Ebudae (47 page)

“Uncle Gilron made all of this happen . . .”
Pelya trailed off in stunned silence.

“Yes. He made all of it happen to protect
you.” Captain Zephan smiled gently. “And everyone involved did too.
I gladly called in a few favors of my own. Captain Pumosa did too
and there were others.”

Pelya tucked her chin against her chest and
looked at her hands in her lap. Ebudae was upset for her friend.
“That’s a lot of pressure to put on someone. Pelya doesn’t want
people to do so much for her. You wouldn’t do that for anyone else
and now she probably feels like she’ll have to save the world at
least three times to make up for it.”

Pelya wiped her eyes and looked at Ebudae
gratefully. Frath put a comforting arm around Pelya’s
shoulders.

“She’s already paid any debt she may feel,”
the captain said. They looked at her in confusion. “What Pelya
doesn’t realize, and most people outside the Guard don’t realize,
is that Pelya inspires us. Before she came to us, the Dralin City
Guard was suffering. Morale was at historic low. Crime and evil
were gaining ground and we found ourselves hiding from it instead
of confronting it.”

Realization dawned on Frath’s face. “You’re
right. It was bad, but I thought it had always been like that.
Lately it feels like we’ve been doing more and more good.” He
frowned. “Because of Pelya?”

“Yes. Because of Pelya. It’s surprising, I
know, but she has changed the City Guard by being here.” The
captain sat up straight and looked at Pelya intently. “We fight for
you because you inspire us. Even as a baby, you changed our morale.
Every time any one of us sees you, it brightens our day and reminds
us why we joined the Guard.”

“I don’t understand,” Pelya said in
confusion. “I haven’t done anything.”

“People sometimes underestimate the power of
just being there. You didn’t have to do anything to inspire us.
Just seeing you, so young and vulnerable, did that. Then as you
grew up, you looked at us with hope and awe.” The captain leaned
forward. “You saw good in every one of us. It was clear in your
eyes. There have been times when I’ve had a hard decision to make
and I’ve thought of your beautiful blue eyes staring into my soul.
We all do.”

“It’s true,” Ebudae admitted. “You’re so
much better than me and anyone I know.”

The admission horrified Pelya. “Ebudae, no!
You’re amazing and you can do so many things I couldn’t even begin
to comprehend.”

“But I’m not good.” Ebudae frowned. “I don’t
mean to say I’m evil, it’s just that . . .” She took a deep breath
and started over. “I haven’t told you this, but there’s something
about you that’s vitally important to the world. It
is
a lot
of pressure for you and I hate that, but I can’t help thinking that
the effect you’re going to have in the world is epic like in the
stories bards tell at Carnival.”

Pelya stared at her in horror.

“Being blessed is a great burden,” Appana
said, her honey voice soothing the air like a salve. “I believe you
are blessed, young Pelya. I don’t even think you have to do
anything to create a positive effect on everyone around you if that
helps you come to terms with it. But I’ve seen you in action and
you desperately try to do good in the world. Whether that’s because
you think it’s expected of you or because it is in your nature, I
do not know.”

“You don’t have to come to terms with all of
that right away if you do not wish to,” Sir Imbra told Pelya. “Take
your time. In truth, you never have to come to terms with it if you
do not wish.”

“I don’t?” The thought obviously hadn’t
occurred to Pelya.

“Of course not.” The knight smiled gently.
“Many tortured souls go through life not coming to terms with
little things that affect their life. To ask you to handle such a
great thing would be unreasonable. Just understand that you change
people who know you. It may not be fair or even right, but you
do.”

Pelya thought about it for a minute and
everyone remained silent to let her do so. She looked up at her
father who responded by simply kissing her forehead. With a deep
sigh, she finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll think about that.” Pelya
crossed her legs in the chair and held her glass of wine in her
lap. “But why did Master Blavoci want to own all of Carnival?”

“Ah yes.” Captain Zephan stretched before
continuing with the explanation. “We’re not entirely sure to be
honest, but it seems to have something to do with the Rojuun.
Blavoci has an exceptional amount of gold at his disposal. What the
magistrate didn’t tell anyone was that over five hundred thousand
gold pieces were confiscated.”

Frath gave a low whistle. “I don’t know of
anyone who has that much money.”

Pallon Estate let Ebudae know that she had
that much and more by communicating directly to her mind. Ebudae
took a large gulp of wine and didn’t say anything.

“I know why they want Carnival. The Rojuun,
Zaan, explained it,” Sir Imbra said. Attention turned to him.
“Rojuun live in extensive systems of caves, primarily in the
Caaldith Mountains to the north and east. However, they believe
humans to be servants placed on Ryallon to serve them.”

“I remember him saying something like that
to us,” Pelya said.

Sir Imbra nodded. “Master Blavoci has been
helping a faction that wants to subjugate humans rather than
treating us respectfully. All of the people that Blavoci has been
taking are being shipped to Rojuun territories to serve them.”

The revelation was stunning. Frath snapped
his fingers. “Is that why people have been disappearing more often
than they ever used to? It seems to get worse every year.”

“It’s been noticed in many of the temples as
well,” Sir Imbra said.

“It’s been noticed by the High Council as
well.” Captain Zephan hesitated. “This is of the highest
confidentiality.” She waited until they all nodded. “Thousands of
people have disappeared from Dralin in the last twenty years,
probably more than we realize because it’s impossible to get a
census of the population. It may even be as many as twenty or
thirty thousand.

Appana nodded somberly. “The temples try to
keep track of the poor and twenty thousand is a modest amount. I
believe representatives have been in touch with the High Council,
so that may be where they got the numbers.”

“Most likely,” Captain Zephan agreed. “We
don’t know how many Master Blavoci is responsible for, but it looks
like it may be in the thousands. There are likely smaller
organizations in Dralin that are involved as well.”

Sir Imbra had a piece of potato impaled upon
his fork and was gazing at it as he spun it around in a circle.
“Zaan said there was, but his faction of Rojuun is able to handle a
lot of that. Blavoci’s organization had become too powerful
though.” He bit the evasive piece of potato.

“Is that why he kept getting captured?”
Pelya asked with a smirk.

“He’s a bit clumsy,” Sir Imbra said after
swallowing his bite. “Zaan said that the Rojuun have vast amounts
of gold and gems at their disposal though and that’s where Blavoci
got all that money. They’re funding the takeover of Carnival in
addition to the kidnapping of humans for slavery.”

“Why do they want Carnival though?” Captain
Zephan asked in confusion. “We just can’t figure that part
out.”

“It’s stupid and I don’t believe it,” Appana
said in disgust.

Sir Imbra nodded. “Zaan told us that the
Rojuun are artists and they desire Carnival so that they have a
place to perform. They’re interested in the parks too, because they
like performing in them.”

Nobody said anything for a moment. Captain
Zephan shook her head. “That’s very odd. I don’t believe it either.
But the motivations for trying to take over Carnival are best left
to the High Council and the magistrates.” She stood. “It’s a nice
night, so I’m going to walk back to the Guard District. I need to
clear my mind and let this food settle. With the exception of
information you need to share in your duties, Sir Imbra, can I
count on all of you not to discuss this meeting?”

They agreed and stood with the Captain who
hugged Frath and Pelya before coming to Ebudae. “Thank you for your
hospitality, Lady Pallon. I want you to know that the Guard cares
for you as well. If you need anything, please let me know.”

“Thank you. The Guard has my support in
return. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you in the
future too.”

“I will.” Captain Zephan shook Sir Imbra’s
hand and nodded to Appana. “Thank you to the two of you for all
you’ve done. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to aid
you.”

“Thank you, Captain. It’s been a pleasure,”
Sir Imbra said. He waited until the captain left the dining room
and turned to Ebudae. “May I call upon you soon to guide me through
the ruins to the temple you and Pelya mentioned?”

Ebudae had forgotten about that. “Yes, of
course. Please give me some time to become settled though.”

He grinned like a little boy. “Excellent. I
look forward to it.” Sir Imbra kissed Pelya’s hand much to the
young warrior’s surprise. “It has been a joy to fight by your side,
young Pelya Jornin. It is fated that we see each other again. Until
such time, may Reanna’s light guide your way.”

“Thank you, Sir Imbra. I’m actually looking
forward to that time,” Pelya told him.

The knight clasped Frath’s hand and shoulder
in friendship. “You are a man I admire more than any other. May
your soul know peace, my friend.”

Frath clasped hand and shoulder in return.
“Thank you . . .” He tilted his head. “That’s not the blessing I
expected.”

“I think you need peace more than sunlight,
my friend.” Sir Imbra clapped Frath’s shoulder and turned to leave.
Appana curtseyed before following the knight.

“Well, that just leaves the three of us,”
Frath said after they were gone. He took Pelya’s shoulders into his
right arm. He held his left out for Ebudae. She slid under it and
felt instantly safer. Having a father was wonderful. “What say we
get dessert and sit in the conservatory for a while? We can discuss
how to fill Ebudae’s remaining household staff. I’ll take a couple
of days off and help the two of you get everything settled
there.”

“I’d like that, Daddy,” Pelya said.

“So would I . . . Daddy?” The word sounded
both odd and pleasant to Ebudae’s tongue.

“You are the most wonderful daughters a man
could ever ask for.” Frath smiled at them and led them out of the
sitting room.

Epilogue

“Watch your step, Master Blavoci. There’s
mud below the carriage,” Tooby warned in a sniveling voice. It was
too late. Master Blavoci’s boot disappeared in the deep mud outside
the long abandoned inn. Even the moons were hiding behind clouds as
though not wanting to gaze upon the business he had. “Oh, that’s
just terrible. This drizzle just doesn’t stop in the springtime,”
Tooby said.

Tooby Obden was an oaf, but a useful one.
Brown wisps of hair circled a balding skull. He was skinny with a
potbelly and his clothes were always messy. He knew the most
terrible people in Dralin too, which made him even more unpleasant
unless a person needed to get in touch with a terrible person.

“Why are we meeting out here in this
forsaken field? My son has purchased a perfectly acceptable manor
in Dralin that I’m certain has a warm fire in it.” Master Blavoci
was an irritable man and it showed in his posture and tone. He
pulled the hood of his yellow cloak tighter over his head and
pulled his boot out of the mud. Each step was a chore.

“I should have pulled the carriage closer,
but I’m just not good at these things. I’m so sorry, Master
Blavoci,” Tooby said.

“Just take me to see him. Let’s get this
over with.” He worked his way through the mud to the rotting door,
irritated by the fact that he was squishing. Gentlemen never
squished.

“Yes, Master Blavoci. Tooby squished faster
and made it to the door in time to open it for him. The hinges were
in such bad shape that it fell to the ground, barely missing
Blavoci. It did splash mud all over the distinguished man though.
Tooby held both hands to his mouth in horror. “Ohhhhhhh . . . The .
. . the drizzle will wash that mud off if you stand there long
enough, Master Blavoci.” Blavoci stared at him in displeasure for a
long moment before entering the inn.

A lone candle sat on a table to the left of
the common room. It was the only light except for the dim glimmer
of moonlight through the rain. The ceiling of the common room had
numerous holes in it that let water through from the floors
above.

Blavoci walked to the table, not noticing
the shadowy figure sitting there until the last minute. He was
startled. “Wha? . . . Why didn’t you say anything you fool! I
didn’t . . .” He remembered that he was talking to an assassin.
Blavoci looked down on most people, but had the wisdom to know when
it was a bad idea to insult someone.

The shadowed man stood. His cloak was drawn
and he stood so the candle didn’t illuminate his face, making it
appear as though he was a shadow. Blavoci became nervous, looking
over his shoulder for Tooby, but the sniveling rat had stayed
outside as he was supposed to. The man stood there silently,
waiting for Blavoci to speak.

“I have a job for you. I was told you were
the best.” The man was mysterious and few people knew anything
about him. It had been nearly impossible to get in touch with
him.

The figure nodded slowly, saying
nothing.

“Good. I have one person I want you to kill.
I’m told you only accept payment up front and always succeed in the
job.”

Another nod.

“That’s not the normal way to do things. It
should be half up front and half when the job is done.”

The figure remained completely still.