Ebudae (39 page)

“Greetings to all of you and thank you for
coming,” Ebudae replied. She gave them a small curtsey proper to
guests rather than servants. In a way they were. “I am Lady Ebudae
Pallon and this is my best friend Pelya Jornin.” She gestured to
Pelya. “You are to treat her with the same respect and courtesy you
treat me. Also, Tina is my personal servant and answers to me, no
one else.” She made that point to Kitta.

“Frath told me as much last night,” the
seneschal replied.

“And what did he say about pay?”

“He didn’t know except for the fact that
room and board were included,” Kitta answered.

“The servant’s quarters are excellent. I
hope we may stay,” Bubbo said.

“Oh yes,” Poolu agreed. Then she let out a
string of words that made the young ladies blush. Before she even
finished, the embarrassed woman ran out of the room in tears.

“Please, Milady,” Bubbo pleaded, falling to
his knees. “She can’t help it. The words and the tic come without
control and have since she was young. She’ll work very hard. I
promise.”

“You should keep her,” Pelya said. She had
moved to the stove and was dipping a finger into one of the pots.
“It’ll discourage all those noble biddies from fluttering about you
all the time. Plus this food is amazing.”

Ebudae laughed at the image old ladies
sitting around drinking tea with shocked faces while Poolu swore in
front of them. “That would be perfect.” She gave the cook a rare
smile. “You and your sister are welcome here. Especially since my
friend is so keen on your cooking.” Pelya had grabbed a ladle and
was blowing on a bite just before putting it in her mouth.

“Hey! Just because you’re a lady doesn’t
mean you can come in my kitchen and sample the food before it’s
ready!” Bubbo chased Pelya who kept blowing on the food in the
ladle while running.

“Pelya’s not a lady. She’s a barbarian,”
Ebudae clarified with a laugh.

The barbarian girl stopped and growled
playfully at the cook who skidded to a halt. Then Pelya ran out the
door toward the dining room.

“We’ll take breakfast in the dining room,
Tina,” Ebudae said. The one eyed servant nodded and gave a rare
smile of her own, obviously happy at not being the oddest member of
the staff anymore.

Pallon Estate told Ebudae that a group of
Guardmembers was coming up the street toward the gate. “I hope you
have a lot of food, Bubbo, because we have guests.” She turned to
the seneschal. “Kitta, would you please escort them into the dining
room. Then have Poolu prepare the large meeting room with all the
maps on the second floor. The curtains and shutters will need to be
opened to let fresh air in.”

“Yes, Milady,” Kitta said with a bow. “How
do you know we have guests?” Ebudae had already left the kitchen,
so didn’t answer the question.

Ebudae and Pelya were well into their meal
when Kitta showed the Guardmembers into the room. “Uncle Gilron!”
Pelya exclaimed, jumping up to give the weaponmaster a hug. He
smiled happily and lifted her off her feet.

Ebudae stood and greeted them. “Welcome to
Pallon Manor. Please join us for breakfast if you will.”

They accepted the invitation and the dining
room became noisy and active for the first time Ebudae could
remember. Tina even threw open all the curtains to let in natural
light.

***

A while later, they were all in the
high-ceilinged meeting room. Tables were against walls surrounding
a darkly polished central table with cushioned chairs. A fireplace
was in the center of the left wall and an enormous tapestry of the
continent on the other wall. Ebudae didn’t know when the tapestry
had been made, but it had countries on it that hadn’t existed in a
century.

Kitta had helped Poolu clean the room and
Ebudae was impressed by the fact that there wasn’t a speck of dust
to be found even in such a short time. Arched, stained glass
windows across from the door were open to let in fresh air along
with the sound of songbirds in the willows.

Ebudae was sitting at the end of the center
table with her back to the window. To her left, Pelya was sitting
on the table, something Ebudae’s grandmother never would have
allowed. Frath was leaning on the table by her and Commander
Coodmur was sitting in a chair next to him. Sir Imbra stood on
Ebudae’s right. He and the thin, blonde priestess, Appana, who had
healed Ebudae in the ruins days ago, had arrived after everyone was
finished with breakfast. Scattered around the room were some
lieutenants, sergeants, corporals and a few privates. Grinkin was
there too, but Clutz and Florsy were missing.

Captain Alice Zephan stood next to the
weaponmaster’s chair and gazed over a map of the Merchant District.
“We have extensive evidence, but not enough to destroy the
organization and that’s what it’s going to take to make Pelya safe.
Master Thanzin keeps his office here in the Merchant District at
the Blavoci Estate,” She stabbed a finger on a spot about ten
streets away from the Pallon Estate, “but it’s heavily guarded. If
we attack, there’ll be a fight and whoever’s inside will probably
have an escape route. At the very least, they’ll destroy the
evidence and probably kill Clutz and Florsy.”

“We have to save them. Please,” Grinkin
pleaded. He was pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.
The three Guardsmen had found a shack on the edge of Blavoci’s
estate that connected to the grounds. They broke in and made their
way to the main building where they were surrounded. It was too
many for them to take on so they did their best to make a strategic
retreat. From Grinkin’s account, Clutz was knocked unconscious.
Florsy tried to rescue him, but was severely injured in the leg.
Policy in the City Guard was that one person must always escape to
report. It was drilled into every member endlessly. Grinkin was the
only one who had made it out.

We have every intention of rescuing them,
Private,” the captain assured him. “Now please shut up and stop
that infernal pacing or I’ll throw you out the window.” Grinkin
stopped and stared at her morosely. She ignored him in order to
concentrate on the map. “A coordinated attack against all of their
holdings is ready. I’m very impressed with everyone’s fast work on
this. But we need to get Thanzin and we need to capture any
evidence he may have in that estate. Master Blavoci is not in
Dralin right now, so we won’t be able to touch him and it doesn’t
appear as though he’s even aware of the situation.”

“This is a lot of effort to go through for
the safety of one young woman.” Appana leaned on a staff taller
than her. It was white and had golden sun emblems up its length.
There was a large crystal at the center of another golden sun on
top. Ebudae could see runes inscribed into the shaft. Appana raised
an eyebrow when everyone in the room looked at her with challenge
in their eyes.

Commander Coodmur leaned forward and cleared
his throat. “It’s for the safety of
two
young women.” He
gestured at Ebudae. “As far as Pelya goes, she
is
the Dralin
City Guard. Any threat to her is a threat to all of us. She didn’t
ask for that honor, nor does she feel comfortable with all the
trouble we’re going to, but those are the facts of the matter.”

“It’s also not just about Pelya,” a young
lieutenant at the other end of the table said. He had curly brown
hair and grey eyes. “Captain Pumosa has been investigating Master
Blavoci’s actions throughout Dralin. This slaving and confiscating
of property has been going on for a decade now, but we’ve never
been able to get enough on him to shut the operation down.”

“Pumosa’s squads already know where all of
Blavoci’s holdings are, which is why everything is ready to go so
quickly,” Captain Zephan added. “So as Lieutenant Abereen says:
we’re doing this for Pelya, but we’re also doing our duty to make
this city a little safer.”

“I apologize for my previous statement
then,” the priestess replied with a slight bow. “Thank you for
explaining further.”

“It’s understandable,” Captain Zephan
assured her. “I’m glad to have the two of you on our side. Do
either of you have any suggestions?”

“I am here to keep Sir Imbra alive and
assist with any healing that may be needed,” the priestess
replied.

Sir Imbra stepped forward. “My suggestion is
to hit lots of people very hard with this big metal stick that I
have.” He pointed at his greatsword. “I’ve found it to be an
effective strategy.”

The priestess rolled her eyes while everyone
else laughed.

Pelya gave Ebudae a glance. They both knew
something that would help. Ebudae took advantage of a break in the
conversation to speak. “I know how to get in there. It should catch
them by surprise, but there will probably be fighting.”

All eyes were on her. Captain Zephan spoke
respectfully. “A reasonable amount of fighting is acceptable.
Foolish risk of life isn’t. I’d like to know what your suggestion
is.”

“There is an entrance to his estate through
the ruins under Dralin. Pelya and I know exactly where it is,”
Ebudae said.

“Now that’s very interesting,” Commander
Coodmur said. “I’ve heard about ruins under the city, but have
never been in them, plus it was in the reports about rescuing the
slaves.” He narrowed his eyes and waggled a finger at the girls. “I
don’t like that the two of you have been in them.”

“Nor do I,” Captain Zephan agreed with a
frown. “It sounds as if you know them well.”

“Parts of them, yes,” Ebudae admitted.
“Especially the parts leading from under my estate to Master
Blavoci’s estate.”

Captain Zephan thought about that for a
moment while the weaponmaster leaned back and chuckled.

“I can vouch for the fact that both young
women are extremely brave and capable,” Sir Imbra stated. “I also
know the ruins rather well, though not this section. The suggestion
is an excellent one. I’m ready to get started.” He grinned a little
too
enthusiastically and began bouncing up and down in
anticipation.

Captain Zephan’s eyes widened and she made a
calming motion. “Relax for now. Let’s make sure everyone has the
same plan and then we’ll get started.” The knight’s bouncing
lessened, but it didn’t go away.

“There are magically warded doors,” Pelya
said. “We’ve never gone too close, but we know the signs.”

“And exactly how do you know the signs?”
Lieutenant Abereen asked.

“There are magical wards around the
premises, on the door and on the building,” Ebudae answered.

“And how would you know that?” the
lieutenant persisted.

Pallon Estate took the initiative that time.
The fireplace had been cold up until then, but suddenly a black and
white fire appeared in it. All of the lanterns and candles in the
room were lit simultaneously with the same fire. The estate
suggested that Ebudae say something impressive.

Ebudae stood and placed her hands on the
table. “Because I read lots of books.” Wispy tendrils of smoke
emitted from her mouth as she spoke. Her voice echoed off the walls
ominously.

Just as quickly as the flames had appeared,
they were gone and the room was back to normal. Ebudae sat down and
tried to ignore the estate’s disgust with the less than impressive
statement. If it had a face and a palm to put it in, it would have
done so. However, everyone else in the room seemed impressed, even
Pelya who knew most of her tricks.

“So we have to break through the wards?”
Captain Zephan asked, shaking off the effects. “Is the door
locked?”

“We make it a point not to cross magical
wards to see if a door is locked,” Pelya said wryly. The
weaponmaster chuckled again along with a few others.

“I’ll make you pay for that statement, young
lady.” The captain waggled a finger playfully at her. “We’ll just
assume the door is locked then. So now the question becomes who to
send.”

“Pelya and I are going,” Ebudae insisted.
“We know the area and we insist on helping to fight our own
battles.”

“No. Definitely not.” Captain Zephan slammed
a hand down on the map. “I will not risk it.” Nearly everyone
agreed.

“It doesn’t matter. We’re going anyway.”
Ebudae didn’t care what any adult had to say at that point. “I am
an adult now, albeit a young one. I am also a very powerful
wizardess in my own right. While I realize that Pelya must answer
to her father and that her father answers to you, she is my best
friend and my protector. The two of us have a system of combat that
relies on both of us working together, so I need her with me.”

The captain’s eyes filled with anger and she
opened her mouth to continue the argument, but Sir Imbra spoke
first. “She’s right. Both young women must go.” The captain’s anger
refocused on him. Before she could say anything, he clarified his
position. “They were involved in the actions that caused this
situation. While their reasons were noble and they accomplished
great good, it created trouble for many others.”

The anger left Captain Zephan’s eyes. She
folded her arms and listened along with everyone else.

“You wish them to grow up to be responsible
young women and it is time to do so by allowing them to accept
responsibility for what they’ve done. They
want
to handle
the problem and that should not be discouraged.” Sir Imbra gestured
at the people in the room. “You will not be able to solve their
problems for the rest of their lives, so allow them to learn how to
solve them on their own. There are extremely capable people here to
go with them. Appana and I will be by their sides the entire time.”
He indicated the priestess.

“I agree,” Frath said. “The danger involved
clasps my heart and would weaken it, but I agree that they need to
go. I will be with them as well.”

Grinkin jumped in. “And me.”

“I think a small infiltrating group will be
best,” Commander Coodmur said. His voice filled the room. “I will
accompany them as well. Our primary task will be to clear a path
and secure the safety of any evidence and prisoners. The secondary
task will be to arrest Thanzin. A squad should follow us in to
clear out anyone we might miss.”