Dark Vengeance Part 2 - A Royal Request

The liveried servant stepped into the chamber and to one side of the door. He announced the visitor:
“Mistress Loreyn Sovon, your grace.”
A woman advanced into the room and the servant left behind her. She strode up to Havlo’s desk and stopped three paces in front of it. She was dressed in a blue riding dress and breeches, with tall boots that showed the signs of many miles. He did not fail to notice the golden hand pin on her right breast. She nodded to him.
“Your grace.”
“Mistress Sovon,” he acknowledged. “Strange to be visited personally by an agent of the Golden Hand. I can only assume you are here to take an answer back to your King directly?”
“Such is hoped, your grace.”
Havlo Krolum, Councilor of Altanos, stood and moved to the small table by the wall that contained a carafe of fine brandy and poured himself one. He knew enough about the Golden Hand to know she would refuse an offer of a drink. He sipped and gestured to the only parchment on his desk.
“You Haradelans have a strange concept of justice.”
“I would argue that there is only one concept of justice, your grace.”
He sniffed. “Let me be sure I understand. Your King wants me to round up the members of a freeband that I warranted and was led by my son and turn them all over to Haradelan authorities to stand trial for a crime that is essentially a slanderous claim of cowardice made by a twelve year old boy?”
“I believe the message offers the alternative that we do the rounding up, your grace.”
He choked back an expletive, but the welling anger remained. Her expression had not altered. He could not tell if she goaded him or was just completely ignorant of the lowness of her station. No matter, he would not let her get the better of him, he simply would not. He forced calm into his voice.
“The claims are specious.”
“My findings would indicate otherwise, your grace.”
“Your findings?”
“His majesty appointed me lead investigator.”
So, not just a messenger. Mundar’s chief lackey in besmirching the Krolum name. He briefly considered locking her away until this all was past, but that would likely be more trouble than he’d need.
“You have gathered a great deal of what you think are facts, I imagine.”
“My investigation is well underway, your grace.”
Damn her.
“Then I would request you share your findings with my court.”
“I have been authorized to do so by the King, your grace. My assistant is turning over what we know so far to your chamberlain as we speak.”
Twice damn her.
“Mistress Sovon, the League’s official position is that this is a Thormenalan internal matter. With the information you have gathered along with what my court has found, and will find, we will see any required justice done.”
For the first time since she entered the room, her expression altered ever so slightly. The tiniest fraction of a smile touched the corner of her mouth, and was gone just as quickly. He may have imagined it, but then her words confirmed it had been there.
“The King suggested that might be your response, your grace. In that case he requires me to remind you that among those who suffered from this tragedy is the daughter of one of the Kingdom’s most capable and beloved warriors and a great friend to the royal court. However, he understands the sensitivity of this matter and so has instructed me to wait a week before I send your reply along so that you may have time to reconsider.”
It took the count of several heartbeats for Havlo’s sudden rage to subside enough to allow steady words. When they came, they were:
“Get out of my sight.”
Continue the story in Dark Vengeance Part 3 - Only Vengeance