A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor-Chapter 901: Crossed Lines - Part 3

"…" Both Oliver and Verdant paused to consider that. They could sense wisdom in the Captain's words. The Idris heir dipped his head, as he confirmed the point in his head.

"I believe you have given me something useful to dwell on, Captain. I thank you for it," Verdant said. "It certainly seems to be a fact that it is true… Distortions are evident on every level. One need not see the height level of a structure to know everything there is to know about it."

"I take no pleasure in that knowledge, Lord Idris," Lombard said regretfully. "It pains me to see the land that I love in such a state. I hope the Gods do not see fit to wound us through the Pendragon hand, when there is another hand so primed to wound us already."

There came murmurs of agreement at that sentiment. They'd already seen a faster rider dash on ahead of their carriage after they left the bridge, no doubt bearing the news of who had just passed into Pendragon territory.

With each bridge and each checkpoint that they passed through from then on, they did so fully expecting to be held up in some sort of fashion, if not worse. The tension was unbearable. They did not even seek out an inn when sundown finally came. The party – which was composed almost entirely of soldiers, save for Blackthorn's retainers – was far more comfortable camping outside.

Only when they were exiting Pendragon territory did they meet with trouble.

"Oh," the gate Sergeant said, reviewing the seal that had been presented to him. "We've received news today that we ought not accept these seals anymore."

"What?" Lombard said.

"Just what I said, Captain. The old Idris and Blackwell seals are being investigated. Apparently, they've been used recently for some fraudulent activity in Pendragon territory. The Pillar of Coin issued an order just this morning," the man said.

"You…" Lombard looked at him. "You're declaring the seal of an entire noble house fraudulent? Their very sigil? Do you understand those implications?"

"No, Sir, I wouldn't expect to," the soldier said. "See, I'm just following orders. The Pillar of Coin has this figured out, I daresay. Anyway, that's how it is."

"You refuse to let us through, then?" Lombard pressed. "When we are right on the border of our destination?"

"You could always… you know," the Sergeant held out his hand in the most obvious attempt at eliciting a bribe that Oliver had ever seen. Lombard's look was thunderous.

"In my presence…" the Captain began, looking quite ready to draw his sword.

"Joking!" The Sergeant said, immediately sensing the danger, and backtracking. "You can go through, Sir, just don't expect to be able to get back in with the same seal. You'll have to renew it, or get a handwritten letter."

He slammed the door on them, and waved the gates open. "The most petty of…" Lombard cursed.

"My father will not be pleased," Verdant said. "To declare such a thing is as good as declaring the House itself untrustworthy."

"Will Queen Asabel not afford us her seal on the way back?" Tolsey asked.

"We shouldn't have to ask," Lombard said, his voice ice cold. Tolsey immediately went silent, realizing that it wasn't a good idea to speak to Lombard when he was like this. "We're preparing for war," he muttered, "it is no wonder that Lord Blackwell is so disillusioned. Another push, and Verna will overpower our Eastern border, and yet our Kingdom is engaged in such pettiness."

"Apologies," Oliver said. "It's my request that's the cause of this."

Lombard shook his head. "This should not even be a problem worth mentioning. If it were Arthur who was King, he'd never allow such injustices to pass, even onto his worst enemy. There's no justice in conniving. There's no victory to be won out of it. And for what… For what?"

His exasperation was palatable. It was an anger that Oliver well shared, though he'd grown used to such humiliations. It used to be far worse than it was now. It was an interesting experience for him, to travel to such hostile territory, when his reputation had been improving near universally in the past few years. It was like taking steps back into the past.

As strange as it was, it was almost nostalgic.

As angry as they were, they'd finally made it into Asabel's territory. Here, there was a noticeable difference at the gate. One could almost taste the influence of her Pillar of War, Lord Blackthorn.

"Sir!" The Sergeant saluted, the second they neared the gate, standing up crisp and straight. A squad of ten men saluted behind him, standing just as straight, with their spears hard pressed against their shoulders.

Lombard's sombre mood disappeared in an instant. His expression was so severe it looked like it could crack the face of a cliff, but all inside the carriage could tell that he was a happy man seeing them as they were.

"At ease, Sergeant," Lombard said, returning the salute.

"Permission to approach the carriage door, Sir?" The Sergeant said, speaking with strict formality, the very epitome of discipline.

"Granted," Lombard said.

The soldier marched up, every step strict and crisp. Three men followed behind him, spears against their soldiers, standing guard across the way.

"Captain Lombard, Sir!" The Sergeant said. "For formality's sake, I must ask for the seal of your Lord."

Lombard presented it, his movements just as crisp as the soldiers outside the carriage. The Sergeant inspected the letter with dutiful eyes, and nodded.

"I have confirmed Lord Blackwell's seal, Sir! Thank you very much! You may proceed," the Sergeant said.

"You are a credit to your Lord, and to your Queen, soldier. That was a disciplined inspection," Lombard said.

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The Sergeant's face lit up like the morning sun, and a big unrestrained smile sat on his face. He seemed to be fighting against it, for his cheeks were twitching, but that was a battle that he'd lost immediately. "Thank you very much, Sir!" He said with an incredible amount of enthusiasm.