Jerrol hesitated, delaying his response by sipping his coffee. Eventually, he raised his head and looked at Jennery. “There was a misunderstanding. I haven’t figured it all out yet, but the upshot is...” He hesitated again and gave a slight shrug. “The Prince arrested me for treason.”
Jennery gasped. “What?”
“He sentenced me to death.” Jerrol stared into his mug.
“But, but why?” Jennery couldn’t grasp what he was saying.
“It seems that Prince Kharel has the ear of the King and has convinced him that I am working against the Crown and not to be trusted. Oh, and Isseran has levied some such accusation or other that I’ve been trying to discredit him.” Jerrol rubbed his face, and Jennery saw his hand tremble. “The King is ill; he has some palsy that is eroding his strength. Prince Kharel is feeling vulnerable. Instead of relying on his greatest weapon, the King’s Rangers, he is sowing dissension. At least Prince Anders is out of Vespers with the army. By casting me out, he thinks he can strengthen his grip, and reduce the rangers’ influence on the King.”
“But you are one of the King’s most trusted advisors! He wouldn’t send anyone but you to Birtoli; he refused to consider anyone else. The resolution was acclaimed by all; even the Princess acceded to the agreement. If anyone were going to get upset, it would have been her. And collusion against the Chancellor?” Jennery paused, trying to find a foul enough word to use. He gave up. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “Nor will anyone else.”
“I have been on Isseran’s detail for the last two months, remember. He is rumoured to be negotiating with a high-level party for support, and I have been seen in his vicinity. It doesn’t take much for most people to assume the worst.”
“If you are no longer part of the court, there is no benefit to Isseran.”
“Of course there is. The King has lost a trusted advisor. He wins either way.”
“It doesn’t make sense. Isseran knows you would never betray the King. I don’t believe he would even waste his time trying. The King knows it too, and nothing you say will make me believe differently.” Jennery glared at Jerrol.
Jerrol laughed, though there was little humour in it. “I don’t think the tale of my arrest was bandied about that much.” A pained expression passed over his face. “I think the Prince was hoping to kill me off quietly, without anyone noticing.”
Jennery’s breath hissed out in dismay; there was something not quite right, but he just couldn’t put his finger on it. “What did Nikols say?”
“Well, seeing as he was the one who helped me escape, I assume he thought that the accusations would hold. I thought it would be best if I kept my head down, maybe check out the Watches whilst the furore dies down. Incognito, you know.” Jerrol paused, waiting.
“Incognito! I’ll have his head on a pike, the bastard. You wait till I get my hands on him. How dare he treat you so? To let the Prince arrest you...” Jennery broke off, appalled. No wonder his friend looked so wrung out.
Jerrol held up his hands, fending Jennery off. “I know, I know,” he said. “Calm down, think of it as a break, time to relax,” he added with a slight smile.
The comment gave Jennery pause. “What? In all this mud? Not the sort of place I’d choose,” he huffed. “How come I’m here? If you are not on King’s business, how did you manage to wangle my orders? I am an important member of the King’s army, you know. Those orders were official, though now I think on it, they were a bit vague.”
Jerrol laughed and gripped his friend’s arm. “I’ve missed you.”
Jennery squinted at him. “Hmm. Are you going to tell me what’s really going on here? Or do I have to beat it out of you? And where did you find that mare? There is no way she is a garrison horse, and quite frankly, there is no way you could afford to buy her.”
“I told you; I’ve been discharged. I managed to get out of Old Vespers before the Prince could do anything more permanent, though it was a near thing. He was very enthusiastic in his pursuit!” Jerrol paused. “I believe I have Birlerion to thank for making it this far. The mare found me on the road and decided to stay.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t going to argue, I’d walked far enough. The only thing all this mud is good for is disguising what she is, though even then she is still quite eye-catching, no matter what I say to her. The Darian breed is rare in Vespiri. I’m hoping most people won’t recognise her for what she is.”
“And how successful has that been?” Jennery asked, his voice bland. “The Darians make lifelong bonds, don’t they? Has she accepted you as her rider?” He snapped his fingers. “She must have. I bet she’s given you her name, hasn’t she!”
Birlerion stiffened. “Never share her name,” he said, his voice edged with an emotion Jennery couldn’t identify. “She is the Lady’s gift.”
“She did,” Jerrol admitted. “The first time she spoke to me, I almost fell off her in shock. That was a surprise; it’s almost as if she were looking for me. I must admit I don’t think I would have survived without her; she’s been good company.” He stared bleakly into the fire, his face taut.
Jennery shifted as the silence drew out, and discreetly observed Birlerion. Considering how fraught his friend looked, he wondered how the Sentinal had managed to cope with being abruptly woken and shoved into a situation not of his making, nor of his time. He didn’t say much. They knew nothing about him, and the thought of him silently following Jerrol these last few weeks made his gut tighten.
At least he was here now; he could protect Jerrol. “So
