Lawrence Watt-Evans - Relics of War

And this time there was not just one figure on it, but half a dozen.

Garander watched as the carpet glided down to a landing a few feet away. He recognized Zendalir, but the others were strangers-finely-dressed strangers. In fact, their clothes were not quite like anything Garander had seen before, even in the pictures in his mother’s books, and he realized these must be the latest fashions from Ethshar. Shella was probably ecstatic about getting a good look at them; he glanced at his sister’s face, and her expression told him he was right.

He guessed that the woman in the maroon velvet gown with the flared waist was Lady Shasha; she seemed to be in charge. The others were probably a mix of magicians and minor officials. Combined with the baron’s party, Garander was sure this was by far the most people who had ever been on the family farm at one time.

Looking back, he saw that soldiers were leaning into Lord Dakkar’s tent to tell him of this new development, and Velnira was marching across the black earth toward the newcomers.

The woman in the maroon dress stepped off the carpet, and seemed a bit startled by how much her slipper sank into the soft ground, but quickly recovered. She marched toward Grondar.

“I am Lady Shasha of Ethshar, advisor to Edaran, Overlord of Ethshar of the Sands, Triumvir of the Hegemony of the Three Ethshars, Commander of the Holy Armies and Defender of the Gods,” she announced, looking up at Grondar. “May I ask to whom I am speaking?”

“I’m Grondar of Lullen,” Garander’s father replied. “This is my farm.”

Lady Shasha curtsied. Garander had never before seen a woman do that seriously; until now, the only time he had seen anyone curtsey it had been his mother doing it as mockery. When his mother did it Garander had thought it was ridiculous and had laughed; when Lady Shasha curtsied, it was graceful and elegant and not laughable at all. “Thank you for your hospitality,” she said.

“I didn’t…” Grondar began, but then he stopped. After all, Garander thought, what could he possibly say? He had not invited the overlord’s advisor or her companions, but he was hardly in a position to turn them away. He had known they were coming, and had done nothing to stop them. Instead he managed a crude bow and said, “You’re welcome.”

“I have come to speak with the person who presents himself as shatra , on behalf of Lord Edaran,” she said. “Could you assist me?”

Grondar looked about helplessly, and Garander spoke up. “He should be here soon. He knew you were coming.”

She curtsied again. “Thank you, sir. And you are…?”

“Garander Grondar’s son.”

“I am honored to meet you.”

Garander did not believe that for an instant, but he bowed in acknowledgment. Then he gestured and said, “This is my sister Ishta. She was the one who first met the shatra .”

Lady Shasha nodded, but apparently deemed another curtsy excessive. “That’s my mother, Shella of the Green Eyes,” Ishta said, pointing. “And my sister, Shella the Younger.”

The noblewoman acknowledged the two new arrivals with another nod. “A pleasure,” she said. She raised her head toward Lord Dakkar’s company. “And those?”

“The household of Lord Dakkar, Baron of Varag, my lady,” Velnira said, before anyone else could respond. She had joined the family during the introductions. “I am Velnira, chamberlain to Lord Dakkar.”

“Ah. One of the men who meet at Sardiron of the Waters, this Dakkar?”

Even Garander recognized the deliberate insult in this phrasing, in the refusal to acknowledge any of the baron’s titles or authority. He saw Velnira’s expression harden. “Exactly,” she replied. “The one in whose domain we are standing.”

“It was my understanding that this family owns this land.” She gestured at Grondar and the others.

Velnira did not reply immediately, and Lady Shasha turned back to Grondar. “You say the supposed shatra is expected soon?”

Grondar looked helplessly at Garander, who said, “Yes, my lady.”

“Is there somewhere we might speak privately?”

“Well, I…” Grondar began.

“You will do no such thing!” Velnira snapped. “We will not tolerate foreign overlords conspiring in secret.”

“I regret to say that none of the overlords are with us today,” Lady Shasha answered calmly.

“But their representatives are-and you are not welcome.”

“Oh?” She turned to Grondar again. “Are we unwelcome?”

“I…I don’t…”

“It is not his decision!” Velnira shouted.

“Wait a minute,” Grondar protested.

Before anyone could react, Ishta called, “Look!” She pointed.

Most of the people within earshot looked, and saw Tesk moving toward them in that inhumanly smooth way of his. Ishta had not been the only one to notice; several voices in Lord Dakkar’s camp were raised as well, announcing the shatra ’s approach. Hands fell to weapons, or were raised to point; Garander saw weapons being drawn, which he thought was a mistake.

And then Tesk was there, standing amid Garander’s family, looking calmly at Velnira and Lady Shasha. “I understand you wanted to speak with me,” he said. He glanced at the baron’s camp. “There are more of you than I expected.”

Lady Shasha immediately curtsied again, and asked, “You are the shatra ?”

“I am.” He did not look at her as he replied, but scanned his surroundings quickly.

“I am delighted to meet you, sir. How should I address you?”

“Ishta calls me Tesk,” the shatra replied, returning his attention to the Ethsharite. “I do not find it objectionable.”

“Very good,” the noblewoman said. “I am Lady Shasha of Ethshar, advisor to Edaran, Overlord of Ethshar of the Sands, Triumvir of the Hegemony of the Three Ethshars, Commander of the Holy Armies and Defender of the Gods.”

Tesk turned to the other woman. “Who are you?”

“Velnira, chamberlain to Lord Dakkar, baron of Varag.”

Tesk nodded, then turned back to Lady Shasha. “You want to hire me?”

“Lord Edaran wishes to offer you a position in his court, yes.”

“And you,” Tesk said to Velnira. “What does Lord Dakkar want?”

“Why, he, too, wishes to employ you.”

“Why?”

Velnira blinked in surprise. “He thinks you… He thinks he could…”

“He is in that tent?”

“Ah…yes, but…”

“He brought all those people?”

“Yes, he…”

“A job interview does not require soldiers and magicians.”

Velnira opened her mouth, but before she could speak Tesk turned to Lady Shasha. “You brought magicians, too.”

“We did,” Lady Shasha acknowledged. “We wish to study your magic-so much Northern magic was lost forever when the empire fell! Zendalir was hired to provide transportation, while the others are here to evaluate your magical artifacts and abilities. And these two courtiers are here to answer any questions you might have about the overlord’s government, and your prospective position in it.”

That actually sounded quite reasonable to Garander; Lord Dakkar’s actions were not as easily explained away.

“And Lord Dakkar brought his soldiers to protect you from these Ethsharite magicians!” Velnira burst out. “You can’t trust these people. You live in the baron’s territory, and he has come to protect you from these intruders.”

Garander had been focused on this discussion, but a sound distracted him, and he turned to see a dozen of the baron’s soldiers advancing toward Tesk, weapons ready in their hands. Behind them stood a man in a gaudy red-and-gold tunic, with a golden band around his head. At first Garander thought this must be another magician, but then he realized it was Lord Dakkar himself.