“I know,” said the king with a sly smile.
Ignoring his reaction, Ransom pressed on. “As a sign of good faith, King Estian is willing to relinquish one castle in the borderlands to our custody.”
“Which one?” asked the king.
This was the part Ransom had dreaded to share. “Josselin, my lord.”
Faulkes snorted and shook his head. “One of yours? How convenient for you.”
“But it is a key castle,” Kiskaddon countered. “He’s giving it up? I can hardly believe it.”
“Not exactly,” Ransom said. He was grateful for Kiskaddon’s support, but it would do little to sway the king. Although Jon-Landon had not stripped the duke of his title, he constantly threatened it.
“Say on,” said the king.
“He will hand over the castle as a token of good faith, yet he still lays sovereign claim to it. Whoever holds it must swear fealty to King Estian for it.”
Jon-Landon rubbed his temple thoughtfully. “Let me see if I understand you correctly, Lord Ransom. You would swear fealty to King Estian?”
“For that castle only,” said Ransom. “Clearly the bulk of my revenue and power come from Glosstyr and Legault. Josselin is a trivial amount by comparison.”
“You hate Estian, though,” said Jon-Landon. “Is he playing you for a fool?”
“I do not trust him,” Ransom agreed. “It does not serve my interests in the least to curry favor with him. But Josselin is my castle, so yes, I would be the one to swear fealty for it.” He gave the king a bow.
“Interesting.” The king rubbed his mouth again. He looked at Faulkes. “What do you think?”
“I think we should take the castle back by force!”
“We’ve tried,” answered the king. “It’s too well defended. Which would make it a strategic position for us. We could refuse to give it back. We gain something for nothing.”
“My lord,” Ransom said, trying to tame his anger. “I am a man of my word. I would never take part in such a ruse.”
“Your scruples . . .” said the king with a chuckle. “What if I ordered it?”
“Then I would resign my post,” said Ransom firmly.
Faulkes’s grin suggested he’d be all for it. They’d taken a disliking to each other all those years ago, at the battle at Josselin, and it had never lifted.
“No, Lord Ransom,” said the king. “You’re far too valuable to lose. What say you, Lord Kiskaddon?”
“A two-year truce would be a blessing from the Fountain,” he answered. “Surely you can see that, my lord. The King of Occitania may dislike Lord Ransom, but he trusts him to be honest. As we all do. Two years could change circumstances substantially. I’m for it.”
“Of course you are,” sneered Faulkes.
Kiskaddon shot him a warning look.
“Lady Deborah?” asked the king politely.
“Lord Ransom is known for keeping his word. King Estian is not. It could be a trick. However, I don’t think Estian would give up such a strategic castle as a trick. It’s a sign of good faith. And a shrewd one.”
“I agree,” said the king. “You have my permission, Lord Ransom, to respond. This conflict has waged on for many years now. I would like my son and daughter to enjoy a season of peace. But I do not relinquish my claims on Westmarch or any of the other lands that have been pried away from us.”
Ransom was surprised by the king’s response. Up until now, his approach to the war had been much more in line with Faulkes’s.
“So I have your permission to swear fealty to Estian?” Ransom pressed.
“Yes, that’s what I said,” Jon-Landon said impatiently.
“You said I had permission to respond. I just want to confirm your will. I can negotiate a two-year peace and accept Josselin as a token of the agreement?”
“You don’t trust me, Lord Ransom? Do you doubt my word?”
“No, I just want to ensure there’s no misunderstanding,” Ransom said. “I didn’t think you would agree to it.”
“Ransom, you know me better than that,” the king said with a smirk. “Just as I know you to be . . . a loyal man, and I’m very willing for you to pay him homage. You see, the more you have, the greater will be your services to me.”
The declaration did little to ease Ransom’s mind. For it implied the king considered this a favor, one he would use as leverage to demand a return favor from Ransom. Would it be something that Ransom’s conscience allowed him to deliver?
“I will negotiate the terms, then,” he said. “I’ll leave on the morrow.”
The king gave him another cunning smile. “You should stay. You look weary. Get some rest.”
Ransom had no reason to refuse, so he stayed, and when Dearley and the rest of his escort arrived, they were given an empty table. The meal was hearty, and the music and performances continued into the night.
Dearley leaned forward. “I can’t read your expression. What did he say?”
“He said yes,” answered Ransom, keeping his eyes fixed on the king’s face. Things had not turned out the way he’d expected. Even though the king had done as he wished, he felt uneasy about it. It struck him that Jon-Landon was a few years older than Bennett had been when he died. He’d made it longer than either of his brothers.
“That’s good news,” said Dearley. He smiled broadly and lifted a cup. “I can’t wait to tell Elodie. We’re going home.”
Ransom raised his cup and struck it against Dearley’s.
And yet, the feeling of dread persisted.
Some ill news arrived today from a few ships of Genevese merchants. Estian’s fleet barred them from docking in the Vexin. Forbidden to sail to their destination, they came to Atha Kleah instead. Does this new blockade mean Estian is preparing to invade Emiloh’s duchy? I’ve ordered ships to bring supplies to Emiloh’s duchy. With Brythonica as its own entity, at least communication can get in and out of the territory by means other than the sea. But it takes longer to send a messenger by horse than by ship.
I’ve sent Ransom a note of warning, but it will take days before it reaches him. The last message I had from him was that he was going to Beestone to meet the king’s council. I shudder to think of what would happen should the Vexin fall to Occitania again. Legault would be vulnerable next. I will summon the lords of Legault to prepare in case this disruption of the Genevese merchants proves to be a foretelling of worse things to come.
—Claire de Murrow, “Duchess” of Legault
Atha Kleah
CHAPTER FOUR
Guardian of the Grove
Ransom rode with two hundred knights to Josselin castle. He sent scouts both ahead and behind them to ensure there were no surprise attacks. But they encountered no one and saw no signs of Occitanian forces at any point during the several-day journey. Dearley was perplexed by the overtures of peace. So was Ransom, particularly since he could not yet see the motives behind the offer. As always in the game of Wizr, when a piece was moved, it could mean many things. And the magical Wizr board, which might have helped them understand the meaning of such movements, was, presumably, in the hands of the enemy.