Elder Born

8. Connections-1

8

Connections

Amelia picked her way through the rapidly expanding tent enclave that spread out across the open grounds outside Lord Kastler’s estate. The Order's followers now called this place home. Their numbers had increased as Lord Kastler called in the minor lords that looked to him and their personal estate guards. At least now they had trained fighters, although she doubted they could stand long against the King’s Guard, let alone if the combined ranks of the Elite fell on them. Still, they would provide a welcome distraction when they were discovered.

Amelia had no doubt the king would learn about their location eventually. Or he would when he recovered and took the throne. Amelia did not know William as well as her brother Kyle did, but she had no doubt about his reaction when he found out. William would not take the rebellion of one of his lords lightly. It would be better if they had found elsewhere to be, but her master insisted they stay put, that they were safe enough at least for now.

She had been keeping an eye out for any sign of movement from Jess and in particular her brother, expecting they would commence searching for the Order’s new location. Yet she had detected no movement from them at all. That gave her hope that William's condition was far worse than she'd thought. At least if she kept a lookout, she could warn her master that it was time to move unless they were ready to take up the fight.

While the consensus was that the death of the old king had been a massive blow, it had become more than apparent that William had survived his shock transition. At least that is the word they were receiving from the palace. It remained to be seen if he’d done so with his mind intact.

None here, not the other members of the Order nor any of Lord Kastler's people, knew who or what her master was.

Her eyes narrowed, and a smile curved on her lips. They would be right to fear if only they knew the truth. She had no doubt they would run in horror seeking the king’s forgiveness and protection if ever they found out.

A group of men clustered around one of their camp fires turned to watch her as she walked past. The men laughed, all trading glances with each other. She gathered she was the subject of their conversation. One of the men stepped out in front of her as she went to go past them.

She smelt the alcohol on his breath and seeping out of his skin as he leered down at her. "So what do you say about you and me having some sport to relieve the boredom of sitting here?"

A rank unwashed smell assaulted her as he stepped in closer, pressing his body up against her. Amelia didn't flinch away from him, she simply stared up at him coldly. He looked over his shoulder at his companions and laughed, one of his hands attempting to grope her to pull her into his tent.

Amelia contented herself with snatching his arm, twisting it as she stepped back. He squealed as she pressed his wrist at an angle just short of breaking it. He thumped into the ground.

She glared at the man's friends who’d gone to take a step towards her, and wrenched the struggling man's wrist back further so he squealed again, halting their progress. Amelia dropped the guard’s arm and strode away, aware that every eye was on her as she passed through the camp.