Virgin Queen

Chapter 25 - The messenger

Chapter 25 - The Messenger

The footfalls of hurried steps echoed through the deserted hallway, the elderly man’s breath become even more labored as he made haste to his destination never letting up his pace. In all his years serving at the castle never had he any reason to wake a lord so unceremoniously at this hour at night, trying to take in some semblance of a deep breath the servant burst into the chambers causing its occupant to sit up straight in his bed,

“Smith! What in hell!” Orrick all but shouted “it’s past two in the morn man, what could be so bloody important that you had to…” he paled as the words stuck in his throat “Rod…” panic was setting in, it had happened hadn’t it? It was only then did he notice the silent familiar figure standing in the doorway, hand on the hilt of his claymore, he may believe he was more English than Scot but with his built, his deep brogue, and his grim expression Aiden was more highland warrior than he realized.

“My lords, forgive me” started the servant, still mostly out of breath, Orrick looked like he was going to pass out, he could handle anything but this “There’s a messenger at the front gate milord and he insists I come to you directly, it he didn’t say t’were urgent I wouldn’t…” but Orrick did not hear another word, he knew nothing of the news that awaited them all he knew was that his brother was still alive, his shoulders sagged with obvious relief. It was only when he saw Aiden’s body stiffen at something the servant said that sound returned to him, just in time to see Aiden turn on his heel and hurried toward the front entrance,

“I’m sorry Smith what did you just say?” he asked confused

“I said, milord, that the messenger was a guard of the Amber Ranks” the old man replied, with an audible gasp, Orrick hurried after his friend understanding exactly why he would rush off the way he did, his mind sped with all the possible reasons that one of their highest ranking guards would awake them in the middle of the night. This definitely couldn’t be anything good.

“Orrick!” Aiden had turned to him with a dark expression as he approached, he had already begun speaking to their messenger, guards of the Amber Rank did not have the highest ranking for no reason, they were formidable men, their training different and more intense than any of the other guards, they were the king’s elite. The man bowed as Orrick approached, the King’s older brother dropping anything of the Orrick that Lisa would recognize and assuming his head of the guard persona instantly, he exchanged glances between the two men,

“What is it?” he asked, his voice heavy with the authority he had

“Tell him what you told me” Aiden said, he wasn’t used to hearing worry in his friend’s voice

“There’s been an attack on PeaceGrey milord” the messenger stated in a gruff voice “I’m afraid it hasn’t been pretty” Orrick felt a stone hit his heart, PeaceGrey was one of the south-most settlements, fairly large and it’s people were good hardworking people who provided a substantial amount of produce for its Baron and the smaller settlements around.

“How bad is it?” Aiden asked when he realized Orrick was still in shock,

“Frederick is dead for starters” his voice heavy with regret, he was a good man and a great Baron “a number of men were killed, they had no chance, it was a night raid, horses are gone, grain is gone, even a few of the women are missing, my lord this has been a hard blow, the Guard wishes to know how we are to proceed” Orrick and Aiden looked at each other, they had to wake Roderick, he had been resting for two days now and they were hoping to give him another but England was first and all of them knew it. Silent words passed between the two men and Aiden nodded,