Chapter 20 - The King's Dilemma
Arroch was starting to be summoned to spend time with the North Star, and the steward and Wulfgar… for what he clearly saw was less and less for any planning… and more for idle time. One time, the North Star finally told him as gently as the loud friendly man could, that this was simply idle time. No planning. Arroch and Wulfgar and the North Star… raided the steward's pantry, and tried to take some care they didn't get into too much of foodstuffs that the steward wanted for himself.
Wulfgar pronounced himself tired, and went off to a room he coveted as "almost his own" that he slept in a lot when here in the high king's own great-house. They couldn't have servants and men at arms and heralds and reckoners all about the place; it would make for far too much idle gossip. For as powerful as the good kingdom would appear to be? Arroch as an insider like Wulfgar now knew many of it's family secrets. It was actually quite a novelty in this world of chaos and violence and general lack of order.
The kingdom, for all it's size and might and bluster and wealth… was actually a very rare and very delicate thing of beauty. And, as all things of great delicacy and beauty and rarity? It was more fragile and easily broken than a thin glass sculpture.
Arroch suspected that Wulfgar had retired earlier than usual for the evening, to give him alone time with the high king. The king was clearly worried about something, his waves he gave off were far too unmistakable. The deep warmth and calming vibrations cooling? Arroch at first thought it was simply the night's chilled air, but it turned out it wasn't.
His high king was unsure about something, and the slight chill, once noticed, could not be mistaken for night weather in the far north. Arroch and the mad king made a small fire for the big fireplace and sat near it.
"Arroch. Your king favors your idle time. I am sure you know this."
"I am flattered with your idle time."
"The steward. He enjoys your idle time as well. Me and Wulfgar… we were… impressed."
"Impressed? With what matter."
"I saw and heard the way you… gently pushed the steward towards the 'twin brother' matter. The steward… has really taken to that particular… 'explanation', we could say."
"I know you pity the steward. As I myself pity him. What he has to go through. All he has freely given up in his life. To be what he is."
"How could I not? The man gave up… well, in a way he gave up everything a normal man has to look forward to in life. Wenching. Nights out for idle fun with the boys. Wife. Children. Fun and peace of mind… all gone."
"Its not all pity though, is it?"
The high mad king sighed. Another light chill reverberated around them. Arroch waited a moment to be polite, then went on.
"No. I do pity him. Yet… the steward… when you… leave him to be the steward? He is a pleasant man. He deserves more, I think. If my king knows what my words mean."
"Indeed I do, Arroch. I can tell what is in men's hearts and souls. You are trying to farst him some small amount of a normal life, as best you are able to provide him. The steward really enjoys it."
"Arroch. The way you… handle those matters? It… provides me with hope. Hope that you might be able to help me with something else."
"What would you wish for."
"Arroch… you now see, that leadership is a burden, not a reward. Good leadership is a burden. Poor leadership is a reward. Aye?"
Arroch thought about it. Surely it was.
"Aye."
"I was wanting… to… spend some time. With my son. I want to… get to know him. As he is, for this life. As I have told you, he is a proud and willful boy. He simply has to be raised as he was? To know how to act correctly. His normal way? Is to be too proud. I have learned this, over a very long time. It breaks any man's heart, to see his own son suffer, when he is young."
"I have been feeling the slight chill you give off tonight."
"Seeing how well you handle matters with the Steward? I was wondering, if you would try to… handle this matter for me. Gently."
"You… want me to bring Ryeamund around. For you to enjoy his company, then."
"Aye!"
A slight burst of warmth and good vibration.
"You could simply summon him. I know you already met with him once."
"Arroch, that was the steward. I sent him on all but an unnecessary errand, to examine him on the loss of the Bear. So that I could watch and listen, through the steward."
"Oh. You want to meet him… yourself."
"Aye. Very much. As you now well know, Arroch. I do not feel very much like a 'god', as you pickles have named men like me. What 'god' can't go hunting, or, spend idle fun time with his own son, I ask you. I am always robbed of the simplest of pleasures in life."
"You fear him… knowing."
"Arroch? Do I not only 'deal' with the steward directly, because I have to? To run the kingdom. Aye."
"Aye."
"My son, and you know of whom I speak… Wulfgar tells me, and it gives me great joy… that… Ryeamund is very happy with his woman. They are… pleased to be together."
"Yes. They are happy together."
"I would not risk ruining that happiness. My son went through the fire, growing up down south, as he did. He deserves this happiness he has found with Eira. They both deserve it. I can't risk that."
"The matter is… Eira?"
The North Star smiled, and it was bittersweet.
"I would ask that my trusty Ox… and his mad king… plot like thieves to come upon a plan. A plan, that allows me to… spend idle time with my son."
"Ryeamund is truly, the key to our wisdom about matters down in the south-lands. Our great plan is centered around him, concerning those matters. A number of summons for audience… would fit in quite well."
"Arroch… I would. If I could. Not have my son… look upon his own father as some madman. Ryeamund knows only the Wise Steward, and only one time. Were he to have audience, with his high king? Risky. And once he consults with Eira? No, I would not have my own son look at me in that manner. My heart is heavy enough already."
"This is a prickly matter."
"Aye. When the steward is out and about? It is as if I am looking from afar. Could I not… sit and eat and drink with my son, in some fashion."
"Well then. Perhaps if you were to simply wear the steward's clothes. Use your most calming voice. You have been around the steward quite a long time. I would imagine, could you not imitate him well enough."
"The man is a high reckoner. A true Gentle Man. I am not… I really can't fool anyone that knows me for very long."
"Well then, there we have it!"
"What?"
Arroch grinned.
"The summons is for Ryeamund. Not Eira. Even Eira will obey royal commands. Ryeamund will come alone. With me. Ryeamund only met you once. Without Eira here, Ryeamund would only know he is having audience with the Steward."
"Arroch, just like you? I am no high reckoner. I am no man of high manners, as the Steward is."
"Oh. Could you not… have a slight sickness? A little touch of something. It would account for you not talking as much."
The king thought about it. The two of them agreed they would try. Arroch went to sleep early. When he awoke in a small side room, he had breakfast with the steward and Wulfgar who had woken him up seeing about breakfast. They had pulled the stuffed leather chairs around the familiar small table.
Arroch hadn't noticed anything was amiss, until the steward winked at him on the sly. Arroch thought that was a little odd. Most of the conversation was being carried by Wulfgar and Arroch, all idle small matters of no importance. Wulfgar had gotten the steward some of his prized fresh figs and fresh grapes, and had them mixed in a small wooden bowl near the center of the table. They all had the usual mint tea with rock sugar as well.
Then when the steward winked again, again on the sly for Arroch only to see… Arroch played it off but started trying to notice what was going on. He finally had to suppress a chuckle when he figured it out. He was having breakfast with the high king and Wulfgar, the steward was still away.
Arroch now noticed that the "steward" was using his left hand to sip the mint tea, and to eat with. Wulfgar hadn't noticed yet. Wulfgar furrowed his brow when Arroch failed to suppress a chuckle at the slight face the "steward" made because he really didn't like tea.
Wulfgar started to occasionally furrow his brow and look around at his two breakfast companions, as this situation and similar went on periodically. Wulfgar even addressed the 'steward'.
"Stuart? Are you feeling well? You have barely touched yer tea and yer eggs."
The "steward" made a little cough into his hand, and admitted that perhaps his stomach was a tiny bit upset, maybe a very slight sore throat. But, nothing serious at all, he assured them both. He thought the grapes and figs would agree with his stomach a little better.
Wulfgar after a time, clearly sensed something was going on and that it was shared between Arroch and the Steward. It did, however, take some time for him to figure out what was going on. Wulfgar's furrowed brow and glances eventually gave way to a small smile. He didn't say anything, and continued eating. After a time, Wulfgar casually asked Stuart if he could pass him the cup of rock sugar.
When "Stuart" handed it to him with his left hand, Wulfgar smiled easily.
"You know, Arroch… I would have failed to notice this little game for a lot longer, if it was not for your smiling and little laughs."
Both Arroch and the mad king dropped the act, and started quizzing Wulfgar on how well it had gone. Wulfgar admitted, it would fool the casual observer that had no intimate dealings with the high king, but, that anyone that really knew the two of them? It wouldn't take very long.
"Not that it's any of my concern, yet, who are you two trying to fool? If not just trying to have idle sport with me. I sense some casual purpose to all this. Am I correct."
The king smiled, and admitted to his closest friend that he had a desire to meet some people that normally only the Steward would meet with. Would Wolf give them some pointers? Did Wolf mind this.
Wulfgar regarded both of them with his trademark detached mild interest.
"You… are the high king. You do not need my… permission. As far as my help on the matter… I would not attempt this game with any lord that has ever fought with you. Fighting men that really know you, will notice in a heartbeat which hand you use to do everything with. As well, I would not think it wise to try this game with any high reckoners that know you two."
Arroch prodded him.
"But, if someone hasn't met the high king before… and only met the steward once or twice, briefly…"
Wulfgar calculated…
"Stay away from high reckoners. When reckoners meet? I am sure you both already have noticed. They have a… way of standing. A way of talking. They pick it up from their Garten Meisters. That said… I suppose, if the person didn't really know the Steward… it would probably pass. My advice, would be to avoid any reckoners entirely."
Wulfgar smiled and shook his head. Exclaimed he was off on errands, and he bid the two of them to "have fun" with their game.