Page 101 of Ironling
Aislinn had struggled over the decision but ultimately decided they deserved to know. It wasn’t yet time to worry anyone outside the castle, for Connor’s message didn’t lead her to believe Jerrod’s mercenary force was imminent. Still, there were things that now needed to be done, and she didn’t want tokeep secrets from the staff.
Well, anymoresecrets.
Her eyes skated across the gathered crowd; she saw green in the corner of her eye but didn’t want to make it obvious. Still, when her gaze fell on Hakon, standing off to the side with the other blacksmiths, her heart wentpitter-patter.
It was lonely atop the dais, in a place she was so accustomed to seeing her father, but the sight of Hakon gave her comfort.
Clasping her hands behind her back, Aislinn let her mother’s training guide her. She’d never enjoyed public speaking, but this was her staff, the people she saw every day. She didn’t relish standing before all of them at once, but they deserved to hear it from her.
“Good day, everyone. Thank you for taking the time. I wanted to inform all of you of recent developments.” Whoever hadn’t been giving her their full attention before now did, and the atmosphere of the great hall cooled to see the stiff, serious way she stood there. “As you all know, my brother Jerrod was stripped last autumn of his title and inheritance. He was sent to the Ward to serve his penance for crimes. In summer, he ran away from the Ward, and nothing was heard of him. Last night, I received intelligence that my brother has been using his name and promises of future favors to gather a mercenary force to retake Dundúran.”
A nervous murmuration went through the staff, anxious eyes bouncing from her to their neighbors and back. She’d caught them by surprise, but then, she could hardly believe it herself.
Jerrod running away from the Ward hadn’t surprised her. Neither had discovering he was looking to have others reclaim his life for him. Yet, going to mercenaries was a shock—that he’d endanger himself and throw his lot in with much rougher, more desperate people meant…Jerrod was just as desperate himself.
A desperate Jerrod was a dangerous one.
Why couldn’t he have just made a new life for himself somewhere?
Away from Dundúran, away from the Ward—somewhere he wouldn’t make more trouble for his family.
That’s not like Jerrod.
No, it wasn’t. And that was why Aislinn stood before her staff now. She wanted to be proactive and assuage any fears. As heiress, she would defend her people and her position. She would prove she was the one to lead them.
Even if everything about this terrified her.
“I tell you this now not to frighten you. Many of you have worked loyally for my father and me for years, and you all deserve to know. This is an ongoing situation, and I’m seeking more information before a decision is made. I have already sent for my father to return home.”
The nervous energy of the staff swelled, and Aislinn gave them a moment. She understood what a shock this was; Dundúran hadn’t come under attack since before Aislinn was born. Many staff couldn’t remember a time when the city was threatened. Her own father had to go looking for danger in the borderlands with how safe and secure he’d made the Darrowlands.
Stepping forward, she said, “If you have any information that may be useful, please come forward. We don’t suspect that Jerrod has much of a force, and nothing at all may come of this. Everything is to go on as it normally would. The autumn council meeting will still take place in three days, and we expect guests to begin arriving tomorrow.”
Something of a sigh released from the staff, and Aislinn was proud to see her people rallying. The danger wasn’t yet at their door, if it ever came, and ensuring normalcy would go a long way to allay fears.
“I will speak to Captain Aodhan today, and please come tohim or me if you have any concerns. For now, keep this news within the castle walls. Before you go, I want to thank you all for your service to me and my family. Each of you fulfills an important part in Dundúran, and I’m grateful for all you do.” And with a nod, she dismissed them back to their duties.
The staff rallied, and a few called out well-wishes to her. Aislinn descended the dais and met several of the more nervous staff, assuring them that everything was in hand and she would call them again to share any news.
As the crowd dissipated back into the castle, Captain Aodhan, Brenna, and Fia stepped forward, staying as she’d asked them to. Over Brenna’s shoulder, Aislinn spied Hakon lingering, having only made a few cursory steps for the door.
She wished he could stand beside her, but for now, there was nothing for it. All she could do was offer a small smile before turning her attention to the group gathered around her.
“Captain, Brenna, I’d speak with both of you, please. Follow me.”
Aislinn led their small party from the great hall toward her study. Her nerves gnawed at her and what she needed from each of them, but she made herself walk at a steady pace, her chin up and shoulders back.
It was only when they neared her study that she realized an issue. She couldn’t fit all of them in her study, crowded with books and drafting tools. Aislinn’s cheeks heated as she slowed to a stop.
Just imagining Captain Aodhan in there, amongst her piles of books and scattered papers, was laughable. Next to the stoic warrior with his shining breastplate and short-cropped hair, her study seemed almost…childish.
“We’ll use my father’s study,” she decided, turning to lead them to the much larger room.
The space was a familiar one, and as she walked into it afterCaptain Aodhan opened the door for them, she took comfort from the scent of leather and wood oil. Her father’s presence lingered in his study, in the wide, dark-stained desk and deep green cushions. His bookcases were orderly, his maps and tools organized.
She was so used to walking into this room; what grated against her with unfamiliarity was rounding the heavy desk and sitting in her father’s chair.
Aislinn ran her palms over the rounded pommels on the chair arms, feeling the grooves her father had worn in them over his years as Liege Darrow.
