Sir Theobald's horse was lathered with sweat by the time he reached his destination. The house was a small one, and home to an unusual member of the empire - the witch Sir Kirigi.
A small girl, Kirigi's daughter, was playing in the front yard. When she saw Sir Theobald approaching, she ran inside the house. As he rode into the yard, she returned with Sir Kirigi.
As Sir Theobald dismounted, Sir Kirigi approached. "Theobald?" he asked.
Sir Theobald exhaled. "Sir Kirigi. Thank goodness. I need your help."
Sir Kirigi's eyebrows raised. "Well, okay. Come on inside." He turned to his daughter. "Maeve, take the horse into the barn and have the groom take care of him." Obediently, Maeve took the horse. Sir Kirigi guided Sir Theobald into the house.
Later, over a mug of chamomile tea, Sir Theobald explained what had happened. Sir Kirigi was dumbfounded. "So you don't know what happened to her? You just woke up next to her, and she was dead?"
Sir Theobald nodded. "Yeah. With my knife."
Sir Kirigi scratched his chin. "Well, I believe you. But I don't know how I can help. I'm not a magistrate or politician. I don't have the King's ear, or anything like that."
"But you've been in this position. You've been falsely accused of murder."
Sir Kirigi's voice went flat. "Ah...yes. Well, Del Shaley only had a letter. Sir Hector's maid saw you with her, and she was stabbed with your knife." He paused, got up, and paced. "I suppose I could send a message to Sir Nikolai."
"I thought he was retired."
"Retired or not, he's still one of the best legal minds in the empire. In the meantime, is there someplace safe you can go?"
Sir Theobald thought for a minute. "Yes. My family has a small estate in Yorba Linda."
"Good. You go there. I'll send a message to Sir Nikolai."
Sir Kirigi and Maeve left his house just after Sir Theobald, taking his letter to the courier station. Sir Theobald went west.
The assembled people were thoughtful and silent. "Good gentles, here is the situation. As the letter states, the Nikeans want to join the empire, in their own duchy." Sir Jehan set the letter down.
"I don't understand what the problem is." Stated the Empress, Dame Katherine. "We've authorized duchies and shires before."
"But not so quickly," replied Sir Dilvish. "They expressly state that they require duchy status almost immediately, pending a head count and tax collection."
"That is unusual, but can we afford not to do this?" replied Sir Thomas. "The Nikeans are a large group. The money from their taxes would be a great boon, not to mention make the empire more formidable. Spain has pressed claims to the eastern side of the empire, and they're not the only ones."
"I'm inclined to allow them, but I'm going to ask to meet with their leaders first. The last thing we need is another Coirnoir on our hands. I'll have the hospitlar draft a letter to meet with them. I'd like you there, and the Senate as well." Sir Jehan got up. "Until then." With that, he left the room.
The group left the room, each person thinking their own thoughts.
In the Canton of Tara, the Viceroy and his wife, Sir Royal and Dame Aileen, were surveying he fields of livestock. "Looks good." he stated.
Dame Aileen went over the figures on her wax tablet. "The ewes dropped their lambs last month. Even with what we use for meat, the herd will be nearly double its size in three years."
Sir Royal grinned.
Suddenly, a woman appeared, running towards the pair. "Your excellency! Your excellency!" she shouted.
The pair turned to meet the woman who was approaching. Sir Royal recognized her...Mistress Harriet, from the village of Burbank.
As she approached, she stopped short into a half-curtsy. "Thank goodness I've found you!"
"What's the problem?" he asked,
"It's my sister. She's very sick. I think she's been poisoned!"
Sir Royal's mind went into action. "We'll have to investigate this. Aileen, take the woman back to her place. I'll get the Royal Physiker and we'll meet you there." With that, he mounted his horse and galloped away towards the capital.
Dame Aileen put away her wax tablet and let the frantic woman take her to her sister.