Chapter Four
1596 Words
Simon reached for the silver-coated doorknob. Halfway, however, he stopped himself. When he had returned to the castle after receiving news of the Klan attack, he had demanded to see his father. When no one would tell him where the King was, Simon had rushed to his father’s chambers only to be stopped by his combat master. The two men had shared a look before the older man shook his head and instructed the younger one to go to his mother. Geoffrey had been groomed by the King, Johann had been placed under the care of the wisest man in Attica and Simon had been given to the combat master. The King had believed that once Geofferey became King, he would have his brothers to rely on when it came to wisdom and strength. While Johann had also not been trained to be a King, at least his teacher had granted him the wisdom required to lead the Kingdom. All Simon knew, all he understood, was the art of war.
How was he then meant to become King? Temporary or not? How could he inspire hope and strength among the people?
Simon knew he needed advice from his father but he was afraid of what he would see if he opened that door. His father loved Attica, he was King first, father and husband second. What then would keep him from his beloved Kingdom? What had the Klan done to him?
“My Lord? The people have gathered, it is time.”
Simon turned to find Edgar bowing.
“Is this it? Will you now become my shadow?”
“Apologies my Lord. As you are King now, it is the duty of the King’s guard to-"
“Edgar straighten your back before I punch you in the face.”
“Sire if you want to punch me in the face all you have to do is ask.”
Simon chuckled before heaving out a sigh. Edgar straightened his back and observed the man who was meant to sit on the throne.
“You deliberately made noise with your feet, didn’t you? To warn me of your arrival?”
Edgar shrugged.
“If it weren’t for you…”
“You are the reason I’m the leader of the King’s guard. I’m forever in your debt.”
Simon mirrored Edgar’s smile. He could hear voices, loud and rowdy. A bitter taste formed in his mouth, his heart began to pound.
“I have known you for more than a decade. You can do this.”
Simon offered Edgar a small smile and said,
“I’m afraid I do not have much of a choice.”
Simon then began walking toward the staccato of voices. He only stopped when he was facing the people of Attica.
* * *
The sound of cutlery echoed in the dining area. Simon toyed with his food while stealing glances at Jenna. Tonight, her beautiful blonde hair was tied in a ponytail. She looked graceful while serving, attentive to the guests at the table, offering everyone a warm smile when they muttered their thanks. Not once had she looked his way, had she meant her words? Did she really think that their relationship was over? Frustrated by her ignorance toward him, Simon knocked his chalice from the table. Chatter around the table suddenly came to an end. A plump kitchen maid with a kind face rushed to Simon’s side. Still, Jenna did not look at him.
“Your Highness, are you all right? Is the wine not to your liking?”
Simon tore his gaze from Jenna to address Lord Patrick. He could have sworn that the weasel had sneered the title “Your Highness”.
“If you have something to say about the wine say it instead of using my minor accident as a ruse. If you will all excuse me.”
Simon pulled his seat back to leave and was surprised when everyone stood and gave him a bow. As he was about to leave the dining area, his mother spoke.
“As you know my son tomorrow is your coronation.”
Simon stopped and turned to face his mother.
“Yes mother, I am aware.”
“You did well today. You sowed hope in your people’s hearts.”
Your people. Simon mentally scoffed at the phrase.
“But now it is time to cement that hope.”
Simon suddenly felt cold, like his naked body had been thrust into an icy lake. Dread filled his insides even though he was not at all aware of his mother’s plans.
“In order to ensure victory against the Klan you shall marry a princess from the East.”
For a moment there was only stunned silence but then it was broken by the sound of a chalice making contact with the floor. The clanging sound reverberated in the dining area pulling Simon from his state of shock. Swiftly, almost desperately, Simon’s eyes searched for Jenna. He found her crouching over a gold chalice, dabbing the spilled wine on the floor with a white cloth. He took a step toward her before reason set in, any show of affection would result in her being sacked or worse.
“Everyone except the Queen, out.”
Simon’s voice was so cold and demanding that even nosy Lord Patrick fled the scene without hesitation. Simon kept his gaze lowered, afraid that he would find himself locking eyes with Jenna. The news had clearly upset her, probably extinguishing any hope she had of them eloping to their new lives. Once the door was closed, Simon walked toward his mother with a murderous look on his face.
“You could have told me this in confidence and if you wanted father’s advisors to be present while you do, you could have announced it earlier today instead you chose to announce my marriage now, why?”
Simon watched as his mother continued to slice her meat, her face empty of any emotion.
“Because Simon, unlike the rest of us, you have always worn your emotions on your sleeve. I know you think that the King and I never paid much attention to you and therefore, we do not know you. While this is true for the King, it is not true for me. I let you have fun with that kitchen wench because you were still a little boy curious about s*x and women. Now it’s time to be a man, a King and since you seem disinterested in both these things, as your mother, I will help you find interest.”
Simon suddenly felt as if something heavy had sat on his chest.
“She’s not a kitchen wench. She’s not some plaything I’m willing to toss away.”
The Queen picked a tablecloth and dabbed her mouth gently before lifting her head to meet her son’s glare.
“Attica will fall without a strong leader. Your father understood this and that is why he placed the Kingdom above everything.
Marrying that girl will give us a strong ally and we will be able to get Geoffrey back. Do that and you will be free from the b*****e of the throne. Refuse to marry the girl and lose it all, your family, the Kingdom and that precious little kitchen wench of yours.”
Simon brought his fist to the table.
“Do not call her that and if you ever…ever threaten her again by gods I will forget that you are my mother.”
Simon’s mother offered him a cold smile, noisily dragged her seat, and gave him a small bow before exiting the dining area.
Later that night, in his unlit chambers, it dawned on Simon that Jenna had never served his family in the dining area. His mother’s announcement had been for Jenna, not him. Simon reached into his pocket and retrieved the ring. He fiddled with it, wondering how Jenna would have reacted to his proposal. He smiled as he conjured an image of her throwing herself at him with tears of joy on her face and squeals of excitement in her mouth. Simon suddenly clasped the ring in his palm. At that moment he knew that he was not his father.
He would never place Attica before Jenna. They would elope to begin their new life, Simon just had to keep Jenna alive until then. With that new resolve in mind, he rose from his bed to go search for Jenna.
* * *
Edgar wildly darted his eyes in the dark corridor carefully searching for shadowed figures with sheathed swords looming about. When he was satisfied that no one was standing watch, Edgar tiptoed toward a door that was slightly ajar. Smiling, he pushed the door with an eagerness he had grown accustomed to. Once inside the room, he closed the door and took in the sight before him.
Standing by the window was an extremely attractive woman with long, wavy ashen hair that stopped on her lower back. Her black, revealing nightgown accentuated her full figure and when she turned to regard him with her striking grey eyes, Simon’s smile widened.
“Aren’t you going to bow Edgar?”
Edgar unsheathed his sword, unfastened his armor, and walked toward the Queen with strides that showed urgency. Soon the man and woman were in each other’s arms, exploring each other’s bodies with a feral hunger.
Two hours later, Edgar closed the door to the Queen’s chambers and stood guard in front of it. His shift had just begun.
- Writer
