The Archmage unbound

Chapter 13

The days passed quickly, probably because I worked myself harder than ever. I wanted to make sure the second set of armor was finished before I left for the capital. The recent scare and the ensuing paranoia had made me more aware than ever that I needed help. I couldn’t be everywhere, nor could I protect everyone.

A knock at the door to the smithy drew my attention away. “Come in Lisette,” I called. I had already recognized the castle maid though she hadn’t spoken or opened the door yet.

She poked her head through the door, “Pardon me your lordship, but Sir Dorian asked me to tell you that it’s time for your planning session.” For some reason my eye lit upon a bright ribbon she had tied her hair up with. On rare occasions I can be highly perceptive. Penny might say those occasions usually involve pretty women, but that was only true some of the time… like today.

“Is that a new ribbon Lisette?” I observed as I followed her out of the smithy.

She blushed, “Yes your lordship, though I thought such things would be beneath your notice.”

“You must have an admirer,” I guessed. “One of the lads in the village?” as I said ‘lads’ I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. I sounded like an old man, though I had yet to pass my twentieth birthday.

Her color deepened, “No your lordship, one of the armsmen.” Her embarrassment had caused her to lower her head even more deeply. I could no longer see her eyes.

“No need to be embarrassed, it’s only natural. Do you fancy him?” I felt bad as soon as I asked. I had pressed her beyond the ability to speak, she nodded mutely instead.

I tried to put her at ease. “I’m sorry Lisette. I shouldn’t have pried into your affairs. If he mistreats you though, let me know. I’ll have no discourtesy among my men.”

For some reason that remark roused her from her flustered embarrassment. “Oh no your lordship! Harold would never mistreat me. He’s a true gentleman, by nature at least… if not by birth.” Finishing her sentence she realized she had said more than she intended and lapsed again into silence.

The name surprised me. “Harold Simmons?”

She nodded a ‘yes’.

“From what I’ve heard he’s a good fellow,” I said. We had reached the stairs by then and our paths were separating. I couldn’t help but feel I had bungled the conversation somehow as she curtseyed and escaped down the hall. I still wasn’t used to people being afraid of me.

A minute later I stepped into the planning room. Unlike a few months prior it now held its own table and chairs, so we were no longer forced to use the high table in the great hall. Many of the chairs were in use already, occupied by Dorian, Rose, Penny, and Harold Simmons. Dorian had suggested we include Harold today since he would be important to our plans in the near future. Better to start his education early than late.

“Sorry I’m late, I lost track of time,” I told them.

Penny rolled her eyes at me and I caught a hint of a smirk on Rose’s face, but Dorian spoke first. “Well now that you’re here we can get started.”

I took a seat. “I’m sure you all know why we’re here. The recent incident with the intruder has raised certain issues. Issues that we need to prepare for while I am in the capital.”

“Security,” Penny clarified for me.

“Right,” I agreed. “Dorian you said you had a plan worked out, why don’t you explain?”

Dorian stood up. I don’t think he could have addressed the room and remained seated. It just wasn’t in him. “The first thing we need to discuss is who will be going to the capital and who will remain here…”

“Wouldn’t it be simpler if everyone just came with me?” I asked.

Dorian glared at me for interrupting him so quickly. “Perhaps,” he answered, “but you will be busy and distracted in the capital. There is also the possibility of intrigue while you are there. I think it would be easier for you to focus on the matters at hand if you bring only the bare minimum of people with you.”

“So primarily just Mort and myself?” Penny asked.

Dorian shook his head in negation. “I’m sorry Penny but no. I would like for Mort to go alone, except for his honor guard.”

“Won’t I be more exposed here without Mort close by?” she countered.

“You won’t,” he replied. “It would be much more difficult for an enemy in the capital to coordinate any scheme at such a distance.”

My wife wasn’t to be so easily defeated however, “What about our mysterious channeler?”

“I have a solution for that as well. The day Mort leaves you will be moved to Lancaster, along with Miriam and your guards,” he said smugly. “No one outside of this room will know about your trip until you are already gone. Without knowing what our enemy intends I can only presume that a sudden relocation will seriously disrupt any plans they might have, especially if they don’t know where you have been taken.”

I broke in, “Lancaster is a rather obvious location though.”

“It is, but without certainty they will have difficulty deciding on their response, if they are even able to cover the distance quickly enough. If they do manage to follow they still will be on unfamiliar ground. They won’t know what rooms your family is staying in, the locations of the guards or how long you plan on being there.”

Harold spoke up suddenly, “Who will be guarding the countess?” He spoke evenly, despite his obvious nervousness at being in a room full of his superiors.

Dorian answered, “I will. You will be assigned to the count while he is in the capital.”

“No disrespect Sir Dorian, but you would be far more qualified to protect the count,” said young Harold.

I chuckled, “I think you’ve misunderstood his priorities Harold. Dorian is sending you with me because he’s guessing I’m much less likely to face a threat.”

“Oh,” said the young fighter. He hid his embarrassment quickly.

“Don’t take it too hard Harold,” Dorian said, trying to cheer him up. “After all you will still be leading the contingent guarding our illustrious count. That’s no small feat for a man your age.”

Rose spoke up then, “From what you said before I gather you intend for me to remain with Penny and Miriam?”

For the first time since he had begun Dorian looked directly at Rose. I hadn’t realized till then that he had been avoiding direct eye contact with her, probably because it frequently left him unable to speak clearly. “Errr… yes! That was exactly what I intended and astute it was of you to… I mean it was very astute of you… I…,” Dorian ended on an uncomfortable pause. At last he looked away and spoke again, “Yes. Sorry I lost my train of thought.”

I could see Penny smiling at me from across the table. Naturally she found all of this vastly amusing, while I couldn’t help but be a bit embarrassed for my friend. Rose broke the silence, “Ordinarily I wouldn’t mind, but in this case I think I need to go with Mordecai,” she said.

Dorian was still recovering so I spoke in his stead, “Why?”

“I’m not on the list of primary targets, so I should be in little danger and I have several matters of business to attend to in the city. Not the least of which is helping you to acquire a new blacksmith,” she said.

I had forgotten that. I had asked her advice on the matter the day before. “What other business do you have in the city?” I asked.

She smiled, “Since you seem to be redeemed in the eyes of the king it appears that my Dorian may not be an outlaw forever. I thought I might talk to my father regarding some personal matters.” The way she said ‘my Dorian’ left little doubt in anyone’s mind how she felt about him. It was the first time I had ever heard her speak so openly about her feelings for him.

Dorian seemed on the verge of apoplexy. “Well that sounds fine,” he said in a remarkably clear voice. “Does anyone else have objections or clarifications to bring up?” Though he spoke without a stammer his face was a deep red.

I couldn’t help myself. I put up my hand like a school boy and asked, “Yes, I was just wondering when you intend on meeting with Lord Hight…oww!” Penny had just kicked me under the table, and not delicately. I exclaimed more from surprise than pain though; as usual I had a shield closely woven around myself.

“Anything else your Excellency?” Penny asked with one eyebrow raised.

I gave her a hard look before answering, “Actually yes, I do have something else… Harold!”

Poor Harold looked up as if I had slapped him, “Yes your lordship?”

“Do you understand the position you are in now?” I asked.

He gave me a blank stare. He reminded me a lot of Dorian in some ways, though he was quite different in others. “I’m sorry your Excellency, I’m not sure what you mean,” he said at last.

“There is a reason you’ve been invited to this meeting. I have a real lack of men I can personally trust in my employ. Dorian has said a number of good things about you of late and I have done some checking around on my own. You seem to be a man of integrity as well as skilled at arms,” I said.

I hadn’t asked any questions so Harold was left wondering what to say. “Thank you, your Excellency,” he ventured at last.

“To make a long story short I need your service, and not just in your present capacity as a man at arms,” I told him. I went on to describe the new order of knighthood I intended to create.

Harold stood up from his chair near the end of my explanation. “Begging your pardon sir, you can’t be serious!”

I was nonplussed. Not understanding his perspective I assumed he was criticizing the idea of a new order of knights. Dorian put his hand on my arm before I could respond, “We are serious. Before you discount yourself think about how you acquitted yourself during the recent war against Gododdin. Lord Cameron did not make this decision lightly and you might consider that before you question his reasons.” As Dorian spoke I realized Harold had been objecting to his own selection, not the plan itself.

“Do you intend to decline this burden?” I asked young Harold somberly, giving him my most gravid look.

Harold dropped to one knee as if he had been poleaxed. “No my liege, I will accept whatever you place upon me, insofar as I am able.”

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at Dorian. I had not expected Harold to be so well spoken. “Very well, rise for now. We will hold the accolade tomorrow so you will need to prepare your vigil tonight.”

He rose and left with Dorian and Rose while I exchanged a meaningful glance with Penny. Once everyone had left the room I spoke, “Are you sure you’re alright with this plan?”

She stepped closer and I wrapped my arms around her. Tipping her head back to look at me she gave me an appraising look. “I’d rather be with you but I understand the need. Just don’t make me spend too many nights alone or you’ll have a very cranky pregnant woman on your hands when you return.”

She laid her head against my chest and I leaned mine forward, resting my cheek against her soft brown hair. We stood that way for a long minute before finally making our way to the door. Looking back Penny studied the room for a moment and frowned. “This room is entirely too dusty. I’ll have to remind Lisette to give it a thorough cleaning.”

I almost felt sorry for the castle staff… having been a maid once herself, Penny held high standards for them. “Don’t be too hard on her dear, it doesn’t look so bad to me,” I told her.

“You’re too nice,” she said. “Look in those corners… the dust is so heavy there you can see footprints.”

I had to admit she was right. “Just try to go easy on Lisette; she’s a young woman in love you know. She might have a few things distracting her.” I led Penny from the room and with our backs to the room I didn’t see the dust stirring behind us or the extra footprints that appeared once our attention had moved away.