Part 3 (1/2)
Locklear rolled his eyes theatrically, but took the proffered hand and shook it ”Take care of this rascal, Williaet killed when I wasn't around to watch”
”Sorry you're going to rinned ”Don't worry, Willie I'll find you a celebration, and even without this knave's vaunted reputation as a lodestone for the girls, we'll find us some pretty faces to look upon you in awe as you sport your new badge of rank”
Willia at that ”Take care, Locky,” he said
Locklear bid him farewell, and as William ran off to his duties Locklear said, ”Did you see that blush? I warrant the lad's never been with a woman”
James elbowed his friend in the side ”Not everyone is as precocious as you were, Locky”
”But he's nearly twenty!” said Locklear in ht lad and fair to look at I suspect things will have changed by the time you return,” said James
”You think?”
”Certainly,” said Jareeable girl to bed hirin vanished ”Five years!” With wide eyes he said, ”You don't think Arutha's going to keep hed at his friend's distress As the two youngto their Prince's chambers, Locklear threw an elbow at Jaed-and for an instant they were boys again
James and Locklear reached Arutha's private council roo after his brief visit with his wife and children He moved purposefully down the small hallway that connected his family's private apartments with the council chamber and the fore lord, with Locklear one step after A pair of court pages flanked the council chaht enter
Arutha arrived to greetings froht hand was his assistant, Housecarl Jerome Jerome and his supervisor bowed as one to the Prince; the housecarl gave a fleeting nod of greeting to the two squires Jerome had been a member of the company of squires with James and Locklear as boys, and James had been the first one to stand up to the older boy, who had been the resident bully Now Jeroe of the daily business of the court, and serving as the chief ad so, and James was forced to admit his fussy attention to detail made him ideally suited for the job
Arutha said, ”I am very tired and would like to join my family for an early supper; let's save as much as we may for formal court tomorrow What can't wait?”
De Lacy nodded and then looked up He noticed as in the rooht-Marshal?”
Just then Gardan entered ”Apologies, Highness I wanted tocare of their mounts and weapons before I joined you”
Arutha's brow furrowed and his eant any ht-Marshal of Krondor You have others to ensure that the men and animals are properly billeted”
Gardan nodded in reply, then said, ”That's solanced at the nobles in the Prince's private offices and added, ”But it ait until after this evening's business Highness?” Arutha indicated his agreement
De Lacy said, ”Two co your absence, Highness, inforency, yet they do require a formal response”
Arutha waved theht and co”
De Lacy handed the at them
The Master of Ceremonies looked at the sheriff, who stepped forward and bowed ”Highness, I fear I must report a rash of blackthe time you've been away”
The Prince was silent for a moment as he considered these words, then he said, ”You speak then of so my personal attention? Murder is not uncohness Several ht, throats cut while their wives slept undisturbed beside thehtly Jahthawks
For nearly ten years the city had been untroubled by the Guild of Death The assassins who had been eents had vanished at the end of the Riftwar A few un to circulate Then they had suddenly reappeared in the Kingdom James himself had killed their current leader, but was under no illusion that the Nighthaould just go away If there was another cell of them here in Krondor, they already knew of the death of one called Navon du Sandau, an erstwhilehis true identity had alotten James killed in a duel, and it was only by dint of hours spent practicing the sith Arutha that Ja troubled, Arutha asked the sheriff, ”What have your hness Of some of the victims, what you'd expect: men with enemies due to their pronificance except to their fa of sense about these murders They seehed what he had been told His mind turned furiously as he considered, then discarded options Finally he said, ”Random? It may be we simply do not understand what is behind the selection of victi and question the fahbors and anyone who may have seen them prior to their deaths Therebecause we do not know it is important Send a scribe with your men to record the conversations In all of this we hed, fatigue evident in his features ”Return to your post, sheriff Joincourt toth I'll want your ” The sheriff bowed and withdrew
Arutha turned to de Lacy ”What else?”
”Nothing that cannot wait, Highness”
Arutha rose ”Court is dismissed until the tenth hour of the day tomorrow” De Lacy and Jerome left the chamber, and Arutha turned to Gardan and the squires ”Now, Gardan, what is it you wished to speak with hness, I've served your house since I was a boy I've been a soldier and sergeant to your father, and a captain and marshal to you It's time I returned home to Crydee I wish to retire”
Arutha nodded ”I see Can we speak of this over supper?”
The Knight-Marshal said, ”If you wish”
”I do” Turning to the squires, Arutha said, ”Locklear, you'd best be getting ready for your journey to I'll have travel warrants and orders sent to your quarters Leave with the dawn patrol to Sarth If I fail to see you before then, have a safe journey to Tyr-Sog”
Locklear tried to keep his expression neutral as he answered, ”Thank you, Your Highness”
Arutha turned to Jaain, ”You knohat to do”
Arutha and Gardan turned toward the royal apartments as the two squiresdistance, Locklear ht: what is this all about?”
Jaht”
Locklear said, ”Is this your way of telling me it's none ofof the palace which housed their quarters Reaching the door to Locklear's room, James said, ”I probably won't see you before you leave, also, so take care not to get yourself killed”
Locklear shook hands, then erinned ”Good, then with luck we'll see you at Midsu to cause Arutha to keep you up there longer than that”
Locklear said, ”I'll be good”
”See that you are,” instructed James
He left his friend and hurried to his own quarters Being a member of the Prince's court merited James a room of his own, but since he was only a squire, it was aa solitary meal, and a double door wooden wardrobe Ja it behind hi, but it was still too conspicuous for what he needed to do Opening his wardrobe, he moved aside a bundle of shi+rts in need of laundry, and beneath those he found what he was looking for A dark gray tunic and dark blue trousers, patched andfar dirtier than they actually were He dressed in those, pulled on his oldest boots and slipped a well-er into his boot-sheath Then once again looking like a creature of the streets, he slipped out through the door of his quarters, avoiding servants and guards as he made his way down into the palace cellar