by CK Dawn
Ali-Steven entire chest pumped with trepidation as he realized he might have gone too far.
His father erupted, “Enough. Are you going to renounce your marriage and carry on with Parys?”
Ali-Steven stuck his chest out defiantly. “No.”
“You better hope I don’t find out who this whore is or two people are going to die. How dare you talk that way about your king father,” Ali-Baster scolded and threw a jug of wine at his son.
Ali-Stanley rushed in through the cracked door and blurted out, “Her name is Rilah Termensen and her family lives in Amber Meadows in the row houses near Ali-Sander’s Square. Ali-Pari told me, so I know it’s true.”
Several of the King’s Guard members had followed Ali-Stanley into the room and everyone waited for the King’s verdict. Ali-Steven thought he spied a look of compassion run through his father’s eyes.
The King finally said, “Kill the entire family, even the baby.”
“NNNNOOOOOO.” Ali-Steven ran for the door.
Three guards repelled his advance and knocked him down. He tried again, but they pushed him away with ease. He turned around to get a running start and saw his twin brother standing there with a big smile.
Ali-Steven blasted his brother in the nose with a straight right fist. Ali-Stanley fell flat on his back with blood pouring out of his nose. He stepped over his motionless brother and rushed the door again. Ali-Steven dove under one guard’s legs and burrowed his way out the door.
He heard his father cry, “Let him go. He better leave the realm if he wants to survive. Thinks he can insult the King. Ten thousand gold foxes to whoever brings me his head. He’s put me in quite a spot.”
Ali-Steven ran for the stables and jumped on his horse. He heeled the animal but it only whinnied in pain. He got off and noticed someone had cut the back of the horse’s calves. He ran and found another mount and vaulted up onto the tall animal. He had always taken a longer route to get to Amber Meadows so he had to think of the fastest way and he was coming up blank.
He started to cry as he bobbed up and down in the saddle. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. His father should have let him and his family leave peacefully. He never wanted it to come to this. He raced down Rilah’s street and saw that his greatest fear had come true.
The King’s Guard had beaten him to the spot. He saw two of her family members in the crowd of people rushing to get away from the madness. A glimmer of hope ran through him and he thought that maybe everyone had gotten away. That feeling was squashed when he saw Benroke Termensen hanging from a rope tied to the second story above his house. Ali-Steven hopped down and ran toward his wife’s house.
He couldn’t find anyone inside so he raced back to the King’s Castle and saw a commotion near the southern steps of the castle. The King’s Guard had formed a wall in front of the steps. He was on a slight hill so he could see Sir Willem and Sir Arthur shoving his wife toward the castle.
Sir Fenwicke lagged behind, holding Ali-Steven’s screaming son upside down by one of his tiny feet. The knight swung him back and forth like a small sack of grain. Ali-Steven hurried down the hill and tried to bust through the wall of guards but was easily fended away by the large men.
“Get out of my way, Prince’s orders,” Ali-Steven pleaded.
Sir Vance told him, “Your father has given the command to kill you for a great deal of gold. We’re not killing you out of respect for your war service but if you rush us again, we will put a sword through you and collect the bounty your father has set.”
He backed up and looked over the guards at Sir Willem holding a knife to his wife’s throat. Everything seemed surreal as his wife’s neck ran red.
“NNNNOOOO,” he screamed as the body hit the ground.
“I get to rape her first,” claimed Sir Arthur.
“She’s a pretty one, yes she is,” added Sir Fenwicke.
He looked at the line of trained killers with their swords drawn and couldn’t do anything but pray that the men would have mercy on his son. He saw Sir Arthur ripping away his wife’s dress and turned away but he still heard Sir Willem and Sir Vance arguing over who was going to get to smash his son’s head on the hard stone steps. He thought he was about to watch his baby boy die until armored guards with golden angels on their chests started pouring out the large open door of the southern entrance.
The Queen’s Guard filed out and assembled themselves at the top of the steps.
Queen Tomeo walked out from behind them and yelled as she descended the steps. “What is the meaning of all this?” She stared at the bloody body of Rilah, slumped on the bottom steps. “You’ve killed an innocent woman and you were about to kill that baby. Sir Hunter, go get my grandson and bring him to me. Monsters, all of you. I should have you all rounded up and held accountable for this butchery.”
Sir Willem said, “Just following King’s orders, highness.”
“Give me that petrified child,” she said to her guard and held the baby to her bosom. She rocked him back and forth and the newborn stopped crying. “Every last one of you should be ashamed of yourselves for disgracing your families. I am going to deal with the King now.”
She stormed into the castle and Ali-Steven’s son had been miraculously saved. She clutched the baby tight and he grabbed the wide shoulder strap of her dress. The child didn’t have a clue as to how close to death he had just come. The Queen muttered to herself as she tracked down the King in the audience chamber.
Count Silzeus was looking at Ali-Stanley as Tersen and Ali-Pari watched with concern. The King was stuffing an unfinished painting of Ali-Steven into the raging fireplace.
“How dare you?” the Queen said.
“How dare I? Our son is trying to disgrace our family name. All I’ve done is try to enhance our family legacy and between the albino and this, we’ve been thoroughly embarrassed.” He turned and looked at his wife and said, “That better not be what I think it is. A bastard with a claim to the throne must be eliminated. I can’t come off looking weak in this matter; I am a king.”
The Queen was enraged. “This child will not be eliminated. You’re not a king. You’re a heartless coward. In fact, if any harm should come to this child, I shall instruct my Guard to kill you. I will instruct them to kill you if so much as a scratch lands on his precious body. He’s to be brought up in this castle as a constant reminder of your cruelty. I don’t know the baby’s name yet but…”
Ryen’s voice came from behind her, “His name is Ali-Samuel Wamhoff, the first born son of Ali-Steven Wamhoff.”
The Queen said, “Perfect. He shall keep the royal prefix too. If I should come to find out that you didn’t address him as Ali-Samuel, my guards will be called to action, so best not forget.”
The King objected, “We can’t do this, it will make me look weak.”
Tomeo argued, “So killing a baby makes you look strong? That’s all you care about, how you look or how people perceive you. You would rather kill your grandson because of what faceless people will think of you. You will also call off the bounty on Ali-Steven so he can come home. You’re so blind and confused.”
“I have a royal standard to uphold and enhance,” the King said.
The Queen shook her head. “You have no idea about life. You are ultimately going to be judged by your actions. You can make up false stories and paintings, even build great structures, but it doesn’t change who you are. You aren’t fooling the Gods who know you as the murderous monster called the Cruel King. Almost everyone in the kingdom knows the truth. Do you think people believe the painting of you killing a wild boar with your bare hands? Everyone knows the only things you hunt are whores and wine. You keep trying to do all these things to cover up the fact that you are an awful King, father and person.”
The King let out a little chuckle and waved his finger in the air. “My father told me nobody understands how difficult it is to be king. I have to go break a marriage pact and tell Duke Etburn that our family is backing out. Our
son committed treason, which makes him a traitor, don’t you see. The first question Duke Etburn will ask is ‘Did you kill the wife and boy?’ What do I tell him?”
Tomeo countered her husband. “I know this is an entirely queer thought to you, but you could tell him the truth. Tell him that your son fell deeply in love with a lovely girl and because she was born into the wrong family, you ordered her death. Then you can tell him that I saved a baby from having his head smashed into the castle steps. An innocent woman is lying dead outside our castle and you want sympathy because you need to hold an uncomfortable conversation with another man.”
“He’s not just another man. He is the most powerful man in Donegal, aside from me. I can’t just pull out of this agreement,” the King argued.
The Queen suggested, “Offer him Ali-Stanley; he’s a Prince too.”
The King immediately balked at the idea. “That’s not a fair replacement. He’s only half the man his brother is, or was, hopefully by now, and they’ll never go for that. Look at him, sniffling from one little punch, the sissy. I don’t have a worthy heir anymore.”
Ali-Stanley spoke in a soft tone, “But I thought with Ali-Steven gone I would…”
His father cut him off. “I know. You thought I would hand the kingdom off to you. I’m sure that’s why you rushed in here and told me where his wife and son lived. Look at these embarrassments that are lucky enough to call themselves Princes. An albino, a sissy and the only one worth warm spit has denounced his royal allegiance. Don’t think your brother leaving will change anything, Ryen. In fact, all of you leave my sight this instance.”
The children left the room and the Queen said, “You need to bring Ali-Steven home safe. Call off this silly bounty and let him come back.”
“Ha, never. The boy committed treason, I’ve told you. We can’t keep a traitor in the family. You should have heard what that boy said about me too.”
The Queen cradled the baby and swung him back and forth. “I didn’t realize how sensitive you were. You just belittled your three young sons for no reason whatsoever, yet you are worried what someone said to you.”
The King objected, “I’m their King father, I’m supposed to talk to them like that and they are supposed to respect my authority. I went through it when I was a Prince and they will do it to their sons too. I hated the treatment but it made me into the man and King I am today.”
“He is our son; we need to bring him back. If he leaves this kingdom, I’ll never forgive you.” The Queen carried the baby out of the room and saw Ryen waiting outside the door. She walked into a sitting room and Ryen followed her in.
They sat down on a couch and Tomeo said, “What you’ve witnessed today is not how a King should act.”
The soft-spoken boy replied, “I know. That’s why I renounced the royal prefix to my name. I don’t ever want to be that kind of king.”
“Yes, I can understand, but I need my princes to stay together. Whatever happens with Ali-Steven, I can’t have you and your brothers divided. I want you to start telling people that you denounced the title of Ali-Ryen to support and stand by Tersen. Tell them that you felt sorry he wasn’t given the honor and you did it for him,” she told him.
Ryen asked, “You want me to lie?”
“Just one time. I need you boys to get along and this will really make Tersen happy. He’s been mistreated his entire life,” she said.
“I promised Ali-Steven I would watch over his son.”
The Queen glanced fondly at her twelve-year-old son and said, “That’s very honorable and no matter what your father says, you’re a great boy. We will take care of him if your brother doesn’t return. Did he tell you where he was going?”
“He didn’t. He said he was going to find a ship and go somewhere that he can build a great army and return to take his throne.” Ryen tickled the baby’s stomach.
The Queen looked out the window with pain in her eyes and said, “If only I had a slight clue where he was going, I could send my Guard to protect him.”
Ali-Steven Wamhoff stared at his dead wife as the Queen carried his son into the castle.
He heard the voice of his brother Ryen from behind, “You’ve got to leave, Ali-Steven. Father just upped the payout for the bounty on your head and told everyone to kill you on sight, no questions. I brought some stuff for you.”
He handed his older brother a pouch stuffed with gold, Ali-Steven’s sword belt and sword and pointed up the little hill at a stable boy waiting with a horse.
Ryen said, “They said that’s the fastest horse in the stables.”
Ali-Steven smiled through the pain at his amazing little brother. “I love you, Ryen. I’ll miss you and I’ll never forget you. You will be spared when I come back and take back my throne. You can be my Falconer. I need you to watch over my son. Mother and you are going to be the only ones who will look out for him.”
Ali-Steven noticed the archers assembling on the barbiment.
“I’ve got to go,” the former Prince said and turned to leave.
He took a few steps and heard his brother, “Wait, what’s your boy’s name?”
He turned back around and looked in Ryen’s eyes. “His name is and always will be Ali-Samuel Wamhoff. Be well, my brother.”
He got on the horse and took one final look back to see Ryen scurrying up the tainted castle steps and rushing into the castle. He quickly entered the deep forest and started to feel safer.
One week later, the ousted prince of Donegal bit into a piece of salted duck leg. He heard horse’s hooves thumping on the soft dirt path and ducked behind a red berry bush. He stayed a safe distance from the beaten trail as he traveled through Lightview on his way to the coast.
He had been staying at inns and eating well until he ran into some men that seemed to recognize him and were hungry for more than the squirrel stew. The four men had heard the news about the bounty and Ali-Steven had to kill two of them before getting away. He had decided to stay away from all people until he reached a harbor.
He moved farther from the path to set up camp for the night. He started gathering wood for a fire. A light drizzle gave Ali-Steven trouble with lighting the moist kindling and he quickly got frustrated and gave up.
A dwarf emerged from behind a white oak tree. He waddled toward Ali-Steven with his hands up.
Ali-Steven jumped up, drew his sword and looked around for other intruders.
The little man said, “Whoa. No need to slice me into pieces. I’m already small enough as it is. Allow me to help you.”
The dwarf walked up to the pile of twigs and fire shot from his eyes, instantly igniting the wet wood. The raging fire helped Ali-Steven get a better look at the old man.
The dwarf with long brown hair and a beard to his hips appeared to be in his late forties. He had a square head and wide nose. The centers of his eyes matched the fire he had just lit.
Is this the wizard I’ve heard about in all the stories? He must be if he is shooting fire from his eyes.
“What’s your name?” Ali-Steven asked.
“Oh, depends on who you ask, really. I’ve been called many names. Some flattering, most not. What’s important is that I know who you are and I can help you,” the man told him.
“How do you know me?”
The wizard yawned and responded, “I’m a very old man, much older than you would ever think. I’ve seen my fair share of royal family members.”
Ali-Steven didn’t see any weapons on the small man and sat down again.
The former prince asked, “Do you know what happened?”
A smile spread over the dwarf’s square face and he said, “It’s my craft to obtain information, which can be a very powerful tool. It pains me to tell you that everyone around the kingdom knows what happened. Secrets, especially those involving the royal family, seem to spread faster than a wave of purple fire. I’ve heard some stories, but only you know the truth.”
“You want the truth. The truth is I married the perfect
woman who wasn’t up to my father’s standards. She married a man of the highest birth station. She did the right thing. I should have been the one to get my throat slit. I committed the wrong, not her. I had to watch from behind a wall of my father’s men as they killed the only woman I’ll ever love. And my son, my son could be dead for all I know. I saw my mother carry him into the castle but who knows what went on from there. The entire reach of the King’s Guard could be just behind that trail, ready to kill me for the bounty. I’m out here alone and scared for the first time in my life. Is that the truth you want?”
The little man spoke in a gentle tone, “I understand the anger. I really do.”
The dwarf got up and moved over beside Ali-Steven. The deposed prince felt a tiny hand patting his back as the wizard continued, “Those were deplorable actions, I must agree, but let’s not forget, the Gods needed your beautiful angel more than we did. She’s probably sitting alongside the Seven right now as we speak.”
“Thank you for the kind words.”
The dwarf said, “There are a few things I can inform you of. As far as I know, your son is still alive and firmly under the protection of the Queen and her prolific Guard.”
“Thank the Gods,” Ali-Steven exclaimed and let out the first true exhale since his heart had been shattered to pieces.
The dwarf went on, “The King has his Guard looking out for you. Your mother has her Guard trying to bring you back safely or kill anyone in the King’s Guard that is hunting after you. Your safest bet is to probably still leave the kingdom for a while. Everyone knows about the bounty, not just your father’s paid men. Anyway, they say your mother called for eight thousand members of her Guard to come to the Capitol to help keep your son safe. Your father then countered by calling for his remote members of the King’s Guard and didn’t get a rousing response. When the men found out they weren’t going to be paid, they rebuked the King’s request. Allegiance can always be bought, but you need the gold to do so. Ironically, more than half of the Queen’s men turned down all wages. I know you were close to your mother, and Queen Tomeo seems like a great lady.”
