The God-Stone War

Chapter 18

I slept late the next morning, until Penny forced me out of bed for breakfast. Even then she had delayed it until nine, which was rather late for us. Breakfast was a sort of sacred ritual for our family. Being an important nobleman had put all sorts of strains and obligations upon me, that tended to limit my ability to spend time with my wife and children, but breakfast had been the place that Penny had drawn the line.

Lunch and dinner were usually eaten in the great hall, and even if we didn’t have any special guests, it still put us in front of the people. It was never about simply eating. We were a symbol. Breakfast was different though. It was just for us. Penny cooked and the children and I ate together in our quiet mountain cottage. It was a short time each day, but during it, we could pretend we were just a normal family, eating and sometimes laughing together. Well, in my case, mornings being as early as they are, it was frequently eating and growling.

That morning was no exception. I was in an unusually good mood, probably because I had found a genuine friend in Chad Grayson the day before. He and I had hit it off quite well, despite our rough start. I found myself smiling and making silly faces, to amuse the children as we ate.

“You seem very happy this morning,” Penny observed.

My cheeks were stuffed, with one boiled egg in each, so it was a bit difficult to answer. “Ish that sho’? You do ash well m’dear!” I replied. My garbled speech had Conall and the twins laughing hysterically.

Penny smiled. “In years past this has been the one day I could almost guarantee you would be in a bad mood. It’s good to see you finally relaxing.”

I spit one egg out and quickly ate the other. Don’t judge me on my table manners; I was forced to behave with decorum and dignity for most of every day. Once my mouth was free I answered her, “I could say the same for you. Normally you’re as anxious as a mother hen when we have feast days.”

My lovely wife looked thoughtful for a second before replying, “You’re right. I think perhaps the looming attack next week has put the minor anxieties of today in perspective. I’m determined to enjoy this.”

“You don’t think that that has anything to do with it?” I asked, pointing at her sword. She kept it close by her at all times now, and currently it was hanging on a peg near the oven.

“That may have a part in it as well. I have missed it, since we dissolved the bond,” she said honestly. We weren’t really talking about the sword, so much as the power she had given up, when we dissolved the bond between us years ago. She had continued to practice with the weapon on a regular basis, but without the strength and speed provided by the bond, she had always felt like a shadow of her former self. The earth bond had changed all that.

“What does Momma miss?” Moira asked suddenly. As usual she had been following the conversation carefully. The boys, Conall and Matthew, were more interested in seeing if they could imitate my feat with the two boiled eggs.

“Nothing honey,” I answered immediately, trying to quell her question out of pure habit.

Penny apparently felt like fielding the question though. “My strength, dear heart… Your father has given me back the strength I used to have, when I was his body guard,” she answered. We had told the children stories of our years before they were born, many times over.

“Like Uncle Dorian?!” interjected Matthew excitedly. Obviously he had been paying more attention than I had realized.

Moira was a bit put out with his presumptuous idea. “No, she couldn’t be that strong, Uncle Dorian is the strongest man in the world.”

“Well, in this case, I bet she comes pretty close…,” I started, but they were in full swing now.

Conall piped up, “I thought Daddy was the strongest man in the world.”

“With magic,” Matthew informed him very matter-of-factly, “but physically, Uncle Dorian is probably the strongest.”

“If Mommy and Daddy fought who do you think would win?” Conall asked immediately. Trust a child to ask the most embarrassing question possible. I gave Penny a sheepish grin.

Matthew thought the question over seriously for a second, “Probably Dad, there isn’t much you can do about magic. He could set her on fire or something before she ever got close to him.”

“Hmmph! Shows how little you know!” Moira said jumping in. “Mommies have a secret weapon. It doesn’t matter how powerful Daddy is, she can always beat him.” Penelope was looking at me now with questions in her eyes. Clearly she was wondering if I had put any strange ideas into our daughter’s head. I immediately shook my head, ‘no’.

Matthew was curious now, “What secret weapon?”

His sister looked down her nose at him, perfecting her imperious gaze, “I heard the maids talking about it the other day, when they didn’t think I was listening. Ladies have something that their husbands can’t live without.”

“What?” asked Conall.

“I’m not sure what it is, but it’s called a p… mmmph!?” Moira’s words were cut off suddenly, as Penny’s hand covered her mouth.

“That’s enough for now, children. Boys help your father clear away the dishes. Moira come with me… we need to talk a bit,” Penny said with brisk efficiency. Rising from the table, she led her daughter away by the hand.

I couldn’t help but grin as they left, which of course put Matthew’s curiosity on high alert. He knew well that something had been left unsaid. “What’s wrong with them?” he asked me.

I picked up the egg I had put aside earlier and ate it carefully while considering my son’s question. After a moment I answered, “I’ll explain later.”

“But Dad…!” he whined.

“Don’t complain or you’ll be clearing dishes by yourself,” I told him. He shut up after that.

The day passed quickly, and for much of it I had little to do, other than look good and be seen. Over the years I had practiced my smile for many such occasions, and now it seemed almost as genuine as my real smile, although I was sure my close friends could still tell the difference.

One small thing I noticed was that all of the Knights of Stone seemed to be dressed in their full armor, with weapons at the ready, and the sober looks of men who hadn’t had a drop to drink. Generally this wouldn’t have been something I’d have noticed, but given my discussion with Dorian and Cyhan the day before, I’d been paying close attention. None of my knights were particularly prone to drunkenness, but on a holiday you could expect that some would be partaking of the copious amounts of wine and ale that were flowing.

I made mention of the fact at the first opportunity, which happened to be late in the afternoon. Both Dorian and Cyhan had been carefully avoiding me. I caught up with Cyhan in the hall, after having deliberately tracked him down. It’s rather hard to avoid a man who can pinpoint your location within a mile or two. “I notice all the knights seem to be exceedingly sober,” I said, as I approached him from behind.

He gave no sign of being startled, but calmly turned to face me, “As are you, my lord.”

“I prefer to wait until dinner before I begin drinking.”

“It seems the men are inclined to follow your example,” he responded adroitly.

I had to admire his reserve, but I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction. “Don’t give me that horse-shit. Not a one of them has neglected to don armor and bear arms today.”

The veteran warrior’s face showed nothing. “The armor you crafted for your knights is exceeding comfortable, my lord, indeed I find it more comfortable than fancy garb and binding velvet doublets. I am not surprised that my brother knights deem it so as well.”

I leaned in close to stare him directly in the eye. “You ignored my explicit orders and kept them all on duty today.”

Cyhan stared unflinchingly back, though he remained silent.

“Answer me!” I barked. I had been irritated before, but I was downright cross now, after dealing with his taciturn manner.

“You didn’t ask a question, my lord.”

I could almost see the twinkle in his eye as he replied. The bastard is enjoying this! I realized immediately. “You deliberately ignored my orders regarding the men and today’s holiday… didn’t you?”

“Yes I did, Your Excellency,” he said with alacrity.

“Why?”

“I did not wish to violate my oath.”

I exhaled explosively, “What?! What oath?”

Squaring his shoulders and standing a bit straighter, Cyhan responded, “When you took me into your service, my lord. You made me swear to you, that if ever my conscience conflicted with my other oaths of service, I was to use my own judgment.”

That took me aback for a moment. I had indeed insisted on exactly that when I had taken his oath of service. Taking a deep breath, I thought for a moment before responding, “How long have you been in my service Cyhan?”

“A bit over seven years now.”

“And yet I’ve known you even longer than that. You even attempted to kill me once,” I said slowly.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” he agreed, before adding, “I’d have succeeded too, if it hadn’t been for Sir Dorian.”

I ignored the blunt admission of his killing intent, and went on, “In all that time, I don’t think I’ve ever been quite as angry with you as I am right now,” I stated, with a calmness that belied my inner agitation.

The older warrior thought carefully before replying, “I think perhaps you’ve forgotten the day that you buried me up to my neck in the earth, for trying to force you to take a longer road.” He was dead serious as he relayed the information.

The man was incorrigible, and I couldn’t maintain my angry façade any longer. It just wasn’t possible. It would have been easier, and probably more productive, to have been angry with a stone wall. “I’m beginning to see why you’ve never been married,” I said acerbically. Sarcasm had ever been my refuge when there was nothing better to be said or done. “I expect to see you raising a glass during the toast this evening, at the very least.”

He bowed respectfully. “As you wish, my lord.”

I resisted the urge to use my power to knock him down as I walked away. Such antics were beneath my station. Like hell they are! I thought impulsively. I just need something more subtle. I amused myself by thinking of the possibilities as I walked. Unfortunately nothing appropriate and suitably untraceable came to mind.

“Why am I surrounded by so many insubordinate retainers?” I wondered aloud.

Walter Prathion appeared without warning, just a few feet away. “Perhaps because you encourage independence and initiative among your vassals, and even among your servants,” he said, in answer to my question.

My shields doubled in strength almost without thought, and I fought the reflex to pin my fellow wizard to the wall as well. “Son of a bitch!” I exclaimed loudly, “What are you doing, Walter? I might’ve killed you, you startled me so!”

The older wizard looked down a bit sheepishly, “I don’t really like the crowds on holidays. I went invisible to avoid having to deal with a crowd of enthusiastic well-wishers just a bit ago, and you sort of happened by shortly thereafter.”

“Bull,” I said immediately. “You made yourself invisible to magesight as well.”

“I felt you coming, and decided that rather than reveal myself, it would be easier to completely shield myself and wait for you to leave,” he explained.

If it had been anyone else, I might have doubted him, but Walter had a bit of shyness in him that I had learned to accept over the years. “I think my heart would be in better shape if you had stuck to your original plan, and waited for me to leave.”

The mild mannered wizard smiled at me, “Your conversation was too interesting to avoid commenting. I also felt a bit guilty for overhearing it without your knowledge. I thought privately letting you know I had been listening, might be the best course. I hope you will accept my apologies, my liege.”

I had run out of energy to spend on being annoyed with people, not to mention I still felt bad about my last conversation with his daughter. I had been painfully blunt. “Forget about it,” I advised him. “How is Elaine? I haven’t seen her in a day or so.”

Walter grimaced, “She’s been extremely out of sorts for the past few days. I’ve never seen her quite so temperamental before.”

“I’m sure she’ll get better,” I reassured him, with a confidence I didn’t truly feel. I felt a twinge of guilt for not telling him about our conversation, but I had promised Elaine that the matter would remain between the two of us. She might come to terms with her embarrassment if I didn’t create any additional humiliation for her. That was my hope anyway.

The other wizard sighed, “Perhaps… until she gets upset again. Women are a chaotic mystery, especially at her age.”

I thought about my own daughters. Moira seemed like an utter angel at her current age. Surely the same wouldn’t happen to her? Surely not, I thought to myself, but I felt a bit of doubt on that account.