* * * * *
By the time that Petra and her escort arrived in Alexon, Jareel had spun his tale of her deeds throughout several taverns. The four of them had ridden throughout the night, until they reached the outer city. It was still dark, so they made camp in the woods away from the King’s Road and slept for a few hours before heading into the city. They started with the poorer establishments in the outer city, spreading the word that Petra was returning from the war and that she carried with her the Sword of Alexon. Many did not believe them at first, until Landis proclaimed who his father was and swore to the truth of Jareel’s story. Landis used his own skills as a bard to help Jareel. Borrowing an unattended lute in one of the taverns, Landis began playing a melody that aided Jareel’s tales of Petra, Konik, Jordan and the rest of their company. At times, Landis played and came up with lyrics to songs that he used to tell his own version of some of their deeds. The tavern owner was so delighted that he failed to notice when Landis left with the lute.
They visited several more establishments before entering the gates of the inner city. Landis charmed the gatekeeper out of paying the entry toll for non-citizens, eventually confirming to the man that he was the son of the Sword-Master and therefore a Prince of Alexon. And that the three traveling with him were not only his friends, but friends of the Princess as well. It would have taken less time to simply pay the meager fee required to enter, but Landis had become so caught up in Jareel’s game that he could not help but accept the challenge. It was his way of trying to cope with and ignore the confrontation the night before with Petra. Inside the city, they continued with more of the same thing, spreading the news that Princess Petra was returning home. Landis held an impromptu performance in the city square to illuminate the people as to the events going on.
When Bix and Rathkemp rode into the city ahead of Petra’s carriage, the people were already gathered and cheering. Noting the crowd ahead, Rathkemp called them to a halt and waited for Petra’s carriage to catch up. He rode back and spoke briefly with Petra, suggesting that she swap places with Trevor Kahn so that she could ride victoriously into Alexon as a hero and not as a princess being escorted in the comfort of the carriage. General Bix and Captain ReShard waited impatiently as Trevor Kahn dismounted and allowed Petra to climb, unaided, onto his horse while the exiled knight took her place in the carriage. Petra then entered the city, waving the Sword of Alexon high for all to see as the people cheered her arrival. With the death of King Semmit the people sought something to be happy about. And this was worthy of their praise. Not only had the Princess returned from a remarkable adventure against dragons and snow-elves—a story that was growing even larger than what Jareel had begun—but she brought back with her the most legendary talisman in the kingdom’s history.
* * * * *
From inside the castle, Lord Boric glared out through the upper window at the commotion in the street below. The Duke of Freeport was a formidable man of the same age as Petra’s father. His shaved head, stern eyes and iron jaw gave the man a fierce look, but he spoke with a soft voice that did not match his physical demeanor. Boric had been Prince Nathan’s closest friend for many years and had spent much time in the castle. It was Lord Boric who had personally delivered the news to King Semmit that Nathan had died in battle. From that day on, he filled in as the King’s closest advisor and confidant. And he made no secret that he believed that he deserved to be the king’s heir.
The only secret that King Semmit apparently had kept from Boric was the true reason as to why he sent Jaylen and Petra to Birhirm. Boric did not like the agreed upon betrothal, mainly because he knew that it would help Petra’s chance to succeed her grandfather. And now Boric was distressed upon seeing Petra riding into the city victoriously with not only the Knight-Captain and four Knights of Alexon, but with his own General riding with her. He had already known about the recovery of the Sword of Alexon. But this only made matters worse.
“What is Bix doing?” He spat angrily.
A mage wearing a red robe came to the window beside him. “It appears that DuJurnor did not heed your order.” The mage was a tall, thin man with thick, curly black hair and a thin black mustache and goatee. His nose was large and crooked.
“Well Renald, this does not make our task any easier.” Boric addressed the mage.
“No it does not. I suppose that it is a good thing that you have been spending so much time winning the Elders over before now. It is likely that you will need to do more of that.”
“Bah, I cannot believe that they will choose Petra over me. She is but a child. The people may see her as a hero, but the Elders will see the truth; that she is merely fortunate enough to be surrounded by some very well trained men who have been able to keep her alive.”
Renald left the window. “Well, speaking on behalf of the Tower of Lonia, we really do not care which of you is named ruler. You know that I support you. However, as you already know, my primary reason for being here is to obtain the Staff of Aaron, and to see about the other pearls that Natis reported were discovered.”
“That we will, Renald. But first I had better get out there and publicly greet Petra and show how happy I am that she has made it home safely. Then we have to get Semmit buried so that the Council of Elders can decide who will rule this kingdom.”
* * * * *
Twaller stood in the crowd, watching as Petra rode in to meet the welcoming citizens who celebrated her arrival. He held the green staff in his hand and tugged on Katryn’s sleeve pulling her away from Landis and Jareel. “I have someplace to go. Stay with Landis until I return.”
“Where are you going?” She asked.
“That is none of your concern. I must take care of a few things before Landis does anything with the Pearls of the Elf Lords. He may be in danger even here in Alexon. Stay with him and watch over him.”
“I will do as you ask.” Katryn replied.
She watched as Twaller walked away, disappearing into the crowd of onlookers before she pushed her way through to rejoin Landis. There she silently walked beside the half-elf as the duo watched as Petra rode up to the front of her grandfather’s castle. Lord Boric, Duke of Freeport and Guardian of the Throne during the time between Semmit’s death and his successor’s ascension, proudly strolled down the steps of the castle with a large smile on his face and his arms outstretched in a sign of welcome as he greeted the Princess. Petra sheathed her sword and swung down from the saddle to meet him.
“Princess Petra. I am so glad that you made it home safely!” Boric said loud enough so that his voice carried a great distance. “It is good that your grandfather put you in the hands of such well trained men to keep you safe!”
Landis could see what Boric was trying to do: Greet Petra with genuine affection while planting doubt as to her deeds and reminding everyone that it took men to keep her safe.
“Welcome home, Princess,” Boric continued, “please come inside so that we can prepare to honor your grandfather.”
Petra accepted Boric’s left arm as he turned, scooping her right arm into his left as the two marched up the steps into the castle. Bix and ReShard followed Petra and Boric up the stairs to the entrance but Rathkemp did not. Instead he led his four knights, along with Jordan and Trevor Kahn, to the Alexon Garrison of the Knights of Alexon. Jaylen stood with Prince Eric outside. Landis realized Boric’s mistake at once; the Guardian had failed to greet the Prince of Birhirm and invite him into the castle. Only as they were at the door did Petra turn to Boric and speak loudly enough to be overheard by the nobles nearest the entrance, “Duke Boric, Do you not intend to welcome Prince Eric of Birhirm to Alexon? I fear that it would be a grievous embarrassment to the kingdom to ignore him as such.”
Boric stopped, his face blushing as he turned. There was some scattered snickering around him from those on or near the stairs who had overheard Petra. “My apologies, Prince Eric, in my haste to greet the Princess I momentarily forgot that you were riding with her. Please come and join u
s.”
Eric bowed before making his way up the stairs, motioning for Landis, Jaylen, Katryn and Jareel to follow. Landis sidled beside Katryn. “Where is Twaller?”
The tall Blonde leaned her head close to his. “He has something important to take care of concerning the pearls. He said that he will return once he is finished.”
“Well I wish he would have said something first.”
“Do not worry about Twaller. It is Boric that we need to be concerned with.” Katryn told him. “I can see evil in his eyes even from this distance.”
Chapter 29
The Council of Elders waited until the day following King Semmit’s funeral before convening to begin the process of naming a new king—or queen—of Alexon. Tradition dictated that a minimum of three days must pass between the time of the funeral and the time of the declaration and coronation of the next monarch. But there was no rule requiring the Council to wait before beginning the process. They could even make their decision. They would just have to wait the required time before announcing it publicly.
The Great Hall of the Council adjoined the castle. Unlike the King, the Elders did not live in the castle, though there were quarters provided for them should they desire to do so. Instead, most of them chose to reside elsewhere in the city in what many considered to be homes more befitting their station. Only the senior member of the current Council of Elders lived in the castle. He was an elderly, frail man with long white hair and a matching beard named Joth, who had served on the Council for over thirty years and never once lived anywhere but in the modest quarters provided him during that time. As the longest serving of the nine Elders he held the traditional position of speaker. He was also the one man—other than the Knight-Elder of the Knights of Alexon—who Boric knew would cast his lot for Petra. That gave Petra two votes. Boric had been doing his best to manipulate at least five of the remaining seven to vote his way and he believed that he was making progress in that effort. He knew of three who had confirmed that they would vote for him. But there was one who was committed to Lord Thenamin, leaving three who claimed to be undecided.
According to policy, the Elders had to review all of the candidates. First they had to examine their birthright; the closest blood relative to the deceased King—with proof of the relationship—was usually declared the successor. However, in the event that the successor was deemed unfit or unworthy for some valid reason, and another claimant with a valid pedigree were willing, then the Council had to review that person to see if they should be chosen over the immediate descendent. This was what Boric was depending on. With the war only now ending and a plausible threat of another attack next summer when the lower passes of the White Wilderness thaw; and due to Petra being both a female and only sixteen, Boric believed that he could convince many on the Council that he should be King instead of her. He just wished that Semmit would have died while the war was still raging. Then there would have been no question as to his being chosen.
Lord Thenamin of Shoal had the same concerns about Petra. After Nathan’s death and upon learning of Semmit’s fatal condition, he had submitted his claim to the Elders before Boric had done so. While Thenamin refused to withdraw his claim, Boric knew that he had little to be concerned about from it, for there was no doubt that Boric was a closer relative to Semmit and equally as qualified. There was no reasonable means for the Council to choose Thenamin over Boric. But there was the chance that the one Elder who openly supported Thenamin could decide to throw his vote to Petra instead of Boric. Still, Boric had been working behind the scenes to talk to each Elder, even Joth and Knight-Elder Boothe, hopping to advance his cause to them all.
The Elders sat behind a long curved marble table that was shaped to allow each of them to face each other more easily while permitting an audience to sit before them when necessary. On the far side of the room sat an ornate throne, which was now empty. Upon it sat the small crown and scepter of the king, waiting to be retrieved by the one the Council named as successor. Midway along either side of the room, between the Elder’s table and the King’s throne, sat a pair of chairs facing each other from opposite sides of the room. Seated in the chair on what would be the King’s right was Jaylen, the King’s Sword-Master who served at the King’s pleasure. Across from him sat the Chief Prelate of the Castle, an elf cleric named Seebaul who was even older than Jaylen. Seebaul’s was uncharacteristically bald—a very uncommon trait for any elf—and despite his elven facial structure, he gave the appearance of being more human than elf. Had Jaylen not met Seebaul three centuries earlier he would have sworn that the cleric could be no more than half-elf.
Seebaul claimed to have been from the Eastland elven homeland of Delowe’ and had traveled to the Westland sometime before the war with Sedau. The odd thing about Seebaul was that Jaylen believed him to be old when they first met. He thought that if that were true, then Seebaul would be the oldest elf he had ever heard of in this age. Seebaul had been friends with the half-orc cleric Nigellie Wone, who had been one of Alex Sergius’ closest friends and advisors. Nigellie had traveled with Alex during the war while Seebaul remained in Alexon.
Jaylen remembered watching as Nigellie Wone died while opening the gates of Sedau to permit the Freedom Fighters, Elves and Dwarves to enter and take the city by force. Upon his return to Alexon and declaring himself King Alex Sergius, the King had proclaimed that a cleric would serve as an independent Arch-Prelate for the Castle and for the Council of Elders that he was establishing. In honor of Seebaul’s friendship with Nigellie Wone, he named the elf Arch-Prelate for life. Alex decreed that his Sword-Master and Arch-Prelate would sit across from each other on either side of the King, so that the King would always see the need for strength and faith when discussing all matters.
Seebaul did little during Council meetings. He offered prayers, or advice when asked. But that was rarely called for anymore as many people saw that the Arch-Prelate was very eccentric and believed him incapable of much serious thought. It was true that he often rambled on erratically, sometimes even childlike. But Jaylen knew full well that Seebaul still had his faculties about him. The cleric served as teacher for the King’s children. Nathan and Petra were both schooled by Seebaul, as Landis had been. Seebaul also had the distinction of personally serving every King—and the one Queen—of Alexon, and having delivered the blessing at their time of coronation and the prayer at their funeral.
Directly across the room from the King’s Throne was the table consisting of the Council Elders. Joth sat in the center, with four Elders on either side of him, arranged in alternating order on either side according to their length of service, beginning with the most senior Elder behind Joth—Knight Elder Boothe—seated to Joth’s right.
Petra sat in a chair to the right of the empty throne. A place reserved for family and close friends of the King. Next to Petra sat Prince Eric; still presenting the charade that they were an engaged couple; though neither had ever said any such thing to anyone. On her left sat Jordan Jarobohim, who had become a notable hero after tales of his actions that had saved Petra’s life and it was believed that having him present would be helpful to the Princess. Farther away sat Landis and Jareel, the half-elf and Petra had been avoiding each other since their arrival in Alexon, neither willing to look the other in the eyes. Natis and Katryn were both absent. The two of them were working closely with the wizard Renald examining the Pearls of the Elf Lords. Natis and Renald were both concerned that Twaller had not yet returned with the Green staff.
Several nobles filled the room between the throne and the Elders. After seeing that all who were necessary were present, Joth rapped his gavel three times bringing everyone to their feet. He then asked for Seebaul to pray for guidance as they sought Semmit’s successor. The elf prayed a soft but well delivered prayer that intoned the seriousness of what was taking place this day. Following the prayer Joth addressed those present. He explained the reasons, protocols and process by which this meeting was for and how the Elders were goin
g to make their decision. And that this meeting was required to allow any who legally may qualify to be present and declare their rite of ascension to the throne. Speaking loud enough for all present to hear he said, “As it is written in the Charter of Alexon, we, the members of the Council of Elders, do now officially state the claims for the throne of Alexon.
“First, I present to the Council, Princess Petra Sergius, the only surviving child of the late Prince Nathan Sergius, and granddaughter and closest living relative to the recently departed King Semmit Sergius, and bearer of the legendary Sword of Alexon”
Petra rose to her feet, doing her best to hide the turmoil that she felt inside.
“Do you make this claim to be the Queen of Alexon of your own free will and accord?” Joth asked.
“I do.” Petra responded.
Joth gave the Princess time to be seated before speaking again. “Second I present to you, Lord Boric Tuladad, Duke of Freeport; son of Lord Byron Tuladad, Duke of Freeport; son of Marian Clamartin, wife of Lord Thurnan, Duke of Freeport; daughter of Lydia Sergius, sister to King Alex the third, who was King Semmit’s grandfather, making Lord Boric the second cousin to King Semmit.”
Lord Boric, who as Guardian of the Throne occupied a chair much closer to the Elders than where Petra sat, rose proudly to his feet before the Elders.
Joth addressed Boric, “Lord Boric, do you make this claim of your own free will and accord?”
“I do!” Boric professed.
“And do you confirm that you will take upon yourself the surname of Sergius if chosen King?” Joth asked the required question that—while not mandatory—was requested of anyone who did not have the Sergius name. The question was not necessary for Petra because even if she were to marry, as Queen her children would be given her surname and not that of her husband.
“I will.” Boric answered, not wishing to provide any reason for anyone to ignore his claim.
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