Page 78 of Sword of Rage
Once Ledger exited, Ackley closed the doors, trying to keep the cold air out even though it was futile.
“There’s a loft in the back.” Harley pointed up behind them.
“The ladder looks somewhat questionable.” Several of the rungs were missing.
Harley shrugged. “Want to go up?”
“Sure.” They had nothing else to do until it was time to eat. As Ackley climbed the ladder, the entire thing shook. Most of the rungs bowed under his weight. At the top, he observed the area. There were a few bales of hay and a couple blankets. There was enough room for him to move around, though he couldn’t stand up straight without hitting his head. The flooring looked solid—no holes that he could see.
Harley yelped.
Ackley peered down in time to see a rat running by her feet. He descended the ladder.
“I’m sleeping on my horse tonight,” she hissed. “There’s no way I’m going to be where a rat can crawl on me.”
He chuckled. “Or, you can sleep up there.” He pointed at the loft. “There are even blankets. It looks safe enough.” Not that a rat couldn’t crawl up there, but she didn’t need to know that.
“Then that’s where I’ll be.”
The barn doors slid open, revealing Gytha. “Time to eat.”
Outside, Ledger and Gytha sat by the fire. Harley and Ackley joined them. Ledger cut the cooked rabbit meat, handing each of them a plateful. The sky had turned dark, hundreds of stars dotting the night.
Ackley had been waiting for Gytha to tell him what was going on. As they ate in silence, anxiety started to take root. Unable to handle it, he set his plate aside. “Tell me why the two of you are here.”
Ledger glanced at Gytha.
“Something happened,” Gytha announced.
Ackley rolled his eyes. “Get to the point.”
“Shortly after the two of you left, a messenger from the royal castle arrived.”
“A messenger just rode right up to Owen?” he asked in disbelief.
Gytha sighed. “Well, no. He rode into our camp. Apparently, the traitorous king got wind that the army had returned, so he sent a messenger.”
Ackley rubbed his forehead, knowing he wasn’t going to like whatever Gytha said. “Continue.”
“He had a letter for Commander Beck. When we informed him the commander was no longer with us, he asked to speak to whomever was in charge.”
“He didn’t want to speak to Owen?” Ackley asked.
“Correct. When Owen stepped forward, the messenger seemed confused.” Gytha glanced at Ledger. However, he shook his head, so she continued. “He handed over the letter. It said that the king has a list of every soldier from Melenia who made the journey to Marsden. It also said that each soldier’s wife and children are being held in an undisclosed location. Once the soldiers return to the castle and swear fealty to the new king, he will reunite them with their loved ones.”
A smart move to ensure loyalty. “Who is claiming to be king?”
“The messenger didn’t give a name,” Ledger said around a mouthful of food.
“And did the message explicitly state what happens should the soldiers not return to the castle and swear fealty?” Ackley inquired.
“He said the soldiers would find their loved ones’ heads on spikes,” Gytha answered.
Ackley had several possible plans running through his head. “And the two of you,” he looked from Gytha to Ledger, “came here to find Harley and me simply to tell us this information?” While the news was important, it didn’t warrant them coming all this way.
Gytha fumbled with the hilt of her dagger. “There’s more.” She wouldn’t meet Ackley’s eyes.
He had to force his temper to remain in check. “Just tell me and get it over with.”
