4.
Alan was surprised at the
appearance of the Princess, and stood in between to prevent a fight. Lin looked
at the young lady who was dressed like a boy, in the leather pants and boots,
with the vest over the tunic. The young lady was holding the dagger in her
hand, and looked quite capable of handling it.
"Princess Clarity, I
presume." Lin Denham bowed towards the young lady. "I am Lin Denham
formerly of your .... King Egan Castellan until quite recent."
"You mentioned of
seducing my mother, Queen Evie. If that was true, then you are telling to all
of us, I am also your child." Clare confronted the older man with tears
rolling down her eyes. "I had hardly seen my father, I meant the King
himself."
"I...." Lin to
reply when Alan cut in. Alan reached out for the dagger held by Clare but she
stepped back.
"Move no closer, Alan. I
am here to ask the man who had claimed to be my....father." Clare
threatens the huntsman. "I been raised here by Helene, and with tales that
she told me I was a Princess, but since my mother's death, I was sent to stay
here."
"I been meaning to know
why and would like to see my King, if he was truly my father." Clare
replied. "I been asking that since I was a young girl, and trained myself
to be ....useful in the coming quest."
Alan shook his head;
disbelieving the thought that the one he called Princess, who had bear the
pains and wounds from the harsh training at such a tender age. He thought she
was just another tomboy who needed to be outgrown from, but he was wrong. She
had learned hard, but she still lacks the skills of a warrior.
"Yes, what I had said is
the truth. I would prove it to you." Lin reached for his vest and withdrew
the scroll which bear his King' order. He handed it to Alan, but the later passed
it on to Helene.
"In there, are the
written words of King Egan, of his ....weakness, and why he asked me to sire
his children. He wanted a son for his lands, but in the event that child would
to do wrong, this scroll would be to denounce him of his right as King."
Lin told them while Helene read the words written on it. She sat down in pain
on reading the scroll.
"King Egan was a good
King, tough on his enemies, merciless towards those who oppose him, but he was
kind to his servants and peasants who lived on his land. His only failure was
himself to have an heir. I provide him one, but he still feared that the new
King, although proclaimed by him as heir; may be unworthy, he had given the
right to denounce him." Lin stopped in his long explanation.
"At what cost,
Castellan? At the cost of the lands waging wars again if this was to go
out?" Alan retorted back. "Do you know with his denouncement, we
would all be at war. Lords and Barons would fight once more...."
"As Lord Falstof had
done. He had taken over the lands by the influence exerted on this
grandson." Lin replied. "The war had started, but the signs of it are
not seen on the surface. It had already begun when the other Lords are
murmuring rebellion against the new King, and his adviser the Grandfather. They
are caused by increase in tributes and taxes; a measure for the King to re-take
those lands from the original Lords."
"As we speak, the Lord
of Dune, and Travis had pulled out from the protectorate of the King." Lin
declared. "Lord of Sommers would next, with Baron Kipling."
"Nay, those were the
strongest allies of King Egan." Alan rebuked back. He seen those Lords
before; they are like kins to King Egan.
"Allies before, but soon
to be enemies when your treasure and farms are seized or taxed by the King. The
new King had done it for his grandfather willed it." Lin told him. "I
am here to restore the lands under the new ....Queen. With the new Queen, we
could reclaim back what was King Egan."
"Queen? You are mad,
Lin. There was no Queen in rule before. Since.....Boudica." Alan was
referring to the lady who was the Queen of the Celtic Tribe that fought against
the Romans.
"Nay, there was one
other. She was Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffydd. She was from the north and fought off
the Normans. She ..." Lin reminded the huntsman of another great warrior,
who fought alongside her King to fight the invasion.
"She was no Queen herself. She was the
..." Alan rebuked back on his own knowledge.
"Aye, she was, she fought hard for the lands
that belonged to the people. She died for the people. Just as Princess Clarity
would reclaimed back her ....King Egan' lands." Lin looked to the young
lady. He then approached her. He went on his knees and bowed to her.
"I am Lin Denham, formerly the Castellan of
King Egan and his trusted friend. The King himself asked me to extend his
family line, and I was duty bound to do so. I, myself hold no family of my own,
with no need of any on my own, but for y King, he must have one. His Queen was
blessed with a son, and daughter; a twin at birth but separated by then for he
only valued the son for his heir." Ling sighed again."I tried to
counsel him to receive you back into his arms, but he would not. He may be
..."
"Say no more, Lin of my castle. I have heard
enough." Clare replied. She stepped forth and pulled at the former
Castellan to rise.
"If the lands of King Egan needed to be saved
by myself, then I shall ride forth to do so. .... As befitting of his daughter
and Princes to this land." Clare declared. "We ride at dawn
tomorrow."
With that Clare walked off to her own room and shut
the door. All of them stood there looking at the closed door, and finally it
was Helene who spoke.
"Let the child rest. She needs it if she was
to continue on the quest." All of them then moved to the fireplace to warm
their body.
And conscience.
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