Brittle Bonds (The Guadel Chronicles Book 3)

Brittle Bonds

by Dean Murray

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 by Dean Murray

Also by Dean Murray:

The Reflections Series

Broken (free)

Torn (free if you sign up for Dean's Mailing List)

Splintered

Intrusion

Trapped

Forsaken

Riven

The Greater Darkness (Writing as Eldon Murphy)

A Darkness Mirrored (Writing as Eldon Murphy)

The Dark Reflections Series

Bound

Hunted

The Guadel Chronicles

Frozen Prospects (free)

Thawed Fortunes (free if you sign up for Dean's Mailing List)

Brittle Bonds

Shattered Ties

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Epilogue

Other Books by Dean Murray

Chapter 1

What makes you think that you can just come in and set up a new king?

It wasn't a fair question; it wasn't even the right question had it been a fair question in the first place. Getting angry at the group of men and women sitting in the rough chairs of the inn's common room wouldn't accomplish anything, but it was getting harder and harder for On'li to remain calm. The talks between the Crimson Rocks villagers and the Guadel caravan had been going on for days now, but as frustrating as that was, it didn't even begin to be a surprise.

We're not talking about setting up anything remotely like a king. We're not even talking about setting someone up as a new Baron. All we are trying to do is point out that if you do nothing, if you just sit here and carry on your lives as you've done for the last several years, you're going to see someone else move in and set up shop in the area.

On'li's husband, Javin, interjected one of his terse comments that almost always seemed to help get everyone on the same page.

Power abhors a void.

Exactly. You, as the leaders of this village, can either step up and fill the void left by our removing the Baron from power, or you'll be faced with something else in a year or two and no telling whether or not the replacement will be better or worse.

The mayor of Crimson Rocks sighed. I think we all understand your point, albeit some of us have taken longer than others to see the merit of your arguments. The issue isn't the need, it's the question of how we go about it and why any of you should have any involvement in the process.

It had to be the heat that was making On'li so irritable, she knew that, and she was woman enough to set that aside and get on with the business at hand, but Powers, it was hard sometimes to accept that these people were so politically inept. She took another deep breath and tried again.

You know that we could have just taken over your village? We aren't even contemplating that course of action, firstly, because we're not interested in expanding our presence down out of the mountains, and more importantly because it would be wrong for us to just impose our will on you like that. All of that being said, you have to understand that we've got an incredibly vested interest in what happens to your little town. It's the only decent access point we have to the lowlands, and we'd like to continue with the mutually beneficial trade that we've enjoyed for generations now.

The mention, even indirectly, of the gemstones that came down out of the mountains in a steady stream lit up more than one pair of eyes around the table. On'li had known it would, and had brought it up for that very reason. Crimson Rocks wasn't a particularly big village, but it was relatively prosperous. It couldn't help but be so considering that the villagers purchased the gemstones with grain and vegetables and then turned around and sold the gemstones to the merchant caravans that trickled in from nearly every direction.

Once you decide that you aren't willing to let something else fill that void, you inevitably arrive at the decision to set up a larger coalition of the other villages in the area, create a standing military of some kind, and levy taxes on the gem merchants coming into the area. Any new government undergoes a period of time where it needs something to help prop it up while it gains a history of legitimacy that will allow it to flourish as time goes on. We are merely offering to help you in that transitional period.

Although he still didn't look entirely convinced, the mayor nodded. It was the village blacksmith who took up the torch next.

You're no doubt interested in helping ensure that we don't levy some kind of tax on your people as well.

Of course. Most political arrangements are rooted in mutual self-interest. While we could find another route down from the mountains and set up another trade route, it wouldn't be particularly easy or desirable. We're much better off continuing the current arrangement as long as we know that this area will continue to provide a steady supply of the goods we are interested in buying down here.

And what's to stop you from sweeping in and putting up a new government the second we start doing something you don't like? You people tore through the Baron's men like they were nothing. Against that kind of force we wouldn't stand much chance, standing army or no.

Javin shook his head. We wouldn't have been able to assail his castle from the outside. Our strategy worked primarily because we were the ones holding the fortified position. We're not well versed in siege warfare. It's another reason why we're better off with a strong allied state occupying his holdings.

On'li picked up the conversation as easily as if they'd practiced this previously.

More importantly, there isn't any reason to come in and overthrow your government. For all that setting up another trading presence wouldn't be easy, it would be much easier than open fighting with Crimson Rocks. To put it bluntly, if we stop trading with you, your town will wither faster than you might believe. It's very much in your interest to try and come to an arrangement with us.

More than one of the villagers seemed taken aback by On'li's assessment of their prospects, but the mayor, blacksmith, and most of the other tradesmen were nodding. With that tacit agreement, it was time to steer the conversation towards the kinds of concessions her people would want. There would be time later to come back to the discussion of what the Crimson Rocks government would ultimately look like.

##

On'li followed Javin out of the village and around the low, red hill that served to separate Crimson Rocks from the campsite routinely used by the Guadel caravans. Once they were out of sight of the village, she stopped against a jagged boulder and stretched, letting tired, old muscles pop and groan after having been forced to sit in one spot for so long.

Looking back over the afternoon, the discussions had actually turned out more productive than she'd expected given the way the last few sessions had gone. It really was unfortunate that Ja'dir hadn't agreed to come down with the caravan. There were others in the caravan who were more suited for an extended political discussion with the villagers, but the only other members of the Council present were Va'ma and his wives.

On'li hadn't particularly liked the outcome, but she couldn't argue with Va'ma's point that the negotiations needed to be handled by someone from the Council. The old warrior had been right also to insist that their party be no more than two people. Given the massive power imbalance between just the caravan and the village, it was probably best to tread softly and try to avoid rubbing the villagers' noses in just how weak their negotiating position was.

It was all very logical, but it meant that On'li and Javin went in alone to that lions' den, and the fact that the lions were generally good-natured didn't stop the negotiations from being exhausting.

As she turned another corner, On'li noticed a flurry of movement off to one side of the raised wooden platforms that served to keep the way-tents up out of the constant, lowland mud and dust. It took only a second of observation to realize that it was Va'del at the center of the circle of onlookers.

A few weeks ago the sight of everyone gathered around Va'del would have made On'li worried that he was about to be physically beaten. On'li still worried when she saw Va'del at the center of a group of his peers, but her reasons were quite different these days.

Va'del had squared off against Se'ath, but rather than the grudge match that would have been expected given that the other boy had been best friends with Be'ter, it appeared to be an actual learning exercise.

Every time the two came to a natural pause in their exchange of blows, Va'del highlighted various things that the other boy had done well or poorly. The fact that Se'ath's male sponsor was calmly watching the exchange and seemed to be completely fine with Va'del being the one doing the instructing was nearly as astonishing as the fact that neither of the boys was trying to kill the other.

Then again, maybe that bit shouldn't have surprised On'li quite so much given the way that some of the less martial of the Guadel had responded to the recent clash with the Baron's men. It was one thing to train for violence and know that you might have to occasionally face down a militant village headman, or clash with a particularly adventurous pack of snow wolves. It was quite another thing to find yourself summarily captured and then thrust into the largest military action the Guadel had seen in centuries. It had resulted in a greatly heightened appreciation for weapons instruction, and while there were more experienced warriors in the party, Va'del was one of the very best instructors they had.

Va'del said something, too faint for On'li to make out, but it must have been an instruction for the other boy to step things up. The two clashed together in a blur of action that On'li didn't have the skills to properly appreciate, but which she knew was well above what would have normally been expected out of two boys that age.

Sword and dagger flashed back and forth nearly too fast for the eye to follow, and then she saw a barely-perceptible shift in the tempo signaling that Va'del had taken the upper hand. He had his opponent on the defensive now, driving him around the training circle, and then the practice sword in Va'del's right hand thumped into Se'ath's padded training jacket with enough force to leave a spectacular bruise.

There hadn't been that many Daughters who had accompanied the caravan down to the lowlands. Mali had been killed somehow during the fighting at the Baron's castle, but the others were all watching the training match, and judging by their postures, they'd all just let out a dreamy sigh of appreciation at Va'del's performance

The boys gathered around the circle weren't much better. Va'del had clearly gone from being a pariah to the ideal of what every boy, be he first-year guardsman or Guadel candidate, was supposed to be. That kind of adoration was heady stuff and On'li knew Javin was just as concerned as she was that it would start affecting Va'del in negative ways. It would almost have to have some kind of impact on him given how little attention he'd had previously.

Still, there was one bright spot to it all. Two actually. Once they got back to the Capital, On'li shouldn't have any more real opposition when it came to getting Va'del approved as a full-blown Guadel. In fact, she'd probably have to be careful to keep him from taking up the full range of his duties too quickly. The boy was good with a sword and had a sensible head when it came to tactics and the like, but there was still a lot that he needed to learn.

The brighter spot though was that he didn't seem to be responding to the female attention like most boys his age would have. The Daughters crowded around him as closely as custom allowed, but he didn't have eyes for them. Better said, he had eyes for only one of them. He politely thanked each of the Daughters as they congratulated him on his win, but it was Jain whom he walked over to. He accepted her proffered water skin and the pair exchanged shy smiles.

Va'del might be a hero to the rest of the caravan, but he still seemed to want only Jain as his future wife. Given that he knew just how weak she was in the power, that said quite a lot about how good his heart was.

Chapter 2

Jain shifted uncomfortably on the warm wood of the sleeping platform and wished that it was cooler. The sun had set, but it was still warmer than she would have found anywhere in the Capital other than in one of the hot springs.

Va'del was sitting only a few inches away from her. Nobody would dream of denying him the place of honor right on the line between the candidates and the Daughters at this point. Actually it was all a bit odd. Lore time was usually something for the kids, but On'li and Va'ma had jointly decided that the caravan as a whole needed to be reminded of their roots tonight, so one of the guardsmen had agreed to recite an oral history.

Jain and the others had naturally fallen into the normal practice of girls on one side, boys on the other, and it hadn't been until Va'del had quietly arrived at the edge of the illumination provided by the light spheres that she'd realized he didn't really belong with Se'ath and the other candidates.

Va'del was a sub-Guadel now, one currently without a wife, but that still put him closer to being a full Guadel than anything else. By all rights he should have stood with some of the guardsmen, or maybe found a position next to Javin and On'li.

His gentle smile as he'd come and sat down next to Jain had seemed to say that she needn't have worried, but she still didn't feel completely at ease. She was glad that Va'del had overcome some of the doubts that had plagued him for as long as she'd known him, but she wasn't quite sure how to behave around this newer, more confident Va'del.

Jain desperately needed some time alone with him, just to talk and get her bearings with regards to their relationship, but he'd steadfastly sidestepped her attempts to get him to sneak off with her.

She would have worried that he'd found someone else, that he was more interested in one of the other girls, but none of the other signals were right for that. He didn't act interested in any of the other girls, and he did things like coming over to sit with her tonight.

Jain told herself, for what must be the hundredth time, that it was all in her head and that she needed to just give him time. He'd been through an incredibly trying time himself. He'd been forced into a political marriage, been captured by Be'ter of all people, led a jailbreak and then engineered the rescue of her and the other Daughters thereby saving the entire caravan.

In normal circumstances that would have been the stuff ballads were made of. When you threw in the fact that he'd had to let the wife he hated inside his mind to make all of that happen, it became even more incredible. Her death during the last fight had no doubt come as a relief to Va'del, but he was too good a person not to feel guilty at feeling that relief.

The guardsman who would be serving as Lore-master walked out of the darkness and assumed his place at the front of the platform, and the waiting crowd quieted.

I come tonight to relate a tale that predates most other tales known to the People.

The ritual opening brought a welcome calm to Jain, and she felt herself start to relax as the Lore-master's gravelly bass voice continued.

Surely there were tales before this, but so many of them have been lost to the mists of time. We know so very little about the lowlands at the time of the Exodus, but we know that the lowlanders of that time didn't want the People to leave, and they chased us with an army as we fled the Goddess's lands.

Every listener had gone quiet now as they tried to guess which tale would be related this time.

It was a bleak time for us. The Goddess had led us to the mountain stronghold on the southern edge of her holdings and our enemies had laid siege to the keep there. Many of us lost hope then as food got scarce and we realized just how unlikely it was that we would survive.

Jain looked over at Va'del, hoping that she'd be able to catch his eye and get another smile out of him, but he was singularly focused on the account. That was another thing that had changed about him. There was an intensity there that she wasn't used to.

It seemed that all hope was lost until the Goddess hit upon a daring, but inspired, plan. If we were surrounded on all sides but one, then we would leave via the one side that remained us. We would climb almost straight up into the White Spike Mountains.

Jain had a hard time thinking of the mountains as anything other than home, but she'd just completed the difficult trek down to Crimson Rocks, and that had been made easier by the shelter of the way caves. She could well imagine just how daunting the climb up must have been with no promise of shelter at the top.

The Goddess was wise, so she started her people up as the first light of dawn kissed the top of the keep. The old, the young, and the infirm started out first, accompanied by a group of the Goddess's handmaidens.

The light spheres had shifted color almost a full cycle since Jain had first sat down now, and the darker hues gave the Lore-master's face an even older look. He had a real gift for oration, and Jain could almost feel the exhaustion of the Goddess's people as they started up the climb.

Our enemies awoke and saw the flight of the non-combatants and renewed their attack, hoping to stop our departure.

The Lore-master turned slightly, almost imperceptibly as he continued his slow survey of the listeners gathered before him.

The histories don't do justice to the bravery that was displayed by those of the People who stayed behind in the keep to cover the ascent. Although there are several named specifically, we know there were dozens who went unmentioned for each hero who was singled out.

There was a real parallel there with what the caravan had just gone through. Va'del had received recognition for the rescue of the Daughters and for having killed Be'ter. Va'ma had probably earned himself a permanent place in the tales with his duel and subsequent victory over the Baron, but Jain knew that nearly every Guadel and most of the guardsmen had been just as brave.

Whoever had decided that it would be this story that was told tonight had made a very good call.

Tonight we could have jointly reviewed the account of those who died at the entrance to the keep after the gate was breached. Five men who somehow withstood the press of many times their number, but who in so doing bought precious time for the defenders to fall back, time for a group of hand-picked archers to scale partway up the mountain. That was a critical action. Those archers then covered the retreat of the rest of the Guard and saved dozens, if not hundreds, of lives.

The Lore-master was looking almost directly at Jain and Va'del now.

"We could review that history, but we won't, not tonight. We could focus on the names who aren't part of the history of that part of the Exodus, but who distinguished themselves later. In a very real sense, each of the heroes in every one of our histories stood on the shoulders of those who came before. It would be truly interesting to examine that truth, but that is not what I'll be relating tonight.

"Instead I'd like to relate the account of Tor'h, who stood at the back wall of the keep and fought off the entire army that had come for us. It is said that there was little love lost between Tor'h and his fellows in the Guard. It is said that there was absolutely no love lost between Tor'h and the Goddess. Little else is known about Tor'h; nearly everything else about him was lost in the great famine that followed our arrival at what would someday become the Capital.

Because we know so little about Tor'h our scholars have argued for centuries at how he managed the feat of fighting more than one hundred men to a standstill. More interestingly, there has been even more debate as to why he would have risked such an impossible fight for people he hated and who it seems hated him in return.

Jain felt a tingle as the Lore-master once again turned the slightest bit, bringing her and Va'del out of his direct line of vision. It had seemed that while he'd been looking at Va'del that he'd been speaking with extra intensity, with a passion that left her tingly. It wasn't possible for someone to be able to time that particular passage such that he had meant to say those things while looking at Va'del, but Jain couldn't dispute the fact that there was an uncanny correlation between Tor'h and Va'del's situations.

"Tor'h waited at the base of the climb