To Bind in Blood

Chapter 28

"You must be more careful, Great Lord." Lord Talo's admonishment was a mixture of concern and sternness, holding an authority that could hardly be argued with.

"I have been careful, Lord Talo," Jurion said, pushing a hand through his hair and fighting weariness. For a fleeting moment he wished Wrell were here to help defend against the council's smothering, but he had insisted she rest after the events of last night. She needed it, especially after what she had told him about her past. The wolves had clearly shaken her.

Jurion surveyed the anxious faces of the lesser lords standing around the table, their features appearing darker and gaunter from the candlelight. "Yesterday was an uncommon occurrence and unlikely to happen again, much less to have happened in the first place." He and Wrell had made it safely back from the Great Wood to the estate with daylight to spare. They had been unable to avoid the questions, though, and had shared what happened with those present to greet them at their return. The news quickly filtered its way through the estate and Black Vale to Jurion's council of lesser lords, resulting in a meeting early the next morning.

Jurion stifled a yawn and watched Lord Edhar, a councilman known for being particularly frustrating more often than anyone cared for, lean against the top of the long table and declare, "Just a bloodbound servant is not enough. You must take a full guard with you wherever you go, Great Lord."

"I have been expecting this suggestion," Jurion said, "and I must refuse."

"We cannot take the risk. Quelle needs a stable leader."

Jurion began to walk the length of the table, the lesser lords watching him from where they stood. "A full guard detail is not practical, nor is it necessary in Black Vale, Lord Edhar."

"On the contrary, my lord. We have already lost one Great Lord. We cannot afford to lose another."

Jurion nearly soured at the allusion to his brother. He had already been upset after yesterday's meeting; he did not need the makings of another bad day.

They ended up compromising. A guard of three, including Wrell, would escort him to wherever he needed to go. In places like the meeting room, where the lesser lords' personal guards were posted as usual, he could leave his own guards outside or dismiss them for a while.

With that settled, talk then turned to the situation with the empress and the engagement.

"It is taking too long," Lord Aures, one of the most experienced lesser lords and a natural leader of the council, said. "The empress is unpredictable, and therefore the agreement is still tenuous."

The others were nodding.

"Remas still presents a danger," Lord Edhar said. "What news have you from the border, Great Lord?"

"I have an inspection and a meeting with the Lady General after this, Lord Edhar," Jurion replied. "She is currently occupied at the court of the lesser ladies right now, seeing to the Empress Vian's attacker."

Lord Edhar accepted the excuse with a sniff. "I trust you will relay her report tomorrow."

"Of course." Jurion wondered if he should be offended by Edhar's superior tone, but at this point he had known Edhar long enough to let it go.

"Perhaps this trust might be strengthened by a bloodbind," Lord Talo suggested.

"You mean to move the wedding date?" Unnerving. There had been so much to do, and a wedding was not something he considered pressing. The agreement with the Empire had been made; to break it would invite danger upon his realm. A wedding was just a formality, as Nadeina would likely describe it.