The Lion's Pride - Ch. 3
#3 of The Lion's Pride
Hello, thanks for reading, here we continue the adventures of Lovell, he might have landed a job.
Lady Murie and Lovell walked the long road to the castle of Carsley, reaching it in the afternoon. When they arrived they were greeted by some surprised-looking guards, two weasels, who blinked more than once when they saw the lady of the castle appear from the road, in full armor, armed, and clearly ready to kill whoever stood in her way.
"Lady Murie! What are you doing outside of your keep?" asked one of the guards.
"Take ten men and go to the Wizard's Clearing," ordered the lady "there you will find Lord David and his squire. They are dead, so take a carriage to transport the bodies to the church with the highest of honors."
"Lord David is dead?! I mean, yes, my lady, it will be done!"
The castle wasn't big and it had seen better days, the place was in disrepair, it had clearly suffered a siege not so long ago, and the guard's armors were rusty and clunky. Lovell was fast to notice too that the place was almost empty, only a couple of serfs here and there, but not that many... there were no blacksmith or vendors.
"Lion, what was your purpose walking the road in these dangerous times?" asked Murie, stopping in the middle of the parade ground in front of the main keep.
"I was seeking a job. I served under-"
"Then you are hired, you are my bodyguard from now on, stick to me, I have a couple of rats to surprise."
The lion followed the lady and entered the main keep. The first room was a meeting room with a throne made of wood and tables for the court inhabitants, although there was no feast being celebrated, the place was completely empty.
"He is upstairs..." said the duchess with a furious growl.
They went upstairs and stopped in front of a closed door that Murie opened with fury, they were now in a private room, a small dining room where they found three individuals. One was a fox with red fur, dressed in chain mail, the other a rat, dressed as a bishop, and, lastly, there was a wolf, dressed in luxurious clothes and expensive jewelry.
"What are we celebrating?" asked Murie, going to the table and snatching the cup of wine the fox was holding in his hand.
The three men were clearly confused by the intrusion, but the rat was fast to wise up and answer on the behalf of the other men.
"We were talking about the bountiful harvest we are going to have this year. We might be able to pay up the interests you own to the king's crown."
The voice of the rat was firm and secure, but he was lying, it was crystal clear.
"I see, my husband must be happy to know that part of my debt will finally be paid... even though I always say that the crown can come and suck my-" the duchess calmed down "Excuse me, I had a rough day. If you excuse me I will be in my chambers."
"And who is that one that came with you?" asked the wolf confused and irritated "Is that a lion?"
"He is my new knight. Come, lion, we are going..."
Murie and Lovell exited the room and closed the door behind them.
"They hired the bandits... they tried to kill me... they were celebrating my demise..."
"How do you know?"
The duchess raised her right hand, showing a mark on the back of it, the mark of the impious.
"I'm the rightful lord of this land, have no doubt about that, lion, but my family followed the old gods. When they purged the land from heretics and pagans I fell into the hands of the inquisition while my family was killed. I was sentenced to have the mark of the impious burned onto my flesh, then I was sentenced to marry a pious noble, and, finally, I had to pay the Crown a giant sum of money I still don't own. Do you have a problem serving a noblewoman like myself? You can go if you so wish, I won't stop you."
"I rather stay for a while, sounds like here I will be truly useful."
"Good, then come with me, I have to teach you the ropes and traditions of this place if you want to blend in."