They were not friendly.
His voice trembled and his hands shook as one of the physicians asked, “Sire, what should we do?”
“You should ask your Queen, not an old fool like me.”
Several people turned to her. She turned to Brice. “Ideas?”
“One.” He reached into his purse and withdrew several packets Hannah knew contained spells developed by Sara and Maude. He wore a maniacal grin that, despite the circumstances, made him appear he was enjoying himself.
“Which ones did you bring?”
He selected one. “The forget-spell in powder form. Not as convenient as the grapes, but more concentrated.”
“Do it,” she ordered.
Brice walked to the thick oak door and knelt at the base where it hung above the stone floor with enough space to pass his fingers under. He sprinkled part of the powder along the base of the door, while every eye in the room watched intently, wondering at his strange actions. The banging had gotten louder, and more fists and weapons were trying to get inside.
Brice inhaled and then blew as hard as he could, almost a sneeze. The fine powder dissipated. He repeated the action. The pounding diminished and then stopped. They heard boots running down the hallway away from the door.
Brice turned to the guards. “Draw your weapons.” Then he threw the door open. Four men lay curled and cooing like babies to themselves on the floor, their weapons nearby and ignored. After inhaling the dust, they’d be that way until morning.
One guard said, “I think the others got scared and ran off.”
Hannah felt the blood from her wound running down her back again, and increasing pain made her wince and her knees weak. She looked at Brice, “Take charge. Rally the loyalists, those without black armbands. Take these men with you.”
Another palace guard rushed in and looked around wild-eyed. Brice said, “What is it?”
The guard looked to another, who nodded for him to make his report. “We’ve just received word that an army is marching on us. It’s only two days away.”
Brice said calmly, “What army?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are they wearing blue and white uniforms?”
The guard hesitated, then said in a rush, “I don’t know, but Princess Hannah is with them!”
Brice smiled in relief. Hannah also understood. It could have been another army, one led by Princess Elenore, but was not. He said, “They are here to help the loyalists. Pass the word of their arrival to fuel the rumors. Say there are five hundred battle-tested warriors and they will arrive by morning.”
The guard didn’t move, but another said as he went to the door, “I understand. I’ll do it.”
Hannah muttered, “Let the rumors do our work. Some of those in revolt are going to change side when they hear of this.”
A soft voice called, “Hannah.”
She motioned for the nearest guard to help her stand. She shuffled to the side of the bed where the old King eyed her. “I didn’t realize you are wounded.” He looked at the guard. “Take her around to the other side of my bed and put her in it. Physicians, where are you?”
Two old men leaped to his side.
“Not me, damn you. See to my niece, your Queen.”
They rushed around the massive bed and helped her climb in, dress bloody and the wound bleeding freely. They forced her to roll onto her stomach, cut back the top of her dress, and one sprinkled powder on the wound while the other placed a bandage. They forced her to swallow a liquid, and then she slept.
When she woke, it was still daylight, but she felt weak and hungry. Brice sat in a chair nearby. “How’s the battle going?” she asked.
“It’s over.”
“So soon?”
“You’ve slept two full days. How are you feeling?”
“Muddy,” she managed to say. “And thirsty.”
A physician poured a little water into her mouth.
Brice asked, “Muddy?”
The physician answered for her, “She is groggy from the medication. Her mind will clear quickly, now that she’s awake. Her wound is healing well, and other than a small scar she will be fine.”
Hannah eyed the ceiling and then looked around the room. She was in a different bed, in another room. “My uncle?”
“He is doing as well as can be expected. He’s asking about you, too,” Brice said.
“I want to see him.”
Brice said, “Maybe later today. For now, there is other news.”
“Tell me.”
“The palace revolt has ended. Those who didn’t flee are in custody in your dungeon. We don’t know what to do with them, so we’ll wait for your instruction.”
“Elenore?” Hannah asked, more concerned with what one woman might do than all the others combined.
“Escaped. She and most of her supporters fled the palace. They took the King’s Road to Eagle’s Nest, and the rumors say they are heading to Calverton where King Edward owes her favors, and where she has hidden her fortune.”
Hannah couldn’t help smiling. “She hasn’t heard the King of Peermont is exiled and a Queen of my choosing sits on the throne, one who knows I will help end her war with Ansel?”
Brice chuckled. “She also doesn’t know word was passed to the general and the Peermont troops, and that his army turned around. They are in pursuit of Princess Elenore, and if they don’t catch up with her on Eagle’s Nest Pass, they will arrive in Calverton no more than two days after Elenore. She’s caught in the middle of a trap, and we don’t think she has any idea what’s coming.”
Hannah fell back to sleep with a smile on her lips.
She woke in darkness, with only a single candle providing light, but Brice was again in the same chair. Nobody else was in the small room. “Where am I?”
Brice started, woke instantly, and said, “This is the bedroom for the King’s manservant. Through that door is where the King sleeps.”
Despite the hour, Hannah was awake and her mind clear. She said, “There are things to do.”
“Tell me,” Brice said, sitting up.
“Send word to Maude and Sara. Also, send word to the Earl’s Castle. No, send two of my Palace Guards, and locate Cleanup. Bring my new stable manager to me, we have so much to talk about. And a seamstress or three. I need a gown made for the morning, the day after tomorrow.”
“What happens then?”
“I will stand on the King’s Balcony and face my people at noon. I’m sure they need to see me as much as I need to see them.”
“What else?”
“I need to see the highest-ranking officer in my army, and I need him today. He will take all but a small reserve company to Peermont over the Eagle’s Nest Pass and offer his services to Queen Elizabeth unless we get word of Tranter’s peace treaty with Ansel first.”
“I’ll say one thing, you’re not wasting time.”
“And I need an ambassador to travel down the river at best speed, and make his way, with a military escort, to Ansel, where he will find Tranter. If he cannot find him, the ambassador will notify their King that Wren has joined forces with Peermont and if a treaty is not signed immediately, our combined forces will invade Ansel before the snows fall.”
“You thought of all that while sleeping?” Brice said, as he stood and moved to the door. “Ansel had better sign the treaty. A weapons salesman named Marcus has offered to supply all the weapons we need to win a war. He’s here in the palace and waiting for you to offer him a fine dinner. His words, not mine. Anything else, my Queen?”
“Yes. When I’m on the balcony, I want you to be there at my side, and you need to dress nicely.”
“The people want to see you, not me.”