Chapter 2

Forty-five paces from the royal apartments in the southern division of the palace, down a short flight of steps and a shallow hallway, was the modest living quarters for the Princess's female attendants. No very grand space was afforded these two faithful servants. The common drawing room was so small, in fact, that six people could not comfortably stand together within its walls. Nevertheless, they had stood obediently all night, six large men in full armor, from the time the first alarm had been raised until Jeed dismissed all but one from their company in mid-morning.

In a small recess beyond the drawing room, veiled by a tapestry depicting the legendary green dragon Reikes, was a small door, guarding a secret room. It was in this room that Jeed had hidden the King's daughter Eve, and from which he now went to fetch her. Upon entering the narrow chamber, he was arrested by her low voice, singing --

"I had fainted,
Unless I had believed to see
The goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living."

“Your Highness, I apologize—“ he began, but she instantly whirled to him, startled.

“What tidings, my lord?”

“Only evil, I fear. The Ty’Goth attacked us with no warning, and though we routed them, there are so many dead and injured, we have not even counted the loss.”

She was silent for so long, looking at her hands, that Jeed wondered for a moment if she had even heard him. “Can I – can we bear it, my lord?”

“We must bear it. But I admit my heart has been turned to water. I believed – we all believed, I wager, that the Ty’Goth were a thing of ancient history, if not mere legend. We had no fear of attack, we were completely at peace. And now, with the King away, our defenses…it is in regard to these defenses that I come to seek your aid.”

“My aid?”

“Your Highness, the report I have for you is of an extraordinary nature, and I do not yet know what to make of it.” With this he handed her a letter, bearing the King’s seal, newly broken.

“To Jeed, the sometime Lord Governor of Our Realm, from His Majesty the King. Be strong and courageous. One terrible hour you have survived, but a second is imminent. See, I have sent you my servant Archen, so that in him you will place your full confidence. I have given him authority to wield the Sword of Flame, and your enemies will crumble before him. Be strong and courageous, I will return before the end.”

She looked up then, a singular expression knitting her forehead. “What is this? What can it mean?”

“It was found in the pocket of a young man who arrived by horse this morning. He is a stranger to us, but he wears the uniform of one of our warriors.”

“But who is he? What account does he give you?”

“He can give no account, Your Highness. He does not know himself. I have assumed him to be the servant, Archen, of which Your Father writes, but he has not said so. He appears to have no memories at all. And this is my great trouble, which necessitates your council. We are in peril, as you know. By this foretelling of the King’s we can be sure the Ty’Goth will strike again, and all our hopes rest in uncertainties. Have you heard of this weapon, the Sword of Flame, can you tell me what it is?”

“I have not heard of it until this moment.”

Jeed winced, “So say all the council. And the young man can tell us nothing. What then are we to do?”

Eve was silent for a moment, thinking. “My lord, you know I do have a gift. Nothing so great as my Father, but some small ability…”

“I recall it.”

“I will see this Archen, and speak with him myself. If there is any service I can do you, it will be done.”

Jeed led her with a hand through the small door and gave instructions to the remaining guard, then addressed the princess again, “This is all I hoped. I leave him to your care. Unravel this mystery with all haste, if you can. There are too many other matters which demand my attention at the present – our military position, identifying the dead, the injured and the living…” his voice trailed off in anxiety, “Your Highness, I fear I make an ill politician."

"Yes, that is true," and here she kissed him lightly on the cheek, "which is why we are content to be governed by you."

Jeed stood still until she and the sentry had disappeared from view, his hand still resting thoughtfully on his cheek where she had kissed him, and muttered, " 'Some small ability' indeed!"