In Defence of the Crown (The Aielund Saga Book 2) Read online

  “If she’s anything like her kindred down in the mountains, she’ll be good at that,” Pacian conceded.

  “Okay, I think that’s settled,” Aiden finished, turning around to sit back at the table again. With a glance he saw that Sir William was barely keeping his opinions in check, Nellise had a cold, hunted expression marring her features, and Sayana looked like she wanted to run and hide.

  “I’m sorry for the interruption,” Aiden apologised. “Before we go on, I wanted to know what brought you all the way north to Fairloch. Akorans are not commonly seen here, which is to say, you’re the first that I’ve encountered in my brief time here.”

  “We are usually not welcomed outside of our own borders,” she informed them soberly. “I am here because my father, chief of the tribe, was overthrown by a brutal man and I was forced to choose between exile and death. Soon, when the time is right, I will return and have my vengeance upon him, and return my father to his rightful place as chief of the Akora.”

  “Wait, your father is Morik Far-Eagle?” Aiden asked, incredulous.

  “Yes. I am Valennia, Daughter of Morik Far-Eagle, slayer of the great white bear,” she announced loudly as if daring some deity of her choice to strike her down for saying so. Aiden looked at the others, who were similarly thunderstruck by this revelation. Clearly, this changed everything, for Morik was thought of as an honourable man and even if his daughter wasn’t as intelligent, she must have inherited some of her father’s other traits.

  “Okay, how about I just call you Val,” Aiden finally replied.

  “If that is the custom,” she shrugged in reply, and then gave Aiden a long, direct look. “I misjudged you before, Aiden. You are not a mere boy, but a man who has seen battle and taken no joy from it.” Aiden was disturbed by this accurate impression, and was reminded of how his father had reacted when they had last met. Aiden wondered how many other people could see this change in him.

  “I hope you like what you’re seeing,” he said evenly, unflinching from her appraisal.

  “You are not a cruel man, and by that measure, you are worthy to stand alongside me in battle,” she finished, speaking as if a decision had been made. “Provided, of course, that you pay me one silver noble every day.”

  “I can cover that,” Aiden agreed.

  “You’re going to hire this woman?” Sir William finally blurted out.

  “Do you have an objection to working alongside women?” Nellise asked the elderly knight pointedly.

  “Working and fighting on the front lines are two very different concepts, madam,” he replied. “In years past it was unheard of for a woman to fight alongside men, but times are changing. Before you say it, yes, I’m stuck in my old ways a little too much, perhaps, yet there is more than the issue of gender bias at stake here.”

  “Explain yourself, old man,” Valennia ordered, not backing down even a little.

  “I question the need to have the inferior morals of this woman, little more than a savage, in our ranks. We are working to preserve our civilisation and our way of life, two things I have no doubt you have little concept of, madam.”

  “Do not call me that word,” she warned the knight. “I have seen the women in this city who answer to that description and I am not one of them.”

  “Precisely my point,” Sir William said haughtily. “It is one thing to look for people outside the city, but to trust a member of another nation – for Akora is exactly that – is foolish.”

  “Sir William, you have only just joined us, so I’ll grant you some leeway here,” Aiden began, folding his fingers together. “Sayana here would fit that description as well, and yet we trust her implicitly. The very thing you accuse Val of is one of her virtues in this instance, because she has no ties to the political whims of this city and its nobility. Finally, we have met her father before, a man of honour and moral fibre, so if this young woman is anything like him then I trust her well enough to bring her in on this.”

  “Allow me to clarify,” Sir William restated, looking directly at Val. “I am not questioning your honour. I am simply stating that your approach to our delicate situation would appear to be somewhat… primitive.”

  “Then you have much yet to learn, old man,” Val growled defiantly. “Permit me to fight alongside you, Aiden, and I will show this relic my true nature.”

  “In spite of Sir William’s position,” Aiden responded, “I think I speak for the others when I say that your heritage speaks louder than you do, and as such, you’re welcome to join.”

  “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Sir William finished, earning a black look from the akoran warrior. Aiden would have to keep an eye on those two, in case it came to blows. If he had to put money down on the fight, he’d bet everything he had on Valennia and then use the proceeds to pay for Sir William’s funeral.

  “Should we mention that Morik was freed already?” Pacian whispered to Aiden. He considered it for a moment and then shook his head in response. If the Valennia didn’t work out, they could always tell her then, for Aiden was certain she would immediately leave and head for home.

  For the first time, Aiden sorely missed Colt, for the big ranger they’d left behind in Culdeny had been a huge asset during a fight, Aiden silently hoped Val would fill the tactical hole left by the big man.

  “Pardon me,” came a small woman’s voice from nearby. “I’m looking for a man named Ronan Woulfe, have you seen him? He’s about five-ten, longish hair held back by a bandana, covered in mud…” Aiden looked around but couldn’t see who was speaking.

  “Over here,” Sayana called, gaining the attention of whoever had spoken. A moment later, a small head appeared, only a few inches above the edge of the table.

  “You know Ronan?” she asked Sayana.

  “Yes, and we have been expecting you,” the wild girl replied.

  “Ah, you must be Sayana. He mentioned you in great detail,” she added with a wink, causing Sayana to blush and Aiden to have oddly conflicting feelings well up inside. “I’m Margaret Fairweather, but most people just call me Maggie.”

  “Nice to meet you, Maggie,” Aiden replied. “I’d offer you a seat but -”. Before he could finish, Sir William once more stood and offered his chair to the newcomer, which was met with a smile and a ‘thank you’ from the little woman. The knight glanced ever so briefly at Valennia in victory, but she did not seem to react. Maggie climbed onto the chair and was finally able to see them all at face-height, though she had to stand up in order to achieve this.

  Her hair was a sort of reddish-auburn with a few grey streaks near her temples and held back in a long tail by a small piece of cloth. She looked around with large green eyes at everyone present, and her face had a pleasant appearance that was somewhat odd to see at half human scale, as if she had been shrunk by some sort of magic.

  She wore a cured leather breastplate over a simple brown tunic, cinched at the waist with a series of belts. Attached to it were numerous pouches and a dagger, which for her would be like using a short sword. A thick, forest-green cloak covered her back and shoulders.

  “Well then, you’re the group that Ronan said was interested in helping me out,” Maggie began. “Tell me, are you experienced mercenaries, or just starting out?”

  “I think there’s been a misunderstanding here, Maggie,” Aiden replied hesitantly. “We were looking for people to help us, not the other way around.”

  “Oh,” she replied, crestfallen. “So you’re not mercenaries then?”

  “Some of us are,” Nellise informed her, pointedly not looking at Pacian. “But for the most part, we’re working for the betterment of humanity in general, and that includes people that aren’t human, of course. So, we’re informed that you are a druid?”

  “Yes, of the Feybourne sect, though somewhat removed from them now for reasons you’ll probably hear about shortly.”

  “What do you mean?” Aiden asked, mildly concerned with that statement.

  “You may or may not
be aware of this,” Maggie began, sitting down on the chair with her legs folded under her, “but druids aren’t exactly looked upon favourably by the Church of Aielund.”

  “I’ve heard a few things about that,” Nellise answered obliquely.

  “There are two dozen members of my order, the largest remaining group on the east coast of Feydwiir. For the past twenty years, there have been certain individuals who have spoken out against the encroachment of civilisation into the ancient forests, as well as persecution from the Church for practicing a ‘pagan religion’.”

  “They must feel like they’re under attack,” Sayana remarked, glancing at Nellise.

  “They do,” Maggie agreed.

  “I have never heard of any crusades against the druidic order,” Nellise pointed out. “Certainly, there has never been any blood spilled between the two.”

  “Yes, but constantly being told you’re following the wrong faith does get on one’s nerves after a long time,” Maggie responded. “Such talk fuelled the flames of anger in our sect, and with the removal of the local garrison south of the city of Amalis, those hotheads deposed our arch druid and started making plans against the Kingdom. I did what I could to reason with them, but I was the only voice of restraint and so in the end, they turned upon me. I spent three days on the run through the forests and swamps fighting for my life before I made it beyond their reach.”

  “Are they all raelish?” Sir William inquired.

  “No, they’re mostly human,” Maggie replied, “and I certainly didn’t join up to start a revolution against the Kingdom.”

  “Are you saying these men and women are taking up arms against the Kingdom?” Sir William pressed.

  “Quite so,” Maggie confirmed. “They’ve fortified the forest around the lost city of Feybourne, and are planning to expand their area of control to include Amalis. They’ve even threatened to destroy the city in order to return it to its natural state, much like what happened with the city of Feybourne, before the collapse.”

  “How do you lose a city?” Sayana asked, a fair question but one that had Pacian smirking at her.

  “I recall reading something about that in a book last year,” Aiden said. “Feybourne was one of the earliest cities constructed in Aielund until it was struck by an earthquake, eighty years ago.”

  “It was more than that,” Maggie added. “The ground is quite swampy down in that region, and when the quake struck, it opened a crevasse and the city sank. Thousands were killed, and the place was abandoned in favour of the sturdier ground a little further north.” Sayana nodded, though her eyes had glazed over.

  “Though you spoke of only two dozen members of this order, I take it they have formidable abilities which go beyond their limited numbers?” Sir William inquired, getting back onto the subject at hand.

  “Yes, although I’ve no idea if they’re capable of doing what they claim,” Maggie said. “No druid I have ever heard of, alone or in a group, has tried to destroy a city before.”

  “There’s a first time for everything,” Nellise remarked grimly. “Have you brought this to the attention of the Lord of Amalis?”

  “Yes, but he was an old man and was in poor health when I spoke with him last week. He mentioned that he was in a dialog with their representative – probably a man named Bowen, a highly influential member of the Sect – but that was about all. Given the weakness of the city garrison at this time, I don’t expect my brothers and sisters to be in much of a talking mood.”

  “I know our task is somewhat more local,” Sir William said, “but if the duke of Amalis needs more support, we should give serious consideration to providing this lady with our services.”

  “I agree, though our primary concern must be to our investigation here, first” Nellise observed.

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Maggie interjected, “but if you’re willing to help me, I am willing to help you. We have some time before I believe something more ‘explosive’ could take place in Feybourne, so if I can be of service…”

  Aiden nodded, content to listen to everything that was being said while he pondered the ramifications of dealing with something this large outside their purview. Margaret seemed to be even-tempered and willing to be reasonable, and it might serve their cause to bring stability to the region. There was one pressing issue however, that needed to be resolved.

  “I understand your predicament, but I have to ask - what exactly are you capable of in a city?” Aiden inquired. Maggie gave him an odd look, and then it dawned on her as to what he was referring to.

  “You seem to be under the misconception that I need to be in the wilds to have my prayers answered, and I assure you all, that is not the case,” she said. “There is much I can do to support you, should the need arise, although I will admit I’m not quite as powerful as I would be outside the city gates.”

  “Well, so long as you know how to handle yourself, I’m fine with bringing you on board, so to speak,” Aiden finished, hoping that she would indeed be of use to them in some capacity.

  “I thought you were looking for strong warriors, not even tinier women,” Valennia observed stridently.

  “Well we already have you, so more warriors would be redundant, right?” Pacian replied without the hint of a smile on his face. Valennia appeared to process that statement for a long moment before answering.

  “Yes, I am more than a match for any foe you might meet,” she agreed. “You will need to stand clear of me though, so I can do my work without fear of stepping on someone.”

  “I think she means you,” Pacian said in a loud whisper to Maggie, who laughed briefly.

  “Alright, I accept, on the condition that you tell me what exactly you need me for,” the diminutive druid answered. Aiden spent the next few minutes outlining their task, and showed all of them the letter of commission with the duke’s seal upon it. Maggie seemed adequately impressed, and showed no objection despite the problems her Order seemed to have with the Crown.

  “If all of you are ready to move, I think we should get to work,” Aiden declared after they had finalised the deal. He tossed a silver noble to Valennia’s outstretched hand, which seemed to buy her quiet assent. “I want to talk to Ronan about a few of his old contacts, but it can wait until he’s had time to rest.”

  “For now, the damage done to the main street needs to be looked at a little more closely, since I’m almost certain that it was done to divert us into that narrow alleyway. Our first stop is the University of the Arcane to speak with the Archmage and see if he can give us any insights into who may be involved.”

  There was no dissent, and the group stood up from the table and made their way to the exit.

  Chapter Seven

  A heavy snowfall clogged the streets to the point local citizens couldn’t move about with ease. Only those who absolutely had to be out at this early hour could be seen, clothed in warm winter cloaks and coats, trudging through the streets without enthusiasm. Aiden and his contingent, unfortunately, were amongst those forced to brave the freezing conditions, huddling down in their clothing to keep the chill at bay.

  It was Aiden’s first look at the city under the light of day, and he was even more impressed with the scale of Fairloch than he had been the previous evening. Most of the buildings in this part of the city were two or even three storeys high, made from stone bricks, giving the city a grey, monolithic look.

  They crossed the main street and noticed barricades had been erected to divert people around the damaged ground while workmen cleaned up the mess. Within a few minutes of leaving the inn, Aiden and the others had made their way through to the University.

  Three soaring towers dominated the skyline, one of them white and graced with tapering spires that gave one the impression that it was reaching to the heavens with graceful fingers. The other two towers were the same grey stone as the rest of the city, but decorated with colourful banners bearing symbols of various noble houses.

  As they ap
proached the gates, it became apparent that the white, vaulted building was in fact a grand cathedral. Judging by its size, it was most likely the place where the head of the Church of Aielund – the ‘Archieros’ in Olde Aielish – saw to the governance of the faith. Aiden hadn’t realised the cathedral was built right next to the University - indeed, the cathedral and the towers were built within the same walls, suggesting a connection he never anticipated.

  Of the two towers, one of them was clearly prominent, the exterior being heavily adorned and several storeys higher. The other tower seemed to be older, smaller in all dimensions and far less extravagant.

  Stepping through the large, gilded gates onto the University grounds was a bittersweet moment for Aiden, for this was a place he had longed to visit ever since his original encounter in the cave near his home town of Coldstream.

  His parents hadn’t been able to afford the exorbitant fees required to enrol him here, even if they had believed his story about the vision. If any place possessed the knowledge to decipher the mysteries he had encountered in that cave, it was here, and although he hadn’t said anything to the others, this was an exciting moment in his life.

  The central yard of the university was almost deserted, except for a few robed men and women carrying large books to and from the towers. Aiden turned to Nellise with the intention of asking about their proximity to the cathedral, until he noticed she seemed pensive.

  “What is it?” he asked of her.

  “I am expected to report in upon my arrival in Fairloch,” she explained, her golden eyes filled with trepidation. “They are likely to notice that something is amiss with me, which will require an explanation I’m not inclined to give.”

  “You’ve nothing to apologise for,” Sayana told her directly.