Neffenmark’s man.
Even if an attacking force discovered the secret path, they would have been hard pressed to actually use it as a means of assault. The start of the path wound through the foothills of the mountains in the middle of a thick grove of trees. As it neared the castle, it was cut into the rock of the mountain just wide enough for a horse and its rider to traverse. This made it not only difficult to pass, but also very easy to defend. A handful of archers could keep an entire army at bay. Neffenmark had also installed two sections of loose rock above the path. A quick knockout of a supporting beam would cause the path to be completely blocked. The final section leading up to the castle was steep enough that horses had trouble getting up it.
Two archers looked down upon them from the battlements that covered the rear of the castle. With a wave from the man following Brace, they disappeared. A moment later, a door hidden in the darkness opened, allowing them into the castle. A young boy took Brace’s horse while he marched his way through the back hallways directly to Neffenmark’s chambers.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” Lord Neffenmark said as Brace entered the chamber.
Brace bit his lip, forcing the words that he wanted to come out back down inside. He had bad news and he didn’t want to give it to the Neffenmark while he was mad. Instead, he put on a fake smile and gave a courteous nod. He was a warrior first, but as Knight Captain, he also had to play the politician at times.
“Come in,” Neffenmark said with a motion of his plump hand. The rest of his ample girth was spread on top of a pile of silk pillows. It was the same place that Brace saw him each time he came to the castle and wondered if he ever moved from that spot.
“Dinner was served some time ago, but I am sure that I can scrounge up a morsel or two.”
“No thank you,” Brace said. “I have little time and I will need to be heading back out as soon as I can get a fresh horse.”
“Very well,” Neffenmark replied with a toothy smile. “Wine to parch your dusty throat?”
Brace gave in and took a goblet from one of the lord’s servants. It was a sweet wine and very strong, unlike the more diluted wines that he was used to drinking. It was the type of wine reserved for special feasts or celebrations, not the kind served to thirsty travelers. But that was Neffenmark’s style and it showed in his castle. Although it was designed for defense and served as the northwestern outpost for the kingdom, Lord Neffenmark’s castle was hardly styled as a military garrison. Tapestries from around the world hung throughout the halls, adding color and energy to what would normally be cold and lifeless walls. Pillows of all shapes, sizes, and colors was the seating of choice. Hardly a chair could be found. Neffenmark served his justice not from a throne, but from a pile of comfortable pillows. The lord’s soldiers were also dressed in the finest of clothes. Their tunics were silk and bright colored. Their scabbards encrusted with precious jewels. Neffenmark was a very wealthy man and he put that wealth to use. Brace just wasn’t sure it was the most effective use of his wealth.
After the first sip, Brace gulped the rest of the wine down, allowing the alcohol to swim through his body and calm him. He wanted to ease into the conversation, but he could not find the words. So he simply spoke his mind, and didn’t hold anything back.
“The plan has done awry. The princess was not captured and several of the men you provided were killed.” He spent several minutes further detailing the failure, including the fact that the princess had yet to be found.
Neffenmark stiffened, his red cheeks turning a pale white. His mouth opened for a moment, and then closed, keeping the words from coming out. He looked hard back at Brace, who did not turn his gaze away. After a
Even if an attacking force discovered the secret path, they would have been hard pressed to actually use it as a means of assault. The start of the path wound through the foothills of the mountains in the middle of a thick grove of trees. As it neared the castle, it was cut into the rock of the mountain just wide enough for a horse and its rider to traverse. This made it not only difficult to pass, but also very easy to defend. A handful of archers could keep an entire army at bay. Neffenmark had also installed two sections of loose rock above the path. A quick knockout of a supporting beam would cause the path to be completely blocked. The final section leading up to the castle was steep enough that horses had trouble getting up it.
Two archers looked down upon them from the battlements that covered the rear of the castle. With a wave from the man following Brace, they disappeared. A moment later, a door hidden in the darkness opened, allowing them into the castle. A young boy took Brace’s horse while he marched his way through the back hallways directly to Neffenmark’s chambers.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” Lord Neffenmark said as Brace entered the chamber.
Brace bit his lip, forcing the words that he wanted to come out back down inside. He had bad news and he didn’t want to give it to the Neffenmark while he was mad. Instead, he put on a fake smile and gave a courteous nod. He was a warrior first, but as Knight Captain, he also had to play the politician at times.
“Come in,” Neffenmark said with a motion of his plump hand. The rest of his ample girth was spread on top of a pile of silk pillows. It was the same place that Brace saw him each time he came to the castle and wondered if he ever moved from that spot.
“Dinner was served some time ago, but I am sure that I can scrounge up a morsel or two.”
“No thank you,” Brace said. “I have little time and I will need to be heading back out as soon as I can get a fresh horse.”
“Very well,” Neffenmark replied with a toothy smile. “Wine to parch your dusty throat?”
Brace gave in and took a goblet from one of the lord’s servants. It was a sweet wine and very strong, unlike the more diluted wines that he was used to drinking. It was the type of wine reserved for special feasts or celebrations, not the kind served to thirsty travelers. But that was Neffenmark’s style and it showed in his castle. Although it was designed for defense and served as the northwestern outpost for the kingdom, Lord Neffenmark’s castle was hardly styled as a military garrison. Tapestries from around the world hung throughout the halls, adding color and energy to what would normally be cold and lifeless walls. Pillows of all shapes, sizes, and colors was the seating of choice. Hardly a chair could be found. Neffenmark served his justice not from a throne, but from a pile of comfortable pillows. The lord’s soldiers were also dressed in the finest of clothes. Their tunics were silk and bright colored. Their scabbards encrusted with precious jewels. Neffenmark was a very wealthy man and he put that wealth to use. Brace just wasn’t sure it was the most effective use of his wealth.
After the first sip, Brace gulped the rest of the wine down, allowing the alcohol to swim through his body and calm him. He wanted to ease into the conversation, but he could not find the words. So he simply spoke his mind, and didn’t hold anything back.
“The plan has done awry. The princess was not captured and several of the men you provided were killed.” He spent several minutes further detailing the failure, including the fact that the princess had yet to be found.
Neffenmark stiffened, his red cheeks turning a pale white. His mouth opened for a moment, and then closed, keeping the words from coming out. He looked hard back at Brace, who did not turn his gaze away. After a
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