Chapter Five: The New Mission
Early the next morning,
Mary went outside for a fresh breath of air and found Valkin sitting next to
the door. She sat down too, and turned to him, her eyes full of question.
“I’ve been meaning to
ask ye,” she said, chewing on her lip thoughtfully, “what did ye mean by tha’?”
Valkin gave her a look.
“What do I mean?” he
asked. Mary clarified.
“What ye said aboot my
being able to help.” She said. Valkin’s brow cleared.
“Ah! I remember now.
Yes, I think you can help us.”
“But how?”
“You’re a human.” He
said simply. “The counselor won’t expect to have humans against him. He only
thinks that elves will rise up in rebellion, but he’s wrong.”
“What if we won’t
help?” Mary cautiously asked. Valkin looked at her warily out of the corner of
his eye.
“Then Elliot would not
have sent you.” He said. Mary gasped.
“Then he meant for us
to come?” she asked. Valkin smiled at her surprise.
“Yes, I asked him to
bring humans he knew and trusted.” He paused. “I was surprised, to say the
least, when you and your brother’s happened to be the humans to show up. Your
knowledge of our language was an even bigger surprise and I began to see why
Elliot sent you three.” Mary allowed herself a small smile of amusement.
“We be somewhat tougher
than we look, ye mean?” she asked. Valkin returned her smile and shrugged.
“One might say that.”
He replied. There was a moment of silence and somewhere nearby a dog barked,
and a horse returned it’s greeting with a whinny. Mary was the first to break
it.
“So…” she started
carefully, “Could ye tell me aboot yer people and their history? How came this
counselor, and why did the king trust him?” Valkin took a deep breath, letting
it out slowly. His brow furrowed and he looked darkly up at the castle.
Obviously, the topic was upsetting him, and Mary almost told him to never mind,
when he began.
“It’s a long and sad
history.” He said, and sighed again. There was a long pause, and Mary was
almost afraid he wouldn’t continue, but he took another deep breath and plunged
into it. “It started, I believe, when the kings mother, may she rest in peace,
began to grow ill about three years ago. She could no longer advise the king,
and he started to grow power thirsty. He appointed several new officers, and
when anyone complained, they were either thrown in prison or killed.
“One man, thirsty for
power as the king was, was appointed as his new counselor, and though several
of his wise, older advisors warned him against the man, the king rebelled and
the counselor was elected.
“Far from happy, the
queen went to her son, although ill, and ordered the king to have the man
banished. The king refused and grew angry, striking his mother. She never rose
again. The king, realizing what his hasty action had caused, fell to the ground
next to his mother, imploring her through sobs to arise. He begged for
forgiveness, but it was too late. His mother was dead. The only person that he
knew was there was the counselor, and the counselor saw his big chance to
overcome the kingdom. He started slowly killing the king himself using guilt
and blackmail. Unknown to the counselor or the king, there was another
witness.” Valkin stopped, and Mary saw a tear run down his cheek. “I was that
witness.” His voice hardened, and he frowned. “Believe me; I shall not let the
queen’s death go without vengeance, he shall pay for his deed. I shall capture
the counselor and fling him into prison. The king shall be forgiven, but he
must forfeit his job to someone more able and wise.”
“Like Glevanne Addets?”
Mary asked softly. Valkin turned his searching gaze to her, and their eyes met.
“Yes.” He said shortly.
“But to gain the throne, the counselor decided he had to keep all other threats
under his finger of oppression, so he began to force himself upon the princess,
putting guards at her door, proclaiming that he was trying to protect her, but
both the princess and over half the elfish kingdom knew it was to keep her a
prisoner. Secret letters was the only way she could communicate to her true
love, Glevanne, but if any of them where found, it would mean the death of her
lover. She and Glevanne entrusted their letters to only the most faithful
servants, and they began to correspond. The princess kept Glevanne aware of
dangers from the castle, and Glevanne kept the princess aware of new plans from
his side. He was a high officer, and he kept himself clean of any suspicion.
Thanks to your brothers, it is still that way. If any other human or elf had
found the note, Glevanne would probably be on his way to the be-heading tower.”
Mary gasped slightly, her face turning white. Valkin nodded grimly, agreeing
with her unspoken thought.
“Yes, it’s a dangerous
job, and a lot depends on the deliverers of the letters. But it’s been going on
under the nose of the counselor for at least a year, probably more now. We have
stayed safe for a long time and it will continue until the king finally has
enough nerve to get rid of the counselor.” He stopped, and ran a hand through
his hair. Mary looked thoughtfully at her shoes.
“Who did the king marry?”
she asked, “Who was the princesses’ mother?” Valkin smiled, his face clearing
for a moment.
“The princesses’ mother
was one of the wisest decisions the king ever made. She was a wonderful wife,
I’m told, but she died of childbirth before I was born. She was a young and
beautiful bride. The king married only once, but his marriage was a happy one,
though short. The princess looks a lot like her mother. It’s a shame the king
doesn’t realize what a precious thing he may be hurting.” There was another
pause and Mary again studied her shoes thoughtfully.
“But how can my
brothers and I help?” she finally asked. Valkin raised an eyebrow.
“How can you help?” he
said. “You could go into the castle and speak to the king alone, without his
counselor. Tell him that other’s know what went on at the queen’s death, tell
him that the counselor no longer has any power over him, tell him that he is
free to be rid of him forever, just two words, and this land will be rid of its
worst enemy.” Mary sighed, and she bit her lip. Valkin looked at her. “Afraid?”
he asked softly. Mary returned his look.
“Aye.” She replied
truthfully. “I am afraid, not only fer myself, but fer my brothers, fer this
kingdom, fer the princess, fer Glevanne, fer Dusak an’ his wife, fer everyone
who is involved with us. One wrong word an’ the whole kingdom may be
destroyed.” Valkin nodded.
“This is true, and I
have often felt the same way. It is not a shame to be afraid.” He paused, and a
slight smile shadowed the corners of his mouth. “I am afraid too.” Mary let out
a breath, watching it hang in the still, cold air, before dissolving into
nothing again. There was movement inside the house, and Valkin stood, brushing
a few fallen leaves off his shirt. Mary also stood.
“I will speak to my
brothers. If they will come, then we shall help.” She said.
“And if not?” he asked.
Mary paused.
“They will.” She said
sturdily. Valkin smiled and the two went inside.
* * * * *
Her brothers were both
at the table. She approached the subject slowly, but as she had expected, they
both agreed eagerly. It was arranged for them to leave for the castle as soon
as breakfast was finished, so they hurriedly ate and donned on their jackets,
shawl, and boots. Valkin escorted them as far as the first gate, but he left
them before suspicion would arise. Mary went boldly up to the gate and slapped
her hand against it as she had watched Valkin do.
She stepped back, and
the siblings waited for the guard to come, their breath held, and their hearts
racing.
