Page 16 of Enamored
More likely, since the unraveling of a riddle had opened the case, another riddle must be solved to free the sword from its resting place. But if Rasmus wanted to perpetuate a mystical power behind the freeing of the sword, who was I to contradict him?
The real question was, why was Rasmus showing this to me?
My mind leapt easily to the conclusion. “So, you would have me foil the princess’s attempt to develop affection with one of the noblemen so that the sword can be used to determine her husband, the next king?”
I didn’t need his answer to know I’d guessed the truth of his scheme and my part in it. In fact, I suspected I’d likely only touched upon the surface, that the intricacies of his plans went much deeper than he would reveal.
I couldn’t go along with him, could I? It was the same question that had plagued me earlier, except now he was pulling me further into his scheming.
“The princess is already having difficulty deciding who will make the best king.” As always, Rasmus spoke as though he could hear my thoughts. “She will gladly embrace another method that ensures only the worthiest man will rule by her side—a method no one can refute.”
Worthiest? Was I wrong to think a riddle could separate the sword from the case? Was there a deeper blessing in the sword, one God himself would honor with the right man? The legends—and the ancient cuneiform writing—attested to the power. But how could a sword—a piece of metal—have the ability to both know and choose?
“The sword will determine the one worthiest to be the next king.” Rasmus spoke with a certainty I didn’t feel. “And no one will be able to argue against it.”
“Even so, the king won’t take kindly to my interference in the princess’s courtship process.” Did I need to remind Rasmus of why I’d been forced to leave Vordinberg? All it had taken was one innocent declaration by a boy too young to understand the implications of his words. This time, if the king suspected I had even the slightest of aspirations toward Elinor, he’d ban me from Norvegia altogether.
Rasmus dismissed me with a wave of his hand. “You need not worry about the king. He’ll do as I bid him to.”
As I left, one thought troubled me above all: Why did the king trust Rasmus? No doubt Rasmus had made himself indispensable to the king, encouraged him in the belief that he would be crippled without the Royal Sage’s advice and wisdom.
Sadly, I didn’t see the king doing well if he continued to place his trust in Rasmus. In fact, I feared it would only lead to his demise.
Chapter
6
Maxim
“I am gladwe can make up for lost time, Maxim.” The queen patted my hand as we reclined on cushions under one of several canopies the servants had erected on the open hilltop. Surrounded by a thick forest against the backdrop of the Snowden Mountains, the area allowed for a stunning view while we rested.
Even though I’d forced my body to relax, my mind was still hard at labor. “I pray my many tales haven’t been tedious, Your Majesty.”
“Of course not. I have loved hearing every detail of your life from these past years.” Attired in a practical riding gown, the queen radiated youth and health, her lovely features aglow with her delight in spending time with me.
I did not have to conjure any affection for the dear queen. I had enjoyed passing the afternoon with her too. The only difficult part was that it served to remind me of the motherly tenderness and care I’d lost after leaving Vordinberg. Although I’d missed her greatly in those early days—nearly as much as Elinor—I’d soon realized I wasn’t the only boy who’d severed motherly ties. The other Sagacites had also said farewell to families to pursue their education. It was the way of things.
A servant bent to refill the queen’s goblet with a spicy apple cider. She held up her hand and refused. When the servant tipped the leather jug toward my goblet, I accepted. I was in no hurry to bring my time with the queen to an end. In fact, I needed an excuse to linger longer under the canopy.
I had quickly realized the advantages of spending the day with the queen. First, it had appeased the king. He hadn’t needed to entertain his wife, since I was keeping her well-occupied. If he remembered my long-ago transgression in offering to marry Elinor, he no longer seemed concerned about it. The few times he’d spoken to me, he’d been pleasant.
Not only had the afternoon as the queen’s companion smoothed over my past transgressions with the king, but it served to bait Elinor.
During the ride out of the city into the hills, the princess had stayed busy mingling with the noblemen and watching them chase after prey. But throughout the hunt, I’d caught her looking my direction and showing more interest in my interactions with the queen.
When eventually the noblemen had finished the competition and Sigfrid had been declared the winner for bringing down the biggest prey, a reindeer, everyone had gathered on the hilltop clearing for refreshments while the prize buck was roasted over an open fire pit.
I’d spent the entirety with the queen. Now, if my calculations were correct, Elinor would join us erelong. She’d made her way closer and was only a dozen paces away, vibrant in a blue riding dress that once again highlighted what a beautiful woman she’d become.
I tried to maintain a balance of interest in her, glancing at her once in a while. I didn’t want her to think I was being cold, since I was already guilty on that account. Yet I didn’t want to appear too eager. With how eager the other men were, I’d never stand out and win her attention if I behaved as they did.
The king and half a dozen of his closest courtiers were reclining on cushions in another pavilion across the fire pit with several of the queen’s ladies. I was glad she’d given them permission to leave her, allowing us more privacy.
From the serious expressions of the king and his men, I gathered they were conversing about Ice Men from Swaine crossing over the border and attacking Norvegian communities and farmers. The news had arrived just that morn from a courier who had escaped slaughter.
The vicious warriors had long past earned the nickname Ice Men for living in the icy heights of the Snowden Mountain Range. Norvegia had a long history of combatting the rugged fighters. Surely the aggression this time had come at the behest of King Canute in retaliation for the rejection of his proposal of marriage.
King Ulrik had been in meetings before leaving on the hunt, first with Rasmus and the other Royal Sages. He’d also convened with the Knights of Brethren, and during the hunt, he’d spoken to Sir Ansgar Nordheim on occasion.
