An Ending of Oaths - Chapter 15

Valemonde, Lynese

The Lynesian palace was impressive. William had to give it to them. He’d always thought the palace at Starhaven was impressive, but it paled in comparison to what the Lynesians had done. Where they had stone lined with tapestries, statues, and art, here every part of the wall itself was art, the stone covered with some kind of plaster material that had been carved and painted to make long intricate patterns. Even the molding on the floor and ceiling were finely carved and painted. The whole hall almost glittered.

He’d only seen inside the large hall beyond the doors where he and Pembroke waited for a moment, but it made the hallway look like... a hallway. It was an impressive display, which was probably the point of it.

William was trying to be calm. He’d agreed to this marriage to end the war, but now that the moment was here, he was nervous.

“It’s amazing he managed to schedule this for Baudric’s day,” William said, noting that the date was a Lynesian holiday that celebrated his ancestors’ establishment of their dynasty and the Lynesian empire as a whole.

“The man never stops plotting. Everything he does is a strategy. He’s reminding us of his lineage, no doubt.”

William gave a small laugh. “No doubt. Has he followed through on his promises at least? I’d hate to go through all this only to find we’d been played as fools.”

“He has, Your Highness. The money to pay for reparations has been loaded on the ship, and our scouts report their men have ceased probing our lines and stood down as agreed.”

“With as easily as he put that amount together, he could probably have paid more.”

“Probably, but we took what we could get, and Rendallia is the big prize. The gold is more of a statement than anything else. Although it will go a long way to helping when you get it back home.”

William looked to Pembroke. They both knew what that meant. He was sure that his father, when he heard about the payments, would be planning how to benefit from it. He would be furious when he found that William was planning to take it to Aldric, instead.

“Good. Once this nonsense is done, I’ll take half our forces, Alistair and Drummond’s men most likely, board the ships here in Dawnstar lake, and sail for Rendallia immediately.”

“That will be a tight fit. The rest of the ships are still patrolling the northern coast and supplying Talabot. We could pull those ships, but if Baudric were to…”

“No, if we pull too fast, Baudric may try to take advantage of it. We need to do this right. I’ll take what we have here and pack them as full as we can manage. We’ll make for Rendallia City, resupply there, then sail straight for River Mark.”

“Are you sure that’s the right call?”

“Yes. Alistair’s from Iron Keep, and Drummond is one of Aldric’s sworn men. They’ll keep true. The war here is over, but it’s just beginning at home. Aldric will need every sword we can muster.”

“And your father?”

They had only spoken about his father and William’s own loyalties a few times, and those had all been theoretical. Tonight William would board ships with men and sail with men to fight against his father. It was no longer theoretical.

“I know where my loyalties lie,” he said, holding the baron’s gaze, which Pembroke answered with a nod. “I’m leaving you to handle the withdrawal. Pull our lines back to Rendallia, establish outposts to hold the province until we can fully integrate it into the kingdom. Once that’s done, leave a garrison to hold Rendallia and move the rest, as many as you can manage, to Rendallia City, and be ready to follow us.”

“We’ll be ready,” Pembroke said.

William patted him on the shoulder, a gesture normally done by the older baron to William. The reversal was not lost on Pembroke, who smiled at it. As if that were a cue, the sound of an organ began to float from the closed doors. 

“It seems to be time, my prince,” Pembroke said.

William steeled himself and stepped forward as the massive doors swung open, revealing the grand hall beyond. Drummond, who’d been waiting inside, fell in step with Pembroke, behind William.

Across the hall, Isolde appeared with her retinue. Her father, Emperor Baudric, beside her with her siblings, followed close behind. For all the elaborate dress of her father, her siblings, and the nobles filling the hall, her dress was fairly simple: white with red and black highlights in the colors of her house. From what William knew of Isolde from their talks, he was fairly certain the simpler dress was her idea. It was at least her style.

Acolytes in flowing robes of white and gold led the way down the aisle. At the far end of the hall, the head Elder waited before an ornate altar.

As they reached him, the Elder lifted his arms, raising his voice to carry clearly through the hall. “We gather here today, under the watchful eyes of the Ancients, to join these two in marriage. May their union bring wisdom, strength, and lasting peace to our kingdoms. Let us pray to the Ancients, beseeching their protection and guidance for this couple and the realms they represent.”

William and Isolde turned to face each other, looking into each other’s eyes as the Elder prayed.

“Revered Ancestors, guardians of wisdom and keepers of the old ways, we humbly beseech your presence and blessing upon this union. As in ages past, when your power shaped the very foundations of our world, we ask that you now shape the bond between William and Isolde. Grant them the strength of the earth, that their union may stand firm against all trials. Bestow upon them the clarity of the waters, that they may see clearly the path they must walk together. Imbue them with the passion of fire, that their love for each other and their peoples may burn bright and true. And bless them with the freedom of the air, that their spirits may forever soar above the difficulties and pain of this world. May this marriage bring not only joy to William and Isolde, but also usher in an era of peace and prosperity for the kingdoms of Sidor and Lynese. We ask this in reverence and humility, honoring the legacy you have bestowed upon us. So it was in the time of magic, so may it be now.”

“So it may be,” the crowd repeated.

The prayer finished, the elder lowered his arms and looked to William and then Isolde. “William Whitton and Isolde Montborne, speak now your vows before the Ancients and these witnesses.”

William reached out and took Isolde’s hands, looking into her eyes as he spoke the words. “I, William Whitton, take you, Isolde Montborne, as my wife. I pledge my protection and strength to you, to be held in faith of the old ways as taught by the Ancients. In truth. In humility. In service.”

As he finished, Isolde said, “I, Isolde Montborne, take you, William Whitton, as my husband. I pledge my loyalty and obedience to you, to be held in faith of the old ways as taught by the Ancients. In truth. In humility. In service.”

They were the old words, spoken since people could remember the ceremonies of the Ancients. Speaking them out loud made thoughts of alliances and machinations fade, as the reality of the situation took hold. William feared and loved the Ancients, as any follower of the true faith did. He knew their power and that they saw everything. He also knew that, in speaking these words, he was bound to her, not in convenience or practicality, but in the eyes of their ancestors.

It was a heavy thought.

The elder waved a young man holding a velvet cushion forward. Sitting in the center of it were two dark rings, so dark William at first thought they were black instead of a deep grey. It was an interesting choice, since most rings for marriage were done in precious metals. In silvers and greys. It took a beat for him to realize this was not just normal metal, mined and forged into this shape. The metal had the telltale markings of the metal forged by the Ancients, before the end of magic.

He could see more recent forging, as if the extremely hard metal had been shaped and sized by modern smiths, but the metal itself was old. Older than any society known. Such items were priceless, a pointed reminder sent by Baudric, reminding them of his power and influence.

The man could never stop his scheming.

As William slipped the ring onto Isolde’s finger, he spoke softly. “With this ring, I bind my fate to yours.”

Isolde did the same, her touch gentle as she placed the ring on his hand. “With this ring, I bind my fate to yours.”

They held their hands together after they each wore the ring. The Elder produced a length of cloudmoth silk and wove it around their hands, gently binding them together.

“By the power vested in me by the Ancients, I declare this union blessed and sanctified,” the Elder proclaimed. “May your lives be filled with wisdom, prosperity, and the eternal guidance of those who came before.”

William leaned forward, as tradition dictated, his lips meeting Isolde’s in a chaste but sincere kiss.

They didn’t stay long after the end of the ceremony, boarding ships that evening along with as many men as William could cram aboard them, and sailing up the Lysmir river and open sea, toward Rendallia.

The wind was low and they’d been forced to stop several times along the way, making the trip take three full days, reaching Rendallia City in the early morning. As soon as they were in the city and William arranged for rooms in the keep where Commander Maston had been running the city, William was off again, spending the entire day in the city, getting things ready for the next voyage.

It wasn’t until the mid-evening that William trudged back up the stairs of Rendallia Keep, able to take a break. The rooms were small, although a sight better than the cramped ship cabin they’d had aboard ships. He could have taken Commander Maston’s larger rooms, the ones used by the province’s previous viceroy, but he was only planning on being here the one day, and sailing in the morning, so this would do.

Besides, it was a step above what he’d be dealing with for most of the past year, in the field, living in tents. It was more of a hardship for Isolde who, in spite of her love for the lower born, had never spent a day outside of abject luxury.

Thankfully, she’d borne the tribulations well, never complaining. She’d even started to circulate among the men, talking to them as she did with her own soldiers. It was an admirable trait.

It was well dark outside and the rooms were lit with the soft glow of candlelight, being too warm to have a fire going now. Isolde, seated on a plush couch, looked up from her needlework when he came through the door, giving him a warm smile, reminding him again that, as dynastic marriages went, he had gotten very lucky. Considering their hasty departure, they hadn’t gotten to spend a lot of time together since the wedding, but what time they’d spent together had been pleasant.

She was a fascinating girl. Clever and driven. She was funny and caring. It was only their goals that had been unaligned, hers with the best interests of the Lynesians and him for his own people.

The two handmaidens who she’d been speaking to when he walked in, both of whom were Lynesians that had come with her, had fallen silent when he walked in, looking down in unison, away from him.

William suppressed a smile. Isolde had gotten a chance to get to know him before their marriage, form an opinion. He was sure these two had only heard all sorts of rumors about him, the leader of the invading horde raping and pillaging its way across their country.

“Leave us, please,” Isolde said.

Both women curtsied and hurried out of the room, to an adjoining servants’ quarters they’d been put in temporarily leaving William and Isolde alone. William headed for the bed, sitting on the edge wearily, beginning to work the laces that ran up the side of the boot.

“I’m sorry to have left you to your own devices all day,” he said. “I know this hasn’t exactly been the most... ideal honeymoon.”

Isolde rose from the couch and crossed the room to stand beside him. “It’s fine. You warned me, after the ceremony, that we would be in a hurry. Though, I must admit, I could have done without being trapped on the ship.”

“True, a warship is hardly the place for a refined lady. You did well though. You’ve managed to mesmerize them just as you did with your own soldiers. From what I’ve heard, they’re very taken with you.”

“Well, I think I just like soldiers. They’re so … direct,” she said, giving him a sly smile as she knelt down in front of him, her hands reaching for the laces of his boot. “Let me help you with those.”

“You don’t have to…”

“This is the sort of thing a wife does for her husband. Or so I’ve heard.”

“I imagine it would be more of a thing the servants would do, than the lady of the house.”

She smiled again as her fingers worked deftly, loosening the laces and sliding the boots from his feet.

“I’ve never been one for avoiding work because it’s undignified,” she said, sitting back on her heels and looking up into his face. “So, now that we’re here, what’s your plan? You’ve been so busy, we haven’t had much time to talk since we left Valemonde.”

William patted the bed, prompting her to get up and sit on the bed next to him. “I’ll be leaving Rendallia in the morning. Most of the men who came with us will be sailing for Sidor, along with some additional forces we’re picking up here.”

“So that’s what you’ve been doing all day? Arranging for another voyage?”

“It is. Since we made landfall this morning, I’ve been seeing to supplies, ensuring the men have everything they need. The supplies available here are already limited, and I need to oversupply, since I’m not sure what will be available when I arrive back home.”

“So it’s more war, then?” she asked, sounding a little disappointed.

“Yes. I wish it didn’t have to be but my father seems determined to make life as difficult as possible for the people of Sidor. I can’t stand by and allow that to happen. The past year has been … very difficult for my people. Increased taxes, harsher punishments for minor offenses, restricting trade ... anything to make things more difficult for the average citizen.”

“That’s terrible,” she said, and then reached out and gently took his hand. “I am glad you take your duty to your people as seriously as I always have. It’s … a good trait.”

William just shrugged, but didn’t release her hand. “They’re your people now too, you know.”

“I suppose they are,” she said, giving a small laugh.

“I won’t be taking you with me to Sidor,” he said, the words coming out in a rush.

She pulled back from him a fraction, releasing his hand, much to William’s disappointment.

“Why not? Shouldn’t I be by your side?”

“It’s not that simple. The situation there is... volatile. We’ll need to move swiftly, and I can’t guarantee your safety.”

“But I’m your wife now,” Isolde protested. “Surely my place is with you, no matter the danger.”

“I would like that. Truly I would, but it’s not just about your safety there, or how fast we have to move. There’s important work to be done here in Rendallia.”

Whatever she must have expected him to say, that was clearly not it.

“What sort of work?”

“Now that Rendallia is part of Sidor, your father won’t be sending aid to help the province recover from the war. And with the chaos back home, I doubt we’ll be able to spare many resources either, at least not immediately. Someone needs to see to the needs of the people here, lead the recovery efforts, rebuilding the damage done in the war. These people were your subjects, and now they’re mine... ours. You’ve gone through much of the same yourself, and I think you would understand them more than anyone else I could leave in charge. The people will need someone they can trust. Besides, you’ve already shown a knack for connecting with the common folk.”

“I can do that,” she said, seemingly pleased with the task. “My father, he never let me... he didn’t believe this was the kind of place for a woman. Leading people. But, I think I would be good at it. And you’re right, I do understand them. I think it will also be a good way to get accustomed to leading new people, since not everyone here was once a Lynesian.”

“Good, and yes, I think you’ll be very good at it. Thank you for understanding.”

Isolde blushed slightly at the compliment. “Thank you. Before you go though, there’s one other thing I want. I’ve been wanting.”

“Anything.”

Instead of answering, Isolde leaned into him, reaching up, cupping William’s face in her hands, and pressed her lips to his.

***

Kenna, River Mark, Sidor

Aldric was home again after his visit to what was quickly becoming the ‘front’ of his latest war. Of the war he’d never wanted to come. His exhaustion had less to do with the long ride back from the eastern borders and more with how badly things were going. They weren’t going well.

He found Alyssa in their rooms, sitting next to the hearth. She could see everything he was thinking... feeling, the moment she’d looked at his face. He never could hide anything from her. She stood and set down the small book she’d been reading, crossing quickly to him and enveloping him in a hug.

It is what he’d been hoping for ever since he got close to home. Just feeling her touch again took some of the stress away. It wasn’t why he’d stopped by home on his way to the central baronies, but it hadn’t been out of his thoughts either.

“Has Twyver fallen?” she asked.

Aldric shook his head as she pulled away from the hug and removed his cloak, draping it over the back of a chair. “Not yet. Edmund’s forces have begun amassing, but we still have the advantage in manpower. Montley and Throckmorton sent every man they could spare, as promised. I’m not sure how long that advantage will last, however.”

“If it’s not Twyver and Eastbridge, then what’s got you so troubled?”

“That transparent, am I?” He asked with a rueful chuckle. “Edmund’s play has worked; framing me, and Garris by association, as the ones behind Serwyn’s murder. It’s already shifting the barons who’d held back, waiting to see which way the wind blows. Even the barons who looked closest to siding with Garris, Ironwyld, Darrington, Cragshand, Carrowdown, Hawkhurst, Foxgrove, have all formally pledged allegiance to Edmund now. More than them, actually, but those are the deepest felt, lose to Iron Keep in Eastern Kingsheart. Only a few remain uncertain, and even those feel to be drifting toward the crown. Our advantage in manpower overall has shifted to Edmund’s favor.”

“So fast? That will make things difficult.”

“Worse. Garris sent word this morning. He is worried my involvement is doing more harm than good. He thinks it would be better if I released my barons from their oaths and let them join him outright.”

“They’d never do that. They are loyal to a fault. They’d never abandon you for Garris.”

“Perhaps not, but Garris doesn’t know that. The northern duchies are a different breed, more stubborn. Although I’m sure they’d say independent-minded. They’ve never had the same loyalty to their dukes that we have here in the River Mark or in Shadowhold.”

“You mean their dukes have never really supported them,” she said pointedly. “Left them to rot when things were bad. Whereas here, loyalty’s been earned by backing them when they needed it most.”

Aldric didn’t acknowledge the point, even if he agreed there was some truth to it. “Garris, sitting far up the coast in Iron Keep, that close to Alchmara, would have difficulty understanding how things are done in the south. Even if I released my barons, I doubt they would follow him directly, and he would in turn doubt the sincerity of my actions.”

“What will you do then?”

“I’ll continue as I’ve planned. The time for politicking and jockeying for position is done. The war is here and we’ve passed the point of no return. What we need now are military victories. Once we have that, Garris will come around.”

“And if the victories don’t come?”

He smiled. Alyssa was always the realist. It’s one of the host of things he liked about her.

“They have to or all is lost. Many of the barons still on the fence, even some of those who’ve sided with Edmund, have done so because they think it’s the best way for their people to survive. We need to change that calculation, make it clear that survival lies with Garris and the rebels.”

“How do we get the victory then? You said Edmund would have us outnumbered soon.”

“Yes. We need more men. “I’m going to the central baronies and gather whatever forces I can and take them to Twyver. They were gathering forces. If Edmund breaks through at Eastbridge, he’ll tear River Mark apart. We have to stop him there.”

“Then stop him you will,” she said quietly, moving close to him again, pressing into him. “You always find a way.”

Aldric leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Your faith in me is always heartening. I’ll return as soon as I can.”

She didn’t let go immediately, putting her arms around him and pulling him tight against her. He didn’t fight it. He’d give anything to stay here in her embrace forever.

But duty called.