Duty: a novel of Rhynan (15 page)

“Hello, my lady.”

I turned sharply to the right and blinked at the
shadows there. He didn’t move, but I could make out his position by
the deepening of the shadows from my position in the full sunlight.
Beyond that I had to guess.

“Why is the armory door unlocked? Shouldn’t it be
locked when no one is around?”

“I am here.”

He moved along the wall toward the door and closer to
me. The hair on my arms prickled.

“I was under the impression it was kept locked.”

I couldn’t see his eyes, but the outline of his head
seemed to indicate he was looking at me. If the feeling in my gut
was accurate, he undressed me with his eyes.

“Excuse me, would you mind stepping into the light. I
can’t see your face and wish to know to whom I am speaking.”

“A pleasure, my lady.”

He threw something to the ground and stepped forward.
Ash blonde hair caught the glare of the sun. Bold blue eyes
assessed my appearance from beneath red-tinged blond eyebrows. A
young beard of dark red hair covered his neck and cheeks. He hadn’t
bothered to shape and trim it. In contrast to his insolent
expression, he wore the garb of a house guard, one of the men I
would have expected to patrol the inner corridors of the
vargar.

“Are you of Lord Irvaine’s household?”

“Aye, Lady Irvaine. I served the late noble on the
fields of battle, and now I serve the man who claims the title
after him. Should you need something your new husband can’t
provide, I would be happy to serve you as well.”

My eyes focused on his face again. I wasn’t sure I
heard him correctly.

“No, thank you.”

Thinking better of entering a room with him as
company, I turned back toward the bailey.

“Surely you haven’t found what you sought, my lady.
Might I aid you in locating it?”

I wanted a knife, something to defend myself from the
likes of him. Now that I faced exactly what I feared, I wished for
a sword. If I walked away now, I wouldn’t have another chance to
come again for a while. I looked back over my shoulder.

“Are you the usual armory master?”

“Yes. I am here every day from daybreak to sunset. Do
you wish for a weapon?”

“My eating knife grows dull. Lord Irvaine said I
might have one of the knives from the armory.” I hated the lie, but
I didn’t trust the man enough to give him the truth.

“Then let me select one for you. Wait here.”

He ducked through the doorway and returned in a
moment. “Here you are, my lady.”

A jeweled hilt glinted in the sunlight and gilt
swirled along the length of the sheath. Gaudy and pretentious, it
would have been my last choice, but appearance wasn’t its primary
purpose. I lifted it from his hand just fast enough to escape his
other hand’s attempt to catch my fingers.

I drew the blade. The edge was sharp enough. For all
its affectations, it balanced perfectly. It fit my hand well
enough. A bit of leather wrapped around the hilt would improve the
grip and hide the sparkles. I examined the sheath. I could hide the
gilt as well.

“It will do. Thank you.” With a perfunctory bow that
left no room for comment, I strode across the practice yard toward
the bailey. Head held high, shoulders straight, I tried to add a
confident glide into my quick steps. Once I turned the corner into
the bailey and was out of his sight, I hitched up my skirts and
broke into a run toward the door to the undercroft.

The idea of seeking out Jarvin pressed at me
urgently. I needed to be reassured that the rest of the men Tomas
left behind were not like the armory keeper. Surely there were some
I could trust to defend the women of the vargar, not take advantage
of them.

I stepped into the dimness of the undercroft with
relief.

“Oh, Vorter.”

A cascade of feminine laughter set my teeth on edge.
Rolendis was somewhere just out of sight around the corner at the
bottom of the stairs. She giggled.

I turned to leave the way I came, but the sound of my
name stopped me.

“Don’t worry about the pretender. Brielle will be
getting what she deserves before the night is through.”

“So soon?” The male sounded distracted. I didn’t
recognize his voice, but I could guess Rolendis was the reason for
his lack of focus. By the sounds of it, they were locked in a very
inappropriate embrace.

“You said it would take a fortnight to make your
plans.”

“Jorndar’s capture pressed us to move more quickly.
His men lie in wait for King Mendal even now. If we just free
Jorndar and deal with the new Irvaine’s allies here, they will all
be neatly trapped.”

“And at our mercy.”

“Rhynan will be ours.” She laughed. Noisy sighs
followed, ending with a low chuckle from Rolendis. “Now, now, Vor.
You and I both know that is not allowed.”

“If I can’t have you, at least let me be first in
line for her. Our new Lady Irvaine is an appealing dish. I want to
have my go at her before her spirit is broken.”

“How can you say that? Her hair alone…” Rolendis’
genuine horror hurt despite my efforts to ignore it.

“Jealous?”

“Of her? Never. She is a stuttering simpleton with a
face to match.”

“But her figure…” The man made an inappropriate
sound.

I gagged. The taste of acid burned my throat. I
slipped back out into the bailey. My lungs filled with the icy air
and the scent of horse leavings. Carefully closing the door behind
me so it wouldn’t betray my retreat, I tried to reel in my
floundering thoughts.

Harkening to the urgent need to escape, I walked
swiftly around to the front entrance, panic growing with each step.
Now the words of the man in the practice yard took on greater
significance. He had said he served the man who claimed the title.
If he had meant Tomas, why not say so? He must be loyal to Jorndar,
the man who laid claim to the title before Tomas. My stomach
twisted.

Oh, Kurios, what do I do?
I knew what I wanted
to do. Run. But that wasn’t an option.

Turning sharply to the left upon entering the double
doors, I headed toward a stairwell I had never tread before.
Horacian pointed it out the first morning on the beginning of the
tour of the vargar. Narrow and dark, blocked off at the head and
foot by doubly thick doors, it led down to where the only men I
could count on were keeping Jorndar locked up. Letting myself in
the top door, I locked it behind me. Musty darkness closed in
around me. I climbed down the uneven stairs with only the dim light
creeping around the upper door for guidance. Then I pounded on the
door at the bottom.

A muffled male voice responded. “Who is it?”

“Lady Irvaine. I need to speak with Kuylan.”

Silence.

My heart thundered in my chest despite my
deliberately slow breathing. Finally the lock turned and clunked,
each sound echoing in the space around me. The door opened few
inches, and the half familiar features of Kuylan peered at me
through the crack.

“It is she,” he informed someone behind him. Stepping
back, he made room for me to enter. The moment I was through, he
closed the door again and a second man locked it.

I swallowed back the panic that gripped my gut. One
door in and out. The one locked door to which I did not hold the
key. I forced myself to focus on assessing my surroundings.

Long and low, the room offered little to cheer its
occupants. The dirt floor was swept clean. Three pallets leaned
against the far wall and the fourth lay next to them, made up as a
bed and recently slept in. Considering Kuylan’s rumpled appearance,
I surmised he had been resting. Four lanterns and a roaring fire in
the fireplace lit the whole room in a golden glow.

A scarred table crowded the center of the space. Two
of the four chairs around the table were occupied by young men,
neither familiar. A fourth man, the one with the key, stood–no,
stooped since he was unusually tall and lean. The ceiling barely
cleared Kuylan’s head and he hunched slightly cradling the thick
bandage about his middle.

“Stand to attention men,” the tall, lean one barked,
“Lady Irvaine is here. Captain Parrian at your service, my lady.”
He bowed gracefully.

The other two scrambled to their feet and saluted as
best they could considering the conditions.

“Woral and Isankin,” Parrian introduced the two.
Isankin looked like he was barely old enough to leave home, and
Woral’s smile warmed my heart with its sincerity. All of them were
a refreshing change from the stranger guarding the armory.

“Parrian, I have reason to believe that an escape is
being planned. Are you the commander of the remnant of men my
husband left behind?”

“I am, my lady. What kind of escape? How do they plan
on getting him out?” He nodded toward one of the doors lining the
far wall. “It isn’t as though they would get far. We post four on
duty in constant rotation. No one has keys to both locks, not even
yourself, my lady.”

“I don’t know their plans, but I do know they plan an
attempt tonight.”

Parrian frowned. I could see him debating whether or
not to request my source.

“I overheard two of the conspirators, the former Lady
Irvaine and an unknown man.” I pushed back against the shame, but I
couldn’t hide the heat rushing to my face. “They were discussing me
as an incentive, should he cooperate.”

Genuine sympathy warmed Parrian’s eyes. “I am sorry,
my lady, but I am not sure what I can do to prepare beyond extra
vigilance and giving you a personal guard.”

I could see they were already doing all they could to
ensure Jorndar stayed right where Tomas had put him.

“I will consider it. For now, be wary of Rolendis and
anything connected with her.”

“I assure you we shall, my lady. Thank you for
informing us.” A chorus of thank yous from the other three
supported his gratitude.

Realizing there was nothing more I could do, I turned
back toward the locked door. Parrian unlocked it for me. When he
eased it open to let me pass, he spoke again. “Pardon my
forwardness, my lady, but is there more?”

Looking up into his honest, friendly face, I wanted
to spill the whole story of the scene at the armory, including the
plot against Mendal. But then he would feel obligated to confront
the man. Dealing with that man would not deal with the root
problem, and I knew Parrian had very few loyal men at his
disposal.

“Thank you, Captain, but I intend to handle it
myself.”

He frowned slightly, but nodded. “I understand, my
lady, but should you need anything, ever, please let me know. Lord
Irvaine made it explicit that you were to be protected at all
costs.”

I shifted my attention to climbing the stairs as
though he had not mentioned Tomas. But, in the depths of my heart,
I was pleased Tomas took the time to see that I would be defended
should I need it. Pausing on the first step, I turned to meet the
Captain’s watchful gaze. “Thank you, Captain, you have eased my
fears already.”

I climbed to the outer door by the light of the open
lower one. The key came to my hand readily. The moment I set the
teeth into the lock, Parrian closed the door at the foot of the
stair and secured it. I stepped out into the suddenly expansive
corridor and turned my face to the sunlight pouring through the
casements high above.

I needed a better solution. Waiting for the
conspirators to move seemed more foolish by the moment. If they
wanted me, they would have to find me. I was going to go and do
what I could to stop another civil war.

I strode to the entrance to the great hall. The doors
were spread wide. As I hoped, women moved about preparing to serve
the coming meal. I spotted the young serving girl from the garden
among them. Approaching her, I was once again struck by her
youth.

She didn’t notice me until I stood practically at her
side. She dropped the jug of ale in her surprise. I caught it,
barely.

“My lady?” Her face drained of color. “I am sorry, my
lady, I didn’t see you there. Here, let me take that for you.” She
reached for the jug.

I pulled it closer to my chest and stepped back out
of her reach. “Not until you tell me your name.”

Her confusion swiftly melted into suspicion. “I am
Tatin.”

“I am pleased to meet you, Tatin.” I extended the jug
to her. “May I ask a favor?”

“You are the lady, my lady.” A sullen curl pulled at
her bottom lip.

I tilted my head as I studied her expression for a
moment. “No, this truly is a favor, Tatin. You may tell me
nay.”

“Without punishment?”

“None.”

“Then no.” She took the jug and settled it on her
hip.

I was disappointed and didn’t bother to hide it.
“Very well, thank you for your honesty.” I glanced around to find
all the other servants had fled. I would have to find another
person to help me.

“My lady?” The hesitancy in Tatin’s voice gave me
hope.

“Yes, Tatin?”

“What was it that you wanted me to do for you?”

“I need a personal maid, someone I can trust to run
errands and not speak of what she sees or is asked to do.”

“Then why me?”

I smiled warmly to balance the possible sting of my
words. “You don’t seem to be fitting well into your role as a
server. You might be better suited for a different role. I need
someone willing to stand alone and apart without friends among the
lower servants. My position at this time demands a certain tenacity
of character in my personal servant.”

She peered into my face. “You are in earnest? You
aren’t making me into a fool for the amusement of the others?”

“I promise to never purposefully make fun of
you.”

Her eyes widened. “In that case, may I change my
answer, my lady?”

“You wish to accept?”

“Yes.”

“Then, take the jug back to the kitchen and tell your
immediate superior—“