Then, as the other wounded and the archers descended the ramp, Erik realized that he knew exactly why Bobby could do it. He had seen the horrors of the Pantathians and their allies firsthand, and a well-thrust knife blade and a single moment of hot pain was far better for one of your companions than the lingering agony you would suffer if captured.
A strangled grunt of pain told Erik how the man had chosen. De Loungville returned, his face set in an unreadable mask, and he said, “Form up the column.”
Erik gave the order and the men got ready to move on.
19
Revelations
Roo sighed.
He had left the palace and walked home, thinking the entire way about the best manner to approach Frederick Jacoby. If the old man was more like the quiet Randolph, an accommodation might be reached. If he was like the volatile Timothy, the feud would almost certainly continue until one house or the other was destroyed.
Roo entered his home. The only noise came from the kitchen, where Rendel and Mary readied fond for the day. The upstairs hallway was still, and he knew he’d find his wife and children still sleeping. He wondered at the hour, and realized he had no idea what time it was. From the light, no later than eight of the clock.
He pushed open the door to the room Karli slept in with the baby, and found her asleep. He now considered waking her, but decided to wait until the baby demanded feeding. Roo walked softly to the bedside and studied his wife and son in the dim light coming through the curtains.
In the shadows, Karli looked very young. Roo suddenly felt terribly old and sat down in the rocking chair Karli used to soothe the baby when he was fussy. He didn’t sleep as well as his sister had, and cried more often.
Roo ran his hand over his face, feeling fatigue in his bones. His eyes were gritty and his mouth had a bitter taste in it: too much coffee and a hint of bile from killing men.
Roo closed his eyes.
Some time later the baby’s cry woke him. Karli sat up and said, “What is it?” She saw her husband in the chair. “Roo?”
“I must have fallen asleep.”
“Why didn’t you go to bed?” she asked.
“I have something to tell you,” he answered as she began to nurse the hungry child.
“What?”
“The men who killed your father are dead.”
She didn’t react.
After a moment he said, “They attempted to ruin me, and I found out in time. We fought . . . and they’re dead. I just came from the palace and a long discussion of these events with the Duke.”
“Then it’s over,” she said.
“Not quite,” said Roo.
Karli stared at him a moment. “Why not?”
“The two men have a father.” He took a deep breath. “Your father had an old rival, Frederick Jacoby.”
She nodded. “They were boys together, in the Advarian community up in Tannerus.” Her voice softened. “I think they were friends once. Why? Did he have Father killed?”
“No, his son Timothy ordered it. I think his brother Randolph may have helped, or at least he knew about it and didn’t do anything to prevent it.”
“So those men are dead?”
“Yes.”
“But Frederick is still alive,” observed Karli. She looked sad, as if on the verge of weeping. “So you have to kill him, too?”
Roo said, “I don’t know. I need to make some sort of peace with him if I can.” He stood up. “And I should go do it now. The Duke insists.”
Roo started around the bed, then paused and turned. He leaned over and kissed the back of the baby’s head, then kissed Karli on the cheek. “I probably won’t get home until supper. And what I really need is sleep.”
She reached out with her left hand and gripped his right. “Be careful.”
He squeezed her hand in reply and left the room. He called down to Mary to have his coach brought around, went to his room, quickly washed up and changed his tunic. Then he went downstairs and out the door. His coach was there, and as he entered, he saw another figure waiting inside for him.
Dash nodded in greeting. “Feeling better?”
“Tired,” said Roo. “What brings you here?”
“Grandfather thought it prudent if I tagged along. Mr. Jacoby might have servants or other members of his household who are going to take the news of the brothers’ death badly.” He pointed to the sword that lay across his knees.
Roo nodded. “You know how to use that?”
“Better than most,” Dash said without boasting. They rode along in silence until the coach pulled up before the Jacoby residence. Dash followed Roo out of the carriage and to the door. Roo hesitated a moment, then knocked. A young woman opened the door a few moments later. She was pretty in an unspectacular way—dark hair and eyes, strong chin and straight nose. “Yes? May I help you?” she asked.
Roo found he could barely bring himself to speak. He didn’t know what to say. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “My name is Rupert Avery.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “I know your name, Mr. Avery. It is not one spoken with affection in this house.”
“I can imagine,” Roo said. He took a deep breath. “I suspect it will be even less so when you discover what brings me here. I would like to speak to Frederick Jacoby.”