AO 5 Ch 16

Chapter 16

"I still think sending Ard over there was a terrible mistake," Melida said. "You have no idea how bad his penchant for trouble is. He'll create some disaster."

General Trevis had his hands behind his back, watching over the wall into Avente territory. The wind pulled at his robes, but he shook his head. "It was the safest place for Ard. He needs to be out of the kingdom."

Melida raised an eyebrow at that statement. "What do you mean he needs to be out of the kingdom?"

The general nodded off into the distance, where a column was peeling itself out of the forest. It was immediately evident who was approaching, based on the colors of the carriages. The deep blue and gold of the Royal Family adorned each and every one of them.

"The prince?" Melida asked, only for General Trevis to shake his head. "The king himself?" Melida turned fully to her grandfather. "And why is he coming here?”

“Unannounced, too," the general emphasized. "Your grandmother sent word back to us as soon as she arrived back at her post in the capital.”

“He was gearing up a group of anchors to come pay a visit to Fort Chillwind to help us, right?” Melida said.

“Ostensibly.” General Trevis didn't let his tone of voice betray his thoughts. "I don't think you want to be in a position with Ard on one side and the king on the other. And, I highly suspect that if Ard was here, the king would not let him leave alive."

Melida didn't want to believe what she was hearing. There were certainly problems amongst Avente. And Ard had done irreparable damage to the royal family.

However, it is also fair to say that Carmilla had deserved to die and chose her fate. For the king to march out to the edge of the territory during a war and try and kill one of their soldiers was a touch too far.

"If you don't believe me, then just watch," General Trevis said.

As the king's column pulled away from the forest, it rapidly approached their rear gates. A group of horsemen broke away from the front, rushing towards where General Trevis stood along the wall.

With a wave of his hand, the gates began to crank open. He was using his magic to lift the gate, and the king's caravan didn't even slow down.

"Rushing to the gate, at full speed, while he's in a hurry," Melida grumbled.

"He's the kind of man that unfortunately never seems to even bother slowing down," her grandfather said, his tone at least a little sour.

The king's carriages and men flooded into the fort, quickly circling each other in the yard, with one carriage in the center. The king stepped out moments later.

He was a powerfully built man, definitely the kind of person quickly identified as the leader of a people. His shoulders were back and his head was straight. Despite his old age, he still seemed like a vigorous man.

"Well, we should go down and greet him. With an entrance like that, I don’t think he’s interested in waiting." General Trevis said, waving his hand, as a set of stone stairs grew from the wall. He crossed his arms behind his back and steadily walked down, even as his anchors circled on the wall above.

The king turned to regard both of them, then completely ignored Melida. "General Trevis," he said, walking up to her grandfather, directly past her, and holding out his hand.

Her grandfather shook the extended hand, but the exchange was short. "Well met, my king." General Trevis did the proper thing and bowed.

Melida, even though she had just been stiffed, did a quick curtsy herself.

Only then did the king even acknowledge her existence. "General, I heard you were staying here longer than expected. Did you not repel the Garrish forces?" The king prompted.

The General waved around the fort. "We're still short on manpower. Until the fort is secure, I will remain. But please, you're welcome to add your men to the number."

The king smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. His men were already beginning to fan out. They were all anchors, charged to the brim with magic. 

"Nonsense, I can't use my royal men for fort duty. Garrish forces almost pulled one over on us. I am here checking in on the fort. I hear you have our little hero, the Aldis brat, somewhere around here as well." The king was clearly looking around, and Melida got the strange feeling that those anchors were all on edge, ready to draw their weapons should Ard appear. 

"Ah," General Trevis said, "sorry you haven't gotten the letters yet. As you can see, with the staffing shortage operations have been a little chaotic. He's been reassigned."

The king tilted his head. A flash of annoyance went through his eyes, but otherwise his features remained studiously impassive. 

"Reassigned already? He certainly hasn't done anything of merit," the king said quickly. 

"No, unfortunately, he's a little too wild for fort life. He has been reassigned to something better suited for his skill set." 

"And that would be?" the king hurriedly asked. 

"I apologize, my king. There are so many ears around here. It will be in the sealed reports. Unfortunately, those reports have already been sent back to the capital." The general replied.

Melida pressed her lips firmly together to stop from smiling. Her grandfather was giving the king the runaround. They both knew that he couldn't rush back to the capital. He needed to spend time at the front lines, likely going south to the base that her grandmother was now in charge of building back up. And then down to the area of more intense conflict where the three countries met. 

The king had a rather vicious smile on his face. "Why don't we go have a private conversation then, where there aren't ears to overhear us?" The general beckoned for him. 

"Please lead us, however, my granddaughter here," General Trevis put a hand on Melida's shoulder, "will be coming with as the ranking officer of the fort. She will stay apprised of anything and everything occurring here." The king gave her a dismissive glance before sweeping his cloak to the side and storming straight into the fort. 

Melida turned to her grandfather. "You're not telling him where Ard is now." 

General Trevis tucked his arms behind his back and walked slowly after the king. "Of course not. Not without the proper regulations in place. Melida, military rules are not only to keep people in line, but also traditions that can be pointed to when needed," he smiled. "In every game, rules are nothing but the paths for strategy. It's important that you understand, given the king's disposition towards Ard and Ard's sensitive situation, that it's in everyone's best interest if the king does not know where Ard is at present. It is simply the best move." 

"Won't that infuriate the king?" Melida asked.

Her grandfather shrugged. "He already forced me out to the front lines. I have no problem paying him back for that choice, and this seems like something very important to him. Ah, what a wonderful place to start." 

Melida suddenly found herself very happy that her grandfather had stuck around the fort. Even though everyone deferred to him, and that bothered her to no small degree, having him here when the king came looking for Ard was a pleasant respite. She mimicked her grandfather, tucking her arms behind her back and slowly strolling after the king. She understood the game afoot. It was time to stall, use the rules and regulations as much as she could towards the outcome she wanted to achieve. 

As soon as they stepped into the room, she glanced at the anchors lining the walls, then back to the king. "I didn't realize we'd have so many of your men with us." 

The king waved dismissively. "You can pretend as if they are not here. However, I require plenty of protection. My third son and my first daughter have both died recently. Oh, and the eighth one," he waved his hand dismissively. "It's almost like someone has a vendetta for the royal family. I will retain my guard." 

"Understood," Melida nodded, glancing at her father. “With them present, it significantly limits what we can and can't talk about.”

At least, according to the rules.

It was all she could do to not smile.

***

I clinked my tankard against everyone's as we all sat around a table at the local inn. The barmaid put down the round and asked, "What are you guys celebrating?"

"A killer deal," I said with a wide grin stretching across my face as I tried not to grimace.

"You're merchants?" She asked.

"I'm a merchant. Bodyguard. Anchor. Accountant." I named the others. She glanced around the three, her eyes then shifting to Maribelle, who had snuck up behind me.

"Maid," I pointed a thumb over my shoulder.

“Ah, and then that makes you a successful merchant." the barmaid stated.

"Guilty as charged," I laughed and took another sip, trying to be as pleasant as possible. People always liked someone who was celebrating a win. 

"I'm glad to hear the merchants are doing well. Frankly, I've heard a lot of unfortunate news from others."

"Well, I got lucky," I said. "Found a patch of people more than happy to part with their food. I'm running it deeper into the country as we speak and away from the front line, they are too well supplied."

Her eyebrows went up. "What else do you have for sale?"

"A little bit of everything," I said, struggling to keep the smile off my face. "Well-preserved, all of it though," I leaned forward like I was giving some sort of extra tip of information.

The barmaid nodded. "Of course, well-preserved.”

“Dried meats. Grains. I do happen to have some whole vegetables, though." As I spoke, she nodded along. Being a merchant with goods was significantly easier. 

Zuri spoke up from the side. "Remember, we have to keep some of it for the way back. There's no reason to go back into our hometown with nothing." 

I cleared my throat at being chastised and looked away. "I mean, if the deal is sweet enough, we can certainly come home with more gold." I bounced my eyebrows at Zuri, giving the barmaid another hint that we were open for trade, particularly that we found very lucrative. 

"I know there's more than a few people here that would be interested in your wares," she said hurriedly, trying to get my attention away from my accountant, who was slowly putting the kibosh on the deal. 

"Well, I don't know," I glanced at Zuri. "She's usually right. I pay her for a very good reason."

"Oh, I'm sure she's the best. But like you said, it would be terrible to turn down a good deal."

I rubbed my chin as if contemplating the deal and took another long sip of my beer. 

"But it doesn't have to be right now." She pushed the tankard she had just dropped to each of us. "Sit. Enjoy the night. Think about it. I'll let other people who might be interested know." 

I chuckled as she hurried away. "How many people do you think are going to come bother us now?" I glanced at Emlyn.

Emlyn scratched her chin thoughtfully. "I'm gonna guess five. At least three of them are going to have fairly attractive ladies in order to get you to sell your wares."

I gasped and put a hand on my chest. "Well, if I have to play the role, then I guess I should give those ladies a discount."

Emlyn's scowl set on her face. "Or you could ignore them."

"Aren't I supposed to be a playboy? Gosh, Emlyn, you're really bad at this whole thing." I gestured vaguely, not wanting to actually say what we were doing.

"I'm gonna guess three," Zuri said. "And probably all of them are going to be pretty ladies."

I glanced at Maribelle to see if she wanted in on the betting.

She smiled at me. "If I say zero, can I make it zero?" She asked.

I squinted at her. "I have some playful ideas on how you can make it zero. However, I'm worried you're thinking of rather bloody ideas."

Maribelle just performed a perfect little curtsy. She was definitely offering to murder them.

And that left Aurelia, who drummed her fingers on the table. "I'm gonna go with two," she said. A sly smile flitted across her face as she scooted closer to me and ran a hand along the inside of my thigh. "I have a feeling it'll just be two."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "You tricky little manticore." She only gave me a small smile in return.

Very bold for my mantikitten.

"That's cheating," Emlyn said from across the table.

"I think it's perfectly fair," I said, holding my hands up. "If it happens to be two before we retire for the night, then let it just be two."

As a reward for my words, Aurelia's hand cupped me and gave me a single stroke before going back to playing with my thigh.

Maribelle laughed and disappeared once again into the crowd at the bar.

I was hoping she had understood she was not supposed to murder the women who approached me.

The town we were passing through was larger than the last, and the tavern itself was fairly busy. There seemed to be a large number of travelers on the road. And more than a few gave my group lingering looks. Most of their lingering eyes were on my ladies, though a few had a quizzical glance towards me.

"Have we found out why there's so many people here?" I asked the table.

Zuri sipped from her beer, though I was fairly certain she wasn't actually drinking, more just pretending to do the motion to blend into the crowd. "I've been picking up a few pieces of chatter. It sounds like there's an event in town."

"Oh," I made a noise of appreciation. "What kind of event?"

"Spring Festival. So all of the nearby villages are congregating here."

I nodded with her words. It was a time honored tradition to come to the closest town and celebrate surviving the winter even in Avente.

"Make some money. Buy some other wares." Zuri added

I leaned back and took a long drink of my ale. "Those sound like things my accountant could help me with handling."

Zuri sighed. "Take this seriously."

"I am," I insisted. "Just, there's not a whole lot, you know." I made a motion with my hands as if I wished to grab the very fabric of the world.

"There's plenty of things to keep you busy, I'm sure," Zuri said. "Besides, your father and sister are out there right now, trying to get in touch with some of their contacts. Those caravans had to come from somewhere. And with as many of them that were traveling that route, there is likely a considerable stockpile of supplies."

I pursed my lips and nodded. "Perfect kind of place to throw a fox mage." I smiled at her.

Zuri sighed. "Doing something like that would certainly fit the bill of being a little more engaging. Besides, I think it looks like Aurelia is ready to claim your night. Hopefully that at least can keep you engaged while we learn more."

I turned to Aurelia, who was looking a little amorous, her cheeks slightly rosy. I noticed her second stein of ale was already dry. "Aurelia, we're already engaged. There's no need to summon up the courage."

She leaned against me. "Sometimes it's hard when you're surrounded by ladies like Maribelle."

"Well, isn't my mantiekitten being cute?" I pinched her cheek, then slid my hand as casually as I could down her side to cup her hip and push her firmly against me. "Besides, I think you've already committed to receiving two trade offers before we retire for the night. I wouldn't want you to lose."

She bit her lip. "I wouldn't mind losing in this instance."

Emlyn fanned her face. "It is getting hot in here. I think I'll go out and get a breath of fresh air." Emlyn stretched her arms above her head and excused herself.

"I better stick around," Zuri said, glancing at the departing Emlyn. "Otherwise, knowing you Ard, you might give away the whole load for a penny just so you can let your manticore drag you back to her nest."

"I’m not that bad," Aurelia pouted. Underneath all that ferocity and viral training, Aurelia was actually incredibly cute. One might even say adorable.

"You're not that bad," Zuri emphasized the word. "But Ard seems to have a certain weakness when you get cute like this.”

“I don't think that's a bad thing." Aurelia leaned on me.

"Me neither. If anything, it's more me playing into my rules, Zuri. Besides, all we have to do right now is travel back to where we're supposed to go. Let myself make a few appearances so I can better claim this name that I'm sporting, Trevor Shalman." The last name took a little concentration to say. "And let our two friends do some paperwork and other things from the house. Then back off we go. The best thing about being a merchant is being mobile. As long as we can claim the identity when we need it, everything should be easy enough."

It wasn't long before a rich, well-dressed woman with dark hair and rosy skin approached our table. Barmaids lived on tips generated by making these sorts of connections. I didn't resent the woman at the front who had gone off and told others I was here. 

"I hear you're a merchant that just rolled into town," the woman said, making bedroom eyes at me. 

"Pleasure to meet you," I replied, standing up quickly and reaching across the table to take her hand and kiss the back of it. She blushed, though I wasn't paying too much attention. My mind was busy quickly sorting through the thoughts flitting around her soul. 

I smiled, coming up from the kiss. "Which way are you headed? Wait, let me guess." I held two fingers to my forehead. "You are headed north, which means you need expensive goods for Garrish's capital city." 

The woman pursed her lips. "How observant of you." 

"Just a knack," I said, sinking back down into my chair and tapping my chin. "You see, I mostly have food. However, I might have a few items for your needs." I glanced over at Zuri. "How are we doing on bolts of silk?" 

When we had ransacked the caravan, there had been your basics: food, clothing, weaponry for the soldiers. However, it seemed that a number of the officers had been getting more exotic goods fit for royalty, fit for nobility. There were a small number of perfumes, some pretty purple silk, and of course, spices. They couldn’t have the officers eating just any dried meat. No, it should be seasoned with pepper. Apparently even in the military, nobility had their standards. 

"Only three bolts of the silk are left, though it is very fine silk. We did have a bottle of mint. You could use that for seasoning or perfume," Zuri offered to the lady. "As well as some more common spices. Cinnamon, black pepper." 

I glanced at Zuri and then back at the woman trying to make a deal with me. "Zuri, I asked about the cloth because this woman is not going to be interested in mint perfume. Her favorite is," I sniffed the air, "lavender." 

The woman frowned slightly and sniffed at the back of her wrist. "I haven't put any on today, I'm surprised you can tell." 

I smiled, enjoying myself. 

I pulled Aurelia closer to me and decided to squeeze her thighs and make her utter a few choice cute sounds in front of the woman. It had its ideal effect and she was becoming visibly less uncomfortable and interested in hurrying the deal along.

She was never going to be more than a little bit of eye candy to get me to make a deal. The last thing she would want is for me to start pressing for more. 

"Silk, I can do silk," she said. 

"It's expensive silk." I raised an eyebrow at her. "Ten gold a bolt." 

"Outrageous," the woman shot back immediately. 

I waved to Zuri, "You're going to try and go down to five. We're going to hold at ten. And then maybe once you come up to nine we'll make a deal. How about we settle through all of that so I can take my lovely anchor up to bed with me." 

The woman blinked again. "You're a mage." 

"Of course. Not nobility, though. Not like your fine self." I replied.

She frowned at me again as I continued. "I am just a merchant. Either way, I think we can make a deal at nine." 

"No, eight and nine silver." She replied.

"Nope, nine it is," I decided to hold my finger up already knowing where we would have ended up. "Now that the hard part is concluded," I waved at her. "You can talk with Zuri because I think I have another guest coming up behind you." 

I pointed over her shoulder where a portly man was quickly coaching a younger woman and pointing in my direction. It seemed I was going to be able to help Aurelia win her bet quite handily.