“I am a man pledged to your son’s safety,” answered Garth. “Would you have me be careless when it comes to his well-being?”
King Harowin calmed as he realized that the merchant appeared to be exactly what he professed. He sighed with relief.
“Untie him,” the king said softly.
Colonel Sepper frowned, but General Harford nodded in agreement. The colonel untied the prisoner’s hands and Garth rubbed his wrists.
“Bring him to me, merchant,” the king said calmly.
Garth stared the king in the eyes. “Do I have your word that no harm will come to Prince Harold?”
The king’s face turned red with anger, but he sighed deeply and calmed himself. “You have my word.”
“How will you find him if you do not know his location?” General Harford asked sternly.
“I will stand in front of the palace,” answered Garth. “While I was truthful that I do not know his location, the prince is with friends that I would trust with my life. They will see me and take me to the prince. I will in turn bring him here to speak with his father.”
“Your Highness,” Colonel Sepper said anxiously, “I do not think we can just turn the merchant loose. What if he decides not to return? Let me send some men with him.”
“My friends will see your soldiers as a threat to the prince,” warned Garth. “All it will accomplish is delaying the arrival of the prince. Trust in me, Colonel. I have told you nothing but the truth since I arrived in the palace.”
“Go, Garth Shado,” commanded the king. “Bring my son home to me.”
Garth bowed and exited the room.
“Seal the gates of the city,” the king ordered the general.
General Harford nodded to Colonel Sepper and the colonel hurried out of the room.
“You think he will try to flee the city?” asked the general.
“No,” answered the king, “but I do not like to take chances. If we tried to follow the merchant, Harold would see that with disfavor and suspicion. I do not want to scare him off, but I am not willing to let him escape, either. If the merchant does not perform as promised, at least we will know that Harold is still in the city.”
Chapter 28
Family Reunion
Prince Harold paced the floor of Bin-lu’s room, while Rut-ki stared out the window towards the Royal Palace.
“Why would they arrest him?” Prince Harold said out loud. “It makes no sense.”
“It makes perfect sense,” replied Bin-lu. “Your father was told that you were in the city with Garth Shado. The minute he showed up at the palace, they took him captive. The real question is what it will take to get him out again.”
“Get him out?” echoed Prince Harold. “If they have arrested him, he will not be released anytime soon.”
“I was not talking about your father releasing him,” retorted Bin-lu. “I was talking about how we would free him.”
“You would try to break him out of the dungeon?” asked Prince Samuel who sat on the couch. “I do not think you have any idea how secure the dungeons are in Zara.”
“We have a very good idea,” replied Bin-lu. “That is not to say that Garth’s escape would be without risk, but we will not let a Knight of Alcea languish in a prison. We will free him, no matter the risk.”
“All four of the elven reeducation centers were attacked at the same time,” Rut-ki interjected without turning to look at the prince. “We did not lose a single elven child.”
Prince Harold’s eyes widened upon hearing Rut-ki’s words. He knew about the elven reeducation centers, but he had not heard that they had been attacked.
“The elven children are free?” he asked. “Is that true?”
“They are free,” nodded Bin-lu, “and so are the elves of Elfwoods. They have all disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” echoed Prince Samuel. “How is that possible?”
“All things are possible,” Bin-lu said, not wanting to divulge anything about the elves or their whereabouts. “Now is not the time to be discussing the elves. There are two things that require our attention this day. One is the freedom of Garth Shado, and the two of you have no need to concern yourselves with that. The other item is Prince Harold’s eventual meeting with his father. Have you given thought to what you will say, Prince Harold?”
“You act as if it is certain that I will get to talk to him,” frowned the Ertakan prince.
“Oh, you will,” Bin-lu declared. “He arrested Garth because he wants to know where you are. I suspect that the king will begin a house-by-house search if you are not found by torturing Garth. Sooner or later, he will find you. Spend some time thinking about a way to appease him.”
“Appease him?” scowled Prince Harold. “I have no desire to appease him. He is an evil tyrant who has failed in his duty to care for the people.”
“That is true,” agreed Bin-lu, “but you need to appease him for two reasons. Your life and Garth’s life will hang in the balance of what you say to the king. It is one thing to dislike your father; it is another to anger him. You may state your disagreement with his policies, but do not attack him personally.”
“Remember,” added Rut-ki, “that your goal is to be the proclaimed heir. Although your blood makes you the likely choice to follow King Harowin, he can change that if you anger him sufficiently.”
“A good king is one who does what is necessary to serve his people,” stated Bin-lu. “That may include doing things that you personally find repulsive, but it is not yourself that you are seeking to serve. You must remember this. What manner of relationship must you have with your father to best serve the people of Ertak?”
“He is right,” interjected Prince Samuel. “You do not have to embrace his policies, but refrain from attacking your father because he has not measured up in your eyes. I made that mistake with my mother, and I now realize when I did that, I abandoned the people I was supposed to protect. I should have suffered under her rule as my people have. I might have been able to lessen their pain if I had not run away.”
Rut-ki stiffened as she stared out the window. “Garth has been released,” she announced. “I see no guards escorting him.”
The princes started to move towards the window to get a look at Garth, but Bin-lu signaled for them to sit down. They complied while Bin-lu walked to the window and peered out.
“He is just standing in front of the palace,” Rut-ki said.
Bin-lu slid out the door to the balcony and closed it behind him. His eyes scanned the palace and the street before he tapped his pocket. Shrimp poked his head out and looked around.
“Garth is standing in the middle of the street in front of the Royal Palace,” instructed Bin-lu. “Get to him unseen and find out what he has to say. Be careful. I am sure that there are people watching him closely.”
“Not closely enough,” chirped the fairy. “They will never detect me.”
Shrimp shot from Bin-lu’s pocket and dived over the balcony railing. The little green man soared downward to a merchant’s wagon that was making its way along the road. He flattened himself to the side of the wagon and waited. When the wagon passed between Garth and the palace, Shrimp shot straight to Garth’s shoulder and slid behind his hair.
“What does Garth Shado have to say?” asked Shrimp.
Garth smiled. “I have to say that fairies are marvelous creatures, but you already know that.”
“Indeed I do,” Shrimp replied proudly. “Is that all?”
“No,” Garth replied seriously. “King Harowin has demanded to speak with Prince Harold. He has given his word that Harold will not be harmed, but I am not entirely convinced of his sincerity. If Prince Harold still wants to go through with this, he is to come to me here. I will stay by his side and try to protect him if I can. If the prince has decided to forego a meeting with his father, Bin-lu and Rut-ki should make haste in getting him out of the city. If the prince is not coming to me, let me know so that I also can make plans to flee. Carry my w
ords, Shrimp.”
Shrimp dallied for a few minutes until the proper diversion came along. When an army patrol turned into the gates of the Royal Palace, Shrimp shot skyward and returned to Bin-lu. He retold Garth’s words to Bin-lu and then slipped back into his pocket. Bin-lu returned to the sitting room and explained the options to Prince Harold. The Ertakan prince sat silently for several moments before speaking.
“I feel that I must speak with my father,” he declared, “but I am hesitant to include Garth now that I know the danger it places him in. I shall go in alone.”
“That was not one of the options Garth mentioned,” Bin-lu pointed out. “While you may not want to endanger Garth, he feels it is important for him to safeguard you. Allow him to do so, but do not let your words further endanger him.”
“But that is the point,” frowned Prince Harold. “It would be rather easy for me to let my true feelings show, and then I will get Garth killed.”
“With him at your side,” Rut-ki offered, “you will be constantly aware of the danger. Perhaps having Garth beside you will temper your thoughts and words. Go to him, but leave your cloak behind. It may still prove useful later to have a disguise.”
Prince Harold nodded and removed his hooded cloak. Not wanting to alert any watchers about where he was coming from, he took the back stairs down to the street level and then walked along the alley for a ways before heading for the street. Garth saw him the moment he stepped out of the alley, and the Knight of Alcea gave the signal for silence. Harold nodded in understanding and walked directly to Garth.
“Whatever you say to your father or others,” Garth whispered, “do not mention Alcea. To do so will cause great problems, not only for me, but also for you. If you wish to talk of the healer who cured you, merely mention that you were cured in the northlands, and do so in a vague way.”
“I understand,” Prince Harold replied. “Bin-lu said that you were not sure of my father’s sincerity. Do you expect problems?”
“I always expect problems,” Garth replied as the two men started walking towards the palace. “Not to expect them can get you killed. If trouble comes, listen to my words and do exactly as I say. I will strive to get you out of the palace alive.”
As they approached the palace gates, four soldiers stepped forward and flanked them. Garth was not surprised. He allowed the four guards to escort him and the prince to a large dining room. Already present in the room were King Harowin and General Harford. The table was set for a dinner for three, but there were other chairs around the table. When Prince Harold entered the room, King Harowin and General Harford stared at him as if trying to determine if he was truly the prince. Garth and the prince halted near one of the place settings.
“By the gods!” King Harowin exclaimed. “It is you! Welcome home, son.”
“Hello, Father,” Prince Harold said softly. “Yes, it is me, and I have never felt better in my life.”
General Harford smiled as he looked at the prince, but the king merely waved for Harold to sit and then took his own seat at the table across from the prince. General Harford stared at Garth uneasily as he realized that the king had not intended to have the merchant dine with the others. With embarrassment, he sat down at the far end of the table. The four guards closed the door and flanked the doorway.
“How is it that you are healed?” asked the king. “I had the best healers in the world tend to you, and none of them could do a thing about your condition.”
“I do not know enough about healing to explain it,” answered the prince, “but Garth found me an excellent healer. He worked on me night and day until I was completely healed. I owe my life to him.”
“Where can this healer be found?” asked the king. “I would like to reward him.”
“He seeks no reward,” answered the prince. “He was happy to be of service. I think he enjoyed the challenge of it all. How have you been, Father? My brother’s men let no news of the kingdom filter into my prison.”
“Your brother’s men murdered your step-brothers,” snarled the king. “I have heard that Montero is dead, but I await the official word from Despair.” The king sighed wearily and shook his head. “Let us not talk about disturbing things, Harold. Your return to Farmin should be a festive occasion. I have ordered your old quarters to be redecorated to suit the Crown Prince, and I will engage a tutor to make sure that your studies were not ignored.”
“Am I to be the Crown Prince then?” asked Harold. “I was not sure if you had disowned me because of my sickly nature.”
King Harowin frowned. He remembered Harold as a youngster who seldom said anything and certainly not anything disagreeable. Now he got the distinct impression that the prince felt as if he were ready to take over the kingdom. That eagerness troubled the king, especially with rumors of a pending assassination in the air. King Harowin had no intention of sharing his throne with anyone, blood related or not. He was also prepared to test the young prince to see what he was made of.
“You could become the Crown Prince,” the king declared, “but only time will tell if you are fit to rule. You will be allowed to live in the Royal Palace and receive lessons. As you become accustomed to the ways of my court, I will offer you chances to prove yourself. Perhaps General Harford can assign a man to you to train you for the army. Becoming an officer would be a good step in the right direction.”
“It would be a pleasure,” stated General Harford.
“I would like to become proficient with weapons,” Prince Harold said to the general, “but I am unsure about joining the army.”
“Unsure?” scowled the king. “Why would you spurn an offer to lead your countrymen into battle?”
“Because I do not think my countrymen should die needlessly,” answered the prince. “The Federation spends the lives of Ertakans with disregard. Should I ever become king, that would stop immediately. There are many problems in Ertak that need attention far more than those dreamed up by Emperor Jaar. The King of Ertak should be looking to the needs of his own people before the needs of the Federation.”
The king’s face turned red with anger and he stood up, throwing his napkin on the table.
“How dare you speak of the Federation in such tones?” snarled King Harowin. “You think you will become king? You have just committed treason, and I will not have your words taint my office. You will hang before I associate myself with you. Take him to the dungeons.”
The guards drew their swords and Garth shouted, “Stop!”
The guards halted and everyone’s eyes turned to Garth who was standing behind the seated prince. Garth glared at the king.
“You gave me your word, King Harowin,” Garth said pleadingly. “You promised that no harm would come to Harold.”
“My word is law in Ertak,” spat the king, “and I have the right to change it whenever I want. Get them both out of here.”
The guards started advancing, and Garth sighed with resignation. He bent down and pulled two knives that had been hidden in his boots. Before anyone could determine what Garth was doing, he threw the two knives at the outer two guards. As those guards fell to the floor, Garth picked up the chair next to Prince Harold and threw it at the remaining two guards.
“Come, Harold!” he shouted as he dove towards the soldiers.
The soldiers raised their arms to block the chair, unaware that Garth’s body was already diving towards them. They batted the chair aside as Garth’s body hit them both in the legs. As they tumbled to the floor, Garth grabbed a sword dropped by one of the dead guards. He rose quickly and caught both of the soldiers with fatal slashes as they rose to their feet. Prince Harold raced to Garth’s side and seized a sword. During the commotion, King Harowin had managed to trigger an alarm that Garth had not seen. The door flew open and soldiers tried to enter, but Garth refused to yield the doorway.
“Stop,” shouted the king. “Everyone stop and sheath your swords. General Harford, order your men to stand outside the room and allow no one to leave wit
hout my permission. Harold, bring your friend back to the table. We need to talk.”
Prince Harold looked to Garth for instructions. Garth sighed as he saw dozens of soldiers outside the door. Escape was impossible. He nodded to the prince. The prince dropped his sword and retreated to the table while General Harford gave instructions to his men. Garth also dropped his sword and walked to the table. He looked King Harowin in the eyes as he spoke.
“I alone am responsible for what happened here,” he said. “I beg you to keep your word concerning the prince.”
General Harford returned to the table and sat down. The king also sat and waved his hand for Garth to sit next to Prince Harold. Garth sat.
“Why did you not attack me?” asked King Harowin.
Garth frowned. “I am not here to assassinate you, King Harowin. I am here to protect the prince.”
“And you thought you could fight your way out of the Royal Palace?” scoffed the king.
“If you had not sounded the alarm,” frowned Garth, “I think we could have made it. I feel confident that Prince Harold would have made it.”
“How?” asked General Harford.
“While everyone was rushing towards the exits to block our escape,” Garth said, “we would go upstairs to the second floor. At the end of the corridor are windows that overlook the stables. It is not a bad leap to make, and I do not think many soldiers would be there.”
“Impressive,” General Harford offered with a raised eyebrow. “What are you doing being a merchant rather than a soldier?”
“I do not consider myself a merchant,” answered Garth. “I am a special agent for Sidney Mercado. I carry very expensive items, and I am sometimes required to act decisively to protect them.”
“Your talents are wasted,” replied the general. “We knew that you would try to escape, but I never imagined that one man could best four of my men in the time it took to reach the door.”
“This was a test?” Garth asked with disbelief.
“When a prince returns in a mysterious way,” offered King Harowin, “and rumors are running rampant about an assassination attempt on me, I think it is prudent to know who we are dealing with.”
Alutar: The Great Demon Page 35