The eting hall had Duke Marn, his son, Lord Dunmoore, and many other nobles. Peters group had been invited, and Lilas was also there. Suran was not, of course, but that was to be expected; he had no rank to speak of and was an outsider.
Luke greeted each one politely, and they seed to know him. As he did, he halted. Marn was accompanied by a beautiful blonde woman with hair lying low. She had elegant features and with her was Saul. Both were observing silently and did not hurry to introduce themselves.
Jaina and Grace did not attend and this William found to be odd. They had seed bright and intelligent in their actions and could surely have been of help. But then, there were more important considerations right now.
Rundas De Chevlon was glaring at William in hate. The fact that William now sat in the sa circles as he demonstrated his failure. William looked right back at him, silently daring him to do sothing about it. Still, he prayed he had not made a huge mistake by confronting him as he had.
"Saul," said Luke. "It's been a while."
"So it has, Luke," said Saul. "You walk in the new company."
"Oh, William and I fell in together on the way in," said Luke. "William, this is Saul, Duke Marn. And the Duke's wife, Jessera."
"It is a pleasure to et you," said Jessera.
"Mother, why was I called here?" asked Luke.
"Your socializing can wait, Luke. This eting is of great import and concerns you," said Atravain. "As for why you were left in the hall, I was hoping you would work up the will to co in before I called you. Bringing Sir Gabriel was also a good move. Well done."
Luke nodded and looked to William, and the gaze was followed by those two. Saul was just observing everything. "...I've read your book. I see you have a scar, after all."
"It hurts sotis," said William. "But you usually pick up a few scars fighting. Haldrenians regard it as a mark of pride."
Silence.
William noted no one, even Lord Dunmoore, had very many scars visible. He wondered if they had their wounds healed more effectively. So of the n here seed, for lack of a better word, weak. Their clothes were fine, and they were trying to look important. But they lacked Dunmoore's grip.
"I gather Antion has better healing," said William.
"Scars are considered unseemly," said Dunmoore. "So most Antion nobility don't have them. It has to do with how we think and heal."
"Perhaps we should move on to the subject of the eting at hand," said Atravain.
"As you wish," said Letan. "Lord Dunmoore, perhaps you should begin things."
"The bandit problem we've been dealing with has grown worse," said Dunmoore. "Many of the escaped slaves have ford into communities. Communities that thrive on criminal organizations. The satyrs seem to be flocking to the Castle of Blackfear. Though it was once called Radiant Guard and was the ho of Sir Orson the Shining of old. It lies on the borders with the Border hills.
"Neral Dinis, the land to the west of those marshes, and they are well hidden with all the marshes and forests. Often they send new raiding parties to take slaves and kidnap our people. We've had several skirmishes with them." No emotional reaction from Saul, none. Luke looked concerned.
"What of Brisgald? Could they not provide support?" asked Luke.
"Brisgald has been occupied with the war up north," said Marn. "Lord Arthur Gabriel seems to have been left alone by them. And by all accounts, he seems to have all his focus on supporting the Khasmir Campaign. Ships have been going up Savior's Run all this ti without being harassed."
"Your ships seed to have been blessed by the gods, Sir Gabriel?" said Rundas. "Or perhaps Arraxia."
"I beca a close friend of the Dreaming Goddess Kiyora. I saved her life at one point," said William, ignoring the bait. "That much was in my book."
"I wonder," said Rundas. "Lady Atravain, I don't see any reason an agent of Arraxia should be here."
No one said anything.
Dueling was outlawed.
"Are you an agent of Arraxia?" asked Atravain.
William laughed at that, despite himself as he rembered his past etings with the insufferable woman. "No, she has tried to kill
three tis, and I have done the sa to her," said William. "Thus far, we have simply missed our chance."
"That much is easily verifiable," said Marn.
"My son has vouched for him," said Atravain. "As has Jehair.
"I see no reason to throw him out and insult Duke Vanion. He is a very important individual of a noble line." Rundas looked around as if it were slowly dawning on him how alone he was in the room.
"I found so of the technology descriptions amazing in that book," said Luke suddenly. "I've been trying to figure out how all of it works. Do you suppose Kiyora would tell
about it a bit?"
"Perhaps I could be of so assistance in that, Luke," said Marn. "My offworld operations often have contact with such things. I could bring you a few devices with the manuals. Perhaps so experts, though there be expenses." Could Letan be representing an off-world power?
There seed to be several people from other worlds.
"No need for that," said William. "Kiyora is quite personal. Pray long enough to her, and she should show up. If that doesn't work, try Seathorius. Then, you could set up trade relations with the Nakmar and hope to et her.
"If not, I'll ntion you wanted to talk to her next ti I see her." An elent of scorn in Rundas' eyes. What was scornful about talking to the gods? But William could say nothing.
"Do you consider faith a weakness, Bishop?" asked Saul.
"The faith in this land is my property," replied Rundas simply. "This Paladin threatened the Bishop Joffrey of Ascorn. He has broken the established traditions and rules of the church. His actions have destroyed the profitability of many of our holdings."
"There were hundreds of people wasting away in the street," said William. "They were starving, beset by disease-"
"I don't care about that," said Rundas. "And neither do you! This is sabotage! He's cutting into the business interests of everyone here!
"He shut down our operations, whipped them all into a frenzy, and lost a small fortune! Not to ntion damage the inco of many of my agents!
"He's attacking the church! This is an active campaign to ruin our business interests! High Priest Cirithil expects regular inco! I know for a fact he ca down here on the direct request of Raynald De Chevlon!
"Raynald sent him here to ruin !"
"The people of Ascorn were not capable of paying the prices you asked," said William.
"Stop distracting from the point!" said Rundas. "We have a system where they provide a number of days of work for healing. If they don't want to use that system, that's their problem."
Silence.
"Are you suggesting that personal fortune take a higher priority than the work of Elranor?" asked the freckled woman from before. "Just who the hell do you think you think you-"
Atravain raised a hand for silence. The woman nodded. "Forgive
Lady Atravain."
"You are pardoned," said Atravain. "William, Rundas makes a point worthy of consideration. Your actions do seem to have done great harm to the church. Can you account for this?"
"The city was in complete disrepair," said William. "People were beset by dozens of diseases and were naced by gangs. It has always been my custom to heal others and seeing children dying in the streets, I did so where I walked.
"Ascorn is one of the most traveled ports in Harlenor. The diseases which started there have co here. The Healer's Guild was, to my eyes, taking no action at all. Neither to help the populace nor assist in liberating Lord Rius from being a prisoner in his own city.
"I have seen sothing of Tavish Kern's operations. Nobility is not respected, if not outright hated among them. Jehair affords more respect among them than one of noble lineage."
"None taken," said Jehair.
"What are you saying?" asked Luke.
"It would take only a charismatic warrior with too much ambition," said William. "All they would have to do is convince people that the situation in Ascorn was a deliberate attack on them.
"The population is sick, tired, and feel ill-treated, and Rius was given no help by the church. Far from it, they seed to have a niche among the gangs. The Healer's Guild has taken to arresting people who try to address the problem. And agents of King Gavin have been primary movers in-"
"You lie!" said Rundas. "I won't listen to any more of this! Either he leaves this room, or I do!"
William looked to Atravain. "Your will?"
Atravain paused. "You may depart if you so desire, Bishop."
That had been a bad move. Rundas had thrown down an ultimatum that could not be drawn back without losing face. And worse still, he had done so from a position of weakness, while William had beco comparatively strong.
Rundas stood up and walked out in a huff, slamming the door behind him. Atravain closed her eyes and put her face in her hands. "I miss Kafka. This sort of thing never happened while he was with us. Let us put aside popular revolution for another day. You have the favor of the Dreaming Goddess?"
"Well, if you seek a more worldly explanation. We beat the satyrs in battle and have close relationships with the Nakmar," said William. "So of them have beco quite rich thanks to us, so we have made security arrangents. And we have built a temple in her honor."
"Ah, yes," said Atravain. "That makes more sense. I confess I have never had any interest in matters of faith. I begin to think I have paid too little attention to the faith's worldly representatives.
"Perhaps-"
"Is that the Black Sword?" asked Luke suddenly, looking down.
Atravain blinked, and William was surprised but nodded. "Yes, I keep it with
always.
"It was broken, harming Laughing Wraith, and reforged while I was unconscious. Felix holds its brother, both made by Moira, a great smith of the Nakmar."
"May I?" asked Luke.
William shrugged and drew the blade to hand it to Luke. Luke took it and stood up, holding it in a careful grip. His stance was a bit sloppy at first, but he adjusted it quickly. "Hmm, it's very heavy. Heavier than the sort of blades used by us.
"ant by vicious blows."
"Haldrenian Berserkang is based around raw, brutal power," said William. "Raynald is a master of it, the best swordsman in the world, I think. The only rival I know of would be Tanith."
"Abdul Sahshir might have sothing to say to both of them," said Jehair. "He severely wounded two gods."
"I was always told that Raynald and my Father, Kafka, got on well," said Luke, handing the sword back and sitting down.
"I'm quite familiar with Edmund Telus," said William. "If you et him, he may know more. Though, I admit, little has been spoken of his work."
"Kafka did what had to be done," said Atravain. "It was nasty, unpleasant, but without it, criminals would be running this nation. Similar to how your house viewed Raynald De Chevlon's two-hour massacre."
"I'm not familiar with that story," said Saul.
"Raynald accused sixteen nobles of corruption who were his political enemies," said William. "And he killed every single one of them in duels. You see, he figured out how they were related. And he killed them in an order that made others challenge him to a duel.
"In two hours, he cut down a third of the influential people in the city of Antion with perfect legality. King Andoa, desiring peace, exiled him from the city. Before he left, Raynald swore he would send a student to avenge him." William paused. "I had completely forgotten that part of the story until now.
"I'd assud it would be Tanith."
"As did we," said Atravain. "Raynald was poorly treated wherever he went. Particularly during the incident with Princess Nyx of the Amazons.
"And his House consistently refused to avenge him."
"I see now that he ans to use you for this. You might be interested to know that your Father tried to have my husband Kafka assassinated."
"My Father is no assassin," said William. "He never uses such tactics. On the contrary, he believes them to be utterly useless."
"Yes, so imagine how much they hated one another that Vanion would use such tactics," said Atravain. "Kafka and Vanion started out disliking one another, and it only beca worse from there. They had opposite views of how virtually everything should be done.
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"Worse still, they kept being put on quests together, and they never once beca friends. Finally, sothing happened in Themious that turned them into hated enemies. Edmund Telus never forgave his brother.
"I suppose I should thank Vanion, it was how I married Kafka in the first place."
"I have heard that story before," said William. "Though with a different protagonist. With proper sources, I might be able to compile docuntation on it."
"I may send you so," said Atravain, smiling.
"We should return to the matter at hand," said Letan, looking very uncomfortable
And so began lengthy explanations where William had to go over his story several more tis. Atravain began to look angrier and angrier as she heard the accounts and had them verified by Dunmoore. Suran had made similar reports.
"The Furbearers that were sold to you should be released, or at least sold back to their own people," said Dunmoore. "Princess Kata, the Furbearer Leader, was instruntal in driving the Babarassians out.
"I expect she now has a position of real weight with Lord Rius. Given what has happened, Lord Rius may believe that you had so part to play in his overthrow."
"Princess Kata is intelligent and good of heart, but she does not know these lands," said William. "She is likely to regard you as villains. And bringing an army to the gates of Ascorn would serve no purpose.
"Indeed, it might serve to make Rius fear you an him harm."
"The boy is right," said Letan. "We should demonstrate your control of the situation and your benevolence. But, more importantly, you may also use this chance to speak to those you tend to. Asking a few relevant questions to each person will provide much information. Once you have that, you shall know the nature of Tavish's forces.
"Tavish's n are largely his out of desperation if all this is true.
"They have no alternative, so they have turned to one they do not understand. But they do not love him, and I do not think they could be easily rallied. Were you to identify the ringleaders and imprison them, I expect they would not move against you."
"What makes you certain he'll raise rebellion?" asked Atravain.
"He is an evil man who has gained power by unjust ans," said Dunmoore. "Simply by being aware of the cancer he has put on society, you have beco a threat to him. Any attempt to bring his efforts to heal will force him to seek rebellion to keep his unjust gains. And if he is not evil, then he will do so on behalf of the beleaguered commoners he believes he is fighting for.
"Even if he is only after his own self-interest, he'll want to show strength. My Paladins ought to carry out the task."
"With respect, Lord Dunmoore, your Paladins are easily recognized," said Letan. "And they do not have contacts among these people. I fear, in their zeal, they might create a war.
"It would be better for my forces to carry out the plan."
"No," said Luke. "I'll go."
"And I'll go with him," said Peter. "We can handle this."
"I'll go as well," said Saul.
"You have many sources, Jehair. Will they be of use here?" said Dunmoore.
"At the mont, I am employed as a guide to William," said Jehair. "If he bids
provide guidance to you, I may do so."
"I have pressing business in Gel Carn," said William. "And other areas will need my healing abilities."
"Is it wise to assign so important an operation to one untried?" asked Letan.
"I have not seen battle," said Luke. "But, I am trained in sword and spear, and I have learned tactics from my masters. And my sisters have great knowledge of things."
"It shall be so," said Atravain.
Letan's eyes darkened for a mont, and then shook his head.
"There is one matter that concerns ," said Letan. "Let us put aside the question of the Furbearers and face economic reality. Shipnts of slaves are necessary to till the fields. Therefore, if what you say is true, Princess Kata is likely to shut down the trade."
"Princess Kata will not be in Ascorn forever," said William. "And at the mont, all trade has shut down anyway. Rius, when last I left, was contemplating a campaign in Haldren to drive out the Babarassians.
"Certainly, he has a cause of war on them."
"You don't really suppose it will co to that, do you?" asked Peter.
"Why not?" asked Luke. "They went in and wrecked his city. Tavish obviously controls a lot of territories. If I were Rius, I'd want a piece of the action."
"And you should not," said Atravain.
"I don't know anything," said William. "It is my hope that King Gavin has good reason for what is happening."
"What about Reg Hawkthorne?" asked Luke. "Isn't he the one behind this?"
"It would be more accurate to say that Reg is the man in front of this," said Letan. "I do not think he set himself up alone. Soone else put him in place."
"Lord Rius believes that he was set up to cover so other design," said William. "And Reg himself claims to have been put up by Neral Dinis."
"Neral Dinis of Castle Blackfear?" asked Luke. "Do you think he is responsible for all of this?"
"I intend to ask him when I get there," said William.
Murmurs of shock.
"You can't go there!" said Luke. "The place is ruled by vampires, and the dead stalk those lands. The werewolf Larxe and her blood cult reign. You can hear werewolves howling all night and day.
"Many of the villages which once populated that place have faded away. Elvish ghosts and worse things can be seen everywhere. People are disappearing in whole villages lately."
"I think I will have a better chance," said William. "My Father's longstanding friendship with Raynald De Chevlon has connected us to him. If Neral Dinis kills , he will have a serious problem with his superiors. And I'd be more valuable as a hostage, anyway.
"And if indeed he is responsible for it, I must ask for an accounting. I'm afraid my house has been too focused on Calisha and Khasmir. Our eyes have not turned back ho nearly enough."
"The truce may have been for the best, in that case," said Dunmoore.
"There is another matter," said Letan. "Tensions are rising in the sea of power, Atravain. Sorn has been making aggressive moves toward Dinis.
"And Sen Kaba, the rchant Lord, has a stranglehold on the iron market."
"We can't do anything about that right now," said Luke.
"I agree," said Peter. "It's too far away. We have to deal with what's here and now."
"I may be of so assistance here," said Jehair. "The Druids of Laevian are not far off, and I could arrange for so to be brought down here to aid you. They will be able to deal with any outbreaks of plague and may also be able to help you get the most out of limited resources.
"Of course, they will have a price. Certain glades to beco off-limits. Certain fields that lie fallow would have to remain so."
"We might as well do both," said Luke.
"What of the labor shortage?" asked Atravain. "Or do you want the entire nation to starve to death? My domain is not the only one suffering from a lack of workers."
"Why don't we just invite people back in?" asked Luke.
"And give up what we bought with our own finances?" asked Atravain. "Their poor decisions led to the loss. Why should we pay the price?"
"Doing so would undercut the problem of bandits, Atravain," said Dunmoore. "Many within Tavish's holdings don't have much to do. It is becoming overpopulated.
"This a matter most grave, Atravain. And so of the responsibility is yours.
"I think that we should demonstrate proper contrition."
"Contrition?" said Atravain in a fury. "You base your operations in a gilded palace! Squires toil away, washing up marble floors while the streets go to ruin. Perhaps you could work the fields if you are of such limitless humility, Dunmoore."
"I seem to recall you put so of those people in those streets, Atravain," said Dunmoore.
"Friends, please," said Lilas, who William had hardly noticed. What was he doing here, and why had he not approached William? Was he trying to stay beneath notice? "This feuding will not help our situation.
"Lord Dunmoore, the plan you propose might be for the best; however, it would never work. Land rights are not well docunted in this part of Harlenor. We could not give the land back to each person that bought it, even if it were the right solution.
"Nor could we sell it back, for the people we would be selling to do not have the money."
"Why don't we let them work for the land?" asked Luke. "We can set a price on a given place of land and offer them the chance to work that plot of land. We set a price on that land, and they work it on our behalf. Once they have made a certain amount for us on it, the land will go back to them.
"There are a lot of fields we have that we aren't using for anything because we haven't been able to expand fast enough. We could increase our rate of profit and solve the problem."
"How would you assign the value of this land?" asked Saul, and Lilas looked up in surprise.
"It would be better to set a number of years they must work for us," said Letan. Us? He said 'us'? So he was doing it too. "And once they have the land, they would resu their old status and pay us a tithe. We could even arrange for the tithe to be higher than before and other restrictions. They do not have any other alternative."
"What of the Furbearers?" asked William.
"What of them?" asked Letan.
"Those who have already been enslaved," said William. "Their presence may cause you so very serious problems if they remain here. Especially since, if this system works, they are of no more use. And I don't think they can be reclaid without blood in the streets of Ascorn." He hated dismissing Kata like this, but they did not know her.
"I paid a great deal of money for them," said Atravain.
"Then perhaps you could get that money back, Luke," said Peter. "The Healer's Guild has gone beyond the realm of simple thievery. They have endangered the entire nation. They are an enemy who has attacked your domain.
"And they tried to force us to make an enemy of House Gabriel. There was no need for any of this, and they created a crisis anyway!"
"Peter," said Rutger, who had dismissed William as a guide. "Rundas is a Bishop.
"Be silent!"
"No, I will not be silent, Rutger," said Peter. "The church is a disgrace!
"My House, House Bailey pays a lot of money in taxes to them, and so do our people. And for it, they bargained off all their responsibilities to the Healers Guild. You've seen the people who work in those lodges.
"They spend their ti playing dice, buying and selling. Half their business is in trade, while people waste away outside. And everyone who looks at them knows the church put them up. And they see good people who try to fill in for them get beaten to a bloody pulp.
"Luke, you rember that foreign Priestess of Jaha? She just wanted to help people, and they sent n with clubs. We had to bend the rules just to keep her from getting beaten to death. They sneer at real priests and make them prisoners in the parish and force us to pay huge sums.
"We're paying them a lot of money and publically disgracing ourselves for a job they don't do!"
Silence again.
"Peter is right," said Luke. "I could probably do a better job than them. I know a bit about tending injuries from Alasa."
"Does anyone have a counterpoint?" asked Atravain.
No one said anything.
"It might be wise to seize any finances and records they have," said William. "If the Healer's Guild does have any connections to cri, we could hunt down their contacts. And the money could be an acceptable refund for the loss of revenue."
"We could hire so hands in the short term to get the harvest in," said Luke. "Not perfect, but it could work. If we release all the remaining Furbearer slaves we have and maybe buy up so others, we can send them back.
"Then Kata won't have any incentive to stay around."
"Once she has her people, she has no reason to remain," said Letan. "And if she does, she will lose all sympathy. The loss will probably pale in comparison to the price of keeping Ascorn closed, Atravain."
"No," said Rutger. "The other nobles will never cooperate with this. You can't get them to give up their slaves. They'll fight you tooth and nail."
"Then we'll be the only ones' bringing in a crop," said Luke.
"In that regard," said Lilas. "I have inspected the grain supply in Ascorn. Many there are going hungry. I would like to offer so of my personal stores to stave off revolution, if you will it."
"I do," said Atravain. "And I shall rember the donation."
And that more or less settled that.
Many other discussions were had that dealt with satyrs and other dangerous matters. It was just starting to get boring. At that mont, however, a door opened. Alasa. "Lady Atravain, there is an uh... chira here to see Sir William."
"A chira?" asked Atravain.
"Ah, Massacre is here at last. Farasa smiles on us, and we may begin at once," said William.
"Who is this Massacre?" asked Letan.
"A friend," said William. "Lady Atravain, Lord Dunmoore, Duke Letan, I apologize, but I must leave at once. For all, we know Neral Dinis could be preparing war as we speak, and if so, I must know it.
"I shall bring you word of my findings as soon as I can. Jehair, let's go."
"Elranor be with you," said Dunmoore.
William hurried out as quick as he could, donning his armor in full with Felix and then going to the gates. He nodded to Alara as he did so, noticing she was packing her bags. "Where are you going?"
"To take care of so business operations for the Lady Atravain," said Alara. "She often needs help with finances. At present, she wants
to arrange for a eting with the other plantations."
"Take so guards," said William. "I an it. Don't go anywhere alone and rest in well-populated areas. Stop for nothing and trust no one.
"It might be nothing. But I think things are about to get violent."
Alasa halted. "Has it really gotten to that point?"
"I don't know," said William. "But if things escalate, it'll be bad for everyone. If you can, get news to Queen Dawn and tell her sothing has to be done.
"If things go badly enough, the elves may be our only hope." Why had he said that? "...What is the nature of your employnt?"
"I'm just a humble servant," said Alasa. "Many of my fellows stay for Master Luke. They are very fond of him. I am simply the manager."
William nodded. "He'll need your help.
"Actually, everyone will at this rate."
As William was going out the door, Luke ca out in armor. "William, let
co with you. I'm a good swordfighter and skilled at arms. You'll need all the help you can get."
"As much as I would love that, you've got work to do," said William. "Your people will need you to provide leadership and settle problems at ho. If things fall apart here, it won't matter one whit what happens in Blackfear.
"As for , I'm well-guarded, and my family is near at hand.
"You're the lynchpin to all this."
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