Grey Oaks

Chapter 2: The Earl and The Queen

Bernard Managwald walked with purpose through the halls of the hospital. His security was hot on his tail, not giving him a moment's breath. He was as thankful for it as he was unnerved by it.

He had been on his way to his assigned safe house at the beachside property when his car had been intercepted by a jeep. His security prepared for a fight, drawing their arms, but he ordered them to stand down when he noticed the Gwynivalian flags on the jeep and the Gwynivalian uniform on the lieutenant who stepped out.

The lieutenant told the earl that the Queen requested his presence. Where? At the hospital.

Bernard's heart sank as his car turned around on the narrow road and sped back into the country. Towards Thydberllan.

He half expected all life to have ceased. The world to have stopped. His world had, so the rest of the world must have as well. Though, as he traveled the many kilometers back into the heart of Gwynival, he passed citizens going about their daily lives. Any moment now news would hit the airwaves and they would hear of the disaster befalling their royal family. They would realize how fragile their government was when their officials started panicking.

For now, though, they went along with their Friday business. They wrapped up the week's events. Some had begun traveling home from work. Some were taking late lunches. Children had begun to be let out of their primary schools and soon the secondary schools would start letting out as well.

The hospital was not a still place, either. It was as hectic as any major city hospital would be. Even more so with government officials crawling all over the place. Press had been barred from the building and that was another thing Bernard was thankful for.

Any nurse or doctor that was in Bernard's way quickly dodged out of his path. Maybe it was because of the dangerous look on his face. Maybe it was because his pace was breakneck. Or, maybe, they recognized the man who now would one day be their future king and, therefore, realized which room he was headed to.

The crown guard stationed outside of the door parted as Bernard slowed and took a breath, readying himself to step inside. He caught a glimpse of his aunt through the room's blinds and their eyes met. She nodded, inviting him inside.

The door closed softly behind him, clicking into place and discouraging any prying ears or eyes. It was just he and his aunt now. And his dead cousin on the hospital bed. Sheet draped over her body.

He made his way over to the Queen, trying to not make it obvious that he was sticking to the wall. His back stuttered into a quick bow. Regina waved a dismissive hand.

"Auntie... I'm so sorry," Bernard tried to keep his eyes off of the hospital bed.

"There is no one in the country who is not sorry. No one except for the animals who did this," The Queen's voice was strong despite her age and partly dried tears.

"They will be found. They will be brought to justice," The earl said.

The queen sighed and a moment of silence passed over the room. She patted the bench next to her and he took the invitation to sit.

"Bernie, you are now my new prince. You are the future King of Gwynival. You understand that, do you not?"

The earl nodded slowly. His eyebrows knit together tightly and the lines around his mouth pulled downwards. A scowl that had been constant for the past seven years except for in the presence of his children.

"I brought you here because a king must be ready to face any disaster. He must face any tragedy and he must not be shaken by it."

"How? How can one not be shaken by this?"