by Timothy Bond
“Besides, Your Majesty,” the Duke continued, “when your father named me Duke of Lands End, I gladly accepted the role alongside my duty as steward. The Haren family will honor both commitments against the day that the King may choose to move the capital back to the North.”
“I do not believe that day will ever come, Duke,” Leondis replied, “however the Crown respects and appreciates your loyalty.”
The men continued their small talk, while Minister Nolan stood patiently in the doorway, ready to resume the events of the evening, which he and Lord Randolf had so carefully orchestrated.
"Your Majesty. Please excuse the interruption," a man spoke from the shadows just beyond the light streaming through the doors.
"Yes?" Leondis replied, not afraid of the voice in his garden, but not sure to whom he was speaking.
"Forgive me, Sire, but may I introduce to you the Lady Rozlynn."
The man stepped forward into full view. He was nondescript in simple though presentable clothing and wore a well groomed but long beard. On his arm was a golden-haired maiden with the most enchanting set of almond-shaped, blue-green eyes the King had ever seen.
"My Lady," Leondis stepped forward, then gently cradled Rozlynn's offered hand in his own. For some reason, he felt a need to defer to this woman. He found himself bowing his head in a way that was not really befitting a King.
"Your Majesty," Rozlynn replied sweetly, stepping close to the King and holding his gaze as he lifted his head.
Rozlynn wore a simple blue gown, not over revealing and quite complimentary to her shapely figure. Her hair was loose and hung nearly to her waist, practically glowing in the flickering light of the torches. The two were now so close that no light could be seen between them. There was nothing obscene or rude about the way they were standing, but the closeness clearly made Minister Nolan uncomfortable.
"Ahem," the Minister interrupted. "My King, you really must return to the receiving line."
Leondis turned his head and looked over at the Minister before giving his attention back to Rozlynn.
"I really must be going inside, Lady Rozlynn," he apologized. "Will you be joining the ladies at the ball?"
"I am afraid not, Your Majesty," Rozlynn replied, slightly lowering her eyes. "You see, I am not here for the Choosing. I wished only for a chance to meet Your Majesty, before you decided on the woman who will share your life forever."
"Are you already married? Are you betrothed? For what possible reason would you not be part of the Choosing?"
"Your Majesty?" Minister Nolan was now by his side, insisting that he return to the ball.
Leondis turned from Rozlynn to address his minister, as the Lady pulled back and walked away into the darkness of the garden.
"Lady?" The King called after her. She did not stop and with her bearded companion rounded a corner and disappeared from view.
"Your Highness?" Randolf was now standing in the doorway calling to his King. "You really must return to the receiving line."
Leondis turned back toward the doors, glanced once more behind him into the now vacant garden, sighed, and started toward the noise and mass of humanity inside.
"Duke Haren?" The King stopped for a moment to speak to the Duke who was observing it all. "Please see that the Lady Rozlynn does not leave before I get a chance to see her again."
"As you wish, Sire," the Duke replied, bowing slightly to his monarch.
* * *
"What were you thinking?” Drianna was furious with Princess Rozlynn, as she met with Rendil and the Princess in one of the private recesses in the garden. "You did not speak the words!"
"Easy, Drianna," Rendil said soothingly, before the Princess had a chance to answer. "I'm sure there is a very good explanation for why Rozlynn did not set the spell in motion." He turned to the Elven Princess and let his eyes ask the question.
"I simply did not think it was the right thing to do," Rozlynn replied quietly. "I ... well, I think the King should have a chance to get to know me first, before, well, before—"
"The time for trepidation is long past, Roz!" Drianna was not happy at the current situation. "What we have done, the sacrifices that both of us have made, you cannot possibly believe we are doing the wrong thing!"
Rozlynn stood quietly, knowing that what the sorceress sacrificed was unknown to Rendil. The changes in Rozlynn were physically evident, but the changes in Drianna were only recognizable by those who knew her intimately.
"I still believe we are making the right choice," Rozlynn replied. "But it wasn't the right time."
"Lady Rozlynn?" Duke Haren stepped around the corner and stopped the sorceress from another rant. "May I have a word with you? I'm sorry to interrupt."
"Please, it is no problem. Forgive me, but I don't know who you are, sir," Rozlynn replied smoothly.
Looking more than a little surprised, the Duke made an elegant bow and introduced himself. Rendil smiled, as Duke Haren was well known throughout the Kingdom and would be chagrined to meet a Lady who professed not to know him at all.
"I am pleased to meet you, Duke Haren," Rozlynn replied. "Let me introduce my dear friend Drianna, and my advisor Rendil."
"I am pleased to meet you, Lady Drianna. I know the Wizard Rendil," Haren replied, turning momentarily to the wizard. "The last time I saw him, he did not appear as he does tonight." Rendil nodded to Haren, though he was surprised the Duke recognized him. Most would not see the wizard in the man who appeared here tonight.
"What might I do for you, Duke Haren?" Rozlynn gave him her full attention.
"The King wishes to see you again later, before you leave. He asked me to make sure that happens, and as my monarch, his wish is my command. I hope you are not planning on leaving any time soon. The ball will go on for several more hours, I'm afraid."
Rozlynn turned to Drianna with a knowing look on her face before replying to the Duke.
"I was not certain what I was going to do before your arrival, but now that you have delivered this message from the King, I imagine I will be staying until after the ball."
"Splendid!" The Duke was genuinely pleased. "May I accompany you into the ballroom then? The music will be quite entertaining, and there is food from every part of the Kingdom for our enjoyment."
Without looking at her companions, Rozlynn answered easily. "I am afraid not, Duke Haren." The Duke was completely taken aback. "My companions and I will simply spend the time here in this remarkable garden until such time as the King wishes to speak with me again. If you could arrange for light refreshments to be sent out, that would be much appreciated."
Surprised by her answer, but composed again almost immediately, Duke Haren bowed to the Lady before replying.
"I will see to it at once, Lady Rozlynn. Please do enjoy the gardens. They are quite spectacular. I expect you to honor your word and remain until such time as the King may see you again. If he should change his mind before the evening ends, I will personally let you know."
"Thank you, Duke Haren.” Rozlynn stepped forward and took the Duke's hands between her own. "You are more than kind."
Holding his gaze for a little longer than he liked, Rozlynn released his hands and let him bow his way out of the small alcove in the garden.
"What was that all about?" Drianna inquired.
"Just acting the part of a Queen," Rozlynn replied.
"You are not Queen yet," Rendil reminded her.
"That is just a formality."
"We will stay until the King comes back to see you?" Drianna confirmed.
"No, we will not," Rozlynn stated.
"But you gave your word.”
"No, I said, 'I imagine I will be staying.' I don't believe that was any sort of commitment. Come, we must be off."
"Can't we at least stay for something to eat?" the always hungry wizard pleaded.
Nine
"I wish to see the Lady again, Randolf.” King Leondis and Lord Randolf were eating a quiet breakfast together in a small dining roo
m off the Central Throne Room.
"Which Lady is that?"
"You know the one. The Lady Rozlynn.” The King wasn't sure if his friend was toying with him or not. "Why did she think she was not invited to the ball?"
"She wasn't," Randolf replied, stabbing another slice of smoked ham before continuing. "The Lady Rozlynn has no noble background that I can determine. She is from a small village on the northeastern end of Lake Estonan and has nothing to offer the Kingdom."
"You know, she left the castle before I could meet her a second time," Leondis said absently. "I instructed Duke Haren to make sure she did not leave, but somehow she managed to slip by the Duke, get past my own guards, and return to her inn in the city before the ball ended. I expected to take her, Randolf. I expected her to be in my bed this morning. I did not expect to be sleeping alone."
"You wish only to bed the woman?" Randolf questioned. "That is your reason for wanting to see her again last night?"
"Yes, I mean no, I mean ... I don't know what I mean," the King stammered. "Damn it, man, she refused to come when I sent a servant to bring her last night!"
"You sent a servant after the Lady Rozlynn?"
"Yes," Leondis replied. "When she was absent from the garden, I had Nolan find out where she was staying, and I sent a servant to fetch her to me. She refused!"
"And can you blame her? What were you thinking, Leondis?"
"Watch your tone, Lord Randolf."
"Forgive me, my King.” Randolf hated it when his old friend used his position to bully him. "I only meant that the Lady could not be expected to answer your call in the middle of the night, now could she? Would a future Queen of the Realm do that? Would she come running like a common whore?“
"Perhaps you are right," the King replied. "I'm sorry, old friend. I am simply worn out from the night's activities, and not in a good way."
"None of the Ladies last night captured your interest, Your Majesty?"
"Only the Lady Rozlynn. I really would like to see her again. Can you arrange that, Randolf?"
"I will do my best, Sire."
"Good! Dinner tonight in my private dining room with the Lady will be acceptable. Have Nolan arrange the details."
* * *
"And how do you expect to see the King now?" Drianna asked Princess Rozlynn, as the two of them sipped tea on the terrace of their second-story room at the River Delta Inn.
"He will send for me," she replied, more certain than she felt.
"Sending that servant away last night will not sit well with the King," Drianna stated cooly.
"You would rather I jump at his call and leap into his bed?"
"You forget why we are here?" the sorceress questioned.
"Of course not," Rozlynn snapped in reply. "However, you act like I have never had any dealings with men."
"Rozlynn, you do not have to win this man. You only have to touch him and speak the words to initiate the spell, and then he will be yours forever. Do you forget what is at stake?"
"Please, just let me do this my way. If it comes down to having to use the magic to get the King to notice me, believe me, I will. I know better than anyone what is at stake here."
"I'm sorry, Roz.” Drianna was still quite impatient, but she knew how stubborn the Princess could be. "I do not want to lose this chance. If the King should name another woman as his future Queen—"
"He will not," Rozlynn assured her, "at least not yet."
"You ladies need not be overly concerned about the King," Rendil interrupted as he walked onto the terrace. "It seems he was quite taken with the Lady Rozlynn after all. This arrived by Royal Courier just now." He held out a scroll showing the broken seal of the King.
"Read it aloud, Wizard," Drianna ordered.
The scroll's parchment was exquisite, and the writing was clear and bold.
"To the Lady Rozlynn, from his Royal Majesty, King Leondis Tarbane,
Your attendance has been requested this evening for a private dinner with the King in his personal dining room.
The attire will be formal, and you are permitted to bring one attendant with you.
Dinner will begin promptly one hour after sundown. Please be punctual.
With regards,
Minister Nolan Milkwatt, for His Royal Majesty, King Leondis Tarbane, First of his Name, Long May He Reign."
"Well, that is certainly an unexpected twist," Drianna replied. "We now have another chance."
"Not unexpected to me," Rendil stated.
"Nor to me," Rozlynn added. "Did the courier wait for a reply?"
"I told him to wait," the wizard responded. "I assume you will accept."
Rozlynn looked first to Rendil, then to Drianna before answering.
"Tell the Minister that I will not be attending dinner with the King tonight," she finally said.
"What?" Drianna practically leapt from her chair. "Of course, you will! You cannot turn down a request like this from the King."
"Of course, I can, and I will. If Leondis wishes to have me join him for dinner, he will have to do more than simply tell his minister to send me an invitation and request that I am punctual. Wizard, if you will write a response from me to the Minister, please."
* * *
Rendil chuckled quietly as he walked from the terrace with the letter to the minister. It was written on the back of the scroll from the King, which inferred the invitation was not all that interesting to the Lady.
He would love to be a fly on the wall when Leondis was told the Lady Rozlynn turned him down for dinner, and sent him a counter-proposal instead.
* * *
"She what?" Lord Randolf was in Minister Nolan's office when the reply from Lady Rozlynn arrived.
"The Lady replied that she is unavailable tonight and must decline the dinner invitation from the King."
Randolf knew of course that the Lady was the handpicked maiden that Rendil brought to meet the King. He thought of what the wizard said about fate and prophecy, but had no idea what it all meant. If Rendil intended for this woman to marry the King, why would he keep her from actually spending time with Leondis? Didn't he know that the King had no patience for these games?
"Does the Lady say anything else?" Randolf asked the minister.
"She does. She suggests perhaps the King might consider a ride on horseback in the country on this coming seventh-day, perhaps sometime in the early afternoon."
"A ride in the country?"
"Yes, Lord Randolf."
Randolf was even more confused than before.
"She means to ride a horse, with the King, in the countryside?"
"That's what it says, my Lord."
"Very well. I will take the message to the King. You begin the arrangements, Nolan. The entourage should be small. In fact, it would be best if it included myself, several King's Elite, and no one else. No courtiers need to know this is going to happen. We do not want this to turn into a spectacle. Is that understood?"
"Do you believe the King will agree to this ride in the country then?" The minister was quite surprised to hear this from Randolf.
"He will agree," was all that Randolf said. As he turned and left the room, trying to figure out how he was to break this news to the King, he muttered to himself, "Fate and prophecy."
Ten
For the past three weeks, the King and a small group of companions spent seventh-day afternoons riding in the countryside with the Lady Rozlynn, her close friend Drianna, and occasionally a man named Darius from Rozlynn's village who was introduced to Lord Randolf as Rozlynn's bodyguard. Why a small village girl from Lake Estonan would need a bodyguard did not come up in conversation, but this woman was increasingly mysterious to the King.
"Lord Martin, good of you to come," Randolf greeted the King's spymaster. They were meeting in a small food stall selling soup and fresh bread, at a busy corner in the central market in Solenta.
"I came as soon as I received your message, Lord Randolf, but I'm afraid I have nothing interesting
to report."
Randolf had asked Lord Martin to activate his network of informants and find out anything he could about the mysterious Lady Rozlynn. The King was smitten, this much was obvious, but the Lady was nothing like any woman Randolf had ever met. She was sophisticated, educated, well-traveled and occasionally seemed much older than the mere thirty-three years she claimed. The King just passed his own thirty-fourth birthday, and he found the slightly younger Lady Rozlynn the perfect companion.
"She cannot just have appeared from nowhere," Randolf said in exasperation. "She must have a history. Someone must know about her. She is not a simple country girl brought up in the back of a milking parlor!"
"Please, Lord Randolf”—Martin reached out a hand to quiet the man—“I wish no attention drawn to this chance meeting of two of the King's advisors."
"I'm sorry, but I am concerned about the King."
"The Lady seems perfectly charming to me," Lord Martin replied, "though her companion Drianna is something else altogether."
"Have you found out anything about her?"
"She is from Caergana as expected, on the northeastern end of Lake Estonan. Many villagers from the area believe she is a witch," Martin said without emotion.
"That she's a what?" Lord Randolf gasped.
"You know, one of those Wiccan healers who use chants and songs or spells to heal minor ailments," Martin replied smiling. "I've not been able to attribute anything more serious to the woman, but the superstitions of the lake people run high. She is a midwife and a minor healer from what I can tell, nothing more."
"That damn Wizard," Randolf said beneath his breath.
"The what?" Martin asked.
"The Wizard Rendil introduced the Lady Rozlynn to the King, and now I cannot find him anywhere."
"Typical," Martin replied, sampling the soup before him on the small table. "I've never been able to figure that one out. He seems harmless enough most of the time, but I don't like him around the King."