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“Is this where you live?” Miko asks once it’s become clear he means to go there.

Illan nods, “My family has lived here for six generations.”

Half a mile from the gates of the estate, two men emerge from the surrounding trees. James sees it’s Jorry and Uther.

“Well?” Illan asks once they’ve come near.

“Two guards stand at the gates,” Uther tells him.

“Not sure how many are inside but we’ve seen four men enter and two leave,” Jorry explains.

”Grab your horses,” Illan says and kicks his horse to move toward the gate. They hurry into the trees and reemerge shortly riding their horses, then fall in line with the others.

He rides without hesitation and is shortly approaching the gate. The two men standing guard move to stand before the gate and one steps forward. Holding his hand up indicating for them to stop, he says, “No one is allowed to enter.”

“On whose authority?” Illan asks, bringing his horse to a stop, scant inches from the man.

“By authority of Lord Faetherton,” he replies.

Illan glares down at the man and asks, “Is this Faetherton here?”

“Lord Faetherton is currently in town,” the man explains.

Illan glances to Jiron next to him and says, “Open the gate for me.”

“Sure,” Jiron replies. Hoping down from his horse, he moves toward the gate.

The man steps in front of him and actually puts his hand on Jiron’s chest. “I said, no one is allowed to enter.”

Jiron pauses only a moment before his takes the man’s wrist and twists it painfully. With his other hand, he grabs the man by the back of the neck and throws him out of his way. He resumes his progress toward the gate and the other guard draws his sword, moving to bar his way.

“I wouldn’t do that,” a woman’s voice says in the stillness. The guard glances to the others and sees Aleya with arrow knocked and aimed straight at him.

Jiron comes to him and takes his sword.

“Scar, Shorty,” Illan says, “tie them up please.” They immediately dismount and remove rope from their saddle bags.

Outnumbered, the guards remain docile while they’re being tied. “How many more of you are there?” Illan asks.

One guard remains stoically silent but the other says, “Five.”

“Shut up!” the other guard orders.

“What should we do with them?” James asks.

Illan glances at him and says, “No reason to kill them. It’s not with them that I have a quarrel.” He glances at the two men sitting on the ground and adds, “At least not yet.” To Scar and Shorty he says, “You two stay here and keep an eye on them. Let us know if anyone comes.”

“You got it,” Scar assures him.

Jiron pulls the bar and draws the gate open. He pushes it so it swings around and slams into the inner wall where it remains. Returning to his horse, he joins the others as they move toward the manor house.

The inner grounds have been meticulously kept. Off to one side is a flowering garden of magnificent beauty. Stone paths work their way through the blossoms and two benches can be seen where people could take their ease while enjoying the beauty surrounding them. The sight of the gardens brings sadness to Illan. His Alaina had loved them and spent many sunny days among them. A smile comes to him when he remembers his son as a boy and how he once played in her flowers, ruining many young plants. Her anger at him was fierce but he never really learned to stay out of her plants.

As they move down the cobblestone road, the front door opens and a man emerges. Dressed finely with an air of command, he watches them approach. “How dare you forcibly enter Lord Faetherton’s estate?” From windows on the second and third floor, three men have crossbows aimed at them.

“This is my house and I have no need to explain myself to you,” Illan tells the man as he looks down at him from the back of his horse. “Tell those men with the crossbows to lower their weapons or we’ll kill you all, right here, right now.”

The man stands there a moment assessing the situation. That was definitely not the response he was expecting. Since coming here to Seastar, he’s heard rumors of this