Keshet entered the hall, still in his plate armor and dusty from the road. He looked around till he found his cousin. Walking over to Iovita, he came very close to her personal space and waited for leave to speak.
“It has happened again, cousin. Your father sent two dozen armed men, and only three came back. All were suffering grievous wounds and told of a massive demon that filled them with fear and sucked the very life from them.”
“Nigide.”
“Indeed. I doubt he’ll find more men to investigate after so many have been lost. Whether he believes you or not, he may have to adopt your solution out of necessity.”
“I had no doubt. You were there. I have no idea how we survived, and though I would die in defense of our people, I’ll not throw my life away on a hopeless quest.” Keshet had known Iovita for nearly a hundred years since they were both children. He saw the look on her face, and he could sense the storm raging within her. She had a short temper and her father, being lord of the land, did not save him from her wrath.
“We did our best and came up short. What is your next course of action?"
“We need to find a way to overcome this evil god. This land was peopled by the Inoans for thousands of years and they made no mention of being savaged by one of ‘our’ gods. There is something afoot and I’ll get to the bottom of it or die trying.”
“I’m told that there is a skirmish on the borderlands. Some of our people in Goda have crossed paths with an Inoan tribe. I guess they used to range here every ten years or so, and when they migrated here on their normal schedule, they found the land taken. Needless to say, they are none too happy about it.”
“Don’t they know that we have a treaty with their people? We are supposed to have exclusive rights to the land and resources in this quadrant of Pyrros.”
“We made an arrangement with some Inoans, but it seems that they don’t speak for all of the tribes. To have a permanent arrangement, we would have to make a treaty with each of the hundreds of tribes individually.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen. I assume that each treaty would come with some kind of concession. We can barely afford to feed ourselves; we don’t have any left to bribe these people to leave us alone.”
“Well, dear cousin, that’s why we’ve assembled an army and that’s why your family has been given power. The price is that you send knights and soldiers to enforce the peace.”
“You’re right,” she grumbled. “Get the word out. We take a meal and leave for Goda at midday.”
Two days of hard riding brought them to the outskirts of Gota. They passed through the center of the bustling town till they came upon the guards for House Pax. Half a dozen soldiers were stationed outside of the local lord’s manor and signaled for them to halt as they approached.
“Who are you, and what business do you have in Goda?” the lead guard asked. He wore leather armor, cut in the sleek elven fashion. On his arm was a diamond-shaped steel shield and in his hand was a thin, short sword.
“You’ll speak with more respect to Lady Honor!” Keshet demanded.
“House Honor has no authority here,” the guard replied, waving his sword threateningly. “This is the domain of House Pax.”
“Then take me to Lord Pax immediately,” Iovita said.
“I’ve told you that you have no authority here. You’ll not be giving commands to anyone in Goda, miss!” The man’s face was contorted in anger, and he took a step towards Iovita, still threatening her with his weapon.
Iovita had her long sword out and disarmed the man before he knew what was happening. With the flat of her blade, she cracked him on the head, rendering him unconscious. She turned to the men who were behind him.
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“I don’t know what kind of training you men have received, but know that I am the deadliest sword in Aquila and perhaps in all of the elven nation. I would have no qualms about putting you on the ground with your comrade there.”
One of the soldiers came forward, “I will run to the manor and get the lordship’s permission to allow you in. Please wait here milady.” He bowed and then sprinted down the paved path that led from the main gate to the front entrance of the mansion.
Several minutes later, the same soldier came out and escorted them inside. A groom took their reins, and the two elven knights were brought to the throne room. Though there were no actual kings or queens among the elves, apparently Lord Pax considered himself to be of newly minted royal blood. He sat tall in a chair, fashioned after the thrones used by the human kings. The wooden chair was large enough for two people to sit side by side and was sanded and oiled to give the light brown wood a warm glow. On the throne were piles of white and violet silk cushions, along with his long, fur-lined cloak that was draped haphazardly over the back. He was tall among a race of tall people. His hair was nearly white and touched his shoulders. He was not old in Elven years and looked to be in superior physical condition.
“Lady Honor, I apologize for the manner in which you were greeted. That man will be sternly spoken to. After he recovers. Welcome to House Pax and Gota. How can we be of service to you, Lady?”
“It is I who am offering my assistance. I heard that you are having friction between our people and the Inoans along your northern border. If war were to break out with the Inoans, even just one of their tribes, it would be a conflict that would put the whole of the elven nation at risk.”
“What kind of assistance are you offering, lady? If you are willing to help fund the effort to defend ‘our’ northern border? That would be exceedingly helpful.”
“I’m sure you know about what happened in the unclaimed lands between Glaucia and the coast. My father is draining the coffers to reestablish trade routes and extra security to keep people away.”
“Rumor is that Nigide has emerged from our nightmares to haunt the elves.” He had a smirk on his handsome face, “It all sounds incredibly fantastic.”
“Incredible or not, it’s the complete truth. My scouting party was attacked, and most did not return alive.”
“So, if you have no gold to give, what is it that you offer?”
“My sword, my cousin’s sword. We can bring maybe a dozen men. If the Inoans are raiding our lands, we are ready to stand with House Pax.”
“Though I appreciate the offer, Lady Honor; if you have a history of losing men under your command, then I could hardly risk putting my knights and soldiers in your care. Thank you for your generous offer, but I must regretfully decline.”
Iovita had expected this type of reaction. Her father had often talked about Rahman Pax being a pompous ass. He painted him as a self-serving type who held his family’s welfare in higher regard than that of the people he’d taken in as subjects. The bad thing was, though he spoke only for the city of Gota, his actions or inactions could cause the elves and Inoans to enter into an undeclared war.
“I must say that I’m disappointed, though not entirely surprised. For all our sakes, I pray you use as much diplomacy with the Inoans as you have with me, Lord Pax.” He looked unmoved, “I’ll not bother you or your staff any longer. I will see myself out.” She bowed and walked back straight, from Lord Pax’s presence.
Keshet walked alongside his cousin as they headed for where their horses were stabled. They passed through a town, not unlike Aquila. Tens of thousands of residents; former slaves, who were now set free to create and grow their own empire, ruled by their kind. The lord’s mansion was not the largest building in town, but it was by far the grandest. The center of town was filled with shops and factories, markets, and other functional buildings. Everyone from the youngest to the oldest who were hundreds of years old was focused on the goal of building infrastructure and civilization. They had lost their hovels in the Underworld, but not that they were free, they were going to rebuild their culture that was lost to them thousands of years ago. Iovita dreamed of a time, in the not too distant future, when they would be able to build hanging gardens, fountains, and sanctuaries for the birds and animals.
“What now, cousin?”
“If there is to be war between our people and the Inoans, there is nothing that we can do to stop it. I was invited by one of the human kings to visit their lands. I think I will venture across the sea and see more of this world.” She turned to Keshet, you’re welcome to join me in my journeys. I have enough coin to get us there and to live by modest means when we are not the guest of some human noble.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I will stay with the guard in House Honor. I know you feel insulted by your father’s lack of confidence and Pax’s arrogance, but I feel that there will be trouble ahead, and for what it’s worth, I will be there to lend my sword to our people’s cause.”
She nodded in complete understanding. She felt the same way, but her pride had been doubly hurt, both by Pax and her father. She needed a respite from her people. “We’ve worked so hard since arriving here; I would like to see more of this world.”