“What kind of ally?”
“He has the knowledge and the training; he is a member of The Order of Righteous Blood.”
“Can you do it?”
“He hasn’t found the pendant, so no.”
“If what you say is true, Ash will be the strongest of us all.”
“Yes he will, but not until the council see’s. I can’t”
“Then what can you do to help us?”
“Warn you. You are a friend, Idris. Even though we hardly know each other, you are my friend. Idris, please beware.”
And with that he vanished again, back into a gray mist. His words sunk into Idris and suddenly he wasn’t hungry.
XL
It had only been a week since they marched out of Derancross and Dominic found himself looking at ten thousand troops three hundred yards away. They had encountered the first of Lord Wakefield’s scouts a day before, about a league back, and without knowing the lord’s intentions they had slowed their march.
“Lord Carlye. It appears Lord Wakefield is marching with infantry and cavalry only, no sign of any heavy or light artillery,” a scout said, riding in on horseback.
“Very well,” Dominic said as he turned and looked behind him. “Bannerman?” he shouted.
Two young soldiers came forward, one with the Crimson Guard carrying the King’s crimson and silver banner and another carrying Dominic’s white and gold banner. “Sir, should we fly the streamers?” The soldier with the Crimson Guard asked, reaching in his pack and pulling the streamers out.
“Blue,” Dominic replied.
“My Lord? Shouldn’t we be flying red?” Garrett asked, obviously not approving of Dominic’s choice.
“No.” He stated sternly and added. “Red is the streamer of war and I’m not here for blood. If you look, Lieutenant, they are flying the blue streamers asking for parley and the white of peace. I will not invoke a battle if it is not necessary.”
Garrett gave him a disapproving look and then took his place beside him. “Yes, my Lord, raise them.” He ordered the banner men: “Signal parley.” The four of them began to ride out in front of the main host. As they rode, Dominic could see three more horses ride out from the Wakefield lines.
It was a ride that seemed to take longer than the entire journey there. He had never been in a position like this before, and he knew this would be the ultimate test of his leadership. He had no idea how he would convince Lord Wakefield to turn back and let this issue rest for another day. If he couldn’t get him to turn around, maybe he could convince him to leave the majority of his host and return the Derancross with just his original host of one thousand.
As they got closer he could see Lord Wakefield himself riding in front of his small party. It was the first time Dominic had ever seen him outside of court and he looked strange, stronger and more confident in his battle gear.
He felt his heart jump into his throat and a huge weight on his chest. His breathing became short, and he felt sweat bead up on his brow as he closed and brought his steed to stop. “Lord Wakefield, it is good to see you again,” Dominic said as he looked at his adversary.
“Lord Carlye. Terms?” Lord Wakefield asked shortly.
“No terms until I know your intentions,” Dominic said.
“My intentions? My intentions are to oppose the King and his unfair taxation by any means, Lord Carlye. I will do what I must to attain that goal.”
“Then go about it peacefully. Turn your main host around and return to Derancross with no more than one thousand men and contest this in open court. As Commander of this force I will assure you that you will not be harmed and upon return I will be your advocate at court.”
“What?” Garrett said loudly.
“You heard me, Lieutenant. My orders are clear and I am following them precisely,” Dominic said sternly.
“No, My Lord you are not, and you leave me no choice.” He said reaching into his pack and pulling out a rolled piece of parchment with the King’s seal untouched.
He broke the seal and read its contents;
Warrant for Arrest
By the order of the His Majesty
Jayden the First of the House Tiernan
The names here within are accused of conspiracy to undermine the judgment of the Crown of Agantia: Lord Dominic of the House Carlye, Duke Aiden of the House Carlye, Allan Southerlin, and Idris Sutain.
It is known these men have conspired at length to use leverage of unknown influence to persuade a change in the monetary system of our lands for personal gain. These men are wanted by the crown with a reward of one thousand gold each to bring them alive to face judgment. Two hundred gold dead.
The names here within are accused of conspiracy to withhold a crime and harbor those of guilt: Lord Dominic of the House Carlye, Duchess Mariella of the House Carlye, Allan Southerlin.
It is known that these men and Lady know of a crime committed by Duke Aiden Carlye and willingly and knowingly did not turn the crime over to the proper hands for investigation.
The names here within are accused of attempted murder and falsely accusing a Lord of this Land. Duke Aiden of the House Carlye. It is known that Duke Carlye did willingly and knowingly attack his brother Dominic Carlye and his betrothed.
“What the hell is this?” Dominic said, throwing the parchment back at Garrett.
“Orders sir.”
Dominic heard the unforgiving sound of muskets being cocked into the firing position. The two banner man had both pulled their pistols and leveled them at Dominic’s face.
“Lord Carlye, by order of the King, Jayden of the House Tiernan, I hereby arrest you for the crimes listed...”
“Lower your weapons, now,” Dominic ordered the two banner men.
They didn’t move. Damn them. “I said lower your weapons,” he ordered them one more time to no avail.
“Lord Carlye.” Lord Wakefield said speaking up. “It might ease your tension some if you were to learn that I have twelve nine pound cannons just over that ridge loaded with canister ready to rip those lines if need be. All I need to do is give the order.” He added.
“And you, Lord Wakefield, should know that if your shots fall short, my lines will be upon you before your cannons can be reloaded and your host will be under fire,” Garrett said.
“SHUT UP. Garrett, stand your men down now...”
“No, Lord Carlye, I will not. Change the streamers and trample the Carlye banner.” The men did as he ordered. “Now, Lord Wakefield, here are your terms. Stand down now and surrender your arms. With my host we will return to Sunvale where your Duke will turn over Lordship to the crown. Sunvale is to voluntarily remove themselves from the courts of Agantia and be subject to the judgment of the King’s justice. If you do not agree, we will end your rebellion here on this field today and march to Sunvale where we will take the city...”
“Very well,” Lord Wakefield said. “If it means my people will survive, I will face the judgment of the King.”
“Wait a minute. Stop.” Dominic started to say as he felt a large fist crack him across his right jaw.
“Lord Carlye, you are in no position to speak now. You will be held prisoner until your trial for your crimes is done. Turn over your weapons,” Garrett said.
He complied. There was not going to be a fight today. He had suddenly found himself on the side of those he came to face. “You may have me, Garrett, but you still don’t have the others on that order,” he said as he handed his sidearm to Garrett.
“We will soon. You see, My Lord, as we speak Lord Candrin is leading a small force to Easterway to apprehend those in question, and if your Brother Aiden attempts anything from the north... Well, let’s say he will find it hard to cross south of Four Rivers.” He had a sick, twisted smile on his face.
Dominic’s heart fell. Jayden had used him, set him up. It was the perfect plan, Easterway was open for whatever Lord Candrin had planned. He felt as though the entire world had hit him in his chest, and then a worse thou
ght came to his mind. Mariella.
XLI
He hadn’t failed at any mission in years and now he had. Not only had he let his safe house be compromised, he almost found himself dead from not covering his back, stupid. It would never happen again.
He watched over the Military ward as soldiers patrolled over the district. There were more soldiers in the courtyard tonight than usual. He had been watching for days, watching Lord Candrin’s every move; he would be prepared this time and take the man’s life at the perfect moment and tonight was that night.
He was waiting for the man to appear in the courtyard directly below his position. He had found himself a small area in the wall that had been damaged over time. Not only was it small and dark but it had a perfect escape route. Before any of the guards knew what had happened he would be in the darkness of the streets and gone.
He had loaded his small crossbow with a small bolt dipped in a thick poison. If he were to miss his target all he had to do was break the skin, any contact with blood and the poison would do its job. Lord Candrin would be dead within a week.
He waited. More and more soldiers started appearing in the courtyard. Strange, he thought as he watched the soldiers start to gather in the courtyard.
This was something new, something that felt wrong. Lord Candrin stepped out in front of the soldiers. “Fall in!” He heard someone shout. There had to be five hundred men there.
“Men, tonight we bring to justice to those who have done injustice. Remember the King asks for those who are with guilt to be alive before him, but if need be, death is acceptable,” he said as he looked over the soldiers.
“If they resist, you are to use whatever force you need. Our artillery towers will provide support for your breaching the wall if need be.”
Ash drowned him out as his mind started to race, what is he talking about? Take the shot! He told himself as he raised the cross bow. Lord Candrin was in his sights; he was ready to squeeze the trigger.
“...Companies one and two, make ready. To Easterway!” Lord Candrin announced.
Easterway? What the hell, take the shot. The trigger pulled easily and the bolt flew through the air. Lord Candrin had taken two steps, the bolt missed.
“Company, forward!”
He dropped from his hiding place and started to run.
XLII
The sun was setting lightly over Easterway. The day had been unusually quiet, no one was out in the streets along the estate walls and the estate itself had no visitors. There was a strange atmosphere in the air as he watched the sun set in the western sky.
It had been a week since Lord Carlye had left on his duty to the King, and Idris expected him to return, hopefully, within a fortnight. He and Allan Southerlin had been doing the day-to-day duties of Easterway with Lady Mariella actually presiding over the courts that had been held in Lord Carlye's absence.
It hadn't been a hard week, but it had been long; things were different. Idris stood on the inner wall of the estate looking down into the courtyard as the guards changed shift and the watch commanders took over for the evening.
“This new system seems to be working better,” Allan said as he walked up to Idris with the duty roster for the night.
“Are the men getting used to the shorter hours?” he asked Allan as he took a bite of jerky he had in his pouch.
“So far they like it; it gives them more time off, and they are not as tired when they finish a shift,” he said, putting the duty roster inside his tunic. The sun was down now, and the estate was dark.
A slight night chill struck Idris as he prepared to leave the wall and go back to the estate. “Tomorrow we need to begin thinking of the possibility of putting more roaming guards into the streets,” Idris said. He knew the Commons were still in chaos, but the quietness of this day had him nervous. He didn't like the way it felt.
“I agree,” Allan said shortly as he walked beside Idris to the steps leading down from the wall. He suddenly stopped and turned his ear to the south and west as a strange look came across his face. “Do you hear that?” He asked Idris.
Puzzled he looked at Allan, and then concentrated his ears in the general direction of Allan's. “I hear horse hooves, that’s all.”
“Yes, but listen closely,” Allan said
He strained even harder and harder and then he heard it. The sound of hundreds of hooves and the light clanging of armor and weapons. “What is that?” He asked. “Tower guard!” he yelled up to the nearest tower. “To the south and west, glass it!” He ordered.
The guard in the tower reached down and pulled a small leather cone from his belt and raised it to his eye. “Sir. Crimson Guard, armed and on horse and foot!” He yelled back to Allan.
“How many?”
“Two hundred, maybe more.” The guard added.
“Allan, prepare the troops,” Idris told Allan as he started briskly walking down the stairs.
“For what?” Allan asked him.
“Them.”
“Are they coming for us?”
“If they are, we will be ready. Remember, Allan if they come here, this estate is sovereign ground.”
Allan nodded at him and Idris knew he understood.
And so it begins. He thought as he walked across the courtyard and into the estate. He walked through the halls looking for a guard. He finally saw one. “You find Lady Mariella. Make sure she is safe,” he told the guard, who stopped and looked at him strangely. “Do it now!” he yelled.
He found his way to his chambers and reached under his bed and pulled a trunk out. The trunk was old, made from hickory and stained with a dark stain. He unlatched the latch and opened the top.
Inside was a long rapier. The hilt was elaborately decorated in white stone and gold trim with white tassels hanging from the base. The scabbard was the same white and decorated. He grabbed it and pulled the blade slightly from the scabbard and looked at the highly polished blade. Just how I left you.
Moving, the sword looked even more white. A breast plate that was solid shiny white and trimmed with silver sat on top of a white leather tunic and pants. Ever article of clothing was white, except for the cloak which was silver and almost looked as if was made from the metal itself.
He took the sword and strapped it on his side and made his way back to the courtyard. He saw Lady Mariella outside with the soldier who he had told to protect her. She was looking toward the gate of the estate and then he heard it. Loud banging on the doors along with shouting from the outside.
“My Lady, you must go inside.” He told her.
“No, my place is here. Please go find out what is going on,” She told him.
“My Lady, I must object,” he told her.
“If it comes to anything I will go back where I am safe.”
Allan was already on his way back to the top of the wall where several soldiers had taken up positions obviously ready to fire down onto the Crimson Guard. Once on the wall he saw what he had hoped wouldn't be.
Below him he saw Lord Candrin along with a banner man and another mounted soldier. “By order of King Jayden I am here to arrest the following, Idris Sutain, Allan Southerlin and Mariella Carlye on the crimes of conspiracy and harboring of fugitives.” Lord Candrin said as he looked at Idris and Allan.
“You have no grounds here, Lord Candrin. By the laws of our Lord, Idris Sutain has immunity from any crime committed while in his service to the King. I have committed no such crime.” Allan said.
“By this you have,” Lord Candrin held up a sheet of parchment. “Now surrender peacefully or we will capture you by any means deemed necessary. “ He said handing the parchment to the banner man.
“No, Lord Candrin, turn around now and leave. You have no jurisdiction inside these walls and any actions of force will be taken as an act of aggression toward the House Carlye.” It was Mariella. She had made her way to the wall and spoke before Idris had the chance to speak.
“Very well. Idris Sutain what do you say?” he asked
Idris.
“Lady Mariella is correct, my Lord. Leave now.” Idris said his stomach turning flips.
Lord Candrin’s face went blank and anger came across it. “Fall back. Musketeers to the ready.” He yelled back to his front line.
Idris saw movement through the streets. Candrin had positioned troops in every street and alley facing the front of the estate.
“Last chance. If you refuse, I will attack!” Candrin said.
Idris looked at Allan and then he saw Mariella give her brother a slight nod of approval.
“Towers, canister shot only; musketeers made ready,” Allan yelled.
“You would kill a man during parley?”
“No I will tear his lines apart.” Allan said pulling his rapier and holding it in the air.
“Fall back!” Lord Candrin ordered his troops but it was too late.
“FIRE!” he heard Allan yell as his rapier swung down toward the ground.
The towers fired all at once, sending hundreds of canister rounds into the streets, followed by the shots of muskets coming to life from the top of the wall.
Lord Candrin’s lines started to crumble from the firing of the canisters. They were perfect shots, but the towers could only fire at the three locations, and Lord Candrin had seven streets controlled.
Candrin’s musketeers returned fire and struck targets along the wall as Idris watched men fall on both sides. “Keep firing! Watch for artillery. Lady Mariella, get out of here!” he ordered as he reached for a loaded musket sitting against the wall.
He raised the rifle and shot it into the lines of Candrin. A soldier fell but he didn't know if he had made the kill shot or not.
XLIII
Ash heard the sound of musket and cannon fire as he came from the south side of Easterway. He had one chance to get inside of the estate and one chance only, but this way he had never done before.
The Coming Of Shadows (The Shadow Tide Book 1) Page 16
