a living man, and his hat…his hat was enough to turn your stomach.
So far, two months later, he had no reliable word back. Each of the gangs had been paid handsomely up front, and the promise of an even bigger payday once the contract was fulfilled should have been enough to ensure the job would get done. He knew they were trying because his spies sent him reports of their brutality regularly. They found the village where he was hiding, and now they knew the name he used. He was also told that the man had a daughter. No matter, she would be killed too, and anyone else they found with a relation to him.
In the stables, Shane privately spoke to one of the groomers as others helped the Duke onto his horse. Nodding in agreement and understanding, the man set off at a run while Shane mounted his own horse and followed Lord Dennison out. Six of the Duke’s armed and armored soldiers, also mounted, met them as they left the estate grounds and escorted them on their journey to the castle.
The groomsman slowed his pace once he was inside the manor. He did not want to draw unnecessary attention to this business. He took an indirect route to his destination and then knocked on the Duchess’ door, looking side to side to ensure no one else saw him. One of the Lady’s maids opened the door slightly, and held out her hand. It was a delicate hand, and quite familiar to him. The groomsman gave a coy smile and handed her the note he had been tasked to deliver. She flashed him a similar smile and quietly closed the door.
“My Lady, a message has come for you,” Vanessa said as she held the note out to her mistress. She was one of the few people her employer trusted with private matters, and she took great pride in that. She was entirely loyal to Lady Evelynn, and although she was much younger than the Duchess, she had been her confidant for many years.
The Duchess took the letter with a polite, “Thank you, Vanessa,” and walked to the window to read it.
Vanessa stayed and waited patiently for the Lady to share or not, as she saw fit. After a few moments, Lady Evelynn walked to her desk and began writing a message of her own. She carefully blotted it and then folded the paper before sealing it with green wax.
“Vanessa, have this delivered directly to the King’s Master of Swords. It is very important that it goes directly to him and no one else.” She looked her maid directly in the eyes as she said, “Paying my husband’s footman to keep me informed has been quite valuable. It is some of your best work."
Chapter Twenty-Five
(Present Day: 237 Cycles into the Light)
“Lieutenant!” A soldier shouted as he ran toward the tree line. Corvis and Chase both turned, and then looked to see if the other had turned around also. Chuckling to himself, Corvis stepped forward to meet his man.
“Sir, smoke! There’s a column of smoke at the south end of the valley!”
Corvis jogged farther out from the tree line until he could see to the south. There he could see a column of thick white smoke: a signal.
Just then he heard the pounding of hooves and a rider came bursting out of the forest toward the house. Recognizing the rider as one of his own, Corvis began running toward the house as well. Chase was right behind him.
Jumping down nimbly from the horse before it had stopped completely, the rider turned toward his Commanding Officer and snapped to attention. With a quick salute he reported, “Sir, a company of rebel infantry has started an ascent. They will be at the entrance to the valley by nightfall.”
“A company!” said Corvis.
“Private, return to your post and hold fast until they are within an hour from the top. Then both of you report back here as quickly as possible by the center route,” instructed Chase.
The soldier glanced at Lieutenant Brente, who nodded, and then he re-mounted his horse and raced back to his post.
“Corvis, get the rest of your men together,” said Chase. “We don’t have much
So far, two months later, he had no reliable word back. Each of the gangs had been paid handsomely up front, and the promise of an even bigger payday once the contract was fulfilled should have been enough to ensure the job would get done. He knew they were trying because his spies sent him reports of their brutality regularly. They found the village where he was hiding, and now they knew the name he used. He was also told that the man had a daughter. No matter, she would be killed too, and anyone else they found with a relation to him.
In the stables, Shane privately spoke to one of the groomers as others helped the Duke onto his horse. Nodding in agreement and understanding, the man set off at a run while Shane mounted his own horse and followed Lord Dennison out. Six of the Duke’s armed and armored soldiers, also mounted, met them as they left the estate grounds and escorted them on their journey to the castle.
The groomsman slowed his pace once he was inside the manor. He did not want to draw unnecessary attention to this business. He took an indirect route to his destination and then knocked on the Duchess’ door, looking side to side to ensure no one else saw him. One of the Lady’s maids opened the door slightly, and held out her hand. It was a delicate hand, and quite familiar to him. The groomsman gave a coy smile and handed her the note he had been tasked to deliver. She flashed him a similar smile and quietly closed the door.
“My Lady, a message has come for you,” Vanessa said as she held the note out to her mistress. She was one of the few people her employer trusted with private matters, and she took great pride in that. She was entirely loyal to Lady Evelynn, and although she was much younger than the Duchess, she had been her confidant for many years.
The Duchess took the letter with a polite, “Thank you, Vanessa,” and walked to the window to read it.
Vanessa stayed and waited patiently for the Lady to share or not, as she saw fit. After a few moments, Lady Evelynn walked to her desk and began writing a message of her own. She carefully blotted it and then folded the paper before sealing it with green wax.
“Vanessa, have this delivered directly to the King’s Master of Swords. It is very important that it goes directly to him and no one else.” She looked her maid directly in the eyes as she said, “Paying my husband’s footman to keep me informed has been quite valuable. It is some of your best work."
Chapter Twenty-Five
(Present Day: 237 Cycles into the Light)
“Lieutenant!” A soldier shouted as he ran toward the tree line. Corvis and Chase both turned, and then looked to see if the other had turned around also. Chuckling to himself, Corvis stepped forward to meet his man.
“Sir, smoke! There’s a column of smoke at the south end of the valley!”
Corvis jogged farther out from the tree line until he could see to the south. There he could see a column of thick white smoke: a signal.
Just then he heard the pounding of hooves and a rider came bursting out of the forest toward the house. Recognizing the rider as one of his own, Corvis began running toward the house as well. Chase was right behind him.
Jumping down nimbly from the horse before it had stopped completely, the rider turned toward his Commanding Officer and snapped to attention. With a quick salute he reported, “Sir, a company of rebel infantry has started an ascent. They will be at the entrance to the valley by nightfall.”
“A company!” said Corvis.
“Private, return to your post and hold fast until they are within an hour from the top. Then both of you report back here as quickly as possible by the center route,” instructed Chase.
The soldier glanced at Lieutenant Brente, who nodded, and then he re-mounted his horse and raced back to his post.
“Corvis, get the rest of your men together,” said Chase. “We don’t have much
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