All that Glitters (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 1) (8 page)

They had completed two circuits of the wagons and were starting a third when Kahndar spotted a shadow that moved. He shouted, "Halt!" in an excellent impression of his father's training-ground bellow.

The shadow became two as it burst out from under a wagon, but Stavin and Kahndar were faster, interposing themselves between the intruders and the surrounding darkness.

"Stop or die," Kahndar snarled, his hand on his sword hilt.

"You don't scare me none, cat boy," the larger of the two snarled back.

The other was staring at Stavin. "That armor'd look mighty pretty on my sister. Is that what you got, cat boy? A little kitty so's you can get some—
EEP
!" Suddenly the thief was faced with a razor-sharp, three-hand-long, willow-leaf-shaped blade just a finger's-width from his eyes.

Stavin snarled, "You should be quiet." He had come to face the men with his Dragon's Tongue at the ready, held in both hands across his chest. Hearing the jeering tone of the intruder's voice caused him to flash from excitement to fury.

The first man looked at Kahndar and said, "Tell your—"

"Shut your mouth," Kahndar snapped. "Arms straight out to the sides where I can see them, then turn around and start walking. The traders are going to want to talk to you."

Stavin stepped back and motioned for his prisoner to join his friend, then they escorted the two in amongst the wagons. Kahndar waited until he could see the cook's fire, then said loudly, "We caught these men under one of your wagons, Master Trader," alerting everyone.

The master trader walked over and looked them up and down for a moment. "I might have known. Who do you work for now, fool?" he asked the older man.

"Don't work for no one," the man replied, sneering at the trader.

"We wasn't doin' nothing," the smart-mouth said, stepping forward. "We was just walkin' by when these two jumped us."

The trader looked at him and said, "Horse crap." Turning back to the first man, he frowned. "I told you what I'd do if I ever found you near my wagons again, Firth. You're a thief and a liar, and any debt I owed you is long since paid. It's time and past time for you to pay for your crimes." Looking at his men, he simply said, "Bring them," as he turned away. Four burly teamsters jumped forward and grabbed the two thieves, dragging them behind the trader as he walked away.

Stavin watched them go, then looked up at Kahndar. "What will happen to them?"

"The hand of a thief, the tongue of a liar,"
Kahndar quoted. "Trade Towns are supposed to be sacrosanct." He gave a harsh bark of laughter at that. "The thieves have to have someplace to sell their stolen goods. The traders in power here take a dim view of anyone who breaks
their
rules."

Stavin remained silent as they resumed their rounds. They had time to make five more circuits before they were met by Davel and Karvik.

"We heard about your encounter, Kahn," Davel said as they walked up.

Kahndar laughed. "It certainly gave Stave a good initiation."

"True," Davel agreed, "and gave warning that this caravan is well protected. We'll see you in the morning." With that he led Karvik away into the darkness, following the pattern that Kahndar had set.

Kahndar led Stavin back to their tents. "Quietly, Stave," he whispered. "Let me unbuckle your armor, then you do mine. Sleep in your mail and keep your Tongue in reach. The excitement may not be over."

Stavin did as he was told and stretched out on his bedroll, but he didn't sleep. He'd come very close to killing that man for insulting him. If the fool hadn't squeaked like a terrified mouse he would have. The thought,
Maybe I do have my mother's temper,
rolled around in his mind. He was still awake when Karvik came back to the tent late in the night.

"Anything?" he asked softly.

"Nothing," Karvik answered as he lay down.

"Night," they both said, then laughed before rolling over to sleep.

W
HILE NOT EVERY MAN IN
town had been taken for the draft, for Stavin and Sharindis' fledgling household it felt like they had. Shari returned to work at the archive immediately to distract herself from her sudden loneliness, but found that her mind drifted in unaccustomed ways. Sahrena had faced the loneliness many times before, but found that the absence of both Barvil and Karvik was far worse than she remembered.

Dorvina, on the other hand, was relieved. Harner Kel'Chamlin had not been called to duty. The year-group that he shared with Karvik and Stavin had contained twenty-three youths, and he and two others had been skipped this time. He wasn't particularly happy about it since he wasn't out gathering glory with the rest, but it did give him nearly uncontested access to Dorvina.

Harner arrived on the front porch of Stavin's house two days after the expedition had departed. His knock at the door was answered by Sahrena.

"Harner, it's a surprise to see you. I didn't know you'd been skipped," she said, standing in the doorway to keep him from trying to enter.

"I've come to see Dorvi," he said and looked at Sahrena expectantly.

"That is improper, Harner, and you know it. Barvil and Master Stavin are both on the expedition. There is no one to speak for her."

Harner took a half step backwards and stared at her in shock. "Madam Kel'Carin, I don't understand. I thought—"

"You thought you could see Dorvina anytime with no restrictions since she is a servant. That is not the case. If you wish to see her, you must get permission from Mistress Sharindis."

"No—Madam Kel'Carin, I don't care that Dorvi is a servant. I still want to marry her."

Sahrena looked him in the eye as she answered. "You may not marry Dorvina until Barvil and Master Stavin return. You may not see her without Mistress Sharindis' permission. You know the customs, Harner."

Harner was visibly upset now and took another step back. "We'll see what my father has to say about this. We'll just see." He turned and fled toward his home while Sahrena calmly shut the door.

"Mother, what did you do?" Dorvina snarled angrily from the kitchen doorway.

"What custom decrees, Dorvina. Don't worry, he'll be back. I know the signs. He'll have words with his father, they'll fight, then he'll go to Shari and ask to come to see you—as he should have done in the first place."

"Mother—" Dorvina began angrily, but Sahrena silenced her with a look.

"He can't marry you without your father's permission. Servant or not, that custom must be obeyed. And don't you think to hop the fence and go to him without your father's blessing. If you were truly a servant, born of a servant clan in some outland village, you might get away with it so long as your father didn't feel dishonored by your actions. You, Dorvina Kel'Carin, are not a servant born of a servant clan. Your father would kill Harner as soon as he returned, and if he didn't, then Stavin or Karvik would. That is the price of honor. Now get back to the dishes."

* * *

Harner went and found his father immediately. "Dad, Sahrena won't let me see Dorvi! She said I had to get permission from Shari because Barvil and the Runt are gone."

"And?" his father asked without taking his eyes off his task.

"And what? I never had to ask Barvil to see Dorvi. Why should I ask Shari? It's not like I'm—"

"You're a fool, son," his father interrupted, finally looking at his son. "You didn't have to ask Barvil because you and everyone else knew he'd kill you if you dishonored his family." Jorvan Kel'Chamlin stood up from his cobbler's bench and grabbed his son's shoulders with both hands. "Dorvina isn't just Barvil's daughter, and don't for a second think he won't win back his honor quickly. She's a servant in the household of Stavin Kel'Aniston. The Kel'Anistons rank—"

"The Runt doesn't rank
me
, Dad."

Jorvan's grip tightened until his son's mouth opened in pain. "Stavin Kel'Aniston is the head of a household, not the youngest son in one. He has proven himself in an unusual way, but he's proven himself nonetheless. He's also out with the expedition while you chose to remain here. You could have joined anyway. Many a man has gone without being drafted. Stavin is out there making his name and honor while you are here trying to sneak around custom and see a girl of his household without his consent. He's also the man you have to ask for Dorvina after you get her father's permission."

Jorvan let go of Harner's shoulders and pushed him back. "All that aside, your mother is having fits about the possibility of her darling son marrying a servant. I know her servitude to Stavin won't last. It doesn't matter. She—"

"No, it doesn't matter!" Harner all but shouted, interrupting his father once again. "She's still the daughter of Barvil Kel'Carin, one of the highest-ranking warriors alive. He'll come back with his honor restored and the Runt will be back where he belongs, in his father's house."

"Not in one season he won't. He'll have to earn his fourth star to clear the shadow from his name. That'll take nineteen more kills, and not even Charvil ever managed that feat in just one season. If you want to see the girl, go ask Sharindis. After you do your chores."

Harner took several deep breaths and finally nodded and muttered, "Yes, Sir." He turned and went out to fetch the buckets so he could refill the family's water barrel.

Jorvan turned to find Coriannis standing behind him. "You heard that, I take it?"

"The neighbors heard that, Jor. I don't want my son marrying a common servant."

Jorvan smiled and shook his head. "He isn't, Cor. He's right about Barvil earning his name back. Given his situation, he may very well manage nineteen kills in one season. Or he may not manage any. In any case, Stavin is still going to play a role in this situation. He went into the cave and faced a dragon to win the girl. It's only the fact that he married Sharindis that makes me think he won't stop Harner from marrying Dorvina."

Coriannis smiled sourly. "Given how Harner and the other boys have treated him in the past, I wouldn't be surprised if Stavin did stop them out of spite. Oh, I know he'd find an honorable reason, but it would be in revenge no matter how he cloaked it. Not that I don't think he doesn't deserve a little of it. I tried—"

"I know.
Beware of those you treat poorly, for one day you may need their help.
Harner and the rest of the boys who've been chewing Stavin's tail may regret it."

* * *

Harner worked his anger out while hauling water. Even his father was against him, so he was going to have to bend to the will of a blind girl and her runt of a husband. When his chores were completed, he went to the archive and approached Sharindis.

"Shari, may I speak with you for a moment?" he asked, sticking his head into the archive.

"Harner?" Sharindis said, raising her head but not looking at the door. "I thought you were—no, that's right. You weren't drafted this year."

"No, I wasn't. Shari, I have come to ask permission to see Dorvina."

Sharindis paused for a moment, then nodded. "You may come to the evening meal with us, Harner. In fact, if you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate it if you would walk me home. I still haven't memorized all of the tripping stones between here and there."

"As you wish. When will you be ready?" Harner asked.

"Now will do. The sun is being blocked by the clouds, so I can't do much. Just a moment." She quickly packed up her crystal and closed her inkwell, then made her way to the door. "Not too fast, please."

Harner started out of the archive at a slow walk, but was puzzled by Sharindis' chuckle once they reached the street. "Shari?"

"I'm not that feeble, Harner. You can walk a bit faster. Just warn me when we reach a rough spot," Sharindis said, walking faster to get him moving.

The two made it across town without Sharindis tripping or stubbing her toe, and soon Harner was saying, "The steps are just ahead, Shari."

"Thank you, Harner. Come in with me and we'll talk until Sahrena calls us to eat."

Harner and Sharindis hadn't reached the door before it opened and Dorvina said, "You're home early, Mistress Shari. Is there a problem?"

"No, Dorvi, no problem that anyone but the Gods Above can solve. The clouds are blocking too much sun for me to work. Harner will be joining us for the evening meal. Inform Sahrena and ensure we have enough prepared."

Dorvina bowed deeply and said, "Yes, Mistress Shari." She gave Harner a brilliant smile before she turned away.

Sharindis chuckled again. "I didn't need to
see
that to see that. After we eat, you two may sit and talk on the front porch. I'd set Zahri on you, but I have my suspicions about where her loyalties lay." She turned her eyes on Harner and shook her head slowly. "Stavin and Barvil are gone, but there are men of both families here, as well as my father. Don't give them a reason to bring you before the Elders Council."

Harner shook his head. "No, Shari, I won't."

The meal was unremarkable except for the almost exultant tone of Dorvina's voice whenever she was asked a question. Sahrena asked Sharindis' permission to dismiss Dorvina and Harner as soon as the meal was completed. Sharindis' nod of assent was met with the sound of two sliding chairs and the patter of running feet.

Sahrena chuckled and both Sharindis and Zahrinis joined in. "I warned him to be good, or Karlit or Dad will take him before the Council," Sharindis said with a grin.

"Ah, young love. Do you need any help, Mistress Shari?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm more tired than anything else right now, so I think I'll go to bed early. Good night to you both. Send Harner on his way when you feel they've had enough time."

* * *

Harner reported to the training grounds on his third day, as required, and joined the final year group. He was tired of the Warmaster treating him like he could barely hold a Dragon's Tongue. He'd passed, scoring a strike against the Warmaster before the Warmaster had struck him the third time. It was galling to be required to practice with the boys.

"Form up!" Darak Kel'Norlan snapped, and everyone snapped to attention at their place. Darak had two hollowed stars on his shoulder, and Harner couldn't help but dream of the day he'd be sporting stars like that.