Chapter 28

Kingshold River, Duchy of Shadowhold, Sidor

Aldric pushed open the weathered wooden door, stepping into the dimly lit interior of the farmhouse, not for the first time wondering where Fletcher managed to find these out-of-the-way places. They always looked unkempt and lived in, meaning this was someone’s home, and yet the occupant always managed to find somewhere else to be when these meetings happened.

It spoke to how far-reaching Fletcher’s network had become and what kind of loyalty he received from the people in it, willing to give their homes to him without question, upending lives that were almost certainly already difficult.

The man in question was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, looking at his hands and deep in thought as Aldric entered.

“Your Grace. I wasn’t sure you’d come,” Fletcher said, jumping up from his seat.

“I said I would come, and I always keep my word. I’m sorry I’m late. This far into the country, it was hard to ditch my household guard and find a way out without being noticed. I should warn you that this will probably be the last time we can meet like this for a while.”

“I assumed as much. I’ve seen the men marching south and the building is all most folks can talk about. You’ve about stripped the country bare of guards and soldiers, although how you convinced the king to part with his precious cutthroats I’ll never know.”

“I wouldn’t call them all cutthroats, but he had little choice. Your protests may be difficult for him to manage, but they would pale in comparison to what would happen if we didn’t stand in the way of what the maw will be spewing onto our shores. Faced with a choice between unrest and total destruction, even the king has to make the obvious choice.”

“Well, I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me with all that going on. You’ve already done more for us than we could’ve hoped. Those supplies you sent, they’ve been a godsend. With you being gone through the winter, shouldn’t you put us in contact with some of the others you’re working with?”

“No. I’m sorry, and I know it seems that it would be better if you had access to more of the network, but these are delicate negotiations. Not everyone providing supplies is thrilled with the more aggressive tactics you are using. I’m not judging you, and I agree they are needed, but it requires finesse to convince some of our backers, and the more access they have to information, the less likely they are to give. I know it’s difficult, in the scenario we find ourselves, to ask you to trust me, but it is, unfortunately, all I have to offer.”

“Of course I trust you, Your Grace. I’m not trying to sound ungrateful or asking for more than you’re willing to provide, I’m just worried that, with you gone, the support might dry up just when we’re getting close.”

“I won’t let that happen, Tom. I’ve already set up cutouts and associates to facilitate getting everything you need when I’m not around. The supplies will keep flowing. I promise.”

“I’m glad of it. We’ve been pushing toward the capital from every direction, faster now that you’ve pulled most of the king’s retainers away. We’re squeezing in on Starhaven Bay. If things continue, we’ll have the city isolated within the month, then we can finally take the fight to the king himself.”

“Remember what this is all about, Tom,” Aldric warned. “You’re not here to fight the king.”

“What do you mean? Isn’t that the whole point of this? To make the king bow to reason and change his ways?”

“Yes, that is the point, but it’s a difficult one to make right. These things can easily get out of hand and go too far. Yes, we want to force change, but we do not want to overthrow the monarchy. The king’s new laws have placed a heavy burden on the people, one I hope to remove, but there are worse outcomes for the people than living with the edicts on travel. If the monarchy were to fall, or be damaged to the point of true weakness, it could lead to even greater upheaval. There are many people outside our kingdom who would like nothing more than to see Sidor crumble so they could pick our bones, and many inside of it who would help them. If the crown becomes too weak to hold the kingdom together, they will swarm like vultures. The very people you’re trying to help could end up suffering more than if you had done nothing at all.”

“I see your point, Your Grace,” Fletcher said, sitting back in his chair and contemplating. “We’ll be careful. The people, they’re upset, but they know what we’re really doing this for. It’s not about power, it’s about justice.”

“Good. Remember that and remember that real change takes time. Just getting the edicts reversed won’t solve everyone’s problems. Patience is the key to victory.”

“I won’t let you down, Your Grace. I won’t let the people down,” Fletcher said solemnly.

Aldric was about to respond when a noise outside the farmhouse caught his attention. The sounds of men on horses and men in armor.

Fletcher shot out of his seat, a hand going to his sword, until Aldric stopped him, placing a hand over Fletcher’s and keeping the weapon in its sheath. Pressing a finger to his lips, Aldric moved to the shuttered window, peeking through a small opening.

Outside were a dozen men in the livery of the Starhaven city watch. An unusual sight this far from the capital, and well outside of their normal purview.

“Start searching the houses,” a man wearing the insignia of a captain of the guard commanded, sending his men sliding off their horses to carry out his orders.

“Let me handle this,” Aldric whispered to Fletcher. “Stay here and stay quiet.”

Fletcher looked like he wanted to argue, but only nodded, stepping further back into the room, away from the windows and sources of light. Checking to make sure Fletcher couldn’t be seen, Aldric pulled the door open and walked out of the house, head held high and shoulders back.

“Captain. What is happening here?”

“Your Grace,” the very startled guardsman said, his jaw dropping slightly at the sudden appearance of one of the highest members of the Sidorian peerage. “What are you doing here?”

Aldric raised an eyebrow. “Are you seriously asking a duke to explain himself?”

“No, Your Grace. Apologies. I was just ... surprised to see you outside of the capital or your duchy.”

“I am on my way south to oversee preparations for the maw season. It’s been a long ride, and I needed to rest for the night. These people were kind enough to take me in. Speaking of being in unexpected places, you are very far from Starhaven. What is the city guard doing in Shadowhold?”

“The king dispatched us to track down the leaders of the rebellion. We have reports that one of their leaders is in the area.”

“Good. The sooner this foolish rebellion is quashed, and the kingdom can regain some peace, the better.”

“Agreed, Your Grace,” the captain said. “I am very sorry to have disturbed you. We will search these buildings quickly and be away.”

Aldric looked at the building behind him and then back to the captain, “Do you really think I am hiding the leader of a rebellion that is trying to overthrow my own nephew and House Whitton?”

The captain paled. “No, Your Grace! Of course not!”

“Then you can assume I am the only one here,” Aldric said firmly. “Now, go do your duty elsewhere. I need my rest, and I’d rather not be disturbed further.”

The captain bowed hastily. “Yes, Your Grace. Apologies again for the intrusion. Men! Mount up!”

Aldric watched as the guards swung back into their saddles and rode off, waiting until the sound of hoofbeats had faded before turning back to the farmhouse.

That was too close.

Starhaven, Sidor

Edmund passed in front of the window to his chambers as his servants prepared the room for the evening, lighting a fire in the hearth and padding the bedding for that night’s rest. He ignored them, keeping his eyes locked on the high window as he cut a line back and forth across the thick rug, his impatience in full view.

A light came on in the courtyard below. It was small, a lantern uncovered near one of the far sections of the wall, and only for a moment before being hooded again. Then it reappeared, finishing the pattern two more times before darkening for good.

“Leave me. All of you,” Edmund said, turning from the window finally.

His servants, who were used to him and his foibles, bowed and filed out, the last one closing the door softly. Edmund crossed the room and locked the door, to ensure his privacy, before resuming his pacing across a new stretch of the room. Each step became more agitated as he crossed back and forth in front of the large bed.

Finally, he heard it. A click of a latch being worked, but not from the door. This came from a bare section of wall between a large bookcase and a tapestry. The section swung inward without a sound, showing only a dark void inside. A moment later, his scribe, Orlan, and a man in a dark cloak that covered his face came through the doorway, Orlan looking around to ensure the coast was clear.

Of course, if it wasn’t, both the man and the door would have been revealed, but his scribe was needed more for his loyalty than his brains.

“Were you seen?” Edmund asked.

“No, Your Grace,” Orlan said.

“Good. Wait below and keep watch to ensure we are not disturbed. When he returns to you, see that you aren’t seen as he leaves the city.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Orlan said, bowing deeply before melting back into the darkness.

“I trust you have good news for me,” Edmund said as Orlan left.

The messenger reached into his cloak and withdrew a small pouch, tossing it to Edmund, who caught it and then looked at it as if the pouch were a dead rat instead.

“What is this? He promised shiploads, not ... this. How am I to hire Werna or Inos mercenaries with this?”

“That is equal to what you have provided. No more. My master’s demands have not been met. Until the Sidorian armies are withdrawn, that is all there is.”

“Tell your master I’m working on it. It’s not as simple as waving my hand and making it so. Anything too overt will raise suspicions and make things more difficult,” Edmund said angrily, beginning to pace again. “It doesn’t help that your master has been pushing his allies to increase harassment and raiding on the borders. It’s distracting me from the task at hand.”

“From what I hear, border raids are the least of Sidor’s problems,” the messenger said, his head slowly turning to follow the path of Edmund’s travel, but otherwise unmoved. “Regardless, the agreement you have with my master hinges on removing the armies and bringing them home. Any difficulties in doing so are yours to solve, not ours.”

Edmund stopped pacing and turned to glare at the man. “I’m working on it. Tell your master that I will soon have an excuse to recall the men. As it is, I’ve already been choking their supplies, slowing their advance. That should count for something.”

“Then your efforts are insufficient. Our men continue to die and our cities continue to fall. Now your armies are stripping our farmland in the middle of harvest season. They grow fat on stolen grain and livestock. They eat well while our people starve.”

“That isn’t my problem. I can only promise what is within my control. If your lord cannot protect his own supplies, then perhaps he is unfit to keep his lands.”

“Then perhaps I should tell my master there is no need for this partnership at all,” the messenger said, finally showing some sign of emotion in his voice.

“I only point out the reality of the situation. I can’t order my people to just stand aside and not fight. Not and remain in a position to offer any help. All I can do is limit what is available to them. I will see what I can do to further limit them. That is the best I can do.”

“And what of your promise to bring them home?”

“Again, it isn’t that simple. The people hold my late brother in high regard and see this war as his legacy. If I bring them home, especially on the heels of victory, it will raise suspicions. I must have a pretext. If your men could counter them, even cause them to suffer some defeats, then I would have a pretext. Otherwise,” Edmund said, and then held his hands up in a ‘there’s nothing I can do’ gesture.