In the darkness, everyone stood in the King's antechamber. Incense and candles had been lit to fill the air with a soft haze of smoke. Murmured voices drifted down the hall as people passed outside in the hallway. The Jack of Spades stood by the window watching as people from the kingdom stood just outside the palace gates, flowers in hands. Some placed them at the gates in hopes that the sick King would regain strength and rise from his bed. It was treason to speak of a possible death, but everyone knew it was coming.
No one more than the Queen of Spades. She stood by the King's bed with the priest and the palace physician, holding his hand and comforting him when he awoke, as she had done for the past fifty years. They met when both of them were young teens. Back then they were shy and unsure what being a King and Queen meant. But there was never romance. Never love. Only friendship and a lifetime companionship.
She watched with tears in her eyes as her best friend exhaled his last breath. Then, she kissed his hand and rested it on his chest. The doors to the antechamber opened and the group turned to look with baited breath. The Jack stood before the Queen with sorrowful eyes. She would only leave the King's side for only one reason.
"The King…is dead," she said solemnly.
Everyone bowed their heads and removed their caps if they wore any. The Jack reached for the Queen's hands, but she clasped them to her chest.
"As my last act as the Queen of Spades it is my duty to find the new Royal Family."
The Jack nodded. "Then, as my last act as the Jack of Spades it is my duty to inform the kingdom of the King's passing and to gather the Numbers."
The kingdom of blue and purple was drenched in black at the passing of their beloved king. By the end of the week, all counties had received the announcement. Thus began the process of finding the new Royal Family.
"Attention citizens of all numbers! Numbers One through Three are to travel to Capital Palace in Spade, the capital of the kingdom! Failure to do so will result in imprisonment for up to sixty days!" a royal official shouted from atop a stage.
Citizens mingled around and were handed flyers announcing mourning etiquette and the order to attend the Royal Counting. A middle-aged blonde woman took one of the flyers and rushed home. She stopped outside of her modest straw thatched hut. The corn had yet to pop up from the ground. When in season, the corn surrounded the hut in a beautiful golden arch, only parting along the walkway. But right now there was nothing but patches of freshly planted pumpkins for the fall season. Working outside was the woman's youngest son.
"Matthew," she called. "Is Alfred home?"
Matthew looked up from his work and turned to his mother. "Yes. He's with father."
The woman nodded and motioned for him to come inside. "I have an order from the Royal Family. The Royal Counting is starting tomorrow."
Matthew almost dropped his rake. "The Royal Counting? Oh, Alfred will be excited to hear about this!"
"Can you go and get him?" His mother disappeared inside.
Matthew put down his rake and headed to the back. The backyard led to the rolling hills behind their property. When Matthew and Alfred were young, the two would race one another up and down the hills, rolling down them in the summer, and sled them in winter. In the far distance was a graveyard. The small town in the America County was known for its corn and the most distinguished Ace graveyard.
It was here that Matthew found Alfred sitting before a grave. He was picking at the weeds, trying to keep it clean.
"Al," Matthew called as he came up behind him. "Mother wants us home."
Alfred turned. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and smiled. "Okay. I just thought I'd come and see father before coming home."
"It's the Royal Counting," Matthew said. "You have to leave tomorrow."
Alfred got up, a wide smile. "Yes! I was waiting for this day! I can get out of here!"
Matthew smirked. "You know, if I didn't know you any better, I'd think you hate it here."
"No, you know that's not true." Alfred looked out at the town, and then past that to see the Capital Palace in the distance. The County America was adjacent to Spade Capital. He sat facing it as if he had done so many, many times in the past.
"Al," Matthew started with a sigh. He sat down on the hill next to Alfred. "Tomorrow, when you go, I just want you to know…that if you're picked… You better not screw it up."
Alfred chuckled. He looked to his brother and lightly jabbed him in the shoulder. "Do you ever wish you could've been a One and not a Ten?"
Matthew shrugged. "I like being who I am. And you should be too."
"Well I am, but I don't like seeing you and mother being treated so horribly, while I'm treated as if I already was an Ace." Alfred looked down at the ground, his brow furrowing at the thought. "It's like they don't see me at all. They see father. I haven't proven myself."
"You just haven't been given the chance." Matthew put an arm around Alfred. "No matter what position you're born into, you have to deal with it and prove yourself. You could be the King and you'd still have to prove it."
"I guess…" Alfred kicked at a pebble, looking back out at the view.
Matthew smiled. "You know, when we were kids you always talked about going to that city. Tomorrow will be a special day for you. I know it. And when you go, the next time we see each other, you will be great like father."
Alfred looked at his hands, curling them into a fist. He socked Matthew on the arm and laughed. "When did you become so sentimental? Haha!"
That evening Alfred sat down with his mother in her bedroom. She was holding the Royal Proclamation, staring at it as if it were the same letter that proclaimed the death of her husband. Then, she looked up at Alfred and smiled.
"Mother, I'm not leaving for good," Alfred started.
She shook her head. "It's not the Counting. It's just that knowing a man as great as the King, a personal friend of your father, has died, it's like losing him all over again."
Alfred reached out to pull her into a hug against his chest. She sniffled once or twice, but kept her composure.
"When you were born, I knew you would be great," his mother started.
"Oh no, not you too." Alfred laughed. "Matt went into a 'you're great' story earlier too."
"Because it's true." Ms Jones pulled away with a wipe of her eyes. "You were born to be a One, but never an Ace. An Ace thinks sacrificing their life is the only way to save someone. But not you. You're smarter than that. Just remember your heart and always believe in it."
"Okay mom. I promise." Alfred kissed his mother's head and rubbed her back, still holding her close. "But I am coming home tomorrow. I promise. All right?"
Ms Jones made no movement to nod. She wasn't sure if Alfred would be picked, but the fact was her child was leaving for the first time in his life made her believe something was going to happen. And something in her bones told her it was going to be big.
Ms Jones packed a lunch and grabbed the shawl from the backyard that she had washed the previous night in expectation for her son's departure. She made him his favorite sandwiches and even included a roasted corn on the cob, his favorite home cooked treat. She only served those out of season when it was a special occasion.
Alfred was waiting outside of the house, shooting the breeze with Matthew. Ms Jones slowly approached her son, hanging him the lunch, and then pulling him into a hug. He bent down, hugging her back. Then, Ms Jones pulled Matthew over as well. She kept her sons close before letting go.
Alfred waved as he walked away, looking back every so often to find his mother and brother hadn't moved. For a moment, he almost rushed back to them, but the allure of going to the capital and seeing the Queen herself was too enticing. He had never been to a large city on his own.
The county of America was the second largest in the Spades kingdom, China being the only one to beat it out, so the landscape changed from rural to urban quite often. The main city of America was too far for Alfred to have ever traveled to on his own, having only been once in his entire life. He was too young to remember anything more than big signs and steam powered machines that traveled through the streets.
Alfred traversed through the rural towns, waving at fellow farmer Tens and some Fives that passed by with carts from their merchant travels. He stopped to have lunch with some Sevens, taking a break from their construction. Just an hour from the capital, Alfred found an Eight selling food from a cart, and offered Alfred a complimentary hamburger as a good luck charm.
Finally, Alfred had arrived. After crossing the bridge, he tilted his head back as he looked around at the wide fortified wall of solid limestone that surrounded the entire city. His eyes were wide as he looked at the high rises. Steam-powered carts with people sitting comfortably inside puttered down the cobbled road. Cobbled. Not dirt. And above him hung banners of royal blue with the black emblem of the Spades insignia fluttered in the wind. In shop windows was the upside down Spade, which only showed when the Royal Family was in distress, either from war or death.
Alfred watched as people brushed past him, all of them from all walks of life. There were Ones and Twos sharing a spot on a bench under a far Oak tree, while Fours and Fives bartered over the price of some trinket. Even some Tens had managed to wander about the city, but they looked almost out of place among the more fanciful numbers, none more than the Twos.
A mob of Twos were hustling towards the palace with books clutched to their chests and heads bent low in secretive talks. They were most likely preparing for when the Twos were to be called in for the Counting. The Ones would be over in an hour. That gave Alfred some time if he wanted to peruse the city.
But as he watched the glittering Twos pass him by, he noticed one in particular was falling behind. He was on the shorter side, and yet he carried the most books. All of them were stacked one by one until it was a small tower that went higher than his head. None of the others in his group seemed to pay him any mind as they hurried along.
Alfred bit his lip, watching the man struggle, until he almost lost his hold on the books. Alfred rushed forward and caught them in time.
"Whoa! Careful there."
The Two sighed, "Thank you. I've got it."
"You sure you don't need some help?" Alfred smiled down at the blonde, noticing thick eyebrows and emerald green eyes. The eyes managed to take his attention off from the brows.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Thank you," the Two replied. He was from the county of England; the main county of Twos and Threes. Alfred knew this instantly by his accent, thick English that sounded vastly different from his own way of speaking.
The Two looked him over in disdain, obviously displeased at Alfred's attire. "Are you a Ten?"
"Actually, I'm a One," Alfred replied. "The name's Alfred Jones!"
The Two's eyes widened, sputtering, "J-Jones? So your father was the late Great Ace Jones!"
Alfred nodded slowly. He was used to people's reactions when he mentioned his name. His relation to his father made everyone change their opinion of him almost instantly.
"Wh-what are you doing wearing such distasteful clothing?" the Two asked.
Alfred frowned slightly. "Well… We don't have a lot of money, so we don't buy clothes much. This was the nicest outfit my family and I could afford."
The Two stuck his nose up, as if a bad smell had wafted under his nose. "Perhaps you should dress like a One if you are to be taken seriously."
Then, the Two left with a huff and his nose even more upturned so that his head tilted back. Alfred almost laughed at him, but his pride was wounded more than anything, so he let the noble go without another word.
This trip to the city blows, Alfred thought as he walked with his head low. He probably could've dealt with anything, a bee sting, a pickpocket, falling on his face, but being looked down upon was something he was never prepared for.
But then a wonderful smell drifted past Alfred and his mood drastically changed. He grew excited as he whipped his head around to see just where that heavenly assortment of food was, only to see a modest crowd surrounding a small restaurant. Alfred saw steam coming from over their heads and assumed that was where that aroma came from.
He pushed through the crowd and made it to the counter. The restaurant was an open one with just a single counter and the menu hanging overhead. All, but one stool was full of people, all with steaming plates of noodles before them.
On the other side of the counter, an Asian man with long hair pulled back into a ponytail danced to and fro with a steaming hot Wok, tossing noodles up in the air like they were liquids. He tossed in cooked vegetables and poured in spices, the steam rising higher at the new additions. Then, the man dumped it onto a plate, replacing the Wok back on the fire pit. He placed the plate down before the customer next to Alfred.
"Whoa," Alfred murmured. He stared at the chef with stars in his eyes. "You're amazing!"
"Shi shi," he replied.
"Are you from China County?" Alfred asked. He had never met someone from the furthest flung county in Spades. It was exciting. Historically, China County was known for having amazing Threes, Fours, and Sixes. Recently, however, it was more known for Eights and Tens.
The man looked at Alfred and nodded. "What will you have, stranger?"
"Um…" Alfred looked up at the menu, quickly scanning for something with meat. "Oh! Pork!"
The man paused to raise an eyebrow. "It is still the mourning period. Meat of any kind is forbidden until the Counting is over. I am sorry, but I cannot serve you that. I have shrimp, though."
"That'll work."
Alfred sat back and watched as the man started up his furious dance. It wasn't cooking. Alfred refused to call it that. Cooking was more running about and worrying if the temperature on the stove was right so the food didn't burn. This man's style of cooking was passionate and fluid. He moved with grace, keeping his eyes on the food as he flipped it flawlessly up and down in the air. Eventually he tossed the shrimp in and the flames rose higher. A wide smile was on the chef's face. Finally, he dumped the food on the plate before Alfred.
Alfred stared at the steamy food, and then up at the Asian man. "You are amazing!"
The man chuckled. He tipped his hat in appreciation and moved back to his dancing.
Suddenly, an older man burst in from around the corner of the door leading into the chef's cooking station. He was a stout man with a long, black beard that curled to a point. He wore a small hat that perched on the top of his head with a small blue tassel hanging off the end. His sleeves were long and his pants were rather puffy as was the fashion from a man from the China County.
The chef stopped, dropping his Wok on the fire pit in alarm. He stumbled back, almost knocking into the counter.
"De fùqīn!"
The man sneered at the customers. "Leave!"
All, but Alfred hurried off, most without paying. Alfred was still eating, so he remained and watched unafraid.
The man ignored Alfred, thinking him harmless, and turned back to the Asian chef. "What do you think you're doing? You opened this restaurant again? Have I taught you nothing, érzi?"
The chef looked down in dismay, "But de fùqīn, I find joy in cooking."
The man reached out and grabbed the chef by his ponytail. The man yelped out in pain as he was tugged to the older man's face. "You are a Three! Not some lowly Eight!"
Alfred stopped eating. He had no right to interfere, but seeing the scene before him only made his blood boil. He was finding it hard to keep his temper under check.
"I know de fùqīn, but I just cannot stay within the confines of that study anymore," the chef pleaded. "Please, please let me go."
"I will do no such thing! You are to go home and prepare for the Royal Counting! Threes are expected to go in five hours!"
Alfred glanced at the sun and noticed he had spent more time admiring the city rather than doing what he came to do; be Counted. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a few coins to dispose them on the counter.
The sound of the coins clinking on the wood seemed to alarm the older Asian man. He looked at Alfred with wild, angry eyes. "What're you still doing here?"
Alfred mumbled an apology before stumbling away. He shot the poor chef a sympathetic look and vanished into the crowd. He sighed in relief as soon as he was free of that awkward confrontation. He wondered if the chef would be all right, but it wasn't his place. He would be in jail soon if he didn't come to the Counting.
It wasn't much farther to the palace. It loomed above the buildings, casting a cool shade from the early fall sun. The white of the walls showcased the blue roof. High towers reached into the afternoon sky, all adorned with lancet windows, some of which were decorated in the Spades symbol. Turrets jutted out off to the side, giving the structure look that seemed as if it were a rather well manicured bush rather than an actual palace.
Alfred stopped to stare, admiring every inch of the beautiful palace. This was not the main palace the Royal Family stayed at. It was more common for them to stay at the Seaside Palace in the Holland County. However, when royal matters took place such as a ball, or like today, a Royal Counting, the Family was to assemble at the Capital Palace.
Alfred approached the palace, appreciating the portcullis as he walked underneath it, and then entered a lush courtyard. Men and women all adorned in impressive clothes of more expensive fashion stood in line that wound up a flight of stone stairs and into what looked like the entrance into the ballroom. The courtyard had an impressive statue in the middle with the pathway splitting in two to curve around it, reuniting on the other side. There were well tended teal colored bushes and trees found only in the Spades region. Alfred tilted his head way back, noticing the tallest tower just behind the area of the Grand Ballroom. Atop it flew the flag of Spades that signified the Royal Family was in residence. Legend has it that the flag was hand sewn by the first Queen of Spades when the kingdom of Spades was first founded.
Alfred glanced at the statue to see it was an angel. She held a large clock in her hands, one placed on the top, the other on the bottom. Her wings curved around her, almost going as low as her simplistic dress. Her hair flowed around her, seemingly caught in time. Her eyes were closed and most of her face was hidden by the clock. Alfred squinted, barely making out that the angel had glasses on. How odd. Why would a statue of an angel have that included when it was made? Strangely, Alfred found himself staring until he heard footsteps beside him.
"Excuse me." Alfred turned to see a knight approach him. He was holding a scroll. "May I have your name?"
"Alfred Frederick Jones," he replied.
The knight nodded and checked off his name on the scroll. He looked down it slowly, and then lifted his head with a stern nod. "You are the last One to arrive."
"Wow!" Alfred exclaimed. He laughed once. "Good timing then, huh?"
The knight didn't hear him or care to hear. He turned to another knight who marched off. Alfred continued to look around at the palace interior. Then he saw an Ace coming his way.
An Ace was far more elegantly adorned than that of a knight. A knight would wear rather bulky full-bodied armor that clanked loudly and inhibited his ability to move quickly. He was more suited for attacks from afar, having a speed disadvantage in up-close battle. However, an Ace wore as little armor as possible. They were in metal boots that came up to their knees while wearing blue pants, a blue tunic with metal protection over their heart that stretched along their arms and came to a head as an elegant headpiece that looked more like decoration than a helmet.
Aces were more versatile. They were to know hand-to-hand combat, sword fighting, archery, and jousting. Knights were usually trained in just one form of battle, but not jousting. That was a luxury given only to Aces. Usually a kingdom would have a ten to twelve Aces. The highest ranking Ace would be named the Ace of their kingdom; in Spades that would be the Ace of Spades.
Alfred knew the names of all the Aces, and they knew him. He didn't want to cause any commotion over his celebrity status. He turned his face away in hopes the Ace missed his blonde hair and blue eyes. They marched past Alfred without so much as a glance. Alfred relaxed with an audible sigh.
"What're you sighing for?"
Alfred cried out in surprise, jumping a good foot in the air. He turned around to find the Two from earlier sneering at him again. Alfred put a hand to his heart in relief. "You startled me!"
"Jumpy, aren't we?" the Two asked with a smirk. "Thinking you're going to get picked?"
"I doubt it," Alfred said. Then he thought of something. He was a Two, but this was the line of Ones. "Why are you here?"
"I had been notified that the Two's counting was to begin soon," he replied. "I figured I might as well come now and reserve my spot in line. I would rather this be over sooner rather than later."
"How did you know so soon?" Alfred looked past the Two at the retreating Ace. "I was just told I was the last One."
The Two shrugged. "I had been tipped off by my master."
"So, you're an apprentice?" Alfred smiled, intrigued.
Twos were more common as nobles, but they were also known to be practicing mages. The Queen of Spades was always to have a troupe of mages, seeing as the Queen was to be the strongest in magic in the four kingdoms of Hoyle. Traditionally, the Royal Family, once chosen for their positions, was to be endowed with amazing power unlike that of a normal Number. In each kingdom it was different. In the Kingdom of Spades, the King gains incredible strength, the Queen becomes an unbeatable witch or wizard, while the Jack is to be the wisest in the lands. Alfred wasn't sure about the Kingdoms of Hearts, Clubs, and Diamonds. He just knew what he was taught which, sadly, was not a lot given his number rank.
"I am," the Two replied. "I am the apprentice to the Lady-in-Waiting for the Queen."
Alfred's jaw dropped in awe. The Two smirked smugly as he crossed his arms. "Wow! You must be really powerful!"
"I am. One of the strongest mages of my age!" the Two bragged.
"That's so amazing! Can you show me sometime?" Alfred asked excitedly.
The Two quipped an eyebrow at Alfred. "And how would I do that? You don't live here in the Capital, so how would I be able to see you?"
Alfred thought for a moment, his eyes drifting off to look above the Two at the banner behind him. "Uh… Well. I could always come back. I have to take my Ace test in a year or so. Maybe we could be friends!"
The Two seemed a little put off by Alfred's statement. His shoulders tensed and he studied Alfred with narrowed eyes. Then he relaxed if only so slightly. "Perhaps."
"Well, first I have to know your name!" Alfred said, excited. Maybe this Two wasn't as bad as he had thought. The prospect of a new friend was exhilarating.
"Arthur Kirkland," the Two replied. He extended his hand, which Alfred took and shook.
For the briefest of moments, Alfred felt a spark tingle his fingers at where they touched Arthur's hand, and then slapped his arm back. He hissed in pain, noticing Arthur seemed troubled by his own hand.
"What was that?" Alfred asked, shaking out his hand.
Arthur hesitated before saying, "I believe my magic acted out on accident. Terribly sorry."
"It must be the farmer bit in my blood," Alfred laughed. "I am half Ten, you know. Guess the Two in your blood hates it."
"A half-Ten?" Arthur looked at his hand again before putting it into his pocket. "I have heard of half-Numbers existing, but I believe this is the first time I have ever met one."
"Am I some oddity?"
"Not at all," Arthur replied calmly. "It's just, well, the idea of Numbers marrying out of class is rather…uncommon."
Alfred shrugged. "Not as uncommon as marrying out of Suit."
Arthur frowned in disgust again, just like when he and Alfred first met. "That is too far out of line. Numbers should know their place and their Suit."
Now it was Alfred's turn to frown. "Well, love is love. Out of class or Suit, it doesn't matter. Same for gender, right?"
Arthur looked away, seemingly bored by the conversation now. "It matters not to me."
Alfred turned away, nibbling on his lip in thought. If Arthur was this conservative with everything it might prove to be difficult to remain his friend.
Eventually, more Twos lined up behind Arthur. Alfred and Arthur never struck up another conversation, no matter how much Alfred wanted to. Somehow he thought that Arthur found him annoying. Besides, they were almost to the Grand Ballroom. Alfred's hands suddenly became clammy. His heart pounded out of excited anxiety. It wasn't so much the Counting he was concerned about, but the chance to actually step foot in the palace.
No more looking at it from afar and dreaming of seeing it. He was really going to go inside.
The ballroom was further off and the Numbers were being filed into the Entry Hall that was just as impressive. It was covered with Spades carved into the blue walls and glistened from the polished marbled floors. Instead of the blue banners like from outside, the flags inside were black and had the Spades upside-down. Knights lined the walls, blocking off entry further down the entry hall which led to other rooms; probably washrooms and powder rooms.
Once past the Entry Hall, the Ones were shown into the actual ballroom. And it certainly was grand. The walls were made of gold, tinted periwinkle. Chandeliers hung from above with diamonds in the shape of Spades. Large paintings hung high up on the walls, flanking each side of the arched windows. Sunlight filtered in to create patches of light on specific spots on the floor. At the far end of the room were the thrones of the Royal Family. Behind them was the portrait of the Family; it would be removed upon completion of the Counting, replaced by the next Family.
Two grand staircases behind the thrones wrapped around the corner and came to meet, forming a landing where the thrones sat; the dais. Then, steps went down to the dance floor. The tread was covered in a blue runner. The balusters were a dark purple that seemed to spin upwards into the air until connecting with the banister. At the end of each side of the banister was a small Spade made from ivory.
"Wow…," Alfred whispered. He looked back at Arthur. "I bet you see this often, huh?"
Arthur's eyes slowly took in the room just as Alfred had. He composed himself and looked at Alfred. "Of course I have."
Alfred turned to admire the room some more before noticing where the line ended. The Ones approached the thrones and then left by way of walking up the left side of the staircases and exiting around the corner. Sitting on the left hand throne was the Jack of Spades while the Queen sat on the right throne. The center throne was shrouded in black fabric.
Alfred turned and grabbed Arthur by the arms, startling him. "It's the Queen and Jack!"
Arthur huffed, "Yes, I know. I've seen them before."
"You've met them?" Alfred hissed. He didn't want others to hear him. Despite them being in a large room with hundreds of people, there was very little noise.
"I didn't say that," Arthur clarified. "I have simply seen them. Once, the Queen came to my master's hall and asked for her help. She left with her while I was still there practicing. I wasn't allowed to speak in her presence, but I did see her."
"Wow!"
"That's your favorite word, isn't it?" Arthur asked.
Alfred had heard stories of the Royal Family from his father before his death. He described the King as a very tender, but passionate man. Whenever he mentioned wars from the past between one of the other kingdoms, Alfred noticed his father grew grave when talking of the King. When he grew older Alfred learned the King was more blood thirsty than people knew.
The Queen, however, was enigmatic. When young, the Queen was said to be involved in the kingdom, personally meeting with Numbers of all class. It wasn't until later in her life that she became more of a hermit. She rarely left the castles and preferred to stay locked in her chambers. Alfred's father said despite her solitary attitude, she was still a kind woman.
The Jack and Queen were rumored to have an affair, some even saying the Jack killed his own wife in hopes of marrying the Queen. However, the Queen had kept to the old legend that no Queen of Spades has married since the first Queen. And so she remained a "virgin". Alfred didn't believe she had never slept with anyone, but his father swore that she was very pure for a woman her age.
Halfway to the Queen, Alfred noticed what she was doing. The Queen and King were said to have clocks with them. The King's Watch was more a pocket watch, shaped like a Spade, and made of pure gold. It had been the first King's watch that he handmade. The Queen's Clock was larger and was only to be shown in times of formal occasions. However, it never worked. Also from the first monarchy, the Queen's Clock was just a round and gold clock. But the hands only moved on the day of the Royal Counting. The hands remained stationary at nine o'clock, point to twelve when finding the next Royal Family. The minute hand signaled the Jack, the hour hand was the Queen, and both hands were the King.
With Alfred only five feet from the Queen, everyone stopped. Had they just found a Royal Family member? The Queen stood and held her clock out in her arms. It was larger than her torso. She moved first left, but then came right. She stepped out around the crowd and held the clock out as if it were a water stick. People mumbled down the line in confusion.
Alfred looked back at Arthur. "What's going on?"
"I'm not sure," Arthur replied. "This has never happened. Usually the clock will only move when you are directly before the Queen. It seems the clock knows exactly who to go for before they reach the Queen."
Alfred's eyes widened slightly. He turned around to watch, but found the Queen standing before him. She had tired brown eyes and grey curly hair that flowed down past her shoulders. Wrinkles crinkled up around her lips as she smiled.
"We have found our new King," she said.
Quickly, the Ones, Twos, and Knights present all fell to one knee, ladies curtseying. Alfred looked around at everyone, even Arthur, bowing to him. The Jack and Queen approached Alfred, nodding to him as hands reached from behind him. They pulled him out of line and hustled him to the staircase. No one moved from their bowing position until he had past.
Just as Alfred reached the stairs he heard the Queen speak once more.
"We have found our new Queen."
Alfred whipped around. The Queen had turned just slightly to face Arthur. He stumbled back, his mouth agape, and hands up in defense. However more knights grabbed him. The two were shuffled up the right staircase and lead into a backroom, then through more doors and down more hallways. Alfred remained silently in shock the entire way.
Meanwhile, Arthur protested loudly. "There has been a mistaken! I demand to be re-Counted! I cannot be Queen! Unhand me! I said unhand me you imbeciles!"
Finally, the two were taken into the smallest room they'd seen since coming into the palace. It wasn't any less elegant than the rest of the palace. However this room had chairs and a sofa. Alfred took a seat, grateful after the two hour long wait just to get inside. The knights left with a bow.
Arthur paced around, muttering more of how it was all wrong, when the chimes of the bells came from outside. Alfred jumped up and rushed to the window. They were still on the ground floor. The view looked out at the line of people gathered in the court yard.
"Where are the bells?" Alfred asked aloud.
"The tallest tower is actually a bell tower," Arthur replied. "Three bells mean they have found a King, two for the Queen, and one for the Jack."
"Well, I didn't hear any other bell ring, so I guess they haven't found a Jack yet."
Arthur held his hands out at the empty room. "That and no one else is here."
Alfred took a seat again. He ran his hands through his hair. "What's going to happen…? Will I get to go home and see my mom and brother before I become King? What the hell? How did I end up as King?"
Arthur flopped dramatically into a chair of his own. "It's a mistake, the both of us. You are more unqualified than I am."
Ignoring his insult, Alfred looked at his hands. "They say the King becomes incredibly strong. Do you think I am?"
Arthur shrugged. He waved a hand at the sofa. "Pick up that couch and see."
Alfred moved to grab it, but found it was still too heavy even for his muscles. "Nope. Guess it's not a complete thing until all three of us have been found."
"Or until we're crowned. That takes at least two weeks to prepare for."
"Two weeks?" Alfred exclaimed. "How hard is it for us to just get crowns on our head and us to swear our allegiance to the kingdom? Seriously!"
"Idiot. It requires careful planning of the entire event. Important officials, politicians, and Numbers have to attend. Not to mention, the fellow kingdom royalties have to come and stay for a week of pleasantries."
"The other kingdoms?" Alfred felt his throat go dry. It was shocking enough to see the Queen just two feet from him, but to see the other Royal Families of Hoyle sent him into a panicked frenzy.
"I can't do this," Arthur grumbled. "I will go see Queen Holly and tell her there's been a mistake."
"But the clock chose us. You even said that it knew exactly who to go to."
Arthur ran a hand across his face. "I know what I said. That doesn't mean I have to agree. You are too young and inexperienced. You are a Half!"
Alfred sat up straight in his seat. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"A Half-Number can't possibly be King! The kingdom will revolt!" Arthur flung his hands up in the air, face red from his anger. "And I cannot be Queen because… I just can't!"
"Well, I don't think the knights will let us leave," Alfred said grumpily. He slouched in his chair. Arthur's words had offended him. And now he was to rule beside him for the rest of his life? "So we're stuck here…"
Two hours later a bell rang. Both men stared at each other. The Jack had been found. Moments later, the Asian chef Alfred had met previously stumbled in. He looked as bewildered as they had been upon being Counted.
"Did the clock move over to you too?" Arthur asked tiredly.
"Y-yes," the chef replied. "So…you are the new… King and Queen?"
"Seems that way." Alfred rose and extended his hand. "I met you earlier. I was at your restaurant."
Arthur looked horrified. "An Eight?"
The chef shot Arthur an offended look. "I am a Three. Eights were not meant to come until the end of the week anyways."
"Right, my apologies." Arthur stood as well. "I am Arthur Kirkland."
"Yao Wang," the chef replied. He looked at Alfred, shaking his hand.
"Alfred Jones!"
Yao nodded. He brushed back a stray hair with a sigh. "Well… it seems we are all in this together. Long live Spades."
Hoshiko2's cents: Hello and welcome to my brand new series! This series will be rather long and broken up into Two Acts. This is Act One and will have chapters under it. Act Two will begin when this Act ends.
The palace's Grand Ballroom was inspired from the movie Anastasia and the ballroom at the beginning of the movie.
Also, to make it clear, here are the classes for the Numbers: 1-physical (Ace/Knight), 2-noble (magical or political), 3-arts, 4-banker, 5- merchants, 6-inventors (or research), 7-construction, 8-food, 9-retail (blacksmiths, etc.), 10-famers (former slaves; will explain later).
