a market place, some inns for travelers and some places the locals can eat, drink and buy supplies. Now, I think you've mostly covered it with this plan," she waved a hand over the parchments, "but there is no room for expansion. I can almost guarantee that Holville will be much bigger in ten years time than it will be if you build it like this. So, you have to allow for growth. Think about the houses in the center of most towns and who lives and works in them. So, you'll need a water supply and sewer and drain lines running down the back of every plot of land in town, even if they aren't used right away."
The men looked at each other for a long moment, considering, but without speaking aloud. Finally, one by one, they nodded and Halkor replied to Garia.
"Guildmistress, what you suggest is so obvious we are ashamed that none of us thought of what might happen in the future. It will be as you say. We will amend the town plan accordingly."
"While you're at it," she responded, "you might as well hear what I have to say about zones. Now in Blackstone, what we did was -"
Garia explained the segregation of areas within the town for differing functions and the guildsmen all nodded together.
"Guildmistress," Halkor said, "we were instructed about zones but it is much clearer when explained by someone who understands how that might work with different towns. As you can see from our present plans, the mineworkings are confined to the slopes above the highway, the town sits immediately below and between the town and the river are where the processing will take place. This was what we understood by zoning."
"It's mostly right," she agreed, "you'll probably need some small adjustments here and there as you develop the town. You need to put the charcoal workings somewhere downwind of everywhere else and the sewage treatment plant will have to go downwind as well. Then you'll need corral space for travelers' beasts, somewhere for the market place and, oh, somewhere for a community hall, but that's got very little to do with zoning." Garia paused, thinking. "You said that the mines are all above the highway? I thought there were mines all over when we passed through earlier this year."
"That is so, guildmistress, but the miners tell us the better ores are higher up and the veins run into the hillside. Much of what is lower down is affected by the river when it is high, so it was decided to abandon those workings entirely."
"Oh, right. That makes sense, I guess. But... won't the river cause problems in the town? Or in the industrial zones?"
"We plan to use some of the existing spoil to build banks to prevent the river flooding the town, guildmistress. As you can see, the miners dumped spoil in the river before we arrived here. This was once an island in the middle of the river." Halkor tapped an odd-shaped blob at the extreme lower edge of the map. "We plan to eventually use this area to create wharves for transporting ores and materials."
Her eye caught a line running down the map. "What's this?"
"That is a large stream which runs from a small lake high above," Halkor explained. "We intend to build an aqueduct to take the water over the highway and then erect a tower with a cistern to supply the town."
"Ah! That was where those tapes and stonework was? I saw that as we came in." She frowned. "Why build an aqueduct, though? Why not just pipe the water down and under the road, then up to the cistern? That would save you a lot of effort."
"But, guildmistress..."
Halkor seemed lost for words, and he looked around for someone to explain. The answer came from a completely unexpected source, one which caused every head to swivel in Senidet's direction.
"Guildmistress," she said hesitantly, "the pipes we know how to make would burst with the pressure. We cannot fashion iron, wood, clay or stone strong enough to withstand the force the water would have. Can you tell us how we might make such strong pipes?"
Ah. Of course, they haven't gotten around to making cast-iron or steel pipework yet.
"Um," Garia said, stalling for time. "We make our main water pipes out of steel or cast-iron. Steel can be welded, of course, but steel and cast-iron can also be bolted together in sections. I'm not sure how big an object you can make out of cast-iron yet, but that would be my first choice." She made a dismissive gesture. "Don't worry about it this time. I'm sure an aqueduct will do the job just as well."
"As you say, guildmistress. Welded steel? Ah, perhaps another time. The tower which will hold the cistern is designed to have several purposes. Above the water tank will be a bell tower for the town and a look-out point and underneath will be where the town Watch will be based. The arch taking the water over the highway will be large, as it must be to pass the traffic, and we are considering whether to make it a toll point with gates to regulate passage."
"A good idea. If you have to build a tower, best make all the use of it you can. I'm not sure a toll point will be much use, though. The traffic going through is going to become so great no-one will put up with the delays."
"We'll bear that in mind, guildmistress." Halkor's eyes turned to Senidet. "Mistress, are you also a guild member?"
"Guildmaster, I am not, although I travel to Palarand with Milady Garia to become her apprentice. My father is Brydas the smith of Blackstone, and I have helped him in his work ever since I could walk. He feels that my education would suffer were I to stay in Blackstone."
"You have knowledge of smithing, then? But you could not become a smith yourself, you have not the... build for it."
"As you say, guildmaster. I understand the drawings sent to him and I have helped in tasks that do not require the strength of a man. Milady, excuse me, Guildmistress Garia says that in the future there will be many openings for guildsmen and women that will not require such strength but will benefit from talents women may bring with them."
"How is it you know of the properties of pipes and the force of the water inside? I would not think that a country smith would have such experience of such matters."
"That is mostly true, guildmaster, but after milady, I mean the guildmistress arrived at Blackstone the guildmasters in Palarand sent her some new devices based on her own ideas. One of these was a steam engine, and both my father and myself learned to operate it and how it worked. As part of that we talked about what happened to pipes with high pressure water or steam inside them."
Halkor didn't seem completely convinced but let Senidet's comments pass. Instead he returned to something Garia had mentioned at the beginning.
"Guildmistress, you mentioned sewers. While we have yet light, perhaps you could explain?"
Garia was still explaining what a sewage treatment works was and how it would be of use to the town when Keren, Terinar and several of the officers came out and joined them. All bowed or curtseyed as he approached.
"Ah, Garia! You have managed to assist our guildsmen friends?"
"I have, Highness. I've been explaining sewage treatment but we've talked about a number of other things as well. As I said to Guildmaster Halkor, the important thing to remember with a project of this size is to think big. We learned that lesson in Blackstone, didn't we?"
"Aye, we did." Keren looked at the setting sun. "Did you require light? I can have some brought out."
"We're about finished here, thank you. Keren, what are we going to do tonight? It's too late to get on the road again."
"I was going to ask you that. There's no room to set up camp where the wagons are parked and Jaxen is not sure about anywhere else around the town."
"Oh. Um, I don't think I ought to be going too far from the bathing facilities, if you don't mind. And I'm sure the other girls feel the same way." She turned to Halkor. "My Lord, is it possible to take our wagons down to Lower Street? All the plots near the... womens' tent are empty, perhaps we could pitch camp down there."
Halkor thought then nodded. "Aye, milady, although the wagons must use the bridge at the other end of town to cross the ditch. The surface is not as smooth as that of the highway but it should not cause any difficulty."
"My Lady," spoke Triss. "If I may, I would invite you and your retinue to reside with us tonight. It will save you making camp and provide more room than a wagon awning will."
"That's settled, then," Garia decided. "We'll take the wagons down and use those empty plots near the... womens' tent. Feteran, you'll need to provide a watch around that part of town, but since half the plots are vacant it shouldn't be that difficult." She glanced around. "I think we'll walk down like we did before. That will save us bumping about on the wagons and give our escort a chance to figure out where to put them when they arrive. Keren? What about you and the men?"
"We'll use the wagon awnings," Keren decided. "There's no reason for us to stay up here with the other armed men, since we are only travelers, after all." He turned, a grin on his face. "I'll find Tanon and Jaxen and give them the good news."
When Garia and the other women reached the highway, they discovered an argument in progress in front of the temporary footbridge. On the roadside there were two recently arrived wagons, with a group of men questioning three of the local guildsmen. Halkor, who had walked with them as far as the road, stepped forward to find out what the problem was.
"...well, how was we to know they was specially put there! There was no notice left and no-one was told about them!"
"I would have thought it was obvious even to a blind man! What did you think four fifteen-stride tree-trunks were for, all carefully trimmed and shaped and treated with preserving paint! Firewood? And where's the rest of it? There should be a big pile of sawn and shaped timber as well!"
Halkor intervened at that point. "Guildsmen, what is the problem here?"
The men bowed, then one of the newcomers asked, "You are the guildmaster in charge here, sir?" When Halkor nodded he continued, "These poles are part of a special consignment which was delivered here in advance of our arrival. They are intended for construction of a semaphore station somewhere near this point." He gestured at his crew. "We have surveyors who will find the right location for the station but we expected the materials to be ready once the site was chosen so that we could begin building right away. When we reached here we find the poles used as a footbridge and the rest of the timbers missing."
Halkor replied, "Guildsman, I wondered what those timbers were for when they were delivered. The wagonmen said nothing to any of us, just unloaded the wagons at the side of the highway and departed. You may reclaim the poles as soon as we can find some replacement to serve as a bridge. As to where the rest of the timbers may be," he waved a hand over the skeleton streets visible below the road, "I doubt not they will have been used by others who did not know of their significance."
The wagonman let out a stream of invective, then flushed and apologized when he realized that there were women within earshot.
Halkor asked, "Can you not find and use other timbers, guildsman? We have a yard of such material beyond the town, where you can see those large workshops being built."
"All the timbers for the station were pre-cut and shaped in a workshop before we left Teldor, guildmaster," the man explained. "The whole station was sent out ready to erect, although we have brought our tools to allow for minor adjustments, of course. It will take us some time to cut and shape new timbers, guildmaster."
Halkor's shoulders slumped. "Very well. I do not think we can deal with this problem tonight. I will find someone to show you where you can leave your wagons and beasts and we will attempt an answer tomorrow." He paused, then added, "I will invite you to join me for the evening meal tonight, and you can explain to me what a... semaphore station is."
Bidding Halkor good-evening Garia and her party crossed the footbridge and walked down the street again. Feteran inspected the plots to either side and declared there was easily enough room for the wagons and the slope was shallow enough not to cause any problems. As the women went into the tent Garia could see Feteran assigning watch positions and sending others to determine the layout of the immediate area.
Triss stepped forward. "My Lady, welcome again to our humble dwelling. I apologize for the barrenness of the tent, it has been forced upon us by Quadrant Mandel's commands." She turned to the other women, who had gathered round. "Quadrant Mandel is arrested, girls, since he has been found to have hoarded food, and stolen coin from his liege besides. The Prince has taken charge and appointed Guildmaster Halkor as Baron, can you believe that? All the different armsmen have sworn to follow the new baron's commands, so there is a chance our fortunes may soon change."
There were cries of delight and relief from the women but one said, "Mistress, how may we feed our guests tonight? We have barely enough for the eleven of us."
Triss turned to Garia. "Milady, I did not think of food. It is true, our stores are barely enough for ourselves. I could suggest that you eat with the armsmen, as you did earlier, or there are canteens along Lower Street which the miners and guildsmen use, though they are very rough."
It didn't take Garia very long to decide what to do.
"We'll stay here, if that is all right with you," she said. "When our wagons come down we can get supplies from our kitchen wagon. I assume you can cook for everyone? It will be traveling food, but even that's better than what we ate up in the mess tent for lunch."
"Aye, milady, we have pots and plates enough for all. At one time we were over twenty but many have been forced to move away to find work and shelter." Triss looked at those surrounding her and did a quick head count. "There will be room for all but we must needs organize ourselves to provide for so many guests. Jess, Tara, start some water heating since we will all have to freshen ourselves up before eating and we only have two tubs between us. Kath, go along to the bakery and see if there is any edible bread left. The rest of you, let's have some tidying up so that the place is fit for a Baroness!"
Garia and her girls stood in the center of the tent and watched as the camp women went around making everything tidy. There wasn't much to do, in truth, since the women had had no customers and plenty of time to themselves over the preceding weeks. They had found seats on the cushions scattered around the floor and were making themselves comfortable when Kath returned, bearing an armful of loaves, followed by a hesitant Feteran.
"Mistress Triss, is it permitted that I enter?"
"Of course! In normal times every man would be welcome here, as you no doubt guess, but as I see you wear milady's colors I assume you want to speak to her."
Garia explained, "Feteran is the commander of my very small band of armsmen, Triss." When Feteran had come to attention and banged his fist on his chest, she said to him, "I take it the wagons have arrived?"
"Aye, milady. Setting up camp will present no problems but securing this tent may not be so easy since it is on the corner of the site. With the consent of Baron Halkor we have worked out a means of conducting mounted patrols which should suffice for tonight." He glanced around. "This place is comfortable enough for you, milady? We can provide extra bedding should you so require."
"Some more blankets would not go amiss," Triss remarked. "The nights are getting colder and we use almost all that we have."
"Yes, bring blankets," Garia decided. "There's some under the seats in the carriage, bring those as well. Oh, we'll need our chests, of course. Is the kitchen wagon down as well?"
"Aye, milady, and they have begun preparing the evening meal for the men."
"Any chance we can have some supplies from it? You know what Mandel did to these women."
Feteran smiled. "Milady, we may do better than that. My Lord Halkor has appropriated some of the food which Quadrant Mandel stored away and is sending it down for you to make use of. The cart should arrive shortly. But we may also offer some dry goods from the wagons, it will be no trouble to replenish as we go further south."
Garia nodded. "A good idea. Let's wait until that cart gets here, then, and we can work out what else we might need from the kitchen wagon."
"As you say, milady." Feteran banged his chest again. "I'll go and order the chests and blankets brought from the wagons."
There was soon a bustle as chests and blankets were brought in by the men and disposed of around the tent. Shortly a two-wheeled cart appeared and a significant amount of food and drink was unloaded and taken into the rear tent. Triss was overcome.
"My Lady! How can we ever thank you for what you have done today! We could not imagine such a change in our fortunes."
Garia had a note of caution. "Enjoy it while we are here, Mistress Triss. The men may not be so generous once the Prince and I have left and there are still those around who don't like what you do for a living."
There was enough food for a good, varied meal for all the women with enough left over to comfortably provide breakfast as well. Among the supplies were six bottles of wine and these were shared out as the company sat on the chests to eat, their plates on their laps.
"Ha! Now I understand how useful those fork-things are," Triss said. "Can we get our local smiths to make them, milady, or is there some secret to their making?"
"Feel free," Garia said. "There will be a small charge but nothing you shouldn't be able to afford. Of course, every other person in the town will want a fork so you might have to get in line."
Triss shrugged. "Won't be the first time, won't be the last." She grinned. "Sometimes they line up for us, seems only fair they return the favor."
With plates cleared away they gathered again in the front tent, some sitting on the chests and others cross-legged on the rugs in front. All were facing Garia as she sat as guest of honor in one of their few chairs. Of her own women only Jenet was present in a plainer chair beside Garia. Merizel and Senidet had asked to be excused, taking Jasinet and Lanilla with them as chaperones. Garia had considered joining them but felt that her duties as noblewoman and guest meant that it would be rude to leave her hosts.
"Milady," Triss began, "I asked earlier if you would tell us the tale of your battle and of your meeting with the ptuvil. It seems, from what I learned when we were at the mess tent, that your story is much bigger than that, that you are the reason for the changes that have come to Holville and much besides. Would you share your story with us?"
Garia made herself comfortable. "Yes, I will. Some of it, anyway. I can't tell you all because there's a lot you wouldn't understand and some the King would rather certain unfriendly people didn't find out about. But, yes, there's no reason I can't tell you some of it. After all," she smiled, "it's not as if you're busy right now, is it?"
Some of the women snorted. There had been many days when they had almost nothing to do but avoid Mandel and his men.
"Very well. Firstly, some of you may have realized that I'm not originally from Palarand. In fact, I'm not from Alaesia, or even Anmar, but somewhere else entirely. How I came here is a complete mystery and I've no idea how I'm going to get back where I came from, which is a different world called Earth. Now, Master Tanon owns the wagons we are using and Jaxen is his wagonmaster. Last summer, they were bringing a wagon train over the southern mountains from Moxgo to Palarand and when they reached -"
After the inevitable morning distractions Garia's caravan finally departs Holville for the next stop to the south. Their new host seems out of touch and his children even more insular, with predictable results. Serious trouble is avoided, but all may not be well as they depart for Teldor.
by Penny Lane
97 - On to Haligo
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property
of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This
story is copyright (c) 2011-2014 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
Of course, making an early start from
Holville proved next to impossible the following morning. To begin
with, there was the fact that seventeen women had to rise and make
themselves decent using two bathtubs and a single privy - which also
meant that lots of firewood and water had to be fetched during the
process.
Fortunately, Garia could call upon the resources of many willing men-at-arms who commandeered a wagon to bring the required water and wood from the other end of Lower Street. Others visited the bakery and arrived with armfuls of hot, freshly baked loaves which improved the spirits of all those inside the "women's tent".
Then there was the small matter of getting dressed...
"Milady, whatever is that?"
"This? Oh, this is called a bra. Um, I think they will eventually replace bodices for general wear but you'll need patterns to make them properly. Here, take a look at this one while Jenet sorts me out."
Garia, Merizel and Jenet were wearing bras, since theirs had been made in the palace before they had left for the north. Senidet, Jasinet and Lanilla were still using the old-style bodices because the patterns hadn't arrived in Blackstone before the company returned south. Now the chests were opened so that the Holville women could inspect bras for themselves. This inevitably led to other garments being pulled out and gushed over. Eventually Garia had to call a halt to the activity.
"Please! Ladies! We're supposed to be leaving soon, and now we'll have to repack all our chests! Besides, none of us have eaten breakfast yet!"
With a sigh the gowns and other gear were carefully laid down and the whole party congregated around the table in the rear portion of the tent. Bread was cut, pel was poured, meats, cheeses and fruits - all involuntarily supplied by Mandel - heaped in the table center on wooden platters. With a gesture Garia made sure no-one stood on ceremony but helped themselves.
"Milady," Triss said as they ate, "we have all learned much, haven't we, girls? Until we met someone like you we did not know that any woman could do such things as you have shown us. We know that you are of another world but Lady Merizel and Mistress Senidet show us that the women of our own lands may do as much as you can, had they only the will and the teaching."
Merizel waved a finger. "Mistress Triss, it is not just that we may do much that any man can do. As Milady has said many times, it is attitudes which must change. In my father's household everyone knew that a woman of noble birth could do this and that, and could not do certain other things. Everyone knew that a woman who was a servant or the wife of a farmer could do this and that, but not other things. Milady Garia teaches us that what everyone knows is but custom of ages past, and it is this custom that must be questioned. That is our hardest task, I deem."
"Merry is right," Garia agreed. "It is what is between people's ears that is our biggest problem. Once we can get them to see that there are lots of things both men and women have assumed women can't do, then that is the biggest battle won. But there are many who won't like the idea of women doing more than they do now. Some of them dislike any change to their way of life."
"But you yourself are the biggest example of what a woman may do," Triss said.
Garia nodded. "That's true, but," she smiled, "I'm a foreigner, and foreigners are known to have strange ways, aren't they? It's only when people are faced with women of their own, like Merizel and Senidet, that they will eventually accept that a woman has more to offer than they realized." She took a bite of bread and cheese and then added, "I have to tell you that the King and Queen are fully behind this change, although the King is naturally more cautious. The guildsmen are also behind what we're doing, which is one reason they made me a guildswoman despite my age and inexperience. Being a guild member isn't all about hammering lumps of metal or sawing wood, there is much that a person of lesser strength can do, whether they are man or woman."
"As you say, milady." Triss looked thoughtful. "What about us? Some of us like the work we do but others have drifted into doing it because we dislike the other choices a woman of our station has. Could we..?"
"It won't be easy, I think. Everyone who already knows you has an idea in their heads of who you are and what you do. That's natural, it's human nature and we can't get away from it. But now that you know it is possible to break out, I'd suggest you think about what each of you could do and how you might get there. As I said to you all last night, the key to all this is education. Learn to read and write, learn as much as you can, and that will open doors for you. If both Merry and Senidet can read and write I'm sure you girls can learn as well."
"But, milady, how may we learn to read and write? Those who teach us will require coin to do so."
"Easy! Just ask for lessons as payment for your... usual activities. Obviously, it would depend on what your customer was capable of as to what you could ask for."
Triss nodded thoughtfully. "Aye, milady, I had not considered simple barter, since that is what you suggest. Girls? We shall speak of this after milady and her party have departed."
Then the chests had to be repacked...
"Whatever are these? Swords? Milady, surely these are not yours? So fine and delicate!"
"Yes, they are mine. I'd explain more but we're out of time."
"They are real," Merizel offered, "and Milady Garia fought and captured one of the Blackstone bandits using these very swords."
"But... swords, milady? Do all women wear swords in your own world?"
"Heck, no! Almost no-one wears swords on Earth now, Triss. We have... other more deadly weapons. These swords don't come from Earth anyhow, they are of a design used in the Six Cities, over the other side of Alaesia."
"The... Six Cities, milady? I do not know of those places."
"Hm? Oh, I mean, K'Kjand. That's what I was told those people are known as, over here on the East Coast."
"As you say, milady. They are a warlike people, then?"
"Yes, by necessity. They get attacked by raiders from the sea, so everyone, man and woman, has to know how to handle weapons. I use these because I'm too small to manage a normal sword. There are women in the palace, more your own size, who can hold a normal sword and are training to become members of the palace guard."
"Oh!"
Triss and several of the others looked suddenly thoughtful.
"Do you think -"
Triss was interrupted by Brazan lifting the front tent flap and poking his head through.
"Uh, milady? May I enter?"
"We're decent, aren't we, ladies? Yes, Brazan, come on in."
Her armsman pushed his way in, thumped his chest, then said, "Milady, the Prince's compliments and we will shortly be ready to load your chests onto the wagons."
Garia looked around. "Give us ten... uh, we're just packing up the chests and when we're finished we'll be about ready. Any trouble last night?"
"No, milady. There were men wandering about outside the fence but they seem to be miners who refuse to help the reconstruction. They offered no objection when we told them to move away. Uh, Milady, the Prince and the new Baron desire to visit these quarters. With your permission?"
Garia turned. "These aren't my quarters, Brazan, we're only guests here. Triss?" Triss nodded and Garia told Brazan, "Send them in, please."
Keren, Halkor, Trosanar and Terinar joined the women in the now very crowded front part of the tent.
"Milady," Halkor began, "We won't stay here long but I wanted to see what these quarters were like after you gave your description yesterday. To me it seems there are too many here for comfort."
Some of the women went into the back part of the tent to relieve the space.
Keren asked, "You all slept well? I had not realized there were so many of you."
"Six of us and eleven already here," Garia told him. "It was cozy at times but at least we kept warm because there were so many of us. We had plenty of blankets and the range in the back helped as well."
Halkor's eyes took in the booths along the side walls. "Mistress Triss, this is your place of business as well, I take it?"
Triss snorted. "It would be if any of the men had been allowed to join us, my lord. As it is," she shrugged, "we have amused ourselves as best we can. That is, until milady came and showed us that there are other things it is possible a woman may do."
Halkor nodded. "Mistress Triss, the Prince has spent an evening telling me of the changes to come. After what happened yesterday we will make no more assumptions where a woman's duties are concerned."
The men looked around, watching as the final chests were packed and strapped.
"This cannot be your only room," Terinar noted. "Do you eat in here or do you use the canteen that the men go to?"
"We can wash and cook in the rear tent out back, my lord," Triss replied, pointing. "Do you wish to see?"
The men did, so they all followed Triss and Garia into the back part of the canvas building.
"I see," Halkor said. He walked over and inspected the two bathing cubicles, then recoiled from the privy. "This is your only toilet, mistress? For how many women, did you say?"
"Eleven presently, my lord, but last night we had six guests."
"And what is that smell?"
Terinar replied, "That is the open sewer which runs behind all these canvas buildings, my lord. I joined the men for a patrol late last evening and nearly fell into it."
Halkor's lips pursed. "I did not realize... Milady Garia was right, we will need to replan this part of the town. We had planned, of course, to enclose the sewer lines in time but, as milady has noted, these buildings will eventually be replaced by more permanent buildings which will have the usual courtyards and kitchen blocks. The present sewers are thus too close. And this building is not adequate for those who reside here. Mistress Triss, you and your... associates have my apologies. We will make other, more fitting arrangements to accommodate you all."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Then let us return to the street," Keren directed. "We are too many for such small quarters, and I can see that milady is anxious to have her chests loaded."
Most of those inside followed Keren out onto the street, which was the signal for several armsmen to enter and begin bringing the chests out ready for loading.
"I trust you all slept well, Garia?" he asked as they watched.
"We did," she replied. "It seemed crowded to begin with but the number of bodies meant that we were never cold. Triss said that when they first ended up in this tent there were twenty of them and it was uncomfortable. The biggest problem we had was the single privy."
Keren pulled a face. "As you say. That number of men sharing a latrine would be too many, I deem. We have Lord Halkor's word that he will make changes to improve their circumstances within the day."
"I'm glad to hear that. Though," she added with a smile, "I think he'll be surprised what they want to do once we've gone."
"Oh?"
"Keren, we spent bells talking late into the night. Triss and her girls have learned much and we've learned a great deal as well. This is the first real chance I've had to just talk, casually, to women - people - at the bottom of society. I don't say I'll be able to do very much short-term but I won't forget anything they've told me. Keren, some of their stories are heartbreaking."
He nodded. "I spoke with some of the townsmen while we were at Blackstone but not of those who you describe as 'the bottom of society'. They knew they were talking to Palarand's next King and that would make them choose their words carefully. I envy your ability to speak freely with those you meet and hear their real problems. Perhaps you shall pass some of your conclusions on to me as we travel?"
"I'll do that, Keren. Oh, much of it was just woman talk but there are things you need to know."
The chests were finally all brought out, supervised by Jenet, and loaded onto the wagons.
"Shall we walk up to the highway and meet the wagons there?" Garia asked.
Terinar shook his head. "If you would walk, then you must needs walk the long way round, Garia. The signal-station men have taken back their poles, since they wished to prevent further damage to come to them. Until Lord Halkor contrives a new footbridge, there is no way to cross the ditch except by the main entrance."
Everybody therefore climbed onto wagons and frayen while Garia resumed her unwanted passenger seat inside the carriage. This led the way along the leveled but unmade road back to the through route and the procession pulled up outside the entrance to the military encampment. Terinar disappeared inside and reappeared shortly afterward accompanied by six men in Dekarran colors bearing three chests which Jaxen found space for on one of the wagons. The men went off again and came back with mounts, while Terinar himself came out of the mess tent bearing a mail sack.
"We had two messengers stop here last night and this morning," he explained to Garia, "and when they found out who was here they dropped off some letters, some of which are addressed to you, myself and the Prince. Do you want to read them now?"
Garia thought then shook her head. "Let's get going," she decided, "we can read them when we next stop. We've delayed here long enough as it is. I can't imagine there's anything important enough it won't wait a bell or two."
"Aye, I agree," Keren said. "Jaxen, where shall we stop?"
Jaxen scratched his chin. "Highness, I reckon we'll be taking lunch at Toomer's Gulley, given how much of the morning has passed. If we do not dally there," he added, "we should reach Lord Thermin's castle at Haligo as the sun sets."
Keren grinned. "I can take a hint, Jaxen! Very well, we'll ride straight for Toomer's Gully and make a quick lunch there." He waved an arm at Garia. "Bearing in mind the requirements of our female travelers, of course."
"Don't concern yourself about us," Garia replied. "We'll manage, we always do."
~o~O~o~
"Anything interesting?"
"This? This is another note from the Queen," Garia told Keren. "I guess it's normal for mothers to worry over their children, isn't it?"
"As you say, milady," Trosanar added. "Perhaps you will discover the same when you become a mother."
Garia pulled a face. "I guess so. I can't say I'm thinking too hard about being a mother anytime soon, though. There's just too much to do!"
They were seated around a table at the Toomer's Gully lunch stop, with a pile of letters in front of them. It appears that messengers from both directions had discovered the location of Keren, Garia, Terinar and Merizel and they all had at least one letter to read.
"Mayhap, milady," Trosanar continued with a smile, "motherhood will take you by surprise. It certainly seems to come as a surprise to many of your age!"
"Yes, but -" Garia scowled and then stopped. How could she explain family planning, when she had almost no knowledge of the subject herself? Especially when what she did know was from the boy's viewpoint anyway? Of course there was a certain amount of cross-knowledge but much of that was teenage rumor and speculation. The only people who did know were usually those with older sisters. And most of that knowledge wouldn't apply here anyway. She sighed.
"To answer you, my lord, I can only say that I have no plans to become a mother at this time. Of course, as always, plans can change."
The next letter she put down on the table with another sigh. Keren looked up at her expression.
"Bad news?"
"Yes. This is from Master Hurdin, in his capacity as Master of the Guilds." She tapped the letter. "A steam engine has exploded, the first real accident they have had. Two men were killed and a third seriously injured."
"Oh, no! Do they know what happened?"
"Not really, as only the three men were attending the engine when it blew up. The survivor has serious scalding burns and has lost part of an arm. It seems they were testing a new engine and something jammed so they gathered round to try and fix it but didn't pull the fire out and didn't let the pressure out." Garia shook her head. "That's about all Hurdin knows. I imagine that by the time we get back they will have made a complete investigation. I did warn them that something like this might happen."
"Milady," Trosanar said, "I do not know anything about the steam engine of which you speak, but I do know that sometimes men - and women - take no heed of the warnings they are given. Sometimes they must needs be burned by the fire before they learn to keep their distance."
"Aye," Keren agreed, nodding. "This is a lesson most learn while still at their mother's knee, but there are always those few who refuse to believe. The steam engine is a new and unfamiliar device and its ways must be learned like those of a strange animal. I hope that these lessons are learned fast before too many others are injured or killed."
Garia carried on reading. "It looks like Hurdin has problems in his own craft," she remarked. "The glassmakers don't know whether to concentrate on sheet glass, jars for batteries or lenses for telescopes and other optical instruments. He has a crew out looking for a site for a new workshop but is wondering whether he ought to be looking north of the Sirrel."
Keren put down his own letter and regarded Garia thoughtfully. "This is what you meant by long-term planning, isn't it? If the guilds just find a patch of ground and set up a new workshop every time we'll end up with sheds all over the city, with the usual problems of wagon traffic going through the streets, not to mention the noise, smoke and smell. Have you by chance mentioned zoning to the King in any of your letters?"
"I might have," she replied. "I wrote a lot of letters to a lot of people while we were in Blackstone. I don't remember."
Merizel said, "I might have a note, Garia, but I don't think I can find it before tonight."
"Oh? Thanks, Merry. I'll think up something and write a note to the King tonight, then. We need to get some zoning controls set up before the complaints start rolling in." She tapped the letter. "One final thing, Keren. It looks like about half the small brass steam engines they are making are being used to run generators for trolleys of batteries for welding experiments. They seem to be excited about the idea of electric welding."
"Oh?" Keren started to reply then glanced at Trosanar. This was verging on Council of the Two Worlds business so he decided to leave the matter until later. Instead he said, "That's... interesting, Garia. Is there any other news?"
"Nothing that can't wait until tonight. You?"
"Ah, the King has had my last letter and agrees that it will be impossible for us to make our way down to the palace as fast as he originally thought we would." He grinned. "He knows what it is like to travel in state, after all. He does urge us not to delay any longer than we have to."
"As if we're doing it deliberately!"
"Aye." Keren gathered his letters into a pile. "Merry, will you look after these for me? Garia, would you walk with me a moment or two?"
Leaving Merizel to gather up the combined correspondence Keren led Garia away from the cluster of men, women and animals. Immediately Feteran and Jenet followed, keeping a distance, and Feteran made a few gestures which ensured that some of the men made a perimeter around the couple. Keren stopped and turned.
"Do you remember the first time we came here?"
"We did? We did! Oh, yes." Garia blushed. "Made a spectacle of ourselves, didn't we?" Her eyes gazed into his. "Showed my true colors that night, didn't I? And I meant all of it, Keren."
"Do you mean it now?" he asked softly.
"More than ever! What did you think we've been doing ever since that day?" Her eyes narrowed. "Not having second thoughts, are you?"
"No," he replied slowly, "but it is weighing more on my mind the closer we get to home. With everything else that has been happening I have not thought too much about what awaits us in the palace, but that will change soon enough. However, both my father and Uncle Gil may have more important matters to consider, so don't be upset if I don't give you all the attention you deserve."
"Trouble?" she asked.
"I'm not sure. There's just something about the way they have written to me. We'll find out more once we get to Dekarran."
~o~O~o~
Their caravan reached and entered the gorge which formed the northern approach to Haligo. There was a small fort hidden each side of the narrow defile, either side of the road and the churning river. On their way north, Garia had been so fixated on finding Keren that she hadn't taken much notice of her surroundings at all. Returning south, none of it was recognizable.
A long way in, with the cliffs closing in either side, the road forked and Jaxen called a halt. By arrangement the commercial wagons would continue to Tanon's depot in Haligo while only Garia's carriage and six wagons with their belongings would angle back up the fork towards the castle which overlooked the road. Behind and to their left, the road rose, climbing a switchback route to gain the castle entrance. Garia breathed a sigh of relief. Although this was the third day of her Call there were still consequences and she longed for the journey to be over.
"Your Highness, My Lords, My Ladies, welcome to Castle Haligo. I am humbled to receive such honored guests, you may treat my home as your own."
The speaker was a heavy-set man in his mid-forties Garia had been told was Count Thermin who ruled over Haligo and the surrounding lands. Beside him stood his wife, two boys and two girls, all in their teens or thereabouts and a number of people she assumed were retainers. He began to introduce everybody but then noticed the state of the travelers and changed what he was about to say.
"Highness, your party has traveled long and will need to refresh yourselves. If you would permit, I will leave introductions until we are assembled for our evening meal."
Keren inclined his head. "As you say, my lord. For myself, a seat and a drink will suffice but I know our women will desire more elaborate attentions. If I may ask your wife the Countess to show them the way?"
"Indeed, Your Highness. Florizel? If you would conduct our women guests within."
Because the castle had been built halfway up a cliff inside the gorge the accommodations were cramped. The rooms themselves were of an acceptable size but the corridors were narrow and twisty besides being damp, cold and poorly lit. Garia's immediate concern was a bathroom followed by a hot tub and Thermin's servants ensured that her needs were satisfied. By the time she and the others had emerged, dry, from the bathing suite their chests were waiting in the rooms they had been assigned. Not knowing whether she would be cold or warm she chose a thicker evening gown to wear before the servants conducted them down to join the menfolk.
The meal had been set in Thermin's equivalent of his Receiving Room, a low, vaulted chamber with narrow windows on the west side. It was made of stone blockwork roughly hewn from the local rock and left mostly unfinished. The east wall, which was the cliff side, showed raw rock in places. The whole building showed great age and little attempt had been made to upgrade the fabric.
A long table had been placed along the east side so that those seated would face the windows. Thermin sat in the middle, as host, with Keren at his right, the seat of honor, Trosanar to his left and Terinar beyond Trosanar. To Keren's right was Thermin's wife, Countess Florizel. The rest of the table appeared to be officers of Thermin's guard. There was no-one seated facing any of these. Instead, there were three short tables edge-on to the main table and Garia, to her surprise, was conducted to the middle one of these along with Merizel. Senidet appeared to be relegated to the outside edge of one of the other tables, while Tanon and Jaxen were seated at the fourth table.
"Greetings! I'm Jordan and this is my brother Smendar. These two are our sisters Bellina and Velinet."
The speaker was one of the boys Garia had seen outside, apparently one of Thermin's sons. She looked more closely and realized that all those seated at her table were about the same age group. Jordan might have been her age or a little older, Smendar looked younger. The older girl might have been between the two boys but the other one was about the age of the Twins, twelve or so.
Thermin is treating us visitors as kids. I hope this isn't going to cause any problems.
"Oh, hi," Garia replied. "I'm Garia, Baroness Blackstone, and this is Lady Merizel who is the daughter of Baron Kamodar of South Reach. Merry is my secretary."
"Your secretary?" Bellina repeated, surprised. "Whatever do you need a secretary for?"
"My memory is quite good," Garia explained, "but I can get in a muddle what with everything that's going on. Merry is a lot more organized than I am and takes care of my diary, writes up meeting notes and so on."
"Diary? Meetings? Is it because you're traveling with the Prince?" Bellina asked. "I can't imagine having so much to do that I'd need a secretary."
Velinet added, "What's it like, traveling with the Prince? Do you have parties and all that?"
Garia hesitated before replying. These young people obviously thought the same way as their father, that Keren was the reason for the caravan and the women were just tagging along.
"Our journey north," she said eventually, "had two purposes, neither of which involved parties. Prince Keren was told to go and learn the lands of Palarand by his father the King, and I traveled north to inspect the lands of my barony. We both have had some serious work to do and we've met many people both good and bad. As for the Prince, we all get on well together."
"Blackstone?" Smendar asked. "Where's that? Not that pokey little village up off the Chaarn road, surely?"
Garia flushed. "It's hardly a pokey little village. It was a small town when we arrived there and by this time next year it will be a fair-sized town."
"But there's nothing there!" Smendar objected. "I heard even the miners can't find anything useful out that way. Is that your barony? Did you get given that to pay back some debt, perhaps?"
Garia was about to reply with a retort but realized that it was, in fact, the truth.
"Yes, it is my barony, yes, it was in part payment for a debt, and yes, there is something there worth the effort."
Any further explanation was halted by the arrival of servants with the first course. Jenet leaned over and handed Garia and Merizel their forks, having noticed that none of the tables had any at the place settings. This surprised everybody else at their table.
"You've managed to get some of those things!" Jordan exclaimed. "We've asked father and he says the metalsmiths are too busy to make such things and, besides, they are just a fashion and people will soon tire of them."
"How did you manage to get those?" Smendar asked. "Is it because you're with the Prince? How do they work?"
"They make eating your food much easier," Garia explained. "The best way to see how they work is to just watch us, I think."
The table concentrated on their food, which meant that everyone else watched Garia and Merizel eat theirs while picking at their own with spoon and knives. It didn't seem to reduce the stream of comments and questions much.
"That's clever! I wonder who thought that idea up? Now we have to ask father to get us some!"
"It does make eating seem easier, doesn't it? Oh! I see! If you switch hands - look, Velinet - you can use that thing a bit like a spoon as well. What did you say it was called, Garia?"
"I didn't actually. It's called a fork. I thought you would have had news of these up here by now. They were certainly producing them in quantity in Palarand when we left three months ago. We've even seen one or two in Tranidor."
"Ah, we don't bother much with that kind of news, Garia," Jordan told her. "If there's anything that might become interesting then father or mother will mention it. The only reason we know about... forks, you called them? ...is that a recent visitor came to the castle and one fell out of his pouch when he was pulling out a letter for father."
The first course was cleared and the next arrived.
"So," Smendar said. "You went all the way to Blackstone, I take it? That must have taken days. And now you're going all the way back down to Palarand. Was it boring? At least you had a carriage to ride in, imagine being stuck on a wagon all that distance!"
"Lady Merizel was riding a frayen," Velinet put in. "Didn't you see? I liked your outfit, milady." Merizel inclined her head. "Do many girls ride where you come from? I don't think Daddy would like Bellina or me to ride, he says that it's unnatural for women to ride as men do."
"Garia said that Merizel's father is Baron South Reach," Jordan added. "That's right down south, isn't it? On the old river. I think people in country areas have customs that us town folk would find strange or uncultured."
"I ride," Garia said, getting irritated. "I'm only in the carriage because Kalikan has called." The boys flinched. "Normally I ride a frayen as well, although we did ride on the wagons part of the way up. The carriage is only borrowed from Lord Trosanar until we get to Dekarran. He'll take it back when he goes back to Tranidor." She considered. "Besides, the Queen rides and I wouldn't call her uncultured, would you? At least, not in her hearing."
"The Queen rides?" Smendar scoffed. "You're making fun of us!"
"You remember the Queen doesn't come from Palarand, right? Where she was born and brought up women customarily ride."
Smendar waved a hand. "Aye, but she is foreign and everybody knows foreigners have strange customs."
Jordan's eyes narrowed. "Where was it you said you came from, Garia? Now I think on it, nobody mentioned your father. What rank is he, that you have your own barony?"
"Nobody mentioned my father or mother because they aren't in Alaesia, they're somewhere else entirely. I'm all on my own here in Palarand, essentially an orphan. The barony was a gift from the King for services rendered."
"Services? What services?" Jordan sniffed dismissively. "I can't imagine anything a girl could do that would make the King grant her a barony." He smirked. "Or perhaps you're traveling with the Prince to keep his bed warm! Is that it?"
Garia felt the familiar flash of heat as the mist turned red.
"You clowns know nothing, do you?" she retorted, keeping her temper barely under control. "I was made a Baroness because I have given Palarand many new things. Forks, for one. Paper, telescopes, sheet glass, steam engines, semaphores, electricity, lots of other things. I don't think I care to sit here and be insulted by a bunch of ignorant dumbasses." Garia stood, handing her fork to Jenet. "You'll excuse me, I am indisposed. Good-night."
Having blown a hole through table etiquette by not asking the nominal head of her table, Jordan, for permission to leave, Garia turned on her heel and stalked out of the room with Jenet close behind. The others watched her go with mouths open.
"What did we do?" Smendar asked. "Is it because of her Call?"
"What was she talking about?" Jordan added. "I didn't understand half the words she said. Surely she couldn't be serious."
"My lord," Merizel said primly, "I would suggest you find something else to talk about. If you continue to insult your guests there may be unpleasant consequences."
"But -" Jordan studied the expression on Merizel's face and decided that he and his siblings had strayed out of their depths. "As you say, milady." He thought about her words and asked, "Unpleasant consequences? What do you mean?"
Merizel shook her head. "I could not say, my lord. But you would be wise not to make any further thoughtless remarks to the Baroness. She has a short temper with fools and the means to make them regret their words." She turned and handed her fork to Jasinet, who had been serving her. "Now, with your permission, my lord, perhaps I had also better retire before any more unwise words are spoken."
A puzzled Jordan raised his hand in assent and Merizel stood, turned and left, followed by Jasinet.
"What did we say?" Smendar repeated. "I don't understand what just happened."
"Neither do I," Jordan agreed. "Don't these country folk do strange things?"
On the main table Keren had watched Garia's abrupt departure. Thermin leaned over to speak.
"Highness, the Baroness, she seems upset. Is the food not to her liking, do you think?"
The food, in fact, was tolerable but nothing special, but Keren thought he knew what had happened.
"I don't think the food was the problem, my lord, rather the conversation at table. May I ask, why was the Baroness not seated at your own table? After myself, she should be your honored guest. She is the reason for this entire expedition, after all."
"She is? I did not realize, Highness. I thought that you undertook a progress about your father's lands and the girls but accompanied you."
"It is the other way around, my lord. She travels to inspect her lands and the rest of us are there for her protection. Lady Garia is key to many of the changes which are coming to Palarand in the future."
"Changes? Yes, we have spoken of such. But a mere girl? Of what, your own age? Surely not."
"It is Garia who discovered coal in Blackstone and has begun the increased traffic you complained about earlier. It is Garia who told us of the semaphore stations you mentioned just a moment ago."
"Strange talents for one so young, Highness! But, I do not understand why it is necessary that a Prince would protect a Baroness. Surely a file of her own men would suffice?"
"Garia has given us many new things and that makes her a target for others. That is why we must protect her as we would the King or Queen. There have already been several attempts by others to abduct her, or failing that, to kill her so that we would not benefit from her knowledge."
"Abduct her? Is she that important?"
"She is the most important person in Palarand today, my lord. She has already suffered three abduction attempts that we know of. There has also been a confrontation with brigands and a battle with armed men who we think were paid by those of Yod. We take our responsibility seriously."
The unspoken thought was, I expect you to do the same.
Thermin looked upset. "Highness, I take my responsibility as host to yourself and your companions as seriously as I would for any other guests. But, in light of what you have just told me, I shall give instructions for the guard to be increased tonight. Will that suffice?"
Keren nodded. "Aye, my lord, with the aid of those men we brought with us we should all be safe."
Thermin's brow furrowed. "But why, then, did she depart table so soon? You were right, Highness, I should have made a place for her at this table but I thought she would feel easier among those of her own age."
"Garia... is not yet comfortable with nobility, my lord. Especially nobility her own age. I have no doubt they would not believe some of what she told them and they perchance insulted her without realizing it. Besides, she suffers Kalikan as all women must and that makes her short-tempered. It is best that she withdraws as she did else there might have been injuries in your hall."
"She fights?"
Keren gave Thermin a measured look. "My lord, she is a much better warrior than any man of the palace guard. She teaches them unarmed combat. She has already killed a man, one of those who attempted to abduct her."
Thermin was shocked. "Highness, this is surprising news. Perhaps we should withdraw after the meal and you may tell me more about Lady Garia. It seems I have quite misunderstood what you and milady have been doing."
"Aye, my lord, perhaps we should."
~o~O~o~
"Whatever are they doing? I don't understand any of this."
Thermin's four children looked out of a window overlooking the courtyard. It was early morning and they had been on their way to breakfast when the unusual activity in the yard had caught their attention.
"I don't think it's a dance," Smendar opined. "If it is, it's one of those weird foreign dances you sometimes see in fairs and festivals."
"Well, she is doing it. Do you think it's all her idea?"
No need to ask who she was.
"Perhaps. But, look, that must be every single armsman who came with them down there as well! Even those, those are the wagon drivers, aren't they?"
"No, look, that group of men over there are just watching. Wait, their colors are different. Trosanar's men, surely? But all the others are doing it."
"What do you think it means?"
"Let's get down to the breakfast table and we'll probably find out," Jordan said.
Bellina snorted. "You think she'll deign to speak to us after last night?"
"I'm still not sure what we said," Jordan replied, although he didn't sound very sure of his ground any more. "Aye, look, they seem to have finished, let's go."
But they were not to find out immediately since Thermin had rectified his mistake and added Garia to the top table, seated to his left.
"I trust you are feeling better this morning, my lady?" he asked her as they sat down.
"I am, my lord. I should apologize for running out halfway through dinner last night."
"No need to apologize, my dear," Thermin beamed at her. "I have had the Countess and two daughters to educate me in the ways of Kalikan. You have my sympathies."
"Thank you, my lord."
"I gather that you had planned to leave immediately after breakfast, to go to Teldor."
"We did, my lord."
"I have learned there are a number of townsmen who wish to speak with you, my lady. Would it be possible for you to delay a bell or two to satisfy them?"
"Well, we're already delayed as it is, my lord." Garia leaned forward to see past Thermin. "Keren?"
He smiled back at Garia. "I half expected it, actually. Perhaps we ought to do what we did before and delay our departure until after lunchtime. Lord Thermin, would your hospitality stretch that far?"
Thermin spread his hands. "Your Highness, I would be honored to serve you as long as you desire. What will you require?"
"I half suspect that some of these men will be guildsmen, my lord, with questions for milady. Ah, a largish chamber, perhaps, where we could meet these people. A good-sized table, for the spreading of plans and documents. A blackboard and chalk, if you have such available. Oh," Keren smiled, "and the occasional appearance of quantities of pel."
"Those will present us no trouble, Highness," Thermin replied. "If you have no objection, I would wish to attend these meetings myself."
"I would assume nothing else, my lord, especially as the topics we will be discussing will involve your town and your demesne. You may learn more of that we spoke of last night."
"That was my desire, Highness. Until recently Haligo was little more than an overnight stop along the trade route but now I find that great works may be required to satisfy developments I can barely comprehend."
"Aye, my lord. As I mentioned last night, the carriage of coal, which you have already noticed, will increase so much that the road through Haligo will become completely choked and your town impassable. And coal, though it will be the greatest material to begin with, will be but the first of many such products which must needs pass through your lands, so I would be more concerned should you not wish to attend."
"Jenet," Garia said as she received her fork, "could you go and give Tanon and Jaxen the good news? We won't be leaving until after lunch."
Garia watched her maid go to one of the smaller tables and whisper in Jaxen's ear. He looked up, grinned at Garia and gave her a small wave.
Jenet returned and told Garia, "He had been expecting such a delay, milady."
"He knows us too well, doesn't he?"
By the end of the meal Thermin had been primed with what had happened the previous evening so, when his children clustered round as the tables were cleared, he had stern words to say to them.
"Boys, girls, you made House Haligo look like ignorant fools yesterday. Baroness Garia is clever and knowledgeable and has the favor of the King in everything she does. To treat her as if she was a rural bumpkin was merely to show your own want of knowledge. I have learned that she is Palarand's greatest treasure and you must apologize at once for your unthinking behavior."
Keren observed this exchange and saw that, while Garia was the same age as Thermin's sons and daughters, they were still children while she was definitely a young woman. The expression on her face, the way she held herself, all showed that she had recovered from the previous day's difficulties and was in full possession of her faculties and ready to go.
And he loved her all the more for it.
"Father, we don't understand," Jordan said. "We merely tried to make light conversation at table."
"The reason you don't understand," Thermin told them, "is because you refuse to involve yourselves in anything that happens outside the castle. You carry on with your own games and other pursuits and think that is all a noble should need to do. I admit that is partly my fault but whatever the cause it shall happen no more. It is more than time that all four of you learned what the rest of Palarand has already learned, that change is coming and that we must all play our part in it. With milady's permission, you shall observe the meetings she is about to hold and you shall learn what manner of person she is."
Garia said, "That's a good idea, my lord. Assuming these men you mention are who I think they are."
"That's settled, then," Thermin said. "Jordan, Smendar, next week you will both begin training with the castle guard." There were groans of protest. "I am informed that His Highness has already been training with the palace guard for more than a year and Milady Garia has trained with them as well, ever since she started residing there. Indeed, I am told she teaches them new methods of combat."
There was complete disbelief on all four faces.
"As soon as instructors become available," Thermin continued, "we will begin to use these same methods here, boys. Jordan, in the afternoons you will join me in administering our responsibilites, which includes organizing the taxation and budgets." Jordan groaned. "Don't take that attitude, boy!" Thermin said testily. "What in the Maker's name did you think would happen when I died? Did you imagine House Haligo would somehow run itself?"
Jordan's face fell. "No, father."
"As for you girls, it seems that your futures may not be just as wives to noble sons. Lady Merizel, who is Lady Garia's secretary, is a Journeywoman Scribe and the third woman of their company is traveling to Palarand to become a guild apprentice to Lady Garia in one of the new crafts."
Bellina and Velinet gaped at their father and then turned to Garia, who merely smiled. It would take too long to explain and there were guildsmen waiting.
"Wait a moment," Smendar said, "you mean the guilds are admitting women now? How is this possible?"
"Lady Garia is a Guildmistress, though I can barely believe it myself. I have seen her charter. We shall discuss this further when our guests have departed. Now, children, the grown-ups have business to conduct. If you would all follow me..."
~o~O~o~
"I still don't understand," Jordan complained. "How can you possibly know that much?"
"I think," Smendar added, "that she is much older than she appears. She can't really be our age, can she?"
Garia smiled. "I'm sixteen and some months, that's all. The reason I know all this stuff is that we begin our education at about age five and we're still learning even when we get to sixteen. In the lands I come from, all that I showed the townsmen and the guildsmen is commonplace and everybody knows about much of what goes on. Of course, someone my age really doesn't know everything, that takes many years of practical experience. It's like, I don't know, the difference between a raw recruit, say, and a seasoned archer."
"Did you really mean what you said back there," Bellina asked, "about demolishing the castle to make a new road? Though road wasn't the word you used, was it?"
"The word I used was railroad, and yes, I suggested that would be one way to make a route through from the north to the south without tunneling. A railroad is a special kind of road and uses wagons that can't go on normal roads."
Jordan said, "But, knocking down our castle to build a... viaduct... through the gorge and over the top of Haligo! That will cost thousands of crowns!"
"There's a good angle to that," Velinet said. "We'll have a nice new home that won't be old and damp and drafty."
"Thousands more crowns," Jordan muttered grumpily.
"It's about time this old castle got retired anyway," Terinar commented. "Once upon a time, centuries ago, this was the northern border of Palarand and having fortifications here made sense. Now it's old and crumbling and a danger to traffic on the highway below. It's a good opportunity, as Garia said, to take it down and re-use the stones for something else."
Jaxen arrived. "My lord, my lady, it is time."
"As you say, Jaxen. Come on, Terry, we're holding everybody up."
"You'll send us those patterns you promised, Garia?" Velinet asked.
"Of course. Merizel has it written down. I'm sure there's a set of copies in Dekarran we can pass on."
"Fare you well, Lord Terinar, Lady Garia."
"Fare well to you. We'll probably visit again next spring."
Terinar added, "Aye, and I expect you'll be seeing the Duke before then."
"Lead the way, Jaxen."
~o~O~o~
"Fifty-two." The tallyman moved a bead on the top wire of his abacus. "How many more are there?"
"Six, boss."
"Good. Then we can move this scow out of the way and make a start on that load of timber."
The laborer expertly swung the sack off his shoulder into position on top of the pile on the wharf. He straightened up, putting a hand to his waist to ease the stiffness. The tallyman noticed.
"Tell you what. Once you've finished these you can have a quarter bell or so for a bite and a drink while we swap barges." He grinned. "Give you a chance to work the kinks out of your back."
"Sounds fair to me, boss."
The laborer was in the hold of the barge preparing to lift the last of the sacks when there was a shout from above.
"Hey! Sopo, come lookit this!"
Sopo climbed out of the hold and his gaze followed the indicated finger. On the far bank, a procession was headed south along the highway which ran the west side of the Palar.
""Did'ya ever see so many, Sopo? All those armsmen! Must be somebody important."
"Oh, it's just some noble off to visit a drinking buddy. Don't get so excited."
"There's too many wagons for that! And look, I reckon I can tell four different liveries over there. Do you know any of the local colors?"
"Not me. Just the colors of the local watch, to stay away from! Come on, Beran, there's just two sacks left and then this barge can leave."
"Right you are."
Back at the tallyman, Sopo had a request. "Look, boss, is it all right if I go over there a moment?" The laborer pointed to a barge tied up at the next wharf. "That's the Gray Skwod and one of my cousins is on it. His father - my uncle - wasn't feeling too well last I heard and I wanted to see if there was any further news."
The tallyman considered and then nodded. "All right, then. I did promise you a breather while we move the barges, didn't I? Off you go, but mind you're back before the bell sounds or I'll dock your wages two soo. That timber won't unload itself, you know."
Sopo returned before the indicated time bringing another man with him.
"I'm sorry, boss. It looks like my uncle is worse than I realized. The Skwod is pushing off shortly and I want to be on it, to see the old man before he snuffs it."
"What about my timber?"
"That's why I brought Bari here along. He's about finished over there and he says he'll be glad to help an old mate out."
The tallyman thought, then nodded. "Sounds fair to me. Go grab your gear while I reckon up what I owe you. No," he held up a hand, "you've been a good worker and I won't cheat you, if that's what you're thinking. You'll be welcome back here if you're up Haligo way again."
"Why thanks, boss. I appreciate that."
Sopo did really mean it. The work had been hard, as might be expected, but the pay was fair and the company good. He had enjoyed the weeks he had worked on the wharf.
Pity I'm likely never to be here again, he thought. Except maybe as leader of an invasion force! Now, the old Skwod will get downstream with the current much faster than any plodding dranakh can manage, so there's plenty of time to reach Dekarran and make some arrangements.
With duffle over his shoulder and coin in his pouch, the man whose name was not Sopo walked the short distance between the two wharves. His mind was already thinking of the future.
I've got you at last, you little cow! Couldn't be anyone else sitting in that carriage, not with hair that short. If the word of what is happening upriver is right, then the next time we meet the odds will be completely in our favor.
Next time I meet you, little girl, Fikt promised himself, I will make certain that I win the day!
Edited version. Some final paragraphs moved to new chapter 99
Somewhere Else Entirely
by Penny Lane
98 - Distant Drums
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of
this story are the property of the author. No infringement of
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Garia led Snep down the ferry ramp and up the slip to stand
beside those who had already crossed. Enough men had preceded her to
be able to make a fairly strong defensive perimeter while waiting for
the bulk of their caravan to follow them. The cluster of men drew
some odd looks from the line of wagons waiting to cross north into
Teldor but that was expected, as were the sharp stares at the small
girl in their midst, dressed for riding, with swords on her back.
"There, boy," she said. "We'll have to wait for the others and then we can ride all day. That's what you want, isn't it?"
Snep turned and nuzzled her arm. Garia stroked his neck in return.
"You're just an old softy, you know that?"
While she waited for the next ferry to arrive she looked west along the Telar valley, wondering if, at some future date, she might be able to explore that part of Palarand.
No such luck, I'm guessing. I'm going to be busy for a long time yet!
The following ferry brought Senidet, Lanilla and Jasinet, all as foot passengers. It dawned on Garia as she watched them gingerly regain dry land that for all three, this would likely have been their first experience of any water craft. She gave them a reassuring smile as they joined her at the top of the ramp.
"It just occurred to me, this is probably the first time any of you have been in a boat, am I right?"
Senidet, as the senior woman present, gave a thin smile.
"For myself, milady, it was a new experience, but not one that frightened me. The motion was... strange."
"Yes, well," Garia replied, "don't imagine that all boat trips are going to be like this one, will you? These ferries are built a particular way and other boats will move a lot differently." Garia turned to her junior maids. "What about you two? Any problems?"
Jasinet said, "It was a new experience, milady. It seemed little different than riding a wagon."
"Aye," agreed Lanilla. "I was not frightened, milady. But, there is so much water! I did not imagine there could be so much, or a river grown so large."
Garia grinned. "All rivers start off small and grow large, Lanilla. Wait until we get down to Dekarran and you have to cross the Sirrel! Then you'll find out what a large river looks like." She looked around. "What happened to Lady Merizel?"
"Milady," Senidet answered, "she was advised to wait another ferry as there would be too many frayen on the one we were on. I deem she will be with us shortly."
It took a while for all the wagons, dranahks, frayen, men and women to cross the Telar. Their caravan had grown to almost unmanageable proportions and she didn't envy Jaxen his job of overseeing the apparent chaos. It didn't help that there were now eight coal wagons and four others who had attached themselves to their own company for protection on the route south to Dekarran. Not that anything was likely to happen, given the large number of armed men - and one woman - who rode with the wagons.
In the carriage sat Senidet along with Jasinet and Lanilla. Jenet had accompanied her mistress across the river and Merizel, by chance, had crossed alongside Terinar. Now, everyone was on the south bank and Jaxen organized the caravan into some semblance of order before giving the signal to proceed. Feteran rode down the column of riders to speak to Garia.
"Now that you're riding again, milady," he said, "I must ask you to stay between the outriders. I'm not expecting trouble but we should not encourage bad habits."
"Trouble? Here? When we were up around Tranidor I could see the point but we're on the main road between Teldor and Dekarran! Who's likely to attack us here?"
"I agree, milady, but as I said, bad habits. They are easy to form and difficult to get rid of. This won't be the last time you'll be traveling like this."
"I hope not! Very well, Feteran. I'm just happy to be in a saddle again and away from endless meetings. I'll try not to make any waves."
They had spent two nights as guests of Count Jeldek at his residence in Teldor. The day between had consisted of a series of meetings with the guildsmen, merchants, bankers and townsmen of Teldor. Fortunately, given their proximity to Dekarran, those worthies were already educated about the coming mass changes in technology and society which meant that Garia didn't have to convince anyone that she was serious. On the other hand, the questions were more detailed and some covered aspects Garia had overlooked or had little or no knowledge of. It had taken some fast talking and some inspired guesses to keep everybody happy.
Now they were off to Dekarran and Garia hoped for a day or two of rest. The castle was huge but since her previous stay she had come to consider it as much a home as the palace was. The part she had stayed in was decently furnished, for one thing, and the food and routine were familiar to her.
"I can tell that look," Merizel said from beside her. "You're thinking again!"
"Hm? Oh, just about the castle. Dekarran, I mean. It's completely unlike those others we stayed in, isn't it? I kinda like it, somehow."
"Aye, I know what you mean. When I first heard about the castle, before we ever started north, I assumed it would be like coming to somewhere like Tranidor or Haligo. Those are the kind of castles I'm familiar with."
"Of course. Your family home is a castle, isn't it?"
"It's something between an overgrown fort and a very small castle, but, yes. Seeing that incredible pile as we rode up to it was something of a shock." Merizel smiled at the memories. "We had a lot of fun, didn't we? Moving rooms, that immense bed, dancing, creeping through those hidden passages with Milsy -"
"Getting kidnapped?"
Merizel scowled. "As you say. Well, that didn't happen to me so I can't remember it. But that was the only bad thing that happened." She smiled again. "That's what started much of the fun off! Disguises, wigs, going in those wagons with Sookie - do you remember what she was like when we first met her? She had no idea what either of us was like, she just thought we were two little stuck-up noble girls." The smile vanished. "A few months before then, that might even have been true for me. I'm glad you came along, Garia. It was a privilege to come to know you and an honor to belong to your house."
"Mind if we join you, ladies?"
Keren and Terinar rode up, each positioning themselves outside the girls. Merizel automatically eased on her reins so that she and Terinar fell into line behind Keren and Garia.
"Glad to be back in the saddle?" Keren asked Garia.
"Of course. Snep's happy too."
"I don't think Senidet treated him badly, but he knows who his mistress really is, doesn't he?"
"He knows where the treats are, you mean." She leaned forward and patted her mount's neck. "Greedy-guts."
"What were you two talking about? Hope we didn't interrupt anything."
"Only Dekarran castle. Last time we were there, we had a lot of what Merizel insists on calling fun."
"It was good, wasn't it? Especially with all the others there as well. It will be quieter this time, with just us and Uncle Gil."
Garia snorted. "So, you don't think we'll be beset by every guildsman in Dekarran, then? Or does quiet have a different meaning for Kings and Princes?"
"I concede your point, milady. But Dekarran is a port, a crossroads, more than it is a center for manufacture. There are workshops there, of course, but nothing like what we saw around Teldor."
"I know! I was amazed! I couldn't believe the number of new workshops and warehouses we saw being built as we rode in."
"You have only yourself to blame. Paper, copper wire, brass, bronze, tin for glass-making, even print foundries. Teldor is Palarand's main center of industry and it will only grow, as we made plain to Lord Jeldek last night. It's just as well he understands your zoning ideas."
"True. But enough of Teldor, we were talking about Dekarran. I'd hoped to be able to relax for a day or two and Dekarran is the perfect place to do it."
"Aye, I'll agree with you there."
"Had any more ideas about what might be going on?"
Keren shrugged. "Very little. I don't think there's a problem in North Palarand or we would have seen more evidence of it as we traveled. There must be something happening along the Valley."
"Yod." Garia's tone was flat.
"Aye, most likely. But at this time of year? They must be crazy."
The mid-morning stop came after eight marks and the caravan almost filled the parking area of the roadhouse. After the necessary visits to the bath houses the nobles congregated near the kitchen block for a warming drink. The weather had been fine so far, but because of that the mornings took some bells to warm up.
A column of men in Dekarran colors rode in from the south, led by a File Leader. All dismounted, two of the men managing the reins of the animals while the others made for the comfort block. The File Leader spotted the nobles gathered around a table and walked over, saluting as he neared them.
"Your Highness, My Lord, My Lady," he addressed those he recognized. Keren, Terinar and Garia were wearing their house colors and rank sashes. Trosanar, who was in his usual well-worn travel clothes, looked faintly amused but said nothing.
"File Leader," Keren acknowledged with a nod. "You're far from home."
"Aye, Highness. His Grace," a nod a Terinar for the mention of his father, "has increased patrols through the lands around Dekarran lately. You are bound there?"
"Aye, File Leader. We intend to be at the castle by sunset. Do you know the reason for this change in routine, by any chance?"
The man shook his head. "I do not, Highness." His eyes flickered around the campsite. "I do not think you will have need of our services, you are too strong."
"As you say. What of the countryside?"
"All is quiet, Highness, so far as we can tell. There are patrols among the homesteads and others in the forests of the upper slopes. I believe the Duke fears infiltrators rather than open attack, but we have instructions against most possibilities."
Terinar asked, "You have not seen or heard anything yourself?"
The man shook his head again. "No, My Lord. All seems routine." He hesitated, then asked, "Is something untoward, My Lord? Is there something, perhaps, we should be looking for?"
"Not to my knowledge, File Leader." Terinar nodded, then said, "Carry on, we won't keep you from your duties."
Keren turned to the others as the man walked off and raised an eyebrow.
"What do you make of that?"
Terinar shrugged. "Could be anything. It's beginning to look as if, the sooner we get to Dekarran the better."
"Agreed." Keren turned. "Jaxen!"
"Aye, Highness." Jaxen ambled over, casting a thoughtful glance at the File Leader as he entered the bath house. "Trouble?"
"I'm not sure. We'll get to the castle by sunset, won't we?"
"That's the plan, Highness."
"I'd like to make sure we do that, if you would. Let's trim our stops so that we arrive in daylight, can we do that?"
"Aye, Highness, though 'tis difficult with so many, of course."
"Aye. While we're on our way to the lunch stop, consider a plan for splitting us into two or even three separate caravans. As you well know milady's safety is of the greatest importance and it may be necessary to send her on ahead with most of the troops. I'm assuming that the commercial wagons would not be in any real danger, it is the Baroness who is the main target."
"As you say, Highness. Will milady require any of the wagons to go with her?"
Garia shrugged. "I don't know, Jaxen. I have no idea where or how the chests are packed and if we take the time to unload and re-arrange them at the lunch stop it will just delay everybody." She had a thought. "Wait a moment! There must be clothing of mine still at the castle, surely?"
"All the rest of your attire went south with Milsy, milady," Jenet said. "I do not think there will be anything left in Dekarran."
"Don't concern yourself, milady," Jaxen said. "We'll have a quick look at the lunch stop and see if we can at least find your chests. It may be that one or two wagons will hold most of them. If so, we can send those wagons with you."
"Okay, Jaxen. I can manage for a day or so until the rest arrive," Garia decided.
"There are also the chests of those who would go with milady. Highness?"
"Aye. Merizel, of course, and Jenet." Keren looked at the expression on Jaxen's face. "You want me to go with the Baroness."
"It would be best, Highness. Your men and hers will the best at defending her." Jaxen grinned at Garia. "Begging your pardon, milady. I know you wield a mean sword yourself. And, perhaps, Lord Terinar as well, to lead the way."
"Won't that leave the rest of the caravan unprotected?"
"No more than usual, Highness."
"I will trade you," Trosanar offered. "My men will remain with the other wagons which means that Lord Terinar's escort can strengthen those who protect the Baroness. I, of course, must accompany the Prince to Dekarran. I have not forgotten why I am here."
"Done. Jaxen, let's get going and we can work out the details as we ride."
"Aye, Highness."
~o~O~o~
After consultation with Jaxen, Keren sent a man forward so that when the caravan reached the lunch stop their food was already waiting. After making use of the facilities most sat at the outside tables eating the hot meal provided. Garia noticed that those who had forks had an advantage in this kind of situation, they could eat more rapidly than those who had to rest their plates on the table while using spoon and knives. During the meal Jaxen came to their table.
"Highness, Milady, we have a minor problem."
"Oh? I saw you looking at that wagon."
"Aye, Highness. It is one of the Dekarran wagons, the one that had the damaged axle, remember? It also happens to be the one with most of the chests belonging to Milady and her staff."
"So we can't leave it, then."
"It is not a big problem, Highness. We are not so far from Dekarran now and we can make a repair that will get the wagon there today. It will require a delay of perhaps a quarter to half a bell, that is all."
Keren turned around, taking a good look at the sky, then nodded.
"The light is good enough, we can afford to wait so long."
Jaxen bowed. "Thank you, Highness."
When the meal ended Garia walked back to the highway, as there was something there she wanted to take a closer look at and they could spare the time. Most of the others went with her to stretch their legs. Just to the south of the pull-in was a site where one of the new semaphore towers was being constructed. She had noticed the sites all along their route from Holville southwards but most had been little more than stockpiles of materials awaiting the construction crews. This one was almost complete.
There were two pairs of poles set about three strides apart, each pair sunk into a pit which had been backfilled with concrete. Filling holes and foundation trenches was, Garia knew, almost the only use the locals had for the material before she arrived and suggested moldings to them. Each pair of poles sandwiched five horizontal spars, the lowest of which was about three strides up and which supported the roof ridge of a shed that filled the space between the uprights. Two men were daubing the siding of this shed with what might have been pitch or the local equivalent of creosote, Garia couldn't tell without getting close enough for a smell.
The upper four spars started at the top of the poles and were spaced about two strides apart. Each projected beyond the poles and those on one side already had the moveable semaphore arms, each a stride long, attached to the ends. As yet there were no control ropes, Garia assumed they would be installed once all the arms had been fitted.
The topmost spar had additional timbers either side to support a crows' nest between the poles. This was open sided but roofed and just big enough to accommodate two men with telescopes. A copper pipe ran from the crows' nest down to the shed which Garia knew was a speaking tube. A similar method was used to communicate from the top of the King's Tower at Dekarran with the guardroom at its base.
"Is it as you thought it would be?" Keren asked.
"I see a number of things that weren't mentioned when I sketched this out originally," she replied. "The speaking tube, for example, that's a good idea. Having two poles each side stiffens the frame and makes the whole thing that much stronger. It looks like a good design, although nobody will know until they have been using it a while."
Terinar asked, "How does it work, Garia?"
She briefly described how a chain of stations could pass a message along much quicker than a man could ride, and across terrain it would be difficult to cross on foot or mounted - like the Sirrel.
"What are those for?" Terinar enquired, pointing to a short flagpole at the top of each pair of uprights.
"They are for identifying the direction of traffic," Garia explained. "If the left one is raised, then the signal is going a particular way."
"And if the right one is raised?"
Garia raised an eyebrow and stared at Terinar until he blushed.
"That was a stupid question, wasn't it? If you are looking at the station from the other direction, then the other flag is the left one. Is that right?"
"That's it. There are two other possibilities, and they are, if no flags are up, nobody is watching. If both are up, then someone is up there watching for a message from either direction."
"Clever." She could see Terinar working something out in his head. "But why so many... arms, did you call them? We don't need that many to allow for all the letters and numbers, surely?"
"You're right, you could get away with six arms, and I gather they plan to only use the lower six at first." She grinned. "The top two are for expansion and other codes. Now, have you heard of a thing called binary? We use it on Earth and that's one reason we decided to build eight arms."
Terinar shook his head. "Binary? No, I don't know that word."
"It's a system of counting using only the numbers zero and one."
Terinar looked puzzled, as did several of the other listeners.
"Okay, perhaps we'll talk about that once we get to the castle."
That reminded Garia and she brought out the mini-telescope hanging in its tube at her belt. Focusing the instrument she aimed it down-valley to see the King's Tower plainly visible in the V of rock which formed the outlet of the Palar. She could easily imagine that with a bigger telescope the watchers in the crows' nest would be able to see the signal station at Dekarran in one direction and the corresponding station at Teldor in the other.
Lanilla, not being interested in strange mechanical constructions, had instead turned her attention to the countryside surrounding the roadhouse. Now she saw the state of the river and called out in surprise, "Milady! The river! What has happened to the water? Where did it go?"
Everyone turned to look. The Palar, being about half a mark wide at this point, was showing about fifty strides of wet, glistening mud under each bank and the water level was noticeably lower than when they had left Teldor.
Garia was momentarily nonplussed herself. It appeared that the river had begun to drain, as though someone had pulled out the plug, but that was impossible. Then the answer dawned on her.
Tides. We're close enough to Dekarran that this part of the Palar must be tidal. Now how the heck do I explain tides to someone who has no idea even what gravity is?
She turned, trying to find the words, but Terinar beat her to it.
"Lanilla, in this part of the river the water flows in and out each day, since the Palar is connected to the Sirrel and the Sirrel to the sea. What you see is the tide flowing out. Later on this evening all the water will come back in again, so nothing will be lost. The tides are ruled by Kalikan, in much the same fashion as a woman is, but instead of once a month the tides come twice a day." He shook his head. "I do not understand how this may be, perhaps a questor might know, or even your mistress. I only know that over many years we have determined that the tides are linked to Kalikan."
Lanilla curtseyed and smiled shyly. "Thank you, My Lord. I did not deserve such an explanation."
Terinar returned her smile. "But you do, Lanilla. The tides are important to all who live at the coast or who go to sea. Coming from a mountain region as you do, I am not surprised you have never known of such a thing. In Dekarran our lives are ruled, in many ways, by the tides."
"As you say, My Lord. Thank you again, My Lord."
Jaxen ambled over about then.
"Highness, My Lords, Milady, we will shortly be ready to move out."
Everybody dispersed to climb on wagons or collect their mounts from the corral.
"I didn't know that about tides and Kalikan," Keren remarked as they walked over to collect their frayen. "Did you?"
"Keren," Garia replied, "on Earth I lived more than a thousand marks from the coast! I'm not really familiar with nautical matters. However," she continued, "in school we did go over why there are tides and how they work so I could probably explain it to you sometime. I'm not sure I could explain to Lanilla, she doesn't have the background."
"Education again, I take it?" He nodded. "You make powerful arguments for improving our people, Garia."
"It will all come in time, Keren."
~o~O~o~
The shadows were long as the abbreviated column climbed the ramp to the north gate of Dekarran castle. Terinar led the way with Merizel beside him, followed by Trosanar's carriage and then Keren and Garia. Behind them came five wagons, the smallest number they thought they could get away with. The rest would probably arrive later that evening or early the next morning so the inconvenience was relatively minor. Their armsmen mostly flanked the procession with a file at the front, behind Terinar and Merizel, and at the rear.
Turning into the courtyard, below the King's Tower, Garia saw the space lit by flaring torches racked to the walls. At the main entrance to the castle Gilbanar stood waiting with Vivenne and Korizet beside him. Terinar dismounted and waited for Merizel before walking over to his parents and hugging his mother. They spoke a few words while Keren and Garia dismounted in turn. Garia received a hug from both their hosts.
"By the Maker, you're both safe!"
"Uncle Gil, we were probably safer out there than you were in here," Keren replied. "In fact, our journey back was almost completely without incident." He scowled. "Except for the nobles we met along the way, that is."
Gilbanar grunted. "I see Trosanar among your retinue. Could you not deal with the matter yourself?"
"I have no experience, Uncle, and he is not my vassal. I would learn how you must judge such matters before I attempt to do the same."
"Very well. Come inside, all of you. The evening becomes cold, I would not wish the need for a healer so soon after you arrive!"
Garia curtseyed to Gilbanar. "Your Grace, I must see to my frayen before I can relax. If you would permit?"
"Garia, we have many stable hands to deal with such matters." Gilbanar studied her expression before relenting. "Very well, since the care you provide them makes them better mounts you may take them to the stables. Terry, escort Keren, Garia, Merizel and anyone else who so desires to the stables. Bring them up through the levels to the Receiving Room when they are finished."
"Aye, father."
Before they left for the stables Keren voiced what was uppermost in all their minds.
"Uncle, what is going on? We saw mounted patrols along the road from Teldor and there have been hints of trouble in some of your letters."
Gilbanar sighed. "Aye, Keren. There is bad news from upriver. Joth has been taken by the forces of Yod."
There was a gasp from his listeners. Garia tried to think where Joth was in the string of states which stretched along the course of the Sirrel.
"How long ago, Uncle? Is there any danger here?"
"Ten days ago, perhaps. So far as we know they have made no further move so no, we are not in immediate danger." He shrugged. "Of course, the river traffic is disrupted so what reports we can get are confused. We'll speak of it this evening, if we may. I see you are tired from your journey and have need of a wash, fresh clothes and a meal first."
"As you wish, Uncle."
Once everyone had seen to the care, bedding and feeding of their frayen Terinar led the way through the fortress to the 'public' levels.
Keren asked him, "Glad to be back?"
"Aye, perhaps. It is my home, after all. I know, though, that it is possible to become too attached to a place, to become afraid of what might lie beyond. That is why I didn't mind going to Holville and why I want to come down to the capital to study some of the new ideas which Garia has brought." He was silent for a while, then, "You're different, Keren. And Garia is, you're both more... adult, if I may use that word. Your experiences in Blackstone have made their mark on you both."
"Aye. You have said as much to us before."
"I need that experience as well. I must travel, find a place for myself in this new world Garia has brought us."
"What about me?" Merizel asked.
Terinar smiled. "I'm sure we can come to some mutual arrangement, Merry." His expression changed. "You haven't been scared off by your experiences, have you? You don't want to stay home from now on, perhaps?"
"Of course not," she replied. "I would travel again, as my liege permits, and perhaps with a good man by my side." She cast a demure glance at Keren. "Begging your pardon, Highness."
"I don't think you have much to worry about just yet," Garia noted. "It will be months before anyone does any more traveling. Isn't that right, Keren?"
"Aye, Garia. The first storms of winter cannot be far away."
In the Receiving Room Gilbanar was brief. "I won't say much more than welcome to you all since I know you want to change and are probably hungry. We'll talk after the meal, if we may, we have much to discuss. I will tell you what we know of events upriver and then you can tell me all about your adventures in Blackstone." He fixed an eye on Garia.
"Your Grace," she began, "we told you everything in our letters."
"Indeed you did," he agreed, "and now I want to hear the rest of it. Just as there are things I did not mention to Keren in our letters, there are things he - and you, milady - did not mention to me in yours. Go on, now, go and clean yourselves up. By the time our servants have shown you to your rooms the water will be hot and waiting. Milady Merizel."
"Your Grace?"
"I intend to give Garia the same suite she used before. Do you wish to share as you did then? We have space if you desired your own suite."
"If it is acceptable, Your Grace, I'll share with Garia again."
"Makes sense," Garia added. "We have two new maids and if we were in separate rooms things could get complicated."
"As you desire. By the time you have all bathed your chests should have been delivered to your suites." He grimaced. "After your previous visit our guard arrangements have changed, Garia. Your own men, or that of the Prince, all known to you, will be the only ones who will guard that corridor. You shall be safe in my house, I give you my oath."
"Thank you, Uncle Gil."
That brought the first smile to Gilbanar's face that she had seen since she arrived. Things had certainly changed!
The servant woman who showed them to the residential level was an older woman, presumably one of the castle's more senior retainers. She stopped outside a well-carved door with a gesture.
"Milady, this will be your suite."
"Thank you, I remember being in this one before." Garia turned. "If you don't mind me asking, where will Senidet be staying?"
"Ah, Mistress Senidet will have one of the smaller suites further along this corridor, milady."
"Can we take a look? We're familiar with our own rooms, we might as well see what she has been given."
Senidet's suite was smaller but furnished in the same style as the bigger ones. A compact sitting room had a door which led directly to a bedroom about half the size of the one Garia and Merizel would be using. There were doors along one side only, a bathroom, servant's room, dressing room and where the fourth door would have led to the next suite, instead it led here to a small toilet closet.
"That's great," Garia approved. "Senidet, if you want to remain here you can or you can come and sit with us in our suite. There won't be enough room for us to all sleep together but there's no reason you have to be on your own if you don't want to."
"Thank you, milady. If I may join you shortly?"
"Of course. We'll probably all be in the tub if you wait too long, though."
Garia led the way back and into their own suite, to gasps from the two younger maids.
"Milady, these rooms are amazing! I never knew that furnishings could be so rich."
"The bedroom is so large, milady! Why, my whole family's house could fit inside!"
"It is a bit of a shock, isn't it? Remember, Dekarran used to be a royal palace and we are on the level where the family lives now. These suites were used for visiting rulers from other lands so they had to be large and well decorated."
"What are all these doors, milady? And where are we to sleep? Do they have servants' dormitories like in the other castles?"
"They do, on the other levels, but here you'll have your own sleeping quarters in with us. I suggest you two girls take one side and Jenet has the other."
While Jenet showed Jasinet and Lanilla the facilities Merizel and Garia had a quiet conversation.
"There's no point unpacking everything, is there? We'll only be here a day, two nights, at the most."
"As you say, Garia. We might want to hang up the evening gowns though, to let the creases out."
"Didn't think of that. Come on, let's get the water started."
When the five women emerged in the provided fluffy robes they found that their chests had been brought up and neatly arranged below the windows. After a short search suitable evening clothes were found for all and they were dressing when Senidet appeared, wearing her only evening gown.
"This is an amazing place," she commented. "So unlike all the other castles we have stayed in. That bed is enormous!"
"It is, isn't it? We were telling the girls, these rooms were used for visiting heads of state, and I guess some of those would be of larger size than us smallish girls." Garia inspected Senidet. "I think we're going to have to do something about your wardrobe, Senidet. You can't turn up for evening meals wearing the same gown all the time."
Senidet was apologetic. "My Lady, we had neither the need nor the coin for better gowns in Blackstone. And after Trogan -"
"I understand. Don't worry, we'll soon fix you up when we reach the palace. If we had been staying here longer I'd have something made for you by the castle women but the King wants us home so we shouldn't delay."
"Milady, you should not! Father was insistent that I must earn my way as any other apprentice would."
"Yeah, well, once we get you settled, perhaps you can. But until we get to Palarand you're officially one of my party so I can give you gifts as I wish. Isn't that right, Jenet?"
"Mistress Senidet, milady has the right of it," Jenet agreed. "She is your patron and there is no dishonor in accepting help from her."
Senidet bowed her head. "As you desire, milady."
Terinar himself came to conduct them to the dining hall and along the way they picked up Keren from another suite on the same corridor as their own. The party, with their armsmen in front and behind, threaded their way through the corridors to a dining chamber Garia remembered well. This time Garia faced Gilbanar across the table while Keren sat next to her, opposite Vivenne. Terinar, of course, sat facing Merizel. Everybody had forks and used them as though they had always done so. The talk was light and kept away from anything technical or related to recent events.
At the end of the meal Garia arranged with Feteran for Tedenis and Briswin to have time off, to be spent in loosely-supervised company with Senidet, Jasinet and Lanilla. The rest gathered in Gilbanar's parlor for the serious business of the evening.
"Let us dispose of some loose ends first," Gilbanar began. "Keren, explain to me your reasoning for bringing Lord Trosanar down to Dekarran, would you?"
Without prompting Trosanar rose from his seat and went down on one knee before Gilbanar, bowing his head.
"Your Grace," he said, "I admit my faults, which are those of most nobles. I have learned much on my journey here. I am willing to accept what penalty you desire of me."
"Keren?"
"Your Grace," Keren said formally, also rising from his seat, "Lord Trosanar sought to delay the development of Blackstone and the new mines there by various means. We thought to provide a wharf south of the forest along the Chaarn road to permit the coal traffic to be transferred to barges. Lord Trosanar refused permission for such a wharf on his own lands and put pressure on lands he did not own to prevent building a wharf on the other side of the Bray river."
Gilbanar frowned. "Pressure?"
"Aye, Your Grace. Trosanar threatened to raise the bridge tolls for villagers in those lands, when they should travel to Tranidor for market days and otherwise."
Gilbanar pursed his lips. "My lord, you sought to charge tenants of another landowner more than your own at the gates of Tranidor? Is that right?"
"Aye, Your Grace," Trosanar admitted.
"What did you hope to accomplish by this?"
"Your Grace," Keren explained, "Lord Trosanar could see the coal wagons pass by on the highway south to Haligo without entering Tranidor at all. He desired income from that traffic."
Gilbanar nodded. "Ah, all becomes clear. As you say, Trosanar, you are guilty of that which afflicts most nobles, greed. I cannot fault you for that, but interfering with tenants of another's lands I cannot permit. If I should let this pass every landowner would war with every other! Your Highness, have you resolved this matter?"
"Aye, Your Grace. We have pointed out to Lord Trosanar that by raising taxes he merely reduces the amount he is likely to receive. We have also pointed out that within a year or two he will likely obtain more benefit from Blackstone's development because the mines on his own lands will become more productive. He has agreed to permit the passage of the coal wagons without protest and to the building of a wharf at some suitable place along the Bray."
"On his own lands or those of the other owner - who is it, do you know?"
"Baron Charzon, Your Grace. He lives in Palarand and has interests in the ocean trade, I am told. I doubt he has ever visited those lands."
"Old Charzon? The shipowner? I should think not!" Gilbanar considered. "Very well. Milady, you may choose a location for your wharf and give orders for its construction. Find a place that is convenient for the river traffic no matter who is the owner of the land." He addressed Trosanar. "My Lord, your penalty shall be to pay the costs for the construction of the wharf and any associated works."
Trosanar said, "As you command, Your Grace."
"Your Highness, was there anything else?"
Keren hesitated. If he mentioned Trosanar's fantasies about making his own duchy then things could become ugly very quickly and they were no longer of much relevance. Keren had seen how much of Trosanar's attitude had grown from his complete ignorance of what was happening in the kingdom and how much he had changed during their journey south. He doubted whether Trosanar would change fundamentally from what he always had been but Keren now believed that he understood much better what was to come and how he could benefit from it.
"Your Grace, there is one minor matter related to the previous charge. Lord Trosanar sent a party of armsmen to Blackstone to escort us back to Tranidor, as he was required to do by the King. He intended leaving some of those men behind in the new roadhouse on the Blackstone road," Gilbanar nodded, "to levy... a fee, shall we say, on those who passed through. When we reached there I ordered those men to come with us and the coin they had taken was given to the roadhouse staff to be refunded as the wagonmen came along."
Gilbanar raised an eyebrow. "Protection, eh? And again, not even on your own lands! Trosanar, you disappoint me. How do you answer?"
"Your Grace, I sought advantage, as any nobleman might. My understanding of what was taking place in Blackstone was wrong and the decisions I made were therefore wrong. I know now that there are better ways of increasing my income than taxing the wagon traffic."
"Oh? What ways are these?"
"Lady Garia speaks of blast furnaces, banks, rolling mills and railroads, Your Grace. It seems I no longer have great need for the customs of old such as bridge taxes."
Gilbanar grunted. "As you say. Very well, since the roadhouse in question was within Baroness Garia's lands you shall pay her a penalty for the transgression. Milady, what shall be your pleasure?"
"Me?" Garia was about to protest, why me? when she realized it made perfect sense. After all, she was the noble who had been wronged, so she should have the benefit of any penalty. Only problem was, it had taken her unawares and she had no idea what to say.
"Um, Your Grace," she said, "this is unexpected. If I may have a moment to think?"
There's no point taking money off him, he'll make that up easily and it probably won't change his attitude. Besides which, I hardly need more money! What can I do that will drive the point home but won't wreck him? After all, we're still neighbors and I'll have to live with whatever I decide.
She smiled as her train of thought worked towards the obvious solution.
"Your Grace, I would ask Lord Trosanar for rights of way through his lands for the railroad, if I may. I do not wish the lands themselves, just the right to lay out the tracks and yards which will be needed in the future. That would include rights to routes up all the other valleys as well."
"A strange request, milady. Trosanar, what say you?"
"Your Grace, I have heard Lady Garia describe her railroad to several guildsmen as we journeyed here. Though I believe I understand the principle, I am unclear what it is she desires of me."
"Okay," Garia said. "The railroad route will be like a highway, so it would be a strip of land about... fifteen strides wide or so, with gentle curves and shallow gradients. I can make a route from the Bray down the Palar without crossing into your lands but we'll need a route from both the Sufen and the upper Palar, plus a depot in the town and probably a yard south of it where the lines will join together. This won't happen for two or three years at the earliest, I'm guessing, so it won't cost you much to begin with. Just that, when the time comes to actually lay the tracks, any buildings along the route will have to be removed. Having the right of way granted now will make everybody's lives that much easier when the time comes."
Trosanar considered for a while before nodding. "I believe I understand, milady. Your Grace, I will agree to Lady Garia's request."
Gilbanar asked, "I would expect you to compensate anyone whose buildings lie in the path of this railroad?"
"Your Grace, I will give you my word that anyone so affected would be properly compensated."
"Then it is done. I will have my secretary make up a document describing these undertakings."
Goblets, tankards and mugs were refreshed and Gilbanar moved on to the next topic.
"Highness, there is the matter of Holville. I did not know that Terinar was unable to control those armsmen who had been sent there. I approve of your actions in resolving the matter and I will confirm the creation of Guildmaster Halkor as Baron Holville. As to the future, we will wait until the town is properly constituted before considering the future of the barony. If Halkor desires to remain in the town as baron then I would not refuse him, assuming his conduct is satisfactory." Gilbanar shrugged. "If he must needs go elsewhere on guild business then I will choose another to rule Holville."
"Your Grace, that is more or less what I thought you would say. Thank you for your confidence in me."
"Good." Gilbanar took a pull at his tankard and relaxed. "Now, let us talk of events upriver. I believe that the story of your journey to Blackstone and what you did there would take more time than we should spend this evening, so we'll leave that until the morning. Trosanar, your lands are distant, you may remain or go at your own choice."
"If I may stay, Your Grace. I have painfully learned that it is better to have too much knowledge than too little."
"So. As I mentioned when you all arrived, a large force of men of Yod have taken the city of Joth. They did so by arriving late in the evening and by approaching the city by boat. Most of the inhabitants were ejected into the countryside to fend for themselves."
"Just the city, uncle? This is not the usual way any Valley army usually behaves."
"Aye, Keren, just the city. Those of Yod have manned the fortifications and seem content to remain within the walls of Joth."
Terinar asked, "How did they get there, father? Surely somebody must have noticed so many boats and raised the alarm? What about the other states they must needs pass through?"
"It seems they didn't, Terry. Our information, as I said before, is poor, but it seems that the earlier invasion of Ferenis was intended to provide a short-cut route to the river. They have ignored most of the land, including the city, but built a road to meet the Sirrel downstream of it. There they seem to have constructed wharves of their own where galleys could be launched and manned. Forguland they have ignored completely. If and when their boats passed that city nobody can say. They continued downstream to capture Joth, as I have described."
"Uncle Gil," Garia said, "I can't visualise any of this properly. Do you by any chance have a map I can look at?"
"Of course, Garia. Terry, look on that shelf behind you. The large scroll on the end."
Terinar pulled out the map and spread it on the table, using goblets and tankards to weigh down the corners. Everybody gathered round.
"If I may, Uncle Gil?" Keren poked a finger at the map. "See, Garia, here we are at Dekarran, that's Palarand and here's Brikant. Upstream we have Brugan first, then Virgulend where Duke Jarwin came from. Next along is Smordan, that's here, and this is Joth, with the Sirrel flowing both sides of it. Next is Forguland, then Ferenis and finally Yod." Keren frowned at the map. "So, it seems that Yod cut across here and built their wharves somewhere here, is that right, uncle?"
"Aye, Keren."
"What do they want? It seems to me they are nearly half way to Palarand."
"As you say. If Garia is their target they play a dangerous game, so late in the season. I have begun frequent patrols along the trade road as far as Brugan, with the co-operation of the Grand Duke. If they should travel further downriver we should have sufficient warning of their movements, whether by boat or by land."
"Hmm. Uncle, suppose they cut the neck of Brugan as they did with Ferenis?"
Gilbanar shrugged. "Then they would have saved themselves a river journey but they would have no boats. The only target a land force there would have would be Dekarran and I doubt they would succeed here, don't you?"
"As you say, but we will have departed by that time."
"...and you'll be the other side of a river five marks wide. To obtain the south side they must needs stay with their boats and land somewhere in Brikant. Visselen is fully alert to the possibility and has begun raising his levies against any landing."
"I'm relieved to hear that, Uncle Gil. We'd planned to stay for a day or so, do you still think that is a good idea?"
"You'll need to stay here tomorrow, Keren, but I would not delay your crossing much longer if possible. Remember, those of Yod are not the only consideration, you do not want to be on a ferry when the first storm of winter arrives."
"As you say, uncle."
Gilbanar gave Keren an unscrutable look. "Besides which, there are matters back at the palace which will require your personal attention. It is one of the reasons your father wanted you home so quickly."
"Oh?"
His uncle shook his head. "I don't think I should say anything more, Keren. I am not privy to all the details in any case."
Keren nodded. "As you wish, Uncle Gil. Thank you for the warning, in any case."
Greatly expanded, previously part of chapter 98.
Garia's stay at Dekarran consists, as she had expected, of a number of meetings and explanations. Uncle Gil wants to know just what happened during her trip to Blackstone and then there's the whole matter of firearms to explain. The days' hard work is topped off by a banquet in the evening for all, in which the girls get a chance to dress themselves up for the boys.
Somewhere Else Entirely
by Penny Lane
99 - Stories and a Banquet
Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of
this story are the property of the author. No infringement of
pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c)
2011-2014 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.
"There! Look there, girls. That is the River
Sirrel."
The two young maids looked out of the south-facing window at the view, impressive from this height. For once the sky was covered with cloud but the visibility was reasonably good so most of the river and the land beyond was plain to see.
Jasinet said, "That is the Sirrel? But, milady, it is so big."
Lanilla added, "So much water! I understand now what the Lord Terinar meant before, milady. And the land... why is it so flat? This is not the edge of the world, is it?"
Garia chuckled. "No, Lanilla, far from it! Just over there, in the distance where you can't see it, is another range of mountains even larger than those we have just come from. This whole landscape is the Great Valley and it was all made by the river. To your left is the end of the Sirrel and where the sea begins. The other direction is the Valley and it stretches for many marks, perhaps as many as we have come from Blackstone."
"We must needs cross this great water, milady? How do we possibly cross so large a space? Do we have to go on very big ships?"
"There are special ferries, like those we used at Teldor only much larger. Look! There's one over there, see?" Garia leaned out the window then came back, shaking her head. "I can't see the dock where we'll be going to get the ferry, we can't see it from here. Don't worry, the sailors who run those things know what they are doing."
"As you say, milady. Of course! You must have crossed already, when you traveled up from the palace."
"True. Oh! Actually, Lady Merizel and myself have crossed three times, although we were hidden in a wagon the last time."
"Aye, milady. You told us that story, I remember."
"Okay then, girls. We'd better be off to get our breakfast, I think. We have a lot to get through today."
* * *
"Uncle Gil! Aunt Vivenne! Good morning."
"Good morning, Garia. Did you sleep well?"
"Thank you, yes, Aunt Vivenne. It would be difficult not to in a bed that size."
"Everything is to your satisfaction?"
"Oh, yes! Lots of hot water and plenty of room to dress ourselves. Lots of light from those big windows. It's a shame we can't stay much longer."
Gilbanar said, "You are always welcome to come visit, you know that, Garia."
"I know, Uncle Gil. It's just that I'm going to be so busy when I get back to Palarand... and with winter coming on we won't be able to get back before spring at the earliest."
"Aye, but with the semaphore now working across the river we'll at least be able to keep in touch. To think, you'll soon be able to ask me a question at the palace and have an answer the same day!" Gilbanar shook his head. "I understood the world would be changing, I didn't expect it to change so fast."
"Dear, perhaps we should take our seats. I think breakfast is about ready."
Gilbanar looked around. "Where's Keren?"
Garia said, "Last night he told me he was going to do his Tai Chi with the men this morning. We did ours in the bedroom before we came."
"Ah. Then he should arrive shortly. Viv, should we delay breakfast until he arrives?"
"A while, dear. If we leave it too long then it will begin to cool."
"Uncle Gil," Garia asked, "are you doing the Tai Chi?"
"Uh, not just yet, Garia. Vivenne has begun to do it and I don't think she will let me escape for much longer." Gilbanar frowned. "Regrettably this business up-river has taken much of my waking hours and it is too important to postpone for a little arm-waving."
"Then you misunderstand the nature of the exercise, Uncle Gil," Garia told him. "Tai Chi does not just exercise the body, gently stretching muscles and relaxing joints, it helps clear and focus the mind to make you ready for the tasks of the day ahead."
Gilbanar gave her a rueful smile. "Consider your rebuke duly delivered, my dear. I will join the exercises from tomorrow."
"Here comes Keren now," Vivenne said. "Let us take our seats."
Over breakfast Garia explained the nature and philosophy of Tai Chi in more detail to Gilbanar, with support from Keren.
Gilbanar asked, "And this helps you in your unarmed combat, is that not so?"
"Well, you can do the combat practice without doing the Tai Chi but it doesn't make a lot of sense, seeing as the two are related."
"As you say. I'll begin tomorrow, though I may look the fool to begin with."
"It won't be a problem, Uncle Gil. Everybody has to start somewhere."
From along the table, Trosanar asked, "Highness, would it be possible for me and my men to learn this method? I have watched you do it along the way and it seems a useful thing for all to learn."
"Hmm. There's no reason why not, my lord. There's nothing secret about it. The Baroness and I will have to leave Dekarran tomorrow so it wouldn't be us who could teach you, though. Uncle Gil?"
Gilbanar shrugged. "As the Prince says, my lord. He has to depart but there is no reason why you and your men could not stay here long enough to learn the movements." He grinned. "There is no urgency for you to return, is there? I hear your demesne is left in good hands. Garia, how long would it take?"
"You might be able to do it in a week, Uncle Gil, but it would be very boring. Two weeks would be better, though really it takes a while to get into the flow of the movements."
"Then if you will allow me to remain as your guest, Your Grace, we will join you at your exercises and, perhaps, make you look less the fool than we will be."
"Done!"
Keren asked, "What are we going to do after breakfast, Uncle Gil? I had hoped to get some mat practice in while we have the chance. It hasn't been possible while we were out on the road."
Gilbanar thought. "Aye, we can spare the time. Trosanar, have you seen the Prince or the Baroness at their combat exercises?"
"I have heard them spoken of, Your Grace, but I have not seen them do any. Along our route, there was no opportunity for such activities."
The Duke gave the Count a wicked smile. "Then you shall be educated, my lord. I deem we can spare the time to permit our young warriors to show you what they can do."
* * *
"Maker!"
Trosanar flinched as the sole of Garia's boot stopped a finger's width away from Keren's windpipe. She stepped back and then offered a hand to help the Prince back to his feet. The two made Japanese-style bows to each other before stepping off the training mat and joining the watchers.
"Highness, Milady, I am almost appalled by the speed and violence of your exercise," Trosanar said. "Do you not injure one another?"
"Not very often," Keren replied. "We pick up the odd bruise now and then. Or, should I say, I pick up the odd bruise! Garia somehow seems to avoid most of that."
"That's not exactly true," she responded. "I get bruises too but I'm hardly likely to show you where they are, am I? Actually we don't have too much trouble with each other, we've trained together too often for that. If I get bruises, it is with some of the men who are still learning how to do the movements."
"As you say, milady. And these men, you trained all of them?"
"No, not all. Of those which I trained, Feteran and D'Kenik of my own men and Kerrak and Yasoon of the Dekarran contingent are the only ones present apart from the Prince. They in turn have begun training others." She turned to observe the apparent melee on the mats in front of them. "Seems to be working so far, doesn't it? I'm impressed by how far they have come since I was here last."
"Thank you, milady," Captain Jokar said. "The men were encouraged by the example you gave them when those men attempted the kidnap. Guard duty in Dekarran has been taken more seriously since that event."
"I heard you had made significant changes," Keren observed.
"Aye, Highness," the Captain responded. "Following your departure, we have made a full survey of the castle, and for the first time we now have plans of every level, every corridor, every chamber in the building. We shall not be caught out as we were before."
"That's good," Garia said, accepting a drink from Jenet. "Did you find anything interesting?"
"Aye, milady. Several lost items have been found and a number of forgotten passages rediscovered." Jokar coughed. "Perhaps we should not be discussing such matters in public."
"As you say. Well," Garia added, "I think I've done enough here, don't you agree, Keren? We must go and change before that other important meeting this morning."
"Aye, Garia. With your permission, Captain?"
~o~O~o~
Gibanar gestured. "Tell me your story, then."
"As you wish, Uncle Gil," Garia said. "I think we'll start when we got to South Slip, if I may... or would that be giving away some confidences?"
Her eyes slid to rest on Trosanar, who had joined all the others in Gilbanar's parlor for this meeting.
The Duke waved a hand. "You can leave out the small details, Garia. We know that you set out to go north with Milady Merizel and Mistress Jenet, all disguised as traveling women, on a caravan of Master Tanon's."
"That's right. Well, everything went fine until we reached Teldor, and then we discovered we had a problem."
Garia explained how they had discovered by chance that Keren's party had split and that this made locating them somewhat more difficult. She recounted how they had eventually joined up north of Haligo and continued north, mentioning the problem with the wagon wheel.
"But something like this is bound to happen, isn't it, Tanon?" Gilbanar objected. "With so many wagons, surely the chances of a wheel problem increase with every extra wagon."
"This is so, Your Grace," Tanon replied, "but I believe milady has a particular reason for mentioning this one, since the wagon was one of yours and the driver one of your own men."
"Oh. As you say. Durko."
"That's right, Uncle Gil," Garia agreed. "We didn't know it then but he obviously had some plan to delay us until he could get reinforcements from the south. Remember, until we met up with Keren he had no idea I was going north at all. It was only at that point he must have realized he needed to get a message out."
Gilbanar grunted. "As you say. Go on."
She took them through their stay in Tranidor and their departure after picking up the two mystified guildsmen. Then came their journey along the Chaarn road where Garia mentioned her discovery on the broken markstone.
"You say you can read those stones? Does this mean that the Chivans came from Earth?"
"Yes, Uncle Gil, although they aren't known as Chivans back there. We call them the Romans, and they had an empire that was the largest at the time and lasted about a thousand years. The Romans use the same letters as we do, or more accurately we still use their letters, although the language is somewhat different. I could puzzle out what was on that markstone but I don't think I could read some of the other inscriptions Master Bezan says the masons have."
She mentioned that they had made camp by the river, inside an old Chivan building.
"It's beautiful country, Uncle Gil. We were wondering if some of it could be saved, kept as it is. Very often you don't realize that something is gone until it's... gone."
Keren added, "I asked her if she wanted some of it for a forest preserve. I'm right in thinking that land is all yours, Uncle Gil?"
Gilbanar nodded. "Aye, it all is. Nobody else wanted that part of the Bray valley, and there seemed to be little of value there, so I was forced to administer it myself. The part I ceded to Garia was what I thought the better part of what land there was, since it included the town." He turned to Garia. "Did you want the forest? It seems to me that the people of Blackstone would have more interest in that forest than any other might. Shall it be added to your own lands?"
"Um, Uncle Gil, that's a generous offer."
Gibanar grinned. "Not really, Garia. It means somebody else gets to look after it. That land is a long way from Dekarran and I have enough trouble managing the forests and mountains nearer home. It makes more sense for your own people to have stewardship over it."
"Then I'll accept, Uncle Gil. But I don't want to run it like I've heard other forests are run, I want to make it a park for all the people of Palarand to enjoy. It will be separate from my other holdings and have different rules and regulations. That way we can keep it safe for future generations."
"Trosanar? What say you?"
"Your Grace, I was not privy to the discussion between His Highness and Lady Garia. The forest you speak of adjoins my own lands on one side of the Bray but I have no objection to your proposal. It will be better for all if the land is properly managed, whoever does that and however milady desires to do that."
"That's settled, then. The forest and all the land north of it shall become yours, Garia."
"What? Uncle Gil, you shouldn't."
Gilbanar grinned broadly at Garia. "I just did, milady. As Lord Trosanar has just remarked, the land would be better managed by somebody residing nearby, nearer than down here, at any rate! Have no fear that I am giving away of my own lands, for in truth the upper end of the Bray brought me no revenue at all, being so poor. It was only the wool trade that brought in any income at all and that disappeared when the disease hit the pakh flocks."
Keren objected, "But the lands are not so poor now, uncle. Do you not wish to have a portion of Blackstone's new-found wealth?"
Gilbanar waved a hand. "I don't need to, Keren. It is obvious that all Palarand shall become richer through Garia's gifts so, just as Tranidor will grow and benefit Trosanar, Dekarran will grow and benefit the Duchy. Garia, continue with your tale, if you would."
"So then we left the camp site, Uncle Gil, and rode the few miles to Blackstone. It was strange..."
Garia described how they had found the town dilapidated and eerily quiet when they arrived. She recounted the confrontation and battle and how the captive townspeople had been released.
"Trogan, you say? That was the name he gave? Describe him, if you would."
"Um, about Keren's height, mid to late thirties, dark hair, well-built, obviously well-fed."
Gilbanar shook his head. "That is not the same Trogan I sent out from the castle two years ago to make an assessment of my lands to the north. Trogan was small, fifty or so and nearly bald."
Keren said, "Jaxen's men found two graves in the forest when they returned to Tranidor the first time. The bodies had been there long enough it was not possible to tell who they may have been. Someone, I forget who, told us that the false Trogan arrived in town one day with five frayen on a line. It is likely that your servant was ambushed, robbed and killed, Uncle Gil, with the main bandit pretending to be your assessor in order to milk the town."
"Remember there may be other graves out there," Garia added, "two of the townsmen tried to get away, to get word to Tranidor and warn them what was happening. They never arrived."
Gilbanar's expression was grim. "Continue, Garia."
With many interruptions from the Duke, Garia and Keren gave him a condensed account of their time in Blackstone and what they had done. The only time they had to give more detail was when they described their other battle and the meeting with the ptuvil.
"Maker! When you do a thing, milady, you do it properly, don't you?" Gilbanar's eyes bored into Garia's. "This is one thing you did not mention in your letters, either of you. Tell me about these guns, as you call them."
"Uncle Gil, we would prefer to show you, as we have brought them with us. But it will have to be somewhere down below, somewhere we can have a bit of privacy."
"Can we use them here, against any attacker?"
Keren answered, "It wouldn't be wise, Uncle. The weapons are quite crude and one destroyed itself and killed the man holding it. We hope the guildsmen can use them as a pattern for much better weapons once we get them back to Palarand." He leaned forward. "The main point, uncle, is that the existence of guns proves that Garia isn't the only person presently here from Earth. She didn't tell anyone about guns, in fact she has tried very hard not to. Therefore, somebody else must have, and Yod is using them against us - and will use them against everybody else, if my thinking is right."
Gilbanar grunted. "As you say. Jokar, you and Feteran go and make what arrangements you need to show us these guns. Garia can tell us the rest of her tale and then we'll join you."
Jokar and Feteran both stood. "As you command, Your Grace," Jokar responded. The two left the parlor together.
"There must have been fourteen of them," Garia said. "Perhaps one or two less, it was difficult to count them up, especially as some of their frayen escaped and we couldn't catch them all. We think that two may have gotten away completely." She shrugged. "After that we rode back to the town and tried to find out more about them. That was when we discovered that Durko had been one of the attackers. It seemed he had been keeping in touch with them all along. Along with him was the town's shoemaker and his son, perhaps another two locals and six - we think - miners, although the miners might not have been real. Miners, that is. There must have been one or two more from outside, to bring the guns up. Later, we found a narrow valley where it seems they camped."
"So. We will speak more of this battle later, if we may. Let us continue with Blackstone. Garia?"
"We started thinking about how the town would develop once the mines began working and I realized this was the perfect opportunity to do some town planning. Most towns have just grown over the years and there's been no organization about where workshops or housing goes but in Blackstone we could actually designate zones where things could be laid out before the building started." She paused. "We had to do something, all the coal traffic would have had to go up and down the main street and it would have quickly overwhelmed the town."
Gilbanar nodded. "I remember your description from your letters, Garia. I wish we had something similar for Dekarran, but I fear it is too late for that."
"It's never too late, Uncle Gil, and you'll have to do some reorganizing when the railroad arrives in any event."
Garia briefly described the rest of her stay and then the arrival of the King's decree. She told Gilbanar about appointing Bleskin as Steward and how she appointed a Sheriff to maintain law and order in the town.
"An excellent choice, Garia! When Bleskin left here I wondered what would become of him, after he was unexpectedly left on his own. I am pleased that you have found a suitable place for his knowledge and experience."
"So am I, Uncle Gil. It helps that, because he is from the north, he is known to a number of people in the town already - and being the former captain of the Palace Guard does him no harm, either."
"As you say. Now, tell me a little more about this Sheriff of yours. How does his function differ from that of the Watch in, say, Tranidor?"
"The Watch which was set up in Blackstone had been disbanded by Trogan, Uncle Gil, and it seemed to me that it was really only useful within the town itself. So, when I decided to set up a replacement, I chose a system from my own lands. In rural parts of Kansas a Sheriff and his deputies can cover the whole county, rather than just the town."
"County?"
"Yes, that's what we call our larger administrative regions in Kansas." Garia's eyes narrowed as she thought through what she had just said. "Now I think about it, a county would be the lands a count ruled over, wouldn't they? We don't have counts or barons or dukes any more but I guess the word for the district survived through to the present day. I never realized that before."
"Interesting. Go on."
"I thought that, seeing as how Blackstone is going to grow bigger in the next few years, and with mine workings potentially all over the hills, we'd need a few men who could uphold the law over the whole of my lands. The posts are full-time, too, which means the men can concentrate on doing their jobs rather than just being called off some other task to help drunks get back home." She shrugged. "If it doesn't work out, we can always find a different way of doing things. I don't claim to have much experience of law enforcement and I don't claim my way will be better."
Gilbanar nodded thoughtfully. "An interesting idea, Garia. You will keep me informed how successful your Sheriff is? If it works it sounds like a system which I could use nearer to Dekarran."
"Yes..." Garia replied slowly. "But, if you remember a conversation we had a long time ago," in the Council of the Two Worlds, "I also mentioned that we have a number of different law enforcement agencies for different circumstances. I'm not sure the Sheriff system would work within Dekarran itself."
"Of course, Garia. I was not thinking of Dekarran but of some of the more remote parts of North Palarand. Like yourself - and, indeed, Trosanar here - I have lands which are not close to any large town. In very small villages, true, only a Watch may be needed, but something as you describe may suit the larger villages and small towns under my rule."
"Merizel?"
"Aye, Garia. I'll add it to the list."
"Lady Merizel."
"Yes, Your Grace?"
"I suggest you write a note to our esteemed Captain Bleskin, advising him of his additional responsibilities."
"Your Grace? Oh! You mean the new lands and forest that you have given to Garia."
"Just so, milady. I'm sure he will need to adjust his plans to take account of the new grants."
"As you say, Your Grace. Speaking for the town, I'm sure everybody will be delighted that you are willing to provide them further lands."
Gilbanar grunted. "I'm sure some will be delighted, milady. There will always be those who can find fault with anything."
~o~O~o~
"So that is a gun."
Gilbanar regarded the modified pipe which lay on the floor in front of them. They were in a chamber on the north side, with light coming in through some high-level glassless windows in the wall. Nobody was going to overlook this meeting.
"Aye, Uncle Gil. If Garia wouldn't mind, I'll go through what she told us in Blackstone and she or Feteran can correct me when I'm wrong. I want to make sure that I can describe this correctly."
There were no objections so Keren gave the audience a description of how a gun worked, what had happened during the battle and what one should do when faced by a gun. Garia took a sample of the powder and placed it on a square of paper which was then lit. It took some time for the smoke to clear.
"So you see, Uncle Gil, if just that small amount of powder can make so great a cloud of smoke imagine what a cartridge like this can do." Keren held up the silk cylinder.
"But it would just burn, surely," Jokar said. "How could such a burning propel anything out of that... barrel... fast enough to be a danger?"
"It is the speed of the burning, Captain," Keren explained. "And there is no other way for the smoke to get out. Trust me, it comes out so fast you cannot see the shot as it flies."
"My apologies, Highness, I still don't see how it can be that strong."
"Ah. Feteran, perhaps it's time we unwrapped the other gun."
There were gasps and mutterings as the other weapon was revealed.
"What did this?" Jokar asked.
"The gun malfunctioned," Garia explained. "Instead of the shot coming out the barrel the explosive was powerful enough to split the barrel along the top. That's how strong this powder is, captain, strong enough to blow open an iron pipe and kill the man holding it."
"These guns are a danger to those using them, then? "Gilbanar asked.
"Yes and no, Uncle Gil," Garia said. "These weapons failed because we believe the person who told them how to make them deliberately gave them bad information. They would work for testing and training and then maybe fail in the field. That tells us that the person they have working for them probably isn't doing so willingly. But a properly designed and made gun is probably safer than a longbow is to the archer."
"Uncle," Keren added, "it would be unwise to assume that any further guns we face will have the same defects. In the weeks since these would have left Yod they must have discovered the faults and corrected them." He shrugged. "Of course, there may be other faults in their newer weapons, we won't know until we face them."
"Hmm." Gilbanar pondered. "Jokar, you heard? This will mean further orders to the garrison. We will have no time to reproduce any of this before we are likely to encounter them but we must make sure that the men know how to shelter from such an attack."
"As you say, Your Grace."
"Garia, I assume that you can tell us how to make these? I mean, guns that will not be dangerous to the wielder?"
"Uncle Gil, there are no guns which are not dangerous to the wielder, not any, anywhere. In principle I can give you, or more properly the guildsmen who will do the making, instructions how to make guns, yes. Guns that will be as safe as anyone could make them. You can probably figure most of it out yourself from what you've seen here today. But, I can't tell you how to make the powder, simply because that is something that took centuries of experiment and refinement to get right. I wouldn't trust the captured powder at all and I wouldn't even want to make tests with it, it's too dangerous. This is going to require a special group of guildsmen and questors out on a remote farm somewhere where they can experiment without putting anyone else in danger."
Gilbanar regarded Garia for a long while before nodding. "If it were another who gave me such advice I would hesitate before following it. However, you obviously know your subject so I must bow to your knowledge. How soon might we see such weapons produced in Palarand for use by the armsmen of Palarand?"
Garia shrugged. "I don't know, Uncle Gil. Maybe around this time next year, but I'm not promising anything. We have so many other projects on the go it will take time to organize what we will need." She held up a hand. "I know Yod has these and we'll be at a disadvantage until we get something at least similar. I also know the King is going to want a priority put on gun manufacture."
Gilbanar grunted. "As you say, Garia." He looked up. "I see it is almost time for lunch. Let us pack this booty safely away and then refresh ourselves." He smiled at Garia. "I understand there is a fair-sized deputation waiting to see you this afternoon."
"There always is, Uncle Gil. There always is."
~o~O~o~
Garia stumped into her bedchamber and threw herself, face-down, onto the huge bed with a groan.
"Ooooh! How can some men be so intelligent and so stupid at the same time?"
Merizel came and sat on the bed beside her. Garia raised herself on one elbow to regard her friend.
"The same way women can, I imagine," Merizel replied. "Have we not encountered such variety as we traveled?"
Garia let her arm slide so that her reply was partly muffled. "You're right, of course. I should have realized that even apparently knowledgeable guildsmen can be... thick as two planks sometimes. We knew that already, didn't we? We've just been lucky in those we've had to work with so far."
Merizel smiled. "Maybe. I remember Master Yarling, it took you some while to convince him that you were serious about mining coal."
"So true." Garia rolled over, sat up and pouted. "It would help if I didn't look so much like a young girl. It makes it very hard for anyone to believe what I'm saying."
"Garia, you are a young girl, nay, a young woman, and you'll just have to get used to the fact." She thought, then grinned. "Don't you think His Highness would have treated you differently had you been another age?"
Garia returned a rueful smile. "Well, if you put it like that..."
Jenet approached. "Milady, I have begun running the water for our bath. Lanilla reports that your gowns for this evening have been placed in the dressing room."
Garia slid off the bed to stand in front of her senior maid. "That's just what I need, a good soak. All that standing around all afternoon, talking... I'm getting stiff. The evening gowns? Good. If Uncle Gil is throwing a banquet for us we have to look our best, don't we?"
Garia, Merizel and their three maids all bathed and then congregated in one of the dressing rooms to attire themselves for the evening. For this purpose gowns had been borrowed from the castle wardrobe and modified to fit each wearer while Garia was out meeting guildsmen and other notables. Garia had found a simple gown in green, but of vertical bands of different shades which merged into one another. Merizel had found a more complex design in a pastel crimson shade. The three maids each wore Blackstone green, their evening outfits cleaned and pressed by the castle staff during the day.
"Ow!"
"Hold still, milady. That is because you haven't worn anything in your ears for some weeks and the holes have begun to close."
"Yes. Er, as you say, Jenet. At home we had... do you know what I mean if I said the word 'keepers' to you?"
"A simple ear ornament just to keep the holes open, milady? I believe that young girls wear such items after their ears are pierced for that very reason. Of course, normally that would be done at a much younger age than when you came to us, milady."
"That's right," Merizel confirmed, checking her own hair in the polished-metal mirror. "Most girls have them done about the age of three or so. I remember I squealed when I had mine done, though it took but a moment."
"I'm sorry. Next time I'll come sooner."
"If you had been younger, you'd have had even more trouble getting people to believe you," Merizel reminded her.
"I wasn't being serious. Now, how's my hair?"
"It's... interesting, Garia. I wouldn't have thought it was long enough to pile up like that but it seems to work." Her friend smiled. "The Prince is already smitten, he will be speechless when he sees you tonight."
Garia smiled back. "It's a lot of hard work, isn't it, but I'm beginning to enjoy doing it, especially when we can make a big impression on those who matter." She turned to the two younger girls. "How are you coping? What do you think of the castle?"
"I never imagined such a place could exist, milady!" Jasinet gushed. "Such large windows, such fine paneling! And I have never seen rugs that stretch the entire width of the floor, either! Such an amazing place, so large, so many rooms!"
"Aye, milady," Lanilla agreed. "I could not dream of such a place as this. I thought the castles we stayed in along the way were like palaces but this one is so much better than any other. Is the palace itself anything like this, milady?"
Garia smiled. "Yes and no, Lanilla. Dekarran is mostly made of stone despite all the wood you see lining the rooms, but the palace is nearly all wood. Because of that it is only two stories high where the castle goes back up the hillside many levels. The palace is very old, though, and you'll see a lot of fancy carving and painting and gold leaf covering the walls and ceilings. It's just different. Oh, and Jasinet? Those rugs you saw would be called carpets when they cover the whole floor."
"Oh. As you say, milady."
There was a knock at the door of the suite and Jasinet went to see who it was. She returned with a grinning Korizet and an embarrassed Senidet. Both girls had obviously spent some time perfecting their appearance and it was apparent that Senidet was unused to having so much care lavished on herself. Korizet wore a gown Garia had seen before, a cobalt blue creation with a tiered skirt and dark red inserts while Senidet's gown was of ice blue. Both girls had small tiaras in their carefully piled-up hair.
"Wow! It seems we're not the only ones who want to make the boys drool!"
"Aye, Garia," Korizet grinned. "Tonight, we show the boys, as you say, what we can really do. Though I deem Mistress Senidet is unsure about preparing herself thus for the hunt."
"As you say, uh, Lady Korizet," Senidet said hesitantly. She turned to Garia. "Milady, I have never done anything like this before, I know not how to conduct myself. And all these clothes, so fine! I should not be wearing... Milady, are you sure I should not eat below stairs with the servants? It is my place, really."
Garia put an arm around Senidet's shoulder. "Nope, not tonight! We had explicit instructions from Duchess Vivenne to clean you up and make you presentable for this evening's do. Uncle Gil, er, Lord Gilbanar that is, wanted to make sure we all had a decent evening meal to remember our stay in Dekarran by." She grinned at the girl. "All the armsmen will be scrubbed up and squeaky clean as well, you know. Don't you want to see what Tedenis can look like when he tries?"
"Don't you want to see the look on his face when you enter the dining hall?" Merizel added.
Senidet blushed and lowered her gaze. "Milady, it would please me... but, in front of the Duke and all the other nobles?"
Garia tried a reassuring smile. "Look, whether you want to or not, your status has changed from that of a smith's daughter in a remote mountain town. You are, in all but name, a guildswoman, one of the first, and you'll have to get used to being seen in public, the same way I have had to. It's true this banquet will be different than what you'll usually eat in your new job but I can promise you there will be many more fancy dinners in your future. Besides, you know most of us anyway, don't you? You'll be among friends this evening."
"As you say, milady. It seems very strange to me, that I, who once helped my father puzzle out his drawings in his workshop, should sup with the Prince and the brother of the King, but you are right. It also seems I will not be the only one drawing attention this night, though, looking at your attire and that of Milady Merizel."
"That's right!" Garia grinned broadly. "Come on, girls, we're about to have some fun, let's go knock 'em out!"
Captain Jokar himself came to lead their escort down to the dining chamber. On seeing the four girls he executed an elaborate bow before leading them along the brightly-lit corridors. For this evening only, Garia's men had been given duty inside the chamber so their escort was of trusted Dekarran men. When they reached the chamber door the hum of conversation within came to an abrupt halt.
"Countess Korizet, Lady Garia, Baroness Blackstone, Lady Merizel of South Reach and Mistress Senidet of Blackstone," Gilbanar's chamberlain intoned.
The men surged forward, carefully letting Gilbanar reach the girls first.
"Well!" he beamed. "Who are these beauties and where have you been hiding in my castle? Garia, you look amazing as usual. Merizel, I see you usually keep your talents well hidden. Korizet, you are a sight to gladden any father's eyes. And who is this? A beauty I have not seen before, surely."
Senidet blushed and curtseyed. "Senidet, My - Your Grace. Forgive me, I am not used to gatherings such as this."
"Mistress Senidet, you are welcome at my table." He beamed again. "Relax, my dear, we shall not bite your head off. If you will be associated with Palarand's first Guildmistress then you will in time become used to such august gatherings as this."
"So she tells me, Your Grace."
Gilbanar nodded. "Good. Well, let me get out of the way, since I know that there are younger men here who wish to pay court to you all."
As the Duke stepped back Garia's prediction proved true: the men were all speechless. Garia only had eyes for Keren and there were no words she could say either. Dressed in his best outfit, with his royal sash across his broad chest and his gold fillet around his brow, he made an irresistable figure facing her. His expression showed first surprise, but she caught fleeting glimpses of others as his thoughts raced - appreciation, satisfaction, wonder, pride, contentment, love.
She felt goosebumps travel in waves across her whole body as she saw the desire in his eyes and she knew that she shared that desire. She wanted to be held in his arms again - for ever - and to feel his lips once more against hers. Awkwardly, she took a step forward and then curtseyed low, to which Keren responded with an elaborate bow.
"My Lady," he asked, "may I escort you?"
"I -" Her voice caught in her throat. Calmly now, you're in a big hall with hordes of onlookers. You have waited so long, a little longer won't hurt. "I would be honored, Your Highness."
He held out his arm and she slipped her hand through, holding him firmly.
"We have a few moments before the meal is served," he said. "Will you walk with me?"
Behind Garia all the other women had taken her cue and curtseyed at the same time. Terinar stared wordless at Merizel before stepping forward, his arm outstretched.
"Lady Merizel," he murmured. "You look wonderful tonight."
"Thank you, My Lord," she replied, her eyes fixed on his. "So do you." The two walked into the hall as the underlying conversation resumed.
Vivenne walked up to Senidet and took her hand. "Goodness! I have found a diamond hidden among the rocks. My dear, you surprise me. I had no idea such a beauty was hiding beneath that traveler's gown. I doubt not that the eyes of every man will be upon you this night." She smiled. "Except, perhaps, that of the Prince and my son, who have already chosen their partners, it would seem."
"As you say, Your Grace."
"Come, you shall sit next to me and we will plot our overthrow of these oafish men, who believe themselves lords of all creation. Korizet shall abet our efforts." Vivenne realized that Senidet's attention was elsewhere. "You have a man of your own in the room? I should have guessed. Which is he?"
"Your Grace, he is standing by the wall over there. He is Tedenis, and he and I have both left Blackstone together in milady's service."
"Then he has a duty tonight in this dining chamber. I understand. For the sake of discipline he must do his duty, but I will permit you to say a word or two to him before we sit down to eat. Afterward there will be time for you to meet, when he is released from his duties."
"Thank you, Your Grace. You are very kind."
Vivenne smiled. "Once upon a time I was as young as you, my dear, and in love with the brother of the King, though they were both but princes then. I understand how you both may feel tonight. He has seen you enter and will disbelieve his eyes, as I did. Whether you are promised to him or not you will be attended by many of the other eligible men here tonight, you realize that? Coming from Blackstone you may not be used to the press of attention, nor he."
Senidet looked uncomfortable. "This is true, Your Grace. Particularly since, before Milady Garia came to us, we were beset by bandits and there was no normal life in the town."
Vivenne nodded thoughtfully. "I remember. Then we must shield you from the onslaught. Let us pay our respects to your young man, and it will then be time for us to be seated. That will give us an opportunity to make a strategy for the dancing afterward."
"Dancing?"
Vivenne grinned. "Oh, yes. When my husband throws a banquet like this there will always be music and dancing afterward, you'll see. But we will shield you from such coarse entertainment." There was a twinkle in the Duchess's eye as she said this. Taking Senidet's hand, she headed for the indicated armsman.
* * *
At the end of the meal all rose to head into the other room, the one with the floor made of expensive imported hardwoods, suitable for dancing. As host, Gilbanar escorted Garia, who was the highest status female guest. Vivenne followed after, on Keren's arm. Behind them Trosanar took Merizel while Terinar guided Senidet between the rooms.
Gilbanar leaned toward Garia as they walked.
"Excuse me if I have been slow-witted lately, Garia," he told her, "but it seems to me that there is an understanding between yourself and the Prince."
She replied cautiously, "That is true, Uncle Gil. We've been careful but we haven't made any attempt to hide it from anyone."
"This is serious? Do Rob and Terys know?"
"It is, and they do, Uncle Gil."
"How long has this been going on? Since you set out from here for Blackstone, perhaps? I wondered if the temptation might prove too much for such a young pair."
"Uncle Gil, we first realized our feelings for one another during the rains." Gilbanar's eyes widened. "The Queen found out the same day we did, and we were properly told off."
"You have been told the Rule, then?"
"We have, Uncle Gil. We both understand the possible consequences."
"So long... and yet Rob still permitted you to travel north together."
They entered the chamber and Garia immediately flinched from the music the band were playing. Fortunately they were just providing background music at a low volume so she relaxed. She used her hand to draw Gilbanar away from the direct route to his chair so that they could continue to talk.
"Uncle Gil, we talked about this once we realized what was happening. Keren thinks it is some kind of test set by his father. Trouble is, we can't even work out what the test is, let alone the answer he's expecting." She looked at him, a thought suddenly fresh in her mind. "He didn't say anything to you, did he?"
"When he was here, you mean, before you both set out?" Gilbanar thought, then shook his head. "No, Garia, not to me. I am too simple-minded for such subtle games."
Garia grinned at the Duke. "You don't really expect me to believe that, do you? I think you and your brother are more alike than you care to admit. I'll believe that you didn't know, though. It's the kind of thing women would notice more than men would."
Gilbanar returned her smile. "Aye, you have the right of it, Garia. Vivenne constantly points out that which I have overlooked, or so she deems. Come, let us take our seats. Shall you dance tonight? I remember you practiced when you were here before."
The diners arranged themselves in the usual seats around the edge of the room while the band played several tunes in order to allow everyone's digestions to settle. People moved about, finding acquaintances, keeping the conversation levels low and light. Then the band struck a chord, the central area cleared, and people stood and came in pairs to form up for the first dance.
"You do not dance, Mistress Senidet?"
"Not like this, Lord Terinar," she replied as the dancers began their movements. "Of course, we have country dances at home on festival days but we have not been taught the formal dances the nobles do."
"You are like Garia, then," he commented. Senidet showed surprise. "When she last came to the castle, on her way up to your town, she could not dance either. We made it our business to ensure she learned the steps of many of the simplest dances before she departed." He gestured at those on the floor. "See? She has remembered the movements. Perhaps some of the dances to come will be like those you know."
"If you say so, milord," Senidet replied doubtfully.
"Terinar, are you corrupting that young woman?"
"Uh, no, mother. I enquired why she did not dance."
"She has not been brought up in the ways of the court so she would not know the steps to most dances," Vivenne said. "We do not have time to teach her as we did Garia those weeks ago."
"I was explaining that to her, mother."
"Even if she could dance," Vivenne added, "her young man could not, could he? I shall write a note to the Queen to ensure they both have tuition in the social customs once they reach the palace. That would be best, do you not think?"
"As you say, mother."
The evening advanced and everybody had a chance on the dance floor. It was as the activities were coming to a close that Gilbanar had an idea.
"I think I need some fresh air, my dear. If we go out onto the north terrace we should be sheltered from the winds, should we not? Keren, what say you? Shall you bring Garia? Terinar can come with Merizel and our beautiful guildswoman can bring her young man."
Accompanied by Jenet and Feteran and a discreet mixture of guardsmen and maids, the group followed Gilbanar out onto a narrow terrace which faced almost north. It was cool but not unbearable, at least for a while. The cloud cover was broken and Kalikan shone brightly through, illuminating the lower reaches of the Palar valley and turning the terrain to silver.
Keren inspected those who had come with them thoughtfully.
"You did this deliberately, didn't you, Uncle Gil."
"Me?" the Duke protested, with an air of innocence. "All I wanted was some fresh air."
"As you wish, Uncle Gil."
He took Garia's hand and walked along the terrace until they had some privacy. Garia noticed that the other couples were similarly spreading themselves out. She turned to look at the view over the valley and felt his arm snake around her waist.
"By the Maker, I like doing that," he murmured.
"I like you doing that as well," she said, leaning into his body. "I just wish we could be official."
Keren regarded the other couples, all of whom had now embraced after realizing the situation.
"It seems we shall be the only couple who are not official," he murmured, "at least until we can get back to the palace and resolve our... problem. Even then we may have to wait."
"I'll wait," she said, "until Hell freezes over."
"I've heard you speak of Hell once or twice. Shall you explain?"
"Ah, it's all bound up with our religions. Best you not know. Let's just say it's a bad place you get sent to after you die if you've been bad during your life."
"After you die? But..." Keren shook his head. "Perhaps there are Earthly customs it would be better for us not to know."
"I told you that. That's why we have the Council, so we can filter out the good from the bad."
"As you say. What did Uncle Gil say, earlier, when you were walking between the chambers?"
"It hadn't dawned on him that we were... a couple until then. He claims to know nothing about what your father intends."
"And his own attitude?"
"You'll have to ask him yourself, Keren. He may look like a big, bluff Duke but he's smart, and he can hide things, despite what the world sees. I can't read him."
"I have known him all my life, of course, so I may fare better. Come, let us enjoy the moment and I will try him later."
Eventually it became too cold for the couples to stay outside so they drifted toward the door back into the castle. Keren arranged it so that he and Garia were close to the Duke and Duchess.
"Do you approve, Uncle?"
"Of you and Garia? I was not sure at first. The Rule, you see. But then I understood that Palarand and likely the whole Valley will undergo such changes when you will be King that practically, you are a perfect match for each other. Garia will be at the center of things whether she is Queen or not, but becoming Queen will make the task so much easier. Since she is no noble but not of Alaesia either I think the Rule may be waived in your case but I do not know how the other rulers will take such a decision."
"Thank you, Uncle Gil."
"Don't thank me yet, the deed is not done. I have no idea what your father intends, if this 'test' which Garia spoke of really exists." He stopped, his serious expression plain by the flickering light of a nearby torch. "I may not defy the decrees of my King but, if it is needful, you have a friend at court for your cause."
The look Keren returned was just as serious. "Thank you, Uncle Gil. If I can figure out what my father wants me to do I may not need your support but I am pleased that you choose to give it to us." He gripped Garia's hand tightly. "We shall not let you down."