XVI. "Calm down. There's nothing to gain by panicking."
Laire Allicran's voice was strong and firm, the perfect tone for commanding men. This was what he was good at, quelling doubt and uncertainty in times of trouble. And this was certainly such a time. He stood facing Chief Adviser Kurt, and two other advisors whose names he could not place at the moment, in the King's private apartments.
He walked over to the bay windows along the north wall, floor-to-ceiling panes of glass overlooking a garden of topiaries below. The early morning sunshine had barely cleared the high walls around the garden, and most of the sculpted bushes were still in shadow, the monster they represented seemingly asleep. The knight ran his hands through his hair, feeling the start of a migraine.
And I woke up feeling really good too....
With a sigh, Laire turned back to Kurt, his mind already laying out the plans. "Okay. What time was the King last seen?"
"Well, the maid sent to wake up the King this morning reported his absence," Kurt, usually self-assured, stumbled over his reply. "That was the first we knew."
Laire muttered a curse under his breath, "And the suspects? Have they been questioned?"
All three advisers nodded, but it was Kurt who voiced a reply. "They know nothing. The chief cook, a maid, and one of the guards...all three have been found dazed and claimed no memory of what had happened. They're in the hospital wing right now."
"Kidnapped...." Laire said. It's the only logical thing, of course. Someone had the gall as well as the skill to penetrate the Castle's defenses and take the King out unseen. "I expect we'll be contacted with a ransom demand soon," he finally said. "Until then, keep all this under close wraps."
Kurt nodded and started giving out instructions to his two assistants. The two men--Tieran and Eltor, Laire now remembered--bowed and took leave of them, their purple robes of office swishing across the carpeted floor. Kurt remained, waiting for Laire.
"I want to talk to the three." Not waiting for a reply from the advisor, the knight commander swept out of the chamber. The advisor followed close behind him.
The palace staff continued about their business normally, Laire noted, as they made their way through the castle. The advisers had done a good job in keeping the incident as secret as possible. Still, Laire knew that the walls have ears everywhere, and it would be only a matter of time until the vultures got wind of the situation.
Syn's Sword of Guidance would be back today, and Valcrist's Valor would arrive within the week, Laire thought, Those companies, along with my Sword of Virtue could surely hold the crown safe from any usurpers. But civil war must be avoided at all costs, until we can get the King back.
They stepped out into the main hall of the castle, and a blue object collided with Laire, bouncing harmlessly off his steel breastplate.
"You didn't catch it, Uncle Laire!" cried a disappointed little voice.
Laire saw the voice's owner standing a few feet away, her pet poring contentedly bouncing around her feet: Princess Tara, only heir to the throne of the Commonwealth. She would be too young to accept the crown.
"Oh, good morning, Little Princess!" He forced a smile as the Princess gleefully leaped into his arms, planting a kiss on his bearded cheek with a loud smack.
Princess Tara leaped back, laughing. "Yay! You're having breakfast with me and Daddy again!"
"Uhuh!" Laire smiled again. His head ached with a dull pain that throbbed against the inside of his forehead.
"Race you to the table!" Princess Tara, a veritable ball of energy in a bright blue dress. "Come, Peery!" she called to her poring companion, who was only to happy to bounce along with her.
Laire stooped to pick up the blue ball that had rolled behind one of the potted plants along the hallway, watching the princess disappear around the bend in the corridor.
She has to be protected at all costs. It's what Tristram would have wanted.
"Adviser Kurt," he began, his eyes looking straight at the purple-robed man beside him.
He paused.
The other Sword commanders would probably support him. And this appears to be the only way he can protect the Crown and the welfare of the Commonwealth in this time of crisis.
Chief Adviser Kurt Fenwick was waiting for what he had to say. And his headache was getting worse.
"How do I assume stewardship of the throne until such time as the King returns or Tara is fit to rule?"
Laire didn't notice it, but Kurt's eyes misted over tearfully as he nodded his understanding, and then launched into a droning monologue.
end of act two. please stay tuned as act three starts!
