“Leaving you here, alone, with the army of Darkmoor.”
“An army which I have led for many a year.” Otto gripped the desk, breathing in the scent of woodsmoke from the fire and reminding himself to stay calm. “You know, Althalos, thatmy father handed that responsibility over to me long before he died.”
Althalos nodded slowly. “Ulric told me everything.” He lingered over the last word, but Otto would not give him the satisfaction of asking after his meaning.
“You are welcome to use the carriage,” he said instead.
“You are most kind.” Althalos did a poor job of hiding his smile. “But I shall not need it, not today.”
Damned impudence.
“Have I not made myself clear?” Otto’s voice came out with a growl.
“Perfectly, but you are not yet furnished with all the facts.” Althalos sighed. “Facts regarding loyalty.”
Otto recalled his conversation with Gaius. “I am the Earl of Darkmoor, and I command the loyalty of my people,”
Althalos inclined his head. “You are the Earl of Darkmoor, yes. And you command the loyalty ofmostof your people. But dissent is growing, Otto. And you have been distracted.” Althalos waved his hand in a contemptuous manner.
Otto felt his scar begin to itch. He clenched his fingers together and bade himself to show no signs of agitation. “At which point was I distracted, uncle? Was it when I won the joust? Or when we defeated the troops of Sir Leon in Kenmar?”
Something flickered behind Althalos’s eyes. “The outcome of the battle of Branfeld was not clear.”
“It was clear enough to me,” Otto replied shortly “My father died for it.” He wanted to bang his first down onto the desk, but contented himself with a hard, unwavering glare at the man he was beginning to think of as his enemy.
“Lord Ulric died before his time.” Althalos held Otto’s gaze. “His people were not ready for it.” His voice grew softer. “His son was not ready for it.”
A log flared and cracked in the fire. “I was born and raised to be earl,” Otto said, slowly and deliberately.
“And you will be a great one.” Althalos leaned forward, the heat from the flames seemingly not affecting him. “I will make sure of it.”
Otto ground his teeth together, resisting the urge to reach for the sword which hung at his hip. “Your assistance is no longer required in Darkmoor.”
“Only this morning I caught your own men plotting against you.” Sir Althalos raised his voice, his composure finally ruffled. “What would your father say?”
The question brought Otto up short. He knew what his father would say.Show no weakness; show no mercy.
IfAlthalos had caught the men plotting, as he claimed, then he had reacted the way Ulric would have wanted. Even a potential traitor must be banished from Darkmoor. Else their poison would spread like wildlife.
Unwittingly, Otto’s gaze flickered upwards to the frieze of Lord Ulric.What would his father have him do now?
Althalos shifted on the chair, seeming to come to a decision. “I understand you wish to be left alone, to rule Darkmoor as you see fit.” His voice had become accommodating, benevolent even. “You are newly married, Otto. And I remember what it is to be a young man. I have no wish to stay beyond my welcome. But long ago I made a promise to my brother. And it is one I intend to keep.”
The itch of his scar had settled into a burning ache. Otto rubbed at it absently, knowing he had to ask even though he didn’t want to. “What was this promise?”
“That if he died young, I would stay in Darkmoor until you had full command of your new position.”
Otto pushed himself forward over the polished desk. “What will convince you, uncle? Should I have my men swear an oath of allegiance?”
He had meant it as a dig, but Althalos seemed to consider his proposal. “That is most likely not necessary,” he eventually concluded.
Otto raised an eyebrow and stayed quiet, anger slowly giving way to weary irritation.
“Let us stay, just a few weeks more,” Althalos continued. “Allow me to satisfy myself that those two foolish squires did you no lasting harm, that no further rumors of rebellion are circulating. That way I will rest easy in my bed, knowing that you can rest easy in yours.”
Otto placed the palms of his hands together. This was not what he had wanted, but somehow Althalos had backed him into a corner.
“A few more weeks?” he clarified.
