Lora of Two Worlds

Lora had said all she needed to say. She rose and walked toward the rear courtyard. Lucy, seeing her mood dark, didn’t dare speak. She was the closest to the young lady. And the lady’s fury had unsettled her too. They walked in silence. Then, from above: ”the old tactician said: Cast them into perilous ground and they will survive. Plunge them into deadly ground and they will live.” Lora turned, gave Lucy instructions. Lucy curtsied and walked on. She looked up at Leon in the old apple tree, smiling: ”You’ve been busy all day. And you have the leisure to sit in a tree quoting the Stratagems?” Leon dropped down. Cupped her face, studying it. Then lifted her over the wall: ”I thought you might be pretending. But, you really do look worried.” He took her hand and led her to Yewholm. Linn had left with Claude Sheffield for the Cliff Sanctuary. Lyle was absent too, possibly up a tree somewhere. Leon eased the door shut. Drew her gently into his arms. Lora didn’t resist. She leaned against his chest. Felt his heartbeat, steady, strong, feeding her strength. ”Actually... we could redeem your mother’s two farms first. The rest, slowly.” He bent to her hair. Jane scent. He overstepped, pressed a kiss to her braids. ”No. Do you know the investment rule? Never put all your money in. Keep half in liquid form. Think: if the opportunity comes tomorrow, how will you enter the palace first? How will you deploy troops against the Silver Shield? How will you win the officials to your side?” Lora looked up, smiling: ”Don’t worry. The Odenheim link is mine too. I won’t let it fail financially. I’m just down right now. Who sings while walking after losing money?” ”You’re right about everything. If not, the previous statement stands.” That was from their riding lessons. She’d wanted to gallop before she could trot. Nearly fallen. He’d scolded her. She’d said that to make him laugh. A small memory, and the sweetness of the road home flooded back. Leon pulled her tight, almost too tight. ”Murder... your future wife!” she squeaked. ”What kind of tiger-wolf words are those? Is it a secret signal for skipping a step?” They both laughed softly. Leon sat her on the daybed. Poured her a cup of citron water: ”The servants, all sorted?” ”A third left. Better than I expected. In this situation, usually the monkeys scatter when the tree falls. Those who stayed, should be loyal.” ”Not necessarily.” Leon turned his cup: ”Divide the rest into those with no family to return to, and those who could go to relatives. No escape route, or one you control, means more loyalty.” ”Do people always have to calculate? Can’t it be simple?” ”How many have you met? Aprille, Susannah, Weber, not enough lessons? But fortune and misfortune intertwine. A crisis shows you who’s true.” ”At least tomorrow is the first of July. In ten days or so, Mother should be back. With her here, even if she doesn’t manage things, the rear courtyard has a pillar.” Leon thought: ”Felix returns on the eighth. Once he’s back, the prefecture can do more for the Odenheims. From your father’s state these two days, I’d guess old fox Legard has been stepping on him.” In his former life: the Count had been demoted after the Crown Granary raid. After Alvin died in Yorvik, the Odenheims had begged to lead the suppression of the rebel. Ten thousand men, all dead, thanks to Voss’s treachery. Legard, who’d seized military command, couldn’t hold it. Voss absorbed the Lohenheim garrison into the Silver Shield. Legard, trapped between factions, died of frustration. ”Really? My brothers didn’t mention that.” ”You’re a little firecracker. What good would telling you do? You’d charge the Lord Regent’s office and curse him out?” ”Ah... I’m not omnipotent after all.” Leon saw her worrying again. Changed the subject: ”The forests you redeemed, coal or iron in them?” Lohenheim wasn’t wasteland. Dynasties had mined here for centuries. That there was still unexploited iron, surprising. ”You’re right, no coal or iron there. But... there’s gold.” Lora’s face lit up. She looked at Leon, enunciating: ”Quite a lot.” ”Gold? In Lohenheim? That’s incredible!” Even prepared, Leon was stunned. ”It means my great-great-grandfather had an eye. Decades ago, he bought those two mountains. But exactly where and how to dig, I’m not sure. You’ll need to find reliable miners. And gold-panners, gold is easier to steal than iron. People will be tempted.” The human factor, Lora’s greatest worry. Leon tapped her nose, smiling: ”Forgot about the Frost Ravens? I’ll test them. Maybe they can pan gold. Otherwise, pick trusted men from the household guards. Mining engineers, those need careful recruitment. Might take time. Until we find them, don’t move.” ”Mm. Once I’ve confirmed the location, we can start spreading rumors around the area.” ”Rumors?” ”Yes. Stage some kind of tragedy. Claim the mountain is haunted. Make noise up there, knocking, pounding. Then go to the nearby villages and act scared. After that, whenever gold-mining sounds come from the mountain, people will think it’s ghosts...” Lora described it vividly. Leon laughed: ”Where do you get these ideas? But... it might work. Mo is best at playing spirits. I’ll have him lead a team.” ”Sigh. Once we’re past this crisis, let’s go together. Hopefully my ’heavenly eye’ will open and I can see the gold underground.” Lora said it casually. Leon’s face shifted. He’d wondered, this girl full of impossible ideas, was she a celestial being? He asked, half-believing: ”You’re not really a celestial, are you?” ”Yes. I’m a celestial sent to aid you.” Lora tilted her head, half-serious, half-teasing. But Leon’s face fell. He pulled her close. After a long silence, his lips at her ear: ”I don’t want you to be a celestial... Celestials fly away. I only want this life, to be with you. Coal, iron, gold, I can do without all of it. The realm, I can fight for with my own hands. I only want a future with you in it.” ”Leon...” Lora’s eyes blurred. Being in love with a man who loved her deeply, it felt wonderful. So wonderful that she wanted to marry him. Him.

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