Trik - Betrayal in Rule

Duke Mortimer walked onto the palace balcony with three of his guards. Each guard held a member of the royal family, who were bound and gagged. The hostages were the toddler son, the teenage daughter, and the young prince who had freed Trik and Durben in the dungeon. A knife was at the throat of each hostage. Mortimer walked to the end of the balcony.

Below the balcony stood Trik, Durben, and Lord Ulrick, without weapons and without helmets.

“Lord Ulrick,” said Mortimer. “How fares the Lord of the Garrison?”

“I am here to oversee the proceedings,” he said, “not to discuss trifles. I believe you know my comrades.” He turned to Trik and Durben.

Mortimer’s face became menacing for a moment. Then he spoke in a sweet tone. “I have the Emperor, the Empress, and his three children in my care,” he said.

“We offer terms,” said Lord Ulrick, “a safe departure for you and your men from the city.”

Mortimer smiled. “We shall keep our weapons,” he said.

Trik nodded at Lord Ulrick.

“You shall have it,” said Lord Ulrick. “Your men and you are free to go. You will not be harassed in your departure. You may keep your armor and weapons.”

“I will keep the prince with me until we pass the city gate,” said Mortimer, “as a measure of good faith.”

Trik frowned. “The spider,” he hissed.

“So be it,” said Lord Ulrick.

Mortimer smiled as he looked down at them, his vilest and most perverse smile yet. And he cast a grim eye on Trik. “We have a deal,” he said.

There was a brief period of waiting. Then the palace doors were unlocked, and several of Mortimer’s guards issued forth. Behind them marched Mortimer’s himself, with the young prince close beside him and with his hands bound behind his back. The prince’s shaggy brown hair lay over his blue eyes.

Lord Ulrick issued the orders for his men to stand down. The Imperial Garrison departed from the streets, opening a path to the north gate of the city. Duke Mortimer’s party marched toward the gate. As they filed past Trik and Durben, once again Mortimer cast a dark glance at the elf. In the Duke’s right hand was Trik’s sword, shining silver in the morning light.

After Mortimer and his party had departed from the city, the Emperor and his Empress emerged from the palace. Their hands had been unbound, and they were unharmed. With the Empress were her two youngest children. “Your Majesties,” said Lord Ulrick, as the Emperor walked out to him.

“Where is my heir?” asked the Emperor. “Where is Prince Rickor?”

“My Emperor,” said Lord Ulrick, “Mortimer has taken him as a good faith measure. He will not be returned until his men are free of the city.”

“You fool,” shouted the Emperor. “The Duke will not free him.”

Durben stepped forward. “My Lord, it was my idea,” he said.

“No,” said Trik, coming between Durben and the Emperor. “It was mine.”

“The elf,” said the Emperor. “I know your voice.” He stepped toward Trik. “It was you.”

“Yes,” said Trik. “Mage Nob disguised Lord Durben and me, so that we might enter the palace.” He turned to Durben. “Lord Durben delivered your message to the Garrison. It was he who freed your city.”

The Emperor looked at Lord Ulrick. “Is this true?” he asked.

“It is true,” said Lord Ulrick.

The Emperor looked at Trik. “Then I owe you an apology, and a debt of gratitude,” he said. “At the very least you have earned a pardon.”

“Your Highness,” said Trik, bowing his head.

One of the Imperial Guards rushed down the street to the assembled party in the palace courtyard. He halted before Lord Ulrick. “My Captain,” he said, “Lord Mortimer has left the city. They are on horse, and are headed for the Frozen North.”

“And my son?” asked the Emperor.

The guard bowed low before the Emperor. “My Emperor,” he said, “they have taken the prince with them.”

The Emperor faced Lord Ulrick. “Then it is as I feared,” he said.

“But the city is safe, My Emperor,” said Lord Ulrick. “The Imperial Garrison has retaken it in full.”

The Emperor looked him deep in the eyes. “And I thank you for what you have done,” he said. He turned to his Empress and his two children. “We have much to be thankful for, and we have much to do.” He looked at Lord Ulrick. “Convene the war counsel. Alert my nobles. We have a war to fight.”

Lord Ulrick bowed his head. “Yes, My Lord,” he said.

The Emperor faced Trik. “And you shall have a seat in my counsel,” he said. “I am indebted to you.”

“I will fight,” said Trik, “until the traitor is dead and your son returned to you. I have made that promise.”

“Give me your sword,” said the Emperor.

Trik handed the emperor the sword that Durben had given him.

“Kneel,” said the Emperor.

Trik knelt before him. The Emperor placed the point of the blade on Trik’s right shoulder. “Trik, I pardon you in full,” he said. He placed the point of the sword on Trik’s left shoulder. “And I raise your status to a Knight of the Empire. “Now rise,” he said. “Rise, Sir Trik, Knight of Rule.”

Trik got to his feet. “My Emperor,” he said.

Trik and the Emperor faced the men of the Imperial Garrison, and as they did so, the soldiers cheered them, and a great cry of victory rang up from the city.