Page 52 of Dead Crown
“What happened to the good bread?” a lord asked as grumbles started among the others. “Miss, I can’t eat this.”
A servant pouring taffy tea at his table paused. “But…there isn’t anything else.”
“What do you mean there's nothing else?!”
“Food is dear, so eat it without complaint, and be grateful,” Jaki said loud enough for the whole Hall to hear. “Most have far less.”
Shocked silence fell over the courtiers, and Elswere nudged his son. “What is the meaning of this?”
“I changed the order. We can eat plain meals.”
“But-”
“It’ll help us save money while you plan for the war,” Jaki said with a slight edge.
Elswere stared at him for a moment. “You changed the food order?”
“Yes.” Jaki raised his voice again. “You better get used to this because soon, snow bear steaks and fine bread will be in short supply even for us, and we won't have money to buy much of anything from other Kingdoms to feed our court. At least the wine cellar is stocked so I’m not making you drink nothing but water or tea all day.”
Elswere huffed before he started eating his soup. Jaki found the soup wasn’t bad after all. The cook had seasoned it, and the broth softened the horsebread which was quite hard and rather bland. The courtiers whispered and muttered among themselves as they finally started eating. Some wore expressions as if they had been served a bowl of turds to eat.
Elswere couldn’t even deny they should be thinking ahead to when better food would be scarce for the court. Yet, he hadn’t seemed to have done anything in particular since Jaki had last spoken with him weeks ago. It was nearly September, and hewas probably more worried about the Autumn Equinox like they needed to celebrate that too.
He wouldn’t need to worry about a war dragging on if he wouldn’t get started on it. Jaki had given him a last chance and was done. He’d have to go to drastic measures now. In fact, he shouldn’t have waited and given him a last chance.
The courtiers seemed to know better than to complain out loud after Jaki’s words. The fact he was eating the food too probably helped. They’d likely bitch in private. Jaki didn’t care. Once he finished, he left his silent Father at the table and got ready to go out.
The city was drearier and drearier every time he entered. The goods in shop windows were less, and a few, ragged fairies huddled around a blacksmith’s forge as they talked. The blacksmith probably had less work now and decided to let a few homeless fairies warm themselves a bit. Others walking down the streets were thin, and Jaki was sure there were fewer people overall.
More and more would start to leave.
Kindness was in short supply. A beggar was ignored by others, and Jaki tossed a few coins in his bowl as he strolled by. He kept to the main streets and was wary of pickpockets. His cloak was brown and plain, but a decent weave said the owner might not be impoverished. The Temple was lit up with Norian crystals like always, and the Mages appeared thinner in their loose robes. Two were fucking by the altar for a ritual, and Jaki ignored them as he went to the wall on one side.
Like always, the poem describing the beginning of the Kingdom was there. The Temple had been built by the first King of Iceland, and he’d had those words carved into the massive stone wall. A fairy with a preserving ability had made it so that all would see and remember Elira’s gift to his Father even centuries later.
Huddled in his cloak with his breath freezing before him, Jaki stared at the words as he wondered something. If he asked the Mages, they’d likely say it was simply Elira’s plan for the place. She had her reasons.
It didn’t make sense because no such rule existed elsewhere. Elira wasn't that sort of Goddess, so why would she have done it in Iceland?
He knelt a distance away from the altar. The place was nearly empty, and people were supposed to pray out loud for the most part in the Temple. If they were too ashamed to say something out loud, they probably shouldn’t be asking Elira for it. Jaki wasn’t ashamed, but he didn’t want everyone to know.
In a low voice, he prayed for his preparations to go well so he’d be able to bring Lumi home. Treason or not, his half-brother wasn’t staying with that monster any longer if Jaki could help it. Common sense said it wasn’t safe or a good idea for the Crown Prince to head into enemy territory by himself where a million things could go wrong and lead to his death, but that’s what he had to do. He had information from Lord Smith, and Elswere still hadn’t done anything, so he had one choice left.
If there were a baby, and he waited much longer, Tivar might hide his heir.
***
“Father, I'm going to go visit my friend down south,” Jaki told Father in his sitting room.
“Huh?” Father lowered his wineglass as he sat in his armchair. “What friend?”
“Erik. Surely you remember him?”
Father squinted and rubbed his chin. “Mmm, no…”
“He was at court a few years ago. We still write.”
“Oh, he had blond hair, right?”
