king in dread, his stomach clenching, his heart pounding wildly. Not again. One false accusation of treachery had been enough.
Before he could speak, the king shook his head. “I’ve had him watched since he came back. My spy in Auxaunce reported the confrontation with Benedict exactly as Ransom described it. And yes,” he said, his gaze shifting to Ransom, “I have people at Josselin as well. I’ve been testing him all along. So no, it is not him! And I do not believe it was any of you either.”
The words sent a spasm of relief through Ransom’s heart. Cold sweat had formed on his brow, but he felt the tension ebb. Never had he been so glad to be spied on.
The Elder King shook his head, muttering something under his breath. “Nor do I think that Lady Deborah, who inspired this plan, used it to sell me out to the Occitanians. No, I’ve long believed the Occitanians have a way of spying on us from within. That they have some uncanny means of tracking the movement of my armies. I do not know how. Regardless, this turn of events leaves us with but one choice. We attack Estian. Now.”
Duke Ashel gave a vicious grin, but Duke Rainor seemed full of misgivings. “We don’t know how big his army is yet,” he objected.
“It doesn’t matter. We defeat it. It’s as simple as that. He’s trying to frighten us. To make us turn tail and run back to safety. I will not. This situation gives Benedict a choice to make. He either fights with us or against us. If he fights against us, I hereby decree that Goff is my heir and command you to show loyalty to him in my stead. I say this because I will not quit this battle until they yield, or I meet my end. Through fair winds or foul, I will not relent in my purpose. I will not yield the field unless I give it my corpse. Rouse the men. Have them prepare. We fight tonight. Any who stand in our way will be hewn down like grass. That is my command.”
“But if we wait another day, Wigant’s son will get here with his army,” said Lord Kinghorn. “That could turn the tide of the battle.”
“No. It means his men will be fresh and can help the rest retreat if need be.” The king clenched his fist and pounded it on the table. “We fight. Tonight. Now! Bryon, you take the vanguard. I want Ashel on the right and Rainor on the left. Don’t let them flank us. Ransom, you will command the reserve and await my orders. If Benedict tries to strike us from behind, you will be my wall to hold him off. I’ve cast the dice, let the pips land where they may. Rouse your men.”
Ransom felt a surge of gratitude to have been given such an important role in the battle, and despite the challenge before them, he felt buoyed by the force of the king’s determination. By the vow he had made to serve him. By the knowledge that they would be fighting Ceredigion’s true enemies. He marched out of the tent and went to his pavilion. Dearley was fast asleep, breathing softly. Ransom crouched and shook him by the shoulder, startling him awake.
“Is it morning?” Dearley asked, wincing, trying to see in the dark. His eyes were confused.
“The king has given the order,” he said. “We’re going to fight the Occitanians. Tonight.”
Dearley’s jaw fell. “The Occitanians? W-whu? Where are they?”
“In the town of Bloissy, just south of here. Remember what I told you about expectations? We’re not here to fight Benedict. We came to defeat Occitania, to carve another duchy from her. Get your armor back on. I’m going to make you a knight this evening. I’ll go ask Lord Kinghorn to stand witness.”
Dearley’s look of shock made Ransom smile. He remembered being knighted before his first battle, and he felt it only appropriate to do the same for his ward. “I’m—tonight? Are you serious?”
Ransom nodded, rose, and put his hand on his sword. “Be ready when I get back.”
A visitor came to the cistern garden today. Prince Jon-Landon Argentine. I know I have written previously about my disdain for him. He’s dark-haired, unlike his older brothers, with a sallow face and a look that shows he holds much of the world in contempt. He is seventeen now, or almost—I cannot remember his true age. He has rancor in