A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 15: Day 17
The first days of feasting and seclusion at Tranos' house had given way to ordinary mornings at Langford Manor; Count Matthias and Countess Lilia had returned to Newtown the previous evening.
"There is a young woman at the gate," Lucas announced early in the morning of the fourth day since the wedding.
"Did she say what she wants?" Milos asked.
"Wolves are ravaging her flock."
"From a farm in Count Matthias' domain?"
"No. It is across the road leading to Langford; it is not adjacent to his land."
"We should help her," Lisette suggested.
"You heard Lisette, Lucas," Milos said. "Show the young woman in."
A moment later, Lucas returned with a girl who appeared to have completed sixteen or seventeen years.
"I am Sierra, my Lord," she said when Milos greeted her.
"What is your request?"
"Wolves threaten my flock. If you could see your way clear to deal with them, I can offer one sheep each spring, as well as a supply of wool each year."
"What of your father and brothers?"
"My father is dead, and my younger brother has almost no use of his legs. I tend the flock, my mother spins, and my brother operates the loom, something he is able to do without using his legs."
"To whom do you pay taxes?"
"Only to the King," she replied.
"Are you free to pledge the taxes from your land to Count Matthias and come under his protection?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Then no payment is due until Count Matthias assesses taxes, and I promise he will be fair and just."
"Then he has my family's pledge," Sierra replied.
With Milos' blessing, she took her leave, and after a brief discussion, it was agreed that Karla and Tristan would deal with the wolves, and Lucas would accompany them as part of his training.
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"I very much enjoyed the meal with your parents last night," Matthias said when he and his bride awoke.
"Our private dessert was much better!" Lilia giggled.
They had only had small portions of the dessert served at the table and had returned to their apartment to enjoy each other's bodies, which was much more pleasurable than the fine meal.
"I agree! But tonight we should sleep well, as we journey tomorrow to Haven for a meal with the King and Queen."
"If we must sleep tonight..." Lilia said, invitingly.
She made her intent clear by allowing her dressing gown to slip from her shoulders and fall to the floor. Matthias stood up, took her hand, and led her to the bedchamber.
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"I agree to your request," Robert said to Miri as they drank tea and ate cakes in a private sitting room at the Lord Mayor's home.
"Then," Miri said, "you have the usual freedom of a man of your status. And I will aid you in every endeavor. You will be King, and soon."
Robert smiled, "A devoted wife, money, power, and maidens — what more could a man ask?"
"Sublime pleasure once we marry!" Miri declared. "I may be a maiden, but I am fully aware of the possibilities in the marriage bed and will do anything you wish, both willingly and happily. No matter what you plan, I shall always be at your side and shall do all that is necessary for you to always emerge victorious."
"Perhaps we should marry before my father becomes King."
"Whatever you wish, my Lord. That would mean forgoing a royal wedding."
"It would, but I wish to be with you, Lady Miri!"
"And I with you, Duke Robert."
"Then I shall make the request of King Ludwig at the evening meal tomorrow."
Miri smiled, though her mouth still tasted of honey cake and diplomacy. Robert would bed servants and call it custom; she would keep one lover and call it duty. It was unfair, and it was the throne — and Matthias was worth both.
She had not come to Nystria to remain Matthew's shy Miriam. She had come to rule beside a king, and to take her pleasure without apology once Robert gave his word in full.
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Tristan, Karla, and Lucas arrived at Sierra's family farm on the other side of the road leading east, between the end of the Royal Way and the Wide Sea. Just to the south of the farm were woods where Sierra said the wolves lived.
"We stalk them like game," Tristan said. "You and Lucas kill them with bows, and I stand guard should they or some other animals attack."
"Lucas," Karla said, "this requires stealth. Watch each step. Even a snapped twig can alert your prey, be it animal or human. When you see a target, freeze, watch it, then raise your bow. Draw smoothly and loose the arrow. Do not try to hold the drawn bowstring, as you are not yet strong enough to hold it long. Do you understand?"
"I do," Lucas said firmly.
"Then follow me and stay alert."
The trio moved into the woods and began hunting the wolves. Karla was the first to spot one and quickly dispatched it with her bow. She killed two more before Lucas had his chance, but he missed as the wolf moved.
"Don't be upset," Karla counseled quietly. "You'll learn to anticipate the target's movement. You have to shoot where the target will be, not where it is. Do not hesitate to shoot, either; you will miss every shot you do not take!"
Lucas nodded and resolved to kill the next wolf he spotted. Soon thereafter, Tristan signaled he had seen something, so the two crouched in cover. A moment later, Karla spotted a leather-clad man armed with a crossbow. He spotted Lucas' arrow and pulled it from the trunk of the tree.
The man scanned the woods, then crouched behind the tree from which he'd removed the arrow. Karla and Tristan each considered what to do, but before either spoke, the man whistled and two other men joined him, as did three wolves. That very much changed the situation, and Karla signaled the others to remain concealed.
Unfortunately, the men fanned out, and the wolves began advancing towards the three, led by the direction of the shaft of Lucas' arrow. Karla and Tristan had to think quickly about whether to attack or parley, as retreat would likely leave them exposed. Karla signaled to Tristan to attempt to parley. He nodded and rose, keeping partial cover behind a tree.
"Tristan of Newtown," he called out.
"You are trespassing, Tristan of Newtown. I see no bow. Where is your companion?"
"Lucas, arise," Tristan commanded.
Lucas rose while Karla stayed concealed, giving the trio a slight advantage, as their opponents might underestimate their strength.
"Lucas of Newtown, in the employ of Count Matthias."
"What are you doing here, boy?"
Lucas looked to Tristan, who nodded.
"Tracking wolves on behalf of the shepherdess whose flock they were ravaging."
"And that gives you rights to trespass on our land?"
Tristan quickly interjected, "We were not aware of any claim, and it is the right of all farmers and animal husbands to kill wolves threatening or attacking their flocks or herds."
"Leave at once, or you will not leave at all."
"You owe compensation for all the sheep your wolves have killed."
"We owe no such debt. Last warning. Leave now!"
"Who may I say you are when I inquire of the Bailiff if these are indeed your lands?"
"You do not listen well, Tristan of Newtown!" the man said, raising his bow.
Before he could draw the bowstring, Karla revealed herself and fired an arrow squarely into his chest. She returned to her cover, and Tristan dropped to the ground. The arrow loosed at Lucas struck him in the shoulder. He screamed in pain and fell to the ground. Karla nocked an arrow and returned fire as Tristan scrambled to better cover.
The wolves advanced, but one of the other archers collapsed to the forest floor, Karla's arrow having found his knee. Karla nocked another arrow as the three wolves set on Tristan. She felt he could deal with them with his sword while she attempted to take down the third man.
Rather than simply fire, Karla crouched and sidestepped towards Lucas, using a fallen tree as partial cover. When she had moved about half the distance of the fallen tree, she carefully peered over it, and an arrow flew by her ear for her trouble. That didn't bother her, because as long as the archer was focused on her, he wasn't firing at Tristan, who, for his part, had dispatched one of the three wolves. Unfortunately, one of the others had bitten his leg before he could withdraw his sword from the dead wolf.
Tristan managed to kick the wolf that had bitten his leg away, but the other fastened onto his sword arm. Tristan used his free hand to draw his dagger and plunged it into the side of the wolf's neck. A quick twist, and the wolf's jaws went slack. Tristan, wishing now that he'd worn his complete set of armor, including leather greaves and cuisses, quickly killed the third wolf. He saw Karla and the remaining archer exchanging fire, with neither hitting their target. Given his wound, Tristan was not at full strength, but could still move well enough to creep along the forest floor to flank the archer.
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