"Welcome to Weldwyn," he said, his voice loud and clear.
A welcoming cheer broke out from the assembled crowd, and while he waited for it to subside, he looked back to his queen who stepped forward, coming quite close before she spoke in a low tone.
"Let us get you away from here, my dear, you've had quite an ordeal, and I doubt this is helping." She glanced at her husband and Gerald watched as the king absorbed her meaning.
"Yes, by all means," said King Leofric. "We've arranged a banquet in your honour, but perhaps it's best if we spent some time visiting first, away from the crowds."
Anna smiled, "That would be nice, Your Majesty."
"Come along, then," he urged. "We'll go through the main door here and turn left, into the private wing."
He offered his arm, and as Anna placed her hand upon it, he covered it with his own. They walked toward the building, King Leofric on one side, Gerald on the other. Tempus followed closely behind along with Dame Beverly.
The guards had obviously not been informed of the king's decision, for when they entered the Palace, guards were formed up on the right, expecting them to enter the grand hall. The king stopped and waved forward a well-dressed servant, whispering in his ear. The man nodded and moved to the left, opening the door for them. They walked through a large room that was sparsely furnished, save for some chairs against the wall.
"This," the king said, "is where people usually wait when they're coming for a private audience. We'll go through those doors at the far end, and then we can relax. There's a comfortable living area just beyond."
Weldwyn guards were scrambling to take up new positions at the end of the entourage, and Tempus growled as one stepped too close. Beverly turned to eye the intruder, and he fell back a few paces.
The king halted at the inner door and turned to his guards, "We won't be needing you, gentlemen. You may wait out here."
There were looks of shock on the soldier's faces, but they did as they were told. King Leofric released Anna's hand to open the door, beckoning Anna to enter. The room was large, furnished with comfortable looking furniture, overshadowed by a enormous fireplace to the right. The ceiling here was high, two stories tall, and along the far wall was a massive stack of shelves that ran from floor to ceiling. Some sort of strange contraption held Gerald's attention, and he had to stare at it for a moment before realizing it was a wheeled ladder that could be moved about to reach the highest books. Anna had stopped just after entering, taking it all in while the Royal Family filed in behind her, entering the room proper.
"Do have a seat, Highness," suggested the queen. "Make yourself comfortable."
Unbidden, one of the shelves moved to reveal a door behind it, where the well-dressed servant entered, and the king ordered some refreshments. If the man was surprised with the change in locale, he didn't show it, merely bowing slightly before turning and leaving the same way he had entered.
Anna chose to sit down on a large, wide chesterfield, and when Gerald balked, she looked to him, patting the chair beside her. He dutifully sat, looking uncomfortable in the fine surroundings. The king reclined upon an armchair to her right, while the rest of the Royal Family took various places around the room.
"I should properly introduce you to the rest of the family, Highness," he began. "You already know my oldest, Alstan, and of course, Alric here. They have a brother, Cuthbert, who is my second son but I'm afraid he's up in Loranguard. Hopefully, you'll have a chance to meet him before you return to Merceria. These are my two daughters, Althea," he pointed to the oldest, "and Edwina. Althea is close to your age, but Edwina is four years younger. And of course this lovely lady," he indicated the queen, "is my wife, Igraine."
"Pleased to meet you," Anna replied. "This is Gerald, my friend and advisor and this is Tempus." She pet her dog's head. "Lady Beverly here is my bodyguard and Commander of the Knights of the Hound."
"We are so pleased that King Andred decided to send you, Anna," said the queen warmly. "And we look forward to spending some time with you. Tell us, have you had a nice journey?"
"Aside from the assassination attempt? Yes," she replied.
"I apologize for that," said the king. "Alstan has informed me of the situation. I must stress that we had no part in it. I gave orders for Alstan to investigate, and he's already been digging into the traitor captain's background. I understand you have your own guards?"
"Yes, ten knights and twenty-four foot soldiers. We also have our own servants."
"Our troops are at your disposal, of course, but considering what you've been through I suspect you would be more comfortable with your own people guarding you?"
Anna nodded, and Gerald was impressed by her calm demeanour. The conversation was halted when a group of servants came in bearing drinks. Once everyone was served, and they were once again unattended, the discussion resumed.
"Have you any idea who might be behind the attack?" asked the king. "Anything at all might help us in our investigation."
"I'm not sure," offered Anna. "There was a recent uprising in Merceria, perhaps a survivor wants to punish our king? Or it could be Norland behind the attack, they've always been a thorn in our side. There's also bound to be people in Westland, pardon me, Weldwyn, who desire war. It could even be The Black Hand."
"The Black Hand?" queried the queen.
It was Gerald that spoke up, "Yes, a group of criminals intent on killing members of the Royal Family. They tried to kill the Crown Prince and Princess Anna a couple of years ago."
Queen Igraine's face visibly paled, "Oh, you poor child, that sounds terrible. We must guard you more closely. We can't have your visit here suffer as a result. We will do our utmost to protect you, you can be assured."
"Where did you get your dog?" piped in Edwina.
"Not now, Edwina," said Alric.
"No, it's all right," said Anna, turning slightly to face the young girl. "He was living at my estate. He saved me from The Black Hand when I was a little girl."
"Is he friendly?" she enquired.
Anna had to pause a moment before answering. "He can be very affectionate," she responded, "but he takes his duty seriously."
"His duty?"
"Yes, protecting me."
"So he's your guard?"
"Yes, and also my oldest friend."
"He's older than Master Gerald?" Edwina persisted.
Anna smiled, "Older, no, but I've known him longer. Gerald is older in years."
The young girl was enthralled by the large creature at Anna's feet. "May I pet him?"
"Certainly," offered Anna.
Edwina rose from her chair and timidly approached the large beast, gingerly reaching out with her hands to rub his head. Tempus laid down on the floor and then rolled onto his side.
"He likes me!" she exclaimed.
"He's a good judge of character," added Gerald, who then blushed when he realized he had spoken out of turn.
"Gerald, here, is an experienced soldier," said Alric. "The princess tells me he's fought in numerous battles."
"Indeed?" commented the king. "You must tell us about it sometime when things have calmed down a bit. I suspect the next few days will be hectic for you."
"How so?" queried Anna.
"Well, there's today's banquet, plus there's a large number of nobles that would like to have meetings with you, at your discretion, of course."
"Might I ask where we will be billeted?"
"Billeted?" responded the queen. "You make it sound like you're all soldiers."
"We are a warrior culture," replied Anna. "Is that not the term you would use?"
"It will do well enough," offered the king, "though we would say you are being hosted, but let us not quibble over minor variances in language. We have a large mansion in town that has been made available for your exclusive use. I assume you will want your own staff, but there will be a small contingent waiting to familiarize your people with the place. Royal Guards will be stationed outside of the estate
for your protection."
"Would those be the same Royal Guards who attacked me?" asked Anna, her voice a little more bitter. "I must insist that my own guards take up that duty. I'm sure you have other tasks that will keep your men busy. With whom shall I liaison?"
"I have a trusted minister," said the king, "whom I believe you've met, the Earl of Faltingham. He is the man who visited your father's court."
"I'd feel more comfortable with someone I'm familiar with. Perhaps Prince Alstan?"
"I'm afraid his investigation into the attack will keep him quite busy. May I suggest Prince Alric?"
"That is acceptable, Your Majesty," Anna replied, though not with much enthusiasm.
"Now," continued the king, "if you're ready, perhaps we can make our way to the banquet, there's an army of nobles waiting to meet you."
"By all means," agreed Anna, rising.
Gerald offered his arm and was surprised by the iron grip that indicated her nervousness. Placing his other hand over hers, he squeezed it slightly to give her some reassurance while they followed the king to the banquet.
* * *
The banquet was an endless spectacle of speeches and welcomes. It was quite late by the time they approached the manor house that had been made available to them. Arnim and the Mercerian Bodyguards had searched through the estate while Anna was still at the banquet and so, by the time she arrived with her knights, the place was secured, and their belongings unpacked.
She was welcomed at the door by Captain Arnim himself, along with Sophie, who was waiting to whisk her off to bed. As they made their way from the hallway, Gerald turned to the captain, "All secure, Arnim?"
"Yes, we've displaced all the Westlanders. Our people are in control here."
"Where's Hayley? I didn't see her at the banquet."
"She's on special duty," offered Arnim.
"Special duty?"
"Yes, she's found a perch on the roof where she will keep watch with her bow."
"Do you really think that's necessary?"
"Someone's already tried to kill the princess on this trip and failed. Whoever is behind it is likely to try again. We must be extra vigilant."
"We're safe here for the time being," offered Beverly as she entered. "We're guests of the king."
"Guests," questioned Arnim, "or prisoners?"
Fourteen
Autumn
Autumn 960 MC
The cooler weather had come, and with it, boredom. Endless visitors begged an audience with the foreign princess, and her appearances at court had ensured the Palace was filled to capacity.
To Gerald, it was all a blur. He was constantly at Anna's side. He felt out of place; a commoner amongst the nobility but he did it for Anna. The late evenings were the most enjoyable for they would often sit in the mansion's library, reading through tomes as they regaled each other with interesting tidbits they found. Anna was a voracious reader and would read five books to every one that Gerald perused.
He was particularly pleased, one evening, to find a history of the army of Weldwyn, and it was with great interest that he discovered the events that led to the formation of their two kingdoms.
"Gerald?" prompted Anna.
He looked up from his book. She had set hers down and was sitting up, a look of excitement on her face.
"Yes?" he responded.
"I've got an idea!"
He recognized that she was bursting at the seams. "This wouldn't have anything to do with that map you were looking at earlier, would it?"
She grinned,"You know me all too well."
"Go on then, what's your idea?"
"I was thinking," she continued, "that instead of turning into hermits here, we could travel around Weldwyn meeting the people."
"Do I need to remind you that someone in Weldwyn tried to kill you?"
"Yes, but that's all politics. I mean the commoners. Remember when we went to Wincaster and watched the play?"
Gerald laughed, "Yes I do, but if you remember we almost got arrested. Besides, we can't really get away with disguising you as a commoner anymore, you're too well guarded."
"True, but at least we could get out and see some interesting sights. This city is too much like Wincaster."
"Summersgate is far nicer than Wincaster," he objected.
"Yes, but it's still a big city with lots of nobles with their superior attitudes."
"I suppose you've picked out the places you'd like to visit already," he said, good-naturedly.
"Of course! Come here and look."
She flipped through the book in front of her. The illuminated pages were filled with sketches and small maps. She was about to start talking when the door opened and Dame Beverly poked her head in.
"Your Highness, Prince Alric is here. Shall I show him in?"
"Yes," she replied, and then turned back to Gerald with a look of mischief in her eyes. "We'll save this for later, I'm already in planning mode." Gerald struggled to hide his smile as Alric entered.
"Greetings, Highness," began the young prince.
"Alric, you bring news?" Anna countered.
"Nothing too exciting. I've brought you a schedule. There are dozens of nobles and wealthy merchants who want to meet you."
Anna held up her hand to forestall him, "I've had more than enough of those. I've already received investment offers, as well as three proposals of marriage."
"Really?" Alric stammered.
"No, I'm joking, but I've had no end of enquiries. Last week alone I had to send off over thirty letters back to Merceria."
"I'm sorry it's not more entertaining," Alric commiserated. "I know life at court can get very tedious at times."
"Tell me, Alric, what do you do for fun?"
"Fun? What do you mean, fun?"
"Do you have snowball fights? Do you build soldiers out of snow?" She looked to Gerald who covered his smile by faking a cough.
"Well," the young prince responded, "we have jugglers and troubadours-"
"No," she interrupted. "I don't mean what you do at court. I meant what do you, Alric, do for entertainment when you're not at court?"
"I like to go to the tourneys."
"Tell me more," she prompted. "I've heard about the tournaments, but I've never seen one. What are they like?"
"Well, cavaliers go at each other with weapons until only one man stands. It's quite exciting."
"Cavaliers? They're similar to knights, aren't they?"
"I suppose. Cavaliers are professional warriors who practice their craft in the tournaments. Before Weldwyn was a kingdom, it was populated by numerous tribes. They united to drive out the invaders."
"That was us," Anna said, turning to Gerald.
"Us?" asked Gerald.
"Yes," Anna continued, "the invaders were the mercenaries that landed on the south coast. The united tribes defeated the invaders and drove them east, leading to the founding of Merceria."
"Yes, that's correct," said Alric, "but after the unification, there had to be a way to settle disputes without going to war. King Loran and the Earls' Council set up the tournament system. If ever there were a dispute between earls, they would each send a champion and fight it out. Eventually, it became more symbolic. Now the tournaments are for entertainment rather than settling differences, though it does keep the warriors in training."
"So cavaliers are the earls' champions?"
"They were originally, but now they can be anyone. They do, however, have to prove themselves before they can enter a tournament."
"How do they do that?" Anna asked.
Alric smiled, warming to his favourite subject. "There are different ways. Sometimes a warrior will distinguish himself in battle, but usually, they have to go through a series of preliminary fights to prove they're worthy to enter the ring."
"Interesting," said Gerald. "Is it true they knock each other off of horses?"
"Some do, that's the jousting, probably the most exciting part of a tourney. Others will compete in the mel
ee events. There's even an archery competition."
"And how often do these tourney's occur?" asked Anna.
"Smaller events take place throughout the year, all over the kingdom, but after harvest there'll be a grand tournament here in the capital. All the cavaliers flock here to become the Champion of Weldwyn."
Gerald noticed the excitement in Alric's voice. The young prince had passion, and this was the first time it had manifested itself in Anna's company.
"Don't you have tournaments in Merceria?" Alric asked.
"No, not anymore," said Anna. "They used fight in arenas, but that stopped generations ago."
"Then how do your soldiers stay ready to fight?"
Anna looked to Beverly who was still standing by the door. "What do you say to that, Beverly?"
"We kill the enemy," she replied. "We have enough that we're always in demand, at least on the frontier."
"There, you see," offered Anna. "We have enough enemies on the border. Is it not so in Weldwyn?"
"Well," Alric replied, "we've had our problems with Merceria in the past, but it's been quiet for years."
"You mean other than the army that invaded us from here?" prompted Gerald.
"That wasn't our fault," defended Alric. "The baron responsible was tried for treason. Anyway, that was an internal matter. Your own earl betrayed you."
"True enough," admitted Anna, "but what of your other borders?"
"The north is defended by the Great Wood. The Orcs there don't typically bother us much. To the west lie the wild lands of the Twelve Clans, they occasionally raid across the border. They're more of a nuisance than a real threat."
Beverly took an interest, "Orcs, you say?"
"Yes, savage creatures. Do you have them in Merceria?"
"We fought them at Eastwood," answered Anna. "I'm just surprised they're here in Weldwyn. Is there an Orc city in the Greatwood?"
Alric looked confused. "Orc city? Since when do Orcs have cities?"
"The Orcs had great cities before the coming of man," explained Anna. "They're rumoured to have been destroyed by the Elves. It would be exciting to see the ruins of one, even better to find one intact."
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