Chapter 3 — The Northern Assignment

Chapter 3: Chapter 3 — The Northern Assignment

Chapter 3 — The Northern Assignment

Viscount Osbert Drake’s study had three maps and no comfortable chairs. Christopher remembered complaining about that when he was twelve, and Osbert had told him that comfort made people careless during serious discussions.

Now Christopher understood what kind of discussion the room had been built for.

Osbert sat behind a broad oak desk. Age had thinned his white hair but not his shoulders, and even at rest the old Gold Knight carried a pressure Christopher could feel from the doorway.

Hugh stood near the western map. Ranulf waited beside the hearth. Both wore swords and mourning black.

Godfrey entered with Christopher but remained near the door.

"Sit," Osbert said.

Christopher took the plain chair before the desk. Godfrey remained standing.

Osbert studied Christopher’s face, hands, and posture. "The physician says you formed a stable Knight Seed."

"He also says my channels need several days to heal."

"You will give them that time."

"Yes, Grandfather."

Hugh crossed his arms. "He accepted the same order this morning. Perhaps repetition will make it true."

Christopher ignored him.

Osbert turned a sealed document around on the desk. The wax carried the royal griffin of Varenne.

"The Crown has declared the Northern War over," the viscount said. "The Orc armies have withdrawn into the Frozen Wastes."

Ranulf gave a bitter laugh. "After stripping half the north bare."

"The northern kingdoms lost towns, villages, soldiers, and entire noble lines," Osbert continued. "Many surviving holdings no longer have enough people to work their land or maintain their roads."

He tapped the royal document.

"The Crown issued the Northern Resettlement Order. Every noble house must send a relative north to reclaim land, build a settlement and watch the roads."

Christopher had seen pieces of the order in the old memories, though he had not known House Drake’s decision.

Ranulf spoke first. "We sent Edmund and nearly fifty ranked men. House Drake has paid enough."

"The Crown counted our losses," Osbert said. "The order remains."

"Send a cadet cousin," Hugh said. "There are men carrying the Drake name who would welcome land."

Osbert’s gaze settled on Christopher.

The room became quiet.

Christopher understood. His father was dead. His mother had died years earlier. His grandfather was old. His uncles stood closer to the viscount’s chair than he did, but Edmund had been the intended heir, and Christopher’s claim made him dangerous to them. Sending him north solved several problems at once.

"Which holding?" he asked.

Hugh’s eyebrows rose; he had expected anger or fear.

Osbert pointed to the largest map. "Dragonwatch, in the far northwest."

The name carried old stories from Christopher Drake’s childhood: a fortress beyond Northgate, a place where Dragon Knights once gathered before the modern kingdoms existed. House Drake’s first patriarch was said to have escaped its fall carrying a pendant and a wounded child. Most versions ended with Orcs eating everyone who returned.

Christopher stood and approached the map.

Dragonwatch lay in the far northwestern reach of Varenne. House Bell controlled the nearest surviving territory. Northgate stood well to the south. Beyond Dragonwatch stretched the Frozen Wastes.

"How long has it been empty?" Christopher asked.

"The surrounding settlements were abandoned in stages," Osbert said. "The stronghold itself was last occupied by a Drake garrison before pressure from the Orc clans made supply too costly."

"How many years has the main stronghold been empty?"

"Long enough that no report can be trusted."

"Do the walls still stand?"

"They stood when the last patrol passed within sight."

"When did that patrol pass?"

Osbert’s silence answered before he did.

"Before the war."

Christopher studied the road: Griffin City to Northgate, Northgate into damaged Bell lands, then another long road through territory nobody patrolled often.

"Does anyone live around it?"

"Possibly scavengers, refugees, bandits, or Orc stragglers," Ranulf said. "You may ask them when you arrive."

Godfrey shifted near the door. Ranulf noticed and looked away.

Christopher returned to the chair. "What exactly does the Crown grant?"

Osbert opened the document.

"A barony, if you can hold it. Occupy Dragonwatch, build a working settlement and keep the northern road open. Once Northgate confirms it, the title becomes yours."

"What happens if the settlement fails?"

"The land returns to the Crown. House Drake loses its old claim."

"What happens if I die before the claim is verified?"

Hugh answered. "The same."

Christopher met his eyes. "You sound certain."

"The north has killed stronger men."

"It killed my father," Christopher said. "You don’t need to remind me."

Hugh’s mouth tightened. Ranulf turned toward the fire, but Christopher caught the brief movement of his eyes — neither uncle had expected him to answer directly.

Osbert’s fingers remained on the royal document. "Edmund died leading soldiers against an Orc force. Your task is to occupy land after the armies have withdrawn. The dangers are different."

"Are they smaller?" Christopher asked.

"Some are. Others are harder to see."

Osbert struck the desk once with two fingers, and the exchange ended.

Christopher read the patent. The language was formal but simple beneath the titles: the Crown needed occupied land, roads, taxes, and warning posts, and it offered titles to younger sons and unwanted relatives because hope was cheaper than royal soldiers.

Christopher could refuse House Drake. He could not refuse the Crown without losing protection and perhaps his freedom.

Hugh and Ranulf already wanted him gone. Dragonwatch offered danger, but it also offered distance, land, followers, and a title independent of his uncles.

"When do I leave?" Christopher asked.

"After Edmund’s funeral," Osbert said. "Within ten days."

"Who has been assigned to the expedition?"

"Fifty serf families. Forty-five are farmers. Three carpenter families, one clerk’s family, and one cook’s family complete the group."

Christopher counted the likely number of people in his head, probably more than two hundred, perhaps far more once children and older relatives were included.

Osbert continued. "Sir Walter Fenwick and Sir Ivo Barrow will command two dozen armed men."

"How many of those men are ranked?"

"Two Bronze Knights and twelve Knight Apprentices. The remaining guards are ordinary household soldiers."

Christopher took in the force written beside the settlers. Two ranked Knights, twelve young men still below Black Iron, and ordinary guards would be protecting hundreds of people across damaged roads.

"What supplies has House Drake prepared?"

"Wagons, draft animals, seed, tools, preserved food, tents, winter cloth, and coin. Bennet Cole will serve as your clerk."

"Has a healer agreed to travel with us?"

"None has agreed to settle at Dragonwatch."

"A miller? Tanner? Smith?"

"You will inspect the families before asking questions Bennet can answer," Hugh said.

Christopher turned to Osbert. "Let me hire the craftsmen we are missing in Griffin City and Northgate."

"With whose money?" Hugh asked.

"Mine, if the estate refuses. Arriving with fifty farming families and no way to repair a mill or treat an infected wound would cost more."

"You have been a Knight for one night, and now you understand settlements?"

"No. That’s why I am asking for people who do."

Ranulf watched him with more interest than before.

"And if the craftsmen refuse?" Ranulf asked.

"Then I learn what they need or find another way to get the work done. I can’t force a healer to live beyond Northgate."

"You will discover that coin persuades fewer people once the road becomes dangerous."

"Then House Drake should be glad I asked before we reached the road."

Hugh gave a short, humorless laugh. "One night at Black Iron, and he already speaks like a lord."

Christopher kept his attention on Osbert. "I am being sent with families who will expect me to act like one."

For the first time since Christopher entered the study, the old viscount looked almost satisfied.

Osbert leaned back. "Bennet will show you the accounts. You may recruit within the expedition budget. He records every large expense, and you seal it."

"Thank you, Grandfather."

"Do not thank me yet."

Christopher turned back to Godfrey. "Who commands the military escort?"

"Walter and Ivo," Osbert said. "Godfrey remains here."

Godfrey answered before Christopher could. "I will go with him."

Hugh turned. "This is a family decision."

"Then the family can decide without commanding me. I swore to Cecily, not House Drake."

"Cecily is dead."

"Her son is not."

Christopher lowered his eyes before anyone noticed his reaction.

Osbert studied the Silver Knight. "Dragonwatch may kill him."

"That’s why he needs someone stronger than Bronze."

"The estate could use a Silver Knight after the losses in the north," Ranulf said.

Godfrey looked past him. "Hire one."

Hugh’s hand moved toward his sword. Godfrey’s did not, and the lack of movement made the threat clearer.

Osbert raised one hand. "Enough. Godfrey is free to choose his road."

Hugh stepped back.

Christopher faced Godfrey. "You understand what you are choosing. The fortress may be a ruin. The title may disappear if I fail."

"I understand what I am choosing."

"You could stay here and live well."

"I have met your uncles."

Ranulf gave a cold smile.

Godfrey continued. "You need military command, and Walter should not be forced to teach you while protecting the convoy. I will go."

Christopher bowed his head. "Then I accept your help."

Godfrey studied him for a moment before turning back to Osbert.

Osbert rolled the patent closed. "The assignment remains private until after Edmund’s funeral. The household already has enough grief."

"When do I inspect the expedition?" Christopher asked.

"Tomorrow afternoon. Bennet will meet you in the southern field."

"When will my father’s funeral begin?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Christopher nodded.

Osbert dismissed Hugh and Ranulf first. Hugh left without looking at Christopher. Ranulf paused beside him.

"Dragonwatch has a fine legend," Ranulf said. "Legends make poor roofs."

"Then I will need carpenters."

Ranulf’s smile vanished, and he followed Hugh into the passage.

Godfrey remained near the door. Osbert waited until it closed.

"Come back tomorrow night," the viscount said to Christopher. "Do not bring Godfrey."

"Why must I come alone?"

"Because there are things of your father’s that Hugh and Ranulf do not need to see."

Christopher bowed. "Yes, Grandfather."

Outside the study, he and Godfrey walked toward the west stair.

"You agreed quickly," Godfrey said.

"Would refusing keep me here?"

"Refusing would not keep you here."

"Then arguing would only give my uncles time to reduce what goes with me."

Godfrey considered that. "Near death made you practical."

"It made several things look less important."

"Do not let that make you careless about ordinary problems," Godfrey said. "A broken axle can stop the convoy. Wet grain can harm more settlers than a bandit."

"Then I ask Bennet about the wagons and Martha about the food."

"And Walter about the road. They know their work. Let them do it."

Christopher accepted the correction. "That’s why I want you there."

"I am not travelling north to agree with you."

"I would be concerned if you started."

They passed a window overlooking the southern fields. Wagons already stood in rows beyond the wall, and families moved between them, loading tools and winter stores.

They would follow him because Osbert ordered them to. If Christopher failed, they would freeze, starve, or die beside him. The weight of that settled more heavily than the title.

"Sir Godfrey, wait."

The knight stopped.

"Tomorrow, when I inspect the expedition, tell me when I am wrong. Do it before everyone follows the order."

"You won’t enjoy that arrangement."

"I don’t need to enjoy it."

Godfrey gave one slow nod.

Below them, another wagon entered the southern field, and Christopher watched it join the others.

Preparations had already begun. In ten days, all of them would be on the road north.