章節 273: Mistwood Keep
Jacques decided it was time to move. He eased out of the cavebrush and looked cautiously outside. Seeingcrawled over to his gear. Once he had collected everything he headed back to where the demons had left; he motioned to the rest it was safe to come outside.
Outside, a soldier whistled for Olive who never came. Without Olive, they stuffed their bags full of rations. With their bags full, they set off towards Mistwood Keep.
As they traveled cautiously at first, making sure the demons left and did not set a trap. Only after they traveled a kilometer did their fears of traps and trackers cease. With the fear of demons behind them, they finally relaxed and walked towards the sunset over the eastern horizon.
By evening on the fifth day of traveling by foot, they arrived at Mistwood Keep. Mistwood Keep was located on the Misty River, a two-day's ride from the coast.
Mistwood was once home to tribal indigenous barbarians that ruled the northern part of the empire. Mistwood Keep was built as a fortress to keep the barbarians from attacking the capital. Later the keep was used as the staging area to exterminate the indigenous tribe The keep had stood as a beacon of the Rhaziesian Empire's power for centuries.
When Prince Jacques and his soldiers arrived in the town located outside the keep's outer walls. The once bustling town looked ghostly. The shops that lined the cobblestone street that led from the heavily fortified gates were empty. Not a person was in sight.
When they arrived outside the gatehouse, Jacques saw the drawbridge was up the portcullis down. He briefly smiled, it looked like the signal they set was received.
"Stop! Who goes there?" yelled a soldier from the gatehouse.
"This is royal highness Crown Prince Jacques, and we are his party," Mathéo yelled back.
In the background, Jacques could hear the gatehouse soldiers yelling at one another, "quick open the gates, his highness has arrived. Alter the general!"
Although he was no longer a prince, he appreciated his soldiers' and his servant's respect.
General Cormack was the first to greet Jacques, "Crown Prince de Caernarvon, I was worried you might not return. Bless the gods, you have returned to us safely!" he said exuberantly.
"Thank you General, but may I remind you I am neither the crown prince nor a prince of all. Please refer to me as Jacques. I wish for no special treatment," Jacques said.
"As your royal highness commands," General Cormack said disregarding Jacques' wish.
Jacques rolled his head and thought it best to get to business, "I'm glad you received our signal. How are our preparations for war? If Mistwood Keep falls so does the capital," said Jacques.
"Your highness, we fortified the keep while you were away. Thanks to the town, we have enough provisions to last us a year. However, I should also tell you when you did not come back right away, I wrote to the Chamberlin. I regret to inform you his majesty's health deteriorated further hearing my report," General Cormack said apologetically.
"I do not blame you. My father has been ill for a while. It is better that he rest while this progresses. Now return to your duties," Jacques commanded.
"Yes, your royal highness," the General saluted and returned to business.
"Sire, your chamber is ready," said Mathéos with a bow.
Jacques followed Mathéo to his bedroom. His room was large and spacious. The floors were polished marble, and the walls were made of large stone blocks with a slight whitish hue. The whitish stones were native to Rhaziesian and were used throughout Mistwood Keep.
They were dense and light, great for building a strong outer wall as well. A painting of his deceased mother hung over the mantle. Jacques' mother had died when he was ten. Mathéo and the General knew how much he loved his mother deeply.
His mother had killed herself by jumping from a cliff to the rocky beach. She had hated marrying the emperor, who was a sniveling cowardly man, who often complain about how his gallant knight upstaged him. After having a son, she secluded herself in the palace away from the emperor.
She was content to live in isolation with her son. She loved Jacques and spent every second playing and talking with him.
But as Jacques grew older, stronger, and more gallant the emperor began to complain. The emperor did not like how people praised Jacques and compared him favorably to his brave grandfather and great-grandfather. The emperor disliked the comparison between himself and his son.
In a fit of jealousy, the emperor ordered Jacques whipped. To save her son, his mother came out of isolation to appease the emperor. A year later, she jumped to death not being able to stand the repulsiveness any longer. After his mother's death, the emperor left Jacques alone.
"Mathéo, didn't I ask for a cot in the barracks?" Jacques asked stoically.
"Yes, you did, but the Quartermaster said there were no cots available. Only king's suit is available sire," Mathéo lied.
Jacques knew Mathéo was lying. He was probably conspiring with General Cormack behind his back. Yet, he knew his soldier required a strong commander and he had to play the part. He knew his soldiers were scared and nervous. He knew leadership could be lonely, his mother showed him that.
"This is fine. Please send my gratitude to the Quartermaster," Jacques replied laying down to sleep.
"As you command your highness," Mathéo bowed.
The next morning, Jacques was sitting at the head of the table eating breakfast alongside General Cormack to his right and Mathéo stood behind him against the wall. As they ate, a messenger knocked on the door, entered, and handed the General a note.
General Cormack read the note and then handed it to Jacques before speaking, "The scouts we sent on horseback have arrived. The demons have indeed invaded our emperor. It appears they have four different armies and captured several dozen villages along their path. At each village they overran, they enslaved everyone they found,"
"How many days until they arrive here?" Jacques asked.
"I don't know, but by the last village, they seized I say ten days to two weeks," advised General.
Just then another messenger burst in the door. He had a frantic look on his face and spoke in rapid breaths, "your majesty a letter from Chamberlin de Monk,"
Mathéo took the letter from the perspiring messenger and handed it to Jacques.
Jacques read the letter, but his face grew increasingly in astonishment.
"Well don't just sit there, what does it say?" the General asked impatiently.
"My father woke from his coma. When he was told I was safe here in the keep, he was briefly overjoyed. Yet he woke up to a riot. While he was asleep word of the demon invasion spread, and a riot broke out in the capital.
As the rumor of my heroism to light the signal, rescue an injured soldier, and kill a demon horde, along with my preparing the emperor for the invasion; the rioters are demanding our and the army's return.
Moreover, the rioters demand the emperor abdicate, and for me to rise in his place. Fearing my triumphant return, he quickly assembled what little troops remain and left to attack before they pushed too far into the empire. My stepbrother, Deques, now rules as regent until his return.
With the emperor suspected dead, the Cardinals have declared me emperor over the regent," Jacques said rubbing his forehand.
"The Cardinals declared you, Emperor?" General Cormack said in disbelief before dropping to his knees in submission.
"General Cormack, what are you doing?" asked Jacques in shocked.
"Your imperial majesty, I am unfit to dine at your table," General Cormack said subserviently.
"General please, there is no reason—" Jacques said before he was interrupted.
"Quick spread the news of what happened to the troops, to the townsfolk, across the free empire, that the Crown Prince is now his Imperial Majesty!" The General shouted to the servants, cutting off Jacques.
"How did it come to this?" Jacques whispered to himself in silence.
General Cormack slowly backed out of the imperial dining room. "Your imperial majesty, please excuse this one's insolence. I must leave and get to work," the General said as he left.
"Mathéo please bring me some paper, I wish to write to my younger brother Deques and the Cardinals of Aether, Gaia, and Pontus." Jacques politely asked.
"As his imperial majesty commands," Mathéo said.
"Not you too?" Jacques said in disappointment.
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