Disruption in the Capitol

"What? When did this happen?" King Leandis roared, his voice coarse and dry as if his throat were coated with sand. Mead dripped from his beard as he stumbled to his feet and grabbed the messenger by the collar of his shirt. 

"That's all I know," the skinny man said, his eyes wide with fear. "At least, that's all I saw. I came to report to you as soon as it happened, Your Majesty."

"Sir Lucan would never…go rogue. Lies. He has protected me for over a year now without failure. Why start killing my people now?"

"Maybe it's Styte?" Said a voice from behind him. Galvan, his younger brother, said, approaching from a chair by the window. He had been visiting for the past few days. It was the first Leandis had seen of him in nearly a year, even though his brother was a quick horse ride from the Capitol. "What do you think, Adryn?"

Leandis snapped toward him.

"Oh, excuse me, my king." Galvan said, giving him a slight bow of submission.

"What're you implying, brother? How could Styte be involved with this? He's still in Kaladia. We'll soon receive word that he's been vanquished. After I take his territory, and his gold, this continent will be mine."

"Well, you aren't taking his territory, Your Majesty. Balian is. And Balian may fail. But that's besides my point. Where did this Sir Lucan come from? What are his origins?"

"He was a footsoldier in my army. He protected me during a Raider attack after I left Styte territory from the marriage."

"But what are his origins? Did this man ever exist before your way back from Styte's territory? No, you only knew of him on your way back from your daughter's marriage. He could've easily joined and played the false hero, all this time."

"Sir Lucan is different. He's loyal. He couldn't have been…pretending the whole time? No. I will question the man myself," Leandis said decidedly.

"Shall I come with you? We can't have you on the streets unguarded," Galvan told him, brushing his hand against the side of his coat. Beneath was a shortsword, attached to a leather belt. 

"Fine with me," he replied as they pushed past the messenger. Leandis could see his family waiting for him at the end of the hallway. 

His wife, Elyse, looked magnificent as always, dressed in a pure silk outfit. She had an arm wrapped around the heir to the throne, Leandis's son Daelos. And sitting on the floor was his daughter, Freya. 

None of them met his eyes as he approached. So they'd heard as well. "It is outrageous how fast word spreads around here," Leandis said.

"Is it true?" Freya asked, standing. That was when he noticed the tears in her eyes. "That Sir Lucan has betrayed us?"

He had almost forgotten. Freya was in love with Sir Lucan. A stupid, childish love that Leandis hadn't felt since his younger years. The kind where you absolutely idolized them, blind to their very obvious flaws. In the past year, Freya had begged him to wed them. She was old enough now, after all. 

Oh how quickly the time passes. 

He reached out a gloved hand, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. "No, my sweet. I do not believe he has."

This sparked a light of hope in her eyes, though that hadn't been what he'd intended. Her love for Sir Lucan could never be real. He would never allow their marriage. 

No, this was how it had to be. It wasn't fair, but as soon as Freya had been born, she'd become a pawn for him. Her role, as had been her sister's, was to marry. But not to a knight like Sir Lucan. She had to marry royalty. 

After Styte, he had planned on House Ferros, who was already a close ally with Leandis. They shared borders after all. Freya would make a good wife to their heir.

Leandis turned to his wife. "I'm going to get to the truth of all this. Sir Lucan was acting on my orders. He likely still is. Though what caused him to lash out at my people…I cannot know for certain."

Elyse nodded, though he could see judgment behind her eyes. 

He ignored it, instead kneeling in front of Daelos. "My son, while I am away, you shall be king of the whole castle."

The boy's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Really?" He rushed forward, wrapping Leandis in a hug. "Thanks father!"

Leandis stood, turning to a knight who stood at the door. "Sir Caldwyn, I will need a small escort. I don't want to draw much attention. You will stay here with my family. Understand?"

"Understood, Your Majesty," the burly knight said, bowing slightly.

"Alright, Galvan," Leandis said to his brother. "Let's get moving."

*******

Mistress Bedlam stumbled out the door, a large bucket swinging between her legs. Dirty water splashed up over the top, dripping onto her pants.

She sighed with frustration, pouring the bucket out into the street. She wasn't sure how she'd gotten stranded with clean-up again for the fifth morning in a row. 

Damn that worthless drunk, she thought, glaring up at the second-floor window where her husband slept the day away. He better pick up some of the slack tonight. 

She made her way back to the entrance and nearly dropped her bucket out of surprise. A knight, armor dripping with blood, was waiting for her there. 

"Sir Lucan?" She asked surprised. "By the Six, are you hurt? What happened?"

"The sewers. You have access?" The knight mumbled.

"Excuse me? The sewers?"

"The tunnels below us. I need to know. Now."

Mistress Bedlam frowned. "The tree growing in the back uprooted the stone long ago. There's a hole at the base, but I doubt you'll be able to fit down there."

"Show me," Sir Lucan said bluntly. 

Mistress Bedlam could hear screams in the distance. What had happened? "Of course, sir," she said respectfully, leading him around the back of the tavern.

There the tree grew. A dark oak. It seemed larger since the last time she'd seen it. The thing was a miracle. Somehow it'd survived the nearly ten years she and her husband had owned the place. And it was beautiful.

She gasped as the tree splintered into a thousand pieces. 

Sir Lucan brought his warhammer back a second time, slamming it into the base. This time, the tree groaned and leaned over, partially crushing her roof. 

"By the seventh, Sir Lucan!" She screamed. "My husband is up there!"

But Sir Lucan wasn't listening. Instead, he was tearing at the roots around the hole. "Sorry for the mess, madam. You'll be compensated, I promise."

With that, he disappeared down the hole.

"What the hell was that?" Bryer Bedlam said, stumbling down the alley. "Woman, what the fuck-"

Mistress Bedlam pointed. "Don't you dare call me that. You've been sleeping long enough, you lazy shit. Help me clean up."