“The Lord Chancellor is nothing more than your footman, Rayner?” Rutherford asked with a sneer.
“In fact, the healers recommend so much daily exercise that it is impossible for any human with a job to finish.” Edmund pushed as much emphasis on the word job as possible, if only to remind Rutherford he was unemployed and without favour at court. “So, Lord Rayner orders me about, with good humor, knowing that he is making the healers happy.”
“Quite so,” Rayner said, not even missing a beat in their little song and dance.
“I have considered moving chairs myself as part of my own exercise regime,” Stanley said with a firm nod of the head. “Now, why are you here? And do not lie to me, Rutherford. I have known you all my life.”
Rutherford reached back to accept a scroll from one of his lackeys. “I am here to present my petition to have the northern and eastern taxes reduced.”
Rayner snatched the scroll. He scoffed openly as he read it. He passed it to Stanley. “Why do you need such reductions? The east wasn’t even badly affected by the war, not like the rest of the country. We all still pay our taxes.”
“We need our slaves to be competitively priced and the king’s taxes are impoverishing us.”
A snort escaped Edmund. At all three men’s glares, he said, “What else is the north good for, except slaves. Other than the many raw materials we use. There are also the stone quarries in the east that supply all of the grand houses in the country. Oh! And what about the many rivers and fresh water fish that can be used to feed the population? Yes, I can see why the east things they have nothing to offer Taftlin but the enslavement of its own people.”
“I am speaking to the adults, boy,” Rutherford said sharply.
“And, so, you are speaking to me,” Edmund said back, just as sharply. He’d not recognized the tone as his own, but rather as Rayner’s haughty address when he was annoyed. “With the king away, I am the voice of the monarchy. I know the wishes of the king and queen. Both are opposed to the slave trade within our borders. I recommend you do not push His Majesty on this point, or you might find his wife’s stubborn streak to have rubbed off on him.”
Rutherford reared up to begin his verbal rain of arrows, but Edmund cut him off. “Rayner and Stanley both know the king’s desires intimately and they can answer all of your questions about what your current taxation rates are. Lord Rayner? If you would be so kind, I will excuse myself to go work on Lord Rutherford’s accounts this very moment. As it happens, the archivist had already pulled the ledgers for me.”
“I would greatly appreciate it,” Rayner said with smug satisfaction.
“Do not forget the property the king granted him,” Stanley added.
“Thank you, Lord Stanley. I had forgotten about that. I will ensure that it worked into the equations. Excuse me, gentlemen.”
Edmund turned his back on Rutherford without a bow, but he inclined his head to both of the royal advisors. They returned the gesture, and turned their attention to the no doubt seething Rutherford. He closed the doors behind him, locking them in continued privacy.
He called the cleaning maid over, who was busy polishing the mirrors. “Do who know who Jackson is? The guard captain. Good. Have a message sent to him. Say I need him in Kiner’s study immediately. It is an emergency.”
“Yes, my lord.” She put down her wash cloth back into the bucket of water and rushed off, pulling her skirts halfway up her calves.
If there was Rutherford, Edmund was sure there was trouble. They needed to be on their guard, for last time he tried to burn the damn palace down. There was no telling what he’d do now with Arrago and Bethany gone.
BETHANY SAT ON THE rowboat, just behind Arrago. They’d taken their own rowboats, but the dockmaster had dispatched several more in case they were needed. The docks were new, built over the collapsed stone of the temple’s tower. She always assumed they’d clear out the rubble first, as they had been doing in the early days. Perhaps it was just easier to build over it. The rubble created the need for a much longer wharf than they ever had before, so that it would clear the dangerous edges. The dock wasn’t in the same position as it used to be, either.
“That wharf is going to take a pounding when the winter storms come,” Bethany said to no one in particular. “Why did they build it out this way? I thought the plan was always to clear out the rubble.”
“Maybe it’s too hard to get all of the stone out. It must go forever,” Arrago said.
“Maybe this is simply temporary,” Bethany mused. “Saves the supply ships all having to dock in Orchard Park, and they’ll just route all of the winter ships that way. I doubt it would be safe coming in here in rowboats once the storms pick up.”
They slipped into silence for a few more minutes before Bethany said, “Let’s go over this one final time. Arrago, Jonas, and Lady Kia do all of the talking. The rest of us keep our mouths shut.”
Murmurs of Yes, Lady Bethany filled the air. Bethany looked over at Lady Kia. They’d met near the end of the war. She was a human woman, who’d pretended to be a man to get into the military. By the time the war came about, no one cared who she was because she knew how to hold a sword and form a shield line. Her ceremonial armour was too big for her, and had been padded out with clothing to hold it in place, making her appear like a massive beast underneath it all.
Thankfully, Kia was nearly Arrago’s height. He was tall for a human, and Bethany was even taller, so they would have stood out if everyone else was a head shorter. But Kiner had sent the tallest of the tower guards to make Bethany’s height less suspicious.
“And, remember. I am in the back. Everyone remember their places,” Bethany said.
She couldn’t risk anyone sneaking up on them, and she certainly couldn’t risk Jud making them take off their helmets. She would be apart slightly from the main royal guard, taking up the rear and maintaining watch. And, if Jud demanded the guards around Arrago take off their helmets, a bunch of humans would be scowling back and not Bethany’s scarred face.
Their rowboat reached the wharf’s edge. She could see that people were gathering about, waiting to see who’d arrived. No doubt, they’d already seen the Taftlin arms on the sails. Bethany’s stomach fluttered, knowing that this was their best plan and that it could all going horribly wrong.
“Myra? Jonas? You know what to do, right?” Bethany asked.
Myra and Jonas both nodded. They were in regular militia garb. Leathers with strategic protective metal bracings. Swords at their hips, shields on their backs. Jonas was safe. He’d never served in the south, so no one down here would recognize him. It was possible one of the knights who’d served with Bethany in the war might remember him, but humans looked alike to most elves.
Myra was another story. Jud knew her. He hated her so much he’d sent her north in hopes of her dying. Myra wore a patch over one eye and wore a wool cap to cover her ear tips. She also had a solid dusting of wood ash all over her clothes and face, in hopes that the filth would disgust Jud enough that he’d avoid much interaction with her.
“Get to Orchard Park. Buy olives. Find Jovan,” Jonas said.
“We can do this, Lady Bethany,” Myra said.
“Good,” Bethany said. Her stomach knotted more and she feared she might be sick inside her helmet.
“I don’t think I was this nervous while waiting for Daniel to attack us at Kershaw,” Arrago said.
“That’s because you knew there was going to be a fight. This time, you have no idea,” Jonas said.
“Oh, there’s going to be a fight,” Bethany said. “Mark my words, this isn’t going to end smoothly.”
“Thanks for that,” Arrago said. “I feel so much better.”
Chapter 10
ARRAGO WAITED FOR JONAS and Kia to climb up the ladder before he joined them. The wooden ladder was slick with seaweed and slime, and stank of rotten fish guts. That was a smell he knew all too well living at Castle Gree during the war. Several scowling elves stared at
him and he realize that he’d never actually met Jud before, and yet knew which one of the scowling pointed-eared fellows was him.
In the middle of the immaculate elves stood a shiny, fussy-looking elf with a high collar and a smug expression. Instinct told him that had to be Jud.
Lady Kia and Jonas both bowed. Kia said, “We are here to see Lord Defender Jud.”
“Who are you?” the fussy man asked.
“I am Lady Kia, daughter of Lord Cyril Storm, Captain of the Taftlin Royal Guard. This is Captain Jonas Whiteriver, Royal Guard of the Winter Palace. We are here to present Arrago, King of Taftlin.”
Arrago had not moved from the back ranks yet, instead following Bethany’s silent direction to watch until he was needed.
The man squared his shoulders. “Is this a joke? The Elven Council would have informed me, even if it was some backwoods muck spawn like the bastard of Taftlin. Do you have some message to pass along? I’ll ensure it gets to the Elven Council. Eventually.”
Arrago didn’t need Bethany to tell him it was time to perform. He tapped the men in front of him, who parted gracefully. They’d practiced this in the courtyard before coming. They tapped the shoulder in front of them, causing the sea of men to part like an act of pure Magic.
Arrago focused on keeping his chin high and trusted his feet to keep him steady—even if the instinct to look down was occasionally overwhelming. “Who is in charge?”
“I am Lord Defender Jud. Identify yourself.”
“Arrago, King of Taftlin, to meet with the Holy Father of the Apexian Faith.”
Jud scoffed out a laugh, but stopped abruptly when the soldiers behind Arrago unsheathed their swords. “What is the meaning of this? Andrews! Have all of these imposters arrested.”
The man called Andrews had been staring slack-jawed at Arrago until Jud spoke. Then he stared slack-jaw at his boss. “Um, Lord Jud? This is King Arrago. Majesty.” Andrews bowed low. “You will not remember me, Majesty. I was stationed at Castle Gree, where I worked as an undersecretary for several of the field commanders. How is your son, Majesty? Is he well? I forget his name, I apologize.” Andrews bowed low once again.
“Henry,” Arrago said. He didn’t recognize the man, but he was following the proper protocols enough that Arrago believed his story. “And, he is well, thank you.”
“Yes, of course. Prince Henry. I am happy to know he is in health.” Andrews cleared his throat. “Majesty, allow me to introduce you, therefore, to the Silver Knights’ new Lord Defender, Lord Jud. Lord Jud, this is Arrago, the King of Taftlin.” Andrews said the last bit in a strained tone, filled with warning.
Arrago kept his chin lifted and concentrated on having a sneer on his face. An elf like Jud would look down on him, think him a lesser person. Arrago had to maintain that kind of arrogance, at least for this exchange. Rayner had told him again and again to be the arrogant king that the elves expected all human kings to be. Rayner said he had to act like royalty and not everyone’s best friend. That line stung him a little, but he knew now Rayner had been right.
He was also very grateful he’d practiced the expression in front of the mirror and, later when improved, to Stanley. He tried to picture Bethany whenever she was about to hit someone over the head with her pummel.
Jud sized up Arrago and his sneer deepened. “Please. This is not Arrago. If this was the king of Taftlin, where is Apprentice Knight Bethany? Shouldn’t his whore be slinking out of the bowels of the ship by now?”
Arrago nearly grabbed Jud’s throat himself. But the first rank of his guards all pointed their swords. The knights around Jud also pulled their swords. In the middle stood Arrago, Jud, and the terrified-looking elf named Andrews.
Her sword unwavering, Lady Kia said, “Lord Jud. I believe you have forgotten your manners. You are speaking of our queen, Her Majesty, Lady Bethany. To insult the queen of Taftlin, as you just have, is considered a capital offence back home. Surely, you did not realize that former Lady Champion Bethany had married King Arrago, nor that the friendly insults of the past can no longer take place. Protocol must be adhered to.”
“Lord Jud, I beg you, listen,” Andrews urged. “This is the king, and he was our ally in the Magic Wars. Lord Jud, please.”
Arrago’s heart pounded while he waited for Jud to mull this over. He had not drawn his own sword. Neither had Jud. He wanted to prevent a fight from happening until after they’d gotten Erem and Jovan out safety. Arrago had no idea what Jud wanted, excepting to be in charge at all times.
Jud finally gave a slight bow of his head and motioned for the knights to be at ease. They sheathed their swords. Arrago’s guard did not. When this damn mess was over, he was absolutely putting Bethany and Kiner in charge of training up an entirely new royal guard. This mix was mostly people she trusted from the war or knights who’d served with her, and Apexia’s blessings, they knew exactly what to do on instinct. A man could feel safe with these people behind him.
A man could feel almost like a king.
“My knights have lowered their weapons,” Jud said.
Arrago made no reply. He simply let the hostility he felt towards Jud to ooze out of him. He glared hard, and sneered.
Andrews cleared his throat. “You have yet to apologize.”
Jud glared down at his aide, but finally said, “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
“Majesty, Lord Jud,” Andrews whispered. “Taftlin Kings are called Majesty to their face.”
Jud snorted. “It is just a title, Andrews. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”
Arrago searched his mind for the insult Jovan and Bethany used to use. He found it and smiled. “Yes, they are all just titles, Lord Juddlebug.”
Jud’s eyes widened and anger flashed across his face.
Andrews stepped in front of Jud and gave Arrago a silent, but pleading look. “Majesty, Lord Jud is unaccustomed to unannounced visitors, especially in the morning. We are very apologetic about the banter from the pre-war days. Elves, as you probably already know, are masters at insulting each other. Unfortunately, we occasionally forget that there are times when the insults are not appropriate.” Andrews said that last line while looking pointedly at Jud. “We are very honoured to have the ruling monarch of our recent ally standing here before us. Aren’t we, Lord Jud?”
Jud snorted. “Did you convert while in Taftlin, Andrews?”
“I am trying to prevent a diplomatic incident, considering the king hasn’t even been invited into the temple yet.”
Arrago wanted to say something, but he decided to let Andrews and Lady Kia do the work for him. So, instead he raised an eyebrow by way of reply.
“Should I advise His Majesty that we are no longer considered your ally and we should return home to nurse this insult?” Lady Kia asked.
Andrews gave Jud such a cold, hard glare that it proved he wasn’t one of the Magi; anyone with Magic would have turned Jud into a block of ice with that glare.
Jud eventually got the hint, though he was quite put out by it all. “Yes, of course. Forgive my manners, Majesty. I was not expecting you. You have caught me out.”
Arrago motioned for his own guard to sheath their weapons. He inclined his head and began following Jud. He glanced at Andrews who let out a huge breath of relief. Killing Jud probably wouldn’t have helped the Erem situation in the long term, but it was a solution. He now realized why Bethany used to fantasize about murdering him. He’d only just met the man and already he wanted him to drop dead.
“May I ask the purpose of your visit, Majesty?” Jud asked.
“I wished to discuss the delicate nature of our current relationship, and wished to do it in person. Obviously, I could not announce my arrival. I have enemies, as I am sure do you.”
He wished Rayner or Stanley had come with him, but both men flatly refused. They both pleaded their health and Arrago was inclined to take them at their word. There was also the honest issue of someone having to be left behind to actually do some work in running the nation. And
, he supposed, someone to sell the silverware when they ran out of ready cash to feed the servants.
“Anyone who does Apexia’s will shall never have an enemy he cannot overcome,” Jud said. And there was something in his tone that put Arrago’s danger sense on alert.
“Then I believe we should formalize the situation between our nations,” Arrago said.
“I am merely a tool of the Elven Council, Majesty.”
“Ah, but where the army goes, the politicians will follow.” Arrago gave him a smile which he sure was harder than polite. “The few remaining Silver Knights in Taftlin had been doing excellent work helping clean up after the war. You can imagine how desperate the situation was afterwards.”
“Well, it’s only to be expected when untrained peasant folk are attacked,” Jud said.
Andrews choke on his own spit and gasped, “Sorry. I swallowed wrong.”
Arrago made a pointed look about the boulder field around them. “I think everyone underestimates the cleanup involved after a major conflict.”
Jud glared at him. “Rest assured, the temple is already functional, under my guidance. I cannot be held responsible for the actions of my predecessors.”
“I miss Lord Allric daily,” Arrago said, very loudly. To ensure he was heard over the wind and the clomp of boots against wood. “They say he was the greatest knight that ever lived.”
Several of the knights turned to stare at him. He didn’t recognize any of these, and assumed most were from Wyllow when Jud brought over his own guard.
“Well, I’m sure he had his place in Taftlin, but I assure you we are running a very efficient system here now.” He put extra emphasis on the word now.
“The king would also like to speak with the new Holy Father,” Lady Kia said. She was doing well, playing the role of the king’s assistant. She was a noble by birth, so she knew the court tongue well. Arrago still faltered with it, so he was glad for her presence. “And will His Majesty be able to stay at the temple, or should we find him appropriate lodgings in town? Since, as you say, you’ve been doing so much work to recover from the war.”
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