Warsinger - Chapter Nineteen

We were ready to leave just after dawn, while the sun was simmering on the horizon and Archemi’s enormous moon, Erruku, was a translucent golden ghost against the pale blue and pink sky. Karalti had taken Cutthroat on a test flight, and now the hookwing hung from her chest, sulkily licking her wrists and rubbing them through her head feathers while she glowered at the assembly below. Suri and I stood side by side, facing Ignas, his Kingsguard, and some new faces I didn’t recognize who looked to me like a soldier and two servants. The Volod was effortlessly majestic, a fine red cloak draped over his saddle and over the base of his hookwing's long stiff tail.

"Look at her, all trussed up!" He laughed, yanking on his mount's head as the male hookwing began to posture and flare his glossy raven feathers at the female glowering through the bars of her muzzle. "Divar finally feels it's safe to flirt with her, eh?"

"Flirting with Cutthroat is never safe. She's the original femme fatale, heavy on the 'fatale'." I felt a real, warm smile flush my face. "Thanks for hosting us, Your Majesty."

"It is my greatest pleasure." Ignas inclined his head. "But don't think you're leaving just yet. It would be in poor taste not to send you away with a gift."

"Really, you don't need to," I said, glancing at Suri. She nodded. "You've already been really generous to both of us."

"My generosity is in proportion to yours," Ignas replied. "Because I thought about what was said about Starborn in Parliament yesterday, and it occurred to me that you are not truly immortal. You do, in fact, die… and then rise to die again. It is death, not being dead, that is so terrifying and painful. Yet, you die by sword or fire or fall, and rise up again still committed to Myszno and Vlachia. That is everything I could wish for from a vassal, and your sacrifices ought to be properly rewarded.”

I actually felt my face get hot. Suri, who was wearing an open-faced helmet, also blushed.

“I have three gifts for you both,” he continued. “The first will not arrive for approximately four days, but it shall arrive. I am sending a cargo ship with ten thousand bushels of grain to Myszno, which will be enough to keep the people of Racsa fed for the next month or so. It leaves this afternoon. Our people will not starve while I am king."

A wave of relief washed over me. "Thank you. That will make a huge difference."

“The second stands here with me today.” He gestured back to three of the people who had rode up with him for the farewell party. “I would like to introduce you to Captain Vilmos, Livia of Kisvarda, and Rudolf Fazekas. Captain Vilmos is an experienced Castellan who has loyally served one of the Great Houses of Taltos for many years, until the last of the line expired last year. Since then, he has been the Warden of the Taltos Garrison, managing their hookwing stables and ensuring they are always fresh and ready. I asked if he would be willing to serve you, and he agreed.”

“Oh.” I looked to Suri. She shrugged. She had been going to take that position, but… “Well, thank you. I’d be honored to have you help out at Kalla Sahasi, Captain. We need all the help and experience we can get.”

“The chance to serve in the presence of a dragon is truly a once in a generation opportunity.” Vilmos bowed from the waist. He was an older man, round around the middle but hard through the arms and shoulders. “It will be my honor to assist the realm, Your Graces.”

“Livia is a talented chef who has run the kitchen and bakery of a winery beyond the city walls, and who recently applied for a court placement,” Ignas said, gesturing to the woman as she curtseyed to us. She was plain, with the compact energy of someone who’d spent their career managing other people. “And Rudolf is a skilled butler who used to work for the Royal Gemcutter.”

“Stefin. I remember him,” I said, without a touch of regret. I nodded to the tall, sober man, and he bowed his head sadly in acknowledgement.

Ignas sighed. “Indeed. Fortunately, Rudolf was out of town on business for his Master when Andrik did what he did. I assured Rudolf his livelihood, and given he has not married and has no family, he struck me as an excellent candidate for your service.”

I didn’t know what to say. What did you say to a butler? Hey dude, don’t worry, I know how to dress myself. Instead, I blurted: “Thanks, and welcome to Team Myszno, Rudolf.”

“It will be my most sincere pleasure to work with you, my lord,” he replied smoothly. “And it heartens me that you remember my old Master’s name, when to my knowledge, you both only met him the one time.”

Ignas nodded, satisfied. “I am yet to find you a Lady in Waiting who would suit your temperament, Suri, but my Valet has put out feelers.”

“Okay, thanks.” Suri looked as bewildered as I felt. “But uh, if it’s anything, I know how to dress myself already.”

The Volod chuckled. “My lady, your valet or lady-in-waiting does much more than pick your court outfits and lace your corsets.”

Suri rubbed the back of her head, grimacing. “Bit of a learning curve there, then, I guess.”

"The last and final thing is honestly less of a gift and more of someone demanding that they be released from service and allowed to travel," the Volod. "She said she was coming, but... oh, of course. She’s riding Cocoa."

Another hookwing had emerged out of the tunnel, a stocky brown animal pulling a small cart behind it. Masterhealer Masha was perched on its back like a cork, wearing a huge leather hiking pack that was far too large for her diminutive frame. She was scowling and laying on the creature's feathered backside with a small switch, but the hookwing was oblivious. Instead, it was standing on one foot, bringing its hind foot up to scratch its jaw with an open-mouthed expression of avian bliss.

“Cocoa, huh?” I glanced at Cutthroat, who was staring daggers at us. Long ropes of drool hung from her muzzle, and when she caught me looking, she hissed.

Ignas sighed. "Cocoa is possibly the stupidest ghora we have in the stables, but she is Masha’s favorite."

"Masha's coming with us?" Suri exclaimed.

"Indeed." Ignas nodded. "When she learned you had defeated the Demon and her home was in dire straits, she begged for leave to assist the recovery effort. As much as it pains me to let her travel at such an advanced age, she is still the best physician in the kingdom. The University of Karhad and its hospital were one of the finest in the land, and I would be unwise to not let one of our masters return to train others in the field. 

[New Hero Available: Masha of Myszno [S-Grade Healer/Alchemist]

[New Facilities and Professions available: Hospital, Doctor, Nurse, Alchemist. Check your Kingdom Management System for details.]

"Holy shit." I was stunned - and thrilled. "Thank you, all of you. I don't know what to say."

"Don't thank him yet, Lord Tuun!" Masha barked as Cocoa finally ambled up, her tongue hanging out one side of her muzzle. "Because if you think for a moment I won't lay this whip on your hands if I see you using dirty glass in the laboratory, think again! Now, help me unload all of this nonsense with your supple young backs, eh? I trust you have a place for me to work?"