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Manabound - Resilience - Chapter 29
🕑 Added 2023-12-12 11:15:56 +0000 UTC29
Conversations over a Meal
Gwyn set her tray of food down and sat down next to Lore for lunch, who was already deep in the throes of conversation with her best friend Salla. Daria looked over and waggled her eyebrows as she gestured to the two girls chatting away. Gwyn had to hide her giggling behind her hand.
She looked around, but frowned. Roslyn wouldn’t be joining them for lunch today as she had to meet with one of the professors about an assignment. Sansa should be here any—she spotted the sun elf coming from the food line and waved.
The third year student smiled and returned the gesture as she made her way over to Gwyn.
The end of the school year was nearing, and Gwyn’s birthday was close while the anniversary of the Flash had just passed. Sansa’s family would soon be moving to Strathmore where they would be working with the House through the Fenrens as they got back on their feet.
“Good morning, everyone!” the cheerful sun elf greeted them.
Gwyn smiled as Sansa sat next to her. “Hey! How are you?”
Daria and Sansa exchanged polite words as Sansa set her tray down and settled into the seat next to Gwyn. She glanced over at Lore and Salla, who were engaged in an animated discussion, their laughter and gestures adding to the vibrancy of the lunchroom. Sansa's smile broadened at the sight, clearly amused at the two’s obliviousness of everything around them.
Gwyn leaned closer. “They only have eyes for each other now.”
Daria nodded. “She’s really broken Lore out of her shell.”
“It’s great,” Gwyn agreed. “She really needed it.”
They turned their attention back to their meals. Gwyn was absentmindedly munching on a curious green bean-like vegetable when her thoughts wandered to Roslyn and the upcoming end of the school year. Maybe we can go visit Neira? I’d love for Roz to meet her.
Breaking the momentary silence, Sansa turned to Gwyn. “So, Are you ready for the end of year exams?” she inquired.
“I am! We’ve all been studying a lot. Mister Branigan has been a huge help on the weekends too.”
Sansa smiled. “I quite like Mister Branigan and Miss Rolfe.”
“Me too. They’ve been really busy. Mister Branigan is writing a book!” She smiled and grabbed another bite before continuing, “How about you? How are your classes?”
Sansa paused, her fork halfway to her mouth, as she pondered the question. “They're going well, actually,” she replied, her voice carrying a note of satisfaction. “It's been challenging since the… change, and it took some time, but I feel like I'm really getting back in the hang of things now.”
“That's great to hear,” Gwyn responded with a supportive smile, feeling a sense of pride in Sansa's achievements. “You’re ranked really high, and I know your family is super proud of you.”
Sansa smiled. “They are.”
The conversation around the table ebbed and flowed, a mosaic of discussions about classes, upcoming events, and plans for the summer. Sansa shared more about her family's impending move to Strathmore, expressing both excitement and a hint of nervousness about the new life awaiting them. The talk about Strathmore led to conversations about other things regarding how things were. Gwyn glanced over at Amari and wondered if she would be happy to head back to the duchy as well. Even if it wasn’t her paladin’s home, according to the woman, she’d spent a solid ten years in Empyrea City—the small seat of the Church that was connected to Strathmore. That was almost as long as Gwyn had been alive, so it clearly meant something to her.
As she thought about the duchy, Gwyn wondered how Theran was doing with Siveril. She really hoped he was keeping up his training and gaining steps. And then there was Keston, who was in Maireharbora with Onas’s daughter. I wonder if they’re in a relationship. They’ve spent a ton of time together.
Sabina was working with the monk-assassin Lucian to find the mind-mages who were after them and would soon be heading back out. Gwyn really had a bunch of knights now, and they were all over the place, doing all sorts of things to help the House and her. She could call on even more knights if needed. Even Ilyana had a couple back at her home, and so did Lore and Nora’s families.
Not too long ago, Taenya had brought up the idea of forming a knight order under the House. Gwyn wasn’t entirely sure of how they would be able to, but it would consist of all of the various knights and even the paladins within Gwyn’s faction. She would effectively be forcing all of the smaller Houses under her to be giving her their knights, after which those men and women would then be assigned to the Reinhart bannermen. This would put all of the knights firmly under Gwyn’s authority, but would also ensure they all had similar training and could help each other if needed. Each noble under Gwyn would still be able to have a personal knight, which Taenya believed would either be their current knight-captains or someone more like Ser Janine that Roslyn had—or like the role Sansa would fill in a year.
The number of knights just kept growing, but so did her House and all of their needs. Gwyn knew that, even if she was hiding it well, Sansa was nervous about the knowledge that when she became an adult, she would be knighted. After discussing it with Taenya and Roz, it was needed. Sansa would become her true personal knight. Definitely with more of an administrative purpose, but she’d been learning swordwork from Rhion whenever she wasn’t with Gwyn.
The drak’valan had become very popular within the House, and at this point, the only people who he couldn’t beat in a swordfight were still Taenya and Amari. Sabina and Gwyn could beat him if they used their magic, but Gwyn could beat even Amari if she used her magic, so that wasn’t really fair.
He was excited about the vineyards that they’d purchased near Drakensburg since it was close enough to the Aerinval Forest that, with a bit of sneakiness, they could work with his people. From the sneaky messaging he and her knights had done with his father, the clans were fully on board with the relationship.
Gwyn remembered going to all of the vineyards with her mom in Italy, and she was excited to go and see all of the grapes and wine making. She’d need to get a bottle ready for when her mom arrived.
Mom loves wine.
Gwyn's thoughts were suddenly interrupted as she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Startled, she glanced up to find Roslyn standing beside her, a linen knapsack in hand.
Recovering quickly with a playful smile, Gwyn reached out to hug her best friend. “How was your meeting?”
“Fine, finished everything I needed to accomplish for the class. Everything is good.”
“Are you going to eat?”
Roslyn nodded, holding up the knapsack. “I grabbed something for the road.” Her gaze shifted to Sansa. “How long has our dear Gwyn been lost in her own world?”
Sansa, with a mischievous glint in her eye, responded, “Oh, a good ten or… twenty minutes. She's been quite the daydreamer today. Luckily Daria is here to keep me company.”
Across the table, the dark grey raithe girl giggled.
“She was certainly ignoring all of our attempts to speak to her.” She glanced at the other two girls at the table and rolled her eyes. “But it’s alright, we’re used to it from this group.”
Gwyn sighed. “Sorry, Dar,” she apologized to her former roommate. Gwyn shot Sansa a mock glare, then turned back to Roz, her expression softening. “Just a lot on my mind, you know? The usual whirlwind. But we should get going. Class awaits.”
Roslyn's purple eyes held a hint of concern. “I swung by the room on the way here. Cali has made a fortress out of your blankets.”
Gwyn chuckled, the image of her dragon sister's antics bringing a brief moment of levity. “That sounds about right for little Nyx. She’s basically claimed my bed as her own.”
“She takes up the whole thing…”
“Yeah, yeah. She’s a growing girl like us.”
“Well, it’s about that time.” Sansa stood, gathering her things. “I'll see you tomorrow, Gwyn. I have some things to do during this lunch period and will meet you at the gate. Are we staying at the townhouse or heading straight to the estate this weekend?”
“We're off to the estate,” Gwyn replied, her mind already juggling the logistics. “The townhouse is getting a bit cramped. Plus, Taenya's getting it set up for Aleanora to use.”
Roslyn tilted her head curiously. “Aleanora's staying in the capital?”
Gwyn nodded. “Yeah, now that she’s sixteen and considered as an adult, she’s agreed to be my representative in the House of Lords here in the capital. It's a big step for her. But we should really go.”
As Sansa departed with a wave, Gwyn, Daria, and Roslyn prepared to leave as well. They turned to bid farewell to Salla and Lore, who, engrossed in their own world, had only just noticed the others preparing to leave. With a dramatic flourish, they offered their farewells which elicited an amused eye-roll from Gwyn.
“Alright, let's get going,” Gwyn said, standing up and stretching her arms. She slung her satchel over her shoulder, feeling the familiar weight of her day's necessities.
Roslyn chattered away as they exited the dining area. “So, Gwyn, planning any more surprise training sessions? I'm still sore from the last one!” Her tone was teasing, but there was a glimmer of something in her eyes. She probably wanted to practice more magic; she’d been doing it a lot lately.
Gwyn shrugged. “No plans for this weekend, although I think Ilyana wanted to do some sparring. Daria, you should come with us some time.”
The raithe girl nodded. “I wouldn’t mind coming to see you two practice magic. I think it’s fascinating.”
As they made their way through the bustling corridors, filled with the sounds of students moving to their next classes, Amari and Khalan fell in step behind them. The two paladins kept a watchful eye on the group, their presence a silent but reassuring guard against any unforeseen troubles.
The group's conversation flowed easily, a mix of light-hearted banter and discussions about their upcoming weekend plans. Despite the weight of responsibilities that rested on Gwyn's shoulders, these moments with her friends provided a much-needed respite, a reminder of the simpler joys in life.
As they neared their next class, Gwyn felt a sense of contentment. With one last shared laugh, they entered the classroom, the door closing behind them as they stepped back into the world of academia, leaving the worries of politics and duties momentarily behind.
✦ ✦ ✦
Sabina sat in the dining room with Taenya and Friedrich as the three of them ate a small dinner together. She was so happy to be back with good food rather than all of the inn food she’d had to settle for while gone. She’d been leaving a lot as of late, but after the incident with the woman from the attack, she’d found no further leads. It was… frustrating to say the least.
Still, she had to try. Sabina just knew it had something to do with House Racine, but getting any information about them had proven… elusive. All she’d learned is that their reach was far and they had their tentacles spread throughout the kingdom.
“Bina?” Taenya called out. “You alright?”
Sabina looked up and smiled at her friend. “I’m quite well. Just enjoying the meal.”
Taenya and Friedrich shared a look. The human sighed. “You can confide in us, Sabina. We’re your friends.”
‘He’s right, you know. Talk to us, Bina. Of all of us, you’ve been the one under the most pressure. Let us help,’ Taenya sent.
“I know… Ugh, fine. I…” Sabina shook her head and gently set her fork down. “You’re right. I’m troubled by these people coming for Gwyn. I know it has something to do with House Racine, but I cannot prove it. Nothing at all, no matter what we do. They are very adept at covering their tracks. They have mind mages, and they have done something to Amanda Levings.”
Taenya frowned. “Have you found anything else out about her?”
Sabina nodded. “She’s been sent out on… errands. There’s no evidence, but every time she goes somewhere, a death is later found. I believe she’s been sent out to eliminate specific targets, but the only connection that I have been able to figure out is that the people have come into contact with terrans.”
“That is concerning,” Friedrich said. “They know you are looking into them, so we need to figure out another way to figure this out. I know you are quite careful when you are on the hunt, but we are clearly dealing with a well organized faction. This is no longer something you can do alone.”
“But I’m not alone. I have—”
“I do not mean you are the only one doing this, but your Shadow Guard is not large enough, nor does it have the reach or contacts to counter this. We need to involve others.”
“There aren’t many others,” Taenya pointed out. “We should not involve the Tilorals in this matter. They’re already handling the aftermath of other incidents regarding Gwyn’s actions.”
Friedrich shook his head. “I wasn’t referring to House Tiloral. They are wonderful allies to have, but that entire alliance seems to now hinge on the… relationship…” He paused and took a sip of his wine. “The relationship budding between the princess and the young heiress.” The man winced slightly, but then sighed and shook his head. “My apologies, the cultural differences between my home and here still make certain things difficult. It is unseemly of me.”
Taenya waved him off. “Worry not. It is an entirely different world with vastly different views. That you put forth the effort means much.”
He dipped his head in acknowledgment before continuing, “Nevertheless, we are reaching a point of no return. The Crown Prince is making moves within his faction, and with what occurred with House Breland, we are almost completely isolated.”
“We’re lucky the Church stepped in,” Taenya added. “A censure by the crown would not have boded well for us.”
“The Crown Prince certainly tried hard to make it reality,” Friedrich agreed.
Sabina frowned. She had been gone during that incident, but she knew that Amari had killed the House Breland noble for attempting to kill Gwyn. From what she had been briefed on, Amari had later discovered that the poison was slow acting and would have taken time to kill Gwyn, and in the process, made it difficult to cast blame on the Brelands.
Their conversation turned to other topics of strategy, trying to figure out what they could do. Friedrich believed they should involve the Church further, but Taenya was against it. They needed to build a network of informants; a true spy apparatus for the House. They were far behind their enemies in this regard and Sabina was struggling to keep up. She was overworked and felt like she was two moves behind.
As the final plates of their meal were gathered by the servants, the door opened. Sabina turned to see Amari enter, the paladin out of her armor as she strode in with a purpose.
“Amari,” Taenya greeted, her eyes darting to the door behind the sun elf. “Are there issues at the Academy? Is Gwyn alright?”
The paladin nodded. “Gwyn is fine.” She pulled out a chair and sat next to Sabina, giving her a nod as she did before pulling out a letter. “I received a message from the Archpriestess.”
Sabina sucked in a breath. She still didn’t know how much the leader of the Church knew about her, or even how.
It was concerning, but Amari and Gwyn had reassured her that she had nothing to fear.
That didn’t do much to assuage her concerns.
“What was the message about?” Taenya asked as she leaned forward.
“The Church has made contact with Sloane.”
Sabina’s eyes widened and she turned to the woman. This could have… implications. Did they figure out…
Amari took the silence of her audience as an invitation to continue, “She is being escorted by a squad of paladins to Gwyn. When they arrive, that squad is to join the House like Rollo and I have. I will be taking overall command and be promoted.”
Sabina gasped. “That’s good news, Amari. Praetor, correct?”
Amari nodded. “It is… surprising. That will place eight paladins within the House. This is a massive commitment by the Church. I am unsure why the Archpriestess is doing it.”
“I do not know either, but with that number…” Taenya started, she lapsed into thought.
“Taenya?” Sabina prodded.
The blonde telv shook her head and smiled at her. “Thank you,” her hazel eyes turned to Amari. “I believe I have convinced Gwyn of the necessity of creating a new knight order. As a princess, one is almost a necessity to be taken seriously. I believe you and your paladins would make an excellent elite core of this order.”
Amari frowned. “I will consider it.”
“Does the Archpriestess know?” Sabina asked quietly. Everyone turned to her. Amari tilted her head.
“Does she know what?”
“About Sloane Reinhart’s… circumstances?”
Amari’s face twisted into a small ‘o’ of understanding before shaking her head. “No, the message specifically says that the paladins were sent to meet with Queen Sloane.” She leaned onto her elbows. “Do any of you know what we’re going to do about this?”
Taenya shrugged. “I think we’re going to be okay. Gwyn mentioned that Sloane was on the way to the capital of Rosale with some people. That was likely the paladins and whatever companions she found. We have to believe Gwyn’s mother will be able to handle this. It’s clear the woman is quite resourceful.”
“What about this… sister that Gwyn spoke of?” Sabina asked.
Taenya shrugged. “I have no information on that. If Sloane has entered into a relationship and had another child…” She looked over at Amari. “How is Gwyn taking that?”
“Honestly? She’s both nervous and excited about the possibility of having ‘another’ sister. She’s been asking about things she can get for a little sister. She mentioned stuffed animals and dolls. I think she’s going to go overboard. As she does.”
Friedrich snorted and shook his head in amusement. “A dragon as a sister. Only our little princess.”
“Not so little anymore. She’s as tall as you are now,” Amari teased.
“That girl is going to be so tall,” Taenya said with a sigh. “Friedrich, Calista will likely have to move here soon. Are you… ready for that?”
“I’m not ready for what it’s going to take to keep a dragon fed, no. But we will make it work.”
Amari chuckled. “The Academy has already made comments on how large the dragon is getting. She’s almost too big for the dorm room at this point. And… she’s learning magic.”
Everyone’s heads jerked in surprise.
The paladin shrugged. “It may be best for you to work with her, Sabina. I believe she has [Shadowmancy]. I asked the Church if the Ceremony of Paths would work on a dragon and they believe it would. There’re apparently some magical creatures in Lehelia that have undergone it without issue. We have our own orb and Lucien could do it.”
Sabina nodded. “I’ll see what I can do when they come to the estate this weekend.”
“How close are all of you to this second refinement?” Taenya asked suddenly.
“I am at step fifty five,” Sabina said quietly. She’d been pushing hard. All to be strong enough to protect Gwyn. She needed to catch up, to be powerful enough that not having a vast network and organization wouldn’t matter.
Taenya gave her a pretty smile that made her eyes crinkle. It made her friend look adorable. ‘That’s amazing, Bina. I’m proud of the progress you’re making,’ she sent before continuing vocally, “You’re slowly catching up to Gwyn, which is good for all of our egos. As for me, I’m at step fifty. I managed to hit it yesterday when I learned a new spell.”
“Congratulations, Tay,” Sabina blurted out before looking down and blushing. Amari’s Relena damned comments about her and Taenya kept popping up in her head. Frustrating paladins should just mind their own business.
‘I see you,’ Amari thought with a chuckle. ‘When are you going to say something?’
‘Shut up,’ Sabina sent back. ‘It’s not like that.’
Amari rolled her eyes and spoke next, “Rollo is still in the low thirties. Gwyn has the benefit of that [Spell Tome] to see her excerpt whenever she wants. I… want one of those. She loves to rub it in my face. But, as for me…” she smirked and sat a bit straighter. “I’ve almost caught you Taenya. I’ve reached step forty seven.”
The paladin had a friendly rivalry with Taenya, and the two were fairly evenly matched when they sparred. Amari was physically stronger, but Taenya’s magic was quite versatile and the telv woman had become extremely adept at using it.
Don’t even try to fight her when she has one of her magical mana beasts with her.
There was no beating her at that point.
They turned to the German man who shrugged. “I have been quite busy. Alas, I am only at step thirty. But I do have information on others. Aleanora is at twenty eight, Ilyana is at step forty one, Lorrena is at step twenty one, and Sansa is at step twenty nine.”
“Sansa should be gaining more with our training,” Taenya added. “She’s been working with Rhion and myself to prepare for her knighthood. Rhion is at step forty four now. Unlike all of us except Sabina, all he does is train.” Taenya shook her head. “I need to stay ahead of him or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
After that, the conversation took a turn towards a more somber tone as they considered the challenges ahead. Taenya's expression grew serious. “It's vital we all push ourselves. The situation Sabina is attempting to uncover with House Racine and the unknown threats looming over Gwyn demand our utmost readiness. Not to mention the Crown Prince is looking for any opportunity to exploit any weakness we display. We have both the nobility and the royals against us and only the Tilorals and the Church as allies. We need to come up with plans in case things here in the capital take a turn for the worst. Friedrich, that will be up to you.”
“Of course.”
Amari nodded in agreement. “We can't afford to be complacent. The situation is escalating, and we need to be prepared for any eventuality. The increase in paladin presence is a clear sign that the Church is taking this seriously. We must match that commitment.”
Sabina leaned forward, her eyes intense. “I'm going to intensify my efforts. Whatever it takes, I need to be a step ahead. The stakes are too high, and we're playing a dangerous game. I won't let Gwyn, or any of us, be caught off guard. I’ll let you know what I need for assistance, but I’ll focus on gathering more intelligence. Our knowledge gap is our biggest weakness. We need eyes and ears in places we haven’t reached yet.”
Taenya sighed, the weight of responsibility evident in her posture. “We'll need to coordinate our efforts more effectively. Each of us has a role to play in this. Let's ensure we're doing everything we can to protect Gwyn and the House. I have been working with esquire Balfiel in building us a… safe haven near Drakensburg. Rhion’s clan is helping provide material support, as well. Officially, it will be a summer residence for Gwyneth. In reality, it will be a well equipped castle along the lake north of the city. It will also be where we meet with the Aerin.”
Finally, Sabina voiced what all of them had been thinking for some time. “We need to find somewhere that is wholly Gwyn’s. All of ours. Staying here is inviting too much trouble. We need a decade and far more money than we have to get to a point where we can safely counter what’s currently arrayed against us. At this point, we will likely need to leave the kingdom to do so. This castle… it is a stopgap, unless we aim to draw the Valeni into our fight.”
‘We may just have to do that…’ Taenya sent, her mental voice was a whisper, as if she regretted even thinking it. But she had a point; with the Valeni, they may have a chance.
‘How do we do it? How do we convince them to fight when they’ve been isolated for so long?’
‘By convincing them that they can come out into the light. By getting them to sit down with us and the Church. That’s the only hurdle. The kingdom is fighting to the north…’
“What are you two talking about?” Amari asked.
“They’re discussing what it will take to bring Rhion’s people into the fold,” Friedrich replied.
Taenya and Sabina turned to the man and he raised his hands in surrender and chuckled. “You two are just obvious.”
The knight-captain sighed. “Fine, yes. We need to discuss a closer relationship with the Aerin than we have previously considered. Sabina is right. We need land of our own, not just land that our bannermen own. We need somewhere defensible.”
Amari pursed her lips. “I think this is a subject that we should have over drinks and a map. There’s a war to the north, and tension to the south. If we are to take advantage of this situation, we cannot be in the capital and we need an army. If… if what I am thinking happens, then our bannermen will be caught up in another war.”
Taenya’s eyes widened. “What?”
“The Church believes that the Lymtoria Republic is building up for an attack on the kingdom.”
“If they do, then they’ll attack the Duchy of Edimiss,” Taenya said.
Which was the duchy east of the Tiloral Duchy. Edimiss had built many fortresses along the border with the Republic. Their military and the Royal Army were there, ready for war with their belligerent rival to the south. There was no way the Lymtorians were going to push through almost the entirety of that duchy into Tiloral.
“The Church has evidence to suggest that they will be pushing through Meris,” Amari said quietly.
And there it was. The surprise and worry from Taenya was physical and it almost made Sabina recoil from the shock of it.
“What does this mean?” Friedrich asked, glancing at Taenya with concern. “I do not understand the significance of this.”
Sabina couldn’t blame him for not quite understanding; the man had been more focused on the snake pit that is Avira than the geopolitical relations of their neighbors.
While Sabina had a mental conversation with Friedrich to explain what was going on, Amari instead focused on the shocked telv woman. “Taenya, I hope you understand the… balance the Church must play with this. We… no, I mean, the Church is neutral. They are spread throughout the republic just as they are Avira. Empyrea City may be in Avira, but its founding was before the Kingdom of Tilor capitulated. We owe this kingdom no allegiance. Nor do we owe Meris the same. We will seek peace, but we cannot show our hand.”
Taenya’s gaze fell. “I… I understand. I—”
“Send your family a letter, invite them to the manor in Strathmore. Impress upon the importance of such, but do not say why,” Amari interrupted.
‘Do you want to talk about it?’ Sabina sent her friend.
‘I’m scared. Meris cannot stop Lymtoria My family…’ A mental sigh entered Sabina’s mind. ‘If the republic attacks through there, Gwyn’s people—our people—will be the first to be attacked.’
Taenya looked up at Amari. “We need to get some type of word to Siveril. We cannot leave our House in the dark. Not if they are soon to be attacked.”
“While we owe no allegiance to Avira, the Archpriestess is very close friends with Duke Tiloral. I suspect they are already planning for this eventuality.”
Sabina tilted her head as a thought came to her. “So when you said we needed to take advantage of this situation, you had this in mind…”
Taenya sighed. “I think I brought you three in on the theoretical plan Rhion and I came up with.”
The paladin shook her head. “Like I said, we should have this conversation over a drink and a map.”
With that, the group fell into a contemplative silence, each lost in their thoughts about the road ahead. The tension in the room was almost physical, a sobering reminder of the challenges they faced. They knew the path forward would be fraught with uncertainty and peril, but they were resolved to face it together, united in their purpose and determination.
✦ ✦ ✦
Count Siveril Norric stepped into one of the many parlors within the ducal palace, one richly adorned and warmly lit by flickering oil lamps and a hearth. Before the grand fireplace, standing in a semi-circle, were three figures, each holding a wine glass. The glow of the fire cast a comforting light on their faces, enhancing the room's ambiance of subdued elegance.
The tallest of the three, Duke Tiloral, stood at the center and was immediately recognizable. To his side and closest to Siveril was the Marchioness Ashera Tiloral, the duke's daughter and heir, known for her sharp intellect and poise. She was a woman of impressive bearing, her keen eyes reflecting a mind well-versed in the intricacies of statecraft.
That she was here was of note as she rarely left her home of Maireharbora.
She was a terrifying woman.
“Siveril, old friend. How are you?” The Duke greeted him with a genial tone that held a touch of authority despite the familiarity he always showed him.
“I am well, your grace,” Siveril replied, his voice carrying a respectful timbre. He approached the group, his gaze briefly meeting the Marchioness's. “Marchioness,” he greeted her, nodding in acknowledgment of her prominent role within the duchy.
Before he could address the older woman beside the Duke, the Marchioness extended a glass of wine towards him. “Siveril, please, join us,” she said, her voice smooth and welcoming.
He accepted the glass, his fingers brushing lightly against hers in the exchange and he had to keep himself from shivering at how it felt like touching ice. Turning to the older woman, he was momentarily taken aback as he recognized her. He quickly composed himself and bowed slightly. “My apologies, your eminence, I didn't recognize you at first.”
The woman whom he knew was the duke’s age chuckled softly, a sound that carried both wisdom and warmth. “No apologies are necessary, Count Norric. Welcome.” She gestured to the small table behind them. “We were just catching up and having some of this delicious cheese.”
The duke clapped a hand on his shoulder and smiled. “Have some, my daughter brought it with her. A wonderful blend.”
The marchioness rolled her eyes before walking over and slicing a few pieces off of the wheel and placing it onto a plate. “Here, Siveril. Please help yourself.”
“Thank you,” he said as he accepted the offering.
The Duke motioned towards the plush chairs arranged near the fireplace. “Please, sit. We have much to discuss. Recent events within the kingdom have brought us to a critical juncture, and your insights are as valuable as ever.”
As Siveril took his seat, the others joined him and he looked between them expectantly. This was not company where he would simply make assumptions. His reservation must have been noted, because the duke spoke first.
“My friend Vania here has brought us grave news,” Dasron Tiloral said softly with a gesture toward the leader of the Church. “The Lymtoria Republic is massing to attack, and they will do so through Meris.”
Siveril froze. It was clear exactly why he was here, and what that meant. If true, and he was certain it was if the Church that should be neutral was bringing it to their attention, it would mean that the southern border of the duchy would be invaded.
Reinhart land. Or at least her bannermen, but that was the same thing at this point. It would place him and Baron Iemes on the front lines of a war.
He remembered an older conversation with Dasron, one where he’d essentially given him an army and pushed for him to increase it. Siveril had done that, but he’d always thought it was to combat Count Angwin.
How long has he suspected?
“You knew,” Siveril said quietly.
Duke Tiloral frowned. “I wasn’t sure. I did suspect. The Crown Prince has overreached. The Sovereign Cities have found out about his attack into their lands. Their cease fire with the empire has held, and now Avira finds itself being attacked by two nations in the north, a third coming from the west, and soon one from the south.”
Siveril drank deeply from his wine glass. “Fuck.” He winced and turned to the Archpriestess, but before he could say anything, she laughed.
“Indeed,” the woman agreed. “While those of the Church should be safe from attacks, I have lived in the duchy my entire life. Dasron here is one of my oldest friends. So, we bring you here to discuss this since it will affect your young princess’s people. And she is very protective of her people.”
The old count closed his eyes.
Gwyneth.
She would not take this well. He would need to get word to Taenya, they would…
“Siveril, I will soon be recalling my granddaughter from the capital. I do not dare to dictate to your princess, but I would suggest you urge her to do the same.”
“Won’t the capital be safe?” Siveril asked.
Siveril and his daughter shared a look, then the marchioness took over. “It will. However, your princess and my daughter have caused some issues for the duchy. It seems we are now truly alienated.” She shrugged. “But that is not important, we can discuss that later. Now, the royal fleet is worthless. I do not foresee it lasting more than one or two engagements with the Lymtorians. There is a reason I have spent all of my time and effort in Maireharbora. My fleet will protect our coast and my city will not fall.”
The duke nodded and gestured to Siveril. “That leaves your lands. I will be repositioning forces soon, but I cannot do so immediately. We will be relying on the Royal Army and yourself. You must keep your army mobile. Do not dig in until we know exactly where they will attack. There is a chance that they are simply bypassing the Edimiss Line and will turn east after entering the kingdom. They will have almost no resistance if they move east of the Loduhr Mountains. They could push the capital directly.”
Siveril regarded the wine in his hand for a long while. “That would put them at a severe disadvantage. They would have the armies of Edimiss at their rear. They would have to reach the capital and capture it only to hold it against near immediate counterattack. There’s no chance they’d have the supplies for such an action as it would slow them down far too much.”
“We agree,” the heiress said. “We believe they will be moving through here. They will likely send forces to hold the duchy in place. If they can capture Tiloral, then they cut off the kingdom’s access to the sea.”
“My informants believe that they are going to be sending enough forces to occupy Meris completely,” the Archpriestess started. “They will then separate their forces and push both north into Tiloral and east to cut off Edimiss from receiving any reinforcements. They aim to take complete advantage of Avira’s divided attention. As soon as they enter Meris, I will be sending representatives to sue for peace.”
Siveril sighed and finished the rest of his wine. “Very well. It seems we have a lot of work to do. I will send word to the princess. But first… I believe it’s time I inform you of a new alliance my princess has made.”
“An alliance?” Dasron echoed.
The duke’s daughter narrowed her eyes. “Both the noble and royalist factions are opposed to her. Who would break away to partner with the princess other than us?”
“Ashera, please. Roslyn has made her choice, and I begrudgingly accept it as you should.”
“She gave us no warning, and we had to find out when the Brelands turned on us. When everyone turned on us,” The marchioness snapped. “All for the girl.”
The Leader of the Church of Celestials chuckled. “Ah, young love. It makes us do many things we wouldn’t normally.”
Ashera scowled at the Archpriestess, seemingly undeterred by their difference in station. “With respect, your eminence, she is my daughter. I will not—”
But the duke silenced her quickly. “Ashera.” Roslyn’s mother frowned but went silent.
Dasron turned to Siveril. “Who has your liege allied with?”
Siveril sighed. “The Valeni of Aerinval, or as they call themselves now that they have changed, the drak’val.”
“Ah, so it’s happened then,” the Archpriestess said quietly. Everyone’s gaze snapped to her and she chuckled. “Well, I thought we had some time before they would be roused by the young princess. But yes, we can work with this. I will send a message to Gwyneth’s paladins. They will help negotiate.”
Siveril winced. “There’s something else.”
“Of course there is,” Dasron bemoaned. “Tell us.”
“They’re helping us build a castle near Drakensburg. Further, we… haven’t told the princess yet, but Ser Taenya has developed a plan in coordination with Clan Wren of the Aerin to potentially capture the city if required.”
“What..?” Ashera expressed in disbelief.
“The Crown Prince has been pushing against us, and the princess has been increasingly more difficult to redirect onto a path that isn’t… destructive. We are also currently engaging in a shadow war with a large organization of mind mages who are after the princess.”
The Archpriestess frowned. “They did not inform me of this.”
Siveril quickly sought to reassure her. “Your eminence, I—”
The woman held up a hand. “I am not upset. Those that I have assigned to your House are to be considered every bit a part of it. I do not doubt their righteousness, and I am gladdened that their loyalty has been given to Gwyneth as it will help her in the time to come. There are six more paladins on the way with the young princess’s mother.”
“Gwyneth’s mother is confirmed to be enroute?” the marchioness asked.
The Archpriestess smiled. “She is. And every queen needs a land or she is no queen.” She turned to Siveril. “Inform the knight-captain to hold off on her plans, but have a copy sent to me. I would like to ensure there is no… unnecessary bloodshed. It can be done if done properly. However, we must first focus on ensuring the duchy survives.”
Siveril nodded slowly. “U-Understood.”
Duke Dasron Tiloral sighed. “Even if we send word now, the children will finish out this year at the Academy. For now, let us discuss strategy and how we will fight this war.”
The marchioness stood up and grabbed some more cheese and wine, and Siveril knew she had the right idea. He would need more before this was over.
Comments
J
Fun to see the breadth of the gap in scheming between the people in Gwyn's retinue only thinking of their next immediate plans while the Duke and Archpriestess have been thinking several moves ahead. Their other ally, the drak'val, and toughest foes are no doubt also in the highest leagues of scheming. That lakeside castle for example would give the drak'val many advantages if House Reinhart survives and flourishes while they aren't even necessarily committed to helping House Reinhart achieve those victories (which is likely why the advance schemers think that the castle should be put on hold).
Marshall
Gwyn thinking her sister is a toddler is pretty funny.
Marmot
More to miss out on = sad Sloane.
Marshall
I think Sloane is all the way on the western part of the continent, or almost a fifth of the way towards the far southeast corner where Gwyn is. 600-700 miles away I think. Maybe a little more. It’s hard to say with her slow speed but maybe 3-6 months after Gwyn turns 14.
Marmot
Sounds like Siveril could use the help of an arcane battlemage. I'm not sure how the timing will work out, but wouldn't that be nice?
Oxylus
Thanks!! I'm excited. It'll be up for paperback and audiobook as well.
Marshall
Congratulations!
Oxylus
Going up on Kindle Unlimited next month. Had to take it down because of that.
Marshall
Where’s Book 1? Not on Royal Road either.
Brandon Steele
Found It!!!
Oxylus
There's one on the discord
Brandon Steele
I feel bad bringing it up multiple times... but it is really hard to follow these conversations without a map. Doesn't even have to be detailed. Just general areas where the major kingdoms are. Is there a fan made one?
Splitmen
TFTC!
