Tree of Woe - Chapter 1

Tree of Woe

Chapter 1

         

         
Cal Premus looked down at his hands and tried to keep them from shaking. He tucked them into the opposite sleeves of his tribal tunic to ease his nervousness. He wanted to clear his mind, and he gazed out the window of the palace anteroom at the ocean below. The sound of the waves crashing into the rocks just falling like rain upon the shoreline filled his ears as he relaxed. Opening his eyes again, he watched the foamy seawater slip back into the ocean before the next wave hit, continuing the cycle.

Further out in the bay, the fishing boats were returning from their early morning voyage. The port city of Spynroth was just in view to the side. Cal imagined all the fresh food from the sea filling the marketplace. I should have eaten before coming to see the king.

The sound of boots on stone behind him ended his daydream. Cal turned to see court chamberlain approaching. The man’s ill-fitting red shirt with tight black trousers made the extent of his girth look completely ridiculous. He walked with a pronounced forward lean, as if he was falling forward. The chamberlain stopped to catch his breath. Waving his arm towards the end of the hall huffed, “The king will see you now.”

Cal saw another court chamberlain as he approached the next door. “Wait here.” The chamberlain stepped in and announced Cal to the king.

“Send him in,” King Fulton said from inside.

Cal walked into the expansive great hall of the palace. His footfalls echoed loudly, giving Cal the feeling he was getting smaller with each step. Many tables and chairs filled the hall on both sides making him walk around as servants scurried around setting plates and dishes. At the far end on a raised stone platform was the throne. The king sat there with several servants around him, attending to his needs.

Cal approached and bowed. “Your Majesty.” His reddish ponytail flopped over his shoulder. Stunned, he swiftly stuck it back into this tunic with an embarrassing grin.

“Cal Premus is it?” The king shifted on his throne. “You come highly recommended from Sherman Pilar. He has been my Court Alchemist for the past five years, and decided to retire to his home village.”

“I knew he left the capital city, but I didn’t realize he was leaving his post at court, your Majesty.” Cal continued to calm his nervousness by sticking his hands behind his back, fidgeting with his fingers to keep them from shaking.

“Yes, well he’s set in his ways. When he decides to do something, he gets to it.” He snapped his fingers at the servant to his right. A goblet was placed in his hand. After drinking, the king wiped the excess wine from his mustache and beard, as he looked Cal over. “How old are you boy?”

Cal cleared his throat. “Twenty-two years old, Sire.” He could feel the sweat from his brow run down his face, dropping off the tip of his nose.

“Well, it’s a bit unusual for someone of your age to be a Court Alchemist, but I trust Sherman. Step forward.” The king stood and waved to his attendant who brought him a scroll. The king quickly glanced over it nodding.

Stepping forward, Cal knelt before the king, bowing his head.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?” asked the king.

Cal looked up, seeing confusion on his face. “No your majesty, I thought I was to kneel.”

The king roared with laughter, as the court chamberlain joined in the comic scene. His smile revealed no ill will as he reached down to Cal’s shoulder. “Come on, boy. Stand up.”

Cal’s knees quivered as he stood. “Sorry, your majesty, I’m not familiar with the proper etiquette of court.”

“That’s fine. Get with Gorton here,” He pointed to the smiling court chamberlain. “He will instruct you. Wouldn’t want that to happen in front of the lords. They would never let you live it down.” He smiled and handed the scroll to Cal. “This makes you officially the Court Alchemist. Good day.”

Relief washed across Cal’s face, taking the scroll from the king. “Thank you, your majesty. I will try and live up to the high expectations placed on me.” Cal bowed again, turned and walked back to the entrance, a smile plastered across his face.

The stuffy court chamberlain that introduced Cal was at the end of the hall. A look of displeasure on his face, he handed Cal an invitation. “This is to the feast tonight,” he scanned him from head to foot, “Please dress…appropriately.” Cal could not believe what just happened to him and whistled a merry tune as he walked back through the anteroom.

Cal stopped to ask a burly guard in the hallway.

“If I need to send a message, who should I see?”

“When you leave, ask the carriage master and he should be able to help you.”

Cal nodded his thanks. I’ll send a message to Phalo and rub it in his face. He never thought I would amount to anything.
         

# # # #

King Fulton looked out across the grand hall from side to side filled with the lords of the Kogaria Kingdom enjoying the feast. Sitting around him were the Chiefs of the Seven Tribes. They represented a variety of men and women comprising the King’s Privy Council. To his left was his young Queen Kaila and to his right, her father, Chief Brandon Lahav of Devona.

Large tapestries, with pictures of bygone days, suppressed the din of conversations echoed off the walls. Banners representing each tribe hung behind the council’s table. King Fulton wiped his mouth and cleaned his gray beard before standing. He raised his brass goblet, tapping it with his ring to silence the room.

“Thank you, ladies, and lords, for celebrating with us Prince Farrell’s engagement selection.” The king raised his goblet higher, followed by the other chiefs. Shouts of encouragement, directed towards Prince Farrell, filled the chamber. From the gathering at the table of his friends, the prince stood, raised his goblet, and bowed to the room.

The king continued, “I hope you are all enjoying this night of feasting and dancing. Tomorrow will be the start of the annual harvest festival, which this season includes a jousting tournament, my personal favorite.” Laughter filled the room. “I’m sure you are as excited as I am to know who the lucky lady Prince Farrell has chosen to wed, and we will in five days at the end of the festival at the Grand Ball.” He smiled, looking down at his Queen as he sat. The noise of conversations and eating started again as the lords and nobles continued the feast.

King Fulton observed his queen smiling and waving at another. He followed her gaze to find Lord Atmore smiling back towards her. Lord Atmore noticed the king glare and looked away.

“You wish to tell me something, my Queen?” he asked studying her reaction.

Kaila dropped her gaze to the table, before looking up to him. “No your majesty, I was just enjoying the feast.”

“Yes, I see that.” He could feel his anger growing as he violently stabbed the roasted beast with a fork, ripping off a leg. “Who is the man in the blue jacket you fancy?”

“The man in the blue jacket? Ah… that is Lord Richard Atmore. He is from my tribe. I knew him before I was queen.” She avoided eye contact with the king as she ate.

“Knew him? How well did you know him?” His fingers squeezed the bone of the beast leg, making his knuckles white.

“He and my brother Thomas are friends; they used to hunt together as boys. I haven’t seen him in…a while.” The queen replied as she gulped down some wine.

He wondered whether Atmore was pursuing her or Kaila might pursue him. Lord Atmore looked closer to her age. Futon was almost twice her age, and caused him to feel more like her father than a husband, and it disturbed him.

He turned to his right, “Brandon, your daughter tells me that Lord Atmore is quite a hunter. Maybe you can invite him the next time we go hunting Horn Beast.”

Chief Lahav snorted as he put down his mug of ale. He dwarfed the king with his large shoulders. “Well, as I remember, he was good with a sling staff, but not good with a spear-thrower.” He picked up a large chunk of fish meat, cramming it in his mouth. “I’ll invite him next time we go small game hunting.”

The king chuckled as he looked back towards the queen. “Yes, wouldn’t want him to be in any danger while hunting now would we.” 

A piece of chewed fish flew from Lahav’s mouth when he cackled, slapping the king on the shoulder. “No, your majesty. Maybe we should go fishing instead,” as they laughed together.

Kaila dropped her face down, hiding her frown. She pecked at her food, ignoring the ridicule from her father and king.

# # # #

Cal Premus witnessed this exchange from the king and queen, and felt bad for her. His earlier experience with the king now felt tainted after seeing his treatment of her. He didn’t feel like eating any more after that, and refilled his goblet with wine before leaving the great hall.

He looked at the large carvings in the walls of the promenade showing scenes of great battles, one side of the expansive walkway opening up to overlook the ocean. From the height of the balcony, the sounds of the large waves breaking against the rocks blended into the background of the feast. Cal leaned on the stone railing, breathing in the fresh sea air. The sight of the twin moons rising in front of him on the darkening horizon was extraordinary. He loved the view from the cliffs above Spynroth, but from here in the palace, it was as if he was floating above the water. His calm mood ended when he saw one of his customers, Lord Atmore, anxiously approaching.

“Good evening, Lord Atmore.” Cal said as he turned away from the beauty of the moonrise.

“Good evening? Good?” he replied, “I…I think the king knows.” He turned his head quickly, scanning the crowd.

“What does he know?” Cal said dismissing him.

“I have a confession to make.” He turned to face away from the growing throng exiting the great hall. “You know the virility potions I bought from you?” Cal rolled his eyes nodding. “Yes…well, I have been using them on the queen.”

“You what!” Cal scanned the mass of people, hoping nobody heard his outburst. “Are you insane? There is an attractor agent in there. The more you use it the more attracted she will be to you.”

“It’s not like I planned it, really. It just sort of…happened.” His face slowly turned red, “Look, we knew each other before she was queen and I bumped into her last week in the garden. We started to talk and…”

“Wait, wait…stop,” waving his hands back and forth. “Do I want to hear this? No, I don’t.” Cal rubbed his palms across his face and cheeks before dropping his hands. Lord Atmore stared at him with a look of concern. He couldn’t believe this was happening. “Why are you telling me this?”

“We are in this together, you and I,” Lord Atmore said.

Cal shouted, “There is no we.”  He quickly looked down at the floor trying to ignore the looks from the guests. More quietly, “I didn’t do anything. You decided to use the potions to get the queen.” He started waving his index finger, “Not my fault.”
Cal started pacing with his hands on his hips. “I saw the way you both were ogling each other during the feast, but…”

“You saw that?” Lord Atmore’s expression changed to surprise, “You have as much to lose as I do, Cal. If someone finds out, I will implicate you as well. How will the king respond to that from the new Court Alchemist?”

“I think liberties with the Queen would rank a little higher, don’t you?” He quickly looked around as more people streamed past. “I didn’t know you would go after the Queen.” He turned towards the ballroom. “Damn, if you would have kept your pants on, you wouldn’t have this problem.” Atmore grabbed his shoulder, spinning him back.

“Don’t you mean our problem? I think the Prince suspects something. He was asking strange questions yesterday. He seemed confused by my answers, as if he didn’t believe me. What do you make of that?”

“I’d say he thought you were lying, and he was right.  I would watch your step with the prince.” I need to be pickier about my clients.

Atmore’s brow dropped as he exhaled, “You will help me find out what the prince knows. We both have our lives under the blade.”

Cal turned to him, keeping his voice low but firm, “Look, just keep your prick in your pants, and don’t use anymore on her. She will slowly loose her feelings for you.” He turned again towards the ballroom glaring back at Lord Atmore. “Once the ball is over, the prince will leave and all will be well.”

“Remember, our heads come off the same way,” Lord Atmore shot back as Cal entered the ballroom. Why does this crap happen to me?

Cal’s burgundy and green robes flowed down his thin frame to the white stone floors, inlaid with swirls of deep red and gold, which echoed his footsteps. Gold and white spires rose from the floor to support the sprawling dome glass ceiling. Small candelabras attached to the spires lit the ballroom outlining the rising stars and moons shone above.

People danced in big circles as others mingled in small clumps around the outside. As the king and queen entered the ballroom, the music stopped. The guests clapped for their arrival, and as customary, they responded with a bow. The music began as the royal couple joined them in the dance.

Many political deals were made at large formal gatherings like this one. As Cal walked outside the dancing area, he overheard bits and pieces of conversation. He slowed his walk as he passed each group, listening to them tell lies to each other. Politicians are all the same; telling you one thing and doing something different.

Cal saw Dalko Honskelin chief of his tribe walking from his group in a straight-line right to him. I guess some were noble like Dalko Honskelin. His dark reddish hair was pulled back in a ponytail matching the tribal burgundy and green colors of his robe. Dalko had always looked familiar to him even though he met him just once. Cal figured he was a few inches taller than Dalko but they could have worn the same clothes.

“Cal Premus,” he said with a big smile, “The king tells me you are the new Court Alchemist.” He slapped him hard on the back. “Congratulations”

Cal felt the sting of the hit as it propelled the air from his lungs. He stopped breathing, and had to cough to start again. He smiled, “Thanks.”

“Sherman, your teacher, and I go way back. We knew you would be a good alchemist but a Court Alchemist at your age is well…” he shrugged his shoulders, “remarkable.”

“Thank you, sir. I only wish to bring recognition to the art of alchemy and earn the appreciation of the Nimdala tribe.” He said, feeling more like the fake people around him.

“Ha, spoken like a true politician.” Dalko reached for a goblet from a passing waiter and handed one to Cal. “To Nimdala,” he smiled, drinking all of it in one shot.

"Nimdala.” A politician, really? First day at court and already sound like one of them. Cal swallowed hard to get his drink down. He needed to slow down before the effects of the wine hit him. Didn’t want to be drunk his first night at court.

Dalko looked over at another group and smiled, leaving Cal standing there alone. Cal walked towards one of the many doors and balconies ringing one side of the ballroom. Fresh air would do him good. He needed to shake Lord Atmore from his thoughts, but worry weighed heavily on his mind the rest of the evening.