Elyon's Blades, page 25
part #1 of The Daughters of Elyon Series
Sábria returned her smile, and they resumed their walk to the courtyard. It wasn’t difficult to spot Emlyn sitting on her own in a corner at one of the outdoor tables. Shirin climbed in next to her and sat on the bench while Sábria went around and took the bench facing her.
Sábria tapped Emlyn’s nearly empty plate. “Glad to see you came back and got another one. We heard the first one went flying.”
Emlyn set down her fork and rested her forehead in her hand. “I suppose you’ve also heard that I lost my temper?”
“We did.”
When Sábria didn’t say anymore, Emlyn glanced up and saw a hint of humor in the older woman’s eyes. “I guess I’d just had enough. I’m sorry. I knew she’d react to my sarcasm, and I threw it out there anyway.”
“You mean you’re actually human? I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before now, and I’m also surprised you haven’t knocked her on her butt. Normally I’d say that would be a good thing, but right now is not the time to provoke her, Emlyn. I think maybe it will be better if either Shirin or I took her midday meals from now on.” She held up her hand when Emlyn opened her mouth to protest. “No. I’m afraid her anger is escalating, and I don’t want to put you at risk. We should have some answers soon, and then, perhaps the two of you can become friends again.”
Emlyn shook her head. “We’ve never really been friends, My Lady. Ailith was just very kind to me when we both arrived, and I either ignored her or sent her away. So now I’m trying to return the favor. But….”
“But it can be very wearing. I understand.” Sábria shook her head. “What I don’t understand is that when she first came to us, yes, she was a pain in the ass, but she was a funny pain in the ass. Not an angry one.” Realizing this wasn’t an appropriate conversation to be having with a shiv, Sábria smiled. “Anyway, from here on out, you’re to leave her to Shirin or to me. I appreciate all that you’ve done for her, Emlyn, and I’m not upset that you pushed her.”
“Thank you, My Lady.”
Shirin elbowed the young shiv. “On another note, what are you doing sitting out here eating all by yourself? Usually, the shivs eat together if their shifts allow.”
“Well, I have to admit, one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed taking Ailith her food is because it gives me an excuse not to have to eat with them.” She checked over both shoulders to make sure no one was listening in on the conversation. “As I’ve mentioned before, the other shivs are just so immature. There are only two turns separating us, but sometimes it seems like a lifetime.”
“What about Killian and her friends? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you ate with them.” Shirin stole a radish from Emlyn’s plate and took a bite.
“I know she wouldn’t mind, but I feel awkward. I’m just a shiv, and I remember how irritating it was for me back in Kibrun when the trainees would come to sit at my table. Usually, they had something to say or wanted to ask me a question, but mealtimes were when I could relax and be myself. But when a trainee would come, that all changed. I don’t want to do that to Killian. She needs her downtime as much as the next person.”
Sábria tilted her head to the side and studied her young shiv. “Are you lonely, Emlyn?”
Emlyn looked up from her food, startled by the question. “No, My Lady. I’m fine.” She looked down at her plate and absently used her fork to move the food around. “Well, that’s not true. Yes, I’m lonely, and I miss Tomisa more than I thought possible. In many ways, I think maybe a life of celibacy in the castle back in Kibrun would’ve been—”
Sábria reached across the table and put her hand on Emlyn’s. “Would’ve been better than feeling alone in a strange new empire being verbally abused by another shiv.”
“I’m sure I’ll adjust, My Lady. After all, no one has thrown trash in my room or buried me in horse manure. I have very little to complain about.”
Only Shirin saw the pain that flitted across the Arch Priestess’ face. Emlyn didn’t realize how deeply her words had cut, nor would she have intended for those words to be a blade driven into Sábria’s heart.
Sábria recovered with a forced smile. “Thank the Goddess for that. I doubt something like that will ever happen again within the Temple, at least not as long as I’m around.”
The side of Emlyn’s mouth quirked up. “I can guarantee that’s never going to happen again, judging by the comments I’ve been hearing. A lot of people said they either didn’t realize or hadn’t remembered that you have quite a temper when the circumstances arise. Especially after what happened to Khaldo and her followers. And then the two women—”
Again, Sábria cocked her head. “What two women?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly who they were, but they’ve been dubbed the brown nosers by some.” She lowered her chin and raised her eyes to meet Sábria’s questioning gaze. “They’re saying the two came crawling to you, hoping to win your favor by apologizing for what they said or did to Ailith while she was still considered a coward.” The side of her lip lifted again. “Apparently, you sent them away after administering a couple of quite painful beatings. I think people learned to give you some distance when your temper is up, My Lady. I know I did.”
Sábria rubbed her forehead. She never enjoyed handing out punishments, but she’d known, instinctively, that those coming to her for absolution were hoping to curry favor, and that never sat well with her. And yes, her temper had been up, and she probably could’ve handled things better than she had.
Shirin chuckled, “Well, sometimes it’s a good thing to remind people exactly who the Arch Priestess is, that she’s not their best friend. That she’s not someone to be trifled with or manipulated. I’m sure there was no question in your mind, My Lady, that they were only trying to curry favor. There have been others who have tried to apologize, whom I believe were quite sincere. And correct me if I’m wrong, but you realized that as well and didn’t punish them for it.”
Sábria opened her mouth to reply but stopped short when she noticed one of the gate guards jogging over to speak with her.
Dina trotted up, stopped, and brought her fist to her chest. “My Lady, the messenger you sent out a fortnight ago has returned. Would you like me to show him to your office in the Citadel?”
Both Sábria and Shirin rose at once. “No, Shirin and I will greet him and take him up to my office. Thank you for finding me so quickly.”
Dina saluted again and walked more sedately back to the gate with them. As was protocol, the second gate guard was waiting with Amancio Delray inside the outer bailey. His horse was lathered and tired, and he didn’t look much better.
To Sábria’s surprise, Emlyn followed them into the outer bailey. She sketched a shallow bow to Amancio and held out her hand. “Lord Amancio, if you allow, I’ll take your horse to the stables and see to him.”
Grateful, Amancio handed his reins to the young shiv. “Yes, thank you, Emlyn, but you won’t need to unsaddle him. I have a room in one of the inns that’s kept open for me. It’s one the seneschal pays for, so I have a place to stay when I’m in your fair city. I’ll be riding him there after I’ve delivered the message.”
As Emlyn accepted the reins and turned to go, Shirin stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Please ask Mistress Fullman to prepare a plate and drink for Lord Amancio. And, since he’ll be eating here, if he has no objections, go ahead and unsaddle and care for his mount. We’ll resaddle when he’s ready to leave.”
Emlyn brought her fist to her chest, “Yes, Commander.” She led the bay gelding through the gateway into the inner bailey, stopping at the dining hall on the way to the stables, where she passed along Commander Shirin’s request to the matron.
Amancio indicated that Sábria and Shirin should proceed him. “Ladies, after you.”
Sábria led the way into the Citadel’s courtyard. She took them through the door into the atrium and then up the stairs to her office. Once inside, her impatience won out over good manners. She turned to Amancio. “Forgive me for not observing proper protocol, but please tell me you have a reply from Duke Ravenkind.”
Amancio smiled tiredly and reached into an inner pocket in his tunic. “It took a bit of time for His Grace to find what he needed, but once he had, he asked me to return this message with all haste. I apologize for appearing at your door covered with dust and sweat, My Lady, but he did say it was urgent.”
Sábria took the packet from him and broke the seal. “I would have been sorely vexed with you, Lord Amancio, if you’d stopped to bathe and change.”
Amancio raised his brows. “From what I’ve heard, My Lady, I’m relieved I haven’t vexed you.”
Not paying attention to Amancio’s words, Sábria slowly walked to the window while unfolding the parchment she found inside the packet. To her surprise, only five words were written on the thin vellum. “Help is on the way.”
Considering Sábria’s letter had been four pages long, to receive a one-line response was startling, and yet the message contained within gave her hope. Duke Ravenkind hadn’t raged at her for what happened to Ailith. He was sending help. She turned to Amancio and asked, “The message says he’s sending help. Would you know what form that help will take?”
“No. I’m sorry, My Lady, I do not.” He bowed slightly as he gave his answer.
A knock sounded on the door, and when Sábria distractedly said, “Come,” the dining room matron, herself, Mistress Fullman, opened the door.
“My Lady, shiv Emlyn said someone here was in dire need of a meal and a good drink. I hope you don’t mind, but I enlisted the help of two of your Blades and had them carry up my rolling tray so that I might serve whoever was in need.”
Shirin stepped to the door and indicated they should retreat into the anteroom. “Thank you for being so prompt, Mistress. We can set up a table out here. I’m hoping to visit with Lord Amancio while Sábria attends to private matters.” She spoke to Blades Soirin and Larkin, who’d been pressed into service by Mistress Fullman. “Thank you. You can go.”
Both women came to attention and saluted before letting themselves out of the room.
Thirty
A sevenday later, a Lady Knight road up to the gates of the Temple and pulled her mount to a stop.
The two gate guards glanced at each other. Knights usually rode to the castle. They didn’t normally present themselves at the Temple of the Daughters of Elyon. As the senior guard, Dina stepped forward, brought her fist to her chest, and then, as protocol dictated, bowed to the knight. “Begging your pardon, Lady Knight. This isn’t the castle. If you ride—”
“I’m here to speak with the Arch Priestess of the Daughters of Elyon.”
Dina blinked up at the lady, studying the exquisitely made but dusty tunic and trews. The woman’s hands were calloused, and the ornate but functional sword hilt, well-worn. It was Dina’s responsibility to only allow those who had business within the temple through the gates, and as her discerning gaze rose to the woman’s saturnine features, her cool gray eyes, and the professionally cut, short, graying hair, she decided that yes, she was indeed a Lady Knight. “I’m Guardian Dina Sethkin. If you would dismount, My Lady, I’ll take you into the outer bailey, where I would ask that you remain with Guardian Larkin while I let my Commander know you’re requesting an audience with the Arch Priestess.”
The knight shifted in her saddle and dismounted. She followed Dina into the outer bailey where, again, as protocol dictated, Dina introduced her to Larkin. “My Lady. This is Guardian Larkin. She’ll be waiting with you while I’m gone.”
One of the prerequisites of being a gate guard was that the person was not only well-acquainted with proper etiquette but had also mastered the intricacies of proper diction. They were considered the first point of contact with people not normally associated with the Temple, and as such, they went through a rigorous training regimen to be qualified to hold the prestigious position.
Larkin came to attention, brought her fist to her chest, and bowed. “May I get you some water, My Lady? Judging by the dust on your clothing, you’ve come a long way.”
The Knight, who stood a good head taller than Larkin, flicked her gaze to the guard and shook her head once.
Larkin took a step back, placing herself between the knight and the gates to the inner bailey. She pulled herself to attention, but instead of keeping both fists down by her thighs, she rested one hand on her sword hilt in the alert guard position.
Before Dina left, she asked, “May I tell the Commander who wishes to speak with the Arch Priestess?”
“Tell your Commander that Lady Knight Isobel of Drethemere wishes to speak with Sábria, Arch Priestess of the Daughters of Elyon.
Dina nodded. “Thank you, My Lady.” She turned and walked through the courtyard and up to the Citadel’s anteroom, where she knew Shirin would be working. She tapped on the door, and when she heard, “Come,” she stepped inside and saluted. “Commander, there’s a Lady Knight waiting in the outer bailey. She asked to speak to the Arch Priestess.”
Surprised, Shirin cocked her head, trying to think why a Lady Knight would be presenting herself at the temple. “Describe her.”
“She is Lady Knight Isobel of Drethemere. She’s a head taller than both Larkin and me, her tunic is dark blue, and her trews black. The tunic and trews are very well made of excellent material, and there’s the head of a golden eagle emblazoned on the front of her tunic. Her mount is obviously a battlemare.” Dina hadn’t noticed Shirin’s head shoot up at the mention of Drethemere, one of the major duchies within Dreyutha.
Shirin stood and indicated the door with a flick of her hand. “Take me to her.” As the two quickly descended the staircase, Shirin turned to Dina. “Ask the stablemaster to meet us in the courtyard immediately. Tell her she’ll be receiving a battlemare and to prepare accordingly.”
Dina saluted, and as they left the Citadel’s garden, she turned to the right and trotted off to find Kemi.
Shirin turned left and exited the courtyard through the gate separating the inner and outer baileys. She strode past Larkin and stepped in front of the Lady Knight. She took a brief moment to assess the woman. Lady Isobel stood tall and straight next to her coal black mare. Both the mare and her master were strong and fit, and Shirin bowed low enough to afford the knight the respect she was due.
The Lady Knight coolly assessed the newcomer and then returned the bow.
“Lady Isobel, I am Commander Shirin, Second in Command of the Blades of the Temple of Elyon. Would you accompany me into the courtyard, where my stablemaster will meet us and see to your mount?”
Without saying a word, the knight simply raised her palm, indicating the Commander should lead the way.
When they stepped beneath the raised portcullis and entered the courtyard, Kemi and Dina were just arriving. Shirin beckoned Kemi forward. “My Lady Isobel, this is our stablemaster, Kemi Leernan. If you’d be so kind as to introduce her to your mare, she’ll take her and see to her needs.”
Once again, those cool gray eyes assessed the person standing before her. “Have you ever dealt with a battlemare before?” There was a resonant quality to her voice, which rang with the authority of one used to obedience from those beneath her station.
Kemi bowed low and, with a touch of pride, gave her lineage. “Aye, Milady. I be from th’ Clarestead Grasslands. Me father, Arne Leernan, be th’ Master of Horse fer th’ grasslands. I learned all I know from him.”
For the first time, a hint of pleasure lit the Knight’s eyes, and she reached up and stroked the horse’s sleek neck. “Now, that is a happy coincidence. She’s from Clarestead.”
Kemi, who’d been intimidated by meeting a Lady Knight, blinked and then took a closer look at the mare. Her jaw dropped, and her eyes lit with pleasure. “She’s no Trax, is she?” Forgetting all protocol, Kemi stepped forward and studied the mare’s right eye, where a tiny patch of white circled the outer rim. “It is her! I named her several visits past. She’d just dropped, and she landed on a hard-packed trail we call th’ Tracks, so I named her, Trax.”
At the sound of Shirin clearing her throat, Kemi remembered herself and quickly tugged on her bangs. “Milady.”
Isobel turned and spoke to the mare. “Saidali baxayev.”
The mare lowered her nose and sniffed the fist Kemi held out to her.
Kemi practically purred, “There’s a good lass.” Once the mare had her scent, Kemi took the reins from the knight and led the overlarge beast toward the stables.
Shirin turned and indicated the archway into the Citadel Gardens. If you’d join me, Lady Isobel, I’ll take you to the Arch Priestess.” She turned to Dina and Larkin. “Back to your posts.”
Both guards saluted, bowed once more to Isobel, and returned to the outer gate.
Shirin watched the knight out of the corner of her eye. The woman’s gaze missed nothing. She took in the outdoor seating area in front of the dining hall, noticed the breezeway where Kemi had disappeared with her mare, and studied every Blade’s hilt and hands, assessing the fighting level of the Temple Guardians.
When they walked beneath the archway into the garden, the woman’s nostrils flared as she pulled in the aroma of the flowers. Once inside the building, they ascended the stairs, and when they reached the second floor, Shirin ushered Isobel into the anteroom and held up her hand. “If you’d wait here, please, My Lady?”
Isobel nodded once, and Shirin let herself into Sábria’s inner office. She closed the door and walked to the table where Sábria was reading one of her books.
Sábria glanced up, looked Shirin up and down, and then raised a brow. “What is it? There are times when you almost quiver in anticipation of telling me something.” She lifted a side of her mouth. “This is one of those times.”
Shirin almost joked that she had nothing important to say but decided a Dreyuthan Lady Knight’s arrival was too important an event to joke about. “Lady Knight Isobel of Drethemere is waiting in the anteroom, My Lady.”
