This is a fan made story. I don't own the rights to the Protector of the Small series, any of its characters belong to Tamora Pierce… Much to my disappointment. This goes AU about midway from the book Page. Fair warning. Constructive criticism is welcome but if you don't like it simply because you don't like the line of thinking, please don't attack me for it. This is mostly centered on Joren. This is also a slow build Kel/Joren.
Spring 460 continued
Her first task was supplies. Wyldon warned her not to be too greedy, but Kel didn't care about that. She would take what Wyldon could provide and then write to Joren and Verene to get extra supplies. It may take weeks for the additional supplies to arrive, but they would do those people a world of good and make them stronger, which was better from a defensive perspective. After she went through the supplying process, reassuring Owen she didn't blame him for the shock of her command, she also thought to write to Lalasa. She could ask the woman to use the investment returns from the shop, Joren had insisted the Kel look at it from that angle, to buy quality cloth and thread to be shipped north with the supplies from Verene. It would allow the refugees materials to make new clothes which in turn would build moral and help keep them healthy.
She also requested in the letter that Joren and Verene see if they could locate some mages, healer and battle mages both. All Wyldon could spare was Neal for a healer and temporarily Duke Baird while they finished setting up the refugee camp. She knew it wasn't enough, they were too exposed to Blayce and the Scanrans. Waldon was right about that, they would be seeing fighting, because the Scanrans were going to target refugee camps for their children.
With the camp already mostly build, and the men doing the building already in residence, Kel didn't linger at Fort Giantkiller. She needed to get a good understanding of her command and its surroundings before the refugees started flowing in. Two days after her arrival at Giantkiller, she, along with Duke Baird, Lord Wyldon, Neal, Merric, and Owen set out for the refugee camp along with all the supplies she was able to scrap up. Kel was a little unnerved to find that she was going to be in charge of Neal and Merric, though, she could hardly be expected to be a commander of more seasoned knights and still receive the respect her position warranted.
Tobe started the group to a commonly known song as they left Giantkiller, to Kel's amusement. Kel and Wyldon even joined in as they moved out. The trip to the refugee camp wasn't the easiest, with the roads in poor condition this early in the season. Fortunately, once they reached the area of the road that wound through the hills between her new base and Giantkiller, the road was frozen solid and thus, easier going. On the far side of the hills, it was muddy once more, but they were near enough to the new camp that it was fully visible, if only through a spyglass at this point. A horn call sounded faintly in the distance, telling her they had been spotted.
Wyldon's trumpeter replied with his own call to indicate they were friendly. As they moved on, Kel watched her new home. As they approached, the standard Tortallan flag was joined by a second. It took a moment for Kel to recognize that it was her own insignia, the gray owl over the deeper gray mountain on a field of blue and the glaives in its talons. It was the flag of the fort commander.
Kel wondered who knew that she was coming, knew her new insignia, and made the effort to create a flag for her. It wasn't as if Joren could have done it, though if he had known, she wouldn't have put it past him, but he had no way of knowing that she would be given her own command so soon. She pushed aside her wonder as she collapsed her spyglass and they began crossing the Greenwoods river. The bridge, Kel noted, had mage blasts attached to the underside of the bracing planks. Even a non-mage could make the blasts explode with a snap of the key to the spell, which was a thin, flat piece of wood. The blasts would then destroy the bridge, dropping anyone on it into the river. The river was deep and fast with the spring melt and would serve as a decent moat. No one would be able to cross the Greenwoods within miles of the camp so long as the spring floods continued. In summer it could be forded, but miles away, hopefully giving the army time to provide aid.
Once they approached the camp, the sounds of saws and hammers could be heard and when they entered the camp, Kel could see that it was over halfway built, some barracks completed, while others were still under construction. The army barracks, two refugee barracks, a guards' shack, mess hall and cookhouse, the latrine, and the headquarters building were all completed. Only three more refugee barracks and the infirmary still needed to be completed.
As Kel finished her brief scan of the camp, a man in army maroon trotted down as set of wooden stairs leading down from the walkway lining the upper wall. He approached swiftly before halting before Lord Wyldon. He wore the insignia of a captain and saluted Wyldon at attention, "My Lord."
Wyldon returned the salute, "Captain Hord Elbridge, I present his grace, Duke Baird of Queenscove, Chief of the royal healers. Here is Lady Knight Keladry of Stone Mountain, who will relieve you here as commander, Sir Nealan of Queenscove, who will be camp healer, and Sir Merric of Hollyrose, in charge of camp security." The captain bowed to each of them in turn as they were introduced.
He then waved over a man with the markings of a sergeant on his uniform, "Your Grace, my lord Wyldon, sir knights, Sergeant Landwin here will take charge of your things and show you to where you're to sleep."
Kel watched as the others were led to the headquarters, leaving her to deal with the captain alone, "Lady Knight, what would you have us do here? Will you address the men? Tour what we have? Review the country? I have keys to give you, of course, and I must familiarize you with the state of affairs here. The camp is unnamed. We thought to leave that to you." Kel disliked the slightly condescending tone coming from the Captain but ignored it.
She had no doubt of what was going through his mind, just like it would go through the minds of all of Corus's nobility as soon as word of her command got out. He, no doubt like the rest, would think that Kel was given a command in deference to her husband's old family and their influences, but a soft one as to no tax the female knight. Kel shoved the thought of insecurity aside. What they thought, didn't matter. What Lord Wyldon thought was what mattered, and he would never have assigned Keladry command of so much as her own horse if he didn't think she could handle it, much less an entire refugee camp.
Instead of responding immediately, Kel dismounted Hoshi to conceal the fact that she was uninformed of how to take command and this man was throwing everything at her at once, "How long are you with us, Captain Elbridge?" She asked rather than giving a direct response.
"It's my hope to ride on to the new fort in the morning, milady," His face was unreadable, but his tone was still just holding that slight note of arrogance. "But of course, I'll stay as long as you need of me."
Kel silently resolved to allow him his wish, if only to be rid of the arrogant man. She looked around at the soldiers handling the horses and wagons. Tobe kept Peachblossom, the horse still had only a handful of people who he allowed close, along with the pack horse the Crown had assigned to Kel. She sighed, having procrastinated long enough in giving him a response to his earlier questions, "Is there any time during the day when the men are all assembled? Suppertime, perhaps?"
"Aye, milady. Lunch most of them take where they work," The captain responded immediately.
Kel passed Hoshi's reigns to Tobe, "You may as well tend the horses, Tobe, and bring my things to my quarters." If the captain expected an entitled noblewoman, she could play the part, though she hated it.
Tobe took Hoshi's reigns while bowing in his saddle, Joren had spent the short time with him instructing the boy on proper court manners and Kel had done what she could to expand on that education. He had told Kel it was important for the others to at least see some normal noble behavior from her or they would become uncomfortable with her lax behavior. It showed now, "Very good, my lady." Tobe responded promptly before leading Hoshi away.
"Why don't we tour the camp and you tell me how things are," Kel suggested coolly, turning back to Elbridge. "Let the men work unhindered. There's time enough to talk at supper."
Elbridge looked slightly startled by Kel's attention switching back to him as he fumbled at his belt a moment before a bundle of sticks came free in his hand. Bowing, he offered them to Kel, "Lady knight, I surrender this camp to you. Here are the keys to the mage blasts."
Kel blinked a moment and resisted the urge to sigh, people got so silly over rank sometimes. She then accepted the keys. They were each strung on a leather thong, secured to a ring, and labeled with the location of the mage blasts. With these in her possession, she alone could set off the blasts that would explode and drop the bridge into the river.
"And here are the keys to this place. Allow me to show you where they are used," Elbridge handed over the more conventional keys on an iron ring.
"I wasn't expecting this place to be so big, or so much work to already be done," Kel commented as Elbridge led her around the barracks.
"They did it inside, most of it. Cobbled the floors together in sections in a barn at a homestead nearby. The house was burned, but we could use the barn. They worked all winter, planing boards, whittling pegs, cutting shingles, making nails. These Northman are the fastest woodworkers I've laid eyes on. They say they're used to it, just not so much at one time," Elbridge responded. His tone held some respect for the woodworkers, which was good.
Back outside, he led her to the flagpole, "That long key's for the stocks. Here's another symbol of your office." This time Elbridge handed over a cowhide whip. Kel was grateful that between her Yamani mask and Joren's assistance in cultivating a polite, cool smile, that she was able to conceal her distaste completely. She immediately hung the whip on her belt.
"These convict guards, they need a touch of the lash. It's the only thing they understand," the captain informed her. Kel's opinion of the man was sinking rapidly by this point. Convicts, like anyone else, understood respect for someone they could trust, they just needed someone to trust. After all, the thieves heeded the Rouge, the bandits always had a leader. Kel just needed to establish herself as that authority that they would heed.
"Will they fight?" Kel asked, hoping for more insight into the convicts.
"If they don't want to end up collared, and on the march back to Scanra, they will. They know it. I trained them and the builders on weapons this winter, same as my own men. The convicts' weapons are locked up in headquarters unless there's need. I don't know about Sir Nealan as a healer but tell him he can't let them come whining to him whenever they've a scratch. These prisoners take any excuse to get off work, and they love it when the healer's a soft touch," The Captain went on dropping lower in Kel's opinion, though his tone had lost it's arrogance, though Kel was wondering if it wasn't because she hadn't shown any squeamishness towards the whip. His words seemed to indicate that he thought Neal would be too soft-hearted.
"There's so much room," Kel commented, rather than resorting on scolding the man. He was clearly not compassionate, but he also did at least get the job done, just very differently than how Kel would have done things. "I didn't understand from the map just how much space we have."
"It'll fill up soon, with civilians bringing their clutter and animals," The captain replied looking uncomfortable now. "But it's true we've more to work with than we thought last fall. That's Master Salmalin's doing. My lord was showing him this place, saying how it was the best location for a camp. Master Salmalin opens his mouth and says… something, I don't know what. It… it made my bones ache. The ground close to the hills, it dropped about fifty feet and the ground here starts rising up like and inchworm crawls. Suddenly we've twice the high ground to build on as before. Mages."
He changed the subject, showing her the rest of the camp, which Kel allowed. She happened to like that Master Salmalin had doubled the space. Otherwise, before Joren could coerce others to get the refugees further south, they would be popping out of the walls like sardines. Once they finished with the camp, Kel insisted on inspecting the wall despite Elbridge's token protest that it wasn't necessary. She found, to her pleasure, that the whole thing was sound and sturdy.
Kel also got a brief introduction to the guards that were currently on duty. Almost immediately whispers traveled along the wall. It was the same everywhere, but Kel didn't bother listening to what was said, they would decide whether to respect her or not on their own, not by anything she said or did this instant. Instead, she just gave each a smile and firm handshake.
Kel's first letters reached Stone Mountain less than a week after Joren arrived. He smiled indulgently at them when his chamberlain brought it to him in his study. Joren was tempted to set aside his work to read the two letters immediately but pushed the urge down. Even with his previous work in sorting out the records after his father's death, Joren found that things were still one big jumbled mess. That's what happened, he supposed, when a couple of stubborn and equally determined people spend two decades wrestling for control over a fief. Granted, his mother had ultimately won the game, having used sly and underhanded tactics, but it was still horrific trying to figure out how to reconcile the records his father and mother had separately kept.
This was something that had to be done before he could return south to Corus to persuade his fellows of the necessity of moving the refugees further away from the border. He managed to persevere for two more hours before giving into his craving for some contact with his wife, along with the need for a break. Joren smiled at the seal on the first letter before cracking it. He had presented his lady with her own, personalized ring for the lady of the house of Stone Mountain. He pushed his pleasure at seeing it in wax away before breaking the seal on both letters and scanned the dates to determine which had been sent first. Once he figured that out, he began reading that one.
Kel's letter only briefly expressed how much she was already missing him before transitioning into the meat of her letter, namely, her posting and the fact that she had been given command of the refugee camp that was being established. Joren froze for an indeterminant amount of time while he tried to process the fact that his wife, a woman who hadn't even reached her nineteenth birthday yet, had already been given her first command. It wasn't the fact that she was a commander, in and of itself, that was hard to process. Joren knew first-hand that Kel was a born-leader. It was in her blood, Joren had no doubt, having leeched in while exposed to her parents work as politicians. He even hoped it would carry over well into their children one day.
No, Keladry would be an exemplary commander, Joren had no doubt of that. It was the fact that Lord Wyldon had made Keladry a commander immediately and that General Vanget haMinch had allowed it to happen. Once he managed to get past his initial shock, Joren was able to read the rest of the letter, which was primarily a request for further resources, and mages. He sighed, even his wife was giving him work now. Of course, in her case, it was a reasonable request. Stone Mountain was a vastly wealthy fief. Joren set the letter he finished aside and moved onto the second one. This one made Joren laugh.
Firstly, Kel informed him that she had named the refugee camp Haven. It was so typical of her that Joren could have guessed it himself, if he had taken a moment to think on it. The second thing she informed him of had him in gales of laughter. It turned out that one of the bandits that she had personally been involved in capturing during her second summer camp as a page was among the convict soldiers. Joren would have been concerned about the man being a potential problem, except he had apparently announced to an entire mess hall of soldiers that she had 'gutted ol' Breakbone Dell' calmly while in the face of being ridden down by the bandit.
That had been enough to give Kel a good, if odd, foundation for gaining the men in her command's respect. Adding to that the fact that Dom's squad had been temporarily assigned to Haven while they completed building and Joren had no doubt that it was a matter of a week or two more before Kel had those soldiers following her to the Peaceful Realms and back. That's simply how his wife was. If Joren had learnt anything over the past few years, it was that Kel had a rippling effect on people.
She didn't give rousing, fire-leaden speeches or have the flash and flare of the Lioness. No, his wife held a steady, calm nature that reassured, a keen eye that ferreted out the best way to work things, and a cunning mind that, given time, would doubtless make the great generals of history and legend alike look dimwitted. Kel didn't need fiery speeches, she was a giant, plowing steadily through bad traditions and conservative greed to reveal the rich soil of the results of caring and compassion and then laying the life-giving seeds that came with treating everyone with the respect they earned.
Kel was a woman who made you want to have her respect, because she oozed the natural healthy leadership that people needed to truly thrive. Joren couldn't wait until the war was over and the people of Stone Mountain could finally experience the true force of nature that his wife was. He already got plenty of confused queries by the guards about why he had married the girl and why he allowed her to fight. Joren smirked in a confident manner, reading the remainder of the letter. Those who questioned didn't stop to realize exactly what kind of woman it took to be given a command and work to go through any means to gain the necessary supplies to truly fortify the camp.
Once he finished both letters, Joren wrote his mother to order up the requested supplies and begin the quest for mages. It would take some time on that front, mages willing and capable to be that close to the war front tended to already be in crown service, but Joren was willing to bet that if anyone could ferret out a few good, viable options, his mother could. At the same time, he wrote a letter of Authorization to the Gold Smith's Guild to allow his mother permission to access whatever funds necessary to purchase the supplies. He included stipulations to his mother that they had to be capable of travelling well. His recommendation was salted and smoked meats, grains like rice, preserved foods, things that were pickled, and the things that stayed well, like root vegetables.
Once those letters were completed, Joren wrote to Lalasa, to go with the one the Kel had sent to be passed on. It also gave her a list of instructions, she was to purchase lots of inexpensive but sturdy cloth and if her own apprentices couldn't use the work as practice for themselves, to find decent seamstresses to hire for the work of making of basic clothes for the refugees in various sizes. These people deserved at least decent clothing as he had no doubt that anything other nobles sent north would be older, and less than sturdy. With an added thought, Joren added instructions for Lalasa to also purchase material that could be sent north to be made into blankets and coats for the next winter. He would leave making coats to the refugees, as they would have plenty of time during the summer to make them. He included a letter to the Guild again giving Lalasa permission to withdraw two hundred gold crowns to pay for the work and instructions to her to apply to his mother for more if needed.
He sealed all the letters with his signet ring and then rang for a servant. Once one arrived, he held out the stack of letters, "These are to go to the Corus house. I want them sent with our best rider in the morning."
"Yes, my Lord. Anything else?" The maid asked. "Dinner is almost ready, if you'd like your manservant to assist you with dressing."
Joren glanced over at the window and realized that he had completely skipped lunch in favor of the letters. It was probably a good thing that neither his mother nor Kel were present to scold him for skipping a meal, even if it was unintentional, "Will my uncle be taking his meal in the hall?" Joren asked.
"No, my lord, he left instructions for a meal to be delivered to his study as he is still working," The maid responded easily.
"Very well, no point in making the servants play pomp and circumstance for one man. Just have a tray delivered to my study as well. I also have work to complete. After that, you all are free for the evening. I can see myself to bed," Joren stated, turning back to his desk. He still needed to write back to Kel.
The maid gapped at Joren before finally responding, "Very good, my lord. I will see that it's done."
"Yes, thank you," Joren responded as he drew more blank paper towards himself and got to work on his letter to his wife.
He was oblivious to the shock that reverberated through the castle once the maid got to the kitchens. He had no way of knowing that his behavior was just as unusual to these servants as Kel's was to most commoners. Lord Burchard had never been considerate enough to not insist on the pomp and circumstance. His father had always been convinced that servants that weren't overworked, weren't worth their pay. It had only been loyalty to Lady Verene and the secretly given considerations from that lady that allowed for any long standing servants.
The fact that the new lord was even kinder was baffling. Of course, they knew the rumors that had spread throughout the kingdom of Lord Joren's new wife, but no noble could be a knight and that compassionate. The two simply didn't meld. Of course, she had to be unorthodox, to want to be a knight at all, but nobles simply didn't go about rescuing animals, caring for immortals, and maintain a flock of sparrows. The only person known to do that was the Wild Mage. Still, they weren't going to argue with the lord's generosity. The maid returned with Lord Joren's meal and then they all relaxed for a calm meal in the servants' hall.
A week later, while Joren was doing a casual inspection of the local village, finding things that needed repair from exposure to the harsh mountains winter, he was approached by a group of villagers, led by the village headman and the local Mithran priest. Joren sighed, wondering what they could want. Oddly, the group of villagers looked to be four couples ranging from mid-twenties to their forties. For two of the couples, the husbands were men-at-arms that Joren recognized by their uniforms, though he hadn't gotten to know them personally yet.
"Milord, please forgive our interruption of your walk. We've been hearing some of the servants from the castle saying that your lady wife is currently in command of the refugee camp for the war, and a rumor has started that you might be looking to shelter some here. Is that correct?" The headman asked, Joren wasn't certain why but the headman didn't look upset and the four couples were looking hopeful, if anything. The Mithran priest looked vaguely indifferent, though still interested.
"That's correct, though on a more permanent basis than just sheltering for the war. I was hoping to employ some of our local builders to repair some of the vacant cottages. Also, from the reports I've read, I understand we currently only have one elderly wainwright in the village and no real craftsmen. I was hoping that some of the empty cottages could be taken by some of the refugees. Is there a problem with that?" Joren scanned their faces and if anything, they looked more excited, not less.
"None at all, milord. In fact, I have mentioned to Lady Verene in the past that we were in need of a more diverse skillset within the village. However, some of the villagers… well they would like to know if there are going to be any orphans brought to Stone Mountain," The headman stated.
Joren glanced at the hopeful looking couples and it dawned on him what was going on. These were childless couples. Couples unable to have children for some reason or another, or perhaps had lost their children to sickness and were too old to safely have more, as Joren guessed was the case for the older two couples. He smiled, "I image the war will be creating a fair few orphans. I admit though, that I'm reluctant to bring them here if I don't have the assurance of a place for them to stay, though I'm sure worst case, we could take them and train them as servants."
"Milord, please, I lost my only boy two winters back to a spidren attack. My husband and I have no other children and while I desperately long for more, the local midwife says that my body couldn't handle another child," The youngest woman burst out. She couldn't have been more than twenty-three, meaning her child had likely been young, possibly even an infant, a devastating blow for any parent.
There was similar clamoring from three other women, all saying they would gleefully kill to have a child or two to call their own. It took a few moments for the husbands and the Headman to calm the woman, but Joren smiled in amusement. Once they were quiet again, Joren finally gave them the answer they were looking for, "I imagine my Lady Wife will be happy to hear that at least some of the orphans will be finding such loving new homes. It may take me some time to arrange for the children and the other refugee families to be sent here, after all we don't want them traveling unprotected, but I'm sure that will simply allow for you all to prepare accommodations for the children."
The group of couples immediately burst into excited discussions while giving Joren barely respectable curtsies and bows before departing, leaving Joren with just the headman and Mithran priest.
The headman looked at Joren with relief and approval, "Thank you, for your kindness Milord. Sir Lionel had said that you was cut from a different cloth than your father, but it is gratifying to see it firsthand. Now, there are currently five cottages vacant and in need of repair. I imagine those four couples might be willing volunteers to help set those to rights, but in truth what we really need are two really skilled wood workers, as we have far more work than a single elderly wainwright can handle, and three farming families. Three of the cottages are located on good farming land that is going to waste because the previous residents vacated when your late father's taxes became too burdensome on them."
Joren nodded in understanding, "I will be sure to tell Lady Keladry the needs and I'm sure she will find suitable families." With this the headman made a deep, respectful bow to Joren and departed.
All that was left was the Mithran priest, "I brought this matter up with the late Lord Burchard some four years ago, but the matter was neglected and ignored and now the situation grows worse. The prior Goddess priestess for the village died four years ago and none has been gotten to replace her. Furthermore, I am aging, well past my prime and it is beyond time that I have an assistant at the very least. For the past four years, I have done my best to preform the care and maintenance to both the Mithran temple as well as its rites, but also, I have tried to keep the small Goddess temple the previous lords have only ever barely allowed from falling to shambles.
"You can see the damage it has already done to the village to have an improperly maintained Goddess temple, and shabbily small one at that, in the village. Four families unable to have children, those who have been blessed with children are a pitiful few. It is a disgrace to Stone Mountain that needs to be rectified immediately. When the previous Goddess Priestess died, Lord Burchard laughed, laughed I tell you, at the idea of needing a replacement. If this goes on much longer, the gods will turn their backs on Stone Mountain and we will doubtless all feel the dire consequences," The Priest finished off his tirade. Joren realized he didn't even know his name, to his shame.
"Forgive me, Master…" He prompted.
"Master Ellis Brighteye, My Lord," Master Ellis supplied with an indignant huff.
"I apologize, Master Ellis. I had no notion that the Goddess temple has been so neglected these past four years or I would have seen to it immediately. If you would be kind enough to write to the training temples in the City of the Gods, I will happily supply the necessary fees for replacing the Goddess Priestess and see to an assisting Priest is sent to aid you. In the meantime, perhaps there are some devout women and men, perhaps teens that could be spared, in the village that I can arrange to be paid to assist you in the care of both temples until when the new Priest and Priestess arrive, so that things will be in good order when they arrive?" Joren could tell he had said exactly the right things as the elderly Priest seemed to gain a satisfied expression.
"Yes, that would be quite wise, my lord. I rather suspect with a man who respects the gods as you do, things might turn back for the better. I shall write the letters to the training temples immediately. I fear the City of the Gods will soon be embroiled in the conflict on our northern border and I don't want any further delays in proper order being restored," Master Ellis stated firmly before bowing the exact amount that was proper before departing.
Joren sighed and glanced around the village, he would have to put off the unofficial inspection until the next day. Master Ellis was right, a lack of proper representation to the Goddess was very likely the source of so few births in the village. Another point of damage his father had idiotically dealt to Stone Mountain. No doubt it wasn't just the taxes that had driven those families off. Joren had meant what he said too, if he had known the previous year, he would have dealt with it immediately after his father's death.
He walked briskly back to the castle, pulled out the special lock box intended for transporting gold, put fifteen gold crowns into a coin purse, fifty in another and stuck them both in the box and locked it. He then sat down to write a letter to both training temples. The one to the temple for the Goddess included a formal apology for the lack of proper maintenance and respect towards the Goddess temple and assurances that he wouldn't allow it to happen again. The fifty crowns were to pay the fee for assigning a properly trained priestess to the temple and the rest a donation to the temple as a symbol of his apology. The fifteen crowns to the Mithran training temple was the standard five gold crowns as a fee for assigning a new priest to the local Mithran temple and ten crowns in donation to ensure that Mithros didn't take offense at Joren donating to just the Goddess temple.
He then summoned his uncle who looked appalled at the realization that such an idiotic occurrence had happened, and he had been unaware. It was something that he agreed needed immediate rectification, assured Joren that his work was already sorted, and he would be happy to go with the letters and money to the City of the Gods. He then cursed his dead brother for his level of idiocy when there had been a recent and much more dramatic example of what happened when one was neglectful to the gods in Carthak. Emperor Ozorne had brought about famine, unrest, and his eventual downfall for disrespect on a far greater scale. Still, even as prosperous a fief as Stone Mountain was playing with fire by neglecting proper respect to the Goddess.
With that sorted, he sent a servant to collect the letters from Master Ellis and then ordered that a squad of men-at-arms leave with the letters and box along with Joren's uncle to the City of the Gods. He wanted them moving quickly, to get everything sorted before fighting picked up on the border. With luck they would reach the City of the Gods and be back within a week and a half.
Joren's response to Kel had come as quickly as she could expect given the distance for letters to travel, three weeks into her position as Haven's commander. By this point all the bunkhouses and storage sheds were completed and they were expecting more refugees to be arriving any day now and it was that same day the first batch arrived. As it was, Kel didn't know about the letter until she had gotten to her quarters after a long day of dealing with the refugees from Goatstrack, Numair Salmalin, who escorted them and the animals that they had brought with them.
Their arrival had come just after Kel had finished calming Neal to prevent an unnecessary explosion. After Neal was nearly blinded by Master Salmalin's magic, Kel sent word to Merric so that he would know the refugees were arriving. Kel went to help unload the wagons and cart. While she worked, she spotted one of the cooks nearby, "What is it, Einur?" She asked kindly enough. He was a decent man, from what she knew of him and not one to interrupt for no reason.
The man cleared his throat, "Milady, if… if I might be havin' a word?" He requested after hesitating for a moment.
"So, are the men all after you, then, milady? Couldn't find a husband in the south, so you came here to pick and choose," Fanche was nearby and had heard Einur's request. Kel groaned while Dom and his men immediately burst into laughter. She knew it was pure amusement at Fanche's expense as they all knew what Joren looked like, never mind how he treated her.
Einur immediately snapped at Fanche with a glare, "You ain't been here these last weeks, so you keep silent till you know who you're talkin' of. She's been workin' curst hard…"
"Enough," Kel interrupted, though she was happy to know that he approved of her. "None of that. Let's not start any brawls."
Kel led the protesting man away by the arm, "But milady, she's wrong. She's not seen you laboring like one of us. Never mind that Sergeant Dom says you've got a wealthy and handsome and carin' husband in Lord Joren of Stone Mountain."
"She'll get her chance. What did you need to say?" Kel stated firmly to redirect the conversation to the point at hand.
"Oh… um… Lady, it might… it might be easier… if… if you great folk took supper at headquarters, like the captain done. At least until… well, just for a time," Einur looked distinctly uncomfortable.
Kel propped her hands on her hips, "Spit it out, Einur. There's work to do. Why change our meals?"
The man scratched his head before practically whispering, "Till that mage is gone." The emphasis on mage held a sour note.
"Which mage? We've got sev… You mean Master Numair," It dawned on Kel as he was the only new one.
Einur nodded, clearly uncomfortable. Kel protested, "But he's a fine man. He taught Sir Nealan and Sir Merric and me. He's a little scatterbrained, to be sure, but he is a black robe…"
She cut off when Einur gave her a pathetic look, "Milady, you wasn't here that time he croaked and land just moved around, like giant snakes was under it. He makes us nervous, and nervous cooks burn soup."
"All the cooks feel this way?" She asked, noticing the 'us' in his statement.
Einur nodded. Kel sighed, "We'll need someone to serve, if we're to be formal." She pointed out.
"Your boy says he'll help," he responded almost too quickly.
"Very well. Notify everyone who's to dine at headquarters. I have to talk to the new people in the morning, you know. I wanted to do it like I talked to you men, only over breakfast."
"We can send for you, when folks are finishing in the morning."
Kel smiled crookedly, a habit she picked up from Joren, "An answer for everything, it seems. Go on, then. Back to work."
"Bless you, lady," the cook said with a deep bow. "Thank you."
Kel returned to unloading the wagon before going to locate Fanche. The woman was helping build a fire pit when Kel found her, "Mistress Fanche, I would like a word in private, if you please."
"I'm busy," Fanche responded dismissively.
"If you please, Mistress Fanche," Kel's tone made it clear that it wasn't really a request.
The woman made a show of dusting off her hands before following Kel down the long strip of earth between the refugee barracks. Once they reached the other end, near the wall, Kel turned to address the woman. She gave Fanche no time to speak before going into what needed to be said, "It doesn't matter what you think of me. If you have a criticism or an insult you'd like to deliver, then take me aside and tell me, I don't care. Though I must say, I do get bored with folk claiming I became a knight either because I'm a slut or I'm desperate for a husband. That last one will disperse quickly enough though, given that I married Lord Joren of Stone Mountain this past winter. You'd think people would try to be a little more original. I am surprised to hear such talk from you."
Fanche grimaced, "Why? Because I'm another woman, and everyone knows women are sweet and helpful with each other? Because we're all sisters under the Goddess?"
"No. Because I expect you to know what it's like, to be a woman and command. Lord Wyldon said you rallied your people when Goatstrack fell. You took charge and fought till you got them to Giantkiller. I know you must have had men who argued and balked and nearly got you all killed. I'd hoped you'd see you and I are in the same boat and keep your disagreements between the two of us," Kel was nearly scolding the older woman.
"You break my heart, little girl," Fanche responded sarcastically. "So, they told you to command here. You know what you command? A killing ground. Those northern leeches will batten on us whenever they like. Gods forbid our might nobles would pay to feed and guard us inside those stone walls that our families built. The can always replace commoners. So, they give us walls of twigs, protector knights so green I can smell the sap, and a handful of guards recovering from wounds or half dead from the mines."
"You think I don't know that? While I'm standing here, my lord husband is currently arranging to take as many refugee families and orphans as Stone Mountain reasonability take in, and then he is going back to Corus to convince other better-minded nobles to do the same. We are not all cold-hearted villains, Mistress Fanche. My mother-in-law will doubtless be sending additional supplies our way. I see it all just as plain as you. What I'd like you to see is that if we aren't all united inside these walls, noble and common, soldiers and cooks, male and female, then the enemy will take us all. So, think about that, will you? And insult me in private. You made a fair fool of yourself by implying I would set aside Joren of Stone Mountain for a common cook. As well as Einur does cook, nothing would sway me from my husband," Kel finished before giving Fanche a final nod. "Welcome to Haven, Mistress Fanche."
With that Kel retreated to headquarters, letting Dom's squad tell the new comers what they found so hilarious about Fanche's off color comment. Just outside her small office, Numair lounged on a bench. Kel sighed, "Master Numair, I'm sorry, you should have sent someone to find me. It was me you wanted, wasn't it?"
Numair smiled pleasantly, "Yes, I am here to see you. I have dispatches for you from Raoul, Wyldon, and Vanget. I also brought you clerks." He pointed to the open door opposite Kel's office.
Kell peered at them, wondering why she would be sent clerks before understanding. Clerks made lists, wrote letters, kept accounts, drew up work rosters, all the things she was currently doing. She smiled in relief, "Gods be thanked. The way soldiers carry on when you ask them to write things down, you'd think it was worse than fighting. I've been doing a lot of it myself rather than argue with them. Excuse me."
Kel went over and greeted them, introducing herself and giving them basic instructions on who to go to for things, and where they could sleep. Once they were settled with Tobe handling them, Kel returned to Numair, letting him into her office, "Tobe will see them right. Please, sit down. You say you have dispatches?"
Numair immediately handed over several folded and sealed documents. Kel murmured an apology before breaking the seals and beginning to read them while Numair waited. The bad news was that Raoul wanted Dom and his squad at Fort Steadfast before the serious fighting began. Frasrlund, the port city at the mouth of the Vassa River was already besieged. Vanget wrote that was everywhere along the border. In addition to Frasrlund, Seabeth and Seajen, her uncle's fief, had fought off ship raids. Raoul's fort had turned back a probing attack of two hundred warriors.
Along the northeastern border, small parties of Scanrans had all struck on the same day, resulting in major tangles as the army tried to defend all the threatened villages and forts. The City of Gods reported killing devices seen in their hills. Kel imagined armies on the move and hated the walls she was bound to, keeping her from the real fight.
Lord Wyldon wrote that Numair carried a verbal report to be heard by Kel, Neal, Merric, and Duke Baird. He also wrote that while enemy patrols had been seen near Fort Mastiff, none had been caught. Finally, Kel was ordered to report in person about the progress in Haven. He expected her and an escort at Fort Mastiff in seven days, when he would have more supplies for her. In the meantime, she was to expect the refugees from Tirrsmont and Anak's Eyrie as they were already on the road and would soon reach Haven.
Kel deferred the spoken messages until after dinner. She was unnerved when Numair caught her with his eyes and seemed able to hold her with his eyes. She did learn something from it though as she learned that mages could use a focus for force a person to pay attention and obey them. After that, Kel let him spell the walls and gates as she gave him a tour around the camp. During the tour there was an attack by a raiding party of thirty. At first it seemed that simple until killing devices came up the eastern wall.
She took out the first that hadn't made it completely over the wall with a crossbow and Numair pinned the second with a pile of logs allowing Kel to take out the second with another shot. By the time she had dealt with the two killing devices, the battle to the north was finished. It made the point to Kel clear though, the war had truly begun and Wyldon was right, she would see plenty of fighting here. Kel decided to set up a training roster and talk to everyone about what was going to happen next, between Dom's squad leaving and the like.
After dinner that night, Numair gave the verbal reports, he created an image of a foot-tall killing device, "In addition to the two killed here today, nineteen of these things have been reported in the country between the City of the Gods and Seabeth. Nineteen that we're sure of. Villagers near Sigis Hold caught one in the kind of pit they use to trap bears, then shoveled it full of oil, hay, and coal and burned it until it half melted. None of the others have been take, well, 'alive' is the best term. But we finally know more about who is creating them.
"The City of the Gods expelled a mage student, Blayce Younger of Galla, six years ago. The charges were necromancy, particularly the enslavement of the spirits of the dead. It seems he has an aptitude for it," Numair explained.
"So, he uses he aptitude to kill children. He murders them and uses their spirits to fuel the killing devices," Kel whispered numbly. The others besides Numair drew the sign against evil on their chests.
"You sound sure," Numair examined Kel closely.
"I was there when three of the things were killed," She reminded him. "The white vapors that come out of their heads? They have the voices of children."
"He could us any spirit," Baird pointed out, his expression one of disgust. "I wager he uses those of captive foreigners so Maggur will ignore, and make his own people ignore, what this Blayce does. It disgusts me, what people allow, if they think those who commit vile acts can help them to achieve some goal."
Numair made the image of the killing device disappear before continuing, "All this means that refugee camps are just storehouses of fuel for Blayce. We've sent a request south for wagons to take evert refugee out of reach of the border. I think I've explained things in frank enough terms that even the Council of Lords and the Council of Commons will see there's no choice. They'll vote us the funds and find the land to house them. His majesty says he won't let the councils adjourn for the summer until they do. Until then, we'll have to manage as best we can."
"I know Joren is already working on making space for as many refugees at Stone Mountain can take, but I'm not certain how much room we have because I haven't been there yet," Kel admitted.
"But we know who's responsible, and these devices could change the course of this war. Surely we ought to be sending teams of assassins to settle this Blayce," Merric pointed out.
"Do we know where he is?" Dom countered. "There's an awful lot of Scanra out there, and most of it's straight up and down."
Numair answered with a shake of his head, "All we know is that he's not in the capitol at Hamrkeng. Our spies searched the place from cellar to attic. He's not with King Maggur."
"And anyone who might know is too scared to talk," Neal finished for him.
"That's the size of it. We'll continue to search, and to bolster the defenses of the camps. At least Haven can look to someone who's killed three devices," Numair nodded to Kel.
"With lots of help," She reminded him, refusing to take all the credit. She wished once more that she knew where Blayce was so that she could hunt him down and deal with him. She then came up with another idea to up the fortification of Haven which Numair offered to help with by moving boulders.