Gerwin stands at the door of the King’s Leisure Tower, preparing to knock. These interruptions to the King’s hobbies never sit well with him. Gerwin knows that the King will not be in a good mood, if he even acknowledges the request.
Gerwin has stood at this door many times, sometimes for hours waiting on the King to exit the tower. He has examined every inch of the magnificent tower that once was known as the Queen’s Tower. It was a place for the Queen and her lady’s to have set aside for their leisure. That all changed a few hundred years ago when King Luke the Sixth, known as the Whore King, devalued the Queen’s role in the Royal family. She went from equal ruler to glorified bed maid overnight. Once King Luke took on concubines, he needed a place for them to stay, and the tower was just the place.
Gerwin knocks and waits. It takes about ten minutes for someone to open the door. Gaia answers the door, she was one of the Breaker Island girls that King William took once he selected his bride. She is one of the King’s first concubines. For several years now, she has acted as a den mother for the younger girls.
“The Master says he is busy, go away.” She says as she starts to close the door.
Gerwin places his hand on the door to stop her. “Please forgive me, but Marco just received a letter from Ser Robert regarding the King’s sons. He says it is imperative that he speaks with the King. Will you please pass the message along to the King?”
“He will punish me if I interrupt him.”
“Not this time, this is about his heir who has been missing for months. He will want to get this message.”
Gaia pauses for a moment. She understands what Gerwin is saying. So now she is afraid that the King will punish her for interrupting him or that he will if she doesn’t. She is in another no-win situation.
“Fine, wait here.”
Gaia leaves to relay the message. Gerwin waits another ten minutes before she returns. Gerwin can clearly see the red outline of the King’s handprint across her left cheek.
“The Master says that he will receive Marco in his study in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you.” Gerwin says as he turns to walk away. He can’t help himself for sympathizing for the poor Gaia. He had put her in a difficult position and she was punished for it.
Gerwin retrieves Marco and they arrive at the King’s study a few minutes early. As they wait Mary arrives as requested by Marco.
“Mary, thanks for coming. I am sure you will find this meeting very beneficial to your future.” Marco says.
“I hope so, my father said that it was very important that I be here. What do I need to do?”
“Just listen to the conversation we are about to have with the King and make sure to calm him should he begin to get upset.”
Mary agrees, and they wait. Not the few minutes Gaia told Gerwin, but over two hours. The King seems to have no concept of time.
William finally enters his study still sweating from his recent activities, Gaia follows him with towels. The King takes a towel and wipes his face dry, and hands it back to Gaia. She turns to leave but the King grabs her arm and pulls her in for a kiss.
“I love you.” The King tells her.
“I love you too, Master.” She replies.
He nods and she turns to leave, the King slaps her on her butt as she does so. He turns to his visitors.
“Mary! I did not see you there, I wish I knew you were going to be here. How are you dear?”
“I am good my King.”
“Your beauty grows each time I see you.”
“Thank you, Sire.”
“If I were David, I would not rest until I made you my queen.”
“Thank you…”
“King William, we have news.” Marco interjects.
“Yes, Ser Robert sent a report. How did he get it back so fast? It’s been what, barely two months since the Meego Light disappeared.”
“Yes, he had a rider run on Prince Aero’s personal horse, Steele, just to get this message to you. The animal was pushed to its limits because the news is so important.”
“Well, what does it say?”
“It’s bad news my King, please be prepared.”
“Marco, just tell me. I’ve ran this kingdom for thirty years. I doubt you can say anything that shocks me.”
“Ser Robert reports that he arrived at the Old Palace to find Both your sons along with Matthew, and that soldier that you made go with them. A Bellumi woman that he believes to be the Queen, and a Durrie prostitute.”
“Okay, that doesn’t seem bad.”
“Ser Robert reports that when he requested to escort David back to us, Aero and Stephan refused. They even had an assassin ride in on a Halo Bear, wielding a magic axe kill several of the knights we sent to return the prince.”
“Then what happened?”
“While the assassin was fighting the knights, Aero slipped off to Meego with David.”
“What? How could he let that happen? We sent hundreds of knights!”
“Yes, but our people were not prepared to fight a bear and a magic relic. They were momentarily outmatched but when they were gone, the assassin ran off with the bear.”
“And Aero convinced Stephan to help him drag David away… Are you telling me that Aero kidnapped David to save his life in Meego?”
“It’s what it appears to be, Sire.”
“Hmm, well I can assure you it’s not. My boys have a plan. Two Royals have never ventured to Meego, they intend to get the sword together!”
“That doesn’t seem wise, it’s a dangerous place for your family. That’s a very big bet to take.”
“My boys know it will take big bets to restore the kingdom. The biggest thing is we need the family sword. My boys will bring it back.”
“And if Meego kills them, then what?”
“John Henry would have to be named heir; you know that.”
“Yes, my King, but I was thinking about it in greater detail. I fear that David and Aero may be lost to us. So, I want to jumpstart the future reign of John Henry.”
“I’m not ready to give up on David just yet, but what did you have in mind?”
“I was thinking an official engagement of John Henry to Mary.
Mary perks up. This is the news she has waited her entire life to hear, that she will be queen. As a child, she was in love with Aero but he left to be a knight. Then she found out that he would not be King. Since then, she has worked the Court to catch David’s eye. But if it’s John Henry, that’s fine by her as well. The brother makes little difference to her, she just wants the position.
“Mary will make a fine Queen, but as far as John Henry is concerned… I am not ready to give up on David yet. Have Robert remain at the Palace until the Meego Light returns to see if my boys return. Once he finds out, have him send another rider to let me know if my boys returned or not.”
“What of the report of the Queen being with them?”
“I don’t care, that Bellumi woman is insufferable, but I would like to see the Durrie woman. Tell him to bring her if she is alive.”
“Yes, my King.”
“Now, I am returning to my tower, if you interrupt me again tonight… heads will roll.”
“Understood.”
“And Marco, don’t forget the detail about the Durrie woman I’ve always wanted one.”
Marco assures the King he will report it to Robert. The King approaches Mary and speaks with her briefly before leaving together. Mary knows her part is to distract the King from whatever Marco is planning.
“Gerwin, write this down. The Coven has decided that both brothers were killed in Meego along with all their partners except for the Durrie girl should they return from Meego. Remain at the Palace until the Light returns and make sure that this happens. We will send additional knights as reinforcements in case the bear returns. Bring the Durrie girl to the King should you find her.”
Gerwin nods that the letter is written.
“Seal it and send the rider back to Robert this hour. I’m sure Meego will handle the rest. We will need another rider as well. I will write a letter myself to present to the rider within the hour.”
“Where will he be going?”
“To my father, the old owls at the Coven will want to know the newest revelations. They will no doubt send fresh orders, so have the rider prepared to stay until my father sends him away. We are close to getting what we want, and maybe I can finally move up the chain. Gerwin, make sure we can trust these riders.
“Yes Sir.”
Relics of the Old Age 