by JF Smith
“And you as well, Your Majesty. I have come to discuss a matter with you, if you can spare an old man a few minutes,” said the Archbishop.
“Of course I can,” replied the king and they took a seat together on a bench near some foxblush in bloom.
“I have just now heard about Your Majesty’s proposal to radically change the kingdom into something it has never been before,” said Nellist.
“Yes, I suppose the word will circulate quickly now,” said Gully.
Nellist watched Gully to see if he would volunteer any additional information on his intentions with the formation of Bal’Iisen, but Gully waited on the Archbishop patiently.
After a moment, when Gully said no more, the Archbishop nodded curtly once and said, “Well, then, allow me to get to my point quickly. There is much that I like about this idea, Your Highness, but as the leader of the religion of the Iisen people, a religion that is not shared by those of Balmorean descent, and given your disinclination towards our religion as it is, I was—”
Gully interrupted and said, “Nellist... I can guess what your concern is, and I would like to put your mind at ease. Perhaps I do not have the strong faith that you and many in the Iisendom have for the love and guidance of our honored ancestors in the night sky above us, but I want to assure you, in the formation of Bal’Iisen, I have no intention of trying to eliminate this faith from our people.”
The Archbishop immediately exhaled the breath he was holding in suspense at the king’s words.
Gully added, “Perhaps this comes as a surprise to you, Nellist, but the intention in bringing our people together is to bring the best of both to bear in one people going forward. While I will not condone forcing anyone to practice a faith they do not feel in their heart, something that you and the elocutors and interpreters of the church have never done anyway, I am perfectly content to allow you and the church to continue operating as you always have. I have no desire to disband or marginalize the church, and I would answer to Roald and to Thaybrill if I sought to do so! To be honest, I probably should speak to the patriarch to find if there is a Balmorean faith that should be formally recognized in Bal’Iisen as well. He and I have spoken often of the observance and study of fate in their... our culture, but I am not sure if that held the place of an established religion in the Balmorean empire, or if it should in ours.”
Nellist said, “Thank you, Your Highness. You can imagine I was a little unnerved at the news of Bal’Iisen and how it might impact the practice of the faith of our people. I am grateful and I am relieved that you see the value our religion provides in the structure of our society and in the lives of our countrymen. And it might surprise you, Your Highness, that the patriarch and I have had several lengthy philosophical discussions on the concept of Balmorean fate and how it relates, or does not relate, to the astrolatry of Iisen.”
Gully was surprised by this, pleasantly. He was not sure if the two men would get along or not due to their differences of opinion in these matters.
“Remarkably enough,” continued Nellist, “we do not see the two as entirely incompatible. After all, who is to say that our ancestors who rise to the night sky upon their deaths are not precisely the agents of fate that Balmoreans see operating in our daily lives? We’ve spent hours discussing this, and I have grown very fond of the time that I get to spend in such discourse with Aian.”
Gully said, “That pleases me very much, Nellist. I can only hope that all of the Iisen citizens and Balmoreans will find common ground as easily and as respectfully as the two of you!”
Silence fell over the two men, and Gully wondered if the Archbishop wished to speak of anything else. The Archbishop said nothing, but he seemed to be struggling with something he wanted to say, but was not sure if he should. The birds of the orchard darted from one tree to the next, and Gully turned to watch the bumblebees on the yellow blooms of the scattered foxblush bushes beside the path.
Nellist turned to the king and said, “I must confess to you, Your Highness, even as the leader of the church... there are times when I look at the brilliance of the clear night sky and I do not see the watchful and loving eyes of our parents and ancestors keeping us safe and guiding us to be better people. Sometimes, I see the evil among us, seeking hurt and pain and destruction for callously selfish ends, and, in the twinkling light of night, I have my doubts and think the stars to be no more than cold, uncaring pinpoints of light, indifferent to and even unaware of what happens below. Perhaps not all that different from what you might feel, Your Majesty.”
Gully merely nodded, and let the Archbishop continue.
“Because, surely,” said Nellist, “our ancestors would never abide such malevolence to walk unchecked among us. Things happen that shake and threaten my own faith in ourselves as a people, and I wonder what will become of us. But then, if I am a patient man, without exception, I see once again that good will rise and it will prevail.”
The Archbishop took a deep breath. He took Gully’s hand and said, “You have shown a strength and conviction and determination that is far beyond what I believe even our own sacred forebears could imbue into someone. Your fathers, Colnor in the night sky above us, and Ollon, wherever he may actually be, should be nothing less than extraordinarily proud of you, Your Highness. Had I been present with the noble ruling families of Iisen when you asked them to join Bal’Iisen, I would have knelt with them and given my pledge as well.”
Gully smiled and nodded as he gave the Archbishop’s hand a pat in return. “Thank you, Nellist. Your support is needed and very much appreciated.”
“On the one hand is all that you have done already, and on the other is the future path I see you setting down for all of us,” said Nellist. “The Iisendom is not big enough to claim you as its monarch, but Bal’Iisen will be. It is my firm belief, Sire, that on your death, to be very many years from now I pray, the sky will burn with the light of a new star that eclipses all others!”
Gully was left almost speechless, but the Archbishop took his leave so that Gully was alone with his thoughts among the cherry trees and foxblush and meandering bees.
He did not know how much time had passed, but he was so caught up in thinking through what the Archbishop had said and the words of the patriarch as well, that he was startled and caught unaware when Roald sat down on the bench next to him.
Roald put his hand on Gully’s back and Gully said, “Forgive me, Roald. Time must have gotten away from me and I have kept you waiting.”
“Nay, you did not. I was on my way here to find you anyway when Wyael passed by,” said Roald. “How is the Archbishop taking the news of Bal’Iisen?”
“Very well,” said Gully. “He was far kinder in his words to me than I would have ever expected.”
Roald nodded and leaned forward. He glanced at Gully’s chest and reached over to touch the crystal sigil of imperial Balmorea.
“I like that you now wear this openly, for all to see. It is good that you do,” he said.
Gully nodded, slightly distracted, and Roald chuckled. “Do you remember, Gully, when our mother made you come home from the woods with us, not long after Ollon disappeared?”
“Yes, I do,” said Gully.
“It wasn’t very long after that when I noticed the pendant of your father’s around your neck for the first time.”
“That’s right,” said Gully. “And it wasn’t much longer after that when you stole it from me and taunted me with it for a half day without mercy! You made me run in circles around and around the Kelber Market chasing you and trying to get it back!”
Roald started laughing so hard that he shook the stone bench they sat upon. “Aye! I was an utter ass that day! And even then, the only reason I gave it back to you was because our mother found us there causing the commotion in the market and she made me return it to you!”
Gully grumbled, “You remind me that I never got my revenge on you for that day. Perhaps I will cut your pay in half!”
They eyed each othe
r a moment, and then both began laughing again.
Roald wiped at his eyes as his laughter slowly died. “Oh, forgive me, Bayle, for that. I was a terrible older brother sometimes!”
Gully shrugged. “You were the older brother I should have had all along, but whom I never quite let occupy the spot in my heart. You are, though, you know? You always have been that, even when lording your age and size over me when we were children, or when you were pawing at me in the night as we slept together in our shared bed. I’m sorry for not telling you how much you mean to me much sooner than I have.”
Roald watched Gully in silence, the contentment and love for his brother plain upon his face, happiness for his words in his heart.
Without warning, Roald turned to face Gully more fully. He grabbed Gully’s head with both of his hands and pulled him close. Without giving him a chance to refuse, he kissed Gully full and hard on the lips, even as Gully began to fight and sputter and try to pull away.
When he let go, Gully jerked back and wiped his hand across his mouth and glared at Roald’s smug grin.
Roald grinned even more broadly and goaded him, “Look how red you turn! Why, you’ve gone completely beet in breeches because of that kiss!
Gully scrunched his face up and shouted, “What do you think you’re doing?!”
Roald look thoroughly pleased with himself. He shrugged and said, “I just wanted to be able to kiss a king, really kiss him! Are there any other monarchs nearby you’d make available to me instead?”
Gully’s eyes narrowed, but there was a humor behind them that couldn’t be masked. “I could have you thrown in the gaol for that! Hung at dawn! That was a shameless assault on my royal character!” he snapped.
“Perhaps you should call your Lord Marshal and have him arrest me immediately!” offered Roald.
Gully growled and muttered, “Oh, the outrageous, scurrilous liberties I allow you...”
He poked Roald in the chest and added more stridently, “I hope that affront was good for you, because it was utter rubbish for me!”
Roald started laughing so hard he bent over double, and even Gully began to snicker before it was over. Roald said through his tittering, “We can try again and set about improving upon the experience for you, if you wish!”
Gully shook his head and said, “No, thank you!” He wiped at his mouth again, adding more earnestly, “While we are on this subject... he’s quite enamored with you, you know.”
Roald looked confused and stopped laughing. “Who? Enamored? Of whom are you speaking, Gully?”
“Thaybrill, of course. My brother is entirely taken by you.”
Roald looked shocked, then he looked suspicious, and he finally looked at him as if Gully was getting back at him for the kiss. “That’s nonsense. You’re trying to make a fool of me!”
“I am not! He is! I give you my word!”
Roald looked at Gully sideways. “And the two of you have spoken of this, I suppose? You know this with authority?”
“Well, no,” said Gully.
“There,” insisted Roald. “You are imagining things and now wish to make sure I do not kiss you again when no one is around!”
“That’s not it at all. I can take care of myself around you. You merely caught me by surprise today.”
Roald cocked an eyebrow at him. “Of course you would say that.”
“I’m not toying with you, Roald. Thaybrill is secretly pining for you!”
“And you know this how?” said Roald, challenging Gully.
“Well... he...”
“Yes?” prodded Roald.
“He looks at you...”
“He looks at me, how?”
“He looks at you... in the same way that I have often seen you look at me,” said Gully, trying to be gentle in how he said it.
The humor left Roald’s face and he flushed pink in the afternoon light. “Oh,” he said.
“Do you... do you think you could be attracted to him?” asked Gully.
Roald looked down at his feet and seemed suddenly smaller. “I... the two of you look so alike... it’s hard not to find him, you know... and he has such a warm heart and is so kind... it is completely inappropriate for me to even think these thoughts. He is the brother of the king, and I’m little more than a soldier.”
Gully put his arm around Roald, “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re far more than just a soldier and you know so. I want you to be happy. I want Thaybrill to be happy! These divisions of royalty and nobility and such are meaningless among us. You know this, do you not? I only seek for you to be happy, Roald.”
“What you suggest would probably require more bravery than I have, Gully.”
Gully sighed and tried to think how to get Roald to open up to his brother.
Roald sat up straight and said, “And what of you! I know someone who is quite taken with you, Your Highness!”
Gully ignored the teasing Roald inflected in the title. “Now you’re just trying to change the topic!”
“I am not!” said Roald, mock offended at the insinuation. “And you’re taken with her as well!”
“I have no idea to whom you’re—”
“Abella Jule, of course,” exclaimed Roald.
This time, it was Gully’s turn to flush crimson in the face. “How—”
“You forget that I know my brother very well,” said Roald with satisfaction. “Give me credit for being right in this case, yes? You do fancy her, do you not? I defy you to deny the claim!”
Gully finally gave a small nod. “Yes, Roald. She is remarkably beautiful. Are you sure she sees something in me?”
Roald stood and said, “Come, Your Majesty, you promised we would review the re-established ranks of the King’s Guard today. We should not delay this any longer!”
Roald began walking off through the orchard and Gully had to almost chase after him. Gully said, “Wait! How dare you change the subject! You said—”
Roald turned, and with a grin he said, “The rest is up to you to find out.”
They spent the rest of the walk up to the garrison house inside the Folly grounds arguing about whether Abella Jule actually found the king appealing, but Roald would give no more ground in the battle.
When they arrived, Roald called out the contingent that made up the re-formed King’s Guard. They fell into formation before the colonnaded front of the garrison house and all fifty men snapped to attention.
Gully was very pleased to see Dunnhem step over to where he and Roald stood, kneel briefly, and present himself as the new commander of the King’s Guard.
Gully smiled proudly and put a hand on Dunnhem’s shoulder and told him, “I could not be more pleased to have you now be the leader of the King’s Guard, Dunnhem. I am glad to see Roald showing good judgment in putting you in charge.”
Dunnhem nodded briefly, but held at strict attention.
Roald watched him with a suppressed grin for a moment longer, then said, “You may relax, commander.”
Dunnhem relaxed out of his formal attention, his face almost splitting from ear to ear his grin was so wide.
Dunnhem said, “I am extremely pleased to present to Your Highness our newly filled ranks of the King’s Guard.”
He escorted Gully over to the beginning of the line, and Gully could not help but smile at the sight of Gallun and Gellen, first in line, and wearing a specially designed uniform of an easily removed tunic and tabard combination, colored in the standard violet and panny livery of the Trine Range. Around their waists were new black kilts.
Roald followed along behind a few steps and let Dunnhem present his men to the king. Dunnhem said as they stepped up to the line, “Your Majesty should rest assured that primary watch over you will continue to fall to two of our newest members, ones that have the most experience in keeping close track of you already.”
Gully said, “Gallun, Gellen, you look absolutely resplendent in your new uniforms! I will be proud to have you at my side!”
Both of the tran
smutes allowed themselves tight smiles at the comment even as they remained standing at attention.
They proceeded down the line, and Gully was delighted to see that Gallun and Gellen were not the only two balmors that had joined the ranks when offered the opportunity. Aalehvan was also among the King’s Guard, as was Ummalst, who stood at attention with his booted eagle half on his shoulder. There were others as well, and it made Gully happy to see Balmoreans and Iisenors standing together this way.
He asked Dunnhem, “Have the Iisen soldiers fully accepted the presence of Balmorean fighters among them? Has it caused any ill feelings?”
“Highness,” said Dunnhem, “many of these men fought side by side with members of the Mercher clan when we captured the Maqaran invaders. They know each other and trust each other and have already formed a deep respect for one another. If anything, they are proud to be the first to welcome balmors among their ranks.”
It gave Gully a tremendous sense of relief to hear this was the case. Every instance of this worked in his favor in trying to build Bal’Iisen.
As they neared the end of Dunnhem’s presentation of his unit to the king, Gully’s eye was drawn to one man in the line that caught his attention. At first, he was still listening to Dunnhem speak of training schedules and such and almost ignored the soldier, but Gully finally became too curious. He walked back to the one guard that was visibly trembling, and even when Gully approached him, he refused to look directly ahead as demanded while in formation. The guard’s eyes shifted nervously and looked down instead of ahead.
Dunnhem and Roald finally noticed the guard as well, but it was too late for them to call him out on his lack of discipline.
Gully stood in front of the guard and asked him, “Guard, is there a reason you cannot hold your eyes ahead as the rest do?”
The guard still refused to look up and mumbled, “No, Sire.”
“What is your name, swordsman?” asked Gully. His tone, though, was more that of curiosity than that of being disrespected by the swordsmen in charge of his safety.
The guard merely mumbled another answer, this time too low for Gully to hear his response at all.