Sword Saint a New StartChapter 26 An afternoon with Chandra
- 2 years ago
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Cousin to the queen, damn.
"Lord Allard, sheathe your weapons and see to your men. After we take care of them, you and I will need to talk. Just don't do anything dumb, I'd hate to have to kill you." I sheathed my sword after cleaning it off. He looked incredulous but followed my directions. Unfortunately for him, I only left one of his guards unscathed and four with a survivable wound. Two would be permanently crippled because of it, but they'd live.
Bright Lady, watch over the souls of the fallen.
I then prayed over the man with the lost foot. I sent a trickle of healing into him.
Allard looked distraught about his horse. I had dealt it a fatal wound. "I'm sorry about your horse and your men, Lord Allard." He kept glancing at me and then at the carnage that I had caused. It was like he just couldn't believe that one man could do something like this. He seemed lost, and more than a little confused.
I looked him over, he was five-seven, with a dancer's build. He had a thick mop of light blond hair that was almost a bowl cut, with a mass of freckles that populated the center of his face. Lord Allard was gifted with a clean honest face. I figured that he was who he said he was, I could not see him lying about it.
"Before I let you go, I have a message for the King." I pulled out the ring that I had been storing for the last week or so, and tossed it to him. I then went over my report of the raid on the valley and the lack of male survivors, the attack on the wizard's guild in the mountains to the northeast, and the request for reinforcements and suitable men for repopulating the decimated valley before harvest.
He stood there taking it all in and frowned in thought. "Why didn't you come to the King right away?"
"Good question, I have only been in the city for a couple of days. I have no friends in town, and the one person that I was told to see was not to be found," I supplied. "As an unknown Lord, what would be my chances to see the king anytime soon?"
"Not good," he replied.
"I have also relayed this message to Duchess Polyantha this afternoon, and she did not seem in the least interested. She was more focused on getting me into her bed than anything else." He blushed at this.
"I see that you've also had a run in with her," I teased. He was definitely off balance. I had hit him with too many things at once, and he was still trying to deal with the decimation of his troops.
He just blushed further.
"Listen, Lord Allard, I defeated Steven's man Squire Michael in a duel yesterday morning. That is when I proclaimed myself to be Lady Megan's protector. I have not taken the Lady Megan anywhere that she did not want to go. She is currently residing at Duke Dwayne's estate with Lord Richard and Lady Elizabeth of Water Wind. I took her to Lady Kathryn's ball last night, and when we returned I was ambushed by a Priestess of Bane, who tried to assassinate me. I stopped her and returned her body to her temple last night.
"The lady needs protection from Steven because he kidnapped her from her home, and is pressuring her to marry him. If you know anything about him, you will understand why she is refusing to marry the evil bastard.
"Now in my position, what would you do?"
I could see his ire increasing during my explanation. "I would do the same, my lord," he admitted.
"Good for you, lad. Now let us gather the horses and take your men back to Duke Dwayne's estate, and have the good people there help them." We collected the surviving soldiers and returned to the estate. To say that we made an uproar was an understatement. It didn't stop the people there from going out of their way to help the injured.
I introduced Lord Allard to Megan. Richard already knew him and Elizabeth was helping the wounded. I encouraged Megan to retell her story in her own words. As naive as Allard was, he became incensed and asked aloud how this could be.
"Lord Allard, you know Steven. He is an evil bastard. Anyone that he thinks is going to get in his way, he goes out of his way to make their life miserable until he get what he wants. And he's a Duke," I offered. "Could you stand against him if he decided to have you killed?"
Allard, for his credit was honest and just hung his head. "No, Milord."
"You know this, and so does everyone else," I explained. "Now am I still under arrest?"
"Yes, Milord, I have the king's writ," he said shamefacedly.
"Fine, consider me under house arrest. I will not leave the kingdom before my court date. Since there is a duke involved, I would expect that the king would be the judge. I will accept no one less than he or the High Priestess of Kassandra. If there is a problem with that, inform me beforehand."
"The king presides over all the disputes between the nobility, Milord."
"You should escort me back to town to verify that I am staying at the Hawk's Rest. If I am not there, I'll let Miss Lori know where I can be found."
We took our leave after we saw that the wounded was in good hands. We were kept away from the room where Elizabeth was working on one of the men, but we did see the rest. The prognosis wasn't all that good for some of them, so I prayed for their quick recovery. That now familiar, but strange, tingling accompanied each blessing. Each one still took quite a bit of strength from me, so I had to be careful to not to try and heal too many of them.
On the way back I asked Lord Allard about his home to get his mind off of his men. This he was more than happy to expound on. It sounded like a nice place to grow up, he even mentioned that the queen and her family were frequent visitors. That was before she married the king, 'of course'.
We arose before dawn; washed, dressed and had a quick breakfast. The stable was quiet, so we didn't have any interruptions to get our horses ready for the day's travel. When we approached the front of the inn; an absolutely huge man advanced us on with a cudgel in his paw lumbering straight for us. I figured that nothing good was going to come of this. It looked like Simon had his arm wrapped in a soiled bandage, and he was loping behind his father. "Keep back and let me handle this,...
I did as I said I would. I pulled my blouse out of my skirt, unbuttoned it and let it hang open in front of me. Chandra looked at me like she was still trying to get a handle on what we were doing. "And you'll do anything I say?" Chandra asked. I nodded my head. "O.K., then. Let's try this. Mommy, take off your skirt." Without a word I did as my little Chandra asked. I unzipped my skirt, brought it down and stepped out of it. I stood in front of the bed in my open blouse, deep purple...
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Hi, hello friends, I’m back with a new story. I’m happy that my second story also got published. I feel really happy because I never knew that my stories would become so popular and I would get friends from various parts of the world. Before, I used to write a lot of stories but it was really frustrating because I couldn’t share them with anyone but now it is not the case, there are people waiting to read my stories, Thanks to indiansexstories2.net This incident happened few years before. When...
“My Lord, it is time to wake up.” Bah. Chandra’s hair was already brushed with a freshly washed face, my student bubbled with anticipation for today’s journey, “Did you order breakfast for us?” She was ready to go home. “Yes, My Lord, we are all waiting on you.” She gave me a devilish smile. It seemed that one of us had a very good night’s sleep. “Fine, let me wash and I’ll meet you down stairs.” I took the puzzle box with me, I wasn’t about to let it disappear during my ablutions or...
I fumed while awaiting her return. There was nothing like a million dollar crown to ruin a man's day. I pulled the case that held the crown out of the wardrobe and handed it to the surreptitiously advancing form of my Postulant. "Whose was this?" I demanded. "Grandma Juniper's, Milord," she admitted. "Who does this belong to now?" "I don't know; I'd have to ask great grandma." "Do that. Now, young lady, just who are you." She had tears in her eyes, and looked at the floor....
"Do you live by the lake?" I thought that I knew how to get there from here. "It's on the other side of the lake. Gamma's farm is easy to find." That caused her tears to start up again, but she looked like they were not going to overcome her this time. "Is that where you lived?" She shook her head no. I helped her mount my new horse, then grabbed its reins and started off in the direction of the lake. "How did you end up with the slavers?" "They attacked my father's farm and...
I continued down the hill following the stream until it abruptly fell off the side of a short cliff. The sheer face didn't even have any vegetation just a few exposed rocks. The risk of injury from sliding against the jagged rocks seemed too high. I needed to find a different way down. Choosing another path to follow I ended up climbing a few hundred feet. All the while trying to keep the stream within hearing distance. Near the bottom of the hill, I spotted an old overgrown path. The...
"What about my sword? It cuts through everything and it glows." "If you say so, My Lord, but your sword doesn't glow. It is you that glows," Chandra responded. She thought for a second and then continued, "Does your sword cut through everything or do you enhance your strength to cut through your target?" I thought about that. She was probably right on that one she knew more about magic than I did. I enhanced my strength whenever I fought. Come to think of it, I enhanced my stamina...
I was glad of the short ride back. The same soldier that brought me the horse met me when I returned. He asked solicitously about my ride, not even mentioning the different livery of the horse. "I'll leave it up to you to return this horse and get yours back. Oh, and soldier, thank him for me would you. I was not in the best of tempers when I left." "Yes, Milord," the soldier responded and mounted the horse that I just left. I walked around the house to the exercise yard and knelt,...
Off in the distance I could barely make out a group of three barns flanking a house. The barns were painted a faded red and the house was whitewashed. As we skirted around a plowed field that seemed to be growing wheat, I noticed that the main house was much larger than Kira's. This one also had a small shed that was just off to the east and one just off to the west of the main house with the main house facing us to the south. For reference directions I was using earth standard. I know that...
I called to the ladies in the house to come out and assist the slaver with the sliced leg and bring some rawhide to tie up the one that was knocked out. The rest I was sure were dead or almost dead. Kira brought me my scabbard and some bread. I pointed to the unconscious slaver; "Thanks. Make sure that you tie his wrists and his ankles tightly, if he starts to wake let me know if you haven't finished tying him up yet." I walked over to the slaver with the massive gash across his left leg....
"I may not." The Arbiter said sadly. I just stared at her, incredulous. "Then I will." I sheathed my sword and knelt beside the fallen priestess, her hands were covering the wound over her stomach. There was blood pooling from her stomach, and I could see the pain that she was in. I placed my hands on her blood soaked ones and stared into her eyes. "Let me heal you." She shook her head no. "There is no shame in losing, just in giving up without trying. Let me heal you, Priestess of...
She broke my stare and looked down in shame. "Everything." "Everything," I repeated. She just nodded. I patted the ground next to me and told her to sit. She sat. I laid back down with my hands behind my head and rested my eyes. My shoulder shouted in protest at the mistreatment. "What exactly did you tell him?" I was not all that surprised by her admission. It had to have taken a lot of fast talking on Chandra's part to get him to agree. "That you were a Wizard Lord, that you...
I went out of my way to act like nothing happened the night before with Chandra. She mostly relaxed during breakfast and seemed to let go my teasing her from the previous night until I told her that I needed to check her wounds. She blanched at that. I led her into the carriage and pulled the curtains closed. I peeled the bandage off her face first. It looked like a week old scratch that so far had healed cleanly. I readied one of the bandages that she had brought and replaced the dressing...
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“When you are up to it, meet me at the training grounds.” She nodded and I went outside to ask directions. I thought that the grounds might be near the barracks and was proven correct by one of Allard’s men. I had been resting to recover as much of my strength before I started exerting myself again and thought that enough time had passed for me to return to my normal training regimen. I began stretching and continued until I felt comfortable enough to start working hard. Micro-focusing on a...
"Have you told Kira yet?" "She knows." "Have you sent someone to the other steads to warn them of the slavers?" Kira's grandmother just looked at me like I was an idiot. "Mine was the last one attacked, this was a coordinated attack. My granddaughter and I are the only ones left that I can see. If any of the other girls are alive they aren't on their farms." "Can you tell where they are?" "No. I do know that the slavers will be back here soon, and they will come as a group...
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Chandra and I were busy for the next couple of days. The only time we were able to relax was when the tailors came to measure us for the new outfits I wanted us to have. Lady Megan had plenty, according to Chandra, so we didn't have that extra delay. I did not let our schedule interfere with her training; I made plans with the Sisters for us to work on our teamwork. We made it an afternoon at the Temple. Chandra and I needed to learn how to work together as an effective team when push came...
I stopped partway to Duke Dwayne's estates for a chance to regroup. I looped the reins over a tree branch and knelt. I cried for a few minutes before I settled down. The anger had kept me sane enough to do what I had to do. Now that it was gone, my actions left an open wound. I didn't like it. I didn't have to like it. I knew that I had little choice in the matter. Still on my knees, exhausted from my crying, I prayed. Bright Lady, please forgive me. I felt her sad smile while her...
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I had a horse saddled for Megan the next morning. "Come, My Lady, I have a horse for you to ride. It seems that the rain has stopped." I bowed grandiosely, and offered her an orchid before she made ready for the day. "You seem to be in better spirits today, My Lord." "Why shouldn't I be? The rain has stopped, and there is a pair of beautiful maidens to ride at my side." I bowed with a flourish to each of them. Chandra looked at me funny when I bowed to her too. "Thank you, My...
I wasn't sure which was the real Megan, and I would try to figure that out later. It was even possible that it was all just different facets of her personality. I just didn't know. It set me on edge. The first things that I noticed in the mining town on the Fairview side of the mountain were the iron collars. The men in iron collars were quiet, as we rode through town I didn't hear one make a sound. The second was that this town felt off. I couldn't quite place what bothered me, but...
I entered the bedroom from the bath wearing only my towel, I found Tara waiting for me wearing a diaphanous blouse that matched her pants. She was about a foot and a half shorter than I was and this girl with her self-assuredness had me on edge. She found another towel and offered to dry my hair. I sent her to see if my luggage had been brought up yet. As much as I wanted her, I didn't feel right doing so now. I didn't oppose casual sex. There were just too many unknowns to this situation....
The horse kicking the wall of the barn that I was leaning against was one of the worst ways of waking up in the morning that I had ever experienced. There was a blanket across my legs and my sword was laid on my lap. Meri was nowhere in sight but there were plenty of other women and children already moving to do their morning chores. I slowly got up and stretched when I noticed that Meri was bringing me a bucket of water and a towel, while Kira was bringing me a platter of food. So much for...
Celia’s infection cleared up completely a week before we entered the capitol. The scars she wouldn’t let me see but Chandra assured me that they were slowly fading. I knew that I couldn’t wait much longer for a; very long, very hot bath. It had been four days since my last one at a small town’s inn. According to Allard’s writ, he was supposed to take us straight away to the king, but since we didn’t enter the city until after nightfall, he agreed that we could stay at my house until we were...
At least until we went to get our mounts the next morning, that is. We were up and ready before dawn, I sent Meri over to the stable to make sure that the horses would be ready for us to leave when we were done eating. Orlanth and I finished our meal and Meri still hadn't come back, I figured that something was amiss so I had him get his gear and meet me across the street. Instantly, I knew something was wrong when I approached the stable and no one was near it. I could see people...
I reluctantly let go of her hand as she glanced at the door to see who interrupted us. I figured that it was the kids and turned to meet them, Gail was there with the two of them in tow. "Meri, would you take my bags to my room, it is the one on the second level in the northeast corner. Then attend Miss Lori and go where she sends you. You too, Orlanth. After you get settled, I want you to do your exercises, and then you both have the rest of the evening to yourselves. Get some rest and I...
I heard a screech of "What?" coming from the Mother's office, followed by a low growl. I was almost out of the temple before Postulant Chandra caught up to me. Meri and the young petitioner were waiting to enter as I exited. I stopped before Meri, she looked lost and confused. "Meri, I want you to stay here for some training." Her eyes got big and she just looked at me. "You are to stay here and listen to the sisters. There is a set of weapons on my horse; they are for you. Don't...
I now knew enough to get into serious trouble on the dance floor. The carriage pulled up, and I was shooed out the back and told to 'Go practice or something' by Miss Lori. So I followed her instructions and practiced. I was encouraged not to come back in, and they even went so far as to bring me food and drink and a book. Anything, really, to keep me occupied, the household went all-out to get her ready for tonight. Chandra came back looking dirty and tired, so I shooed her off to wash up...
I escorted Megan in, and we found Elizabeth in the sitting room reading a ledger of some sort. I remained standing after leading Megan to a couch. "I need to visit Lady Polyantha. Would it be too much for me to ask of you to entertain Lady Megan for a while until I return?" I asked Lady Elizabeth. She placed her finger on the ledger before she looked up. "It would be our pleasure, Charles. Are you sure that you want to be alone with Lady Polyantha? She does have an unsavory...
Morning breakfast was peaceful. A little too peaceful, I thought. The ladies were going out of their way to be nice to each other and to me. Either they kissed and made up or they were a ticking time bomb. Knowing those two I guessed the latter and I definitely didn't want to be around when it went off. Fat chance of that. The sergeant at the gate was expecting us and presented me with a status report. There weren't any returnees from the messengers that were sent out the day before. Both...
Since I used so much strength earlier, fighting the wizard and then healing myself, I had to put off healing myself again. With Chandra's efforts getting the last of the poison and completely draining the last of my reserves. I didn't even notice that there was some left until I thought about it. I wanted to see if I could heal specific spots, and not use too much power instead of the brute force method that it felt like I had been using. But now that was going to have to wait until after I...
I awoke to the cook moving around in the kitchen well before dawn. I had finally fallen asleep sometime in the middle of the night while sprawled in the overstuffed chair that dominated the main room. She started kneading the dough with the occasional thump against the counter and I think that the thumping is what woke me. I checked my stitches and they seemed to be healing nicely. Cook, that's what she insisted on having me call her, was very generous with her food and gave me a plate of...
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In the corridors of the palace, I passed the prince and he just gave me a quizzical look. I ignored him and I made my way back to my room. I waited to heal myself after I made it to my room because I was not sure that I would survive the aftershock. I carefully removed my clothes and walked into the bath. "Master, what happened to you?" "Tara, would you order some bread, cheese, fruit and ale for the two of us. Also, would you see if you can find me something for sunburn?" "Yes,...
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The weather remained overcast with the breeze gusting from the east. Celia rode with Chandra most of the time while I tended to ride with Sister Emily. Emily taking her charge to task, quizzed Dina on what she had learned from Allard the previous day at every chance possible. Until the third day of travel, Celia braved the brief but potent showers at the first sign of truly dark clouds that rolled all too fast in our direction. She bolted into her carriage and I caught Chandra looking...
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Chandra was moving slowly the next morning. I teased her about not letting them hit her next time. She gave me that dirty look that teenaged girls are born knowing. I chuckled and sat down for the breakfast that our new cook made for us. After we finished a heavier breakfast than any at Miss Lori's, Chandra and I went to the new stable that Chandra found for our horses, we would be needing a mount each, one for Megan, and a couple extra riding horses used as pack animals. The trip to...
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I returned to the temple once the carriage was under way, I wanted to find the Mother before she got really angry. As I passed the common soldiers that would normally be training here, they all saluted me with their hands to their hearts and half bowed. I slowed, nodded back and tried to remember faces. I noticed one of the older men from yesterday's advanced class. I walked up to him and pulled out a handful of silvers in a small pouch." Would you see that his widow gets this, and make...
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It was. The first few groups just wanted to greet us and welcome me here. It seemed that Steven and his lackeys were not going to attend today; I didn't know if that was usual, or that they were just not invited. We did dance together a few more times between meeting new people. I did find out from Lord Richard that the Vulture, his words not mine, with Lady Kathryn was Lady Polyantha. It was funny when Lady Elizabeth kicked him under the table when he called her that though. He did...
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"For shame, Guildmaster Trent. You will spoil Megan's homecoming. You can always be stuffy tomorrow Let her enjoy her family..." chastised a striking petite woman in an exquisitely tailored turquoise silk dress. She had matching combs that kept her long raven hair in place. I would place her a few years older than Megan with the same underlying beauty and poise to her elfin features. That they were closely related was obvious. "I apologize, Lady Yolanda, but this man broke the law. It is...
Patron Saint of a hundred hangovers knows the score of the Game. He doesn’t bother with trifles like friends & family, jobs & jabber, he has all the answers in one cupped hand. Sitting atop a glass mountain with a nose of broken blood vessels, he laughs at all the little people below, scurrying everywhere with so little to show for it. When their disillusioned young approach for tutelage he simply slurs. ‘Comeback to me when you can claim Jack Daniels as Kin, grasshoppers. The road to...
It was late and I was tired when we arrived. Kira nearly fell off her horse trying to dismount and rushed to what looked like a body lying on the porch of the log cabin. I led the horses into a barn that was just off the side of the house and put one horse in each of the stalls. There was already one horse in its own stall. I saw a shovel that was hung in the barn and set it aside, figuring that it was going to be a long evening burying the dead. As I was walking out of the barn, Kira limped...