Part of that would be because of Ashlynn’s job. Oh, the lass said it was temporary, but she was very good at protecting the law and dealing with the lawbreakers. Broden had been around long enough to know that when a man (or in this case, woman) showed skills in a job, they wound up with that job permanently. He’d lay good money on the odds that Ashlynn would be Sheriff of Estole forevermore. If that was the case, Riana should not partner with Ashlynn. Oh, his little girl could handle herself fine. But she had the same problem Ashlynn did—she looked too sweet and innocent. A man would not take her threats seriously until she riddled him with holes.
And the idea of sending two beautiful women out to deal with criminals by their lonesome made a chill grip his spine.
No, Edvard was wise to send him with Ashlynn. His simple presence right next to her had made many a man stop and think about crossing the blonde, and that second of hesitation was all that was needed for Ashlynn. Besides, he liked working with the lass. She had a good head on her shoulders, that one, and her sense of justice was strong. He could think of worse fates than staying with her.
After the talk he had with Ash last night, he felt a little better about that situation too. He also knew full well how strong a man’s instincts could be, though, when near a pretty woman. He himself had perhaps bent a rule or two with Riana’s mother as they courted. He trusted that Ash would try his very best to live up to the promise he’d given, but Broden would keep an eye on the two of them regardless.
A light set of footsteps rang on the floor, coming this direction. They were heavier than Ashlynn’s tread, but too light for a man’s. Broden’s first instinct was to grab the bow and quiver leaning up against the table, but he doubted an intruder would make that much noise. So he simply bided his time and kept a watchful eye on the door.
The woman who pushed into the room was heavy set, like a matron with five children. Her hair was tucked in a severe dark bun on the top of her head, skin pale, dark eyes sharp as a raven’s. Her dress was a sensible dark blue cut that had traces of flour on the sleeves. She smelled like fresh made bread. Spying him at the table, she stopped dead and folded her hands over her waist in a prim gesture.
“You must be Master Broden Ravenscroft.”
“Aye, I be.” He gained his feet and gave her a bow. “May harmony find ye.”
She blinked and relaxed into what might have been a smile. “I am Haley Summerfield, the matron of this house.”
Ahhh. “Ash mentioned ye to me last night, Miss Haley. I thank ye for the clothes. They be a fine fit.”
“Yes, so I see. Both Ash and Ashlynn have explained your situation to me, and requested that I see to any needs that you or your daughter might have. I am pleased to do so.” Her tone suggested that it was her duty to do so, yet she was still not sure what to think of either Ravenscroft.
Edvard came strolling in, nodding politely to Miss Haley, and offering a “good morning” to both of them.
“A good morning to ye,” Broden returned, sipping at his cup.
“Good morning, Edvard,” Miss Haley responded. She sounded more like a mother greeting her son than a housekeeper.
Broden noted that with interest. It did not surprise him, really, considering what Riana had passed along to him of Edvard’s family history. With a rogue of a father who was never home, and a mother that wilted at every trial in life, it was likely the housekeeper had brought up the future king.
She went immediately to the sideboard and started loading up a plate for him. Edvard sat at the table as if it was usual for her to do this, and instead, engaged Broden in conversation. “I hope you don’t mind, Broden, but I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“Aye, I do no’ mind it. Ask away.”
“Ash recounted to me your family history, but I admit that I am struggling to understand it.” He paused as his housekeeper put a plate in front of him. “Thank you, Miss Haley. Yes, that’s fine. Were you really under such heavy prejudice because of your great-grandfather?”
Miss Haley quietly slipped out of the room without saying another word to either man.
Broden let out a long sigh. “Aye. Although I think it became more a thing of convenience than anything. It be a hard way of life in Cloud’s Rest, and there be no’ much that can be done to change things. A man finds it easier to blame another for his troubles than to get off his duff and fix it.”
“Oh,” Edvard said in a tone of complete understanding. “Now that I understand. It’s how we’ve lived with the Bindings for the past two centuries, and no one’s done anything to change it.”
“Exactly.” Broden lifted his glass to him in silent salute. Different situations, aye, but the root of the problem was the same. “Riana and me, we be the perfect thing to curse at when things go wrong. Me parents were the same, and their parents, and so on.”
“So why didn’t you leave before this?” Edvard seemed very puzzled by this point. “That’s what hasn’t made sense to me. If you were that badly treated, if you knew the situation was never going to get better or change, then why stay?”
“At first, it be a matter of habit more than anything, I suppose.” Broden rubbed at his jaw and tried to find the words to explain. “I went out as a guard a few times when I was younger, so I knew the outside did no’ view me as me own clansmen did. It gave me hope. But I always returned, as me family be there. Then, after me parents and wife died, there be nothing to hold us there but ignorance. We did no’ have the money to travel with, nor any place that could be a new home for us. It be dangerous to just take to the road without a destination. Ye have no way of knowing if there be work to be had, after all. We had to wait until we found an employer.”
Edvard’s brows compressed, still not following. “But the two of you are capable archers and hunters. Wouldn’t it be safe enough for you to travel? You could simply hunt for provisions.”
“That only works out short term,” Broden disagreed. “A man cannot travel and stay out in the woods for long. Aside from that, we had no way of knowing which roads led where, or what dangers we would face if we traveled them. If a man and woman travel alone, they leave themselves open to all sorts of danger. And in a foreign country, where I do no’ ken the customs or know anyone? Where would we turn for help if something went wrong?”
Edvard opened his mouth for a rebuttal, but paused as he realized he couldn’t really find a way to respond to this. Finally, he said, “But if Cloud’s Rest was really that dangerous, that harsh to live in, wouldn’t you have rather taken the chance?”
“Ah, but they be known dangers.” Broden shook his head with a sad smile etched into his face. “We knew them, knew how to avoid them, or fight them. Exchanging old for new be not always better, me king.”
Edvard sat staring at him over a cooling plate of food for a long moment. “If Riana had not been with you, if it had been just you, would you have gone?”
“Aye. Because there would no’ have been much to lose. But I could no’ drag me daughter into the world without some safety net to catch us.”
“Hence you waited until Ash came along.” Edvard finally realized that he had been neglecting his food and started eating. “But what if he hadn’t?”
“Oh, a caravan comes up our way every two years or so.” Broden shrugged and played with the last of his bread. “I be actually waiting on them, ye see. The merchant that runs it has hired me on as a guard a time or three, and I planned on joining in with him and leaving.” If the man had been willing to hire them. That hadn’t been a guaranteed thing.
“So Ash coming for you first was just a happy coincidence? Interesting. We’re very lucky he went up for lumber when he did, then, and didn’t wait longer. Otherwise he might have missed you altogether and my wizards would still be without partners.” Edvard smiled lopsidedly. “And to think I argued with him about going all the way to Cloud’s Rest for lumber.”
Now this was a point that Broden had wondered about. “Why did he? There be forests aplenty just ac
ross the channel.”
“They’re all soft woods,” Edvard explained. “Pines and the like. For a wall that will protect the city, we need something harder, which is why he went for the massive snakewood trees up on Cloud’s Rest.”
Granted, snakewood had been known to break a man’s axe now and again. If Broden had to choose a wood to make a defensive wall with, that would be one of his top choices.
“It’s a pretty wood. I was surprised by that. It’s the first time I’ve actually seen it.”
Broden nodded agreement. “Aye, it be that. Yer carpenters and woodworkers be glad it be Ash that has to work with it, though, I bet.”
Edvard chuckled. “Yes, probably so. I hope that you aren’t regretting your choice to come with Ash. I don’t think this is quite the ‘safety net’ that you were envisioning when you left your home.”
“No,” Broden allowed, eyes crinkling. “It certainly no’ be that. But I did no’ expect perfect safety and harmony with an infant kingdom either. Leastways it be no’ boring.”
The new king of that infant kingdom seemed to find that funny, as he nearly choked on his food, fighting not to laugh.
“Do no’ choke, lad.”
Edvard coughed into a napkin, pounding on his own chest with a fist to clear his airway. “Don’t make me laugh when my mouth is full!” he chided, although his eyes were still dancing. “Not unless you want to be short a king.”
“I will mind it,” Broden drawled. “But if ye be worried about what I think of yer kingdom, I have hopes for it. At least here, me and me Riana be welcome.”
“You always will be,” Edvard assured him. Clearing his throat, he picked up his fork and then paused, eyeing Broden suspiciously. “Is it safe for me to eat, or are you going to make me laugh again?”
The archer quirked a brow at him as he said wryly, “I will no’. We can ill afford to lose our king and frankly? I do no’ want yer job.”
“No one does,” Edvard replied morosely, stabbing at his plate with a fork.
Broden snorted, but had no pity on the man.
Miss Haley reappeared in the doorway and said, “Is there anything more that you require, Edvard?”
“Thank you, Miss Haley, but no. I believe we are fine.”
They heard Ashlynn coming before she came popping through the same doorway, neatly avoiding plowing into Miss Haley by doing a quick spin with cat-like grace. “Oh, Miss Haley, good morning.”
“Good morning, dear.” Miss Haley openly smiled at her, the usual stiff expression on her face softening.
“Are there any problems this morning?”
The housekeeper ticked things off on her fingers. “The usual grumbling about the martial law, the shortage of housing deeds, and the sewage buildup in some of the streets.”
Ashlynn let her head fall back so that she stared straight up at the ceiling and groaned, long and loud. “Where’s the sewage buildup?”
“Port Road.”
“I’ll kill those dock men when I get my hands on them,” Ashlynn swore aloud.
As she went to get her plate, Edvard looked at Miss Haley with a frown. “Just how serious is the grumbling about the housing deeds and my martial law?”
Miss Haley openly hesitated before carefully phrasing, “I would advise doing something about both soon.”
“In other words, serious,” Ashlynn translated dryly. “Edvard, I don’t want to rush you in making those new laws of yours, but you better pick up your pace.”
The king grumbled some inarticulate words under his breath and stabbed at his plate again.
No, Broden did not want the man’s job. He was not envious in the slightest.
“After we’re done with breakfast,” Ashlynn told Broden as she slid into a seat, “we’d best go to Port Road and deal with that sewage problem.”
She wanted to do that on a full stomach? Lovenanty, the lass was brave.
Chapter Ten
“What do you mean you’re taking off with her for the day?” Ash objected.
Ashlynn fixed him with a speaking look. “Brother dearest, did you forget that we are supposed to change up partners now and again to figure out who works best with whom?”
He opened his mouth to protest, only, no sound emerged. Finally he managed, “But Edvard told Broden to go with you!”
“And we’ve done that for a week now,” Ashlynn responded impatiently. “But Ash, you and Riana have been going out of the city on a regular basis to either build on the wall or build houses. She really doesn’t know this place yet. I think she needs to spend a few days with me so that she can at least learn the layout of her new home, don’t you?”
Broden sat in front of the fireplace inspecting his arrows, acting for all the world as if he wasn’t paying attention to this argument. Without looking at them, he drawled, “Lass has a point, Ash. Besides, me Riana be a fierce archer. I do no’ think they will run into trouble they can no’ handle.”
“That’s not the problem,” Ash argued, although from the way his shoulders slumped, he knew that he’d already lost. “Two beautiful women out by themselves invites trouble.”
“We be well equipped to handle it,” Riana soothed. His concern was touching, but she was in more danger wandering about Cloud’s Rest than here. “It be fine, Ash. Besides, me da has a thing for building. He will be happy enough following ye about for a day or two.”
Throwing up his hands, Ash gave up and stalked out. “Fine. Broden, I need to speak with Edvard for a few minutes, and then we can leave.”
“Fine, fine.”
Riana honestly felt thrilled about Ashlynn’s declared invitation. Not that she minded working with Ash—actually, she quite enjoyed it—but the city felt uncomfortable to her. She was like a blind woman walking about on the streets. Riana had no notion where they went, what they connected to, or what could be found on them. Ash and Ashlynn had taken them on a quick tour, to be sure, but none of that had really stuck in her head. She would need at least a few days of wandering about before it was familiar enough to remember.
It was with a light heart filled with anticipation that she followed Ashlynn out of the castle and into the city proper. As they walked, Ashlynn matched her pace with Riana’s and asked, “Do you remember how Ash explained the city’s layout?”
Somewhat. “He said that all the streets connect one way or t’other to the castle grounds.”
“Exactly so. All of the gate roads connect to the castle as well, although it’s not always a direct connection. But still, if you get turned around, the easiest thing to do is to find a gate and get your bearings from them.” Ashlynn pointed ahead toward the gate that was on the far end of the road. “Do you see that giant M? That stands for Main Gate.”
Riana had known that the large letters carved into the top of the gate pillars had to stand for something, but until now, she hadn’t realized it would be for the name. “How many gates be there?”
“Officially? Four. There’s two more that aren’t really gates, because they connect to the channel, and they’re more port roads than anything else. But we have East Gate, Trader’s Gate, Main Gate, and North Gate. North Gate, by the way, does not point north, but instead is more of a southeastern direction. It’s just the only gate that connects to the northern highway, hence the name.”
Aye, and was that not a good way to confuse a person. Riana looked around her and tried to imprint everything into her mind. Right now she had shops of different sorts on both sides of the streets, with narrow houses crammed in between. It looked depressingly like every other section of the city that she had seen thus far.
They came to another road and stopped on the sidewalk, watching wagons and people crossing every which way. Ashlynn pointed ahead. “If you keep going straight, you of course can leave the city. Now, if you go right, you’ll reach North Gate and the Main Square. If you go left, you go to Trader’s Gate and the Main Market.”
Main Market, at least, she knew. Ash had taken her there several times for
building supplies.
“Now, for shopping,” Ashlynn waggled her eyebrows in a mischievous manner, “Main Square is the best place to start. At least for womanly things. I don’t know why, but all the best seamstresses and clothiers prefer that part of the city. I need new boots—mine are becoming ragged with all of this running around that I’m doing—and I wouldn’t mind another shirt, come to think of it. Anything you want?”
Riana looked down at herself. Her boots were so ragged that she could almost see through some spots, so she could definitely use a new pair. Her clothes were in better shape, as they were given to her by the very capable and formidable housekeeper. But she hadn’t a dress to her name, and when Edvard called them to the table for dinner, well, she felt more than a little awkward.
Most of her life, Riana had learned to not ask for things, as they simply couldn’t be given to her. She survived on basic necessities and didn’t complain. But now, finally, she was earning money steadily, and didn’t need to worry about a roof over her head, or where the next meal would come from. It was sheer habit that kept her from readily responding to Ashlynn’s question. “I think…new boots.”
“That all?” Ashlynn probed, a lopsided smile on her face, and a knowing look in her eye. “That expression on your face says otherwise.”
“Maybe a dress?” she added wistfully. “I noticed all the other women at Edvard’s table wear dresses.”
“Oh, a dress or four is a fine idea. After all, a woman needs a dress when she’s courting a man.”
Riana’s eyes crossed. “I no’ be courting anyone!”
“Yet,” Ashlynn corrected sagely. “But Riana, you’re a beautiful woman. If some man doesn’t notice that and snatch you up soon, I’ll be very surprised. Trust me, you’ll want a few dresses on hand just in case. If nothing else, it’ll help you blend in better with high society. When you officially partner with either Ash or me, you’ll be in high society the rest of your life.”
Good point. Although… “Be that…safe?”
“Safe?” Ashlynn stopped dead in her tracks and regarded Riana with bewilderment. “How is it dangerous?”
Arrows Of Change (Book 1) Page 9