The Broken Kingdom

by Andrew G. Wood

  Samuel wasn’t sure what the prince wanted to discuss with his father, but whatever it was couldn’t have been that urgent.

  “Of course. I’m sure he’ll probably want to update you anyway, but I’ll let him know.

  Since the attack on him, Luca had felt more and more like a prisoner than a guest. Being shadowed by Edward and other guards was not a new thing, but being told where he could and could not go was. Knowing that Samuel was only in temporary charge, Luca aimed to ask Lord Oakley if the strict security might be relaxed just a little to allow him some freedom of movement. The thought of venturing down to the small beach again with Theo and the others had been something he was looking forward to. However, the picnic they had planned and hoped for had never materialised due to the extra security precautions being put in place. While Luca knew, as crown prince and future king, he could merely tell Lord Oakley that he wanted to go, he felt it best that he should probably ask. After all, Luca was aware of the massive risk to his own family that Lord Oakley had taken in having him there, a fact that had been highlighted further by recent events.

  Noticing that Samuel was tired and feeling somewhat sleepy himself, Luca wished the young Lord a good night, before leaving the room and heading for the stairs. Edward followed closely behind, looking far more alert than he felt. There were two soldiers at the base of the stairs and two more up on the landing with a further two more positioned right outside Luca’s room. All trusted men from Lord Oakley’s own house guard they would remain on duty all night to oversee his safety and prevent any chance of someone attempting to sneak in again.

  Luca watched as Edward closed the bedroom door and turned the key to lock it, just another similarity to this being a prison cell. Yes, it could be said that prisons did not have the level of comfort he enjoyed, but even these were a far cry from what he was used to at the palace. After undressing and placing his own clothes on the chair in the corner of the room, Luca felt the necklace Clarissa had given to him, swing slightly around his neck. Holding a few of the beads in his fingers for a few moments he contemplated taking it off, but instead, let them go and pulled his nightgown over his head, before somewhat sombrely clambering into bed. Any conversation between him and Edward was all but non-existent, consisting only of a somewhat mumbled ‘Good Night’.

  Chapter 16. Haunted Dreams.

  Luca huffed and puffed as he fidgeted in his bed. Tossing from side to side, first one way then the other, he thought sleep would never come. From the sound of Edward’s breathing from across the other side of the room, it seemed the young man there to guard him was having no such problems. After staring out into the darkness, Luca tried to calm himself. Closing his eyes once more and breathing slowly, freeing his mind of troublesome thoughts he eventually felt his body relaxing and drifting off to sleep.

  Although knowing he was in a dream, Luca felt somewhat strangely alert as to what was around him. Wherever he walked, whether it was in the palace or out in the gardens he was followed by a dark, somewhat ominous looking shadow that appeared to be spreading. The faster he walked, the quicker the shadow moved as it started covering the area around him in a blanket of darkness as if trying to close him in. Feeling panic setting in, Luca was sure he would wake, yet despite his shouts and cries for help, nothing happened.

  With the blackness closing in and trapping him, stopping Luca from moving any further, something peculiar happened. As if from nowhere a ball of light sprung up around him, and wherever he walked the light moved with him. The shadow seemed to call out as he once more moved along what had suddenly turned into a long winding path. Faces and shapes of people suddenly appeared, but he felt somewhat safe and protected in his cocoon of light, encapsulated and beyond the reach of the shadows. The sounds of voices were somewhat muffled as if the shield was trying to keep him from hearing them.

  The path appeared to wind on and on, and Luca felt he must have been going around in a circle. Having nothing but darkness and shadowy figures moving around him meant he could see nothing more than the light covering him allowed. As if angered by their inability to get close enough to him, the figures appeared to grow, causing Luca to panic once more. He flinched as the first of what would be many dark shapes came hurtling towards him, but each, in turn, was merely brushed aside by his sphere of light. Bouncing off like rain on a roof, Luca suddenly felt at ease as the realisation that no harm could befall him so long as the light remained.

  Just because the darkness and shadows could not get close enough to him, did not stop them from persevering. Far from it. In fact, Luca felt the faces and figures intensifying as if they had called for reinforcements as they all pounded on his protective barrier of pure white light. Whatever was protecting him seemed to only strengthen the more figures attempted to strike him down, filling Luca with a new kind of confidence; one he felt he would like in the real world. While this particular dream was strange, it was even more so, as it seemed to be the only one he was having. Made even weirder by the fact he was completely aware of what was going on, yet knowing that it was all somehow not real, but just the work of his troubled young mind.

  After what must surely have been hours, the dark shadows suddenly started dispersing revealing the area around the path he had been walking. As if no longer needed the orb of light that had kept him from their grasp vanished, and Luca suddenly felt a little vulnerable. Would the light return again to protect him if the shadows moved to close in on him once more? Thankfully, it appeared he would not have to find out as he felt an inner warmth as the area around him turned into a perfect green summer meadow. The air smelled fresh as the happy sound of laughter from a group of people drifted over towards him. The figures, nothing more than faceless outlines beckoned him over towards them as if wanting him to join in. However, Luca was somewhat wary of heading into something beyond his comfort zone. Yet, despite wanting to walk away from the group, he found himself heading directly towards it. No matter how many times he turned about and attempted to go the other direction, the figures always appeared to be in front of him.

  Somewhat reluctantly and cautiously, Luca just gave in and accepted the inevitable as the figures moved right up to him. Half expecting the barrier of light to keep them at bay, Luca was somewhat scared as the first figure reached out and touched him. A new warmth filled his body as if the touch had come from someone close. Feeling strangely revitalised, Luca felt the others all reach out to him, their touches all warm and heartfelt, filling him with a happiness he had never found in the waking world. He heard laughing and although he had no idea why, Luca found himself joining in with the joy even though deep down he knew this was all a dream.

  As if someone had flicked a switch, Luca’s eyes flickered open, and although he tried closing them again to return to his happy dream, it was all gone. As he rolled over, he realised he must have slept well as the light was streaming in through the small window in his room, and he spotted Edward already awake and getting dressed. Not wanting to see him half-naked, Luca quickly rolled back the other way, but it seemed Edward had spotted him awake.

  “Good Morning, Sire.”

  “Morning Edward,” Luca found himself saying, feeling somewhat happier than he had felt in a long time.

  With an unexpected spring in his step, Luca bounded out of bed, towards the washstand in his room.

  “Do you think it smells in here?” he heard Edward ask as he poured water from the jug into the washbowl.

  Luca sniffed the air a little trying to detect any strange odour, but shook his head, “I can’t smell anything.”

  “Smells like something died in here,” Edward grumbled wandering around the room a little to see if he could locate the source.

  Luca hurriedly washed and dried himself with a clean white towel before heading back to his bed and removing his nightgown. He glanced over to see Edward still walking around sniffing at the air, seemingly unable to locate the source of whatever it was he reckoned he could smell. Luca hurriedly dressed and with the f
eeling today was going to be a good one, he went to leave.

  “Ah, Wait for me,” Edward called out behind him.

  Ordinarily, Luca would have grumbled or moaned about having to wait, but something inside seemed to quash any such negative thoughts. “Come on then, hurry up,” he replied even adding a smile to indicate that he didn’t really mind the delay.

  After Edward giving up the hunt for whatever was causing the smell, the two of the left the room together and headed across the landing to the stairs, passing the guards on their way. Different from the ones who had been there the previous night, but still wearing the colours of Lord Oakley to indicate that they were his men doing the guarding.

  “I feel hungry this morning,” Luca said as the aroma of food greeted them at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Perhaps that’s what I could smell…cooking?” Edward said, trying to convince himself as much as Luca.

  In the dining room, Lady Oakley was sat beside Lady Dalby, chatting as they seemed to do most of the time. Theo and Nerina were also there, but there was no Samuel or Clarissa., something that was a little unusual as the daughter of Lady Dalby always seemed to be with her mother.

  “Good Morning, Sire,” Lady Oakley said, a greeting that was immediately mirrored by the slightly larger lady seated beside her.

  “Good morning,” Luca replied as he sat down, his eyes already perusing the morning’s offerings on the table before him.

  Feeling as hungry as he had for some time, Luca piled his plate high with the eggs and sausages that were on offer. Quickly adding several slices of bread to his plate, he failed to notice everyone else looking at him.

  “Hungry?” Theo commented with a smile on his face.

  Luca took a bite out of a sandwich he had made by stuffing two fat sausages in a folded over piece of bread before answering.

  “Starving,” he eventually replied caring little about the manners of talking when eating with a mouthful of food.

  “It’s good you have your appetite,” Lady Dalby said casting him a warm glowing, somewhat radiant look.

  “Is Clarissa not joining us?” Luca asked just before he took another bite.

  Lady Dalby just continued with her smile before answering, “She’s just a little tired this morning.”

  Luca thought nothing more of it as he devoured his sandwich and concentrated on his plate of food as opposed to those he was sitting with.

  Leaning back in his chair Luca puffed out his cheeks and placed his hand on his stomach. As to why his appetite was suddenly so severe he had no idea, but with a good fill in his belly, he felt the urge suitably satisfied for now. Clapping his hands together he looked over at Theo, who was also just finishing off his own much more modest breakfast.

  “Any plans for today?”

  Theo looked up and shrugged his shoulders, admitting that he hadn’t really given it much thought.

  “I thought I might ask Lord Oakley if we might be allowed down to the beach again,” Luca said all but forgetting that Lady Oakley was sat not more than three yards away from him.

  “I’m not sure he’ll agree to that, Sire,” the woman spoke up, laying scorn upon his hopes just as he had felt the morning was going to be a good one.

  Luca let his head drop, which was quickly followed by his shoulders. With his body displaying the disappointment he felt, Lady Oakley did though offer an alternative.

  “Why not go up on the roof. Take in a little sun and relax with the others. The view is quite something. You could even take a picnic up with you.”

  At first, Luca thought it a stupid idea. Why would he want to sit up on someone’s roof? However, as soon as Theo piped up stating it was a great suggestion, Luca found himself agreeing, although he wasn’t quite sure why.

  “Perhaps Clarissa would like to join us later?” Luca asked turning his attention to Lady Dalby.

  “I’m sure she’d love to,” the woman said seemingly accepting the invitation on her daughter’s behalf.

  “I’ll have the kitchen make you up a basket of food. Just stay away from the edge, mind, we don’t want you slipping and falling,” Lady Oakley added.

  “It’s a shame Samuel can’t join us, but I’m sure he won’t mind,” Nerina added, evidently getting quite excited about the prospect of their little foray.

  It was almost mid-day by the time Clarissa was up and about, and although still yawning, she was only too glad to join them up on the roof of the main building. As a result, Nerina led the way, while Theo carried their basket of food. Going up the main stairs and then slipping through a very narrow door on the main landing that led to another very steep set of stone steps that twisted around as they climbed. A little dark and dank, Luca assumed this area of the keep was not often used other than for the occasional time where peering from the highest vantage point was required.

  At the top of the steps, they were confronted with another narrow door that Nerina had to barge with her shoulder to get open, further confirming Luca’s earlier thoughts. As they emerged through the opening, they were greeted by bright sunshine, causing them to shield their eyes, at least until they had time to adjust. Luca walked somewhat tentatively over to the crenelations that gave the roof its boundary. Evidently built with defence in mind from an age long since passed, Luca knew what they were used for, and though he thought about sharing his knowledge decided against it, thinking that they might already know anyway.

  The roof area was actually much larger than Luca had expected it to be. In fact, there was plenty of space to wander around and gaze off into the distance in all directions. Luca found himself looking out to the vast waters of the sea and the area of land that Samuel had pointed out to him when they had visited the harbour area. While gazing out across the waters he heard someone stepping up beside him, and after glancing slightly over his shoulder to see who, he was a little surprised to see Clarissa there.

  “Did you sleep well?” She asked.

  “I did, yes. Thank you. Even if I had the strangest dream, I have ever had…” Luca replied although let the sentence die away without finishing it. After all, he didn’t want Clarissa thinking him some kind of weirdo and thought it best not to divulge too much of what he had felt during the night. Instead, Luca turned the question back on her, enquiring on her own well-being.

  “I’m fine, and glad you are too,” she replied with a strange look on her face. Luca looked at her trying to second-guess as to what she seemed so glad about but gave up after just a few seconds.

  “Father!” Came the rather excited sounding voice of Nerina.

  “Father is back. Look I can see him and his men a few miles out!”

  Whatever questions Luca might have had for Clarissa passed by unasked as the entire group turned and looked out in a northeasterly direction. True enough, out in the distance, a line of soldiers on horseback could be seen heading through the trees. While they looked like Lord Oakley’s and Lord Dalby’s men, Luca wasn’t sure that he could actually see the former in person. However, Nerina seemed sure her father was among them and was evidently exited at his safe return.

  It seemed to Luca that they would not get their picnic after all. However, he was mildly surprised when Nerina calmed down a little and placed the blanket they had brought up with them on the roof for them to sit upon. Clarissa duly knelt down and started unpacking the food that Lady Oakley had asked the kitchen staff to prepare for them, and in turn, Luca sat down beside her waiting somewhat impatiently.

  Leaning back on his hands he held his face up towards the bright blue sky, feeling the warmth of the sun upon his pale skin. Perhaps today was going to be as good as he had first felt that morning.

  They had only just started eating their lunch when the noise from directly below them in the yard was enough to tell them that Lord Oakley was back. Luca thought Nerina would make her excuses and dash off, but surprisingly she seemed quite happy to sit and chat. Clarissa, who Luca had barely spoken too since their arrival seemed intent on talking to him
, however, it was Edward mentioning the fact that their room smelled as if something had died in it that appeared to get her attention.

  “I’ll pick some nice flowers this afternoon,” she said, “Perhaps that’ll keep things fresh.”

  “I would have said perhaps it was Samuel’s socks, but he isn’t sharing the room with you. Perhaps, it’s yours,” she chuckled aiming the insult towards Luca.

  Although forcing a laugh, Luca felt somewhat paranoid about his feet now smelling, even though he was quite sure they didn’t. As if taking the focus of the blame away from him, Edward suggested that perhaps they were his, although added that if anybody’s feet smelled like that, then they had serious problems.

  Luca glanced over at Clarissa again. The young woman, a little older than he was, seemed deep in thought, despite the joking nature of the conversation. Luca picked up another of the small sandwiches that had been cut into triangles, just as they used to do for him in the palace, and took a bite. Thankfully the conversation moved on from dirty socks and the smell of death, although on to one that Luca felt embarrassed to talk about.

  “Come on Edward, tell us. You must have broken a few hearts,” Clarissa said causing the young man to blush.

  Luca would have liked to have laughed, but knowing that might cause the focus of attention his direction, thought against it.

  “I used to have a girl, back in my village, but things didn’t work out…” Edward admitted.

  Clarissa gave him a pitiful look as if showing her sympathy.

  “Father is always fussy over who I see,” Clarissa added, without actually going into any great depth of the young men she had dated.