The Exodus Sagas: Book II - Of Dragons And Crowns (19 page)

“L
et’s see them come through that.
Well done men, well done.” Capitan Jean-Ris looked to the upper story of the tower, seeing a pair of wizardly figures looking down. Cheers went up from the guards of Kalzarius, and the capitan bowed to his masters from far below in the courtyard. He smiled, hearing the reloading of catapults mixed with yelling of orders and confusion from the Harlaheim siege army.
“Prepare for another bombardment men! Take some food while they reload!”
The Capitan knew that Kalzarius had sealed the lower hidden entrances with magical stone, so the only way in was this way. He did not intend for anyone to get past he or the men and into the tower, not without a fight.

LCMVXI
ILCMVXIILCMVXIILCMVX

Cristoff walked out of his tent since he could not sleep with the sun shining, despite being worn and
tired from the hard ride the night
before. His shoulders ached from wearing his suit of battle armor for over full day, and his body felt lighter having it off for the time being. The Lord of Saint Erinsburg had prayed for nearly an hour for the safe journey to the mountain and for his cousin’s broken heart to heal. He had asked Alden to show his will and guidance to all in Harlaheim, for he knew that
war
was certain in these dark days ahead. Cristoff had seen plenty of treasons and political wars in the kingdom, in fact they had never really stopped. Yet, for the aging lord, the troubles had never been this close to him nor had he ever risked his honor or title to help those that were wanted, unjust as he knew it to be.
James had told him of the scroll that they carried, of its importance and history thus far, and what they had
been through to get it to this point. The Harlian lord believed this devout knight, and also saw the honor and bravery in what he and his companions were tasked with. He had no doubt that God had placed him here to
help them, and C
ristoff had no intention of letting them fail. As for his cousin, a man more pious and devoted than even himself, he knew there was wrong in what he had done. Savanno should have made better decisions in love, should have left with Rosana years ago or announced his marriage. His sacrifice and silence had doomed her and torn his life apart like a raging storm. Still, Cristoff could not let his closest friend down, not for love; even though there was a time the two
both
had feelings for the same princess of Caberra. That was long ago, and the lord held nothing but love for his cousin with whom he went to console with in private about his grief.
Walking through the tent entrance, Cristoff froze with fear.

“Where is my cousin Lord Savanno, sergeant?”

The soldie
r turned and bowed, stopping him
in his packing of gear onto the horses. “My lord, he left with two hours ago as per your wishes.”

Cristoff looked for a moment, thinking his words could be a jest of some sort. He noticed half his horses and men were not accounted for at first glance. “What wishes would those be, sergeant? Be serious now.”

“Lord Savanno headed back to Harlaheim, my lord. He and ten of our number rode out earlier; they left to get the queen and meet us home in Saint Erinsburg, as you ordere
d. Is that not correct sire?” t
he Harlian
veteran looked confused at his lord’s questioning, and began to worry that he had made a mistake.

Cristoff stood for a moment, realizing what had happened.
He had never thought his cousin, the Lord Knight Errant of Harlaheim and high knight of the Order of Saint Tarumin
,
would ever lie or mislead anyone. He smiled, for in this circumstance, who would not be driven by rage and love to do something so akin to madness. “No soldier, it was not correct. It is not your fault; I should have seen it coming. My only concern is that we shall not see him again, or our men.”

“
My apologies my lord, but he swore that these were your orders and not to wake any of you due to the long journey ahead.
Shall I prepare the others to trail him to the city and stop-“

“No. No, he would be well in the city before we arrived. If we enter, these companions will be arrested and we could only ruin his chances of success, and those are miniscule at best already.” Cristoff chuckled and looked to the mountain behind him.

“I am sorry sire. He is your cousin, we could s
end riders ahead if you wish.” t
he sergeant hung his head low, feeling incompetent for believing the knight of Harlaheim.

“There is no apology needed. Let us prepare the remaining men, the mountain is our dutied road this day
. We have only half a day left, and I wish to reach
the summit before nightfall
. Make ready th
e men and our foreign allies.” t
he noble lord knew that it was out of his hands, and that even if Savanno succeeded, he would lead the kings men to his city. If he were not at his keep, there would be much to implicate him, and much questioning. Cristoff
smiled,
feeling
glad his family was far away from all of it, safe in Caberra.

Saberrak the gray
stepped out of his tent, stretching his arms and chest wide, greataxe in hand. The minotaur went to see what it was this lord was looking at over the
valley they had traversed late
in the
dark
before camp. The human man, graying hair and small crown adorned, turned and gave a slight bow to the minotaur. Saberrak was confused, for no one bowed to him, ever. “Why do you bow to me, human? You are the lord of somewhere, not me.”

“I give respect to honor and bravery, Saberrak the gray. You and your friends have been through much, and it seems you have prevailed despite great odds and risk. I admire that, I always have.” Cristoff patted the minotaur on the shoulder, a bit higher than he was used to however.
“Being human has nothing to do with honor or bravery.”

“You let Savanno le
ave to Harlaheim, didn’t you?” t
he minotaur looked at the lord, trying to see if he was an honest man.

“No, I did not. Though, presented with what he wished to do, I most likely would have.
I know what it is to love, to lose and want it back. I do not have any reference in my life as to what he is feeling
now. My prayers go with him.” h
is face stern now, thinking of the thousands that moved around the city, and what would happen if Savanno were spotted.

“Will you be going to get your army and assist him for this woman?” Saberrak snorted, expecting more human folly of love and stupidity.

“No. By the time we assembled my men in Saint Erinsburg and headed to the capital, it would be all over, one way or the other. I have my mission, and that is to get you and your scroll safely to the mountain. I hope to see my cousin and the queen alive, but that is in Gods hands now.”

“Hrrmmpph.” t
he minotaur walked away to get the others, surprised once again at human’s reliance on their Gods, rash actions pertaining to
women, and issues of family a
nd loyalty. This one, Cristoff,
he thought he could trust.
.

LCMVXIIL
CMVXIILCMVXIILCMVX

The metal clank of heavy footsteps in plate armor echoed in the small corridors of L’Herrim dungeon. Torches flickered, men moaned and argued from their cells
, and the royal guard of the castle opened the doors for their king. Richmond was escorted by six of his own men to the upper dungeon, which was more of a holding area, not as filthy as the lower cells meant for those that would not see the light of day for many years
,
if ever. They marched up the stone stairs to the northern tower of the prison wing, Richmond doing his best to look wracked with defeat and overcome with depression.

The guard leading the procession set his halberd aside, removed his metal gauntlet, and reached for the keys once more to open the thick iron barred oak door the queen
’
s prison chamber. The wood moaned low as it opened, revealing a dark room, small and lit only by a barred window high above the reach of anyone. Rosana
lay on the bed staring back at the king from a curled sitting position with her knees pulled close to her chin. The blankets were insufficient for the
moist
chill in the room, and besides a chamber pot and a chair, the bed was all there was to the cell.

“Fetch more blankets for the queen please.” Richmond gave the order, but heard no movements from the guards.

“My king, we are under order of your seneschal to-“

“I am aware of it! A simple kindness should not require an order of authority, no
w
get
the queen more blankets man!” h
is anger shone bright in his eyes and quick from his lips. The king stood still in the door until he heard them whisper and then the steps leaving from one guard to do as he had asked.

“Do not pretend to have care for my comfort, bastard! I see through your act where others may not.” Rosana glared at him, wishing she had a knife to throw at his throat. Her crown lay on the floor, she thought of it, but decided it would not kill him so she remained on the bed.

“My queen, do not judge me so harshly, for you are not the only one-“

“Burn in hell Richmond! I care not of anything that happens to you, save that I get to s
ee it when they kill you too.” h
er tears ran down her face, wishing she had the energy to strangle the young noble here in her cell.

“Florin has taken
power, I have been restrained to my quarter
s Rosana.” h
e moved to the bed, despite her inching to the far opposite corner as if he were the devil himself.

“You gave the order for her to search my room, and signed the order for my execution
! You were still in power
then you evil son of a bitch!” s
he felt her belly, wishing Savanno was here with a blade through her kings chest.

“That is before I knew of the child that you carry. I know it is not mine, it could not be. You have been far from what I would expect of a queen, Rosana. However, I cannot kill a woman bearing a child, one that is
heir to the throne at least.” h
e tried to calm her torrent of hostility with reassurance as best he could.

“So am I to be executed then?”

“No, I will stay the order with the bishop
and plead with Florin. Trust me, I want my kingdom out of the hands of the seneschal and the church. With Savanno fleeing, the siege on Kalzarius, and Florin assuming power over me; I need allies that I do not possess to reverse what has happened.” Richmond did his best act to seem pathetic and frustrated.

“And what of Savanno? Is he to be executed?” Rosana did not believe that this young Harlian noble was capable of any compassion, but at this vulnerable state she would listen to anything.

“If we can regain the thrones and power, Rosana, what would you have a king do?”
h
e forced some tears, false and empty, but
water
trickled from his eyes nonetheless.

“Let us leave together, say we’ve run off to sanctuary of another kingdom, say we were killed, I
do not care how you spin it.” s
he sobbed, wanting to see her secret husband once again and for this to have all been a bad dream.

“You will have to sign papers stati
ng the child is illegitimate.” h
e sighed, as if the weight of this was killing him.

“I will sign anything you wish Richmond, as long as I leave your kingdom with Sav
anno safely, never to return.” h
er hopes began to rise,
feeling like this might not be the end after all.

“All we need now is someone to rescue us from this power that Florin holds. Savan
n
o lives, for I know that he killed Sir Bernardus. If the stay of execution was kept private, will he come for you?” Richmond was curious to see how deep the feelings went in this affair of hers. He admired her dark hair, long wavy and curled in places, and her rich
brown eyes that were puffy and swollen from crying.
It was hard for him not to smile at her anguish.

“Of cour
se he will, he is my husband.” s
he lowered her head and began to sob again, the pain of all this far too much for her.

“Husband? How, when?” the king was shocked, to say the least. He had not any notion of an illegal marriage between the two, just that what Florin had proven to him of an affair.

“We were married in Caberra two years before your father and my father talked. My father would never let me marry anything besides wealthy nobility, but I loved Savanno, and he loved me. We were wed in secret there, and then you happened. It was not my intent or wish, and please do not lie to me and say that your heart is broken. I know you despise me a
s much as I do you, Richmond.” s
he stared at him, feeling free and relieved of the truth, finally.

Richmond thought long and hard, furrowing his brow in silence. He looked at his wife, who he now realized belonged to another man, and sighed with an obvious false smile. “Well, that answers a lot of things for me then.”