Cathexis: Necromancer's Dagger by Philip Blood

six
Knight Protectors, Jatar said, “I have broken tradition and
knighted six Knight Protectors so that Michael will never be
without at least two loyal knights within call, protecting him
always. You six are now brothers as if you came from the same womb
and Michael is your son now as he is mine, he is your liege lord
that you’ve sworn to protect, and he is your country’s future
ruler, guard him well.”
    The answer came in unison: “We will,
milord.”
    Jatar spoke out to the watching throng, "Now
that Michael has his Knight Protectors the moment has come; I, Lord
Jatar Ardellen, do formally designate my legally born son Michael
Ardellen as my heir and first in line of succession to the throne of Lindankar. Let the
celebrations begin, the land and people of Lindankar have an heir
to the throne on this wondrous day!”
    The cheers of joy sprang forth from the
assembly of nobles and as the doors opened at the back of the Great
Hall the cheering spread from the palace across the city like a
cresting ocean wave until the
whole city celebrated the crowning of the new heir.
    One of those celebrating in the Great Hall,
who dressed in the fine clothes of the upper nobility, smiled and
cheered with the rest, yet his thoughts were far from celebrating
the new heir. He knew that before the sun set Lord Jatar's soul
would be forfeit. The picture of what was about to befall Jatar so
amused the man that he laughingly grabbed at the nearest noble and
turned the man around. “Isn’t it a wonderful day!” he proclaimed
and clapped the man on the back in celebration.
    “Yes it is!” the surprised noble replied.
“Wasn’t it a grand idea to appoint all six Knight Protectors for
young Michael?”
    The conspirator continued laughing as he
placed his arm on the other noble’s shoulder and replied, “Oh yes,
Michael should be well protected now,”, but he added in thought, at least until I have him killed later today.
    Both nobles walked out of the hall together,
heading to celebrate for two totally different reasons.
     
    A full bell later Gavin, Jatar’s personal
household servant and old friend, stood before the door of the
Ardellen’s sitting room and stated, “Your coach is here milord and
milady.”
    “ Thanks, Gavin, that’s good timing,” Jatar responded. “Elizabeth has just
finished getting Michael ready for his church blessing. Are you the
only household staff member still here at the palace?”
    “Yes milord, I thought you might need
something, so I stayed to help.”
    “That was very thoughtful of you Gavin, but
the rest of today is for celebrating and I expect to see you out
having a good time with the rest of the household staff. Go ahead
Gavin, enjoy yourself, I promise you it won’t hurt.”
    “But what if milord or milady is in need of
something?” Gavin asked with a furrowed brow.
    Elizabeth spoke up from where she was
leaning over Michael’s crib, “Then we can fetch it for ourselves.
Besides, we’ll be out of the palace for the rest of the day anyway,
so there’s no need for anyone except the outer guard to remain. Now
go out and have some fun!”
    Gavin’s stern face looked so completely
unhappy at the thought of having fun that both Jatar and Elizabeth
burst into laughter. “Oh stop it, Gavin!” Jatar exclaimed. “Now I
order you as your ruler to go out and not come back until you have
drunk five cups of ale at the nearest tavern, kissed at least one
girl, laughed at three jokes and told at least one of them to
someone else.”
    “Three jokes, milord?” Gavin repeated with a
look of concentration, he had taken Jatar far too seriously, “What
if they don’t make me laugh?”
    “Then you’ll have to listen to more until
you find some that strike you as funny, now out you go to start
your merry making assignment,” Jatar ordered in amusement.
    Elizabeth held Michael wrapped in a purple
blanket as Jatar accompanied them down to the coach waiting in the
courtyard. Four of the Knight