Chapter 114: Ironhart Interference
Back at the Whitemane Estate, Arthur stood outside alongside Captain Harris.
In front of them, just over half of the available knights and soldiers had gathered.
Hundreds stood on either side of the entrance, their attention fixed on the approaching delegation.
CLATTER! CLATTER! CLATTER!
The first Deres knights passed through the gates.
Arthur remained completely silent as they spread out, followed shortly by a carriage and a wagon filled with crates.
’So they really did bring it immediately,’ he thought. ’Seems like Roderic was right.’
His attention didn’t remain on the wagon for long, though.
A broad-shouldered knight rode several meters ahead of it.
A massive greatsword was strapped diagonally across his back, its handle sticking out well above his shoulders.
Arthur’s eyes instantly narrowed.
Though the man was wearing the colors of House Deres, he knew damn well that wasn’t where he came from.
Beside him, Captain Harris’s expression darkened as well.
’What the hell is he doing here?’
The knight brought his horse to a stop.
For a moment, he simply looked across the soldiers surrounding him.
Then he reached up and removed his helmet.
A familiar face with Viking-like braids in his long brown hair appeared underneath it.
The man glanced towards Arthur before a faint, somber smile appeared on his face.
’’Been a while, Arthur, Harris,’’ he said, nodding once.
Arthur let out a deep sigh, shaking his head.
’’Not long enough, apparently,’’ he replied.
The knight chuckled faintly.
He swung one leg over his horse and jumped down.
Captain Harris instinctively rested a hand on his sword’s handle, ready for any movement.
The knight noticed right away.
’’Relax,’’ he said. ’’I didn’t come here to fight just yet.’’
Just then, Arthur stepped forward.
’’I wasn’t expecting a Three-Seal Knight to personally escort my ex-wife’s ransom,’’ Arthur said. ’’Have the knights of Viscount Ironhart truly become so free?’’
The man let out a deep sigh.
’’Please, Arthur. Call me Baldwin,’’ he said. ’’We’ve known each other too long for this kind of play. Besides, I’m only here for insurance... and a bit of intimidation, I suppose.’’
Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly further.
The meaning of this entire show wasn’t too difficult to understand.
’So the Ironharts really are backing Aldric all the way,’ he thought. ’This war is going to be worse than I expected.’
After a moment, the thought vanished again.
Arthur had made a promise to Roderic, and he intended to keep it.
At the same time, Baldwin turned and gestured to the wagons.
’’Baron Deres brought you twenty thousand gold coins,’’ he said casually. ’’Will you accept it for Margaret?’’
CLACK!
Two knights opened one of the chests, revealing hundreds of golden coins.
Arthur’s gaze slowly moved across the several other chests.
Under normal circumstances, he would’ve negotiated for more.
But Roderic’s words immediately entered his mind.
’’That’ll be alright,’’ he said. ’’We’ll bring her out.’’
Surprise flickered across Baldwin’s face for a moment.
Then a faint smile appeared once more.
’’Thank you,’’ he said, nodding respectfully. ’’That makes things much easier for me.’’
Arthur offered a bitter smile as he raised his hand.
One of the knights standing near the entrance moved forward.
’’Bring Margaret out,’’ Arthur commanded.
The knight nodded immediately.
’’Yes, my lord.’’
He turned and disappeared into the estate.
For the next few minutes, neither side moved much.
The Deres knights remained close to their horses, while the Whitemane soldiers began unloading the chests from the wagon.
Then the estate doors opened again.
CLINK! CLINK!
The sound of chains immediately drew everyone’s attention.
A woman stood between two knights.
Her wrists were bound together, while her hair was a complete, disheveled mess.
Small scratches covered her arms and face, some still bleeding faintly.
Margaret’s eyes darted around wildly as the guards led her forward.
She quietly muttered to herself, occasionally pulling against the chains as if she had completely forgotten where she was.
Arthur’s expression remained completely unchanged.
The Deres knights reacted very differently.
Several visibly stiffened.
One even stepped forward, fury visible in his eyes.
’’What the hell did you do to her?!’’ he shouted.
SHING!
His sword had barely moved from its sheath when dozens of Whitemane soldiers pointed theirs at him.
Baldwin glanced back, one of his brows raised.
’’I wouldn’t do that if I were you,’’ he warned. ’’No one will help you if you start something.’’
The knight froze.
His face reddened even further as his gaze moved between Margaret and the soldiers surrounding them.
Then he slid his blade back into its sheath.
Baldwin nodded once before turning back to Arthur.
’’You kept her like this?’’ he asked coldly. ’’Is this the way an honorable knight treats their prisoners?’’
Arthur glanced back at him, his expression unchanged.
’’Nobody here tortured her, if that’s what you’re thinking,’’ he said. ’’Most of that was her own doing.’’
Baldwin’s brows furrowed.
Just then, Margaret grabbed a fistful of her own hair.
’’AHHHH—!’’
One of the guards quickly covered her mouth.
Baldwin’s expression fell right away.
Whatever doubts he’d had about Arthur’s explanation seemed to disappear.
’’Get her into the carriage,’’ he finally said, glancing at his knights.
Two immediately stepped forward.
The Whitemane guards removed Margaret’s chains before handing her over.
She continued muttering beneath her breath, barely even acknowledging the men supporting her.
Baldwin watched until the carriage door closed behind her.
Then he turned back towards Arthur.
’’So,’’ he said. ’’I suppose that settles our business.’’
Arthur nodded slowly.
After several seconds of silence, Baldwin let out a deep breath before dragging a hand through his hair.
’’Fuck, this is really happening,’’ he muttered. ’’You know what’s coming next, don’t you?’’
Arthur didn’t respond.
His silence said enough.
Baldwin stared at him for a moment.
’’Then you should know how this ends,’’ he said slowly. ’’You’re going to lose, Arthur.’’
There was no mockery in Baldwin’s voice.
He genuinely believed it to be true.
Hell, anyone would! It was just a matter of statistics.
Strangely enough, a small smile appeared on Arthur’s face.
’’You know, I thought that too at first,’’ he replied. ’’But now I don’t know anymore.’’
Baldwin raised an eyebrow.
’’You do know Baron Deres alone outnumbers your military three to one?’’ he said. ’’And that’s without any additional support...’’
Arthur simply shrugged.
’’It doesn’t matter,’’ he said. ’’Maybe you’re right. Maybe we don’t stand a chance.’’
His smile widened slightly.
’’But even if we lose, you can be damn sure we’ll take as many of you down with us as possible.’’
Baldwin silently stared at him for another second before shaking his head.
’’Suit yourself.’’
He turned and walked back towards his horse.
Arthur watched as Baldwin grabbed the saddle and pulled himself up.
Just as he gathered the reins, Baldwin glanced back.
’’As an old friend, I’ll give you one piece of information.’’
Arthur’s expression grew serious right away.
’’Baron Deres has already started moving,’’ Baldwin continued. ’’If you want to get your children out, do it now.’’
Without waiting for an answer, he kicked his horse forward.
CLATTER! CLATTER!
The Deres knights quickly followed, escorting Margaret’s carriage out of the estate.
Just like that, everything fell silent once more.
’’So it’s begun,’’ Captain Harris said.
Arthur nodded slowly.
’’Seems like it.’’