The Treacherous Secret by L.R. Patton

Author:L.R. Patton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dragons and danger, magical kings and kingdoms, historical fairy tale adventure and quest, epic fantasy fairy tale retelling, middle grade literature with magical creatures, Arthurian tales and fables, Nursery rhymes with fairies and shapeshifters and wizards and swords and sorcery
Publisher: Batlee Press
Published: 2016-05-17T04:00:00+00:00

SIR Greyson did not ask to be here. Not really. Captain of the King’s Guard is a position he inherited from his father, when the brave man was killed by the red rain of an exploding mountain during a routine trip to the kingdom of Ashvale, a mostly peaceful land. The King’s Guard is put in place to ensure the safety of the royal family, but part of that safety is assured through routine trips to distant lands, where kings and queens are given not gifts of gold or silver but flower seeds, for the beauty of Fairendale is revered throughout all the lands. Many a kingdom aspires to be as colorful as this one.

Sir Greyson’s father was killed when a Fire Mountain in Ashvale erupted and set the whole town smoking. He went back to save its people, of course. He died instead. When his men brought the tragic news, they knelt at Sir Greyson’s feet and said they would follow him anywhere, though he was merely a boy of seventeen.

He did not want to be a soldier for a king like King Willis. He would gladly have turned it down, but his mother, dear reader, was stricken by the sugar sickness. She was near dead. And the only way to acquire her medicine, you see, was to work for the king. This is the way of Fairendale, under the hand of King Willis, though it all began with his father, King Sebastien. It is not always fair. But justified, according to King Willis. And that is all that matters to him.

But this. This attacking a village full of people he loves is not something Sir Greyson can do.

“Are you sure it is wise to attack the entire village, sire?” Sir Greyson says. King Willis turns angry eyes to his captain. Sir Greyson shrinks a bit, glad he is wearing armor, though it is silly to think the armor will protect a heart from the vicious words of men. Nothing protects a heart but a wall. And Sir Greyson has never been one for building walls, only opening doors. He is known throughout the village as an honorable man. The widows call him an enviable son.

“Of course I want to do it,” King Willis says, as if Sir Greyson’s question is the silliest question he has ever heard. Who is Sir Greyson to argue with a king? “The people of Fairendale must know that their king will not tolerate secrets. They must be taught honesty.” The king puffs himself up, sticking his great belly out further, if it is possible. “They must be taught integrity. They must be taught honor.”

Sir Greyson does not ask any more questions, though he wonders what the village people might have to say about honesty and integrity and honor if they knew the secrets King Willis whispered in this room where he thought there were no ears. There are always ears in a palace.

Oh, yes. Sir Greyson knows why the king is terrified of a magical boy.

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