Dusk has fallen on the Capital.
Prince Aero’s envoy has been on the road since daybreak. All is quiet in the Capital.
King William was not pleased that he missed the sendoff, incensed he retreated to his pleasure tower where he has remained the entire day.
As the day progressed, certain people began to take note of Prince David missing court. Something he rarely did. The prince was always very interested in the news of the kingdom.
Once no one had seen him in the afternoon, Marco authorized the castle guard to unlock Prince David’s room. He wasn’t in there.
With this information Marco summoned the King to his office. A bold move, but necessary. The king’s reaction will go a long way in how Marco plays his next move.
The current problem for Marco is that summoning a king isn’t like calling for a guard. As far as William is concerned, the entire kingdom runs on his time.
Marco along with his assistant Gerwin, and associate Mary have been sitting in the king’s office for well over an hour waiting.
“Should we just return tomorrow, Sir?” Gerwin asks.
“No, the king will be here soon. We will wait. We must have his answer before the gathering tonight.” Marco responds.
“Should I go? I mean, I’m not sure why you need me here anyway.” Mary comments.
Marco looks at the young beauty and takes a moment to digest her words. Mary grew up in the court. Her family has been close supporters of the crown for generations. Her father oversees Northpoint, the lavish city on the other side of Blue Water Lake where all the high-ranking people of the court live while in the Capital.
Her beauty is always a distraction that works in the favor of Marco whenever dealings with the king could be difficult. But she knows exactly why she’s there, she can’t fool Marco. He’s seen her play that naive little girl part in court many times. Marco has used her to get information out of people that he couldn’t.
Their relationship is based on mutual gain. She spies for him, and one day he will make her queen. As a child she grew up playing with Prince Aero until he began his squire duties. She loved telling everyone how she was going to marry him one day and be a princess. But that was long ago, and her goals have changed over the years. She no longer wants to be a princess, that’s just not good enough for her.
Prince David or Prince John Henry? She doesn’t care.
So she sits and waits. She pretends to not notice Gerwin sneaking glances at her.
The door slings open and finally the king walks into the room.
“Marco, I’m a very busy man. Make this quick.” The king states as he reaches his desk wiping sweat from his eyes with a towel.
Before Marco can respond the King takes note of Mary’s presence.
“Mary! What a wonderful surprise. Your beauty lights the entire room, I tell Marco this all the time when I notice you in court. You’re going to make a very lucky noble a happy man someday. I think David should pursue you at once.”
“Thank you, my King, and it would be an honor to be David’s wife.”
Mary notices as she speaks, the king fondles her with his eyes.
“How’s your father, dear?”
“Your Highness, Prince David is missing.” Marco interjects.
The king snaps his neck toward Marco coming out of the fog in his mind from speaking with Mary.
“What do you mean missing? Why are all of my son’s missing all of the sudden?”
“He wasn’t in court, and none of the castle staff had seen him today so I authorized the castle guard to unlock his door for you, and he wasn’t inside.”
The king silently collects his thoughts.
“We believe he snuck off with Prince Aero’s party, Sir.” Gerwin speaks up.
The king slumps back in his chair in silence for several minutes, his facial expression gives nothing away.
“Good!” The king exclaims as he slams his fist down on his desk.
“But you forbid him from going a few days ago…” Marco speaks before being cut off.
“He’s the next king, he is at an age that he needs to know that he answers to no one.”
“He’s your heir, it’s not safe out there for him.”
“He is accompanied by three knights, two of which I would put my on life into their hands. I know my sons. David needs this experience and Aero will protect him. No one watches him closer than the Broken Sword! He’s safe as long as he doesn’t do something stupid like enter Meego.”
The king bursts into laughter with that statement.
“I thought you may be ready to name John Henry as your heir after him disobeying a direct order from you.”
“John Henry… I know my sons, and I would name Aero my heir before him.”
As the king continues to speak, he turns towards Mary.
“I’m sure you would prefer that any way.”
Mary doesn’t respond but deep down, she doesn’t care. She just makes sure she smiles for the king.
“I got to say, I am a little concerned for that crowned prince is in danger. Could I at least send word to the knights in the area to find him and check up on him?” Marco asks.
“What do you think, Mary?” the king asks.
“I think a little information gathering could go along way in calming the council’s nerves, after all, Prince David is the future of the kingdom.”
“My dear, you are as wise as you are beautiful. Marco, send word out but I don’t want him returned, he needs this adventure. Now if you will excuse me, I need to get back to my work.”
With that, the king was out of the room.
Dumbfounded, Gerwin looks at Marco “that didn’t go as expected.”
“It’s okay, we got approval to check on them. It will give the Coven time to formulate our next move. Get a letter out through Ser Robert to every knight in our employ to locate the prince. I want information before our man on the inside sends his first letter.”
With that, the three scatters out of the room. For Marco, he knows he has his work cut out for him in naming John Henry the new heir, but it can be done.
Relics of the Old Age 