26 Don't Get Me Started

"I'm sure it's some kind of mistake."

I rode in the carriage with Mathilda on our way to yet another close-to-revolt situation. This time a little Barony.

I preferred very much to travel in silence and possible sleep off the persisting migraine but it seemed she wanted to talk.

"The Mayor declared Edward as his accomplice, Mathilda. Even if it's some kind of cruel joke played on by the Mayor, what does he have to gain by lying? He is under watch and awaiting proper judgement. He has already lost everything worth losing." We had gone ahead to ransack the Mayor's statehouse for everything of value surpassing his station. There was a lot. Loaded it up and sent it to Aville.

It was rather annoying having to explain simple scenarios such as these to someone as competent as Mathilda. Does love dumb you down? Most likely.

"I still cannot believe it. I will not believe it. Not until I hear it from Edward myself." She was firm even in this. Again I found myself admiring her except this time I hated it. She was corrupted and blinded by her feelings for this criminal.

"That's all well and good but after his interrogation, I will leave him to imprison and await the Duke's final verdict. You have no place in deciding his faith." It was a cruel reminder of her powerlessness but perhaps some powerlessness is what she needed to realize how futile her emotions were in the face of justice.

"At least, let me be the one to talk to him." She pleaded, "He wouldn't lie, not to me."

Luckily, the carriage had come to a rocky stop at the front of the large stone castle village and I need to bear her pleas no more. I quickly hop down from the carriage and begin walking in, hearing her run, calling my name from behind.

"Milord please grant me this!" she said as she hurriedly kneeled in the snow in front of me, causing a scene as she did so. The gates were still being closed.

"Enough, Mathilda. Do you realize yourself? Look at you!" I scold, her irritating behaviour getting to me. "Edward is over. I doubt even my play on father's mercies will save him. Do yourself a favour and cast him aside. You do not want to look complicit."

"Milord, please grant me this!" she repeated.

"Why are you doing this to yourself, Mathilda? You'll be terribly hurt if you confront him with this, I know this to be true."

"Because I love him!"

At this, I fell silent and found myself confused. Love was a poison, yes, but I never, in my two lives experienced it to be a delusional one. Perhaps I was missing some vital experience or the other. Mathilda's soft sniffling's only made me sympathetic.

"Get up. We have work to do." I said, walking past her form. The sun would set soon, and I wanted to sleep in my bed.

I walk to the Baron who I found to be on horseback. He brought himself down at my approach and gave greeting. I answered and he walked with me into the castle. Yet I could feel his eyes dart between myself and Mathilda who'd later gotten herself back together.

"Is there a question you wish to ask. Baron?"

The baron looked to me, in his eyes he held many questions but wisely voiced none. "It is nothing Milord, forgive my ill-manners."

I nod, eying Mathilda as I do, she didn't look as embarrassed as I thought she would. More concerned really. I inhale deeply as I struggle against my frustrations at her. It seemed Edward's fate weigh more heavily on her mind than any other matter.

I set aside my thoughts as we arrived inside the halls of the castle and a large, long table was set with food steaming, evidently just being plated. It was a warm welcome, literally as the temperature inside was high enough for my gloves to be pulled off.

"Please, sit and eat with us and we'll talk about the realm." The baron says, motioning for us to take our places on the long table.

Mathilda and I find our places at the table easily enough but I quickly realize what he meant by 'us' as his family soon surfaces. I look around, surprised, I'd thought this would be more of a private lunch. I find myself getting irritated despite not having a valid reason.

They bowed their heads to the food, noses almost touching the plates of food about to offer prayers to Ghuuarthia. I followed suit, not wanting to disrespect their culture and religion under their roof, no matter how much superiority I held over them all.

After a round of three loud claps above their bowed heads, it was finally time to eat. I had in my plate a healthy portion of custard pie, venison and there was a plate of almond sauce and chicken set at the centre of the table for everyone.

Not different from what I'd normally have back at Aville. The custard was plain and bland in taste but a mouthful nonetheless, and the chicken was carved by the baron's wife and wasn't very spiced.

They'd gone out of their way to impress me, I should show some gratitude.

"…"

I really couldn't think of anything to say about the food, I'd never had to talk about the quality of food over the table. Perhaps I should begin talking business?

"…"

His wife was staring at me all while chewing on a piece of venison. I'd never felt so awkward.

I let out a cough and let my leg brush against Mathilda's underneath the table. She turns her eyes towards me, a jug of wine forced between her lips as she chugged it all down caring less about everything else. Was she still upset? Was she trying to get drunk? Ugh.

Luckily enough for me, she was still Mathilda underneath all her stubborn feelings of love. She got my message and set down the jug, wiping her mouth with her hand as she made to speak.

"Tell me, baron, did you hunt this venison yourself?" she asks, stabbing a piece of the meat and waving it in the air before munching down on it.

A bit unrefined but I'll take anything that buys me enough time to think up a good Segway into more important topics.

"Ah. I was a great hunt. A desperate one too especially in the winter…"

I looked at the two getting more immersed in the conversation about deer hunting not knowing much of what to think I shrugged off the concern and tuned them out, preferring to finish my serving of food whilst re-evaluating the situation here. Applying all possible solutions.

The Barony of Perlun had not only the small market village within its vassalage but also three other larger villages, albeit reasonably far apart from each other. So far the villages and its occupants had begun refusing tax. Merciful a lord, the baron abstained in taking any action that would lead to anymore animosity but also abstained from informing his superiors.

That is until they began exhibiting rebellious behaviours.

In the letter the baron had sent me, distressed as it was. He feared greatly that the miscreants who'd burn down a large patch of his farm would do more and find their way into the castle village and eventually kill him in his own home.

A bit of an extreme route of thought to go through the moment they start behaving unruly but a cautious one nonetheless. The peasantry couldn't be underestimated.

"But who are these men that rise up so freely?" I carelessly blurt out.

I get a hold of myself and find that the background noise of my surroundings had stopped. I looked up and found myself to be the centre of attention now. I look to the baron who'd lost his smile and Mathilda who still had 'more important things' on her mind. I'd interrupted their hunting story.

"Well, milord, one of the rebel leaders is a former retainer of mine. He defied my instructions some month ago and I dismissed him from my company. He left, reasonably displeased. He is the reason I fear so much."

I could see why any reasonable noble lord would feel nervous if a commander of theirs went rogue and was gathering an army.

"Do you have any idea what their numbers are? And where they are based?" I ask, wanting to resolve the issue as fast as possible.

"Well, they are based within the barony, as far as the reports go they range around a hundred peasants. All armed with farming tools." He sighs, "We've arrested some but they are elusive, they converge and disperse quickly and wear masks to hide their identities. The people we capture aren't giving in to our questioning either."

I sigh, this could easily be resolved I realize. I stand from the table and look to the baron.

"Baron, take me to the prisoners."