Swordpoint Diplomacy ch 45 full

CHAPTER 45

“Nice country you have here,” Prince Marcel said. “Very damp.” He tried to huddle further underneath his hood. “Exquisitely wet. Wetter than any other kingdom yet established. No wonder you all seek to spread this glory.”

 “Oh, cease your babble,” Vivian said. Her mood was much improved now that they were near her family seat of power.

Kian shot her an impressed look. She had really loosened up on the road.

The Prince let out a long, dramatic sigh. “If only I were a sweet summer squash,” he bemoaned. “I would thrive here. My vines would cover the landscape, my leaves would sip of the morning dew, my roots-”

“You’re more of a cabbage,” Kian cut in. It meant absolutely nothing. A squash seemed more insulting to him personally. If you knocked on one with knuckles it sounded hollow, like an empty head. But if Marcel fancied himself a squash, he surely could not be one.

Marcel made an offended sound. “A cabbage?” He gestured to himself, inadvertently sending water flying. Some hit Kian on the face. “I resemble only the noblest of produce. In fact, I might be a peach, the summer crown of the table, delicate and sweet.”

Vivian laughed. “Are you certain that’s your dream?” A wicked smile played along her wide mouth. “Traditionally, a peach is a woman’s a-”

“Oh look, the rain might let up.” Kian said mildly. 

“On what do you base that assertion, sir,” Marcel said. He leaned forward far enough that he could nearly kiss his horse’s head. “I see only grey skies and troughs emptying on the world for leagues.”

“He was lying to comfort your whining,” Vivian whispered. It easily carried between the three of them.

Marcel let out a faux offended huff. “Whining?” 

“Whining,” Kian agreed. “But I do think the rain will pass soon.” 

Not half an hour later, they passed into Treveylan lands, with their characteristic orchards. The first village was soon after. No one came to greet them, wet as it was, and it was just as well. The three continued onwards. 

Soon after, the rain let up. 

“I wish that we could continue,” Vivian said longingly,  but it was time to rest the horses. They all dismounted and gave the animals refreshments. They simply sat for a while. Once long enough had passed, they all stood and started walking instead. It was not a true rest, but neither was it as demanding as carrying a human’s weight.

“We arrive tomorrow morning?” Marcel confirmed. The road above them lifted and curved. Kian followed it with his eyes, as did Vivian. Perhaps she knew what was on the other side. He did not.

“Yes, I want to put the horses up in stables in the next town, and to take a room at the monastery.” Vivian looked more relaxed than he had ever seen her. Her dark eyes were hanging only half open. She felt safe here. Kian chewed on the inside of his lip and did not relax his attention to their surroundings. They had been ambushed once. It could happen again anywhere.

“A proper bed,” Marcel said longingly. “I miss those days.”

Kian merely hummed.

The relaxing air ended as soon as they walked their horses up the path to the monastery where they were meant to stay. Kian lifted his face to see a watchman on top of a tower. A few moments later, a clanging bell rang out. He stopped mid stride before the horse’s momentum dragged him forward. 

“What does that mean?” Marcel asked sharply.

Vivian gathered her skirts up in one hand and wound them around her fist. “In this case, I think it means someone needs to speak with us urgently.”

“...How do they even know who we are?” Marcel complained, but he joined in with Vivian in hastily re-mounting the poor tired horses. Kian swung himself up and apologetically pushed the beast at a decent clip. 

The courtyard was filling when they arrived. Vivian swung herself down and paid respect to the oldest woman present with a head tilt. “Abbess,” she greeted. “Why has the bell rung?”

“The wine river is overflowing, Lady.” The old woman came and held out her hands for Vivian to kiss. “For three days now it has flooded.”

“Has there been an evacuation?” Vivian looked serious. “My brother would have directed for an evacuation.”

“He has been struck ill, but your grandfather called for it in his place.” The Abbess withdrew her hands and put them in her enormous sleeves. “But the root of the problem cannot be addressed by any means we possess. There is a malicious Hippocampi. A small farming village has been wholly overrun and the inhabitants drowned. Levees have been built, but will not prevail. The monster itself must be slain.”

Kian cast a sharp look over at Marcel, who was opening his mouth to ask. Marcel caught the raised eyebrows. Slowly, he shut his mouth. His brow furrowed.

“I understand. Where must I go?”

‘That’s a rare issue,’ Kian thought grimly, suspiciously. ‘One that can only be addressed by a powerful sorcerer. It is extremely inconvenient that this only happened after the army took our sorcerers north.’

He tuned out the discussion on logistics and subtly examined Prince Marcel. If anyone benefitted from this turn of circumstance, it would be Marcel’s country. You could hardly blame them for sabotaging their invader, of course, but was it true? Marcel looked confused and fascinated. 

That reaction seemed correct: magic was largely dead outside of the king’s borders. It had taken a decade after the mass sacrifice for it to flourish.

There was only one thing for it. 

“We will go there before we go to my home.” Vivian flicked her eyes over at Kian and then Marvel in challenge. Kian nodded his assent. After a moment, Marcel did as well, with a thin smile. 

Kian hid a sigh. 

There was no other option. The crown was the highest authority, yes, but a family like the Trevelyans only had their land and riches because they protected the peasantry. Vivian would risk Rose's disapproval rather than ensure the fury of her subjects. 

They traded their horses for fresh mounts at the Monastery’s stable. In what was probably an attempt at consolation, Vivian gave Marcel her little map to guide their way. 

Only when they were safely outside of the watching eyes of troubled citizens did Kian let out a loud and ungainly sigh. 

“...Yes, this is quite shit,” Vivian said. She turned her face up to the sky. “We were so close.” She sounded like she was near tears.

Marcel snorted. “So, ah.” He readjusted to sit higher on his horse. “Does anyone plan to explain the river monster thing? Do you have a lot of river monsters?”