Witches in Red

Chapter Fifteen

The next day, Jaromir walked through the soldiers’ encampment toward Keegan’s tent. He was still having some difficulty believing that Rurik, Marcus, and Céline had managed to take down the last wolf by themselves, but . . . the beast was dead, and Quinn was dead, and Jaromir still had a number of loose ends to tie up.

That morning, he’d sent out two messengers on horseback.

First, he’d sent Rurik back to Castle Sèone with a letter to Anton—along with some strict stipulations. Jaromir had not yet decided what to do about Rurik in the long run, but he was convinced that the young guardsman was no traitor and had thought himself to be working in the best interests of Anton. Of course, Rurik could never be allowed to function as a messenger between Anton and Prince Lieven again, but in their current situation, Jaromir didn’t have anyone else to send home, so he’d sent Rurik. First, though, he’d made the guardsman promise to deliver the letter to Anton and then stay put. He was not to leave Castle Sèone or take a message to Prince Lieven for any reason. Jaromir had made it blindingly clear that Rurik’s future in Sèone depended on him following this order. Rurik had agreed and thanked him.

Second, Jaromir had commissioned a Pählen soldier to carry a letter to Prince Lieven.

And now . . . Jaromir arrived at the tent of Captain Keegan, and he paused at the doorway. A part of him was looking forward to the conversation about to take place, and a part of him was dreading it.

Walking in, he made his way toward the back.

“Captain?” he called before stepping around the last tapestry.

“Here.”

Continuing on, Jaromir found Keegan alone and sitting up in bed. He’d been carried back and settled the night before, and now he seemed able to eat and drink on his own, though he was still weak, and according to Céline, he would be for some time.

But his expression was a mix of caution and anxiety, and Jaromir wondered how much he’d been told.

“So it was Quinn,” Keegan said flatly.

Well, he’d been told that much.

“Yes, and he was working in the employ of Prince Damek.”

As those words sank in, Keegan’s left hand began to shake.

Jaromir pulled a chair over beside the bed and sat down. “I sent a letter to Prince Lieven this morning.”

“You?” The anxiety on Keegan’s face grew more pronounced.

“You’re not in any state to take command here. I’ve volunteered to remain here until your replacement arrives.”

Keegan just watched him uncertainly, most likely wondering where this was going.

Jaromir leaned back. “You needn’t worry. I didn’t tell your lord much. Only that the issue has been solved, the silver will be flowing again soon, that you’ve been taken seriously ill, and that I’ll maintain command for now, but that a new contingent and commander must be sent as soon as possible.”

“That’s all you told him?”

“Prince Lieven has never been one to press for details. He cares about results.” Jaromir paused. “And so long as you agree to a request I’m about to make, I’ll ensure he doesn’t learn anything more.”

“What request?”

“I want you to release the Móndyalítko men from their contracts and pay them their full year’s wage now. By my count, it’s only six or seven men, not enough to matter to the workforce. I’ve sent word to Prince Anton to send an escort here to take us home once your replacement has arrived and we’re ready to leave. In my letter, I also asked him to send four extra horses. You’ll let me pick four horses from your barn, for a total of eight, to pull the Móndyalítko wagons.”

Keegan’s mouth fell open. If Jaromir had just made an offer of marriage, the man could not have been more stunned. “Pay them their full . . . four horses? Are you mad? No! We need every worker back in the mines. Those gypsies aren’t going anywhere.”

Jaromir raised an eyebrow. “Truly? Then I’ll be forced to let it slip to Prince Lieven that you had a spy of Prince Damek’s at your side for a year, and you never suspected a thing. I’ll let it slip that your incompetence is the reason so many of your men are dead and the silver stopped flowing.”

Keegan glared at him in open hatred. “That’s a pointless threat. Once your prince learns the truth, he’ll be only too glad to tell his father.”

“You don’t know Prince Anton. While I may not always agree, he feels strongly about never tattling on his brother even when deaths are involved or on the few occasions when Damek has tried to assassinate him.” Jaromir shrugged. “Perhaps he’s right. As I mentioned . . . Prince Lieven is not normally interested in details, just results.” He leaned forward. “But unless you agree to my small request, I’ll find a way to make sure a few of those details reach his ears.”

“Take the horses,” Keegan spat. “And those filthy gypsies. But keep in mind, they’ve got no place to go.”

“You let me worry about that.” Jaromir stood up. “I think we’re done here.”

That afternoon, Amelie and Céline walked over to the miners’ encampment to see Mercedes.

After knocking on the door of the largest wagon, they both went inside to find Mercedes at home and Marcus stretched out on one of the back beds. Mariah was nowhere to be seen.

“Leave the door open,” Marcus said. “I like the air.”

Amelie thought he looked a little pale, but that was probably to be expected. Céline had been up late tending to his wounds, including stitching up his shoulder.

Mercedes was studying Céline. “So . . . you’ll be leaving soon?” She sounded regretful.

“That’s what we came to talk to you about,” Céline responded, and then she turned to Amelie. “Maybe you should . . . ?”

Amelie gathered her thoughts and positioned herself so that she could speak to both Mercedes and Marcus. “You have been very helpful to us these past few days, and Jaromir sent us with an offer.” She thought it might sound less like charity if it came from him. “There’s a plot of land outside the walls of Castle Sèone that has gone untended for several years. The tenants decamped to try their luck with a vendor’s cart in Enêmûsk. It has a cottage and a small barn. If your family would like . . . you can live there and work the land. Half the crops will go to Prince Anton, and you’ll keep the other half to sell or use for your own purposes.” For a moment, she kept her focus on Mercedes. “I know it would be a different way of life for you, but some of Prince Anton’s tenants have become quite prosperous, depending on which crops they grow.”

Mercedes stood with her eyes shifting back and forth as if she was trying to follow something she didn’t quite understand.

“But we couldn’t make the journey until late autumn, when the men’s contracts are finished. And what about our wagons?” she said. “How would we get there?”

“That’s all been taken care of. Jaromir has spoken with Captain Keegan. Your men have been released from their contracts and will be paid their year’s wage. You’ll be supplied with eight horses, so you can drive the wagons out of here. All of your people have been given leave, including the wives of your younger men. You needn’t leave anyone behind.”

Mercedes sank onto the bed beside Marcus.

“But you don’t have to accept the land,” Céline put in quickly. “If you’d rather not turn to farming, you’ll still be released from your contracts, you’ll be paid, and you can keep the horses.”

“If you do decide to take Jaromir’s offer of the land,” Amelie said, “you can come with us when we leave. We’ll take you into Sèone Village first to get you supplied. But there’s no rush on a decision. We’re stuck here until Keegan’s replacement arrives. You have time to think.”

Mercedes turned to Marcus, and they locked eyes. Then she turned back to Amelie. “We don’t need time to think. None of our people will. We’re coming with you.”

Footsteps sounded in the open doorway, and Mariah appeared . . . with young Graham standing behind her.

“Coming where?” Mariah asked.

“Home,” Amelie answered. “You’re coming home with us.”