by Guy Antibes
“I’d be nervous.”
Pol grimly smiled. “I am, for sure. I keep telling myself that, but now I won’t have to avoid my friends Paki and Kell. In some ways, I’ll feel freer after tonight than ever before.”
Horker put his hand on Pol’s shoulder when he finished stashing away weapons. “I hope you are.”
Pol was surprised at Horker’s friendliness. He still remembered him as the stern drillmaster in the monastery, but then his deportment could have been out of frustration with the ineptitude of many of the monks. He wondered how Horker would fare when he met his trainees on the battlefield. Pol hoped that wouldn’t have to happen, but the chances were high that they’d be drawn into the fight.
When they exited Pol’s room, a servant stood by to show them the way to the Throne Room where the dinner was to be held.
“I know the way,” Pol said. “Find something else useful to do.” He tried to give the servant a warm smile and left him standing in front of Pol’s door.
They were both silent as they walked through the corridors of the castle to the throne room. Guards in dress uniforms stood at the open doors to the throne room. King Colvin’s Chamberlain, a man Pol had known all of his life, asked them who they were, and then announced them.
“Captain Horker of Tesna Monastery and Nater Grainell, a Tesnan acolyte.”
Hostile eyes turned their way. King Colvin hadn’t told many of their presence, and Pol guessed that few were told of their dramatic entrance. It felt filled with drama to Pol, anyway.
A servant stood by the Chamberlain, who consulted a seating chart. His eyebrows rose, as he must have found their names and pointed to a drawing of the tables. The servant led them to the front of an outside table next to the high table where King Colvin would sit with Queen Isa and his children.
The room began to fill. Pol guessed there were about one hundred diners. Kelso sat next to Jamey Carter in the back middle along with Seen. Both of them wore swords, evidently ready to lead if something untoward happened. Pol looked back when Grostin, Amonna, and Honna were announced. The Court Magician’s name was called, and Pol watched him sit one seat down from the Queen at the high table, leaving an empty seat next to Isa.
“Please stand. His Highness, Our King Colvin enters escorting Queen Isa of South Salvan.”
The diners rose and clapped as the King led Queen Isa past Pol on his way to his spot. Unannounced, but following, Shira dropped from behind the regal pair, and sat next to Pol. She looked exotically pretty wearing a formal dress and an excited face.
“Are you ready?” she whispered into Pol’s ear.
Pol nodded, although he had grown increasingly nervous. She grasped his hand and squeezed it. It turned his worried frown automatically into a smile.
Pol again noticed the empty seat next to Queen Isa. Would he soon be occupying it? The King sat, signifying that the rest of the diners could as well.
The King tapped a knife against a crystal goblet. The room quieted. This was it, Pol thought. He took a deep breath. He squeezed Shira’s hand so hard she tapped on his wrist. Butterflies and assorted other insects flew around inside his stomach as the king stood.
“I have an announcement to make.” He looked over at Pol and motioned him to stand beside him. Pol took each step slowly and stood beside his stepfather. “This youth and his group saved Queen Isa. He came to Borstall as an agent of the Empire to warn of King Astor’s designs on North Salvan. Queen Isa came with him providing me with the credibility to believe him.
“I had a hard time doing that because the South Salvan magicians have developed a mind-control spell that I’ve been under for a long time.”
The crowd began to murmur. The King held up his hand. “This youth is a powerful magician. Even though he is young enough to be my son, he removed the spell from my mind. I wish him to do the same to all those currently sitting on the dais, including me.”
The King sat down, and Pol took a deep breath. He put his hand on the King’s forehead, and Pol was relieved that the shield had held, and no one had replaced the spell.
“The King is free of the spell.”
He did the same for Queen Isa and moved to the Court Magician.
“You’re no magician. This is all a charade,” he said.
“Is it?” Pol lifted the magician’s plate into the air and out from the table and put it back in its place. “Are you satisfied?”
The magician’s face turned a little white. “What level are you?”
“Gray,” Pol said quietly.
“Impossible,” he said. Evidently he had no close ties to Deftnis.
“Let me see if you have a spell.”
Pol was surprised to see a thick film over the magician’s brain. He had no difficulty removing it. “You may feel a little faint,” Pol said.
“What did you do?”
“I just removed a South Salvan mind-control spell. If you think back, you may wonder what your thought process was for some of your previous decisions.”
Pol had expected the magician to be clean. So that meant that he might not be the South Salvan plant.
He walked over to Grostin, who looked at Pol as if he had nothing to hide. Maybe he didn’t need a spell, Pol thought. Sure enough, Pol found no trace of mind-control. Grostin was just naturally mean.
Honna put her hand to her mouth, as expected. “No! I will not permit it. Don’t touch me!”
The King stood. “If I can submit, you will, too, daughter.”
Pol put his hand on her forehead. She swatted it away, but the King, still standing, came over to Honna and put his hands on her shoulders. He nodded to Pol and sighed. “Do what you need to.”
He put his hand on the top of her head and found the thickest layer mind-control of any yet, which he removed.
The crowd began to murmur, and then Pol finished. “She is free of the spell.”
Honna fainted. Pol checked to see if she was faking, but her blood pressure had gone down and now began to recover.
“Have someone take my daughter to her rooms. I will talk to her later.” The King said.
Pol then went to Amonna, who gave Pol an encouraging smile while he examined her brain, finding nothing. Pol looked out at the diners. Most of them appeared fascinated by the show.
King Colvin looked over at the magician. “Have your wits returned?”
“I think I was influenced when we traveled to Alsador this winter when King Landon was installed. There are other facts better discussed in private, My King.”
Bythia, most likely, Pol thought. But that meant a magician still lurked somewhere in the Castle or close by who controlled both the King and Honna.
“I have an announcement regarding this magician.” King Colvin nodded to Pol.
This was it. He took a deep breath and changed back to his regular self, including changing the color of his hair. The crowd gasped.
The magician’s eyes bulged when he saw the transformation. “Definitely Gray,” he said quietly, but loud enough for Pol to hear over the crowd’s astonishment.
“I present to you Poldon Fairfield, the disinherited prince. I will also inform you,” the King looked at Grostin, “that he has been restored to my family, but remains out of succession.”
“You! You tricked me!” Grostin said.
“It was necessary. If you want to know why, ask your father, the King.”
Grostin shot a glare at his father. “I want him removed!”
“Be quiet, or I’ll have you removed, Grostin. He hasn’t come to claim the throne. He has no right to do so, do you, Poldon?”
Pol nodded and turned to the diners. “I’m sorry we did this before you had a chance to eat, but I hereby reaffirm that I have no intentions to inherit. The disinheritance petition is still in force. My destiny lies elsewhere than either the throne of Listya, which is King Landon’s, or the throne of North Salvan, which is King Colvin’s. We have talked in private, and now we both verify that publicly.”
Grost
in ground his teeth and looked away.
“Since one of my sons has returned, I will ask that he sit next to Queen Isa for the duration of our meal.”
Pol took his place, relieved that the King hadn’t commanded him to sit in Honna’s seat next to Grostin.
Queen Isa patted Pol on the hand. “You did well…My Prince.”
“I’m no prince,” Pol said. “All I have is royal blood, but no inheritance.” He looked over at King Colvin, who had instructed the servants to start the meal.
Pol looked down at Shira, who smiled back up at him. Evidently his announcement hadn’t deterred her feelings. He nodded rather than smiled back. He looked out at the attendees. Some gave him furtive looks, others gazed at him with curiosity, and yet another segment had fear in their eyes.
“I’d still like you to scout the enemy,” King Colvin said, “but you leave on your own timetable.”
“I will,” Pol said.
A plate was put in front of him, and he began to eat. The relative silence in the Throne Room began to dissipate as dinner conversations finally got underway.
Pol felt a tap on his shoulder from the Court Magician.
“How did you learn so quickly?” He still looked amazed.
“I started at Borstall with Malden Gastoria. He taught me patterns, and then instead of teaching me the basics, he stretched my abilities. I was born with natural talent, but my failing health hid my potential.”
The man nodded. “So that was the ‘luck’ that Grostin talked about during the events two summers ago.”
Pol smiled. “Luck and a lot of hard work. The power was there, but I had no stamina. One spell, and I would faint. The luck was finding a Deftnis healer who restored my health.”
“Magic is about control. I’m sure you know that since it’s obvious you have it in abundance,” the magician said. “I didn’t learn at Deftnis. Gray is the highest rank, right?”
Pol shook his head. “Just below the highest which is black. You’ve got to be a high-level magician to assume a disguise.”
The magician laughed nervously. “I know that, but I’ve never seen a demonstration. It’s…”
Pol heard the twang of a bowstring and the magician bent over with an arrow through his heart. Pol quickly created a shield of hardened air to protect the rest of the table. Another arrow stuck into the shield, intended for Queen Isa.
She was about to stand. Pol pushed her down. “Stay seated.”
Kelso and Jamey stood, drawing their swords, and rushed the doors as the archers reloaded. They didn’t get another shot off. Horker joined them, grabbing a sword from one of the dead attackers.
Pol looked around the room and located two dots behind the throne. He maintained the forward shield while he pulled two knives out of his boot. He slipped off the platform that held the high table and quickly moved behind the throne and threw a knife at one assassin. The other turned around and charged Pol, raising his sword.
Pol backed up and had to use anticipation magic to keep from being skewered. The opening came that he sought, and he tweaked his other knife into his opponent. Both of them wore the uniform of the Castle Guard. He checked both of them for a pulse and found a faint one in the first one. Before he died, Pol put his hand on his head and confirmed the man had been coerced.
“I’ve never seen you move so fast,” King Colvin said.
Grostin stood speechless and then muttered. “You saved us all.”
Pol smiled. “I’ve just learned a few new tricks, while I’ve been gone.”
~~~
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
~
THE DINERS WERE SENT HOME. Jamey Carter approached the king. “All were new guards, who were recommended by Lord Riverdale.”
“He has a son at Tesna,” King Colvin said.
“Horker or I have probably met him, but everyone goes by first names there.” Pol didn’t need to develop much of a pattern. “Was Riverdale here tonight?” he said.
“He was, but everyone is gone,” Kelso said.
Pol squinted in concentration. “Is Honna still in her room? Did the Lord leave Borstall? I can’t see him staying. You are under siege, My King,” Pol said.
“I agree. I know what to do,” Jamey said.
“First.” Pol put his hand on Jamey’s head. “We need to trust you.” His mind was still clean.
The Captain grinned at Pol. “Good thinking.” He and Kelso ran out of the Throne room, dragging Seen, the South Salvan soldier, with them.
“Shira can protect the Queen, and I’ll protect the royal family. I suggest that we finish our meal in the family dining room.”
“We can all stay there until this intrusion is sorted out,” King Colvin said as they began to march out of the Throne Room. “What a mess,” he muttered.
Amonna took Pol by one arm and Shira, the other.
“You must be tired,” Shira said, baiting him.
“I’m not tired,” he said.
“That’s all right. I want to hold onto my brother’s arm. I’m so glad Father introduced you,” Amonna said to Pol.
“Doing so at a state dinner wasn’t the wisest choice. The magician must have remembered who put the spell on him and paid for it with his life. The archer’s second target was Queen Isa.”
“What about me?” King Colvin said, turning around.
“You were probably the target of the assassins who took advantage of the chaos and sneaked behind the throne. The attack on Queen Isa probably means that the archers are truly South Salvan, or under their control. Just because the assassins are dead doesn’t mean your life and that of Queen Isa are out of danger. Do you disagree, My King?”
“Right now, that is as good an analysis of the situation as any.”
They entered the family dining room. Four guards stood in front of the door, with two more on the other side of the door that servants used. Pol tested them for spells before he sat with the others.
King Colvin commanded them to sit while he paced. “Grostin, what do you think?”
“I agree with you, father. Poldon’s description is as good as any until Captain Carter reports back. I am disappointed in my sister, if she is complicit.”
That didn’t ring true to Pol, but he let it slip. Grostin had never seemed oblivious to his surroundings in the past, and Pol didn’t believe he was now. Still, his stepbrother wasn’t under any mind-control.
“Shira and I will go out tomorrow. Horker will stay here,” Pol said. “I won’t tell you where we are going. The South Salvan army could still be days away, but you’ll have to watch out for more attacks like tonight. In fact, you might think about preparing a ship for Queen Isa, Amonna, and Grostin. If the Emperor is late, the city may fall.”
“You suggest that I stay?” King Colvin said.
Pol smiled grimly. “Wouldn’t you take it as an insult if I assumed you would leave Borstall?”
Colvin nodded. “You do know me, after all.”
No one said a thing for a few minutes. There was a knock on the servants’ door.
“Cook Horstel, My King.”
“Let her in.”
Paki’s mother entered. “I have personally supervised preparing food and drink for you. I am sorry for the events of tonight, My King.” She curtseyed.
“Send it in.”
Pol grinned as Paki and Kell entered, carrying food, along with two serving maids.
“I heard you acted too much the hero, as usual,” Paki said, after he put the platter on the buffet in the room. He nodded to King Colvin. “I am sorry for intruding, My King,” Paki bowed. “May I talk with my friend?”
“You may. Who is your companion?”
“I am a Deftnis acolyte and a friend of Pol’s, as well, My King.” Kell bowed, too.
“They accompanied me during my search for the healer monk who restored my health. I sent them back to Deftnis before I traveled to Alsador.”
“Then tell me of Pol’s adventures. We need something to distract us from tonight�
��s events until Captain Carter returns with word,” King Colvin said.
Paki and Kell took seats at the table and began to talk about Deftnis and Pol’s quick advancement. Then they described the start of their trip to Searl Hogton’s cabin. When they reached the adventure in the small town inhabited by Hinkleyites, Captain Carter entered.
“We might call upon you another time to finish your story, but I must ask you to leave,” King Colvin said.
Paki winked at Pol as they left via the servants’ door.
Jamey Carter waited for the pair to leave. “Pol’s friends?”
Pol nodded.
“Honna is gone, just as Nater, uh, Poldon suggested. The guards at the gate let them out among other nobles who left the city after the attack in the Throne Room. Honna must have hid in Riverdale’s carriage. He did have men at arms with him, some of whom we have subsequently found out were men he sponsored for the Castle Guard.”
“Even though the magician who controlled Honna and the North Salvan soldiers, might have left dressed as a guard,” Pol said, “we must assume there is still one or more magicians in Borstall.”
“Is there any way to ferret them out?” King Colvin said.
Jamey shook his head and looked at Kelso. “All we can do is make sure we know of any South Salvans who have entered the city, but if they didn’t say who they were, we have no idea. That will change.”
Pol knew that there were plenty of places in Borstall where people could live, especially in the poorer parts of the city. He remembered the pea-shooter, who disrupted the tournament when Emperor Hazett III visited Borstall two summers ago. He ended up being a Seeker-magician, who was part of King Astor’s retinue. Pol looked at Queen Isa.
“Do you have any ideas, My Queen?” Pol said.
She waved her hand in front of her face. “I’m nobody’s queen,” she snorted. “Especially now. But I expected something like this from my sneaky husband.” Isa shrugged her shoulders. “I’m afraid I can’t help.”
~~~
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
~
POL AND SHIRA HAD JUST LEFT BORSTALL when Pol heard a commotion behind him. Paki and Kell emerged from the gate and galloped to their sides.