Chương 136: Threats

Lord Hinlaw stroked his chin and leaned back on his seat, sinking into the velvet-covered, horsehair-stuffed cushion. A few hairs poked through the cushion, tickling the back of his neck like a fly was crawling on his skin. His enhanced Perception made the sensation far, far worse. He'd had this chair brought in from his domain. This wasn't his favourite chair, though. His best furniture never left his castle, lest it be damaged.

But this one had earned itself a one-way trip to the hearth once the tournament was done. He barely paid attention as Ricdine, the bumbling country thegn, left the lists, and as Peofrith conceded. And the crowd cheered for Ricdine. A thegn who no one had heard of before, suddenly entered the tournament and won every joust he'd taken part in?

"He's impressive," an aide whispered. Hinlaw didn't bother remembering the names of his aides—he replaced them often enough. You left one in too long, and they would get uppity. And it left far more room for leaks to form. For enemies to break into your circle and plot assassinations. Aides were easy enough to bribe, and they made excellent spies.

"In his first course, he was cautious, and he jousted like he'd never held a lance before," Hinlaw said, bile on his tongue.

"Now, he's far more competent. He's a hammer. He rides straight into the lance, still inexperienced, but he doesn't care. And with every hit, he is improving. And yet, no one has seen him on the training grounds."

"Your men have spotted him wandering the camp from day to day," the aide said.

"One of your squires said they saw him feeding his horse."

"Sporadic sightings," Hinlaw said.

"Squire Milsige saw him pissing by the drainage ditch."

"It's not enough. Something is off about him," Hinlaw stated.

"And I wish to find out what."

"Shall I appoint someone to the task?" the aide asked.

"Put Squire Milsige on it. He's boisterous and nosy—apparently, he got in trouble for tormenting a worker girl a while back. Some soldier from the castle got angry with him."

"Not just any soldier," the aide said.

"It was Sergeant Levi."

"Who?"

"The soulstealer," said the aide, his voice staying neutral, a practiced tone.

"Ceonwin's favoured. I read you the report last week." Hinlaw stroked his chin, then reached for his goblet of wine and took a sip. Bitter, and not enough depth of flavour. But it was infused with maegen, and the mixed wind and fire aspects tingled on his tongue. Like champagne. It had been ages since he'd had champagne, but with the shipping delays from Palan, he had to wait.

"Very well, put Milsige on it," Hinlaw said.

"If he gets caught snooping, no one will bat an eye at him."

"It will be done, my lord."

"Good." Hinlaw exhaled, then turned his attention to his son and said, "Go, Hinfic. It's tradition to meet your foe before the final quarter of the tournament." Hinfic rolled his eyes, then shook his head.

"Yes, father. I'll go exchange pleasantries to the back-country thegn. For what good it will do. He may not even understand us."

"Spit on his boots for all I care. But you'd best make him scared. I don't want to see him go any farther than the fifth round."

"Fine, father. Fine." ~ ~ ~ I brought Burr through the tournament stables, walking on foot and holding her lead. At the moment, the stables were mostly deserted, save for Peofrith, who tended to his horse. As I passed him, he gave me a nod, and I nodded in return. I led Burr to the back of the stable, then out the back door, about to take a side road back to my tent. I had to get rid of my armour and return to the castle to keep up my training, and I couldn't afford any more delays.

But as soon as I reached the back of the stable, I stopped. Alis hung upside down from the top of a horse gate—one tall enough to be a regular human door, clinging to it with her knees. Her blouse flopped into her face as she swayed, but she blew it away with a puff of breath. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Greetings," she said in a teasing voice.

"Sir Ricdine."

"Hello there," I said. I leaned closer, then whispered, "You shouldn't be here. Meet me after, when I've changed back."

"Sorry," she whispered.

"I just…I wanted to warn you."

"Warn me?"

"Lord Hinlaw has set a squire to follow you. If you are not careful, he shall uncover your identity."

"Of course he has," I hissed.

"He's suspicious?"

"Yes."

"I'll be careful," I replied.

"How do you know this?"

"I climbed the back of the nobles' booths and listened."

"Oh. Yeah, I suppose that tracks, for you. Now—""Sir Ricdine," came a voice from down the hall. I turned to see Hinfic, Hinlaw's son, walking gingerly down the central aisle of the stable, stepping carefully to avoid horse droppings, while holding his nose up.

"Sir Ricdine, Sir Ricdine. The name doesn't exactly flow off the tongue, does it?"

"I've never thought about that, sir," I said, turning toward him.

"And what were you doing with a worker girl? What is she doing?"

"She was just about to leave," I said.

"I spotted her snooping around the stable, and I was telling her that this is off-limits for anyone but thegns and squires."

"Ah, keeping the law, Sir Ricdine. A good man." He stepped up to the gate where Alis hung, then said, "You know, it's far easier to keep the law when you punish those who break it." He reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Perfect skin. Not even a hint of pox scarring. And smooth as silk. Though, that bandage—covering a black eye, perhaps?" Then he patted her shoulder from the side.

"Athletic as a woman can be, too. More than you'd expect a serving girl to be." He poked her gut with a finger.

"Hard as a rock, skinny as a twig."

"How would you…uh, expect me to be, sir?" Alis asked. She swung down and brushed out her blouse.

"Thicker-built, from hauling supplies for your masters all day." Hinfic scowled, gripping her arm.

"It's no matter. If we see you around here again, I'm sure I can find a suitable punishment for a lass like you, something to set you straight."

"That's enough, sir," I said.

"Let her go." Hinfic glared at me too, then shook his head and turned away. Glancing at Alis, I nodded, as if to tell her thanks for the warning, and she scampered off, leaving the stable through the back door. Then I turned back to Hinfic.

"Why are you here, sir? I've never seen you in the stables."

"And I rarely see you around, either," he countered.

"I like to stay out of the public eye. I'm not used to it."

"Sure."

"Were you looking for something?" I asked.

"You. It is tradition to meet your match once you reach the top four competitors of the tournament." I held out my hand, as if to shake his, but he didn't take it. I internally cursed. They didn't really do that in this world, did they?

"An odd sign of respect," Hinfic said.

"Out-country behaviour, perhaps? That's how they behave in the foothills of the mountains?"

"We shake hands before duelling," I said.

"You don't do that here?"

"Whichever thegn you squired under did a terrible job of teaching you. But it's no matter. You'll be out of the tournament soon, and so will the decrepit old Lord Ceonwin. It's time we have an Ealdorman in this domain who is up to the task."

"And you'd do a good job?"

"I didn't say good. But a task is a task, and my family will benefit greatly from it. Besides, if not us, then orcs will claim Lord Ceonwin. And perhaps sooner than later." He flashed me a toothy smile.

"I will see you on the lists, Ricdine. And be ready to duel on foot." His grin grew even larger.

"Who knows? It might come to that." ~ ~ ~ I rushed back to my tent, keeping an eye out, and following Alis's warning. Along the way, I felt a presence following me. Someone was there, but I couldn't explain it. Was that because my Perception was getting better? As I drew closer to my tent, taking a long way across the field and circling around the outside of the encampment, I spotted a head peering over the grass. There he was—the spy Lord Hinlaw had sent.

It was the same squire that had been pushing around Alis a few weeks back. The very same—I wouldn't forget his face. He was nosy, and he was working for the enemy. They were obviously suspicious of me, and I had to do something to dissuade their fears. I mounted Burr when I got closer to the tent, then climbed onto her back and jumped across the drainage ditch, then trotted out into the fields. Of course, the squire would probably check the tent, but I'd left nothing incriminating in there.

Almost nothing at all, really, save for a box of travelling rations to explain how Sir Ricdine was eating. They wanted to know what Sir Ricdine was doing all day? Then fine, I'd show them. I trotted across the field, then raced out into the woods, pretending not to see the squire. When I made it to the woods, I trotted toward Ceonwin's jousting practice course. If they wanted an explanation for how I was improving, I could simply make the excuse that I found the course and was training in private.

I rode a few laps, and took up one of the training lances, until I caught a glimpse of the squire out the corner of my eye again. Then, when I made it to the opposite side of the course, I disappeared into the woods, along with Burr. We circled back, but moved quickly this time, making sure the squire wouldn't see us, and moving fast enough to outrun him.

Once I was sure we were clear, I trotted back to the tent, took off my armour as quickly as I could, then led Burr back to the castle, hiding in the tall brush behind the tent.

"Good work, girl," I whispered, patting the side of her neck.

"I think we outran them. I'll get you a treat later."