by Ann Bakshis
“All right, Argus, enough.”
“What’s the matter? Did yours disappoint you or was it the other way around?” he asks, snickering in the dark.
“You’re drunk and if you weren’t the freak that you are, I’d deck you for making such a comment.”
“Then what happened?” he asks, becoming serious.
“I just couldn’t go through with it,” I reply. “She had me at the edge of submitting, but I just couldn’t do it.”
“Was her body not to your liking?”
“No, she was beautiful and firm in all the right places it’s just that… she wasn’t Ore.”
“Get that girl out of your head, Evander. It’s over with, she’s gone, now move on.”
“I don’t want to, Argus. That’s the problem.”
“Look, let’s get some sleep and we’ll talk more about it in the morning.”
I hear him roll over and within a few minutes he’s snoring. I’ll be glad when we’re back in Latrest and I finally have a room to myself again. Maybe I should’ve followed through with the young lady as it might have cured me of this tugging at my heart. Perhaps I’ll come through in the next opportunity.
It’s been three days since we left Dyer and my mood hasn’t changed. We also haven’t come across any villages, which I find strange yet comforting as I know it means I won’t be forced to defile myself for Argus’ enjoyment. I can’t stop thinking about Ore and what she must be feeling, hoping she’s as miserable as I am because I miss her so. Argus tries to talk to me about the sights we’re getting close to, but I ignore him or feign indifference, which only annoys him.
“Why are we out here?” Argus asks, his patience with me at an all-time low. “It’s obvious this journey doesn’t mean anything to you now, so why are we continuing?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “How far from Latrest are we?”
Argus snorts. “You really haven’t been paying attention, have you?” he asks. “I’ve been adjusting our route for the past several days, so it’ll bring us home. Latrest is just over that ridge.” He points to a hill a few miles in front of us. “We should be there in time for a late dinner.”
“Does my father know we’re so close by?”
“No. I stopped sending him messages after we left Nysa. I didn’t want anyone knowing where we were going because of what happened two weeks ago.”
“What makes you say that?”
“The only people who knew where we were was your father, a couple of my guards, and a few of the staff. No one else was to have known you left the castle, let alone the town.”
“I was wondering about that,” I finally admit. “It’s been on my mind as well, but who in the castle would hold such animosity towards me that they’d want to end my life?”
“None that I can think of,” Argus replies as we begin to ascend the hill, maintaining an eye out for any amarok since they love to roam the base of the mountain and the hillsides that surround the castle. “They’ve all been loyal to the throne for decades. I just can’t imagine any of them turning on you in such a manner.”
“We’re not going to tell my father when we arrive. He doesn’t need any more added burden to his already difficult existence,” I say. “I can’t lay that kind of knowledge on his head. It would be pointless and cruel.”
“I agree. Let’s just keep what happened in Nysa and Dyer to ourselves.”
“That’s not a conversation I want to have with my father either: the sexual exploits of the head of his royal guards,” I say with a laugh.
When we reach the top, I pause for a few minutes to take in the twinkling world below. I’ve missed it so much.
Delicately crafted buildings line roads paved with a mixture of brick and dirt. A few people mill about while others are traveling from one end of the town to the other on horseback or in carriages, probably getting ready to settle in for the night. Pelheim may be a small kingdom, but we have luxuries that not all others can claim. Behind the splendor sits Latrest Castle, expanding skyward for several stories almost as if reaching for the heavens. Its pearly white exterior shimmers as the exterior lanterns are lit and I know immediately Ore would love it here.
“Let’s go,” I say, becoming downtrodden by the thought.
As we proceed down the streets, Argus and I are greeted warmly by the citizens. Many bowing as is customary when addressing royalty even though I hate the concept. A few of the Vagter are casually moving about with the people, but make sure to salute me when I pass. It’s common for a few of our guards to be away from the castle since we encourage them to socialize with the citizens as a way to gain their trust and for them to know we have their safety as our highest priority. Argus makes sure there’s a scheduled rotation for all guards since he’s in charge of them. The large, heavy iron gates with the Pelheim emblem in the center blocks the road up to the castle. It parts upon our approach, but we don’t pass through them right away. Argus spends several minutes with the men, getting updates on what’s occurred since our absence and if there’s anything he may need to address.
“The only oddity we had was a royal courier from Geron,” one of the men says.
“When did this happen?” Argus asks, startled and now on alert considering what Caster told us.
“Almost a week ago, sir,” the other one answers. “We didn’t grant him entry onto the property. I delivered his message personally to Henry.”
“Good man,” Argus says.
We head towards the castle while the gates seal shut behind us and make our way to the back of the estate where the stables are to drop our horses off with a couple of hands, then grab our belongings and head up one of the long staircases that line the back of the structure and leading to the main floor. The moment we’re inside, Argus takes a left and heads towards the guards’ quarters while I take the large staircase to my right and head up to my room. After lighting several oil lamps to illuminate my chambers, I begin to unpack when the door behind me opens. My hand immediately reaches for the dagger I kept hidden in my bag, but I release it from my grip when my father and the Master of the Household, Henry, enter.
“I wasn’t expecting you back for another week,” my father says in a weakened voice as Henry escorts him over to a chair by the door to the lavatory, setting him gently down on the soft, cushioned upholstery.
My father has grown thinner and more frail since the last time I saw him, and it breaks my heart to see him suffering in this manner. He should’ve been afforded a longer life, not an early death at the age of forty-five. He’ll never get to meet his grandchildren, even if I’m lucky enough to be blessed with them. Of course, now my thoughts turn to Ore and how I want her to be the mother of them. I find myself resting against the foot of the bed. My heart aches to see her.
“Are you all right, Evander?” Henry asks.
He’s the only servant, other than his wife and Argus, who’s permitted to call me by my given name. Henry has been with the family since I can remember and I look at him as a second father. He’s in his late sixties, thin, has white hair that never seems to grow longer than his ears, and is an extremely loyal, thoughtful, and caring person.
“It’s that young lady, isn’t it?” my father asks before I have a chance to answer. “Is she the reason you’ve cut your trip early?”
“In a way,” I reply. “I just can’t get her out of my head. I’m so distracted that I have difficulty thinking straight.”
“Do you love this young woman?” my father asks.
“Yes,” I blurt out. I want to say more, but I bite my lip since I’m not sure what all to disclose to either of them. Maybe I’ll just let Henry know the truth about Ore, so it’s not a burden on my father.
“Then make sure she receives an invitation to your coronation,” my father says, smiling though it doesn’t last, and he looks on the verge of exhaustion. “Henry, would you mind taking me back to my room? I think Evan can use the rest.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Henry s
ays as he gingerly assists my father to his feet. “I’ll make sure he has everything he needs before I retire for the night.”
“You’re such a good man, Henry. I don’t know what I’d ever do without you,” my father says as the two depart and head down the hall.
I continue to unpack but leave the door open in case Henry wanders by before heading off to bed. I have everything in my room sorted by the time Henry returns. When he enters, I close the door and ask him to take a seat in the chair my father vacated.
“I could tell you wanted to speak to me without your father present,” Henry says in a kind, but firm voice.
“The guards at the gate notified Argus that a royal courier from Geron paid a visit last week. Do you happen to know why?” I ask, leaning against the canopy post for my bed.
“He was delivering a message from King Gregor to your father,” Henry replies.
“Do you know what it contained?”
“It appears King Gregor has found himself in the exact same position as your father… on his death bed, supposedly. He would like to make amends to all the kingdoms before his passing, and has requested to meet with your father at his earliest convenience.”
“Do you believe Gregor?”
“Of course not,” Henry replies sharply. “He’s a devious man who’ll do anything to take control over others he feels are weaker than himself and destroy those who stand against him.”
“How did my father take the news?”
Henry’s face falls. “He welcomed it with open arms and even extended an invitation to the horrid man to your coronation.”
“What?” I shout. “You can’t be serious.”
“Your father’s mind isn’t what it used to be, and he doesn’t want to part this world on bad terms with anyone.”
“Do you know if Gregor has accepted the offer?”
“We haven’t received a reply yet, but knowing the man, he’ll accept.”
“Argus will need to put extra guards on duty the entire time he’s here, as I’m assuming my father also offered him a room in the castle.”
“He did indeed.”
“Damn it,” I mutter. “This changes everything.”
“How so?”
I’m about to tell him when the discussion I had with Argus as we drew closer to Latrest rolls back into my mind. I know it could never be Henry who would’ve divulged my trip, but until I know who it might have been, I’m reluctant to speak about Ore anymore while in the castle. Especially since it concerns King Gregor.
“Nothing,” I mumble as I move over to one of the nightstands and remove an ink pen, a jar of ink, and a small piece of parchment. “Here, make sure an invitation is sent to this location.” I scribble down the cottage information then hand it to him.
“Would you like for me to wait for a reply before ordering a carriage to pick her up?”
“No, Henry. I want one sent regardless.”
“Very good, sir,” Henry says, taking the parchment as he gets to his feet. “Have a good night.”
I lock the door behind him, get ready for bed, and dim the oil lamps. My sleep is restless and filled with nightmares, all involving Ore and King Gregor. I wish my father had waited for my return before agreeing to anything that egotistical asshole suggested. I doubt Gregor is on his death bed. A plague couldn’t kill that man from my understanding. I’ll just need to make sure Argus has his men search those entering the castle, even though that’s not our normal protocol. But I have to come up with something in the meantime to flush a possible traitor from our midst. I can’t let on to my father the likelihood of there being one, but what about Henry? He knows more about the staff than anyone.
Then an idea forms in my mind, one I’ll need to think over and discuss with Argus before going through with it. I’d still like to speak with Henry about Ore since it’ll take his cunning to divert the king’s attention if he should notice her. I’m hoping she does come, and that Caster escorts her. I know neither he nor Elizabeth will permit Ore to travel up here on her own, and I wouldn’t want that either given the new development with her grandfather. There are so many things to think about and very little time to properly plan.
Henry has breakfast waiting for me in the dining room the next morning. My father eats what he can, and at least he’s out of bed for a change. Last night was the first time in a long while that he’s ventured from his room.
“What’s on your agenda today, son?” my father asks, his hands trembling as he tries to pick up a cup of tea.
“I thought Argus and I would go over the final security plans for the coronation,” I reply.
“That sounds like a smart idea, given who one of our guests is going to be,” my father replies.
“Henry told me,” I say, trying not to show my agitation. “Why did you invite him? You know what kind of person that man is. He might just be using this as a ruse to infiltrate our kingdom. How do you even know what he told you in that letter was the truth?”
“I don’t,” my father responds with as much strength as he can muster. “But did it ever occur to you that I might have asked him to come so we can deal with him on our grounds? That maybe it’s not an olive branch that I’d like to offer to him, but a dagger to his heart? Also, the kings and queens of the other kingdoms are sending representatives, so why not let them have a jab at the bastard. Just because my body is weak, Evander, doesn’t mean my mind is.”
“My apologies,” I say. “I should’ve known better.”
“You have a lot to learn in a very short time, my son. Now, tell me everything you saw while on your travels.”
“It was uneventful,” I comment. “The land is beautiful, the villages maintain themselves quite well, and everyone appears to get along with each other.”
“That may be how things look on the surface, but only due to the hard work of the king does such peace exist in Pelheim. It once had a very tumultuous spot in history when my brother almost caused the entire throne to collapse.”
“I don’t think you’ve told me this before,” I say.
“Well, you had an uncle who was only a year younger than me. Our father favored me, and when it came time to pass down the reins of power, I was crowned. I was no older than you are now, a young lad of twenty-two, when I became king. Your uncle hid his resentment very well for a year, before everything finally came to a head.” A few minutes pass before my father is able to continue as he’s desperately trying to catch his breath. “Henry was the first to alert me to the treachery as he’d been wandering the castle late at night in search of a snack.” My father tries to laugh, but it turns into a coughing fit. “If it hadn’t been for that man’s stomach, you might not be here. Anyway, I wound up killing your uncle in a fight for my life. It nearly destroyed our father seeing his one son turn on the other. He died shortly thereafter.”
“But not all kingdoms wind up like this one or Geron,” Henry says, joining us. “Lomance is led by a queen with a younger sister and they get along quite well, while Axis is ruled by the middle of three dwerg-reus siblings because the eldest went into the clergy and the youngest is off exploring the sea hoping to locate realms beyond Reynes.”
“Is that also a reason why you and Mother didn’t have any more children?”
“Yes, though we wanted to,” my father responds. “The one regret I do have is not fulfilling your mother’s love with as many children as possible. It was my own fear that prevented her from truly being happy.”
“I’m sure she understood,” I say.
“She did,” he says, then smiles. “Now, I’m sure Argus is waiting for you out back to go over everything.”
I nod, push back my chair, and leave the dining room heading towards the back door that leads down to the kitchen. I then slip outside and head towards the armory at the base of the mountain on this side of the fence. When I step inside, I find Argus and two other guards going over the details for the coronation as well as the dance, which is to be held the night before.
/> “I was wondering when you’d make your way down here,” Argus says.
“I had to eat first,” I comment as I step up to the large worktable the three are huddled around.
We spend the next several hours going over what’s already been drawn up, but no one mentions King Gregor attending so I don’t think Argus has been made aware. I’d like to discuss that with him privately to keep my ideas for the added security to as few people as possible. When the initial discussion is over, I wait for the two guards to leave, then make sure there isn’t anyone else near the armory.
“I need to tell you something,” I say as I make my way back to the table. “King Gregor is coming.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. How did you find out?”
“Last night shortly before I went to bed, but that’s not why I didn’t mention it when the others were present. I want this to stay between the two of us.”
“All right, what is it?”
“I want every male who enters the castle searched starting the day Gregor is due to arrive.”
“Are you sure he’s coming?”
“Henry’s confident of it, and that’s all I need.”
“All right,” Argus says. “Does that include the servants, too?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll need to increase the number of men I have patrolling the grounds and those stationed in and around the castle. Do you believe Gregor might try to do something?”
“Either that, or if we’re right and there’s someone in the castle leaking information to him, they might be the one to cause the trouble. We can’t afford to take any chances or let our guard down, especially because I’ve invited Ore.”
“Do you think she’ll accept?”
“I don’t know,” I reply. “I hope so, but then in the same breath I’m fearful that she might.”
“Because of who she is to Gregor.”
“There are too many variables that could go wrong in such a short time. Maybe this whole thing is a mistake and we should just have the ceremony in private.”
