Chapter Seven
Early the next morning, Ceadric shows up with a dozen servants carrying trays of food and pitchers of ale. “With Lord Black Hawk’s compliments,” he says as the servants set the trays down upon the tables. Once the food is in place, he has them return back downstairs.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you,” begins James as he starts to load his plate with food. “Where did you get the servants?”
“Some are relatives of the Raiders who are now living here,” he explains. “They started arriving two days after we took over. How they learned of it so fast is anyone’s guess.”
“I suppose,” agrees James.
“The rest are the people we freed from slavery. Some didn’t have anywhere else to go so remained with us.” He glances from James to Jiron then adds, “Couldn’t very well say no.”
Shaking his head, James says, “No, you couldn’t.”
“What happened with the Ambassador last night?” Jiron asks.
“Not much,” he says. “Black Hawk explained what happened, how the priests of Asran caught a wayward spirit that was causing the deaths. He didn’t look too convinced, but what could he do but take him at his word?”
Laughing, Scar adds, “Must have scared them something awful when that shadow was hovering above them surrounded by a green glow.” Several of the others chuckle at that.
“It didn’t do anything for the negotiations I’ll tell you that,” explains Ceadric. “I think Councilman Tethias plans to talk to you sometime today before you leave.”
“What about?” asks James.
Shrugging, Ceadric answers, “Not sure.” He removes a piece of pork from a platter and takes a bite.
“We plan to leave after the sun goes down tonight,” James informs him.
“Thought that might be the plan,” he says. “Lord Black Hawk wanted you to know that there are several Raiders here who are fluent in the Empire’s language if you think you might need one.” He glances at James a moment before adding, “Just be more careful than you were with the last one.”
“Hey,” counters James, “if Jared hadn’t panicked, he would be alive today.”
“Be that as it may, should you desire one let us know.” Finishing the piece of pork, Ceadric takes his leave.
When he’s left the suite and the door is shut, Jiron exclaims, “What nerve!”
“Yeah,” exclaims Miko. “The way he said it, you would think you killed Jared yourself.”
The others chime in with their opinions before Scar says, “Jared was a cousin of his.”
“Oh, that would explain it,” says James with a nod.
“Still no cause to say what he did,” insists Jiron.
After finishing the meal, James says to Stig, “I want you to see about the horses Illan plans to give us. Make sure his people give us good ones.”
Nodding, Stig says, “Will do.”
“And see what you can learn about the Ambassador,” he adds. “His men may not readily recognize you as they would Jiron, Miko, or me.”
“See what I can find out,” he replies. Getting up from the table, he heads for the door and leaves the suite.
Once Stig is gone, Miko asks, “Don’t you trust Illan’s people?”
“Sure I do,” he affirms. “It’s just that I hate sitting here and doing nothing. This way it feels like we are doing something.”
Rest of the morning goes by uneventfully, everyone is glad for this brief time to rest before returning to the road. When Stig returns, he states that the horses are superb. As for the Ambassador, he couldn’t ferret out any more information than what they were already told.
“I did find out one thing though,” he tells them. “They want this keep back in a bad way.”
“Doubt if they’ll get it,” remarks Potbelly. “After all they’ve done to Madoc, Councilman Tethias would be a fool to hand it back over.”
“If they did it would take Madoc a year or two to rebuild theirs,” figures Shorty. “From what I’ve heard, it’s all but a pile of rubble somewhere to the north.”
“I talked with Hedry for a bit,” Stig says. “He was out at the stables when I stopped by. Seems the reports coming from agents within the Empire tell of the Empire still having a large standing army.”
“But if they committed them to retake this keep, wouldn’t that leave their southern states open for rebellion?” asks James.
“Who knows?” replies Stig. “That’s what I heard.”
When the others begin to argue about the stupidity of certain leaders, James raises his hand. “It’s not our concern right now what Madoc does or doesn’t do with this keep.” Turning back to Stig he asks, “Anything else?”
“Actually yes,” he replies with a grin. “The Raiders have begun calling the keep, ‘Hawk’s Aerie’. Of course they mainly do it when those of the Empire are near to hear it, seems it’s bothering the Ambassador something awful.”
“Hawk’s Aerie,” mumbles James. Nodding he grins and says “I like it.” The others add their agreements.
It was sometime after the noon meal when Councilman Tethias decides to pay them a call. Ceadric was able to give them all of a minute’s warning before the councilman’s footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. Ceadric asked them to assemble in James’ suite for the Councilman’s visit.
A rather short man, Councilman Tethias stands only five foot six. His brown hair, salted with a smattering of gray, is combed to rigid perfection. Not a single hair is out of place. He’s accompanied by two aides who follow a step behind.
Ceadric is waiting in the hallway for him and they can hear him greet the councilman. Opening the door, he allows the councilman and his aides to enter first.
They come to their feet in respect as he enters the room. “Councilman,” Ceadric says after he enters the room and closes the door, “may I present James, a mage of some power, and those who travel with him.”
James and the councilman stand there and eye each other for a moment. James is decidedly uncomfortable, he feels likes he’s a bug under a microscope. Extending his hand, he says, “Nice to meet you, Councilman.”
Taking James’ hand, the councilman gives it a firm shake and replies, “I’ve heard a lot about you. Even before I arrived here for the talks, tales of your exploits had reached me.”
Giving the councilman a disarming grin, he says, “Nothing too terrible I hope.”
Shaking his head, he releases James’ hand. “On the contrary,” he begins, “what I’ve heard can only be called miraculous.”
“Would you care for a seat?” Jiron asks, indicating the finest seat in the suite.
“Thank you, I would like that,” replies the councilman. Crossing over to the chair, he sits down and his aides position themselves behind him.
“To what do I owe this visit?” asks James.
“Nothing more than curiosity I’m afraid,” admits the councilman. “When Lord Black Hawk informed me you were here, I asked him if he thought you would mind a visit. I do appreciate you seeing me.”
James gazes at the councilman questioningly. This hardly seems a man who is one of the Patriarchal Council of Madoc, and who is use to his word being law. Before he can stop himself he says, “You aren’t what I would expect of a Councilman.”
Arching an eyebrow at him, he grins and says, “You mean I’m more cordial than others in positions of power?” When James nods he continues. “Just the way I am I’m afraid. Also what makes me a good negotiator. They considered sending a hardliner down here but that would have been a grave mistake.”
“I understand that the Empire is demanding the return of this keep,” Jiron says.
“It’s true,” the councilman replies.
“You don’t plan to give it back do you?” asks Scar.
