Minister

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Reign

Oliver and I were in the throne room while Lord Weylyn had a Protestant with him.

"We have heard your request from Lord Weylyn. I give you permission to rebuild this place of worship. This I will do. But it is all I will do."

"With respect, Your Majesty, it is not enough." I looked at Weylyn and he was confused. "And I did not come here to beg for a new barn." I turned to Oliver and he was taken aback.

"What are you doing?" Weylyn glanced over towards me then back at the minister.

"Thanks to your edict, we are being hunted by the Vatican. You have two days to expel Cardinal and Varanasi and his inquisitors from Avallon."

Oliver raised his voice, "Expel the Vatican?"

"If you refuse, at dawn on the third day, Catholics will die. We have stolen gunpowder, pounds of it, packed tightly and hidden, ready to rain hellfire."

"A bomb." I knew this was coming.

He continued, "Down upon hundreds..." Oliver interrupted him, "arrest him!" He stood from his throne and faced the minister. "You will not threaten the Crown." He walked up to get closer to the minister Howard. "And if what you say is true, we'll find these explosives if I have to bleed it out of you."

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"I had no idea I was bringing in a fanatic. The protestant leader seemed genuine in his desire for peace." Lord Weylyn paced.

"Even if the minister doesn't speak for all Protestants, he was not working alone. He had to know that he'd be taken and interrogated once he delivered his threat. We must find his accomplices." Oliver and Weylyn faced one another. "Or perhaps your friend, their leader, or one of the peaceful Protestants who speak to you." He never trusted not like Lord Weylyn.

"This is not Weylyn's doing." I took a few steps to stand beside Lord Weylyn. "There's so much anger between the faiths now. Something like this was coming."

Michael stepped in. "She's right." He stood in front of me facing Oliver. "Whatever piece exists is fragile. It might be best to keep this a secret. If word leaks of a planned Protestant attack against Catholics, there will be panic and retribution."

"Very well. Find out who the minister was working with. Talk with members of his congregation." Oliver only looked at Michael.

"I'll go with Michael. I've seen their leaders. Perhaps I'll recognize someone." Lord Weylyn walked with Michael.

As they were walking away I saw how he looked at Weylyn. "I know you don't care of my opinion but would you please let me help? I could go to them as queen and make a personal appeal."

"They threatened us. If you think I would allow you to go anywhere near..."

"It might assuage their anger towards us."

"You mean their anger towards me," he turned away. "For my recent actions. Even if you found them," he turned back around to look at me. "What would you say? That opposed me at every turn before I made a mess of things? They don't need to hear that, and neither do I." He walked away.

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"It feels strange, receiving nobles at court as if everything is normal," I spoke towards Oliver as we walked in the corridors.

"If we didn't, people would suspect that something was wrong."

"I don't know which is harder." I kept a smile on my face. "Pretending there isn't a device that could kill hundreds of innocents or pretending that we're still a happy royal couple."

Michael approached us.

"Michael." Oliver looked at him. "Did you find the Protestant leader, James?"

"Actually, he found me when I was in town. He claims that the other leaders know nothing of the minister's threats. He was shocked when I told him."

"And you believe him?" He asked.

"We, I'm inclined to. He came to me at great risk. He believes this act of terror is the work of a few fringe radicals that want to galvanize Protestants into rising up against the crown."

"Does he know who they are or where we can find them?"

"He swore he would give them up if he could. He knows if this threat comes to pass, and Catholic lives are lost, it will be the start of a bloody fight people will want no part of."

"We're running out of time. I'll see if there's any progress with the minister.

Michael and I stepped out into the garden path where no one is around.

"I can't help feeling we're missing something."

"What is it you fear?"

"If the protestant radicals want to incline mayhem by killing Catholics, why not just set off the explosion? Why send their minister, who they know will surely be tortured and likely killed?"

"A minister much beloved by his flock, people that know nothing of the dire threat he has made. If the minister is killed, the radicals can use his death as justification for almost any bad act. They would create..."

"A martyr." I finished his sentence.

"And his death would inflame even the most pacifist of Protestants."

"We must do everything we can to make sure that minister stays alive." He turned to walk away but I placed my hand on his, "and do what you can to help Oliver. He's completely shut me out, but he might listen to you."

He placed his other hand over mine, "I'll do everything in my power. But, Arya, he's a fool to shut you out, King or not." He walked away.

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