by J. K. Barber
King Morgan spoke, his voice a rich baritone that filled the vast room with his presence.
“Arise, King’s Guard Branden and companions and be welcome in Aeirsga.” Branden stood and raised his head to see the King coming down the stairs towards him. The King placed a hand on the smith’s shoulder. “It is good to see you again, Branden. I never thought I would again see the day that you walked these halls.” King Morgan waved his hand, indicating the castle about them. Queen Xavia descended the dais stairs as well, standing beside her husband and nodding politely.
King Morgan stood half-a-head shorter than Branden, and they were roughly the same age. Where Branden’s hair and beard were salt and pepper, the King’s short thick hair, was still mostly dark brown with a touch of grey at the temples and in his full beard. His clothes were simple but well-tailored, an outfit of blues and reds bearing the symbol of Illyander in gold across his left breast. He was a hale and hearty man of middle age. Though not quite as thick of limb as Branden, the King had a regal quality that was unmistakable, without seeming distant or haughty. His skin was pale, though not unhealthily so, speaking of many days spent indoors.
By contrast, the exotic looking Queen Xavia’s skin was dark, the color of coal. Where King Morgan’s hair was dark brown, the Queen’s hair was black as midnight and was without the slightest trace of grey. She was slender and wore a fitted, velvet red and blue gown that brushed the floor. The garment stretched to her wrists, where it flared out almost to her finger tips, and had a high but simple collar that stopped about half way up her neck.
“But where is the woman who stole you away from your life of service to the throne,” the King asked kindly. “I see the fruits of the deed in your two, lovely young daughters here, but where is Dara?”
Branden’s vision clouded for a brief moment, but he answered his liege without a quiver in his voice. “I am afraid she succumbed to illness recently, Your Majesty. I am sure she would have liked to see you again, before she moved on into the Great Mother’s embrace.”
King Morgan’s face held genuine concern. “Oh Branden, I am so sorry,” he said more lowly. Again, the King raised a hand to the former King’s Guard’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, before lowering it. “We mourn for your loss and hope that her passing was painless. Still, it is good to see that she left you two beautiful daughters to accompany you to our doorstep. I see much of Dara in their eyes. It is almost as if she is here with us now.”
“I thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty, and wish that I had better news for you in return.” Branden’s voice had taken on a tone of business and the King responded accordingly. Leading his Queen back up the dais to their thrones, they sat and addressed Branden more formally.
“Speak King’s Guard Branden that we might hear your words and take action as befits them.” King Morgan’s voice had once again taken on an air of command.
Branden and Mala relayed the message they had received from The Administrator and then added their own personal encounters with the creatures the Ice Queen had sent against them. Talas, Sasha, Katya, and Jared were called on to recount their experiences as well.
As Jared spoke, his eyes darting around the room at every person and possible entrance, Branden was struck with the image of a cornered animal. Though they had made no show of it, Branden knew that Jared’s agitation was making the King’s Guard around the room uneasy; had Brandon been standing with them, he would suspect Jared’s nervousness as foul intent.
When the King’s Magus, a man perhaps a decade younger than Branden, with a head shaved bald and a well-groomed goatee, stepped from behind the tapestry that hung behind the King and Queen’s thrones, Jared’s hand immediately went to his belt, where his hunting knife no longer hung. They had been forced to turn over all weapons before being admitted into the King’s presence. Though the hunter had turned over his sword, bow, and three knives, Branden suspected that Jared still had at least one more blade secreted on his body somewhere. The smith had not pressed the issue, perhaps feeling bad about his mistrust of Jared before, but now Branden wished he had confronted Jared regarding the possible secreted weapon. Such a breach of etiquette could damage what they were trying to accomplish here.
Branden need not have concerned himself with Jared’s behavior. The King and his Magus were unconvinced anyway, as to the seriousness of the threat.
“Your Majesty, if I may?” the King’s Magus said, after all the information had been passed along. “I personally see to the general arcane security of the palace and more specifically to your royal person.” Magus Lucian smoothed his long blue robe and adjusted the gold embroidered mantle that marked him as a Master Sorcerer. “If there were any such way to bypass the palace’s defenses, I would have seen to it that such a weakness was removed long ago.”
“I trust your judgment and arcane prowess, Lucian,” the King said, “…else you would not hold your position.” The Magus nodded at the acknowledgement of his skill. “However, I have a member of the King’s Guard before me.”
“Former member, Your Majesty,” Lucian reminded the King. Branden bristled but was placated as all the other men and women about the room, who currently wore the white tabard of the King’s Guard, shifted slightly in their mail, making their presence and displeasure known. Had he not been in the King’s presence, Branden would have been on the man in a heartbeat, King’s Magus or no. It was okay for the smith to use the word former in reference to himself, but from another such an insult demanded swift response.
King Morgan seemed to agree. “Magus Lucian,” the King responded, irritation in his voice. “There is no such thing, as a learned man of your position should be aware. The vows taken by a member of the King’s Guard are not something to be cast aside because they become inconvenient or because he chooses a different lot in life. In Branden’s case, I allowed him to take leave of the palace to wed, but he never truly left my service. Even a King cannot stand in the way of love.” The King turned to Branden. “Allow me to demonstrate. King’s Guard Branden…”
Branden stood to attention. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What is the second vow taken by a King’s Guard?” King Morgan asked.
“To serve the King’s command without question in all things, except where such a command may compromise the safety of the King,” Branden replied.
“And what is the third vow taken by a King’s Guard?”
“To speak no word which is not truth, Your Majesty.”
“Do you like Magus Lucian?” the King asked.
Branden hesitated for a moment before answering, “I do not know Magus Lucian, Your Majesty.”
King Morgan smiled slightly. “Very diplomatic of you Branden, but that is not what I asked of you now is it?”
“No, Your Majesty, it is not,” Branden replied but did not continue.
“And so I ask you again, King’s Guard Branden…" the King put extra emphasis on the smith’s title, “Do you like Magus Lucian?”
“No, Your Majesty, I do not,” Branden said begrudgingly.
“And what would you like to do to Magus Lucian right now, for calling you and your family liars and insulting the King’s Guard.” King Morgan looked sideways at his court wizard.
The Magus began to stutter, “Your Majesty… I don’t see…”
“Silence!” the King commanded. “Answer the question, King’s Guard Branden.”
Branden looked at the Magus and answered without hesitation. “I would like to punch him in the face repeatedly, until such time as he apologizes to the King, the King’s Guard, and then to my family for insulting your honor and ours.”
Only Queen Xavia showed no reaction to Branden’s statement, being the picture of composure. The King and the entire King’s Guard smiled, the latter much less visibly than the former. Both the Magus and Branden’s companions stood open-mouthed.
“Even though,” the King continued as though nothing at all controversial had been said, “saying or doing such a
thing would be harmful to your cause in trying to convince us that we are in danger, and therefore make your long journey here a wasted one?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Branden answered.
“And why is that?” The King asked.
“Because I have taken a vow to serve Your Majesty’s commands without question and to speak no word which is not true,” the smith replied.
“Now,” King Morgan continued, “since we know that Branden cannot be lying,” the King glanced at his wizard, “and we also know that Magus Lucian is a skilled and competent sorcerer, we must then consider that the information given to Branden may be at fault.”
“I do not believe that to be the case, Your Majesty,” Mala said.
“And why is that, Mistress Mala?” the King inquired.
“Because the information came from Administrator Tomas of the Sorcerer’s School,” Mala replied.
“Truly a learned source, to be sure,” King Morgan said. Then with a sideways glance at the Magus, “However, even the most learned of men can be wrong.”
“But…” Katya began to say, only to be silenced by a quick look and wave of her father’s hand.
The King stood and extended his hand to his Queen. The King’s Guard came immediately to attention. “We shall think upon what you said. I must take council from my Magus, the Palace Guard, my King’s Guard, and my engineers as well to see if such a thing as you say is even possible. Unfortunately, the situation in Snowhaven also demands my attention, so it will mostly likely be tomorrow evening before I’ll be able to reach a decision. Until then, please be welcome as my personal guests here in the palace. Your every need shall be taken care of and you shall want for nothing.”
The King nodded to a page, who stood beside a stout wooden door at the back corner of the throne room, and the young boy opened it. Gliding through the open portal, a young girl in her middle teens, with long mahogany hair and skin the color of caramel, entered the throne room. Though young in years, womanhood had left its mark early on the girl, and she took full advantage of that fact by wearing a low cut, pale yellow gown. It complimented her features very well.
Indicating the young woman who had just arrived, the King said, “My daughter, Princess Lilliandra will show you to your rooms. Should you have need of anything, I will put…”
“Wait a minute!” Jared blurted out. Mala and Branden turned to the hunter indicating, in no uncertain terms, that he should hold his tongue. Talas went so far as to put a hand on Jared’s arm.
Shrugging off the veteran’s grasp, Jared continued. “We come here with information that you’re going to be…”
“Jared, be quiet!” Branden shouted at the hunter. Turning toward the King, Branden began to apologize. “Your Majesty, I’m sorry for this…”
“No, Branden, I will not be quiet,” Jared said and addressed the King. “Your Highness, I don’t mean to be rude…”
“Too late for that, young man,” the Magus chimed in. “And the proper form of address is Your Majesty. Princess Lilliandra would be addressed as Your Highness.” The condescension in the Master Sorcerer’s voice was too much for Jared to take.
“Look, you weasely little bookworm, if we weren’t…” Jared took a step towards the dais and there was suddenly a wall of mail and white tabards in front of him. The King’s Guards had not drawn steel, nor were their hands even on their swords, but their intentions were clear.
“Silence!” the King’s voice boomed through the room, and quiet followed immediately. “Young man…” The King’s anger dropped from his tone. He looked slightly embarrassed, as he seemed to have forgotten the hunter’s name.
“Jared, Your Majesty,” Talas kindly supplied.
“Jared,” the King proceeded with a thankful nod to Talas, “I appreciate what you see as the urgency of this matter. However, there are things that I must consider as King that you cannot even begin to understand, so you will just have to accept my decision.”
Jared opened his mouth to speak again, but the King forestalled him with a question.
“Do you trust the people with which you travel?” King Morgan asked.
Jared was taken completely unawares by the question and stood silent for several moments before replying. “Yes,” he said, swiftly adding a “Your Majesty” afterwards.
“Good,” the King said. “I do too, which shows that you have a decision worthy of royalty. I suggest that you trust your companions further, or more specifically, the trust they have placed in me. I will take into consideration all the things that I have heard today and proceed with any actions that I deem necessary. Until then, please rest and enjoy my hospitality. Your journey was hard, and it may not yet be over. So, take respite while you can.”
The King stood and gently drew his wife up with him. It was a silent announcement that he and his Queen were retiring for the evening. The visitors knelt, even a finally silent Jared. Princess Lilliandra simply curtseyed to her parents. The King and Queen took their leave, with the King’s Guard protectively surrounding the royal pair and eyeing Jared warily as they passed. After they had gone, Princess Lilliandra showed Branden and his companions to their rooms. On the way, Branden noticed that the Princess made it a point to take Jared’s arm, as she escorted them through the castle with two Palace Guards trailing behind them.
Chapter 35
While the King and Queen did not seem to believe the companions’ tale, they were most gracious hosts and had provided their guests with luxurious rooms in the palace, while they stayed in Aeirsga. King Morgan had sent a messenger with a promise that they would meet again the next day and try to make some sense out of what Mala and Branden had presented earlier as a possible magical attack.
Sasha, having stripped out of her armor, sat on the purple velvet coverlet on the massive four poster bed that she and her sister were given to share for the night. Katya, her long black hair wild and unbound, was twirling in front of a large standing mirror in one of the nightgowns of pale purple silk that had been loaned to them. The top of the garment hugged her breasts. While the skirt was sleek when not moving, it filled out beautifully when twirled. Katya giggled as she spun and watched herself in the mirror, the size of which she had never seen before.
“I feel like a princess!” Katya said, panting in delight as she spun. The young sorceress had been quite taken by Princess Lilliandra and their lavish accommodations. The sisters had never seen such beautiful linens, clothing, and furniture. The swordswoman was less enthusiastic about it all than her sister though.
Sasha just smiled and was about to take off her boots, when Jared knocked once and popped his head into the room. He seemed a little taken aback at the twirling Katya, but she stopped when she saw him looking at her, probably hoping that he did not think her childish. Sasha thought his eyes betrayed interest, seeing the way they followed the flowing lines of Katya’s nightdress.
“Jared... did you need something?” the redhead asked, drawing the woodsman’s attention.
“Er... um... yes,” he stuttered, obviously flustered and still a bit stunned, evidenced by the red color on his cheeks. “Mistress Mala, your father, Talas, the Nhyme, and I need a word with you in my room, when you are done...” Jared’s eyes briefly returned to Katya, before he jerked his eyes back to Sasha. “…whatever it is you are doing. Chyla and Niko said they sense something.”
“We’ll be right there,” Sasha assured him, her voice the pinnacle of calm. The swordswoman was more amused at the woodsman’s discomfort, as she felt a grin turn up one of the corners of her mouth, than she was jealous of his sister’s effect on their male friend.
Jared hesitated, looking at the two girls in turn, his eyes lingering longer on Katya, “Right,” he said. “See you soon.” He then closed the door, and his footsteps could be heard going back down the hall.
Katya ran to the bed, hopped onto it, and snuggled up to her sister. Sasha happily wrapped her arms about Katya. After a little hug, the darker sister pinched Sasha, “I can t
ell you like him.”
Sasha’s smile faded into a look of denial, “Who Jared? Maybe, but now is not the time. We have much to do, and I think he is more interested in you anyway.”
Now it was Katya’s turn to roll her eyes and scrunch her nose in denial.
“You are more his match, being a warrior. I think I’d bore him with my homebody attitude and potion making. Besides you saw him first.” Katya giggled, got up from the bed, and slid her sorcerer robes over the nightgown. Sasha wasn’t sure what had gotten into her sister, but her merriment was entertaining, like they were children again and pointing at cute boys. The redhead decided to play along.
“He is nice enough... strange though,” Sasha said, while her sister dressed. “He cares for his body well, which I admire. I am not sure either one of us is ready for a mate though. I don’t want anyone to ever come between us,” Sasha summed up, as she pulled her armor back on.
“Are you sure you need all your gear on again?” Katya asked as her sister motioned her over to help with the breastplate straps.
“It never hurts to be prepared,” Sasha countered with playful hostility. Katya rolled her eyes and helped her sister with her armor. Katya grew pensive as she worked to tighten all the straps into their appropriate buckles.
“Yes, Jared is nice... and fair,” Katya said, pausing with her fingers still on one of Sasha’s breastplate buckles. Sasha could tell her sister was thoroughly distracted, thinking about Jared’s good looks. Shaking her head, the sorceress resumed her work, saying, “One day, Sasha, we will both marry; it is just how the world works. We’ll have our glory days, settle down, and have babies. Mother would have wanted that...” Both the sisters’ eyes glistened, growing sad at the mention of their mother; her recent passing was still quite fresh in their minds. Katya quickly added, “Father would be pleased with that for us as well, to have a simple happy life, like they did.”