A couple hours after Matthew’s daily duties ended, he could always be found in his favorite bar, Grove Stone. Tonight, was like any other night for him except he was drinking with a prince.
“So, Will has to go with you to Meego? But I’m just going to the old Palace by the dried-up sea?” Matthew asks seeking clarity.
“That’s right. Your assignment was to escort, Will’s is to be a witness to my death I suppose.” Aero answers.
Matthew takes in a deep breath and exhales a sigh of relief “I thought I was being punished for my roll in Will’s stupid idea. Honestly, I was going to gut him when I saw you in the back of the carriage. I thought it would save him a lot of pain and humiliation; but I will give him credit. No one has worked the Capital into a frenzy in my lifetime like he did today.”
“That was his intent, the outcome was completely different, but the poor guy was in over his head. The problem I have is that he will be in my face for the rest of my life… I’m giving myself three months… In my head at least. It will take us two and a half to get to the Palace, and I give Meego two weeks get the job done.”
“I don’t know Prince A…”
“I’ve told you a thousand times to just call me Aero, Matt.” Aero cuts him off.
“Okay, okay… Aero, and you’re the only person I allow to call me Matt anymore. Since you knighted me, I am Matthew from Two Springs. I never dreamed I would get the honor to use the full name my mother gave me, and I don’t know when the last King Matthew reigned…” Matthew pauses to take a large drink from his glass “but I want you to know it is the greatest honor of my life. I would follow you anywhere…” another drink “…except Meego.”
Aero smiles, it’s moments like these that drew him to Matthew. Honesty, unbridled, drunken honesty. But Aero suddenly realizes that he may have been disrespecting his friend, given the honor of a royal king name upon knighthood was something that everyone should recognize. “I’ll call you Matthew from now own, you’ve earned the hono…”
“Nope! I won’t have it! You’re Aero and I’m Matt and that’s that. Do you want a refill?”
“I’m still working on this one.” Aero answers.
Matthew waves to the bar for another round which is brought out promptly. Two mugs, one for each of Matthew’s hands. He knows the bartender intended one for the prince, not that anyone in the place knew Aero was the king’s son. But Matthew knew he wasn’t going to take it, and on an even better note, that the prince would split the tab at the end of the night.
“Why do you come here, Matt? You’re an anointed knight, you should drink at Maverick’s. It’s a place for all the knights in the kingdom paid for by the Crown for nearly a thousand years. Named after the greatest knight in history, Ser Patrick the Maverick. Do you know his story?”
“All boys hear his story when they are little. Mothers tell his story to try to inspire their children to strive for greatness, I suppose.” Matt says as he takes a drink. “But Maverick’s Bar is a place for the worst kind of knight, all those high born socialites who have never seen battle; if I walked in there it would just cause trouble.”
“Maybe a little trouble could be fun.”
“Says the Prince who is above the law.”
“Not above dying in Meego.”
I don’t think you should count on dying, I believe in you.” Matthew states slamming a mug down from his mouth. “I’ve followed you into battle several times and never once did I believe my life was in danger. You will find a way to beat this death sentence as you call it.”
“Matt, how many have you had to drink?”
“Before I got here or after?”
“Since you’ve been here.”
“Eight.”
“How is that possible? I’m still working on my first.”
“You’re a slow drinker, besides fourteen is a slow night for me.”
“Fourteen? I thought you said eight.”
“I was counting the ones I had before I came tonight too.”
“That takes talent. That reminds me, I have a surprise for you. I have a couple of detours planned for the trip. One of them will be to the Shadow Meadow. It will be a good place to grab you a barrel of their freshest stuff.”
“I’ve always wanted to go there!” Matthew responds excitedly.
Aero knew that the dutiful knight would go on the journey because he was commanded, but he wanted him to experience something special with him beyond a battlefield, training or a bar. Sure, there would be wine to drink, and Aero knew it would be a popular destination for Matthew. However, to Aero the attraction was the three-hundred-foot-tall trees that are so vast and interlocking that the people built homes in the trees. Many tree dwellers never see the ground in their lifetime. The canopy tops are self-sustaining thanks to ancient magic.
“I just need to get through this last banquet, and we can begin the journey. Hopefully it won’t be too painful.” Aero states unexcitedly.
“You can make it through one night with your family, and the royal court. Besides, it will be a better night than Will will have, I promise. I heard he is under house arrest with guards stationed at his home.” Says Matthew.
“He’s married, isn’t he?” Aero asks
“He is, two kids… boy and girl. I think the oldest is about eight, or maybe twelve…”
“I’m sure his wife knows she is about to become a widow, probably scared for the kids. I will speak to David in the morning and see if he can work out something to keep them from starving and keep his wife off the streets.”
Matthew shivers at the thought. “Maybe it would be beneficial to the entire city to keep that from happening.”
“That bad?”
“No, not really. Will married well. As good as one can, not many beauties come from the Bend.”
“I will see what I can do then.”
Matthew waves his hand in the air, calling for another round. “Good, now that that’s settled, you can enjoy your memory dinner tomorrow night. I just want you to know, when it’s over, I’ll be right here.”
A broken grin runs across the prince’s face “I know, enjoy it while you can. Because when we leave the city, you won’t see the place for about five months. But then, you won’t have me for a drinking partner.”
Like most things in Matthew’s life, he hadn’t thought how much the absence from the city would affect him. But now having heard the truth his joyous mood is subdued.
“Five months without my bar, and then without my best friend…” Matthew takes a slow drink “do you mind if we just drink quietly for a while?” Matthew asks
“Absolutely, my friend.” Responds Aero.
For the next couple hours, the two men drink without speaking a word. Even though both men are silent, Matthew’s facial expressions tell a story of bittersweet finality. All the earlier jokes about Aero’s impending death suddenly weigh heavy on him. Aero sits with Matthew just soaking in the bond that they share, he realizes it was stronger than he had thought.
Matthew’s outward appearance and demeanor show that of a happy go lucky guy who loves his drink; but Aero knew him as a fierce warrior, full of loyalty, bravery, and tenacity. But now as they sit in a corner table in a dive of a bar between the barracks and River Bend, Matthew can’t hide his fear of losing his friend, the Prince Knight.
Even as Matthew tries to hide the tears flowing down his face and into his black beard, Aero sits with him without saying a word. Later in the evening, Aero pays the tab in full once Matt stops drinking, pats him on the shoulder and leaves to get some rest. Matthew stays behind with his heavy heart and empty glass.
Relics of the Old Age 