Page 75 of The Consolation Prize

Something was definitely amiss with Otho today, Armand reflected. He seemed filled with self-doubt and misgivings, not his usual brusque self at all. It was at that point that a sober-faced young woman appeared before them in a grey headscarf and gown. Had they hired a new maid?

“Good morning, masters,” she said in a colorless voice. “There’s a traveler at the door asking to speak with you, Sir Armand.” Otho made a choked noise, and Armand glanced quickly in his direction to find him staring at the girl transfixed. He looked back to the maidservant and was astonished to see that it was Rose. She was almost unrecognizable with her hair scraped back and covered and clad in such drab clothes. “Shall I let him in?” she asked when neither of them responded.

“No,” Armand said, rising quickly to his feet. “I’ll first go and see who this stranger is.” He half-expected Otho to join him, but his brother-in-law sat staring after Rose, who had bobbed a curtsey and disappeared in the direction of the kitchens.

Armand paused in the passageway to strap on his sword belt and then made his way to the front entrance, where a bearded man of medium build dressed in a brown tunic was waiting for admittance. Instead of letting him in, Armand stepped out to join him outside. “You have business here?” he asked, warily sizing the stranger up. He wore no sword at his hip and looked far from threatening with his mild expression. “I would ask what that is?”

The man smiled pleasantly enough and showed Armand his hands first and the fact there was nothing concealed up his sleeves, then he reached slowly into a pouch attached to his belt and drew out a folded and sealed document. “I have here a letter of introduction, from Lord Vawdrey,” he said smoothly, as he handed it over.

Armand’s eyebrows rose, as he inspected the seal showing the well-known insignia of the Vawdrey panther with the Earl’s distinctive coronet. He motioned for the stranger to follow him and they walked around the side of the house. “I am not going to read this letter now,” he said shortly. “What is your name and who the hells are you?”

“It’s Walker, sir,” the other answered readily enough. “Though who I am is not important. I am a mere agent of Lord Vawdrey’s in this business and by extension, the King’s.”

Armand stopped short and turned abruptly to face him. “What the devils does the King want with me?” he barked. “I fail to see why he should have any outstanding business with me.”

Walker’s eyebrows rose at this and he cleared his throat. “I am sure you have heard tell of Lord Vawdrey’s reputation, sir,” he said dropping his voice and Armand’s eyebrows snapped together. Everyone knew the King’s chief advisor was also his spymaster.

“He is a cautious man, Sir Armand. Naturally when you set forth from Caer-Lyoness with a certain personage of close relation to the King, he sent others to watch over you from a safe distance.”

Armand stared at the man who gazed impassively back. “He set spies on me?” he asked hotly.

Walker cleared his throat. “A rather harsh word,” he said reproachfully. “For the task entrusted to us.”

Armand suddenly remembered Fulcher’s mention of a black-hooded figure who changed horses frequently and dipped in and out of view. Professionals. “Just how many of you are there?” he asked hollowly. Fulcher had thought there was only one man on their tail, yet Walker spoke now as if there were several.

Walker shrugged. “The number is immaterial at this point. We were given specific orders to follow your progress and ensure you reached your home safely.”

At this point Armand suffered another unpleasant realization. If they had been following them, then they must be aware of what had occurred at The Merry Wayfarer. He regarded the man narrowly. “If that is so, you must know we were nearly slaughtered in beds at one point,” he said damningly.

For the first time, Walker looked a little uncomfortable. He cleared his throat. “Alas, we suffered an unforeseen setback and lost some time en route. When we arrived the next morning, we had a hell of a jolt at the scene that met us.” He lowered his eyes discreetly. “We were, however, happily able to tidy up the after-effects. Perhaps you made inquiries? It was put about that the landlord and his staff fled into the night after the untimely death of a pilgrim on his premises.”

Armand colored slightly. “I made no inquiries,” he admitted. Perhaps if he had done, this would not come now as such a shock to him. “What did you do with them? Shallow graves?”

Walker looked shocked. “Certainly not, Sir Armand. They were decently buried as plague victims some fifty miles away from that spot and without hint of scandal.”

Yes, they were professionals alright. Armand eyed him warily. “So, you followed us here,” he said abruptly. “Why did you not return then to Caer-Lyoness, once the task was done?”

Walker scratched his beard. “Following you here was only half of the job,” he admitted and gave Armand a wry smile.

“Half the job?”

“Once you were settled, we were to ensure you continued that way. Untroubled, shall we say, by any who would ‘unsettle’ you.”

“You mean Northerners who might want to snatch my wife,” said Armand forthrightly. He was tired of beating around the bush.

Walker sucked in a breath as one unaccustomed to such plain speech. “In short, sir, yes.”

Armand was silent a moment. “Have you had many to deal with?” he asked harshly. Had he been living in some sort of fool’s paradise? Otho was right. He had not had a clue what he was getting himself into.

“One or two,” Walker said with a shrug. “Nothing me and the boys couldn’t deal with.” Armand found he could well believe him, despite the apparent affability. He looked sturdy enough and carried himself with a quiet assurance Armand was starting to think others would be foolish to overlook. “Any interested parties have dwindled away to a mere trickle now,” Walker said easily. “We’ve been kicking our heels for the most part.”

“Why have you made yourself known to me now?” Armand asked. That was the only part he couldn’t fathom. Why had they come out of the shadows?

Walker scratched the side of his face. “For two reasons,” he admitted. “The first, it seems to me you aren’t as guileless as you make out, Sir Armand.” Walker’s gaze flickered over him speculatively. “Been taking on a few soldiers of your own recently, haven’t you? As such, I reckon you might as well take some of our number in among your ranks. We’re doing much the same job. What’s the point of us sneaking around the vicinity, when you’ve enough muscle gathered at your own table?”

Armand shot him a look. “Well, that’s plain-speaking enough,” he said dryly. “What’s the second reason?”

Walker hesitated. “Has your lady wife ever mentioned her surviving siblings to you, sir?”