Thorne soon began to feel better physically under the care of his nurses headed by Janice. But as the wound healed and the physical pain reduced, he began to struggle with his mind. He was often moody from when he woke in the morning and all through the day.
He couldn't understand it. After each previous conquest, he usually felt very happy until he was tired of the place and the people and their beautiful things.
But now that he had actually found a place where he thought he would like to be forever as ruler, he couldn't find peace.
He surmised that it must be due to his limiting wound and his inability to take Andrew's pretty damsel to wife... Here he had all the power butn he seemed unable to use it to do exactly what he wanted.
His moods became darker and darker every day as he got more and more frustrated. Nothing seemed to be able to cure his unreasonable anger. And worse still, even Baris his trusted right hand man couldn't understand. Maybe because he couldn't tell him the major reason was because of Janice. What would his men think to hear that their might leader was indeed swooning after a woman? And one who was supposed to be given to Baris for that matter.
Everyone had thought that his decision to rob Baris of his prize was a strategic one... a political one. What would they think if they found out it was because of his feelings?
He grit his teeth as the rage built in him one evening. An unsuspecting servant brought his dinner to his bedside and he threw the plate at her, cutting her across the face, making her bleed.
"I'm sorry, sire" she said, crying as she ran out of his room.
"Idiot!" he screamed after her as she held on to her bleeding face and the blood dripped onto the floor.
Baris took note of this.
The night passed and Thorne didn't eat. He left the food plastered across his room wall and floor and no servant dared try enter to clean it up without being called first. They were terrified.
The next morning when Thorne woke up, he resumed his thoughts. He felt frustrated so early in the day, so he went into the gardens for some fresh air. He met Janice there. She was watering some plants.
He was surprised to see her there.
She had her back turned towards him and couldn't see him comimng towards her.
He studied her beauty fom afar off as he slowly walked towards her.
Oh how could he possibly salvage this? He'd killed her husband and now he wanted her. How could he possibly win her over to his side? He pondered as he walked.
Suddenly she turned around, asif aware that someone was watching her.
"My Lord!" she exclaimed as she bowed slightly.
He was caught off guard...
"Janice" he found himself saying quicker than he expected.
"How are you feeling today?" she asked
"I'm better" he answered.
She looked him over and nodded her head, as if noting something wrong in his answer. Then she turned back to her watering.
Thorne paused to think. Would he just walk past her? Would he just forsake this chance to speak to her? He saw her daily but he was always her patient and she his nurse. Not much room to speak his heart when she was there examining him and administering medicine with the other nurses.
"You seem much familiar with these plants", he said as he got to where she stood.
Why was he talking to her this way today, she wondered? Couldn't it just be hello and how are you as usual?
"Yes, my Lord." she answered.
"Is there any that can be used for the curing of a wandering mind?" he asked.
"A wandering mind?" she queried.
"Yes", he answered. "and a worried heart"
"What is it that you are worried about, my lord?", she asked.
He paused before answering.
"Something which I direly desire, and which is mine, yet I cannot have it"
Janice was confused.
"And what may this thing be?" she asked.
Thorne thought of how to tell her she was the object of his heart's pangs. She would not take it well. She would reject him. He felt immediately frustrated.
"Is there a herb for it or not?" he barked now.
She looked at him, quite startled as to why he was shouting
"There is something", she offered.
"I will mix it in a tea for you this evening, sire."
"That is good", he answered as he resumed walking.
"It is good to pair this herb with soothing music. It will ease your worries"
"Okay" he answered.
"My brother Jamis is a good player", she added as he walked past her.
"Bring him to me this evening when you bring the herb" he said as he turned at a bend where a row of bright purple flowers grew.
***
That evening, Janice went into the palace with the herb she had promised Thorne. She poured it into a tea of chamomile and served him. As he drank it, Magriel knocked at the palace door.
"Who is there?" Thorne asked Baris who was the only guard around, as Thorne wanted the meeting to be as private as possible so that he would enjoy his tea and soothing music in the presence of only Janice .
Baris opened the door and looked out... It was Margriel.
"It is her brother", he said pointing to Janice.
"Let him in" Thorne answered.
"I have told you to refer to her as the queen to be!"
"I'm sorry, my lors", Baris said as he opened the door.
Margriel walked in with his harp in hand... It was bigger than him.
He looked funny as he carried it towards the chief's seat.
Thorne laughed and Baris joined in.
"Is this the instrument then?" Thorne asked, pointing at the giant harp.
"Yes it is, Margriel answered"
Thorne chuckled.
"Begin!"
"May I sit over there?" Margriel asked pointing to his left side.
"Yes you may", Thorne said, smiling in mockery.
Margriel manoeuvered the heavy looking harp to a position where he placed some sheep wool on the floor and sat on it.
Baris clapped derisively and scoffed.
Margriel waited. He waited for silence to fill the room.
Then he started...
One stroke of a chord and Thorne looked up from his tea.
The sound was deep and strong. The echo seemed to linger in the room.
Margriel struckthe strings again and produced majestic music, melodies fitting to the heavenlies.
Thorne was captivated as every note played, he and everyone in the room were enchanted., following every melody of the wonderful song that seemed to tell a story so sweet, so sad, so profound.
They were in awe of the music and its player. And what everyone felt, Thorne seemed to feel even double. The tea was working. It had performed a function in his mind that made him more perceptive of sounds and feelings. He instantly developed a liking to not just the music but the player as well.
When the music was over, no one wanted it to be, nor did they expect for it to ever end. They stayed mute. Silent. Until Janice got up and began to clap, quietly at first. Then everyone else joined in applause. It rose so loud that the guard stationed outside the door could hear it.
Janice had been caught in the musical trance that enveloped everyone in the palace. She was now out of it and on her feet, leading the applause.
She knew Jamis to be a good player, but he was never this good.
Where and when did he learn to play this good? In the wilderness?
If she had known he was that good, she wouldn't have needed to prescribe Eupher herb tea for Thorne.
She looked at Thorne... He was standing! Clapping with his teeth broadly grinning. He was happy. Very happy. So happy he had forgotten his pain.
She looked at Jamis. He was just there, standing with his giant harp, bowing to Thorne as if he had done nothing of great meaning.
This modesty. After delivering a performance worthy of treasures uncountable? What version of Jamis was this she was meeting now?
"Jamis!", Thorne called, happily.
"Yes, sire", Margriel answered.
"Come forward"
Margriel took a few steps closer to Thorne.
"Dear brother of my beloved Janice"
"So it is that you are a musician"
"Yes sire", Jamis answered.
"That is fantastic!"
"Thank you, sire"
"Ha ha!" Thorne laughed.
"I want you to be my palace musician"
Margriel gave no response for a while. He seemed to be considering what Thorne said.
"And what do you say to this generous offer?" Thorne followed up
Margriel looked to Janice as if for her opinion. She was subtly nodding her head, urging him on.
"Yes, sire" he said, turning to face Thorne.
"I will be your palace musician, my lord. I thank you for the gracious offer", he finally answered, smiling as if happy to be given such a high place of honour.
But only he knew that it was all part of his plan to infiltrate Thorne's private circle and find ways to disrupt his plans from within.
In honour of having such a talented musician in the town, Thorne announced a week of music. To be played every evening at the palace in the mighty house. The palace doors would be open only to trusted nobles. But the music listening was open to all and sundry.
Throughout the week, Margriel the angel played heavenly music for mortals in the body of a man. All who listened were enchanted. A fondness began to grow among the people for the evil usurper Thorne, but more for the great musician, Jamis brother of Janice.