Chapter 3

The king and the queen were waiting in the king's study when the prince entered, followed by his scribe and the doctor.  All three men bowed at the doorway before entering the chamber.  The king had been pacing restlessly and gave his son an expectant look.

            "Well?" he queried.  "Would you care to tell me why the Earl of Essex spent the night on a cold floor in a prison cell?"

            "You did not release him, did you?" the prince asked immediately.

            "Nay and you had better have a good reason why I should not do so," the king countered.

            "I believe I do," the prince said firmly.  He glanced over at his mother, who was wringing her hands and watching him with a worried look.  "Last night while the princess and I were on our barge, I noticed a commotion coming from that of Mordrid.  He was beating one of his servants in plain view of every other barge upon the river.  As I approached his barge, he struck her with such force that he knocked her into the river.  She begged for his mercy, crying out that she could not swim and he replied by lofting an oar into the air.  He was bringing it down toward her head when I reached him and stopped him.  My servants rescued the girl and I had him detained for the night.  I asked my good physician Alward to examine her so that I might ascertain if this was an isolated incident."  The prince could hear his mother gasp at the tale and the king's expression became very grave.  He turned his attention to the physician.

            "And what did you discover, Alward?" he asked.

            "Your Majesty, 'tis apparent that the girl has been severely mistreated for quite some time.  She bears many bruises and scars, but refused to explain how she obtained any of them.  She merely told me that she was clumsy and would not speak to me any more.  She appeared to me to be quite afraid of saying anything against her master."  Alward replied.

            No one in the chamber could miss the flash of anger that crossed the king's face.  He began pacing the chamber, tugging at his beard in contemplation.  The prince could see that he was loath to strip a member of the peerage of his title and his position.  Such action always caused a great commotion and the king always feared any action that might disturb the peace of his people.  However, the prince also knew that his father was very likely enraged at Mordrid's show of defiance.  The king knew himself to be sovereign and he always expected total compliance with his laws and creeds.  The king paced for a moment longer before turning to his son.

            "Rhain, I wish to see the young woman in order to decide on my next course of action," he said.

            The prince was satisfied with his father's wishes.  He was sure that once the king saw the severity of the girl's injuries with his own eyes there would be no doubt in his mind that Mordrid should be stripped and banished.  The prince glanced over at his mother and saw the anxiety in her eyes.

            "Is she really so badly off?" she asked.

            "I am afraid so, mother," Prince Rhain responded.

            "Then I shall come to see her also.  I wish to offer her the services of my maids," the queen said.  Her son smiled at her.  He loved his mother more than any other person in the world.  He thought her the sweetest and dearest woman on Earth and he was always touched by the kindness she frequently showed others.

            "Very well, my dear," the king said.  "You shall accompany us.  If the girl truly is so injured, it may do very well for your maids to serve her."

            The small party set out for the part of the castle where the girl lay.  As they arrived at her door, the physician stopped them and requested that he be allowed a moment with her before the royal family entered.

            "'Twas apparent to me this morning that she felt too inferior to be seen by His Highness the prince alone and I fear she may be shocked to see the entire royal family in attendance.  I request a moment to help prepare her for the honor," Alward said.

            "I see that she has a proper sense of the way of the world," the king said, approvingly.  "You may enter and help her to prepare."

            "My thanks, Your Highness," the physician said respectfully.  He bowed before the king and then entered the chamber of his patient.

            "Mother, I hope you will not be shocked by what you are about to see," the prince said.  "I have never seen a woman show such evidence of ill treatment by a man.  I may not have believed it possible if I had not myself seen Mordrid strike her with his own hand."

            "Odious man," his mother sniffed.  "He has never shown the proper respect for you, my Lord," she said, addressing her husband.  "And I always felt that he was rather lacking in deference to me, as well."

            "I have observed his failure to exhibit a sense of propriety many times," the king responded.  "If this girl is really as badly injured as my son says, 'tis the last piece of evidence of Mordrid's disregard for the sovereignty of my throne that I need in order to take action against him."

            Rhain felt a sense of relief at his father's declaration.  So he too had not failed to notice that Mordrid did not show his sovereign a proper degree of respect.  The prince had been somewhat afraid that his father might simply let Mordrid off with a warning.  However, it seemed that his statement to Mordrid on the previous night had been very accurate, that he and his father did agree on this one issue.

            The physician came to the door and summoned the royal family.  Rhain could see that the girl was sitting up in bed, as she had been that morning.  She was wearing the same white dressing gown and white cap that she had been wearing earlier, but her face now wore an expression that was a mixture of humiliation and fear.  Her anxiety had drained her face of all color and the pale hue of her skin caused her bruises to stand out much more vividly.  The prince could hear his mother's soft gasp of surprise and he saw the angry look that passed over his father's features.

            The king approached the bed, causing the girl to look as if she would faint from fear.  The king noticed and spoke gently to her.  "You have nothing to fear, my child.  I wish to hear what you have to say about your master.  Is it true that he attacked you last night, while you were on his barge?"

            Suddenly, the girl prostrated herself on the bed.  "Oh, Your Most Excellent Majesty, please forgive me.  I am not worthy of receiving you and I apologize most heartily."

            Everyone in the chamber looked surprised, but the king's expression was also mixed with some degree of approval.  The prince, while not quite agreeing with the fact that the girl felt she must prostrate herself to the king in this manner, was relieved that she did so because it pleased his father.  He could tell that the king would now take what she said very seriously.

            "Please, my child, do not prostrate yourself so.  Rest against your pillow now, you are injured.  I am gratified by the propriety of your address, but I do not wish you to fear me.  I am here seeking a truth which only you may provide," the king said.

            The girl uneasily pulled herself back into a sitting position on the bed, but the prince could see that she was still very pale.  He saw her eyes flicker very briefly to his mother and then over to him.  He felt curiously touched by the sight of the poor creature.

            The king seated himself at the girl's bedside and asked her to look at him, which she immediately did, with a look of utter respect and worship on her face.

            "Tell me, my dear, is it true that The Earl of Essex is your master?" the king asked.

            "Aye, Your Majesty," she responded.

            "And were you with him on his barge last night?"

            The prince could see that the girl sensed danger.  Her back stiffened and when she replied, her voice was barely audible.  "Aye, Your Majesty."

            The king decided to try a different tact.  "My son tells me that the earl struck you, causing you to fall into the water and that the earl would not assist you when you begged for his help.  Is that also true?"

            It was a clever tactic.  In spite of her fear of punishment from the earl, it was obvious that she would not dare to contradict the prince's testimony.  "Aye, Your Majesty," she replied, faintly.

            "Is it also true that my son took you on his barge and brought you here himself?"

            "Aye, Your Majesty."

            "Now, my child, I wish to ask you some more questions.  You have my protection from all harm and I wish you to speak nothing but the truth to me.  The good doctor says that you bear many scars.  Were these the result of clumsiness on your part, as you told the doctor?"

            The girl looked up at the king miserably.  Tears rolled down her face and her words were interrupted by small sobs.  "Nay, Your Majesty, forgive me for lying.  I am very afraid of my master and so I lied."

            "You are forgiven," he told the girl.  "Is the earl a harsh master?"

            "Aye, Your Majesty," she whispered. 

            "And has he struck you without provocation before, as he did last night?"

            "Aye, Your Majesty."  Her voice was now lower than ever and she positively refused to look up at the king.  Rhain saw his father nod.

            "Thank you, my child, for bringing this to my attention.  The earl deserves to be severely punished for openly defying me.  I shall perceive any threat to you as a direct threat to my throne in the future.  You have my word of honor."

            The girl seized the edge of the king's sleeve and kissed it reverently.  "Your Majesty is most merciful and kind," she responded.  "I am Your Majesty's most humble servant."

            "Rest yourself now," the king said, placing the flat of his palm briefly on her forehead, like some sort of benediction.

            With that, the king turned from the bed and took his wife's arm.  The two of them left the chamber together and Prince Rhain followed.  He was satisfied with the interview between his father and the servant girl and was eager to hear what his father had in mind as a means of punishment for the earl. 

            "My son," his father said, "I approve of your having the earl arrested.  'Tis my decision to consider his actions as a manifestation of his treasonous heart.  As a result, he will be stripped of his title and his heritage and shall be banished from my kingdom and may only return on pain of death."

            "You are most wise, father," Rhain said, approvingly.  He felt a sense of relief that his father would be rid of the threat of The Earl of Essex and he also felt a sense of justice.  He was pleased that his father had fully defended the poor young woman that now lay in the castle.