A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 28: Day 42
"My Lady!" Bella called out, entering the master bedchamber. "There is an urgent message from Haven for your Lord husband."
Lilia immediately rose, and Bella helped her into a dressing gown. Lilia put on slippers, then she and Bella quickly made their way downstairs.
"My Lady," Jorah said. "I have most disturbing news. King Ludwig has been murdered. Edward is now King, and his coronation will occur after six days of mourning."
"What horrible news! We must notify Count Matthias as soon as possible."
"I will hire a rider to head directly to Dal Valley. It is far enough out of the way that it might take days for the news to reach them otherwise."
"Thank you, Jorah! Bella, come help me dress, please."
"Yes, my Lady."
🎲🎲🎲
The news spread relatively quickly to Southham.
"KING LUDWIG IS DEAD! LONG LIVE KING EDWARD!" the City Crier shouted.
He continued past stunned inhabitants of the city, travelers, and merchants, but Karla and Milos exchanged a knowing look. They, along with Lisette and Stewart, simply continued to the weaver's shop where Karla had seen the two men enter. Fortunately for the small band, there was plenty of foot and cart traffic in the area, so they wouldn't be noticed if they were careful and traded watches.
"We should get word to Matthias," Lisette suggested.
"I would expect a messenger was dispatched to Newtown," Milos said. "Jorah will immediately send word to Matthias. If tradition is followed, the coronation will be six days from today, though Edward was King the moment King Ludwig died."
"Lisette, who will be Lord Mayor?" Karla asked.
"Perhaps it will be Robert, but it is up to the King. Any titled subject in the Realm is eligible, but it is traditionally someone from Fulham. Given Robert's youth, I would think either Sir Malcolm or Earl Adam. Both are well-liked and well-regarded, and they are both in their later years. Either would bring stability in uncertain times and give King Edward time to make a decision. I suspect he has far more pressing matters."
"Karla, you and Lisette continue along the street. Stewart and I will stop at the potter's shop across the way and engage him in conversation. You should return in twenty minutes and speak to the bowyer. Then, twenty minutes later, Lisette can return to speak to the herbalist. Stewart and I will wander the area during that time."
"And if we learn nothing?" Karla asked.
"We repeat shifts, visiting other merchants and strolling the area."
They reached the potter's shop, and Milos engaged the potter in conversation, with Stewart standing to his side and just behind, as if he were a servant. The girls continued along the street, walking past the weaver's shop, but saw nothing of note.
🎲🎲🎲
In Haven, Robert and Miri were guarded by a squad of King's Guard everywhere they went. The only place they could have even a modicum of privacy was their bedchamber, but it was searched each time before they entered.
"Do you know what you are looking for, Sergeant?" Duke Robert inquired at the completion of the search after breakfast with his parents.
"The magister and alchemist believe a clay pot was used to contain some kind of mixture and nails. It is unclear how it was activated or how it worked. The magister speculates, but cannot say for certain, that it might have been set off by acid eating through a thread, activated when the door to the privy was closed.
"The Bailiff does not agree, as there was no way to know whether it would be the King or Queen using the privy. They have ruled out magic, as even Duchess Miri was required to surrender her mana crystals to enter the Keep, and the Court Mage is certain no crystals are in the Keep, either charged or discharged."
"How can you be sure, Sergeant?" Miri asked.
"The Court Mage has a device which is able to detect mana crystals, and none were in the Keep even an hour before the King's death, nor were any detected almost immediately after. No one entered or left the Keep following the activation of the device. Once the doors were opened, anyone leaving was thoroughly searched, including members of the King's and Queen's Guards."
"Thank you, Sergeant," Duke Robert said. "My wife and I will retire to the bedchamber."
"Of course, my Lord Duke."
🎲🎲🎲
It was while Lisette was speaking with the herbalist that the men exited the weaver's shop. She waited a bit, then followed them, the other three, who had been lurking, joining her on her signal. When the men left via the main city gate, the quartet retrieved their horses and rode out of the city, easily overtaking the men on the road that led to Dal Valley, where the farms were located.
They rode past the men, believing it was better to confront them as a unified company, despite having the advantage of numbers. Milos was positive he could defeat both men alone, but all it would take was bad luck to reverse the outcome. As he had said to Lucas, knowledge was key, and he knew little about the men who had mounted horses outside the gate, except that they were riding into a trap at the farm, if that was their destination.
When they arrived in Dal Valley, the quartet increased their speed from a canter to a gallop, unsure how speedily the men were proceeding on their mounts. At the farm, they dismounted, handed the horses to the stable boys, and sought out Matthias.
"Edward is King!" Milos said, even before a greeting.
"Long live King Edward!" Matthias replied, certain that would not be the case. "What other news?"
"We spotted the thugs and watched for them, and when they departed Southham on horseback, we overtook them. We should set up an ambush."
"I agree. Tyra, ensure the farmhands and household servants are aware. Tristan, please find Sean and ask him to join us. Karla, find a high perch from which you can survey the land leading to the farmhouse."
"The top of the stable," she replied. "If I lie flat, they will not see me until I want them to."
"Do that. I'll stand behind the corner of the house. Milos, you will be in the stables. Tristan, they haven't seen you, so you stand with Sean and guard his life. Lisette, stay in the house and protect the children. Tyra, you come with me to the side of the house."
Everyone agreed and took their positions, and about fifteen minutes later, the two thugs rode up the path to the farmhouse.
"I told you never to return!" Sean declared even before the men dismounted. "Turn and go!"
"Not today," the thug in the maroon leather said. "Pay, or we will kill you and your youngest sons. I expect your eldest to be more coöperative at that point."
"You may try," Tristan said calmly, "but it will not end well for you."
The thug laughed, and his partner raised a cocked crossbow with a bolt in it. Before it was close to being leveled at Tristan, the thug fell from his horse as he was struck in his left eye by an arrow loosed by Karla.
"You were saying?" Tristan asked as Karla nocked and aimed her next arrow, and Milos appeared from the stables.
"That was foolish!" the maroon-clad thug declared.
"No," Matthias called out, coming from the corner of the house that had provided cover for him and Tyra. "You were foolish to return and walk into an ambush. Dismount and disarm, or join your friend in the next life."
The thug looked around and immediately understood his choice was between surrender and death. The insurmountable problem was that his employer would kill him if he surrendered. While he would risk death in a fight, this would be an execution, and he did not wish to die.
"Parley?" he requested.
"Dismount and disarm, and we will parley," Matthias replied.
The thug removed his sword and sheath and dropped them to the ground, followed by a pair of daggers — one from his belt, the other from his boot. Having disarmed, he dismounted.
"I'll trade information for coin and my freedom," the thug said.
"Agreed," Matthias replied, "so long as you are truthful. Otherwise, I will put a large bounty on your head. You address Count Matthias of Newtown. Who are you?"
"I recognize no titles, Matthias. I am Oscar, from Lindal."
"Who employs you?"
"The Black Crows," Oscar said flatly. "We pay no lord and bow to no badge. We squeeze coin from farmers who have none to spare, and we burn the stores of men who wear titles. Each group runs itself, and we pass messages via secret spots, not directly. I have never seen the chief's face — I would not know him if he sat at my table."
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.