“I imagine it was going to be a good payout,” Birlerion said, rubbing his fingers together. He hid his hand as heat tingled on his fingertips, and a blue sparkle flickered over his skin. He tensed; were his powers returning?
“It would have to be,” Bryce agreed. “The scholar has captured the salient points. He’ll start on the portraits shortly.”
“How come you have the talents of a scholar-artist to hand? They are usually in the Chapterhouse in Old Vespers, aren’t they?” Jennery looked across at the scholar with interest.
“He’s in his journeyman year, happened to stop off at the keep, and the Warden invited him to stay and sort out the records room for a while.” Bryce eased his shoulders. “The Warden has been after a scholar for ages.”
“Well,” Jennery said, squinting down the field, “it looks like your day is either about to improve or deteriorate rapidly.” He gestured at a file of mounted soldiers approaching.
Bryce glared at Jennery and strode off to meet the oncoming party. Birlerion followed behind him. The lead rider was frowning; he didn’t hold out much hope of improvement.
Before Bryce could say a word, the man approaching him erupted. “What do you think you are doing here? How dare you touch these men. I am here to sort this out. This is my land.” He stared down his nose at Bryce. “Explain yourself.”
Bryce gave a brisk salute. “Captain Bryce, sir, from Stoneford Keep.”
“Stoneford?” the man snapped. “What is a captain from Stoneford doing in Deepwater?”
“Report of an ambush arrived early this morning, sir. We were ordered to assist and recover.”
“Why didn’t they come to me for help? I am the Lord of Deepwater and Deepwater is nearer,” the lordling huffed.
“Couldn’t say, m’lord,” Bryce replied blandly. Birlerion stared at the lord stonefaced, providing subtle support for Bryce.
“Well, you can stop now. I am here now, and I will assist Lord Hugh,” the lordling said, glaring at Bryce with distaste. He paused as one of his men approached and spoke quietly in his ear.
“Ah, yes. Where is the carriage and Lady Alyssa?” Lord Aaron twisted in his saddle as if the carriage would magically appear before him.
“The tracks lead off to the west, my lord. I sent a patrol to scout.”
“That was unnecessary, captain. Make sure you bury those bodies. I will save Lady Alyssa.” Lord Aaron gave him a sharp nod and led his men away.
“Pompous ass! Such little surprise and so few questions,” Jennery said as he joined the stiff-backed captain. “Interesting that he knew Lord Hugh was dead without actually asking.”
“Yes, he shows a distinct lack of respect for a fellow Lord Holder, and no concern for the safety of his neighbours or his people. Are bandits so common here in Deepwater, I wonder,” Bryce bit out as he turned back to the field. “I expect Greenswatch to arrive shortly. We need to get Lord Hugh ready to return home.” He pulled the Greenswatch standard out of his pocket and walked over to where Lord Hugh now lay. Bryce reseated the pole by his head and retied the flag to the end. “Private,” he called to a young soldier who was resolutely bending over the feet of another body.
The soldier snapped to attention. “Yessir?”
“Here, stand guard. No one touches him till I say so, got it?” Bryce rapped.
“Yes, sir.” The private took position behind Lord Hugh’s body and the Greenswatch standard, his eyes front and fixed, his face blank and his posture stiff.
Bryce saluted the standard, before turning back to the grisly work his men were performing. “What a waste,” he said, his face cold and severe as his gaze swept the field again.
Jerrol waited for Aaron to leave before he sauntered towards them, leading his wind-blown horse. “Well, that is disappointing,” he said as he nodded at Bryce and saluted more respectfully to the standard at the head of Lord Hugh’s body.
“What is?” Bryce’s voice was sharp. He was at the end of his tether and not appreciating Jerrol’s levity.
“That the Lord of Deepwater is not prepared to relieve you of this situation. A bit surprising that, wouldn’t you say?”
Jennery snorted. “He couldn’t wait to follow the skirts. Break a sweat? I don’t think he knows how.”
“But how much of this do we think he knew in advance? And how do we prove it to Greenswatch? Do we even want to? I am wondering how distraught young Simeon will be at the thought of ascending to his father’s powers.” Jerrol frowned. “Do we want to create an all-out war between Greenswatch and Deepwater?”
“Don’t you think it would be interesting to see Simeon’s reaction to the accusation?” Jennery asked.
“Which we can’t make without proof,” Jerrol said. “I believe hearsay doesn’t count.”
Birlerion stared at Jerrol. “What have you heard? You went to Deepwater, didn’t you? Was that the source of the attack on us? Surely that is proof. It is a direct link to this.” Birlerion waved his hand at the carnage around them.
Jerrol grimaced. “Unfortunately, I don’t think I am a reliable witness at the moment.”
“Depends who we are convincing,” Jennery argued.
“Looks like Greenswatch has arrived,” Bryce said, as a long column of mounted riders entered the field, the green standard of Greenswatch leading the way. They came to a halt, and the lead riders dismounted. After a brief conversation, Lord Hugh’s steward approached alone, and Captain Bryce walked forward to meet him.
Garrick acknowledged Bryce but continued walking towards the Greenswatch standard; Bryce fell in beside him. Garrick came to a stop beside the body of his lord, his face pale and strained. He saluted the standard and turned to Bryce. “You are relieved,” he said, his voice cold and expressionless. Bryce saluted and stepped back. The Greenswatch honour
