Treasures - Book 4 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter 24

Just twenty-four hours before the deadline!—This sobering thought forced Luke to wake from his slumbering. The shrinking span of time and imminent war forced Luke's mind to remain active. He felt tired from the lack of 'real' sleep...

Tension grew each minute and although Sabin also felt the pressure, he urged his charge, "Cast all your care on the Lord, Master, and it will help me to do the same."

Shortly before midday, Sir Dorai received a message from Kings Castle.

Just after dawn, a rope from the tower at the main entrance to Kings Castle had lowered a bucket holding message that read, "I, Elliad John Pruwitt, with the advice of my counselors, have decided for the sake of the Kingdom of Frencolia, to sue for peace and go into exile."

Sir Dorai looked up from the paper, "Elliad has agreed to go into exile!" he exclaimed to the other senior knights, the younger knights and soldiers who were there with him. The courtyard at the knights' tower at Mayhew erupted into a cheering mass. Sir Dorai turned back to the paper to read further. As he read, a frown darkened his countenance.

He read aloud, "Due to the suddenness of your request for my exile, I ask for an extension, of one week. There are preparations to be made and I cannot complete them in the short time I have left, namely one day. In return for this week's extension I promise Jobyna Chatelain's life shall be spared. I also ask there be no troops in Frencberg and the exits from Kings Castle be kept free from obstruction of any kind. I plan to leave Frencolia in six days' time and request no interference. Signed, Elliad John Pruwitt, Exiled King."

Sir Dorai said, "To answer this request, we need an urgent meeting of the senior knights and lords. For the time being, all troops are to be kept at bay. I will sue for an early decision, but we need to discuss all options and make sure it is the right decision."

Sir Dorai said to those close to him, "Elliad's pushing his luck as far as he can with this request, but it's a great victory for Frencolia that the man has conceded defeat without war. We should place reinforcement troops closer to the city and block off all roads out of the capital with strict orders to hold anyone coming out of Kings Castle itself, at least until we've met with the lords and decided if, or not, we'll agree with Elliad's terms."

The meeting that night was short, the decision quickly made. All were unanimous, for the sake of peace, to agree to Elliad's terms.

Lord Farey worded it very well, "If we do not accept his terms, we go to war. The girl Jobyna will surely be killed, wives and mothers all over Frencolia bereaved. Even when our troops win Kings Castle after the siege, the country will be the poorer for it. One week is not too long to see if Elliad will keep his word. We'll be all the more prepared. The positives outweigh the negatives."

Sir Dorai compiled a statement addressed to Elliad, accepting his terms. "However," he wrote, "Frencolian Troops will escort you to the border after Jobyna Chatelain is released." The statement was countersigned by all senior knights, the five lords and was dispatched to Kings Castle.

Later in the day, Sir Dorai received word that the pouch had been drawn up by soldiers at the castle. Sir Dorai had no idea that Elliad was already out of Frencolia, having taken Luke's sister with him. Numbers of guards on the battlements of Kings Castle and the fact that the kitchen chimneys constantly emitted smoke, were sure signs of the castle being inhabited. 

Luke received the news of the week's extension the following morning; he felt incredible relief. Jobyna must still be alive; there was hope after all. He was glad there would be no bloodshed. Sir Dorai also wrote that he would send a company of soldiers to escort Luke back to his castle at Leroy and later in the week, to the castle in Samdene. He wanted Luke closer at hand so that when Elliad left, there would be no doubts among the people as to who was now king.

Luke was glad to know something was happening at last. I'm getting closer, he thought, to a reunion with Jobyna.

The next day, Luke rode into Leroy. The streets were lined with soldiers holding back the cheering masses —men, women and children of all ages. They threw blossom petals in his path and great happiness showed on their faces. News of Elliad's exile and of the boy-king's ascension to the throne of Frencolia had been broadcast far and wide.

A voice from crowd called, "God bless King Luke Chatelain!" In the hysteria of the moment, the crowds echoed the cry. Their cheers grew louder and louder, increasing in volume.

Luke drew his horse to a halt. The animal's hooves crushed the mat of delicate blossoms as he pivoted in the saddle and looked back over hundreds of unfamiliar faces. "God bless Frencolia! God bless you all!" he cried, raising his arm above his head.

Luke was shown to a guests' apartment in Sir Dorai's huge castle. Preparations had been made for Luke's arrival and security was intense; armed guards stood around every corner.

Sir Keith greeted Luke with great warmth. He introduced him to two knights in Sir Dorai's office who were to be Luke's personal bodyguards.

Luke wasn't too sure about having 'bodyguards' —strangers who would be personal guards; he wondered what they would be doing. He said, "I need Sabin to stay close by me as well, Sir Keith."

Sir Keith ignored his words and spoke of various events around the kingdom, bringing him up-to-date with happenings in different districts.

Later, Luke indulged in the luxury of a bath in a wooden tub. It reminded him of home, the manor house. His previous life had seemed lost to him forever.

Again, he longed to see Jobyna. She's all I have left, he told himself, blinking away tears.

The days dragged painfully, Luke's impatience was relieved somewhat by the uneventful journey to Samdene. The countryside was fragrant with the vapors of spring. Newborn lambs frolicked in the fields, stopping to suckle from their mothers. Luke loved the Frencolian countryside and the journey made him feel refreshed, his spirit uplifted.

The day before Elliad was supposed to leave, Sir Dorai decided to travel to Frencberg. He chose a path out of view from the castle battlements. Sir Dorai's men had set up headquarters about half a mile from the main gates of the castle. A wool-trader in the city had made his empty warehouse available for a company of soldiers to occupy.

One of Sir Dorai's knights told his superior that a small company of soldiers had left the castle. "It were just after midnight, Sir. They rode out the eastern exit. Some fifty or so, men and horses. But we're not sure as to the exact number. We didn't want to pursue until checking with you, Sir. There were no carts, just the men... soldiers on horseback."

Well aware that Elliad could be working some kind of trickery, Sir Dorai nevertheless decided to wait the agreed time. He would use the hours left to make enquiries.

"I need a man who knows the city inside out, Iven," Sir Dorai told the wool-trader. Iven left the warehouse and returned with an old man he introduced as Lazare. Sir Dorai placed the chart they had found in the valley before Lazare. The old man poured over the drawing, his gnarled forefinger gently tracing every line. He turned it this way and that, holding it close to the lamp.

"Ar, yes," he said and directed his finger along a dotted line, "this is the castle moat. And this is some sort of path to Kings Castle. It comes from an opening along here, maybe on the riverbank. There are houses along there; I can't be sure which one it would be. Maybe this," he pointed to the 'M' letter drawn on the dotted line. "Yes, this might be the moat bridge. That means this sort of dotted 'W' here is on the northern side of the moat bridge. The starting point for this path must come from a house across the road from the moat. I've never seen such paths; must be before the houses were built, or some'it."

Sir Dorai folded the paper, his brow furrowed with thought. It would be too obvious, and it might be premature, for him to search houses in that area just yet. He would wait for the morrow. Elliad had promised to leave the castle in the morning. He would release Luke's sister.

Sir Dorai was looking forward to meeting the famed daughter of Louis Chatelain.