Book 7, Chapter 6 - The Crusades (1/2)

Cloudhawk teleported back to the inn. A short time later, members of the Nilam family were knocking on his door.

“Young Master, the Argyris family is very large and influential in the capitol. You musn’t cause a scene. It’s vital we make a good first impression. This isn’t our home and opposing families are everywhere. The slightest provocation...” He pleaded.

Cloudhawk dismissed with a wave and a smirk.

His answer was a sigh from the steward. He prayed there’d be no trouble because the wedding wasn’t what concerned him. It was the relationship between their two families. The most frantic worry was that Lance couldn’t change his character. Their family couldn’t afford to pay off the populace of the capitol.

They were received by the Argyris family later that day.

It was no wonder they were one of the city’s grandest residents. Their welcoming party could be called luxurious, headed by a procession of one hundred lily-white griffins. Following were nearly one thousand more representatives; dancers, singers and troops. The dramatic display had started to gather a crowd.

Seated upon one of the beasts Cloudhawk was brought to the Argyris family mansion. There he was greeted by the family patriarch.

Extended noble families were complex. Leadership was striated into the patriarch, the elder, heads of families, stewards, butlers and more. Patriarch and Elder sounded very similar, and often they were held by individuals, the affairs they saw to were very different.

The Patriarch was often away, seeing to the family’s industries, manage trade, and arranging policy. The Elder, on the other hand, saw to the workings of the family itself. Whoever it was had to be among their most powerful and capable members.

Elders remained with the family. They were responsible for keeping it running. In the absence of a patriarch they made the decisions. This wedding had all been arranged by the Argyris family’s Elder.

Fulmulta had four great houses, and the Argyris family was among them. It was guided by the young and famously capable Bruno Argyris. Not long ago their polish had begun to wane, while in Byzantium the Nilams were on the rise. Byzantium was the distribution hub of the realm, a portal to many things.

It was a fine alliance, one where both sides came out on top.

The Elder – Noah Argyris – first made the suggestion a year ago. He showed how suitable the young man was to marry the patriarch’s youngest, Idonea. She was the only member left unmarried. However, while there had been a lot of talk about it the patriarch did not give his blessing. Thus it dragged on.

Several months later, Master Bruno left for Skycloud.

In that time there had been no word from their patriarch. The suspicion that he had died was gaining ground. No joy came from it because they were not just losing a patriarch, but a local legend. Without him their family’s voice became a whisper. Marriage was a quick solution to an urgent problem.

Noah put forth his plan before the heads of families once again. This time it was accepted without issue. In his capacity as acting Patriarch, Noah accepted the proposal. Idonea was bound to comply.

“Welcome, Young Master Lance Nilam, to the capitol.”

Noah’s long wight hair flowed in the breeze of the griffin’s wings. His right hand rested on the head of a cane, which he used only a little to help with bow.

To play his role, Cloudhawk adopted a magnanimous bearing. In a voice dripping with scorn, he muttered, “This is the family mansion? A little run down, isn’t it? Nothing like the home I came from.”

All at once the entire Nilam procession winced.

Stroking his beard, Noah answered with a chuckle. He knew a bit about this Young Master, so the crude words were not shocking. These theatrics weren’t important, so long as their family won support. Nothing about Lance or his personality was any concern of the Elder’s.

A steward cleared his throat to dispel the tension. “May we ask where Miss Idonea may be?”

Noah couldn’t stop his brows from furrowing every so slightly. Idonea had been causing him no small measure of heartache about this. She even ran away in the night! Luckily someone snatched her up by morning, avoiding an embarrassing situation.

“Idonea is getting ready. She will be with us shortly.”

No sooner did he make the promise than a small group came in from a nearby yard. They were all clustered around the young Argyris miss. A petulant look was on her face and had been there since she swore to fight this to the end. It was fully in her mind to smash this sissy boy’s nose in first thing. At least he’d know she wasn’t going to be an obedient wife. Maybe if he understood what he was getting into, he’d call off the wedding.

“Which one is Lance! Pull him out here immediately! I want to see if you’ve sprouted three heads and six arms, because that’s the only way you’d have the courage to -… huh? What are you doing here!”

Idonea had recognized him in the middle of her tirade. Same blond hair, blue eyes and coquettish smile. It was him, the same man who saved her.

Irritation had crept into the Elder’s voice. “Idonea! What possessed you to be so rude!”

A wry and pained smile touched the Nilam family steward’s face. This young miss seemed as unfettered as the Young Master. Things were sure to get interesting.

“This Is Young Master Lance.”

When he said the words it was like Idonea had been stung by a scorpion. Fear, confusion, shock and anger flooded her mind when she realized it. She’d been tricked!

“You’re Lance?!” She screeched. “You lied to me!”