Smyth it is then.'
'Do I get the opportunity to take someone with me?'
'It's your call,' Frederick said, rubbing his chin. 'It would be foolish to go alone, it is true. But, equally, a large group would not be a good idea either, I think.'
'I was thinking of just one other.'
'Just one? Do you have any thoughts as to who?'
'As a matter of fact, I do,' Winterburne said. 'If the man could be released from his duties for this task then I would feel much better about what was to come.'
'Name him, and I shall make it so.'
'I was thinking of Lieutenant John Rampton.'
Frederick seemed to be thinking about the suggestion and then pointed at Winterburne.
'I like your thinking.' He wagged his finger in Winterburne's direction. 'Yes, very clever. You're thinking that it would kill a few crows with a single sling-shot aren't you. It looks good in an effort to build bridges with Martell and the Imperial Guard, and it also gives you someone with military experience in case you need to fall back on it.'
No, not really, thought Winterburne. he just liked the man. At times when he had come across him in his duties he had been professional and efficient, but he decided to keep that to himself.
'That's right,' he said. 'He's a good man.'
'Very well then.' Frederick walked around to the other side of the desk and sat himself down in his large padded leather chair. 'It is decided. I'll get him brought up here immediately to let him know, and, in the meantime we can go over the plan and talk about the finer details.'
Winterburne nodded.
Then, Frederick's face brightened.
'Fancy some tea?' he asked.
22
The Eleventh Day of Midsummer,
Imperial Year 2332
There was little natural light filtering into Alyssa's kitchen with only a small square window allowing a single beam of sunlight to pierce the gloom like a bright knife. The natural brick fabric of the building that formed the walls of her small home had no plaster to cover it, or any rich tapestry to hang down and help keep the draughts out. Nonetheless, for the most part it was warm, clean and comfortable and here and there were signs that Alyssa had added her own touches; a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table, a vase of dried yellow flowers on the mantel, a carved wooden clock sitting proudly on the top of the cupboard to the left of the entrance.
Winterburne pushed his pewter dish away from him, towards the middle of the table, rubbing his stomach as his waistline forced itself against his tightened belt.
'That was good,' he said, resting his wooden spoon on the dish. 'Thank you.'
'It's only stew.' Alyssa smiled and lifted the dish off the table, walking it over to the sink and resting it on the pans that waited to be cleaned.
Winterburne's heart ached as he watched her. Every part of the timing of their relationship, he knew, was wrong and he had no idea how he was going to tell her about the mission that the Emperor had decided for him, or he had decided for himself, depending on how much you understood the Emperor's way of doing things.
'That can wait,' Alyssa said, waving her hand in the direction of the cutlery and pans on the side of the sink. 'I'll do those later.'
She came back to the table and sat down on one of the old hardwood chairs, reaching across to take Winterburne's hand.
'What happens now?' she asked.
'What do you mean?' Winterburne tensed as he heard the words. What did she know? he thought. She couldn't have heard anything about Frederick's plans, surely.
'You men are useless.' Alyssa shook her head and chuckled. 'So,' she said, 'are we a couple?'
Winterburne relaxed as he realised what she had meant. 'Of course we are,' he said, 'very much so.'
'Then, what happens next?'
He had to tell her, and it had to be now. Though the Lord alone knew how she was going to take it. Winterburne shifted uncomfortably in his chair as she watched him.
'What's wrong?' Alyssa asked.
'Nothing,' Winterburne replied, 'honestly.'
Alyssa frowned at him. 'Well, stop acting as if there is, then.'
Winterburne forced a smile at Alyssa.
'So are you going to marry me or what?' Alyssa asked.
Winterburne's heart sank again, only this time he thought back to the conversation he had had with his men, many months earlier, "You wait, Sir," his Sergeant had said, at the time, "she'll be asking you to marry her before the year's out". He hadn't believed it then, and in all honesty, he couldn't quite believe it now.
'There's something wrong?' Alyssa said. 'I can tell.'
Winterburne shook his head, forcing another smile. 'There's nothing wrong,' he said. 'Of course, I'll marry you.'
'Then what is it?' Alyssa seemed to be searching in his eyes to try to find a reason why he hadn't seemed happy at her question. 'Tell me?' She squeezed his hand, her eyes pleading. 'Please?'
He looked down at the table for a moment and then raised his eyes to look at her again. 'I have to go away for a while.'
'What?' Alyssa frowned and pushed Winterburne's hand away. 'Why?' she asked, 'I thought—'
'Alyssa, listen to me.' Winterburne reached out and took her hand again, she tried to pull away but he held tight. 'There could be war,' he said, but she didn't respond. 'Frederick needs me to—'
'Frederick needs?' Alyssa stood and stepped away from the table, crossing her arms and turning her back on Winterburne. She looked back at him over her shoulder. 'Frederick needs? What about what Alyssa needs? Or what Thomas needs?'
'Sit down,' Winterburne said, 'please.'
Alyssa turned and slowly came back to the table. Tears had formed in the corners of her eyes as he watched her return, but she remained standing.
'Please?' He held out his hand to try to encourage her to take a seat and to sit next to him.
'You didn't come back for me did you?'
'What?'
'Back here. I'm not the reason you came, am I?'
'Of course you are.'
'No, I'm not.' Alyssa looked him in the eye. 'Did he call you back? The Emperor?'
Winterburne remained silent as he watched her face.
'He did, didn't he?'
Winterburne stared back at her, speechless.
'Answer me, Thomas.'
'Yes.'
'I knew it.'
Alyssa pushed herself away from the table again, stomping across to the sink and leaning on it, looking out through the window and into the courtyard beyond.
'But I was coming back anyway. Whether he asked me or not, I was already getting ready to come back for you.'
He stood and joined her at the sink, putting his arms around her, but for a moment she ignored him, her frozen stare still fixed outside. Eventually, Alyssa sighed and turned towards him, feeding her hands around his waist.
'Listen to me,' Winterburne said, looking down at her, 'it's important. It's very possible that we could be called to fight against the Commonwealth.' He stared at her for a moment. 'And I don't mean some play fighting between a few men who go home at the end of the day, like in the tournament. I'm talking about full blown, bitter conflict. People, people we both know, could die. Perhaps, by going to do what I have to do I can keep you and Luke safe. Hell, it could keep everyone in the whole Empire safe.'
'What do you have to do?' She looked up at him, a concerned look crossing her face in a frown.
'I cannot say. Only two other people know of the details and they are sworn to secrecy.'
'Is it dangerous?'
'I expect so.'
'Then you could be killed?' A tear rolled down Alyssa's cheek and she wiped it away with her free hand. 'And I haven't even properly had you in my life yet.'
Winterburne smiled at her, but this time it was easy to do. He kissed her on the forehead.
'I do plan on coming back, you know.'
'It's always going to be like this, isn't it?' Alyssa looked down at Winterburne's hand and lifted it to her mouth,
kissing the back of it.
'This is who I am, Alyssa.' He reached down and gently lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes. 'I'm a spoke in the wheel of the Empire. People like me only get to keep little bits of the life that normal people get all the time.'
'But it doesn't feel fair.' There was no bitterness in her tone.
'I know.' Winterburne smiled. 'But, I'm coming back. And then we'll have all the time in the world.'
It was Alyssa's turn to force a smile this time.
'Besides, I still haven't heard how Luke's reading has come along.'
Winterburne pulled Alyssa's hand towards him and kissed it.
'Good, actually,' she said, a little laugh escaping. 'He already gives me a run for my money.'
'Why am I not surprised.' Winterburne said. 'He was always a handful, that one.' He pulled her tight in his arms. 'I've made some provision for you while I'm away.'
Alyssa looked puzzled as she lifted her face towards his.
'There is no need for you to struggle,' Winterburne added.
'You mean money?'
'Yes.'
'No.' Alyssa was firm, shaking her head. 'Until you are back, with me, and we are married, I want nothing from you.'
'Just a little, then, in case you need it.'
'I have been alone a long time, Thomas. I can look after myself. I need nothing from you.'
'I know that,' Winterburne replied, 'but it's there. Please don't struggle when you don't have to.'
Alyssa smiled at him. 'Alright,' she said, 'but I won't use it. Not until you're back with me.'
Winterburne nodded. 'That's a deal.'
She nodded and looked up at him again. 'When are you leaving?'
'Tomorrow morning.'
'Tomorrow!' Alyssa frowned and closed her eyes, squeezing his hand again, resting her head on his chest. 'So soon?'
He nodded. 'Troops are massing on either side of the