Charles returned to his desk and sat. He looked at Carson from across the room. He turned to gaze at Airabelle then back at Carson. Anger began to boil.
Carson straightened up in his chair and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. “I wish I could change the facts but I cannot.” He looked down to the ground and then straightened up in his chair.
Charles asked, “Who else knows of this vile blood between our families?”
Carson answered the question, “The queen.”
Charles momentarily threw his head back and exhaled. “The queen must despise us. How can we ever return and face her?”
Carson quietly said, “She knew.”
Charles asked, “How?”
Carson shrugged. “I don’t know for sure. I believe she has researchers who look into every person’s background before she entertains. Naturally she would want to check into the pasts of everyone at the coronation. She understands we had nothing to do with the historical attack.” He pointed to the two of them. “Charles, she has forgiven the past.”
Charles raised an eyebrow. “I would be furious.”
Carson frowned not wanting to make matters worse.
Charles was trying to sort things out. “Why did the queen give such extravagant gifts to us and the clonsayee creatures to me? What was her reasoning?”
Carson glanced at Airabelle. Then he turned to Charles and said, “I think that the clonsayees belonged to King Inacio. They were left behind after the battle.”
Charles folded his arms. “So, it seems that you’re telling me, King Inacio brought the clonsayees to the kingdom in case they were needed to help his men win a battle. When their riders were killed, the creatures were left to roam the kingdom.”
Carson shrugged. “Apparently.”
“The queen wanted to return them after all of the time that has passed?”
Carson nodded. “I think that was the gesture.”
“I don’t deserve them.”
“She thinks you do.”
Charles hoarsely said, “I disagree.”
Carson tilted his head. “Virgil agreed with her.”
Charles put his elbows on the desk and his hands in his hair trying to think through the information. His head was throbbing as he processed the news.
Charles asked, "How can you be certain about the bloodlines?”
"I saw the seal on the clonsayees’ saddles. That very seal is used throughout Nana’s family journals. As you can see, Nana’s family journals are not with this collection. Hers are in storage. Once Dimitrios brought this to our attention, we went to her storage facility and researched it for ourselves.”
"So Nana knows about this?"
Carson nodded. "She knows what happened. Dimitrios told us much of the history while he was here.
“Her ancestor, King Inacio, traveled by ship to the kingdom to discover if the rumors he had heard were true. He had heard amazing stories about the secret paradise from other noblemen who had traveled there. Through rumors it was said that not only were the kingdom people prosperous but the artisans were truly gifted. Inacio decided he must visit this amazing kingdom. Upon his arrival in port, the king’s assistant greeted him. The assistant gave Inacio an invitation welcoming him to the castle as the king’s special guest for his entire visit. Mistakenly the king had thought that his invitation might strengthen an alliance between the two kingdoms, and that Inacio would in turn send more noblemen to the kingdom. While staying in the castle, Inacio was taken on tours of the land and learned that everything he had heard about the kingdom was true.
“On the third night of Inacio’s stay, the queen joined them for dinner. Once Inacio met the queen, he instantly fell in love with her. He mistakenly thought she had fallen in love with him too. After Inacio left the kingdom to return home, he became obsessed with making the queen his own. He devised a plot to come back for her, believing she would be willing to leave her husband and travel with him across the sea. Then together they would journey through his Passageway back to his kingdom. Inacio intended to make her his queen.
“He gathered trained for-hire mercenaries from the “Unknown” sector and sailed across the sea in several ships to execute his plot. He had planned on arriving in the late hours with just his boat reaching the port. The other ships would be waiting off shore in case his plan fell through, and the mercenaries would have to infiltrate the castle to retrieve him. Inacio was arrogant enough to believe he could sneak into the castle and propose his plan to the queen. He was convinced the two of them would sail back to the waiting ships then continue sailing to his Passageway’s location before dawn.
“However, that’s not at all how the scheme unraveled. His ships were spotted by one of the knights, who sounded the alarm throughout the entire kingdom. This all happened during the time Inacio had sneaked past the castle guards. His presence caught the queen totally by surprise. She didn't understand or reciprocate his love for her. She tried to convince him of his mistake, but he was vain and refused to believe she would decline his offer of traveling with him to his kingdom.
“In the meantime, his mercenaries decided on their own to attack the peaceful villagers and sorcerers. A bloody war raged and chaos took place throughout the kingdom.
“The queen escaped from Inacio and ran through the castle. When she found her husband, she was afraid to tell him what had happened. The queen was ashamed that her actions had been misunderstood and had caused this terrible catastrophe. She convinced the king to flee the kingdom with her. Her husband and some of his trusted knights led her and their children to safety outside the kingdom, deep into the forest. He then gave his knights instructions, sending the queen and her family to a designated area. The king told his wife to then escape by using their Marble Track Passageway. He said he’d meet them when the war ended.
“The king returned to fight the invaders alongside his trusted and brave knights. Those who stayed fought to the death. Some of the villagers and sorcerers fled the battle using their Marble Track Passageways. Some of them, including the knights’ families, only sent their family members through and they themselves stayed to fight. Ironically those who fled never returned, instead they banished themselves. Possibly they were afraid of the consequences of returning.
“After the war ended, the king was left to clean up the aftermath. All of the wounded people had died at this point. The clonsayee creatures that had lost riders ran into the woods for weeks, but then some returned to the castle grounds. The king used them as work horses to help him clean up. In return he took care of them. The king was the lone survivor.
“When the King of England sent his scouts to the kingdom, he sent a request for his relative to return with his men to England, but the king refused. Instead he decided to stay and live out his life in the kingdom. In his place, the king sent the clonsayee creatures that had returned to the castle grounds.
“As you get older, you may find that you can’t always explain events that have happened. Sometimes there isn’t any logic or explanation in which to expound on. The truth is that some people will make impetuous decisions, and those decisions will in turn affect others. Often times a decision made in haste will result in a mistake being made.
“We all have life lessons to be learned. Something that I’ve come to realize is that it’s not wise to hold on to anger and bitterness. Anger causes nothing worthwhile to exist in one’s life, instead it eats away at a person creating anguish. There is no justification in holding someone accountable for another individual’s actions.
“In the end we can only be in control of our own chosen destiny. The path we choose for ourselves along life’s journey is what we will be defined by. Sometimes when mistakes are made it’s the offering of atonement, no matter how large or small-- if it is made with kindness and compassion, that in the end will create a bond between people. This bond will in turn begin the healing of the fresh wounds or old scars.”
Charles considered Carson’s words. Then he s
aid, “What offering should I make to the queen?”
Carson sat back in his chair and said, “You already have. You brought Caroline to her. All she asks is that you and Caroline continue to return to visit the kingdom.”
Charles looked suspicious. “That’s all?”
Carson repeated, “That’s all.”
As Charles was putting his books in his book bag he said, “Now, how do I tell Caroline the ill-fated intertwining of our families in this story without making her angry about something I had no control over?”
Airabelle interjected, “Why would she be angry at you?”
Charles looked at her. “Why wouldn’t she be mad at me? Just look at what my family did to her family. The outcome would have been completely different if Inacio had controlled his impulse to go to war over his infatuation for the queen.”
“Yes, that’s true, but we will never know that for sure. Who’s to say, it might have been worse.”
Charles said, “That was the worst outcome I could ever imagine.” He stood, picked up his backpack and told everyone goodnight. He walked outside, closing the door to the office. He looked around the yard as he walked along the path to the back door in the moonlight.
When Charles opened the back door, the light was off in the kitchen. He walked through the kitchen and into the lit hallway. He walked to the library where a light was shining.
Bev was sitting on the couch reading a book. She put her book down and half smiled at him. “Hi Charles. From the look on your face, Paw Paw told you the bad news.”
Charles nodded. “It’s a lot to take in and sort through.”
Bev patted the couch next to her. “Come, sit down for a minute.”
He walked over to her and set his backpack down on the floor as he sat.
She said, “It was a very long time ago. I realize that does not excuse what happened in the past but the queen is a very wise lady. I’ve discussed this matter in great detail with her. It saddens us all that we can’t change the events of the past. The queen has forgiven my family wholeheartedly.
“Her family has cared for the clonsayee creatures for ages. She has come to care for them, but realized they should be returned to us as, what I call, a generous statement of forgiveness of the past and a declaration of her dedication to the beginning of a rejuvenated future.”
Charles questioned, “Did you say a rejuvenated future?”
“I did say that. I said that because she wants us to return to the kingdom for visits. She discussed this with Virgil. He reminded her that he enjoyed Catherine’s visits. He has had few visitors since, with the exception of the queen and her assistant. He looks forward to Caroline visiting. He requested that we join her whenever possible.”
Charles wasn’t quite convinced that all was well with the queen, but he decided to tell Bev goodnight and head upstairs to bed. He picked up his backpack, gave her a hug and went upstairs.
Chapter 18
That afternoon Dolores received several phone calls from her friends. It seemed that they were excited about calling to tell her the gossip going around town. Joseph had flirted with several of the housewives in the neighborhood along with Mrs. Stockton an eighty-eight year old widow. Dolores laughed at that one.
She told each caller, “If Mrs. Stockton is interested in dating Joseph, I wouldn’t mind giving out his phone number.”
She pictured the scene and laughed until her sides hurt. She thought: What an idiot. I’ve thought for years he’s had a narcissistic disorder, but does he have to show the whole community? She didn’t even care what was going on in his private little world. It seemed to be a mid-life dive. She had right before her two get out of jail free tickets sitting on the kitchen table. She could hardly wait!
Chapter 19
The next morning Charles went through his usual routine, grabbed his backpack and went downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. As he ate breakfast, he asked if Caroline could come over after school the following day. He was given permission to ask. As soon as he finished eating breakfast, Cynthia pulled up in front of the house and honked her horn. Charles said goodbye to Carson and Bev then grabbed his backpack as he ran out the front door.
As he stepped in the car, Sophie who was in the back seat said, “Hi Charlie.”
Charles put on his seatbelt as he turned his head and said, “Good morning, Miss Sophia.” She giggled.
Cynthia put the car in drive and said, “I can’t wait for you both to get your driver’s license.”
Charles grinned and turned on the radio. Sophie was in the back playing with her cootie catcher. She kept asking them to select a number between one and eight. Then she would giggle hysterically as she read what was under the flap. Cynthia was annoyed as she pulled up in front of the middle school. Charles stepped out and let Sophie exit. She bounced up to her friends and pointed to Charles and Cynthia. She began telling her peers about answering her siblings’ questions with the cootie catcher. Cynthia impatiently motioned for her to go inside the school. As soon as Sophie disappeared through the doors, Cynthia drove off.
When they reached the high school parking lot, Charles asked Cynthia, “If Caroline gets permission to come over to the farm tomorrow after school, would you give her a ride?”
Cynthia said under her breath, “What am I a taxi now? I can’t wait for you to get your own car.” She put the car in park and looked over at him. “I guess, no problem.”
Charles grabbed his backpack and stepped out of the car. As he walked away, he waved goodbye to his sister. Once he walked through the double doors, he merged with everyone else in the halls. As he walked by his friends, they greeted each other and discussed the possible outcomes from the basketball tryouts. Charles went to his locker first to put his things away and grab a book he needed for class. He didn’t see Jaine standing nearby until he closed his locker.
“Hi Charles.”
“Hi Jaine.”
“I saw your name on the basketball tryouts list.”
“Oh yeah. Pete and I are trying out this year.”
“Oh wow, how about that. What a coincidence. I’m trying out to be a basketball cheerleader. Maybe I’ll see you at the games.”
Charles started walking in the direction of Caroline’s locker. He said over his shoulder, “See you around.”
Jaine’s friends went over to talk to her as soon as he left. They walked in the opposite direction.
As he approached Caroline’s locker, she closed her locker door and said, “Good morning. I’m ready.”
They walked in the direction of her class. He took her books and carried them for her. Charles asked, “What did you do last night?”
“I just worked on homework. How was your night?”
“Oh, I guess it was okay. There is something I want to talk to you about.”
Caroline stopped. “Okay, what is it.”
Charles took a couple of steps and said, “Not here. Let’s talk about it later.”
Caroline, not knowing what he was considering, reluctantly agreed. “Okay, then we can talk about it later.”
Jaine smiled and waved at Charles as she and her friends were walking toward them. Charles nodded at them and the girls giggled as they walked by.
Jaine said, “See you at tryouts Charles.”
Caroline watched the girls walk by before she said, “Charles, does this have to do with Jaine?”
Charles glanced at Caroline and shook his head. “No. It doesn’t have anything to do with Jaine.”
As they walked up to Caroline’s classroom door, she took her books back from Charles and said, “See you after class.”
She walked into her classroom and before Charles could say anything the door closed. He ran to class. During the rest of the day, he pretty much received the silent treatment from Caroline. The silence grew longer as the day went on.
After the last class, Caroline said, “Do you want to talk now?”
Charles wasn’t in the mood to begin a discussion. “No. I hav
e tryouts for the basketball team after school. I’ll walk you to your bus.” He took her book bag from her.
“Do you want to call me tonight?”
Charles shook his head. “No, this is something I need to talk to you about, when we can sit down together.”
Caroline was frustrated as she took her book bag back from him. “Fine.” She closed her locker and walked away.
He followed behind her. “What’s wrong?” She kept walking.
Jaine was standing outside the gym doors watching them with her friends. Caroline didn’t care, as she stormed by the girls with Charles trying to catch up with her.
Jaine called out, “Better hurry Charles, gonna be late for tryouts.” The girls circled her and giggled.
That comment made Caroline madder and she walked faster to get away from him. He finally touched her arm. She stopped and turned to look at him.
Charles said, “I know what you’re thinking. This has nothing to do with her. I promise. This is something else completely different. Just give me a chance to talk to you later after tryouts.”
Caroline nodded and got on the bus. He walked along the bus with her and waved goodbye after she took her seat. She waved back. He turned and walked briskly back to the gym to get ready for tryouts.
Pete was standing in the hall. “Hey buddy. I almost left thinking you weren’t going to show up for tryouts.”
Charles laughed. “Nice try. Come on, you aren’t going to get out of playing basketball that easy.” Pete and Charles went to the locker room to get ready.
Once they were prepared, the two boys walked out into the gym where the girls were already having tryouts for cheerleading. Charles and Peter climbed the bleachers to watch Cynthia. She was not amused and wouldn’t look at them. She was whispering with her friends.
Charles could tell she wasn’t happy about having to do this. Pete smiled and waved at her. She smiled back a fake smile and batted her eyelashes. Then it was her turn to perform with her friends. After the girls did their routine, they approached the bleachers and sat down watching as the next groups performed. After all the girls were finished with the routines, they all went out into the hallway and waited to see if they made the squad. Jaine waved to Charles as she and her friends walked out of the gym. Pete slugged Charles.
Return of the Clonsayee Page 10
