Border wars book nine of.., p.16
Border Wars: Book Nine of Crystals of Memory, page 16
Without being asked, everyone moved to the side of the hallway, along both sides of the doorway, with only Depak Sona and Salina moving toward the heir. Well, Anders was already there, feeling more than a bit out of place. Before anyone could ask what the plan was, an older fellow dashed into the hallway, his great beard a mix of black and gray, the hair on his head pulled back into a long single braid. He was dressed nicely enough, in loose light blue, nearly gray clothing. On his feet were wooden sandals, which alerted everyone of his passing.
“Ah! Everyone is prepared? Does anyone need anything before we present for the meal? I can call for servants or...” The man shook his head then. “Only, no, I can see that you’re all in fine state! The meal is sitting outside, so that... Lady Juniper may join us?” The words seemed to baffle the poor fellow.
Anders understood that on a deep level. Still, Salina smiled, and nodded.
“That’s a most excellent idea. I’m not certain which way we need to go for that, however?”
The older man smiled at the pretty woman and nodded several times.
“This way, if it pleases you? On the East lawn...”
They traveled down the length of the fine hallway, the tiles clean and well-polished, if a bit older. There was some slight yellowing to show its age, but that could have been the natural coloration of the tiles, in places. Many of them were lovely blue and green colors, and they made rough images of people and animals, as well as some plants. If the pictures told of a story at all, it was one that neither Anders nor Farad could recognize as of yet.
Not certain what his place was there that night, Anders moved to the front, placing himself before even Prince Naveed, in case an attack came. He wasn’t picking up anything of the sort being in the offing, but that could mean that whoever was plotting such a thing was merely very good. He searched the world, using wizard skills, as well as eyes and ears, ready to use magic to defend them all, if it came to fighting. No one else seemed that uneasy, however.
Probably meaning that he was being too careful and that everyone else there simply understood the situation better than he did. Which, was likely a simple truth. Anders was viewing Lord Haist as a potential threat. The kind of man who had sent a spy to sabotage part of their mission. A possible slap being made at one of Barquea’s top Princes, or perhaps a military leader.
To the others there, many of them, he seemed to be nearly a beloved uncle or at least a friendly force not to be feared.
Still, when they were led to the site of the feast, Juniper already standing next to a long table, on the far end, a bucket of sweet grains mixed with fruit in front of her, untouched, since she was clearly waiting for the rest of them before eating, there was no army of fighters waiting for them. Simply Lord Haist, his wives, daughter and what seemed to be a line of servants, some ten people strong. Most of them being ladies. They stood behind the low table. There were pillows arrayed for them to sit on, in multiple colors.
It was a very long affair, meant to seat all of them, from the number of seats along it. Truly, it seemed as if it might have a few pillows left over, instead of there being a fear of not having enough seating to include everyone there. A few other people walked up, including Prince Dacian, who was signaled to sit near Josa Eta at the middle of the table. Prince Naveed was to the other side of the man, with Salina and Depak being settled on the far side of him.
Of interest, Anders was placed not too far away, next to Princess Lissa, who had Prince Roald and Princess Sabine on the far side of her. Directly across from him was the first wife of Josa, who smiled at him, as if that position wasn’t unpleasant to her at all. She spoke, her voice warm seeming. Friendly.
“The arrangements are a bit off, since so many of the royal family are in attendance. Also, no one knows where to sit or how to handle Princess Salina... She’s the first apprentice to the Great One, and also a princess of high rank. Is, do you think that we at least got this close to correct, Prince Anders?” She darted a glance at Princess Lissa, as well, but then locked eyes with Anders.
Who smiled.
“Truly?” He could have said anything, but slowly nodded. “Yes. She’s a valued advisor to Prince Naveed, after all. Also a person of this land.” He winked at the woman, who smiled at him, charmingly enough at the move. “Technically Princess Lissa should be near them as well, since it’s her duty to protect Salina with her life, if it becomes needed, until she can finish her training, but this is close enough, most likely.”
That wasn’t Lissa’s task in life at all, being more of the spare Great One in case the others died in battle or by treachery, but Prince Roald sold the lie with a solid nod.
“That part is very scary. Father gave me orders to protect them both, even if I must die to do so. Princess Sabine, as well...”
That sounded rather real, to Anders, even if the small boy was only eight years old. Then, at that moment, many grown men might find it a challenge to easily take the small Princes’ life in one on one combat. Not that Roald was good at such matters yet. It was, apparently a matter they needed to work on, very soon.
Still, he nodded, somberly.
“Which is the part of such people as ourselves, Prince Roald. Hopefully it won’t come to that, of course. If it does, we must not fail in our duty.”
The words were a bit dark in feeling and heard down the table, with Depak Sona grinning a bit maniacally. Seeming truly pleased to hear the words of the younger prince.
His voice called out with decent loudness, so that all might hear him.
“Indeed! Anders, do you have a small show for us, when the meal is completed?”
The words were strange. Leading again, with the man focused on the idea that it would be for the best. That they needed to forestall the entertainments that Lord Haist had for them, for some reason.
Then, oddly, there was something planned.
“We do have something arranged! Mage Walden and Mage Niven have been working with me on a spectacle. One that’s rather grand in scope. This would be a wonderful time to test that out, if it won’t upset anyone?” He glanced down the table, to see that both boys were suddenly smiling, instead of seeming upset at the sudden alteration of their evening plans.
The work was shared and complicated, but truly no harder to pull off than most plays or songs shared by a group would be. They each knew their parts, what to do and so forth.
Depak clapped.
“Wonderful! Now...” He turned to their host, who smiled and clapped as well, gently.
That had the table loaded with food, and warm towels in covered bowls being placed behind each of them. It took several minutes to do, with no one eating, or even touching their towels until the last servant stepped back.
“Blessed are those that serve.”
Everyone with them said that in unison, since they’d been practicing it at almost every evening meal for the entire trip. The family there were a bit late in muttering the words, but not so much as to seem rude or forgetful. Simply as if they weren’t certain that the new people would understand the customs there and didn’t wish to give offense, if the people from the north had a different saying or way of doing things. They did, but they were in Barquea, so used their ways, as was proper.
It was, in fact, cute when they moved to use their hand towels. A boy at the far end of the table, who was clearly a horse groom, aided Juniper in wiping her mouth with the white cloth. Which, odd to her or not, the good girl horse allowed. A matter that was noted by several there at the table.
Then, after the host took the first bite of food, Juniper lowered her head to the food bucket. Eating merrily enough, it seemed. Anders checked on her, using magic, to find she understood the basic reason she was there that night. That Salina, jesting with people had accidentally brought it about. Still, she allowed that the mixed grain and fruit was rather tasty and welcome, so she was willing to play her role.
The food was standard enough seeming. Not as good as what either he or Collin had been making each night, but it was of good variety and flavor. As far as he could tell, nothing on the table was poisoned, drugged or half rotten. Everyone ate it easily enough, nothing seeming too strange to them at all. There was talking about various happenings over the food. The border skirmishes with the Natech, the expected weather and how to best get horses for the rest of the journey.
Lord Haist simply shrugged at the idea.
“You may take anything you need or desire from the stables here, of course.”
Prince Naveed smiled at the offer.
“That’s very kind! Still, we have the funds to simply purchase some from the town here, as well. We should probably do that, in case we need to borrow from you on the return trip? That isn’t the plan of course, but losing most of our animals wasn’t in the first place.”
Josa Eta smiled then. The look strained. Anders rather ruthlessly read his mind, noting that Gull was doing the same. The man wasn’t certain if Prince Naveed was being polite to him, not stripping his stables bare, or if the man was indicating that he felt the animals being offered weren’t good enough.
Anders spoke then, lying, so that their host wouldn’t be too troubled.
“I lost a small wager with Prince Naveed, the other day, the cost of which is the replacement of mounts and wagon beasts for everyone. We can see to that in the morning?”
Naveed nodded, smiling, seeming to mean it.
“That would be a good plan, Prince Anders.”
Lord Haist looked interested, suddenly.
“A wager? On what? You’ve been traveling, so gambling games or...”
Depak laughed.
“Ah, with these two? Nothing that pedestrian at all, I can assure you! Anders tasked Prince Naveed with learning fifty new spell parts while walking on foot, a daunting feat that most would never even attempt. Prince Naveed did it however! I have to admit, it was most impressive to behold. Then another wager was made, a chest of gold and gems to any who can learn sixty such spell parts in an hour. That’s for anyone in the world, not just those here. We should work on that later, Prince Anders?”
He nodded.
“After the illusion play we have planned? I think that this will be the night that I lose a good seven chests of coins! Maybe even more than that. Princess Lissa is guiding us tonight?”
Lissa nodded.
“I’ve been practicing for this. I think that Captain Gull is going to do that tomorrow, so that I can earn my own chest that way?” She grinned, teasing him.
As if she wasn’t going to do exactly that.
“That’s the plan, then! I’ve been reviewing mining as I promised. Making coins and jewelry as well, so the chests will be impressively filled enough. Still, remember, you get those when we return from the journey. It would be too much to carry with us, heading toward the border.”
For some reason the family of Josa seemed to think that the wager was a jest. No one corrected them, either.
Depak ate for some time, then, glancing at Anders, the sky turning dark, gave a nod.
“Now, perhaps, for that entertainment... before the naked dancers come out?”
The words weren’t harsh sounding but did seem to take Josa by surprise.
Anders as well. He understood suddenly why Depak had wanted a spectacle instead of the planned entertainment. They had children with them, after all.
Rather than wait, in case time was pressing, he focused his mind, summoning the five figures that he wanted. They were familiar to him and signaled the start of the production that they’d been working on.
A lute strummed, as the men and women walked from the side of the table, the man in the front winking at Juniper as they passed.
“Gentles! I am Followland Hearth, from the exotic and far away land of Yanse, in the north. This is my wife Ezmerelda Hearth, Greg Holstead, Lewit George and Franz Mestis. If it pleases you, we’d like to perform a small show for you all this night?” Then the band, moving to a spot halfway down the table, started to play, sing and dance.
The songs were all new and had a driving beat that enflamed the blood and passions, if in a style that no land truly used at all. After the first song, with nearly perfect timing, lights started to dance at the edges of the performance area. Then, on the third song, a deep, full orchestra matched the simpler tune of the band, the magical sounds coming from nowhere and everywhere around them. That part was all Walden, with Niven causing a scene that seemed to be a hundred people in the background, dancing in time with the music.
At the sixth song, the world filled with blooming flowers, which felt real when people touched them, the heady scent filling the entire space.
Finally, all of that vanished, leaving only Followland Hearth and his troupe.
“Thank you all for listening to our humble offerings.” Then he and the others all bowed, then, in a flash of light, vanished.
No one spoke or even breathed too loud for a few moments. Then, oddly, Lord Haist rose to his feet, stomping and hooting. Everyone else followed suit, shortly after that.
“Amazing! I...” Several of the people from there, including Josa Eta, started to cry then. Seeming happy enough to be seen doing it. “Simply incredible. I’ve never even heard of such a performance being done before! I...”
Then the man moved, clapping first Anders, then Walden and Niven on the shoulders.
Several others did that as well.
“What do you have for an encore, Anders?”
Depak spoke gently. They did have one prepared, but the older mage probably wanted to skip the showy portions that day.
“Well, right now? We’re going to show that we can all learn sixty new spells in a single hour, I think? Apprentice Great One Lissa, if you will?”
She pulled out several hand written sheets from inside of her robe. Then grinned.
“Move into the hall of magic, in your minds, and go deep... We will begin... now!”
Then, ruthlessly, everyone in their group throwing themselves into the effort, they tried their very best to learn as fast as possible. Several of them did it, too. Everyone else was far closer than they had been before, too.
Meaning it was Anders’ turn to tear up, in happiness.
Chapter eleven
“Kindra!” Anders let his voice sound cheery as he called to the girl, who had sat, with her entire family, and watched the five people win their chest of riches that night. She smiled at him and walked over, even if her family was going inside for the night.
Juniper had gone first, walking herself, un-led by a tether, to the barn for the night.
The young lady, his own age or nearly so, walked with a purpose, but not seeming as if she were going to be in trouble for anything. Then, she wasn’t, so that was more or less correct. Of interest, Lissa also moved over, seeming odd about the whole scene. As if Anders were planning to entertain their host’s daughter that night. Which wasn’t his plan at all.
Still, Princess Lissa was fighting a frown when Kindra got over to them. Anders on the other hand, let himself seem cheerful.
“Can you be around for a meeting tomorrow? Mid-meal for that. Perhaps a small outing, with the men who have been recommended to you for marriage? You got to see some of them tonight. Walden was one of the ones winning a prize, even. Mage Kip and Captain Gull both did very well at the same time. I imagine they’ll be taking that prize tomorrow. If not then, I can’t imagine it will be long. Both of them were in the high fifties, after all.”
Lissa, on learning of the plan, actually smiled hugely.
“That sounds like a great plan, Kindra. We can have Collin Sona make something up for the meal, perhaps, Prince Anders?”
He nodded, even if it wasn’t his place to volunteer the other man’s work like that.
“I can ask after that? If not, I can do it myself, of course.”
Kindra looked odd for a moment, as if he was offering to burn the fowl and bread himself, personally. As if that wouldn’t be a great honor. Food ruined by a prince had to be worth more than an average person doing the same thing.
Lissa chuckled on seeing her cousin’s baffled face.
“Collin Sona is our dedicated cook. Using magic for it. Don’t tell, but Anders is even better at it than Collin Sona and that man is one of the best in the world using magic for that particular task. We should send Sergeant Spent as well?” She looked at Anders then, questioning.
As if the man might be kept out of the running for such a matter.
“Another excellent choice for a husband. We’ll request he attend you as well, if you desire such, Kindra?”
The girl ducked her head a bit, shyly.
“That sounds nice. I was trying to collect information on them earlier, putting listeners in the walls. They got nothing of note at all about any of those men. All they did was practice magic the whole time. They might be too serious for me, given that.” She grimaced, since the words could be taken as being a bit dour.
Lissa grinned at the slightly taller girl.
“Or, and I know this to be a fact, they noticed the spies, and were careful to be most staid and not give anything away, not understanding at first why they were there. You might wish to call them off, now? A meeting in person is the best we can do for you, truly.”
Anders was simply glad that he hadn’t had to ask after that himself.
Kindra cleared her throat.
“Ah... That would do it, then. I would love to meet with them. All of them. I haven’t... We live rather remote lives out here, so my prospects haven’t been that wonderous, as of yet. There was a Captain in our Army who came by some months past. He... Seemed to be a nice man, but his face has been badly injured and...” She shuddered a bit.
Clearly seeming upset about doing so. That fairly rang off of her, magically.
Anders nodded.
“Ah. Captain Daroom?”
She nodded, gently. Her eyes on the ground.
