Gara shifted in the saddle, shading his eyes with a hand as he scanned the distant forest line. Captain Kiro sat beside him, frowning darkly, caressing the hilt of the sword riding sheathed in its saddle harness. The man was uneasy and justly so with a city and outlying provinces to worry about and bandits very likely on the warpath. They'd seen the ones who'd dared the gates of Sta-Veron on their way. Established patrols about the city and tripled the guard about the walls, but a good bandit -- just like a good ninja could bypass the most strident effort of watchful guardsmen. A city was just too big to fully isolate. They might have done it in winter, when the travelers were few and far between, but with the onslaught of spring, merchants and mountaineers arrived daily at the gates of the city.
"He should have killed them all." Kiro said blackly. "It was a mistake not to."
Gara grunted, thinking the same thing himself, but surprised to hear Kiro vocally admonish his lord's actions. Kiro was Kall-Su's staunchest supporter. But Kiro was seeing what was obvious to anyone close to the matter; that his lord was shaken and not behaving in his usual manner.
"I should have had it done myself, once they were outside the walls." Kiro said.
"Maybe." Gara agreed. "You would have caught hell for it."
"Better that than have them sparking the fires of revenge among Helo Vran's men. Nomads for the gods sake! No one commands the nomads. If what they said was true -- they are not a people I wish to see spill over into our lands."
"Can't be worse than the beastmen across the eastern mountains."
Kiro gave him a wary, strained look. "I've commanded beastmen and fought against them. They're slow witted with crude goals. Nomads are smart and believe me, any people who live year round on the Tundra are tougher than you might imagine. I should have killed those bandits."
"Well, its too late now. Unless you want to hunt them down . . ."
"No. But they will return sooner or later."
Probably, Gara thought, riding back towards the walls of Sta-Veron. Nothing was ever easy, nor did the short periods of peace in his life seem destined to linger. Arshes was on the wall when he rode in. She called down to him, a shadowed figure against the glare of morning sunlight.
"No marauders on our doorstep?" she called down.
"Not at the moment." He dismounted, handing the reins to one of the soldiers at the guard station. He joined her on the wide walk atop the wall. She was lightly armored today. Shoulder armor, bracers. Shin guards over white leather trousers that hugged her slim legs. She wore her great sword across her back. Very beautiful against the pale sky. Very dangerous. She had about her an anxious look. Tense and nervous. She paced along the walk, and Gara strolled at her side, figuring she would talk to him when she was ready. He had not seen her last night after the meeting between Kall-Su and the bandits. He'd been out all night with Kiro making certain the bandits were well and truly gone from Sta-Veron.
"So, how did it go last night?"
"You haven't heard?"
"Not from you."
"Bandit chieftain wants to become something more. Kall didn't take his demands well. There are likely to be incursions along the northern border."
"Yes. Yes. That I understand. I was told that you and Darshe had words."
"Oh, you mean that. Well just a few actually."
"And?"
"And nothing. He was unusually civil."
"Civil as compared to the last time you and he had words?"
Gara shrugged.
"I hate this." She hissed. "I hate you being at odds with him. I hate being angry at him because of it. I hate the fact that he won't talk to me."
"I wish I knew what to do, Arshes." Gara sighed. "He's going to feel what he wants to feel and you or I can't change that. He's getting better, I think. I'm alive, aren't I?"
She sniffed, as if that statement was not one that amused her. She turned her back to the outer wall and looked at him. "How can he punish me for finding you when he abandoned me long ago for Yoko?"
"He's a hypocrite and he's selfish. You didn't know this?"
She drew her brows as if it were only starting to sink in. Gods, there was a time she would have flown into a defensive rage if anyone had dared to denounce the center of her universe. Now she merely scowled darkly and gave the accusations deep and serious consideration. She nodded finally, as if giving her pledge of approval.
"I think," she said. "That I shall speak to Yoko. Perhaps at dinner tonight."
Both Gara's brows shot up. Arshes and Yoko were not the best of friends. Arshes generally considered Yoko a plague that had infected Schneider to which there seemed no cure. It was not a point of view that provoked deep conversation. "About what, prey tell?"
"Well, she seems to have this mystical power to sway him that no one else does. Perhaps she might influence him in this."
Right. Yoko would happily convince Schneider to make nice to his former lover. Yoko wasn't jealous of Arshes at all. Just like Arshes wasn't resentful of Yoko. Gara honestly didn't know what he felt about the subject. Uneasy at best. What he did know was that he personally did not wish to be present during such a conversation.
Cook went to particular trouble with supper. Probably because last night's goings on had stirred everyone in the castle into gathering together to discuss the ramifications and possibilities. Those of Kiro's commanders that he did not have patrolling the forests to the north had all made appearances, with their ladies in close attendance. Geo Note who was to leave on the morrow had invited the old priest of Eno Marta to come and converse with him on his last evening in Sta-Veron. The city constable had come at Kiro's behest to discuss keeping a closer eye to suspicious travelers come to market. The man had drawn in his wake a few of the local gentry who had occasion -- and enough prestige and wealth -- to present themselves in Sta-Veron castle. They brought with them a gimpish juggler and an acrobat to entertain the host during the meal and the doubtless interesting conversation that would take place after it. The second best table was pulled up and sat perpendicular to the main one to seat the unusual number of diners. The lesser tables where the common guardsmen and those servants who were off duty sat, were lined against the walls.
Yoko had not seen so many folk since winter festival. And then she'd hardly been in the mood to socialize, having been recently and cruelly abandoned by Rushie. The thought of those dark days brought on a pang of disquiet, which she quickly forced away lest it ruin the good mood she found herself enjoying. They were all so worried about bandits plaguing the north, as if they hadn't enough wizardly power gathered here to dispense with an army of ruffians. But, men were men and would dwell on violent goings on with single minded determination. She had no interest in being dragged into conversations about villages raided and traps laid in the mountains. She had rather go and spend time with father, who was leaving tomorrow morning. Rushie declined to join her where Geo Note sat. He did it with such snide distaste that she glared reproachfully before disengaging her arm from him and marching away. Let him fend for himself then, listening to boring guard talk. Goddess knew he wouldn't condescend to talk to Gara, whose company he enjoyed -- when he wasn't mad at him. And Kall-Su never lowered himself to attend these impromptu gatherings -- even before his present malaise. He hated crowds of noisy, chattering people.
She sat down next to father, his aide moving a chair down to make room for her. The old priest nodded to her warily, no doubt vividly recalling the fight with Rushie on the doorstep of his temple. The old hedge witch, Ayntha, sat across from Geo Note, having come to bid the man who had helped her flee the wrath of the lumber baron Thrax farewell. She had sat up a little tent within the market to sell her charms. Here in the north such things were well received. Yoko wasn't sure, but she thought Rushie had had a hand in helping the old woman start anew here. He hadn't said as much -- of all the things in the world to be modest about, he chose charity -- but Yoko knew he rather liked the old woman, and she'd come with nothing but the clothes on her back. Certainly not enough to set up a charm and portent business on her own.
The kitchen girls brought out pictures of sweet cider and heady, dark ale, baskets of fresh baked bread along with crocks of honey sweetened butter. The hum of masculine conversation buzzed about the hall. The lighter tones of women talking eagerly about what might be expected to come in with the spring trade caravans lay underneath it. There was concern there as well, that the tension last fall with the south might effect the trade. That the few luxuries they had here might be withheld. One hoped not. One hoped that Larz had discovered the truth behind the Prophet and managed to sway the opinion of the people. One hoped fervently against the conflict of religion that Geo Note thought possible.
The fool was bouncing before their table, juggling four red balls, jabbering nonsense. Father's aide found him terrible amusing. Yoko found him a bit tiresome and just on the verge of annoying. She pondered giving him advice not to attempt to entertain Rushie, whose tolerance for such idiocies was practically non-existent. But the juggling fool bounded away to harass the acrobat who was flipping and jumping across the cleared floor. A spattering of laughter went up around the room when the fool collided with the acrobat and the both of them went sprawling.
Yoko sighed. There was a decided lack of refined taste here in the cold north.
If Kall-Su had known there were so many people gathered in his hall he would never have come down. Of late the collection of people that actually ate together had been dwindling. Schneider had been in a mood with Gara and Arshes, so both ninja master and Thunder Empress had been leaving the castle and venturing into the city to find dinner and whatever else they partook of that kept them late into the night and sometimes well into morning. Yoko and Schneider often missed meals altogether and one could not help but hear Keitlan grumbling about the two of them closeting themselves in Yoko's chambers. So it was mostly just a few guards and servants that sat along the lesser tables. The kitchen staff ate in the kitchen, everyone else, including the other domestics ate in the hall. One had to assume the girl did too.
Although he had to admit to a certain ignorance in the hierarchy of his staff or where the girl was in it, she had to eat sometime. And after having her creep into his thoughts on more than one occasion during the day, coming down to take his dinner in the hall on the off chance that she might be about somewhere had not seemed a far fetched thing to do. It was his castle after all. No one might fault him for taking dinner where ever he wished. Besides he dared not --- most assuredly dared not -- go so far as to inquire of Keitlan or any of her overly talkative staff when and where a laundry girl too her meals.
He was not even certain he really wanted to do more than merely see her in the flesh to concrete the vision of her that had teased him all day.
He almost quit the idea altogether and retreated upstairs when the noise and the sense of a great many bodies hit him. He was hesitating on the bottom step when Arshes slunk silently down the stairs behind him -- obviously picking up some of Gara's habits -- and drawled silkily.
"Going to bless us with your presence tonight, Kall-Su? Who should we offer thanks to?"
He glared at her. But he had to step down onto the hall floor to make way for her, and she wrapped her fingers about his arm, as if she needed escort into the room. Or more likely, and more accurately, she thought he might retreat back into the recesses of his upstairs haven. She had always taken pleasure in foiling his designs.
He called her a bad name under his breath and she laughed, those great elvin ears sharper than a fox on the hunt.
"You too." She was amused at his expense, but it was strained. There was something else on her mind.
"Look, Darshe, I've brought you company." She accompanied him to his place, foremost and center in the midst of this gathering. Schneider looked up at her darkly, then ignored her and focused on Kall-Su. He half smiled and lifted his cup.
"I thought you only came down to piss off bandits and create frozen, bloody messes on the carpet?"
He thought evil things about Schneider too, but with so many eyes upon him, had no recourse but to slip into his chair and let a serving girl bring him a cup and fill it , then place a clean platter, knife and two pronged fork before him. Arshes stood a moment more between his and Schneider's chairs, then went away without a word.
"Why are all these people here?" He took a deep drought of his ale. Schneider was toying with his. He leaned upon the arm of his chair to list closer to Kall-Su. "Why, to talk about last night's goings ons. Obviously these people are starving for entertainment to get so worked up over a little thing like that. A little war would probably do them good."
"Gods." Kall-Su rolled his eyes in annoyance. He let his attention wonder to the lesser tables, where guardsmen and servants broke bread and drank coarser ale than that which graced the main table. The girl wasn't there. He really hadn't expected her to be. Not amidst this crowd. She was a shy creature and not much inclined towards boisterous conversation. A dislike he shared.
An acrobat cartwheeled across the floor, a pantalooned fool, galloping after on all fours, barking like a dog. He stared, aghast. And people were uneasy that bandits had occupied this hall. If they were going to attempt entertainment, at least let it be palatable. Which brought to mind the girl and her lute that she took into town to ply her talents nights. How disconcerting that the drunken patrons of some lowly tavern were able to hear her sing and the lord of the city was beset with barking fools and squealing acrobats. Not fair at all, when he very much wanted to hear her sing again.
A serving girl sat a platter of select meats before him. Others came with steaming accompaniments. He touched the girl's wrist before she could withdraw.
"I cannot eat with those creatures scampering about the floor. Go tell your mistress to have them withdraw."
She nodded, wide eyed that he'd spoken to her. She started to withdraw and he took a breath and plunged forward with the request he truly wished. "There's a girl who works in the castle who plays the lute, isn't there?"
"Yes, milord. Lily."
"Find her and ask her to come and play for us."
The girl nodded again and hurried away. Schneider stared at him, both brows raised. Kall pretended not to notice it.
"You know very well what her name is?" Schneider accused lazily. "And you know very well she's a minstrel. What are you playing at, Kall?"
"Nothing. She sings well, if I recall and anything would be preferable to those two fools."
Schneider sat back, swirling his ale, a sly smile twitching at the corner of his lips. "Have you ever been able to lie to me and me not know it? Ever?"
Kall sniffed disdainfully, concentrating on picking a few pieces of meat from the tray. Anything but meet Schneider's too penetrating blue stare. "I don't recall ever lying to you."
"Ha! Right. Shall I name some specifics?"
"I would prefer not." Stiffly.
Schneider leaned in close and whispered. "You can play Ice Lord to everybody else, but I can read behind those pretty eyes of yours. You're after something. The little slave girl? She made an impression, humm? Why not just take her?"
"I am not. She did not. She is no longer a slave."
"Oh, that's right. You freed her of that burden. Magnanimous gesture. Since when did you start caring about the little people on a personal basis?"
Kall cut his eyes about to glare at Schneider. "You are offensive. I do not wish to continue this conversation." He hissed it in a low undertone, having no wish to entertain those around them.
"When's the last time you took a lover, Kall? I can't even remember. What's the point of having all the power if you can't enjoy it? Or won't? Did you take vows of celibacy behind by back?"
Kall-Su truly, dearly wanted to summon a particularly nasty blast of power and smite Schneider where he sat. Only it would take out half the room with it and probably not accomplish the goal of sealing Schneider's lips. There were times when one could truly despise him. Then he happened to observe something equally as devastating as a high impact implosion spell and waved a hand across the room.
"Why don't you worry about your own affairs. It looks as if Yoko and Arshes are commencing negotiations."
Schneider's head jerked up. He straightened in his chair, eyes following Kall's gesture. Arshes had approached Yoko, bent to speak to her, and the two of them were retreating down to the end of the second table where there were a few empty chairs and a slim buffer of privacy.
"What the hell is that about?" he muttered.
Kall could have cared less, as long as it diverted Schneider's predatory instincts away from him.
Yoko was wary, to say the least, of an invitation to private converse from the Thunder Empress. Arshes Nei, under the best circumstances they had ever shared -- those times when Rushie was far and away and not thought to be coming back -- had never engaged Yoko in private and heartfelt dialogue. She did not know quite what to say in the midst of such an unforeseen situation, so she smiled weakly and waved a hand to encompass the room at large.
"Rather a large turn out for dinner tonight."
"I want to talk about Schneider." Arshes had never been one for trivial conversation. Her brown eyes bore into Yoko's as if she were preparing for battle. Yoko blinked, eyes traveling reflexively to the main table where the aforementioned subject of discussion sat.
"All right." Yoko agreed carefully. "What about him?"
Arshes took a breath. "He hasn't spoken a word to me since -- since he walked in on Gara and I in my room a week past. It is not reasonable or fair for him to hold such a grudge. Not after all the times he's done the same to me."
Oh, that was a thinly veiled way of saying, not after he betrayed me with you. Yoko chewed her lip uncomfortably, uncertain what was expected of her. Of why Arshes chose to come to her with such a complaint.
"No," she agreed softly. "It's not fair. I'm sorry he hurts you."
"I want you to talk to him."
"I have. I made him promise not to harm Gara."
"Gara's not who he's really angry at. He'll speak to Gara. I need you to make him forgive me."
Yoko blinked at the sudden pain in Arshes Nei's voice. The half elf truly did anguish over Rushie's scorn. "I can't make him do anything, Arshes."
"If not you, then no one can. You can make him see reason. For some reason I've never fathomed, he'll listen to you when he will no one else. Please. I know I lost a part of him to you -- and I don't covet it now that I have Gara --"
Yoko lifted a dubious brow at that. Arshes seemed not to notice at all.
"-- but I miss the friendship we shared. I miss the Darshe who raised me and taught me magic and how to fight and how to stand up for myself. Talk to him. Get him to talk to me."
Not quite what Yoko had expected of dinner conversation. Not what she had expected at all. But she was a glutton for defending hurt feelings and Arshes had as bruised a look in her eyes as Yoko had ever seen.