by Brian Smith
3
A fortnight later the three children were finally on their way out of the castle. Lord Rochefort was not so naïve to think they would simply agree to do his bidding and then obey him. He put them through a fortnight of vigorous training which was organized by his loyal servant and spymaster Tancred. And did Lord Rochefort simply let them go on their way after two weeks of hard work? To the great disappointment of the children he decided that Tancred would accompany them in the role of their father. They were to travel together as a family and the children would have to obey Tancred’s every word. Inside the children were seething about this arrangement but they didn’t let anyone see their true feelings. They smiled and pretended to be friendly with Tancred in the hope that one day he would lower his guard and not watch over them so carefully anymore.
From the castle they walked through the countryside which was largely empty though here and there they saw a farm or even walked through the occasional hamlet or village.
Whatever people they came across were desperately poor and it soon became clear to the children that Lord Rochefort oppressed and exploited the country folk. Tancred was every bit as bad as his master and on the way he simply took from these poor folk whatever he wanted without ever paying.
At one farm they came across a poor family, hard at work in the fields trying to eke out a living. Their prize possession were two piglets. Tancred simply took one of the piglets and slaughtered it for their dinner. When he saw the children looking shocked he just grinned and said “Folk here are serfs. They belong to Lord Rochefort just as the land and the animals are his. This piglet isn’t theirs. It’s Lord Rochefort’s and Lord Rochefort said we should find supplies on our way.”
This was just one of many unpleasant and, indeed, nasty incidents, and as time went by the children grew to dislike both Lord Rochefort and Tancred more and more until it became almost impossible to hide their aversion from him.
After travelling for almost a month they reached their destination, the Kingdom of Suddene. It was a gentle pleasant land by the sea which was ruled by good King Murry and his wife Queen Godhild. As soon as they left the lands of Lord Rochefort and entered Suddene the children noticed a marked difference in the population. Gone were the desperate and hungry looks in the faces of the peasants clad in rags. Instead folk looked happy and contented with their lot, not rich perhaps but wealthy enough to eat well and afford decent clothes.
They met one such couple on their way to market in the capital city Suddene.
Tancred pretended to be friendly and it was easy for him to convince the farmer and his wife that he was a widower on the way to Suddene with his children to look for a new and better life. The farmer immediately offered to help them.
“Then you must come with us,” the farmer said. “My brother lives in Suddene and we always stay with him. He will be more than happy to offer you lodging in your time of hardship.”
Tancred readily agreed. Staying with a local family would make it all the easier for him to engage in his spying activities and whatever other sinister orders Lord Rochefort had given him.
Once again the children were appalled at the way Tancred took advantage of other people and each of them secretly resolved to do their utmost to thwart the evil Tancred.
Not long after they had met the farmer and his wife they reached Suddene where they were given a warm welcome by the farmer’s brother and his family.
Suddene was a wealthy and prosperous town. The townsfolk were proud of their beautiful home and behind the mighty walls of Suddene they felt safe and free to go about their lives. All the townsfolk had but one wish, to work hard, be honest and make their home a better place for their loved ones. They had no desire to find glory on the field of battle like so many others such as Lord Rochefort. For the good folk of Suddene the field of battle meant nothing but death and misery. They preferred to find true glory in honest hard work that made their lives better and happier, and they were sure that as long as they lived in peace and did not threaten others, they too would be allowed to live in peace and happiness.
Alas, you good people of Suddene, do you not know that a wise Greek man called Sophocles once wrote ‘War never takes an evil man by surprise, the good man always’.
Tancred wasted no time. The day after their arrival he managed to find work for the children at the royal castle. Edward and Anthony were taken on as stable boys. In the royal stables they had to clean out horse droppings, bring in fresh straw and do any other things they were told to do. Geetu became helper to a maid. No one knew or cared that really she was a princess, now she had to clean dirty dishes and wash the floor.
Once a day they had to report to Tancred who had his own way of keeping them in line.
“Don’t think that you are the only ones working for me in the castle,” he said. “I know about everything you do and if I find you in any way disobedient you shall have a dagger plunged into you before you know it.”
This death threat kept the children quiet. They didn’t know what to do and even though they hated helping Tancred by giving him information about the castle they were in constant fear of him.
King Murry and Queen Godhild only had one child. His name was Horn. Prince Horn liked nothing better than to go out riding with his best friends Athulf and Fikenhild.
Prince Horn and his friends were wont to go to the castle yard after breakfast where Anthony, Edward and some other stable boys were waiting with their horses. One day Athulf and Fikenhild ran ahead of Prince Horn challenging the prince to a race who would ride out of the castle first. They jumped into their saddles with Prince Horn hard on their heels. He jumped up trying to get into his saddle faster. His right foot was already in the stirrup when his horse suddenly reared and then charged ahead. Prince Horn didn’t manage to hang on and fell to the ground. Queen Godhild was looking out of the window when she saw how her only son, more precious to her than her own life, fell to the ground with his right foot caught in the stirrup. The horse dragged him across the ground towards the gate. Queen Godhild screamed in horror. A horse charging ahead at full speed dragging her son could only mean one thing, her son would die.
Everyone looked on in shock, but not Anthony and Edward. Jolted by the queen’s scream they dashed forward and ran as though the devil himself was behind them till they managed to grab the horse’s reigns.
“Pull, Anthony, pull!” Edward shouted and the two boys did their utmost to pull on the reins until the horse came to a standstill.
People from all over the castle came running as they heard the commotion. Edward and Anthony helped Prince Horn free his foot from the stirrup.
“Are you all right?” Anthony asked.
Prince Horn brushed the dust off his clothes with his hands.
“Yes,” he said. “I’m quite all right, just a few scratches, that’s all. And all thanks to you. Without you I’d be dead now.”
The crowd around them parted and the king and queen hurried to their son. Queen Godhild ran to her son and seeing him unhurt threw her arms around him.
“You live, my son, you live!” she cried. “A miracle, ‘tis a miracle, I say!”
“Not a miracle, mother,” Prince Horn replied. “These two brave lads saved me. Without their quick reaction and courage I’d be dead now.”