City of IF

[Chinaren]

Chapter 3. Homecoming.



“How about our fine horses? I only need my two companions here to enter with me,” Byrold gestured at Hark and Tarall. “They are good mounts, well worth two or three Crowns each, if you throw in the saddle.”

The guard rubbed his chin and then stepped forward to examine the horses. “They are reasonable beasts I suppose,” he said.

“Reasonable! They are of the finest stock!” countered Tarall, and the bargaining began in earnest.

In the end they settled for one horse for one person, and Byrold, Hark and Tarall entered the city, whilst the scouts waited outside.

Uskk was busy, and they were forced to push through to pass. Still, they encountered no serious obstacles, and they soon stood outside the palace, where they were recognized and let in immediately, we made Byrold smile.

Hark and Tarall escorted him to his chambers.

“Home at last!” said Byrold. He turned to his companions. “My thanks for your support gentlemen. Please, take some time out and refresh yourselves, I will speak to you soon.”

The men bowed. “Thank you sire,” said Tarall. “It will be a pleasure to soak in a long hot bath.” He turned and left the room.

“I think I will change into my armor and take a few men to visit a certain gate guard first,” scowled Hark. He too bowed and departed.

>>>

Once he was washed and dressed in clean robes Byrold felt back in control again. The lesson at the gate had taught him how tenuous his hold on the crown really was.

He was adjusting his sword when there was a tap at the door. “Enter!” he said. The portal creaked open and in walked a familiar and welcome figure. “Sterling!” Byrold cried, swiftly moving towards the Kings' advisor. He wrapped him in a warm hug.

“Steady my lad!” said Sterling. “This servant is not as young and sturdy as your majesty!” Still, the advisor was grinning widely as the prince held him at arms length and looked him over.

“There is still some juice in your old sack of skin yet I warrant,” said Byrold. “I was just about to dine. Would you join me? I am eager to catch up on events.”

“I would be delighted your majesty. It is a pleasure to see you again,” replied Sterling and followed the prince out of his chambers. “I am just sorry it is under such circumstances. I came as fast as I could when I heard you had arrived, but I was across town on an errand, and it took some time to get back.”

“You are here now, that is what is important.” Byrold turned a corner and waved a servant down. “Tell the staff I will be dining in the Orange room, Sterling will be joining me.”

“At once sir,” the servant bowed and scurried quickly away.

The two continued their walk, finally settling into a medium sized room. A round table in the center was ringed by comfortable chairs. Around the walls were books and charts. Other tables and desks were placed in strategic positions. The Orange room was half dining area, half study, and was one of Byrold's favorite places in the castle.

The prince sat down as Sterling walked over to a drinks cabinet. “Wine my lord?”

“That would be a nice change from the dust of the trail.”

The advisor served them both with a rich green wine, and they sat back in the chairs in a pleasant silence, sipping their drinks.

Eventually Byrold turned to Sterling. “So then, I suspect I have a lot to catch up to do. What is happening in my kingdom? Are we secure? How is the economy? What of our allies and enemies? ”

Sterling laughed and stroked his long gray beard. He wore dull red robes, as he had worn for as long as Byrold could remember. “So much! Let me begin by reassuring your majesty that the kingdom is in general good health, and I do not see it falling apart so readily. Your father, may he ride in splendor in the Far Lands, ran the country well. His loss is a large one.”

“Indeed. And if I may say so, not a little suspicious,” mused Byrold.

“I know of what you speak, but the court wizards assure me there was no foul play.”

“Still, mages can be bought off as easily as the next man.”

“I thought the same, and I can state I made every effort to assure myself such was not the case your Highness. The accident does appear to have been just that, a tragic accident.”

Byrold sat back and took another swig of wine just as the first course of his meal was brought in. Small songbirds dressed in orange sauce, with a side of salad.

Byrold clapped his hands in appreciation of the arrangement. “Excellent!” he said, biting into one of the birds. “And delicious!”

The servants bowed and retreated.

“The general economy is sound,” Sterling continued after polishing off several portions. “Our troops are well trained and equipped, and the land is secure, especially to the south, along the Gerwainian border.”

“I am overjoyed to hear such,” said Byrold wiping his mouth on a napkin as a servant took the remains of the first course away. The next course, stuffed Blue Beetle with pumpkin was brought it. The prince eyed this one a little less enthusiastically. The giant insects were never one of his favorites.

Sterling had no hesitation though, and cracked the thorax of one to reveal the firm white meat underneath.

Byrold refilled his glass and took another drink before taking a piece himself. “I hear the Swarm has been active south too.”

“You are correct sir,” Sterling spat a piece of chitin out. “They have raided Gerwain several times, though they are more a nuisance than anything to Emperor Keldric. Still, it diverts his attention from us, and that is all to the good.”

The door opened again, and servants brought in a large poached fish. Byrold eyed it uncertainly. “Remind me to update the kitchen staff about my taste in dining,” he said. He was not the greatest fan of seafood. Still, he scooped a chunk off and chewed on it as Sterling continued.

“There is reports of Creep to the north again, but my main concern is Eldra. My spies tell me she has been meeting with Duke Brone a lot of late.”

Byrold tapped his chin and thought for a moment. “Brone... Brone. He is the large fellow with a red beard yes? In charge of the Easteer provinces.”

Sterling stuffed some fish into his mouth and nodded. “You remember well sir. He is a man of basic beliefs, primarily that of the sword. A good man to have in times of war, though unimaginative. However, he distrusts magic, and he is ambitious. Your father kept a good eye on him. He told me he was considering moving him south, where he would be better employed guarding our border from a threat, rather than administering a peaceful rural area. It would keep his mind occupied, and distract him from thoughts unsafe for all.”

Byrold helped himself to some beetle. “And Eldra has been meeting with him has she? Interesting and a little worrying. The Easteer provinces command a sizable force, although they are not usually in a state of readiness.”

“As is the case now sire. Any major army needs are met by trained reserves, and called up from the Barons. Still, he does have a core force at his disposal, which is not to be overlooked.”

“Keep an eye on him, once I am crowned I will move him south, as my father was going to.”

Sterling nodded and ate another slice of fish. “In truth I will be relieved to see the coronation. Eldra's manouverings are making me uneasy, and without the king to counter her she has garnered favor with several powerful factions.”

Byrold frowned. “What of the clergy? Who is the Patriarch now?”

“That would be Farther Tred. A man of little guile, but rather too trusting and a little naive for such a post. I was rather surprised when the late king approved his selection. Still, he is a dedicated man, and I doubt Eldra would have any luck convincing him to overthrow you. He is too traditional.”

“That's some comfort anyway,” sighed the prince as more food was brought in. A large roast turkey, a look of surprise upon it's face, sat in a pool of sauce, garnished with potatoes. “Ahh, this is more like it!” He carved off a slice and chewed on it noisily.

“The mages are one faction that do not worry me,” said Sterling as he took one of the legs. “Your penchant for the mysterious arts is well known, and the wizards are firmly in your corner. Still, they are not the most powerful of voices in the city, and most of the populous distrust them.”

“Is the court wizard in residence?” asked Byrold.

Sterling shook his head. “He is to the north, helping fight the Creep.”

“What is this Creep?” asked the prince. “I have heard it mentioned several times, yet I don't know anything of it. Please elucidate”

“It is a strange thing my King. It first appeared several years ago in the far north, and caused considerable trouble before people became aware of the danger. It is a plant.”

“A plant? How dangerous can a plant be?”

“Please bear with my sire. It is a low lying plant, spreading very quickly along the ground, even sandy ground. It consumes all plant and animal life it can reach.”

“Wait a moment! You are saying it eats animals?? How can this be so?”

The two paused as more dishes were brought in. These were mainly glazed fruit, with whipped cream and honey glaze. Sterling took a plum and bit into it before continuing. “It eats animals and people your highness. It exudes some sort of gas that puts anyone breathing it into a slumber. If the affected soul is reached by the Creep, it burrows into the skin, with long hard tendrils. It is probably fortunate that the victim is unconscious throughout, for it would be an agonizing and slow death otherwise.”

“This is terrible! Where could such a thing come from?”

“We suspect rogue mages created it, possibly trying for some kind of weapon. The samples our wizards have examined show magical tampering. So far they have been unable to produce a counter to it.”

“And it spreads still?”

“It is sporadic your excellence. After the initial outbreak they thought they had contained it, but it has been appearing here and there, slowly moving south over time. We have had several outbreaks, but thanks to an extensive education program by your father, and citizen diligence, have contained them all.”

“How does one kill it?”

“Usually it takes a dedicated team. Several people with masks go in and dig it up and burn it. They have ropes tied around them, which are held by others further back. Should they become overwhelmed the worker is pulled back to a safe distance until he can recover. The gas by itself is not harmful. Still, it needs a large group, as killing it is slow work, and a large clump of Creep can spread nearly as quickly as it is dug up and destroyed. In some cases we have had to call in mages to start magical fires to slow the spread, though this has limited effect as they tend to only burn the surface, and the roots must also be dug up and killed.”

”What did my father do about this?” Byrold took a deep pull of his wine, concentrating on Sterling's words.

“We have an education program, especially with workers in the country, though this sort of thing gets about quickly anyway. Furthermore the old King has created teams of Creep Killers, in truth they are soldiers in various garrisons around country, who are ready to deal with any outbreaks once reported. They also patrol areas for new infections.”

Byrold ran his is fingers through his hair. “This sounds sensible, continue the program, and see I am informed about any new outbreaks.”

The two leaned back, sated, and talk turned to times passed. Eventually Byrold stood up and stretched. “I am for sleep,” he said. “Good night Sterling, it has been enjoyable seeing you once more.”

“My lord,” said Sterling, bowing.

Byrold strode back to his chambers. He was very tired, so he merely unslung his sword and fell onto the bed, intending to have a quick rest before disrobing...

>

Hands grabbed him and a foul smelling rag was stuffed into his mouth. Whilst he struggled futilely someone pulled a bag over his head, blacking out what little view he had.

“Come along your majesty, time for an unscheduled meeting,” said a voice in his ear.

He was manhandled by what felt like several strong men. A cord was wrapped around him, and his hands and legs were bound and immobilized. He managed to push the cloth out of his mouth and yelled for help.

“Quiet him! Quickly!” Came the voice, and pressure was brought to bear on his face, almost cutting off his air supply. He struggled for a moment before giving up and laying back limply.

The bag was raised a little, and the gag reinserted more securely before it was pulled down again.

“Hurry now, let's get him away,”the same voice hissed.

There was a grating sound, and he was picked up and carried by what felt like several people. They jostled him and at one point he was bumped against a wall. Cool air flowed around him, and footsteps echoed, as if his captors were heading downstairs.

The nightmare journey continued for at least 10 minutes. He was bounced and banged about as they seemed to travel through passageways. Sometimes they went up, sometimes down. At one point there was sound of running water and the splash of people running through puddles.

Finally there was the sound of a gate opening. “Stand back you!” said the voice to someone. A pause and Byrold was thrown heavily onto a hard cold floor.

“I will be back for you soon your highness,” came the voice. “For now, enjoy your rest.”

Another clang of metal, and the sound of a key turning, followed by footsteps receding.

Something stirred nearby and Byrold felt someone pulling at his hood. He blinked in the dim light, to see the concerned and bruised face of Hark looking down at him.

“Your highness! Are you alright? Did they hurt you?” Hark removed his gag and started working on the ropes binding the prince.

“Hark! What is going on? Who has done this?”

Hark looked grim. “I fear we underestimated Eldra. She has made an unexpected move. I was taken by surprise by her minions not more than 30 minutes ago, though several will not see the light of day again.” He stood back and helped the prince sit up as the last of the bonds fell away. “I suspect she intends to hold you here, causing you to fail to show for the coronation, at which time she can mount a legal challenge for the throne.”

Byrold looked around. They were in some chamber hacked out of rock. Around them metal bars ran from floor to roof to make an effective cage. “Where are we? And why are we still alive?”

“Some hidden chamber. The palace is riddled with secret passages and rooms such as this. As for why we are here and not dead...” Hark shrugged. “Killing you would be an irrevocable act, perhaps she is being cautious.”

“And why are you here?”

Hark shrugged again. “As to that, I don't know. Perhaps she plans to use me against you. She may be reluctant to torture your highness, but I am expendable. Should it ever come to that sire, do not relent, no matter what they do to me.”

Byrold rubbed his wrists and spat. “We have to get out,” he said, stating the obvious.

Hark smiled. “Actually that is something I can help with,” he whispered. “I could have escaped before, but I suspected they would bring you in, so I was waiting. Come.”

He walked up to the gate and peered through the bars, checking for guards. No one appeared to be about. He pushed the gate and it swung open.

“How?” Asked Byron.

Hark grinned and fiddled with the door, pulling out a small piece of stiff leather. “I managed to stuff this into the lock when they brought me in. The simplest ones are the best. It stopped it locking properly.”

Byrold smiled. “Come, let us move quickly then, before they discover we have escaped.”

Hark closed the door behind them. “Let them think you have magicked us out,” he said.

“Ha! I wish my powers were up to that level!”

The two moved forward slowly, taking a torch from the wall to light the way. Hark took the lead, and they walked out into a stone tunnel that stretched off into the dark.

Hark made a gesture and they jogged quietly up the passage until they approached a crossroads where he held up a finger to his lips. Byrold cocked his head and listened. Someone was approaching from the right.

“Move back down the passage,” whispered Hark. “Take the torch with you, I will deal with this.”

Byrold nodded and retreated as Hark pushed himself up against the wall.

The footsteps grew closer, a single set. As a figure rounded the corner Hark leaped into action, jumping out and swinging his hand around in a chop at neck level, smashing into the throat of the guard, who fell backwards.

Hark knelt over him and took his head in his arms. A quick twist and it was all over. Byrold hurried up as Hark handed him the guards dagger. The sword he took for himself.

Leaving the body where it was they moved on, through a twisting maze of tunnels. It took them a goodly portion of an hour to find an exit, but they finally stuck their heads up into a stone room, somewhere near the courtyard.

“Where to your highness?” whispered Hark. “We need be careful, no telling who is in on this plot. Eldra has been busy.”

“Who can I trust that has enough power to back me? I am loath to start a civil war, but I must have backing or I am done for.”

Hark considered. “There is Councilor Merkon, he is a powerful and influential man in the city, much admired. His voice carries a lot of weight, yet he does not command many men at arms. On the other hand there is Marshal Ren. Most troops admire him, and he is known to dislike Eldra. However I do not know for sure his position on yourself.”

“The mages! I could go to the wizards council. They would support me,” said Byron.

“True, yet they are not a major power in the city, and they are not overly loved by the people. You could go to the Patriarch, I am fairly certain he would support you, and the citizens would listen to him.”

“But would Eldra and her allies?”

“That I am not certain of. How about we seek out Eldra herself? A sweep of my sword would end this.” Hark branded his captured weapon.

“Yet she is not foolish, she would be on her guard now. More so if they discover we are gone.”

“It is true,” said Byron, ducking down as someone passed nearby. On the run in his own castle! Getting to be king was not something that was proving to be an easy task. He looked about. Where to go? Who would his best hope of support?

>>>>>>

Treachery! Who should he turn to for help? Suggestions as usual pleaes!!

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