The Scarlet King (38 page)

In the center of the group rode the Scarlet
King in a small travel carriage surrounded by only a few guards. At
the rear of the troop, dressed in simple clothes and his floppy
hat, was the ancient Seer. When the others were seated he but stood
to the side and watched everything. When the troop from the East
arrived they too were seated by those serving, and only then did
those of the Forest take to the table.

A welcoming proclamation was read by an
official of the King. Jason and the scholar from the East worked
together to translate it to the others. A single cup of wine was
served to all and then the signing ceremony was begun. The
commander of the army from the East signed the scroll of those of
the Forest and initialed the other two scrolls. The Scarlet King
with a somewhat shaky hand did likewise.

Heather had wanted Jason to be the signer for
their peoples but he had insisted that Heather be the one to sign.
She now stepped forward and did as the other two had done, signing
the scroll written in the language of those of the Forest and
initialing the other two. She set the quill down and looked up
first at the Scarlet King and then at the commander of those of the
East, saying, "Let war be replaced with trade."

A general applause erupted from those of the
Forest and all others who stood and either stomped their feet or
clapped in appreciation of her simple statement. Heather seemed not
to fully recognize the response she had received, and simply nodded
to those assembled before returning to Daniel. When things had
settled down and the Scarlet King had officially begun the feast,
she turned to Daniel and said, "I now understand why you never
wanted to be at the front of a feast. It is far more comfortable to
watch at the back."

Daniel but smiled at his bride and took
another sip of the wine. At Heather's request, ale was also made
available to those of the Forest. The others at the feast noticed
not the coming and going of the scouts of the Forest, who rotated
from the feast to their scouting positions. Daniel found the food
to be tasty but full of spices he recognized not. He asked Jason
about the flavors. Jason responded, "I have read of these ancient
flavors but know not how they are derived. I do believe we have
found another trade item."

As the evening wore on toasts were made and
much food and drink was consumed. Heather and those of the Forest
seemed to participate fully, but she had instructed those of the
Forest to but sample their drinks and to be aware at all times of
danger.

As stories of ancient times were begun, she
looked up to find the Seer, who accompanied those of the Red,
looking at her. She was slightly embarrassed by his attention; he
bowed low before her and pointed at the clasp she wore on her
fighting tunic. He spoke not but turned and walked directly to the
head of the table where the Scarlet King was seated. The guards
standing to either side of the King initially tried to block his
approach but he just waved them off and whispered in the King’s
ear. The King looked up at Heather, and then with assistance arose
and walked to where she was seated. He too stared at the clasp
Heather wore before asking, "How did you come to wear the royal
clasp?"

As Jason translated the Scarlet King's
question, it was obvious that Heather was embarrassed. She
responded, "It was a gift from my grandmother. I know not its
origin."

The King removed the heavy chain from his
neck, and despite his stiffness and the numbness of his fingers,
found after searching a short time a jeweled charm. He held it up
for Heather to see. She said not, for he held an identical if
somewhat more masculine amulet.

The Scarlet King took a step back and with
great solemnity bowed ever so slightly to Heather. The voice of the
one they called the Pet Bird could be heard asking what was going
on. At first no one responded, but the realization soon soaked in
that their Scarlet King had bowed to the One with Golden Hair. The
King finally turned and addressed those assembled, saying simply,
"It is as the legend has foretold. Our Queen from ancient times has
returned."

Heather knew not how to respond as all of the
Red now bowed low to her. Heather protested, "I am but a simple
warrior sent by my grandmother from her grave. I am of the Forest,
not of your people."

The Seer spoke up in a language that was
foreign but yet familiar, and by listening hard Heather could
comprehend his meaning. She turned to Jason and asked, "What am I
to do?"

Jason responded, "You must acknowledge their
recognition of your clasp and somehow allow them to resume their
position."

Heather arose and touching the clasp on her
tunic, said, "I know not the reason or the ways of the God of the
Sacred Water. It is as it is and I wish all to rise."

Those of the Red arose and resumed their
prior seating. The one called the Pet Bird was still whining and
demanding to be informed as to what was going on. With help, the
Scarlet King returned to his position at table and said, "I have
been given the gift of seeing the fulfillment of the ancient legend
and can now leave the throne to seek the peace of the great trees
in the land of the Forest. As I leave I wish to appoint Don the
Great as the permanent head of our security forces and of the
palace guard. We owe him a debt, for twice he has rescued us and
yet seeks not the power of the palace." He was silent for a moment
before continuing in a much quieter voice, "I would choose my
nephew to take my seat on the throne for he is the lawful
choice."

The one called by those of the Forest the Pet
Bird rose and bowed to his King and to those around him, strutting
like a courting rooster. The King interrupted the show by again
speaking. "If my nephew chooses to accept the position of the
throne, I deem that he be required to consume the slow poison that
he has been feeding me."

An audible gasp went up from the crowd. The
strutting Pet Bird suddenly looked ashen and sat down quickly. The
Scarlet King looked not at his nephew, but continued speaking. "If
my nephew decides not to accept the position of the throne, then it
would be the choice of the royal counselors to choose my
successor." The Scarlet King waited for silence to return and
turned towards Heather, saying, "If the One with the Golden Hair
wishes to stay amongst us, we need to acknowledge her as the proper
heir to the royal line of our people."

Heather stood and acknowledged the Scarlet
King before simply saying, "I am of the Forest and would return to
the Forest. I would that peace continue between our peoples and the
trade amongst us would allow all to prosper."

The celebration continued but with much more
whispering amongst those of the Red. The one called the Pet Bird no
longer was demanding attention and seemed to almost disappear.
Those of the Forest would've preferred more singing and telling of
stories, but the mood had changed and they mostly visited amongst
themselves.

The scholar from the East bowed before
Heather and asked if he could inspect the clasp she wore. Heather
but nodded and handed him the clasp. The scholar used a small stick
with markings and compared the angles and distances between the
individual jewels, working on a small pad the distances and
pattern. He carefully handed the clasp back to Heather and again
bowed, asking, "May I discuss this with the commander of the forces
of the East?"

Heather asked, "Why would you discuss
this?"

Jason, who had been intently watching, spoke
up, saying, "I would expect that there is an association between
your clasp and the civilization of those of the East."

The scholar looked at Jason and but nodded.
Heather agreed that he was free to discuss it with the commander of
the forces of the East and the scholar quickly departed. Within a
few minutes he had returned, accompanied by the commander of the
forces of the East. The commander now bowed before Heather and
spoke, saying, "Our people also have a legend of your arrival. The
clasp you wear contains the symbol of our royal family."

Heather turned to Jason and asked, "Do you
understand what this means?"

Jason thought for moment before replying. "It
would seem that not only are we directly connected to those of the
Red but also to those of the East. At one time we were one people
but I know not how we have become so separated. It is a mystery I
would solve, but it would entail a great exploration."

The evening had worn on and there was yet
much to prepare for their departure. The scrolls were divided, with
each taking the scroll of their language. A formal departure was
not the way of the Forest. Heather simply stood and announced, "We
of the Forest leave at first light and will work to establish
regular communication and trade. We wish all to live in peace and
prosper with trade."

Then those of the Forest seemed to just melt
away into the darkness. Those of the East made a much more formal
departure, leaving those of the Red within the circle of light
outside the west gate. The Scarlet King had grown very weary but
yet felt a happiness he had not known for a long time. He was taken
to his quarters for some rest, for in but a few hours he would
leave his homeland forever to spend his last days amongst the great
trees of the Forest.

The one those of the Forest called the Pet
Bird had said nothing since the King’s revelation of the slow
poison. His desire for the throne was so overwhelming that he
seriously considered accepting the throne knowing his life would be
much shortened. It was the King's pronouncement that Don the Great
would assume control of the palace guard in addition to the
military that caused him the most concern. Without the power of the
palace guard he could be but a feeble King and his bastard cousin
would control the real power. Maybe it would be better for him to
continue to work in the background, constantly undermining his
cousin's authority. He finally said to himself, "I will decide only
after my uncle has left for that cursed place they call the Forest.
I may yet find a way to gain the throne and dispatch my
cousin."

The night had indeed been short when the
first light of the morning began to show, and the lookout called
out that their ship was entering the cove. Heather completed the
morning ritual and met with the others for the breaking of the
fast. Most of their supplies had already been loaded aboard the
ship and their camp was quickly dismantled. The boats had been
lowered from the ship and those of the Forest were gradually
carried aboard. Daniel was finishing his alchemy and writing
instructions for the use of the royal water. He had determined that
a small glass three times a week would be sufficient to prevent the
iodine deficiency and limit the damage of the slow poison contained
in the water of the royal spring.

Most of those of the Forest had already
returned to the ship when a small caravan arrived from the Great
City transporting the Scarlet King. He was obviously excited for
the journey, but yet needed help to enter the boat for transfer to
the ship. His personal physician aided the transfer and then spoke
to Heather. "Would it be possible for me to travel with the Scarlet
King?"

Heather was surprised not that those of the
Red would want to continue to care for their King. She replied,
"You may travel with us, but it is a long and perilous journey from
which you may not return."

The physician replied, "I have dedicated my
life to serving my King and I wish to continue for however long he
remains with us. When he is gone my duty in life will have been
completed."

Don the Great had led the group and stood
before Heather, bowing his head before saying, "The power of the
legend has been fulfilled, and I along with all my people owe you
and the others of the Forest a great debt. I doubt that we will
ever be able to repay the debt, but I pledge my service to you and
the others of the Forest."

Heather said not but simply gave him one of
her small smiles and reached out her hand in friendship. The envoy
gently took her hand and, bowing on one knee, gently kissed it and
said, "To our Queen of the legend I wish a long and healthy life,
and to her people, may they prosper in peace."

Heather responded with a similar wish for the
envoy and reminded him, "Those of the Forest have offered you
refuge when your time has come."

As the envoy climbed aboard the carriage for
the return to the Great City, Daniel came running up with his
latest test results, saying, "One small glass of the water from the
royal spring no more than three times per week." He handed the
envoy a copy of his work, which Jason had translated into the
language of the Red. The envoy accepted the scroll and nodded his
head in appreciation but knew not what to say.

As the carriage was pulling away the envoy
turned in his seat and said, "May the God of the Sacred Water bless
your work which you have so freely shared. My wish is that you and
your family may now live in peace."

Heather and Daniel were the last aboard their
ship; they had stood on the shore hand in hand waiting for the
ship’s boat. Their talk now was mostly about their baby and the joy
of holding him again. Daniel spoke of his concern for the health of
those of Issip, for they had been gone some time. Heather replied,
"Those of the Forest help each other, and I am sure another of the
healers has helped those of our village. Let us leave that worry to
the God of the Sacred Water and enjoy the anticipation of seeing
our baby again."

Daniel squeezed her hand as they watched the
boat pull ashore. The sailors helped them aboard and soon they were
again on the deck of their ship. Captain Cook gave the orders, and
the anchor was raised as the sails came up and began to fill with
the gentle breeze. As they sailed out of the protected cove and
into the open sea, the Scarlet King's physician kept urging him to
go below and avoid the ocean air. The Scarlet King refused, saying,
"I am now free and would experience as much as I can with the
little time I have left." Even as the pitching of the ship
increased as they turned towards the Great Cape, the Scarlet King
remained topside. Fatigue finally overcame his desire to experience
the freedom of the sea, and he followed with difficulty his
physician below.