Hello everyone. Here is chapter 3. I hope that you will enjoy it. :)
After talking with Banderas about his problems, Albert told both him and Maria that he is going to get his army ready for in case if Haredi or Swain is going to try to take his throne by force as he knew that his children's claim to the throne is in danger.
But, just before he left, his messenger came into the room and handed him a scroll from which Albert soon found out that the message is a plea for help from one of his allies, King Alfred, who's kingdom is facing a rebellion by a group of people that hated Albert.
Albert knew that his ally needed help, though, he was worried about leaving his kingdom unprotected and he came up with the idea of leaving his wife in charge of the kingdom while he was away which went into effect once it was agreed upon by Maria and the nobles.
Once that was sorted, Albert walked off with his bodyguards to make sure that his army is ready for the long trip to crush the rebellion, knowing that if the rebellion isn't crush, then, Alfred's kingdom would be an easy target for either Haredi or Swain, if they were to invade.
While Albert was off to get his army assembled, Banderas and Maria are left alone in the throne room as they planned to have a conversation that was just between the two of them and that is why they needed some privacy since it contained a very important matter to the two.
"So, how are things going in your kingdom?" asked Maria as she looked at Banderas. "Anything good, I hope".
"To be honest, my Queen, they not so well" said Banderas as he rubbed his neck. "It has something to do with my father".
"Henry?, that guy is an foolish King" said Maria as she kept her eyes on Banderas. "What is he doing, this time?".
"He has heard about the claims to the throne" said Banderas as he became worried. "I think that he is, after Albert's throne".
"If it's true, my husband has three battles to fight" said Maria as she pondered on it. "Make that four as he will be off fighting the rebellion".
"Yeah, we just have to hope that things don't get worse" said Banderas as he nodded in agreement. "Because if they do, then, we are doomed".
"Agreed, though, they will think twice about attacking" said Maria as she became confident. "They will be defeated, that's for sure".
Banderas really wanted to believe Maria, but, he had a feeling that Haredi and Swain will come with invasion forces with the full intention of invading Albert's kingdom as well as taking his crown from his head in an effort to make either of them the new King of the kingdom.
Later that day, Albert was ready to leave his kingdom with only a small force of five hundred men and travel to Alfred's kingdom to put down the rebellion while the rest of the army will stay behind to look after the kingdom and the people, as they still needed protection.
Wearing his chainmail, Albert hugged his wife and he kissed her on the cheek as well as kissing her on the beak knowing that it was going to take quite some time until he is to return to his kingdom and he put his faith into his wife as he hugged, Banderas, his best friend.
"Banderas, I am also putting my kingdom into your care" said Albert as he smiled at Banderas. "Do what you can, to look after my children and my people".
"I will, Albert, my friend and the children will be safe, I promise" said Banderas as he returned the smile. "You can always count on me, my friend".
Albert nodded in agreement as he soon walked off with his five hundred men army in their attempts to reach Alfred's kingdom and crush the rebellion that has risen up against the latter King while knowing that this could be a very important day for him as well as Alfred.
Maria could only watch as her husband was soon out of sight before she quickly began to make plans to raise a new army to tackle the threat of Haredi and Swain if those two ever tried to invade the kingdom with their respective armies, something that Maria wasn't going to let happen.