Chapter 49

Gerald was walking through one of the corridors of the keep. He was heading to the Lord's Hall. Today was the day to end it all. He would meet his aides then ride out of the castle to put an end to his enemies.

A servant stopped by him. "My lord."

"Have they arrived?"

"Yes, my lord. They are all waiting for your lordship in the Hall."

Gerald nodded and strode forward. Before reaching the Hall, he heard another "My lord!" from far behind. He turned around and spied Harrid running towards him, and Yanna was following. "You've brought her," Gerald said.

"Yes. Yes, my lord," Harrid panted. "She has news too."

Gerald raised a brow. "What news?" He moved his eyes to Yanna who'd just arrived.

Yanna was panting after she came to a stop as well. "Madame Grina, my lord. She's left her manor."

"Where did she go?" Gerald asked, hoping that Yanna knew. He'd asked her to keep an eye on Grina just for something like this.

The girl didn't disappoint him though. "She's in an old house by the north gate of Ard. They say it used to be an inn before it's owner sold it."

Gerald nodded with a smile. "It's good that you know. I suppose Grina has good senses, after all. She's sensed the danger, but it's too late for her now. And she might have made a mistake too."

He continued his stride to the Lord's Hall with a smile. If everything were to go as planned today, the Viscounty would be granted a new beginning. He could build it up to something his ancestors couldn't have imagined. Perhaps a painting of him would someday be put in the Ancestral Chambers with an achievement as grand as his seventh ancestor's. The only Battlemaster in the history of the family, his seventh ancestor, had expanded their territory and raised their house from a minor noble family to a decent one with a considerable area of land.

After a few steps he glanced behind and saw Yanna and Harrid still standing there. He thought for a moment then smiled. "You two can join us. Follow me." He didn't mind the two of them being there and listening. It would do no harm. Perhaps they'd grow accustomed to it with time too.

Gerald arrived at the Lord's Hall and entered, followed by Yanna and Harrid. He glanced over his aides and stepped up to his seat. Arthur, Robard, and Renard were here. Even the captain of the garrison, old Han, was here as well.

"My lord," his aides said in unison as they bowed.

Gerald nodded.

Yanna and Harrid stood to the side, as far from everyone's eyes as possible.

"Robard," Gerald said.

"The men are ready, my lord," the head knight said. "The bandits should be arriving at the fortress by now."

Gerald noticed the lost look on Renard's face. The minister didn't know about his recent plans, but Gerald had brought him here for other reasons. Considering Edgar's plight, Renard was Grina's only important ally right now, and Gerald wasn't planning to let her have any help.

"Very well," Gerald told Robard. "We will ride out soon." Then he looked at his minister of the left. "Renard, I have an important matter for you to handle."

Renard still had his puzzled look but he nodded. "What is it, my lord?"

"The iron mine in the southeast hasn't been doing well lately," Gerald said. Finding an excuse to send Renard away wasn't very difficult. "I want you to oversee the work there for a few days. I suspect that some people have been dawdling there instead of working."

Renard's face changed. It seemed that the Duke's man had realized that he was being ousted from Ard for the next few days. "My lord, the workers in the mine are all criminals and bandits."

"Worry not," Gerald smiled, glancing at old Han. "I will arrange for some men from the garrison to escort you to the mine and keep you safe while you're there." Old Han nodded in understanding as Gerald's gaze fell on him. "You only have to make sure the overseers there are doing their work properly," Gerald continued.

Renard stared at Gerald reluctantly. "But, my lord—"

"What is it?" Gerald stared back at him. "Do you have a problem with my commands?"

"No, my lord," Renard said, his voice pressed. Gerald was almost certain that the minister's teeth were gritted in his closed mouth. "I will do as you command."

"Then go and prepare yourself," Gerald said. "You'll be moving right away."

Renard nodded and left the Lord's Hall.

"Old Han," Gerald said.

"My lord," old Han saluted.

"I want you to choose some of your most loyal and silent men to apprehend Grina and keep her in her residence until I return from today's battle."

Old Han who always looked expressionless finally had a change to his face. He looked hesitant. "Is there a reason, my lord?"

"Oh, do you need a reason?" Gerald cocked his head.

"No, my lord," old Han shook his head. "Not me. The people will ask questions. Even some of the members of the garrison will ask questions."

Gerald nodded with a faint smile. He didn't blame old Han for the influence Grina had in the garrison. The old man couldn't stop members of his family or those loyal to them from joining the garrison. "You don't have to worry about any of that," Gerald said. "Grina has delivered herself to us. As long as you choose men who'll keep their mouths shut, no one will know a thing. Grina is no longer in her manor. She's in an old inn near the north gate. No one will know who you're keeping in there if your men don't speak, specially if it's just for a single morning."

Old Han's face looked a little better as Gerald explained. "Yes, my lord. I will do as you command. No one will hear a thing."

"Good. I also want you to see if she has any letters in her possession," Gerald said. "If she does have any, seize them."

"Yes, my lord."

"There is not much time left," Gerald said, standing up. "This assembly will be coming to an end." He glanced at Robard. "We should be riding out now."

"Indeed, my lord," Robard said.

..

.

Gerald rode through the streets of Ard. The gravel had been set, and he could see no puddles or mud in the streets anymore. There were hardly any people in the streets save for a few beggars and early workers. He passed by a few of the latter who recognized him and bowed. Gerald nodded to them and urged his horse towards the east gate.

Out of Ard, a regiment of soldiers was waiting for him.

He would lead them towards the forest in the east and they would stay there until the bandits return. With Gasper's help, he would wipe the northern bandits out, while Robard would be ambushing the western bandits in the hilly area of the west.

The bandits would cease to exist today, and so would the Red Rain band. And Grina would lose her freedom forever. Most of his enemies within the territory would be no more. Only Renard, the Duke's rat, would remain. But he wasn't as much an enemy within as he was a mouthpiece for the enemy without.