Chapter Eleven: Waking up dead.
Lord Henry had left two dozen men manning the main entry room into the Odyssey, but only two were looking out at the fog. In the mist stood a single man, staff raised straight and high, as the last sounds of the bagpipes and drums echoed off the nearby buildings. Soon the staff dropped down, hitting the ground. With that another sound echoed though the square, that of swords being drawn.
With a cry of "For King Richard!" the mist suddenly disgorged a host of swordsmen. Lord Henry's tired two dozen never stood a chance, as sword after sword, slew the usurper's guard, the blood and gore hidden by the fog. Only the sound gave evidence of the battle. Through it all, the single man stood, his hands folded over the tip of his staff.
Finally, the entrance secure, and more troops entering the Odyssey, he raised his staff, parallel to the ground. His band formed up behind him, and he flipped it straight up and down, and made 3 pumps in the air with it. Once again the sound of pipes echoed through town, as the Earl of Avtra's Own began marching back towards the Headquarters, playing a melody of a victory in progress.
Clara had several objectives when she climbed through the Jefferies tube above the throne room. The team of locals she was assigned to expected her to report on the positions of the people in the throne room. She also had to find out the status of her Captain, and make a brief report to the Enterprise.
She popped open the access to the air recycling system, allowing her to look down on the people below. The Captain was easy to spot. He was the only one who was bald. The enemies appeared to all be along the edge of the room, which would help. She carefully put down the access panel and pulled a small object out of her tunic. They'd hidden the usual communicator inside a carved wood ornament on a rope.
"Lieutenant Sutter to Enterprise."
"This is Enterprise, go ahead," Commander Data's voice said.
"I've found the Captain, directly below me." Clara said. "The locals are about to attempt to rescue him and their king. Have Sickbay standing by for the Captain if things go wrong. I'll try to get him to some place out of view. Any additional instructions?"
"No instructions have been logged for you, Lieutenant," Data said. "Do you need assistance? I detect a large force preparing to enter the Odyssey."
"No, I don't think so," Clara said. "That should be the local army preparing to retake the Odyssey. I'll be back in contact later today. Clara out."
Now Clara turned to deliver the information to Earl Cedric and his team. It was time to get moving.
It had taken an hour for Squire Brett to bring the boat around the rocky and metal-strewn shore. It was a path the squire was very familiar with, but the thick fog made a difference. Still, they were close to schedule, as the Squire brought the boat up against the dock across the rear of the Odyssey. With a hand signal, she sent her dozen passengers, hand picked from the Godspeed's crew, up the ladder.
"Report in!" the voice called above, moments later. It was answered only by four splashes. Then there were sounds, like someone was dropping off a crate, thump, thump, thump, as they worked their way down to the dock's planking.
A minute later, a head poked back over the side of the dock to look down at Squire Brett. "Squire, the dock is secure."
"Good, put out the signal lights for the Godspeed," Squire Brett said, climbing up the ladder. "Did we get any alive?"
"Just the head guard, as ordered, sir," the sailor said. "We killed nine of them. You might be interested in one of them."
"Oh?" Squire Brett asked, standing on the dock now, hand on the pommel of the sword she wore.
"He was wearing the Earl of Airipor's arms," the sailor said.
"Her Grace will be interested in that little tidbit," the Squire said, looking around, not that she could see much. The fog was lightening, but still oppressive. It would probably be a good hour before the Godspeed could dock, safely.
The King woke from his uncomfortable sleep on the floor of the throne room to the sound of arrows flying through the air. He could see the tips of a second round poking through the curtain behind the throne. Across the room, the two archers on the upper level that Lord Henry had left guard were falling to the floor below. The King's eyes searched the room. The first round had taken out six of the eight guards.
The second round took out one more, five arrows in his chest. The last guard was up against the curtain, out of range. From behind the curtain, two swordsmen vaulted over the rail and down to the floor below. Over to the left side of the room, the curtain parted, revealing Earl Cedric leading a young girl, who carried a rope ladder.
Now everyone was awake in the room. The remaining guard was engaged in swordplay, trying to get to the door where he could escape and warn Lord Henry. He would not make it, as he found a knife in his back.
"Harlan, you had that knife all the time?" the King said, looking at his Chief of Intelligence, who still was posed at the end of his follow through.
"Well, a couple knives aren't very much use against the forces we were up against," Lord Harlan said, standing straight and looking up at the second level. "And they didn't check my boots very well."
"Your Majesty, we need to get out of here," Earl Cedric said, as he tested Clara's knots.
"Very well, Cedric," the King said. "It wouldn't do to get recaptured."
They began climb up the ladder to the next level, first the king, followed by his advisors and the Captain. As Captain Picard reached the top of the ladder, he paused to say to Clara, "It's nice to see you again, Ensign."
Clara smiled nervously, as he climbed over the railing. "Just following your daughter's orders," she said.
King Richard exited the Odyssey in tears. He'd gone by the Queen's quarters and discovered her cold dead body. It was only the hurrying of Earl Cedric and Captain Picard that had gotten him out of the Odyssey. Behind him were two men, bearing a stretcher, carrying the Queen's body, covered with a spread from her bed.
The dock was covered with Royal Marines, and the Godspeed was stopped at the end of the pier, ready to sail at a moment's notice. At the gangplank of the Godspeed stood Captain Lord Trevor and Squire Brett. At first the Squire's face lit up, as she saw the King on the dock. Then she spotted the draped stretcher. The face of the princess posing as squire boy lost all of it's color, as she stumbled forward, towards the King.
"Mom?" she asked plaintively, of her father as she reached him. His tear stained face gave her the answer before his slow nod confirmed it. She threw herself into her father's arms, tears flowing. Together they sought comfort in the embrace, as the late Queen's body made it's way up the gangplank.
The skies had cleared, and it was almost noon, when the Godspeed pulled away from the dock. The King stood at the front of the quarterdeck, lost in thought. Above him the royal standard flew on a ship for the first time in over a year. A flag that he'd have flying at half staff for his beloved Queen Claire starting in the morning. He had know that his wife was dying, but to come across her cold body, left alone in her room after his escape from Lord Henry's clutches... He wasn't prepared for that. No one was prepared for that.
The King's attention returned to the deck below him as his daughter, in her squire guise took the steps up to the Quarterdeck. There was something different about the way she walked.
"Brittany, over here, now," he said, in clipped tones. His daughter turned towards him, instead of continuing to the ship's Captain."
"Yes, your majesty," she said, curious.
"Who was it?" the King said stiffly.
"Who was what, sire?" the Squire said, trying to keep in her role.
"I take it wasn't forced, or you would have told me first thing," the King said. "Or told your brother, and the bastard would have been dead in an hour. He still might."
"I'm afraid you're going to have to be a little more descriptive, father," the Princess said, dropping all pretense of being a squire.
"I want to know who made you a woman, Brittany," the King said.
Brittany blushed. "Trevor," she said, then softer "It was my idea."
"Lord Trevor!" the King bellowed.
It didn't take long for the Captain to rush to the King's side. The King, meanwhile had turned to stare at the second son of the Duke of Armedge. The glare was one that had turned his children to quivering masses before him, the rare times he had brought it to bear on them.
"How can I help you, sire?" Captain Lord Trevor said, saluting his king.
"How long have you been fornicating with my daughter my daughter?" the King asked in a deadly growl. "And what are your intentions towards her?"
Prince Avery stood at the dock, Duke Nolan and Lady Hayley at his side. He watched the complex dance of the dockworkers as they tied down the Godspeed. Up on her mast flew the royal standard, white Yorkist Rose, on a golden skewed chevron, with a purple background. It had been years since it had flown on a ship. The gang plank made a thudding sound as it hit the dock. His father stood at the top of the plank, saying something to a bald man in the same outfit as Marrissa was wearing.
Avery glanced over to the left. The young sailor girl was perched on the edge of a box, staring intently at the docked ship, as if she was looking for something as well. He turned back to the ship. His father had been joined by his sister, now dressed back in her Princess attire. Avery was sure that his sister hadn't gone on the mission with that on. Father and daughter, they descended from the ship. Avery reached out for Hayley's hand, then walked to meet them.
As his father stepped on to the dock, Avery stopped, less than five paces from his father, and bowed deeply, Hayley and Duke Nolan, taking his lead. "Rise, my son," the King said. "Lord Trevor and your sister tell me you have done well while Lord Henry had us beyond reach."
Avery stood straight, again. "It is my hope that I find favor, when you review the actions I and the council took in your absence," he said formally. "May I present my chief advisors during your staff's confinement?"
"Please, do," the King said. "Then we shall repair to a place of security, as another needful absence shall be coming."
The main room of the Golden Rinnebeast was only occupied by three people. Up against the far corner was Commander Riker, sprawled out in his seat against the wall. Captain Picard sat stiffly in his chair, looking over hand written reports. The last of the occupants was standing, her hands clasp behind her back. Marrissa's report was the latest to be added to the piles in front of the Captain.
"I must say that your handwriting is much improved, Marrissa," Captain Picard said. "This is a very through report on the political situation. Number One, are we ready to proceed with the trial?"
"As soon as the other Captains arrive, and Captain York turns himself in," Riker replied.
"He will be here in the morning," Picard said.