Michael Mathias: Kings, Queens, Heroes, and Fools

It pained Mikahl deeply to hear of the horrible deeds that his Westland countrymen had done under the leadership of his stepbrother King Glendar and Pael. Mikahl sometimes wondered how Jarrek kept from hating him for being a true Westlander.

“It makes good sense then, to send him with Hyden Hawk, but what if one of the slaves recognizes you?” Mikahl asked.

“I had no beard when I sat my throne at Castlemont, and no one in all the lands, save for a few here in Xwarda, have ever seen me dressed as anything less than a king. It will be easy for me to go unnoticed, I assure you.”

“Not if you keep speaking like a king. Commoners don’t use words like you do. Maybe you should spend some time out in the markets, or at the Squalor, where they speak with less pomp and formality.” Mikahl laughed at the idea of it. King Jarrek was naturally as regal as a man could be.

“I may just do that,” said Jarrek as they started toward the bath-house. His expression showed that he was seriously contemplating Mikahl’s suggestion and it made Mikahl laugh even harder. When the mirth died away, Mikahl changed the subject.

“Can you believe that Queen Willa actually wants me to propose to this Princess Rosa?” The High King’s voice was incredulous. “I don’t even know her.”

“It might be necessary to secure Queen Rachel’s full support,” explained Jarrek. “The Princess is as pretty a girl as there ever was. Have you seen her?”

“No, but it’s not fair!” He felt like a little boy whose mother was calling him to come inside early instead of letting him stay out in the cobbles to play with his friends. “Her mother tried to attack Xwarda after sacking two Highwander cities. I don’t understand how Queen Willa could even think of us making such an alliance.”

It was Jarrek’s turn to laugh. After a moment he grew serious and stopped Mikahl to look into his eyes. “Seaward has fighting men, Mikahl. The few thousand men Queen Rachel sent to help King Broderick attack here was a token offer at best. You have to remember that Glendar, or Pael, or whoever was behind the attack at Summer’s Day, set all of this into motion. They flew Willa’s Blacksword banner when they did it. Rachel had to do something, and thankfully she did as little as possible.” He put his arm around Mikahl’s shoulder in a fatherly manner. “Remember, it’s a proposal, not a marriage. Later, after Queen Rachel has bowed to you publicly, then you can politely change your mind, but I doubt you’ll do that. You’ll not find a more beautiful and polite girl in all the realm.”

“If and when I marry, I want it to be for love,” Mikahl said naively. “Anything less just doesn’t seem to be, what’s the word? Honorable?”

“Being a good king isn’t a very honorable business sometimes,” said King Jarrek. “Every single time we do something good for somebody, someone else is upset about it. That is why honorable men don’t usually want to be king.”

“Aye,” Mikahl agreed with a huff of frustration. “I should’ve gone a few more rounds out in the yards,” he mumbled to himself as King Jarrek was pulled away by a question from one of his men.

Queen Willa was having a welcome feast for Princess Rosa later in the day. It hadn’t even started yet, but already Mikahl was getting aggravated by the mess. The bath was hot and relaxing and went far toward easing his tension. It was peaceful in these particular bathhouses, which were for the use of those training in the Royal Weapons Yard. If Mikahl tried to bathe anywhere else he’d be swamped with bowing servants, over eager attendants, and all the other amenities of his position that made his blood boil. What he’d give to be able to eat anonymously with the squires and pages this night. The only formalities he’d find there were belching contests, dice, and the laces on a willing servant girl’s girdle.

A sharp repetitive thumping sound caught his attention and he turned in the wooden tub to see what it was. A wide wingspan of dark brown feathers swirled the steam and the tiny, yet widening yellow ring of a hawkling’s focusing eye found him. The bird gave a weak apologetic caw then proceeded to flap its way out of the room, dragging Mikahl’s robe with it.

“Talon, no!” Mikahl screamed as he looked around and saw that there was nothing at all to cover himself with. “Blasted Hyden!” he swore. As angry as he was becoming, he couldn’t hold back the smile that stretched across his face. He and Hyden took great pride in the pranks they pulled on each other, and this was a good one. Princess Rosa was here at the castle, and by the time the feast gathered this evening, the gossipers and rumor mongers would have a lot to talk about. Mikahl wasn’t about to be meek about it. He would strut across the practice yard naked if he had to. His fierce pride wouldn’t allow any less.

“You just wait Hyden. I’ll get-” Mikahl was yelling as he burst out of the door that opened into the corner of the training yard. His voice died quickly away. His heart leapt into his throat when he saw the girl who was waiting there with Hyden. She was suddenly wide-eyed and having to stifle her giggles. Talon leapt from Hyden’s wrist and flew to perch on a piece of training equipment a fair distance away and began preening himself innocently.

The well-bloomed young girl with Hyden was beautiful beyond reason, with sparkling blue eyes, full pouty lips, and long wavy brown hair that flowed down over her shoulders. Her day dress was colored the very same shade of green as the Westland banner, and it hugged her curvaceous figure well. Her skin was golden, but mottled roses had suddenly appeared on her cheeks.

“Oh, sorry, Mik,” Hyden shrugged with an ear-to-ear grin on his face. His long black hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, and gave his face a hawkish look that eerily resembled Talon’s. “They told me you were taking a hot bath, not a cold one.”

Princess Rosa’s mouth had formed a perfect ’O ‘. She whirled and whacked Hyden across the chest. Hyden could barely contain himself. He was about to explode with laughter.

“Yew seed that he was feeding some earphaned beer cubs!” she shrieked in a heavily accented voice as she stalked off. A pair of equally flustered and giggling attendants, and a slightly older woman who was still openly eyeing Mikahl’s naked body, appeared from the background to receive the girl and usher her off.

Hyden lost all control of his mirth and was laughing so hard that he actually fell to a knee and held his stomach. As the training yard door slammed shut behind the Princess of Seaward and her entourage, applause erupted from some of the braver men; there were whistles and jeers as well.

Hyden Skyler spent the winter up in Dahg Mahn’s tower learning to read and write. It was Hyden’s tower now, even though everyone still referred to it as Dahg Mahn’s. The great wizard had disappeared ages ago, but had left a trial, a series of tests that one must pass to win entry into his sacred Xwardian abode. Hundreds of magi had tried to enter, but only Hyden Hawk Skyler had done so.

Targon, the old High Wizard of Xwarda, had died with the elf Vaegon in a mighty battle against a Choska demon on the outer wall, as Pael’s undead hordes swarmed into the city. Queen Willa had named two of his underlings to take his place. The new High Wizards assigned apprentices to help Hyden in his endeavors. Hyden’s desire to overcome his ignorance drove him, and now he was reading well, if a little haltingly at times. His writing skills were still lacking, however. He could scratch and scribble enough to get by, but nothing more. His favorite apprentice, a skinny blond-headed orphan boy of fourteen summers named Phenilous, had given him the most help. He and Phen had become fast friends. Hyden was nearing twenty summers himself, but was still a boy at heart. He had a natural gift for magic and he could communicate with animals through his familial link with his hawkling, Talon. Phen’s grammatical skills were superb, but his magical skills were lacking in the sense that they were stiff and studied, and came not from the heart, but from repetition and memory. Hyden Hawk’s magic was pure-not learned, but felt. Over the winter, the two of them garnered a great deal from each other and had serious fun in the process.