Sworn To Defiance (31 page)

When Lord Meres reached down to help the lady up, Ciardis recognized her with surprise as Lady Merriweather—the noblewoman with the drunkard for a neighbor who refused to make sure the laborers on his own land had a decent enough crop to eat.

Hmm, I wonder why she decided to come and what makes her one of the three leading representatives
, Ciardis thought while unconsciously biting her lower lip. Ciardis wasn’t a chauvinist. She was
glad
a woman was one of the chosen leaders from the nobles’ court and she hoped that Lady Merriweather would advocate for some of the concerns that men at war traditionally forgot—the need for a harvest to feed the masses, the security of women and children with roving bands of soldiers and mercenaries strewn throughout the land, and the roles of women at war. Ciardis wanted to see women leading the charge as much as she wanted to make sure the homesteads they labored on day-in and out didn’t burn up in flames due to the carelessness of roving garrisons of soldiers.

But Ciardis was more practical than sentimental these days. None of that mattered if Lady Merriweather didn’t bring her own merits to the table, if she didn’t have the power to hold her own—magically or physically—then she was out and Ciardis Weathervane would be the first to escort her to the door. Taking in the nobles and mages that had managed to stumble to their feet Ciardis sniffed, wondering what excuse they had for the tussle. It certainly wasn’t making a good impression on anyone, despite the sniggers she was resolutely determined to ignore that came from the direction of Sebastian and Christian. The idiots—this was nothing to laugh about.

As she swept forward to the table she knew it wasn’t exactly sure
how
she had expect a war council to start. But better this than not at all. Ciardis sat with Sebastian claiming the chair to her right and Lord Meres to her left. Thanar chose to float up towards the ceiling and she almost raised an eyebrow at that. She’d have to ask him why he liked to do it so much and Vana took a to Sebastian’s right. Christian sat to the left of Meres, Terris took the next seat down, and the rest of the council straggled to the table with silence, various bruises, and some angry looks.

Finally Lord Crassius sat at the head of the table opposite from Sebastian and Ciardis. His face looked highly irritated. In fact, she could see his eye twitching from here. Ciardis stifled a giggle.

Whatever it was that had caused the fight had to be something big.

As Ciardis looked around at her seated council she also took in the transformed room. The rows of staggered benches had been pulled back to make one wall of hardwood panels that stood out a foot from the wall. It in effect made the space smaller. In addition, the dirt floor had been replaced with sumptuous carpets and a large oval table of dark wood had replaced the podium they had stood on the day before. Add in a half a dozen mage lights that floated above the table and it was actually a cozy room.

Ciardis took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “First of all,” she said as she looked slowly from face-to-face, “You all know why we’re here. But not everyone has been introduced to those who sit around this table. So let’s start with that.”

She ended on a friendly smile and gave her name. Sebastian followed quickly after as did Vana, Meres, Crassius and Thanar, to her surprise. When the mages went after as a group and then the nobles she realized that they were all announcing themselves by cliques.

Without speaking aloud she asked,
Am I the only person who considers this an ominous sign?

What’s ominous about it?
Sebastian said.

Factions
, she said quietly,
We’ve already split into factions and we’ve barely begun. How are we supposed to unit against a god like this? And don’t say I’m overthinking it.

Alright, I think you’re over-emphasizing it.

She turned a physical glare on him.

He cracked a smile.
With time, trust will grow.

She grumbled.
We’re not sure how much time we have, what if it’s not enough.

He had no response to that.

Then the soldier from the bottom of the pile spoke, “I am Corporal Evan...”

Ciardis knew he was still speaking but she didn’t hear a word he was saying. She was so startled that she cursed in her head without thinking.

Thanar’s presence rolled over her like a silk wave,
What?

Ciardis?
asked Sebastian warily at the same time.

It’s nothing. I...I’ll tell you in a moment
, she told Thanar hastily.

To Sebastian she whispered,
I know him.

Know him how?

Horror laced Ciardis’s mind as she listened to Corporal Evan finish with, “—and I am the son of the first military lord killed-in-action.”

He’s General Barnaren’s son and he hates my guts.

He turned to look directly at Ciardis Weathervane as he said, “It’s a pleasure to be in the emperor’s service once more.”

What? Why would you think that
? Sebastian demanded.

Because he thought I was trying to kill his father and he definitely thinks I’ve done so now, in addition to the fact that I kind of threatened to take his entire inheritance away from him.

Sebastian sounded genuinrly baffled.
What?

Ciardis admitted,
Barnaren was on my Patron Hunt as you remember. He made me consider a clause in my contract that including the provision of heirs for the Barnaren clan. Heirs that presumably would have knocked a bastard son out of the running, tie to the land or no tie to the land.

Sebastian groaned inwardly.

It’s not really my fault. I mean...

You nearly displaced him in his family’s line, nearly killed his father once, and effectively was the person who held his dying father as he passed from this life to the next. I’d say he was right to hate you.

Thanks oh so much for your support, husband-to-be.

Sebastian snorted.
I’m just confirming what you already knew.

C
iardis felt like cursing out loud as she remembered her first encounter with the man who stared down the table at her with a face that looked like General Barnaren’s reborn, from the steel-grey eyes to the jet black hair. The only difference? Evan SaBarnaren had been borne a bastard as shown by the name he bore. In Algardis, children borne out of wedlock were given one of two names upon birth – Algardian, if they weren’t being cared for by their parents and were a ward of the state, or the prefix of ‘Sa’ next to their birth parent’s name. Corporal SaBarnaren was one of those children borne from an unmarried union.

Yet, he had been treated like a full member of Barnaren’s family. She had seen it in the way they interacted on her hunt. A mutual respect had shown in both of their eyes and he had all the polish of one borne to life among the nobles.

“It’s good to see you again, Lady Weathervane,” said Evan SaBarnaren with an icy look.

“And you as well,” she demurred. Ciardis realized too late that Evan thought she had been mocking him alongside her male friends as she had stood back watching his struggle with the mages and the nobles.

Before she could think about it, she blurted out, “Why are you here?”

He lifted a chilly eyebrow. “As I said I am a representative of His Imperial Majesty, Bastien Athanos Algardis.”

“More to the point,” Evan continued with a respectful nod at Prince Heir Sebastian, “While the prince heir represents the emperor’s personal interests, I represent his military interests in my father’s stead.”

Ciardis gulped, “Wouldn’t that be Lord Crassius?”

Evan smiled. A cold, distant one that promised he wished she would freeze in the bowels of a dark grave. Then Ciardis remembered that Evan was a mage. But she couldn’t for the life of her remember what type.

Lord Crassius quickly interrupted, “I only represent the troop presence on the northern border. While this is where most of the battles will be fought, it is not the whole of the empire by any stretch of the imagination.”

Ciardis eyed Lord Crassius. “And he represents the rest of everything else?”

“He does,” said Evan with a snarl, “Unless there’s a problem, Lady Companion.”

Ciardis stared at him dismayed. “No, no problem. Just surprise.”

“Why?”

It was a simple question, with a not-so-simple answer. At least for Ciardis.

How do you tell someone they just gave you a bad feeling?

Fortunately, Sebastian intervened, “I’m sure we will be glad to have you on this council. General Barnaren spoke highly of his son, and as far as I know, he only had one. So that praise rests on your shoulders.”

“It does, your imperial highness,” said Corporal SaBarnaren stiffly.

“Very well then,” said Sebastian with a quick look around the group, “Can anyone explain what I just witnessed when I walked through the door?”

One of the nobles had the grace to look embarrassed. The rest, including Lady Merriweather, simply turned angry looks over on Corporal SaBanaren.

Lord Crassius spoke in a dry tone. “Evan thought it prudent to declare the council void upon stepping into the room and declaring a military council would handle all proceedings from henceforth.”

Ciardis blinked.
He’s an idiot. Why would he think he could do that? Thanar!

What? Remember that I’m alive now?

Sorry, I’m just a little overwhelmed. I know Corporal SaBarnaren.

That’s obvious.

And he hates my guts.

That’s also obvious.

But now I have a reason to have a bad feeling about it.

I’m not following you.

He makes my hackles rise anyway, Thanar
, Ciardis admitted,
I don’t know why but this council thing certainly helps assuage my guilt about that.

For a moment the daemoni prince said nothing.
The council would be three people, probably harking back to the Initiate Wars again.

No surprise there,
interjected Ciardis.
Everything seems to hark back to your precious wars.

Thanar snorted and continued,
As such the council would have the power to make every single decision pertaining to the war without consulting any of the other...factions, shall we call them. The nobles, the merchants, the peasants and even the imperial line below the emperor would be shut out.

I knew he was up to no good
, said Ciardis.

Perhaps. I can’t say having a large group of people like this making decisions about war by consensus is the best route either.

Nevertheless, he was wrong and everyone else called him out on it.

If you mean tried to beat him into submission, then yes
, said Thanar with his customary dry wit.

Sebastian spoke aloud, “There will be no councils other than the present one convened. And I am the final decision-maker here.”

Ciardis thrust her foot down on his under the table.

Sebastian hastily said, “I and my cohort. While I am away in Kifar, Lord Crassius alongside Lady Vana and Lord Meres will be making those decisions.”

SaBarnaren stared at the prince heir with cold eyes.

Sebastian leaned forward with even colder eyes, “I speak with the voice of my father and the will of the people, Corporal. If that wasn’t clear before, it should be now. Do you understand?”

Corporal SaBarnaren stiffened and salute, “I do, Sire.”

“Very well,” said Sebastian with a nod, “Then let’s proceed to the first order of business.”

The nobles and mages around the table leaned forward in eager readiness.

“We need to establish a supply line running from east to west on the northern boundary. Food, clothing and weapons. The nearest fort is too far. Our resources will start by building fortifications on that supply line as a fallback point for our troops and proceed from there.”

The nobles nodded and murmured in general agreement.

“Lady Merriweather, who should we approach for stone masonry, woodwork and more weapons?”

The woman smiled, “The Lords Crane and Robert of Windspark have a good supply along the lines of the twin forest. But they will not give it up easy.”

Sebastian smiled. “Lord Crassius please make a note to visit with the Lords of Windspark to persuade them to release some of their stores. If they’re not eager, I’m sure we can negotiate something.”

Lord Crassius nodded and so the rest of the meeting went for over three hours. When it was done they had plans to stock the fallback line on the northern border, move and relocate thousands of people back from the battle lines, summon long-dormant regiments up for training and to have the mages look up some very interesting spells in case the Collar of Diamis didn’t work. All-in-all a productive first meeting.

As it ended Sebastian stood and raised a hand. The rising parties slowly sank back down in their seats.

“As you all know the decisions made in these meetings don’t leave this room unless you’re directed to speak with a specific person on our behalf,” he said.

There were nods all around.

“But this particular announcement is one I’d like you to share far and wide. With nobles and mages alike. So that it crosses the empire like wildfire,” Sebastian said.

Then he reached down and took Ciardis by the hand, asking her with a gentle tug to rise.

“Lady Companion Ciardis Weathervane and I have received the permission and approval of my father, Emperor Bastien Athanos Algardis, to wed,” said Sebastian carefully, “This is not just a joyous occasion for us but a time for the empire to unite with joy in the face of sorrow.”

Lord Crassius smiled. “A brilliant idea, prince heir. The news of the
blutgott’s
return will be tempered by the joyous announcement of your engagement.”

“We should only hope,” intoned Sebastian seriously.

Lady Merriweather asked, “And is there a wedding date we should spread to our fellows and spies?”

Sebastian smiled. “No, not yet. Just the announcement should be enough for now. More will be reveal when we return from Kifar.”