B3 Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

The sun was bearing down on him when he reached the Needles. Lucan had ridden through the small distance between the estates, accompanied only by Ryder, the rest of his men keeping to their duties and patrols, which had turned arduous as of late. Every man was needed, but Cordell had still insisted that he at least take one guard with him on the road south.

The gates were already open, but Lucan dismounted to greet the man waiting for him inside, flanked by two soldiers. Sir Sarin was a friend and a brother-in-arms by now, and Lucan would be loath to forget the knight’s aid during his excursion into the Wilderlands. They both stepped forward, meeting each other under the gatehouse.

“Lord Lucan,” the knight began, giving a small bow. “It is our–”

Lucan interrupted him by extending his arm forward. If the knight was surprised, he did not show it. Instead, he smiled and clasped his arm. They embraced, and Lucan patted the knight on the back. “The pleasure is mine, Sir Sarin.” He would have liked to call him by his own name, but apparently, the knight preferred to be called by the name of his family, even by those closest to him. Lucan had discovered during the excursion that he was the first of his folk to be ennobled and that he was fiercely proud of it.

“I hope the lord is well,” Lucan continued.

The knight winced and tilted his head as though to evade the question hurled at him. Then he shrugged ever so slightly. “He is prepared to meet you.”

Lucan responded with a grim nod. Lord Arden’s condition might have been a secret to some, but it was not to him. He followed the knight to the keep, giving Ryder a nod as the knight’s men invited him to join them in the yard.

Into the hall and up the stairs they went, and eventually, into the lord’s chamber. Sir Sarin pushed the door open for him then followed him inside. Surprisingly, young Ren was also present, sitting at the bedside of his grandfather.

The boy got to his feet, bending his back only slightly with an elegant dip of the head. “Your Lordship.”

“Ren.” Lucan gave him a nod. “You’ve grown.” The boy had gained in height, though he was still reed-thin.

“Thank you,” the boy smiled, a bit bashful.

Lucan turned to the bedridden lord, only remembering now that he should’ve greeted him first. “Lord Arden.” He dipped his head.

“Young Lucan.” The lord’s words came faint and stuttered. “Felicitations on your family’s rise in station.” The old man’s body was hidden under a blanket even though winter had yet to come. Only his head was free and upright, leaning against the headrest, but it did not even turn in Lucan’s direction as he stepped up beside the bed. Only the eyes followed him as he approached.

“Thank you, Your Lordship,” Lucan said, dipping his head again.

“Sit, sit.” The lord coughed after forcing out the words.

Lucan complied and took a seat on a stool set beside the bed. On the other side, he saw Sir Sarin take a seat next to Ren. He only needed to give the lord a quizzical look before his question was answered.

“Ren will soon inherit my seat,” the lord said. “I have had him attending all matters pertaining to the estate for a time now. Sarin will be his second, and his presence is as necessary.”

“I understand.” Lucan nodded.

“Now, out with it,” the lord said. “I am a dying man, and my time is not mine to spare.”

“May your life be lon–”

The lord interrupted him with a chuckle and a hacking cough. “Spare me the well wishes that will never come true. Even a fool can tell I am not getting out of this bed on my own two feet, young Lucan.”

Lucan could only sigh and give the lord a polite smile. “Very well, Your Lordship. I will begin on the matter I have come for.”

Lord Arden gave him a nearly imperceptible nod.

“As you undoubtedly know, the realm is now divided between the two claimants.”

“Yes, Oswin and Esmond. Two rather unwelcome choices. I would have said the latter is wiser and cleverer than the former had it been worth much.”

“I agree.” Lucan nodded eagerly. “That is why I have begun this.”

“This?”

“An alliance,” Lucan explained. “One tying all the nobles of the South together.”

“For what purpose?”

“Protecting the realm’s borders against incursions from the Wilderlands and the Shattered Kingdom. We will also announce our intent to protect the Elder Root from the dark fate of its like in the Shattered Kingdom.” Seeing the lord holding on to his silence, Lucan pressed on. “Already, Sirs Wolfe and Upton have pledged to join this alliance. Should w–”

Surprisingly, the lord interrupted him by raising a hand this time, the first time he’d moved any of his appendages since Lucan had arrived. “I would join this alliance of yours. I will even call for the lords of the South to gather here, for you to persuade them into joining our ranks. You need only make me a promise for those things to happen.”

Lucan was stunned. He hadn’t expected such swift agreement. The lord also suddenly appeared more lively than he’d ever seen him. Lucan’s mind only summoned suspicions to the fore and he hastened to ask, “What promise?”

“First, I must make certain you understand some matters,” the lord continued, his voice animated as though he had caught a second wind. “You must know that I only had a daughter for a child.”

Lucan faintly shrugged. “I know Ren is the son of your daughter and that you have no other heirs.” He glanced at the boy who perked up at the mention of his name.

“Indeed,” Lord Arden said. “My daughter was married to a distant member of the family, who we shall not discuss.” He said the last bit with meaning. “Once Ren was born, I named him heir to my title and estate, as is my right.”

“And our estate acknowledges him as your heir,” Lucan said.

“I thank you, but not everyone is so reasonable,” the lord continued. “Word has reached us that a vagabond in the Shattered Kingdom is claiming my seat.”

“By what right?”

“He may carry the thinnest of Arden blood, but he would not even be fifth in line for my seat by noble law. He is nothing but an upstart warlord who has made his fortune in the chaos of those lawless lands.”

“I see,” Lucan intoned.

“I need your promise,” the old lord continued. “Once I pass, if this man makes an attempt on my grandson’s title, you must come to his aid with this alliance behind you, or without it if you must.”

Lucan leaned back in his chair, thoughts twirling in his mind. The unexpected seemed to be in abundance today. Lord Arden had accepted his proposal without much resistance, but he’d also brought him a new revelation that he could’ve done without.

“Your just cause for founding this alliance is to protect our borders,” Lord Arden said before he could think further. “That cause aligns well with this purpose. I may be old, young Lucan, but as long as I live, my word still carries weight with my peers. If I call them, they will come. By the worst measure, a month from now, every border lord in the south will be in my hall. By the best, a fortnight.”

It only took Lucan a few moments to come to a decision. The Ardens were their allies, and they’d shed much blood for each other already. There was nothing to contend here, and getting the first lord into his ranks was paramount. “These are acceptable terms, Your Lordship.”

The old lord sagged into his bed with a relieved sigh. “Good. Then, under those terms, House Arden is now part of the alliance.”

“You would not ask about the terms of leadership? Of decisions and who will make them?” Lucan raised a brow.

“Do I look like a spirited enough man to wrestle for leadership?” Lord Arden raised an incredulous brow of his own. “No, as long as this alliance is one that founds itself upon the mutual defense of its members, I am amenable. Ren will attend these affairs as you bicker with the others, even if he will not take part. To me, it matters not. Soon, I will have them all here for you to do with as you wish.”