Autumn Wind

Ross Barrington, King of Laurel Isle, stared out the grand window of his palace’s study, but the view of sun-dappled gardens and the sparkling sea beyond did little to lift his spirits. His fingers hovered over the keyboard before he typed the final line and sent the email.

Jace-Need to move the trip up. This year, I can’t wait. Prism Peak, next week? The usual spot. – Ross

Every year, the trip to the kingdom of Crimson Bay’s Prism Peak Mountain Lodge was an anchor. The lodge’s Willow Lake, hidden from all public views, was a sanctuary. For one week, he and Jace, his oldest friend, a man not boisterous but of the quiet, honest world beyond the palace walls, would float on the lake’s mirrored surface, casting lines into the deep water. They spoke of everything and nothing: Jace’s family, Ross’s family, the simple mechanics of life. It was a ritual that cleansed the soul of royal burdens.

He eased his average build back in his leather chair, the weight of the crown feeling heavier than usual. Through the glass, he watched his daughter, Elana, moving gracefully among the early spring blooms in the palace’s flower garden. She was wearing a light blue sundress with her long, dark auburn hair pulled back into a braid. She was a splash of color against the vibrant bloom. She was smiling as she smelled the blooms. Even though her smile was bright, to Ross, it seemed fragile, a delicate vase balanced on the edge of a shelf. He stood up. The gray suit and tie became too tight for him to breathe. He let out a long, weary sigh, the sound swallowed by the quiet, book-lined room. His problem was a thorny, twisting vine, and he hoped his old friend Jace might help him find where to start cutting so he could breathe again. A reply arrived within ten minutes.

Ross, of course, we can meet. Next week, Willow Lake awaits. -Jace

Ross read the email and smiled. He would inform his wife, Julia, about the fishing trip and Elana.

Ross walked out of the study. He knew Julia would be in the planning room. She was working on the Spring Festival with the garden club. As Ross approached the room, he noticed the door was open. When he entered the room, Julia was sitting at a table with several ladies, discussing the events menu.

“Pardon me, ladies, but I need to speak to Julia,” Ross said.

“What is it, Ross?” Julia politely asked.

“I am going fishing next week and will be going to the usual place,” Ross answered with a smile.

Julia shifted her medium build in the chair to look at Ross. Her sandy brown hair was in a bun. Her hazel eyes glanced at him for a moment. She saw happiness on his tan face with his brown eyes twinkling. She never understood his obsession with fishing.

“Very well, I thank you for informing me. I presume you’ll be returning in time for dinner to meet Fritz’s parents, Marcellus and Etta, in three weeks,” she firmly replied.

“I’ll be here,” Ross responded as the dash of happiness disappeared from his face.

She returned her attention to the ladies and began talking about an arch for the roses. Ross took it as a hint to leave. Julia was always cold toward him. She regarded their marriage as a business agreement.

Elana came bouncing into the hall with her black shepherd mix, Sasha, following her. She saw Ross and hugged him.

“Good morning, Papa. How are you today?” she said happily.

“Hello, kitten. I am going fishing next week,” Ross replied with a smile.

“Catch a nice bass for me and be careful. Love you, Papa,” Elana responded.

Ross kissed his daughter on the forehead and told her he loved her. Together, they walked to the music room for her piano lessons.

A week later, Ross stood at the entrance of Prism Peak Mountain Lodge. The Prism Peak Mountains rose around the secluded lodge like silent, watchful giants, and the lake was a perfect, dark mirror. This was their sanctuary, a place hidden from the public eye and the burdens of a throne. The morning mist clung to the pines that guarded the secluded shore of Willow Lake. The air was cool and clean, smelling of damp earth and pine.

Jace was already there, securing fishing gear in their usual boat, a pontoon with fishing- pole holders near the captain’s chairs. The staff took their luggage to their rooms. Ross walked to the familiar wooden dock. Jace was standing on the deck, arranging the coolers. Jace saw Ross and told him to come aboard.

“You look like a man who hasn’t slept,” Jace said by way of greeting, his keen gray eyes missing nothing.

Jace was a man of quiet observation, and Ross’s most trusted confidant. Ross didn’t respond, just smiled at his friend. Next, Ross put his bucket hat over his auburn hair. Jace put a ball cap over his salt-and-pepper hair and then eased his medium build into a captain’s chair. The padded chairs made fishing more comfortable. Ross sat down in the other captain’s chair. Once they were seated, the boat captain started the motor and put the boat in reverse. The boat captain proceeded to drive the boat further out into the lake.

The only sound was the boat motor and the cry of a distant loon. The boat captain shut the motor off when they were in the middle of the lake. For the first hour, they fished in comfortable silence, the rhythmic casting of their lines a meditation. Ross knew Jace was waiting, giving him space to find the words. Finally, as the sun burned through the mist, Ross swiveled his chair to face Jace. After Jace reeled in his line, he placed his rod in the holder.

“It’s Julia and Elana,” Ross said.

“I hope they are well,” Jace replied.

“Julia wants Elana to marry Prince Fritz Pembroke of Zatarra. I don’t want an arranged marriage for Elana. I want my daughter to marry the person she chooses and loves with all her heart. Julia and I’s marriage was arranged by our parents, and Elana was the best gift I received, but Julia regards our marriage as a business agreement. The nanny, Meagen, was more of a mother to Elana than Julia. I am glad Elana grew up to be a fine young lady. She is going to make an excellent Queen someday. I don’t think Fritz’s intentions are honorable. Perhaps, I am an overactive father,” Ross responded.

“Have you spoken to Julia about your feelings toward Fritz?” Jace asked.

“And say what? Fritz may or may not be worthy of our daughter’s hand in marriage. I want Elana to choose her own mate. Julia would be furious. She probably accuses me of sabotage and puts a bounty on my head. You don’t know Julia’s temper. I have seen her become violent, especially when things don’t go her way,” Ross bitterly answered.

The words hung in the air between them, more than any fish beneath the boat. Jace was silent for a long moment, watching the water. Jace finally broke the silence.

“So you need proof. You need to know if Elana is being a pawn on Julia’s and Fritz’s board,” Jace said.

“There is something else. I am dying, and I want to make certain my little girl is going to be fine without me. Soon, she’ll be twenty-four, but to me she’ll always be my little girl. I can not use my own people to investigate. Julia would know, they are too visible and she has the spies that watch everything and report to her,” Ross replied with a flicker of relief crossing his features.

“I know of an investigator who specializes in corporate and political intelligence. Saje is the best and knows how to be discreet. Best of all, Saje has no ties to Laurel Isle. Saje can look into it,” Jace replied.

Ross remembered meeting Saje once at the lodge. Saje was going fly fishing.

“When can Saje come?” Ross asked.

“I’ll send Saje to you a week after you return home,” Jace answered.

“Thank you, my friend,” Ross said, his voice thick.

“That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s catch something. You can’t go home empty-handed,” Jace commented as he picked up his rod.

Ross looked out over Willow Lake, the serene surface belying the turmoil beneath. Here, in this hidden place, the first move in a delicate, dangerous game had been made. He wasn’t just fishing for bass anymore; he was fishing for the truth that would save his daughter, and perhaps his kingdom. They cast their lines back into the deep, dark water. The surface of Willow Lake was perfectly calm, hiding everything that swam below. Jace didn’t want to talk about Ross dying. He would come to terms with it in private.