Benjamin Ashwood (28 page)

“That
doesn’t change last night,” she fumed, “but it changes what we’re going to do
this morning.”  She snatched up her clothes, spun around and stormed out of the
storage room door, naked as the day she was born.

Ben
sighed and laid back on the lumpy burlap sacks of dried beans.  He could only
manage to pull up his pants and give a small wave when one of the cook’s
assistants peered curiously through the open doorway.

Lord
Reinhold’s river sloop pulled smoothly away from Kirksbane’s dock and Ben
leaned against the gunwales staring morosely into the murky water below.  He
felt awful.

“I
heard there was a bit of commotion this morning,” drawled Rhys.  He hitched his
sword belt and looked back at Saala and Renfro who were clustered on the other
side of the ship.  “I’ve been asked to talk to you about it.  Give you a
shoulder to cry on or something.  I feel like I should be buying you a beer. 
I’m not sure why you’re being such a pussy about this.”

Ben
sighed.  “I don’t need to cry Rhys, and I’m so, so glad you’re the one they
sent over.”

“Despite
his silky smooth and bald charms, the Blademaster isn’t as experienced with
women as you’d think.  Spends a lot of time with his sword.  And Renfro, well,
I think he messes his pants every time he even talks to a woman.  So, you’re
stuck with me.  Now, what the hell is the problem?  You got laid by a beautiful
woman.  Enjoy it.  That doesn’t happen every day.”

“She
thought I was a Lord, Rhys.  That’s the only reason she did it, because she
thought I was someone else.”

Rhys
snorted, “that’s the way it works mate.  Perception is the reality when it
comes to how other people see us.  You got lucky and it worked out for you last
night, even if you didn’t mean it to happen that way.  Think about this, you
weren’t trying to deceive her.  She got whatever impression she did because of
what she saw.  The person she saw acted like the kind hearted, heroic, high
born Lord that she wanted to share her bed and probably a lot more with.  Is
what she saw, your actions, is that a better reflection of who you are than
whether or not you were born into a family with a Title?”

“I
see what you’re saying, but what she wanted isn’t what she got.  She wants the
Title and the gold and lifestyle that come with it.”

“Ah,”
Rhys gripped Ben’s shoulder, “and that’s where you’re really lucky.  With a
woman like that, you got what you wanted last night and now you’re better off
leaving on this ship, without her.  Enjoy the memories, but you don’t want a
woman like that in your life worrying you.  I’m sure you’ll get plenty of worry
from the women who are in your life now.  Once they hear about this at least.”

Ben
groaned and his head slumped down to his folded arms on the gunwale.  He hadn’t
thought about that yet.

The
river sloop, true to Lord Reinhold and Captain Fishbone’s word, practically
flew down the river.  They darted around the slower moving barge traffic with
Fisheye, the first mate on the vessel, deftly handling the tiller and steering
sweeping turns around the slower moving obstacles.

Towaal,
Amelie, Lord Reinhold and Captain Fishbone had been shuttered in Reinhold’s
cabin all morning and Ben had barely seen them as they’d breezed out of the inn
to depart.  By lunch, they emerged onto the deck which was the most pleasant
place to sit on the vessel.  The speed they were moving kept a steady breeze
and the tall sails provided shade.

Ben,
Renfro and Rhys were sharing a loaf of hard bread and jerked meat.  Rhys nodded
to Ben saying, “watch it, here she comes.”

Ben
turned to see Amelie striding across the deck with a look of determination on
her face.  “Do you have a minute, Ben?” she asked then beckoned for him to
follow her across to the other side of the ship.

“Yesterday
in Kirksbane made me realize something,” she started.  Ben grimaced, he had
hoped this conversation wouldn’t happen and when he imagined how it would go if
it did happen, it was never good.  “I need to be able to defend myself.  Saala,
Rhys and you have been there to watch over me, but you can’t be there all of
the time.  I may not be able to become a Blademaster but I can learn enough to
help.  I can do something.”

“Wait,”
responded Ben, “you want to learn the sword?  I thought you were…”

“Going
to ask about Ilyena?” she finished for him with a harsh look.

Ben
blushed, “yes.  That’s what I thought you wanted to talk about.”

“What
is there to say?” she said bluntly.  “I am high born and you are not.  It’s
nice to think otherwise but those are the facts.  I should have listened to
Tomas when he… well, when I heard this morning I was reminded that we come from
different worlds.  You have the freedom to choose who you love and I do not.  I
don’t understand why you wanted to be with that awful slut, but that is your
choice.  Maybe it was for the best.”

Her
eyes glistened and Ben swallowed hard.

“Amelie,
it wasn’t like that.  I was drunk and…”

“I
know Ben,” she sighed.  “Let’s not talk about this now, Ok?  With going to the
Sanctuary, Meredith’s death, the attack by Rishram, there is just a lot going
on.  I’m not myself and I’m not thinking clearly.  I can’t add another thing to
my list of worries.  I need a friend Ben and despite last night I know I can
trust you.  I’d like you to be that friend.”

“Of
course Amelie.  Of course we can be friends.”  He didn’t know what else to say.

“That
is why I came to talk to you.  I need your help and I am asking for it as a
friend.  Saala is in my father’s employ and he will train me with the sword if
I ask.  I am certain I can convince Rhys as well.  When we get to The City
though, both of them will eventually leave.  That is what they do.  I would
like it if you stayed.  I can set you up with a business and we can practice
the sword together.  Because of my birth, I will be treated differently at the
Sanctuary and with Meredith gone, I have no one else to turn to.”

“I,
I hadn’t thought about what I’d do once we got there,” stammered Ben.

“Do
you need time to think?” she asked.

“No.” 
He really hadn’t decided what he would do once they arrived in The City.  At
the start of the journey, he’d planned on returning to Farview.  But now, the
thought of making that trip back alone and rejoining life in the small town
where nothing ever really changed didn’t seem very appealing.  Compared to
living in The City and being fiends with a Lady, what was he thinking?  “I’ll
stay if you’re sure you want me to.”

“Good,”
she said and placed a hand on his arm.

Shortly
after lunch Lady Towaal called everyone together for a quick meeting on the
deck.

“We’ll
be in The City in a week according to Reinhold,” she began.  “I’ve asked him to
push hard down the river and no stops.  I don’t want another incident like we
had with Rishram.  After signing the Conclave agreement, the risk is too great
for Amelie.  When we arrive, Amelie and Meghan will begin training immediately
at the Sanctuary.  Rhys, you know what to do and who to check in with.  The
rest of you are free to remain or go as you please.  If you remain, I’m sure
Rhys can recommend some places to stay in The City.”

“I
think I’ll stay for a bit,” Ben said to an encouraging smile from Amelie.  He
ignored Meghan’s bitter look.  She wasn’t happy about the Ilyena thing.

“I
as well,” added Saala, “at least until I know Amelie is secure and I get
further instructions from Issen.”

Lady
Towaal scowled, “there is no doubt about security once we make the Sanctuary
but suit yourself.  It’s your time.”

“I’ll
stay too!” exclaimed Renfro before glancing around the group sheepishly.  “I
don’t really have anywhere else to go.”

That
evening, they got back to practicing Rhys’ Ohms.  It was difficult on the ship
but they could do the first Ohm which required the least amount of balance and
skill.  It felt good after the long pause they’d taken in Sineook Valley.  Ben
missed the stretching exercises and felt more energized once they’d finished
but he was glad they hadn’t done it in front of Rishram.

Afterwards,
the young people sat near the bow of the ship, enjoying the breeze and watching
the sun set over the countryside as they passed.

“So,
what will you do in The City, Renfro?” asked Meghan.  She had been pointedly
ignoring Ben since they’d left Kirksbane.  Sisterly affection came with
sisterly disapproval.

“Oh,
I don’t know.  Find a trade I suppose.  Is there much fishing around there? 
The City sounds grand and for me it’s just as good as anywhere.  Fabrizo is the
only place I’ve known and I can’t go back there.”

“Oh,
I don’t know about fishing.  It’s on a river, isn’t it?”

Renfro
glumly looked down at his feet, “yeah, I guess it is.  Since I was a little
one, it was go to sea or join the thieves.  Not sure what else I can do.”

“Maybe
Ben will hire you at this new brewery he’s starting?” smirked Meghan.  Ben
enjoyed Renfro’s company but his work ethic was questionable at best – Renfro
was probably the last person he’d consider asking for help with a business. 
She meant it more as a barb for Ben than a knock on Renfro.  She was always
kind to Renfro.

Luckily,
Renfro didn’t pick up on the subtext.  “Oh really!  That would be great!  Ben,
we could be partners together.”

Ben
raised an eyebrow.

“Well,
you could be the senior partner of course.  Since you know about brewing
already and I’d just be starting.”

“I
think that would be wonderful,” chimed in Meghan.

“Sure
Renfro, we can see how it goes when we get to The City.”  Ben hoped the idea of
how hard the work will be to start a new business in a new city would
eventually creep into Renfro’s thoughts and he’d drop it.  A change of subject
seemed best for now though, “Amelie and Meghan, how about you?  Are you excited
to begin at the Sanctuary?”

“I
think so.  Maybe,” hedged Meghan.

“Lady
Towaal has been explaining some of the training regimen,” added Amelie.  “It
sounds… challenging.”

Meghan
sighed, “there is a great deal of study involved and successive tests of
willpower.  I’m sure Lady Towaal is exaggerating to mentally prepare us, but
yes, challenging.  I think that’s the right word.”

“Lord
Reinhold also said something to Amelie that worried us a little.  He said it
when he first heard we were joining.”  The two girls shared a glance, “he said;
‘The Sanctuary, who would commit two decades of apprenticeship just to become
the Veil’s stooge?  There are shorter paths to power, girl.’  I’m sure he
didn’t mean it like it sounded.”

Ben
blanched, “surely not.”

Lord
Reinhold kept to himself aside from the occasional discussion with his Captain
or Lady Towaal.  He and Towaal’s communication was strained.  It seemed she was
paying him a very large amount of gold to get them to The City quickly and they
weren’t moving quick enough for her.  They would not remain friends after this
journey.

Ben
was able to gather that while Reinhold was a landed Lord, his primary business
was various merchant banking interests up and down the Venmoor River.  He spent
most of his time on the river sloop checking up on things.

Ben
watched him stalk around the deck peering intently at the countryside as they
passed.  He constantly mumbled under his breath and from what Ben could
overhear, seemed to be tallying figures in his head.  Unlike the merchants Ben
was familiar with who had wagons or ships heaped with goods, Reinhold dealt in
coin.

Before
Amelie stopped him, Ben considered asking Reinhold for a loan to start a
business for himself in The City.

“That’s
not his kind of business Ben.  Men like him, they think on a grand scale.  He’s
not a money lender like you would know.  He’s out here looking to see if
there’s a bad wheat crop in one area then he’ll buy up all the rest of the
wheat elsewhere or have it imported in.  He’s not going to loan money to an
individual for a business.  He’s going to finance a money lender who will do
the hard work of collecting loans for him.  Men like him, they wait for
situations like this with Argren’s Alliance.  He will buy goods to support the
war effort and swoop in and buy land or other war spoils on the cheap
afterwards.  Besides, you know I will give you the money to get started.  You
don’t need to worry about doing business with some chiseling lender.”

“I
know you said that Amelie, but I feel bad taking money from you.”

“Don’t
think about it as taking then.  We can make it a loan or an investment. 
Really, I trust you’ll do well for me and I don’t want you to have to get tied
up with lenders.  Many of them are unsavory people.”

After
that, Ben watched Reinhold with a certain fascination.  Alistair Pinewood used
similar tactics on a smaller scale in Farview.  Men like these, they only cared
about the gold.  Ben had never understood Alistair and his desire to always
have more.  He wondered if Lord Reinhold was motivated by the same things.

One
afternoon, Rhys caught him watching Reinhold.

“Thinking
about getting into merchant banking?” quipped Rhys.

“No,
just wondering what makes the man tick.  How does someone like that only care
about having more gold and more power?  If I had all of the resources he does I
would help people.  A man like him could change the world and make it better,
or at least a part of it.”