The Sorcerer's Scourge (14 page)

“Show him in then.”

Landrin practically strutted down the deep blue carpet running up the center of the room. Landrin had done a little acting in his time and he put his meager skills to maximum effect. Upon nearing King Jarvin, he swept the felt, broad-brimmed black hat off his head and bent down into a showman’s bow.

“Your Majesty, it is an honor to meet you. I give you my humblest appreciation for granting me this audience.”

Jarvin smiled at the man’s foppishness and hoped he was not about to waste his time. “As you can see, Lord Bailey, we are in the midst of a serious discussion of state. What is it you wished to see me about?”

Landrin stood up from his bow, straightened his black silk vest, and addressed the king. “I received word that you sought a man to govern End’s Run. I could not help but overhear as I waited outside the door, that you are unable to find a man of sufficient courage or fortitude to do so and wish to offer my services.”

An angry muttering filled the room as the assembled lords tried to determine if they had just been insulted. Lord Aderly leaned forward and demanded clarification.

“Are you inferring that we are weak or are cowards, Lord Bailey?”

“Of course not. I
implied
it as politely as I could. You inferred it. Unfortunately there are so very few adjectives I can use in your regard that you would find pleasing.”

Lord Aderly jumped from his chair and grabbed the hilt of his sword while the other lords shouted their outrage. “You are lucky we are in the King’s hall or I would demand satisfaction of you here and now, you petulant cur!”

Landrin smiled at furious lords. “You demand satisfaction in what way, by crossing steel or do you mean in a more amorous manner? Personally, I doubt you have the courage for either one.”

Jarvin could tell Lord Aderly wanted desperately to pull his blade, but the confident, almost taunting way the young upstart fingered the hilt of his rapier stayed his hand. This meeting was getting more hostile by the moment, and Jarvin knew he needed to set these men at ease before they all stormed out.

“Let us all maintain our composure and cease these unnecessary and unproductive insults to one another’s character. Lord Bailey, you offered to take lordship of End’s Run. I assume you can produce a writ of title to show you are who and what you claim?” Jarvin asked.

Landrin produced the scroll Solarian had given him. Jarvin read the scroll and frowned. “Not precisely the credentials I had hoped for, Lord Bailey.”

Lord Malcolm seemed to wake up and shook a finger at Landrin. “Now I recall that name! Are you Edwin Bailey’s get?”

Landrin gave the venerable lord a single nod. “He was my grandfather, sir.”

“Bah! A third son of a landless noble! That title is worth less than the velum it’s printed on.”

“And this task is precisely the thing for a man of courage and intellect to raise his family name once again,” Landrin replied.

Jarvin rolled the writ back up and returned it. “I agree, Landrin. As none of my other lords or their heirs is willing to step up to the challenge, I have little recourse but to accept your offer. My Lords, if there are no further matters of business to attend to, I bid you good evening. Landrin, please follow me to my study and we can discuss your duties in further detail.”

Jarvin led Landrin through a small door set in the far end of the dining hall. The two men negotiated a series of narrow corridors until one opened up into a wider, much grander hallway that led to the King’s favorite study. A fire was already blazing in the large hearth, heating the room to a comfortable level. Not that the cold affected Landrin.

Landrin declined Jarvin’s invitation for a drink, but the King poured one for himself, motioned for the former bard to sit, and took a seat behind a large desk. The King removed a piece of parchment from a drawer and began scribbling what Landrin assumed was his name and credentials upon it. After sanding and blotting the fresh ink, Jarvin handed the document to Landrin.

“That writ proclaims you the lawful laird of End’s Run and details your authority and responsibilities. Given the remote location of the township, you will be operating with a significant amount of autonomy, which is why I had hoped to convince one of my more senior lords to take on the responsibility.”

“Begging Your Highness’s pardon, but given what I have seen and heard of your lords of late, selecting any of them would not likely have been an improvement. I might be young and landless, but I hope to quickly prove that my loyalty lies with the crown.”

Landrin watched Jarvin’s face lose some of its regal stoicism. “Indeed. These days I look for a dagger concealed in every palm. I oft wonder if it would not be better to abdicate and allow another to take my place.”

“I would tell you that would be a mistake. Both men and darker things tear the land apart. Valaria needs a strong and just ruler, and no man is better suited in ability or temperament than you, Your Majesty. I believe the time will come when all will see what the common people see in you.”

“Thank you, Landrin. It is rare to hear kind words directed at me these days. Even a king needs some affirmation from time to time,” Jarvin replied sincerely and smiled gratefully at Landrin’s words.

“I brought you more than kind words, Your Majesty. I bring a gift from my former home in Brightridge and wish to give it to you as a token of my appreciation for this opportunity. I left it secured to a wagon with your people if you would care to send a detail with a trundle to retrieve it.”

Jarvin’s interest was piqued and he sent a runner to retrieve the item. The two men then returned to discussing Landrin’s duties.

 “How soon will you be able to leave?” Jarvin asked. “I have a contingent of one hundred soldiers who have volunteered for the initial garrison, and they have been ready to march for weeks.”

“A hundred soldiers?” Landrin asked in surprise. “I thought this land already settled and claimed. Am I to wrest it from some barbarian hands?”

Jarvin chuckled but quickly grew serious. “No, my father established permanent claim to End’s Run and its territory shortly before he was killed. He actually traded steel for it from the barbarian chief that claimed that portion as his holding. The barbarians have since moved farther north and do not dispute the region. A few miners and trappers occasionally wander far enough north to touch upon the barbarian’s southernmost border, but the trespassers are soon shown the door and escorted back across the border. We call them barbarians, but I have found them quite reasonable as long as they are treated with respect.

“It is our own people that require me to send soldiers. Make no mistake, Landrin. This is a harsh land and largely ungoverned for the fifteen years it has existed. Although a good amount of raw gold and other resources makes it way south, it is largely unregulated and untaxed. There is some form of leadership from what I understand, but it is more of a gang or warlord leadership and no friend to the crown. It is my hope that with a hundred well-armed soldiers, you will at least be able to establish a foothold from which you can appraise this man’s strength, recruit locals, and toss his carcass to the wolves. When that is done, you will need to establish a presence in the numerous logging and mining camps so that the raw materials can be evaluated for tax and ensure that the King’s law is properly abided.”

Landrin pondered this information a moment. He could not wait for the soldiers. He planned to leave tonight and could travel far faster than the soldiers could even if they were mounted. Landrin had no doubt killing this warlord or whatever he was would not pose much of a challenge. The trick would be doing it without exposing his true nature and getting his men to follow him instead.

“Your Majesty, I have a small bit of magic at my disposal and can make the trip to End’s Run significantly faster if I am not reduced to the speed of a contingent of soldiers and their baggage. I think I could do more if I go ahead of them, scout out the situation, and see what I can expect in the way of local support.”

Jarvin rubbed his chin and thought. “I think I see your point. You will need gold for this.”

“It would make my job significantly easier.”

“Of course I am sending a chest of gold to pay the soldiers’ wages and cover the significant cost involved with establishing everything you will need. As much as I like you on first meeting, I am hesitant handing over the sum you require with nothing more than your word. Even if you do not simply run off with my small fortune, going there alone might mean you and my gold becomes the property of this brigand.”

“I understand your concerns, Highness. Let me assure you, I am highly capable of taking care of myself. How much gold are you sending with the soldiers?” Landrin inquired.

“Ten thousand crowns.”

Landrin nodded as he made some quick calculations. “Give me two thousand to use as—incentives—in hiring and possibly turning some men to my side. I have enough of my own coin to take care of most of my personal needs. With luck, the town will be under my control by the time the soldiers arrive.”

Landrin was able to find a small bit of wealth inside the house that belonged to Eldon, but it was not great. Fortunately, his living requirements were equally as meager.

Jarvin considered Landrin’s proposal for a moment then nodded. “All right. I shall have my treasurer draw the two thousand crowns from the chest and send the rest with Lieutenant Oliver. He is the ranking man in the contingent. I am placing a great deal of trust in a man I just met, Landrin.”

“Then trust me one more time, Highness,” Landrin said earnestly. “Find men whose loyalty is unquestionable and keep them very close to you and your family.”

Jarvin leaned back in surprise at the intensity of Landrin’s warning. “Do you know of a direct threat?”

“No, Majesty, but I do hear a great deal. I believe there are significant threats drawing ever closer and you need to be vigilant. Keep those guards whom you know will give their lives for you and your family close at hand.”

Landrin laced these last words with a small bit of his vampiric compulsion. He hated to use such a thing on the King and he used it ever so slightly, but he needed Jarvin to take his warning very seriously.

“I will see to the castle guard rosters personally. Thank you for your concern.”

There was a knock on the door and one of Jarvin’s servants announced that they had brought Landrin’s gift. Four men wheeled the wardrobe in on a trundle at the King’s behest. Jarvin stood immediately upon seeing it and crossed the room for a closer inspection. He set his drink on a small table next to the wardrobe and marveled at the craftsmanship.

“This is magnificent work,” Jarvin lauded as he ran an experienced hand across the wood and traced the stylized carvings. He even bent close and sniffed deeply at the wood. “Do you know how old it is?”

“I do not, Milord.”

“It is at least two hundred years old, but I would not be surprised if it was three. Did you know I was a carpenter and quite the cabinetmaker before ascending throne?”

“I had heard something of the sort, Highness.”

“I was quite good, you know, but I would have been hard-pressed to match this level of artisanship.” Jarvin stopped his inspection and looked pensive. “I miss those days more often than not. The very same people that praised me for my furnishings now curse me as their king. People can be such fickle creatures.”

“I hope you will keep this nearby as well, Highness.”

“I certainly will. It will look splendid in the children’s room I think.”

Another figure entered the room just then and captured the King’s attention.

“Pardon the interruption, Your Majesty,” Bishop Caalendor begged, “but I have received significant news from Brightridge. Forgive me, Majesty, I was unaware you had a guest.”

“That is quite all right. This is Lord Bailey. He has graciously accepted the lairdship of End’s Run,” Jarvin explained to his senior advisor. “Landrin, this is one of my advisors, Bishop Caalendor.”