108. Invitation (3)

The girls immediately started talking like they were old friends and the planning of not only the dress but also the plans for the layout of the area. The lake was used by two separate nobles, including the golden lion, earlier in the spring and both of the ceremonies were beautiful. But the second one was a little better since they learned things and they learned even more after the last one and both of them had some amazing ideas for the decorations.

While they were talking Novum did not stand on ceremony and walked into the house and towards the study. The Earl was leaning over his desk working on something that was bugging the crap out of him. Novum saw the guard was about to announce him and he held up a hand and stopped him with a wink. The guard knew that he was going to get an earful later but he knew that it would not be that bad since it was Novum.

Novum moved a lot quieter than a man his size had any right to move and was up close to the desk and the Earl had still not noticed him. He thought about getting closer and getting him really good but there was a chance that what he was working on could be sensitive and he was not willing to make that mistake even on accident. He was close enough and called out in a loud voice. "Good morning Earl."

The Earl jerked hard enough that he almost tipped back over in his chair. "Ahhhh! By the gods Novum. A man your size should not be able to move that quietly."

"My apologies Earl. I did not mean to startle you. I was trying not to get to close in case it was something sensitive."

"Don't apologize if you do not mean it. We both know that you told the guard not to announce you and then made sure to walk as quietly as you could You only stopped because it looked like it was something serious." Now that his heart rate had slowed down he realized that it would be been pretty funny to see and shook his head at the young Baron. "But it is good to see you."

"You caught me Earl."

"So, what can I help you with today?"

"I was coming to introduce you to my fiancé and give you an invitation on the first but unfortunately she was snatched up by the ladies of your house. I think they are heading out to do some dress shopping."

"Fiancé and you are getting married on the first? Have you been put under an enchantment?"

Novum threw his head back and laughed. "Nothing like that sir. Her uncle was not happy with our relationship. He drugged her and moved her out of the area and arranged for her to marry a minor noble in a neighboring region. I was shown a charred body and told that she died in a magical accident. At the time I did not have the power or ability to challenge the findings of the church in that area. So, I believed them and left with a broken heart."

"That is horrible. How did she end up here?"

"The drugs wore off and she and the noble that bargained for her got a lot more than he bargained for. With no money and no support it took her a while to get out of the area but she did and she made her way here and found me. I already had Crystal and Berry both take a look at her and made sure that she was not under any outside influence." He and Shannon spent the night before finalizing the story that they were going to tell so that it would limit the holes in the story.

"That would explain a lot about what happened. That is crazy. I can't believe how other nobles think and act. I heard about that one of the captains was not who he said he was."

"Yeah it was verified by two sources. You have heard about the elf that arrived at my manor not long ago, I am sure. He has a particular hate for giants and they were hiring a giant to come and pick a fight. Since he was coming to see me, he brought me a gift of information. He talked to the Earl's son before he died and he told him about it. This was also verified by a few others. Their methods were not quite as direct as Theren but they are just as reliable."

"Any idea what he is going to do next?"

"I have a feeling that when the wedding is over he is going to wait two or three days and launch an attack with the mercenary group that he has hired. I will deal with them quickly in the hopes that, that discourages him but I doubt it. There will also be the possibility that he will use the mercenary group as a decoy and attack with his main force at the same time from a different location."

"I think that will be the more likely course of action. I do not know which group he had hired but almost all the groups I know of have at least one person that will be to much for your average set of guards. He will try to use that guy to lure you over and then attack you from the other side with everything he has in order to take over your land before you get back."

"That would be a great strategy for a young noble that is new to the area. They would not have anyone they could trust to handle part of the unit to face the mercenary group while leaving part of them to face a separate opposing force. While I have several that I would be more than happy to send to do that. I am tempted to send Shannon to deal with them since it will interrupting our honeymoon but I am not sure that I could do something that cruel to even mercenaries."

"So, Shannon is a warrior as well?"

"She is a mage of some power. I would hate to try and face her without my armor or a lot of extra time to prepare and in a battlefield that is skewed heavily in my favor. But given her sense of direction I am not sure how effective she would be."

"That is something that you need on the battlefield, or to get to the battlefield. What about Theren?"

"Theren is a ranger and a damn good one. He spends most of his time in the woods or flirting with some of the local girls in the smaller villages. He fancies himself a bit of a ladies elf. And besides the two of them there are several young men and veterans in the units that I got that are very, very capable and I would let handle the mercenary group."

"That is good to know. I was going to see if I needed to send a small group of my guards to come and assist you after the wedding. I could bring them down with me and then let them blend in for a week or so."

"I do not think that they are necessary but if you brought them with you I would not complain. I would be stupid to turn down your assistance."

The Earl waved his hand and the door closed. "Novum, what is your plan if he really does attack and you send him away?"

"I have been debating on it and debating on it. I am developing a few plans right now for such an event. I will tell you that it is going to depend on while my people that are in that region tell me."

"How so?"

"If I get word that everything is done and over with then I will leave it alone and let bygones be bygones. If I get word that he is already planning his next set of actions in order to attack me, then, well then I am going to take a few people with me and head to his area."

"And then?"

"One of two things is going to happen. I am going to cause enough trouble that he swears that he will not mess with me and mine anymore to the point of a contract is drawn up or I will head straight to his manor and take his head. I am not sure which way that it is going to go right now."

"I hate to say it but those are probably going to be the most likely courses of action. He is not the type to let things go, especially since his honor is on the line. His son was not as big of a loss as his honor as far as he is concerned. He has over a dozen kids with like four or five different mothers."

"His honor is that big of a deal to him. Then when the time comes I will not make his people suffer because of his actions. If he wants more I will head to his manor and take his head. I do not want to do that but I have the feeling that with what you just said he will leave me little choice."

"Enough of the bad stuff." He pulled out a small bottle of strong alcohol and poured both of them a small drink. "To marriage." The clinked glasses and both took the shot of the strong alcohol and laughed.