"Unbelievable!" Magrat was amazed. I wish she was amazed by my novel combination of the spells of recall and mind-talking to replay the conversation between Queen Griselda and Magus Keleher; however, her expression of incredulity though was for the content of that conversation.
"I can not fathom how any mother can decide to kill her own child," Magrat shook her head. "You poor boy, Prince Willam. I do not blame you for being upset and feeling conflicted."
"I've known for years that something was wrong with my mother," Willam said to the table. Duke Sven, Owl, Blue Fox, Cat, and myself were also present.
"I had just turned twelve when I discovered the truth about my mother. She doesn't love anyone besides herself. She's only nice when she needs to manipulate someone into doing something she wants. She is terrible to face if you do anything that crosses her. I don't think she knows right from wrong. She lives in a world where what she wants is right, what she dislikes is wrong, and she doesn't care about anything that falls between those two points.
"What about your sister? Aricia?" Magrat wanted to know.
"I've not been able to be alone with my sister for over three years now," Willam looked even more unhappy. "The few times we've been able to talk, I get the impression that she's always frightened and scared of what mother will do to her if she isn't the perfect little princess. Mother expects her to do everything expected of royals and nobles who have already been presented to society. Aricia is four years away from that. I know her maids put makeup under her eyes to hide the dark circles, but nothing can hide the red of her eyelids from weeping."
"I believe Aricia is not in immediate danger from the Regent," said Cat. "She's the pivot in stepmother's plot. Aricia has to marry Egbert, so Osterius can absorb Nordvek in a bloodless coup. The one in real danger is Father. Is there some way we can remove Father from the palace, get him well, and have him ready to put back on his throne while we overthrow Griselda?"
"No, if you want to do a palace coup, that works," Magrat advised. "You should assassinate the Queen and her supporters quickly in the middle of the night. Seize the palace, kill the Queen and her people, and have a fait accompli by morning. I observe from the notes you boys and Fuzzy made that she hasn't been able to replace the old nobility yet. They are sitting at their estates, upset and angry at being forced out of the government and out of command positions in the army. Have them nearby to fill the palace and force out the Queen's supporters. The same applies to several bishops who retired before they were ready."
"Here's a thought for everyone," Uncle Sven commented. "What about waiting until five days after the winter solstice? That's the day that Andray turns seventeen and can remove the Queen legally from the position of Regent to take it himself as Crown Prince."
"No, no, no, and in case you didn't hear me, no," declared Cat. "I'm the prince who ran away from home, and under Nordweg law, that is enough to claim that I am not fit to be Crown Prince. If she knows the law at all, Griselda can challenge me based on incompetency in my position, and my absence is all the grounds she needs to issue such a challenge. If she challenges, she has the choice of going to court for a competency hearing or presenting me with three tests out of the five of princely skills: prowess at arms, finance, fine arts, protocol, and law."
*I prefer surgical solutions," I stated. *Bumping her off in the middle of the night sounds good to me! Let's not give her any room to maneuver. Let's just remove her and the Magus, throw the ministers and bishops in jail, and decommission all the new officers in the army.*
"There's an additional problem I haven't mentioned yet," Uncle Sven sighed. "The guards in the palace belong to a unit created by Griselda. The old palace guard unit was disbanded and replaced by this new unit. She calls it the Royal Regency Guard. They recruit exclusively from the border marches between Nordvek and Osterius. Given that they are probably all Osterians, we will face a military unit without loyalty to Nordvek."
*If Griselda is dead, then who do they have to protect?*
"If they are loyal to Osterius and not to Nordvek," Sven countered, "they could kill the King and take custody of Aricia as the legitimate heir to Nordvek and the future wife for the Crown Prince of Osterius."
"Why not remove the King and Princess Aricia from the palace at the same time, four nights after the winter solstice?" Willam suggested. "That way, Cat could demand the position of Regent five days after the solstice. Then we blockade the palace and starve it into submission."
*I like that idea!*
"I know a good way to get rid of that mage person," Owl added quietly. "Just tell Wren he called her a slut. He'll be as good as dead as soon as she gets her hands on him." Owl grinned malevolently.
"I have a bad thought," Cat said to the table. "Griselda and Magus Keleher probably wear those protection pendants. When Fuzzy cast the lead feet spell on Willam while wearing his pendant, it neutralized the spell. We must get around those pendants if we want to kill them with magic."
"You could always use goblin magic tactics," Magrat suggested with her calm and friendly smile. "Use magic that only acts on unliving things to swap all the breathable air around the Queen and her mage's heads and replace it with the blackdamp air from an abandoned coal mine."
Magrat was one scary goblin, and my respect for her increased. I was glad she was on our side.
"I'm listening to all of this," said Blue Fox, "and I think this isn't like those adventure novels so popular in human kingdoms or the epic hero poems that elves like. This isn't some fantasy adventure. This is deadly dealing you're talking about at the highest levels of human society and politics. There isn't room for grand gestures and fair dealing, folks. These people are trying to kill you three," he pointed at Sven, Willam, and Cat.
"If you want to live," Blue Fox continued, "pick the best time and then pick the simplest and deadliest plan you can. Surprise is good. Getting them to drop their vigilance is better. If you want a coup to work, then strike many days after Cat's birthday. That's when they will drop their guard, especially since they aren't sure Cat's dead or alive. Kill Griselda while she sleeps, and the Magus too. Secure Aricia and the King, and bring in the old guard to eliminate the new guard. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that. This is nothing short of a small-scale war. Dump the noble claptrap and go for results.
"One other thing," Blue Fox added in his exuberance-slaying smackdown of our nascent planning. "If they have pendants that dispel magic spells, then I'll put a goblin gold piece down as a bet that they have a way to stop goblin magic too."
"Crap," said Cat with a grimace.
----------------------------------------
Our first planning session was a disaster. Blue Fox killed our enthusiasm with his bare knuckles knockdown of our half-baked plans. We went to bed that night feeling somewhat depressed.
I found it strange that Blue Fox was awake when I woke halfway through the night. He was lying quietly on his mattress, staring at some point far beyond the ceiling. I didn't disturb him and went back to sleep. When I woke in the morning, Blue Fox stood by the slate board mounted on the wall. I had wondered what the flat and thin panels of slate were for. It was another interesting goblin innovation —brilliant even. Blue Fox had a stick of something white, which he used to write on the slate.
Blue Fox had written an outline of everything we needed to do or investigate to overthrow Griselda and rescue Aricia and the King. That must have been what he was thinking about during the night. He was still adding and rearranging items on the board, a frown of concentration etched between his brows.
Cat and Owl were still in their bedrolls, but they were awake and watching Blue Fox silently with their jaws hanging. I believe Blue Fox wasn't even aware of them. His concentration was focused only on the problem in front of him. Then a very tall elf in a hooded cloak walked into the room we were using. Magrat and Queen Margo were right behind him. Blue Fox didn't hear them walk in.
A short fat human man in gaudy robes followed Magrat. He wore a vast cloth of gold hat that looked like an upside-down onion. Behind him were Father Garshom and a short but pretty human girl in lovely gauze robes and a weird conical hat with so many veils hanging off it that you could stuff a pillow with them.
Stolen story; please report.
Blue Fox stared at his notes under the heading of "castle defenses" and shook his head. "Dang," he muttered and put the chalk down. He turned and was startled by the crowd that had gathered behind him.
He bowed formally, "Your collective Majesties, Princess and First Minister, I am honored by your presence." He straightened up and bowed his head briefly, "I am pleased to see you, reverend Father Garshom." Then he smiled at the old priest.
"Surely such an esteemed assemblage is not here for me," he assumed a respectful expression. "How might my humble self serve you?"
"Is that any way to greet your father?" Storm Eagle lowered the hood on his cloak and raised an eyebrow at his youngest son.
"Please correct me if I misspeak, Father," Blue Fox was sincere in his reply, "but you are with two other sovereigns. I thought it inappropriate to act with familiarity in such a company. In my travels, I noted that we elves tend to be more casual with family than in human cultures. I did not wish to embarrass you."
I liked this newly-mature Blue Fox more by the day.
"Here I have been worrying about how you were doing, and I find you outlining the tactics and logistics for overthrowing the current ruler of a neighboring kingdom," Storm Eagle shook his head, studying Blue Fox's outline on the slate. The Elven King looked at Cat, "Did you decide to reclaim your birthright to the throne of Nordvek, son?"
"Not exactly, Father Storm Eagle," Cat said from his bedroll. "I've decided to rescue my birth father and sister from my human stepmother. Whether I will continue as Crown Prince is not yet determined."
"And why aren't you two out of bed yet?" Storm Eagle pointed at Cat and Owl.
"We were watching Blue Fox and didn't want to disturb him," replied Cat. "It's not yet time to eat breakfast, after all."
"Well, bed slugs, get dressed, and we will see you in the meeting hall," Storm Eagle ushered all visitors out of the room. "I can't make introductions when you're lounging around in your nightshirt."
Cat waited until the visitors were gone, "Blue Fox, who were those round ears?"
"That was Hasma'ad, the Sahkuhl of Zimlakuliku, and his daughter, Aisha, Sahkeena of Zimlakuliku."
"That was the Princess you rescued?"
"Yes," Blue Fox was acting a bit dazed.
"For once, I wish we had something other than hunting clothes to wear," Cat frowned at his elkskin tunic before sliding it on over his head.
"Yeah," Blue Fox pulled his boots on.
"Need help with the leg?" Owl asked Cat.
"Nope, I'm good, but I wouldn't turn down a hand up."
When we exited the grammar school, our eyes were greeted with the sight of four huge patterned carpets stretched out on the green. Soldiers in bright orange pants, black coats, and upside-down onion hats guarded each corner. I wanted to explore the flying carpets, and so did Cat; however, we both knew that Storm Eagle would become grumpy if he couldn't eat his breakfast on time.
"I wonder what happened," Cat pondered. "This many rulers in one spot is extraordinary. Look, father wyvern is back," Cat pointed at the three wyverns on the roof of the cheese factory.
"That means Roaming Wren and Cloud Eye will be back too," Fox added.
"Why are they all here?" Cat couldn't restrain his curiosity.
"I would venture that the Sahkuhl and Sahkeena came to visit Father about trade and a possible marriage," Blue Fox sighed. "I suspect Queen Margo is here because of the wyverns, but do not discount the allure of riding on a flying carpet."
"Whose marriage?" Cat wondered.
"Mine," Blue Fox looked resigned. "Aisha has been mate shopping for several years and never found anyone she liked before she met me. Their dynasty has married elves in the past, so they are open-minded about it. The Sahkuhl approved of me. He didn't want me to leave after I recovered. It's only because I had to bring home the keepsakes of my dead adventuring party that I could escape. Aisha is a strong-willed woman who is used to getting what she wants."
"Isn't she a bit old?" Owl asked.
"She's twenty-three," Blue Fox nodded. "She's not that old, but she's old enough to worry about producing an heir. There are not that many princes around of marriageable age right now. She might be a good match for you, Cat," he teased. "If you united Nordvek and Zimlakuliku, you'd be big enough to push Osterius around. Now, wouldn't that be something?"
The boys managed to look less scruffy than usual, and we made our way to the meeting hall for breakfast, assuming someone remembered to get me some raw mutton. I must admit, I'm beginning to tire of non-stop mutton. I should find some more of those coneys soon.
We managed to arrive before people started looking impatient. Storm Eagle grabbed Blue Fox and dragged him to where the two from Zimlakuliku were waiting. Owl and Cat followed Fox like the three tied together with an invisible string. I decided to go my own way and targeted the Sahkeena, sitting demurely to her father's left on one of the benches that lined the tables where two-footeds ate.
Silently sliding on the floor on my stomach, I started a low purr, slowly increasing in volume as I approached her primly tucked-in feet. When I was close enough, I rubbed the side of my snout on her calf with my eyes closed. I felt her jump a little, but then fingers found the top of my head and started to scratch. Soon they found their way to the backside of my ears. Yes, I was right. The Sahkeena was very much a cat person. Before I knew it, I was on my back with all four paws in the air while my newest best friend in this life was scratching my chest and tummy.
I had forgotten that formalities and introductions were going on. I heard a pleasant woman's alto right above me say: "I believe the divine beast and I are already acquainted." There was laughter too, which caused me to open my eyes and reluctantly exit the state of pleasure I had sunken into.
"Yes, she's generally reliable, and I can always count on her," my boy said, "except when someone finds all the spots she likes to get scratched. It's a fatal flaw in her otherwise sterling character."
"It sounds like you aren't properly appreciated," the Sahkeena cooed at me, going for under the chin. "Why don't you come home with me? I promise you lots of scratchies every day and all the antelope and gazelle you can eat. Hmmm? Is it a deal?"
"You better make a counteroffer quickly, Cat," Wren said, "or you may be in the market for a horse who is also a mage to replace Fuzzy."
"I will be most vexed with you, Lady Fuzzy, if you succumb to the Sahkeena's offer," Prince Willam pronounced, "since my offer was far superior."
"Aha!" the Sakheena leaned forward with an avid gaze. "Watch me squash the competition! Whatever you offer, I will triple it!"
"Enough!" Storm Eagle commanded, looking amused, "And you, Fuzzy, need to learn some dignity and comportment for occasions like this."
This prompted me to leap to my paws, pad over to Storm Eagle, and perform a curling roll so I landed on my back with my snout rubbing against his boots. I made sure I was purring as loud as I could manage. I wasn't too surprised that Storm Eagle resisted for as long as he did. Regardless, all I had to do was turn my head to make big kitty eyes at him, pupils partially dilated, and my tiny, most pitiful voice squeaked a meek "Meow?"
"You!" Storm Eagle accused, and he scratched under my chin and behind my ears for at least half a minute.
"The food is being served, Father," Wren tugged on his sleeve. That was good enough for Storm Eagle to abandon me. Very little in this world can get in the way of food and Storm Eagle's stomach. No one remembered to serve me some raw meat, and no one had set up a bench for me at the table, so at least I could be sociable. As a result, I pouted my way into the kitchen to see what I could steal. The cooks were off eating, and only the soldiers washing dishes were in the kitchen. They were not watching the food that was left out.
There were several hams, beef roasts, and ropes of smoked sausages on the big table in the middle of the kitchen. It was all cooked, but I was feeling rather peckish. One of the hams looked like it would tide me over until evening, assuming I didn't stumble across some of those garden-fattened coneys this afternoon. I almost escaped the meeting hall with my prize, but Prince Willam spotted me before I exited the front door.
Both Willam and Cat got up to chew me out, not that it mattered. Once I got my teeth into a hunk of meat, it was mine.
Willam got to me first. "Alright, Fuzzy, why are you stealing the ham set aside for lunchtime sandwiches? Don't we feed you enough?"
*No. Hungry. Had to go hunting for breakfast.* By now, I was feeling grumpy about it.
"The cooking staff forgot to set aside some meat for you?" Cat asked, finally catching up with his brother.
*No seat at the table too.*
"Ah, crap," Cat grimaced. "I'll take care of that right now."
*Forget it. I'll go eat somewhere else.* I turned and walked over to the front door. *Οφεν!* I shouted and left. I didn't bother to shut the door behind me.
"What was that all about?" a bewildered Willam asked his older brother.
"She's really sensitive about when we have meals and forget to leave her a place so she can be sociable," replied Cat from the open doorway. Then he sighed. "That makes her grumpy. Then the kitchen staff this morning obviously forget to set some raw meat out for her. The result is a hungry and grumpy mountain cat. It's at least the third time since we've arrived that we've forgotten to leave her a seat at the table that she can sit on. We may not see her for the rest of the day. It depends on how much she needs to sulk before she comes back. She usually goes hunting when this happens."
"That's not good," Willam said. "Father Garshom wanted to consult with the two of you. I guess it will have to wait until this evening."