The king gave one of his aides a nod and the man headed off.
“She did this,” Gill said. “She stopped Amaury from using magic to beat me. I’m certain of it.”
“You have my word that we’ll do everything we can for her,” Boudain said. “I won’t forget what she’s done for the kingdom.” He gave a grim smile. “What she’s done for me.”
It felt like an age before a man and a woman in the Order’s robes were pushed before the king.
“You’re healers?” the king said.
They both nodded, obviously terrified. They were no longer under Amaury’s protection, and everyone knew what happened to sorcerers.
“You save this woman or you’ll never see daylight again,” Boudain said. “Understand?”
They both nodded again, and got to work. Solène had been transplanted to a cot bed in the king’s tent. Gill hovered behind the Spurriers as they assessed her and got to work. He watched intently, trying to remember the occasions healing magic had been used on him, wondering if they were doing it right.
Gill did his best to hold his tongue while they worked. It seemed to be taking a long time. He wondered if they were any good—most of Amaury’s best people seemed to have been killed during the past few months, but surely he had kept one or two decent ones back?
Solène stirred, then let out a short groan. Gill knelt by her side just as she opened her eyes. It took her a moment to focus, then she gave a weak smile.
“Did you win?” she said.
Gill burst out laughing. “I won. We won.”
Bauchard’s seemed the obvious place to spend a few days recuperating. Short of the palace, there was nowhere else such luxury or comfort could be had, and Gill felt that he and Solène deserved no less.
It was no great surprise when a call to the palace came a few days later. As the carriage sent to fetch them rattled up the hill, Gill and Solène were able to look out over the city, which was slowly recovering from the turmoil of the past weeks. The Order of the Golden Spur had been disbanded, its remaining members arrested. They’d been placed under house arrest at the Priory until the king decided what to do with them, now that magic seemed to be out of its bottle, and likely impossible to put back in.
Gill could not help but ask something he’d been wondering about ever since his fight with Amaury, but hadn’t found the right moment to bring up.
“What did you do, that day? To stop him using his magic?”
Solène smiled sheepishly. “I’m still not exactly sure. I think I funnelled the Fount away from the city, or at least from the area around him, so when he went to draw on it, there was nothing for him to use.”
“Is that … hard to do?”
She laughed. “It nearly killed me. It seems being enlightened isn’t quite the limitless power I thought it was. That’s definitely not something I’ll be trying again!”
“Hopefully there won’t be any need to. I’m not aware of any other potential tyrants lurking around the place. I think now that Boudain is back in control, there’s hope for the future.”
“You like him?”
Gill nodded. “He’s got all the makings of a good king. He wouldn’t be the first who fell short of the mark, but I’m hopeful.” There was more he wanted to ask her, such as why she’d come back, but it didn’t seem appropriate. All that mattered was she had. She’d been there when it really counted, had put herself on the line for him.
A servant was waiting for them when they arrived at the gates. He led them to the throne room, where Boudain was once again installed, and very much in command. The room was full of petitioners and hangers-on—nobles and commoners both—part of the normal day-to-day business of court. When the king spotted them, he urged them both forward.
“Solène,” Boudain said. “I’m delighted to see you looking well. You gave us all quite a scare.”
“Bauchard’s is an excellent place to recuperate,” Solène said.
Boudain laughed. “Yes, I’m sure it is! But now, to business.” He held out his hand and one of his officials gave him two folds of sealed papers. “For you, Villerauvais. I give you this charter for one hundred settlers to reestablish the village known as Villerauvais, to populate and improve its lands and create a vibrant and lasting community. In this, I add fifteen thousand acres to your demesne, and elevate you from Seigneur to Marquess of Villerauvais, Warden of the South.”
Gill stepped forward and took the charters with a bow. He didn’t know whether to be grateful or terrified. Marquess and Warden were not usually titles awarded in times of peace.
“Solène, I create you Baroness Bleaufontaine, with all rights, lands, and duties there attached.” The king held out the second sheaf of sealed papers, which Solène bowed and took before stepping back beside Gill.
“Congratulations, Baroness Bleaufontaine,” Gill said. “Solène dal Bleaufontaine has a nice ring to it.”
“Thank you,” Solène said, then whispered: “Where’s Bleaufontaine?”
“Haven’t a clue. You should probably find out before we leave, though.”
“Probably,” Solène muttered in agreement.
“And now to the next matter,” Boudain said.
Gill’s smile vanished. He knew it. There was always a catch.
“We have all seen the danger magic can pose if it is not properly controlled. I would prefer that we never hear word or see evidence of it again, but that is an unrealistic dream. Magic is out in the world, and we must take measures to ensure a despot the likes of Amaury dal Richeau can never become so powerful again. With that in mind, a diligent sovereign must make preparations to safeguard his people.
“In light of this, and concerning reports I have received, I have come to a decision. By deed under my seal, I hereby reconstitute the Order of the Chevaliers of the Silver Circle. As Master of the Silver Circle, I do so appoint Guillot, Marquess of Villerauvais, Marshall of the Silver Circle, and Solène, Baroness of Bleaufontaine, Seneschal of the Silver Circle. I command you to go forth, and with all resources and support the Crown can provide, reestablish this body of fighting men and women trained in both the martial and magical arts. They will protect the kingdom from those who seek to pervert the use of magic for their own gains, from our foes from other lands, and will defend us and our people against the creatures known as ‘Venori,’ which have recently been seen abroad in the kingdom.”
The Venori. Perfect, Gill thought. He cast Solène a look, and she shrugged, with an expression on her face that said, “If not us, then whom?”
“What say you both?” Boudain asked.
Gill did his best to smile. “I am ever a servant of the Crown, your Highness.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DUNCAN M. HAMILTON holds master’s degrees in history and law, and has practiced as a barrister. He lives in Ireland, near the sea. Hamilton independently published his first trilogy, the Society of the Sword (The Tattered Banner, The Huntsman’s Amulet, and The Telastrian Song) and the Norse-inspired Wolf of the North trilogy, which were released in ebook and audio editions. Servant of the Crown completes the Dragonslayer trilogy, which began with Dragonslayer and continued in Knight of the Silver Circle.
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.