Free Secrets at the Keep (Kingdom of Denall Book 2) by Eric Buffington Page A

well. You know that we’ve gotten threats to several prominent families, which means sending out one of our own with a patrol of soldiers to investigate. We’re shorthanded, and Mylot is stronger than anyone else we have. He is capable with the sword, and by your own previous reports, he is doing very well.” Mylot looked up, surprised that her reports would share anything favorable about himself, but she kept talking.
    “Sir, he is strong,” she argued. “But he moves like a sloth.” She held up her pointer finger as if to begin listing off the things that Mylot needed to learn, but she was abruptly cut off.
    “It is a five week ride to see Peyton. Be sure you stop from time to time to give him some lessons. Show him some of the geography he needs to be familiar with.” She was opening her mouth to protest again, but Sir Theodore cut her off. “That is my final word on this matter. You will take Mylot to investigate this message.”
    He turned and addressed Mylot. “When we travel on missions, we try to not stand out too much. It can make people panic if they see the King’s Guard investigating. For the most part, people think the King’s Guard is just a group that stands behind the king. For this mission, you are under my orders to not salute Captain Conrad, and you will simply call her Bethany.” Mylot grinned and turned deliberately to look at the very upset captain. Sir Theodore cleared his throat to get Mylot’s attention, “She is your superior and you will still obey her commands as you would here in training. She will file a full report to me when the mission is done. Do you understand?”
    “Yes sir.” Mylot responded. Although the entire mission seemed a waste of his time, and it was with a terrorist of a human being, at least it brought him some satisfaction to see how Captain Conrad squirmed at the idea that he would call her Bethany, and he was also interested in the fact that her reports over the last several weeks had been favorable.
    Captain Conrad nodded in obedience, and then left the room. Mylot reluctantly followed.
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 7
     
     
    Mylot returned to his room to pack his belongings and prepare to depart on his first mission. He was filled with excitement and some fear, but mostly indignation toward Bethany. How could she say those things in front of Sir Theodore? On this mission, Mylot was going to show them that he was an asset to this team.
    As he rummaged in his satchel he found Maggie’s small chest. In the past weeks while he had been training, it had been a weight that he carried everywhere he went. His communications with Sir Rodnik had all been very brief. He hadn’t found Maggie, nobody had heard of her since the tournament had ended.
    He looked down at the box, wondering what it contained, and whether Maggie even had the key to open it. If it wasn’t magically protected, with some effort he could break it open using some tool or weapon, but for now he needed to get it somewhere safe, and he didn’t have time to get it to Sir Rodnik before he left. He thought about leaving it in his room, but he knew he would be gone for at least three months, so he wanted a more secret hiding place.
    Mylot walked confidently down the hall to the stalls. He had spent some time in the stalls and knew that there was a large exit for men and riders to leave the compound. Gapol turned his head when Mylot entered and he absently stroked the horse’s mane as he thought, then quietly walked past the horses and slipped out the door.
    The stables opened into the stadium and Mylot found himself looking around at the empty seats. These seats had all been filled a few short weeks ago with people cheering for him. Did I make a mistake leaving the jousting tournament? He stood still, contemplating, but quickly realized he could not just stand around and enjoy the fresh open air, or consider his choices of earlier; he needed to hide the chest.
    When he was a small child, Mylot