Page 13 of Gilded Crown

Jari clenched his fists in his lap. “Can I show your brothers a lesson myself?”

Aurelius’s eye swiveled to him. “No.”

“Just a few taps.” A few taps that would leave them bloody and unconscious on the floor. If Jari came charging into Zylem’s room, that little fucker wouldn’t have time to play underhanded tricks, and in a fair and square fight, he’d get his ass kicked.

“No,” repeated Aurelius. “Don’t do or say anything, and don't give them attention. It’ll just make Zylem crave more reaction. Even though I’d pay to sit and watch you pound my brothers to a pulp, if Eurig got off of his arse and decided to do something-The Crown Prince can’t fix everything, Jari.”

Jari clenched his jaw. He was right.

“It’s basically just us two now, and that’s it. Don’t expect anyone to aid us here.”

***

Galahad barely needed any urging to gallop, and Jari’s horse charged after him. They slowed and took the same route that they had on the way to the herb woman. Before leaving, Jari had grabbed a buttered roll from the kitchen, wrapped it in a linen napkin, and tucked it in his pocket.

“Good. It’s not too squished. As for you, I want to clarify some stuff, and I expect full truth and honesty.” Jari eyed the Prince as he took a bite of the roll. “Not half-truths or whatever you decide to dribble out.”

“You’re still a guard, so watch your tone, and don’t talk with your mouth full.”

“Take the post out of your arse for ten minutes. You’re still a fairy like me, and you put your drawers on one leg at a time and shit just like everyone else. You now have three items in the Palace now, correct?”

“Yes. I don’t know what or where the fourth is. If it's entirely gone-” Aurelius shrugged. “I don't know.”

“Where was the crown? I mean, where was it originally found? Ash Island?”

Aurelius nodded. “Father told me that John must have found the crown on Ash Island.”

“Why would Elira hide two items there, but keep the hand here and attach it to a statue?”

Aurelius shifted in the saddle. “The key might have actually been in the lion’s mouth statue to start with. I can't confirm that, but it's our crest, and there is a spot for it. You have to put your hand in the mouth and push the back of the lion’s tongue. It makes his throat open. I went down one night and figured itout. That statue has been there since the beginning as far as we know.”

“It’s that old?!”

“Mhm. I think Mukta had it made even though he wasn’t very interested in gold stuff.”

“Ah.” Jari had never considered that the lion was anything more than a decoration.

“As for the hand, Mukta came back to nothing. You can guess.”

“I would assume Aravitia had his daughter properly buried,” said Jari. “The rest of the gilt that was all over was either tossed out or sold. He kept the hand, or more like the gilt in the shape of her hand. He probably had it cleaned out to avoid it smelling of rot.”

How disgusting.

“It was something of his daughter,” said Aurelius. “Elira used it, and when Mukta returned, perhaps he wanted a statue of her made because he felt guilty about leaving her behind, and her death certainly wasn’t pleasant. It was also a way to hide the item in plain sight. The key was important because it led to the treasury, and the crown signified Aravitia’s rule and power which were important to him. I can’t think of what else would be so meaningful. The story didn’t mention the hand or the last thing. It might be that there were only three items even though it said four.”

“But the rest of the story-”

“Was mostly true, but it could have been altered. Maybe it wasn’t. I don’t have all of the answers, Jari, and we don’t even know who wrote that tale anymore. It’s just a thought. Truly, I think there is a fourth thing.”

“Maybe it was a sword because a King is supposed to use it to fight for his country and defend it. Perhaps Elira used that to fight Mammon.”

“Well, Father’s sword certainly isn't it. I've touched it before.”

“Maybe it was hidden somewhere else. Can you tell me about your Mother?”

Aurelius turned his head. “She has nothing to do with this.”

“She never used the key or the crown, right? I never heard anything bad or odd about her, but I want to make sure.”

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