plans then I ought to be able to bring them over to my side. I will be interested in seeing whom they nominate tomorrow. I assume they are scrambling to find a replacement for their beloved Niki. The councilors that were not persuaded by Niki concern me more. They will be harder to manipulate."
"It might be a good idea to eliminate a few of them before they hire mercenaries of their own," offered Duke Jiardin.
"I was thinking the same thing," smirked Duke Everich.
Chapter 7
Zackary
Tanya halted Frea at the gate to Fredrik's estate and observed the Cidal Mercenaries guarding the estate. She scanned the faces of the gate guards and smiled when she saw Craggy near the gate. Craggy also saw Tanya and saluted by placing his right fist to his chest. He hurried to the gate while saying something to his fellow mercenaries. Amidst the murmurs, Tanya heard the slap of three more salutes as Craggy swung the gate open. Tanya knew the salutes were not of deference, but an act of respect for a comrade, and she rode through the gate. The gate swung closed as Tanya leaped off of Frea and greeted Craggy, placing her hands on the outside of his shoulders.
"You look as big and mean as ever," grinned Tanya. "How is life in Tagaret?"
"This is a good assignment," smiled Craggy. "I see you are passing yourself off as a lad again."
"It does tend to make me unremarkable," grinned Tanya. "Have there been troubles for you here?"
"Not really," frowned Craggy, "but things are getting tense. There was an assassination last night. We have already sent a message for more men to be assigned to Lord Wason. Two new mercenary companies have opened shop in Tagaret and that usually means that they are needed, so somebody is expecting trouble."
"Sound logic," nodded Tanya. "Have you seen any of my fellow travelers?"
"No," replied Craggy, "but I am not usually at the gate."
"Well I should pay my respects to Lord Wason," smiled Tanya. "Maybe I will have more time to visit another day."
"You were right about the soft caps," Craggy called as Tanya mounted Frea and headed towards the mansion. "They are greatly respected."
Tanya grinned at his comment as she halted at the steps of the mansion and dismounted. She left Frea untied and knocked on the door. A mercenary opened the door immediately and ushered Tanya into the building.
"I thought I recognized the approaching lad," grinned Fredrik as the mercenary closed the door. "Come into the sitting room. I would like to know how the rest of you are doing."
Tanya smiled and nodded although nobody had spoken to Fredrik since the day he had deserted the Alcea Rangers. The Rangers could only guess as to Fredrik's motives for leaving and how he truly felt about them.
"How are you doing?" Tanya asked as she took the seat that Fredrik offered.
"I am doing well, I suppose," answered Fredrik. "I am sorry for leaving the Rangers the way I did. I know that if I shared my plans that everyone would have tried to stop me. It seemed best to just leave quietly."
"Why did you leave?" asked Tanya.
"Niki was determined to leave," frowned Fredrik. "I did not know how much she was mixed up with Dalgar at the time. I guess things did not work out as I envisioned they would."
"You love her?" Tanya asked softly.
"I think so," Fredrik said sadly. "I don't know. Maybe I just feel the need to watch over her. Whatever the source of the feeling, it has not worked out well. Dalgar intentionally separated us and urged Niki to invite suitors. She loves her new role and really thinks that Dalgar will make her a queen. Can you forgive me for deserting?"
"Are not the mercenaries from Cidal sign enough that we hold no animosity towards you?" queried Tanya.
"They are at that," smiled Fredrik. "I heard about your match with Craggy. He speaks of you often. I would have loved to have been there when you fought him."
"You miss the travels?" inquired Tanya.
"I do," admitted Fredrik. "I know my bodyguards are necessary in Tagaret, but at
"It might be a good idea to eliminate a few of them before they hire mercenaries of their own," offered Duke Jiardin.
"I was thinking the same thing," smirked Duke Everich.
Chapter 7
Zackary
Tanya halted Frea at the gate to Fredrik's estate and observed the Cidal Mercenaries guarding the estate. She scanned the faces of the gate guards and smiled when she saw Craggy near the gate. Craggy also saw Tanya and saluted by placing his right fist to his chest. He hurried to the gate while saying something to his fellow mercenaries. Amidst the murmurs, Tanya heard the slap of three more salutes as Craggy swung the gate open. Tanya knew the salutes were not of deference, but an act of respect for a comrade, and she rode through the gate. The gate swung closed as Tanya leaped off of Frea and greeted Craggy, placing her hands on the outside of his shoulders.
"You look as big and mean as ever," grinned Tanya. "How is life in Tagaret?"
"This is a good assignment," smiled Craggy. "I see you are passing yourself off as a lad again."
"It does tend to make me unremarkable," grinned Tanya. "Have there been troubles for you here?"
"Not really," frowned Craggy, "but things are getting tense. There was an assassination last night. We have already sent a message for more men to be assigned to Lord Wason. Two new mercenary companies have opened shop in Tagaret and that usually means that they are needed, so somebody is expecting trouble."
"Sound logic," nodded Tanya. "Have you seen any of my fellow travelers?"
"No," replied Craggy, "but I am not usually at the gate."
"Well I should pay my respects to Lord Wason," smiled Tanya. "Maybe I will have more time to visit another day."
"You were right about the soft caps," Craggy called as Tanya mounted Frea and headed towards the mansion. "They are greatly respected."
Tanya grinned at his comment as she halted at the steps of the mansion and dismounted. She left Frea untied and knocked on the door. A mercenary opened the door immediately and ushered Tanya into the building.
"I thought I recognized the approaching lad," grinned Fredrik as the mercenary closed the door. "Come into the sitting room. I would like to know how the rest of you are doing."
Tanya smiled and nodded although nobody had spoken to Fredrik since the day he had deserted the Alcea Rangers. The Rangers could only guess as to Fredrik's motives for leaving and how he truly felt about them.
"How are you doing?" Tanya asked as she took the seat that Fredrik offered.
"I am doing well, I suppose," answered Fredrik. "I am sorry for leaving the Rangers the way I did. I know that if I shared my plans that everyone would have tried to stop me. It seemed best to just leave quietly."
"Why did you leave?" asked Tanya.
"Niki was determined to leave," frowned Fredrik. "I did not know how much she was mixed up with Dalgar at the time. I guess things did not work out as I envisioned they would."
"You love her?" Tanya asked softly.
"I think so," Fredrik said sadly. "I don't know. Maybe I just feel the need to watch over her. Whatever the source of the feeling, it has not worked out well. Dalgar intentionally separated us and urged Niki to invite suitors. She loves her new role and really thinks that Dalgar will make her a queen. Can you forgive me for deserting?"
"Are not the mercenaries from Cidal sign enough that we hold no animosity towards you?" queried Tanya.
"They are at that," smiled Fredrik. "I heard about your match with Craggy. He speaks of you often. I would have loved to have been there when you fought him."
"You miss the travels?" inquired Tanya.
"I do," admitted Fredrik. "I know my bodyguards are necessary in Tagaret, but at
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