The Union

"Oh so you do know how to smile" said one of the two ladies sitting with him. This one sat with a leaned back and matched with a frown. Her auburn hair was decorated with flowers Erik don"t recognize. With her thin nose and nicely-angled cheeks, he still couldn"t believe that she is a full-blooded serf.

"Erik was once known as the demon squire. Can"t put a blame on him for trying to maintain the honorary name" Said Freya without even lifting her eyes from the book she was reading.

"Oi" Erik lowered the paper a bit "Is it a crime to smile sometimes?"

"Why are you smiling anyway?"

"Sylvie sent me a letter. It is funny. I smile"

"Ah woman. The only thing that could make the great Marquis Erik look stupid" Freya turned a page on her book "You once tried to court me when we were kids. You gave me a toy soldier instead of something gracious like flowers"

"Toy soldier?" Emily asked, deeply surprised "That"s dumb. I can"t think of any logical reason why you would do that"

"Let"s not dig into the past lest we dig our graves in the process" Erik warned

Three loud knocks sounded. The three of them fixed eyes on the door.

"Come in" Erik said

The Squire went inside with bowed head. On his hand were letters.

"Two letters arrived via pigeon from Vuono sire"

"Two letters?" Erik repeated, confirming the squire"s words.

"Two letters sire"

The squire handed him and Freya a letter each. The folded brown paper wasn"t of the best quality. The sender didn"t even bother putting a drop of perfume.

"It"s from Henry" Freya said.

Erik"s eyes went to the seal. The wax was green and stamped into the image of Henry"s signature.

Erik took the knife on his desk. Slicing the wax, he opened and read the contents. After a while his lips curved another smile.

"What do you know. Henry never fails to bring surprises"

**********

Murt, Northern Tulosa

"Go!" Brice shouted on top of his lungs. His throat hurt. He gasped for air.

Five carriages rode in the streets of Murt. One was for him. Two were for his n.o.ble friends. The remaining were for their gold.

A hundred hors.e.m.e.n escorted them. Most of them are mercenaries he hired from the north. They were not worthy of his trust- mercenaries were not worthy of anyone"s. But a man who fights for gold will fight with the same ferociousness as a man who fights for loyalty. He had known this for a long time and that"s how he won the last civil war.

Behind them were the loud banging of iron. Just like in Vuono, the citizens rose against him in rebellion here in Murt. He thought he escaped the moment his carriage entered Murt. But that same day the populace revolted after hearing of the successful revolt in Vuono.

Brice tried to contain the flames of their anger but he was burned. His sellswords and loyal banner men couldn"t stop the riots. Brice decided to flee, for the third time since violence erupted about a month ago.

"d.a.m.n them!" Brice looked behind "d.a.m.n those plebs! I will make them pay once I retake the crown"

"If you retake the crown" His wife said.

"Shut your mouth or I"ll sew it close"

"Oh how terrible of you. I am afraid" She rolled her eyes "You"ve been saying that for ages and I didn"t even get a single st.i.tch on my mouth. Stop threatening me if you can"t even do it. What I said is the truth anyway. All we have are a few loyal fools and greedy mercenaries. The Castonians and that sc.u.m child of yours has Bivon. The fool Tobias is dead. Balian is with the Calgarians down south. We are rotting away our strength while they are getting stronger. And don"t you forget Henry"s declaration"

Brice"s anger further surged after remembering what Henry did. The boy dared to excommunicate and declare a crusade against him. Although just a fancier name for declaring a war, he wouldn"t want to be remembered as the only King of Tulosa the Grand Master excommunicated and declared crusade upon.

"d.a.m.n him. d.a.m.n Henry. d.a.m.n them all!" Brice shouted.

"Ah yes because cursing and screaming like a child will solve all our problems"

"If you"re so wise then tell me your plan then!"

"Lets just give up" She said with a serious face and tired voice "We are rich. We could start a good life in the north or in the south. We could go west if you want to be eaten by cannibals and east if a war torn nation is your choice. Just get me out of this wretched kingdom"

"And what?" Brice barked "Let my name be mocked for all eternity? I will get my crown back. And Emily. She would win if we flee. I cannot stand just imagining her triumphant face"

"Make a plan then!" She raised her voice and crossed her arms "I was always the one making plans and doing the thinking while you take all the credit"

"Oh how arrogant of you, old wench. Fine I"ll make a plan"

"One that doesn"t get both of us killed preferably"

"You... Shut your mouth or I"ll sew..." Brice just stopped and turned his head away "Get me my quill and paper"

"I am a Queen. I am not your servant"

"Please" Brice added.

"Say it properly"

"Give me the d.a.m.n quill and paper!" Brice ground his molars "please"

His wife bent and took his requested items. She gave it to him and resumed crossing her arms.

"What are you writing anyway?"

"A letter"

She leaned a little closer "Your handwriting is as horrid as your breath. I can"t believe you still can"t write legibly. Give it to me"

Brice stare at her for a while. Although her words are blunt, she"s right. He handed her the quill and paper.

"What should I write?" she asked

Brice cleared his throat. "Greetings Balian...no, um... Greetings my old friend, Grand Master Balian..."

**********

Balian"s frown was unceasing since he heard of Henry"s declaration. The other person in the tent also wore a frown as deep as his.

"Don"t you have tea?" Balian asked the other man.

Corwell, dressed in a thin blue shirt embroiled with intricate but confusing designs, eyed Balian with a stare anything but friendly.

"I may be a Calgarian but it doesn"t mean I could just produce tea out of thin air"

"I"m just asking. My head hurts"

"Well why am I not surprised? You have just been excommunicated by your subordinate. A man half your age if I may add"

"I would rather swallow tea right now rather than your insults"

"Alright I will order my servant for some tea later. But right now we need to draw a plan. I came here, marched for two weeks with the sole of my boots thinning, just to reinforce you"

"Your Queen is my ally" Balian wetted his lips and longed for the taste of Calgarian tea "She will have complete access to Tulosa once I have the power of a king"

"Aye and she expected you to still have Bivon when we arrive"

"Because Castonians!" Balian gripped the armrest. He despised those brutes.

"Yeah" Corwell"s tone was low as if speaking of something inevitable- like a force of nature sinking a fleet of ships "Castonians. The Vanadian navy are also pressing their foot against Calgari"s neck. It was a full blockade. They have captured several coastal towns and a city already. And yet the Queen just sent me and twenty-five thousand Calgarians here. We should be taking our coasts back"

"That"s because your Queen understands that Tulosa and Calgari need to work together"

"The last time that happened, you lost all of your army to the Castonians and we lost a huge chunk of ours also to the Castonians"

"Well this time it would be different and imagine if Henry becomes the Grand Master instead of me. The Castonians will have both Vanadis and Tulosa. Oh I"m pretty sure you don"t want that to happen"

"n.o.body wants that to happen" Said Corwell "That"s why me and my lads are here, ready to bleed and prepared to die just to put a crown on top of your head. But what now? We can"t be victorious without taking Bivon and I"m not going to a.s.sault that city with twenty thousand Castonians guarding it"

Balian tapped his finger on the table. Although new allies join their camp each day, Henry still commands a formidable force in the form of the Castonians and that brat Emily.

"Grand Master" Balian"s guard peeked from outside the tent "A messenger just arrived"

"Who sent him?"

"He"s saying... King Brice. He"s carrying a letter"

"Give it to me"

The guard entered the tent and handed him the letter. Balian was amused upon seeing the golden wax. King Brice still had the audacity to call himself King.

Balian opened it and immediately went on reading. An idea soon formed on his mind.

"We"re going west to Stonerider"

"Why?" Asked Corwell

Balian smiled, the first smile his lips formed in days. "The fool expects to forge alliance with us. I"m going to capture a King"