The Call to Duty
Here it is, as promised, the first installment of the story. I hope that you enjoy!
The sun was starting to sink in the late afternoon sky when both Aelric and Ivae found themselves at the castle gates. Aelric was astride a massive, intelligent looking warhorse, and rode up the road from the South. He was preceeded by the sounds of jingling, clanking horse armor, and many a townsperson glanced up curiously at the old man. Ivae rode a much lighter horse down from the north, and moved much more quietly. He too gained many curious glances, because although accepted in society, elves were a rare sight.
The unlikely pair was met by two grim faced, well-armed women, who barred their way until they saw that each man had letters with the King’s mark on them. “Very well,” said the older one, and clearly the one in charge, with a weary sigh. “Go on in.”
Aelric strode through the entryway grimly. “Things have certainly changed around here,” he muttered to Ivae. “When did the king start employing female guards?”
“When he had to send all of the male ones off to war,” murmured Ivae, who was much more a presence at court than the old paladin.
Aelric nodded grimly. Well he knew that the country was being torn apart by a chaotic, three-way war. Esternale was completely landlocked, surrounded by powerful neighbors. Two of those neighbors decided that they wanted to “annex” Esternale, and couldn’t make up their minds whether to fight the dwindling defenders or each other.
“Royal Explorer Ivae,” said a deep male voice, obviously pleased. “I’m so glad to see you. I know that the king will be too.” A man dressed as a herald rounded the corner of the stone hallway, and he favored the pair with a smile. “And you must be....” he glanced at Aelric for a moment, before nodding to himself. “You must be Aelric Rowanshield.” Without waiting for confirmation from Aelric, he gestures down a hallway. “Please, follow me. The King and Queen will see you in their private quarters.”
Ivae and Aelric exchanged a glance as they followed the herald. The King made it a point to receive all guests publicly, to avoid an appearance of favoritism. Whatever brought this one must be very important indeed.
As promised, the herald lead the two men to the King’s Quarters. After passing through a heavy oak door, they entered into a large room, with surprisingly sparse decor. A cheery fire crackled in the hearth, for the castle was drafty even in the early summer months. The King and Queen sat before the fire. Both had aged over the years. King Petra was beginning to salt and pepper, and was developing a paunch. Queen Laurel still had long, lustrous black hair, but it too was streaked with gray. Her face was careworn, and at the moment, she looked none too pleased, even though she did offer the new arrivals a faint smile.
“Your Majesties,” said the herald with a bow, “I present to you the Royal Explorer Ivae Ravanevae and retired knight, Paladin Aelric Rowanshield.”
The King nodded gravely. “Thank you, Allen,” he said to the herald in a tone that was clearly a dismissal, however polite.
The herald responded with another bow, and backed gracefully out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
There was a long moment of silence as the king studied the new arrivals. He gestured to two servants, who scurried to bring chairs. “Please, sit,” he said.
Ivae bowed, sitting in the chair, although Aelric shifted uneasily, and remained standing.
The King inclined his head to Ivae. “Ivae, it is good to see you again. I trust that my forests are still standing?” His tone was dry, but not entirely without humor.
Ivae found himself grinning at his leige lord. “They are, your Majesty. I’ve made a full report to my superior, Gandin.”
“Then I will no doubt hear it. All of it,” the King said, dryly again. He turned, and surveyed the still-standing paladin, a smile flickering across his lips. “Aelric, I am pleased to see you after all of these years.”
He leaned back in his chair, and drew in a deep breath while looking at both men earnestly. “I have had you summoned because I need men that I can trust... both to do the task that I have set forth, and to keep it very quiet. You see, this is a matter of extreme delicacy.”
The Queen looked even less pleased, and straightened her back so that she was sitting rigidly. Her jaw worked, but she remained silent, letting the King do the talking. Ivae found himself studying her surreptiously, trying to make up his mind what was wrong with the normally rather easy-going Queen.
King Petra answered that question for him with his next statement. “As you and the rest of the country know, Laurel and I have been unable to produce an heir, for whatever reason.” He cleared his throat, looking for all the world like he was nervous, despite his lofty status. “Most people believe that I am completely without an heir. This is, however, not entirely true,” he said, very studiously avoiding the Aelric’s surprised glance. He continued. “In actuality, I have a son, three years in age, born to a peasant woman of the Realm. I have given him to foster parents to raise for me. His name is Korin.” He faltered, swallowing hard, and seemed unable to continue.
Queen Laurel looked at her husband, sighed, and turned back to face the two men. “We have reason to believe that Korin has been kidnapped,” she said grimly, “From his home beside the Maiden Lake. We need someone to rescue him.”
