by Randi Darren
Carla’s cheeks flushed and her lips peeled back.
Good.
“Now, Three,” Alex said, turning to face Valeria. “If I were to ask you—now, this is hypothetical—who your old master was, you wouldn’t be able to answer. Right?”
Valeria nodded her head.
“It’d be a violation of an oath you made.”
She nodded again.
“Alright. Now, if I asked you if your oath belonged to so and so, you couldn’t answer. Is that correct?”
Once more she nodded, watching him.
“If I instead asked you if you could provide an answer, rather than requiring the actual answer to ‘Your oath belonged to so and so?’ you could theoretically answer, yes?”
Valeria didn’t respond immediately. He could see the gears in her head turning as she worked out what he’d said.
“Yes. I could, to a degree,” she said after a long pause. To his eyes, she seemed to lose some of that agitated worry she’d been holding on to.
“Great. So, if I asked you if you could answer if I asked you if you worked for the duke, could you answer?”
“Yes,” Valeria said, looking up and to the side. As if expecting some type of intervention.
Alex smiled at her.
“Fun with logic. Now, let’s just go down the list, and I’ll keep asking you the same question. Ok?” Alex asked.
“Sure, Master,” Valeria said, smiling back at him. She sat down on her bottom, dusting her pants off with quick brushes.
“Master?” Riley asked from one side.
Breaking his attention from Valeria with some effort, he looked back.
Nannie had fallen to her knees and was taking great gasping breaths.
“Adrenaline rush wear off, Five?” he asked.
She nodded her head up and down, saying nothing.
“Normal for you to fall into a rage like that?”
Her head went up and down again.
“Right. Stand up if you can. Put your hands on your head. You’re probably not doing yourself any favors like that. Get some water and sugar, too, if you can.”
Turning back to Valeria, he clicked his tongue.
“Now, where were we?” he asked, starting to go through a mental list of every single vassal he could remember.
***
Alex held tight to the reins.
He disliked riding. Disliked horses almost as much.
His body knew how to ride at least, even if he didn’t.
Nannie pressed up to his back and held tightly to him as they rode towards the duke’s command point.
“Are you sure you’re alright with this, Five?” Alex asked.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said.
“Alright. Any questions, by the way?”
“You challenge him. I crush his skull in. Then you feed me a steak and let me rub one out,” Nannie said.
“Most of that, yes. Right up until the rubbing. Pure as untouched snow, remember?”
“But you want me to pull his skull apart.”
“Yes.”
“You’re so fucking strange.”
Alex didn’t argue with that. He had his reasons.
Coming up to the guards surrounding the command point, Alex waited for Nannie to dismount. Then did the same, tossing the reins at a guard.
“Hold on to that for about thirty minutes, or you’ll be buying me a new one,” Alex said to the guard.
No one stopped him; apparently everyone knew who he was. And he wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
Turning around the corner of the pavilion that’d been set up in the middle of the field, he saw the duke.
Surrounded by all the vassals as they ate and lounged around.
Heading straight for the duke, Alex wasted no time.
Since no one would dare approach them, every head in the area slowly turned toward him as he came on.
Duke Tanulf raised an eyebrow, looking at him. Then both brows went up when he looked at Nannie.
Glancing over his shoulder, Alex realized why.
She was still liberally coated in blood. As if she’d been bathing in it.
Fear factor, I guess.
Looking back to the duke, Alex fell to a knee and bowed his head.
“My lord duke. I come to you to bear witness to my testimony,” Alex said.
Before the duke could respond, Alex raised his head and laid his fingers on the lapel pin that held his oath.
Whatever the duke had planned to say died when he saw Alex’s hand.
“I… see. I recognize you as my vassal and your right to speak,” the duke said.
“I bear witness to having just fought off a group of twenty assassins. Men that were hired by Count Ridge to take my life in the hopes that he might find a way to gain my title.
“On my oath and my life, this is what I know to be true,” Alex said.
There were a few choked gasps, and someone even chuckled in the crowd of vassals.
“Furthermore, if his goal is my title, then I offer it to him. By trial of combat with champions,” Alex said, raising his voice. “If the count is man enough to name a champion and contest me. Else I submit that he is a coward and knows the truth of my statement as fact.”
Thank goddess for Valeria and her knowledge of dueling customs. I’m sure I could have tried to make that random information spring on me, but no guarantee of it.
Though it does make me wonder what her family was like.
The duke lifted his sight from Alex and looked into the crowd.
“Count Ridge, I believe you have a formal challenge to respond to,” the duke said.
Alex couldn’t be sure the duke wasn’t behind this, but considering he had his own plans for Alex, Alex imagined that he wasn’t.
Hard to be forced into marriage with his daughter if I’m dead, after all.
“I see no reason why I need to—”
“Then forfeit your honor, and we’ll go to the king for justice,” Alex said, not bothering to let the man finish. “We’ll go this very day.”
Going for the king’s justice was a quick way to get grilled on everything and anything.
But his oath allowed him to do so if it was required to mete out the law.
No one ever really wanted to go before the king to have their secrets cleaved from their skulls by their own oaths.
“Fine,” said—presumably—Count Ridge. “Tomorrow morning—”
“Now, Count Ridge. I’ll have satisfaction now. I believe your champion is off to the side right over there. I spotted him in your colors earlier. Or at least, that’s who you publicly named.
“Or did you plan to flee tomorrow morning? Like the coward you are?”
“That’s enough!” shouted the same voice. “We’ll settle this now then. Name your champion.”
When he stood, Alex finally was able to see the man.
He had a darker skin tone than most vassals. Tanned to the point of looking almost like leather.
His eyes were cold, blue, and hard, his brown hair cut extremely short.
With a face in an eternal scowl, Alex couldn’t have picked him for anything other than “most likely to be the bad guy.”
He was waving his own fighter over at the same time.
“I name Five as my champion,” Alex said, indicating Nannie.
Nannie sighed audibly.
“I accept my master’s designation as champion,” she said, accepting the formal declaration.
“As the challenged, I claim my right to choose weapons,” Ridge said once his champion had gotten closer.
“Alright, and what do you pick?”
“Fists,” said Ridge, his champion standing not far from him, looking pleased with himself.
Alex wasn’t quite sure he understood what had been said.
“Did you say fists, Count Ridge?” Alex and the duke asked simultaneously.
“I did. Is your woman too soft for that?” Count Ridge asked.
Not replying to Rid
ge, Alex turned to Nannie instead.
“Don’t stop till your knuckles are buried in his throat,” he said to her.
Her eyes had a strange glint to them, her hands flexing open and closed. Nodding her head, her nostrils flared as she took in a deep breath.
“Right. Agreed,” Alex called back to Ridge. “Let’s start immediately, unless the duke would ask otherwise?”
Duke Tanulf looked from one count to the other, then shook his head. “Count Ridge?” he asked.
“No concerns,” said the count. “We’re ready.”
“Begin then,” the duke said.
Nannie let loose a war cry that made Alex’s skin prickle.
She set off at a sprint, running right over the table all the vassals were eating off of, and leapt to the far side. Heading straight towards the Ridge’s champion, who seemed uncertain.
He still had a shocked look on his face when Nannie pounced at him.
Her broad build and full-speed sprint flattened him to the ground.
She didn’t wait to bring her fists down into the man’s face. Without an ounce of finesse, grace, or strategy, Nannie wailed on the man as he attempted to block from below.
Screaming brokenly, Nannie shoved one of the man’s arms to one side and brought her other fist around in a long hook.
It caught him on the jaw and whipped his head to the side.
After that, the “fight” as it were devolved into Nannie pounding the man’s face.
No one stopped her. Or even tried to.
Her hands started to come up bloody after a time, either from the champion’s face or possibly breaking her hands, Alex wasn’t sure.
Moving over quickly, he wrapped his arms up under her shoulders from behind and pressed his mouth to her ear.
“Five, stop, stop. You won. He’s not going to fight anymore and you could damage your hands. I need those hands,” Alex said as soothingly as he could.
Nannie’s shoulders flexed and Alex swore he was about to get tossed like a child on a bull.
Then she suddenly shuddered, her head dipping down.
“It’s ok. You did good. Very good. Come on. Let’s go have a seat. I’ll get you a drink.
“Good job, Five. Very good job. Exactly what you were supposed to do.”
Letting go of her, he started quickly and lightly running his hands back and forth over her shoulders and neck.
“I did?” she asked.
“Yes, you did wonderfully. Come on. Let me take care of you. I can’t have you damaging yourself, Five. I need you. Come. Come away,” Alex said.
With one hand, he took her wrist, his other hand still lightly stroking her back.
“Ok,” she said dully.
Standing up, she let him guide her back to where they’d started. Alex only let go of her once to snatch a skin of something as he passed.
Getting her off to one side that was partially shaded, he sat her down and handed her the skin.
“Take a drink, relax. Ok? You did good,” Alex said, getting down in front of her. With gentle fingers, he turned her head until she was looking at him.
“I did good,” she said.
“You did very good. I’ll even reward you, just like I promised. Ok?”
“Reward.”
“Yes. Reward. Good job. Take a sip and wait here, ok?”
“I’ll wait here.”
Alex nodded and smiled at her. Getting up, he slowly backed away from her slowly.
Getting several steps away, he turned and went back to the duke. When he looked to the crowd, he couldn’t see Count Ridge.
“I believe that’s my win, duke,” Alex said, looking back to the older man.
“That it is. Your champion is… unique. Though I fear Ridge chose the wrong weapon, it would seem,” the duke said with a corpse-like smile. “I’m afraid to report, it would appear he has fled. Even before the result was decided.”
“Then award me his estate and title and give me a writ, my duke. I shall take what is rightfully mine.”
“I think this has gone on far enough,” the duke said, looking back across the field to where his private war was ongoing. “Count Ridge will suffer his dishonor for losing.”
And remain the count. Which went unsaid.
Would this qualify as casus belli for both you—you old fart—and Count Ridge?
A duel of honor that is not enforced and upheld would bring about a valid casus belli against both the losing party and the one who did not uphold the victor.
This validation would remain active for one year exactly.
“That’s your ruling then?” Alex asked, hoping to get clarity on the situation. “You’ll not uphold my victory?”
The duke must have caught something in Alex’s voice. The older man tilted his head to one side, peering up at Alex.
“No. I’ll not uphold it,” he said after several seconds had passed.
“I understand. I’ll be going,” Alex said. Bowing to the duke, he left without being dismissed.
Stopping briefly in front of Nannie to lever her up to her feet, he didn’t deviate from his course back to his horse.
Alex mounted up into the saddle and then turned around to look at Nannie.
There’s no way she’s going to be able to hold on, is there?
Frowning while deep in thought, Alex scratched at his jaw.
She’ll hate it, but whatever.
Getting back down, he started pulling and pushing at her to get closer to the horse.
“Keep your hands to yourself,” Nannie mumbled, but made no move to push him away.
“Then get on the horse,” Alex said, shoving at her hip. “As if you were going to ride it.”
“Can’t ride a horse,” she said.
“Put your left foot in the stirrup, then fling your right leg over.”
Nannie slowly did as instructed, putting her foot in.
Throwing her leg over became a problem, though. She’d only gotten herself halfway on and seemed stuck.
Bracing his courage, Alex grabbed a handful of her ass and thigh, then shoved her leg over the other side.
Before the horse could bolt or Nannie fall out, Alex mounted as best as he could behind her.
Wrapping his arms around her middle, he grabbed the reins and got the horse turned around.
A click and a press of his heels and they were moving.
Slowly.
Alex didn’t even want to entertain the idea of moving quickly with two mostly unsecured riders.
Nannie’s head lolled backward till it rested against his shoulder.
She apparently had fallen asleep.
Not that he blamed her. She’d been in two fights nearly back to back, and she’d gone off the deep end in both.
He imagined her rages were useful, but probably… draining.
***
Riley bounced up to his horse with a smile. Valeria came as well, though she seemed more cautious.
“Master! I assume all went well?” Riley asked in her chipper tone.
“That it did. Here, could you two help me out here? Five is dead asleep. Let’s get her put in her bed in the tent.” Then Alex’s mind jumped track when he realized Carla wasn’t around. “Carla’s resting, right? Did you get a medic to look at her? Did—” Alex asked, his questions running over each other.
“Master? Stop,” Valeria said firmly, interrupting him. “Two is resting. A medic saw her. It’s a goose egg she’ll feel for a while, but nothing permanent. Or so he thinks. Shove the big ape this way. We’ll not be able to pull her down.”
Alex didn’t argue, and gently tipped Nannie towards the other two women.
Riley and Valeria caught her and pulled her free from the saddle. The two women then wrapped up the third in their arms and started hauling her along into the tent.
“Master, you have a visitor,” Riley said, looking back at him over Nannie’s arm.
A visitor? I don’t… oh… oh!
Chuckling to himself, Alex dismoun
ted where he was and let the reins hang.
He didn’t care at the moment, and he was sure someone would eventually find and take care of the horse.
Moving into the tent, he went to his personal section of it. Which included his writing desk and bed.
Mary was seated at his desk. Reading through his letters, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to be doing so.
Not angered in the least, since she was eternally bound to secrecy on anything she learned here, Alex sat down in the chair next to her.
“I’m glad to see you, Baroness. I wasn’t sure if you’d accept my invitation,” Alex said, sinking into the seat.
She looked up from whatever she was reading and gave him a tight smile.
“I’m afraid my time as Baroness may well be over. Or at least, I suspect so. We’ll see what Uncle does in the coming months. I imagine he’ll likely have me stripped of my title as my husband is no more.
“I… don’t know if it’s evil of me… but I don’t regret his death. If anything, I feel… free,” she said, her smile growing wider on the last word.
“And in your freedom, you decided to come see me.”
“I did at that. Now, the last two nights you’ve fed me quite well and delighted me with your attention. Even our conversations were interesting and thought provoking.
“Are you sure you can keep me occupied and entertained for a third?”
“Oh, I think I can manage. We’ll figure out something, I’m sure. You’re well worth the time and effort, Mary. Well worth it.”
Mary grinned at him and shook her head slowly.
“Then I agree to the deal and look forward to seeing where it goes.”
Alex experienced a moment self-gratification, followed immediately by a small sense of loss and guilt.
In giving herself to him readily, without concern or worry, she negated everything Leah would gain from it.
It warmed his heart considerably, and chilled him at the same time.
He was a man living under the threat of death and eternal suffering. The moment he stopped gathering deals, that was it.
“As do I, Mary. Now, how about we have dinner and talk some more about you, what you want out of life from here on, and what your concerns are. Share them with me.
“And we’ll go from there… and I’ll take care of you.”