by SL Figuhr
“I will have order! I am your king! How dare you think to attack me!” Maceanas was breathing hard, trembling in a mixture of rage and fear.
Soothe them. Promise them justice.I sneaked a look toward Lord Nicky; his face was a thundercloud. “We should not do this here; they are too close to you,” the young man said but was ignored.
There was some shifting and muttering from the crowd before they subsided, eyes glittering in the torchlight. It would not take much to set them off again. The king gestured to Aranthus to open the proceedings officially. The chamberlain’s voice started out squeaky before firming up.
“We are here to garner the truth of how our town was raided. Those of you who have direct, personal knowledge will be the only ones from whom we need to hear.”
Eager volunteers shouted out.
“It was those damn bandits! They came out of the hills!” “There was too many of them!”
“I’m telling you it was the corrupt sheriff and his men!”
Aranthus banged his staff on the stone bridge, shouting, “Silence! His Majesty said truth, not lies! The next person to speak out of turn will be fined!”
“Many rumors, as these men were so kind to point out," he needled them. “I am sorting through them. I will have your answers before morning.”
I let a smile curve my lips saying in my sweetest voice, “Let me ease your burden. My slaves can help you. They were nearby for the first of the attacks. As Your Majesty is aware, I am restoring the old Fishton grounds, which sit at the head of the bridge.”
Eron’s mouth firmed in annoyance as he strode over at my beckoning, bowing to the king. “With Your Majesty’s permission? My fellow slaves and I at first mistook the attackers for part of the sheriff’s men.”
“A serious accusation for a slave to make,” the king reminded. “Nevertheless, Majesty, it is what I saw with my own eyes.”
“Your pardons, Majesty, Advisor,” a merchant yelled to be heard. “My shop was burnt and raided, my family killed in the attack despite my attempts to protect them. I saw the men clearly. They were sheriff’s men and wore his badge. I know them well from their rounds of the town.”
A deadly silence fell at his words. Those nearest him drew away a little. It looked as if he would be on his own when another tradesman spoke up.
“He speaks the truth. I too witnessed the sheriff entering a shop, dragging out both of its owners and putting them to the sword before several of his men looted it.”
The townspeople began calling for the sheriff and his men to answer for their role in the raid. The lawmen added to the din, yelling out their innocence and denials. Aranthus began to bang his staff against the bridge to bring order back. Mathias murmured orders to his men as the shouting subsided.
The king turned to me, an unhappy look in his eye. “My lady, the timing is most convenient for you. I have not forgotten your crusade against Jake. I hope you have not bribed honest men to tell dishonest tales. I would hate to order you taken to the questioner.”
“I have no need of such despicable acts, Sire; the man is corrupt. He is reaping what he has sown; if you doubt me, ask him to explain where he was and what he and his men were really doing.”
Unexpected help came from the crowd as a man forgot himself enough to yell, “My money is regularly stolen by the sheriff and his men.”
The din rose again, all the merchants pouring out their woes to the king. Mathias directed some of his men to maneuver closer around the cluster of lawmen. I could see the sweaty faces, the combination of fear, and bluster. If they could have, I had no doubt the sheriff’s men would have tried running. Each tale highlighted misdeeds. The townspeople had waited a long time for a chance to air their grievances against Jake to the king. And be believed. Nicky could do nothing to stop the proceedings without seeming to support the sheriff and his men. I almost hummed out loud; another step in my plan set in motion.
I cut my eyes to Nicky. It was a wonder he didn’t burst a vein. I didn’t know if he was a wizard, if he truly had the power to cause harm at a distance like I am able, but his anger was sufficient. I felt the old familiar rush of exhilaration I got against a worthy foe.
The king sat, dazed from accusations. The merchants brought up every time the lawmen had done them harm. He realized he would not be able to ignore their words as mere hateful tales, or my dislike of the man as a personal vendetta.
The young man looked murder at me. I stared back, daring him to try and protect the men. I hoped he wouldn’t be able to think straight, thus making a fatal decision. His slave leaned close, whispering something in his ear. Nicky gave him a brief glare, his mouth moving as he spat something back.
A third bellowed, “When the sheriff accused my son of wrongdoing, he was not given the same consideration! He is a commoner as we are; he should have to answer the same way as us! Let the king’s questioner get the truth out of him!”
“If I may, Your Majesty?” I interjected, waiting until he acknowledged me before continuing. “If you will recall, when I lodged my complaint against Jake, I recommended a man named Saizar be elevated to the sheriff’s position. I still stand by the recommendation, even if it is only temporary until a new sheriff is found. Would that be acceptable to all?" I swept our group with my eyes. “Furthermore, I believe the people when they say they have been grievously harmed by Jake and his men. The slave with me tonight," I gestured to Eron, “and a free man with him were almost hanged by the sheriff for no reason other than he didn’t like the look of them.”
“Thanks a lot,” Eron hissed so low only I could hear it. He bowed to the king, “It is true, Majesty. Your own guards even intervened. You wrote my friend and me a pardon.”
“Jake did not obey your command, Sire. I fought for my freedom and that of my friend. My sacrifice gave him time to escape, but the sheriff’s men overwhelmed me. He sold me to slavers who then sold me on the auction block. My mistress has been trying to get my pardon recognized so I may have my freedom back.” Bitch, throw me to the wolves. I’ll play the game, and you’ll lose.
The merchants discussed my proposal, confirming the rumors about Saizar being reluctant to force bribes from the townspeople. Slow nods of approval spread. A few wanted the posting to be temporary, while others suggesting the whole pack of lawmen needed replacing.
Nicky signaled for Aranthus to stop the quarreling. “Majesty, as your advisor, it would be best if we cleared this up here and now before she unwittingly commits another act that starts a war. Have Mathias find this Saizar while we get to the truth. Any lawman refusing to cooperate can be declared guilty and ordered killed.” Nicky despises that woman; does she realize that her actions could get him dismissed?
The merchants, emboldened by His Majesty’s support, blocked Nicky’s every suggestion to rescue Jake. Finally, the young man quit. He could see to continue protesting might make a connection he was the one supporting the corruption or another reason he didn’t want revealed. The lawmen, including Saizar, had a sheen of sweat on their brows as the palace guard surrounded them, nudging them forward a few feet. The sheriff’s eyes skittered about the bridge, spotting me, hatred growing in his eyes. They landed the longest on Lord Nicky, who ignored the sheriff.
“You,” the king pointed to Saizar when a guard singled the man out. “We don’t need you just yet. Go stand back there.” He waved his hand, concentrating on Jake.
Saizar bowed, waiting for the guard to let him pass before walking the few paces afforded by the bridge away from his comrades. He caught sight of me briefly before turning his attention to the sheriff and his fellow lawmen.
“I demand the truth of you and your men, sheriff. We have heard some serious accusations which must be answered,” Maceanas rapped out briskly.
“Uh, er,” the man before him stuttered, trying to catch Lord Nicky’s eye again. Shit! Fuck! Damn asshole said I’s wouldn’t be asked any questions about anything, what the hell’s this shit? Fucker better not be double-crossin’ me.
“More like guarding the ale and slaves at the Bloody Knuckles as he does every night, all night long,” Eron muttered just loud enough to be heard.
“The fact you have to think about your answer tells me all I need to know.” The menace in the king’s voice had the man before him sweating profusely.
“No, no, Youse Majesty! I . . . I . . . we, I mean we, were, um . . .” He fumbled, plunging on. “We was making rounds. They must have slipped past us after one of our patrols took us away from where, where ever they slipped in at,” he finished lamely.
“How is it you didn’t notice a band of armed raggedy men trying to get across the bridge, running amok, burning, and pillaging in my town! It was no quick job!”
Sheriff Jake struggled to come up an explanation. Sweat poured down his face. “Majesty, I, we’s . . .” His eyes went back to the advisor’s, but the young man was busy assessing the crowd.
“Look at your king! I shall not tell you again!” Maceanas screamed in anger. His horse whinnied, prancing in place before settling down. The sheriff flinched; everyone in sight of the man could see what an effort it was for him to obey. “You have not answered my question, Jake.” The menace thrummed in the king’s voice.
Help came from an unexpected source as Mathias spoke up from his place, turning heads. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, Majesty, but what would have happened if the bandits had overcome the palace guard and entered the palace itself? All because the sheriff and his men decided it would be better drinking and whoring in some dive of a tavern?”
“He would be responsible for your death, Sire; they would no doubt have killed you.” Mathias all but gloating to serve some revenge on a hated foe. “By failing to do his job, he committed treason, as did his men.”
Lord Nicky’s brow furrowed in concentration as if trying to determine what revenge to get upon the man. His men shot looks to one another, and one spoke up to support their leader. When he wasn’t chastised, more chimed in to support the sheriff’s story.
I cocked a brow at Nicky, daring him to say anything in the man’s defense when I spoke. “It seems your patrols, as you call them, are not very effective. Dare I say, useless? Dereliction of one’s duty.”
“Perhaps he was attending to other duties,” Nicky snapped out, still scrutinizing Mathias. “Was there a fight at the tavern requiring your presence?”
The sheriff stared in puzzlement, before nodding in assent. The king looked suspiciously at Lord Nicky, who gazed back as innocently as possible.
“A fight taking all the men away from their patrols for hours at a time? Preventing them from stopping bandits when it became known they were setting the town afire while killing and plundering it?” My scorn for such bullshit was clear.
Nicky cut his losses and turned from the sheriff, sitting, clenched of jaw and fists; the look of vituperation he sent me meant I would have to sleep lightly and in my hidden spot else I find my un-life being ended. I was not about to let the threat stop me as I announced,
“The people should have their day. Allow your head questioner to see what he can get from the man and his band on the other accusations. As we have heard, he was not working alone, and the matter needs to be cleared up. Otherwise, people will never be able to trust any of the men who swear they are protecting them.”
I could feel Nicky’s eyes boring into my head, the approving nods of men. “We shouldn’t be hasty,” the advisor began, when Mathias jumped in.
“An excellent idea, Majesty. I concur.” He hummed with happiness, his agreement shocking me. I had to dip into his head to find out why. Ah, he hated Nicky more than he did uppity women. If siding with me meant pain and humiliation to the young man, he gladly would do it while figuring out how to pay me back for not handing the prisoner over to him straight away.
“What is there to think on? There are sufficient witnesses of misdeeds and misconduct. You have heard firsthand of one from my slave, Majesty. Now is the time for questioning, not release so they can flee and never be brought to proper justice. Or worse, join the bandits who seem to want you dead,” I urged.
“Why not also bring in the owner and whoever tends the bar at the tavern—what was it called? The Bloody Knuckles?—that the sheriff and his men are supposed to frequent for questioning.”
“Er,” Maceanas recovered quickly. “Very well. Guards, deliver these men to the questioner . . .” He didn’t have a chance to finish; apparently some of the lawmen had concluded escape was the better option.
The king started screaming in terror like a child at the closeness of the fight. His horse reared from the noise and commotion, sending His Majesty slamming to the ground as the mare bolted. The grooms on either side stumbled back as the panicked animal rammed into a mare I was riding today, as I was turning the horse’s head around. Her hooves slid on the slick cobbles of the bridge, nearly toppling us both.
More horses caught the scent of fear, beginning to whinny and rear. Less experienced riders lurched in saddles or fell upon the ground or over the low stone bridge rail to splash in the raging cold waters below. Those left on horseback tried maintaining control of their mounts. A few screams rang out; whether from the conflict behind us or trampled riders, I had no idea. I grabbed the royal mount’s bridle, only my super strength keeping the horse’s head down. The mare kicked out with back legs, narrowly missing a groom as Gray Ghost gained purchase.
His slave raced off. Guards leapt off their mounts in an attempt to help manage some of the riderless horses. Gray Ghost attempted to buck. Her hindquarters mashed against the side of the royal guard’s horse next to me. Lord Nicky and I faced each other. My mare reached out to bite the horse in front of her in an effort to get it to move.
Familiar shouting made me risk a quick look. Domiano and stable slaves from the Silver Thorn came running. The king lay winded. Aranthus had thrown himself over the man. The royal grooms ran up to grab the mare’s bridle from me. A torrent of abuse at my back came from the royal horse guard I had inadvertently trapped.
Nicky swore, trying to get his mount to back up so he could turn the gelding without my horse attacking. I knew Gray Ghost would rear and kick out as soon as she had space, thus adding to the problems. Domiano and the other slaves began throwing pieces of cloth over the heads of the remaining mounts, helping their riders lead them off the bridge and farther up the road.
Aranthus, Saizar, and Eron helped the king up. Those of the royal guard who were now dismounted ran onto the bridge to help His Majesty. I gave my mare the command, turning her head sharply to the right. I galloped off the bridge and up the street before Gray Ghost would slow. I turned her around, letting her canter back. We stopped, seeing more clearly the fight taking place between lawmen and palace guards.
Due to the constraints of the bridge, the fracas was short. Even so, a fair number of bodies lay bleeding on the ground, most of them lawmen. One or two royal. Many of the royal horse guards already remounted. Shouting across the river let us know some townsfolk had gone to the rescue of people who plunged off the bridge. Folks streamed through the breached barricade up the bridge before meeting the wall of mounted royal guard.
“Hang them! Hang them all now!” Lord Nicky was yelling. “I want answers! Put them to the questioner!” the king bellowed.
The guard shuffled uneasily, pole arms and swords held at the ready should any of the lawmen break free again. To everyone’s surprise, His Majesty turned, clouting the advisor upside his head. The young man was caught off guard, swaying in the saddle before righting himself. The look of loathing he directed toward His Majesty plain for all to see.
“I AM THE KING!” Maceanas was red-faced, huffing. “You will take the lawmen to the questioner and have him find out all their secrets. As for Sheriff Jake, I strip you of your office! You too will face the dungeon. When Rablias is done, you will be flogged and hanged in the center of town, your carcass left to rot as a warning for the next sheriff.”
Mathias saluted smartly, barking
out orders to his second-incommand, who got the men moving. Townspeople crowded behind with their makeshift weapons and torches as further insurance against the prisoners’ escape. I guided my mare to the side of the street, letting the procession by while moving closer toward the king. Jake struggled with his guards, blood streaming down the side of his head while he screamed at Nicky.
Lord Nicky’s expression of hatred transformed to panic and shock a fleeting moment before the guards clubbed the sheriff to his knees. Jake suddenly fell silent from a blow to the back of his head.
“DiJinn,” Nicky commanded his slave so quietly only I could hear it. “See the traitor makes it to the dungeons and enjoys Rablias’s talents for a long time.”
The king sputtered. “I want answers! How the hell was this nest of vipers allowed to flourish without anyone bringing it to my attention?! Nicky! You are my advisor; you’re supposed to protect me from such men! You have failed me grievously! I have no law and order! No protection from bandits! I should replace you!”
“It could be, Majesty, the man didn’t work alone; someone with authority might be covering his crimes, maybe more than one,” I mildly suggested, receiving a sharp look from the young man as I reined near. “I am sure Lord Nicky will discover their identities soon enough.”
“You bitch!" Nicky hissed like steam escaping a teakettle, hands balling into fists around his horse’s reins. “Keep your damn mouth shut! I am the advisor!”
“Lord Nicky, you dare speak to a noblewoman thusly in my presence when she is giving me good counsel, when she saved me along with this man?” The warning was mild, the look wasn’t.
I raised my brow in my most supercilious manner, giving the advisor a shark-scaring smile. Nicky paused, fear and confusion briefly crossing his face. He sat staring at me uncertainly.