Many Things for Which to Worry

"...every damn Holy Day! Why must these Dukes feel so beholden to their nobles and knights?!? It makes my job so much more difficult!"

"Oh, sweety!" cooed his wife. "Don't let those scoundrels take your peace of mind. You are the King, you are their Leige. Why, you could change their futures with the twiddle of your pinky... and they know it."

"Some of them know it, but not all..."

"Oh don't let the House Rodham bother you so, I have--"

"Not only that Family, but Mollari as well. Look at these reports... why, I knew of his raiding exploits before I became King, but these days... the man is insatiable, he is--"

"A bastard to the nth degree!" growled his wife with uncharacteristic vehemence. "He shall get his, don't you worry!"

"But I do worry, my Sweet, that is exactly why I worry."

Back within the lands of House Mollari our heroes were continuing their talk.

"I am glad these men were Zular's and not sworn under Emry," said Fred as he turned to the ranger. "Alfred, allow Velus and I to have some time alone together."

"Of course," said the old man, and he left the stable.

"Velus," whispered Fred. "As I said, I am glad these were not the King's men, for that would mean that he was on to us, although how he could know after only a few days is beyond me! I am also glad you did not mention Cedrik to all your people or to the ranger; I knew what details you left out of your story. I trust that this Mayderry fellow is a goodly man, but as to Alfredo... he is a man bought with money. I have not told him everything and, though I feel he is a good man, he is here only because he accepted my gold, not because of any love for you or the others. He is old, and we must not count on his loyalty to principles, no matter how lofty and true."

"I agree with you, Lord Fred," answered Velus. "And though I have found much courage of heart these last few days, I still am no knight. You must be the one to lead us."

"You are right about that," said Fred. "I can barely imagine a shephard's brigade against a villain like Zular Mollari."

"Oh, but Lord Frederigo," countered Velus with much respect in his voice. "The Fellowship of the Black Hand is much more than that! Do not think it in that way, although it helps that our enemies think of them so. They are organized and have received... training, although from whom I do not know."

"Dealing with them shall be our next step, but still I am deeply troubled by your news of Astra."

"Yes, I have thought much of her since I regained my wits. Someone must have taken her healing water and poisoned it with the weed."

"My thoughts exactly," agreed Fred. "And I think I know just who: there was a mysterious stranger, a mage, who tried to take my tongue and mind with his foul spells! I resisted and he disappeared. Surely it was this shady bastard who put the weed in the water. And what irony to try and frame our dear Princess with a substance from her very lands! And yet, where are Astra and Cedrik now? I do not believe they have fallen into the hands of the wizard, for he would not then have needed me in the morning. Yet have they fallen into the hands of our so-called King? or are they even at this moment prisoners of Zular?"

Velus looked at his Lord with an empty expression; if a mighty knight of the Kingdom did not know, how could a lowly shephard?!?

1. Indeed, and though we know our dear heroes are in the wrong about Astra, they can only act on what they know, or think they know! And so what shall happen to Fred and Velus and the Fellowship of the Black Hand? Only time will tell!

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