Chapter 12: Taking a Duke’s life

The next day rumors began spreading about the Emperor calling for troops. Within hours more rumors began of the king’s refusal. The rumors varied from the King rebelling against the Emperor to the kingdom being exempt because of trade agreements. Somehow I knew it all evolved Duke Toffel. By late afternoon everyone was talking about the King’s court being split.

I could not wait any longer and went to the stable to change. For the first time since I had been in this city I dressed in Peacemaker regalia. Everything from the twin short swords sticking up from the small of my back. To the star silver chain mail with my crest. Knives were in each leg sheath and slim white handled stilettos in both forearm sheath. Around my body were the slim throwing daggers Peacemaker’s were known for.

When I stepped into the common room everyone went quiet. Master Hoard looked at me and knelt. “Lord.”

I nodded, “I have to go out.”

He bowed and I turned away and walked out. I knew what this would cause but I needed to end the rumors quickly before one of the nobles took it to far and I had to do something ... drastic. I walked the streets making no attempt to hide. I walked straight for the Nobles gate in the Curtain wall. There were a dozen guards standing around when I approached the gate. They straightened and formed a wall blocking the gate. I stopped in front of a sergeant I knew well, “Move.”

He cleared his throat, “Imperial Peacemakers are not permitted past this point.”

I knew he was ignoring the Imperial kill order on all Peacemakers and smiled, “We go where justice demands. Move or face my judgment.”

He hesitated and then moved aside. The other guards cleared a path and I walked through the clear path and then through the gate. I kept going and the guards along the way only stopped to watch as I passed. I went straight to the King’s Keep. The guards pulled swords as I walked up and I shifted slightly, two spikes flashed out from my hands and made a solid sound as they sank into the wood by the head of each guard.

They jumped and dropped their sword as I walked closer. I pulled the two spikes out without speaking and continued into the Keep. The guards only stood aside as I made my way to the King’s chamber and stopped. I think they were shocked when I knocked. When the King called for me to enter, I opened the door and walked in. He was sitting beside the fireplace with his wife and she jumped up, “NO!”

I smiled as I came closer and grabbed a chair. He had stood slowly and faced me as I sat and looked at him. His wife came into his arms and he cleared his throat, “Peacemaker?”

I nodded my head, “Your majesty I need answers.”

He looked away and finally nodded, “The rumors about me not sending troops to the Emperor.”

I nodded and he sat, pulling his wife onto his lap almost absently. He held her against him and looked at me, “Duke Toffel and several others have a letter of intent. If I support the Emperor they will seek to replace me by using the Nobles court. They say I am not competent to rule if I am only the Emperor’s puppet.”

I sat back and looked towards the window, “The duke and every other noble know I am here. For some reason people believe a Peacemaker kills whenever they wish, without regard for evidence of truth.”

I looked back to the King, “It is your duty as the Emperor’s direct vassal to support him and the Empire.”

I looked from his wife back to him, “If Duke Toffel is interfering with the protection of the Empire than he is my problem.”

I stood and turned to the door. Outside the guards were all gathered around the door and parted as I walked through them. My walk through the Noble retreat was meet with fear as many stood at their gates with guards. I ignored them and continued to the manor of Duke Toffel. At the gate to his manor stood a dozen large guards in his livery.

As I approached they moved to block the entrance. I stopped a few feet away from a huge man that was plainly the captain of his guards, “I have business here, move.”

The man laughed with his guards. He stepped closer, “Boy, there is nothing here for you. Run away before I teach you...”

I did not wait for him to finish or warn him. Both swords slipped into my hands and darted forward to slice through his inner thighs, cutting both arteries. He screamed and dropped to the ground as I shoved past him and headed straight into his guards. They were in shock and scrambled to pull weapons.

I was not waiting, they had made it clear that they were there to stop me. I slashed one guard’s throat and stabbed another in the neck. I blocked a hasty lunge and stabbed him under the arm before spinning to deflect a sword as it chopped down at me. As the guard twisted and tried to pull the sword back to block, I cut his throat and turned to the other guards as they suddenly backed away.

One by one they threw their weapons down and held empty hands out. I waved a sword out the gate and they were quick to rush out. I turned and knelt to wipe my swords clean before walking towards the large front doors. There were several people in the great hall and everyone backed away as I walked through them with drawn swords. The Duke had stood up with a pale face and wide eyes, “The Peacemakers are outlawed!”

I did not even smile as I walked closer. My left sword only flick out and back when a guard suddenly stepped out. I continued while the guard grabbed his throat and dropped to his knees. The duke was backing up looking around for help when I stopped, “Send someone for the letter of intent.”