"Under the circumstances, I elected to come to see the stranger. Father Jacob knows I am here." The keeper attempted to move past her. "I must know for myself."
"Couldn't it be prolonged just one extra day?" yelled Adrina after him, "I am sure by then he will be fully recovered. His companion should also be able to attend, then you can have them both."
Adrina followed Q'yer back into the room and then back into the hall. As she did so, she saw Father Jacob standing at the hall's far end—a torch in its iron bracket cast an orange glow behind him. He raised a finger to her lips, she was not to say anything about his presence; she didn't, she only continued her plea, using diplomacy where other tactics had failed. "I will go to my father if need be," she argued, using her last bargaining chip, "he will listen to reason."
The keeper eyed her. "I am afraid that will do no good. See that the strangers are ready for council by noon time tomorrow."
Adrina shouted to the departing keeper, "Their names are Seth and Galan. Brother Seth and Brother Galan… They are not strangers. They are friends."
"Don't be cross with me, I am only performing as told," yelled Keeper Q'yer back to her as he disappeared into the shadows of the hall, heading in the opposite direction from Father Jacob.
Adrina almost screamed another response to him, but a restraining hand to her lips stopped her short. Father Jacob had come up behind her and was now standing beside her. "I am sorry, Father Jacob, it is just…"
"What love will do to you," said Jacob.
"What?" said Adrina, losing her chain of thought. She laughed then.
"So which lucky, young lord is it? Your father has paraded them by all week and for the life of me, I don't know how you have the time for them and our guests. Is it Rudden Klaiveson at last?"
Adrina spoke her mind, her tongue racing, "The answer is rather simple, I don't. I send them away with such a parting that they will never return to Imtal Proper, though I always tell father I had a wonderful time with this one or that one. Rudden is the only on who keeps coming back. You wouldn't tell, would you, Father Jacob?"
Jacob smiled. "I must be going, child… so much to prepare. Good-bye."
"Wait a minute," she told him, "What about the meeting?"
"Didn't you listen to what Keeper Q'yer said, he said 'tomorrow at noon'—you won. I'll come back later. I have some more elixir for you to mix into the broth." Jacob smiled and strode off.
It wasn't until an instant later that she finally realized that Father Jacob had sent the keeper to her on purpose. She ran down the corridor after him, catching up to him just before he got safely away. Out of breath from running, she yelled, "You sent him to me, didn't you?"
Jacob replied simply, not breaking his stride, "I did."
"Why?" she demanded again.
"Don't fret so, he listened to you did he not?" replied Jacob.
"Yes," said Adrina.
"Well there you have it," said Jacob as he continued to walk away.
Chapter Forty One
"No word from South Province, sire," repeated the page, fraught with fear of possible retribution.
"What do you mean there is no word? Did you not deliver the message to Lord Valam?" returned Andrew, his voice weak and the vigor lost from his tone. It had been a long, trying day and he still had court audiences to look forward to.
"I delivered the message into the hands of his lordship, he read it, said nothing, then told me take my leave, sire, nothing else." The messenger, who had already been visibly nervous, trembled vigorously now.
"He told you to leave?"
"Yes, sire, he did, sire," insisted the page.
Andrew waved his hand to dismiss the page, but still struck with fear, the youngster didn't move. "You're dismissed," hissed Chancellor Yi, "leave before His Majesty directs his displeasure."
Chancellor Volnej gulped for air as King Andrew directed his gaze at him. He attempted to look away, setting his eyes on the retreating form of the frightened page, but this did no good.
"The report," stated Yi, putting the king's apparent will into words.
"Yes, the report," responded Chancellor Volnej, settling uneasily into his high-backed chair.
Just then, Keeper Q'yer was admitted to the council hall, and momentarily Volnej was forgotten. "Keeper Q'yer, what brings you to lower council?" asked Andrew, in his inquisitive tone, a bit of vigor returning to his tone at the expectation of good tidings.
"The two will be ready to sit before tomorrow's noon council, sire," said Keeper Q'yer.
Andrew's downtrodden eyes lifted slightly. "Good, very good." The king graciously motioned for the keeper to take a seat at the table—the invitation was more a following of etiquette than anything else; Keeper Q'yer now held a seat on the upper council and whatever was said of import in the lower council was always relayed to the upper. "Will you not stay with us, Lore Keeper?"
"I am afraid I cannot, Your Majesty, the Council of Keepers await my arrival," and with that, Keeper Q'yer departed the council chamber.
Soon afterward, Andrew turned his gaze back to the Chancellor Volnej.
"Sire," began Volnej, "I am afraid the news is not entirely what we had hoped for. They are savages sire, savages all." One of the council members cleared her throat. "Sorry, I know of your place of birth, but you know the point I was attempting to make."
"I know what you were implying," she replied.
"Proceed, chancellor." The voice was that of Yi. He knew how to keep the council session flowing, one of the reasons he was Andrew's primary adviser.
"Grant me two more weeks, sire. I can work miracles in two weeks," the words said, Chancellor Volnej gulped air again.
"So be it," said King Andrew, "Two weeks, no more. We have faith in you, chancellor, do not make us lose it."
With those words, a motion was made to dismiss the council and all agreed. As Chancellor Yi watched the council members file out of the chamber, he noticed that King Andrew had not stirred out of his great chair at the far end of the room. The king's eyes heavy with fatigue and his face pushed into his upturned hand, nearly asleep. "A word with you, sire," called out the chancellor, "you still haven't been sleeping have you? What of the tonic Father Jacob worked up, did it not work?"
Heavily, Andrew wavered his head. "It is on days like this that we need your help, old friend." Yi's long face lit up at the compliment. "You provide us with strength we would not otherwise have."
"Perhaps it would be best if you returned to your chambers and rested. The audiences can wait."
"No, chancellor, they can not," disputed Andrew. "If we are not in touch with our people, then we do not deserve to be their king. How else would we touch our people and know their cares and worries?"
"That is what the councils are for," protested Yi.
"Councils know nothing of people, chancellor. Never forget that—councils know nothing of people. The people are the land and the land, the people." The sudden glow in Andrew's eyes was matched by the deeply respectful look on the chancellor's face.
"Perhaps you could only see those of the greatest import—"
"—and which would those be, chancellor, can you honestly make the distinction?"
"There is one in particular, sire," began Yi, "but I believe most of the others could wait."
"You lead intentionally, don't you?" Andrew lifted his chin from his hand as more of the weariness eased away.
"Well, I had hoped to, sire." Yi slowly approached the far end of the table where Andrew sat as he spoke. "A huntsman from High Road Garrison rode through the night to get to Imtal to have audience with you. His mount collapsed from exhaustion at the palace gates, and from what I hear he tumbled from the animal and never looked back."
"Go on," urged Andrew.
"It seems two of his sons were taken prisoner when a group of Border Bandits ambushed a caravan."
"Taken prisoner by whom?" cut in Andrew, a note of concern in his voice.
The chancellor smiled to him
self now. He had peaked Andrew's interest, hopefully he could keep it and direct it away from the audience hall, but he had to proceed carefully. By hook or by crook, he would see that the king got the rest he deserved. "By Solntse Garrison guardsmen, it seems the two sons were part of the raiding party—or so it is said. The case is exceptionally strange. The father claims they were forced into it, and he claims to be an old acquaintance of yours, though I have never before heard the name."
"The father's name?" asked King Andrew.
"Ashwar, but—"
"And the names of the sons?"
"Let me see, he surely sobbed through them enough…" Yi stopped, reflecting. "Keille and Danyel', yes that's it, Keille and Danyel'. They have already been sentenced by the Free City Council; the punishment will be dealt tomorrow and the punishment for thievery in the Free City is—"
"Death," spoke Andrew grimly, "Describe this man called Ashwar."
"Tall, broad shoulders, high cheek bones, black hair, and he wears a gray—"
"—Cape." interrupted Andrew, "Correct?"
"Yes, you are, did I miss a detail, sire, is there something I don't know?"
"No, chancellor, you were thorough as always." Andrew shifted in his chair, his eyes becoming unfocused, as if he was far away. "He was once Chief Huntsman at High Road but he is no longer there… Do we have enough time to stay the execution?"
"It could be managed, if it is your will. Surely, thieves can not be let off easily?" The chancellor sought to keep the king's attention focused.
"Tell the Huntsman Ashwar we remember the day many handfuls of summers ago when he gave aid to a foolish boy, and we remember the debt owed." Chancellor Yi furrowed his brow. He had not expected this. "Scribe a message to Geoffrey of Solntse, the first son is to serve seven years in the royal guard. See that he does not serve near the border areas. Quashan' perhaps. The second son is to be fully pardoned after sixty days at hard labor."
"Yes sire, I will see to it at once. Will you rest now?"
"Yes chancellor, rest," said Andrew, his eyes clearly showing the weight of his office.
Chancellor Yi hid his elation.
"She is really quite remarkable," explained Jacob, "this was the first time I really got to talk with her."
"Yes she is," answered Adrina, "who is that with her?"
"Father Francis, he is here for the council session. He just wanted to help out."
Knowing the other's nature, Adrina asked sarcastically, "More so he couldn't wait to see our guests."
Jacob smiled and nodded. The two talked for a time, turning from conversation about Seth and Galan to various other subjects, chief of which was the council meeting tomorrow. Adrina was attempting to wedge herself into a seat in the chamber and as she talked to Jacob about it, she thought of ways to convince her father. She didn't want to miss anything that went on within those walls and if she had it her way, she wouldn't.
Eventually, Father Francis joined them in the hall and entered into their conversation. Adrina didn't know much about Francis, only what she had heard from others. She hated to prejudice someone, but his reputation preceded him. He did appear to be as inquisitive as she had heard, but other than that, she couldn't confirm the things she had heard about him. He seemed rather conservative and quite knowledgeable in the histories; perhaps, surmised Adrina, this was the reason Jacob had chosen Francis to accompany him at the meetings.
The three talked at length. Father Francis was curious about every detail Adrina could give him about Seth and Galan. He pondered her every word and she marveled at his great consideration. By the time the two priests departed, she had a totally different opinion of the pious Father Francis.
Adrina? Came a whisper into her mind, the voice was pleasant and feminine. Before she realized whose voice it was, Adrina looked about the vacant hall. Princess Adrina, are you listening?
"Yes," responded Adrina in kind with a whisper, although it was aloud and not a thought. "Can you hear me? I thought you were sleeping."
Not really. Come into the room. The door swung eerily open at Adrina's touch. Galan had been trying to sleep, but many thoughts clouded her mind, images of all sorts, pleasant and unpleasant.
"What is your home like?" asked Adrina, a thought she had considered but until now had been afraid to ask.
Galan answered with, It is hard to explain. I do not know what to compare it with. I have not seen your world, your… Galan borrowed the word from Adrina's mind, Great Kingdom is unknown to me.
Adrina frowned. She had hoped to find out something more about them, anything at all would have helped—this frustration readily filtered to Galan. Adrina had given her and Seth so much. She wanted to repay that debt in part, a token of some sort.
"Tomorrow at noon, the council will meet," spoke Adrina, "they wish you and Seth to attend. Do you think you will be able?"
Don't worry so, Princess Adrina. This is the reason we came across the great Western Sea. We must speak before your council, it is what we were destined to do. You can prolong fate only so long, replied Galan reading Adrina's innermost concerns. She almost asked Adrina about Seth, but she could feel his presence nearby now. Thoughts of Seth made her feel happy and think of home. In her mind, she saw the Queen Mother, the palace, and the beauty of her homeland. An idea came to her then and she knew how to let Adrina see her world. Adrina, she began. I have an idea… I want you to relax and open your mind to me. I want to show you something…
Adrina didn't quite understand what Galan meant, but she did relax and eventually Galan coaxed her into opening her mind. With warm, gentle feelings, Galan stroked Adrina's mind.
A warm breeze tantalized her skin and a picture began to form before her closed lids, fuzzy at first, then clearing slowly. An enormous palace loomed upward in front of the window of her mind. She stood at its foot.
Beautiful, spiraling towers reached up into the heavens. She could reach out and touch them. An essence of peace and happiness flowed to her, and overwhelmed her. She was free and happy.
Abruptly the image blanked and the flow of emotions ebbed. "What's wrong?" Adrina asked bewildered, blinking her eyes at the seeming sudden brightness of the chamber. "What's wrong? Are you all right, you don't look so good?"
Nothing, nothing, whispered Galan through tired eyes. She was glad her simple picture had brought Adrina joy. I must rest a bit more that's all.
Adrina watched as Galan drifted back to sleep. Soon her own eyes became heavy. As eyelids melted into place, she followed Galan into the land of dreams. The face before her eyes was Seth's and it lay frozen in the window of her mind against a backdrop of spiraling towers.
Chapter Forty Two
Vilmos awoke in a warm, soft bed. He peered around the room warily as a knock came to the door, soft and then hard, but Vilmos did not move to answer it. After a couple more raps, Vilmos heard the rattling of something being set onto the floor, then the sound of footsteps as someone walked away. He waited cautiously for the footsteps to fall away and then he opened the door slightly. On the floor he found a tray containing a bowl of murky looking soup and a large chunk of black bread covered with some sort of jam or honey. Also on the tray was a pair of candles, with one being lit and placed into a wooden candleholder of sorts.
Vilmos eagerly picked up the tray and carried it back into the room. He placed the candlestick onto the small table next to the bed and then sat down, preparing to eat. To his delight, the soup was a wonderful combination of beef and vegetable, and the jam on the black bread was mouth watering.
As he slurped the last bit of soup from the bowl and as he placed the bowl back onto the tray, he noticed something odd—a small object, a tiny wooden figure painted white with a crown adorning its head. Vilmos thought it odd, but without really thinking about it, he placed it onto the table next to the candle.
A warm, full gut brought the yearning to sleep but the aching of his shoulder and stomach did not go away. It was then he saw the bandages over his wounds and rec
alled the happenings of the previous day.
Some hours later, the last rays of the setting sun filtering in through the window awoke him. He crossed to the window, pressing his face against the cool, cheerless glass, and stared out into the growing darkness. As he watched, the sun disappeared below the horizon.
Some hours later, the glimmer of a dull, yellow light brought him to the window again. As he watched out the window, a large figure carrying a lantern completed the crossing of the narrow street below and disappeared into an adjacent building. A shadow of light could be seen through the opposite windows, meandering back and forth as the figure crossed to a staircase and faded from sight again, ascending into what must have been an attic since the structure had only one apparent floor.
He mused momentarily about sneaking out of his room to check the surroundings. Deciding to do just that, he opened the door slowly. Vilmos quickly realized he was in an inn. The upstairs of the inn, Vilmos discovered, held an odd number of rooms; there were three rooms on either side of the hall that were marked one through six and another room marked seven at the far end of the hall.
One by one, Vilmos listened at each door along the sides of the hallway for sounds of occupancy. Hearing none, he checked the door handles; all the rooms were locked. The room at the end of the hall appeared similarly empty, though a faint light shone under the door. Interested, he stooped down to peek through the door's keyhole; unable to see anyone in the room, he put an ear to the door again to listen for sounds of movement.
"May I help you?" said a burly voice from behind him.
Vilmos jumped up and smacked his head on the door handle. He winced from the pain while rubbing the top of his head. "Sorry, I dropped something," he said, quickly adding as he turned around to face the speaker, "well I had better be—"
Vilmos cut his words short as he stared in horror at the abhorrence before him. The creature was well over six feet tall and so large-boned that it scarcely fit into the hall. The skin was scaly and had a yellow-green tinge.
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