Chapter 124 - Passing the Time

Chapter 124: 124 - Passing the Time

Margaret tilted her head slightly, as though weighing how much of an answer she actually wanted to give. "What Margaret is doing..." She paused. "Let’s say I’m passing the time."

Adrien watched her a second. That explained nothing at all, and the way she said it made clear she had no intention of offering anything more precise.

Before he could answer, movement came from the vehicle behind her. A familiar orange shape appeared at the open door, hesitated only a moment, then dropped onto the road. Nimbus landed lightly and started toward them with his tail raised.

Margaret glanced down at him. "Look. The flea-ridden creature wanted to come say hello to you."

Adrien stared at her. "Can we forget that detail? It was an accident."

Margaret looked toward Nimbus, then back at Adrien. "I’ll think about it. It was memorable, so forgetting it completely might be difficult. You’ll have to make up for it somehow."

She paused, and something in her expression eased. "Although with everything that’s happened recently, you’re getting close."

Adrien folded his arms. "Saving the kingdom from a possible war and dealing with everything here still isn’t enough to erase that?"

"Honestly, it probably is." Margaret answered without hesitating. "But I found that moment funny. I’ll keep it in my memory and promise not to bring it up again."

Nimbus reached Adrien and brushed along the side of his leg as though the entire conversation had nothing to do with him. Adrien glanced down before returning his attention to the prisoners being walked toward the Crown vehicles.

"Do you need help with them?"

He asked mostly out of courtesy, since the Crown soldiers had the whole operation in hand and Vikir was already passing the final written notes to one of the officers.

Margaret followed his gaze. "No. I’ll take them back to the city I was staying in. They’ll remain there as prisoners until they’re formally judged for what they did."

"Thank you for handling it."

"It’s the least we can do on our side. They committed crimes inside your territory, but once they’re in Crown custody, the rest becomes our responsibility."

Adrien nodded. That was one less problem to carry back to Greymoor.

Around them the road kept clearing. The first group of prisoners was loaded into one of the reinforced vehicles while another Crown officer checked the ropes on the men still waiting. Several Bloodfang Wolves stood nearby under Kael’s instructions, though none of them interfered.

Margaret watched the work for a few seconds before turning back to Adrien. "How have things been going with the territory lately? After everything that happened with Arquenay."

"Pretty well."

Adrien looked toward the road running south. "It’s moving slowly, but things are improving. The main problem is that we don’t have enough people to cover everything anymore. More land means more roads, more towns and more places that need someone watching them."

That had grown plainer with every week. Greymoor had started with fewer than forty people Adrien genuinely trusted, and even after recruiting and reorganizing, House Clairmont had spread faster than its manpower could follow. The Bloodfang Wolves would close a good part of that gap.

Margaret gave a small nod. "I’m glad to hear things are improving."

Nothing about the way she said it was formal. She sounded honestly pleased.

He still did not ask what she meant by passing the time. The third princess of Valleroy this far from the capital was strange enough on its own, and her being close enough to answer a report within hours meant she had a reason to be moving through this part of the kingdom.

If it was something he needed to know, she would tell him eventually, and if it was not, asking now would only force her to refuse him.

Another Crown soldier came up behind Margaret and stopped a respectful distance away. "Your Highness, everything is nearly ready."

Margaret acknowledged him with a small motion before facing Adrien again. "I have work to finish, so I should go."

She glanced toward the vehicles, then brought her golden eyes back to him. "It was good talking to you, Adrien. I hope we run into each other again soon."

Adrien inclined his head. "Likewise. Safe travels, Margaret."

Nimbus had already wandered back toward the Crown vehicle, and Margaret followed a moment later. Adrien stayed where he was while the last prisoners were loaded inside.

The engines woke one after another. Crown soldiers climbed into the remaining vehicles, and within minutes the convoy pulled north along the road. Adrien watched until the royal crest vanished between the trees.

Kael and Vikir came up from behind once the Crown group was far enough away. Kael kept his attention on the empty road a moment longer before turning toward Adrien.

The young mercenary had dealt with merchants, soldiers and employers for years, though noble society was plainly another matter.

Marcus had handled most of the company’s arrangements with Gaspard, which had left Kael very little reason to stand near anyone close to the royal family.

"Are you close with the princess?"

Adrien turned toward him. "She helped us recently with the situation involving Gaspard. We’ve met a few times besides that. We know each other, that’s all."

Kael took the answer without pressing. "Everything is ready for us to leave. The prisoners are gone, the men returning the stolen property have their instructions, and the rest of the company is prepared."

Vikir nodded beside him. "I’ve already sent word ahead to Greymoor. Lady Evelyne will know we’re returning with the Bloodfang Wolves before we arrive."

Adrien looked over the road one final time. Only a few marks remained from the ambush now: torn earth, scorched patches from Kael’s flames and the spot where Marcus had fallen. The problem that dragged him out here was finished, and House Clairmont was going home with more than a hundred experienced mercenaries it had not owned a few days earlier.

"Good. It’s time we leave as well."

Adrien started toward the waiting vehicle. "I’ve been away from home long enough. Let’s head back to Greymoor."