Phichorian brought the torch in to the cell. Charles followed him.
“Sweater-Wearer? How did...?”
“Later Father. Amertious is leading an attack on Necorious. He wants you on the balcony to rally the troops.”
“Or to shoot me. Do you know what he’s done?”
“Yes, Father. All of it. You just have to trust me.”
“Very well, I trust you.” It was very clear he did not trust Amertious.
All the way out of the dungeon and all the way up the stairs, while Melissina explained about the hermit, the dragon, and the Kingstone, Charles thought about what King Regulous had said. How could they be certain Amertious wouldn’t shoot the king? It was just the sort of duplicitous thing Amertious would do. He turned to Phichorian and saw by his grim expression he was thinking the same thing.
* * *
The balcony was just above the large room where the battle was taking place. They entered it from the back. King Regulous knew exactly what to do. He walked to the rail around the edge and looked out over the battle. Melissina went to stand beside him.
Charles approached the edge of the balcony and stepped back almost at once. This was a real battle, no shades, just trained soldiers going at each other intending to kill, with blood and screams, and Glorf at the door, grabbing anyone trying to escape. Charles couldn’t watch it and he didn’t understand how Melissina could stand there so calmly.
“She’s watching the wall,” Phichorian whispered. “They can’t tell. Regulous is an old soldier; he can watch any battle.”
“And you?”
“I’m an old wall-sitter. There’s a nice spot back here with me,”
Charles almost considered staying by the balcony, but he knew the best place for him was beside Phichorian, or behind him.
Just when it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to take the noise for another second, it got very quiet. Phichorian squeezed his shoulder, then went closer to the railing, keeping farther back than the king. He made a small come here gesture with his hand. Charles wasn’t sure he wanted to see, but Phichorian made the gesture again, more emphatically, so he decided to trust him.
Charles didn’t need Phichorian to tell him what he was supposed to be looking at. It wasn’t hard to figure out. His eyes went straight to Amertious and stayed there.
Amertious stood before the balcony, Necorious hunched over before him, Amertious’s sword at Necorious’s throat. “I await your command, my liege.”
King Regulous stared down at his brother, then at Amertious. “Chain him in the dungeon. He will be taken to Darkhill Tower in the morning, to live out his days in confinement.”
“As you will it, my liege.” Amertious turned to his troops. “Bring me some irons.”
Charles watched two men run off.
“What of his followers?” Amertious called up.
“Those who were witnessed to join forces against him will be pardoned. The rest will go to the dungeon until their fate can be —”
Necorious broke away from Amertious’s grip. He lunged for a crossbow on the floor, just a step away.
Charles wondered if this had been the plan from the start, to have Amertious prove his loyalty, then allow Necorious to get close enough to Regulous to kill him.
Phichorian flung himself at Regulous, knocking him back as the crossbow bolt zipped over their heads.
Melissina screamed. At first Charles thought it was because her father had fallen, but she was still looking at Amertious. King Regulous pulled himself together quickly and rose enough to look over the edge of the balcony. Charles looked too, and turned away at once.
Amertious had been standing over Necorious, his sword sticking out of Necorious’s chest. Necorious was dead.
Regulous closed his eyes and bowed his head. “I did not want this.” It was a whisper. Charles wasn’t even certain they were supposed to hear it.
Phichorian rested his hand on Regulous’s shoulder. “I know. We all know. But it does simplify things.”
Regulous turned to him, clearly not understanding.
Phichorian went on as if he’d always intended to. “Now you are assured of Amertious’s loyalty, both by his actions and because you are now the king by merit, by action, and by inheritance.”
King Regulous looked at Phichorian. “He was still my brother,” but he did not sound angry or offended, just sad.
Phichorian squeezed his shoulder, then stepped away.
“Come, Melissina. We must attend to our people.”
Charles and Phichorian watched them leave. Charles felt a small weight on his shoulder. “Hi, Bobble.”
“Hello.”
King Regulous and Melissina had already arrived in the main room. King Regulous stood in front of the large windows, Princess Melissina beside him. “My people, it is over.”
Phichorian leaned over so Charles and Bobble could hear him. “I should stay to the end for the stories, but I’m exhausted. If you want to hear the speeches...”
Charles didn’t let him finish, just shook his head and turned to the door. As the three of them descended the stairs, Charles heard the cheers of the audience. A small piece of him wanted to join the crowd, but the rest of him knew he would not be able to cheer like that, not right now. He felt Phichorian’s eyes on him and turned.
“We know too much,” Phichorian whispered. “We can’t enjoy it the way they can. Let’s see if my room is still intact.”
Phichorian’s room was intact. It was not the kind of place anyone felt was worth ransacking. Phichorian wandered around, touching the chest and the table, then putting his instruments back where they belonged while Charles pulled off his armor, dropping it where ever it fell. As he was adjusting the curtains, Phichorian turned to Charles. “Go ahead and lie down.”
Charles knew he should protest, should let Phichorian have his own bed. Instead, Charles pulled off his shoes, wrapped himself in his cloak, and flopped down.
Phichorian spent a few more minutes arranging his things and making certain everything was in its place, then Charles felt the edge of the bed sink down, followed by the crash of one boot then another.
“Budge over.”
Charles felt an elbow in his back and rolled over, facing the wall. He felt the mattress shift as Phichorian squeezed himself in, then Charles was asleep.
Chapter 23
The next thing Charles knew, there was banging. At first he thought the battle had started again and for an instant he was ready to spring out of bed, then he realized it was the door.
“Make it stop,” Phichorian muttered, pulling the pillow over his head.
Charles tried to sit up, but he’d gotten himself wedged into the corner against the wall and it seemed so much easier to go back to sleep.
But the pounding didn’t stop. Phichorian finally dragged himself out of bed and stumbled to the door. Charles rolled over so he could see who had disturbed the first good sleep he’d had in days.
It was Amertious. Charles almost said, “It figures,” but he was too tired to make the effort.
“I’m sorry to disturb you.”
That made Charles sit up. He never thought he’d hear Amertious that considerate.
“King Regulous wishes to see you both, in his study.”
“Of course, then we’d better go. Give us a minute or two to get ready.”
“I will be in the hall.”
Phichorian watched Amertious close the door, then filled a bowl with water from the pitcher and washed his face. He handed Charles a damp cloth. “Wash up and we’ll see what this is about.” He didn’t wait for Charles to answer as he sat down and pulled his boots on.
Charles scrubbed his face, then went to the bowl and washed his hands.
As soon as Charles had his shoes on, Phichorian opened the door. Amertious was standing in the hall, against the opposite wall, very much at attention. “Are you ready?” Amertious actually waited for a response.
“Yes, I think so.”
Am
ertious nodded and started down the hall.
* * *
The king’s study was behind the throne room. Charles saw King Regulous at once, seated behind a desk, dressed in white velvet with gold medals pinned to his chest. He looked up when they entered.
Amertious stayed by the door, standing at attention. Phichorian entered the room and bowed deeply. Charles copied him.
“Please be seated.” King Regulous’s voice filled the room. Phichorian nodded to the two chairs across from the desk. Charles took one. Phichorian slid the other a little closer to Charles before he sat.
King Regulous waited for them to be settled, then said, “We will wait for Glorf,” and returned to the papers spread before him on the desk.
There were two women sitting behind the king. Charles recognized Dean Shellwood at once, looking serene as ever. She smiled at him. Charles tried to look at the other woman without staring. She gave a little wave. He returned it since it seemed expected. She inclined her head a little and raised an eyebrow. She seemed to be expecting more.
Charles looked right at her, hoping to figure it out. And then he recognized her. It was Melissina, with her long blonde hair down her back, held away from her face by a circlet of braided silver that matched the trim on her lavender-velvet dress. The sleeves were lined with silver brocade and there was a necklace of amethysts around her neck. Charles couldn’t help gawking. He’d never really gotten the idea that she was a real princess, not until this second.
Princess Melissina smiled at him and Charles realized she knew exactly what he had been thinking. He waved again. Then there was a creak and a crash and a large window beside the desk opened, and Glorf’s head poked in. “Hello, King.”
“Good afternoon.” King Regulous smiled at the giant, then he turned back to the room. “Sir Amertious, this concerns you as well.”
Amertious stepped forward, closer to the desk, but still outside the main group.
King Regulous nodded at him, then turned to Bobble. “It seems your sweater was completely successful.”
Bobble tried not to look too pleased, not to brag, but he was practically bouncing with pride.
“You will be given the Order of Rooksguard for your work, but Dean Shellwood would like you to go with her to Kirjavale immediately and further study this process.”
“It would be my honor.” Bobble could barely contain himself.
“Phichorian, you will also receive the Order of Rooksguard.”
“I thank you.” Phichorian bowed his head.
King Regulous looked at Amertious. “I have not decided on your status, but you will not be punished. I understand loyalty.”
Amertious dropped his head and Charles was strongly reminded of the fact that Regulous was Necorious’s brother.
“And that leaves you, Sweater-Wearer.”
Charles looked up.
“You were pulled into a fight that was not yours and we owe you a great debt. There is little we can do to show our gratitude, but we can give you something symbolic of it.” He reached into his desk and removed a velvet box which he passed to Charles.
Charles opened the box. There was a medallion inside, a gold star with a purple stone in the middle, suspended on a black-velvet ribbon attaching it to a pin. He held it up and saw a tiny carving of the castle in the heart of the stone.
“The Order of Rooksguard,” King Regulous said. “It is usually given with more ceremony, but as you are going home soon...”
“Home?” Charles whispered. He’d been waiting for that for so long, it hardly seemed like it could really happen.
“Yes, home.” Dean Shellwood smiled.
Bobble was wringing his hands again. Charles braced himself for whatever problem Bobble had found. But Bobble didn’t look at Charles. He turned to Dean Shellwood. “Could you send him back to a save point?”
Charles opened his mouth to correct Bobble, then realized he’d gotten it right.
Dean Shellwood looked confused.
“Save point,” Bobble explained. “A point you can go back to that’s unchanged.”
“You mean send him back to where we found him?” Dean Shellwood leaned back, considering.
Glorf leaned in. “You could twist it.”
“'Twist it?' You mean invert the ends of the spell. Yes, I think it would be possible, if I had enough room to work.” Her eyes drifted over Bobble. “You’re much too small.” She looked at Charles and he could feel the doubt in her eyes. He steeled himself for the disappointment. At least he was going home, something that at times had not seemed possible.
Glorf was grinning from ear to ear. “I brought him. I’m big.”
Dean Shellwood stared at Glorf, her lip twitching. “Yes, you are big.”
“Giants are big and use small words, so people think we don’t know stuff, but we know a little.”
“That’s more than a little,” Dean Shellwood said. She stood up and moved around the room, tapping her wand against her leg, making her robe change colors from blue to plum, to pine, to pumpkin. When her robe went to primrose, she stopped. “I know how it can be done. I just need a point to anchor the spell. If you’d help me Bobble, I should be done by evening.”
“It is my honor.”
Dean Shellwood led the way out of the room. Bobble beside her. “The large workroom, I think.” Her voice faded as she rounded a corner.
King Regulous nodded. “Then you are dismissed.”
Phichorian got up. “Time for another meal together then.”
Melissina joined them at the door. Amertious stayed, looking straight ahead.
Charles looked at Phichorian. Phichorian shrugged. Charles turned back to Amertious. “Are you coming?”
It was a few moments before Amertious realized Charles was speaking to him. He answered without turning. “I... I am not hungry.”
“Then come and sit with us.” Phichorian gave Amertious a crooked grin, which Amertious saw out of the corner of his eye. When Amertious turned, Charles nodded.
“If you don’t mind...”
“We wouldn’t ask if we did,” Phichorian pointed out.
Amertious nodded and followed them out, pausing at the door to let them all exit before him.
A meal had been laid out in the small room behind the throne room. They filled plates and sat at a round table by the window.
Phichorian picked at his food between entertaining them with snippets of the epic he was composing in their honor.
“And the bard, the wise man of the harp,
Conceived a plan of daring and skill...”
Melissina burst out laughing. “So the infallible bard is the hero of this piece?”
“Well, it needs to be someone handsome, intelligent...”
“I want you to release me from my promise.”
Everyone stopped laughing. There was no question who Amertious was talking to. Melissina broke the silence. “Amertious...”
“Please, Melissina.” Charles had never seen Amertious so intent, not even when he’d been looking for a way to get around his oath.
“All right, Amertious. Explain.”
Now that he had the floor, Amertious didn’t know how to begin. He turned to Phichorian.
Phichorian let him flounder for a bit, then asked, “Which promise are you asking to be released from?”
“All of them.”
Everyone stared.
“Our betrothal, of course. I do not deserve to be regent after my betrayal, or your husband. Phichorian remained loyal.” Amertious looked at Phichorian and left it at that. “Also, I would like to be released from my guard oath.”
Melissina made a sound of protest, but Amertious held up a hand to silence her.
“I want to be a roving knight, to make amends.” Amertious saw the look of confusion on Charles’s face and added, “I think traveling, a knight-errant, helping those who are in need of protection, will help me to be worthy to regain my honor.”
“If it’s what you want...” Melissina st
arted.
“I’m certain it’s what I need.”
“Then I will speak to Father.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Amertious lowered his head again. “I do not want to bring down the festive atmosphere...” He slid his chair back.
Phichorian shoved a plate of cheese towards him. “Then grab some food and let me get back to my song.”
Amertious looked up and met Phichorian’s eyes. Neither of them moved for a moment, then Amertious laughed. “You win, bard. Play on.” He grabbed a piece of bread, topped it with a bit of cheese, and leaned back. Phichorian picked up his harp and began to entertain them with “The Valiant Rescue of the Hermit of Ironvale.”
They had eaten and heard many verses of Phichorian’s epic when Bobble came to the table looking pleased. “It’s all set. Whenever you’re ready.”
“Do you have everything?” Melissina asked.
“I didn’t bring much.” Charles realized it was real this time. He was going home. He picked up the box with the Order of Rooksguard. “Do you want the sweater?”
“No,” Bobble smiled. “You are the rightful owner.”
“Then I guess I’m ready.”
Chapter 24
Bobble led the way. Phichorian and Melissina walked on either side of Charles, Amertious just behind them. Bobble led them out of the castle and through town to the spot where Charles had first arrived. It was behind a bakery, something he hadn’t noticed the first time.
Dean Shellwood was there. She smiled when he arrived. “We’re ready for you Charles, so say your goodbyes and you can leave.”
Charles had no idea how to say goodbye to Phichorian, so he turned to Amertious. “Thanks for the fencing lessons. You probably want this back.” He reached for the sword. He’d gotten so used to wearing it, he’d forgotten it wasn’t his.
“Keep it. A member of the Order of Rooksguard needs a good blade.”
“Thanks.”
“Fare thee well.” Amertious stepped away, giving the others some privacy.
Fantasy Kingdom XXI Page 18
