Gavin. "The Poroo and ebens have been merciless of late. It appears they want to start a war with one another, yet Mirrorstone lies in between. It thrills me to no end they want to kill each other, but I want no part of it."
"You think a wall will keep them out?" Sir Gavin asked.
"It works for Har Sha'ar."
"Har Sha'ar is a mountain fortress. You're on the coast."
"A tall enough wall will keep them out. The kwon too."
"Kwon certainly," Sir Gavin sniffed, "but Poroo climb."
"Oh, I'm well aware. I was there when the Poroo attacked Prince Esek's procession. Horrible creatures. Can't be reasoned with. Can't be bought."
Sir Caleb stopped and cleared his throat.
Lord Eli's gaze jerked to the floor and he waved them forward. "You must desire to freshen up before dinner, but I wanted to greet you first."
Odd. Achan did not claim to be an expert at decorum, but Sir Gavin had taught him a guest's comfort always took priority. Either Lord Eli was clueless, extremely self-absorbed, or suspicious of his guests.
Sir Gavin pushed back his chair and stood. "These are my fellow Kingsguards, Sir Caleb Agros and Inko son of Mopti."
"Ah, a Barthian, are you?" Lord Eli smiled down on Inko. "Well, I won't hold it against you." He snapped his fingers and one of the servants pulled out a chair for Inko.
Achan instantly disliked Lord Eli's arrogant, Esek-like demeanor.
"And Agros is a noble title, is it not?"
Sir Caleb bowed. "My brother is Lord of Allowntown."
"And are you heir to the lordship?"
"By no means. My brother has three healthy sons."
"A shame for you and a joy for him, I'm sure." Lord Eli snapped again and a servant pulled out another chair.
Sir Caleb hesitated, then took his seat beside Inko.
Achan remained standing beside Sparrow, eyes cast to the floor. He could feel Lord Eli's gaze.
"And these are?"
"Our servants." Achan looked up at the sound of Sir Gavin's voice.
"Delightful." Lord Eli left his chair and descended the platform. "I should like to meet them as well."
This was the longest of tales. No man as pretentious as Lord Eli would even look at another man's servants, let alone desire a personal introduction.
"What's this? Your servant is injured." Lord Eli stepped so close Achan could count the freckles on the man's face. His breath warmed Achan's cheek. "Why I...can it be?" He spun to face the high table, eyes wide. "Commander, do not play me false. I have seen this young man before on the journey from Sitna. King Esek issued a royal proclamation to apprehend this man."
King Esek? Sir Caleb stood and drew his sword. Achan drew his as well, and pointed it at Lord Eli's chest. Lord Eli's guards charged from the perimeter, weapons ready. Sir Caleb slid over the top of the high table and jumped to the floor, raising his blade to Lord Eli's back.
"No, no! You misunderstand!" Lord Eli cowered, cheeks flushing so his head resembled a peach. "King Esek made me a fool, keeping my wife from me on the journey from Sitna. Please, stay, Your Highness. Build your campaign. My seer advised me that counsel would come from outside Mirrorstone, and here you are. I am your servant. I will stand with you as you take what is rightfully yours. Please, accept Mirrorstone's full support. My staff and guards are at your disposal." Lord Eli nodded to his guards and the men lowered their weapons.
Achan glanced at Sir Caleb, who sheathed his sword, "Perhaps instead of games, a little hospitality would melt His Highness' resolve."
"Of course, of course. Right away." Lord Eli raised his arm, as if to snap. "But first you must visit the temple shrine and make an offering."
Sir Gavin walked to the end of the dais. "That won't be necessary."
"It is unwise to ignore Avenis. The more attention you bestow on the god of beauty, the more blessings he returns." Lord Eli's piercing gaze bounced from face to face, eyebrows sinking. "No? Very well." He snapped his fingers at a servant who stood along the wall. "Prepare a bath in our best
"You think a wall will keep them out?" Sir Gavin asked.
"It works for Har Sha'ar."
"Har Sha'ar is a mountain fortress. You're on the coast."
"A tall enough wall will keep them out. The kwon too."
"Kwon certainly," Sir Gavin sniffed, "but Poroo climb."
"Oh, I'm well aware. I was there when the Poroo attacked Prince Esek's procession. Horrible creatures. Can't be reasoned with. Can't be bought."
Sir Caleb stopped and cleared his throat.
Lord Eli's gaze jerked to the floor and he waved them forward. "You must desire to freshen up before dinner, but I wanted to greet you first."
Odd. Achan did not claim to be an expert at decorum, but Sir Gavin had taught him a guest's comfort always took priority. Either Lord Eli was clueless, extremely self-absorbed, or suspicious of his guests.
Sir Gavin pushed back his chair and stood. "These are my fellow Kingsguards, Sir Caleb Agros and Inko son of Mopti."
"Ah, a Barthian, are you?" Lord Eli smiled down on Inko. "Well, I won't hold it against you." He snapped his fingers and one of the servants pulled out a chair for Inko.
Achan instantly disliked Lord Eli's arrogant, Esek-like demeanor.
"And Agros is a noble title, is it not?"
Sir Caleb bowed. "My brother is Lord of Allowntown."
"And are you heir to the lordship?"
"By no means. My brother has three healthy sons."
"A shame for you and a joy for him, I'm sure." Lord Eli snapped again and a servant pulled out another chair.
Sir Caleb hesitated, then took his seat beside Inko.
Achan remained standing beside Sparrow, eyes cast to the floor. He could feel Lord Eli's gaze.
"And these are?"
"Our servants." Achan looked up at the sound of Sir Gavin's voice.
"Delightful." Lord Eli left his chair and descended the platform. "I should like to meet them as well."
This was the longest of tales. No man as pretentious as Lord Eli would even look at another man's servants, let alone desire a personal introduction.
"What's this? Your servant is injured." Lord Eli stepped so close Achan could count the freckles on the man's face. His breath warmed Achan's cheek. "Why I...can it be?" He spun to face the high table, eyes wide. "Commander, do not play me false. I have seen this young man before on the journey from Sitna. King Esek issued a royal proclamation to apprehend this man."
King Esek? Sir Caleb stood and drew his sword. Achan drew his as well, and pointed it at Lord Eli's chest. Lord Eli's guards charged from the perimeter, weapons ready. Sir Caleb slid over the top of the high table and jumped to the floor, raising his blade to Lord Eli's back.
"No, no! You misunderstand!" Lord Eli cowered, cheeks flushing so his head resembled a peach. "King Esek made me a fool, keeping my wife from me on the journey from Sitna. Please, stay, Your Highness. Build your campaign. My seer advised me that counsel would come from outside Mirrorstone, and here you are. I am your servant. I will stand with you as you take what is rightfully yours. Please, accept Mirrorstone's full support. My staff and guards are at your disposal." Lord Eli nodded to his guards and the men lowered their weapons.
Achan glanced at Sir Caleb, who sheathed his sword, "Perhaps instead of games, a little hospitality would melt His Highness' resolve."
"Of course, of course. Right away." Lord Eli raised his arm, as if to snap. "But first you must visit the temple shrine and make an offering."
Sir Gavin walked to the end of the dais. "That won't be necessary."
"It is unwise to ignore Avenis. The more attention you bestow on the god of beauty, the more blessings he returns." Lord Eli's piercing gaze bounced from face to face, eyebrows sinking. "No? Very well." He snapped his fingers at a servant who stood along the wall. "Prepare a bath in our best
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