by Katie Roman
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, I am fine without my lost honor and prestige.”
Frederick smiled at him, though it wasn’t a kind smile. It was mocking and it never reached his eyes, as though it were impossible to imagine a man who didn’t want the life of a nobleman. Frederick folded his hands in his lap and shook his head. “You may name your price. What will I need to offer to see you in the seat of power?”
“My price?”
“Of course, though you will be expected to vote on matters in the way I deem necessary.” Jack’s eyes widened. He knew the game Frederick played now. “And I will only deem things that are in the city and the country’s best interest.”
My price? My bribe, more like, Jack thought. “It is a crime to bribe a magistrate.” What was it Ridley said about Duke Brayden’s last words? ‘No one was above the law’, or something.
“Nonsense. That only applies to upstart nobles who seek to stage a coup in the city, or merchants who wish to get away with murder.” Frederick waved his hand, as though waving away Jack’s comment.
“I don’t think I would be well suited to the post, Your Majesty. I am but a humble guardsman these days. I am no longer a knight, no longer a duke’s heir.”
Frederick looked up at Robert and nodded, and then the duke leaned out of the door and called, “Gillam!”
“I believe you should consider this proposal carefully before saying no,” Frederick said.
From outside the room, a woman screamed, followed by a grunt from Gillam and the sound of shuffling in the corridor. It sounded like the woman was being dragged along, but from the sound of Gillam’s strained grunting and the scraping of boots on stone, she had enough sense to put up a fight. Jack’s mind immediately went to Grace. He looked again at his father’s bandaged hand and hoped she had bit him.
It wasn’t Grace who Gillam had a hold of when he came back to the room; instead, it was Ridley he held by the hair. Her hands were bound but she was still fighting. She landed a few kicks on Gillam’s shins, but the man held her firmly. Her hair was matted and tangled, hanging wildly in her eyes. Her face was drained of color, but dried blood smeared her chin and the front of her shirt. She had bitten Robert, and Jack found that he was as proud as a mother bird.
Gillam held Ridley at arm’s length as she snapped and swore, trying to kick him again. Robert produced a dagger and turned it slowly in his hand. As Jack caught his eyes, a rage he buried long ago awakened. He thought it died when he left court, disgraced and stripped of his titles, but now it roared to life; a flame that engulfed his insides.
“She’s just a girl,” Jack said. His voice shook as he tried to suppress his anger. He clenched his fists and dug his nails into his palms. They would have been wise to bind him, too.
“But she’s your friend,” Robert said as he wiped the blade across his trouser leg. It glimmered into the torch light. “First that tramp, then that witch, and now a thief! Have you no standards in women?”
“Better a thief than that Hilren witch,” Frederick added with a yawn.
Jack’s vision faltered. He saw only his father, clouded in red. How dare they threaten his friend and speak of Grace in such flippant tones! They were men trained in the sword, but Jack knew how to brawl. He could use the chair he was tied to and take both of them out at the same time. Gillam would be a different story. By the time Jack saw to Robert and Frederick, Gillam would be on him, or worse, he would do something to Ridley.
“Name your price,” Frederick said again.
“Jack, what are they talking about?” Ridley cried in terror. Through the veil of hair, he saw wide-eyed fear.
Jack didn’t say anything. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could feel his face getting hot as the rage spread.
“Sir Jonathan,” Frederick coaxed.
“Sir?” Ridley whispered hoarsely, unbelieving.
Robert took a step toward Ridley. “You might reclaim some lost honor, and perhaps even find your way back into my good graces.”
“Damn your good graces!” Jack bellowed. “Let. Her. Go!”
Jack didn’t let the chair hinder his movements. He dashed forward, the chair clattering along behind him. He turned and grabbed the chair, bringing it forward in one fluid motion. Robert turned to avoid the blow, but still took the hit to his shoulder. The dagger clattered to the floor, but Robert only grunted in pain and stumbled backward, grabbing his shoulder. Frederick fell out of his chair trying to get away. However, once the chair hit his lord, Gillam threw Ridley to the ground and yanked the chair from Jack. Still tied to the chair, Jack fell backwards and landed with a thump on the ground.
The wind escaped Jack’s lungs as Gillam let the chair fall on him, eliciting an “oof” from Jack. Jack felt most of his rage subside as he struggled to get a breath. Only a white hot ember remained.
Frederick stood over him with a calm face, despite everything. “Is that your price? Freedom for the girl?”
“That,” Jack wheezed, “and she comes under my protection. As long as I do your bidding, Ridley is safe. Safe from you, safe from the guards, safe from Gillam, and my father cannot so much as speak her name.”
“Robert, Gillam – leave.” Jack heard retreating footsteps and then the closing of a door as Frederick spoke. He turned his head to the side to see Ridley huddled in the corner closest to the door, with a foot over Robert’s dagger. With her hands bound it wasn’t much use, but at least she had it instead of his father.
“And?” Frederick prompted. “Do you wish for anything else?”
“May I think on that, Your Majesty?” Jack propped himself up onto his elbows.
Frederick nodded. “I suspect you can cut your bonds and hers, however, you are to stay here until your promotion has been announced. The girl may stay or go as she pleases. Her safety will be guaranteed.”
“Forgive me if I don’t bow, Majesty,” Jack said. Frederick rolled his eyes and swept out of the library with a flourish.
Jack got to his feet and dragged himself, with the chair, over to Ridley. He picked up the dagger and bid her turn around.
He squatted down, balancing on the balls of his feet. She glared at him, but still shuffled so he could cut the rope around her wrists. Two of the fingers on her right hand were swollen and red, bent in an unnatural way.
“I see Gillam saw to your hand,” said Jack.
He cut through her bonds, but once Ridley’s hands were free, she elbowed him in the nose. Jack fell backwards, landing awkwardly on the chair’s legs. The wood dug into his back and caused a sharp pain to snake along his spine. His eyes watered and he rubbed his spine.
“Sir Jonathan?!” she exclaimed, rising to her feet and seething with anger. “Who is Sir Jonathan?”
She towered over him. Her left hand was in a fist, but she kept her right hand loose at her side. Her shadow fell over him, eclipsing the torchlight.
“Who are you?”
Jack adjusted himself and went to work trying to free his foot from the chair. “I am Jack Anders.”
“Who were you?” she amended, her voice icy.
“Sir Jonathan of Escion.” He inspected the rope. Ridley’s bindings were cloth, easier to cut through. Gillam had tied him with rope, sturdy rope like they used for riggings, and he had used one of the complex knots sailors used. “I am no longer, and I have been quite happy that way.”
Ridley plopped down to sit across from him and drummed the fingers of her good hand on the stone wall. She cradled her wounded hand to her chest. “I can straighten those for you,” he said. “I’ve done it for enough people at the Emerald.”
“First, tell me more.” Her voice dropped to a growl. “And how is it that no one knew this?”
“Unlike dear, sweet Grace, I did not proclaim my folly from the rooftops. I took to the sea on a trade ship for a while until my scandal died down, then I came to Glenbard with a new name.” He set to work cutting the rope free of the chair so he could begin to unknot it from his ankle
.
“What did you do?”
“A young lady from Sera claimed I stole some jewels and attempted to force myself on her. Her family called for my head. Instead, I was thrown into exile only because of my father’s good name.”
“Did you force yourself on her?”
“No, but I struck her.” The rope frayed as Jack sawed at it in earnest.
Ridley brought her knees to her chest. Jack could feel her studying him. “Why?”
Jack sighed and stopped his work to look at Ridley. Her anger seeped away, leaving only tired curiosity. “We were set to be married. Everyone agreed it was a good match. I, however, was involved with her maid and was making plans of my own to run away with Eloise.”
“She could have just been your mistress,” cut in Ridley. “You didn’t have to run away.”
“My father kept many mistresses over the years. It hurt my mother, and I vowed never to be that sort of man. Anyway,” he said, returning to his work. He cut the rope free and set on loosening the knot. “This fine lady stole some jewels and I caught her in the act. Knowing my plans with Eloise, she threatened to turn her maid over to the castle guards and tell my family about the affair. The punishment for a servant caught stealing from the nobility is a lost hand, followed by the stump being boiled in oil. Danielle – that was her name – talked on and on while poor Eloise sobbed. No one would believe a servant over a noblewoman, and when it came to light that I’d kept Eloise as a lover, then doubt would be cast over my word. My anger boiled over and I slapped Danielle. As retribution, she turned me in with her tale that I was the thief. Eloise fled at my instruction, and I was arrested. I stood trial with the prince and my mentor, Lord Henry of Egona, speaking for my character.” Ridley nodded. She had once met Henry.
“What did you say for your own defense?” Ridley’s eyes were wide now, soaking up every word of his tale like he was a bard talking of great feats and fearless heroes.
“Nothing. I was ashamed that I hit Danielle, and I felt I had disgraced the vows I took upon gaining my shield. I had already made plans to flee Cesernan and meet Eloise in Glenbard, however, when I got to Glenbard, Eloise was waiting for me, but only to tell me that Danielle had offered her old post back. That was that. Loving me wasn’t enough to make her turn away from the prestige of being a lady’s maid. After a few years went by, Frederick visited me at the Emerald and asked me to return to court. He said such a fine knight was wasted as a rusher. I turned him down and assumed that was the end of it. I never realized he was keeping tabs on me all these years.”
“Does Grace know this? Does she know who you are?”
“Not by my telling. Henry of Egona told her, though in his eyes I have never done wrong. She doesn’t know about Eloise, and I have never felt the need to tell her. As far as she was concerned, I loved Danielle back in those days.” He shrugged. “We never talked much about it once she found out about the scandal.”
Silence stretched between them as Jack worked at the rope. Each time he thought he had undone it, another more complex knot seemed to spring up.
“They offered you a bribe to be a magistrate. Magistrates can’t take bribes, Jack.”
“Neither can guards, but how often does the Guild pay off guardsmen? If one gets caught accepting a bribe, there are serious consequences. To accept one to turn a blind eye, or ignore a call for help is considered a miscarriage of justice and the law. Do you know about the Glenbard Uprising?” Ridley shook her head. “Some peasants revolted against their lord over unfair treatment. The histories say these peasants used to burn shops and harass soldiers, and supposedly they managed to flood the land. Whatever really happened, it ended with the rebel leaders and their former lord in the magistrates’ court. As you know, there are five magistrates to avoid a tie in votes. Well, two decided in favor of the rebels, and two in favor of the lord. The lord, being a rich and wily man, bribed the fifth to vote in his favor and two hundred peasants were put to death because of it. Two years later, the bribe was discovered and the fifth magistrate was beheaded and buried in an unmarked grave for his treachery. That was when bribery among upholders of the law was banned under king’s law.”
“And what does this have to do with anything?”
“Bribes were banned, but that doesn’t mean it stopped them. When I took a vow as a guard we were forced to acknowledge the dangers and say aloud we would never do such a dastardly thing. Once we took our vows we were still told to take coin if offered, so long as no one was being murdered. It is the same among men like Lord Gregory and Duke Brayden. Brayden took bribes. The Emerald should have been shut down years ago, but the owner knew who to bribe. Whatever Frederick wanted Brayden to do, he apparently felt that no bribe was big enough and it got him killed. The only reason bribes became illegal is because two hundred men, women, and children died. Just imagine what Frederick wants that a man who has lined his pockets in the past won’t do so now.”
Ridley nodded her understanding. “And now you’re in His Majesty’s hands…”
“Yes. He’s planning something. He must have two other magistrates in hand, and now he’s trying to buy a third.”
“So why did Brayden die? Why not one of the others? And why did he put you in the empty seat?”
Jack shook his head. “He thought I was an easy person to buy.”
“What are you going to do? You said yourself that whatever this is, was bad enough that Brayden was killed for not taking part.”
Jack’s eyes darted to the door and he tapped his ear. Ridley shook her head, not understanding him at first. He rolled his eyes. “Gillam,” he called. “Can you have a maid bring us some food and drink and a healer for the lady's hand?”
At first nothing happened, then they heard some scuffling in the hall and some grunts. The door opened and Gillam poked his head into the room. “Wine or ale?”
“Ale, please,” instructed Jack. Gillam grumbled again and withdrew, closing the door behind him.
“They’re listening to your conversations?”
“And will be reading any letters I send. And now they know I know I’m being watched. Let them watch. I’m a bought man now.” He winked at Ridley when he said this. “I suppose you’ll want to be off home, but will you at least stay until we’ve eaten?” She nodded and the two sat and waited for the maid to arrive.
~*~*~
The next evening, Jack sat across from Frederick at a large table. Jack still felt uneasy with his decision to agree to be a lackey, but there wasn't much else that could be done. He wasn't about to run and leave Ridley open to attack. Tomorrow evening, the king would announce his promotion, right after they discussed terms.
“And what do you want? Aside from freedom for your little thief friend?” Frederick steepled his index fingers together. His stern eyes landed on Jack, unnerving him with their intensity.
“Twenty gold pieces and I want to monitor the emergency food stores.”
“You don’t think Lord Gregory is handling his duties?” One eyebrow went up as Frederick regarded him.
“I don’t think Gregory will be as immune to ‘persuasion’ as Brayden was where those stores are concerned.”
“Fair enough. I shall see to it that you are present whenever the stores are opened. Anything else?”
“An assurance that there will be food to last the winter.”
Frederick shook his head. “There is no issue with the crops this year,” he said, fighting to keep an even tone. “The emergency stores are put in place every winter, and every winter they are not needed. Contrary to the nasty rumors circulating, there was a very bountiful crop.”
Indeed, and the sallow-cheeked children are only playing at being hungry, Jack thought bitterly. “The well-being of this city is of the utmost importance to me. Rumor or no, I want to make sure no one is getting more or less than his fair share, Your Majesty.”
“Is that all?” The king was looking for something, something he could hold over Jack no doubt.
“
No. Now what is Your Majesty looking for in return?”
“Soon, your father will bring a vote to the attention of the magistrate’s court. I am looking to drive Sera out of the Nareroc Islands forever, and we will need men and supplies to do it. Your father will look for approval to quarter his soldiers in Glenbard while they wait for favorable shipping weather.”
“With all due respect,” Jack began. He needed to tread carefully to avoid undue trouble. “You are the king. Can’t you command the people to allow it? Why put it to a vote?”
“It is important that it not be revealed that I am officially behind any attacks on Nareroc until our victory is assured.”
Jack’s mouth dropped open and he quickly checked himself, assuming a rock-like countenance. It troubled him that the king would sacrifice men in an underhanded attack and then not claim them if they lost. If his father failed to drive Sera’s settlers off the islands, Frederick could easily say the duke was a land-hungry fool and a shaky peace would return. The plan was folly. There were no gains to driving off his pronounced enemy. He searched the king’s face for answers.
Frederick had always been a hard man; unforgiving, though wily at times. He was shrewd and calculating, but not foolish. Jack saw a glimmer in the king’s eye. The king who had knighted him all those years ago was dead, and now only cruelty lay in the depths of his eyes. Already he had thrown Duke Nicholas of Actis into a labor camp on the islands for “fraternizing with the enemy.” Nicholas, a man who would be loyal unto his death. Frederick would risk everything because of a feud with Queen Elanor. Why?
“Then the rumors are true?” Jack said. “You really do plan to fight. I thought it was just some nonsense being passed along as fact.”
“It will be an armed offensive to claim what should rightfully be ours. Vote in my favor and whatever you wish shall be yours on top of a nice sum,” Frederick said.
“I will vote as you command when my father puts his plan before the magistrates' court.” Jack lowered his head.
“A wise decision, Sir Jonathan. I wouldn't want you making the same mistakes as His Grace, Duke Brayden, or His Grace, Duke Nicholas.”
