“Ah,” groaned Jennery, “court intrigue, my favourite. I think I would prefer skulking around Velmouth with you instead, send Birlerion to court.”
“Can you imagine a Sentinal loose at court? We will do well together. Let’s introduce you to Alyssa. At least you are an official escort!”
Alyssa accepted her new personal guard with aplomb, especially once she realised he was in the employ of the Lady as well. She was enthusiastic about keeping him as her escort for as long as possible. As they seemed to hit it off so well, Jerrol left them plotting their journey and went to search for Birlerion. He had a few plans of his own to set in motion.
He had just exited the inner courtyard when he felt the change in the air. He sidestepped, drawing his sword as he spun into motion and deflected the brutal downward sweep of his opponent’s sword. The screech of metal echoing through the hallways was deafening; the sheer force of the blow almost overbalanced the man, who had been expecting it to be a killing blow. Jerrol absorbed some of the energy and used the rest to spin back into the body of his opponent and strike low and hard, to be met with a counterthrust as the man recovered and parried.
The sound of clashing swords drew a crowd of watchers as the fighters traversed the inner courtyard, the swords flickering so fast they were just a blur.
Jennery and Alyssa thrust their way through to the front of the crowd. “Can’t you help him?” Alyssa grabbed Jennery’s arm as Jerrol went on the offensive, his face cold and stern and very focused. Forcing his opponent back, he began the final movement of his counterargument.
Jennery shook his head. “Too late, I’d only throw him off his stride.” Jennery watched Jerrol’s opponent falter as Jerrol’s unexpected response shattered his timing. The rhythm of the fight was deliberately broken. Jerrol spun tightly and thrust his sword through the man’s guard. Jerrol followed the body down to the ground, the deadweight dragging him down. After a short pause to gather himself and breathing heavily, he pulled his sword out and stood back up, blinking blearily at his audience.
“Jerrol, are you alright?” Jennery moved forward to block the view, Alyssa close behind him. “And you,” he snarled as Birlerion approached, “where were you? You’re the one supposed to be protecting him.”
Birlerion stiffened, though he answered calmly enough. “The Captain had it in hand, he is quite capable, you know. I didn’t intercede for the same reason you didn’t.”
Jerrol waved his hand, trying to catch his breath and gripping his side. “Give me a minute.” Tyrone had been right; he wasn’t as recovered as he thought he was.
Jennery knelt to turn the body over as Jason entered the courtyard. Jason soon dispersed the spectators and was assessing the scene as he approached. “Who is it? Do you recognise him?”
“Never seen him before.” Jerrol breathed deeply. “Is he one of yours?”
Jason looked closely. “No,” he said slowly. He glanced up and barked out an order to one of the guards who had followed him.
In short order, Bryce arrived, somewhat dishevelled as if he had hastily dressed, and Jerrol remembered he had not long returned from Greenswatch. He grimaced in sympathy as Jason explained what had happened and directed his captain to the body. “Anyone you’ve seen recently?”
Bryce stared at the body intently. “He may be one of the Greenswatch guards, though I’m not positive.”
Alyssa frowned. “I don’t recognise him, but then, I don’t know all the men.”
“Why would Greenswatch send someone after me?” Jerrol said. “It doesn’t make sense! They couldn’t have known I was here. There was no reason to connect me to the recovery of Lord Hugh.”
“Maybe someone at Greenswatch saw you with Garrick?” suggested Jennery. “You were in the archives a while, that might have drawn comment.”
Jerrol shook his head. “Only Garrick knew who we were, and we kept out of sight. I can’t see how anyone there would have known.”
“Unless they were on the lookout for you,” Alyssa added. “There are conspiracies we never knew existed who can tell what they already know? First Lord Stefan, now my father; you can’t tell me their deaths are not connected.”
The men looked at her in surprise. She raised a very valid point. Alyssa gazed back at them in frustration. “This all has to be connected,” she said, sweeping her hand around the courtyard. “Who else is trying to find out what is going on in the Watches? No one but you!”
“Let’s move this conversation inside,” Jason said. “Bryce, deal with the body and meet us in my office; the rest of you follow me.”
Jason sat behind his desk. His face was creased in thought as he tapped a finger on the arm of his chair. Lady Alyssa sat perched on a chair, with Jennery standing beside her. Jerrol was pacing the floor like a caged animal, still on an adrenaline high as he listed the facts they knew. He paused as the door opened and Bryce entered.
“We know that we have two Watches down.” He glanced sympathetically at Alyssa, who inclined her head, her face calm. “That Guardians are being targeted, councils suborned, temple leaders converted, even the King is failing healthwise. As Lady Alyssa says, this conspiracy has been afoot for some time, so who is coordinating it? Prince Kharel? The Chancellor? Some outside influence? There are rumours of a religious upset in Terolia. Torsion went up to the Watch Towers four months ago and hasn’t been seen since. There are rumblings in the northeast; it could be a symptom, or it could be the cause we
