Free The Dubious Heir by Lydia Clark Page A

be unless you insisted upon making them."
    His comment brought a smile to her face.
     
    It was a long walk to the castle. He had to travel on foot. Horses were not cheap and carriages were even more costly.
    Along the way, he found a knotty stout branch to use for a walking stick. It also would do well as a staff if he needed to defend himself if need be. When one does not plan for trouble, trouble always finds you.
    The castle was a good day's walk. He arrived at the gate just before sundown. If he were lucky, he might be given an audience by the King today.
    "You there, state your business."
    "I wish for an audience with the King."
    A guard stepped forward to give Dale further inspection and turned to his fellow mates guarding the entrance. "He wears the Baron's brooch."
    "Let him pass." A tall man in light mail answered. He appeared to be a captain of the troupe. "Escort him to the King's Hall."
    It seemed too simple, using the brooch as a way into the castle.
    Dale remained silent while he followed the guard into the castle. When they reached the hall, he was told to stay and wait while the King was told he had company. A couple of times the guard addressed Dale by calling him, "My Lord." Never once did he expect to be mistaken for a Baron.
    While he waited, a tray of tea and cakes were delivered by a maid and set upon a table near by. Dale did not touch these. He had been brought up proper by his Mum. The King needed to invite you if you were to dine with him.
    "What may I do for you?"
    Dale had his back to the speaker. He had been busy admiring a cloth hanging upon the wall. The tapestry was that of the layout of the streets of the town where Dale had come from. When he heard a voice, he turned around upon his heel to lay eyes upon the King for the first time in his life. Was he supposed to kneel or bow? Dale picked bow.
    "Your majesty." Dale did not know how to begin. He had tried to rehearse while traveling here just exactly what he would say to the King about his mother but now the words fell short from his lips. Especially when he saw the duke was standing behind the King. There was something about the man that made Dale pause before speaking. Was it the way the Duke narrowed his eyes at him or the fact that the man stood watch over the King? Dale couldn't quite put his finger on it.
     
    The King was one step ahead of Dale. He was tipped off by the brooch. There was only one person who would have had that brooch. When he saw it, the memories of her came flooding back. "I know this brooch. I gave it to someone many years ago."
    Dale smiled. "It is my mother's."
    The Duke stepped forward. "Your mother? How do you know it belonged to your mother? I heard she died when you were a babe."
    This called for a careful approach. Dale knew the Duke wanted the heir dead for some unknown reason. He knew he couldn't trust him. What the man was up to and what would happen once the King left Dale's presence was without question. He had already tried once to kill him. Most likely he would try again, somehow, some way.
    "My Mum is alive and healthy."
    "Then the brooch was attached to your blanket and your adoptive mother gave it to you." The Duke responded. Not once did the Duke look to the King for approval. He continued to stare Dale down.
    "No, I was not adopted. My birth mother still lives."
    Dale could not help but notice how the Duke balled his fists at the news of his mother's good health and long life. Now he focused his attention on the King. "Your majesty, I brought you the book my mother kept while she was living here in the castle as a young woman. It may shed some light to what happened to her and how I came to be." He retrieved the book from inside his cloak while he spoke and held it out to the King to take.
    The Duke started to reach for the book before the King, but his hand was swatted away by Dale allowing the King to receive the book himself.
    "How dare you?" reacted the Duke.
    "Ellington, leave us." The King