Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Michel had been in good spirits for most of the journey up the region, despite having had his little vacation home interrupted.
He’d only been back in Chevalerie for a few days and was having a good time being taken care of by his mother when they received word from Philippe.
It seemed that the simple mission to neutralize a civil rebellion had spun out in too many directions, and Philippe needed backup.
He’d asked their father to send reinforcement troops to meet them in Aliette, where they could relieve the men and have extra support transporting anyone they managed to capture.
It also seemed as though the ultimate enemy was still not detained though Philippe suspected the Marquis du Ponce himself as the one trying to control the rivers through the pawns he had hired.
To “capture” a marquis was far more politically daunting than it was necessarily physical.
Therefore, Michel brought with him not only troops to relieve the tired and beleaguered men with whom Philippe fought, but also the Duke’s instructions on dealing with the Marquis situation.
His father had spoken with Michel regarding the journey, insistent that Michel or he himself lead the way.
Michel felt like he would enjoy some adventure and thought it unnecessary for his father to leave the comfort of home.
Michel had been on a tedious expedition in the East, maintaining trade relations with several of the Asian outpost merchants.
His journeys were important to the economy in Chevalerie, but his time had been spent on diplomacy rather than physicality, and he found himself hungry for a little danger before he had to return to the Far East.
Plus, his mother couldn’t pass the opportunity to gossip, so he knew Philippe was probably knee deep in some entanglement with little Alex. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see what trouble his youngest brother had gotten into this time.
But when he had arrived in Aliette earlier that morning, the prisoners were gone, released in the dead of night.
By whom? The Marquis du Ponce himself. The Marquis had told the magistrate he would take the prisoners to Ponce for trial, and the confused magistrate had signed the papers releasing them.
Michel was severely irritated by the lack of standardization.
Something like that would never have happened in Chevalerie.
To think, the Duke’s son brings captured men to be detained and a marquis from another town, releases them?
Unthinkable. These smaller towns, with no nearby nobility and no uniform government, often lacked hands-on and competent leadership.
Eventually, Michel would take over the Duchy and making sure everything went according to well-established standards would be his first order of business.
Now, as he led his company of men up to Ponce, he was annoyed.
He was annoyed that the men Philippe had put away had been released.
He was annoyed that he didn’t know what kind of trouble he, his brother, or their men were facing.
He was annoyed that the Marquis, sworn to his position by the King of France with the same proclamation that had made his father a duke, had turned on his country for money.
Michel pushed his dark waves back from his forehead and knotted them with a band on the top of his head. Then he slapped the reins of his horse, urging the beast on. He was ready for whatever would come.
He had no more the chance to hasten his party along than he saw two men on horses approaching from up ahead. He called for his own to slow.
“Bonjour, messieurs,” he called. “State your affiliation.”
“We are of the same blood,” said a man coming into clear view.
“Bon Dieu, Laurent,” said Michel, recognizing his cousin. “Henri.” He nodded. “I am happy to see you both alive and well.”
“We are alive, cousin, but worse for wear,” Laurent said, dismounting his horse. “What is the news from Chevalerie?”
Michel hopped from his horse to embrace his cousin. “I am afraid we may be in danger at the moment,” said Michel. “Where is Philippe?”
“We were with him not long ago,” Laurent said. “He has gone after Alex. Back towards Ponce.”
“Of course he has.” Michel sighed. “Well, mount your horse. It seems that you are unaware of the events that have transpired.”
“Philippe has asked us to meet him in Aliette,” Laurent responded.
“I have just come from there,” Michel said, smacking his cousin on the back. “The prisoners have escaped with the Marquis, and Philippe probably fights them now.”
“The Marquis?” Laurent asked.
Michel nodded. “I shall fill you in while we ride.” He hoisted himself onto his horse. “Let us be off. We must find them before blood is shed.” He paused. “Or at least our blood.”
The party continued up the path from which Laurent and Henri had just come. Michel urged them forward. He hoped to see this through before sunset.