Before Philip could finish his tea, his carriage was already waiting. It's exquisite craftsmanship and ample use of gold plating made even the Wild King's personal carriage look drab by comparison.
He paid no mind to his old butler when he entered, nor did the butler look directly at his Earl before closing the door and retrieving the step. The two white stallions needed no further cues and began their trot down the long driveway.
The adjacent address this glamorous transport was trotting to was protected by layers of hardened security. They were already within the outer walls of his Majesty’s thirteen-square mile royal estate. The next checkpoint, a stone's throw from Philips wrought iron front gate, was a gatehouse tunneling through the royal castle’s inner wall. This solid fortification had two fast baring drop gates, a bunk house, and a holding cell.
The “Inner East Gate” didn’t see much traffic but was manned by nine seasoned warriors nonetheless. These men of low birth were loyal and disciplined. Most of them used to be squires for lower nobles, and through exceptional merit became sworn retainers of the crown. They were all tough and skilled, willing to die, or kill for their king at a moment's notice.
Their uniform was a full metal jacket of pale silver colored steel plate armor, but only one of the nine men wore his gauntlets and helm. He was the youngest of the gatekeeper's, and the most recent victor of the Hobart Tough Man tournament. By unanimous decision, he was the one standing outside and stopping anyone attempting to pass. Though it was hot and boring standing around all day, stopping the infrequent traffic, this well paid, cushy position was far better than his old life of fighting all the time, and one day would be him in the refrigerated common room with cards and ale, while a new rookie baked in the sun.
He took his responsibilities seriously, and he was ordered to halt and identify every carriage and every pedestrian. That was his duty, but upon seeing the Prime Minister’s golden carriage turn toward his station this late in the afternoon, he became rigid as a statue. When the dazzling vehicle crossed his area of authority, the faceless metal suit remain steadfast at attention, allowing the stallions to transit without impedance.
Not a moment later than the gilded carriage stopped at its destination, another butler placed a step and opened the door. Philip paid no attention to this servant on his way into the castle. He did not spare a single glance at any of the other servants either, not the golden knights, the clerk's, the busy magicians, nor the one very startled maid he collided with rounding a corner. He walked directly to the king's private chambers, a feat only a couple people are capable of, with deliberate steps.
In this world titles were not granted randomly, nor did the recipient get to pick their own title. Kings and queens often had two titles. One was granted by the royal court based on what they believe to be most fitting. The other was an informal name normally arising from the displeased peasant population. The existence of this title did not, in itself, mean the recipient was a bad ruler. There were, of course, disgruntled peasants in every kingdom.
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It's difficult to determine the specific reason William Hobart was named “the Wild King.” It seemed to have as much to do with his unkempt hair as it did his unruly personality. The nobles of foreign kingdoms often thought it was to do with the fact Hobart was a rather remote kingdom, surrounded on three sides by frontier wilderness.
Regardless of the reasoning behind the Wild King William's title, it was a testament to his sound rulership that, even amongst the common folk, his formal title was used far more often than his informal one, the Savage King.
There was a time, when that title was far more common, though to William Hobart, those dark days of the Savage King’s reign were distant memories. These days Hobart Kingdom enjoyed twenty years of peace, prosperity, and good relations with its much larger neighbor, Kismond Kingdom.
William was in a good mood when his Prime Minister rapped on the door. “Enter,” the Wild King said, not bothering to look away from the “ Annual Status of Grain Distribution and Reserves of Hobart Kingdom,” report he was pruising. The spy master entered and crossed the study, his heavy footsteps fell silently on the enchanted hardwood floor. “Alright Philip, what is it that can't wait until tomorrow?”
The Earl swallowed his hesitation and delivered the news. “Your Majesty, the Kismond Kingdom Third Army has received marching orders.”
“And?” William asked, his attention directed at the document.
“Their orders are to our borders, your Grace.”
The Wild King’s good mood immediately soured. He haphazardly discarded his document with an irritable flick of the wrist, and looked at Philip. He instantly noticed the tea splotch. If this were a different time he might have quibed about taking Philp’s nice things if he’s not going to take care of them properly, but Instead he said, “We must summon the council at once.”
“An emergency council has already been convened your Majesty.”
“Is that so?” The king asked, searching through a disorderly pile of parchments.
The master of spymasters could likely predict his King’s thoughts regarding this matter, but he was first and foremost a servant and as such, he knew better than to assume the will of his master. “Your Grace, how should the council be directed?” he asked.
The Wild King found the parchment he was searching for. It's titled read, “Summary of the Military Might of the Noble Class of Hobart Kingdom.”
William Hobart was resolute. “All available men and materials will be sent to reinforce the border. Hobart's end strength will have to grow considerably. You will informed the court that there will be no concessions. They are to act accordingly,” he said, scanning the document.
“By your will your Majesty.” Philip performed a well practice bow.
William Hobart seized up his closest confidant for a moment. Though his attentioned lingered on the splotch of tea, he still felt confident that a better man to shoulder these burdens did not exist, and plainly stated, “dismissed.”