Valour and Victory Read Online Free

continent and would explain their presence to the
guards. He was expensively dressed in a dark green doublet with
matching breeches and sported the badge of the Ducal House of
Cocteau on the long cloak he held over one arm. He had become, once
again, Count James Cocteau.
    Elliot and
Robain were dressed in nondescript clothing as befitted servants of
the Cocteau House. They also displayed the Cocteau badge, this time
on their homespun tunics.
    Elliot did not
plan to reveal his true identity until they were actually in the
presence of Duke William.
    James led the
way, weaving through the noisy crowd towards the gate.
    “Let James do
the talking,” hissed Elliot as they joined the queue of people,
animals and wagons waiting to be passed through. Robain had no
intention of uttering a solitary word. His northern accent would
draw unwanted attention.
    At last it was
their turn.
    “What is your
business in Murdoch?” demanded the gate-guard in a bored voice.
    “I am Count
James Cocteau,” announced James in the clear confident voice of one
accustomed to being obeyed.
    The Gate-guard
took note of both tone and dress but would not budge. “Yes, but
your business is?”
    Robain watched
as James bristled with assumed indignation.
    “I am
accustomed to being addressed as ‘My Lord’,” he chided in an
ice-cold voice, “as for my business, it is with your Duke and is
not your concern.”
    “Security has
been stepped up I see,” whispered Elliot to Robain, “that man is
one of Duke William’s personal retainers.”
    “How can you
tell?”
    “Uniform,”
answered Elliot. “Only they wear that particular shade of
blue.”
    “So what do we
do? It doesn’t look like he’s going to let us through.”
    “James will
deal with it.”
    The retainer
looked James up and down appraisingly. His eyes flicked over to
where Elliot and Robain were standing.
    “My apologies
My Lord Count,” he said at last, “I have my orders.”
    “I understand,”
said James, “but I tell truth. I have urgent business with the
Duke.”
    The retainer
came to a decision.
    “You and your
servants may pass through My Lord, I will, however, provide an
escort for you to the Castle.”
    “That is
acceptable,” said James.
    “If you will
follow me?” the man said with a bow and indicated that James should
follow him out of the gate.
    “Thank you,”
replied James, still in that ‘I am one who is born to be obeyed’
voice.
    Elliot and
James picked up the bags and followed.
    Within a
quarter candle-mark they were on their way to Castle Duchesne,
accompanied by three dour faced guards.
    “Not taking any
chances are they?” whispered Robain to Elliot.
    “I’m taking
this as a good sign.”
    “In what way?”
asked a mystified Robain.
    “Means Duke
William is jumpy. I’m hoping that word has come about what is
happening. Danal did say that Susa Julia would be sending warnings
south.”
    They were
approaching the castle gatehouse. Robain was amazed when he saw how
imposing an edifice it was, it was old, ancient, the stone
weathered, it looked as if it had been there forever.
    “How old is it?” he asked as they passed over the drawbridge,
glancing over the wooden fence and down into the murky depths of
the moat.
    “It’s as old as
the Citadel at Fort,” Elliot informed him, “in fact, it might be
even older. The very first Duchesne built it to protect his people
against the Larg. We’re very close to the Island Chain. This castle
has never fallen. It stood an eight month siege during the Great
Civil War.”
    “I can well
imagine,” observed Robain as they passed under the portcullis and
entered the tunnel leading the castle proper. “What are these
openings above us?” he asked pointing to a row of square, grilled
openings set at equal distances and through which muted light
meandered.
    “This is the
killing zone,” Elliot explained. “In the event of an enemy getting
this far, molten oil and other nasties can be poured down, they