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Chapter 25 - Through the Glass
🕑 Added 2025-07-02 18:08:41 +0000 UTCStorm Kingdom
Storm’s End
Round Hall
8 BAC
Ei shook her head. “It’s nothing.” She didn’t see the need to inform Argilac of her true nature yet, not when he was still occupied with the Tourney and affairs of the kingdom, especially as there were more projects she intended to actualize.
That, and the middle of a feast wasn’t the best place to reveal something of that magnitude.
Argilac frowned, not used to having anything hidden from him, much less from his own daughter. “Argella, if there is something you have to tell me, say it now.” He wasn’t forceful, not that he could be, but Argilac wouldn’t push his daughter to talk if she didn’t wish to.
“As I said, it’s nothing.”
The Storm King sighed and sat down. “Very well. I am sure you will come forward if it is something important.” He held out his wine goblet to be filled again while Selena masked her confusion behind a mask of indifference.
"In time, certainly.” Ei replied dryly.
—
King’s Solar
Argilac had retreated to his solar to put away some letters he had received, and Selena followed him to speak about the events during the feast.
“I do not mean to cause any friction between you and Argella, but people may begin to think you can’t control her.” Usually it would be unthinkable for a woman to confront her husband like this, but since it was the honor of House Durrandon at stake, Selena would not face any backlash.
Argilac looked at her, but his gaze was faraway. “None can control Argella.” He said, not as a father praising his daughter, even though he was, but as a man who had experienced it firsthand.
“What do you mean?” Mysteries surrounding Argella were known, and many had called that she had been blessed by the gods.
Did Argilac know more?
Argilac bent his head. “I can’t explain it.” He looked at her now, focused on the present. ”It is something you have to see for yourself. But if anyone thinks they can control Argella, I pity them.”
“Very well, husband.” It would eventually come out, and there was no need to force anything.
—
Next Day
Ei was riding against Lord Taryn Selmy in the quarter-finals.
She had seen him briefly at the Battle of Summerfield, watched as he dueled several knights one after the other, and emerged victorious.
He was a good rider.
Horses galloped across the field, lances ready to strike.
Taryn’s lance struck her shield without doing anything, but Ei’s lance shattered, and the force of it sent Lord Selmy off his horse, guaranteeing Ei’s place in the semi-finals.
Taryn Selmy got up from the ground, rolling his shoulder. “You ride well.” He complimented, removing his helmet, and Ei nodded in her disguise, thanking the lord, and pulled the reins to leave the arena on her horse.
—
Royal Booth
Argilac hummed appreciatively. “Look at him, unhorsing Taryn in a single pass. That’s no easy thing to do.”
He had fought with Taryn long enough to know the lord of Harvest Hall was an excellent jouster, and seeing him lose so easily was eye-opening.
This Carn was getting more dangerous by the minute.
Queen Selena turned to her brother, who was seated next to her. “Brother, you are facing him next. What do you think?”
Garrin grinned cockily. “I’ll be sure to give my best, sister.” He just wasn’t sure if it would be enough, not with the man unhorsing everyone in one pass.
Lucan leaned close to Argilac. “A hundred silver coins he gets unhorsed in one pass.” He whispered in the king’s ear, who snickered in return.
Someone needed to knock Garrin Caron down a peg, and who better than a god? Forget a hundred silvers; he would pay a fortune to see it happen.
“Hah, only a fool would take that bet.” Argilac was actually looking forward to it, since his good-brother had been boasting about winning the tourney. Garrin was good, better than most, but he wasn’t good enough to unhorse someone like Taryn in one pass.
The victor was already decided unless Garrin could pull a miracle.
—
Ei had left the royal booth to go and explore more of the festivities, since there still was time for her next bout.
The guards assigned by her father were right behind her, not letting their eyes wander away for a second, lest she disappear like the last time.
“Myrish glass cups!” Her ears caught the shout of a merchant, and Ei walked to his stall to inspect what he was selling.
Glass cups, plates, and figurines were laid on a thick fabric for protection, as glass was produced in very few parts of this world, mainly Myr, and was expensive.
“Princess, you honor me with your presence. Please, my wares are at your disposal.” He held out his hands to gesture to the stall.
She took a cup, inspecting its quality. It was clear enough, with no noticeable imperfections to the eye.
“How much?” Not that she needed it, but Ei preferred simple glass over the gaudy golden cups.
The merchant looked happy at her interest. “Ah, that one is fifty silver coins.”
It was expensive, which gave her an idea.
“I’ll take it.” Ei pulled out her purse and handed over the amount of coins, with the merchant bowing deeply in gratitude.
—
For the semi-finals, she was facing Garrin, the brother of her new stepmother, and a man who had annoyed her greatly.
He was riding a chestnut mare and raised his spear to the adoration of the crowd, his wife’s favor tied to his left arm.
The start was given, and the horses galloped forward, each rider ready to unhorse the other, but the results were predictable to her. Ei’s lance shattered with incredible force, enough that there were no splinters left bigger than a toothpick, and launched Garrin off his horse, sending him flying a couple of feet back.
He would be fine, battered and hurt perhaps, but she didn’t use enough power to seriously harm or maim the man, just enough to bruise his ego.
His squire and several attendants ran to check on him since Garrin did not get up, and they were relieved to find he was alive, just knocked out. Healers rushed to take him away, and Ei turned her horse around and left the arena.
Finals would be conducted tomorrow, which meant she could see to her business for now.
—
Producing glass was easy if you knew how.
To that end, Ei went to find Lords Mertyns, Rogers, Wylde, and Estermont to make a proposal for them.
Their lands had an abundant amount of sand that they didn’t use for anything, and they were petitioning for sources of income, so it would be natural to build glass production facilities.
Convincing them was easy, and they met to discuss how to proceed forward.
She would train the artisans the lords would send over in glass production, and they would build the workshops and gather the necessary raw materials, mainly sand, soda ash, and limestone, which she also had spent time instructing the lords on how to acquire.
The lords involved would also expedite construction efforts in their territories, and loans were extended to House Estermont and House Wylde, to be repaid through increased taxes.
Her father was pleased to hear the news.
“You are saying you know how to make glass? How? Where did you learn it?” Argilac was confused, since none in the Seven Kingdoms knew how to make glass, and the only source of it was from the Free Cities.
“I was experimenting on how to make glass; it wasn’t difficult to figure out.” Ei did actually experiment a bit, since she wasn’t sure about the exact measurements.
Argilac looked baffled and gathered Ei in a bear hug, laughing with joy. “That’s my daughter.” He shouted, proud of his one and only child.
Soon enough, he put her down, and Ei began to show him the plans she had already drafted. The two went over the plans till evening, the tourney all but forgotten.
—
Next Day
Finals of the tourney, and Ei was riding against the illegitimate son of Lord Buckler, Quentyn. He was somewhat favored by his father, at least that’s what Jocelyn said to her, and was a very talented knight, hence the reason he was even able to join the tourney and rise to the finals.
Tall and broad-shouldered, his size overshadowed the guise Ei had chosen. His armor was somewhat older, as a bastard, whether he was a knight or not, would have a hard time finding employment.
From her observations, he was a determined young man, and since there was no enmity between them, she would use the bare minimum strength to give him a fair chance.
She could have given up, but that would be a great insult to any warrior.
The crowd was restless, as the one man that unhorsed all her opponents in one tilt was facing the man who fought tooth and nail to get here.
The Master of Games gave the start, and Ei spurred her horse forward, lance and shield at the ready. Quentyn Storm did the same, his horse charging to meet her halfway through.
Both lances shattered on the shields, and while Ei was not moved from her saddle, Quentyn was rattled with the impact. Discarding the lance, Ei held her hand out, and the attendant she had hired handed her another lance, and the jousters got ready for the second pass.
This time, Ei’s lance found its way to Quentyn’s shoulder and sent the knight tumbling off his horse.
The crowd shook with cheers, and Ei was declared the winner. Quentyn Storm picked himself off the ground, nodded silently to the victor, and took his horse out of the arena.
She was handed a crown of flowers to crown a Queen of Love and Beauty, which made her pause for a second, as she had no idea who to give it to.
It would be rude to feed it to her horse, so Ei rode her horse towards where the Royal Booth was and held it out to Jocelyn, the little girl looking absolutely delighted, and more than a little bit surprised, at having been chosen.
—
Round Hall
The end of the tourney was being celebrated, though the winner was nowhere in sight. Ei was sitting next to her father, who was flushed with wine, and Selena, who thankfully wasn’t indulging in alcohol nearly as much as her husband.
Argilac slowly rose from his seat, and the hall fell silent. “My lords and ladies.” He called out, making sure to have everyone’s attention.
“The last few years have been good for us. Our coffers are fuller than ever, we are safer against all threats, and, not to mention, we sent Reach running with their tails stuck between their legs.” Argilac declared, and the crowd roared in agreement, memory of their victory against Reach putting a smile on their faces.
“To that end, my daughter has worked hard, and dare I say, harder than anyone else.” The Storm King looked at his daughter expectantly, and Ei rose from her seat under the gaze of the nobles, standing next to her father.
Argilac put his hand on her shoulder before continuing. “She is a blessing, not just to my house, but to our beloved kingdom, as it was her ideas that brought prosperity to these lands. And now, I wed again, at her behest, to secure the line of House Durrandon.” He looked at Selena, who rose slowly and with dignity.
“Together, I know we will have many more years of fortune and prosperity. Long live the Storm Kingdom.” Argilac’s voice rose, and he held out his cup to the crowd.
Argilac was answered with bellows of “Long live the Storm King Argilac” and “Long live Queen Selena,” though shouts of “To the Storm Princess” were the loudest in the hall.
—
Celebrations were done, and Ei retreated to her room for the day, having bid goodnight to her father and Selena, as well as Jocelyn.
—
History of the Storm Kingdom
First Secretary of Her Excellency, Lady Jocelyn Penrose.
Recruited at a young age by Her Excellency, Jocelyn Penrose was educated in the art of statecraft and was largely responsible for creating the precursor organization to the Central Intelligence Network.
Charged with carrying out the edicts of Her Excellency, Lady Jocelyn’s role in changing the status of women across the kingdom cannot be underestimated. It was through her actions women began to take on greater roles in the kingdom, rather than just being workers and childbearers.
Her female cadre of Royal Officers, trained by the Regent, who, owing to her centuries of experience in ruling at the side of Her Excellency, were the first graduates who set up a school to educate young women regardless of their status, eventually paving the way for public education.
