[b]Chapter 32: The Duke[/b]

The column of horsemen crossed the shallows with heavy hooves and ascended a small hill where they had a good overview of the verdant land stretching out before them, from one end of the horizon to the other. They had left the king's encampment half a day ago and galloped north with haste, with a mission to ensure the country's nobility were not fed malcontent information regarding Leofric's decision outside Monarch's Rise. They had arrived at their first destination - the Duchy of Midiand. A demesne that so far had not raised a hand to aid against the invaders.

[i]"Cowards and vipers the lot of them. No doubt they sit behind their walls, whoring themselves away at their luxury while good, decent men like ourselves raise arms against our enemy."[/i] a rider spoke up with a cough. Several others nodded or muttered in accord. Not a single one objected, for none amongst the riders had been born or raised in Midiand. There was little love to be found for the duchy from anyone not born inside its borders. The duke was seen as lax and impassive to the realm's troubles and the duchess an easily tampered harlot. Unfortunately for everyone else the duke's family claim to Midiand was legitimate and stretched back many decades, so disposing them in favour of more reliable rulers had proven to be an issue.

Arthur rubbed an eye with his gloved hand and blinked sluggishly. He could see a few farms and clusters of buildings in the vast landscape before him. Far to the west raised a thick forest that contined on indefinitely, and to the east were a series of hills. Somewhere beyond the hills lay the duke's castle. Arthur pointed to them.
  [i]"There. Our good, unsolicited host resides beyond those hills. We should be there by nightfall."[/i]

 

Arthur and his followers trotted up to the castle gates an hour after the sun had settled beneath the horizon. The column held no banners as they approached and must have been mistaken as a group of highwayman, for a crossbow bolt flew straight past Arthur's head. Arthur raised a hand and the column stopped. They could hear laughter coming from the castle walls, at least three voices. One of them shouted out moments after.
  
  [i]"Who goes there, eh!? We don't want anything tonight! Unless you bring women?"[/i] More laughter resounded the walls.
  [i]"Can you believe these are the duke's men?"[/i] a knight behind Arthur spoke up quietly to his comrades.
  [i]"I can."[/i] another replied. The column laughed derisively.

Arthur glanced up to the walls and could see three men look back down. He did not see their faces for they wore helmets and the darkness shrouded the rest. Already did he loathe being near the Midiands. He approached an additional few feet. A crossbow was aimed down at him.
  
  [i]"Oi! Not too close lest I put the next one betwixt your eyes!"[/i]

Arthur sighed and raised a palm. [i]"We are friends of the duke! I am Sir Arthur of the King's Guard and I must speak with your liege lord urgently!"[/i]

The guardsmen on the walls were silent and the crossbow continued to point at Arthur for an uncomfortable amount of time. He saw their heads turn as they conversed lowly with each other before finally the crossbow was raised. Two of the guardsmen disappeared while the one with the crossbow remained, leaning over the battlements.

"[i]"Why did you not just say so from the beginning, my sir?"[/i] the guardsman replied with a cold tone, void of respect that any kingsman deserved. The drawbridge was lowered and the thick iron portcullis behind it raised. The columned contined into the castle courtyard and dismounted. A few guards approached to take the horses away but they were firmly rejected by the knights. A large, bald man in chainmail and surcoat bearing the Midiand colours walked up to Arthur. On one side he carried a simple arming sword and on the other a lumberjack's axe. Both his hands were resting upon the weapons in an idle manner, or so Arthur hoped.

  [i]"What are the king's men doing here past sunset?"[/i] the bald guardsman asked cautiously. Arthur sized up the guardsman, he was about the same height as himself and carried a grizzled look of veterancy. He then looked around the courtyard and noticed that more or less every castle guard on duty, near two dozen, watched the knights while whispering between themselves. Arthur grabbed his helmet and pulled it off his head. He mustered a polite albeit forced smile to the bald man. [i]"I need to speak with the duke."[/i] Arthur consicely replied. [i]"And who are you?"[/i]

  [i]"Cael."[/i] the bald guard answered as politely as he could. [i]"I am the Sergeant-at-Arms here."[/i]
  [i]"I am Sir Arthur. Take me to the duke, sergeant."[/i] Arthur nodded. The air in the courtyard was cold, and not only due to the winter.

Cael nodded begrudgingly and turned on his heels. He barked out an order and the idle, staring guardsmen sprung up to life and returned to their tasks at hand. Arthur told his men to stay in the courtyard and gave his helmet to a knight before following on behind Cael. The two men entered through two large wooden doors leading into the main castle building where the duke resided. The inside was dark, almost too dark. A handful of candles or torches were all that kept the halls and rooms lit up and Arthur had to look down at his feet on several occasions to ensure he was not about to trip over something. Cael led him up a set of stairs and stopped infront of another room, closed off by two doors.

  [i]"Wait here a moment, sir. I'll inform His Grace that you are here."[/i] Cael said and promptly disappeared through the doors, closing them behind him.
Arthur sighed and pulled off his leather gloves and tucked them in behind his belt. He rubbed an eye and spotted a mirror upon a nearby wall. He stepped over and looked into it, at himself. His armour and tabard were dirty, muddied by the strife and struggle that had followed ever since the Raylian attack on Lowburg. His short hair was equally dirty and his features weary, his eyes appearing almost wild looking. Arthur grinned to himself. It was perfect; now he got to show the duke how life was beyond the comfort of his castle and the reality they faced.

  [i]"Sir. His Grace is ready to see you."[/i] Arthur turned around and noticed Cael stand at the doors again. He had not heard the sergeant return.
  [i]"Good."[/i]

The room behind the two doors was large and lavish with curtains of different colours, exotic food and drink lined up on tables and furniture that was akin to that of the royal keep. The room was lit up by torches on the walls and Arthur could notice a couple of doorways further inside, leading into other rooms. Cael stopped in the center of the room and bowed.

  [i]"Your Grace. Here he is."[/i] Cael stepped aside and Arthur looked ahead. A large, somewhat rotound man sat upon a throne-like chair. He was dressed in rich cloth with the colours of his house, deep blue and black, with the contrast of a red cloak around his shoulders. The duke lazily rested an elbow against his chair and studied Arthur with a pair of scheming eyes. A similar chair like the duke's stood next to him, although it was empty.

  [i]"Duke Meinolf."[/i] Arthur said and bowed, just barely.
  [i]"Sir Arthur himself in the flesh."[/i] Meinolf answered with a dull tone. [i]"I welcome you into my castle on this terrific night. To what do I owe this visit? I'm assuming it has something to do with that dreadful thing at the capital..."[/i]

Arthur straightened out his posture again into its full imposing height. He gave the duke a heedful look. [i]"On the contrary, your grace, I am here to ensure you that there is little cause for concern regarding the safety of your demesne. We--"[/i] Arthur was suddenly abrupted as the duke stood up awfully quick for a man of his figure.

  [i]"Let me stop you right there, sir!"[/i] Meinolf hollered. [i]"My outriders tells me that the king has dismantled his siege camp and marched north. North! That's this way! And you mean to tell me that I have no cause for concern? If His Majesty was capable of dealing with this... this enemy, he would have done so already! But instead he marches this way, no doubt to command me to lend him my soldiers for his war."[/i]

Arthur frowned. Meinolf seemed to have been quite prepared with his response.

  [i]"The situation is being dealt with, Your Grace. The king has seen what the enemy has to offer in terms of resistance and bought valuable time to prepare ourselves accordingly with."[/i]
  [i]"Bought?"[/i] Meinolf asked.
  [i]"Yes."[/i] Arthur replied with his irritation growing by the minute. Meinolf was out after something specific.
  [i]"You mean he treated with the enemy? Instead of battling them?"[/i] Meinolf persisted, his eyes widening.

Arthur seethed. Meinolf was not a military man, yet he spoke with the pretense of being accomplished in the matter.

  [i]"There are more aspects to war than just fighting, Your Grace."[/i] Arthur replied swiftly, smartly diverting the discussing away from the dangerous direction it was going, as Meinolf just gave Arthur a perplexed stare.
  [i]"Fine."[/i] the duke finally said and slowly sat down into his chair again.[i]"Then... is there anything I can do to help?"[/i]

Arthur pondered.

  [i]"Not directly. Maintaining order here and keeping the good people of Midiand safe and free of worry would be helpful enough, Your Grace."[/i]
  [i]"That's all?"[/i] Meinolf inquired.
  [i]"Yes. Unless you'd rather supply the king with soldiers and supplies?"[/i]

Meinolf abruptly shook his head but realised his mistake quickly enough and cleared his throat dismissively.

  [i]"No, I believe you are right, sir. Order and stability must be maintained here. We are next in line from the capital and my people are afraid. It will calm their nerves to see good, stout men of the sword patrol the roads and streets, ever ready to keep dark forces at bay."[/i] Meinolf smiled.

Arthur nodded again. If the duke's own guards were any template to go by, then he was more than pleased to let the Midiand army sit idle in their own province instead of risking everything at the frontline. [i]"Glad to hear it, Your Grace. Then all is well?"[/i]

Meinolf nodded.

  [i]"Then I shall depart. I bid you a good night, Your Grace. I apologise for disturbing you with this at this hour."[/i]
Arthur bowed again and quickly turned around to leave before Meinolf could say anything else. Cael, who had stood silent at the side throughout it all, followed the knight out of the duke's petition chamber. They returned down the stairs and stepped outside on the courtyard again. Arthur took a breath of cold air and went straight to his destrier. The knight who had taken his helmet extended the headgear back and Arthur took it, shoving it back over his head.

Moments later the column of knights exited the castle gates. Arthur rode at the head of the column and steered them down the road and away from the castle. They would need to find a place to rest for the night, and as long it was far away from Meinolf and his petty band of soldiers then it was good enough for Arthur.

Still, he had the gnawing concern in the back of his head that the duke had something else up his sleeve...