Kingdoms - Book 6 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Twelve

Elliad's artful agent, Cormick, had arrived at the Frencolian border castle with two knights and thirty soldiers. He had presented himself, scrupulously dressed as a Frencolian knight.

The uniforms were ones he and his men had taken with them when they had left Frencolia with Elliad, over a year ago. The bottom part of the embroidered "E" had been carefully removed to revert the embroidery on the uniforms to the original "F". Cormick had studiously compiled documents, and his scribes fastidiously forged signatures and seals in the pretence that they were a special party sent ahead of King Luke Chatelain by Prince Dorai, to inspect the border guard and assure that the king's company progressed into Reideaux without incident.

Cormick's company had chosen names and disguises identical to authentic Frencolian men and they hoped the role-play would pass without question or close scrutiny. They required just a few minutes without detection and they would be halfway to their goal of kidnapping King Luke Chatelain.

Felix, who had been on duty at the border castle when Jobyna had returned to Frencolia, was again on duty the night Cormick and his men arrived. There were no warning signs apparent for him to suspect trickery.

Knights of the kingdom were to be trusted!

Felix took Cormick, now named "Sir Stacy, from Bruis," to his office, chatting about all the visitors who had traversed the border in the past few days. He gave Cormick a drink while he checked the papers. Cormick's men used less than ten minutes to secure the border castle, locking the few men who were still alive in one of the two dungeons. When the sword-waving Edsel and Lester burst in through the office door, Felix was so shocked, he almost suffered a heart attack.

On learning they represented 'His Imperial Highness, the Czar of Chezkovia', Felix said to Cormick, "Thrust your sword through me now! This is too much to bear!"

Cormick was tempted to comply but had Felix thrown in the dungeon with the others who had surrendered. The speculative traitor decided to kill all the soldiers and save the knights and captains alone as hostages. "A dead knight is not much use," he told his men, "Felix has more value alive at the present."

Cormick's remaining twenty-four men removed the dead bodies, closed the northern exits and prepared for King Luke Chatelain's arrival, scheduled first thing in the morning.

Luke had spent the night at Valdemar. When Elliad had absconded from Frencberg, his castle had been seized in the name of King Luke Chatelain and given to the charge of an elderly Frencolian Knight named 'Sir Bradbury'. A large tower was to be kept ready at all times for the king or the crown prince should they need to stay overnight there. 

The plan was to leave before daybreak and arrive to check in at the border castle soon after dawn when they would partake of refreshments and a short rest. The remainder of the day would be spent in the saddle, traveling to Kelsey Castle. Luke looked forward to seeing Konrad and spending some sixty hours in the capital with his friend, the new King of Reideaux. Prince Dorai had agreed that such a visit would help seal future relations.

As the flag-bearer approached the border castle, the portcullis was raised and Sir Keith, riding alongside Luke, scanned the courtyard, asking for Sir Felix. Bowing low, Cormick explained the knight's absence with the lie that Felix had been taken sick.

"Captain Etam, at your service," Cormick said, signalling for his team to give the expected obeisance to their king. He knelt with his cohorts, and together with his men, gave homage and kudos, as usual, ending with the cry, "God bless Frencolia! God bless King Luke Chatelaine." The pretender had given the name of one Felix' captains, 'Etam', having disguised himself to look the same as this man who had been later thrown in a dungeon.