Give me the command and I’ll make you proud.’
Lacey’s eyes never left her father’s. She didn’t flinch as his facial muscles tightened and he ever so slightly lifted his chin to her defiance. Her lips pressed together and the only movement on her unblinking face was the flaring of her nostrils as she breathed deeply and in synch with her father.
Dathe was aware of the thin smile formed on the earl’s lips beneath his moustache. He kept it for only the blink of an eye before turning on Cygnus. ‘Do you want your sister to command your troops? The daughters of the Kyzantines lead companies, I will not suffer any shame if Lacey marches to war in your place.’
Focused on his sister’s threats, Cygnus was unexpectedly surprised when the earl turned on him. His thick arms folded across his chest, he immediately went on the defensive and seized on the opportunity it created.
‘Let her lead them, that frees me to go to the Musea.’
The earl scowled. ‘No it does not. One of you will be staying here. Since Lacey is going to Black Claw you will remain here at Gravid’s Drift.’
‘Father, I want to take the fight to them …’
‘Then bloody well lead the Howlers to Black Claw like I told you to five minutes ago.’
Cygnus bit his tongue, frustrated, and stormed out of the room. The door slammed behind him. Arryn waited a few moments before continuing, everyone expecting Cygnus to come barging back in and carry on the argument.
‘Captain Anders, ensure that the Howlers march immediately to Black Claw and report to Baron Scythe. Do not deviate from that order for any reason.’
‘Yes, sir,’ Captain Anders responded, saluting.
‘Lacey, you are in charge of Gravid’s Drift while I’m leading the men into the pass and your brother is at Black Claw. All stations are to be on full alert and have the watch commander double the shifts. Nothing comes in or out of my city until I return.’
‘I’ll ensure that it happens father.’
‘And Lacey, don’t piss off Cygnus like that,’ Arryn said warmly, approaching his daughter and placing a hand on her shoulder.
‘He should have done what he was told.’
‘And he would have eventually without your interference.’
‘We all want to make the Kyzantines pay for Thol … I would have led the Howlers.’
‘Oh child, you may get your chance yet.’ Arryn moved forward and embraced Lacey, kissing her gently on the forehead.
Lacey smiled and left the chamber immediately before she lost her stoic composure. The door closed firmly behind her, before the tension in the room finally subsided.
‘Dathe, I have something I need from you,’ Arryn said before Dathe could leave.
Dathe looked to the earl, noticed the way he was twiddling with the end of his moustache, a habit Dathe recognised when the earl was thinking.
‘I need you to stay here, and before you can complain, I know your father commanded you up here to serve me, sword and body, but I have greater need for you to stay here. If the reports are true, that an invasion force is marching down through the Musea Pass, then we might not be able to contain them, let alone defeat them.
‘I need someone here who I can trust to rally the men, get the women and children out safely if it comes to that.’
‘Sir, what about Lacey, you just gave her command of Gravid’s Drift.’
‘And I’m giving you the command of the armed forces that will remain behind. They need someone with tactical experience. Lacey will be the figurehead, you will be her sword. Is that understood?’
‘Yes my lord.’
‘Excellent. Now listen to what I propose to do and I’ll run you through the defences of Gravid’s Drift. I intend to make them pay for the death of my son.’
CHAPTER FOUR
Edrazil and Devilin walked into the Drunken Sailor and were instantly drowned by the rowdiness coming from the intoxicated dock workers that occupied most of the tables. The brothers were unintimidated. They belonged in places like
Lacey’s eyes never left her father’s. She didn’t flinch as his facial muscles tightened and he ever so slightly lifted his chin to her defiance. Her lips pressed together and the only movement on her unblinking face was the flaring of her nostrils as she breathed deeply and in synch with her father.
Dathe was aware of the thin smile formed on the earl’s lips beneath his moustache. He kept it for only the blink of an eye before turning on Cygnus. ‘Do you want your sister to command your troops? The daughters of the Kyzantines lead companies, I will not suffer any shame if Lacey marches to war in your place.’
Focused on his sister’s threats, Cygnus was unexpectedly surprised when the earl turned on him. His thick arms folded across his chest, he immediately went on the defensive and seized on the opportunity it created.
‘Let her lead them, that frees me to go to the Musea.’
The earl scowled. ‘No it does not. One of you will be staying here. Since Lacey is going to Black Claw you will remain here at Gravid’s Drift.’
‘Father, I want to take the fight to them …’
‘Then bloody well lead the Howlers to Black Claw like I told you to five minutes ago.’
Cygnus bit his tongue, frustrated, and stormed out of the room. The door slammed behind him. Arryn waited a few moments before continuing, everyone expecting Cygnus to come barging back in and carry on the argument.
‘Captain Anders, ensure that the Howlers march immediately to Black Claw and report to Baron Scythe. Do not deviate from that order for any reason.’
‘Yes, sir,’ Captain Anders responded, saluting.
‘Lacey, you are in charge of Gravid’s Drift while I’m leading the men into the pass and your brother is at Black Claw. All stations are to be on full alert and have the watch commander double the shifts. Nothing comes in or out of my city until I return.’
‘I’ll ensure that it happens father.’
‘And Lacey, don’t piss off Cygnus like that,’ Arryn said warmly, approaching his daughter and placing a hand on her shoulder.
‘He should have done what he was told.’
‘And he would have eventually without your interference.’
‘We all want to make the Kyzantines pay for Thol … I would have led the Howlers.’
‘Oh child, you may get your chance yet.’ Arryn moved forward and embraced Lacey, kissing her gently on the forehead.
Lacey smiled and left the chamber immediately before she lost her stoic composure. The door closed firmly behind her, before the tension in the room finally subsided.
‘Dathe, I have something I need from you,’ Arryn said before Dathe could leave.
Dathe looked to the earl, noticed the way he was twiddling with the end of his moustache, a habit Dathe recognised when the earl was thinking.
‘I need you to stay here, and before you can complain, I know your father commanded you up here to serve me, sword and body, but I have greater need for you to stay here. If the reports are true, that an invasion force is marching down through the Musea Pass, then we might not be able to contain them, let alone defeat them.
‘I need someone here who I can trust to rally the men, get the women and children out safely if it comes to that.’
‘Sir, what about Lacey, you just gave her command of Gravid’s Drift.’
‘And I’m giving you the command of the armed forces that will remain behind. They need someone with tactical experience. Lacey will be the figurehead, you will be her sword. Is that understood?’
‘Yes my lord.’
‘Excellent. Now listen to what I propose to do and I’ll run you through the defences of Gravid’s Drift. I intend to make them pay for the death of my son.’
CHAPTER FOUR
Edrazil and Devilin walked into the Drunken Sailor and were instantly drowned by the rowdiness coming from the intoxicated dock workers that occupied most of the tables. The brothers were unintimidated. They belonged in places like
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