Fredrik laid the menu back on the tablewithout looking at it. “What is the best meal that is available inTagaret?” Fredrik asked the waiter.
“Without a doubt,” the waiterhappily replied, “it would be the Land and Sand offered only hereat the Palace Shadow, My Lord.”
“Very well,” Fredrik smiled,“Bring us three of the Land and Sand and I shall tell you if yourfood withstands the standards of Cidal. And bring a bottle of yourfinest wine, as well.” Fredrik immediately turned his head toobserve the room, pointedly ignoring the waiter as if he no longerexisted.
The waiter gave a short bow anddisappeared. “I hope I can stomach what you just ordered,”whispered Tedi. “We don’t even know what it is.”
“It will not matter,” Fredrikanswered. “It will be finer than anything you have ever eaten, I amsure.”
The stares continued as the waiterreturned with a bottle of wine. Right behind him were three morewaiters carrying large trays of food. They served Fredrik first andthen Arik. By the time it came to Tedi there was almost not enoughroom for the plates of food. The Land and Sand consisted of a largelobster tail, scallops, shrimp, oysters, and a large portion ofbeef. Tedi thought his meal could probably last him for three days.Still, as he started devouring it, he had to admit that it was thebest seafood he had ever eaten, and that was coming from afisherman. He had never seen a portion of beef that was so largeand yet so tender.
The boys deliberately ate slowly,expecting people to come over and introduce themselves, but no onecame. Eventually, they were finished and the waiters came to takethe plates away. As soon as the waiters disappeared, the firstcaller came. Fredrik looked past him and could see everyonejockeying for position and almost laughed. He had thought no onewas coming but they were waiting impatiently for him to finish hisdinner. Some of them must be furious by now.
The gentleman who was bold enough tocome first was quite distinguished looking. He was dressed in abrown version of Fredrik’s suit, but also sported gold braceletsand a gold necklace. He was probably three times as old as Fredrikwith well-groomed gray hair and mustache.
“Welcome to Tagaret, capitalof Targa, Lord Wason,” he greeted. “I am Duke Everich, King’sAdvisor and head of the Council of Advisors.”
Fredrik rose and extended his hand forthe formal shake he had been informed was customary in Targa. Arikand Tedi rose and bowed. The Duke shook Fredrik’s hand and seatedhimself. He kept looking at Tedi as if there was something wrongwith him. When everyone sat back down, the Duke sighed and Fredrikknew he had just committed some small mistake inprotocol.
“Duke Everich,” Fredrik began,“I am pleased and honored by my reception to Tagaret. Forgive mefor retaining my men. One, I dare not let out of my sight. Theother refuses to let me out of his.”
“Ah, that explains a lot, LordWason,” the Duke declared. “I was not sure whether it was Cidalcustoms that dictated eating with your servant. I thought perhapsyou were not made aware that there is a servant’s dining room, aswell.”
“I am afraid it is adiscipline problem, Duke Everich,” Fredrik stated, glad that he hadguessed the source of irritation to the Duke. “I fear that I camewith only one servant and one bodyguard. Now I cannot spare mybodyguard to watch the servant and I cannot afford to get rid ofthe servant. Foolish on my part.”
“You are young yet,” the Dukechuckled. “You have learned a valuable lesson. I must say thathearing of you here has piqued my curiosity. What is it that bringsyou so far from home?”
“I have come to seek audiencewith your King,” Fredrik declared. “My advisor, Captain Grecho ofthe Cidal Mercenary Company, believes it is time to seekalliances.”
“Your advisor rules amercenary company?” asked Duke Everich.
“Yes,” answered Fredrik, “theCompany is loyal to the Lord of the Manor and serves as the Army ofCidal. It is useful for them to earn currency and experience in theservice of others when there is no pressing need at home. I amsurprised that you have not heard of them.”
“Oh, I have heard of them, myLord Wason,” the Duke replied as Fredrik cringed. “I have usedtheir services before. I am just surprised that their allegiancehas been kept secret.”
“It has not been a secret,”lied Fredrik. “It is just not something that needs to be disclosedto every contract holder. If there was a conflict because of it,you can be assured that Captain Grecho would discloseit.”
“Of course,” nodded the Duke.“In any event, you are too late to speak with the King, I’m afraid.King Byron is dead.”
"My condolences,” offered Fredrik. “Ido hope it wasn’t sudden. Has his heir been crownedyet?”
“Alas,” frowned Duke Everich,“King Byron had no known heir. The Council of Advisors rule Targa.I can guess what Cidal has to offer to an alliance, but what doesit wish from Targa, my young Lord?”
“A common border, King’sAdvisor,” Fredrik calmly stated.
A look of shock fell over the Duke’sface. There was an awful lot of territory between Targa and Cidal.If they were to have a common border, quite a few countries orcities would have to fall. The young Lord would have to be either afool or have access to an army larger than a mercenary company.Either way, he would be very useful or very dangerous, perhapsboth.
“I think we should speak moreof this before I present it to the Council,” Duke Everich said.“Perhaps you would accompany me to the Royal Palace?”
“It would be a pleasure, DukeEverich,” Lord Wason replied.
Everyone rose and left the dining room,much to the chagrin of the other nobles waiting to interrogate thenewcomer. The walk from the Palace Shadow to the Royal Palace wasshort. Fredrik was amazed at the sheer size of the Palace and hadtrouble remembering the path so he could retrace his steps ifnecessary.
Duke Everich showed them into a roomthat looked like a study. He again frowned as the two Cidalunderlings followed Fredrik into the room. Fredrik seized theopportunity before it passed.
“Duke Everich,” Fredrikinquired, “I do not particularly want my fellow countrymen involvedin this conversation. I would post my bodyguard outside the door,but not with the servant to look after. I wonder if I might indulgemyself of your good graces and store my servant in your dungeonuntil I am ready to leave?”
“An excellent idea,” laughedthe Duke. “I can arrange for some punishment while he is there ifyou desire.”
“That will not be necessary,”chuckled Lord Wason. “If you could just issue authorization for myman to deposit and collect him, that would besufficient.”
The Duke scribbled an authorization andhanded it to Arik. “I will have one of my men show him the way,”offered the Duke.
Lord Wason leaned close to the Duke’sear and whispered, “Don’t bother. Let him find it on hisown.”
After being dismissed, Arik gentlyshoved Tedi out the door and closed it. Looking at theauthorization, Arik gave a smile and proceeded down the stairs heknew led to the dungeon. Garth had spent some hours trying todetail the inside of the castle to Tedi and himself and Arik feltlike he had been there before.
They reached the dungeon quickly andshowed the authorization to the outside guard. Without a blink heopened the door to the dungeon and let them in. Inside the dungeonwere two more guards seated at a table. They looked up as soon asthe door opened and watched as Tedi and Arik approached. Arikwalked past Tedi to give the authorization to one of the guards andwas reproached for letting his back to a prisoner.