The Dread King: Book One of The Larken Chronicles

by R. L. Poston

  At last all the fitting and tailoring and preparing was done, and their wedding day dawned clear and cold. Banners flew from every turret, flowers filled every public hall and room, and all personnel, down to the lowliest page, were decked out in their finery. King Andreas had declared a festival to accompany the wedding, and even the few Warders who had to remain on duty were in good spirits. Restored levels of Talent had brought a large number of new recruits, who contributed greatly to the good cheer.

  The evening before their wedding, Larken and Melona were the king’s guests at a dinner in their honor. At first, Larken was speechless as he and Melona sat with King Andreas and his wife, Elena. Melona and Elena, however, were soon chatting like old friends. Elena was tall and slender, with hair that had long since turned from black to silver. She displayed a graciousness that put them at ease. Larken was reminded of the Elven Queen Aletha. He mentioned that to King Andreas, who startled him with the news that he was more right than he knew.

  “But…I mean, I’ve been told that Elves and humans don’t usually, uh, mix,” stammered Larken, turning bright red with embarrassment.

  “They don’t. That’s the official line, but if you live as long as I have, you’ll find that there are more exceptions to rules than rules themselves. Remember that the next time you’re tempted to be guided by a rule,” Andreas said. “Elena’s great grandmother supposedly was an Elf. There’s quite a tale about it that is told by her family, but I suspect that the ‘mixing,’ as you call it, happens a lot more than the Elves will admit.”

  “My mother was an Elf,” said Larken.

  “Yes, I know,” replied King Andreas. “I suspect that there are quite a few people running around Shropanshire with Elven blood in them. Do you know that most scholars believe that Elves originally came from humans?”

  “I’ve heard that, sire, but how did they become Elves? I mean, I’ve heard all the tales about magic, but I really don’t believe them.”

  “What do the Elves believe?” asked Andreas.

  “Well, sire, they don’t have many legends about it. Most hold to the legend that they became Elves after the Great War, and that they hid themselves from the humans who were trying to destroy the world.”

  “That may be correct,” said Andreas. “The legends of the Great War probably have some basis in fact. The stories say that strange weapons were used. Some stories say that the weapons changed things, and that one of the changes was the creation of Elves.”

  “Some people think that it was a disease, sire,” said Larken.

  “That may also be true,” replied King Andreas. “Remember that the biggest differences between humans and Elves are their light bones and their inability to stand sunlight. There is a rare disease that some people get that seems to destroy their bones and leave their skin unprotected from the sun. It’s a slow wasting disease, and no one seems to know what causes it. It isn’t a well-known fact, but there are a couple of areas in the south of Grealand that tend to bring on such a disease if people tarry there long. Some people even believe that the Great War had something to do with creating those areas and the disease itself.”

  With that exchange, Larken warmed up to the king, and soon they were exchanging views and experiences freely. King Andreas seemed as fascinated by Larken’s apprenticeship experience in Ox Run’s smithy and his recent experience with the Elves as he was by Larken’s waking of the Source. Their talk drifted in and out of kingdom and personal concerns and experiences. Larken realized later that the king had artfully pulled all that Larken knew from him in what seemed to be just a pleasant dinner conversation. The fact that King Andreas had also shared many of his own personal experiences with Larken made Larken feel privileged.

  The only time that Larken felt the conversation turn serious was when they were discussing the Council’s activities. “Larken,” the king said, “I’ll only say this once, and, if you ever let anyone know that I’ve told you this, my career as King of Shropanshire may come to new crisis. Larken, there are wise and good men and women in the High Council, but some of them are not so wise and not so good. There are spies and traitors in every part of our kingdom, including the Council, but the not-so-wise of the Council don’t believe this. Cooperate with the Council, Larken, but always keep really important matters to yourself and a few close friends, and let your own judgment guide you in private after you’ve accepted the Council’s wisdom in public. Now, pass me your cup. I’d like your opinion on this new vintage from Grealand.”

  Their dinner ended shortly thereafter. After a too-short embrace with Melona, Larken was dragged away by his fellow Warders. It was unbroken Warder tradition, he was informed, that before a Shropanshire Warder could be married, he must drink at least once in each of Sarkis’ taverns. Blades were left in the castle as the Warder party exited the gates for a night of rambunctious drinking. Larken swore later that they visited each tavern at least twice, but he never could be sure. He soon lost count of the number of cups of ale and beer that he drank or the number of barmaids that he kissed for luck. At some point, someone must have carried him to his bunk, because he awoke there with no memory of how he had returned.

  Word of the evening’s activities had evidently reached Healer ears, for Larken was awakened by a rather disapproving Healer sent to speed Larken’s recovery from his night’s activities. Larken gracefully suffered both the disapproving looks and the muttered comments about the foolishness of men, since he had no real alternative. Even his Blade-assisted constitution had been overrun by the seeming gallons of wine that had at times been literally poured into him. He very much needed the Healing that was offered.

  Since the wedding ceremony was to be in the afternoon, Larken had time for a late and leisurely breakfast with the Ox Run smith, his wife, and Melona’s parents. Larken found himself rather uncomfortable with the diffidence that Melona’s parents paid to him, but the smith’s blunt, matter-of-fact questions soon put everyone at ease. The smith was proud of Larken’s accomplishments, but he seemed more interested by some of the metalwork that he had seen in the castle. Following breakfast, the smith went off to spend some time talking shop with the king’s smith. The smith’s wife stayed with Melona’s parents, but first made her husband promise to meet them by lunchtime.

  Larken had been surprised that, when he had shaken hands with the smith, his hand no longer felt as if it were being crushed. Even his partial left hand seemed to have grown in both size and strength. In fact, Larken had recently noticed that his left hand’s fingers were larger than those on his right. When Larken had asked Melona about this, she had told him that the body often makes changes to compensate. She supposed that the frequent Healings that he had undergone, plus his new Blade-assisted self-healing, was overcoming the deficiency of his partial left hand. Somehow, that had made him feel more complete.

  * * * * *

  Larken had been looking forward to one official duty of the day. As Gahen had explained to him, the groom’s duties for the morning and early afternoon included sampling the food vendors’ products. Larken had planned a leisurely tour of the stalls and tents on the castle grounds, quietly sampling the food and drinks. What he did not plan on was the large party of Warders that showed up to accompany him.

  “You didn’t believe that we would miss this, did you?” laughed Tragen when he saw Larken’s expression.

  “No, but I had hoped you would,” replied Larken.

  The Warders proceeded to escort Larken out into the fair that had gathered on the castle grounds. They made a mock procession of their progress from one vendor’s stall or tent to another’s.

  “Prepare the way for the groom,” the Warders would shout as they formed a corridor of attendants. Larken would grudgingly trudge through the corridor to the next vendor, where the Warders would examine the food or drink to determine if it were of good enough quality or of sufficient supply to warrant the groom’s attention. Since it unvaryingly was good enough, Larken was forced to drink and eat far more
than he wished. By noon, He was glad to escape to his room.

  Larken had previously asked Sam to call for some pages to move his clothes and possessions into the apartment that he and Melona had been assigned. The apartment was located on the south side of the castle grounds in a group of buildings set aside for married castle personnel. Larken had enjoyed his Warder accommodations in the castle, but he was looking forward to more privacy. He and Melona could still take all their meals at the castle if they so chose, but their apartment had the necessary facilities for cooking their own meal when they wanted to.

  While Sam supervised the moving of his personal items, Larken met a few of his new neighbors and recognized two Warders with whom he had patrolled. Unfortunately, his regular duties plus the crisis caused by the invasion of Norland had stolen all but a few of his waking hours, leaving him little time to socialize and develop friendships. Jaris had promised him that, after the wedding, he would be relieved of his regular duties for a couple of days. Jaris had apologized that the honeymoon could not be longer, but Larken had assured him that he understood that the good of the kingdom must come first.

  The rest of the afternoon was consumed by a constant stream of friends and acquaintances that wanted to express their congratulations. Fortunately, Gahen fulfilled his responsibilities as Larken’s second by dragging Larken away from the well-wishers in time to be dressed for the late afternoon wedding.

  * * * * *

  Finally, Larken was dressed, groomed, and waiting at the base of the steps leading to the royal dais in the main audience room. The thrones had been removed from the dais for this ceremony, and King Andreas and Queen Elena stood on the dais. Gahen and the Ox Run smith, Larken’s spokesman, waited with Larken. As Larken’s second, Gahen had readily accepted the responsibility of providing for the safety and security of Larken’s soon-to-be bride and future family if Larken were unable to do so. The smith had indicated with pride that he, Larken’s spokesman, would let all know that Larken was sound in mind and spirit and unencumbered by anything that would prevent him from being married. Larken was a bit nervous about the smith’s enthusiasm for his part.

  A trumpet fanfare caused all to rise as Melona’s father and mother came down the center aisle, arms linked together. They joined Taz, Melona’s chosen second, below the dais. Then the music paused and a murmur of appreciation swelled in the room as Melona appeared at the entrance. Larken would later find that his memory was indelibly imprinted with every detail of Melona’s walk down the aisle.

  King Andreas spoke a few words about the sanctity and wonder of marriage and then called upon the witnesses to testify to the worthiness of Melona and Larken to be married and to the appropriateness of the marriage.

  Melona’s father spoke a few words of encouragement to the couple as his witness. He also related how he had enjoyed watching Melona and Larken grow up together over the years. Melona’s mother added more tears than words as she gave her testimony but finally was able to complete her blessing upon the couple.

  Larken held his breath as King Andreas turned to the Ox Run smith for his witness. He inwardly cringed as he saw the smith fill his enormous lungs with air in preparation for his testimony. In a booming voice that caused the audience to startle, he pronounced, “Larken was a good boy, now a man. It is good that they marry.”

  Everyone, including Larken, waited for the rest of his remarks, but the smith turned to Larken with a very self-satisfied smile and nodded to indicate that he believed that he had fulfilled his duties. Larken looked at the king, who was still waiting to be sure that the smith had finished. Catching the king’s eye, Larken nodded at him to let him know that no more would be forthcoming. The king, after another glance at the smith to be sure that he was really done, continued somewhat hesitantly with the vows of commitment.

  Gahen later told Larken that the vows went well even though Larken acted like a moonstruck calf. Larken remembered the feel of Melona’s hand in his as he placed his ring on her finger. He also remembered his feelings of embarrassment as Melona held his partial left hand to place her ring on his finger. Larken was sure that he heard murmured astonishment from the attendees as Melona held his hand up so that people could witness the ring, but Melona later told him that he had imagined that. In any event, the vows were completed and King Andreas announced that Larken and Melona were wed.

  Larken had thought that he would be too nervous to enjoy their first wedded kiss, but he completely forgot the presence of the audience until their applause and laughter broke up a very successful embrace.

  By tradition, Larken’s and Melona’s first duties as a married couple were to invite all present to a feast and to serve as host and hostess. These duties kept them active until late in the evening, when Gahen made the traditional announcement that it was not mannerly of guests to keep the bride and groom apart for all of their wedding day. So, in the tradition of the three kingdoms, the entire wedding party left the feast and noisily escorted the bride and groom to their new home.

  Larken had one more surprise the next morning while he and Melona breakfasted together in their new home. “Taz and Gahen have invited us to sup with them next week. I told them that next Wednesday would be fine,” Melona informed him.

  “Good,” said Larken. “Where are we supposed to meet them?”

  Melona gave Larken a puzzled look. “Why, at their apartment. It’s just four doors down from us.”

  “Their apartment? But they aren’t married, are they?”

  “Of course they are, Larken.” Melona laughed. “You didn’t know?”

  It took Larken quite a while to recover his equilibrium. Once again, he was presented evidence that everyone but him knew what was going on around him.

  Chapter 16: Weather and Spies

  Larken found that neither his status as a newly wedded husband nor his need for continued training and education prevented his commander, the king, or the High Council from requesting his assistance with tasks and discussions far beyond his normal responsibilities. Larken had been warned by his instructors about the many demands made on a Warder. They had stressed that, despite these demands, daily training and refreshing of skills were necessary to a Warder’s effectiveness and well-being. However, Larken had observed that, more often than not, the veterans were called away from their practice by summons to meetings or conferences. Soon he was also experiencing both the normal Warder’s frustration of not having enough time to exercise or train properly and the additional frustration of not having enough time to explore his unique Elven abilities and talents.

  Added to these burdens was a special relationship that developed between Larken and King Andreas. At least once per day, the king would summon Larken to join him in a meeting, an audience granted to a kingdom official, or a private conversation about some aspect of the governance of the kingdom. Larken quickly recognized that the true purpose of these meetings was to ensure that Larken would receive a complete understanding of how the kingdom was run. Larken came to the conclusion that either the king was testing him or else he was actually trying to train him to be the next king. Probably, as he told Melona one night, the truth was that Andreas was doing some of both.

  Fortunately, Larken’s need for sleep and rest had diminished even below the normal Warder’s need. Before their wedding, Melona had experienced a reduced need of sleep after her Bonding, but not to the extent that Larken had. However, after their wedding, Melona and Larken found themselves experiencing a curious phenomenon that other Warder-Healer couples had reported.

  Larken’s need for sleep had fallen to about four hours per night. He also needed less than an hour per day for relaxation. Melona’s need for sleep had fallen to about five hours, but she still needed around three hours per day for relaxation lest she succumb to the particular fatigue created by long-term stress. However, once they were married, they found that Melona’s need for sleep and rest decreased to Larken’s levels as long as they spent the sleeping and resting hours together. This p
henomenon had never been satisfactorily explained.

  Larken and Melona tried to schedule their days around each other, but both realized that, since Shropanshire and the other two kingdoms were preparing for war, it was impossible to maintain any type of regular schedule. Larken also had the added burden of being regarded as the link between the Warder and Elven forces.

  After his return, he had been given a larger office with a staff of eight assistants, headed by the miracle-working Sam. Even with the additional staff, they were still challenged to handle all the administrative work caused by the increased volume and complexity of Larken's increased responsibilities.

  Before Larken came to Sarkis, he had assumed that King Andreas sat on his throne for hours each day and made judgments, which the Warders then enforced. He had believed that being king was an easy job. He had also believed that Warders spent most of their time either enforcing the law or fighting. Now he understood that both the king and the Warders were taxed to the limit of their abilities by the administration of Shropanshire.

  Warders functioned as judges that decided cases that were brought before them by the many officials of the kingdom. At the lowest level, the decision of a Warder in the field was law. Any appeal was made to the next higher level of their organization. Since there were harsh penalties for an unwarranted appeal, only a relative few of the most difficult cases reached Larken’s level, and fewer of these were expected to be referred to Jaris. However, even the relatively few cases that reached the higher Warder levels produced a heavy demand on the available time of the Warder leadership. Larken was doubly cursed, as he complained to Melona, in that Andreas insisted that he attend most appeals that reached the king. This meant that he often got to hear the king rule on a case that Larken had ruled on a day or two earlier. Sometimes, this was a particularly humbling, yet instructive, occurrence.