The scout yelled at the top of his lungs as he came into the Great Hall, “They are an hour away!”
There was little time to do anything else but make sure the bread wasn’t burned and check on the archers on the walkway. Laun wasn’t going to do either of those.
Laun Dresden, Lady of Salam-Dir, was handing a stack of paper and parchment to Geralk to clear the head table as Orgia looked with a disapproving eye at them from the kitchens’ door. Laun had wanted to have a meeting with the people who could give input, but it was going to have to wait, and Laun was going to have to play the next few hours by ear. She was used to that, but it would have been nice to get solid information and some opinions before Falmir had arrived.
She actually missed Falmir. She was scared shitless to what was going to happen once he found that she had been harboring his father, her grandfather, at the Salam-Dir keep. Falmir had created a coup backed by the neighboring Kingdom of Rosemond just over a year before and Laun had been a thorn in Falmir’s side ever since. King Dreng was a big hurdle, but not the only one with the first visit King Falmir was having to Salam-Dir.
Laun pushed herself up off the bench and settled her tunic around her growing belly. She had been woken far earlier than usual by the babies in her belly seemingly to dance along her ribcage, and on her bladder. The trip to and from the privy that morning had been a welcome familiarity and had made the last few days seem more real than the last few months. Going back to bed in the morning dim was well worth being woken by the babies.
Having been kidnapped had not been as pleasant. Especially when it had been by someone she had trusted in her bed and with her sword. But he had taken the ransom Falmir had offered and had bought enough supplies and hired enough men to help keep the Salam-Dir lands impenetrable while Laun had wormed her way through the political scene in the Palace, and into Falmir’s heart.
She had found more than politics in the Palace in the heart of the Capitol City of the Midlands. Laun pulled her braid around to the front and saw the end that she had cut off about two weeks before. She felt the beginning of a tear, but it did not come out as she thought of Ithian, the Ambassador from Rosemond. He had fallen in love with her, and she had to admit she had fallen in love with him, and after he had sided with her and declared he was resigning from his post, assassins had been to the Hawkwell lands where they were sequestered. One of them had gotten close enough to Ithian to kill him.
At least they hadn’t been able to get close enough to Falmir. Laun had taken several down herself, though she had been hurt enough that she had missed Ithian’s body being sent back to the Rosemond Embassy and to his homeland. Her braid end was with him in the burial cloth to show her grief to the people in his home.
She was home. Laun looked around at the scurrying people and smiled. It had taken skills she had to develop on the run, but she was home. Now, her Father and adversary was coming for a visit. Laun smiled. This was going to be fun.
Laun went to the stables and had to choose which mount she was going to ride to the barricade. Butterflies Grace was her small, bey palfrey that she had missed so much while she was away. The horse had missed her too, not letting anyone ride her. Grace was small and Laun had grown in the few months they had been apart. Thunder was a war horse, a charger with withers that put most of the other horses to shame. He had come with them from the Hawkwell lands when she had been escorted home by Midland soldiers and had been a very comfortable mount. As long as she smelled like her and not the men.
Laun smiled. Her sexual appetites were now legendary, even with being over seven months pregnant with twins. It was not just unusual, it was unheard of, scandalous, how open Laun was with her body and relationships. She tried to make it work. Her new Love, Hunter, had been the Sergeant to train Thunder and the other horses in the company stationed with the Hawkwell estate while she was there. Hunter’s brother, Fount, had been a ward of the Lord and Lady Salam-Dir before Laun had been given the writ of inheritance for the title and lands. Laun had liked him for years, but it wasn’t until Fount had shown himself to be in love with her that it sunk in that she had feelings like that for him. Fount had taken her virginity. It had been interesting when the brothers had remet.
The large charger was brought out of the stall and into the courtyard. Laun clicked her tongue and made the hand signal to make him go to his knees. It was hard enough to get onto a horse for her from a step or stool, having a horse trained in Kell’s Arena made it so much simpler. Laun stepped over the large back of the horse and set her legs under the saddle knobs for support and signaled for the large beast to rise.
The motion of the mount was smooth, but it still made her glad she had started to wear an absorbent loincloth. She was easily excited and having a moistened leather saddle beneath her would not have made the ride pleasant.
She rode at a steady pace towards the barricade. She noted the soldier’s tents set in the one field, several of the men saluting her as she rode by. The extra tents set up for whomever may come with Falmir were in another recently harvested field. The people going into the protected woods of Hellon’s Hill with supplies for either a celebration or a siege waved to her before they disappeared behind the thorny hedge. The protector teams were coming and going along the road, most of them two men at this point since many of the protector women were not just pregnant but more pregnant than Laun was.
Laun was joined by several people, not all on horseback. There was a ways to ride to the barricade, but Laun knew that Falmir and his people would just have to wait until she got there if the royal procession got there first. It was not like they were able to just get through the barricade. They hadn’t been able to for months.
A shelter had been set up about ten paces from the barricade. It had been stocked with cloths and water and soap to help clean the road off of Falmir, if he was going to be polite enough to be allowed into the lands. Even though he was Laun’s father, he was still not to be completely trusted. Archers were positioned along the barricade and signals were ready in case something unexpected happened. Well, perhaps not unexpected, just unfortunate.
It had been arranged that Falmir would wrap up things in the Hawkwell manor and then come to the Salam-Dir lands to see his daughter, and find out how, even without her there, they had been able to defend the lands so completely. Falmir was not going to be happy when he found that his own monies were used against him. Along with a bunch of unusual tactics.
Laun could just see the difference in the pits that were dug along the road. Dust and dirt and leaves had collected on the tops of the semi-liquid crap that filled them. They had been more than effective to trap and detour many of the attackers before the full barricade had been put up. The next year, the fields were going to have more than enough pre-composted fertilizer waiting to be spread.
It was not the only thing they had done. Many of the wardsmen had been injured, some killed, in the coup. The people that had been left in the keep during the Festival to be slaughtered by the mercenary bandits had been a full third of their numbers from the main keep and castle. They were able to make it back to the keep from the trap of a festival Falmir had held and the women pulled their own weight when it came to defending the lands. Laun had not just allowed it, she had insisted. She had been the one to survive the slaughter, find the bandits and get the household back to their lands. She was not going to tell other women that they could not pick up a weapon because they were just a woman.
A bird call came to her in the wind. One of the people with her was able to whistle much better than she and took the call and repeated it. Falmir was there.
Laun had the call go out that the greeting party was almost there. She had always had problems with the whistled signals that had been developed from the code the shamen had brought into the household. Laun could hear and understand but half the time she couldn’t even whistle out her own signal. It had caused some problems in the past, but usually just some ribbing from the protectors.
There were more people on the other side of the barricade than Laun had been expecting. It was as if all the nobles, the Fourth Logistics and Supply Company and even Adelmar’s troupe had come with. Not the plan, but they would deal with the influx of people. Laun even saw the white flash of the Bishop from the Capitol City, his plain white tunic different from the gilded one she was used to seeing him in.
Falmir was on his horse. Well, the one she had won for him from the General. He was almost too big for it, but it seemed sturdy enough to hold him while they waited to be acknowledged. He had made himself shine, a modified soldier’s uniform with some metallic trim glinting in the summer sun. He had shaved the sides of his head and was wearing the seven pointed crown on his brown hair. His eyes darted around along the barricade, but other than that, he had a calm presence.
Laun stood on a log and looked out through a crack, taking in the waiting group on the other side. Edgar held her steady as she surveyed the scene. She sighed and tilted her head back, whispering to Edgar, “Would you do the honors, Love?”
He kissed her and helped her down before calling out in his rumbling voice, “Who approaches the Salam-Dir lands?”
Falmir’s head turned and faced where he had heard the voice come from. He also had a deep voice that bounced around the cleared area beyond the barricade. “I am Falmir Hawkwell, King of the Midlands. I am here to visit my Daughter and her household under a signed agreement of peace and alliance.”
“Be aware, Falmir Hawkwell, that we owe allegiance to another King, King Dreng. We do know and acknowledge the agreement between you and our Lady.”
Falmir seemed to snort out his nose like the horse beneath him. He looked along the wall and could see arrows pointed at him. He smiled. “Thorn! Let me in!”
Laun smiled and called out, “Remember our agreement, witnessed by Lady Engrid.”
The snort that came out that time was easily heard behind the barrier. “Princess Thorn, I don’t think I will ever forget it. Don’t make me regret it.”
Laun motioned and some of the sharpened logs were pulled back, a large enough space for a person to walk through. Laun paused as her two assassins, dressed in dark green clothing and livery, different from the black with the dark green tabard as at the Hawkwell estate, scooted out and knelt to either side of the opening. The blonde girl and the brown haired man scanned the soldiers behind Falmir, throwing daggers ready but hidden.
Laun stepped out of the shadow of the log and boulder barricade and stood between Gem and Hazalam. Several of the soldiers saluted and she nodded back to them. She was far more informal than they had really ever seen her, even with her sexual exploits.
Her hair was in a braid, but it was not shiny and slick as they had ever seen it, no crown or ribbon to adorn her. The light colored linen tunic showed more light through it than it truly blocked, showing the halter and loincloth she wore beneath. A knife was sheathed in a leg harness below the short hem of the tunic. No shoes, not even slippers.
But she was still Princess Laun and had the respect of most of the people waiting behind Falmir.
“You look comfortable.”
“You look tired.”
“Fuck you.”
“Go to Hell.”
Falmir dismounted and Laun walked forward, big grins on both their faces. The sound of bows being brought taut and swords having peacebonds undone went through those watching. Laun paused a pace from the tall man and saw the humor in his hazel eyes as he saw it reflected in hers. They went for a warrior’s grip, palm to elbow and pulled at each other until they were in a full embrace.
There was a cheer in the ranks of the soldiers. It seemed like it was supposed to be rehearsed, but it turned into them just yelling at the tops of their lungs. Laun turned to the Company and waved, the cheering increasing.
The General dismounted and came forward, a warriors grip for Laun, and a slight wink too. Laun had a wicked smile for General Alsen and winked back. “Glad you were able to make it, General. No troubles on the road?”
“Or before, Highness.”
Several of the nobles came forward, some bowing or kissing her hand, some giving her a warriors grip. She noted which nobles were not with them and her Uncle, Heran Dresdan, the Ambassador from the Midlands to Rosemond, was not behind her Father.
The Bishop came to her and did a cursory bow. He was trying to be noble and pious, but he was also scared of Laun. She had brought out one of his secrets and he was paying for it with shedding the jewelry and ceremonial clothing of his sect. Laun could see that he had probably walked some that day, too.
Laun could see many of the entertainers creeping up on the welcoming. Laun did not know what they were planning, but it was funny seeing some of them ‘hiding’ behind the soldiers in formation. Laun knew many people were watching from the protection of the barricade. She thought and called out, “Lazy Dogs!” She saw big smiles on the troupes faces and suddenly there were tumblers coming towards her, acrobats and the rest of the troupe rushing her. They stopped, bowed to her, and then did a series of amazing routines in front of the sharpened logs.
Adelmar walked up to Laun, some of his doddering personae in his step and body position. He took off his large pointed hat and bowed to her, sweeping the ground with his robes’ sleeve. “Your Highness. I am pleased to see you again.”
Laun held out her hand to him and said, “I was not expecting you and your people. You are welcome, though I am not sure where we will be able to fit you in.”
The magician shrugged. “We are easy to please and won’t take up much room.”
“Good. Orgia is going to have my liver for all these people.”
Laun turned and signaled to the barricade and more people came out. Edgar was introduced to Falmir as the Head wardsman and head of the households’ protectors. Geralk was there and introduced as the Master of the lists. Many others were there, greeting and being greeted by Falmir and the others. Laun motioned for Falmir to follow and he held out his arm.
Father and Daughter walked through the portal of the barricade and to the small washing tent. Falmir looked quite relieved as cool water went over his hands and face.
“Now. Before I let the rest of your escort through, I need you to meet two other people who I have had in my household. While I was with you, I did not know if they had left or stayed. I am happy that they were here, but...”
Falmir looked at her and squinted his eyes. “Who is it?”
A mid twenties man in a woodland heather cape stepped out from behind one of the horses. “I am one, Uncle.”
“Fuck me.” Falmir’s jaw dropped. Laun was not sure if he was going to deck her cousin or hug him. “Dougal. I heard you and your men had been killed in the run through Four Rocks.” He took in a big breath and held out his arm, Dougal taking it in a warrior’s grip.
Caution was gone. Ceremony was smashed. Falmir didn’t care that his nephew had sided with Laun and the Salam-Dir household. He had more of his family alive and at his side.
“Our Lady took us in and cared for our wounded. Her people were her family and now is mine.”
Falmir rounded on Laun. “You little minx! That is why you put that in! If you had the old man here all along-”
Dreng’s laughter came from behind a rank of protectors. He had Bett on his arm and a smile on his face. Falmir turned and started swearing. At Laun. At Dreng. And at the fates.
“What the hell happened to your eye, old man?” Falmir backed off from his hug long enough to see that his Father was not all he used to be.
“That is a good story, and I will tell you some time. But it needs more ale in me than I have.” He pounded his sons back. “It is good to see you, Bastard.”
Laun breathed in again. She had not been sure how that was going to go. With them cursing good naturedly at each other, Laun signaled and the barricade was pulled back from the road. Many of the entertainers tumbled on in and went on down the road. The mounted nobles came in, some stopping to wash, some just following the road and some of the Salam-Dir people. Soldiers and carriages and wagons came through, a fine dust floating in the air between and behind them.
Laun put a hand on each of the Kings. “Both of you. Listen to me.”
She was not loud, but they both turned to her. “Sweeting?”
“Until we can get you two to discuss things, you are just you.”
Neither of them understood what she had said. “Thorn, what trick are you up to this time?”
Laun shook her head. She stepped closer and put a hand on each of their cheeks as they looked down at her. So alike, and yet so different. “You are Falmir. You are Dreng. Until things can be worked out, neither of you are King of the Midlands.”
They looked at each other and Laun could feel the sudden power struggle. Chests started to puff slightly and shoulders were starting to set. Then both of them said, “Ow!”
Laun had made sure she struck them at the same time. Their hands went to their matching palm prints on cheeks. “You are under my roof. If I even suspect that you two are not getting along, I will have the protectors strap you two together and leave you in the middle of one of the fields until I am satisfied.”
Dreng looked at Falmir with his one eye and said, “You know she means it.”
Falmir nodded and had a cautious look as he looked back at his daughter. “Yes, ma’am.”
Laun smiled and put her hands on their arms. “Good. Now, Falmir, we had to rearrange a few things, but there is a room in the tower for you.”
The last of the escort and equipment came through the gap in the barricade and it was shut again. Laun mounted and waited for Falmir and the remaining people to go back towards the keep. Falmir was looking around, seeing how the defenses had been built, how they had kept his military out. Laun let him look, but she knew he would only see what he was supposed to see, until he proved he was not just there to try to take the land.
They did not talk on the ride. Laun leaned forward on the saddle of Thunder because her back had started to flare. It was the stress and she knew it. The horse kept going without direction and she closed her eyes to just feel as the motion of the charger sent little shocks through her. She was going to have to lay down when they were back in the keep. It was partially her back and partially the adrenaline running through her. Both would calm with a little quiet nap.
“Laun? Do you need help?”
Laun looked up and Falmir had moved his mount close and was pacing hers. “My back again. It is still better to ride than walk for me, but it is getting close.” She tried to smile. “I will be putting myself to bed for a while to keep it from getting too bad.”
“As long as...” He shook his head. “No, I should not say that. You need to rest and take care of yourself.”
Laun did smile. “I’ll make sure that my people take care of you. Or would you prefer the acrobat?”
Falmir laughed. “Just not so much drink this time.”
Many of the nobles were being put into the tents for the overflow of people. Falmir waved a hand to them as he passed by. There were shouts and men running in the soldier’s encampment as the rest of the company plus some were being wedged in, more tents being put up in their allotted space. Soldiers saluted as the royalty rode by and went back to their duties.
Laun had to use her knees and heels to get the charger to go into the first courtyard in the keep. He wanted to keep going around the wall to the temporary stables in the close apple grove. She would not have minded, either, but her back needed to be tended to. She did hope that Hunter would be available later, though.
There were too many horses in the courtyard. Ali took the lead for Thunder and helped Laun down the usual way from the saddle. It was a long way down, but Laun enjoyed sliding down along Ali’s body and feeling her strong arms support her. There was a glancing kiss for Ali before Thunder was led back to the stall next to Grace.
Falmir was overwhelmed by what he was seeing. Most of the women around him were obviously pregnant but all of the women around him were either armored or dressed as Laun with a light tunic and not much else. There were harvest wagons coming through, stacks of punnets full of things harvested or gleaned. Bedding and furniture was being brought out and to the tent city springing up outside the walls of the keep. He glanced up and saw that there were archers above keeping a close eye on the new arrivals.
It was slightly cooler but not quieter inside the Great Hall. Hot and cool tea was being ladled out into various drinking vessels at the side board, a stack of fruited smallbreads disappearing as people passed by. A mug of cold tea was pressed into Laun’s hand and Falmir looked confused as one was in his hand and then the person who had given it to him pushed him out of the flow of traffic.
Laun grabbed Falmir’s sleeve and they sat at an empty bench. The household was in full flow with the first of the feed cereal having been harvested, and more being taken by the scythes to make room for the extra people. Food was being processed, shouts from the kitchen clearly heard as Orgia and Disa bossed the jobs that needed to be done right then.
Falmir leaned on his knees and just watched for a while. He glanced over to Laun and said, “I haven’t seen a working household like this since I was warded. How the hell did you keep this going?”
Laun shrugged and said, “It wasn’t just me. Everyone knows their place and knows they are needed to keep the household running. We have most of what we need because we are careful in what we use. We could use a mason, but that is just maintenance stuff.”
Falmir moved his hand and offered it to Laun. She leaned into his shoulder and took it. “This is amazing.”
They sat, drinking their tea and watching the flow go past until Laun saw a signal from one of the staff. She squeezed Falmir’s hand and said, “I know I need to go lay down. May I escort you to your room?”
He threw back the rest of the tea and stood, offering his arm to Laun. They made their way through the moving populace and to the corridor. A small escort was forming behind them of both household and military as they walked. The stairs were not the most pleasant for Laun, but she was able to make it to the landing above the one to her room. There were staff waiting outside the room that used to be Lord Vami’s.
It was not a bare room, it was a basic room. Laun made sure that he had good bedding, but for the most part, Falmir’s own chests brought in enough gear to fill out what had not been provided. Laun had asked that the carpenters put together a strong bench for in the room and Orgia had brought out tanned sheep hides to cover it. Falmir’s servants were unpacking some things as Laun and he were escorted in.
“I hope that it is comfortable. You may be able to see why I mentioned the Mason.” Laun pointed to the stones in the outer wall that had obviously moved.
“It isn’t gong to collapse on me, is it?”
“If it does, it takes my room with it. I am right below you.”
Falmir smirked. He offered his hand and kissed Launs when she placed it in his. He put her knuckles to his forehead and let her go. “I might just take a lay-down, too. That looks like a mighty comfortable bed you have given me.”
“As you wish.” Laun made a glance around to see what had been brought in and then left.
Laun leaned against the central core of the stairwell, the summer not quite heating it’s ingenious chimney system. It was cool enough that Laun lifted her tunic and leaned her belly against the stone for a few minutes. One of the servants in Falmir’s colors approached her slowly.
“High...Highness?”
She nodded, but said, “Just Laun. How can I help?”
He looked away as Laun turned, the tunic slipping down over her bare belly. “There isn’t a privy in his room. Where...?”
Laun pointed and gave directions. “... And the bathing chamber is down past the kitchens.”
The servant’s eyes went wide. “Thank you, Hi... Laun.” The servant went back into the room, a frightened set to his shoulders.
Laun sighed. This wasn’t the Palace. It wasn’t even the Hawkwell manor. It was Salam-Dir and the keep was built for protection more than for comfort. Laun sighed again and started down the stone stairs to her room.
The door was open as she wanted it to be while she was there. There were bodies on the mat next to the bed and Laun smiled. Gem had worn Silar out earlier and he was sleeping next to another woman, almost touching in the summer heat. Laun crawled up onto the bed past them and arranged blankets and pillows to take some of the weight of her belly from her back.
She could feel the sweat under the tunic. She did not want to get up and take it off, she just pulled it up and it bunched under her arms. The heat was not as intense in the room, but it was lingering with her from outside and the press of people in the Great Hall. Walking up and down stairs had brought out some heat, too. She wished again that the windows in the room opened, but she knew that if they did, they would leak more than heat out in the winter.
Her heart was pounding and Laun tried to slow it, calm it. She was still nervous about more reactions from Falmir, and the people that he brought with him. Some of the nobles were unknown to her from her time in the Palace, other than being introduced to some of them. Having so many soldiers on the Salam-Dir lands made her uneasy, but she knew that she held their respect for helping to protect Falmir and the rest of the people at the Hawkwell manor from the assassins. Dreng and Falmir and Dougal had somewhat reconciled, but there was still going to be talk and negotiations and posturing as Laun oversaw however the transition was going to work out.
She was not going to let them leave the lands without some sort of a workable peace. Laun had been working on Dreng for the last few days on the concept of letting Falmir continue to be King of the Midlands, but with an official transfer of power, not the coup behind it. It had been done before. Not an abdication. More of a retirement.
Laun was more tired than she thought. She was in a dreamscape fueled by the need to make peace between the men who wished to be King. The heat and sweat brought a feeling of slogging through the Grey Waters, picking up pieces of the black rock with shards of the green running through it. Each of the rocks she picked up turned into another problem that Laun had to find a solution for. She put them in a basket on her back weighing her down more and more.
Laun woke to a cool cloth being drawn across her legs. It felt incredibly relaxing. She lay, feeling the hands draw the cloth along her skin and then some air movement as the cloth was shaken above her to cool it down again.
“Thank you...” Laun mumbled.
“You looked like you were getting too warm, Mistress.” Silar drew the cloth down the leg again and she did feel some of the heat leave her.
She put her hand down to his and he held it for a moment. “You are too good to me.”
He cleared his throat and said, “With what I did-”
Laun moved so she could see him. He was just dressed in his loincloth and the restraining thong, his dark skin criss-crossed with scars, not all of them from the past. “You have punished yourself enough, my Prince.”
She saw the look and the flush that even showed on his dark skin. “Yes, Mistress.” He cooled the cloth again by waving it in the air above Laun and then drew it along the underside of her belly above her own loincloth, a small foot pushing out for a moment catching him. She saw him smile when she smiled.
There was a clearing of a throat and Silar looked surprised. He went to his knees on the mat, waking the woman lying there. Laun turned over to see who was standing in the doorway.
Falmir was leaning against the doorway, a painfully obvious look on his face. It was telling Laun all about the things he wanted to say to her about the ransom. There was then a smile.
“I thought I would just come your room and see if you were up for a visit. Fallion, I didn’t know you had alliance with my Thorn.”
Laun saw the glance the dark man sent to Laun before answering. His head was slightly bowed and he would not look either of them directly in the face as he said, “My Mistress has been kind enough to let me stay with the household.”
“Stay with the household?” Falmir stepped into the room, a glance down to the hardly covered woman stretching on the mat. “You are the one who brought her to me.”
“She still got into trouble.”
Laun laughed. “Love, that is so true.” She pulled the bunched up tunic down over her mountain of a belly some.
Falmir’s eyebrow went up. “I was assuming that the head wardsman was your hus... lover. Fallion?”
Laun pushed herself up on her elbows. “You should know by now that only one is not enough for me. And, yes, Edgar is one of my Loves. Not the only one. And not the last one.” Laun looked down at the kitchen staff woman who was looking between them and smiled as she climbed up onto the bed with Laun.
Falmir almost licked his lips at the redhead who had just slid behind Laun. “I think I had better go have that nap. It looks dangerous in here.” He squinted at Silar and turned.
“Father... I am sorry I am not what you were expecting.”
He stopped right outside the door and leaned back in slightly, but did not face her as he said, “I don’t know what I was expecting. I got you.” He went back out and Laun could hear his footsteps on the stairs.
Deni giggled. “Too bad he was your father.”
Laun drew the woman to her and kissed her before saying, “Don’t remind me.”
Laun was still a little too warm to be truly interested in anything intimate. The two women kissed and lightly touched each other while Silar used the cooling cloth on them. Laun found it decadent, but her energy was low enough that she could not do more than that.
Gem and Hazalam came to the room laden down with things from Orgia. Most of it was fresh linens, but there was a pitcher of milk and a few rolls for Laun, too. Deni saw the things in the arms of Laun’s servants and shook her head. She sighed and then said, “I really should be down in the pantry right now.”
A light tunic was pulled over the readhead and she started for her duties. Laun called to her and said, “I hear he likes women who can stretch.” Deni looked a little shy, but nodded before she went down the stairs.
“How are our guests settling in?”
Hazalam spoke as he started to pull sheets from the lower mat behind the main bed. “Geralk said that with the servants, there is another two hundred and fifteen people on our lands.”
Laun thought for a moment, one of her hands starting to wave her fingers in the air. “Tomorrow, we will have to send the fishers out and try to get as many fish as possible. I don’t want to slaughter any more of our livestock than we have to.”
Gem handed Laun a mug of milk and said, “Several of the soldiers have asked to bunk in the wards quarters, though I have been told it is already fairly full.”
“Full, and very sticky when it is so. We may have to move some supplies to the Chamber of the Dead and open one of the supply rooms...”
Laun saw the look on her man’s face. “Hazalam... Are you well?”
He shook his head. “The Chamber. That is where you kept me. I just... It struck me as you said it that was where you changed my life.” His eyes were big and Laun saw sweat going down the side of his face.
Silar moved out of the way as Laun held her hand out to the assassin. “I changed your life. I gave you a new mission. I hope that it has been better for you than before.” She looked at him with a slightly tilted head as he held her hand.
“Yes, Mistress.” He came close to her and said, “I wish to live today, and tomorrow and the day after that.”
Laun smiled. “Good.” She held his hand for a moment longer and then let him go. Gem punched him in the arm as he picked the laundry back up, but good naturedly. Laun drank some of the milk and sighed. It had been kept cool after the cream had been skimmed off and it felt and tasted good.
There were boots sounding in the hall, there was a slowing and another hesitant step. Laun had to get off the bed for the linen under her to be changed, so she rolled off of bed and went to the door. The General was there and had both a look of relief and a flash of concern.
“Highness.” He bowed slightly and then stepped forward. “I was told that the King was in the tower...”
Laun nodded. “One of them is. Falmir is one floor above. He was threatening to take a nap. I do not know where Dreng is.” Laun stepped out to the hall, the stone slightly cooler than the scant rug she had been standing on.
General Alsen made a half step closer. “Highness-”
“Please, just call me Laun.” She held out her hand and he took it, kissing it lightly.
“Laun, about Dreng... If he has been here all this time...”
“Grandfather is a reasonable man. Most of the time. I have seen how the weight of the crown has affected Falmir. They need each other to be able to run the Midlands.” Laun stepped closer, almost brushing him with her belly. “We will need them together for when the Rosemond forces come.”
Alsen was leaning in to kiss Laun until she mentioned Rosemond. “Laun... Is there something you know that I should?”
Laun coquettishly leaned her head to the side and blinked at him. “Why, General. There is little I know. But-” she straightened her head and put her face close enough to exchange breaths with the older man. “If Dreng and Falmir make up, Rosemond’s plans to take the Midlands is stopped. Unless they use the forces already in our borders and reinforce them with more.” She put her lips on the General’s lips and he only paused for a moment before pushing his lips into hers and wrapping his arms around her.
It became a little too hot quickly, but it took just a little longer for them to part. Alsen’s eyes blinked as he looked at Laun. “Hi- Laun. I should talk to the Ki- Falmir about this.”
Laun held his hand for a moment as she said, “The troops that the Rosemond council lent Falmir should be paid their full wages before being sent home. It is only fair that the duty they have done be paid for.”
He kissed her hand and said, “You are far more generous and forgiving than your Father.”
Laun watched the uniformed man head for the stairs. He paused and Laun pointed up when he turned, a big grin on her face.
Silar was just inside the doorway, but had been out of sight when he saw Laun and the General embracing. He seemed angry in his stare and set to his shoulders. Laun put her hand on his arm and looked into his eyes, even when he moved them away. She did not say anything.
Silar finally looked her square in the eye and said, “You really did work your way through the Palace, didn’t you.”
Laun was confused for a moment. Then a wave of something she did not like went through her and she had to sit down. She went to the chair by the corner table and sat, still looking at Silar. She had felt a hate, a jealousy, from him and it went through her leaving a bitter taste behind. She did not know why she would feel that, even though she knew he could.
Silar’s face had gone stony but he had not turned from her. “Was your bed open to all your enemies, or just the ones you could use?”
Laun shook her head. What he was saying was sending waves of feelings and emotions she could not name through her. She tried to speak, but the unnamed emotions caught her voice in her throat.
Silar did not have any difficulty speaking. “The Ambassador. The Commander General of the Midlands. Who else?”
Laun’s voice came out, soft and cracked. “The thing you sought in me is what you accuse me of?”
“Did he know you were his Daughter before-”
“Do not go there.” Launs voice was still soft, but it had regained some of her strength.
“-you slept with-”
A book went past Silar’s head. “Finish that sentence and regret it, Silar.” Laun’s voice and eyes matched in their deadliness. She stood and looked like she was going to gut Silar with her bare hands. Laun made a motion and the door was closed to the corridor.
The look changed on Silar’s face from a hateful haughtiness to one akin to a child caught dipping honey from the jar with his hands. Hazalam put the laundry down and stood at the ready, Gem was against the door.
Laun closed her eyes and breathed. She did not want to actually kill him. She had spent too much time with him, learned too much from him, to just wrap her hands around his throat and... She blew her breath out her nose and concentrated on what would be behind his words. She had a glimmer, but it was not something Laun could see or feel clearly.
Her eyes opened. Silar had gone to his knee and his head was bowed. Laun walked to him and put a gentle hand on his head, sliding it down his black hair to the back of his neck. There was a fine layer of sweat there, Laun only kept her hand there for a moment.
“Is it the General you are having a problem with or is it really me?” Even Hazalam was not expecting the soft tones coming from his Mistress.
Silar shook his head slightly. “I... It just came out.”
“Is it your need to play, to get me riled up, that brought it out?”
He shrugged and looked up. “Seeing you in his arms... It made me... Mistress, I will not say such things again.” His head went back down.
Laun screwed up her face slightly as she looked at him. “I doubt that.” She grabbed the hair at the back of his head and pulled until he was looking into her eyes. “This is what started this whole disaster in the first place. If you don’t get that under control, I will cut your manhood from you myself.” She let him go and stepped back to the chair.
He did not know if she was serious. Her voice had been bland, without inflection. The look on her face was cold, but there was a flicker of something in her eye. “Yes, Mistress. I will try.”
Laun gestured and the door was open again, letting a slight roll of cooler air come in from the corridor. There were people in the corridor, Adelmar about to scratch on the door. Laun motioned and Silar moved from the area by the bed to by the window, kneeling with his head down.
“Laun? I hope we didn’t interrupt anything...”
Laun sat and smiled at the entertainers. She waved them in and said, “It is only interrupting if the door is closed. Please, feel free to come in.”
Adelmar was the first in, but about ten others from the troupe were behind him. Several of the women headed over the bed to look at the red velvet dress that was still displayed with it’s armor bits on the arming tree. Several of the men gave an appraising look to first the bed and then Silar. One went over to Silar with an open hand, but stopped when Silar did not even react.
Laun remembered the wrestlers at the reception for the Rosemond Council General. This was the opponent Silar had been against in the choreographed routine. “You do not have to withdraw, Silar. Please, greet the man who could only beat you with a fix.”
The red haired wrestler turned, saying, “I could pick him up and slam him to the floor any time!”
Laun smiled when she saw a smirk on Silars face. “Oh. Of course. When it is cooler, would you like to test that?”
There was laughter, including from the wrestler. “As the Lady wishes.” He bowed to Laun and then turned back to Silar, hand out to the kneeling man. Silar’s dark hand went to the wrestler’s lighter one and he was on his feet. They gave a slightly different warriors grip, palm to forearm and then slapped each other on the shoulder.
Adelmar motioned to the other chair and Laun nodded. “It took a while to find a piece of woods to set up in. One of the tumblers had to be stripped and cleaned when he stepped into one of your traps.”
Laun giggled. “One of the best suggestions ever made. Nice thing about it is that we can just keep filling them up.”
The magician nodded and pushed his hair over his ear. “We found an old apple orchard surrounded by those traps and set up there. It is just about big enough for all of us...”
Laun was not sure what she heard in his voice. “You know that there is some room in the keep if you need it. It is getting tight, but your people were more than kind to me while I was held at the manor.”
He shrugged and said, “You let us stay, Lady... High... What do we call you now?”
Laun beamed at him and said, “Just Laun. It was my first name and it is the name I prefer.”
“Laun. There is something serious I would like to talk to you about.”
She looked at him, his pointed hat held on one of his knees, his shoulders slightly rounded and sitting forward in the chair. “We have talked about many things over the time we have known each other. Unless you have need to tell me that you are pregnant with my child...”
There was a rousing laughter from the troupe. Adelmar’s mouth twitched from serous to a smile, but it did not last. “Well, not quite. Some of the women approached me and asked if I would talk to you about Wanda.”
Laun had to think for a moment. “The girl-”
“Yes. I know that she comes from, well, us, but I was hoping to be able to use the coin from the Bishop to buy a warding for her.”
A ward. So this was how it went. Laun leaned to the side and supported her chin in her hand. “What is the reasoning?”
“We have the means to get her higher in society, and we trust you to treat her and train her well.”
“What do you expect her to learn here?” Laun narrowed her eyes and saw little tremors along his jawline.
“Laun... To be a noble?” There were a few short-lived snickers in the troupe.
Laun smiled, but still had a serious tone as she said, “I’m still learning that. What does she say?”
Adelmar opened his mouth and then turned to look at some of the others. “I... I don’t know. We haven’t-”
“Then you cannot ward her with me.” Laun leaned forward and put her hand on his knee. “I will not have someone in my household who has not come freely and who does not wish to stay of their own will. I freed those I could as one of my first acts as Lady of Salam-Dir, and I will not have you push her into a life she does not want.”
“It is best for her if-”
Laun shook her head and said, “You are her family. I don’t care if you think you are not good enough for her. She has known you as her family and ripping her from that is just not right. Talk to her and have her come to me if she wishes it. Have her talk to those of the household and have her ask anything she wants. Most of us are just about as open as I am.”
One of the women started to hiss. Laun smiled and winked. “That reminds me... My father is one floor up, if anyone is interested.”
There was more laughter. There was more conversation, but nothing as serious as the warding of Wanda. A few jokes went back and forth, and Laun was finally able to set the bell and twine back into the game. She had found it on her as they had traveled from the Hawkwell manor, placed in the pouch that had the little guard bell she had sewn in. She was wondering how long it would take Adelmar to find it in his hat.
A kitchen staff member came to remind Laun that the meals being prepared would be served in about an hour. The troupe took that as a hint and left, a few small magic tricks and acrobatics as they went out of the room.
Two more things that had been dumped in Laun’s lap. Silars possessiveness was biting at him again. A potential ward from the troupe. Both needed attention, but Laun pushed most of it to the back of her mind. She needed to be focused for the night.
She stood with Silar at the line of windows, the rug she used to do her morning exercises under their bare feet. They held hands while Laun spoke to him. “You are important to me. You have been one of my teachers. Can you tell me that you cannot accept a part of me that attracted you to me, even though it is part of my whole?”
He wanted to look away. “It is maddening when I see you with others. It excites me, but it also makes me afraid I may-that I will loose you. To them or to your whims.”
Laun nodded. Her smile was small, but sincere as she said, “I do have whims. You were not a whim. I saw greatness in you and, yes, I try to surround myself with those who can help me. Your power, your knowledge is unparalleled and I am honored that you have been in my life.” She raised his hands up to her face and kissed them. “I just cannot pledge myself to just one person without being untrue to both of us. I have to lie too often as it is. I do not want to have to do it with someone I love.”
She could see the water filling his eyes, but not quite over the edge. “Mistress, I have pledged myself to you. I know you take that as seriously as I. In the future, I will try to see, to understand what I do and calm it. For both of us.” He pulled her hands to him and kissed the palms.
It was still too sticky to embrace. The sun was going to be going down soon, a hoped relief in the evening breeze. Laun leaned in and he brought his face down. They kissed lightly, a reconnection to each other and their pledges.
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