Book 5, Chapter 51: Ale, Bath, Bed

The wind rushed by cool but not cold, and shortly we left the mountains, as we rode through the night quicker than quick, too loud for voices to carry, so we could not talk. Leaning forward to hold on, the big man’s arms surrounding me, I was comfortable. My eyelids were heavy, I may have dreamed, I may have slept in his embrace.

Soon, we came to Hafthon’s duchy.

Mighty Sleipnir galloped across the top of the high cliff the castle was built against, and we were perhaps the first to see it. It was grey, with little, tough bushes poking out amidst the uneven stoney ground. He circled the cliff in a downward spiral and, as we moved over the castle, let out a mighty trumpet, heralding our arrival.

The boys were gone and once again men stood on the walls. They were shouting and pointing, and as Sleipnir lowered us into the courtyard, the doors leading to the great hall were thrown open, nobles coming to see the sight.

Sleipnir touched down upon ground, trotted up to the nobles, frightening them to run or hide, save a brave few, and went down on his knees so that the big man and I could dismount. Morry got off first, then helped me down.

“Your Highness,” said a young stableboy, “shall I . . .?”

I smiled at him, “How brave you are! Offering to take care of Sleipnir here. You’d best ask him yourself.” I patted him, scratching above his shoulder, “Do you want to visit the horses here?”

After standing, he pawed the ground and tapped it and went with the stableboy who engaged himself in talking to the horse. That boy would, I knew, grow up strong and brave and be among his generation’s heroes because of these actions tonight.

“Cayce!” Brin said as she wrapped herself around me, “I thought you were dead and gone!”

Tread was trailing her, “We watched you fall to the wizards, my lady.”

I pulled back a bit, still holding Brin’s hands, “Why on earth did you do such a dangerous thing? I ordered the army to flee the pass upon seeing my magic.”

She cocked her head, “We had to know, Cayce. But never mind that! How do you have a flying horse?! Why does it have eight legs?”

“No one owns Sleipnir. He came when I called and was kind enough to bring us here. Come, you must be finished supper, but Morry is very hungry. Where are your parents?”

Brin gave the big man a curtsy, “Your Grace, thank you for rescuing the princess and returning her to us. Oh!” She turned to me, “What of the wizards? How did you escape?”

“Ah, it was difficult,” Morry nodded as we headed toward the dining hall, “but I managed to defeat their army and save the princess from the depths of their endless horde. First, I cleverly got myself captured . . .”

***

Her blond locks falling in front of her face as she poured me another wine, “You can’t be serious. You’re not a goddess, Cayce! You’re my friend and I know you. For one thing, you’re a little too light in the head to be deified. And for another, goddesses like dresses! That’s what they’re wearing in most of the paintings.”

“I like dresses now. I do.”

“Because of Hafthon’s wife!”

“I just find them more comfortable than armor.”

“That still doesn’t make you a goddess! I’ve emptied your bedpan!”

“Not since we fled the Ketzillian forces so long ago.”

“And what about miracles? I seem to remember it taking no less than three miracles – all confirmed, mind you – to deify someone.”

“I think you’re talking about canonizing saints.”

“Ah-ha, no miracles then.”

“Look at Morry. Really look at him. What’s different?”

Morry was munching on a chicken leg down the table a ways, talking with Tread. If I hadn’t known them, Morry’d almost seem like an older brother. Perhaps a young soldier, making friends with the new recruit. The age difference had almost disappeared.

“Is he thinner?”

“Not just thinner.”

“He doesn’t have a scar!”

“And he’s younger, Brin. That temple complex, it de-ages people in the presence of deities.”

“Don’t you take me there, then! I’m looking forward to coming of age.” She looked back at me, “Are all deities so scared by spiders?”

“You seriously don’t know the half of it! Where is your father, anyways? And Hafthon?”

“What’s the half I don’t know?”

“I’ll tell you in the baths later.”

“They’re having a meeting. Hafthon’s taking over this place, as you know. Father’s getting ready to ride on his new duchy. Lots of details to work out. Who gets which smithy, how to share weapons production knowledge, new agreements on protecting the kingdom. And,” she shook her head, “probably talking about riding on Laemacia, Ketzle, you know, now that they are severely weakened.”

“Ah. I should probably attend their meeting.”

“Not in that dress you aren’t! You look like a girl who cleans the stables!”

“It’s far too clean for that.”

“Come on, let’s get you changed then.”

“Not this time. It’ll just be a quick meeting. And none of them expect me to be regal and, honestly, I don’t care to right now.”

“But,” she blinked, “you’re the princess. You have to!”

I put my hand on her shoulder, “Tomorrow, Brin. Before I leave for Breadamont, you can dress me to your heart’s desire. But tonight, I will remain in this plain dress.”

“I don’t really like it. But, ok. Just this once and only because it’s late and we’re having a bath immediately after your discussion. Ok? Good.”

“Thank you, Brin.”

“And us, Cayce? When are we riding out?”

“Let’s talk about that later. In the bath. I really, really need a long, long soak.”

“I’ll have the baths prepared, then.” She put her hand on mine, “Don’t take too long with the men.”

***

A soldier opened the door for me, and was about to speak, when I cut him off, “No, no need to announce my presence. They have eyes.” He shut up, wisely, and I walked into the room.

The nobles and archbishop were sitting around a table and all rose for me. Crygmore, Carlisele, Hafthon and Ghevont. Scheming, I guess.

“Your Highness,” Hafthon began, “it’s good to see you back and in good health.”

“Lords,” I nodded, “I am also glad to be here.”

Still standing, Carlisele began, and this time, I let him finish. “My lady, I want to apologize. What you did for us out on that battlefield . . . I couldn’t imagine it was possible. You won us the day.”

I gave him a smile, but inwardly knew that I’d have to face myself for those crimes. Yes, I saved our kingdom, but I was also ignoring thinking about the incredible cost paid for in Laemacian men’s lives. “There’s nothing to forgive, my lord. There was no way you could know.”

He gave me an actual, full-length bow, and we all sat. Crygmore surprised us all by pouring me an ale.

“Thank you.” I took it, sipped, said, “Gentlemen, it appears we have won our kingdom. I trust that’s what you’re discussing. No need to fill me in on the particulars, but what are your plans?”

Hafthon crossed his arms, leaned back, “It seems you decided to use your powers after all. Perhaps you should expand the kingdom into an empire to better protect our borders.”

“There will be no repeat of . . . my mistake. It is not for the divine to kill men, Hafthon.”

“Princess Cayce, did you just name yourself a deity?” asked the archbishop.

“Yes.”

“Though you are powerful, I fear such claims border on arrogance and are dangerous to believe in.”

Several comments crossed my mind just then, including quipping that I was older than his entire culture by several magnitudes, but no, in all honesty, I rejected those memories. The god I was effectively died with my choice and all I was left with was immortality and near omnipotence. Good thing I wasn’t benevolent, or I’d pop out of existence.

“Let’s table this discussion for now. I’m concerned with more mundane affairs. Carlisele, when will you be taking the, uh, Treleal duchy?”

“Soon, my lady, we were just discussing how to divide the smithies so that the weapon technology knowledge is shared.”

Hafthon added, “And the iron from the battlefield.”

“It was my army that collected it and shall be bringing it to my duchy.”

“Yet on my duchy, which entitles me to the metal.”

I held my hand up, “Gentlemen. Split the iron spoils into thirds. Each of you shall take an equal share, earl and dukes alike. Carlisele, send your master smiths to my castle at Breadamont and we’ll train them up. In fact, we’ll rotate the training of soldiers in the smithing of arms to ramp up our production. No,” I stopped Hafthon before he spoke, “don’t argue about metals. There’s always more metal.”

“Your Highness.”

“Hafthon, Crygmore, if you’d like your smithies so trained, you’re welcome to the same system. Gentlemen, we are going to improve this kingdom. I want roads between our castles and villages. No, not the horse and cart roads we have now that cannot support an army without several teams working on them, but roads made out of stone, built to last. We are going to create a nation of fast communication and ready commerce.”

They were staring at me.

“Roads?” ventured Hafthon.

“Roads! And, sure, we can expand the kingdom to an empire. But I will be leading it. Oh, also, I’m going to unify the laws of the land. And I won’t accept dissent. Sure, you can disagree with me, but not publicly and not in practice. Any objections, gentlemen?”

Just then, a knocking on the door came. Hafthon, staring at me, stood. “Enter!”

One of Ghevont’s priests walked in, searched the room, and made a beeline for the archbishop. He whispered into his ear hurriedly. Ghevont stared at me a moment before saying, “Princess Cayce, did you . . .?”

“Yes. Go and see for yourself. My first miracle.”

As the archbishop was leaving, Hafthon asked me, with some hesitation in his voice, “What, ah, miracle did you perform?”

“I healed the injured, cured the sick and fixed everyone’s dental problems. No more crooked teeth and cavities in my kingdom.” They didn’t know how to respond, so I continued with the meeting, “Earl Crygmore, tell me what you think about my plans and how they will affect your earldom.”

***

Rubbing soap into Brin’s back, I answered her question. “It was a pretty dull meeting. Just troop movements, smithies, and so on. Your father will be heading to his new duchy tomorrow. Brin, I want you to go with him.”

“What? No, I’m coming with you. Mistress of the bedroom, remember? You said in perpetuity. Ok, turn around, your turn.” She lathered up a cloth with soap.

“You’re coming with me, but not right away. I’ll . . . I’ll collect you from the Carlisele Duchy after.”

“I still think it’s a bad idea that you went back on your word to the Treleals.”

“Yeah. It’s better this way, though. Your father, well, I think he matured a little, Brin. I want him to control the duchy.”

“Cayce.”

“What?”

“After what? You said you’d pick me up after. What are you not saying?”

“I have to, uhm, run some errands.” Some things, I still couldn’t bring myself to tell her.

She dumped cold water over my head.

“Hey!”

A little more sternly, “What things?”

“Will you at least use warm water next time? Oh, that was chilly!”

“Cayce! Tell me already.”

“Plus, Tread should go with you. He has to come to my castle after, anyways. We’ll set him up with an army, then we’ve got to build him a castle. And, hey, perhaps he needs a suitor! Brin, which mistress of the bedroom should court him?”

“Oh my gods, you just trying to change the topic! Alright, no!” She filled up the bucket, dumping it overtop her head this time. “He’s going to court me. Not the other way around. You weirdo. Anyways,” she pulled up my arm, “it’s strange not seeing you without your jewelry.”

“I thought I’d take it off for the bath.”

“You’re all properly controlled now?”

“Ha! Not even a little. But,” I winked at her, “if I turn you into a frog, only I’ll know.”

After rinsing the rest of the soap away, we got into the bath. “So, why aren’t you coming with us?”

“Brin, alright.” I couldn’t tell her all of it, as some was not for the living, but could share this. “I’m going after the mages.”

“The mages? Are you sure that’s a good idea. They beat you last time.”

“Last time I didn’t know who I was. I can’t allow them to exist. They’re too much of a danger for our kingdom. For any peaceful society.”

“Ha! When has our kingdom ever been peaceful?”

“I want it to be peaceful.”

“Please. I know father and Hafthon are discussing conquering Laemacia. And you must be thinking about it, too, now that their military is wiped out.”

“Not quite wiped out. Serce is probably putting it back together even now.”

“Serce! He’ll give you the empire, Cayce. Just go ask politely.”

“Maybe asking is the way to go.”

“Speaking of suitors-”

“He wasn’t a suitor!”

“Well, that’s ok. I wasn’t going to talk about him.”

“Brin, I’m not taking on suitors.”

“Yes, you are. Especially now that the kingdom is unified again. Although, you could marry Serce and inherit the Laemacian Empire without spilling a single drop of blood.”

“Oh my gods, why are we having this conversation?”

“Perhaps a single drop. You’d get rid of him after the marriage.”

“Brin!”

“I’m teasing! Cayce.” She moved closer to me, “Morry’s younger now. And how he dotes on you! And you’ve made him a duke.”

“Brin, stop!” I folded my arms. “Stop.”

“Of the lands around your castle. And in the stories, when a brave man rescues a princess-”

“Hey! I rescued him! Not the other way around.”

“Just this time. Last time, he rescued you.”

“I’m not sure that’s true. And anyways I have no plans on getting married.”

“It’s going to be so fun arranging suitors from all over the kingdom – the empire if you conquer Ketzle and Laemacia – to come visit you. I’m really looking forward to my expanded role.”

“Expanded?”

“Well, you’ll be empress eventually and that’ll leave me to run the empire.”

“I’m going to have you reassigned to your father’s castle.”

“No, you won’t.” She laughed. “Anyways, Morry, pardon me, Duke Morrentz, won’t be able to scare the suitors away so easily, being so young and scarless. Why, he’s a cuter boy than most of them, I’m sure!”

“I can’t wait for you to tell him he’s cute.”

“Come on, you know I’m teasing.”

“Oh, thank goodness.”

“But if you don’t allow the big man to court you, I am going to arrange for wagonloads full of suitors to come, Cayce. And they will all be decrepit old men or very young boys, not quite thirteen.”

***

Lying in bed, Brin wrapped around me, the first time in weeks I’d felt comfortable and at peace. My old bedroom, where I’d spent months hiding out and recovering.

No crows came knocking, nor ravens, no foxes down below bowing. I knew where they were, waiting for me. I wished they weren’t. They gathered near the battlefield, where I would make my last stand against the mages. Though, the animals probably considered it the other way around.

Carefully, I picked up Brin’s arm and placed my pillow underneath. Lightly, I touched her face, and made it so she would not awaken until morning, and have a restful, pleasant sleep.

I went and found the post-apocalypse goth dress that I favored so much. It was hanging in the wardrobe and smelled clean. I dressed quickly, pulling the straps into place, but applied no make-up, for I wanted none just yet.

Then, snuck off to where I knew the big man would be waiting. By the fireplace, in the main hall.

“Princess, having troubles sleeping?”

“I came to see you. Have one last drink with you in this castle.”

“A good thing that I brought two mugs.” He poured ale into my cup from one of two jugs sitting on the table. “No whiskey, I’m afraid. None left it seems.”

“None at all?”

“Perhaps your distillers are hiding a few bottles here and there.”

“I’d rather have ale with you, tonight, Morry.”

“Ale it is then.”

“Are you ok?”

“After all that we’d been through, I was thinking of my brother, gone all these years. Especially now that I find myself with a duchy to build.”

“Gone?”

“We parted on bad terms. After my father lost the earldom, he was going to sell the armor and the sword. To pay for a farm, he said. They were gifted to my grandfather from your grandfather. For bravery during battle. Such things are no longer done, I’m afraid. I caught him leaving the house with the sword and armor. And we fought.”

“He took the armor?”

“And I ended up with the sword. I was just thinking, it’d be nice to see him again. Perhaps we could overcome our differences. I’m older now and understand why he did what he did.”

“Ah, Morry. Why don’t we search for him?”

“He’s long dead and buried. He kept the armor and didn’t buy a farm. Rather, he joined the army and fell in battle. More’s the pity. But it was his memories keeping me up tonight. Would that he bought that farm.”

“I’m sorry, that’s awful.”

“Not a thing you have to apologize for. It’s just that, well Princess, I was sure I was going to die. When they stabbed me and you walked into that mirror. I was certain that seeing you go was the last thing I’d ever see again and that I’d lost you.”

I moved closer to him, putting my hand on his arm. “It was awful, but we made it. We survived everything and here we are.” My eyes fell from his to his lips. Young, full, and smooth.

“Princess, why are you wearing your riding dress?”

“I will soon head out and face the mages.”

“Not without me you won’t.”

“You cannot come with me, for I must take care of things the living may not see.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I travel to right a wrong, correct a circumstance. But, please, I cannot talk about it.”

“I see. Can you beat the mages?”

“I don’t . . . I don’t know. They draw their power from the temple and within it are housed many deities. Had I destroyed it, then yes, they would be but humans, but I could not. For to do so would release those gods and unleash a terrible burden on this land. These mages, they are many, and well skilled at capturing and killing my kind.”

“I will come with you. With the iron, I can take some out and give you better odds.”

“No, Morry. You would not survive the encounter and I want you in my future. If I am to have one. If not, then it will ease my passing to know you are well and alive.”

“Princess, I must help you to have that future. I’m coming.”

“I need you to accompany Brin and Tread with Carlisele to their duchy. It’s the closest castle to where I will face the mages. If I survive, that is where I shall go.”

“Cayce, please let me-”

Sitting up, holding his hand in my left, I ran my right down from his ear to his chin, leaned forward and placed my lips on his. He turned a little, his hand behind my head, holding me tight, and we kissed.

And it was over all too soon.

“Princess, I . . . I am not sure-”

“Morry, I am.”

“You are yet young.”

“So are you.” I turned around and snuggled into his large body.

“I only look young now because, because of you and that temple.”

“I’m thousands of years older than you.”

“Thousands?”

“Of course, I don’t remember any of that. I refused the memories, taking only the power and knowledge of how to use it, because, Morry, I love Brin and Tread, and didn’t want to lose them.”

“No memories of your previous life?”

“More like the knowledge of it, without the experience.”

“Then, Princess, if I’m not mistaken, you are not quite two years old.”

“Don’t tell anyone or they won’t let me be queen next year. Or allow me,” I held up my mug, “adult beverages.”

“It might be good for the kingdom to have a sober princess.”

“Morry!”

Touching my hair, his eyes found mine, “You gave up all that for Brin and Tread?”

Moving closer, our cheeks touching, I whispered, “And for you my big man.” I slid into his arms, in his embrace, long and longer still, staring at the fire, crackling and sparking, until clouds covered the moon and parted later, the pale light again shining against the wall. We sat that way for a while, the flames burning low, until it was time and I had to go.

Leaving him sleeping, I marveled at his face, so handsome and strong, belying the dangerous man who protected and cared for me and whom I hoped against hope would be in a future left open.