All that Glitters (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 1) (11 page)

"But Warmaster," Jallan began as he stepped forward, "she's just a—"
Tap
. Sharindis' walking staff struck his breast plate directly over his heart.

"You're dead," Sharindis said softly. "I'm going to hate telling your mother about it."

"That's not fair!" Jallan squalled. "I wasn't ready! I'll show—" Tap tap. Sharindis struck him in the chest and stomach. He turned toward her and attacked, girl or not. As he turned her staff smacked into his chest again, then his back as she lightly dodged his strike.

"Do you really think bandits in the lowlands are going to wait for you to be ready?" she asked, following his moving shadow with her whole body.

"You're just a girl!"

"And I just killed you four times," Sharindis replied.

"Did not!"
Jallan cried. "You cheated!"

"There is no cheating in battle, Jallan," the Warmaster said as he stepped forward. "There is what works and what doesn't. Geove, would you care to try your luck?"

"No, Warmaster!" Geove said as he stared at Sharindis.

"Eldric?"

Eldric stepped forward and bowed. "Yes, Warmaster." Turning to Sharindis, he bowed, then came to ready. At the Warmaster's clap, he attacked, but Sharindis blocked his strikes. After five exchanges, her staff tapped his breast plate.

"One to Shari," the Warmaster said.

Eldric stepped back, then attacked again. Shari didn't give him a chance. Her staff tapped his armor twice more in rapid succession. After the third tap she brought her staff to salute, and Eldric did as well. "I yield," he said as he bowed deeply to her.

The Warmaster stepped forward and looked at the three boys. "Now, you've just been beaten by a blind girl. Do you have anything to say?"

The three boys came together and snapped to attention. "Our apologies, Warmaster."

"Accepted. Get in the front rank and pay attention." The boys retreated as Charvil turned and smiled at his little girl. "Thank you for joining us, Shari. Would you care to stay?"

"It was my pleasure, Warmaster. Unfortunately, I have a lesson plan to finish for Master Kel'Zorgan." She smiled broadly. "He said he'll let me start teaching soon."

Charvil grinned as groans came from the boys. "Very well, Shari. Run along now." As Sharindis turned away, Charvil turned toward his students. "Now, since I have your attention, let's begin with the ten forms."

Sharindis smiled as she walked away. Her father had taught her how to use a Dragon's Tongue before she lost her sight, and had insisted on drilling her afterward. It kept her senses sharp to have to listen to the movement of her opponents instead of seeing them. Her main advantage with the boys was that their armor didn't fit well and made a lot of noise.

As she walked away, the training ground was once again filled with noise. Ten year-groups, from the five-year-olds who had begun training after the expedition left, learning the basic forms with sticks, to the fourteen-year-olds who were in their last year drilling with Dragon's Tongues and swords, were being drilled by men of varying experience. Some were senior Warleaders with one or two stars, and some were veterans who had just finished their fifth season in the fall.

She sighed as she reflected on how hard it was for the boys compared to the girls. From age five onward they were apprentice warriors. The lessons were hard, and occasionally painful. There were a lot of accidents between the little boys. That's why their Dragon's Tongues were just staffs, like her walking stick. That changed at age ten, when they finished their classroom time and devoted every day to perfecting their weapon's skills. The girls only got basic training with Dragon’s Tongues. Few wanted more.

The girls stayed in classes until they were fourteen except for the time they spent in the summertime fields. Even then, they usually spent at least four spans a day in the classroom. It was women's work, and she stifled a snort at that thought, to deal with the logistics of the valley's home life. Mothers taught their daughters to cook and clean, sew and mend, and how to turn a house into a home. Master Kel'Zorgan, and now Sharindis, taught them how to plan meals to remain within their family food allotment. No food was to be wasted, but allotments had to reflect not only the number of people in a family, but their ages and genders as well. Teenagers, especially boys, ate far more than their elders, and the amount of food prepared had to take that into consideration. It was the duty of the woman of the house to know how much to requisition, and how much to prepare for each person.

Sharindis sighed as she thought of that. It would be a long time before she would be able to use the lessons she was teaching. Mistress Shari or not, Sahrena was doing that job as expertly as anyone could, and Shari didn't have the nerve to try and take over. Not from Sahrena.

That worried her. She would one day have to take over. Stavin was the master of the household, but she was its mistress.
I wonder what he’s doing now?

T
WIN
B
RIDGES, THE CAPITAL CITY OF
Evandia, was a place of legend. It was an old Imperial Age city that had stood for more than a thousand years, though no one was sure just how much longer that had been. It had been founded either before or after the province called the Land of Evan, but those records were lost. The city was perched on the tip of a spit of land between two rivers. It was named for the two elegant bridges that linked the isthmus that the city occupied to the lands east and west of the mighty Zel'Horgan and Zel'Jevid Rivers. The city looked out over the confluence of those two great rivers, taking advantage of the river gorges as its primary east-west defense. Twin Bridges had also played a major part in the legend of Mary Death, and held her crypt and monument. Stavin knew that the legend of Mary Death had been among Shari's and Sorandis’ favorite tales when they were young. I’ve got to write to her about this.

The caravan approached from the north, so they did not get to cross either of the mighty bridges. Instead they were confronted by the great stone wall that crossed the isthmus as the city's northern defense.

The traders stopped and parked their wagons at a caravansary outside the city. Barvil led all of his men to the master trader's wagon to receive their payment. The trader was waiting for them with a smile.

"Come for your pay, I see," the trader said when he saw them. "You've done well by me and I've no complaints. Never do from your people. As agreed, five silver crowns a day by fifty-two days comes to three hundred and twelve silvers. Here are thirty-one gold and two silver crowns, and my thanks. It'll be a moon before I have another shipment, but if you don't find other employment before then, I'd be glad to have you along for that trip as well."

Barvil clasped forearms with the trader and smiled. "We shall see what the Gods decree, and if it is the Gods' will, we will be glad to travel with you again. If not, then may peace and prosperity follow you wherever you go."

With that simple parting, Barvil led his men toward the city gates. Two guardsmen stepped out to bar their way. "State your purpose in the city," the older of the two said.

Barvil had received instructions on what to say, so he replied, "We are free men employed as caravan guards. We wish to enter your city to seek employment with the Traders Guild."

The guards nodded and stepped aside. "The Traders' Guild is located on the fifth street to your right," the younger guard said. "You'll see it as soon as you turn."

"The Temple is straight twenty streets, left eight, right ten, then right again four," the older guard said with a smile.

Barvil fixed his eyes on the man and asked, "How did you know we wanted to go to the Temple of Justice?"

The old man smiled at Barvil and laughed. "Every warrior who comes to this city wants to go to the temple and pay his respects to Mary Death. You'd be an odd lot if you didn't."

Barvil smiled ruefully and nodded. "An odd lot indeed, good Sir. Please forgive my suspicion." The guard simply smiled and stepped aside.

* * *

Stavin's golden armor had been noticed by just about everyone in the caravansary, and the manager quickly approached the trader as soon as the warriors had passed into the city. "Did I just see a warrior in golden armor with your escorts?" he asked, looking off in the direction of the city.

"No, of course not," the trader answered. "Gold is too soft and heavy to make into armor. No, young Stavin's armor is made of dragon scales, and by the dragon that shed them himself." He went on to tell Stavin's story with hardly any embellishments. "Quite a tale, isn't it?" he asked when he was done.

"Indeed," the manager said as he looked toward the city. "It is indeed quite a tale. Excuse me, I have to return to my duties." He hurried away, leaving the trader chuckling by his wagon.

Other traders were lining up to ask the same question, but the trader refused, saying, "Tonight in the Master Trader's Hall I'll tell the tale again. For now, we all have work to do."

* * *

The manager of the caravansary hurried back to his office, then into the city. His destination was the palace office of Lord Zel'Corvis, Lord Minister of Trade in Evandia.

Lord Zel'Corvis was in his office, dealing with the few elements of Evandia's trade network that his subordinates couldn't handle. He was annoyed by the interruption and showed it. "Why are you here, Pattin? Your post is at the caravansary."

Pattin Zel'Orfin went to one knee briefly, then strode right up to Lord Zel'Corvis's desk. "My lord, I have urgent news. There is a warrior in the city who claims to have spoken to a dragon."

Lord Zel'Corvis sat very still for a moment, then said, "You have my undivided attention, Pattin." Pattin told Stavin's story. As soon as he was done Lord Zel'Corvis said, "You did right by bringing this to me, Pattin. I could almost forgive you for what you did to my sister. Now get back out to your post and see what else you can find out."

Pattin bowed and turned to leave saying, "I'll check with the Traders' Guild and find out what I can."

Evindal Zel'Corvis watched his brother-in-law leave, then hurriedly donned his full formal regalia. This tale wasn't one he could keep to himself.

* * *

Barvil led his men to the Traders' Guild first and they all dismounted while he went inside. A man met him just inside the door. "State your business," he said, holding a parchment and quill ready.

"I am the leader of eleven caravan guards. We have completed our contract and seek another."

The man nodded. "I recognize your accent: Valley Warriors. Very well, I will post a notice in the Master Trader's offices. Where can you be reached?"

Barvil thought for a moment, then said, "I was told to ask for Elain's."

The man nodded again. "Across the street, down five doors. Will there be anything else?"

When Barvil shook his head the man simply turned and walked away without another word. Barvil shrugged and went out to his men. "Follow me," was his only order as he took his horse's reins and began walking. His men followed in a double file.

E
LAIN'S WAS A LARGE BUILDING WITH
a wide porch and overhanging balcony. They had barely tied their horses to the railing when a man came out to greet them.

"Caravan guards?" he asked, barely waiting for Barvil's nod before continuing. "Good. Good. Come along before there's a mess in the street that has to be cleaned up." He bustled off to the side of the building and down an alley with the valley warriors walking their horses behind him. He led them into a yard behind the building and showed them the stable.

"Just put your mounts there. You are the leader, good Sir?" he asked, looking at Barvil. Again he hardly waited for Barvil to answer before saying, "Good. Good. Come with me and I'll introduce you to the mistress." He hurried toward the back of the building, a study in constant motion, and Barvil followed behind him with a bemused expression on his face.

The younger men shared a look all around, then began stripping the tack from their mounts. Inside the inn, Barvil met Elain.

Barvil executed an elaborate bow and said, "Greetings, madam."

The woman, a tall blonde gone to grey with an ageless face, clapped her hands in delight. "Valley men! I
adore
your accent. I am Elain, or, more properly, Madam Elain Fel'Carvin the fifteenth. My family has been keeping inns since Imperial times. Welcome to my house. Are there eleven of you, or twenty-two?"

Barvil wasn't completely taken off guard and replied, "Eleven, Madam Elain."

Elain nodded. "As you were no doubt told, I give your people a special rate because I've never had a problem with you. It is to the benefit of both of us to keep it that way, so I count on you to keep your young men in line."

Barvil nodded deeply before saying, "My men will comport themselves with honor."

"That's good to hear. Now, I am going to charge you the going rate for five rooms for your men and your room will be free. Is this satisfactory?"

Barvil again bowed his head. "It is, Madam Elain."

"Very well. We'll settle your account when it is time for you to leave, but it will be two silver crowns per day for the eleven of you. I wouldn't worry, though. There are at least six caravans making ready now and will be departing within the next four days. You shouldn't be here long." She smiled as Barvil bowed deeply.

"We thank you, Madam Elain."

Elain again clapped her hands in delight. "Oh, I do adore your manners, good Sir. Avid?" she called and the fidgety little man appeared at her elbow. "Rooms thirteen through eighteen, and see to it that the shutters are open." She smiled and looked at the young men who were starting to file in through the back door. "My, such fine-looking young men. My, my,
my Gods Above!
Is that—?" she suddenly shouted as Stavin came through the door.

"No, Madam Elain," Barvil interrupted, "it isn't. It's dragon scale. I'm sure he would be happy to tell you the tale tonight, but right now he's probably more interested in finding the privy. We all are."