Through his eyes – a fan fiction by Sheyana
Disclaimer – Sherwood Smith owns everything in this, I'm just borrowing it for a (regrettably) short time.
Dedicated to FelSong, hopefully she learns that patience is a virtue, and gets what she asked me for soon. (muahahaha)
Reviewers –
Rubic-cube – Hold your horses, Mel arrives in chapter 7, only two to go and you all get what you've been waiting for.
Crystalambaia – Hmm, I'm not sure, I always read it as Astair, I'll have to check on that! wanders away to look it up, eventually wanders back Well, whadaya know? It is Astiar…I'll have to remember that – thanks! Yep, an in between chapter it was…this one is too, sorta, everything is set in motion, plus there's a surprise in there for you…
FelSong – I told you I'd do the ball last chapter, you'll just have to wait and see if it turns up.
Abby – Sorry, this one has almost no Danric/Russav, hopefully there'll be more in CH5, it's fun to write their convo's!
Chapter 4 – Debegri's Failure Begins (a/n I know, lame title, but I couldn't think of anything else)
Master,
Here are the reports on the dog's battles. I hope you find them enlightening.
15th day of the fourth month, 4742
No open battle yet. The Tlanthis seem to have retreated and yet strange things are happening. We arrived at a ruined Munth, the walls falling down and everything flooded. The flood had frozen. All our plans went out the window, we had no stronghold there. Since then it has gone from bad to worse. Roads are frozen ahead of us and our maps don't seem to be accurate, the signs all point every which-way and the countryside is changed from when we were last here. Every night our sentries are bombarded with ice and snow, and the attackers always melt into the bushes before we can retaliate.
22nd day of the fourth month, 4742
Much is unchanged. We are still bombarded nightly and misdirected daily. Today they flooded the camp and there was a disturbance in the woods. All the army went to one end of the camp, leaving no sentries, the fools. Before we returned, the command tent was filled with itchwort. Debegri was not happy.
28th day of the fourth month, 4742
Still unchanged, although no itchwort this time. While there have been raids, no open battle as of yet. Debegri is getting annoyed. It is long past the day he promised to throw down the Tlanthi leader's heads before the King. He is becoming impatient.
More shall come soon, the country bumpkin is much smarter than he seems - or else has good help. According to rumor, the wild one is on campaign also, perhaps it is her. Be wary master, the ants are smarter than they seem.
Fly.
Vidanric folded the letter and reports thoughtfully. Things were not going as he had thought, but perhaps he would be able to put part of his second plan into place. He would have to put some work into becoming the commander of the army in Tlanth.
He looked up, startled, as a knock sounded on the doorframe, quickly hiding the letters before calling out.
"Enter."
Lord Olervec Elbanek entered the room and bowed. Danric raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"My Lord Olervec, how may I help you?"
"I merely called to ask where you obtained the wonderful costume you wore to the ball last month?"
Danric shudder as he remembered that ball.
"It was an old one of my father's."
"A pity, I would have liked one for myself, you seemed to have such a wonderful time while wearing it."
That tipped the memory over the edge.
The great doors opened and Danric took a deep breath before stepping out to the top of the stairs. All conversation had stopped when the Herald announced his name, and as Danric reached the middle of the great staircase, all eyes were watching his descent.
By a day before the event the whole palace knew of the foolish bet Danric had made – and lost – with Russav. A wave of smiles swept the room, cracking the usually stiff court masks smartly.
Danric stepped off the bottom step and bowed elaborately. He was glad this was one of the events that Galdran didn't feel the urge to attend. He rose from the deep bow and looked around the room with his usual bored expression.
"What is this? No one dancing? What has the party come to? Nimiar, would you honor me with this dance?" Danric held out his hand to the aforementioned lady and motioned with his other to the band, who promptly started playing.
Nimiar, laughing, curtsied slightly. "Of course my lord."
Danric swept her into his arms and began to dance elegantly to the music. "How have you been my lady?"
"Very well, thank you, my lord. May I compliment you on your costume tonight, you are looking especially well."
"Ah, you seek to pacify my pride, my lady – don't worry. I am planning to leave early tonight; I will not be able to bear these clothes for very long at all."
The dance ended and Danric released Nimiar to her next partner with a flourish. Turning to the next woman he saw, Danric bowed smoothly and offered his hand, carefully keeping his eyes lidded and his expression bored. She took it, and as they danced Danric saw Nimiar talking and giggling with many of her friends.
Much later in the night, Danric looked up from his current partner to see Russav watching him. Russav, sensing his regard, also looked up and motioned for Danric to come over. Danric turned back to his partner and bowed.
"If you will excuse me my lady? I must go and speak with Savona."
"Of course," she giggled, "I would not wish to keep you from your friend."
Danric bowed again and walked over to Russav.
"What is it you wished to speak about with me so urgently?"
"I merely wished to compliment you on your dress, and inform you that you may leave at any time. This was meant to bolster my prestige, not yours!" Russav leant in closer and whispered. "There is a message in your room for you, Alec just told me, as he could not find you without attracting attention. He said to tell you it smelt of flowers and perfume."
Danric smiled as Russav looked at him, puzzled. Alec had carried out his orders well, the flowers and perfume meant it was a letter from Fly. Although here was Russav thinking some lady was sending him private messages. Some things, Danric told no one except Alec, who had to know.
"I see, well, I do believe I shall leave -," Danric spied Tamara walking over to them "–After this dance." He held out his arm to Tamara, and before Russav could protest, he swept her onto the dance floor with a smile.
"My dear Tamara, please excuse my rude conduct, but I feared that once Russav got you, I would never have an opportunity to dance with the most beautiful lady in the room."
Tamara smiled, and replied with an amused tone in her voice. "Of course, although I'm sure I would have consented to dance with you just once!"
"I would like to think that, but I know what it's like when Russav takes hold." Danric spoke teasingly.
"You are implying that he has."
"Indeed I am, hasn't he?"
Tamara was saved from replying by the end of the dance, when Danric bowed politely to her, and left the room after thanking her for the wonderful time he had had.
"My lord?" Danric's reverie was broken by Alec's voice.
"I apologize Alec, I was lost in memory. What was it you wanted?"
"Will you be wanting something to eat my lord?"
"Oh, yes, thank you Alec, Just something light."
"Of course my lord."
Alec left the room, and Danric pulled out Fly's reports again, reading them once more. Reminded of the report he had received on the night of the ball, Danric pulled that out too. It had given him his first warning of the eminent battle.
Master,
The rustics are preparing for war. Even while they await word from the country bumpkin, they know it is approaching. You must be wary. That has always been the eagle's fault, he never considers the seemingly harmless – as I'm sure you know – and these are out to get him, even if it means full-scale war. They seem to be having trouble paying the taxes, although somehow they all have enough to live. Someone is doing their finances well, although I have yet to find out who. It was good you put me onto these people, all is not as it seems.
Fly.
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Danric had an appointment with Galdran. He had made it the day before, and while it was to ask permission to use the main ball room for a party, Danric meant to use it to put his second plan into motion.
As first blue sounded, Danric presented himself outside the throne room, and announced his purpose to the guards. They, in turn, talked to Galdran's steward, who stood just inside the door, who talked to Galdran, who finally allowed him to be admitted.
Whew, Danric thought, I'd forgotten all the rigmarole you have to go through whenever someone wants to see you; when I'm king, that'll have to change! He entered the room slowly, the usual bored look on his face. Once he was close to the throne, Danric bowed deeply, petitioner to king.
"Your Royal Majesty, how are you today?"
Galdran grunted slightly.
"Majesty, might I beg a boon of you?"
Galdran grunted again.
"Majesty, would you allow me the use of the main ballroom for a party early next month? You would be the first to be invited of course!"
Galdran looked at his steward, who rushed to his side and whispered hurriedly in his ear.
"We might find that permissible, Shevreath, but only if we are allowed to review the guest list before invitations go out."
Danric bowed again. "Of course. May I enquire as to how your majesty's armies are faring in Tlanth?"
Galdran glared at Danric before replying. "No resolution has been made to the conflict yet."
"My my, your majesty, and to think, you were promised the rebels heads in two days, this really will not do!"
Galdran grunted an interested look in his eyes.
"Why your majesty, it seems even I, with my meager skills, would do better than the honored Baron Debegri." Danric hesitated, until he was sure Galdran had got his message, then he continued. "But majesty, you should not have let me keep you from your important business so long, and on such a trivial matter! I shall distract you no longer, except to proffer my most humble thanks."
Danric bowed deeply again, and backed out of the room gracefully. Once outside, and away from the guards, he smiled with satisfaction. He was sure he had heard Galdran yelling at someone as the doors closed behind him. It seemed the plan would work.
WHEW! My longest chapter yet!
Okay, you know how it works, press the little button, review, and you will receive the next chapter when enough of you do it…I've changed it back to anonymous reviewing, so you have no excuse!