The Merchant and the Menace (25 page)

“Were you there long?” asked Kael, his face
reddened.

“Long enough to realize our good man Hamly took you
places you’ve not been before.”

Hamly took on a puzzled expression and Kael
protested but Teeg cut him off.

“All things will be revealed shortly, Kael. It’s of
no great import that you learn some of them now. Lord Ader and I struggled over
this for quite some time. Therefore, since you discover a few things about your
father, I’ll reveal your mother’s story,” said Teeg nodding to Hamly. “With
Master Hamly’s permission of course.”

“By all means, Lord Teeg. It’s yer job ta know
these things anyhow. That way the boy will get the story straight,” smiled
Hamly as he turned to the kitchen. “I’ll make sure the lad has done all right
in the kitchen.”

Teeg strolled over to the table and pulled a seat
out for Kael. Kael placed his broom against the table and sat down. The Elf
lord slid into a chair across from the boy and crossed his hands.

“He’s right you know. It is my business to know all
things. If it’s been written, spoken or even whispered, I’ll eventually know
it. I pride myself on the lengths I’ll go to in order to obtain information,”
smirked Teeg.

The old Elf stared into Kael’s eyes as if he were
working on a puzzle. Slowly and deliberately he talked, delivering his
monologue to an audience of one. He never looked for approval or reaction. He
just stated the facts.

“Your mother Yanwin was the second child of King
Macin and Queen Tay of Zodra,” began Teeg.

Kael started in his seat. Teeg ignored the boy’s
reaction and the story unfolded:

A more beautiful woman in the kingdom you couldn’t
find. Talented in every way. Music, archery, poetry, Yanwin mastered all. King
Macin was well aware of his daughter’s gifts and smiled to himself realizing
her worth. Many nobles and lords throughout the land desired to marry his
daughter or arrange a marriage between Yanwin and their sons. Macin explored
these proposals in search of the most advantageous. At first, the king
suggested some of the more interesting proposals to his daughter. Princess
Yanwin wasn’t interested in marriage. She searched for more than becoming the
symbol of connection and power these nobles wanted of her. Willful and
stubborn, she refused the marriages her parents arranged.

To avoid the daily pleas and threats of her father,
Yanwin broke from decorum. She spent long hours out of the castle, touring the
city. She visited the market and often ventured out to the fields surrounding
the city. She quickly became a favorite of the people with her easy manner and
charm.

One day she strolled into the Guardian’s Hold with
her ladies in waiting and offered assistance. The offer was accepted and it
became a daily routine for the princess and her entourage.

Often, the ladies broke from their chores to watch
the recruits train. This was quite scandalous in the court of King Macin.
Yanwin, however, didn’t care about the conjecture of others. She arrived at the
Hold one day to find Sergeant Brelg putting the trainees through their paces.

Brelg owned the reputation as a fine tactician who
survived three tours of duty along the Scythtar. Battle plans and tactics
fascinated the princess. The stories of the heroes of the Guard intrigued her.
She boldly queried the sergeant on these subjects when he possessed a free
moment. He readily answered any and all questions. She left the Hold
invigorated by their interaction.

That evening Yanwin lay awake thinking about her
day. This Sergeant Brelg was brilliant, a man of true intellect behind a rough
exterior. He was so unlike the flippant barons and dukes her father paraded
before her. Brelg didn’t look on her as a princess of Zodra, but a woman of
intelligence. He treated her as an equal. She asked questions and he answered in
carefully prepared statements, not glossy, dismissive quips.

Yanwin returned day after day to the Hold.
Sometimes, Brelg straightforwardly told her he was unable to answer her
questions. The demands of the day were too great. Yanwin admired his honesty and
sense of duty. She was a beautiful young woman and a princess of the realm.
Many men tried to win her favor. Sergeant Brelg never once flirted with her. He
remained respectful at all times.

However, through their conversations she noted he
was keenly interested in her intellect. Her questions became more complex. Her
knowledge of historic battles, both big and small, grew. After one particularly
frustrating day with the recruits, Brelg told Yanwin she was his best student,
one of the only compliments he ever paid her.

A petty handmaiden in Yanwin’s entourage resented
the princess. She went to the king with the story of the budding romance.
Little did Macin know, the two were already deeply in love. He ordered Brelg
and his troop out to the borderlands. The recruits weren’t ready and Brelg knew
it. He informed his superiors. They never responded.

The night before their departure, Yanwin went to
the Hold. She was barred from entry in the evening, but noticed a familiar
young man. Brelg had often told her to pay attention to this recruit during
training exercises. Sergeant Brelg believed that one day this boy, Cefiz, would
be a great warrior.

Once again Kael’s expression showed shock. Cefiz? A
great warrior? The boy fought hard not to question that description. He knew it
might take the old Elf down a different path. He was interested in his mother
and father and Teeg was giving him exactly what he wanted. The Elf lord paused
for a moment to allow Kael to digest the news then pressed on.

Cefiz’s prowess with weaponry was unequaled in his
class. His strength and stamina surpassed by no one. His individual decision
making during exercises was usually first rate. Brelg planned to make the young
man the leader of his recruit class, but the boy lacked the humility to be a
leader. His refusal to accept his losses and regroup to fight again was his
downfall. Once a mistake was made in the field, there was no second chance. You
were dead.

Cefiz’s inflated ego extended beyond the training
grounds. He saw the princess arrive day after day at the Hold. He noted how her
attention never wavered from his every move. He convinced himself that she
became infatuated with him.

At first he tried to dismiss the concept. Princess
Yanwin was a noble and he just a soldier. All in the Capital knew of Macin’s
desire to marry off his daughter in alliance with one of the powerful houses of
the court. However, as each day passed, the young man let the seed of
possibility grow in his heart. He watched her as intently as she watched him.
It was true that she was beautiful, but she was so much more.

The princess treated all as her equal. A kind word
was always on her lips. She visited the wounded, freshly returned from the
front, and offered them words of encouragement and praise. She read the lists
of the dead as they were posted each month and she visited all of the
relatives’ homes. She was overwhelmingly compassionate to her father’s
subjects. Cefiz’s own belief in her feelings for him and Yanwin’s attributes
tricked the man in love with her.

That night, on the eve of his departure to almost
certain death, Cefiz was elated to see the princess approach him outside the
gates of the Hold. Sorrow and fear hovered in her eyes and the young man
mistakenly believed they were there for him. He would leave with the knowledge
of her love in his heart.

How bitter a pill it must have been when the
beautiful young woman begged the recruit to bring a message to Brelg? How he
must have wondered what a fair maiden such as Yanwin could possibly see in the
dour, scar covered veteran? However, the encounter saved many lives, for it was
then and there that the young lieutenant decided never to let his ego get the
better of him again.

Cefiz swallowed that pride and bade Yanwin wait
outside. He marched to Brelg’s chambers and knocked on the door. Brelg called
for him to enter. The sergeant’s eyes scanned communiqués spread across his
desk.

‘What is it, lieutenant?’ questioned Brelg.

The lieutenant cleared his throat.

‘Princess Yanwin awaits you at the gate, sergeant.’

Brelg looked up and eyed the young man.

‘It’s after hours,’ stated Brelg in surprise.
‘Training has concluded for the day. The princess is well aware that no ladies
are allowed within the confines of the Hold after sundown.’

‘That is why she stopped me at the gate and asked
me to be her messenger,’ stated Cefiz.

Brelg blinked and stared at Cefiz.

‘What is she thinking?’ said Brelg. ‘It’s the eve
of our departure to battle. I ... I don’t have time for this. Men’s lives are
at stake. I have work that cannot be interrupted. I need the men to commit to
one another or all is lost. Please tell the princess I’m occupied.’

Cefiz nodded and turned to leave, then abruptly
halted.

‘May I speak freely, sergeant?’ asked Cefiz.

Brelg felt relieved. Finally, this young man was
about to step up and offer his leadership of the unit.

‘Of course Cefiz, I desire your input on these
matters,’ said Brelg.

‘To send the princess away would crush her. She
defies her father, nay her king, to speak with you this evening. She risks all
for you and you talk of battle plans. Have you no soul, no heart?’ Cefiz’s
words spilled from his mouth.

Brelg stood at his desk stunned for several
minutes. This arrogant young man dared to talk to him of heart and soul. What
did this fool know of it? Princess Yanwin was the daughter of the king. Brelg
was a loyal subject. He simply served her and complied to his office as a
sergeant at arms when he hosted her at the Hold.

Yet Cefiz was right. Brelg’s heart knew otherwise.
He longed for her arrival everyday. Even on the days he knew they wouldn’t find
a chance to speak. If she was late, he fretted. When she was moody and
dejected, he wondered what troubled her, but dare never ask for fear that she
think he overstepped his bounds. He stood at his desk amazed at how foolish he
was. As he assessed his feelings he was unable to deny them any longer. He
loved this woman more deeply than he could ever imagine. His emotions in those
few moments ranged from outrage to joy to intense sorrow, for he knew what must
be done.

‘Cefiz, I will let your comment stand as is. You’re
highly agitated. We leave for the borderlands in the morning. It’s to be
expected. However, my private affairs are just that, mine. No more will be said
of this. Whatever the princess’s interest in me, it’s the diversion of a
foolish young woman who bridles at the attempts of her parents to find her a
suitable match. Return to the gate and inform the princess I’m unable to see
her.’

‘Sir, if you weren’t my commander I’d call you out
for that insult to a lady. The only foolish act she commits is to trust her
heart to an ass!’ spluttered Cefiz.

‘Cefiz! Hold your tongue.... I can’t ........ It
can never be. I.... I’m beneath her,’ muttered Brelg shaking his head.

‘Sir, go to her. Don’t fear for this unit. I swear
to you here and now it will hold. I’ll do everything in my power to make this
the best group of fighting men in the corps. At the very least say goodbye to
her,’ said Cefiz softening his tone.

Brelg flashed a weak smile and clasped Cefiz on the
shoulder.

‘I’m sure you will. I’m sure you will,’ said Brelg
and he stepped from the room.

Brelg’s unit was sent to the heart of the fighting.
Their tour of duty was to last a year but inexplicably stretched to two years.
Ulrog raids from the Northern Mountains became more frequent. Ulrog raiders
found a path through the mountains around Tar Hdjmir as well. Brelg’s unit ranged
the entire northern border. Often they went days without sleep. The fighting
was endless. Their fame grew.

After two years Brelg was recalled to Zodra. As his
troop journeyed home news of their return spread through the countryside. Town
after town lined their streets to cheer the heroes. Flowers were strewn before
the haggard soldiers as they plodded south toward Zodra. Zodra’s people offered
praise and thanks.

However, Zodra’s king held no such favor in his
heart. Macin‘s jealously and hatred of Brelg grew. The king ordered Brelg’s
troop to halt far from the city and return to the Hold only after nightfall as
the capital slept. Brelg became furious. Many fine young men died defending the
lands of Macin and his people and others in his unit bore the scars of battle.

Brelg refused to allow Macin to steal the glory his
men. Half a day’s journey from Zodra, Brelg set up camp for himself and sent
his troop at double-time toward the city. His men arrived at the height of the
afternoon market to their hero’s welcome. The people cheered. Confetti flooded
the streets. Children dashed amongst the warriors as they marched to the Hold.
The men received the adulation of their people. Adulation they richly deserved.