Chapter 15
Legion’s Task
Eudora waited until the door to her private solar closed behind the three men before turning to face them.
For a moment, no one spoke.
She had waited longer than expected for this moment. She had wondered if the summons had failed, if the men no longer existed or if the tales her grandmother had told her were nothing more than legends passed from one generation to the next.
Now three men stood before her.
She looked to each one. “I expected you sooner.”
“We're here now,” Torden said. “Tell us what you want from us so we can see it done.”
His tone made it clear he wasn't pleased to be there.
Eudora studied him. He was a large man, taller than most, with a powerful build that suggested the massive claymore strapped across his back was no burden to him.
Dark hair fell to his shoulders and there was something hard and weathered about his features.
He stood with the impatience she'd already noticed in the Great Hall, as if he'd rather be anywhere but standing before her.
“And which one are you?”
“My name is Torden,” he said, “that is all you need to know.”
The rumble in his voice made her think of thunder that roared, but Eudora kept the thought to herself.
She looked at the man beside him. He was quieter, but just as formidable, though in a different way.
Tall and broad shouldered, with thick dark brown hair brushing his shoulders and fine features.
He hadn't spoken since entering the solar, but he watched, attentive to his surroundings like a wise and skillful warrior would do. One who knew the intricacies of war.
“And you?” Eudora asked.
“I am known as Legion.”
Of the three, he most resembled what she had imagined when her grandmother had spoken of legendary warriors. There was something about the way he stood, a stillness that suggested he didn't need to prove what he was capable of.
Her gaze moved to the third man.
Creagan was smiling. Of course he was. He had somehow managed to turn a day her subjects brought grievances to her into a request that she find him a woman and had appeared to enjoy every moment of it.
Unlike the other two, there was an ease to him that seemed entirely out of place under the circumstances.
He was tall and strongly built, his dark hair falling well past his shoulders, his hazel eyes holding the same amusement she'd seen in the Great Hall.
A short growth of beard shadowed his jaw, lending him a roughness that should have made him appear more threatening.
But his handsome features belied that. She had no doubt women fell at his feet, and it was obvious he was well aware of the effect of his exceptional good looks had on women.
Instead, he looked as though he'd come to enjoy himself.
Eudora found him the most unsettling of all, especially since she knew one was Lord of War, another, the Lord of Thunder, but her grandmother had never spoken the third one’s title. And she warned her not to, for once unleashed it was a force few could reckon with.
“I already know your name,” she told him.
Creagan's smile widened. “I made certain of it.”
“There is plenty of ale and wine to drink, help yourselves,” she said, pointing to a sideboard.
The three men exchanged glances before approaching the sideboard and filling tankards.
It was the first thing Eudora had seen since they'd entered the room that suggested there was something between them beyond friendship. Something old. Something she did not understand.
“You summoned us,” Legion reminded her as he remained where he was, tankard in hand. “Why?”
“Someone wants my throne,” she said without hesitation.
Torden took a swallow before saying, “Someone always wants a throne.”
“Not mine,” Eudora insisted. “The Ryburn Clan has ruled over Morra Mist for a century without any claims of illegitimacy.”
Creagan wandered closer to her. “No longer, according to rumors.”
Eudora looked sharply at him. “You've been asking questions.”
“More listening than asking,” Creagan corrected.
“So, that is why it took you so long to get here?” she accused.
“We came when we were ready,” Torden responded in a clipped tone.
Eudora's temper stirred. She had summoned legendary warriors and somehow ended up with three men who apparently believed the queen of Morra Mist should wait upon their convenience.
Legion spoke before she could respond. “Regardless of how long it took us to get here, we are obligated to carry out your command. So, have done with it and tell us what it is you want us to do.”
Eudora tempered her annoyance. The warrior was right. It was time to set them on their individual tasks.
“Rumors questioning my right to the throne began several weeks ago. At first, they were easily dismissed. They no longer are. Five villages have refused to send men for autumn training. Merchants have heard the same whispers beyond our borders. Someone is deliberately spreading doubt about my right to rule Morra Mist.”
“And you don't know who,” Legion said.
“Not a clue,” she admitted.
Creagan's gaze remained on her. “But you know more than you're telling us.”
“I have vital information known only to me that I need confirmed and managed.”
Legion's attention sharpened. “What do you mean by managed?”
Her chin lifted slightly. “You know very well what I mean. And you also know you must do as I command.”
The three warriors glared at her and for a moment, she actually feared them. But she retained her composure and continued to speak with authority.
“I have a task for each one of you, which I will speak to each one of you about privately. You will not share your tasks with each other.”
Torden's impatience vanished. “That means you don’t trust us.”
“It means I have my reasons and you do not need to know them.”
Torden looked ready to argue, but Eudora gave him no chance.
“You and Creagan will wait in the small chamber across the hall. I will speak with Legion first,” she ordered, knowing they had no choice but to obey.
Creagan glanced toward the door. “How long do you expect us to wait?”
“As long as necessary.”
He looked to the sideboard. “Then we'll need refreshments.”
Before Eudora could respond, he walked to the sideboard and helped himself to the decanter of wine.
Torden apparently approved of the idea. He grabbed the pitcher of ale.
Eudora glared at them.
Creagan tucked the decanter beneath his arm. “You did say to help ourselves.”
Eudora opened her mouth, thought better of it and pointed to the door. “Go.”
Creagan grinned. “As you command, my queen.”
Torden followed him without a word, taking the pitcher and his tankard with him.
The door closed behind them.
Eudora stared at it for several moments before turning and pointing to a chair by the hearth. “Sit.”
“I prefer to stand. I've been sitting on a horse much of the past week. I'd rather stand.”
She couldn't argue with that.
Eudora remained standing as well, studying him more closely.
Of the three, Legion was the one she had immediately associated with war, though she couldn't have explained exactly why.
Perhaps it was the watchfulness she'd noticed earlier or the calmness that seemed so much a part of him.
He didn't have Torden's impatience or Creagan's easy amusement. He simply waited.
“Which of the three are you?” she asked.
A faint smile touched his lips. “I am Legion.”
“That was not what I asked,” Eudora said, wondering if all three men were deliberately difficult. But then she could be difficult as well as outspoken when called for. “I would guess War.”
Something changed in his eyes. It was slight, but she caught it.
“War that conquers,” she said, words from the summons.
Legion said nothing.
“You are the Lord of War.”
She did not need him to confirm it. She knew she was right
“I am Legion,” he repeated.
“That is not a denial,” she said pleased.
“Nor is it an admission.”
Eudora smiled. “My grandmother warned me you three could be trying.”
That brought a more noticeable smile from him. “As could she, and I see you have her stubborn nature.”
“I know my grandmother had met with the three of you, but she never confided why. What was her reason?”
Legion's smile disappeared. “You have a task for me.”
He had deliberately not answered and that annoyed her. “You are obligated to obey me, and I will have an answer to my question.”
“I cannot answer you.” He held his hand up when she went to argue. “My obligation is to your grandmother when it comes to that question. She forbade us to ever answer it.”
That so shocked Eudora that she did not know what to say. What had her grandmother known that she swore the three lords to silence?
“Tell me my task,” Legion urged, wanting it done.
Eudora hesitated. She had gone over this countless times since Agnes brought her the information, and each time she reached the same conclusion.
“There is a woman I need you to find.”
Legion's brow rose slightly. “A woman?”
“A young woman. She is believed to be living in a clan not too far from Dunsire.”
“Believed to be?”
“My information is limited. The person who brought it to me could learn only so much without drawing attention to herself.”
“And why am I looking for her?”
“Because there are those who believe she has a legitimate claim to my throne. I don't even know if the woman herself is aware of it. What I do know is that her existence is being discussed by some of the same people spreading the rumors against me.”
“That doesn't make her responsible for them,” he said in defense of the woman who could be nothing more than a pawn of men who sought power.
“Nay, it doesn't,” she agreed.
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if her answer surprised him.
“I have no intention of condemning someone for the actions of others,” Eudora said. “But I cannot ignore what is happening. Five villages already refuse to send men for training. If more follow, chieftains will begin choosing sides before they even know what they're choosing between.”
“And you think finding this woman will stop that?”
“I think finding out who she is will give me answers.”
Legion nodded. “The name of the clan?”
“Clan MacBrine.”
Legion went completely still.
Eudora noticed. “You know the place?”
“I've been there.”
That surprised her. “Recently?”
“Aye, I stopped for a night of shelter and food.”
Perhaps fate had finally decided to favor her.
“Then this should make your task easier. The woman serves in the chieftain's household,” she continued. “My source believes she has known no other home.”
Legion knew before Eudora said another word.
Senna.
He had thought of her more than once since leaving the castle. The easiness he felt when with her. That she was pleasant yet showed no signs of fancying him. The way she'd thanked him after he'd stopped the man who had grabbed her.
He had wondered if he would ever see her again. Now it appeared he would. The thought pleased him more than it should have.
“What is her name?” he asked.
“Senna.”
Legion kept his reaction from showing. “You want her brought to you?”
“Nay.”
That wiped away the small measure of pleasure he'd felt.
“I want you to learn everything you can about her. Who her parents were. How she came to be in that household. Whether she knows anything about the claim being whispered about her and whether she's had contact with those spreading the rumors.”
“That sounds simple enough,” he said, relieved to hear that Senna was meant no harm.
“It is not the whole of your task.”
That brought back concern and he waited to hear more about the task that had suddenly turned troublesome.
Eudora drew a slow breath. “If you confirm she is the woman they intend to put forward as the rightful heir to Morra Mist, you are to make certain she can never be used to divide this kingdom.”
His gaze hardened. “Explain.”
Eudora fought the words she knew she must speak. “You are to kill her.”
For the first time since entering the solar, Legion looked genuinely stunned.
“You want me to kill a servant lass because someone claims she has royal blood?”
“Nay,” she said with a shake of her head. “I want you to prevent a civil war.”
“By killing a woman who may know nothing about it?” he said unable to keep the anger out of his voice.
“Do you think I reached this decision easily?” Eudora snapped.
“Someone is deliberately turning my people against the crown. Villages that have answered the call to training for generations now refuse. Whispers have crossed our borders. If this woman is presented as the rightful queen, every chieftain in Morra Mist will be forced to decide which claim he believes.”
“And if she wants nothing to do with it?” he challenged.
“It may not matter what she wants. A claimant does not have to desire a throne to have others kill in her name.”
Legion couldn't argue with that. He had seen men go to war for less.
Eudora stepped closer to him. “I will not allow Morra Mist to be torn apart while I stand by and hope those responsible lose interest. If the information is false, Senna has nothing to fear from you. But if it is true, and her existence can be used to plunge my kingdom into war, I will protect my people.”
“By ordering me to murder her.”
“By ordering you to prevent a war before it begins.”
Silence stretched between them.
Legion had walked across battlefields after the fighting ended. He knew what war left behind. Men who would never return home. Women who waited for husbands already dead. Children without fathers. Villages burned. People left homeless. One life weighed against hundreds, perhaps thousands.
It should have been an easy choice for a man who had made far worse ones.
Except now that life had a name… Senna.
“You understand your command?” Eudora asked.
“Aye,” he said with not an ounce of emotion.
“And you will carry it out?” she asked, needing him to confirm it.
Legion fought to control the anger churning inside him. He had no choice.
“Aye, my queen, I will obey your command.”