The Axe Falls -CH16- (Patreon)

Riding along quietly on Table, Nick kept his eyes moving across his surroundings. They were still a long ways out from the area they were expected to marshal at, but that didn’t mean enemies couldn’t be present.

All it would take is a few dedicated and determined ranged classes to cause quite a bit of havoc in an ambush. Or even a caster that had some ranged spells in their repertoire.

When dealing with high-levels and elite classes, one could never truly be safe. They were simply too powerful and too unpredictable.

“True. A siege arbalester could easily put a bolt in us quite easily. We’re not exactly fast moving or well protected,” Lucian agreed. “Though to be fair, Sire, getting such an unlikely person to take a shot at someone like us… is unlikely. We’re a nobody to them.

“Now, if we were an officer, a true knight, or something higher than that, then yes. We’d most likely have to be taking many more precautions. Something to at least give us a fighting chance.

“Even a sniper could likely one-shot us right now if they decided we were worth the effort. Aren’t you glad that you’re just wearing simple enhanced chainmail now?”

Nick nodded his head and gripped his poleaxe a bit more tightly. It shifted only a little in the holster, but it felt like he could rip it free and have it ready in a second.

Dad told me a bit about that. That you didn’t want to stand out and be a target.

The nail that sticks out gets hammered and all that.

“Yes. He would have eventually gotten around to the, ‘kill the man in the fancy hat’ analogy I’m sure in the reverse situation. Where you’re looking to take out high value targets, Sire,” Lucian said. “Though in this case it isn’t much of our concern. Any assassination attempts will be focused on those who matter, the count, and Charles. Claudia is likely to be overlooked since she isn’t the designated heir.

“In fact, perhaps the count had already decided against Charles but didn’t want to give anyone a reason to go for Claudia yet. Or at least, not in the middle of a war.”

That… that’s really cold, but I guess I could see how those fucking nobles would consider such a thing.

As Nick and the coach next to him crested the next rise Nick could see that the army was going about setting up camp. A great many of the soldiers that were ahead of them already pulling off to the side of the road and getting things put together.

Even with a force as small as it is, it takes a long while to get camp set up and broken down. So much time is lost every damn time.

But there’s really no alternative. Winter only just ended a few weeks ago and not everything has thawed out yet for spring. Too cold for soldiers to be without.

“Indeed, but that’s how war goes. Nothing that hasn’t been done a million times before,” murmured Lucian. “Be sure to attend to Claudia. After that incredibly long and boring discussion we last had with her, I imagine she’s not exactly enthused with working with us.

“And keep in mind that setting up and breaking down camp are the two best times to attack an army. Be on the lookout and consider suggesting that Claudia remain in her coach until her tent is ready. Or even better, until the shields are put up by the count’s wizard.”

Nick was still somewhat surprised that the count had managed to acquire the services of an actual wizard.

Lucian was right though. This would be a good opportunity to maybe bridge some of the distance between himself and Claudia.

Thinking about the last time they’d really talked made Nick wince.

While everything had been polite and well spoken it hadn’t been a positive experience. Her security had been completely settled and her would be well managed, except that he’d only realized belatedly that she didn’t know much of anything about it.

All he’d managed to do was bore her and waste her time, as well as inadvertantly show that she knew absolutely nothing about what was going on. Both to her attendants and herself.

While he hadn’t intended to embarrass her, he imagined he just had done so.

She seemed to be entirely unprepared for going into a warzone and didn’t even know, how little she was ready for this or what she knew.

In the end, he’d just ended up being forced to go speak with the guards who would be working her protection. They’d more or less already taken care of everything and put together their own detail.

Nick wasn’t about to tell them what to do either. It wasn’t as if he had any better ideas than they did in regards to how they would handle and conduct themselves.

His only real responsibility was Claudia’s personal safety and being at her side. The rest of the security could be handled by the others.

Moving closer to the coach, Nick reached out and lightly wrapped on the door with the back of his armored hand.

“Miss Claudia, we’ll be breaking for camp soon,” Nick said, not waiting for a response. “I’d recommend remaining in the coach until your tent is set up. There’s no reason for you to disembark until then.”

“Oh, ah… yes. That makes sense. Thank you, Master Dal,” said Claudia without moving the curtain on the window. “If you could make some time for me, I’d like to have a discussion with you once we’re encamped. Our first day on the road has finished and I’d like to review with you.”

Eh… I’d rather not but, I get it. She probably couldn’t see much of anything from in there and it wasn’t as if it was the most comfortable either.

On top of the coach, Ker lifted his head, looked around briefly, then put it back down. Then promptly flopped over onto his back and began catching the failing rays of the sun on his belly.

“That’d be fine, Miss Claudia,” agreed Nick, eying Ker.

He’d asked the fisher to watch over Claudia and the little bastard hadn’t argued at all. Plopping himself down atop the coach Ker had gone to sleep instantly and rode out the day.

Sunbathing and sleeping and clearly enjoying the trip.

“And you, Fucker,” Nick said in a low voice that he was confident wouldn’t reach the coach.

Ker cracked open his eyes and regarded Nick quietly. Watching him.

The fisher was doing exactly as requested. Guarding Claudia from a position that he could act easily. He just happened to make sure he could enjoy it, too.

“You’re doing a good job,” Nick finished almost lamely. “Keep it up, Ker.”

Giving him a sharp toothed grin, Ker closed his eyes and drifted right back to sleep, his mouth hanging open.

Slowly, the column continued on, each group pulling off to the side and into the camp. Unit by unit they all began to form the camp given previous instructions.

Nick was unfamiliar with whatever space they were expected to be in, but he didn’t need to worry about it. There were those with him that were taking care of that and the location. The guards that were already put to the security detail before Nick was assigned.

Convincing himself that he didn’t need to assist them was harder than he thought it would be. He kept finding that felt curiously guilty by not helping.

Except his duty really was to remain with Claudia at all times.

“They’re soldiers, they know their business. No reason to get in their way,” said Lucian even as those he was speaking about continued with Claudia’s tent. “If they actually asked for a hand, that’d be different. They’re not.”

Still feeling uncomfortable with it Nick couldn’t stop

Standing somewhat way from the coach, but close enough to keep an eye on it, Nick watched over the area instead. While he still felt odd not helping he did at least manage to not argue about it or try to assist the men.

Table had been ground-tied near to where the tent was going up and was living up to his name once again. Looking for all the world like a terrible table made out of a horse.

“Tents assembled, Master Dal,” said one of the soldiers, coming over to Nick a few minutes later.

“Thanks,” Nick said and nodded at the man. “I appreciate it.”

The soldier paused then chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. He was an older soldier with a weathered face. His eyes were a cold blue and his hair was a thinning brown.

“Your job is to deal with her, our job is to make sure she’s safe and has a place to be,” said the man. Nick understood what the man said, but there was a distinct accent to his words as well. It reminded Nick of the other villagers he’d grown up with. “We’re both doing a job the other wouldn’t want. Trust me. We’re all quite happy you’re her babysitter and it’s not one of us.”

Nick could only grin ruefully at that and then hold his hands up in defeat. Turning away from the soldier he walked back to the coach.

Knocking on the door once again, Nick cleared his throat.

“Miss Claudia, the tent is ready for you,” reported Nick. “Will you be eating with your father this evening?”

“No,” said Claudia before the door opened. The young lady stepped out of the coach and bowed her head fractionally to Nick. Setting her feet firmly to the ground she took a step to the side and inspected the area around them. “I plan to eat with you and my attendants. Please have the evening meal brought over.

“Going to eat with my father would disturb my plans. I truly do plan on having that review and conversation with you. I find that my… my lack of awareness has left me disadvantaged. I truly disliked that feeling.”

“It wasn’t my intention to—”

“I know it wasn’t,” Claudia said, interrupting him with a gentle wave of her hand. “You didn’t do it to show me up or assert yourself, or anything of that nature. You were merely doing your duty as you saw it. I know. Cynthia explained it to me and I confirmed it with my father later.”

Gesturing at her tent with a manicured finger Claudia began walking toward it.

“With me, Master Dal, we’ll start in on that conversation while my ladies unpack,” continued Claudia.

Cynthia? Do you think that was the pretty one with freckles?

“Most likely, Sire. She had a positive opinion of us due to our willingness to let her have her way,” offered Lucian.

Nick turned his head and looked back to the coach.

Descending from the interior at that moment was the female attendant he’d met previously. She gave him a rather warm smile and then her eyes moved to the tent. Then back to him.

“My thanks for the assistance, Cynthia,” Nick said, assuming she was indeed Cynthia.

“Of course, Master Dal,” murmured the woman in return before moving past Nick, trailing after Claudia.

Taking a long step, Nick put himself side by side with Cynthia. Both of them now following after Claudia just as she entered the tent.

“Rather close, aren’t you, Master Dal?” asked Cynthia in a curious and soft tone.

“I’m not sure, should I get closer to find out?” replied Nick, feeling his heart suddenly miss a beat and start pounding. He wasn’t really used to flirting and he couldn’t even explain why he said what he did.

But he was at least proud of the line.

Cynthia didn’t say anything though. She remained silent and entered Claudia’s tent without another word.

Ugh. Struck out with Sera, and now Cynthia. Maybe I should have made a move on Erica after all.

“You said you didn’t find her attractive, Sire,” replied Lucian.

Not wanting to respond, Nick instead sighed, adjusted his chain mail at his belt cinch, then entered the tent. Inside he found it to be sparsely decorated. Of what was there though, it was of a high quality.

“Cynthia, please tell everyone else to remain outside. You can remain at the flap,” Claudia ordered, taking a seat at the only table in the tent. There were two chairs there. “Though if possible, I’d prefer you to do your best to not hear our conversation. Mister Dal, please take a seat.”

“Of course, miss,” Cynthia said with a polite curtsy and quickly turned right back around. She moved past Nick far closer than most people would. Her forearm lightly brushed against the back of his armored self before she vanished.

Nick took this as a response to his earlier flirtatious remark. He’d have to try again with her the next chance he got.

“Master Dal, please, I’ll ask you again, have a seat,” she said, indicating a chair near her own.

Nick shrugged his shoulders, set his poleaxe against the chair she’d indicated, and than sat himself down. There was no reason for him to argue with her about that.

“Thank you. Now, I want you to… help me,” Claudia said, laying her hands in her lap. Today she looked to be doing her best to fit what she likely thought of as the picture of nobility.

“Uh huh,” Nick said, waiting.

“I… I’m not aware as I should be, as I said. I suspect my brother will begin turning a hateful gaze toward me,” Claudia said. “While I trust you to protect me, I would also like you to help me to figure out more of what’s going on. More of what I’m missing.

“That is… ugh… I don’t even know what I’m asking. I don’t know, what I don’t know. I don’t know what I should try to find out, because I don’t know what I lack in at the moment. Can you assist me in this?”

Raising his eyebrows Nick really didn’t know how to respond. This was actually the last thing he expected from her. Perhaps her wanting to review was merely an excuse to get him alone for this request.

“What’d your father say? You probably brought it up with him since you mentioned you’d spoken to him about me,” Nick said instead. He was curious about what was going on with the count.

So far, the man had been good to Nick. Almost too good.

Good to the point that Nick was beginning to start wondering if he needed to back up and flee. That it wasn’t worth whatever the man was planning for him.

“That it would be good for me to hear your words, even if I don’t act on them. As you’ll tell me straight to my face if you feel I’m doing something foolish,” Claudia said with a single dip of her head, as if in deferment to him. “This brings me back to my request. Can you help me, Master Dal? I would like to know in what ways I’m currently being foolish.”

“Huh. I mean… sure. As long as you can remember that request after you get mad at me for what I say,” Nick said. He wasn’t too sure how Claudia could fit into him possibly retaking the throne, but it couldn’t harm him to make a friend and ally. “Just so we’re clear here… I’m no genius. I’m not some mental giant who understands nobles or battle tactics or anything like that.”

About the only thing Nick had a grasp on was criminal behavior, the law, and how people skirted around it. Often so that they wouldn’t get the titles that sent them to Nick’s father.

“Wonderful, please start with my brother,” Claudia said, leaning toward him. There was a pleading and hungry look to her face. As if she craved answers that she herself couldn’t get.

“I mean, he’s an asshat, a snob, a dickbag, and clearly likes to push his weight around. That’s just what I gathered when I watched him in the shop, from when I talked to him, and then met him at the manor,” said Nick with a laugh. “If he becomes the next count I can’t imagine things going very well for anyone. Well, except for him and his cronies. If he has control over your marriage I’d expect him to marry you off as far away as possible and forget you existed at all.

“That or have you killed if he suddenly decides that it’s easier for him to deal with your funeral, than your continued existence.”

“Have me killed?” asked Claudia sounding incredibly surprised and unsure.

“I mean… yeah. Probably indirectly though,” Nick said. “Charles would just ask one of his cronies what the world would be like if you weren’t there. How he’s so worried about what will happen to him if you happen to pick up your father’s inheritance.

“Titles for crimes? They’re real binary. Unless you actually did it, or asked someone to do it for you, it… doesn’t stick. Interpretations of what people are saying don’t trigger anything.

“So if his cronie interpreted what Charles said as ‘get rid of my sister somehow’ then went and did the same thing with a hired thug or some sort… well, you get the picture. Especially if that hired thug happened to already have a title.

“Happy winter solstice and merry birthday, Charles has the inheritance and title in the free and clear.”

Claudia blinked slowly as she processed everything that Nick had just told her. It was clearly far more than she’d ever personally considered.

Then she gave him a small and fragile smile.

“I see,” she murmured. “It seems… I was woefully under prepared for taking on my father’s legacy. I hope you continue to look after me in the future, Master Dal.”

At that moment, Ker came in under one of the edges of the tent. He looked around the interior then waddled up to Nick and plopped down on the ground.

“Well, me and Ker here will most certainly be on the job,” said Nick, gesturing to the fisher. “He’ll be your night guard. Won’t you Ker?”

Ker only snorted at that, lifted his tail, and let out a fart. If Nick didn’t know any better, he’d swear the weasel had been saving it just to respond to him.

“I… that’s your familiar? His name is Ker?” Claudia asked, watching the creature.

“Yep,” Nick agreed, looking at Ker with a grin. “His full name is Fucker, but he just goes by Ker.”

“Fucker,” Claudia said, testing the name out with a small smile.

It sounded very strange to Nick hearing a curse word from such a “noble” mouth, but he couldn’t help but smile back.

“I mean, he is a Fucker, aren’t you, Ker?” Nick asked, looking to the fisher.

Ker didn’t respond in any way.