Retribution

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Hannah didn’t know if it was a bluff or not. If Brice killed him, she wouldn’t mourn, but she had other things on her mind. She went to the ballroom and climbed the stage there. The people were becoming resistive and anxious. When she called for attention, they continued talking, and a few shouted threats.

She turned to a nearby officer. “Get them quiet. Use reasonable force.”

The officer passed an order to a few men who relayed it to others. A man shouted an obscenity. A blow from the side of a blade dropped him to his knees. Another soldier used the grip of his sword to strike one man in the head. The officer drew his blade in full view of everyone and placed the tip against the unprotected neck of one of the King’s favorites, a young man dressed to make a peacock feel drab.

The room went deathly quiet.

Hannah didn’t waste time. “All palace servants and workers are free to leave and return to normal duties. Go. We’ll speak later.”

They rushed the door with more than a few giggles. A few Royals tried to sneak out with them, but the soldiers blocked any who tried. There were shouting matches, threats, and a few scuffles, but the Royals remained. In the space of a few breaths, most of the people in the room were gone, those remaining were dressed in cheerful-colored clothing better suited for parties.

Hannah called to the guards in the rear, “Close those doors.” Then she paced the stage a few times, trying to think of what to say. When nothing came, she decided to simply try speaking and see how it went. “You don’t know me, but I think we’re related, most of us. My mother was from Peermont. I am Princess Hannah of Wren, the Rightful Heir to the Throne and I plan to hold my coronation within a ten-day.”

They were unimpressed.

Hannah decided to try a new tact. She pointed to a snooty woman of mid-years. “You. Where is the official Line of Succession kept?”

“The King’s library.” The answer was quick but resentful.

“Thank you.” She turned to an officer. “Go fetch it.”

He left. When the door banged closed, she continued, “Is the next in line in this room?”

A man stepped forward.

Hannah said, “Good. Come up here with me. Who is next in line after you?”

Another man moved forward, his brother from the resemblance.

“And who is third?”

A dour old woman meekly raised her hand. Hannah also called her to the stage. The woman took her time, stopping to speak to several people on her way, an insult that Hannah ignored. Hannah took the arm of the first in line and escorted him near the rear of the stage and whispered, “Do you fully support King Edward? His policies and the war?”

“I do. He is my uncle.”

She went to his brother and repeated her question. He also supported the King. Perhaps her plan needed adjustment. Hannah asked the old woman the same question.

“No, good heavens, no.”

“Why not?”

“Have you not seen the deterioration or our kingdom? We’ve gone from a happy, prosperous country to a land filled with death and destruction.”

Hannah said, “Then I ask you to wear the Peermont Crown.”

The old woman sniffed into a kerchief. “I have no interest. I’ve planned to abdicate if it ever came to me, but there are two ahead of me, and the laws are clear.”

Hannah said, “You can abdicate after we clean up the mess King Edward left.”

“He is still King, young lady. Those two rascals beside you are next in the official line. You can’t just come in our kingdom appoint another King or Queen.”

“He’s given up his crown, the King.” Hannah didn’t elaborate that it may have been against his will. She spoke loud enough for those in front to hear and watched the word passed to the others standing nearer the rear. As the word rippled through the room, a silence fell. “Your name?”

“Lady Elizabeth, Duchess of Grayshield.”

“Why are there no mages here defending him?”

“King Edward does not like them, nor trust them.”

Hannah said with a smile, “It seems that the ex-King and I agree on one thing. Now, back to the subject. I am going back to Wren, and your ex-King is departing for Ansel with a sack of gold to pave his way, and another after he arrives. My question to you, Lady Elizabeth, is to consider what is going to happen in this war-torn kingdom where the people are starving?”

The older woman turned up her nose as if that didn’t concern her.

Hannah continued speaking, “How do you think the King of Ansel will treat any surviving Peermont royalty if he wins this war? I believe he will wish there are no future problems—and eliminating all of the royalty is the surest way. What is your opinion?”

“I think you are trying to force me into saying something outrageous. We are winning the war.”

Hannah snorted, then drew up short. The woman believed her words. She shouted, “Will every soldier who believes Ansel will win the war before the winter snows fall, shout out?”

A hundred voices shouted. Hannah said, “Lady Elizabeth, the Ansel Army is only two days ride from this city. They are massing for the final push. Now, I don’t know what you’ve been told, but I saw it for myself. If you don’t believe me, ask any of the thousand troops outside the main gate, and they will tell you the truth. Peermont is lost.”

“You should leave us alone. Besides, I am not next in line.”

She faced the brothers. “Will you abdicate your claim to the throne?”

The eldest snarled, “What are our choices?”

“Abdicate and join your uncle in exile or death. Today. Your choice. Announce it now, before this gathering.”

The younger brother took a menacing step closer and pulled a jeweled knife that sparkled as he raised it and charged the two steps it took to reach Hannah. Her extended fingers stiff, she shot out her arm and the tips of the fingers struck his throat just under his chin. Hannah had held back any force, but the blow was enough to drop him to his knees where he wheezed to draw breath.

In combat, Hannah would have followed up with a kick to his head, and the initial blow would have crushed his windpipe. Her action had been almost casual, yet everyone in the room had seen the raised knife and initial attack. Instead of condemning it, she dismissed it as if it was of no concern.

Turning to the old woman again, Hannah said, “You told me I should leave Peermont alone, which is what I plan to do.” She turned to the general. “Sir, if you and your army wish to accompany me to Wren, you will be made welcome and live in a peaceful, prosperous land where nobody is hungry. You and all of your men may leave this devastated and worthless land with me and become citizens of Wren.”

“My men will gladly accept your generous offer. Will you also accept their families?”

“With open arms.” Hannah moved a step closer to Lady Elizabeth and held her with a steady gaze. “General, I cannot have an enemy kingdom at my back door. After defeating Peermont, Ansel will look to defeat Wren next. Before we depart, I want this city evacuated. Then burn it and pull down every stone wall. Wren will send ship laden with salt to spread over the ground, so nothing grows here for a hundred years, but I will not endanger Wren by being weak and thinking only of myself and my pleasures.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” the old woman hissed.

The general said, “I’ve known this Princess for a few days, and I’ll tell you she will dare.”

“The residents of Calverton are innocent. You cannot do this.”

Hannah turned her back as she said loud enough for the entire hall to hear, “Everyone in this cursed city and kingdom will die before winter no matter what I do, so what difference does it make how? My first duty is to protect Wren, as yours is to protect Peermont. Under a treaty, I can send food and aid, and evict Ansel from the lowlands.”

“I do not want to be Queen.”

“You are a hypocrite. You enjoy the rewards of being royalty. You wear rich dresses, eat full meals, and attend balls while the innkeeper at the main gate cannot afford to feed his visitors. I will grant you one reprieve. Wear the crown for a single year, and I will help you push back Ansel. Then you may give your crown to the next in line.”

“One year. On your word?”

An officer rushed to the stage carrying a scroll.

“Yes.” Hannah turned back to her. “One year. As for Prince Able and Prince Howard here, they have not given me their answers about abdication, so I have to resolve that before you are crowned, and I can speak further.”

The older one said, “Will I receive a stipend to live on?”

“No, you will receive a small, very small, purse with gold in it. Enough for you to live modestly for the remainder of your life.”

He stood taller. “I accept, and also speak for my brother if he is awarded the same.”

Hannah glanced at the younger brother who still clutched his throat. He nodded eagerly. She said, “I need to hear it. And all in this hall.”

“My brother and I abdicate our claim to the throne of Peermont.”

Hannah watched the crowd as he made the announcement. Most of the royals scowled or shook their heads in disagreement, but she noted a few smiles and a pair of young men clapped their approval. Hannah unrolled the scroll and read the names. Lady Elizabeth was indeed third. Her eyes skimmed down the scroll searching for her mother but managed to hold herself in check. It was too far down the list to find in such a short time. There was still too much to do.

She handed the scroll back to the officer and faced the crowd that waited for her next pronouncement. “We, that is, the Kingdom of Peermont and me, do not have much time if we are to withstand Ansel’s aggression and survive the winter. Therefore, we’ll move fast. We will coronate Queen Elizabeth at noon. Today. Make whatever preparations are required and return here at mid-day.”

A few cheers sounded.

Hannah pointed at the two men and told the general, “Bring those two with us.”

She marched at the head of the small procession that followed her silently back to the throne room. King Edward sat on his throne, making a statement, she supposed. His opposition to her was clear.

Hannah strode slowly down the length of the narrow room, her eyes locked on his. There were five soldiers standing near him, nervous and waiting for instruction. He had probably threatened them while she was absent. Hannah slowed and pointed to King Edward as she spoke in words tinged with anger, “Remove that man from the King’s throne.”

“I am the King.”

He said no more. The guards hesitated.

Hannah forced down a smirk before speaking her next words. Her reputation for being snarky would grow on this day. Her attention shifted to the guards. “I am thinking of throwing the last one of you to lay hands on that man in the deepest dungeon for a full year. Then, Queen Elizabeth will decide your fate.”

All five soldiers leaped to the King. In a heartbeat, he lay on the floor nursing several small injuries.

Hannah moved closer and pointed down at him. “You have lost the right to ever sit there again.” She moved nearer until they were only a step away from each other as he struggled to stand. “You knew who I was from the first, what I looked like, and with Jam living here, you knew what to expect. I will have you escorted to Ansel with the purse of gold I promised, but will offer you another of equal size for information.”

“What do you want to know?”

“I suspect you’ve also been in contact with my cousin, Elenore, and Lord Jeffery. Where are they?”

“How would I know?”

She hesitated, then plunged ahead. “Allow me to explain my generosity. One small purse of gold will pay your way to live on a small farm and raise pigs, or in a tiny, inexpensive house on the edge of town. Two purses of that size will allow you to also buy fine clothing and food, and perhaps hire a servant and cook. You have a choice between those two lives, but in the meantime, while you are deciding to answer or refuse, I will send men into the ballroom and offer a single large gold coin to any who will provide the same information.”

Hannah pulled a single gold coin from her purse and flipped it towards the nearest soldier. It spun and sparkled. He snatched it out of the air. She said, “Find me a Royal willing to tell me all about Elenore and Jeffery and return him or her to me.”

The King growled in a defeated tone, “Okay! Okay, I’ll tell you. They were here.”

“How long did they remain?”

“Three trips, months each time.”

Hannah remembered her journey across the lowlands and along the river from Wren. Then up the river to the King’s Palace. Probably fifteen or more days of hard walking and Elenore wouldn’t travel lightly so the trips would have taken longer, probably much longer. The war with Ansel was in progress so there would have been extreme danger too, when in the lowlands. No, Elenore wouldn’t accept that—not even for the crown of Wren. I’m missing something.

“Tell me more.”

“What information are you seeking?”

“Why did they come here?”

“They needed a place to hide, and they had gold. They were avoiding you, Princess Hannah. Both believed you disappeared only so you could hunt them down.” The King’s tone had shifted.

He thinks there is more information he has not shared and he might sell it to me. “A mage traveled with them? A young one?”

“There were two mages, and one trip three. There were storms and the smells of hell in the halls of this palace. None of us dared misstep or chance insulting them for fear of being turned into turnips.”

Hannah chuckled dryly at the misconception. “I assume they traveled in a large body?”

The King was growing cautious, sensing where to withhold information as a means for demanding more gold. It was clear in his seemingly eager, but meager responses. When he discovered what she wished to know, he would raise his price.

A small disturbance came from the other end of the hall, as the officer she had sent with the gold coin entered. With him, was a man dressed in the finery of soft blue, from the tiny hat he wore to his feet. His beard hung to his chest but was neatly trimmed, so it fell in two spirals. His smile was as false as the curls of his hair. He flashed a confrontational look to the King.

The King returned it.

Now, we’re going to get somewhere. Hannah kept her attention on the King as she spoke, “You were here first, and you know the rewards. Talk to me, or I talk to your friend. One way or the other I’ll have what I want in a few minutes.”

“I’ll talk,” the King said grudgingly.

She turned to the newcomer. “You are my truth detector. If he lies or fails to tell me the whole truth, I expect you to speak up and receive the coin.” But the way he stood, the expression he wore told her more. The coin was irreverent. A personal history stood between the two, something she could easily exploit—and she intended to do it.

Hannah said, “You didn’t answer my question. Did Elenore and Jeffery travel in a large group? If so, how large?”

“Twenty to thirty, mostly servants.”

The answer came as his eyes were on the other man. She continued as of it was a normal conversation. “Their purpose?”

“They were willing to pay for sanctuary. I needed gold.”

I’m still missing something. Hannah thought back to the beginning of their conversation. “It seems odd they made the trip all the way down to the mouth of Wren, across the lowlands during the war, and all the way back up here, then returned the same way three times.”

She noticed the flick of his eye to the man wanting the gold coin, as if scared. The King said no more. Hannah waited until she was sure he was going to say no more. She turned to the man she thought of as her lie detector. His face was impassive—at first.

He held his hand out to receive the coin. His voice was almost amused. “They didn’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“The trip you described.”

“Then how did they get here?”

The King was suddenly on his feet. “I’ll tell you.”

Hannah crossed her arms over her chest and said to the guards, “Keep him quiet. He had his chance to talk and tried to deceive me.”

“No, I said I’d talk.”

“Get him out of here,” Hannah said. Then she said to the man in blue with the false smile, “How did they get here?”

“The Eagle’s Nest.”

“I don’t understand. What’s that?”

“An old story we tell children about the early days when Peermont became a kingdom. There were two princes in Wren, but only one could become King. The second son of them was hunting in the mountains and found a way over them into another valley. There, they created a second kingdom called Peermont so both could rule. We call it the Eagle’s Nest story.”

“I still don’t understand. Eagle’s Nest?”

It was clear the man was enjoying himself, and it quickly became clear Hannah was not. She walked closer while thinking, then told the officer with her, “That gold coin I offered will become a silver coin if I do not understand what you’re telling me instantly.”

Instead of shying away or getting upset, he smiled wider. “Princess Hannah, there is a secret passage over the mountains between Peermont and Wren called the Eagle’s Nest.”