7.9

She thought they would have more time. But now her poor husband and Jewel were having to try to squeeze the work of years and many casual meetings between peers into a few days of desperate correspondence and piles upon piles of tiny written missives carried by bedraggled birds.

A dozen riders were burning through horses on the High King’s way carrying doves that had just flown over the same roads the day before. Maintaining the torrent of words between the very edges of Viznove.

But all of that was only the very minimum. Here in Valasect in her simple little study writing and reading the absolutely tiny scrolls of parchment was only the start.

It had not even been a year since her wedding and Jewel was going to return to Kaeketeh.

“Ah here this one, the Baron of Ox glen assures he will swear fealty no later than the 11th of Grain Turn this year now!”

Not only her but every direct vassal of the late Countess Bathory would be traveling. Those who were now meant to be her vassals. But it was all too soon! Paul had been trying very hard to build a network of trust, promises and assurances to prepare for the day his blood mother perished. But almost none of those alliances had settled yet!

“Well that’s a relief, Paul? have you found any new letters from Ostara? They wrote last it would not be until threshing turn next year!”

External to the county High King Mathias supported her. Fiebron, Thurzó and Osterwick also pledged support. Although not even Thurzó and Fiebron would be present in Kaeketeh for her ascent to the rank of Countess.

Internal to Viznove matters were less certain. Father of course would support her and from him the bonds of House Rochford promised a pledge from Marcisław of Kliatbatrn.

The other lords who had joined her in war also seemed fair odds to support her.

“The baroness Ostara just had a child Jewel. But yes I have one from her promising fealty. She will travel to swear properly after she recovers. Honestly, threshing turn might be a bit too early. Maybe best to just let her wait until debt season that year?”

But that was not all of Viznove’s lords and ladies. There were those who held land bordering Magarska and the less fit for battle. Both kinds habitually paid a tithe instead of pledging arms, although for entirely different reasons. One to avoid emptying the garrisons stationed in case of attack from the south, The other for lack of a suitably martial lord (or lady).

Jewel thought that Father’s place among the Fraternity of Gryphon Riders and her own camaraderie with them would at least assure that the former Countess’ Gryphon Knights would remain loyal.

There were from her talks with Paul a distressingly short list among her new Vassals that could be trusted just yet.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Being Bathory’s chosen heir and publicly and grandly married to her only son would help at least.

“Fine, send word to her this is acceptable as long as a captain, relative or other representative is at least present to affirm her ties with us.”

Her husband’s hands were quick with a quill as he made the statement a command and then quickly rolled and sealed it with his signet ring. It was all far too soon. Jewel thought she would have years to settle these matters!

Paul had thought they would have a decade at least!

But It turned out they did not even have a full year. Bathory was dead before the end of summer! Word out of Kaeketeh was confused, few messenger birds making it free and what messages did reach Jewel and Paul spoke equal parts of unrestrained revelry and complete loss of social order. The only thing certain in the confusion was that Jewel was welcome in the city, by some rumors the populace was outright demanding her immediate presence.

Jewel was glad for the support of the people. But it was not making the situation with her prospective vassals any easier. There were already accusations that Jewel planned the murder! But even there nothing was simple, one baron congratulated her for it and promised full support, while a baroness is spreading letters that murdering Bathory disqualifies Jewel’s inheritance.

“Any word from the marches either way?”

Paul shuffled through the small hillock of parchment. Message scrolls sent by doves were small things, usually curled tight to barely the width of a finger. But between Rochford and Jewel’s own flocks all bearing vital news and their equal number being sent back? That piled rather high on her husband’s desk.

“Yes! The last of them have officially said they will make time to Kaeketeh by no later than the 14th day of Grain Turn.”

Jewel let out a breath of tension, carefully turning her head to direct it away from the small herd's worth of sheep’s skin that occupied the shared desks of their mutual study.

“Then that’s the last of them at least attending if not a solid assurance of fealty.”

Grain turn, Could whoever had finally decided to murder the Countess not have waited until at least after The Wheat Harvest Festival!? Jewel and her husband were going to have to miss their first summer dance! It was a petty thought, brought on by the overwhelming irritation of having the entirety of the county of Viznove dropped upon her far before she was meant to.

But still it was laughable how many people thought Jewel had somehow planned this! If she had planned this it would not have happened before they finished building Paul his new pigeon tower!

If she had planned this, Jewel would have made sure she was already on her way for the annual meeting in Kaeketeh for Debt’s Season!

If she had planned this, Bathory would still be alive this year!

Jewel huffed again,

If they left within the next three days that should give her time to settle whatever immediate matters required her attention in Kaeketeh. If rumor and messenger could be trusted the city would be hers regardless of the rumbling of vassals.

It would be close but that should give them a few days to prepare for the arrival of her vassals and securing of loyalties.

All of this should have been the work of years.

Carefully working with Paul.

But apparently they would have to make it happen in a few dozen days.

Jewel forgot to turn her head before sighing again. The letters blew out in a cloud of tumbling scrolls.

Paul was so overwhelmed he actually yelled at her for it.

She couldn't blame him.