Sweet Waters Throne

Chapter 44: Chapter 4

The winter was getting colder day by day in Prophis. The winds blew harder making it even impossible for soldiers to practice, and they needed to if they were going to survive a war with Maldonia.

The major noble houses of Prophis which were three of them, House Ravenstein, House Claydall and House Bellward were called upon in the courtyard by His Grace, King Castellan and they responded.

House Taelin may be rich and powerful since that’s how King Taelin himself fashioned his ruling by being ruthless and making each lord answer to him for a even a small crime such as changing a banner. King Taelin didn’t listen to his lords advices during his thirty years on the silver throne.

He was a type of a ruler you may call it a “tyranny”. Some houses inside Prophis revolted and raised their banners to challenge King Taelin, a count of four houses excluding the major three. These four small houses were crashed down, killed to their last male heirs so they may never rise again.

Ever since that terrible civil war twenty years ago, fear had engulfed Prophisians and no one dared to challenge King Taelin. But now there was a new king on the throne, he may not be like his father but he sure was his father’s son. House Ravenstein, House Claydall and House Bellward fought alongside King Taelin and they continued to align with Castellan as per tradition.

That’s why upon their arrival to the capital King Castellan gave the lords of the three major houses a grand welcome. He personally awaited for them at the gates of his city. Castellan wore a heavy black coat, black trouser and black armor clothing in the inside with black boots.

He also wore black gloves, even though the day was magnificent and the sun was shining, the lands were still freezing – the king himself was freezing.

.....

Katarina as always stood beside her husband to offer a word of wisdom or simply comfort him. One of the most beautiful things to ever happen to Castellan was his wife. It may come as a surprise however at how they first met, and Castellan never seemed eager to marry Katarina.

A maiden and the first daughter of Lord Tally of House Claydall, Katarina was the eye of every young man in Prophis. She had a taste of clothing where even though it was freezing, she still managed to pull out the best fabrics and styles which aligned with the weather.

The order to wed Katarina Tally of House Claydall came straight from King Taelin himself after he rendered Castellan of age. The marriage proposal was like a show of kindness to Lord Tally after he supported them during the civil war.

“The Tallies?” A young Castellan was surprised when his father told him of his proposition. “What happened to Princess...”

King Taelin intervened “I just grew rather fond of Lady Katarina Tally, she is a beautiful young lady and the union between our houses will not only magnify the realm but it will also...” Taelin paused and looked straight at his son “What is it?”

“I... I can’t marry her father. I have a paramour of my own, I love her”

King Taelin suddenly found himself chuckling “A paramour?” he asked.

“Yes”

“You mean just one? I have hundreds of them do you see me neglecting my duties? Listen son, marriage doesn’t have to be that hard, you will be the king someday and you can father thousands of bastards no one will give a damn. But first you do your house and family the honor, after that you can fuck whoever you want”

That was the advice from King Taelin to his son, however ever since the first day Castellan laid his eyes on Katarina, well let’s put it like he never saw his paramour ever again. He was taken by Katarina’s beauty in a way he didn’t want to share her with anyone else – not even his children.

Fast forward ten years later, Castellan is a thirty years old man and Katarina is twenty seven since she was married at seventeen. Their first son, Amabel was eight years old and their young one Barkis was two. A one perfect happy family.

The look on Katarina’s face enlightened when she saw her brother on a horse carrying their sigil, lord Aubrel of House Claydall, he inherited Claydall after their father’s death two years ago. Aubrel and Katarina have always been so close to one another since it was just the two of them with no other siblings.

House Ravenstein sigil was a blue raven sliced by an arrow, House Claydall’s was a yellow box with two tiny dots on top and House Bellward had a black bell with a spear. The sigils had great meaning to Prophisians and it symbolized power. For House Taelin it was an orange fire with a sun on top of it – symbolized power beyond the sun and wealthy.

Castellan leaned to his wife and whispered “I’ve always wondered what does the yellow box in your sigil represents’ he made a joke.

“My father told me it’s a box of treasures, and the yellow represents gold”

“Hmm-mm perhaps it’s the perfect time for the realm to beg for that gold” Castellan sighed and looked at his guests approaching the gates.

Each house brought twenty men riding in horses, however House Claydall added another twenty who arrived a day before the major arrival, just for safety.

“Brother... welcome to the capital” said Katarina and reached out to her brother who had just dismounted his horse.

A wide smile escaped lord Aubrel who like Castellan was in all black with heavy cloths. “What a gracious welcome sister” replied Aubrel and then he looked at Castellan and knelt down with one knee “Your Grace” he said respectfully.

“Rise Lord Aubrel of House Claydall”

Lord Aubrel rose up, he and Castellan smiled at each other and hugged. Apart from being brothers by law, Aubrel and Castellan were also friends. Their friendship was cemented by the marriage between Katarina and Castellan, ever since then Aubrel and Castellan enjoyed a day of hunting or simply swords training.

Both of these men were good swordsman, of the same age and have fought in war together side by side, they were hoping to fight again together in the upcoming war.

“You getting old...” Aubrel made a joke to Castellan.

“So are you, especially with five daughter”

Aubrel laughed “Oh! You got me there, argh... they are handful my little ladies but I adore them fondly. I think it’s time a woman rules Claydall don’t you think so sister?”

Katarina was shocked “You named Haniwa as your heir?”

“She is my first child, my wife and I are trying but even if we have a son, Haniwa will inherit Claydall”

Castellan was beyond amused “What a brave man you are Aubrel, we must celebrate for Haniwa”

“Indeed”

Castellan then turned to the lords of House Ravenstein and House Bellward, he and Katarina welcomed them inside the city just like how they welcomed Aubrel. A feast was waiting for them, and of course a good fire after a long journey.

Well the one person who wasn’t properly welcomed to House Horriss was Prince Ambrose and his lot of two thousand men. Lucian Mithandir wasn’t so pleased by his presence, especially since he thought Ambrose was perhaps sent by his brother to spy the camp.

Inside the courtyard, Lord Horriss and Lord Aethelind had a discreet meeting with the prince. Prince Ambrose stated all the reasons as to why he fled Prophis, one being his sister princess Thelma sent away and the second it was the rumor.

“He murdered our father so he can ascend the throne. My sister knew it that’s why he sent her away” said Prince Ambrose.

Lucian Mithandir didn’t seem so interested “What do you want boy?” he asked the prince.

“To simply – avenge my father”

“Avenge your father?” Lucian pinned Ambrose on a wall. Lord Aethelind intervened “My lords, my lords, please... let’s be civil with one another”

“You trust this Taelin and you will live to regret it Lord Aethelind” Lucian warned and then he placed down Ambrose, more like he pushed him. “A Taelin can never be trusted. They are selfish, ruthless and only think about themselves”

“You are wrong Your Grace” Prince Ambrose rose up softly “I am nothing like my father nor my brother. I always believed what my father did to your brother was cruel, unworthy and -”

Lucian cut Ambrose midway his speech “And act of cowardness! Your father was a cunt” he screamed.

Now the fight seemed intense, Lord Aethelind needed the Prince’s men and support. There is always strength in number that’s what he always said. Two thousand men would provide a benefit and the fact they were Prophisians meant they knew the kingdom better than anyone else.

Most of the men Ambrose brought were war heroes not some local soldiers capturing thieves and robbers. Hence he urged Lucian to calm down so they can have a talk, especially considering they needed every man they can get.