Chapter 9 - Meeting the King

Arthur walked behind Prince Callahan, his head bowed, his mind still reeling over the scrapes of information the prince had tossed his way during their brief conversation.

An apothecary? Someone he shouldn't have met?

Has she tried to use the poison needle on the prince? Had she been a hindrance to his plans? But if that were the case, Arthur was confident the prince would not be so kind as to let her live.

Has she been sent by the King? Was she another one of the King's vain tactics to keep his brother in check?

Arthur's finger tightened around the hilt of his sword. He understood it was treason to think this way. For the Kingdom, King Malcolm Ashbourne was the name of God. There was nothing above and there was nothing beyond. His commands were to be etched onto your soul and his words to be followed without a thought, without a reason.

Doing as much as thinking against him was grounds for the highest form of punishment. He had witnessed men and women being hanged to death for doing as much as looking him in the eyes.

While on one hand, Prince Callahan always had reasons to corroborate and justify his actions, even if he never found the need to explain them to others, King Malcolm's conduct was rooted in sheer tyranny and self-indulgence.

Where Prince Callahan's choices — no matter how complex — were stemmed in reason and fairness, King Malcolm's decisions coursed from his unchecked authority that demanded submission and obedience from all.

Arthur, like everyone else in the Kingdom, was raised to obey the crown without a thought of his own. His father was a general in the army during the time when Prince Callahan's father ruled the land. He was someone who had devoted his life to serve the crown and had expected his son to do the same. And Arthur had done that.

He had done exactly that, until King Malcolm had taken on the bestowed throne and beheaded his father before his eyes.

'Easy, Arthur,' said Prince Callahan without turning back to look at him. 'Else you might let your aversion slip.'

Arthur loosened his fingers around his sword and let his arms hang to his sides. 'Forgive me, Your Highness.'

Prince Callahan stopped by the doors to the royal study and turned around to face him. The guards arrayed in the hallway for protection of their ruler bowed deep, acknowledging the prince's presence.

'She wasn't sent by him,' he said. Arthur raised his head to look him in the eye, shocked. Prince Callahan had always been extremely perceptive and thoroughly observant, but even after a whole childhood spent in his presence, there were times when it still caught Arthur off guard.

'After all this time, you should know I'm the last person you need to worry about. And about that other thing on your mind,' Prince Callahan extended his hand, palm up.

Without hesitation, Arthur detached his sword and placed it in his hands. Prince Callahan kept his eyes on his face as he passed the sword to the guard standing watch.

'All will happen in good time,' he assured, there was a warning in his watery blue eyes. Arthur nodded, embarrassed for letting his emotions get to his head again. He still had a lot to learn from the prince when it came to maintaining a facade.

Prince Callahan tapped his shoulder, a gesture both of comfort and warning — Arthur couldn't let it slip in front of the King. Then, he turned around, ever so graceful, and walked through the door to greet his brother.

'You have his sword. He's unarmed, he follows,' Prince Callahan instructed the King's guard as he disappeared into the royal study.

Arthur took a deep breath to calm down his nerves. Despite his overt dislike of King Malcolm, these private meetings between the brothers unnerved him. Their conversations laced with metaphors and allegories was overwhelming for his harmless little brain. He would rather not be a part of them. But something was up. The Prince has commanded his participation. And nothing he ever does was short of a meaningful motive.

The Royal Study was a two-tiered room lined up with bookshelves covering every inch of the tall walls. Unlike the grand libraries on the left wing of the palace, the books in the study were handpicked by the previous rulers, the royals who have lived within the palace years, decades, centuries before.

Arthur had never had the honour to read any one of them. For one, he was never much interested in books anyway except when he was unable to sleep. One look at them was enough to drown him into dreamland. For another, no one barring the royal blood was allowed to put a hand on them — unless, of course, they wanted it gone.

Arthur bowed deep as he entered the study. King Malcolm was on his desk, with numerous piles of official paperwork spread across that needed his attention. Although, that was not where he was looking. With Arthur announcing his arrival, his eyes had briefly darted in his direction, then went back to scrutinize his brother.

Prince Callahan was walking around the room, looking at the bookshelves with profound interest, as if strolling in a garden and coming across an exquisite flower one has never seen before. Arthur knew there was no book in the entire room that he hadn't read already. And for a mind like the prince, once was enough to have it engraved in your memory forever.

So what was he trying to do?

Frustrate the King further after reporting half an hour late to his summons or trying to make him talk first so that he doesn't give away any information that the King wasn't aware of yet?

'You must have gotten the wind of what happened last night,' King Malcolm said at last. There was a subtle anger in his tone, but it were his eyes that revealed the depth of his rage.

Both. Arthur concluded. He was trying to do both.

'The brewery? Who would've thought.' Prince Callahan took his eyes off the bookshelves and put his hands behind his back. It was a gesture that might make one look submissive and relaxed, but on the prince, it exuded a silent authority, an ease of manner and a dangerous sophistication.

'It's not just the brewery,' said King Malcolm, following his brother with his eyes. 'There were no victims except the brew master and two soldiers. The entire building burned to the ground and no one was harmed in its surroundings. Also, the fire was contained from spreading. It's all very strange. What do you reckon happened there?' His lips formed a straight thin line, pressed tightly together, forcing restraint.

Arthur sucked in a sharp breath. He knew. The King knew who it was.

Prince Callahan smiled. 'It's not very often you ask me for advice on royal matters,' he said, his voice was calm and in control.

'This one was just too peculiar to not to. And I was informed you were out all night. I wonder if you heard anything of value.'

'If only Your Majesty were as interested in his duties and he is in my indulgences, we might not be having such problems to deal with in the first place. But, it is no great trouble. Everyone has their shortcomings. I'll help you work through this one.'

Prince Callahan walked across the hall to the other side of the room where a large table with a comprehensive map of Valon was laid out on top of it. King Malcolm glared at him with fury and yet gave him his full attention, although refusing to let go of his chair and walk up to him.

Arthur clutched his hand tightly. King Malcolm wanted the prince to spell it out for him. He wanted him to make a mistake. He already knew Prince Callahan was behind it all, and all he was looking for now was evidence to convict him for his crimes.

Or worse, he was looking for Prince Callahan to slip so that he could figure out his schemes and label him an enemy of the crown.

However, the prince who was being set upon the rack appeared to have started enjoying the turn their conversation was taking.

'The brewery, I reckon,' he said, picking up a little red flag from the side of the table and placing it on the map, marking the location, 'is only the start of a grand design. The first spark of a mighty blaze, if I may jest.'

The king sat up a little straighter at that. 'What do you mean?'

'I mean,' Prince Callahan picked up two other flags and placed them on the map. With Arthur positioned near the door, he could not see what those places were, unfortunately. 'Not to scare you or anything, but it seems you're going to have a lot to deal with in the next few days.'

'Like what?' the king demanded.

'Like deaths.'