Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four (40 page)

Ravener informed me my son rode out on a hunting trip without

telling me.”

“I see.” Ainar wondered what he missed between Gustav and

Edvin. “Let me push the wheels into fast motion. Are you prepared to

hear the privy council howl in protest?”

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“Let them howl. They might get more response howling at the

distant moon. Let them call me a despot for taking immediate action. I

don’t care, this needs to be done.” Gustav shook his head. “This is

what happens when I don’t visit my key cities. Too much ruling from

the throne punishes me.”

“I agree, my rash old friend. You need to go. If you don’t halt

Reglard’s petty war, eighteen years of the King’s Peace vanishes. We

need to march.” The men hugged. “See you in council.”

Gustav hesitated. “Ainar, I want you to remain here.”

Ainar bristled in fury. “What?”

“In case something goes amiss, I’ll need you here as regent.”

Long, tense seconds passed. Gustav swore he saw his advisor’s rage

form a mist around his powerful torso. “Please, Ainar, heed me here.

My wife and Edvin will need guidance. ”

“Nothing is going to happen to you, correct? This is a peaceful

mission. Promise me you don’t plan something rash.”

“Nothing rash, I promise.” He gripped his friend’s hands. “I will

feel better if you remain. Call me a silly old man but heed me.”

“As you wish, Sire. I heed your wishes.” Ainar squeezed his

King’s hands and shook his head before he spun on his heel and

stalked away.

Gustav stared after his eternally irritated friend and shrugged.

Time for his next shattering announcement. He walked toward the

guard’s practice ring.

“Little Brother Tahir!”

The Curamian halted in his practice and turned toward his King.

“Sire?”

“To me. Now.”

The confused Tahir exchanged a glance with his sparring partner.

He stood before his lover. “Tahir Noname, I appoint you as a King’s

Guard. We ride out tomorrow to visit Reglard. Captain Brucil, find

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proper garb for Tahir to wear. Find him a sturdy leather breastplate

and helmet and send the items to the palace. He can be fitted for his

proper armor later. Ah, he also needs a capable horse.” Gustav

frowned. His voice dropped to a mere whisper meant for Tahir’s

hearing. “Do you know how to ride a horse?”

Tahir smirked. “Yes, Sire, I ride all manner of powerful

creatures.”

“Yes, I have noticed your talent. Excellent. Come with me.”

The confused Tahir hastened behind Gustav. “Sire, what are you

doing?” Keeping pace with his lover’s long strides took effort. “You

can’t make me a royal guard.”

“Why not? I am the King. Occasionally I like to grant myself a

boon. I don’t fancy traveling to Reglard without you. I appoint you as

my personal bodyguard. You seem to enjoy guarding my body in bed.

This is an extension of your current crucial position in my life.”

“Why do we travel to Reglard?”

“The morons intend to attack Tovinia. I intend to shake a few

swords at them to calm down their battle fever. Tomorrow I’ll lead

300 strong up to their walls and ask to come in for a visit. If they

refuse, they negate their autonomy as a favored city-state and fall

completely under my rule. Those idiots have been a thorn in my side

for far too long.”

Tahir shook his head in disbelief. “Is my advancement

permanent?”

“Why not? Come on, make haste. I‘d like a few minutes alone

with you before the rest of council attacks my idea. Ainar and I

worked up the plan without their advice. I’ll need to meet with them

and soothe their pride.”

Minutes later Tahir sprawled under his king while trying not to

think on the wild events swirling around him. When Gustav threw on

clothing and left to face his council, Tahir curled on their cushions

and brooded. Something felt amiss. What did he know about guarding

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a king? In-between delicious thrusts, Gustav assured Tahir the

position was largely ceremonial. Why did something nibble at his

nerves? Enough. He needed to regard this surprise trip as an adventure

with his beloved king.

Four retainers presented Tahir with an assortment of breastplates

and helmets. He felt like he played dress up. There, the largest leather

breastplate felt tight across his deep chest muscles but at least he

could breathe. He admired himself before the mirror for long minutes.

At least he didn’t need to learn the trick of not placing messy

fingerprints across a shiny new helmet. The steel helmet which

properly fit his head displayed a large dent at the back. Tahir hoped

his head never suffered a similar blow. Why should he worry? They

conducted this trip to warn, not war.

Retainers scurried in and out, packing articles for the trip and

placing the royal armor in the sitting room. Tahir stroked the stiff

boar-hair bristles decorating Gustav’s battered helmet. The helmet’s

condition told Tahir its battle history. Nothing shiny or new there.

“Gustav? Where is the King?”

Tahir froze in alarm and turned from stroking the helm. A pale,

slim woman of incomparable beauty stood staring puzzledly at him. A

bright smile appeared on her full pink lips, the expression growing

wide enough to show white, even teeth. “Are you Tahir?”

Panic filled his soul. Tahir dropped into a one-knee salute. “Yes,

your Majesty.”

“Well met, Tahir. Please rise. My husband speaks highly of you.”

“He does?”

Aglaia stepped close and ruffled the bristles. “Indeed he does. I

am pleased to see him content yet I’d feel more pleased if he wasn’t

marching north to frighten his own people.” Her fingers smacked the

bristles. “Seeing this sorry old relic sickens me. Let me guess; he’s

meeting with his stubborn council.”

“Yes, my queen.”

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An irritated sigh broke the air. “Well, I suppose I’ll see him before

he gallivants off. Remind him he needs to kiss his daughters

goodbye.”

The befuddled Tahir uttered the same three words. “Yes, my

queen.”

“What do you think of rushing off to rattle spears and swords?”

“My queen, I— I— in honesty I do not believe King Gustav

should go. He has other nobles who should be able to solve this

problem without him leaving the city.”

“My thoughts exactly, but when my husband seizes action, there’s

no stopping him. I heard he made you his personal guard.”

New traveled quickly in the palace. “Yes, which is why I am

nervous, my queen.”

“I don’t blame you. Guarding Gustav takes strong nerves. Don’t

be afraid to tell him what to do to remain safe. Good luck, young

man.” Aglaia inclined her head and walked from the room.

In Tahir’s mind she floated from the space like sun-speckled mist.

Epic reality slammed his mind. Often Tahir wondered if Gustav

merely hoped his wife supported his quest for masculine company.

Now Tahir knew the truth.

How did such a glorious pair produce such an intolerant, cold son?

Odd indeed.

THE PROTECTION

Gustav shifted in the saddle. The non-stop riding to this rebellious

city hurt his old ass. They barely halted to relieve themselves. Hunger

and thirst clamored for attention. Too bad, physical comfort needed to

wait. He held up his arm to slow the company’s progress.

He learned toward Tahir. “There she stands, Reglard, smug within

her mighty walls.”

Tahir stared at the red walls. The late afternoon sun granted them

a bloodied appearance. For some odd reason the thin northern light

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cast starkness over the rugged, mountainous landscape. “The city

appears most unwelcoming.” He glanced at his lover’s face. “Sire,

please don your helmet.”

“Are you serious?”

“You assigned me to guard you. Your guard bids you to don your

helmet. Your lover asks out of worry.” Tahir watched Gustav push his

battered helmet over his head.

The old weight garnered foul memories. The king had spent too

many years peering through the eye slits, waiting for danger while

watching men die in bloody agony. Gustav stared through the slits and

sighed. “Hamat, give a trumpet blast to announce my arrival. The

closed city gates make me unhappy.” His voice sounded echoy and

distant, almost faded. Ugly. He despised wearing his old helmet. His

fingers rose to the metal edges. “Tahir, damn, I don’t need this

annoying weight on my head.”

The trumpet blast pierced the air. “Leave it on. Hopefully we’ll

soon be inside and you can mock my worries.” The second trumpet

note made Tahir’s anxious horse dance in place. “Sire, please drop

back.”

“What? Why? What is wrong with you? You worry more than a

mother.”

“Sire, please, I…” The city gates slowly swung open.

A shout rang out.

Tahir whirled around to watch the walls. Instinct screamed at him

to lift his shield to protect his king.

An arrow slid under his shield, winging low and into Tahir’s hip

flesh below his thick leather belt. The steel barb slit his leather battle

kilt. A second pounded into his left thigh. He gasped in surprised pain.

Too close! Despite the burning pain his shield remained aloft.

A rider thundered through the gates. “Sire, no! Do not strike! This

is not an attack!”

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Gustav halted from reaching for Tahir and roared in fury. He

poised his javelin for flight toward either target although Lord Elis

rode out unarmed and sans helmet. “Are you part of this treachery,

Lord Elis?”

“No, Sire, never. Look on the ramparts!”

Gustav tore his stare from darting between his wounded lover and

the approaching Lord. He looked up over Tahir’s protective shield. A

voice called down from the walls. “We have the assassin, Sire! We

tried to halt him from shooting but he slipped our grasp. We have him

now.”

Gustav bellowed in command. “Keep him alive! All loyal men

throw down your arms! I want to see hands gripping shoulders

immediately or this javelin will find a few home.” He shook his

weapon at the wall. Why not? He aimed and threw the javelin toward

a guard who still held his bow. “Make haste before I lose my gentle

temper!” The archer dodged the javelin. Hands ascended to shoulders.

Lord Elis galloped close, his hands held up in pleading. “Sire,

Tuberclain planned this from the beginning. He wants to create

discord in the realm. We discovered he has been in contact with

Tothas nobles who promised him aid if he started internal strife. They

wanted him to create a distraction, allowing their garrisons to march

on Astridia’s south borders. Tuberclain ranted last night he sent out a

host to kill your advance guard. Sire, forgive me, I never imagined my

Lord’s madness had reached such a black depth. His hatred of

Tovania unhinged him. After all these years his hatred festered into

madness.”

“Where is Tuberclain?”

“He is imprisoned in his chambers, chained, ranting and cursing

the world. He’s insane. Anyone associated with him is being round up

and held for questioning. Sire, I—I— words cannot express my

sorrow at this disaster.”

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Gustav halted his impulse to throttle Elis. He turned his attention

back to Tahir. Gustav reached over and tried to lower Tahir’s tense

arm. His lover’s muscles felt like stubborn granite. “Thank you, my

royal guard. Please relax.”

Tahir trembled. “Sire?”

“Relax, Tahir. The danger has passed.” Gustav leaned close and

tugged harder. “Lover, stop. I am safe.”