Worst of all had been his brief conversation with Olivia. She had been adamant her husband’s death wasn’t an accident, and although she hadn’t gone as far as to implicate Aaron, it was apparent she had been considering it.
He had tried to reassure her that Aaron would never send her away from the Watch. But as the night progressed, and some of the circulating gossip reached his ears, he thought that maybe her concerns were not so far-fetched.
His gloomy thoughts were interrupted by Alyssa’s arrival. She glowed with excitement and made a pretty picture with her hair elaborately plaited with ribbons that matched her gown of bronze and green. Hugh led her into the hall, where a light breakfast was being served as the guests assembled. The feast would start after the ceremony.
Outside, brilliant sunshine and vivid blue skies heralded a momentous day. Every corner of the keep was festooned in banners and flags. It seemed as if the Lady was trying to put on a bold face. Hugh thought she was optimistic.
Alyssa’s excitement rose to a fever pitch. Attending a confirmation was a great privilege, and she understood how important it was for a new holder to secure the Lady’s blessing. The link between the holder and the land was immutable.
The King protected the land, the land provided for the people, the people worshipped the Lady, the Lady blessed the Guardians, and the Guardians protected all. The Lady, Land and Liege.
She fairly hummed with expectation. Hugh glanced down at her. “Alyssa,” he murmured, “contain yourself; you’re not a child anymore.”
“I know, but I’m so excited! To receive the Lady’s blessing, I would be so proud!”
Hugh grimaced. “Somehow I don’t think the Lady has been invited today. Watch and listen. You know what should happen; watch what does. Remember we are guests here and this is Aaron’s day.”
Alyssa stopped fidgeting and flashed him a sharp glance. “Something is awry, isn’t it?” she asked, keeping her voice low.
“I am very much afraid so.” He was pleased with her perceptive question. “But it is too late to do anything about it. Just be your usual scatterbrained self,” he said with a grin.
“Papa!” she exclaimed as Peverill paused in front of her.
“Ah, Lady Alyssa, you look splendid; all ready for the ceremony?” He gave her a smarmy smile.
“Oh yes, Councillor Peverill,” she gushed, giving him a blinding smile which made him blink rather rapidly before moving on.
“Don’t overdo it,” her father cautioned, though he couldn’t help but smile at her.
At last, the procession from the manor began. Aaron and Lady Olivia led the way out of the house and down the slope towards the towering sentinal that guarded the deep lakes that gave the holding its name. There wasn’t room for everyone, so the villagers were held back whilst holders and local dignitaries thronged around the sentinal.
The first thing Hugh noticed was the complete lack of reference to the Lady, even though they gathered under her sacred Guardian. No one invoked her name; few hands fluttered in homage, no flowers stood on her stone altar; in fact, it was bare. He watched as Councillor Peverill stepped up to the altar and barely stifled a gasp as he climbed up onto it and raised his hands. A horrified ripple spread out under the sentinal as word passed of the sacrilege.
“Welcome,” he said. “Welcome all to this new age!” He flung his hands wide to embrace them all. “Welcome to the Council’s first confirmation: the confirmation of Lord Aaron of Deepwater.” He paused dramatically to give time for his words to take effect. “We are here today to announce the end of the holding by Lord Stefan and to proclaim his successor, Lord Aaron.” His voice droned on as he outlined the holding, its history and its dependencies, until he finally invited Aaron to join him. Aaron hesitated before committing the ultimate insult to the Lady and stepping up onto the altar beside Peverill.
“In the name of the Council do you swear to honour and protect the lands known as Deepwater?” Peverill intoned.
“I so swear,” Aaron responded, his voice firm and committed.
“In the name of the Council do you so swear allegiance and fealty to the council of all within Deepwater?”
“I so swear,” Aaron replied.
Hugh stiffened. These were not the incantations that he was expecting to hear. The council had made them meaningless, with no depth or commitment, just words that skittered off the surface and paid lip service to the true benedictions that should have been performed.
The correct words would have chimed through every believer’s soul, resonated in pure harmony with the Lady and bound the Guardian to his people and the land. A binding as base and immutable as time itself, which should have entwined with the Lady’s blessing. They either didn’t understand the intent, or they had deliberately destroyed that link and the power that went with it.
“In the name of the Council do you swear to abide by the rules of law so laid down?”
“I so swear.” Aaron’s reply rang out with conviction.
And so it continued; Aaron handed over his holding, his people, his lands and the Lady without lifting a hand to protect any of it. A voice raised in protest was swiftly cut off under the sentinal, and the low murmur of dissent stilled. The house guards stepped up and subdued the dismay that rippled through the villagers. The grove was utterly silent, no birds sang, not even the Sentinal rustled a single leaf. Lady Olivia stood stern-faced and pale; a single tear glistened on her cheek.
“So be it. In the name of the Council,” proclaimed Peverill resoundingly into the silence, “I give you Lord Aaron!” He blinked as he realised his words fell like stones into the deafening silence. He glared at the guards, who rushed to motivate the dumbstruck people.
Aaron stood awkwardly on the stone altar, uncomfortable at the lacklustre cheering. His mother turned away and left the circle before he reached the ground, which left him hurrying to catch up with her.
“Mother.” He gripped her elbow, forcing her to stop and face him. He flinched at what he saw in her face, but he steeled himself. “Now we will proceed,” he said. He led the procession back to the manor, head held high, ignoring the guards forcibly encouraging his people to cheer.
The small quartet of musicians positioned at the top of the room was playing as they entered the ballroom. The guests were greeted with glasses of wine to smooth over any awkwardness. The atmosphere lightened as more people entered the hall and began to circulate. Alyssa held her father’s arm, her face strained and pale, her excitement replaced by horror and acute disappointment. Her father looked grim, and the other guests avoided them after a glance at their faces.
“Papa, if I have to have a happy face, so do you,” she said with a woeful smile.
He sighed. “I am so sorry, Alyssa. I should never have brought you here. If I had known...” His voice died away. He tried again. “Stefan was such a good friend. I thought Aaron had been following in his footsteps, such a solid lad, where did it all go wrong?” He shook his head. “Simeon is the same, challenging tradition, they aren’t listening... they don’t understand the damage they are doing.”
Alyssa stared at her father, horrified; he sounded so defeated.
“So serious? This cannot be, the most beautiful lady in Deepwater and not a smile in sight. Come dance with me,” Aaron commanded. “By your leave,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes as he led Alyssa to the dance floor.
Hugh stood and seethed, but he made a concerted effort to smooth his face. He looked around the room, pausing when he saw Aaron’s warden and Councillor Peverill in deep conversation with a shadowed figure who seemed to be interjecting comments. Hugh drifted across the room and stopped next to the Lord William who managed Marchwood Watch, a large tract of forest south of Deepwater and Greenswatch which gave way to fertile arable lands and marshes towards the southern coastline of Vespiri. Lord William had been confirmed the previous year and had proved to be an excellent forester, embraced by the Lady, in tune with his land and his people.
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br /> “William, Imelda, well met.” Hugh greeted the elegant woman standing beside William. “What did you make of the ceremony?”
“I don’t think I want to comment,” William replied, observing the room. “I think I need to mind my borders more closely,” he said, lowering his voice.
Hugh nodded in agreement. “Be careful who you invoke the call with; the response may not be what you expect. If necessary, my steward Garrick knows the protocols.” He flicked a glance back to where Peverill still stood in deep conversation. “Do you know who that is? The man in the black robes, speaking to Peverill. I haven’t seen him before.”
“He appeared about two months ago. They say he was assigned by the King to bring the latest rulings to the council, though he doesn’t speak to anyone except Peverill or Aaron. An acolyte descended on us last week spouting a load of rubbish, trying to say it was the new rule of council, twisting the wording until it no longer makes sense.” William was getting quite heated. He took a deep breath and stared across the room. “Peverill is on his way.”
Hugh calmly changed the topic. “How are your saplings coping with the excessive rain over the last few weeks?”
William grimaced. “The ground is getting too soggy. We’ve had more rain in the last month than in the last half-year; much more and the roots will be escaping. There is already too much movement. We get a strong wind and...”
“Now, now, no talking shop at this great event, you’ll bore the ladies,” Peverill interrupted with a small smile at Lady Imelda.
Lady Imelda heroically took her life in her hands and said, “Why, Councillor Peverill, thank you, I would be delighted to dance.” She passed her glass to her husband and dragged the bewildered councillor to the dance floor.
William choked as Hugh murmured, “Your wife is a diamond, William, a true diamond.”
The evening crawled on. Alyssa twirled by with different partners, a fixed smile on her face and an unnatural glitter in her eyes. Aaron led her into dinner and Hugh could see that Aaron thought the glitter was for him, as he preened unbecomingly.
Just before the evening drew to a close Lady Olivia paused beside Hugh. She had managed to escape Peverill’s attentions. “Save me!” she whispered before hurrying away, peering over her shoulder.
“Working on it,” Hugh muttered in return.
Early the next morning, before the revellers from the evening before were stirring, Hugh crossed the damp courtyard and entered the stables. It was raining again: a light mist that looked to remain all day. He yearned to get on the road home. To get back to his lands and ensure that his borders were secure. There was so much to do. He needed to set up the new security protocols he had agreed with William the previous evening. He snared his young page, Norris, as he scampered towards the stalls with a bucket of apples. Hugh dropped a screw of paper into the bucket. The stable was quiet and still, the silence interrupted by the sound of gentle drips in the damp air and the horses shifting sleepily in their stalls.
“Boy. Listen to me,” he said. Norris looked up and dropped his bucket. “Saddle up your horse and take that message to Garrick. You will do it discreetly; you won’t tell anyone where you are going, and you will leave straight away, you understand?”
Norris bobbed his head, eyes wide.
“Make sure no one sees you, and under no circumstances should that message be placed in any hand except Garrick’s.”
“Yessir.” The boy scuttled off into the stables. Hugh glanced around and, still unobserved, strolled back into the mansion. He stopped as a door off the foyer opened, and Lady Olivia peeped out. She beckoned to him, and after a quick sweep of the hallway, he joined her in a small sitting room.
“Oh! Thank goodness,” she said. “I thought I would never have a chance to speak with you. I feel like a prisoner in my own home. I would have been so happy to see young Alyssa and Aaron get on so well, but well, after yesterday...” Her eyes glistened. “Well, in different circumstances maybe.”
Hugh watched her. “Olivia, I am sorry about Stefan, it was such a tragic accident, He will be sorely missed.”
“Thank you.” She gripped her hands together, a sheen of tears in her eyes. “I still can’t believe it. Even now, after all these months, for the Lady to lose him and in such a manner.” She stopped, unable to go on. She looked frail and sad, and she had lost weight. Hugh’s mouth tightened in concern.
“Deepwater still needs you. Aaron still needs you.”
“I know, I know.” She faltered, her hand going to her forehead, wisps of blonde hair escaped her cap. “But I can’t believe it’s true. I don’t believe it’s true,” she said, her voice firm.
“What don’t you believe?” Hugh watched her in concern as she tensed.
“Hugh, you cannot believe that Stefan would break cover and walk in front of a line of fire. I can’t believe anyone else believes it either! Even Aaron.”
“Accidents do happen. The Lady cannot be everywhere all the time.”
“This was no accident. Stefan was killed by his own men! How could five of them be an accident?” She couldn’t go on.
“I thought it was an unlucky shot, wrong place wrong time, just a hunting accident.”
Olivia stilled. “That’s the story the council spread around; they said they didn’t want to cause bad feeling between the people and the guards. I’m telling you it’s all lies.”
“The report that went to the King said it was a hunting accident. I saw it.”
“What is happening, Hugh? Why is my boy caught up in this? He needs his father’s guidance, he needs the Lady, but yesterday, he lost it all.” Olivia hugged her arms around her thin body.
“I don’t know, but the councils speak with the King’s voice, so the King must have a plan he hasn’t widely shared yet. I crossed paths with a King’s Ranger on the way here. He was checking the circuit; he was going to report back to me on our return to the Greenswatch, so I may find out more then.” Hugh pursed his lips at her distress. “How long has Peverill been leading the council here?”
Olivia scowled in distaste. “He turned up about three months ago, and a month later his acolyte joined him, and now they think they rule Deepwater. Aaron is too weak to stand up to them. Peverill thinks he can step right into Stefan’s place and act as Lord. As if!” She snorted. “I don’t trust them at all. Stefan had this huge argument with them just before his death; he had banned them from Deepwater, said they spoke blasphemy. That has all been twisted now, and my words have no weight. Not even with Aaron.” She rocked in her chair. “I’ve failed both of them,” she wailed in despair.
“Olivia, you haven’t failed anyone. As I said, I’ll follow up with the ranger. You need to remain strong; your people still need whatever you can do to help them.”
“Hugh, promise me, don’t forget about me. They will lock me away. I know it, they are all trying to say I am mad. Promise me you’ll come and get me.”
“Olivia,” Hugh said soothingly, “Aaron would never treat you so.”
The door opened before she could reply. “Mother, this is where you are. The household has been looking for you all over.” He gestured to the warden who hovered behind him. Lady Olivia rose and held her hand out. “Safe journey home, Hugh,” she said before leaving with the warden. The door closed behind her.
“I hope Mother hasn’t been worrying you with her fancies. She’s still upset about my father. She won’t let it go,” Aaron said.
Hugh’s eyebrows rose. “Understandable, I’m sure,” he murmured. “She needs time; over time, the Lady will ease her sorrows.”
“She is stubborn, but she’ll come around. She will welcome Peverill’s advances once she gets to know him if she knows what’s good for her.”
Hugh kept silent, biting his lip to keep his words behind his teeth. He tilted his head invitingly.
Aaron pounced on the opportunity to talk. “You know I have great plans for the holding. Yes, the people will be thankful I’ve taken over. They will be prosp
erous again. Once we harvest the timber and repurpose the land, and with direct links to the council, my voice will have weight. They will support my plans. I won’t alienate them the way my father did; they will listen to me,” he said, thrusting his chest out.
“Where are you going to harvest?” Hugh asked with feigned interest.
“The Great Western Bank is prime timber, exactly what the King’s shipwrights need. I received notice of their requirements today.” He rubbed his hands in glee. “My holding will be one of the greatest in the Watch; even the King is watching, and a certain young lady would be happy to join with me as we grow.”
“The Great Western Bank?” Hugh was aghast. “Lad, that is your core stock; you lose that, and your holding will be worthless. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. That timber took centuries to grow; it’s part of the ecosystem around here. Your lands will lose the protection they provide from wind and rain. The water runoff alone will ruin your soil.”
“Rubbish!” Aaron laughed, greed gleaming in his eyes. “It’ll take months to clear that land, and then the peasants can help till it and rent it off me, double the return! I know what I’m doing. I look forward to introducing you and Lady Alyssa to my holding.” He turned away, hurrying to open the door. “The horses will be ready out front,” he tossed over his shoulder as he led the way out into the hall, where servants bustled in preparation of the continued entertainment. Hugh could not wait for the day to be over, so they could get on the road and back to the safety of his holding.
Chapter 13
Greenswatch
Jerrol awoke early feeling quite refreshed. The grey pre-dawn light was leaking into the room through the small window. The soft patter of rain explained the dampness in the air. It was raining again. The roads would be impassable.
He stretched, muscles protesting as a result of the exertions from the night before. Miraculously there were no burns on his skin. He felt luxuriously cool. As he sat up, he noticed the soft green glow emanating from his skin. A temporary after-effect of the Lady’s presence? He hoped it was temporary.
Sentinals Awaken: Book One of the Sentinals Series Page 9