Chapter 22: Bizarre Feast (Shenis)

  Imholt, the town under the rule of House Holt. Not known far and wide in famous circles. They were never wise, or men of great prowess, or even people of grand beauty. They were mundane, quaint, and mostly kept to themselves. Most of their economy was built around stone hauling and craft, making statues for other houses, and then collecting tolls from merchant traders passing through. It is because of their toll collection that most traders preferred to pass through Runsa when headed to the Eastern lands. As Runsa had a free trade policy. Thus Runsa had prospered more in the recent decades while the pathways to Imholt remained mostly less traveled and more decrepit. Their roads being naturally narrower and more troublesome for carts and horses did not help them either.

  Despite all of this their walls or at least the gates were beautiful and rivaled that of the established cities in the lands. Tall with stones neatly pressed together and strong. The keep as well as a work of true stone mason skill, built 10 generations ago by a ruler of a much humbler and hardworking mentality, during an age when the free cities were constantly at war. With the keep erected no one ever dared lay siege to Imholt and thus house Holt retained power undisturbed for ages.

  Shenis and his retinue had arrived at the gates of the small hill town. The men were hoping to make a quick ally of the Holt family and thus prepare to defend the city from the Bolden army and then reach out to House Hartford of White Falls further south.

  It was the middle of the afternoon when the small band reached a closed gate, and while the walls were incomplete or falling apart and would have been easy to scale around, Shenis wished to be respectful and stand on ceremony for the nobility of the land.

  “WHO GOES THERE!” A gate watchman calls down to the young lord and his party from the post tower on the gate.

  “Shenis Savoy true lord of Jule.” He pulled his rapier from his sheath to further display on pomp his stature. “I seek an audience with your lord Drave Holt.” The call was followed by silence. The watchman did not call back or give in any way a signal that the party was or would be welcome. Time seemed to hang in the air long, as if a skunk had made its presence known and now refused to leave.

  “Maybe the lord is asleep or out on holiday?” Dalton jested as he sat down and began preparing a pipe load to smoke. Shenis returned his sword to its scabbard and stood proud and confused at the hanging delay.

  ….And now the gates slowly moved open. Out came an older lord dressed in his finest garb as if he wished to have a display of opulence. Alongside him was his son Varn to right, a gangly creature with a massive overbite and manners that not even fine clothes could hide from the plain view of the sober man. He was a beast, plain and simple. Drave had his hands extended as he approached the young Savoy.

  “Shenis Savoy, what brings you to my halls?" Drave embraced the young lord with a wide smile that while seeming normal to Shenis, made Somme, Issachar, and Highlight tense up. It felt too jovial, after all this lord was well-known for being very divisive and difficult. And while none of them were nobility they smelled something not matching up with what they had been led to believe about this house.

  “We are at war with Conner Bolden’s army of the Bruin. We seek your aid in the cause.” Drave and his son signaled the party inside the gate and made all the proper gestures expected of one noble to another as Shenis explained the situation. How they wished to with both Runsa and Imholt shut down for the Bolden force that perhaps they would be able to blockade supplies for the Bolden Army and how they would also seek aid from House Hartford and form a cooperative movement against Conner and Bruin occupying force.

  "We need not discuss every detail tonight Lord Savoy. Please let us feast in your honor tonight and see if we cannot strike an accord tomorrow." The halls were rearranged quickly by the peasants of the town switching the open room from vacant to full of tables for feasting in a matter of moments, bright candles were lit to fully illuminate the room. Shenis was reluctant at first to the offer without a firm commitment from the lord but knew he was bound to accept the hospitality for the risk of offending House Holt. "All are welcome to dine at my table except the Naudiz.” Signaling to the giant Issachar. You must leave the hall.

  “Please do not be so rude to my companion Lord Holt. Shenis spoke as he had already seated himself.” Drave explained his stance was final as his family built the walls in part to repel Naudiz hordes back when they were more common across the realm.

  “My position is final. We will still bring him food, but not in my hall.” The lord spoke sternly with a hint of anger in his voice. “We…will still bring a flagon of ale for the man.” The giant folded his arms and growled at the lord seated at the position of honor. But made no further display of frustration, he was fully familiar with this sort of treatment from the Gebo, and only recently had become accustomed to otherwise via Shenis and Ernst. As he made his move from the hall the host family and their servants quickly moved food and drink into view to push the moment from memory.

  "I'll dine with you Issachar." Somme the archer spoke and arose to go with the giant, Kyler who enjoyed being around the giant let Ion and Claire know he would go with the bear as well. As they left the hall they were led to the outside and a servant brought them a barrel of ale for the three and a couple of chickens and vegetables. The food and drink were in fact equal to the treatment of the rest of the party inside but the sting of being forced outdoors in shame was still fully the injury it represented. As the servants finished presenting the food. They then made sure the door to the main hall was sealed from the outsider's view. Though the castle itself still sat open. "Hospitality." Somme huffed at the notion. Kyler who was never accustomed to any niceties was enamored at the quality of food. And found his young self ambitious toward the consumption of ale. Issachar being an older Naudiz was unaware of how young the boy was, and Somme thought it was funny watching the boy gag and cough on the drink, only then to take another swig. The humor of the moment seemed to remove the sting of their friend's open disrespect. Even the bear smiled as he realized from Somme the age and lack of experience the lad had. Soon they were enjoying the meal as if it were any other well-planned meal of celebration.

  Inside the retinue was disgusted of course by the actions of Drave but those more familiar with proper social climate were fully aware that this was in fact his hall and thus his choice. The food and drink quickly caught the party off guard as roasted chicken, greasy duck, potatoes, malt beer, and smooth wine were all presented and passed about in portions to make the mouths of the servants sweat in jealousy. They ate without caution or care, or even manners as the food was something of an anomaly, even when in the halls of Runsa they were not prepared such a spread in any variety or way. The food quickly disarmed the party. Dalton was gulping down ale faster than he could pour his cup. Bryan basked in the wine’s aroma and the duck’s fine flavor. Ion and Claire ate with ferocity as if they were still the starved orphans they were years back. Dax and Burt found themselves ripping into chickens with passion and ravenous intent. Shenis and Highlight even found their manners somewhat lost as they had not dined in this level of fashion since before they set out on their adventure from Jule. The smells and delights rekindled old memories of the Hall of House Savoy and the fires of the kitchen.

  In spite of all the food and drink the young lord several times attempted to return to the subject of joining the resisting forces against Conner and how Imholt being a trade route would be an important boon to have secured. Both Drave and Varn took turns attempting to change the course and flow of conversation to anything else, drink, games, women, legends. Anything except modern political and marital events. "Soon we shall bring in entertainment for the evening! But in the moment eat and drink to your fill."

  “Pssh." Outside the voice was heard by the trio at their table. Somme looked over to see a young woman in a beautiful garb of a dancer standing at the door to the castle entrée. She motioned with her hands for the archer to come to her. Somme tilted his head and raised his brows in concern but excused himself and walked over toward the young woman. She was even more stunning than he had first thought from a distance, with purple lavender hair and not a blemish upon her visage in a manner that would make even the most archaic of man return to the vigor of youth for a moment.

  “Madame, you signaled me?” Somme lowered his voice more than usual, as he spoke with the young woman.

  “Please there isn’t much time. You and you’re lord have entered a trap.” She whispers.

  “What!” she signals to keep his voice down and not draw alarm, both for their sake as well as for her own.

  “The Bruin were here last week and signed a surrender agreement with the Lord Holt. They left a garrison and are planning to slaughter your group when our ladies of the dance perform.”

  “When do you perform?” She explained that the start could be any moment. “Why should I trust you?”

  “Look into my eyes, good ranger.” Her eyes revealed pain and sin against the very house she served and while her face held no blemish her body held a chronicle of evil and sin from the touches of the Lord and heir of House Holt.

  "I will trust you. Get yourself to safety when the tensions burst open." She folds her hands over his and kisses them in thanksgiving as she lets out a soft tear. While she seemed broken, the archer could tell she was much stronger than letting on. Something wild was in her, and while it was fully trustworthy, it was also admirable. She then placed her veil back upon her face and turned to go find her troop. "What is your name madame?”

  “Misty.” She calls back as she continues hustling away.

  "Issachar. Best put the drink down." Somme turned around and returned to the table. Kyler burped loudly and then smacked his small head upon the table completely drunk from his first real experience with alcohol.

  “Little Gebo tried to match my pace.”

  "Much to his own chagrin." Somme retorted. "Quick help me move him behind this barrel." Somme began trying to move the boy only for the Giant to grab him by the belt and move him effortlessly. Issachar made it known that he heard the conversation with the dancer.

  “If they are planning an ambush then how will they do it.” Somme placed his hand into his jaw trying to remember the layout of the hall.

  "There is a serving side on the left portion of the hall. Perhaps they'll all grab spears and arrows and intend to massacre the guys." Thinking the situation over he couldn't help but remember Misty; how would she have known about such a plot? "THE DANCERS!" he exclaimed in a loud but not too loud to alert others around the grounds to his statements.

  Meanwhile, the music and sounds of gongs and bells filled the air as Drave called for the entertainment to emerge to purpose. "We best hurry Somme," Issachar spoke as he cracked his knuckles and neck.

  The bells and music filled the hall to a sultry fever pitch as emerging from the stairwells came forth a slew of beauties garbed in silk and beautiful dresses to draw out passions. Entice the flesh and make the pants even tighter for the stuffed party. The women formed a line in between the tables and moved in alluring unison, perfectly on pitch with the music, twisting and gyrating, both slow and fast. The moment entranced all, except for Claire and Highlight. Highlight simply sat with his arms folded as his tastes lay elsewhere and Claire proceeded to punch Ion who despite being Claire’s paramour found his eyes lingering too much upon the dancers, though for him it was more of a curiosity than a lust. Whereas Dalton began whistling and trying to get the intoxicated priest into the action as well. Bryan let out several claps of joy at the women. Betraying his normative priestly manners. Dax and Burt were happy at the sights, though still warring against the food.

  The music ceased and so did the movements of the dancers. There they stood, Misty among them. "Shenis allow me to present to you my daughter, Vera." His hand was extended toward the dancer and the women moved with clanging music adding to the moment. As the women formed a tunnel from which another dancer emerged, one dressed fairer than the rest. She was not as pretty as the others but her clothing was specially designed to conceal this truth. As the music continued she approached with slow tense steps toward the lord of Savoy. Other dancers then as the pathway became evident broke from the pack and made their way toward a person of the retinue. There were more of them than people present in the hall from the savoy force. One approached Varn and Misty took her post nearest Drave, a spot none of the girls seemed to have been interested in. The women reached the regulars of the party first and continued dancing upon their persons. Even Claire was targeted as if the dance was to incapacitate and arouse the party. Claire was pushing her head back and the dancer vigorously engaged. Ion as well.

  Dalton, however, made no attempt to hide any desires. He grabbed his dancer by the waist and forced her to grind upon his lap. She was taken aback by the forceful nature of the man but did not allow it to break her character. Dalton began moving his hands and even gave a firm grip upon her backside. "Hey baby, is that a knife in your dress, or are you just happy to be next to me?" he said aloud without really any thought.

  Vera made her way to the stage with purpose with all of the Shenis' guards detained, even Highlight was held down by a rather buxom dancer. Vera bowed as the plied lord bowed in return. Vera then reached into her interior thigh with her right hand and then removed it in a flash with a long knife as she plunged in a swift motion toward the lord.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “SHUNNK!” The moment hung in the air. Shenis and all others soon realized the woman lay dying upon the chest of Shenis with an arrow clean through her neck. Bleeding out all over the lord. The painful shock forced her to drop the knife and begin gasping for air as the blood spurt with intent from Vera’s neck. Somme appeared with another arrow loaded from the end of the hall.

  “THE DANCERS ARE ARMED THIS IS A TRAP MY LORD!”

  “KILL THE SAVOY! SLAY THEM ALL!” Drave Holt called forth. All the musicians quickly dropped their instruments for lances and bows. Somme fired true, disabling one of the would-be archers from the action. He then rolled forward to avoid a lance thrust. The dancers revealed their true intentions and all pulled for their daggers. Dalton feeling prior to where the knife was grabbed the blade side as the girl attempted to claim it.

  “Now love why did you have to be armed." He said as he held the blade, they both twitched as they each tried to win control, and his hand clenched hard and began bleeding.

  Burt found himself unlucky as his focus too long had been upon the meat that he and Dax both were quickly being stabbed in the back by the girls repeatedly. Bryan's dancer who had the priest fully allured slid her knife clean across his neck to his surprise. Somme repaid the favor as he shoved by hand an arrow into her neck then pulled the arrow out in fluid motion before plucking his string once again, this time to fire directly at lord Drave. Drave caught the arrow with minimal effort as it pathed straight between his eyes. The lord threw the arrow down and pulled his sword. He swung quickly toward Shenis who was trying to free himself from the chair and of the dying Vera who still flailed atop him. Though the swipe missed and only embedded the blade into the skull of Vera. Anger further filled the Holt lord's eyes as he realized the error of his strike. Highlight had pushed the chair at the last second to alter the target. His own buxom opponent lay dead from a broken neck. And with a swift kick, he knocked the chair further out of range and positioned himself shield and lance at the ready between his lord and the Holt father and son duo ready to claim the last of the savoy line.

  “Fall from this world cur from the coast.” Drave offered insult as the knight forced composure upon himself in spite of having imbibed drink as well as the others.

  Claire and Ion were tussling with the dancers around them, all getting tangled in the dresses and scarves, the armed men in the hall were closing in quickly to reinforce the young women.

  “BAMMMM!” The hard door to the hall burst open with power so hard the door itself slid along the ground and slammed into three of the advancing men of Holt. Toppling upon them and incapacitating the men. As they tried to move the weight of the door off of them Issachar lunged forth and pounced upon the door smashing their bodies beneath its weight. He let out a loud roar scaring many in the hall as few had seen a fully transformed bear Naudiz in the flesh before. With the impact of his roar echoing through the hall the tide of the battle turned. As the dancers were halted in fear, many of the men were now standing in a puddle of their own making. Claire and Ion used the moment to kill both of their dancer opponents with their own daggers. Claire then seeing Dax and Burt failing with serious wounds piling up threw her dagger connecting with the chest of a dancer targeting Dax. Wounded though emboldened the blacksmith gyrated around and smashed his clenched fist into the girl's skull shattering it and releasing her teeth to the wind with such a force that the girls thrusting into Burt were impacted from various teeth upon them. The smith let out a staunch groan as he grasped one of the knife wounds fully understanding his limits. He was hunched and hobbled as he attempted to move from the two women with one hand so firmly pressed against the table for support it was white from the pressure. His eyes were wandering as he felt his consciousness close in. Tico then emerged from the shadows he had been down the hall relieving himself during the events of the dancers and shoved them both to the ground, then he kicked their daggers away before stomping and kicking both women over and over, much with terror and panic rather than poise and tactic.

  Shenis finally removed the girl from atop him and attempted to gain his footing and yet the blood and drink upon his system made such a task difficult as he slipped and muddled about behind his faithful knight who was parrying and trying to keep the Holt nobles from encircling him. As one threw a strike Highlight needed to corral the other with his lance in order to keep both at his front. He was heavy with drink and his thrusts were hindered and heavy, yet they kept the young master Holt from flanking his side. “Master I will not fail you in your hour of need.” He muttered to himself with teeth gritted and vision blurry. Another sword swipe glanced off his shield with a clang that rang through the hall. Screams filled the air and all in the town were quickly becoming aware of the events inside. Those common folk hid, while those from the hidden garrison of the Bruin knew the alarm and grabbed arms.

  Dalton still battling his initial could see in her eyes the figure of lance coming from behind his head. He ducked to his right and the lance connected….through the chest of the dancer. Dalton then grabbed the lance to ensure it could not be retracted and then took the now no longer entangled dagger and jammed it into the eye socket of the soldier holding the lance. "Sorry love, I was hoping to find a way to not hurt you in this." The dancer's eyes rolled back as the lance impaled her upright, blood drooled forth from her dolled-up face as she succumbed to the wound in a final moment revealing a tear of blood. "Tico! My sword!" The mercenary signaled to the young rider that his weapons and many of the other's primary weapons were along the wall of the hall. Tico hustled and began grabbing the lot and getting each to their owner.

  “Tico! ….Where is my….hammer.” Dax said as he tried to stay on his feet.

  "Best sit this one out and focus on staying awake big guy," Somme called as he dispatched the last archer in the lot.

  “Piss off!” He coughed up blood with the words, sobering him as he spoke them. The floor was nearing total control by the Savoy retinue. Yet the Holt men stayed firm to purpose against the dwindling Highlight.

  Dalton rushed forward and knocked Drave from behind with a stern kick, slamming him away and distracting Varn for just a moment. Highlight though woosy saw the opportunity and skewered the heir of Holt through with his lance from the lower midsection. “Damn Jai.” The mercenary called as he regained composure and saw the heir cringe and wince and fall forward with tears and death in his eyes. “At least leave a man his dignity.” The knight’s eyes showed that no quarter or dignity was permitted. Shenis used a chair to finally reach his feet though still slowed from drink. Lord Drave enraged arose and began swinging wild as he saw both now his son and daughter dead from the betrayal. A glancing blow knocked Highlight to the ground and another forced Dalton to withdraw a few paces.

  “YOU SAVOY SHALL NOT LEAVE HERE ALIVE!” He spouted. “HOLT HOLDS THE HALL!”

  "SHINK!" The lord winced and lowered his guard as at his legs a small dagger had entered his left leg robbing the elder lord of his prowess and focus. He turned quickly to see the lovely Misty at the end of the dagger. The maiden had been true to her alert of the archer. The lord punched her clean with his sword hand and though she moved a hand to block direct contact she was floored back by the shot on her. However, this opening proved more than enough and Shenis seized the moment to aid his beleaguered troop. He probed his rapier deep through the chest of Drave. Then recoiled it from the Holt's chest. The lord turned toward his assailant, and let forth a quick succession of slowed and ever weaker slashes with each proving easier for the unsteady Shenis to block and parry. Finally, the Holt head of the house breathing heavily lost the grip of his blade mid-slash and it collapsed from his hand to the ground, never to be aired again by him. Shenis then swashed a slitting cut across the Lord’s neck. Spurting blood out his left side and ensuring a dwindling death experience, Drave fell to his knees and then onto his back with his legs tucked under him.

  The hall was now fully under control by the Savoy troop, bloodied but unbeaten. Yet at the entre, the Holt relatives now piled about and stood alongside the hidden garrison of 20 Bruin men. They all halted as if all were unsure who was to command in such as moment. The Savoy cluster all breathing heavily rallied upon the center with Somme taking the stage next to the lord for an archer's vantage point. "I owe you my life Somme," Shenis spoke as sobriety was finding him from the rush of the events.

  "As I owe you mine, my liege," Somme spoke with an arrow drawn. Claire and Ion, unscathed from the first rally moved a hobbled and wounded Dax to their rear. Misty signaled that she would tend to him to which they conceded as they saw the woman stab her lord and could tell the earnestness from her eyes.

  "….IS THAT A BEAR?" one of the Holt relatives spoke as his posture sank. Issachar took position at the head of the troop emerging from the standing side area of the hall and climbing over a table with ease. Dalton wrapped up his bloody hand with one of the dancer's scarves and took his spot next to the bear. Claire and Ion readied themselves to the left of Issachar. Tico then pushed Dalton out of the way and steadied his sword to position. Dalton smirked at the sight of seeing the young rider fully alert and ready to fight as a true cavalier, much like his former commander Calle would have.

  "Steady boy." He said as the Savoy force stood breathing heavily, and the other stood tough. Highlight placed himself on the main floor directly in front of his lord. Both sides stood ready, as little by little the Holt and Bruin men inched closer and closer.

  "AHHHHH!" The Bruin men finally full of bravery charged recklessly and pushed into the Savoy front. Smashing about and presenting ample opportunity for easy prey for the paws of Issachar on the right center. Tico and Dalton switched off blocking and swiping across the lines as all others held firm, they knew as they had in so many other battles that there was no other way out. The Bruin men proved futile in a matter of moments and all fell without much contest as none were of note. Now standing about at the back were the lesser Holts. Roughly another 16 in all. They each though stood back hoping this one or that one would advance and fall strengthening their claim to the lordship of the house. Soon one took the bait and came forward. He lacked any form or poise in his footwork and proved as deadly as a bag of flour. And with that fear overcame the men and they either froze or fell onto their back some even tried to flee only to be clipped by Somme. The weary Savoy men broke rank and in the next moments, they ended the assault by way of sword, dagger, and spear.

  “Please no spare me and my Hous…." A blade ran through the final Holt's guts. Spilling his life and the legacy of their house to ruin. With the falling action, Issachar reverted from his bear form and the others found a seat around the room. Dalton pushed a body from the table and sat back down so as to grab a flagon and down it with passion as only one emerging from death could. Shenis took the seat previously held by Lord Drave.

  “Somme…” Breathing heavy as all were in the room. “I cannot thank you enough, but how…how did you know?”

  “Misty tipped me off.” Shenis turned his head to the beautiful dancer tending to Dax's wounds. They were deep but she seemed confident in his survival. She explained that she was no medic but when living under the Holt roof rough handlings were a common evening. Thus her understanding of wounds.

  "We cannot thank you enough, Misty," Shenis said as he slouched slightly in the chair.

  "Please just allow me to serve alongside your guard." The notion stunned the hall. "I know I am not a world-class killer like your archer, but please I will prove my use in combat." Somme blushed at the comment, he was accustomed to Dalton and Issachar getting all the attention for combat prowess, but not himself. It sobered and humbled him ever so. Shenis agreed to her request, as he noticed that with Bryan gone from this world and Burt also fallen to ruin, their tiny force was now even more select.

  “You have already proven an ally and trustworthy. We are honored to have you with us.” Shenis replied.

  “Where is Kyler?” Claire hollered in a sober moment of panic. Somme explained that Issachar and he stashed the boy safely after his first drunken sleep came upon him, to the laughter of Dalton and the relief and anger of Claire.

  “Probably for the best Claire.” Ion placed his hand on her shoulder. “This wasn’t an easy skirmish or even a fair one.” His words made little difference in her demeanor at first but a few moments later she placed a hand atop his own on her shoulder and patted it several times. She understood. Issachar went out and grabbed the sleeping boy and brought him into the hall only to awake to the shocking scene of the hall torn asunder from corpses and blood.

  "WHAT THE HELL DID I MISS!" all laughed as they eventually filled him in. Only in the waning moments of explanation and after a toast for Bryan and Burt whom they would bury on the morrow, a comment from the evening rang once more into the ears of Dax who was giggling under his breath while holding his bloody side on the wall.

  “WHAT IS FUNNY SMITH?” Highlight called to the wounded man.

  "Dalton….did you really say to that girl……." He let a few coughs out before completing his line of thought. "Is that….a knife in your dress or are you just happy to see me." The whole group erupted in laughter followed by groans of pain from their wounds followed by more laughter. Dalton laughing the hardest palmed his forehead as he keeled over to the floor. The moment was a needed diffusing from the drag of the evening. They had hoped to gain another ally but in their hopes, the group walked into an ambush.

  Highlight then spoke. “Lord Shenis, tonight we have ended House Holt root and stem.” There were a few widows left among the town but no male heirs from the main clan. “Please my liege claim this land in the name of Savoy.”

  "LONG LIVE SHENIS SAVOY!" Tico hollered, he was emboldened from the fight and is now red in the face from excessive post-combat drink. "LORD of Imholt and the rightful ruler of Jule!” All toasted to the thought at which Shenis agreed in the aftermath.

  In the morning they would inform the common folk of the town, much to their joy, and even the widows of house Holt felt some measure of relief. Though a few scoffed at the notion they knew their future was on the measure of Shenis’ mercy. The town accepted the change of banner and Holt banners were thus removed.

  “My lord Shenis.” a woman around his age emerged from the people. She bowed low in respect.

  “Speak dear lady.” Shenis signaled to her. The woman arose, she was taller than average and stood slightly higher than Shenis though slender in appearance.

  “I am Caylor Holt. The eldest remaining Holt unencumbered by children or marriage. I am not worthy in any manner as the wounds my house proper’s men have done unto you and I know the women of my house will curse my action but please, honor me and make me your wife that my house may yet have a future and place in Imholt.”

  Shenis was taken aback. She was not gangly or unsightly but he had not thought marriage even a tabled option for the future. He paused but then also realized that by marrying a Holt remnant it would ease any hidden tension in the town with his lordship.

  “Caylor Holt, I would be honored if you truly wish it.” It was duty not passion or love that filled her eyes as she knew there were nearly a dozen Holt’s still in the town both widows, ancients, and little children. She sought only their protection.

  “My lord as a sign of our promise let us marry immediately, and allow me to travel at your side. Let my skills in medicine and my grandfather’s bow be my aid to your cause.”

  “You can heal? And shoot arrows?” She explained that while she was no priest she did know one old healing spell that would lightly mend wounds which she then performed on Dax, slightly easing his pain from the events of the prior night. She explained that she was not adept with the bow but was eager to learn, be of use, and represent her house upon the field.

  Shenis agreed and the next day they had a meager wedding ceremony with a local ancient, her grandmother who taught her the healing spell, was the officiate to the affair. The remaining Holts attended without disdain and hugged their clan member, thanking Caylor for her bravery. The events brought the town under Savoy's control as the two houses merged in this strategic marriage.

  "Well, I guess this is one way to secure the pass." Dalton jested with Shenis as he and Caylor took to the main lord’s chambers in the keep to consummate. Shenis laughed and then lightly headbutted his good friend in arms.

  Before they entered for the evening. Shenis stopped Caylor. "I know I have not earned your love, and at this point, I also am not drawn to you in passion, yet I admire and thank you for what you have done."

  “I plan to do what duty I am needed with dignity. I am your wife. Please allow me to be such. Even if I am undesirable.” Shenis rebuffed her remark, explaining that she was beautiful in her bravery which only radiated her beauty stronger to levels beyond the fairest of women. Caylor blushed as the two entered the chamber as husband and wife.

  …..

  Tico that evening was unnerved going over his maps. "Hey, Highlight. If the Bruin already marched men here and set up a garrison and agreement with house Holt before we arrived. Then wouldn't that mean that Conner is free to either charge Mitre already or House Hartford….”

  “Or…retake Runsa!” The knight spoke with panic at the thought.