Strongman 5
Chapter 5
Danielle and Asa decided to spend the night at the Chateau Du Lancret. After they had eaten dinner, they settled down in the drawing room by the fire. Before long their chatting turned to reminiscing.
Finally Danielle asked a question that she had wanted to ask Asa for years.
"Asa, did you ever find out if there was a reason that you were born with this incredible strength?"
Asa shook his head.
"no," he said, "That is there doesn't seem to be a reason or explanation for the strength itself, but judging from what my father and grandfather wrote in their journals before they died, I have reason to believe that it is a family trait. They spoke of my grandfather and his father having the same gift. And that it wasn't until I came along that the gift resurfaced."
"So, every so often it skips a generation or two." Said Danielle
"Yes," said Asa, "Which means somewhere down the family tree from me one of my descendants will have the same gift."
"Well I certainly hope that everyone in your family will continue to use the gift they've been given as honorably as you have." Said Danielle
"I hope so too," said Asa, "A gift like mine the wrong hands could do a whole lot of damage."
The two friends continued to talk until Danielle began having trouble keeping her eyes open. Asa took the cue and suggested they retire for the night. Danielle was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The next morning she was awakened by a knock at her door.
"Just a minute," she called out, she climbed out of the huge bed, pulled a robe on over her nightdress and opened the door. it was Asa.
"Good Morning, Danielle," he said holding up a piece of paper, "this arrived a few minutes ago and I thought you'd want to see it."
Danielle took the paper and read.
"This is a summons from the king," said Danielle. Asa nodded.
"It looks like the prince took my advice," He said, "I suggest that we start out for Hauteford right after breakfast."
An hour later, Danielle and Asa were on their way to Hauteford. As they rode, Asa became aware that Danielle was unusually quiet.
"Danielle," he said riding up next to her, "Are you okay?"
Danielle took a deep breath before answering.
"I'm worried," she said, "What if this doesn't work? The last time I tried to tell the truth, nobody would listen."
"If by nobody you mean Prince Henry, Don't worry, he'll listen this time." Said Asa.
"How can you me so sure?" asked Danielle
"Simple," Asa smirked, "If he doesn't I'll kill him."
"Will you be serious!" said Danielle
"Look, all kidding aside," said Asa, "I believe you, my god parents believe you, and my godfather has more influence in court than most; what with being the King's cousin and all. If anyone can straighten the king out it's him."
Asa leaned over and pecked Danielle's cheek.
"So stop worrying."
Meanwhile…
The Baroness had just gotten another note from her informant Claude.
Milady,
The King and Queen have just sent for Danielle and Duke Asa. The King and the Prince spent most of last night in the archives, and I don't think I need tell you what they were looking up. If we don't stop Asa and Danielle from answering that summons we're going to be in a lot of trouble!"
Asa and Danielle were a few minutes outside of Hauteford when all at once they found themselves surrounded by Le Pieu's men. Le Pieu came slinking through the ranks of his men smirking as he came.
"Le Pieu," said Asa, "either you're a very brave man, or you're a glutton for punishment, I thought I settled with you already."
"Out of the way Le Pieu," said Danielle, "We've been summoned by the king and queen."
"Oh I'm sorry," sneered Le Pieu, "I'm afraid I can't allow you to answer that summons."
"Yes," said Asa, "I'd imagine that it would be 'embarrassing' to you and the Baroness for Danielle and myself to tell the king and queen what we know."
"Quite," snapped Le Pieu.
He snapped his fingers and Atlas stepped out from his hiding place. He was head and shoulders taller than the rest of Le Pieu's men. He stalked toward the two travelers.
Danielle Leaned over to Asa.
"Can you take him?" she whispered.
"One way to find out," Asa whispered back, as he loosened his cloak and began to dismount, "Watch Le Pieu's other men. Don't let them interfere." Danielle nodded, moved her hand under her cloak and subtly pulled a dagger up and into her lap.
Asa walked up to stand face to face with Atlas. The Circus performer towered over the young Duke.
"They say you're stronger than me," said Atlas, "I say they're wrong."
"We'll soon see." Said Asa shrugging
Le Pieu was so confident that his giant would win that he stood nearby calmly sipping from a goblet of wine.
"Atlas," he sniffed, "Kill him."
Atlas roared almost like wild animal and charged at Asa. Asa side stepped the attack and clasping his hands together, hammered Atlas's back with a two handed blow. Atlas hit the ground and immediately jumped up even more enraged. He charged a second time and a second time Asa avoided his attack and knocked him to the ground. Le Pieu began to feel uncertain. Atlas was yet to lay a hand on Asa. He made eye contact with one of his men. He gave a subtle nod and the man began to draw his dagger.
Suddenly Le Pieu froze as the point of a dagger was pushed against his throat. He had been so engrossed in the fight that Danielle had been able to dismount unnoticed and work her way behind him.
"All right hold it," she thundered, everybody including Asa and Atlas stopped.
"You," she continued looking at the man who had his dagger half way out of his sheath, "that dagger, Put it back!" the man shoved the dagger back into its sheath. Danielle turned her attention back to Le Pieu.
"Le Pieu," she said, "The fight is going to go on now and if your men try to interfere again you will get the point of this blade through your conniving throat! Asa hurry up and kick this guys butt so we can get onto the palace."
"Him kick my butt!" Atlas roared, "The only one who's going to lose this fight is him!" Atlas turned and let a haymaker fly. His fist collided with the palm of Asa's hand and stopped dead. He immediately let fly a haymaker with his other fist. "It too was easily stopped by the palm of Asa's other hand."
"What?!" Le Pieu gasped.
"You know, Le Pieu," Asa said calmly over his shoulder, While Atlas struggled in vain to break Asa's grip, "When you have a gift like mine you have to control yourself all the time! At first that may seem like a drawback, but it also turns out to be an advantage, because; people don't know how strong you really are, so they naturally underestimate you."
Asa suddenly kicked Atlas in the gut and sent him flying backwards 50 feet where he slammed into the trunk of an oak tree and slumped to the ground unconscious.
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The King and Queen were in the throne room waiting. Queen Marie was sipping wine from her goblet and King Francis was absent mindedly drumming his fingers on the arm of his throne. Prince Henry was pacing back and forth with a goblet in his hand he was also absent mindedly drumming his ring on the side of the cup, and the more anxious he got the louder the wrapping on his goblet got. As the rapping got louder the queen began to look more and more annoyed. She even pinched the bridge of her nose.
Finally she couldn't take it anymore.
"Henry!" she snapped loud enough to make everyone in the room jump. The wrapping stopped.
"Yes, Mother," he replied. She pointed to the goblet in his hand.
"Will you please, either drink that or put it down! You're giving me a headache!" she replied.
Just then, a young page approached the throne.
"Your Majesties," he said, "Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent is outside begging an audience."
"Oh very well," said the King with a have hearted wave of his hand. The door opened and in came the Baroness and her daughters. Jacqueline looked anything but happy, but Marguerite and the Baroness strutted up the Aisle in their usual haughty manner.
"Be brief Baroness," said the King gruffly, "We've other business to attend to this morning."
"Your Majesties," said the Baroness sinking into a deep curtsy, "I am aware that you are anticipating a meeting with Duchess Danielle De Barbarac and Duke Asa this morning. So it is with a heavy heart that I have come here to inform you of the deaths of these two fine young people at the hands of unidentified mercenaries on the Hauteford road this morning."
There was an audible gasp in the room because it was common knowledge that Asa was the godson of the king's cousin. But before the color could drain completely from the Duke and duchess Le Valle's faces, the throne room doors were abruptly kicked open and nearly off their hinges. In walked Danielle and Asa. Asa was dragging the unconscious Atlas by his collar and Danielle had the unconscious Le Pieu over her shoulder.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Baroness," snapped Asa as he and Danielle deposited their loads on the floor in front of the thrones. Danielle looked up at the Baroness and smirked.
"Rumors of our deaths have been greatly exaggerated!"
` TO BE CONTINUED…..
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