Heir of Arvena
East of Canardia
Earthy was the scent of dirt as Lansius reeled from the impact and slowly lifted his face off the ground, coughing, yet eager to see whether he had saved the falling pregnant woman or not. But all he could see were the layered skirts of a stained light blue gown and a weathered gray traveling cloak. They were so close he could smell the faint scent of the fabric. Naturally, he wanted to get up, and the gemstone of might had given him strength to lift the woman, but he froze as he realized she was resting safely in his arms. Full, shapely, soft.
Apparently, his dive had worked. He had managed to cushion her fall with his outstretched arms.
Lansius let out a long, shaky breath and stayed lying flat on his stomach for a moment, waiting for his racing heart to settle. Then the pain caught up with him. “Ueghh…” he groaned.
“Lans,” the woman breathed, her voice tight with worry as she eased herself out of his hold. “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? Oh, please no… this happened again.”
The thin steel plates in his brigandine had protected him, but they had also delivered an unpleasant blow. The armor was meant to save its wearer, yet constrained by weight, thickness, and design, it could not do so comfortably. Without an arming jacket, the brigandine would still stop the attack, but it always hurt badly. This time, it sent a hard jolt through his ribs.
“I am so sorry,” she added quickly. “The donkey was stung by a giant wasp. I did not mean for any of this.”
Just my fate and her fortune...
A deep rumble shook the ground, heavy footfalls pounding closer, and a powerful voice rang out with every bit of urgency in the world. “My Lord.”
It was Francisca’s voice. She was still rushing toward him, though her pace had slowed now that the danger seemed under control.
Noticing this, the woman quietly took Lansius’ hand as he tried to crouch.
“Huh…?” Lansius muttered, half crouched, his face nearly brushing her gown as she guided his left hand and pressed it to her buttock.
“Get a good feel,” she whispered, and his palm sank into unexpected softness. “At least I can offer that much for forgiveness. Audrey’s derriere is firm, yes?” she teased.
For the first time, Lansius managed to lift his face and look at her. Before him were the bluest gentle eyes that hid strength and resilience. Her features were finely shaped, touched with ladylike grace, and could hold anyone still for a heartbeat. Long, radiant golden hair completed her look as if to convince any doubter she was highborn, though she was not.
She was none other than Felicity, the blessed daughter of Fortuna. The very one Calub had said survived a goblin ambush alone with nothing but a crossbow and a knife.
Lansius jerked his hand back and let himself fall, landing on his backside with a dull thud.
"I like her firm and toned,” he blurted, as if defending his wife’s honor, then immediately snorted and shook his head. “Why are we having this conversation? The last time you blackmailed me for less.”
Lady Felis giggled at his reaction, seeming genuinely delighted.
Francisca arrived next, her large frame in richly decorated brigandine stopping before him. She dropped to one knee. “My Lord,” she said, her voice thick with emotion, threaded with concern, regret, and apology.
Lansius noticed her leg guards and the specially made hard leather sandals, all dirtied from running. “Do not utter a word of apology,” he instructed, then added in a softer tone, “I am fine. We managed to get her safely.”
“My Lord,” Francisca breathed, relief washing over her.
Lansius waved to the other men, signaling that everything was under control and they no longer needed to rush in.
Still, another arrived, a younger half-breed who dropped to her knees beside Francisca, saying nothing, only panting from the sprint.
Lansius turned to Felis. “Can you get up?”
“I cannot. My legs feel weak. Pregnancy does that. Or perhaps I ate a little too much,” Felis quipped.
Francisca rose and gently lifted Felis with one arm, bringing her up against her chest as easily as if carrying a toddler.
“Kyaa, a beastman!” Felis gasped in delight, immediately hugging Francisca tight and rubbing her face against the velvet layers of her brigandine.
The half-breed was startled and turned her gaze toward Lansius for guidance.
“She is a friend. Treat her well,” Lansius said as he slowly got to his feet. His doublet was smeared with dirt and grass, but that was the least of his worries. He brushed at it absently, flicking away loose soil.
He glanced toward Sir Sterling, who had already secured Tanya and her palfrey. She looked shaken but unharmed, and everything seemed under control.
With the danger past, an introduction felt necessary. “Francisca,” he called.
“Yes, My Lord,” the half-breed answered, meeting his gaze.
“This is Lady Felis.” Then he turned to Felis. “And this is Francisca. She is of Umberland origin. You could say she is an Umberlander.”
“How do you do? Nice to meet you. I’m—”
“Lady Felicity of Brunna and Arvena, yes. Sir Sterling has been shouting your name. My apologies, I almost lunged at you,” Francisca said, her tone smooth and polite.
“Oh dear, it is good that we avoided that. I cannot really take a fall. I am heavily pregnant with Lord Arte’s child,” she replied.
Everyone turned slightly pale, realizing just how close it had come to ending in tragedy.
“But, My Lady, why are you riding a donkey, and without escort?” Francisca inquired.
“More importantly,” Lansius added, “why are you here in Midlandia?”
“Well… it is a long story.” She sighed but kept her smile.
Lansius exhaled, realizing it was likely true, and quietly flexed his hands behind his back. For good or ill, he had touched Fortuna's daughter's derriere. Time would tell whether this blessed him with luck or misfortune.
Meanwhile, the crowd was abuzz with speculation. How could it not? A golden-haired woman, heavily pregnant, had appeared out of nowhere, riding a donkey to chase after the Lord, only for him to catch her and save her with his own hands.
Learning from past mistakes, Lansius arranged for another carriage to take her and assigned Sir Sterling as escort. Despite her cheerful outward manner, Felis would not open up easily, so he could only send her ahead to Audrey.
To keep the crowd and pilgrims from getting too excited, Lansius continued with Tanya’s training and carried on as if nothing unusual had happened. He guided her through the basics until the sun grew too hot for her to ride. By sending Felis away at once and continuing with something as trivial as horse training, he quietly sent a message to the crowd that the incident was no trouble at all.
***
Council Chamber
Lansius returned to the castle grounds and decided to have a private lunch with Tanya in her residence, which immediately panicked her small band of young maids and ladies-in-waiting. It was expected. He wished to see for himself whether they were treating his sister well, despite Ingrid’s assurances as her mentor. Tanya’s abode stood apart from the main keep, at the back of the complex beside the garden, where neat rows of trees gave Tanya and Arryn the privacy they desired.
The house, like many places within the castle compound, had served multiple purposes over the decades: a gardener’s quarters, a shared residence for ranking staff, even a storage room. Lansius had made sure to bring in the best craftsmen to repair and clean it, and afterward furnished it as well as he could.
It now had spring beds, insect-mesh screens fitted into the vents, and an experimental charcoal stove to replace the usual smoky open hearth. Most notably, it possessed a working toilet based on Valerie’s design, complete with a manual pump courtesy of House Tedzeus. The pump fed water into a small wooden tower with a reservoir, giving the house running water through bronze pipes and simple faucets.
Originally, he had planned to visit often and continue improving the place. Being inside the castle complex yet not part of the main keep made it ideal for experiments and private trials, far from the prying eyes of the castle staff. But with so many matters pressing on him, he had not found the time.
Perhaps next year, after his winter rest in Korelia, he would finally return to it.
Usually, when he visited, Mother Arryn handled the cooking, but now she was taking care of Gilly, so Lansius used the opportunity to tell his staff he was merely visiting as a guest. By declaring that, he prevented Sir Sterling or Carla, who accompanied him, from taking charge of the meal. The responsibility then fell upon the highest-ranking member of Tanya’s household, which meant the present lady-in-waiting had to oversee the lunch affair.
The lady-in-waiting's face paled as she realized the situation. Only recently assigned to Tanya, she hurried to unravel the impending chaos.
Amid the rising bustle, she began ordering food from the castle kitchen, while she and a maid rushed off to prepare an appetizer.
As Lansius spoke with Tanya about how to treat a horse, how to ride, the smaller matters like baby Gilly being cute, and about the woman named Felicity, the maid delivered toasted white bread, a selection of hard cheese slices, cuts of honeyed ham, olives, and ale. Meanwhile, outside, the young servants ran back and forth from the kitchen fetching more dishes.
Standing through the entire ordeal, the lady-in-waiting decided what to bring out, what was lacking, and where each dish should be placed on the small family-sized table. Despite her awkwardness and inexperience, she directed and managed the stream of food being delivered. It required not only knowledge of meals but also a certain awareness and finesse.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Lansius had to admit that, despite his preconception of ladies-in-waiting as lazy, of little use, and fond of wasting their time gossiping, this one was at least competent. She did not freeze but tackled the issue head-on. She was certainly the daughter of a prominent Midlandian House that supported him, but he could not remember her name, having only been introduced to her once after his first arrival in Canardia many months ago.
The fact that she remained in his inner circle meant her parents were not part of the rebellion.
Lansius quietly watched her work amid the small chaos and recalled Audrey’s reminder that she had assigned the youngest lady-in-waiting to Tanya. Now he could see it clearly. The lady was almost the same age as Tanya herself, which somehow reminded him of another youth of similar age, the young heir of House Tedzeus. The boy who had surprised him by asking to join the fight in the Mountains of Three Hills.
What was his name again? Ned? Ted?
He made a mental note that if this lady-in-waiting continued to show good work, he was willing to prepare a reward. And he knew well that the greatest reward for a lady-in-waiting would be a marriage offer arranged with another noble House, the sort of proposal that no family would dismiss if he was involved. With her position as Tanya’s future main advisor, the lady could rise even higher if her charge gained an estate. It was an enticing prospect for any future father-in-law to consider.
If it ever came to fruition, that marriage would further bind the two Houses to him.
However, Lansius was above forcing marriage on anyone, so the most he would ever do was arrange a meeting and let nature take its course.
Of course, all of that depended on the success of the campaign in the Three Hills.
He hoped Farkas as the acting Captain did not treat the young Tedzeus too roughly. Reports from the area claimed the young man was still in the fight and had not taken the first chance to return home, which made Lansius think better of him. The young man was certainly adventurous. Too adventurous. Perhaps next he would ask permission to join the duck brigade. Lansius could only massage his temple at the thought.
He recalled an old saying here that young men were brash until marriage.
A sword without a sheath…
Thinking on that, Lansius sipped his ale, the one Carla had brought to the table, to wash down the hearty harvest soup the castle kitchen had prepared for him. The penal battalion he had formed ought to be near the Three Hills by now, if not already there. He hoped it would be enough for the next phase.
With their lunch finished, and after some light discussion about the changing weather, the washing complex, and the small vegetable patch their mother was tending, Lansius and his entourage returned to the great keep.
Audrey joined him in the corridor leading to the Grand Hall, saying, "Why is it that you always seem to find Felicity by chance?"
"I have the same question," he replied with a brief chuckle, then asked in a concerned tone, "Tell me, is she well?"
"She is now resting in the other guest chamber. I already had a physician check on her. I even asked Ingrid and Petra to assist," Audrey assured him.
The rogue Saint Candidate under Dawn was certainly a valuable asset, especially with Saint Candidate Clementine away.
"She is fine," Audrey repeated, her tone lighter. "She even met little Gilly. And Lans, I remember her words when we parted in Korelia, that the next time she visited, she wanted to see little Lans. And it is coming true."
Lansius snorted as the fond memory resurfaced. "So nothing is amiss."
"But her pregnancy is already late," Audrey replied, her tone cautious.
Lansius nodded weakly. It had nearly turned into a tragedy.
Audrey noticed his expression and carefully added, "The physician told me the donkey ride might have been fortunate."
Lansius met her gaze. "What do you mean?"
"It seems she is experiencing a prolonged pregnancy. And the ride or the accident may have helped."
"You mean she is in labor now?"
Audrey gave a firm nod and said, "The late Lord Maurice's grandchild will be born in our castle."
"The heir of Arvena," Lansius muttered, stopping to look out the corridor window, thinking about what kind of fate the child would face.
After feeling a few breaths of autumn wind drifting in from outside, Audrey patted his arm and said, "The Council is ready to assemble."
"Yes," Lansius replied. "It's time to see what the whole situation is after our week-long travel."
...
Council Chamber
The details of Lady Felicity's arrival and her escape from the Monastery, a matter nobody had suspected, were laid bare before Lansius and his staff. He listened with a serious look on his face.
"We are fortunate that the Monastery knew nothing about Lady Felicity or us," Audrey concluded her report.
"Their incompetence, or her great luck," Lansius remarked openly, knowing only Audrey would grasp the full meaning.
"To think we never heard of any of this from anyone, not even the Orange Skalds," Sir Omin muttered from across the long table.
Francisca, as the spymaster, felt compelled to speak. "Our men never penetrated the Monastery. Last season, two tried but went missing. We fear they have either a very perceptive mage or a mind reader."
All who sat on the small council conveyed doubt or disgust at the notion.
"A frightening possibility," Sir Omin remarked.
Dame Danielle, present now that her injured leg had improved, said nothing but nodded uneasily.
Meanwhile, Sir Sterling spoke as Lansius' gaze fell upon him. "The faster we end them, the better."
"And now we have information from inside." Lansius leaned to the side of his chair. "How is Sir Harold's position?"
Sir Omin, as the informal chief of staff, answered, "He is fighting against smuggling, but ever since he erected the barbed wire barricades and the palisades around the Monastery, it has become only a nuisance."
"And the reinforcement?" Lansius inquired.
Sir Omin turned to Francisca, who reported, "They have finished investigating reports about Great Gemstones hidden in brigands' hideouts. So far, nothing has materialized, but they managed to free tens of kidnapped children and women."
"The towns and villages around it were pleased, so it is not an entirely useless detour," Sir Omin stated.
Lansius exhaled sharply. "Ensure the kidnappers are dealt with harshly."
"My Lord need not to worry," Francisca replied. "The local bailiff and the duck have taken care of them."
"The duck?" Lansius thought he had misheard.
"They wanted to make the punishment exemplary. So instead of a mercy killing, they fed the most condemned to the duck. The reports said the ducks played with them for a while before eating them alive."
Lansius was stunned by the creative yet cruel execution. Audrey gazed at him and remarked, "It is a swift justice."
"Swift justice," Dame Daniella, Sir Sterling, and Sir Omin echoed.
Child kidnappers were the lowest rung of banditry.
Lansius took a deep breath, pushing aside the brutal method of execution and the question of whether humans were even fit for a duck's stomach. "How about our line to Arvena?"
"Our line to Lord Arte's holding of Brunna has improved. As we continued to gain favor with the local lord, our horse messenger could travel as fast as he could ride," Francisca answered. "However, the line from Brunna to Riverstead is still severed."
Audrey showed a rare tone of impatience, saying, "Maybe it is time to remind the guild to provide a Hunter to Brunna or Riverstead so it can take Hawk messages."
"That is my wish as well, My Lady," Sir Omin assured her, "but the guild has none to spare. The last one they had was assigned to Sir Harold."
Lansius patted Audrey's hand to calm her. She was always emotional when it concerned Arvena.
She turned to him, nodding to assure him. "Ah, no need to worry," she replied softly. "Sir Harold's siege of the Monastery certainly takes precedence over Arvena."
He then turned to his council. "Can we confirm that there is really no war in Arvena?"
"Yes. It is quiet. Too quiet," Sir Omin remarked, his suspicion plain for all to see.
"What is that fake King up to?" Audrey muttered.
"Whatever he is doing, it also allows Lord Arte to gather more men," Lansius commented. "This even made it possible for him to actually hold East Arvena."
"Then, My Lord, do we need to change our approach regarding the matters of Arvena?" Sir Omin asked.
Lansius took a moment to think. His original plan to send a small but heavily armed reinforcement had suffered a setback. Scores of volunteers, with the help of the Orange Skalds had been smuggled into Brunna, but that was hardly meaningful.
Despite his clandestine relations with the two lords of Midlandia, none trusted him enough to permit troops to cross their lands. And the rebellion only made them fear him more, worrying that even with a token number of troops, he might seize their castles in one swift move.
While he could offer the two lords Shogunate memberships if they defected to him, and he doubted the other lords of North Midlandia had a better offer to give, he feared it would spark another war. A war he did not want.
His gaze shifted from the polished walnut surface of the table to his council as he decided, "Right now, it is easy to send money. That way, Brunna can buy grain and hired men or mercenaries. While swords or spears are plentiful, what they cannot buy are crossbows, as they would raise fear and suspicion. Thus, our goal is to organize an even greater supply of our metal-pronged crossbows for Brunna and Riverstead."
Dame Daniella furrowed her brows and commented, "Smuggling operation."
Lansius nodded. "Ironically, we are smuggling when we battle against smugglers."
Despite Lady Felis' presence, the situation in Arvena was not the Shogunate's main concern.
Moving on, Sir Omin, helped by Sir Sterling, brought a complete map of the Imperium to the long table, a freshly redrawn one similar to the map in Lansius' study chamber. Encased in glass and a wooden frame, it allowed Sir Omin to adjust borders or write information with colored ink.
"Based on our latest report, the area around Kapua is now completely under Lord Avery’s control," Sir Omin said while pointing at the region in central Nicopola.
Lansius studied the new border on the map. Lord Avery had sent him a hawk letter, thanking him for accepting the Dawn into the Shogunate and for taking care of Ella. He also expressed his gratitude for being allowed the freedom to defend his realm for another year, without needing to move to Canardia while the region was still in turmoil. He added that he would visit Canardia soon.
Soon..?
"Meanwhile," Sir Omin continued, "Sir Servius and his legion are standing strong. I believe My Lord has read the hawk letter he sent to you."
Lansius snorted, recalling the letter. Shifting his gaze to the curious Audrey, he said, "Sir Servius congratulated me on my victory over the rebels, and he thanked me for the pasta supplies to his region. He even reiterated his pledge of loyalty, wishing to renew it. Honestly, he praised me for so many things that it was quite embarrassing to read."
Sir Omin flashed a grin. "I believe he wishes to rise in rank."
"What makes you think so?" Lansius asked, amused.
"The news of the new Banneret rank has spread widely, and I am sure Sir Servius, who holds a vast area, could use more legitimacy."
Lansius nodded slowly. "Yes, a mercenary legion led by a knight holding a baronial land is not going to cut it. Then, is anyone in objection? Or should we wait before making a decision?"
"My Lord, if I may," Dame Daniella spoke. "Despite your support, the Gray Skull Legion is independent. You may have created Sir Servius as a Knight, but in truth he stands on his own feet. I believe that by granting him the Banneret, the rank only you can bestow, you may tie him closer."
Lansius stared at the lovely Nicopolan lady who had only recently become engaged. He valued her unique insight.
"Then let us arrange something before the winter blocks the road. I believe a letter wouldn't suffice. At least a messenger bringing a ceremonial gift."
"My Lord, may I recommend a nomad messenger party to accompany the messenger?" Sir Omin suggested, despite his past feud with them.
"A nomad messenger party?" Lansius was skeptical.
"Yes. Nothing speaks your legitimacy and authority like the nomads, My Khan," Audrey said with a smile, drawing murmurs of agreement from the council.
"Then it is settled," Lansius said, recalling the faces of the nomads he had not met for several long months.
"And, My Lord, speaking of messengers," Sir Omin said as he put the decision in ink, "Lord Bengrieve has sent us messengers."
"I'm aware," Lansius said, then instructed Sir Omin to brief the rest of the council on what Lord Bengrieve had achieved in Elandia. Aside from Audrey and Francisca, the rest of the council was shocked that he had managed to marry the Duke's widowed daughter.
"Unbelievable," Sir Sterling commented. Like the rest of the retinue, he carried a deep distrust of Bengrieve.
"It's a powerful move," Dame Daniella commented.
Audrey turned to Lansius. "He is going to liberate the Capital. So what will we do?"
"Nothing," Lansius answered, drawing the attention of every member of his council.
He continued, free of worry, "He can have his war, and we can have our peace. And this is actually good. With him occupied there, we do not need to expect a sneak attack from Elandia."
The council exchanged glances with one another.
"You think he will let you off the hook?" Audrey asked, eyes wide. "He might want to invite you to war."
"Oh, he is definitely trying. Maybe a token force, or even just me. So I will not make myself available."
Sir Omin nodded hastily in understanding. "Then what should we answer the messengers?"
"Whatever they ask, tell them they can fuck Bengrieve themselves."
The council quickly filled with chuckles and crooked grins. Even Audrey coughed at his delicate words.
Lansius then declared, "Before the messenger arrives, I shall be busy in Korelia. This way, he will not get us involved."
"Would declining not be enough?" Sir Sterling asked.
"Nah, he is too cunning and resourceful even for me. Whatever trap he brings, it will probably bite. So I would rather avoid it." Lansius turned to the window and noticed that Audrey had not used her magic to cool the chamber despite the midday heat. That made him pause. "Maybe it is time," he muttered.
Audrey was quick to catch on. "Indeed. Harvest is over. Aside from our business with Lady Felicity, we have little else to wait for."
Lansius nodded, while the rest listened. "With Kapua won two weeks ago or so, our airship shall return in a matter of days."
"It's time to return home," Audrey said, unable to hide her relief.
He could not help but share the sentiment. More than anything, he wanted to be away from the war and the chance to build.
"But what if another trouble arises in Midlandia?" Dame Daniella asked, taking a cautious approach.
"The Lion of Lowlandia will be here. Dietrich will be responsible for our northern border, and Sir Harold will hold the heart of the domain. As for the eastern border, I think we can rely on Sir Stan, as his baronetcy lies there."
Even though Sir Stan was Lord Bengrieve's cousin, his domain lay next to Edessa, so there was little issue regarding his loyalty, as they faced a common enemy.
With no further issues raised, Lansius was about to make his decision when the young Sir Sterling spoke up. "You know what the nomads speak of you, My Lord?"
It surprised everyone, for he was not one to express himself often aside from brief, casual comments. "They say the Empire of the Steppes shall rule from the steppes."
***
Map & Discord link ?? ???? , samples, and many more!
Horizon, painstakingly edited by at least two professional editors, with a few extra scenes and rewritten parts to enhance the reading experience. We strive for perfection, and I hope we live up to everyone's expectations. Get it now!
Horizon of War on Kindle, Amazon & Audible
Battle for Korelia on Kindle, Amazon & Audible
Warlords of the Steppes on Kindle, Amazon & Audible
Horizon Gratitude Page??
comments, and especially reviews! I cannot reply to all of them, but I read all of your comments. Luv you all! ??