Telbarisk had fashioned a throne for Caudin, who wouldn’t have been able to stand while he held court. The Sayenese general officially laid down his sword in front of Caudin in front of a small, yet important audience of officials, half of who were about to be arrested. The General was professional about it, obviously displeased, but polite and refined, while the rest looked grim.

“Thank you, General,” Caudin said. “Out of curiosity, whose idea was it to fire on an unarmed parlay?”

The General swallowed. “I take responsibility, Your Radiance.”

“That’s not what we asked, General.”

“It was decided before the battle that we would fire upon you, since you were not considered the real King of Arvonne. That is why we had ample bows and arrows at the ready. It was not my idea, Sire. I would have preferred to engage your regiment when something went south with negotiations.”

“You’re from the Circuit?”

His eyebrows lifted slightly. “Laurel Crown in ’04.”

“Crisfrio?”

“Top of my class.”

“It would be foolish of us to dismiss you, then.”

“I…couldn’t say, Sire.”

“Obviously we can’t allow this to go unpunished. Your regiment must appear in Eri Ranvel for sentencing. However, we will promise some leniency if every member of Sayen on our soil today makes it to the capitol. How much provisions do you have?”

“Two weeks’ worth, Sire”

“Then I’d be quick about it. You are prohibited from provisioning from our people. Not a berry from our lands, not a drop from our reservoirs, not a hair harmed on any of our peoples’ heads. Lose a man and your punishment grows harsher.”

“Yes, Sire. Are we to include the entourage in that group?”

Caudin looked around. “Ah, you mean the ambassador? No, we will personally see to his misery.”

After the General left, as well as most of the Sayenese, the ambassador was ushered forth by officers in the Arvonnese regiment. He immediately genuflected and waited with a sour look on his face.

“I’m sure you can guess what we’re thinking,” Caudin finally said.

“Yes, Sire.”

“That was a trick we played on you. No, you can’t, you absolutely cannot. Whatever you think we’re thinking, you are wrong. You cannot fathom the loathing we bear for you. The torture we are planning for you is inventive and astonishing. Some may record it and even call it brilliant.”

The ambassador swallow hard, but did not look up.

“You are henceforth stripped of every title you posses, every manor you own, every favor that’s owed to you. If you have family, they will be evicted from your holdings penniless. And then, once you reach Eri Ranvel, the real fun begins.” He gestured to an officer with his arm still on the rest of the throne, unable to lift it without pain. “Shackle him and bring him to Getrifont. If he escapes his restraints, there will be a bonus to the officer that brings him back in, in whatever state he is found, as many times as he escapes.”

Anla gently put her hand on his shoulder and waited until the men had left. “You were lying,” she murmured into his ear.

“You asked before if I understood what you meant by not being able to take revenge on a man. The king in me knows that I have to show strength, but…I’ve lost all interest in doing anything to him. I picture Kavrin and Isken and everyone else. I’ve starved, I’ve thirsted, I’ve known I was about to die. I can imagine their agony so easily. And still, I don’t want to destroy him. I want to live and forget about him.”

She leaned in and kissed his cheek, saying nothing more.

“One last thing,” he said to one of his officers. “Bring the woodsmen to us.”

The two dozen or so men that had rushed the field to protect their king were brought forward, looking a little confused and worried. “Who speaks on behalf of all of you?” Caudin asked.

The men looked at one another until one stepped forward, the man who had incited the others to run from their cover to protect the king. “M’names Lamintret, Your Radiance.”

“Lamintret, we are pleased to meet you. What made you decide to protect us when you could have simply watched from the sidelines?”

“Well, sir… it wasn’t right! You don’t brawl with a feller then make up, only to have him slug you in the back when you aren’t looking. That’s not honorable and neither was them shooting arrows at you when you wanted to talk. Plus, you’re our king. We had heard you returned only after your coronation, so we didn’t go, but we were mighty pleased you came back.”

“We’re glad to hear it, Lamintret. Do you enjoy cutting trees?”

“Sir, it’s work. I make enough to feed my family.”

“Would you prefer other work, better paying work, if it meant moving to Eri Ranvel.”

“Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I wouldn’t mind it. I always wanted to see the city. Sir.”

Caudin swept his gaze slowly over all the woodsmen. “We believe that a man can learn any subject, work as hard as he can, be given every opportunity to excel, but if he does not have his heart in it, he will never be the best in his field. It is much easier to shape a man who has passion into whatever he wishes than to evoke that passion from him in the first place. You showed us that you have the courage and patriotism to be a king’s guardsman. I would personally like to invite you to join my household as a guard, train with my soldiers, and protect me as you showed me you so very much wanted to today.

“This is a large decision that we will give you time to think over. You will have to decide what is to happen to your property, whether you will sell it to a neighbor, leave it to a family member, or to let the crown care for it. Your family may live with you at Dilvestrar, if you choose. Or you may choose that this option is not for you. Either way, you will be guests of honor tomorrow night at our celebratory banquet and will be compensated for your bravery. We would appreciate answers in a timely fashion.”

Lamintret burst out immediately with a “yes!”. Caudin grinned and laughed. “Sire, Your Radiance, I live with my sister. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind leaving for the city.”

“Then we are pleased by your choice. As for the rest of you, we will see you tomorrow night at Castle Gentrifont.”

Al walked through the crowd and bowed in front of Caudin. “I managed to find five that were still living, Sire,” he said. “I’m sorry about the rest.”

“You’ve done more than enough, wizard,” Caudin said. “How are you feeling?”

“Like a gentle breeze could blow me over.”

“We’ll be returning to Gentrifont tonight. I want you to rest and relax. Tomorrow night we’ll have a great feast in your honor.”

“If you wish…”

Anla and Caudin laughed. “Not interested?” he asked.

“You know I’ve never enjoyed pomp. I can’t tell you how much I hated giving the valedictorian’s speech at Amandorlam.”

“Well, some things can’t be helped. For now, if you could help coordinate with the medics and take care of yourself.” Caudin gingerly rose from his seat and Alistad put slings around both his arms, making him drink an analgesic concoction.

Anla surprised Al by grabbing both sides of his face and kissing his lips, then hugging him tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” he replied, a little flustered.

There was an informal party that night after dinner. Key higher ranking members involved with the duel and battle sat around the Marquess of Ischefel’s grand room in Gentrifont. They wine and liquor poured for hours, the Marquess being more than pleased for the opportunity to bend the ear of the King.

“Your Esteemed Radiance, how do you feel?” the Marquess asked after refreshments of smoked fish sandwiches with skewered fruit were served.

“Besides the obvious,” Caudin began, gently touching his chest, “I feel wonderful. It’s the first time since the Coup that I haven’t felt like death is just around the corner.”

“Did you experience it, death that is?” The Marquess blinked a few times realizing he may have made a social faux pas.

Caudin didn’t mind it and smiled thoughtfully. “I don’t know. Everything was dark and…even, I suppose. I didn’t hear or see or feel anything. Then I heard a voice say, ‘Wait’.”

“Just that? ‘Wait’?” his general asked.

“Yes.”

“Was it one of the people surrounding you?” the Marchioness of Ischefel asked.

“He sounded like he was right next to me. Only my wife and Alistad were there, until Al arrived. And he didn’t sound like Al. If anything he sounded like how I remember my father sounded.”

The room paused to consider this before the Marquess asked, “Where do you go from here, Sire?”

“The amount of work to be done is monumental,” he admitted. “Not only do I have to continue to pull Arvonne out of the bleakness of two decades of abuse, but now I must manage a country that’s almost completely foreign to me. I speak the language and I visited my mother’s homeland thrice, but I know nothing of the people, their ways, and their economy.

“For now, though, I am going to heal and enjoy becoming a father later this year.”

There were pleased gasps and laughter at this news. Al, who had been staring out a window, snapped his head back to the conversation. “You didn’t say anything!” he accused.

“Well, assuming it wasn’t some trick of my wife’s, I only heard earlier today.”

Anla smiled. “That would be a cruel trick to play. I am three months along and already showing,” she said, placing her hand on her stomach.

Congratulations were tossed around and another in a long series of toasts was had before Al and Teleure begged off for rest. The party wound down and they all rested until far into the morning.

The household staff started preparing very early for the banquet that was to serve almost a hundred people. Caudin lent some of his staff to help and their breakfast was more of a sparse repast served around ten-thirty.

Prior to the meal, in the warm afternoon sun, the Emperor bestowed honors upon everyone involved. Most accolades were mandatory; Jemerie had done little more than inform the General that he was not allowed to rush the field. But, he was given a medal as well as the General and several of the officers.

All of the woodsmen showed up, fourteen of the twenty-three taking the offer given by Caudin.

Teleure and Telbarisk were given commendations. Anla was praised, but nothing was said of why the ambassador and his men had suddenly stopped trying to kill the woodcutters.

Finally, Al genuflected before his king. “Kings pray for patriots to be there in the times of greatest need. In my emrys, Alpine Gray, I not only received a patriot and a hero to fight in my honor, but I received a true, loyal friend. No king has ever been given a greater blessing.” Anla slowly drew Caudin’s sword from its scabbard and placed the hilt in his hand, moving the sword’s tip to each of Al’s shoulders. “I bestow upon you the title of Baronet of Eri Ranvel. Arise.”

As Anla sheathed Caudin’s sword, Al rose with a barely contained grin on his face and turned as the crowd cheered. Anla kissed both of his cheeks.

The feast was lively despite the hosts trying to put on airs and keeping things stiff. At one point the Marquess stood next to Caudin and gestured to Anla. “Do you think it’s appropriate for the Empress to be speaking to the commoners like that?”

Anla was engaged in a conversation with a few of the lumberjacks’ wives over the embroidery on their dresses. The women were flush from the praise, laughing and demonstrating the techniques.

The Marchioness added, “There will be a lot more pressure on her to be dignified now that she is an empress. Perhaps you could recommend speaking with a more refined crowd?”

“I’d sooner capture the wind,” Caudin responded. “Look at how happy she is talking to those women. Look at how happy they are that the Empress has taken an interest in their hard work. Few rulers have the ability to connect to the common people like that. Telling her not to do what she feels comfortable doing would be a mistake.”

“But, you must keep the peerage happy, too.”

“And I’ll sweep her up at some point to make the rounds and keep them happy as well. For now, I’ll let her charm those women, who will tell their friends and neighbors, who will then tell their neighbors. It means a lot to them, being seen as valuable. It’s a brief conversation for us, but not for them.”

* * *

The crowds were thick when they watched the Emperor and Empress arrive home. Somewhere behind them they could hear the boos for the defeated Sayenese army, who slunk into the garrison with their heads hung low.

A short council meeting was called as soon as possible. After congratulations were made, Caudin started the meeting by asking about the prisoners. “We can’t send them back to Sayen; it makes my back itch. We can’t keep them here. I find it detestable to kill them. We need another solution.”

“Break them up?” Rogesh asked. “Send them in squads to different places?”

“Not every place needs additional soldiers, who would be extra mouths to feed.”

“Send them to the border?” offered Triniste.

“Not much better than sending them home.”

“Why not retrain them to rebuild the Mielsa?” Al suggested.

“Yes. That will have to do. I really shouldn’t have destroyed the land I was about to inherit,” he mused, then looked up. “Last time we will speak of it. I acted foolhardy in making those pillaging squads, especially by taking such a strong hand in them. Many good men died because of me. I will not act so brashly in the future.”

“Yes, Your Esteemed Radiance,” Rogesh said.

A few days later, Caudin dressed as Quin Sesault once more and visited the dungeons below Dilvestrar. There weren’t too many there; a few Kalronists who couldn’t be trusted out into the public yet and some higher profile criminals. And one Sayenese ambassador.

Caudin grabbed a stool and sat across from the cell. It took the ambassador a few minutes to realize he had company. “Sire,” he said, wrapping his hands around the bar. “The guards have forgotten to feed me or give me drink.”

“Have they?” he asked. “How forgetful of them.”

“Please, Your Radiance, I beg forgiveness. I know that my actions were cruel and unacceptable. I only wish to please you. If it is in your plan for me to die, then give me the knife.”

“It would be too quick. And your words are from a man who has lost everything and can only improve his situation. Had I died and Al lost, you would be doing some unspeakable things to my wife right now.”

“Sire, they were only words of antagonization. I would never dream of harming the Empress nor-”

“Silence,” he said. To the ambassador’s great surprise, Caudin handed him a cup of water and a plate of meat, potatoes, and fresh peas. He gulped the contents of the cup then fell on the plate, not even bothering with the utensils. Caudin threw a kerchief at him when he was finished.

“Sire, you’ve shown me a great mercy. If I could ever show you that I am your man, I won’t hesitate to prove it.”

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Caudin said, leaning forward. “What you did was abominable.”

“Atrocious,” he agreed.

“It needs to be punished. But, punishing you fairly, in a court of law, would raise certain questions from the public.”

“I wouldn’t breathe a word of it, Sire.”

“I considered torturing you, killing you myself with some painful method. So many to choose from. But, in the end I realized that I no longer had the stomach for revenge. You cured that for me, and for that I will be lenient in your punishment, but I will not grant clemency.”

He stood and removed a key from his belt and opened the door to the cell. The ambassador looked baffled. “You are free to go.”

“Sire? But, you just said-”

“I know what I said. I said that I have no stomach for revenge. However, I am unsure about the families and friends of the hundreds of people you slaughtered. I gathered them together and told them that you and your friends were going to be released today at about this time and where your route would be. If they choose to forgive you, then you may go free. But, there are a lot of angry people.”

“Sire, please don’t make me go outside.”

“Did you know that Isken and I were trirecs together?” The ambassador looked frightened. “No? I wondered if the Network knew somehow. I don’t lie about that. I was trained as a trirec and was one for almost ten years. One of the best, I was told, number thirteen in the world before I escaped. Knowing that, do you still wish to stay in here with me?”

He gave one last look as the guards ushered him out to the street. “Tell me how it ends,” he asked the Captain. He didn’t want the details, just the closure, just to tie up the last end, just to finally be at peace.