Chapter 2: Change in Leadership

Joseph spent the night on the manor grounds with his men. The next two weeks would be spent travelling to Azkoval’s capital city – Tyrell. After a brief reconnaissance, it would be time to confront the usurper king, Wilhelm.

The conversation with Lord Burbridge and his son was strained after the revelation of Joseph’s and Elena’s betrothal. The man had spoken truly. Elena had been promised to Joseph. The marriage contract had been signed and sealed. The announcement was postponed by the coup.

Joseph wasn’t sure the betrothal was common knowledge. He doubted Elena knew of it but the look on her face told Joseph that she did. The same look also told him that she would prefer to be Jonathan’s wife than his queen.

Still, a contract was a contract. Not that there would be any record of the contract. But Joseph decided to put aside any decision on the matter until after Tyrell was conquered.

The trip to Tyrell took him past Elena’s former home. Burbridge and his son took 40 men at arms to secure Westmont and to prevent its current occupant from sending reinforcements to Tyrell.

Joseph thought about staying to ensure success but he reasoned that the time spent taking on Browingham would be better spent on the road to Tyrell. If Burbridge couldn’t hold the region, Joseph could send troops after he secured the capital.

“Lady Elena is to be the queen?” Genrico asked from beside Joseph.

Joseph was pulled from his thoughts.

“I think not,” Joseph answered. “I believe she would prefer not. And I would prefer not to have to kill the Burbridge line.”

Genrico nodded thoughtfully.

“But to renege on the betrothal is just as disrespectful as committing adultery,” he reasoned.

“It is not so much disrespect that I worry about,” Joseph stated. “If I wanted her, I would marry her and ensure her fidelity. But she would always prefer Jonathan and Jonathan would prefer her. He would fight for her if I chose to enforce the contract. I can be reasonable and let her go or I can face civil war within six months of my ascension. No one will be the wiser so long as people keep their own counsel.”

Genrico’s eyes had never left Joseph. A small smile graced his lips.

“You love her and you want her to be happy,” he said quietly so as not to be overheard. “She wants to marry Jonathan and her happiness means more to you than yours.”

Joseph cast a sideways glance.

“You know I have no time for niceties,” Joseph replied.

“Yes,” Genrico said through his grin. “That is indeed your reputation. But you forget that I have been with you from the start. I know the reality. The reputation served its purpose. I can tell this is difficult for you. But you’re probably making the right decision.”

Joseph shrugged and walked forward to head the column as it neared Tyrell.

Joseph and Genrico used a standard ruse to gain entrance to the king’s manor. They posed at dignitaries from Denaya. Few in Azkoval could speak Denayian and fewer still could read the language.

The Denayian government had cut off relations with Azkoval after The Fall. Many countries had. The policies of Wilhelm had assured that. The lack of trading partners had cut into the Azkoval economy. The port cities had all but dried up. So an official entreaty from the Denayian king would be greeted favorably.

The depths of Azkoval’s despair were evident in the quickness King Wilhelm and his queen, Sandra, agreed to meet the envoys. It caught Joseph and Genrico by surprise.

But Joseph spotted an opportunity when he walked into the chamber that once was his father’s haven. The king and queen were seated in high-backed chairs and the chamberlain stood to the king’s right. Two guards stood by the door as Joseph and Genrico entered.

Genrico could see the feral smile cross Joseph’s lips as he entered the chamber. Genrico knew without a doubt that Joseph would leave the room as king or corpse. Genrico knew his fate would follow that of his leader.

Joseph gave a sweeping bow in reverence to the king and queen. He spoke in Az with a slight trace of an accent, mimicking Genrico’s usage of the language as closely as he could.

“Greeting from King Olaf of Denaya,” he said regally and began reading from a scroll of paper. “In the days of yore, Azkoval and Denaya were great allies. In many instances we’ve lent support to one another in times of war and in times of peace. Our lands were dependent upon the other for survival.

“It is to both of our regrets that times have changed. It is our belief that it is far past time for our sovereignties to resume our ties of long ago.”

King Wilhelm beamed at the words. He was being recognized by a foreign power. His dream of legitimacy was realized – after 10 long years.

“From the nation of Denaya, I offer to King Wilhelm and Queen Sandra a gift,” Joseph said as he opened the basket that held the heads of Martis and Renati.

King Wilhelm and Queen Sandra moved forward to the edge of their seats.

“Good Genrico, would you be so kind as to offer this to the Chamberlain when the time is right,” Joseph said in Denayian. Genrico nodded gravely. A certain part of him was enjoying this.

“Years ago, King Wilhelm, a child and his guardian washed ashore in Denaya,” Joseph said. “A child torn from his homeland and forced to flee for his very life. Denaya nurtured the boy. It turned him into an adult and prepared him for his future.”

The king and queen were following the story with rapt attention.

“You have a child, do you not?” Joseph asked.

“We do,” the king said proudly. “He is away on travels at present. I do hope you will stay until you get the chance to meet him.”

Joseph smiled.

“I met your son two days hence, Wilhelm,” Joseph said with malice. “Along with yours, Chamberlain.”

The change in vocal tone was not lost on Wilhelm.

“No see here, dignitary that you may be...” Wilhelm blustered.

“Silence, usurper,” Joseph bellowed.

“I am Joseph, rightful King of Azkoval, and I have returned to claim my throne,” Joseph roared. “You three know my body was never found. You three know I speak the truth. Look at my ring. See my sword.”

Almost in a trance, Wilhelm’s eyes went first to Joseph’s ring finger then to his waist.

“You killed my father and raped my mother before my very eyes, Wilhelm,” Joseph spat. “As I lay hidden, watching you defile my mother, I vowed one day I would return the favor to you.”

Joseph gave an almost imperceptible nod to Genrico who rolled Renati’s head across the floor. It came to rest in front of the Chamberlain.

At the same moment, Joseph reached into the basket and dumped Maris’ head at the feet of Wilhelm and Sandra.

“You son is dead by my hand,” he said as his sword left his scabbard. “I have no interested in raping your pig of a wife so we are at the end of our little play.”

Joseph heard the sounds of swords clashing behind him. Wilhelm and his fat wife were decapitated on one stroke and the Chamberlain was dispatched on the next. Then Joseph joined the fray.

As the alarm went forth, the palace was overrun. The soldiers loyal to Wilhelm were met by Joseph’s army as they forced their way into the castle proper. The trio of guards in the throne room offered little resistance to Genrico’s and Joseph’s blade. They were loyal but they were soft. In less time than a meal, the castle and the city of Tyrell fell to King Joseph.

The ensuing weeks brought Joseph’s men through the nearer parts of the country. In the early part of his ascension, he was met by armed soldiers; conscripts mostly forced to fight by their lords. Joseph and his army tried their best to capture as many as possible unharmed.

As word of Joseph’s return spread through the country, it became more likely that the king and his band would be greeted by empty manors as the previous lords and ladies had looted as much as they could carry and fled.

Joseph had dispatched several armed groups on the trails to find and return the items to the new lords – whoever they turned out to be. Within eight weeks, Joseph and his army had reached the farthest eastern border of Azkoval and the word of his return had reached almost everywhere else.

By the time he returned to Tyrell, Joseph would be forced to appoint several new lords to replace those who had fled, been incarcerated or been killed.

“Genrico, please stay behind,” Joseph said when the group had begun to bed down a day’s ride from Tyrell. Genrico obeyed without question.

“You will not be returning with us,” Joseph said.

Genrico’s eyes widened in surprise. He was certain he had done nothing to displease Joseph. He was equally as certain that if he had, Joseph would have had no reluctance to point it out earlier.

“Milord?” he asked.

“The lands south of here are yours, Genrico,” Joseph said with a smile. “Or should I say Lord Genrico?”

“Milord!” Genrico answered in surprise. “I am no nobleman. I am a soldier!”

“Indeed, my friend,” Joseph said, “which is why your lands are closest to the capital. You will be the first to come to my aid if Tyrell is attacked. We have rid this land of many vermin over the past weeks but we have not killed them all. The Bishop is still in hiding and many of the merchants behind the coup are still unaccounted for. I have no doubt they will be back.

“In a few months, I plan to travel to the southern points of Azkoval. From there, I plan to dispatch an envoy to Creight to try to convince him to return those who sought safety there. The Caliph’s father was complicit in the coup – at least according to the bishop when he attacked us. I have no doubt that many of those who benefited from my father’s downfall will seek safe harbor there. I plan to take as many men as we can muster – perhaps 400. That gives you a while to raise an army that can protect Tyrell during my absence. It will take many months for us to travel to the Wellington region and longer if I must travel to Creight and force the Caliph’s hand. You will govern the country in my stead.”

Genrico was stunned.

“But I know nothing of running an estate let alone anything larger,” he persisted.

Joseph laughed.

“And I know exactly as much,” he replied. “We’ll learn together or we’ll fail together. It is you who have ensured the army has all it required. You are the one who suggested the divisions we now hold. I have seven others that I have selected to receive lordships for their service to me. Those are men you can rely upon to help you govern. I want you to pick a dozen of our better soldiers to accompany you to Larchman. That is where you will now call home, if it suits you.”

Word filtered slowly to the southernmost region of Azkoval. But it made its way there. The lordship was terrified that Joseph would arrive and wreak havoc on his fiefdom.

His contact in the north had said it was likely and that he should raise an army to defend himself. The woman had even sent a handful of retainers loyal to her to his aid.

If her Ladyship’s husband ever caught wind of their plans, he likely would kill them both. Likewise, if Lord Wellington’s wife found out it would spell the end of his life. But their plan was foolproof. Joseph had already taken care of the most difficult part – ridding Azkoval of its illegitimate king. If Joseph were to die without an heir, a pitched battle for the throne would be the next step.

Lord Wellington and his consort planned to make sure they were the last ones standing.

Joseph restored the Westmont heritage and appointed Jonathan Burbridge as steward, pending a legitimate heir. The young man was speechless, as was Elena for a moment. But she pulled Joseph aside after his announcement.

“I will fulfill the pledge my parents made,” Elena told him. “If you desire it.”

The young woman was torn. In her youth, Joseph was her constant companion. Lord Westmont and King Welton were good friends as were Queen Melina and Lady Westmont. Elena had known, even at age 7, that she would one day be Queen of Azkoval. After the coup the loss of her legacy angered her. But Jonathan Burbridge, two years older than Joseph and three years older than Elena, became a source of comfort.

As she grew older, her feelings for Jonathan had deepened – as had his for her. She had resigned herself that she would be Jonathan’s mistress but never his wife. At least she had resigned herself to that fate until she recognized an apparition in the marketplace.

She was embarrassed by the fact that her initial thoughts were identical to Jonathan’s. She could be the next Lord Burbidge’s wife. Then reality sunk in. She knew Joseph was aware of the arrangement. She also knew that Joseph was aware a formal marriage contract had been constructed and approved by the families.

Joseph turned to gaze at Elena.

“If I desired it, you would have no say in the matter,” he said harshly. He saw Elena flinch at his words.

Joseph paused to calm his nerves.

“It is not an easy decision for me, Lady Elena,” Joseph said. “There are numerous reasons I do not take this announcement lightly. I believe those who knew of what our parents proposed are either here or dead. Outside of Lord Burbridge and his heir, I believe the only other who knows is my aide, the new Lord Larchman. You might remember him as my friend, Genrico. He will remain silent.”