Rezkin scoffed. “Name me a noble who is wholesome, General. For every major and minor house, I could reveal at least a handful of scandals and hidden skeletons. Men and women alike cheat and steal and even murder on occasion. Some men beat their wives, engage in extramarital affairs, and have a dozen illegitimate children running homeless in the streets. They plot and scheme against each other always seeking some new morsel of power or wealth. No house is spared, General. Not even your own.”

General Marcum narrowed his eyes at the young man. If Rezkin were anyone else, he would think the man knew far too much for his own good, but this particular man could handle any problems and probably knew expertly how to use the information. He wondered just what Rezkin knew of the clandestine affairs of his own house. It was just one more thread of power the young man had over him that Rezkin refused to use against the general to get his way. Not that Rezkin really needed any more power, but it was astonishing that the man could restrain himself from taking what he wanted. This whole situation with Frisha was obviously upsetting to them both. If he were in the same situation, Marcum knew he would not be so noble. And, there it was again. The noble Rezkin.

Rezkin noted the general’s concern and waved it away. “Do not worry yourself, General. I have no intention of blackmailing you. I have far more efficient ways of getting things done. All I am saying is that if you define your word wholesome by the actions of the nobles, then I want nothing to do with it, and I should think you would prefer Frisha to stay out of it as well.”

A knock sounded from the front entry, and Steward Narus shuffled past the open doorway to answer. Rezkin said, “That would be Captain Jimson. He is coming by to discuss our travel plans. Since you seem to have your own ideas, I suppose you had better join us. If you are not already aware of it, Mistress Reaylin has joined us this afternoon as well.”

General Marcum stepped back into the hall, and Rezkin followed at a comfortable distance. Tam and Reaylin were already greeting Jimson when they arrived. Tam introduced Reaylin to the general, who found the young woman to be eccentric and rather uncouth. Marcum invited the group into the study where they usually spent the evenings, and a maid served them tea and small cakes.

Tam shifted continually. He had come to hate being in the same room with both the general and Rezkin, and he had never particularly enjoyed Reaylin’s company. Jimson also felt awkward. As a lowly lieutenant, he had never dreamed he would be spending so much time in the presence of his general, and his friendship with the general’s newest unofficial enemy complicated the issue. It did not help that Reaylin was shamelessly flirting and batting her eyes at Rezkin. She had apparently taken the general’s rejection of Rezkin’s proposal as a sign that it was time to up her game.