The High King: A Tale of Alus

by Wigboldy, Donald

  The man looked at her horrified and Serra could not even bring her eyes up to meet either one of them in her shame. Alyanna hung her head and collapsed weakly onto the bed beside Serra.

  "I am so sorry," she repeated woefully and tears formed in her eyes to run unchecked down her cheeks. It had started as such a nice day, Alyanna thought sadly.

  After a long silence, Serra looked up at Baitrum. Her cheeks were almost as crimson as a rose. "I am sorry that you said as much too," she responded though only partially angry at Alyanna, the queen thought; as the girl continued with words that hurt her even more. "I am sorry that you can say such a thing when you know that I could never love a man like Baitrum!"

  The captain's jaw firmed in anger easily as great as the girl's. The man was glad that he had never followed his heart if this was the reaction he was going to receive, but Serra was not done.

  "How could I ever fall in love with a brave knight? I know how the stories go, Alyanna. The knight saves the princess and runs off with her on his horse to live happily ever after, but the real world says different. In the real world, princes marry princesses while slave girls get used and thrown away. Maybe they find comfort and even love among those similarly enslaved or the poor find the poor, but heaven forbid a rich lord marry a mere peasant. Never should the duchess love a pig farmer. Heaven and man forbid such a love from happening because a rich man will not change his life to suit the poor, the noble does not forsake a title to live on a farm."

  Tears had formed in the girl's eyes and she turned to walk toward the window. It was the furthest place in the room from the others. Serra could no longer look at these two that she had called friends. The girl had shamed herself and they had shamed her. No, she clarified for herself, Alyanna had shamed her by voicing what could only be a dream and she had further hurt Baitrum by calling it that.

  Alyanna's face sank into her hands so that the tears would not be seen by the others. She never saw the captain walk stone faced towards the window. The queen never saw the man lay his heads gently upon Serra’s sobbing shoulders or lay his head against hers. But she heard his words. Alyanna heard as her cousin's voice, pitched low and filled with kindness, still struggled to break.

  "I never even thought that you would care," he said softly into the golden strands of the girl’s long hair. "I could never bridge the gap to see for sure. I was a noble, a soldier and I'm older than you by several years. Why would I believe that such a gentle, delicate, beautiful woman would even want such as me?"

  Serra's sigh could be heard as if it was thunder in the stillness of Alyanna's chamber. "Why would the slave girl ever long for the knight on his shining white horse to come save her? The handsome knight, so beautiful in his glistening armor, is only a dream. No man could be so kind and so heroic at the same time, but here you are, noble Baitrum.

  "You ask how I could want someone so kind and gentle? How could I not?"

  Baitrum turned the young woman to face him. "Alyanna said what we could not. Our fears would have kept us apart a lot longer, if she hadn't said something now. I just wish that you hadn't needed to cry, to be so hurt, for us to know the truth that we sought to hide from one another. For the truth, I thank you cousin, but now that you have unleashed truth, I would ask that you give us a moment's joy to remove the pain."

  "Anything, cousin," Alyanna replied eagerly. She wiped at the tears with her robe. Sniffing at her runny nose, the woman was glad for his words that would allow atonement. "What is it that you wish?"

  "Just a few moments alone. Perhaps you could find something else to do, both you and the other guardsmen?"

  "Of course!" she replied happily and guessed what the two would do with her gone. It would be what she had wanted to do with Simon, Alyanna guessed.

  Checking herself in the mirror, the queen touched up her makeup enough to mask her crying and slipped the robe free of her shoulders. The woman would worry about her jewelry later. Wearing less or more had always been up to her. She had not given up as she had told Serra from the very first. Maybe this would be a good time to get a message to the rebellion about the good news from Rhearden.

  The queen opened the door and motioned for the guards to follow. The men exchanged glances. It was unusual for the captain to remain behind, though their duty was to the queen so it mattered little. It was also unusual for the queen's favorite maid to remain behind. Grins appeared on the soldier's faces.

  It was about time the captain had made his move. He had been mooning over the girl long enough.

  "You didn't have to say that," Serra said from where she rested her head against Baitrum's chest. "You don't have to make me feel better. It's a crush. It'll probably go away eventually."

  The man leaned down and kissed her hair. She smelled like roses or some flower anyway. He had never been good at knowing the plants let alone their smells. If Serra taught him the name, the man knew that he would never forget it again though. Baitrum hugged her tighter. "Maybe I don't want that feeling to go away? Did you ever think of that?"

  Hands raised to push away his embrace. Serra turned to look into his eyes and he felt as if she must be able to see into his soul. His love ran rampant through his chest, now that it was fully unleashed. If Serra turned him away again, Baitrum thought that his heart might truly want to stop.

  The girl's big eyes looked up at him and the knight considered their green depths in turn. Like a pair of forests, they called him to them, but the man stood where he was and awaited her words. Baitrum knew that she had a question. The wrinkling of her nose usually gave that much away.

  "Are you sure that you can love me? I can't change the fact that I am just Alyanna's maid, you know?"

  He laughed. It was a gentle laugh and Serra felt goose bumps rise on her arms and shiver up her back with the sound of his voice. "I could."

  "Could what?" she asked suspiciously. "Make you more than Alyanna's maid. And always love you too, of course." He looked thoughtful and she awaited his thoughts, "It took me so long to realize that it wasn't just lust for the beautiful girl that you are. Then when I realized it, I didn't know what to do about it. Love is complicated sometimes, you know?"

  Serra shook her head, "I knew that I was in love when you first touched my hand in the hospital. My mouth went dry and I prayed that the gods would let me stay near you longer. I feared that you were that way with all women. You were so handsome, even laid up in bed."

  "It only goes to prove the old adage."

  "Which one?" she asked. The man watched her brow crinkle up in confusion and nearly laughed. Serra was so beautiful and marvelous in her very movements, Baitrum could hardly think with the pounding of his blood rushing so furiously.

  "Love is blind, of course," he replied. "Even when one of us knew that we were in love, we couldn't see that the other was as well."

  Serra nodded slowly, "And now that we can see?"

  Swallowing, Baitrum could not find the words to speak. He opened his mouth uncertainly.

  Laughter met his confusion. Her voice seemed to sparkle and cause the room to brighten even more than from the morning's sun. He let her hands undo the buttons of his shirt and then helped her remove the belt holding his scabbard and sword.

  Soon they lay on the bed making love to each other and truly that was what it was. Each caress, each movement spoke to the other of how much they had waited for this moment and even later when they both lay together spent, they continued to share their love.

  Alyanna spent the rest of the morning receiving and sending messages. She ordered the household to chores. Her maidens walked with her through the castle and went riding when she left for a picnic.

  When lunch was over, the woman found any other thing that she could to keep her away from her chambers. Even so, when Alyanna arrived with less than an hour until the supper bell at her chamber, the queen found the two of them still together in her bed.

  She smiled contentedly. At least her friends had finally found their love for each other.
Alyanna wished that she could do the same, but the queen feared that would only happen if Simon and his brother truly could destroy Merrick and his armies.

  Leaving the two asleep in each other's arms, Alyanna dressed in her scarves and jewelry before meeting with her maidens to go to dinner. She would have the servants bring some food up to the door later, Alyanna decided. One cannot live on just love alone after all, though they could try.

  Chapter 44-An Assembled Fleet

  The city of Camerton was bustling with more activity than ever. Excitement and tension rode the air as well. Three fleets of enormous numbers filled the harbor to overflowing.

  The main fleet of the king of Rhearden, eight midsized klereon and scereons as well four pirate hunters known as trereen, all sat filling with soldiers and supplies. It was the pride of Rhearden and nearly a third of its entire fleet.

  In comparison to the Aramathean fleet, it paled in scope. Two new trereens built to hold two hundred twenty men each had been completed for use by the time Gerid had returned. Two more scereons and three klereon had also been added between naval victories and purchase. The total number of warships now totaled twenty one and more than a dozen merchant ships joined with the main fleet as they would take men and supplies to Marshalla as well.

  The third fleet sailed under various flags and served to bring much of the tension into the city. Though many a slave trader had found their way to Camerton, a fleet of twenty warships of the Quardi pirate clans was still somewhat alarming.

  All gathered by Gerid, the White Haired Demon, admiral and Knight Protector of Rhearden. He had spent enough gold to nearly make Simon and his accountants cry. Gold had gone to the king for the hire of nearly two thousand men which was his third legion. More had gone to Carter and the Holteins who had worked to amass nearly a thousand of their own mercenaries and another thousand from other mercenary camps throughout Rhearden and even Tolmona to the south.

  Between his regular forces arrayed in his fleet, the hired soldiers, and those joined by the pirates both in Rhearden now and those that would sail from the islands directly; the Aramatheas could land nearly eight thousand men. Their target was Hala itself.

  While journeying, Simon had made contact with the resistance and Alyanna had said she would do even more. The commander hoped even more would join his army there. The queen would also send word to Maris and her father. Organizing such numbers of troops while Merrick’s armies remained out in the field, would not be an easy task. They were also under a time crunch. They needed to reach Hala before the end of summer and before Maris and Sileoth fell.

  Gerid spent much of his time at the Holtein farm with Catiya and his son, Simon. The toddler had grown so much. He had also missed his fiancée terribly.

  This would, Gerid hoped, be the last time he had to leave his loved ones. Once Merrick was defeated, the man prayed that he could finally settle down to a life of peace. Time spent in a home and with his family. That was his fondest wish.

  Their final night together was spent holding each other long into the night. They talked of his return and their wedding. Catiya was so beautiful Gerid thought nearly every moment he had with her. Her silky auburn hair, green eyes and wondrous lips that were on one of the most beautiful faces he had ever seen always caused his heart to race. The couple knew that they would wed soon if all went well, but a certain amount of panic took them. That and their love for each other. For the first time, the couple made love to each other. They spoke of their future and expressed their love over and over.

  Gerid watched the sun’s light illuminate her face breathtakingly as the morning came without the two ever sleeping. They would cherish it and pray that many more nights like it would be in their future once he returned.

  So it was that the army, fleet and their commander set sail for the north.

  The commander and all the might he could raise in such a time set sail. The weather was glorious as if all the stars had aligned for their trip.

  Alyanna stood before her full length mirror brushing her long blond hair. The reflection of the queen revealed her resplendent in the scarlet scarves which barely covered her body. A flower pattern worked through the nearly see through top. The material tied in back barely covered her chest as was the intent. The crimson of the hip scarf tied at her waist only served to heighten her feminine curves and concealed her secrets marginally. Gold bracelets, a necklace with a large ruby, and a pair of gold ankle bracelets were the remainder of her outfit.

  The woman knew she wanted to be more proper in her dress. Simon had revealed the silliness of it all, and yet this was truly not the time. She would be more covered, but barely so, because Alyanna feared to change too suddenly would alert Krulir and the other spies in the castle. She had her own spies working within the castle and the queen prayed that her trust in them was well founded.

  This was a time for change. Merrick was half way to Oapril by now. The forces of Sileoth and Maris continued to harass his forces. Their major defeat had incurred losses on both sides, but her father had let her know that the bulk of the armies had slunk away. As the High King tasted victory, the combined forces had fallen back as a screening force bought them time. The Cadmene knights had also joined them now.

  Smiling into the mirror, the queen lay down the brush. Alyanna knew that her maids would have done her hair, but this morning she had wanted to do it herself. When the door opened letting Serra and Baitrum into the room, the queen was ready for the day.

  Dressed in blue scarves of her own, Serra wore silver jewelry Alyanna thought looked quite pretty on her. She also carried several folders in her arms. Very important folders, the queen knew. The contents would decide many things about Hala and its future.

  Moving to the bed to deposit the folders, Serra paused letting her queen sit on the bed with folded legs. The queen opened the first folder and glanced at the contents.

  Looking at Baitrum, Alyanna questioned nearly rhetorically, “We’re sure on these men?”

  The captain of her guard nodded, “As certain as we can ever be. With Krulir still in the picture the men may be a little less certain of themselves. The rumor from Rhearden will make a definite difference as well. If they show at our doorstep, then we will see.”

  “Simon seemed certain that his brother would bring something. How many is always hard to figure.”

  The queen moved to another folder. She nodded at the answers within. “Merrick seems to have forgotten not everyone is happy with his style of rule. The numbers are hard to guess at in Marshalla, but the network seems pretty organized. I assume father had a little to do with that.

  “Have a messenger to sent to my brother Relnar. He can’t be directly involved but I am sure one of our cousins can find Cadmene’s resistance. We need numbers gathered if this is to happen.”

  The last folder held a simple note. “Father’s well. It sounds like the resistance in Maris is strong enough to last for a time, but they could really use help.”

  Agreeing, Baitrum added, “How sure are you of Rhearden?”

  Serra spoke up, “If Simon says Gerid’s picked up a fleet and an army, and I think you can assume the truth of it. How many men and ships is the only question because there may be more than when he was here. An unfortunate event like a storm could change all that, but otherwise expect a good force. They know Merrick’s forces from when Simon was here. They won’t come unprepared, but we need to have help for them here.”

  The queen nodded, “Maris and Sileoth need the help. Their wizards are reduced to almost nothing and against Merrick that means they have little enough to hold off the High King’s wizards let alone the gargoyles and dragons.

  “I just wish we could convince those already in his army to leave. They don’t have to join us, but if they would just move onward with those that snuck through the north portal we might have a good chance. There’s still no word that says Kar’esh will change his mind?”

  Baitrum shook his head, “Fa’Makel’zer made it sound li
ke the commander is bound by his honor to stay until Merrick fails on his end or until he dies. Even if he dies, the soldiers in the army will be committed until death.

  “If we get lucky, the High King will do something to lose them, but we can’t count on it. Merrick’s no fool. He knows that, without the gargoyles and dragons, his army is merely evenly matched with Sileoth and Maris combined. Or at least when they first met on the field.

  “That may be our one hope. If Merrick thinks the fight is all but over with Maris, he might get careless and ruin his alliance with Kar’esh. We could set up a surprise and trap him without their power.”

  Alyanna arose. The folders in hand, she debated whether the papers could be hidden from Krulir until the information could be used. “Is the plan in place for the vizier?”

  Her captain of the guard merely nodded. They prayed that the walls did not have ears. If Krulir knew of any of their plans, it would mean disaster.

  Pressing on a key stone, a piece of the wall released. Inside was a small area with other hidden papers, the folders joined the others before Alyanna closed it once more.

  “Well, time to put in an appearance,” the queen stated leading the other two from the room.

  The castle suite seemed colder than usual. Wall hangings and the summer sun outside couldn’t warm the old man as he sat at his desk. Papers sat mostly untouched as his mind wandered. Something was wrong and Krulir felt it.

  Alia and Okostre moved around quietly cleaning, while keeping their ears and eyes on the vizier in case he should need them. If he was unsettled, they felt it as well.

  Tapping the sheet of paper from one of his eyes and ears, the man wondered what Alyanna was up to now. Her maidens had been active in the castle and had even taken rides outside the city on occasion. He was getting used to her antics. First, the women were running around with nothing on which included his own maid that she had stolen from him. Then they would wear a scarf or two on occasion that hardly added to their modesty. The women still could often be found leaving the city nearly bare as they rode their horses