Paladin - the path begins

Chapter 10

Luna leant back in her chair stifling a yawn. Since the failed assassination of her father, she had been forced into council meetings. He had recovered remarkably in the following days, she suspected Paladins had helped the palace healers, though they were silent on the matter, indeed on most things lately she thought. Several days later and the King was back holding court once more, though he kept her close by now, getting her more involved in the running of the Kingdom than she had an interest in. Luna wished she'd followed her sister's lead and simply shut herself away for the last week. She looked over to her father, how he maintained interest in these things amazed her. Laurdin, the minister in charge of public works, pleaded his case for more funding for the sewer network, whatever that was! Her father asked questions of him, turning to her uncle to check if such monies were available for use, then he suddenly turned to her.

"What do you think of Laurdin's proposal Lunathion?" he asked her raising an eyebrow. Had he noticed her yawn?.

She shifted in her chair to sit upright quickly, smoothing out her skirt to stall for time.

"Well... I think that...it's a good idea" she replied, hoping her answer seemed measured.

"I think perhaps you should pay attention more Lunathion, you will rule here one day. Though you may find it dull, it is necessary for the running of this Kingdom" her father said sternly as she shrank back in her chair.

She felt the eyes of the council on her as she tried to compose herself again.

"I'm sorry father, I'll try harder in future," she said timidly, unable to meet his gaze.

"I'm sure you will my daughter, I'm calling a halt to this meeting temporarily gentlemen, my physicians forbid me to over exert myself, and I have already been at this longer than is allowed for me," her father told them as he leant back in his chair with a visible flinch.

The other council members stood in unison with her, bowing to her father. As they filed out of the chamber her father motioned her over. He stood slowly, leaning on the great table with his one good hand to steady himself, his face going pale.

"I fear this will be your duty before you are ready for it Luna, but I don't trust my brother. I fear he would not put the kingdom's interests before his own ends... whatever they may be" he said to her, starting to sweat profusely.

"Don't talk nonsense father, you'll recover from this and be stronger than ever" she replied calmly, helping steady him.

"I fear I was too soft raising you and your sister, after losing your mother, then your brother... I never foresaw this day coming if I'm being honest. I will have to rectify things as soon as possible" he said, his voice wavering.

Deadra entered the room from her father's apartments, taking his arm gently.

"It's okay now my King, I have you. Thank you Luna" Deadra said to her kindly.

Luna let go of her father as he stumbled lamely through the door to his chambers with Deadra, she felt a pang of guilt at her part in doing this to him, though the alternative would have been his death. She stood alone in the chamber awhile before leaving herself, back into the reception area of the palace. She went through the east wing and out into the palace gardens where the civil workers of the palace spent their breaks. Luna walked slowly through the garden, listening to the choir practice in a large ornate clearing where she spotted Reedin playing his harp in accompaniment to the others.

"You seem happier than usual Lunathion," came a voice from behind her which she instantly recognised.

She looked over her shoulder to where Elldran stood, he had lost so much of his arrogance since Tar'vid had escaped, he was an ass and was so guilty in the plot to kill her father it hurt, but he was still family.