A Brother's Love - Book 3 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Thirteen

Jobyna was ornery, protesting when Luke told her they were going on a picnic but it was to be kept a secret. He had to threaten their father's displeasure before she submitted.

"We have to go now, tell no one, and take care not to be seen," Luke commanded.

"Oooh, sounds like we are escaping from something or is it someone?" Jobyna asked. She added, playfully, "What's going so badly that we must run and hide?"

"Father said he'll tell me about it later," Luke said.

"Will he tell me too?" she asked.

They had arrived in the stables and Luke ignored her question, urging, "Strap the rugs to Brownlea while I fix the basket on my horse. We have to hurry."

They walked the horses out over the back bridge then cantered them around the village perimeter before Jobyna spurred her horse on faster.

"Go, Brownlea!" she called, flicking the reins. He sprang into a gallop and she believed she would race Luke and his horse, Speed, to the unmarked path of the ridge.

Speed reached the base of the ridge before Brownlea and began to ascend. When Brownlea arrived, Luke had dismounted and, having tethered Speed, the boy began to climb their tree.

Being a good sport, Jobyna laughed as she climbed the improvised wooden steps that Sabin had diligently nailed to the trunk.

"Speed is good, Luke. It'll take a lot of work for me to get Brownlea to win against him." She hauled herself on the platform, dragging the two rugs up with her.

"Luke!" Jobyna exclaimed. He had a drumstick in one hand and a bread-roll in the other. "How could you?—You just had breakfast!"

Flopping down beside him, she asked, "I wonder what the king wanted to see our family about? Is that why Papa sent us away?"

Luke spoke with his mouth full, chewing between his words, and Jobyna barely understood him. "You meddle too much, Jobyna Chatelain. Fill your mouth... here, this'll stop your jabbering." He swallowed and pushed the rest of the bread into his mouth while offering her a jam tart in his other hand. She couldn't resist and asked for a second one.

When Baron Chatelain arrived at the base of the tree, it was to find the ground strewn with chicken-bones, ham rind and numerous crumbs from which the birds flew at his approach.

He mounted the platform to find both Luke and Jobyna asleep.

Luke woke first, sitting up and exclaiming, "Father! I thought you said Sabin would come!"

They whispered for a short time, the father saying that he would tell Luke about it when they were on their own. Luke glanced a little resentfully at Jobyna, but knew that she was crafty enough to wake up, yet conceal that she was actually awake and listening.

"Why have you come, Father?" Luke asked.

"Let's just say I prefer the company of the birds in the trees right now. And of course, that of my wonderful children."

He arranged himself comfortably. A strange sound, a faint high-pitched whimpering, rose from his broad chest.

The baron loosened the thin leather tie laced at the neck of his tunic and reached down inside. As he did so, a small black nose emerged, followed by a black and white face.

"For you, Son." He placed the tiny puppy in Luke's lap. The creature began to lick Luke's hands; he could smell chicken and taste sweet jam!

"Where did you get him?" Luke asked, fascinated.

"From Felix. The men had another round-up of pariah dogs and Felix saved him for you."

Chatelain sighed in pleasure at Luke's welcoming delight towards the puppy. He hoped it would compensate for the fact that he had not allowed Luke to accompany the men on the 'dog hunt'. Luke had told his father about his archery skills, but Chatelain knew how much Luke hated to see animals suffer. As it was, Felix was still trying to capture and kill two stray dogs that had been wounded, but had escaped.

"Felix had him for two weeks... before..." the father stopped, leaning back. He thought of Louis Junior... buried just a week ago; how much he would have loved a little puppy like this.

A lifetime seemed to have passed in that week.

"What breed is he?" Luke asked, his attention on his puppy. Chatelain laughed before answering. He had never owned a 'mongrel' before! "Oh, I'd say a bit of beagle and a lot of mutt! He'll be a friend to all and loyal to none."

Luke laughed and declared, "I'll call him 'Shadow'. Look— he looks as though he's standing in the shadow of a tree and the leaves are making blotches on him like leaf prints. And he will follow me around like he's my shadow. I'll command him to be faithful!"

Shaking his finger at the dog, Luke's words caused the father to recoil within. "Shadow shall be your name. You'll be my shadow. Your king has spoken!"

Luke climbed down the tree to romp with the puppy, and Chatelain warned him not to make too much noise or Jobyna would wake.

Luke, my son, my third son; now, he's my only son, my heir. And if Leopold had his way, Luke would be the next King of Frencolia! And my daughter... queen? If Leopold has his way...

Chatelain sat up. If Leopold has his way? What about Chatelain's way? Isn't that what he wanted to enforce? —And it was all because he had hated the life he himself had lived at Kings Castle. What about God's Way? The baron shuddered. In a flash, he knew that he had not sought God's will. And what would God's will be, regarding this matter?

Feeling wide-awake, he studied the sleeping face of his daughter. She looked better than she had for months. It could not be God's will for Jobyna to marry a man like Samuel... surely not. Chatelain sat there, wrestling within himself. Samuel was a widower, over thirty years old!

Suddenly it dawned upon him that he need not make any decision at all. Lord, he prayed silently, Why didn't I see it before? You know what you're doing! When will I ever learn? Help me to place my dilemmas in Your hands and help me to pray sincerely, 'Thy Will be done'.

The matter was now settled in his mind, but Chatelain could not sleep; it was still morning time and he never slept in the morning no matter how tired he was from the sad vigil and the tension of having his royal cousin in his home. He climbed down and sat restlessly watching Luke and the new puppy.

Sabin arrived at 'Spy Castle' an hour before sunset. He drew his master aside and spoke quietly so the children wouldn't hear. His eyes sparkled and he explained his words were the king's, not his own.

"The king has been gone for two hours. He said it was beneath his Royal Person to play your game, Baron. He's returning to Frencberg where he'll announce Samuel's future succession to the throne of Frencolia. He said that he and Samuel would visit you again, soon. He took the Baroness aside and gave her a private message for you."

Luke and Jobyna played a counting game with stones and were reluctant to leave when their father said it was time to go. Jobyna, however, was winning, so Luke stood, declaring a 'draw'. Knowing better than to argue with her brother in front of their father, Jobyna complied with the instructions to mount her horse and head for home.

The baron motioned for Sabin to ride first, then Jobyna to follow; and they set off down the perilous path.

"What would you like for your twelfth birthday, Jobyna?" he called, after they had descended. He drew his horse close to hers. He smiled and confessed, "After twelve years, I've clean run out of ideas!"

Jobyna laughed contagiously, realizing her father's mind had been occupied with far more somber happenings than her birthday. She said brightly, "Oh, I don't know. I'll think about it for a few days. I'll let you know." She turned as she spurred Brownlea into a canter, "Up to half your kingdom, Father?"

He joined her and copied her actions of charging the horse to gallop. He shouted, "Up to half my earthly kingdom!"