Lady's Ransom (The First Argentines, #3)

“Thank you.”

Ransom passed through the door and entered the garden where he used to visit Claire and Emiloh during their confinement. The memories reminded him of his estrangement from his wife and how powerless he felt to do anything about it. But he had a duty to fulfill. He ventured into the space and immediately saw Emiloh walking along one of the walls, running her hand through the ivy. She heard the sound of his approach and turned, her expression startled.

“My goodness, Ransom. You’ve changed.”

He couldn’t wait for his hair to grow out again. His cheeks and chin already bristled with new growth. He gave her a little bow.

“There was some disturbance in the city. Was that you?” she asked.

“I’m the cause, yes. I brought Jon-Landon with me.”

Her eyes widened. “Longmont’s Espion failed to find the prince, both times, and yet you’ve found him twice in a row. Who told you where he was this time?”

“In a way, the Duchess of Brythonica,” Ransom said. He unslung the saddlebag from his shoulder. There was a little stone wall, more of a bench, with rows of flowers growing in the rich soil. He walked over to it and sat down, lowering the saddlebag, and Emiloh joined him.

“After I received your warning about Estian’s return, I took a gamble. Remember the Wizr set that Bennett mentioned seeing in Pree? The one with magical properties?”

“I do. You told me that Devon knew of it as well. You schemed to retrieve it for him.”

“I did try to trick Lady Alix into giving it to me. I’m not sure your husband fully believed in its power, but we both thought it was worth a try. Well, while I was in Brythonica, I had a . . . revelation from the Fountain to seize it.” He needed to be careful about what he revealed. Although he considered Emiloh trustworthy, he couldn’t tell her any more than he could Claire or Dearley.

She looked at the saddlebag. “I’m assuming you found it.”

“I did,” he said, unhooking the clasp on the saddlebag. He widened the opening and dragged out the Wizr set by the handle. He hoisted it onto his lap, arranging it so the hinges faced the door he’d come through. She sidled closer to him as he opened the latch and raised the top of the set. The pieces were all there. They had changed since he’d last looked at it. The two pieces representing him and Jon-Landon were now back at Kingfountain.

And, to his dread, he saw the Black King was back in play. Not in Pree, but on the edge of the board. Even with Constance’s warning, he hadn’t thought the Occitanian king would make it back so soon. The time it would take Benedict to return . . .

“How do you know it is magical?” Emiloh asked him softly.

“Because the pieces move of their own accord. If I understand things properly, only someone from the house of Vertus can move the black pieces—Estian, Noemie, and possibly Alix herself. I believe any of them can control their pieces. If you or I try, the pieces are fixed in place. They do not move.”

“That would mean the Argentines can manipulate the white pieces,” she said. “Bennett, Jon-Landon, or my grandson, Drew.”

“Exactly,” Ransom said. “I found Jon-Landon by using this board. He was in Averanche.”

“We sent people there,” the queen said.

“He had time to hide from them. I surprised him. Lord DeVaux and his daughter were also there.”

Emiloh’s thoughtful look grew worried. She massaged her temples.

“It’s as you suspect,” Ransom said. “He was holding her hand on the beach when I arrived with her father.”

“I’d heard reports that they’d struck up a friendship of sorts,” Emiloh said with exasperation. “That’s why I sent DeVaux back to the Vexin.” She dropped her hands to her lap and then clenched her fists in anger. “No doubt DeVaux has encouraged the tryst.”

“It would seem Jon-Landon has found himself another ally. I suspect he intends to lay claim to your duchy as well.”

“Perhaps he does, but I’m afraid we have bigger problems.” Reaching out, she touched him on the arm. “I sent for you because of Estian’s return but also because I need you here. Word came from Bennett that I haven’t shared with Longmont yet.”

Ransom swallowed, feeling a plummeting sensation in his stomach. “What news?”

“You know that the Brugian king is dead. Some of his force has abandoned the war. But some, fearing to displease the Genevese, have stayed and accepted Bennett’s command. Estian has withdrawn to wage war on us.” She sighed. “Bennett is going to retake the oasis anyway. He’s charged us—you and I—to defend Ceredigion against Estian while he battles the East Kingdoms alone.”

It felt like a hand gripped his heart and squeezed. He lowered his eyes. That was not the news he’d wanted to hear.

“I’ve received Bennett’s permission to remove Longmont if I feel it appropriate.” She squeezed his wrist. “The time has come to strip him of his rank as justiciar,” she continued. “He has no military experience, and he’d only get in the way. The man we need is you.”

The burden on Ransom’s shoulders felt crushing. He had served kings before, but he had never been in charge of a war effort. The decisions would be his to make. His own inexperience troubled him, yet . . . he did know strategy and tactics, and there were capable men for him to call on for guidance, men like Duke Ashel.

“It was the Fountain’s will that I take this,” Ransom said, running his hand along the outside edge of the box. “I see that now.”

“It will help us wage this war while our troops are so few.” She studied him for a moment. “Still, stealing it was very dangerous. I would have forbidden it if I’d known.”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you,” he said. “I lost one of my knights there. He’s been captured.”

“Dearley?” the queen asked in concern.

“No, Guivret.”

“He was a favorite of Claire’s, I think. I’m sorry to hear it. Have they asked for a ransom for him yet?”

“No, but I would be willing to pay any price. Well, except returning this.”

Emiloh nodded. “We must hide the Wizr set well, somewhere even the Espion cannot find it.”

“Leave that to me,” Ransom said.

“Once Longmont is forced out, we’ll have another problem to solve. He controls the Espion right now. All news, all information—as poor as it is—comes through him. While much of the information is inaccurate, some of it has been very helpful. I’d hate to lose the whole network, but I don’t trust Longmont to control them after we depose him. We need someone whom we can trust, someone who would be loyal to Benedict and to us.”

Ransom thought a moment. “What about Sir Simon of Holmberg?”

Emiloh’s expression turned thoughtful. “I hadn’t considered him, but I recall he was in my son’s mesnie, with you, before he joined my husband’s council.”

“He’s in Glosstyr right now,” Ransom said. “I don’t know who else I’d recommend. Simon has proven himself trustworthy.”

“By all means, summon him,” Emiloh said.

The door leading to the cistern garden opened, and Longmont strode out with urgent steps. Ransom quickly shut the lid on the chest and set it down.

“Jon-Landon has returned!” said Longmont in astonishment. He paced like a caged animal, pausing only to look at Ransom. “I like how your barber cut your hair,” he said as an aside. “I can’t believe he’s hidden under our noses in Averanche all this time. I wonder, my lady, if you’d be opposed to him spending a few days in the dungeon. Just to frighten him. Or maybe the tower?”

Ransom watched the queen dowager’s nostrils flare. “I don’t think that would do,” she said.

“I don’t trust him,” Longmont said, shaking his head vehemently. He continued to pace before them, his black velvet hat slightly too large on his small head. His decorative gloves went up to his elbows. “With Estian about to return, we need Jon-Landon on a short leash. It would be a prime opportunity for him to try to claim the throne for himself. I cannot allow that.”

Ransom glanced at Emiloh again. He nodded to her.