Mountain of Masks

by Jeanne Hardt

  Frederick wanted nothing more. He slipped it onto his finger and a rush of glory swept over him. God had surely sanctified it.

  The priest lifted the crown from the altar and held it high. “Only the highest king in the land is granted this crown. Frederick of Basilia, you are charged with the defense of all peoples, not only those in your beloved Basilia! You are to govern every realm! You are the protector of peace!”

  Frederick jutted his chin.

  “Kneel,” the priest commanded.

  Frederick went down on one knee, all the while keeping his head high.

  The priest placed the crown.

  Frederick shut his eyes, fearing for a moment this was all a dream. All his desires were unfolding before him. How could it be real?

  “Behold King Frederick!” the priest shouted. “Long may he live!” He put his mouth to Frederick’s ear. “You may rise.”

  Ever-so-slowly, Frederick opened his eyes, stood, and gazed out at the people.

  Their faces radiated love and respect. “Long live King Frederick!” The words repeated over and over again.

  Frederick shifted his gaze to Jonah, but the man was not to be seen. He had undoubtedly run off to wallow somewhere in self-pity.

  “What say you?” a man shouted. “How will you carry out justice?”

  The priest gently pushed Frederick to the forefront. “Speak to them. Give them hope.” He held his hands up and hushed the crowd.

  Not a sound could be heard. Frederick took a deep breath, looked out at the people, and frowned. “On a day that should have brought joy, I cannot bring myself to smile. I believed no sorrow could be as great as what I experienced in losing my wife and child, yet I was mistaken. My uncle’s passing has me numb to the depths of my soul.”

  “We love you!” some women yelled.

  “Bless you.” Frederick patted his chest. “It is your love which will carry me through this trial, and I will grow stronger by the day. I will find the guilty parties and punish them to the fullest extent of our laws.”

  “Kill Sebastian!”

  Loud mumbling and affirmation followed the cry.

  The words spoken pleased Frederick, but he could not reveal his glee and remained somber. “I understand your frustration! However …!”

  The crowd hushed.

  “However … proof beyond question has not been established. I love my cousin, and I find it difficult to accept he would harm my family. He certainly cannot be to blame for his own father’s death. I fear there is something worse at play, and there is proof the Crenians are at fault!”

  Loud mumbling ensued.

  Frederick held up a single hand. His uncle’s ring looked exceptional on his finger. “The Crenian people have always been our mortal enemies. King Roland was not merely slain by the hand of a rogue criminal, a Crenian blade ended his life!”

  Frederick paused and took in the mass of anger and hate-filled eyes. They lifted him higher than any word of praise or condolence.

  Discontented rumbling continued, but he once again held up his hand and silenced it, reveling in the power of his simple action. “I have not told all. I learned my wife was poisoned by the use of a plant called tannin root, which grows only in Padrida and its surrounding forest. Bits of the plant were discovered in Thanwine beneath the false-princess Olivia’s bed. I believe it was not my cousin’s hand that took Princess Marni from me. I am almost certain it was Sebastian’s Crenian bride who is responsible for her death!”

  Nearly every head in the temple nodded in agreement.

  “Olivia of Padrida is to blame!” someone shouted.

  “Crenians are not to be trusted!” Frederick bellowed. “Hear now, my first decree as your king! All Crenian people living in Basilia are to be apprehended and questioned! Every Crenian! Man, woman, and child!”

  He watched with pleasure as people turned on each other. Even in the temple, they took it upon themselves to seize those who had come from Padrida.

  “What of Sebastian?” someone screamed. “He is not blameless! He chose the Crenian for a bride!”

  Frederick raised his hand high. “Sebastian is to be permanently banished! If he or his wife leave Padrida, it will be taken as an admission of guilt and they will both be prosecuted!”

  A woman standing close to the front of the crowd reached out to him. “You are too kind, King Frederick! Can you not force their return?”

  “The loss of my cousin’s father will devastate him, adding to the pain he already suffers. Sebastian most assuredly knows of his wife’s guilt, and I pray she did not sway him to participate. As I stated before, his guilt remains in question. There are pains worse than death suffered by the guilty and the innocent. I choose to show him mercy, because of my love for him. God is the ultimate judge. If He sees the need for further punishment, He will bring them to us.”

  Jonah trudged through the crowd and stood before him, looking as if he had been pummeled. Odd how devastating news alone could destroy a man. “Frederick, you know Olivia and Sebastian are innocent. This news of his father will crush him. He will want to be here for his mother. It is unjust to claim him guilty simply for desiring to come to her aid. How can you banish him?”

  Frederick looked at him with pity, though he felt victorious. “I banish him by my right as king. Do you not see I am saving him? All he need do is keep himself absent, and his life will be spared, as well as that of his beloved wife.” He said the word with spite, to further enrage the people.

  “But, his mother—”

  “I will tend my aunt and love her as I would my own mother, God rest her soul. I will show the same consideration to my young cousins.” Hmm. Therein lies a wonderful thought. “Because of your devotion to Sebastian, I commission you to carry the news of King Roland’s death to Padrida and remain there for the rest of your days.”

  “The rest of my days?”

  “Yes. I hereby banish you as well. Your loyalty to Sebastian warrants it, as does your failure to protect the king.” Frederick waved a sentry forward from the back of the temple. “Escort Jonah to the stable. Show him where our king was slain, then put him on the king’s stallion and send him on his way. I do not care to have the beast left behind as a painful reminder of my dear uncle.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” The guard bowed, then grabbed Jonah by the arm.

  “Release me!” Jonah wrenched free. “I need no guard to see me gone!” He whipped around and sped from the temple.

  “Follow him,” Frederick said to the guard. “Make certain he abides by my demands.”

  “Yes, sire.” Another bow.

  Frederick cast a slim smile, and the crowd cheered.

  Being king brought about greater satisfaction than the feel of female flesh. Better still, he could now have both.

  “Be brave, my people!” he cried out. “I vow to find who murdered King Roland! I ask that you return to your homes and pray for peace to remain! If it should not, I swear to protect you from those who wish you harm!”

  “Hail, King Frederick!” “Long live the king!”

  He had been born to rule, and now nothing would stop him from achieving all he had dreamed. His blessed new reality set in harder than stone.

  He dipped his head to the priests, then strode from the temple with his head higher than ever.

  The full moon beamed overhead as a bright tribute to his greatness.

  He gazed skyward. “Of course, I deserved this, and You saw fit to see it through.”

  He increased his pace and headed toward his castle. The large one that should have been his dwelling all along. His sweet aunt would need comfort, as would his beautiful cousins.

  The delicious thoughts tumbling in his mind had to be dismissed. As Roderick had said, the walls had eyes. If Frederick satiated his hunger with his desirable relatives, he could risk losing everything. Having the wrong eyes behold his actions could cut short his reign.

  That did not suit him.

  He intended to rule forever.

/>   Chapter 32

  Sebastian plucked an apple and handed it to Olivia. “I know you are hungry. This should appease you until the evening meal.”

  She smiled and took it, then polished it against her skirt. “I admit, I love having food at my fingertips.” She bit off a piece, with a loud crunch.

  “Sebastian!”

  Someone cried out his name from some distance away.

  He whipped his head around. “Over here!” Whoever had yelled sounded urgent.

  Olivia grabbed his arm. “Is that Jonah?”

  “Yes, I believe it is.” Heart pounding, Sebastian took her hand and guided her quickly toward him.

  They reached one another in the center of the orchard.

  Jonah looked haggard—as if he had not slept in days. He bent over and braced his hands on his knees, puffing heavy breaths.

  Though tempted to embrace his friend, Sebastian held back.

  Something was terribly wrong.

  Concern covered Olivia’s face. “Jonah.” She put an arm around him. “Please, sit and rest yourself.”

  “I cannot.” Jonah stood erect, chest heaving. “I bear grave news.” He grasped both of Sebastian’s arms and stared straight into his eyes. “Your father, the king, is dead.”

  Olivia gasped, but Sebastian froze, unable to do anything.

  “Sire?” Jonah gently shook him. “Did you hear me?”

  Olivia encircled his waist with her arm. “Sebastian?”

  “No …” he managed to say and dropped to his knees. Almost immediately, Jonah’s disparaging words sunk in, and he jumped to his feet. “I must go to him!”

  He turned and sprinted off, oblivious to everything around him.

  “Highness, wait!”

  Jonah ran at Sebastian’s heels, grabbed onto him, and they both tumbled to the ground.

  “Are you mad?” Sebastian screamed and pushed him away. “I must return to Basilia at once!”

  “No! You cannot!” Once again, Jonah reached for Sebastian, but he smacked his arm and stopped him.

  “You said my father is dead! My place is with my mother!” Sebastian scrambled to his feet and was about to run, when Olivia appeared, breathing hard.

  Tears streaked her face. “Sebastian, please wait. Allow Jonah to tell us more.” She clutched her hands to her belly and eased onto the ground. “I cannot run any longer.”

  Jonah flopped onto his back. “Nor can I.”

  Sebastian sat down hard and fisted his hair with both hands. “Please tell me I misunderstood. Father cannot be dead.” He shut his eyes and rocked back and forth, waiting …

  The sound of Olivia’s tears tugged at his heart, yet his own internal torment kept him from reaching out to her. He managed to look her way, but her eyes were focused downward.

  Jonah pushed himself up to a seated position. “Your father was murdered.”

  “No.” The words cut brutally hard.

  Olivia’s vision …

  She whimpered and her tears streamed. Sebastian pinched his lips shut and gritted his teeth, doing all he could to endure what was to be said.

  “Someone wielding a Crenian blade cut your father’s throat,” Jonah went on, the pain in his voice apparent. “I failed him and you by not being there.” He beat his fist on the ground. “I was preparing for my dubbing at the temple, and whoever did this took advantage of my absence and slayed him in the stable, while he tended his stallion.”

  Breathing had become a forced chore, but Sebastian painstakingly took one breath after another. “A Crenian blade?”

  “Yes. I saw it, but the priests have secured it.”

  “Donovan,” Olivia mumbled. “It had to be him. The knife he used to torment me …”

  Even though it felt as if a heavy fist continued to squeeze his heart, Sebastian gathered his senses and moved to Olivia’s side, then drew her close. “We cannot be certain.” Her entire body trembled. “Jonah, I must see the blade for myself. How soon will you be fit to ride with me to Basilia?”

  “Never.” Again, he pounded his fist. “We have been banished! If you or Olivia leave Padrida, you will be charged with Princess Marni’s murder. Tannin root was found beneath your bed in Thanwine.”

  “Tannin root?” Sebastian glanced at Olivia, then faced Jonah again. “Someone must have put it there to make it appear as if we poisoned Marni. Who would do such a thing?”

  Olivia sucked in staggered breaths. “I told Angeline of Donovan’s plan to use tannin root. But I cannot believe she would be capable of this treachery. I fear Donovan has been following our every move, and it is he who has caused all of this.”

  Jonah scowled. “Our people blame you, princess. Frederick convinced them you led your people to commit these heinous acts against Basilia. He faults all Crenians and has had those who took residence in Basilia arrested. Even the women and children.”

  “No.” Olivia covered her mouth and shook her head. “Sebastian, we must do something.”

  “You cannot.” Jonah muttered. “As I said, you have been banished. Your hands are tied.”

  “By whose order?” Sebastian spit out the words, knowing full well who had made the decree.

  “King Frederick.” Hatred spewed from Jonah, matching Sebastian’s own.

  His blood boiled, yet he had no idea how to release his fury. He wanted to scream, lash out, do something to make whoever did this pay for their actions. But he had been rendered helpless for the first time in his royal life.

  “Damn him!” Sebastian shook his fists in the air. “Frederick orchestrated every part of this!”

  “How can you know it was he?” Olivia said. “What if Donovan is behind it all? Look deeper, Sebastian. Set aside your hate for your cousin and try to see what lies beneath.”

  “No.” Sebastian rapidly shook his head. “It cannot be Donovan. He lacks the intelligence to plot such treachery. Frederick, however, has likely been planning this for years. My marriage to you simply afforded him an opportunity to advance his agenda.”

  “Even so,” Olivia went on, “Donovan capably slipped from your grasp all those months ago and has not been found. The blade he set to my throat was likely the same weapon used to kill your father. That evidence alone is proof of his cunning.”

  Her tears had vanished, and she no longer quivered. She sat tall, displaying strength he currently lacked.

  “Jonah,” she said sternly. “I must know. Did you see the king’s body?”

  He nodded, frowning.

  “Was his beard long or short?” She closed her eyes and whispered the words as if caught up in her dream.

  “That is an odd question,” Jonah mumbled. “His beard had been trimmed for my dubbing. The queen insisted he groom it.”

  Olivia released a long breath, then bowed her head.

  Jonah questioned with his eyes.

  “She dreamed of my father’s death.” Saying it, drove the reality deep into Sebastian’s soul. “I prayed it would be a false vision, but her dreams rarely are. That is why I was so insistent you look after him.”

  “And I failed you.” Jonah gritted his teeth, shaking his head. “I deserve banishment.” He turned away. “I was not even allowed to bid Allana farewell. Your mother and sisters will be forced to live with that beast! If he touches them …” His face drew as tight as his fists, as if he were fighting the same inner turmoil as Sebastian.

  Helplessness.

  “It seems we have but one choice.” Olivia’s words were spoken so softly, Sebastian had to strain to hear her. “We must live out our days in Padrida and forget all that lies beyond our borders.”

  “No.” Sebastian grasped her hand. “There has to be another way.”

  She lifted her head. “Perhaps we can find the means to be happy here. At least we will be together.”

  “No.” Jonah shot to his feet. “My life is out there!” He pointed, breathing hard. “The woman I love will be trapped with a tyrant. How can I set aside thoughts of what he might do to her? He has no wife,
and Allana has come into womanhood. Have you forgotten what Frederick did to Estelle?”

  “Of course not.” Sebastian understood his passion, and he certainly had not dismissed Frederick’s history with Estelle. “Why were you banished?”

  Jonah crossed his arms. “Frederick’s words have been engrained in my mind. He said my loyalty to you warrants banishment, as does my failure in protecting the king. Truthfully, I believe he wanted me gone in order to get close to Allana. I should have drawn my sword and killed him when I had the chance.”

  “Doing so would have done my sister no good. You would have been slain for the act.” Sebastian inhaled deeply and got up from the ground. “I cannot comprehend life without my father. When we last spoke, we discussed everything from Roderick to your knighthood, Jonah, but mostly my mother’s discontent. The only comfort I have now is that I told him I loved him, and he said the same. Unlike my mother, he never once questioned my innocence.”

  He peered down at Olivia, who again had tears running down her face. “Olivia?” He extended a hand to her and helped her up. “He never doubted you, either. He saw the good in you and understood why I love you. But, you were mistaken about our future. Though it will not be easy, remaining quietly here is not our only choice.”

  She clutched onto him. “I know. My visions are proof of that. I only hoped I could convince you otherwise.”

  Jonah dropped his arms to his sides and stepped closer. “What do we do?”

  “We mourn my father’s passing, then we continue building an army and take back all we have been stripped of.”

  Olivia frowned. “The people of Padrida are not aware you were forming an army. They believe you were merely strengthening my father’s guard. They are not warriors and will not want to fight. They will wish to go on living in Padrida as they always have. What reason can you give them for making a change?”

  “Frederick will not sit idly by and allow us to live out our lives in peace. And what of King Callum? You yourself already brought forth fears of him coming here seeking retribution. Now that Frederick is high king, the two will align. If Callum believes I killed his daughter, he will not accept simple banishment. What was the saying of old? Blood for blood?”