Aero has been seated at a seat of honor beside his father and both brothers for less than five minutes and he is already feeling out of place. This is his brothers’ arena; he was never brought into the pomp and circumstance routine of the capital like his older brothers. Everything about it feels wrong to him, from the clothing his father sent to him, to being sat next to his brother, John Henry.
John Henry has always looked down on Aero, ridiculed him for his name and his islander heritage even though they have the same islander mother. John Henry seemed to have taken out his frustrations on his little brother growing up. Aero’s assessment of John Henry was that he was a bitter, vindictive and frustrated person because he was the middle of three children. He was neither next in line to be king nor allowed to be a free spirit like his younger brother. John Henry went through all the same royal academia as David, but he would not be king. No, the best he would ever have was the short time that he would be David’s heir. Just until David’s son was born then he would be cut out of the order all together.
All the years as the backup plan has worn thin on John Henry’s mind. He had all the physical appearance of a royal, very close to David, just slightly shorter with a heavier body. Recently within the past year or so, John Henry has allowed himself to indulge a little too often and it’s starting to show.
John Henry has made a name for himself from his ability to disappear from events like this. It’s one of the perks for being a scab prince. Never too many eyes on him. As the court officials continue to enthusiastically announce each new arrival, John Henry leans into Aero and whispers. “I’m about to ease out of this feast, but before you go to sleep, I would like to have a few words with you. Don’t worry, I’ll find you… I’ve got a nose for that fresh out of the ocean smell you have.”
Aero just looks at him as he stands up and simply walks out of the room. John Henry’s antisocial lean has caused him to get away from the action. John Henry is a catalyst for chaos in the middle of complete organization. So Aero was glad to see him leave.
Still, John Henry wanting to talk to Aero has never happened before, and he doesn’t like it. John Henry has never made it a point to say anything to Aero, so immediately he suspects something nefarious is at hand, or he wants a moment to gloat. It’s just John Henry’s way.
Overall the nights events go as expected, all the members of the court have a good time. The wine flowed, and laughter roared. Before the main course, Prince David presented his brother with a gold handle dagger. It contained large diamonds along the hilt, and had a matching scabbard made of gold with diamonds.
Aero accepted the gift graciously.
Many members of the court stopped by to admire the new dagger, or to wish Aero well on his journey. Each person stopped by just long enough to make things awkward. As time went on, the people kept coming until there was a small crowd around the prince. Aero was in a daze of boredom when the chief of his father’s staff, Marco interrupted.
Aero welcomed the reprieve as Marco asks for Aero to join him in a private booth in the back of the hall.
Aero sits down with Marco as they gaze across the scene in the room. Laughter roars as drinks flow. The King sits in his seat, two of his concubines attending to his every need.
Marco notices Aero watching his father. “They are new, given to him today. Makes a gold dagger seem like a cup of river water compared to the gift as fine as the best vintage from the Meadow.”
Aero feels a little uncomfortable talking about his father’s sex life but shrugs it off well.
“Actually, Prince Aero… May I call Aero? Titles just slow me down.” Marco asks and Aero agrees.
“Those aren’t new girls.” Marco pauses to look Aero in the eye “They have been in his harem for two years, he’s just too stupid to know any better.”
“What did you say?” Aero says in growing anger.
“Careful now, look to your father’s right, Prince David… Just behind him, the guy in the black hood. He’s waiting for you to make a wrong move here. If you do, then little Dave is dead on the spot. So calm yourself before you get someone killed.”
Aero continues to look at Marco in disbelief.
“One move, or one sound out of you and I have enough men in here to kill all of the royal family and supporters.” Marco states arrogantly.
“The future of the kingdom is in your hands. You’re one second away from killing the King, little Dave and yourself… so sit still and speak softly. Hard words here will have John Henry sitting on the throne by morning.”
At the sound of this Aero’s eyes grow wide. Marco notices and continues his taunt.
“Why do you think I had him miss the feast? I’m always five moves ahead of everyone else. But most people are brought down without realizing I’m the threat until it’s too late. People like you.”
Aero’s anger rises, it gets the best of him. He grabs the hilt of the golden dagger.
“No, no, no…” Marco states calmly. Aero turns toward David and sees that the hooded man has stepped closer to David, within striking distance yet no one notices. “Put the dagger on the table, NOW!” Marco demands.
Hesitantly, Aero slowly raises his hand and drives the blade down on the wooden table before him then lets go. As he does so, he does a visual sweep of the room looking for the tall dark frame of Ser Stephan. He’s not within sight.
“The Broken Sword was commanded by the King to do one last inspection of the barracks and fortress defenses before departing with you tomorrow. I told you, I’m way ahead of you.” Marco brags as he reaches out for the gold dagger.
“This is nice, I think I will keep it as a trophy of killing a prince.” Marco states as his eyes move from the blade to meet Aero’s eyes. “That’s right, it was my decision to send you to Meego. For years your father planned on sending John Henry, but I’ve heard your name and rumblings of your deeds as a Knight enough to know a threat when I see one. So I told your father to send you.”
Aero listens in disbelief.
“How did I pull that off? I don’t say this much and still only to the most important people; I run this kingdom. It’s mine! It’s easier to run it from the shadows than from the throne. It wasn’t hard consolidating all your family’s power either. A few girls here or there for your father and he was distracted enough to give me the keys to the kingdom. Look at him up there, two girls he’s had many times before but is too stupid to know better. I give him a few, take some out change their appearances and send them back to him. He never even notices.”
Marco states with a huge smile on his face and continues.
“Your brother David isn’t so easy, but John Henry is; he loves when I send him girls. He bruises them and roughs them up, but it buys me loyalty. I’m thinking if I can’t find David’s weaknesses soon, I may just have to put John Henry on the throne. If I do, Davey boy will be found with your new dagger through his heart. Not that I’m in a rush to change kings, your father is completely oblivious.”
In anger Aero looks away. He has never felt so trapped in his life.
“So, two things are going to happen. One, you are going to Meego, I want that sword, not that I think you can get it. Just because I want you out of the way, the last thing that this kingdom needs is a group of do-gooder knights walking around. Your deeds are well known, and your reputation is… well kingly. So, you will go there and allow the spell to do whatever it does to you. If you do not go, I will kill not only you, but your father, David, your mentor the Broken Sword, and that river rat knight you made Matt. Hell I may even kill John Henry and marry my son to your sister when she comes of age, and make my bloodline the new royal line. What do you think about that?” Marco asks
Aero doesn’t answer still looking away in shock.
“Look me in the eyes when I am talking to you boy!”
Aero’s head snaps back around, his eyes blazing like fire…
“The second thing that’s going to happen if you don’t want the entire royal family’s blood on your hands is you are going to go back to your room and wait on John Henry to come visit you. When he comes into your room, you will not harm him and will do whatever he wants. It means nothing to me, but your brother wanted to have this moment with you, and you are going to do it! After he leaves your room, he is going to report back to me; if he is not satisfied with the show you put on, then heads will roll. Do you understand me?”
Aero stares at Marco with the intensity of the sun but gives the only answer he can.
“yes.”
“Good boy,.. you have your instructions follow them to the letter. If you say a word to anyone, the castle will flow with royal blood tonight. I have assassins everywhere. Now, go to bed and wait on your brother, get out of my sight!” Marco demands.
Aero gets up to leave incensed but powerless to do anything. Marco had sprung his trap and the prince was not prepared for it. As Aero hurried out of the banquet headed to his quarters his mind began to spin to find a way out of the situation.
Back in the Great Hall, Marco leans back and basks in his own arrogance. He has brought the entire kingdom to heel and no one can stand against him now.
Relics of the Old Age 