Sauron nodded his head, responding, “You have to answer this letter or she will think you no longer love her. But we have sworn since the day we received this dukeship from the Kallestors to honor the king with our lives. I do not think you can ask Lorriel to defy the king, even for love. It is a hard world, son, but honor should have one of the highest priorities.”
Andrew was frustrated, “I know father, but are we to be denied the one institution ordained by God that is higher than the king, the uniting of man and woman together in marriage?”
“I am not saying that, my son,” Sauron spoke. “Did you not tell me her brother Raven was working on behalf of both of you to solve this problem? Is he genuine in his efforts?”
“Yes, father,” Andrew answered meekly. “His heart is pure, and when he speaks, his honor shows, and I am his friend.”
“Then we must give this man time to do his part, should we not?” Andrew nodded, and Sauron went on, “You are a man, and if all else fails and you still want to elope, you have my blessing and support. If she is willing to leave all for you, how can I not accept her as a daughter? Besides, there are higher laws of God that transcend the king, but very few, and they should rarely be invoked. So be warned, a careful reply is needed by you in your answer to Lorriel.”
Andrew was always aware of the wisdom his father possessed and was grateful for the ease at which he could come to him and talk. His father handed him back the letter and Andrew returned to his room and began composing the letter to answer Lorriel:
Dearest Lorriel;
I, too, love you with all my heart and soul. And I likewise cannot spend the rest of my life without you. So please do not misunderstand what I am about to write. I cannot ask you to elope with me contrary to the king’s command if there is the possibility of any other way this can be solved. Your brother, Raven, has promised to help us, so by honor we must give him time to do his part. He has begged patience and we must wait. If all else fails to win your hand honorably, then I will appeal to the higher law of God and take you to be my wife, I promise. But until then, please wait and petition God for a change in the king’s heart.
Love, Andrew, son of Duke Crestlaw
P.S. We should not write again till we see how Raven does.
Andrew sealed the letter and waited for the next merchant to pass through selling wares. It took a few days, but one finally came selling jewelry boxes and other containers. Andrew went down and began to bargain over a particularly ornate jewelry box that carried a pretty hefty price tag. When the haggling was finally done and Andrew paid the price for the box, he opened it, placed the letter inside and handed it back to the merchant with a nice gold piece on top. The merchant, seeing the note placed inside with the extra gold piece worth more than what was paid for the box, nodded his understanding.
“And where,” he said, “do you want this fine box and the precious contents to go to?”
“Are you going to the king’s castle?” Andrew wanted to know.
“That is my very next stop,” the merchant said.
“Then give this to the king’s daughter whose name is Lorriel or to her brother, Raven. Do you understand?” Andrew said sternly, “and to no one else!”
The merchant nodded and said, “I always wanted to be part of a secret letter delivery.” With that he took the gold piece and put it in his pocket.
“I am serious,” Andrew spoke nervously. “If this fell into the wrong hands, it could hurt her terribly. And then I would have to find you and make you pay!”
“Not to worry my friend. We may want to do business again, and surely I would not want to cut off this generous supply line.” And with that he reached into his pocket, jingled the coins there and smiled.
Thus the letter was sent on its way. In a few days, the merchant was in the court of the king’s castle. Lorriel, with others, came down to look at the wares the merchant had to offer.
As she was browsing, he spoke to her, “You look like a princess. You would not happen to be the king’s daughter would you?”
“Why, thank you,” Lorriel said.
“My name is Kemper, and you?” he bowed indicating her.
“My name is Lorriel. It’s nice to meet you, Kemper.”
The merchant nodded knowingly and said, “May I interest you in some jewelry boxes, Princess Lorriel?”
“Not really,” answered Lorriel.
“I insist,” Kemper said, “especially this one. It is suited to a princess.”
As Lorriel looked at it, she realized it was very beautiful, but she shook her head no.
Since there were other people around, Kemper said, “You must look at this or you will hurt my feelings, please.”
My what a strange salesman, Lorriel thought, but took the box from his hand. He went to other customers then and took care of some purchases. When he came back to Lorriel, she handed him back the jewelry box.
“Did you look inside?” he questioned, and looked hurt that she had not thoroughly examined the box.
She took it back from him and opened it, expecting music or some such thing. When she saw the letter, she clapped the lid shut very quickly, her eyes went wide and her heart beat increased.
Andrew, she thought, how stupid of me. She had sent her letter by merchant, why would not Andrew do the same?
“How much?” she asked breathlessly.
Kemper was now smiling. He was enjoying this very much. It was the most fun he had had in years.
“To you? Well, if you would speak kindly of my wares to others, I will consider it an advertising gift to you, princess.”
Lorriel thanked him and hurried off with her precious cargo. Kemper smiled as he watched her go.
Ah, young love, he thought. Those were the days.
When Lorriel had closed the door to her room, she quickly went to the bed, sat down and opened the box. After she had finished the letter, she sat and thought a minute. At first she was disappointed they could not elope. Then she began to see the wisdom of Andrew’s decision, for if they were to marry now, it would forever close the door to reconciliation with her father. Andrew was right, she decided. They must give Raven time to work and be patient as he had asked. Then she silently pleaded in her heart, please, Raven, help us if you can.
The next two weeks went tortuously slow for Raven, an agonizing eternity waiting for the inevitable. Even Lorriel noticed something was wrong and talked to him privately.
“Raven, what has gotten hold of you so as to squeeze the very joy out of your life? Has Rebekka sent word she never wants to see you again?” With that she laughed because she knew that was not true. Although Raven and Rebekka’s relationship was not as romantic as hers and Andrew, she knew that they cared for each other just as deeply.
But then she saw that Raven did not even smile, so she said seriously, “My, my, little brother. Something must be terribly wrong. Please tell me.”
“Something is wrong, Lorriel, but I cannot tell you except to say a terrible storm is coming that will sweep across our kingdom. And in its wake, it will leave destruction and misery such as our land has never seen or will see again. And I...” and Raven faltered here, “I may have to leave our home and never return.” Raven said this so sadly that Lorriel began to cry.
Through her sobs she said, “You won’t ever have to leave, Raven. Let’s go to father. He can help us.”
“No!” Raven said forcefully. “You can say nothing of this to anyone, do you understand?”
Lorriel nodded her head, tears still in her eyes.
Then Raven softened and said, “Lorriel, I love you very much. You are so special to me and I do want you to be happy. I have a plan that will give you what your heart most desires. I will go to father and ask him to drop his prohibition of you to see or speak to Andrew Crestlaw at the coming feast.”
“You would do that for me?” Then she paused, her hopes coming back to reality. “What makes you think you can change father�
�s mind about this?”
“Oh, I can change his mind. Trust me,” Raven said with a smile. “I have just thought of some advantage the king had not considered in giving you his blessing.”
Lorriel hugged him and then hurried off, bouncing joyfully on her way.
Raven felt better, too, thinking, it is best that someone have some happiness before this whole thing gets ugly. Then he left to find the king.
Raven knocked at the door of the king’s study and heard Mollen reply for him to enter.
Once inside with the door shut, Raven spoke to the king, “I think you should let Lorriel see Andrew Crestlaw at the coming fall feast.”
Mollen’s face grew red with anger, “What?” he said, slamming his fist down. “You want me to encourage this romance between your sister and this Crestlaw! What do you think our previous plans were all about?”
“That’s just the point,” Raven said.
The king was now silent, listening to what Raven was going to say.
Raven went on, “People will notice you keeping them apart and see your displeasure in their relationship. Rebekka Prescott has already noticed, how many others? Then if Andrew perishes in battle, it may not appear as inconspicuous as you want it to be.”
The king looked thoughtful and said, “You are right. The people must not suspect anything. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. When you leave here, get your sister and send her in. I will lift my prohibition on her seeing or speaking to Andrew Crestlaw. In fact, I will stand up with Sauron Crestlaw at the fall feast and give my blessing publicly to their relationship. After all, it will be short lived.” Raven bowed and left, smiling to himself. He found Lorriel and informed her the king wished to speak to her and then winked. She paused for just a moment, hope rising in her as she gathered up her dress and hurried to the king’s study. Shortly she returned and ran to Raven, jumping up into his arms and hugging him around the neck.
“Oh, little brother,” she said. “I don’t know what you said to father, but he even gave me his blessing in this courtship. How can I thank you?”
“Your joy and happiness is thanks enough,” Raven said, and he meant it. At least someone should enjoy the fall feast.
When news of the king’s summons to military competition reached the Crestlaws, it drew mixed feelings.
“It sounds like fun to have military competitions against other dukeships, but I don’t like the idea of leaving the pass so vulnerable,” Andrew said to his father.
To this Sauron agreed, but then added, “If no one knows, then it will do no harm.”
So they sent word immediately that the pass gate should be closed to all traffic coming and going, so it would be impossible for word to get out that it would be barely guarded. They made preparations, and the next day the whole company set out south to the fall feast and the games that would follow. As they rode south, Andrew wondered if the king would change his mind and allow him to see Lorriel. There had been nothing but a constant ache in his heart since the summer feast at the king’s castle. The only respite had been the one letter he received from Lorriel expressing her love to him and the one letter he sent back. He loved Lorriel with all his heart and didn’t know why the king had taken a dislike to him and had forbade her to see him. As he thought, he chided himself for taking that frustration out on Prince Edward during the sword’s play at the summer feast. He remembered the look of disgrace and shame in Prince Edward’s eyes when he had disarmed him. Edward was not used to losing, and had felt he had lost face in the eyes of all the people for doing so. Actually, it had been a stroke of luck for Edward was beating Andrew until he had stumbled on that stone and Andrew took that misfortune and disarmed the prince. Edward really didn’t lose face with the people as he believed, for they saw it for what it was, an unfortunate mishap. Even Master Fields said it was just one of those accidental things that could happen to anyone. Nevertheless, Edward had taken offense at having lost. Andrew should have let the prince win and then he would have been on better terms with Edward. He knew he could not undo what had been done though, so he turned his thoughts to what little communication he did have with Lorriel. She was willing to leave all and come to him. He shook his head at the depth of Lorriel’s love. He could not elope contrary to the king’s wishes, for he was bound by honor to respect the king’s command. He felt that they should pray and petition God for a change in the king’s heart. Now as they journeyed, Andrew wondered if their prayers had been answered.
Raven, likewise, had been preparing for the coming events, but his preparations were not for the feast. His preparations were for the coming battle. In the secret weapons’ room, he unrolled the leather arrow holder Master Fields had made for him and removed all the bolts Smithy had made, replacing them with the three special bolts he had found with the crossbow. He then took some sacks he had brought with him and placed the leather arrow holder in one along with the Kallestor helmet. In the other sack, he placed the Kallestor shield, along with the mail trousers, shirt, and gloves. He then headed back down the passage to his room. Before opening the door, he put the crossbow in the sack with the shield after he removed the mail. The mail, he decided, he would wear the day they left for the fall feast. He neatly stacked the sacks on the floor of the passage behind the door to his room with the mail on top. Then he entered his room and closed the door behind him.
When the day of the fall feast finally came, Raven rose and, with his full undergarments on, dressed in the mail except for the gloves. Those he left in the sack. He placed his bright red tunic with the yellow Kallestor crest sewn in the center over his mail and put some loose trousers on as well. He put on his boots and opened the door to the passage. Inside the passage, he girded on the ancient family sword and picked up the two sacks that had the rest of the armor in them. He then went back into his room and placed the sacks on the floor, closed the door to the passage and headed down to the great hall for breakfast. He had very little appetite. Nor did his father and Edward. They were both dressed in the same red tunics with the yellow family crest sewn in the center. Lorriel was the only one who seemed to have an appetite, and was full of energy, as she should be with her emotions released by her father’s relenting of his command.
Edward would not look at Raven. Though Raven tried to engage him in general conversation, Edward would only nod or mumble an answer. After breakfast, Raven went back to his room and gathered his two sacks of armor. He then headed down to the courtyard to mount up. As Raven was tying the sacks to the back of his saddle, Edward came to him and asked if he had his armor.
“Yes,” Raven replied, “it is in the sacks tied on behind my saddle.”
Edward thought that strange, because armor usually was tied openly to the saddle for easy access.
“Are you sure you are not forgetting anything,” Edward asked, “Maybe I should check?”
“No, no,” Raven assured him, “I have everything I need, believe me.”
Edward was still concerned as he spoke, “Raven, this is no game or competition. We are going to war. If you are not prepared, you could die.”
Raven nodded very slowly, “I know, Edward. It turns my stomach because of what father will do to our kingdom. We have never had war, and everyone who dies--their blood will be upon his hands. Pray that we fight well so that little of our countrymen will die. And if we die...” and he looked sternly at Edward, “may we die with honor, doing what is right.”
Now Edward had confidence that his brother knew what he was getting into and it caused him to look upon Raven in a different light.
“When did he grow up?” Edward thought suddenly. It bothered Edward, too, that the king was about to plunge them into war and many might die. Glenfair really was not prepared for war, had never fought a war before, and even though this would be a small engagement, he knew innocent people could die. He thought back to the meeting with his father having only agreed to the plan because he saw it was already in motion. The king had al
ready made up his mind. He was old enough to know not to contradict the king in matters like this, so he had agreed instead. Now after Raven made it very real that innocent people could die, he was not so sure that he should have gone along with this insane plan. He should have stood up to his father and demanded more proof of the Crestlaw plotting than the incident at the last fall feast.
Proof, Edward thought, is the element lacking in all of his father’s accusations. He now realized that there could be a logical explanation for the spy being present at that fall feast. He had only been convinced of conspiracy by his father’s fears and emotions. What if his father was wrong about the Crestlaws? That possibility alone changed everything. This whole affair, he realized, should have been dealt with openly in a court of law with the other dukes presiding as judges, not underhandedly in a war like his father had planned. Now he did not know what to do. Perhaps he would not withdraw from Andrew and let him perish as his father wished, not until he had proof. And if insurrection were proven true, he would kill Andrew himself. But the doubts that Raven had planted in Edward’s mind were accomplishing their purpose.
The Kallestors rode out of the castle heading for the northwest shore of Pearl Lake, along with the whole castle regiment and the people who wanted to go to the feast. As they journeyed, small bands broke off here and there to hunt Tor, for every dukeship was required to hunt Tor on their way to the outdoor feast and kill enough for the amount of people in their company. The king likewise did so for his company. This accomplished two things. Since the outdoor feasts rotated around Pearl Lake from year to year, it put hunting pressure on different herds of Tor. And since most of the Tor were killed around the king’s castle on one feast, the other feast depleted herds closer to each dukeship, thus creating a balance of wild Tor management in the kingdom.
Raven did not feel like hunting today and noticed that Edward did not join in as well. Only the king went out as if nothing was out of the ordinary, probably trying to keep things as normal as possible. If Lorriel noticed that Edward and Raven did not join the hunts, she did not mention it, probably because her mind was somewhere else. Soon carts joined the company riding north laden with the success of the hunting. Sometimes two or three Tor were piled on these carts heading for the feast. After awhile, smoke from fires could be seen as they approached the north end of Pearl Lake, evidence of those who had gone on ahead to make preparations and start the fires for the barbecue. The feasts had always been a source of great joy to Raven, as they had to everyone in the kingdom. But Raven had trouble finding the bright cheery emotions that were always present on the feast days. They were buried somewhere beneath the knowledge he wished he did not possess.
The King's Folly Page 14