02.45: The Enemies We Make — 4

I called Reshma and Lady Erenna into my solar.

The sky outside the window flashed white, thunder splitting the clouds.

Reshma pushed the door open and stepped inside, giving me a dirty look.

Lady Erenna followed at a measured pace, closing the door carefully.

“What is it?” my smoldering love asked as she sat, already tense.

“Father Korric visited me.”

Her eyes narrowed.

Bracing for impact, I told them about what he had found out, what he had said and what he had implied.

Halfway through, the older woman’s face drained of color.

Reshma didn’t interrupt, but looked ready to throttle me.

I waited for judgment in silence.

“Now you are picking a fight with the Church?”

“Not by choice. What was I supposed to do?”

“To not cause more headache for me and Laira!” she snapped immediately. “First you anger the nobles, and now the Church as well?”

Might have pissed off the guilds as well.

Self preservation kicked in time and I didn’t say that out loud.

It didn’t help.

“You’ve been meeting with multiple craftsmen, so the guilds as well?”

“I took some furnace masters under my protection and bought an apprentice. That was necessary.”

Her gaze didn’t soften.

Lady Erenna put a calming hand on her arm.

“Father Korric is rigid,” she said in a measured voice, “but he’s not that high in the hierarchy. Not every priest will react the same. This can still be managed. How about we reinstate Soren and make a donation to the local monastery?”

“No.”

The words came out instantly.

“These people know nothing about medicine. They let people die and call it righteous. I won’t let them do as they please.”

Reshma’s glare could melt iron.

“You will.”

Her voice faltered, then broke.

“Or I…”

Her face crumpled.

Not with anger, but fear.

I immediately rushed to her side and knelt down.

Her hand was cold when I took it.

She didn’t pull away.

Didn’t grip back either.

Her eyes lifted to mine, bright with tears threatening to spill.

“You’re making everything harder, Jack,” she said, voice quiet and unsteady. “You know you’re bad at diplomacy, but then don’t listen. There’s already trouble brewing and you are adding more on top.”

“I’m sorry, honey, but—”

“I know you’re impatient to return to Chadom. I’d ask you to go right away myself, if the people of Nebelhain and Mondgrove didn’t need to see their new Count.”

I just held her hand, not knowing what to say.

“Every time you do this, you create another enemy,” she whispered.

Her grip tightened around my hand suddenly.

Desperate.

“This could cost us everything.”

Her other hand moved hesitantly, then settled against her stomach.

My heart leapt into my mouth.

“Are you--”

She shook her head quickly.

“I don’t know, but what if I am?”

A bucket of ice cold reality fell on top of me.

I had not accounted for it.

Her slender hand now trembled in mine.

“Those fools won’t understand you are doing all this to save our realm. If they turn against you, it won’t just stop at you. Or me. Or Laira,” she almost begged, “but all of Nanon. Even Aprilia, unless Chadom can survive Zoran on its own?”

I shook my head.

“Tell me you understand that.”

“I do.”

I exhaled the tension building in my chest.

“I’ll arrange for the donation.”

Her shoulder dropped a fraction.

“The physician?”

My face soured.

“Even if I reinstate him, the genie he’s freed isn’t going back. I’ll consider it.”

Lady Erenna sighed.

“That will help.”

Reshma released my hand.

Slowly. Reluctantly.

“No more private meetings for you. From now on, one of us must be present whenever you receive someone new.”

I nodded immediately.

Diplomacy really wasn’t my forte.

Reshma let out a slow breath, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.

Lady Erenna glanced at me hesitantly.

“What were you,” she asked carefully, “in the other place?”

“An engineer. Good at building things. Not so much at talking.”

Also ruined my life there by not keeping my stupid mouth in check.

I won’t let that happen again.

That earned a faint ghost of a smile from her.

But not from Reshma.

She watched me like she was trying to decide whether I was going to save everything, or burn it down.

I met Lady Erenna’s eyes.

“What can the Church do, beside excommunicating me?”

Her expression tightened.

“Isolate you.”

“Meaning?”

“No sacraments. No rites for the dead. The peasants won’t tolerate it. They will rise up against you.”

“Bloody thugs,” I swore. “How long will it take them to respond?”

“Weeks at least.”

“As long as they don’t interfere in the upcoming marriage, I can handle them.”

“How?”

“As you said, the clergy are not a monolith. We need to recruit the sensible ones to our side.”

Divide before they consolidate.

“Could you influence the Church to send one of them here?”

She thought for some time.

“Maybe, but its better if you ask the Queen. Also take the surgeons and their apprentices with you to Chadom, just in case.”

“I’ll take Darron. He’s more abrasive, but I won’t leave you without someone who knows what they are doing. Just hide them if the Church sends an uncooperative man.”

Someone knocked at the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Sire,” Elric’s voice came from the other side.

“A letter from the Ironfelds just arrived.”

I got up to let him in.

“Took them long enough to figure out they’ve lost a town.”

Opening the letter, we read it together.

“Illegal aggression… overreaching authority… killed a surrendering garrison.”

I looked at Reshma.

She shrugged.

“No real teeth. This won’t get them anywhere.”

“That might be more worrying.”

“How?”

“They’ll be using covert means to get to us.”

I called for Godwin and Moore and handed the letter to them.

“Now they know Nobart is strong,” I said. “Usually, they wouldn’t be able to do much, but I’m pretty sure they’ve allied themselves with Stormhaven. Work with the men of Wulfsden to secure the border. I want it tight like a nun’s ass.”

Godwin nodded sharply.

“It will be done, Sire.”

“The families of your soldiers?”

“All in Nobart.”

“Good. Make sure the men keep an eye on each other.”

Moore frowned.

“Sire?”

“Our enemies might try to assassinate or honeypot your key men, or you.”

“Honeypot?”

“A very attractive woman. All theirs for the entire night for the low price of passing a message or looking the other way at a border crossing.”

Moore looked uncomfortable while Godwin nodded in understanding.

As everyone turned to leave, I signaled for Moore to stay behind.

“I hope you are fine with my decision?”

He nodded.

“I understand, Sire. I am far too inexperienced for it. Sir Godwin has the men’s confidence and respect.”

Another feast was held that night. Much warmer and alive than the last one.

Heat rolled from the long hearths in waves, carrying the smell of roasted boar fat, onions and wine.

Wet cloaks steamed lightly next to the entrance, the damp scent of the rain still in the air.

This time, I did have an appetite, despite having made two massive enemies.

I indulged to distract myself, enjoying generous portions of roasted meat, various kinds of delectable cheeses and hot vegetable stew.

Everything except the wine.

The hall reverberated with voices. Some laughed with abandon, while others watched them and the high table.

Once everyone was fed and had some liquor in them, I stood up and raised my goblet.

“Your attention please!”

The hall slowly fell silent.

“Let us welcome our friends from Nordhaven.”

Knights from one end of the hall lifted their cups while others cheered.

“I have made several decisions regarding the future of our county.”

The attendees’ attention sharpened. Dozens of eyes focused on me.

I cleared my throat.

“My father’s folly left the county in a state of turmoil, bereft of competent leaders. I am glad to announce I have discovered someone to fill one of the more important vacancies. One worthy of taking care of a barony.”

I turned slightly, extending a hand to the knight sitting next to me.

“Sir Garwin.”

The young knight froze for a moment before standing.

“Sir Garwin of Nebelhain has shown himself to be just and brave. He swiftly ended the unrest in his home without destroying it. He bravely led men in the Battle of Blackrain.”

Men nodded.

“When one of ours forgot what discipline meant, he enforced it.”

Silence tightened.

“In a county that suffered from men who mistook authority for entitlement… that matters. A lot.

“As the Count of Nobart, under grace of our Queen, I name Sir Garwin the new Baron of Nebelhain.”

Nothing happened for a moment.

Then, the hall erupted in cheers.

Mostly unanimous. Thank God.

Garwin bowed stiffly.

More warrior than politician.

Good thing his future wife could fill that space.

Sifrena directed those big flirty eyes at me and dipped her head in thanks.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the sly vixen was already pregnant with his child.

Once the cheers had died down, I continued.

“Also, he and Dowager Nebelhain have decided to marry. I wish them the best and hope their union bears fruit.”

Murmurs broke into cheers.

“They will hold Nebelhain together and make it better.”

The applause was more calculated this time.

“Next, Sir Godwin.”

The big knight rose up steadily.

“Sir Godwin built the Great Company to a well-renowned mercenary force. He bravely led it in dozens of campaigns all across Nanon. Only this morning, he added that strength to ours by dissolving the company, joining our ranks.

“From this day forward, he will command the new army of Nobart.”

The hall rumbled with deep throated cheers of my soldiers. Half of Wulfsden men joined in, while the rest smiled politely. The men of Nordhaven just looked baffled.

“The new standing army of Nobart will secure its borders and enforce peace within. From this day forward, no unjust violence will be tolerated in this county, be it from external enemies, or internal. If we keep fighting among each other, we will never be ready to face the outsiders braying for our blood.”

Confused glances were exchanged.

Finally, sporadic clapping broke the silence.

I didn’t expect more.

The high table remained silent.

Eirica and Garwin had no choice but to support me. Wulf was in my debt. Only the Nordhaven crone was absent.

As I sat, I caught Moore watching the room. A loyal and smart man, but just too young to be in charge. Hopefully he would rise up to be Godwin’s successor.

All this work, and still the new force wasn’t enough to stabilize the county alone. I still had to show my face in Nebelhain and Mondgrove.

Leaving me even less time to spend in Chadom before I had to sail back to Aldersthron for my marriage.

I just hoped I would be ready in time to handle the three front war I might have begun.