Authors: Lana Axe
“W
hat is the
meaning of this?” Duke Arden asked as he approached three men standing in a
poorly lit corner of the castle. “Why have you summoned me here?” He was more
than agitated by their note, which insisted he be present for an urgent
meeting. If it was so urgent, why was it not held in the council chambers? Hiding
in a dark corner was not an appropriate way to hold council.
Arden immediately
recognized Councilman Faril as well as Idran and Pral. Their backs faced the
wall as their eyes darted around, searching for uninvited guests. Faril
motioned the duke to come forward. Shaking his head, Arden reluctantly obeyed.
“What’s going on?”
he demanded. “Where are the rest of the councilors?”
“Forgive us for
meeting like this,” Faril said. “We did not want to arouse suspicion.”
“What could be more
suspicious than hiding in a dark corner?” Arden asked, raising his eyebrows.
“This part of the
castle sees little use,” Idran explained. “It was necessary to find a place
where we wouldn’t be observed.” The three men glanced at one another.
Pral cleared his
throat and said, “We have a proposition that will succeed only with your
cooperation.”
Arden stood silent,
awaiting further explanation. What could possibly require such secrecy? If
these men had information that could change the war in Ra’jhou’s favor, then it
was something worth sharing with the king. Finally, he said, “Do you have a new
strategy against Na’zora’s mages?”
“This has nothing
to do with the war,” Faril replied. He looked over at Idran.
“We propose,” Idran
began, “replacing the king.”
“This is treason!”
Arden shouted. “You’ve all gone mad!”
“Please,” Faril
begged. “Keep your voice down!”
“You cannot
seriously be considering this,” Arden said. “There is war upon our doorstep.
This is no time for treachery!”
“If King Efren were
to suddenly be taken ill and die, we would have need of a new king—one who
would prove a more effective leader in war,” Faril explained.
“Nonsense,” Arden
replied. “A child would be left as king. Prince Melor is only eight years old!”
Efren’s eldest son would be the rightful ruler, and nothing these men said
could change that.
“Yes, and such a
king would require a regency until he came of age,” Idran said.
“This is a time of
war. The kingdom must not be divided over who will rule in place of a child.
You three are wasting my time!” Arden could feel the heat creeping into his
face.
“You would be the
most likely regent,” Pral said.
Arden stopped for a
moment and stared at the men. They were right. In the event of Efren’s death,
Melor would inherit the kingdom. No one would allow a child to rule, and a
woman would not be accepted as regent. With no other male relatives on the
king’s side, the queen’s father would be the closest male relative. The duke
was a nobleman with a good portion of land and many supporters at court.
Apparently, these men had thought this plan through.
“We cannot do this
without you,” Faril said. “There is no one else with such a strong claim to the
regency.”
“Consider this
carefully,” Pral said. “We’re offering you a chance to serve as king. This is
no small favor we would be doing for you.”
Arden stared back
at them with contempt. “You should be ashamed of yourselves,” he said. “I’ll
have no part in this.” He turned and stomped away, leaving the councilors
behind in the darkness.
Though he tried to
dismiss the idea, thoughts of becoming king crept into his mind. What would he
do differently? Would he be able to hold the kingdom together? He shook his
head. If he knew a way to win the war, he would have already shared it with
Efren.
As he continued
along the hallway, another thought occurred to him. What if Efren’s death was
all King Tyrol actually wanted? That would leave the throne open for the
taking. One man could not hope to control both kingdoms, though. There was far too
much land, and empires never last. The people of Ra’jhou would reject his rule
and revolt. Tyrol couldn’t possibly be in two lands at once.
Perhaps a deal
could be struck with Na’zora. After all, there was a revenge factor to
consider. Tyrol and Efren’s family had been fighting for generations before the
marriage between Aubriana and Ivor was arranged as a sign of peace. Obviously
Tyrol had planned that as a diversion while he trained his mages for war. He
might be willing to give control of the kingdom to a man who the people would
support—a man such as Arden.
What would become
of his daughter and grandchildren if he struck such a bargain? Ryshel was
strong-minded and would likely never forgive him. Her love for her husband was
true, and she would never forgive a man for betraying him to his death, not even
her own father.
There was also the
possibility that Tyrol would reject such a plan, and Efren might find out about
it. In that case, Arden would be branded a traitor. His grandchildren would
speak his name with disgust. No, he could not be a party to treason. King Efren
was doing his best to protect the kingdom, and Arden was determined to remain
at his side. If he wanted to effect change, he would do so from a position of
honor, not one of disgrace.
With his mind made
up, the only question remaining was whether to inform the king of his
councilors’ treason. They had not acted on their plan, they had merely
suggested it. Arden doubted they would take any action, seeing as how he had
refused the offer. There was no one else they could confidently place on the
throne, so his unwillingness to join them should put an end to the matter.
Until they attempted to act, they had not yet committed treason. Words were not
the same as actions.
The duke decided it
was best to remain silent but assign guards to watch over the three men. Efren
would need extra protection as well, and his food and wine would need to be
tasted before he could partake. At the slightest sign the men were planning
something new, Arden would have them thrown in prison. This was no time for
fighting from within. The kingdom must not be divided.
“I
doubt King
Oge is going to be happy to see us,” Darly said, looking over her shoulder at
the mountains. She wasn’t looking forward to the arduous trek back to her
homeland. Since arriving at the new camp, she had begun to feel at home.
“Queen Zella won’t
be so happy about it either, but there’s nothing else I can do,” Pedr replied.
“And don’t think you’re coming with me. You’ve got to stay here and take care
of this lot.”
The majority of the
dwarves would be staying behind at Ra’jhou’s northern border. If Pedr entered
dwarven lands with more than a handful of companions, it might be mistaken for
an invasion. Pedr had supported King Oge during the dwarven civil war, but he
had fallen out of favor with the queen. Oge stood by as Pedr was banished,
offering no pardon for a loyal subject. Now Pedr had the chance to serve a new
king. Though Efren was a human, he was more respectable to Pedr’s eyes than the
current royal family of his homeland.
“Who’s going with
you then?” Darly asked, her hands on her hips. “Groot?”
“No,” Pedr replied,
shaking his head. “They’re in dire need of his skills here. I’ve asked Geryl
and Bor to come with me. They’re members of the queen’s own family, so maybe
she won’t be too angry to see them.”
“What if she has
you tossed in the dungeons?” Darly asked. “What am I supposed to do without my
husband?”
“You’ll just have
to take over for me,” he said, chuckling. “King Efren has already promised us
mining rights. All you have to do is help build a new village here.”
“Well, King Efren
might not be king for long. Those invaders might take everything, including
this silver mine.” Darly had been visiting the small village that lay between
the dwarf settlement and the castle. There was plenty of talk about the war,
and she loved listening to gossip. She had picked up quite a few details
regarding the king’s abilities to conduct a war.
“If that’s the
case,” Pedr began, “then we’ll just have to find someplace else. From what I’ve
heard, we won’t want to be under the Na’zoran king’s control. He won’t be too
keen on sharing profits from the silver, either.” He shook his head. “No, if
Ra’jhou is taken, we’ll have to move on.”
“Assuming you’re in the dungeons, I’ll be the one who
has to move on.” Darly crossed her arms. She hated the idea of parting with the
man she’d spent her entire life with. During the war, she had worried each day that
she might lose him. After they left the mountains, she thought those days of
worry were over. They came to this land to start a new life—a life of peace.
With Pedr going back into the fire, she feared what might become of him. Queen
Zella did not forgive easily.
“You do whatever is best for these people,” he
said, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her to look upon the
village. Dwarf children ran and played, laughing as they passed by. Men and
women busied themselves building temporary homes and preparing the land for
habitation.
“This land is worth keeping, Darly,” he said. “I’m
a better judge of character than I ever was, and King Efren will treat our
people right. If I can help him save his kingdom, we just might have ourselves
a home.”
Darly’s eyes filled with tears as she embraced her
husband. “Come back to me,” she whispered. Grabbing a large leather bag, she
helped him position it on his back. “I packed dried venison, pine nuts, and
three loaves of bread I baked just this morning.” She wiped at her nose, which
was already turning red.
Pedr leaned in to kiss her and stroke her hair
before stepping away. “I’ll see you soon,” he said.
“You’d better,” she replied.
With a cheerful wave, he started toward the
mountain, where his two companions were already waiting.
“All set?” Bor asked as Pedr approached.
“Yep,” he replied. “Let’s see how far we can get
before nightfall.”
“I sure hope you know what you’re doing,” Bor
remarked with a crooked grin.
“Me too,” Pedr replied, clapping his friend on the
back.
The trio journeyed into the mountains with little
conversation between them. There were many miles to traverse, and they would
need to travel as quickly as possible. The air thinned as they ascended, and a
chill entered the air. For hours they trudged, their feet sticking in the
moistened earth from the snow melting high above. Luckily, they would not need
to reach the summit. The king resided only about halfway up, in a palace carved
into the mountain itself.
The sun was setting quickly, and light was
becoming scarce before the men decided to make camp. “This seems as good a
resting place as any,” Pedr commented. “Let’s get a fire going.”
After building a fire and snacking on the rations
they had brought, the men spread out their bedrolls and settled in for the
night.
“You know,” Geryl said before lying down, “that
silver mine could support a lot more dwarves than we brought with us. Maybe we
should see if anyone else is interested in joining us. They’ve had a while to
see whether they’re happy with the new king.”
Bor shrugged. “That’s not a bad idea. Unless we
want to depend on the Ra’jhouans for all of our trade, we should at least try
to win a few more allies while we’re back home.”
“We have to be careful,” Pedr replied. “We don’t
want them to think we’re trying to reignite a revolution. It’s going to be hard
enough convincing Oge to listen to me.”
“You were his supporter,” Bor reminded him. “He
will listen. He might not act, but he will listen.”
Pedr wasn’t so sure, but he was glad to have Bor’s
confidence. Queen Zella was a powerful woman, and she may well refuse to grant
Pedr access to her husband. Though dwarf women would not be permitted to rule
alone, this queen held great sway over her young husband. Still, things had
settled down some since the end of the civil war, and there had been no rumors
of further unrest throughout the kingdom. All Pedr could do was hope that his
proposal would be accepted. His new life depended on it.
F
or several
days, Aubriana did not rise from her bed. She refused to eat, and her body was
showing signs of wasting. The servants had gone so far as to force-feed her in
an effort to preserve her life. Ryshel visited her each day, hoping to bring
her some cheer. She decided that a visit from her own children might put a
smile on the suffering princess’s face.
With her three children behind her, Ryshel slowly
approached Aubriana’s bedside. “I’ve brought visitors to cheer you,” she said.
Stepping aside, she motioned her children to come forward.
Aubriana lifted herself on her elbow and looked
into the eyes of Ryshel’s youngest boy. He was blond-haired like her own son,
and his eyes twinkled brightly. For a moment, she thought she might smile, but
the realization he was not her son hit her hard. Letting out a wail, she buried
her face in her blankets.
Ryshel realized she had erred in bringing the
children. They had only served as a further reminder that Rayne was so far
away. “Come along, children,” she said. The three of them followed her away
from their suffering aunt.
Returning to her children’s rooms, she sat near
the window to think. What could she do to help Aubriana? What would she do to
retrieve her own children? After a while, her mind was made up.
“Governess,” she called. “See to the children. I
need to have a word with the king.”
She strode confidently to the council chamber and
was surprised to find the king alone. “Is everything all right?” she asked.
“I know not,” he replied. “It is far too soon to have
any word from Pedr. For all I know, my new plan may have already failed as the
last one did.”
“Have confidence, my king,” she said, coming to
his side. Kneeling next to his chair, she softly kissed his cheek. As she
looked upon his face, she realized her own plan was going to be difficult for
him as well. It would require her to leave him for a while, and her heart ached
at the thought of it.
“I must tell you of an idea I’ve had to help
Aubriana,” she stated after a few moments of silence. “It hasn’t been an easy
decision.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, puzzled.
“I intend to leave for Na’zora, posing as a
nursemaid.”
Efren jumped to his feet, grabbing his wife’s arm.
“Have you gone mad? They’ll kill you!”
“Aubriana still has friends there. They will help
me. Once I’m in, I can secure Rayne’s safety and smuggle him back here.”
“You are a queen,” he reminded her. “It isn’t
possible for you to do this. I won’t allow it.”
“Would you have me send a servant instead?” she
asked. “Would you then have that servant buried next to Kal? I will not send
another to certain death. Aubriana’s friends will help me. If I’m discovered,
they will use me as a hostage. Even King Tyrol would not be so bold as to
execute a queen.”
Efren’s eyes filled with tears. He knew he would
not be able to dissuade his wife, no matter what he said. “I have no doubt that
he would give such a cruel order. We are losing this war, and he will kill us
all if he can.”
Ryshel wrapped her arms around her husband. “I am
a valuable hostage. I will be safe.”
“They will demand a ransom that I might not be
able to pay,” Efren replied. “They might ask for the kingdom. What would you
have me do?”
“Give them nothing.” Her mind was made up. No
matter the consequences to herself, she was determined to reunite Rayne with
his mother.
“You would leave your own children to save your
nephew?” Efren asked, pleading. He could not understand her reasoning.
“My children are safe here, but my nephew is not.
Our children have their father, but Rayne’s father is dead. He has no one. I
must go.” Ryshel feared she might lose her nerve as tears began welling in her
eyes. She could see no other solution, though she would miss her own children
dearly. At least they were safe and warm in the castle. Their fate would match
that of the kingdom, and with luck, Efren’s secret plan would save them all.
“When will you leave?” he asked, sitting back in
his chair. His posture showed his defeat as he rubbed his hand against his
forehead.
“I will go at once,” she replied. With a single
kiss, she left her husband to prepare for her journey.
As soon as she reached her quarters, she sent her
maidservant to fetch her disguise. “Bring me some of your own clothing,” she
said. “I need something that doesn’t look too new, nor too expensive. Something
plain and simple.”
The young girl hurried away to obey while Ryshel
removed her jewelry. Placing it carefully upon her dresser, she stared at the
glittering gems. Knowing how little such riches meant compared to the life of a
child, she was happy to put them aside. She would take on the guise of a
servant and forget for a while that she was a queen. All her mind would be
dedicated to the ruse.
The maid returned with a simple cotton dress.
“This is the plain dress I wear on wash day,” she said almost apologetically.
“It will do nicely,” Ryshel said. As she pulled on
her maid’s dress, she realized it was more comfortable than the fancy gowns she
usually wore. “It’s not as bad as I thought it would be,” she admitted with a
laugh. “Thank you for your help.”
She stuffed a handful of coins into a small
leather purse, which she hid inside her dress. Bribes might be necessary, and
she might require a nicer dress for serving as governess to a prince. There was
no time to waste. She needed to leave immediately before she lost her courage.
The
sooner I leave, the sooner I can return home.
Ryshel made her way back to Aubriana’s chambers.
Strewn about on her desk were dozens of letters that had made it past the
armies.
If these letters can make it, so can I
, she thought. These
letters contained all the information she would need to find the princess’s
friends.
Aubriana’s friends had better come through for me
, she thought.
If not, I’ll never succeed.