Knight or Knave

You don't need money, don't take fame

Don't need no credit card to ride this train

~ Huey Lewis

Chapter 4

You will find that silence or very gentle words are the most exquisite revenge for insult. ~ Judge Hall

The great hall of the royal court was full of onlookers as Count Estian Fou Roseblade led his own household and officers, intermingled with those of the Bartfords, down the long red carpet between the door and the dais.

Leon wasn't positioned all that far back - both he and Nicks had been named specifically among those whose presence was explicitly a requirement for this audience - and thus he had a good view as the grey-haired king and silver-haired queen looked down at them from their thrones. The hair colours were definitely deceptive, he decided. Even from this distance, both King Roland and Queen Mylene looked far too young to have a son his own age.

The king raised his hand. "Viscount Marmoria, I appoint you to investigate this matter on behalf of the crown."

Hiding a frown - he hoped he was hiding it at any rate - Leon eyed the court noble stepping forth to not-so-symbolically separate the accused from the crown. Like his son, the Viscount had a head of long green hair, reminding the teenager somewhat of Yumeria. However, otherwise he had an ascetic look beneath his courtly clothes - as if he'd been pared down by his years of service to the king.

Given everything he'd gathered about Roland Rafa Holfort's foibles and affairs, Leon was inclined to give some weight to that theory.

"Count Roseblade," the viscount began. "I have examined the evidence that you have presented that ties your neighbour Count Olfrey to the pirates that have, on occasion, raided the lands under your protection. I can fully understand that you feel an obligation to redress their crimes. What is less than clear to me is why these documents were not presented before the court immediately, rather than after you have sought summary justice of your own."

"If I was seeking summary justice, viscount," Roseblade's voice was clipped, "Then I would have saved time and energy by presenting the court with Olfrey's head rather than the whole of him."

"Very well then, I shall amend my question. You have invaded the domain of another sworn liegeman of the crown without consent or advice of said crown, only then bringing the alleged crimes of Count Olfrey to the king's attention. It would seem to me that your duty would be to present that evidence first, so that this matter could be settled by royal writ and a fleet mustered under a royal call to arms. Some have suggested that this was done less out of any crimes on the Count's part and more out of your personal dislike for him… and avarice for his lands."

"Presenting that evidence while Olfrey was in a position of security to make offers to and extend influence through the friends he has boasted of at court, Viscount, had a very good chance of seeing that evidence incomplete or mysteriously absent entirely before it could reach the king's eyes."

Marmoria's voice seemed to snap. "Are you suggesting that the court would compromise their duties towards the king's justice?"

"If you believe after all your years here that money and favours count for less than laws, then I have to wonder what bucket you were wearing on your head the entire time." Count Roseblade's voice dripped with contempt. "Having Olfrey behind bars and separated from his cronies and coffers makes justice quite measurably more likely and only a fool would assert otherwise."

"You speak of laws with the same breath that you have chosen to ignore them entirely," the viscount warned sharply. And what is your position on this, Baron Bartford. You appear to have been an equal party to this attack, while unlike the Count Roseblade I don't recall that you have personal enmity towards Count Olfrey."

"I had none until I met him," Leon's father admitted. "Although under the circumstances where we did meet, I suppose his attitude was hardly unexpected. I do not claim the experience of court that you have, nor that of Count Roseblade. But I understand that Count Olfrey is most experienced in politics, and his response to our charges was to declare that half the nobility of Holfort would rally to him - not to claim innocence, but merely that he would not be held accountable."

"Something you would have not known going into the invasion," Marmoria observed tersely.

Under most circumstances, Leon thought, Olfrey's position was solid enough that he might well be right about the kingdom backing him. The royal faction within Holfort had always been centred on the descendants of the adventuring party that had established the kingdom: besides the Holforts themselves, that was the Field, Seberg, Arclight and Marmoria households. Marrying his daughter into the Field family should have tied Olfrey to that faction and insulated him from more than a mild reprimand.

However, the Count was also 'new money' - three generations removed from a merchant marrying into a noble house. Ambition and astute diplomacy had raised them in status, but one thing the Olfreys had never done was adventure themselves, which alienated them from the 'traditionalist' faction. The crown was very much counting on that faction to solidify the crown prince's position when he eventually succeeded the throne, to the point of engaging the prince to Duke Redgrave's daughter. The Duke was an accomplished adventurer in his own right, and he was hardly predisposed to favour the more mercantile houses.

And Leon knew from the books he remembered that Marquis Field had never wanted the marriage alliance - he'd agreed to the offer conditional on Count Olfrey finally stopping the relentless ravages being inflicted on his domain by Fanoss' Black Knight, never expecting that the Prince of Fanoss would welcome the overtures and come to terms with the kingdom. The Marquis had been left with little choice but to uphold his bargain.

Objectively, the disdain for trade did the nobility of Holfort little good, but Leon had to admit that Nicholas Fou Olfrey was hardly a good advertisement for the virtues of mercantile accomplishment. And in this case, that disdain would open opportunities for Leon.

"That is true," Barcus admitted. "However, even if there is no one lord in this court who would hide evidence for Count Olfrey, or who would fight for Count Olfrey, I find it hard to believe that there is no servant or clerk who might not warn him. We were able to overwhelm the Olfreys quickly because we struck with surprise. And had we come here first, then even if the crown had authorised and supported us, we would have had to fight a longer and bloodier war to remove the count. Yet here we are, and while every loss was painful, I have few soldiers dead for this battle. That is not something I have heard that is commonly accomplished by the royal army."

Of course not, Leon thought cynically. If they didn't have high casualties, how could they leave widows rich on military pensions to buy young men for their pleasures?

The viscount's face went red. "The royal army is not under investigation here!"

But before he could go further, the king raised his sceptre. "Tempers have grown hot on this matter," he declared. "I thank the viscount for raising the questions I have asked him to, and the count and the baron for the answers they have offered. Let us now recess so that tempers cool and I may reach a decision upon the matter of this private war and the piracy that has sparked it."

The court milled around the hall as they waited for the king's deliberations to reach a conclusion. Court nobles and lesser officials stayed delicately distant from both sides, not wishing to be seen with either until they knew who would rise and who might fall.

One person not given to such discretion had arrived though, and with an infuriated hiss of: "Barcus, you fool," Zola Fou Bartford located Leon's family standing by one of the windows looking out over the capital.

"Zola," the baron greeted his wife. "Rudyard, Merce. I see you're doing well."

"How could I be doing well under these circumstances?" Zola demanded. "You have no idea how such things are handled. I will be doing well if we do not lose everything from your blundering."

"You are well insulated from any consequences, since the only information you had was that I had called Rudyard to muster," Barcus pointed out. Then his eyes narrowed. "A muster you did not attend, son."

"My son does not come at your beck and call, Barcus. You should have told me everything. With evidence of Olfrey's actions we could have extracted considerable concessions from him."

"I don't think the Roseblades would have accepted," pointed out Nicks.

"If Count Roseblade found those documents, he wouldn't have needed to involve our family, you imbecile," Zola snapped at Nicks. "It's entirely obvious that Barcus had the papers first and went to Roseblade because of his grudge against Olfrey."

"You are correct on that," Leon's father conceded. "However, I disagree that your approach was better. And with your assertion that Rudyard isn't to come when the barony musters for war. He's the heir and has responsibilities."

"As the heir, Rudyard is too precious to be risked in your asinine scheming," his wife hissed. She jabbed a finger at Nicks and Leon. "These countryside brats are expendable, but my son is not. How could you even afford a war? You've been claiming debt and poverty whenever money comes up for years."

"My debts have recently been settled, Zola. So the money that would have been spent servicing those debts became available."

"You settled your debts?" Her eyes narrowed. "How?"

Leon raised his hand casually. "Oh, that was me."

"You?" the blonde woman snapped derisively. "What could you have done to raise that sort of money? You're a worthless countryside noble's brat without connections."

"Lord Bartford!" another voice exclaimed and they all turned to see a dark-haired, bespectacled woman in the formal robes of a Ministry of Magic official approaching. "So good to see you again."

Leon cleared his throat. "Director Smith. It's a pleasure."

She seized his hand between hers. "I must thank you again, you've presented me with quite the interesting challenge. I've learned so much from the information you provided."

"I'm very glad to hear that. I hope your research is fruitful."

"Oh it is indeed." Smith produced a small pocket watch and extended it to him. "Our first working model. Please accept this as a token of our collaboration. Perhaps you'll consider coming to work for me once you finish at the academy?"

"I'm a few years away from being free to make such a commitment, but that's a very interesting offer, director."

"Oh please, call me Larna." She adjusted her robes slightly. "I don't stand on dignity."

"Then please call me Leon."

"Of course."

He paused. "If I may ask, I hope that the new gardener is working out?"

"Oh, she's a treasure. I must thank you, the department of magical botany is enthusiastic to work with her as well, so we're all glad you introduced her to me." Larna Smith paused in thought and then admitted. "Although some of the other directors would rather you'd introduced her to them first."

"Perhaps I'll come across someone or something relevant to their interests in the future," Leon observed. "You never know what will happen in the future."

"Director Smith," a servant called, somewhat impatiently.

"Oh, do excuse me." The director bustled off in the man's direction and the Bartfords watched as she was ushered through into the antechamber where the king was currently considering his decision.

"There's something very familiar about the director," Leon mused as he pocketed the watch. "But I can't quite place her - I'm sure she's never visited our barony…"

"I'm fairly sure she hasn't," his father agreed. "That was who you met at the Ministry a few weeks ago?"

"Yes, that's right."

He nodded. "I suppose she must be married? She's very young for her position, but not that young."

"I assume so, I hadn't asked."

"You really should be thinking about that sort of thing. It's never too early." Barcus patted Leon on the shoulder. "Would you like me to introduce you to Count Roseblade?" he offered the speechless Zola.

The return of the king to the dais, this time not joined by his queen, marked resumption of the audience. With Queen Mylene's absence, Roland was flanked instead by Director Smith and… Leon didn't know the other woman but he thought that Zola recognised her. She wore the robes of a Temple priestess, suggesting that at least two major institutions had elected to support the king's decision. No adventurer's guild representative, but they were supposed to be independent so they rarely sent a representative openly to court unless they were directly involved in whatever issue had arisen.

Leon noted surprised faces among the observers. It was rare for the Temple and the Ministry to agree on anything these days.

"My lords and ladies, this has been a distressing matter for us all." The king managed to look regal rather than bored, although from what Leon had read that might just be him acting. "Count Olfrey's crimes aren't in doubt at this point. The evidence is overwhelming that a trusted and respectable lord of Holfort has conspired against the trade of the kingdom and the domains of his neighbours, sponsoring disgraceful and deniable raids upon both."

"The actions of Count Roseblade and Baron Bartford to bring an end to this disgrace are technically in breach of the king's peace and it distresses me to hear that they felt they could not come directly to me for justice. However, both the Temple and the Ministry of Magic have offered testimony to the good character and intentions of the lords, and their desire to see the matter brought to a quick and decisive conclusion is praiseworthy."

Solemnly, the king extended one hand and Viscount Marmoria brought out a sheathed sword. Drawing the blade, King Roland raised it before him. "In this case, and this case alone, I will pardon the impropriety of their methods. Count Nicholas Fou Olfrey stands attainted of treason and I hereby strip him of his lands and title. Fines levied against his household for various secondary offenses will not entirely deplete their wealth, yet I shall also sentence the count's family to exile and the count himself will face the ultimate sanction for his crimes."

Death, then.

"Count Roseblade, it would not be fitting for me to reward you for your excess of initiative in this matter," the king continued, reversing the blade and resting the tip upon the dais before him. "You have seen your rival's downfall and I trust that you will take satisfaction sufficiently in that."

Estian Fou Roseblade dropped to one knee. "I have seen justice done, your highness, and I sought no more."

"I am pleased to hear this," Roland observed after a moment's pause.

Leon wondered if the pause meant that Roland was pleased, displeased or was just wishing he'd been given a chance to be cool somehow. He had some recollection of the man being sulky that the Leon in the book didn't get flustered and let the king play the magnanimous monarch card.

"Baron Bartford, as I have not rewarded your ally, I can also not reward you for your own actions. Yet I know that you are blessed with four sons, two of whom served diligently in overthrowing Count Olfrey. Indeed, I believe that one of those young men is even an adventurer of note despite his youth. I therefore propose that one of them should receive the lands and title that I have stripped from him."

Leon couldn't see Zola Fou Bartford's face from where he stood, but it must have been a picture. Fortunately, she had the good sense not to quarrel openly with the king.

However, there was opportunity here. Leon stepped forwards, adroitly evading Nick's hand when his brother tried to restrain him.

Dropping to one knee before the king, Leon tried to look young and overwhelmed. "Your majesty does us great honour, but my brother and I are both young and inexperienced. May I beg a boon of your great generosity?"

Roland's eyes lit up and Leon chalked up another point in favour of the past life's memories. The man loved drama and wanted to be the centre of attention. "I will hear your petition, young Lord Bartford."

"Most gracious majesty, I ask that you confer the title instead upon our esteemed mother, Ruth Fou Bartford, that she may select whichever of us she deems the most worthy as her heir."

Leon prayed that Luxion had a camera pointed at Zola's face right now. There was a sound from the onlookers like a kettle boiling over.

The king handed his sword back to the viscount and stepped forward and down a step, resting one hand on Leon's shoulder. "Your filial piety does you great credit, young man. As does your wisdom in recognising how much you have yet to learn. I grant your wish and proclaim that your mother Ruth Fou Bartford shall be named Countess Bartford instead of you or your brother."

He released his grip on the young man. "Baron Bartford, is our new Countess present today?"

"Ah… Ruth is not in the palace at this time, your majesty." Barcus sounded perplexed, which was entirely fair. "She is with our daughters and younger son at lodgings…"

"I see." Roland stepped up the dais again and gestured dismissively to Leon. "We shall ennoble her upon the morrow, at the temple, and the court shall host a celebration of her good fortune and your victory, that all may know the glory of Holfort is undimmed by Olfrey's treachery!"

"You scheming little bastard!"

Zola slapped Leon the moment they were in private, the Bartford household having laid claim to one of the many withdrawing rooms of the palace while Ruth and her other children were summoned by messenger. It was possible someone would be listening in, but both the palace staff and the temple would be in turmoil with the need to host the formal ceremonies and festivities that had just been ordered on effectively no notice by the king.

"I'm getting taller," he said defensively.

"That's what bothers you?" asked Nicks, giving him a sideways look.

Leon shrugged. "Technically we are bastards, and I absolutely was scheming towards this." He rubbed his cheek. "I didn't appreciate the slap though." Zola was wearing heavy rings and when Leon lowered his hand there was a trace of blood on his fingers.

"You deserve a thousand times worse! That title should be mine! Rudyard is the first son and the county belongs to him, not to a byblow or his mother!"

Barcus cleared his throat. "Zola, the king decided to bestow it on Nicks or Leon. Rudyard would have been a candidate if he'd actually fought for it."

"What does that matter, you buffoon. I knew marrying you was a waste, but my father took pity on you and now look at what you've done!"

Zola's children stood by her, Rudyard wordlessly holding his mother's shoulders while Merce glared at the baron. "How are you going to fix this?" she demanded.

Leon pulled out the pocket watch he'd been given earlier and looked at it. When he opened it, a slip of paper was folded within. There were two hands and both currently indicated just a hair after noon (or midnight). The paper had instructions and he read them quickly, then clicked the button. Both hands began to spin quite quickly.

"What are you playing with?" Rudyard enquired. "You need to fix this. Go to the king and explain it should be our mother becoming countess."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I'll make your life a living hell if you don't!" Zola shrieked. "My son deserves this and you don't."

Leon looked at the woman. "Your son, you say. Interesting that you don't say Rudyard is Dad's son."

"What are you talking about?" asked Barcus. "And what are you doing with that watch?"

"It's not a watch," Leon explained. "It's a magical tool intended to detect elf ancestry."

Zola froze and the elf manservant behind her paled. "T-that's impossible."

Leon pointed the watch at the little group. "No, the magical tools department at the ministry have been studying that and it's quite possible. They're quite excited."

Nicks frowned. "So it's indicating…" He looked over. "Well, there's an elf right there, Leon."

"Yeah," Leon nodded. "And no elves or part-blooded elves over here." He indicated the two of them and their father. "However, what happens if the Baroness' servant were sent over to the corner?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" shouted Rudyard, striding over towards them. "Everyone knows elves and humans aren't able to have children."

"Actually, there's a proven half-elf at the ministry right now," Leon told him. And then he indicated how the hands were moving. "And yet when you came over here, there's someone with a lot of elf blood right next to me. Funny that. Because you evidently don't inherit that from our… or rather from my father. If you did then he'd show up as part-elf."

Rudyard seized the watch from Leon and flung it across the room. "How dare you?" He might have seized Leon next, but instead Barcus caught hold of him and pushed him away.

"Leon, are you sure?"

The fifteen year old nodded seriously. "Absolutely. Why do you think I'm on good terms with Director Smith at the Magical Tools department? She developed this personally based on some finds I handed over to the Ministry."

"Nicks." Barcus' face was flat and emotionless. "Make Zola's servant stand in the corner. By force if you must."

Leon's brother looked incredulous but stepped towards the elf. The servant drew himself up. "I answer only to the baroness."

Magic flared around Nicks and he grabbed hold of the blond elf by one arm and dragged it behind the servant's back, reinforcing his strength to overcome the elf's natural advantage. "My father paid for you, that means you do what he tells you."

"Barcus! Stop this!"

Leon's father ignored Zola's protest and picked up the watch. "How does it work?"

"Press the left button and the larger hand indicates who it's picking up, press the right button to have it reset and select someone else in range." Leon held up the paper that had been inside the watch. "The smaller hand indicates how much ancestry it's picking up. Just after twelve for none, just before it for an elf with no human ancestry."

Barcus nodded and pushed the left button. "No elf blood in me." He walked over to where Nicks was holding the servant, and pressed the right button once, then again. "None in Nicks either, but it picks up your servant just as Leon describes, Zola."

"You can't believe that! Everyone knows that elves can't father children on human women. It's why they're safe as servants!"

"Everyone knows," Leon murmured, "But no one has proven it… until now."

Zola shot a glare at him. "This isn't proof!"

"Father, no!" Merce protested as Barcus backed her into a corner and aimed the device at her. "And this, Leon. This indicates a mix?"

Leon looked at the small hand, which was hovering near to nine. "Yes, quite a lot of elf ancestry."

"The Temple will never accept this, you know that."

"The Temple backed the King's decision to offer Nicks or I the county," Leon reminded her. "You may have contacts there, but so do I. And their official doctrine is very much behind elves not having rights, so they'd find half-elves rather… shameful."

"I will fight this!"

Barcus glared at Zola. "Shut up. I can take this to the royal courts and have a strong case for line-theft. If Rudyard shows up as part-elf when I'm not, then you tried to put forward a false heir to my barony."

"I'd really suggest that you accept an amicable divorce," Leon suggested drily.

"Why would I ever do that?!" his father's wife snarled. "That isn't proof. It's a gimmick, it's a fake."

"It's attested by the Ministry and the Temple will back them on this." Leon stepped closer to her. "Go back to the Colemans and your children will at least have their name going forwards. It's better than the alternative."

Zola sneered. "Or what?!"

"Or," Leon whispered, "The Colemans learn that your children are three-quarters elf. Meaning that the only human parent that they have is your mother… and that makes you a bastard too."

She looked like a hunted animal. "This isn't possible!"

"It's the best deal you can hope for," Leon told her and stepped back rather than get slapped again. "But if you want to fight then you really can lose everything you and your children have."

For fifteen years, Zola had stood over Leon as a tyrant, powerful and dominant over everyone else in the Bartford family. It should have been tremendously satisfying to see her breaking in front of him.

"Barcus, you can't do this to me!"

"After everything you've done to my family," the baron said, sounding distant and shocked in his own right. "This is just Leon helping me settle one more debt that I owed."