All that Glitters (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 1) (12 page)

"The priv—? Oh, Gods Below, where are my wits. Of course. The privy is there, through those two doors." She waved down a short hall, never taking her eyes off of Stavin and his golden armor.

Barvil led the way to the privy and the men followed, in order of seniority of course, so Stavin and Karvik were at the end of the line. Stavin felt the eyes of Elain and Avid on his back and resisted the urge to shift from foot-to-foot in the ancient dance of a man about to wet himself.

Once everyone had gotten an opportunity to use the privy, Avid led them up to their rooms. Stavin and Karvik had been placed in room thirteen, and they grinned at the sight of real beds after so many nights in their bedrolls.

"It's going to be so nice to sleep the night through and not have to patrol the camp," Stavin said as he claimed the right-hand bunk. "I can never get back to sleep after mid night, unlike some people." He threw a wad of dirty socks at Karvik as he made that last comment.

Karvik laughed as he threw the socks back. "I have a clear conscience, and sleep the sleep of the innocent."

A knock at the door interrupted them and Barvil's voice came through clearly. "Downstairs, by the count of ten."

Karvik responded immediately to his father's command, and Stavin was only half a breath behind as they clattered down the stairs. They joined the rest of the warriors, wondering what the trouble was.

The valley warriors found Elain in earnest conversation with a bunch of Royal Guardsmen. When Stavin came down the stairs every one of them focused their eyes on him.

The leader of the guardsmen stepped away from Elain and stopped by the stairs, facing Stavin. "You are commanded to present yourself to his royal majesty, King Kalin Zel'Andral, immediately," the guardsman said loudly, looking down at Stavin.

Stavin looked over at Barvil in alarm and he stepped forward. "What is the nature of this summons, Guardsman?"

The guardsman looked at Barvil with a neutral expression. "That is his majesty's business, not yours."

Barvil answered angrily, "This young man is my charge and a member of my command. That makes anything to do with him my business."

The guard looked Barvil in the eye and nodded. "If that is the case, you may accompany him. Come with us."

"Wait!" Karvik cried, then bolted back up the stairs. He returned quickly with Stavin's helmet and Dragon's Tongue. "You might need these," he said as he handed them to Stavin.

Stavin bowed his thanks as the guardsmen scowled. Turning back to the leader, he nodded once. "I am ready, good sirs," he said proudly.

Stavin and Barvil marched through the streets of Twin Bridges, escorted by ten Evandian Royal Guards, and everyone who saw them stopped and stared. Stavin fought the temptation to stare back by pretending that he was back in the academy and just performing another marching drill. It almost worked.

They reached the palace after marching about twenty dragon-lengths by Stavin's estimation. Here his pretense slipped and he had a hard time not turning his head to gawk at the grandeur around him.
I have to describe this place to Shari. She’ll be so excited!
The guards marched them through the palace to a pair of gigantic doors that opened as they approached. They passed the doors and marched down a wide set of steps and through the center of a massive room that was filled with splendidly garbed people. At the other end of the room two people sat on ornate thrones on a raised dais.

The leader of the escort took a quick step forward and raised a hand to stop them. "You can go no farther bearing weapons." He held his hand out expectantly.

Stavin looked at Barvil and, at his nod, allowed the guard to take his Dragon's Tongue from him. Barvil unstrapped his sword and handed it to another guard.

When they had been disarmed, the guard motioned them forward. "Stop three paces from the dais and kneel," he commanded. Stavin and Barvil did as instructed, and the king spoke after a moment.

"I have been told that your golden armor is in fact made of dragon scales. Is this true?"

"It is, King Kalin," Stavin answered proudly.

"I have been told that the dragon gave you this armor as a reward for your bravery. Is this true?"

Stavin again answered, "It is, King Kalin."

The king looked at the young woman at his side for a moment, then sat back in his throne. "Tell us this remarkable tale."

Stavin told the same tale that he had told the traders, omitting his reasons for going alone and what had happened when he returned home, but nothing else. The king listened impassively until he was done, then looked at one of the old men who stood to the side of the room.

The man bowed his head deeply and said, "He speaks the truth, your Majesty."

The king transferred his attention back to Stavin. "It is seldom that a dragon gives such a gift to a human. Does this armor have any special qualities?"

Stavin thought for a moment, then bowed his head. "Yes, your majesty. While wearing it, I have been neither hot nor cold, even in the mountain's snow and your bright lowland sun. Also, though we have only tried it once, the breast plate stopped a hard blow from a Dragon's Tongue without being scratched."

The king again looked to the group of old men at the side of the room. A different man answered his unasked question. "I sense many spells surrounding the youth, my liege. They are of such intensity that I can determine little beyond their existence. They are beyond human magic."

The king nodded and looked at the young woman at his side. She nodded in turn and stood, picking up a tall staff topped with a large ruby that had been carved into the shape of a man's clenched fist. She stopped several steps away and extended the ruby fist toward Stavin. It began to glow as it approached Stavin, and a murmur of wonder flowed through the room. The woman looked over her shoulder at the king and said, "Dragon magic knows dragon magic, Father. This is the final proof."

Turning back to Stavin, she smiled at him. "I am Princess Marina. The dragon saw something special in you, and it is not for mere mortals to question such judgment." Looking past Stavin and Barvil, she addressed the assembled nobles. "I name this man, Stavin Kel'Aniston, a Friend of Evandia. Let his name be so entered in the history of the kingdom."

Stavin stood silent, unsure what to do until Barvil's barely audible whisper reached his ears. "Say you are honored."

Stavin looked at the princess and said, "Your Highness, I am honored to be so—honored."

Princess Marina giggled and covered her mouth with one hand as chuckles and titters of laughter raced through the room, and Stavin blushed darkly in shame at having said something stupid in the presence of strangers. The princess took the last few steps to reach him and patted his shoulder.

"I apologize for laughing at you, Friend Stavin. Please remove your helmet." Stavin did as he was asked and she nodded. "I hadn't realized that you were so young."

Barvil cleared his throat to get the princess' attention, then spoke when she nodded. "With your permission, Princess Marina, Stavin has fifteen years, and was wed shortly before we left the valley for this year's expedition."

The princess looked Barvil in the eye and nodded. "Introduce yourself," she commanded.

"I am Barvil Kel'Carin, Warleader Second of Kel'Kavin. I am the commander of two hands of young warriors acting as caravan guards."

"Then you would be from the great crater valley and a descendant of the Farindian Royal Guards. We know of you and your warriors. Guard this one well, for a dragon's judgment of such men is seldom wrong." With that she turned and climbed back to her throne and sat down.

King Kalin smiled down at Stavin and Barvil and said, "Go in peace, Friend Stavin. I'm sure the stories of your exploits will one day be the source of much pride for you and your people."

Stavin was almost out of breath as he thought about what had just happened. The king and princess of Evandia had just called him friend
. I have to find a way to write to Shari.

S
TAVIN CAUGHT A FLICKER OF MOVEMENT
in the corner of his eye and found the leader of the Royal Guardsmen standing beside him. "Bow deeply, then follow me," he commanded, and Stavin and Barvil did as they were told.

Once they were out of the king's presence, their weapons were returned. An old man in elegant robes came bustling down the hall to meet them. "Yes, yes, here you are. The ink is hardly dry," he said in an exasperated tone as he handed Stavin a rolled parchment. "The king's wish is law, of course, but I could wish for more warning."

"What is this, good Sir?" Stavin asked politely.

"Your writ, of course. Safe passage and tolls paid throughout the kingdom as a Friend of Evandia, for you and all who travel with you."

"Your pardon, good Sir," Barvil asked to get the man's attention, "but do you know why their Majesties decided to do this?"

The man looked perplexed for a moment, then said, "Because of the dragon, of course. The traders you came with spread the story and King Kalin has left standing orders that anyone who lays claim to having spoken to a dragon is to be brought before him. The whole Royal Family is dragon-mad. They have been every since Lady Corvana married Prince Chadric."

"Why is that?" Stavin asked and received a look of disbelief.

"The blood, of course," the man answered. "Don't you know? Corvana Zel'Fordan was the first-born daughter of Carlstan and Marydyth Zel'Fordan."

Barvil's hand came up and grasped Stavin's biceps. "Marydyth Zel'Fordan, who was born heir of Zel'Karyn in Coravia?" he asked in a near whisper.

"Yes, yes. Are you telling me that you didn't know that the royal family claims descent from Mary Death?"

Stavin and Barvil looked at each other as the little old man hurried away. The guard got their attention by clearing his throat. "We will escort you back to your lodgings."

The walk back to Elain's was quiet. Both Barvil and Stavin had a lot to think about. It was widely known that Mary Death had died in Evandia, fighting with the Evandian Army to keep the rebellion in Farindia from crossing the border into Evandia. What none of those stories had said was that she had married and produced a child before her death. It made sense, perhaps, seeing that she was supposed to have been in her forties when she died. Her sword, the famous Sang Del Dracl, had been given to her brother when he had become heir of Zel'Karyn, but everyone in the valley had thought it had happened when she had died, not when she had married and left the lineage.

"Guardsman, I have a question, please," Stavin said tentatively.

"I will answer if I can, Friend Stavin," the guard replied respectfully.

"The ruby fist, the one on the princess' staff? Which dragon made that?"

The guardsman looked at him carefully for a moment before answering. "Dandarshandrake. It is the hand of a man who grabbed Mary Death's sword and got caught by the spell." He gave an evil grin then continued. "His body was dug up after a hundred years and that was the only part of it that could be broken off."

The guardsmen left them at the door to Elain's with a bow, and Barvil and Stavin both bowed back before heading for the door. The valley warriors were all present in the common room and Kahndar and Davel quickly stood to talk to them.

"Is everything all right, Sir?" Davel asked while Kahndar was looking over Stavin.

"Yes, we'll explain—" Barvil began, only to be interrupted by Elain.

"Oh, you've returned! What was it, if I'm not prying? Having Royal Guardsmen take my customers away is not something that happens very often."

Barvil looked at Stavin, but he gave the impression of a man who wanted to sink into the floor. Taking pity on him, Barvil told the tale. Elain again clapped her hands in delight.

"A Friend of Evandia, and on your first journey! How wonderful! Come, be comfortable, then I must see to supper." She escorted them to a table and then hurried away toward the kitchen.

Karvik was staring at Stavin with wide eyes. "You spoke to the king? And the princess? What was it like?" he asked eagerly and received grunts of encouragement from around the room.

Stavin glanced at Barvil, but it didn't look like he was going to be spared this time, so he began with descriptions. "The king is older, but he still looks fit. He looks a lot like the Warmaster. The princess is tall and blonde and in her early twenties. She looks a lot like Sahrana back home. Same build." He smiled as the others laughed.

Barvil chuckled as well. "I would say generously proportioned, but I'd say it softly. It doesn't do to notice things like that about your betters." He smiled at Stavin and then at the others. "Tomorrow we'll visit Mary Death's Memorial and pay our respects, then tour the rest of the city. Hopefully we won't have too long a wait before we pick up another caravan."

Supper, as the Evandians called the evening meal, was meat sliced thin in thick white gravy poured over thick slices of bread. Barvil allowed his men one beer each, then made them switch to water. The serving girl gave him the strangest look when he made that decree, even though Madam Elain had a magically purified well, but brought the water as requested.

As the youngest, it was Karvik’s and Stavin's job to check the mounts before they went to bed, and Barvil sent them out as soon as they finished eating. Elain's ostlers had fed and watered the horses, and all they had to do was make sure the stalls were securely closed.

"Stave, what do you think is going to happen now?" Karvik asked as they walked back to the inn.

"About what?" Stavin asked.

"About you and your armor. Kings don't honor nobodies from nowhere for no reason."

Stavin thought for a moment, then lifted his hands helplessly. "I don't know. The official in the palace said the royal family is related to Mary Death and they take an interest in anything that has to do with dragons."

Karvik looked at him sideways and shook his head slowly. "There's got to be more to it than that." Stavin didn't answer, but just opened the door and stepped inside.