Free Web NovelChapter 221: Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty
Howe turned to his trusted aide, who was standing quietly near the door. freeweɓnovel.cøm
"Prepare a fresh horse," Howe spoke. His voice was low, rough, and filled with a quiet, dangerous energy. He adjusted the thick collar of his military coat. "I need to see someone."
The aide bowed his head deeply. "Yes, General."
He quickly turned and left the room, his footsteps fading down the hallway.
Howe looked at the map of Daril. His eyes rested on the capital city, surrounded by its massive stone walls. He unbuckled his heavy sword belt and laid his weapon on the table. He did not need his war sword for where he was going. He needed to move quietly.
After some minutes, the aide came back into the room. He bowed again.
"Your horse is ready, General," the aide reported.
Howe nodded his head once. He grabbed his riding cloak from the wooden stand, wrapped it tightly around his broad shoulders, and left the room.
He walked out of the building and mounted his fast bay horse. He did not take a guard with him. He wanted this journey to be completely secret. With a sharp click of his tongue, he urged the horse forward. The animal snorted and ran out of the gates, kicking up a cloud of dry brown dust.
The journey to the capital city took several hours of hard riding. The sun was high and bright in the clear sky, warming the dusty main road. Howe rode without stopping. His mind was filled with dark, calculating thoughts.
He remembered the day Damon Benson had fallen from his horse. It was supposed to be a fatal accident. The saddle had been cut perfectly. If Damon had died that day, Damon’s greedy uncle, Duke Collin, would have fully inherited the Benson title immediately. Duke Collin would have gladly given Howe the Eastern Valley in exchange for his support. But the Tyrant General was too strong. He had survived the fall, even with a broken leg, and now he was stronger and more suspicious than ever.
The massive white stone walls of the capital city finally came into view. The main gates were made of dark wood and reinforced with thick iron bars.
Howe pulled his horse to a stop in front of the gates. Several guards were standing at the entrance. They were wearing clean, shiny armor. They looked very alert.
One of the guards stepped forward, holding a long, sharp spear. He looked at Howe’s dusty cloak and his tired horse.
"Stop," the guard said, his voice firm and professional. "What is your purpose visiting the capital today, sir?"
Howe did not answer immediately. He looked at the guard’s young face. He looked at the other men standing by the wall.
Howe thought to himself, his mind observant. "They have changed the guards again. The King’s new lockdown is getting tighter. These young boys don’t even know who I am."
Instead of speaking, Howe slowly reached into his dark leather pouch. He pulled out a polished metal token. The token carried a very specific, powerful noble crest that only high-ranking officials and royal allies possessed.
He held the token up, showing it directly to the guard’s face.
The guard looked at the shiny crest. His firm, strict expression vanished instantly. His face went slightly pale with respect. He quickly lowered his spear and bowed his head very low.
"Welcome, General," the guard said, his voice shaking just a little bit.
The guard turned around and signaled to the other men. They quickly grabbed the iron chains and pulled, making the massive gates creak loudly as they opened wide.
Howe did not say thank you. He put the token back into his pouch, shook the leather reins, and rode his horse through the gates, entering into the bustling streets of the upper city.
The upper city was beautiful and clean. The roads were paved with smooth white stones, and the grand mansions of the wealthy nobles lined the streets. The rich merchants and lords in their fine carriages completely ignored the dusty general riding past.
Howe followed the winding roads until he reached a grand estate located in the most exclusive sector of the city. The mansion was built of light-colored stone, surrounded by high walls and beautiful green gardens.
Howe stopped his horse in the center of the clean, paved courtyard.
A young stable hand ran forward quickly. He bowed deeply and took the leather reins from Howe’s hands.
As Howe stepped down from the saddle, the steward of the house walked out of the grand front doors. The steward was an older man wearing a perfectly tailored black attire. He placed his hands neatly behind his back and bowed.
"Welcome, General," the steward said smoothly.
Howe threw his heavy cloak back over his shoulders. His boots were covered in road dust, and he felt slightly tired from the long ride, but his face was perfectly hard and serious.
"Where is your lord?" Howe asked, getting straight to the point.
The steward kept his head lowered. "He is inside his study, General. He wasn’t expecting your visit today."
Howe scoffed softly. "Neither was I expecting to visit him today."
He turned his head and looked at the grand entrance. "Lead the way."
The steward nodded his head respectfully. "Right this way, General."
They walked through the grand front doors and entered the massive foyer. The inside of the mansion was filled with extreme luxury. The floors were covered in thick, soft carpets that made their footsteps silent.
Expensive oil paintings and gold candle holders decorated the walls. It was a place of immense wealth and power.
Howe asked, noticing the silence in the house. " What about the Lady and young mistress of the house?"
"Oh," the steward said, his eyes never leaving the path to the study. " The Lady went for a tea party and the young mistress went to the modiste."
Howe nodded his head.
They walked down a long, quiet hallway on the second floor. The steward stopped in front of a set of dark double doors.
