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

Chapter Thirty-Three

Just as the lazy curtains of mist, concealing the dawn, rose, the self-proclaimed king of Frencolia and his company rode towards the manor house gates.

Sabin roused Louis with the words, "Wake up, Master —the king— Elliad must be here. I saw his standard —the bridge is being wound down for him to cross!" 

Louis woke Elissa who lay at his side. As he pulled on his tunic, the baron ordered, "I don't care what it takes, Sabin, but hide the children! Hide them both!"

As an after-thought, he said, as Sabin placed his boots in front of him; "Put them down in the smaller food cellar. Luke can eat cheese. Put the mat back over the trap-door; lock them there and come and see what has happened to Elissa and me."

Louis ordered his wife to remain in their bedchamber until she was called. He, alone, went to meet the king who had been welcomed by Sir Lamond and a frightened Sir Quincy.

The king dismounted and strode towards the manor house doors where he met, face to face with the baron.

Pointing his leather-gloved finger, the king led the way inside, straight into the great hall. Once close to the heat of the huge fire, Elliad turned to see that his knights stood behind his victim.

"So, Chatelain! You continue to break the law! Sending out those wretched copies! You know that I want the originals. You have three more, and I will have them, even if I have to tear this house apart, board by board and stone by stone!"

The king strode close to look into Louis' blank face.

"Nothing! You have nothing there, as I found out last time we crossed purposes." Elliad put his palm up and waved it in front of Louis' eyes. "You still feign to be mad, do you?

"I have a positive lead on that spurious shepherd brother of yours and his murderous company. I'll return here in five or six hours. You have that long to live, Chatelain! If you give me what I want, your son and daughter will be spared. If not, they'll be dispatched first, then your wife and yourself! Are you conscious enough to understand me, old man?"

"What, what do you want, Sire?" Chatelain spoke as though confused. Unlike his daughter, the baron was a very good actor.

"The originals, man!" Elliad turned and yelled, "Quincy! Where the devil are you?"

The keeper hurried from the recess where he'd stood trembling. He knelt, bowing his head. Elliad commanded as though to a child, "Chatelain is forgetful, Quincy. Remind him that he has five hours, or a little more if we're delayed, to produce the three originals, together with a list of all those in Frencolia who have received copies of the propaganda called the Gospel Book. Five hours is more than enough!"

Elliad snatched the flask brought to him, drinking deeply. When the servant asked him if he wished to be waited on with breakfast, he growled, "No. We'll celebrate when I return. By that time, we'll have the shepherd and his wife, and this whole problem will be finally finished." He laughed as he strode to the door. "When we're rid of the curse of the Gospel Book, we'll have peace in Frencolia!"

Not a person who heard him say these words misunderstood the king. Each mind heard the name, 'Chatelains' in place of 'Gospel Book', for the two now seemed synonymous.

But only Elliad and his knights, of those in that chamber, believed that either the destruction of the Gospel Book or the murder of the Chatelain family would bring about peace.

~~~~~

Jobyna and Luke, still in their night attire, shivered in the cold chamber of the food cellar. Sabin had departed to fetch their clothes and gather a bag of supplies.