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The Gray Tower
© 2014 by Walter Reimer
(This is a sequel to The Black Chapel. Reading the earlier story isn’t really necessary, but you may find it useful. Just saying.)
Art by
AspenBear
Part 25.
Masters Kulorn and Marok glanced at each other, and Halvrika could sense that a private conversation was flashing between the bear and the bull. After a brief moment Kulorn closed his eyes, reopened them and said to the Duke, “It is a great opportunity, Your Grace, but Adept Hringurhali will not be able to go.”
Duke Evoli raised one eyebrow, and Halvrika got the impression that this was a tod to which very few people succeeded in saying ‘No.’ “Would you care to explain, Master?” he asked. His brush flicked as he waited.
“Of course, Your Grace. Adept Hringurhali is receiving additional training at her own request, to prevent herself from being attacked by another rogue magic-user.”
The fox considered this, then nodded. “Based on what she’s told me, it will be good training.” He gave her a wink as his former good humor reasserted itself. “You have to learn to keep your guard up, Adept. The world’s full of unseen dangers, am I right, Masters?”
Marok smiled. “As I have told Adept Hringurhali.” He paused for an instant. “Repeatedly.”
Halvrika’s ears grew hot as she blushed while the men in the room laughed. Duke Evoli finally said, “It’s a good purpose, and one that I cannot disagree with. But please, Masters, do not forget my request. Lem has sent students to the Order in the past, and I would like to see that happen again.”
Kulorn nodded gravely and took the fox’s offered paw. “It shall be, Your Grace. An Adept shall be sent. Perhaps Adept Hringurhali – provided she survives.”
After more laughter and an exchange of pleasantries, the fox walked out to rejoin his retainers and head back to the Keep. As soon as he was out of the room Halvrika glared at Marok. The bear recoiled, an obviously fake look of fear on his muzzle. “That was uncalled for, Master,” the raccoon said.
“It was perfectly called for, Halvrika,” Marok said, his expression becoming stern. “You were overconfident, and let Amb attack you.” He wagged a finger at her. “That’s the goal of Maffa’s training – to make sure you always watch your back. I won’t be around to watch it for you forever, you know.”
Halvrika resisted the urge to roll her eyes, while Master Kulorn exercised no such restraint. “Then I must complete my training. Do we know when Master Maffa will return?”
Kulorn nodded. “She and part of the armed force are on their way back, with Priest Gond in chains. Prince Meki will remain behind to keep Engery pacified until this problem is solved.”
***
Saragi Lefra was a former soldier turned Priest of Luli. The wolf’s stocky, muscular build, expertise with weapons and appalling manners made him fit the role of minister of the Lord of War very easily.
He was also Trasta’s personal chaplain.
The elk doe rose from her kneeling position and stepped forward, placing her paws on the crossed sword and axe that lay on the altar. “Before Your Chosen Instruments,” she murmured, “I consecrate my life and pledge my duty to You and Your Shieldmaiden. Guide my arm as you guide my heart and spirit. Let me lay low my enemies as a fitting sacrifice to You and Valla.” She looked up. “May it be ever so.”
“May it be ever so,” Saragi grumbled. “Now, Trasta,” he growled as she stood up, “suppose you be tellin’ me what has you waking me up from a sound sleep just to pray.” He nodded offpawedly to the iconostasis depicting Luli and Valla.
“’Waking you up?’ Blood and fire, Saragi, it’s almost noon!” Trasta snorted. “If you wouldn’t spend half the night drinking, whoring and terrorizing your acolytes – “
“I may as well cut my cock off and become a Purist,” the wolf laughed. “I drink and whore and terrorize because that is what my Lord expects of His servants. We live every day as if it were our last, for – “
“For the hope of every adherent of Luli or Valla is to die in battle,” Trasta finished. She clapped the wolf on the shoulder. “I did want to have a word with you, you old war-beast.”
“So.” He waved her to a bench along one wall of the chapel, and sat down beside her.
Trasta thought for a few moments, gathering her thoughts. “You’ve met Lord Chassi? The new Earl of Repor?”
“He’s a worshipper of Rarmyni, not Luli or Valla,” Saragi said. He hawked and spat across the chapel, the glob landing just short of the wall. “Well set-up buck, though. Met his father once, at the Battle of Chog’s Fens. Good swordsfur, he was.” The wolf smiled and laid a paw on her thigh. “What about the young Earl?”
The doe nibbled her lower lip nervously. “I am thinking of asking my father for permission to – well, um – “
Saragi smiled, his paw squeezing her thigh just a bit. “You want to court him?”
She caught her look at her and gave him a slight smile. “Yes.”
“You want my advice?”
“What else do I keep you around for?” Saragi laughed, and laughed harder when she punched him on the arm.
“Since you ask so politely,” the wolf said, “then I say this.” He leaned toward her conspiratorially, and she bent to listen as he whispered, “Get the young fellow hard, then trip him and make sure you’re under him before he hits the ground.”
They both started laughing at that, and Trasta punched him again. “Is that how your wife caught you, Saragi?”
“Ha! My dear wife fought me tooth and claw when I courted her,” the priest said proudly. “I still have bite marks in the most interesting places. But I won her heart, with Luli and Valla’s grace.” He sat up proudly. “We’ve ten children between us, we do.”
Trasta chuckled and stood up. “With advice like that, I think I may need a new chaplain.”
“Hah. Send me away, and I’ll join your army as a pikeman. And I’ll still give you advice.” He stood up, peering up at her with a sidelong look. “Let me ask you a question now.”
“Go ahead.”
“By Valla’s splendid, tight and well-muscled arse, what brought this on? You turn away every suitor your mother sends your way.”
Trasta blushed. There was no way she was going to let slip that she was in love with Halvrika. “Well, he’s not like all the others.”
Saragi walked over to the altar and tested the axe’s edge with a thumb. “How so?”
“Oh. Um, well . . . he’s very smart – “
“So was Thegn Akari, I recall.”
“He had buck teeth,” and she pulled a face, making it look like she had a huge overbite. “He’s rather good-looking – “
“Brains and looks? Not your usual, then.” He ducked as she swung a fist at him.
“Don’t interrupt. He’s a good fighter, but says that he wants to learn from me.”
The wolf’s eyebrows went up. “Humility? That’s something new.”
She nodded, blushing again at the memory. “And he’s . . . well, Imjasta’s clearly favored him.”
Lefra started laughing at that, so much so that he had to lean on the altar for support. “Oh ho! So Luli’s worshipper has her head turned by the size of a fellow’s sword, eh?” He leered at her. “Have you dueled with him? Tested his mettle?” He waggled his bushy eyebrows at her as he asked the questions.
Trasta thought her ears would burst into flame, and she started flagging. “No,” she said quietly.
That brought the priest up short. “What?”
“I said No.”
“’No’ as in you haven’t bedded him yet?”
Trasta nodded. “I wanted to ask him first – he might have a doe already betrothed to him – “
“Luli’s claws,” and Saragi went back to the bench and sat down, cradling his head in his paws as his tail swished back and forth. He sat back. “Trasta?”
“Saragi?”
“Don’t be stupid.” She blinked as he added, “You’re the Crown Princess of Shuga, m’girl. Half the bucks in the realm would give their left stones to marry you. If this fellow’s as smart as you say he is, he’ll realize that and send any doe he’s got hidden away packing in short order.” He slapped his thighs and said, “Now, you have something to do.”
“Yes?”
He waited, and she finally looked a bit exasperated at herself and left the chapel.
A moment after the door closed he stood up and addressed the images of his gods. “You try to teach them, and they’re still thick as porridge in winter, eh?”
***
Padzi opened the door and his ears perked. “Your Highness! This is a surprise. Please, won’t you come in?”
“Thank you, Padzi. Is the Earl in?” Trasta stepped in and saw several empty plates on the table where she and Chassi had played shash. “Early lunch?”
The donkey grinned as he nodded. “I’d like to convey my thanks – and the Earl’s – to your cook, Your Highness.”
She smiled. “I’ll make sure he knows. Where is he?”
“The Earl? Oh, um,” and the equine looked a bit diffident. “He’s in the garderobe, Your Highness. Er, easing himself.”
Trasta stifled a giggle. “I see there’s some bread and butter left – hmm, and spring wine. Pour me a small glass,” she said as she started to spread butter on a hunk of bread.
Padzi did as she ordered, and slipped out of the room to tell his master that he had a visitor.
After a few minutes Chassi entered. “Your Highness,” he said as he sketched a bow. “An honor, as always.”
“Please, have a seat, My Lord.” She finished her bread and butter, and took a sip of her wine.
She felt suddenly nervous.
“I . . . have something to say.”
“Yes, Your Highn – “
“Trasta.”
“Trasta.” He carefully avoided looking at her hooves. “What do you wish to say?”
“I’ve given this a lot of thought,” she said slowly, “and have discussed this with my chaplain.”
He nodded, waiting for her to finish.
“I am going to ask Father for permission . . . to court you.” She downed the rest of the glass and looked at the buck.
Chassi sat blinking for several moments. Finally he said slowly, “You want to court . . . me?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“We barely know each other.”
The doe gave a snort. “That’s what the courtship’s about, isn’t it? Getting to know each other.”
“Well, yes, so I gather. Isn’t it my place to start courting?”
The doe arched a brow. “Royal prerogative.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “I, um, suppose I could stay here in Shuganath a bit longer. Padzi?”
“My Lord?”
“Could you send a message to my mother? She’s acting as Regent in my domain while I’m here,” he explained.
The donkey grinned. “I’d be glad to, Chassi. Your mother’ll be thrilled to hear it, I think.”
The buck nodded absently. “Trasta, have you . . . asked your father yet?”
“I wanted to tell you first.”
“Of course, of course. But you’ll have to tell him and the Queen sooner or later, you know.” He gave her a lopsided grin, and they both burst out laughing.
“No time like the present, then.” Trasta got to her hooves and extended a paw. “Come with me?”
He took her paw and stood up.
© 2014 by Walter Reimer
(This is a sequel to The Black Chapel. Reading the earlier story isn’t really necessary, but you may find it useful. Just saying.)
Art by
AspenBearPart 25.
Masters Kulorn and Marok glanced at each other, and Halvrika could sense that a private conversation was flashing between the bear and the bull. After a brief moment Kulorn closed his eyes, reopened them and said to the Duke, “It is a great opportunity, Your Grace, but Adept Hringurhali will not be able to go.”
Duke Evoli raised one eyebrow, and Halvrika got the impression that this was a tod to which very few people succeeded in saying ‘No.’ “Would you care to explain, Master?” he asked. His brush flicked as he waited.
“Of course, Your Grace. Adept Hringurhali is receiving additional training at her own request, to prevent herself from being attacked by another rogue magic-user.”
The fox considered this, then nodded. “Based on what she’s told me, it will be good training.” He gave her a wink as his former good humor reasserted itself. “You have to learn to keep your guard up, Adept. The world’s full of unseen dangers, am I right, Masters?”
Marok smiled. “As I have told Adept Hringurhali.” He paused for an instant. “Repeatedly.”
Halvrika’s ears grew hot as she blushed while the men in the room laughed. Duke Evoli finally said, “It’s a good purpose, and one that I cannot disagree with. But please, Masters, do not forget my request. Lem has sent students to the Order in the past, and I would like to see that happen again.”
Kulorn nodded gravely and took the fox’s offered paw. “It shall be, Your Grace. An Adept shall be sent. Perhaps Adept Hringurhali – provided she survives.”
After more laughter and an exchange of pleasantries, the fox walked out to rejoin his retainers and head back to the Keep. As soon as he was out of the room Halvrika glared at Marok. The bear recoiled, an obviously fake look of fear on his muzzle. “That was uncalled for, Master,” the raccoon said.
“It was perfectly called for, Halvrika,” Marok said, his expression becoming stern. “You were overconfident, and let Amb attack you.” He wagged a finger at her. “That’s the goal of Maffa’s training – to make sure you always watch your back. I won’t be around to watch it for you forever, you know.”
Halvrika resisted the urge to roll her eyes, while Master Kulorn exercised no such restraint. “Then I must complete my training. Do we know when Master Maffa will return?”
Kulorn nodded. “She and part of the armed force are on their way back, with Priest Gond in chains. Prince Meki will remain behind to keep Engery pacified until this problem is solved.”
***
Saragi Lefra was a former soldier turned Priest of Luli. The wolf’s stocky, muscular build, expertise with weapons and appalling manners made him fit the role of minister of the Lord of War very easily.
He was also Trasta’s personal chaplain.
The elk doe rose from her kneeling position and stepped forward, placing her paws on the crossed sword and axe that lay on the altar. “Before Your Chosen Instruments,” she murmured, “I consecrate my life and pledge my duty to You and Your Shieldmaiden. Guide my arm as you guide my heart and spirit. Let me lay low my enemies as a fitting sacrifice to You and Valla.” She looked up. “May it be ever so.”
“May it be ever so,” Saragi grumbled. “Now, Trasta,” he growled as she stood up, “suppose you be tellin’ me what has you waking me up from a sound sleep just to pray.” He nodded offpawedly to the iconostasis depicting Luli and Valla.
“’Waking you up?’ Blood and fire, Saragi, it’s almost noon!” Trasta snorted. “If you wouldn’t spend half the night drinking, whoring and terrorizing your acolytes – “
“I may as well cut my cock off and become a Purist,” the wolf laughed. “I drink and whore and terrorize because that is what my Lord expects of His servants. We live every day as if it were our last, for – “
“For the hope of every adherent of Luli or Valla is to die in battle,” Trasta finished. She clapped the wolf on the shoulder. “I did want to have a word with you, you old war-beast.”
“So.” He waved her to a bench along one wall of the chapel, and sat down beside her.
Trasta thought for a few moments, gathering her thoughts. “You’ve met Lord Chassi? The new Earl of Repor?”
“He’s a worshipper of Rarmyni, not Luli or Valla,” Saragi said. He hawked and spat across the chapel, the glob landing just short of the wall. “Well set-up buck, though. Met his father once, at the Battle of Chog’s Fens. Good swordsfur, he was.” The wolf smiled and laid a paw on her thigh. “What about the young Earl?”
The doe nibbled her lower lip nervously. “I am thinking of asking my father for permission to – well, um – “
Saragi smiled, his paw squeezing her thigh just a bit. “You want to court him?”
She caught her look at her and gave him a slight smile. “Yes.”
“You want my advice?”
“What else do I keep you around for?” Saragi laughed, and laughed harder when she punched him on the arm.
“Since you ask so politely,” the wolf said, “then I say this.” He leaned toward her conspiratorially, and she bent to listen as he whispered, “Get the young fellow hard, then trip him and make sure you’re under him before he hits the ground.”
They both started laughing at that, and Trasta punched him again. “Is that how your wife caught you, Saragi?”
“Ha! My dear wife fought me tooth and claw when I courted her,” the priest said proudly. “I still have bite marks in the most interesting places. But I won her heart, with Luli and Valla’s grace.” He sat up proudly. “We’ve ten children between us, we do.”
Trasta chuckled and stood up. “With advice like that, I think I may need a new chaplain.”
“Hah. Send me away, and I’ll join your army as a pikeman. And I’ll still give you advice.” He stood up, peering up at her with a sidelong look. “Let me ask you a question now.”
“Go ahead.”
“By Valla’s splendid, tight and well-muscled arse, what brought this on? You turn away every suitor your mother sends your way.”
Trasta blushed. There was no way she was going to let slip that she was in love with Halvrika. “Well, he’s not like all the others.”
Saragi walked over to the altar and tested the axe’s edge with a thumb. “How so?”
“Oh. Um, well . . . he’s very smart – “
“So was Thegn Akari, I recall.”
“He had buck teeth,” and she pulled a face, making it look like she had a huge overbite. “He’s rather good-looking – “
“Brains and looks? Not your usual, then.” He ducked as she swung a fist at him.
“Don’t interrupt. He’s a good fighter, but says that he wants to learn from me.”
The wolf’s eyebrows went up. “Humility? That’s something new.”
She nodded, blushing again at the memory. “And he’s . . . well, Imjasta’s clearly favored him.”
Lefra started laughing at that, so much so that he had to lean on the altar for support. “Oh ho! So Luli’s worshipper has her head turned by the size of a fellow’s sword, eh?” He leered at her. “Have you dueled with him? Tested his mettle?” He waggled his bushy eyebrows at her as he asked the questions.
Trasta thought her ears would burst into flame, and she started flagging. “No,” she said quietly.
That brought the priest up short. “What?”
“I said No.”
“’No’ as in you haven’t bedded him yet?”
Trasta nodded. “I wanted to ask him first – he might have a doe already betrothed to him – “
“Luli’s claws,” and Saragi went back to the bench and sat down, cradling his head in his paws as his tail swished back and forth. He sat back. “Trasta?”
“Saragi?”
“Don’t be stupid.” She blinked as he added, “You’re the Crown Princess of Shuga, m’girl. Half the bucks in the realm would give their left stones to marry you. If this fellow’s as smart as you say he is, he’ll realize that and send any doe he’s got hidden away packing in short order.” He slapped his thighs and said, “Now, you have something to do.”
“Yes?”
He waited, and she finally looked a bit exasperated at herself and left the chapel.
A moment after the door closed he stood up and addressed the images of his gods. “You try to teach them, and they’re still thick as porridge in winter, eh?”
***
Padzi opened the door and his ears perked. “Your Highness! This is a surprise. Please, won’t you come in?”
“Thank you, Padzi. Is the Earl in?” Trasta stepped in and saw several empty plates on the table where she and Chassi had played shash. “Early lunch?”
The donkey grinned as he nodded. “I’d like to convey my thanks – and the Earl’s – to your cook, Your Highness.”
She smiled. “I’ll make sure he knows. Where is he?”
“The Earl? Oh, um,” and the equine looked a bit diffident. “He’s in the garderobe, Your Highness. Er, easing himself.”
Trasta stifled a giggle. “I see there’s some bread and butter left – hmm, and spring wine. Pour me a small glass,” she said as she started to spread butter on a hunk of bread.
Padzi did as she ordered, and slipped out of the room to tell his master that he had a visitor.
After a few minutes Chassi entered. “Your Highness,” he said as he sketched a bow. “An honor, as always.”
“Please, have a seat, My Lord.” She finished her bread and butter, and took a sip of her wine.
She felt suddenly nervous.
“I . . . have something to say.”
“Yes, Your Highn – “
“Trasta.”
“Trasta.” He carefully avoided looking at her hooves. “What do you wish to say?”
“I’ve given this a lot of thought,” she said slowly, “and have discussed this with my chaplain.”
He nodded, waiting for her to finish.
“I am going to ask Father for permission . . . to court you.” She downed the rest of the glass and looked at the buck.
Chassi sat blinking for several moments. Finally he said slowly, “You want to court . . . me?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“We barely know each other.”
The doe gave a snort. “That’s what the courtship’s about, isn’t it? Getting to know each other.”
“Well, yes, so I gather. Isn’t it my place to start courting?”
The doe arched a brow. “Royal prerogative.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “I, um, suppose I could stay here in Shuganath a bit longer. Padzi?”
“My Lord?”
“Could you send a message to my mother? She’s acting as Regent in my domain while I’m here,” he explained.
The donkey grinned. “I’d be glad to, Chassi. Your mother’ll be thrilled to hear it, I think.”
The buck nodded absently. “Trasta, have you . . . asked your father yet?”
“I wanted to tell you first.”
“Of course, of course. But you’ll have to tell him and the Queen sooner or later, you know.” He gave her a lopsided grin, and they both burst out laughing.
“No time like the present, then.” Trasta got to her hooves and extended a paw. “Come with me?”
He took her paw and stood up.
Category Story / Fantasy
Species Cervine (Other)
Size 592 x 750px
File Size 42.9 kB
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