Duty: a novel of Rhynan (27 page)

“It depends on whether or not Wisten is found outside
the vargar.” He turned back to Horacian. “How might I get in touch
with the council regarding our future plans?”

“Send word to the Leaping Hart in Lorinder Court. I
have taken rooms there.”

Tomas nodded. “Your faithfulness will be remembered,
Horacian.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Horacian bowed and trudged back
the way he came.

Dentin signaled his nearest man. “Sound the
dispersal. We aren’t going to fight today. War council in my tent
or yours?” he asked Tomas.

“Yours.” Then without signaling me, Tomas pulled us
around. Again I was left grabbing at his overtunic and holding on
as we plunged back in among the tents.

“It wouldn’t hurt to give me some sign we are about
to ride next time,” I commented in his ear.

His reply was lost to the wind, but he shifted both
reins to his right hand and laid his left one over mine. Squeezing
my fingers, he pressed them more firmly against his chest.

“None of that now,” Dentin protested as we all slowed
to a walk.

“Oh, leave them alone, Dent.” Rathenridge pushed his
mount to the front. Dentin’s mouth tightened in displeasure.

“One day he will go too far,” Dentin muttered as he
watched Rathenridge join Landry.

“He enjoys getting a reaction out of people,” Tomas
commented.

“I don’t think he will enjoy the reaction I shall
give him when he crosses the line.”

“Remember he is one of my oldest and closest friends,
Dentin. Allow that fact to temper your reaction.”

“I might,” he muttered.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The king’s party arrived that evening, throwing the
whole camp into chaos as everyone rushed to prepare his entourage’s
living quarters and settle him into the elaborate canvas structure
already made ready for him. I witnessed only a small sample of the
flustered rushing of servants and couriers in Tomas and my brief
journey between our tent and Dentin’s to resume the planning
meeting. It had been interrupted by the king’s arrival.

With the king in the camp, Tomas didn’t want me out
of his sight. With the grip he kept on my hand, I might as well be
chained to his arm with the manacles we left hanging from the end
of our bed.

“Any word from Kyrenton?” Tomas asked the moment we
stepped beneath Dentin’s roof.

As large as our tent, his shelter obviously had a
different primary purpose. Seven chairs of various designs were
scattered about a wide collapsible table strewn with maps,
parchment, measuring tools, quill pens, and an inkwell set,
currently capped. Rathenridge and Dentin bent over the far end of
the table, studying a curling parchment bit between them.
Rathenridge’s flamboyant hair contrasted starkly with Dentin’s
muted brown and unassuming manner.

“Lord Wisten is in the vargar.”

“Allied with Jorndar?” Tomas asked.

“Read for yourself.” Rathenridge handed Tomas the
parchment. Curious, I stood on tiptoe to read it when Tomas pulled
the parchment flat enough to see clearly.

Wisten spotted in outer bailey. Source inside says
he met with Jorndar. No developments yet.

“They don’t know and neither do we.”

“You two know Sir Jorndar best.” Dentin glanced from
Tomas to Rathenridge and back. “Will he listen to Wisten?”

Rathenridge crossed his arms over his chest as though
considering whether or not the décor worked. “It matters what his
story is.”

“No, it matters what he can get out of him.” Tomas
sighed. “Jorndar does nothing unless there is something in it for
him.”

Dentin frowned at me. “What are Wisten’s strong
points?”

“Persuasive arguing and blatant lying with ease.”

“Weaknesses?”

That one I struggled to enumerate. There were so
many. “He likes women, expensive pleasures, money, and the easy
life.”

“Does he care for power?”

“Not as much as the physical pleasures.”

“So he would be seeking money.”

I nodded.

“But Jorndar doesn’t have money, does he?” Dentin
asked Tomas the last bit.

“I have no idea. I didn’t have time to inspect my
treasury before I was called back to Wisenvale.”

I spoke up. “Jorndar could easily hand my cousin
twice what he was extorting already from the late Lord Irvaine.”
All three men frowned at me. “I did get a chance to inspect the
treasury.”

Dentin’s eyes narrowed. “Who was extorting money from
Kolbent?”

“Lord Wisten.”

“So your cousin uses extortion to gain wealth.”
Dentin began pacing the length of the tent.

I opened my mouth to point out Orwin sold me to Tomas
to save his skin, but Tomas’ hand on my arm made me hesitate.

Tomas leaned over to whisper. “Give him a
moment.”

Rathenridge, however, didn’t read the cues. He
flopped into the nearest chair, propped his feet on the table and
asked, “What does all this have to do with our plans to retake the
vargar?”

Dentin closed his eyes and came to a complete stop in
the center of the tent.

“Know your enemy, Rathenridge.”

“Lord Wisten is weak, spineless, and manipulative.
So?”

Dentin leaned over the maps and charts, eyes scanning
them. “Sir Jorndar is grasping, egotistical, and selfish. He will
use Wisten to the point that he is useful and then discard
him.”

“Jorndar is not a fool, though.” Tomas tapped the
diagram of the interior of the vargar. “Whether or not the people
of Kyrenton are behind him, he knows he is trapped.”

“The question is what will he do?” Dentin pulled the
diagram to the top of the pile.

“Run.” Rathenridge leapt to his feet. “He will take
his greatest assets and run to cause trouble another day.”

“He married Rolendis.” Tomas leaned over the plans,
resting his weight on his fisted hands. “He controls Kolbent’s wife
and possibly Kolbent’s son. Even if he escapes with only Rolendis
and her pregnancy intact, he can return to cause trouble for me
another day.”

“If the child is a boy,” Dentin pointed out.

“Even if the child is not,” Rathenridge replied, “he
can replace it with a boy babe. Someone he can mold into a weapon
of revenge.”

“So, when he realizes that the people of Kyrenton
have already defected, he will use Wisten’s skills to escape.”
Dentin pointed to the garden. “My lady, how many know of your route
of escape?”

Before I could reply, the canvas flaps were drawn
wide and the king’s personal guard entered, followed by the king.
Mendal scanned the room as the men bowed and I curtseyed.

“What is she doing here?” Mendal’s pale glare drove a
sliver of fear through my heart.

I lowered my head in respect and to avoid his
unspoken accusations despite the anger rising in my chest. Tomas
showed no such restraint. He straightened beside me, readying for a
fight.

Dentin beat him to the first punch. “Contributing. As
Irvaine and Rathenridge know Sir Jorndar better than I, she can
offer me insight into Lord Wisten’s motivations and possible
actions.”

Mendal’s gaze narrowed, but he didn’t confine me to
irons so I counted my blessings. In an attempt to not cause more
trouble for myself, I kept Tomas between us at all times. I also
clasped my hands before me and kept my eyes averted in the classic
position of submission.

“You have located Lord Wisten?” Mendal strode to the
table and scanned the documents on it.

“Yes, sire. He has taken shelter under Jorndar’s
protection within the vargar.”

“Storm the city walls then. We will hang them
both.”

Tomas stepped forward. “I must protest–“

Dentin cut him off with a sharp shake of his head.
“My liege, the people of Kyrenton have defected from the traitor
and thrown themselves upon your mercy. In your name I assured them
no retribution, dependent on their further cooperation in capturing
the traitors and relinquishing the vargar back into Lord Irvaine’s
care. I hope you find this satisfactory.”

Mendal’s clear gaze met Dentin’s masked one. “I
suspect you are protecting someone.”

“I serve only you, my king. You know that.”

“Aye, I do, or I would wonder at the subterfuge.”

“Part of my line of work, I am afraid, my liege. Do
you wish to know the plan?”

“Yes.”

Dentin outlined his proposal for retaking the
vargar.“Our scouts and inside man report that besides Lord Wisten
and the former Lady Irvaine, Sir Jorndar retains only ten to twenty
men inside the vargar. In order to minimize destruction of the
vargar gate, walls and the surrounding buildings of the town, we
propose infiltrating the vargar with a small force. They will
overwhelm the guard on the gates and let in the rest of the army
waiting in the streets outside the vargar. Then the greater force,
led by Sir Landry, will secure the fortress.”

“It sounds like a wise plan, Lord Dentin. I recognize
the obvious hands of both you and Lord Irvaine in its formation. My
congratulations. You have my blessing to proceed and my troops’
full support.” He turned to leave only to look my way. “I require
only one change.”

All three men tensed, though none of them moved. I
held my breath, unease tightening my throat.

“What change would that be, my king?” Dentin asked in
a tone that could have been used to request more cheese be brought
to the dinner table.

“She accompanies you inside the vargar.”

Tomas’ clenched fist shook. In an effort to still it,
he pressed it to his stomach. His face remained impassive
though.

“My king?” Lord Dentin asked. “Surely you don’t mean
to send a gently-reared lady into such a situation.”

“If she wishes to prove her loyalty, I do require it.
Lift your eyes, Lady Irvaine.”

I obeyed. The cold calculation that met my gaze
chilled my heart. “I live to serve you, my king.”

“Strong words from the lips of a traitor’s
cousin.”

“I am not my cousin, my liege.”

“As you keep saying, my lady. I cannot risk accepting
such a claim solely upon your word. Your honor is unproven. I will,
however, consider believing if your words are supported by action.
Your husband has proven his loyalty to me in battle. I ask the same
of you. Are you worthy of such a challenge?”

My senses whirled with the heady rush. He meant to
send me into the midst of a battle? I shoved away the memory of
Kyrenton. By will alone, I kept my gaze steady and my chin firm. “I
shall endeavor to be.”

“Then I accept your act of homage. Return with
evidence of your cousin’s death and I will be appeased.”

Without waiting for my response, he turned and strode
from the tent, his men scrambling to follow.

My knees gave out. I sank to the ground and hid my
face in my hands. My lungs ached for air. No matter how deeply I
sucked my breaths, I couldn’t relieve the pressure of panic in the
center of my chest.

Did he expect me to kill Orwin?

“No, Tomas!” Dentin’s strident tone broke through my
concentration. My attention snapped up in time to observe Tomas
moving to pursue the king, with Rathenridge and Dentin blocking his
path.

“Get out of my way, Dentin. He has gone too far and I
intend he should know it.”

“With your hand on your sword and murder in your
eyes, you will be fortunate if you manage a word before his
personal guard cuts you down.” Dentin’s normal cool demeanor frayed
a bit at the edges. Every word from his mouth came out with a
barely controlled snap. Muscles in his jaw moved even when he quit
speaking.

“He cannot do this,” Tomas protested.

“He can.” Rathenridge’s voice was the calmest of them
all. “He is king, Tomas. We are his vassals. You swore to serve
him.”

“I swore to protect Brielle.”

“The Kurios will hold you to both oaths,” Rathenridge
pointed out.

Tomas swore. It was mild, but it was enough to snap
me out of my shock.

“I chose to rise to his challenge.”

All three men turned their heads toward me. Tomas’
mouth was already forming a rebuttal, but I didn’t wait for him to
argue.

“It is this or fear the taint of treason on both of
our names for generations. Orwin ruined any chance of my words of
loyalty being enough to absolve me in the king’s sight. I must
prove my innocence. For me.” I met Tomas’ stormy gaze. “For
you.”

“For me? I don’t require it. Only a fool–”

“Tomas,” Dentin warned.

Turning away abruptly, Tomas groaned. Every movement
and line of his body screamed barely controlled anger. He wanted to
lash out, but he didn’t. “Her oath should have been enough.”

“It isn’t, but there is a chance to earn Mendal’s
trust.”

“And let her die in the process. No. I will not
sacrifice her life.”

“It wasn’t your choice.” Rathenridge’s
uncharacteristically flat tone cut through the tension like no
blustering could. “The decision has been made and the terms
accepted. Now it is time to focus on making it possible.”

“Is it possible?” I asked, scanning their faces for
hope. “I can handle a sword.”

“You are not a soldier,” Tomas snapped.

“I know.” I scrambled to my feet in a flood of anger.
In some part of my detached self, I realized the anger wasn’t
really for him. “I don’t claim to be one. I am, however, willing to
fight. You once told me you wanted a wife who could stand beside
you, not behind you. I am your wife, Tomas, and you are going to
have to let me stand beside you.”

The war of emotions in his inky-black eyes tore at my
resolve, but I held firm. I had to do this for him, us, and our
children.

He turned away. “I was wrong.”

I blinked. Did he mean he regretted marrying me? Or
that I was a fighter?

Rathenridge cleared his throat to catch Dentin’s
attention and then jutted his chin toward the exit. Dentin nodded.
They both left in a hurry.