*Before…

(Sniffle.) “The…the elves that were there they stood up for me, they said it was common in their lands and that sex, that gender had little bearing on goodness or honor or duty or doing your duty. (Sniffle) and I was allowed to stay but so many of my instructors, of the lads there were just so hateful and word spread and spread and spread until I left because I wasn’t ever going to be chosen…and I was just tired, tired to death of being a freak.” (Sniffle.)
I keep rubbing her back. “And your family?”
“They hate me and they don’t, they keep me away from folks and them and I have a little cottage where I have enough to live decently but even there I’m a pariah.”
I look at her and she is so damned sad and she’s so damned defeated and like me she’s had so much taken away from her.
I reach over and take her chin and turn her face to me and I look her in her eyes.
“Dani, Danielle can you do your duty? Can you fight and defend and care for me and mine?”
She has fresh tears, different tears and he face is so full of desperate hope.
“Yes…Oh Gods and Goddesses yes L..ll..Lady.”
“And you are fine with the history of my family, that I am a Lyonnes and my family includes my Aunt Aurora the Sorceress, Lady Blackhand.”
She nods.
“You will serve me as my knight as a Princess of Lyonnes?”
She nods.
Yes as my knight, I still have my title. I might not have my family’s lands but I do have my title.
She nods.
I let go of her chin and I stand up and offer her my hand. “Then I accept your service Squire Hollander.”
She shakes my hand and she’s still crying and I smile and say. “Now let’s go and announce this before the others and with legal witnesses and make this official.”
We head out to the others and Dani is walking different, taller like some weight was taken off of her and the others rise from their seats at our return and I take my seat and I can feel myself smiling as Sir Vanner and the others are looking to me.
I can see the start of things, then start of things here and home.
I will have my own knights and I will live under my own standard as Lady Marshal here and it will still be a Lyonnes standard. I will build my Lions and my house and one way or another I will take my house back home.
There’s so much yet to do with the messages and the rest of the funeral and then dealing with everything else that will come with being here.
But it’s started.

*And Now...
“Lords, knights, advisors I have accepted Dame Danielle Hollander’s service as my personal knight.”

I take a breath. “Now as soon as I have her knighted and in service we need to speak of those coming in to see and pay their respects to Grandfather and just how we’re going to see to our security.”

I ask Garrett my chamberlain. “Please ask if a merrow and a maid can join us? And bring a bottle of grandfathers good rum.

He’s not long on either task and Dani keeps wiping her palms and that makes me do the same because this is new to me as well.

The rum gets poured and I look at all of the faces. “Are we ready?”

There’s many nods and we get right to it with me taking Dani’s sword and having the people here bear witness as I recite the oaths and she swallows and repeats after me as she takes a knee at my motioning.

“Gods of olde I call thee…”
“My sword is by my side…”
“I seek a life of honor.”
“Free from all false pride.”
“I’ll cast off to fate with a bold mighty hail…”
“Cover me with death should I ever fail…”
“Honesty…Bravery…Dignity…”
And I look to everyone in the room and they hold high a glass or flagon even without something in it and chants.
“Hail…hail…hail….”
Then I look at Dani and have her sword in my hand and repeat as I place the sword at her right shoulder.
“Show tolerance and mercy….”
“Show patience and charity…”
Then I switch shoulders.
“Uphold the balance and the laws…”
“Administer justice on land and sea.”
I place the sword on the top of her head by the flat of it.
“There’s salt in blood and in the sea and not a gleam of it in gold.”
I order. “Repeat it.”
“Show tolerance and mercy….”
“Show patience and charity…”
“Uphold the balance and the laws…”
“Administer justice on land and sea.”
“There’s salt in blood and in the sea and not a gleam of it in gold.”
I ask. “Do you understand it?”
She swallows and nods. “I do.”
“Do you swear to uphold it?”
“I do.”
I take a breath and say loudly. “Then I Princess Elizabetha of Lyonnes and House Petrel, Marshal of the East and Commander of Whitespire hereby take you into my service Dame Danielle Hollander as my knight.”

I take her sword and press the blade to my hand with the brand but the top of it and let it do a fine light slice drawing blood.

“I swear on my life and on my blood before the gods Dame Danielle Hollister that I will do my utmost to be a fair and honorable woman and lord. So mote it be!”

The last...this is godswearing but as dangerous as it is I needed to do it. For her and for myself and for my people as she will be piloting The Vanguard...that’s the name of the battleknight that we have hidden under the Whitespire lighthouse.

I need it too because my own oath has a promise in it not just to her but to them in it as well. And if I was lying with the blood and so mote invoked if I was lying I’d be burned alive by the gods.

Instead the blood drawn lights on fire and it’s so hot and so bright and it leaves a silver colored scar the color of steel there.

Danielle’s crying, she’s crying really hard at this and she reaches out and wraps her fingers around her blade and says in shaky sobbing breaths.

“I Dame Danielle Hollister hereby swear before the lords here, my liege lady and commander that I will do my best to uphold the code and the honor that she and the gods have allowed me I will be her knight and her’s alone until my dying days…”

She’s holding her blade tight enough that blood was not just spilled but it was running off her fingers and down her blade to the floor and when she says.

“So mote it be.”

The blood flares and for a solemn moment her blood and the floor burns gods bright and silver.

I’m teared up moved because that...that oath, her truth, those feeling literally flowed into me and around me. Truth, honor, loyalty, trust...all made so very, very real by that act of swearing.

The Merrow and Maid both hold their symbols up and they shimmer shine. “Before the gods and their servants in the old ways of these lands we have heard and witnessed.”

All the ones here lifted cups and mugs again and repeated. “Heard and witnessed!”

I sniffle some and reverse her sword returning it to her. “Arise my knight.”

Danielle rises taking back her sword and she looks a little stunned from this all happening so fast and Sir Henry is smiling and looking our way and at me and he has tears in his eyes.

He has a very large smile showing through his beard as he comes over and shakes Danielle’s hand. “Congratulations Dame Hollander, congratulations.”

Then others are doing the same for her and he comes and takes my hand and shakes it then kisses it.

“Lady Marshall it does my heart so much good that I’m seeing the old ways coming back. Coastlander oaths taken before the gods by Coastlander knights.”

“It was grandfather’s way when he swore me in and it was one of the things he told me he wished for while he was speaking to me as he was dying.”

“You swore too Lady Marshal, those oaths bind you to all of us as they did with Dame Hollander.”

“I know I swore to do my job.”

Sir Henry looks me in the eyes. “Yes and that’s just not done anymore, too many people too greedy to line their pockets and declare birthright with no work behind it.”

I take a breath and speak loudly. “Well there’s work to be done now isn’t there.”

“Your orders Lady Marshal?” he asks but everyone’s paying attention.

I look at them. “Today the mainlanders arrive for grandfather’s respects and we will be receiving them which will mean that in addition to the crowds of nobles we will have others here in droves. That also means that The Gorgon and whoever might be allied to him will be in the crowds or other foes we don’t know about yet will be here and about so the first thing is that we look to our safety.”

I get another small drink and then mix it with steaming hot-sully.

“We need watchguards on rooftops we will need the eyes. We will keep the gates up but let folks through them as we look for those that might be trouble. I will have plans for that. I want a watch on the sea chains and the docks and the shipyards….” I turn to the maid and the merrow… “If I can beg for the assistance of the temples in that regard. Nothing may happen but I would still think with us occupied with such an event that someone might take a chance at crippling something that’s important.”

They look surprised but Merrow Finn nods. “We are honored at the trust of the Lady Marshal.”

Some of the others are asking how we’re going to look for the trouble makers and how to find them.

“We’ll post those with good memories to the gates with notes on all outstanding warrants after I clear a few warrants myself.”

“Clearing warrants?”

“I’m emptying out the cells we’ll need the manpower in other places and I want some goodwill in some unsavory places for the future. Sir Vanner you’ll come with me to do this?”

“Aye, I will and you’re half daft for doing such.”

I nod. “Yes well half daft is still a full step ahead of some others.”

There’s some chuckling.

I look to several of the knights and others there and I start setting out assignments on who will be stationed where and what we should be doing in preparations...with us batting around several ideas.

Like barbed cattle wire nailed into a wall in several alleys that would be easier than trying to man those areas and it would let us stop people from using those areas to get into places where they could do harm or be places where a bowman or a crossbow could do damage to either us or the people coming in.

Not my idea but we’re doing it.

And adding a guard to the milling houses since they’re needed and explosive. Again not my idea but we’re doing it and hiring a couple of locals of good repute to act as watchers as well.

And there’s the idea of another idea.

Have the fire brigade manned today and everything filled and checked that was Danielle and another good idea that we’re doing.

A distraction idea with having the goods that were intercepted at customs in our warehouses counted and then an auction to happen in the near future but have posters made today and put them everywhere that a greedy or opportunist can see them and give some folks something else to plot and gossip over.

Even this early there are people starting to contribute ideas.

I get those things started and I ask garret to send runners to one of the better furniture makers on the island and cartographers as well to meet with me tomorrow and I have runners sent out to the grain merchants and millers within Rosetta and I am asking for numbers on the prices of the market values of various grains and flours.

Then I’m off to the cells in the justice block to see the criminals that we have in holding. Sir Vanner and Danielle are with me and I talk first to my Master Justice who has to see my brand and we have a long talk between the four of us before he cedes to my wishes and what will be my justice.

I send people for cleaning supplies which has some people confused with scrubbing gear and wash tubs for clothes and even bathtubs to be set up and two healers and their apprentices, a barber and a dentist all willing to do some charity work for the Lord Marshal.

I will need to make some awards for this service something actual and on paper.

Then I start seeing the criminals

City Island has a lot of criminals because we have a large jail that we have always used to deal with a lot of the pirates and smugglers and that sort of thing as well as the numerous side businesses that are employed coming off of that.

I’m clearing the decks here.

I read the case notes and then talk to the person involved.

Thieves, whores, fences, sellers of untaxed goods all are set free, the vagrants are set free. All of it is conditional of course...they have to clean their cells first and foremost literally washing and scrubbing them down and a decent oil rubbing of the bars to keep the rust off. Then they are sent to the healers to get checked out before I cut them loose...baths, a general check of health a shave and a haircut if they want and teeth pulled if needed.

The vagrants well they need that done and people leave with both my cells being better and their time served.

Served doing what?

There has to be better ways in doing some of this.

I don’t lecture and I don’t try to they know the laws.

I do say before they go.

“There’s the law and there’s things done truly wrong, if you hear of things that are going on that are truly wrong you come to me...I will listen. Send word and I will always try to come.”

Then past them I’m speaking to the harder criminals those with assaults on their scrolls, many other convictions too in some cases.

Those I speak to, just speak to about each pinch with a offered mug of hot sully.

And most of those things are what they are...they stole, they beat someone, they killed someone. The law is the law.

But as I’m clearing things out I’m asking for their stories and all that context.

Pike’s the first one to ask and challenge me...he stared at my brand a long time and at Vanner….I start first.

“If I offer jobs and not just for you but your kin as well as best as I’m able will you come to service?”

“Why? Why even listen er offer ladyship.”

“Because why people do things is as important as them doing the things.”

“I can’t turn lawman, I won’t turn on others livin as I had to.”

“I’m not asking that. I’m looking for exactly the kind of man that you are.”

“An wot d’ya think that is?”

“Father with a bad temper when drinking, it’s done some damage to you over the years especially with finding good work. A man that’s lost two children out of five in the lean times and had to do what he had to do.”

“That’s in ma file?”

“Yes in the notes as your family has advocated for you and for mercy.”

“Well mercy wasn’t had.”

“Until now.”

“An wot’s yer mercy?”

“You’re a knife man and a basher which means you know how to brawl and you know dirty and dark close quarters fighting.”

“Aye and what do you need with that?”

“My homeland burned in the night, it was stormed by forces that got up on us Pike.”

I stare at him hard.

“These same forces don’t want me here, they don’t want my family here. And they don’t care who gets in the way. There won’t be a battlefield with honorable knights and generals and all that fancy promise Pike. It’ll will be assassins and arsonists and people that won’t care that there are people here in our island.”

“Our island?”

I nod. “Our island and good sir I literally need the toughest father’s and son’s of the streets to defend it.”

We lock eyes for a few moments. “Wot’ll that be entailin?”

“A Job, I want a Breaker’s guild we’ll call it The Marshal’s Marine’s Militia. I want men like you to have a job teaching our young how to fist fight and to wrestle some and use a cudgel and to be ready to step up in case we’re invaded.”

“For true, ya want to teach a poor rough bunch how to overthrow ye?”

I laugh. “Look at me Pike, do you really want this job? Just because it has some wealth to it doesn’t mean that it’s not going to come with all of the headaches for someone down wind.”

He looks at me. “Yer fookin serious aren’t ye? Ye really think we’re going to come under attack?”

I nod. “Ships are likely, hired men from the mainland for sure and if worse gets worse then an actual army like they hit Lyonnes with.”

He stares awhile longer. “An we get paid?”

“You’ll get paid, you’ll teach and we’ll likely send you delinquents that need to burn off energy and hells you can arrange fights and matches in the hall too according to kingdom rules and have boxing matches in there that you hall can change at the door for.”

“Fights!”

Vanner’s even looking at me.

I shrug. “I peace time it’ll burn off the roughness and who knows maybe even a league in time. Father had a sort of the same thing with the militia-levies that trained as yeomen. Every big festival he had fight purses or some such and it kept the men fit.”

Vanner’s nodding. “And you’ll foot the bills fer this?”

“I will, and I’ll even ask for monies from The High King seeing if I can convince him that his army recruiters can look at the members and set up shop when they’re through.”

Both men are looking at me. “She’s a canny minx isn't she?” Pike says to Vanner.

Vanner makes a face. “Possessed by her grandfather more like it. This sounds like something he’d have tried himself.”

I grin. “Thank you gentlemen. Pike are you with me?”

“Aye Marshal I’m with you.”

I take out two silvers. “Here, the first of your wages. Clean up the cell before you go and yourself and go and bring things home to your wife and your children.”

He’s grinning as he takes the coins and it’s a start...not full wages as I’m thinking it should be but two silvers is...a few good loaves of bread and some vegetables and a medium beast like a pig or young sheep it’d stretch even further if you bought cheaply like scraps or fish or squab.

It’s a fortnight’s wages.

And I sign a note for his release too and The Marshal’s Marine’s Militia for folks to know he’s employed now.

There’s several more just like him that I sign on and then there’s some like the smugglers with smaller boats and things that I let go...and let their boats go if they surrendered under arrest without bloodshed.

When they ask why I tell them…. I tell them of home of the siege and my fears.

“I might need people gotten out, I might need supplies ran if things go bad I might just simply need someone to get out and spread the word.”

Men respond so much differently that some people expect when you are deadly blunt and honest with them.

Vanner looks at me as we’re headed to the last of it. “You know they’ll talk, people will know that you’re expecting a siege.”

“And I’m just a girl, what would I know. They’ll either dismiss it or they’ll come at us even harder.”

“You’re looking forward to that?”

“No, I know it’s coming though at least from the locals that want me out if not dead.”

“So you’re planning on defending City Island with breakers and knifemen?”

“If needs be, who better to take an invader from a back alley? And I’m being serious, there’s always young men full or hard fire and needing a place to put it. The training and matches will help get that kind of stuff out.”

He nods. “I’ve seen more than one ship saved from mutiny by a series of good scraps.”

“Well there we go.”

We move on and next is the worst and those I can’t let go of. These are legitimate murderers and rapists and I still get their stories just to be fair but I surprise everyone by finishing it all.

Those slotted for execution I have taken out to the marshalling yards and I have the charges read.

Gods, gods, gods and light I might just be insane for doing this but when they issue their last words...I look at Vanner.

“Your sword.”

He looks at me and draws the blade and passes it to me and I test it’s edge and it’ll slice the cloth on my dress...I get a firm grip and use it like a knife and slice through their throats making sure to get the big bleeder in the neck.

Not a lot of pressure is needed actually how easy it is is horrifying really but I...the Lady Marshal do my duty and execute those that needed to be gone.

It stunned Vanner, it stunned the guards and the folks watching and I clean off his blade and pass it back to him.

Then turn to the crowd of onlookers. “I’m well and prepared to do my duty for my people.”

I turn to the head guard.

“Call the clerics in for the funeral rights please if they have wants to do with the bodies allow it if not cremate them and make sure the ashes aren’t buried on our soil.”

I look to Vanner and the others and we head to the carriage to go back to the keep.

As soon as we’re going he explodes. “Blood and Bloody ashes girl what the hell are you thinking!”

I look at him and the others. “I’m thinking that this story will spread and that they’ll know that I’m not the frail flower that’ll order someone else to do the dirty and hard things.”

He’s staring at me and frowning in an angry way and I look to Danielle who’s staring at me. “Lady...I’ve never….”..... “You’re very brave.”

I nod and I’m feeling it all the way back and Vanner helps me from the carriage and he huffs looking at me.

“You’re right and you’re wrong you didn’t have to do that. But you still did it and it will get out and it’ll set some folks on their ear. But it’ll get into that family tainted by evil thing, someone will try and make it thus.”

I nod and I’m definitely going to be sick and Danielle escorts me to where I can have some privacy to be ill and it all comes out.

I’ve now killed men.

Killed people.

And yes they were unrepentant scum of the worst kind and I made it as fast and painless as I could but I have killed and by my own hand.

She’s keeping those that might look away and at the same time she’ll slip close to rub my back...she used her own tie for her hair to put mine back and away from getting messy.

It doesn’t last long.

Nerves for right now and when I’m done I look at her and she’s looking at me.

“I know I shouldn’t say anything Lady but you could have not done this.”

She offers me a flask and I take it and sip the brandy inside and swish and very unlady like stick my finger between my lips and brush at my teeth and gums to make sure the sick taste is gone.

Then I spit and Danielle passes me a candy. “Strong pepper of mint.”

I take it and it actually is very strong and my mouth is flooded with the odd spice not spice and the burn and not burn.

“Well I won’t smell like I’m drunk.’

She nods. “Are you going to be alright?”

I nod. “For the time being, in truth I have to be.”

“Have to be?”

“For this post and duty but also for my family.”

“Your family?”

“I’ve two sisters, Angeline who was sent to Braithehold I think where she was to be married in any event. She’s too far removed from things to be effective here and she’s not capable of what I have to do.”

“She’s not capable?”

“Angeline is very...smart, talented but she’s touched by the gods with that talent too. She can’t see the world like the rest of us, things like intrigues and nuances have always escaped her. Often right down to some simple social things like metaphors and euphemisms just escape her.”

Danielle is nodding. “I’ve heard of some such, it doesn’t go well with a lot of those children in commoner families and some places I’ve heard that the parents say their child was switched out like some sort of changeling child.”

I nod and we start heading to where we, where I need to be. “Aunt Aurora said it is called autistic? It’s where children develop differently and it’s a natural thing just reviled too much and villainized.”

“Your sister was lucky to have grown up with a learned and understanding family.”

“Yes and we were lucky too Angeline is honest to a fault and she is incredibly organized and she has a memory that’s stunning and she can do things with numbers and sums and hard practical thought that surpasses anyone I know.”

Danielle nods. “Many such things get overlooked though don’t they?”

“Yes they do.”

“And your other sister?”

“Gracia is lovely and she knows it. We don’t get along too much or we didn’t she is one of those women the men have always flocked to and she has always known how to use that.”

“So she isn’t…. (cough) a tactician?”

“I love Gracia but she could not spell the word tactician.”

“And she is where?”

“Valhalla, it’s a good place for her she should find men there that she can get to help her.”

“You sound like you don’t approve?”

“I’m jealous, I’m the pragmatist, the book lover, the third and youngest daughter. I had no choice to learn all sorts of things that would make me an asset when it came time for me to marry...mostly things with stores and supplies for the lands.”

“Like a quartermaster?”

“Exactly like, my mother was very much like that always checking if we had enough of this or that and that our folk had enough.”

“And Gracia...was?”

“Graceful, lovely, beautiful, mercurial….golden haired like father with large breasts and a thin waist and gifted in all of the ways that a court beauty would be. Even when we were attacked there were two young knights staying for events close by that were attending to her.”

Danielle sighs this sigh that I exactly know.

I would never want to be my sisters but it would be nice to look at least on par with them.

I’m younger yes but I’m dark haired and I can’t keep my face in a polite smile or a faked one for very long, I’m skinny and curveless and yes that might change but both of my sisters were at least well into the beginnings of these things once their goddess blood flowed.

Me I look like my mother if my mother was a piece of dried whitefish.

I had a few last minute ideas as we started getting things ready for the services.

I sent for some scribes three to watch and record the event and whatever goings on they saw fit.

A clerk and some servants to gather the gifts and the flowers and to make note of them.

It wasn’t long before the people arrived with of course Governor Dunwater with his complete entourage at the lead of it all and it made me slightly feel better that he looked filled with restrained anger and pique.

The nobles and other rich sorts were not liking that they had to be kept waiting and that due to the size of the temple that we were only letting so many inside and that they would have to be without their footmen and attendants for the time being.

The air was full of whispery how dare she’s.

He eventually made his way to me and was sizing me up all the way as well as Danielle and my other men.

“Princess Elizabetha.” He crooned sort of trying to sound sweet.

I did not like this man already from just things I’d seen.

A tall man but with those sort of shoulders that said he had never really worked a day in his life.

And a belly too even if girdled back from too much good food and too much wine.

And dressed as he was in all that velvet and finery he looked like a fat cat.

I curtsey just a little adding in a nod of my head. “Governor it’s good that we have finally met face to face. I was getting tired of the back and forth with our messengers.”

“Messengers are the way of things you should know that young lady.”

“Princess actually and I like my father and my grandfather prefer to see and meet people face to face.”

He’s staring at me and he’s keeping a neutral face. Then he looks at Danielle and some of the others. “You’re gathering your court quickly.”

“I’m gathering my knights and council. Court here on City Island will be for hearing cases. I’ll be doing my job too much to sit and eat cakes and drink to excess and lardering my flanks.”

Yes, yes I just pretty much called him out on my opinion of him.

He smiles and it isn’t a nice one. It’s that smile I’ve heard from some of our serving girls back home or some of the landswomen when a man decided he was going to lay hands on and other parts because he could o thought that he could until either one of my parents had stopped them.

A tight smile of hate and rage.

He didn’t like that I called him out on being fat.

“You seem to have good advisors then Lady.”

“Princess and Marshal of The East sir. Oh my apologies you are knighted are you not?”

He blanched and then reddened and he gave me this half bow. “My apologies, I shall go and pay my respects.”

He swept passed hurriedly and his followers in tow.

Sir Henry says rather dryly. “I think that was a no on his knighthood.”

That made some of us cover our mouths from unseemly smiles.

There’s a few blowhards that make noise in being made wait and they are being ignored.

Bluster will not sway me.

It took longer than I thought before the entourages were inside and more than once I was drinking stimleaf tea to help me stave off being too tired as when they left they were all wishing to speak with me, some to offer condolences and some to try and start business.

I politely ask. “Perhaps business could wait for a more appropriate time. My grandfather’s orders with the men stand until further notice. I would love to make an appointment with you and I would consider it an honor if you could send your wife and daughters to me so we may be secretarial about it and we can have introductions and a ladies tea as well.”

I say that to many of them.

Some look a little taken aback by the offer since it’s leaving business to their women but at the same time it is only an appointment and it is only women’s tea and frippery.

Which is sort of my point.

A whole other way of measuring these men and nobles through their family.

And there is another effect as some of the less landed or just merchants and commoners are actually surprised at the offer.

Yes commoners.

There’s several decently well off tradesmen there and guildsmen there of varying kinds seeking to ask questions and I’m treating them the same.

But it is a long day that keeps going into the afternoon and even after the wishers and mourners and the curious are gone there was still the procession to the family crypt and interring grandfather with grandmother and the prayers.

I look to Danielle and the men.

“Well that was wearing and horrible. And let’s start getting ready for uninvited guests.”

I look to Danielle and Sir Vanner and Sir Henry. “You three follow me.”

They look confused but they follow me to the far east corner of the keep where rising up and up is Whitespire. The Lord Marshal’s symbol of office and the lighthouse.

The Knights of Whitespire are there with two pages guarding the doors and another patrolling. These Knights are sworn to my family but also to the lighthouse itself as it needs a guard of its own. It is a military target and for more than one reason.

I show my brand and they look to those with me and call for Sir Derek the eldest knight there and he comes to meet us with his squire and he looks at me.

“Your brand princess?”

I show him my hand and he looks it over. “Your men and lady are sworn to you?”

“They are?”

He looks them over and he nods.

He lets us inside and it’s lit electric inside and it is very nautical here with the wood and the brass fittings and railings.

“You are here for?”

“We are here for the Vanguard of The East.”

He nods and the other lood confused and he takes us to a set of doors right there on the ground level. They are brass over steel and heavily made. We see him take off two keys from several around his neck and he passes both to me.

“You have a chosen?”

“I do.” I pass one of the keys to Danielle.

She’s looking at it.

I know from Grandfather telling me which door to open. I put my key in and open the door. “The other one is a brass sliding pole to get down to this chamber faster.”

Sir Derek leads the way turning on lights and there are sturdy steps going down and there it is in this large chamber fitted with it’s warthrone and with a platform with four huge chains to pull the platform to the surface.

“The Vanguard of The East.”

Danielle stops and gasps and we all stop and stare at it.

It’s enameled in waterproofed pales and it likes like the armor is all mother of pearl with brass borderings but it is a battleknight. A full sized one at that and it is well maintained and gleams from polish.

Danielle looks at me. “Princess? I...I can’t…”

I look at her. “You have to you are the only trained battleknighter we have.”

She swallows. “I’ve never finished my training.”

“Was that from lack of ability Danielle or will?”

She’s staring longingly at it. “No princess, No Commander.”

“Then it’s yours, I have the unfortunate feeling that we’ll be needing it and you.”

She’s looking at it and then at me and she takes a breath and she walks down to where Sir Derek is lowering a metal walking bridge called a catwalk so she can go right to the rig cage.

She inserts the key and the cage opens different than fathers or my brothers did with the cage doors sliding upwards in under the chest armor on a track. I wait and watch Dani get inside and she starts testing the rigging all the wires and tension and playing with these tuning keys inside of it like a lute or violin might have to tune it.

Then she’s inside and strapped in and hands in gauntlets she starts with the fingers and the head movement and she adjusts things some more so she can see through the mirrors better and then she does something and the hatch closes down and she bumps the right arm twice on the throne arm and Sir Derek moves the catwalk clear.

She stands the Vanguard up and she slowly goes through moving the basic tests for the arms and the legs and then she’s walking it around the giant chamber one designed for arming and repairing it here.

Sir Vanner looks like he’s never been actually close to one and Sir Henry is staring and smiling hugely and he looks moved to tears.

“This is such an honor princess, all these years I never knew.”

“No one was supposed to not outside a very select few. And it hasn’t had a pilot for a long, long time. It’s a lot more effective as a surprise.”

He’s nodding.

Sir Vanner looks at me. “You really think they’re going to come don’t you. Like they did at Lyonnes?”

“Yes, The Gorgon and his forces took Lyonnes and it’s likely he’s consolidating the area and the grain trade and the fast caravan roads there from being on the great plains. Here will be next for the shipping. If he’s looking to change the throne then he’ll have to.”

Sir Henry looks at us. “He’ll not march on the High King’s City. It’s uphill all the way there and there are too many fortified towns and castles there filled full of loyalists. He and his don’t have a choice but to strike in key places and to try and force changes through trade.”

Sir Vanner makes a face. “Then the bastard will come.”

I sigh and look at the clock I seen on the wall.

“Their first moves might even start tonight.”

We all stare for a few minutes and then go back to watching Dani.

She has taken the Vanguard to this large marked circle and she is using a sword off of the racks of weapons on the walls.

There are some that are things I know and there are others that look like modified siege weapons. I’m from the Midlands so there is a very good chance of my never hearing of some of these weapons.

She’s good, she’s better than good honestly Dani is good and she has some talent for what she is doing but more than that she has that fire of doing something that she was always meant to do.

That is showing through everything she’s doing.

She’s getting her life back that happened before her friends and family turned on her for just fighting to be herself.

We all applaud when she is done and she does a half bow herself in the Vanguard before walking it back and she pops the hatch and Sir Derek lowers the catwalk and I go out to her.

“How was it Dani?”

She is glowing, her skin is sweat soaked and she’s flushed and smiling. “It’s amazing princess, amazing it’s an original it has all these modifications that I have never seen or heard of.”

Sir Derek passes me a large skin. “There are books.”

I pass the skin to Dani and she drinks and drinks. I look at him. “Books as in more than one?”

“Oh yes, there’s operating it and then there’s the weapons made here that were added to over time and then there’s Sea walking.”

We both stop and look at him.

I have to ask. “The Vanguard can walk under water?”

He nods. “There is a great enchantment laid on it by the first Maid and Merrow of the island here when the Vanguard was being built. As long as there is no large holes made into it the thing will be water tight.”

“But they are not airtight?”

He nods. “Magic Commander, very old before even Blackhand’s war it was made an elf time ago.”

That… “That’s amazing.”

Sir Derek looks at me. “That’s slow, that’s hard, the magic doesn’t change resistance of the water nor does it make the bottom any easier to travel. The book is there because there are marked areas and roads that are the safe paths that The Vanguard can take.”

Dani asks. “And if I stray from those?”

“You have a large chance of getting stuck and us losing the Vanguard or losing the both of you since after a certain point you’ll be too deep to swim and if you sink her past the hatch of fall hatch down.”

She nods drinking more wine. I look the Vanguard over.

“So very dangerous.”

He nods. “Incredibly.”

I look to Dani. “Cool down and clean up after retooling and meet me back in the keep Lady Vanguard.”

She grins really wide. “Yes Commander.”

I look to the others and Sir Derek.

“We’re going to be on high watch for possibly some time arrange and assign you men accordingly.”

He nods. “We have heard and I’ve already made arrangements.”

“I should have come to you sooner.”

He nods. “There was no time Commander and you’re here now.”

We shake hands and I can feel him watching me go and we make our way back to the main keep and house.

We’re well lit and alert already.

I go and bathe and take a snack as I’m bathing and after that a nap with Vanner outside my door.

I sleep as deep as I can manage but it’s just for a few hours.

The waiting has a pound of lead in my insides. It distracted me from my own nightmares thankfully but going through endless what ifs and what mights didn’t leave me with a restful sleep.

But lying down did take off weight and stress of being up and it had gotten me clear of my stays.

So better than nothing.

Ninth glass in the night is when it starts.

Word comes from our roof guards and lantern message.

They started with swimmers in the harbor.

Dark skinned southerners their bodies with grease of some kind over the tattoos and they had long heavy knives the curved forwards and they had net packs with skins full of tar like alchemy that they used to try and fire the smaller boats and docks and anything that they could.

Our people were used to fighting pirates and even the civilians involved in putting out the fires and our fire brigade where smart enough to use firesnuff powder or blankets that were made to smother the flames and vinegar as well because that’s hot you snuff fires on the water.

Four groups of six and they went down hard all except for tone that might have set out last because once the alarms were sounded some of our men on the roofs shot the last six dead in the water.

They were bastards though and they went after the people trying to stop the fires.

They went after who they could get to...they really did try for my people.

But when I let the convicts and prisoners go and after what I had told them and the rest of the preparations they didn’t find the victims that they were likely looking for word must have quietly spread and people stayed inside and as clear as they could.

We lost some.

These men were brought in, hired assassins and killers.

Even some of our soldiers on the streets died.

We had a lot of wounded just from those fights.

Those daggers, knives chopped through bone and limbs just by the way that they were made. A foot long and a single edge but it was a curved forward blade so the weight of the swing had extra snap and force to cleave with it.

But people stopped them.

My soldiers but they acted more than honorably with most of these arsonist assassins falling to them.

But on the Grain wharf a dozen and a half of my people fought three of these bastards as they tried to get to the grain silos. Almost all of them were wounded and five were killed outright.

But they stopped the silos from going up which would have exploded.

And that would have lit most of the waterfront on fire.

In another part of the island later on three of the pardoned street women and two friends stopped three men that were staying nearby from poisoning the local well house for the area.

All alive and all of them hurt.

The three men are unknowns but were paid in good coin.

Witching hour I am dressed and headed out with Vanner and Dani and Henry and some of my men and we do so openly. I bring water and food and what healers that I can and yes it’s dangerous.

I go to where things are happening as I am able to and while I’m not fighting I’m there.

Carrying water, using bandages, throwing firesnuff power bags, carrying children.

I am there until morning and everything is out, not even a wisp of smoke.

I look out toward Rosetta and I know there will be more but I look to Sir Henry and Dame Danielle. “Send word to sound the morning bells, open up business as usual. Let’s thumb our noses at the ones who did this.”

People are looking at me.

I’m dirty and a mess. “Let us make the sweeps to where people are still being cared for and let’s bring my people home.”

No big speeches, just bringing everyone home.

We backtrack and we pick up those that fought, those that are wounded and that helped.

And I take them back to the my keep and food and cots and sleeping pallets have been made up and all my staff are working like I’ve never seen them and there are Maids and Merrows here with many temple devotees and volunteers all in a storehouse for the seized goods are what we’re using.

I make sure that we’re all there, everyone that did things that I see or heard about that could come and many that needed to come.

Then I find a place near everyone in the storerooms with everyone and as I was mulling things over as what to do I fell asleep.

I must have been taken by Danielle and others because she’s in my room in bed with me sleeping in light clothes but with her sword and sheath beside her and the windows are barred and shuttered.

My throat is sore from snoring. I know I must have done so because it would be my luck that I would be so ungraceful in front of someone.

I watch Danielle sleep some as the need to use the jakes builds.

She is prettier than she knows.

I’ve seen noble daughters that have looked far less without the aids of the mirror and ladies potions.

She is a lot like myself.

I’ve seen her cry, I’ve seen her take oaths, I’ve seen her in the Vanguard, I seen her last night.

I will do right by her.

I get up and she wakes up and she blushes. “I hope you don’t mind. I was still worried and tired so I set a guard and put myself here.”

I smile. “I don’t mind Dani, if anything it was a comfort.”

We share a look that says we have bad things stored away and there’s a shy smile and I go and use the bathroom and get cleaned up.

Stimleaf so strong you can walk on it and then a mug of hot brown and I check the time and I go back to my storehouses and the people.

Garret comes to me with the messages of the day.

Governor Dunwater and several others asking if all is well and their dismay at what had been attempted.

Dunwater goes so far as to offer again the shelter of his home and experience and suggests that I do so before these villains do something horrible. He also went on about who might have done this and sent these assassins.

I did write him back.

“Governor, I do appreciate the kindness but I am not in need of such charity. These Assassins are dead as are all of their cohorts or those hired from other dark hearted and cowardly parties. I’ve been told that the cost in golds for these hires is very high so I will stay here and continue my duties and revel in the fact that I am costing some coward somewhere a large fortune. I’m sorry as to future correspondence though as I have much more to do than write letters back and forth. Please if you have need to speak with me feel free to write my chamberlain and we will look to having appointments set up for you to come and see me. With thanks, Princess Elizabetha Lyonnes, Mistress of House Petrel, Commander of Whitespire and Marshal of The East.”

Garret looked at it proofing and chuckled. “He will not like this.”

“If I could be bothered to bugger about it, they’d also be in flight.”

People laugh spit and coughed and choked around me.

I made my rounds of the people and those hurt and broke my fast with them as i sat and talked and spent the day doing that.

It was late afternoon when I wrote my letters.

Formal ones to award things to those that did excellent things with the fancy silver leaf ink and my seals and fine pouches that I sent someone for and filled with rewards.

A months pay equal to someone in my staff for civilians that were heroes. A month and a half pay for my men at arms that served. Double to both amounts for those that died to their families.

I write until my hand cramps and with other scribes there too doing the same.

These stories get sent to The High King by Messenger Knights and for those with family in other places, people that came to live here from away I send letters of their deeds out by royal post along with letters from those people if they wanted to have something sent home.

Which all of them took advantage of with much thanks and surprise and even some tears.

I take evening meal with everyone.

And I get some more sleep after that waiting for more trouble.

It comes late, very late with second bell of the night’s watch as men wearing bootblack and night clothes tried to come directly for me this time.

Skulking through the dark and the alleys and the streets with crossbows and daggers and swords all fast trained mercenaries moving fast.

With ropes and grappling hooks to seek to scale my walls.

And as they were coming word came to us faster from the smugglers and fences that I had pardoned. Word that people that moved goods from Rosetta made island fall and they brought trouble with them.

My own men with bows and crossbows were waiting inside the closest buildings.

We filled them with arrows and bolts and those that tried to flee were cornered and caught.

Godsworn they died when they tried to talk and make a deal their insides burning up...the punishment of oathbreakers.

That doesn’t bode well.

That morning as we strike the morning bells for business and trade the bodies from both attacks are burned on a garbage barge.

I paid for city criers to announce what was happening and why though my streets and to take to the streets of Rosetta.

They are paid to call out.

“Last night a vile and cowardly attack was leveled towards the young and grieving Princess of Lyonnes and Petrel our new Marshal of The West and those that served both her and defended city island with their own blood. A score of black garbed killers tried for them with swords and daggers and crossbows and many poisoned bolts. It availed them none. The brave actions of The Coastlander Knights and the selfless bravery of the people of City Isle stopped them dead and cold. The Princess passes on the hopes that we the people take heart in the victories of tonight and the night before and that we will carry onwards!”

I make sure that our business on the island goes on as usual.

And I write more letters and send out reassurances to the safety of my post and the interests of those that sent concerns.

Nothing happens on the third night.

Well both places are alight with rumors.

And after I sit with my knights and advisors in council we hash out our next moves.

And I had Sir Vanner go find Pike and ask him to deliver my thanks to those that sent word and warning.

Sir Vanner still knows some dodgy folks that were involved enough to carry a few golds in thanks for the heads of the smugglers and the like.

I spend time going through the things that we have in storage those things that grandfather had hoarded away and some of the things that were in the storehouses that had been confiscated.

Some things I send out with Sir Vanner on the fifth day to the fences and the smugglers. Back into circulation for cheap sold to private bidders by private auction.

On my sixth day in power I announce an auction of the goods that are left which is still many and I advertise favorable prices.

The auction will be in two weeks time to allow for those further out to travel here.

I send some people private invitations and some letters of things that may be selectively bid on.

Mother always said the rich enjoy being rich even if you had to invent the privilege.

The East is wine country, and orchards and many things that make their way elsewhere.

I send a list of goods to be had at good prices, very good prices and ask that they consider that I might be able to buy lots of their goods in hard cash or goods before harvests or releases at fair market prices no matter the weather to come or seasons.

I send those by Messenger Knights.

Yes. I or rather I with my advisors are seeking to corner the markets by buying things. Wine, brandy, molasses, ciders, sugars, potatoes and other goods needed as well as as much of the locally grown grain as I can lay contract on.

I’m paying a lot for those messaging services so often but it is secure.

And it is making those watching likely very upset seeing so many coming and going from here.

My seventh day which is Godsday I go to temple, pray, learn, talk with my peoples that are there and for the rest of it I rest and sleep.

On FirstDay I’m woken by Danielle.

We eat early and she and I go to Whitespire and she and I read and she and Sir Derek start to train me in fighting and getting in shape.

It’s the first two hours every day now the start of a routine, working out and learning defense, learning the crossbow and bow and the knife and a sword.

Then an hour of instruction from Sir Tutle within Whitespire and about it.

About some of the secrets and technology that they have like the lighting and the message flashers but also the hidden large telescopes they have to see far. And that we have technology here that is still a work in progress or rather in trying to make it work.

Radio, we have this thing called radio or we did.

I learn that Rory Blackhand destroyed a lot of these things for the realms with something called the pulse so things were burned out from it when he was defeated.

Then it’s breaking my fast as well as daily business.

Dunwater has stopped writing me.

Well at least for the time being.

Rumor has it he is very displeased with things.

He’s starting to hold court apparently to pretty much discuss me.

Word comes to me through Sir Vanner and that’s from the people he used to know and from runners as well sent by people I’ve pardoned and released.

But things are sort of returning to normal.

Sort of.

Dunwater and his cohorts are raising prices as they can towards things coming from the mainland to City Island. It’s small but he’s trying to punish my folk. And it’s just beginning.

He will try anything to frustrate me and moreover my people.

Unhappy people make trouble.

I’m sure that’s his goal and for the moment I let him have his way over there.

Instead I go through the papers and the writs and other things that need signing in the mornings after training with Danielle and I spend the rest of the day going out with the men and my knights.

We start with a survey of City island and with us I bring two wagons of common building materials and we repair and we fix what we can.

Danielle proves her worth again by knowing this recipe for good and quick setting mortar using sea shells crushed fine and a few other ingredients that she learned in Valhalla where the Dwarves had taught our people this same thing.

I patch my roads, I fix loose stone and crumbling mortar in places as well as us fixing staircases for public steps and anything that people have asked for or they point out to me.

We even brush and clean the walls of the streets as well from decades on decades of weathering and wear, I spend a hundred gold total and have the city chimneys cleaned and swept well over double the prices for the sweeps but they are poor folk that do this.

And I join my men in doing things.

I’m not big or strong but I do work and carry nails and other things even hammer a few times and shovel dirt.

We eat common lunches with the folk either on the street or inside whatever place might be close.

Street by street we fix things and we make do little things to be more secure with the things that we had seen before the troubles. Cleared debris, yard walls and gates and cleaning out and repairing the street gutters.

I don’t call on the rightful landlords to do it. We do it and I say that it is their tax coins at work. This goes over well enough that the landlords don’t intervene and people are happy that things are getting done.

I hold supper and court at the fortress and it’s usually local business folks and other with concerns over trade and prices and basic rights in general and my knights and other nobles are with us there usually and their family and even some of their senior staff. It’s my goal to build family and fidelity with all of them and not use my halls as as place of division.

So far it’s working we gather and talk sometimes there singing or music and a dance and things but it’s not high court.

We eat well but not rich.

My table has breads and every meal we have bacon fat and lots of varied kinds of fish. I usually have several platters of fried fish and mussles and oysters as well as a fish and shellfish soup and we usually do a sea kelp salad course and there’s greens and pickles and things that I make sure that we by from the markets and vendors here on the island.

There are meats as well here but nothing that would grace the tables of the rich.

No we’re City island so we have lots of squab, and after hearing from my folk in the street there are rabbits to be had by several vendors on the mainland in smaller ports than Rosetta and these places are not deep in the politics and a seller of rabbit or cheese or other local goods takes my coins as much as any other especially when I send a boat to get goods and come to them.

I save them travel time and Rosetta gate fees and stall fees and I get things cheaper.

And they get more business.

I rise early, I sleep early, I have a social life in of that where I work with people and meet those that I’m Marshal over.

I do not need games and frivolity or frippery.

I never really engaged in Gracia’s type of things anyways so I’m not missing much.

And before long it is time for the auctions and the hiring of extra hands and men-at-arms and having Sir Vanner spreading word and coins for help in the unseen areas of my island.

More come than I thought and everyone that I hoped would come did as well several of them with ships to pick up their cargos done through private sales.

But a lot of people from the merchant classes and some of the mainlander nobles within Rosetta came as well.

I planned it out that once the bidders were registered that there would be a tour of the storehouses so people could see the products. It that there was things that were for silent auction with staff seeing to the three bidding slot boxes where the bidders number and their bid would be place on lot numbers.

There’s only three boxes so while you could know who’s bidding you won’t know on what or how much.

And often servants will bid for their masters or lords.

I contracted The Bank of The Free Kingdoms to staff this all of it above board as they say and of course their own security.

Pricey at them getting ten percent of the profit to be sure but worth every copper because of the reputation this will give me with the merchants and those within the money trade itself.

The first of this is a walk around and then we start.

I have the common goods done first and some of those I ask at just past costs to start like vinegar it’s been sitting and well sealed for a long time but the vinegar is not worth that much. The casks they are in are however and I sell the full casks at lower than market values to start.

To me they are more or less free. I think my grandfather put off doing this sort of thing for far too long. I want my Marshal storehouses emptied of things that we don’t need.

There are decades of things in some cases.

Poaching nets, fishing gear, sails, rope, hull pitch and all of the things taken from those ships that are caught go very, very cheap. There’s some bidding but in general there are those that are picking things up very cheaply.

Which means they will be back at least to see if more deals could be had.

It goes on and on with us getting to larger items or the more expensive ones with things like fabrics and rare woods that are from the south that were tax seized because of smuggling and of course drugs and spices and drink of all sorts.

This being wine and ale country there’s brandies and other things so things like Southlander rums and Vo-ka from Roan as well as things like Roan dark grain honey meads and there is even many pelts from there as well. Rosetta is a major port the biggest in the free kingdoms and there’s a lot of contraband in here.

There was a lot of weapons seized too but I’m keeping those.

Some of the bidding gets high.

Spices and alcohols going pretty high as the bidding goes and the drugs are mostly things like varied tobaccos and dreamleaf as well as untaxed stim leaf and kaffet beans. Hard drugs like poppy and things that are supposed to be medicine I keep some for the nurses in the house and our healer and some went to the temples that are known for healing work as well as our local temple so they are stocked and the rest I sent of that stuff to The Royal College of healers.

But spice bark, nutmeg, mace, sumac, paradise grains, cardamom, and many others. I have large casks of each one for our larders and I know what was needed for pickling things as well so we are set for that but there is bidding wars over some of these things that take the lots well into good prices.

We do things in shifts of four hours of bidding and then two hours for the afixture of payments and moving things plus getting food to eat and taking a break.

Two hours allows for more of the shoppers and bidders to spend money in my streets and shops and especially the taverns and inns and other things. There is a lot of coin to be made from these breaks as well as the bidders here staying overnight.

We go through three sets of four hour auctioning into the evening and we announce the high goods auction will be had in four hours once we make sure things are secure.

The four hour break is right from fifth glass so we will started at the ninth glass of the evening. People are excited as this is the rare things, the saffron and silks and pearls and fine weapons, jewelry and everything that you could expect.

I include some other things.

Local art and paintings that I’m adding into lots. Things from my locals that I asked for and that I will sell for them in lots. Just being in a higher market at the auction nets them a better chance at profit.

This time there are refreshments served. Candies and fudges with lots of sugars, sweet jelly cubes called Southlander Kiss and Kaffet and when not kaffet or to go with it strong powerful rums that will burn blue if lit.

They are well into their cups and well sugared when it all starts.

And that went well into second glass of the morning and I am not done until dawn after all of the banking and other business is done.

I finish off it all with breaking fast with the auction crew and the banking folks in my halls as a show of good faith where we can talk and they can get to know me.

Every one of the senior men there noticed how I was with my people and every one of them looked at my brand.

It’s not something that you can fake.

It is something that you choose to do.

It all drastically offsets their thoughts on my age and my youth.

And I took in a lot of advice in investments and building things.

Then my coffers or rather my accounts with the banks filled I started other work.

I start the Marshal’s Marine Militia with a hall we fix up from one of House Petrels old properties here on City Island.

We have a lot of property in lots and buildings here. I’ve been learning them all and some need work.

Some I’m putting to use.

Like The Militia House with bunks and a common area as well as a yard out back for training and I assign some of my soldiers and ask a few of the squires of my knights and some of the older knights and the grandfathers of those knight’s once retired to train and teach and counsel the men that join.

I get Pike and some of his fellows jobs there as well instructing in how to brawl and streetfight and knife and cudgel.

They’re glad for the work and they’re glad for the other things that have happened since I’ve let them go and after the attacks that happened right after I took office.

Another I turn over to The Temple of Waves as a hostel. Given and deeded over free and clear.

A larger property I donate to The Church of The White Lady, Goddess of Peace and Healing. I write letters asking for her mother temple to send clerics and sisters that I would be honored if they would come to the ministering and aid of my people and any others that need their hands.

There is enough room there for a small temple hospice as well as a rectory for them there.

They arrived three days after the message was sent out with clerics and pilgrims and many supplies.

Their leader Matron Hellena send a cleric to find me and invite me to the “temple.”

The lot itself was an old warehouse that was seized from it’s owners that had been trying to set up a copper mint here to make false coins there was a dangerous battle here with lit bottle firebombs and crossbows and there was a lot of damage. Grandfather seized it after the mainlander “owners” never showed up for summons to the courts and when investigators were sent there was no one living at the place it said the “owner” lived.

The inside was rendered unsafe for use and getting it fixed well would have been money to get materials from the mainland.

There’s a old fence and a yard proper there too where all of the clergy is camped out.

Danielle and I arrived with some of the men and I brought a wagon with us with some casks of nails and a packed cold lunch of beans in crocks and baked herring that had been light smoked and peppered as well as molasses cookies.

We’re greeted warmly when we arrive and while they don’t bow to me like I’m a royal they have their own clerical bow of respect. A sort of two handed touch to their hearts and then foreheads with the upper parts of their fingers and then offering their hands out.

I give them a regal incline on my head to those performing that and when I meet with Matron Hellena when she does the same I touch her fingers with mine taking the gesture and place the thought symbolically in my head with my fingers in the same fashion and then to my heart as I read up on.

She looks pleasantly surprised.

“Marshal you have good advisors.”

“I do and thank you, we brought a few things and came to visit.”

“You do us honor of both.”

“Well some of the things we brought are our hands.”

She smiles. “Even yours?”

“Even mine. It’s a poor ruler that does nothing to place themselves with their peoples.”

She looks curious. “You are how old?”

“By dates or experience?”

She laughs. “Fine point, good fencing. May I ask you a question Marshal?”

“Anytime.”

“You are not of our faith so why offer us this, why offer so much?”

“I’m not offering Matron, I’m asking. While not of a particular faith I have respect for the gods and goddesses and recognize the needs for faith and support and care for my people.”

“That’s very diplomatic.”

“You want hard truth?”

“Yes Marshal I would, I’m not one for sugared words overmuch.”

I nod. “I need the help, my people here will come on hard times and I have enemies. Ones that will try in many ways to hurt here either with violence as they’ve done or other roundabout means.”

She nods and takes a moment to ask some of her people to help unload.

“You would put us in conflict?”

“I would, peace often has a price.”

“You sound like you’re going to war.”

“I’m already at war, I’m just being realistic that it followed me here.”

“And you asked for us to be here.”

“I need protected neutrals, I need healers, I need teachers, I need people that will help my people. Your faith is known for all of the above.”

“We also are a faith Marshal, we do hold services and we do preach and sermonize.”

“All of which I am more than fine with.”

“Really and truly?”

“Really and truly.”

She offers me her hand like the men do and I take it and we shake hands with what feels like a real strong appreciation for each other and who and what we are.

I smile. “Well then your land and temple so where do you need things done and what?”

It becomes real work really fast and I help as I can with a little bit of everything from tearing things out to learning how to use a bubble level and chalk strings I carry things nails, tools, buckets and planks, I don’t let a single task be something I’m too good for.

My guards are here and doing their jobs while Dani and some others with me are helping too and feeding people and my folk see me.

Some even come I think to see me.

And I talk to people.

I don’t shirt work but I talk to people I use their names and I try and remember some as best as I can from earlier meetings.

This feels good like something is getting done.

I like the smiles and nods from the oldsters here.

People tell me. “Raised right.” And “Like the Mother Marshal.” which was apparently what they used to call my grandmother.

We work and work and work and it’s into the evening when we finish.

Every part joined, every nail pounded and every board sanded and oiled and waxed.

We even painted it on the outside.

We have a service and a prayer with even the Maid and Merrow there and paying their own respects and saying prayers.

It was a full house and yes we still posted guards just in case.

The day ended peacefully and well.

A fortnight’s more days of reports and messages and letter to go off to businesses and thank you letter from the people I helped with the special parts of the auction and I write and send welcome correspondence.

And reading.

The books from Whitespire, books from my library and after a week I’m tired of being housebound in just the running of things.

And while Danielle trains in and under the Spire I start doing this as well.

Sir Derek and Sir Tully more than willing to help me become a better swimmer using the flooding chamber below for The Vanguard to Sea Walk. I learn to dive better.

Dani joins us because working a battleknight is hot, steaming work and as much as she is from the region her people are inland.

She is very shy at first.

But the other knights are sworn to their behaviors and honestly with their charge here of Whitespire and of us both as Lady Marshall and her as Chosen for The Vanguard we are safe and respected in our sheerness.
It’s just half slips and small clothes but it’s still revealing.

Dani has grown some decent respectable breast with that elven herbal mixtures and well her manhood isn’t.

I mean it’s there but it is small and changed from everything.

She is extremely shy and self conscious of even having it.

I know that she hates it.

But the rest of her body.

Toned, trim, a warrioresses body and she’s getting better with all of the effort of the retraining.

She helps me by being my training partner too as I learn battle skills.

I learn the basics of fighting and moving, fighting with knives and short swords as well as a bigger sword.

My grandfather’s sword and for myself it’s too big for me to use one handed so I learn how to fight and swing a hand and a half sword and I use it like that.

No it won’t be my main for certain but.

It is my grandfather’s blade and it will be honored and it will see use.

And just so my people don’t think or my enemies think that I’ve go into hiding I start going out.

So I go out with Danielle and others under guard but I go and start keeping my local appointments.

Talking with my people and taking lunch in cook houses, eating kitchens, soup shacks and tea houses.

While I’m there I read my books taking two squab with one shot.

And I don’t eat fancy.

Fish a lot for true given where we are and bread of course. Biscuits and molasses with butter or bacon fat with tea. I’m a small woman so soup to fight the chill is always welcome.

And I buy food for others.

I’ll treat the people eating with me.

I’ll eat at the counter if there’s not a table or I’ll eat outside.

I get Marshal the most but some folk call me Commander.

Which feels like a huge accomplishment.

And by the way Dani stands and Sir Henry stands it means something to them too.

It’s the start of next week when things start.

And not a bad start.

Garrett looks pleased more than usual while breakfast is being readied and I’m drinking my stimleaf.

I look for Dani. “Where is Dani and praytell why do you so enthused?”

He passes me a scroll tube of leather and ceramic over metal. “Word from Princess Gracia.”

“Excellent, is she well?”

“I dare not open it Princess it came by messenger eagle.”

“Messenger eagle? I’ve never heard of such a thing before?”

“It would seem that Princess Gracia has fallen into favor with The Elves. Elves use messenger eagles, they are the only ones that can.”

I take my tea as soon as I get it and the scroll case and look to him. “Show me.”

We go not to the mews but to the courtyard where this huge stunning eagle is on one of the hitching posts for the horses. It’s is not something from wondertales it’s like nothing that I’ve seen either with it being this almost dusty blue with greys and white in color like some falcon but definitely an eagle but an elven one and it must weight thirty pounds.

People are staring at it and so am I.

First at the bird he’s lovely.

But then at Danielle who was herself taught by the elves or involved with them.

And something in her face is stunningly beautiful to me as she’s smiling looking at him and she’s speaking to him gently in Elven or Elvish?

If words were music.

People are also starring at Danielle too and instead of those strange rumors and her being born one way and now is another and the way that is seen she’s someone else.

Someone we all never really seen shine until then.

I wipe at the corner of my eyes and sit on the steps watching and drinking tea.

I am not, not feeling this way romantically.

But Dani is my best friend.

Her room is beside mine as my chosen and as a lady knight.

And we drink teas together at nights or read or just talk about the things that had happened to us.

And not just the traumatic things but the little things.

We both miss our families horribly.

But Dani’s...they abandoned her.

Not for the public eyes but the took her, denied her and hid her away.

The Gorgon took mine but her’s...Dani’s was far more cruel.

And despite all of that...she’s still strong, and caring.

There when I cry, there when the nightmares of war choke me in my sleep.

My Knight, My Champion and My Best friend and I’m just moved because I’ve never seen her like this.

If she could use that...her maleness then maybe...because children of course.

Though I’ve never felt an attraction to other women.

Because she would make an excellent spouse.

But it’s Danielle I could never inflict being a husband on her.

I shake off the odd musings and drink some more tea and I start to read.

Grace is well, she’s alive and she has found herself in the ill thoughts of what is likely the Gorgon’s Allies there and she goes into quite a bit of detail with things like Sir Shane’s family, The Elves, meeting the King and doing well by that and her need for monies.

There are letters of introductions of Laird Hollen of Roan and from Lady Aliantha of the Elven Embassy.

Well for once it doesn’t seem like it’s for frippery so I go and I get a few things. Some of the things grandmother had secreted away that she’d never wear but were valuable. I add in some large coin and I then write to her.

Telling her of things here and what things are happening and what I think is happening here with Governor Dunwater.

I write Laird Hollen and Lady Aliantha as well as High King Boen.

Then we send the Elfin messenger eagle.

I watch Danielle as something in her soared with it and I look at her.

“Teach me Elven?”

“I’m no master of it.”

“Better than myself.”

“Okay then Princess.”

I share a smile with her and head back to Garret. “Send pages and messengers out I need all my knights and nobles here this evening for shared council. I’ll also need anything that you can get me on the Lairds of Roan.”

He bows. “Right away, are there problems?”

“Always, yes.”

“Anything else Princess?”

“Send for The Maid and Merrows, Matron Hellena and ask Sir Vanner to find me Militiaman Pike.”

Garrett leaves and I head to get breakfast with my people and start working things around in my head and eat while writing lists of things and ideas.

I get the few books we have on Roan and some of the files we have on trade and things.

Dani helps me looking at me. “You’re thinking of trade?”

“I’m thinking that we need to use our boats, they’re one of our strongest weapons.”

“You’re thinking that we’re going into a land war?”

“Given what Grace said we could be already in one it just hasn’t reached us yet.”

We settle in to read.

Roan is a confederacy of Lairds north of us. A region of marches like ours were here of the river lands leading with poorer soil than us and cooler temperatures they adapted to life further inland with rolling hills and steppes that they raise herds of animals and horses. Trade comes from caravans and wool and hides, casks of preserved butters and cheeses as well as horses. Most of their goods come here by shallow drafted single masted boats that are best for their few but small river ports.

They fought versus Blackhand because of his unholy raiders had pillaged and murdered them for generations as their lands were very close to The Black Fenn and his tower.

We don’t see them much down here as they trade in coastal towns closer to them than us and their wool is considered very fine.

I have an idea and I have property unused yet.

And that leads my to looking at the books of our stores.

Vanner and Pike show and they wait until I’m done reading and making notes and I ask the maids for a pitcher of hot sully and some good hot kaffet to go in it and some dark rum.

Pike does an awkward bow and I wave it off and offer my hand and he takes it to shake. “You called f’me Marshall?”

“I did I need your connections and help?”

“Aye?”

“I need a some pricing done discreetly, some buying as well outside of my office.”

“Ye getting into smugglin?”

“Not even, but I want to move goods without my name attached to drive up the prices or to bring trouble from our enemies.”

“Aye that sounds like something that’d be likely to happen. Things are getting raised a bit with things comin here from aways.”

“That’s Dunwater and his friends buying up things to drive up the prices.”

“So yer gonna fight back?”

“I’m going to pursue alliances with a whole new market and bring in goods with people that aren’t beholden to the rich bloods.”

“Oh?”

“Laird Hollen of Roan is a friend to my family as of recently. I’m working out ideas to have him and his sell to us from here.”

“An how’s that?”

“An embassy. I have a few buildings left from Grandfather’s seizing them over the years and they’re doing nothing. I’ll cut a deal with the confederacy and in place of rents we get their goods far cheaper and faster and they get a new market here.”

“I sort of follow an ye be selling things t’then on cheap as well?”

“If your folk can get us the right deals then definitely.”

“Thet will piss off the traders.”

“They’ll forgive us when they can buy good Roan wool and yarns here on City island plus other goods cheaper than they can buy traveling back and forth to get it.”

Vanner nods. “Truth be most of their trade is overland and cattle and horses we won’t be touching much of their markets.”

I smile and take my mug and add some rum and kaffet then top everything off with hot sully and they do the same.

Pike nods after drinking mostly a mug of rum. “How will ye be getting goods through the the city? Gov’ners soldiers will be lookin t’tax on passage through and grindin ye on gettin things here.”

I look to Vanner and him. It’s true he would try and slow things down and there is always rumors of bent guards trying to shadow tax traders and even shippers to get goods through the markets and with perishables it adds pressure.

Vanner nods. “Legit work for folks with lighter boats, we can get things to coastal villages and sail it here.”

Pike nods. “I know a few fellows.”

And Vanner nods. “Aye I know a few folks too.”

I shake both of their hands. “Make it so, get me meetings with these captains and Vanner if you know someone familiar with the rivers of Roan too that will be a huge help.”

Pike looks at me. “Big doings.”

“We’ll need it and the allies. The midlands are at war.”

“For true?”

“From what I heard yes, Auron Kingsland isn’t just taking Lyonnes but all our allies and there’s bad things going on out there as well. Rumors of demons and monsters.”

“Tales.”

“No, truth given the old war.”

“So what’ll be happening?”

“Even if it doesn’t come here he’ll have the grazelands, the grainlands and the biggest trade roads. Meat, cattle, grain, flour will rise hard as well as all costs that will be taxed coming through there.”

“Thet won’t be good folks will have hard times.”

“Roan grows grain, mostly barley and oats but we can get that to here from there. It’s important Pike. All the nobles get taxes from all the trade, from all the merchants and some will join Kingland against the High King and they will try and oust him.”

His eyes get wide. “That’s treason!”

“Not by law, not until he stands versus the High King, right now it’s realm versus realm with the support of the clergy of The Lord of Light to scour the realms of witchcraft. He will turn this though to votes and to make himself king.”

“He be a king.”

“He wants to be a bigger king. And not High King Pike it will be all under him and not all together as we are now.”

“Blood and bloody ashes that’s evil.”

“And coming here.”

“For true?”

“If the monsters and demons are for true he’ll send them here and come playing hero even if he has to invent the monsters.”

“You’re sure of this?”

“Dunwater doesn’t frankly have the balls nor the golds to hire the assassins they’re sent. They want me gone, they want Whitespire gone.”

Dani coughs and covers a smile.

“Why?”

“We’re defendable here, we can keep the port clear for the High King. If I hadn’t survived the accusations would have had them marching versus Grandfather uncontested with Dunwater in pocket.”

Vanner nods. “You being godsworn is a problem for them.”

I nod. “As well as able to counter claims of home he needs me dead.”

Pike says. “So they’ll still come after ye?”

I nod. “It’ll get worse that’s why I’m willing to work with all my folk Pike it’s why you’re here for counsel.”

“An I can’t tell folks can I?”

“If it gets out people will panic, and they’ll know that we know more than they think we do.”

“An if they know we know?”

“They’ll come as an army and all out war.”

“An the common men and families will suffer.”

“As always.”

I look at Pike and Vanner. “We help as best we can, we care for the people, the High King is sending troops this way given the attacks on myself but that’s the excuse for them to be here. It’ll show the strength of the crown and the Kingdom Alliance to the people, to the nobles that will be patriots and scare and shame those that are cowards and too easily swayed.”

Vanner says. “So they will only be able to come as an army to secure the port.”

“Which will divide their forces and be a declaration of war versus the realm. And hopefully we can take the fight to our borders instead of the Riverlands.”

We just stand there together silently and drinking for a time before Pike finishes. “I have a lot t’do Marshall I’ll take my leave now.”

I shake his hand. “I’ll cover any deals we have to make Pike.”

“Aye I know, you’ve already proven yerself t a lot of us jus folk Marshall.”

He leaves and Vanner looks at me. “You have my respect Elizabetha, I loved your Grandfather he was forward thinking and honorable but you’re a lot more.”

I look to Vanner. “I have to be Vanner, lives are at stake.”

“He’d approve, hells he’d be impressed. You know things, get things that most don’t.”

“I’m the third daughter Vanner I had to learn as much as possible for whoever I’d have been wed to.”

“Are you thinking of marrying now?”

Dani looked at me after he asked.

“No, not yet.”

“Good, you are too young.”

I chuckle. “I’m painfully aware of how young I’m supposed to be.”

He nods. “I’m sorry you had to grow up so fast.”

I nod. “Let’s try to keep the children under our charge from doing the same or worse Sir Vanner.”

He straightened up looking at me and then nodded. “I’ll be back with your captains and sailors.”

Dani gets me another drink. “You’re saving that as a bargaining chip?”

“Actually no, I’ve not truly hit my womanhood yet for one and secondly I’m not marrying some villain that will not keep his word.”

“And if the offer wasn’t from some villain?”

“It would take a lot before I’d drag him into all of this.”

We’re left alone for an few hours with more reading and more looking through my lists and maps when it starts getting close to the hour that everyone should be arriving.

I go out and we make sure the gods are posted where they need to be, that the watches are primed with extras just in case Dunwater’s spies or those of others decide to take action because I’m holding large council.

I have food served but nothing hearty enough to drag us down. Broth of shellfish and light smoked cold fish, bread and laver, cheese and butter as well as pickles and some sliced vegetables to eat.

Kaffet and Stimleaf and some bracing drinks like rum and whiskey and I fill the room with us those of us at the main tables and what wives, knights, squires and eldest children that wished to be hear as well as the three clerics.

I have books and slates and while everyone was present I drew maps of what I had of The Midlands and Roan and of The Riverlands and The Coastlands.

We fill the room.

I double check on our watches and ask my senior house staff to come and watch and listen.

“You are all wondering why you’ve been gathered here and first I want to thank all of you for coming. I will get to the point. You have all heard why I came here and how yes?”

I see nods for everyone. That’s good either they know or they have heard enough.

“Good, before I get the meeting started I have received letters by Elven Messenger Eagle from my sister Gracia, Princess of Lyonnes and Winterbrook as well as letter from High King Boen himself as well as the Elven ambassador to The Kingdom Alliance. These I am going to read to you now.”

I read the letters to them while I have the seals passed along and then the letters for all that wish to read them.

One of the older nobles Lord Wilfren asks. “I see things here you have ideas and plans?”

“I do, I hope that they will work, I have ill thoughts as well as to what mayhap be going on that my sisters letters have mentioned as well. I want to share these with you all and take council of the things that we can, should and will do.”

He nods. “Been close to two score years since I had a moot like this.”

“Well peacetimes are a good thing my lord but we might be fading from that warmth.”

He nods. “You say we’re getting a lancer company and a five of battleknights? That’s a lot of resources and a lot of feed.”

“They’ll likely be under their own command at Highwatch.”

Highwatch fortress is barely that it is a kingdom castle close to the center of Rosetta and it is known for its high tower and the fact that the tower it has is a large cogwork clock.

There’s some looks and one of the squires asks. “Where’s that?”

“The clocktower fortress in town.”

“I thought that was just a clock a gift for the city?”

“As likely do others and it is in it’s own way a city runs best under good time and that helps the kingdom.”

There’s some nods.

Another says. “The governor will not like that in fact he’ll likely try and take command of them.”

I point to the letters circulating around. “He’ll be disappointed I’ve already been given command.”

One of the one’s still I think on shaky ground with seeing me for who I am and not what I am says. “It says assigned to you, not commanded by.”

“Either way Lord Massen it’s is them with us and I’ll bow to superior leadership skills when I need to.”

He looks smug like he’s going to say something but several around him are looking at him and one has his hand on the young man’s shoulder.

I rack my brain trying to remember things about him.

He’s a bowman, he fancies himself a marksman and a hunter if what I learned is true.

I look at the others. “If we’ve read enough to move on here is what I see as going on.”

I lay out the plans I think that Auron Kingsland is forming also with mentions of things from Gracia.

Matron Hellena speaks up. “I’ve seen Whitefists in larger towns here as well Commander, we’ve had run ins with them as they try to take back women that have fled abuse.”

Two of the servants and two of the ladies of the nobles here nod. “We as well they’re here in Rosetta Princess.”

I look at the others. “Can we agree these whitefists are a problem?”

Matron Hellena says. “I am loathe to cast blames but there seems to be some of them every time that the clerics of the Lords of Light start to preaching of The Light and of their god’s commands of how to the places of men and women go.”

I get a blank slate board rolled over and I write out the allies of Auron Kingsland that are at Valhalla and that there are clerics and holy knights with them.

“I’m not casting the blame either on the faith but it helps with the legitimacy of their claims that Lyonnes was under the sway of darkness. It gave Auron his just cause. It’s apparently giving him just cause to seek to do the same to my neighbors and likely all that don’t join his banner.”

Lord Wilfen says. “Clerical messengers are seldom stopped and they have money. There is no central faith save The Black God. Someone might just be promising that.”

The Black God is what most folks simply call the god of death.

Sir Whitelake one of the smaller knights here with some property on the coast says. “It’s all in the name isn’t it? Kingsland, I remember that they did something like this when the great war ended or something.”

One of the ladies adds in. “There are a lot of men that are unhappy with the laws of the realm as they stand with women and the changes since the great war. We can inherit now, we don’t need marriage to run our lives nor permission to do the basic things even and some men see that as a loss of their rights.”

I nod. “It will be a point that many without honor nor chivalry or respect for the code will see as something worth repealing.”

One of my judges that is also a Lord says. “We see some of these counter claims in the courts Commander, more in Rosetta.”

Someone else says. “If I never inherited what I thought was rightfully mine as the eldest male in the family and was an unscrupulous ass I might see Kingsland as a way to get what I wanted.”

Another voice says. “Like who cares who is ruling they must think it’s all the same taxes.”

Others start talking and I start writing it down on the blackboard.

“Everyone, anything we know, rumors, fact, all of it let’s get it all up here and I mean everyone.”

And that’s when the meeting starts in earnest with people pouring out what they know and what we know and some of them know more than others. Wives that hold the purse strings for the households know things and they know the gossips too of the other wives and of the women but also those things that they are involved with.

Prices are already rising even if slowly.

There have been people threatened to come here to work or do business here by the ferrys back and forth all unnamed of course.

We knew that this would be starting.

We talk tactics, we talk about defense and the markets and how likely we will be cut off or invaded.

We discuss how they will be coming for me again and that when they can’t get to me that they will come for my supporters too.

Lord Massen asks. “So what do we do? If they come for us? We fight of course but do we have plans?”

I look at him. “We train first. We train our people and our loved ones. We’re not going to see armed heavy foot coming for us on the sneak. So we go with that. We use bows my lord. We use bows and we use other weapons and we train up some militias and we raise some of our landholders up.”

“Raise them up, we can’t afford that?”

“We can, and we can do that in taxes in lieu of payments to their families. We stop the taxes. We grant their family and them ownership of their plots. We take people and we make pages out of them. Court page is still a rank, it’s still title as is County page. This gives you more men that are loyal to you and it gives them and us more voices in court.”

“Just pages that’s just not done? What of the breeding?”

“Lord Massen really and truly have you not looked in court and thought that some there might be too tightly bred?”

There’s a lot of chuckles.

Sir Henry speaks up. “Give a man a chance to raise his station and those of all he loves for all their lives and you’ll have their love and respect forever.”

I look to all there. “We are the Riverlands, we’re old blood, we’re also seen as wine and vineyards and fancies onto of fancies to the rest of the Allied Kingdoms. We’re not, we are not just some merchant aristos, and beyond that here we are Coastlanders, this island is our gathering point but we are all up and down this coastline. It’s time we remind The Realms that we exist and why.”

There is a lot of nods and even clapping at that and I turn to the other slate boards. “Now let us see what we can do to fill in what we know of ourselves and our resources we have to bear and what we all know of Roan.”

We start again talking of the few coastal towns with decent means for smaller ships and more over the villages with them as well and then of things that we can trade with the Roanish as my plan is unfolding with all of us helping.

I was not expecting pigs and fat and all things porcine to be something we can trade for but the emptying of vats and tuns and the waste from vinting and brewing all goes here at least as pig feed. They do not have as many pigs as we do and such things would be good additions to their diets and stores.

And they from things I’ve learned have this whole other form of grain called goose rice that is nothing like what we get from the southern nations and the Silk islanders. That is another thing that we can trade for them with, another thing to feed the people when we get short.

We’re there for hours and hours getting things done, ideas formed until tenth bell of the night before we finished it was the eleventh before I had everyone away.

Lord Massen I stopped before he left and asked him to ply his archery love into teaching it here from time to time and that we will need to teach others that are our subjects. That we will need bows and that is something we can trade for from the Roanish that use small recurved horse bows.

I think I won him over with the honor that he will get as an instructor.

It was a very good night.

After that things do start to move swiftly in us getting things done.

Five days after the first messenger eagle there is another.

With information from Grace on what she is doing and the events there and the fact that the daft girl is involved in lancer things like jousting and sword challenges.

I’m surprised at her winning though.

I’m double so surprised that she understands voting and challenges and the working of the high courts because the gods and light only knows she didn’t at home.

She writes different than she ever has as well not just a better hand but there is a whole shift in tone with the things that she writes to me.

Like she’s grown up as well.

Is it sad that I’m the youngest daughter and I’m worried for my sister having to have grown up too fast?

Someone called Maia is coming here and that she knows Danielle from her days there when she was training as a squire and when she found herself. She will be accompanying the five of battleknights as well as the lancer company that are headed this way.

I write back to her and send more funds now that she too has vassals and people that depend on her.

I write to Lord Dale Winterbrook and welcome him to our family as vassal and that Sir Shane was a good man in how he saved my sister but beyond that he was an honorable scamp that had a quick wit with him and that he treated me with kindness for the short time that I knew him.

I include several copied versus and prayers for him as well as a small pouch of silver pennies and five gold small coins for his steading as way of welcome.

Then letters for each of his knights with the same mention and five small silver pennies for their hearths and homes as well.

I write The High King and I give report, I write to him of the things that I believe and that his ear and his trust and our correspondence is vastly appreciated.

I do ask him if he has any orders for me as Marshall.

The rest is to Laird Hollen and some to Lady Hollen as introductions to her but with him the outlay of my plans.

Then I send them off and three days later I receive the replies with Two Elven Messenger Eagles. They must have been waiting with replies in hand to send these here so fast.

It’s exciting and Dunwater must be having kittens.

Gracia is going to strike at the underbelly of our enemies within the King’s City.

She sent pictures flash chem styled ones of her in her armor and with her men all of them are precious to me and I need them framed.

Laird Hollen has agreed to trade and has written his wife and there is a map to his steading and the nearest river to his home and several kinsmen that he mentions as well.

Salt is an issue, they have no reliable coastline for brewing down sea salts and the rivers are too brackish. They get their by mined salt but no one in their realms produces salt.

There are list of other things that they need but other things they make like string grass rope and twine and rush mats which Grace has accurately told him would warm ocean chilled floors in these parts.

I write back saying that none of this will be a problem and that I can sell him salt well below what is being charged overland as what might become scarce soon because of the war.

King Boen has formally thanked me as well as asked for continued reports. He shares with me that he has heard that our neighbor realms back hold of Caldwell Keep and Owlsbridge have fallen to The Gorgon.

Count Caldwell was an old man and a widower but he held a decent amount of sway in his lands and held a large fiefdom with a lot of farms and grain and graze.

Owlsbridge was a busy realm and township though small had advantages to it with an Illuminators guild and other things. It would have been a battle for sure as the Lord of Owlsbridge was not just a learned man but he employed mercenaries as well, he also has a very impressive force with eight battleknights.

For them to have fallen is ill news.

They were also very progressives so they weren’t inclined to hedge witches and wives or any of that.

High King Boen warns me that there are reports of monsters out there on the land and that beasts such as Goblins and Wargs ride the middle kingdoms though nothing leads back to Auron Kingsland.

The second eagle was just as surprising with scrolls of instructions from High King Boen and parts.

Parts for our radio machine.

It’s two days, two days before we get power running through it.

And then it’s tuning it?

Seeking for something?

It’s mostly this hiss called static.

A few times a tone like a whine.

Once we heard voices a bit muffled and in a language we have never heard. We spoke back and they despite the language barrier were excited too.

They said Makeen over and over.

I’ve looked for it on maps to no avail.

Then after five minutes perhaps we lost the signal or they lost us.

We haven’t gotten them back.

It was still very thrilling.

Danielle thinks Maia might know or the elves in general as they are much longer lived and much better travelled.

Between that we are getting things ready, our ports in place with Vanner’s captains two of which I had to pardon of outstanding writs and sign them to service.

Pike’s folks were met and we have shipments of pigs, hogs, casks of lard and salted porc gathering to our shipping zones and frankly to our own supplies here along with grape molasses and raisins, prunes, dried fruit that isn’t fine nor fancy enough for Riverland markets.

But the radio I must admit has captured me.

Old tomes I have speak of some of the radio lore and that these could be on boats that they could have portable power sources and be moved?

Oh how that would change the world!

I even ventured into Rosetta under guard for these books and buying other things as I did. Materials for my school, my commoner school.

I check prices while over there of the markets and seeing how they trended.

We went in a large group, in our finery and my men in their armors even some of the others.

I took my Stewards and my Head cook over to shop as we need.

As much as I love my radio I still keep to my other tasks and needs so I try it in the mornings as I train in Whitespire or rather underneath it.

I try it in the evenings checking in with my knights there who have kept trying all day.

It was night time when it happened, there was a whine and the sound went clear and crisp. The electric light even glowed a little brighter too.

I wasn’t expecting this girl’s voice over the machine.

“Lizzy, Lizzy...Elizabetha Lyonnes this is Christiana Blackhand of Lyonnes please, please hear this, please, raise to arms, raise to arms you’re under attack!”

The radio pops and burns with a power surge and we all jump back and then, then the lights blow out.

I can hear something, I can hear something beneath us.

Scratching and squeal like sounds unlike anything I’ve ever heard...