A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 79: Day 105
The next morning in Haven, the Commander of the King's Guard came to the Royal quarters during breakfast.
"Begging Your Majesty's pardon," he said. "I have a report."
"Speak it, Commander."
"The High Priest tried to sneak out twice. Once, just after midnight, disguised as an acolyte; once early this morning when food was delivered, by hiding in an empty ale barrel. We simply ordered him back inside, and he complied."
"Good work, Commander. Are worshipers coming and going as usual?"
"Fewer than a typical day, according to one of the acolytes who is the son of one of my men. He speculates people are staying away because they disagree with the High Priest. The number visiting the Temple Maidens has not changed."
Miri laughed. "Men will not easily be deterred from THAT form of worship!"
The Commander smiled. "Having observed the behavior of my own men, I would agree, my Queen."
"Are the two squads sufficient, Commander?" Robert asked.
"I would request we turn the duty over to the City Guard, which would allow my men to focus on threats to the Crown and Keep. I would post one trusted lieutenant to watch the High Priest. I will have a detachment ready to respond if the High Priest causes any trouble."
"That will also give the impression of normalcy. I approve, Commander. Speak to the Bailiff about posting additional City Guardsmen in the Temple District to relieve your men."
"I will do so immediately, Your Majesty!"
The Commander departed, and Miri smiled in approval.
"You are learning, Lord husband. I will be in my laboratory today."
"And I have my regular meeting with the Privy Council."
"Then I am doubly glad to be in my laboratory!" Miri teased.
"They are not so bad, but the reports can become tedious. I will see you for the mid-day meal."
They finished breakfast, and Miri headed for her laboratory while Robert met with his Steward to prepare for the Privy Council meeting.
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Karla, Lisette, and Tyra departed for Dal Valley on horseback immediately following breakfast.
"Have you been practicing with your light crossbow, Lisette?" Karla asked.
"Yes. And with my dagger. Michael has been training me."
"What's going on between the two of you?"
"We're just enjoying each other's company. I expect by the time we return to Newtown, he will have agreed to Sierra's offer of marriage."
"And Tristan?"
"Will eventually admit to himself that he loves me. Until then, I will enjoy myself."
"As I am positive you did last night!" Tyra interjected.
"As you did the night before!" Lisette retorted.
"He is very, very good!" Karla declared with a sly smile.
"YOU?!" Tyra gasped in surprise.
"When Milos and I were free because of a mission. Milos was with his cousin Willa, and I was with Matthias."
"Is that the real reason he wished to stay in Southham?" Tyra asked.
"No. Milos knows I am completely faithful to him, and Matthias would never violate his friendship with Milos because I am married to Milos. Milos is truly concerned about the threats to Matthias' life. Our Company has eliminated several Black Crows, and they must know it was us, and are certain to try to seek revenge against Matthias. If King Ludwig was in league with the Black Crows, or with Dania, there are likely other conspirators, and both King Robert and Matthias are at risk; Miri, too."
"What about Newtown?"
"I would say it is at risk, but with four guards and two deputies, not to mention the garrison in Fulham, I believe it is relatively safe, at least for now."
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"How do you intend to notify the King of our suspicions?" Milos asked after Karla, Lisette, and Tyra had departed.
"I need to do it face-to-face," Matthias replied. "Until then, I have to rely on the King's Guard and Queen Miri to keep the King safe."
"How do we begin?" Tristan asked.
"You use your unique skills and see if Laurel has any information," Matthias replied with a smile. "If she was sharing a bed with Alton, she likely knows something about the visitors."
"Don't you think she'd be more likely to answer you?"
"No. I represent the threat of the noose. You, on the other hand, are not threatening, and she was watching you flirt with Daphne."
"I suppose, in your service, I could suffer to bed a girl who wasn't a maiden."
Matthias, Milos, and Stefan all laughed.
"A pretty girl with a large chest and wide hips is 'suffering'?" Milos asked with a grin. "Who knew?"
All four of them laughed together.
"Milos, speak to the Knights, members of the City Guard, and any troops here. Discover what they know about any nefarious activities or rumors of nefarious activities. I will speak with Nobles and merchants. We'll meet back here before dark to allay your concerns about my safety."
"I don't like you being alone, but during daylight, I will accept it out of necessity."
"The only way this will work long-term is if we add another skilled swordsman to the Company," Tristan observed.
"Lucas is too young, and he prefers ranged weapons," Milos observed. "Zoë is a mage, and Teresa is an alchemist and healer. Do you have someone in mind, Tristan?"
"No. But we want someone our age, not older."
"We are a cohesive group," Matthias observed. "We want to be very careful about introducing someone new without some kind of probationary period, which is, in effect, what Lucas, Zoë, and Teresa are undergoing. Tyra was Miri's cousin, and Lisette showed her worth and skills in our mission against Kranos. So, we should look for someone, but be very selective. That said, I do think Milos is a bit overprotective, but only a bit."
"Someone will come for you, Matthias," Milos said firmly. "Of that I am absolutely certain. As we root out more Black Crows, the threat will only increase."
"I'm open to finding someone, as I said, but that is in the future. We need to focus on the mission at hand."
The four of them left the house to begin the investigation, with Stefan accompanying Milos, as was fitting for a Knight's page.
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As Karla, Lisette, and Tyra rode past a copse of trees, Tyra cried out in agony and fell from her horse, with an arrow lodged in her thigh. Karla and Lisette quickly dismounted and moved to a ditch for cover as a second arrow flew, striking Karla's horse in its flank.
"Tyra?!" Karla called out. "How are you?"
"Not good," Tyra groaned as she tried to crawl into the ditch.
More arrows flew, striking both remaining horses. Karla had her bow out, but couldn't see any target in the copse, nor could Lisette, who wielded her light crossbow. Another arrow flew towards Tyra, but it hit the dirt just in front of her, and she finally managed to crawl into the ditch.
Karla saw two archers and a swordsman creep from the copse, arrows nocked and sword at the ready.
"Target the swordsman," Karla whispered to Lisette. "Fire on '3'."
Lisette nodded and waited for Karla to give the signal.
"1... 2... 3!"
Both women rose and fired at the swordsman, with both projectiles striking him in the chest. Karla doubted the wounds were immediately fatal, as he was wearing leather armor, but he did go down. Before she had decided what to do next, a flash of magical energy took down an archer as three magic bolts hit him square in the chest. Karla had not thought Tyra could still shape a spell — not with that much blood on the grass — and for a heartbeat she simply stared at the ditch. Tyra's head had snapped up for the casting and fallen back the instant the crystals went dark, as if the bolts had carried her strength with them. The second archer dropped into the grass and began to crawl back to the copse.
"Lisette," Karla said, her voice sharper than she intended. "Check on Tyra — she should not have been able to do that. I'll cover you."
Lisette nodded and crawled on her belly to where Tyra was lying, blood pooling next to her leg. Lisette was surprised Tyra had been able to concentrate enough to cast the magic missile spell, and it appeared now she was only semi-conscious, having expended so much energy. Lisette quickly tied a leather strip around Tyra's thigh just above where the arrow protruded and tightened it to slow the bleeding.
As Lisette was working, the swordsman rose to his knees and almost immediately toppled over as Karla's arrow penetrated the leather armor covering his stomach. Karla quickly nocked another arrow and observed the two archers. The first one reached the copse and was hidden, but the second one wasn't moving, though Karla thought he might only be stunned.
Lisette examined the arrow in Tyra's thigh and decided she could remove it, as the arrowhead was protruding from the other side of her thigh.
"I'm going to give you poppy extract, then cut the shaft and pull the rest of the shaft through," she said.
Tyra, who was feeling lightheaded and in severe pain, moaned and nodded. She accepted the poppy extract, which Lisette had laced with a sleeping agent, and a few minutes later, her eyes closed, signaling to Lisette she could begin. Tyra made no sound when Lisette cut the shaft, but groaned softly when Lisette pulled it through.
Lisette worked quickly to bind a poultice of aloe, willow bark extract, garlic, and bread mould on the wound. With that in place, she loosened the leather strip. All she could do now was wait because Tyra likely needed a surgeon, but it was going to be challenging to get her to one. There was almost no blood seeping out from under the poultice, which Lisette took as a good sign. With nothing more to do, she crawled back to Karla and took up a position beside her, crossbow at the ready.
"She's alive, but unconscious. I gave her poppy extract, and I would like to get her to a surgeon."
"All three horses are wounded," Karla replied, "at least one fatally so. Two of the attackers are down; the third made it back to the copse of trees. I fear there may be more."
"What do we do?" Lisette asked.
"The archer is a problem. I can't see him, so any attempt to cross the road is risky. Do you think you could crawl along the ditch and then cross the road about a hundred paces from here? You would be out of range, then could approach from the flank."
"I can try," Lisette said. "Perhaps he fled?"
"If they're Black Crows, which I suspect they are, I seriously doubt it. We aren't dead, and I am sure that would be their mission. They would do everything possible to complete it."
"Even though it's two against one? Retreating and trying another day would make more sense."
"You're free to stick your head up and find out," Karla said dryly.
"I'll crawl along the ditch."
"Wise choice. Be careful, as there may be others."
Lisette removed the bolt from her crossbow, slid the bow into the strap on her backpack that held it in place, and put the bolt in a leather sleeve with nine others. Once she had stowed the items, she began crawling along the ditch.
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Milos' heightened awareness caused him to turn just enough for the dagger thrust to only penetrate the flesh in his side about an inch, missing his kidney, which had been the assassin's target. Milos' reflexes allowed him to draw his sword just as the masked and hooded man made a second thrust. It didn't connect, and the attacker didn't make a third because the tip of Milos' sword was protruding from his back.
Milos, who was rueing only wearing a tunic and not his chain shirt, withdrew his sword, and the would-be assassin crumpled to the ground, bleeding profusely. Milos quickly pushed his sword into the assassin's neck, ending his foe's life immediately. He grabbed the dagger and checked the man's pockets, but found nothing but a few silver and copper coins. He removed the man's hood and mask, but didn't recognize him.
As he wiped his sword on the assassin's cloak, Milos felt woozy and his vision blurred slightly. He looked at the dagger and saw a sticky, yellow substance, instantly realizing he'd been poisoned. He dropped to his knees, breathing heavily, then vomited.
"Sir?" Stefan asked, recovering from the shock of the surprise attack. "Are you badly wounded?"
"Poison," Milos grunted. "But I didn't get a full dose. My head is already clearing. Find a City Guardsman and bring him here at once!"
Stefan moved quickly and, about two minutes later, returned with a three-man patrol.
"What happened, Sir Knight?" the Sergeant asked.
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