“We weren’t here when it happened.”
“We were here a year ago. She could have told us then.”
Chris shook his head. “She didn’t know you.”
“She knew Laryn.”
“Laryn’s not a sorcerer. She couldn’t have gone up against Rolan the way you did.”
Kevin paused. “Well, we’re here now. If this happens to anyone else, I want to know about it immediately.”
“And you think if you tell them to let you know, they will?”
“I can hope.”
“What about the people in Milhaven? Are you going to meet with them?”
“I think so. I probably won’t be able to get everyone to come to a meeting in town, but gossip being what it is, the ones who don’t come will hear the story soon enough. I want everyone to be on guard.”
“Are you going to mention Darius or Trevor?”
“I don’t think so. If I mention Darius, it could make any stranger suspect. And Trevor was a soldier. I don’t want the people around here to be suspicious of the soldiers. It’s bad enough that Gen. Crandal and Cpt. Lawrence are.”
Chris nodded. “When do you want to do this?”
“We could have the staff meet us in the dining room at lunch one day. Most of them are here then.”
“What about the guards on duty? Or the people monitoring the playground?”
“Darrell can take care of the guards. They aren’t likely to be targeted anyway.”
“I guess the pages could watch the playground. They already know what happened.”
“True,” Kevin said. “And speaking of the pages…”
“What?”
“Remember the night Caelan came by to tell us Rolan’s men were out of North Amden?”
Chris nodded.
“Later, while Rhianna and I were walking Nikki, she mentioned a few things she’d picked up.”
“Such as?”
“Isak’s thinking about leaving so he won’t have to take over as head page when Ariel leaves.”
“Is Ariel leaving?”
“Not as far as I know,” Kevin said, “but he’s eighteen. I doubt he’s planning to make a career out of being a page.”
“We weren’t going to ask Isak to take over anyway.”
“I know, but he doesn’t know that. If we want to keep him, we need to find a way to let him know we’re not going to put him in that position.”
“And we need to do it in such a way that he’s not insulted.”
“You think he’d be insulted? Why? He doesn’t want it.”
Chris paused. “Ego’s a funny thing. He’s all but said he doesn’t want it, but the thing is, he hasn’t come right out and said so.”
“Okay. How are we going to do it?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll need to think about it a bit.”
“Well, while you’re thinking about that one, see if you can come up with some way we can hang on to Petri.”
“Where’s he going? Back to Jardin?”
Kevin shook his head. “For some reason he thinks Joan’s going to ask Corey to take over as her page before long, and he’s wondering what he’s going to do when that happens. Rhianna thinks he may be leaning towards being a soldier or a guard, although he’s a little young for either one.”
Chris’s eyebrows drew together. “We need to bring him in here.”
“Any idea how we do that without Joan killing us?”
“Not right now, but it would help if we could find someone for her office before we take him. In the meantime, I’ll ask Darrell to give him some extra training. Maybe that’ll keep him around until we can bring him in here.”
“But not until after the ministers’ conference. He’s got his hands full right now.”
Chris nodded. “Anything else?” When Kevin shook his head, Chris said, “Good. It’s time for dinner and I’m hungry. Let’s go.”
~~~~
Later that evening, after she and Kevin got back from their walk with Nikki, Rhianna asked, “Do you have anything scheduled for tomorrow afternoon?”
Kevin shook his head. “As far as I know, after the council meeting, I’m done. Why?”
“We need to go to Crinsor Run for dinner.”
“Why?”
“I got a letter from Father yesterday. He wants to know when I’m coming home.”
Kevin let out a long breath. “What are you going to say?”
Rhianna shrugged. “I’ve decided to go with the truth.”
“Which is?”
“I’m staying here because this is where I want to be. I like it here and I have good friends here.”
“Will they be all right with that?”
“Probably not, which is why I want to go by Duane’s house first. I doubt we’ll even get home before Father heads over there and I’d like for them to hear it from me first.”
Kevin nodded. “When do you want to go?”
“Late afternoon, if that’s all right with you.”
“Meet me in the office?”
Rhianna nodded. “Good luck with your meeting tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” Kevin said as he kissed her goodnight. “See you tomorrow.”
Chapter 3
July 5
Rolan hated council meetings. Without Gwendolyn to keep things stirred up, they were incredibly dull, and seeing Myron always brought back bad memories. And this one was no different.
The minute the meeting was over, Rolan grabbed his page, turned the key, and left. When he got back to his office, he was too agitated to sit down, so he paced, and paced, and paced some more. When he’d worn himself out, he plopped down in his chair and gripped the hair on his head. Seeing Myron at the meeting had brought back all the mortification of their last encounter. He’d get even for that, and for Landis.
Rolan leaned back in his chair. He would find a way to put an end to this humiliation, and soon. A smile teased his lips as he pictured Myron’s body floating through the air to disappear into the burial tomb of the House of Nordin.
But it wasn’t time yet. He needed to give Myron time to get distracted by other things and forget about him. And he needed information, and for that he needed spies, and he was fresh out of them. As he drummed his fingers on his desk contemplating how he could find new ones, he realized the answers he needed might be locked away in his dungeon.
Rolan yelled for a page. As his door cracked open, he snapped, “Tell Cpt. Yardner I want to see him, and bring me some tea.”
“Yes, sir, right away, sir.” The young page backed out of the room and pulled the door to.
Ten minutes later, Rolan’s tea arrived, and shortly after that, Cpt. Yardner.
“You wanted to see me?” Cpt. Yardner asked as he shut the door behind him.
“Where did you put Trevor? The man I paid to spy in Milhaven.”
“In the dungeon, as you ordered.”
“Bring him to me, in chains.”
“Yes, sir.”
While he waited, Rolan sipped his tea and thought about his approach. He needed the man on his side, and considering the number of times he’d threatened to kill him, that might not be easy. And being tossed in a dungeon was not something a man readily got over. He’d have to tread carefully to get what he wanted. Demanding had never worked with Trevor. That man would face death before he’d yield.
Half an hour later, two guards ushered a shuffling, ragged, unkempt man into his office. Rolan stood and motioned to the guards. “Leave us.”
“As you wish, sir,” one of the guards said with a slight bow. “We’ll be right outside the door if you need us.”
After the guards left, Rolan grinned. “How would you like to get out of those chains, clean up, and get even with Myron?”
Trevor hesitated. “I’d like that almost as much as getting even with you.”
Rolan laughed. “I always like being in first place, but tell me why.”
“He arrested me for spying, but you threw me in a dungeon for holding yo
u to our agreement. Myron was wrong to arrest me based on hearsay, but you tossed me in your dungeon just because you could, and that’s worse. You’re a vile man, Rolan.”
“Can’t say you’re completely wrong, but I locked you up for trying to cheat me, for trying to demand more than your information was worth. You didn’t play fair with me. If you want to stay out of that dungeon, don’t try to fleece me.”
“The way I see it, you were the one trying to bilk me, refusing to pay what we’d agreed on.”
Rolan tilted his head and looked at Trevor. “Everyone cowers in front of me, except you. I like the cowering, shows they know what I’m capable of. You know full well I could end you without a moment’s thought, but yet you never flinch. I’ve always admired your spunk, even when I was ready to kill you for it. But don’t push it too far, Trevor.”
Trevor just glared at him.
Rolan walked towards a table set against the back wall and motioned for Trevor to join him. After Trevor shuffled over, dragging his chains with him, Rolan motioned towards a small box on the table. “Open it.”
Trevor rolled his eyes, and held his hands up as far as he could get them with the shackles. “You’ll have to do that yourself.”
“Chains do make life difficult, don’t they?” Rolan smirked. “If you accept my offer, you’ll be out of those chains by lunch.” He opened the box. It was full of coins. “Help me put an end to Myron, and the coins are yours on the day he’s buried.”
Trevor looked at the money for a moment and shook his head. “No, thank you.”
Rolan’s eyebrows knitted. “You’re turning these coins down?”
“Coins won’t do a dead man much good, will they?”
Rolan’s frown deepened.
“The last thing Myron said to your captain before they took us away was if any of us ever set foot in Camden again, he’d kill us. He meant it. I’m not going anywhere near Camden, much less Milhaven, not for any amount of money.”
Rolan’s face relaxed. “I wasn’t planning to send you to Milhaven. All I want from you is information. You’ve lived at his castle. You know how things work, his routines, who’s who. When I have questions, I want answers.”
Trevor didn’t answer immediately. “If I answer your questions as well as I can, I want a different deal.”
“More money?!”
“No, I’m not interested in coins. I have a feeling you’d kill me before you’d hand them over.”
Rolan didn’t deny Trevor’s accusation. “What do you want?”
“To live with the soldiers and be paid as a sergeant. And when Myron’s in the ground, I want you to take me to the shed where we used to meet.”
“Why?”
“There are a few men I want to get even with, men who were supposed to be my friends.”
“I can understand that.” Rolan gave a quick nod. “I accept your terms, but if you get paid as a sergeant, you’ll have duties same as the other sergeants. Too many questions otherwise, and it’s in our best interests to keep this arrangement to ourselves.”
“Agreed.”
“I’ll send for you when I have questions.”
“And I’ll do my best to answer them, as long as you live up to your end of the bargain.”
Rolan gave one quick nod. “I’ll send word that I’ve hired you as the sergeant over the stables. That’ll keep you on the grounds.”
Trevor nodded. “I’d offer to shake hands on it, but it would be awkward since I can’t move mine.”
“Guard!” Rolan called out. As the guard opened the door, Rolan tilted his head towards Trevor. “Get the chains off him, find him some decent clothes, and take him to Gen. Salazar. He’s our new sergeant over the stables. Tell the general to reassign whoever’s there now.” Then he turned to Trevor. “I’ll send for you when I need you.”
Chapter 4
Crinsor Run
Saturday afternoon, Chris and Kevin were in Kevin’s office when Rhianna knocked. As Chris opened the door, he said, “We’re done. He’s all yours.” Then he turned towards Kevin. “I’ll pick Nikki up after dinner. Have fun in Crinsor Run.”
“So, ready to go?” Kevin asked.
“I guess.” Rhianna sighed. “I’m really dreading this. I know they’re going to be upset, especially Mother.”
“I’d expect your father to be more upset than your mother. She always seems so calm, like nothing ever gets to her.”
“To be honest, Father’s easier to handle than Mother. He says what he thinks. I can usually talk my way around him. But when Mother’s upset, she gets quiet, as in she won’t say anything at all. It’s hard to win an argument when the other person just looks at you with sad eyes and sighs. People usually give in and do things her way.”
“Nikki does the same thing. Works every time.” Kevin took out his key. “Let’s go see Duane.”
“Do you know which house is his?”
When Kevin shook his head, Rhianna held out her hand. “Then you’d better give me the key.”
Once they were at Duane’s, Rhianna explained about her father’s letter and her plans to stay in Milhaven. “Father’s going to try to drag you into this. I wanted you to know what’s going on before he does.”
Duane shook his head. “Mother will be worse than he will.”
“But she won’t come right out and ask you to get involved. He will.”
“No, she’ll just tear up and make me feel all kinds of guilty because I’m the one who took you down there to start with, never mind that it was Father’s idea,” Duane grumbled. Then he sighed. “You’re sure this is what you want to do?”
Rhianna nodded. “I’m not saying I’ll live there for the rest of my life, but for now it’s where I want to be.”
“All right. Then I’m all for it. Good luck at dinner.”
“Thanks.” Rhianna looked at Kevin. “This is between me and them. Why don’t you stay here with Duane and Shelandra?”
“That’s a good idea,” Shelandra said as she smiled at Kevin. “We’d love to have you eat with us.”
Before Kevin could answer, Duane nodded. “And you can fill me in on what happened with the assassin she captured.”
“Saryn?” Rhianna asked. “The assassin who shot Marcus?”
“No, not that one.”
Rhianna frowned. “Then what are you talking about?”
“The one you captured a month ago!”
“How did you hear about it?”
“Caelan.”
“Does Father know?”
Duane nodded.
Rhianna shook her head. “I wasn’t planning to mention that.”
“Why not? You did the right thing.”
“That’s not the point. I doubt Mother was very happy that someone tried to kidnap me so they could trade me for Landis.”
Duane looked back and forth between Kevin and his sister. “He didn’t mention any kidnapping, just that the man shot at you and you defended yourself and the women with you. Now I really want to hear the story.”
Rhianna sighed as she stood up to go. “Myron can fill you in, but do me a favor and keep it to yourselves. I’d rather Mother and Father never know the whole story. See you later.”
~~~~
Gwynn was at the stove when Rhianna walked in. “Rhianna,” she said with a big smile as she held her arms out towards her daughter. “It’s so good to see you.”
As Rhianna walked into her mother’s arms, she asked, “Mind if I join you for dinner?”
“Of course not.” Gwynn put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders and eased her back to get a good look at her. “Is Myron with you?”
“He’s eating with Duane and Shelandra.”
“Oh?” Gwynn asked. “Is something wrong?”
Rhianna shook her head. “I thought it would be nice if it was just the three of us tonight.”
“Then set another plate and call your father.” Gwynn turned back to the stove. “Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes.”
Twenty minutes later, the three of them were seated at the table with their plates.
“So,” Hayden said. “What’s the purpose of this visit?”
“Can’t I just come for a visit?”
“Sure, but you didn’t. You’ve got something on your mind. It’s written all over your face.”
Rhianna sighed. “It’s about your letter.”
Gwynn glanced at her husband. “Anything in particular?”
Rhianna looked at her father. “You asked when I’d be coming home.”
Hayden nodded. “You did a good job getting Rolan’s men out of North Amden, but that’s done. It’s time to move on.”
“From that job, but not from Milhaven. I’ve made some good friends there and I’m planning to stay for a while.”
“Stay?” Gwynn asked. “In Milhaven?”
Rhianna nodded. “Originally I’d planned to go back to Wildcat Mountain afterwards and work with Landis, but she won’t be there much longer. She’s going to the island in a few weeks. If I hadn’t gone to Milhaven, I’d have gone to the island with her, but as you pointed out, Father, since I’ve made the break, it would be best to keep it that way. Warren’s helping her now, and her guard will provide protection once she’s trained so they need to take over when she gets to the island. I’ll visit, but that’s all. And visiting will be easy if I’m in Milhaven where I can get Myron or Chris to take me whenever I want to go.”
“Is that why you want to stay in Milhaven?” Hayden asked. “So you can visit Landis?”
Rhianna shook her head. “I want to live there because I like it there, but it’s nice that I’ll be able to visit her.”
“Aren’t you being selfish?” Gwynn asked.
“How?” Rhianna asked.
“You’re not considering the people who have to clean your room, wash your clothes, even cook your meals. You’re letting the household staff wait on you while you’re doing nothing to earn it.”
Rhianna frowned. “Are you thinking I’ve lived at the castle all this time?”
“Well, you have, haven’t you?”
Rhianna shook her head. “I moved out of the castle last March. I live in Milhaven, in a house I helped build. I do my own cleaning and washing. One of the other women living there does most of the cooking, but I planted the gardens and I tend to them. I usually eat lunch at the castle, but only because I’m up there teaching self-defense classes to the staff.”
The Rambling Spy Page 3