would not take long and he could convince Niki to play along with the servants. Fredrik walked to the study and Captain Grecho was already there and Orthan was dutifully serving him a glass of brandy. “Ah, the Lord of the Manor, Lord Wason. Sir, this is Captain Grecho of the Cidal Mercenary Company. If you have no further need of me, Lord Wason, I will withdraw and await your call.”
“Thank you, Orthan, that will be fine,” Fredrik said. “Captain Grecho, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Lord Wason,” the Captain greeted, “I apologize for not coming sooner, but I had a small matter of contract negotiations to take care of. I wish to offer my sincerest condolences on the loss of your uncle. I want you to know that your uncle was certainly not considered a sorcerer by the people of this town. The townspeople have no stomach for magic and would never have put up with a Lord who even condoned its use, never mind practiced it. No, I feel sure that the charges were merely expedient to the Black Devils to have their way. Certainly, if my company had found out what they were up to, we would have slain the bunch of them.”
Fredrik gulped as he nodded his head. The Captain talked on for an hour and a half, welcoming him to town and explaining as much about Cidal as he could. He offered the services of his company to the Manor if the need arose and thanked him for the Manor’s generous help in the past. Fredrik half listened as he fretted about Niki’s temper and her foolish willingness to use magic carelessly. At the end of the discussion, Captain Grecho demanded that Lord Wason accompany him to review the fitness of his Company and see the plans he had for enlarging his garrison. It was clear to Fredrik that to refuse would be starting the relationship off on a very bad foot.
Fredrik informed Orthan that he was going out and caught a glimpse of Miranda and Alicia arguing as he passed through the entrance hall. Fredrik began to wonder again if his life wouldn’t be simpler without women in it. Orthan also shook his head at the two maids and went out to get away from it as much as he did to check on the horses.
Miranda looked flustered. “Alicia, you have to curb your temper more. I know the woman is difficult, but even you have to admit that she has been better these last few days.”
“Aye, she’s been better,” pouted Alicia. “She’d be better still if you took care of her. If I go in there with a smile, she complains that I’m laughing at her. If I don’t smile, she complains that I’m scowling at her. Either way, she treats me as if I were a dog. Master Wason and Master Alrecht never had any problems with me. I do my job all right, I do.”
“Your work is fine, Alicia,” soothed Miranda. “If I suddenly take your place, the Lady will complain about you running the place and that will start another row. I will talk with Orthan about giving you a holiday. Perhaps a bit of time away from each other will calm you both down. I am sure that Lord Wason will readily agree.”
“Well, I could use a bit of a holiday,” Alicia cheered. “A couple of extra pence would help a bit, too,” she pushed.
Miranda nodded as the bell rang again. “But, first, you will have to finish today at least. Whatever she throws at you, just bite your tongue and swallow it. We have a good thing going here and I’ll not have you spoiling it.”
“Yes, Miranda,” Alicia said as she scurried up stairs to answer Niki’s bell.
Alicia knew she was in trouble when she entered Niki’s suite and the woman was standing there tapping her arm with a grim determination on her face. “My Lady rang?” Alicia said.
“Yes, I rang and you took long enough to get here,” scowled Niki. “Where is my lunch? I asked for lunch an hour ago.”
“Begging My Lady’s pardon,” Alicia trembled, “but you said you didn’t want any lunch today.”
“Fool!” shouted Niki. “You offered me crab meat or salmon for lunch and I said if I couldn’t have lobster, I wouldn’t eat. Don’t you know a demand for lobster when you hear one? Do you expect me to starve while you and the others stuff your pockets with my money?”
Alicia lost it and exploded. “How do you expect me to read your mind?” shouted Alicia. “You said you wouldn’t eat and now you wonder where your lunch is? And as for the money, you don’t have a pence to your name. You are here at the sufferance of Lord Wason and mercy knows why he puts up with you.”
Niki’s face grew bright red and before she knew what she was doing, she straightened her arms and lashed out with a Force Bolt. Alicia flew back and was suspended about a foot off the floor with her back pressed hard against the wall. The fury slowly drained from Niki’s face and after a few moments she released the spell with the intention of apologizing to the maid. As soon as the maid had her feet on the ground, she spun and ran out of the room screaming at the top of her lungs that there was a witch in the house.
Alicia ran down the stairs and out the side door of the mansion, almost colliding with Orthan. Orthan grabbed the woman and Miranda appeared through the door.
“Whatever is going on?” demanded Miranda.
“I have no idea,” confessed Orthan as the maid continued screaming, but no longer understandable. Orthan shook the woman to get her to come to her senses and Fredrik arrived just in time to see Miranda slap her.
“What is the problem?” Fredrik asked.
Alicia looked at him with eyes wide with fear. “She’s a witch.” She screamed. “She’s a witch and she tried to kill me. I have to report her. Let me go.”
Fredrik and Orthan eyes locked. “Miranda, hold her until I get back,” Orthan commanded and dragged Fredrik inside.
“There is going to be great trouble,” Orthan confided. “Many things we could cover up, but this is not one of them. The Company will be out for blood. They may not bother you if you can prove that you did not know, but they will kill her, for sure.”
Fredrik nodded sadly. “Orthan, I want you to detain her as long as possible. It won’t be for very long because her screaming was quite evident from the street. If I die, you are out of a job and I am out of a life. Neither of us wants that. I am going on a long trip. Handle everything while I am gone. If I do not come back, just continue as if you expected me to be gone for a very long time. You will think of something; at least you will be cared for. As for Niki, say that she became possessed after some bad food. Make any excuse you can think of. I will get her far away from here. Tell the Mercenaries that I was chasing her south, trying to catch her and kill her. The Captain will believe that. Throw saddles on the two fastest horses and I’ll get our little witch down here as quickly as I can.”
“I’m truly sorry, Sir,” responded Orthan. “I’ve grown to like you. We really pulled off a good one and I think we could do more. Do come back, your Manor will be waiting.”
Fredrik smiled at the old man and ran up the stairs. Niki was waiting at the top of the stairs with the two travel bags that Fredrik had demanded they keep ready. “I’m sorry, Fredrik, I couldn’t help myself.”
“I know, Niki,” he stated sadly. “We probably didn’t belong here anyway. We have to hurry. They will kill you on sight.”
They each hefted one bag and hurried down the stairs and out the back door towards the stables. Orthan was standing ready with two horses and a sad face. He helped Niki up onto one of the horses and she bent and kissed his head. “I’m sorry, Orthan, I guess I made a mess of everything. I thought you were all the enemy, but I heard what you said to Fredrik while I was at the top of the stairs. Forgive me.”
Fredrik mounted up and instructed Niki to ride as fast as she could northward. After she took off, Fredrik followed at a distance that might look like he was chasing her if anyone was looking. After they got a mile out of town, Fredrik caught up with Niki and they took a small trail westward to get away from the road.
Arik and Tedi finished up their sword practice and sat down leaning against the wagon wheel. Garth hadn’t been seen in an hour and they were bushed from the exertion of their mock battle with wooden swords. Garth’s instructions over the past few days had been unending. When they were too tired to practice swordplay and too sore to practice riding, Garth would teach them about tracking or which type of plant life was edible and which was poisonous. He was a merciless instructor. If the boys didn’t learn the lesson to his expectations, he started the lesson over again until they got it right. Several times Tedi threatened to walk away, not in front of Garth, of course, and Arik had persuaded him to remain. Arik seemed to revel in the fighting skills while Tedi was more interested in the woods lore. Both of the boys enjoyed tracking and riding. Neither of them enjoyed the task of chopping firewood, but Garth was insistent that it would develop the very muscles they would need in
