The Porfian Princess: The Chronicles of Cornu Book 4

by L J Dalton Jr.

  Prince Arken’s presence also was a significant factor in keeping the city calm. The idea of an older and more experienced ruler advising the young Duke was appreciated. The northern kingdoms were admired because their rulers were generally intelligent and fair. From what everyone knew of the Prince, he was cut from that mold.

  Two weeks after the city fell, Elizabeth arrived along with the other women. Elizabeth, Alla, Noria, and Alla’s mother all rode in one carriage. There was a carriage for King Menounos’ other wives and daughters and one for Harlold’s mother and sister. Elizabeth and Noria joined Arken in one apartment as Elizabeth was Noria’s chaperone. The King’s wives and daughters took another, and Harlold’s parents and sister joined him in his apartment.

  Elizabeth and Noria set to work getting things organized. They were joined by Harlold’s mother and father and Princess Alla. Alla wasn’t used to this, but Noria and Elizabeth let her know that her knowledge and experience were just as valuable as anyone else’s. It took a bit, but she finally settled in and proved to be an intelligent young woman with the ability to size up people.

  Duke Harlold and Prince Arken called together the committee. It included the two colonels and Lieutenant Sorbor, as well as Harlold’s parents plus their significant others and Princess Alla.

  The first thing they did was to reduce the taxes on the villages. They were onerous as they had to fund the duchy and provide tribute to Porfia. The merchants in the city paid practically no taxes. That was soon remedied. The merchants sent a representative to Duke complaining about the taxes. Duke Harlold looked at the man. “You took your business from the people who owned them. You make money and pay no taxes. Now you have to pay some taxes to support the city you earn your living in. I don’t understand your problem.”

  The man had nothing to say and went away. The committee, along with the King’s other wives and children, all ate together. At dinner, Harlold told them about the complaints. Noria looked thoughtful. “You know, dear, we have an issue getting the businesses in the city back into the hands of the people of Tantulus. We can use taxes to reach that end.”

  Everyone looked at her. Elizabeth encouraged her to go on. “I’m not sure exactly how to do it. But we can use taxes to get the merchants to do what we want. If they follow the policies we want, the taxes stay at one level. If they don’t, they go up. Eventually, they’ll do what we want.”

  There was a lively discussion, and it was agreed that it would be a good idea to explore. If it worked, there would be a way to peacefully transfer the businesses from the Porfians to the locals. Harlold’s step-father Arturos would head up the effort to come up with a plan.

  It was also apparent to everyone that Alla was starting to fit in very well with Arken and Elizabeth. Elizabeth had already decided that Alla would be the perfect co-wife, and she could tell that her husband would be more than happy with that arrangement. The way Alla looked at Arken indicated that she would be more than amenable as well. Elizabeth did wonder what Michael would say. She knew about some of his theories based on her conversations with Catrina. While they were a bit farfetched when you first heard them, the more you thought about them, the more plausible they were.

  The Trial

  Since the change in power, Colonel Dedessus and Lieutenant Sorbor had been gathering evidence against Skelous and his advisors. Colonel Petronas didn’t take part, as that would put him in a difficult position. He could co-operate with keeping the city safe because that kept Porfians safe. Being involved in Skelous’ death was another thing altogether. Everyone was sure that Porfia would learn most of what went on in the city, and he and his family would eventually return there.

  Once they had all the information and had witnesses, the trial convened. It was held in the courtyard of the Palace, with Prince Arken presiding as the judge. There was no jury in the Landian system; the leading noble was both judge and jury.

  Skelous and two of his councilors sat in chains. They could give testimony or not. They would not be tortured into making confessions. They had all the information they needed for the trial, and they held no secrets that the new government needed.

  The first witness was Evios, who had been a servant in the employ of Skelous while he had been the Duke. Prince Arken addressed him. “Evios of Koronus, do you swear a most solemn oath that what you are about to say is the whole truth.”

  The man was nervous but agreed.

  Arken then asked. “Were you there when Lieutenant Tactin and then Duke Skelous discussed their plans to increase taxes on the villages? And if you were, what were those plans?”

  Evios started off. “Yes, your grace, I was in the room when Duke Skelous and the Lieutenant discussed the new taxes. The Lieutenant had been sent from Porfia; he said to put some backbone in our own Guard.”

  “Evios,” asked Arken, “what were you doing in the room, and what did you hear?”

  “I was there as a servant. If the Duke or his guests needed anything, I served it or went and got it.”

  Arken motioned for him to continue. Evios was clearly nervous. “They talked about the new taxes. The Lieutenant told the Duke that they should make the peasants too afraid not to pay their taxes. He wanted to take a village and make an example of it.”

  “Yes, Evios, I understand. Did they discuss how they would make an example of the village?” Asked Arken.

  “Yes, your grace. The Lieutenant would go to the village, crucify the village elders, kill any old people, and make the other slaves. The women and girls would become concubines for his troops, and they would send comely young girls and boys to the pleasure houses. The Duke agreed with this and told him to do it.”

  “You heard this and swear that this is true?”

  “Yes, your Grace, I swear it is true on my most solemn oath.”

  “Thank you, Evios; you may sit down” Prince Arken then looked at Skelous. “Skelous, do you dispute this or have any justification for what was done? Because we know that this is exactly what Lieutenant Tactin did.”

  Skelous stood up. “This trial is a sham. I am the rightful Duke of this city. I can do anything I like with my subjects. It is my right, and anything done is therefore justified.” With that, he sat down.

  Prince Arken didn’t say anything, but the look he gave him spoke loudly. He looked at Skelous like he was the lowest of the low. Skelous looked at the Prince and then looked away. Arken was a prince by birth and had been raised to be a just ruler. He would fight when necessary. He was unlike Skelous in almost every way.

  “Now we come to the matter of the citizens of this city who were stripped of their land and possession and sent into exile in Porfia. We know that their bones were discovered in a clearing two days west of the city. They never reached Porfia but were killed before they reached there. We have someone here with knowledge of this. Linus, please step forward.”

  Linus moved slowly as he was clearly aged and therefore had only a few months left to live. When he stood in front of Prince Arken, he straightened up. “Your Grace, I never thought that I would live long enough to see the men who had my fellow citizens killed in cold blood be brought to justice. I thank the Gods that I have lived to see this. I give you my most solemn oath, to tell the truth.”

  Arken nodded and then said. “Linus, please tell us what you know about this.”

  “Your Grace, I was a servant in the employ of Duke Sander. After the fall of the old Duke, I continued to serve in that capacity. I was too insignificant to worry about, and my knowledge of the Palace and what needed to be done was valuable. Therefore I was kept on.

  When they imported all the Porfians to take over the businesses of the local people and replace the minor nobility, there was a discussion on what should be done. Some of the advisors wanted to send them to Porfia, where they could be put to work as peasants. Others wanted to eliminate them – kill them. They said that they wouldn’t be good peasants and would just ferment trouble.”

  Prince Arken asked. “Who were those adviso
rs?”

  “Hector and Lekos, your Grace. They are sitting right next to Skelous.”

  “What did Skelous decide?”

  “He said that they should be taken some distance from the city and then killed. Any attractive young females could be kept for the guards in Gortyn or, if particularly comely, sent to the pleasure houses. They were picked out before leaving the city.”

  “Linus, what about the children?”

  “When this was decided, the other councilors urged that the children be separated and given to Porfian families to raise. But Hector and Lekos objected. They said that they would remember their parents and be out for revenge as they got older. They also needed to die. Skelous agreed.”

  “Thank you, Linus. Once again, Skelous, do you or your co-defendants Hector and Lekos dispute any of this?”

  They all remained silent. At that point, Prince Arken banged his gavel. “This tribunal has heard enough evidence, and the defendants have not disputed it. The defendants are charged with some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. There can be no other verdict that they are guilty and should be executed.

  It is usually the case in the slaughter of children that the people who did it and the people who ordered it are staked.” This brought a murmur from the people.

  “However, we will grant them a quick death. Tomorrow you Skelous, Hector, and Lekos will be taken out of the city and beheaded. This tribunal is finished. Guards take the prisoners away.”

  The next morning a solemn group gathered in a field outside the city to witness the executions. One by one, the men were brought forward and beheaded. It was over quickly, and then everyone left. There were no jeering or other incitements. The city was well aware of their crimes, and the cold-blooded killing of children was indefensible. Even the Porfians among the citizenry couldn’t object.

  Akari

  King Menounos was sitting in his palace. He’d just received word of Skelous execution and the crimes that he had committed. Skelous had long been suspected of ordering the killing of the people banished from Koronos, but it was only speculation until now. Now it was proven. All in all, the King was pleased with what had transpired. He was receiving birds from his wives, and they had agreed that his daughter Alla would join the marriage of Prince Arken and Elizabeth. That would go a long way to cementing Prince Arken as his heir. All in all, it was a very good time for the King.

  He was wondering when Samos would show up. He only had to wait a day. Samos burst into his office. “Your majesty, the usurper, Harlold has killed Duke Skelous and two of his advisors. We need to move quickly and remove this man and execute him for high crimes against the kingdom.”

  Menounos smiled. “Well, Samos, how do you propose we do that. Should we send our Guard there along with a strong contingent from Gortyn? I doubt many of my Guard want to face Duke Harlold’s men in battle. They are quite well trained and formidable. Plus, they are their countrymen. Perhaps we should just send the Porfians in the Guard. Do you think that will do it?”

  Samos was dumbfounded. He stood for a minute with his mouth hanging open. Samos had been so used to Porfia calling the tune in Tantulus that he didn’t have an answer for the King. He’d never even considered who would do the fighting. He just expected the King to do what he was told. The King was right; none of the Tantulusians in the Guard would want to fight the rebels. There weren’t enough Porfians in the Guard to take them on. He suspected that none of them would be that anxious to get into a fight with the rebels either.

  Samos started to realize that he didn’t have any leverage whatsoever. The fall of Koronus and the threats of the northern kingdoms had neutered any response that Porfia could offer. As he looked around, and he noticed that there were no Porfians in the King’s Guards. He realized that his time in Tantulus was coming to a close.

  He left the king and went home to prepare to leave as soon as possible. Menounos realized that he would be gone within the month. It was too early for him to retake the city, but he was determined that neither Samos nor his son would leave the city alive. Samos had his sons killed; it was an eye for an eye in his view.

  He called his friend and head of his Guard, Jabaro. When the man arrived, they went to a room with only two guards, both totally loyal to the King. The King motioned Jabaro to sit. “Well, my friend, you’ve heard that Sander’s son, Harlold, has taken Koronus and executed Skelous and two of his henchmen.”

  “Yes, your majesty, I did. I can assure you that very few people shed any tears over that. It was well deserved. While Prince Arken pronounced the sentence, the young Duke didn’t object. He received a quick death. More than he deserved if you ask me.”

  “You’re right about that, but it was probably the wise thing to do. That shows that he’s getting good advice and is smart enough to take it.

  The Porfian swine, Samos, came running to me demanding that we do something to take back the city. I asked him if I should send all the Porfian Guards in Akari and perhaps Gortyn to retake Koronus. At that point, his mouth just hung open, and he was totally at a loss for words. He didn’t know what to say and left.”

  That caused both men to laugh. The King continued. “The pig is getting ready to flee; I just know it. I will not allow him to leave this city alive. All my sons died because of him. Most of the people directly responsible have been dealt with by the Harem. Samos is mine.”

  Jabaro asked. “Do you want us to arrest him?”

  “As much as I’d like to and then listen to him scream, it’s too early for us to do something like that. He has to die and his son as well. It’s inconceivable that one male of his line survives when none of mine did.”

  Jabaro nodded grimly. “Yes, let me take care of this. He and his son will both be dead before they can leave the city.” The King agreed.

  Jabaro left and thought about what needed to be done. Samos and his son would have to be assassinated. It would have to be done in such a way that nobody can directly point to the King. But also, it must send a message to the rest of the so-called advisors from Porfia that their power was over.

  Jabaro would do the deed himself, but Samos would recognize him. He called his cousin Lysdies to come to his house. He was a corporal in the Guard. When they met, Jabaro told him. “Cousin, as you know, none of the King’s male heirs survived. That is no accident; the Porfians have been killing them. The actual perpetrators were dealt with by the harem and their allies. The man behind it all is Samos.”

  Lysdies was shocked. “Killing children? That’s a high crime. This Samos should suffer a proper death.”

  “You are, of course, correct. Right now isn’t the time for us to move openly against the Porfians. It is coming. The problem is that Samos is smart enough to read the tea leaves and realize that if he’s in the city when that happens, his death will not be easy. The King fears that he is getting ready to flee the city and escape justice. He must die before then.”

  “You need him killed discreetly?”

  “Yes, and his son as well. He may have no male heir when he had the King’s killed.”

  “I assume you want me to do it.”

  “That would be best; the fewer people who know, the better. It needs to be discreet enough that no one can point directly at the King but done in such a manner that anybody with brains will see that it was done by the King’s hand.”

  “Get me two poisoned daggers. I will see that it is done.”

  Jabaro agreed, and Lysdies left. When he got home, he went to his wife and told her what he was going to do.

  “I agree, husband, the man and his son must die. It’s unfortunate that it couldn’t be done more publicly. I think that a man and a woman passing them in the street could easily put a dagger in each of them. And if it was poisoned, it doesn’t have to be a mortal wound.”

  It took a minute for Lysdies to realize that his wife was volunteering to be part of the assassination. He thought he’d have to recruit one of his close friends. Lysdies hugged his wife. Then he went and
started to discreetly reconnoiter Samos. He saw that he enjoyed a particular tavern’s fare and often went there accompanied by his son. Lysdies and his wife planned to kill them near there.

  Two weeks later, in the evening, Samos and his fifteen-year-old son Aeson were leaving a tavern where they had dinner. They were passing a man and a woman. Samos thought nothing of it, the city was peaceful, and there was little crime in this area of the city. As the two passed, the man stabbed Samos, and the woman did the same to Aeson. The wounds weren’t necessarily fatal in and of themselves. They didn’t need to be as the daggers were poisoned. Samos and his son died quickly and quietly.

  There was shock among the King’s Porfian advisors. They realized that the daggers were poisoned and that this was an assassination, not some other crime. The King himself professed outrage that his most loyal and valuable advisor had died. He had people looking high and low for the perpetrators, but they were never found. That’s because his people assassinated Samos and his son. Within the harem, the King and his wives celebrated. The murder had paid an appropriate price.

  After Samos’ assassination, his wives met with his oldest daughter, Thisbe. She was married to the son of a Porfian merchant in Koronus. She was wondering how her father and brother were killed in a safe part of the city.

  Samos’ widow Iole said to her daughter. “You know how the king was never able to have a male heir to live to maturity?”

  “Yes, the Gods didn’t want that dynasty to continue. It’s a shame but the will of the Gods.”

  “No, dear, it was the will of the Porfian Royalty. They were all killed. You remember the advisor, Herodes, who disappeared? He killed the last male heir. We believe that the harem eliminated him and stuffed his body somewhere. Others also disappeared. Nothing could be said. Your father directed most of the killing. This is the King’s revenge.