Taelia turned her face away. Heat rose across her cheeks as her eyes blurred with tears. “I didn’t realize it was so obvious. I didn’t mean it. We had a misunderstanding, he caught me at the wrong moment and he just took it to heart.”
“He has a lot on his mind. Think of what they have all achieved; with the reinstatement of Greenswatch, reclaiming Deepwater, protecting the king and all of us last night. The man must be exhausted with all the responsibilities on his shoulders. He relies on you. You must know that he shows you so much more of what is happening to him than he does to anyone else. Don’t make him bottle it all up.”
“He doesn’t show me anything. I don’t know what the king expects of him,” Taelia objected.
“You know more than you think if you spend the time to understand it. You have a part to play in this, if I am not mistaken. Your talents are unique, and Jerrol needs you to help him with his search. He can’t do it by himself. Oh, I have assigned Mary,” Liliian said as if she expected Taelia to protest, “but she doesn’t have your instinct or experience in the catacombs. He needs your support, make it right, Taelia, or you’ll regret it forever.”
Taelia raised her head in surprise, hearing the sadness in Liliian’s voice. “Will you let me help him with his project, if he agrees?”
Liliian leaned forward on her desk. “You should have been leading it from the start. If you are to find what he’s searching for, it will take both of you. He was supposed to be down in the small catacomb with Mary this morning, but after last night, he may not be. I suggest you go find him and speak to him.”
The walls of the passageway to the new catacombs, which Jerrol had so spectacularly found, were rough under her fingers as she carefully negotiated the steep steps. As she descended, she heard Jennery’s voice, a deep rumble coming out of the ground. What was Jennery doing in the catacombs? He didn’t even spend time reading books! He was laughing with a young woman. She stilled as she recognized the voice; it was that young woman again.
“Love, we have to go. There’s no point delaying here now.”
“I know,” Jennery agreed. “I just wanted to find out what Jerrol was up to next.”
“We’ll have more chance of that at the palace,” Alyssa replied. Taelia heard them kiss and closed her eyes. How could she have been so blind? Jennery and Alyssa. It was Alyssa she had heard speaking to Jerrol at the Chapterhouse.
She took a deep breath and entered the chamber. “Jerrol, is that you?” she asked with a bright smile.
“Hi Taelia,” Jennery responded as he and Alyssa drew apart.
“Oh, hi, Jennery. I need to speak to Jerrol. Do you know where I can find him?”
“I’m sorry, we thought he’d be here. That’s why we came.”
“I need to speak to him before the king sends him off again. He can’t leave thinking I’m angry at him.”
“Where’s he going?” Jennery asked. “I thought he would come with us to Deepwater for the confirmation.”
“Uh, I don’t know. I just had a feeling he was leaving.” Taelia blushed as she felt Jennery’s gaze on her.
“We haven’t seen him this morning. If we see him before we leave for Deepwater, we can pass a message.”
Taelia floundered. She couldn’t say all she wanted to say in a message. “Just tell him I’m sorry. He caught me at a bad moment,” she said, blushing a rosy red. Alyssa squeezed her shoulder sympathetically.
“What about his research? Who is continuing that while he’s gone?”
“Mary was going to keep it going for us,” Jennery admitted.
“The Deane said I could help if Jerrol agreed. Please let me help.”
“That would be great; we need all the help we can get. We leave for Deepwater today, and anyway, I am no asset when it comes to research.” Taelia heard the relief in his voice.
“Congratulations to both of you. I hope you will be happy in Deepwater,” she said and hurried back up the stairs in search of Mary.
Palace Barracks
Jerrol awoke when the sun was high. Whatever Healer Francis had given him had knocked him out. He had fallen into an empty bed in the barracks in all his dirt and slept soundly. Lying still for a moment, Jerrol catalogued his body’s woes. He felt refreshed; his head was clear of that awful clogging headache.
Sitting up, he winced as his shoulder twinged. It was sore; must have been when he hit the wall. If that was all he had to show for last night, then he had got off lightly. He suddenly remembered Bryce and Landis’ men in the Infirmary, and he was up and off to the baths without a second thought.
As he strode down the corridor, he attracted glances. Jerrol glanced down at his clothes; he wasn’t glowing or something, was he? No, the material had shimmered into his usual uniform. He noticed he seemed to have gained an extra button on his shoulder, but apart from that, there was nothing different.
He entered the Infirmary and hesitated. Additional beds had been brought in and lined the walls, each occupied by a soldier in various degrees of distress. He had never seen it so full.
Making his way down the line, he offered words of encouragement or congratulations to those awake as he went, leaving grins on tired faces. Reaching the end, he peered into one of the small rooms. Bryce was asleep, as was Lady Olivia still in her evening gown in the chair next to him, their hands linked.
Jerrol backed out and went in search of Healer Francis. He found him asleep across his desk, much as Jerrol had been earlier. He was about to leave when the healer woke, straightening up his glasses as he peered up at Jerrol.
Jerrol grinned. “Healer it’s time to take your own medicine, I think!”
The healer grimaced in return. “It certainly seems to have worked for you.”
“I feel much better, and I can hear again. What a relief.”
The healer nodded. “Sleep is a great healer; gives the body time to recover from unexpected shocks.”
“How is Bryce?”
The healer rotated his stiff shoulders. “He’ll be fine; he has someone to make sure he follows orders.” He glanced up at Jerrol. “He’ll be back on light duties in a few weeks.”
“And the men? Anyone we should be concerned about?”
Healer Francis rose and led the way to one of the smaller rooms. He stopped at the foot of the bed of a young lad, his face expressionless. “Private Deron. He’s 18. Had to amputate his leg.”
Jerrol stopped in shock. His stomach roiled queasily. It was the type of injury a soldier feared most. “Does he know?” he asked, gazing down at the young and vulnerable face. A mess of black hair framed his strained features, tinged with exhaustion and pain; his chest peeked out from under swathes of bandages, and rose and fell in slow breaths.
“Not yet.”
“Keep me informed,” he said. “May the Lady bless you,” he murmured, pausing as the boy smiled in his sleep.
Healer Francis glanced at him. “Certainly, sir,” he said, leading the way out. “Otherwise, this ragtag lot will be back in training in a couple of weeks.”
“Good, thank you.” He gripped the healer’s shoulder. “Lady bless you, Francis. Now go and get some sleep.”
“Yes, sir,” the healer said, turning to his assistant, his exhaustion apparent in the droop of his shoulders. “Let me know if anything changes,” he said as he left the infirmary.
The assistant stood. “Thank you, sir. We couldn’t get him to go to bed.”
“Any chance you could put a lad outside his door to make sure no one disturbs him? Let him sleep himself out, and if he complains, tell him you were just following Captain Haven’s orders.”
The assistant grinned. “Yes, sir,” he said and set about finding someone to guard his master’s sleep.
Jerrol left the Infirmary and made his way through the corridors and galleries to the king’s private chambers. When he entered the antechamber to the king’s rooms, he found it occupied by an elderly man studying the pictures on the wall. The brilliant white tattoo of a four poin
ted star on his right cheek stood out against his deep brown skin. Wisps of steel grey hair escaped his neat turban.
Before he had a chance to introduce himself, the door opened, and Darris gestured towards the door. “Captain Haven, if you would. The king has been waiting for you to arrive,” he warned. Jerrol nodded and stepped through the doorway. King Benedict was seated in a high-backed chair, staring pensively out of the window, but he turned as Jerrol entered.
Jerrol dropped to his knee. “Sire.”
“Rise. You never cease to amaze me; you know that, don’t you?” King Benedict said.
Jerrol rose and looked quizzically at the king.
“Yesterday, you saved Vespiri again. You co-ordinated the defence of my palace against unprecedented attacks, with short notice and half the forces you should have had. You arrived in my ballroom, just as your men took down two assassins, looking, I must say, rather wild. You cleaned it up as if you do it every day and then proceeded to ensure the palace was back to normal the next morning.”
“Sire, I think you’ll find that was done by your staff.”
“I have never hosted such an event while a mass battle was going on around us and not one of our guests were affected.”
“Unfortunately, quite a few of your men were, sire,” Jerrol said. “We are currently being bolstered by two of Commander Nikols’ ranger units. It will be a couple of weeks before our men are even back in training; a month before they are back to full strength, and Landis was supposed to go and support Deepwater.”
“I have spoken to Jennery. We agreed we would send the half unit with Landis now, give them a breather, and send the rest on when they are fit.”
“Are you sure Deepwater will be a rest, sire?”
“Maybe not, if getting his daughter back doesn’t placate the Grand Duke. I’ve arranged for Selvia to be escorted back to Elothia. If he decides to take offence, then Deepwater and Stoneford, our two northern Watches, will take the brunt, and we must prepare for that. I’d like to say, commander⏤” he pierced Jerrol with a stare as Jerrol opened his mouth in protest; he shut it, “⏤that you should first rebuild my forces here in Vespiri and then commander you will be. Commander of the King’s Justice. There is no man more worthy of the title, but first I have another job for you.” The king sighed and nodded to Darris, who opened the door.
Darris opened the door wider and stepped back, allowing the Terolian to enter. The man hesitated, his alert gaze observed the room and its occupants as he paused on the threshold and bowed. The king indicated the two chairs to his side. “Please, ambassador, commander, be seated.”
The king’s eyes paused thoughtfully on the Arifel, which popped into the room and hovered over Jerrol’s shoulder as he sat.
The Terolian bowed again and sat as requested. Ari settled on Jerrol’s shoulder and tipped his head, waiting expectantly as he tucked his wings in.
The king’s lips twitched, but he addressed the stranger. “Ambassador Nil’ano. I believe you have yet to meet Commander Haven?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. I have not had the pleasure.”
“Commander Haven, this is Ambassador Nil’ano from Terolia. He is here on behalf of the Families to request our assistance.”
“Assistance, sire?”
“Yes, it seems that there is dissension in the ranks. Some members of the Families are acting strangely. I am concerned it is a result of further Ascendant incursions; you did say they were active in Terolia. You are to contact the Solari or the Atolea family, whichever is closer; the Mederas are expecting you. Deal with it as you see fit; you act in the king’s name,” Benedict said, invoking the Oath and holding Jerrol’s eyes.
The Oath stirred within him, and Jerrol shivered. “As you command, sire.”
Ari meeped in his ear.
Nil’ano’s eyes widened. “Your Majesty? Who is this man that you provide him with a free hand?”
The king’s smile was fleeting. “Don’t worry. Commander Haven will be careful.”
“Of course, sire,” Jerrol paused. “Who sent the request for help?”
“Nil’ano brought word from Medera Maraine of the Atolea. You need to meet with her in Mistra or Medera Reina of the Solari. The Solari family should be camped south of Ramila until after the Lady’s moon. I need you to discover what the Ascendants are planning and stop it.” The king gestured at Nil’ano. “Ambassador Nil’ano has provided letters of introduction to the Mederas. You have a month and no longer. Make sure you are back by then.” The king stood, signalling that the meeting was at an end. Jerrol and Nil’ano scrambled to their feet.
“Good luck, gentlemen,” he said as Darris opened the door for them. “Ah, Jerrol, a moment,” the king said as Nil’ano left the room. He reached out a finger to stroke Ari’s chest. “I assume you are going too?” he asked the Arifel, who enthusiastically rubbed up against his hand.
“One last thing. I sent reinforcements to Jason for him to use as he saw fit. He was going to send a contingent of rangers on to the Watch Towers. Scholar Deane Liliian offered the services of Scholar Torsion to take over the management of the Watchers. Once you return from Terolia and have reported, you must go back up to the towers and do whatever it is you need to do to the Veil. You need to spend some time at the Towers with Torsion and find out what we have forgotten up there.”
Jerrol nodded with relief. He had already delayed too long; he ought to have sealed Saerille’s work before now. “Yes, sire. There is much there that will keep the scholars occupied. Though are you sure we should send Torsion?”
“Liliian suggested him. He knows the towers best.”
“I suppose. Torsion will be in his element.”
“Indeed. A month, no later, Jerrol. We don’t have a lot of time. I need you back to get my forces organized. In the meantime, I will be concentrating on the Watches.”
Jerrol bowed in agreement and Ari, squawking a protest, flew up in the air and popped out of sight. “May I suggest Captain Bryce as interim commander? It will be a couple of weeks before he returns to duty, but Darllion could stand in for him until then. I’m sure if you spoke to them, both Bryce and Lady Olivia would be quite happy to relocate here from Stoneford, and I could use him as my second,” Jerrol said, as the king’s face lightened at a solution that met his approval.
“Excellent choice. I’ll let you inform Bryce before you leave; give him something to look forward to,” the king said, and Jerrol left the room.
Collecting Nil’ano in the antechamber, Jerrol extended his hand. “Ambassador, please call me Jerrol.”
Nil’ano gripped his hand and nodded in return. “I understand we are to leave immediately. Our horses have been readied for us in the inner courtyard.”
“Very well. I will meet you there in half a chime,” Jerrol said as he descended the stairs.
Zin’talia’s contentment filled his mind. “At last! Jerrol, it’s about time we went to Terolia. It will be so much warmer. You might relax for a change.”
“It’s not that cold here,” Jerrol thought, glancing out of the window at the brilliant sunshine. “Thank goodness we’re past the heat of mid-year. The temperature should be manageable.”
“You forget, it is the start of the hot season in Terolia."
Jerrol scrunched up his face. He had forgotten. All of a sudden, his enthusiasm for the trip waned.
“You can stock up on Baliweed.” Zin’talia’s voice became dreamy, and Jerrol smiled.
“As if you don’t get enough already.”
“You can never have too much Baliweed. You should try it.”
Shaking his head, Jerrol made a detour via the infirmary. He was glad to see that Francis was still absent, his assistant ably covering for him. He dropped into the chair next to Bryce’s bed, which had been vacated by Lady Olivia. Inspecting the extent of the bandages, Jerrol grimaced in sympathy. “How do you feel?” He asked.
“Sore,” Bryce replied, “but I’ll be back on my feet in a week or so. Healer Francis s
aid I’ll be fine.”
“Good. Because I need your help. How do you feel about relocating here as my second? Second to the Commander of the King’s Justice?” Jerrol asked.
Bryce stared at him. “Commander of the King’s Justice? Jerrol, congratulations!”
“Yeah, well you haven’t heard all of it yet. Are you interested? You are my first choice. The king approved.”
“Interested?” Bryce blew his cheeks out. “Of course, I’m interested.”
“Do you need to talk it over with Olivia? I know you were intending on moving her to Stoneford.”
“She’ll go wherever I go, and she knows a soldier’s life moves about. We’ve already discussed it.”
“You are only on light duties, and you only return when Healer Francis says so, understand?”
“Yes, sir.” Bryce saluted, rolling his eyes.
Jerrol chuckled. “We have to build up from the ground. The men will be demoralized, confused. Landis and his unit will go to Deepwater to shore up their defences.” Jerrol rubbed his face. “Which leaves us with a lot of work, and I’m not going to be here for at least a month as the king wants me to go to Terolia. So, you get to be the interim commander. Work with Darllion; he will stand in for me for now. It will give you something to think about while you’re lazing about in here.” Jerrol grinned. “Just don’t get to liking it too much.”
“Jerrol, thank you. I mean it,” Bryce said, holding out his left hand, his face animated. It seemed to be the right tonic as he looked much brighter.
“Keep an eye on Deron, the private next door, I want him on my staff when I return.”
Bryce nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Birlerion arrived in the courtyard as Jerrol tightened Zin’talia’s girth straps more comfortably. His saddlebags and travelling gear were strapped in place; the king’s men were efficient.
Jerrol glanced at Birlerion’s similarly attired horse. “Who said you were coming too?”
“You cannot go alone, and Tagerill is confined to Deepwater.”
“You haven’t slept; you’ve just pulled double duty. You should be in bed. I have Ambassador Nil’ano to accompany me.”
Sentinals Rising: Book Two of the Sentinal series Page 20