The morning had worn on interminably, and he felt helpless. In the back of his mind, he was planning his escape, and yet he knew, deep down, that it would never work. He finally lay down, resigned to his fate.
His father finally arrived, the characteristic scowl still evident on his face.
Ludwig looked to him expectantly, rising from the bed.
“Sit, Ludwig,” said the baron. “We need to talk.”
“What have you done to Charlaine?” asked Ludwig, his anger seething just below the surface.
“I have done nothing,” he said, “and she is safe, and will remain so I imagine.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” his father continued, “that she has decided to save her family the shame of her behaviour. She has taken Holy Vows.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Nevertheless, it is true. She will leave Malburg, never to return, and you can resume your rightful position at my side. One day, Ludwig, you will marry someone more suitable to your rank. And on that day you will thank me, for I have done you a great service. I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but in time, I’m sure, you’ll see the wisdom of it.”
“You disgust me,” swore Ludwig, “and if I can’t marry Charlaine, then I will never wed.”
“Your bitterness is understandable, but time heals all wounds. You’ll do your duty and marry when the time comes, I have no doubt.”
“No, I won’t, and I want nothing to do with you or the barony.”
“Is that so? Then how, pray tell, will you live?”
“I shall become a mercenary if needs be,” Ludwig swore, “and spend the rest of my days fighting.”
“That is no way to live,” said the baron. “Mercenaries seldom get old, most die in battle.”
“If that is my fate, then I embrace it.”
Their eyes met in a test of will. “Your fate,” said his father, “is to serve me, the rightful Baron of Verfeld. Should you choose to act contrary to my wishes, I shall see you imprisoned.”
Ludwig held out his hands, presenting his wrists. “Then manacle me and throw me in the dungeon, I no longer wish to serve.”
Lord Frederick felt a surge of sadness. No longer able to look his son in the eyes, he turned, heading back into the hallway. Behind him, Kasper Piltz followed, closing the door behind him.
“Two guards on his door at all times,” said the baron.
“Aye, Lord,” said Piltz.
“I’ve lost him, Kasper.”
“I’m afraid you lost him long ago, my lord, when Charlaine deShandria came into his life.”
17
Destiny
Autumn 1094 SR
* * *
“Blessed be our saviour,” said the prioress.
“And may Saint Agnes look kindly upon us,” intoned Charlaine.
She was kneeling before the altar of her saint, her hands clasped tightly together, tears running freely down her face.
“Do you take this pledge willingly?” asked Prioress Ophelia.
“I do, of my own free will,” the smith replied.
“Then I welcome you to the Sisterhood of Saint Agnes. Long may you serve.”
The prioress held out her hand and Charlaine took it, rising from where she knelt.
“You are one of us now,” said the elderly Holy Woman. “Come, let us find you a room where you may rest.”
“What will befall me now?” asked Charlaine.
“That depends on you,” Ophelia replied. “There are many ways to serve the order. You are already well versed in the teachings of our blessed saint, I doubt you’ll need much tutoring.”
“I understand that I am to leave Malburg.”
“You are,” said the prioress, “it was part of your agreement with the baron.”
“Where will you send me?”
“First, let me ask you a question.”
“Of course,” said Charlaine.”
“Do you truly wish to serve Saint Agnes?”
“I do,” she replied, “in whatever way I can.”
“What if you could bring your smithing skills to the order?”
“What need has the Church of a smith?” said Charlaine. “I make weapons and armour.”
“True, but the Temple Knights have few smiths with your skill.”
“Are you suggesting that I take orders as a Temple Knight?”
“Does that surprise you?”
“I don’t know how to fight?”
“They will teach you all you need to know. You are a remarkable woman, Charlaine. Anyone that can master the skills of a smith should find swordplay a simple matter.”
“Is it normal for a new inductee to join the Temple Knights?”
“It is unusual for one of your age, most are much younger, it makes them easier to learn the discipline required.”
“And you think I would fit in?”
“My dear,” said the prioress, “you are precisely the type of woman that the order needs. You are already disciplined, as evidenced by your trade. You are also not afraid to speak your mind, an attitude, I think, that would get you far in the Temple Knights.”
“Surely obedience is the prime requisite.”
“To a point,” said Ophelia, “yet the Temple Knights of Saint Agnes are sworn to protect women in a man’s world, that takes a certain amount of stubbornness.” She smiled to lessen the insult.
“Then a Temple Knight I shall be.”
“Good, then it’s settled. I shall make arrangements to send you to Eidenburg.”
“Eidenburg?”
“Yes,” said the prioress, “it lies to the west, in the Duchy of Talstadt. The order has a stronghold there, where they train Temple Knights.”
“How long will I be there?”
“Several months at least, possibly a year. It all depends on how you progress in your training.”
“And then?”
“And then,” said the prioress, “you will go wherever the Church deems it necessary.”
* * *
Carson made his way through the keep, tray in hand. On it sat a flagon of ale, along with a bowl of stew, the cook's best attempts at cheering up Master Ludwig.
He slowed as he neared the young lords keep. The two soldiers that stood guard looked at him with interest.
“Food,” Carson said, lifting the tray rather unnecessarily to indicate his burden, “for Lord Ludwig.”
One of the guards looked to his companion, nodding slightly. The second guard shrugged his shoulders, then retrieved a key ring from his belt, fumbling with the lock until a loud click echoed down the hallway.
“Make it quick,” the man said, “he’s not to be talked to.”
Carson waited as the door was pushed open, then stepped inside.
“Food and drink, Master Ludwig,” he said, making his way to the table that stood by the door. He set down his tray, his back to the bed, as he took the bowl and placed it upon the table, followed by the goblet. “Cook made this special for you, my lord, one of her finest recipes.”
He turned to face Ludwig, who had, so far, proven reluctant to talk. The bed was empty. One of the sheets was tied to the headboard and stretched out through the window. Carson rushed to the window, poking his head outside, but all he could see was the rest of the sheet, torn into strips and tied together, hanging down to the ground below.
* * *
The End
* * *
Charlaine’s story continues in Power Ascending, Book 1: Temple Knight, while Ludwig’s is the main character in Power Ascending, Book 2: Warrior Knight.
Share your thoughts!
If you enjoyed this book, I encourage you to take a moment and share what you liked most about the story.
* * *
These positive reviews encourage other potential readers to give my books a try when they are searching for a new fantasy series.
* * *
But the best part is, each review that you post in
spires me to write more!
Thank you!
Dedication
To my wife, Carol, who gave me wings to let my imagination fly.
Also by Paul J Bennett
Heir to the Crown Series
Battle at the River - Prequel
Servant of the Crown
Sword of the Crown
Mercerian Tales: Stories of the Past
Heart of the Crown
Shadow of the Crown
Mercerian Tales: The Call of Magic
Fate of the Crown
Burden of the Crown
Mercerian Tales: The Making of a Man
Defender of the Crown
Fury of the Crown
The Frozen Flame Series
The Awakening/Into the Fire - Prequels
Ashes
Embers
Flames
Power Ascending Series
Tempered Steel - Prequel
Temple Knight
Warrior Knight
The Chronicles of Cyric
Into the Maelstrom - Prequel
A Midwinter Murder
How to get Battle at the River for free
Paul J Bennett’s newsletter members are the first to hear about upcoming books, along with receiving exclusive content and Work In Progress updates.
* * *
Join the newsletter and receive Battle at the River, a Mercerian Short Story for free.
Sign up for Paul J Bennett’s Newsletter
An enemy commander. A skilled tactician. Only one can be victorious.
The Norland raiders are at it again. When the Baron of Bodden splits their defensive forces, Sergeant Gerald Matheson thinks that today is a day like any other, but then something is different. At the last moment, Gerald recognizes the warning signs, but they are outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and out of luck. How can they win this unbeatable battle?
* * *
If you like intense battle scenes and unexpected plot twists, then you will love Paul J Bennett's tale of a soldier who thinks outside the box.
About the Author
Paul J Bennett (b. 1961) emigrated from England to Canada in 1967. His father served in the British Royal Navy, and his mother worked for the BBC in London. As a young man, Paul followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983. He is married to Carol Bennett and has three daughters who are all creative in their own right.
Paul’s interest in writing started in his teen years when he discovered the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons (D & D). What attracted him to this new hobby was the creativity it required; the need to create realms, worlds and adventures that pulled the gamers into his stories.
In his 30’s, Paul started to dabble in designing his own roleplaying system, using the Peninsular War in Portugal as his backdrop. His regular gaming group were willing victims, er, participants in helping to playtest this new system. A few years later, he added additional settings to his game, including Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, World War II, and the all-important Fantasy Realm where his stories take place.
The beginnings of his first book ‘Servant to the Crown’ originated over five years ago when he began running a new fantasy campaign. For the world that the Kingdom of Merceria is in, he ran his adventures like a TV show, with seasons that each had twelve episodes, and an overarching plot. When the campaign ended, he knew all the characters, what they had to accomplish, what needed to happen to move the plot along, and it was this that inspired to sit down to write his first novel.
Paul now has four series based in his fantasy world of Eiddenwerthe, and is looking forward to sharing many more books with his readers over the coming years.
Copyright © 2020 Paul J Bennett
Cover Illustration Copyright © 2020 Christie Kramberger
Portrait Copyright © 2020 Amaleigh Photography
* * *
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the author.
* * *
First Edition: September 2020
* * *
ePub ISBN: 978-1-989315-83-5
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-989315-84-2
Smashwords ISBN:
* * *
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to any person, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Tempered Steel Page 15
