Chapter 23

‘Dodge to the right!’ Erren warned.

Darras did as she advised as a throwing knife flashed towards him, only for him to grab it and twist to hurl it back, relying on Erren to target the thrower for him, which she naturally did. The knife flew true and one of the men next to the Duke suddenly had a blade in his throat, dropping him on the spot as an ominous silence came over those present.

“Duke Cranagh, you have some explaining to do, my superior or not,” Count Alros stated loudly.

“Agreed,” Earl Ordetas added. “Personal blades are forbidden at a wedding banquet. That is the King’s law.”

“I was unaware he carried a blade,” the Duke replied disdainfully. “I was as shocked as you over what he did.”

“Sir Darras, are you unharmed?” Count Alros asked.

“I am, my Lord,” Darras replied. “The goddess watches over me, always.”

“It does appear so,” the Count chuckled. “Further, the King’s law gives you the right to that man’s personal possessions in compensation.”

‘He was the assassin, a man of the Black Guild. Do not hand anything over to the servants to dispose of. I will assist you in dealing with them, ’ Erren warned.

“I thank you, my Lord. The knife is suspicious as it’s only used by the Black Guild,” Darras replied, causing many in the hall to murmur, both in surprise and alarm.

“An assassin you say?” Earl Ordetas grated out. “Duke Cranagh, why would you have an assassin in your party?”

“This man lies. Druli was no assassin. He has been a retainer of mine for years,” a now white-faced Duke replied.

“I recognise the knife as a kunai throwing blade. It is only used by the Black Guild,” Darras replied. “It also looks as if it carried poison.” He indicated the dead man’s throat that was now turning black around the area of penetration. “So no, I do not lie.”

“It appears you did not know this Druli as well as you thought, Duke Cranagh,” Earl Ordetas stated in dry tones. “Sir Darras, is it? You may deal with this man and his possessions as you see fit. The Duke, Count and I will be discussing this matter, now.”

“By your command, my Lord,” Darras replied with a slight bow as a white-faced Duke Cranagh moved to join the other two Nobles in ‘discussions’.

With Erren’s help, Darras removed various blades from the corpse along with a few phials of liquid. He was watched by, but not interfered with, the Duke’s party, as two men-at-arms were also standing close by. There was also a great deal of muttering by many around, as more and more weapons were produced from various hidden folds about the man’s clothing.

“He can be dealt with now,” Darras indicated to one of the guards.

“Thank you, sir Darras,” the guard replied. “Knowlis will escort you to the man’s room.”

Darras took the items he’d found to the guard standing near the ‘conversation’ between the three Nobles and was allowed to place them on their table as the three men watched in silence. Darras then followed Knowlis to a room in the wing where the Duke had been quartered. He was accompanied by Jertin and a still veiled Rienne.

“Rienne is here to ensure you are not interfered with,” Jertin chuckled at Darras’s querying look.

“I know it’s the custom for the bride-to-be to remain veiled before the husband-to-be, but it does look odd on you, Lady Rienne,” Darras chuckled, making her laugh as well.

“I agree,” she giggled. “But that is the custom and with Nobility it has to be seen to be done; unlike the common folk, where the bride to be is often openly pregnant at the ceremony.”

“We have often wished to be common folk,” Jertin laughed, making Rienne giggle even more.

They had reached the room to find it open, but a guard present to prevent any interference with the man’s belongings. Darras, again with Erren’s aid, searched the room producing a mass of various blades, blunt weapons and various phials of chemicals, having warned Jertin and Rienne to not touch anything.

“Quite the collection,” Jertin stated quietly as both Rienne and a goggle-eyed guard nodded in agreement.

“No doubt Duke Cranagh will deny knowledge of the man’s true nature,” Darras replied. “But that makes him look a fool at having such a man amongst his retainers.”

“Indeed it does,” Rienne agreed. “But better at least that than admitting you have a hired assassin with you.”

“Very true, Lady Rienne.”

“It’s just Rienne when it’s nothing formal ... Darras. We’re all friends here.”

“Thank you, Rienne, Jertin. I’m honoured.”

“The question now remains, why would the Duke have such a man in his service and why bring him here?” Rienne asked quietly.

“I doubt you’ll get any answers from Duke Cranagh,” Darras replied. “I rather suspect he’ll plead innocence and allude to the probability that the man was an agent of the King, keeping an eye on the Duke himself.”

“Aye, most likely,” Jertin agreed. “Nor can we do any more than question him ... politely.”

Having been informed by Erren that he had found everything, Darras, Jertin and Rienne took what they had to the room where the Duke, Earl and Count were discussing matters and left the items found with them before retreating back to the still ongoing banquet.

Despite the events, it was still a merry gathering. Jertin and Rienne got a massive cheer from those assembled when they re-entered the hall and Darras slipped quietly back to his seat. He was soon joined by Lady Bisan who was interested in his views as to what was really going on, though she seemed a little disappointed by Darras’s surmising that the man was simply a very skilled bodyguard with a hot temper.

“I doubt the Duke has any designs on the life of your brother, or the Earl,” Darras summed up what from Erren had told him to be true. “At worst, he would be there to eliminate any minor nuisances who irritated the Duke.”

“Yes, you’re probably right,” she sighed. “I rather doubt the Duke would want to be at an event where his hosts died, enmity or not.”

“Indeed he would not,” Darras agreed. “The popularity of the King’s Council is on the wane and such an ... assassination could lead to dire consequences.”

“You believe things have gone that far?” she asked with a frown, though obviously believing Darras.

“I do. The Council have mismanaged the affairs of the Kingdom by their greed and aggrandisement. It is only due to noblesse oblige and the oaths of the Nobles to the King that there has been no civil war. Should the Council push for Prince Joffar to take control rather than the clearly competent Prince Rigilo I believe there could be a very marked objection from the nobility.”

“Joffar is a pliable incompetent. They surely wouldn’t?” Bisan asked, clearly shocked.

“A pliable, controllable incompetent,” Darras pointed out. “I believe he is rarely seen in public these days?”

“He is not,” Bisan nodded. “His ... behaviour almost caused a scandal when he attended a banquet of the Ambassador of Fordel as naked as he was born. The only reason I know is because Liliba found out from her father and told Rienne.”

‘Joffar has slight brain damage due to a prolonged birth cycle starving the infant of blood as he was being born, ’ Erren explained to Darras. ‘He is harmless, but very suggestible to anything those in charge demand and therefore incompetent to rule.’

“If the Council pushed for Joffar, things would take a dark turn,” Darras warned, “Necessary as that would be.”

“I agree,” Bisan replied before moving on to speak to other guests.

The following morning was the day of the wedding. The banquet had wound down merrily and everyone attending had eaten and drunk their fill, though Duke Cranagh had made no further appearance. Darras had made his way to the men’s underground bathing area to relax and found several he knew already there.

“Greetings, sir Darras,” Count Alros cheerily bade him welcome as Darras slipped into the hottest part of the water.

“Good morning, Count Alros, sir Jertin, Earl Alvastros, Count Drevvis,” Darras replied.

“Your actions last night severely embarrassed Duke Cranagh, by damn!” Alros chuckled.

“I will not stand aside if a man raises a hand to a woman, nor will I ignore a thrown knife,” Darras replied with a grim smile.

“Nor would I expect the agent of the goddess to,” Ordetas nodded with a smile. “The Duke is feigning illness and shock that he had an assassin right next to him and was unaware, though a report we heard was that the Duke signalled for this man to deal with you.”

“Erren has confirmed this Druli was employed by the Duke to deal with any impediments to the Duke’s rise to power via the King’s Council, though she does not think anyone here was a target.”

“That is good to know, though how the Duke intended to aid this man afterwards, should he have succeeded, remains a mystery,” Alros mused.

“I suspect a bribe to the dungeon guards,” Jertin chuckled. “Certainly they kept Fosloss fed, wined and in comfort during his stay there.”

“Aye, my wife arranged it, though changed her tune once she learned what really happened,” Alros sighed.

‘The dungeons here are clean and relatively comfortable, ’ Erren whispered. ‘Not the dank, dark holes of your legends.’

“I suppose you should be thankful Fosloss wasn’t part of the Duke’s retinue and under his protection due to the wedding customs,” Darras observed.

“Aye, that was the fear of my wife and I as Cranagh had the right to do so, though the slight would have been noted by many and reflected badly upon him,” Alros agreed.

“It would appear that appearances still mean a lot to the King’s Council,” Jertin added thoughtfully.

“They do,” Alvastros replied. “Yet, most, if not all, realise the corruption, but there are few, if any, who could name names.”

“It will change, though not for a few years,” Darras replied.

“Aye, the King, though old, is still a vital man in health,” Drevvis agreed. “The question is, what happens next?”

“The Council will attempt to force Prince Joffar upon the conclave of Nobles,” Darras replied. “He is the oldest and by right of primogeniture has the best claim.”

“Claim, yes,” Ordetas nodded. “That said, it is not his by right. One of the powers of the Noble Conclave is the right to select the King and Joffar is not fit to be King.”

“Agreed,” Alros and Drevvis replied as one.

“My father is also of this view,” Drevvis added. “Joffar is far too easily led astray by baubles and would approve any suggestion made by the Council.”

“Which is why decisions need to be made now regarding the preparation of a counter for this push to have him made King,” Ordetas stated. “You mentioned we had a few years, sir Darras?”

“It’s just Darras here, my Lord,” Darras replied. “Erren has given me a rough timeframe, but yes, the crisis will be within seven years.”

“Aye, whilst we are naked in here, a first name is fine, so please use ours,” Alvastros chuckled. “Has she any other advice?”

“Sound out like-minded Nobles and prepare them for what the Council will do,” Darras replied. “Build up your combined regiments; eliminate corruption in your demesnes; and prepare for a short if violent civil war when the Conclave of Nobles unites behind Prince Rigilo.”