Tamora Pierce owns the entire universe of this story, all the characters,
the world they live on and the very air they use to sustain life. Only the
vague plot and dialog I have attributed to TP's characters in this tale
belongs to me. I freely give my permission for Tamora Pierce to use any or
all of the plot/story/dialog/concept if she so desires in any way she
desires.
Anyone has my permission to use anything from this and my other story in any way they want. So have at it, expand, add, enhance, just think if you can write a fan fiction based on a story that has a copyright why not a fan fiction based on a fan fiction. So tale spinners, spin on.
Blame all lousy spelling and grammar on the California Education System. Thank the Lord for spell checkers.
Remember, when you read this I am using the same spell as Tamora, I'm writing in Imperial and the magic spell is enabling you to read in your native tongue. So some of you are seeing miles, feet and inches and some are seeing Kilometers, meters and centimeters. And moon cycles are translated into years, months, weeks, days, etc. Also the numbering system is translated from the logical base 12 system to the count on the fingers and toes stupid base 10. You're going to have to go to your math teachers to find out how to do it because I don't know. (Evil laugh)
Chapter 18
Three months after the winter solstice Briar was standing on top of the east gate tower of Green Acres, due to the proximity to the sea the weather rarely got cold enough freeze so the ground was ready to be plowed. The farmers had come to the fortress and picked up the trained plow horses, harness and plow.
Briar was looking into a fortress compound filled with a fog that would burn off soon, seeing in his minds eye all that had been accomplished in the seven months since they had taken over the estate, the first group of twenty five had arrived and cleaned the retainers kitchen and the common room located just to the left of the main gate, while the cooks brought the supplies that the Duke had shipped, the rest cleaned the housing located in the southwest corner of the compound. The guards had already cleaned the section that they were using, but the building was large enough to hold, a full guard complement plus all the retainers for the estate, the apartments were designed to sleep four singles or with a change of furnishings could used for married couples. Cleaning it all to Tris's exacting standards took a week.
Using the mind-to-mind bond Daja, Tris, Briar were able to keep Sandry and the Duke up to date on a daily basis, and organize the shipments of supplies and trainees.
When the full group of trainees arrived Briar took the ones learning gardening and took them out to tend to the orchards and vineyards. All the estates fruit trees and grape vines needed pruning.
Daja took her trainees and went to work on the forge and stables.
Tris with her group cleaned the storage areas and then moved on to the manor.
The brew master started brewing beer.
Evvy's cats started reducing the rodent population.
Hearing the gates open he walked to the front of the tower and looked down, through the fog he could barely see the wagons and estate plow horses heading out to start helping the estate farmers plow their fields.
The garden inside the compound and the fields outside were completely plowed and the wagon full of plows and supplies along with five plow horses with their driver/plowmen were going out to the farms to help plow the fields.
This was one of the innovations that Briar had come up with to take some of the burden of labor off the farmer's shoulders.
He leaned over the parapet and shouted down, "Work, Work, Work."
Laughter came floating up through the fog.
Every single person at the estate had seen Brair, Tris, Daja and even Sandry, on her visits, roll up their sleeves and work along side of them.
Emelan: The Dukes Citadel.
"What's the latest from Green Acres?"
"Daja told me that the estate's fields are plowed and the horses and plows are headed out to the farms this morning."
The Duke looked out the window into a thick fog, "When this fog burns off it's going to be a nice day."
"It shouldn't take to much longer, uncle, I heard through the gossip line that the top of the fog is thinning even as we speak."
"What in the world?" The Duke said.
They could hear, faintly through the door, a disturbance approaching the door.
Running footsteps could be heard and the door was pulled open quickly, Baron Erdogum rushed in, "My Lord, there is a fleet outside the sea wall."
"A fleet?"
"Yes My Lord, the south tower can see the masts of twenty ships anchored just outside the sea wall."
"Any idea who's fleet it is?"
"It's difficult to say, with no wind to display the flags, but the guard on the south tower thinks the largest ship is flying the flag of Her Imperial Highness Empress Berenene of the Namorn Empire."
The Duke looked at Sandry, "I had hoped the reports would be enough."
Sandry looked puzzled, "What do you mean, uncle?"
"A relative of the Empress has been killed. I sent to her, a copy of the final report and my report. I had hoped that would be enough to satisfy her. But she is here, you better get in touch with Briar, Daja and Tris and have them come to the Citadel as quickly as they can. Have them bring the accounts for Green Acres also we will need Major L'rain Kunsch and harrier Sherluk Homs."
"Also get the accounts for Emelan ready. Now that she is here the Empress will probably turn this into a all out inspection of everything."
"Erd, have housekeeping open the Empress suite and get it ready for occupancy, also have the guard make room for a company of Royal Guards. She will have a staff of about twenty so lets get prepared for them. Let everyone know what is going on, cooks, housekeeping and staff, I want no surprises. The advance party should be here shortly after the fog burns off and lets them land, they will probably come in through the armory."
Erdogum left the room to start the process of getting ready for a Royal visit.
Sandry: "Briar, Tris, Daja we need to talk."
Briar: "Good morning Sandry."
Daja: "You sound serious."
Tris: "Talk about what?"
Sandry: "The Empress has her fleet anchored outside the seawall. The Duke thinks that Frantson's death has initiated this visit and wants to be prepared, he wants you three here with the accounts of Green Acres."
Briar: "All right Sandry, we will be there as soon as we can."
As he exited the base of the east gate tower he called to a groom at the stable, "Please get the carriage ready for a trip to Summersea."
When they were ready the three got into the carriage and drove out the gate into the lifting fog.
Citadel
The Guards at the south tower had informed the Duke that a small boat had departed the Empress's flagship and landed at the armory and a small party was approaching the Citadel.
The Duke was sitting at his desk, Sandry was standing watching the small group come through the gate and approach the main door. "Uncle, it look like the one in charge is a woman, she is young, in her mid to late twenty's, slender and has blonde hair."
Soon they could hear footsteps approaching the open door.
Two guards in royal livery entered and stood one on each side of the door. Standing centered in the doorway was the woman, dressed in black, her clothes designed of freedom of movement and a sword hanging across her back, her long blonde hair hung to her waist.
"Good morning, My Lord," she said.
"Good moring."
"I am Buffee, Slayer for the Empress and I am here to inform you that Her Imperial Highness Empress Berenene of the Namorn Empire will arrive shortly to commence an investigation into the death of your son.
"Thank you. The staff will show you to the suite prepared for the Empress."
The Slayer turned and left the room.
"Uncle, what's a Slayer?"
"That's Buffee, Slayer for the Empress, is the only living Ambient Battle Mage, she has magically enhanced strength and self-healing, any weapon she uses becomes a magic weapon as long as she holds it. Rumor has it that she has died twice and twice returned from the Realm of the Gods. The Gods will allow only one Slayer at a time, it two existed and they got on opposing sides in a war it could destroy the world."
A servant appeared at the door, "My Lord, several small boats has left the Empress's flagship."
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Anyone has my permission to use anything from this and my other story in any way they want. So have at it, expand, add, enhance, just think if you can write a fan fiction based on a story that has a copyright why not a fan fiction based on a fan fiction. So tale spinners, spin on.
Blame all lousy spelling and grammar on the California Education System. Thank the Lord for spell checkers.
Remember, when you read this I am using the same spell as Tamora, I'm writing in Imperial and the magic spell is enabling you to read in your native tongue. So some of you are seeing miles, feet and inches and some are seeing Kilometers, meters and centimeters. And moon cycles are translated into years, months, weeks, days, etc. Also the numbering system is translated from the logical base 12 system to the count on the fingers and toes stupid base 10. You're going to have to go to your math teachers to find out how to do it because I don't know. (Evil laugh)
Chapter 18
Three months after the winter solstice Briar was standing on top of the east gate tower of Green Acres, due to the proximity to the sea the weather rarely got cold enough freeze so the ground was ready to be plowed. The farmers had come to the fortress and picked up the trained plow horses, harness and plow.
Briar was looking into a fortress compound filled with a fog that would burn off soon, seeing in his minds eye all that had been accomplished in the seven months since they had taken over the estate, the first group of twenty five had arrived and cleaned the retainers kitchen and the common room located just to the left of the main gate, while the cooks brought the supplies that the Duke had shipped, the rest cleaned the housing located in the southwest corner of the compound. The guards had already cleaned the section that they were using, but the building was large enough to hold, a full guard complement plus all the retainers for the estate, the apartments were designed to sleep four singles or with a change of furnishings could used for married couples. Cleaning it all to Tris's exacting standards took a week.
Using the mind-to-mind bond Daja, Tris, Briar were able to keep Sandry and the Duke up to date on a daily basis, and organize the shipments of supplies and trainees.
When the full group of trainees arrived Briar took the ones learning gardening and took them out to tend to the orchards and vineyards. All the estates fruit trees and grape vines needed pruning.
Daja took her trainees and went to work on the forge and stables.
Tris with her group cleaned the storage areas and then moved on to the manor.
The brew master started brewing beer.
Evvy's cats started reducing the rodent population.
Hearing the gates open he walked to the front of the tower and looked down, through the fog he could barely see the wagons and estate plow horses heading out to start helping the estate farmers plow their fields.
The garden inside the compound and the fields outside were completely plowed and the wagon full of plows and supplies along with five plow horses with their driver/plowmen were going out to the farms to help plow the fields.
This was one of the innovations that Briar had come up with to take some of the burden of labor off the farmer's shoulders.
He leaned over the parapet and shouted down, "Work, Work, Work."
Laughter came floating up through the fog.
Every single person at the estate had seen Brair, Tris, Daja and even Sandry, on her visits, roll up their sleeves and work along side of them.
Emelan: The Dukes Citadel.
"What's the latest from Green Acres?"
"Daja told me that the estate's fields are plowed and the horses and plows are headed out to the farms this morning."
The Duke looked out the window into a thick fog, "When this fog burns off it's going to be a nice day."
"It shouldn't take to much longer, uncle, I heard through the gossip line that the top of the fog is thinning even as we speak."
"What in the world?" The Duke said.
They could hear, faintly through the door, a disturbance approaching the door.
Running footsteps could be heard and the door was pulled open quickly, Baron Erdogum rushed in, "My Lord, there is a fleet outside the sea wall."
"A fleet?"
"Yes My Lord, the south tower can see the masts of twenty ships anchored just outside the sea wall."
"Any idea who's fleet it is?"
"It's difficult to say, with no wind to display the flags, but the guard on the south tower thinks the largest ship is flying the flag of Her Imperial Highness Empress Berenene of the Namorn Empire."
The Duke looked at Sandry, "I had hoped the reports would be enough."
Sandry looked puzzled, "What do you mean, uncle?"
"A relative of the Empress has been killed. I sent to her, a copy of the final report and my report. I had hoped that would be enough to satisfy her. But she is here, you better get in touch with Briar, Daja and Tris and have them come to the Citadel as quickly as they can. Have them bring the accounts for Green Acres also we will need Major L'rain Kunsch and harrier Sherluk Homs."
"Also get the accounts for Emelan ready. Now that she is here the Empress will probably turn this into a all out inspection of everything."
"Erd, have housekeeping open the Empress suite and get it ready for occupancy, also have the guard make room for a company of Royal Guards. She will have a staff of about twenty so lets get prepared for them. Let everyone know what is going on, cooks, housekeeping and staff, I want no surprises. The advance party should be here shortly after the fog burns off and lets them land, they will probably come in through the armory."
Erdogum left the room to start the process of getting ready for a Royal visit.
Sandry: "Briar, Tris, Daja we need to talk."
Briar: "Good morning Sandry."
Daja: "You sound serious."
Tris: "Talk about what?"
Sandry: "The Empress has her fleet anchored outside the seawall. The Duke thinks that Frantson's death has initiated this visit and wants to be prepared, he wants you three here with the accounts of Green Acres."
Briar: "All right Sandry, we will be there as soon as we can."
As he exited the base of the east gate tower he called to a groom at the stable, "Please get the carriage ready for a trip to Summersea."
When they were ready the three got into the carriage and drove out the gate into the lifting fog.
Citadel
The Guards at the south tower had informed the Duke that a small boat had departed the Empress's flagship and landed at the armory and a small party was approaching the Citadel.
The Duke was sitting at his desk, Sandry was standing watching the small group come through the gate and approach the main door. "Uncle, it look like the one in charge is a woman, she is young, in her mid to late twenty's, slender and has blonde hair."
Soon they could hear footsteps approaching the open door.
Two guards in royal livery entered and stood one on each side of the door. Standing centered in the doorway was the woman, dressed in black, her clothes designed of freedom of movement and a sword hanging across her back, her long blonde hair hung to her waist.
"Good morning, My Lord," she said.
"Good moring."
"I am Buffee, Slayer for the Empress and I am here to inform you that Her Imperial Highness Empress Berenene of the Namorn Empire will arrive shortly to commence an investigation into the death of your son.
"Thank you. The staff will show you to the suite prepared for the Empress."
The Slayer turned and left the room.
"Uncle, what's a Slayer?"
"That's Buffee, Slayer for the Empress, is the only living Ambient Battle Mage, she has magically enhanced strength and self-healing, any weapon she uses becomes a magic weapon as long as she holds it. Rumor has it that she has died twice and twice returned from the Realm of the Gods. The Gods will allow only one Slayer at a time, it two existed and they got on opposing sides in a war it could destroy the world."
A servant appeared at the door, "My Lord, several small boats has left the Empress's flagship."
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