Hostages, page 9
It was his turn to nod, even if that felt like bragging.
“I would rather it not be that way, but I’ve seen it a few times now.”
Everyone was looking at him, but blankly, for the moment. The King tapped the top of the wooden table, once.
“So, what do we do about it? You could kill the man, of course. Even his own father has stated that his life would be forfeit if he tried to go for you again. Social ruin might count for that? I believe that is his current plan that way. The feeling, I hear, is that he’s holding that harm was meant physically, not in an abstract fashion? How do you feel about that? Your word will carry more weight that way, on this, than his will.”
Anders, even if it was rude, sighed and made a rather silly face at the King. His grandfather. The man gave him a more serious look back.
Meaning he had to speak, to explain himself.
“That’s the issue here. I could kill him, of course. I could pretend that he has no right to be angry at all, or that I mean something other than physical harm to myself or people, when I spoke the words, but I didn’t. It had never occurred to me that he’d seek to do something outside of that, to be honest. Not until I heard him speaking the words in the distance as I fled, the day of the attack.”
There was a wrinkled nose then, from the leader of the land they were all in.
“So, honor calls you to allow him to strike at you, if in a different fashion? That’s... More noble than most would allow for, but I can see it. We have no leverage at all, to use against him, either. We could gain a hostage? Someone he cares for, to hold against his good behavior? A child, perhaps?”
There had been little ones there, but Anders didn't know if any of them had belonged to Carl. The man was old enough for that, but it sounded wrong to him. Also like a hardship, taking care of a person that young. Sighing, he nodded.
“His younger sister, Ezola? They aren’t that close, and she’s older, but can be set to magic lessons, to good effect. She was the one who tried to cast lightning against me?”
Slowly, but the spell had clearly been working, at the time. It would have, eventually, at least, meaning she had the basic talent for such things. Also that she should have had the spell almost finished before they got there, to hit him before he could do anything about it. Even running away would have thwarted her. She, clearly had counted on him just to stand there and wait for it to happen. Probably expecting that he wouldn’t know what was going on.
Thinking about the situation there, Anders let his head play to the side.
“Collin might work for that as well? That one... It’s clear that Carlton isn’t fond there. Not that much with Ezola, either, to be honest. They might not make the best hostages, given that, but it would at least allow them to be away from there for a time. What we do with them, I’m not certain at all. Lessons or, they could travel, as companions, if they wished?”
That would cost him, in gold, but he was willing to see to that, if it would help them at all. It would be better if it would help him, but Anders doubted that was going to be available in the near future. Only, thinking for a moment, about what would humiliate him, he slowly nodded.
“Ooohhh....” He blinked several times, as his mother touched his arm. So he turned to her and started to nod.
“What if we... Ezola had mentioned us getting married. What if we seemed to press for that, then let Carlton steal it away, to hurt me? That might placate him for a time? A bit mean to his sister, but we could find her someone better suited that way. Maybe Master Jeld? He’d need a title, of course, first. She’s the daughter of a Duke, after all.”
Everyone stared at him then, but Princess Lissa smiled as she did it.
“Is she pretty?”
Anders nearly didn’t catch her real meaning, which was asking if this woman was prettier than she was.
“She’s well enough appointed. Not a great beauty, such as yourself or Princess Salina, of course. Or, truly, any of you ladies here. Which, yes, that sounds like flattery, and is, but it’s also the truth in this case. She has a bit of magic, but I didn’t see enough to be impressed at all, that way. She was attending to a sick servant, when I first met her, so that speaks of a good heart. If she’s of special intelligence, well, I should withhold judgment there? That was, perhaps, not the best time and place to see such attributes.”
For a moment, he wondered if his words had been the wrong ones. Lissa seemed suddenly serious, as did the Queen and his own mother. Queen Maura locked eyes with him then.
“Still, the offer was made, by her family, and it would be easy enough to let that go forward. Even if a match is made there, and they don’t attempt to steal it away to humble you, there are five wives on offer from the various lands you are attached to. We need at least one from here as well, even if it isn’t our normal custom. You’ve made plans to suggest Baroness Williams for that, Lady Lyse?”
There was a firm nod then.
“I have, Queen Maura. There will be a meeting later tonight, so they can be introduced. The travel to the southern lands won’t be for nearly a month and half, so that gives us ample time. Unless you have other projects to see to, Anders?”
He nodded, having some, in fact.
“Some things. I need to travel to Baron Kilroy’s home and do some work there. At the same time, I have a new apprentice. Kip Storrow, to see to. He plans to be a teacher of magic, over in Farlow, down the road. There’s an interesting tale about that one...”
No one seemed to want to hear it just then, of course.
The King nodded, and touched his bare chin, clearly thinking.
“That’s a good plan then. You can finish the work before you need to travel? The trip needs to move south, into Podras, on the southern continent. The Sulana there has a son that wishes to meet with Mathia, to see about marriage? He’s a bit younger, only twelve, but put that forward himself, which is a bold move. One that gained some notice, given that. He’s an under-prince, so won’t inherit. Meaning he can move to Istlan. Prince Joffa Maldais.”
Anders only knew where that was from having looked at a map. It wasn’t a land locked kingdom, but moving straight south, overland would be the fastest way to get there.
“Are we sending Prince Darren and the others toward Barquea, while we head that way? We’ll have to hurry, if that’s the case, unless we’re to miss the event?”
Princess Mathia, who was fifteen, gave him a playful grin.
“Not at all. I wouldn’t want to miss that. Prince Joffa is planning to travel to Barquea for that very event, but we’ve been asked to meet with him, if we can, so that we can travel together, for a time. It’s a bit of a hardship, but not one that should be too great?”
She was, it seemed, asking him for permission to do it at all. Even if it wasn’t up to him.
Still, he smiled at her. She was his cousin, as it turned out, but was nearly as pretty as her mother was. Some might call them equal that way, truly. The most attractive woman in the room, was, he realized, his own mother. Princess Salina was close to that, and so was Lissa, though the younger girl wasn’t finished yet, so what she became that way would remain to be seen.
Princess Peri was a very close match for any of them and Mathia wasn’t at all far behind.
Thinking about that, as shallow as it was, he nodded.
“That sounds like we can work it into the schedule, with little to no issue, actually. I’ll need to learn the particulars, so we can map out the plan properly, but that’s all. I can contact the ship and make certain we have transport when needed. That...” He shrugged, a bit ruefully. “We probably shouldn’t use the Sea Leopard for that. Something bigger, to impress Prince Joffa? Even meeting him and coming back, it will be fastest to go by sea, along the coast, then down from the northern port of Barquea.” Especially if the boy wasn’t used to riding, yet.
The same was going to be true of others who they needed to have along, so he started to nod, to himself.
“Princess Salina? Will you aid me with the planning for the trip? We’ll need to arrange for finer foods and perhaps, some servants... Or, we can set Walden and Kip to that task? You and I can handle the food portion of things, if it’s needed. Buying it, and reworking parts of it with magic, for special events.” He fixed Lissa with a direct look then. Mainly because he didn’t want to leave her out.
For a moment, he didn't know what to have her do at all, then something occurred to him.
“Captain Lissa, will you see to security for us? We’re going to be having far too many important people with us to be lazy about it. We’ll need to take fighters with us, not just rely on magic.”
After a moment, Depak Sona let his chin drop.
“A valid idea. She’s young for the task, but also a full military captain, as you mentioned. Also, an apprentice great one. The plan is to have her guide others in this, from behind the scenes?”
Anders hadn’t been thinking that at all. It was a brand-new idea to him, to be honest.
“That part isn’t up to me. The task was presented.” The rest of what he wanted to say, was actually spoken of, surprisingly, by Salina.
“The task was presented, the doing of it is up to her? That sounds important. And here I am, simply working on food?” She sounded nearly insulted, for a moment.
Until Anders nodded.
“Both of us are on that, for everyone. So, I guess we need to do a pretty good job of it, given that? Otherwise, everyone will think we’re lazy.” He looked around then, slowly. “Which, clearly, is the case, but we don’t want everyone else to figure that part out, do we?”
It was a risk, making a joke like that. Neither of them were lacking that way however, and he figured that everyone else there would understand that well enough. Indeed, Salina simply winked at him then.
“True! So, what do we have Depak Sona and Javina doing for this? We could have them teach the new apprentice about art and clothing?”
She was teasing, of course. Depak gave her a look that seemed to be a rebuke, without a word being muttered, but a good humored one. Princess Peri clapped, however.
“That sounds marvelous! Princess Javina’s fashions have been the talk of the court here for over a year. Indeed, there had been real plotting going on, to try and have her move here, permanently, just for that reason. Depak Sona is known for his art, as well. Much of what you’ve done Anders is nice, but not truly on that level, so far.” She froze then, as if she figured it would cause a rift to speak of what he needed to learn that way.
For his portion, he closed his eyes, a bit, then grinned.
“That’s a simple truth. I lack in the new clothing styles as well. Plus, we should work out some fine jewelry for Princess Javina to wear, at the wedding? If that’s a part of what will be needed, of course.” He’d never seen a wedding there, at all.
Salina, going serious, nodded.
“That’s a good point. A real one, I mean. Not that they shouldn’t have to work with the apprentice. Darren was saying he wants to take his with him. Journeyman Walden? Father asked for him to be presented if that’s allowed, at court, back home.” She grinned then. “I think the point is that a Prince of Barquea training someone in magic like that pretty much means that someone will be moving up the list, the next time it’s posted. Not that it wasn’t earned. Walden is good, too. Is he slated to be the Great One of Yanse, Anders?”
Everyone glanced at him, which, when he read their minds, was about several different things. Queen Maura had noticed that Princess Salina hadn’t used his title at all. Which wasn’t uncommon, when you knew people and were close in rank. Still, to her it felt like they might be closer than they actually were. His mother was, for the first time in his presence, wondering who Anders was to name people to such a task, while also understanding that it made some sense. Depak Sona, however, went still, his own mind focused on something very far away, not the topic at hand.
Looking up, the man hissed. Everyone worried for a moment, given that.
“I was just contacted, by Eltha Tennet. She’s in trouble. There’s an attack. She’s fighting as well as she’s able, but there are three powerful magic users coming for her and Kaiden Sett. Clarice managed to get away, using illusion. The others traveling with them as well, but Kaiden and Eltha are trapped. They... are about to die.”
Everyone went still then.
Anders simply swallowed. Then gave a nod. After all, Kaiden Sett wasn’t going to die that day. He was very close to being unkillable, or so the legend went. That said, Eltha might well stop being in the next moments, even given that fact.
Only, of course, no one in the world could reach across the lands like that, and do anything useful. If it was what had to be done, then it would be an impossible matter to see to. Except that he had a new spell to try. One that could work. It might also kill him to try, if he was wrong on that point.
“Let me handle this?” Anders was already dropping into a trance, since figuring out what was needed had to come first. Even if time was of the essence.
There was a blackness, and finally a scene, hazily formed out of the darkness. He could see Eltha, in a dress, doing something, making a flash of light and heat with her hand, then ducking back behind a rock, as Kaiden sat, hiding away safe. He was considering what would be needed. After Eltha died, he could move out, killing the three attackers. They wore masks, but he recognized them for what they were, if not who.
Assassins, out of the Natech lands. Nomads, but good with magic and often working with devica, as well. That was helpful information, so Anders changed his focus, on the three women who were lying down lines of intensely burning fire in the general direction of the large rock that Eltha and Kaden were behind.
They had some spells, and actually were very powerful people, magically speaking. Dressed in leather, that had been worked in a way that turned it a deep red, as well as made it as soft as velvet. Thin, as well, though there was fur along the edges. That varied in color, but blue, yellow and green were all there. So it wasn’t natural at all.
Carefully, since he didn’t want to die, even to save his friend Eltha, Anders started to mutter. A spell. As he did it, focused intently, he drew a line in the air, and used a complicated, energy saving, idea. As well as trying to prevent the loss of energy, as it traveled across the world.
He still passed out when the first spell took hold, making one of the killers’ heads explode. Though, he only went dark for a moment. Meaning he did it again, then a third time, as the last assassin, realizing something dire was happening, tried to run away.
Each time he went black, but only for a moment.
Still, that wasn’t good enough. Opening his eyes, he tensed then, as Depak and Salina both started to nod. Depak explained to the room what had just happened.
“Anders... Has ended the threat. Each of the attackers died, in very short order. I notice that you’re still alive, as well. I’d figured you were going to your death, just now, to be honest. That... Was impressive.”
He grinned then.
“A new trick, but it isn’t that hard, once you get the idea. I can go over it with all of you, later?”
Salina snorted.
“You’d better. Now, we should talk about what kind of food will be needed?” It was an attempt to change the topic.
Which wasn’t going to be allowed, of course. His own mother, a trained spy, who spent her days in that very task, was the one that spoke, too.
“You can kill across the world like that? Without a magical link? Those assassins weren’t known to you. You barely even breathed hard, to make it happen.”
Everyone else looked at him then, as if he’d done something rather frightening. Which was silly of them, to even think about. Instead of pointing out that he could have killed any of them that way for some time, he nodded and pretended the issue was a different one.
“Yes. I need to learn more, obviously, but it can be done. The biggest flaw is that most of the people we need to protect like that won’t be able to get in touch with us, like Eltha just did. We’ll need to learn to stay more vigilant, given that. Even then, it isn’t perfect, as a defense. As an offense, well, perhaps faster than sending a man or woman with a blade, but the end point is the same, really.”
Oddly, Prince Robarts was the one to answer him then.
His voice grave.
“For the time being, would you be willing to not use that skill to kill, unless instructed otherwise? Outside of emergencies, like we just had here, that is?”
Anders nodded, instantly.
“We all will, I’m certain. I’ll go over that at the college, later? Right now, we have other things to see to, I heard?”
That turned out to not be wrong at all. Even if there were interruptions. The first being from Eltha, who managed to realize who it was that had saved them. Apparently, the explosions had felt like him, rather clearly. Which was a thing that he hadn’t considered at all. It was a strong enough effect that even Kaiden had mentioned who had done it, and he wasn’t supposed to hold any magic at all.
Which probably meant something fairly different had taken place.
A thing Anders truly needed to think about.
Chapter seven
Anders blinked, on hearing the last request being made of him that day. Still sitting with the King and the others, as Depak Sona tensed, clearly knowing what was coming next. He seemed honestly annoyed, instead of hiding a smile or acting as if Anders was going to behave violently over what was coming next. Lissa looked away, but had to school her face.
To not grin, he thought.
King Matheus cleared his throat.
“So among requests for healing coming from Kingston, and a request for a new chapel of Decanda to be built in Forestal, we also have a request for you to... Stand as a hostage, for Baron Brolly.” The man actually rolled his eyes, which wasn’t very regal seeming at all. “That, of course, can’t be allowed. He’s been squabbling with Count Rentice for the last several years. Brolly can’t match the man militarily, for the obvious reason, so clearly, he’s suggesting having you ride up and simply destroy the man and his forces alone.”
