Valour and Victory Read Online Free Page A

are
known as murder holes.”
    “Simple but
effective,” said Robain, who had read about them, “are all your
castles like this?”
    “The older and
bigger ones, except in Cocteau. The original Castle Cocteau was
raised to the ground in the fourth century and was never rebuilt.
The Duke of Cocteau has a large building which he calls a castle
but in my opinion it wouldn’t hold put for long. The original keep
still stands. I suppose it was too difficult to pull down, I
believe it is kept in good repair although I’ve never visited it
personally.”
    By now, the
three of them had been ushered into a small chamber where they were
told to wait. It was cold and inhospitable, bare of furniture
expect for a hard bench set against one wall. Elliot sat down but
Robain and James remained standing.
    “Might be a
while,” Elliot explained as he stretched out his legs and tried to
get comfortable.
    “So why are we
here and not being taken to see the Duke?” asked Robain.
    “The Duke of
Cocteau, my uncle,” James answered, “and Duke William are not what
you might call friends. He’ll be wondering what I’m doing here,
he’ll also think it normal to leave me cooling my heels for a while
before he sends one of his men to fetch me into his presence. I
expected it, my uncle would do the same.”
    “Strange,”
commented Robain, unaccustomed to the political machinations of the
Murdoch aristocracy, “and here was me thinking that you were all on
the same side. Silly me.” He grinned.
    James laughed,
“yes and no. We all hate the Larg and the Dukes swear fealty to the
King but that’s where it ends. Most Dukes hate and despise each
other, especially the northerly and southerly ones.”
    Elliot who had
been sitting staring into space, mentally rehearsing what he was
going to say to Duke William turned to Robain. “Do you want me to
explain a bit more?”
    “Might as
well,” Robain answered. “What’s Duke William like?” he asked,
sitting down beside Elliot.
    “Much like any
northerly Duke.”
    “So what’s the
difference between a northerly and a southerly one?”
    “That’s a hard
one.”
    “Take your
time. I don’t think we’re going anywhere soon.”
    “How much to
you know about my country?”
    “Only what I’ve
been taught and that mostly about the military capabilities. Just
pretend that I’m a complete ignoramus and explain in simple
terms.”
    “The northerly
duchies have always been that bit more independent,” began Elliot.
“Duchesne, Graham, Gardiner and Brentwood, I suppose North Baker
too, more ‘go-ahead’ than those to the south. The land is different
here, there are forests, water and the ground is rich. The farms
are smaller and there is more industry. They have access to trade
with the northern continent and the islands and although slavery
exists, it’s not endemic. The Emancipation Movement has a lot of
support in Duchesne and Graham. The further south you go, it
changes.”
    “Slavery?”
    “Yes,
especially in agriculture.”
    “The other
duchies?”
    “Cocteau and
van Buren?”
    “Yes.”
    “Most of their
land, like Smith and South Baker is owned by the ducal families,
unlike here. Large estates, plantations and vast irrigation
systems. Not much industry. There are thousands of slaves working
the fields. The Dukes of Cocteau and van Buren are
ultra-conservative. They cling to the old ways.”
    “I see, at
least a little. Sahara?”
    “Owned by the
crown, there’s never been a duke there. It is mostly desert. That’s
where the mines are.” He cocked an eye at Robain, “thinking of your
sister?”
    Robain was
surprised at the question and his face showed it.
    “Philip told
me,” explained Elliot. “As soon as we get to Fort I’ll set the
wheels in motion to find them. I promise.”
    Robain sighed
as he listened to Elliot’s altruism. “We’re about to embark on the
biggest war that the planet has ever seen Elliot and even I have to
admit that the war comes first