Page 115 of Raven's Rise
“Sounds charming,” Rafe muttered.
The man waiting for them was anything but charming. He was an ascetic-looking man somewhere near fifty. He had a thin face and deep-set eyes that seemed to miss nothing. His clothes were very fine in quality, but in dull, drab colors. He’d fade away in most rooms filled with people. Rafe suspected he liked it that way.
“Sir Rafe,” Luc said, “may I present Lord Drogo. He has been tasked with investigating this whole matter, as an impartial servant of the king.”
Drogo invited them both to sit. “I’ve spoken to several other people involved in this matter. Lord Otto and his son Ernald have leveled very serious accusations. And their description of Sir Rafe was not flattering.”
“My description of them won’t flatter, either,” Rafe said, before Luc put a warning hand on his arm.
“Let’s stick to facts. Drogo, what do you need to know from Rafe?”
“Everything. Let us begin with who you are.”
That Rafe could now answer with pride. “My name is Sir Raphael Corviser. I have served the de Vere family, who swore allegiance to King Stephen very early in his reign.”
“Corviser…”
“My father was Sir Michael Corviser. He died in service of the old king.”
“Yes, Corviser. Good king’s man,” Drogo muttered approvingly. “Sterling fighter, was Sir Michael. Never knew he married.”
“It was only a few months before his death,” Rafe explained, skipping over the details. “To Lady Clare of Beaumont, who has also now passed away.”
“What brought you to the manor of Dryton?”
Rafe told him the whole story from beginning to end, leaving out only the parts that would compromise Angelet’s reputation.
At the end of the tale, Drogo regarded him with those glittering eyes. “Much of the early part of your story rings true—up to the time of the initial attack on the cortège. I questioned another witness who confirmed it.”
“Who?” Rafe asked, puzzled.
Drogo gestured to Luc. “Go fetch him, please.”
Luc grinned at Rafe, then left the back room. He returned moments later, along with none other than Simon Faber.
“Sir Rafe!” Simon almost shouted. He surprised Rafe with an embrace that nearly cracked a rib. “It’s a miracle to see you again! I feared that you never got the lady to safety, and you both perished after the attack.”
“I thought the same of you,” Rafe said, after he got his breath back. “What happened? I assumed the thieves would have slaughtered every possible witness.”
“So they would have, but then they fell apart after you stole the lady away. Some wanted to go after you, some wanted to loot the wagons and flee north, and the others wanted to march back to Dryton and demand satisfaction from Ernald, who’d hired them. The few of us who survived the first round regrouped by the supply wagon and held off a second attack for a precious few moments. God be praised, another party came into sight from the north. It was a caravan of wool merchants, and they were well-guarded. The thieves scattered, and the newcomers came to our aid. We were able to take our dead and wounded to the nearest town.”
“What happened to everyone? Marcus? And Laurence?”
“Marcus was wounded but survived. He’s back in Ashthorpe. Laurence didn’t…” Simon took a heavy breath.
“I’m sorry.” Rafe knew all too well what it was like to see companions fall in battle. “But how did you come to be here? In this town?”
“That was my doing,” said Luc. “I had a few men go to Dryton and Ashthorpe in search of any witnesses who might be able to tell us something of what happened. And Simon was one who answered the call!”
“I’m not usually one for believing in miracles, but this is close to one. I never thought to see you again, Simon.”
“Ah, it would have been sooner, but they said I was not to talk to you earlier. Something about getting stories straight.”
“Indeed,” Drogo said. “I am most interested in where people’s stories diverge. That is always where it gets intriguing.”
“And you’ve learned something?” Luc asked.
“Many things. Someone is lying, and I will find out who it is. By the time this matter is brought before the king, I will know exactly what happened, and all that will be left is to decide the punishment.”
