Against The World

Evelyn returned with forty-three wagons, sixty workers, four healers, twelve guards, and one marriage proposal.

I learned about the last item considerably later.

The wagons entered Greykeep beneath the northern gate as the sun touched the western hills. People lined both sides of the road, cheering when they saw the Valewood banners.

They cheered louder when they saw the grain.

I understood.

Evelyn rode at the front of the convoy.

She had exchanged her traveling cloak for a fitted green coat with silver embroidery at the collar. Her dark hair was braided behind her head, and the silver tree of House Valewood rested on her shoulder.

She saw me approaching.

Then she noticed the mud on my clothes.

Her smile became confused.

“Did you fall into something?”

“No.”

Melody walked beside me.

“He fought a giant rat.”

Evelyn looked at her.

Then at me.

“I did not fight it.”

“The normal-sized rats attacked,” Melody said. “The giant one became Mary’s pet.”

“It is not my pet,” Mary called from behind us.

The sanitation guardian followed her through the crowd.

People moved out of its way.

Evelyn’s horse stopped.

The animal stared at the enormous rat.

The rat stared back.

Neither appeared pleased.

Evelyn slowly dismounted.

“I was gone for four days.”

“A lot happened,” I said.

“I can see that.”

The giant rat sniffed one of the grain wagons.

Mary caught the metal Crown around its neck and pulled.

It did not move.

“No,” she said firmly. “That food is for people.”

The creature sat.

Evelyn watched them.

“It listens to her.”

“Only when it wants to.”

“That sounds like a pet,” Melody said.

Mary glared at both of us.

Master Aldren hurried toward the convoy. Relief filled his face when he saw the wagons of tools and supplies.

“Lady Evelyn.”

“Master Shaw. How bad is it?”

“We have opened the quarry road and begun the eastern foundations. The northern water channel is operating. Three sections of the old drainage system have been located.”

“That sounds promising.”

“The southern ground collapsed.”

“Less promising.”

“We awakened two hundred sixteen ancient construction units.”

Evelyn looked past him.

A four-armed stone construct walked across the settlement carrying roof beams.

“I was going to ask.”

“We also found thirty-one miles of sewers.”

“Operational?”

“Nine percent.”

“Of course.”

“And there are giant rats.”

“I have met one.”

Aldren lowered his voice.

“Mistress Eleanor appointed me deputy surveyor.”

“Is that good?”

“I believe so.”

From the eastern field, Eleanor shouted his name.

He hurried away.

Evelyn watched him go.

“She likes him.”

“That is difficult to determine.”

“She has only threatened to dismiss him twice today,” Mary said. “So yes.”

Workers began unloading the wagons.

Beatrice took control of the food before anyone else could make a mistake. Four scribes recorded every sack, barrel, crate, and bundle entering the storehouses.

Nothing disappeared.

Nothing was handed out without being counted.

That slowed the process.

It also meant we would know how much remained tomorrow.

The Valewood healers went directly to the eastern infirmary. The number of people suffering from fever had reached forty-one, but no new cases had appeared since the western well closed.

Two people were dangerously ill.

The rest were improving.

The news was better than it could have been.

It still was not good.

Evelyn listened while Mary gave her the full report.

“How many people remain without shelter?” she asked.

“Two thousand two hundred and thirty,” Mary replied.

“That is fewer than before.”

“The construction units completed eight foundations today. Carpenters should finish the first four longhouses by midnight.”

“Should they be working through the night?”

“No,” I said.

Mary looked at me.

“You told them they could.”

“I told them they could if they chose to.”

“And when the king says he will be working all night, people tend to choose the same.”

“I am not working all night.”

Everyone became quiet.

Melody touched my forehead.

“Are you sick?”

I pushed her hand away.

“Mary explained that sleep is necessary.”

Mary looked deeply suspicious.

“I have explained that every day.”

“This time I listened.”

“What changed?”

“I almost built thirty houses over a collapsing sewer.”

Evelyn nodded.

“That would be persuasive.”

I helped unload the first wagon.

Mary told me not to.

Evelyn told me not to.

Beatrice told me to stop blocking the people who knew where the grain belonged.

That worked.

We moved to the edge of the road instead.

A group of children followed one of the construction units as it carried sacks toward the storehouse. They had decorated its shoulders with flowers.

The construct appeared not to notice.

A small wreath hung from one bronze ear.

It definitely noticed.

It simply did not object.

Evelyn stood beside me.

“You built all of this in four days?”

“The people built it.”

“You helped.”

“Yes.”

“That was not a criticism.”

“I know.”

She glanced toward Mary and Melody.

Both were occupied with the supply records.

Alistair had taken the Valewood guards to meet Eliza.

For the first time since Evelyn arrived, no one stood directly beside us.

“We need to speak privately,” she said.

That sounded serious.

“About your parents?”

“And the alliance.”

“Should Mary be present?”

“Not for all of it.”

That sounded considerably more serious.

We found a quiet section of the northern wall.

Quiet was relative.

Below us, hundreds of people worked between the new roads and foundations. Hammers struck timber. Wagons moved toward the quarry. Construction units carried stone in orderly lines.

Beyond the eastern stream, survey stakes marked the future district.

Evelyn rested her hands on the battlement.

“My parents agreed to the immediate supply request.”

“I noticed.”

“They will send two more grain convoys over the next month. My mother has ordered the textile houses to provide blankets, canvas, and winter clothing.”

“Tell them Greykeep is grateful.”

“I did.”

“You thanked them before they agreed?”

“I know my parents.”

“That seems useful.”

“At times.”

She removed a folded document from inside her coat.

“My father also agreed to recognize Greykeep’s authority over Westmere and the surrounding villages.”

“In exchange for recognizing Valewood’s current borders.”

“Yes.”

“On the condition we discussed.”

Evelyn nodded.

“The residents must be allowed to petition Greykeep if House Valewood violates the old protections.”

“Your father accepted that?”

“He argued first.”

I smiled.

“You predicted that.”

“He considers it an important part of governing a territory.”

“And your mother?”

“She asked what you wanted personally.”

I looked at her.

“Personally?”

“Titles. Oaths. Permanent troops. Exclusive trade rights.”

“I do not want any of those.”

“I told her.”

The wind moved a loose strand of hair across Evelyn’s face. She tucked it behind one ear.

“There was another possibility.”

Something in her voice made me pay closer attention.

“What possibility?”

“A marriage alliance.”

I stared at her.

Evelyn kept her gaze on the settlement.

“A marriage alliance between whom?”

She turned her head.

I realized it was a foolish question.

“Oh.”

“Yes.”

“You and me.”

“Yes.”

“Your parents suggested that?”

“My mother raised it.”

I tried to think of a useful response.

Nothing arrived.

Evelyn waited.

Below us, a construction unit dropped a stone block.

The impact shook the wall.

I almost thanked it.

“Was this part of the price for the supplies?” I asked.

Her expression hardened.

“No.”

“Good.”

“I would never allow my family to purchase influence over you through me.”

“That is not what I meant.”

“It sounded like it.”

“I am bad at this.”

Her expression softened.

“I noticed.”

“Military invasions have been easier conversations.”

“You have more experience with those.”

“That is unfortunately true.”

I leaned against the battlement.

Evelyn watched me.

“Your mother proposed that we marry.”

“She asked whether marriage might strengthen the alliance.”

“What did you say?”

Her confidence wavered for the first time.

“I said I would be willing to consider it.”

The wind suddenly felt warmer.

“Consider marrying me?”

“Yes.”

“You have known me for less than two weeks.”

“I spent most of that time determining your character under difficult conditions.”

“That sounds romantic.”

“It was not intended to be.”

“I went into an enemy fortress with four other people.”

“Five people in total.”

“I am glad someone remembers.”

“You also protected soldiers sent to kill you, submitted your authority to a council before your position was secure, and refused to claim Valewood territory merely because old law might allow it.”

“I opened a sewer full of giant rats.”

“That was less persuasive.”

I laughed.

Evelyn smiled, but nervousness remained in her eyes.

“I do not expect an answer now,” she said. “Nor did I come to present a formal proposal. I wanted you to hear it from me before our families—or your council—turned it into a negotiation.”

“I appreciate that.”

“If the idea is unwelcome, say so. I will inform my parents that it will not be discussed again.”

“It is not unwelcome.”

Evelyn became very still.

I felt heat rise into my face.

This time, I could not blame exhaustion.

“I mean, I am not opposed to it.”

“That sounds slightly less encouraging.”

“No. I meant—”

I stopped.

Starting over seemed wise.

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