Free Valour and Victory by Candy Rae Page A

Bethany and
their son, his wife and children, the youngest only two months old.
Little David was crying. He was wet and uncomfortable. Everyone was
aware of the smell emanating from the young prince’s bottom. His
older brother Pierre was becoming fractious.
    “How long are
we to be incarcerated here?” asked a nervous Crown-Princess Susan.
“Surely they don’t intend to keep us cooped up all day? The
children are thirsty and hungry.”
    “What I don’t
understand is why Baron Henot is doing this,” said Princess
Bethany, “why, only yesterday he was playing with the children in
the gardens. He said he was missing his own family.”
    “Xavier is at
the bottom of this,” pronounced Prince David with a glance at his
son Prince Ian.
    “We don’t know
that yet Uncle,” said Crown-Prince Paul.
    “He’s always
been jealous of you. It was only a matter of time.”
    “But what’s
going to become of us?” cried Princess Denise in a voice filled
with anguish as she nursed her baby. “Is he going to kill us?” She
tightened her hold and David squalled.
    They waited for
over two candle-marks.
    At last the
door creaked open and two scared maidservants entered bearing
trays. On one lay a simple meal of cold meats, cheese and day old
bread. The other maid carried a heavy tray holding mugs, the kind
the soldiery used and a jug of steaming kala. There was also milk
for the baby.
    The maids laid
down their burdens with downcast eyes. They had been ordered not to
attempt to make contact with the royal prisoners. One glanced up
and caught Crown-Prince Paul’s eye but she made no sign as she
scuttled back out of the door. It slammed shut behind her, missing
her heels by a whisker.
    Another two
candle-marks passed, then they heard the heavy tread of booted feet
approaching and the door opened again.
    It was
Baron-Captain Henot with a group of armed men in his wake. He
stared at the wall as he issued his orders.
    “Crown-Prince
Paul, Prince David and Prince Ian, you will come with me.”
    “Can’t you look
at me Captain?” asked Prince David.
    Alan Henot did
not answer, nor did he waver in his gaze, merely indicating that
the three should precede him out of the door.
    “Where are you
taking us?” asked Prince Ian, giving his young wife a hug and
planting a kiss on baby David’s forehead.
    “King Xavier
wishes to see you,” Captain Henot said, realising that they were
making no move to obey and that he would have to give them some
explanation. He did not want an ugly scene.
    “King Xavier?
Captain?” exploded Crown-Prince Paul, who could hardly believe his
ears. “Xavier is no King of Anywhere.”
    “General,” Alan
Henot corrected him with a smirk, “General Commanding the Armies of
the Kingdom of South Murdoch.”
    “That country
does not exist,” said Crown-Prince Paul. “I will not come.”
    “My men will
have to take you,” Alan Henot answered. “Please don’t make me give
the order Prince Paul. I don’t want to upset the women.”
    The women and
children spent what remained of the day in the little room with no
further outside contact, then at dusk, more guards arrived and
escorted them out of the room and along the dark corridor that led
to the Citadel, the oldest part of the palace. They were taken to
the very top floor where secure quarters had been prepared.
    “Where are my
husband and the Princes David and Ian?” asked Crown-Princess Susan,
ushering her daughters in front of her.
    The guards said
precisely nothing.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Isobel
     
    “Mother is
furious with Father,” announced Isobel’s cousin Anne as she sat
down beside the other women and girls in the light-filled solar of
the Cocteau manor house.
    “Why?” asked
Isobel, looking up from her embroidery.
    “I didn’t know
Uncle Pierre had returned from Fort,” added Jennifer.
    “He arrived
back a half-candle-mark ago,” said Anne. “I went to greet him with
Mother. He came in, but he didn’t even look in my