Wealsun 14, CY 593
43: A Noble Exchange.
That evening, after the Lord takes his leave, the Liberators discuss their new predicament.
“We should be off for Nyrond immediately,” Prisantha says.
“Are you mad?” Heydricus barks. “These are not Iuzians to be put to the sword as we see fit! Woodwych is the second-largest city in Nyrond! These people are nobility!”
“I don’t mean go to Woodwych, I mean we should be off to the capital. We will take an audience with the King of Nyrond, and ply him with gifts. If we can befriend him, it will make it all the more difficult for this Baroness Talnith.”
“Why, that’s brilliant!” Heydricus exclaims.
“You should have been a ranger,” Elijah says.
“One does not just walk into the court of Nyrond and demand to see the King,” Dabus grumbles.
“One does if one is personal friends with Belvor of Furyondy, and guardian to his Heir,” Prisantha retorts. “Belvor will give us a letter of introduction, I am sure.”
-----
Heydricus and Prisantha teleport to Chendl, but are dismayed to learn that the King is indisposed—out of the city entirely, to be exact. Belvor has gone North to inspect the defenses along the border, and has not left an itinerary behind.
Pris and Heyrdicus return to Cur’ruth and seek out the one person they know likely to have had intimate knowledge of Belvor’s previous inspections—Reine, the former Provost Marshall of Furyondy, and now flat-mate of Jespo Crim.
Reine is found discontentedly poking at a half-eaten meal, the lines of his recent grief plain on his face. He tells the duo that “inspection” is another way to say “visiting his only real ally amongst his nobles, a very wealthy former adventuring companion elevated to Baroness by his own hand. He gave her Crockport, though, so the joke’s on her, ha ha. It’s an awful, awful city, and I don’t envy her position. I’m not one to gossip, but friendship aside, I suspect Belvor really appointed her for her money.”
Reine goes on to explain that Belvor’s Great Crusade was financed with almost the very last coin in the Royal treasury as well as the dregs of Belvor’s own purse. The Southern Lords were demurring, and Belvor was forced to underwrite much of their expenses in order for them to render their duty to the Crown. “Of course,” Reine continues, “the Crusade was a success, much to that ambitious Butrain’s chagrin, and when it came time to dole out the new Baronies, our King thumbed his nose at the Southern Lords and put a common adventurer on the seat in Crockport. Not that there’s anything common about her wealth,” Reine drawls. “The two of them are as thick as thieves, and if they weren’t both paladins, there might be more competition for Thrommel than Crim could stomach. Or so they say.
“I do know that she has been lending him money for years, and helping to prop up his destitute Crown. I must tell you, if it wasn’t for my scrupulously prudent management of the City’s affairs there might have been food rioting in Chendl years ago, and I shudder to think what might befall it now that I am banished.”
“You’re not banished Reine, you’ve been promoted,” Heydricus says cheerily.
“Well,” Reine sniffs. “Somebody had better convince Jespo Crim of the fact, and get him to teach some economic sense to Thrommel. The thick-witted lad is inheriting a pauper’s leaving, though I suspect he knows it not.
“Go to Crockport, and ask for the Lady Ishara—she is the Baroness Kalinstren’s adjutant, and she will be able to provide you with Belvor’s location, assuming he isn’t standing next to her at the moment.”
-----
The Baron isn’t, but the Lady Ishara can, and after a moment, the Liberators do so.
“Heydricus!” Belvor roars. “Pris! Gods above, you can find me anywhere!” The King leans back in his chair and whispers to the robed figure standing behind his right shoulder, “Are they supposed to be able to do that?”
“It is good to see you, my Lord,” Heydricus says, executing a courtly bow. “We bring you pleasing news from Tenh. We have eliminated the members of the Boneheart in Eastern Tenh and disrupted an Iuzian attempt to unearth some sort of artifact.”
“Artifact, you say? An evil one?”
“It is unquestionably evil, my Lord,” Heydricus says.
“Well, did you destroy it?”
“I’m not sure, sire. It . . . had some fight in it, but I think we at least drove it off.”
“Well, good enough. Good enough! You gave it a kick in the pants, eh? A real sound kick! I wish I could have seen it! And how is my boy?” The King bellows, as his hooded advisor hastily closes the doors behind the Liberators.
“Thrommel is well, my Lord,” Pris says. “He asks about you often.”
The King seems touched by this statement, and sighs deeply. “Ah, my boy. He was taken from me so young, you know, and was returned to me only so briefly.” The King looks down at his lap, and rubs aside a single tear. “I look forward to the day when you can tell me with all candor that my boy is ready for the throne. I would abdicate in an instant, and spend my remaining days pestering him for grandchildren, if I could.”
“He is still young, my Lord,” Heyrdicus says.
“And my work is not finished either!” Belvor exclaims. “I have a great dream, Heydricus, have I told it to you?” Belvor stands up and places one foot on his chair. “That I may hand Thrommel the Crown to a Kingdom that stretches from the Nyr Dyv in the south to the Northern tip of the Whyestil. I mean to beat Iuz at his own game, Heydricus. I mean to take his Empire out from under his bony hindquarters.”
“A noble goal, Sire,” Heydricus says.
“And one which we can wholeheartedly support,” Prisantha says, favoring Belvor with a charming smile. “But we have come to ask favors as well as promise aid.”
“Anything my dear, speak your wish,” Belvor says.
“We require a letter of introduction to the Court of Nyrond. We hope to introduce ourselves there, and make our business known to King Lynwerd.”
“Ah, ha!” Belvor laughs. “They’ve put that Eyeh out on his ear, and you hope that they’ll hear your case! Well thought, well thought. No one dislikes the Pale more than Lynwerd, I suppose, and no one dislikes you more than the Pale, so you might as well see if you can’t snuggle up in Rel Mord. Well, Lynwerd is a right-thinking man, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble with him.” The King nods. “Very well. Write yourselves a letter, say whatever you wish within reason, and have Thrommel seal it with his ring.”
At this, Heydricus and Prisantha exchange glances. Belvor says, “You didn’t know he wore a King’s ring? There are only two, and I had his made when you returned him to me. Another reason to keep his head on his shoulders, what? Who knows what kind of mischief might be made with that ring should it be taken from his finger.”
“An impossibility, Sire.” Heydricus says. “The Prince is well-guarded.”
“By who, that Crim fellow?” The King says. “I don’t know, he seems womanly to me. No offense of course, Prisantha,” Belvor hastily adds. “I mean no disrespect to womankind by the comparison. I just imagine that Crim conjuring all sorts of mis-placed contrivances to hasten my boy away from his duty and into the thick of things.”
Heydricus and Prisantha look at one another.
“What Thrommel needs is to feel the sting of responsibility. He needs to learn what it means to have the fates of others upon his back.”
“That is a fine idea, my Lord,” Heyrdicus says. “I have a perfect assignment for him. We are beginning to outline our campaign against the central plains of Tenh. We’ve imagined small units, working fairly autonomously. Command of one of them would be perfect for Thrommel.”
“Yes,” Belvor says. “And have that Crim sit the lad down for lessons with my former Provost Marshall, as well. There is more to rulership than battle and command, after all. Reine is still alive, I trust?”
“He is, sire,” Heydricus says.
The cloaked figure behind Belvor leans forward and whispers into the King’s ear. “Ah, of course, of course,” Belvor replies, then turns back to Heydricus and Prisantha. “You must keep Reine in Cur’ruth, Heydricus, I’m afraid he may never leave. There are those amongst our enemies who could wreak terrible havoc if they knew what he knows about our affairs. There has even been talk of retrieving him back to Chendl for safety’s sake, but I am confident in you two.”
