Chapter 10: The king's court

The start of summer brought word that the king wished a ranger at his court for the summer conclave. I looked at Aveline as I finished with the two large saddle bags and the large sleeping roll. She pet the horse and looked at me before climbing into the saddle. She was not comfortable riding a horse but neither was I.

I swung up and turned to start for the south gate. We were using horses because we needed to reach the king’s court quickly. If we had walked it would take at least a couple of months. Riding we could reach Killingham in a month. Once we were clear of the fortress we picked up the pace and the horses began trotting.

Even riding a horse Aveline had little trouble using her sling to kill our dinner. We bought new horses to use as spares three days later when we reached the walled town of Crossing. We did not see any orcs or bandits as we continued to south into King’s Pass. It was a very wide pass with a tall wall stretching all the way across it.

We rode into the fortress with everyone staring as if we were strange. We spent the night in the fortress tavern and after that we would reach a tavern each night. Since we had each brought a large pouch of gold coins we did not have to worry about money. Once past King’s Pass the way opened up with large farms and small towns.

The closer to Killingham the larger the towns and the more people stared. We rode into the huge city and climbed down to walk as we gawked at the people and buildings. The huge area we went to was on the other side of the city. There was a very large fortress with soldiers in fancy dress. When we reached the main gates a soldier walked out, “Your business?”

I looked him over, “We are from the rangers in the north and we were asked to attend the summer conclave.”

He snorted as he looked at my clothes, “You look like a mercenary.”

I smiled, “And you look like a useless peacock.”

He stiffened before gesturing, “Inside on the left is the stables. Use the servants entrance around back.”

I looked him over again, “Tell you what, you let his majesty know we are returning to the north.”

I turned with Aveline and started away. I had seen a large inn with a stable yard and we stopped there. We carried everything up after we paid for the night. Aveline smiled as she collected a clean set of clothes and headed towards the baths. I sat outside the inn on a large raised porch and sipped cider as I watched the street and the people rushing around.

It was awhile before I saw the two elves walking with a soldier in a fancy set of clothes and a long colorful feather in his helmet. The elves glanced at me and slowed before looking at each other and climbing the steps to the porch. The soldier followed as they stopped beside my table.

One elf bowed, “I am Ashton and unless I am mistaken you are a ranger.”

I nodded and he gestured to the other chairs, “May we join you?”

I gestured and they sat and Ashton leaned towards me, “Riders have been sent out to find and ask you to return to the conclave.”

I shrugged, “I am no man’s servant. That pompous ass on the gate wanted us to use the servants entrance.”

The soldier growled and I glanced at him before looking at Ashton, “You are here for the conclave?”

He nodded and turned to smile at the serving girl, “Cider.”

He looked at me, “And bring word to the Green Heart.”

I sat back and sipped my cider before glancing around, “Do know what the Elf’s Mind is?”

He straightened, “You are Blade.”

I smiled and nodded and he glanced around, “You found another stone?”

I glanced at the others, “It was in Scarlet mountain.”

The man sat up and hissed, “That is occupied by orcs.”

I grinned, “Actually the dwarves have sealed the doors and most of the orcs have been killed and the rest are being hunted.”

The elves looked at each other as the man looked at them. I turned as Aveline walked out and grinned, “A record. I thought you would be soaking for another candle mark at least.”

She smiled as she joined me, “One candle mark was enough.”

She looked at the elves and nodded her head. They returned her nod and Ashton murmured, “Lady Aveline.”

We sat and talked for a couple of hours before having dinner and retiring. We were up early and dressed and walked out to a messenger from the king. We broke our fast and walked to the Keep and the fancy soldiers were quick to let us pass. We were early and had time and went around to the large practice yard.

I grinned when I saw a set of footprints to one side. I looked at Aveline before I pulled my short swords and stepped into the pattern. Only I walked the whole pattern and she followed and when I finished six elves were watching. Ashton stepped forward, “You know the whole pattern?”

I smiled as I watched Aveline finish, “We learned at the Dawn’s Step.”

He straightened before bowing with the others. We walked it again but this time with the elves following. When we finished we walked into the Keep together and into the huge entrance hall. We were seated between the elves and a dozen dwarves. One stood as we approached and bowed to Aveline and I grinned when I recognized him.

The king started with talks of where trouble was and how many soldiers he was using. He looked at us, “Rangers?”

I stood, “Yes?”

He gestured to all the nobles around the table, “We would like to know why we continue to have orcs and other foul creatures pushing and attacking our borders.”

I looked around, “You speak of armies guarding places. Just one of your armies is more than all the rangers combined. We face and kill foul ones on both sides of the north mountains, from the far west coast to the far east coast. You want to know why the foul ones continue to attack your borders? We can not be everywhere.”

He frowned as the nobles murmured and one leaned forward, “Perhaps it is because you do not seek them out.”

I smiled, “Do not seek them out? I have faced goblin, orcs, trolls, a giant and other creatures you only have nightmares about.”

I looked around at the fancy nobles, “I did not see you on the northern plains when only two of us faced a small army of worgs and orcs. I did not see you when we entered Frost fortress and killed the dark brother clan leader. I did not see you when we faced a wyvern. You were not with us when we went into Scarlet mountain to hunt orcs and kill the dark shadow that ruled.”

I shook my head, “That was only the things I have done. Rangers face foul ones alone or in pairs. We do not have armies to attack or defend.”

Another noble stood, “Maybe if you used serviceable weapons and not those fancy ones...”

I growled as I leaned on the table, “Fancy? You are a fool. My sword is called Reaper and that is what it is. I took it and the short swords after killing four trolls. I took the two long knives from the dead body of an orc commander.”

I touched the spikes, “The spikes are from the dead bodies of dark brothers.”

I looked around at the nobles, “If you are looking for excuses, look at each other.”

I straightened and gestured to Aveline, “You asked for rangers to point fingers at and blame. We have enough to do just to stay alive. Rangers go out everyday and many times they never return. You can piss in the wind for all we care.”

I spun and started for the door with Aveline beside me. Talking broke out and then there was shouting as we left. When we returned to the inn I was ready to leave but Aveline said to wait. We had a small lunch and I went into the courtyard. I stretched and began stepping and following the pattern.

I saw the elves and dwarves but continued to follow the pattern until I was finished. Like each time I always felt refreshed and stretched before turning to face the elves and dwarves. Ashton cleared his throat, “We wish to speak with you.”