City Guardsman
Copyright© 2026 by Ka Hmnd
Chapter 3
I woke to Sam’s warm body pulling away from me. I turned to watch her cross the large room heading for the water closet. “You’re not sick again, are you?”
She looked back and grinned. “No.”
When she came out, she walked back to bed with a gentle sway. She slipped under the covers and snuggled up next to me. I caressed her round tummy and felt my daughter kick. Sam laughed every time I said it was a girl. She insisted that her daughter wouldn’t be so inconsiderate as to kick her so much that it was a boy. There was a knock on the door, and then Adelia poked her head in.
She opened the door enough for little Sarah to run through as she sighed. She looked from her daughter climbing into bed to me. “The duke sent a messenger. He’s waiting downstairs with Tim.”
I smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Adelia. I’ll be down in a minute.”
Little Sarah snuggled up to Sam, and Sam laughed softly and gave her a hug. As the door closed, I slid out of bed and moved to get dressed. The messenger had an invitation for Sam and me to break our fast with the duke and duchess at the Guard’s tavern. I sent the messenger back with my agreement and let Adelia know we would be going out.
Tim had been a lifesaver to Adelia, and they got along very well. She was always gentle with him and explained anything he didn’t understand. William would follow him around all day to help with whatever he was doing. Adelia was a godsend to us and seemed to know what was needed before we did.
When Sam and I walked out the door later, it was to see almost a full court sitting at the outside tables of the Guard’s tavern. It had been three months since the attack by Shermerez, and things were just starting to settle down. We weren’t surprised when many of our prisoners had asked for asylum. A lot of men had followed the skirmish commander to Morvine.
The duke and duchess were sitting with James, Ali, and Jonathan. Mona and Captain Able were just crossing the square heading for the tavern as well. I grinned at Sam. “The tavern has become a popular place lately.”
She grinned back. “Teresa has been getting a lot of attention lately, and Tess has been giving her a lot of help.”
I laughed as I saw both Teresa and Tess as they were busy serving the crowd of nobles; even their older sister, Barbra, was helping. We slipped onto the bench across from the duke, and he grinned as Mona slid onto the bench next to Sam. “Ready for another sparring match, your grace?”
I grinned up at Tess. “What happened to all your regular helpers?”
She grinned back. “Momma is teaching them how to cook today.”
Breakfast at the tavern was something the court didn’t do often, but lately, it had happened about once or twice a week. We talked quietly without getting into business. One of the nobles’ younger sons was with him and was loud and obnoxious towards Barbra, who was serving him. After a particular comment, I glanced over and froze when I saw his hand slap the table top.
It wasn’t his hand that had drawn my attention; it was the ring he was wearing. I looked around and signaled Edward and Peter before standing and moving around the table. Everyone at our table had quieted when I rose, and then gradually, other nobles began to take note. When I reached the baron’s son, I reached out and grabbed his wrist.
I twisted out and back, forcing him to stand with a cry of pain. The baron and others at his table came to their feet, but I ignored them. I turned the arrogant young man to face me as I drew a dagger and put it against his throat. “Followers of Kirsh have been banned from this kingdom. You will remove the ring and leave this duchy, or I will give you the king’s grace myself.”
There was instant silence as he glared at me. “How dare you!”
The baron had puffed up, and I only glanced at him. “The king’s law on those that follow Kirsh is plain. If your father interferes, I will bring him before the king’s court and have his patience stripped from him, and then he will be branded and whipped out of the kingdom.”
The baron’s face paled, and his son looked from him to me arrogantly. “Release me, peasant!”
I brought the hand with the dagger back and slugged him in the mouth. “Quiet! From this day, your name will be stricken from your family. Your belongings will be burned before the city, and you will be stripped to wear rags. The king’s court will be given your name and description. If you are found within the kingdom after a fortnight, you will be staked and burned.”
I twisted and shoved as I turned, sending him sprawling on the cobblestones. I looked at Peter as he and Edward moved to grab him. “Have the Militia go to his home and bring his belongings to the square.”
The nobles were all quiet as the duke walked to the young man and grabbed his arm to see the ring for himself. He looked around at all the nobles. “Hold up your hands!”
I realized what he was doing and spun to look as all the nobles raised their hands. Finally, the duke nodded and looked at Jonathan. “Send a messenger to the king.”
Jonathan nodded and turned to leave. The duke looked around at all the nobles. “You will each check those of your household for other followers.”
He turned to look at Captain Able. “Put the word out to look for their drug den and chattel house.”
He looked at the white-faced youth. “Have him staked to watch the burnings and then brand him.”
The duke looked around and then gestured to Armsmaster Henry, who had appeared suddenly. “Extra guards and double the watch at the gates.”
He nodded and turned to one of the militia standing nearby. The duke looked at me and nodded toward my house. As we started across, Sam, the duchess, James, and Ali fell into step. When we came into the house, Adelia took everything in stride and moved towards the kitchen. “Tim!”
Sam grinned as Tim walked through the big great room with William dangling from one foot, laughing, and little Sarah slung over his shoulder, giggling. Everyone just watched him and looked at me, and I shrugged. “Don’t look at me.”
They grinned, and I smiled as I watched Tim’s retreating back. I shook my head and looked at the duke. “If followers of Kirsh have set up a chattel house here, we need to find it. They will be moving more openly now, and you and your family are in danger.”
He nodded and looked at Ali. “That means you too, princess.”
Ali stuck her tongue out, and James laughed as his arm went around her waist. “I’ll make sure she starts carrying her sword again.”
The duchess laughed as the duke frowned at James. I shook my head. “Everyone gets extra guards, and everyone you get, you check. Don’t just look for rings on the fingers; look for rings around the neck or in pouches.”
They nodded, and I turned at the knock at the door. I opened it to see Mona and Captain Able with both Edward and Chris. After they came in, I led the way to the others. I nodded to Mona and Captain Able. “You will need to check each guard. Like I told the duke, look for fingers on chains around the neck or in pouches. If they are Kirsh, they will have a ring somewhere on their body. Clear your guards and the oncoming guards, including Captain Hurst and Lieutenant Belet.”
They nodded, and I watched them leave before looking at Edward and Chris. “If they have a chattel house in the city, they have to dispose of bodies. Chris, I want you to check around the trade gate. You know what to look for.”
He nodded and turned to leave, and I looked at Edward. “They need to bring in the spider dust, and I doubt bringing it through a gate would work. You know the gate cocks would scream bloody murder, so that means either the docks or they have another way in.”
He nodded. “The guards have reports from the noble sector about mini dragons coming into the streets on certain days.”
I thought about it and looked at the duke as he snorted. “Try Baroness Terness. The baron used to have a small stone dock.”
I nodded to Edward, “Get Dett and go take a look. If they are coming in from the baroness’s dock, let me know. I want the two of you to set up a watch if they are using it. I’ll come by later to look everything over. If they bring something in, I want them followed.”
He nodded and turned to leave. I smiled at Sam, “Since you promised Adelia we would take William and Sarah while she was shopping with Tim...”
The duchess laughed, “Just don’t hang them upside down.”
Everyone laughed, and Sam grinned. Everyone left shortly after that with guards that I made sure were safe. I found Tim and Adelia in the kitchen after sending Sam upstairs for the weapons I had gotten her. Adelia was cleaning up, and Tim was fixing a cabinet while William and Sarah squatted beside him to watch. I touched his shoulder, “Tim?”
He looked up at me, “Remember Beleme and the bad house we found?”
His face tightened, and he nodded, “I remember Armsmaster.”
I nodded, “We think there is another one here. I want you to stay close to Adelia and put your weapons back on.”
He nodded and looked at Adelia before looking at me again, “I won’t let anyone hurt her, Armsmaster.”
I patted his shoulder and looked at Adelia, who had turned to look at me, “Don’t leave his side, Adelia.”
She looked at Tim and then smiled tenderly, “I won’t.”
I put my hand on William’s shoulder, “As for you two scamps, ready to go out?”
William nodded with a huge grin, and Sarah just held her arms out to be picked up. I picked her up and spun around quickly, listening to her squeal, “If I always carry you, your legs are going to stop working.”
Adelia snorted while William giggled. Sam met us by the door, and we stepped out. I looked at the two guards standing there and raised an eyebrow. Joseph, the older one, shrugged, “Mona said to remind you that you are part of the duke’s family too.”
Sam laughed and took William’s hand, “Well, come along. I could use extra hands if I find something I want to buy.”
They looked at each other, and I grinned as I started off. Our first stop was a dressmaker. After what we all thought was an extra long time, we headed to the next stop. A guard runner stopped me to give me a note, which was from Dett: “The Baroness’s dock is the entrance the smugglers are using.”
I stopped Sam, and we grabbed a few meat rolls from a street vendor and headed towards the Baroness’s estate. She was a nice old lady, and her eyes had lit up at the sight of William and little Sarah. She had even squatted down to be even with Sarah and told her that was her name too. She was happy to let us see the dock but mentioned a nice sandy beach that would be better for our picnic.
The two guards stayed in the rocks above while the Baroness led us to the beach. I watched the rainbow of mini dragons take off, and Sarah clapped while William’s eyes lit up: “Can you catch one, Armsmaster?”
I smiled and pulled out one of the meat rolls: “I can’t, but you can. Just throw some bread crumbs on the ground, and when one eats it, wait and hold out some tiny pieces of meat on your hand.”
I should have known what would happen. I mean, I knew all about mini dragons but not really that much about children. The next thing I knew, Sarah was demanding to feed the little dragons too. Sam was grinning and seemed delighted to just talk with the Baroness while watching the children. I gave Sarah the same instructions I had given William as Edward appeared.
I backed away as a small flight of dragons descended on the two children. I talked to Edward, who said all the signs pointed to visits every few days. That was consistent with spider dust since it went bad quickly. When I looked back at the children, I knew I had made a mistake. William had three clinging to his shoulders and a fourth on his forearm sleeping.
Sarah... I don’t know how a girl that small could have so many mini dragons clinging to her. After I sorted everything out with Sam laughing as she helped, William had four mini dragons claiming him, and Sarah had nine. They were all different colors, and it was an experience to walk down the street with them wheeling around us.
When we got home, I opened the door and just held it while Sam brought William and Sarah in. The mini dragons didn’t hesitate long before swooping down and zooming through the door. Adelia screeched, and Tim was looking around trying to watch all the mini dragons at once. Adelia looked at me crossly, and I shrugged, “I never thought they would try to feed all of them.”
Sam laughed, and Adelia frowned. Sarah was sitting down by the iron fire box with William. The mini dragons whirled around and finally settled down on the two children. Adelia finally sighed, “Do they do anything besides eat and make a mess?”
I grinned as Sarah started draping lizards over her legs and stroking and petting them. I looked at Adelia, “They will protect them with their lives.”
She looked away from the kids with a tender smile, “I guess they can stay.”
When I looked back, Tim was sitting down with the kids, petting the small flying lizards. I smiled and looked back at the door as someone knocked. I crossed to the door and opened it to see Peter. He stepped in and looked around and then grinned when he saw the children and Tim. He sobered as he looked at me, “We found five more in the guards.”
I wasn’t really surprised and nodded, “They won’t keep the rings on them anymore.”
He nodded, “Mona had Captain Able bring gate cocks to the guard barracks and the Duke’s Keep. There should be enough residue to set them off. He recalled all guards to check them too.”
I nodded to the door, “Edward and Dett are at Baroness Terness. They are bringing in the spider dust through her private dock. Check with Chris by the trade gate and then meet Sam and me at the guard barracks. If we do have a chattel house, where are the slave women coming from?”
He frowned and nodded before leaving. I glanced at the kids again and then headed towards the kitchen where I found Sam and Adelia. “Adelia, when you can get Tim’s attention, have him block the back doorway.”
She smiled and nodded from her place by the stove. I smiled at Sam nibbling at cookies. “Stop eating sweets. I’ll take you to Maria for something to eat before we go next door.”
She grinned and finished her cookie before walking to me. “Maria is making those small meat pies today.”
I laughed because I knew Sam loved the pies. I took her hand and walked to the door. As soon as I stepped out, I knew there was trouble. I pushed Sam behind me back into the house. “Tell Tim to watch the back door and get your weapons ready.”
There should have been at least one guard by our door. There was a small crowd, and as I pulled my dagger, three men shifted in the crowd, and I rolled to the side as they threw knives. I came to my feet as a throwing dart dropped into my hand, and I threw it. A man screamed as it struck his eye, and the other two men scrambled to hide in the running crowd.
I pulled the front door open and shut it behind me, dropping the bar into place. I could see the agitated mini dragons in the kitchen and moved through the large common room to step into the back hallway. Tim looked back calmly with four bodies at his feet. Sam was behind him with a throwing spike in one hand and a short sword in the other.
I shook my head. “Block that door so no one can come through, Tim.”
He nodded and reached down with one hand to toss a body out the backdoor. After the last body was thrown out, he closed and dropped a thick crossbar into the brackets. I nodded. “Sam?”
She put her sword away and carefully tucked the throwing spike back where she had been hiding it. She followed me to the front door, and I cracked it before opening it wider and stepping out. Mona stood beside the struggling man my dart had blinded. Two very large, angry guards were holding him, and I walked towards them. “Tim tossed four bodies out the back door.”
Mona grinned. “Too bad. I miss watching him work.”
Sam laughed. “I still can’t believe he is that good. It’s like he goes away, and a lightning demon takes his place.”
Mona laughed. “That is the best description I have ever heard.”
I nodded to the struggling man. “Find out what he knows and check every location he gives you.”
She nodded to the two guards who dragged him towards the guard building. I looked around the square. “They’ll be trying the duke and his family next.”
Mona nodded. “They already did. Armsmaster Henry brought in militia to guard them after checking them. Six men, two of them guards, tried to enter the manor and were all killed. Henry himself was attacked coming from the militia compound and killed four more.”
I nodded. “Anyone see the others that were out here?”
She shook her head. “They were dressed like guards. That was how they got close to your guards.”
I nodded. “The gate cocks?”
She sighed. “A small party attacked the guards bringing them.”
I sighed too. “Dead?”
She nodded, and I stood looking around while thinking. I smiled as I remembered something from last week. “Get some guards you can trust. Go to the Merchants Stockyards. See Merchant Penner. He was trying to sell the duke, Scent Hounds.”
Mona grinned and nodded. “They’ll work.”
I nodded, and she turned to start calling out names. The guards pushed through the crowded square, and she finally nodded. I looked at her. “Mona? Watch your back.”
She smiled. “I will.”
I nodded and took Sam’s hand. I poked my head into the house. “Adelia? Tim?”
Tim was standing by the back hallway and looked towards me while Adelia poked her head out the kitchen doorway. I smiled, “It seems to be over for now. Keep the doors and windows closed and locked.”
Adelia nodded and I turned after closing the door and led Sam across the square to the tavern. George was just inside the door with a large wooden cudgel and Sam grinned at him, “You can’t protect Maria’s meat pies with that, it isn’t allowed.”
He laughed as he stood aside to let us pass. It was an hour before we came out. Sam smiled as she tucked her arm in mine, “I always like Maria’s meat pies.”
I laughed and smiled at her as we crossed the square to the guard building. It was crowded with guards, most were off and had been called in. They had all been checked and a skinny scent hound sat between two guards I knew were very good with the naked swords they held. I glanced around and headed towards Captain Hurst and Lieutenant Belet.
They looked up as we approached and Captain Hurst nodded for Belet to continue. He was talking about a cart of dung Chris had stopped. They had found the body of a tortured woman under the dung when he tipped the cart back, dumping it on the street. The driver had been ... questioned but didn’t know where the body had come from.
I looked at Hurst when an angry growl from the guards surrounding us rose as Belet said she had a guard’s emblem branded into her chest, “Any luck getting a location from the man you caught?”
Hurst shook his head, “Abandoned.”
I looked around and raised my voice, “Alright, you men go home but be careful. When you work tonight, start asking around for any information about women going missing or abandoned buildings suddenly having people in them.”
I waited until the crowd thinned and Peter walked towards me from the water barrels. I looked from him to the barrels and then nodded, “You checked the water for poison?”
He nodded and then looked around. “I know the Temple always goes crazy when they are discovered, but all these open attacks are a little much.”
I nodded. “They should have known better than attacking Henry or me.”
I looked around again as Captain Hurst and Lieutenant Belet joined us. “I think it might somehow be a feint, distracting us from something else.”
Peter nodded as Hurst and Belet looked at each other. I turned to look at the door as I thought, and then it hit me. I nodded to Peter and took Sam’s hand and led her out with Peter following. I led Sam and Peter to our house and stopped just inside. I looked at Peter. “The king’s visit.”
His eyes widened, and he nodded. Sam had gasped, and I squeezed her hand as I looked across the large room at Adelia and Tim as they sat with the children and mini dragons. I looked at Peter. “Get someone to replace Dett and Edward. Replace Chris and tell him I want every entrance and exit into the city checked. Tell him what I suspect.”
I walked to the door with Peter and let him out. I gestured to the guard. “I need a runner.”
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