Free the Darkness (King's Dark Tidings Book 1) (37 page)

Steward Narus bowed slightly toward Tam and even lower
toward Rezkin and said, “It is my pleasure to meet you both.” Then, to Rezkin
he said, “Lord Rezkin, I will send for someone to care for the horses and
retrieve your belongings.”

“It would be best if I tend to Pride myself. He is a trained
battle charger and can be quite aggressive,” Rezkin explained.

“I see,” the Steward replied, showing not a hint of surprise.
“Then, I shall send for Stable Master Finnian. He has cared for General
Marcum’s battle charger for many years. He is quite capable of handling the
stallion.”

Rezkin was satisfied and nodded appreciatively, “Very well.
I will entrust him to the Stable Master. Let me know if the stuborn mule gives
you any trouble. Also, please tell the servants to be careful with my things.
Some of them are very sharp, and I would not want anyone injured on my behalf.
If they do not feel comfortable with the items, I will retrieve them myself.”

Narus gave the young lord a gracious smile. It was not
everyday he met a noble, or anyone, for that matter, who was so concerned with
the servants’ welfare. “I thank you, Lord Rezkin, for your concern and
patience. However, I do not think it will be necessary. This is the general’s
home, and the servants are accustomed to working around sharp things,” he said
as he led them into a sitting room and gracefully waved a hand toward the walls
around them.

Indeed, the walls were filled with sharp things. It was
obvious this was the general’s sitting room and not that of his wife. Unusual
swords, axes, daggers and bows were artfully displayed on each wall and shelf.
Halberds, spears, pole axes, and other odd, long-handled weapons rested in
racks along the walls. A pare of scythes with silk-wrapped black handles and
silver blades polished to a mirror shine were mounted in a case. Those were
definitely not used for hewing wheat.

Beside each weapon was a carved plaque that identified the
item and its place of origin. Some even had a note about the people who used
such a weapon or how it was obtained. Several plaques indicated that those
particular weapons were no longer in use and served only a historical
significance. Rezkin had learned about most of these weapons and even knew how
to use them, but there were a few that even he had never seen. He was
thoroughly impressed with the collection and hoped to spend a little more time
examining the items.

“Wow, I’ve never seen so many different kinds of weapons. Do
you think the general actually knows how to use all of these?” Tam exclaimed.

“The general is very particular about these weapons. They
are for display only. He does have a separate armory for functional weapons
that I am sure he will be overjoyed to share. They truly are his pride and
joy,” replied the steward stepping back into the room after delivering
instructions to the various servants. A few moments later, a young maid entered
the room, curtsied, and then whispered to the steward.

“The lady of the house will be with you shortly. She is most
eager to receive you all. In the meantime, if you would like to follow me to
the parlor, some refreshments will be served.”

This sounded like an excellent idea to all three of the
parched travelers, so they enthusiastically followed the steward. The parlor
was well lit having several large windows along two walls. Pale blue curtains
framed the windows, which matched the embroidered blue flowers on the pearly
white lounge and chairs. Rich cherry tables and cabinets were arranged
throughout the room to display a number of porcelain vases and carved statues
and busts. Several of the vases contained attractive floral arrangements that
cast a sweet scent on the air. All three travelers, covered in road grime, were
careful not to track dirt across the intricately woven blue and grey rug that
covered the dark wood floor.

Two maids delivered tea in small delicate cups with tiny
silver stirring spoons. Sweet cakes, which were served on plates only slightly
larger than the saucer, were to be eaten with miniature silver forks. Tam was
uncomfortable with the fancy fare, but Rezkin called upon his etiquette lessons
to sip and stir and nibble with courtly grace. Still, he felt out of place
doing so while wearing travel clothes and armor.

Not long after the three companions settled themselves in
the parlor, the Lady Adelina came sweeping into the room with a brilliant
smile. “Oh, my dear Frisha! I am so glad to see you. You are a sight to behold.
My, you look so much like your mother. You have grown so much, and you have her
eyes and bone structure,” Adelina said fondly.

Lady Adelina was a tall woman whose womanly grace had not
diminished with age. Her dark brown hair, streaked with grey, was wound in a
loose bun atop her head, and the fine lines around her eyes and mouth gave her
the look of a woman who laughed and smiled often.

“Aunt Adelina, thank you so much for having us. It is good
to see you again,” Frisha returned.

“Yes, yes, you must introduce me to your companions,” the
matron said as her gaze finally took in the others in the room. When they
landed on Rezkin, her eyes widened as though in recognition, but the look was
quickly replaced with uncertainty.

“This is my life-long friend, Tamarin Blackwater. We just
call him Tam. You might actually remember him from your visits with us when we
were children,” Frisha remarked.

“Oh, yes, Tam,” Lady Adelina said, taking the young man’s
hands as though they were family. “I do remember you. You and Frisha were
always getting into some kind of trouble or another. If I remember correctly,
you may have been responsible for a frog in my wardrobe?”

Tam’s face turned bright red, and he tugged at his collar.
“Ah, Lady Adelina, I am truly sorry for that. I was only seven and…”

Lady Adelina laughed and swatted him playfully, “No, Tam,
dear. No worries. You both were such energetic children, and I enjoyed every
minute of it.” A hint of sadness passed over her face but was gone so quickly
one could not be sure it had been there at all. Despite the Healer’s efforts,
General and Lady Marcum had not been able to have children of their own.

When the lady turned to meet Rezkin, her previous look of
uncertainty returned, and she became a bit apprehensive. “This is our good
friend, Rezkin. We met him in Justain.”

“Rezkin?” she questioned. “Not
Lord
Rezkin?”

“Just Rezkin, my lady,” the young man replied with a courtly
bow. Now, she believed him even less.

“You are from Justain?” the lady enquired curiously.

“No, my lady. I had only arrived in the city that very day
and was enjoying the inn’s hospitality when I met the Lady Frisha and Master
Tam,” Rezkin replied formally. Frisha and Tam both looked at Rezkin askance.
They were reminded suddenly of how proper he had acted that first night they
met. After traveling with the man for weeks, living off the land and surviving
two battles, they had forgotten how gracious and noble he behaved in a more
civilized environment. Even in his travel worn clothes and leather armor his
entire countenance said noble upbringing.

Lady Adelina stared up at the gentleman stranger with his
strong jawline, chiseled cheekbones and full lips. His jet black hair and icy
blue eyes would have made anyone look twice, but his imposing figure and
stately bearing made her feel like she was looking at someone else from long
ago. Frisha’s words brought her out of her reverie, and the lady blushed when
she realized she had been staring.

“It is entirely because of Rezkin that we are even here,
Aunt Adelina. It was terrible,” the young woman complained as she began
rambling faster and faster. “There were brigands and bandits and a sunken ship
and we had to walk for a week in the wild just to get to a city. Oh, Aunt
Adelina, there were
battles
. And…and people
died
. And, poor Tam
had to
kill
someone, and Rezkin, too. And Reaylin was beaten nearly to
death and the lieutenant saved me from a crossbow bolt, I think, and…”

Lady Adelina’s eyes were as wide as saucers as she hurried
over to put her arms around her niece who was now thoroughly sobbing. “My dear,
stop, stop.  You are okay, now. My goodness! It sounds like you all have
been through something terrible.” As the lady stroked Frisha’s hair, she turned
to Rezkin and asked, “You are all staying here, correct?”

Rezkin’s brow was furrowed as he looked upon Frisha with
concern. She had remained so strong the entire journey, and it seemed now that
they had reached her family safely, it was all rushing in on her. He wanted to
help her somehow but did not know what to do. This was not the type of battle
he could fight for her. Rezkin glanced up at the lady’s question and bowed
politely, “If you would have me, I would be in your debt.”

The lady waved away his claim. “No, I do not know what
exactly has happened, but it sounds like it is we who are in your debt. Please,
come with me. I will show you to your rooms where you can rest. The servants
will prepare baths for each of you. You are our guests, so please, if there is
anything you require, do not hesitate to ask.”

Rezkin performed another slight bow and said, “You are most
gracious, Lady Adelina. I am honored to partake of your hospitality.”

Lady Adelina smiled and nodded. The handsome young man was
fooling no one if he thought to hide his nobility. She wondered briefly to
which House he belonged, but she already had her suspicions.

Adelina led the way up the stairs with her arm wrapped
around Frisha whose crying was only slightly more controlled than it had been
moments ago. At the top of the stairs, the lady of the house turned to the
right. She informed her guests that the rooms to the left of the stairs
consisted of the solar, sewing room, and servants’ quarters. She nodded to the
first room on the left side of the right wing and indicated that it would be
Rezkin’s room. The next room on the right belonged to Tam, and the room at the
end of the corridor on the left was for Frisha. The corridor ended at a larger
door that she informed them was the master suite.

Rezkin entered his assigned room. He was glad it was nearest
to the stairs. Not only did it allow for a quicker escape in the event of an
attack or emergency, it would also enable him to better monitor anyone entering
the upper floor at night. The room was spacious with a sitting area near the
door. A large hearth was set into the wall to his right, and two tall bookcases
stood to either side like literary sentinels. The furniture and draperies were
modest in design, not nearly as ostentatious or feminine as the parlor
downstairs. Greens and gold adorned the room with a plush beige carpet laid out
before the fireplace. A portrait of some important couple hung above the
mantle, probably Frisha’s grandparents. He thought he saw a slight resemblance.
Beyond the sitting area, a large bed sat upon a dais. The bed had elegantly
carved posts and green and gold bed curtains tied back with golden cords. The
mound of pillows called to him after such a long time traveling.

Rezkin noted that his pack and saddlebags were sitting
propped against the dais. He checked the contents to confirm that nothing was
broken or missing. After verifying everything was in order, he went about
checking the room for traps and poisons. He knew it was highly unlikely that
anyone in the household would want to harm him at this point, but years of
conditioning would not be overridden so easily. A light tapping at the door
interrupted him from his perusal.

“Enter,” he barked.

A heavyset middle-aged maid and a gangly young man in
leathers entered the room carrying a large copper tub. Two younger maids
carrying pails of steaming water followed. After setting the heavy tub down
opposite the hearth, the older maid dipped a slight curtsy and rasped in a
bored tone, “If you please, my lord, we will prepare your bath.”

“Yes, that is most appreciated,” Rezkin replied.

The servants gave him curious look, bobbed once more and
hurried from the room to collect more buckets of water. The young man knew they
were looking at him oddly because it was not proper protocol for a lord to
thank his servants, but Rezkin was not attempting to play the part of a lord.
He had decided that until it was necessary to play a role, he would just act
like himself. Since he did not really know
who
he was, he just allowed
them to think what they wished.

Most people seemed to want to believe he was a noble. Since
Rezkin was not raised to know much about commoners and commoner
things
,
being treated as a noble did make the most sense. He still could not think of
himself as a noble, though. In fact, he had a difficult time thinking of himself
in the context of any of the social groups or hierarchies. He could not even
think of himself as a soldier since his training and education had gone far
above and beyond what any soldier would be expected to know.

Luckily, the travelers had arrived around mid-afternoon.
That meant that they had a few hours to clean up and rest before they were
expected to appear for dinner. General Marcum sent word that he was busy taking
care of important business but would be joining them for the evening meal. After
soaking in the hot bath and scrubbing the grit and sweat from his hair and
body, Rezkin took the opportunity to clean his supplies and armor. The young
warrior was just settling down beside the hearth to rewrap his ax handle when
another tap sounded at the door.

Since Rezkin was wearing nothing but a drying cloth wrapped
around his waist he called out, “Yes? Who is it?”

“It’s me, Tam,” came the muffled reply.

“Enter,” Rezkin responded.

Tam stepped into Rezkin’s quarters leaving the door slightly
ajar. He found the man sitting practically naked by the hearth fumbling with an
ax.