To Save a Kingdom

Chapter 4

Joseph's carriage pulled to a stop and he pushed open the door then jumped down to solid ground. He was grateful to finally stretch his legs after the long journey. Joseph was amazed at the castle that stood before him. It's size made his own castle look like a cozy cottage. It was an impressive structure to say the least. Joseph was hurried in through the front door by a stout man that walked with a purpose.

He led him through hallway after hallway in a dizzying maze to the doors of what Joseph assumed was the throne room. As Joseph lifted his hand to knock the door groaned open slowly. The throne room was covered in thick tapestries that were gold and purple the colors of king Theo's kingdom. A thick golden carpet stretched across the floor leading straight to Theo's throne.

Perched on the arm of the throne was Theo's daughter. She was glaring at her father and whispering wildly at him while using expressive hand gestures. When Theo glanced up he lifted his hand to tell his daughter to stop talking. She did with a scowl. Her posture became rigid as if she could sense her future walking through the door and she wasn't impressed. Her scowl deepened as she lifted her gaze to fix on Joseph.

Joseph shuffled uncomfortably under her gaze. Her hateful glare was like ice. He could feel her eyes looking him up and down. Joseph tried to stand tall but her angry glare made it difficult.

When King Theo saw Joseph he burst out of his throne nearly throwing off the princess with his overlarge body. Everything about the king seemed to be doubled. His height towered over the men around him with arms as big around as his daughters waist and hands the size of hams king Theo was a giant of a man. Joseph decided then and there to never make the man angry.

He would have been terrifying if it weren't for the smile on his face. A real smile the kind that showed in his eyes. His smile made Joseph doubt the validity of the awful stories told about king Theo.

"You must be Joseph!" He boomed walking down the few steps that led to his chair in a single bound. He walked straight for Joseph and wrapped him in a bone crunching hug clapping his hand on Joseph's back. The gesture took Joseph by surprise and he wasn't sure what to do. After a split second he released Joseph. "This is my daughter Saphrine." He said extending his hand to the princess.

Her scowl didn't change at all she merely jerked into a poor curtsy then flounced out of the room. King Theo's demeanor didn't falter at his daughters appalling actions. "She'll come around." He claimed positively and Joseph certainly hoped so. "I'll have a servant show you to your room." He clapped and a skinny boy stepped forward. He couldn't have been older than twelve.

The boy seemed to quake as he stood before Joseph with his eyes locked on the ground. The boy didn't speak instead he turned and walked at a brisk pace for Joseph to follow.
The castle was truly huge. The hallways were like a maze running this way and that in a confusing pattern. Joseph tried to remember they way to his room so he wouldn't get lost. With all the twists and turns he soon couldn't remember if it was a left turn after the statue that looked like a gargoyle or right after the portrait of the queen. If it weren't for they boy Joseph would surely be lost.

Somehow the young boy navigated with precision and when he stopped Joseph nearly bumped into him. The boy extended his hand and cowered slightly to the left away from Joseph as if he were afraid of being hit. His actions were peculiar but Joseph thanked him and dismissed him. The boy gratefully raced off. When the boy raced around the corner and out of sight Joseph entered his room.

Like the rest of the castle the room was huge. Large windows covered a portion of a wall. There was a bed in the middle of the room that could easily sleep six comfortably. Joseph was amazed at the obvious wealth of Theo's kingdom.

§

I kept my eyes trained on my food as if there was something interesting there to see. Mother was giving me an earful on why it was inappropriate for a lady -a princess no less- to go wallowing in the mud like a hog. Jared was across from me and he grinned at his food thinking that he had avoided the conflict. I was tempted to kick him in the shins but mother would surely notice the action.

"And you!" Mother said with a jab of her fork in Jared's direction. "What will the workers think of you. Out there throwing mud." She huffed. "Between the two of you I don't know what I'll do." Mother had always treated Jared as one of the family. Joseph and Jared had been inseparable growing up then when Jared's family died in a fire he became like a second son. Quite often he would share meals with the family and join in the activities. When Joseph was trained with a sword so was Jared. When Joseph was tutored Jared sat right next to him and received the same schooling. They had been inseparable. Until now.

My attention was brought back to the conversation when I heard mother laughing.

"Although. I will never forget the way Lila screeched like that when she saw the two of you." She chuckled as she scooped up a piece of carrot.

The food was another gift from King Theo. along with the workers and seeds he had sent us boxes of food. Fresh fruits and vegetables from his own lands. There were meats and pies. Many wonderful things that we had all but forgotten. Tonight we were eating like royalty and so was the staff. For the first time in a long while we would all go to bed full.

The food was because of Joseph and the sacrifice he had made for me. Thinking of my brother in a far away land with unfamiliar people made it difficult for me to swallow. We finally had food on our table and for that I was extremely grateful. But it came a a very steep price.