Treasures - Book 4 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter 10

At the knights' tower near Mayhew, news of Jobyna's illness was received with sadness by Sir Dorai and Sabin, as the messenger said, "It's voiced in Kings Castle that there is not much hope for her recovery. Our sources wrote to expect she might die while this message is conveyed. You must prepare yourselves that the next news will be the worst."

Luke, however, was making wonderful progress. He stood, a thick rug around his shoulders, holding the shutters open, peering out at the storm. It was very early morning, still dark outside; an indoor lamp had been lit by the monk on duty there with Luke. Bowing to the two knights, the monk left the room.

The bruises on Luke's face were patterns of purple and yellow, a good sign of his healing.

Luke had risen; wide-awake, at about three o'clock, unable to sleep, his mind clear at last. The fog had lifted and the tunnel was behind him. He sat in a chair, just thinking, his mind moving over all that had happened since Jobyna and he had left their home to escape from Elliad...

He still wasn't sure where he was but Sabin's presence in the room assured him all was well.

Sabin slept deeply, snoring softly; Luke didn't want to wake him.

He had a lot of thinking to catch up on...

He tried to piece together all that had transpired. At least he was safe here, wherever 'here' was. It seemed to be a castle of some kind.

His thoughts flew to Jobyna and he decided to ask Sabin about her the moment he woke. Perhaps she was asleep in another room.

Luke remembered leaving the valley in haste. So much had happened since then. How unpredictable life was. He must never take it for granted again. "What is here today, might not be there tomorrow," he told himself.

He fingered the seal. It felt heavy around his neck. He realized how impulsive and thoughtless he'd been when he put it on. He wondered whose it was, and remembered the dead man in the cave. Who was that man? How did he get there? What were the treasures there for? He grimaced as he mused, I dared to act as if they were mine...

The door had opened so silently that Luke was startled when he saw a guard. At the sight of Luke, the man, wearing a soldier's uniform, closed and locked the door before hurrying down to Sir Dorai's quarters to tell him the boy was up and about.

The door was unlocked and Sir Dorai and Ruskin entered the room. Luke recognized Ruskin. Sir Dorai, standing back, was pleased to hear Luke holding an intelligent conversation. 

Sabin awoke, and his joy in seeing a change for the better in Luke showed on his beaming face. Sir Dorai suggested they all go to the knight's dining room to partake of breakfast there.

"Good," said Luke. He favored this idea as he felt very hungry. It surprised him how weak he was as he followed Sir Dorai. Ruskin steadied him as he stumbled on the first step downwards. His legs trembled, and he felt sapped of strength. As he traversed the rest of the steep stone steps, his ribs and back ached. 

Luke couldn't supply any information not already known. It was they who had news for him. With Sir Dorai's approval, Ruskin told Luke about the scroll Jobyna had given them and its content.

"I've gone carefully over every word, trying to reconstruct the testament, in writing, from my memory," Ruskin explained, "I'm furious with myself for allowing Julian to commandeer such a priceless document."

Luke felt amazed, and afraid, to know he was wearing King Leopold's royal seal.

When Sir Dorai explained the powers invested in the seal and the wearing of it, Luke was flooded with remorse for putting it around his neck. However, Sir Dorai tried to allay Luke's fears, saying, "It will all work out for the best, Luke; we must believe this."

"You should file the lock off the back of the chain," Luke replied, "I want the seal to go to the right person so he can be the king!"

Sir Dorai was silent, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Believing Luke should know about Jobyna's capture, he told him of her illness; trying to give him more hope than existed.

It was enough for Luke to sustain the thoughts of Jobyna being Elliad's prisoner in Kings Castle, let alone to grieve that she was almost dead.

Ruskin and Sabin helped Luke back up the steps to his room. His mind felt it was bursting with the information shared at the breakfast table. Exhaustion caused him to feel he might collapse at any moment and the fullness of his stomach made him want to sleep. Sabin was concerned at Luke's drained expression, his ghastly pale skin, and urged him to rest.

The storm continued to rage. All outdoor work came to a halt when such storms engulfed Frencolia. Travelers ceased their journeys and soldiers did as little as possible. The fields were deserted, the markets empty and people sat around their fireplaces, resting, eating and telling stories. For those who could read and had access to books, it was a time employed studying and gaining more knowledge.

This was a perfect time for the senior knights to gather at the knights' tower near Mayhew. No one was out on the roads to see them come, and they could not imagine Elliad's spies being out in such adverse weather.

The senior knights had not met since Elliad had crowned himself king of Frencolia. At that time, they had voted to accept Elliad and support him as long as he kept the interests of the kingdom at heart.

Sir Dorai declared, "I feel sick to the pit of my stomach to realize that over two years have passed since we senior knights last met, allowing Elliad much time to entertain his own interests and not those of Frencolia. The Gospel Books are one thing —I can understand how a king could feel threatened by religious laws and worship of a being other than the king, but appointing his own secret knights and slaying innocent people for their harmless private beliefs, is another. It has been tolerated for too long and us senior knights must thaw from the ice of complacency in which we've been frozen!"

All the next day, knights arrived at the Mayhew tower. The fourteen senior knights met in one conference chamber while the 'lesser' knights waited for the recommendations and then discussed them. Only knights sworn in three years ago or more were permitted to cross the drawbridge. Those not eligible were commanded to return to their homes and keep the secret of the knights' meeting.

The Mayhew tower was fully stocked with food and provisions and plans were made for siege. Precautionary security was established against the tower being stormed. Although it wasn't stated, these actions were in the case of an attack by Elliad and his men.

All was set for the most important meeting of a knight's lifetime. The outcome of the deliberations could produce a decision for civil war; Luke's life or death; Elliad being given the seal to the Kingdom... or not...

Sir Dorai repeated, "I hope the knights will keep Frencolia's interests at heart!