Chapter 45

Commemorations

The feast was much like the last that Femira had attended although this time she was wearing her bloodshedder uniform instead of being paraded about in some restrictive dress. Once again, She had Jaz for company and the two were greeted and congratulated on their victory by various highborn as they moved through the feasting hall. There were even some Altarean highborn in attendance, proffering their overzealous enthusiasm for the bloodshedders that killed their ‘renegade countrymen’.

“The old commander Himsbrack has gone into hiding,” one of the Altareans said. “We are all very approving of the new Stormguard Commander Darza… a good man… a trustworthy man… very loyal to the Reldoni, just like the rest of us…I for one welcome our Reldoni overlords.” This statement was met with vigorous head nods from flabby jowelled former patriots and hear, hears. No doubt they had deluded themselves into thinking declaring such things aloud was bravery of the highest order.

Femira didn’t care about the Altareans or their need to prove that they supported the Reldoni. She did idly wonder how many of them actually supported the resisting stormguards in secret. Himsbrack had clearly been a stoic patriot. Had he been on one of the ships we’d sunk? How many relatives of these nobles had Femira and her companions killed? And they were here congratulating them for it.

Highborn are fucking weird.

She’d spotted Garld and Landryn speaking to General Mattice—whom she recognised as the man whose loose lips had gotten Sadrian Graves killed by the Honorsword—along with another highborn man that she didn’t recognise. She’d wanted to speak with Landryn again, the conversation she’d had with the man before becoming soulforged had been strange but not unpleasant. She found that she quite enjoyed his company and they way that his hand would sometimes rub at his jawline when he was thinking. He’d been reserved in her first meetings with the man but she still found him… interesting.

She also hadn’t gotten to speak with Garld since returning as Missandrei had given the report directly to him. She left Jaz with some fawning young highborn women and made for the trio of men.

Landryn inclined his head with a small smile as she approached and she saluted appropriately. He didn’t seem annoyed by her interrupting their conversation.

“Captain Missandrei tells me you did well on the battlefield,” Garld said, and Femira couldn’t help the pitiful sense of pride she felt at his praise.

“Highlord Averstock,” Garld addressed the other gentleman, a striking man with a tight beard and vibrantly blue eyes, “may I introduce Annali Jahar.”

“Lady Jahar,” Averstock inclined his head. Femira saluted respectfully and smothered a smirk, there was something very intoxicating about being in the presence of someone who’s mansion she’d broken into. Thought you were so clever with that hidden compartment in the desk. She wondered if he even knew that the journal was missing. It still irked her that Vestyr had managed to steal them from her and that Garld seemed to be completely aware of the fact.

It’s all just a big game to these people isn’t it?

“A pleasure, my lord,” she greeted with every ounce of Annali’s formality.

“Lord Averstock is Highlord of the Tidewall,” Landryn informed her.

“Although I do spent the most of my time here in Epilas… very important business always in the capital,” Averstock interjected with a haughty air.

“He and I both thank you for your efforts in keeping the Tidewall’s shores safe,” Landryn finished, without skipping a beat at Averstock’s comment.

“I don’t like these mysterious reports of entire villages of people disappearing, however” Averstock grumbled. It appeared they were already in an argument before Femira had arrived

“We need to bolster the regular patrols on the Tidewall,” Averstock continued, his head angled so that his nose was always slightly in the air. One of those types. “The encounter the bloodshedders had only proves the need,” he declared.

“General Mattice has ten thousand spears,” Garld offered, “two companies of four thousand crossbowmen and three hundred runewielders… I think he can spare a few hundred men that can be re-deployed to the Tidewall,” He suggested with arched eyebrows to the stout General.

“The Tidewall is not part of my domain,” Mattice countered, offended by the very notion of it. “You should pull back some of the forces you have occupying Altarea, Prince Landryn. You still have a company of soldiers there.”

“They’re keeping the peace,” Landryn said simply as if the matter was not up for discussion.

“Altarea is stable. Highlord Ingel’s authority is undisputed in the city and this new Stormguard Commander Darza I hear is quite competent…” Mattice rambled, “those soldiers were a contingency to hold the palace for when those missing Altarean warships came to reclaim it… but it appears those warships are now raiding the Tidewall instead. Send them to finish the job they were tasked with.”

“You don’t need the bulk of our army,” Garld argued, “the Reinish border has been quiet for over a year. Our spies have reported that the Keiran Emperor has been mobilising his forces from his border provinces… He is demanding no less than twenty thousand spears. I believe the Keiran mean to make a push for Rein.”

Femira didn’t miss that both Mattice and Averstock had given her suspicious glances at the mention of the Keiran Empire’s army.

Don’t you all think the Keiran girl would be a bit fucking obvious as a spy?! Garld and Landryn didn’t seem to take any concern of her being part of the conversation.

“If that’s true, then all the more reason to keep our southern border strong,” Mattice replied, his stubborn chin raised, “Heck, we should be making a push ourselves.”

Careful Mattice, that kind of language is foul! You must be so very worked up.

“If the Reinish are preoccupied with the Keiran,” Mattice went on, “then we can take the delta. The Reinish cannot fight wars at both ends, they’ll withdraw from the delta and defend their capital from the Keiran.”

“I’ll not start an open war with Rein,” Landryn replied. He appeared calm but Femira got the sense the conversation was irritating him.

“You had no problem doing so with Altarea,” Mattice badgered on, “or was that your father pushing you? Perhaps you’re not as strong a leader as we thought!”

“Careful, General Mattice,” Garld said with no slight of warning, “you are speaking to your Lord Commander and Prince.”

“He is our Commander because we chose him,” Mattice said with affront and then raised a finger at Landryn, “the support of the Generals is why you are in the position you are, Prince Landryn. Do not forget that. Your bloodshedders may be making a name for themselves to the people, but do not forget that the bulk of our army still hold allegiance to myself and the other Generals.” With that statement Mattice turned heel and left them.

“He should not have spoken to you like that,” Garld scowled, “he’s becoming too unruly.”

“He’s still annoyed that I was made Commander over him,” Landryn conceded, “he’ll come around.” Femira didn’t feel that he was convinced of that.

“And what of my shores?” Highlord Averstock asked, “I have enough soldiers for patrols but if there are more attacks… or more missing villages… and if Mattice will not release any of his soldiers… what can I do? Landryn, you simply must do something about this.”

“Can you give us a moment?” Landryn asked Averstock, “and we’ll discuss this.” Averstock bowed his head and retreated leaving Landryn, Garld and Femira out of earshot of any of the nearby highborn. Again, they didn’t seem to be bothered or concerned by Femira’s presence so she stayed.

“The bloodshedders do not yet have the numbers for us to start filtering them into tasks like this,” Garld said, “we need to focus on training… only deploying when absolutely necessary. We cannot afford any losses in their ranks.” It was encouraging seeing how passionate Garld was about the safety of the bloodshedders.

“Mattice won’t let us hand-pick any more of his runewielders either,” Landryn noted, “we’ll need to start recruiting elsewhere… What about the Altareans—Annali here seems to be doing well—Do you think there’s any potential for the remaining stormguards to be assimilated into the ranks?—those that aren’t on those warships pretending to be corsairs.”

“I’m not sure the bloodshedders will be so accepting,” Femira said, feeling now that she was part of the conversation, “they’re only now starting to come around to me… I don’t think they’ll warm to taking in recruits from people that were very recently their enemies.”

“Even so, it could still be worth it…” Landryn mused, “there’s surely talented runewielders left in their ranks.”

“Darza seems to be the most aligned to our cause,” Garld agreed, “he might have some potential recruits that we could trial.”

“Good, let’s do that… as for these destroyed villages,” Landryn considered, “I want to investigate for myself.”

“That isn’t wise, my Lord,” Garld shook his head.

“I can’t ignore this,” Landryn replied, nodding over to Averstock, “you know I can’t… and I need you here, you’re the only one I trust to perform the soulforgings. We need more bloodshedders.”

“You are Lord-Commander now,” Garld said, sounding more like a frustrated teacher than a subordinate, “you can’t simply assign yourself field duty because you’re bored.”

“Whatever happened to ‘don’t issue commands for tasks that you wouldn’t do yourself’,” Landryn said with a light grin.

He waved Averstock back over.

“My Lord,” Averstock said, his eyes expectant, “what was the outcome, will we have more patrols or not?”

“I will take a small team of bloodshedders personally to investigate the matter. We’ll clear out whatever’s been attacking the villages. I promise you that.”

“The Lord-Commander Landryn Tredain taking the task personally, I am honoured, my lord,” Averstock bowed his head, “I’m glad to see that you have not forgotten your priorities.”

“Of course not,” Landryn replied, “family always comes first.” Family? Averstock is related to the Prince?

“You were on one of the investigation teams that discovered the empty villages, correct?” Landryn asked, turning to Femira.

“That’s right,” she replied, “pretty spooky.” Probably not something Annali would’ve said but whatever.

“You’ll be part of my retinue then, I’ll choose a few others and we’ll leave tomorrow.”

What?!

“I’ll choose a team for you, Prince Landryn,” Garld offered but Landryn waved him off, “it’s fine. I’ll pick a team myself. I shall only need a handful.” Femira thrilled at the prospect of being on a mission with the Prince. Something about being around him made her excited. The way he’d taken down that Honorsword… He could teach her a lot.

“What is this your scheming?” A woman’s voice came from behind them.

“Precious daughter,” Averstock smiled, opening his arms, “we are simply settling the issue of these disappearing villages along the Tidewall.” The woman was in her late twenties, tall and dark-haired and impossibly beautiful.

“Oh, do tell,” she said with an arched eyebrow at Landryn. Wait, hang on.

“Rhianne,” Landryn said with surprise, Femira didn’t miss the way that the woman placed a gentle hand on Landryn’s arm. “I will be going myself to investigate.”

“Leaving the city again so soon,” she pouted, “but I suppose it is to help my father so I can hardly complain, can I?”

“I don’t think we’ve met,” Rhianne looked down at Femira, “you are… Annali Jahar… if I am not mistaken?”

Femira felt uncomfortable under the woman’s gaze. She felt awkward… like she’d been caught doing something wrong. Had she been doing something wrong? Landryn was also avoiding her eye. She shouldn’t give six shits if he was with this woman, what did it matter to her?

“That’s correct,” Femira replied. She’d been telling the same lie she’d been telling for months that it was easy for her now, “I’m Annali Jahar.”

“I hear you’ve been made into a full bloodshedder now. Quite the achievement for someone so new to runeweilding… Keiran women—as I understand it—are prohibited from such practises?” The woman’s way of speaking always sounded like it ended in a question. It’s annoying.

“I’d had some experience,” Femira replied flatly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this woman was mocking her.

Garld and Averstock who were now separating into their own conversation drifted off. Femira wanted to follow them. She wanted to talk to Garld directly and discuss with him how she’d done in the battle against the stormguards. It irked her how much she craved his praise, it had started small, words of encouragement during her training and built from there. She also knew that the more he trusted in her skill, the more likely he would be to consider her for later advanced soulforgings.

“I had heard something very strange about you,” Rhianne continued, “oh… the people in court can be so cruel.” I don’t have time for your petty shit. Femira knew what this woman was at. Friendly and polite demeanour veiling her insults.

“That people have been calling you Vreth,” she scrunched her nose in disgust, “ugh such foul vermin… I’m so sorry if any—”

“—I like being called Vreth,” Femira cut her off, “I’ve been called it a lot longer than I’ve been here… and I don’t plan on dropping the name because Reldoni don’t like them.”

“It’s a discredit for a…” Rhianne faltered, “a comely girl such as yourself?”

“Are you asking me that?” Femira replied, “or is that just the way you talk?”

“I think vreth are under appreciated,” Landryn mused and Rhianne narrowed her eyes at him, “people fear them because they hide in shadows… because they can’t see when they strike… and there’s a beauty to their flight if you ever sit and watch them—”

—Landryn waved as a familiar pair approached them. Allyn Tredain walked with an arm linked affectionately with Vestyr. Femira still couldn’t help but feel a rise of irritation at the sight of Vestyr. He never acknowledged the night that he’d stolen the journal from her in the alleyway. Did he even recognise her? She knew that Reldoni people sometimes had trouble telling Keiran apart. It was one of the reasons so few people questioned her about being Annali in the first place. The pale boy was still a mystery to her. His almost white hair fell in thick curls framing his boyish face. He made Allyn appear older by comparison than she likely was with his youthful appearance.

“Allyn,” Landryn said affectionately as she approached. Rhianne also exchanged pleasantries. The girl cast a friendly smile at Femira despite the fact they’d never actually met properly.

Eavesdropping on her conversation and watching her brother fight an Honorsword didn’t exactly count.

“Have you heard from Daegan?” Allyn asked Landryn her eyes showing concern, “I’ve gotten nothing from him in two weeks!” Daegan was the other brother… the one who somehow couldn’t runewield.

“He doesn’t exactly keep regular correspondence even when he’s sober,” Landryn said off-handedly. “He’s probably been holed up in some Rubanian viceden for the past two weeks. I swear… First, he ruins the contract with the Rubastre Ironworks and now this.”

“I’m worried about him,” Allyn affirmed, “I’ve tried sending word to Ferath even and I’ve gotten nothing back. Can you try to reach him, please?”

“I’ll send a letter to Ferath,” Landryn put a reassuring hand on his sister’s shoulder, “I’m sure he’s fine. I’d been meaning to talk to Lukane about him anyway, he’s making a mess of our steel shipments up there.”

“I don’t know why Lukane sent him there in the first place,” Allyn pondered, “he was happy with the Royal Cartographers… mostly… I think.”

“Not exactly the most appropriate position for a Prince,” Rhianne put in.

“Daegan isn’t a normal Prince,” Allyn replied, “he shouldn’t be alone up there. He should be kept safe, here!”

“He’s not alone, Allyn,” Landryn argued, “Ferath is a loyal friend and an excellent soldier.”

“Is he…” Allyn glanced around for anyone nearby, “enhanced?” she whispered.

Landryn narrowed his eyes at her, “I told you to drop that,” he said.

“Soulforging won’t be a secret for long, my lord,” Vestyr put in, “my people are concerned with the accelerated rate with which affinity imbued runewielders are appearing.”

“Stop meddling, Allyn,” Landryn scolded her and then gave Vestyr a glare, “and you, if I find out that you’ve sabotaged another bloodshedder mission, your friendship with my sister will not protect you. Do you understand?”

Vestyr glanced at Femira, meeting her eye. Yes, he does remember me. Femira was surprised that they would talk about these things so openly with Rhianne present. Considering she was Averstock’s daughter—the man from whom the journal was originally stolen from.

Also me? Did they no longer suspect her to be a spy? Landryn knew she was soulforged now, did that give him a level of trust in her?

“The journal was worthless anyway,” Allyn said, fishing the small book from a pocket inside her dress.

Worth enough to you to keep it on your person.

“Here,” she offered it to Landryn, “a peace offering,” she said, brightly.

“You’ve made copies?” Landryn asked.

“Of course, I’m not stupid.”

“Elyina’s journals…” Landryn mused, flicking through the pages, “there’s dangerous things in here, Allyn… be careful,” he added with warning.

Landryn then looked to Femira, “I’ll hang on to this for now,” he said to her, “I’ll give it to Garld soon enough.”

He thinks I’ll report this to Garld. He wasn’t wrong as she likely would.

The group broke apart as Rhianne spotted some other people she wanted to speak with and all but dragged Landryn with her. Allyn also left to join another group, leaving Vestyr and Femira alone.

“You’ve been soulforged,” Vestyr stated with a wry smile once everyone was out of earshot.

“What makes you think that?”

“Don’t try to hide it,” he said, “your edir is so much stronger than the last time we met… I don’t think I would be able to force control of your stoneblades, if I tried.”

“I wouldn’t let you trap me in the ground either,” she replied, “that was a cheap trick.”

“You have to play to your advantages.”

“You’re not a bloodshedder,” Femira said, “yet you are soulforged too?”

“You don’t believe that Landryn and Garld are the only ones with their hands on a soulstone do you?” Femira didn’t reply. She hadn’t really thought about it much. Garld had been the only one who seemed to be up front with her… at least most of the time.

“The Aeth have been soulforging for centuries,” Vestyr continued.

“You’re one of the Aeth?” She asked, her eyebrows raising.

“I thought that would be obvious,” Vestyr smiled, pulling back some of his curls to reveal long pointed ears.

Well fuck me sideways.

“And here was me making fun of people for not believing the Yarji were real,” she scoffed.

“My people are a bit more… reclusive than others…” he conceded, “and generally we don’t care much for the ocean. I would wager you wouldn’t find a single Aeth anywhere in Alterea… but many of my kin do enjoy the Keiran sun… I am surprised you haven’t met one of my kind before.”

“Sheltered family,” Femira replied. A handy lie she told to cover any obvious cultural mishaps she made. I can’t keep relying on it though. “So you’ve been infused with an earthstone,” she moved on quickly.

“Of sorts,” he replied, cryptically. “The Aeth’s ways of soulforging is a little different to yours… but the results are more or less the same from what I understand.”

“So mysterious,” she grinned, “I want you to spar with me.”

“You what?”

“Training with those who can beat me is the only way I’m going to improve… so, I’m going to be on assignment for likely the next couple of days… maybe weeks, I’m not sure,” she had no idea how long Landryn would need her help along the Tidewall coast, “but when I’m back we’re going to spar.”

“You’re not concerned with me figuring out military secrets?” He asked with a hint of wariness.

“…you seem pretty close with the Tredains,” Femira replied and nodded to where Allyn was charming a gaggle of haughty looking nobles, “especially, Princess Allyn,” she noted. “I highly doubt there’s anything I know that you haven’t figured out already. I’m not interested in trading secrets. I don’t really care what the Aeth have to do with all of this or what you and Allyn have been scheming. I just want to be a better runewielder and I think you can help me do that.

So, when I’m back… you and I are having a rematch.”