Chapter 20/Week Forty-Three/Four Months Left
Bog repositions himself when another cursed servant joins the gathered spies at the closed doors of the Great Hall. It's a good thing most of their cursed forms were so small or this would be impossibly uncomfortable. He didn't begrudge them their curiosity. Marianne hadn't even told him the reason for her act of calling the royal court and all the kingdom's nobles together today.
It worried him. It wasn't like her to keep secrets from him. At least, not since she became his bride twenty-three weeks ago. That meant that this matter had to be connected to King Reinhart's visit thirteen weeks ago and Sir Miles' arrival early this morning.
"Have they started yet?" Sir Hadrian asks, holding an armored fist against his mouth to keep his laughter in when several jump in surprise.
"No, they haven't. Have you come to join us or arrest us?" Bog questions.
"Neither. Queen Marianne sent for me to join the knights already inside," Sir Hadrian answers. "Whatever is going on, she ordered the guardsmen to be ready for trouble, but I don't think it's eavesdroppers she's concerned about."
"I don't know her reasons," Bog comments at the expectant look.
"Truly? Bad luck then. I was hoping to have some knowing of what to expect before walking in there," Sir Hadrian sighs. "Keep to the sides or you'll get noticed when the door is opened."
Sir Jasper opens the door from inside at Sir Hadrian's call and allows the younger knight entrance before quickly closing the door once more, preventing the gathered crowd from seeing into the room. Bog does manage to catch a glimpse of where Roland is, though, and he can barely restrain the growl wanting to emerge at how close the cad was to Marianne's throne.
Far too close for his liking for both halves of his blood. Even without his goblin instincts screaming to violently remove the threat away from his bride and child, he would still be hard-pressed not to storm in there to position himself as a barrier between them. It's not that he doubted Marianne's ability to defend herself against Roland, he knows she could take the false knight on without breaking a sweat, but he loathed the fact he couldn't be in there with her.
Maybe he should discuss with Sir Tigler about becoming a guardsman to grant him the ability to remain in Marianne's presence even when private matters of the crown are called.
"We really shouldn't be here," Felix mutters.
"Stop complainin' and star' hearin'," Morris orders. "You got the best hearin' out o' all us."
"Her Majesty will be displeased with us if we...wait, what was that?!" Felix gasps, putting his ear to the door, his eyes widening. "Sir Roland?!"
Bog ignores the others and focuses his hearing toward Marianne with his heart beating furiously beneath his ribcage. The fear that Roland had done something during his moment of inattention is replaced by confusion as he catches Marianne's speech. How did the matter go from Roland to King Reinhart?
Oh.
So that was the business Marianne couldn't tell him about. It made sense now why King Reinhart came with that many guards.
"Don't keep us in suspense!" Jorick hisses. "What's going on, Felix?"
"Queen Marianne is saying how King Reinhart came at her bequest and he had brought Princess Theresa with him to the kingdom's border thirteen weeks ago," Felix answers, waving away the resulting gasps. "She says it's because she must review all edicts made by Queen Erica and had discovered the former queen had not given Princess Theresa a trial to prove the charges of treason were true or false. Sir Roland is...protesting?!"
Protesting was an understatement. Despite the thick doors between them, even those with lesser hearing capabilities could hear snippets of the man's verbal attack on Marianne's actions and Bog is hard-pressed not to join Felix in covering his pained ears.
"ENOUGH!" Marianne yells, rattling the door with her volume.
"Ow! Must she yell so loud," Felix moans.
"To be heard over that cad, yes," Bog mutters, wincing when the others look at him. "My feelings toward him have nothing to do with his former relationship with the queen."
"If you say so, Master Bog, then I beli...oh! Oh!" Felix gasps, pressing his ear harder against the door. "Princess Theresa is coming here in a fortnight! Not only to refute the charges of treason against herself but to bring charges of treason against Sir Roland!"
This time both Bog and Felix are ready for Roland's outburst. That doesn't mean they're prepared when the doors suddenly open and Sir Jasper grabs Bog to pull him inside before closing the doors again.
"Kemp left to get more guardsmen but it'll take him a little time to get through the air passageways. Act as the Queen's Champion and keep that raging fool from making matters worse for himself," Sir Jasper orders quietly, giving Bog his guardsman staff.
Nodding his understanding, Bog quickly pushes his way through the crowd of cursed and non-cursed noblemen. The sight of Roland gesturing wildly, threateningly, toward Marianne as he complains of her naivety makes his blood boil in rage and he barely manages to resist swinging the borrowed weapon across the back facing him. Only the knowledge that Roland could not get by the five knights standing between him and the throne platform keeps his temper manageable.
"Hold your tongue and let Queen Marianne speak!" Bog growls, slamming the staff's end against the floor.
"What right does a bastard wastrel have to give orders here?" Roland sneers, turning to face Bog.
Bog ignores him and turns his attention to Marianne, relaxing his posture into one of respect and bowing to his seated bride. He catches a glimpse of King Father Donald standing behind the guarding knights and realizes with unease precisely why Sir Jasper dragged him in to defuse the situation. The knights weren't standing in such a way just to block Roland from getting near Marianne, they were keeping the furious king father from leaving claw marks in more than the mere stone being gouged beneath him.
"Forgive me for intruding, my queen," Bog starts, keeping his bowed position. "Your guardsman expressed concern regarding Sir Roland's...shameful conduct. With your permission, I request to present myself as the Queen's Champion should the need arise."
"Your request is granted, Master Bog," Marianne announces, waving a hand to gesture him forward. "Though, I should think your services will not be needed if Roland of Glenndale would remember to act befitting the noble blood running through his veins."
"You slight me, Marianne!" Roland accuses. "First, you charge me of treason solely on the word of a convicted traitor, and now you bestow honor on a bastard-born wastrel while disregarding the honor I was granted by Queen Erica, all without reason!"
Acting quickly, Bog slams the staff into Roland's stomach with enough power to make him bend over before swinging the staff around to strike Roland's back hard, forcing him to his knees. The threat of the staff's metal head against the back of his neck keeps him on the ground. Though keeping his eyes on the groaning man before him, Bog's ears catch Marianne's harsh whispers to her father through the noise erupting from the watching nobles.
"Be still, Father!" Marianne orders quietly, getting grunting growls in return. "I will deal with his insolence in due time, but you cannot interfere! Calm yourself or leave the room. Do I make myself clear? Good. Release him, Sir Tigler. Sir Hadrian, take charge of Master Bog's prisoner."
Bog turns his attention to her at that and furrows his brows while tilting his head. At her nod, he withdraws the weapon to allow Roland to stand when Sir Hadrian approaches and he follows her hand gesture to stand before her throne on the right side with King Father Donald and Crown Princess Dawn.
"You reward him after he attacks me!?" Roland complains, trying and failing to get his arm out of Sir Hadrian's grip.
"Silence!" Marianne yells through the noisy courtiers. "Roland of Glenndale, your accusation of slight is your own and the Queen's Champion acted with just cause. You have not been charged with treason, as of yet. As there is no record of the evidence supporting the conviction of Princess Theresa's treason, she is being granted a trial at her request two weeks from today to refute those charges. It is your duty to confirm the accusation against her and produce the evidence you gave to Queen Erica that caused her to rule in conviction."
"Theresa ran off to live in Reinhart's castle, what more proof do you need to know that she's a traitor than by her giving that barbarian our kingdom's secrets?" Roland scoffs.
"Mere words such as that are not enough. Princess Theresa accuses you, her former husband, of committing treason against the royal family in your actions toward her. You have two weeks to produce the evidence that was neglected to be recorded that I may give my ruling on whether to enforce Queen Erica's edict or to reinstate Princess Theresa to her station," Marianne announces.
"You can't do that!" Roland protests.
"Restrain your tongue!" Marianne barks. "This is only a small matter to the reason I have called you to appear before me today. Words of your disgrace have reached my hearing and after a thorough investigation, they have been proven true. Huron, come forward."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Huron murmurs, bowing before the cursed queen.
"As the crown's official for the village of Glenndale, Huron has admitted to drunkenly disclosing confidential information of the royal court to those inhabiting Glenndale's local tavern during his many visits. Upon inquiry, the tavern master defends Huron's innocence of failing his duty, stating that each time he entered the tavern that it was Roland of Glenndale who persistently coerced him from the simple drink he originally requested into joining him for a stronger drink," Marianne starts.
"How is it my disgrace for asking a friend to join me for a strong drink or two? It's not my fault if he can't hold his liquor," Roland defends.
"A strong drink or two, as you put it, while you were both supposed to be on duty serving the matters of this kingdom is disgrace enough for both your positions!" Marianne states firmly. "Furthermore, the tavern master took an oath before me that he assisted you, Roland of Glenndale, to repeatedly trick the crown's official for the village of Glenndale into getting drunk before deliberately coercing him into revealing the matters of the royal court. He admitted to refilling Huron's tankard whenever Huron was distracted by you or a member of your troop, giving Huron the equivalent of six or seven pints for the single pint Huron believed he drank."
"I had nothing to do with that! He's lying!" Roland accuses.
"Behind that door, Glenndale's tavern master stands ready to testify that he was ordered by you to perform such actions," Marianne announces, gesturing to the Great Hall's smaller second door that is being guarded by Sir Nicholas. "With him, stands your former steward as a witness concerning accusations made by those tending to the royal fields that you have not performed your duties concerning the royal fields since they became your responsibility eight years ago. Both men confirm your negligence of duty as a knight of the crown in that you have not protected the lands assigned to your charge. They also stand ready to testify that you were in the witch Sugar Plum's presence before she came to the castle that fateful day twenty months ago."
The resulting shouts are not from Roland, and Bog quickly moves to block the king father from being able to move past him as the knights rush to restrain several outraged nobles. He ignores the glaring green eyes directed up to him, as well as the growling emerging from the long snout, and keeps pressing his weight down to stop the cursed man from enacting the bodily harm on Roland that he clearly desires to.
Not that Bog truly wanted to stop his bride's father from doing something he wanted to do himself, but Marianne would not be pleased with either of them.
"Silence!" Marianne growls, standing at full height and flaring her wings. "I will have order!"
"Forgive us, Your Majesty, but your words bring a strong accusation with them. Are you saying Sir Roland had knowledge of, and possible connection to, Sugar Plum's motives?" Sir Cornell questions, baring his sharp teeth to the uneasy Roland.
"Only Roland of Glenndale can answer such a question, as he was in her presence from late morning until but a few hours before her presence was known here. But that is not a matter to be attended to today," Marianne states before turning her attention to Roland. "Roland of Glenndale, hear me! You have disgraced this kingdom with your conduct and are no longer worthy of honor! To the witness of the royal family and all the nobles within my kingdom, you, Roland of Glenndale, are hereby stripped of your knighthood, and all assets within your possession given by members of the royal court, past and present, are to be confiscated! You are to be confined within your house under guard until the arrival of Princess Theresa, where you shall be brought before me to be tried for the charges made against you! Remove your prisoner from my presence, Sir Hadrian!"
Bog lowers the guardsman staff from across King Father Donald's shoulders as the arriving guardsmen help Sir Hadrian drag the protesting Roland out through the Great Hall's doors. Turning his attention away from Princess Dawn's consoling of her disgruntled father to Marianne at her sigh as she sits, he resists the urge to go to her when their eyes meet and the warm amber begs him closer. He gives her a soft smile instead and nearly laughs at her playful huff and slight pout. The moment is regretfully short before she's forced to turn her attention to the approaching nobles with practiced regalness.
Despite the joy he has over Marianne receiving the respect due to her, there were many times over the past six weeks he truly regretted managing to yell some sense into her subjects' thick skulls.
"Your Majesty, the charges you cited against Sir...that is, Roland of Glenndale are severe," Lord Corbin comments. "If you have clear proof of his guilt, why are you delaying carrying out the trial and sentencing now? If the evidence is not enough and he proves his innocence to the accusations, then your actions of dishonoring Si...Roland today will be called into question."
"Should he manage to provide sufficient reason to support his proclaimed innocence then the dishonor he received today is trivial compared to the execution he manages to escape," Marianne counters. "However, the reason for my delay is not because of doubt of his guilt. Should Roland of Glenndale be tried today, then Princess Theresa will need no trial to have Queen Erica's edict against her removed as he is the only living witness to the charges made against her. This would not be just. Princess Theresa deserves to be vindicated before all those within this kingdom by a fair ruling and that requires Roland of Glenndale to be allowed to testify of her supposed treason in her presence."
"But Si...Roland was right! Princess Theresa went to King Reinhart! Surely, you can't...," Lord Corbin starts.
"I stand as witness to Princess Theresa's testimony before Her Majesty in the presence of King Reinhart," Sir Miles interjects before Lord Corbin continues. "Thirteen weeks ago, I was given charge to confirm the words spoken by Princess Theresa and King Reinhart by journeying with them to King Reinhart's castle, where I have been in residence since that day until these past three weeks. King Reinhart only gave refuge to Princess Theresa when she fled from the presence of her husband, Roland of Glenndale, and her sister, Queen Erica, after overhearing...disturbing conversations. There was no treason involved on the part of Princess Theresa, only fear for her life."
"You're saying King Reinhart wanted nothing in return for giving aid to a member of an enemy kingdom's royal family for ten years? I find that hard to believe," Lord Vorn scoffs.
"I was skeptical as well, but Queen Marianne was correct. She had told me that it was foolish to continue the harsh relations between our two kingdoms solely because of former trouble, and upon entering King Reinhart's kingdom, I discovered they have desired peace with us for their past two kings," Sir Miles admits. "I confirmed it once I returned to the border fortress and found in the records that all skirmishes were started by soldiers here, not once by soldiers of King Reinhart during his entire reign, nor during the reign of his father, King Rothgard."
"As Master Bog pointed out three weeks ago, King Reinhart had sent a courier bearing the white flag of truce to Queen Erica some months after her coronation and the former queen executed the man without reading the message he carried. It could have been concerning peace talks," Sir Cornell mentions.
"It was a message of peace. The same message was sent by King Rothgard to King Carter shortly after his coronation and was received the same way. King Reinhart told Queen Marianne thirteen weeks ago that he had planned to send her the hand of truce as well, but news of Sugar Plum's curse reached his hearing first and he had withheld for fear he might be accused of being in connection to the witch," Sir Miles informs.
Tuning out the resulting murmurings, Bog turns his attention to Marianne and barely restrains the laughter wanting to burst out at her slight smirk aimed at him, her narrowed eyes dancing with words untold. She would no doubt be reminding him of his worries that day when King Reinhart visited and smugly telling him that she was right if it wasn't for their nearby audience. Quickly checking to make sure the noblemen are still preoccupied with each other, Bog gives a small shrug of his shoulders with a slight smile before bowing his head to her. She gives a soft chuckle before quickly turning her full attention back to her subjects when their attention returns to her again.
"Your Majesty, what of the other charges you have brought to our attention against Si...Roland of Glenndale? Are you for certain his guilt is his own?" Lord Vorn asks. "You said Huron admitted to drunkenness while performing his duties and the tavern master confessed to tricking him into more drink than he requested. Why are they not being brought before us as well?"
"You need not worry yourself over Her Majesty's apparent leniency, Lord Vorn," Boris murmurs coldly, glaring at the uncursed man. "Huron was brought to task by me when Queen Marianne discovered his loose tongue and drunken debauchery at the time the stewardship of the royal fields was given to Griselda of Glenndale seven months ago. He has already been severely punished for failing his duties."
Bog winces with Huron at the reminder. The cursed chancellor had not been happy at discovering his son's failure thirty weeks ago when Marianne made mention of it the day after they had both visited his mother and most within the castle had heard the father's ire reaching past the closed door of Marianne's study, though none truly knew what it was about. It was only because Huron claimed to have only drunk the one tankard of strong drink at the bequest of Roland for not wanting to offend him considering his favor with those of the royal court that saved him from a harsher punishment than what he received. Not that the punishment he did receive was anything close to what one might call lenient.
Discovering a few days ago the valid proof that Huron was only an innocent victim of Roland's attempts to manipulate matters of the royal court had only put Boris in a dark mood.
"Huron has performed his duties as the crown's official for the village of Glenndale without fault since, so there was no need to bring the matter before the nobles of this kingdom," Marianne continues.
"And Glenndale's tavern master? Has he been dealt with as well, Your Majesty?" Sir Nigel questions.
"Most of you were here when Danice of Glenndale appeared before me at last court to request the crown to pay a large delinquent bill at his place of business," Marianne answers.
"What has Glenndale's grocer have to do with the tavern master?" Sir Cornell asks.
"You are mistaken, Sir Cornell. But it is a very common mistake from those not from Glenndale since the grocer and the tavern are owned by a pair of brothers and sometimes one will tend to the matters of the other. Darice is Glenndale's grocer, his brother Danice is the tavern master," Bog informs. "What Her Majesty no doubt means to remind you of is that Danice was escorted from the Great Hall to the queen's study when he refused to disclose the name of the debtor among listeners."
"Indeed, that was my intention, Master Bog," Marianne confirms, giving him a slight nod. "The bill belonged to Roland of Glenndale, which the tavern master assumed would be paid for in exchange for valuable information regarding the truth I have revealed. His assumption was unrealized, but he was forthcoming in the information regardless. He has been kept under guard in the Judgment Hall since that day to keep from having the matter revealed before Sir Miles could journey here to confirm the date of Princess Theresa's arrival."
"And your ruling concerning his crime?" Lord Corbin questions.
"He will be given no punishment," Marianne starts before growling at the resulting protests. "SILENCE! Would you have me flog nearly all those standing in my presence right now?! More than half of you are guilty of the same crime! Or do you deny your unconditional aid and favor to Roland of Glenndale despite his clear and noted dishonorable conduct as a knight and a nobleman? If you, the nobles of this kingdom, supported Roland of Glenndale in all that he asked of you without question, regardless of whether it was right or just, why do you request a peasant to be punished for doing the same thing?"
Bowing to Marianne when she stands once more to dismiss her ashamed courtiers, Bog quickly falls into step behind the royal family when she waves him to join them. He pauses only a moment to return Sir Jasper's weapon before following dutifully. Her intent is clear as she continues down the passageway leading to the castle doors.
"Marianne," Princess Dawn starts hesitantly, flying beside her sister but looking back to Bog.
"Speak freely, Dawn. Bog will not repeat what should not be repeated," Marianne murmurs.
"Why is Daddy so upset? He was upset before you called Roland forward to speak of Princess Theresa, so I know it can't be about that," Princess Dawn comments.
"Sir Miles had not realized Father was near my study when he arrived this morning to inform me of all his findings and said some things that would have been better that Father not hear," Marianne explains.
The cursed king father vehemently expresses his opinion at that in loud grunts and growls that fall deaf to his daughters' ears. He huffs in annoyance at the forced silence and claws the stone beneath him, giving a frustrated glare as he ambles beside Marianne.
"Since Daddy already knows, what is it that's making him so upset?" Princess Dawn asks.
"I cannot repeat it at the moment. However, I can say that Roland's grandfather found a loophole in the laws that, had Father not protested against my marriage to Roland while I was too young to be crowned queen, would have allowed Roland to become king, not regent or king consort," Marianne answers quietly.
"That's possible?!" Princess Dawn gasps before smiling mischievously as they near the castle doors. "Is this loophole beneficial to you and Boggy marrying?"
"Dawn!" Marianne hisses, reaching out to catch the giggling princess but failing before she flits down another hall.
King Father Donald chuckles with grunting growls aimed at the pair before he follows his youngest and Bog shakes his head in amusement at Marianne's longsuffering groan. Whatever the pair had taken from Marianne's talk ten weeks ago may have stopped their insistent matchmaking but it's clear they haven't completely let go of it.
"I swear, sometimes I'm sure Father knows the real reason we head to the castle stables," Marianne mutters after they step into the warm afternoon sun.
"Maybe not precisely the real reason, but he does know it's not just to check if either Imp or Chipper awoke yet," Bog comments.
"Oh? And how do you know this, my dear husband?" Marianne purrs quietly.
"Your father isn't as silent as you think he is. It's not that he can't speak, his words are being spoken in the goblin language," Bog answers. "I've been hearing him ever since I came here but I couldn't very well translate his words without outing myself as being connected to goblins."
"How come you didn't mention this before?" Marianne questions.
"To be honest, I hadn't thought much of it since you and your sister haven't needed a translator to understand your father, and a lot of what neither of you managed to figure out was better left untranslated. Your father has quite the sordid tongue for being a nobleman," Bog admits at her inquiring look, smiling at her soft laughter. "Now knowing of what Plum did to me, I wonder why the stolen magic gave King Father Donald the gift of goblin tongue and no one else. There are times you speak some goblin yourself but yours is only expressions of feeling, not true speech like his is."
"Another mystery for Stuff to puzzle on while Thang keeps her from thrashing the answers out of Plum," Marianne quips. "Though, I should probably wait until Chipper's recovered from his sleep before giving Stuff something more to growl about."
"I'm surprised we haven't heard of any incidents happening to Plum with how furious you said Stuff was when you left," Bog comments.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Marianne counters. "It may be Stuff's doing or it may be because of what you said six weeks ago, but Plum has not had as pleasant a stay in my kingdom as she had previously been enjoying."
"Heard some interesting gossip, my queen?" Bog asks.
"The girls were giggling this morning when I awoke about gossip they heard last night," Marianne mentions. "Plum is now required to pay for her room at Brightvale's tavern, being forced to do manual work since her so-called spells and charms are being rejected by those who formerly bought them, and even her food is not given to her for free anymore. Also, one of the tavern maids told her cousin in the kitchens that Plum has not had the company of a companion in quite some time."
Bog laughs heartily at the news. If there was one thing Thang and Stuff both agreed about, it was that fairies are lazy, irresponsible, gluttonous, and licentious. What an absolutely perfect punishment for that fairy witch!