“We’ll think of something, Aiden,” Ashrak said, setting his jaw with determination. “I don’t know what we will do but we won’t let this go, I promise you.” Chari nodded along as well. In a way, it was strange to see these two agree with each other but Aiden was glad. They were all his friends and he just wished Gavin could be there too.
“How is Gavin?” Aiden asked, reminded of the fourth in their little company. “Captain Stelios said he was ok, but obviously, I’ve not been able to visit.”
Chari’s face brightened slightly at the mention of Gavin’s name. For his part, Ashrak walked back to his wall and leaned against it with a mild petulance. “Yes! The duke let me visit just the other day. Gavin is doing well. He’s still asleep. The doctors said something about the bed keeping him unconscious. I don’t know the specifics, but they said he would be awake in a few days. Isn’t that good news?”
Aiden nodded, watching Ashrak roll his eyes where Chari couldn’t see. “It is. I…I hope I’m around to see him. Do you think I will be?”
“I don’t know,” Chari said, becoming melancholy again. “Things usually happen fairly quickly once a sentence is read. With Count Viridian pushing things, Duke Terek may not have a choice. But-” she said, pulling herself up and trying not to look as depressed as he felt, “-let’s hope for the best. If anything, we’ll plead for you to be allowed to see him once he’s better since you were the one that saved him.”
Chari and Ashrak stayed with Aiden, joining him for dinner in his little cell. Each of them ate companionably, making sad small talk but for the most part avoiding the sentencing hanging over Aiden’s head. Only after Aiden started yawning uncontrollably did they stand to leave, each giving him a hug, though Chari’s was by far the longest. At least he’d have that memory to take with him tomorrow. Ashrak had to pry her away, leading her out of the room and letting Aiden lay back on his cot. The sounds of Chari’s soft crying faded, then finally disappeared and left him in the silence of his own thoughts.
***
The next day arrived with no fanfare and a light misting of rain over the city. Aiden, of course, didn’t know it was raining until he passed some windows on his way to the Hall of Trials. He thought it matched his mood quite well, actually. Glowby reflected the color of the skies as he floated along behind him. He didn’t stray far from Aiden’s shoulders this day, preferring to keep close to his friend. Sometimes it was difficult for Aiden to know if his friend really grasped what was going on, but this time, it was clear that he could feel the weight of the day.
As Aiden was led into the hall, it was not as loud as it had been previously. There were more people in both the lord and common sections, making Aiden wonder if more came today because they were sad or happy. He really didn’t know many of the lords or ladies, barring his friends, so he didn’t know if they tended to be bloodthirsty or not. He’d always imagined that was the case but getting to know Gavin, Chari, and even Ashrak had shaken his opinion, so he had to admit he simply wasn’t sure.
Finally, all the players were in place and the hall had been called to silence. Duke Terek and Duchess Ahnarad were sitting on their thrones, both of them with grim visages. The duke was not conferring with advisors this day, his eyes appeared tired as if he’d been up all night. In counterpoint, Count Viridian appeared well-rested and calm. Surprisingly, most of the lords and ladies in their tiered boxes weren’t pleased or happy at the day’s events. The only ones that acted otherwise were a fair sized group that sat near or behind Count Viridian’s seat. They appeared either disinterested or as if they were at a sporting event waiting for the final goal to be scored. Then there was Lord Dolgren.
Aiden had to smile as his eyes came to rest on the man; a look that made Lord Dolgren raise his eyebrow in confusion. He probably didn’t even realize that his ultimate boss was sitting directly in front of him, nor that they knew he was behind the kidnapping. He would let Chari and Ashrak take care of that information as well if they hadn’t already told the duke. In his distracted reverie, he almost missed the words spoken to him.
“Aiden Finn,” the duke repeated, frowning slightly, “do you have anything to say before we pronounce your sentence?”
Aiden turned his gaze from Lord Dolgren to the duke, contemplating the question with an abstract frame of mind. “Yes, sir.” He finally said, nodding. “I’m just happy that Gavin will be okay.” The comment caused an unexpected reaction from Valeran. This powerful man that ruled an entire dukedom paused as his eyes began to mist over; softening as his steely gaze strained to retain his composure. In the end, he succeeded, but it showed Aiden how much he cared for his people. At that moment he wished he could have had a man like the duke as his father.
Nodding gravely at his words, the man continued. “If there is not anything further from the court, then the time has come for me to pass judgment. I’ve received all of your recommendations on the sentence, but unfortunately there is only one that is allowed by the Ducal Council.”
Aiden just stood there as the duke spoke but his eyes strayed over to Count Viridian. He really didn’t care anymore, so he just stared, wondering what could be going through the monster’s mind right now. He looked almost bored. Perhaps in his thousands of years of existence, he’d sat through so many atrocities they didn’t even register, anymore. How many orphans had been sentenced to death at his machinations? Did he even care about what he was doing anymore? Aiden remembered how tired the thing had sounded in Duke Feldar’s study and wondered what kept it going.
“Very well, it is time.” The duke paused, holding his hand back for the scroll that he was to read; the one that held Aiden’s doom. Aiden watched as it was passed to the man, almost holding his breath as it was unrolled.
And then things became interesting.
The door to the hall banged open with jostling people and voices raised in anger to each other. Aiden glanced behind him along with everyone else, but he could see better from his raised placement in the middle of the room. One set of voices belonged to the duke’s guards and they were challenging other men dressed in white and blue livery who were waving their hands angrily. A low murmur began to rise from the commons and royals alike, wondering at the interruption.
It was difficult to see what was at the center of the commotion, but eventually Aiden watched as a gray-haired person moved amongst the guards, causing the duke’s men to quiet and move back, letting the party through. Only two guards accompanied the short figure as it moved forward; one being Captain Stelios and the other a smaller, wiry man. It allowed Dame Wilthorn to make her way through the crowded commons and out onto the open floor between the lords’ section. Behind her Aiden caught a glimpse of two shorter figures that when he realized who they were, made Aiden smile. One was Jessop, and he was holding the hands of the young Baron Crean as they trailed along behind the determined old woman.
“Valeran, you idiot,” she rasped dangerously when she could finally lock eyes with the duke. “What in the Seven Circles do you think you are you doing?”
The duke actually spluttered in surprise, not having a single idea what to say. Anyone else he would have been growling and barking back at, but not Dame Wilthorn. She’d been old when he was a young man and some of his earliest memories of her was watching her terrify the other lords and ladies of the court. He actually looked to the side toward his wife for help. Duchess Ahnarad only shook her head and shrugged, clearly not wanting to get involved with the formidable older woman. Turning back, the large man spoke tentatively. “Uh…Well, we were having a trial.”
“Yes, yes, I know that I mean. Why are you trying to kill this boy?” Tenadine said, glaring at Valeran, “He saved your son, for all the gods’ sake. At least that’s what this boy told me,” she said, gesturing towards Jessop who was staring around himself wide-eyed. “That is the truth isn’t it? I thought your father raised you better than that. He was polite, and usually thought with his head rather than his left foot.”
Valeran blink
ed and stood still, gaping at the old woman who was moving slowly but steadily towards him like a patient storm. When she came alongside the dais where Aiden was standing, she opened the gate and turned to Jessop who was still leading the young baron. “Here, Jessop, you and Aiden please watch him. It’s quite crowded in here, and I don’t want him to get lost when they all start running in fear.” Aiden just nodded, remaining quiet as Jessop and the boy crowded into the smallish area. Despite not being directed at him, Dame Wilthorn’s scowl was very intimidating.
After she had turned away, pacing into the middle of the room toward the duke, Aiden smiled at Jessop, leaning in to give his friend a hug. He could tell that Jessop was tired but Glowby was buzzing around all of them at a mad pace, flickering happily. He wanted desperately to ask Jessop how he’d managed to find Dame Wilthorn, but there would be time for those questions later. For now, he took Baron Crean’s other hand and they all turned to watch what was going on before them.
“Dame Wilthorn, maybe it would be wiser if you took your seat?” Count Viridian said, starting to stand. “Clearly, you have little idea what is…”
“Oh, shut it, Corenthus.” she snarled and cut him off. “I’m not senile, and I know very well what is going on. However, neither you nor anyone else here does.”
“What do you mean, Tenadine?” Ahnarad asked carefully with a hopeful look in her eyes.
“I mean-” she said, stopping and pulling out a large packet of papers wrapped in twine that she passed up to Valeran “-That you cannot sentence the boy for being a commoner because he is a lord. I adopted him a week and a half before he ever did anything with some fool boat. It’s all proper, signed and dated by my chancellors and other officers of the court. I had to return to my home to have my herald write up the paperwork properly which is why I wasn’t here when all of you bloodthirsty fishwives lost your heads. It’s just fortunate I heard about this lunacy in time, or you would have killed my son. Lord Aiden Finn-Wilthorn.”
The entire hall held its breath; quiet for the seconds it took as the entire room stood in shock and then erupted in a huge wave of chaotic cheers. Not everyone was happy, of course. There was a small contingent of nobles who appeared quite disappointed for one reason or another. However, for the most part, the entire hall was cheering.
No one ever wanted to see a child die, and most of the lords and ladies supported the popular duke. Hearing about how his son was saved, and then having to sentence the one who had saved him was tragic enough to pull at most people’s heartstrings. While the hall celebrated, the duke had opened the paperwork and was grinning like a mad man. He held that pose for a long moment before spinning and picking up the duchess, hugging her while he laughed his deep booming laugh.
For his part, Aiden just stood in shock as the entire hall was erupting around him. The young baron was about as surprised as Aiden was, but quickly turned to him, holding his arms up for a hug. Jessop was confused as well but sensing the excitement, realized his best friend ever was not going to die. It didn’t take Chari or Ashrak long to make it over to the dais and join in on the hug either, jumping up and down as all of them cried tears of joy together. He was adopted, and a lord? He had no idea what to think about that, but when he saw the duke ripping up the scroll he had been about to read, he knew he was safe at last.
The elegant, graceful figure of Count Viridian simply stood without an expression on his face and turned to leave the hall. His tall, elegantly imposing form moving from the light and into the shadows of the castle without a sound.
Chapter 25
The next few days were a blur for Aiden. Freed and reunited with his friends, Aiden was slowly beginning to learn what it meant that he was now a Lord of the Realm. Dame Tenadine Wilthorn, his new mother, was a surprisingly kind woman, though one filled with steel. She and the baron were the last of their family, and they seemed equally as happy to welcome Aiden into the family as he was to get them.
He wasn’t in the line of succession, of course, but he really didn’t care. All that mattered was he had a family now, and he no longer had to worry about death hanging over his head. At least, from the law. He was a lord now and the law about glimmer steel only applied to commoners.
The duke allowed them to all stay in the castle for their visit, due to the Wilthorns’ town mansion having been burnt to the ground. Dame Wilthorn herself had said that now Aiden was part of the family, it actually gave her a reason to rebuild the old place so when he wasn’t in school, he would have a place to stay.
“In school?” Aiden said, blinking as they all sat around a table having lunch. Cheri, Ashrak, and the newly recovered Gavin were all there along with Jessop and Crean. Gavin had awoken to discover that not only was Aiden saved and a lord, but he was in trouble for having been a party in instigating the whole thing in the first place. His father had hinted at dark punishments once his son recovered sufficiently, to which Gavin seemed more than willing to submit.
“Of course, Aiden.” Chari said, laughing at him softly, “What did you think that you were just going to keep working there? You were already a student there. Now it’s just more official.”
The fact was, Aiden hadn’t thought about it. Just a few days ago he was pretty sure he was going to be dead, not having to worry about if he were going to school or not. Instead, he just put a silly grin on his face and shrugged. He’d been doing that a lot lately, thrilled and happy. It was nice, and after the last few weeks, he was more than happy to just relax and be a boy again.
“What about me?” Jessop said, jam smeared on his face from what he’d been eating. “Will I be a student, too?”
Dame Wilthorn spoke up from where she’d been hand-sewing something. Aiden didn’t know what it was but thought it might be a new tunic for Crean. “No, Jessop, though you will continue to get the basic education that all the orphans get at the School. What you will be doing is being my ward, which means you are under my protection now. I’ve spoken to the headmaster and while Aiden is at school you’ll continue to do your duties there, but between semesters, you’ll live with us.”
“Ward?” Jessop said, not understanding what the word meant.
The old woman nodded, pausing in her sewing as she looked up, squinting at the simple boy. “Yes. Perhaps it’s better to say that you are part of our family now, though not a lord like Aiden is. Does that help?”
Jessop’s eyes glazed a bit as he thought about what she’d said to him, but after a few long moments, he whispered softly. “Does that mean you are my momma?”
Dame Tenadine stopped completely, putting her work down. Aiden wondered if she was going to tell him no because that would be more accurate, but she surprised him entirely.
“Yes, Jessop, if it will make you feel better, you can also call me momma just like Crean and Aiden. I’ll start the formal paperwork tomorrow to make it official.”
Aiden watched as his friend processed what had been said before getting a huge smile on his puffy-eyed face. Instead of screaming with joy, he simply stood up and went over to hug the old woman gently, whispering the word momma over and over. Dame Wilthorn just hugged him back, her eyes closed and whispered to him for as long as he needed. Aiden smiled and realized that his new family had grown by one; at least officially. Jessop had been his brother for a long time.
After Jessop had sat back down, Aiden remembered the question he had wanted to ask his brother. “By the way, Jessop, how did you know to go tell Dame…I mean…Mother that I was in trouble?”
Jessop had returned to his seat and was busy chewing on another bite of toast, so Aiden had to wait for him to swallow it before he answered. “A man told me. He showed me which road to take and gave me a scroll for Momma. He even gave me a zerigeld,” Jessop said, beaming happily.
Aiden nodded, still amazed that Jessop had made it all the way out to Wilthorn Bay, the home city of his new family. “What did he look like?”
Jessop started to answer but then stopped, a quizzical expression appe
aring on his face. “I don’t remember. He was tall, but… I can’t remember what he looked like. He gave me a zerigeld which took me all the way to Momma’s house. I hadn’t been there before but it seemed to know where to go. We only had to stop twice for camping and it picked the place each time. Very smart, like you, Aiden.”
Aiden and his friends frowned along with Dame Wilthorn. The old woman’s eyes narrowed even as her fingers remained busy sewing. “You say he was a man but can’t remember his face? You don’t normally trust strange men, do you?”
Jessop shook his head emphatically. “No, Momma. I don’t usually, but I remember thinking I knew the man. I don’t know why I can’t remember. I’m not in trouble, am I?”
“No, Jessop. You are not in trouble but it is a mystery.”
“Were there any marks on the zerigeld?” Gavin asked slowly. His words were still a bit slurred, but the doctors at the castle said that would pass soon with more treatments from the medibeds. “Was it one from your stables? That’s the only way I could think of that one could find its way all the way from Terek to Wilthorn Bay.”
The Glimmer Steel Saga, Boxed Set, Books 1 - 4 Page 31
