Arcane Mercenaries: Insurrection by Mark August

Author:Mark August [August, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Four Fans Publishing
Published: 2023-06-12T22:00:00+00:00

37

BLOCKADE

Grant avoided the great hall and its transformation into a throne room. Dominick never asked him to stand by his side to intimidate the supplicants and newcomers, and Grant never offered to be there. He had been the sulking imperial consort glowering behind Sina for too long.

He wouldn’t do it again.

The palace staff worked around the clock for three days to change furniture, remove and replace artwork, and craft a room befitting a future king. The Icy Queen and the Ismorian court left the steamy confines of Llynmond every summer and progressed into the countryside to reside at one of her loyal vassal’s estates. Ardwick Castle hosted the Icy Queen before, and Dominick demanded no less.

The duke’s carpenters labored to rebuild the palace entrance. The two wooden steps were fine for a duke’s daily use, but Prince Dominick, future King of Ismore, demanded a canopied top and a sweeping entrance in his family’s colors as an immediate reminder of the forthcoming changes.

Grant watched the work from the shade of the numerous trees in the courtyard. He was concerned about security and frequently walked the walls to talk to the sentries. Dominick dismissed Torben’s mercenaries over Grant’s objections, and the prince’s handful of loyal archers pulled double shifts. They pulled up the drawbridges and closed the gates until reinforcements from his main army arrived.

Torben was a loyal mercenary who wasn’t picky about what contracts he signed. Grant couldn’t blame the man for siding with the wealthy and popular Duke Ardwick in a war everyone believed the queen would ultimately win. His forces were skilled, disciplined, and well-equipped, and Grant didn’t want to face the mercenary again on a battlefield in Ismore.

He convinced Torben to wait five days before looking for a new contract. Grant would convince Dominick to hire the company using the duke’s wealth to keep him out of the queen’s employment.

Catrin would see it the same way and make the same recommendation. Except she was asleep in her quarters and unresponsive to anyone.

Grant set aside time each day to sit by her side. People must have whispered about Grant’s vigil because everyone knew there was no friendship between them. Sina’s arrival to court Dominick soured her initial impressions of Grant, and Catrin’s push for him to discover everything about StarFall drove a wedge between them.

Despite her misgivings about Grant and his loyalty, they shared a cause to build a place where the StarTouched could live in peace. Grant admitted he needed her as much as Dominick did. She was more than she claimed to be, and Grant needed her information and guidance.

“The air’s cleaner on the palace rooftop,” Ez said. “At least there’s a breeze.”

Ez leaned against the doorframe to Catrin’s room as Grant raised his head from his quiet thoughts. Sealing the drawbridges meant the smells of livestock and working forges hung everywhere.

He could use some fresh air. Grant squeezed Catrin’s hand and followed Ez out.

Servants bowed and stood aside to let the pair ascend the grand staircase.

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