Whereas his siblings were now allowed to show their grief and sorrow he held fast to his staunch outward calm and waited for them to settle down. The big brother was gone and in his place now stood their king. Even that had been changed in a moment this day.
He schooled himself and looked at the two of them as his little sister came to herself with tears streaming down her face. Ever the princess, she did not make a sound as she looked to her brother for direction.
“There is much to be done before this day is over pull yourselves together.” They both bowed before their brother the new king and pledged allegiance to him. Julian laid his hands on their heads and blessed them before helping them to their feet. He found that he was reluctant to leave the sanctity of the room he was in, to go face his people. Once he walked out those doors the life he knew would be at an end and a new one begun.
Julian spent more time with his siblings getting them settled when he knew he should be handling matters of the throne. Their grief was real to him and he understood well their fear. They were now essentially orphans with only a brother to stand between them and the world. A world that still held some hostility, and if he didn’t handle himself well, their very lives would be forfeit. It was times like these he wished he’d been born the son of a dairymaid.
His men would be waiting for his orders. The passing of the throne called for much ceremony, none of which he was interested in just then. He could hear movement beyond the doors but did not rush to answer the unuttered call. Let them wait. He would take this time to grieve with his family because after this day he must put it aside and look to the future.
Unlike most of his peers, he had loved his father. Not because he was a king, but because of the man he had been. He had known from the time he was old enough to understand such things, that he would one day sit on the throne, but never did he want it at the demise of his sire.
“Come now you two there will be time enough for that later. We must do father proud.” He looked at the two young people he was now solely responsible for. His brother was of age, in fact he had already been betrothed to marry, but his sister Lillian was a girl of ten, a child.
In one day the brother had become the father, with all the responsibility that entailed. Once his brother and sister had composed themselves he sent them away and called his chief minister to him in the inner chamber.
“Your majesty.” The man bowed his head and awaited his orders.
“Gather the barons and all the men of noble houses as well as the lord chancellor. I will have my coronation now without pomp and ceremony in honor of my father’s mourning.”
He gave the order as he walked back to his old rooms to change out of the bloody, sweaty garments he’d arrived in. Already he had put his grief behind him. There was nothing to be gained by his bowing beneath the heavy burden of a broken heart.
He wished that he could put off everything, but the country had suffered a loss. They had been faced with war and uncertainty. Leaving them without a king, a leader, will only serve to weaken their resolve more.
“Nicholas, with me.” He will start carrying out his father’s orders at once. As well as implementing what he had long thought to be necessary changes. Things that he’d thought long and hard on. Things that made sense, to the man, as well, as the king.
As a king in waiting he’d had ample opportunity to sit back and watch. To see where there was weakness in his father’s kingdom, now he meant to strengthen his own arm. Strike now while the iron is hot. He will give his trust to no one. His trust had died with his king. He would never forget that his sire had been betrayed and never will he give anyone the power to do the same to him.
In the rooms he once occupied when in residence at Glendairy, he looked around at some of the youthful things he’d collected over time. He saw his life as it had been. Remnants of his childhood, a childhood that for all intents and purposes had been over long ago, but in all actuality had died on a battlefield a few short hours thence.
“Your father betrayed mine.” No sense in beating around the bush, when the sun set this night he wanted all his enemies vanquished. Unlike his father before him, he had no need of the love of men. He would not seek to be popular, but to be fair and just as befits a king.
“You are certain?” He did not turn to look at his friend, just disrobed as best he could on his own, since he didn’t want anyone privy to this particular conversation and had dismissed his valet.
“My father told me with his dying breath.” Now he turned to face the other man. This was his friend, and more, one of the few people he bore any real love for. He looked for any sign that the other man had known of his own sire’s treachery and saw none. What he saw instead was disbelief and fear.
He knew what his words would do to the other man, and though he felt for his friend he would not temper his words or his actions. The room fell silent, as both men dwelt on what this would mean, the only thing it could mean.
“I will take care of it my lord.”
“No you will not, I would never ask that of you. I tell you now because there must never be any intrigue between us. What we share as friends and brothers must never be muddied by politics. If you should ever betray me, I will kill you without a thought. Now go say your goodbyes to your father.”
“How long...”
“It’s best that you not know, and Nicholas, I am sorry.” The young king did not wonder that his friend didn’t seek to ask for mercy for his doomed sire. It was testament to how well he knew him. Julian has ever been a man of his word and strong convictions.
The two men had shared many a discourse over time about just such things. They both shared the opinion that a man’s honor was his most precious possession, above diamonds and rubies, even a king’s ransom.
Though it must be done, he found no pleasure in it, as he felt none for what else laid ahead. King for a short while and already he felt the weight of the throne that his sire had carried for so many years and his grandsire before him.
Nicholas left and Julian called his man to see to his bath and dress. He enjoyed a glass of wine as he contemplated what must come next. His mind seemed too muddled to hold much of anything for too long so he just laid his head back and drifted.
Chapter 3
***
There was to be a short ceremony held in the throne room for the nobility that were already in residence. Later, after a respectable time of mourning had passed, they’d be another more harmonious ceremony to celebrate the coronation of the new king.
Julian wasn’t much interested in pomp and circumstance. Now that the reality of his new status was sinking in, he wanted to get on with it. It would be a long time before he felt like celebrating, but it was for the people that he would go through this show. For his people that he would show his face when all he wanted was to hide away and let the grief work its course. But alas it was not meant to be.
He had already avenged his father’s blood, but he will now draw out all that had had a hand in betraying the old king. Much like in the days of old, he planned to destroy every member of the families that had opposed his late father. Man, woman and child.
His nobles had already gathered in the hall as he walked in and made his way to the throne. He had never sat there, not even in play. His eyes went to the much smaller chair next to it, where his sire had sat him on many an occasion since he was old enough to sit upright.
It was there his sire more often than not would teach him the way of things. They had spent many an hour sat there, one asking questions while the other answered, a father teaching his son.
He sat now in his sire’s seat and faced the crowd gathered there. There was a mixed air of sorrow and joviality in the room. Those who had known and liked the king felt the loss of his passing, while others were here only for the pleasure of being allowed at the king’s table, no matter who that king was.
He sat through the words that were meant to transform him from prince to king. Accepted his duty by w
ord and was crowned. The whole thing took less than an hour and he was glad when it was done. Now time to commit his first act as king. From this his people would see what kind of man, what kind of king he meant to be.
He raised his hand to silence the uproar of cheers and well wishes and waited until he had their full attention. His first words as king would send fear through the hearts of many but he was sure there were some here who would find them long in coming.
“Lords and ladies, members of the nobility, I thought it best to begin as I mean to go on. As you all know by now, my father was cut down in battle just a few short hours ago.” There were murmurings of regret and sadness and again he held up his hand for quiet.
“The kingdom is secure, I do not wish for you to worry on that score. We have run our foes to ground.” Here he paused and looked over the crowd, studying the faces of all who stood before him. Knowing that come sunrise some who stood here would be no more .
“But there are still some scores to be settled here at home.” He looked pointedly around the room as he said this, taking in the faces of the men that his father had whispered to him about.
“Baron Holsey, Lord Edgar Duke of Wooten, Lord Albert Earl Glyn.” As he called each man’s name, a contingent of soldiers moved forward to take them into custody. There was, as was to be expected quite a stir in the room as the guilty were gathered from among their peers.
“What is the meaning of this?” He held his hand up to halt the movement. “My good lord Wooten, what think you is going on here?” The room fell silent as the remaining guests tried to make sense of what was happening around them.
The old duke puffed his chest up like a gilded rooster, but before he could open his mouth to pontificate the young king beat him to it.
“My father wasn’t as unaware as you lot and your coconspirators believed.” The older man’s color drained as he looked around at his fellow traitors.
They had obviously believed their dealings well kept from the eyes and ears of the old king. His anger grew as he looked at them now. They had shed the blood of a good man and for what, to bring about their own end?
“Would you like to tell all gathered here of your perfidy?” He stretched out his hand over his remaining subjects who looked on in surprise and disbelief. Beyond the doors could be heard the wailing of women and children as they were pulled from their beds, as well as any other member of the three families that were in residence.
The other treasonous dogs were being rounded up in their manor houses at the moment with strict orders that there must be proof of each one’s demise. He did not plan to leave any alive to see the new dawn.
“That wailing that you hear is your women and children being rounded up to share your fate. Remember, when you sat around your tables plotting in your hearts against my father, your king, you brought this upon yourselves and them. You have no one else to blame. All that was yours will now be given to other more deserving men.”
He looked around at the stunned audience who daren’t move for fear that some past infraction be remembered. No one shifted and he was sure some held their breath in fear as he read the room. Looking for any who looked askance.
“Let this be a lesson to the rest of you. If you, or anyone belonging to you betrays me, I will destroy your entire line. I will not hesitate and there will be no mercy shown to my traitors. One more thing and hear me well. The friend of my enemy is my enemy. Choose your loyalties wisely.”
“Your majesty I do not think...”
“Lord Chancellor.” He turned to his last remaining enemy as the men were dragged kicking and screaming from the room where they were to be taken to the gallows and hung forthwith. The birds were going to enjoy a mighty fare this day as they feasted on the blood of nobles.
Julian refused to have even one of his father’s enemies see out this day. They will all suffer the same fate as the man who had shown them only kindness, only to be betrayed by his own.
“I’m very pleased that you saw fit to interrupt your king. You sir, have held the wool over my dead father’s eyes for a very long time, as has your predecessors before done to many a king I’m sure. But it all stops here, with me.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, the church...” The blustering old fool thought to hide behind the patronage of the church. Did he know nothing of his new king? Julian had long held with the belief that the church was nothing more than a corrupt harlot who sold her wares to the highest bidder. The church held no sway with him.
“Do not interrupt me again lest I take your lying tongue from your head.” The other man stepped back in shock. As the Vatican’s representative he was due a certain respect.
Everyone knew that it was he and not some savage king who had run the country. Why, he had the most beautiful palace in all the land because it was his right. How dare this upstart think to speak to him in such a dishonorable way?
No one ever questioned him, though they may question the king from time to time. But as the head of the church in this land, the pope’s mouthpiece, he was virtually untouchable.
“The creator makes kings of men, not men and their politics. A king’s greatest enemy is that great divider you call religion. Why should I need the word of some stodgy old reprobate such as your leader to tell me how to run my kingdom, my people, did he put me here? Did he secure me my throne? I think not.” There was no answer forthcoming so he carried on.
“Then why in the putrid bowels of hell should I pay homage to him? No thank you I will seek my own counsel, as is my right to go before God on my own behalf. Seeing as how He has seen fit to make me leader of the greatest nation on earth.”
He knew because of men’s superstitions that there might be a great divide following his speech. He didn’t let that sway him. The church’s reign of tyranny was at an end. All the church had brought him, and his lineage was wars and calamity.
“But, my station, my home...”
“Your home? Are you referring to that monstrosity you built with monies from the king’s coffers? I think we both know who that really belongs to. As such you will be relieved of those holdings forthwith, and please advise your servants you must be gone by night’s end.”
The old man swallowed whatever words were on his tongue once he realized that the son differed from the father when it came to religion. Where the old king had feared the hierarchy, had despaired of his soul being destroyed in hellfire at the words of one man. The son chose instead to take his plight directly to the highest power in heaven or earth.
Who could withstand such beliefs as this? He feared the worse but the king’s next words gave him some reprieve, some but not much. How could he face his superior in Rome and tell him he’d lost their foothold in the greatest kingdom known to man?
“You will be afforded safe passage to Rome and I suggest you take the time to contemplate how lenient a king I have proven to be in your case since I haven’t slit your lying throat but spared your life instead. Go”
“As to the rest of you, learn from this day; I will show you the kindness of my father, but I won’t be so soft of heart as he. I will seek to keep the peace here at home so that we may live in prosperity and enjoy the fruits of our labor.”
“There will be some changes made but not much. Just know this. There will be no tolerance for traitors here. There will be no second chances given to anyone who is caught in the act of treason and please remember, it’s not only your own life you endanger. I will destroy your entire family down to your great grandmother if she’s still alive.”
With that the dashing young king left the hall and went in search of sustenance, leaving the room in a flurry of activity behind him.
Six Years Later
Chapter 4
King Julian
***
“Who are they?”
My friend Lord Sotheby, Earl of Camden who sat beside me at table turned his head in the direction I’d indicated. There were two very beautiful young maidens making coy gestures towards me
as they sat at one of the lower tables.
“They’re the Marbury twins your majesty. Their names quite elude me at the moment, but I can assuredly acquire them if you’d like.” I looked idly around the room at what other fare was on offer. It had been almost a fortnight since I’d enjoyed a good bout of bed sport with a worthy vixen.
“Later, and for goodness sake James, be quiet about it. I’m growing tired of having my dalliances bandied about by every wagging tongue from here to Edinburgh.”
“As you say your majesty.” James hid a cunning smile behind his chalice as I glanced once more to the nubile young things, who weren’t too shy about their flirtations.
I ignored them the rest of the evening as I spoke to my men. We’d just returned from securing our borders, something I kept on top of even in peacetime. Much had happened since I took the throne. After I’d destroyed all my enemies and gained the loyalty and support of my noblemen, the land had gone through a period of restoration and rebuilding.
It was the first time since the Aguilons had taken rulership of the land that the people had known true rest. Now they were enjoying a time of secure prosperity. The court had been given to balls and fetes that lasted into the wee hours of the morn with much gaiety and lightheartedness.
I had changed much myself in the years since becoming king. I still enjoyed the same pleasantries as before, even more so now in some cases. But I was no longer the carefree boy I had once been. My days were filled with training and planning and settling disputes where necessary.
I had implemented much to see to the betterment of the poor of the land, where my sire had given more care to his noblemen. Now the poor had lands, which they could work without the heavy burden of inflated taxes.
I did not see where these changes had hurt the coffers. In fact my wealth had grown exponentially since there was no church to feed after I’d sacked them all and given their largess to those who needed it more.
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