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It took weeks to cross half of Istlan and nearly that much of Yanse, of course. Anders was fine on the trip, but felt a bit down, on seeing home again. The castle of King Mathias. It wasn’t that his time there had been bad in any way. Not truly. He’d lived a life of privilege, after a fashion. Never to the level that a prince was given, but he’d had steady food, a warm bed at night and no one had harmed him, outside of weapons practice.
Even that had mainly been Guard Cohen, who, assassin or not, had actually helped to harden and train him greatly, in the weeks they’d worked together. Nearly as much on his own as all the other training that Anders had been given, combined.
Farad understood the reason for the dark feelings, having age on his side, compared to the boy with him. When they were traveling, they were useful. He hunted and prepared food, which people valued. He’d done a few little shows and even played music at the fire, some nights, for people to listen to. Every few days he took a turn improving the meadows that people stayed in, adding temporary housing, which they left up, for others to use for years to come.
At the castle he was, of course, simply Anders again. Even if that hadn’t truly been what had happened, the last time he’d returned. No, he’d thrown himself into work, bribing servants into bettering their lives. A thing that had failed, it seemed.
Not that he knew that yet, having just ridden in, with the others. The wagons had all drifted away, over the last days, with only the whores staying with them until they reached the city near the castle. They weren’t all from there, but it seemed that the men they traveled with had become fond of some of them, and a few had even talked of legitimate marriage. That was too great a prize to pull away from any of them, so the woman in charge had kept going. They were planning to turn back, toward their base, in a few days. If they couldn’t find places in the city, that was.
So, dressed in finery that left him feeling conspicuous, surrounded by others in the same state, the six riders moved to the front of the dwelling, to find about forty people there to officially meet them. Oddly, there were also watchers. Servants, but some who must have come from the city. Indeed, there were thousands of them. When they moved up the road, lined on either side with bodies, a great cheer went up.
Anders didn’t get it at all, though Depak sighed and leaned over, to whisper to him. He still had to be loud, since they were nearly ten feet away.
“Smile, Anders. I think they might be here for you.”
He did paste a grin on his face, but it was clearly questioning, since Salina spoke about it.
“You’re their Great One, after all, aren’t you? Though, I suppose they could be welcoming their victorious Prince Erold? Is that common here? I mean, it isn’t unheard of for a Prince gone to war to have such back home, so I could see it being that.”
So could Anders, really. Given the Istlan fear of magic, even if they were going to do better in the future, that seemed right.
The important part was that no one got in their way, on the stone road, so they were able to dismount in front of the King, Queen, and Heir. Several others as well, including his own mother, and the Barquean Princesses. The other ones. Interestingly, it was the blond Prince, Robarts, who moved forward, bowing toward them. He did it back, going into second courtly, his left knee well bent.
The man spoke loudly.
“Hail, the returning heroes!” He actually yelled it, which got a response from the crowd.
“Hail! Hail! Hail!”
Several servants ran over, to take their horses, with more stripping their packs and gear, to remove it to their places inside. Anders tried to hold a smile on his face, as he felt suddenly uneasy. It was only the press of people, reminding him of battle, of course.
The Heir moved in, and clapped Erold on the arm.
“Brother! Welcome home. We have a meal planned, this evening, in celebration of your return. Also, good news for you. Princess Sweyn, your lady wife, is with child.” The man leaned in then, and whispered, though loudly enough for those standing there to hear. “The timing works. It’s yours. I just didn’t want you to be left shocked and dumfounded, later.”
Anders patted the Prince on the arm.
“How wonderful! Congratulations! I should get a present for her.” He had some small things to give, from Yanse, but they really weren’t grand enough for such an occasion. Bits of braided ribbon and some silverwork in the style of that land.
A few interesting tools, and knives. Nothing too heavy, since Chestnut had been set to carrying it all the whole way.
Robarts moved toward him then, and repeated the clap on the arm.
“Anders! We have a meeting, after the celebratory meal? You’re expected for that. Truly, plan to dine at the high meal, from now on, unless you have leave not to? Father wishes a word with you, with both of you, in private, directly after this.” The words were oddly serious seeming.
Anders looked around again, for attack, and nodded.
“I’ll stand ready.”
Depak was greeted in a similar fashion, with Hoatha getting another bow. Princess Salina was given a small hug however, in the polite court fashion, with a pretend kiss to the cheek, and Saffron, very interestingly received the same. After she was called by name.
“Now, some of you should be shown to your rooms. Erold, you and Anders should meet at my office? If you have time at the moment, of course, Anders?”
He grinned, since there was going to be a bit more than that first.
“After I say hello to my mother and congratulate Princess Sweyn? Unless this is pressing, in which case, we can plan those things for later?”
The King himself moved forward, smiling a bit. He seemed strained when looking at Ganges, but that was, perhaps, to be expected. He was, or had been thought to be, their greatest adversary, not long before.
“There’s time for a few hugs and well wishes now, of course!” The man seemed calm and official, though he did spare a pat on the arm for Prince Erold. “We can, of course, wait on your convenience, Sir Anders?”
That was, other than as a jest, the first time anyone had referred to him that way. It seemed a good bit more real, coming from the King, for some reason.
He didn’t need to refresh himself, so smiled back.
Then, for the life of him, couldn’t work out what he was supposed to say. That he’d hurry, most likely, or that he did, indeed, have something to see to. Which wasn’t true at all. So, lacking words for the moment, he bowed to the man, using first courtly.
That got a knowing nod, as if it weren’t the wrong thing to do, thankfully.
Then, he was nearly taken to the ground, by his mother, who had Lady Martya beside her.
“There you are!” He was hugged for a good long time, Lady Lyse finally letting go of him after nearly a full minute. “So, it will be a bit harder to hide your exploits from me this time. I fear news of your heroism has rather traveled.”
Lady Martya moved in as soon as Lyse let go of him, for her own hug. That didn’t last as long, but seemed well meant enough. Then, they were, in a strange fashion, also old friends. She was also attractive, which Anders noted, actually forcing himself into a trance to prevent a response to her being pressed against him, before she let go. That got her to go slightly wide eyed, which had to be forced on her part. She might not have been the original Ganges, being her own, new, person, but she’d been alive for hundreds of years.
Anders doubted much that he could do would surprise or amaze her.
“Lady Martya! How have you been? Is all well here?”
It was the smallest of chatter, meant to be polite. The woman tilted her head, however.
“I’ve slowed my efforts on this continent, for now. Things are going well, that way, however. I’d thought that Yanse would take Istlan, but the other way around works just as well. Perhaps better, since Mathias and his sons are better leaders than Yarler and his family were. Now, I need to go and give Saffron a hug as well. We’ll talk, soon?”
He nodded, since that was probably required. Especially since she’d just admitted that her plans, while slowed, were ongoing there. A thing that Ganges himself hadn’t really spoken of that way.
Many of the onlookers noticed the scaled woman in their midst, but no one seemed shocked and several relaxed when Lady Martya, clearly a noble of some sort, even if not well known to the public, moved in, held her without dying, then started to speak to her in a strange tongue.
It was all small talk, as far as Anders could tell. In Farad’s language, if with some changes having been made over time. They spoke of the trip, and how Saffron hadn’t found a husband yet. Though, she had to admit rather happily, having learned to speak Istlan had opened a lot up for her that way. A few of the soldiers had been polite to her and one had even asked her to bed.
She’d refused, for the time being, but hadn’t actually turned the man away, so far.
As he listened to them, he was suddenly pulled back. Then several women took turns holding him, from various directions.
They were, in the main, princesses.
Pretty close to all of them, actually. After a few moments he got his feet under him and, smiling, hugged Princess Sweyn, lightly.
“Congratulations! Prince Robarts warned his brother, so he wouldn’t jibber when you told him later. I was close enough to overhear.”
Instead of being upset that her good news had been stolen from her, she smiled, her cute face, a nice tan color, seeming sweet.
“I was taken by surprise, it happening so quickly. I...” She looked to the side, where Princess Lissa stood. Waiting for her own turn. “We’ll speak later?”
He bowed, which simply meant that Lissa was closer to his level when she jumped in and held him for a bit. Tightly.
She then sighed.
“I could use your help, with the remaining students? I... Stopped paying them. I told them they were good enough to start earning their own coin, which is working decently well. I need to know what they should be learning next. I’m in that same place, so...”
It was always easier to be taught than to figure out what was desired for yourself.
“I’ll work up some texts for that? In several languages... It will take some days. For now, well, I’ll need to review what they’ve been doing and then we should discuss what you think they need to know, for their lives and places in the world.”
She was their main teacher, after all. He’d done the task for some weeks. Lissa had been there doing the work for several months. Enough that it was early summer, already. The day showed it, as well, being mildly hot, standing there, outside of the castle as they were. The air was rich with scents. Some were familiar, even on the road. The scent of animals, and people out in the sun, but also wood smoke and a hint of something sweet, on the wind. Flowers.
None were visible, but they liked to grow in the meadows around the place.
His portion of saying hello to people was basically done for the time being. A few people happened past, to wish him well, but the truth was, he didn’t know most of them personally. Nobles, who he had names for, but who he’d never met to speak to, personally.
Not until Count Verit strode up, dressed in a mainly white outfit, with hose and a tunic that was belted at the waist. It was a very unusual look, but Anders managed a smile for the man, since his hair, short and red, reminded him a bit of Page Walden.
“Count Verit! How have you been? Are you feeling well?” He pointed lightly with one finger, toward his head. Resisting the urge to look inside of the man, without his permission.
“Sir Brolly! I’m well, in fact. A bit ashamed to have not ridden out to war, before. I should have, but...”
Anders shook his head.
“No, you shouldn’t have. You needed the time to heal and recover. You look to be in good health now, which was the important portion of things at the time. Also, you sent those treats to the men. I was asked to give you their thanks, when we met again. More than one soldier put in for that, as well.” Which was actually true, even if he hadn’t thought of it in nearly two months.
The man, rather gracefully, waved that away. A low thing, near his waist.
“You mean the payment for my life? I’m glad it was of use to those at war, but it was you who asked for that gift for them. So, I look a bit low right now, even with that. Not that I can’t do better, now. Thanks to you. I was allowed to rest here, hoping that I could hear of some other duty or battle needed, now that my health has returned, as well as my wit. Do you know of anything, that way?”
He didn’t really, so frowned, but also tilted his head.
“Let me ask around on that topic? I need to get caught up here. Still, for the moment, know that you did the right thing. Dying on the road, as you valiantly bounced on the back of a horse, due to a bleeding brain would have aided no one.”
He meant it, but the man actually chuckled, as if it were a jest.
“Ah, now, if only the rest of these people could be informed of that.”
“You mean the same people who also stayed here and didn’t go off to the war? I’m sure they all had equally good reasons, of course.” Some would, really. Women, the noble ones, didn’t go to war there, for instance. Some would be too aged, or had tasks that were needed for the war, there at the court.
Master Tolan had the excuse and had supported the war rather vitally, from a distance.
Count Verit looked around, a bit slyly and nodded.
“I had noted that one, myself. Still, keep an ear for me on the topic? I do want to do my part if it’s needed. I haven’t been able to, for some years now.”
Anders gave a choppy nod, locking eyes with the man. He wasn’t old, but was aged enough to feel his place was in defending his people.
Then Anders was signaled to, from near the Queen. Princess Aisla, a babe in arms, smiled at him as he approached.
“There he is, Leopold, your brother, Anders.” The baby had brown eyes, and skin more tanned than his own, but lighter than his mother.
“Hello, Brother! I have a present for you, in my things. You as well, Princess Aisla. Nothing large of course. I traveled on horseback, so...”
She smiled a bit larger.
“Ah? Well, that will go over well, I bet. As well as a full report, as to what’s happened over there? We’ve been told a bit, from Master Tolan, but he’s been remarkably closed lipped on much of it. Was Salina too large of a bother? I was worried on that score.” She looked at the other Princess, who was standing with her other sisters, as if she could be nothing less than a problem.
Anders turned, so his back was to the other Princess, looking at Aisla, his face blank.
“She stood for Barquea, as their new Great One in training. In battle, several times. Then labored, remaking both a water and sewage system in a large city, along with Depak Sona and Master Jeld, the former servant here. She also helped to fix wagons, using magic, as well as heal, on the way back here. Both people and animals. I’m certain she thinks that we were mocking her, suggesting she take up the mantle of Great One, but Depak Sona isn’t making light of it. He’s pushed her as a personal apprentice, for that task, over the last months.” He grinned then. “There has been some occasional whining, but the truth is that has largely faded. Now we need to keep her busy, for long enough that the habit truly breaks.”
The woman blinked at him, several times, then started to smile, stopped and gave a rather curt nod.
“I see. I’d ask if you were making a jest, except that you wouldn’t on that score. Not with me, at least. That’s... Wonderful news, of course! I’ll have to inform Father. I’ve mentioned the good works that the others here have been doing, already. I’m a bit slow, sending messages, so far, but have been practicing several times per week.”
“Good. You should move that to daily. Even if it’s just sending something to me, for the practice. You’ve been going over the rest of your magic more? Now that the servants here go around doing that kind of thing?”
She made a face, then sighed.
“Enough to make you happy over it? Doubtful. I do practice each day, a bit. I admit, having the girl that comes to clean my chambers tossing spells around does push me to do a bit better. Things are changing that way here, I think. King Mathias announced how pleased he was that the people of Istlan are giving up their old fears of magic and seeking such skills to make our kingdom a mightier place. Word that we took Yanse at each turn in battle, using that, seems to have made a difference as well. Your name has been spoken frequently, of late.”
Anders frowned.
“You’re the second or third person to mention that in the last minutes. Is it something I need to be aware of, do you think?”
The woman didn’t say no, but also didn’t speak, her lips going tight. Why that was, he couldn’t tell.
Eventually she made a sound again.
“It’s good to have you back. Do you have plans yet?”
“Only in that I’m off to meet with some people, already. I should see to that, soon, in fact. If you’re well, here?” He watched her carefully, in case she was trying to tell him something, but she simply bent her knees a fraction.
“For now. We’ll speak, later, perhaps?”
He smiled and nodded at the words, which were uncharacteristically dark, for her.
“Later, then.” He bowed, since he probably sounded a bit curt. It wasn’t his intent at all. In fact, he was slightly baffled, at the strange way the woman was acting.
Hinting at him being spoken of, but not simply telling him why it might be a problem. If it was about that at all. There had been rumors before he’d left, about him being more than a mere boy. It was true enough, being he had someone else in his head with him, but that alone shouldn’t have become something so major. Not really. Even if people believed it, they’d probably more or less agree that he wasn’t a person to worry over and go on their way.
No one there, including people in the crowd, still watching for some reason, seemed to care that he was there. None acted frightened at least.
He started to simply walk into the castle, through the open door, when he noticed that not one, but four men were following him inside. Two were castle guards, so people he recognized. The others were the King and Prince Robarts. With Prince Erold moving quickly to catch up to them, as soon as they were inside. No one spoke at all, as they headed across the entire building, to the back, where Robarts had his workspace.
They went straight in, his eyes scouring the room, then checking it, using magic. Noticing his trance, Prince Erold did the same thing, and after a moment, as soon as the four of them were shut inside, spoke. His voice a bit far away in an indefinable, but familiar, fashion.
“No one is listening to us. I can’t find any magical efforts from outside this room monitoring us, either.”
Anders only had a bit to add, when it was his turn to speak.
“No poisons, as well. Or magic. Should we be searching for anything else, Your Majesty?”
The King sat, his weight, which seemed to be less than it had been a few months prior, if not much so, settled into one of the guest chairs, as Robarts moved behind his great wooden desk. After a moment he shook his head.
“Not that I know of? Good thinking, though, checking like that. Both of you. There has been a slightly annoying happening, in your absence, Anders. A bit of slander, impugning your good will has run through the court here. A claim that you’ve taken to plotting against me and Robarts, seeking the throne for yourself.”
Anders didn’t deny it, or say it was true. That wouldn’t be the point at all. Instead, he twisted his mouth for a moment. Then he tried not to smile.
“Two things are important here. First, have Master Tolan check my mind for such things. They aren’t there, so that should be good evidence that way? Second... How do we capitalize on people making such claims about me?”
Prince Robarts got it first, or at least chuckled over the idea.
“Set a trap, perhaps, to see who would seek to overthrow their king? A warning, it’s probably everyone in the court, except a small handful. Apparently, you’re in that grouping, if you’re willing to have a wizard seek the truth inside your innermost self. We should call for him, to have that done, do you think?”
Anders smiled, actually meaning it.
“That would be wonderful, of course. I haven’t seen him in months. Plus, I’d rather not have my goodwill distrusted for longer than is needed. Prince Erold mentioned some weeks back that people might be imagining that kind of thing. I honestly don’t understand why, but...” He shrugged, then felt bad about it, since that kind of thing was a bit sloppy of him.
Prince Robarts rose, strode to the door commandingly and spoke to the guards there. Nothing else seemed to happen. There was no calling out, or sounds of one of the men leaving their post to seek Master Tolan. When the heavy doors closed again, the Prince winked at him.
“It is a rather obvious thought. A child, not yet a man in body, who has sudden access to resources and perhaps a grudge over how he was held away from a better life for years might well seek to recoup what was withheld. Who could blame him for it? Worse, we sit here, speaking of this topic and I have to tell you that, due to your young age, we must withhold most of the honors that you have clearly earned for yourself.”
That idea didn’t bother him. Honestly, he hadn’t figured there being honors of any sort for being good at killing. The last time he’d come home from the war, his mother had set up a nice tea for him, with a few other people. They’d had some well-made small sweets, to go with it.
“You mean I can’t have a cake in my name? Too bad. I do enjoy a nice bit of pastry, from time to time.”
Prince Erold looked amused by the words, at least.
He didn’t speak though, being attentive to his brother, who seemed ready to start again.
“You won a war, Anders. A normal man would be given a title, lands, perhaps a wife of good linage and coin enough to never raise his hand in work again. We made you a knight, for an act that, even when it was announced, had nobles of the court asking if that was enough or even close. General Nesmith suggested making you a general in our Army. Alpert suggested that we hand over the Kingship of Yanse to you.”
He glanced at Erold then his face serious.
“Your name came up for that as well, Brother. Instead, we named a child. A mere babe, to that position. One who has no more right through blood than you do, Anders. That...”
No one spoke for a moment, so Anders did.
“That simply makes sense. At least as long as Leopold is raised well and is of good heart and sound mind. We have no reason to think he won’t be, given who his parents are. Yanse... I could lead there. As a tyrant. Using fear to guide them. They cannot love me, though. Prince Alpert, if he is careful, can live for twenty-years as Regent there, which to them is their King, for the most part, and then place his son on the throne when it’s time, without even a fraction of the troubles I’d have.”
He did look at Erold then.
“True, you could do the same as your brother, but he has enough age to pull that kind of thing off, without it being thought an insult to a conquered foe. Which... Well, Yarler could have done it as well, I suppose. If he hadn’t been a fool.”
Just because the man had been a hothead with him, and foolish in his defeat, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t have normally been more capable than that.
King Mathias sighed.
“All of that is likely true, Anders. The thoughts of a wise man, who doesn’t seek the best for himself, before those around him are taken care of. Which seems like a lie, to those of my court. Who would refuse a wealth of land and subjects? It’s unthinkable to most here. Even myself, to be most honest. Yet, here you sit, waving such honors away, seeking nothing from me. Not even a cake. Which, by the way, we will be having some of, later. A nice fruit one, with dainties on it, for decoration. That isn’t enough, and... I fear, that people will try to use you, if we leave you here. So... I must send you away.”
Everyone in the room went very still then, and Prince Erold readied magic, twisting his hand, to form a shield. The intent rang through the room. Probably due to the light trance he was in at the moment. Anders simply sat, then, slowly, smiled.
“Do you have a destination in mind or is it just away, in a general sense?”
The man, still tense, looked at the others.
“The latter. Not into exile or anything, either. We’ll need a real reason for you not to be available to the court here. I haven’t even the slightest thought as to where you might go. It won’t be forever, but...” He shook his head. “There’s a lie in that, isn’t there? You can come and visit, but this cannot be your home. Those of the court will have to seek you out to use you against myself. A thing that I don’t fear, greatly, but with enough inducement, or perhaps the right threats, you might be turned against me. If doing this, now doesn’t force that into being, naturally.”
Prince Erold looked ready to lash out, but didn’t bring any magics around for it. Robarts seemed ready to cry, and the King looked purely miserable over the idea.
Anders thought for a full minute.
“How about a magic school? We can build it a few miles away, on land that you own, and what coin is needed for it, you can provide. That way, instead of taking students who can afford to pay for it, we can take any with the mind, will and ability, who are willing to learn? It could be adjunct to the Army, perhaps? Then we can tell people that I requested that as my reward, over that dukeship that you offered me, just now, after I refused to take the yoke of Yanse from poor Prince Alpert? That being the case, how could you refuse?”
Prince Robarts stroked his beard, hiding a smile. It was nicely full and manly, but not over long. A nice blond color, of course, with highlights of red, in the right light.
“That would seem rather ungrateful, Father. I mean, if he’s turning down a duke’s lands and holdings for the right to lead such an academy, we should take it seriously. Attached to the Army, you think, Anders?”
He nodded.
“First and foremost. All who learn magic there will learn what is needed for war, and will be enlisted for life, with certain caveats? Women should be given special duties when pregnant or if they have small children, for instance and anyone past sixty, with a good record of service, should be allowed to retire. Once past training, they should only be expected to serve a portion of the year, in time of war, and in time of peace do good works, for the same period of time. Acting as free healers, or helping to build roads or other public works. Is that too harsh, do you think?”
The King touched his face, thinking for a brief while.
“The rest of the time they’re free to live as they will, make coin and so forth, outside of the control of the military?”
He thought for a moment himself, then nodded.
“Unless they enlist full time? Then they get regular pay, say as an officer? They’ll have to learn the job and climb the ropes, of course, like anyone else, after that.”
The King, rather suddenly, stood up. He smiled though.
“That’s a wonderful idea. Now, I need to see to some things. I’ll see all of you at the high meal? Robarts, if you’ll see to that business with Master Tolan for us?”
With that, Anders, along with Prince Erold, were allowed to leave the office.