The deadly feast, p.21
The Deadly Feast,
p.21
“None,” Aefric conceded. “You’ve proven all of them true so far.”
She nodded firmly. “And your grace may rest assured that, given the chance, I shall give this bold claim the same degree of focus and effort.”
“Fair enough,” Aefric said, smiling. “Come back alive from this mission and I’ll call you to my chambers that very night.”
“Now there’s motivation,” she said softly. But then tried for a teasing tone, though it sounded a little forced. “I understand that Duchess Ashling of Merrek may be making bastards fashionable—”
“Deirdre.”
“I’m just saying, your grace,” she said, sounding more like herself again. “Looks. Power. Finesse. Our child would have it all.”
And somehow she had him laughing again. Honestly, openly laughing. How did she do that?
“Fine,” Aefric said. “If I ever find I need a bastard, I’ll keep you in mind.”
“Then my work here is done,” she said, smiling as she bowed. “I’ll return as soon as possible with my findings.”
“I know you will,” Aefric said.
She left then.
Aefric stood and, leaning on the Brightstaff more than he liked, walked to the rail to look over the lake.
So many ships and boats out on the lake. Like little reminders of all the things he had to do. Visit his barony in Netar. Stop by the capital on his way there or his way back. Prepare his lands and people for winter. And more. So much more.
All this, knowing that the kingdom might soon be at war with Caiperas. At least, pending findings of the royal investigator.
Where did Nelazzi fit into all this? And Kefthal? And Malimfar, for that matter?
So many questions. But Aefric couldn’t get answers right now. No. Right now he had to rest, and heal.
With that in mind, he turned, and went back inside. He needed to take a nap before dinner.
Doubtless, in light of Aefric’s near death, Beornric would want to revisit the topic of bridal candidates.
And despite her own words, Aefric found himself thinking that perhaps that list should include the name Deirdre Ol’Miri.
Preview of Book Five: The King’s Test
Prologue
The ducal stables at Water’s End were abuzz with last-minute activity. Grooms and pages running every which way. Fastening this and attending to that. Shouting to each other in some kind of shorthand. Making sure that nothing was forgotten.
Aefric Brightstaff was getting used to the fact that travel now meant causing a great deal of fuss. But he was still adjusting to the sheer volume of bustle and noise involved.
He’d been in quieter taverns during harvest festivals, back in his adventuring days.
Of course, no tavern would be this busy at this hour. The early autumn skies were only just starting to lighten toward gray. And Aefric wondered a little if the grooms and pages kept up their wicked pace just to drive away the predawn chill.
He knew better, though. He had a schedule to keep, and everyone around him was just doing their best to help him keep it. To make sure that Ser Aefric Brightstaff, Duke of Deepwater and Baron of Netar, had all of his people and horses ready to board their ship with the morning tide.
All of his people and horses. This was a relatively small entourage for him, these days. A half-dozen knights — his Knights of the Lake— and the two dozen soldiers of his personal guard. Plus a modest number of support staff…
…somewhere around here, anyway. Aefric didn’t see their carts, but he was sure that Ser Beornric Ol’Sandallas — his knight-adviser and the captain of his personal guard — had it all under control.
Beornric had been a knight about as long as Aefric had been alive — some twenty-five summers. And Beornric knew well enough how to handle last-minute preparations for a ride that would take more than an aett.
Eight days or so for Aefric to get to the royal capital at Armityr. Then likely one night at Armityr, and on to Aefric’s new barony.
Netar.
And it was Netar Aefric thought about that chill autumn morning. With the smell of hay and horses filling his nostrils.
King Colm could have given Aefric anything as a show of gratitude after Frozen Ridge. Ships. Money. Jewelry. Anything, really. But he’d chosen to give Aefric another title. More land. A barony.
He’d given Aefric Netar.
Which begged the question. Why Netar?
It was of about average size, as baronies go. Some fifty miles long, and bounded by the Maiden’s Blood River on the west and the kingdom of Rethneryl on the east. Major exports were iron and steel. Very deep mines, from what his seneschal had told him.
His Keifer McShane memories of Torn Kingdoms sourcebooks and adventures weren’t much help here. Netar was hardly a footnote in the sourcebooks. And the only adventure that featured it — was it I17 From Beneath the Mines? — was one of the few Keifer had never played.
So what was it about this particular stretch of land? Why did the king choose this barony for Aefric?
Because it was close to the capital, instead of a full aett’s ride away, like Water’s End? Was he hoping to have Aefric closer at hand?
Was it the value of those iron mines? A gift of wealth for a duke who, to be honest, already had a great deal?
Or was there something about Netar itself, that the king wanted Aefric to deal with personally? A problem, perhaps? Something brought up by the Godswalk Wars? Or some strange magic?
Or was there another reason entirely?
Why Netar?
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About the Author
Stefon Mears has attended some strange rites in his day. Stefon has more than thirty books to his credit, and he never stops writing. He earned his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from N.I.L.A., and his B.A. in Religious Studies (double emphasis in Ritual and Mythology) from U.C. Berkeley. He’s a lifelong gamer and fantasy fan. Stefon lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and three cats.
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Also by Stefon Mears
Jumpstart Duchy
Into the Torn Kingdoms
The Dragon’s Gold
The Gift Castle
The Deadly Feast
The King’s Test
Triumph in the Torn Kingdoms
* * *
Cavan Oltblood Series
Half a Wizard
The Ice Dagger
Spells of Undeath
* * *
Spells for Hire
Devil’s Shoestring
Zombie Powder
Spirit Trap
Dragon’s Blood
* * *
The Rise of Magic
Magician’s Choice
Sleight of Mind
Lunar Alchemy
Three Fae Monte
The Sphinx Principle
Double Backed Magic
Mercury Fold (coming soon!)
* * *
The Telepath Trilogy
Surviving Telepathy
Immoral Telepathy
Targeting Telepathy
* * *
Edge of Humanity
Caught Between Monsters
Hunting Monsters
* * *
Power City Tales
Not Quite Bulletproof
No Money in Heroism
* * *
Sects and the City
Prince of a Thousand Worlds
Twisted Timelines
Spell Slingers
Longhairs and Short Tales: A Collection of Cat Stories
Devil’s Night
Portal-Land, Oregon
With a Broken Sword
Twice Against the Dragon
The House on Cedar Street
Stealing from Pirates
Fade to Gold
Sudden Death
On the Edge of Faerie
Confronting Legends (Spells & Swords Vol. 1)
Uncle Stone Teeth and Other Macabre Poems
The Patreon Collection Vols. 1-8 (Vol. 9 coming soon)
The 30-Day Novel and Beyond!
Published by Thousand Faces Publishing, Portland, Oregon
http://1kfaces.com
Copyright © 2022 by Stefon Mears
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Stefon Mears, The Deadly Feast
