The Early Chronicles Book Four: The Queen and the General

Chapter 2

Goran once again pulled himself back into focus.  He shifted the javelin in his grip and rushed forward before heaving it forward and seeing it stuck fast slightly off-center in the painted wooden target.  He grumbled and rolled his shoulder.

"Are you all right, General?"  Sir Ethan retrieved his own javelin and prepared for another throw.

"I am well.  Just slightly distracted."  He wiped his brow and waited for Sir Ethan to throw before he retrieved his spear.  

"Indeed?  What about?"  Goran could hear the smile in Sir Ethan's voice.  He grumbled again and knew what was coming.  "Thinking about the queen again, are you?"  Sir Ethan chuckled.   Goran ignored him and this time his spear landed directly in the bullseye.  

"Come now, Goran.  There's no shame in admitting it."  Sir Ethan said.  Goran wanted to say there was every bit of shame in admitting it.  He was ashamed just admitting it to himself.  There was nothing that could come of anything and the best thing to do was just forget about it.

"Admit what?"  He tried to play dumb with Sir Ethan, but the older knight knew him better and he was sure of it.

"She trusts you, Goran.  A great deal."  Sir Ethan thrust his spear at the target once more.  

"If only she'd listened and not invited a complete stranger to live in the palace."  

"She invited you to live in the palace once upon a time, remember?"  Sir Ethan laughed.

"That's different."

"Perhaps, but you don't always have to worry so much.  He's close where you can watch him, and the queen is working on finding him land to settle on as we speak."

Sir Ethan's words eased Goran's mind slightly.  "I hope you're right.  Would you alert me if you see anything suspicious?"

"Of course I will."  The knight agreed.  "You've had little rest during your time as general.  Take this time when there are no wars to fight and no Giants to chase and spend some time with the queen."

Goran huffed.  "I spend nearly every day with her, Sir Ethan."

"That's not what I mean and you know it."  The knight's bushy red eyebrows raised.  "Do something besides talking over plans and overseeing training sessions.  Go on a ride, go on a picnic, travel down to the sea."

Goran fought back another growl.  He couldn't picture himself being able to ask the queen to do any of those things.  It was foolish nonetheless.  "Even if I did, nothing can come of it.  She's the queen, and as such she is expected to make a beneficial alliance with someone other than her general."  As he said the words, his shoulders began to slump.  He prepared to throw his javelin again but Sir Ethan put a hand on his shoulder.

"Goran, nothing will make a country stronger than a queen who trusts her military.  I see no stronger alliance than the two of you.  If she cares about you, she'll see that too."

Goran stood with the spear in hand, listening to Sir Ethan's words.  He wanted to believe his words, but something stopped him.  Fear perhaps?  Mistrust?  He wasn't sure.  He just nodded to Sir Ethan.  The knight patted his shoulder and returned to his mark.

"Think about it, General.  Enough talk, next bullseye gets to have the other muck out his horse's stall."

After Goran had mucked out the stall of Sir Ethan's charger, he entered the castle weary and covered in hay and sweat.  Unfortunately, Swanwhite was the first one he came across.

"Oh my!  What happened to you?"  Swanwhite laughed.  "Thasian's gone for one day and you're already mucking out horses?"

Goran's insides turned inside-out as they usually did at the sound of Swanwhite's musical laughter.  "A settled bet with Sir Ethan.  The sun was blinding me."  He mumbled and pulled a strand of hay out of his hair.

"I'm sure."  Swanwhite gave him one of her teasing looks.  "Once you've been cleaned up, I promised Mekau we would give him a tour of the castle."

"Are you certain that's wise?"

"How often does a runaway slave have a chance to see such a castle as this?"

"Very well.  Be cautious, your majesty."

"I will be."

Some time later, Goran was forced to roam through the castle with Swanwhite and Mekau.  He hardly heard anything Swanwhite said, he was so focused on Mekau and watching his every movement.  The first thing Goran noticed was his clothing.  It was the loose and ballooned trousers the Calormens were, along with shoes with pointed toes, a simple white tunic, and a turban.  Simple enough, but not a tear or a scratch.  Someone who was a servant to a cruel master who had just run away surely would look rougher than he did.  No injuries, nothing to show he had been mistreated.  Mekau's eyes also seemed to have something behind them, something Goran couldn't quite explain.  He had seen this look in many a greedy Calormen lord. Something about the way his eyes darted around and seemed to take everything in to determine its value.  This man also seemed fairly fit and didn't look like he had been starving in the wilderness like running away would suggest.  He would have to find out how long Mekau had been on the run.

They came to the armory and Swanwhite showed him their fine cache of weapons.  Mekau seemed very interested, especially when they passed a large iron door in the armory.

"Where does this lead?"  He asked innocently.

"Nowhere of importance."  Goran said quickly and tried to walk them forward.  Surely Swanwhite wouldn't dare lead this stranger inside?  He sighed with relief when she replied sensibly.

"That's the door to the royal vaults.  I'm afraid we can't display a room of that importance."  She said gently. 

"Of course!  Forgive my prying nature.  I'm afraid I show very little gratitude for someone who has been pulled from the horrors of being on the run and shown such gracious hospitality as you have done.  You are most truly the loveliest and most wonderful ruler I have ever met."  Mekau said in an awed voice.  Goran felt his lip beginning to curl and his eyes roll.  Such thick compliments couldn't be sincere.   Swanwhite simply smiled and nodded and led them out of the armory.  They hadn't gone much farther before Sir Oliver approached them.

"Your highness, the mare Ruby isn't looking too well.  Would you come take a look at her?"

"Of course.  I'm sorry, Mekau.  Duty calls."  She said over her shoulder.

"Thank you for the wonderful tour of the castle, my lady."  Mekau answered.  Soon Goran was alone with the stranger.  He straightened his shoulders in hopes to appear more threatening.  

"Tell me, Mekau.  It must have been terrible to be on the run for so many miles.  How long would you say you were on the run for?"  He stepped towards him.  Mekau's expression seemed to darken slightly, but his voice remained calm and polite.

"Indeed, my good sir.  A journey I don't wish to make again.  I'd say the journey took nearly a month, though I can't be certain because the heat muddles a man's mind, you see."

"I can imagine, though you seem quite well and in very good shape for one who had recently undertaken such a journey."

"I was fortunate, I suppose."  Mekau's jaw slacked.  "Some good Fauns took me into their home just across the Archenland border and gave me food and clothing."

Goran narrowed his eyes.  There were no Fauns living that far south.  They preferred the thick wooded areas that inhabited the northern inland.  The hair on his neck bristled at the man's lies.

"I can tell you think ill of me, General."  Mekau continued with a sideways smile.  "If you have suspicions about me, why don't you inform the queen?"  Then he bowed and strutted away.  Goran's fists clenched.  Something wasn't right with this intruder and he was going to find out what.