Magical Hearts chapter 6

Loving and knowing my spouse’s heart:
Chapter 6

In the morning a knock at our door awakens us, I only let go of Isabel long enough to pull the blankets up to Isabel shoulder. She turns her head to look at me.

A servant enters the room, on a table, she places a tray containing breakfast, my stomach grumbles at the smell of the food. Isabel stomach grumbles in return, apparently our appetite heightened because of last night’s activities. The servant bowing and says, “The King request your presence shortly, once you eat, wash, and dress. The King should be available within an hour and a half. If there is nothing else I will take my leave.”

Once the server has left the room Isabel jumps to her feet and runs for the breakfast. She divides the food into two plates, and waves me to come to sit beside her, once I reached the couch I pull her onto my lap. Isabel giggles as I begin to feed her. Isabel feeds me in return, before long we both finished our breakfast, and I pull her up over to the bathing pool. Scented soaps and clean washcloths are on a small shelf near the pool along with some large towels. Isabel and I splash and play a little inside the pool, the water seems to stay warm without ever needing more hot water. I dry Isabel, gently caressing her with the large towel.

Isabel quickly dries me and we again dress, not in the same clothing we wore for our wedding, we have other fine garments ready for us within the cabinet. The King’s Stewart comes seeing that we are dressed he smiles and says, “The King should be ready within a few minutes if you would accompany me.”

Escorted into an audience chamber we wait for King Patrick. The King’s new blue chair and ottoman are now in one corner of the room, and other comfortable looking chairs face the chair I created for him day before yesterday. A book on an end table near the chair, apparently the King has enjoyed his chair as he read. I can just see him there reading a story to his grandchildren as they spread across the carpet, Isabel and I set holding hands and cuddling our youngest.

The image seemed so real for a moment, but how can that be. I am the son of a farmer; cast down into slavery and freed by a master wizard, now just entering adulthood, a journeyman wizard and married to the most beautiful girl I have ever known. How can I see, Isabel and my children as the Kings grandchildren?

The Kings voice as he wishes us good morning brings me back to the present. I cannot help but a smile crosses my face as I look into his eyes. The King asks jokingly, “Lady Isabel was your husband gentle enough last night? If not I could always have him flogged as a reminder.”

Isabel giggles at the King’s joke. Mischief is in her eyes, Isabel says, “My King, he was gentle enough last night, but if he ever fails to be so may I call upon you?”

My face gives away my shock as I look from the King to my wife. They can no longer hold back their merriment and laugh aloud. Isabel finally says, “I feel my husband will never give me cause to ever request such a thing sire.”

Still laughing the King manages to say, “I do believe you are correct my dear lady Isabel. His caring for you has already cost me ten gold, not a mistake I will make again.”

Seeing our confusion he continues, “Justin and I wagered, about him breaking your maiden hood, I said Julius was in such a hurry that he would forget to block your pain. Apparently, Justin knew you better young men.”

Isabel smiles warmly, caresses my face, saying, “My husband is a kind and gentle soul. He would cause no one pain if given the opportunity. However, if the need arises he has not or will not shrink from his duty to protect the innocent.”

The King says, “I have heard the story, of how the Raiders were going to attack Camarillo. Duke Julius your Captain Michael and Master Justin reported the incident. Now I find I have not only chosen well, a wise Duke, but a strong protector for that city as well.”

I smile and bow thinking the King for his complement, and wish I can live up to his trust. Smiling brightly the King says, “At least you are not like the other dukes, preferring to allow their guards and soldiers to face the danger, when the danger proves too great for their men, they run. I think you two are far too noble to allow another to face the danger in your stead. However, young Duke, I would have you not face such great danger that good wisdom should tell you to ask for assistance. One ship of Raiders I know you can face, with the ease you defeated them; possibly two would only provide you a challenge. You need not stand alone if the numbers are greater, send word and my forces will join yours.”

After he sees, I understand the King continues, “Young Duke you and Lady Isabel are far too valuable to lose. The word of your bravery now stirs the hearts of many of my Duke’s in their duties to their cities. Your example shall do more good than you could know. The warning that the gods can judge them, and their Royal status will not protect them, has yet to reach its full impact. I have been away for so long. I fear my kingdom has fallen from the righteous.”

There were rumors that the King searched for his missing son for over a decade. It said that the King would only appear once in a great while, and the dukes truly ruled in his absence. Many of the dukes were loyal and just to the King and the people. Others like the former Duke of Camarillo had become wicked, serving only their desires.

The King smiles and says, “Enough of this, we have other more joyous thinks to discuss. Along with some other minor business, for instance when can you enchant several of the crates for the kingdom’s granary?”

I smile and say, “Sire, we can have your twelve complete before the spring harvest.” There was a few crops that are planted in the fall and sprung up in and grew to be harvested early in the year. Crops like spring wheat and early barley, along with some early fruits, and most berries harvested before the heat of summer. The earliest are the berries, now in late spring they will soon be ready to harvest. Without the magical crates, the crop must be quickly, eaten or made into jams, jellies, and wine for later, or go to waste.

The King smiles, “It would be good to have fresh cherries in the dead of winter. My wife loved those, and our Cook found a way to preserve cherries and we had some fresh cherry pie on the winter solstice the last year we had together.”

Justin chuckles as he enters. He says, “The Cook had hidden a large bowl full within your box, King Patrick. You did not leave your wife’s side that year as she carried your child, when the Queen craved cherries she remembered the hidden bowl. That is when she retrieved them, and decided to make a pie your wife’s favorite.”

The King chuckles and says, “If I had known the wardrobe would worked like that, it would have been my pantry long ago.”

Isabel giggles, “Perhaps sire we can make a pantry for your cook, Julius needs only to change the spell for the crate slightly to create shells in the pantry the cook simply walks into from a doorway.”

I smile at my wife’s confidence in me, Justin says, “Sometimes, easier said than done. Although young Julius seems to have a talent at altering spells.”

With a shake of my head I say, “With my wife’s assistance I would be willing to attempt it sire.”

The King chuckles and says, “And in so doing yet another thing I need be grateful to you for the deed.”

I chuckle as I shake my head no and say, “Perhaps your cook, but not you sire. I know of many of the great things you have done. The entire kingdom owes you much, think of it as a gift from a loving citizen nothing more.”

The reason the King had been searching for his son, his mother and he sent away from New Cowan for their protection during a siege by an Orc army when the boy was only a baby. Eventually the siege was broken, but no one knows what occurred to the Queen and Prince.

The entire kingdom knows how the King routed the Orc army. King Patrick and a small number of his Knights raid the orcs encampment killing their leadership, before long the Orc army was doing as much damage to itself as our army. Eventually the remainders of the Army of Orcs retreated into their own territories.

Only three duchies had suffered greater than what New Cowan had, those were on the invasion route, two cities now abandoned, and the survivors now rebuild one, so few citizens had been left alive from the orcs onslaught. Now only Fort Raymond guards the frontier, the Fort named for the Knight Raymond who set forth the plan that brought about the destruction of the Orc army.

The King chuckles and says, “That may be so, but it will not stop my gratitude.”

Isabel smiles and says, “Perhaps then you could invite us back for a piece of fresh cherry pie during the harvest feast.”

The King smiles and bows to Isabel saying, “It would be my honor to have you as my guest during this harvest Fest.”

Isabel curtsies to the King and says, “Thank you sire.”

The King chuckles and says, “Once you have your household in order, may I visit you?”

Without hesitation I say, “Your Majesty is always welcome, in order or disarray. Isabel and I will have many children, so order may be a rare thing in my home.”

The King smiles sadly, and says, “Julius, I wish you and Isabel all the happiness and as many children as the gods can bless you with.”

Isabel’s hand drops to a top her womb. I step behind her and cover her hands and I feel the new life growing in her womb, as I kiss her neck I whisper, “Yes love, you now carry our first.”

Isabel’s eyes widened with shock and joy, she spins in my arms and our lips meet brightening the room with our glow. The King confusion shows on his face. Justin chuckles and says, “Be careful with your blessings my King, apparently they are very fast acting. Isabel is now pregnant.”

King Patrick eyes light up with joy and says, “Congratulations my two young friends, may the child be healthy and strong.”

Isabel turns in my arms again so we both bow as one, Isabel in a bright voice says, “Thank you sire.” I can hear her inner voice, (I need to tell my mother, I hope my father will be happy. Oh, Julius I love you so much.)

I whisper, “I love you too Isabel.”

Justin chuckles and says, “It has begun Isabel, be careful of your thoughts your husband should soon begin to hear them clearly.”

I chuckle and say, “Yes my love, we should inform your mother and father very soon, I am sure your father will be overjoyed.” Isabel’s inner voice is all giggles, as she comes up onto her tiptoes to kiss me once more.

The King says, “Jeremiah most certainly will be overjoyed, having won that wager. He will be here shortly. Julius can think to stop her pain, but not keep her from becoming pregnant on your wedding night. The gods truly favor you.”

Justin says, “It was not always King Patrick, poor Julius lost his parents to Raiders who took him as a slave very young in his life. Julius wears the brand of a slave to this day, sold and resold when I come upon him he was nearly eight years old, but so malnourished he looked two years younger easily. I had to do a spell to retrieve the memory from him of when the Raiders took him, one the multitude saw how he became a slave they sought vengeance on the Raiders. My spell allowed him to remember and identify those who killed his parents.”

Isabel looks confused and asks, “Where would such a brand be, I felt none on Julius.”

Justin says, “I had healers try to remove the scar the brand had created, but none could.”

The King says, “Remember the woman who sung at your wedding, several healers try to cure her arthritis but none could, when your glow surrounded us all, her arthritis was healed.” The King slides up his sleeve, “Remember the scar I received from that Orc’s sword that nearly took my arm.” Justin shakes his head yes, and the King displays his arm to Justin. Justin examines the Kings arm it has no scar. The King continues, “This morning is the first in many years I have awoken without the pain to remind me of my lost son. The goddess come to me in a dream, she said soon I would know my son. I pray that is so.”

The King has a sad smile, “I have missed so much of his life, if only I had listened to my wife and let them stay. I pray that I will miss no more, that the goddess truly did answer my prayers.”

As the King was talking, I could not help but reach behind my back just above my hip where the slave scar had existed. My hand slides my shirt up and out of the way, as my hand, slides down my knuckles catch on the loose pants as I am scratching the skin where the scar had been. I so hated that scar, and what it stood for, for years I had to carry papers saying that I was no longer a slave. Now that my magic is strong enough, no one would make the mistake of trying to enslave me.

The voice of my mother-in-law as she calls to her daughter causes me to turn. I withdraw my hand not wanting to look like I am scratching my ass. The funny thing is the spot actually itched I guess having the scar there so long it was an odd sensation being actually able to feel the skin there. I realized my clothing is in disarray as I hear a gasp from behind me. I moved to start to straighten my clothing, only to have my hands jerked away. Turning I see the white face of the King as he knelt to look at the spot where the scar had been. Suddenly he turns to Justin and shouts, “Justin, you said you scribed for him. How can he be in your care without you knowing he is the Prince? ”

Justin in just as much shock as the King says, “Sire, I truly did not know. I scribed for the Prince, others scribed for the Prince also, and none could find him. It is as if the gods wished him hidden.”

Isabel in shock looks at me, “Does this mean I am a princess?”

I say, “First I must be recognized as the Prince, I am just my father son now. Until the ceremony to recognize me as the Prince, I do not hold that title. Until that time you cannot be recognized as the Princess.”

Justin in shock states, “My Gods could it be that simple, the mistake we all made. We made the mistake of scribing for a Prince, when we should have been looking for your son my King.”

The King slumps heavily in the chair I created for him, still white faced as we move closer, and I kneel before him.