Chapter 15

Chapter 15 Beno Dagda looked over the map spread out on his work table studying for the thousandth time where the borders of his land connected with those of Lady Isobel and the King’s forest. He needed her lands and her gold to execute his plans to seize the throne. It had been a mistake all those years ago when he’d let the king take her from him, it had taken all his powers of persuasion as well as the subtle use of drugs to convince the king to make him Isobel’s guardian. The few in court that had protested him being made her guardian had all died and quickly, till no one had opposed him taking control. He had sent Raymond to see why his men had failed to bring him Isobel, in fact, his personal assassin James should have returned with her by now. James never failed, whether it was kidnapping an enemy or killing a target. There was a rapid knock on the door. “It’s me,” Raymond called from the other side of the door. “Come in,” Beno called. The door opened and Raymond stepped inside his normally neat clothes were dusty and travel-stained, he closed the door behind him and cautiously approached the table. “You’re late and you’re a mess, where is James?” Beno demanded looking at Raymond with disgust. “I don’t know your man attacked my men while they were being held in the city jail, one is dead the other two are badly injured. I asked you not to send him, I asked you to give me time.” Raymond replied. “And I told you, they like you could be replaced, and what do you mean you don’t know where James is, he was to rendezvous with you at the Four Corner’s Inn.” Beno snapped. “He never showed, I waited as long as I could, and then I had to flee as I was arousing suspicions from the patrons because of the questions I’d asked about the attacks in the city,” Raymond replied. “The innkeeper did not like me asking questions about the young ladies there, I overheard him telling several of the regulars that I was some kind of sex fiend or kidnapper stalking the young noblewomen, I was lucky to escape.” "You were a fool to have been so careless," Dagda replied, he didn't like stupid people and Raymond was rapidly proving himself to be a fool, but he still needed Raymond for now. "If your man had not murdered my man and tried to murder the others things would be different. I had found a sympathetic judge that was going to release my men into my custody for a certain amount of silver." Raymond said. "My men also had information on the college and lady Isobel." "So you know nothing new?" Dagda demanded. "I went to the bakery where she sleeps and works and overheard one of the women there say she had been invited to a noblewoman's estate for several days, and that she was there now." Raymond offered. "Which noblewoman?" Dagda snapped. "I did not hear the name, only that she has a large garden and fields of flowers." Raymond offered. “I know the woman you speak of it is Countess Valencia, she farms flowers." Dagda both admired the countess for her making a living in the trades and despised her for working in commerce. "We won't be able to grab the girl there her grounds are well guarded and I hear all her people are loyal to her. The countess has radical notions about how to treat her people." Dagda replied. "Radical, how?" Raymond asked moving to the sideboard to pour himself a glass of wine. "It is said she gives her servants and workers a percentage of her profit believing it shall make them work harder than threats." Dagda shook his head in disgust. "And does it?" Raymond demanded. "I have heard that the countess is very wealthy that every year she makes a handsome profit and that peasants flock to her estate when she has a position to fill. In addition, she does not whip them and provides them with an education and if they become injured working for her she provides them with food and lodging for life rather than turning them out." Peasants were there for only one reason to serve and be used; the idea of treating them as near equals disgusted him. "I see why her workers would be loyal, so if we can't grab the girl there then perhaps when she leaves to return to the city. The roads are a perilous place." Raymond ventured. "Yes, that will be fine. Send men to watch the countess's estate, when the girl leaves we shall take her." Dagda said. "She is likely not to be alone, what would you suggest?" Raymond demanded. "If they are men kill them, if they are female and noble take them as well, they can be ransomed or used as leverage, you have no wife, perhaps it is time you also took a bride. The girls at the college are all titled and wealthy families would pay well to prevent the scandal of a disgraced daughter being revealed." Dagda looked over at Raymond who choked on his wine. "You would have me kidnap and force myself on an innocent girl to secure her dowry?" Raymond did not enjoy hurting others as Dagda did, nor did he have the stomach for much of what Dagda demanded he did, kidnapping and violating an innocent woman was more than he could stomach. "It happens all the time. Go and don't return till you have news, I need Isobel and soon. The princes are starting to grow suspicious that their demands and missives have not been answered, I was forced to send supplies to prevent them from coming back to see why his father was ignoring them. I am running out of time I must secure Isobel and her lands and soon or years of planning will be in vain." Dagda gave Raymond a dismissive wave. “I understand, I shall assign men to watch the countess' estate and have them prepared to move at the first opportunity, let us hope that she is alone when she leaves," Raymond replied as he reached for the door, Dagda shrugged then waved him away again. In the hall, Raymond cursed himself for a coward and his luck to have fallen in with Dagda. He wanted no part in kidnapping and violating innocent girls. With another mumbled curse he strode down the corridor towards the stairs and his chamber, he needed a bath and a change of clothes before he did anything and he needed to think.