Chapter Nine

**The Lady of Finchead**

Jason intercepted Vanna just as she left the horse merchant. Strapped to the back of her mule were a few bulky bags and a used saddle. The warrior said she bought plenty of oats for their animals and that she planned to start training Juno soon and would need the saddle. For the time being Jason had to be frugal with his resources and Vanna had no more desire to shop so they retired early to their inn.

After stabling their animals they hung around the inn’s lounge. Outside the sun had started to set, taking its warmth with it. Inside, a great fireplace burned to fill the lounge with its heat. In a corner, a musician sang softly and played a stringed instrument. They ate an early dinner and drank a few mugs of marked up ale but eventually went up to their room as none of the other guests bothered socializing with them. In their room, the two played 39 Thieves in a failed attempt at improving Jason’s skill with the game. Sadly it seemed he would never get the knack for the game. While Jason always came at it from an analytical approach he knew that the game was more akin to poker where players had to read their opponents for an edge. However, even though he was awful at the game hours flew by and when they finally bored of 39 Thieves they played a few games of chess on a board they found in the room. Jason didn’t know how many hours had finally passed but Trent and Jax finally returned after long dark. The pair were still deep in their own thoughts on how to uses the new funds when they came stumbling into the room. While it had never been explicitly said, Jason assumed the Jax was Trent’s second in command as the sheriff seemed to rely on the hunter more than any other of the militiamen.

The two dumped a few bags of newly purchased items in the room then announced they were going down to the lounge to eat and continue talking. Jason didn’t feel like following the two so he got into bed and went to sleep.

Day Fourteen

Jason woke up to find Trent already up and ready. Vanna and Jax were still tucked away in their beds but the sheriff was fully dressed and packing his things. “Morning, Trent,” Jason yawned.

“Morning lad,” he said but his mind and eyes were on his task.

Jason looked to the window and didn’t see any light poking through the curtains. “What time is it?” He asked as he pulled his blanket off himself and got out of bed. The room was slightly cold but the fireplace was fully ablaze so Trent must not have gotten up too long ago.

“Sixth bell rang a few minutes ago,” Trent said, “we need to be out of the gates and waiting for the lady before dawn so why don’t you wake up those two.”

Jason did as Trent asked then went about getting ready to leave. Down in the lounge they were given a few hot pastries to take with them for breakfast and Jason was able to fill his canteen with hot coffee. He savored the precious liquid but his heart ached when he realized he had failed to buy more beans during their trip. With four people, the animals were quickly loaded and they were walking out of the city gates as the first streaks of red crested the eastern horizon over the ocean.

They traveled about fifteen minutes along the highway until they were on the top of a hill that gave them a clear view of the city gates. Trent told them they were to wait there on the side of the road until Annabel came.

The seventh bell rang and they waited. Crowds of travelers soon grew outside of the gates as the city slowly came to life. Jason guessed half an hour had passed by the time he saw a carriage pass through the gates. “That should be her,” Trent commented. However, the carriage was just the tip of what was to come. Two horsemen cleared the way before it and behind trailed an additional two horseman and then three horse-pulled open wagons loaded with items as well as a few servants and finally an additional two horseman each leading a train of unsaddled horses.

“She’s moving the whole city,” Jax joked but didn’t hide the interest in his voice.

The parade trained up the hill and the procession stopped in front of their party. Passing travelers kept a safe distance away from them as the horsemen fanned around the carriage. The driver hopped from his seat and opened the door. Annabel ducked her head and climbed out of the carriage. Her appearance was in stark contrast to the day before. Dressed in a simple riding outfit and tall boots she looked out of place next to her carriage and entourage. “Ronan, get the horses,” she said to someone within the carriage then strode over to Jason and his party.

“Yes love,” a man yawned as he climbed out of the carriage. His tired green eyes shimmer with the reflection of the fresh morning sun. “I mean my lady,” he corrected himself with a mischievous smile then walked off.

Annabel brushed off the man’s words with a quick shake of her head that caused her hair to wave about. “Good morning sheriff, Jason,” she greeted. She looked at Jax and Vanna but she didn’t find them significant enough to offer words.

“Morning my Lady,” Trent replied with a respectful bow. “If your lady is alright, I will ride ahead to announce your arrival so that you may have a proper welcome.”

“Very well,” Annabel said. Trent bowed his head and took his leave to mount his pony. As Trent rode off, Annabel’s companion, Ronan, returned pulling along a full-sized horse and pony. The carriage driver grabbed the horse’s reigns so that Annabel could mount the animal and Ronan got onto the pony. “No point wasting sunlight,” she said directing her words toward Jason, “let’s start our journey.” She kicked her horse and began moving forward in at slow walk. Her entourage moved to life and its members filtered to their positions.

“Stop looking at me like that Jason,” Annabel laughed, “a lady can ride a horse too.”

“I’m sorry,” Jason stammered, “I’m just surprised to see you riding when you brought a carriage. I’m sure that would make your trip more comfortable.”

“She likes something between her legs,” Ronan said. Jason’s face went red and he was at a loss of whether to laugh or not. Vanna snickered for him.

Annabel drew her horse closer to Ronan and slapped the man across the back of his head ruffling his dark brown hair. “Ronan,” she cried but with more surprise than anger. “Ignore my builder Jason. All Caelians are vile, vile beasts. It is unfitting for a lady to ride through the city streets on horseback so I waited until I was out in the country. I much prefer riding than being stuffed in that box. Ronan, not another joke,” she hastily warned with a raised hand.

The man smile and pretended to blow a soft kiss to Annabel. “Nice to meet you,” he said to Jason. Annabel huffed then kicked her horse. The woman rode to the front of the train with her vanguard but Ronan stayed behind. The builder whistled and watched Annabel's back. An awkwardness fell over the little group as Jax, Jason, and Vanna walked next to Ronan's riding presence. The builder took his gaze off Annabel then seemed to drift off into deep thought, his eyes fixed on the dirt in front of him but his mind swimming somewhere else. Next to him Jax and Vanna picked up a conversation, but Jason watched Annabel. The lady was a paradox of gentleness but sturdiness atop her horse. She looked as comfortable there as she had been in her parlor as if nothing was too much for her to handle. Jason didn't know how he felt about her but the few times he saw her she was always like fireworks, dazzling, ferocious, and dangerous.

"I'm telling you, you're wasting your time with swords Vanna," Jax said in a raised but happy tone drawing Jason's attention away from Annabel. "No point risking your neck when a bow offers you stealth and mobility."

"Hey Jax," Jason said slowly turning his head to the side to look, changing his view from Annabel to Jax and Vanna. "What do you know about the Cullens?" He looked at Ronan but the builder was still occupied by his thoughts.

"What about them?" Jax shrugged. "They're rich because I pay them taxes and if they start a war I've got to fight for them. That's as much as this country boy knows."

"I heard Trent call Lord Cullen, general," Jason said.

"Aye," Jax nodded trying to consolidate his thoughts. "Lord Cullen was... I mean still is, we haven't had a war in almost two decades now, the King's Marshal. All the old men in Finchead say he saved the kingdom when East and West Tumlohn split after the King's father died, but I don't know, I'd ask Trent, he was with him then. I was barely walking when my father went off in that war."

"How did he become Earl if Annabel's father was the last earl? It seems that women can be lords too," Jason asked remembering the mention of a female earl during the first trial the day before.

"Look Jason, I don't stick my head into politics, it's not my place," Jax said showing discomfort.

"You must at least know something about the king," Vanna said speaking up for the first time.

"All I hear him called is Token the Steady or..." he lowered his voice, "by those bold enough, Token the Bachelor."

"He has no kids?" Vanna asked. "He looks to be at least forty, who's going to control the kingdom after him?"

"He's called Token the Bachelor," Ronan said to everyone's' surprise, "but he has a child. It's one of the worst kept secrets in the kingdom."

"What?" Jason said. "Who is it?"

Ronan shrugged, "as to that part no one knows. But a minister let it split one day that the king was sending money to someone and soon it was found out by some nosey lords that someone was a child. The minister got the boot and after that, Token kept his kid's identity tight as a virgin's rose petals. No one even knows if it is a boy or a girl. O'l Toke got around back in the day it's said," Ronan laughed.

"So the kid," Jason asked hesitantly, "they're the heir?"

Ronan shrugged again letting his mischievous eyes talk for him, "bastards don't usually inherit but Braccians don't care too much about that stuff when it gets down to things. I'm sure Toke has planned it out. Let's just hope he does otherwise we'll have a thousand bastards claiming to be the chosen one when he dies."

Jason nodded, unsure if he should have thanked Ronan for the information or not. He ended up deciding to quickly change the subject. "Do you have any idea what the Lady is going to build?" Jason asked.

"Big house," Ronan said dragging his words and spreading his arms apart as if he were hugging the horizon. "I told her if she wants it out of stone we need to build the foundation soon before winter gets here."

"What about the walls?" Vanna asked.

"The silly lass thinks I can build anything she dreams of in that pretty little head of hers," Ronan grumbled. "'I never built a wall before,' I told her but she doesn't listen," he tsked. Ronan kicked his pony forward and trotted to Annabel's side quickly forgetting had been in a conversation with them. When Ronan caught up with Annabel the two broke out into an argument that involved handing waving and loud cries but Jason couldn't hear any of the conversations from where he was. None of Annabel's guards broke from where they were and Jason guessed they were used to Annabel and her builder acting this way.

"He's a character," Jason muttered.

"Where's Caelia?" Vanna asked looking at Jax.

"How the bloody hells am I suppose to know," the hunter said. "Let's just hope he goes back there before he does something stupid in our town."