Chapter 19

Aldric stepped off the ship’s gangplank onto the bustling docks of Starhaven, taking a moment to appreciate the soaring spires of the palace and Grand Hall high above him, on the city’s third level, towering above the rest of the city below. Though he had seen the sight countless times, its beauty and grandeur never failed to impress.

He was just about to start toward the market road that led up from the docks to the city center and the palace, when a messenger in the king’s livery came running down the street, straight toward him.

“Your Grace, I’ve been sent by the duke to escort you directly to the palace. He insists on speaking with you most urgently.”

Aldric frowned. He hadn’t sent word ahead that he was coming. Of course, Edmund had enough people in the city that he would know that the Pride was sailing back to the capital, but he didn’t know why Aldric had come. Perhaps he could guess, based on the timing, but Edmund wouldn’t welcome confrontations against his orders, even from Aldric. He wouldn’t have wanted to hasten the confrontation, which meant this was about something else, and after a long voyage, the last thing Aldric wanted was to deal with being thrust into more of his brother’s machinations.

“Has the Duchess Alyssa arrived in the city?” Aldric asked instead.

The messenger hesitated for a moment before stammering, “I ... I believe so, Your Grace, but the duke was quite adamant...”

“I’m sure he was,” Aldric said, interrupting the man. “Show me to the quarters she’s been assigned, after which, you can run off and tell my brother that I will be with him as soon as I’ve had some rest.”

The messenger took an anxious half-step up the road toward the palace, and then back to Aldric, and then back again, clearly trying to work out how to obey two dukes giving conflicting orders, before bowing slightly and starting up the street toward the palace.

As they made their way into the heart of the city, Aldric could feel a change in the air. The usual vibrant energy of Starhaven seemed muted, the laughter and raucous nature of the lower city was palpably absent. People went about their business, heads down, avoiding looking at anyone.

There were also many more guards than Aldric ever remembered seeing in the city before. Aldric watched as people gave the guards a wide berth, refusing to look up at any of them. This wasn’t the city Aldric remembered, but there was nothing he could do about it. Not yet.

Arriving at the palace, he was led to the ambassador’s wing, where dignitaries and visiting nobles were housed. Aldric felt it an odd choice, since normally he and his family would be given rooms near the king’s quarters. The rooms here might be luxurious, but he couldn’t help but see the message his brother was sending by putting his wife here instead.

He gave a nod to the messenger, who looked anxious and worried as he turned to rush toward the royal wing of the palace. Sparing the man one last glance, Aldric opened the door, walked in, and then stopped as his eyes fell on his wife, who was standing by the window, looking radiant in the sunlight that spilled into the room, staring out toward the palace gardens.

She turned as the door opened, and sucked in a breath, freezing for a moment. And then she was across the room, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight, standing up on her tiptoes.

“My Darling,” she said in his ear.

“You got my wyvern.”

“I did, and I came as soon as I got your message. I’ve missed you so much. You’ve been gone far too long.”

He held her back at arm’s length to look her over, “I know, and I’m so sorry about that. I’m also sorry I won’t be able to spend the time with you I wish, there’s still so much to be done.

Alyssa reached up and gently caressed his cheek, and, looking into his eyes said, “You look tired, My Love.”

“I am. I saw the city as I made my way here from the docks. How have things gotten so bad?”

“It’s the new laws that Serwyn has been passing. They’ve thrown the entire kingdom into chaos.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about the new decrees. They sound more like Edmund than Serwyn. This smells like him.”

“I know. He always complained about the barons, saying they have too much power. What’s worse, is it’s working. The baronies are in chaos. They even hired new bailiffs, who work directly for the crown, and sent them to those holdings that have delayed enforcing the new edicts, and the people are blaming their barons for these ... thugs. I tried to get in to see Serwyn, but Edmund told me he was too busy to see me. I didn’t press him, wanting to talk to you first.”

“Probably for the best.”

“How bad have things been back home?”

“Bad. The people are angry. I know they still trust and love you, but there have been incidents. People dragged from their homes at night, the barons forced to hold them in jail under the king’s warrant. It’s worse in Kingsheart, where some of the people have turned to open revolt, and there have been several very bloody clashes. Executions are at an all-time high, and the jails are overflowing. The barons won’t put up with this too much longer. Some will cow but others, I don’t know what they’ll do. I’m very worried, Aldric. If this keeps up, we could have civil war on our hands.”

“Edmund won’t believe it until the day it happens. He’s almost certainly convinced himself that the barons will bow down and allow the crown to reassert its dominance.”

“But why? I know he has a hold on Serwyn, for now, but he can’t think that will last forever, and his duchy is the one hurting the worst. What could he hope to accomplish for himself?”

“I don’t know, and that’s what worries me. He never goes into something like this without a plan, and you and I both know he doesn’t particularly care if Serwyn remains on the throne or not. He always thought he’d be a better king that Gavric, and I doubt he’s changed his mind now.”

“You don’t think he’s planning on...”

“I don’t know,” Aldric said, interrupting her.

They were in private rooms, but the palace walls had ears, and it was best not to discuss things like that too openly. Already, they were walking a fine line.

“He has a plan,” Aldric continued. “Of that, I have no doubt. As to what it is, only he knows.”

“And what do we do? What do our people do?”

“For now, the best we can. I have some plans, but ... they will take time.”

Alyssa gave him a look. He knew she wanted to ask him for specifics, but she’d spent enough time in court to understand why she couldn’t.

“Good, that’s what I wanted to hear,” she said instead, before changing the subject. “And how is our other nephew faring?”

“He’s doing wonderfully, actually. You would be so proud of how he has grown and come into his own these past months. I’ve seen him show real leadership. He’s got a lot of Gavric in him.”

“Probably a lot of you, too,” Alyssa commented.

Aldric waved her comment away and said, “At first, I was hesitant to place too much responsibility on his young shoulders, but he has proven himself ready for more. He’s quick-minded and steadfast. I honestly believe William may possess the potential for great things, if given the opportunity. He has the makings of a fine strategist and commander.”

“I always knew he had potential, regardless of how Edmund treated him. He just needed a chance to show what he could do. Edmund sending him away from the palace, and his meddling, was the biggest favor he could have done for the boy. Of course, had he known that, he would have kept him at home, under his thumb.”

“No doubt. I’m glad he sent young William away. This is the most time I’ve spent with him since his mother married Edmund, and it makes me realize the mistake I made by waiting so long. Even Pembroke says William has potential.”

“That’s rare praise indeed, coming from Rowan. I didn’t think that curmudgeon liked anyone.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“He is, and you know it.”

“Anyway, Edmund sent someone down at the docks to fetch me, all in a bother, so I suppose I should go see him before he sends guards next.”

“Not before I get some real food in you. You’ve been living off of camp food, then fish and hard-bread on the ship. If you have to go do battle with your brother, I’ll see you fattened up first.”

“You’re too good to me,” he said, putting his arms around his wife and pulling her close to him.

“And don’t you forget it,” she said, smiling.

Aldric eventually pulled himself away from his wife’s warm embrace to see what his brother wanted. Never one for the capital, he found the place even colder and less inviting than it had been when Gavric was here. Everyone he passed looked either strained or worried. Gone was any sense of joy in the people running the kingdom.

After getting directions, Aldric made his way to the office his brother had set himself up in, not failing to notice how close it was to the king’s quarters. Edmund certainly was keeping everything in very close reach. Turning a corner, he was surprised to find he recognized one of the guards standing outside his brother’s door. Having not spent much time in the capital, Aldric wasn’t familiar with most of the guards. He knew Edmund would switch some out, as all kings, or semi-regents, as Edmund had set himself up to be, tended to do, but he hadn’t expected to see Bramwell.

One of his brother’s functionaries, the last he had heard, the man was still in charge of the duchy guard, stationed in Edmund’s capital city. Now, if Aldric was not mistaken, he wore the insignia of the royal palace guard. Clearly, Edmund had gone well past tradition in asserting his dominance and control over the royal household.

Aldric gave the man a nod and reached for the door, the captain managed to knock quickly, a beat before Aldric let himself into the study. It was a petty move, to be sure, barging into Edmund’s study, more like the things Edmund himself was always doing, but Aldric wanted to remind Edmund he wasn’t some lackey to be ordered around.

His brother’s voice called out just as Aldric opened the door and stepped inside.

His brother, sitting behind a large desk with quill in hand, surrounded by stacks of parchment, looked up as the door opened.

“It’s about time you got here. Your ship docked two hours ago. Did my man not find you?”

“He did, but I’ve been on that ship for a month, Edmund. I wanted to see Alyssa first,” Aldric said, stopping in front of Edmund’s desk, noting the absence of a place for a guest to sit, and folding his arms. “Now, what did you want?”

“I want to know what you’re doing here instead of off winning the war like you’re supposed to be doing,” Edmund said, setting down his quill. “Who’s in charge of the army if you’re here?”