Chapter 23: Legal Age

We surrounded the command tent. Off in the distance, I could see the duke’s forces running here and there, probably alerting everyone, getting ready. I was an idiot for not cutting off the guards at my tent before they sounded the alarm.

To Brundle, “Who has more troops, us or the duke?”

“We do. Although technically these are the dowager-regent’s troops.”

“Don’t tell the troops that. What about his cavalry?”

“We have cavalry, too. Although it remains to be seen how many regiments will join you.”

“I am the remaining heir, right?”

“You are, Princess. But until you become legal age, the dowager rules.”

“Yes, yes. How old is legal age?”

“Married or sixteen.”

“God damnit. As princess, I declare myself sixteen!”

“I don’t believe it works that way. Although-”

I turned to him, surprised, “Although what?”

“As long as the troops support you, what does law matter?”

“That’s an answer I can get behind. You have more experience than me, General, please lead.”

“Certainly. What do you want?”

“World peace and an end to poverty.”

“I see. Perhaps we should focus on the moment?”

“Gallows humor, I’m sorry. Let’s capture the duke and dowager and extract confessions or run them off. Either way.”

“It will be done.”

I was getting so used to people using honorifics, it was jarring, but refreshing, that he didn’t call me ‘Your Highness,’ ‘my lady,’ or ‘ma’am,’ at every sentence. I was getting too used to this world and that could prove troublesome. Or very useful said the cynical side of me. So far, only dangerous.

***

The duke stormed out of the tent, red in the face, angry, “Princess Cayce, you surround my tent!”

“Not your tent. My tent. My command tent and yes I do surround it!”

“How dare you, girl!”

“Easily. The men,” I opened my left hand as if displaying a car or nice dress, “you would have killed. Men, the duke who crucified you.”

At that comment, the general ordered pikes lowered and as one unit, pikes were aimed straight at the duke.

“This is treason!” he shouted.

I narrowed my eyes, raised my voice, “You are the one who betrayed us. You are the one who sold my family out, who had my brother killed. You are the one who-”

“I will tear that wretched tongue out of your mouth.”

“With what, traitor?”

Unfazed that he was surrounded by enemy pikes, he threw down his robe, drawing his sword. “I challenge you to single combat to uphold my honor.”

This was a problem. My mind raced for solutions. I couldn’t beat him, not even slightly. I didn’t know how to use a sword or a spear, and he wasn’t going to stand still for me, like the priest. I wondered if youth and speed would help. Maybe I could tire him out. No, I was going to lose. But what could I do? I stepped forward, drawing my sword.

A loud voice to my left, spoke in a measured, but hoarse tone, “I will champion the princess.” The massive body of Morrentz stepped out in front of me. In one motion, he drew his greatsword from his back, ringing steel echoing into the night, pointing it at the duke. “As is custom.” There were rope burns on his wrists, his arms were shaking, and fire burned in his eyes.

The duke took a step back, the point of his sword dropping. Eyes darting around to find backup, only the tips of deadly pikes answering. No one to support him, no champion to draw upon.

“Father!” shouted Sapphire as she burst through the phalanx from the non-pointy ends of the spears, running to the duke and embracing him in a terrified, protective hug. “Please, Princess Cayce, please do not kill him! I’ve been your mistress of the bedroom for many years now! On our friendship, please!”

I sheathed my sword. This was all news to me. Why didn’t I ask the girls where they were from, why they were my servants? I was an idiot. It appeared the duke and the king, my body’s father, had social obligations of which I wasn’t aware. I still hadn’t even learned this duke’s name.

I touched Morry on the arm, slight nod of my head asking him to pause for a moment. Seeing his grim face, I couldn’t help but smile. Yet, I didn’t know what to do. If we killed the duke, what would his men do? I didn’t know for certain that he’d betrayed us. It sure looked like he did, but it’s possible he was just incompetent. Still, a voice inside me said, you should never assume incompetence when maliciousness is likely.

“Let me through! I am the dowager-regent and lawful ruler here!” She pushed into the center of the phalanx. “You soldiers are mine! That girl,” she spat,” is a child. I am her legal ward and regent of the throne! Put your pikes down.”

“This woman,” I began, “wants you dead. Like the duke! Those two are in league, trying to bring my family down. They would kill all of you, and your families, for power!”

She stood tall, “Listen not to this girl for she is a demon!”

I laughed. Disturbingly, some of the soldiers gasped, their pikes wavering.

The dowager went on, “She has slain a holy man tonight! A father-inquisitor, a good man of great esteem in the church! Don’t follow her, it will only lead to ruin.”

I couldn’t believe it, but pikes were getting lowered. Men were listening. Still, their faces were on me, they wanted more information.

I walked into the center, addressing the soldiers. “Yes, I killed him. For he was a child rapist!” I didn’t know if the world ‘pedophile’ would work in this world, so I stuck to the basics. “A sick, sick man, twisted by his low desire. And you,” I pointed at the dowager, “you sicked this monster on me! You, not me, are the demon possessed!”

“Don’t blame me for your sins, child.”

I didn’t let up, “Why did you work with the traitor duke to have my family killed?”

“I never!”

“You want power! The only thing between you and the throne is me. You are the monster here. I name you betrayer! Opponent! Defiler!” Yes, I pulled those straight from the good old Bible. Excepting the last, translations for the name ‘Satan.’

She implored the troops, “See how she speaks? No child speaks like that!” But it was no use. Those pikes raised off the ground, once again pointing their deadly judgement on those two.

Yet I was undecided. What to do with them? Full murder-hobo or another path? “Duke,” I said, loudly but even tempered and without anger, perhaps even with a touch of empathy, “tell us the truth. After all this, tell us the truth. Are you working with the enemy? Did you work with the dowager-regent to take the throne?”

Still in the embrace of his daughter, a man thinking he had few moments left and eking what comfort he could out of them, “No, no, I swear. I swear I did not!”

“TELL US TRULY.” The magister walked into the circle now, his voice a command that could not be disobeyed. I felt myself wanting to answer. Any question he put forth, I wanted to answer very badly. All eyes turned to the wizard, all pikes lowered. “Duke Barclay, did you betray your king and kingdom?”

The duke fell to his knees, sword falling into the dirt, Sapphire stepping back. “Yes.” He whispered, tears welling up, he then shouted “Yes, damnit! I betrayed our king! The prince too!” He began to sob, covering his eyes.

The wizard stepped forward and stood in the center of the pikes, though they were all touching grass. His voice, now gentle, “And did you betray your king in cohorts with the dowager-regent?”

Pulling his hands from his eyes, gasping for air, the duke looked up at the dowager and, shaking, planted his hands on the ground, barked out, “No, no, no! No!” then broke into a coughing fit, hands to his throat, he coughed and coughed and gasped for air. All of us were frozen observers, capable of nothing else. Finally, he coughed blood, rolled to his side and went limp.

The spell was broken. Sapphire raced to his side, screaming “Father! Father!” and shaking him. The dowager beside them, her fists clenched and unclenched, said nothing. Her stare moved from the dead man to the wizard, even and level and something else.

I stood frozen.  None of this was my intention. But I was caught up in people’s lives that existed before I did in this world, their history, culture, rules of behavior, unknown to me. I didn’t need them to die, I needed them to go away.

The wizard broke the tension, “Dowager-regent, you will take the duke’s troops, and his daughter, back to their castle.” He lowered his staff at her, “There you will rule justly until his children come of age. You are not needed here, in this kingdom.”

She stood defiant. “I will take the duke’s mages.”

“You will not,” he turned away from her and left our circle.

The dowager did not protest or scream at him but accepted it. Her eyes darted here and there, I was sure her mind was racing, trying to make the most profit out of this situation. As much as she’d lost, she was a dangerous old woman.

I gestured to the general to ease up and, to his credit, he understood my body language, saying, “Pikes up! Withdraw and protect the princess.” I soon had men encircling me, pikes out. I guess it made sense, I was the last of their royalty.

I leapt into hugging Morry, “You are alive!”

“Yes, Princess.”

“And Tread? Tell me he is not dead.”

“He suffered the same fate as me, but yet lives. You saved our lives.”

I looked up at him, catching him smiling before quickly going back to resting kill face, “Good god, remind me never to ditch you guys again.”

“I will, Princess. I’ll remind you of that daily.” Finally, he placed one of his large hands against my back, pulling me in for a squeeze and releasing me just as fast.

I turned away from him, speaking to the general, “I want the armorer, weaponsmith, fletcher and hospital guarded. Those are coming with us. The dowager is not to take them.”

“As you command, Your Highness.” He bowed, low and long, then added, “May I also suggest the food and ale provisions?”

“By all means! And anything else you deem worthy. Thank you very much, General Brundle.”

He left to go about ordering the troops. As quickly as they had formed up, they broke into sections, following his orders. I looked around, wondering what that old hag was up to, but she was already gone. A dangerous person indeed.