A King's Ransom

by Lia Black

  "Why have you come from Dandre seeking an audience with the Archduke, Captain Engel?" The man asked the question as if the answer might stump Ahrn.

  "As I said in my letter, we have come as representatives of His Majesty's son, Prince Herran DuFallier the second, whom we know as Veyl…"

  The man let out a little snort, "There is no such person—everyone knows that King Herran had only two sons and both of them have been dead for several years. What's more, it was well known that the queen died not soon after and that the king's attempts at marriage and…relations…afterward all resulted in no more children."

  "That is the official version, yes," Engel conceded, " however, my associate here, Kaidos Vailinn, was hired by a man representing the king to find his half-blood son."

  The man's little eyes grew as round as plates for a moment before he drew down his eyebrows once more, "Half blood? Half of what, pray tell?"

  "Half of the king and half of an elven slave in his service," Engel said and sat back in his chair. The guard captain kept his body language confident, without seeming arrogant or dangerous to the representative's escorts.

  The older man slumped back in his seat, "So it is true then." He sighed and took off his cap briefly, confirming Kaidos' suspicion of his baldness. "I'd heard rumors…but only among those who were close enough to know…What does this prince want of the archduke?"

  "He wants peace," Kaidos piped in, unable to remain silent. Things were moving along too slowly.

  Engel sighed and shot him a little glare. "Yes. The prince realizes the situation. This duty has been thrust upon him and he is not prepared to fight the battles of a man who has only claimed him out of maintaining a grudge."

  The representative replaced his hat and sat back, mirroring Engel's position, his lips set tight. "Would the prince be willing to concede the throne to His Grace the Archduke?"

  "Yes, I believe he would," Engel said.

  "You believe…but you do not know…"

  "He would. He will," Kaidos said emphatically.

  The little man looked at him. "And how can you know this? You know him so well?"

  "He wasn't always a prince," Engel reminded. "I was there as he grew up in Aaullsworthe. Kaidos Vailinn and he formed a…friendship…during the weeks he was being transported to Dandre. He did not leave for the Castle willingly."

  Kaidos gritted his teeth, wanting to say more, but he was concerned that what he had to say could potentially hurt rather than help. So he tried his best to remain quiet and let Engel handle things.

  The older man sighed and stood up. "I will return to His Grace with the news. I expect he will want to speak with you both as soon as possible."

  Engel and Kaidos rose and bowed to their guest, remaining rooted until the door was closed behind him and his escorts.

  "That went well, right?" Kaidos asked Engel expectantly.

  Engel sighed. "No thanks to your contributions, Vailinn."

  Suddenly Kaidos didn't feel like discussing it anymore. He shrugged and turned with a sigh, dropping down onto his bed. Laying back, he draped his forearm over his eyes. He hadn't realized up until now that getting in to see the archduke was only one of the obstacles they would have to surmount. And on top of it all, he worried that he might be losing his mind from the stress.

  "What's gotten to you, Vailinn?"

  "Everything. This whole thing," Kaidos sighed, weary. "I keep having these…dreams, or little fragments of…thoughts. It feels like Veyl keeps trying to tell me that he's okay…he tells me that he's sleeping, but I can see it in his eyes that he is terrified. It's like he's trying to spend time with me because he—" Kaidos felt his throat tighten, preventing him from saying the words.

  Ahrn stood over him. "Don't get yourself worked up, Vailinn. It won't help either of you. You need a clear head, and you need to tell him that he needs to hold on."

  Kaidos moved his arm up enough so he could see Engel's face underneath it. The guard captain had his gaze averted and he clenched and unclenched his jaw. The lines on his face looked deeper in the glow of the room lanterns, making him seem older, tired. For a moment, Engel closed his eyes and shook his head with a sigh.

  "Ahrn?"

  The guard captain brought his gaze back to Kaidos, who was surprised to see the older man's eyes glistening with tears.

  "I once had that, you know," Engel's voice was ragged.

  "Had—"

  "That link with him. I thought at first that it was just my imagination. He'd come to me in dreams, or sometimes when I was just letting my mind wander." Engel blew out a long breath and sat down in a chair near the bed. His body was tense and drawn in on itself. It was a strange vulnerability Kaidos had never seen in the older man before now.

  "It started when he was about twelve years old. I suspect puberty did something to awaken that piece of magick in him. He always knew things he would have no way of guessing so accurately…he knew about places I had seen--like the burned-out cottage in the forest. He just knew…things that I had experienced while daydreaming about him."

  Engel made a fist, then released it, "It was my fault—all of it. At first I thought I was only entertaining fantasies, because I knew that to desire him in such a way was wrong. He must have been so confused. I would make love to him in my dreams and imagination, but in the real world I kept him at arm's-length. It wasn't until I'd heard that he'd started serving customers at the brothel that I actually touched him. I…I couldn't help myself. Everything about it tore me up inside, but I was too selfishly committed to my career…to appearances…to trying to pretend that I wasn't doing to him what everyone knew that I was." His body sagged, "It all stopped when he was seventeen—when he tried to poison himself because I'd decided to marry."

  "He didn't know before?" Kaidos asked him softly.

  "No. I don't think he can actually root around in someone's thoughts like that. Even if he could, my feelings for my wife were…well, I didn't love her even then. It felt like just another part of my job. When I told him, I had fooled myself into thinking he understood it the same way." Ahrn shook his head, leaning forward to clasp his hands and drop his head, "The link between us wasn't broken because the nearness of his death severed it—he cut it. It was like suddenly where I used to meet him in my mind, there was a big empty room. I had fooled myself into thinking that someday he'd come visit it again, but then when I saw you—when you grabbed him as he tried to jump off the pier--I could see it then. I could see that you were the man he loved—even if he wasn't ready to admit that to himself."

  "How?" Kaidos' voice caught and he cleared his throat.

  "How? Because when he looked at you, it was like a fist to my gut. I could see that beautiful spark in his gaze…the one that he'd once shown me…and then your tossing and groaning last night in your sleep. You think I don't know who you were with in your dreams?"

  Kaidos swallowed hard, his own breathing sounded too loud and he found himself holding his breath because of it. He had no idea what to say to that revelation. Part of his heart sang with joy, part mourned Engel's loss, and still another piece of him worried and wanted to grab onto Veyl as hard as he could as though he might be able to pull him through his dreams and make him flesh and bone.

  Engel finally ended the tension by slapping his thighs and standing up. "No sense in crying over things I can't change. Get some sleep Vailinn. I have a feeling we'll be having a busy day tomorrow."

  Kaidos blew out a slow breath of air and nodded. He watched Engel leave the room, then he rolled over and tried to get some sleep.

  That night, he had no dreams.

  *~*~*

  Early the next morning, an escort from the archduke's army was waiting out in front of the inn when Kaidos and Ahrn went downstairs. The messenger had come later that evening, just as Ahrn knew he would.

  "Captain Engel from Aaullsworthe, I'm Sergeant Hallum. I'll be your escort to the archduke's court." The soldier saluted them as the stable hands brought out their horses.
He seemed to be a few years older than Kaidos—perhaps early or mid-thirties--but the close-cropped hair and rigid posture made him appear older. He was wearing the blue and green uniform of the Archduke's army; the insignia was a silver shield with a rearing horse.

  The sergeant seemed confused by Kaidos, as his eyes kept shifting to the raven-haired Wanderer. "My apologies in rousing you both so early. It must be very important for you to have both traveled so far for an audience."

  Kaidos smirked at the man while Engel swung up onto his steed. "It is."

  Hallum quirked his mouth, likely coming to the conclusion that he wasn't going to be offered an explanation, and duly unnerved by Kaidos' reaction. He turned his horse and led them from the town square.

  "How go things in Parthus?" Engel asked Hallum.

  Kaidos tuned out the response and the rest of the conversation, only keeping an ear out for anything that might be a question directed towards him. He scanned the faces of the people, the conditions of the buildings and roads as they moved through the town, looking for anything that might hint at some sort of oppression or dissatisfaction within the community. So far, he'd seen nothing that made him think of Dandre.

  The archduke's formal estate began about a mile from downtown--his castle could easily be seen from the city of Parthus. It was a grand structure; not quite as large as Castle DuFallier in Dandre, but also not nearly as foreboding. The stone was a simple, rough cut and the usual mixed hues of greys and browns. Kaidos could even see a few places where some of it had been replaced by stones from a different quarry, as their colors and patterns were distinct. Everything about the structure, though grand in size, spoke of a level of modesty.

  Still, Kaidos felt his pulse quicken as he realized that this was the most crucial step in their journey. What if they failed? What if Veyl became king and the wrath of all of his father's enemies overpowered him? The thought made Kaidos stomach sour.

  "Vailinn, look alive man, we're approaching the gates," Engel said to him, looking over his shoulder.

  Kaidos nodded, appreciating the reminder to keep his mind focused on the task at hand. While he hoped that the archduke was indeed a reasonable man, he had to be certain for Veyl's sake and the sake of the citizens of Dandre. The news of an uncertain monarch rising to the throne would undoubtedly be the catalyst for war among those who felt better suited to come to power, and the archduke was in the best position to act on it.

  Inside the castle, the atmosphere was buzzing with the day-to-day tasks of keeping the demesne running. There were human servants moving through the hallways, some stopping to chat with the guards who manned their posts. The atmosphere Kaidos felt was one of confidence—there were no elven slaves ducking to escape notice, and the guards all moved in their well-fitting uniforms with the fluidity of men who had been trained in their jobs. A few watched him with a bit more interest than he would have liked, but he was, after all, not only a stranger but a Wanderer-born. He just prayed that nothing would come up missing during their visit, else he'd likely find himself examining other parts of the estate that he'd rather not see.

  Hallum took them down a quiet corridor to a set of double doors at the end. "His Grace will meet with you in here. Please excuse the informality, but I have been told that you have information of a sensitive nature, and His Grace would prefer not to have his usual spectators in attendance."

  "Thank you," Engel said, again, not offering the sergeant any unnecessary fodder for speculation.

  Kaidos suppressed a smile. He had to hand it to Engel—the man could obviously keep a secret when he wanted to. Either that or he simply didn't like the sergeant very much.

  The doors opened to a library. It was a large, but not imposing room with richly stained woods warming up the decor and volumes of books stacked high on the shelves. Kaidos wished that he could read; he thought that maybe by reading the words on the spines of the books he might be able to tell just what sort of man the archduke truly was. Instead, he looked at them forlornly, a frown marring his lips and his forehead pinched by distress.

  Engel looked around as well, but appeared a lot more at ease with his surroundings.

  "Is this a good sign or a bad sign?" Kaidos asked him.

  Engel didn't look at him while he spoke. "Could be either. It could mean he wants privacy for candid discussion…or it could mean he doesn't want any witnesses when he slaps us in irons."

  Kaidos scowled, "You're not making me feel good about this…"

  Engel gave him a trace of a smirk. "Relax, Vailinn. I'm sure you're fast enough to scramble up the shelves at the first sign of trouble."

  Kaidos was about to tell Engel where he'd like to see him scramble when the doors opened and four people entered the room.

  A balding, somewhat stocky man, who appeared to be in his middle years was flanked by two guards with another, much older man following behind. The man in front was not tall, perhaps only standing a bit over five and a half feet, but something about his presence seemed much larger. He was dressed casually, as one might expect of a man in his home, though his clothing was well tailored.

  Kaidos believed he was correct in his assumption that this was Archduke Radeburne DuFallier, and the man behind him was his chamberlain. A small wave of relief settled through his tense muscles. The chamberlain did not remind him at all of the black-bearded man he'd met in Dandre. This man was elderly, but his eyes were bright and he met both men with a smile.

  "Your Grace." Engel bowed, shooting a glare towards Kaidos who quickly followed suit. "I thank you for your time. I am Ahrn Engel, Captain of the Guard in the free city of Aaullsworthe and this is my associate, Kaidos Vailinn."

  The archduke raised an eyebrow at Kaidos. "Not a soldier, I'm guessing?"

  Kaidos felt the sting of the man's assumption—not a soldier, but a Wanderer and a thief—someone who was not honest or good enough to wear a uniform. He swallowed his response as Engel shot him a warning glare.

  "No, Your Grace," Engel said, "not a soldier, but still a trusted ally."

  The archduke waved them towards a round table where the four of them took seats around it. The guards remained close by, standing just behind the archduke and his advisor.

  "If you would be so kind, Captain Engel, I would like to hear in your own words why you have requested my ear."

  "Certainly, Your Grace. We have come on behalf of the heir apparent of Dandre—the king's half-blood son—to request your assistance in averting a possible war on the territory. I believe that you are in an advantageous position to strike a peace accord."

  There was a soft murmuring between the archduke and his chamberlain seated to his left. The archduke sighed and gave the old man a nod before settling back in his seat and returning his attention to Kaidos and Ahrn.

  "This is…surprising news. When my messenger brought word that my brother, King Herran, had managed to locate another heir, I was doubtful. But hearing it from your lips…" The archduke sighed again, suddenly looking very tired. "It never ceases to amaze me the lengths my brother will go through to keep me from claiming the throne. It would not surprise me to hear that this prince already has a gaggle of heirs spread out over the world."

  "It would me…" Kaidos muttered through his teeth.

  Engel gave him a warning nudge under the table with his boot. "I can assure you, Your Grace, that is not the case. Kaidos Vailinn is the crown prince's er, consort...his lover."

  He'd said it so casually that it took Kaidos a moment to realize what exactly it was that he'd said, and when he did, he felt color warm his cheeks. He was stunned that Engel had acknowledged it—especially to someone as important as the archduke—and realized that, perhaps he'd done it at least partially to shock Kaidos into silence. It had certainly worked.

  "Oh. I see. Then I was indeed mistaken." A little smile played at the corners of DuFallier's mouth, then he returned his attention to Engel. "Now I can see why ser Vailinn is involved, but how have you been acquainted with him, Guard Captain?
"

  Kaidos watched Engel fidget in his chair.

  "Your Grace, Veyl—as he is known--arrived in Aaullsworthe as an infant in his dying mother's arms. She expired before we could get any information from her. It seems that the king—your brother--had taken liberties with one of his elven servants, and under threat of death, she fled and made it to Aaullsworthe."

  "I see," said the archduke. He sat quietly for several moments, apparently mulling over the new information. Then he chuckled mirthlessly.

  "To keep me off the throne, my brother would seek out a child he'd have put to death had it been raised in the castle. Incredible." He shook his head. "So he managed to locate this heir after all of this time. The situation sounds like the sort of irony that Herran always hated. And what does the prince think of his new station?"

  "Your Grace," Kaidos cleared his throat. He could see Engel shifting in the chair bedside him, but Kaidos was determined to say the right thing to buy the archduke's acceptance. "The prince knew nothing of his royal ancestry, which might explain why he settled for such a peasant like me. When I tried to get into the castle to see him, I was arrested—"

  The chamberlain finally spoke up."He had you arrested?"

  "No, no," Kaidos shook his head. "Veyl had been drugged to keep him calm when he was introduced to the citizens of Dandre. He was being held as a prisoner in his own room. It was…it was my own foolishness that resulted in my arrest. I was worried for his safety and crept in to see him."

  Archduke DuFallier raised an eyebrow. "Hmm," was all he said.

  The chamberlain leaned close to the archduke, but spoke loudly enough for Kaidos and Engel to hear him. "It sounds as if your brother intends to have Chamberlain Rheton carry out his will through a puppet king, does it not?"

  DuFallier frowned. "It certainly would seem so. From what these men are telling me, and from what I know of my brother, I would not put such a thing past him…still, it seems strange to me that my brother would be content to die with only the understanding that I would be barred from the throne temporarily. I have three children to succeed me, and if they mean to keep your prince—" the archduke looked Kaidos over, "your lover—bound and drugged, it is more than likely that he will die without an heir."