Lord Marillac led his hawking party back along the now well-traveled road leading to Echo Slope. His good humor resumed once they began the ride and he chatted with his unexpected guests about nothing in particular. At Lord Marillac’s order Anthanasius and Luke swapped for fresh horses with two of his attendants and rode along on either side of the lord.


    Presently, the party passed a score of archers from Echo Slope who greeted them in a rough jesting way. Anthanasius knew many of them and knew it to be an abrasive party, but all were good men and would willingly fight to the death to save a friend. Anthanasius guessed their object but asked Lord Marillac anyway.


    “Those men are heading to reinforce a patrol in Rowaton Forest. After your close encounters I thought it prudent to increase our presence to show the Shalmen they can’t mess with this region,” he said. “Give me a warning of a few days to get my people inside with provisions and water and we’ll wait years for them to grow bored of a siege! We’ve a good well and large cisterns!”


    He continued his discourse on the defensive capabilities of Echo Slope with much passion. “Certainly they can burn the houses around and block relief from coming, but they can’t stop the sun. What with our stores and the interior space we’ll allocate to crops if it comes to that we can wait without fear.”


    “From atop that wonderful plateau so wonderfully provided to our people by Eshua,” he went on, motioning to the castle under his command, “no marauders can reach us. Three sides protected with natural formations will defend as well as our wall atop, and the fourth side will be all but inaccessible to siege engines with my soldiers rolling boulders down at them. Our bows are marvelous enough as you both know; but firing downhill as the enemy fires uphill. Ha!”


    After the excited lord finished, he fell to talking with Luke, who showed interest before, about his falcon. Luke extolled it; noting in turn the pattern of its plumage, its solid legs, razor talons, and the powerful wingspan.


    They continued in this fashion, with Lord Marillac having a pleasant word for everyone they passed by, until the base of the plateau, where the ever-popular lord conversed so much with others that the idle talk of the falcon ceased rapidly.


    After passing through several progressively stronger and stouter gatehouses, the hunting party entered the opening of the keep. The same boy who previously secured the falcon to Lord Marillac’s arm in the field now came up again to continue his work, but Lord Marillac declined his service.


    “No, thank you, James, not this time. I will take him to the mews myself. It will be good for me to see the other birds again and wish to show some friends.”


    With that he dismounted and said, “But you may help Gerard with this.” He handed the boy the reins then turned and walked towards the mews, followed by Anthanasius and Luke.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Lord Marillac pushed the door open and led the way into the mews. Dozens of grand birds lined most edges of the room and a workbench used the rest of the space. The lord walked to a grand pedestal and deposited his peregrine there among the others. He replaced the field jesses with heavier straps for the mews and the bird turned about peacefully to face the wall, resting content in the completed job. Many of the hawks and falcons stood on one leg, gripping the perch gently but immovably with their razor talons, and keeping the other leg tucked into their body.


    Luke felt as if standing among a company of knights, so noble was the sight of the hooded figures, awaiting, statue-like, the battle. The sounds outside the mews instantly ceased as his imagination overcame him and took him on a journey through mountain passes and across moors, tramping stately to battle the heathens of a faraway land. Steel clashed on steel and razor weapons stuck into wood with a thud amid a terrible din all about, but the line of knights stood like a bulwark, giving courage to their comrades against fearful odds. A strong breeze caught the banner and flung it wide as a rallying point, showing the insignia: a falcon.


    After the space of dreaming, Luke roused himself and heeded Lord Marillac, “There we go. Now then, let’s see what you know about birds of prey.”


    Luke moved in closer to see the birds with more ease as Lord Marillac showed his great interest and knowledge of birds. He motioned first to a plump bird, tawny on its back and cream-coloured underneath, beset with black triangular specks throughout and flanked by carefully folded gray wings.


    “The kestrel is small compared to my peregrine, but hunts in a wonderful way of its own; it might stay low to the ground, waiting to stir up small animals the others can dive upon.” Lord Marillac said, motioning to two other kestrels, standing with their bright yellow feet gripping iron-like to their perches.


    “And here,” he continued, moving down the line, “we have a merlin for Lady Marillac.”


    Luke leaded closer to see a dark plumed bird with a curved beak sticking through its hood. It stood, hunched and brooding, but not asleep, and turned to face Luke as he leaned in.


    Luke stood back startled and turned to see Lord Marillac and Anthanasius laughing. “A feisty bird for your lady, don’t you think?” he asked, turning red and striving to avert their attention from his surprise.


    “The female merlin beside that one is for Lady Marillac,” he answered, still smiling largely but mercifully moving on to show the goshawks. He continued showing them his birds for several more minutes, ignoring a slight disturbance out in the forecourt signaling the arrival of another party. Presently the door to the mew opened and a soldier they recognized stepped in and said, “Lord Marillac, there is—” here he stuttered as he saw Anthanasius and Luke, but he collected himself and continued, “there is a messenger from Rohalot Castle here to speak with you.”


    “Tell him I’m busy with important matters.” snapped Lord Marillac severely. He waited a few seconds before breaking into his customary laugh. “Oh all right, I’ll come out in a moment.” Turning to address his companions he said, “We’ll have to conclude this another time, but I’m not in a hurry. Anytime before the tournament works for me.”


    The soldier waited at the door for Lord Marillac to finish and turned to follow him without looking at Anthanasius or Luke.


    After a brief space of silence Luke asked his more experienced friend, “What condition are the dungeons here?”