In Treachery Forged (The Law of Swords) (39 page)

Maelgyn sighed deeply. “I... I’m not sure I can say yes. It’s... I’ll be
so
worried for you.”

“Surely,” she answered him desperately. “Surely, you know I can take care of myself in a fight. We’ve fought in battles on each other’s side three times. I just beat you in a sparring match. Ruznak trained me to fight, trained me to know strategy, and trained me to know everything there is to know about combat! I am ready to fight in a war. Probably just as ready as you are. Possibly more so. Please... let me come with you.”

“Okay,” he replied somberly after some time lost in thought. Euleilla finally relaxed – he had given in. “I’ll let you join me at first. If things get too hot, though, if I think that there’s no hope for survival, I may—”

“You’ll do nothing,” she answered. “I will be at your side through everything. Even death. Do you understand?”

“No,” he answered after yet another pause. “I don’t understand. But I don’t seem to have a choice, do I? You may go where you wish, by my side or not. I just hope I never have cause to regret that.”

“You won’t,” Euleilla promised, squeezing his hands tightly. “I swear you won’t.”

“Can you help me back to our room?” he asked. “I’m feeling a little tired....”

She noticed he didn’t respond to her promise. She didn’t say anything, however; it wasn’t the time. “Sure,” was all she said, standing up and helping him to his feet before surprising him with a deep kiss.

Together, they made their way back to their bedroom. It appeared he wasn’t too tired, after all, as she guided him into bed before joining him. The kissing continued, getting more and more intense. Euleilla started tugging on Maelgyn’s clothes, and he was all too happy to help her remove hers. Soon they were completely naked before each other, and Maelgyn was starting to take the lead...

And then the “brief weariness” Sekhar had warned them about kicked in, and Euleilla found herself getting lightheaded.

“I... think we need to do this another time,” she managed to say... right before passing out.

Chapter 23

Valfarn set the parchment down in front of Maelgyn. “I’ve made the changes to your address tomorrow, as you requested, Your Highness.”

“Very good, thank you.” Maelgyn wrinkled his nose. “I’m not fond of public speeches, you know. Oh, my tutors’ protocol lessons were thorough enough. But it’s not something I look forward to, especially under these grave circumstances. It almost seems, well... frivolous.”

“I think perhaps presenting oneself for adoration by the masses is never something a liege lord truly relishes, or at least not those who deserve the honor. But you’re their new Duke, and the people will want to see you and judge for themselves what kind of man you are. And your first order to them will send us out to war, which makes it worse.” Valfarn grimaced. “You should expect some of the peasants to speak out on that.”

“I hope not,” Maelgyn said. “We were betrayed and attacked without any provocation, our King slaughtered in brutal fashion and our capital city sacked. This war is a fight for our very survival, and it would be foolish for anyone to complain at this point.”

Valfarn tipped his hand in the air thoughtfully. “Some, too, will want to reassure themselves that you’ve really recovered your health. They’re good people, and they’ve trusted me to lead them for a long time, but some may find it, ahem... alarming, if you were to disappear from public view precipitously after so grave an injury.”

Maelgyn nodded thoughtfully. He had no worries on that score. Euleilla’s attentions proved to him that his recovery had gone smoother than expected, and between his magical exercises and Sekhar’s guidance he was even stronger than he had been before the incident. Unfortunately, the night she had passed out had been the only opportunity he’d had to consumate his marriage – despite his promise to stay by her side, Wodtke had chased him out of their bedroom the next morning. He had been fine and could resume the business of being a Duke, but Euleilla had now fallen into exhaustion. Not wanting the doctor to know about the still unsprouted
schlipf,
they had allowed Wodtke to believe that Euleilla’s incapacity had come about because of the amount of time and energy she had put into treating Maelgyn. That led Wodtke to forbid them from spending their nights together until Euleilla was healthy, as well. Maelgyn sighed with frustration at that thought.

“Something on your mind, milord?” Valfarn looked at Maelgyn curiously.

“A moment,” Maelgyn said. “There’s another I need to have to join us, for a bit.”

He stepped to the door, and spoke quietly with one of the guards, who nodded and dashed off. Maelgyn started to move away, but Sekhar interrupted him.

Don’t bother,
Sekhar thought to him.
I can already sense your young servant heading here now.
A minute or two later, there was a quiet knock on the door, and Maelgyn opened it again, taking a scroll from a short, squat figure. “Thank you, Tur’Ba,” Maelgyn said appreciatively. “Right on time.”

“Also, your highness?” Tur’Ba asked hesitantly.

“Yes?”

“Since I’m still being trained by Reltney, I tend to talk with your other servants a lot. Rumor has it that nobody will question your wife’s unusual hairstyle – some people seem to think your wife is a powerful sorceress and her hair is part of some ritual. I think people are too scared to ask.”

Maelgyn looked at him closely. There was no way anyone who knew anything about magic would ever believe that story... or come up with it. While magical knowledge seemed lacking in Sopan, he found it hard to believe a Human would come up with such a tale. “So what do you know about the origin of this
rumor?
”

“I beg pardon, your highness?” Tur’Ba’s innocent expression was uncanny.

“Never mind.” Maelgyn shook his head, and waved him away. It wasn’t likely to do much good, but he wouldn’t dress Tur’Ba down for the effort.” These papers seem to be in order. That’s all I need for now.” Tur’Ba bowed and left as swiftly as he had come. Valfarn raised an eyebrow, a bit amused at the exchange with Maelgyn’s Dwarven assistant.

Maelgyn turned back to Valfarn. “I have here,” he said, “a proclamation, appointing one Duke Valfarn, Regent, to the position of First Advisor.” He smiled. “I thought it wise, on the eve of war, to have that clearly stated.”

Opening a drawer, he retrieved a quill, an ink bottle, and a stick of red-brown sealing wax, which he promptly employed while continuing to speak. “I have but to affix my signature and signet, and it’s done.” Maelgyn re-rolled the scroll carefully into its case, handing it to Valfarn. “And now, Regent Valfarn, I believe you have accumulated yet another duty – arranging for a herald, to read this at the conclusion of my address.” Maelgyn extended his arm, and the two men grasped hands.

Maelgyn’s speech was largely uneventful. Valfarn’s concern about the people being upset at the war wasn’t exactly justified – they were angry, yes, but at Sho’Curlas and not at him. If anything, it made the speech easier to give – they were so primed about the war that any time he talked about bringing their armies to face Sho’Curlas, the people erupted into cheers. It was entirely possible his people were more ready for the war than he was.

The speech taken care of, Maelgyn joined with the council of war Valfarn had assembled during his recovery period. His plans to counteract the Elven incursion were proceeding well, although he was sure in time there would be more issues on that front to deal with. One of the interesting effects of his proclamation was that Euleilla was officially made a noble outside of their marriage – the newly promoted Earl Terekalo, to make up for his own illness during the planning stages of his cavalry’s movements, had directed one of his also-just-promoted Barons to create a Baronetcy for her. It was a bit of a sop to some of the traditionalist nobles, and it gave Euleilla some authority separate from him. Not that she particularly cared, but they both had appreciated the gesture and wished the man well in his recovery. He would not be a part of the initial stages of Maelgyn’s campaign, most likely, but he would resume training new cavalry forces to support the war effort... once his health permitted it, that is.

Maelgyn desperately hoped the Elves wouldn’t become an issue again until after the war was over, but it was good to know there would be competent people left in Sopan to help defend it if they made a move. He couldn’t deal with them now, however, beyond his initial counterstroke – he felt worried for his family fighting on the front, and they needed his help as soon as possible. Patience, he decided, was not his strong suit. “Honestly, the only significant decision I see remaining is how to divide our military leadership on the journey to the rendezvous point,” he noted.

“We intend to split the campaign army in two,” Valfarn explained for the newcomers. This was the first full meeting of the council, and he was still the only person to know all of their plans. “We have confiscated as many usable wagons to help transport our soldiers to the war front as possible, but it isn’t enough for our entire army. Our cavalry train will be sent over the mountains of Mar’Tok, where they will check in with our new Dwarven allies before moving on. As much of the infantry as possible will be transported by our navy while we attempt to lift the blockade on Largo. Archers, engineers, and other specialists will split themselves between the two groups as space on their respective transports permit. Both will require someone in charge. In time of war the Regent can also act as your top general, so I will travel with whichever force you do not, My Prince.”

“You know how I feel,” Euleilla said simply.

“I’m infantry, I travel with the infantry,” was all Yergwain said.

Leno said. “I’ll join you, Your Highness, wherever you lead. I have a feeling you’ll have a better appreciation of my magic skill than some.”

“That is not a reason for joining an expedition,” Yergwain growled.

“Settle down, everyone,” Maelgyn snapped, almost losing his temper. The two men had refused to do anything but argue since his proclamation in the council chamber, and that had spilled over into every council meeting he had attended since. “That’s fine, Sir Leno.”

“I’ll go with you wherever you go, I will, just as Sir Leno has chosen to, he has,” Wangdu said.

“My choice is clear,” declared Onayari, the Nekoji representative. “Most of my race who joined us on the march here will return by way of the Mar’Tok Mountains – we are not exactly happy on the water. Someone, however, must be present at sea who can represent us in this great quest. I will be that.” She did not exactly look happy with her own decision, but that was understandable.

“My people would not be pleased to see me right now,” El’Athras snorted. “I think I’d better go over the sea.”

“I think you all know, by now, that I’m going to be going with El’Athras,” Dr. Wodtke noted. “And I think you should come with us, your highness. I’d like to keep an eye on you – your bonding with the
schlipf
went faster than I’d heard possible. Usually, it takes two or three months to recover, and you’re back to full health after less than one.”

“Hold it,” Maelgyn said, raising his hands. “We cannot all go by sea. Lord Valfarn will need some help, even if they don’t encounter any action before we are reunited.”

“I’ll be fine,” Valfarn noted, waving him off. “Lord Mathrid is competent – that he doesn’t want to be part of your councils of war doesn’t make him entirely intransigent. He’ll work with me, as will some of the other lords.”

“So, basically, most everyone is coming with me?” Maelgyn asked, looking surprised.

“Well, I haven’t said anything,” Tur’Ba deadpanned. “But of course I’m going with you, too. My father sent me to learn by your side. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do that when I escape from the, ah, tutelage of Chief Steward Reltney.”

“I’ll look after the steward,” Gherald said, his eyes glinting humorously. “As the head of the Council of Commons and therefore the highest ranking individual left behind, I’m going to be in charge of Sopan. A commoner, in charge of the whole province? He’ll go mad!”

Maelgyn looked around as laughter from that statement erupted across the room, although that laughter seemed rather strained from Yergwain’s position. Maelgyn made a note to keep an eye on the man. “So... that’s it, then? We’re really ready to go?”

“In the morning,” Valfarn acknowledged. “At the crack of dawn.”

“Then we should get some sleep,” Wodtke noted. “Everyone. Best way to prepare for a long journey is a good rest beforehand, I’ve always thought.”

“Then to bed, ladies and gentlemen,” Maelgyn commanded. “Tomorrow... well, I guess tomorrow we’ll make history.”

Most of the lords stood and departed, but Maelgyn stayed for a moment as he looked over their plans. He still wasn’t sure of everything. Impatient, Euleilla took his arm, motioning him toward the door, where Wodtke was waiting to ensure everyone left. “That means you, too,” she said pointedly.

Wodtke heard that comment and snorted. “Remember, girl – I said sleep. I’m still not happy with your stamina after that collapse last week. I don’t want you doing anything that might cause a relapse.”

“But—” Euleilla protested.

The healer is right,
Sekhar noted.
My child is making it as easy as possible on your lifemate, but she still needs to rest some more. She will become ill if she doesn’t rest.