Arrows of Promise (Kingmakers Book 2) (26 page)

It was Troi that asked what everyone was wondering. “Excuse
me, sir, but how do you know…?”

“Born and raised on a farm,” Gerrard explained with a
reminiscent smile. “Went back every fall as an adult to help with the harvesting,
too. My father always said it was worth every penny getting me trained as I
could do the harvesting in a week. It saved him a pretty penny in labor. I know
all of this by heart. King Edvard, one of the other things I learned how to do
for my parents’ sake was how to create magical greenhouses. Now, they’ll take
time to build, but we can have them for all of the other plants that don’t like
cold, and we can turn out a ready crop every three or four weeks throughout the
year.”

“Start that immediately,” Edvard ordered. “Troi, can you
find me skilled carpenters and masons to help with this?”

“We have a few contract workers that are finished with other
projects, but not many,” Troi warned.

“Divert all the ones you can, then. This takes priority.”

Kirsty cleared her throat. “Master Gerrard, what spells are
you using to speed the growing process along?”

Gerrard spoke the spell names, which of course only made
sense to the wizards in the room, but Riana saw them all blink in surprise as
if these weren’t spells actually designed for crop enhancement.

“Really?” Kirsty’s head canted to the side as she considered
this. “Huh. I think I see how it would work.”

“I never would have thought to use those spells,” Ashlynn
admitted. “They’re made for other things entirely.”

“I taught you to think outside of the box,” Gerrard chided.

“I think outside the red box,” Ashlynn said, indignant.
“This is a green box.”

Gerrard snorted, tried to stay stern for a full second, then
chuckled. “Well, I grant you, I didn’t teach any of my students about plants.
This is outside of your expertise. In retrospect, that was an oversight on my
part. I’ll put it into the curriculum.”

“Master Gerrard,” Troi asked respectfully, “can you tell me
how basic these spells are? Is this something that the majority of your
students can do?”

“There are three spells,” Gerrard explained to a very
attentive Troi and Edvard. “And yes, they are not at all advanced. I would say
a little over half of my students can do these with ease. Why do you ask? You
want to use them to create more greenhouses?”

“I’m clearing land as quickly as I can,” Kirsty inputted,
“but it takes more than cleared land to make a greenhouse. Even with those
spells.”

Troi shook his head, disagreeing, “That’s not what I had in
mind. I would certainly like to see large greenhouses in the settlement, but my
immediate concern is for the people here. These spells, can they be used for
something small? Can they be self-sustaining?”

“No spell is that, but it can be easily tied into a source
of power. Sunlight is a basic one. And yes, they can be as large or small as we
tell them to be.” Gerrard cocked an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind?”

Troi spoke to the room in general as no one seemed to be
catching onto his idea. “I thought perhaps it might be possible to do box
gardens throughout the city. Most of the houses don’t have land to their name,
but they should be able to do at least one box, perhaps two or three. With
these greenhouse spells on them, the families can harvest a crop at least once
a week, and it will augment their food supply.”

“Brilliant!” Edvard crowed. “And entirely feasible. Someone
kiss him so I don’t have to.”

Troi actually flushed at his praise. “Please, sire, you
flatter me too much.”

“I’ve been banging my head against the desk for weeks
regarding this problem and you just thought of a solution. You and Master
Gerrard. Actually, someone kiss both men so I don’t have to.”

“We’ll kiss them if we can pull this off,” Ashlynn said,
which relieved Troi, as he looked ready to bolt the second one of the women
stood up. “We’re still talking a lot of lumber to build the boxes with, and
seeds and dirt.”

“We still have plenty of seeds,” Troi informed her. “We
always buy more than what we need in case a crop fails. I believe there is extra
lumber to be had because of Wizard Kilpatrick’s efforts in clearing land.”

Kirsty nodded confirmation. “We don’t need all of it for
building with, you know. Some of it is too short for building purposes. But
it’ll be long enough for box gardens, at least some of it will be.”

“This doesn’t have to be glamorous,” Edvard ordered firmly.
“It has to be
functional
. Master Gerrard, I will gather up as many
laborers as I can to augment your construction of the academy. I understand how
important it is that you have it built before winter hits. But I need your
students to start in on this project immediately.”

“I’ll show them how it’s done today and teach them the
spells,” Gerrard promised. “My teachers will likely take about two days and
supervise them to make sure that they put it in right. Once they’re confident
they have the hang of things, then they’ll be turned loose on the city.”

“Not quite ‘loose,’” Ashlynn objected. “I do have some
spotty areas that a young wizard-in-training should not be running around in
alone. But I’ll work up a schedule so that my guardsmen can patrol in any areas
they’re working. Coordinate with me on this so that I know where they’re going
to be and we have help on hand if they need it.”

“I will.”

Edvard went to his desk, pulling out a report, and scanning
through it. Then he grabbed a quill and scratched out something, muttering to
himself, before pulling back and comparing it to the report. “Troi. Take a
look. Is this enough to augment our food or do we need to think of something
else?”

Troi left his chair to stand at Edvard’s side and study what
his king had written out. “I believe…it should suffice, sire. We’ll still need
to ration food until we can get the spring planting in and harvest, but it
won’t be nearly as severe as what we once assumed. The individual greenhouses
will help tremendously. I think we’ll manage.”

“I’ll make sure the academy has its own greenhouses,”
Gerrard promised. “We’ll be self-sufficient, no need to worry about feeding us.
During the winter, we’ll pour our energies into building more public greenhouses
so that we don’t have to be completely dependent on the spring crops to feed
people with.”

Edvard actually had tears shining in his eyes as he looked
up. “Thank you,” he said huskily. He had to clear his throat to continue. “We
are indeed blessed you came, Master Gerrard.”

Gerrard took the thanks in the spirit it was meant and bowed
from his seat. “I’ll do what I can. Always.”

“Thank you,” Edvard repeated. “Can you manage to organize
all of this before you leave? I know you were planning to go the day after
tomorrow.”

“We might have to push our departure back a day,” Ashlynn
ventured, looking around at her group as she said this. When she got rueful
nods of agreement, she continued, “but it shouldn’t take more than a day. Then
we can safely go.”

Turning to Kirsty, Gerrard requested, “Show me where this
usable lumber is. And Troi, start digging out seedlings. By tomorrow, my
students will know the spells and will be ready to work.”

“Not that fast, we need to tell everyone in Estole what the
plan is,” Ashlynn objected.

Her master gave her a smile. “Then you best get busy.”

Ashlynn grumbled, glared, but was out of her seat in a
thrice and heading for the door.

Riana choked on a laugh. Some relationships changed over
time, but that of master and student apparently didn’t.

“Edvard,” Ash asked, “what do you want me and Riana to do?
Greenhouses or continue with the food storage warehouses?”

“Bridge?” Edvard responded hopefully.

“You don’t even have plans for that yet,” Ash responded in
exasperation.

“I do too!  Three of them. You can pick which one to build.”

“And why do I have to pick?”

“Because you’re the one who is going to build it?” Edvard
offered artlessly.

Ash shook his head and put his foot down. “Bridge
later
.”

“Oh, fine. I suppose we don’t really have the funds for it
yet anyway. Your task is just as important and I think we have enough help
where the greenhouses are concerned. Go on as you were. But if you find
anything that will help with their project, or have any wood left over, please
set it aside and notify them.”

Ash ducked his head in a nod. “In that case, we’ll go back
to work.”

The morning that they left for Cloud’s Rest was much cooler
than any day they had had in months. Broden knew that they were finally
properly entering fall although the air was not cold enough to actually turn
the leaves yet. It was just an escape from that almost unbearable heat.

There had been quite the debate, before leaving, on which
route to take. As the crow flew, it would take them two days to reach Cloud’s
Rest, although there were no roads or paths to guide them. They would be
relying on Broden and Riana’s knowledge of the area and sense of direction to
get them there. But if they went by road, it would take three days, and they
could travel by horseback that much easier.

In the end, it had been a simple observation on Edvard’s
part that had decided the matter. “Shouldn’t we explore the option of building
a highway that connects Cloud’s Rest and Estole?” he had asked as if the topic
was common sense. “If we really want to establish trade relations with them,
then we’ll need a proper highway connecting us that doesn’t go through Iyshian
territory.”

It was a valid point, so the party now had a double purpose
in traveling there, to act as a forward scout to see how difficult it would be
to build a highway there. Broden was not a builder, had no mindset for it, so
he left it up to the wizards to think about as they walked steadily northwest.

The land dipped and rolled in gentle waves, the trees thick,
underbrush heavy, none of which was unusual for a virgin forest. There was bird
song and chittering of animals aplenty that sounded pleasant on a man’s ear.
Broden had not been in a forest properly since coming to Estole, and he
realized in a flash that he had missed the serenity of it. His heart felt
soothed just walking through it.

Ashlynn lengthened her stride to walk beside him. She was
quiet, introspective, and he caught a flash of some emotion along their bond,
there and gone again before he could put a label to it.

In a quiet voice, she finally stated, “Your partner is a
selfish one. She keeps you busy in a place that confuses you. You’re far more
comfortable here.”

A gentle soul, this one, in spite of her violent ways. He
grinned and patted her on the back of the head. “The madness will no’ last
forever, lass. When things settle, I can come and go here as I like.”

She turned unfathomable eyes on him, expression closed. “You
truly don’t regret it? Coming here? I know there’s been times when you’ve been
beyond angry and frustrated.”

“Lass,
life
be frustration. It just how it be. In
Estole, I have a safe place to lay my head, good food, and people that be
friendly and welcoming. That be all that a man really wants in life.” Pausing,
he studied her and realized that she was truly worried about this. Now, what
had gotten this notion into her head? Had someone said something to her? “Well,
if it be a complaint ye be looking for, I do have one.”

Ashlynn visibly braced herself. “What is it?”

“It be a hardship on a man when his partner be pretty.”

She rolled her eyes. “Broden, be serious.”

“I be!” he responded, doing his best to put a serious face
on. “Lass, do ye no’ realize how much of my time be eaten up beating off the
men? Do a man a favor, will ye? Try to be a little uglier on a day-to-day
basis. It will save me considerable effort.”

Broden was teasing, yes, but Ashlynn saw through that and
realized he was sincere. While he missed being able to just freely go around
the forest, he did not miss it enough to trade it for the place he had carved
for himself in Estole. He would not go back to it. Her tension relaxed and her
expression softened. “As long as you don’t regret it.”

He patted her head again because he knew she liked those
gentle, reassuring touches. Content again, she gave him a quick smile and then
bounced back to ask her brother a question. As she went, he watched her and
caught Gerrard’s eye in the process. The wizard master had a question on his
face but Broden shook his head slightly, indicating nothing was wrong. And
nothing was. The only constancy that Ashlynn had in her life when it came to
relationships was her siblings and Gerrard. Everyone else had been transitory.
It was only theory on his part, but he suspected that it was because of that
she sometimes worried he would be the same: only temporary. It scared her even
though she knew he could not easily leave, not with them magically connected
like this. So she would come to him and voice some comment, although most of
the time they were not that direct. He would give her the reassurance she
needed and then she would go on her way again, confidence restored.

From what Riana said, Ash did something similar, although not
with words. If he felt insecure for whatever reason, he would reach out and
hold onto her. Broden might not have raised his daughter in the best
environment, but the one thing that was always rock sure for her was the love
and support of her parents. What had the twins’ mother been doing, that even as
adults they were plagued with these insecurities?

Gerrard was not satisfied by that shake of the head and
caught up enough so he could whisper, “What was that about?”

Broden gave him a level look, although he had to crane his
neck up a little to do it. The other man was taller. “She be fine.”

“Ashlynn does not, in my experience, look insecure about
anything. So what was that about?”

Oh? Had Gerrard never seen Ashlynn show a weaker side? Now
that was interesting. “She gets a notion, now and again, that mayhap I regret
coming to Estole. There be no truth in it, but I reassure it when it comes, and
she be fine afterwards.”

“Ahhh,
those
moments.” Gerrard said this with perfect
understanding. “She had those with me, when she first came to the academy. Of
course, she was only a little girl then, I thought she’d grown out of them
completely.”

“With ye, aye.” Curious, Broden could not help but ask, “How
long did it take afore she grew confident with ye?”

“About a year, if I recall correctly.” Gerrard frowned at
the ground, struggling to remember. “Ash took a little longer. Has Riana been
experiencing the same things with him?”

“Aye, from time to time.”

“Odd, I thought a magical bond between all of you would have
stopped that from happening.”

Broden shook his head. He was not surprised in the
slightest. “Wounds to the heart do no’ heal that fast.”

“Or easily,” Gerrard sighed. “Really, considering how rocky
their childhood was, it’s amazing how well they turned out.”

The words were sincere enough, but why did he feel… “Ye take
credit for that.”

“Of course,” Gerrard responded, all innocent-like. “Who else
can take the credit?”

Broden snorted. The man had enough confidence for three
people. Maybe it did rub off on them. “Now that we have the time, I have a
question for ye. Some of yer students be in their twenties but ye be teaching
them basic things, I noticed.”

“That’s not a question, but I understand what you’re driving
at. Yes, some of my students are far older than the others and still beginners.
Iysh has a great many rules about learning magic, and unfortunately most
wizarding schools cost an arm and a leg. When I stumble across someone with the
talent, but not the money or social position for it, I snap them up and work
out a deal with their parents so I can teach them. Frankly, having untrained
wizards running about is stupid. They’re bound to cause accidents, for one, but
it’s a waste of potential too.” Lowering his voice, he confided, “Technically,
Ash and Ashlynn should not have been taught. The reason why they went to my
school, aside from the fact that we have an excellent reputation, is that I
would take them. Most of the other academies wouldn’t because of their
origins.”

Broden considered for a moment what the world would have
been like if those two had not been taught. Estole would never have been a
country, he and Riana would still be up in the mountains fighting with bandits
and eking out an existence in Cloud’s Rest. It would have been a much darker
place. He shuddered, throwing off the mental image. “I do no’ care to think of
what the world would be like if that had happened.”

“Scares the light right out of me,” Gerrard admitted. “And
you didn’t see them as children. They were already figuring things out and
making magical sparks happen. Worse, they were doing it in
tandem
. It
would have been magical mayhem unleashed if I hadn’t accepted them. The duke
was adamant about me taking them immediately and I understood why after I saw
them.” Frankly, he added, “I think he also liked the idea of having two wizards
all to himself that he didn’t have to jump through hoops to get.”

That was as likely as the other, from what Broden knew of
the man.

They walked in silence for a while. Broden could hear a
lively discussion going on behind him about building a highway. Riana was
describing what they would come across, the lake and the river, and the shallow
fords that a bridge could be built over. The three wizards were conferring with
each other about gradients and how much effort it would take to clear a path,
building materials they would need, and so forth. Broden only followed about
half of it. The way they spoke, excited and focused, said to him that they
thought it would be an easy task, which was encouraging.

“Broden.” Gerrard formed his words carefully before voicing
them. “Neither you nor Riana seem very…enthused about going home. Ashlynn made
a comment before to me that suggests you weren’t well treated there. What are
we walking into?”

True, in the time they had known the man, no one had really
told him the Ravenscroft family history. And considering where they were going,
it was best to fill him in. “I will tell ye, but best we tell Kirsty too.”
Turning his head, he called her. “Kirsty! Come a moment, I need to speak with
ye.”

The wizard cocked her head, questioning, but went into a
lope long enough to catch up on his right side. “What is it?”

“Has me daughter explained what Cloud’s Rest be like?”

“She focused on telling us more about the bandits. She
didn’t say much about the village itself. Why?”

Right then. Broden filled them in on everything he thought
was pertinent although he spared them the nitty gritty details. It took the
better part of an hour before he stopped.

Kirsty’s mouth hung open in indignation and surprise.
“They’re really like that? That’s insane! How is everything your family’s
fault?”

“Scapegoats, that’s what you were.” Gerrard shook his head
in sympathy. “Now I understand why you’re not keen on going back. Does Ashlynn
know all of this?”

“Bare bones of it, aye.”

“You realize, that if we walk into that village and they
start treating you like they were, my former students are going to lose their
tempers completely. They absolutely adore both of you and they’re not going to
take any insult to you well.”

Broden managed a smile although it felt more like a grimace.
“Gerrard, I trust ye to stop them before they level the place.”

“Me?” Gerrard objected in a near squawk. “How about you stop
them?”

“I don’t think you should stop them at all,” Kirsty
declared, her own temper rising. “I think they deserve what’s coming to them.”

Surprised by this ferocity, he cocked an eyebrow at Kirsty.
Now, when had he developed such close ties to the lass that she would feel so?

Seeing his reaction, Kirsty softened enough to explain.
“Broden, you have been an unfailing friend and, well, almost a mentor since I
came into Estole. Whenever something happened, you were right there to help me
through it. I know you only did it because you needed my help and I am Ashlynn’s
friend, but it was still very kind of you. Riana has been just as kind ever
since I met her. Is it strange I feel defensive?”

He had felt before that he liked the lass, but hearing her
declaration firmed his opinion. “No, lass. No’ at all. I rather feel the same.”
She blushed and did not seem to quite know how to respond to it. So, more teasingly,
he added, “But try to rein it in, eh? It be hard enough to stop Ashlynn when
she gets a mad on.”

“I heard that!” Ashlynn called from behind him. “And I’ll have
you know I only use violence as an appropriate response!”

Ash doubled over in a belly laugh. Gerrard chuckled openly
too. Broden had to bite his lips to keep from joining them.

“You three will pay for laughing,” she warned direly,
shaking a fist.

Broden turned enough to walk backwards a few steps,
objecting, “I be no’ laughing.”

She glared back, jaw set. “I can feel your amusement
clearly, don’t give me that innocent, wide-eyed look of yours.”

There were drawbacks to magical bonds, apparently. It could
get a man in trouble.

“Really!” Ashlynn grumbled to herself. “You’d think I was a
rampaging monster, the way they carry on.”

“No,” Ash denied around laughs, “you’re scarier.”

For that, his sister punched him in the arm.