Setia stood in the window of the tower, from where there was a beautiful view of the main square. Since morning, wood had been gathered there to light a huge bonfire. In exactly two days, the whole of Hadgard would celebrate the spring solstice.
In two days everything would change.
She felt a slight pressure in her stomach. She was nervous and at the same time she felt a great surge of energy. Some inner voice was still quietly telling her that she could still back out. She turned away from the window and headed for the stairs. Yesterday she had received a letter confirming the arrival of the queen dowager and the current regent, in a word Aktis would honor them with her presence. Two days and it would turn out whether her plan would work or fail miserably and she ends up on the executioner's block. Setia practically ran down the stairs straight to the vestibule in front of the audience hall, where Timor was waiting for her. He was busy talking to Jefre. At the sight of Setia, Timor bowed low, Jefre nodded slightly.
"A certain Mr. Rosnar would like to ask for an audience with the Ladyship.
Setia smiled at this sophisticated description, the mercenary certainly hadn't said anything so elegant.
"So invite the gentleman to the hall." After a second of thought, she turned to Jefre.
"I want you to accompany me."
Jefre followed her into the hall without a single word. She sat down at the table and pointed to the seat next to her for Jefre to take, after a moment of hesitation he sat down. He looked at Setia, rested his chin on his hand and finally asked.
"What am I supposed to do during this meeting, pretend to be your husband?" She sensed a slight irony in his voice.
"You can pretend to be whoever you want, even my wife." Setia retorted, causing a smile to appear on Jefre's face. "But in the meantime, keep a close eye on Rosnar. Then I'll ask you for your opinion on him."
Jefre raised his eyebrows slightly and leaned back in his chair. At that moment the door opened and three mercenaries entered the hall. Setia recognized Rosnar immediately. She had seen him once before during the war for power in Gardynia. At that time, her father was still in charge of the unit, so she was certain that Rosnar did not know her. The commander of the Shadow Army, as they called themselves, was a tall man over 40 years old. He had black hair reaching down to his shoulders, streaked with grey, and a beard braided in two braids. He was accompanied by two soldiers she did not recognize, one was older, almost completely grey with a tanned face riddled with wrinkles, and the other was young with almost feminine facial features, curly hair and a fresh scar running across his left cheek to his jaw and incredibly green eyes which he couldn't take away of her.
Their clothes were a blend of different cultures and nationalities. They had shoulder pads with spikes like those worn in Orchad, the younger one's breastplate came from Katamir, and colorful trousers brought to mind overseas countries.
"Sit down." Setia showed them their seats at the table. All three of them sat down, the older of the soldiers looked around the room curiously, while Rosnar looked at Jefre, clearly expecting him to lead the conversation, the younger one constantly watched the duchess of Emfer.
"I understand that your presence confirms your agreement to the initial conditions you received in the letter." Setia decided to start negotiations.
Rosnar moved his gaze from Jefre to her. He measured her figure and stopped at the unusual decoration she had on her face.
"I understand that you invited us?" Rosnar was direct, she couldn't count on titles.
"As you can see - Setia rested her hands on the table - let's get to the point, how many soldiers do you have?"
"Over 500 souls are under my command - Rosnar crossed his arms over his chest - The Shadow Army is the largest among mercenaries…"
"I know - Setia interrupted him - that's why you're here. However, to carry out my plan, I need about 1,500 soldiers. Are you able to cooperate with other mercenary units?"
Rosnar fell silent and began to pluck his beard, clearly thinking about something. After a moment, he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table and looking straight at Setia, asking.
"And can you afford such an army of mercenaries?"
"Yes - Setia stared at Rosnar with a stony face - we will settle the standard 1/3 of the payment, now the rest after the task is completed."
"In that case, I can gather 1,500 mercenaries." A crooked smile crept onto his face, revealing the lack of a front tooth.
"What war machines do you have?" Setia did not take her eyes off Rosnar.
"We have four catapults and six ballistae, as well as crossbows mounted on carts." She could sense pride in his tone of voice. He had reasons, her almost 100-person unit did not have any such weapons.
"Fine, you will set up camp two hours drive from Emfer, my brother Moros will show you where. First we will send you provisions, after the army has gathered we will sign the agreement. Your soldiers are forbidden to enter Emfer, it is to be quiet and peaceful here ." Setia stood up giving the signal to end the conversation.
Rosnar stood up, his two adjutants followed him.
"We are leaving in three weeks."
"Where?" Rosnar asked.
"You'll find out in due time, after signing the contract." Setia decided not to reveal her cards.
"We've already met, right? - said the mercenary commander looking at Setia - I don't forget faces, but you didn't have that mask back then. I don't remember exactly where. I'll remember later."
Setia smiled, moved away from the table and approached Rosnar.
"I remember perfectly well where we met."
Rosnar nodded, smiling under his breath.
"The measure of a commander is the soldiers who follow him." Said the mercenary looking carefully at Jefre.
"You can afford this Orchad, so you can afford more."
After these words they left, leaving behind the smell of sweat and a feeling of uncertainty.
Setia looked at Jefre who was still sitting at the table with a stony face, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Well, even Rosnar knows more about you than I do." She said reproachfully.
Jefre stood up and slowly approached her, he stopped opposite her and put his arms around her shoulders.
"Your brother was right, I'm from Orchad. For years, the men of our clan have been undergoing harsh training. Bright eyes are common among us and are a kind of our family mark, but also a problem, because any little wimp can recognize us by them. Are you happy now?"
"No, but I'll find out more." Setia gently but firmly freed herself from his embrace. "I didn't invite you here to cuddle me." Jefre smiled, leaned against the table and after a moment of thought, asked Setia a question.
"Will your army be based on a mercenary army?"
"Yes."
"So this man will have you in the palm of his hand - Jefre tilted his head and continued in his ironic tone - He will raise the stakes, he made it clear at the end of the conversation, when he mentioned me. You also pushed an additional asset into his hand, allowing him to recruit the remaining mercenaries."
"So he thinks I'm an amateur who has no idea about anything." Setia summed up
"Rather so."
"Good - Setia looked at Jefre carefully - you are a good observer, my precious killer from Orchad. I will have a mission for you."
"That is something new? - Jefre was surprised, raising one eyebrow - I thought you yourself were happy to dirty your hands in blood."
Setia grimaced slightly at this comparison.
"It will be a delicate job." She added and headed towards the exit.
"So you won't tell me now?"
"No, I'll tell you everything tonight."
"Everything, - Jefre smiled at her back - it would be interesting to find out everything…"
Setia left and cursed as much as she could in her mind. She was an amateur who was playing a game of conquering the country and had a few pennies at her disposal. She went straight to her chamber and closed the door behind her.
She leaned her back against it and with a rustle of her dress slid to the floor. Father, help me, how do I get out of this situation? I was stupid.
Jefre noticed the problem after a few minutes of conversation and she hadn't paid attention to such an eventuality from the beginning of forming this plan. How many more things could she have missed? As a former mercenary, she considered a mercenary army an easy and logical solution. Somehow, betrayal and manipulation didn't occur to her.
Stop.
She can't get distracted now, she has the biggest test she would ever have to go through ahead of her. She has to get rid of the competition for the throne. Her devoted legist had informed her of a meeting of eight Fenigrid lords. Time was running out. They had to move to Fenigrid in three weeks.
What about Rosnar?
Setia closed her eyes and calmly focused on steadying her breathing, just like she always did before starting a job. It helped, her heart calmed down, her thoughts stopped spinning in her head. After a while, the answer came to her on its own. Well, as her father used to say in such situations... If you can't solve this problem logically, use a weapon.
That's what she'll do, Rosnar won't live to see the end of this job.
Calmed by this thought, she got up from the floor, drank some wine to strengthen herself and, adjusting her dress, left the room. Jefre was waiting by the door.
"Did the wine improve your mood?" This innocent question caused Setia to feel a wave of anger, the perfect cold and impenetrable Orchad who is best at everything and knows about every piece of shit.
"It improved, but even more so the sight of Aktis mourning the loss of her lover."
"Will this be your assignment?" Jefe's question felt as if the whole ice of Orchad was right next to her.
"No, my love - Setia's voice held a note of satisfaction - I reserved this pleasure for myself, as you know I like to dabble in blood. - After a moment of hesitation she added - I'll be your assignment."
Before Jefre could say anything she headed down the corridor towards the main entrance.
"See you in the evening." She said without turning around.
Jefre stood dumbfounded by the door. He wondered what she was planning. After a moment he smiled to himself, there was no reason to worry, Setia wanted to throw him off guard. Such female games are common. He felt a certain relief that Aktis wouldn't be the target. Because of what they used to have in common. In the evening Setia would tell him everything, enjoying his impatience and ignorance. For now, however, he had another plan. He had to find Red. He hadn't learned everything from him yet.