“I will consider it.” I bluffed.
“What’s there to consider? You seem to know your way around difficult situations, you have useful ideas, and now you can put it to the benefit of the kingdom.”
“I don’t know what the exact reason is why your cousin doesn’t want to take the throne but I know why I don’t want to hold any position that has to do with the kingdom.” I should have finished there but I remembered something. “I’d rather be an innkeeper or a teacher.”
“Why? I can make you a noble once I ascend the throne.”
There it is.
“In case you haven’t noticed Jakeli, I have no love for authority. I absolutely hate it. No well meaning person could possibly hold any power like that and not be corrupted by it.”
“And if I can make your wish of being an innkeeper true? Or a teacher?”
“That’s it, right there. You’re using my motivations to further your designs. To be honest, sparing your life is probably worth having my wish granted, don’t you think?”
I flashed him a smile to let him know it was a joke. Half a joke.
“Perhaps that is what I need. Someone who doesn’t see the crown and has no designs on it. Someone to keep me anchored-” He trailed for a moment, “How about this: You stay and help, in whatever capacity you can, I’ll pay you in wages more than enough for whatever you desire, you will have whatever you need at your disposal, and you’re free to go after I’m crowned?”
Persistent man is persistent.
“I’ll consider it.”
Jakeli acted like he had more to say but the door opening put it to a pause. Litoc walked out, eyes red.
“Ye,” he pointed at a soldier, “get the loremaster here will ye?”
He barely gave a glance in our direction before going in again. He left the door open. We watched him examine the room then rummage through the seneschal’s closet.
“You should go and do kingly things or whatever is needed for this that he can’t manage on his own.” I told Jakeli. “I’ll go and interrogate the servants and attendants.”
“This is going to make us look weak. First the King and Queen, now-”
“Worry about that later. If he still stands,” I pointed at Litoc, “then so can you.”
“Right. Do we need to, uh, how did you say it? Spin something?”
“That entirely depends on what exactly happened. If there is no reason to suspect a crime, we can tell the truth. With some flourishes if you wish.”
He considered it and withdrew, nodding to me as he went, soldiers and attendants following.
“You, stay and don’t leave this door until you are told otherwise. You, go and tell my companions at the stables that we will not be leaving today. Have someone help them with bringing the goods on the wagon back to our quarters, then come back here and stay on guard.”
“Yes Lord.” The soldier replied and did a quick about face.
I headed to the hall to play investigator.
~0~
There’s a joke about an old man dying peacefully in his sleep while his passengers scream in horror. It’s a perfect metaphor for the situation. Though I had doubts he died peacefully, he was raising hell before he withdrew to his quarters after all, he did die while asleep. And the castle was at loss.
The attendant, named Tenir, related that the old man indeed withdrew to his quarters after the meeting with the prince and did not come out again. He had an early supper in his room, one which he did not enjoy or finish, and went to bed. As was customary due to his age and weak voice, an attendant waited on him inside the room. Slept would be a better description. I had no doubt he slept.
Tenir added that the late steward got up once to relieve his bladder and stirred in bed around midnight. That was it. The last time the old man was alive. When morning came, the servants arrived to bring him his breakfast and found Tenir on the floor beside the bed weeping for the old man. The other attendant, Balmun, who was supposed to relieve Tenir reached shortly after. Then Litoc and I arrived.
I dismissed them and went towards the castle entrance to check on what remained of citizens who came to mourn the death of the royal couple and celebrate the incoming monarch. There wasn’t a single one in the castle grounds, early as it was. That was surprising considering the singing and dancing was still going strong when Litoc and I retired. Workers were still clearing out tables and sweeping the grounds but not a single drunken peasant remained.
As I went back, I noticed the throne room was open. Peeking, I saw Jakeli in a meeting with some important looking people. By important I mean they wore colorful clothes. I elected to pass by our quarters first before going back up.
“How is the driver then?” Hanni asked after I broke the news.
Despite everything we’ve been through and knowing that Litoc was a royal, she still called him driver.
“He seems… broken up.”
“Is sivi going to be alright?” Jibel asked.
“He will be. He just needs time.”
“And we’ll be going home after, right? With sivi?”
“I think so. Right now, I need to help, whatever is needed of me. Until he’s fine again.”
“Anything we can do?” Hanni asked.
“No, I don’t think so. Everything else save for this new, uhm, development, is already being handled. I know this isn’t ideal but is it possible-”
“We can manage Jorj. Go do whatever needs doing.” Said Hanni, cutting me off.
She looked down at Jibel and smiled. I thanked her and left.
“Lord Jorj.” I heard a familiar voice calling after me. “I have heard of the terrible news. I suppose I am to make myself available to you again.”
“You didn’t ask?”
“Well, see, I, we all answered to the Lord Seneschal but… so I went for the Lord Loremaster but he wasn’t at his quarters anymore.” Cheki explained.
“In that case, make yourself available to my companions until you are told otherwise.”
“Yes L- Jorj.”
He bowed and headed back the way he came. If I had to guess, he liked sitting in front of our door. I couldn’t blame him. It’s much preferrable than running around.
The addition of two white-clad individuals to the two guards waiting outside the seneschal’s door made my eyebrow raise.
Too early to perform death rites.
Looking in, I saw Litoc conversing with an older fellow, wearing the same cut of white robes but with much wider yellow banding. Unlike the ones who performed the other night and the ones outside the door, this one wore no headdress. Instead, he just wore a simple white cloth cap.
He could only have been the head of the church. I remembered, however, that Litoc specifically asked for the loremaster and there was no one else in the room. Remembering Cheki’s explanation, I could not help but be confused.
He's the head cleric, the loremaster, and acting king?
The confusing rules of succession took a backseat in my head as I observed the exchange between Litoc and the Loremaster. From Litoc’s gestures and the somewhat careful manner the older man held, I surmised he knew who he was talking to. That was a relief.
I had wondered earlier what would have happened if the prince lost support, a coup of sorts. That was most likely to transpire with the help of whoever was acting king. The group that Litoc spoke about, who recorded the lines of kings did not interfere with takeovers, only claims. The nobles, well, they can act like they were supporting the prince while maneuvering to wrest control of the throne.
All that was most likely to happen if the one serving as acting king got involved. Litoc’s presence and the loremaster’s knowledge of his existence, though kept secret, served as a huge deterrent, guild or no guild.
Unlike the late seneschal however, the loremaster did not act like he’d seen a ghost. I have not seen him around the castle since our party arrived. I’ve only heard of him when Litoc called for him. If he was surprised, he was doing a great job keeping it in. If he wasn’t, either someone told him or he knew Litoc was alive all these years. I wasn’t sure how to feel about the latter.
The clerics straightening up stirred me from my thoughts. I looked up to find Litoc and the loremaster heading my way.
“Send for the physicker and Juwen’s attendants.” The loremaster instructed one of the white-clads. “The Lord Seneschal will be honored by sunset.”
How’s a doctor going to help here?
“Thank ye fer bein’ ‘ere, Jorj. It means a lot ta me.” Litoc said, managing to smile weakly.
“I didn’t do anything,” I responded, “but I am here, should you need me.”
He nodded and clapped me by the shoulder, directing me back the way I came. We walked in silence until we reached the bottom of the stairs opposite the wall where we met Tukru who was about to go up.
How many people does the guild have here?
“Y- I heard. I am deeply sorry.” Tukru said.
“Brun.” Litoc answered and turned to me. “Jorj, we go out now ta find the best kind o’ wood fer the pyre. I ‘ope ye’ll still be ‘ere when we come back.”
“We will still be here. As Hanni said, we’re not going anywhere without our trusty driver.”
“Ha! She said that, did she?”
“Not exactly in those words.”
He smiled and clapped me on the shoulder again then turned. Together, the exited they castle and turned left towards the stables. Left with nothing else to do, I headed back towards our room but first, I peeked at the throne room again while I passed. Jakeli and the same people were still at it.
While there were still guards at the door, I noted the empty chair as I approached. I nodded at one before looking inside.
“They tell you where they went?”
“Didn’t say specifically Lord. I heard the woman talk about finding an open place.” Said the guard to my left.
I could only think of one open place and it was everything but inside the castle. I went out and had to circle around the grounds before someone pointed me where they went. I found Hanni and Jibel practicing with swords at the yard near the barracks.