The Heir Of Westfall [The Alurian Chronicles Book 1]

by Christopher W. Wilcox, Sr.

  "At once, my Prince.” The sprite vanished in a sparkle of light.

  Bethany's voice came from behind them. “I am coming, too. Queen Beatrice has been like my own mother to me, and I must be at her side."

  "Beth, they don't know why she is so ill. This could be a threat to our baby."

  "Rory, some duties must be met no matter the risk. This is one of them."

  Chapter 32

  As they approached the outer ring of Aluria, they found King Brightblade and Queen Arianna waiting for them before they reached the final stretch of road. Neither was dressed in the regal attire normally associated with the Forest Lords; in fact, they were dressed in the style one normally associated with the personal attendants to someone of the duke's rank and position. “Obviously, you wish to enter the castle unannounced by traveling incognito. Very well, you should ride behind Rory and Bethany and try to act a little humble,” Duke Richard said after he greeted King Brightblade and his queen.

  The two fell in line in the place indicated and the group proceeded on. The outer ring was even more squalid than Rory remembered from his visit the preceding spring. There was a hint of desperation on the faces of the adults now, and the children were silent to mask their fear. The markets in the third ring were smaller and less energetic, with fewer items for sale. The homes in the second ring were shuttered tightly and those they passed hurried along without a greeting even as they acknowledged the true nobility with a sketchy bow. The King's Own were also silent as they ushered the duke and his party into the castle.

  Earl Sudcliffe, the chancellor, greeted them. “I am glad you've arrived, Duke Richard. If ever there was a time when the king needed his friends, it is now. The queen is slipping away from us."

  Bethany placed her hand on her father's arm. “If you have ever trusted me, you must trust me now. Take us to the queen at once and ask no questions. All will be clear later, I promise."

  The earl stared into his daughter's eyes for just a moment and saw the sincerity that lay within them. He knew his daughter loved the queen and would do nothing to bring her sovereign harm. He would do as she asked, but how he would explain this to King William was beyond him. Earl Sudcliffe nodded and motioned for them to follow. He led them to a set of doors within the royal wing of the castle, ones which Bethany knew led to the queen's private bedchamber.

  King William surged to his feet as the group entered the chamber. “Earl Sudcliffe, you had better have a good explanation for this unwelcome intrusion.” Then he saw who was with the chancellor. “Princess Bethany, it was good of you to come. We doubt the queen will know you are here but one never knows. However, this is no place for your servants, Duke Richard.” When she slipped off her hood, King William said, “Queen Arianna!"

  "We have come to see if we can help, William,” Queen Arianna said as she moved to his side. “Brightblade, Rory, if you would join me from either side. Bethany, stand at the foot of the bed, if you would."

  "Me? I have no powers!” Bethany said.

  "The child you carry does, although they are nascent at this point, but that will suffice.” Once everyone was in position, Arianna said, “Everyone join hands and open your senses to the Forces of Life. I will serve as the guide so surrender your will to me."

  Using the powers of the others to expand her own, she channeled their energies and opened herself to the dying woman who lay on the bed so still and silent. It was as she feared. What ailed the Queen of Aluria was nothing natural; she was the victim of a magical attack. She lent some of her energy to the dying woman to ease her suffering and then withdrew.

  Raising her eyes to the haggard king before her, she said, “I am deeply sorry, William, but there is nothing anyone can do for her now. Your child has already perished and Beatrice is not far behind. Perhaps within the hour, her suffering will come to an end. This was not a natural death; she was murdered by the use of dark magic which stole her very life force after first attacking your child."

  "Eastfell.” King William's voice was almost as lifeless as his dying queen. A little more fire crept into his voice as he said, “I will level that land and everything in it. I will sow salt into the soil itself, turning it into a vast barren wilderness where nothing will ever live again."

  Queen Arianna walked up and slapped him. “Stop that! Beatrice was about life, not death. The people of Eastfell are not responsible for this atrocity. The animals are not responsible, nor the land itself. If you must have a target for your rage, it should be the source of this dark magic, the Outlander sorcerers and your renegade duke."

  William fell to his knees, his face buried against Arianna, and his shoulders shook with the force of his sobs. “What shall I do without her, Arianna? She has been my life."

  Duke Richard walked over and put his hand on his king's shoulder. “You go on, William. You make the effort to get through each day by asking yourself what she would want you to do. It will be the hardest thing you have ever done but you have no choice because you are the king. Your subjects count on you, especially now. You must be in control of your emotions."

  King William lifted his teary eyes and looked at the man who had been his father's friend long before becoming his most trusted duke. “Was that what you did? I always wondered whether your stoic perseverance after Bridget's death was due to some alienation between you two. Yet you always spoke of your great love for her, and I know in the many years since her death, there has been no other woman for you."

  "Yes, King William. Bridget is with me always, as Beatrice will be at your side forever more. Every decision from now on will be made with the thought of what Beatrice would say. It will make you more deliberate, which is a good thing in a monarch. Now, go hold your love's hand for the final time in life. We will wait with you so you are not alone."

  And so it was that the King of Aluria was surrounded by his closest friends, advisors, and allies when Beatrice, Queen of Aluria, passed into the great mystery called death. Princess Bethany wept silently into the chest of Crown Prince Rorrick. Tears rolled down the faces of King Brightblade, Queen Arianna, and Duke Richard of Westfell. The chancellor kept his emotions in check until after he had spoken to the guards at the door. As the great bells of the churches began their sad tolling, he too began to weep.

  Chapter 33

  The state funeral for Queen Beatrice and the unborn Prince Stephan was held three days later. The queen lay in state in the main ballroom of the castle and the lines of mourners stretched through all the rings of the city and beyond. As the mourners passed her bier, the king and his advisors met in another room of the castle.

  "Your Majesty, the enemy has achieved their goal by this murder. They believe their murder of your heir and queen to be untraceable back to them. They have disrupted the realm and believe they have left you prostrate in grief. This was done to slow or even halt your preparations to attack Eastfell, their foothold within the realm,” Duke Richard summarized. “It would be to our benefit were they to continue in this belief. You must seem bereft, perhaps even driven mad by the loss of your queen. Meanwhile, we can continue our mutual preparations. If you would prepare a secret decree giving authority of the King's Own to General Gustav, he can begin integrating the armies together, establishing a unified command structure between the Wolves and the King's Own."

  Queen Aluria spoke up. “It is vital that you name another heir, William, and do it in secret. The name of that heir must not come to the attention of the enemy. Also, it is imperative that Princess Bethany get back behind the Veil as soon as possible since she is carrying a child which could be used against Prince Rorrick. Unfortunately, their happy news had already been shared before we knew of the magical attack against the queen. The enemy could be targeting her and her child even as we sit here."

  King William nodded. “I understand and agree with all you have said. The matter of my heir has been on my mind for many years as you may imagine before we were blessed. I had made up our mind that there was only one person who
could possibly lead this realm in the years to come should something happen to me. I prepared a secret document that will be opened only upon my death. I have not rescinded that letter, and only intended to do so after the birth of my child. You all should know who that person is in case circumstances prevent an orderly transition of power, such as my death in the war to come. My designated heir is Prince Rorrick."

  Stunned silence greeted this announcement. “Sire, I am not fit to be your heir...” Rory began but the king interrupted him. “None of us is ever fit to become king. Ask your father whether he was ready to take over when his sire was murdered."

  King Brightblade nodded sadly. “I never felt so unprepared in my life, despite the years I had spent at his side."

  "That is as it should be,” Queen Arianna said. “No man should be eager to be king if he has any idea of the great responsibilities involved. Those who seek the throne do so for all the wrong reasons and invariably become despots. Rorrick would make a good king if necessary. Princess Bethany and I will leave early in the morning for the Veil, taking Swiftstalker and Brightblade. We will travel with as little flair as possible to avoid notice. We must get her safely behind the Veil before the enemy shifts his attack to her."

  * * * *

  Prince Rorrick, Heir to Westfell and the Great Forest, now secret heir to the Realm of Aluria, looked down from the curtain wall of the castle. His gaze followed the passage of a lonely wagon bearing an old crone and her homely daughter as it rolled through the empty streets, accompanied by two riders. They were obviously poor, their clothes shabby and worn. The horses were old and slow, the possessions in the wagon were meager. To anyone who saw them, it would be evident they had nothing worth stealing.

  It was all a glamour, of course. Queen Arianna and Princess Bethany wore warm and comfortable clothing of high quality, and sat upon thick cushions in the sturdy wagon. King Brightblade and Lord Swiftstalker rode their elven warhorses, with their swords strapped across their backs, daggers at their sides, and longbows on their saddles. It was one more means of confusing the enemy and protecting the future represented by the child Bethany carried.

  Rory sighed. It was so hard to let Bethany ride off without him. Each of them had a role to play in the upcoming conflict in order to secure the future. If he had to sacrifice his time with Bethany for her safety, it was a small price to pay. In the meantime, he had work to do.

  He went down to the stables and quickly saddled Thunder, adding extra saddlebags with journey rations and other supplies for a long trip. It would feel strange to be on the road without his uncle at his side; Swiftstalker had been there with him since he first left the Tower of the Pact with Duke Richard. None of his elven family knew what he intended or Swiftstalker would have refused to accompany Bethany.

  He checked his bags one last time to make sure he had everything he needed and then mounted Thunder. He rode from the castle and turned in a different direction than the one used by the wagon. While they rode to the north and west, he rode to the south and the deserts of Solange. He had argued the need for this mission with his grandfather and King William and both had finally agreed it was necessary. Someone had to travel to the Great Caliph at the Oasis of the Moon to see whether he would honor the alliance so recently forged.

  * * * *

  It took only two days for Rory to reach the edge of the Great Desert. As he had hoped, he was intercepted by one of the caliph's patrols just after crossing the border into Solange. He raised his hand in greeting to the patrol leader.

  "You have returned to us, great djinn of the Forest. May I ask why?” The patrol leader recalled the great display for the grand vizier and the honors the caliph himself had bestowed upon this djinn.

  "I must confer with the Great Caliph,” Rory said.

  "You are in luck, then, for the Great Caliph is in the city along the river, consolidating his hold over the region. You need not trek across the Great Desert and ruin such a fine horse. Would you like an escort?"

  "I would not interfere in your duties, and I know the way to the city. But I thank you for your offer and wish you well."

  Rory turned Thunder's head onto the road to the river and let him run. The warhorse's ground-devouring strides soon carried him out of sight of the desert patrol and into the fertile region around the river. Everywhere, Rory could see signs of the changes being made by the Great Caliph. The people seemed more energetic and friendly; it was not uncommon for them to wave a greeting as he raced along the road. The markets were thriving, forcing Rory to slow his pace through the crowded area. One vendor, seeing Rory as a foreign traveler, tossed him a sweet blood orange as he rode past. Rory slowly savored each slice of the fruit as he moved further along the road. Once he had finished, he stopped at the edge of the river to wash his hands free of the juice from the orange.

  As he prepared to remount his horse, another patrol rode up. “Greetings, Lord Rorrick of the forest djinn. I had not thought to see you so soon. Are you chasing another stolen woman?” The patrol leader laughed. “Or have you come to tumble more of my warriors from their camels or take the pants from the grand vizier's guards?"

  Rory recognized the patrol leader from his initial encounter atop the dune outside the Oasis of the Moon. He joined the man's laughter then he said, “Neither, for my trip to see the Great Caliph of the Desert Peoples is not one for such pleasurable pastimes. As for women, the one your caliph gifted to me is more than sufficient, thank you!"

  "It is said that one woman can rule a man yet two or more allows the man to rule instead,” the patrol leader said. “Perhaps our Great Caliph will give you a second wife to restore peace in your house."

  Rory tried to imagine explaining a second wife to Bethany, and shuddered at the thought of her reaction. “Unfortunately, I must speak to the Great Caliph about terrible things happening in the north. The pleasures of my house must be set aside for now until these grave events run their course. Could you direct me to the Great Caliph?"

  "I will do more than direct you. I shall take you there myself. Amal, take charge of the patrol and continue. I will catch up to you later.” After the patrol rode off, the leader said, “My men could continue their patrol without anyone in charge, but this will be good training for Amal, my new second-in-command. The Great Caliph is at the fortress of Solange, a place I believe you once visited."

  "Yes, I was once an unwilling guest in that fortress.” Rory laughed.

  "The warriors still speak of that day when the djinn broke free and killed the black sorcerer in his tower and then awoke the duke with a sword at his neck. Many said you walked through the walls without ever being seen."

  "We rode out the gate with their own patrols,” Rory explained.

  "Your visit this time shall be much more pleasant, that I swear. You are honored among us now, Lord Rorrick of the Forest djinn, for freeing us from the evil ones and restoring Solange to the Desert People."

  * * * *

  The Great Caliph of the Desert People was overjoyed to see the djinn when he walked in to the receiving room at the fortress. He had often wondered what had become of the young man who had traveled across the desert in search of his stolen woman. And what a woman she had been! The caliph still recalled the beautiful girl with the bright copper hair and eyes of jade, not to mention the skin like alabaster and ... well, he envied the djinn.

  "Greetings, Lord Rorrick and welcome to Solange. Come, sit beside me and we can eat and drink to celebrate your return.” The caliph clapped his hands three times and a bevy of serving girls, wearing only diaphanous pants with matching veils, scurried in bearing a tray of food and carafes of wine. Rory sat on one of the floor pillows and lifted his glass. “To you, oh mighty Caliph. And the peoples of Solange."

  They drank and the caliph said, “And another toast to the beautiful woman who brought you across the desert. How is she?"

  After sipping his wine, Rory replied, “Princess Bethany is expecting our first child this coming summer, Great Caliph
."

  "That is wonderful news! Did you call her princess?"

  "That is part of the reason I have come here to see you, Great Caliph.” Rory went on to explain about the murder of King Alaric by a demon, the elevation of his father to King of the Forest Folk, and his own coronation as crown prince. He then told of the vast army being built up in Eastfell, along with the dark forces used to augment it. Finally, he told the caliph about the dark murder of Queen Beatrice and the unborn Prince of Aluria, omitting his own selection as the new heir.

  "These are dark tales, indeed,” responded the caliph. “Solange will come in spring to aid in the crushing of this rebellious duke and his evil associates. My warriors may be of little use against demons, but they will be more than a match for any human army the duke can put in the field. You may tell your King of Aluria that the Desert People honor their word. I must think on this matter of demons and such. While I do so, let us have some entertainment."

  Rory had never seen belly dancers before, and he found the writhing gyrations of the near naked dancers quite entertaining. He smiled as he thought of what his grandfather would think of the display of naked breasts and the glimpses of the rest of the dancers’ trim bodies through their gossamer pants. However, as pert and attractive as the dancers may be, they could not compare to his wife.

  "Perhaps we should consider whether to give you a second wife since your first is now with child. A man's physical needs do not abate merely because a woman is no longer interested."

  "Alas, Great Caliph, in this, the Forest Folk and the people of Aluria are not as civilized and open-minded as your nomads. While the Forest Folk will accept a temporary liaison between two consenting partners, I am afraid the princess would not be as understanding. I think facing the demon in Eastfell would be much easier than facing Bethany with a second wife."

  "That is too bad for you, then. One wife in a house..."