The Dubious Heir

by Clark, Lydia

  “Now we wait.” Hurley turned back to look past the railing while the sleepy town woke while the sun began to rise behind them. A new day and the plan of his action was going as it should.

  Treea slipped away without Hurley noticing she was gone. It didn’t matter. He would be captain of the ship soon. His ship, his crew and Treea would be his wretched woman. Let her have her so called freedom while she could. It did not matter. She wouldn’t go far.

  Chapter 8

  Treea did not like the way Hurley was acting, he seemed off and too quiet. Something was not quite right. Did he feel jealous for her being with the gigolo? He was the one who had set it up, so why was he acting this way. It didn’t matter. He would be himself once again, soon, she was sure of it. Hurley was Hurley, he was also a man.

  There was a captive down in the hold that needed tending to also. Since no one else was going to do it, this left Treea to the task of bringing food and water below to the prisoner.

  “Hello – are you awake?” Treea called before setting foot on the floor. She held onto the ladder with one hand while balancing a platter of bread and cheese. A flask of water was tied to her waist.

  The prisoner sat on a pile of burlap that was used for a makeshift bed. “Aye – I’m awake.” He tugged at the chain attached to his leg. “Why am I being held? If you think, you can make me perform more services for you for free by holding me here captive then you have another thing coming. I won’t do it.”

  Treea laughed. “You think I’m holding you for my own enjoyment? If it was only as easy as that.” She pushed a piece of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail out of the way of her eyes and smiled a tender smile at her prisoner. She liked his way of thinking. A sex slave had never crossed her mind.

  Morning light filtering down inside the hole allowing Treea to see her prisoner much better. He was bare-chested and muscular. Just the sight of his naked body sent a quiver of want across her body making it hard to forget how he had made her feel not too long ago.

  “I brought you food and water.” Treea stood just out of the prisoner’s reach. She was afraid that if she were to allow him to touch her she wouldn’t want him to stop, even if it were a life or death matter. So she set the tray of food along with a flask on the floor and gently pushed with her foot so that it was within his reach.

  “If you’re not keeping me as a sex slave then why am I a prisoner? It can’t be for money, I have none. I’m just a poor bloke who is trying to pay his own way through college. Do you know how hard that is when you have to take care of your haggard mother?”

  “Your name is Dale Montey, correct?”

  “Aye, that’s my name.”

  “You are the heir to the throne. We have kidnapped you. In exchange for your release, the king, your father, is to release my father from his dungeon.”

  Dale burst out laughing. He clutched at his sides from laughing so hard. “My father the king – I have never heard such a thing. “My mother told me how my father was a tailor who died before I was born. I had no father and had I had one he would never have been king. You have the wrong man.”

  “No, I don’t have the wrong man.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “The birthmark on your inside right thigh, I saw it last night as soon as you dropped your pants.”

  Dale’s eyes narrowed. “What proof do you have, that I would be the heir?”

  “I have your mother’s diary from when she was a young woman. She described the birthmark you were born with.”

  “How would my mother have known the King? Why has she been living as a poor seamstress since I was born?”

  “Because she had to flee the castle before you were born. She was afraid for yours and her life should the new queen discover the truth.”

  “Such an unbelievable tale. They will never believe you.”

  “Aye, but I have a book of truth and once the king sees it he will believe.”

  Treea hated it when other didn’t believe a word she was saying. She snatched up the plate and left the food on the floor along with the water skin. “Eat up. Wasted food can be the death of you.” With one hand holding the plate, she climbed the ladder leaving Dale alone in the hole to ponder over his new found lineage.

  Chapter 9

  “Your majesty, we have received a message for you. It is from the daughter of Captain Pelesii who is being held in the prison.” The messenger paused waiting for the king to respond.

  “Well read it!” The duke order when the King said nothing in response.

  “Your majesty, you have taken my father into custody for no reason. He has done nothing to give cause for this action. I have requested once already that you release him, but since you have given me no choice, I have taken the liberty to hold your son. The only known heir to the throne, prisoner until you comply and release my father along with a sum of one hundred gold bars to pay for his wrongful arrest.”

  “What is this? I have no son. Give that to me!” The king stood and took the scroll from the messenger, sending him off on his way with a quick wave of his hand.

  “How can she claim to have my son when the queen never gave birth to one single child before she died.”

  “I’m sure it must be a hoax, Your Majesty,” replied the Duke.

  The king tried to think back in time. It had been so long ago. Back before he had married. There had been a young woman. How he had loved her and suddenly she had disappeared as though she had never existed. He had come close to telling his parents a declaration of love for this woman when he was told he were to marry a woman he did not know. But he had feared his father’s reaction after he told him it was already arranged to keep the bordering country allied.

  He had never known her name, this young woman, she had never said it and he had never asked. Had this been wrong of him? Even though he had not known her name, he still remembered her smell and smile and the way she made him feel when they were together.

  She had disappeared just before the woman he was to marry arrived at the castle. It had been so mysterious, her leaving in the middle of the night.

  “I’m sure you are right. But I do want you to look into this matter anyways. If there were an heir to the crown, then my people would be happier to know that they would have sound leadership to continue overseeing their kingdom.”

  “As you wish, your majesty.” The Duke bowed and left the king’s side allowing him to continue to think back in time, wondering what ever happened to the young woman he had loved so many years ago.

  This would put a crux into a plan he already had in place for the kingdom. Should he still go through with it, or cancel the deal he had already arranged. He was surprised that Ellington was happy to go along with his arrangement as of so far since he had wanted the throne for many years.

  Chapter 10

  This was bad news. If an heir to the throne were found, it would mean that the Duke of Luxonbulm would never be crowned king. The Duke couldn’t let this happen, after all, he was the Kings brother and should have been named king a long time ago. But his wretched brother stole the crown right out from under his nose by being their father’s favorite. The man had always favored the younger of them.

  For years following, he had made one plan after another to take over the throne. He had even taken such pain to make sure that the queen had never become pregnant by buying potions from an apothecary to prevent such a thing. Painstakingly he had made sure to mix this into her daily drink by telling the servant it was a medication to keep the queen thin and beautiful. Which she was right up to her death.

  Her death had been another matter that the Duke refused to think about. There was no mystery there for him. He knew how and why.

  How had an heir gotten past him? He had kept a close watch on the queen to make sure she had never gotten pregnant. If she had, he would have known. It’s not like a woman can hide a pregnancy. Or, there was that time many years ago. Where had that chambermaid gotten off to? How could he have let
her and her little bump disappear in the night? He had looked and looked for her so he could keep tabs on her. Maybe even pay her to keep quiet over time, but he had never found her or heard of a child being mysteriously born. He had thought she may have died while traveling on the road to some far away country so she could hide with her offspring.

  He had threatened her and her child’s life in an off-handed manner. How far away could she have traveled while with child? How was it that Captain Pellesi’s daughter had found this heir with ease and he hadn’t?

  There was one person who would know. That would be Hurley, Captain Pellesi’s first mate. He needed an audience with the man and he knew how. He also needed to finish setting this deal he had made with this man into motion.

  “Lieutenant Knox, I want you to take several men to the Sea Wench and bring back Hurley. I want to question him.”

  “What if he doesn’t come willingly?”

  “Bring him any way you can. Oh, and look for someone they may be holding prisoner on board, in fact, search the ship.”

  “Do you want me to seize the prisoner?”

  “No, you have my permission to kill them.”

  “As you wish.”

  The Duke and Hurley had made a deal. It would be just like that pirate to not honor his end of the bargain. He had agreed to take the Captain prisoner at Hurley’s request. Obviously he had other plans that were to interfere with the Duke acquiring the kingdom upon the king’s death. If he had to, he would put a stop to Hurley’s plan and make Captain Pellesi pay for his first mate’s folly.

  Chapter 11

  “Hurley!” Treea screamed once again. No answer. Where had that man gotten off to? She couldn’t help but notice the advancing soldiers on horseback heading for her ship with a prisoner cart in tow. Were they coming for her now that the message had been sent to the King?

  “My Lady, I can’t find Hurley anywhere,” said a deck hand Treea had sent in search of the first mate as soon as Treea had seen the advancing soldiers.

  It was too late to pull up the plank leading to the dock as two soldiers had already set foot on it followed by the Lieutenant. Treea braced herself. She was sure they were here to take her prisoner.

  The officer opened up the scroll and read its contents for all to hear. “By order of the King, we’re here to take Hurley Malcomivetch into custody for questioning. You are hereby ordered to turn him over or face the consequences.”

  “Hurley is not here,” Treea responded.

  “Search the ship,” ordered the Lieutenant, “and, find the prisoner and kill them.”

  Treea drew her sword. “You have no right to be on my ship and you have no right to search my ship. Arm yourself!”

  “You are such a fool, Lassie, but if that is what you want then so be it.”

  Metal hitting metal sounded aboard the deck as each hand including Treea engaged in a duel with an opponent. Each strike missing its mark but taking its toll on muscles. The Lieutenant was strong and agile but so too was Treea. She had many a fencing lesson with her Pop from the time she was ten. Then, when he had made the final decision to take her aboard the ship when her Mum died from the croup. It must have been brought on by coal dust from the fireplace, and maybe a pipe of smoke or two, he once again continued with her lessons.

  The blade nearly missed her shoulder as she deflected it by spinning out of its way. She let her defenses come to her aid by jumping and ducking. This was much easier on her body than swinging her cutlass about. Tire the enemy out and then take advantage of their weakness.

  Where was Hurley, she wondered? Had he left the ship without saying a word? What did the King want with him? Did they want to know what his knowledge of the heir was? How had he come across that diary in the first place? He had never said.

  The Lieutenant swung almost catching her off guard while the thoughts of where and why Hurley was missing raced through her head. She had to fall backwards and roll out of the way to avoid the lieutenant’s blade coming down on her neck. It was a close call. A quick scramble to her feet before he could swipe once more with his blade saved her from another attack.

  Finally, the Lieutenant began to tire. She had begun to wonder if he ever would, and who had more stamina, she started to think that maybe she was the lesser foe until he faltered and she took full advantage of it.

  With the swing of her blade, it made contact with the Lieutenant’s side. It did not cut him enough to kill him, but he was injured. He clinched his side and began to back his way off the ship nearly losing his footing on the plank. Treea followed him in hopes of helping him find his way into the water, by kicking at the edge of the plank. Three kicks with success. The plank slipped off the edge of the ship. Down into the water went the plank and the Lieutenant. A trail of blood appeared across the water’s surface indicating how badly the Lieutenant had been injured. He disappeared from sight. She hoped he had been eaten but wouldn’t bet on it. Never assume your enemy is dead, most likely they escaped coming to find you in the future.

  “A ghost from your past can be the death of you,” her Pop always said.

  Treea turned away, others needed her help. A blade clanked and skittered across the deck as one of the hands fell from a fatal wound to his abdomen. This enraged Treea. She ran at the soldier with all her might and battled him, swing for swing knocking him over the side of the ship into the cold waters below. Hopefully, he would be fish food.

  One by one the soldiers were either knocked from the ship by a blow or sent in retreat to the safety of the dock which was only accessible by jumping.

  “Cowards!” Treea yelled after the last soldier jumped from the ship, making it safely.

  Still no sign of Hurley.

  She watch while they helped the injured Lieutenant up on his horse. Just as she had thought, he was still alive. Treea was sure he would be back again on another day.

  “My Lady, that was the last one.” A deck hand pointed toward the last soldier who had made it successfully off the ship. “What would you have us do? Will they be back?”

  “Hoist the anchor and pull the lines, we are moving a safe distance from shore.”

  “Aye will do.”

  Treea spied the door to the hold wide open. She remembered the Lieutenants orders to find and kill her prisoner. Carefully she approached the hold and looked down to see a body lying limp below. Her heart sank, hopes of using the prisoner against the King for her Pop’s release were gone.

  When she descended the ladder, she was surprised to see who it was that lay there in a pool of blood chained to the ship. It was not her prisoner, the heir. She wondered how he had gotten away while tears filled her eyes.

  The sight before her shocked her. His blood was drained from his face. There had been no weapons seen for him to defend himself with from the attacker. Not even a dagger. He must have come down here unarmed and he had never stood a chance. A pain grew in her heart making it hard to breathe while she drew his body close to her holding his head against her chest, she stroked his hair. The skin was cold to touch. How long had he laid here in his own pool of blood?

  Treea set her lips to his forehead one last time. Sobs came forth from her throat in spasms. Hurley, her love was dead. Whoever had taken her prisoner without being seen did not matter. All that mattered was how her heart felt as though it was ripped from her body. Whoever had done this was going to pay and pay dearly.

  Chapter 12

  “Mum, has anyone given you any trouble?”

  “No, why? Where have you been? Your food went cold the other night and I had to feed it to the cats to keep it from spoiling. What have I told you before, if you’re not coming home then tell me so I don’t waste our precious food.” The woman wore a tattered dress that would only take maybe one or two more times of repairing before it would be beyond help. Her beauty of her younger years lost over time. Life struggles showed in the thick lines of her brow from squinting to see the needle and thread that she so diligently worked with day in and day out.<
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  Dale knew she would be angry with him for not returning home over the past couple of days. What would she say if she knew why? There was only one way to find out. He really needed to know anyways. What if that sea wench was right about who his father really was?

  “About that Mum, please sit for a moment. I need to tell you what happened to me and ask you a question. Please, I beg you, please tell me the truth.”

  She raised her brow in question but took a seat as he had asked and waited.

  “I was taken captive two days ago. At first I did not know why but then I later learned from a woman who took me prisoner. Mum, she said I am the king’s heir. Is this true?”

  The old woman looked away causing Dale to reach out and take her hand. “Mum is this true,” he repeated.

  She had seemed far away in another time before she replied. “What proof does she have?”

  “The woman told me about a diary she acquired and how my name was written in this book along with knowledge of my birthmark. No one knows about my birthmark beside you, Mum. Is she telling the truth? You said my Pop was a tailor.”

  The woman thought back to when she had been young and in love. It had been unusually cold in the castle that year. The man she loved had brought her a pair of gloves to keep her hands warm. He had told her that he had made them himself so that they would be special. In a way, this made him in her mind the beginning of a tailor, if only he had not been royalty, he would have made an excellent tailor.

  “This diary, where did she get it?” His Mum asked.

  “She wouldn’t say. Was there such a book? Tell me the truth, please?”

  “They will kill you should they find you,” his Mum mumbled.

  “But why? Why would they kill the only heir to the throne?”

  “Because, they told me so.”

  “Who, Mum, who told you so?”

  “Why the Duke of course. He gave me warning and I took heed and left immediately before anyone else found out. I hid with you for months on end, eating scraps thrown out by the inn in the dead of night. I foraged for food for us at night and we hid by day so no one would find us. Then, when I decided and learned that no one was looking for us in the city. And, reports were made of a woman found dead on her way to a city south of the kingdom, I thought we were safe to live the life of an ordinary town resident. That was when I felt safe for you to learn to be educated and allowed you to be schooled.”