Roald quipped, “For whatever you use them for, I would think.”
Arutha said, “What is there to siege? Tyr-Sog? It’s too easy to reinforce from Yabon City, and he has to find a way past the Thunderhell nomads on the other side of the mountains. Ironpass and Northwarden are too far east of here, and he wouldn’t need engineers to take on the dwarves or elves. That leaves Highcastle.”
Martin had finished his bloody work and said, “Perhaps, but it’s the largest of the Border Baron fortresses.”
Arutha said, “I’d not bother with siege. It’s designed to withstand raids. You can swarm it, and there is nothing we’ve seen of Murmandamus that indicates he’s reluctant to spend lives. Besides, that would put him in the middle of the High Wold, with no place to go. No, this makes no sense.”
“Look,” said the man on the ground, “I’m just a go-between, a fellow’s paid to do a job. Now, you can’t hold me responsible for what the Brotherhood’s up to, can you, Your Kindness?”
Jimmy returned with Locklear in tow.
Martin said to Arutha, “I don’t think he knows anything else.”
A dark-expression crossed Arutha’s face. “He knows who we are.”
Martin nodded. “He does.”
Suddenly Crowe’s face drained of colour. “Look, you can rely on me. I’ll keep my gob shut, Your Highness. You don’t have to give me anything. Just let me go and I’ll light out of these parts. Honestly.”
Locklear glanced about his grim-looking companions, comprehension escaping him.
Arutha noticed and nodded slightly to Jimmy. The older youth roughly grabbed Locklear by the upper arm and propelled him away. “What -” said the younger squire.
A short distance away, Jimmy halted. “We wait.”
“For what?” said the boy, confusion apparent on his face.
“For them to do what they have to do.”
“To do what?” insisted Locklear.
“To kill the renegade.”
Locklear looked sick. Jimmy’s tone became short. “Look, Locky, this is war and people are killed. And that Crowe is among the least of those who are going to die.” Locklear couldn’t believe the harsh expression he was seeing on Jimmy’s face. For over a year he had seen the rogue, the scoundrel, the charmer, but now he was seeing someone he had never expected to encounter, the cold, ruthless veteran of life, a young man who had killed and who would kill again. “That man must die,” said Jimmy flatly. “He knows who Arutha is, and do you think for a minute the Prince’s life’s worth spit if Crowe gets loose?”
Locklear appeared shaken, his face pale. He slowly closed his eyes. “Couldn’t we . . .”
“What?” demanded Jimmy savagely. “Wait for a patrol of militia to pass so we can hand him over for trial in Tyr-Sog? Pop in to give testimony? Tie him up for a few months? Look, if it helps, just keep in mind Crowe is an outlaw and a traitor, and Arutha is dispensing High Justice. But anyway you look at it, there’s no choice.”
Locklear’s mind seemed to spin, then a strangled cry came from the clearing and the boy winced. His confusion seemed to vanish, and he only nodded. Jimmy placed his hand upon his friend’s shoulder and squeezed lightly. Suddenly, he knew Locklear would never seem quite so young again.
They had returned to the inn and waited, to the delight of the somewhat perplexed Geoffrey. After three days a stranger appeared who approached Roald, who had taken to occupying the spot formerly used by Crowe. The stranger had spoken briefly and then left in a rage, as Roald had told him the contract between Murmandamus and Segersen was cancelled. Martin had mentioned to Geoffrey that a famous and wanted general of mercenaries might be camped in the area, and he was sure there would be a reward to any who let the local militia know where to find him. They had left the next day, heading northward.
As they had ridden out of sight of the inn, Jimmy had remarked, “Geoffrey’s in for a pleasant surprise.”
Arutha had asked, “Why?”
“Well, Crowe never paid for his last two days’ bill, so Geoffrey took his shield as security against the debt.”
Roald laughed along with Jimmy. “You mean one of these days he’s going to look under that covering.”
When everyone looked confused except Roald, Jimmy said, “It’s gold.”
“That’s why Crowe had so much trouble lugging it along but never left it behind,” added Roald.
“And why you buried everything save what Baru’s using, but brought that back with you,” said Martin.
“It’s the payment for Segersen. No one would bother a disinherited fighter without two coppers to rub together, now would they?” said Jimmy as everyone laughed. “Seems proper Geoffrey should get it. Heaven knows, where we’re going, we can’t use it.”
The laughter died away.