“Who do you think you are?” demanded Slyvern. A wild look came to his eyes as anger filled him. “We’re going to find out what we want to know, one way or another!” He took a step forward.
“Stop!” Paul said. Beside him, the sound of Sterret’s sword leaving its scabbard could be heard.
The man halted. “Stand aside or die!”
To Cailin, loud enough for all to hear, Paul said, “If he takes another step, kill him.”
“Yes sir,” replied Cailin. Moving his crossbow ever so slightly, he drew aim on Slythern’s chest. Two of the men with bows drew a bead on Cailin while the third targeted Paul.
“You are out numbered,” Slyvern said with a crooked grin. “Stand aside.”
A quiet fell over the two groups as each gauged the reaction of the other.
On the second floor of The Sterling Sheep, Daniel looked out his window toward the impending confrontation.
“Slyvern’s really got them stirred up,” commented Tox. Tox had been Daniel’s man now for the greater part of a decade. He was loyal and stalwart, rare commodities in their line of work.
“That’s what he’s getting paid to do,” replied Daniel. Then motion caught his eye as the Magistrate appeared leading a dozen locals, all but three carrying bows. They were moving to the growing altercation with great speed. “Looks like things aren’t going to get out of hand after all.”
“No it doesn’t,” agreed Tox.
They watched as the Magistrate reached the two groups. “Now, if only…”
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Daniel turned to Tox. “See who it is.”
Crossing the room, Tox was soon at the door and opened it a crack. When he saw who was on the other side, he opened the door wider and in walked Rupert.
“My father is sending me to Warden to ask the Duke for aid,” he announced.
“Good,” replied Daniel. “I was hoping he would. Some rather bad sorts are making their way to your quiet village.” He paused a moment then asked, “When are you to leave?”
“Immediately,” he replied. “He wants me to return as soon as possible with help before things get completely out of hand.”
“It may take longer than you think,” advised Daniel. “You’ll have to convince them such intervention by the Duke’s men is warranted. And that could take time.”
Rupert reached into his pocket and produced a scroll. “I have a letter signed by my father explaining the situation,” he replied. “That should expedite things.”
“Again, maybe not,” countered Daniel. “Unless you can convince the right person, aid may be days in coming.”
“But my father is counting on me to return quickly,” Rupert told him.
“Perhaps I can be of help,” Daniel said.
“How?” asked Rupert.
“I know a man in the Duke’s guard who might be able to speed things up dramatically,” he replied. “I could supply you with a letter asking him to expedite things for you.”
Rupert nodded. “You would do that for me?” he asked.
“Of course,” replied Daniel magnanimously. Moving across to the room’s only table, he picked up a small, rolled scroll secured with a leather thong sealed with wax. Turning back to Rupert, he handed it over and said, “Here.” When Rupert took it, he could see the question in his eyes. “When I saw the commotion developing by the mill, I thought your father might send for help. So I prepared the letter just in case.”
Rupert took the letter. “Thank you,” he said.
“Not at all,” replied Daniel. “Always glad to be of help. Now make sure you speak with Captain Glaver before you talk with anyone else.”
“Where can I find him?” asked Rupert.
“Ask around at the keep,” Daniel replied.
Tucking the scroll into his belt pouch, he said, “Thank you again.”
Daniel patted him on the back with a grin and escorted him to the door. “Be careful on the road,” he advised.
“I will,” Rupert replied.
Tox opened the door for him and Rupert passed through on his way to the stairs. Once the door was shut and the sound of Rupert’s footsteps could no longer be heard, Tox asked, “Think Glaver will come?”
“Yes,” affirmed Daniel. “He and his boys owe me a favor.” Returning to the window, he saw that the situation before the mill had been diffused without bloodshed. Slyvern and his group were dispersing, and the Magistrate was speaking with those at the mill.
“What are we going to do if Duke Alric actually sends troops this way?” asked Tox.
Daniel turned to his man and said, “That would definitely complicate things. But once Glaver gets here, the situation is going to quiet down dramatically. There will be no need for any additional help.”
“Then when the shepherd arrives…?” asked Tox.
Giving his man a grin, he said, “It’ll be too late.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Where does everything go that’s collected down here?” Bart asked. He stood with fists on hips as he glared at the three bound men.
Once they had discovered the segment gone, they wasted no time in returning to where they left the three porters.
The three men stared mutely at Bart as they trembled in fear. One of them shook his head.
“Once they are at the top of the cliff,” Riyan asked, “where do the crates go next?”
“We don’t know,” one man replied.
“That’s right,” stated another. “The crates are loaded on wagons and taken away. They never told us where.”
The third man nodded vehemently in agreement.
“I think you’re lying to me,” Bart said. Pulling his knife, he moved toward them.
“We’re not!” wailed one of the men.
“Haven’t we already helped you?” another asked.
“Wait,” Riyan said to Bart.
Bart glanced back toward him questioningly.
Ignoring Bart, Riyan looked to the bound men sitting against the wall before him. “Do you know who began all this?” he asked, gesturing to the passage around him.
The three men looked at him confused.
“What I mean is,” Riyan said, “who is the man ultimately in charge of everything going on down here? Is it this Pruss you’ve mentioned?”
“Hardly,” one man stated. “He’s not but an overseer.”
“He answers to Lord Glynni,” another added.
“Glynni?” asked Riyan.
“He’s up at the top of the steps,” the first one replied. “But you don’t want to go messing with him.”
“Why?” asked Bart.
“He’s the half brother of Lord Kueryn and has a rather nasty temper,” explained another.
“Lord Kueryn?” asked Bart. The name was somewhat familiar.
Riyan glanced to him and nodded. “The River Man.”
“Then that means he has…” started Chad before Bart interrupted him by loudly saying, “Yes. Exactly.”
Bart met Chad’s eyes then indicated with a nod of his head the three men sitting against the wall, and that they were listening. The others understood the implications of what the man had said as well.
“That’s what we needed to know,” Riyan said to Bart.
