Chapter 70


    Here to Stay


    Femira fought back a yawn as she neared the door to her room in the barracks. It had been a long early morning walk back from the Palace. She’d practised the exercise of touching her edir off each individual brick in this hallway so much that she now did it instinctively as she passed through it.


    Femira still held the book she’d stolen from Landryn’s office under one arm. It was yet another piece in the ever growing puzzle that she’d been swept up into. How had she gone so far as this? She’d only ever intended to stay in Epilas for a few weeks. When Femira had accepted Garld’s proposal, she’d done so out of fear that he probably would have imprisoned her as a thief if she hadn’t. Then she’d begun to learn the secrets of runewielding, and as her skills had grown she’d come to rely more and more on the advanced training methods of the bloodshedders. Femira had become intoxicated by the prospect of getting stronger and now where was she? She was so embroiled in their schemes that she wasn’t even sure if she could get out anymore. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to.


    This was supposed to be temporary. But now Epilas was her home. There were people that relied on her. That needed her. All the people of Reldon needed her. They needed her and Landryn and the rest of soulforged to fight the fomori.


    She looked down at the book in her arms. Landryn and Garld had invaded Altarea to retrieve the soulstone because Elyina’s journals had implied it was hidden there. They’d used King Abhran’s ambitions for reclaiming Reldon’s lost territories as the justification for the invasion to the noble houses.


    Femira had little love for the stormguards of Altarea but she wasn''t sure how she felt about all the lives that were lost in the efforts in claiming the soulstone. She remembered the fires burning in the city. The bodies of the stormguards strewn about the battlements. She remembered the sulfuric smell of the burning bodies the morning after the assault. Was the cost of all that bloodshed worth it?


    Upon returning to Epilas, Garld began soulforging bloodshedders. So in those early days when Femira was beginning her training, the first soulforged were discovering their new abilities. Ferath Vitares is soulforged. He must have been one of the very first to undergo the process before Daegan Tredain had been sent Rubastre. Her first days and weeks in Epilas had been a blur and didn’t remember any mention of Daegan Tredain back then. That had been before her tutoring sessions with Aden, so she hadn’t known anything about the Reldoni royal family or the various highborn houses.


    Femira trusted that Landryn and Garld had ultimately created the bloodshedders to fight the fomori. They wanted powerful runewielders to defend people from the creatures. But now that their skills and prowess were known throughout the nobility, their objectives were being diverted from that cause.


    Femira and Landryn had discussed all of this before returning to Epilas. How he would need to convince his father and the members of the War Council to direct the efforts of the bloodshedders back to the reason they were originally created. But the news of Daegan’s death has thrown a wrench into that plan. Femira didn’t know what Landryn would do. He was still hurting. All she wanted was to be back with him again.


    Her mind kept drifting back to the feel of his lips on hers. His arms gripped around her, tightly. She took a steadying breath. That was a distraction. Their goal was to convince the War Council that the fomori threat took precedence. She couldn’t allow her growing relationship with Landryn to interfere with that.


    When Femira reached her room, she saw that there was a plethora of letters that had been slipped under her door. It was her first time returning to the room since before her last mission to the Tidewall. She recognised the seals of the various noble houses on the letters. These would be the invites to dinners and gatherings that Vestyr had mentioned. He’d tipped her off that the highborn factions would seek to embroil her in their own schemes and objectives. She stacked them all to the side and ignored them for now.


    Garld had instructed Femira to debrief him in the morning so she didn’t see any point in delaying. She splashed water on her face and forced away her weariness. She rebraided her hair, changed into a fresh uniform before leaving for Garld’s barracks office where he’d told her that he would be in the morning.


    ***


    Femira didn’t want to tell Garld about her night with Landryn. It’s none of his business anyway. So she’d told him that she’d fled through the balcony when he’d returned and that she hadn’t discovered Elyina’s journals prior to that. She had also kept the book she’d found a secret too. He’d not asked for that specifically. Considering it had been in Garld’s possession after Altarea, he surely knew that Landryn had it?


    Femira did informed him of everything she’d memorised of the letters to Landryn, recounting as much of the details as she could. Garld listened with his usual stone-faced patience for her to finish and then—as was expected—gave her nothing as to what any of it meant to him.


    Femira then questioned Garld about Aden and when he would return. The mission that Jaz, Misandrei and the others had been sent on would likely continue for months so she didn’t expect them back anytime soon. Garld was tight-lipped about Aden’s location, only that he was off on assignment and that was all she needed to know to which she quietly bristled.


    Garld was pleased to learn that there was little suspicion pointing towards the bloodshedders being involved with Daegan Tredain’s murder, despite Ferath’s role in it. Garld then informed her that the opinions of the noble houses were shifting towards the Dukes of Rubane wishing to sow discord amongst the Reldoni military factions. A narrative that Garld himself was perpetuating strongly throughout the members of the War Council.


    “The Highlords are hungry for Rubanian blood,” Garld spoke as he sorted through parchments on his desk, “they will not be so easily dissuaded from that cause.”


    “It''s Landryn''s decision though, isn’t it?”


    “Landryn has sway within the War Council, his opinions will not be ignored. Ultimately, this decision rests with our King. And Abhran will not lightly go against the wishes of his council. Particularly when their wishes align with his own vengeance.”


    “Will that not lead to war with the Rubanians?”


    “Potentially,” Garld intoned, “yes.”


    “What will that mean for the bloodshedders?”


    “We are a small but effective arm of the Reldoni military, I don’t doubt we will be called to join the invasion.”


    “But what about the fomori? They are the real threat.”


    “Landryn believes this too,” Garld replied, “it was his fear of these creatures he came to me with the plans to form the bloodshedders.”


    “He approached you?”


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    “Indeed,” Garld replied, “I had already transitioned from my role as Landryn’s Swordsmaster. It was my responsibility to train him not only in the blade but as a tactician and strategist. He had tutors from across our military but he trusted me with this undertaking.” Femira could understand that. She trusted Garld and she’d only known him a little under a year. Despite his secrets, he had a way of making you feel safe. She could only imagine how Landryn felt having Garld being his teacher and mentor most of his life. I suppose if you’re going to trust anyone to make you an army of soulforged, it may as well be the person who taught you everything you know. Garld’s background as a healer prior to that was an obvious benefit to soulforging.


    “Why did you give up being a healer?” She asked bluntly. Garld’s eyebrows rose at the sudden shift in conversation but Femira was curious what the drive had been for the man.


    “Ah, that is a rather long and meandering story,” Garld replied, “but I will indulge you with the short of it. Something you must understand is that I was always skilled in the sword. My father had trained me to be a soldier, you see, this is where my own knowledge of warfare came from. My mother was a chirurgeon and I followed her path more diligently… However, as I grew older, I learned that the best way that I could prevent death and suffering was to prevent the very wars causing them, and I couldn’t do that as a healer. How I became Landryn’s Swordsmaster… well, that too is a long story. My family and the Tredains have long been allies but it was Landryn’s mother who convinced me. We were friends, you see, we trained together in the Healer’s Palace before she wed Abhran… And suffice it to say, it was at her request that I chose to train Landryn.”


    “But,” Garld diverted, “that is enough on that. We must discuss your own rising notoriety.” Femira shifted uncomfortably.


    “It was inevitable,” he continued. “You are an exceptional runewielder and the story of your battle with the fomori will only perpetuate and grow. It’s not what I envisioned when I recruited you… but we can still lean into this.”


    “You wanted a thief.”


    “I wanted a stealth operative,” Garld smirked, “but what I obtained is something far more valuable. With prestige comes passage. It’s a lot easier to steal information when you’ve already been invited through the door.” Femira couldn’t deny that logic. But the thrill of the whole breaking-and-entering bit was the part she enjoyed the most.


    “The invites have already started,” Femira revealed.


    “I have no doubt,” Garld said, “but a drawback to the spotlight is that it makes it quite difficult for you to slip into the shadows. There will be more eyes on your comings and goings. You were a novelty before; a Keiran highborn girl in the Reldoni military is an oddity that garnered some attention… now however, you are a fomori slayer and an elite runewielder, people are more curious. You must be careful with whom you choose to be seen in public with. Alliances form and crumble in moments in Epilas. You are my agent, and your actions reflect upon me. Your company reflects upon me.” Femira couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew about her and Landryn. But how could he possibly know that?


    “Is there anyone in particular I should avoid, sir?” Femira asked, innocently.


    “The Aeth, Vestyr, is not your friend,” Garld said, bluntly.


    “I never considered him one,” she replied, surprise taking her aback.


    “No, but he’s taken an interest in you. You must be cautious with him, Allyn Tredain may only be a child, but she has within her power, the ability to throw the entire nation into turmoil.”


    “The Succession Law,” Femira noted.


    “Indeed, the first born-daughter may contest the first-born son for the right to rule. It is a handover from Elyina’s time. A contingency for ensuring that this country did not slip back to its former patriarchy.”


    “Like King Edinar, before her?” Femira asked and Garld’s eyes widened as she said the name.


    “So,” he said with amusement, “either you could read Common Tongue that night I found you… or you saw the book in Landryn’s office.”


    “The latter,” she grinned.


    “Edinar was one of the last Sorcerer Kings; the last true masters of soulforging. Elyina’s progeny worked diligently to eradicate Edinar’s name… along with his work,” he added the last bit bitterly.


    “So Elyina wasn’t the first monarch of Reldon?”


    “Gods no,” Garld chuckled. “There have been Kings, Queens, Chiefs and Overlords in these lands since time immemorial. The people have always been here, and there have always been people with the strength to command them since the dawn of man. Elyina’s dynasty is simply the latest in that long line of subjugation… alas we are digressing. Vestyr will attempt to befriend you. He will have aspirations to lure you to Allyn’s cause.”


    “And what is Allyn’s cause?”


    “To destroy what we have built. There are many within the nobility that still hold to the belief that soulforging is a crime against nature, and they seek to undo us.”


    “But Vestyr is soulforged himself.”


    “Indeed he is. And I believe many of the Aeth are—much like the Honorswords of Keiran. Vestyr is ardently working against the blooshedders’ progress, and will continue to do so. What his ultimate end is, I can only speculate.”


    “So why is he tolerated in the palace?”


    “Despite his youthful appearance, Vestyr is the representative of the Aeth here in Reldon—he is an ambassador. Reldon’s western border is hazy; Isoler is our westernmost city and has many ties with the Aeth of Evier. The Aeth hold no significant territory themselves however their homeland is a stronghold that we would never entertain the idea of capturing. The Aeth are the barrier between our lands and the Black Sands to the west so keeping good political relations with them is in our interest.”


    “I see,” Femira deliberated, and then added with a dejected sigh, “I had hoped to train with him. With Misandrei and Endrin in Rubane, I am without a senior sparring partner. Landryn will train with me when he has the time, but I was hoping to glean some skills from Vestyr.” Garld considered this quietly for a time, rubbing at his jawline in thought. It was a habit that he and Landryn both shared. There were quite a few mannerisms that the two had in common now that Femira thought about it. They way they carried themselves and how they would hold your gaze when you spoke with them. There was a passionate intensity to the pair.


    “This is not a bad idea,” Garld granted after a long moment, “and he will attempt to make acquaintance with you regardless so perhaps you should get something out of this. But be mindful of his words, he is a poison to our objective. Already he has swayed Princess Allyn to his distaste for soulforging, I do not want him gaining any more influence. The King and Prince-heir are wise enough to see the military advantage that soulforging provides, but if enough of the Highborn begin voicing complaint, even the King’s support might wane.”


    “I understand, sir,” Femira replied, “I will be cautious.”


    “Good, get some rest today,” Garld said, “I have more assignments for you tonight.”


    “Of the sneaking variety?”


    “Indeed,” he smirked, “You’re going to have a busy week. The War Council is meeting in seven days time to decide on what to do regarding the Rubanians, I want to know what all of the Council members'' objectives are before that meeting.”


    “Leave it to me, sir.”


    Garld scrawled out a short list of names on a piece of parchment and slid it over to her. “Start with these tonight,” he tapped the paper. “All of them currently keep residence in the Palace although Averstock and Mattice have their own mansions in the eastern quarter. If you can spy on any meetings all the better, otherwise you know what to look for.”


    “Notes, letters… anything suspicious,” Femira nodded.


    “Also it would be wise to accept some of the invitations you’ve received,” Garld instructed, “it will give you good reason to be seen about the Palace. I’ll arrange for you to be provided with accommodations on the guest level to make your operations less suspicious.”


    Femira didn’t particularly want to have to entertain any nobles that just wanted to use her but she couldn’t argue that it was a good cover. A small part of her was excited to be staying in the Palace as it would mean being closer to Landryn.


    “You’re dismissed, soldier,” Garld said. Femira saluted and left.


    ***


    When Femira finally returned to her room, she found a new letter had arrived. Her breath caught with excitement as noted that it had a red wax seal with the Landryn’s personal crest. The same hawk clutching a curved blade that had decorated his nythilium armour. She snatched it up quickly and closed the door behind her. She sat on the bed holding it for a moment, her eyes darting from it to the door. Even though no one had ever entered her room unannounced before, she couldn’t help feeling paranoid that someone would discover her with it.


    Femira cracked the wax seal and unfurled the letter. She couldn’t resist the smirk that pulled at her mouth as she read.