A tall muscular dark skinned man stood next to a sturdy oak table with a map of Valencia spread on it. Not far back was a suit of armor on a pedestal. The man's face was impassive, his flowing white hair polled into a single braid.
There was a knock on the door.
"You may enter,"
"Greetings, general,"
The general turned to face the newcomer, who went on one knee.
"You may rise,"
The solider rose and took measured steps forward.
"A letter has arrived from the capital. The king and the Royal Assembly have granted permit to deploy the Army but--"
The general raised a hand for silence.
"Have you found Arhus' body?"
The solider looked disturbed.
"Yes, we have, General,"
He stuck out his hand to receive the letter.
"There's--"
"Let me read it myself," General Zarin interrupted, and walked over to the high seat at the table in the middle of the room.
He put it down after persuing it, with a thud.
"Prince Theon is on his way here?"
"Yes, General. Within a day's distance,"
"How come the messanger from the capital outran him, then?"
"Prince Theon prepared his royal guard before leaving, and also is journeying in a luxurious manner,"
General Zarin chuckled darkly.
"We shall see how he manages the safrohi. Have you heard from Marquis Janus?"
"No, general. Not from him in person. But a regiment is waiting at Hotar Hill for further instructions,"
"Good. Prepare for the Prince's arrival, then. Make sure to keep the special unit out of sight,"
"Yes, General," the solider turned to leave, but stopped, "General--"
"Yes, what?"
"Will you tell Prince Theon about the safrohi's bargain?"
"Since the letter in which I mentioned it has been confiscated and Arhus killed, I think they want me to keep it between me and them. So, no,"
"Alright, General." The solider bowed from the waist and left.
***
"Your majesty," called a junior attendant, "the Queen is here with the minister for Rites!"
The king was currently engrossed in a discussion with Lord Erhan, and was all too pleased to find an excuse to get rid of him.
"Lord Erhan, I'll send for you another time,"
Not long after the statesman was replaced by the regal figure of the queen, the minister for Rites barely visible in her shadow. She curtsied deeply.
"Rise. You are here on the matter of the coronation, I take it?"
"Yes, your majesty," she rose, "the crown princess selection rites concluded this morning and the candidate is currently at the Temple receiving validation. The minister for Rites suggested this," she added as an afterthought.
"That's good,"
The minister for Rites bowed.
"I'm honored, my king,"
"But who is this candidate?" the king inquired.
"She is the eldest daughter of Duke Karlem," the queen replied, "well mannered and filial. She will make a good crown princess,"
"Duke Karlem from the Right Assembly?" The King frowned, "is he not --?" He swallowed the rest of his words when the queen coughed lightly, "minister for Rites, why don't you go ahead and coordinate the validation at the Temple?"
"Yes, your majesty," he bowed and exited.
"What about Duke Karlem?" asked the queen.
"Are you telling me that there's not a better person than the daughter of Duke Karlem, who happens to be the prime minister's cousin--if anything, I don't want Theon to be bound by the things we have been bound. Has it been published already that she is the winner?"
"Yes," the queen sighed, "dignitaries from her father's dukedom; her father himself; and all other contestants accompanied her to the Temple,"
"It's not too late to discredit her," the king prompted.
"I know what to do," the queen replied.
***
_Prince Theon's POV_
I arrived at the Northern Border Garrison a week after I left the capital. I had heard a lot about General Zarin but nothing prepared me for the handsome impassive silver-haired man in front of me.
He bowed in the military fashion, gripping his sword at arm's length in front of him and inclining his head.
"Welcome, your highness,"
"Please refer to me as General Husaad," I replied. He raised an eyebrow and said nothing.
"I am here on his Majesty's orders to take control of the border," I said, handing him the decree. He passed his sword to a retainer and unfurled the scroll, his deep brown eyes glancing from left to right. He then looked up at me.
"Is the king putting me out of work?"
"It was nothing of the sort. Me being here is to temporarily control the border until the menace of the rebelling millitants is past,"
"And do you think it will be past?" he asked with something resembling a sneer.
"Do not misunderstand me--"
"Pardon, your highness. Or General Husaad, whichever it is,"
I frowned.
"It is I who has been misunderstood. This is a trap, you coming here,"
"What are you talking about?" I was confused.
"What was read at the Assembly is no report of mine. My messanger was intercepted and killed," he pointed at a body in the distance, "your highness, if you know what is good for you-- leave at once. People like us," he gestured to himself and his masked retainers, "are rugged enough to hold the safrohi off,"
"General Zarin--!"
And he turned his back on me. His retainers parted before him.
"I have given you priceless advice, Prince," he said contemptuously over his shoulder and then strode away. His retainers closed in behind him and before I knew what was happening, the garrison' gates snapped shut.
.....
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