Kingdoms of Caelum; Autumn of the War Queen

Chapter 34

CFrom the elegant brass chimes of the chapels, to the many bells in the sentry towers, a panicked harmony rang furiously across the Kingdom, creating a harrowing and chilling sound. The people of Thurlstone stopped in their business with dread. They knew when the bells rang like this without warning, only one thing was certain... grave news.

Wrapped in a thick horsehair coat of chestnut brown, King Edwin scurried to the window like a fat disturbed mouse, his thighs chafing and legs buckling under his frame.

"By the Gods, what is this commotion?" he clucked, peering into his castle courtyard and out past the walls.

"What is it dear?" Queen Hammel asked absentmindedly over her screwed up nose as she sat stitching in the shadows of the dank room.

"By the Gods it's something big. The Knights fly our colours through the Kingdom. They march to us in their hundreds!"

Edwin mopped his brow and waddled to the door as Hammel put her sewing to one side and followed. In contrast to him, she was thin and pale and towered at least two foot over his ginger mop. They made their way to greet the oncoming crowd.

The sentry guards of Thurlstone had been the first to receive the gruesome package at the gatehouse. A messenger, a Dark Elf flying high the colours of Fortis, draped with a green and black diamond tabard over his mail, handed the box over. It was a clear declaration of war. The Knights had been summoned and Sir Trene Peint, High Commander of the two hundred and thirteen Knights and two thousand strong army, had recoiled in horror when he unwrapped the tightly wound linen. Dalbet Harn's blank eyes stared up at him in mild surprise from the partially decomposed head. The Elf was seized, along with the head, and Sir Peint ordered the bells to ring and his men to make for the King.

Thornic was fencing with his ward, a boy of fourteen. He would never admit it, but the boy was good; quick footed and nimble and he was good enough to cause a sweat which infuriated Thornic. By the Gods, Thornic would see him beaten black and blue if he did not start to submit to his Prince, especially with the crowd of watchers gathered. If anything saved the ward from the beating it was the bells. Furiously, the noise filtered over the castle walls into the courtyard and both boys paused. It was an eerie sound.

"Perhaps the priests give tribute to Tiberus and D'Hraga?" the ward questioned.

"Be quiet you idiot!" Thornic snapped and in a swift move, he pushed the ward to the floor and threw his weapon at him.

"Here, clean them and take my things," he said, throwing down his padding and moving with a small entourage to the castle doors.

The fat King trundled out of the main entrance at the same time his son had reached it.

"Father?" Thornic asked, but Edwin wafted him away like a nuisance. Used to this, he felt the familiar warmth of rage rise in his body, but he said nothing. Eagerly, King, Prince, Queen and a crowd of elaborate courtiers, walked briskly to the portcullis entrance of the castle grounds, and awaited the Knights. Sir Trene Peint was first to reach them. He kneeled before his King and the many men behind followed suit. When the chink of mail had subsided, a stark silence fell upon Thurlstone as the bells ceased.

"What is the meaning of all this?" the King hollered.

"A messenger has arrived my King. From Fortis."

Sir Trene stood, turning to the man behind who carried the wrapped linen. Edwin's heart beat tremendously in his chest as he recognized the shape of a human head under the cloth. He knew before the material was lifted, it was his cousin Dalbet. Edwin and the crowd behind gasped as the cloth was unwrapped to reveal Dalbet's severed head, and meekly Edwin nodded. He had never liked his cousin, not really, but he was his blood nonetheless, and third in line to the throne.

"Who has done this?" he whispered savagely, and the Dark Elf was thrown forwards.

"Negotiations went wrong King Edwin, between my master and Sir Dalbet Harn. My master sends his apologies and asks for your response."

The Elf was almost laughing as Edwin mopped his brow enraged. It took a moment for the King to process the words and respond. When he did, he was flustered, but his words were meaningful.

"Fortis has declared War upon us!" he shouted. "We will take the messengers head and send it back – that's your reply Elf!"

A mixture of gasps and wails came from the crowd before the uproar that followed. King Edwin turned on his heels back to the castle with Thornic scrambling for attention, eager to discuss the event.

"Father!" he cried above the crowd, "Father!"

His shouts were lost in the commotion as Edwin submerged himself within his courtiers, leaving Thornic to stand lost and angry. Hammel had seen her son's attempt to grab the attention of the King and she placed a tender arm across his shoulders.

"He cares not about me!" Thornic spat at his mother, shoving her hand away.

"I am almost of age, a man. His only ruddy heir and he values nothing but the council of those idiots that surround him."

"Be patient my love. One day, you will be King."

"I ought to run a spike through his heart! That fat lump will never die mother, and now my position is jeopardised. He declares war on Fortis? Before I have even married or produced an heir! What idiot would gamble our Kingdom like that, just because uncle Dalbet was stupid enough to lose his head?"

Hammel smiled and caressed her son's auburn hair.

"Ssssh, not so loud my love, shadows have ears."

Thornic's hatred of his father was now more intense than ever and, encouraged by his suffocating mother, he began to fantasise the fat man's demise. Maybe war would be a good thing after all. Especially if it saw Edwin fall, and Thornic rise.