The Seven Kingdoms

Chapter Four

Zareena Shoal Evergreen, princess of the kingdom of Evergreen, sat before a fire in one of the large fireplaces set around the great hall. She was embroidering a border of green leaves and vines on the hem of a cloak for her mother-in-law, the queen. She glanced to her right and saw that her husband had fallen into a doze in the chair beside her, and she smiled at the way that his mouth had fallen open. She knew that he would begin snoring at any moment.

A flurry of activity and movement caught her attention, and she turned her head to see two young men and two young women approach and stop before her. She was about to ask the plainly-dressed young people what it was that they wanted, when she suddenly recognized the two girls. She set aside her sewing and stood to embrace Hildy and Lawry, then motioned for the four visitors to follow her to a smaller room off the great hall. She shut the doors behind her, then turned to Hildy.

“My dear child, wherever have you been?” she asked in a rush.

Hildy had to smile. “I’m 17 and you are barely 20, and I have done a lot of growing up in the last week, so I will thank you not to call me a child.”

Zareena hastened to apologize, but Hildy waved it away. “I am just making a joke, Zar. I have found that humor makes a strong weapon against tragedy.”

“We were preparing to board ship to come to your wedding when one of our trade vessels sailed into the bay with word that you had fled after inflicting a somewhat indelicate injury upon your future husband,” Zareena told them. “We didn’t know what to do. We came back to the castle to await further word. Then, a few days later, more of our traders began to arrive back home, telling us of an invasion of Halfmoon by Skull soldiers.”

“You must know more about it than we do,” Hildy said quickly. “Please, tell me all that you can. I was hiding in Lawry’s rooms, and we had to leave in a rush right after she first heard word of the invasion.”

“I am so sorry, Hildy,” Zareena replied, grabbing Hildy’s hands in hers. “All we know is that many of your father’s soldiers were killed in the fighting.”

Hildy was shocked. “That makes no sense! Soldiers rarely die in battle. Broken bones and cracked heads are common enough from the slingers’ wooden projectiles or a well-struck blow from a staff. But this is unheard of!”

“We have been questioning our people who fled from Halfmoon, but so far we haven’t found any who actually witnessed the fighting.” Zareena turned to Lawry. “And what of you? We were planning to come to your wedding soon.”

Hildy interrupted her. “Her prince turned out to be no better a prize than mine. What news have you heard of my parents?”

Again Zareena turned to Hildy and again gripped her hands. “Of course we asked all the refugees about that, but no one could tell us anything. I am so sorry, truly I am. I’m sure they are alive and well. The Skulls wouldn’t dare risk angering all the other kingdoms by harming them.”

“I need to sit down,” Hildy said quietly.

Zareena set herself to making her guests comfortable. She called for the palace staff to prepare rooms for them to stay in, and sent for food to be brought from the kitchens. Then she settled them into the room that the princesses would share, and got them seated at a table. While the four travelers ate, she questioned them gently, learning everything she could about all that had transpired.

“You can all stay here for as long as you wish or need to,” she assured them. “I will have one of our trade ships take the boat back to Middle, and deliver it to your father,” she said to Tull and Tolly. “I suggest you send a note telling him that you are safe. I will send some coins to compensate him for the loss of his two assistants. And thank you both for helping my friends.”

The boys assured her that it was their pleasure, and thanked her for her thoughtfulness.

The doors opened, and the king and queen swept into the room. Vorner Tagg Evergreen was a tall, thin man with long, gray hair. His wife, Tiva, once a princess of Flame, was short, plump, and bosomy. Hildy had always liked the unlikely pair, thinking of them as an aunt and uncle, and had to hide a smile as she was once again reminded of the fact that their son was also tall and thin, while Zar was, indeed, short and very full figured.

The queen rushed over to Hildy and crouched down to embrace her, even as she began to stroke her hair and coo into her ear. “There there, child, all will be well. You are safe now.”

The king had always been an energetic sort, and he began pacing back and forth across the room. “Quite right, my dear, you are always more than welcome here. We are very glad to know that you are safe and well. I was planning on sending my emissaries to Halfmoon in a day or two to find out the intentions of those Skull brigands. I shall send them now, and instruct them to ascertain the condition and whereabouts of your parents. This will not stand, I can assure you of that. The civilized world will unite against this outrageous act of vile treachery!”

“Hush now, my love,” the queen interjected. “Don’t upset the child. Can’t you see that she is exhausted?”

Prince Evvord Stanet Evergreen chose that moment to stride into the room. “I seem to have slept right through all the excitement,” he said in a bleary tone, gazing around the room in befuddlement.

For some strange reason, this brought everyone in the room to laughter, which the prince good-naturedly joined in. Things were very busy for a while as the visitors were fussed over. The queen made sure the girls had everything they needed, and that the boys had comfortable rooms in another part of the castle,  a point that the queen went to some pains to make clear. The king sputtered about for a bit, then left to make sure his emissaries were well prepared for their mission. The prince made himself useful in any way that his wife suggested. Zareena, for her part, made sure the visitors ate their fill, then sent the two young fishermen off to their rooms, escorted by one of the palace staff. Then she shooed everyone, including herself, out, so that the princesses could get some sleep.

Time passed while they waited for the return of the emissaries. At last, early on the fifth day, the ship carrying the delegation returned to the harbor. They all gathered in the great hall to hear the report.

The leader of the delegation was a gray-bearded and wise-looking old man. He also had a kind heart. Before even addressing the king, he turned to Hildy. “Your parents are alive and in good health, Princess. I was allowed to speak briefly with them. They are confined to their rooms, but I assure you, they are not being mistreated.”

“But what of the Skulls?” demanded the king. “What are their plans? What do they want?”

The emissary turned towards the king. “Prince Nardis was very clear on that point. He demands that Princess Hildread be returned to Halfmoon immediately. He says that the wedding will take place, and only then will the king and queen be released and the Skull soldiers sail back to Skull.”

“That impudent wretch!” bellowed King Vorner. “To make such a demand of us. Does he think that we won’t protect the child? Why, we have watched her grow from a tiny babe in her mother’s arms. My wife was there, in the room, and helped deliver her. I myself held her when she was mere minutes old!”

“That isn’t all, I’m afraid,” the emissary continued. “He came right out and said that if she isn’t returned within five days, that Skull troops would be sent to take her by force. He said, in fact, that he would lead those troops himself.”

The room fell silent. The king rose from his chair, his face red. “Call my captains!” He shouted. He turned to Hildy. “I know not how the Skull rabble managed to subdue your father, a notable warrior, and his troops so quickly. No doubt through some treachery or betrayal. But know this, dear child. You shall be safe here, upon my honor and my life.”

“Hear hear!” shouted his son.

The queen kissed her husband’s cheek.

“Now, ladies,” the king said, “leave us, if you would be so kind. We have a war to prepare for.”

As the women left the great hall, Hildy sidled close to Lawry. “Seeing as how this war is mostly about me, don’t you think that they ought to let us stay and help with the planning?” she whispered.

“You know, I was thinking exactly the same thing myself,” Lawry replied.

Two days later, the king summoned the princesses to his side in the great hall once again. This time, he addressed Lawry. “I fear I have foul news from Middle, Princess. Word has reached us that Prince Cronan, who was to have been your husband, has married your sister.”

“What?” Lawry raged. “But she is a child. Narya has only just turned 15.”

“Yes, well, as it turns out, your parents objected on those very grounds as well. But, during the night, more Skull soldiers arrived by ship, and, after disembarking in the predawn hours, forced their way into the castle.”

Lawry was so stunned that she couldn’t reply.

“There is good news to go with the bad,” the king hastened to assure her. “Because the surprise was so complete, there was no loss of life at all. A few injuries, to be sure, but no one died.”

“The world has gone insane,” was all Lawry could think to say.

“I have sent word to the other kingdoms,” the king went on to say. “It is obvious that we must band together to stop the Skulls, lest they subdue us each individually. Their own actions have insured their defeat.”

Hildy walked Lawry back to their rooms with an arm around her shoulder. She whispered words of encouragement, words that, even to her, rang hollow.

Four days after that, a fleet of more than a hundred ships sailed into the great bay and anchored off Evergreentown. The ships bore the black and white sails of the kingdom of Skull.