The Crystal Legacy (Book 2) (23 page)

“Don’t be ridiculous, we all send spies when possible, but no prince would assume such a clandestine duty. You’d do well to have a lot of answers before the sun sets.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The chatra turned to the door.

“You’re not dismissed. You’ll accompany us back to the audience for the moment.”

The humiliated chatra bowed low, holding the bow until the king passed before him, then followed at the appropriate distance.

The king returned to his throne.

“We hope Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin will recover soon. We understand she’s been very ill. Your Highness must convey to her majesty our warmest regards and wishes for full recovery immediately upon your return to Konnotan. We insist you stay with us at the palace and dine with us tonight.”

Grekenbach turn to the chatra. “The Lord Chatra will now personally attend to our most honored guests. Arrange for a state dinner this evening. You may withdraw to make the preparations.”

Saxthor bowed. “We thank you again for your most gracious hospitality, Majesty.”

Grekenbach bowed slightly and nodded to the chatra, signaling dismissal.

*

The chatra almost tripped over his feet rushing from the audience hall. He settled the troupe in the palace apartments and hurried back to his office. There he fumed and paced, finally summoning his chief assistants and other attendants.

“You, find out everything about this Prince Saxthor and his relationship to the Neuyokkasinian throne.”

The man disappeared.

“You there, go to the kitchens. Tell the staff to arrange a feast for fifty for this evening, for fifty people, you hear me? There’ll be four guests of honor at the king’s table. Move!”

More assistants sent their underlings to invite courtiers to the state dinner in the great hall. All Portapang Palace was in an uproar.

“After half a century of mistrust and suspicion, a Neuyokkasinian prince pops up a hero here in Portapang Palace, and I’m the last to know. Next to last, it seems. For my immediate future, I can imagine exile in some remote village on the Hadorian border. Just wait until I get my hands on Tossledorn’s commander.”

He wandered off down a hall, heading no place in particular.

*

King Grekenbach and Saxthor liked each other immediately. However, not wanting to focus excessive attention to the prince’s unannounced visit, the king listened to the other supplicants and petitioners until a reasonable time had passed. While he listened to the appeals and requests, the king was sorting through possibilities and implications. The possibilities expanded in his mind.

The chatra had better have answers when we meet in the council chamber, he thought.

*

Saxthor and Bodrin shared a suite of prestigious rooms in the lavish palace. They dressed in formal court attire laid out for them when they returned from bathing.

“The jewels!” Saxthor said. “I forgot and left the jewels in my tunic.”

Perspiration beaded up on his face. He quickly checked the room, but servants had taken his dirty clothing. Bodrin emerged from the dressing room wearing a towel, and seeing Saxthor frantically searching, laughed.

“It’s funny to you, is it? Well the jewels are missing with my clothes.” Saxthor continued searching. Items flew in the air, the innocent recipients of Saxthor’s frustration. “How could I be so careless?”

“This what you’re looking for?” Bodrin asked through his impish smile.

He held up the tunic, the jewels still sewn in the pockets. Saxthor ran over and grabbed the wet shirt.

“What’s this?”

“The attendant came in with these clothes while you were in the bath. I saw him pick up your tunic, and grabbed it, telling him it was your lucky piece and that you couldn’t be without it.

“I owe you!”

“The man smiled and accepted the explanation,” Bodrin explained, still sporting his bad-boy grin. “I washed it while you were dressing and hung back here to dry so no one would disturb it.”

“I was about to slaughter everyone in Portapang to find those jewels. Good thing you were here when the attendant came in.”

There was a knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Bodrin asked, still in his towel.

“It’s me, you idiot,” Tonelia snapped.

“Sounds like something’s wrong and I’m in no mood for questions,” Saxthor said. He grinned at Bodrin’s shocked face before he fled into the dressing room.

“Come in.”

The door swung open and there stood Tonelia in a gown like no other. The image stunned Saxthor. He realized they’d traveled so long in camping clothes he hadn’t thought of Tonelia as a lady. What a vision of loveliness she was.

Tonelia’s dark hair hung in curls around her shoulders, framing her smooth, olive complexion. The royal blue gown she wore had a tight bodice, full in the chest but low cut to accentuate her delicate attributes. The pleated gown flowed from the tiny waist, fanning out and edged in ruffles ending in a two-foot train. Matching gloves and slippers completed the outfit. In her hand was an elfin bracelet of intricately woven gold and dotted with sapphires. A matching gold necklace supporting one large and two slightly smaller teardrop sapphires adorned her neck, as did the matching teardrop earrings. A stunning solitaire sapphire ring completed the set. No courtly maiden that day could compare to the beauty that stood in the doorway.

“I can’t get this stupid bracelet to fasten no matter what I do. Can you fix it? The necklace was a royal pain, if you’ll excuse my language, but I can’t hold this thing and work the catch, too. How do they expect me to wear all this stuff?” Tonelia looked up.

From her reaction, Saxthor realized she knew he’d seen her as a woman for the first time. She blushed, turned, and started out the door.

“You go on to the dinner and I’ll be right behind you,” she said over her shoulder. She sped off down the corridor.

“You can come out now. She’s gone.”

Bodrin crept around the dressing room door, peeking first to be sure, she wasn’t there. “How did she look?”

“You’ll see at dinner.”

A servant came with Tournak to escort the men to the palace dining hall. The three handsome men entered the room in formal dinner attire. The chamberlain announced them to the hastily assembled dignitaries. The men were greeting the nobility when the chamberlain’s staff clacked on the marble floor.

“Miss Tonelia Tezentok de Hoya,” the court chamberlain said to the hushed and stunned crowd.

Tonelia stood erect, holding a delicate fan in front of the elegant sweeping gown that outlined her figure in the doorway. Her black hair, now swept up in a cone held up by two gold combs, was lustrous in the candlelight. After surveying the room for her companions, Tonelia crossed the floor to them, the trailing gown shimmering with each step.

Bodrin stood transfixed.

Saxthor looked first at Tonelia, then turned to Bodrin. Bodrin, in a trance, only saw Tonelia. Saxthor had to nudge him twice to get his attention.

“You might want to go escort her over here.”

“Right!”

Bodrin bolted over to Tonelia and wouldn’t leave her side.

As the hall continued to buzz, the chamberlain announced the king and countess, his escort. The couple entered and took their places at the head banquet table. The guests of honor sat at the head table with the king, countess, Grand Duchess Klekkenska, and chatra. Other dignitaries sat by rank along the tables radiating before the king’s table.

The feast was a grand spectacle worthy of a royal court. The dancers were an excellent troupe, both dancing and performing graceful acrobatics. The music was as rich as the splendid table settings and resplendent wall tapestries.

King Grekenbach chatted with Saxthor, the chatra chatted with Tournak, and the Count of Nindwak chatted with Bodrin through the evening. Saxthor realized his host wanted the guests to feel welcome but also to discover the nature and reason for a prince of Neuyokkasinians to visit the court of Graushdem.

*

After the guests retired to their suites, the king summoned the chatra and Count Nindwak to the council chamber. “Did you determine from the conversations the nature of Prince Saxthor’s visit?”

In the end, all they got was the prince was traveling unofficially on holiday to see the countryside. King Grekenbach talked with Saxthor in private at breakfast the next morning.

“Prince Saxthor, we must ask again what the nature of your visit is. You must know there have been no formal relations between our kingdoms for two generations. Frankly, your presence here has alarmed our councilors.”

“Again, I must say we’re traveling unofficially on holiday. I never intended to create a diplomatic incident, Your Majesty.” Saxthor said no more.

King Grekenbach studied Saxthor for a moment. I know the young man has another agenda, but Saxthor looked me in the eye. I am a shrewd judge of character. I have survived, surrounded by greater and more dangerous neighbors, through my ability to judge men. Whatever the young man’s purpose for being in Graushdem, it is not hostile or dangerous to the kingdom.

“Ultimately, we believe your visit is innocent, and we shall allow you and your party to travel through Graushdem unobstructed. There’s a trust and respect among men of honor. We believe we have established such a relationship with you, Prince Saxthor of Neuyokkasin. Though barely begun in this short visit, we hope to nurture that relationship through a lifetime.”

Saxthor smiled, shaking hands with King Grekenbach. “Let it be so, Majesty. Let this be a new beginning for both our kingdoms.”

*

With the king’s approval and best wishes for a splendid holiday, Saxthor and his companions left Graushdemheimer later that day.

“I’m refreshed and ready to continue the mission,” Saxthor said. “The king’s cellars provided rich foods and supplies for our travels.”

“Yes, but that banquet last night, now that was a real feast,” Bodrin said. He pulled Tonelia to his side and wrapped his arm around her waist. She slipped her arm around his, and they walked as one along the road together.

Tournak walked by the couple and patted Bodrin on the shoulder as he moved up beside Saxthor. “King Grekenbach was quick to welcome former adversaries appearing unexpected and unannounced at court.”

“It concerns me also, Tournak. I think his welcome was genuine. Perhaps this provided an opportunity to open relations with Neuyokkasin he already considered. In any case, I’m sure he has his agents among those ardent admirers behind us reporting on our activities.”

“You’re becoming a diplomat.”

Saxthor laughed. He looked back at the followers’ faces. Then there was that shadowy figure following in the trees beside their trail. The king didn’t send that one. For the time being, they’d stay on the main road since their visit through Graushdem was now semi-official.

Halfway across Graushdem, on the road to the Wizard’s Hall ruins, most of the exuberant crowd had moved on to other entertainment, but half a dozen diehards hung on. In the shadowy light at dusk, Saxthor spotted the dark figure still following.

“We need to slip away from all these eyes,” Saxthor said to Tournak, close at his side where the Graushdemians couldn’t hear. “The followers report our movements within the kingdom, I’m sure.”

Tournak looked back at Bodrin and Tonelia, then at the others chatting and following behind. “You’re right about that.”

Saxthor turned back and announced to all. “We’ll be staying at a roadside inn tonight. Tournak, go ahead and forewarn the innkeeper.”

Saxthor, Bodrin, and Tonelia stopped to rest under a large tree just off the road. Tonelia fixed refreshments, and the group chatted with their entourage. Tournak secretly scouted ahead for a route that would allow them to disappear into the woods without notice. After he made arrangements, Tournak returned, leading the group to the inn.

That night the travelers indulged in another feast. They had a splendid time celebrating with the villagers and picking up local gossip, establishing they were enjoying their holiday.

“We’ll probably sleep late in the morning,” Saxthor announced so all could hear. “We haven’t slept in beds since that glorious visit with King Grekenbach.” He lifted his mug and toasted King Grekenbach, then lowered his voice. “Tournak, drink and stumble about as if drunk.”

“As you command, Highness.” Grinning, Tournak lifted his mug and downed the contents.

“That’ll do Tournak.”

The Neuyokkasinian visitors retired that evening, certain their plans had reached the watchers. In their rooms, the four went to bed for a short rest. About three in the morning, Saxthor woke and awakened Bodrin and Tournak. Bodrin tapped on the wall to awaken Tonelia. Having packed the night before, they met outside Tonelia’s room.

“Leave this note for the innkeeper, Bodrin,” Saxthor said. “It says we decided on an early departure after all. We paid for the rooms last night, so there should be no suspicion of our trying to sneak out. The last thing we want is bad feelings or suspicions among the Graushdemians. The king trusts us to behave honorably, and I’ll not jeopardize King Grekenbach’s trust. I think he’ll understand our slipping away.”