Rise (War Witch Book 1) (43 page)

The innkeeper informed them that they could take dinner anytime they pleased before handing them three room keys, having picked up on Chara and Esteban's handholding with the discreet eye Halflings were known for. Puffing herself up a bit, she thanked them for their patronage and scuttled away as they went to deposit their gear, after which they headed back down to the common room for a meal.

Afterward, the four sat in front of the warm fire, chatting. Ramora had to admit, she kind of liked it, the ease and comfort that'd grown between them all soothing her heart. Her Rabbit pointed out the soothing touch of Leto was only a room away, and embarrassed, she hushed it before it could put any more thoughts in her head.

"Tomorrow, I think Ramora and I should contact the city guard and let them know we've arrived," Leto was saying. "I imagine His Majesty is eager to have us join his task force."

"Do you want us to go with you?" Esteban inquired.

Leto nodded. "For a while. I'm still getting the hang of Ramora's hand signs, so it might be wise to have Chara on hand for a bit. I would guess there will be talk after that among the other Blessed the King has assembled that you two would find boring, though."

"Boring how?" Chara asked.

The Blessed of Grannax shrugged. "Shop talk, mostly. Probably at least some indication of how many of us have decided to come, what the basic plan is and so on. That sort of stuff. Things we can fill you in on later, unless you chose to stay and listen in."

Esteban looked at Chara. "It might be wise."

"I'll pass," the young woman told them. "I've got something else I want to look into while we're here."

Leto grinned. "What might that be? Testing your skills at Masters?"

Seeing the dark look that crossed Ramora's face, Chara snorted. "No. I want to see if I can find a sorcerer who can recharge a mystic crystal."

"Ah," Esteban sighed. "I know what this is about."

Ramora chuckled quietly, aware as well. Her young friend had refused to part with the two mystic handguns when they'd left Imicot's keep, determined to find a way to make them useful again.

"Very well," Leto nodded. "Tomorrow, we meet the King, and see if we can all find a role to play in stopping this bastard Draco."

Ramora was happy to drink to that.

She slept easily that night, for the first time since leaving the sorcerer’s tower. The bed, empty without Chara, whose presence she missed greatly, still felt warm, and Ramora dreamed of avenging Collette and all her fellow Blessed.

WITH THE MORNING,
Ramora found her heart ached a little less as she watched Esteban and Chara over the table where they took breakfast. The ease the two had between them now gave her joy, even if she found she still loved the other woman dearly, and regretted not being able to have a relationship with her. Perhaps it was the realization of just how dangerous the road she walked was, or the beautiful smile on the young woman's face, she couldn't say. She just knew she was grateful Chara was happy.

By her side, Leto noted the bittersweet smile that touched her eyes, and understood her better than he'd been able to during their week long journey to Lansing. Following her gaze, he could easily grasp how she could feel so strongly for the young woman across from them. Her courage, cunning, and intellect made her everyday looks seem as stunning as the stars in the heavens at night. She was a special soul, without a doubt.

After their morning meal, they checked in with the innkeeper for directions to the nearest guard post. The matronly Halfling was still asleep, but her lovely wife was happy to help them. After a quick check on their horses, they were off, the day ahead certain to be a busy one.

Arriving at the address they'd been given, they found a narrow three-story building bearing the royal crest of the family Fel, rulers of Lansing, from which a steady stream of soldiers came and went, none bothering to give them so much as a passing look. With a shrug, Leto led them inside, only to find the main room flooded with people sitting around or leaning against the walls, waiting to be seen by the officer on duty, a harried young man with the insignia of a Lieutenant.

"Something tells me this isn't going to go smoothly," Esteban murmured as Leto tried to politely ease his way to the desk.

"Picked up on that, did you?" Chara snorted.

"I had a few hints," the Jaguar admitted with a chuckle.

Reaching the desk, Leto found himself delayed as the fresh-faced Lieutenant explained to an old woman that the Constabulary, not the City Guard, was responsible for locating lost cats. Ramora grinned, poking at Esteban a bit and getting a mock indignant look in return. Chara smirked, seeing the two being agreeable for a change.

Leto tapped his foot as the Lieutenant explained to the tiny decrepit woman that she'd have to report to Rim Street Constable’s Office and fill out a form. She nodded, smiling and then asked again if the nice young man could help her find her cat. The Blessed of Grannax exchanged a sympathetic look with the soldier.

Turning back to the little old lady, the Lieutenant started to nod, then a slow look of shock slid across his face as he gradually turned his gaze back to the tall and powerfully-built man with the Tiger head on his brow. His jaw dropped, bit by bit, as it dawned on him a Blessed was waiting to speak with him. The look of awe was almost hysterical to Ramora, who gave a little wave as the young Lieutenant spotted her as well, his eyes growing even wider.

"Ma'am, if you would," he said, standing so quickly he rapped his knees on the desk. With a grimace, he took her by the hand and tugged her around the table, pointing to another solider, saying, "Corporal Grant will take your full statement. Just talk with him, okay?"

"Oh, how wonderful," she cooed, patting him on the face as she tottered over to the Corporal, who didn't bother to hide his look of horror.

Whipping back to the Blessed of Grannax, the Lieutenant tried to bow and salute at the same time, accomplishing neither. "Sir! Please pardon the wait! How can the City Guard, by which I mean me, be of service to the Blessed of the High Gods, by which I mean you, and the Lady, of course, as she's one too!"

"Easy, Lieutenant," Leto chuckled. "No need to be so formal."

"Of course, Sir!" he exclaimed, trying to salute again, getting the wrong hand, then the right one.

"I feel safer already," Chara muttered, getting a snicker from Esteban and a sarcastic look from Ramora.

Leto rested a hand on the young officer’s shoulder. "Deep breath, son."

"Right," he nodded, his face reddening with embarrassment. "Sorry. Lieutenant Lawrence Rills, of the City Guard. How may I help you?"

"I'm Leto Alimon," the Blessed told him. "King Untar Fel requested I meet with him. This is Ramora, daughter of the War Wolf, and our companions, Chara and Esteban. Might you be able to help us reach the castle?"

Rills turned red again as he stammered for words for a moment, before declaring loudly, "General Alimon! Please forgive me for not recognizing you! We, the City Guard, were aware you would be arriving shortly, and clearly have, obviously, because we're under orders to escort you straight to His Majesty, Untar, King of Lansing, which is here, where you are now, unexpectedly!"

Ramora arched her eyebrows, trying very hard not to laugh at the young man. Behind her, her companions didn't succeed, snickering erupting as they turned away. Leto gave the poor man a sympathetic smile and patted him on the shoulder again.

"So, that's good, then," he said after a moment.

Red as a beat, Rills' face fell a bit. "Sorry for my outburst, sir! I'm very excited to meet you, and the Lady Ramora, who I take it is as famous as you, and will forgive me for not knowing who she is!"

"Rills, take a breath, please," Leto urged.

Chara snorted on her own laughter, drawing an annoyed look from Ramora, which only sent her and Esteban into a fresh fit of laughter as they pointed at her. Glaring, she turned back to Rills, who was bending over, on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Ah, boy," Leto sighed.

"Sorry," Rills gasped. "I'm okay! Really! So sorry! Just gimme a sec! I'll be fine!"

The small band stood waiting as he gulped in air, steadying himself on his desk. Around them, people were starting to stare, making Ramora uncomfortable. Leto waved to them and patted the young man on the back gently. Esteban and Chara had to sit down.

"I'm good," Rills assured Leto as he stood. "My apologies. It's really exciting to meet you, Sir."

"Picked up on that," Leto said, a patient smile affixed to his face.

Flushing again, the Lieutenant groaned. "I really am sorry. We've been expecting you for days, you see, and I never imagined you'd walk in here, while I was on duty. Normally, I work the wall, you see, so it's like fate or something that I'm even talking to you."

"You're rambling again, Lawrence," Leto told him.

"You know my name," he squeaked.

"I do," Leto replied, trying not to laugh. "You introduced yourself."

"I did, didn't I?" he gasped. "Sorry, again, sorry. So sorry."

Exasperated with the young man, Ramora stepped up and flicked him in the forehead with a finger, making him jerk back and stare at her in surprise. Spreading her arms, she waved at the door. Leto sagged a bit at her more direct approach.

"Right!" Rills exclaimed. "The castle. You guys need to go to the castle! I'll escort you there myself. Billy, take the desk!"

Sliding around them, Rills waved them to follow as he grabbed his officer’s jacket and led them on. Leto gave Ramora a pathetic look, to which she shrugged. Turning to follow, the Blessed of Ramor smacked her friends in the head and motioned them on. Somehow, they collected themselves enough to do so.

It was going to be one of those days, she could tell already.

"Sorry again for back there," Rills said as he led them through the streets of Lansing. "It's just, I've kept up with your exploits, General Alimon. It really is a huge honor to meet you in person."

"Forget about it," the Blessed of Grannax said. "I'm just a soldier, same as you."

Rills laughed at that, a nervous wheezing sound punctuated by snorting. "Oh, no, you really aren't. Your gambit in the Nerim Valley was pure genius, Sir. My commanding officer even said so, and ordered us all to study it."

Ramora gave Leto a humorous look he chose to ignore as he said, "It was as much good luck as it was strategy, Lieutenant."

"You're way too humble, Sir," Rills told him. "I mean, you crushed an entire Demon Seed regiment all by yourself."

Waving it off, Leto corrected him quickly. "It was a group effort, son. I had an entire battalion at my back, after all."

"Still, it was pretty amazing," Rills told him, turning to walk backwards as he looked up at the taller man in awe.

"Horse," Esteban offered a moment before the soldier ran into it.

"Sorry," Rills yelped as he spun around. "Sorry, horse."

Chara rolled her eyes. Gods, but she hoped she hadn't been that bad around Ramora when they'd met.

Ramora sighed, reminded of Chara when they'd first met.

"Maybe eyes front is a good idea," Leto offered.

"Yeah, probably," Rills chuckled nervously.

Waving the young man to lead on, the small band fell in behind him as he continued to recount Leto's various victories, calling each in turn magnificent, brilliant, pure genius, and inspired. Clearly uncomfortable with all the praise, the Blessed of Grannax offered his companions a hesitant shrug. Chara and Esteban quietly applauded him, as Ramora snickered silently. Finding no help from them, the broad-shouldered warrior turned back to Rills, nodding patiently.

"Hey, have you seen the Heroes of Heaven trading cards?" Rills asked suddenly.

Leto shook his head, trying hard to keep smiling. "I can't say that I have, no."

"They're really great," the Lieutenant gushed. "I've got the whole set, including all three variants on yours. Maybe, you know, if you have time, you could autograph them for me."

Leto nodded wearily. "Sure. Of course."

"Really?" Rills looked ready to explode from glee. "Man, just wait till Billy hears that! He's gonna be so jealous!"

With the young Lieutenant rambling on endlessly, he led them to the castle, waving them past the guards without missing a single beat in his ongoing monologue of how awe-inspiring Leto was. For his part, the Blessed of Grannax took it with a kind smile, his patience amazing to Ramora.

With a man sent to alert the King that General Alimon had arrived, Rills guided them up through the massive building until they reached a sprawling chamber he declared as a receiving room. Spread throughout were long, wide couches, settees, love-seats and chairs, all appointed with overstuffed cushions that invited lazy reclining. In the middle of them sat a huge table with an ornate arrangement of flowers.

Rills continued talking as they stared at the posh furnishings. Ramora flopped down in a chair and threw her leg over the arm with a content smile. Chara gave her an annoyed look as Esteban sniffed the flowers and Leto tried to figure out how to shed the overeager Lieutenant.