City Guardsman – Chapter 3

***Disclaimer*** This is not my story, it is the work of Ka Hmnd AKA Kenneth Hammond. I have not changed or edited this in any way.
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I woke to Sam’s warm body pulling away from me. I turned to watch her cross the large room heading for the water closet, “You’re not sick again are you?”

She looked back and grinned, “No.”

When she came out she walked back to bed with a gentle sway. She slipped under the covers and snuggled up next to me. I caressed her round tummy and felt my daughter kick. Sam laughed every time I said it was a girl. She insisted that her daughter wouldn’t be so inconsiderate as to kick her so much so it was a boy. There was a knock on the door and then Adelia poked her head in.

She opened the door enough for little Sarah to run through as she sighed. She looked from her daughter climbing into bed to me, “The duke sent a messenger. He’s waiting downstairs with Tim.”

I smiled and nodded, “Thank you Adelia, I’ll be down in a minute.”

Little Sarah snuggled up to Sam and Sam laughed softly and gave her a hug. As the door closed, I slid out of bed and moved to get dressed. The messenger had an invitation for Sam and I to break our fast with the duke and duchess at the Guard’s tavern. I sent the messenger back with my agreement and let Adelie know we would be going out.

Tim had been a life saver to Adelia and they got along very well. She was always gentle with him and explained anything he didn’t understand. William would follow him around all day to help with whatever he was doing. Adelia was a godsend us and seemed to know what was needed before we did.

When Sam and I walked out the door later it was to see almost a full court sitting at the outside tables of the Guard’s tavern. It had been three months since the attack by Shermerez and things were just starting to settle down. We weren’t surprised when many of our prisoners had asked for asylum. A lot of men had followed the skirmish commander to Morvine.

The duke and duchess were sitting with James, Ali and Jonathan. Mona and captain Able were just crossing the square heading for the tavern as well. I grinned at Sam, “The tavern has become a popular place lately.”

She grinned back, “Teresa has been getting a lot of attention lately and Tess has been giving her a lot of help.”

I laughed as I saw both Teresa and Tess as they were busy serving the crowd of nobles, even their older sister Barbra was helping. We slipped onto the bench across from the duke and he grinned as Mona slid onto the bench next to Sam, “Ready for another sparing match your grace?”

I grinned up at Tess, “What happened to all your regular helpers?”

She grinned back, “Momma is teaching them how to cook today.”

Breakfast at the tavern was something the court didn’t do often but lately it had happened about once or twice a week. We talked quietly without getting into business. One of the nobles younger sons was with him and was loud and obnoxious towards Barbra who was serving him. After a particular comment I glanced over and froze when I saw his hand slap the table top.

It wasn’t his hand that had drawn my attention, it was the ring he was wearing. I looked around and signaled Edward and Peter before standing and moving around the table. Everyone at our table had quieted when I rose and then gradually other nobles began to take note. When I reached the baron’s son I reached out and grabbed his wrist.

I twisted out and back forcing him to stand with a cry of pain. The baron and others at his table came to their feet but I ignored them. I turned the arrogant young man to face me as I drew a dagger and put it against his throat, “Followers of Kirsh have been banned from this kingdom. You will remove the ring and leave this duchy or I will give you the king’s grace myself.”

There was instant silence as he glared at me, “How dare you!”

The baron had puffed up and I only glanced at him, “The king’s law on those that follow Kirsh is plain. If your father interferes I will bring him before the king’s court and have his patient stripped from him and then he will be branded and whipped out of the kingdom.”

The baron’s face paled and his son looked from him to me arrogantly, “Release me peasant!”

I brought the hand with the dagger back and slugged him in the mouth, “Quiet! From this day your name will be stricken from your family. Your belongings will be burned before the city and you will be stripped to wear rags. The king’s court will be given your name and description. If you are found within the kingdom after a fortnight you will be staked and burned.”

I twisted and shoved as I turned, sending him sprawling on the cobblestones. I looked at Peter as he and Edward moved to grab him, “Have the Militia go to his home and bring his belongings to the square.”

The nobles were all quiet as the duke walked to the young man and grabbed his arm to see the ring for himself. He looked around at all the nobles, “Hold up your hands!”

I realized what he was doing and spun to look as all the nobles raised their hands. Finally the duke nodded and looked at Jonathan, “Send a messenger to the king.”

Jonathan nodded and turned to leave. The duke looked around at all the nobles, “You will each check those of your household for other followers.”

He turned to look at captain Able, “Put the word out to look for their drug den and chattel house.”

He looked at the white faced youth, “Have him staked to watch the burnings and then brand him.”

The duke looked around and then gestured to Armsmaster Henry who had appeared suddenly, “Extra guards and double the watch at the gates.”

He nodded and turned to one of the militia standing nearby. The duke looked at me and nodded toward my house, as we started across Sam, the duchess, James and Ali fell into step. When we came into the house Adelia took everything in stride and moved towards the kitchen, “Tim!”

Sam grinned as Tim walked through the big great room with William dangling from one foot laughing and little Sarah slung over his shoulder giggling. Everyone just watched him and looked at me and I shrugged, “Don’t look at me.”

They grinned and I smiled as I watched Tim’s retreating back. I shook my head and looked at the duke, “If followers of Kirsh have set up a chattel house here we need to find it. They will be moving more openly now and you and your family are in danger.”

He nodded and looked at Ali, “That means you too princess.”

Ali stuck her tongue out and James laughed as his arm went around her waist, “I’ll make sure she starts carrying her sword again.”

The duchess laughed as the duke frowned at James. I shook my head, “Everyone gets extra guards and everyone you get, you check. Don’t just look for rings on the fingers, look for rings around the neck or in pouches.”

They nodded and I turned at the knock at the door. I opened it to see Mona and captain Able with both Edward and Chris, after they came in I led the way to the others. I nodded to Mona and captain Able, “You will need to check each guard. Like I told the duke, look on fingers on chains around the neck or in pouches. If they are Kirsh they will have a ring somewhere on their body. Clear your guards and the oncoming guards including captain Hurst and lieutenant Belet.”

They nodded and I watched them leave before looking at Edward and Chris, “If they have a chattel house in the city they have to dispose of bodies. Chris, I want you to check around the trade gate. You know what to look for.”

He nodded and turned to leave and I looked at Edward, “They need to bring in the spider dust and I doubt bringing it through a gate would work. You know the gate cocks would scream bloody murder so that means either the docks or they have another way in.”

He nodded, “The guards have reports from the noble sector about mini dragons coming into the streets on certain days.”

I thought about it and looked at the duke as he snorted, “Try baroness Terness. The baron used to have a small stone dock.”

I nodded to Edward, “Get Dett and go take a look. If they are coming in from the baroness’s dock let me know. I want the two of you to set up a watch if they are using it. I’ll come by later to look everything over. If they bring something in, I want them followed.”

He nodded and turned to leave. I smiled at Sam, “Since you promised Adelia we would take William and Sarah while she was shopping with Tim…”

The duchess laughed, “Just don’t hang them upside down.”

Everyone laughed and Sam grinned. Everyone left shortly after that with guards that I made sure were safe. I found Tim and Adelia in the kitchen after sending Sam upstairs for the weapons I had gotten her. Adelia was cleaning up and Tim was fixing a cabinet while William and Sarah squatted beside him to watch. I touched his shoulder, “Tim?”

He looked up at me, “Remember Beleme and the bad house we found?”

His face tightened and he nodded, “I remember Armsmaster.”

I nodded, “We think there is another one here. I want you to stay close to Adelia and put your weapons back on.”

He nodded and looked at Adelia before looking at me again, “I won’t let anyone hurt her Armsmaster.”

I patted his shoulder and looked at Adelia who had turned to look at me, “Don’t leave his side Adelia.”

She looked at Tim and then smiled tenderly, “I won’t.”

I put my hand on William’s shoulder, “As for you two scamps, ready to go out?”

William nodded with a huge grin and Sarah just held her arms out to be picked up. I picked her up and spun around quickly listening to her squeal, “If I always carry you, your legs are going to stop working.”

Adelia snorted while William giggled. Sam met us by the door and we stepped out. I looked at the two guards standing there and raised an eyebrow. Joseph, the older one shrugged, “Mona said to remind you that you are part of the duke’s family too.”

Sam laughed and took William’s hand, “Well, come along. I could use extra hands if I find something I want to buy.”

They looked at each other and I grinned as I started off. Our first stop was a dressmaker, after what we all thought was an extra long time we headed to the next stop. A guard runner stopped me to give me a note which was from Dett, “the Baroness’s dock is the entrance the smugglers are using.”

I stopped Sam and we grabbed a few meat rolls from a street vendor and headed towards the baroness’s estate.