675-11-18 - Grave News for a King
Grave News for a King | |||||||
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Summary: King Barret Brais learns about the disappearance of his daughter and Princess Madalyn Onimus. | |||||||
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A late morning it was already, and the king of Two Rivers was going through a number of papers that waited to be signed, in the relative privacy of his study at Mergorand Castle. The years had not been kind to him, they showed in the deep wrinkles on his forehead, but as well about the corners of his eyes, indicating a readiness to smile there as well. For now, his mien was sombre though, as he went through the various economic reports of the duchies, especially that of Granville, which had suffered the most during the plague and then later as well under the assaults of the Ningo from the North.
Luckily enough, that particular threat had been seen to by an alliance, forged through the marriage of his younger daughter, Princess Barbeta, to the leader of the Ningo. Still, Granville would be in need of time to recover.
King Barret looked up when the door opened and admitted his advisor and Master of Information, Lord Jarvis Bainsworth. The man entered with a grave face, the smile more a ghost of one when he offered a bow in greeting to the royal. "Your Majesty. Allow me to present you with some disturbing news I have just received. A man was found on the shores of Athereyne. But... permit me to summon him, as I believe he should tell you in person."
The King gave Bainsworth a slightly startled look, feeling there was something amiss, before he put down the quill, his brown eyes drifting to the man who was admitted by the guards, as he almost followed in Lord Jarvis’s wake. The man look tattered, his commoner clothes were merely rags, his chin showed the stubble of a man who had neglected his shave for a week. The cheeks were thin, the eyes hollow, telling a tale of the hardships he had endured.
"Your Majesty," the man greeted, as he offered a clumsy bow of a commoner to the king.
"This is Master Jeb," Bainsworth explained to King Barret Brais. “"He was one of the craftsmen destined for the Isles, as part of the Two Rivers delegation heading there with your daughter." The master of Spies turned to Jeb next, with a gesture of the hand inviting him to speak. "Tell our king what you have told me earlier, please."
His brown eyes widened at once when Jeb’s identity was explained, and the king leaned instantly back in his chair as if all strength to hold himself upright had left him. "Luanda…2, was the first name that came over his lips in a worried sigh, followed by another. "Princess Madalyn. Pray tell me, what happened? Are they safe?" Because, a man in tattered attire seldom is the bearer of good news.
"Your Majesty," the man replied, his voice trembling a little, his lips looked as dry as the sheets of parchment in an old book. "The Princess… both Princesses… I don't know where they are now. The ship – the Golden Leaf – a storm came upon us, yer Majesty, and the ship sank. All of us were taken by the waves of the ocean. I don’t really remember much, next thing I knew I was waking up on the beach, somewhere close to a village of Athereyne. Some people – good common people – took care of me there. I stayed only one day with them, decided I should go and see you next, My King." Jeb lowered his gaze. "I’m sorry, yer Majesty. I don’t know where any of the others are, but seems, I was the only one to be lucky to return. So I s’ppose… they’re dead."
Silence followed, when the King digested the information given. Air left his lungs and was drawn in with some effort, as all kindness or even traces of a smile left his features and they took on the expression of a devastated father.
"Is that how THEY...wish to repay me…?", he muttered, more to himself, the words coming out of his mouth in a low hiss. "Impossible," he said next, when his tone regained some stability. "I will send ships out. How far were you, when it happened…?2 This question he had for the commoner bringing the ill news.
"It was on the day after we left," Jeb replied. "I still don’t know how I managed to get all the way back…"
"A ship then," Barret decides, his gaze darting to Bainsworth. “Or rather two. See to it. They must search the surrounding area, as well as… travel to the Isles. And inform the Queen.” His brown eyes look heavy with concern and regret, and he clears his throat as he lowers his gaze. "She needs to be informed about what has happened." His tone has grown faint again, the skin of his face is very pale – and yes, he does look very old suddenly.
"I have already made the necessary arrangements, with all due respect," Bainsworth remarked with a faint smile that for once showed little mirth. "Two ships will sail as soon as the weather conditions allow it." After all, the storm was still raging – and even in Two Rivers there had been a few days of rain, with strong gusts of wind the area was not used to.
"See to it that Master Jeb receives an attire fit for his station," the king continued flatly, remembering the minimum of courtesy owed to the man. "And then, I fear, all we can do is wait and worry." Said as he leaned forward, resting his head in his hands, hardly acknowledging the departure of the noble and the commoner.