‘Had mine in my boot,’ said Grimm.
‘Mine in my quiver,’ said Goldie.
‘Had ours tied in a cloth around my waist,’ said Flint.
Seth laughed with them. ‘It’s true: only death will part a pirate from his gold. Good work, lads!’
Goldie spoke up for the men. ‘Boss, any thoughts on what we’ll do after we see the Lady to Black Rock Keep? Are we staying?’
‘We won’t be staying. I don’t think that ever was her plan, and it’s really not the plan now. Any fondness she had for me disappeared in that room of blood. Heading back home, I guess. Any thoughts from you boys?’ He knew they must have had plenty of thoughts about it. It made him smile to think they had plans and dreams and talked about them when he wasn’t around.
‘We’re nothing back home, Boss,’ said Grimm. ‘This coin would go a decent way to letting us live like kings for a few months, but then it’d be gone and we’d be just four more tall bastards in a country of them. Here we’ve already got a reputation; here we could be something.’
‘What could we be?’ Seth asked.
‘Rich tall bastards,’ said Goldie, making them laugh.
‘I’m in no hurry to head home. The big cold North will still be there in a few years’ time and we’re not getting old in a hurry. Let’s just try to survive the next few weeks and we’ll be happy.’
‘But all your enemies are dead, Boss,’ said Flint.
‘No, Flint. I killed some soldiers. The army is still out there and thinking about me more and more,’ Seth said.
It was four days until Elizebetha spoke to Seth. He would ride alongside her carriage every day from morning ’til dusk, with the rising of the sun to the setting of it. The troop continued with Rosen. Now they had negotiated an extra day rate to keep themselves interested. It was only a few coppers a day but kept them smiling.
Seth was getting tired of not know what they were doing, where they were going or if he was even wanted or needed anymore.
‘Are you ever going to tell me your story? I thought it would be like mine, but it’s clearly very, very different,’ he said loudly to the side of the covered wagon. After a few minutes, and clearly deciding if to speak to him, she leant out of the wagon. Seth was surprised at how old she appeared. It was like she was aging years every few days now. She also seemed tired as she spoke to him.
‘We’ll be at the Keep in just three weeks, and I’ll tell you my story then. It is different from yours, Seth. I didn’t realise how different. I made such a terrible mistake giving in to the greed like that. Even though I didn’t take her, the fact that I wanted to was heresy.’
‘That’s what they do; that’s what they are for: taking,’ Seth said defensively.
‘No, Seth, that’s what we make them do. But you’ll see when we get back home.’
‘Will you need me after that?’ he asked.
‘No, Seth, just walk me to the door and I’ll be fine.’
Seth spurred his horse and rode away. He didn’t know what he’d expected from her, but it was a little more than an armed escort. He had been really hoping for a purpose.
With the immediate threat to their lives gone, Seth spent the next two weeks on patrol with his troop. It was like being in the Bloodcrest days again. He had forgotten how much fun he could have camping by a fire, shooting, riding and joking with other men. They soon forgot their larger concerns and got on with the business of living life day to day. The men treated him with the Northern respect of a fighter and did not look at him as if he were always covered in blood.
They patrolled the passes and also up and down along the caravan. As they rode slowly and upright past the traders, passengers and others, they were always given a hearty wave or hallo from someone. They did indeed feel like people here. Seth knew that it would be a simple enough life, but he could see himself doing this. These were good men and looking after these traders as they came and went was a good enough way to earn a living. He didn’t need some big purpose or plan; after all, when he’d struck out from the Bloodcrest line, something like this had been just what he’d hoped for. Actually, to be the Captain of his own troop of men was even more than he could have hoped for. They looked at him with respect and thanks.
Rosen hailed them one night as they rode back in from a forward patrol. He sat on his open wagon, drinking from an earthen flagon as it bounced along. His two guards stayed by his side, no longer with their bows at the ready, just across their knees in a relaxed fashion.
‘Hallo, Captain Seth, a quick word?’ he asked.
They brought their horses alongside with him and kept the slower pace.
‘Hallo, Master Rosen. How can I help you?’ Seth asked, giving him a short nod.
‘As you know, tomorrow we will reach the small city of Pellotina,’ he said.
‘Isn’t that the name of the other one?’ Flint asked.
‘No that’s Pellota,’ answered Rosen. ‘Male and female, don’t you know. Anyway, it’s our last stop for the caravan, so here are your final wages.’ He passed Seth a pouch with pudgy, sweaty fingers ‘Those extra earnings for the lads and a small ruby chip for you are just to say thanks once again.’
The men were very happy at that. ‘You’re a very generous man, Master Rosen. We thank you for it.’
‘Not at all. I just value my life and good work. Now, also, I’ll be heading back on my return trip in three weeks. So if you want to come back with me, or indeed talk about something a little more permanent, I’d be happy to discuss terms.’
Seth didn’t want to give away what they were doing, but it had become common knowledge they were going to Black Rock Keep and some woman was paying them to do so. It was assumed it happened by chance once the men had shown their mettle in the pass.
‘Well, once we’ve taken these people up to Black Rock Keep, we have no real plans. We’ll come back, have an ale and discuss it with you,’ said Seth.
‘All I could hope for. You’ll find me in the tavern The Happy Merchant most days. Just ask for it and you’ll find it. It’s a delightful yellow colour.’
The next day, the men stayed close by Elizebetha’s wagon. Flint had to take over driving it as the man supplied by Rosen was only hired on until the city itself. When the road turned in towards Pellotina, they kept going straight along to the Keep, the only people to do so. Seth noticed the men kept looking back at the caravan, and he noticed he could see people waving to them as they disappeared from view.
The sun was now really hot and high in the sky. During their almost month long caravan ride, it had progressively gotten hotter and hotter. Northmen were never really ones for a lot of armour, but riding in leather armour in this heat was starting to get torturous. The crops and fields along the side of road had long disappeared and were now replaced with fields of short stubby trees, tough-looking grass and large sandy boulders.
Elizebetha had taken down the cover from her wagon and sat in the back with her ever present attendant, She addressed Seth for literally the first time in two weeks, other than ‘can you pass this or that’ at the fireplace.
‘Black Rock Keep is only two days ride from here. My younger brother has been holding the seat for me. When we get there, he’ll receive me and I’ll be able to discharge your services,’ she said.
‘Of course, Duchess,’ Seth replied formally. He was getting so very sick of all this coldness and formality. Long gone were the days of ‘call me Elizebetha.’ ‘If I can ask, why all the secrecy? Why do you even need us to escort you?’
‘My brother is a good and honourable man, and when I ask him to step back down and I’m there in person, he will. But he has a lot of friends in the Guild, and if they knew I was coming back, they would have tried to stop me.’
Seth was appalled. ‘He’s in the Dark Guild? Your own brother!’ he said.
‘He’s not; he just knows people who are. It’s like different sides to the same coin in my family. Some use this knowledge for good and some for gain. He’s a
good man, though, or I would never have let him take my seat all those years ago. It will be fine. I’ll make my claim in public, he’ll step down.’
‘And what if he doesn’t? Seraphina said that he wouldn’t. She probably knows him better than you,’ Seth said.
‘He’s my brother, Seth; he’ll do the right thing. And if not, I still have you.’
‘Oh, right, now you need me. Me and my four men against a standing force of how many hundred?’
Chapter 24
After two days of riding their horses at a quick pace as The Duchesses wagon would allow, camping out under strange stars, they soon came upon the walls of the Black Rock Keep, looming in the distance. The land around them had started to grow oppressive. It was stiflingly hot. The sun climbed high in the sky early and loved to try and burn the white skin of Seth and his men. The stubby trees in the fields were farther apart now, and the sandy jagged boulders and tuffs of dark grass more common.
The wagon had stopped while the Duchess had changed into some clothes more fitting her station and more like when Seth had seen her for the very first time. They had come a long way. He was acting as if he’d been slighted by a friend, but as he saw her again in these clothes, he realised the vast gulf between them. In her world, he was nothing at all, just a man with a sword at the head of four more just like him. She was not only a noble but a Duchess; she had peasants for god’s sake.
The steady beat of the horses’ hooves brought them closer and closer to the Keep. It was a truly impressive sight. It was very much like a Northern castle but cut directly into a vast mountain of black stone. There was a natural crack through the mountain called the black pass that the castle straddled and guarded. On the other side of the mountain was the Great Southern Desert, which was said to stretch on forever. Seth had travelled a long way on this side of the pass, but he knew the desert was vaster than that.
The hard packed dirt road continued now as hard packed sand and as they neared the Keep gates, to cobbled black stones of the mountain. At the top of the turrets, Seth could see men in black livery with golden embroidery that looked familiar, even the flags were black with the golden crest of an eagle.
With a loud crack, the gate lowered from its stone housing and slowly lowered on large chains to the roadway. Seth marched them to the very start of the bridge but didn’t move to cross it. Four horsemen with large black pikes standing up in guard position rode loudly across the moat bridge and addressed Seth.
Seth had donned full armour, as had his men, and he bristled with weapons. Opting for the broadsword hanging at his side, bow across his back and more than one dagger. He might not look regal, but he looked professional and dangerous.
An older man with a trimmed black beard at the head of the group called to him, ‘State your business.’
‘The Duchess of Black Rock returning,’ he announced loudly. His words sent a buzz through the men, and he’d shouted them loud enough for the rest of the people on the wall to hear as well. Without another word, the wagon that pulled Elizebetha and now driven by her female Attendant drove forward passed the guards, with Seth and his men trailing through the gates behind them at a slow trot. No one made a move to stop them, and Seth could already see word of their arrival was spreading like a fire through the place. She certainly looked the part.
Inside of the gate was essentially a small hamlet or town. The gate itself was just one solid wall. The main Keep itself was set very far back and in between was the township of Black Rock. It seemed to Seth just a collection of small houses, some taverns and a small trading market. It seemed to hold just a few thousand or so people, throngs of whom quickly appeared to watch The Duchess in the wagon.
She spoke to different people as her wagon rolled past, as if knowing them, and was speaking in a language Seth had never heard. It was Pellosi but with lots of different desert words and strange twangs in it. That more than anything else seemed to be convincing people she was the truth. Seth overheard someone say, ‘Why is she so old compared to Lord Renton?’
She walked through the crowd of people who made way for her and stepped warily out of the way of Seth and his troop, who all stood at least a head taller than most of the crowd. When they were close to approaching the Keep itself, the two vast oak doors swung outward and two trumpeters appeared and began to play. A young man of around Seraphina’s age walked smartly out of the doors, striding towards them. He was dressed regally in rich black silk with golden embroidery. On his head sat a silver circlet for a duke, which was an insult given he was a caretaker only and at his side casually swung a rapier with an elaborate net of gold and jewels.
He reached Elizebetha and, in the view of the assembled crowd, bowed deeply and smoothly before her. He then straightened himself, took her hand, kissed and spoke to her. ‘Well met, sister. What a very pleasant surprise. Back again after almost ten years away.’ he looked her up and down and said gravely, ‘I do worry, though; you seem much aged by the road and travel. We’ll have to prepare you some restorative foods and drinks.’
Seth knew from Elizebetha that she was actually ninety years old and her younger brother was seventy. They both looked good for their age, him especially, he looked only a few years older than Seth.
‘And you, my brother, seem even younger and more charming than when I left,’ she said.
Seth could see that around them the Keep guards had started to gather. A lot of them were whispering and pointing to the Duchess, clearly they remembered her fondly and truly. Without a word, Lord Renton took the silver circlet from his head and passed it to his sister. ‘Thank you for letting me hold your seat while you were away.’
She took the circlet in her hands and spoke to the assembled people. ‘Thank you to my brother the noble Lord Renton for his great caretaker ship,’ she said.
The people clapped with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm, Seth thought.
Elizebetha slowly placed the circlet on her own head, and then the clapping and cheering started in earnest. Seth could see the young-yet-old lord hold his face perfectly still, but felt the rage coming off the man in waves. The Batling would have seen him as a burning furnace of rage and ill will.
Lord Renton spoke. ‘Only doing my proud duty, sister. Now tell me, who are your very interesting-looking friends here? Did you hire some brigands to bring you home?’ He laughed at this own jest. ‘No, please do introduce me,’ he said again.
She spoke with a pride Seth wouldn’t have imagined in her voice. ‘This young man is Master Seth, who has been with me keeping me safe since Cravoss. These fine men are part of his troop, as he says; Goldie, Grimm, Flint and Stone.’ They all nodded to him briefly.
‘What colourful names all you Northmen have. Well met, Master Seth.’ He shook hands with Seth, and Seth was surprised to feel the solid and aggressive strength of him. It was a mistake to view him as the spoilt boy he appeared to be.
‘Just doing my proud duty,’ said Seth.
‘Well said, Master Seth. Now the question, of course, is what she promised you?’ he said.
Seth flinched at that, knowing they’d never really discussed anything at all.
‘We’ll discuss this over dinner and in private,’ said the Duchess. Seth could tell she had worn the circlet and reined before, as she had the easy way of someone who expected others to do what she said. She walked into the Keep with her lady following. Lord Renton spoke to one of the guards who had met them at the door. ‘Show our guests to the guards’ barracks, if you’d be so kind.’
‘The Duchess might prefer them in the guest suites,’ the man said back.
The lord reached out and slapped him hard across the face. ‘Do as I tell you and do it now!’
As Seth and the troop followed the man with a stinging red face away from the Keep and down towards the barracks, Grimm began to whistle a Northern tune, “The Cold Return.”
Seth and his men all whistled in time with him. It was the tale of a returned fighter whose family and wife couldn’t
look at him anymore after all he’d done.
The barracks of the Keep were better than most that Seth was used to, and while the Lord Renton had meant the gesture as an insult, he’d misjudged the Northerners, and he’d also misjudged his own guardsmen. The major area was lined with tables and seats, and the majority of the guards were sitting and eating their evening meal. The rich smell of roasted meat rose to their noses and made even Seth’s mouth water. He could see a large piece of meat roasting slowly over a large spit. Good food for barracks.
The man who had led them in turned to Seth and shook his hand. He was the one at the gate, a stern-looking man with a trimmed black beard of about fifty years. He turned and shouted out above the men eating and talking. Around fifty heads of the guardsmen turned as he spoke.
‘These men here have brought our beloved Duchess Elizebetha home safe and sound,’ he said, and there was a burst of clapping and cheering. ‘Our good Lord Renton, in one of his final acts of command, has sent them down with us as a kind of punishment, but we’ll show them a good time, right?’ Again the men clapped.
Seth stepped up and spoke to the men in a relaxed way he’d always had with other fighting men, even if these were a little softer than what he was used to. ‘Thanks for that, boys. Thanks for the welcome. My name is Seth. These are Goldie, Grimm, Flint and Stone. We’ll be glad to eat, drink and talk some shit with you all.’ They all laughed at that, and soon the men found themselves a table amongst the men, with plates of good roast meat and veggies handed to them.
Seth was glad to see these men firsthand. From the look of them, he could see that most of them would be firmly on the side of Elizebetha should something happen. Some of the men looked at them with suspicion and hate. He thought these may have been some of Lord Renton’s favourites, worried about the new reign.
Goldie was sitting next to him and whispered in his ear while shovelling food into his mouth. ‘So is Grimm right? Are we getting the cold return, Boss?’
Seth spoke back. ‘We’ll be healthy enough, but if I had any thoughts on a rich reward or something more, I think I can just forget about that.’
Take the body and give me the rest Page 16