Nightlord: Sunset (96 page)

THURSDAY, MARCH 9
TH

I
’m really pleased about the way this place turned out.  There are big rooms and little rooms, hallways and archways, the works!  Heck, there are even
bathrooms
.  Admittedly, they’re just places with shallow pools to bathe in and a narrow drainage channel to eliminate into, but they work.  You’d be amazed.  I couldn’t have drawn up something this neat if I’d tried.

See what happens when your subconscious takes over?  I have got to remember to be less picky and detailed in some of my spells.  Or maybe the mountain is smarter than I give it credit for?

The only thing I could wish for is a hot spring and a waterfall.  I’m really beginning to miss taking a hot shower.  Or even a shower.  Being caught in the rain just isn’t the same.

We met in what we were calling the Grand Hall.  It was a sizable cavern, mostly dome-shaped, with a stepped floor like an amphitheater.  A few lamps and a half-dozen magical glows did not illuminate it brightly, but it was enough to see by.  The shadows made the cavern seem even larger.

People found their way to the natural benches and spread out in families.  We had a little under three hundred people, including most of the mercenaries who had started all this, way back at a lonely tower.  It looked like a lot less, spread out in all that empty space, but I smiled at the thought of two more that would be joining them.  Actually, six; four other women in our company were pregnant, but I had nothing to do with it.

Tamara was with me on the first row, just in front of the flat, stage-like area at the bottom of the cavern.  Raeth and Bouger were also there.  We were all dressed in our best.  For Tamara, that was white robes.  I had on the breeches, tunic, and cloak Raeth commissioned for me.  Both Raeth and Bouger were in freshly-polished armor.

In the middle of the stage was a very large chair.  It looked new.

I’d spent a good portion of the day in planning what to say and do.  After our discussion in the command wagon, I hadn’t consulted anyone else.  If this was going to be my show, I was going to give a show that was
mine.
  I just had word sent ’round that we were all to meet shortly after sunset and readied my usual camouflage spell for the evening.

“Raeth?” I murmured, quietly, while we waited for the stragglers to file in and find seats.

“Yes, my lord?”

“Is this a throne I see before me?”

“In a manner of speaking, lord.”

“Did I ever mention anything about surprises to you?” I asked.

“I believe you did, lord.”

“Just checking.  You’re going to get it, buster.”

He chuckled.

We waited a few minutes after everyone had found a seat, just to make sure.  I got up.

Everyone else rose to their feet when I did.

It’s been a while since I was in front of a class.  I tried to keep my teacher’s confidence in place as I took center stage.  I stood in front of the chair, turned to face my students—and my subjects.

“Be seated.”  They sat.  I marshaled my thoughts and looked at Tamara.  She blew me a kiss.

“Let me begin by thanking all of you.  I know this journey has been a long one, a hard one, and sometimes a perilous one.  We are here; we are home.  This mountain is the place I have chosen to make a new domain.  A domain where learning of all sorts is prized over power or gold.  A place where the limits of a man—or woman—are determined by their own merits.”  I gestured for Raeth and Bouger to approach.  They rose and walked forward together.

“I have seen you all struggle and persevere—and prevail.  We are
here
, after all.  My own efforts are hardly worth mentioning, for I could have done nothing without these two, Sir Raeth and Sir Bouger.  You know them well, for it is their joint effort that has made my desire manifest.

“Sir Bouger, kneel before me.”

Bouger went to one knee and looked up at me, puzzled.  Put a throne in center stage without telling me, eh?  Raeth wasn’t the only one with surprises tonight.  I was planning on a little ostentatious showmanship.  If I have to play to the crowd, then play to the crowd I shall.

I drew Firebrand and it glinted brighter than the lamps allowed.  I held it between us, point resting on the floor.

“Place your hand on the hilt of my sword.”  He reached up and did so.  “Sir Bouger, will you swear on your life and honor to hold this fortress in my name, to see to its maintenance and the defense of those within, and to let neither force nor deception take it from you?”

“I will,” he answered, loud and clear.

“Then I name you the castellan of this fortress.  Rise and be recognized.”  He rose and turned to face the gallery.  I sheathed Firebrand and applauded him.  Everyone else rose and did likewise.  Bouger blushed.

When the applause died down—it took a minute—I gestured him to my left and turned to Sir Raeth.

“Sir Raeth, kneel before me.”

Raeth smiled ruefully at me and went to one knee, whispering, “I will never surprise you again, my lord.”

“Payback is a bitch,” I murmured, drawing Firebrand again.  I held it upright as I had for Bouger and said, “Sir Raeth, place your hand on the hilt of my sword.”  He did.  “Will you swear on your life and honor to hold my domain safe from all who would invade, destroy, or conquer it?  Will you see to the safety of its citizens, the prosperity of its people, and the administration of its laws?  And will you do as you have done, making all that your liege desires come to pass?”

“I will,” he answered, solemnly.  I put Bouger in charge of the school.  I’d just put Raeth in charge of my entire holdings.  I don’t think he was expecting that.

“Then I name you seneschal of my domain.  Rise and be recognized.”

The applause was even greater.  Raeth is a popular man.

When the room finally quieted, I gestured Raeth to the right.

“Will the Lady Tamara please approach?” I asked.  Tamara looked startled, but rose and walked forward.  In the robes, it wasn’t obvious she was pregnant unless you knew what to look for.  The way she walked was starting to show.  A trifle slower, a trifle more awkward. 

She approached and started to kneel; I caught her shoulders and kept her up.  I maneuvered her to my left and kept her arm linked with mine.

“My people,” I began.  “You know of Sir Bouger and Sir Raeth through their deeds and their close contact.  You have spoken with them, each of you, and many of you know them as men, not just as commanders.  I daresay all of you know the Lady Tamara, the priestess that has been so good to us.  Compared to them, I am a mysterious stranger; yet you follow me.  You barely know me—most of you—and yet, here you are.

“I do not know what I am.  True, I am a knight—yet two knights follow my banner.  I rule a domain—yet there is no kingdom to which it owes allegiance.  I am a worker of magic—yet I am not a magician to found an academy.  I am without a title for the lands I hold.

“Whatever title I may someday claim, understand this very clearly.  Tamara is my lady consort.  In my absence, it is she who will rule.  The order of succession will descend to her until such time as she forsakes it.  Only then will it fall to my heir.

“I have no doubt you will all accord her honor and respect out of the love I know you have for her.  I also give her
authority
in my capacity as your ruler.  The Lady Consort stands but a single step away from the throne.”

I looked around the room.  Everyone was quiet and paying close attention.

“You chose to follow me,” I said, softly.  “I chose her.  Will you follow us both?”

Hellas
sprang to her feet and started clapping madly.  Larel beat Muldo by a fraction of a second, followed by the entire contingent from Eastgate and my mercenaries.  It took about three seconds before everyone was on their feet, hands pounding together and feet stomping, whistling and cheering and shouting.  The chamber
rang
with it.

I glanced at Tamara.  She was blushing so hard I seriously wondered if pyrotechnics were about to start.  She never had so many people cheering for her in her life.  She’d never been in front of so many people at once; the congregation in Baret had been barely a hundred.  And this—this wasn’t because people were there for her services as a priestess.  This was for
her.
  Tears were leaking from her eyes.

I stepped closer to the throne Raeth had arranged and helped her to sit.  This raised the level of cheering.  She wouldn’t sit at first, but I insisted.  “It’s a courtly gesture,” I said, just loud enough for her to hear over the noise.  “It also sets a precedent.  You’re allowed to sit in the Royal Highchair.  Get used to it.”

It took a while before everyone was willing to settle down.

“Now, my people, I have given you these three as leaders, making official the status they have so clearly earned.  Yet I am not perfect.  Of these three I am absolutely certain.  Are there any among you worthy and deserving of honors and acclaim for their deeds in our service?  If you know of any such, raise your hand—keep silent!  Just raise your hand and I will call upon you to tell me.”

Several hands went up.  We worked through their suggestions.  Larel was the only smith; he was naturally appointed as the mastersmith.  Likewise, we had several other trades get recognized.  After several such appointments, I was surprised to find that Bouger had his hand up.  I called on him and he leaned close to whisper.  I listened for a bit and nodded agreement.

“There are two more who I would honor,” I announced.  “
Hellas, come here.”

I’ve never seen a worse case of stage fright.  She paled to the color of milk and almost fainted.  It took her several moments to become steady on her feet and she half-staggered to stand before me.

“Hellas, it has been remiss of me to not recognize you sooner.  I owe you much, for you have aided me even when doing so risked your own life.  Men in my service take up arms and would risk death in battle at my command, for I am their lord.  Yet, all unbidden, you offered your aid to Tamara that I might live—you asked for neither reward for service nor for assurance that you would survive the giving of your aid.  You followed me even when I was a wizard curing the pox in a whorehouse.  Even then, you saw something in me I did not see myself. 
You believed.
You have a great generosity of spirit, equaled only by the kindness in your heart.”

I addressed the gallery.  “Does anyone here
not
know of this woman and the goodness within her?”

If so, nobody admitted it.  But I doubt there were any who could have honestly said so;
Hellas is just naturally helpful.

“Will you swear to follow me?” I asked her, formally.  “Will you show me the loyalty and unselfish generosity I have always seen from you?  Will you commit yourself and your heirs from now until the end of your line to that oath?”

“I will,” she whispered, and fell to her knees.  I laughed and drew her up to her feet again.

“Until we have settled the nature of my title, I can hardly grant you one of your own,” I said.  “But understand this:  here and now, I tell you that the nobility of my domain never kneel to me—only bow.”

“The—?”

“Nobility.  Nobility is something in the heart, not always something in the bloodline.  I see it in you, and recognize you as a peer.”

Hellas broke down into weeping.  Tamara took her in her arms and cried happy tears with her while the gallery gave forth enthusiastic applause.  The poor little ex-whore, promoted to a noble rank!  It seemed as though they liked the idea.  It certainly set the tone of advancement-by-merit.  People would be dreaming of noble titles—and wondering how to be worthy of them. 
That
suited me just fine.

While the two ladies were working on composure and the crowd was still cheering, I pointed at Muldo and crooked a finger at him.  He gulped and walked forward.  The cheering died down, the better to hear what was about to happen.  Muldo approached and went to one knee.

“How many of you,” I asked the gallery, “have ever been slaves?”  All the hands from the Eastgate contingent rose.  Also, all my mercenaries from the tower.  Some dozen others.  There might have been twenty who had never actually been a slave at some point, however briefly.  Inwardly, I was shocked.  Slavery was a lot more common than I had supposed.  Or did they also include forced servitude?  Serfs aren’t slaves—no matter how much they may feel like it.  Still, to the person on the wrong end of a whip, technicalities don’t matter much.

“Muldo, former slave, I have never been a slave,” I said.  “Tell me now what you think of it.”

“I… I do not like it, your majesty.”

I ignored his form of address; I had bigger things on my mind.

“I have owned you, Muldo, and freed you.  I find I do not like owning people.  Yet I have no gift to give you that is great enough to wash away the pain of having once been my property.  So I must give a gift to all who were once slaves, to make the gift greater.