Death of a King Read online

  “Ooh…,” Rem stretched, “…that is not good,” he widened his eyes.

  “Are you certain those are her words?” Seeker asked.

  Tuke was Surprised, “Did she say why?”

  “No,” she shook her head. “But but, I think it was due to her dream.”

  “A dream?” Rem chimed.

  “Aye…,” she explained her outcry when she woke, then shortly after the princess crashed through the door.

  Tuke released the maid and told her to inform the princess they come. Rem darted the stairs for his gear. Seeker stepped beside Tuke as he called Meredith.

  The assassin whispered, “I found him.”

  The priest straightened and studied her eyes, “Is he well?” Meredith came through the kitchen doors. She pressed her lips near white, shaking her head.

  “You summoned me?” Meredith looked between them. He waved her closer.

  “With haste, have Gunthar meet us at the academy. The princess heads there to recover our friend,” Tuke instructed.

  Her eyes widen, “The prince?”

  Tuke glanced at Seeker for a clue. She offered him grim eyes instead, then looked away. “As you say.”

  “By the gods,” Meredith quickly exited the door.

  “Come, our gear,” Tuke advised. Behind closed doors, Seeker informed them of Dregous’s condition.

  ***

  The cook served eggs over easy and strips of meat, savoring Lord Gunthar’s palette. A fine meal to break one’s fast, he thought. His two lieutenants seemed well pleased with this morning’s meal.

  Meredith burst through the door stumbling against three squires wrestling to bar her. She grunted using them to steady herself. Gunthar and his men looked surprised, “Meredith, what is the meaning of this?” he bellowed, though sounded surprisingly gentle.

  “My Lord!” she growled, struggling against the squires holding her.

  “She is most insisted my lord,” said a lieutenant.

  “Meredith?” he asked, she bowed her head. “Release her,” he ordered. “Tell me, what ails you?” Gunthar asked as the squires released her.

  She reset her sleeves and the neckline of her dress, “Our discussion some weeks back.”

  He thought a moment, then froze, “I recall,” he breathed.

  “Tuke needs your aid.”

  “For?”

  “The princess heads for the academy.”

  Gunthar’s heart went cold, “What happened?” he rose slowly from his chair.

  She followed him while grimacing, “I know not my lord…, only that the princess intends to get him out.”

  He was quite certain the princess was aware of the Dark Elf’s situation. If that was the case, she would not be in a friendly manner. He recalled when they first met, she booted him off his feet. “Good heavens, she will skewer them for certain,” he breathed then addressed his men. “Gather your gear with haste.”

  A Lieutenant stood, “Are we to bar the princess?”

  “Nay man…,” Gunthar stared at him, “…we aid her,” he said sternly.

  ***

  Tatiana fastened her sword belt, then tugged her chest for better comfort. Heather watched back in worried silence, “Are you certain your highness? Should we not inform the council?” She broke her silence as the Ayrian beauty wiped an oil rag on her sword then sheathed it.

  The princess studied the old maid then remembered Hegtha’s vision over a month ago when Dregous was attacked. Tatiana’s heart skipped at the memory, but asked anyway, “What do you see?” she asked gently.

  Hegtha considered her with a knowing smile, “Why ask what you already know.”

  Tatiana gave her an odd expression, pulling back her head a bit, “What do you mean?”

  Hegtha stepped closer, “He called to you.”

  “How…” mildly surprised.

  “Your highness, I know you heard him. That is why you head there,” she clasped her hands together over her chest.

  Tatiana said nothing, Hegtha was right, she did hear him. In her dream, Dregous was in trouble and called her. “Farewell,” she believed this would be her last day. The Council wouldn’t tolerate her for freeing Dregous. She knew they wouldn’t harm her, even if she forced her way to free him. With her final good-bye, she left.

  Hegtha followed her outside and waited. She watched the princess march down the street. When the Ayrian was out of sight, Hegtha rushed to the magistrate’s mansion.

  Tatiana arrived at the school as Tuke, Rem, and Angelique joined her. She greeted them stiffly, trying to keep her emotions at bay when they heard clattering plate armor. Lord Gunthar approached fast with a band of knights. He addressed her with a respectable bow.

  She studied him suspiciously, “Have you come to stop me?”

  Tuke gently touched her shoulder, “Now now princess, things are not as they seem.”

  “If he attempts barring me, I will…,” she calmly stated, resting a mailed gauntlet on her pommel.

  “Your highness, nothing is as it seems,” Tuke studied her eyes.

  Gunthar stepped closer, his face long and drawn, “Good morrow your highness,” he said politely.

  “It depends on your intentions lord Gunthar,” Tatiana grasped her pommel tightly ready for a fight. Rem followed her lead. Tuke remained silent. Seeker stepped back virtually undetected following suit.

  Gunthar’s expression remained unchanged. His fellow knights waited in silence. “I have come to assist you in the rescue of our friend.”

  Tatiana blinked at him, she didn’t expect that. The prejudice within, guided her to believe humans would band together. She smiled openly and addressed her party, “Let us get my Dregous.”

  They marched the streets to the academy as they gained the attention of the people. “It is quickest through the court entrance,” Seeker advised as they approached.

  They looked at her with curious glances. Tuke pretended innocence. Tatiana noticed his silence, “Tuke?”

  He looked like a little boy caught taking sweets, “My lady?”

  Seeker led them to the courtyard. It was clear as she reached for her tools, “It is locked.”

  Tatiana stepped to the gate, “Angelique…” she warned. Seeker stepped aside, remembering the last time she called her attention against a door. The princess saw the gate as an enemy and kicked it with fury. The lock held but the hinges didn’t. It flew back with a crash.

  Seeker masked her impression with indifference. She knew the princess was strong but didn’t realize how much. Tatiana stepped through, she could still hear Dregous calling as they marched to the courtyard door. “He calls me…” they looked at one another then the princess.

  “I can lead,” Gunthar offered.

  “No, my Dregous guides me.”

  They gave each other curious glances at her comment. “It is locked,” Gunthar warned as he stared at the lock.

  “My lord,” a knight pulled his lord back. Without warning, the princess kicked the door in. Beyond the door looked much like her dream. She drew her sword, rushed in the short corridor with three doors. To her right were stairs, she didn’t give the doors another look, and up she went. The others followed.

  Instructors exited their chambers to investigate the commotion. They readied to bar her, “Hold!” Gunthar shouted, “I am Lord Gunthar, stand aside,” they did. “Get the curator,” he ordered.

  A student rushed to obey. Tatiana could still hear Dregous calling her and followed the voice no one else could hear. It led her to the second level. “We are here to release the prince,” Gunther said.

  “Retrieve him… why?” he questioned.

  “I have on good authority someone wishes Lord Dregous great harm,” he shouted from the stairs.

  Surprised, “Harm… do you have evidence?” the mage shouted back.

  “Aye.”

  “Surely this is a mad jest, sir!”

  Gunthar stopped long enough to glance at the instructor, “Does she look in a jesting mood?” he
growled, then trailed the princess. Seeker lagged behind to study their faces and hoped someone would error and reveal a clue. Instead, some instructors and students followed the party up. She realized they were genuinely surprised. They do not know, she thought.

  Tatiana glanced at a large stain glass window depicting an arc-angel on the stairs landing. He is near, she thought and continued.

  Other mages demanded the princess to leave. Gunthar ordered them aside as he continued behind her. A wave of chaos followed the princess.

  Dregous's cries came from a corridor to her right, ending with a door to the left. With a cold fearful heart, she kicked the door. It collapsed inward. The door dangled by a single hinge. Tatiana expected to see what she saw in her dream. It shattered her nonetheless. Dregous was reaching towards the window from his bed, crying out, “viche og’broveh!”

  “Dregous,” Tatiana rushed beside his bed and gently reached for him while setting her sword down, “I am here I am here.” The pain of losing him returned when they thought Dregous died at the mountain. She gently turned him away from the window and held him firmly. He continued talking while reaching out. “I am here my love…,” she whispered, “I am here,” and sniffed, trying to hold her tears back.

  Dregous woke and realized Tatiana held him, “Angel…, are you truly here?” he asked weakly.

  The princess studied him with an aching heart, “It is me my…,” she croaked the last word, then sniffed and stroked his hair away from his face.

  “I thought…?”

  She interrupted and smiled, “Think not, I am here my…” she stopped to see him drift off to sleep in her arms. Anger was difficult to contain after all she witnessed.

  Gunthar stopped and balanced himself with the door jamb, then saw the prince. His fury swelled like an inferno, “Good gods, what happened?”

  Tatiana darted a hard glare at him, “Is this the value of your word?”

  A knife covered in brine would not have hurt as much as her words. The old knight had no defense, he failed the Ayrian princess. He stepped in and kneeled before her. “I…”

  Tatiana interrupted, “No lord knight, nothing can be said to undo this.” she gently rocked Dregous securing him against her, “Someone means him harm, and for what?” Gunthar tried to speak but she continued. “He has done so much for your people… you have no idea what it cost him…”

  “Forgive me my lady, but I do.” He gently touched her hand, “I have seen it.” He remembered what Dregous said when he held the horde at bay. The memory of the prince’s dying soul filled him with sorrow and painful regret for not securing his safety.

  The princess considered his words, “Then why are they trying to take him from me?”

  The Knight couldn’t look into her lovely near white eyes, the guilt of his failure burned him. “I know not my lady.” It weighed on him heavily, “Forgive me princess,” he whispered as he stepped back.

  Tatiana stroked the prince’s hair behind his slender pointed ear as Tuke knelt before her, “How is he?” he lightly examined Dregous.

  “He gave me his word,” she said softly, “He said my Dregous would be safe in their care.”

  “I know…, But what you do not know, he led to watch him in secret, when learning of this treachery.”

  No one spoke as the party relocated Dregous to the princess’s mansion. Riverdale denizens watched in stunned silence as the Knights escorted them. Whispers of what happened circulated like wildfire. Gunthar and Tuke walked off together. Rem discretely considered the group, unsure what would happen next. Seeker held her silence, she felt something was off but couldn’t see it as she studied them, then discretely departed to followed Tuke and Gunthar.

  ***

  Tuke and Lord Gunthar, matched their stride as they headed for the temple, “Forgive me….”

  The old knight glanced at the priest, “There is no need, it was I who failed her, not you,” they stepped into the temple.

  Clergy members had gathered after the incident, to discuss the princess’s release of the Dark Elf, supported by Gunthar. High academy Arch-mages waded through the crowd as the others murmured. Moments later they hushed and focused on the acolyte. A priest stepped to the young clergyman, “Why did you misinform the council regarding the Dark Elf’s condition?” he asked as Tuke and Gunthar got closer. Wil sat facing away from them.

  Another in the crowd said, “Good heavens, if we had moved him, who knows what would have happened. Then the clergy would have been responsible.”

  The question didn’t surprise the old knight, he expected it, but didn’t know who said the second comment, “This should prove interesting,” he muttered as he studied the back of Wil’s head.

  “Agreed,” Tuke whispered. Seeker blended in and stood behind them. She studied the mages' faces, then made her way along the wall to look at Wil.

  As Wil stammered, Seeker clearly saw he was genuinely shocked. He stuttered, “I was informed to report solely to the high priest…” he answered.

  Tuke suddenly realized Dregous may need his aid, “Forgive me, I was not thinking. Our friend may need tending.”

  “As you say,” Gunthar agreed.

  Tuke noted Seeker watching acolyte Wil. She shushed him with her lips then offered a slight smile. At first, Tuke was confused then suddenly understood. She was discretely spying within the crowd to learn more information. He nodded with a slightly knowing smirk and made his way to aid the prince.

  “Wil!” shouted Sobeen. He opposed the Dark Elf mage from the start.

  Wil vaguely recalled the mage cast a protection enchantment against dark magic. It was supposed to shield him against the Dark Elf’s powers. He wondered if the mage did something he couldn’t understand. “As you say lord Sobeen,” trying to recall his accounts, but couldn’t.

  Sobeen barely contained his surprise. The acolyte remembered him even after his mind alteration spell. His will is stronger than he expected…, pity, he thought. His scowl filled with disdain didn’t go unnoticed, “I have a message for you.”

  Surprised, “A message… for me… from whom my lord…?”

  Seeker wondered the same, but more importantly, why would the lord deliver the message. The Dregous account overshadowed the obvious, though they wondered who sent the letter, but not why the arrogant mage was the messenger.

  Sobeen is well known for his sour temperament and sharp tongue, “Degrading enough to bring you this foul note and you disgrace me further by asking whom?” he growled. “At least do me the courtesy and wait until I leave before reading it.” His vicious response reminded the young man of his horrible disposition. He shoved the small roll into Wil’s hand, then made his way passed the spectators and exited the chamber.

  Chapter 7

  What would become of us if we unearth the truth? There are many truths which we cling to, especially in desperate times. As I document all I witnessed, it mattered little which way I moved my pieces, the result is the same in all scenarios. I must decide and live with the repercussions, regardless of the cost.

  Lost footnotes of Lord Dorian Von’Negrous, the nefarious.

  The onlookers waited on Wil as the acolyte hastened to read his message. His eyes drew blank, then his face. Murmurs softly filled the room as they waited, expecting an explanation.

  “Well?” demanded a high priest.

  Wil folded the note, tuck it into his robe then turned to walk away. “And where do you think you head?” asked another priest.

  “There is still the matter of the reports,” stated another mage.

  He addressed them with an unusually calm and mild expression, “The high priest summons me…, I gather he wishes to question me personally,” and continued.

  “He will inquire as we…” Gunthar added.

  “Of course he will,” Wil sneered sarcastically over his shoulder uncharacteristically.

  Gunthar realized his mannerism was the same the day he recounted a different version of his report. It was as though Wil was two
different people.

  “We will convene in the great hall. We have many questions requiring your clarification,” added another mage instructor over the chatter that suddenly rose. He returned to the others as they discussed the current development. The religious cast talked amongst themselves regarding the Dark Elf’s report.

  Seeker stealthily stepped back as they called for an urgent gathering. She watched Wil as he exited. During their congregation, the assassin slipped passed them and stepped outside. Wil rushed through the streets with her in distant tow. The people masked her pursuit and wondered if he was behind it all. It didn’t make sense for him to return to the main temple after the Ayrian took the Dark Elf. Most curious, he went by way of the streets and not through the temple grounds, Seeker thought.

  Wil rushed through the light crowd that was gathering in the sanctuary courtyard. He made his way to the far end. The acolyte walked into the meditation building.

  Moments later, Seeker rushed over and entered. On the far side, Wil turned a corner as she quickly closed the door. The silent temple barely registered his footsteps. With her magical cap, her complexion rapidly changed from mocha to a lighter complexion. To her right, a rack held robes for priests and quickly adorned one before continuing.

  “Good day sister how are we this fine day?” a young priest asked.

  Seeker froze then breathed as she stepped aside. It was rare anyone could surprise her to the point of no reaction. Had she been back home, she would most likely be dead. “Great lords of…” Seeker caught herself, “…the heavens…, you startled me,” she said with a light Drouwen accent.

  With genuine concern, he stepped closer, “Ooh, forgive me, dear sister.”

  She took a few deep breaths to steady herself, “It is not your… …I was lost in thought,” she realized she lost sight of her surroundings.

  “Are you well?”

  “I will be,” the assassin played her role further by fanning herself, though the cool air felt good.

  He studied the acolyte, she was very attractive with a tanned complexion and bright green eyes, but couldn’t place the face, “You are new here?”

  Seeker glimpse the door masking her anxiousness, “As you say,” she glanced over his shoulder.