Why must I seek to justify my course when Laenthal is so clearly an effective leader of action and resolve? Because I have reservations about both Den Modrical ambitions and practices and wish to make these known under the seal of our Name, lest I die before I can nominate a Designate in proper form and confide such vital matters in person.
I can forgive a young man the conceit that prompts him to invent spurious claims to a legendary lineage but I wonder why Laenthal encourages his fellows to swear so fervently that Den Modrical descends from so many ancient Houses. Whether this is truth or lie, the facts are lost in the mists of time. How do such fictions serve, when any man of my generation recalls full well the lowly status of the Name in the Nemith era? Are we supposed to be impressed with his array of pennants and badges of yore purloined from a miscellany of Houses? Still, such trifles are largely harmless compared to the daily perils we face.
Less harmless is the youth’s assertion that anyone not with him will be deemed against him. Demanding allegiance at sword point can never be but folly. Nor can I approve Laenthal’s subsequent tactics to ensure continued loyalty. True enough, service as a page to a companion noble House has always been part of an Esquire’s education, but in these uncertain times the custom has been in abeyance for nigh on a generation. For my part, I see the gang of youths now travelling between the Modrical possessions under ostensible guard against bandits as little better than hostages for their families’ good conduct. Yet I must nominate an Esquire from every branch of D’Olbriot, senior and cadet, and deliver them into Laenthal’s custody before I can expect him to bring his lances and swords to drive the northern reivers and masterless men from our lands. That they will certainly learn their letters and reckoning at another’s expense is scant consolation when I foresee they will also be inculcated with Laenthal’s peculiarly ruthless philosophies.
But what other path is open to me? The gods have all but abandoned us, with every Artifice that priests were wont to use in our service found wanting. Shall I resort to these unsanctified sorceries that some can wield without blessing of god or man? Laenthal makes no secret of his loathing of such fell arts, putting any showing such skills to the sword without fear or favour. I might suspect some self-seeking in his ready condemnation but I cannot deny it gives any Sieur desperate enough to consider using a wizard pause for thought.
Den Modrical have been claiming their victories are proof of divine favour. Then let Raeponin weigh Laenthal’s sincerity in the balance and Saedrin can judge him as he sees fit. I will not do so. All my efforts must be spent in service of my House, and as Poldrion is my witness I see no better choice to defend D’Olbriot than Den Modrical. Thereto I set my seal.
The D’Olbriot Residence, Toremal,
7th of Aft-Summer in the Third Year of Tadriol the Provident
The Sieur’s compliments and will you attend him in the library.” The footman delivered the message with a bland lack of emotion and I received it with a similar nod.
I was in the gatehouse watch room amending a duty roster, one of a whole collection of tasks allotted me as soon as the Festival had ended. With Naer and Stoll both senior to me, I was chosen for all the most tedious and recurrently exasperating responsibilities. That’s always the way of it, I reminded myself sternly as I took my penknife to the recalcitrant quill. I had no right to complain. The lowliest sworn find themselves emptying privies and sweeping the floors until the sergeant-at-arms recruits someone new for them to look down on in turn. It’s the longest sworn who man the gates, bowing and courteous to passing nobles and pocketing passing silver.
By that same custom Stoll was out visiting a swordsmith on the House’s behalf, while by this chime Naer would be sharing a companionable flagon with Fyle, discussing just who they might recognise out of the eager would-be sworn who fetch up after every Festival. Which is why I was trying to make sense of hastily scribbled notes working out how to allow Verd leave to visit his sick father when Indar was out of the reckoning on account of coming back from Festival with a broken hand.
I took one last look down the roster; surely that would suffice? Then I cursed under my breath, seeing I’d placed three raw recruits all on the same watch. There was no way that could stand, with no one experienced to stiffen their backbone.
“Pense, you’ve got the duty.” I snapped the lid on the inkwell and set down my pen. The senior sworn man came in with alacrity to take a stool in the watch room. “Make the most of it,” I advised him lightly. “We’re on duty in the stableyard this afternoon.”
Pense groaned. “Tell me we’re seeing the back of the last guests today?”
I nodded. “As far as I know.” I’d be as relieved as anyone else not to spend my days ferrying trunks, caskets and frivolous purchases to the carts and coaches that had cluttered up the yard and lanes for the last few days.
I walked through the empty grounds to the residence. The halls were strangely silent after the constant commotion of Festival. Everywhere was clean and polished, garlands all tidied away, the few servants round and about taking their time over minor tasks. There was a faintly tired air about the place.
Messire was alone in the library, where everything was once more in its customary place. The chests of documents and deeds brought out in anticipation of battles in the courts had been returned to the archive. Avila’s casket, its hidden treasures and her lists were nowhere to be seen. Everything connected to Kellarin had been removed to a salon on the far side of the residence; everything D’Alsennin might need set apart. Temar had been receiving a steady flow of visitors while D’Olbriot held firmly aloof.
“Good day to you, Ryshad.” The Sieur sat in a chair on one side of the empty fire. He didn’t motion me to sit.
“Messire.” I bowed.
“I understand you were summoned yesterday by the Justiciar gathering evidence for and against Kreve Tor Bezaemar?” Messire enquired.
“Indeed. I told him everything I knew.” And much that I suspected or merely guessed; it was the Justiciar’s job to sort the wheat from the chaff. If he’d questioned everyone in the same exhaustive detail he’d demanded of me, it was going to be a long job.
“If you’re on duty with the guard, D’Alsennin must be out this morning,” he observed. I’d been placed at Temar’s disposal along with the empty reception chamber for whenever he was within D’Olbriot’s walls. Beyond he was on his own, at least until he swore some men of his own.
“Where is D’Alsennin?” the Sieur enquired.
“He’s visiting the Sieur Den Janaquel,” I replied promptly.
“In connection with what?” Messire raised an amiable eyebrow.
I hesitated half a breath before answering. “To discuss that House’s holdings around Kalaven.”
“To discuss how Den Janaquel grain might feed D’Alsennin’s people,” said the Sieur with a faint hint of reproof. “In exchange for what? Wood? Ore? Hides?”