As he approached the castle gates, Wayte was stopped by several guardians. They were dressed in armor trimmed in crimson and silver, with the symbol of Erd on their breastplates. Wayte recognized the man standing in front as Sullivan, a guardian Wayte himself had defeated in the Mortentaun years ago, earning Wayte the right to be a royal guardian and sending Sullivan back to Erd as a guardian for that district.
“Hail,” Wayte said. “Where are the guardians I assigned to watch the gate?”
Sullivan spoke up, his dark eyes glaring. “They’ve been called to other duties. Councilor Abrecan told me and my men to watch the gates tonight.” The guard’s gravelly voice matched the scars and pockmarks on his face.
Wayte frowned. “What other duties were they called to do?”
“Can’t say. However, we’ve been told to bring you to Councilor Abrecan when you arrived.”
The other three guardians lowered their hands to their weapons.
Looking down at them from his mount, Wayte said, “Yes. I am sure Abrecan is anxious to see me. However, he will have to wait until I have spoken to the queen.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” Sullivan said. “I guess you’ve not heard that the queen died this morning.”
A shiver ran up Wayte’s spine. Had he heard correctly? “What? No… How?”
Stepping forward, Sullivan ignored Wayte’s question. “So as I said, you are to come with us, Captain. We’ll take care of your prisoner.”
Wayte pushed back the grief he was feeling for Eliana. He had more immediate issues at the moment. He sat up straight in the saddle and addressed the men in front of him. “You are guardians of Bariwon, but you are not royal guardians. You hold no authority here. I decline your invitation to meet with Abrecan. However, you can inform him that I will be addressing him soon enough.”
The four men backed away slowly. Sullivan said, “I was told you would probably say something like that. Have it your way.” With that, he lifted one hand and motioned.
Archers who had positioned themselves above the gate on the castle walls let their arrows fly. Neither Wayte nor the innkeeper had time to react before they were peppered with arrows.
***
“Nadia, you never cease to amaze me.” Kelvin rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Just when I thought you could not cook a more perfect supper, you find a way.”
Removing the empty plate from in front of her husband, Nadia looked at him with smiling gray eyes. “And you, my love, only compliment me when you want something.”
Kelvin feigned a hurt look. “Are you suggesting I can’t give my wife an honest compliment without expecting something in return?”
“I’m not suggesting it, I’m telling you straight out.” Nadia turned her back to him as she finished taking the dishes to the sink.
He stood, walked up behind his wife, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Then he kissed her neck and said in a quiet voice, “You know, since you are already up and in the kitchen, I told the boys at the tavern I’d bring some of your famous tarts to the card game tomorrow.”
“I knew it!” She elbowed Kelvin in the ribs, then turned around and mussed his jet-black hair. “Well, I suggest you get cooking. All the ingredients you need for the tarts are in the cupboard.”
A firm knock on the front door of the log house caught the couple’s attention. “Now, who would be visiting us at this hour?” Nadia asked as Kelvin went to the door.
He lifted the latch and opened the door to the last face he had expected to see.
“Rinan!” Nadia ran to the door and ushered him in. He was dressed warmly, with a large backpack hanging from one shoulder and a bundle in his arms.
“Hello, Mother and Father.”
“What are you doing home, Son?” Kelvin took the backpack from Rinan after he closed the door.
“It’s a long story,” Rinan said, his voice echoing the fatigue on his face. Unwrapping the layers of the bundle, he said, “I’d like to introduce you to my son.”
“Your son?” Kelvin exclaimed. “How is that possible, Rinan?”
Nadia elbowed past her husband and put her arms out. Rinan let his mother take the child. “Let’s not worry about that now,” she said. “Let’s get you warm and fed.”
Rinan sat down heavily on a chair by the table. His father sat next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Rinan, are you all right, Son? You look terrible.”
“Father, I…” Rinan started, but he couldn’t continue. Instead, he buried his head in his arms on the table and began to cry.
CHAPTER 9
Alana didn’t want to be inside. It was finally getting warm again, and she would much rather be outside, but she was stuck sitting in the classroom with her least favorite savant, studying her least favorite subject.
There were some subjects Alana liked. She enjoyed learning about flowers and trees. She also liked to learn about the weather. Those were things she could see and feel. Not like this class. Not like studying the Tome of Laws.
Every noble child was instructed to read and study the Tome of Laws from a very early age. In fact, it was the first book Alana had read all the way through—not by choice, of course.
By age nine, she had read it several times, but now they were studying it more in detail. Savant Bertram was nice enough, but he was very quiet and always seemed to be chewing on one of his fingernails.
That day they had been studying about the Shoginoc. Her teacher said it was important because of what had happened recently to Queen Eliana. Alana was sad that her cousin had died last month—she had always liked her.
Addressing the class, Bertram said, “Since no heir was born from Queen Eliana and King Daimh’s union, can anyone tell me who will be the next to take over the throne, and when?”
There was no reply.
“No one knows?” the savant asked.
Again, there was no reply from the class of young nobles.
“The answer is that twenty-one years from now, there will be another Shoginoc. Until that time, King Daimh will rule Bariwon. Students, you should know that. It’s written in the books before you.”
Those students who weren’t looking elsewhere in the room gave Bertram blank stares.
“Alana, will you please read from chapter eleven, paragraph nineteen?” Bertram asked, sounding mildly frustrated.
Taking her eyes from the golden sunlight shining through the window, Alana looked down at her copy of the Tome of Laws and turned to the correct chapter. Finding the requested paragraph, she started to read: “When the firstborn child of the king and queen reaches the age of twenty-one, he or she shall become the new king or queen. The former king and queen will become councilors to the newly crowned leader of Bariwon. An arranged marriage will selected by a Shoginoc. In the spirit…”
Bertram interrupted her. “Wait a moment, Alana. You missed a word when you turned the page. Please try again starting with ‘An arranged marriage.’”
Sitting up straighter, Alana started reading again. “An arranged marriage will selected by a Shoginoc. In the spirit…”
Bertram stood and walked over to Alana, who stopped reading. “You did it again. Let me show you where you are making the mistake.”
The savant looked at her book and flipped the page over and back a few times. “Oh, wait. That’s odd.” He furrowed his brow and walked over to his desk. He scanned through his book. Alana could hear him say, “That’s strange. I’ve read this passage over and over, and I’ve never noticed that.”
Bertram stood there for a moment and puzzled over his book. He started chewing on a fingernail.
That’s really disgusting, Alana thought, and looked back out the window.
***
Rinan sized up what was before him, his practiced eye looking for weaknesses. He formulated a plan, tightened his grip, and brought the ax over his head and then quickly down, chopping his target neatly in two.
“Nicely done,” Kelvin said. “The log never stood a chance.”
> Turning his head to look at his father, Rinan asked, “Are you making fun of me, Father?”
Kelvin grinned. “Yes, a little. Ever since you were young, you could never do simple chores around the farm without turning them into some sort of battle or quest. I knew from an early age that you were bound to be a guardian.”
Rinan placed another log on the chopping block. “Yeah, and we all know how that turned out.”
“Actually, we really don’t. Your mother and I have respected your wish to tell us what happened when you were ready, but Son, it’s been over a month.”
“Well, I’m still not sure I’m ready to talk about it,” Rinan said, chopping another log in two. “I’ve had a month to think about what happened, and I’ve come to realize I made some pretty big mistakes.”
A light drizzle started to fall, the drops gathering on the leaves of the tall trees that stood above the farm.
“People, as a race, seem to be good at making mistakes.” Kelvin started to gather up the firewood scattered around the area. “The key is to learn from the mistakes and not repeat them. I’ve made some pretty big ones in my life, as well.”
“Nothing compared to mine, Father.” Rinan shook his head.
“Try me.”
Rinan placed the head of the ax on the ground and leaned on it for support. “Did you marry someone in private without the consent of her family, father her child, and then fail to protect her when she needed you the most?”
At first Kelvin didn’t say anything; he just looked at his son as the rain started to fall harder around them. “No, Son, I can’t say that I did.”
Rinan set up another log for chopping. “I think it is safe to say those are mistakes I will not repeat.”
***
Thunder shook the windows of the castle’s main hall, and rain pounded heavily against the roof, but the members of the court scarcely noticed.
Priest Sherwyn was in attendance, along with the Hierarchy of Magistrates, the savants, and the heads of the noble families. Even though courts were generally held once a week, this was the first since the queen’s death the previous month.
Sherwyn had dreaded this day. He believed he had done all he could to prevent Abrecan from taking power, but he had failed.
Councilor Abrecan sat on the queen’s throne, with Daimh next to him on the throne belonging to the king. “It has been a trying several weeks for all of us,” Abrecan said once everyone was in place. “My son is stricken with grief, and so I will conduct this court.”
It seemed to Priest Sherwyn that Daimh appeared more bored than grieving. “The investigations into the recent tragedies that have plagued my kingdom are complete,” Abrecan continued. “Magistrate Caldre, to whom I’ve assigned these investigations, will report the findings.”
The sharp-nosed magistrate stood. He paused a moment, and Sherwyn knew Caldre was making sure all eyes were on him before he started.
“The attacks on the royalty which ended in the deaths of Councilors Kenrik and Philip were indeed ordered by Governor Elric. He was upset over losing the Shoginoc and ordered the attacks as revenge. Elric has been put into the dungeon until we can plan his execution. Governor Eadward of Erd has been given charge to watch over the district of Lewyol.”
The reaction in the hall varied from person to person, but Sherwyn thought the underlying reaction was shock. If Caldre noticed, he made no indication and continued with the report.
“The death of Queen Eliana has been ruled an accident, even though there are still some suspicions that one or both of the servants involved may have been working for Elric. To ensure that no more accidents take place in the presence of these servants, they have been banished from the castle.”
People in the hall started to move in their seats and glance at each other, as if they wanted to see if they were the only ones who couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Sherwyn’s eyes met Seanan’s, but the elderly magistrate merely gave him a helpless look, then turned away.
Caldre sniffed loudly before he continued. “Captain Wayte was killed in self-defense. Guardian Sullivan had been instructed to escort Wayte to Councilor Abrecan upon his arrival. However, Wayte refused, and when Sullivan insisted, Wayte became hostile. Sullivan had no choice but to defend himself. Guardian Sullivan was not only justified, but because of his brave actions, he is being promoted to captain of the guardians.”
Some people were now shaking their heads in disbelief. Caldre took notice and stopped talking.
Councilor Abrecan spoke up. “Is there something any of you want to say?” The tone in his voice was clear that comments were not really what he sought. The room quieted again. “Magistrate, continue.”
“Royal Guardian Dougal was found impersonating the captain of the guardians. While this offense is not punishable by death, he will be spending the rest of his life isolated in the dungeon. In addition, Royal Guardian Rinan has abandoned the castle. He seems to have disappeared soon after the queen’s death. He is officially being removed as a guardian for his failure to protect the queen. He, too, has been banished from the castle.”
Sherwyn noticed Abrecan sit up straighter when Caldre began the next part of the report.
“Finally, no heir was produced from the marriage of King Daimh and Queen Eliana, so another Shoginoc will take place this summer. A new queen will be selected so that an heir can be born.”
A quiet voice came from the back row where the savants sat. “Excuse me, but that isn’t correct.”
Everyone turned to look at Bertram. Sherwyn saw the young savant’s shoulders shrink when he noticed all the attention he got.
“What did you say?” Abrecan asked. Even Daimh was paying attention now.
Bertram stood up and said, “You are mistaken. The next Shoginoc will be held in twenty-one years.”
Abrecan’s face started to turn red. “Who are you to tell us that we are mistaken?”
Bertram missed the point of the councilor’s question and responded, “I am Bertram, a savant here in the castle. The Tome of Laws clearly states that if no heir is born of the queen and king, a new Shoginoc will take place twenty-one years after the queen or king was crowned.”
“But the queen died before the heir could be born!” Abrecan blustered. “And my son has every right to marry again. Therefore, their offspring will be the heir.”
Bertram nodded and then said, “Yes, King Daimh is allowed to remarry, but his wife will not be queen, and their firstborn child will not be the heir.”
Abrecan gripped the arms of his throne, his crimson face looking like an overripe tomato. “What are you talking about?”
Priest Sherwyn was amazed at Bertram’s calm reaction to Abrecan’s obvious contempt. The savant was either very brave or just oblivious to the councilor’s tone and body language. Knowing what he did of Bertram, Sherwyn assumed it was the latter.
“Two hundred and eighty-four years ago, a similar situation happened, except it was the king who died,” Bertram explained. “The queen remarried, but her husband was never called the king. They had five children, but the oldest was not considered heir to the throne. Twenty-one years later, a Shoginoc was held, and the man and his wife who were chosen became the new queen and king.”
Magistrate Seanan stood up, looking even frailer than he had at the last court. Sherwyn knew Seanan had been very fond of Eliana and her family, and the aging leader of the magistrates had taken their deaths especially hard.
“Bertram is correct,” Seanan said. “I remember the story. One of the authors of the Tome of Laws was still alive at the time, if I recall correctly. They wanted to have another Shoginoc after the king died, but the author said that is not what the law would allow.”
Abrecan’s glare shifted from Bertram to Seanan. “Why not?”
Magistrate Seanan nodded his head toward Bertram. “The savant can explain it better than I.”
“Well?” Abrecan asked.
Bertram looked around the hall, his expression blank. At fir
st Sherwyn wasn’t sure if the young savant was going to say anything, but then Bertram spoke up with a confidence in his voice that took Sherwyn somewhat by surprise.
“Over three hundred years ago, a terrible disease called the nislles swept over the land, killing many, including all of the royalty. Since there was no clear heir, there were battles over the throne. Many more lives were lost. When King Roderick eventually came to power, he wanted to make sure nothing like this would happen again. That is why he commissioned five wise elders to write the Tome of Laws.”
“I wasn’t looking for a history lesson, Savant,” Abrecan interrupted. “Tell me why a Shoginoc is against the law.”
Bertram seemed undaunted. “I was getting to that, Councilor. One of the main reasons for the Tome of Laws is to look after the good of the common person in the land. The laws were designed to prevent corruption among the rulers. One way to do that was to regularly select a new leader. The people of Bariwon were in favor of the idea, but wanted to keep a king or queen in place—something with which they were familiar.”
“Your point?” Abrecan was visibly becoming more frustrated.
Bertram cocked his head to one side. “Don’t you see? If there was another Shoginoc because the new queen or king died before they could produce an heir, a corrupt person, perhaps someone who lost in the Shoginoc, would just keep killing off the royalty until he got what he wanted. Making the Shoginoc happen twenty-one years later would prevent that.”
Abrecan narrowed his eyes, then sat back in his chair and folded his arms. For several moments he didn’t say anything. He looked at Magistrate Seanan and then at Savant Bertram. The red in his face slowly faded, and he nodded his head. “I was unaware of that view on the law. Thank you for your opinion on the matter. So it appears we wait twenty-one years to see who the next king will be.”
Sherwyn was surprised by Abrecan’s reaction. What was he up to now?
***
“We can’t call this child ‘baby’ forever.” Nadia slowly rocked the infant in her arms. “Can you imagine how his friends would tease him?”
The Hidden Sun (Bariwon Chronicles Book 1) Page 10
