Sweet Waters Throne

168 Chapter 16The words “Then your son will be King” sounded too easy coming from Aprophil’s mouth but Katarina was too experienced to believe that a kingdom as huge as Prophis can be taken that easily. Once the capital is sacked and a new King is crowned, then other cities will follow but Raven wasn’t a small town or a city like Whitebridge to say it may fall within a day.

Raven was twice the size of Whitebridge, and twice size of King’s City and thrice size of Claydall. During her husband’s reign, Katarina did ask Castellan why didn’t he rule from Raven ─ the biggest of all cities in Prophis, not to say the most profited one and it was always hot in Raven compared to King’s City which snowed throughout the year.

At the time Lord Boross had made a very strong fort in such a way no one dared to enter the city, not even the King. He agreed to acknowledge the Taeiins as the sovereigns but taking his city was something he wanted them to try, because he knew very well he will win. Even when Gandalf became King his first attempt was to take the city but he lost a Lord and his lion in the attempt.

Hence the power which laid in Raven wasn’t for the weak, Aprophil reminded her the city may be big and powerful, but the stronghold fort was destroyed by the dragon and it may take time to regroup. Amabel joined them and he was told of the news, just like what Aprophil expected ─ he rejoiced and by the next day Aprophil picked up the best Master of Swords to train him.

Amabel started learning his sword when he was seven, most of the times it was Castellan himself who trained him using wooden swords but then he stopped training because of the Battle of Stonedance. When they moved into their manse in Whitebridge, Amabel picked up steel sword for the first time and trained to be a real warrior.

Henceforth, this new Master of Swords had only to teach Amabel the advanced moves because he had already mastered the basics. Katarina with her two sons and Frost, the youngest of the Taelins who somehow fell into Katarina’s care after he was abandoned by his brothers, moved into Aprophil’s castle for protection.

Aprophil lied to his mother about the true intention of the moving in, he told her, “The Lady’s manse caught fire and I was obliged to help. She has been my regular business partner, it’s not for long just until she has everything together” and Jody agreed.

While Aprophil and his family took the front grounds, Katarina was placed in the Eastern part of the palace with her own servants, guards, washerwomen and ten decorated chambers all to her and whoever she would invite. She and Aprophil agreed that if they were to meet up with a Lord or a rich man, then they should do so in Katarina’s chambers so that’s how Jody wouldn’t be aware as to what was going on.

Miranda took a liking into Katarina and her sons, even Frost was introduced to her as one of Katarina’s sons so as to avoid any suspicious questions. In a span of a week, Lords and Ladies who Aprophil fully trusted visited the castle of the Lord of Free Hall to meet up Amabel Taelin. Aprophil laid down the cards on the table, these aristocratic people were to choose, either Amabel Taelin the true heir to the Silver throne, or his uncle the Usurper.

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But where was Prince Ambrose and Princess Thelma in all of this, be sure they weren’t just laying down low somewhere. A letter from Lord Leoric reached them at a point where they had lost hopes of ever finding Amabel or his mother after searching for quite some time. This letter was hopeful even though they had never met with the Lord of the Mines, yet he sounded like a man with connections and very well much informed.

“He could be a spy, sent by our nephew or worse Artemis himself leading us on a trap” said Ambrose as soon as he read the letter.

“Or he could be the most significant figure in our fight. We must meet with him brother and see what he has to offer”

“He is a cunt!” Cursed Prince Ambrose bitterly. He wore a city’s silks and black leather sandals, his taste for expensive clothing is what costed them most of the times because he was spending a lot of money for things he barely needed.

For just a period of a fortnight, Prince Ambrose was already making a mess just like before and he was perhaps the most famous man in Whitebridge. His rants about him being the crowned prince and the true heir to the throne of Prophis were all over the streets.

A Lord named Masley housed them inside his manor as they prepared to take back the throne. Prince Ambrose promised his Lordship status and lots of wealth when they regained Prophis, and the Lord Masley trusted the prince as if he had no any other choice but to trust him. Apart from being very convincing, Prince Ambrose also knew how to speak to powerful people and bring him to their side.

Princess Thelma was glad for her brother’s convincing power and gaining them allies and friends in Whitebridge, but she wasn’t so impressed by his too much overspending of the small fortune they had. “You spend too much these days” she said to her brother.

“It’s not our money, that shouldn’t worry you”

“But it does since it’s our host’s money and we wouldn’t want to bankrupt him just before he gives us the throne now do we?”

Prince Ambrose thought that his sister was worried for nothing while everything was under control. He reached out for a bowl full of grapes and took a handful of the fruits, ate few of them and then he was on his way outside. “I’ll see you later sister” he waved goodbye to Thelma.

“Where are you going?” asked Princess Thelma concerned about her brother’s endeavors and activities. “Don’t tell me you are visiting the brothels again?”

“Why shouldn’t I sister? Everyone wants to be fucked by the prince” he replied with a smirk.

“Because you are a married man Ambrose, with a wife and two sons. Your wife awaits you in Loni and she ─”

Ambrose interrupted her “And she will wait a little bit longer, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if I fuck a few whores along the way. Trust me sister… she doesn’t mind”

“What about the Lord of the Mines?”

“Write him back and tell him he is free to join the queue, and ask him how many men will he provide for us. If he has a great potential then he may be welcome, I’ll see to it later”

Princess Thelma wanted to add another word but she couldn’t get a word in edge way, it was clear Ambrose was avoiding her and she tried her best to return him back to the fold. But when two days passed and still Ambrose remained unresponsive, Thelma took it into her hands to write a letter back to Lord Leoric.

In the letter she explained how grateful she will be if the Lord of the Mines would offer help to them. Then she wanted His Lordship to be clear as to how he was actually planning to help them, the number of men he was willing to provide and what he wanted in return.

By the time Princess Thelma’s letter arrived in the Mines, Lord Leoric was already back in his city with Princess Aeryn and their son Jeremiah. The letter arrived through a raven, and Leoric thought whoever sent a bird from Whitebridge to his castle must be specifically trained in flying the birds ─ he was very impressed.

“Who is it from?” asked Aeryn while breastfeeding Jeremiah out in the gardens of Lord Leoric’s castle. Lord Leoric was sitting on a chair reading the letter carefully. He was analyzing every word and in the midst of sentences, he tried to understand the meaning of them.

“The Taelins, it turns out my rider delivered the letter safely to Whitebridge”

Princess Aeryn gasped softly, then she grabbed the letter from her Lord husband and read it for herself. The words were well written and so straightforward, Aeryn thought this was the most clearer letter she had ever received before. The terms were out in the open, and it also said what did Lord Leoric need from them in return.

“We all want the dragons dead, not after what Artemis did in Lawsend’s City. If we joined our powers with the Taelins, then we may be able to defeat him” said Lord Leoric seemingly so confident in his speech.

Although Aeryn thought he was mad, “I don’t think if we’ll succeed. The dragons are way more powerful than we give them credit. The whole city burned to ashes, the bodies lay out in the open like dry black woods. I fear what will be our punishment when our brother decides to turn to us” there was a worried look on Aeryn’s face, and it was a for a reason.