Ruschmann nodded in agreement. “Yep, that’s what Sir Daniel told me. What are you going to do about Fang?”
Burchard paused pulling his shirt over his head. “If I don’t keep her with me, then someone might try to kill her. You know how people usually are about wolves. I don’t think she could pass for a dog.”
“And the General?” Ruschmann prompted.
Burchard tugged his shirt the rest of the way over his head and tucked it into his fur-lined pants. “I will have to make him understand why I need her.” Shirt tucked in, he sat in the chair and pulled on his boots, then his coat. “Ready. Let’s go find our breakfast.”
Together, the two squires and black wolf headed out of the barracks and into the great hall within the castle.
16
After breakfast, Burchard and Ruschmann went directly to General Wolfensberger’s office. Precariously bracing his crutches under his arms, Ruschmann knocked on the partially open door before pushing it open the rest of the way and leading the way inside.
Burchard heard a familiar cough and found himself gazing at his father, whose piercing blue eyes were so like his own.
“Squires are not permitted to have pets,” the General said harshly.
Burchard met his father’s eyes. “This is Fang. She is not a pet. She is my companion.” I guess he cares more about the wolf than the men we lost.
The General opened his mouth to speak, but Sir Peter stepped forward. “Fang is worth at least two knights in battle, sir.”
Frowning at Sir Peter’s interruption, General Wolfensberger rocked back on his heels and seemed to be inspecting the five of them from head to toe. The silence became almost unbearable to Burchard.
“I am willing to allow…Fang…” the General said, rolling the name out as though it was distasteful, “a chance to prove herself. Be warned. If I hear of her attacking anyone or anything within Alderth Castle, then she will be treated as wild wolves are meant to be.”
Burchard bowed, deciding that until any questions were directed at him, silence would be his best way to survive this meeting without his father deciding Fang should be killed. Reggie was standing next to their father and giving him a look he could not decipher.
The General spread his hands out on the papers on top of his desk, leaning over them. “I still feel as though the details of what occurred at Camp Tooth are too murky. You encountered a dark mage who killed everyone but you five?” The General paused. “From a commander’s standpoint, I can understand letting one or two people go to report to their leaders, but five…that’s difficult to believe. What is it that you’re not telling me?”
Hands clasped loosely in front of him, Sir Peter spoke. “The dark mage had control over the knights who resided in Camp Tooth. We were forced to fight them, and in that process, everyone but us died. The dark mage unfortunately escaped. With the three squires wounded, Sir Tiniel and I felt it prudent to return here to Alderth Castle instead of pursuing the dark mage.”
“You said all three squires were injured. I was not aware Reginald had any injuries.” The General cast a sideways glance at his oldest son, who kept his face blank.
“Forgive me, sir, but Squire Reginald was knocked out by one of the knights, and we were concerned he could have injured his head,” Sir Daniel chimed in.
To Burchard’s surprise, his brother spoke. “When they woke me up, I was very dizzy. It took a while before I felt like I could sit on a horse without falling off.”
Burchard bit the inside of his lip, drawing blood. I can’t believe my brother just lied to our father’s face.
“Very well then. Sir Windemere, you said that you also suspect this dark mage is working with the Stinyian rebels?” the General asked, giving Sir Peter a very intense look.
Sir Peter seemed unfazed by the General, as though they had done this dance many times before. “Yes. I believe the dark mage was working with Walter Pell and is the reason he was at Leosor Hollows with his own camp setup and so many men.”
“I will take all of this into consideration and write to the king. As you know, any major changes to my plans must be approved by His Majesty,” the General said in a tone of dismissal.
“Of course. We understand,” responded Sir Peter in a monotone.
Burchard looked at his knight master uncertainly. He had never heard him use that tone before. The knight shook his head at Burchard, and Burchard kept his mouth shut.
Both knights and their squires bowed to the General and departed the office. Burchard avoided his brother’s eyes as they left, still not sure what to make of Reggie lying to their father. Burchard expected Sir Peter to lead them to the healer or the barracks, but the knight seemed to have another destination in mind. They walked through darkened hallways in the castle, occasionally going up or down a short flight of steps. Finally, Sir Peter halted in front of a heavy wooden door with a brass knocker on it. He banged the knocker four times, and then the door opened silently.
The four of them plus Fang filed into the chamber, and the door shut with a thud behind them. Fang growled softly, then lamps were turned up and the room was bathed in dim golden light. Three knights were in the room. Burchard recognized the faces but couldn’t remember their names.
The knight in the dark-green cloak stepped forward, his curly brown hair framing his face. In the lamplight, Burchard thought the man’s beard was starting to turn silver, but he was not sure. “What did the General say?”
Sir Peter frowned. “I’d like to introduce you first before we get to business. Squire Burchard and Squire Ruschmann, I’d like you to meet Sir Marcus Waldorf.” The green-cloaked knight inclined his head. “Sir Lucius Foxbright.” The knight in the middle with short, clipped auburn hair and beard lifted his hand in greeting. “Sir Andre Emberwood.” A young knight with light-blond hair and the barest hint of a mustache gave Burchard a wink.
“What is this about?” Burchard asked, eyeing the knights uncertainly.
“I told you when you returned from your first visit to Camp Tooth that your father likely wouldn’t believe anything we told him about the cannibal knights without proof. Unfortunately for us, what happened when we all went to Camp Tooth is not, in his mind, sufficient proof,” Sir Peter explained.
“But…in the meeting he said he’d contact the king,” Burchard protested.
Sir Peter tsked. “I forget you have not been around him when he is in a command position. What he said in our meeting is his classic response when the explanation provided is not enough to satisfy him. It is unclear how much we said that he believes, but one thing I do know for certain is he is not going to act on the information. He might interrogate some Stinyian rebels about Walter Pell, if he can catch any. I know that tidbit spiked his interest, but as far as a dark mage or whatever Ossa is? He doesn’t care. I imagine if Ossa were to appear leading an army toward the gates of Alderth Castle, he would probably believe us then. But if that were to happen…it would be too late.”
Burchard scraped his toe along the stone floor. “So, what exactly is it that you think we”—he waved his arm around the room—“can do without incurring the General’s wrath?”
Instead of Sir Peter answering, Sir Waldorf did. “Straight and to the point, just as you said he was,” the knight said with a chuckle. “Boy, we are here because like Sir Peter and Sir Daniel, we believe that the cannibal knights and Ossa are a threat.”
Burchard bristled at being called a boy. Fang’s low growl rumbled through the room.
“Hush, I am not insulting you,” Sir Waldorf chided. “Lucius is the head of the Trinity Page and Squire School. He has the king’s ear. Regardless of what General Wolfensberger does or doesn’t tell the king about Ossa, Lucius will also send along his own report. While it may not change the king’s mind on what course of action to take, at least the king will have all the pertinent information. Sir Andre and I have command over ten squads apiece. He also has ties to a group of mages at Onaxx Academy and has agreed to write to them requesting assistance here in the north.”
Ruschmann coughed. Everyone’s gaze shifted to him. “How will this help? A couple hundred knights against an old god? What about any orders the General gives you? All of us know he executes traitors on the spot.”
Lamplight making his eyes spark, Sir Waldorf replied quietly, “Would you rather face the old god and his commanders by yourself?”
