Twenty-seven

Volas woke as the sun was rising and took a handful of his men into the courtyard for some exercise before breakfast. He felt hopeful and ready for anything that the day might bring.

A Cuphisian messenger disturbed them before they had finished. His men brandished weapons at the intruder who held up a missive nervously.

“Y-your Highness…”

“Read it aloud.” Volas frowned at the man annoyed to be speaking a foriegn tongue before he’d even taken his morning meal. “I am not pleased that I was given tainted Zophin.”

The man opened the missive and read aloud, “King Merin of Cuphisia cordially invites Prince Volas of Arek to breakfast with him and their Royal Highnesses Prince Gaeleath and Princess Marravae of Cemir. He is profoundly regretful that his Highness was poorly affected on the hunt he attended and will be wounded if his Highness should leave without allowing his Majesty an opportunity to improve his opinion of Cuphisia. The invitation is extended to his Highness and a small entourage if it is desired.”

Entering the palace would be a risk, they may attempt to hold him hostage as they were doing to the Cemiri, but it would afford him the opportunity to see Marravae with his own eyes and speak to Gaeleath. He glanced at the soldier closest to himself, Akras, the commander customarily in charge of them, and spoke quietly in their own tongue, “It is a terrible risk. If I take it, your lives and freedom are also at stake. If at least four of the men will arm themselves and agree-”

“We all stand with you, your Highness. I was commanded by our King to see to your safety and I and every one of these men will give our lives if need be.” The soldier gave the messenger a stern look, “If I were one of the Cemiri, I would be grateful to see an Arek face.”

“That was my thought as well.” Volas inclined his head to the messenger once again speaking Cuphisian, “I will accept the invitation and bring as many of my soldiers as I am advised to do by the commander my father sent to ensure my safety.”

“I will relay the message.” The Cuphisian bowed and hurried away.

“When we go into the palace…” Volas frowned at the retreating man’s back.

“I will bring a few servants and a few men dressed as servants to see to the food and to get close to the Cemiri servants to speak with them. They may have been able to find out what happened to our messengers.”

“My father sent the right men to accompany me.” Volas grinned at him and clapped the man on the shoulder. “I only wish he’d sent me enough to leave with the Cemiri.”

“His Majesty didn’t want them to think they were being invaded. I had requested more men.”

“If my sons return they may wonder. I will not allow this to happen again.”

Preparations to leave the relative safety of their lodging and enter the palace began at once. A small group of men was to be left to be certain no one came to tamper with things in their absence and would inform his father’s men if he were not permitted to return. Commander Akras made certain that each of the soldiers had a weapon that could be safely given up if it were deemed necessary and at least one more concealed on their person to be used if attacked.

Volas felt reasonably prepared.