CHAPTER 46
Lucan’s return to the estate was a calm affair. His departure had, after all, been a discreet matter, though most folk would have already realized the lord was absent.
They emerged from the forest in the evening, where they were met by the patrolling Heath and Gery. Leading the horses and the carriage through the foliage had been a chore and a half, and Lucan’s party was all but grateful to be out of the woods.
The two men-at-arms led them back to Silvergate. The town, with all its freshness, embraced Lucan like a true home, and perhaps it was. He didn’t linger at its gates, however, heading up to the keep, where only three people waited for him under the starry sky; Thomas, Cordell, and Lilian.
The steward and the sergeant-at-arms gave him quick bows, eying his companions then leading him into the keep, no doubt with many questions on their minds. Lucan, however, approached his wife first, wrapping his arms around her.
She returned his embrace, though as they separated, her eyes found the guests he’d brought along. Georg, Venn…and Lyanna. Her eyes shifted between the woman and Lucan with a dozen questions, but he patted her arm reassuringly. “We will speak.”
With apparent reluctance, she forced a nod, following him as he entered the keep and went up to the study. There, he was surrounded by his wife and two aides. And soon, one of the men-at-arms had guided his father to the study too, the former knight taking a seat in the corner, his age showing more and more every time Lucan saw him. He reckoned that without his spars with Aldous, he would have been much worse. That had been a sound decision after all.
“From the looks on your faces, I presume there’s word, and not good word at that,” Lucan said, glancing between Thomas and Cordell. “If it is of Ward, then Lord Ravencroft has apprised me of that. I have also heard of the battle in the Hollow Swamp.”
The looks on their faces didn’t change much, though they seemed relieved that he already knew of those matters. He glanced at Lilian, who didn’t seem aware of whatever troubled them, then his eyes settled on his two aides again.
It was his father who spoke first. “Lord Arden is dead.”
Lucan rocked back in his seat. Damnation. They weren’t ready. He could call the alliance, perhaps, but had Cordell prepared them? Had the pretender in the Shattered Kingdom moved yet? Perhaps skirm–
Thomas raised a reassuring hand. “The matter has been kept discreet until now.” He glanced at Lilian, as though pressing home the matter of discretion. Lilian surrendered a slight nod to the old steward. Perhaps out of all of Lucan’s retainers, old Thomas was the only one who could press the lady of the estate in such a manner.
“Sir Sarin arrived a fortnight ago,” Thomas continued. “He demanded to speak to you, and when I swore to him that you were absent and would be for a time, he demanded to speak to Sir Golan.” He glanced at the former knight who sat quietly in the corner.
“He didn’t even want Thomas in the study with us.” Lucan’s father spoke at last. “I only apprised him and Cordell of the matter afterwards. Sarin assured me that they would keep it quiet for as long as they could. Still, it’s only a matter of time before this supposed pretender becomes wise to the passing of Lord Arden.”
Cordell cleared his throat. “Sir Sarin wasn’t happy to know that I was told, but he acquiesced when I visited the hinterlands of the Arden estate to get word of any movement from the east. He has had his most reliable men patrolling the borderlands with the Shattered Kingdom. Thankfully, nothing of note has happened yet.”
Lucan rubbed his chin with some vigor. Matters were coming to a head faster than he’d anticipated. At least the Ardens were conducting themselves with some wisdom, no doubt under the oversight of Sir Sarin. Ren Arden trusted the knight just as his grandfather had, and that was likely the only reason he hadn’t taken Lord Arden’s seat openly yet. Lucan would have to prepare himself for what was to come, but these were matters to ponder on the morrow. He had his own word to bring to his aides today.
He gave Thomas and Cordell a nod, acknowledging that what had been weighing on their minds now weighed on his too. Perhaps that was all there was to it after all. Every man wanted his allies, his overlords, and his subordinates to be as troubled as he was with what troubled him. Quite the thought.
“Well, you ought to be pleased,” he told his men. “I bring the only good word there is today.” He went on to explain the agreement he’d reached with the guilds, handing a brightened Thomas the written deeds.
“Summon Sawyer first thing in the morning. I want him on the way to Lord Ravencroft as soon as can be,” he continued. “The lord is still too uncertain on how to go about the undertaking.”
“That is no trouble,” Thomas said. “He has spoken of his plans for the canal more than once. I am sure his preparations are already in place. He did say it will be a labor-hungry undertaking.”
“We will make do.” Lucan then met the eye of his steward. “The boy who came with me.”
“What of him?”
“I want him trained to be my page and attendant. His name is Venn, and he’s the girl’s–Lyanna's–brother.”
Thomas frowned. “You trust this boy?”
“I have enough trust in him to put the matter in motion,” Lucan said. “The rest he will have to earn.” Thomas simply gave him a nod, which meant the matter would be handled.
Lucan then turned to Cordell. “The old man who arrived with me, Georg. I want him to join your ranks as a man-at-arms. He is a former adventurer.”
Cordell only gave him an incredulous look, and Lucan continued, “He is reliable. Though his loyalty is to his two companions first.”
“Unwise,” his father’s voice came from the corner.
“One more seasoned man in my service, loyal as long as I don’t endanger or betray his friends. He is better than many who may be of doubtful origin or little ability, particularly in a time of great conflict such as this.”
“Still…” Sir Golan let his word linger in the air.
“There is more to lose than one man, Father, believe me.”
His two aides gave him quizzical looks, and Lucan waved his hands, dismissing the matter. “Georg is a seasoned warrior when it comes to fighting beasts, and he isn’t green when it comes to fighting men either. He will prove a useful addition.”
Cordell gave him a curt nod in response, and his father did not argue further.
Lucan turned to Thomas and said, “Matters of the estate have been going well, I hope?”
“The waterworks have had a few hitches to work past, but Sawyer saw to all matters that needed labor in a timely manner. A few more conflicts between the folk here and the more recent inhabitants, but I have made certain that matters were put to rest over time. The lands we are handing out are nearly spent, but we are not yet at dearth.” Thomas paused for breath then continued, “Twenty guards now patrol the town and its surroundings, keeping the peace. More refugees have been trickling in from the east since we’ve opened our doors, but the trickle has thinned. I reckon some change or another has happened in the Shattered Kingdom.”
“We ought to keep an eye out for any such changes,” Lucan said. “Our nearest enemies now reside in that realm.”
The steward gave him a simple nod.
“If there are no more pressing matters,” Lucan added, “then we shall continue on the morrow.”
With that, their assembly was disbanded. Lucan gave his father a brief embrace before going to his chambers with Lilian.
The moment he closed the door behind them, his wife turned on him with a stony face. Lilian didn’t speak, though he could feel a rage of questions boiling inside her.
“What is the matter?” he asked.
“The woman you brought with you, who is she?” Lilian said. “You want to make her brother your attendant, and whoever that old man is, one of your men-at-arms.”
“I found them in the Union. Their presence can benefit the estate.”
“How?” she asked.
“It matters not now.” He had chosen not to unveil Lyanna’s ability in the assembly because even though he trusted his men, even speaking of her Skill and relying on it too openly might expose what they had, which was something that could even tempt their fellow nobles and many more. He would consider telling his aides when needed, but he hadn’t seen a need to rush matters on this eve. He would think of it more on the morrow. One more matter to weigh on his mind the next day.
“It does,” Lilian said. “Don’t lie to me, Lucan. Did you lie with her? At least give me honesty if you will not give me fidelity.”
“It is only an estate matter, Lilian, I swear it,” Lucan said with as much sincerity as he could.
“Then why won’t you tell me why you brought her?”
Lucan grew silent, making to speak several times and finding nothing to say. His eyes found Lilian’s, and he searched them for…what? If he could not trust his own wife, who could he trust? Now that he was demanding her faith, he had to deliver the same. But she would have to be discreet, and perhaps this was as good a crucible for their bond as any.
“You may not speak of this to anyone, Lilian. If you cannot keep this secret, then never demand that I surrender another,” he paused, seeing the suspicion on her face turn to uncertainty and then gravity. Perhaps she was beginning to believe him at last. “Lyanna has a Skill, something before unseen, something that comes from an Elder ruin.”
And then he told her.