Chapter 1
== FIRST DRAFT MANUSCRIPT ==
Please note - this is an UNEDITED First Draft of this manuscript. It is raw and unpolished. I have no editor and I am in a rush to write and release more chapters. There will be grammar and spelling errors and I have not rewritten it to clean up the flow of the storyline or to remove any unnecessary or repetitive wording.
Saying that, I am enjoying writing the story and I am proud to share it with you all.
It is free to read, enjoy it for what it is.
I welcome constructive feedback & comments, likes, and follows.
Cheers, Maree
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Chapter 1
Gregory was becoming more than just a problem.He was a thorn that couldn’t be removed and was festering happily.This shouldn’t be happening.Richard was the rightful heir and the one born to sit upon the throne.He should have the world at his feet and would have, if it wasn’t for this pain in his heel that wouldn’t go away.
He looked around the room and scowled. The room was indeed bleak.The lavish hanging carpets that covered the stone seemed faded and dull.They dated back to before Richard’s father had come to rule and were an undeniable display of affluence and superiority, meant to intimidate those who kneel before him. But to Richard they were merely dusty reminders of the hours he spent in this room at the feet of his father. He looked around wistfully. He would have rather that the walls were dressed in colorful silks similar to those which hung in his favorite brothel.
He shook off the impulse to leave and seek refuse in that place.It wasn’t the wall coverings were the root cause his annoyance.Everywhere he looked there existed painful memories of his father’s disappointment in his first-born son.These seemed to be emphasized by the various records, portraits, and mementos, mounted and framed, of his father’s successes both on the battlefield and as a great ruler that seem to scream the fact that he was failing to live up to his legacy.If changing the decorations would cause comparisons between his rule and that of his father’s to cease, then he would have ripped the place apart himself.But his advisors had strongly recommended against it, spouting words such as tradition, familiarity, and legacy.
What his advisors were saying without openly declaring was that revitalizing the space would have little impact on the disrespect that was poorly hidden in the faces of those who served him and stood in his company.The staff were fearful and even his court members treated him with wariness rather than the open adulation that they had lavished on his father. They should worship him.It was his birthright.It was what was owed to him. It was Gregory’s fault.He was the one who seeding comparisons and causing Richard to seem a lesser man.
“Why can’t he just die?” he mumbled to himself as the Messager in front of him droned on with a dispatch carrying news of yet another victory in the north.
He should definitely execute Cardinal Crane.It was on Crane’s esteemed advice that Richard had sent Gregory to the Northern Province to command the armies holding the mountain passes.He had been told that it was a fools errant and would end in certain death.And yet, near on eight years later and the man was still alive.Worse still, he had become a hero of the people. Each victory was sung in taverns, word of his every deed spread like wildfire, and even his own court lifted their ears to hear of his exploits.It was infuriating.
It was Richard, their King, that they should hold in awe.And yet his achievements were not on everyone’s lips.His successes fell short and were lackluster in comparison to those of his younger half-brother.It was whispered by the court that it was luck rather than the rule of succession that Richard had taken the throne, had his father lived longer to see the potential in his youngest son, Richard might well have been the relegated to being the Duke instead of the King.
Richard ground his teeth at the thought of his birthright being stolen by that upstart.He had to do something before Gregory’s successes went to his head and he brought the Northern Armies south to claim to throne.His armies were soft from the eight years of peace that had been brought by the forces in the North.The raids and the threats didn’t make it South and thus his men were green and lazy.They stood little chance against the seasoned troops of Duke Gregory should he seek to dethrone his King.
“Traitor,” Richard snarled.
“My Liege?” the Messager stopped midsentence, as did the whispering of the court.
All eyes were on him and his anger at the thought of Gregory’s imagined betrayal was ready to explode and free itself from his chest.He opened his mouth to let his distain out and voice his suspicions, when Cardinal Crane stepped forward.
“Everyone out,” he commanded in a tone that had the room shuffling backwards, “the King needs rest, that is enough for today.Leave at once.”
Heads and eyes dropped to the floor as the nobles and their attendants left silently.Yet another reason to execute Crane, he shouldn’t have the power to speak for the King.He shouldn’t have the ability to command the King’s people.
“Forgive me, my liege,” Crane bowed low, “I spoke hastily out of concern for you.”
“You are no longer my Regent, Crane,” Richard hissed, “When I came of age, your position was recalled.You do not have authority over me or my health since that date.”
“This is true, my liege,” he frowned, “But as your esteemed advisor I must do what I can to protect your rule.I acted in that capacity just now.”
“Are you accusing me of conduct that would threaten my rule?”
“Again, forgive me any impertinence, my liege,” he bowed even lower, “It seemed to my humble sensibilities that you were about to accuse Duke Gregory of the crime of being a traitor to your sovereignty.”
“And if I was?” he snapped back with a sulk, “Gregory is a fraud and these false stories are a blight to my rule.So, yes, he is a traitor just by being alive.”
“My King,” he said with a pained inhale of breath, “While your words may bear some truth, the people may not share your beliefs.”
“So what?” he huffed, “Who cares what the unwashed masses think.I want him gone.”
“I hear your frustration,” Crane signed, “But unsubstantiated accusations are not a wise course of action.He is a clever opponent thus you must outsmart him.”
“It was your cunning plan that sent him North,” he growled, “We should have just killed him in his sleep while he was still in the capital.If we’d done that then he would have died quietly and no one would remember him.”
“Your highness,” Crane grimaced, “My advice was sound.As I am sure that you remember, that course of action would have had Queen Dowager Maeb mobilize her supporters at the death of her son, and the funding they provide alone would have crippled your rule.By being patient, we have isolated Queen Dowager Maeb in the Southern Provinces away from her people and weakened her influence.Should her son die in war then they will have no cause to find you at fault or pull their financing.It was a sound plan.”
“Yet,” Richard snarled, “He didn’t die!He won’t die! And now I am dealing with a war hero!Your plan was not sound.I shouldn’t have listened to you.”
“Do not be fooled by short term losses, being hasty now will lead to regret,” Crane said the words carefully while eyeing the seething King, “There is no peace in the North, the war continues.His battles are hard won, and sooner or later his luck will run out.”
“Not soon enough,” Richard looked at the hanging carpet showing the knight defeating the dragon, “They say he is invincible.”
“No one is invincible,” Crane smiled, “He is but a man who bleeds and suffers like any other human being.”
“Then why doesn’t he suffer?”Richard spat.
“Suffer?” Crane looked thoughtful, “They say he fights like a man with nothing to lose.They call him a Demon Warrior, a monster on the battlefield.He is said to have no emotion or warmth.”
“I am well aware of the stories,” Richard said, “Retelling his triumphs will not restore your credibility in my eyes.”
“But, my liege,” Crane’s eyes lit up, “These characteristics of his are not triumphs, with the right influence they could be seen as flaws.Maybe they are an opportunity for us to exploit.”
“Ha,” Richard snorted with no humor, “An opportunity?Even known with the moniker of the Northern Devil, his popularity soars.The ladies see these slurs as fodder for admiration, rather than blights of his character, and swoon over his cold demeaner.”
“And yet he is unwed,” Crane smiled.
“Unwed?” he glared at his advisor, “What would that be of import?Half the women in the kingdom openly wish to bed him and the other half won’t admit to the urning.”
“Yet he is said to be pure of temptation,” Crane smiled, “They say he sleeps alone and shows no interest in the whores of his court.They say his demon hungers for blood on his sword not the soft flesh of a woman impaled on his flesh.”
“Who says that?He can’t be a virgin,” Richard paused, “Where did you hear this tale?”
“The men talk of it in the barracks,” Crane suppressed his smile, “They say that his heart is cold as frozen coal and even the most attractive whore does not turn his head nor make his blood run warm.He is unsheathed, untouched by a woman, unseasoned between the bedsheets, and the men say he rises only for battle.”
“Why does this concern me?” Richard looked away, “His purity does not interest me and I do not see how his lack of debauchery benefits me.”
“And yet it does,” Crane nodded, “Providing him with a bride maybe the exact remedy you require.”
“How so?” Richard asked, “You tell me he is celibate and unmoved by female persuasion and then you advise that Marriage is my salve?You contradict yourself.”
“My liege,” Crane spoke slowly are carefully, “What if you were to send him a bride?”
“Me?” Richard frowned, “Why would I do that?”
“If you were to arrange a bride for him under a royal decree,” Crane’s grin was wide, “There would be two possible outcomes.”
Richard watched skeptically as Crane paced in front of him.
“First possibility, he weds the girl,” Crane lifted a finger, “This may come to pass if she is carefully selected to be so beautiful and beguiling that his desire is unleashed.”
“You are suggesting that I add to his happiness?”
“Not so,” Crane continued, “Once the man is sated in bed it is likely that his heart will stir and beat with his increased lust.”
“And how does it benefit us to have Gregory’s confidence bolstered by being sexually liberated?Surely this release of his pent-up sexual need would make him a more powerful adversary.I don’t get where you are going with this, Crane?”
“It will become clear soon, my liege,”
“Well hurry up,” Richard sniffed, “All this talk of Gregory conquering in the bed sheets is not improving my mood.”
“What if the girl was loyal to you,” Crane ignored the Kings huff, “Such a girl would bring him heart ache and have him suffer through unrequited love.This could be enough to distract him on the battlefield and lead defeat.”
“This sounds like false hope rather than a solid plan.”
“It is possible,” Crane looked thoughtfully, “All we require is a girl so hopelessly in love with your highness, then she would be incapable of returning his affections and would fill his ears with her complaints.Even if his heart doesn’t melt, if we choose wisely, her woes will surely sour his demeaner and distract him from his mission.”
“And what if she is secretly an admirer of his dark broody character?How will you know if she covertly hankers for his cold touch?How can you guarantee that she will find his affections repulsive?”
“Being in love with a story is an easy and painless endeavor, however being confronted with the truth that is reality, should dispel all romantic notions the girl might have”
“Again, this sounds like wishful thinking and not a good basis for a plan.”
“He is a creature of war,” Crane said, “He will not be practiced in courting or wooing a woman of reputation.The woman we send will be high born with expectations of class and manners.He will fail to impress such a woman. Even if his performance between the sheets is adequate, he will not be able to sustain her expectations.”
“And if he does?”
“Then the inhospitable conditions of the North will be the grit in their bedsheets.Not one of the girls of the noble families would be content with the long winters, lack of basic amenities, and absence of any society that the North has on offer.Once the initial lust dulls, Gregory would never be enough to compensate for all the luxuries that are absent.No decent woman would be happy suffering under such conditions.”
“Your plan seems to hinge on this woman seducing him,” Richard shrugged, “If he is as immune to looks and impartial to the opposite sex as you claim, what then?”
“That brings us to the second possible outcome.He rejects the marriage or he ignores her and neglects her,” Crane smiled broadly, “The girl returns home to the capital in disgrace, full of sorrow, and eager to clear her name by recounting the injustices he brought against her.This would be enough to turn public opinion against him by defied his King’s wishes and deflowered a noble beauty with his animalistic lust leaving her ruined and unwed.”
“There is no guarantee that he will deflower her.”
“He doesn’t have to,” Crane smirked, “The public just has to believe that he did.If the people are convinced that it occurred, then nothing that the girl or Gregory can say that will dissuade them.And should that be inadequate, then we circulate the rumor that he prefers the company of his men during the daylight hours and when the moon lights the bedroom.Given the beauty, the breeding, and the devastated air of the jilted bride, this will bring credibility to such a claim without the burden of proof.”
“That sounds more realistic,” Richard’s smile widened to match Crane’s grin, “All you are lacking is the girl who will bring your plan to fruition.Is there such a girl?This plan of yours will bring her ruination. Who would you sacrifice?Why would any of the nobility not see the error in agreeing to such a match?”
“That is the cleverest part of this plan,” Crane’s eyes turned hard as diamonds, “The girl must be beautiful and from a good family, but not one with influence that they might use should the second option be the course.They need to be ambitious and not bright enough to see the possible outcomes of this plan.They must be loyal to the point of sycophantic and the girl must be simple in her thoughts, demanding in her needs, and easy to manipulate.”
“You’re string me along, Cardinal,” Richard squinted, “You obviously have someone in mind.”
“Does this not remind you of the Sir Clyde Mortimer and his daughter Miss Celeste Mortimer?”
“Sir Mortimer?Miss Celeste?” Richard slowly smirked, “I feel inclined to need to bathe after the briefest of meetings with that family.But why would they agree to this scheme?It is clear that she desires my attention, pray tell why would her father agree to this marriage?”
“It is true that he dotes on his daughter, but over and above that he desires power and influence,” Crane nodded, “He will do what we tell him to do if he believes the outcome will be personally pleasing.”
“And the girl?”
“She will have no choice but to do what she is told,” Crane smirked again, “And I might sweeten the pot by implying that on her return to the capital, either as a widow, or as a jilted bride, your highness would be bound to pay special attention to her which might end in an alliance more to her liking.”
“I’m not marrying the girl, especial after she has been cast aside by Gregory.”
“Of course not,” Cardinal Crane laughed a short burst of incredulous humor, “But remember that she is as simple as she is beautiful.It will be easy, for someone as skilled as I am, to lead her to believe the impossible, especially when she is blinded by her devotion to you.”
“She can’t be that foolish to believe such rubbish?”
“Maybe I overstated her intelligence,” Crane shook his head, “Simple implies she has a thought in her head.She isn’t that bright.”
“Someone in the family, surely would see the ramifications of what this marriage means?”
“If his first wife was still alive,” Crane sighed, “Such a bright light she was, then I wouldn’t even be suggesting this.Lady Sara was a jewel and was wasted on an idiot like Clyde, but his family was wealthy and the Walters needed access to the Mortimer resources.It was poor Sara who was the price paid.It was a loss to the entire Kingdom the day she passed away.And it was testimony to how stupid Clyde was that he chose to replace her with his dimwitted mistress who now holds the title of Lady Bella Mortimer.It is a shame that Celeste, while intensely beautiful, does not hold a candle to her late mother in looks and her mother’s wiles made no attempt to penetrate the womb and thus the child takes after her father in looks and in personality.”
“You sound like you were in love with Lady Sara Walters?”
“Every male in the Kingdom was in love with her,” Crane signed, “I wasn’t the only one who got hopeless drunk on the night of their betrothal.It was in the harsh light of the next morning that I chose the path that the church offered.”
“And yet you plan to hoodwink her daughter?”
“As I said the girl is not her mother and I despise her father for what transpired.”
“Are you proposing this out of revenge, Crane?”
“I am not so shallow, my liege,” Crane laughed, “I am pointing out that I have no loyalty to anyone other than you, sire.Celeste Mortimer is the perfect trap for Duke Gregory.She will do the job admirably.”
“And you’re sure about this?”
“Nothing can go wrong, sire.”
“I am sure that you said that last time,” Richard huffed, “And look where that landed us.”
“Yes, but this time,” Crane smiled, “What could possibly go awry?”
