by Henry Vogel
We protested, but once Mr. Hart went back to rocking there was no changing his mind. Story time was over for now. The other boys and I got up quietly. Mr. Hart’s head was already drooping and the first snore came shortly after.
“That was the best adventure yet!” Art declared as we walked away.
There was no doubting that Art was right. Just as there was no doubting what I planned to do when I grew up. I was going to have adventures. I was going to fight evil warlords. I might even kiss a girl.
I was going to be a Scout!
Callan is Almost Four
My room was messy. I knew Mommy wasn’t going to like that. I would tell her that the mess wasn’t my fault, but I’d tried that before. She never believed me before, but maybe she’d believe my new guard, Rob.
He could tell her about the bad men who came into my room. Maybe it would help that three of them were in here, lying on the floor. Two of them were really quiet. The third one was making a bubbly sound when he breathed. I wished he would stop because it sounded really creepy.
I cried when the men kicked open my door. It scared me and they’d knocked my dollhouse over. I spent all day getting the house just right and the bad men had ruined it.
Rob put me in my safe corner. Then he drew his sword and started fighting the men. My guard made me proud because he was a very good swordsman. Of course, Daddy only let good swordsmen guard me, so that wasn’t a surprise. The worst thing was the fight was so loud it scared me even more. I covered my ears and cried louder.
It took a minute before I realized Rob was talking to me. I took my hands from my ears to listen. He was telling my favorite bedtime story, the one about the princess who fell in love with a hero from nowhere. Rob told the story better than any of my other guards, even though he was my newest guard. Rob did voices for everyone in the story and that made it sound a lot better. Listening to the story over the sound of the fight, I should have still been scared. But I had Rob fighting for me and telling my favorite story, so I wasn’t scared at all. Or not as much, anyway.
When the third man fell down and started the bubbly breathing, the last two men ran away. Rob sat down in my safety nook and pulled me onto his lap.
“Are you all right, my princess?”
“Finish the story.”
Rob smiled as if I had answered his question. And, as I wondered what Mommy would say about the mess, he finished the story.
Then Mommy and Daddy came running into my room. Mommy didn’t say anything about the mess, she just ran to me and hugged me tight. I knew she was going to notice the mess sometime, so I brought it up.
“It’s not my fault my room is messy, Mommy.”
“What?” Mommy held me out so she could look at me and I saw she was crying.
“The mess isn’t my fault. And it’s not Rob’s fault, either. Not really. Those men on the floor started the fight. Rob just fought back. And that’s what he’s supposed to, right? And he told me my favorite story. So the mess isn’t my fault or Rob’s fault.”
Mommy’s face got that funny look you get when you want to laugh and cry at the same time.
“Oh, Callie, I’m not worried about the mess. I’m worried about you!”
“Why? I had Rob with me and he kicked ass!”
The funny look on Mommy’s face got funnier.
“Where did you hear that, young lady?”
“It’s what the guards say when someone does a good job, Mommy.”
“I see. I believe I shall have to have a word with your guards. Several words, in fact.”
Rob cleared his throat. “If you’ll permit me, Your Majesty, I shall convey your displeasure to the rest of Her Highness’s guards. I will make your will crystal clear and in no uncertain terms, even if I have to kick them in the…”
Rob had forgotten the word, so I helped.
“Ass.”
“Thank you, Your Highness, but I was going to say ‘seat of the pants,’ instead.”
“Oh. Is that what I should be saying, Mommy?”
“It would be a good start, Callie.”
I gave a big yawn.
“And we should get you to bed. How would you like to sleep with your father and me tonight?”
I laid my head on Mommy’s shoulder. “Will Rob be there, too?”
“Tonight, I will be right outside your parents’ door. But if you need me, I’ll be there for you, Little One. I’ll always be there for you.”
I decided then and there that I was going to marry Rob. Or maybe the hero from nowhere. But I knew I was going to marry a hero.
Chapter 1
David
Life settled down after Windslow’s death. Raoul vanished, abandoning the crew of the Kestrel to the less than tender mercies of the Mordanian judicial system. Martin spent hours in the dungeon visiting with the crew. I don’t know what he said to them, but I got the distinct idea the crew preferred Mordanian justice to whatever Martin had in mind.
Meanwhile, during the day I learned about the myriad duties expected of the consort to Her Highness, Princess Callan. Apparently, there’s more to the job of prince consort than rescuing the princess and foiling kidnappings. Who knew?
At night, well, let’s just say I learned other important things. It was a happy, busy, Boost–free life.
Four months after Callan’s twenty–first birthday, harsh reality intruded on us again. Finding ourselves with a rare morning free of appointments, Callan and I had decided to enjoy some private time together. We’d given the servants the morning off and enjoyed a languorous few hours entwined in each other’s arms. We had only recently arisen when a knock came at the door. Callan threw on a robe and padded to the door.
A page bowed when she opened the door. “I beg pardon, Your Highness. His Majesty summons you and Captain Rice to his council chambers.”
“Thank you, Michael,” she said. “Please tell my father we’ll join him shortly.”
As Callan shut the door, she said, “I wonder what this is all about?”
“Perhaps your father simply forgot we were going to stay in this morning,” I suggested.
“Don’t I wish! No, he and mother were all smiles when I told them our plans.” Callan rolled her eyes. “Daddy, bless his heart, made some offhand remarks about an heir and pining for the patter of little feet.”
I chuckled at the thought of how that conversation had gone.
Callan glared at me. “You only laugh because you weren’t there when my mother added her advice.”
“Oh? What did she suggest?”
“Mother was not subtle in the least.” Callan shuddered, but then followed that with a wicked smile. “Based on your reaction this morning, though, her advice was spot on!”
My mouth dropped open. “Dare I ask which reaction you’re grinning about?”
Callan leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “No.”
My plan to pursue this line of inquiry further was interrupted by the arrival of our servants. Other pages must have been sent to alert them at the same time Michael was sent to us. To my surprise, the servants dressed us in formal court clothing rather than our less elaborate daily clothing. Callan’s ladies–in–waiting spent an hour fussing with her hair and make–up before declaring her fit for court. Even then, they only stopped when Michael returned to find out what was taking us so long.
“What is this about, Daddy?” Callan asked when we joined her parents in the council chambers adjoining the court.
“An envoy from the city–state of Beloren has arrived and requested an audience,” the king replied. “He specifically requested the two of you be present, as well.”
I didn’t care for the sound of that, nor did Callan. She took my hand in both of hers.
“What does he want?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” her father replied, “but the navy reports he was escorted across the desert by a fleet numbering at least two hundred airships. All twenty–seven of the southern city–states are represented in the
fleet. They stopped ten miles south of our border, allowing the envoy’s ship to sail on by itself. Those ships are still there, holding position and, we assume, waiting for the envoy to return. The admiralty is understandably concerned about this. They are mobilizing every serviceable airship they can find.”
Further conversation was cut off when a court functionary knocked and entered. “The envoy from Beloren awaits, Your Majesty.”
We were announced to the formal court session and the chamberlain presented the envoy.
“Thank you for acceding to my request with such alacrity, Your Majesty.” The envoy bowed deeply. “I shall come directly to the point of my visit. I have been sent seeking justice for the people of Beloren, justice for crimes most foul! The lords of the city request the extradition of the heinous criminal David Rice!”
Chapter 2
Callan
My heart raced and my chest constricted as the envoy’s words registered. I gripped David’s hand tighter. He squeezed my hand once, letting his calm strength flow into me. As always, it worked. My heartbeat slowed and I found I could breathe normally again.
“I have no reason to believe your accusation is valid, envoy, especially when one takes into consideration why David Rice was in Beloren!” my father said.
Daddy always chose to be diplomatic, if possible. If I had been sitting on the throne—a seat I was in no hurry to assume—I’d have told the envoy where he could stuff his accusations and then have had him thrown out of the palace on his ear. A quick glance at Mom’s face showed she felt the same way I did. Daddy probably did, too, but he was speaking for the kingdom rather than himself. That is just one reason it’s not so easy being the monarch.
The envoy turned and looked David in the eyes. Then he turned and looked me not in the eyes. I’ve only met one man whose eyes met mine the first time we met. I married that man.
The envoy turned back to Daddy. “While I understand your reluctance to accept the truth, the facts are plain for all to see. They leave no doubt as to the guilt of your son–in–law!”
“We have a busy schedule today, Envoy,” Daddy said. We didn’t, which the envoy probably knew, but niceties must be observed. Daddy continued, “If you have facts of which we are not aware, then present them to us now.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Since that fateful day several months ago, numerous witnesses have come forward with stories of the attacks David Rice initiated against Beloren citizens,” the envoy said.
My patience broke. “Come now, Envoy, why call them ‘stories’ when a far more precise word—‘lies’—is available?”
Daddy frowned at me but Mom gave me an approving nod.
“Further more,” the envoy raised his voice, “David Rice loosed a dangerous beast—a full–grown tammar—within the city walls. More than a dozen citizens were slain by the tammar. The resulting panic led to the ignition of a devastating fire. Many more citizens died in the fire, which eventually destroyed half of the city!”
“Only half?” I said. “That is rather disappointing news. David, shall we go back and finish the job?”
The envoy’s voice rose a second time but his tone remained mild. I began to wonder if this speech was nothing more than a performance. “I am appalled at your callousness, Your Highness! You jest over death and destruction on a massive scale. King Edwar, have you spent no time training your heir in the art of diplomacy?”
Daddy had been keeping his temper in check, but that was the last straw. His face a mask of cold fury, Daddy rose to his feet and glared down at the envoy. “Those tunnel rats you call Beloren citizens are nothing more than a nest of criminals your government is too weak–willed to clean out! They planned to feed my daughter to that tammar for their own macabre entertainment, a point I notice you conveniently ignore. David did what your own city guards refuse to do—he entered that rat’s nest to save an innocent life! Without David’s ‘unprovoked attack,’ my daughter would be dead and, in the wake of my wrath, there would be nothing left of Beloren other than a few scribbled lines in dusty, unread history books!
“Now, Envoy, I strongly suggest you scurry back to your pathetic little city–state before I really lose my temper,” Daddy thundered. “Should you have the misfortune to witness such an occurrence, you will think my daughter a model of tact and decorum in comparison!”
“There is one last detail I must mention, Your Majesty,” the envoy smiled thinly. “If I do not return with Captain Rice in my custody, that fleet off your southern border will immediately attack Mordan!”
Chapter 3
David
“Do not make absurd and meaningless threats, man!” King Edwar said. “Our navy is much larger, much stronger, and our crews much better trained than anything your motley collection of city–states could hope to send against us. Your fleet cannot possibly win a war with Mordan!”
“Everything you say is true, Your Majesty. And yet the fleet will attack if I do not return with Captain Rice in custody!” the envoy said.
“But why would you throw away lives and airships without even the hope of victory?” King Edwar betrayed his bafflement at the envoy’s intransigence. The same look was reflected on the courtiers present and, I’m sure, my own face.
The envoy cast a furtive glance around the court then lowered his voice. “Perhaps I could shed some light on this matter if we spoke privately.”
“I have no secrets from those present in these chambers. You may speak freely before them.”
The envoy’s voice remained low. “If word of what I wish to tell you reaches the wrong ears, my family will be endangered.”
“You show precious little concern for my family. Why should I be concerned for yours?”
“Please!” The envoy bowed in supplication.
My father–in–law glared at the envoy for a good fifteen seconds. The man held his bow the whole time.
“Clear the chamber,” the king said to his chamberlain. A moment later, we were alone with the envoy.
“I have acceded to your request, Envoy,” King Edwar said. “Now explain what is behind this insane threat of yours!”
“The lords of the twenty–seven city–states have no desire to wage war against Mordan. Unfortunately, they fear the aftermath of a war with Mordan far less than they fear a threat within their own city walls,” the envoy told us. “What do you know of those we call the tunnel rats?”
Callan spoke, “They are a murderous rabble your lords are too uncaring or too weak–willed to eradicate!”
“I understand why you hold that opinion, Your Highness, but it is far removed from the truth of the matter,” the envoy said.
“Then explain it so we may understand,” the king said.
“The tunnel rats have been a problem among the various city states for generations. Any city with long–abandoned sewers and catacombs has some criminal element who find safety and shelter in such places. Even Morda, your own capital city, is said to have criminal lairs hidden beneath its streets! But the city–states stood for centuries before men settled this far north. The network of tunnels beneath Beloren dwarfs Morda’s catacombs. The same holds true for the other city–states.
“For centuries, the lords of the city–states attempted to drive out or destroy the tunnel rats hiding beneath our streets. Traditional military units fare poorly underground. Their training and tactics are ill–suited to such missions. Invariably, they fail to eradicate the tunnel dwellers, losing too many men in the process,” the envoy said.
“If it was just a matter of training,” I said, “why not devise proper training and create an elite unit to combat the tunnel rats?”
“Because the tunnel rats, while irritating, did not cause sufficient trouble to be worth the extra expense of such training,” the envoy replied. “In retrospect, it was short–sighted of them.”
“Really? What was your first clue?” Callan’s tone was thick with sarcasm.
“Are you implying what my daughter went through isn’t c
onsidered ‘enough trouble’ to be worth the attention of the lords of Beloren?” King Edwar’s tone matched that of his daughter.
“No, Your Majesty, I most assuredly am not implying that. That rationalization ended twenty years ago. The lords of Beloren, wishing to be viewed as ’doing something’ about the tunnel rat problem, hired a mercenary named Vraal to take care of the criminal infestation in the tunnels.
“Vraal led his band of violent, ruthless men into the abandoned sewers and killed the leaders of the tunnel rats. I must assume Vraal liked what he found in the tunnels. Instead of claiming the balance of his fee from the lords, he declared himself King Rat and took control of the city–state’s criminal element,” the envoy said. “Over the next ten years, he has found ways to extend his control beyond Beloren’s walls and into the tunnels under the other twenty–six city–states. For the last ten years, he has wielded enormous power throughout all of the southern city–states. It is true the lords administer the city–states, but they do so at the forbearance of King Rat.
“Over the years, King Rat has expanded the tunnels, building new underground passages throughout each of the city–states. His messengers can pass unseen into the most secure rooms in Beloren. His assassins do so, as well,” the envoy said. “Vraal wants Captain Rice and doesn’t care how much blood must be spilled to get him. The lords would rather have thousands of their subjects slain in a war with Mordan than have their families slain in their beds!”
Thousands dead? How many of them would be Mordanian? I could not allow death on such a scale when it was within my power to stop it!
I stepped forward. “You may call off your fleet, Envoy. I will surrender myself to you!”
Chapter 4
Callan
As David’s announcement echoed in the vast court chamber, the envoy from Beloren and my parents stood there and blinked in astonishment. I’d had a feeling he was going to say something noble and selfless. That meant I was the first to react to his words. My reaction was going to be emotional, but I was unwilling to start crying before the odious envoy. So I chose to react with anger and punched David in the arm.
