Rise of the Wolf
What Cost Victory?
- Chapter Three –
The feast at Dhirim is a sight to behold and Bryn gazes out over the assembled crowd with a touch of pride. Is not a little pride allowed to a woman, one married to the bravest Lord in all of Vaegir and mistress of this great city? The lords and their ladies from the length and breadth of the realm are here to mark that fact as much as any other.
She listens to the lord’s talk of the great victory just scored over the enemy forces. It will be peace soon they say and then where will King Yaroglek look? Six great cities he now rules, more than any other ruler in all of Calradia. There is talk he will go on and unite the continent, she does not believe it. A petty vindictive man he is, he has made too many enemies at home to ever rest easy.
Friends and enemies alike are gathered here tonight, though Yaroglek sends his excuses. She asked of Kragen earlier why he invited them all, lords such as Boyar Harish and Druli, a viler pair of thieves she couldn’t name. It is politics he says. They are my equals in the Kingdom and fought like all others against the Khergit Khanate, to exclude them tonight would be seen as a grave insult. She does not trust them, thinks Kragen shouldn’t too, it changes little though tonight and she tries to put them from her mind, hard as it is. She knows a faction in court will always consider him a commoner. Men like Harish and Druli, but there are others too. The King even perhaps? She fears so in her darker moments. They appreciate the land he brings to the kingdom such as this fair city of Dhirim but they scowl at the price. They cry insult when he marries a Nord yet would faint in shock had he chosen to pursue one of their own fair ladies. Even the king she has heard was furious when her betrothal announced. It matters not; they will find a way to view any action he takes as an insult to their Vaegir pride.
She spots Boyar Belgaru alone amongst the crowd; he does not look a happy man. Where is his lady wife Tejina, Bryn wonders? The lord is watching her husband a pensive expression upon on his face. Why does he not approach and join the group she wonders, they are on friendly terms after all. Did they not fight together in the recent war, comrades in arms?
“Lord Bergaru”, she approaches and greets him, “my lord speaks well of you and has often said how grateful he was for your warning conserning those raiding parties last spring.”
“Ah, Lady Bryn” he turns as though considering her for the first time, “you are most kind to mention it.” He pauses as though gathering himself and then seems to make a decision, “I was hoping actually for a quiet word with your husband but I can see he is deep in his cups and such will be impossible now before the dawn grows near.” He speaks quite coolly and then to her surprise leans over and whispers in her ear in a tone of urgency “do you have somewhere private we can speak my Lady?” He nods towards Kragen, “his life may depend on it tonight.”
She studies him for a moment, wondering at this sudden turn of events. A lady going unescorted with a lord not her husband, what would the royal court say? He seems deadly serious though and a sliver of fear runs down her spine. Nodding towards the door behind them she makes a hard choice “wait 5 minutes and follow me” she replies in a quiet voice, hoping nobody hears, and with a pounding heart turns on her heels and exits the great hall.
A soft knock on the door and Boyar Belgaru steps into her private receiving room, set off as it is from the main hall. “My Lady, all is not what it seems tonight.”
“Explain” she demands sharply. If this is some private joke on the Boyar’s part she will see him pay.
Belgaru steps further into the room closing the door firmly behind him. “I’ve come to warn your husband, you too I guess” he pauses, clearly wishing he was speaking to Kragen and not her.
“Warn us? The war is over, or as good as is it not?”
“Yes my lady, the Khergit Khanate is defeated and thanks in no small part to your husband are unlikely to retake any of the gains Vaegir has made.” Those gains are great she knows. The city of Ichamur and at least two other castles of note. “That’s why I feel honour bound to bring you this news” he continues, “it’s the king you see, he plans to move against Kragen tonight I think.”
Bryn finds she can hardly breath. “But why?” she gasps. Is she not safe here? Finally? Safe from the violence of her father and a cruel world? Safety it seems is not something the gods deem fit to grant her. Not tonight, if ever.
“Your husband has made powerful enemies my Lady, the more so because of his success in the war. Those closest to the King whisper that he grows too ambitious, that a commoner should not hold a great city and should definitely not profit from the war. But your husband took the castle of Rindyar without aid from King or fellow lord. By custom that means he should keep it and all its wealth, but as I say the King is fearful and the other Boyars grow jealous.”
The lord pauses a moment, clearly unhappy, “I cannot be seen giving warning” he finally states, “my life and lands would be forfeit if the king found out. I must leave now; gods peace to you and your lord my Lady.” The Boyar then turns and slips back out the door, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Almost alone. The sound of a sigh comes from the deep-set chair set facing the fire, its occupant hidden from any who don’t come far into the room. “So it begins sooner than we thought.” It is a man’s voice, firm and strong. Alayen’s, the captain of her husbands warband.
“We must warn Kragen” she gasps. She has known he was there, had made sure of it after leaving Belgaru in the great hall.
“No!” His voice comes out a sharp hiss, he is trying not to shout, “First we must secure the city and then we can warn our lord. Right now we have a small window to act whilst our enemies think us unprepared, but give them a sniff that we are warned and who knows what they will do“. He stands up and approaches her then, “I know this is hard my lady”, and perhaps he does in his way, for he as much as any of her husband’s companions knows something of her background, “but we have to stay calm. Return to the feast and watch the Vaegir Lords, I doubt they will make their move inside our Lords own hall, but if you see any leave send a servant to me immediately and look to your lord then”. Cursing he snarls something unspeakable and gathers his thoughts, “I must go and secure the gates. Pray we aren’t too late and be thankful there is not enough room in the city to accommodate the warband’s of our guests. The one thing that may save us tonight is that they are all camped outside the city walls.”
He leaves her then, stepping out the door. She wonders what she will do. Alayen has dismissed her as an irrelevance it is clear, of no further help to him this night. Watch for any lord who leaves the hall he says? She knows a sop when she hears one. Can she really stay in the hall and do nothing? But what more can she realistically do, for on one point Alayen is correct. To go now and warn Kragen would force their enemies hand if they saw, and bloodshed would surely follow.
There is one thing she can do perhaps, it may be little in and of itself, but even little things can change a world and she refuses to do nothing this night. A quiet anger is stealing over her it seems and with a determined step she goes to gather one of her husband’s favoured tankards.
The hall is still packed and yet is quieter than when she left. One of the local troubadours has taken the floor and is regaling an ancient saga. She catches Kragen’s eye and cannot help but smile despite her pounding heart for they have planned this together, a way to show Vaegir and all the six Kingdoms that their city and its Lord is as cultured as any other. More so perhaps for he has spared no expense this night. She approaches him then whilst her nerve still holds, handing him the tankard. “A present from Alayen” she whispers, “he says to drink only this tonight to honour his Vaegir gods.” He raises an eyebrow then and takes a sip of the cold clear water in the earthen tankard. He looks at her once more in surprise but says no more. One more reason why she loves him. She has done what she can, a small thing perhaps in the weave of the world. Now she will await the events of the night unfold with a steady heart, side by side with the balm of her heart.