***
Two days later Allan walked through the city gate he usually came through during the day. In the past the two guards on duty barely gave him more of a glance. This time one of them stopped him while his companion looked him up and down.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Master Kenneth was taken by that masked outlaw,” the guard in front of him answered.
“Do you think I’m him?”
“We’re supposed to check every man who enters the city. Don’t know if we’ll find the fellow, since most of his face is masked.”
“Why bother?”
“We don’t want to get into trouble if a sergeant or one the Captains comes by,” the second guard said.
Allan smiled. “I see. May I enter now?”
The first guard stepped out of his way. “Welcome back, and conduct your business. If you see anything suspicious while you’re here, report it.”
Allan bowed his head. “Of course. Thank you, and good day.”
He hadn’t gotten more than a block into the city when he saw the first poster. It was nailed to a tree in front of a house. In the center of the poster was a rough drawing of what a young man wearing a mask covering the top half of his face looked like. Above the drawing were the words “WANTED: MASKED OUTLAW” More details were below the drawing.
“The masked outlaw who calls himself ‘The Defender’ is wanted in the kidnapping of Master Kenneth, the Lord’s Treasurer. This outlaw is also wanted for arson and theft. He is known to move about the city at night, and claims to know magic. If you see this outlaw, or any man acting strangely, alert the Lord’s Guards immediately.”
Something that struck Allan as soon as he’d read the poster was that no reward was established. Experience told him that when a man was wanted, a reward would be offered for help in his capture. For a time, after he fled the city a few years back, there were posters with his face on them. They hadn’t been up for more than a few months, and had only offered a few gold for him, but there was a reward.
As he continued his journey into the city, he tried to think of why there was no reward for the Defender. Perhaps His Lordship believes that only the guards would be able to handle me. That makes some sense; he wouldn’t want folk attempting to capture a mage.
Now that I think about it, it makes more sense that he wouldn’t want folk finding out that the Defender was a mage. The might be fearful, but they also might think the Defender was stronger than His Lordship. He might also not want folk to know what the Defender is doing.
I suppose that’s the real reason why these posters are up. His Lordship doesn’t want his subjects knowing what the Defender knows. Better to make them afraid of the Defender, than angry about what he’s been doing.
It was early in the afternoon when Allan entered the city. His plan was to buy some supplies, speak to Neville, then return to the castle. He still had to buy supplies, but the posters he saw around the city made it clear he couldn’t approach Neville as the Defender. While he didn’t think Neville would call his guards to arrest him, he was concerned that someone else might see him and call out.
The guards aren’t my enemy, so I shouldn’t do anything to provoke them. But I still need to speak to Neville.
Allan decided to take a room at one of the city inns. Thanks to his prisoner, he could afford the expense. He then went out to buy the less perishable items he needed. He also bought a piece of parchment. He scribbled a message to Neville, ostensibly from his bride-to-be. He knew the other man would see immediately that it wasn’t from her. He hoped that the note would make Neville curious enough to come to the inn. He hired a boy to carry the message to the Lord’s Manor. He returned to the inn for supper, then waited in his room.
At the appointed time, there was a knock on the door. Allan cast an illusion spell over him, so that he appeared to be an old man. He opened the door. Neville was in the hall, alone.
“Forgive me, I must have the wrong room,” Neville say.
“No, my boy,” Allan replied, doing his best impression of an old man. “Come, come.”
Neville stepped into the room. “What’s going on?”
Allan allowed the spell to disappear. Beforehand he’d dressed as the Defender. Neville turned to see the illusion fade. He gasped, then took a step back.
“I have news,” Allan said, “news that you must hear.”
“You’re a wanted man.”
“I’ve seen the posters. Tell me, why is there no reward for me?”
Neville frowned, then his eyes widened. “You noticed?”
“Of course.”
“Thank your friend Captain William. He told Father that it would be unwise for the common folk to attempt to capture you.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That, if you were seen, you’d have time to get away.”
Allan nodded once. “Express my compliments to him, when you see him again.”
“I shall. What is this news you spoke of?”
“First, you must make certain that nothing happens to Boss Conner while he’s in jail.”
“Why should something happen to him?”
“Kenneth confessed that he met with Conner, on the orders of your father.”
“Wait. Are you saying that Father wanted his own silver stolen?”
“I am.”
“That’s insane.”
“It’s not insane, Neville. It’s evil, and goes much deeper that consorting with criminals, or stealing silver bars from His Majesty.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The robbery was to be the first part of the story, Neville. The arrangement was that Conner and his men were to take a third of the silver for themselves. The rest would be delivered to Kenneth. He would, in secret, stamp the silver into coins. With that unknown stack of coins, Kenneth was to enlist a member Conner’s Crew into being an assassin.”
“An assassin? Who was he meant to kill?”
“You, my friend. You and your bride on your wedding night.”
Neville shook his head. “No. That’s can’t be true. To what end?”
“Kenneth already has a coin stamp from Hillview. The murderer was to be caught with Hillview coins in his possession. Boss Conner was to deal with the murderer directly, so that he wouldn’t know who paid him. When he was arrested, he would admit that a man from Hillview, an advisor to Lady Juliet’s father, hired him to do the deed.”
Neville shook his head. “No, I cannot believe that.”
“Believe it, Neville. The incident would be the pretext your father would need to break the peace between Elderwood and Hillview. His Majesty would have no choice to but to accept the evidence. Either through Royal Decree, or through war, your father would acquire the Domain of Hillview.”
“But to have me murdered?”
“You are not like your father.”
“Well, no.”
“Would he have accepted an arranged marriage to a daughter of the Lord of Hillview?”
“No.”
“Is he kind to you? Does he think that you’ll make a good Lord of Elderwood?”
“We speak very little on such things.”
“Because he thinks you are weak, Neville. He wants one of your younger brothers to follow him. Disposing of you would allow him to raise one of his other sons in the way he thinks is best.”
“I can’t believe Father would think such things.”
“He does, Neville. Kenneth told me this scheme came into your father’s head a few months ago. You know that I captured Kenneth at that brothel?”
“The one of the dark rumors? Of course.”
“Do you know the man who ran the brothel?”
“No. His name has not been revealed in court yet.”
“That’s probably because the man is a cousin of Master Francis, the brewer your father is such good friends with.”
“No.”
“Yes. The brothel has existed for years. Your father used his influe
nce to keep the guards away. Francis used his connection to your father to find clients, like Kenneth.”
“How does that relate this scheme to murder myself and Juliet?”
“The reason you told me that you didn’t want to seek it out. Your father was afraid that he couldn’t keep that brothel protected with your new wife present. He’s profited well from it. He’s also used it gain information on several important men in the city. Kenneth told me that he did use what he knew about one of the clients to compel the man to drop a charge he’d made against another of his advisors.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It seems that your father’s friend failed to pay the full price for a wedding dress for his daughter. He paid two-thirds, then tried to show some flaw so he didn’t have to pay the rest.”
“Are you talking about Master Victor, the dressmaker?”
“The same.”
Neville nodded his head. “I remember the incident. Master Randolph, as I recall.” He frowned. “Are you saying that Master Victor was a client of the brothel?”
“He has a fondness for girls who are about to enter puberty, so Kenneth said.”
“Father used that to help Randolph?”
“He did. Then there was what happened to Delilah.”
“Who’s she?”
“The girl Captain William is taking care of. Her father made a few bad business decisions, and held opulent weddings for his two older daughters. Delilah was his youngest, and quite attractive. Kenneth told him that he would pay the man’s debts if he was allowed to take the girl to this brothel. Obviously she couldn’t be taken in broad daylight, nor have it seen where she was taken. Your father arranged for guards, in disguise, to abduct her at night.”
“I can’t believe that, Defender. I can’t!”
“Her father admitted to me, and to her, that he sold her off, when I returned her to him. That’s why she’s with Captain William.”
Neville sucked in a loud breath. “Would that be the man whose house you burned down?”
“It is. Why?”
“Father has put the man up in our manor.”
“No doubt to keep him quiet.”
“How can I know that any of this is true?”
“You and Captain William must question that man, Boss Conner, and Master Francis’ cousin. You must do so without letting your father know.”
“What if they won’t confess?”
“They have all committed crimes that carry a punishment of life in prison, or execution. You would have the power to spare them, if you were Lord of Elderwood.”
“Replace Father?”
“Why not? If their stories match what I told you, what Kenneth has told me, your father is a criminal many times over. Your father has conspired to murder you and the woman you plan to marry. All this is enough to condemn him. If you are a good man, Neville, you must replace him. Otherwise, your father will continue to corrupt this city and his subjects. Your own life is in jeopardy while he holds the title. You must stand up to him. You must make him pay for all the evil he’s done, and all the evil he’s allowed to have been done.”
Neville was silent for a few moments, then he said, “It’s him or me, isn’t it?”
Allan shook his head. “No, my friend. It’s him, or us.”
“You and I?”
“All of us. The subjects of the Lord of Elderwood, from the poorest child to the honest merchant who got rich from his hard work. We’ve all suffered, thanks to your father. Either we stand up together and replace him, or we continue to suffer.”
Neville nodded his head. “I suppose so. If we get the truth from these men, then what?”
“Then we face your father, together, in public. We face him, and we bring him to justice. Captain William knows the law. Whatever he wishes to do, we’ll do.”
“I’ll speak with him first thing in the morning. How will we get word to you?”
Allan paused to think. “Send Delilah out on west road. I’ll keep an eye out for her.”
“Very well.” Neville glanced at the floor, then looked at Allan. “Part of my prays you’re wrong, but part of me suspects you’re right.”
Allan let out a laugh. “That you think both is a good sign, my friend. Take care, and good luck.”
EIGHT