by N. C. Reed
“So, you are thinking of horses?” She heard Edward say before the door closed.
Going directly to her rooms, she thanked God that she had had the opportunity to give Parno the journal, maps, and sketched beforehand. Edward seemed determined to keep the two of them apart for some reason.
He cannot possibly be jealous of a boy barely nineteen, she told herself. He’s just trying to show off, be a good, manly, host, that’s all.
She was still worrying over it, however, as she prepared for bed. There was something amiss. She decided right then that she would tell Parno of Edward’s comments. He needed to be forewarned in case Edward said or did something stupid. Or provoked the younger man into something rash.
*****
Parno had spoken to Edward Willows for quite some time after dinner. In truth, he had considered the horse ranch before and, if things really were going to stay good with the Nor, then he might well make a good living raising and selling horses of good quality, both at home and in the north.
Finally the two men had retired. Parno would need to rise early and depart. He couldn’t afford to be away from his command for too long at a time, even to visit the area nobility. If Therron was interested in Parno’s time away from his post, it would be just like him to send someone from the Inspector General’s office to check up on him. In the unlikely event that happened, Parno wanted to be on hand.
He was preparing for bed when he heard a soft knock at his door.
“Enter,” he called, pulling on a robe that had been provided in the guest room. He was surprised to see Edema Willows walk into his room.
“What is it, Lady?” Parno asked, seeing the look on her face.
“Parno, I have to tell you something,” she said at once. “It is possible that Edward thinks that. . .well, suspects that you and I are. . .well, you know.” Parno’s look told her that he didn’t. At first. Slowly, however, comprehension dawned.
“Are you serious?” he asked, disbelief evident in his voice. “Why would he think that? Your devotion to him is obvious!” Edema smiled weakly at that.
“So I thought,” she agreed, “but certain comments he has made recently have made me wary and then there was that discussion with Therron in Nasil. His attitude took a turn for the worse after that.” Parno sat heavily on his bed.
“You have been a frequent visitor here, Parno,” Edema pointed out, “and I have doted upon you, I admit. I wouldn’t have thought after all this time that Edward would have any jealousy in him, but I could be wrong. I. . .I hadn’t planned to tell you this, but I’ve had an uneasy feeling about it since dinner. I felt that you should know.”
“I. . .Edema I am so sorry,” Parno said finally. “I never imagined. . .I mean, I know I’m not well thought of, but. . . .”
“As I said, I’m not sure,” Edema reminded him, “but I thought you should know.”
“Thank you,” was all Parno could say. Of all the stupid things!
“I must return,” Edema told him. She placed a hand upon his cheek. “Dear boy, I am sorry to add to your burden, but I thought this best.”
“You were right to tell me,” Parno assured her. “I will take measures to ensure that this goes no further and I will not visit for a while, perhaps that will help.”
“Perhaps, though I will miss your visits,” Edema smiled sadly. “You are so like your mother.” She kissed his cheek lightly, then was gone. Parno closed the door after her, never bothering to look into the hallway.
If he had, he would have seen a solitary shadow watching.
*****
Parno rose early the next morning, slipping out of the house before the Willows’ awakened. He roused his escort and in thirty minutes they were in the saddle. Parno left a message with the house staff offering his apologies for his early departure, citing the need to get back to his command and thanking them for their hospitality.
All the way back Parno was silent, thinking on what had transpired. So engrossed in his thoughts was he that he was already through the gates before he realized he was home. He gave his horse to one of the soldiers in his escort and started for his house. He was already on the porch when he realized that he had someone waiting.
“Morning, milord,” the Tinker smiled easily.
“Hello, Tinker,” Parno smiled automatically. “I wondered when I’d be seeing you again. Please, come in,” Parno offered, opening the door. The Tinker followed him inside, careful to wipe his feet.
“Would you care for some breakfast?” Parno asked, hanging his coat in the hallway. “I haven’t eaten yet and was about to have something fixed for me.”
“That would be good, milord,” Tinker nodded. “I suggest we eat in private, however,” he lowered his voice, “I have a great deal to share with you.” Parno took in the seriousness of the Tinker’s voice and his stance and decided something.
“I’m not going to like this, am I?”
*****
“I was right,” Parno declared. “I don’t like it.”
“I’m sorry, milord,” the Tinker shrugged, “but it looks as if you were right. The Nor are preparing for war so far as I can see. There’s no way to know against whom, of course, but there is only one logical target.”
“Us,” Parno said it flatly and the Tinker nodded in agreement.
“Their numbers are. . .staggering, milord, to be honest,” he went on. The traveling repairman was busy making notes on Parno’s map. There were many, many marks already on it and the Tinker wasn’t near finished. “Thousands of horseman. Not all cavalry, mind you, but all well mounted and with no small amount of skill. Their drills are sharp and their formations are strong. They have made vast improvements in that area.”
“Wonderful,” Parno murmured. “I suppose their infantry is equally as impressive.” The Tinker stopped what he was doing and looked at the young Prince.
“Milord, I have either seen or heard of at least twenty-five different infantry divisions during the weeks I spent among the Nor. I have personally observed three of them in the field mustering their regiments and marching long miles, always in good form.”
“Twenty - ” Parno cut himself off with a choke. A quarter of a million men, possibly. All well trained and equipped. He had no words for that.
“A nation at peace with its neighbors has no need for such an army, milord,” the Tinker said quietly.
“No,” Parno agreed, “but one preparing to invade an unsuspecting neighbor does. This is what I feared,” he almost whispered. “Are there any signs that they’re preparing to attack soon?” he asked. The Tinker shook his head.
“No, milord. Many of these units are far to the north…or were…less than a fortnight ago, with no signs of preparing to move. They were in winter quarters, though their training continues. I believe they will wait until after the spring rains. It is the most likely course of action.”
“I agree,” Parno nodded. “I appreciate this, Tinker.”
“I am happy to help, milord,” the other man replied, smiling.
“I couldn’t talk you into staying around here permanently, could I?” Parno asked. The Tinker shook his head slowly.
“I am not a soldier, my prince,” he smiled. “This is not the life for me.”
“I have plenty of soldiers,” Parno replied. “I need someone who can gather information like this for me.” The Tinker considered that for a moment.
“I am not a spy,” he shrugged. “I can see what is to be seen, but that is all. Yes, I can often go where others cannot, because so many ignore me. That does not make me a good spy.”
“I’m not really looking for a spy, in the true sense of the word,” Parno told him. “But someone who can see, who can hear, and keep me informed is more valuable than a true spy. A real spy can’t always be trusted.”
“True,” Tinker admitted. “I had planned to go further south for the winter,” he said after a pause. “I usually go to the southern part of Flora. I have a few relatives there, and usually can find
work to last me through the winter.” He shrugged again.
“But, I can likely find some work here as well.”
“You needn’t find work other than what you need to keep you looking busy,” Parno told him bluntly. “I’ll pay you and provide for your expenses. You can stay here for a while,” he added. “Truth is, there’s enough ‘work’ to keep you busy right here for the next fortnight or so but it’s up to you. I won’t deny I could use your help but you’ve been a great help already.” The Tinker studied him for several moments.
“I don’t suppose you have one of those small cabins available?” he asked finally. “And room for my horses in your stables?”
“If I have to build one,” Parno assured him. The Tinker smiled faintly, and nodded.
“Then perhaps I should stay,” he said at last. “I would be going north again with the thaw. Perhaps you will have need of me then.”
“I’m sure of it,” Parno agreed. “Thank you.”
“In the meantime,” the Tinker smiled, “I will finish this map for you.”
*****
Parno rose early the next morning. He had slept restlessly, when he had slept at all. The news brought to him by Edema, added to what the Tinker had given him, had occupied his thoughts while awake and his dreams while asleep.
Washing, he dressed in a utility uniform and walked through the cold air toward his office. There was work to see to, of course, since he’d been away for two days and that would have to be done. While he was at it, at least part of his mind would continue working on the problem at hand.
So entrenched in his work and his worry, was Parno that Sprigs actually had to address him three times to get his attention. Looking up, Parno saw the young Lieutenant standing in his door.
“What is it, Harrel?” Parno asked. “I’m sorry, I’m a bit preoccupied this morning.”
“A messenger from Cumberland House, milord,” Sprigs informed him. Parno frowned. That would be bad news, he suspected.
“Send him in,” Parno ordered.
“Milord,” the man bowed deeply. Parno recognized the man as Edema Willows’ personal footman.
“Hello Benson,” Parno smiled. “How are you? Can I offer you some refreshment after the long ride over?”
“Beg pardon, Milord, but I haven’t time. Mistress ordered me to see you at once and return. I am to wait only in case of a reply.” Parno frowned at that and took the proffered letter. He opened it to find a few simple lines, apparently hastily written.
“Dear Parno,
It seems that Edward has a bit of jealousy in him after all.
He saw me leaving your room night before last and has decided that his honor is impugned. We leave at once for Nasil where he plans to lay his charge before the King. I wanted to warn you, for I know not what will happen.
Edema”
Parno read the short note twice, his face reddening as he did so. When he looked up, his eyes were fairly ablaze and Benson took an involuntary step back.
The Prince stood.
“Are they already gone?” he asked quietly, voice full of barely controlled fury.
“Possibly, Milord,” Benson answered, “they were all but ready when the Mistress dispatched me on my errand. The Duke has decided that I am not to accompany the trip as usual.” More bad news. If Edward had ordered Benson to remain behind there had to be a reason.
“Return to Cumberland House, Benson. If your mistress is still there, inform her that I have received her message and will see her in Nasil. She is to say nothing of our discussions until I arrive. Understood?”
“Milord,” Benson bowed. When he straightened, his eyes were narrow and cold. “I trust that no harm will come to Milady?”
“You trust correctly, Benson,” Parno nodded. “Harm may well come to someone, but it shall not be her. And, to put your mind at ease, she has done nothing wrong. I will tell you, in confidence and not to be repeated, that Lady Edema knew my mother. She has been kind enough, at times, to talk to me of her, tell me of her, as she died at my birth and I never knew her.”
The look of suspicion left the older man’s eyes and warmth returned. He nodded slightly. “I understand, Milord,” he said, “and it will go no further by my lips.” With that the retainer turned and departed. Parno walked to the door where Sprigs was waiting.
“Lieutenant, send for Colonel Nidiad, Colonel Willard, and Master Feng. Have my escort assembled, ready to ride for Nasil. Have my own mount prepared as well, please.”
“Sir,” Sprigs bowed slightly and went to send runners on their way. Parno walked slowly back into his office and looked once more out his window.
*****
“Lad, this is a bad move,” Darvo said quietly. “It’s best to wait and see what happens before jumping out like this.”
“Punishment for adultery is quite harsh among the nobility,” Willard offered from his own seat. “Waiting might place Lady Edema in harm.”
“There is no adultery here,” Parno ground the words out slowly, “and I intend to kill the man who says otherwise, regardless of who he may be. Edema Willows is like a mother to me, something I never had before I came here. She will come to harm only after I am no longer capable of drawing a sword.”
“I’ll go with you then,” Darvo stood. “You can’t. . . .”
“No,” Willard said, rising from his chair as well. “I will go. You should remain, Colonel. If things do not go…well…you will need to be here. The Prince is well thought of among the regiment. They will respect you enough not to ride to Nasil and burn it down. I don’t know that I could manage that.”
“There will be no riding anywhere,” Parno ordered. “This is my problem, my fight. Not the Regiment’s.”
“The men won’t see it that way, Milord,” Karls pointed out. “To them, you are one of their own. They will not take kindly to something like this.”
“They will do nothing…nothing…to endanger their status as soldiers,” Parno bit the words out. “This is a mistake and I should be able to correct it. Neither of you will go with me.”
“One of us is going,” Darvo said, and his voice brooked no argument. “I will accept Karls' judgment as a compliment and let him be the one, but one of us is riding with you—and that is final.”
For once Darvo thought he had gone too far. Parno’s eyes were bright as beacons along the coast and burned with a fury he had never seen in the young Prince. Darvo was not a fearing man, but, at that moment he realized suddenly that his young charge had, indeed, become a man to be feared.
Fortunately, Darvo was as important to Parno as Edema was. His eyes slowly fell from flaming to smoldering and he nodded silently.
“Work it out among yourselves, then. I leave in thirty minutes.”
*****
The ride from Cove to Nasil was a hard one, at least in places. Descent off the Plateau was slow and the Rim, at least in some places, wasn’t much better. The roads, however, made travel far easier than would otherwise have been the case.
It was a quiet Parno McLeod that rode at the head of the small column. His anger had fallen off at least partially. Instead of flaming fury, it was more of smoldering rage.
They stopped to make camp well after dark. Parno was loathe to push much harder, especially in the cooler air. Though it was not yet winter, winter wasn’t far off. Occasional ‘northers’, bursts of cold air from the northern regions, would blow through on occasion and were capable of dropping the temperature by twenty degrees in a matter of hours.
Normally the ride to Nasil would take three days at a normal pace. Parno had debated on making the trip with remounts, allowing the small column to make much better time but he had decided against it, realizing that Edward and Edema Willows would not make the trip any quicker than he could.
The prince was seated near a small fire one of the men had built for him, staring into the flames and reflecting on his current situation. There was no doubt, at least in his mind, that it was his own reputation as a woma
nizer that had led to this difficulty. That and his own stupidity for spending so much time in Edema’s company.
It had never once crossed his mind that his attentions, his presence, would cause a problem for her. He had been blissfully unaware of any tensions between the Willows and completely wrapped up in either learning more of his mother or collecting Edema’s impressions about Norland. He cursed bitterly under his breath at his naiveté. He was a grown man. He should have thought about such things.
“What troubles you, young noble?”
Parno almost jumped, but managed to turn the motion into a simple turning motion, looking to where Cho Feng stood at the edge of the small fire’s light. His robes were heavier than he usually wore and less flashy, but his face was just as intense as it always was.