The morning sun was warm, but Arina’s touch was, indeed, warmer for she had taken to caressing his chest. Although his ruse was revealed, he delighted in her playful nature, sharing her laughter. He expressed his love and passion through the endless kisses he gave and received. But just as their fun was set to take off, Arina posed a question that he only really pondered no more than a half day on.
“When do you plan to start training John Mark in sword fighting? I ask because he really seems to want to do it.”
“Within a fortnight,” he chose his words here, “The boy needs to know how to hold the sword before he wields it. Conditioning is in order.” He remembered when he was John’s age, hardening his body and mind to be able to hold the family’s prized blade.
“Sylvester dear, I have a surprise planned for you after we have our dinner tonight. But right now I don’t know about you but I am a bit hungry so I think I will go ahead and get up and get ready to go to breakfast. Do you want to join me?”
Sylvester nodded, agreeing to go with Arina to breakfast.
And as he accepted another loving smooch upon him, he had set about to get his own dress in order. He wasted no time, already having his today’s fashion marked out. Today was to be the day that the official announcement of the Tithe was to be had. So, Sylvester was going to look his best to ease the anxiety that was stirring within the kingdom.
A laughter came that returned him to reality. He smiled and laughed along with himself saying, “It is always good to be punctual, my love. Especially, when it is a day as important as this.” Afterwhich, he escorted her to breakfast.
When they took their seats in the dining hall and had begun eating, Arina was quiet at first but then asked what he had on his itinerary for the day. He told her, plainly, that with Tithe around the corner he’ll be holding a final security meeting with his constituents to do one final check-in. After that, the rest of his day will be spent sending and receiving orders from parties sent out on their respective missions. “It’ll be a boring affair, but one that is necessary. As for watching your bout, I will be preoccupied with other things to watch. However I understand that the one you will train with is a seasoned sword in his own right.”
He wished he could be there to watch his wife spar, but he will not deny his kingly duties. As such he promptly finished his meal, kissed his wife goodbye, and made way for the throne room.
✭ ✭ ✭
When he arrived there, they were all waiting for him.
Grand Duke Goffe, Strange, Foss, Father Ross, and Warmaster Yarrick were all gathered around the throne. Each man was prepared to give their full statements, which went something like this.
“Greetings again my King, Tithe is almost upon us and I’ve come to tell you that we’ve been able to eke out a surplus on food stores so long as we maintain our current heading,” Grand Duke Goffe opened by saying.
Sylvester simply nodded to this, with the next man stepping forward.
“My King,” Grand Duke Foss started, “I have nothing to report. All is well with our finances due to your swift response to those brigands. As such my only piece is this, with their numbers thinned we might have a chance at reclaiming lost roads. Which will increase our merchant’s wealth.”
“We’ve already begun sweeping those roads,” Sylvester said, seemingly having already thought of. “So far, our parties haven’t found much outside the occasional abandoned camp off the side of our main roads. I’m doing everything I can to ensure we don’t have anyone interfere with this Tithe.”
Warmaster Yarrick added by saying, “My town captains have all been reporting strange behavior and events, which means we don’t have much time.”
Grand Duke Foss accepted this and stepped back.
Father Ross stepped forward after that and said, “Those that can not feed and heat themselves through the coming winter months have been migrated to the Church. The clergy has also gone ahead and made separate preparations for combating the Moonmen should they get close to the building.”
Sylvester made no motion to object, but merely decided to watch Father Ross a little more closely.
“The people thank you greatly for checking in with them my King, they were moved by your words and actions,” Grand Duke Strange said, finally stepping forward. “They wonder, though, about their homes. Will the Moonmen gobble up their homes like the beasts that roam our wilderness, or do homes simply not concern them? That is what the people are most concerned for at this present time.”
The King of Britannia said with a firm voice, “These Moonmen do not concern themselves with the earthly possession of you and I. Instead, they will seek to occupy your body for that is sufficient enough a home for such abominable creatures.”
Father Ross gave an expression of deep concern at this. He too was familiar with the stories.
“But if we stick to what we agreed to, then such a fate will not befall our people.” Sylvester made sure to emphasize this as Moonmen were rumored to attack without proper provocation.
Father Ross, understanding the gravity of it, accepted this and stepped back into place.
Sylvester sat back and said, “With that, I wish everyone a merry Tithe. Let us all persevere through the worst.”
Those present bowed before their king, filtering out thereafter This left Sylvester to travel alone to the courier’s room where the messenger crows cawed absentmindedly.
Here Sylvester spoke to the man tending to the birds, asking if any important messages came in. He was told no, and from there ordered the man to bring any messages to him in his study. If he wasn’t able, then he can have Lyoka do it in the man’s stead.
✭ ✭ ✭
Time elapsed, and Sylvester was deep into some reading and strategizing when John Mark came running into his study. The boy had two swords in his hands, and a note with his name on it. He recognized the swords to be Arina’s practice blade, and Sir Matthew’s knight blade. This wasn’t ideal.
He then read the note.
Word for word, sentence per sentence.
Sylvester’s face spoke of anger. They had his wife, again. However, this time they want him to jump through hoops like an animal. And if he didn’t, they’d kill her and Sir Matthew. These goons have trapped him, and at the worst possible time as well.
“At your strength you will only hurt yourself boy,” he answered little John with all manner of restraint. “These affairs are for me alone, they do not concern you.”
He had Lyoka, who had stopped by to give him nightly tea, escort the boy out while he, himself, went to dinner alone. He needed to think about how he was going to overcome this. And while at dinner, Pola came around asking where Arina had gone. “She was taken,” he flatly said, eating his fill, “They have your Queen held in captivity.”
And upon saying that he added, “Before you speak rashly, we cannot act out of turn yet. It is still too early. For now, I want you to spread the word to my knights to meet me in the war room after dinner. Do not spread this word to others outside of them. If you do so, there will be harsh penalties.” Sylvester’s face had a look of pure determination, and a hint of contempt.
Once the word went out, some forty or so swords gathered in the war room.
Sylvester, standing at the head of this group of men, held up both swords saying, “Tonight. We gather because your Queen has been kidnapped, removed from her home while her guard was down,” he hoisted Sir Matthew’s blade high, “In addition to your Queen, one of your own was taken. He had put up a fight, but it wasn’t enough to keep your Queen from harm. As such, they’re gone. I come to you tonight to tell you one thing, we will get her back. We will do this gently, playing into their hands until they reveal themselves. Then, and only then, is when we will strike. To strike a moment too early or too late will not only result in the death of your Queen, but in the death of our kingdom. For now, my swords, go about your duties. I will call upon you when the time comes.”
The King surveyed the faces before him and said, “Dismissed.”
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