Justus, Philip, Paulus, and Anna rode into Archella
shortly after midday. This time the streets were fairly empty, quite a contrast
from last time. Even the few villagers who were in the streets paid them no
attention, aside from an occasional stare toward Philip.
“Odd,” Justus said.
“Yeah,” Philip said. “It’s like they don’t even know you
anymore.”
As the horses passed under the portcullis of the castle,
Justus was surprised to see dozens of foreigners milling about the
courtyard—burly warriors with white skin and long black hair. On closer look,
their eyes appeared equally dark as their hair. He took special note of the
wicked weapons hanging from their belts.
“Wow, look at that!” Paulus said. He turned this way and
that, gaping at the newcomers. “Look at those daggers! Look at those jewels!”
Justus didn’t know why, but for some reason he did not
like Paulus being so enamored with these strangers.
Anna said, “Who are they?”
“I don’t know. Philip?”
Philip had no answer, but his uneasiness showed on his
face. No wonder, Justus thought. The
more he watched the strangers, the more he noticed how intently they stared at
Philip.
Trying to ease Philip’s worries, Justus said. “It’s
probably nothing. You’re the only Temanite in the country. Can’t really blame
them, I guess.”
Philip did not seem convinced.
Leaving their horses at the stablehouse, Justus led his
friends toward the palace. The Rygian guard at the palace door gave Justus a
nod when he passed through.
“Well, at least someone remembers me,” Justus said
good-naturedly. But the guard did not seem amused.
When they reached the closed doors of the great hall,
they found two hefty foreigners standing guard, holding long spears in their
hands. As Justus reached past them to open the door, the guards crossed their
spears in front of him.
“I would speak to Regent Vance,” Justus said.
“The regent is in conference with my liege,” one of the
big men answered.
“And who might your liege be?”
“The prince of Caledron.”
Caledron? Justus
had never heard of the place. Looking to Philip, he gave a start.
All the blood had drained from Philip’s face.
“What is it, Philip?” Justus asked.
Philip leaned in close and whispered, “We should leave
this place right now.”
“Why? I’ve come to see Vance, and I intend to do so.” To
the guards, he said, “Announce to the regent that I desire audience with him.
I’ll wait.”
“And who might you be?”
“General Corden!” he snapped.
The guards looked him up and down. By the looks on their
faces, Justus could’ve sworn they’d heard his name before. One of them went
into the great hall and shut the door behind himself.
Philip pulled Justus aside. “I’m telling you, General,
do not stay. We can come back another day.”
“What’s bothering you, Philip? What do you know about
Caledron?”
Philip glanced at the Caledronian guard, who had not
stopped staring at him. “Not here. Wait until we leave the city.”
“I’m not scared off so easily. Besides, I want to meet
this prince of theirs. You can wait out here if you want.”
The first guard returned and said, “The prince will see
you now.”
Presumptious,
Justus thought. He had never told them he wanted to see their prince, only
Regent Vance. He stepped in.
Philip began to turn Anna and Paulus away, but the
guards stepped around them and ushered them all into the great hall behind
Justus, nudging them with the hafts of their spears.
Justus walked right up to the dais, between dozens of
Caledronian warriors seated at tables and standing here and there. Regent Vance
and a few other barons sat at the high table on the dais. Several parchments
were spread out before them.
Justus noticed that three of the eight barons were
missing. Godfrey—typical. Beary, who
was dead. And Alton.
I wonder why he’s
not here.
But more than that, he noticed a strange newcomer seated
among them. He looked much like the other Caledronians except that his hair was
short. Justus also noticed that this particular Caledronian had not stopped
staring at him. Justus returned the stare.
The young newcomer’s eyes were deep and dark, offset by
his pale skin. His glare seemed almost magnetic. He wore a silvery shirt left
open at the neck, revealing a circle dragon pendant on a torque. Over the shirt
he wore a black leather vest riddled with iron studs.
But what Justus noticed most of all was the chill that
had settled in the room. He shuddered.
Vance said, “Ah, General Corden, I’m glad you’ve come.
May I introduce you to Prince Letah Drahkôn of Caledron.”
One corner of the prince’s mouth turned upward. “So this
is the infamous Corden the Conqueror.”
Justus said nothing. He didn’t know why, but he disliked
this prince immediately.
“General!” Vance said. “Have you no word of greeting?”
Before Justus could speak, Anna and the others were
brought to stand before the table, next to Justus.
The prince’s eyes immediately fixed on Anna. He slowly
rose to his feet. “And who might this flower be?”
Vance said, “This is General Corden’s daughter, Anna.”
“A-a-a-n-n-n-a-a.” Letah drawled the name as though it
were a draught of fine wine to be savored slowly. He beckoned with his hand.
“Come, my child. Let us look at you.”
Anna didn’t move.
Letah said, “There, there, child, do not be afraid.”
To Justus, the prince’s voice reminded him of the
hissing of a snake.
“Come, Anna,” Letah said. “All I wish is to give you a
proper greeting. Bring your friends if it will make you feel better.”
No one moved.
With a worried look on his face, Vance said, “Forgive
them, Your Highness, they must be tired from their journey. General Corden, how
dare you treat this man so impolitely!”
Letah said, “Do not concern yourself, I can go to them
just as easily.” He made his way around the table and approached the group, his
eyes devouring Anna all the while. He stopped within arm’s reach of her.
At the same time, Justus noticed that several of the
Caledronian guards had positioned themselves behind him and his companions,
leaving them no room to escape.
Letah said, “Now, beautiful golden flower, I give you
greetings from my native homeland, far across the Great Sea.” He gave a slight
bow of his head, never letting his eyes leave hers. He extended his hand.
Justus saw that Anna’s gaze was fixed on the prince’s
eyes. She wasn’t smiling. She just stared blankly at him. Slowly her hand began
to rise and stretch toward him. Their fingertips nearly touched.
Justus calmly wrapped his own hand around hers and
returned it to her side. Anna shook herself and gave a shudder. The prince’s
eyes flashed hotly at Justus.
“Excuse us,” Justus said. “We are tired from our
journey. If you have no further need for me, Vance, we’ll be going.”
“Not so fast, General!” Letah said. “You have not
introduced me to the rest of your party.” He stepped in front of Philip, his
gaze moving from the top of Philip’s brown hair all the way to his feet and
back again. “You are a long way from home, my sordid Temanite friend.”
Philip swallowed hard, his face ashen.
Letah moved to stand directly in front of Paulus. A
smile grew on his face. “And who is this prodigy? I can see by the look of you
that you have a promising future. There is the air of a great warrior about
you. How did you find yourself with these underlings?”
Justus was glad to hear Paulus give no response.
Letah said, “If you are willing, I would take you back
to Caledron with me. We could teach you so much more than you can learn here.
We have ties not only to your land but also to the two continents across the
Great Sea. We have the best weapons instructors of the world. I could make you
the greatest warrior of history.”
Paulus never flinched.
Anna’s knees gave out from under her. “Father…” She
grasped at Philip, who supported her.
Vance said, “Oh, the poor girl. Have her sit down. Bring
refreshment.”
It was just the distraction Justus needed. He whispered
to Philip, “Take her home. Paulus, you too.”
While the Caledronians made way for a chair to be
brought to Anna, Philip rushed her and Paulus out the door. The guards made to
stop them, but Justus planted himself in front of the Caledronian prince, hand
on the hilt of his sword, glaring.
“Let them go,” Letah said. He returned to his seat at
the high table. As he sat, he resumed his stare at Justus, fingers drumming on
the table.
Vance looked unhappy as well. “General Corden, I’m
surprised at you. The Caledronians have given us a most generous trade offer. They’ve
brought a great deal of goods, things Rygia desperately needs, and are willing
to wait until summer to receive their payment in Rygian gold. Here we are, finalizing
the agreement, and you come insulting His Highness with your impudent behavior.
I find the prince most gracious in not taking offense and leaving Rygia on the
spot.”
Justus only heard Vance’s speech up to one point, on
which his mind had riveted. “What gold?”
“Ah, yes, you’ve been away. We have discovered gold in
the mine.” Vance motioned toward a cart sitting near the table.
Justus examined the contents of the cart. Something
about this whole situation did not sit easily on his spirit. To the councilmen,
he said, “Would it not be wise to give more consideration to this?”
“The papers are already signed,” Drake said.
“What?” Justus said. “Without the presence of the entire
council? You can’t make decisions without a full representation of—”
Drake said, “Alton and Godfrey are the only members
missing from this council. The position held by the late Councilman Beary has
not yet been filled. King Medan is dead. Five of us are in attendance, and all
of us are in complete agreement. A majority decision has been reached without
the necessity of all being in attendance.”
For once in his life, Justus wished his old nemesis
Baron Godfrey were there. He would never let this happen. With his pride and
arrogance, he’d never condescend to dependency on foreigners. Especially ones
they knew so little about.
Glancing from one councilman’s hardened eyes to another,
Justus felt a heaviness settle deep in the pit of his stomach.
