The Unexpected Heir: A Tale of Alus

by Wigboldy,Donald

  The rebuke wasn't what the soldiers expected, but they had been warned to treat the brothers delicately and ignore any insults. It wasn't like the men hadn't seen or heard those shouts on the streets. A standing order to watch but not hinder the brotherhood was even in place to avoid causing irreparable harm to the reputation of the king's soldiers.

  Doing his best to ignore the man's backhanded insult, the captain answered without anger, "Caldrefan would be fine. We need to speak to someone capable of answering questions that might be above your standing in the order."

  A slight insult to his being without necessarily intending it, the brother pulled back revealing indignation for a moment. "I will see if he can speak with you then. Wait off to the side, if you will. Those needing to relieve their worries and ask for help don't need a group of armored men standing here making them uncomfortable."

  Turning on his heel, the brother didn't wait for the captain to respond. He disappeared into a side hall without returning to the armored men, but after several minutes which made the soldiers begin to feel impatient another man in a similar robe appeared from the same direction. A gold medallion hung from a chain in the center of his chest making him stand out from the other brothers around them.

  The medallion was the first truly ostentatious thing to be seen in the temple and made more of an impression because of it.

  Caldrefan walked up to the soldiers alone, but his presence made the captain swallow nervously as if the man was greater than most he had ever known. It felt like addressing a king in a way or at least a lord.

  "I am Brother Caldrefan. You came to have a word with me, captain?" the man asked searching the soldier with his blue eyes. While his tone was neither warm nor cold, the captain thought his eyes could have been called icy.

  Nodding the captain also looked to either side as if thinking there should be a place out of the sight of those starting to look their way from the pews and aisles around them.

  "You may know that there have been a series of fires near the docks recently. We were sent to see if you or those who come here might know something of the identity of those involved or at least might have heard something that would help us find the arsonists before they harm anyone else."

  Frowning at the captain, Caldrefan reminded the man, "Captain, the Brotherhood is a peaceful group. We serve our god by helping our fellow man, not by burning buildings needlessly."

  Looking startled by the rebuff, the soldier shook his head and replied, "Oh, no, we weren't here accusing you of any such thing. We have been to the other temples and shrines in the area as well as through many of the businesses surrounding the affected buildings. The Brotherhood of the Blood is simply one of the larger organizations in the area. With the amount of people coming and going here, we were merely hoping that you or one of your congregation might have seen something.

  "Obviously if someone chose to confess such a sin to one of the brothers, we would appreciate your telling us. There were people killed meaning that these arsonists are also murderers. Such men need to atone for their crimes. The families of the dead will want justice."

  Caldrefan noted the man's stepping around any accusations, but answered, "Obviously murderers should be punished, but we don't have confessionals. We are here to serve the poor and weak. Those who have little usually don't burn down buildings, captain."

  Shrugging as if he didn't care, the soldier answered, "If someone felt that they could benefit or had been paid to do it, they could be poor or rich. It matters little what their situation is, Master Caldrefan. We simply wish to prevent more deaths and remove such criminals from the streets before more crimes can occur.

  "We would appreciate it if the brothers could get past their dislike for the king and help the people of Yalan like you profess to do. Surely your brotherhood would agree that crimes like these should be punished, so if you or any of your people know something or hear something that might help, please alert the authorities.

  "Such reports will be kept quiet, if you are afraid that it would impugn the reputation of your church."

  The captain's words were deferential in tone, but the master of the brotherhood noted a bit of disapproval in the man's eyes. Whether the soldier had been told to accuse them of being involved or not, Caldrefan thought it interesting that they had come to him so quickly. While he didn't know anything of the criminals involved directly, he feared that Karlaan might be involved. Luckily, even if he wanted to answer the captain's questions, Caldrefan didn't know anything for certain.

  "I will be sure to spread the word among the brothers. If we hear anything, we will give you that information.

  "Is that all that we can do for you?"

  Blinking in surprise at the brevity of the conversation, the captain recovered almost without getting caught by the master. "No, Master Caldrefan that is all we request. The king expresses gratitude for your cooperation."

  It was the group of soldiers which turned away to exit through the outer door without looking back. They had done their jobs. No one expected an arrest so quickly, but moving in squads was part of their presence in the streets. They gave the semblance of order and strength. A face for their leaders; the soldiers were an extension of the king.

  The captain hoped that he and his men had accomplished their work properly.

  Caldrefan spotted Karlaan sitting in one of the pews reading a tome with a title that the master couldn't see from that distance. Their eyes met. The boy hadn't missed the soldiers' appearance anymore than the other people gathered in the temple's sanctuary.

  Turning to walk the way he had come was an invitation to Karlaan to follow without being too obvious to anyone around them.

  The two men eventually returned to the room with the shrine and statue of Sordrian. It was large enough that Caldrefan didn't fear being overheard, especially after using his magic to cast a ward on the door.

  Karlaan noted his use of magic casually. It was no secret between the two of them that the master could cast spells. The boy was even pretty sure that Caldrefan was more than just some wilder capable of magic.

  "If you had something to do with those fires, then you had better confess it now," he demanded with dangerous eyes.

  Karlaan didn't appear intimidated at all. Perhaps it was the brashness of youth or maybe the belief that he would be king that emboldened him in front of his master, but the younger man didn't respond immediately as he walked over to sit in a chair set beside the wall.

  "I thought that the Brothers of the Blood didn't have a confessional," he answered with a smirk having caught at least that much of the conversation with the soldiers. When Caldrefan didn't respond, Karlaan added, "There are certain men that I have spoken to who come to the temple that were willing to listen to my ideas. A few fires among the king's properties will begin to cast a light on Orlaan.

  "He and his family don't deserve to rule. When more and more tragedies and accidents happen around them, the people will begin to agree. If the gods hate someone, then maybe the country they rule would be best to get rid of them before that hatred spills over onto them."

  Caldrefan understood the words. They were a mirror of his throughout the years as he had attempted to train this boy. Pushing Karlaan to want to become king and remove his father from power meant coloring his gaze to only see the slights passed onto him and his mother. It made the boy angry enough to believe even killing his wrongdoer would be justified before the gods.

  "When I agreed to let you try your ideas, maybe I should have clarified for you. Don't do anything to draw the king's attention to the brothers. If the king sees us as a threat, it will hamper the possibility of helping you to take the throne, you little idiot."

  He was angry and let slip the insult to Karlaan, who frowned in return.

  "Since you aren't involved, how is it that you think they will blame the brothers? You had nothing to do with it and unless someone comes here to confess it to one of the brothers, you are truly blameless.

  "W
hat people do after hearing the brothers speaking out against Orlaan doesn't have any repercussions for you, does it?"

  Wanting to yell at Karlaan or even strike him across the face to wake him up to the possible dangers of his current moves, Caldrefan found the boy's logic surprisingly hard to argue with; which made him angrier in spite of himself.

  "If your attempts to poke the king cause him and the rest of his family to be on guard, how do you propose removing them discretely?"

  Karlaan's face showed surprise at the comment, but as the younger man stood to answer, Caldrefan feared that such a look was an exaggeration. The boy almost seemed to have predicted a similar question and was quick to answer as he close the distance between them to half. He was still well beyond arm's reach, the master thought curiously.

  "So now you have decided that removing at least some of the royal family is necessary? When I was asking such questions or demanding it before, you acted like I was being foolish.

  "Have you come up with some theories as to whom and how that should happen?"

  Caldrefan noted his demanding silence and the pause as Karlaan searched his face. Had he managed to teach the boy more than he realized? This was more the question of a man on a mission to tear down a king than some child feeling entitled to the throne. Had Karlaan been playing a part until now waiting to have a larger part in his future?

  "Not everything needs to go through Yalan to weaken the king," he replied without truly answering the man's question. "Orlaan has chosen to spread his family throughout the kingdom as you know. At the age of twenty-five, he has made nearly every sibling and their children a lord of a city and castle.

  "Duke Amaan was one of the few chosen to a different position that remained within the city. He had no children making the old man nearly harmless to Orlaan's and his heirs, but he had been his highest ranking general in his youth. Even in his old age, the duke was still a very fit soldier; but then there was the sudden heart attack that killed him.

  "It was a surprise to most, but also not completely unexpected. Even young men can die of a heart attack, Karlaan. Other accidents can occur also, but if the accidents aren't just accidents, then whatever or whoever designs the tragedy needs to be unseen.

  "If you continue to influence the city with fires, they start looking for arsonists and murderers. It is too obvious, boy."

  "So if the accidents are more random, and spread out; then do you think that whatever shadow lingers over the king's house will be able to cause the tragedies easier?"

  They were speaking in circles and Caldrefan knew it as much as Karlaan. Neither would accuse the other, even in a place where they doubted anyone would hear them.

  "I will be leaving on a trip to Ylden and perhaps other towns to the east. The temples there need my guidance. If I leave you here while I attend to them, do I have to worry that you will let your exuberance get out of hand, Karlaan?"

  "If you're asking me to stop the fires from happening, since it made the king look your way; I can assure you that no other building will burn because of me. If I was to do something to hurt the king, it would be more subtle and less repetitious; I assure you, Caldrefan."

  Grinding his teeth at the boy's deflecting, the master knew that he only had himself to blame.

  "Stay out of trouble at least until I return, Karlaan. You aren't one of the brothers, which makes you different. They won't follow you, so Zithas will be in charge of the temple. Try not to get in his way."

  Nodding in agreement, "Of course, master, I will do my best to not make any trouble for Zithas. He and I have always gotten on well enough. I'd hate to have him give you a bad report on your return."

  Closing the distance swiftly, Caldrefan grabbed the back of Karlaan's neck pulling him closer. Their eyes met from only inches away and he could finally see surprise in the younger man's eyes at the strange treatment. The grip was strong enough that it would have been hard to escape, though it wasn't particularly painful.

  "Do not do anything to ruin your future, Karlaan. I promised you a throne one day, but it needs to be done in the right way at the right time. Tamper with my vision of this and you will likely never see the fulfillment of your dreams."

  Placing his hands over Caldrefan's wrists, his grip was firm as the boy replied, "Just remember, Caldrefan, most of us aren't immortals. Orlaan is already an old man and deserves to know that it is the son he cast away who ruins him. I can't wait on your plans forever."

  "It will be soon enough. Just don't ruin things with impetuous actions and it will happen."

  The two men had little more to say and separated to attend to the needs of the day once more.

  A man wearing a hooded coat sat in the pew looking penitent. Hands folded, his head was leaned forward; but he had watched the discussion between Caldrefan and the soldiers even so. It had been a move of the commander. Ilius might know battle tactics, but he wasn't the most subtle of the king's advisors, he thought to himself.

  Soldiers were rarely good as spies. They preferred to solve problems with the points of their swords. Words were trickier and when men refused to reveal their hearts, it made things even more difficult. Lies and half truths were the things of spies and politicians. Deceptions would be needed if one was in a weaker position looking to whittle down that of strength.

  If the Brothers of the Blood were behind the fires, then they were acting from a weaker position than the king.

  When the soldiers left, Caldrefan locked eyes a moment with another younger man who quickly rose to join him. It was noted by the man watching the exchange. While he couldn't be certain that it had anything to do with the fires, the man was sure that it was significant.

  After they had retreated down the hall, he moved to follow. There were only closed doors in the long hallway when he arrived. No one remained in sight and the man only walked a little over halfway before he gave up. No voices were raised that would draw him to any of the closed doors and those left open revealed nothing as well.

  Being careful not to look too suspicious, the man walked back to the sanctuary and used the front doors to leave without seeming to draw any extra attention from the brothers and petitioners in the room. He walked east for a block before turning to the right. After another couple blocks walk through an area with less foot traffic, the man turned right again. If anyone was following him, they were better at being indistinguishable than he was able to find.

  Fairly certain that no normal man could have followed him this long without being noticed, Philip pushed back his hood walking far enough to be further west than the temple to the north of him. A nondescript looking cart waited for him. The man in the front seat was dressed more like a farmer or perhaps a dockworker than someone to be noticed. A likely pair, only the tips of Philip's ears might draw anyone's attention.

  Elves were virtually unheard of in Malaiy, but then again he was only a half elf. His ears were closer to the shape of a normal human's than his mother's had been, but they weren't as rounded as his father's either. His hair was cut long enough to cover them for the most part, so few people seemed to notice or comment on them normally.

  "Do we return home, sir?" the driver questioned as he flicked the reins to start the horses forward. Two brown horses large enough for the job, even if the cart was heavily laden, pulled on their harnesses walking casually down the alley towards the main street hundreds of feet away. While the animals seemed to have little care in the world, the passenger sat mulling over what he had managed to see and hear in the temple of the brotherhood.

  "Take a circuitous route back past the markets. We'll pick up some bread and vegetables. Xurie gave me a list for dinner. It will help make sure that we aren't being followed," Philip replied quietly.

  His driver kept an eye on the spacing from cart wheels to the alley walls hemming them in tightly. It wasn't the best place to have hidden, but it left little space for an enemy to use for stealth at least.

  "Did you come to any conclusions about these Brothers
of the Blood, sir?"

  "No, Laram, though their leader might seem a bit suspicious, there is nothing that can truly point me to them as being behind the fires and deaths. A young man followed him after Ilius' soldiers alerted Caldrefan. They told him that they were just canvassing the area for someone who might know about the fires. It was enough to make the brother look a bit guarded, but that doesn't make him a criminal."

  A man of middle years, Laram was graying already and looked many years older than his master, even though it was Philip who was nearly twice his steward's age. He had known the half elf even before he had married Serafene and followed him from Eirdhen when Philip was still just a merchant. A trusted friend, he could speak of secrets without worrying his master that he would be betrayed or let something important slip to the wrong ears.

  "What does your gut say? You were guided here in a rather heavy handed way by the others, I take it."

  "With all of their attempts to defame the king, the Brothers of the Blood have painted rather large targets on themselves as discontents. It would be hard to argue against the others believing that they might behind it, but I am not completely certain by any means. This Caldrefan has made quite the name for himself over the years, however, and has been making more of a fuss about the king over the last few years.

  "Perhaps I can find out where he came from. If he has been a brother long enough to lead this temple, I would guess that he has been with them for quite awhile.

  "Even if he isn't directly responsible for the attacks, he might know the ones who are. Ilius' instincts to ask around at the temple could be correct, even if sending soldiers to make the inquiry so boldly wasn't the smartest way to handle the affair."

  "If he has something to hide, the questions might make the brother do something to give himself away at least," Laram commented following the logic easily. He was an intelligent man, which was why Philip had included him. There was no spy network he could go to, even if Lord Denefar had been willing to loan him some men, Philip also preferred doing certain work himself. His eyes and ears wouldn't color the facts like those given to him from another. His judgment would be what he would follow to his good or ill.