Essence Of The Heart (The Royal Tutor)

by Daris Howard

  Then all of his men joined him in laughter. Lord High Chamberlain was confused. He looked at the man's rank, and then addressed him. "Captain, I do not see the humor in this."

  The man continued to smile. "With all the Esconodians with you, we were sure you were part of the Bernodian army. We are trying to meet up with the army in the south."

  Lord High Chamberlain suddenly felt like he could breath again. The leader told them, as word was getting around, that many were moving to join with the south. He said Andrew had issued a command that all who did would be killed, but many of the commanders were afraid to carry out the order, not knowing who was for them and who was against.

  The news cheered the group considerably. After Lord High Chamberlain detailed their mission, the Bernodian leader, Captain Samuel Caliton, told them they would have to deter east to avoid the large army staged in the valley directly in their path. Captain Caliton said he would be glad to guide them. He mustered a few volunteers and commanded his first officer to continue the journey with the other to the south without him.

  Lord High Chamberlain wasn't sure he trusted anyone, but he knew Captain Caliton could easily have had them killed but didn't, so logically it made sense to trust him. They swung wide to the east, knowing it would add at least a day to their journey. They rode all day and all night with no sleep. Morning found them back on the main trail. They continued that day and the next night, not having slept for well over three days, and now were approaching the Esconodian border. Lord High Chamberlain felt they should not try to cross before daylight, for fear the Esconodians would think they were trying to sneak in.

  They rested in some dense woods, and then, not long after sunup, resumed their journey. Near the border crossing, Lord High Chamberlain thanked Captain Caliton and requested he and his men turn back, not wanting the Esconodians to think he was bringing an army. They raised the flag of a royal embassage, flew the white flag of truce, and bravely proceeded.

  Barely across the border they were surrounded by an Esconodian army. Gareg recognized one of the leaders and began to talk to him. Lord High Chamberlain understood some Esconodian from his early years in Bernodia. He could gather from the conversation that the leader wanted to have them killed. He didn't want to take them to the king for fear the king would be displeased. Gareg convinced him that the king might be more displeased if men, sent on a mission of peace, were not at least allowed to speak. He suggested that the king could do with them as he desired. The leader finally agreed, but demanded they surrender their weapons and submit to being bound.

  Lord High Chamberlain pulled his sword and handed it hilt-first to the nearest Esconodian, and then put his hands together in front of him, submitting to being bound. Lieutenant Hashner and each of his men in the Royal Guard followed his lead. The Esconodians bound their hands, then bound them to their saddles, forcing them to relinquish the reins and be led toward the Esconodian capital. Each night they were tied to trees and given very little to eat. The Esconodian commander asked about the honey candy, but Gareg told him it was a gift for the king, so he left it alone. After five more days they arrived at the Esconodian capital, hungry, dirty, and exhausted.

  They were led down the street lined with curious villagers. At the palace they were told to wait, and only Gareg and other Esconodians of the group were taken in. After a long wait, Gareg returned and told them the king would not see them, but would consider what he had heard.

  They were locked in a dank dungeon and chained to the wall. Lord High Chamberlain noted that the other four men that had come with him looked tired and worn, but none complained. The men of the Royal Guard were good men. He thought about how far the relationship between the two countries had crumbled when even a peaceful ambassador and his men were mistreated as they had been.

  Eight days they languished in prison, receiving almost no food and little water. The late fall weather was cold, and there was very little to keep them warm. Each man tried to move around as much as he could within the confines of his chains. Finally, in the afternoon of the eighth day, Lord High Chamberlain alone was summoned out of the prison, bound again, and brought before the Esconodian king. He recognized him as the son of the former king he had known. Even this son was a fairly old man now, though he had been young at their last meeting.

  Lord High Chamberlain bowed before the king. Through an interpreter, the king commanded him to explain about the gift. Lord High Chamberlain told the king that it was honey candy, a gift from Queen Louise. The king's expression brightened slightly. He said he had been friends with Alexander and his parents, and had heard the story of Louise and Alexander's courtship. He had also heard the fame of Alexander's honey candy and had always been desirous to try some. He was still suspicious, however, concerned of poison.

  Lord High Chamberlain said he would eat some himself, if the king desired. The king chose a random piece and a servant put it to Lord High Chamberlain's lips. The king watched him for some time after he had eaten it. Once he was sure all was well, he tried a piece himself. As the king licked it, a smile spread across his face. He said, "It is indeed everything that was said about it and more."

  He commanded Lord High Chamberlain be untied and permitted him to speak. Lord High Chamberlain explained the problems that had occurred because of Duke Elnard. He told the king they did not want war between their people, but peace and free trade.

  The king leaned back as he continued to suck on his honey candy. "What about the attacks across our border?"

  Lord High Chamberlain explained they were the work of Duke Elnard to try to inflame war between the two countries, "just as the assassination attempts by Esconodian mercenaries were done to make us think they were by you."

  The king frowned at this. He said he knew of no assassination attempts. Lord High Chamberlain requested that one of the freed assassins be brought in. The assassin testified of being trained by Duke Elnard and being told it was for the good of Esconodia. The king was angry, and the man trembled, but Lord High Chamberlain asked the king not to punish the man for he had believed it was for the good of his country. The king finally let the frightened man go with only a reprimand.

  The king looked directly at Lord High Chamberlain. "Did you know that even now I am having my armies assembled to join forces with the Bernodian army?"

  Lord High Chamberlain nodded. "We have heard that is the case, but we hoped to show there is no animosity. The queen has pulled all of her armies to the line between Bernodia and the south to show we do not want to fight against you, and will only if we have to. If a war were to commence, many would die on both sides. We hope you will see that friendship and free commerce is much preferred to war and isolation, and better for both countries."

  He then talked about the peace that had been established years before between the king's father and Duke Reginald and Queen Louise's father. Suddenly, the king's eyes lit up. "I was young then, but I remember you. You were that man weren't you?"

  Lord High Chamberlain said he was. The king smiled. "That peace served us well until Duke Reginald died."

  Lord High Chamberlain looked directly at him. "I would beg you, Your Majesty, let the same kind of peace be established between you and Queen Louise and Alexander's daughter, Marie, granddaughter to Duke Reginald. It is she that we are trying to establish to her rightful position in Bernodia."

  The king sat back and thought for some time. Finally, he leaned forward. "I have spent the last week trying to verify your words, and, thus far, all that I have learned indicate they are true. I had thought Duke Elnard was my friend, but I feel used by him. I will grant you a stay of my armies for six months to see if peace can be established, but only on two conditions. One, when things are settled, I receive an embassage telling me that it is done so a peace treaty can be worked out. And two," the king held up the piece of honey candy he was sucking on and grinned, "you teach my cook how to make honey candy."

  Lord High Chamberlain readily agreed. "If I am still alive when this
is over, I will come myself, and I will bring our most expert candy maker."

  The king commanded the invasion plans be halted, and his armies pull back to the border between Esconodia and Bernodia. The men of the Royal Guard were freed, and a feast was made for them. After the feast, they were given back their weapons and escorted to the border.

  Lord High Chamberlain was concerned that word of their mission would have leaked out, so once they crossed the border, they immediately left the trail. He knew they had to get word back to the queen that their mission was successful, for if she did not know, their strategy may still fail.

  He commanded his men that if they were to come under attack, if any were to fall, they must be left, and all who could must continue to ride with all swiftness to the border of the south to get the message through.

  It soon became apparent that their mission was indeed known, for they were constantly having to duck patrols that appeared to be looking for them. They had again swung far to the east, and had traveled two days and were nearing the southern border between Bernodia and the south, when a large patrol of men appeared some distance behind them. The patrol saw them and charged. Lord High Chamberlain ordered Lieutenant Hashner and his men to run for it. He himself turned his horse toward the patrol and charged, waving his sword. Even though he was one against many, his brashness made them scatter in confusion.

  Then a musket shot sounded, and Lord High Chamberlain fell from his horse.

  Chapter 33

  The Surrender Of Denville Castle

  Lieutenant Hashner reported to the Queen of their mad dash for the border, as Lord High Chamberlain had ordered. After he told her how Lord High Chamberlain had swung his horse around and headed for the patrol at full speed, and how they heard a shot ring out and turned to see Lord High Chamberlain fall from his saddle, the queen ran from the room sobbing.

  The news of Esconodia was good, however, and she knew she had to continue on despite the loss of Matthew. The volunteers were having their desired affect, and the military of Bernodia was defecting to the south in droves, especially once word reached them that Esconodia had pulled back and would not help them. It had started slowly at first, one here, and two there, but, as word got back that they were indeed treated well, receiving good food and supplies instead of the meager rations of the Bernodian army, they came in units and then full battalions.

  Andrew's decree to have those who defected killed backfired. When commanding officers tried to carry out the order, the rank and file soldiers of the Bernodian army turned against them. Soon, all of Bernodia, except for Denville Castle, was controlled by the national military, stronger than it was before because of the added strength of the Bernodians.

  Another council was called and, this time, Lord High Chamberlain's chair was conspicuously empty. Louise fought back tears as she tried to run the council. Everyone was much subdued knowing the price Lord High Chamberlain had paid. The generals, as usual, wanted to attack immediately. Louise knew an attack would be victorious, but the thought of destroying Denville castle, with its many memories, tore at her heart. She called a recess to think about it.

  As she paced in her chamber, many things ran through her mind. How could she destroy Denville Castle? She was married there. She hoped her own daughter could be married there, and that they could hold the New Year's Eve celebration again. But a siege wouldn't work. With winter coming on, any army that tried to lay siege in the north would be too vulnerable.

  She thought about her father, about Alexander, about Duke Reginald, and then about Matthew - all of the men in her life that had been so good and lived so well. Without Matthew she really felt alone. She finally called for Marie and Jacob and expressed her fears, asking if they could think of a plan to get Andrew to surrender. She didn't want to attack Denville Castle, and she didn't want to destroy Andrew. With Tobias in prison, Andrew was one of the few close relatives she had left.

  After discussing it for quite a while, they began talking of how all of this had been Matthew's plan, and he wasn't around to see the success of it. As Louise could feel the tears welling up in her heart again, Marie commented, "I guess we'll never know what his personal reasons were for not charging Duke Elnard as he should have."

  That was it! The answer hit Louise with full force. "I think Eldna is the answer," she said.

  She sent for Eldna, and, even as she did, she thought to herself that it was funny that Matthew, in a sense, was the answer to her problem, even after he was gone. When Eldna arrived, she was very defiant. "Why should I help you? You have my son locked in the tower and are hunting for my grandson."

  Louise tried to appease her old aunt by telling her they brought her there just for the very reason that they did not want to fight against Andrew. The old woman was still angry. "So you can just capture him and lock him up like his father?"

  Louise promised Eldna that if she could convince Andrew to surrender Bernodia, she would allow him to remain as Duke of Sedville after Eldna was ready to turn over rule to him. Eldna was somewhat calmer, but still defiant. "And will you let Tobias go?"

  Louise shook her head. "I cannot justify freeing a man who has tried to cause insurrection and attempted to kill my daughter."

  Eldna was stubborn. "I can not help you. Tobias should have ruled instead of you anyway."

  Louise became angry. "Why? Because I married Alexander? Because I married the man I loved, as you wished you could have?"

  Eldna angrily whirled to face her. "What are you talking about? Who told you that?"

  Louise could see tears forming in Eldna's eyes, despite her anger. Louise spoke calmly, controlling her own emotions. "You can not tell me you do not know that Tobias tried to kill Matthew. Matthew refused to have him charged, as he should have. Matthew also had many opportunities to destroy Tobias and could never do it. I learned it was because he loved you."

  In an instant, Eldna's whole demeanor changed. She started to quiver and fell into a chair, sobbing. Louise knelt down in front of her old aunt. "Matthew died trying to end this without people being killed. I don't want to have to destroy Andrew. Please, Eldna, don't let Matthew's death be in vain."

  Eldna sobbed for quite some time, and then she wiped her tears away and nodded. Louise let the generals know of her decision. They prepared a document of surrender that would inform Andrew that he would still be allowed to rule Sedville, the province his grandmother currently ruled, after his grandmother was ready to turn it to him. But this would be the case only if he surrendered Bernodia and Denville castle peacefully.

  Louise, Jacob, and Marie traveled north in the carriage with Eldna. They stayed one night at Walsken Manor. The memories of that place came flooding back to Louise, causing her emotions to ride a tidal wave. At one point, she heard crying. She followed the sound to the room where Alexander had died. There was Marie, sobbing in Jacob's arms. Jacob looked helpless. He turned to Louise. "I don't know what happened. She led me here, and, before I knew what was happening, she started to cry."

  Louise felt tears flowing down her own cheeks. "This is the room where her father died." Louise patted his arm. "Maybe you can leave us alone."

  Jacob walked to the door, looked back with deep sympathy, and then left, shutting the door quietly behind him. Louise pulled her daughter into her own arms, and both of them cried. After some time, Marie looked up at her. "Mother, do you think of him much?"

  Louise pulled Marie to the couch. "Not a day goes by that I don't think of your father."

  "How do you keep going?"

  Louise brushed the tears from her daughter's face. "Sometimes, I feel he is with me, helping me."

  "Really?" Marie asked.

  Louise smiled at her. "Really."

  "Like when?" Marie asked.

  "Like when I didn't know what to do with a certain rebellious young lady, and I felt to have Captain Jacob Richins be her tutor. It was almost as if I heard your father tell me to do it."

  Marie smiled. "Is that why you hoped we wou
ld fall in love?"

  Louise smiled and nodded. "He is so very much like your father."

  Louise spent a lot of time telling Marie stories of her father. Marie shared some stories of her own about when the two of them had traveled together to Bernodia. When they finally met Jacob and Eldna for dinner, Louise felt a new healing in her heart that she desperately needed, and she knew Marie did, too. Louise looked over at Jacob and again thought how much he looked like Alexander. She looked at her daughter with Jacob, and the memories of her and Alexander came swirling back around her.

  A few days later they reached the army that had Denville Castle surrounded. Word was sent that Eldna was there to visit with Andrew. She was allowed into the castle, and, before the end of the day, a treaty had been signed, and Andrew had surrendered.

  Once the castle was deemed secured by Jacob and the Royal Guard, Louise took Marie into the castle. It hurt her heart to see the disrepair it had fallen into. She was determined to have it all fixed within two months for a Christmas time wedding for Marie and Jacob.

  She was deep in her thoughts when Jacob rushed to her. "Your Majesty, you need to come with me, please." He led her quickly to the dungeon, with Marie close behind. There was Eldna, sobbing. As she came up behind Eldna, she could see she was kneeling over Matthew. He was unconscious and emaciated, and the smell of rotting flesh filled the air. Louise looked at his arm and could see the blueish-black of his skin that told her he had gangrene.

  The shock and excitement of seeing him alive was soon tempered by the obvious fact that he was near death. The thought of what he had endured in this filthy dungeon tore at her heart, but knowing he was alive, and having hope that he might yet be saved, lifted her heart.

  They took him to the infirmary. Doctors were quickly called in. They said if he was to have any chance at all of survival, his arm would have to be amputated immediately. Hopefully, it was not too late.