The boys soon came to the coastalhighway and crossed over it. A short way into the woods they cameto a small clearing with the bandit and two horses standing in it.One horse was the one the bandit had left the battle on. The otherwas a large, beautiful black stallion. “I had to stop and get myown horse,” explained Garth. “If you boys have decided to acceptour safety, just continue heading west. I will follow and make surethat no Dark Riders are tracking us.”
Arik simply nodded and continued acrossthe clearing and westward.
* * * *
Klarg was studying the placement of thebodies and the method by which each was killed when Wolinda reachedthe plateau. “What happened here?” she demanded.
“It would appear that ourlittle boys had some help this evening,” Klarg explained. “Severalvery skilled assassins, if you ask me.”
“Why assassins and notmercenaries?” inquired Wolinda.
“The weapons and methods used,Mistress,” Klarg answered. “Perhaps several mercenaries and oneassassin. That is possible. Lanoirian Stars are used by some veryskilled mercenaries, but myric quills are used only by highlyskilled assassins. They are extremely dangerous to use. A singleprick while loading one will lead to instant death. No mercenarywould risk ending his career with such a dubiousweapon.”
“Are you sure that they werehere to help the boys?” Wolinda asked.
“No,” replied Klarg, “I amnot. The rope was meant to create a killing ground and allow for aslaughter during the confusion. Bandits have used such tricks inthe past to snare a quarry, but it normally requires horsementraveling at great speed to have any real effect. That is whatpuzzles me. Why put such a trap on this plateau? I would expectbandits to target the coastal highway, not some seldom usedpath.”
“Could it have been the boys,themselves?” Wolinda queried.
“Not a chance,” laughed Klarg.“This was professionally done. If it was done to aid the boys, itwas very lucky. I, myself, did not know that I would send ridersalong this path until I actually did so. No, Mistress, I think wemay have just stumbled into a bandits’ den by accident. The ropewas probably part of a standard campsite protection and they wereonly alerted by the noise from down below when we spotted the boys.That is the only scenario that makes any sense.”
“What does that mean for ourmission, Klarg,” Wolinda inquired.
“Unfortunately, our twotrackers were among the ten dead men,” Klarg responded. “Thespooked horses have left so many trails through the bushes that wewill not find the proper trail until we have more light. I suggestthat I go to Toresh and get replacements. I think ten men is enoughto get the boys, but if there are bandits in the area who do notfear to kill Dark Riders, we should have a company strong enough todeal with them, as well. Plus, we need to replace thetrackers.”
Wolinda thought a moment beforeresponding. “Your plan is acceptable, Klarg,” she began, “but sendone of your men instead of going yourself. If this is a bandits’lair, your expertise in leading the men will be valuable shouldthey decide to return and attack during the night.” Wolinda wouldnever have stated her real reasons for keeping Klarg close. Once inToresh, Klarg could report on Wolinda’s lack of progress andwithout Klarg around to contain his men, Wolinda might not wake upfrom her night’s sleep.
Chapter 8
Young Lord
Niki yawned and stretched in her fine,white silk robe while standing on the balcony overlooking the sea.At first Niki had been put out that the servants had assigned herto guest quarters instead of the Master’s Suite, but that wasbefore she discovered the rich wardrobe of clothes in various sizesand styles. Fredrik also pointed out that they were supposed to bebrother and sister and putting one of them in the Master's Suitewould naturally insult the other. The servants had, after all, madethe correct decision. Surely, the old sea captain’s mansion was nota Royal Palace, but Niki had never seen a palace and this was morethan she expected. She had a bedroom that was larger than any houseshe had ever been in and it was only one of several rooms that werehers alone. Even the balcony she stood on, overlooking the peasantsrunning around below, was larger than the house she grew up in. Shestood there for a long while soaking up the sea air and listeningto the bustle of the townspeople running about below.
A knock at the door disturbed her and,reluctantly, she turned and made her way through the suite of roomsto the entry. Opening the door, she saw a man standing there in arich, red velvet suit with vest and coat and a white, frilled shirtwith fluffy sleeves protruding from the cuffs of the coat. It tookher a moment to recognize the man as Fredrik. Laughing, she threwopen the door to admit her partner. Fredrik sauntered in like hewas the Lord of the manor, a stride that Fredrik had perfected longbefore Niki had met him.
“What brings the Lord to hisLady’s Suite?” chuckled Niki.
Fredrik hurriedly closed the door andtook up position in one of the large cushioned chairs. “I justwanted see how my Lady was accepting her transition,” he smiledsmugly. “This place is huge. I’ve been wandering around for an hourand I doubt that I’ve seen all of it. This old sea captain musthave been a smuggler to afford something this grand.”
“Well,” she chided, “I think Idid rather well getting us in here, but don’t you think for amoment that I have let you go of your pledge to make me a queen.Perhaps you can organize the rabble down below into some kind ofkingdom for me to rule. Those mercenaries will do for a PalaceGuard while we look for someone more suitable and then we can havethem organize an army to take over any neighboringcountries.”
Fredrik looked at her with disbelief.Could she really think getting in here was her idea? Get themercenaries to bow to her? Maybe she really was crazy. Grandfantasies were one thing, but what she was proposing was suicide.“I never promised to make you a queen,” he stated. “I said that Iwould like to see you in a palace. Now that I have, I do think itbecomes you.”
“You will serve in my court,also,” she continued as if not hearing a word he said. “Perhaps Iwill have you as my Royal Consort.”
“We are best to avoid themercenaries,” Fredrik reminded her. “They have let us in herebecause it costs them nothing and avoids embarrassment of theirfailure to do anything with the Black Devils. If we do anythingthat might upset them, you will be surprised how quickly theyacknowledge their mistake. Where are your old clothes?”
Niki snapped out of her fantasy. “Inthe closet in the bedroom,” she answered. “Why do you want my oldclothes?”
“I asked Miranda to have ourold clothes washed today,” Fredrik said. “I do not know how long wewill be here, but I want our clothes to be clean and packed in casewe have to leave quickly.”
“Leave?” she askedincredulously. “Why would we ever want to leave here? We just gothere and you’re talking about moving on already.”
“I am not planning on leavingjust yet, Niki,” he declared emphatically. “I just believe in beingprepared. One can never know what tomorrow will bring.”
As if on cue, there was a knock on thedoor followed by Miranda poking her head in. “Does My Lady havewash today?” she inquired. “Perhaps your traveling clothes coulduse a refreshing?”
“They're in the closet in thebedroom, Miranda,” Fredrik directed. “And thank you for your promptservice.”
Miranda went and retrieved Niki’sclothes and returned to leave. She bowed to Fredrik and said, “Yourthanks are most welcome Lord Wason. Certainly not necessary, butgraciously welcome.”
“Take extra care of my cloak,”demanded Niki. “I intend on wearing it on my Coronation Day and Idon’t want you mucking it up.”
Miranda looked confused but merelynodded and withdrew from the suite. Quickly, she hurried downstairsto have Alicia do the wash. When she reached the servants’quarters, Alicia was talking with Orthan, the Lord’s butler.“Humph,” Miranda began, “that Fredrik is all right, a pleasant boyat least, but that Niki, I’ll strangle her with my own hands beforetoo long.”