As we approached the Well of Speaking, we became part of a steady stream of folks and that gave me some comfort. If anyone were suspicious of us, they would be hard pressed to locate us in the growing crowd. I noticed however, as we walked along, more and more rovers formed up around us, including Zeroun who was keeping up but leaning heavily on Gersemi. Just as I noticed him, I began to notice that the rovers who now surrounded us were more of Shueller’s age than even that of Bertram or Oscar. It struck me as a little odd, since I knew only a few of them and only by sight. Then I laughed to myself, since I realized I had thought they were joining our group because of me, when in all reality most of them were probably Shueller’s friends. The rovers were dressed in their finest, as if they were on their way to a festival.
While there were royal guards at the gate when we entered into the Well of Speaking, they did not seem to be either troubling or stopping anyone. As we began to descend the stairs, folks began to stand to the side and let us through. I was taken aback for a short moment, until I realized that folks were only being courteous, allowing the elder rovers to go first. I was about to step to the side also, but Shueller firmly took a hold of my arm, urging me forward.
“Old folks are always given seating close, both to honor their age and because some of us don’t see or hear as well as we used to,” Shueller told me, and I noticed a twinkle in his eye. “Also conveniently, we will be seated near the nobles, richer merchants, those with high standing in the guilds, and other folks of significance.”
Once seated, I had a chance to look around and soon spotted Beezle in the rows to my left, sitting with Lord Hadrack. Sitting next to them was Lady Celik. To my right sat Master Rollag, and to my surprise, Master Clarisse was sitting next to him. I could not see Da in the crowd, nor could I see Elek or Seeker Eshana. I had mixed feelings about not being able to spot the Princess. On the one hand, if I could not spot her then the Regent’s minions probably could not either. On the other hand, since I could not spot her, I could not be sure she was safe.
More and more seats were filling up, and while there was a lot of noise from conversations going on around me, the mood in the Well of Speaking was somber. It struck me as odd that some of us were sitting here waiting to hear what the Regent had to say, and what he had to say would affect not just the folks here but throughout Sommerhjem, and yet just above me on the fairgrounds, folks were going about their day attending the fair as if nothing were more important on this day than finding just the right gewgaw for their home or seeing whether their entry had won a prize. I felt some irony about that last thought, since the woodcrafts were to be judged this afternoon, and depending on the outcome of the next hour, I might never know whether my carved chest was considered worthy by the judges.
Suddenly a quiet descended over the gathered crowd, and glancing over my shoulder, I saw a patrol of the elite royal guards begin to come down the stairs, and I realized that they flanked a group of very well-dressed nobles. I had to assume that the Regent was among them. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, the group headed to the speaker’s platform and the nobles settled themselves in the seats arranged there. The elite royal guards formed up behind them. It was then that I noticed a patrol of regular royal guards, and they placed themselves several deep in front of the speaker’s platform. I noticed that our friendly Captain was in charge of the second group. Other patrols of royal guards took positions along the outside edges of the Well of Speaking. It certainly looked like the Regent was expecting trouble. From the murmurs of the crowd, I got the impression that this show of force was not usual.
Ever so slowly the murmurs quieted down, and a heavy silence fell over the crowd. An officious-looking gentleman stood up from his seat on the platform, and with a kind of grave dignity presented the honorable Regent Cedric Klingflug to the gathered crowd. I do not know what I was expecting, but found myself surprised when a very ordinary-looking man of middle years, dressed conservatively in black, stepped up to the speaker’s stand. This could not be the Regent, I thought. This man, who had caused so much heartache and trauma for so many, should look imposing and downright evil, not like someone you would pass on the street and not even give a second glance. Even his voice, when he started speaking, did not ring out with power or command.
“Under usual circumstances and during usual times, a call to the Well of Speaking by the Crown would be to welcome you to the fair, or for some type of ceremony to honor someone, but I regret that is not the reason we have gathered here this day. This fair should have been a week long celebration of the coming of age of our fair Princess Esmeralda and her rise to the leadership role she has been trained for all her life. Alas, this has not come to pass, for as I am sure many of you have heard, our beloved Princess has taken gravely ill. Despite all of the combined knowledge of our best healers and herbalists, her condition does not seem to be improving.”
The Regent went on for several more minutes about how everything was being done to keep the Princess stable, and how they were working frantically to find a way to improve her condition. I almost laughed out loud at that point since I knew he was just blowing a lot of smoke, but I just gripped Carz’ rope tighter. The Regent then changed the focus of his speech, and I sat up straighter to listen.
“Due to the fact that we do not know when the Princess will be healthy enough to assume her duties, I have consulted with the royal advisors, and to prevent chaos from reigning I am prepared to continue to act as Regent until such time as the Princess is well enough to rule.”
The Regent let us know that he was honored that he had been chosen to be the Regent all those many years ago when the Queen had died, and in spite of great personal sacrifice, he had still chosen to serve his country. Though he had looked forward to returning to the simple life of a landholder, he remained willing to do his duty and continue to serve the Crown and his county. How he said this made me want to hurl something or to stand up and yell “liar” at the top of my lungs. I must have shown my agitation for Carz leaned against my leg, and Shueller bent over and softly told me to relax. I nodded and then tried to loosen my hand from around Carz’ rope.
The Regent continued to talk about how he would continue to rule, and I realized a quiet but steady swell of noise was beginning to fill the Well of Speaking. At the same time, I noticed that the elite royal guards behind the Regent had taken a more alert stance. The Regent’s announcement was not going over very well, and there was a general feeling of increasing restlessness in the crowd. I began to worry about what was going to happen next when Lord Hadrack stood.
“Your attention, please,” Lord Hadrack requested in a voice that held both just the right volume and command to quiet the crowd. “If I might address you, your honor,” he stated, looking directly at the Regent, who nodded a yes. “Your term as Regent officially ends the day Princess Esmeralda comes of age, am I not correct?” The Regent nodded yes. “What we have here then is a territory that is unprecedented in our history, as far as I can tell. We have a living Princess who recent traditions suggest should rule, but who you say is too ill to do so. Since you are no longer legally the Regent, rather than continuing at what must be great personal sacrifice, might I suggest an alternative?”
The nobles and other dignitaries on the speaker’s platform were looking distinctly uncomfortable, and the elite royal guards had taken on an even more alert stance.
“I think, Lord Hadrack, that suggestions might be welcome, but this is neither the time nor the place. Might I suggest you make an appointment with me for later in the week?” replied the Regent.
“I would suggest,” said Lord Hadrack, mildly using the Regent’s words back at him, “that this is the appropriate time and place, since you are trying to continue to rule Sommerhjem without the will or the consent of its folk.”
I could see that the Regent was beginning to look angry, and I was worried that he would signal the elite royal guards to do something to harm Lord Hadrack. I was also aware of a rising change in mood within the Well of Speaking, for a clear division of folk was becoming quite evident; there were those who agreed with Lord Hadrack and those who backed the Regent. Suddenly I was worried that if this discussion became too heated, violence would erupt.
“Now, my dear Lord Hadrack,” the Regent said, in what he must have thought was a calm and soothing voice but seemed to me to have an underlying feeling of oiliness, “I appreciate that you and other nobles have had your differences with my rule, but again, I repeat, we should meet and discuss what needs to happen next in a more comfortable setting.”
“You will not stand down then?” Lord Hadrack asked.
“I think it is best for the continued consistency in governing this fine land of ours that I stay on as Regent until such time as the Princess is able to fulfill her role as ruler,” replied the Regent.
A number of “Here, here,” and “Good plan” shouts came from the Regent’s supporters. An equal number of negative suggestions came from those who opposed the Regent’s idea. Over the increasing noise of the crowd of folks gathered in the Well of Speaking, the Regent raised his voice to be heard.
“This assembly is over. By order of the Crown, you are now enjoined to disperse.”
Lady Celik stood, faced the Regent, and stated emphatically, “I do not think you have the authority to end this assembly, Lord Klingflug.”
The crowd, noting a new voice had spoken up, quieted immediately, and time seemed to stop. The Regent was beginning to look flustered and frustrated. His face was beginning to turn red, and if smoke could come out of a one’s ears, I think his would have been smoking.
“I repeat, until such time as the Princess is well enough to rule, I will maintain the reins governing Sommerhjem, as I have faithfully done these lo so many years. This is neither the time nor the place to discuss it,” the Regent said, but it was clear that his patience was almost at an end.
Master Rollag rose to his feet and said, “You will step down when the Princess is well enough to rule?”
“Yes, yes, that is what I have said several times.”
There was a stir in the crowd as Seeker Eshana stood up, and he made an imposing figure dressed as he was in the brilliant blue formal robes of a seeker. The folks who had sat near him moved aside to allow him to reach the central stairs, and he began a slow descent towards the speaker’s platform. Midway down, Seeker Eshana paused and held out his hand to a figure hunched under a light cloak, whose face was obscured by a wide brimmed hat. As the two continued down the stairs, the royal guards headed by the Captain move forward and formed up around them. I chanced a glance at the Regent and the other nobles on the speaker’s platform and noticed looks of concern and confusion.
When Seeker Eshana reached the bottom of the stairs, he addressed the Regent. “Will you step down when the Princess is well enough to rule?”
“Yes, and yes, and yes again. How many times do you want me to answer the same question?” said the Regent, and I could clearly hear the annoyance in his voice.
“Three times should be sufficient,” Seeker Eshana stated mildly. “I would suggest that you are now relieved of your duties as regent.”
“Oh, for goodness sakes, nothing has changed since we gathered here. The Princess is still gravely ill and keeping everything the same as far as how Sommerhjem is governed is only common sense,” the Regent said, running a hand through his thinning hair in frustration.
The hunched figure who had been standing quietly beside Seeker Eshana slowly straightened up, removed her hat, and handed it with great dignity to Seeker Eshana. One of the royal guards stepped forward and removed the light cloak.
“The rumors about my grave illness have been blown greatly out of proportion,” stated the Princess, in a voice that carried conviction and the weight of command behind it.
A very loud murmur ran through the crowd.
“What are you trying to pull, Seeker?” the Regent demanded. “Why would you try to put an imposter before the crowd assembled here?”
“Would you truly question the integrity of a seeker before so many when you know it is our life’s work to seek truth? That is what we are oath sworn to do.” Seeker Eshana shot back.
Because of where I was sitting, I could see beads of sweat forming on the Regent’s brow, and his face had turned from a light red to almost a shade of purple.
“I beg your pardon, Seeker. Since the Princess was confined to her bed so terribly ill, and I saw her just before I came here, I am concerned that you have been misled, and an imposter has fooled you.”
“How then would an imposter have the Princess’ seal in her possession?” Seeker Eshana asked back.
The Princess pulled a chain out of her shirt and held it up for those close to her to see. All I could make out was something dangling on the end of a chain and catching the light as it twirled. While others were looking at the Princess, I happened to catch the Regent looking questioningly at Lady Farcroft, and she quickly turned away, not looking him in the eye.
Mere moments after that exchange however, Lady Farcroft abruptly stood up and faced the restless crowd. “The real question you should all be asking yourselves is whether the Princess, who has been so gravely ill recently, is fit to rule,” she declared. “What does she really know of Sommerhjem and its folk?”
“Far more than I did a few weeks ago before I escaped a plot to kill me,” the Princess shot back, and the noise in the Well of Speaking increased as everyone began to talk at once.
There was a loud pounding sound as the Regent began pounding the butt of an elite royal guard’s staff on the floor of the speaker’s platform and yelled for silence. The crowd began to settle down once more.
“It would seem we are at an impasse,” the Princess said, aiming her remark at the Regent. “Many of the folk are loath to have you continue on as ruler and . . .,” she held her hand up to stop the Regent from interrupting, “. . . and in my recent travels, I have come to understand that many are equally not thrilled to have me take the throne. There is a solution, however.”
“And just what do you think that might be?” the Regent asked.
I could almost hear the sneer in his voice, as if he thought he would have the upper hand no matter what she would propose.
Was he wrong?