Beside the boy was a strikingly handsome blond-haired swordsman, who wrapped one arm protectively around the boy's back while holding a sword at the ready.
On Jircniv's left stood Tenby—the so-called former knight who had first introduced himself to Talcott earlier—now holding a naked blade, guarding the young king's other side.
Talcott's eyes took in the positions of each of them, then he slowly moved backward toward the edge that overlooked the parade ground.
Perhaps one quarter of the soldiers present still stood with the Royalist faction?
The blond swordsman looked dangerous, but the overwhelming majority of knights and troops were still under Talcott's command.
Even on this raised platform alone, he had at least twenty knights and soldiers who were still loyal.
At the bottom of the slope, another thirty men waited.
Jircniv's appearance here was fortunate.
If Talcott crushed them all now, it would be finished.
