Capriones 8/13/2006
Disclaimer: We shall make use of several of the characters from The Slayers, none of whom belongs to us.
Chapter Twenty-Five -- Danger in the Palace
"Wake up! Wake up!"
Prince Randolph opened his eyes and sat up in bed. "Who is it? What's the matter?"
"A messenger, sir, from the cardinal sent me to get you. It's urgent. Please, come with me."
Randolph slipped his feet into slippers and wrapped his fur lined robe about him. "It had better be important, ruining a man's sleep this way."
The prince followed the monk's-robed figure down the hall where torches lit the way, complaining under his breath.
"This had better be important, that's all I have to say. Waking a man up, dashing through the halls. Damned cold, too!"
Although, as he thought about it, the possibility that the king, his father had died sobered him to silence. He pushed back the truth that he was the one responsible into the deepest recesses of his mind and trundled on and into a dimly lit room.
Rezo stood at the window. A single candle glowed on a table at his elbow. He parted the window shade and gazed out into the darkness. Randolph wondered what he expected to see.
"Cardinal?"
Rezo's back straightened, the tension showing as the cloak pulled tightly, but he didn't face the prince. "The king has died. I just learned. You are suspected, although I don't know how."
"That's impossible!" Randolph said, startled and frightened both. "Who doubts my...? Who presumes I had a hand in...? I've given no reason for anyone to distrust me!" he blustered.
"Suspected, I said, but it can never be proven," Rezo said. "However, it is best if you left the palace."
"Wouldn't that actually seal my guilt?"
"Not if I say you are chasing the perpetrator!" Rezo said sharply. "And I have an important task for you, a journey, not far." He turned around, smiling serenely.
"Is that so?" Randolph said archly. "Well, tell me what this is all about, then, since you seem to need to."
Rezo was not pleased with his patronizing tone and, so, sharpened his own.
"You will lead a troop of my Red Guard to the nearest Caprione settlement. There you will search for a statuette, about this size..." He spread a hand to suggest a relative size and shape, and then closed it, moving his staff to that hand again. "It contains an item of value to me, and is mine. It was stolen."
"A statuette. I doubt those people will approve of us prowling around their place for a little thing like that, even if I am a prince of Seyruun– possibly the king. They might tolerate a king nosing about."
"No, they won't. Pay attention; there is more. You'll be looking for a boy, more of a man now. He'll be swathed in cloth covering his face. He's badly scarred."
"Like the one on the posters wanted for–"
"Yes, that's the one! Zelgadiss is his name. They captured him, I believe, and executed him, or not. Find out! I want proof if he is dead or brought to me arms and feet tied– understand? Also, keep a look out for the other one, Lina Inverse. I want them both."
"Alive and bound? You ask too much. They are dangerous!"
"Then bring them dead, if you must. It matters not to me." Rezo had faith that his troops would take care of the Capriones. "You must leave tonight, now."
"Good gods, man! It's the middle of the night." The prince grew more frantic in his attempt to evade battle.
Rezo stepped forward. "And getting later as we speak. Earlier would have been better, but ..." He fanned the air with a hand. Rezo had no time to review the past for errors, then ponder and regret them. "I have had my guard searching this city night and day. One way or the other, Lina Inverse and Zelgadiss will be ferreted out, or unearthed. Success on your part, my prince, will guarantee you rich rewards."
"By which you mean the crown. You promised me the Kingdom of Seyruun," Randy reminded him.
"I know what I said," Rezo snapped, his eyes flashing in anger. "I need no reminders."
Randy opened his mouth to beg forgiveness, when the same messenger who had brought him to Rezo re-entered the room. He whispered to Rezo and the cardinal smiled coldly.
"Leave without delay, prince," Rezo commanded. "It appears Miss Inverse has been seen inside the city. I shall have my people take care of her. Now go, before your brother comes asking questions!"
Realizing that his job just got easier with the skilled sorceress out of the way, Prince Randolph took heart, smiled nervously, and accepted his assignment. "I shall leave within the hour."
Rezo's eyes raked the prince, assessing him one last time, and hoping he would measure up to his opponents. "There will be a guardsman at your door while you dress and to ensure your safe passage out of the palace, for your protection, naturally. Lina may try to interfere with the troop movements, and accidentally become an impediment to your leaving."
"What if she gets out of Seyruun and follows me? There are magic users at the Caprione camp. I'd be trapped!" The prince paled as the words left his mouth. Had he said too much?
He had just confirmed information that Rezo had wanted to know.
"Strong magic users?" Rezo stared intently.
"So I've been told," Randolph said.
"That could mean both Zelas and Xelloss are at that particular settlement."
Randy frowned. He didn't know the particulars about the Caprione leadership. "Who are they?"
"The leaders of all the Capriones. This isn't just any settlement; it's an important one."
Rezo returned to the window, muttering mostly to himself. "This is encouraging news! Xelloss or Zelas would have made use of the stone, had either of them suspected what that statuette contained, and I would have known if the stone had been activated by now. No, they haven't used it. Which means that the shielding spell must still be intact, or the item isn't there. One or the other."
And, as if he had just remembered Randolph was still in the room, Rezo whipped around, the metal rings atop his staff jangling together, and shouted.
"Go! You must ensure that they don't get the opportunity to find out!"
Randolph jumped in surprise. "But what about the possibility of a trap, which sounds more likely now than before? What if I'm running into a trap?"
"If Lina Inverse escapes my net and leaves this city, then I and all of the Red Guard will be on her back." Rezo's voice turned gruff, his anger flaring at the other man's hesitance to take action. "And we will concentrate our attack on the Capriones and all their allies."
Mollified at last that he wasn't being hung out to dry, Prince Randolph muttered parting words and departed.
(O)
"I don't think we oughta just go now, Lina," Gourry said, reasonably. "We don't know if Phil's gonna help us out or not."
"You're right. I didn't actually mean leave right this minute," Lina replied, gazing around the splendid ballroom.
"'Sides," Gourry said, smiling, "you look so pretty, all gussied up, hair done. And you smell like roses."
"That's because they put rose water in my bath water. Can you believe that?" she said with a little chuckle, pleased by the compliments and forgetting her irritation for the moment.
"Yeah, no one even recognized you," he said, entering dangerous territory. He just didn't know when to quit and was satisfied with his logic. "Works as good as the disguise did."
Lina turned a frowning face on him, clenching her fists. "You saying I don't look good all the time?"
"Ah...um..." Gourry realized that he was caught in a trap with only one way out. "No. You're real pretty, for sure, but wearing your hair up makes you look...taller."
Whew! Was he glad he thought of that! Lina's return to a smiling face meant no bruising jabs or poundings. Instead, her hand rose to touch her hair and trickle her fingers down the exposed and unblemished skin of her neck.
"I'm tired, though. Where's a servant who can show us where are rooms are?"
Gourry tapped a serving boy for directions, and then Lina and Gourry left the grand ball room of Seyruun to go to bed. It had been a long and stressful day. Lina toyed with a coil of dark fiber, rubbing it rythmically with her fingers. Gourry recognized it for what it was: a traditional parting gift for lovers. He had left Sylphiel with a lock of his own hair, but he was surprised, and pleased, that Xelloss had done the same.
"You miss him, don'tcha?" Gourry asked. Lina looked so forlorn that he draped an arm over her shoulders and gave her a warm hug. "I miss Sylphiel, too."
"Yeah," she smiled faintly. "I never imagined myself wanting someone to be near like that. It's just hit me. I always did okay by myself, but now I don't want to be apart. And it's not just...him... I miss the settlement, the noisy kids and the music, the smells and food, all full of life and so real. I know that sounds silly."
"Silly? Nah, sounds like love, to me. To love Xelloss, you gotta first love the settlement. I know, I do and so does Sylphiel, too."
She smiled quickly. "Love. Yeah, I'm in love. What a funny thing! We got a war to fight and you and me, we found love."
"Hope we all live to enjoy it," he said softly.
"We will, Gourry. I promise you that."
Unknown to Lina and Gourry as the pair climbed the last flight of stairs to their rooms, Princes Philionel, Christopher, and Randolph were recalled from the ballroom to the healing room. The king was dead!
"Where's Randy?" Philionel asked. "Can't find the man? How can you lose a loud-mouthed stumblebum like him? He's big as an ox! When was he last seen?"
Servants shrugged not knowing where he was or why no one had seen him all evening. No one could recall seeing him at dinner. Wide-eyed and alarmed, they dashed off in search of the youngest prince. The king was dead! Prince Randolph was missing! Rumors spread that a madman was loose in the palace, murdering the nobility.
Christopher quietly spoke to the head of the healing guild concerning the preparation of the king's remains for lying in state. Ordinarily, the job would fall to Randolph, but Christopher was a practical man who diligently performed or discharged duties as the situation dictated. Seyruun could run itself if they could prevent panic from pushing the state into chaos. The king was dead!
Philionel was shouting orders with the bearing of a man used to command, which he was, having slowly taken over for the aging king. He was furious that Randolph was neglecting his responsibilities. There was so much to do, like making a formal announcement. He charged into the ball room, bellowing.
"Silence! Silence!"
Servants scampered out of his way, often running into dancers, men and women alike, causing a murmur of angry voices rising in his wake.
"SILENCE!" Prince Philionel's voice topped them all, the musicians stopped and craned their necks to see what the commotion was about. A hush fell over the room. "The King of Seyruun had passed this evening."
He paused, eyes closed, working to control the tremor in his voice. He made no attempt to mask his grief over his father's passing. "We are now a country in mourning. Beginning immediately, the customs of mourning shall be observed. I am deeply sorry that this evening should end this way. My guests, your carriages have been called."
Amid the murmur of shocked voices, a woman shrieked, but was quickly dealt with by the gentleman nearby. His Majesty the King was dead!
"Have no fear, my friends! Seyruun is safe. It's transition will be swift and seamless under my leadership. That I can promise you."
Naturally, voices could be heard saying in agreement, King Philionel would fill the role he'd been groomed for and had been practicing all his life, The kingdom would continue as it always had, life would go on. Long live King Philionel!
The shock of the news of the king was still sharp in everyone's minds, but Philionel's comforting presence was a balm soothing the distress. The large man remained in the ballroom, answering questions and accepting condolences for several minutes, until the last of the guests had left.
With a sense of urgency, Philionel returned to the healing room, locating his brother immediately. "No sign of Randy, eh?"
"No, and that sickens me," Christopher said. "The healers have found no injury or signs of illness except for the sudden fever and symptoms of a rare disease. I've been thinking about that, and the cardinal, and our brother. It is possible, and I dread suspecting him like this, but I believe Cardinal Rezo manipulated Randy into doing this."
"You are saying that you suspect Randy poisoned mind and body of our father?"
"Yes. The more I think about the conversation I had with the cardinal, it makes me wonder about a similar one he might have had weeks ago with our brother." He looked at Philionel, eyes deeply suffering. "Randy is a weak man, you know that, Phil. He could be tantalized or blackmailed."
"Well, yes, but to kill our father? I can't believe that of him!"
"Then why is he not here? And where is Rezo? The healers called for his assistance at the end, and he was locked away in his rooms, unavailable. Unavailable and the king was dying! The servants just reported that he was no longer in those rooms. He may not be found in Seyruun."
Philionel was awash in emotional turmoil. How he missed his daughter Amelia now! He could lean on her youthful exuberance. Lina!
"Lina Inverse felt she was in danger of discovery from the cardinal. We must go to her immediately, warn her!"
Christopher grasped his brother's arm. "What will you tell her? She came to alert us to the danger of Rezo and his cleansing program, she came for our help, and she will expect an answer."
"And I will give her one. Come with me. There is nothing more we can do for the dead, and everything for the righteous living!"
(O)
"But, sir, I can handle Lina Inverse," the cardinal's right-hand man assured him with justifiable arrogance. Vurumagen had a reputation of supreme violence and cruelty, casting his spells at a power level not much less than Rezo's. "Prince Randolph is no match for both Zelas and Xelloss, and if your grandson is among them, he has no hope."
"Vurumagen, if you can't curb your disdain for Randolph, then hold your tongue!" Rezo snapped, revealing his anxiety for the first time. He had expected Lina to be slain in the streets or garroted in bed by this time. "He's a distraction, nothing more, while the guard searches for what is mine. If the Capriones' queen or her prince blasts him to the Hellmaster, then so be it. It only simplifies my having to do it myself."
"What I'm saying is that he and the guard are not enough!" Vurumagen said, teeth clenched, but refusing to back down.
Attacking the Caprione camp should have been his job, Vurumagen felt. It had been at his insistence that they explore the possibility of going there in the first place. He hated Xelloss and how he flaunted his powers, running around in disguises, teasing, taunting him. He was worse than the Inverse woman. She fought back, leaving a trail of destruction which he could point to and say "See? It may your house or business next time that the magic users destroy!" But not Xelloss. He had the gall to defeat him in ways that left him feeling powerless to fight back, and, worse, looking ridiculous.
"Most august cardinal, sir, the odds are too high against this Randolph's success. I would have infiltrated the camp and discovered all there was to know without alerting the people, but this prince will ride in, demanding that they hand over what he wants, alerting them to their defenses. He lacks any intellectual depth, has no workable strategy, and utilizes the tactics of a thug. Zelas will not let the guard escape with a hostage or an item of interest, and the guard cannot beat Xelloss. You or I shall have to go."
"Not until I see that Lina Inverse witch!" Rezo hissed. "Find her and bring her to me before the sun rises!"
"That is already too late. The sun is up. Randolph will soon reach the settlement. It may too late as it is."
Rezo met his eyes in an ill-contained fury. "All right! I shall go after them, but you take care of Lina inverse without fail. Understand?"
Vurumagen bowed deeply, concealing a knowing smile under his hood. He knew better than to test his commander's patience any longer.
"Yes, sir. Your will be done."
End Capriones, Chapter Twenty-Five.