Of Kings and Pawns

Chapter 15 - Unexpected News

The grand dining hall of Brightwick was dimly lit by the glow of candlelight, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls adorned with tapestries and banners of House Brighton. At the long table, King William Brighton and Queen Eliza sat with their children, their plates half-filled but barely touched. The air was thick with tension, for the next dawn they would sail to the mainland to attend the Great Council at Brus. The weight of the decisions ahead loomed over them like a gathering storm.

They were to stay at Tulip Hall, together Lord Charles and Lady Aveline, the latter being sister to the young Lord Jan Hollander. The Council was two days away, but the uncertainty of what awaited them gnawed at William’s mind.

Breaking the heavy silence, William turned to his eldest son, Henri, the heir to Brightwick. Of all his children, Henri was the wildest, the one who took after William’s hot-headedness. Where William had learned to temper his fire, Henri showed little interest in ruling. The boy would rather spend his days at the practice yard or drowning himself in ale at the local pubs.

"Henri," William began, hoping to lighten the mood. "Tell me, do you fancy a girl at the moment? You’re of age, after all."

Henri didn’t even look up from his plate. "A girl is the last thing I need right now, Father. War is brewing, and that’s all we should be talking about."

Eliza’s eyes flashed as she scolded him. "Watch your tone when speaking to your father."

Before the tension could rise further, Mattias, the middle son and the most aloof of the three siblings, chimed in, trying to smooth over the moment. "Actually, I’ve been sending ravens to a girl I’ve been courting."

William’s face brightened. "Now that’s what I like to hear! See, Henri? Mattias knows how to handle himself. Speaking calmly, and with a good heart. So, tell me, who’s the lucky girl?"

Mattias blushed, his eyes flickering between his father and the table. "I’ll reveal her when the war is over, if there is one."

Henri scoffed, rolling his eyes. The rivalry between the two brothers flared, as it always did. "What’s the point of keeping it a secret? War’s already knocking at our door. Besides, I know who it is."

All eyes turned to Henri as he leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "It’s Jane Eire, isn’t it? Daughter of Lord Emman of Cloverfield."

William’s expression froze, disbelief washing over him. "Jane Eire? From that house? Lord Eire has defied me for years, mocking our loyal vassals of House Fennington at every turn. He’s declared neutrality, refusing to attend the Great Council. Mattias, what are you thinking?"

The room grew tense again as Mattias’s face reddened. "It’s not like that, Father. Jane is different from her father. And it’s not like you were eager to marry Mother at first."

Henri grinned, sensing an opportunity. "Ah, so Mattias is a bootlicker now, bending knee to Eire. Maybe I’ll start calling you Lord Cloverfield next!"

Mattias shot back, "And maybe I’ll call you Lord Pub of Pubbington, since that’s what the common folk already call you!"

The two brothers bickered, their voices rising with each exchanged jab, but before the fight could escalate further, Eliza spoke sharply. "Enough, both of you!"

But it wasn’t until William raised his voice that the room fell silent. "That’s enough," he said, his tone authoritative. "We have more pressing matters than your petty squabbles."

For a moment, the only sound in the hall was the clinking of forks and knives against the plates. Then, in an unexpected moment of innocence, little Emily Brighton, the youngest at the table, piped up. "I like Jan Hollander," she said with a sweet smile.

Her comment caught everyone off guard, and William chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Oh, do you now? You know Jan is ten years older than you, my dear, and from what we hear, he prefers counting gold to spending time with women. Besides, I’m not even sure if Jan is interested in women, if the rumors from Lord Flann and Valon are to be believed."

Emily, determined, crossed her arms. "That can’t be true! I’ll be beautiful when I grow up, and Jan will marry me. I want tall children, like the Hollanders."

Henri, always ready with a quip, smirked. "When Hollander opens their dykes to Eigermann’s armies, Emily, you might be submerged while Jan only gets his knees wet."

Eliza shot her eldest son a glare, silencing him immediately. The room fell into quiet laughter at Emily’s youthful innocence, the tension momentarily lifted. But the reprieve was short-lived.

The door to the hall creaked open, and a servant stepped inside, bowing apologetically. "My lord, my lady," he said, his voice low. "A raven has arrived from Tulip Hall."

William’s heart raced, his mind already turning to the worst possibilities. He stood up quickly, accepting the letter from the servant. His hands shook as he broke the seal, unfolding the parchment. As his eyes scanned the message, his expression shifted from fear to disbelief, his mouth hanging open.

Eliza, noticing his reaction, stood and approached him. "William, what is it? What news?"

He could hardly believe the words on the page. "House Rus," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "They’ve pulled back all their forces... and Yvan Rus will attend the Great Council."

The room erupted in stunned silence. Eliza’s eyes widened, and she stepped closer. "Rus is attending?"

William nodded, a smile breaking across his face. "Yes, Eliza. They’re on our side. House Rus is going to tip the scales in our favor. Yvan and his lords will outnumber Otto’s support."

Eliza let out a sigh of relief, her tension dissolving in an instant. William, unable to contain his joy, grabbed a bottle of Frank champagne from the side table. With a flourish, he popped the cork, the sound echoing through the hall as he poured the bubbling liquid into their goblets.

"To House Rus," he said, raising his glass. "And to victory at the council."

Even Henri and Mattias, who had been at odds mere moments before, clinked their glasses together in a rare moment of unity. William, filled with newfound hope, even filled their goblets with more champagne.

Little Emily, her eyes wide with excitement, leaned forward. "Can I have some too?"

William chuckled, shaking his head. "Not yet, my dear. But I promise, the future will be peaceful enough for you to drink champagne when you’re older."

The room filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses, the weight of the impending council no longer quite so heavy. For the first time in days, William felt a glimmer of hope. House Rus would tip the scales, and perhaps, just perhaps, the war they feared might be averted.