Noble, Priest, and Empire: Merchant and Empire Book Seven by Alma T. C. Boykin

Author:Alma T. C. Boykin [Boykin, Alma T. C.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2022-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

Four days later, just after dawn, Halwende made certain that Aedit and her women were secure in the sledges. A group of imperial guards would travel with them for half the day, in case more vulpen stalked the forest. Cold, sharp cold, had followed the snow, and the ovstrala snorted, making small clouds around their noses. Lord Gernot watched from the doorway of the pfalz, his thick tail wrapped around his toes. Aglak Rohdbard had dismissed them the night before. Halwende did not miss his presence. Aedit had confided that she found the emperor's presence overwhelming, even when he spoke as himself, discussing minor matters of common interest. "He is Sneelah's Son," Halwende had murmured. "I do not believe that She ever truly leaves him." Now he felt the cat's green eyes on his back, watching and weighing him. Once he knew that Aedit was settled and warm, he turned to face the pfalz. He bowed, then straightened and gestured to the teamsters.

"Hey-ah, on yer way, ye hairy lumps," the lead teamster urged his beasts.

"Mbowah," the gelding beside the man grumbled. With a grunt and another grumble, the ovstrala set one foot before the other, plodding forward against the harness. The cold-hardened snow squeaked under the sledge's wooden runners, and the sledge glided forward.

Only after the imperial guard left them did Halwende relax his guard. I trust you, Aglak Rohdbard. I trust you to be as hard and cold as the Lady you serve. He put more faith in the vulpen, laupen, einar, and other four-legged beasts. All they did was kill a man and eat him.

The weather held, cold and quiet, until they reached Valbaum. Heavy snow began fluttering down as they came into sight of the walls. "Sneelah and Valdher be praised," the lead teamster called. "And Yoorst, who kept the beasts sound."

"Ja," called Magnus, who had met them at midday. "And now watch. One of the runners will break when you're half-way through the main gate."

Halwende snorted and made Radmar's Wheel. He was not alone. "And some fool will have a doe in heat, and there go the rest of the supplies, and we'll have two bucks fighting. In the main gate."

"Aye, Yer Grace," the closest guard sighed. "We're due, no offense."

"None taken." They were due. But he'd rather have an ovstrala drop dead, or a sledge upset and the load scatter, than be caught out in a storm, or have a fire inside the walls. Or an enemy ambush them on the road. Or more laupen. Or for Aedit to fall ill. She had missed her woman's time three times now. She was indeed with child.

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