Lucan sat behind the table, the sunlight sneaking through the window illuminating his study. Lilian sat behind him to the right, waiting with subdued impatience, perhaps missing her old life from Eldham and wishing to see someone who could bring back old memories. Lucan himself was curious enough to be impatient too. He wondered why the princess’s man was here at such a time.
A knock on the door rewarded their wait, and Thomas entered first. “Master Thorley of Eldham,” he gave the simple announcement, then he walked around the table and stood to Lucan’s left.
Thorley soon walked into the study with careful steps. The young man looked more seasoned with a light brown beard that added to his presence. Still, to Lucan, the boy–no–the man was still an eyesore. There was something in his countenance, an insolence born of some presumption unfathomable to all but himself.
Thorley bowed. A shallow bow, bare and precise enough for Lucan’s station compared to his own as a royal’s messenger. “Lord Zesh. My gratitude for your hospitality. It is my honor to be welcomed into your estate.” He delivered it in such a flat tone that even someone who didn’t know that he and Lucan misliked each other would have found revelation.
“And it is the estate’s pleasure to have you, Master Thorley,” Lucan answered with just as much courtesy and warmth.
“Her Highness, Anushka Dee Baroun, sends you her warmest regards and hopes that you and her friend, Lady Lilian, have been well.”
“We are most grateful to her highness, and we extend our humble greetings in return,” Lucan said.
“Lilian.” Thorley turned to Lucan’s wife. “It is good to see you.”
Lilian smiled, leaning forward in her seat and nodding. “It has been a long time. It is good to see you, too, Thorley. Is her Highness well?”
Thorley nodded. “She is.”
Lilian nodded, holding back any more questions, likely for the sake of ceremony.
The princess’s man turned his attention back to Lucan. “Lord Zesh, I come bearing Her Highness’s message.” He glanced at Thomas. “If you are prepared to hear it.”
“I am.”
“Her Highness thanks you for your aid in the past in the matter of House Arden,” Thorley said. “And she bids you aid her once more. We wish to know how House Arden fares.”
“And why do you wish to know that?” Lucan asked. Last time, it had been simply a messenger carrying a written letter. This time, the princess had sent one of her men to pursue the matter. It stood to reason that there was more to it this time. Most importantly, it stood to reason that one of the princess’s men would know more than a simple courier.
“That is for Her Highness to know,” Thorley said. “We are only to serve.”
“And did someone tell you that Lord Zesh serves Her Highness?” Lucan cocked his head.
Thorley cocked his head in turn. “Does the lord presume himself above Her Highness because some upheaval has shaken the royal family?” He narrowed his eyes, a faint smile marring his face. “Surely, Lord Zesh is wiser than to disavow the royal family in such trying times. But then again, Lord Zesh seems to swear allegiance to no one, perhaps fancying himself a monarch of his own southern alliance.”
Lucan’s brow twitched, and he leaned forward. Thorley’s accusations were meant to provoke him more than anything. He was not foolish enough to disavow the royal family. If he did, the two princes may well cease their fighting for the time it would take to remind him of his place. No, Thorley was also wielding the princess’s authority as a threat. Perhaps she could rile up her two half-brothers against him, or at least provoke some enmity for him.
“House Zesh’s oath to the throne forever stands as a duty upon our shoulders,” Lucan said with measured tone. “However, the princess wears no crown and fills no throne. Should she grace us with her presence, we would give her due honors and hospitality, but she has no command over us.”
Thorley raised his chin. “Her Highness also bids you remember your debts. Now that she comes to you for aid, you should deliver it. Would that not be proper?”
“It would be proper if she did not ask me to betray the confidence of my allies.”
Thorley scoffed. “You forget your past, Lord Zesh. You forget your debts.” He raised a forefinger. “You forget who your foremost allies should be. Her Hig–”
Lucan found his feet faster than his lips could move, kicking back his chair and startling Lilian. “Tell Her Highness that if she believes she owns Lucan Zesh, she had better produce her deed of ownership.”
Taken aback, Thorley stood stumped for a moment. After a breath, his tone softened, and he said, “You would not forget those who did you a good turn, Lord Zesh, would you? All we ask is to know of Lord Arden’s health, how well he is, and how well his grandson is. Of course, the princess wishes to ask for more, but can you not do us at least this much?”
Lucan tilted his head thoughtfully. They wanted to know of Ren too. His suspicions about the princess’s intentions in the South were rising every day. By the Elders, he was the one who wanted to level some questions at her now. What was she scheming? Who were her allies in the South?
He sighed. “And would the princess deign to apprise me of why she wishes to become privy to these matters? If she were to truly treat me as a friend, I would perhaps be of more aid.”
Thorley let out a breath, silence his only answer. “Your lordship, if you will not aid me, then I must be on my way, for I have other affairs to attend to. I shall regretfully deliver your refusal to Her Highness.”
With his anger receding, Lucan sat down again. “I also regret being of no aid to Her Highness today, but I wish for you to deliver my words to her as well.” He gave Thorley an expectant look.
“What would those words be, your lordship?”
“Ask for what is reasonable, and reason you shall receive,” Lucan said. “Demand what is unreasonable, and nothing shall be had.”
Thorley nodded slowly. “So be it. I will take my leave now, Lord Zesh.” He turned to Lilian with a nod. “May we meet again, Lilian. Until then, be well.”
Lucan gave him his leave with a nod, and the princess’s man turned on his heel and marched out of the study. Once Thorley was outside, Lucan turned to Lilian, who he knew had been holding herself back.
“Why can’t we help her?” she asked, her countenance one of concern. “She has been a good friend to you, and a generous patron to me.”
Lucan shook his head. “She asks what I cannot provide. Save for our two neighboring knights, Lord Arden is our closest ally in the Grey Alliance. I would not endanger our bond with such a reliable friend for the sake of another, less reliable one.”
Lilian lowered her head. “Can we not aid her at all. We needn’t betray Lord Arden’s trust, but there must be something we can do.”
Again, he shook his head. “Would that I could, Lilian, but she refuses to unveil her purpose. If we don’t know it, then we don’t know how we may be of aid.”
Lilian frowned, growing quiet.
“We have spoken of this, Lilian.”
She nodded. “My loyalty is to the estate first and foremost, husband. That shall never change, but don’t demand that I forget those I care about, or those whose debts I can never repay.”
Lucan leaned back into his seat, nodding slowly. “I would not.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Now, by your leave, I wish to commune with an old friend.”
“You have it, as long as there is proper company in presence.”
She nodded again, rising and leaving the study.
“What do you think it is that the princess is seeking?” Thomas asked.
“I’m afraid she seeks what we oppose, Thomas,” Lucan said. “She is too keen on watching the Ardens. I fear it is not for good cause.”
Lilian couldn’t find Thorley when she sought him out that day, nor did any of Lucan’s men. Only by night did he hear of the man, and it was by Cordell’s word.
“The man you’ve bid us find, my lord,” the sergeant-at-arms said. “He was seen riding south after dark.”
Lucan frowned. “South?”
“South.” Cordell nodded.
Lucan glanced at Thomas. They had returned to the study after making their rounds during the day. “Do you see what I meant now?” Thomas nodded with a grave look.
If Thorley discovered the truth of Lord Arden’s passing, it may well invite disaster. He turned back to his sergeant-at-arms. “Send Tomis and Clifton after him. Let them watch him as closely as they can.”
“Only watch him, my lord?”
“Yes, even if they see him doing something untoward, they are to alert Sir Sarin,” Lucan said carefully. “They may not obstruct him themselves. Should the Ardens capture him, we would not be in a bind with the princess, and he would be constrained for a time.”
“Aye, my lord.”