“You exaggerate, sir,” she graciously responded.
“And Aaron, her young helper here, has kindly accompanied me on several walks around the compound when the weather was fairer and my health was more accepting of the challenge. But I fear my days of long walks are over,” he said wistfully.
After Nyla and Aaron departed, William noted a distant sadness in King Basil’s eyes, believing that the loss of his sons had probably contributed more to his ill health than the physical ailments themselves. “Perhaps by springtime you’ll be able to take to the outdoors again,” he suggested. “Maybe all this trouble with Drogin will be over by then and you’ll start to feel better.”
“Anything is possible,” the King replied with a smile, though in his heart he knew it was not to be. “But I think I shall have to live with the memories of those walks, just as I must live with…” He emitted a slow, deep sigh born of painful recollections. “The boy, Aaron, reminded me of my sons when they were his age. Morton and Victor always loved to walk along the docks and watch the ships, just as he does. I guess his company gave me hope that maybe Rhiál would turn out all right in the end, but we may be down to our last gambit. Even Aaron has felt the sting of war, having escaped to Melinas with some of his neighbors from the southern provinces after Drogin invaded. His father remained behind the enemy lines to fight with the local resistance. The boy has had no word from him since late spring.” King Basil smiled kindly at William, remembering the words the young prince had said about Brendan. “It seems that no one has gone unscathed by the recent turmoil in Laparia. I regret it had to be this way.”
“As do I,” William whispered, feeling sorry that King Basil was enduring his heartache alone and in such ill health.
The King sat up and offered his guests a strained smile. “Now is not the time to dwell in melancholy, especially with guests here. Captain Silas, please lead these fine gentlemen to the dining area where you can discuss matters at your leisure. Then early this evening we’ll gather with all the captains, spread out our maps and review our final strategy. In the meantime, I am due for another rest. I will feel better by tonight.”
With an assisting hand from the King of Drumaya, King Basil stood up and bid his guests goodbye, watching them disappear through the doorway one by one. William, the last to exit the room, closed the door behind him, though not before taking a final glance at the monarch, feeling a bond of shared sorrow with King Basil while knowing that neither could do anything to lessen the other’s grief. It was a weight that each would have to endure in his own fashion, and for the most part, alone.
CHAPTER 38
On the Battle’s Doorstep
Lunch was served after Captain Silas escorted his guests to a private dining area where they could enjoy a view of the docks with their meal. William sat between King Cedric and Eucádus on one side of a finely set table opposite Ranen, Captain Silas and Captain Tiber. Three helpers from a nearby kitchen, including Aaron, brought out large plates, pitchers and bowls of hot food to serve their visitors.
As swiftly as the trio of kitchen workers flitted around the table, they just as speedily exited the room as Nyla stepped through the doorway. The head cook smiled pleasantly as she approached the table, briefly touching the back of her dark hair which was secured with decorative pins.
“I hope your luncheon will be satisfactory. If there are any other requests, I’ll happily attend to them at once,” she said, seemingly eager to please.
“You have gone above and beyond, my dear woman!” King Cedric replied with a gracious smile. “Thank you.”
“I can only echo the King’s sentiments,” Captain Silas said.
“In that case, I shall leave you gentlemen to discuss your business in private.” Nyla offered a slight bow. “If there is anything you require hereafter, do not hesitate to ring,” she added, indicating a small brass bell in the center of the table. “One of my workers will promptly answer. Enjoy your meal.”
When she left the room, the hungry travelers attacked their plates with enthusiasm. They ate and conversed spiritedly, describing their journey across the Kincarin Plains to Captain Silas, including the ambush of the three soldiers by zealous servants of Kargoth. Silas was dismayed to hear of their sacrifice even before they had stepped foot in Rhiál, stressing the urgency of defeating Drogin in the next few days.
“If we don’t, death and destruction will spread to the capital like wildfire,” he warned. “I suspect that Drogin is feeling invincible, but when word reaches his ears that help has arrived on our side, he may be less inclined to look upon us as a crop ready to be mowed down by his army. He will be unpleasantly surprised to see us on the offensive, for up until now, he has been driving this dreadful war.”
“Then our march will not have been in vain,” Eucádus said with a gladdened heart. “When do you plan to move troops for the dual attacks?”
“By midmorning in four days we will begin our separate marches,” the captain replied, tracing the routes with his finger over an imaginary map on the table linen. “One army, after meeting troops from Altaga in the north, will sail down the eastern shore of Lake LaShear and attack the fleet at Zaracosa. The other will march down the western shore to battle forces occupying Rhiál’s southern provinces. At dawn, two days after, we strike.”
“And we will be victorious,” Captain Tiber remarked, the fiery resolve in his steely blue eyes matching the confident tone of his words.
As the discussion continued, William listened with fascination, though contributed few words. His limited knowledge of warfare derived from what he had read in history books, and he now began to feel that he was simply a spectator in matters where he didn’t belong. He wondered if he had been allowed a seat at this table merely out of respect and pity, simply because he was a prince and had suffered a grievous loss. Later, after everyone had finished lunch and stepped out onto a stone patio for a breath of the fresh lake air, William took Eucádus aside and addressed him pointblank about his role in the upcoming campaign.
“Who shall I be riding with?” he asked, gazing out at the slew of fine sailing vessels in the distance. “Am I to go north where the rafts are being assembled, or ride south to the battle along the lakeshore?”
“I am not in charge of such decisions,” Eucádus said, aware of the young man’s state of mind. “That is a matter for King Cedric or King Basil to decide. And though I sense that you feel your presence here is mere ornamentation, you must also recognize that you are of royal lineage.”
“How can I forget?” he muttered.
“You shouldn’t ever,” Eucádus said. “Your brother, once heir to the throne of Montavia, is no longer with us, and the home of your grandfather, King Rowan, is now under siege. His fate is not now known to us. Conceivably, though I do not wish it, you might be the only surviving heir to the throne. So there is more to it than personal pride, Will, as to where your next steps should take you in this war.”
He held his breath for a moment, his frustration quickly diffusing as Eucádus’ words sunk in. He exhaled the cool lakeside air, feeling like his old self again. “I didn’t mean to sound cross and apologize if I seemed so, Eucádus. I guess I never considered the possible consequences of my actions.”
He smiled. “No apology required. I was once your age, too, and couldn’t wait for the world to catch up with my aspirations. But that is normal. However, when we meet with King Basil this evening, all of these maddening details will be sorted out.”
“I suppose so.” William suddenly felt deflated and unworthy to think that he should be involved in making such grand plans. “Perhaps the rest of you should decide what is best in the days ahead and my place in it. I’ve much to learn, it seems.”
“Learning never stops, even at my age,” Eucádus said.
“I think I’ll take a walk later while you sort things out,” he decided. “To be honest, I could use some time alone after all that’s happened.”
“That might not be such a ba
d idea.” Eucádus indicated through the doorway that the three kitchen workers had returned and were clearing away the lunch dishes. “King Basil mentioned that Aaron was fond of walking along the docks. Maybe he could give you a tour of Melinas later on while we discuss military matters. However,” he said, “I promise to meet with you tonight, and while we share some buttered biscuits and a pot of tea, I will apprise you of the particulars of our meeting. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” William said, shaking his hand. “I’ll seek you out after dark.”
“Until then,” he replied before leaving to have a word with King Cedric who was still engaged in conversation with the others.
William, in the meantime, stepped inside the dining area and called to Aaron just as the boy was leaving the room with a tray of dirty dishes. The two other workers had already departed. Aaron looked up, ill at ease. Though William was only a year older, he was still a prince and Aaron felt slightly intimidated that he had sought him out. Nyla had instructed her staff to show the utmost respect to King Basil’s royal guests.
“Yes, Prince William?” he asked, afraid to look him directly in the eyes. “How may I help you, sir? Was there a problem with your meal?”
“Hardly,” he casually responded. “It was delicious, especially after dining on cold bread and stew the last several days.”
“I’m pleased to hear that, sir. Is there some other matter I can help with?” he asked, his green eyes gazing timidly beneath a head of mussed-up hair.
“First, you can stop calling me sir, Aaron. We’re nearly the same age, after all.”
Aaron was hesitant to respond, looking around to see if anyone else was in the room. “Nyla, my superior, instructed me how to properly address the people we serve. I don’t think that she would approve of–”
“Don’t worry,” William said with a grin. “If she or any of the others are around, you may call me sir all you want. But if it’s just us, Will is preferred.”
Aaron nodded. “Yes, Prince William. Uh, I mean…” He furrowed his brow. “Yes, Prince Will?”
William laughed. “You’ll have to work on that. But in the meantime, I’m free later this afternoon and would love a tour of Melinas. King Basil said you’re fond of walking by the docks. Care to show a stranger some of the local sights? I need to clear my head of all this endless talk,” he said, pointing to his luncheon companions who were still conversing on the patio.
“I’d be happy to,” Aaron said. “I’m off kitchen duty in a few hours.” He indicated the pile of heavy dishes on the tray. “I should get back there now, with your permission.”
“Oh, sorry,” he said, walking with Aaron out of the room. “I’m keeping you from your job. And please, none of that with your permission talk either.”
“Yes, uh–Will,” he replied uncomfortably as they walked down a narrow hallway toward the kitchen. “Where shall I meet you?”
Before William could answer, Nyla stepped out of a doorway as Aaron approached with the tray of dishes. She looked down upon the boy with a disapproving stare until she noticed William.
“Prince William, what a pleasant surprise,” she politely said. “Is something the matter? Has one of my workers erred in some way?” She glanced at Aaron a second time. “I’d be only too eager to make amends.”
“No amends required,” he said. “My compliments to you on an excellent meal.”
“Thank you.”
“I was pestering Aaron for a moment, delaying him from his duties,” he said apologetically. “He agreed to walk with me around town later on, perhaps along the docks. I have free time and could use the company. I’m more in the way, I think, than helpful when it comes to discussing military matters.”
“Aaron will make an excellent guide then, as he is fond of exploring along the lakeside,” Nyla replied, smiling at Aaron.
William agreed to return to the kitchen in a few hours after Aaron’s work was finished, eager to wander about and pretend for a time that he didn’t have a care in the world, much like he had done with Brendan after they left the Blue Citadel twenty-four long days ago. But right now, all of that seemed part of another lifetime.
The crescent Fox Moon lounged in the western sky after sunset, the horizon streaked with a radiant orange glow. The inky darkness east beyond Lake LaShear was punctuated by a handful of stars above the small boats and anchored ships bobbing on the surface. Lamplighters ambled along the streets, putting a flame to each wick in the many oil lampposts dotting the major lanes of the city. William and Aaron wandered along the main road through town which ran parallel to the sandy lakeshore to the east. Beyond the sand and running along the water’s edge was a stone walkway. Wooden docks extended off the walkway into the water, alongside which many small fishing craft were tied up, safe for a few more weeks before winter’s grip would retire them for the season. Bonfires burned on the shore near a handful of wooden shanties where a few hardy fishermen worked diligently into the evening repairing their netting and lines. On the west side of the main road were a series of shops, all now closed for the night, their windows tightly shuttered.
“I often stop by and listen to the fishermen tell their stories, especially in summertime,” Aaron said, having warmed up to William and feeling as if he were an old friend. “Now there are just as many soldiers around manning the larger ships. I’ve shared stories with them, too, though many of the tales are not as cheerful.”
“King Basil mentioned how you traveled up here from the south,” William said, uncertain whether he should mention the boy’s missing father. He soon learned that he needn’t have worried about broaching the subject.
“Before my village was overrun by King Drogin’s men, my father insisted that I travel north to safety with some of our neighbors. He stayed behind with others who banded together to fight,” he explained, his voice as distant as his thoughts. “My mother died when I was younger, and now I wonder if I’ll ever see my father again. In the meantime, I work in the kitchens.”
“Where to you live?” William asked.
“I use the staff quarters in the basement, especially when I must wake before dawn to work the early shift,” he explained. “Occasionally I’ll stay with my old neighbors. They’re not far from here and are like a second family to me. I’ll take you there for dinner one of these days if time allows.”
“It’s good that you have a connection to home, though I’m sorry your life was turned upside down. Unfortunately, that’s become the norm for many in Laparia these days.” William stopped and gazed over the darkened waters, recalling the time he and Brendan shared a meal near Lake Lasko and fed an apple to that deer. Such a simple action had marked a drastic turning point in their lives. When Aaron asked what he was thinking about, William looked at him with a pained expression, drawn back to the present. With surprisingly little reluctance, he told his new friend about his brother and their clever escape from Montavia and their harrowing excursion into the Ebrean Forest that changed both of their lives forever.
“And sometimes I think I’m the only one affected by this war,” Aaron remarked as they approached the end of the main road and headed down a nearby lane. “Compared to your adventures, I’ve had an easy life while everyone else around me fights.”
“I haven’t engaged in an actual battle myself, though I did witness one on the Kincarin Plains,” William admitted. “Regardless, everyone plays the part he’s supposed to, I guess. Don’t go looking for trouble just because you feel you want to get involved. I’ve been thinking the same way, and you know what?”
“What?” he asked as they passed through a fluttering circle of light cast off from one of the lampposts.
“No matter where I go, trouble seems to find me!” William couldn’t help but laugh as they wandered through a crowd of passersby blanketed by the night. “So let’s not rush to find it any faster, okay?”
They returned to the estate an hour later. William dropped off Aaron near the kitchen quarters just as Nyla was passing by. S
he inquired of the boys if they had had an enjoyable evening in town.
“Very much so,” William replied, recounting all the sights Aaron had shown him. “It felt good to wander about with no place to go, as if I were back home with my brother. We’re going to explore the docks tomorrow evening, too.”
“If such is your desire,” she said. “I prefer sitting by a fire on cool nights such as these and sipping a cup of blackberry tea while catching up on my mending. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do now,” she said, flashing a pleasant smile. “Goodnight, Prince William. Goodnight, Aaron.”
They said goodnight to Nyla before she disappeared down the corridor. William then left Aaron to search for Eucádus and hopefully learn about any developments in the upcoming battle with King Drogin. But when he was informed that Eucádus was still engaged in a meeting, he decided to go to his room on the third floor and lie down, the fresh air from his recent walk and the rigors of the past weeks finally catching up with him. He promptly fell asleep when his head hit the feather pillow, enjoying a dreamless, recuperative rest until the first rays of the rising sun peeked through his window shutters the following morning.
On that same evening, about an hour after she had left William and Aaron near the kitchen quarters and returned to her room, Nyla donned a heavy cloak, draped the hood over her head and stepped quietly out a side entrance of the estate as she had done from time to time on many evenings throughout the year. A guard standing watch greeted her with a smile.
“Evening, Miss Nyla. Out for another walk?”
“Most definitely, Mr. Souder. I feel as if I’ve been cooped up in that kitchen for a week straight!” she replied with a genial laugh. “I shall stop by and visit my sister as well. Mildred has been a tad under the weather lately.”
“Sorry to hear that, ma’am. My best to her,” he replied. “Oh, and that bit of roast beef one of your workers sent out earlier was beyond delicious. I thank you for that, as always.”
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