Nigel Bennett & P.N. Elrod-Ethical Vampires 03 by Siege Perilous

Author:Siege Perilous [Perilous, Siege]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-10-09T17:57:07+00:00

“Take orders?”

“If you’re called, but in the meantime work to get yourself free of him. Build up your tourney winnings, breed horses and sell them, see to it he never knows what’s in your purse. Make yourself independent.” It sounded wonderful, but Richard knew that could never be, and said as much. “I’ve already sworn fealty. He’ll never release me from that. Even if you speak to him, he won’t.”

“He could change. I did. He might. Ambert, too. Any man can change if—”

“Edward, there are too few good hearts like you and too many of them.”

“All right, then here’s something more reasonable to think on. Father won’t live forever. When he dies, what will happen to you, the Champion d’Orleans, with Ambert as the duke? Life is uncertain, Father could pass ten years from now or in the next hour.”

“I’ve not thought of that.”

“You haven’t wanted to.”

“No, but I expect I can find a place in one of the other households. Far from here, so Ambert can’t order them to turn me away. And if worse came to worst …” He trailed off, and felt some nonfeverish heat in his face for what he almost said.

Edward grinned and finished for him. “You’d take orders. You in a monastery. There’s a laugh. It sits well with me, but you, Dickon?” He shook his head and chuckled.

“I’ll find something. I will. It’s just hard to work anything out. Ambert’s got a sharp eye for what he calls mischief, and that’s whatever I do that benefits me. Whenever I get any gold to call my own he sees to it I turn it over to Father.

For ‘safekeeping’ he calls it. I never see any afterward, though.”

“Then I think you would be well advised to become more pious than you’ve been. This wounding of yours can account for the change of manner. Donate your winnings to the Church before Father gets them.”

“But I—oh. You’d look after them for me?”

“Of course. Your coinage will be safer in the monastery than your room in the castle with Ambert roaming about. If you’ve any from this last contest, I can carry it along when I return.” Richard had trouble taking it in. Not so many years ago, he’d have never trusted Edward with any small possession he might have hoarded for his own. Now he was turning his future over to him. And it was all right. He knew in his heart his brother would truly watch out for him. “Thank you.”

“Bless you, my son.” Edward raised his right hand, making their pact a sacred responsibility, but given and accepted with a fond smile.

Richard laughed, but kept it subdued to spare his shoulder.

Then Edward went serious. “Mark this, Richard: you and Ambert are each dangerous, and in some ways you’re both fools, but his words and acts are inspired by fear, yours inspired by honor. That’s why you will always be the stronger, and well does he know it. For all that, beware of him.”

“I always am.”

“I mean especially now, while you are in a weak position.

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