“Austin, take this man to the dungeon we will execute him after the festival ends in three days’ time,” Kasi ordered with only the slightest waver in her voice.
“Yes, ma’am. I will put him in one of the dark cells scum like this doesn’t deserve to see the sun.” Austin gladly responded as he grabbed the prisoner. Since taking over from Aaron as captain of the guard, he had been eagerly following every order with the utmost efficiency.
Then again Austin had always valued efficiency. Since the early days playing games of wit against Aaron, he could never see how it could be advantageous to give a little to gain so much more. But he has time to grow he is barely into his 24th year. Aaron though retired was still teaching him and challenging him to games. Honestly, that seems to be most of what Aaron does these days with many of the castles youth. Youth who should be work, might I add.
Two if the worst were Luke and Andrew. Those two each have a half of a single brain. They aren’t the brightest, but even more than that they seem to have the same bad idea at the same time. And where one is getting in trouble the other one is nearby trying to avoid getting caught as well. Aaron has been a somewhat leveling effect on them, but I know before long they will disappear. Then sometime later a letter will arrive at the castle saying that they are either dead or have somehow taken over a hostile barbaric kingdom. Regardless, with the morning unpleasantries done preparation for the evening's feast continued.
“Welcome, friends, family, and distinguished dignitaries from near and far! We are gathered on the anniversary of the treaty that ended the war that plagued our lands for generations! We now have the ruling council on which all the kings and queens of the nations sit that works in tandem with the Parliament to govern and care for all of our peoples. Through these efforts a unified legal and justice system has been established! We operated with regulated commerce laws, roads, and currency. We are in the early stages of a time of unprecedented prosperity! As high queen this year on the ruling council, along with the high judge of the Parliament Braden we would like to welcome you to the feast! In addition to our feast here there are feasts being hosted all around the city that anyone may attend. Eat, drink, and be merry!” High Queen Kassandra welcomed them, exactly as they had practiced. She hated speeches. She memorized everyone she had to give so that she wouldn’t stumble over her words. On the outside, she was the picture of a queen, but on the inside, only her closest advisors knew she was terrified.
“Well, the poor girl is in way over her heard” Teri commented as she slipped out of the shadows.
Derek jumped only slightly at her voice as he has grown accustomed to her uncommon ability to appear where ever and whenever she liked with barely a sound.
“Well, I don’t know she gave her speech confidently enough.” Derek offered.
“You know as well as I do that it’s just a front.” Teri retorted.
“Yeah I know, so did you find anything interesting in the library? I assume that is where you have been since we arrived.”
“You know me well my dear. I found a book on the 12 uses of dragon’s blood. I have a few that I would add, but there are some I hadn’t considered before.”
“While that is interesting, not quite what I was referring too. Did you find anything relevant to the reason we have traveled so far?”
“Nothing terrible helpful, but I sent the kid to visit the master clerk’s office and the royal hall of records”
“I am sure he will—
“Ambassadors Derek and Teri! Our favorite people from the Grelenian Forests!” High Judge Braden bellowed.
“Greeting High Judge” Teri and Derek responded in unison.
“Oh no need to be so formal, we are all friends here!”
“Of course we are….” Teri whispered just loud enough for Derek to hear. Derek ever the diplomat smiled at his wife’s comment, which Braden misconstrued as a warm greeting.
As Braden was about to bore them with important matters of state a commotion arose in the back of the hall near the doors. Using this as a legitimate means of escape, Teri and Derek slipped over to see what the cause was.
Also looking into the commotion was Patrick, master of communications for the kingdom. While master of communication was his proper title his other service to the crown was far more interesting. Patrick was the head of the royal spy network. As a result, Patrick knew all the goings on in nearly the entire kingdom. For example within a few minutes, part of his network will report to him that Dawson, son of the Grelenian ambassadors was thought to be seen in the master clerk’s office, but disappeared before anyone could confirm.
When Patrick saw who was causing the commotion he rolled his eyes. Connor, or whatever he was going by tonight, was standing on the table reciting poetry. He always seemed to be both, right where he needed to be and where he was most unwanted.
“…kingdom thought whole.
Where a queen will lose her soul.
Darkness breeds and division grows strong.
A night may fall we will know before long.
Where chaos reigns when Parliament falls.
And all will weep, and death will—“ Connor belted while accompanying himself on the lyre.
“GET THAT MAN!” Austin screamed. Patrick just rolled his eyes again. He knew well enough that Connor could do no real harm, but them no one could really get the reason for decorum across to any of the palace guards.
In the commotion, Dawson slipped in, nearly as quiet as his mother, but he only inherited part of the gift.
“I got what we need,” Dawson said.
“Good we should take this distraction to slip away,” Derek responded.
“Everyone! Everyone! Please calm down! There is no need for the commotion. Please return to your conversations. Ignore the ravings of a man who has clearly had too much to drink.” Brett tried to calm down the crowd. Brett the ever faithful steward of the king. In all honesty, he is the only reason the kingdom didn’t fall apart when the queen died.
After that, the evening continues much like parties of that nature usually do. State secrets were traded and alliances made. But everyone who had heard the bard’s words remembers them. Many had been barely listening, but now they could hardly think of anything else. Was the alliance in danger? How would the queen lose her soul? Was the Parliament to be trusted? Everyone left that night unsettled and wondering.
“Well, the poor girl is in way over her heard” Teri commented as she slipped out of the shadows.
Derek jumped only slightly at her voice as he has grown accustomed to her uncommon ability to appear where ever and whenever she liked with barely a sound.
“Well, I don’t know she gave her speech confidently enough.” Derek offered.
“You know as well as I do that it’s just a front.” Teri retorted.
“Yeah I know, so did you find anything interesting in the library? I assume that is where you have been since we arrived.”
“You know me well my dear. I found a book on the 12 uses of dragon’s blood. I have a few that I would add, but there are some I hadn’t considered before.”
“While that is interesting, not quite what I was referring too. Did you find anything relevant to the reason we have traveled so far?”
“Nothing terrible helpful, but I sent the kid to visit the master clerk’s office and the royal hall of records”
“I am sure he will—
“Ambassadors Derek and Teri! Our favorite people from the Grelenian Forests!” High Judge Braden bellowed.
“Greeting High Judge” Teri and Derek responded in unison.
“Oh no need to be so formal, we are all friends here!”
“Of course we are….” Teri whispered just loud enough for Derek to hear. Derek ever the diplomat smiled at his wife’s comment, which Braden misconstrued as a warm greeting.
As Braden was about to bore them with important matters of state a commotion arose in the back of the hall near the doors. Using this as a legitimate means of escape, Teri and Derek slipped over to see what the cause was.
Also looking into the commotion was Patrick, master of communications for the kingdom. While master of communication was his proper title his other service to the crown was far more interesting. Patrick was the head of the royal spy network. As a result, Patrick knew all the goings on in nearly the entire kingdom. For example within a few minutes, part of his network will report to him that Dawson, son of the Grelenian ambassadors was thought to be seen in the master clerk’s office, but disappeared before anyone could confirm.
When Patrick saw who was causing the commotion he rolled his eyes. Connor, or whatever he was going by tonight, was standing on the table reciting poetry. He always seemed to be both, right where he needed to be and where he was most unwanted.
“…kingdom thought whole.
Where a queen will lose her soul.
Darkness breeds and division grows strong.
A night may fall we will know before long.
Where chaos reigns when Parliament falls.
And all will weep, and death will—“ Connor belted while accompanying himself on the lyre.
“GET THAT MAN!” Austin screamed. Patrick just rolled his eyes again. He knew well enough that Connor could do no real harm, but them no one could really get the reason for decorum across to any of the palace guards.
In the commotion, Dawson slipped in, nearly as quiet as his mother, but he only inherited part of the gift.
“I got what we need,” Dawson said.
“Good we should take this distraction to slip away,” Derek responded.
“Everyone! Everyone! Please calm down! There is no need for the commotion. Please return to your conversations. Ignore the ravings of a man who has clearly had too much to drink.” Brett tried to calm down the crowd. Brett the ever faithful steward of the king. In all honesty, he is the only reason the kingdom didn’t fall apart when the queen died.
After that, the evening continues much like parties of that nature usually do. State secrets were traded and alliances made. But everyone who had heard the bard’s words remembers them. Many had been barely listening, but now they could hardly think of anything else. Was the alliance in danger? How would the queen lose her soul? Was the Parliament to be trusted? Everyone left that night unsettled and wondering.
