Knight of Aevalin (Aevalin and the Age of Readventure, #3)

By Lawrence Caldwell

After being conferred with a knighthood, Yoreno plans to enjoy the Age of Readventure festival with his friends and mentor. During the festivities Yoreno witnesses a plot to assassinate king Branlin. Dantera Brennovo, top-tier adventurer, knight of Aevalin and lady of rank, is charged by the king to quietly uncover the plot. As her newly knighted protégé, Yoreno must assist Dantera in her efforts to keep the king and his new Age of Readventure alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lawrence Caldwell
• Release date: Jul 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005745691

Lawrence Caldwell

Lawrence Caldwell is believed by some to be a wandering samurai, or a vagrant, or possibly a ninja—though perhaps in his infinite mystery, he’s none of these things. Whichever the case, he wanders home as Odysseus did after the great Trojan War in some realm unbeknownst to our world. And—by direct theft of a quote from a certain dwarf named Varric Tethras—he "occasionally writes books."

Book preview

AEVALIN AND THE AGE OF READVENTURE

KNIGHT OF AEVALIN

By

Lawrence Caldwell

Book Three in the Aevalin and the Age of Readventure Series

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © Lawrence Caldwell, 2021

Look for These Other Titles by Lawrence Caldwell

AEVALIN AND THE AGE OF READVENTURE

Klause Schuar, the Grand Bastard

Trials on the Isle of Morr

Knight of Aevalin

Errant Adventurer

Kingdom of the Blue Dragon

THE JINNI AND THE ISEKAI

The Jinni and the Isekai

The Black Cobra of Mar’a Thul

Coil and Strike

The Sultan of Darshuun

Sultan’s Legacy

ANARCHO

Fracture Rating

Hussy

Landfill Lich

Rescue Operation

Dreams of Forever

THE PRINCESS AND THE MAGICIAN

The Wind Steppe Princess and the Amalfi Magician

PARADISE

Icon of Paradise

OTHER TITLES

Wakiagau

Haven

Teisatsusha

Blackwood Company

Littlehand Hakuria

Attack on the Spire Keep

The Reconnoiters

Skydrift

Acheron

"You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant."—Harlan Ellison

"I've got an idea, but the story... the story will go where it wants to go. The characters drive it, not me."—Varric Tethras

I

How do I look? Yoreno asked as he stepped out of his chambers. He glanced down nervously.

Celine looked at him. You look wonderful, Yoreno.

Cassandra smiled. Mother was wearing a white dress of a simple cut that went down to bellow her ankles just shy of dragging across the floor. At her waist she wore a thick blue sash. You can trust your sister on this matter. You look dashing, my son.

Are you certain? I don’t look like a fop, do I?

Heavens no, Celine said. Her dress was much the same as mothers, but instead of in white, she wore a pale pink. Her blonde hair had been curled and tied in a high coif atop her head with blue and gold ribbons. You really should stop worrying.

He turned, glancing in the body-length mirror in the foyer. He wore a tight pure white tunic with puffed arms and on his legs were white stockings. His armor consisted of a burnished steel chest plate with top of the shoulder pauldrons that jutted out past his arms. His leather boots were new and somewhat stiff, but mostly comfortable and there was a shin guard going up to above his knee.

Glancing in the mirror, his mother and sister regarded him, but it was difficult to see their facial expressions since they were partially silhouetted from the setting sun which made the skies red and blue.

In truth, the festivities hadn’t even begin, and yet the Aevalin was alight with activity. There were giant statues of wood and stone that had been erected and wheeled out onto the streets. Every house seemed to have a stall open selling pastries or little games for the common folk to enjoy.

Lanterns had been set out everywhere and people were already out and about celebrating and carousing. Small patrols of guards walked the streets to make sure the peace was always kept.

In it all, Aevalin castle was the brightest. Every single window seemed to be alight and the pinions that normally flew had been raised higher and doubled in their usual number.

What is it? Cassandra said.

Oh, sorry, mother. I was just looking at the city through the mirror.

My heart is racing, Celine said.

And that festival hasn’t even officially started yet.

Now put your tabard on, Cassandra said. She handed him the blue raiment.

Yoreno synched it around his waist with a thick belt of leather. From that hung his sword. The weight, familiar, felt good on him. He didn’t much like to be without a weapon. When he did, he felt naked.

Looking in the mirror again, he supposed he wasn’t overly foppish. The dark blue raiment with an image of Aevalin castle was depicted in white surrounded by a square border rounded at the top. In the sky were little golden stars that reflected light.

And what about us? Celine asked.

Yoreno glanced at them both. He was surprised they had finished preparing before he had. You look lovely.

Celine looked at him with a telling face.

It’s true.

And what of me? John asked, entering the foyer.

Yoreno turned and his eyebrows went up. He was dressed much the same as Yoreno was, except without the armor and his tunic was blue with gold diamonds around the collar. His puffed up sleeves were slit with gold silk and on his back he wore a fine cape of short black fur.

Perfect, Cassandra said.

Excellent! He came further into the room. You look lovely my dears. And you, Yoreno—very fine. He clasped Yoreno over the shoulder and nodded firmly. Your deeds deserving of knighthood have finally come to fruition.

Yes, father, Yoreno said, though he wasn’t sure he really deserved it. He had beaten the monster guardian Herokelus mostly by accident when they both went tumbling over the cliff at the Isle of Morr.

Um, my lords and ladies, Hendrisus said, there are carriages arriving at the front steps. Lady Brennovo awaits."

Hendrisus was in his middle years. He was a thin, mostly bald man with a thin mustache. He was an excellent master of servants that John had employed for most of Yoreno’s life.

How goes it? Yoreno asked. He hadn’t seen the man in weeks and he had been missing when Yoreno had arrived after coming back from the isle. You look somewhat thin, man.

I am quite well, my lord, he said with a smile and a bow. Congratulations on your coming knighthood.

Thank you.

Well, John said gruffly as he puffed his chest out. Are we all prepared then?

I am, Celine said. Then she made a funny noise.

Are you quite all right, my lady? Hendrisus asked.

Yoreno smiled at her sister’s barely contained excitement.

It’s the castle, Hendrisus! she exclaimed. We’re invited to the castle, to stay during the whole of the Readventure Fesival.

And what did I tell you in my letters? John asked. Do you remember?

That was nearly half a year ago, Cassandra said as she put a hand on John’s shoulder. And we all remember, my dear.

John smiled in a self-satisfied way.

Come on! Celina said. We shan’t make them wait!

No, John said. We shouldn’t. Then he laughed as Yoreno took to the stairs. Dantera might withdraw her offer to knight you if you make her wait out in the cold much longer, eh?

Yoreno laughed. Doubtful, father.

George, dressed in the Brendara servant livery of grey trousers and pale blue tunics was downstairs waiting at the door. He helped father into his cloak, and then Yoreno’s mother, followed by Celine. Yoreno himself declined to be helped into his jacket. In fact, he forewent the jacket all together.

Don’t you get cold? Celine asked.

Not really.

They stepped out the door over the steaming steps that had been prepared by George who had poured hot water on them to melt any ice.

Dantera was standing at the base of the steps and Yoreno’s eyes went wide. Yorinius, his long wavy black hair hanging over his wide shoulders, smirked.

What is it, Yoreno? Dantra asked.

I just— He stepped down two steps and then paused. I didn’t expect you to be dressed… well, in a dress.

Dantera gave him a look. "I am a woman, yes?"

Yoreno chuckled dumbly. My apologies, Mistress. He swallowed. You look lovely. And indeed she did! Dantera wore a white dress with pleated skirts, the back dragging like a short cascade of white roses. Her shoulders were bare and on her stomach she wore a white breastplate with straps that slipped into the fabric of her dress, almost making the armor plating look like nothing more than an ornamental piece.

What gave her away as a fighter was that Ito Farralia was hanging from her hip.

Goodness! Celina exclaimed as she followed Yoreno down the steps. Lady Brennovo—you look lovely!

Thank you, dear.

Indeed, Cassandra said. It’s wonderful to see you.

And you. Then she nodded to John. Lord Brendara.

No need to be so formal, he said. We see each other all the time!

Dantera laughed lightly. Well, we are all here, ready to make our grand entrance at the castle! She said the words with a spread of her arms.

Yoreno!

Yoreno glanced toward the voice. It was Dellwyn. He called Yoreno again, waving him over.

Excuse me a moment, he said, nodding to Dantera and Yorinius.

It’s good to see you, Yoreno.

You too, Yorinius, he said. We need to catch up at the festival.

Indeed.

Yoreno made his way to the carriage in the back where Dellwyn had called from. There were other members of the Roaming Lions out here, some of them dressed for the knighting ceremony. With Dell were Mai and Sorika.

Mai smiled. It’s good to see you all dressed up.

This? he said. It’s so foppish.

Yes, Sorika said. She too smiled, something Yoreno didn’t see much of. He was glad that she was obviously happy to be here.

Their dresses were simple, but fine. It was best not to over dress when your betters could potentially be undone at a social gathering by such an occurrence. Silly, but that’s the way it was.

You seem rather happy today, Sor, he said, wondering if he should even comment on the matter. But it was too late now.

Me? Sorika asked. I’m the same as I always am.

Mai smiled, her gaze flicking from the back of Sorika’s head to Dell standing a pace to her right. The look on Mai’s face hinted at something. He would ask her about it later.

It’s not bad, Dell said, clearly changing the subject.

No, Mai said, stepping closer. I quite like it. You look…

Knightly? Sorika asked.

Precisely! she said.

You seem… Yoreno began. Different without your staff.

Mai giggled. "It’s not a part of me, Yoreno. And we are going to a party after all."

But we have our swords, Dell said.

Well, we’re about to be knighted, Yoreno added.

Dell nodded. Indeed. But this is the Age of Readventure. We’re supposed to have our weapons. This is no ball dance.

"There will be dancing," Mai corrected.

And a ball, Sorika added with a nod.

Oh.

Yoreno! Dantera called. He turned to find her ushering him to her. "It is time to go. You