Chapter 10
The next few days were like a blur. Everyone was busy with preparations for the massive congregation that would be showing up at the moot. Achmed became more and more edgy and nervous about security. He feared that another assassin would be sent during the chaos of the meeting and that someone other than him may be hurt.
The King could be found most nights pacing the floors of the throne room, racking his brains for any way to add more security. The problem was, with so many people who would need to come and go, it was almost impossible to have everything completely secure.
And so the days flew by until the morning dawned that showed the first comers to the meeting. A caravan was seen in the distance with banners of Bethany. Tristan Steward was on his way.
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"Are you sure that this is going to work?" Tristan asked Leah for what she felt was the thousandth time. The two rode together in a bumpy carriage. Tristan's wife was currently nine months pregnant and had decided to stay behind, allowing Tristan to take Leah in the guise of his personal attendant.
"Tristan, dear. I told you. Nothing can go wrong. And if by some freak chance it does, you'll never be blamed and the worse that will happen is things will remain as they are."
He sighed and sat back again. This was going to work, he told himself. But for some reason a voice at the back of his head kept repeating over and over that something was going to go wrong. But he didn't want to hear that, so he pushed the thought away and tried to relax by running the plan over in his head and rehearsing every step.
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"Sir, the Nain 'ave showed up," Grunthor announced.
Achmed nodded and went back to his studying his maps of the area. Grunthor nodded and walked over to Meridion who was lounging near the fire. "Merry, Oi've bin asked to invite you to Faedryth's tent tonight."
Slightly shocked, Meridion looked up and asked, "Why? He's never really been interested in the affairs of the alliance. I've never even met the man."
"Search me," the giant shrugged. "Oi was jus' passin' along a message."
Achmed looked up from his maps and questioned the face of his sergeant major. Not finding any more information out, he shrugged as well and went back to his pondering.
As Grunthor turned to leave, Meridion asked, "Do you know where my mother is? I need to speak with her."
"Oi believe she's out visitin' the Lirin that arrived yesterday."
"Thank you Grunthor. If you could get someone to pass along that I'll meet Faedryth tonight, I'd appreciate it."
"Sure thing, Lordy."
Meridion cracked a slight smile at that, "You know I'm not officially Lord yet."
"Oi know, just tryin' to get used to the new term."
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"Rial, please! I have enough to deal with as it is without you pestering me with issues that don't mean anything right now and that you are perfectly capable of handling yourself. I came down here to socialize, not to talk politics," Rhapsody said.
"Yes, your majesty. I know that you hate it when I do this, but I really want to know your opinion."
"Alright, I'll tell you what we can do. After the moot is over and you return to Tyrian I'll join you there and you can talk my ear off. I will most likely only agree with whatever you think, but if it will make you feel better, that's what I'll do. Okay?"
"Thank you Your Majesty."
With that, Rhapsody turned to mingle with some old acquaintances and did not see that as Rial turned from her with a slight smile pulling at his lips.
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That night, two shadowy figures met in the dark, removed from any onlookers.
"How has your part of the plan held up brother?"
"It has all gone according to plan. As long as you have taken care of your end and your girl pulls through with that sniveling puppet of yours, everything should all fall in to place."
"My part has been arranged, and Leah reports that all is going well with the Duke. By this time two days hence, we should control the Cymrian powers with a few weeks later having complete control of the Nain and the Lirin."
"Good," the shadow smiled. "It will be easy then to take the mountain and Sorbold should practically hand itself over to us by then. Good work brother."
"And to you, brother."
With that, the two figures dissolved into the night, returning to their separate camps.
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"Meridion, glad to see you back. How did your meeting with the Nain king go?" Rhapsody asked as her son entered the throne room where she had been quietly talking with Achmed.
"It was fine. A bit strange and uncomfortable at times, basically because I don't know their culture, but I think it went rather well."
"What was it that they wanted with you?" Achmed asked
"It seems that Faedryth wished to gage my character before voting for or against me at the moot in two days. Apparently, I passed his judgment and have found favor with him."
"Hmm, that is rather odd. The Nain have never shown much interest in the Cymrian proceedings before," Rhapsody observed.
"I don't really understand it myself, but hopefully this will only mean good things."
"Somehow I doubt it, but for you two hope seems to spring eternal," Achmed put in.
"And for you the well has long been dry," Rhapsody intoned. "Yes Achmed, we will proceed with caution in these matters. I know you and the Nain have not had the warmest or most trusting relationship in the past."
"Humph," the king snorted. "That's the understatement of this century."
Rhapsody and her son shared a knowing smile before Meridion wished his mother a good night and retired to his chambers for the night.
"Achmed?" She said.
"Yes?"
"I have been rather uneasy the last few nights about Meridion. He is about to have a tremendous pressure placed upon him soon. With all likelihood, he will be officially elected the next Lord Cymrian. This pressure of governing a people is going to place a weight on him to use his gift more and more."
"And what is the problem?"
"Well, Meridion has spoken to me in the past how he is unsure how to proceed in dealing with his power. He is afraid to use any of the information that he receives of the future to try and change it because he cannot tell what his changes will ultimately come out to."
Achmed sat for a moment in thought. "I am glad that the boy has that much sense. But ultimately it will be his decision on how to use his gift. Neither of us can interfere with it. This is for him, and him alone to work out."
Rhapsody nodded her head but she still wasn't convinced that that was it.
"Look Rhapsody," Achmed said. "I know that he is your son and you want to be there for him in everything and help him through tough spots. But you know that at some point, a parent must let go of their child and allow them to face their own problems. You have done a great job of this so far, but you must keep it up. You must let your son face his own demons and make his own choices. If you are there, pushing him to one decision or another, he will never completely understand how to deal with his gift. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I think so. But it is still hard."
Achmed smiled and pulled her into his arms. "Of course it is, but you are strong. You know that all I have said is true and is the right thing to do."
"Thank you Achmed. You always seem to know my thoughts and how to confront me with them."
Another rare smile, this time a much broader one, pulled at the kings lips before he bent down to kiss his love on the forehead. "That's my job, to keep you as honest with yourself as with the rest of the world."
With that, he gently pulled her along with him to their now shared chambers for the night.