Gillivan seemed less shaken by the news than Marielle had anticipated. “Weren’t you two close?”

“He is like a brother to me.”

“A brother you don’t seem too worried about.”

Gillivan frowned at the subtle accusation. “My Lady, I am loyal to you and your husband always. I swear it to the gods.”

She looked over at the two new guards, they stood far enough away she hoped they hadn’t overheard them. If Gillivan had betrayed her husband to save himself, they would have to rely on those two. But would Gillivan really do that? As he said, they were like brothers. It was only a slight suspicion, but it was never good to underestimate the lengths people would go to save themselves.

“That’s everything. Continue as you were,” she said, leaving them to continue their training. She heard the clacking of wood on wood begin again, as she entered the building.

“Augustus, I just told Gillivan about Heratio and…” she said but trailed off. It was her first instinct to tell her husband her suspicion, but she worried about what he might do if he too suspected Gillivan. Would it be enough to have him killed?

“And what?” He was already at work, sitting at a desk, writing letters.

“He didn’t react much, and I find that suspicious.”

He lifted his quill, stopping his work as he considered things. “That makes sense, we all had fair warning that would happen. Don’t use how I acted to gauge how others should have acted. Heratio vouched for him, and I have trust in those Heratio would deem trustworthy.”

“Still, I think we should take measures. Why wasn’t he taken with Heratio? He was just as involved.”

“I have no objection to taking measures. What do you suggest?”

“We should hire a few more guards, independent ones, with no affiliation to Gillivan.”

“Good, have it done.” Augustus began writing again.

Marielle waited, thinking Augustus would elaborate, but he just continued with his work. “I thought you might help me with it.”

“Marielle, you have your own coin now. You need not wait for my permission. Act however you think is best. If you want to hire independent guards, you can go down to The Fighter’s guild tavern and hire them yourself. Or, if that isn’t to your liking, you can ask mother to transfer some of the Castellian guards to our service, to be paid by us directly.”

She nodded her head. He was right, she needed to act more independently. She left the room and went to talk with Sara and Cressa.

“Cressa, Sara, I have a task for the two of you. I need you both to hire some independent guards. I would like two of them. Strong men, with fighting experience.” She handed them a bag of silver coins. “Head to The Fighter’s Guild and bring a few men back here. I will want to see them first so that I can personally see their abilities and then negotiate their pay myself. So, make no promises, just entice them with the scent of silver.”

“As you wish my Lady,” said Cressa. She seemed glad to finally have work more suited to her abilities. She had expected since she tutored Marielle to be more of an estate manager, in charge of hiring and disciplining the lower staff of the household.

Sara, on the other hand, seemed to shrink away. “Sara, is there a problem? I can’t send Cressa on her own to a place like The Fighter’s Guild. Would you rather Bindel go?”

She nodded her head.

“That is fine. Cressa, take Bindel with you instead. I need this taken care of quickly.”

Cressa left with the coin bag in hand to fetch Bindel and leave at once.

Sara turned to go back to work. “Sara, wait. I would like to ask you some questions.”

“I will answer anything you ask truthfully, my Lady.”

“Tell me what you think of Gillivan.”

“He is one of your guards, I’m sorry, I don’t quite know how to answer that.”

“There was an incident I remember from days ago, I woke to him talking to you, there was a strangeness in the room when I entered it. Speak of that.”

“I think he just wanted to talk. He had been alone through the night. Since then, he hasn’t said much to me, other than things in passing.”

“It seemed to me you were afraid then.”

“Marielle… you know why I would feel that way, do you not?” Sara locked eyes with Marielle, a gesture she hardly ever made. She had always been a shy and quiet girl.

Marielle had heard stories, that something happened that was the root of why her father hated the priest of Cyril so much. “I am just trying to find out about the character of Gillivan. I want to know how much I can trust him.”

“I think he is trustworthy. I can’t imagine him doing anything that he felt would betray the trust of the gods. He prays to them often. Is that enough of an answer?”

“Yes, you can return to your work.” Marielle nodded and returned to the study to continue reading her book.

She read, but paused every few moments, losing her place on the page. She stared at the trees she could see from the window. The clacking sound of wood swords connecting wasn’t loud, but her ears honed in on it, making it distracting. She closed the book, tired of attempting to focus on it.

She decided to take other, independent measures. She went to Heratio’s room. It was a room near the master bedroom, the one that Castor would have likely taken if he remained alive. A large room with a bed large enough for two. But it’s grandness made its interior look even more sparse than it otherwise would have. The bed had a single blanket and pillow, of cheap linen. No rugs or chairs, or items of a personal nature, except for a table covered in a brown cloth, with bumps in the cloth showing that there were items underneath. She knew it would be exactly what she was looking for. She pulled the cloth away to reveal the array of weapons spread out on the table.

Heratio, she was sure, would have no qualms about her taking his things if it would ensure her and her husband’s safety. She took some daggers from the table, placed them on her person, then left to hide them. Under her bed, behind some pots in the water room, on a bookshelf in the study. If something were amiss, she mused, she could run to the nearest hidden weapon and use it to defend herself. She kept one on herself, and she knew she would do so from now on. Things could change too quickly to let her guard down.

Just as she finished, Cressa and Bindel returned with the new potential guards. They were muscular men, tanned skin like Gillivan and Heratio. It was as if all the fighters of this city were cut from the same mould.

“Why is it that all you fighters have the same skin and hair?”

The bigger of the two laughed as if she had told a joke, then said, “We’re from the fallen city of Bren. It’s true, most of the fighters at the guild are former Brenish citizens. Those lucky enough to be pure Venocian would hardly want to take up a fighter’s life.”

“Tell me your names and your experience,” she ordered the one who spoke.

He bowed with his hand over his chest before he spoke. “I am Matais, this is my friend Diegas. We are both vouched for by The Fighter’s Guild. We have worked as guards before, protecting caravans and acting as the muscle on trade ships.”

Cressa nodded her head, “One of the bartenders at the tavern attested that is true.”

Marielle looked them both over, trying her best to judge them, or at least appear as if she were capable of properly judging them. She didn’t have much experience in this arena. She knew how much Heratio and Gillivan were paid, so she knew a good rate to offer them, but she had to just trust they were good fighters.

After a few moments of silence passed, she made her offer. “We will hire the both of you for two venti a week, plus room and board. That offer is only valid if you both can start today.”

Matias and Diegas exchanged looks before nodding. “That is a fine offer. We accept.”