Chapter Nineteen - The Office of the Steward

“Come in,” Thale said from behind his desk. The rattle of iron clinked as his door was pushed open, and his field marshal, Verrik walked in. “Verrik, good. What news?” Thale stood and walked to greet Verrik.

“Before that, have you heard from Daea?” Verrik asked.

“He and Garrin made it safely to Alderhaven.” Verrik took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “He’s fine, Verrik.”

“Yes,” Verrik said, nodding his head. “Yes, of course, he is. I knew that,” he stumbled over his words for a minute and then said, “It’s just that Daea is…”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Thale said. “He’s learning, but he’s with Garrin.”

“You’re right, of course,” he said, coming to himself. “It’s just that Twyla…” Verrik trailed off at the mention of his wife. “Never mind, sir, forget I mentioned it.”

“What news?” Thale asked again, obligingly, but before Verrik could answer, Thale’s door burst open again.

“Garrison, mind your place!” Verrik snapped. Bayan, the official who had burst through Thale’s door wasn’t expecting to see Verrik, and he came to attention immediately.

“Sir, I came to report that the Stewardess of Lorlea is here.”

“Early, as always,” Thale said. “Thank you, Bayan.”

“Wait, you’re expecting her?” Verrik asked him.

“I was expecting her tomorrow, actually.”

“Well, if she came tomorrow, then she wouldn’t have the element of surprise,” Verrik said. “That’ll be all,” he said to Bayan, who turned and left the office.

“Element of surprise isn’t going to accomplish anything for her. Not anymore.” Thale stood and motioned for Verrik to follow him. There was a look of intense determination on his face. They made their way down to the conference room where Narda was waiting for them.

When they entered the room, they saw Narda sitting at the head of the table where Thale would normally sit, and she was flanked by two of her own on either side of her.

“You’re late,” Thale said, slamming the door behind him. Narda and Verrik both looked at him, curious.

“I am late?” Narda asked him.

“I expected you here yesterday.” Narda hesitated, but she recovered quickly.

“You’re trying to throw me off. It isn’t going to work.”

“Why is it you’ve come?

“Why else, but the alliance of our peoples?”

“There will be no alliance,” Thale said, taking his seat. Narda snorted.

“No alliance? What are you talking about? You have been pleading for years to have Lorlea as an ally, and now you turn down the one offer I make to you?”

“Had you extended me a true offer, I would be more open to discussing an alliance with Lorlea. But don’t take me for a fool who will fall for such an incompetent trick as this alliance you say you offer.”

“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about,” Narda said, her voice suddenly becoming less polite, and more rugged. “I do not appreciate the way I have been treated. I came here to offer aid to a neighbor, and I am treated as nothing more than a villain seeking to gain what isn’t mine.”

Enough,” Thale said. “This is getting us nowhere.”

“If that is how it’s going to be, then let it be!” She snapped. “I dare say you’ll wish you had chosen otherwise when Rhodhinia has come at you full force!” She rose abruptly and made for the exit.

“You know, it’s a shame,” Thale said, stopping her at the door. “Someone of your drive and determination would have been a great ally if it weren’t for your persisting effort to bring down Alldel.” Narda just stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. And then she turned again and left the room.

“I think that’s the shortest visit she has ever made,” Verrik said after the door closed behind her.

“And it may well have proven to be the most hurtful.”

“Do you think she means to do harm to Alldel?”

“I’m certain of it. There was more than personal failure in her eyes. That was the look of someone bracing for war.” Verrik looked at Thale in silence for a brief moment.

“Sir, you know as well as I that war with Rhodhinia is a long enough stretch, but to go to war with Lorlea… We’re talking certain defeat. Lorlea may well be as strong as Alldel. Rhodhinia and Lorlea would each be a challenge enough on their own, but to fight them at the same time…”

“No, I think you have the measure of Lady Narda wrong.”

“With all due respect, sir, she won’t set foot on a battlefield, and she never has. But her commanders are as capable as Elric.”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m saying she’s a puppet. Seevus has promised her something in exchange for Alldel.” Verrik didn’t know what to say. “I want you to gather the scouts. In three hours, I want everyone back here. It’s time Alldel took up arms. War is approaching.”

“What about Elric?” Verrik asked.

“I can only hope he is able to bring back some answers. I need to know who in Lorlea is faithful to Narda. I have heard talk of rebels in the nation. I need to know if any still exist. Go, gather your men. I need to give a report to some others for now. I’ll see you in three hours.” Thale dismissed Verrik, and they left the conference room together.

Thale proceeded back to his office. He was expecting guests soon, and he didn’t want to be late. He had a reputation to uphold, and it would look bad if he were late to his own meeting, especially a meeting with the common people of Alldel. He needed them to trust him, now more than ever. It was essential to keeping up morale, and keeping up morale was essential to victory. These two facts were key to solidifying his decision to be on time.

Thale reached his office door and opened it. He walked around the room and sat down at his desk. Kicking his legs out in front of him, he pulled from a drawer a letter addressed to him and sealed by King Kaocin of Alderhaven.

Thale,

Both groups of your men have arrived safely in Alderhaven. I will not deny my distaste for conflict, and I mean to impress on you how deeply troubled I am that you have thrown my people into the middle of your troubles. However, I won’t lie that it would please me greatly to see the fall of King Seevus. Per your request, I have sent Elric and his party on their way to Lorlea. They left a day ago, and I expect they’ll be reaching the border soon. I am keeping Garrin and Daea until further instruction from you is received. I hope that you will be successful with your mission, but I need not remind you of what it will mean for Alderhaven if your men are found harbored within our gates. Whatever you do, do so in haste.

The letter ended with no signature. He stared at it blankly for several seconds, as though words that weren’t there would suddenly appear and tell him all he needed to know. The nymphs knew something, and they weren’t sharing with him. It angered him. The nymphs claimed they did not have a part in this conflict, yet they wanted the same thing. There was a knocking on his office door, and he shook his head as though to rattle the thoughts loose from his conscious mind. It did not work.

“Come in,” he said. The door creaked open, and through the doorway walked Elric’s wife Nasha, Gaden’s wife Haela, and Karina. “Welcome. Please, have a seat,” Thale said. He folded the letter from Kaocin, stuffed it into an envelope, and tucked it under a stack of other documents on his desktop.

“Are our husbands okay?” Nasha asked him directly.

“They are fine,” he answered.

“And my son?”

“He is just fine. Avan, Elric, Gaden, and Findhar made it safely to Alderhaven just two days ago.”

“Alderhaven! But that’s…” Nasha began to say.

“The city of the nymphs, yes,” Thale said. Haela gasped.

“Elric has been there before. He hoped never to return,” Nasha said, unable to keep an accusatory tone from her statement.

“Elric hoped never to return to the Tulusbian Forest.” Thale corrected her.

“Even so, one does not enter Alderhaven without first going through the forest.”

“They were picked up mid-journey by a nymph called Gaila. He escorted them to Alderhaven, and he is going with them on the rest of their mission.”

“And where might that be?” Nasha asked. She was exceptionally quick-witted, and never backed down easily.

“Nasha, you know I can’t pass on that information. To be brutally honest, I’m doing far more than I should or than is even required by hearing your inquiry at all.”

“Why can’t you answer me?” Nasha pressed, ignoring the latter part of Thale’s words. “Do you think I’m going to do something with it that will put my husband and my first-born son in danger? Do you not think I will guard the information with my very life?”

“Your loyalty to your family, or even Alldel notwithstanding, I cannot share mission specifics with anyone other than the scouting party.”

“So, they are scouting, are they?” Nasha said, as though she had just won a piece of information from Thale. Thale knew she already knew this. That was, of course, what Elric’s main purpose was. She had only said this to try and throw him off. He had not allowed Lady Narda to do that, and he certainly wasn’t going to let Nasha do it. “I demand to know where you have sent my son and his father!” Nasha’s lower lip began to tremble. Haela put her hand on Nasha’s left shoulder.

“Nasha, maybe we need to trust him.”

“Do you trust him? Have you any idea where he has sent your husband – the father of your child – your provider – your lover? Well, do you?” She was beginning to lose herself. Thale stood up.

“Let’s all just take a moment to gather ourselves,” he half expected another retort from Nasha. To his pleasure, she seemed to understand she was losing control, and she took a minute to collect herself. She was a fine woman, after all, standing taller than the rest of them, a handkerchief in her gloved hand, and a fur scarf around her neck. She tossed the scarf around her to snug it down and looked Thale straight in the eye.

“Do not make me another Ilvesa. You will regret it.”

“Who’s Ilvesa?” Karina asked. But nobody answered. She looked to Haela, who just shrugged.

“Your husbands are safe. Everything is going well, and I anticipate that it will continue to do so,” Thale said firmly.

“And Adric?” Karina asked. She regretted that she had not seen him recently. She also regretted that they had not been together a second time. There was no denying that she desired him. He was strong, he was of sound mind, he knew what he wanted, and he did what it took to get it.

“Adric is with Amos. What more could you ask?” Thale said with a grin. Nasha snorted.

“Amos is a danger trap. You can be certain that wherever he is, and whoever is with him, that danger will follow them as an afternoon shadow.” Nasha said, glaring at Karina. Then she walked out of the room without another comment. Haela and Karina looked to Thale for a queue.

“Charming,” he said simply. Karina looked more frightened than she had been all night. “Nasha will come around. When Elric is gone for long periods, she gets nervous. He was a member of a scout unit that ended in disaster. She won’t soon forget it; nor should she. She has been pushing for his retirement for some time now. Elric loves what he does too much to retire just yet,” he smiled.

“When can we expect them back?” Haela asked.

“I don’t know,” Thale answered softly. “I really am sorry, but I do have other appointments I need to make. If I hear of any major developments, you have my word, I will let you know.” The women nodded, acknowledging that they had overstayed their allotted time in his office. They were grateful they had any time with him at all. He did not easily welcome wives of his servicemen into his office for questioning about their active duties. But Elric was high enough in ranking that he likely had permitted it as a sign of respect for his men. Adric being the rightful heir to the throne, it was no surprise he had allowed Karina to question him about his whereabouts, even if they were not married. Adric had made it clear to Thale what Karina meant to him. Still, he did not much like doing it. He also would never tell these men this had happened. It was he, after all, who allowed the visit, and their husbands would be mortified if they knew their wives had interrogated the Steward of Alldel, Lord Thale, himself. No, this was his secret, his gift to their wives, no need to involve the men. What were 5 minutes of his time to the most sacrificial wives in Alldel?

The women left his office after thanking him for his time. Thale stared at the doorway, sighed deeply, and then packed away some of his things. He then opened a cabinet door to the left of his desk and pulled from it a large roll of paper. He unrolled it slightly and peeked through it. Satisfied he had picked the correct copy, he rolled it up tightly, shut the cabinet door, and then exited his office locking it behind him. Thale made his way back to the conference room where he was to meet with Verrik and some of his scouts. Thale sat at the head of the table where he usually sat. He was the first to arrive, so he placed some documents onto the table, and he waited. Very soon, Verrik walked in and took a seat near Thale.

“How were your other charges?” He asked. Something in Verrik’s voice told Thale that Verrik knew it wasn’t a pleasant meeting he had come from.

“Service wives,” Thale said simply. Verrik nodded and looked hesitant to say whatever was on his mind, but eventually said,

“I’m not sure why you agree to address them. It’s not their place.”

“You should be a little more understanding and accepting of people, Verrik. Service wives are as valuable as service men. We are a civilized people. Look at Lorlea. Deceptive though she may be, Lady Narda is a woman, and a clever one at that. She is powerful, and her service men respect her,” Verrik said nothing. After another minute, they were joined by lieutenant Ivar and his son, Oneas.

“Perfect,” Verrik said. “I have had Ivar doing some digging and scouting on Lorlea ever since Narda brought her proposal.”

“Are you expecting anyone else?” Thale asked.

“I think the three of us should be able to cover your agenda,” Verrik said. Thale looked impressed. If he didn’t have Elric, Verrik would certainly be a strong contender for grand marshal. This was a good thing, since he needed someone to fill Elric’s shoes until he returned.

“Good. First things first – Verrik, I’m appointing you my acting grand marshal.” Verrik looked speechless.

“But I – I mean, I am of course, most grateful, but Elric, surely…”

“Verrik, upon Elric’s safe return to Alldel, I will reinstate the title to him.” Thale paused. “Look, there’s little use in being indirect here. I have no idea what is to come of Elric, given he is on a mission that I could not endorse.” Verrik nodded slowly, seeming to think it through in his own time. “Until he is returned to us safely, I am giving you all of the privileges and responsibilities pertaining to the role of grand marshal. I cannot make Alldel safe without someone in that role,” Thale said seriously.

“Of course, sir. Certainly not. Yes, it would be an honor to serve in that capacity.”

“We all want Elric back. This is simply a temporary patch for a hole we don’t intend to leave empty. Please find a suitable replacement for your previous position.” Verrik gathered himself. Of course, Thale wasn’t expecting Elric not to come back. He was simply filling a void in a crucial time.

“Right. Of course, I understand, it makes perfect sense,” Verrik said. grand marshal being the highest rank in the Alldelan army, he was already beginning to feel the weight of responsibility upon him.

“Verrik, you were present at the meeting with Narda just a few hours ago, you know what is at stake. I fear Narda means harm to our cause.”

“My lord, I can confirm that Lorlea is moving against Alldel,” Ivar said.

“Against us?”

“Well, maybe not in direct opposition, but Lady Narda is using Rhodhinia to serve her own interests. She is fixating Lorlea in a position of leverage over the conflict between Rhodhinia and us to achieve what she wants.”

“And what might that be?” Thale asked.

“We aren’t completely certain, but we have a theory. We suspect she is attempting to rebuild the Staff of Lorlea.”

“I thought that was lost centuries ago,” Thale said surprised.

“Well, we did too, sir. But according to some sources we have exploited, we think Lorlea may actually have the staff. The trouble is, stories tell that the staff was broken into multiple pieces when it was destroyed ages ago. As far as we have been able to tell, nobody has ever rebuilt a broken staff of power.”

“Well, no. No staff of power has ever been broken. The Staff of Alldel was just lost. The Staff of Rhodhinia is obviously still in use, as is the Staff of Soceria. So, you think she’s trying to leverage her position? To get what; instructions for repairing the staff?”

“Possibly. There is a resistance. Some Lorleans oppose her. But without any kind of support, there’s little they can do. Any kind of open rebellion will be seen as treachery, a crime punishable by hanging.” Thale was silent. He was pinching his bottom lip between his thumb and forefinger, as though mulling over a thought.

“There’s one other thing, sir, if I may,” Ivar said. Thale looked up at him. “We think Rhodhinia is preparing to attack Alldel openly, and we think it will be soon.”

“How soon?” Thale asked, seeming unbothered by this news. Ivar shook his head, glancing at Oneas, who shrugged. He looked like he was calculating.

“Days,” he said, then folded his hands, and relaxed back into his chair.