Chapter Nine
Nightfall had come and gone, but Philip had not moved from his throne, exactly where he had seated himself after Chloe's carriage had disappeared over the horizon. After he had made his show of retreating into his castle, Philip had gone straight to a window to sadly watch the carriage pull away. He had stayed and watched long after the carriage had disappeared from sight. All the while, he prayed for the carriage to turn around and yet cursed it for ever gracing his sight.
Philip would have retreated to his own room, but he honestly had not had the strength to make it that far. He felt he would collapse into tears at any moment, and that feeling sickened him. He was a grown man for Heaven's sake! And yet he was cowering under the weight of his problems like a scared child clinging to his mother's skirts. Only he did not have a mother anymore… at that very moment, with Chloe believing he hated her, Philip had no one.
Philip had crumbled into his throne, giving orders to be left completely alone. And he had sat there in his throne, taking slight comfort from the one place he felt he still held power, and stared off at nothing in particular, thinking of her. The sun had set and risen again before Philip even realized any time at all had passed.
Her sobs haunted him. He tried so hard not to care. He tried so hard to hold on to the anger he should have been feeling towards her. She had taken everything from him, including the love of his mother and his father that he so desperately craved. And she had cursed him to a shameful life as the butt of everyone's jokes because he was the incompetent one and she the poor, brave soul who was wronged by King John. And after all that she had betrayed him becoming his enemy's whore. And yet, Philip could not hold on to this anger. After all was said and done, he still loved Chloe so. She was his twin, his other half… most would say his better half. When he had thought her gone forever, it was as if a part of him was gone as well. And now that she was back, even if she believed he hated her, Philip was starting to feel whole again. But the thought that he might have ruined that forever when he listened to Cynthia's seductive words scared him so. Philip did not know what he would do if he lost Chloe again.
Philip was even too heartbroken to feel anger towards Brady. Not even the sight of Chloe collapsing into his arms for comfort and support brought him any resentment or anger. Perhaps he was just getting soft. So much had happened in so short a time. But whether he was being ignorant and childish or not, Philip was hurting just as much as Chloe was. But she could never know that. She could never know how Philip truly felt. At least not until Brady Black was out of their lives forever…
"Your Majesty?"
"Yes?" Philip responded tiredly, far too exhausted, both physically and mentally, to be angry at being disturbed.
"Pardon my intrusion, Your Majesty. But Lady Cynthia wishes to speak with you," Michael stated. Cynthia had been granted pretty much free reign over the Palace. She could go where she pleased when she pleased. But Philip had still insisted she be announced beforehand if she wished to approach him just as any other. Philip might be in a depression, and he might be at his weakest, but he was still a King and he still demanded respect.
"Send her in," Philip said wearily. He did not really wish to see her. He did not wish to see anyone. But he could not wallow in his own self pity forever. To do so would drive him completely mad.
"Right away, Your Majesty," Michael said, bowing his head. He disappeared for but a moment, reappearing now with Cynthia in tow. Cynthia was dressed in a tight black dress. On anyone else, it would have appeared classy or elegant, but the amount of cleavage the two-sizes too small dress showed off made it just sleazy. Her usual wicked "I always get my way" smirk graced her face. Michael had tried to send her away, but much to his dismay, Cynthia had insisted she would not leave until Philip said whether he would see her or not. And she knew well enough that Philip was too deep in her seductive enchantment to turn her away.
"Leave us," Philip commanded of Michael and the other guards in the Throne Room. They all left without argument, promptly closing all the doors to give them complete privacy. By now, news of Philip and Jan's last confrontation had spread through the castle in full, often embellished detail, and not a one of them wished to infer that wrath again. "What did you need, Lady Cynthia?"
"I thought we should talk. Now that you have turned Chloe away, it is time to discuss what is to be done next," Cynthia replied. Philip nodded. He would much rather avoid the subject altogether, but perhaps getting this all over and done with as soon as possible would bring him some peace.
"Yes, of course. Have a seat," Philip instructed. There was a seat besides his throne. Not exactly another throne, as if one for a King's Queen, but it was a seat of power. Michael or one of Philip's council members would often be seated next to Philip during conferences with foreign ambassadors or the few serious trials which Philip himself was required to attend, such as murder investigations. There had once been a second actual throne where Queen Katherine had sat. But when she and King Victor had their falling out so to speak, the throne was removed so as to not give a seat of ultimate power to a lowly Council Member or General. Cynthia gladly took the seat besides Philip, seeing it as a sign that he really was completely under her control.
"Are you sure you are up for this discussion, Your Majesty?" Cynthia asked very sweetly. She did not give a damn either way. She had known he wished to be alone, but patience was not always a virtue of hers. But she needed Philip to believe that she only had his best interests at heart.
"I really have little choice in the matter now," Philip replied grimly. "I will be fine. Let us just get on with this plan of yours. The sooner it is executed, the sooner Brady will be no more, and the sooner I will have my sister back."
"Just as it should be," Cynthia stated.
"Do you have a strategy in mind, or were you merely waiting to see how my confrontation with Chloe would turn out?" Philip asked.
"Oh, I have had a complete, flawless plan in mind since before I even came to you with the news of Chloe's arrival in Nero. I knew just how everything would work out," Cynthia stated boastfully.
"Quite confident in yourself, I see. Do you plan to share your theories, or do you delight too much in holding this "flawless" plan of yours over my head?" Philip asked. Cynthia grinned wickedly. Of course she delighted in playing with his simple mind.
"The plan is really very simple. If you wish to truly make someone suffer, you must not take a direct approach. To make Brady pay for his crimes, and the crimes of his father before him, then you must first take from him that which he loves most," Cynthia stated matter-of-factly.
"And just how am I to do that? He has no other family now, no one really to speak of except Chloe. How exactly am I to take that away from him when I have denounced her as my sister? She won't willingly come here to me now. So what else is there?" Philip asked.
"That's easy," Cynthia replied, her wicked smirk even more satisfied than before. "We kill her."
"Wh…what did you say?" Philip asked, a shocked and completely dumbfounded expression on his face. He must have heard her wrong. Cynthia could not possibly be suggesting that he have his own sister, his own flesh and blood, murdered in the name of vengeance against Brady Black.
"You heard me. To punish Brady, we will have to kill Chloe," Cynthia repeated.
"Are you mad!" Philip boomed, lunging out of his chair. Not at her though. He could not even look at her. He began to pace fiercely back and forth in front of his throne. "You can not possibly be serious! To think that I would harm my own sister…my own flesh and blood, the only family I have left… it's preposterous! What happened yesterday caused her emotional pain. But I could never, ever, cause her physical harm!" Cynthia rose from her seat, approaching Philip as he ranted. She snaked her arms around him from behind to quiet his ramblings.
"You did not allow me to finish, Your Majesty," Cynthia cooed. Philip closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly to calm his own nerves. "We will see to it that Chloe is killed… or at least that is what we shall have the esteemed King of Nero believe."
"What do you mean?" Philip asked. Her arms were not tight around him, and yet he felt as if they were huge serpents, wrapping him in their coils and squeezing the very life out of him. The embrace was as meaningless as when Jan held her arms around him. But Jan had never truly held any power over him. Yes, she had had free reign of the Palace much like Cynthia, but that was merely because of Philip's desperate need for someone to have some kind of companionship with. So, Jan's embrace was merely comforting, whereas Cynthia's was stifling. Having Cynthia's arms around him made him feel as if she was controlling him in a way that could bring him nothing but hardship.
"You want Chloe at your side, do you not? And so, you shall have that, just as you deserve. You have spies in Nero, correct? Surely you can know when Chloe is alone, unguarded."
"No, I had spies in Nero. But they have all gone missing it seems. Whether mutiny or by King Brady's hand, I am not sure," Philip interjected. His spies had apparently gone missing quite some time ago, but Michael had just recently taken it upon himself to share that vital information with Philip. With Cynthia's news, Philip had not put much more thought into his disappeared spies.
"Then you can get new informants. Ones that are better and more loyal than the others. Get them to get Chloe alone. Have them lure her away… to the river maybe. They can seize her and bring her here to you. But it will not be a mere kidnaping…not to Brady at least. To get Chloe all to yourself, you must make it look as if Chloe has been killed. Drowned, strangled, stabbed to death… whatever you can stage, just make it look as if Chloe has been killed," Cynthia stated. "Once you get her here, keep her in secret. No one can know she is here. Only you and I, and whomever you choose for this important mission should know. That way the word can not get out that Chloe is truly alive, and you can keep her hidden away so you can make her see that she does not really love Brady. You can tell her that she was merely under Brady's seductive lure perhaps. And then while Brady is distracted by his grief…"
"I go in and finish him off once in for all," Philip finished. "That sounds perfect… so long as you can swear to me that no harm will befall Chloe."
"Nothing will happen to her, I swear to you. Our only concern is to punish Brady. What you do with Chloe once she gets here is totally up to you. You just make sure you choose informants which you truly trust with your dear sister's life," Cynthia stated. She unraveled her arms from around him, stepping back and slinking down into her seat, imagining that it really was a throne indeed.
"When should we put this plan of yours into action?" Philip asked, turning around to face her now. The scene looked as if he was the commoner campaigning his Queen seated upon her royal throne. Philip did not realize the impact the gesture held; Cynthia, however, did notice, and was quite pleased.
"Whenever you see fit, Your Majesty. If I may make a suggestion, however?" Cynthia was not really asking for permission to continue. She held all the cards here. She would be the one that would guide his hand from that moment on, and she knew it. But she figured she should give him such formalities. She did not want him to figure out just how much power she had over him after all. Philip nodded his head, waving a hand to bid her to continue. "We should wait, for a time at least. Right now, right after you made your declaration refusing the peace treaty, Nero will most likely be on high alert, and so the Palace security will be too much for your guards to get around. If we wait long enough, Brady will let his guard down, leaving us the opportunity to take Chloe. For now, let us just concentrate on calling for new, more trustworthy citizens to keep an eye on the Neroean Palace and bring Chloe to you." Philip nodded.
"Agreed. If you will excuse me, I would like to discuss this with Michael. I will want him to pick his most trusted men to carry out this deed for me I know he can be trusted. Feel free to stay here as long as you like," Philip stated. He approached the throne as if to retrieve something, although there was nothing there that he needed. Standing in front of his throne, Philip turned his head to face Cynthia, a cold, stern expression on his face. "But remember, Lady Cynthia. If she is harmed in any way, big or small, I will hold you responsible," Philip warned, showing he was not yet fully controlled by her charms. There was still some authority in him yet. Cynthia's cool, calm face did not waver, and she smiled despite the growing concern within her.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Cynthia said coolly. Philip was satisfied with the gesture, believing he had made his point clear. He left the Throne Room now via the same doorway at the front of the Throne Room that Michael had passed through minutes before.
Cynthia rose from her seat, a lesser throne in her eyes. Checking first to assure that no one else was watching, Cynthia stood in front of Philip's much grander throne, gracefully seating herself in the seat of ultimate power within Mucche. She made herself quite comfortable in the throne, molding herself to the symbol of supremacy as if she alone was meant for it. A wicked grin crossed her haunting face as she closed her eyes and pictured herself dressed in royal robes and being praised by her subjects as the Queen Cynthia knew she was meant to be.
As a council member, her father held power in Nero. But nothing could ever compare to the power she could wield as Queen of an entire country. But with Philip's help, whether he was aware of it or not, Cynthia would not just have power over one nation. No, she would have it all, just as she deserved. All of Salem would bow to her every selfish desire…..
Chloe sighed sadly as the castle came into view. The sun was low in the sky now, the mid-afternoon sun casting shadows on the grand, gray walls of the Palace somehow only making it even more uninviting to her. Chloe had not wanted to leave the cabin at all. The confrontation she knew would be awaiting them was just too much to deal with right now. But Harold and the others would be worried to death as it was. So after they had dressed and eaten, and the horses were fed and the cabin cleaned up, Brady and Chloe had left their safe haven for the uneasy confinement of Palace life.
Chloe had eventually managed to fall into a restless but thankfully dreamless sleep that morning. Brady had apparently awakened not long after she drifted back to sleep. But he had let her sleep through the morning, not waking her until the sun was already high in the sky. Despite how much sleep she actually got, Chloe woke up feeling very tired, as if she had barely slept at all. And Brady, not in a very good mood himself, it seemed, had seemed to pick up on that.
Even though she felt he was in no better shape then herself, Brady had awakened Chloe with a smile. He greeted her with a lavish breakfast in bed. Fluffy, flaky biscuits, raspberry and strawberry jams, fresh toasted breads, bountiful fruits, both dried and fresh, and other such delicious breakfast foods graced her plate in amounts far larger than she could ever eat. Brady had gone all out when he visited the marketplace that morning. Even the horses had been granted what was probably the best meal of their entire lives.
It was just fortunate for them that the merchants in the marketplace were so generous, at least where royalty was concerned. Brady had little money on him. He always kept a small amount in the cabin for when he desired to feel like a normal person rather than King. But he had spent most of that the last time he had gotten breakfast for Chloe from the marketplace, and had not remembered to restock the little jar he used for storing money, something his step-mother Marlena had said her peasant family had done when she was a child.
But the merchants this morning had not cared. Since Brady was not disguised in peasant clothing as he normally was when going into the city, the people had recognized him with ease. They all waved away Brady's offerings of money, claiming that to have his esteemed grace honor their humble stands with his presence was far better payment than all the gold in Nero. Of course, none of them honestly meant it, but Brady knew those merchants would probably sell out of their wares today. Before he could even leave a stand with his goods, people were flocking to the stand to buy the goods which their King deemed worthy.
After her breakfast, which Brady had not shared with her, claiming he had eaten while she slept, Chloe was also treated to a hot bath. She had to use a tub Brady had set up outside behind the house since the cabin did not have the advanced plumbing system that the Palace had, but Chloe had not minded. It was a beautiful day after all, even if her thoughts were troubled. Brady had left her alone to her bath as well, stating he needed to clean the cabin before they left. The tub was big enough for the two of them really, but Brady had bathed before waking her. And Chloe was grateful for that. It was not as if she did not want to be around him. And she greatly appreciated his kind treatment of her. He was trying so hard to make her feel better and to make up for the grief he had caused her. But Chloe's troubled thoughts and memories of her disturbing dream still kept her from wanting to be around anyone. She was too troubled to even wish to be around her husband to be.
Aside from when he woke her up and took her down to her bath, Chloe had seen very little of Brady. He gave her her breakfast, then left to heat her bath water over the fire he had built in the fireplace. Awhile later he returned just long enough to take her plate and bring her downstairs, and then he was gone again to clean up the cabin and see to the horses. Brady was not intentionally trying to avoid her she knew. He would not be doing all these kind things to help ease her mind if that was his only intention. But he did not appear to be very happy, and it was as if he sensed that she wished to be alone.
They had set out for the Palace once she was dressed. Brady had also brought her a new sky blue dress so she could wear something fresh and unsoiled. Her ripped dress was lain across the seat inside the carriage, though she was unsure whether she would chose to fix the torn ensemble or not. Brady had hitched the two horses back up to the carriage that morning and was now on the driver's perch. He had wanted Chloe to ride in the carriage. She had only been on an actual horse once in her life after all, and the driver's perch was up even higher than if she were on horseback. But Chloe had insisted on riding beside him. The carriage was too confining she had said, and she wanted to be a part of the beautiful day. It was, after all, one of the only good things about the day thus far.
"Ho! The King approaches! Lower the draw bridge!" A guard from one of the watch towers at the Palace entrance shouted upon sight of the carriage. The draw bridge was lowered, and six soldiers immediately filed out to greet their king. They first helped Chloe down from the high driver's seat. Then as Brady too dismounted, they took up the horses' reigns.
"Unhitch the carriage and take the horses back to the stables. They have already been fed and watered," Brady instructed.
"Yes, Your Majesty," one of them replied. With that the six soldiers led the carriage away to return it and the horses to their rightful places.
"You're back!" It was Harold, looking rather frazzled, and Brady could swear a few more stress lines were now present on his face. He hustled quickly out of the Palace from where the soldiers had emerged. "Where have you been! We were all worried sick!" Harold scolded, glaring at them both disapprovingly.
"We were…"
"Oh, never mind that!" Harold interrupted as Brady spoke. Harold was quite fortunate he did not serve a king like King Victor Kiriakis. Victor would not have stood for such words being spoken to him. But Brady was used to Harold's… strange ways. And he was a close friend all the same. "Come come, we have much to discuss." Harold began to usher Brady and Chloe inside the Palace now. "Did Philip…" But he did not really need to finish his question. He could see by the disappointed, distraught look on Chloe's face that their mission had been unsuccessful.
"No. No, Philip did not sign the treaty," Brady stated. And he would elaborate no more. Harold nodded, a sigh of disappointment escaping his lips. He had feared as much.
"Right then. Well, come along then. Everyone has been anxiously awaiting your return. They are all waiting for you in the conference room."
"Chloe… why don't you go on to our room now? Believe me, you do not want to go in to that conference room. A room full of stuffy, grumpy, stubborn old men is far too bad a torment for us both to have to go through it," Brady stated as they began to make their way down the hallways towards the conference room. Chloe wanted to go with him. She believed if she had been present at the last meeting, she could have prevented the armed guards from accompanying them to Mucche. But she felt that Brady would most likely be insistent on this matter.
"Oh! I've forgotten my dress anyway. I'll just go down and ask where the carriage was taken," Chloe said, remembering that she had left her torn dress inside the carriage.
"All right. I will meet you later when all this is over with. I'll come and get you if anything important should be brought up. But knowing my council, I doubt it," Brady stated, attempting to lighten the mood. Chloe forced a smile though it did not reach her eyes.
"All right, I will see you after the boringness is over and done with. Harold." Chloe nodded in his direction as a means of goodbye, and Harold nodded back, smiling at her reassuringly. With that, Chloe turned around and began to walk back the way they had come, hoping she managed to find one of the soldiers who had taken the carriage away. Maybe that dress was not a symbol of peace and unity to Philip, but Chloe could not bear to just throw it out. A part of her, buried deep within the pain in her heart, still had some hope that everything would work out as it should, even if the pessimistic side of her kept telling her it would never be.
"She is really hurting," Harold stated.
"Yes, she is," Brady replied sadly.
"And so are you." Harold always was very insightful, although perhaps a blind man could see how much pain he was in. Seeing her suffer so, and trying so hard to hide it, made his heart ache. "Are you sure that you are up to this right now? It can wait. Shawn and the others have promised not to go anywhere yet until it is decided what is to come next. Messengers have been sent to their people. Everything is alright here. It would not hurt to wait a few more hours if you need time."
"No, there will be no more waiting. I am fine, Harold, really. It's Chloe I'm worried about. That's why I sent her away. I can handle this. But I appreciate that you care," Brady replied.
"Well if you are sure… there are many things that need to be discussed. Your time in Mucche is not all that needs to be brought forward," Harold stated, thinking back to the four individuals who were imprisoned in the local jail. He had checked on them earlier that morning. They were being treated very well. Hell, they were eating better in jail than most of the law-abiding peasants were. But Harold was still skeptical of leaving them there. Each time he had visited, they did nothing but demand to be let out, and curse them all, proclaiming Philip would never allow this injustice to go unpunished. Harold had started to doubt his decision to not inform Brady of their capture the moment the carriage had pulled out of sight. But that was, unfortunately, over and done with. What's done was done, and it could not be undone. Brady looked at Harold questioningly, but before he could inquire what Harold meant, they reached the conference room. "Here we are," Harold proclaimed, pushing open the conference room door.
"Brady!" Jason exclaimed upon seeing Harold and Brady in the doorway.
"Oh thank Heavens it's you!" Shawn exclaimed. Harold allowed Brady to go in first, and once he was inside, Harold followed, closing the door behind them, not noticing that the door had come slightly ajar as soon as he stepped away from it. All were present just as Harold had said. Shawn, Jason, David, Brady's council, General Rex…even Miriam were all seated in the conference room.
"What news do you bring us, Young Black? Was your mission a success?" David inquired as Brady took his seat around the table and Harold took his usual place standing against the wall just beside the doorway.
"No, David, our mission was most definitely not a success. A complete and total failure is more the proper term," Brady stated grimly. All their expressions fell, and the mood became thick and dark. For a moment it felt to all as if hope was lost. But none of them would dwell on it, and the thick, dark air that had engulfed the room parted a bit to give way to some optimism.
"Well, you and your wife to be are alive. That is something to be glad of. So it is not a total loss. We were beginning to worry there for a moment," David stated.
"I am sorry to worry you. It was just… well, neither Chloe nor myself were really up to coming back to the castle just yet. We arrived late last night, or very early this morning, however you wish to look at it. But we were not ready to come back here just yet, and I apologize for worrying you all," Brady stated.
"It's quite all right, Brady. We all understand. What matters is that you are here now," Shawn stated.
"So come on now, you must elaborate, Brady. Tell us what happened on your trip?" Jason inquired.
"There is not much to tell really. There was very little security along the mountain pass, and none of the guards within the city made a single move to stop us," Brady stated.
"That is so odd. Clearly they could tell that you were Neroean," David stated. Brady nodded.
"I thought it was odd at first as well. But I understand now," Brady said. "You see, when we arrived at the Palace… Philip was waiting for us. He knew that we were coming. And he knew exactly why. He knew all about Chloe and the peace treaty and the Alliance… he knew everything."
"What?" boomed one of Brady's council members in total shock. "But how?"
"Spies perhaps?" Miriam chimed in. Brady shook his head.
"No… not in the sense that you mean, Princess Miriam," Brady replied. His eyes traveled around the room until they locked with Lord Banks' eyes. One of the things that had troubled him since leaving Mucche was just how he was going to tell Lord Banks that his daughter, his only child, was a traitor? "Lord Banks, do you think perhaps that we could talk… in private?"
"It's my daughter, isn't it?" It wasn't really a question. A father always knew such things. He could tell by the look in Brady's eyes that Cynthia was somehow involved. "There is no need to speak in private… It doesn't matter anymore. If she has gone to Mucche to hold council with King Philip, then she has crossed the line. I've seen the mark on her… I knew what she was, I just… I didn't want to believe it. I am so sorry that my negligence has caused so much tension. I should have said something, I should have kept her from the Palace. But to expose her as a traitor…" Traitors were punished severely in Nero. It was traitorous acts by the Kiriakis family, after all, that had started this whole beastly war in the first place.
"There is no need for apologies, Lord Banks. It is perfectly understandable. She is your daughter. I would not begrudge you for defending your own child's honor. I hold no blame against you," Brady stated.
"Wait… Lady Cynthia Banks is an informant to King Philip?" Jason asked, quite confused.
"I am afraid so. She was there when Chloe and I got to the Palace. She was there with Philip. I don't know why, and I don't know how she knew… But she had apparently told him everything," Brady replied. "The Alliance, the peace treaty, Chloe's real identity… everything. He knew everything we know, and more."
"But wait, none of this makes sense," Lord Andrew Winters chimed in. "If King Philip knew… if Lady Cynthia told him everything and told him that you would be arriving, why did he not just simply set up a trap for you? If he knew in advance, he could have easily had you both killed. Why didn't he?"
"That is a good question, Andrew. Why indeed?" Lord James Westermen inquired.
"That is a good question. The only thing I can think of is that Philip has something bigger planned. Killing me might not be enough for him anymore. If he could say the things he did today to his own sister… than he is too far gone in his grief or anger or whatever it is that drives him for us to get through to him. And that means he is probably out for total revenge," Brady stated.
Elsewhere, Chloe had retrieved her torn dress and returned it to her old room where all her sewing supplies were still thrown about. She was just about to sit down to start working on fixing her dress when a thought occurred to her.
"I'm not just going to sit here while they discuss what to do about my own brother," Chloe declared aloud to herself. She had a right to know what was going on, didn't she? She did trust Brady, though there was a nagging little voice at the back of her head that told her she now had reason not to. But Chloe had no idea what Brady's council and the Kings of the Alliance might talk him into.
With her mind made up, Chloe set down her dress on the bed, leaving her room and closing the door behind her. She quietly made her way down the hallways of the castle, intent on reaching the conference room. The few people she encountered in the halls all greeted her with smiles and kind words. Chloe just nodded politely and continued on, not wishing to stop and talk with anyone lest she miss something important at the meeting. Chloe had originally intended to go inside and let her presence known. But when she reached the conference room, she saw that the door was left slightly ajar.
"…And that means he is probably out for total revenge." It was Brady speaking. Chloe placed her hand on the door frame, preparing to push the conference room door open and go inside. But before she could make herself known, Chloe pulled her hand away, moving to stand at one side of the door so she would not be seen but could still hear what was being said inside. Yes, eavesdropping would be wrong, but what better way to know what really, truly went on inside that conference room than if no one realized she was there? This way, they could not censor their thoughts merely because she was present.
"I imagine that is so, Brady. But what could Philip gain by sending you away? Surely he must know you will never enter his city again like that. Why would he pass up the perfect opportunity to extract revenge? He has no intention of peace obviously. What else could there possibly be?" David asked.
"I honestly have no idea, David. Unfortunately, there is no way to possibly know what is going on in Philip's mind. And he has banned both Chloe and myself from Mucche under penalty of death, so there is no possibility of talking this situation out peacefully," Brady stated.
"Are you saying military action may be the only solution now?" Jason asked.
"The vast majority of our legions have all been dispatched to their respective homes. There would not have been enough spare resources to sustain the entire force. But each of us gathered a number of our best men and stationed them in the army base and in homes of Nero patrons who agreed to quarter soldiers," Shawn stated. "Just as we agreed."
"At this point," Brady started grimly, "military action might be inevitable. We've tried to take a peaceful route to solving this problem. But it seems Philip has left us with no other choice but to throw out all the peaceful gestures and rally our armies for a full scale attack," Brady stated regrettably.
Chloe's hand shot up to her mouth to suppress her gasp of surprise, and she backed away from the door. No one inside heard her, but Brady did turn to look over his shoulder at the doorway. He had sensed…. Something. But he had no idea exactly what that something was. It did not strike him as completely familiar, however, so he just waved the feeling off, turning his attention back to those in the conference room. Chloe turned on her heels, fleeing the scene as fast as she could. She wanted to hear no more; the man she loved could not possibly be thinking about all out war against her own brother, his future brother-in-law.
"I hate to say it, but I am afraid I agree with what you are saying, Young Brady," David stated, his tone as grim as Brady's.
"If we want this war over with once and for all, we will have to launch a full scale attack on Mucche immediately," Jason stated. Brady shook his head, resting his elbows on the table and massaging his temples for a moment before speaking.
"I can not condone it," Brady stated, placing his hands back flat on the table. "I just can not bring myself to initiate a full scale attack on Mucche."
"Brady…." Shawn started worriedly. He had sensed that Brady's feelings for Chloe were affecting his judgment at the last meeting. He sensed that feeling now as well.
"Please don't start, Shawn," Brady implored. "You all do not know how this affects me, just as I do not know how this affects each of you personally. Philip is going to be my brother-in-law. Do you all understand that? He is going to be a part of my family, even if he does not acknowledge Chloe or myself. Surely you must all realize that makes the situation all the more hard for me," Brady stated.
"Of course we do, Brady," David replied. "But you must also realize that your feelings, or even the feelings of anyone in this room, are not all we must consider. Our roll as officials is to see to the needs of the people. We are given the responsibility to protect those who can not protect themselves. We must put the needs of our citizens before our own needs," David stated.
"I know that, David. Believe me, I know. That makes this all the harder," Brady stated.
"That in mind… when it comes right down to it, we have a very important decision to make, and it is imperative that we make it as quickly as possible," Shawn stated.
"Do we fight, or do we wait for Philip to make his move?" Jason inquired.
"Ahem," Harold cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the entire room. "I do not mean to add to the burden…"
"Please, Harold, whatever you need to say, do let us know," Brady stated.
"There is something else of great importance that needs to be brought to attention," Harold stated.
"Yes Harold, go on," Brady prompted, believing it had something to do with the strange comments Harold had made earlier.
"Well, you see… a problem arose the night before you were to leave for Mucche. A problem which I could not bring to attention because of your impending departure," Harold said. Everyone in the room could sense that Harold had grown quite nervous as if he wished not to speak any further on the matter.
"What kind of problem?" Brady prodded.
"We have taken four Mucchean spies prisoner, Your Majesty," General Rex interjected bluntly. He had not made himself known until now. But he knew Harold would beat around the bush for ages, and they hadn't time for such things. "Two of them were caught fleeing the Palace with documents they had stolen. The other two were taken in for trying to free their partners. We searched their inn rooms and discovered other stolen documents as well as many letters to and from King Philip and his General, Michael."
"Why was I not informed of this?" Brady asked angrily.
"With all there was going on, we did not wish to add more worry to you. We did not wish to put the union in any jeopardy," Harold stated.
"Did it ever occur to you, Harold, that by keeping those men in jail, that was exactly what you were doing? Philip surely knew his informants had gone missing. He would, of course, also assume that I would have something to do with their disappearances. Tell me now, would you accept an offering of peace from the very man you suspected of holding your people captive?" Brady asked, his anger rising. So much could have been accomplished if he had just been informed of the situation!
"Do not blame Councilman Wentworth, Your Majesty. He wished only to free the prisoners at once. It was only at my stern insistence that they were held in prison until your return," Rex stated.
"All the blame can not rest on General Rex. I was the one that insisted you not be informed of the arrests before you left," Harold pointed out.
"Enough. You are both guilty of withholding information from your King," Jason stated. "Let's move on past that fact."
"Yes, let us move on. Was anyone else aware of this?" Brady asked.
"No. Just the General and myself," Harold replied. "Ioannis knew they were wrongdoers of course, but he did not really know what wrongs they had committed. He only did as he was told. He would tell no one about the arrests even if he knew anything to tell," Harold assured.
"What about the men who helped you with the arrests? Surely you did not arrest all four by yourself, General Rex," Shawn inquired.
"They are all simple men. Like Ioannis, they merely followed orders. I can assure you all no one knows of this except we here in this room," Rex assured.
"I am not so certain of what you can assure," Brady said grimly. His anger had faded. He trusted both Rex and Harold to do what they believed was right. But he was still upset at not being informed. "There were four you say? Who are they?"
"Abraham Carver, Roman Evans, and two of his children, Samantha and Eric," Rex answered. "All known to have some connection to Philip in one way or another."
"And the documents confiscated from them?" Brady inquired. Rex pulled a briefcase up off the floor that had been sitting beside his chair, pulling many papers and letters out of it.
"This is everything, important or not, that we confiscated from them," Rex stated. The handful of documents was passed down the table to Brady. Brady scanned over the articles quickly, reading only what first caught his eye.
"This is everything?" Brady asked. Rex nodded.
"All the paper documents, yes. We also found a few items. Upon reading most of the letters, we assumed they were articles of Princess Chloe's. I do not have those things with me, but I will have them returned immediately," Rex stated. Brady nodded, laying the papers down on the table, with every intention of reading them in full detail later when he was alone.
"We will not keep these four individuals in imprisonment a moment longer," Brady stated.
"But, Your Majesty…"
"It is not a subject for debate. They may be spies, and that is grounds for treason charges. But we have no proof that they were bringing information to Philip he did not already know. To punish these men, I would also have to punish Lady Cynthia Banks. And I have no intention of doing that. Not because of who she is, but because even though I saw her with my own eyes, there is no physical proof that she is a traitor. I can not condone punishing these individuals if I do not also issue a punishment for Lady Cynthia as well. So they will be freed right away," Brady stated.
"Everything that is not from the Palace that was taken from them will be returned to them. Any type of transportation they desire will be supplied to them. They will be offered any kind of compensation for their troubles that they desire so long as it is within our power to provide it. Whatever measures it takes to quell these peoples' anger shall be done. I will not have Philip thinking our offering of peace was a complete travesty," Brady finished.
"Does that mean there will be no attack?" Shawn inquired, bringing the conversation back to the previous topic.
"I will not be unreasonable. Before I left for Mucche, I was stubborn and I would not listen to reason. As David stated, I am not the only person who will be affected by this decision. I can not promise I will, morally or emotionally, agree with the decisions you all make. But I can promise I will do my very best to support your decision, whatever that should be. You all have as much to gain, or lose, as I do," Brady sated. "Had you deliberated over what was to be done while I was away?" Brady asked.
"Yes we did, Your Majesty," James Westermen replied. "But unfortunately, we were not able to reach a full agreement. We were almost equally divided on the matter."
"What course of action do you believe we should take, Brady?" Shawn inquired.
"I think we should wait," Brady replied. Shawn looked as if he would protest, but Brady raised his hand to halt whatever it was he might say. "This is not a statement made by a man so deep in love he can not realize he is shirking his responsibilities. It is a logical statement." David nodded; he had lived much longer than most in attendance and he very well knew what Brady was getting at.
"You stated that Philip knew everything upon your arrival in Mucche. That would mean he is also aware of the Alliance," David pointed out.
"Oh I see," Jason started, coming to an understanding as well. "Philip will be expecting us to make a move now. He would be prepared for a strike."
"I suspect so," Brady stated. "I think the best course of action would be to wait this out. I will station some men in the mountain range. They can keep an eye on the Mucchean front. If anything is going to happen, it will happen on either Neroean soil or Mucchean soil now. I truly believe that, for now at least, any plans Philip had to affect Rubino, or any of the other countries for that matter, will be put on hold."
"So I believe it would be best for you all to return to your own countries. But any troops you would lend to the cause, should Philip make the first move, would be vastly appreciated. They would be given all they needed at the militia base. I will make sure there is enough supplies to sustain the larger number of troops. This is all a mere suggestion of course," Brady stated.
The Kings of the Alliance all three shared a look, as if deliberating without words on whether they should agree with Brady's suggested course of action or not. There seemed to be an hour of silence when really they stayed silently for only a minute or two while they came to their decision. After the three kings seemed to reach a silent agreement, David spoke as if he were a delegate for all three.
"I believe we find your terms acceptable," David stated.
"We are all in agreement then?" Brady asked of everyone in the room. Some members of Brady's council hesitated, but all present eventually nodded their heads in agreement. "Good. That is settled then. Well then, is that all that needs to be discussed?" Brady asked.
"I believe so. I am sure I speak for us all when I say that we trust you to attend to the needs of our soldiers," David stated.
"I value that trust, David. I will treat your men as if they were my own. If anything should arise, only the fastest riders of Nero will be sent to send you word of it," Brady assured.
"Well then. We shall rest and prepare for departure in the morning. Our people are surely anxiously awaiting the news we bring," Jason stated.
"I will arrange for your transportation," Brady said.
"That would be wonderful, thank you," David said.
"Well, if you will all excuse me, I've many things I need to attend to," Brady stated, standing. "I will see you all in the morning to see you off on your journey home." David, Shawn, and Jason stood as well, each grasping Brady's arm in a hand shake. Miriam stood with her father, and Brady politely kissed her hand.
"Until tomorrow," David said for all of them. And with that, the Kings of the Alliance and Miriam left the conference room to begin their preparations for their morning departure. Brady turned now to Harold.
"Harold, will you please see to it that three carriages are prepared for their journey by morning?" Brady asked.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Harold replied.
"Thank you, Harold," Brady said. "General Rex, you will please come with me to set those prisoners free."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Rex replied.
"Gentlemen," Brady started, turning to his council. "Thank you all for your attendance here today. I would like to have a public announcement this evening. I would wish for you all to attend."
"I am sure we shall all be there, Your Majesty," Lord Banks stated. Brady nodded.
"Good. Until later, gentlemen," Brady said. He nodded his head to Rex, then walked out of the conference room followed closely by the General, who was followed closely by Harold. Harold turned and walked down a different hallway to begin the preparations for the departure of King Shawn, King Jason, King David and Princess Miriam. Brady and Rex continued out of the Palace, Rex taking two of his men to help with the release, and Brady silently praying that Philip's spies were not so hostile that Philip would only have more fuel to add to the fire…..
It was dark by the time Brady finally managed to make his way to his chambers. He was tired and his head throbbed with pain, and he was glad to finally be free to rest.
Along with the splitting headache, Brady's left cheek had three scarlet red scratches, none very deep, just quite long. Samantha, the most agitated of the group of four, had fancied herself a very pissed off feline apparently, as the moment she was freed from her cell she lunged at Brady, scratching him. Rex had drawn his sword, but Brady halted him from taking any action, and Roman had immediately hauled his overly-violent daughter back away from Brady.
No other violent acts were committed, and Brady let Samantha's actions slide because of the inconvenience caused to all of them. They had all demanded passage back to Mucche and had immediately been granted such. Brady had returned everything that was confiscated from them, minus anything from the Palace of course, and assured them he had not known and he was dreadfully sorry for the grief caused them. They departed just an hour after being set free, none of them taking any other compensation that had been offered to them for their troubles. Brady, unfortunately, had no idea what they would tell Philip when they reported in Mucche.
The public announcement had been just as hectic. Brady had called for the announcement to be held in the town square rather than the Palace, so that the people got the feeling that Brady was a part of them all rather than someone who was just watching from above. Since the Kings of the Alliance were not leaving until morning, they had been called to the announcement.
The people of course had not been pleased. The notion of just waiting for Philip to make his move had frightened them all. "We're sitting ducks!" many had cried in anguish. But Brady's guards had eventually quieted those gathered at the town square, and Brady had assured them all that he would make sure the city was as protected as possible. Whether they believed him, or whether they still supported him as they had before, Brady was not sure.
After that, Brady had stopped to make sure that the preparations for the departure of the Kings of the Alliance were all going smoothly. Everything was going fine in that department, so Brady went straight to his chambers, intent on retiring to a much needed, much deserved, hot bath with the woman he loved and a full night's sleep. That was not, however, what greeted him.
What he did find was a distraught Chloe, sitting in a chair facing the doorway, her arms crossed over her full breasts in a very impatient manner. She looked as if she was waiting for him.
"Chloe, what is wrong?" Brady asked worriedly, quickly stepping inside and closing the door soundly behind him.
"We need to talk," Chloe stated grimly, trying desperately to keep her voice from cracking. She wouldn't let him know just how upset she was. Dread began to form in the pit of Brady's stomach. This did not sound like a good kind of talk.
"Of course," Brady said, coming into the room and walking to his bedside to remove his boots. He sat down on the edge of his side of the bed and began undoing his boot laces. "What about?"
"About this afternoon," Chloe replied. "About the meeting this afternoon."
"What about it?" Brady asked, finishing with the first bootlace and kicking that boot off, placing it at the foot of the bed. "Must we discuss it tonight? I am so very tired. And I told you, you would find the details of the meeting quite boring."
"What I heard tonight, I did not find boring," Chloe stated firmly. She was still facing the doorway. She did not wish to turn to face him.
"What you heard?" Brady demanded questioningly. He threw his second boot over with the other. "You were eavesdropping?"
"I was going to come inside. I knew you wouldn't like it, but I wanted to hear what was being said. But the door was left ajar, so I just listened. It is not my fault your security is so very lacking," Chloe stated coolly.
"I would not have kept you from the conference room if I had known you wanted to attend so badly. I merely thought it best that you not attend so you did not get upset," Brady stated, standing from his bed. He walked over to a chair that was sitting in front of the full length mirror, unbuckling his belt and placing it over the chair. "I was going to put everything into context for you later."
"When?" Chloe demanded.
"I don't know, Chloe," Brady said tiredly, sitting in the chair he'd placed his belt over. He was growing more irritated by the moment. All he wanted was to relax and rest. He didn't feel up to this now. "Some time when my nerves were calmed. Some time when I'm not so exhausted. I am so tired tonight… I just decided it would be best to wait until I was in a proper mindset to discuss the matter with you without arguing."
"How am I to believe that?" Chloe asked. "How am I to know for sure you ever intended to tell me?"
"Wait… just stop," Brady demanded, but not in a harsh way. "We're getting ahead of ourselves. What exactly did you hear?"
"What does it matter?" Chloe asked.
"Well, you must already know something of importance to get you so upset. Much was said tonight. If you know one thing, then you might as well know everything," Brady stated.
"I know that you asked for troops to be left in Nero even before we ever left for Mucche," Chloe stated. "And I know that you are considering military action against my brother."
"For starters, I did not ask for troops. I agreed to it because I am not the only person affected by this war. It was the same when I agreed to take armed guards with us to Mucche. I did it because I have obligations that I must fulfill. You said you understood that," Brady stated.
"Well, maybe I don't anymore," Chloe stated coldly. She stood from her own chair, moving to the more comfortable sofa. She sat down at one end, her arms still crossed protectively over herself and her legs tucked in under herself. She looked rather drawn up into herself, taking up the smallest amount of space on the couch that she possibly could.
"Then that is your problem, not mine. There is nothing I can do about it. I was born to carry this responsibility. I may not like it, but I have no choice," Brady stated. That distance he felt between them at the cabin had returned in full force, perhaps even stronger than before. She was only across the room, but it felt like miles. Miles and miles of cold, dark nothing.
"My obligations as King of Nero require me to look after the needs of my people before my own desires. That is why I had to consider the option of military action. My feelings for you can not affect the decisions I make for my people. But still, you must know how hard this is for me. Philip is going to be my family, too, you know, once we're married. It's not a decision I would take lightly. I only wish you happy. If I had my way, Nero would never again raise a hand against Mucche. But that is just not how it can work. I am sorry for that, but there's nothing I can do," Brady finished dismally. He regretted it. He wished he could make Chloe happy as she deserved. But if it meant abandoning the people that relied on him most, then it could not be.
"You said there was something else?" Chloe asked.
"No action is being taken yet. The troops that were lent to me will remain here, as a means for protection for my people if Philip makes a move. But the main troops have all been dispatched and the Kings of the Alliance will be leaving in the morning," Brady stated. "We will not be taking action against Philip, at least not yet. But I will not leave my people vulnerable and unprotected. We will be prepared because I fear that the chance that Philip will attack us first has just grown much larger."
"Why? What else happened?"
"Four Mucchean citizens were taken captive under charges of treason. They were spies," Brady stated. "They were taken before we left for Mucche, but I was not informed until this afternoon."
"What do you plan to do with them? Execute them as traitors?" Chloe asked coldly, turning her gaze completely away from him. Traitors in Mucche were executed without a true trial. She assumed the same was so for Nero.
"No," Brady replied. "I let them go. That is where I got this," Brady said, pointing to the scratches on his face. "The girl was not too happy about imprisonment."
"But why did you let them go?" Chloe asked questioningly, glancing back at him now. "They were spying for Philip, weren't they?"
"There was no proof that they were bringing Philip any information that Cynthia had not already given him. With that in mind, I saw them as more of a threat if we kept them jailed than if we let them go. I did not wish for Philip to think our message of peace was all just a misleading hoax. I did not wish to anger Philip further," Brady stated. "Plus… I knew you would not approve. I can not think solely of you in these matters, but I was glad to be able to grant you at least one concession." The look of hurt and anger began to fade momentarily from Chloe's face as her resolve faltered. But she shook her head, not allowing the words which he intended to be loving to reach her.
"Brady… that is very sweet. And believe me, I do appreciate the thought very much. But…"
"But what, Chloe?" Brady demanded. He stood from his chair and began to pace in an effort to channel the frustration he was beginning to feel. He was trying his very best. He was not a perfect, flawless man. It was part of being human. Why could no one understand that he did not have all the answers, nor were all his actions always perfect and just? Even though he was in bare feet now, his steps still made quite a noise on the wooden floor because he was slinging his weight down heavily in his anger.
"What do you expect of me? This situation is hard enough to deal with without the added stress of having to worry about hurting your feelings with every step I make. You know I do not want to cause you harm. I would never intentionally hurt you. But I'm not perfect, Chloe. You can not expect me to be," Brady stated.
"I don't expect you to be perfect, Brady. I just want you to be completely honest with me," Chloe insisted.
"I have been!" Brady boomed, pacing more feverantly. "I have been more honest with you in the short time that I have known you than I have been with people I have known my whole life! Sometimes I swear I've been more honest with you then I've ever been honest even with myself. I told you I was going to tell you everything when I was ready!"
"Just like you were going to tell me about the armed guards?" Chloe asked coldly. Brady stopped his pacing, coming towards her with a look of anger that marred his usually handsome, kind face.
"Don't lecture me about honesty, Chloe. You have not always been exactly forth-coming with me either," Brady said through gritted teeth. "You did not tell me all truths when I first met you. I understood why you had to keep certain things to yourself. Why then can't you accept the same of me?" Brady demanded. It felt to Chloe as if a complete change had come over him, and it frightened her beyond words. She knew he wouldn't physically harm her. She had lived with Lord Paul long enough to recognize what kind of person was capable of physically abusing another human being. Brady was not that type of person, but she was frightened none the less. Perhaps not because she feared she would be harmed physically. But this complete change over Brady could hurt her emotionally, and that would sting worse than if he were to actually hit her.
"I do understand, Brady," Chloe said cautiously. "But this is different. You have to understand that. He is my brother, Brady. And your future brother-in-law. And when it comes to my family… you can't expect me not to care. I have a right to know." Brady shook his head, moving away from her again and grabbing his boots.
"You heard him, Chloe. You don't have a brother," Brady said coldly. He regretted it the moment he said it. The moment he saw her face fall and saw the tears spring up in her eyes that she could not fight, his own heart fell. But he could not comfort her now. Not in the state of mind he was in. With his boots in hand, Brady walked to the door and walked out, shutting the door without ever glancing back. It was best if he left for the time being. They could not talk now without saying things they did not truly mean. She heard him, in his bare feet, walking down the hallway, away from her. And she would not fight the tears. Chloe collapsed onto the sofa in a fit of tears, crying harder then she ever had in her entire life. And as he walked away, Brady heard her sobs, and a piece of him, buried deep inside of him, died. But he did not turn back. They could talk in the morning, when they both were calm. Brady just prayed to God, or whoever would listen to his prayers, that that one stupid comment made in the heat of the moment had not lost him the love of his life. If he lost her, he did not know what would possibly become of him…….
It had seemed that it took an eternity for the sun to rise. It was well into the morning hours now, and Brady stood outside the castle where three carriages were waiting to take the Kings of the Alliance away to their respective homes. Shawn, Jason, Miriam and David had still not come outside yet as they were all still making their last minute preparations.
On the outside, Brady looked cheery enough. If you could overlook his red, tired eyes. He had not slept a wink that night. He had gone to his sister's old room in an effort to calm his nerves and get the sleep he knew he needed. He had hoped he would awake in the morning and feel like his old self again. But being in his sister's room had not given him a sense of peace as it usually did. He merely felt like he did not deserve to be in the presence of one so great as Princess Isabella Black. Brady had been changing from the moment Chloe entered his life. And now he had changed so much that he could say such awful things, such hurtful things, to the woman he valued more than his own life.
So Brady had not slept at all. He had merely lain awake, thinking of Chloe, thinking of the many things he had lost and how he could not live with himself if he lost Chloe because of this. And he prayed for morning to come. In the daytime, he could hide. He could put on a fake smile and put on a show for those around him. But at night, the lonely, bleak nights… no, he could not hide then. At night, he had only himself. And it was impossible to hide from oneself.
Morning had finally come, and Brady was glad of it. He had found some older clothes of his to change into after he had a hot bath. He hadn't had the courage to go back to his chambers, lest Chloe still be there, and he figured she would not wish to see him yet. So he had just taken what clothes he could find for now. He had not had any kind of appetite at all, so once he had taken his bath, which had not really proved to make him feel any better as he had hoped, Brady went straight down to see everyone off.
"Brady," Shawn greeted, a little bit overly cheerful for Brady's tastes at the moment. But Brady smiled politely at his old friend, clasping hands with him in greeting.
"Shawn," Brady said. "You always were the first one up, weren't you?"
"Well, you beat me today," Shawn laughed. "Everyone else is almost ready to leave. I just came down because I wanted to talk with you before I left."
"What would you like to talk about?" Brady asked.
"I am going back to Rubino today… but I have decided that it will only be to make an announcement. Then I will be returning here," Shawn stated. Brady shook his head.
"No, Shawn, there is no need for that. As I said to everyone yesterday, it is simply best that you all return to your homes. Rubino, Arcadia, and Supervisore are likely all safe for the time being," Brady stated.
"That may be best for Jason, and that may be best for David and Miriam. But not for me, Brady. You know that. David and Jason are not as we are. You and I have both been affected directly by this matter. Albeit, you have been affected much more than I. But I do play a direct part in this. Philip has already made it clear that we are all targets. And maybe he is going to be too preoccupied with Nero now to do anything about Supervisore and Arcadia now. But Rubino has already been touched by this matter. My country is the closest beside your own to Mucche. Supervisore and Arcadia have us to stand between them. Even if Philip's main concern is now Nero, my country could be put into a dangerous situation. Philip may try to use me to get to you, just as he did before."
"All the more reason for you to return to your home, to look after your people," Brady stated. Shawn shook his head.
"You know better. What good will I be there? I know that you will keep me informed of everything that is going on, but even with the fastest riders, it takes time to get to Rubino. I am better off here, where I know everything that is to know about what is going on. Across the river, I would not know if Mucche was advancing on us until they were on top of us. Here, I would know. And if I was here, I could be of help to you. And do not tell me you do not need help. You have the aid of soldiers… but that is not the kind of support you truly need," Shawn stated.
"I need the support of my friends," Brady said, knowing what he was thinking. And it was so. He considered Jason and the others to be friends. He did care what happened to them as he cared about what happened to his own citizens, or perhaps more so. But Brady had a connection with Shawn. They both loved his dear sister Isabella and they both would have laid down their lives for her. Having Shawn, one of the few true friends he had, there with him for moral support would make the long road ahead much easier. "But Shawn, your people do need you more than I do."
"I think my council is doing a fine job at attending to their needs. Better so than I could. They seem to have much more practice at that than I do," Shawn said, a bit of regret slipping into his tone. "I am going to Rubino to make a public announcement to fill everyone in, and keep everyone calm, and assure everyone that I am not abandoning them as I did before. But then I am going to return. There's nothing you can do to stop it. You know damn well I can be as stubborn as you when I want to be." Brady smiled, as did Shawn.
"That is quite true," Brady stated jokingly. "Well if you do wish to return, you know my Palace is always open to you. You are always welcome here, Shawn."
"Like you could ever get rid of me," Shawn stated almost boastfully.
"Don't believe I would ever wish to," Brady replied.
"There you are, Shawn," Jason said, coming up behind them. "I thought you had gone back to sleep or something," Jason joked.
"You are the one who never would get up in the morning, not me," Shawn replied. The air was light between them, and Brady found it very refreshing. As of late, there had been so much tension in his life. It was so good to have the moments with Shawn and Jason that made him feel as if they were young again, joking with each other and teasing each other about one thing or another. The moments where he felt like his old self again, before becoming kings and experiencing life's tragedies firsthand had turned them all from young boys into grown men. "Where are David and Miriam?"
"Right here, Young Shawn," David said, coming up behind Jason, Miriam on his arm. They were all dressed in fresh, clean clothes now, and all were ready to begin the long journey home. "Are we ready, gentlemen?"
"Everything is ready for you whenever you are ready, Your Majesties," Harold stated as he came up from behind one of the carriages. Beside each carriage stood two footmen and perched on the seat of each carriage was a driver. "The carriage at the very end is yours, King Shawn," Harold stated. Since Shawn would be returning, special preparations had to be made since the carriage could not just turn straight back. Harold had selected three men who knew the route well and that could afford the extra time away from their families. "The middle one is yours, King Jason. And for you, King David and Princess Miriam, I have prepared the first carriage."
"Thank you, Harold," Brady said. "Let us not make this a long goodbye then, shall we? I do not wish for you to be delayed. I am sure it is already later in the morning than you had all intended."
"We will make good time yet I believe," Jason stated. There was no huge rush, although night journeys in Salem were usually less preferred than daytime journeys. The carriages were protected well enough. Each footman and driver was armed. And a caravan of armed soldiers would follow each carriage just as a safety precaution. But still, night travel was not preferred.
"I hope you all have a safe and pleasant journey. It looks to be a lovely day to travel," Brady stated.
"Yes, quite," Miriam said. Brady reached for Jason's arm to clasp in a goodbye handshake. Then he clasped David's arm, and kissed Princess Miriam politely on the hand as he had done last night. Then he clasped Shawn's arm again.
"Do not get too comfortable in your homes. You all will be receiving wedding invitations soon," Brady stated. God how he hoped they would. Shawn smiled, as did everyone else present.
"We look forward to it," Miriam stated. She was sure Brady did not really mean to invite her personally. She would come with her father whether he wanted her to or not, although she was sure neither Brady nor her father would try to deny her from going. But she loved weddings, and did so hope she actually received a personal invitation.
"Have a safe journey," Brady said again. They all nodded, passing Brady now to get into their respective carriages. The two footmen helped Princess Miriam into the first carriage, and then David, refusing assistance, got up into the carriage as well. When they were settled, the footmen took their places and the driver spurned the horses and the carriage began to pull away. One of the caravans full of soldiers that had been waiting on the side of the carriages furthest from the castle pulled out as well and began to follow the Lockhart's carriage as it began the trail that would lead them to the road to Arcadia. They had the longest journey ahead. Then Jason's carriage pulled out and began it's own journey, followed by the second armed caravan. And finally Shawn's carriage began to pull away, followed closely by the last armed caravan. Shawn waved goodbye out the small carriage window as he passed, and Brady smiled and waved back, watching as all three carriages pulled out of sight.
When they were all completely out of sight, Brady turned back towards the castle. He was about to head inside when something caught his attention. In a window that overlooked the front of the Palace stood Chloe, watching him and watching as all the carriages pulled away. He could not see her too clearly, but he knew it was her. The moment he caught sight of her, Chloe quickly backed away from the window and was out of his sight again. Brady sighed heavily, his head hung low as he made his way back inside the Palace. She was still upset, he could tell. Why wouldn't she be? He had only given her a few hours to calm down and be alone. Brady rather feared that he could give her a life time and she still would not forgive him for the hateful things he had said to her. He prayed she would forgive him, but with each step he took, Brady feared more and more that it was never meant to be, that he would live the rest of his life without Chloe. But now for him, if there was no Chloe, there was no life to live. Brady felt as if he would cease to exist if she stopped loving him. And that feeling terrified him more than he had ever been in his entire life. If only he could take back the things he said. But he couldn't. Those words could never be unspoken, and he feared they would haunt him for the rest of his life if he lost the love of the one person he had left to save him from his life of solitude and suffering…….