Free Morgarten (Book 2 of the Forest Knights) by J. K. Swift

rule,”
Leopold said, strolling forward casually to join the
Archbishop.
    He twisted his head at the sound of Leopold’s voice
and the bulk of his body followed later, as though they belonged to
different people. His eyes narrowed and his tongue flicked his
lips. Extreme annoyance twisted his features for only the briefest
of moments before it disappeared, but not before Leopold could
notice.
    What is the matter, my Archbishop? Did I interrupt
your daily moment of solitude?
    “I hope I am not intruding, Archbishop.”
    “Of course not. You surprised me is all. I did not
take you for an early riser, Duke Leopold.”
    Leopold put his elbows on the wall and gazed out
over the landscape. He let out a breath and the cool morning air
turned it to vapor.
    “Oh, I do so enjoy a morning walk. It clears one’s
mind and presents previously unimagined possibilities.” Leopold’s
puffy eyes squinted against the brightness of dawn. “Salzburg truly
is a beautiful city. I must make the time to visit more often.”
    “You are welcome here whenever you wish, Lord
Leopold. Your father was a great friend to me and it is my hope
that our friendship will live on in our own relations.”
    You hated my father. Perhaps even as much as I
did.
    “Why thank you. I do always enjoy the time we spend
together. And I apologize for not calling upon you the last time I
was in Salzburg.”
    The archbishop blinked. “You were in the city
recently? I wish I had known.”
    I am sure you do.
    “I meant to come up to the castle, but my business
confined me to Low-town, and before I knew it, I had to leave again
for Habsburg. I am sure you understand. Men in positions such as
ours have so many demands placed upon our short time here on this
earth.”
    “And some men’s lives are cut shorter than they
would like,” the Archbishop said.
    Some live far too long.
    Leopold laughed. “All men’s lives are shorter than
they would like. Young, or old, it does not matter.”
    “I trust your business went well?”
    Leopold stopped smiling and put on his best
disinterested look. “Business, archbishop?”
    “In Low-town. You claimed you were there on some
sort of mercantile endeavor.” When he mentioned the merchant
class, the bishop’s face soured like he had drunk week-old
milk.
    Leopold chuckled. “A slip of the tongue. I was
unclear. When I said business, I really meant nothing of the sort.
It was mercy that brought me to Salzburg that day. A weakness of
mine, some say. You see, I have a soft spot for widows. Especially
ones with children to care for.”
    The archbishop said nothing. The skin at his neck
turned a mottled shade of red and gray.
    Leopold patted his chest while he gazed out over the
wall at the city below.
    “Ah, here it is.” He removed a cylindrical object
from a pocket beneath his vest. He carefully unwrapped it from a
short length of yellow silk and held it up for the Archbishop to
inspect.
    “Have you seen one of these looking glasses?”
    The Archbishop nodded. “I have. The church still
debates the godliness of these instruments. I must say, it saddens
me to see one in your hand.”
    Leopold slid the looking glass open to its full
length. “It is only a matter of time before the Pope himself has
his very own.”
    Leopold stepped near the wall and held the scope up
to one eye. He looked toward the snow-capped peaks in the distance
and then slowly lowered it until it passed over the Salzach River.
He scanned the three-story noble houses of Low-town until he found
what he was looking for.
    “Very useful tool,” he said. “Oh, look. Is that…
why, yes it is! The red lion of Habsburg held by my very own flag
bearer. Incredible.”
    He pulled the looking glass away from his eye and
held it out to the Archbishop.
    “You really must see this.”
    When the Archbishop made no move to take the scope
Leopold said, “Do not worry. This one was made in Strassburg, by
German craftsmen. It is not an original from the Mohammedans’