by Bell, Hilari
It wasn’t that I was nervous about meeting the High Liege — although I was — it just seemed like the wrong moment to announce that I was now a full partner in Michael’s enterprises.
Kathy, who’d had a maid bring some of her rougher clothing over to the cottage yesterday — a modest two trunks full — put on a simple morning dress that was probably her attempt not to make the two of us look bad. It failed, but that didn’t matter, since the clerk who’d delivered the Liege’s summons took one look at her and said, “I’m sorry, Mistress Katherine. My orders are to bring only Masters Sevenson and Fisk.”
“But...” She looked deeply disappointed, and if I’d been a mad knight errant I’d have defied the High Liege and refused to go without her.
But I’m not crazy.
“We’ll come straight back here,” I promised. “And tell you all about it.”
“You’d better.” She started to give me a wifely kiss on the cheek, a delightful habit she’d begun to form lately, but Michael hastily stepped forward.
“You may take us to his Highness, good sir.”
Trying to remember to conceal our arrangement was even more annoying than I’d expected, but my mind was distracted from that by the need to keep bits of grass and leaves from sticking to my shoes as we walked across the dew-damp lawn. We passed down several long hallways, and one was lined with half a dozen mirrors, so I was able to make sure I still looked reasonably tidy.
This was just as well, for when the clerk led us into the High Liege’s study, the ruler of the whole United Realm looked us both over for a long moment. And he was looking at me as much as at Michael.
“Masters Sevenson and Fisk. Come in and be seated. And let me start by saying that I owe you something for that business with Roseman.”
Michael and I bowed, the clerk took up his station beside the door, and the Liege rose from his desk and came to join us. He was said to have been something of an athlete in his youth. Now, in his late fifties, his body had thickened and his hair begun to gray and thin, but there was still muscle under the fine linen shirt and brocaded dressing gown.
I heard a soft scraping sound from behind the desk after he left it, though not as much noise as a dog would make. Papers settling? A cat, perhaps?
“You owe us nothing, Liege.” My idiot partner seated himself on a padded settee and I joined him there. The Liege came and sat in a big chair on the opposite side of a low table. “’Twas our duty to do all we could for you, and for the Realm. How may we assist you now?”
We’d already been rewarded once, but saving the Realm from armed rebellion was a pretty big debt, and I’d have liked to see what figure the Realm’s ruler put on it. The Liege, however, was done with the past.
“You can track down my son, wherever he may be, and bring him back.”
The Liege sounded rather grim about that simple sounding task, and I felt a flash of sympathy for Rupert.
“Captain Varner couldn’t find him?” Michael asked. Though if the captain had found him, the Liege would hardly be asking us.
“He never had the chance. Baron Halverham refuses to let my troops into his fief without a writ explaining why they’re there, and I’m not going to write one. Having my named Heir chasing his mistress across the Realm embarrasses my house,” Rupert’s father went on. “Mind you, a reign that can’t endure some embarrassment is too weak to survive ... but even a strong reign can’t ignore too much embarrassment, before it starts to make you weak.”
This was more candor than I’d expected from the most powerful man in the Realm, and it made me extremely nervous. Had he been anticipating this outcome, and that was why he’d sent his wife to check us out last night? But if so, why had she told us he didn’t send her?
Another noise from the desk distracted me from that line of thought. It sounded like clothing rustling as something moved ... and cats are notorious for refusing to wear clothes.
“I can see why you might hesitate to send a troop after him,” Michael said. “But since you seem to know of our dealings with Master Roseman, you may also know that I am unredeemed.”
He said it so calmly the Liege probably couldn’t tell how much that admission cost him. But I knew.
“We have no authority over Rupert,” Michael went on. “If he doesn’t want to return, I couldn’t even go to the local sheriff or town guard for assistance. And Fisk is less likely to get their aid simply because he travels with me! Frankly, it seems to me ’twould be best to let Rupert rescue his lady and bring her back himself. If he asks the local authorities for assistance, any debt accrued will be owed by him, not you. And he can surely get whatever help he needs.”
“Not necessarily.” The High Liege sighed. “Not from—”
The door opened, and the Liege Lady came in.
“Stephen, have you seen... Oh, beg pardon. I thought you’d be alone at this hour. But I’m hunting, you see.”
A slight smile proclaimed some private joke, and as Michael and I rose hastily to offer our bows, she showed no sign that she’d ever set eyes on us.
The High Liege’s first wife had died two decades ago, and while I may have been alive at the time, I’d doubtless been more interested in toys and sweetmeats than court politics. I had been aware of his marriage, which took place during the year or so after I’d left Jack and before I’d been ... legally obliged to become Michael’s squire. The Liege’s marriage had been written up in all the broadsheets, and discussed quite a lot — when an older man marries a much younger woman, that can be a sign of political weakness too. I couldn’t think of any way to make money from it, so I still hadn’t paid the matter much attention.
Now, looking at the exquisite, black-haired woman, I completely understood both why he’d married her and the political worries that had followed. Her pretense of never having met us was so perfect that Jack couldn’t have done it better.
“Hunting ... indoors, Mistress? That’s hardly a proper pursuit for a lady.” The Liege’s voice took whatever joke she’d made and gave it a bawdy edge. She grinned at him.
“It’s perfectly proper, this time. I’m trying to get Liam dressed.” Silk rustled as she gestured with one hand, and for the first time I noticed that she held a very small pair of shoes. “Have you seen him?”
“Of course not,” said the High Liege, in the overly hearty tones of someone telling an obvious lie. “If I had, I’d have to tell you where he was hiding. Right away.”
He didn’t need to shift his eyes in the direction of the desk, for a stifled giggle came from behind it.
“I wonder where he could be.” The Lady edged casually in the direction of the desk. “He’s so good at hiding. I may never ever be able—”
“Here! I’m here, Momma!”
The little boy who leapt out and clutched her skirt had his father’s pale brown hair and his mother’s deep brown eyes. The hair was rumpled, and both his face and the hands that crumpled that expensive silk appeared to be coated with something sticky, but she didn’t seem to mind.
“Oh my goodness! You gave me such a fright!”
He was still giggling over that when she boosted him onto the desk chair and started getting him into his shoes, displaying a better grasp of maternal strategy than I’d expected.
The High Liege’s eyes were still soft when he turned back to us, but his smile soon faded.
“I already knew about your unfortunate legal status, Master Sevenson. But you being unredeemed shouldn’t be relevant, for I don’t want you to go to the authorities either. Embarrassment to the throne aside, I can’t afford to owe Halverham a favor right now. Or Baron Lorrell or Lord Fillaran, either. In fact, I don’t want word of this to reach any landholder north of the Pottage River.”
“All the more reason,” said Michael, “to let your son rescue his lady on his own.”
I noticed that Michael wasn’t telling him that we were already packed to set out after Rupert and Mistress Margaret, and I wondered why. Michael certainly wasn’t
angling for a reward.
“From what Captain Varner told me,” the High Liege said, “Mistress Merkle really may have been kidnapped. Rupert isn’t... It’s not that he’s a fool, by any means, except about that girl of his. But to put it bluntly, Sir Michael, my son’s a scholarly dreamer. He may or may not be liege material...”
I made an effort, and kept the sudden shock out of my expression. Was the Liege thinking of claiming another heir? It had happened, once or twice, but it was unusual to say the least.
“...but I don’t want him following his leman into something he can’t handle,” the Liege finished. “In fact, the only reason I can think of for someone to have taken the wench is to lure Rupert after her. And that makes me very uneasy.”
His wife picked up his second son, and quietly carried him out as the Liege went on.
“Surely the men who brought down the Rose conspiracy can track down and return one wayward nobleman?”
Michael didn’t look happy about this fatherly request — even though we’d intended to go after Rupert anyway. And while he might be above angling for a reward...
“We’re not rich men, Your Highness,” I put in smoothly. “If we can’t go to the local authorities for help we’ll need to spread some bribes around, and there’s lodging on the road to pay for, and probably other things.”
“I can give you eighty gold roundels now, for your expenses,” the High Liege said.
I was somewhat disappointed — it was plenty for us to go after Rupert, but it wasn’t much more than Master Merkle had handed over.
“And,” the Liege went on, “if you bring back my son, without involving anyone else or embarrassing me further, I’ll give you a thousand gold roundels. Each.”
“We don’t—” Michael broke off when I kicked his ankle. The table wasn’t high enough to hide this entirely, but I didn’t care.
“Thank you, Your Highness. That’s most generous.”
Generous enough that, assuming Michael would give Kathy his share for a dowry, and combined with the reward we’d been given for Roseman, I’d be able to make the first payment on a very small estate! And with an estate, no matter how small and debt ridden, I could ask her father for Kathy’s hand ... not to mention the rest of her.
Michael started to rub his ankle, and then thought better of doing it in front of the High Liege.
“I’m supposed to consult with my partner before I make these decisions, Your Highness.”
“In this case, there’s no need for that,” I told him graciously. “We’ll do it. Or at least, we’ll do our best.”
Even with that reward in the offing, promising this man something you might not be able to deliver was a bad idea.
“That’s settled then,” the High Liege said, and Michael suppressed a scowl. “I’ll have the purse sent to the cottage where you’re staying, and you can requisition anything you need, including horses from my stable. See to it, Gregory.”
The clerk who’d brought us here nodded, and we stood, bowed, and left. At least Michael waited till Gregory showed us out the door, leaving us to go back to the cottage on our own, before he spoke.
“I thought we had agreed to consult one another, before making such decisions.”
“I knew you wouldn’t like being paid for this,” I said. “But we were going after Rupert anyway. And it’s not as if getting paid for doing the right thing makes the thing we’re doing less right. And we will need money for bribes, particularly if we can’t approach the authorities. And he’s the one who brought up the reward. It’s not as if we said, ‘Give us money or we won’t bring back your son.’ So I don’t see what your objection ... well, maybe I do, but think you’re crazed. We were planning to go after Rupert this morning! So it’s not as if ... ah...”
I’d expected Michael to interrupt me long before this, but he waited till my nervous babbling ran out. Which was curst unnerving, because Michael hardly ever bothers to control himself with me — he must be genuinely angry.
“’Tis not about the money. I don’t approve, and you knew I wouldn’t, but I know why you want it. As soon as the High Liege told us what he needed, I knew you’d be fishing for a reward. But our agreement, partner, was that we’d consult with each other before making these decisions.”
He was right. And when we made that agreement, I had smugly wondered how long it would be before Michael broke it.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I was afraid you’d turn down the reward, and that’s the only way I’ve found that I could even begin to get enough money to approach your father... But you’re right. I should have consulted you.”
“I suppose I can forgive you.” That unnerving sternness melted out of Michael’s expression. “’Tis not as if we weren’t planning to go after Rupert anyway.”
“We’ll be getting a late start — but that much money is worth waiting for!” I found my steps quickening at the thought. “I can’t wait to tell Kathy.”
“...so the reward, when we get it, and since Michael says he’ll give you his half for a dowry, will be almost enough for me to make first payment on a small estate. Which means I can approach your father!”
Returning to the cottage, we found that my sensible darling had realized we wouldn’t be leaving at dawn and ordered breakfast — though I’d been too busy telling her what the High Liege had offered us to eat. I picked up a cold roll, that had been hot when I buttered it, and waited for her to express some of the delight I felt. It’s not often you come across a chance to make that much money. At least, not honestly.
“I’m more worried about Meg,” my beloved said. “I’ve no problem with helping Rupert out, or even sending him home. But Meg’s the one who was kidnapped, and no one but Rupert and her family seems to be thinking about her at all.”
“It’s not that I’m not thinking about her.” Although I hadn’t been. “But I’m wondering if the High Liege wasn’t behind that snatch after all. I know what he said about the political cost, but all he has to do is scribble up a writ and warrant and send it out to the local sheriffs. And they’d track down the kidnappers and rescue her, without it costing him two thousand gold roundels.”
I saw Michael opening his mouth to object and added swiftly, “He’s hiring us to appease Rupert, and maybe throw the rest of his court off the scent. But if he’s the one holding her, she shouldn’t be in any danger.”
The man we’d met might be ruthless if he had to, but he wasn’t stupid enough to harm the girl. That kind of thing always comes out, sooner or later, and it wouldn’t just be Rupert’s reaction he’d have to worry about. It takes a lot to rouse a city to rebellion, and murdering an innocent merchant’s daughter would provoke rioting in the streets. Tucking her out of the way for a while would be considered regrettable, but since he couldn’t let his son marry a Giftless girl...
“I wish I believed that,” Kathy said. “And I suppose he might be stupid enough to think that if Meg’s not around, eventually Rupert will fall out of love. But you’re wrong about what that warrant would cost him, Fisk. I’ve been living in court long enough to see how much power some of the lords and barons wield — how much juggling the Liege has to do to balance their needs and desires. And egos! The Realm may look all tightly wrapped from the outside ... well, I suppose it is. But the High Liege does a lot of work to keep it that way, and he has to maintain his own supremacy.”
“And you’ve only to look at Roseman’s plot to see how easily those wrappings can loosen,” Michael added.
Since Roseman had almost succeeded in raising half the river plain in rebellion and creating his own little realm, I couldn’t argue that point. But...
“How can it damage him to send a warrant asking sheriffs to arrest a criminal who’s come into their fief? That’s how the system is supposed to work.”
Although Jack had taught me that if you escaped across a fiefdom border you could rely on at least two weeks, and sometimes as much as two months, before the local liege made up his mind about sendin
g his own men to chase after some other fief’s criminals. If the relationship between neighboring fiefs was strained, you might be able to stay there in perfect safety for years. That’s how bounty hunters made their living. A pretty good living, in fact.
“If ’twas a crime that didn’t involve him, the Liege would probably do just that,” said Michael, interrupting my consideration of whether a bounty hunter could make enough money to marry Kathy. “But this is a crime that touches his own house. Any warrant he sends out will be seen by those who receive it as a personal request from the Liege, for a personal favor. And that...”
“...could cause him a lot of trouble in the future,” Kathy finished. “So much trouble that if he’d taken Meg, I’m pretty sure they’d never have left the Liege’s fief. And since we know they went into Halverham...”
“All right,” I said. “If the Liege doesn’t have her, we’ll go on and rescue Mistress Margaret. After we’ve caught up with Rupert.”
I had too much sense of self-preservation to say, ‘after we’ve taken Rupert home,’ but Kathy caught the subtext anyway. I hadn’t realized those soft gray eyes could look so steely.
“You can take Rupert home if you want. I’m going on after Meg. Who, unlike Rupert, might be in real danger.”
“If they wanted to kill her,” I pointed out, “they’d have done it already. Killing’s easier to bring off than kidnapping, and no one goes to the considerable risk and trouble of hauling a live prisoner around the countryside unless they have a really good reason to keep them alive.”
“You don’t know who took Meg, or why, so you can’t possibly know what might change their minds about that,” Kathy shot back. “It could be they want Rupert to follow her, and if you haul him home they’ll kill Meg on the spot! But I seem to be the only person thinking about that.”
“I was thinking about ways to get us married. But since that seems to be pretty low on your agenda, we—”