Arrows Of Change (Book 1) (30 page)

Riana lay flat on her back in her new suite, a cool cloth
over her eyes to combat the headache pounding in her skull like a sledgehammer.
What a day this had been!

Edvard must have known that neither she nor her da would
readily agree to a government post. But he also must have known that partnering
with a court wizard came with its own position and responsibilities. Escaping
the position of provost had not saved either she or her father from being a
part of Edvard’s council. He let them know point blank that he expected them to
attend with Ash and Ashlynn and voice their opinions. Edvard considered them to
be government officials in their own right, and to act accordingly.

She thought it foolhardy in the extreme. What in the wide
world did
she
know about ruling people?

The whole day had been a whirlwind. Edvard had asked anyone
in Estole who was interested to come up and hear him speak of the new
government. Most of the city had done just that. They’d filled the courtyards and
doorways and even the street overflowed. Using a spell of Ashlynn’s, he
magnified his voice so everyone could hear him, and explained how the new
government was set up. Then he said that the prefects would soon mark their
sections off, and go about meeting people so they knew who to call when trouble
came about.

There were questions, of course, but Edvard took care to
explain things simply and with great patience, and people liked what he
outlined for the most part. They especially liked having a say on who would
rule them next, and there was very little grumbling as the crowd split up an
hour later.

While the prefects went out through Estole and started
working, the provosts headed back inside with Edvard and reviewed all of the
nation-wide problems that needed to be dealt with. Of course, the court wizards
and their partners were also a part of this meeting. Most of the time they discussed
issues that were a matter of continuing the groundwork already laid, like the
wall being built around Estole, but not all of it.

At one point, everyone realized that the real issue was that
they had too many people crammed into Estole and not enough land to support
them. It took a full acre at least to feed just one person, and the land to
people ratio just didn’t equal out. Not at the rate that people were flooding
in.

By the end of the year, if they did not expand their
borders, they would be on the brink of starvation. And a shortage of food in
the dead of winter wasn’t a pleasant thing at all.

Her dark musings were interrupted when Ash sat on the floor,
took off a boot, and started massaging her sore foot. She groaned in approval
and relaxed into it.

Not that she forgave him just because of a good foot rub,
no. Well, mayhap if he did her hands too….

“You’re thinking about what we discussed in council this
afternoon, aren’t you?”

This bond of theirs was indeed growing strong if he could
guess her thoughts just based on her mood. “Aye.”

“Your suggestion was sound, Riana. We don’t have any other
real options.”

“Aye,” she admitted heavily. That was the problem, actually.
They really didn’t have any other options.

In order to expand their borders, they only had one of two
directions to go. Either south, into Iysh, or into The Land Northward. Going
into Iysh would be more headache than it was worth, in her view. It would mean
open war just when they had more or less convinced Iysh that sending an army to
meet them was a bad idea. The whole council had been of one mind on this. No
one wanted to tangle with Iysh again.

 Riana was glad of this as she had no desire to put Ash
through another battle. He had enough nightmares from the first two.

But the Land Northward wasn’t settled. Not really. Oh, Iysh
claimed it, but they had never done anything with it. Cloud’s Rest was up
there, of course, but it was little better than a bandit’s hideaway in some
ways. Riana hadn’t realized that growing up there, not until she had something
to compare it to, but Estole made her clearly see what Cloud’s Rest actually
was. And it was pitiable.

So really, the territory up there was free and clear to
claim, no matter what Iysh said. Did she think that they wouldn’t retaliate in
some way later? No, of course not. Iysh was not that generous, especially not
with unspoiled land. They would come up and fight in one way or another and the
best that Estole could do would be to brace themselves for trouble.

But in the meantime, all they had to do was go up there and
make settlements, then urge people to go up into the new land. Considering how
much trouble they were having with crime down here in the city, Riana didn’t
doubt that most people would be game to go, as long as they had the financial
support of a government to help them set up. Which Edvard was fine with.

What Riana didn’t like was that someone would need to go up
there, help them clear the land and construct villages, before people could
really start building their lives there. It would take a wizard’s ability to do
it before winter set in.

And Ash was the builder.

Riana in no way, shape, or form wanted to return to that
forested land. But she loathed the idea of sending Ash up there alone even
more. No, she couldn’t let him go up there without someone to watch his back,
and his safety was her responsibility, not anyone else’s. She had to go. There
was no other choice for her but to go.

“It won’t be that bad,” Ash assured her quietly, hands
strong and sure on her stocking feet. “For one thing, we won’t be dealing with
Cloud’s Rest, especially at first. I think we should go straight across the
channel and start there. It’ll be less hassle than arguing about property lines
and such with Senn or Cloud’s Rest. And it’ll be easier to get people over
there. Just pop them on a boat and ship them over.”

She let out a long sigh. “That just be delaying the
inevitable, and ye know it.”

“Well, yes,” Ash admitted. His hands paused. “But Riana,
while I understand your reluctance to go back there, you have to see that it
won’t be the same as before. You’re no longer an outcast of Cloud’s Rest—you’re
a Councilwoman of Estole. It doesn’t matter if those people respect you or
acknowledge you. It’s a matter of opinion, and their opinion does not matter.”

“Their opinion does no’ matter,” she repeated slowly. The
idea was novel. Their opinion, no matter what they thought of her, did not
matter. The notion settled into her mind and a smile slowly took over her face.
Ha! And why should it? Why should it, indeed? Ash was right, she was no longer
the woman that had left there, months ago. She was a government official, the
partner of a wizard, a woman that was recognized and feared.

The notion was liberating. It was as if chains that had
bound her mind suddenly fell away, and she was free of them, clearing up her
heart in a way it had never been before. She laughed out loud and sat up
abruptly, the towel falling into her lap.

Ash watched her with a slight smile on his face, his
expression a pale mirror of her joy. Of course he had already realized all of
this, known her fears and how silly they were, but he had patiently waited for
her to come into the realization on her own.

Grabbing his head with both hands, she brought him forward
and kissed him on the forehead.

He blinked, a faint blush teasing his cheeks. “Ah, does that
mean I’m forgiven?”

“No,” she responded promptly, a wicked smile growing on her
face. “But do me hands, and I will consider it.”

“Hands too, eh?” Eyes crinkling at the corners, he gave her
a seated bow, as best he could while cross-legged. “Consider it done, my lady.”

In a sudden burst of enthusiasm, she suggested, “And after
that, we need to sit down and discuss timelines for building villages, and the
best locations. Oh, and we need to send out word of our plans and see who wants
to go. Mayhap those people that did no’ get a housing deed can be sent
northward?”

“In return for helping to clear the land and make
settlements, you mean? A sort of payment in kind?” Ash looked intrigued by the
idea. “That would solve two problems at once. I bet Edvard will like the idea.”

“If nothing else, we need to get a list of who wants to go,”
she continued, thinking aloud. “Otherwise we will no’ know how much to build.”

“Good point.”

“And then, I think it best we send scouts ahead to find good
settlement spots. If we act quick, mayhap we can get at least two or three
places built afore winter sets in.” She frowned thoughtfully. “Although I do
no’ care for the idea of leaving Estole for long.”

“Ashlynn and Broden can cover for us,” Ash assured her.
“It’s only fair. We covered for them when they went harrying off to another
part of the world.”

“I do like the way you think.” She beamed at him, already
mentally laying out plans of what needed to be done next.

“Look at you.” Ash shook his head in wonderment. “Just
moments ago you were on the floor worrying about everything, and now you’re
ready to tackle the world. You’re no longer afraid?”

She regarded him with gentle eyes. “With you at my side, what
can a lass be afraid of?”

This
story came about because of two people—both men that I have never met face to
face, and likely never will. The first is Przemek Koch, a photographer that
took the picture I used as the cover for this book. It was this photograph that
inspired the whole series for me. Kingmakers wouldn’t exist without it.

The
second man is Lars Anderson, a modern archer that went and studied ancient
techniques, re-learning true archery all over again. He posted a video on
YouTube that explained how ancient archers worked, giving precise details on
techniques, all of which have been incorporated into this series. Everything
you see my characters do, I know is actually possible, because I’ve seen Lars
Anderson do them. (If you wish to watch his video, go
here
,
or search for:  Lars Anderson: a new level of archery. )

Gentlemen,
I salute you.

Over thirty years ago, in the hills of Tennessee, a nice,
unsuspecting young couple had their first child. Their home has since then been
slowly turned into a library as their daughter consistently brought books home
over the years.

No one was surprised when she grew up, went to college, and
got her Bachelor's in English. Despite the fact that she has a degree, and
looks like a mature young woman, she's never grown out of her love for dragons,
fairies and other fantastical creatures. With school done, she's ready to start
her career, hopefully by blending two of her loves: books and fantasy.

Her website can be found here:
http://www.honorraconteur.com
.