Installment One of Two
by Magnus Prime
"Cristo!"
The young cleric stopped just past the gates to Santeem Castle and turned to watch as his friend and mentor hustled to catch up with him. "Yes, Brey?"
The ancient court wizard huffed and puffed until his breath caught up with him before speaking. "Just where do you think you're going? And what is this about 'resignation'?"
Cristo shifted the weight of his shield to his back, and for a brief moment he remembered a time when he could barely wield a Copper Sword, let alone a Metal Babble Shield and Sword. "I thought my letter made it very clear. My failure to protect my liege is partly to blame for his disappearance."
"Balderdash!" Brey normally was not one to use profanities, but this was a special occasion. "Horsefeathers!" He watched with some satisfaction as Cristo blanched under the onslaught. "We both know the real reason you're leaving. My question is...Why doesn't the Princess know?"
"Know what?" Cristo asked while attempting to feign innocence.
He received a glower for his efforts. "Don't insult my intelligence, young man. I'm three times your age." Brey turned the glower down a notch. "You've loved her almost from the time you first laid eyes on her." He regarded the former chancellor for another moment. "You might have been able to fool the King and all of his Royal Guards, you might even have fooled the Princess herself..." He then jabbed a finger at his own chest. "...but you haven't fooled me!" The wizard paused, momentarily spent from his tirade.
Cristo sighed heavily. "All right, I confess, I have loved her from the beginning. What difference does that make? She's going to be a Queen shortly, and she will need a king to help her rule. Not some country bumpkin who happened to be smart enough to learn the Healing Arts."
Brey resisted the urge to throw a 'Poppycock!'. "What she needs, you fool, is an honorable and morally superior man to help her rule. Being born to royalty does not automatically give one those traits!"
"I realize that!" Cristo nearly shouted before calming himself. "Look Brey, I really do appreciate what you're trying to do here, but my decision has been made, and the Princess has already received a similar letter of her own." He laid a hand on his old friend's shoulder. "Take care of yourself, Old Man." He grinned lopsidedly. "And take special care of Alena for me. Please?"
Brey clapped a hand on top of Cristo's before pulling him into a rough embrace. "You're an idiot, Cristo, but I still love you like a son." He released the former chancellor only to hold him at arm's length. He jerked his head in the direction away from the castle. "Now get out of here before she sees you."
Cristo nodded once, then turned to start on his long trip to Endor.
--
My Princess,
Due to my failure to protect my former liege, your father, I am stepping down as chancellor and banishing myself from your kingdom. I cannot tolerate such incompetence on my part, so I am leaving on a journey to study and meditate. Hopefully I can restore my honor and one day be able to return to Santeem.
Your humble servant,
Cristo Beauvont
Princess Alena read the letter again. And again. And once more, her eyes reddening.
In fury.
"Brey! Come here at once!"
--
"Beautiful," the young cleric murmured as he gazed at Santeem Castle in the distance. "Almost ethereal."
He turned away from the splendor and adjusted his pack, shield strapped to his arm and sword in the scabbard on his back (his 'Em-Bee equipment', he called it). "Good-bye Alena..."
He had taken three steps more before he found himself flat on his back, the victim of a blow to the chest. "Ooof!" He quickly rolled to his left, drawing his sword, to face... "Alena? I mean, your Highness!" He quickly dropped to one knee in reverence, the tip of his blade embedded in the soft grass. "How did you find me so quick-"
"Don't give me 'Your Highness', Cristo!" Alena, her royal robes somehow tied back by a belt, grabbed the cleric by the front of his armor, hauled him to his feet, then slapped him soundly across the face. "How dare you?!"
A shocked expression etched itself onto Cristo's face. "I don't understand..."
She waved a parchment in front of his face. "Does this look familiar, Cristo?!" Her face started to turn scarlet. "Do you think Daddy and I don't know what's best for our country?"
Cristo's pallor started to match that of the parchment. "I meant no offense, your high- Alena," he amended at her glare.
"Good. Then I guess I can tear this up right?" Matching action to word, Cristo's letter of resignation parted down the middle, eventually settling to the ground in confetti-sized pieces. She clapped her hands to clean them, calming as she did so, much to Cristo's relief.
His relief didn't last long, however.
"Well, that takes care of the first part."
He started to pale again. He was really getting good at changing his skin color. "First...part?"
Alena nodded, her eyes locking onto his. "Santeem needs a king now that Daddy wants to step down." She swallowed hard, her cheeks starting to redden. "My subjects have made several suggestions, but I find I like the one Brey suggested."
"Who did he suggest?" Cristo asked, fearing he knew the answer.
"You."
Cristo still took a step back. "M-me?"
Alena narrowed her eyes. "You can stop playing stupid, or ignorant, or whatever it is you're playing." She gave the cleric an almost-evil grin. "He told me everything, you know."
"He did?" Cristo squeaked.
The grin softened to an affectionate smile. "Doesn't matter, I knew anyway. The way you looked at me, tried to protect me." Her eyes glistened at a now-distant memory. "I even remember your slip-up when I was looking for a way out of the castle just before all the Necrosaro business started. You remember?"
Cristo had already cast his eyes downward. "Like it was yesterday. 'If something were to happen to you, I...'"
"'...the king would be devastated'," she finished for him. "Cristo, look at me." After he met her eyes she continued softly but firmly. "Here's what's going to happen: You are going to come back to Santeem with me, where you will marry me and become king." He started to protest until she held up a hand. "Santeem needs a good moral and spiritual leader, and you're the most moral man I know." She blushed lightly. "Besides, the attraction wasn't one-way, you know." She turned a deeper shade of red at his dumbfounded expression. "I had to find Daddy first, right."
The cleric could only nod slowly, still dumbstruck.
Princess Alena held out a timid hand. "Shall we go...my lord?"
Cristo looked down at the proffered hand while gathering his courage. Finally he smiled softly, taking the hand, and allowed himself to be led back home.
end