Heart of the Crown

by Paul J Bennett

  "They don't in Weldwyn. I'm surprised you're familiar with knights at all. I understood that only Merceria had them."

  "Nonsense, lots of realms have knights, though I daresay you're the only ones in this land."

  "How is that possible?"

  "I imagine your ancestors came from a different continent and brought the idea with them. It's common enough. You don't have Temple Knights, do you?"

  "What's that?" she asked.

  "They're knights sworn to a holy order."

  "I've never heard of them."

  "Perhaps it's for the best, they can be a bit pretentious at times. Tell me, do knights here always carry bows?"

  She laughed, "No, I used to be a King's Ranger. I'm sort of a special knight. The princess prefers me to keep my lighter armour, it's more convenient for tracking and such."

  Lily, who was standing at the base of the mainmast, turned and chattered.

  "I think she'd like to climb up to the top, if it's all right."

  "By all means," Captain Runell replied.

  Lily immediately began hauling herself up the mast, climbing it like a pole.

  "There are ropes..." started the captain.

  "I think she's doing fine," observed Hayley. "She has claws that make it easy. Watch carefully, she's incredibly fast."

  The Saurian was already halfway up the mast and was rapidly approaching the spar that lay perpendicular to the mainmast. She sprinted across the timber with the grace of a cat and then paused. The yardarm overhung the side of the ship, and she was now staring down into the water below.

  Hayley was about to call out but before she could speak Lily dove. Down she went, entering the water with little splash or noise. The ranger ran to the railing, holding her breath, only to see Lily emerge a moment later. The Saurian rolled onto her back and waved while Hayley let out a breath.

  "Well, I'll be," mused the captain. "I've never seen the like before. Does she do this often?"

  "I've never seen it before," Hayley replied, "but I almost entered the Afterlife when she jumped."

  As they were talking, Lily swam back to the dock, and soon she was scrambling back across the boarding ramp, eager for another try.

  Hayley watched her begin climbing once more, but a shout from the bow took her attention.

  "Captain!" yelled a crewman. "We've got a problem."

  "Excuse me a moment," he said, making his way forward.

  Hayley followed a few paces behind as they approached a group of three men working on the foredeck. They had hauled up the anchor, little more than a metal claw, and placed it, still dripping, on the deck. The men were scraping it with knives in an effort to clean it of mud and dirt dragged up from the river.

  "What's this?" asked the captain.

  "I've never seen its like, sir," one of the men was saying. "It's some sort of pasty material."

  The captain leaned in closer to examine it. "Looks like some strange sort of mud to me."

  "There's something mixed in with it," the crewman added. "Some sort of plant, perhaps?"

  "I don't care what it is, get it off the anchor. Does it scrape off?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Then do so and toss it overboard," he said, rising from his crouch to turn and face Hayley. "Sorry about that, the men can be a little difficult sometimes."

  The tiny splash as Lily once more hit the water drew his attention back to the Saurian. "You know, there's a place not too far from here where the common folk wade into the water. It's likely not busy this time of year, but I hear it's a common practice to do so in the heat of the summer. I imagine your lizard friend isn't bothered by cold water, maybe you should give it a visit?"

  "Thank you, we will," she responded.

  The window of the store looked inviting, so Lady Aubrey Brandon opened the door to hear the ring of a bell announcing her entrance. The room smelled musty, but considering the contents, that was understandable. Here was a store that offered her the most interesting of things; books, parchment, inks and all manner of quills. She browsed the shelves, stepping quietly, afraid to disturb the silence that gave this place its air of mystery.

  Aubrey had always liked books. She was fascinated by magic and anything related to it. She had once spent days poring over a book about an ancient wizard, only to discover it was a work of fiction. The history of magic was her primary interest, though now that she was capable of using it herself, she wondered if her tastes might change.

  "May I help you?" offered a voice.

  She turned to see an elderly woman approach, her grey hair set above a friendly looking face.

  "I was just looking, thank you." The woman turned to leave until Aubrey spoke again, "Actually, I was wondering if you have paper."

  "We have many kinds of paper from parchment to papyrus. What, specifically, are you looking for?"

  "I'm an apprentice mage," Aubrey confessed, "and I want to keep careful notes of my studies. I draw things quite often, with notations of course."

  "I think I have just the thing for you," the woman offered, "follow me." She led Aubrey to the next aisle and stopped at a slim tome. "This is something we brought in from the Capital. It consists of bound pages, blank, of course, with a lockable cover for travelling. Naturally, it comes with a key."

  Aubrey picked it up, feeling the weight of it. "Is this a leather cover?" she asked.

  "Yes, to protect it against the weather. I can even have your name embossed if you like."

  "Most impressive. How much?"

  "With the embossing, I will let you have it for only five crowns."

  Aubrey thought it over carefully. Her father, the baron, had provided her with a generous purse and she was usually careful with her funds, but this was a rare find.

  "I'll take it," she decided.

  "Excellent," replied the shopkeeper. "I will have the embossing done by tomorrow. My tradesman is free this afternoon. Will you be needing ink and quills?"

  "I have some, but they're wearing out. If I have to trim them anymore, I'll be writing with my fingers."

  "Ah, then I have just the quill for you. Come, take a look."

  The woman moved behind the counter and opened a small wooden box, placing it in front of Aubrey. It was a feather like none she had ever seen before. It was a standard size, but the colours were breathtaking, for it contained hues of green and blue that shimmered as it was held to the light.

  "This is a gryphon feather," the lady said. "As such, it is quite durable. You'll likely never need to trim it."

  "Fascinating," said Aubrey. "Now, how about some ink?"

  It would be late in the day by the time she was done.

  The afternoon sun saw Beverly sitting at a table with Gerald, while nearby sat the prince and princess, with Lady Nicole watching like a hawk. The weather had remained clear, and it was proving to be an uncharacteristically warm day for the autumn. Anna had decided she was hungry and so the entourage had come here, to a tavern called the Hungry Cavalier.

  To Beverly's eyes, it was very similar to her father's favourite haunt in Wincaster. She looked at Gerald, who was gazing around the place, eager to see what they had to offer.

  "I swear," she said, "if they serve stinky cheese, I'm leaving."

  Gerald chuckled, "Don't worry, they won't have Hawksburg Gold here. But I might try those sausages." He was looking across the room at another patron who was busy at his meal.

  "I believe you could live on sausages. Don't you think about other things?"

  Glancing out the window, something caught his eye. Beverly noticed his sudden shift of attention, and asked, "Something wrong?"

  "Wrong? No, I was just reminded of something."

  "Do tell," she pressured.

  "I had meant to buy Anna a present for her birthday, but we got so caught up in Norwatch that it completely slipped my mind."

  "Anything in particular?"

  "No, but I've just spotted a jewellers across the way, and it's given me an idea."

 
"Did you want to go over there now?" Beverly asked.

  "No, we're busy guarding Anna, but perhaps in a day or two I'll slip out and see what they have. I would like to order something to be made."

  "That shouldn't be a problem, I can have Hayley take your place."

  "Thank you. It won't take long, but don't say anything to Anna."

  "Of course not, I don't want to spoil the surprise."

  His gaze shifted back to the nearby table where Alric and Anna were conversing. Beverly followed suit.

  "They appear to be getting along rather well," she commented.

  "Yes," he agreed, "Alric seems to have grown on her."

  "And her on him," she added.

  "Perhaps they'll marry someday."

  Beverly was shocked by the statement. "I'm surprised you would say that," she said.

  "She has to marry, eventually," said Gerald. "Better to someone she gets along with than Marshal-General Valmar."

  "You mean, Duke Valmar of Eastwood, now," she warned.

  "You can wrap shit in a silver stocking," he spat out, "but it's still shit. He may wear the mantle of a duke, but he's definitely not noble."

  "We both agree on that," she commiserated. "These two probably would make a decent match, all things considered. Are you that eager to have her marry?"

  "No, I just want her to be happy, but the king is eventually going to insist on a marriage. Better a prince than a man like the duke."

  Beverly shuddered at the mere thought of Valmar.

  "What about you?" added Gerald. "You should be thinking about marriage, too. Your father won't live forever."

  "That subject is not open for discussion," she threatened, then softened her tone. "Sorry, Gerald, I didn't mean to be so rude."

  "I've known you your entire life, Beverly; no apology is necessary. I won't say any more on the subject, though I can't speak for the court."

  "What do you mean?" she asked.

  "You're an adult now, Beverly, a seasoned warrior. The court of Wincaster likes its nobles with heirs. The king could order you to wed."

  "I know that," she responded, "but my heart's not in it. I can't wed when my heart is taken."

  "I know how you feel," he sympathized. "Losing Meredith almost destroyed me, but she was dead, and there was no turning back. Aldwin will always be there, in your heart, won't he?"

  "He's my foundation," she replied, "but it can never be."

  "When I lost my family, I thought my life was over, and yet, fate brought me to Anna. Perhaps fate has something waiting for you. I can't believe Saxnor would deny your heart."

  "That's nice of you to say, Gerald, but we make our own future. In the meantime, I would ask you not to speak of it to anyone. The only people who know about Aldwin are you and Aubrey."

  "Don't worry, Beverly, your secret is safe with me."

  The theatre proved to be much more opulent than the one Gerald had visited in Wincaster. There were ushers here, men dressed alike, as if wearing the livery of a noble. In Wincaster, they had simply dropped coins in a box as they entered, but here the custom was different. Every patron had to have a ticket, a wooden token with the name of the theatre carved into it. Each had a number which corresponded to a seat. Lady Nicole had run ahead to finalize their seating arrangements, and as they entered they were approached by a rather richly dressed man sporting a blue velvet cap with a green plume.

  "Your Highness," the man exuded, "may I say how honoured we are by your presence."

  "Thank you," replied Alric. "I have the pleasure of escorting Princess Anna of Merceria."

  "If you would follow me, Your Highness, I will show you to your balcony."

  He led them inside with Gerald and Beverly following behind; Lady Nicole appeared from nowhere to join them. The inside of the theatre was richly decorated, reminding Gerald of the Palace back in Wincaster. The floor was covered in a thick carpet of some type, though how it was fashioned was beyond his experience. They made their way up a wide staircase where a series of doors marked the balcony seats. Their host unlocked one of these doors, opening it to reveal the comfortable chairs within.

  "I do hope Your Highnesses enjoy the show," their host said.

  "Thank you," said Alric, dropping a coin into the man's hand. "After you, Anna."

  Anna stepped through the doorway. "It's quite a view," she said.

  "We'll wait out here, Highness," added Lady Nicole. "There won't be room in the balcony for us."

  Gerald was about to complain, but Alric, having already passed through, closed the door, sealing off any further conversation. Gerald stared daggers at Lady Nicole, who simply glared back, a triumphant smile on her face.

  "Looks like we've got some waiting to do," commented Beverly.

  She stood with her back to the door, watching the other patrons filing past. The very sight of the well-armoured knight was enough for people to keep their distance. Gerald couldn't help but notice the interest she generated.

  * * *

  Anna enjoyed the play immensely and couldn't stop talking about it the entire way back to the Citadel. Gerald grumbled as they walked, while Lady Nicole wore a satisfied smirk on her face. They entered the building to be greeted by Hayley and Lily, who had just returned themselves. Anna looked to her Saurian friend and uttered something which Gerald took to be unpronounceable. Lily immediately responded and he suddenly realized she was speaking Saurian fluently.

  "When did Revi cast the tongues spell?" he asked.

  "He didn't," offered Beverly. "She's been mastering the language for months."

  "I thought she only knew a few words. When did she find time for that?" he asked.

  Now it was Beverly's turn to smirk, "Every morning, while she's waiting for you to rise."

  "But I'm up early every day!" he defended.

  "Not so early as you used to be, Gerald. You're not as young as you once were."

  Gerald couldn't decide if he'd been insulted or not. From anyone else he would have taken offense, but Beverly was close to family, so he took it in stride.

  "She's full of surprises," he finally said.

  Anna, meanwhile, had turned her attention to Hayley. "Lily tells me you went down to the river?"

  "Yes, Highness. It appears our Saurian friend loves the water."

  "What did the townsfolk think of her?" Anna asked.

  "People were curious, yet respectful. We found an area where the ground slopes gently into the water. I was throwing sticks into the water for her to retrieve, but now my arm is sore. Tomorrow I'm going to take my bow. She can fetch arrows if she wants to."

  "She's not a dog," admonished Gerald.

  "I know that," Hayley said defensively. "It was her idea. I swear she would have stayed there all day if I'd let her. I had to promise to take her back tomorrow."

  "I'm glad you two were kept entertained," said Anna. "We spent the afternoon seeing a play, well some of us anyway." She cast her eyes at Gerald and Beverly, looking apologetic.

  Twenty-One

  The Rival

  Autumn 960 MC

  The next morning found them all busy, for a messenger had arrived from the Earl of Loranguard himself. He had invited the princess and her entourage to a ball in their honour. Anna was excited and had Sophie combing through her wardrobe, looking for something suitable to wear. Beverly opened the door to reveal clothes strewn about the room.

  "You called for me, Highness?" she asked.

  The young princess looked up from the floor where she was feeling the fabric of a dress.

  "Yes, Beverly, I need some help."

  The redhead stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

  "What precisely is it you need help with?" she asked.

  "I have to pick a dress. Should I wear the blue one or the green one?"

  "I wouldn't know, Highness. It's not something I've ever had to worry about."

  "Come now, Beverly," Anna cajoled. "Do you mean to say you've never dressed to catch the eye of
someone?"

  Beverly frowned. "No, Highness. I'm not one to dress up in fancy clothes. I believe people should be judged for who they are, not how they dress."

  "If only that were true," responded Anna, with all of her fourteen years of wisdom. She picked up the blue dress, holding it against her while she faced her bodyguard. "What do you think of this one?"

  "It's acceptable, I suppose," Beverly replied.

  "It has to be more than acceptable. Do you think Alric would like it?"

  "I think Alric will like whatever you're wearing, Highness."

  "You're just saying that to be nice," said Anna, though she smiled to lessen the accusation. "If you were going to wear one, which would you choose?"

  Beverly walked slowly around the room, carefully eyeing the dresses which covered the chairs, the floor and even the bed. "I would pick the green one, Highness."

  "Aha!" the princess cried. "Finally, an answer. Tell me, why the green one?"

  "It wouldn't impede my sword arm, Highness."

  Anna frowned, "Go away, Beverly, and send up your cousin, perhaps she'll be more helpful.

  "Yes, Highness," she said with a smile.

  Beverly made her way through the Citadel. She knew her cousin would be outside this morning; Aubrey loved to get out onto the grounds where she would while away her time making sketches. She was sitting on a small chair, an upturned tray on her lap, using it as a flat surface, sketching the scene. Beverly watched, entranced, as her cousin's skilled hand added detail after detail, filling in the blank page until the picture began to take form.

  "What do you think, Cousin?" she asked, turning unexpectedly.

  "It's quite nice," Beverly responded, "but how did you know I was here."

  "Easy," Aubrey replied, "it's your armour. It makes noises when you walk."

  "I shall have to talk to Aldwin about it when I return to Bodden. How's your morning going?"

  "Very nicely, thank you. It's such a gorgeous day out today."

  "Have you decided what to wear to the ball?" asked Beverly.