"Thanks, that makes a difference," Luke said, looking up and rubbing his tired eyes.
Jeffrey smiled. "How are you getting on?"
"Like I said earlier, you were right, it's a mess."
Jeffrey nodded.
"Not unfixable, though. They won't like it."
"No, of course they won't. But losing his lordship's accounts would be bad for business."
Luke studied Jeffrey, scrunching his nose. "It wouldn't be easy to move them to a different bank without his lordship appearing in person."
"The threat of a visit should suffice. It'll be your job to make them understand."
"My job?"
Jeffrey drew a letter from inside his shirt and handed it to Luke. The brunet opened the letter and read, his eyes growing wide.
"Is this serious?" he asked, turning the letter over and studying it from every angle. He poked the seal at the bottom of the page.
"Quite. I'm impressed with what I've seen so far, and his lordship has authorised me to hire who I see fit. You're the right man for the job. Though I'd still like to see you make a start on cleaning this before we make it official." Jeffrey swept his hand over the heavy books on the tables.
"I don't know what to say."
"That you agree would suffice," Jeffrey said and laughed.
"Of course, my lord, thank you."
"No," Jeffrey snapped, shaking his head. "I'm no lord."
Luke opened his mouth to say something, but a knock interrupted, and the door was pulled open.
"Sirs, is everything all right? It's been many hours."
"Excellent timing," Jeffrey said and waved the man closer.
He nodded at Luke, who shrugged and pulled a book closer, drawing the banker's attention to it.
Jeffrey took a step back and observed Luke while he explained the inconsistencies, demanding explanations and corrections where no justification was forthcoming. The young clerk was called in to help, making notes, bringing reference books and serving more tea and coffee.
It took many more hours until they had the most important matters settled, the bankers agreeing only reluctantly.
"In future, you will always be dealing with Luke. As his lordship's estate manager, you will give him what access he requires to confirm the books are accurate. If he finds any issues, he will inform his lordship, who will not be pleased if he needs to come here to assure his estate is run in his best interests. I'm certain you understand."
"Of course, good sir."
"Excellent, leave us now."
The old man did as told.
"As for you," Jeffrey said, turning sea-green eyes on Luke. "You have orders from his lordship and you will act in his name. If you find yourself tempted to steal from his lordship, he will know and will not react kindly, I promise you."
Luke shook his head, but Jeffrey didn't give him a chance to speak.
"In his lordship's absence, you will deal with the lady of the house in all matters. You will go to her and bring her news of what you achieved here today. Going forward, you will follow any and all of her orders. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Stop it, I'm not your lord," Jeffrey snarled.
Luke shrugged. "As you wish. I won't tell anyone, I promise."
Jeffrey gritted his teeth, swiping a hand over his face in irritation.
"I'm pretty sure your family would like to see you, you know."
"Her ladyship has means to dispose of you if she disagrees with your assignment for any reason. Don't assume you're untouchable now."
"I promise I'll take good care of the estate. Is there any way of contacting you if there is a need?"
"No. Her ladyship will run the estate. You will do what you need to, and if it needs to be in the lord's name, you'll have the means. The letter I gave you is clear."
"I'm sure you've thought of everything but...things happen. Plans change. You know that even with the letter I'm limited in what I'll be able to do for her."
"It'll be enough. She'll find a way to make it work. I need to go now." He turned around and reached for the doorknob.
"Thank you, my lord. I...good luck."
"And to you," Jeffrey replied and left.
Chapter 2
"My lords, how pleasant to find you all gathered already." Akoni strolled into his council hall, a series of "Your Majesty" echoing from the gathered men. He took a seat at the top of the table, his father's chair.
Ignacio entered with him, taking the seat to his right.
"I trust you've prepared as instructed. As you know, I've recalled my crownsguards from their various assignments."
"All bar one," Lord Dragomis muttered.
"Yes, all bar one," Akoni confirmed, an eyebrow raised at the other man.
"Keeping him away to forego justice."
"Hardly. You all know what happened since my father's captain wasn't able to keep his mouth shut."
"Until you had him silenced."
"Do you wish to join him, Dragomis? I'll be happy to arrange it."
"No doubt."
"You've all had your hand in ensuring the current, ruinous state of my empire, and I'll deal with each one of you in time. For today, let's deal with my crownsguards. Too many have not returned. Who wants to provide me with explanations?" Akoni swept his gaze across the gathered men, all of them avoiding looking at him. "My lord Lucioni, why don't you make a start. I believe you asked for three companies of crownsguards some eight months ago. Elaborate."
"Your Majesty." Lucioni sat up, leaning forward, his elbows resting on the table, hands linked. "We had increased rebel activity at the time. I asked for reinforcements and received one company of the legion and three of the crownsguards. They were experienced men and were able to deal with the situation swiftly. Both legion and guards moved through neighbouring regions for a number of months. Two of the companies plus the legion have returned to the palace recently, the third...was ambushed and killed several months ago. The reports were filed appropriately."
"Thank you, Lucioni, I believe your tale accurate. You've never previously or since requested their assignment, have you?"
"No, Your Majesty, it was the first and only time."
"Who wants to go next?" Akoni asked in a bored tone, leaning back in his chair.
"We hardly have time to go through every single assignment like this!" Dragomis said in exasperation, slamming a hand on the table.
"You can speed the matter up by telling me where my missing guards are, Dragomis." Akoni shrugged, drumming his fingers on the armrest of his chair.
"Dead probably. That's what happens to soldiers."
"Yes, especially in your region. So why don't you tell me about that."
Dragomis pursed his lips. "It's those storming rebels, and you know it. They say you fought them yourself after all."
"And have you, Dragomis? Fought them yourself?"
Dragomis sneered but didn't answer.
"No, I didn't think so. Where are my crownsguards?"
"Why don't you ask Fortier?"
"What an excellent suggestion," Akoni said and smiled.
A wave of his hand, and his guard opened the main door, revealing Fortier's stout figure, dressed in the blue uniform of the legion, decorated with gold to indicate his rank as legate. At another gesture from Akoni, he stepped towards the gathered men.
"Your Majesty," Fortier said and saluted.
"Fortier, you're in charge of my crownsguards, correct?" Akoni drawled.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I serve as legate for both the crownsguards and palaceguards."
"Then you're just the man to tell me why so many of them are missing."
Fortier had been at the palace a long time, serving Akoni's father and his grandfather before him. A small turn of the head, his eyes finding the Lord Leandros for the briefest moment before snapping back. It was more than Akoni had expected.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
"Maybe Leandros can he
lp you out?"
"Your Majesty," Leandros spluttered. "I've never requested assignment of any crownsguards."
"Haven't you? How good for you. Does it make you feel safe? Maybe we really should speed this up. Ignacio, would you be so kind?"
Ignacio nodded and drew a number of letters from the selection of papers he'd brought. He passed them along the gathered nobles and gave them a moment to read their contents. "You all have a reasonable grasp of recognising handwriting. Tell His Majesty whose letters you are holding." There was silence except for the rustling paper. "Does anyone believe they are not holding a letter written by Fortier?"
There was murmuring as the nobles swapped letters.
"This is nonsense. Anyone can fake a letter," Dragomis said.
"One letter, yes, a series of letters like this? Hardly," Ignacio said. "Fortier, do you deny that it is your handwriting?"
"Your Majesty," Fortier said, his voice easy. "The assignments I approved all had reasons. The rebels have been growing ever stronger, and drastic measures were needed--"
"Save your breath, Fortier." Akoni shook his head. "The rebels have grown more numerous under your careful actions. The letters are clear. It is undeniable; you've been collaborating with them. The penalty for treason is death. Can anyone justify otherwise?"
Fortier took a half step backwards. "I was only acting on Lord Leandros's behest, Your Majesty. He forced my hand."
"Your Majesty, you can't believe him! He is only trying to save himself. I'd never--"
"Silence!" Akoni hissed. He turned to Ignacio and nodded at him.
Ignacio drew another letter and unfolded it. "This letter is also from Fortier. I will read a small section only: two more companies are on their way to Calenatis, with a planned stop in Balanesti. Olivier has been sent words. Our plans are coming along exceptionally well. We shall be ready to make our move soon." Ignacio paused. "This letter is addressed to Lord Leandros. It is only a few days old."
"Considering Balanesti was known to be compromised weeks ago, why anyone would approve sending my men that way, I cannot fathom. What the town needed was an army, not two companies, even if they are elite soldiers. And, of course, we all know what happened to the men in Balanesti."
"Your Majesty--"
"I don't want to hear your excuses, Leandros. You were working with Fortier and with the rebels. You, too, are guilty of treason."
"He's one of your own, Your Majesty. You cannot have him executed for this," Dragomis said.
Anger coursed through Akoni. "One of my own. If any of you truly were that, you'd have helped my father, would have stabilised the empire rather than tearing it apart. You've forgotten what Sycania stands for, what Adriano wanted it to mean."
Dragomis sneered. "Adriano died nearly a millennium ago. We live now."
"Enough. Faruk, have Fortier taken away," Akoni said, addressing his guard.
The man saluted and brought in four guards who had been waiting outside the hall. They removed Fortier's sword, tied his hands behind his back, and led him out of the room.
"Now, there's the matter of Lord Leandros's involvement. I'm loath to kill you but I cannot let you go unpunished. You will go east to one of the forts there. Your son will go with you. The rest of your family will stay at the palace so they can be watched. Be warned, if I hear the smallest whisper of you seeking to involve yourself in matters other than protecting our eastern shores, I will have you executed. And if you flee, your family will suffer for it."
"Your Majesty, it's storm season. If you send me now, I won't even get there! And Demyan was not involved. There is no need to punish him for my actions."
"There is every need, Leandros. I've given your son enough chances. He has proven unreliable too many times. He will go with you, and that's final. Be grateful I'm sparing the rest of your family." Akoni got to his feet and without another world left the hall, the nobles standing to bow to him.
Akoni stared out the window of his private study, when the door opened. He knew it to be Ignacio. "I thought it went better than expected," he told his advisor.
"Hmm, it could certainly have gone a lot worse. Dragomis was less respectful than anticipated. We'll have to be careful with him. It's likely he's involved, too."
"More than likely. But I've no proof." Akoni sighed and turned to look at Ignacio, leaning against the windowsill. "As much as I've achieved today, I've also given them reasons to be more careful. It won't be so easy to get the rest of them."
"How did you get those letters?"
Akoni smirked. Most of the servants didn't like him, for understandable reasons, but he had cultivated a few connections which had paid off. "Never you mind. What do we do next?"
"Where to begin?" Ignacio groaned. "I know your ambitions and I want to tell you we can concentrate on them, we can build the schools and hospitals the people need, but we're simply not there. I don't think we can afford to focus on that now."
Akoni nodded.
"Balanesti is only one place of many that needs help. The marshal is working with your crownsguards. It'll take time before we know who we can trust and who can be sent back to fighting rebels."
"You think they may have been compromised?"
"The marshal does. I happen to agree it's possible. Some of them have been gone years, and we have next to no idea where they've been. We should consider every option and take precautions."
"All right, no crownsguards. In fact, my own guard is still an issue. With Kieron needed to escort Leandros, and Jeffrey still absent, I have no one I can trust. My mother's guards are willing for now, but it's not a solution."
"Yes, I was talking to the marshal about it. He has some new recruits finishing their training. They are untested but also unbiased. I can organise for you to meet them and see if you like any of them. It won't be a full complement, but it'd be a start. If we can supplement with the queensguards for a little longer, we'll manage."
"Do you think he'll return?"
Ignacio sighed. "How many times have you asked me that? What can I say that I haven't already said a dozen times?"
Akoni nodded, his gaze pinned on the floor. It hadn't been long yet, a few weeks. Wasn't it supposed to get easier with time? It seemed to only be getting worse.
Late in the evening, when Kieron had started his shift, Akoni bid him to enter his study.
"There's something I must ask of you, Kieron."
The redhead stood, his back straight, his hands clasped behind him, eyes straight ahead. The tattoos visible on his arms had always both impressed and unnerved Akoni. Such an unusual sight at the palace. Only the Clansmen of the north tattooed their skin, each one a symbol of an achievement or a particular event in a person's life. Akoni had never dared ask about them, fearing it'd be too personal for Kieron. He wondered for a moment if Jeffrey knew. They'd been close before he had disappeared. He shook the thought off.
"You've been loyal to me for a long time, and I value that more than I can express. What I'm about to ask won't be easy but I can't ask anyone else. There's no one I can trust enough."
"Your Majesty, whatever it is, I will do as you wish."
Akoni smiled. "I had a suspicion you might say something like that. I need you to know you can decline the mission. There'd be no repercussions of any kind. Before you decide, here's the gist: one of my council members has been plotting with the rebels. He was confirmed as a traitor today and has been sentenced to exile at our eastern shores. I need someone to escort him there, someone whom I can trust to ensure he gets to his destination and has no chance to escape. If he were to escape, he'd certainly find his way to the rebels and be able to cause more damage."
"I understand, Your Majesty. It's storm season. Not many would risk the journey, but I will do it."
"Wait. The person you're escorting is Lord Leandros, as well as his son." Akoni paused, wondering for the umpteenth time how Kieron would take it. "Whom you have met already: Demyan."
Kieron's entire body tensed for a mom
ent. He took a deep breath then let it out slowly. "I will still do it."
Akoni studied the redhead. Demyan had been involved in some unworthy trading of insults during a party Akoni had hosted at his holiday villa, Extraneo. Though it had not gone further than throwing mud, it had been vile, and Kieron had been upset by the events. Akoni had done his best to reassure Kieron and Jeffrey both that they had his protection while also punishing Demyan and Iris for their actions. A public humiliation had only been the first part. In private, he'd flayed the skin off Iris's and Demyan's backs, or the verbal equivalent of the same at least. After they'd been thoroughly chastised, their behaviour had improved considerably, at least when it might get back to Akoni. Seeing Demyan exiled pleased Akoni on a personal level that was well beyond what befitted a king. He didn't care much. Protecting those loyal to him was far too important. "You understand that what happened at Extraneo cannot influence you in this. Whatever he might say to you on the journey, you cannot let it affect you."
"Gaia watches out for those loyal to her, Your Majesty. He will get his justice when she decides. I can restrain myself."
"I know you can, you've proven it already. You've also hit on the other part of your mission. I'm expecting the goddess to exact justice and would not be sad to see someone helping her. Demyan is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. He's not nearly as capable as his father. If an accident befell the senior, the junior would still serve his sentence."
"The storms are treacherous, Your Majesty. Accidents happen often." Kieron smirked.
"It'd be preferable that your charges reach their destination and have an opportunity to settle in. Any accidents would be investigated and reported appropriately."
Kieron nodded.
"You'll need a few men with you on the way. You have my leave to select whom you wish and as many as you think you'll need. From both the crownsguards and palaceguards."
"Will their families be travelling with them, Your Majesty?"
"No, only the two of them. Some staff and servants. They should be easy enough to guard, but it should be day and night. Hence, as many men as you think you'll need."
Ties of Magic (Curse of the Crown Book 2) Page 2
