Esther now dressed in her satin dress tip toed gently into the governess’s room . “Can I eat now” enquired Esther. “may you eat now you mean. Oh dear if your going to be staying here now were going to have to teach you how to speak like a lady young miss. Yes of course you may eat” she smiled. “Ill take you down to the banqueting hall now. Illouise . Illouise.” She called and in a matter of moments Ilouise came skipping out. “come child were going to the banqueting hall bring your shawl it may be cool in their”
The Banqueting was lit brightly by wall torches surrounded by finely calved wood coated in carefully laid gold leaf enormous arches entrapped the great room from all sides and a long wooden table crossed the breath of the room, covered with huge ornamental serving dishes holding the most extravagant of foreign foods. The smell of oriental spices mingled with the exotic perfumes of the curious guests. Hearty laughter filled the room and friendly smiles disguised sniggers . One man looked at Esther confused and turning to his wife said. “The duke must of lost his witts”. Suddenly silence befell the room as the duchess stood to welcome the guests. When all were seated she turned to Illouise. “How are are two young friends settling in then”.whilst smiling at Esther “Illouise replied” I like Esther very much “ said Illouise. “I like joseph to but he dosn’t say much”. “The Duchess laughed “That’s because he is a baby Illouise give him time. And you Esther how do you like it here”. “Its very nice” said Esther holding back tears as she did often. Esther was not one for tearful public outbreaks she was her mother’s daughter. “Poor child. I dare say you’ll be united again one day. But not now. Now you must follow your own feet till you find a future of your own. It is up to you what future you choose for yourself but here is a good enough start as any”. One moment children” said the duchess as she slipped away and was greeted by a soldier.
The soldier had a slash wound across his right eye and seemed to be nursing his left arm, drops of perspiration dripped from his nose , and he wavered from side to side as if dizzy from exhaustion. Where ever he'd come from he'd come in hast thought Esther. He whispered a few words to the Duchess and a great smile rose across her face. She approached the end of the great dinning table and addressed her guests. “Most joyous news “ she proclaimed. “A great victory has been won this day are soldiers return home as we speak”. Then the Khan is dispatched”spoke a man from the shadows. “Naye” she said sadly “The coward fled back to Careighnia with a handful of his men”. “Then the Battle is won but the victory not secured” said the man emerging from the shadows it was one of the kings shunned advisers. “A long way from home Krastice” she said angry at been made to look a fool in front of her guests. “Despair not duchess. You are indeed correct in your estimation of events “It would have been a very great victory. Your husband fought bravely and with great sense. Alas the king wasn't inclined to hear his sense and thus the Khan escaped him . And they will be back! Mark my words they will be back! In greater and greater numbers to there is naught left of us, they have already conquered all to the west I sought to council the young king. We all did. But the man is a fool”. “Treason” was the call across the room ..“is it? is it treason to defend ourselves from he who would catapult us in to annihilation Who would promise us lands then have them ripped from beneath our feet? I say Naye. The man is ravished with ignorance and drunk on the power he thinks he holds over us . When the duke is returned. Let him know I wish to speak with him”. And with that kratice exaunted.
Chapter 3
As night fell the duchess became more and more vexed with concern for the where about of the returning soldiers more specifically her duke .She paced the floor of the great tower where she hoped to take first glimpse of his armies returning but the landscape lay dark and unpromising. Then all at once a dot of light on the horizon,then another one and another one, soon their where many, many turned to tens to hundreds to thousands. “my duke doth return” she proclaimed excitedly, running down a spiral staircase to the battlements then down a second staircase untill she was stood at the gates. “Open the gates! Open the gates! She shouted and their she waited. As the lights got closer they revealed faces she searched the crowds of men for that of her duke but she saw him not. “Come on my duke fail me not” she whispered to herself. The cavalry started to pass her as they wearily made their way to the castle gates. She began to lose hope and put her head in her hands. “Why do you despair fair maiden” came a voice. “Fair maiden” she shouted “how dare. Duke!”she corrected herself happily as the man lifted his helmit. He climbed off the horse and she threw herself into his arms. My duke I have missed you so , duke you must beware Krastice is here,” “Krastice? ”Repeated the duke. “He wishes to speak with you. I fear he intends to evolve you in his plotting against the king . Send him away my duke no good can come from that mans lips he is crooked and cares only for himself. Promise me you'll give him no audience “. “ He shall have less he shall die a traitor should he dare but whisper his mischief unto me,” said the duke agitated by the attack on his childhood friend. “How have our two guest settled in” said the duke. “Esther the eldest is showing great fortitude she is indeed a brave child. It is the infant Joseph I pity most he cries all day and all night the governess has reported he doesn’t understand the poor child must feel his mother has abandoned him. “Not all that far from the truth” muttered the duke. “What do you mean” said the duchess. “We at first marched to Carthagaras as you know but when we got there they’re was no sighn of them so we rode to the north and encamped in a village nearby for the night. The elders brought us to a woman his wife was nursing , She was from Carthagaras. The savages had had their way with her and little remained of her sanity, but though her words were few I managed to extract some sense out of it. She revealed to us the whole sordid tale. The Khan had all the women taken from the village.” “But why” said the duchess. The duke hung his head. “It becomes apparent that the Khan sought a wife”. “From humble women such as these .why? asked the duchess. “We don’t know . I was able to trace Esther and Josephs parents though as they were the only children in the village . Esthers mother insulted the khan and was dragged to Krill tied to a horse.” “oh no the poor child” said the duchess “she must not know she mustn’t” what of josephs? . ‘This is what grieves me the most” said the duke “Josephs mother is the one the khan chose. She is his new queen”. “We must hide this that child has committed no sin and Ill be damned if hes going to be marked a traitor for the treacherous doings off his mother we must keep this from him and everyone”. “Yes Indeed said the duke if anyone found out they would say we were traitors too” “What happened to the other women” said the duchess. “They were even less fortunate then the mad women I speak off if you can call that fortune” he said. Suddenly a laugh from the battlements! “Kratice! Said the duke. “He will use this to turn the other noblemen against myself and the king he must be stopped before he tells all. “But what are you going to do” said the duchess. “GO” said the duke.
The duchess hurried away and with that the duke raced up the battlements giving chase to Kratice. His sword drawn and pointed into the darkness of one of the guard houses, He shut his helmet. “Come out Kratice you wretch. Show yourself” proclaimed the duke. “Join me said a voice or “I shall expose you as the careighnian sympathizer you are”. “The child was born in Meriadig of Meridighan parents. So what if his mother is a slut. The child has done no wrong and the king himself is aware of it and he cares not” appealed the duke . “The apple never rots far from the tree” said kratice . “The people will rise up against thee when they find out who he is and I shall see to it everyone knows.” He paused.” Unless of course you are prepared to here me out on the matter of our idiot king ”. “I shall not here a word of it” said the duke. “Then you have chosen your fate” said kratice turning his back on the duke. The duke hesitated for a moment contemplating over and over what he would do. He could lose everything. “Kratice” shouted the duke pointing his sword. Kratice turned and felt the dukes sword pierce his side, he stumbled holding his wound and their on his knees he received the final blow. His head rolled to the floor still hissing. “I must act quick thought the duke the guards! The guards!. He dragged the body to the battlements and their he saw a horse and cart tied to the outer wall filled with hay. If anyone finds him they shall blame the cart owner thought the duke with that he threw the body of the battlements and fled to his chamber.
The Shah-man now at the docks of the bustling market town of krill sought passage to Padoria. The docks were dimmed by the grey and over cast skies and a smell of rotten fish overpowered the senses, sodden wet fisherman hurried from their vessels trying desperately to unload the catch before the looming storm hit shore. “Their be no passage tonight” said a fisherman seeing the shah-man looking on his ship in search of a captain. “When” said the shah-man. “When the storm is cleared.” He said looking at the shah-man as though he was stupid. The shah-man ignored him and started walking off toward the town. “Stranger” said the voice “Take caution these storms invariable bring pirates along with them. They come under the guise of fog and use the dangerous sea’s to make their escape. No one else dare follow them when they are this rough. Make sure where ever you stay your doors our locked”. “And where do these pirates come from” said the shah-man curiously. “Why I don’t know Padoria more then likely it’s the closest port and its reputed to be a lawless town filled with crook’s and outlaws. Why do you ask” said the fisherman suspecting the shah-man. But the shah-man had vanished.
Episode 6
Esther now dressed in her satin dress tip toed gently into the governess’s room . “Can I eat now” enquired Esther. “may you eat now you mean. Oh dear if your going to be staying here now were going to have to teach you how to speak like a lady young miss. Yes of course you may eat” she smiled. “Ill take you down to the banqueting hall now. Illouise . Illouise.” She called and in a matter of moments Ilouise came skipping out. “come child were going to the banqueting hall bring your shawl it may be cool in their”
The Banqueting was lit brightly by wall torches surrounded by finely calved wood coated in carefully laid gold leaf enormous arches entrapped the great room from all sides and a long wooden table crossed the breath of the room, covered with huge ornamental serving dishes holding the most extravagant of foreign foods. The smell of oriental spices mingled with the exotic perfumes of the curious guests. Hearty laughter filled the room and friendly smiles disguised sniggers . One man looked at Esther confused and turning to his wife said. “The duke must of lost his witts”. Suddenly silence befell the room as the duchess stood to welcome the guests. When all were seated she turned to Illouise. “How are are two young friends settling in then”.whilst smiling at Esther “Illouise replied” I like Esther very much “ said Illouise. “I like joseph to but he dosn’t say much”. “The Duchess laughed “That’s because he is a baby Illouise give him time. And you Esther how do you like it here”. “Its very nice” said Esther holding back tears as she did often. Esther was not one for tearful public outbreaks she was her mother’s daughter. “Poor child. I dare say you’ll be united again one day. But not now. Now you must follow your own feet till you find a future of your own. It is up to you what future you choose for yourself but here is a good enough start as any”. One moment children” said the duchess as she slipped away and was greeted by a soldier.
The soldier had a slash wound across his right eye and seemed to be nursing his left arm, drops of perspiration dripped from his nose , and he wavered from side to side as if dizzy from exhaustion. Where ever he'd come from he'd come in hast thought Esther. He whispered a few words to the Duchess and a great smile rose across her face. She approached the end of the great dinning table and addressed her guests. “Most joyous news “ she proclaimed. “A great victory has been won this day are soldiers return home as we speak”. Then the Khan is dispatched”spoke a man from the shadows. “Naye” she said sadly “The coward fled back to Careighnia with a handful of his men”. “Then the Battle is won but the victory not secured” said the man emerging from the shadows it was one of the kings shunned advisers. “A long way from home Krastice” she said angry at been made to look a fool in front of her guests. “Despair not duchess. You are indeed correct in your estimation of events “It would have been a very great victory. Your husband fought bravely and with great sense. Alas the king wasn't inclined to hear his sense and thus the Khan escaped him . And they will be back! Mark my words they will be back! In greater and greater numbers to there is naught left of us, they have already conquered all to the west I sought to council the young king. We all did. But the man is a fool”. “Treason” was the call across the room ..“is it? is it treason to defend ourselves from he who would catapult us in to annihilation Who would promise us lands then have them ripped from beneath our feet? I say Naye. The man is ravished with ignorance and drunk on the power he thinks he holds over us . When the duke is returned. Let him know I wish to speak with him”. And with that kratice exaunted.
Chapter 3
As night fell the duchess became more and more vexed with concern for the where about of the returning soldiers more specifically her duke .She paced the floor of the great tower where she hoped to take first glimpse of his armies returning but the landscape lay dark and unpromising. Then all at once a dot of light on the horizon,then another one and another one, soon their where many, many turned to tens to hundreds to thousands. “my duke doth return” she proclaimed excitedly, running down a spiral staircase to the battlements then down a second staircase untill she was stood at the gates. “Open the gates! Open the gates! She shouted and their she waited. As the lights got closer they revealed faces she searched the crowds of men for that of her duke but she saw him not. “Come on my duke fail me not” she whispered to herself. The cavalry started to pass her as they wearily made their way to the castle gates. She began to lose hope and put her head in her hands. “Why do you despair fair maiden” came a voice. “Fair maiden” she shouted “how dare. Duke!”she corrected herself happily as the man lifted his helmit. He climbed off the horse and she threw herself into his arms. My duke I have missed you so , duke you must beware Krastice is here,” “Krastice? ”Repeated the duke. “He wishes to speak with you. I fear he intends to evolve you in his plotting against the king . Send him away my duke no good can come from that mans lips he is crooked and cares only for himself. Promise me you'll give him no audience “. “ He shall have less he shall die a traitor should he dare but whisper his mischief unto me,” said the duke agitated by the attack on his childhood friend. “How have our two guest settled in” said the duke. “Esther the eldest is showing great fortitude she is indeed a brave child. It is the infant Joseph I pity most he cries all day and all night the governess has reported he doesn’t understand the poor child must feel his mother has abandoned him. “Not all that far from the truth” muttered the duke. “What do you mean” said the duchess. “We at first marched to Carthagaras as you know but when we got there they’re was no sighn of them so we rode to the north and encamped in a village nearby for the night. The elders brought us to a woman his wife was nursing , She was from Carthagaras. The savages had had their way with her and little remained of her sanity, but though her words were few I managed to extract some sense out of it. She revealed to us the whole sordid tale. The Khan had all the women taken from the village.” “But why” said the duchess. The duke hung his head. “It becomes apparent that the Khan sought a wife”. “From humble women such as these .why? asked the duchess. “We don’t know . I was able to trace Esther and Josephs parents though as they were the only children in the village . Esthers mother insulted the khan and was dragged to Krill tied to a horse.” “oh no the poor child” said the duchess “she must not know she mustn’t” what of josephs? . ‘This is what grieves me the most” said the duke “Josephs mother is the one the khan chose. She is his new queen”. “We must hide this that child has committed no sin and Ill be damned if hes going to be marked a traitor for the treacherous doings off his mother we must keep this from him and everyone”. “Yes Indeed said the duke if anyone found out they would say we were traitors too” “What happened to the other women” said the duchess. “They were even less fortunate then the mad women I speak off if you can call that fortune” he said. Suddenly a laugh from the battlements! “Kratice! Said the duke. “He will use this to turn the other noblemen against myself and the king he must be stopped before he tells all. “But what are you going to do” said the duchess. “GO” said the duke.
The duchess hurried away and with that the duke raced up the battlements giving chase to Kratice. His sword drawn and pointed into the darkness of one of the guard houses, He shut his helmet. “Come out Kratice you wretch. Show yourself” proclaimed the duke. “Join me said a voice or “I shall expose you as the careighnian sympathizer you are”. “The child was born in Meriadig of Meridighan parents. So what if his mother is a slut. The child has done no wrong and the king himself is aware of it and he cares not” appealed the duke . “The apple never rots far from the tree” said kratice . “The people will rise up against thee when they find out who he is and I shall see to it everyone knows.” He paused.” Unless of course you are prepared to here me out on the matter of our idiot king ”. “I shall not here a word of it” said the duke. “Then you have chosen your fate” said kratice turning his back on the duke. The duke hesitated for a moment contemplating over and over what he would do. He could lose everything. “Kratice” shouted the duke pointing his sword. Kratice turned and felt the dukes sword pierce his side, he stumbled holding his wound and their on his knees he received the final blow. His head rolled to the floor still hissing. “I must act quick thought the duke the guards! The guards!. He dragged the body to the battlements and their he saw a horse and cart tied to the outer wall filled with hay. If anyone finds him they shall blame the cart owner thought the duke with that he threw the body of the battlements and fled to his chamber.
The Shah-man now at the docks of the bustling market town of krill sought passage to Padoria. The docks were dimmed by the grey and over cast skies and a smell of rotten fish overpowered the senses, sodden wet fisherman hurried from their vessels trying desperately to unload the catch before the looming storm hit shore. “Their be no passage tonight” said a fisherman seeing the shah-man looking on his ship in search of a captain. “When” said the shah-man. “When the storm is cleared.” He said looking at the shah-man as though he was stupid. The shah-man ignored him and started walking off toward the town. “Stranger” said the voice “Take caution these storms invariable bring pirates along with them. They come under the guise of fog and use the dangerous sea’s to make their escape. No one else dare follow them when they are this rough. Make sure where ever you stay your doors our locked”. “And where do these pirates come from” said the shah-man curiously. “Why I don’t know Padoria more then likely it’s the closest port and its reputed to be a lawless town filled with crook’s and outlaws. Why do you ask” said the fisherman suspecting the shah-man. But the shah-man had vanished.