Chapter 63

Chapter 63

By the beginning of summer, things had gotten worse. Two months had passed by with the Walis receding further and further. Now, there was no doubt that the hay harvest was ruined, unless the sky decided to loose a flood on their heads.

Unfortunately, that wasnt the last of their ill tidings. A merchant had come crying foul after Sir Wardd imposed a ruinous toll on him. Thomas was now telling him and his father of another such complaint. It seemed that all the merchants thatd used their road to the northeast in the past fortnight had suffered from this toll to some extent.

They were seated around his fathers desk in the study and the knight sighed at Thomass words. So Ward summons trouble again.

What should we do, Father? Lucan said. This will hurt our eastward trade. The merchants need to come and go to the Union smoothly if were to maintain our measure of trade. And with the drought, the harm he is bringing us is twofold.

Hes grasping for whatever he can, his father said. Everyone is at times like these.

Can we talk reason to him? Lucan said.

His father snorted. Ward isnt one for reason except when it serves him.

Can we do something then? Lucan said.

His father shook his head. He has more men, and weve only begun to be of comparable wealth lately. He also has many more friends than we do. If Im not wrong, hes recently gotten closer to Arpague.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Perhaps we may persuade him to lower the toll to something reasonable, Thomas said. We only need it to be something bearable for the merchants.

Theres no harm in trying, Sir Golan shrugged.

We need to do it today, Father, Lucan said. Every day he keeps imposing that senseless expense on the merchants is a strike to a reputation we have only just begun to build.

His father nodded. Let us ride to his estate now then.

They hastily donned proper clothing and no armor, since riding there in the latter would carry meaning. Going like this would assure Sir Ward that they were there to make amicable conversation.

They sent for their horses to be prepared, and while marching down the hallways of the keep, they met Lilian who simply curtsied to his father and favored him with a smile, though she couldnt hide the inquiring look on her face.

Wont be long, he whispered to her as they passed.

The ride to Sir Wards estate was mostly uneventful, except for what they saw once they reached the end of the road Lucan had built beyond the bridge. There, they saw that Sir Ward had extended it with his own road into his territory. It was more shoddily made, but it was flat and solid enough to support heavy wagons.

This complicates matters, Thomas said.

Yes, his father said.

Why? Lucan asked.

Before they could answer him, they saw two riders coming towards them. It seemed that they had been expected.

The two riders were armored men-at-arms who hailed them. His father came to a stop, and Lucan and Thomas followed him.

The men-at-arms trotted towards them and made to talk but his father spoke over them and they grew quiet at his heavy voice. Im here to speak to your sire, not you. Go fetch him.

The two men didnt seem happy with his words, but one of them turned around and rode away nonetheless.

They waited a considerable amount of time before they saw the knight approaching on the horizon. He wore clothes as they did, and he was accompanied by the man-at-arms sent to fetch him and a softer-looking man that Lucan assumed was his steward.

When the knight arrived, he began with a jab instead of a greeting. I had a feeling the winds would blow mongrels my way this spring. Its good that I posted sentries, eh? He nodded meaningfully at his father as he mouthed the insult, then he nodded at his men with the last word.

Need their protection, do you? his father returned the jab momentarily, nodding at the two men-at-arms that still flanked Sir Ward, then glancing back at Lucan and Thomas who were obviously unarmed. Lucan was beginning to think that there was more to this than what he knew.

Sir Wards face darkened and he gestured angrily with his head. The men-at-arms heeded his unspoken command and left them, riding into the distance, though Lucan knew they wouldnt be too far to call back.

He lost.

And not a very dignifying loss, Thomas added from the side.

His father looked at Thomas as though betrayed then he sighed and glanced at Lucan. I might have been provoked by Wards taunts and insults that day. As youve seen, hes not very well-mannered. And at that age, I was not very patient.

I see, Lucan said.

We will have to bear with it, his father said. At least for now.

Or we might seek royal arbitration, Thomas said.

That would take too much time to matter, his father said. The merchants will be avoiding Wards estate by then.

Lilians father will be returning from the east sometime this summer, Lucan said. If hes not told of this, his caravan could suffer a significant loss.

His father glanced at Thomas.

The steward took a breath, giving himself room to think. We may be able to send someone to warn him. And making every merchant going east a messenger for this matter would be wise too.

Word already spreads among them like a hay fire, Lucan said. We wont need to charge them with passing it on.

His father nodded. Then the matter with Maris is handled. As for the rest of it, like I said, we bear with it.

We might not have to, Lucan said, gazing at the distant hills to the west. They were north of the canal branch outside of their territory, but they also didnt border Sir Wards territory. Perhaps the venture in his mind would work, perhaps not. But there would be no harm in trying, considering their circumstances.

His father was looking at him quizzically.

Im not certain yet.

His father hummed his acceptance. The knight was anything but impatient.

With his fathers leave, Lucan split up with them after they crossed the bridge. He followed the northern canal to the fishermens lake once more. There, he saw that more of the spire could be seen, much larger than the slight part theyd seen before. Other parts of the structure were even peeking out of the water separately around the spire. Lucan was growing less and less certain that they could keep this quiet. He turned his steed around and rode home. Even with this bit of trouble on the horizon, he had other pressing matters to attend to.

So? Lucan said. He and Sawyer were on their horses, now watching the hills north of the estate. Theyd discreetly crossed the northern canal branch and followed it west until they drew close to the hills.

I believe I can. But

It will be costly, Lucan continued for him. Even I can tell as much.

Sawyer gave him a rueful smile and nodded. It wont be an easy venture, but I can have it done soon if all workers are spared.

You will have them, Lucan said. At least most of them. Anything may be delayed, except for the granary.

The rest will do, Sawyer affirmed. Then he smiled and gazed at the distance. A winding road through the hills. Something to truly test my skills.

Lucan looked askance at him.

Sawyer raised a mollifying hand. Im confident in said skills.

Lucan snorted and shook his head. Build the road, no matter what.

I will, Sawyer said, his tone aggrieved. Why must you doubt me now?

I am not, Lucan said. Im simply charging you with making this road, no matter the circumstances. I wont accept failure.