The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 745: Update From The Patrol

Over the next few days, Dominic managed to get nearly all the spare weapons that the Duchy was about to need. The Royal Guard had the chocolate ready for distribution, but they still had a week or two before they had to send it out.

They only needed to get it out before the holidays, and sending it out early would only cause them an extra trip, as they didn’t have a patrol scheduled this week.

"Your Grace, there is one last bit of paperwork for you to consider, and then we’re done for the day." Jack Merlot informed Dominic, from the small table in the forge.

"Alright, what have you got for me?"

"I’ve got an update from the Knights. They have taken prisoners from the bandit groups that they had been hunting, and they believe that one of them should talk to you."

Dominic frowned. "Alright, if they think that I need to talk to one of the bandits, I’ll talk to them. Should I send for a portal? Or are they already here in the city?"

"They’re still waiting to the east of Lympsbury. I’m informed that it’s the last of the bandit groups, and that they were organized. But that’s all that I know so far, other than the Knights think that they should talk to you about it."

Dominic motioned for the troll at the door to call for Amie, who spent most of her day in the forge with him, working on her own skills. She was currently inside, taking a break, so it wouldn’t be long before she was back anyhow.

Amie returned, and after a quick briefing, followed them to the manor gates, where a portal could be opened out of the city.

"I know where they are, so I will bring you to the camp first. Then you can decide what you’re going to do about it."

The portal opened just outside a military camp, and the Knights on duty greeted Dominic with a crisp salute before leading him to a large tent, where the Commander was sitting with a young man handcuffed to his chair.

"Alright, you said that it’s important. What hav you got for me, other than a slightly battered bandit leader?"

The Knight Commander made a grand gesture to the captive. "Duke Wistover, might I present to you Ronald Arburgh, nephew of the Earl Arburgh. He was reported missing in action during the invasion of Lympsbury."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "Now, that is interesting. Well met, young Master Arburgh.

But that is quite a pickle that you’ve gotten yourself into. I do wonder how the King and your old Commander would react to the joyful news that you were found alive?"

The man paled slightly at the comment, but he had obviously prepared himself for it.

"I don’t know who you’re speaking of, but you have the wrong man," he insisted.

The Knight Commander chuckled. "You forget that we went to the Academy together. It hasn’t been that long, and I haven’t forgotten your face."

Ronald shook his head. "You’ve got the wrong man."

Dominic sighed. "I see what the issue is. Either you’re a bandit leader, and going to prison for banditry, or you’re a deserter from the army, as well as a Rebel Noble. In that case you will be strung up in the city square and whipped until dead.

Are you sure that we don’t have a common bandit leader here?"

The Knight Commander shrugged. "The face will be recognized by the Lord of Lympsbury immediately. There are deserter posters up in the city."

Right, his unit had taken Lympsbury, and he had deserted before the victory to turn to banditry.

Or, perhaps because he was fighting on the Dagos side and helping their Nobles escape. But either way, he was a bandit leader now.

"Is it just his face?" Dominic asked.

The Commander frowned, wondering what Dominic was on about.

"Amie, I believe this stranger’s face is unfortunately similar to that of a disgraced Noble. Fix that for him, would you?"

The Commander clearly didn’t approve. But he didn’t say anything as Amie took out a vial of something viscous and green. The mage dumped the potion over the man’s face and his features seemed to melt, turning into something hideous and scarred, but much different than it had been.

"Don’t touch it if you want your eyes to work, It will dry in a moment." Amie warned, but the man’s wrists were still cuffed to the chair.

"Your Grace?" The Knight Commander asked hesitantly.

"It is my opinion that this man is not the deserter and traitor that we have been looking for. I will inform the Earl Arburgh that his nephew’s body was found in the bandit camp when we cleared it, so that he can grieve and move on."

The Commander frowned, but nodded.

"Understood, Your Grace. I will turn him over to the local guard."

"No need for that. I will escort him to the prison and ensure that he is properly processed. Your lads have done a wonderful job clearing the bandit threat, and you deserve a day off.

Were there any more camps reported? Or was this the last?"

"As far as we know, this is the last one. We’ve cleared six different camps now, and the reports of banditry have essentially stopped.

There might be more hiding, or being protected by the locals through intimidation. But we’ve certainly gotten the issue under control."

Dominic motioned for Amie and Dave to take the prisoner outside, while the Guard Commander waited for them to be alone before he asked the question that was on his mind.

"Your Grace, why are you you showing mercy on him?"

"Honestly? I don’t want to have to explain to the Earl, who is already a perverted pain in the ass to deal with, that I’ve executed one of his family members as a traitor. If we tell him that the boy is dead, then it’s not a big deal.

Life in prison isn’t going to be easy on him, but it will save the family the public humiliation of execution.

As I recall, quietly dealing with these things is how it is most commonly done.

If something happens to him in prison, nobody will ask any questions. All is well that ends well, and we’ve solved the banditry issue. Did you suspect that there might be more behind his defection? If so, we can let your boys interrogate him for a while longer."

The Commander shook his head. "No, I know why he did it. He thought that we would lose. Then, there was no way back for him after we won."

"The price for his own idiocy, then."