Lidarion: Chapter 15

The next morning came far too quickly for Trent’s liking. He had talked with Brooke until she had begun to nod off. They walked together to the inn and gotten a room, where he slept fitfully. She had awoken early and they had decided to have breakfast and continue their conversation from the night before.

“Not long after you left my brother demanded that I wed the eldest son of the head of the banking clan. Neither of us were interested and yet they still held the wedding. Although when neither of us showed up to be married the event took a less than pleasant turn. My brother does not have the same ease of co-operation with the advisory council. He lives in constant fear of assassins and political plots. He is not the same person we knew when we were younger.” Brooke explained.

“I take it that the last thirteen years have been pretty bad then?” Trent asked.

Brooke nodded. “He trusts no one now. The council knows a madman when they see one and they have taken the time required to make sure his transition to figurehead is as peaceful and nonviolent as possible. They keep him wanting for nothing but manage most of the kingdom themselves. We have had lots of free time. Where my brother spent his in libraries hunting legends and fairy tales, I learned from any one that would teach me a martial or weapon art. I have not stepped foot in the throne room since the day you left. If he is not in the library he is there. He eats, and sleeps in that chair.” She finished explaining.

Trent looked out the window at the early morning sun. “Why do you, and why do the counsel still allow him to remain a figurehead?” He asked.

She nodded. “The city and the thirteen families that came together to form the kingdom are old, you have known this your whole life. This system is what it is and while my brother is a nut he is a mostly harmless nut, so rather than dismantle a functioning system that is hundreds of generations old they will wait until he dies and one of the other families will take the throne just as mine did five generations ago. That is the way it has been and that is the way it will continue to be. I don't have the power or the desire to change it.” She replied.

Alex came into the dining area from the kitchen with tiny loaves of bread. “Just because you don’t choose to use the power you have earned, doesn’t mean it no longer exists. Young lady.” She chided.

Brooke smiled. “Is that any way to speak to the crown princess?” She asked sarcastically.

Alex nodded. “You already know that title doesn’t mean anything to me and even if it did, how much sway do you think you’d have over me having just admitted out loud that you don’t want it?” She shot back smartly.

“Jesus you two are loud.” Lisa said appearing at the bottom of the stairs leading to the second floor of the Inn. She looked at the two royal guards standing at the front door. “What are they doing here?” She asked.

Everyone looked at the guards. “They are here to escort us to our meeting with his royal highness the King of Lidarion.” Brooke answered.

Lisa looked confused. “Then why are they standing there silently?” She asked.

Brooke stood up and gave each of the guards a tiny roll from Alex’s stash.  Each guard thanked her as they accepted a roll. “They showed up almost an hour ago. They told us we were summoned. I told them you were still sleeping, they told me that the king would not wait patiently. I explained to them that he had been waiting thirteen years, another couple hours wouldn’t kill him so they could either pass the time with breakfast or pass the time unconscious.” She smiled at Lisa and held out the last of the rolls. “Breakfast before we go?” She asked warmly.