Guild Mage: Apprentice

Liv waited for Duke Thomas Falkenrath before the wall which bridged the pass.

Rose had, at her request, sculpted for her a seat and a dais of stone, pulled up from the very roots of the earth beneath the pass itself. On the dais, gathered around her, stood representatives of every group which had fought against Lucania - whether at the pass, or in Valegard.

Matthew stood for Whitehill, of course, and his father in law, Baron Arnold Crosbie, for Valegard. With the baroness of Ashford tending to her children away from the front line, and Kazimir Grenfell still recovering, Bryn stood for that family. Sidonie's father stood for the Corbetts, and Baron Gilbert Every was close by his side.

For the Eld, Sohvis represented Mountain Home until Keri had recovered. Liv's great uncle Eilis stood for House Däivi, and Commander Soile for House Keria. Though Liv herself was undoubtedly the best one to speak for House Syvä, Kaija was with her, as well.

Vivek Sharma represented Lendh ka Dakruim, and he was close at Liv's left hand, opposite Matthew on her right. That had been deliberate: Liv wanted him close enough to consult with, so that she would know if someone was lying to her. It felt odd not having Arjun present, and Rose seemed to have wandered off at some point during the planning. Wren was there, as well, skulking about the edges - both because she'd been the one to make contact with the Falkenraths, and because Liv wanted someone to speak for her people.

Kaija had made her armor as presentable as was possible, and Triss had, with Sidonie and Miina's help, braided her hair and powdered her face. The silver crown of Celris rested atop Liv's brow, and the stormwand she'd tried to give to Matthew now occupied the leather sheath which hung from her belt.

The dais to raise her people above the Falkenraths, the fact that Liv was in a chair while everyone else would be made to stand, the battle-scarred armor, the wand made from the bone of a god - and most especially the circlet - were all designed to give an impression. Liv hoped that Duke Falkenrath would read her signals the right way, but she'd never actually spoken to him before, and so it was something of a guessing game on her part. Still, her strategy was already set. A bell of discussion was scarcely enough time to hammer out a plan, but it was better than nothing at all.

Thomas Falkenrath arrived on foot with his son Thurston, who Liv had met before, and a single old knight she did not recognize. The fourth member of the party, however, she knew very well: Tephania Lane.

They had to walk past the broken hulks of siege engines, the melting shells of ice which had been broken open with hammers to remove the corpses of the slain, and the crater which marked the place where Liv had failed to cast an archmage spell. They had to walk past the stockade, as well, patrolled as it was by both Elden and human soldiers.

Look what we have already done to the southerners, Liv told them, without moving her lips or showing the slightest expression. Look what we can still do to you.

She found her eyes drawn to Teph, while the four came within speaking distance. Liv wished there had been a way for the two of them to speak, alone, before this meeting, but there simply hadn't been time. Based on what Wren had told her of what had transpired at the Falcon's Roost in Courland, she thought that Teph was still her friend. But that didn't mean Thomas Falkenrath was, and he was the man that the Lanes were sworn to serve.

The four who had come to speak to her - had come expecting to speak with Matthew, perhaps, or Julianne, but would now instead face a half-Elden adopted daughter - stopped ten feet from the edge of the dais. It was Kaija who spoke first, as had been planned.

"You come before Livara tär Valtteri, of the Houses Syvä and Summerset; Lady of Winter, Magia of the Watchful Guild of Magim, named Queen of the Mountains," the armorer announced. Liv could see Tephania's eyes widen at the introduction, but the Falkenraths held their faces still as stone.

Liv said nothing, remaining as silent and still as she possibly could. After a moment, Duke Falkenrath began.

"Mistress Wind Dancer has presented evidence to me that the dowager queen, Millicent Loredan, has engaged in the foul worship of one of the old gods," Falkenrath said. "As the lands of Courland, to this pass, fall under my authority as Duke of Courland, I have come to arrest her and see her brought to judgement."

Liv turned her head and nodded to Bryn. The other woman dumped a sack out onto the ground, and the dead queen's severed head rolled across the war-ravaged earth. Keri had, apparently, cut it off entirely in his final strike of their duel. While his soldiers had been more concerned with saving his life in the moment, after his collapse, they'd apparently held onto the thing just in case it was wanted - storing it in one of the shrinking snowbanks.

Tephania blanched back; the thing was beginning to go bad, anyway. Liv smothered a stirring of guilt in her belly: she didn't want to upset her friend, but the most important thing she needed to do during this meeting was to secure the alliance's rear, so that they could focus on Ractia.

"As you can see, Millicent Loredan is dead." Liv raised her voice, so that her words were clear. "She was killed in battle by Inkeris ka Ilmari kæn Bælris, after she used the word of blood against him. However, now that you have come, Duke Thomas, you may wish to discuss the disposition of the prisoners we have taken in battle."

Thurston shrugged, though Liv noticed he kept looking to Matthew. "Unless you have a knight from Courland, which I consider unlikely, I see no need for us to step between direct negotiations with the various families. They can ransom their men back themselves."

Liv raised her hand, and Matthew passed her a piece of parchment, from which she began to read. "Sir Emory of Ridgewood," she began, "commander of the Arundell Lightning Guard. Merek Sherard. Baron Kerlin Ward, and his daughter, Celestria. Baron Seton. Cade Talbot, heir to Bradon Bridge. Rowan Erskine, heir to the Strand. Duke Richard of Carinthia. Assorted knights… and Lord Commander Bennet Howe, Prince of Lucania."

Thomas Falkenrath let out a heavy sigh, the first sign of genuine emotion he'd given. "I'm not the one you need to be negotiating with," he said. "But if you'll take my advice, I'll give it. As long as you have Howe, you can force the king to recognize Matthew Summerset's claim to a duchy. You can make a fortune from the ransoms, and negotiate a peace. But to do any of that, this talk of a 'Queen in the Mountains' needs to be set aside and forgotten right away."

"I don't think you quite understand what's happening, Duke Thomas," Liv told him, leaning forward in her stone seat. "The dowager queen is dead. Galleron Erskine, Benedict's spymaster, is dead. Baron Fane is dead. Reginald Arundell is dead. Genevieve Arundell is dead."

"And my mother and father are dead," Matthew broke in.

Thurston had the grace, at least, to look aside instead of meeting his old friend's eyes. "That was clear from the moment we arrived," he said. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry, Matthew. You have our condolences."

"Julianne would have done exactly what you've been expecting," Liv said. "She would have traded noble captives for wealth, and for a promise of peace. That's how the game is played, isn't it? You press the common-born into service, march them across the kingdom, and send them in to die first. But the barons and their children, they get captured. They spend a few months being feasted and living in comfortable guest quarters, and then go back to their families as if nothing ever happened. But these people attacked my home. They killed my family. And if they'd won, I'd be burned at the stake. My brother Matthew would be drawn and quartered. Why should we give the courtesy which was never offered to us?"

Falkenrath blinked. "Because this is how you get what you want," he insisted. "You can't fight all of Lucania, but you can buy - "

"Can't we?" Liv slowly and deliberately sat back in the throne, trying to imagine herself moving with all the predatory grace of a stalking mouser, perhaps some arrogant tom cat on the prowl during the spring.

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"My friends and I have fought to the bottom of the Well of Bones," Liv said. "We've walked in the Garden of Thorns and the Tomb of Celris. All while Lucania has ignored Ractia's return. Well, you don't get to ignore it any longer." She waved her hand out, indicating the people on either side of her. "Stop thinking of this negotiation as being about what we want. You need to convince me that, while we turn our attention to Varuna, Lucania can be trusted not to launch a surprise attack."

"I need to convince you." Duke Falkenrath chewed on that for a moment. "Keeping in mind that I am not a representative of the crown, what will happen if I cannot, or will not, do that?"

"Then I will bring this entire army through the waystones to Freeport," Liv said. "Take the city, burn the palace, and kill Benedict. But not before we execute every prisoner we have who holds the rank of knight or above."

Tephania gasped, but it was the old knight next to her who spoke. "You can't do that."

"Two days ago I killed an archmage," Liv told him. "Unless you think Benedict has another, stronger one ready to protect him right now, I would say that I very well can."

"Archmagus Loredan -" Duke Falkenrath began, but Liv interrupted him.

"My teacher?" She shrugged. "The man who was pushed out of power by his nephew? You think that he's going to protect Benedict?"

"Matthew," Thurston said, taking a step forward. "This isn't reasonable. You need to -"

"Talk to my sister," Matthew said. "She's the one you need to convince right now."

"Or you will execute every noble you have captive." Thomas Falkenrath narrowed his eyes.

"Yes," Liv answered without hesitation. "Some of them, by the way, are going to cost you more than others. I don't have the slightest idea what you can say that would convince me that Bennet Howe won't ever lead an army north again, but you can feel free to try."

☙

Two days of negotiations later, Liv found Cade Talbot in the stockade.

Unlike the other prisoners of rank, he had chosen to remain, rather than accept Matthew's offer of better treatment in exchange for his parole. Word, Liv realized, must have spread about the executions, because the other prisoners backed away from her as she trudged through the mud toward him.

A year ago, she might have felt a twinge of fear of walking among so many men and women who had been trying to kill her only a short while before; but now, even without Wren and Kaija staking behind her, she didn't feel the slightest trace of concern.

"Liv." Cade looked up, but didn't stand. He'd planted his back against the wood of the stockade, and dug out a sort of shallow pit in the earth there, like a hound might dig to escape the heat of summer. Perhaps, Liv considered, it helped to break the wind. His face was unshaven, his hair matted, and his clothes streaked with a mix of mud and dried blood. He looked like he had not been eating or sleeping well, and she could smell that he hadn't bathed in days.

"Am I one of the people losing their head?" the man she'd once thought she might wed asked her.

"No. You're leaving with Duke Thomas," Liv told him. "I imagine you can use the waystone out of Courland to get yourself back to Bradon Bridge."

"Not by myself," Cade said. "But I'll find someone to help bear the cost." He hesitated. "My father can't possibly have paid my ransom, yet."

"No ransom," Liv said. "In fact, I've had your armor and sword collected, to go back with you."

"Why?" Cade asked, without rising. "I'm sure I killed some of your soldiers."

"I'm certain you did," Liv admitted. "But as you said, they forced you to be here. I have that confirmed from half a dozen barons, and more knights. Everyone who was present at the princess's wedding testified to it."

"Most of these men were forced to be here," Cade pointed out, waving his hand to indicate the milling press of the stockade. "Most of them were levies, or just following their liege's orders."

"They're going home, too," Liv promised. "I only care about the ones who made the decisions." She stepped forward, leaned down, and kissed Cade on his forehead. It did not surprise her when he flinched, but it did make her sad.

"The guards have orders to release you," she said, and turned on her heel, leaving him behind. "Go back to that woman you're going to marry."

☙

As the Falkenrath troops marched south along the road, bringing with them the remnants of the crown army, with all the litters and wagons carrying the wounded, they passed the gallows that had been erected along the road, and the pyres that burned the fallen.

Only four corpses hung from the gibbets: the four that Liv hadn't been willing to let go. The four that, no matter what Thomas Falkenrath had offered, he'd been unable to convince her would keep a peace. Liv waited, atop Steria's saddle, just a pace off from Thurston Falkenrath, Tephania, and her father, while the southern duke held the gaze of each corpse, one after the other. Finally, with a grunt, he turned away, walked his gelding over to the group, and then spat on the ground.

"None of them worshipped the Lady of Blood," he said. "But not for lack of trying. The boy Merek knew the old witch was into something awful, and he wanted a part of it. He'd been currying favor for her as much as he could, in the hope she'd bring him in. Sir Emory was simply loyal to the Arundells, but he was determined to have vengeance. Seton's daughter - he blames you for mangling her. Had a letter, apparently, all about how the chirurgeons are trying to save her face. And the Prince - he was already making plans about which houses he could press for more troops, to try again."

"So she was right," Tephania said, sneaking a glance at Liv.

"Right? Trinity knows," the duke grumbled. "Julianne and Henry would never have done this. You've broken the rules, Lady of Winter. You can't expect them to protect you now, and if any of us were to say we know where this will end, I'd call them a fool."

"I didn't break the rules," Liv said. "I just refused to be the only one following them." She steered Steria closer to Tephania, and reached a hand out for her friend. Hesitantly, Teph wrapped her fingers around Liv's.

"You're welcome in Whitehill, you know," she said. "Lia Every was negotiating a new charter with Julianne. We're going to make a new college here."

Teph nodded. "I know - I mean, thank you," she said. "And I might take you up on that. But there's a lot of wounded people we need to get south, and I might be able to help keep some of them alive. And they'll need me for the waystone, as well. Take care of yourself." She pulled her hand away, and then the Falkenrath party set off along the side of the road at a canter, racing toward the van of the marching army.

Liv watched them go, and then turned to survey the corpses of her enemies. The fact these four men were dead didn't feel like enough. It didn't even the scales for Julianne and Henry, or for Isaac Ashford, or for Keri, who she hoped would wake soon.

"Going to leave them up, or give them a proper burning?"

Rose's voice startled her, and Liv spun Steria about to see the dark-haired woman approaching on her own gelding.

"Once the army's gone, I'll have them cut down and sent to their families," she explained. "But I want every man and woman who marches back south to carry the story of what happened to them."

"I didn't think you could be this cold," Rose said. "They weren't mana beasts, or Antrians, or cultists."

"No," Liv agreed. "But they would have killed us if they could."

"Is this the kind of queen you're going to be?" The words were practically an accusation.

"One who breaks anyone that tries to kill my people?" Liv shot back.

"One without mercy," Rose said, and it was like she'd stabbed Liv in the belly.

"This is a mercy," Liv told her. "It's a mercy to every man, woman and child who would have had to suffer or die in a second war. A war that these people, at least, can't lead." She thrust her arm out, pointing a finger at the corpses.

"Fine," Rose said, looking away. "I didn't come to argue with you. I just came to tell you I'm sick of this. We've been fighting since we left Coral Bay, and I need - something else."

Liv looked away. "You're leaving?" You're leaving me?

"Does it surprise you? Did you even think about taking one moment to ask me how I might feel about you putting a crown on your head? If you're going to be together with someone, Liv, it means you're supposed to make a future with both people in it. You think I haven't noticed how often I've been left behind lately? I know I don't bring an army with me, but I do love you."

"We can still be together," Liv promised, but Rose shook her head.

"Can we? You get sick outside a rift, and I get sick in one. A queen needs heirs, and we're never going to have a child. Not one of our own." Rose sighed.

"Anyway, I want to make something. Something beautiful. I don't want to use magic to kill anymore. I'm tired of waking up with nightmares of those men tumbling down into the earth. Good luck, Liv. I truly do hope you end up happy."

Liv listened to the hoofbeats as Rosamund Lowry rode away, but did not call after her.