The King's Folly

by Robin Simmons

  Master Fields nodded sadly, “Yes, indeed, he does deserve to die at the stake or at the least be hanged, but he has been a good king for so long, Raven.”

  “I know, Master Fields. He has been good and honest except where this Crestlaw conspiracy has taken him. I have tried to dismiss the fact that he is my father and judge him as I would any other man.”

  “That is the key,” Master Fields said. “He is not just any other man, he is the king!”

  “Should not he be held to a higher standard then?” asked Raven.

  “Yes, he should,” Master Fields replied. “But what happens to the king affects the whole kingdom. And if everyone were to learn that the king were a traitor, it would destroy the confidence in the monarchy for centuries, for no one would trust each other after that. This mistrust, like a plague, would eat away at what makes Glenfair function, the alliance of all dukes and the king united for the protection and common good of the kingdom. No other kingdom on earth functions this way, and if duke suspected duke or king, soon civil war would break out. And Glenfair, which has always protected itself from what is outside, will crumble from within. Even your reign would not be able to stop the cascade effect of mistrust, even though you are at present a hero. Remember, it was your father’s mistrust that started all this to begin with. If we do not trust each other we shall all perish.” Master Fields went on, “The battle, though terrible, will produce some good. For generations to come, no one will take the guarding of their passes for granted, and people will cherish their freedom here in Glenfair and realize that sometimes there is a price to keeping it.”

  Raven thought for a while then stated, “I have decided. When you return, we will together confront Father and hold him in check with the threat of exposing the treason which would mean his death if he tries anything else. The kingdom will be safe from the outside, for no one will let what happened with the Wickshields happen ever again. So we must let the king live for the good of the kingdom, even though he deserves to die. And may God judge him for what he has done.”

  When Raven had finished explaining his decision, Master Fields put his hand on Raven’s shoulder and said, “I feel for you, Prince Raven, for you have been burdened with things no man should have to carry. I know now that facing the Wickshields was much easier than facing what you have to here at home.”

  Raven and Master Fields went back through the stable passage and on out to the courtyard. Raven bid Master Fields goodbye and went in search of Lorriel. He found her in the great hall with his father, eating a bit of breakfast and discussing something that lifted Lorriel out of her depression. As Raven sat down and listened, he understood why Lorriel seemed more cheerful. They were discussing wedding plans. Raven was not sure he could believe his ears, so as he ate some of the morning pastries and biscuits, he listened more carefully. Sure enough, the king was telling Lorriel this day to commission the seamstress for her wedding dress and to spare no expense. Lorriel was getting very excited and Raven almost choked. Had his father had a change of heart? Sadly, Raven did not think so and this made him very nervous.

  He doubted now that his father would tell him anything that he was doing. Raven had lost his father’s trust the day of the battle when he had defied the king’s orders. Whatever he would find out, he must learn by watching and paying attention to what his father did. He knew his father must be up to something, for he would take no joy in the marriage of his daughter to a Crestlaw. Then Raven heard the king tell Lorriel that next week he would talk to Sauron and set a wedding date and let the whole kingdom know. Whatever was going to happen would happen before Master Fields got back from the king’s errand. Now Raven was worried. He hoped he could find out what this was about before Master Fields returned, because he knew by then it would be too late.

  After breakfast as Raven was walking in the courtyard, Lorriel caught up to him, bubbling with excitement, “Have you heard, Raven? Father is going to set a date for my wedding with Andrew. Raven tried to act excited but failed miserably, and now, to his own chastisement, Lorriel’s bubble burst.

  “You are not happy for me, Raven?” Lorriel asked, hurt showing on her face.

  “You know I am,” spoke Raven. “But things have happened lately that have robbed us of our joy or merriment. I do not want to see you hurt in any way if something were to happen.”

  “What could happen?” Lorriel asked innocently.

  “Did you ever think a war would happen?” Raven asked bluntly. “Did you ever think Edward would die?”

  Raven was immediately sorry he had said this, for Lorriel was not just let down from her bouncing joy, she was now crushed again with recent loss.

  Raven went to her and held her, “I am so sorry I said that. It was cruel. Forgive me. It seems that I have become so pessimistic lately. With so much heartache and pain in my life lately, I have forgotten how to be happy. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever know how to be happy again or if joy will return to my life.” Then looking directly into Lorriel’s eyes he pleaded, “I have lost my way, Lorriel. Sadness has engulfed my life in such a way that now I am dragging other people down. I do not know what to do anymore.”

  Through her tears she said, “I know just what you need. I know what we both need. I will send for her tomorrow. Rebekka can help me plan my wedding and she will know how to deal with you.”

  With that Lorriel smiled again, the joy returning, and laughed at Raven’s bewildered face.

  “Now Raven,” Lorriel went on, “I know Rebekka knows how to handle you. She will know just what to do.”

  Yes, Raven thought, maybe that is what I really need, someone to talk to, to share all that I truly feel inside.

  Raven smiled at Lorriel, “How did you get so wise, my beloved sister?”

  They parted ways and Raven thought about what Lorriel had said. He recalled that Rebekka had said someday she wanted the whole story, that sometime Raven would tell her. Maybe it was time.

  Raven just wandered aimlessly around the castle for the rest of the day. Nothing seemed to make him relax. It was getting on toward evening and the sun was setting. In his wanderings, Raven was now down in the courtyard by the entrance to the castle. Still thinking about all that had happened, he was shaken out of his thoughts by the sound of an approaching horse. Raven waited for the rider to enter the court. As the rider entered, Raven noted the horse’s color, saddle style and the clothes the man wore. He realized, first, that this man was not a native of Glenfair but from some other kingdom. He rode right up to Raven, dismounted and asked him to take care of his horse, thinking him to be the stable master or a groom. Raven motioned for for a groomsman who promptly took the horse to the stables. The man looked at Raven again and apologized for the misunderstanding, holding out his hand to shake Raven’s. As he did so, Raven noticed a large scar on the man’s right forearm. Raven quickly covered his shock and looked the man in his eye, seeing the kind of steel that few men possess unless they are confident in their abilities. The man asked Raven where he might find the king. Raven told him the king was in his council chamber and a servant would show him the way once he entered the castle.

  As Raven watched the man go, he could see the purposeful walk, the agility, and said to himself, “I know who you are.”

  As Allterus walked toward the castle, he chided himself for not recognizing the king’s son. He was getting rusty and that irritated him. At the summer feast, per his instructions, he had watched the garden gate and soon had seen two young men walking toward it. One had had black hair, the other blond and was taller than the dark-haired young man. He was to kill the blond headed Crestlaw boy and not to make a mistake. He was not worried now, though. There was no way the king’s son could recognize him. He had slipped to the doorway with the knife ready, located the Crestlaw’s son, stepped, threw, and disappeared as was his trade mark. It was only later that he had found out that the Crestlaw boy was still alive. He had no idea what had gone wrong, and it still was a mystery. Ins
ide the castle, a servant met him and directed him to the king’s council chamber. He knocked and entered when the king bid him in. The king looked at the servant, made a motion for him to leave, and waited for the door to close.

  Raven headed toward the stables, thinking the entrance there was the quickest way to the king’s council chamber.

  On his way in, he saw Jerddin. “Good,” Raven said, “I need your help badly.” He smiled at him and went on, “Do exactly as I say with no questions asked.”

  “Yes, Prince Raven,” Jerddin said seriously, remembering the same kind of urgency not too long ago in the tunnel that led to the pass gate.

  Raven had everyone else leave the stables and took Jerddin to the far end, saying to him, “Make sure you have your weapons ready and saddle two good horses. Wait for me here, and do not let anyone else in the stable area.”

  He did not give Jerddin a chance to respond before he pointed to the horses farther down the stable. As Jerddin headed that way, Raven pressed the right stones and the secret passage door opened silently into the castle. Raven quickly entered and shut the door. Jerddin stopped and turned around to ask one more question. His mouth fell open as Raven was nowhere to be seen. Jerddin shook his head to clear his thoughts. Prince Raven was always full of surprises. Now he was disappearing without a trace.

  Raven hurried to where the secret door to the king’s council chamber was. He stopped and quietly slid open the block that allowed him to see and hear what was going on inside. The man was just entering and the king motioned for the servant to leave and shut the door.

  “So Allterus,” the king said, “here you are again. I should not have to even see your face again except for the fact that you failed in your first attempt.”

  Allterus looked at the king with eyes of steel and spoke, “I have never failed before, and I do not know what happened. The throw was true and the knife should have buried itself in the heart of the Crestlaw boy.”

  “You missed, is what happened,” the king said.

  “I do not miss,” Allterus said flatly.

  “This is all useless talk,” the king said dismissing it. “The gold is still yours if you will kill Andrew Crestlaw in two days.”

  Allterus eyed the king coolly for a while and then said, “The stakes have gone up since one attempt has already been made on his life.”

  The king laughed and said, “I have offered you more gold than a man could hardly spend in a lifetime.”

  “I do not want more money,” Allterus said. “I want you to tell me where the gold is hidden so I will not have to contact you again when the job is finished.”

  The king smiled again, “And if I tell you where the gold is, how do I know you will finish the job?”

  “Because,” Allterus said narrowing his eyes, “I have never failed and it is something I cannot live with.”

  “Very well,” the king said, “the gold is hidden under an oak directly out the front door of the castle by Pearl Lake. You can come back and get it, or you can take it as you go. It matters not to me. Just make sure you do your job.”

  “And if I do not?” Allterus said questioningly.

  “I will send someone to track you down,” the king said.

  “That does not worry me,” Allterus said unemotionally.

  “It should,” the king said, “for he is a weapons master.”

  “I am a weapons master as well,” Allterus stated, “and no one is a match for me. But as I said I will do my job. I hate failure and I will leave tonight after I get some food and drink.”

  That was all Raven needed to hear. He rushed down the passage to the sleeping quarters and counted from his door down to Lorriel’s. He opened the slide to make sure and opened the door. Lorriel was so shocked to see her wall open and Raven come out into her room she could not move. Raven put his hand to his lips to signal silence and came over to where she sat on the bed.

  “Listen to me carefully, Lorriel,” Raven said urgently. “Andrew’s life depends on what I am about to tell you. There is an assassin here in the castle and he is going north tonight to kill Andrew. He has tried once before at the summer feast to kill Andrew but I stopped him, and now he will try again.”

  “How do you know this?” Lorriel whispered.

  Raven pointed to the still open door to the secret passage and Lorriel nodded, now understanding.

  Then she asked hesitatingly, “Who is behind these assassination attempts on Andrew?”

  “I cannot tell you now,” Raven said sadly, “but I will, I promise.” Lorriel nodded and Raven went on; “You must remember very carefully what I am about to tell you, so listen. You will ride north tonight with Jerddin to the Crestlaws. Once you are there, give this information only to Andrew and Sauron, no one else. The assassin’s name is Allterus. He has brown hair, green eyes, rides a roan with an outlander’s saddle, and has a very pronounced scar on his right forearm. This is so Sauron will recognize him. Also warn Sauron that he is a weapons master and to be careful. If he needs help, Jerddin is faithful. As soon as Sauron is finished with the assassin, he is to come here quickly.

  Now the second part: Do not delay Andrew after you have given Sauron this message. Tell Andrew to head as quickly he can to the Prescott dukeship and then bring Duke Prescott with him here. Have Sauron send messages at the same time to the rest of the dukes telling them I request their presence immediately at the king’s castle. Do you have all of this?” Lorriel nodded for she had been listening closely ever since Raven mentioned an assassin wanted to kill Andrew.

  “Then dress for the ride north. I will wait for you in the secret passage.”

  Raven went into the passage and a short time later Lorriel joined him. He lit a torch for he had not taken the time earlier to do so and Lorriel was not familiar with the passage like Raven was. He closed the door and they started back to the stables. On the way, Raven stopped at the great hall and looked through the slide block to see if Allterus was there. Sure enough, he was sitting and eating what the servants brought out. With that assurance, Raven started out once again for the stables. When he reached the end of the passage, he opened the slide and looked out. No one was there except Jerddin. He had his back to them, working with steadying the already saddled horses. Raven opened the silent door and Lorriel and Raven slipped out quietly as the door closed behind them. Jerddin almost jumped when Raven whispered for him to bring the horses to that end of the stable. Jerddin was clearly amazed that he had not seen them come in but said nothing. Raven opened the last stall and went to the wall. He told Lorriel and Jerddin to mount up, which they did. Raven then opened the secret passage through the stable wall to the outside and now Jerddin understood how Raven had disappeared so quickly.

  “Take Lorriel speedily to the Crestlaws,” he said and with that they were gone.

  Raven closed the doors and headed back into the Castle’s secret passage and went to his room. He lay on his bed trying to think things through, wondering how everything had gotten so out of control. He wished with all his might that he could go back in time before all this had started and regain his innocence. But alas, mortals are not granted such privileges. He would have to deal with the present.

  He must have turned the scenarios over and over in his mind a hundred times. He decided there was no other way to deal with this than to confront his father now. So Raven sat up, opened the passage once again and headed to his father’s council chamber. On the way, he looked into the great hall once again and Allterus was gone, probably headed out to get his gold.

  A lot of good it will do him, Raven thought.

  Allterus had never met Sauron Crestlaw, but he would and Raven had seen Sauron in battle. This prideful weapons master was going to be in big trouble. Raven stopped in front of his father’s council chamber, hands trembling, a little sick to his stomach, but he pushed the lever and an old ancient bookcase in the king’s council chamber began to turn.

  The king caught a little movem
ent as he sat at the large table. When he looked up, he was astonished to see the whole bookcase swinging open. Before the full magnitude of this could be grasped, Raven walked out of the secret passage way.

  The king rose from the table and stammered in disbelief, “Raven, what is the meaning of this?”

  “The meaning,” Raven said, “is I have come to challenge your honor, Father. It is time someone held you accountable for what you have done to the kingdom.”

  “I am the king,” Mollen said, pounding his fist on the table.

  “Whether you are the king or not, your treachery will have to be dealt with. The assassin you sent to kill Andrew Crestlaw will be intercepted and your plan will fail. Yes,” Raven went on, “do not look so shocked. I have heard and seen everything through the secret passage I have just come through. I have already sent Lorriel and Jerddin ahead of your assassin, Allterus, to warn the Crestlaws. And yes, it was I who stopped that knife short of Andrew’s heart at the summer feast.”

  As this news was being absorbed by the king, Raven sighed. He was not angry. In reality, he felt sorry for his father; his heart ached for him.

  “You have betrayed me, my son,” the king said.

  It hurt Raven to hear this, but he had already prepared himself for this response, “I have not, Father. I have prevented you from shedding any more innocent blood.”

  “I am the king,” Mollen repeated. “I can do what I deem necessary to protect the throne.”

  “There is a higher law than the king,” Raven said, “the law of God. You have judged that which you cannot see, the motive of the heart. That judgment belongs to God and Him alone. The king is never to take the place of God. We are to judge what we see men do, not what we think they will do, or what we imagine is in their hearts. My personal sin was standing by idle while you went down this path of mistrust to destruction, and yet, I did nothing to stop you. I always believed in you, Father, and I felt there must be more to your mistrust of the Crestlaws than just believing it was true. When I finally saw the truth, it was too late.”