Part of my inspiration was taken from Leontes in the Starz original series CAMELOT. Phillip Winchester is so damn yummy!
SILK AND STEEL
© Cindy Jacks, 2012
All rights reserved
Prologue
Steel gray clouds roiled in the sky
above Lambir castle. Cherry trees laden with blossoms shook violently
in the wind, petals scattering across the manicured grounds. A few
drops of rain began to fall on the knight’s stone windowsill. Duke
Ahron of Halsburgh raked a hand through his golden hair, green eyes
fixed on the gathering storm, a prayer on his lips that this would be
nothing more than a passing thunderhead. The smoke from the still
burning funeral pyre that swirled upward to the center of the clouds
told him otherwise. Dark days would return to the kingdom of Cherte,
he could feel it. Drawing his sword from its sheath on his back, he
pressed his lips to the trusted blade as he said a silent prayer for
their fallen leader. A knock at his door interrupted his rare moment
of piety.
“Enter.” He sheathed his sword.
A courier from court handed him a
shallow bow. “Sire, her majesty Queen Cillan commands your
presence.
With a terse nod, Ahron followed the
servant through the maze of hallways and stairwells that led to the
queen’s apartments.
A lady-in-waiting offered Ahron a seat
in her majesty’s receiving room. The oaken chair creaked under his
weight. Reticent to place his muddy boots on the velvet foot stool,
he stood again, pretending to study the woolen tapestry on the wall.
It depicted a forest scene, a unicorn kneeling at the center. Torches
flickered in the dimming evening light. The scent of the smoldering
hickory from the massive fireplace filled his nostils.
Several minutes later another lady
announced the queen’s arrival. Ahron fell to his knees, pressing
his forehead to the floor.
“Rise, Lord High Constable.” The
queen’s voice was thick—perhaps with drink or emotion. Not that
he blamed her. She’d laid her husband to rest today. The court
magus, Laentus, aided her royal highness’ unsteady gait.
“Your majesty,” he avoided eye
contact, “how may I serve?”
“You are aware of the interloper?”
she asked.
“I am.” His throat grew tight at
the awkwardness of the topic.
“We want her and her unholy offspring
put to death, except for the eldest boy. Bring him to us,” Queen
Cillan utilized the pluralis majestatis.
Ahron guarded his reaction to the
outrageous request. “Your majesty, with all due respect, I have no
legal grounds to execute the lady or her children.”
“You call the interloper a lady?
Indeed not.” The queen wrinkled her nose, her lips curled in
disgust. “If you will not carry out my wishes, we are sure we can
find a constable who will.”
“If my queen orders me to carry out
her wishes, I will of course comply. But I am concerned for your
public image at this…” he considered his words, “uncertain
time.”
Laentus held up a spindly finger, his
strange silver skin sparkling in the dim sunlight in stark contrast
to his midnight blue robes. “It is true, your majesty, that the
portents do not bode well for your desired course of action.”
“And you advise us against righteous
vengeance as well, Lord High Constable?” Her majesty took a seat in
an ornate gilded chair, a hand to her forehead, her eyes shut tightly
as if the idea of clemency for her husband’s mistress was too
painful to bear.
“Perhaps her majesty might consider
banishing her—the interloper. It would be seen as an
act of mercy, garner you more support from the public. It would at
least avoid outrage.”
“We know they love her.” The queen
nearly spat as spoke. “Heathens and simpletons.”
“She was once one of them.”
A pinched expression on her gaunt face,
Queen Cillan waved a hand as if to dismiss not only Ahron’s words,
but their sentiment as well. “Fine. Exile it is.”
“Yes, your majesty.” Ahron bowed.
“But don’t forget to bring us the
oldest of the brats.”
“It shall be done, my queen.”
“Dismissed.”
The diminutive lady didn’t wait for
Ahron to make his exit before she swept from the room, her elaborate
dress brushing along the doorjamb.
Exile. A tragic assignment to be sure,
but at least he’d helped to spare the lives two small children.
Ahron thanked the Gods for small favors.
_________________________________
More to come next Wednesday!
No comments:
Post a Comment