Chapter 11

 

 

“What’s the plan?” asked Jack as he and William rode side by side into the outer edges of town. Oz lagged behind, looking less than comfortable on his first ever horseback ride, despite riding the gentlest mount available.

William leaned into the strong breeze and brushed the hair out of his eyes. “I’ll demand to see the earl, obviously.”

“And what if they refuse?”

William looked behind to make sure Oz wasn’t falling too far behind, then turned back to his friend. “That’s never happened before. Why would they refuse me now?”

Jack shook his head. “Still naive after all these years. Assume for a moment that Earl Bradford needs to raise money quickly and decides to renege on your deferral. Would he usher you in and serve you tea and cake, or have his clerk tell you he’s away? Alred was right—being the Defender of Rebel Falls will get you nowhere if they don’t want to see you.”

William looked skyward. “I’d like to strangle whoever wrote those stupid books. But as far as getting an audience with him goes, I could claim it’s about something else.”

“They’ll see through that in a heartbeat,” said Jack. “Besides, you’ll never think of an excuse on the spot—better come up with it now.”

“This is all so ridiculous. I wish we could jump forward to a year from now when all of this is past, and the mill is bringing in money and I don’t have to worry about a…” William’s voice faded, his lips moving silently.

Jack peered at him, waiting for William to finish his thought. “Worry about what?”

William’s eyes brightened with sudden enthusiasm. “A wedding. I was going to say a wedding, but I just realized that’s what I can use. I’ll tell them I need a marriage license right away. Among the other things I learned recently is that an Earl must personally sign a nobleman’s marriage license.”

Jack grinned at William. “Don’t you need someone else’s approval too?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Won’t Melissa want a say in when you have the wedding? You said Melissa already scheduled it. Now you’re going to move it to spring without asking her first?”

William pondered a moment before answering. “I think she’ll go along with it. I’m planning on visiting her before we go home. I’ll just explain what happened with the earl.”

Jack’s face broke out in a huge grin. “Oh, this I have to see.”

“Not a chance, Jack. You can go to Deacon’s or visit someone else. Oz will announce me, and then Melissa and I will have a nice quiet chat on our own.”

Jack looked over his shoulder at Oz. “I’m counting on you to tell me everything embarrassing that Will says.”

“Uh…I don’t think I’m supposed to do that,” answered Oz as he glanced at William with a mortified look.

Jack sighed. “Ruskin trained you too well.”

“We’re about to find out,” said William. “Okay Oz, here’s your moment to shine. Knock on that door and announce me like you practiced yesterday…all day.”

Oz approached the door in trepidation, William following a few steps behind as Jack secured the horses. Oz took a deep breath and pulled the bell rope. As the door creaked open, William half-imagined Jeffery’s face poking out as it had done less than a month earlier. Instead, the afternoon sun fell upon a young man in what were obviously new clerk’s robes.

“Can I help you?” asked the clerk.

Oz cleared his throat and spoke in a clear voice. “Earl Bradford to see Lord William Whitehall.”

William covered his face. Behind him, hidden by the horses, Jack stifled his howling laughter with limited success. The clerk stared at Oz with a look of disapproval. “I assume you mean the other way around?”

“Huh? What did I say?” Oz stared at the clerk with a blank look.

William pushed past Oz with impatience. “I am William Whitehall. I need to see the earl on an urgent matter.”

“Earl Bradford is away,” said the clerk with a bored sigh. “Perhaps I can help?”

William glanced back at Jack, who nodded almost imperceptibly. He turned back to the clerk. “I need to file a marriage license. Since my barony is in his jurisdiction, I’ll need his signature.”

“I’ll prepare the license for you. Can someone vouch for your identity?”

“Excuse me?” said William as his fists clenched of their own accord. “Vouch for me? I lived in Marshland Crossing from birth until three years ago. The earl himself can vouch for me. Jeffery can vouch for me. Any senior clerk can vouch for me.”

The clerk stood his ground. “There has been significant turnover in the earl’s staff lately. We are rather short-staffed at the moment. As it happens, I am the most senior clerk on duty.”

“Where’s Jeffery?” demanded William.

“I’m not at liberty to discuss my co-workers’ whereabouts, my lord. Perhaps you can find another town official to vouch for you. Good day, sir.”

The door slammed in William’s face. He was about to pound on it when Jack grabbed his wrist. “Leave it, Will. Something weird is happening, and we won’t find out what it is from him. You can’t barge into the earl’s offices without solid evidence of foul play, and we don’t have that yet.”

William threw off Jack’s hand, seething as he returned to his horse.

“Are you mad because I announced you wrong?” asked Oz, his eyes wide with worry.

“No!” William’s hands shook as he tore the reins from the hitching post. “You flubbed your lines—no big deal. It’s that…IDIOT…in there who has my blood boiling.”

“Idiot or not, we have to decide what to do next,” said Jack. “Any ideas?”

“You mean other than wringing that clerk’s neck?” asked William. “Just one. If I can’t force my way in, I’ll make him do what he promised. I can visit Cairns and ask him to vouch for me. Then the clerk will have to prepare the marriage license, which means I can get inside.”

Jack nodded in appreciation. “You know, for a guy who’s nearly out of his mind with anger, that’s not a terrible idea.”

“Shut up and get on your horse.”

The short ride allowed William to calm himself. He hadn’t spoken with Cairns in months, and looked forward to whatever advice his old boss could give. Cairns often played cards with the other officials, including the earl himself. If anyone knew what was going on, it would be him.

“Should I announce you again?” asked Oz as they dismounted near the Library door.

“It’s not that kind of place,” said William as he handed Oz the reins. “We can just walk in.” He reached for the door handle and pulled.

The door was locked.

“What on Esper…?” William stared at the door in confusion. With no knocker or bell available, he pounded the door several times. He was rewarded with the sound of the bar sliding, and was greeted by a guard in duty uniform, one he didn’t recognize.

“Yes?” said the guard.

William turned to Oz and waited. Sighing and shaking his head after a moment, he turned back to the guard. “I am Lord William Whitehall. I’m here to see Lester Cairns.”

Oz jumped in surprise. “Oh, sorry…I was supposed to do that, wasn’t I?”

The guard ignored Oz. “The Library’s closed, sir.”

“Closed?” asked William. “I worked here for over a year, and never once did the Library close except on a holiday.”

The Guard shrugged. “It’s closed now. Nobody told me why—my orders were to stay here and not let anyone in. Say, is that the dragon I’ve been hearing about?”

“Where’s Cairns?” asked William, ignoring the guard’s question.

He shrugged again. “At home, maybe. I also heard he might be visiting friends while the Library is closed.”

“How long will the Library be closed?” asked Jack.

The guard peered over to Jack. “Don’t know. ‘Until further notice’ is all they told me.”

“What now?” asked Jack as the door closed behind them with a thud.

“Let’s go see if he’s home,” said William.

A short ride later, they arrived at a modest house in a small fenced yard in a tightly packed neighborhood. William rarely came here, and even cringed at arriving uninvited as Cairns preferred not to entertain at home. Still, he slid off his horse and tossed the reins to Oz. “Wait here,” he said. Getting no answer from his knock, he peered through the shuttered windows.

“Mr. Cairns hasn’t been here for several days.” William spun around to find a woman watching him from across the fence. “Never saw him leave,” she continued. “Someone said he was visiting family. That’s a funny looking dog you got there.”

“He’s a dragon,” said William. “Did they say where Cairns went? I know his family is in Ibyca, but that’s so far to travel.”

“No one knows for sure,” she answered, eying Clyde warily. “Do you think he’d mind if I used his garden while he’s gone? I could use the extra space for potatoes.”

William turned away without answering, his mind filled with apprehension. “This is getting strange,” he said to Jack and Oz. “I don’t even know where to look next.”

“Maybe the Inn?” suggested Jack.

William shook his head. “He never went there as far as I know. Cooks his own food, boils his own tea. If he isn’t working or playing poker, he’s here reading.”

“Maybe he really is visiting family,” said Jack. “In Ibyca, like you said.”

“I doubt it. He never once mentioned family in all the time I worked for him. I didn’t even know he was married once until Jessica told me.”

“Cairns was married? Really?”

“A long time ago,” said William, nodding. “Not a good marriage, apparently. Left her behind when he moved to Marshland.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re planning to look for him in Ibyca,” said Jack.

William shot him an annoyed glance. “Of course not. But I still want to get my marriage license, and there’s one more person who can vouch for me. He’s one of the last people I want to talk to, but it’ll give us a chance to see if the Guard is still working normally.”

“Sir Hendrick?” asked Jack as they mounted their horses.

William nodded, and led the way back through town and up the path to Administration Hill. The Guard complex had expanded since William last visited, swallowing the only remaining empty space on the crowded plateau. A tall fence now surrounded the expanded area, with a single gate controlling access to the barracks and main office. Where William once entered Sir Hendrick’s office unchallenged, he now had to be announced at the gate.

Oz stepped up to address the Guard on duty. “Lord William Whitehall to see…uh, what’s his name again, sir?”

“Sir Hendrick Mattice,” said William with an audible sigh.

“Sorry, my lord,” said the duty Guard, who, unlike the clerk at the earl’s office, actually looked apologetic. “Sir Hendrick is away on extended patrol. He’s not due back for a couple of weeks at least.”

William gazed at the guard with a puzzled look. “Are you telling me the Captain of the Guard is performing patrol duty? Since when does a ranking officer leave his command post for anything but an emergency?”

Again, the guard seemed contrite. “Apologies, my lord, but they don’t explain stuff like that to grunts like me. His orders were to let no one into the Guard complex in his absence, except on direct order by the earl himself.”

William shared a momentary look of bewilderment with Jack before turning back to the guard. “How long have you been posted to Marshland, corporal?”

“About three months, sir.”

“And the other men—are they mostly new as well?”

“Oh, a few old guys are still around, but lots of veterans were promoted and transferred away. With all the new baronies opening up, that left a lot of empty posts. Half my class at the Guard Academy in Faywater were posted here as replacements.” The guard smiled. “It’s like being back in class…only the barracks are nicer, and the food is better.”

“I see,” said William. “Could you have Sir Hendrick send me a message when he returns? My barony is east of here, about—”

“Oh, I know where your lands are, sir. You’re famous here. All the old-timers talk about what happened at Rebel Falls. Those of us who can read love to—”

“Yes, I’m sure you do,” said William with an annoyed grumble.

“Aren’t I famous?” asked Jack. “I’m in those books too, you know.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” said the guard, his brows furrowed. “I’m not sure who you are.”

“Never mind,” said Jack with a laugh. “I’m happy to remain anonymous.”

“Am I famous enough to come in and grab a bite with my old friends?” asked William. “Your comment about food reminded me I haven’t eaten recently.”

“Oh, I’m afraid not, my lord,” said the guard. “The boys would love to see that dragon of yours, but Sir Hendrick’s orders were clear.”

William fumed as they left the barracks. “This isn’t normal,” he said as they descended the path into town. “We can’t find a single official who’s been here for more than a few months. They can’t all have quit and left town without telling anyone.”

Jack scratched his head. “It’s odd, that’s for sure. But what can we do about it? We can’t start busting doors and fighting guards. You’ll just have to wait.”

“And when they knock down my door for unpaid taxes, what then? Should I still wait? And what about getting married? How is waiting going to solve that? I still need the license, right?”

Jack smiled. “Yes, but that’ll be easier than you think.”

“What? Why?”

Jack could barely contain himself. “You don’t need the earl to sign it…you need AN earl to sign it.”

William kicked his mare forward and blocked Jack’s path, facing him with an angry glare. “You mean any earl will do? Like the father of my best friend who waited until now to tell me this?”

“I mean exactly that,” said Jack, his eyes shining with glee.

William rolled his eyes and rode away with a grumble. “King’s ears, Jack…do you really enjoy making fun of me that much?”

“Aw, don’t be like that, Will,” said Jack. “Look, you said you were using it as an excuse to get into the earl’s office. I didn’t realize until now that you didn’t know my dad could sign it.”

“Fine, I accept your apology, even though you haven’t made one yet. Yes, I used it as an excuse—at first. But I don’t like what’s happening in Marshland, and I want the wedding to happen sooner rather than later. How fast can I get a license from your dad?”

Jack paused a moment before answering. “Look, Will. Go talk to Melissa and decide what you want to do. I’m going to Deacon’s Inn since you won’t let me watch you make a fool of yourself with her—which, I have to say, would be much more entertaining than those games you held—and I’ll ask Dan and Lucy what they’ve heard. If anyone has details, they will.”

William pointed an accusatory finger at Jack. “Don’t you go paying for my rooms again.”

“Come off it, Will. How long have I been your guest? I can afford to do you a favor every now and then.”

William departed without answering. He spent the ride to Melissa’s house in silent contemplation, wracking his brain to figure out why none of Marshland’s officials could be found. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice he’d passed the house until Oz told him.

“Should I announce you now?” asked Oz as they dismounted.

William tied his reins to the fence and gave Oz a sidelong glance. “Can you try to get it right this time?”

Oz let out a big sigh and looked glum. “I keep trying, sir. Honest, I do. ‘Lord William Whitehall to see Miss Melissa Reid.’ See? I can do it now, but when I try to do it for real I get confused.”

“How come?” asked William. “They’re just words.”

“Because Ruskin says it’s important, and that scares me.”

William squeezed Oz’s meaty shoulder. “It’s not that important. Relax and do the best you can.”

Oz tied his own horse and approached the door, William following a few steps behind. Oz took a deep breath and knocked. Melissa answered.

“Miss William…I mean White Williamhall…oh, darn. I had it a second ago. Sir William—”

Melissa covered her mouth and giggled. “Oz, I’m still sore at you for all the pain you and your friends caused Will—and me. But that may be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Will, wasn’t that cute?”

William hid his face in his hands. “So cute I can’t describe it. Can Clyde and I come in?”

“Of course. Oz you can come in too. You should go talk with Katie—she has a crush on you.”

“I do not!” came the muffled reply from somewhere inside.

Melissa led William to the sitting room and patted the spot on the couch next to her as she sat. “I didn’t know you were coming into town today.”

William sat next to her and took her hands as Clyde lay by his feet. “I didn’t have time to send a message. We only decided yesterday. There’s been trouble.” He explained about Alred’s visit, and his attempt to see Earl Bradford. When he told her he couldn’t find Cairns, the worry was evident in her face.

Her hair brushed against his cheek as she shook her head in dismay. “The Library isn’t what it used to be. First you left, then me, and then a few months ago Jessica and her husband left town to retire. Poor Lester’s been working alone since then.”

“I never did ask—why did you leave the Library?”

Melissa raised an eyebrow at him. “Because I expected to be the Lady of Whitehall Manor by now.”

“You said you’d stop teasing me about that,” he said as his cheeks turned crimson.

She merely smiled at his discomfort. “And you thought you knew me well. No, the truth is I wanted to work on my art, and the Library kept me too busy to do that. Speaking of which, where do you think Lester is?”

William shook his head. “I don’t know. And Sir Hendrick is supposedly away for two weeks or more on patrol. Guard captains don’t go on patrol, which means someone is covering something up.”

“But what?”

“I wish I knew,” he said, throwing his hands up in frustration. “But I think we need to get married soon instead of waiting for the summer.”

Melissa’s head jerked back in surprise. “Will, darling, that may be the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

He reached for her hands again and held her gaze. “Look, I appreciate your sense of sarcasm as much as anyone—probably more—but I’m serious. Call it a hunch, call it instinct, but something strange is happening in Marshland, and I want us to get married sooner rather than later.”

She stared at him, weighing his words. “Okay,” she said after a moment. “If it means that much to you, I’ll go along with it. I want to be married just as much as you do. But we’ve got a lot to do first, like inviting your friends in Faywater Port. Rachel too. Do you even know where she is?”

“No, but Jack does. He won’t say where exactly, but I’ll ask him how long it will take her to get here, and I’ll ask Dan Deacon how fast we can get a message to Maya and Charlie. But even if they can’t get here, I don’t think we should wait too long.”

She stroked his cheek, the worry returning to her face. “Something’s really got you frightened. What is it?”

“I don’t know,” he said, his jaw clenched. “But I plan to find out.”