Zeydrick
The city-camp buzzed with activity. Barricades of sharpened wood were shoved onto the roads with wagons shoved in behind them. Burly men and women clung to axes, spears, shields, and swords. Even a few half-pints, I noted, brandished weapons.
“Huh,” Euri mused, “they must think we’re invading.”
“They’re not entirely mistaken,” Eyvindr replied, toying with her helm.
“Leave your helmets off,” I said, glancing at either of them once. “We’ll approach without the troops when we get closer, tell them we’re here on a diplomatic mission.”
“What do we say about the thousand soldiers?” Evyindr asked with a small smile.
“That, seeing as no one has had any actual diplomatic contact with Tolstal or their Jarl for a few decades, we didn’t know what to expect,” I replied, focusing a hard stare onto her. “Don’t. Screw. This. Up.”
She puffed out her cheeks for a brief moment, before releasing the air, then shrugged. “Yes, Captain.”
Several of the warriors before us pointed their spears and pikes towards us as we got closer. A dismissive wave of my hand and the commander ordered a halt for the troops. I, Eyvindr, and Euri trotted forward, pulling our beasts up a few yards from the entrance of the city-camp.
“This is a far warmer welcome than we expected,” I said, projecting my voice just enough for the warriors at the front to hear me. With a smile, I raised my voice more, turning my tone formal. “Greetings, warriors of Tolstal. We are here to speak with Jarl Patrova Amihan on behalf of Holy Emperor Arias si Mesiraeh Svetovid. Please inform the Jarl of our arrival.”
“Aye, I know yer here,” came a gruff voice from the front of the gathered warriors behind the barricades. “Name yerself.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” I continued, hiding my annoyance at not seeing her face to face. “I am Captain Zeydrick of the Holy Order of Knights. The two with me are Ser Eyvindr and Ser Euri, Knights of the Holy Order.”
“An’ what’s the purpose of the army behind ya?” the Jarl asked.
With her most winning smile, Ser Eyvindr replied, “A measure of caution, Jarl Patrova, as Tolstal and the Holy Empire has had no contact in the recent decades. His Imperial Highness was concerned there might be a diplomatic incident stemming from a misunderstanding. Such a small force, however, should be taken as a compliment to the rumored strength of the Tolstal clans.”
Jarl Patrova fell silent. She silenced a couple of guff words from some of the warriors with a growl.
Finally, she replied, “What does yer Emperor want with us?”
“An alliance, Jarl,” Eyvindr told her, “against the Island Nations.”
“Aye, pirate bastards harry yer ships, don’t they?” A few barks of laughter from the Jarl and her warriors before she continued. “An’ what do we get outta this … alliance?”
“Protection,” I interjected when it looked like Ev had run out of bull to spew. “The Emperor is prepared to assign a Knight and their legion in order to bolster your land forces. I’m sure you and your people have heard the rumors from the west of the demons crossing the mountains?”
“Aye, we’ve heard the rumors… and killed a few of the lesser bitches just a fortnight ago,” Jarl Patrova replied. After a moment, the spears and pikes lifted from the barricades and a single barricade was pulled out of the way. The narrow passage created was enough for two horses to go inside by side - meaning, one of our ebriaen at a time.
The Jarl stood in the gap, one hand clutching a huge, double-bladed ax and the other holding a round shield.
“I offer ya the rites of hospitality,” the Jarl said, her eyes narrowed, “long as you leave your troops over there.”
“The rites of hospitality?” Euri asked quietly, leaning towards me in his saddle. “What does that involve?”
“It means, as our host, she is obligated to protect us so long as we do not violate our obligations as guests. Which means, not attacking her or her people and accepting the food and drink offered. We have the right to enter freely and exit without harm so long as the rite of hospitality is observed. Should either party violate the rite, it’s a serious offense to our honor, the Gods, and the land,” I explained, never taking my eyes off of Jarl Patrova. She waited patiently by the barricade, waiting for our response.
“So, you two - think you can keep level heads?” I asked, glancing between them.
“Better us than Duras,” Eyvindr replied with a sly smile.
I snorted, then projected my voice towards the Jarl. “As your guests in this land, we humbly accept the rites of hospitality.”
The soldiers around visibly relaxed and began to clear the road. Even the Jarl dropped her shoulders, a minuscule amount, but enough that I caught it.
Jarl Patrova handed her ax to another and motioned for us to follow. “Then I’ll hear ya out in Hall. This way.”
She turned on her heel, stomping through the snow and mud mush. I nudged Zephyr forward, hearing a muttered, mild curse from Euri before the sounds of their mounts followed after me. Several of the gathered warriors stood aside to watch us pass, while others seemed to return to business as usual. A butcher threw on her discarded apron and picked up the wicked, large blade on her bloodied workspace. A blacksmith glowered at us even as he pumped his furnace to get the coals going again.
As we got further into the city-camp, I noted more children of varying ages peeking out of tents or doorways. A young man with a toddler on his hip herded a gaggle of children into one of the longhouses, throwing nervous glances in our direction.
Jarl Patrova stomped up the steps of the largest building in the camp and turned to face us at the top of the stairs.
“Welcome to Tolstal Hold,” the Jarl said, then gestured to posts in front of the building, to the side of the stairs. “Please utilize these for your mounts.”
With a nod from me, Euri and Eyvindr dismounted, taking their mounts to the posts. As I dismounted, the Jarl took a step towards the beasts.
“Ah, Jarl Patrova, I do not wish to be rude, but I would suggest you keep your distance from them. They are vicious carnivores who will take a bite out of anyone that gets too close,” I said, grabbing Zephyr’s reins tightly under his chin, to keep him from lunging forward. “While we have the privilege of partnering with them, ebriaen are not slaves, nor tame. Please understand, this is a warning for your safety, not an insult.”
The Jarl stopped in her tracks. “Ah. I see. I wondered about ‘em, see, never seen a beast like ‘em. How did ya come by ‘em?”
“The Holy Emperor Mosric si Livonia Svetovid created their species centuries ago to be the exclusive mounts of the Order of the Holy Knights,” I explained, securing Zephyr’s reins to the post. I met his eyes and ordered, “Stay. No biting anyone.”
Zephyr snorted and tugged at the knot, digging his talons into the softened earth. Euri’s beast gnashed her teeth and swung her tail at her two fellows, making Eyvindr’s beast growl and smack her back.
“Zephyr,” I growled. The ebriaen stallion narrowed his eyes, a brief challenge, but my will hammered against his until he nudged into my chest briefly. He twisted his neck towards the two mares and growled at them, baring his fangs. The females snorted and settled, flexing their talons into the mud.
With a sigh, I patted Zephyr’s neck and turned towards Jarl Patrova. “They will behave until we return. Please ensure your people do not give them a chance to misbehave.”
She nodded and motioned for one of the boys nearby. She crouched down to instruct the boy to keep everyone away from the strange beasts and not to go near them himself. He nodded, hard enough to make his hair fall over his eyes. Jarl Patrova pat his head and stood, motioning us to follow her.
Euri and Eyvindr followed close behind me, glancing around, getting a lay of the building. Our boots thudded loudly within the space of the Hold entrance hall. Patrova led us into the central room, a large open space with a fire pit in the center, benches and tables around the fire pit, and an impressive, thick wooden throne sat before it.
With as much grace as a drunken ettin, Jarl Patrova threw herself down into the wooden throne, her legs spread wide as she leaned back, her fur hood falling away to reveal a long braid of brown hair. Narrowed dark brown eyes challenged us, daring us to say anything about her behavior.
Too bad she’s faced with me.
With a smile, I sat myself on a bench, leaning back against the table behind me. I glanced around the space and hummed in pleasure.
“Ser Euri, when we return home, remind me to improve our common hall. A couple of these will certainly give a bit more character,” I said, gesturing to the large fire pit before us.
A lifting twitch of the Jarl’s lips told me I’d earned points for the comment, adding to my confidence.
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