Sword and the Spell 01: The Grey Robe

by Clare Smith

  "You don't suppose Maladran has put a spell on the door do you?"

  Jonderill shook his head. "I don't think so."

  Pellum took another step back. "You’d better go first and announce me; it wouldn't do for a visiting prince to go barging into another king’s palace without the formalities being observed."

  Jonderill eased passed the Prince and pushed the door wide open. Inside the royal apartments were just as he remembered on the night he’d last seen them except there were far more people around, albeit fast asleep. Two pages dozed happily outside each door whilst guards in their best ceremonial uniforms lined up against a wall ready to form a royal procession. He led the way along the corridors until he found the Princess's rooms where half a dozen maids sat in soft chairs fast asleep waiting to dress their mistress when she returned.

  The wedding dress, all cream and gold and covered with pearl-encrusted lace, lay across the bed in readiness for the ceremony to come and next to it lay a simple white night robe for after the marriage ceremony and celebrations. Pellum picked up the night robe and ran the soft material through his fingers. He wet his lips, giving Jonderill a wolfish grin of anticipation.

  "It doesn’t appear as if she had reached this far, Your Highness, perhaps she’s still in the magician's tower."

  "Perhaps but let's go to the Great Hall anyway."

  Jonderill frowned. "She would have come here to dress first."

  "I know, boy, and don't argue with me. I'm curious to see what they look like fast asleep, aren't you?" Jonderill shook his head. "No, I suppose servants don’t have the intellect to be curious. Lead the way."

  Jonderill led the way along corridors he was only vaguely familiar with until, eventually, they stumbled upon the Great Hall. Like everywhere else, people either sat or lay asleep. Guards in the liveried uniforms of Vinmore and Essenland stood behind the two kings, propped up on halberds but still managing to look vaguely menacing. Pellum walked the length of the hall and mounted the dais to stand in front of King Steppen.

  "You know, boy, I have an elder brother who will one day wear my father's crown and become King of Essenland but he's welcome to it, I have my eyes on better things." He plucked the crown from Steppen's head and placed it on his own. "There, how do you think that looks? When I marry the Princess I will be heir to Vinmore and then its ruler, once I've persuaded Steppen to abdicate that is.

  “What do you think to that, boy? His Royal Majesty King Pellum of Vinmore." Jonderill made no reply. "But first I have to wake the Princess, isn't that what the enchantment says?" He carelessly replaced the crown on Steppen's head, leaving it at an angle and walked imperiously up the aisle of the Great Hall as if he were already king.

  Pellum didn’t wait for Jonderill to catch up as they left the main palace buildings but crossed the wide courtyard to the unguarded magicians’ tower and pushed hard on the door to open it. With a cry of shock he jumped back shaking his stinging hand and rubbing his numb arm. Jonderill tried to hide a smile but failed and received a stern look from the prince.

  "Enough of that, boy, open this door and be quick about it!"

  Jonderill did as he was commanded, pushing gently on the door and easily dissipating the wards. He stepped back to allow Pellum to pass into the tower but when Pellum didn’t move he led the way, feeling the occasional tingle as other wards fell before him. Leaving the comfortable living room undisturbed he climbed the spiral stairs passed the magicians’ own room with Plantagenet’s books and the jumble of Animus's many investigations which he’d somehow forgotten to finish.

  Above that was the magician's work room and he remembered all the futile hours he’d spent there trying to call on the power which was not meant to be his. There was no sign of it having been disturbed since the magicians had reluctantly left their treasures behind four summers previously so Jonderill closed the door before Pellum could see inside and ridicule the contents. He continued to lead the way upwards and paused at the door of the guest room, feeling the presence of a double warding. He knew he’d found the place where the Princess lay asleep.

  "Is this it?" asked Pellum in a voice strained with excitement. Jonderill nodded. "Open it then."

  Jonderill hesitated. "I'm not sure if I should. The warding is very strong and is likely to be harmful to anyone except the person who is meant to break it."

  Pellum stepped back slightly. "Nonsense, boy, you were the magicians’ servant. They're not likely to stop you going from room to room are they?"

  Jonderill took a deep breath and held out his hand towards the door. His fingertips tingled with the usual sensation of a double ward collapsing and the door gently opened of its own accord. He took a step inside with Pellum close behind. Plantagenet lay sprawled across a long couch, his arms and legs dangling off the side and his silvery beard rippling gently to his exhaled breath.

  He stepped further into the room to see Animus curled into a comfortable ball by the window, his ivory wand still clutched in his chubby hand. Finally he turned to where the princess lay on the bed and his breath caught in his throat. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen and whatever happened next, he would always love her. He crossed to the side of her bed to stand slightly behind Pellum who stood statue still, mesmerised by the Princess's beauty.

  "It's the girl in the forest," whispered Pellum as if he were scared of breaking a spell.

  "What girl?"

  "Rosera. She was so beautiful I wanted her from the moment I first saw her but I didn't know she was a princess." He turned to Jonderill and gave him a smile of pure delight. "Now I have everything I have ever wanted; the girl I desire most, a princess and a throne as well."

  Pellum turned back to the sleeping maiden and took a step forward, dropping to his knee beside the bed. Jonderill watched with an aching heart. He’d always known that it would come to this, that one day a prince would come and take Daun for his wife. He’d even resigned himself to the fact that the prince would be Pellum but secretly he’d hoped things would be different. Now he knew they wouldn’t.

  Jonderill watched as Pellum took Daun's slim hand in his own, gently holding the fine fingers as he leaned over and pressed his lips to the deep red ones of the Princess. He held the kiss for a moment, as if he were savouring sweet wine and then sat back on his heel waiting for her eyes to open. For the space of ten heartbeats he waited, absolutely still and then gave Jonderill a quizzical look. Jonderill shrugged slightly, a spark of hope making his heart beat faster. Pellum frowned and leaned forward again, kissing the princess very firmly on the lips and holding the kiss there until there could be no question he’d fulfilled his part of the enchantment breaking. He leaned back and waited for the Princess to wake but still nothing happened.

  "What in hellden's wrong?" he shouted, jumping to his feet and carelessly dropping Daun’s hand off the edge of the bed. “I've kissed her like she was a whore and still she doesn't wake!" He looked back at the princess and then at Jonderill. "Here, boy, you have a go."

  Jonderill started as if he’d been hit. Even in his wildest imaginings he’d never thought he would have the chance to show the Princess his love for her, even if she were asleep. He knelt by her side as Pellum had done and took her soft hand in his own callused one. Next to such delicate beauty he felt coarse and dirty but that couldn’t stop him from hoping. He leaned forward and gently kissed her soft lips and then slowly released her hand and moved back to watch for any reaction.

  For a moment there was none and then her lips parted in a gentle sigh, as if she had been holding her breath. A delicate pink flush bloomed on her cheeks and slowly, so very slowly, she opened her eyes. Vivid blue, like sea sapphires, sparkled beneath long curled lashes and her lips parted in the sweetest of smiles as she held out her hand in offering.

  "Pellum, My Prince, I knew you would come for me."

  Pellum stepped forward shouldering Jonderill aside and took her hand, kissing the delicate finger tips one by one.

  "My Princess, I ha
ve always been here for you."

  Majestically, as if they were made for each other, he helped her from the bed and gently led her from the room to their long awaited wedding day.

  * ~ * ~ *

  EPILOGUE

  Sansun stood patiently in the courtyard, his ears pricked to listen to his master's words as Jonderill tightened the saddle strap and placed the laden saddlebags across the horse's withers. He stroked the smooth muscular neck of the animal which had been a gift from the Stablemaster. Not that he’d wanted to part with the valuable stallion but the horse had made it quite clear he’d no intentions of being ridden again by either the newly crowned queen or her consort or even remaining in the royal stables for that matter.

  Jonderill had been the only person who could safely approach the warhorse so the Stablemaster had given it to him before Queen Daun decided that the best thing to do was have the animal destroyed. The Stablemaster had said that it was a gift which had been given in recognition of past services to the royal household. Jonderill knew that wasn’t the truth but it didn’t lessen the value of the gift. He’d never owned, ridden or cared for such a fine and spirited animal but he guessed that Sansun would teach him what he needed to know.

  After checking the straps on the saddlebags, which were full of well preserved travel food and good serviceable clothing he tied the roll of thick blankets and waterproofs to the back of the saddle. They had all been gifts from the Housecharge, who seemed genuinely sorry to see him leave. A large purse of gold coin, collected by Swordmaster Dilor from the household guards, lay hidden behind the saddle, enough to see him well away from the kingdom of Vinmore and settled into his new life.

  He’d hoped that Barrin might have been there to see him off so he could tell him the truth about what had happened but he hadn’t seen his old friend since his return to the palace. The previous night he’d gone to the Soldier’s Rest to say his farewells over a jug of ale but Barrin wasn’t there; he supposed he had other things to do. All the same he wished his only friend had been there to say goodbye one last time. Sadly he gave Sansun an affectionate pat and turned to say his last farewells to the two waiting magicians.

  "You don't have to leave," said Animus sorrowfully. "There will always be a home for you here."

  Jonderill looked up at the large window in the palace wall. If it had been up to the Queen he would be locked in one of the palace’s deepest cells by now awaiting his execution, so staying was not an option, even if he’d wanted to. He knew she remembered nothing of being Rosera and the four summers they had lived together in the woodsman’s cottage. Never the less he’d hoped that she might have been a little grateful to him for keeping her safe from Maladran’s enchantment.

  If she had he could have lived with Pellum's twisted version of how he’d fought his way through the hedge, killed a dragon and woken the princess, but it wasn’t to be. As far as Daun was concerned he’d kidnapped her, killing one of her servants in the process and had then held her prisoner for four summers. Fortunately others had been more understanding, but it had been a close run thing.

  "No, I have to leave; too much has happened for it to be safe for me to stay here any longer."

  "Where will you go?" asked Plantagenet with concern.

  "I'm not sure. He looked down at the pale kingsward brand which still showed beneath the edge of his sleeve. "Staying within the bounds of the six kingdoms may be dangerous for an escaped kingsward and one named as a felon so I thought I would follow my desire to see a great ocean and perhaps even sail across it."

  Plantagenet gave Animus a sharp look, making the fat magician flush red and fumble beneath his robes.

  "I forgot. Before King Steppen abdicated he asked me to give you these with his heartfelt thanks. At least he knows the truth about your part in his daughter's rescue and would have thanked you publicly if it hadn’t been for the shame it would have brought Daun and her husband. He begs your forgiveness and hopes you will understand."

  Jonderill broke the King’s seal on the two scrolls and briefly read the contents. "My freedom and the King's pardon."

  Animus nodded. "If you would stay a day or two more I could remove your kingsward scar from your arm."

  "Nobody can remove the scars of being another man's property," Jonderill said bitterly and then smiled, "but with time they fade, as all scars do." He swallowed hard, feeling tears burn the back of his eyes and a sharp lump restrict his breathing as he fought back his emotions. "Thank his majesty for me; I’m grateful for his kindness but these don’t really change anything. Once Steppen leaves Vinmore the Queen would find some reason to have me arrested and executed. As much as I will miss you I have to go."

  He took hold of Animus and gave him a long embrace, aware of the magician's tears which wet his shirt. When Animus had himself back under control Jonderill released him and turned to Plantagenet who, as always, held himself in careful check. The magician fumbled in the folds of his cloak and brought out a finely engraved sword with a sculptured cross piece and a hilt wound with black leather and gold wire.

  "It's from us both, to help you to remember us by."

  Jonderill looked at the fine weapon, which would have graced the side of any nobleman. "It's a beautiful sword but I don't need anything from you for me to remember my two dearest friends, you will always be close to my heart." He looked up into the moist eyes of the tall magician and smiled. "I can't take your gift for I already have your sword." He touched the battered hilt of the old iron blade at his side. "The magic you put in this sword has opened warded doors, kept me safe against the darkest of all magics and defeated demon dragons and if you will grant it, I would like to carry this sword with me for my protection.”

  Plantagenet looked at him with a frown on his face, whilst Animus wiped his wet eyes and looked from one to the other in puzzlement. "You are mistaken, my boy, there was no magic in the sword. I told you that I ceased carrying it when I came into my power as I no longer needed a sword to protect me. It was given to you the same way as I left it, just an ordinary iron blade."

  "But I stood against all of Maladran's magic and defeated them all when I held this sword in my hand."

  "Then any power which was in the sword came from your hands and your hands alone." Jonderill looked at his hands in disbelief and then up at the two beaming magicians.

  "Remember what the white magician said; when you come into your power and have learned to know yourself, then come to me and I will show you what lies beyond." Jonderill nodded, still speechless. "Then that is what you must do. You have at last found the focus of your power, my boy, and it’s time for you to become one of Federa’s chosen. You will need Callabris to teach you how to use that focus so go and find him, Jonderill, for therein lies your future."

  "Thank you," said Jonderill, taking the sword into his hands, "Thank you both for everything. I shall try to honour both you and this sword in everything I do."

  He replaced the iron sword at his side with the fine weapon but instead of returning the old, pitted blade to Plantagenet he slid it into the rolled grey robe tied to the back of his horse which the white magician had given him. There, the battered base metal lay next to the quiescent golden torc.

  "Whatever you say, it will always be magical to me."

  Plantagenet and Animus made no reply but watched as Jonderill mounted Sansun and rode through the palace gates without once looking back.

  ~ * ~

  If you have enjoyed The Grey Robe

  tell your friends, they might enjoy it too.

  Coming Soon: Book 2 of The Sword and the Spell

  The White Robe.

 

 

 
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