The Duke of Tremont

Chapter 6

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Brian wasn’t sure what it was that awoke him. When peered through the gaps in the tent flaps he could tell it was early, the sky just barely beginning to lighten. He lay for a moment and listened to Emmett’s gentle snoring and the chattering of Justin’s teeth.

Brian sat up quickly. It was July and not cold at all. He turned up the small oil lamp they had left burning on low and made his way to Justin’s bed. Just as he suspected Justin lay huddled and shivering from an obvious fever; “damn!” Brian swore to himself, “Emmett,” he called to the sleeping servant, “Emmett wake up, I need you.”

To his credit Emmett woke quickly and was by Brian’s side in moments; “what is it My Lord?”

Brian had ripped the blanket off his own bed and was using it to cover Justin; “he’s got a fever. Get me some warm water so I can clean and re-bandage the wound,” Brian ordered.

“Yes My Lord, right away,” Emmett said not bothering to hide the concern for his young master.

“Oh, and Emmett,” Brian called to him as he was leaving the tent, “go wake the Bishop and have him give the order to break camp as soon as possible. Time is of the essence now.”

When Emmett returned with the water Benjamin and Daphne were both with him. Brian had the old bandage off Justin’s shoulder waiting for the servant’s return. Benjamin swore and Daphne gasped when they caught site of the ugly wound which was now angry red and swollen.

They saw that Justin was awake and responding to Brian who was talking softly to the younger man while mopping at his heated brow with a cool cloth. “You have an infection and I’m going to have to clean out the wound again Justin,” Brian spoke softly, “I’m afraid it’s going to be very painful.”

“Do what you must,” answered Justin bravely, his eyes shining with trust, “I know it has to be done.”

“That’s a brave lad,” Brian smiled squeezing Justin’s good hand.

“My Lord, how can we be of assistance?” Benjamin asked.

Brian looked up from his patient to address the three newcomers; “I’ll need to clean and redress his wound. He’s awake this time so I’ll need you and Emmett to hold him down. It will cause him some pain.”

Benjamin nodded and moved into position to hold down Justin’s left side while Emmett set the hot water and bandages next to Brian and moved to Justin’s lower half so he could keep his legs still.

“What about me?” Asked Daphne earnestly.

“This is no place for a lady,” answered Brian; “it is likely to be a bit gory and disturbing.”

“I thought we already discussed my position on being a lady My Lord,” Daphne retorted, “please let me help.”

Brian looked to Justin who had been following the conversation; “please let her stay,” he implored weakly.

“All right, how about if you sit by his head and try to distract him?”

Daphne nodded taking up a campstool and positioning it next to Justin’s head. She took the cloth from Brian’s hand dipping it in the basin of cool water and proceeded to take over the job of mopping Justin’s fevered brow.

“Let’s roll him on his side so I can clean the wound on his back first,” Brian said drenching another cloth in the hot water while Ben and Emmett got the young man into position. “I’m sorry about this Justin,” Brian whispered in the young man’s ear as he began to dab at the tender wound and Justin cried out in pain, his body tensing violently.

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Thirty minutes later Justin had mercifully passed out and the other four sat drained from trying to hold and calm the pain and fever ridden young man.

“I hated to put him through that;” sighed Brian as he ran a hand through his hair.

“We know you did My Lord;” answered Ben sympathetically, “do you think you got it all cleaned out?”

“I have no idea;” replied Brian, “I’m no healer and God knows what was on that blade. We must get him to my healer as soon as possible. I’ve seen Mel make short work of much more serious injuries than this.”

Michael entered the tent; “My Lord,” he addressed Brian, “we are almost ready to go. With your permission we will leave some of the men here with the other injured that are not ready to travel. We can leave the camp supplies here with them since we will not need them tonight. The supply wagons have been fitted with bedding to carry Lord Justin and a few of the other men who were more seriously injured and should be seen by the healer as well. We can send the wagons back for the men and supplies later.”

Brian smiled at his lieutenant; “you have done well Michael. Thank you for taking care of everything for me.”

“Just doing my job Highness. How is Lord Justin?”

“Not well, my friend. In fact if you will show me the way I will carry him to his wagon right now and we can set out. Emmett if you would be so kind as to clean up in here and gather our things?”

“Yes My Lord,” Emmett replied.

Brian wrapped Justin in his blankets and carefully picked him up trying hard not to jar his wound. Justin stirred a bit and tucked his head into the side of Brian’s neck. The others in the tent couldn’t help but notice how well the young blond seem to fit there.

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The mixed party of the Duke and Bishop’s men made their way slowly across the plain towards Tremont’s capitol city of Lofton. The summer sun beat down upon the men, who had shed as much armor as they dared without laying themselves bare to another attack should there be more gangs of bandits around.

Master Benjamin had stripped down to a sleeveless undershirt, his only concession to safety being a padded leather Jerkin which also had no sleeves.

Michael could not help but notice the other man’s well defined muscles as he rode up along side him; “would you mind some company Master Benjamin?”

Ben turned to Michael and smiled at the handsome man with the big brown eyes; “it would me my pleasure lieutenant, but please just call me Ben.”

“And you may call me Michael,” replied the other man with a smile of his own; “so Ben, how did you come to be in the service of Earl Taylor?”

“Well it’s a bit of a long story, but the short version is that I was born into a farming family on the eastern border. When I grew up I decided that the life of a soldier was for me so I joined the guard. After serving for ten years I took ill with a long, debilitating sickness and was forced to retire. My family nursed me back to health and I decided to go out on my own, hiring out my services. That is how I got my posting with the Earl helping to train his guardsmen and his son.”

“Sounds like a rather exciting life,” commented Michael.

“Not really,” answered Ben. “I’m sure yours is much more so, being in the employment of a prince. How did you come by your position?”

Michael smiled; “oh, Prince Brian and I go way back,” he loved to tell this story. “My father was also a soldier who died before I was born. My mother and I lived in a small village miles south of Sylvania where she ran the local Inn. One evening Brian...er...I mean the Prince showed up on our doorstep dirty and bedraggled. He was about fourteen at the time, the same age as me.”

“What on earth was he doing there?” Ben asked in shock, never having heard this story about the youngest sibling of the royal family.

“Let’s just say that the young prince had run away,” replied Michael, whose face had grown grim, “as to his reasons, well that is a story for Brian to tell, not I.”

Ben nodded his head signaling for the other man to continue.

“My mother gave him a job working in the stables at the Inn. Of course we had no idea who he was at the time, though we did suspect he was highborn. We became very close friends and got into all sorts of mischief together,” Michael grinned fondly at the memories.

“What happened?”

“Well eventually his family found him. Imagine our surprise when Prince Jonathan and his men came riding into town looking for his wayward younger brother. My mother almost wet herself meeting the heir to the throne.” Ben and Michael shared a laugh then Michael became serious again, “Brian was very close to his brother and Jonathan convinced him to return home so he left us, but he did not forget about us. When he inherited his Dukedom from his uncle he called for Mother and I to join him. My mother, Deborah, runs his household and I am Brian’s chief aid,” Michael finished proudly.

“The Duke seems to be a most kind and loyal friend, I wonder how he got such a reputation for being the black sheep of the family;” Ben pondered.

Michael snorted a laugh; “so far you have only seen one side of the Duke. Trust me he has acted very much out of character since we met up with you. He is very fond of Bishop Vic and seems to be quite taken with your young Lordling. When we return home you shall see what I mean. Don’t get me wrong, he is all those things you mentioned, he just tends to hide it well.”

“I see,” Ben replied pondering the meaning of Michael’s words as they rode on.

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Justin slept fitfully in the back of the supply wagon that was temporarily serving as his bed. Both Daphne and Emmett rode with him so they could attend their ailing friend and master. The heat of the summer sun did nothing to ease Justin’s fever, though a canvas of shade had been erected over the bed of the wagon in order to keep the direct sunlight away. The wheel hit a rut and Justin was awoken by a sharp pain as his shoulder was jostled.

“Oh God,” Justin moaned softly.

“Justin, are you all right?” Daphne asked as she wrung out the cloth in the basin of water she had set next to Justin’s head.

“Hurts,” Justin replied softly.

“Emmett,” Daphne called to where the servant was perched next to the driver, “can Justin have more of the pain medicine yet?”

Emmett peered up at the sun; “not yet My Lady,” he replied, “the Bishop said too much could harm him, it’s only been a few hours since the last dose.”

Daphne blew out a breath; “all right, thank you,” she called back. “I’m sorry Justin, I wish there was something more I could do for you.”

“Thirsty,” Justin said.

“That I can help with,” Daphne replied as she helped him drink from the water skin.

“Daphne?” Asked Justin.

“Yes?”

“Will you answer something truthfully for me?”

“Of course. Always the truth between us remember?”

Justin smiled and nodded weakly; “did I...did I really tell the Duke of Tremont that he had a beautiful smile and then kiss him on the lips?”

“I’m afraid so,” Daphne answered, trying not to giggle, “though if it’s any consolation he didn’t seem to mind so much,” she continued, not wanting to give away her suspicions just yet as to how the Duke seemed to really feel about the young man.

Justin rolled his eyes and grimaced; “No that really is not any consolation and it‘s not funny Daph! Oh God, I was hoping it was all a dream. I can’t believe I was so stupid!”

“Well now is not the time to worry about it my dear,” Daphne responded gently, “you need to rest and get better. Now go back to sleep!”

She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and it was not long before he slid back into his restless slumber.

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