For Lord and Land

For Lord and Land
By: Delilah deSora
Part 3
Chapter 6

**

There are many types of love. The love of family, friends, true love, and the love that binds two creatures together. Each of these loves is just another brush stroke on the canvas of our lives. Should even one of these be denied the masterpiece will become only so much paint.

-Errol Bryant

**

The ride into Velin was nothing short of a parade. Throngs of people lined the main venue and it was enough to put Dante on edge. He couldn’t imagine what Errol or Breven were feeling as his eyes scanned the crowd before them. With every step he felt the old familiar fears of a knight and guard wel wit within him. The streets were too narrow and the people simply too close to Ardel.

His stiffness alerted Marlow to his nervousness and the grey stallion stalked through the streets, head turning this way and that as sharp blue eyes searched the crowd for danger. He was thankful for the stallion’s presence for it reminded him of old times and served to alleviate him of the problems most of nobles behind him were having with skittish mounts.

It also helped to relax him for if anything came at them suddenly his mount would let him know. Marlow had turned out to be one of the best choices he had made as a knight in training. He had sat among the horses employed by the knighthood for hours with Cian, watching each horse in the pasture in an effort to find a mount that he could work with. The day had grown long and Cian had left to attend a meeting when a particular grey stallion caught his attention.

He had watched the stallion be moved from one pasture to another only to stand at the fence watching the stable hand until the man was out of sight before lowering his head to work the latch holding the gate closed and return to the apple tree he had been moved from. He had watched as one by one the apples were picked from the lower branches. When no more were left within distance of the long neck he had expected the stallion to simply leave.

Instead Marlow had studied the tree for a moment before turning and kicking the tree with powerful hind hooves. Apples had tumbled from the tree, leaving the grey stallion standing in a pile of the sweet fruits. The stable hand had come running at the sound and had chased the stallion from the tree. Marlow had led him on a merry chase through the pasture, always returning to the tree to snatch another apple before trotting off before he could be captured.

The stable hand had finally given up and Dante had made room for him under the tree he had chosen. The stable hand had informed him that Marlow had destroyed four apple trees in the pasture by kicking them. They’d done everything they could to keep him from the trees but always the stallion managed to get free.

Taken with the horse’s playful demeanor and blatant refusal to be moved where he did not wish to go he had chosen the stallion as his own. He had never truly believed that claims that the horses would protect them from danger under their own power until a day in his fourth year when he had been returning from Fiorn to Aidus. He had stopped for a few hours during the hottest part of the day and fallen asleep in the shade. He’d been woken to a feral cry met by an answering scream he recognized as Marlow’s.

Jumping to his feet he had moved away from the ledge he had slept under to take advantage of the shade it had offered only to have his attention turned towards the stallion rearing up on the plateau onto of it. Scrambling out from under the war horse’s hooves had been a desert lion. The large cat had screamed at the stallion and Marlow had charged at it. Dante had nearly felt his heart stop, sure that the lioness would tear the horse apart. Sharp hooves had come down and the lioness had fled, the stallion close on her heels, biting at her hindquarters.

When it was evident that the cat was not interested in anything other than fleeing the stallion had stopped its pursuit, watching until the lioness had disappeared over a small rise before returning. Marlow still bore the lioness’s claw marks on his broad chest where he must have gotten them in his initial encounter with the cat. Dante had no doubts that if the stallion hadn’t attacked the cat he would be dead. He knew now how foolish it had been to fall asleep under a ledge for desert lions liked to pounce on their prey from above.

He had never doubted Marlow after that.

The stallion sudden whickered; its muscles tensing and dragging Dante back to the present. Whipping his head around he caught sight of a woman trying to push past the line of people, probably to get a better view. He tensed but they rode by without incident. Marlow picked up his feet a bit more, making the walk more of a trot, belaying his pent up energy, and Dante caught Errol’s amused glance.

“Perhaps later.” He said, patting the grey neck and earning a swivel of pointed ears.

Reluctantly Marlow’s pace slowed until he was even with Errol’s mount. Dante’s eyes focused on Ardel’s mount and he couldn’t help laughing at the sly way the horse moved. Unlike the plodding walk of their mounts the red stallion seemed to glide across the cobblestone street.

“Who taught it to do that?” He asked.

Errol laughed and shrugged. “Who knows? That poor horse is so cooped up I bet the stable hands have been teaching it all sorts of strange things just to give it something to do and keep it from going wild.”

Dante sighed. “I guess Ardel doesn’t get out much either.”

Errol gave him a pointed look. “No, the Emperor doesn’t.”

Wincing he gave the man an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”

The smile returned to Errol’s face. “Ah good, we’re here.”

Dante turned to face forward where a large grey building rose up before them. He immediately recognized the marble that came from the Acathas Mountains to the south. To see so much of it fashioned into a building always made him gape. The red tiled roof glowed in the setting sun, as did the man who rode the matching horse up the wide stairs. The red stallion whirled away from the columned doorway and for a frightening moment Dante expected the horse to spook and come tumbling down the stairs but it stilled, staring down at them all with the same indifferent mask as the man upon its back.

The jewels on the dragon crown glittered, as did Ardel’s robes. Dante dismounted as the gathered crowd dropped to the ground, somehow making room for those around them as the gathered city of Velin bowed before their ruler. While merchants and tradesman pressed their foreheads to the ground nobles and soldiers merely knelt, the only exceptions being Breven, Errol, and the guards Dante could see hovering in the shadows on either side of Ardel.

The moment was a difficult one for him but his his war horse beside him and Ars gas gaze suddenly fixed on him he knelt, stubbornly meeting his lover’s gaze. He was aware of Errol’s measuring gaze but he refused to relent. He didn’t care what anyone else said. He had been born to a family with a long history of Lord Generals and service to the Emperor; he would not crawl in the dirt just because of a twist of fate.

The doors to the city’s hall opened and the moment passed. People came to their feet as a man with reddish brown hair welcomed the Emperor on behalf of the city. Servants appeared and Dante reluctantly turned Marlow over to them, watching a part of his past being led away from him. To his surprise Errol also turned over his mount’s reigns rather than taking care of the mare himself as they had all been taught to do.

Errol met his surprised stare and shrugged. “Nobles don’t take care of their own horses and I’m not allowed to let you away from my side.”

Dante growled. “I can take care of myself.” He pointed out. “Just because I wear a different set of clothing doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten a lifetime of training.”

He received a second shrug. “It is out of our hands.”

Ardel had apparently moved inside for Dante found himself swept up in a crowd of nobles heading for the stairs. He followed Errol in silent annoyance. The knight got them in ahead of the long line of nobles presenting their invitations to the guards at the door and for a moment Dante thought he saw a flash of dark hair among the warm colors of the Ardaen people but when he turned to look Errol tugged him forward in irritation.

With a sigh he followed. He’d searched through the crowd on the way in, hoping to see his lover among the gathering but all those of his mother’s people were faces he did not recognize. They were taken to a small replication of Ardel’s throne room and on the highest tier of the raised dais sat the Emperor, servants arranging his robe so that they fell in artful waves to the floor. Seated next to him a level down was the brown haired man from before sat in the governor’s seat speaking softly to Ardel, who seemed to be ignoring him.

“Samuel Aidan, a cousin of the Emperor’s.” Errol murmured to him.

Dante frowned, studying the man. “He doesn’t look a thing like Ardel.”

Errol laughed softly. “That’s because he’s an Aidan by marriage. His wife is the daughter of the former Emperor’s cousin.”

Dante frowned. “What?”

Face alight with amusement and began tracing lines in the air. “Ardel’s grandfather had a younger twin. That twin had a son who in turn had a daughter. Samuel married that daughter and took her name.”

“Oh. Can he do that?”

Errol shrugged. “When your father by law is the governor of Velin and you are about to inherit it from him who’s going to argue?”

Dante cocked his head, forced to agree.

“He’s a blowhard but his wife is positively delightful. She inherited that Aidan sarcasm and fire. Hopefully we’ll be able to meet with her before this is through.”

There was priest on Ardel’s other side who looked like an overstuffed cardinal in his red robes and pointed hat. Dante laughed softly. All he needed was the beak and Dante wouldn’t have been surprised to see him fly from the room.

Errol deposited him at Ardel’s side and a scroll was shoved into his hands. Before he could question it the knight was gone and Breven had appeared to his place, blocking off his only avenue of escape. The man at his side shifted, drawing his attention downwards.

“When did you start playing politics?” Ardel inquired dryly, reminding him of his actions at the foot of the stairs.

Dante grit his teeth. “I started the moment they tried to take my sword from me.”

Ardel laughed softly. They watched in silence as servants tried to get the fires on either side of dais going, failing miserably in their nervousness. “Think I should help them?” Ardel asked, his voice full of playfulness.

Dante snorted. “You’d probably give them a heart attack. Stop making them nervous.”

In response Ardel turned back to the man at his side, making a noncommittal sound as though he had been paying attention the governor’s words all along.

After what seemed an eternity of waiting the doors opened and people filtered in. It took all of his former training to keep from screaming in bored frustration as he listened to the same speech over and over again from those that brought presents to the Emperor. He was, however, glad to notice that other than a precursory glance no one ever bothered to give him a second glance.

Finally Ardel called a halt to the proceedings simply by rising and walking away. Dante and the governor were hot on his heels and he tossed the pointless scroll to a passing servant. The governor overtook Ardel and led him to the dinning hall. Ardel chased the man off as his servants reappeared, takine gle gloves from his hands and securing the long sleeves of his robes to his shoulders where they would not interfere with dinner.

Dante found his own gloves taken as a small party gathered and followed the Emperor into the dinning hall. All the other tables were already filled as they filed into the room and were directed to seats at the head table. Dante found himself seated two seats down from Ardel, trapped between Breven and Errol. On Ardel’s other side, Dante caught sight of the governor and next to him sat a woman with hair the exact shade of Ardel’s. Ardel’s attention to her words was genuine and once or twice Dante even detected a faint hint of smile cross the red lips.

There was no one seated across from them, allowing the people below an unobstructed view of the occupants of the main table and making Dante extremely self-conscious. He kept his head low and ate slowly. Neither Breven nor Errol seemed inclined to talk and he kept his peace, letting them do their job without distraction. Desert came and went and he finally had no excuse to keep his face in his plate.

Sighing he lifted his head and allowed his eyes to travel over the gathering. He recognized onlfew few faces and smiled in relief, knowing that even if he weren’t masked they wouldn’t have recognized him. It wasn’t until his gaze came to the tables along the wall that he caught a flash of firelight on black hair. He stiffened, studying the man’s back, noting the almost awkward way he lifted the silver eating sticks to his mouth, like a right handed person trying to eat with their left hand.

The man turned and Dante gripped the table as surprise swept through him. Cian’s eyes came to rest on him for a moment before slowly moving past him. The golden haired woman across from his brother said something, drawing his attention back to the table but twice more Dante caught his brother’s gaze. The sd tid time his brother tilted his head to the side almost imperceptibly. Dante reluctantly shook his head, knowing there was no escape for him while he was trapped between the captain of Ardel’s guard and the second in command of the Knights of Aidan.

Dinner ended and there lre led to a ballroom. Dante again found himself hovering at Ardel’s shoulder but after only an hour Breven and Errol begged the Emperor’s leave to go prepare the rooms. Ardel waved them off and Dante immediately searched out his brother. Cian caught his gaze and nodded.

It wasn’t until Ardel was distracted by a sudden surge of nobles begging his attention that Dante found his chance. Catching the guard beside him and explaining that he needed a few minutes to himself he slipped away, following his brother to a secluded room designed for those who had had too much to drink or women who needed a moment to loosen their clothes.

He caught his brother in hug, closing his eyes in pleasure as he enjoyed the simple closeness. Pulling back he took in his brother’s appearance, tugging at the jeweled jacket.

“What are you doing here?” He asked.

Cian smiled, setting aside the wine glass he held. “Father got an invitation to come but mother had a fit so he threw out the invitation. I saved it and offered to come as his representation so that it didn’t look like he was shunning the Emperor. What are you doing here?” He demanded, “I thought they didn’t let you out.”

Dante shrugged, unwilling to spread tales of Ardel’s impending loss of control. “I don’t know. I guess they figured I needed a bit of air. Have you heard from Sibley?” He asked suddenly.

Cian sighed and shook his head. “No. I’ve sent letters to every university I can think of and no one has employed him or ever received an application. I think I’m going to try sending letters out to the Ventaen universities just in case he wandered over there.”

Dante shuddered. “I hope he wasn’t foolish enough to do that. Ardel’s reports are filled with Ardaen people in Ventae being killed.”

His brother reached up to touch the side of his face. “I’m sure he’s fine. You know how Sibley is, he probably just needs some time to work things out. Although . . .” Cian’s voice halted and he bit his lip.

Dante frowned. “Although what?”

Cian shook his head. “One of the family messengers told me that right before Sibley left he had received a scroll from Aidus. One that had the Emperor’s scribe’s symbol on it.”

The frown deepened and Dante peered past his brother to the door. “That’s impossible. Ardel insists Sibley hasn’t been to the palace.”

Cian shrugged. “I do not know what to say.”
ghinghing Dante switched topics to keep the memory of Sibley’s hands brushing over his fevered skin from overwhelming him. “And mother? She is still angry?”

His brother shook his head, lips tightening into a thin line. “She is getting better but . . . father’s gotten in trouble with a few of the other Ardaens in Wyrllyr for her outspoken words against the Emperor. We’ve managed to smooth everything over and she’s quieted down a bit. I’ve taken over anything that requires father to travel somewhere.”

Dante noted the brown glove over his brother’s right arm. “And your hand?” He asked reaching for it.

Cian pulled away from him, turning unconsciously to block the limb from view. “Its fine.” He murmured.

“Does it hurt yet?” Dante asked.

His brother shook his head. “No. I feel nothing in it anymore.”

Dante bowed his head guiltily but before he could comment further the door opened and a golden haired woman appeared. She halted when she caught sight of him and Dante studied her closely as she pulled back slightly.

“I’m sorry!” She exclaimed, “I didn’t realize that you were with someone.”

Cian moved past him to catch her hand in his and Dante didn’t miss the gentle smile that crossed his brother’s face. “It’s fine. I’m sorry to have abandoned you like that.”

The gentle smile was mirrored on her face and Dante didn’t miss the way she leaned in towards his brother. “I was worried that you weren’t feeling well. Shall I leave you two alone?”

Cian shook his head. “No, it’s all right. The message had been delivered and we should probably be heading back to the party.”

The woman smiled over her shoulder at him and drifted through the door. Cian caught Dante’s arm and leaned in to whisper to him. “Will you be able to see me again?”

Dante hesitated and shrugged. “I don’t know. He and Errol are keeping a pretty close eye on me.”

His brother nodded. “If you get the chance I would like to speak with you again.”

“I as well. Who is that by the way?”

Cian gave him a predatory grin. “Errol’s sister. She’s been staying with us for a bit of ‘culture’.”

Dante laughed and smacked his brother on the back, sending him through the door.

The lady was waiting for them and Cian broke away, smiling brightly at her. She laughed and caught Cian’s left arm. Dante gave his brother an approving look as he exited the room. The smile that his brother’s happiness caused fell from his face as he turned and was met by an angry emerald gaze.

He moved to apologize but Ardel turned away from him and walked away