Alexander

When we come upon the wooden doors, they are closed. Illius and I exchange a confused look. The doors should be ajar if there is not meeting being conducted, and since I am the one who called for the assembly, there is no good reason why the inhabitants should be barred from the world outside without my presence among them. Not unless they are talking amongst each other, and wish to keep the topic of the conversation to themselves.

A slight frown tugs at the corners of my mouth at the discovery. Illius moves towards the doors to hold them open for me to enter, but I stop him with a hand on his sleeve.

I answer his curious look with a statement. "Come in with me."

It is proper for a Guardsmen to wait outside while his charge conducts business like this, but the circumstances make me feel uneasy. It is worrisome enough that the men on the Council do not see me fit to stand in for the King and Queen while they are away, so even the slightest insinuation of conspiracy makes me wary of them. I need to know that at least one person in the enclosed room is on my side.

Illius does not hesitate in nodding his head, no question about my request. "As you wish, Sandy."

I release his arm and nod for the door to be opened. A hush falls over the room as I stride through the threshold, shoulders back and head high with Sage at my heel. My voice is as loud and clear as a bell in the steeple of a church. "You close doors in my own house. Have you found an interesting topic to discuss? Please, do enlighten me." I come to the head of the table and turn out to face the men who stand from their chairs in my presence. After giving their obligatory bows, they take their seats and the motion of my hand.

"Nothing of note, Your Highness," The head of my father's Council speaks from the seat closest to my own, dipping his head in another bow, pleading to be pardoned. "There was simply a draft, so we decided to close the doors until your arrival. We mean no disrespect."

I fix Mabon with a cool look, observing him as he speaks his excuse. I admit that it is a more than plausible one, as the castle is often apt to be cold this time of year, but I let his body language speak what his words do not. He rubs the tip of his nose with his index finger, and his eyes dart to his folded hands for just a moment, unable to completely hold my gaze. He is hiding something, though whether it has something to do with a plot against me or not is hard to discern. If anyone were to orchestrate such an act, however, it would be Mabon.

"Of course," I say, taking my seat smoothly since I have no weapon to move out of my way. Sage sits in unison at my side, resting her head on the arm of my chair. She is tall enough that she can keep her gaze fixated on the men on either side of me without a problem, and her amber eyes do not shift from their tense faces. They know quite well that she is the only weapon that I need.

There is a total of eight men on the King and Queen's Council, all of which are well past their prime. They have the wisdom of ages and are excellent at making logical decisions when their advice is needed. I, however, am a prodigy in the way of sensible thinking and have no issues with executing an idea or plan without the guidance of someone else. I may not be particularly gifted in some aspects of my Princely duties, but knowing when to proceed with ideas is not one of my shortcomings. I have not called these men here for their advising.

Having shut the doors, Illius comes up behind me, standing silently at my right side. This draws the attention of the men at the table, who cast glowers at him, no doubt feeling intruded upon. Never before has a Guard followed their royal into the Council room for a meeting, for never before has a royal felt threatened by them.

A second man, Lionel, speaks up in his nasal voice, fixing my Captain with a dark gaze. He points a wobbly, accusing finger at me. "Why do you allow your Guard inside with us, Prince?"

Mabon swoops in, like a vulture who has spotted a feast proceeding without him. "Yes, why is that, My Prince?" His tone shifts to that of a mocking one. "Are we not trustworthy?"

I sense Illius' annoyance, but he knows better than to interject. It is my place to demonstrate authority here. He is only here to protect me, not offer his opinion or verbal defense when I am challenged by my peers. My Captain remains mute, though I feel him place a hand on the back of my chair, silently expressing his support.

"It is my business whom I allow in my company, and where I allow them. You would not be questioning my authority, would you?" I make certain that the sharp edge in my voice is palpable, ringing against the vaulted ceilings like the metallic clang of metal. To accompany my severe tone, Sage emanates a low growl, causing Lionel to swallow and lower his hand. It may seem childish to appear so heavily safeguarded to the ones that I called together, but my hunches are rarely unjustified.

Mabon scoffs, offering a slippery smile. By bringing Illius in with me, I seem to have proven some point of his, and he seems quite pleased with himself. "Certainly not, My Lord. Please, forgive us for our accusation."

I pin him to his seat with an icy look that makes the smug glimmer in his eyes waver. "It is fortunate for you that you are not," I turn to face the rest of the group, ready to finish bickering with Mabon and begin this meeting. "I do apologize for my tardiness. My previous engagement took longer than anticipated. Let us begin, shall we?"

"Yes, why have you called upon us so suddenly, Young Lord?" Godefroy, a salt and pepper haired man, has always been my favorite of the Councilmen. He is by far the keenest and most respectful towards my family and I. His is really the only voice that I consider out of the eight.

"It is no secret that our Kingdom is in hard times. I took a ride this morning and took time to gaze out upon this place that I love so deeply. It occurred to me then, that we have quite a bit of empty land outside of these walls before reaching the forest. The crops that we have within the walls are limited due to the lacking amount of free space, and those from the neighboring countryside are facing pillage from robbers and other adversaries while shipping food to us. Since we have this sizable plot of land very nearby, why not utilize it?"

Mabon laughs, a wet, gurgling sound. "Forgive me, My Lord. It is a nice idea, but who do you suppose will work those potential fields? Every able-bodied person is already tasked with a duty, or off fighting this horrible war."

I meet his criticism with a ready response. "I never present a solution without approaching it from every direction. Once the well-seasoned farmers are through tilling their own fields, they will leave the sowing to those that they deem fit, and will come together to ready the plots of land to be plowed. Once they have done this, they will return to their own farms to oversee the growth of their own crops, while anyone who is able to plant seed will take on their workload. I myself will participate in the efforts of both parties."

Mabon still doesn't seem convinced that my idea is plausible, determined to shoot holes in it. "It is an admirable thought. But, pray tell, who will watch over these fields to protect from pillagers? Are all of the strong, young men not away at war?" 

Of course, he automatically assumes that he will be excluded from the division of the workload, even though I, myself, have been added to it. Why should it be of concern to him, anyhow? Mabon is content with two large meals a day, while the less fortunate majority is grateful for one small one. The famine has little effect on him, in his mind. He may be happy for a weaker, reduced population. It would be easier to control. 

"There is no age or gender necessary for keeping watch. The fields will be close enough to be seen without women and young people having to leave the walls. Those who are strong enough will be taught to shoot and armed with bows. We can keep the crops properly guarded, even from inside. Those who are stronger will take shifts on horseback to protect the farther fields."

Illius' approval floods my mind in a wave of warmth, but he stays motionless behind me. You are so clever.

I look around the room for any more reasons to doubt the plan, scanning the face and hands of each man. Godefroy meets my eyes with an approving smile, and I dip my chin at him. If he finds it reasonable, then it must be, regardless of what the others in the room think of it. I turn to fixate Mabon with my gaze, daring for him to say anything more against the idea.

He grips his hands so tightly that his knuckles turn white, and beads of sweat form on his forehead and upper lip, despite the supposed draft that had led him to shut the doors earlier. His scowl had already searched the room at the approving faces of the other Council members before finding me, his eyes glistening with what I decipher as slight panic. "The people will not like the additional burden, My Lord."

"No, they will not, though I do suspect that they will enjoy regular meals. My people are not simple creatures, Mabon. They will understand and do what they must to feed their families. We survive by bearing the weight of struggle together. They know this, I am disappointed that you do not."

The older man rubs his chest in distress. He has never liked giving me what I want, even though the things are never selfish or stupid. He is dead set on keeping things from me, even if they are for the good of the people, himself included. "It is not that I do not understand, Young Master. I wish only that your idea is immune to disease. It would be a shame for there to be unrest in the Kingdom, Majesty."

I narrow my eyes, watching closely as his hand passes over the front of his tunic again. The movement is more than a simple anxious tick of his, considering that he has not exhibited such behavior before. Human's cannot help but give themselves away. I had suspected that something was amidst, though this is not quite what I had expected. 

My voice is as level and calm as my gaze on him. "Yes, it would be a pity."

Illius, seize him.

There is no hesitation as my fair-headed Captain vanishes from my side, and reappears beside the sweating old man, grasping him firmly by the upper arm. Even though Illius' hands are quite large, they do not completely encircle Mabon's arms, suggesting that he has been sneaking extra food, amongst other things.

"W-What is the meaning of this?!" The portly Mabon exclaims, eyes bulging out of their place in his skull. "Your slave has gone rogue!" He struggles against Illius, but my Captain remains as steady as iron bars, easily holding the thrashing man in place.

"My slave?" I repeat with disgust, standing from my chair and striding slowly towards him. "My Captain, Mabon, is following his orders. You asked me why I bring him in with me. Well, this is your answer. Unlike any of you," I make a gesture throughout the room, leaving no one excluded from the statement. "He is the only man who is worthy of my trust."

There is a swell of pride from Illius at my appraisal of him, but he forces it down, keeping his expression stone.

"I, I am not sure what you mean-" He stammers, eyes rolling to the side as he tries to plead for help from his peers, finding that pleading with me is not getting him very far. "He has gone mad!" The hysteria in his voice is much different from the confidence that he felt mere moments ago. He must have felt very cunning, wearing stolen property just beneath his shirt while in my presence. If he was not so arrogant, I may not have noticed this snake slithering just in front of my feet. His egoism is quite lucky for me, actually.

I make certain that my disappointment is visible on my face. "Am I truly the one who has gone mad? Surely no sane man would thieve from their Prince."

Confusion bleeds into the room like fresh crimson from a wound. Godefroy stands from his seat, inquisitive about my words and actions. "Prince Alexander, what do you mean?"

"This, Dear Godefroy," I reach forward and lift a necklace out of Mabon's shirt, careful not to touch his perspiring skin. "Is your late Queen's. Does it not look familiar?"

Mabon has gone as white as Illius' long locks as I lift the chain over his head, holding my grandmother's necklace up for the others to see. "I- I did not- I would never! I have been nothing but loyal to the King-"

I close my hand around the sparkling emerald necklace, holding it tightly in my grasp. "My grandmother, God rest her soul, would be so disappointed in you. How long did you think it would escape my notice, Mabon? How long have you tried to deceive me? I am sure that you thought yourself to be quite clever. No one would ever know about the jewelry that is no longer warn, just collecting dust in an empty bedchamber," I grab the oily skin of his chin to force his wandering eyes to face me. "What else have you stolen from me?"

Mabon is sweating more than ever, so much so that I am surprised that he doesn't slip away from Illius like a fish. "Nothing! Nothing, Your Highness!" Whatever pride I thought this man had has fled him as quickly as the devil from hallowed ground. He reminds me of a pig squalling in its own filth. 

"Nothing, indeed." I remove my hand and turn my back to him, unwilling to look upon his thieving face any longer. How long had this escaped my attention? What else have I been missing? I suddenly recall the strange looks that the Duke and Duchess had given myself and Illius in passing. I have a feeling that they were doing more than simply visiting their son today. That will need to be addressed immediately.

I whirl around to face the men in the room, clasping my hands together behind my back. When I speak, there is a strength within my voice like the crashing of waves against a shore, dispersing the confused chatter of the other Councilmen. "Hear me now; There is not a person alive within these walls who will deceive me, not one who will outmaneuver me. Whatever lies have been whispered into your ears, dispel them now. There is no hope for serpents in this Kingdom," With a wave of my hand, Illius forces Mabon's arms behind him and marches him towards the doors. "This is what happens when I have been betrayed."

My Guardsmen that stand outside open the doors upon hearing the commotion, allowing Illius to pass with the wriggling python. 

"No! Please, My Lord!" Mabon's pleads continue into the hallway until Illius has carried him far enough away that I cannot hear him anymore.

Take him to the dungeon. Meet me afterword.

As you wish, Sandy.

The doors remain open as the two Guardsmen stand on alert, watching the room like a pair of panthers, ready to pounce on anyone they deem suspicious. 

The old men in the room look to each other, unnerved by what had just happened. Judging by the surprised looks on their faces, they had no knowledge of their leaders stealing habit. They remind me of a herd of horses that have lost their lead stallion- muddled and skittish. Nervous, distrustful eyes roll between the Guards, to Sage, to me. 

"Godefroy. You are the new Head of the Council," I fix him with a cold look. I may prefer him the most out of the others, but I trust him the same amount. Anyone is capable of betrayal, no matter how friendly or wise they may seem. "Do not dissatisfy me."

He stands from his seat, offering a low bow. Out of the other six, he remains the most levelheaded of them. I do not miss the shine of admiration in his fawn colored eyes at my show of authority. "You have my word." The look on his face is like a child who has witnessed something incredible for the first time.

"As I should. Now, you have my approval to begin working on what we have discussed. Go at once to begin spreading the news and assembling hands," I pause and spread my arms out to them with a smile. "If you have done me no wrong, then you should not be so worried. The loyal will receive no punishment. We begin work in three days."

I exit the room first, Sage and my Guardsmen following at my heels. 

"Your Highness," The older of the two men speak up from behind me as we head towards my chambers. "What will you have us do?" 

I pause and turn to face them in the light that pours into the hallway from the lineup of windows to the south, feeling it warm my skin. "Find Abigor Addanc and bring him to me. I have some questions to ask him."