Alyssa closed her eyes and lay back on the bed. Her head thumped. She really didn’t feel well.
Aaron paced in his study. “They gave her a whole vial of the poppy syrup. She is puking up all over the place. We’ll have to delay the ceremony until she is better.”
“She was unreasonable, headstrong. You’ll need to let For’teras spend time with her before the ceremony,” Peverill murmured. “She should be fine tomorrow.”
“She’d better be,” Aaron warned. “Nothing else happens in this Watch until she is my wife. No dredging, no nothing. Not until I get what was promised to me.”
Greenswatch
The king’s men arrived in Greenswatch in the middle of the night. Jennery threw Jerrol a salute as he and Frenerion peeled off towards Lord Simeon’s manor house, leaving Jerrol and his men to continue down the road and disappear into the gloom. They would travel deeper into Deepwater and skirt the Upper Lake to approach from the north.
Jennery took a deep breath of the scented night air before sliding off his horse and handing the reins to a sleepy stable boy. He looked up at Alyssa’s home and his face tightened, his eyes hardening. His stomach churned at the thought of Alyssa in Aaron’s power.
Frenerion left to search for Versillion and rouse the men.
As Jennery climbed the steps, a manservant met him and led him deeper into the building until they arrived at what had been Lord Hugh’s study and was now Simeon’s. Sentinal Versillion stood on duty outside. Jennery saluted the Sentinal. “Frenerion is looking for you, but first, you’d better hear what’s happening,” Jennery said as Versillion opened the door. Simeon looked up as Jennery entered, followed by the Sentinal.
“Lieutenant Jennery, what brings you here at this time of night?” he asked in surprise as he rose.
Jennery forced a grin. “The Captain moves fast.”
Simeon brightened. “You bring the king’s word? I didn’t expect a response until tomorrow. Frenerion must have made excellent time.”
“Waystones; they make all the difference,” Versillion murmured.
“He’s off rousing your men. We need a unit to take with us to Deepwater,” Jennery said. “The king expects us to reclaim both Lady Alyssa and the Watch by tomorrow.”
Simeon gaped at him, whilst Versillion grinned with relief. “I’ll go help Frenerion select the right men.”
“By all means.” Simeon waved him away. “What’s the plan?” he asked, indicating the chair opposite his desk.
Jennery sat and explained what had been decided. “With your men, we’ll have Aaron contained, and by tomorrow, we will return with Alyssa.”
“I will lead my men. I should deal with Deepwater and Aaron,” Simeon protested.
“Jerrol will have liberated Alyssa by the time you arrive, and it’s best it is seen that the king deals with traitors.”
“What will he do with Aaron?”
“Depends on whether he is in thrall or if he is committing treason. I fear he won’t be holding the Watch by the end of the day, either way.” At least Jennery hoped not. If he had his way, the man would be suffering exquisite agony and he would be causing it.
“What about Lady Olivia? She still resides here with us. She will be most distressed if her son is injured or, Lady forbid, killed. Especially so soon after losing her husband.”
Jennery shrugged, his face bleak. “As the Lady wills. Jerrol has an Inquisitor with him, Peppins, I believe, who is to judge what happens to Aaron once we relieve the Watch. But seriously, you should stay here. We can’t have both you and Alyssa at risk in Deepwater. Versillion will remain with you. Frenerion will come with me.” Jennery paused, remembering the steward. Alyssa would be worried. “How goes Garrick? I heard he was badly hurt in the attack?”
“Thank the Lady he will recover. He took multiple wounds, but fortunately, none were life-threatening; the challenge will be to keep him in bed while he heals, but that is the healer’s job.”
“That is good news.” Jennery turned as Frenerion appeared in the door.
“We’re ready,” the Sentinal said.
Jennery stood as Simeon walked around his desk and offered his hand. “Lady protect you all,” he said.
The courtyard was full of men and horses. Hooves clattered against the cobbles, loud in the night air. Simeon introduced his captain. “Jennery, this is Landis. Landis, you are seconded to Captain Haven for this mission and Lieutenant Jennery in his stead.”
“Yes, my lord.” Landis, a thin-faced young man, snapped a smart salute and, at his signal, his men mounted and organized themselves into two columns and followed Jennery and Frenerion out of the courtyard. The courtyard was eerily silent as the last echo of the horses' hooves faded on the night air.
Simeon remained on the steps, listening, but the night was still. Versillion hovered behind him. “You should sleep my lord. Tomorrow looks to be a busy day.”
“I don’t think I could, knowing that they are going into battle while we sleep.”
Versillion shrugged. “It will make no difference if you stay awake all night. It will only make you less effective tomorrow.”
Simeon grimaced in acknowledgement of his Sentinal’s words and, with a sigh, re-entered the building. “Very well. Lock up. Place double guards on the perimeter. I want to be informed the instant we get word.”
“Very good, my lord.”
Simeon climbed the stairs, relieved to be spared having to explain what was happening to Aaron’s mother, Lady Olivia. That would be something he would have to face on the morrow.
12
Deepwater Watch
Jerrol crept through the dripping undergrowth, Tagerill at his side. Birlerion ghosted behind him, and the King’s Rangers were spread out behind in a thin perimeter, silently getting soaked in the dew. They reached the Upper Lake in the early hours of the morning and skirted around it, crossing over the land bridge between the Upper and Middle Lake, which led to the largest lake, the Home lake, with the lone sentinal standing tall and isolated behind the Deepwater mansion.
There were four guards patrolling the grounds, and they were silently overpowered. With a flick of his fingers, Jerrol directed a couple of scouts to check the garrisons. Leaving Tagerill and the others hugging the ground, he rose and walked up to the sentinal tree. The air shimmered around him as he placed his hand on the trunk, and he entered the tree where Denirion appeared out of the swirling mist. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a thatch of blond hair and sparkling, silvery blue eyes, pale as the waters of the Watch he protected.
“Denirion, I am so pleased to meet you. Birlerion has told me all about you.”
Denirion smiled. “Birlerion? Is he here?”
“Yes, I’ll take you to him, but first I need to explain what’s happened.” Denirion took a step back in shock as Jerrol explained he had been asleep for three thousand years. He frowned as Jerrol recapped recent events, and his eyes grew distant as he reached out into the Watch he had protected.
Jerrol waited as Denirion searched. The interior of the sentinal came into focus as the mists dissipated. Smooth silver wood surrounded them, and a low hum filled the air. Jerrol smiled and returned the sentinal’s greeting. A flush of warmth spread through him and he flexed his shoulders.
“Captain,” Denirion said with relief. “I can lead you to the Guardian; she is sleeping in one of the upper rooms. She is uninjured though suffering from the side effects of a drug they induced her to take.”
“Do you know which drug it was?” Jerrol asked.
“It made her sleep a long time. The young lord was quite angry at the delay. I believe they overdosed her.”
“Do you know where Aaron and his henchmen sleep?”
“Unfortunately not. I can only sense the Guardian.”
“The Guardian? You speak of her as if she is your Guardian,” Jerrol said.
“I believe she is. She can hear me. Lady Alyssa is the intended Guardian of Deepwater. She will return, and this Watch will thrive aga
in,” the Sentinal predicted.
“We had better go and rescue her, then. I suggest we bring her back here. She will be safe in your sentinal while we clean out those who should not be here. I assume, if she is your Guardian, she should be permitted entry?”
“It would be our honour,” Denirion said, his eyes lighting up with pleasure.
“That’s what we’ll do, then. We need to get in and out before dawn. Lieutenant Jennery and the men from Greenswatch will attack then, and the rangers will sweep in from the north.”
“Good. It will be a relief to regain the Watch. Aaron is not the true lord of Deepwater. He is only interested in raping the land. There is a distressing lack of duty or concern for anyone other than himself. A true Guardian would know better.”
Jerrol was surprised at the intensity of Denirion’s words, but not the message.
The mist swirled and coalesced, a frisson of cool air across his skin, and then they were standing outside the sentinal tree, the bark subtly glowing in the dark. With a gesture from Denirion, the glow dimmed and disappeared, a little petulantly, Jerrol thought.
“You can celebrate later,” he thought and grinned as a cheerful thrill touched his mind. He felt Denirion’s grin in response.
“Don’t encourage him,” Denirion whispered. “Follow me.”
Jerrol followed Denirion towards the house. “The Guardian is awake. I fear she may have taken things into her own hands. She says she is locked in,” Denirion said, peering around him in the gloom.
“Just get us there. I’ll open the door,” Jerrol promised as they skirted the building.
The guard at the front door folded as the Sentinal dealt with him. Trussing him up and gagging him, Denirion left him in the shadows and hesitated at a soft whump behind him.
They spun, searching for the threat, and then at the sound of scrabbling above them, they looked up. Someone was climbing out of the window using a rope of knotted sheets, and they didn’t look very secure.
Jerrol’s stomach dropped as he realized who it was. Thank the Lady that Jennery wasn’t around. “Alyssa!” Jerrol hissed. “Are you mad?”
Alyssa clung to the twisted sheets. Her foot slipped, and she dangled precariously as she thumped against the wall. Her bare feet scrabbled for purchase, and she peered down.
“Captain Jerrol? I couldn’t unlock the door.” She jerked and looked up in horror as her knotted sheets began to slip, her makeshift knots unravelling.
Jerrol glanced around him. He was surprised they hadn’t been discovered yet, with the noise they were making. “Climb back up, Alyssa. We’ll come and get you.”
“No, no, I’ll be fine.” Alyssa began climbing down again. Jerrol frowned up at her. What was she wearing? Was she in her underclothes? Where were her skirts and shoes?
Alyssa almost made it down, but her weight on the sheets was too much and the knots slipped. She fell into the waiting arms of Sentinal Denirion.
Her auburn curls were a jumbled mess, but a wide smile spread across her pale face as she realized who it was. “Denirion. What are you doing here? I was escaping.”
Denirion grinned. “Rescue party. There was no need for you to escape.”
“Well, I didn’t know that, did I? I wasn’t going to wait for Aaron and his buddies to return. I had enough of them last time.”
Denirion set her on her feet, surprising a small squeak out of her.
“Sorry,” he breathed in her ear.
Alyssa picked up a bundle of dark cloth and shook it out. She stepped back into her skirts and fastened them under her jacket, and then she tugged on her boots. She grinned at the men. “I didn’t think I could climb in them.”
“We need to get you safely in Denirion’s sentinal. We’re about to attack,” Jerrol said as he signalled Tagerill.
Alyssa straightened her shoulders. “I’m not hiding in the sentinal, even though I would be honoured to meet him. I want to help save my Watch. I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, as long as I am not outnumbered ten to one.”
“Alyssa, you will be safer in the tree. You could rest. We have to journey back to Greenswatch after. Until then, Denirion’s sentinal will look after you.”
Alyssa shook her head. “I’m coming with you. Deepwater is mine. Stop wasting time, Captain. Make your signal.”
“I will protect the Guardian,” Denirion said.
Jerrol glared at him. “You’d better. Jennery will be having words when he finds out.”
“He’d better get used to it if he intends on helping me,” Alyssa said, a determined gleam in her eye. She grinned at Jerrol. “And I very much expect he will. So get on with it, Captain. Retrieve my Watch.”
“Denirion, make the signal,” Jerrol said, surrendering. “Stay behind Denirion, Alyssa. We have no idea what we are going to meet.” He crouched by the entrance to the building, waiting for his support. The repercussions of Alyssa becoming Guardian of Deepwater was a problem for later. Having Jennery as the Lord of Deepwater was not such a farfetched idea, especially as it seemed Denirion had already accepted him.
Jerrol shook the riveting thought away and concentrated on the matter in hand; the reclaiming of Deepwater. There would be no new lord and lady if they didn’t recover it first. He couldn’t help his lips twitching at the thought, though.
The unit of King’s Rangers advanced towards the house. Birlerion led half into the house, and the other half split off to the garrison with Parsillion. The scouts reported that the sentry and the off duty guards were all asleep. It looked like the Watch was going to be reclaimed with minimal resistance.
As the rangers cleared the ground floor, Alyssa followed, peering into doorways. “Ha,” she said in satisfaction as she found the study. She sat in the leather-upholstered chair and began rifling through the papers on the desk. She looked up. “Denirion, I promise I’ll remain here. Place a guard on the door and go help.”
Denirion handed her a dagger. “Don’t trust anyone until we give the all-clear. We could still flush out some of Aaron’s men.”
Alyssa nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t.” She hefted the dagger. “Nice,” she murmured as she placed it on the desk beside her and started reading.
Jerrol followed the rangers up the stairs with Tagerill close behind him, searching for Aaron and his steward, Peverill. Birlerion found a guard with a little more conviction and drawing his sword forced him back down the corridor as Tagerill and Jerrol continued deeper into the house.
Another guard stood foursquare in the hallway, his sword raised in defiance, and although he flinched at the sound of Tagerill’s broadsword leaving its sheath, he stood his ground.
“A worthy foe,” Tagerill muttered as he advanced.
Jerrol spent the time studying the corridor. Who was significant enough to warrant a guard that was motivated to do his job? This must be where Aaron slept, and he must have been awoken by the racket that Tagerill and the guard were making.
Jerrol managed to slip past when Tagerill had the guard pinned up against the wall and opened the door. His brows rose as he saw a tall, dark-haired man, half-dressed and frantically stuffing papers into a case. The man froze as he saw Jerrol framed in the door, sword in hand.
“You!” he spat.
“Councillor Fortes, I believe,” Jerrol said, advancing into the room. “What brings you to Deepwater? Velmouth no longer safe for you? Though you are no longer their councillor, are you? Is your name even Fortes?”
“It’s near enough,” the man growled.
“Sure you want to die under a false name?” Jerrol asked, raising his sword. He gripped it tightly. It almost jumped out of his hand; it was so eager to taste the Ascendant’s blood.
Fortes scowled. “You’ll regret this.” He grabbed his sword and waved it in front of him.
“Not as much as you will,” Jerrol replied. “Did you come here to enspell Lord Aaron?”
Fortes laughed. “Why waste our time? He was already supportive of our goals; there is nothing st
ronger than innate belief, and, of course, a belief that is fueled by a love of money.” He circled the room, his eyes focused on Jerrol’s sword. It vibrated in Jerrol’s hand.
“He planned the downfall of his father with your help, then?” Jerrol said as he launched his attack, his sword flicking across Fortes’ face.
Fortes grunted and felt his chin, wincing at the sight of blood. He counterattacked, spitting out his words as he tried to force Jerrol into the corner. “He came up with it himself. He didn’t need us. Except to persuade the guards.”
Jerrol manoeuvred out of the trap that Fortes tried to set and went on the offensive. He drove Fortes back across the room and the Ascendant retreated under the force of the blade. “Where did you get that sword?” he gasped.
“Why? What do you know of it?” Jerrol asked as he managed to wedge Fortes in a corner.
Fortes’ black eyes widened. “It’s not possible,” he whispered as Jerrol deflected his blade and drove his sword into his chest. Fortes hissed in surprise and blood bubbled out of his mouth as he slid off the blade and down the wall, his eyes glazing as he collapsed to the floor.
The sword vibrated in Jerrol’s hand, followed by a haze of smug satisfaction, which filled his mind. Jerrol carefully wiped his blade on the Ascendant’s clothes before sheathing it. He scanned the papers on Fortes’ bed and his eyebrows rose in surprise at the damming correspondence. Ambassadors from Terolia and Elothia were vying for Deepwater resources. Jerrol frowned. Why would Terolia need timber? There was also a handful of flyers advertising speeches being held in a range of towns across Terolia by the elusive Var’geris. He stashed the case under the bed and returned to the corridor. He would have to come back for the case later. Tagerill had dispatched the guard and was nowhere to be seen. The guard’s body had been left lying across the passage.
Sentinals Rising: Book Two of the Sentinal series Page 9