“How? You saw what she is like. Headstrong.”
“Well, let us say she should be subdued tomorrow. After all, she’s not going to embarrass you at your father’s Leaving, now is she?”
The day of the Leaving dawned clear and still. There was an air of expectancy. Everyone felt it as if something momentous was going to happen. The Leaving was to be performed at the home lake, where a single, tall Sentinal stood guard behind the house.
Alyssa stood on the steps watching her father’s bier carried by his honour guard down towards the lake. A dark green cloth covered the casket, the single globular Alyssium bloom for which she had been named lying on the top.
The procession moved slowly. The local people, barred from attending the so-called “private” Leaving, threw flowers at the bier as it passed, bowing their heads in respect. Her eyes teared as she silently thanked Garrick for keeping to the traditions.
Her father’s casket had been guarded by Garrick and his men ever since he had returned to Greenswatch. Four of his remaining personal guard had stood on honour guard all day and night. Garrick now led the procession with Alyssa and Simeon following.
Simeon was cursing steadily under his breath. “Who gave him permission, Reid arranged a cart for him.”
“You will honour the man who was our father.” Alyssa gripped his arm like a vice. “You will pay him the respect he is due.”
“No, dear sister, you and the rest will pay me the respect I am due, or you will regret it.” Simeon’s face was cold and unyielding. “You will do as I say; those who don’t will pay,” he said, staring at Lieutenant Jennery, who was standing stiffly at attention with Captain Bryce and his men as they passed. Alyssa gaped as she saw him. His face was badly bruised, his eye bloodshot and purpling painfully. He stood awkwardly, he was clearly injured, but he stood stiff and silent, saluting the bier as it passed.
“What did you do?” Alyssa asked, her stomach dropping. “Silene? What did you do to Silene?”
Simeon jutted his chin out, a sneer distorting his face. “You will learn, the easy way or the hard way. Silene will not be returning to visit us.” He strode on, dragging Alyssa with him, as she stared over her shoulder at Jennery in horror.
The lake spread out before them, serene and calm, reflecting the blue of the sky and the tall Sentinal under which they stood. Drooping spears of green water iris curved over and kissed the still water, the bright yellow blooms providing a splash of colour along the margins. The guards rested the casket on the wooden chute created to support it on its final journey. The Father stood to the side and began intoning a prayer as the household staff gathered around. They were few, most being advised to stay away, though some had ignored the orders and attended anyway. Alyssa saw Millie standing with the housemaster, blotting her eyes. Hannah stood behind her.
Simeon strode forward. “Who built this here? Who defied my orders, Reid? Didn’t you instruct them to build on the other side?”
“Yes, my lord, I did indeed instruct them so. When I checked last night that’s where it had been built.” He turned to the carpenters hovering behind them. “Who told you to move it here?” Reid demanded, retribution in his eyes.
The carpenter shrugged. “Wasn’t us, sir, we built it where you told us to. Must have been the Lady. She knows where the Leaving should take place.” He stared at Reid, his face expressionless.
Reid spluttered, but as the murmur spread around the waiting congregation, he shook his head at Simeon. “Deal with them later. Let’s get this over with.”
Simeon nodded at the Father fidgeting nervously by the bier. “Father, the service, please,” he said. “Exactly as you were instructed.” He glared at the small man.
The Father bobbed his head and began intoning a blessing, glibly reading the words from a sheet of paper in his hands. “We stand here today in the name of all those who have gone before us, and with the blessing of the Council, to say farewell to Lord Hugh of Greenswatch. He was a respected leader of the community who did his duty well...”
“Father, how could you?” Alyssa strode forward and snatched the paper from his hands. She seethed as she glared at the priest cringing before her. “You of all people!”
She cast a look of scorn towards her brother, who was staring at her in disbelief. “How dare you defile the final offering. I could understand you paying lip service to your new masters, but this!” She rent the paper in two.
Reid attempted to grab her arm, but she shook him off. “Lady Alyssa, you are overwrought; please, you are not well.”
Alyssa picked up a torch and swung it at him, so he had to jump back. “You!” She pointed at the four guards still standing at attention around the bier. “Launch it,” she commanded as she dipped the torch into the flame. It caught straight away.
She waved it before her as if to keep people back, but everyone was frozen in place, gaping at her. Jennery moved to stand at the head of the bier, ready to help knock the restraining blocks out of the way.
“At your command, my lady,” he said, his bow stiff and shallow.
As he rose, Alyssa saw the livid bruising across his face; she bit her lip and drew her breath. “Now. Now is the time of Leaving.” Her voice rang out loud and clear. “We celebrate the life of Hugh of Greenswatch. A life well-lived, honoured, loved. A life offered to the people of this land, in honour of the Lady and in the name of the King, our Liege. A life dedicated to the Watch and all who live within it. A man respected and true.
“We, his people, offer him to you, our Lady, to watch over in perpetuity. To love and honour in our place. Watch him well.” Her voice faded away as she bowed her head and then she threw her torch on the now floating bier, followed by a shower of blossoms. The people of the Watch had crept along the shoreline, and now cast flower after flower towards the casket.
Through her tears, she could see the flames creep higher as it floated into the middle of the lake, a trail of flowers in its wake. The bier blazed high, the dry tinder burning fiercely, the flames reaching for the clear blue sky before a blinding flash of white filled the lake and the casket was gone. The lake waters calmed, and a carpet of flowers bobbed in memory of Lord Hugh’s passing.
Jennery turned back from watching the bier and reached for Alyssa as she swayed, her face a deathly white. He caught her arm, offering support, but staggered as Simeon spun him around. Alyssa gripped Jennery’s arm to steady him in turn.
“Unhand my sister; you will not touch her.”
“Simeon.” Alyssa turned on her brother. “You will treat our guests with respect. He is a member of the King’s Guard, and you touch him at your peril. He is also my guest, and you dishonour Greenswatch and me by your behaviour.” Simeon took a step back at her acidic tone. “Lieutenant,” she faced Jennery, “I thank you for your concern and your support.” She shot an icy glance at her brother. “It is a shame that my family are unable to offer the same. I am sorry to see you are injured. Nothing serious, I hope?” She searched his face, desperately looking for news of Silene.
“It is nothing to concern yourself with, my lady. It will heal, and all are well,” Jennery said, giving her a reassuring smile.
Alyssa breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness, I was worried...” She glanced at Simeon and tightened her lips. “I am so sorry.”
“It is not your fault,” Jennery reassured her again. “Please, my lady. You’d best return to the house. We will await your orders.”
Alyssa let go of his arm and straightened up. “Yes, we have to survive another day,” she muttered under her breath, and saw by Jennery’s sympathetic grimace that he had heard her.
“Ah, Captain Bryce,” she called as she caught sight of the wiry captain. “I appreciate your staying to pay your respects to my father. Please walk with me and Lieutenant Jennery. It is time to return to the house. You will stay and take refreshments with us, won’t you?”
“Lady Alyssa, I would be honoured.” Bryce offered her his arm, and they walked back up th
e road, adjusting their pace to Jennery’s rather stiff gait, through the waiting locals lining the way. Simeon strode on ahead of them, looking neither left nor right, escorting the Father who was scurrying next to him.
The waiting people reached out and touched Alyssa’s sleeve as she passed. “Lady’s blessing, miss,” they said, shyly ducking away before she could respond. She looked around in wonder as the people slowly melted away before her, returning to their homes but wanting to make sure she knew they had been there for her father. Her eyes misted, and she sniffed as she watched them leave.
“Here.” Jennery proffered his handkerchief.
“Thank you. You are so kind to me.”
“It is not difficult.”
“Not for you, but for some, maybe.” She tightened her lips. “Tell me what happened? How badly are you hurt, and what about Silene?”
“I am fine, and so is Silene. We were jumped on the road by supposed bandits. They came off worse, I can assure you. Silene and Reese left for Stoneford. It will be safer for them there.”
“Thank goodness they are safe. I can’t believe Simeon would hurt Silene, but I was wrong, and you are not fine. Captain Bryce, tell me the truth, you can see he is not well. Will he be able to ride tomorrow?”
“He’s just a bit sore, my lady, he’ll be alright tomorrow. Maybe he should have an early night tonight. The rest will do him good,” Bryce suggested as Jennery began to protest.
“Then that is what he will do, won’t you?” Alyssa glared at Jennery until he yielded. “Once we are back, it’s unlikely we’ll have a chance to speak. You can see what Simeon is like, and that man of his follows me everywhere. I am not sure what Simeon has planned for his confirmation, but I doubt either of you will be welcome. We need to ensure we delay your departure long enough today that you have to stay the night because I intend leaving with you as soon as possible after the confirmation, and I get the feeling he may make that difficult.”
“He cannot gainsay the King, nor your mother,” Captain Bryce said.
“I don’t think he believes she has summoned me,” Alyssa said bitterly. “He thinks he can dispose of me as he wishes. He has been very clear about that.”
“Well, we’ll have to convince him otherwise, won’t we?” Jennery said with a smile, trying to ease her concern.
She gave him a tentative smile in return, though her gaze firmed as she watched him. “Captain Bryce and I will find a way. You will go straight to bed. I will send Hannah with a draught to make sure you do go to sleep.”
Jennery’s protest died under her concerned gaze and Bryce’s glare. “Very well,” he said, easing his back; it was apparent he was uncomfortable.
Later that afternoon, as he dutifully climbed into bed, Hannah arrived with a sleeping draught and strict instructions for him not to get up until it was time for the confirmation the next day. Her expression grew more determined as she saw the dark bruising across his body. One of Bryce’s men was on watch outside his door, and he was to rest.
Hannah arched an eyebrow at him as she presented the sleeping draught. “Lady Alyssa’s orders,” she said firmly, standing over him as he drank it. He eased himself back on the pillow, trying to stifle a groan.
Hannah tutted and tucked him in. Her fingers gently brushed his hair back from his cheek and hesitated over the heat of the bruising. She sat in the chair and watched him until his breathing smoothed out, and he relaxed into sleep. He still looked strained, a crease between his eyes even in sleep. He was hurting more than he had let on. It was fortunate she had slipped the pain relief into the draught as well. He would no doubt need more of them on the morrow.
Her face softened as she watched him sleep. Jennery and Alyssa, she so hoped they would make a go of it. She had grown fond of Alyssa. She would be perfect for keeping Jennery out of trouble.
Chapter 28
Watch Towers, Stoneford Watch
Ain’uncer took a step back from the advancing Sentinal, and swept his black robes around him, disappearing in a swirl of cloth.
Tagerill took a deep breath and turned towards Jerrol. His heart stuttered at the sight of the Captain holding his brother in his arms. They sprawled in a pool of blood on the floor.
His sword clattered to the floor as he knelt beside them, his heart hammering as he searched for a pulse. His frantic check reassured him that Birlerion was still alive. He looked up as Jerrol cursed. “He just waded in, got between the guard and me. He was unarmed, Tagerill; why would he do something so stupid?”
“You are the Captain.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“The Lady chose you, and she instructed Birlerion to protect you. He would do whatever is necessary, as would all of us.”
“But not to sacrifice his life for mine. He’s already taken a beating for me, and now this.”
“If that’s what it takes.” Tagerill bent over Birlerion, staunching the deep puncture wound in his stomach and a slice down his arm that would not stop bleeding. He needed his Sentinal. This was an injury he would not recover from overnight.
Tagerill glowered as he padded and bound the wounds as tightly as he could with the cleaning cloths Jerrol found. His hands shook as he worked; he was reminded of Clary’s last attempt to kill his brother.
They had nearly succeeded that time and would have if it hadn’t been for Leyandrii. He took a deep breath, tenderly brushing the hair off his brother’s bruised face; they would not be losing him this time either. Between them, they carried Birlerion out to the wagon that was pulled up beside the gate.
Birlerion groaned as he regained consciousness. He hissed through his teeth and opened his eyes. “What happened?”
“You got in the way of a sword, you idiot; didn’t you learn anything in the sparring ring?” Tagerill growled. He spun, expecting a new threat as the guards who had been off duty pounded on the locked door of their barracks. The pounding reassured him they were still contained.
“You prefer I let him skewer the Captain?”
“It would be better if none of us got skewered,” Jerrol said over his shoulder as he hurried to unbar the gate and swing it open. He was unsurprised to see Zin’talia and Tagerill’s horse waiting outside. Zin’talia was particularly wild-eyed, and he took precious minutes to reassure her before he pulled her into the traces and harnessed her up.
Tagerill climbed up beside Birlerion and rested his brother’s head in his lap, flipping a blanket over him. “Why didn’t you wait on the steps for us?”
“I saw Clary,” Birlerion replied, his voice low and filled with pain.
“Birlerion, you know that’s not possible. You are imagining things.”
“I saw him. He was older, a bit thinner, but he had that same arrogant expression.”
Tagerill wiped the sweat off Birlerion’s face. His skin was clammy: shock setting in. He piled a few more blankets on him and hugged him tightly. He wasn’t really surprised Birlerion had acted if he thought he had seen Clary; after all, for him, the attempt on his life wasn’t all that long ago. “It couldn’t have been Clary, Birlerion. The Lady took all the Ascendants with her,” Tagerill said, hugging his brother. Tagerill continued to chastise his brother as Jerrol harnessed the other horse next to Zin’talia and without wasting any time climbed up on the wagon and set off.
It took them two days to reach the keep at Stoneford, Birlerion dozing in Tagerill’s or Jerrol’s lap as they took turns to drive the wagon, only stopping to rest the horses. Lin appeared, meeping in concern as she crouched on Birlerion’s chest. Her green eyes were huge, watching Birlerion’s greying face intently.
The wagon clattered into the well-lit courtyard as darkness was falling on the second day. Lin flitted on ahead to rouse the keep, and Tagerill relaxed as the newly familiar walls rose around him. Jerrol jumped down from the wagon as Jason strode into the courtyard, Lin chittering above his head. Jason followed Jerrol around the back of the wagon and began shouting instructions to his guards. “What happened?
” he asked, climbing up beside Tagerill.
Tagerill winced. “We met with a slight problem at the towers,” he said as Tyrone arrived with stretchers. He glanced at Chryllion as he hovered beside the wagon. “They are using Mentiserium,” Tagerill said, his face bleak.
Chryllion’s face paled. “I thought that practice was banned.”
“Not anymore. They were trying to enspell Birlerion.”
Chryllion stared at the semi-conscious Sentinal. “I take it they didn’t succeed.”
Tagerill grimaced. “No. But we found the Ascendants, and they are searching for the Captain.” He turned to Tyrone. “I staunched his wounds as best I could, but he’s lost a lot of blood. They need stitching. Once he’s stabilised, my Sentinal can help with healing him.”
Tyrone nodded absently as he transferred Birlerion to the stretcher. He looked at Jerrol. “What about you?”
“I’ll be fine, just a few bruises.”
Tyrone scowled at him. “I’ll be the judge of that; bring him too.” His attention returned to Birlerion, and he hustled his helpers inside.
Tagerill jumped down and herded Jerrol before him. “A Velmouth councillor ambushed Birlerion. We tracked him up to the towers where they were trying to enspell him. They enspelled a whole unit of Rangers, and they attacked us.” Tagerill grimaced at Jason. “I don’t think the Captain is taking it too well.”
“That would be an understatement,” Jason said as he led the Sentinals into the infirmary. “We’ve had a spate of illnesses, and the number is growing. Men are behaving irrationally, trying to disrupt the keep. I’m glad you’re back, even if it is in such dire straits. I wish Bryce would return as well. We are getting short on men we can trust.” Jason shook his head. “It’s like a plague slowly spreading over the whole garrison.”
Tagerill looked around the infirmary with new eyes, as he noticed that all the beds were occupied by sleeping men.
“And these are not all; we’ve had to conscript one of the barracks as well,” Jason continued.
“It’s not an illness as such,” Tagerill said. “It’s a mind spell. The Ascendants are trying to brainwash everyone, remove free will. Most of the Velmouth council is affected. We will need to send some men up to Velmouth to help them remove the spell.”
Sentinals Awaken: Book One of the Sentinals Series Page 24
