Page 117 of Ironling
“I’m afraid not,” she said, dipping her quill in the inkpot, “there’s far too much to do.”
“I’ve hardly seen you since yesterday.”
Aislinn bit her cheek. “If you find yourself bored, I suggest you return to Endelín. Such rich vineyards surely require your undivided attention.”
“Alas, I have excellent handlers. My time is nothing but yours.” Bowing, he threw her a wink. “Dinner, then.”
Aislinn grumbled after him, the letter she’d been composing stagnating in her mind and the thought lost. This letter had to be perfect—one didn’t always write to the king asking for aid.
She’d prevaricated for as long as she could. As an heiressto a rich demesne, seen as a usurper by some, she wasn’t assured of the half-Pyrrossi King Marius’s support. When Queen Ygraine was well enough to rule, she left her liege lords to their own business, involving herself only when asked or when royal intervention was needed. King Marius, however, took a heavier hand.
Merrick Darrow had long been trying to avoid drawing the royal eye. With Queen Ygraine ailing again and King Marius handling the reins of government, Aislinn’s father feared incurring meddling that had otherwise passed over the Darrowlands.
Now, she might invite exactly what her father tried to evade. Yet, without word from him, Aislinn had little other recourse.
At the very least, she had to tell the king that a mercenary force was likely to cross the King’s Wood and parts of Gleanná’s own demesne to reach the Darrowlands. Mercenaries often kept encampments on the border, selling their services to the margraves or waiting for another war to break out between Caledon and Eirea. She couldn’t abide Jerrod inadvertently starting a war.
Where she found herself stuck was asking the king to intercept the mercenaries. Throwing herself on the mercy of King Marius didn’t inspire enthusiasm, but then, her options were running low.
Aislinn understood it would incur the king’s interest and possible meddling. She also knew that meddling might include a marriage prospect, as her father had warned.
She didn’t think the king could propose anyone as odious as Bayard, but then, there were plenty of awful people—it didn’t matter that they were dressed in finery and ate delicacies.
It didn’t truly matter who the king proposed if he decided to saddle her with a husband—the man wouldn’t be the one she wanted. This was why Aislinn couldn’t form the second halfof the letter, her heart tearing itself in two at the thought of opening the possibility.
The corners were closing in, and a way out, an outcome where anything went her way, seemed almost infeasible if not impossible.
She didn’t want to give up Hakon nor give in to Bayard.
But every day without her father and their company tolled in her mind, announcing the follies of her hopes.
Captain Aodhan rapped his knuckles on the open door, offering her a welcome distraction. When he made to bow, Aislinn gestured at the door, silently asking him to close it behind him.
With the door shut and closing them in alone, Aislinn allowed her shoulders to relax. It wasn’t that she distrusted the guards or thought a gaggle of chambermaids stood listening around the corner—there was just something comforting about the closed door.
None of what she said was allowed outside the room.
“My lady,” the captain greeted.
“Thank you for coming. Do you have any news for me?”
“Nothing pressing. Baron Bayard’s men have been billeted in the west barracks. I kept them apart from our own garrison, as you requested.”
“Good.” She didn’t know if it would help, but it felt safer to keep Bayard’s knights sequestered however they could. “They are taking direction well?”
Aodhan’s lips thinned. “Some have already begun carousing in the city. Baron Bayard keeps a…less strict handle on his men.”
That’s what Aislinn was afraid of. Bayard’s men in town, ready at a moment’s notice to wreak havoc. The castle staff were already under strain with the possible threat of Jerrod, and now unfamiliar knights were in residence. The townsfolk were likely to soon wonder what was amiss. Bayard visited Dundúran often,but never with a company.
“Have you determined their loyalty to Bayard?”
After getting her emotions under control yesterday, Aislinn had quickly sent for Captain Aodhan and told him of Bayard’s plot. She’d never seen such a black look on the captain’s face, and she’d thought for a moment he meant to storm from the study and challenge the baron to a duel for her honor.
Aodhan was honorable down to his marrow, and such underhanded tactics, threatening ladies, were beyond the pale. Aislinn took some consolation in his outrage, that she wasn’t being just a spoiled girl for railing against Bayard’s machinations. Aislinn set Captain Aodhan to sussing out if there were knights they could turn or ways to undermine Bayard’s authority, as well as keeping a discreet eye on the baron.
“Not yet, my lady. That will take time. Their captain does, however, seem to be a cavalier sort more interested in coin than duty.” He spat the assessment, and Aislinn knew for Aodhan, the description was akin to the deepest insult.
“We might have to exploit that. If enough can be bribed, whatever is left may not pose much of a threat.”
