All that Glitters (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 1) (22 page)

The general was nodding. "I noticed. That's part of why I thought you were older."

Stavin was about to continue when the staccato sounds of a fight reached them. Two figures, each armed with a wooden practice sword, came around the corner, striking at one another in running combat. The strangest thing to Stavin's eyes was that both of them were little girls.

"Vile barbarian!"
shouted one.

"Evil mage!"
screamed the other.

"Girls!"
bellowed the general and they both froze. "What have I said about this?" he asked as the girls faced him.

"But Gran'da, the troops have the practice field all tied up," the elder of the two whined.

"Ooo, pretty," the younger said, focusing on Stavin. "Who is he, Gran'da?"

"This is Friend of Evandia Stavin. He is passing through and I have invited him to stay in the fort tonight."

The two girls stood still for an instant, then raced toward Stavin. They stopped before they collided with him, though not by much, and bowed prettily. "We are pleased to meet you, Friend Stavin," the older of the two said as she straightened.

The younger was focused on his armor. "Is that really dragon scales?" she asked. "Can I touch it?"

"Yes to both, Zel Hava Conta," Stavin replied with a deep bow.

"What did you call me?" the girl asked, and her older sister joined in.

"That was Old Tongue! Chosen something woman," she translated.

"Young warrior or apprentice warrior," General Zel'Fordal supplied. "Friend Stavin, these are my granddaughters, Kahrah and Lohandra Zel'Bandar. You'll meet my daughter Kennis later." He shifted his full attention to the girls. "You two are supposed to be in lessons, not terrorizing my troops."

Lohandra, the little one, was caressing Stavin's breast plate with one hand as she looked up at her grandfather. "Lord Scholar Zel'Haman had to go somewhere, and he turned us loose early." She shifted her attention to Stavin. "This is as smooth as silk," she said to Stavin. "That dragon must have really liked you."

Kahrah had put a hand out to copy her sister. "Cousin Mary's letter said he gave you the armor as a reward for bravery. Will you tell us the story?"

"Please," the two said together, and Stavin laughed.

"I would be pleased to tell you the tale, and the true tale at that. The story that the minstrel tells is better, but he's changed things to make it that way."

G
ENERAL
Z
EL'
F
ORDAL STOPPED
S
TAVIN FROM CONTINUING
. "We would all be pleased to hear it tonight, Friend Stavin. You two return to your rooms while Friend Stavin and I collect his comrades. Now scoot!" The general waved a dismissive hand at his granddaughters, and they fled, giggling. The general watched them go, then led the way down to where Barvil and the others waited in the courtyard.

Stavin walked up to Barvil and braced to attention. "Sir, the general has provided us with rooms for the night," he reported.

Barvil turned to the general and bowed. "We are grateful, Lord General Zel'Fordal."

The general nodded in answer and led the way to their rooms. "Please leave your weapons here. Armed strangers in the fort disturb my men," he said with a light smile, and Barvil nodded. Moments later, everyone was lined up in the hall once again. "Your men are well-trained, Warleader Kel'Carin. I wish more of mine were like them. This way, please."

The general led them on a long tour of the fortress, and provided a running commentary on the history of Zel'Marran, from its founding in the sixth century of the Imperial Age through thirteen centuries of imperial service and five more in the service of Evandia.

All of the valley warriors were thoroughly impressed by the time the general led them into a large dining hall. Barvil spoke for all of them when he said, "I have never seen a more impressive fortress, General Zel'Fordal. Kel'Kavin is older, but it was never meant to be more than a guard post with just a hundred or so warriors. This," he paused to gesture expansively at the fortress around him, "is a true marvel of military engineering."

"Thank you," General Zel'Fordal said, clearly pleased. "I'm actually quite proud of it. Come, my cooks have been busy preparing a feast in honor of Friend Stavin's visit."

The general led them to a table that was set higher than the others and hundreds of soldiers began filling the lower tables. There was a low murmur of men's voices, but no one spoke loud enough to be heard above the rest. Soon an old man in a white uniform approached the general and snapped to attention.

"Sir, the men are assembled and await your pleasure," he said loudly, his voice reaching the far corners of the room.

The general nodded once and said, "Thank you." He turned to the rest of the room and spoke so that all could hear him. "Men, today we are honored by the presence of Friend of Evandia Stavin Kel'Aniston. Friend Stavin is from the Kel'Kavin Valley, and is accompanied by Warleader Second Barvil Kel'Carin. For those of you who don't know the old code, Warleader Second is a rank approximately equal to that of a Provincial General." General Zel'Fordal paused as a murmur of surprise ran through the room. "You may be seated. Servers, you may begin."

Everyone took their seats as white-coated men began pushing carts of food into the room. Stavin was at the general's right hand, next to a man wearing colonel's insignia. Barvil was next, and the rest of the warriors were disbursed among a dozen Evandian officers.

A young woman sat across from Stavin, and Kahrah and Lohandra were beside her.

General Zel'Fordal waited until things had quieted down before introducing them. "Friend Stavin, this is my daughter, Kennis. Kahrah and Lohandra you've already met."

Stavin bowed his head. "I am pleased to meet you, Lady Kennis."

"I am honored, Friend Stavin. Marina was quite impressed with your story."

Stavin was prepared by the general's comments and dipped his head at the mention of the princess. "Princess Marina was quite kind to me to during our audience. I was very grateful."

Lady Kennis grinned across the table. "You're quick."

"That's enough, Kenny. I had occasion to mention our relationship to their majesties during our tour." General Zel'Fordal smiled serenely as his daughter glared at him.

"Friend Stavin," the colonel next to him said, "I am Colonel Zel'Tahran, General Zel'Fordal's Chief of Staff." He glanced at the general and received a nod of permission. "It is our understanding that your armor is made of dragon scale, shaped by the dragon itself. However did you manage to convince the dragon to give it to you?"

Stavin had been waiting for that question since they arrived, so he smiled and began his tale. "High on the rim of the Kel'Kavin Valley is a cave—" He told the story as dry fact, giving a soldier's report of the incident and leaving out the embellishments that the minstrel had added. He concluded the story with a self-deprecating smile. "So you see, I went up there a boy with something to prove. The dragon didn't kill me and chose the give me this armor for reasons of its own."

The colonel commented, "There is a minstrel getting rich on your story, Friend Stavin, but the one you tell is much more believable. Dragons do what they want, and the will of humans seldom matters. Thank you for the truth."

"My honor, Sir."

"That wasn't a good story," Lohandra said in a petulant tone.

"It wasn't like a tale at all," her sister agreed.

Stavin gave the girls a half-bow from his seat. "Life is seldom like a tale. I went into the cave a thief, determined to snatch a bit of gold from the dragon's hoard. I came out a—I don't know. A man? A boy? A warrior? What tales they tell of me in the future, only the future will know."

"Well said, Friend Stavin," Lady Kennis said. "Now we've kept you busy long enough. Your food is cold." She signaled one of the servers, and the man removed Stavin's untouched plate and replaced it with one that was steaming hot. "Eat now, young man. You've given us all a great deal to discuss while you do."

Stavin did as he was told while his story was discussed around him. Each of the warriors was questioned by their table-mates, and they gave their companions answers to just about every question. Only matters that dealt with the internal politics of the valley were refused, and those few refusals were taken with good grace.

After the meal, all of the valley warriors were invited to join the officers for drinks at a local tavern. They were soon enjoying beer and wine, and listening to outrageous stories. Stavin's story came up, and many of the locals were amazed by his accomplishments.

One man wasn't. He wasn't a soldier, but had been in years past, and was openly scornful of Stavin's story. "Don't make no difference," he snarled. "Boy against a man is gonna lose, lest there's magic involved."

"Would you care to test that?" Stavin asked in a low voice as his fists clenched in anger at his sides.

The man stood and spread his arms wide. "Sure, little boy. Strip off that magic plate, and we'll give it a go."

"I forbid this," Colonel Zel'Tahran said, stepping between them. "Carad, Friend Stavin is an honored guest of the general."

"Don't matter to me no more, lapdog. The boy issued the challenge, not me." The man sneered at Stavin. "Swords good enough for you, boy?"

"I'll face you staff to sword, if that's what you want?" Stavin said, enraged. "Can't be taking advantage of you, now can I?"

"Hah! Staff to steel it is, boy. Outside." Carad moved toward the door with a crowd behind him, and Stavin followed.

Barvil caught Stavin's shoulder. "This is foolish, Stavin."

"No, Sir. I've taken all of that kind of talk I'm willing to take." He pulled away from Barvil and took a step back. "This is about honor, Sir."

I
N THE STREET OUTSIDE THE TAVERN
, a circle of people surrounded Carad. Stavin let Karvik and Kahndar remove his plate armor, then accepted a quarterstaff from one of the officers.

Stavin circled to the left, slowly spinning the staff in his hands. Carad matched him, sword in hand and a sneer on his face. Neither spoke as they sized one another up.

Carad's strike would have made a snake blink, but not Stavin. He faded to the side and brought the staff around to block, following through by delivering a hard blow to Carad's side. The man backed away, stunned and favoring his right side.

"You can't beat a sword with a stick, boy," Carad snarled and attacked again.

Stavin ignored the weapon and struck at Carad's arm, using the greater reach that the staff gave him to stay away from the blade.

Carad bellowed in pain and rage and attacked again. Stavin's staff blurred as he knocked the sword out of Carad's hand, high into the air. As he had expected, Carad looked up to follow his weapon's path and Stavin brought his staff around to crack Carad's forehead. Carad fell unconscious in the street, and his sword clattered down beside him.

Stavin picked up the sword and handed it hilt-first to Colonel Zel'Tahran. "I don't want this, Sir. It seems to have fool all over it." Everyone started laughing when they heard Stavin's comment, including the colonel.

"Indeed, Friend Stavin. And what of the fool?" Colonel Zel'Tahran asked.

Stavin looked down at the unconscious man and shook his head. "If he ever insults me again, I'll kill him. For now, let his friends take care of him. He means nothing to me."

Three disreputable-looking men came forward and bowed, then grabbed Carad and dragged him away.

"Your mercy may come at a price, Friend Stavin," a grizzled old man said, bowing to Stavin. "I'm Master Sergeant Kel'Kanlan. Carad Kel'Vanat was one of my men until he got caught pilfering supplies. He's never been one to take defeat well, and he was one of our better swordsmen. He'll try you again."

"Then I'll kill him," Stavin said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Next time he'll face me with a Dragon's Tongue in my hands."

The sergeant nodded. "I'd heard your folk still use the Dragon's Tongue. We've done away with them in favor of swords and lances. Carad won't underestimate you again."

"Then he will die a fool," Barvil said with a frown. "Colonel, I think my men have had enough excitement for one night. We have to make an early start in the morning."

Colonel Zel'Tahran seemed puzzled, but accepted Barvil's decision. "Very well, Warleader, I'll escort you back your quarters. This way." He gestured up the road and Barvil fell in beside him with the rest of the valley warriors falling into formation behind him.

"Warleader Kel'Carin," the colonel said as they walked, "you seem very sure of young Friend Stavin's ability to defeat Carad. Why is that, if you don't mind my asking?"

"He beat me," Barvil said with a grin. "Granted, it had been years since I had fought with the Dragon's Tongue, but I used to teach the weapon so it shouldn't have mattered. It was a near thing and I almost had him, but he won in the end. That was before we left on this expedition. Since then he's made eight kills and is, if possible, even faster than he was. He was toying with Carad. If he'd been in a hurry, Carad never would have had the chance to strike and Stavin would have killed him, even with a plain quarterstaff in his hands."

"If he's really that good, perhaps a demonstration would be in order. Most of us tend to dismiss staff-type weapons. To be honest, I had expected Carad to defeat him in short order. He was command sword instructor at one time."

Barvil gave the colonel a sharp look upon hearing that. "If that is the case, I'm sure Stavin would be pleased to demonstrate his skill."

The warriors went to their assigned rooms immediately upon returning to the fortress. They found pitchers of warm water by the basins in their rooms, and each of them luxuriated in the opportunity to get clean.

Stavin had bathed and was lying back in his bed when there was a knock at his door. He wrapped the bath sheet around himself before saying, "Come in."

Kahndar opened the door a crack and slipped through, closing it softly behind him. "Stave, did you hear Barvil and that colonel talking on the way back here?"