Analise waved the dust away and sipped her water. The day had dawned hot, and it promised to become hotter still. She sipped her water in silence.
Captain Ballard was tending to his men. He had hardly spoken two words to her on their journey thus far. He was trying to punish her with his silence all the while not knowing that she had no wish for converse. She wanted silence to think. It was something she was unlikely to have in her future. Lord Llewyd was a bore and a noisy one by all accounts. He had no love for the gardens as she did, nor did he read. His only passion was hunting, swordplay, and—if rumour proved true—bedding the local peasant women. Analise shuddered at the thought of marrying such a man, but there seemed no way out. Chaidren Ridge was her responsibility. She had no confidence in her mother’s ability to cope. No, she must marry Llewyd and secure her home for her family.
She wandered off the road and onto the colour filled verges. Wild flowers carpeted the ground in all directions. Perfume erupted into the air as she walked. She stooped to pick the nicest blooms until she had a fistful of spring.
“My lady, it’s time to move on,” Ballard called.
Analise nodded and buried her face in her bouquet. She inhaled the sweet scent before walking briskly to her horse. “Why can we not find them?” she said as she settled into the saddle and urged her horse to walk on. “Why?”
“I cannot say. They may have moved on, they may be hiding from us, or they may be around the next bend in the road. Whichever it is, we will find them.”
“Send out more scouts.”
“That would be unwise. We have too few men with us now as it is.”
Analise glared. “Send them!”
Ballard’s lips tightened but he turned and gave the order. Another dozen men left the column and split into six scouting teams.
Analise watched them go and frowned in displeasure. They had almost sixty men scouting now—almost a third of her force hunting for at most fifty brigands, yet they had not found them. Why?
“Tell me again how he died,” Analise said.
“My lady, what good does it do to dwell on the past? You should consider the future.”
“My future was set the moment my father was slain. I have no wish to think about it. I want to know where my father’s murderers are. Did you see the leader?”
Ballard sighed. “I cannot be sure, but I believe so.”
“Tell me again how he killed my father.”
“We were riding toward our usual camping place when your father was taken out of the saddle—”
“Was he the only one killed by arrow?”
“No. There were many.”
“But he fell first,” she pressed.
“Yes. I told you that before.”
“The leader knew him then. Either that or he was very lucky. Which is it?”
Ballard frowned. “The shot was long. It was skill, not luck.”
“Then my father was not simply slain. He was assassinated.”
“They were brigands, lady, only brigands. They were not assassins.”
Analise scowled. She did not want them to be merely brigands. She wanted her father’s death to have meaning, a part of some obscure plot or threat to the kingdom. He deserved that. He deserved more than an ignominious death at the hands of a mere brigand.
“He was struck first because of who he was. You agree?”
Ballard nodded reluctantly. “It would seem likely, but he and I were in the lead. We were obvious targets.”
“But you were not struck,” she said accusingly.
Ballard’s eyes narrowed in pain. “If only it had been so. By the narrowest of margins, I survived and my lord did not. How I wish it were not so.”
Conversation lapsed again.
Analise rode in brooding silence. Her hands of their own accord worried at the petals of her flowers until all the beauty was gone. What remained was ruination. The sad looking mess reminded her of her life. How could she live knowing that every morning she would awake beside Llewyd? How could she look at that face each morning knowing she had no love for him and never would? And what about the evenings and... and the nights? She shied away from the thought of giving herself to Llewyd, but it would be her duty as his consort. More, it was her duty to her father and his line to provide an heir to hold Chaidren Ridge.
“Look there.” Ballard pointed. “Riders coming in.”
Analise peered ahead. “Are they ours? Can you see?”
“I do not believe so.” Ballard turned to look back at his men. “Ernan!”
“Sir?”
“Take some men and see what that lot are about.”
“Bring them to me,” Analise added before Ernan could leave.
Ernan’s eyes flicked to Ballard and he received the tiniest of nods. “At once, m’lady!”
Ernan turned his horse to ride back a short way. A few words were exchanged and a strong detachment of guardsmen joined him to escort the strangers back.
“Not ours and not brigands. Then to whom do they belong?” Analise murmured.
“We will soon know, lady. Have patience.”
Analise sat still and waited for the strangers to be challenged. She could not make out details, but they were wearing good armour. There were four, all on strong warhorses. At least that showed them to be honest guardsmen. No raider or brigand ever rode such fine beasts as these.
“A powerful lord to equip his men thus,” Analise murmured.
“That was my thought also. Might they be Lord Llewyd’s men?”
“It might explain why our scouts allowed them to venture this close, but did he not leave for Devarr already?”
Ballard nodded thoughtfully. “That was the news we received, my lady. Mayhap he heard of your father’s death and sent these men to escort you to him.”
Analise ignored that. She watched her men converse with the newcomers and then ride back toward her.
The leader of the newcomers stopped a little ahead of his men, and Analise addressed herself to him. “Well met, good sir. Where bound?”
The leader of the group, a sergeant by the chevrons displayed on his chest, bowed in the saddle and said, “We were ordered to find you, lady.”
“Were you? Which lord?”
“Lord Gydrid of Meilan, my lady,” the sergeant said touching the emblem upon his chest. The hawk of Meilan was displayed there above the chevrons. “I am ordered to escort you to m’lord, please you. He wants to see you, lady.”
“Does he indeed?” The sergeant nodded. “And if I do not wish to be escorted?”
“Then I am to say that he’ll execute the brigands without you, lady, and be on his way to Devarr and the King.”
Analise’s eyes blazed. “How dare he, and how dare you!”
The sergeant looked distressed to have caused her anger, but he was adamant regarding his orders as his next words proved. “I follow m’lord’s orders, lady. Will you come?”
Analise fumed. “A moment.” Gydrid’s man withdrew a short space to give her privacy. She kept her voice low. “How could he find them so soon? We have searched for days with no sign of them.”
Ballard shook his head gently. “I have heard it said that Gydrid is more scholar than lord. He shuns the manly arts in favour of books and tricky puzzles that turn all sense on its head. He’s not known for his ability in war.”
“Not known for it, but his ability is obviously greater than yours,” Analise said spitefully. She beckoned Gydrid’s sergeant. “Take us to your lord.”
The sergeant bowed in the saddle and led off down the road toward Ellwood Crossing. Analise urged her horse to follow and with her movement, the column got underway.
Lord Gydrid, as it turned out, was camped when Analise met him the next day. There were hours of daylight left, yet he had encamped! She scowled. It seemed her captain’s estimation of Gydrid’s abilities was correct. At least his guardsmen were alert. The moment she and her men appeared on the road, a shout went up from those on watch, and the camp erupted as guardsmen armed themselves and fell in.
Captain Ballard nodded with approval. “They’re good.”
“Obviously,” Analise said snidely. “Everyone knows that about the Four.”
“Knowing it and seeing it are different things. See there?”
Analise glanced at the verge. “I see nothing but trees.”
“Scouts. They have shadowed us for the last few candlemarks.”
Analise started and looked harder. She still saw nothing. The scouts, if scouts there were, must be akin to foresters to hide themselves so well.
Captain Ballard directed his men to dismount to one side of Gydrid’s encampment. He was about to order the tents set when Analise ordered that they not camp. She was here to see an execution, not socialise with outsiders. Ballard nodded, though he obviously disagreed. He ordered the men to rest while they could.
A guardsman, a captain by his sash, strode out of the camp flanked by two other men. Where was Gydrid? Was he slighting her and Chaidren for some reason—what reason? Her escort met the captain half way and reported. The captain listened then gestured them into the camp. The sergeant saluted and led his friends safely back into anonymity.
Gydrid’s captain bowed to her. “Welcome, lady. I am Over Captain Dorjan.”
“Where are my father’s murderers?” Analise asked.
“That is for my lord to say, lady.”
“Where is he then? Is he too much the coward to face me that he must send you in his stead?”
Dorjan’s eyes blazed at the insult to his lord. “I will take you to him, lady,” he said with a calculated look at Ballard. “I would advise you to curb your anger and your tongue with my lord.”
“Indeed?” Analise said, straightening in affront. “And why pray?”
“My lord is known for his quick wits. You will not gain through anger and harsh words.”
Analise fumed as the man led her through the camp. Gydrid’s men had settled to chores once more and seemed to have no intention of moving again this day. At no point did she see her father’s murderers, or any place they might be held. The thought that Gydrid had executed them already made her even angrier.
* * *
Gydrid bent to examine the flower. “You’re right again, Garvan. It is a variety of Maiden’s Blush. Hmmm, I wonder why it has only five petals and not six.”
“I don’t know, m’lord, but I’ve seen this ’un afore.”
“Where was that?” Gydrid knelt and pulled out his sketchbook. With speed and skill, he drew the flower in exact detail. He shaded the drawing to reproduce the shadows the sun cast, and then named the bloom in a precise hand.
“Near the pass, m’lord. My brother and me used to go up there when we were little. This ’ere flower was mixed in with the rest. There never was many of ’em.”
“Lend me an arrow would you?” The shaft arrived in his palm without him needing to look up. With a hard twist and pull, he broke the head off and placed it beside the flower. “That should work don’t you think?”
“For size m’lord?”
“That’s it. I shall quickly draw the arrow head,” he said as his hand sped over the page. “Then later I can always tell how big this flower was.”
“Good idea, m’lord. You should keep the arrow—if you don’t mind me saying, m’lord.”
“Hmmm? Oh no, not at all. I don’t mind…” Gydrid frowned. “Do you know, I think this might be a clue to something that has been puzzling me for some time?”
“Only I was thinking, m’lord. I might need my other arrows at the war.”
Gydrid blinked. “What?”
Garvan nodded at the discarded arrowhead.
“Oh yes! Yes indeed, I shall keep it with me for scale. Good idea.” Gydrid leaned forward, inhaled the scent of the flower, and then rose to his feet. He had already forgotten the arrowhead.
Garvan smiled and picked it up when Gydrid left to investigate something else that had caught his eye. He shook is head and followed ready to offer it to his lord when needed.
“We have visitors, m’lord,” Garvan said, stopping to watch the riders approach.
“So I see. Let us go see who it is.” Gydrid hurried toward the newcomers.
Gydrid noted the guardsmen peeling away from the road and dismounting. He assumed they would camp in the field, but apart from dismounting, they did nothing other than wait.
“I believe lady Analise is found,” Gydrid murmured.
“M’lord?”
“There see? Talking with Dorjan.”
“I see her, m’lord. She don’t look happy.”
“No.”
She didn’t at that. Dorjan, the poor man, was taking the brunt of her anger, but he had wide shoulders. He could stand it.
“On second thought…” Gydrid said slowing his steps as he came within hearing distance of Analise. “Maybe I should hide.”
“She don’t sound happy, m’lord. Better retreat. I’ll hold her off for as long as I can.”
Gydrid laughed and went to meet Analise for the first time.
“Who is this grinning simpleton?” Analise said looking him up and down and obviously finding him wanting. “Where is your lord, man?”
Dorjan coughed and would have spoken, but a quick headshake from Gydrid held his tongue.
Gydrid gave Analise a cheeky grin followed by a handsome bow. “I believe it is I you have come to see, lady. Gydrid of Fortress Meilan at your service.”
Analise’s eyes widened a moment, but then they narrowed in speculation. Gydrid wondered what had occurred to her. Something had, he was certain.
“You?” Analise said scornfully. “You are Lord Gydrid? You’re nothing but a boy.”
“I thank you for the compliment. Good looks are a family trait I’m told.”
“That’s not what I...” Analise began to say. Dorjan grinned, and her own captain was not far from it. She started again. “I am not here to discuss your looks, sir. By what right do you interfere in my affairs?”
“By what right you ask? Why, none. Rather say I intervened as a matter of duty. Outlawry is of concern to us all. My duty to the kingdom is clear. Yours also.”
“My duty is to my father. It is my concern and none of yours!”
“Not so, lady. You are my concern and my lord father’s concern also. Do you deny that you are the heir to your father’s lands, and that you are unwed?”
“I deny nothing.”
Gydrid smiled. “Then the matter is settled. Let us take our ease in my tent. I shall have food and wine brought.” He offered his arm.
“Nothing is settled.” Analise pointedly refused to take it. She turned instead to her captain as escort.
Gydrid’s smile slipped at that, but he quickly replaced it upon his lips lest she see his disappointment. He had hoped for more from the lady of Chaidren Ridge. Ah well, he mused as they walked through the camp, times had changed, and for the worse it seemed. No longer was a scion of Meilan accorded the respect due his position. To be a son of Meilan had been held as a great honour, and a great responsibility. It still was in his family, but outside it? No. The Fortresses were simply ignored by the lords most times, and simply tolerated the rest of the time.
Upon entering his tent, Gydrid seated the lady upon his stool and offered to have another brought for her captain.
“I shall stand,” Ballard said and moved to stand behind his lady.
“As you wish.” Gydrid said and sat upon his cot. “The wine shall be here shortly.”
Analise had been studying some of the papers upon his table, but now she looked away and focused upon him. She had startlingly lovely eyes. They were a very rich green like emeralds found at the bottom of a pool.
“I was told you have my father’s murderers here,” Analise said. “I want to see them.”
“You were told that I would execute them without you should you decide not to join me,” Gydrid corrected. “The brigands are not in camp.”
“What?!”
“Calm yourself. They shall not escape you, Lady; that I swear. Tomorrow I will take you to them.”
“I would see them now. Tell me where they are and I will leave you to journey on to Devarr.”
Gydrid shook his head. “Tomorrow... ah, here is the wine.” He rose to take the tray from Dorjan. He filled two pewter cups with wine and held one out to Analise. “You must excuse the primitive conditions, my lady. I did not expect the need to entertain on this trip.”
“You seem well enough prepared for that to me.”
Gydrid smiled at the acid in Analise’s words. “I can assure you that my men and I are just as prepared for battle. Do not be fooled by my accommodations.”
“I have a right to see justice served upon my father’s murderers,” Analise said doggedly pursuing her goal. “You are on my lands, sir, not your brother’s.”
“Actually, we’re not. I checked.”
Analise frowned.
“We are camped upon Lord Atherton’s side of your border. I have permission, by the by, to camp and roam freely. Lady Anah was most understanding when I made her aware of our little quest. Lord Atherton has already left for Devarr.”
“I have a right—”
Gydrid sighed. He was already bored with the conversation. “Analise... may I call you Analise?”
“You may call me lady Analise.”
“Analise, this bickering is both petty and boring. I have things of greater import to discuss than whose lands we currently camp upon.”
“Such as?”
“Your marriage for one.”
Analise’s eyes blazed. “My marriage or lack of marriage is none of your concern, sir! I would take it kindly if you kept to the matter at hand.”
“It is of concern to my father the King, and hence to me. You are heir to Chaidren Ridge. You are unmarried, which makes you a ward of the King.”
Analise stared in stricken silence. Her captain shifted uneasily behind her. Gydrid sympathised with Analise, but he knew his father. He knew that, unlike Kings past, Gylaren would never bestow a lord’s lands to another family... certainly not while an heir survived.
“Lady Anietta should hold Chaidren,” Ballard began.
“You know better. Forgive me, Captain, but you know better than that. Lady Anietta’s rights to Chaidren passed from her with the death of her consort. Besides that, her temperament would exclude her even should my father break all custom and give Chaidren to a woman, which he most assuredly will not.”
“You insult my mother, sir!” Analise said, rallying her wits.
Gydrid raised a hand. “Not at all. Her abilities are common knowledge. Your mother is not the issue in any case. You are the King’s ward, not her. Chaidren is now his to hold, at least until you be wed.”
“I will not be forced into marriage!”
“There is no question of that. You may marry or not as you choose. If you choose not, then Chaidren will pass from your family to another. Is that what you want?”
“What I want doesn’t seem to matter, does it?” She stood to take her leave. “I hold you to your oath, sir. You shall produce my father’s murderers tomorrow or be known as a liar throughout the kingdom.”
Gydrid let the insult slip by him. “You will see them tomorrow.”
Analise performed the merest curtsy, and left. She did not see Gydrid bow.
* * *