Godwyn threw open the dining hall doors as Blaidd and Kenneth followed close behind. His clothes were still torn and dirty with blood and dirt. Had he been a mortal, such injuries might have been more severe. They stung, but Godwyn was far too angry to care.
"That fool," said Godwyn. "Does he care for anything other than his own ego?"
"A general concern is to win at their own game. And so there is no dishonor as such tactics when the goal is achieved," said Kenneth.
"At least we know Malenia is safe," said Blaidd.
"Safe? With that fool?"
"I do believe this faithful shadow is correct," said Kenneth. "And we shouldn't risk aggravating things in the name of either pride or false delusion of so-called 'honor.' Assuming the general has the senses to avoid tempting Marika's wrath. We should send word to Leyndell and await instruction regarding the appropriate response."
"You think I'm going to run and tell my mother?" said Godwyn.
"I can see how such a thing would come as a bruise to one's ego, but your mother also happens to be Queen," said Kenneth.
"I'm not going to approve him right," said Godwyn.
"With all due respect, our sole goal should be a swift resolution in this matter. And if that means a loss of pride, then so be it."
"I agree. Malenia's well-being should be our only concern," said Blaidd. "Besides, for all we know, she's having the time of her life. I know there were times Mistress Ranni wished for a good escape."
"What of Malenia?"
Rick had told Ranni about Godwyn's return. Away from the Leyndell and the gawking eyes of the elites, she no longer tried to hide her pregnancy or the fact she now shared her bed with Godwyn. The smaller-minded farmers and humble tradesmen had little time, or even the care, for gossip.
While such things did much to ease Ranni's burden, the struggle was still apparent on her face. She was exhausted most of the time and in doubt, as days passed alone. She missed her mother, who, in better days, would have been at Ranni's side to offer advice and support.
"Don't worry, Mistress Ranni. She's safe with Radahn," said Blaidd.
Ranni gave a sigh of relief and even a slight laugh, "What a fool! He said he would get back against thee. What a ridiculous way to do so."
Godwyn left the dining hall without speaking, leaving his companions confused.
He was shaking when he arrived at his bedroom and threw off his torn clothes. He scooped water from the wash basin to clean off his bloodied and dirty shoulders.
"Godwyn? What is the meaning of thy sudden retreat?" said Ranni as she opened the door.
"You knew?" he said.
"Of course not! I would have known Radahn to act so brazenly."
"But you knew he plotted something."
"I promise I knew nothing of this! It isn't like Radahn to make such a gamble."
"Not his way? Your brothers have done nothing but scheme since the day they arrived. I have shown them patience. I have afforded them courtesy. And I have been given nothing but contempt and disrespect in return. And you are acting surprised when your brothers have done this? What else are they plotting, Ranni?"
"I agree my brothers have not treated thee with even the slightest bit of respect. Nor do I look to excuse such actions. At the time, our course should be whatever is best for our little sister," said Ranni. "And I know my brother well enough to understand that his games often require two to play."
"That's all I've ever done!" cried Godwyn. "I've been promised numerous times to stop playing their games, and the game ends. As though we're children who are seeking only to amuse ourselves. If I were to sit on the throne, they would do nothing but challenge me. What about Miquella? What about our children? Will they eventually get so brazen they might harm them too?"
Ranni's hands went to her stomach as her lips quivered. She fought to hold back the tears, "Don't say that."
There was a terrible thought that the only thing that kept the Carians from escalating more than they had already was that Marika continued to hold her seat of power and retain her age. She made a calculated move by bringing them into her household as the demigod stepchildren to pacify their ambition and keep them close. Then, there was her show of power against their mother, which the Carians had no choice but to respect.
In similar displays of power, Godwyn was always held back from showing. But no more could he resist.
"Who knows?" said Godwyn as he left. "Perhaps I can knock enough sense into your brother that he might release the stars for you."
Back at Redmane Castle, Jerren found Radahn sitting on a log with Malenia beside him. Being cooped up inside for most of her life, Radahn felt the fresh air did Malenia much good. Radahn held out a bowl to his little sister as she struggled to use a fork. Occasionally, he'd nudge Malenia's trembling hand to help her find the few bits of meat at the bottom.
"Are you done?" Radahn asked, and Malenia nodded. He took the fork and laid the dishes aside. "Alright. Go on. Go play with Finlay."
"Hello," said Malenia when Jerren approached.
"You know, Radahn, when you said that you wanted to kidnap your sister, I thought you meant the one Godwyn actually deflowered and left with the child. Not the one who is a walking disease."
Radahn laughed.
"I'm serious, Radahn. It's wrong to take a barely weaned child from its mother. Especially not Marika's child. Especially not Marika's gravely ill child."
"Marika is my mother. She is a goddess. She controls life and death in the Lands-Between," said Malenia.
"Oh, does she now? That's very reassuring," said Jerren.
"Marika wouldn't listen if I took Ranni. Besides, I'm not about to risk her babe," said Radahn.
"No, you'll just risk one of Marika's pups."
"No one will harm her. It's just an extended camping trip, right girl?"
"I'm going to be a general in my brother's army," said Malenia.
"Tell Jerren what your warrior's name is."
"Malenia the Severed! I've done battle with the scarlet rot," said Malenia.
"Back to the matter at hand," said Radahn. "Godwyn won't retaliate. He'll go back and plead his case to his mother. She'll call for an audience to settle it herself. Or my father settled it. Either way, it's just as well."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Come here, Malenia, and let's show Jerren how to mount a proper defense," said Radahn.
Radahn went to the map in his tent and picked Malenia up to sit on the table's edge. He placed some stones on the map to help Malenia identify the landmarks with her poor eyesight.
Malenia felt the stones and recognized one as Redmane castle.
"We should lure the enemy here," said Malenia.
"Correct. But why?"
"Because that's the castle, silly. It can be defended with few men, but it would take a lot of men to attack it," said Malenia. Her finger found the stone that marked the bridge, "And they can only come after us from the bridge. And it's really narrow so we can shoot archers at them."
"But..."
"We can't escape if he surrounds us, so we should try to lure him to fight elsewhere."
"And where could that be?"
"We go where the terrain is accessible, so we must put our troops up on the hill and to the side. What if the men get hungry?"
"Good question, Little sister. We need to plan how to have supplies delivered," said Radahn.
"Oh yeah. We should have a way to make it easy for them to go back to the castle and get lunch.
Radahn laughed as he picked Malenia up, "Very good, Little Sister! See Jerren? She has the pride of a warrior and the mind of a general. A true daughter of Radagon. Godfrey's son or not, he won't stand a chance against the minds of two great generals."
"Ha! And so you intend to put her in charge?" said Jerren.
Oleg ran to the camp and announced that a dragon had attacked and one of the churches was burned. Radahn called for his men but didn't bother to wait for them to ready themselves before he mounted Leonard and took off across the wilds.
Oleg and Jerren looked at each other. This wasn't like their general. He was usually calm and calculated and wasn't one to give in to provocation.
When Oleg turned, he saw Finlay hiding behind one of the stable pillars. He smiled and winked at her, "It's okay, Little One. We'll be back soon."
People had gathered when Radahn arrived but seemed too stunned to do anything. Radahn ordered them to grab buckets and attempt to quell the flames. As they did, he heard the shriek from the sky and saw the four wings of an ancient dragon circling about.
With no hesitation, Radahn grabbed his bow and launched a barrage of arrows at the creature. It missed when the dragon took a dive, allowing it to pass between the shafts. Angered, Radahn pulled it with his magic, and the dragon cried. Radahn let it go when Godwyn dropped down.
"I would prefer you not injure my friend," said Godwyn with his arms crossed.
"What is this game, Godwyn?" shouted Radahn.
"I'm sorry! Was I supposed to go run off to my mother? Would that have satisfied you?" laughed Godwyn.
"You listen to me," said Radahn.
"Or what?"
Radahn drew his swords and rushed at Godwyn. He took a swing, which Godwyn jumped away from. He gave a whistle, and Fortissax shot down red lightning bolts. Radahn dodged away, but the distraction gave Godwyn enough time to jump on Fortissax's back to make his getaway.
"Damn you!" shouted Radahn.
He turned to the villagers, who looked at their general, dumbfounded.
"Someone put that fire out," said Radahn.
Radahn, in the meantime, made his way back to Redmane castle. His face was red, and he felt like breaking everything in his path. He restrained. Such actions in front of the men were unbecoming.
"We tried to come as quickly as we could, General," said Jerren.
"You came alright. Just in time to avoid trouble," said Radahn.
"And this would have all been averted if you didn't take the girl, to begin with," said Jerren.
"And let him win?"
"Win what?" said Jerren. "These men follow you because all your actions in the past have made sense. You had asked only their sacrifice to defend their homes. This? This will lose you all respect."
General Radahn huffed and went to the courtyard where he might be alone. He hated it when Jerren was right. He expected Godwyn to run back to Marika like he always did and that there might be an audience for the two men to settle this business. Then, he could make his statement to Godwyn and Marika that while Radahn was willing to toil for the sake of the Golden Order, he deserved the same in return. That his family, regardless of their station below the Golden Lineage, were not to be mistreated as ordinary servants.
Yet, surprisingly, Godwyn chose violence, which Radahn had to admit took him by surprise. He needed a moment to think about how he might retaliate.
It was already dusk, and Radahn went to check on Malenia. She wasn't in her bedroom. After dinner, she played with Finlay, and Radahn found the two girls asleep in the straw outside. He scolded the help for not properly caring for her before he called for a blanket. He put it over the two girls before he picked them both up and carried them inside to bed.
Radagon and Marika spent a lot of resources to ensure that Malenia survived. Survived but never thrived.
Malenia was doing better, which gave Radahn a sense of relief. Who would have thought the old blind warrior had a solution that sounded almost too simple?
Yet, it was far from a cure. The surgeon couldn't provide anything but bad news when he looked Malenia over. Radahn had hoped the pain she experienced was nothing more than phantom as when soldiers often lost their limbs. The surgeon, however, stated the tissue was inflamed. While he hoped preserving boluses might help ease the rot just enough to avoid additional surgery, it wouldn't likely last forever.
If Radahn did not settle things with Godwyn, then the Scarlet Rot would force him to do so.
"Do me a favor, Jerren," said Radahn when he saw his confidence watching him as he tucked the girls in. "If Marika's grace fails and we're to die even as demigods, I don't want to live forever, slowly whithering away. I want a warrior's death."
"If that's your wish, General. I only hope you can maintain the respect of your soldiers to carry something like that out," replied Jerren. "I was wrong to berate you. Especially not in front of the men. I understand this is about more than just your sister."
"My brother and sister believe that the Golden Order has no use for us. It only keeps us around because of my father. So, they wish to replace it with something more aligned with the Carian ways of thinking. But I say we're relevant as long as we make ourselves so. The Golden Order could survive if men were strong enough willing to exercise discipline and self-control. Ones willing to take up the sword if needed," said Radahn.
"I see. But might I be so bold to ask, General? Does the Golden Order also need men strong enough to take up the olive branch?" Jerren asked.
"It doesn't matter. Godwyn attacked my lands and stirred up my people. I'll make peace with him once he's on his knees begging for his mama," said Radahn.
Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green and pleasant Land. - William Blake, Jerusalem