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Lady Shang Keladry
Sorrel Rowan
Chapter Eighteen: Summit
Scanran Palace, the next day
Jodai smiled. Her smile was warm and happy. She was in her own chambers again, but she hadn't gotten back until an hour before dawn. She still remembered the barely repressed grin on Laila's face when she had opened the door and told her everything was all right, but that she would be staying to 'make sure.'
She had used her own Gift to make the room soundproof - so the guards couldn't hear them talking, as in discussing things, her mind insisted as she blushed crimson - and then made them oblivious to her leaving the King's chambers.
She had also cloaked herself with her Gift, it wouldn't do for anyone to see their queen-to-be in her nightgown, leaving her king's room in the early hours, now would it? How undignified, she thought, amused by the image of her in her bare feet, night gown with a sceptre and a crown.
With a start, she realised that that was how she thought of Maggur - as her fiance. Not her betrothed, her husband to be, but her fiance. She realised she didn't mind marrying him, and silently blessed her father for his lack of caring who she married. She was marrying someone she loved, who didn't treat her like a delicate flower and let her use magic. Not what she had expected, either of the times she had come to Scanra. What more could she ask for?
A shadow crossed her happy thoughts; peace. I could ask for peace. Not to be at war with my homeland or that of my sisters. Then she brightened, thinking of the meeting she would later attend. Maybe I'll get my wish.
Looking at the frost blue sky, she sighed, this time with an edge of frustration. Right about now was usually when the healers would come bustling in saying 'drink this, our latest horrible concoction, which we know won't work and smells rancid,' 'do that' or, for a change, 'don't move too quickly now, you might break something as fragile as you are.'
Growling, she had often thought that she would like to take them down to the practice yards with a staff and let them see just how fragile she was. And anyway, all of her potions didn't taste bad enough to use as a new form of torture, why couldn't theirs?
At least Laila seemed to have gone to a healing school where students had taste buds left - her potions were at least bearable. Some were even pleasant. Laila was the one who calmed her down, making those morning sessions of healing bearable, her russet red magic flowing through her like a draught of hot Griffin tea from the Copper Isles.
When Jodai heard the door knock, she frowned slightly. Here we go again. When there was another knock, Jodai turned, puzzled. Usually, the healers simply barged in.
A politely probing thought came to Jodai, a tongue of deep red flame. My lady, are you well?
Jodai smiled, it was Laila. She opened the door with a smile that widened when she saw Laila was alone. "Where are the others?" she asked the brunette carefully when they sat at Jodai's coffee table by the window.
Laila grinned, the first sign of genuine warmth Jodai had seen from her. She noted that the girl wore a stunning auburn dress, and with her long chocolate hair, she truly was stunning. "They, ah, requested to be moved to another case, mistress. Said you were recovered and that only one healer was now needed. Naturally, they chose me," she said, an ironic twist to her smile.
"Why?" Jodai asked. When the healer shook her head and smiled again, she asked again. "Aw, come on. Why?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes."
"I'm the only one you didn't spook," she said, laughing. Jodai shook her head and joined in. When they had both calmed down, Laila continued. "I've been assigned to the royal house permanently, as the royal healer - although you can take care of yourself," she cut Jodai off, "What happens if something happens to you?"
"Right now, the royal house is only me and Maggur," Jodai murmured.
"Ah, right now it is," she replied with a meaningful glance.
Jodai grinned and poured a cup of green tea for the pair. "I've also been asked to be your lady in waiting, the King asked me this morning. I accepted."
Jodai looked up. Lady in waiting? That meant. "What title did he give you?"
She grinned, her brown eyes sparkling. She stood and curtseyed. "You are now looking at the honourable Duchess of Sachantsia," she said, twirling and curtseying again while Jodai applauded and cheered.
Inwardly, Jodai was stunned. Laila was now one of the highest ranking and richest Scanran ladies in the country, and she was also one of the most popular at court already due to her healing talent and her concern for her patients. Sachantsia was one of the most prosperous fiefs in the country as well, but it's former duke had fallen ill with a severe case of death with no heirs, so the land passed to the crown.
It was a high honour - and one Maggur would not bestow lightly. She looked at Jodai questioningly.
"His Majesty knew what I had been doing the last few months," she explained, the new Duchess sitting once more, a slight flush in her cheeks.
"Which was?"
"Inciting a rebellion against him, running a home for rebels, using my mother's barony as an orphanage for all the people he - well, not him - threw out of their home."
Jodai laughed until she cried. "That has to be the most unusual way to become a noble. What did you mean, your 'mother's barony'?"
Laila looked away. "I'm the daughter of a baroness and a soldier - a bastard basically. Her husband was at war, she was lonely - you know how these things happen. She had planned to pass me off as her husbands child, but my father had the Gift, he was a healer with the army, and half Maren. But all my half brothers and sisters were blond, blue eyed and Giftless, as my mother and her husband were." Jodai wasn't all that surprised, but she still felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl. "What happened to you?"
Laila looked at her now, her eyes slightly sad with old pain. "My mother gave birth to me before her husband came back. No one knew, she had gone into seclusion the minute it started to show, except my father. Gave some silly religious excuse about praying for the army's success. It was common enough that no one thought twice."
Jodai nodded, thinking about the tradition in the Copper Isles, when a wife goes into isolation if her husband died for months at a time.
"After I was born, she gave my father a bucket load of money - for the healers college, a donation, or so everyone thought - and asked him never to come back. I grew up, my father giving the story that my mother died in childbirth wherever we went, but telling me the truth. When he died - he lived to see me become a practicing healer - I came here."
"How did you get to use your mother's barony? I mean, if you could never see her?" Jodai asked, now fascinated by her Lady in waiting's colourful history.
"My mother's husband had died of Unicorn Fever. She had been terminally ill - a recurrence of the Sweating Sickness. She had told my brother, Cauller, who I was, and told him to seek me out," she shrugged. "It made sense - I was his only remaining family. But what was surprising was she told him he had to take care of me. They knew I was still alive because I had written to tell her about my father's death - Caul said it probably finished her, she just gave up after that. He said she had always loved him."
Jodai couldn't help thinking about what a healer in the soldier camp had said when she had been at Mindelan. After hearing him, she had told him he was forbidden to tell Kel about it, ever, on pain of death. Her father's wounds hadn't been terminal, but were extensive. Basically he could have recovered if he really wanted to.
"After hearin' about the Lady Ilane, though, he jist stopped. he seemed to kinda lose hope, like he didnae want to live anymore."
"She even gave him a locket with a picture of me, my father had sent it to her when I was five, and described me to him. He came to court - he knew I was working in the palace - and recognized me straight away. He agreed with my opinions on our glorious country and asked how he could help," she finished.
Jodai was breathless. Things like that only happened in bard's tales - the illegitimate son/ daughter is accepted and cared for, the end, happily ever after. Then something else made her think. "Did Maggur tell you why he gave you the duchy?"
"He knew I knew about the possession. My father specialised in mind magic, I recognized that something was wrong straight away. It's not something a healer who hadn't been trained in it all their life could've spotted," she said, blushing deeper. A bell tolled all around the palace. Standing, she looked at Jodai. "We'd better get going if you want to be at the peace talks, your Majesty," she noted, a slightly wicked smirk on her mouth.
Jodai looked at her, then realised she meant the conference. As they walked down to the audience hall, she asked Laila who was going to be there. "Oh, a lot of people. Most of the resistance - the leaders definitely. It took hours to persuade them to come. Some priests, one each of the Mithrans, Black God and Daughters. A sorcerer from the city of the Gods. An emissary to Tortall - one of the soldiers captured in the war. And us, and I think that's it."
They walked in to see the heady group assembled. Maggur would sit not on his throne, but at the head of a large mahogany table, his chair the same as everyone else's. He was standing by the fire, talking warmly to the Tortallan soldier when he turned and beckoned to them to come in. The tortallan looked dazed and confused.
"Why don't we sit?" he asked in his light baritone, cutting through the formalities, as they sat at the table. "We're here because I am King of this country, and I would prefer it to stay in one piece. Today, I sent out messages by magic that all of my troops were to stand to defensive positions along my Southern border. Under no means will they attack Tortall, but they will defend if pressed. So far none have had to raise a sword in over ten hours, patrols have been pulled back to our borders," Maggur stated, leaving his audience shocked.
"Another thing to note is that the changes I propose may seem sweeping and premature, but many will be the work of years, and all the plans are preliminary at the moment."
Jodai leaned in and took his hand, a smile on her face now. They were making real steps towards peace.
The Mithran priest looked around, as though something was missing. "Your Majesty, this sounds much like a council of war, but where are your generals?"
Maggur smiled slightly, his voice taking on a dry edge. "They are currently foot soldiers. I didn't think howling barbarians could protect this country, the slobbering would get in the way at the least."
Now the grins around the table were broad. The resistance, or at least it's leaders, knew of the possession and Laila had vouched for the King.
"Now, to the problem I face. I need generals with sense and the confidence to tell me if I'm being a fool. I think people plotting to rebel against me should do the trick - and as a bonus, they're all the leaders of different clans, so the country doesn't fragment," Maggur continued. The former rebels looked shell shocked, then nodded and saluted crisply - an amusing sight when you consider the fact that they were all sitting down.
"What about the hostages?" A man with coal black hair and deep green eyes said - Karyl of Icelake, leader of the clan that lived on the snow plains.
"They are currently enjoying the best hospitality I can offer as an apology," Maggur said softly, the hostages had been treated well, but their purpose chilled him to the bone. "You will see them immediately after this meeting - they can stay or go, I would be happy to offer them my continued shelter."
A priest of the Black God looked at him. "And the machines?" he asked coldly. The atmosphere changed immediately, the tension palpable.
"An abomination that will be destroyed with my help and blessing," Maggur imparted quietly. He looked to the priest, who nodded, grudging respect in his eyes.
"And how do you mean to do that?" the Daughter inquired.
"Go to the source," Jodai said, just as quietly, squeezing her betrothed's hand. "If need be, I will track Blayce down myself and kill him."
"The next thing on the agenda is Tortall," Maggur interposed smoothly. "What are we going to do to calm our southern brothers and sisters?"
June The Vassa, riverbank, two months after the above conference "I don't like this," Alanna remarked for only the sixtieth time that morning.
"They asked for a cease fire and a chance to negotiate," Dom remarked lightly. "They have the advantage in this war - why should they?"
"And what's the harm in listening if it could mean peace?" Kel replied, cold hand in cold hand with Dom. The Vassa region wasn't perceptively warmer in summer than in winter - Kel knew that first hand now.
They were taking things slowly, due to the war, but everyone was aware of their feelings. Anders mentioned Dom in every letter, as did Conal. Anders usually asked when he was 'going to have to drag my behind to Masbolle to get you two sorted out?' From Adie and Orie, it was 'when are you going to get hitched?' or the like. It always made Kel blush, but it made her happy too, knowing they were happy for her.
She knew her brothers had cornered Dom in Mindelan, as had her sisters, and Dom had been accepted as 'one of the family' - every letter to her from her brothers or brothers in law had a partner addressed to Dom. Her sisters had conceded she had found a good man, then gave into giggles, their stern 'older sister' faces melting. Adie had remarked, "If only I were younger." "And single, and childless," Orie had interrupted. "Oh, fine then. You have him," Adie had said, mock generous, making a terribly romantic pose - until Kel elbowed her, completely ruining her 'dignity.' All three had collapsed into laughter during one of the few conversations at Mindelan that had not had a mournful overtone.
That, and her short sojourn in the Realms of the Dead, convinced her that her family approved. Kel and Dom had never discussed weddings, and had never slept together. Kel refused to allow herself to think 'yet' at the end of that sentence. Silently, they had agreed that they would know the right time to go further - to marriage or bed.
"We're all sick of this war," Raoul murmured, his eyes on the far shore.
Buri, his betrothed, added, "But that's no reason to get sloppy. Still. if it means the end of this war." she couldn't help looking at Raoul - looking up at Raoul. The two had postponed their marriage, as had Roald and Neal while they were needed on the front.
A barge rowed it's way across the Vassa, a very simple boat - odd for such a delegation. Kel could see a blond and a brunette laughing as they leaned over the side, looking at the fish underneath. Another blond man pulled them back then began to scold them. They simply laughed at him, but anyone with eyes could tell he was actually concerned for their safety.
"Why only three?" Alanna murmured.
"They either have very high ranks or are the only one's trustworthy enough," her father explained.
It turned out they were both.
They wore no chains or ties, and seemed to be happy, very happy, laughing as though this was a social occasion. Kel didn't know the man, the brunette or any of the men at arms who accompanied them, unarmed, but only one person in the world had hair that silver or skin that pale. She froze, suddenly uncertain.
Dom seemed to have noticed. "Is that who I think it is?"
Kel nodded.
Later that day After being checked by mages and healers, Jodai and Laila were pronounced un-brainwashed and un-magicked. Next they were led into a pavilion where the Tortallan delegation were waiting - Sir Raoul, Commander Buri, Sir Myles of Olau, Prime Minister Sir Gareth of Naxen the Younger, Kel, Dom, Neal, Alanna, Daine and Numair. After the introductions, Jodai introduced her party of three. Shinko and Yuki had refused not to come, so they were sitting at the table too.
Almost all of King Jonathon's most prized people were present - proof that he was putting effort into this treaty. This gesture was encouraging, but the Tortallans obviously didn't feel it had been returned. She supposed that the arrival of a delegation of three, two young women of only seventeen and twenty-one, and another young man of only twenty-four was not the best sign to give. Well, there was one thing she could rectify.
"I am Queen Jodanyai of Scanra, this is Duchess Laila of Sachantsia, chief Healer of the realm, at present the leader of the Mages School of Scanra, and my Lady in waiting. This is Baron Cauller of Ekino, Prime Minister of Scanra."
Everyone stared. Then they all started talking at once. "Queen! When did that happen?"
"What? The Prime Minister was-"
"What Mages school?"
"Chief Healer?"
"What is going on?"
Jodai sat in the offered chair, Caul and Laila sitting by her left and right. "You will find much has changed. My husband and I wished to make changes uninterrupted, and so we isolated our country for a little while. You will find much has changed."
Jodai went on to explain in detail, changes Daine and Myles collaborated - she had only returned from Scanra that morning after a long term spying expedition and Myles had his 'sources.' What they described for the present and the future sent the Tortallans reeling.
"What about Blayce and the machines? They aren't attacking anymore," Kel asked.
Jodai looked sombre, but her voice was thick with anger and frustration. "We sent an army to wipe him out. An army, Kel! He had vanished. And he had left behind about a hundred of those things. They cut our men to pieces. He's gone, and we don't know where. We don't know how he's still making them - after I broke free, he shouldn't be able to. He doesn't have the power. We've sent word that every high calibre mage is to be guarded - everywhere, but none have even been touched!"
The tortallans nodded, they had received word from the smugglers from Jodai of that, but she had neglected to tell them why, or of her status.
She sighed, and Laila put a hand on her arm. She seemed to deflate. "We're still looking. I won't stop 'til we find him and crunch him up into tiny bits."
They were making much progress, agreeing - in principle - on many aspects of a permanent treaty and agreeing to a general truce, each side pulling back to five kilometres from their border, when they agreed to recess for lunch.
Kel and Jodai hugged warmly, swapping stories of the last few months. Kel could see Jodai honestly loved her husband, she positively glowed when she talked about him. Then she dropped another bombshell.
"I'm pregnant, Kel!" she whooped, hugging Kel again. Then she hugged everyone within reach that she knew; Shinko; Yuki; Alanna; Daine; Neal; Dom and Laila again. Laila was laughing, too, at something. When Kel looked at her, the brunette composed herself and gasped.
"She's been doing that for the past month since she. realised. I caught her hugging her horse!" Jodai's lady explained with a laugh.
"Snowy was happy for me!" Jodai protested. "And if we all bash out a peace treaty, I kill Blayce, everyone gets married and I have a kid, everything'll be perfect!"
Kel surrendered to the laughter she had been fighting whilst choking out her congratulations. Jodai pulled Laila, Shinko, Yuki and Kel into a very weird dance, which mostly involved going round in circles like a demented game of fan toss. Kel, Laila and the others were collapsed in mirth.
Sir Myles remarked, "I wish the people who called her the Ice Queen could see her now," to Gary, Buri, Numair and Raoul, who watched the hilarity with an astonished look on their faces.
As they sat down at the table once more, everyone was beginning to be hopeful.
Just as Jodai was about to speak, a diamond at her throat blazed white, a ruby on Laila's throat burned and a ring on her brothers hand flared an emerald colour. The three looked at each other - the look was easily read as oh no.
A moment after the Scanrans excused themselves, a messenger in Tortallan blue ran in. "Permission to speak?!" he gasped. After insisting he have a glass of water, Alanna nodded.
"The machines, the killing things with the- the knives and the domes and all?" They nodded. Jodai, Laila and Caul had returned, faces grim.
"They just attacked a refugee camp! They stole people - not things, just people! The ones they left. they were ..horrible, all cut up and-" the messenger broke down, Neal led him away, emerald fire already flowing into the messenger.
All eyes turned to the Scanrans. Jodai stepped forward.
"It's happening in Scanra, too. Three of our cities just got attacked by armies of them - our people are being kidnapped or cut up."
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