“Healer Tyrone dosed him up and sent him back to bed. He was sneezing all over the place.”
“Best place for him, then. I overheard the guards talking about Terolia; have you ever visited the country?”
“Er, yes, but it will no doubt be different from what I remember.”
Jerrol gave him a sympathetic glance. “I think after we’ve visited Velmouth, we are going to need to go on a jaunt to Terolia,” and he repeated what the guards had said. “It seems to me the source of much of the trouble stems from Terolia.”
“That’s not much to go on, though that bandit leader had a Terolian name.”
“Then go and find out what else you can. Investigating smugglers should be right up your street. We’ll be leaving for Velmouth in the morning.” Jerrol started to turn away but paused as Jason strode up; he didn’t look particularly happy.
“Jerrol, you got a few minutes?”
“Of course.” Jerrol was surprised. He followed Jason back to his office.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?” Jerrol asked, bewildered.
“That Prince Kharel has a price on your head, dead or alive!” snapped Jason, pacing angrily.
Jerrol was taken aback. “Well, we had that trouble a couple of days ago, but to be honest, with everything going on, I’d sort of forgotten. I know the King doesn’t support his view, but the King’s voice is not being heard so much lately.”
“And how do you know the King’s view if the Prince arrested you?”
“Well,” Jerrol expelled his breath, “I was talking to the King in the throne room when I was arrested.”
“What? Why didn’t the King intervene?”
“I don’t know.”
“What were you talking about?”
“I can’t say. Jason, please, it’s not for me to say,” Jerrol said as he saw Jason’s frown. “Honestly, I have my orders and if the King sees fit to leave me adrift, who am I to countermand him?”
Jason sat in his chair. “Lad, what have you gotten yourself into?” His face creased in concern.
Jerrol scowled. “More than I bargained for, I’m sure. I am going to head up to Velmouth with Birlerion, search for Torsion. Then I think we might take a trip into Terolia; there are a few rumours I need to investigate.”
“Are you sure it’s safe? You’ve not exactly been discreet whilst you’ve been here. Oh, I’ve suppressed this for now, but they will hear the news via other routes. I can’t keep it quiet for long, and then you’ll have all sorts after you. The amount of money being offered is obscene. What did you do?”
“That’s the thing, Jason, I didn’t do anything! I have no idea why the Prince is determined to kill me. All the charges were trumped up. I was no longer on the Chancellor’s detail. I’m at a loss.”
“Well, you’d better figure it out before it’s too late. Who are you taking with you to Velmouth? Jennery?”
“No, I think Jennery ought to escort Lady Alyssa back to Greenswatch. Along with Bryce. I’ll take Birlerion. Uh, I don’t think I said. He is a Sentinal. I woke him in Old Vespers.”
Jason stared at him. “He’s a what?”
Jerrol rubbed his face. “A Lady’s Sentinal, he was in the Sentinal tree in Old Vespers. I woke him up, and he stepped out of the tree, much as you see him now. I ought to go and wake yours up.”
“Birlerion is a three-thousand-year-old Sentinal?” Jason repeated in disbelief.
Jerrol grinned at his expression. “Yes.”
“And how did you wake him up, may I ask? “
“Umm, by accident. The Lady made me her Captain. It seems the Ascendants are back, trying to overthrow the King and the Lady.”
“And you think there are men in the sentinal trees here as well?”
“Yes.” Jerrol chuckled at the look Jason gave him. “I’m not mad. Speak with Birlerion; you’ll soon believe me. He’ll be chasing me to wake your Sentinals shortly, just you watch.”
Jason shook his head and changed the subject. “What about Jennery, what’s he doing here?”
“I sent him orders to join me, though I think it’s time Jennery returned to his unit. We need to get someone on the inside at Old Vespers, and Jennery could be it.”
“I can’t imagine Jennery being a courtier.” A brief smile flickered across Jason’s face at the thought. “Are you sure this Birlerion will be enough?”
“Who else do you suggest? He could always pretend he’s arrested me and is taking me back for execution by the Prince.”
“Don’t joke about it.” Jason was appalled at the thought. “I was going to suggest Bryce, though I suppose he is not the skulking type either.”
“Greenswatch is expecting him to return with Lady Alyssa, so I think he’s busy. We’ll be fine. We’ll be with Torsion.” Jerrol tried to reassure him.
“Why does that not make me feel any better?” Jason asked almost to himself.
Jerrol clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll tell Jennery his new orders; you’d better tell Bryce.”
Jerrol found Jennery in the guesting barracks, nursing his cold. He took his orders as well as Jerrol had expected, but once he had calmed down enough to listen to Jerrol’s reasoning, he was soon nodding thoughtfully. “Do you think Simeon will take the Watch that fast?”
Jerrol rubbed his chin. “I think the ceremony will happen as soon as Alyssa arrives. I highly doubt Simeon will pick up the mantle; it will stay with Alyssa. You need to help protect her. See if you can delay so you can attend.
“As you are returning to Old Vespers to rejoin your company you could suggest that you escort Alyssa, that will get you in at court. I expect her mother will want to call her to her side once she hears about Lord Hugh. I can’t imagine she would miss that opportunity.”
“What’s the story there? I’ve never met her.”
Jerrol sighed. “Not much to tell, typical daughter of a courtier swept up by a lord, not realising that she would have to live so far from court, and in the ‘Wilds of the Watches’ as well.” He rolled his eyes. “She stayed long
