Spring arrived, and with it the completion of the road paving. As he had promised, Lord Randel hired every available impoverished elf who was willing to work for food and shelter while they labored, with the promise of a large stipend once the job was finished. He also brought in every available mage to assist on two fronts. One was working with the stonemasons, which shortened the time it took to create the paving stones. The second was to shield the roads from the harsh rain and snow storms while the stones were being laid.
When Tony went to Shalona to see if the merchants had followed his suggestions, he was greeted as a hero by the townsfolk who thanked him profusely for their newly paved streets. To his horror, tempered by amusement, he was feted at a banquet thrown in his honor.
“At least I didn’t have to make a speech,” he told Cerdic when he returned home. “I could barely get a word in edgewise between the numerous toasts.”
“Toasts? Ah, that explains why you are a bit wobbly when you walk. I am surprised you could teleport back here.”
“I’m not that bad, am I?” Tony protested.
“Let me put it this way, I am helping you up the stairs lest you stumble and fall down them in your inebriated state.”
The people of Lelanore were also vociferous in their thanks to Tony for their newly paved streets as well as for the roads going through the mountains which made the transportation of the various ores from the mines to the larger cities much easier that it had previously been.
All in all, the venture was as successful as Tony had hoped. To top it off, many of the laborers used the money they’d earned to purchase homes, albeit small ones, in the more rundown areas of Ishfalone, Esholone, and Rerenlion. In doing so, they helped the economy of the kingdom as well as that of the cities.
When Cerdic realized it, he had teased Tony, saying, “Now we can go back to trimming our formal robes with gems and gold the way we used to.”
“Not unless you want me to move into the guest quarters, or perhaps a house in the city or even in Esholone, until you come to your senses.”
Of course that was the last thing Cerdic wanted and he’d proved it with words and actions, which hadn’t surprised Tony in the least.
* * * *
Tony was rarely needed by the merchants in the various cities and towns any more, except to comment on the feasibility of some new plan one or another of them had come up with, leaving him feeling at loose ends. Therefore, he decided to visit the small fishing villages to see how their residents were faring. Not that they needed his help, as he found out when he went to one on the northern shore of the island. Because their entire income came from selling fish to shops, inns, and restaurants in the cities, the only businesses there consisted of a tavern, a shop with reminded Tony of a general store he’d seen in his previous life, as well as a bakery, a tiny inn, and a blacksmith.
He enjoyed the relative anonymity of being Cerdic’s husband and nothing more. Not that that wasn’t enough, but the rough-clad males he talked with seemed to take it in stride without making too much of it. It meant he was able to sit and listen to their stories while they mended their nets, since the seas were too rough that day for them to safely fish.
He had ridden there rather than teleport, as he’d never been to the village before. A ride he’d enjoyed because the day was balmy, not hot, and he’d met and chatted with a few of the farmers taking their goods to Ishfalone. Thus he was surprised, as he got ready to leave the village mid-afternoon, when one of the older fishermen, an elf with silver-streaked dark hair, took him aside.
“I thought it would be wise to warn you,” he said. “Although none of us have had problems, there is a tale going around of a pair of thieves who waylay wealthy-seeming travelers, robbing them of whatever valuables they carry.”
“If that’s so, why haven’t we heard about it?” Tony asked.
“If you mean the king and his Council…? Well, as I said, it is a tale and nothing more as far as I know. But where there is smoke there may be fire, so perhaps there is some truth behind it.”
“Thank you for the warning. I’ll stay aware of my surrounding and hope I don’t run into them. I’m not a fighter, despite this.” Tony tapped the dagger sheathed at his waist that Cerdic had insisted he wear.
* * * *
Tony pushed the bay to its limits on the ride back to Ishfalone, arriving an hour before dusk. As soon as he was in the castle, he went in search of Cerdic. He found him in the Audience Chamber, along with Lord Randel, Leofric, and Brion and Vullian, the mayors of Rerenlion and Esholone respectively, as well as Wulf.
“I didn’t realize there was a council meeting today,” he said as he joined them.
“There wasn’t, not officially,” Cerdic told him. “Brion and Vullian had some concerns they wished to address, Wulf stopped by to see you, and Leofric was here so I brought him into the meeting.”
“From your expression when you came in,” Lord Randel said, “there is something bothering you as well, Tony.”
“Perhaps. I was visiting the northern fishing village and as I left, one of the elder fishermen told me about a story that apparently has been going around and warned me to be careful on my ride home, in case there was any truth to it.”
Cerdic looked at the others before saying, “Possibly the one about two highwaymen?”
“Yes. So it is true?”
“It is, although how the fishermen so far north heard of it is strange,” Cerdic replied. “From what Brion and Vullian have been telling me, they have only struck twice, along the road from Rerenlion to Esholone, and only within the last week.”
“I think they are taking advantage of the fact more people of means are traveling now that the roads have been paved,” Brion put in.
Tony shook his head in disgust. “The way of the world, do something good and someone always takes advantage of it.”
“As you should know, having lived in more than one world.”
“Three to be precise, this one, the one I came from, and the world of shifters which is a microcosm that mimics them,” Tony replied.
“Very much so,” Wulf agreed.
“I am not certain I would agree.” Leofric paused when Cerdic held up his hand. “But that is an argument for another time. Now, we need to figure out how to find and stop this pair of highwaymen.”
Cerdic looked at Tony, lifting an eyebrow in question. “You are the master at planning such things.”
Tony snorted. “Once does not make me a master.”
“I would disagree,” Wulf said. “You did exceptionally well in proving we shifters were not guilty of the crimes of which we were accused.”
“Dumb luck,” Tony muttered.
“I stand with Wulf on this,” Leofric said. “You did an excellent job. It would not hurt for you to at least try to come up with a plan to catch those two miscreants before they do more than merely rob their rich victims.”
“Was there any violence involved?” Tony asked.
Cerdic nodded. “From what Brion and Vullian have told us, both victims were traveling with a personal guard who was well-armed. The men who waylaid them were better armed and knew how to use their weapons to disarm their foes without causing more than minor wounds.”
“A slashed wrist in one case, a cut to the forearm in the other,” Vullian told Tony. “The victims were on horseback, while the thieves were on foot, which did not deter them in the least.”
“The element of surprise, I suspect. How were they dressed?”
Lord Randel replied, “All in black, including the masks they wore, according to what the victims related to Brion and Vullian. They dragged their victims from their horses; dealt with the guard, and after taking what they were after, they escaped into the forest.”
“Did this happen in daylight?” Tony asked.
“Late in the afternoon in the case of Lord Tanithil, soon after dark for the other victim, Lord Estelar.”
Tony tapped his fingers together in thought. “Brion, did the victim you spoke to—”
“Lord Tanithil.”
“Lord Tanithil, then. Did he or his guard say anything about how the horses reacted when the highwaymen appeared?”
“No. Why?”
“Eliminating one possibility. As you may or may not know, horses are afraid of shifters because of our wolves. They would have reacted violently if the men were shifters because the ones here in Felhone are wolves first and human second. I’m sure Lord Tanithil or his guard would have mentioned it if that had happened.” Tony smiled briefly. “In my case, because I am human first, they still react but not as fearfully, thank goodness. Otherwise I’d have had a long walk to the fishing village and Shalona the first time I visited them, as I have to see a place to teleport there.”
“Thank you for pointing that out,” Wulf said. “We, shifters, have had enough false accusations against us. We don’t need the populace up in arms again because they would rather blame a shifter than one of their own.”
“We would not do that without proof,” Cerdic protested. Then he had the grace to look abashed before defending his words. “We did have proof, or so I thought, which is why Stronghold was created, thanks to the machinations of Mage Jeroen and his cohorts.”
Wulf chuckled dryly. “You have long ago been forgiven for that, your majesty.”
“As long as I do not let it happen again?”
“Yes.”
“May we get back to our problem?” Lord Randel said. “How can we find these men and stop them before someone dies?”
Everyone looked at Tony.
“No,” Cerdic said vehemently, obviously understanding what the others might be thinking. “I promised him he would never have to put himself in harm’s way again.”
“If he had someone powerful by his side…” Leofric tapped his chest. “Like me.”
Cerdic gave him a look that would have withered the strongest elf. “Why by all the gods would you want to do that?”
Leofric didn’t even wince. “I am bored.”
“And this makes it right that you should volunteer to help Tony, if he wants to take on the task of stopping these malefactors?”
“Well, yes. Besides, I look good in black.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Tony asked with a trace of amusement.
“You can be the rich Lord, or whatever you decide to be. I will be your guard and everyone knows that guards dress in black. It is de rigueur.”
“May I state, without fear of argument, that the pair of you would make a formidable team, if Cerdic allows this to happen,” Wulf said.
“Guys…” Tony held up his hands. “I haven’t agreed to do this.”
“You were thinking about it, however,” Cerdic said sourly.
“Well, yes, if we can come up with a workable plan. The first question is, would these men try to rob me? I am your husband and well known because of that, alone. Then there’s the fact I’ve spent a great deal of time publicly helping out the kingdom’s merchants.”
“Do not forget your face is familiar to everyone who was involved with Stronghold,” Wulf added.
“Exactly. If it were me, I’d be the last person I’d try to rob.”
“I would agree,” Lord Randel said, “if it were not for one thing. This could be a ploy to make you do exactly what you are thinking about. Your reputation as someone willing to, I believe you called it go undercover, precedes you because of Stronghold. You also travel by teleporting in most cases, which would make it hard for them to get their hands on you if that’s what they are after.”
Cerdic looked hard at Tony. “Both good reasons for me to forbid you to do this.”
Tony glared back. “It seems to me you tried that once before. Didn’t work, did it?”
“You were not my husband, then.”
“You do not use our being wed as a reason to tell me what to do with my life,” Tony spat out. “Whether Randel’s right and they’re after me, or they’re a pair of thugs who came up with a plan to make some easy money, I can stop them with Leofric’s help.” He moved closer to Cerdic, saying softly, “You know I can get away if things turn bad.”
“Can you, if one of them has some mage powers? Enough to put a holding spell on you?”
“Well…” Tony knew he was correct, as much as he didn’t like it.
“Precisely.”
“Leofric will be there to counteract it. Hell, he can cast his own holding spell on them the second they show up.”
“He has a point, and I would,” Leofric said, having sidled close enough to overhear what they were saying.
“If you do not mind a suggestion, your highness,” Mayor Vullian said, “It might help if he and Mage Leofric came up with a plan before you make a decision.”
Leofric smirked. “Someone else with a valid point.”
“Do it!” Cerdic stood, gave his husband and his brother dour looks, and strode out of the Audience Chamber.
“Fuck!” Tony sighed as he watched the man he loved close the door behind him.
Wulf gripped Tony’s shoulder. “He will come around, if you can assure him that both of you will come out of whatever you plan in one piece.”
“I hope.”
“Would you like our input?” Brion asked.
“Perhaps, once Leofric and I come up with something. That is if you want to hang around for who knows how long, because we’re going to have to plan it down to the finest detail.”
“I, for one, cannot,” Vullian said. “I have an important meeting in Esholone I must attend in the morning.” He smiled dryly. “I hope these brigands will not be looking for someone to attack as it is already dark.”
“I’ll travel with you as far as Rerenlion,” Brion told him. “Then you may have my guard, which with yours should keep you safe enough.”
“Thank you, my friend.”
The mayors left the chamber, as did Wulf, who said he was going to visit the Golden Oak where Daniel worked. “If for no other reason than I know the food will be excellent with your brother as their chef, Tony.”
“Speaking of food,” Leofric said when everyone was gone, “perhaps we could temper my brother’s anger if his chef has created one of his world famous dishes that we could take up to him.”
“With my luck right now, he’s probably turned preparing dinner over to the scullery boy.”
“Cheer up, Tony. You know as well as I do that Cerdic is quick to anger and equally quick to cool off. If it were anyone else but you and me planning on doing, well, whatever we do plan, he would have agreed without blinking an eye.”
“You’re right, of course, so let’s see what we can tempt him with so that he’ll at least talk to us, and hopefully give us his input once we start working out what we’re going to do.”
* * * *
Cerdic knew he’d reacted precipitously but that didn’t ease his fears.
I love him and by all the gods if something was to happen to him…He smiled briefly as he paced the sitting room of the royal wing. I even love Leofric, as much as I sometimes wonder why. He can be the most infuriating man. Has he been giving lessons to Tony on how to defy common sense?
Throwing himself down on the sofa, he thought of everything that could go wrong, as they had no idea who the two highwaymen were or what, if any powers they had beyond their skills as swordsmen.
I know Leofric can deal with almost anything thrown at him. After all, he defeated Jeroen, albeit with Itham’s help. But he knew what he was facing. Now? If they have cohorts, because who knows if there are more involved who remain hidden in the shadows, ready to leap in if there is more trouble than their companions can handle on their own.
Not a happy thought and one he should point out to Tony and Leofric. If I were speaking with them, and if they would listen to me after my little tantrum.
Hearing sounds on the stairway; he leapt to his feet and crossed the room to stare out the window at the city. The gaslights illuminated the busy streets where his subjects went about their lives. Would they believe that, like them, their king could have problems he wrestles with, unsure how to solve them? Or do they think I am all-knowing because I am their king?
He turned when the stairway door opened; expecting to see a servant with his dinner, ready to chastise him for not knocking. Instead Tony came in, carrying a tray holding three plates of food, with Leofric behind him holding three goblets of wine. They put the plates and goblets on the table then stepped back.
“We thought you might be hungry, and since we were as well…” Tony said with a small, hopeful smile.
It took two steps for Cerdic to reach his husband, enfolding him in a tight embrace. “I am so sorry. I had no right to act the way I did.”
“You had every right. You’re afraid things could go wrong. I would be too, if the situation was reversed and it was you and Daniel rushing into danger. So we have to come up with a plan that’ll work without our ending up skewered by their swords or worse, which personally I’d like to avoid.”
“As would I,” Leofric said. “So kiss and make up and after we eat we will see what glorious scheme we can devise to end this without blood being shed, at least not ours.”
Cerdic took his brother’s words to heart, kissing Tony as if they were the only two in the room. Tony returned it passionately and Cerdic knew he’d been forgiven but he still had to ask.
“This time, but if it happens again…” Tony winked and then repeated Leofric’s suggestion they eat before getting down to business—which they did.
When they finished, Cerdic and Tony moved to the sofa while Leofric took one of the high-backed armchairs opposite them.
“When do we want to begin this, as it may take several days before something happens?” Leofric asked.
“Not until you have a perfect plan,” Cerdic replied. “One that includes something I thought of which might have occurred to you as well. It is possible there are more than two men involved. There may well be one or more who stay hidden, ready to come to their companions’ assistance if it seems they are in trouble.”
Tony nodded. “I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right, and…” He frowned, glancing at Leofric. “We’ve already talked about the possibility that one of the pair who is visible might be a mage.”
“I would have no problem dealing with him,” Leofric replied confidently.
“Could you handle two if they have a second one we aren’t aware of until it’s too late?”
“I should be able to. I know all the powerful mages in the kingdom and he would have to be one of them to cause me much trouble. However, none of them are the sort who would demean themselves by working with a gang of brigands.”
Cerdic snorted derisively. “You would have said that about Jeroen. What he did proves that it is possible, if the reward is great enough.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, you are correct.” Leofric rapped a tattoo with his fingernails on the arm of the chair. “I will take that into consideration and be prepared for such an eventuality.”
“Another thing to consider and we have already talked of this as well. They may be doing this with the hope that I will use Tony, and possibly you, to try to stop them. If they are smart, and I suspect whoever is leading them is, they know how to avoid any guards or soldiers I will send out to patrol the road from Rerenlion to Esholone.”
“You’re going to do that?” Tony asked.
“Oh, yes, beginning tomorrow morning. It is my duty, as king, to protect my subjects. Besides which, these highwaymen would have to wonder if I did not. True?”
“Definitely,” Tony agreed. “Now, we have to come up with a reason why I’d be riding between the two cities rather than teleporting, which is what I normally do and most people know that.”
“To begin with, you will not appear to be you,” Leofric replied.
“That sort of defeats the purpose, if we’re right and they’re after me, or you. We could be way off base, of course, and they’re exactly what they appear to be, a couple of guys looking for an easy way to make money.”
“You are correct; in which case stopping them will be easy. However, we have to act as if it is you or me they are interested in. I would suspect it is you, as you are Cerdic’s husband. What they have made so far with their holdups will be a pittance compared to what they would stand to gain if they were to hold you for ransom.”
“This brings us back to my question. Why would I be riding instead of teleporting, and how will they know it’s me if I’m in disguise?”
There was a long pause as each of them tried to come up with an answer.
“You are riding for the very reason I stated, in an effort to trap them,” Cerdic eventually said. “They will know it is you because of your ring. Half the kingdom was here for the Handfasting ceremony and saw me place it on your finger. It is the one thing you would never consider removing.”
Tony smiled at him. “You’re right, and it is definitely one of a kind.” He brushed his finger over the wide band inlaid with a double row of gemstones—amethyst for calming, moonstones for his goddess, rubies for passion and courage, bloodstones to help face the challenges of life, and deep red garnets for the love he shared with Cerdic.
“I could cast a Glamour to make you appear very different from what you are now,” Leofric suggested.
Tony thought about that, briefly. “No. I’d rather make it seem as if I’m in disguise to fool them, if that makes sense. That’ll play into their belief that I’m undercover to catch them.”
“It does,” Leofric agreed.
“Speaking of riding,” Cerdic said. “You will have to use my stallion, Leofric. It is the only horse, other than Tony’s bay, that does not react badly to his wolf.”
“That is an offer I will not refuse. You know how desperately I have wanted to get my hands on him.”
Cerdic pointed an admonishing finger at his brother. “This is a loan, for the sake of our plans, and nothing more. Do not forget that.”
“I can dream, can I not?”
Tony snickered before suggesting they return to their planning. “I’ll need something to wear that isn’t mine. With all my visits to other cities, I bet half the people in the kingdom know what clothes I own.”
“The royal tailor is making me two new tunics and vests,” Cerdic said. “It should be easy enough for him to alter them to fit you. I will speak with him in the morning.”
“I will pay a visit to the guards’ barracks to purloin a uniform and…Damn it.”
“What, Leofric?” Cerdic asked.
“I cannot use your stallion. The guards all ride black steeds, unless, yes that could work. It would only take a touch of magic to turn him black as long as I renew it each morning before we begin our journey.”
“Speaking of which, we should plan on staying at Brion’s inn in Rerenlion,” Tony said. “It will save us travel time and it’s more logical that as a lord and his guard we would break our presumed journey there for the evening. There’s also a nice inn in Esholone we can use. There’s no reason for the innkeeper to think we’re anything other than what we’re pretending to be.”
“You are really quite good at this,” Leofric commented with more than a trace of admiration.
Cerdic smiled as he replied, “He had better be. I want both of you back in one piece and the brigands under lock and key in the dungeon.”
“As do we all.” Leofric looked at them in question. “Is there anything more we have to discuss? If not, I need my sleep. I have a feeling we are going to have a very busy day tomorrow and for the foreseeable future if we have to spend our afternoons and evenings going back and forth on the road from Rerenlion to Esholone with the hope that all our planning is not in vain.”
“I can’t think of anything at the moment,” Tony said, getting a nod of agreement from Cerdic. “Let’s meet for lunch tomorrow, up here, and take things from there?”
“An excellent idea.” Leofric stood, said goodnight to them, and left.
Cerdic got up, gesturing to the bedchamber. “I believe we will postpone our rest for at least a while. You will be gone for who knows how long and I want something to dream about until you return.”
Tony chuckled. “Such as me, naked, having my wicked way with you?”
“Most definitely.”