DANIEL GUI'S SWORD CLATTERED as he rushed into the duke's sitting room. He was Baldwin's new chatelain, having taken over for Norcross.

You can't go in there, said a page, flashing a cynical wink. The duke's in council.

The duke will find this news more urgent than any meeting, Daniel said, and pushed by the page.

His lord was upright against a wall, his leggings down, fucking a young chambermaid.

Daniel cleared his throat. Liege.

The maid gasped and fixed her skirt, running out through another door.

``I am sorry to interrupt, the chatelain said, but I have news you must hear.

Baldwin pulled up his leggings as if it were the most natural thing in the world and tied his tunic. I hope this news is crucial, chatelain, for it has taken me months to back that little sow up against a wall. He wiped his hand across his mouth.

Baldwin disgusted the young chatelain. Daniel looked at his position as a chance to serve his native town, not plunder and slaughter defenseless subjects. He told himself that being in the duke's pen was not tantamount to being a pig.

It is news of the redhead you seek. The jester who escaped after killing Norcross.

Hugh. That little canker. Baldwin sprang alive. What of him? Speak!

He has turned up. In his own town, after all. It seems he has led an uprising there against a raiding party from Bord.

Uprising? What do you mean,uprising ? There's nothing but field mice and manure out there.

Apparently these field mice defended their nest quite well. Our messengers report all of Stephen's men were killed.

Baldwin shot up out of his seat. You tell me this little maw-worm has led a bunch of farmers and hayseeds against Stephen's crack troops?

It is so, but ............