The Telastrian Song by Duncan M. Hamilton

was no point in turning away now. He needed Ranph’s help and he was not going to get it procrastinating on the raked gravel driveway. He went up the steps and rapped the large brass knocker hanging from the centre of the door.
    It opened after a moment. Somewhere in the back of his mind Soren had been expecting Ranph to open the door.
    ‘Can I help you, sir?’ a servant said.
    Ranph was still prosperous enough for a serving staff at least. ‘Yes, I hope so. I’m looking for Ranph dal Bragadin, or dal Medenmeer as I understand he’s calling himself now.’
    ‘Might I ask who you are, sir?’
    ‘Banneret Soren.’
    ‘One moment please, I shall see if Viscount Medenmeer is available.’ He retreated back into the house.
    Soren exchanged a hopeful look with Alessandra, who was still standing on the gravel driveway beside their small pile of luggage. It made Soren feel like they were itinerant paupers, which he was not comfortable with, but he had money to pay his way—more than enough—so they would not be any financial imposition on his friend.
    ‘What in hells are you doing waiting at the door like a bloody stranger?’
    The voice came from somewhere inside the house, and although Soren couldn’t see its source he recognised it instantly.
    ‘I wasn’t sure if I’d got the right address,’ Soren called back.
    The servant appeared at the door again and gestured for Soren to enter, before spotting Alessandra. ‘I’ll fetch your bags, sir,’ he said.
    Ranph appeared in the servant’s place, a wide smile fixed on his face. He hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and embracing Soren. ‘It’s good to see you,’ he said. ‘After so long since I’ve heard anything about you, I was beginning to think that bastard managed to get you in the end.’
    ‘Happily not the case, but it’s not for want of trying,’ Soren said.
    Ranph grimaced. ‘Ah. But come in, come in. I’ve no idea how far you’ve come. I’m sure you’d like something to eat and drink.’ He spotted Alessandra talking with the servant. ‘You found her then,’ he said, his smile widening even more.
    ‘Eventually, but it took some doing,’ Soren said, a relieved smile appearing on his own face.

    R anph led them to a comfortable looking lounge.
    ‘So much to talk about,’ he said as they sat. ‘I hardly know where to start. What brings you to Venter? Where have you come from?’
    Soren had just opened his mouth to reply when the door swung open. A tiny child wobbled in unsteadily, making it as far as the leg of a table, which it grabbed onto for support. Judging by the blue outfit, Soren assumed the child to be a boy. A plump, middle-aged woman followed swiftly. Alessandra’s face lit up with a beautiful smile when she saw the child.
    ‘I’m sorry, my Lord, now that he’s started walking he’s getting hard to keep up with,’ the woman said. She scooped the child up in her arms and whisked him back out, closing the door behind her.
    Soren raised an eyebrow. ‘Yours?’
    Ranph smiled. ‘Yes. Rikard. Not even eleven months and he’s running about the place every chance he can get.’ Ranph’s voice dripped with pride.
    ‘You named him after your father,’ Soren said.
    ‘Yes. It seemed like a good idea. I had to agree to my father in law’s being stuck in there as well, but it was a small price to pay.’
    ‘Speaking of which…’ Soren said.
    ‘Sara’s out riding. She’ll be back soon. I can’t wait to introduce you to her. She’s Ventish, though as chance would have it I met her in Ostia—but that’s another story. Anyway, you were going to tell me what brought you to Venter.’
    Soren opened his mouth again, but stopped himself. When he’d considered asking Ranph for help in killing Amero, he imagined the whole thing as an extraordinarily dangerous adventure—a chance to put a wrong to right, but an adventure nonetheless. There was no way he could ask Ranph to join him now that he was responsible for a