by A L Issett
“You can go get stuffed, you and your staff and especially your new lap dog,” Mary said as she turned away from him. “Now take your food and get out.”
“Mary you have not eaten or drank anything since you arrived. If you will promise to eat and drink this you will not have to worry about me visiting you for the rest of the day.”
Mary got up out of the bed, took the food and the goblet and tossed them both out of the window.
“Mary I promised your husband that you would not be mistreated and that no harm would come to you while you are in my care,” the Regent said as he looked at Mary. “It is not my intent to bring harm to you, however I have ways of making you agreeable.”
Mary watched as the Regent pulled a quill out of his pocket along with a small vial filled with green liquid. The Regent dipped the quill in the liquid, then quickly stabbed Mary in her hand with it. Mary screamed and kicked him away as she backed herself into a corner.
“I am sorry for my attack Mary,” the Regent said as he put his things away. “You have been infected with a poison specially made by the Black Hand. There will be plenty of unpleasant side effects, things a young lady normally would try their best to avoid. Your fluids will start coming out both ends and there will be pain, excruciating pain. You will eventually pass out from the pain, from there I will feed you while you are more manageable. Of course you will most likely throw all of that back up, but eventually you will comply. I have a temporary solution for your condition. Each day providing that you are reasonable I will personally see to it that it is administered to you. It is the only way I know of to avoid the unfortunate side effects. Whenever your husband returns I will see to it that you receive the full antidote.”
Mary watched the man depart and stayed in her room. She was only visited once during the day, a maid had brought out a plate of food which Mary quickly dumped outside. The water she brought though Mary had to take a sip, which quickly turned into big gulps. Mary caught herself at what she was doing and threw the rest of it out before finishing it. Mary had hunger pains throughout the night and was surprised when she was awakened early by her guards who insisted she come with them. Mary was led into the dungeon and smiled. Mary thought the Regent was nutter, she wouldn’t break from being someplace like this. Mary was led in a cell that had a clean floor and a bed that looked like it was especially brought down just for her along with a small tub. Mary sat on the bed and went back to sleep, then the pain came, unbearable pain.
CHAPTER 4
Regent Tox
“The king has died Lord Tox,” Jennifer said to her uncle.
“What do you mean died?” Edward, the Earl of Tox replied.
“My spies report he died hours ago of a heart attack, this information has not gotten out to the rest of the kingdom yet,” Jennifer said as her uncle got to his feet.
“This is disturbing Jennifer,” the Earl said as he looked over a map he kept in his study. “The Tavorians have been training their mages up as fast as possible in offensive magic ever since the Mage Breaker ravished their lines. Tazor was no fool though and has sent the majority of his troops to the border.”
“Mage Breaker Milord?” Jennifer asked as she was not familiar with this title.
“Tazor had in his employ a young man that could cancel out any magic in his vicinity,” Earl Tox began. “My sources tell me he and a group full of our soldiers butchered the best battlemages the Tavorians had. Right now he is preparing to go on a hunting trip.”
“How do you know this Milord?”
“Ah Jennifer more than you report to me. His servant is in my employ and tells me everything,” the Earl said with a laugh. “I even know how far out he will be going and where he is likely to stop since he made marks of good hunting and trapping places on his map of which I have a copy.”
“Is this man Golden, Princess Caroline’s bodyguard?” Jennifer asked. “I have heard they have some kind of relationship the King did not readily approve of”.
“The young man is named Tanner from the small town of Kol. He was Princess Caroline’s former bodyguard but was released from duty after he returned from Tavor and received a nice house along with a monthly stipend.”
“Well whoever is in charge needs to get this Tanner of Kol to go back across and cull more mages,” Jennifer replied. “I never trusted them myself although we do have a few that are among the ranks of the Black Hand. I still won’t let them on my team.”
“I have hidden out here on this small patch of land away from the capital by keeping my head down and doing whatever Tazor asked,” Earl Tox said as he rubbed his chin. “It is time that I call in some favors and go pay our Queen a visit. I think I will need the help of the Hand on this, all of the native Ketian members anyway. I am going to march on the capital and demand an audience with the Queen.”
“You mean to take rule Milord?” Jennifer asked.
“I think it is about time a Ketian was on the throne,” the Earl replied. “I will gather men on my way to the capital. Hopefully this can be done as painlessly as possible.”
“There are a lot of Tavorian nobles in Ket Milord,” Jennifer began. “I do not think they will bow down and let you kill the royal family and take over. We would have civil war on our hands and many young men do not remember our former king, only the Tavorian Tazor. I am too young even to remember a ruler other than Tazor.”
“I will come up with a plan on the way there. I have many people who are great at coming up with propaganda,” the Earl said as he pointed to the map. “The Tavorian threat still needs to be extinguished Jennifer, in order to do this I am going to need this Mage Breaker on my side. I want the Hand to travel into Tavor and kill as many mages as possible, there are five schools I know about, four primary schools and one elite school. I can come up with a plan later on how we can deal with them but first we need the most important piece. We need the Mage Breaker, I want you to go get him for me.”
“I am assuming that he is the type of man that can’t be bought,” Jennifer replied. “Is he tempted by flesh? I am skilled in more than just killing.”
“I have tried to gain something to hold over him but he is not interested in anyone but his country bumpkin wife, perhaps if I had her he would be more malleable.”
“You don’t think this Tanner of Kol would do it for his kingdom Milord?”
“Jennifer, Tanner is a brute who is more than happy with his lot in life,” the Earl explained. “I doubt he would go along with it.”
“Well I could always gather my team and gather his wife,” Jennifer replied.
“That sounds like a plan, although do it as gently as possible. If something were to happen to his wife we can count out his help which is something we cannot afford to do,” The earl said as he pointed to a particular spot on the map. “I have been researching the Mage Breaker for two years, ever since I heard such a person could exist. This spot is where I think it would be ideal to set an ambush. Grab his wife but try not to kill any of his companions, he travels with a half man that he has grown rather fond of. Take this map, I am going to need you to gather Master Harbinger and the rest of the hand while I gather my troops. Meet me in Ketol in three days.”
Earl Tox watched his niece leave then sent out a call to arms. His men would be ready, that much he knew but he also had to gather more men on the way to the capital without raising suspicions. This had to be done immediately before Tazor’s death became common knowledge. If he could gather a sizable force he could walk right into the city without the guards knowing they are under attack and gain even more sympathizers. Tox went to his chief adviser Hills and had him send out the call then dressed in his old uniform, the one that showed the real royal colors of Ket. He would no longer where the purple the unsurper brought when he and his brother conquered Ket. Within an hour the Earl had all hundred and fifty of his men ready and packed. He was happy he kept them highly drilled and even saw to it each man had a horse, they would need the speed.
Earl
Tox set off at a frantic pace, he had to get to the capital quick while the queen was most vulnerable. Hills would follow behind him and gather more men and promise them riches, riches he would pay out if everything worked out fine. It took a little over two days for Earl Tox and his men to reach the capital, opting for switching horses and using the moonlight to ride all night while getting minimal sleep. It was dark out now but the Hand wouldn’t arrive for another day, Tox decided to enter Ketol anyway. He still had contacts here, old soldiers who were jaded about being replaced as palace guardsmen in favor of the Tavorians. Tox gathered these men up and marched on the palace using the cover of dark. When Tox arrived at the palace he could see a small amount of guards posted outside and left a sizable number of his men out with them as he walked boldly up to the front door.
“Halt who goes there?” a guardsman cried out.
“It is I, Earl Tox to see the Queen,” the Earl replied. “I already know about the situation, she is expecting me.”
“Wait a moment Milord,” the guard replied and disappeared inside for a moment. The Earl took that time to bring his men up where they quickly subdued the other guard and made their way through the front gate. The guards at the door started screaming something as arrows found their lower legs, The Earl’s men were professionals and they were fast. They quickly disarmed the wounded men then ran inside the Palace. Once inside the fighting intensified then, the guards inside the castle must have known something was going on as they were fully armed and formed a wall bristling with pikes and shields. Earl Tox could see mages getting ready to join the fight as he gave his men the signal to start spreading out.
“No one needs to die this night, however if any of my men are killed I will start killing also,” Earl Tox said as he brought his crossbow up and leveled it at a purple robed mage.
“You do not belong here!” the mage said in a thick Tavorian accent, his white hair flying wildly. This was the High Mage of Ket, Magnus. He was old and feeble but his mind was still sharp and he could kill many very quickly before he would be brought down.
“I am a Ketian, It is you who do not belong here Tavorian,” Earl Tox spat out as more of his men started piling in the castle. “Now I demand to see the Queen or else.”
“Or else what?” a light female voice replied. Earl Tox already knew its owner, it was the Princess Caroline. The girl had blossomed into a young woman, her long red hair hung limply at her side as she carried an ornate wooden staff. The girl’s eyes were red, she had obviously been crying and had a look on her face like she did not care if she lived or died. This was exactly the type of person the Earl hated dealing with, they could not see reason. Beside her stood a tall, stout blond man. The Earl had made notice of his face when he first saw the boy a year ago and thought he would be a welcome addition to his forces. Earl Tox had not propositioned the boy simply because he could see he was in love with the girl. The boy was a prodigy of some kind, proficient in both magic and the sword and had blown through the Magery and finished top in his class even though he graduated two years earlier than he should have. Tox knew the girl cared about him also, that was his in.
“Your Highness, while I wouldn’t dream of harming the heir to the throne, I am quite sure my men could kill the gentleman next to you before I was cut down,” Earl Tox said as his men instantly shifted their fire to the young man, Golden, Tox believed his name was. “Now we find ourselves in the middle of a civil war Your Highness. I am tired of being under the unfair rule of Tavorians, My family was slaughtered and now your father has unfortunately passed on, I want power for myself. I care about what is best for the people of Ket.”
“Liar!” Queen Aundrea spoke behind a wall of guards as she entered the room. “If you cared about Ket then these men would be on the border to stop a pending Tavorian incursion, instead of here trying to topple your rightful ruler.”
“Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to see you again,” Earl Tox said as he curtsied. “Your Majesty what unfortunate business could your countrymen in Tavor inflict on us that hasn’t been done already? We are already under the rule of Tavorians, It does not matter to us if a different set takes over, we see no difference. The Ketian people deserve to be led by a Ketian.”
“And you think I am just going to hand you over the throne and walk away?” Queen Aundrea replied.
“I wouldn’t dream of putting you out of power,” Earl Tox said with a slight laugh. “Your people have integrated themselves in my society to the detriment of the Ketian people. I am sure they would waste no time in killing innocent Ketians all in the name of putting you back in power. No, I will be Regent and in a year or so after your period of mourning we will marry. Whenever I die then your daughter and her beloved bodyguard can elevate to the position. It would show good faith amongst the populace that a Tavorian decided to marry a Ketian. The people need a bright spot in the sea of madness that is to come.”
“I would never marry anyone like you,” Queen Aundrea replied.
“Then I wish you good luck in the upcoming war,” Earl Tox replied. “I will withdraw my men for now, but you can consider this a declaration of war.”
“You are a fool if you think you can win,” Queen Audrea spat out as she started walking closer.
“I do not think I can win Your Majesty,” Earl Tox replied as he tried to keep his voice neutral in face of the Queen’s anger. “I am certain I will be defeated and killed along with any of my successors within three months. However during that three months the Tavorians would have attacked and gained much ground in Ket while you are busy dealing with me. Once they capture the capital, you and your daughter can see what it is like to be a noble in the face of a Tavorian invasion. Your heads can be placed on pikes and paraded around to frighten the masses. I only see one way for both of us to get what we want. My way you will get a loyal companion who won’t stray to the pleasure houses or treat you poorly. Your daughter would get to marry the man of her dreams instead of some stuffy noble because it is deemed a good match. The people of Ket can rejoice and rally behind you in the face of their mourning the late King Tazor, because of your announcement of making me Regent while you grieve. Your Tavorian nobles won’t have to worry about me seeking to put all Tavorians to the sword and together we could beat back the Tavorian invasion. But we can play it your way, that ends in both of us dead along with your daughter when the Tavorians strike. Well at least we will get to see Tazor in the afterlife. Good night Your Majesty, sorry about your lost. By the way I will see to it your men who I wounded receive medical care, you may want to replace the outside guards since they were the ones who took the brunt of my attack. Here is some extra money to pay those who have to work a double shift.” Earl Tox said as took out his coin purse and dropped it. It was full and from the sound it made everyone in the room could tell it was filled with gold.
“Wait!” Earl Tox heard the Queen say when he gave her his back. The Earl suppressed a smile and turned back around.
“How can I Serve Your Majesty?” Earl Tox replied.
“Give me a night to think on it, I will give you my answer by the time the sun is at its highest point in the sky,” Queen Aundrea said with a sigh.
“Of course,” Earl Tox smiled as went towards the door. The Earl knew he had left her no choice but he would hedge his bets. He had his men spread rumors in the tavern that the king was dead and Tox would be made Regent while the Queen mourned. He also spread the rumor that the Princess wanted to announce she would be marrying a Ketian commoner instead of a noble but had to withhold the news in wake of her father’s death. Tox paid criers to cry out all of the news also, by the next morning he could not tell which of the three was the biggest news. People had on black and looked to be in some kind of mourning but all they talked about was the new Regent. When Tox walked he was cheered by the common people, they finally had one of their own back on the throne. Tox decided rather than running back to Queen Aundrea, he had his men do a recruitment drive to fight on the behalf of the Ketian
people and had a couple of uniforms thrown together that was reminiscent of outfits of the troops of the last Ketian king. Many men and even some women joined up, many of them old timers, physically disabled or unskilled enough to fight a proper army but Tox took them anyway. On the third day since Tox first came to Ketol he still had not saw Queen Aundrea and began to have his new troops help out opening a kitchen to feed those in the slums. The Black Hand had arrived by this point and already at least three members had already snuck in the palace and were all around in disguise dressed up like common peasants. It was on this day an official messenger arrived telling him he was being summoned. Tox brightened up, then went to the Queen.
“You have taken your time in coming to see me,” Queen Aundrea replied coldly. “During that time you have spread all types of lies and you attempt to get the common people on your side.”
“Your Majesty they are not the common people,” Earl Tox began. “They are my people, my fellow Ketians who are tired of their lot.”
“I have eyes who have seen this army you raised, full of old men and cripples if I hear correctly.”
“Your Majesty they are just people looking to earn an honest living and serve their kingdom,” Earl Tox replied as he looked at her face for any changes in emotion. “The older ones can teach raw recruits the basics of warfare. The others who are not physically able can be put to other jobs, cooking, quarter mastering and so forth.”
“You have this all thought out don’t you Tox?” Queen Aundrea replied.
“I do Your Majesty, right down to the part where you first agree then have me murdered later on,” Earl Tox replied as he saw the shock register on her face.
“I accept your deal Tox,” Queen Aundrea replied.
“You can call me Edward Your Majesty,” Tox said with a smile.
