Jon asked, “So what is the real story about my father’s death?”
Count Silzeus’ face became flushed and he drank half of his large cup of water. “It pains me to tell this story. King Ali-Baster and Duke Patrick Beverley were great friends, so obviously he wouldn’t be very fond of your father’s rebellion. King Ali-Baster tried to organize several overthrows of Mattingly, but your father crushed them all. He tried until his dying day to kill Jasper Colbert to no avail.”
Jon stopped him for a moment and asked, “That’s another debated story. How did King Ali-Baster really die?”
“He was found in the privy after complaining of great stomach pain. I examined the body and found that he had been poisoned. He held all the signs of death by purple hemlock. Yet, the rest of the Wamhoff family didn’t want to believe it. They put out a statement saying that the king had died while sitting the throne, and I was one of many sworn to push that lie. Even stranger, the family didn’t want to believe my opinion. Quite odd, I remember thinking,” remarked the Count.
The King said, “So back to the story of my father.”
Count Silzeus rubbed his closed eyes for a moment and spoke, “Yes, right you are, where were we in the story?”
Jon answered, “King Ali-Baster had just died on the chamber pot.”
“Aahh, yes, yes, that’s correct,” the old man chuckled. He continued, “Jasper Colbert showed up at King Ali-Baster’s funeral services and entered the tournament. This absolutely enraged Ali-Stanley. The new King had been experiencing awful stomach pains and for a few days, we thought Ali-Stanley had been poisoned too. I knew the ground dragon horn could possibly drive him a bit mad but it was our only hope to save a dying king. His stomach pains finally did persist, but his head became twisted and warped. Had I known the resulting effects, I may have never prescribed it. I often think of what would have been if Ali-Stanley had died back then. Ali-Varis would have taken rule as a teenager; a boy who couldn’t remember to swallow his food was set to be our new king. Sorry, uh, back to your father. He dazzled in the tourney, ultimately being named Grand Champion. He easily defeated the best knights that Fox Chapel could throw at him. This drove Ali-Stanley over the edge. He concocted a devious plan that every advisor tried to talk him out of. He planned to ambush your father’s troupe of one hundred. That phantom duel never took place. That balderdash was all part of a mad faeblor’s story. King Ali-Stanley sent five hundred of his best warriors for an easy victory. It was anything but as only twenty-six men returned and most of them were injured. They said your father cut down one hundred men in the least before succumbing to defeat. He obviously died that day and I fear I bear some of the blame. I prescribed the dragon antler knowing it might make the King mad. He didn’t have me in any meetings concerning your subsequent ambush on the Royal Road but I understand if you must punish me for what happened to your father.”
Jon quickly quelled the old man’s fears and said, “That’s wildly unnecessary. You are a good man who served his kings in the best manner possible. How could I punish you for that? Just do the same for me is all I can ask.”
The count played with his long mustache and said, “With honor, your highness.”
Later that night, Jon lay in bed with Camelle and Baby Jon. Most parents put their baby in a crib but Jon liked to have his defenseless son close to him.
“So I need to send Ruxin west and I will be going to the eastern front shortly. The Queen of Goldenfield is on her way back to Sevring, so Ruxin won’t see any more fighting. Lord Ichibod is our greatest threat now but I will be staying out of the action. I have a plan to avoid fighting altogether,” Jon said with a sweet smile that was broken by a wrinkled frown.
Camelle wanted to know, “Why are we doing this?”
“Doing what? Defending our kingdom?” Jon asked.
She raised her voice and said, “Yes. This is exactly what I told you would happen. We have a target on our backs now. Did you think all the others would just back down once you took the crown?”
Jon immediately answered, “I knew there would be a struggle in the beginning, same as my father’s rebellion in Mattingly. But once we establish ourselves, it’ll all disappear. Don’t worry, nobody is going to get hurt. I am sending Ruxin to an area of safety. I am not going to make his wife a widow.”
She rubbed Jon’s cheek and said, “Don’t make me a widow either, let’s not forget about that. You cannot forget your father’s prophecy too.”
Jon became agitated and spoke in short bursts, “You think I could forget something like that? I think about it every day, several times a day. Either my father or I would die soon after becoming King of Donegal. He never became king. Yeah, I remember what he said.” He continued in an annoyed tone, “I cannot, no I will not, live scared. We’re all going to die, but if we serve a strong purpose…”
Camelle shook her head and said, “Now you sound like your uncle Jasine. If only he were still around; he would agree with me.”
“Oh you think so, do you?” Jon asked and gave his wife a soft kiss on her velvety lips. He looked down at the baby in between them.
“Do you think the Wamhoffs really have Krys?” Camelle asked.
“We’re going to do our best to find out soon enough. I just sent Rick Rosebud and Sir Antery Blackburn to meet in peace to identify Krys. They say he’s been burned by dragon fire so he looks nothing like his former self, but our knights know what questions to ask our son.”
Camelle got a rare gleam in her eyes as she said, “I really want to believe it is him. Do you think it’s really Krys?”
Jon slowed down his talking as he answered, “I don’t know. I just know we can’t give up the entire kingdom for our son.”
“Yes, we most certainly can. Let them take this forsaken castle and we can go back to Mattingly where we belong. Our son is much more important than something as trivial as power,” she said with tears forming in her eyes.
Jon tried to be delicate and spoke in a soothing voice, “It isn’t about the power. I would throw it all away at a moment’s notice for our sons, but did we just risk our lives to rid the realm of Wamhoff tyranny only to hand the crown right back over to them? There has to be a negotiable price that doesn’t include a throne.”
Camelle just shook her head in awe before saying, “And what if that is the only option for our son’s life? We let our son die? Have you no heart?” She rolled over with her back to Jon and the baby.
Jon started scratching her back the way she liked over her silky night gown. He whispered in her ear, “I don’t have my entire heart. It will only be complete when Ryno, Krys, Riceros and Brehan return. Now I hear rumors that Brehan has sworn allegiance to Elisa Burke’s cause. Do we give up the kingdom to have him come home too?”
“That’s completely different. He swore his sword to her. Krys is a prisoner against his will,” she said.
Jon lowered his voice and said, “I knew he loved the girl but I never expected her to rise to power so quickly. We may have lost Brehan to love, but I will do anything to get Krys back.”
Camelle rolled back over and looked into Jon’s green eyes. “Then give up this wretched realm.”
Jon shook his head and the two went back and forth for about an hour before finally falling asleep. The next day, King Jon wanted to take his son on his first horse ride. They walked down to the stables and Jon had the spurrier saddle an ambler for him. He had asked the King of the Scholars to design a sling to wear over his shoulders that Baby Jon could sit in and be held securely. It looked like a sleeveless leather vest with four slots for the baby’s arms and legs in front. Jon made sure his son was perfectly stable before using the stirrup to spring up on the dark amber horse with black points. He started with a slow walk to let his son get used to the cadence of the horse. He heeled the animal ever so gently to get her up to an amble and worried as she neared a canter. Jon was about to pull up on the reins but he looked down at his son. The boy was clapping silently and Jon could feel hi
s boy wiggling around, seemingly enjoying the ride. Jon let the ambler maintain speed as a grin as wide as the Royal River came over his face.
Jon’s father had taken him on his first horse ride when he was a baby, so this meant a lot to him. He would often see babies at the market and Jasper would tell Jon that he was younger than they were when he went on his first ride. He just realized that this horse was faster than he had expected and had to pull up again. The two kept riding in circles around the plain grass field.
This is what life should be about; enjoying the first ride with your son. If only the rest of life could be this simple. Why does everything have to become so complicated?
Most men would have found the ride boring, but Jon viewed it as the best of his life. He could feel his son moving up and down and the excited boy made gurgling sounds that made Jon smile even more. He lost himself in the moment and thanked the Gods for the chance to enjoy this bonding experience with his son. When he had been locked in the dungeons, Jon never expected to have this moment. The imprisonment taught him to cherish every experience with his family, even the fights with Camelle.
He had lost track of the time of day when Sir Harris rode up and screamed, “So sorry, your highness, they are looking for you in the meeting that you supposedly called.”
Jon yelled back without slowing the horse down, “Go back and tell them I am on my way.”
His trusted guard asked, “Would you like me to take your boy back to his quarters so you can go directly to the meeting?”
Jon looked at him like he was crazy and replied, “No. My son is more important than being a few minutes late for a meeting.”
The King took the Prince back to his mother, and apologized for his tardiness as he sat down at the table to start the meeting. Of course, everyone told him there wasn’t a problem with his late arrival.
Jon started the meeting by saying, “Have we figured out exactly how the Queen of Goldenfield rolled through Fox Woods and our walled Capitol?”
Kelvyn Harros said, “I’ve found out a great deal from my many birds. First, we found out that she crossed the Piper Marshlands to sneak into Fox Woods. That is where Lord Undertow came in and coordinated quite an extensive effort to guide the rival Queen straight to your castle. We’ve captured all thirty-four men involved in the plot and they are being held in the dungeons. That was how she marched unmolested around our realm. The surprising matter was that the bribes were relatively low for the risk of treason. The conspiring group apparently has taken issue with you lowering taxes on their subjects. That’s what we’ve found so far.”
Jon quickly said, “Thank you, good lord. I will punish all of them in the inner bailey at five bells.”
Count Silzeus cleared his throat and spoke in his old, raspy voice, “A raven arrived with words of an ambush of sorts constructed by Lord Jerian Nanbert on the Ichibod Ellsworth contingent. He says it was a gift to the new King. Another report tells us that Lord Nanbert was eventually overtaken but they did cause heavy damage to the enemy.”
Jon shook his head and spoke in an angry tone, “I never sanctioned anything like this. This is the first I’ve heard since the lord sent a letter pledging fealty. I would never authorize an ambush; that type of action goes against everything I believe in. What happened to honor in this realm? The ambush tactic is more popular than the monogramed purses the nobles seem to love so much. What happened to two generals meeting and agreeing to a fair fight? What happened to chivalry?”
His Falconer softened his tone and said, “This won’t probably please your ears then, your majesty. The bastard in the north has sent down a storm of purple fire on the Wamhoff’s campsite, destroying nearly everything. Our people in the north tell us that the Wamhoffs have already been crippled and no longer pose a legitimate threat to the throne.” Lord Kelvyn became more excited toward the end of his report.
That’s why they want me to believe they have my son. They are getting desperate already. I hope they do have Krys but can I really give up the entire kingdom for him? Jon stared at Ruxin as he thought about this. The meeting ended and Jon asked his son to remain behind.
RUXIN
Ruxin wondered why his father wanted to talk. King Jon Colbert started to speak as soon as everyone left, “I am sending you west to ensure the Queen of Goldenfield doesn’t try to pull any more of her tricks. Now, I don’t want you up front. A Colbert needs to be out there, but I won’t have you getting killed.”
Ruxin retorted, “Then why go? So I can cheer the other men along? I’m a fighter. I fight.”
Jon spoke with a calm demeanor, “Not this time. You could have died several times over in the past fortnight. Enough is enough. The men, they know you’re brave. You don’t have to prove anything to your older brothers anymore. Queen Leimur is likely to just go home so there probably won’t be any fighting, but if there is, you are to stay in the back. King’s orders.”
Ruxin mockingly said, “Yes, your highness.”
He didn’t understand how his father could command him to act like a coward. He thought avoiding the action would only serve to embarrass the Colbert name. Ruxin was full of youthful exuberance and wanted to lead every attack. He walked back to his quarters and found Haley working on needlepoint as she sat at the low table. He pushed a chair next to hers and kissed her on the cheek. She always brought a smile to his face.
He asked, “How are you, my queen?”
“Still getting used to you calling me that,” she shyly exclaimed.
“One day you shall be a queen, my queen. We will rule this realm together and travel the world with our family,” Ruxin said as he rubbed her burgeoning belly and felt some movement. He leaned down and kissed his wife’s midsection over her dress. He pecked his lips all over her round stomach and turned his head to listen to the baby. He whispered, “I hope he’s a boy.”
Haley smiled and said, “I don’t care whether it’s a boy or girl, so long as there aren’t any problems. With the stories of princes and princesses being cast away for slight disfigurements, I hope our baby is fat and healthy.”
He straightened up from her stomach and said, “I will love our child regardless, but we will need a male heir to pass on our legacy. Our son will one day be king.”
He gave his wife a kiss. He decided this was a good time to tell Haley about his impending departure. He said softly, “I have to go back out west to make sure Queen Leimur doesn’t try to come back this way.”
She shook her head and said, “No, no, no. You’ve dodged death too many times to try again. Not so soon. Wait until your baby is born to go back out there.”
He tried to calm her fears as he said, “All this fighting will only happen in the beginning of my father’s rule. Besides, our King has ordered me to stay near the back, like a craven.”
A slight look of relief washed over his wife’s face as she commented, “I agree in total with your father on this one.”
“This isn’t funny. I can’t sit in the back and simply hope that the men will pull out a victory without their leader fighting with them. I need to be up front so the men will fight harder,” Ruxin told her.
Haley argued, “You can’t help anyone if you die on that battlefield.”
Ruxin rebutted, “Actually, the men will probably fight even harder to avenge my death.”
She shook her head rapidly and said, “No, stop. You need to stay in the back on this one, my love.”
His wife gave him a kiss on his cheek, which had newly sprouted facial hair.
He still lamented, “My father never stayed near the back. Neither did my grandfather. They always fought up front. That’s what Colberts do.”
She asked him, “So will we constantly have to worry about the next Colberts?”
“What do you mean?” he needed clarification.
“Your grandfather usurped the dukeship of Mattingly. Your father usurped the throne. Is it only a matter of time before someone else takes over?” a concerned Haley asked.
; He hugged his wife and whispered into her ear, “That’s not going to happen. My father will be a fair and just ruler. I will be a fair and just ruler. If you keep your people happy, they have no reason to rebel. The Beverleys were just as bad as the Wamhoffs from what I’ve been told.”
She cut in, “And you know I’ve been told the exact opposite.”
He continued, “I do and I know your stories are wrong.”
Ruxin playfully squeezed his wife’s chubby sides, tickling her and causing her to squirm in the solid oak chair.
He smiled as he spoke in a lowered voice, “My grandfather realized if you couple the anger of the common man with the greed of nobility, you could leverage the most powerful of families. My father called together the top lords of Mattingly to make certain everyone was as unhappy as he with King Tersen. As I said, if you keep people happy, the rest is all fun and fantasy. I’ll be back before you even have time to miss me. Our enemy is going home with their tail betwixt their legs.”
His wife said, “I miss you when you go to the privy, so you can’t return soon enough. I hate worrying about you constantly. It can’t be good for our baby. You should try to convince your father to stay here instead of just lurking in the back of the battle. Please?” she begged with hope glimmering in the golden flecks of her eyes.
He brought her hopes back to reality by saying, “A Colbert has to be there. My father is going east to stave off any advances from the Ellsworths.”
A loud knock at the door interrupted the conversation. Ruxin acted surprised and went to investigate. He opened the door and smiled as two harpists entered, followed by dulcimer and rebec players. Finally two men, each with a psaltery, assembled near the other instruments. His wife still didn’t know what was going on. Haley had always talked about how the stringed instruments were her favorite, so Ruxin had arranged a private performance for his pregnant wife. The six men and two women were extremely skilled and even Ruxin enjoyed the pleasing sounds. He put his arm around his wife who had been standing in shock since the musicians entered the room. He gently rubbed her side as tears cascaded down her lovely face and gently dripped to the floor. Ruxin had only cried when he found out that his mother and father had died, although he liked to tell everyone he’d never cried. He had been forced by his brothers to be tough and he never once cried from the rough love. The sweet slow song sent a gentle melody out the open window and into the chilly autumn air of the inner bailey.
Six Heads One Crown (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga Book 3) Page 20
