The King's Artist

Ch 7: A Request for Asylum

"In all honesty, your highness, we were not expecting to have a council with you," Jasper Tudor said with a polite bow. "Due to the winds of the sea, our ship was pushed off its original course. My nephew and I had been attempting to flee to France before we found ourselves in Le Conquet." Duke Francis nodded his head in comprehension and urged Jasper to continue speaking.

"And that is when the pirates attacked you?" Duke Francis questioned. Adelaide glanced at Henry for some indication of answers but found an impassive and unreadable expression.

"Yes, that is correct," Jasper continued. "We had not originally known our destination until after making port. When I realized that we were in fact in Brittany instead of France, I had planned to turn our group back to the ship when we were attacked by those pirates. Thankfully for us, they were more focused on stealing the ship and supplies than they were on us which is how we escaped without any causalities. It was Henry who eventually spotted your coat of arms and requested an audience with you, your highness, through your advisor."

Adelaide, whose presence was still unnecessary and ignored, was nodding her head slightly as the understanding of the evening fell over her. So the people at the harbor had been pirates rather than the individuals Henry and Jasper were running from. And it would seem, again, that Adelaide's original impression of the man waiting by the carriage had been wrong. This advisor had not been expecting their party and was probably somewhat flustered to be approached in the middle of the night.

"And what made you think I could help you, Henry?" Duke Francis asked as his attention shifted from Jasper to Henry.

"Forgive me, your highness," Henry spoke with a level voice, but Adelaide took note of his shaking shoulders. She felt a pang of pity for the young boy and the pressure evident on his shoulders. "It may be presumptuous of me to request such a thing from you, the Duke of Brittany, but my uncle, our party, and I have nowhere else to go. Thusly, we ask for asylum from King Edward of England."

Adelaide's eyes shout wide as soon as Henry had finished speaking the Yorkist king's name. Jasper was calm and still, and Duke Francis remained composed, but Adelaide's mind was raising. She internally screamed as she began to slowly realize that she'd somehow managed to align herself with a group of men wanted by the most powerful man in England. Adelaide's heart was raising, and her palms were sweaty as she tried to come to terms with the newest revelation of who Henry was.

"And why is it that the King of England has named you and your uncle traitors and confiscated your land?" Duke Francis inquired. Through Adelaide's shock, she couldn't help but notice that the Duke of Brittany seemed to know a lot more about the Tudors than he was letting on.

"It is because we refused to submit to his rule, your highness," Jasper stated with a defeated tone and a lowered head. Henry, too, dropped his chin in a depressed manner. "Henry and I belong to the House of Lancaster that has been at war with House of York for a number of years now. Both of our sides have been fighting for the English throne. In the aftermath of the Battle of Tewkesbury, our Lancastrian king, Henry the sixth, and his only son Edward of Westminster were killed by the Yorkists."

"So it would seem you are the last of House Lancaster," Duke Francis stated. Jasper and Henry both nodded their heads. Adelaide just stood awkwardly to the side trying to wrap her head around the talk of wars and kings. Duke Francis was quiet for several moments as he seemed to be contemplating something. He was considering Henry's request but was also notably weighing the pros and cons of his assistance. Adelaide couldn't help but take notice of the glint in his eyes.

When the Duke finally spoke again, Adelaide jumped at the sudden sound in the deathly quiet room.

"Well Henry Tudor and Jasper Tudor," he paused and looked at Adelaide with a smile, "as well as Arthur Dedrick, I will consent to give you the asylum you seek from King Edward."

Henry and Jasper both sighed in relief and very quickly began bowing and thanking the Duke for his hospitality. However, Adelaide looked curiously at the Duke. It might have been the presence of his enormous wealth and power or the fact that she hardly knew the man, but she doubted Duke Francis of Brittany had the sincerest of hearts. She was almost one hundred percent positive he had an ulterior motive for helping them. But seeing as they had clearly run out of other options, Adelaide bowed and thanked him as well and kept her suspicions to herself.

"Seeing as my residence here is not very accommodating for guests," Duke Francis continued. "I will have you and the core of your group housed at Château de Suscinio in Sarzeau. I think you will find those quarters to be much more pleasing. I will make sure you are provided with regular meals and enough supplies for all your household members. Also, if you need anything additional, please do request it."

"I cannot express my gratitude, your highness," Jasper Tudor said with misty eyes and a choked voice. However, something seemed to occur to Henry's uncle midway through his expression of gratitude. "Your Highness, if it's not too much to ask, the rest of our group, the other exiled Lancastrians, are in need of shelter as well from King Edward."

"My invitation extends to them as well," Duke Francis said immediately. "How many are you expecting?"

"Last I checked, your highness, we numbered close to five hundred," Jasper responded without hesitation.

"Suscinio is a small castle and will only house, at most, one hundred of your group members," Duke Francis configured. "However, the rest of the Lancastrians can occupy Kermoizin or the other nearby villages."

Again, another round of bowing. Adelaide's back was beginning to pop with every rotation, and her stomach growled rather loudly too but was luckily muffled out by the stream of thanks and gratitude delivered by Jasper Tudor.

Adelaide barely listened to the rest of the conversation. There was a quick conversation between the two adults about delivering the message of asylum to the other exiled Lancastrians and, from what Adelaide caught, it seemed it would be a slow trickle before all the Lancastrians could be brought to the same location. That is, if the message was able to be delivered at all and if they were able to subsequently make their way to Sarzeau safely.

Adelaide glanced numerous times at Henry trying to get a read on him. He seemed ecstatic that his plan had worked but, at the same time, wary that everything was working out so smoothly for them. Adelaide couldn't blame him. She was thankful when they were finally dismissed and headed back to the courtyard. Very rapidly and at a steady pace, the Duke's men began putting transport together for them, as well as rations for the journey. Adelaide didn't bother asking how long the journey was going to take because she partially knew that no one was going to give her an answer. So, Adelaide sat back in one of the provided carriages, quietly positioned next to Henry, and without a word set out towards the new castle that was somehow going to be her new home.