Cinderfella - 13. Chapter 13 The Crime and The Punishment

The ride back was quick. That is if you rode your horse as we did. Seth was not stopping to rest or eat. Would I if Christian were involved? Hell no! The men that came with us tried to keep up, but I finally told them to stop, Seth and I would be fine. They knew that was true having witnessed my fighting I could defend Seth. And we were going back to the palace where there were more guards. No problem. We rode all night thanks to the nearly full moon and we went well into the next day. I told Seth once to consider the horses and a least slow the pace. He did reluctantly, but I understood the need for speed. But these were our only means of transportation. We don’t want them to break a leg or die of exhaustion. When we got to the town around Blethos, naturally Seth hurried, but he had to slow down due to people moving about. When we got to the side gate, the guards at first were ready to fight whoever was coming up so fast, but when seeing it was Seth, they immediately jumped to a stance that showed alertness and readiness. They showed respect.

The stableman that hurried out to greet us stopped as Seth halted his horse and jumped down. “Is he here?” He asked the man. “Is my brother here?”

The stableman didn’t know what to say. He shook his head. “I don’t know, Sire. They would have come in through the main entrance, not this side. The guards there will know.”

I came up behind Seth. “Let’s find out,” I suggested to Seth and nodded to the stableman. “Thanks.” I held Seth’s arm to keep him from running. “We were told he’d be here. Calm down.”

Seth looked at me nearly bouncing. “I can’t. He’s been gone for three years!” Then he grinned at me. “I’m excited!”

Laughing with him, I nodded. “I can see that.” But holding him from going too fast as we entered the palace.

“Sire!” A woman seeing us, a chambermaid ran up to share the news. “You’ll never guess…”

“Samuel is here!” Seth said, more to confirm what she was going to say.

She looked surprised. “How’d you know?”

Seth shrugged. “I’d say a little bird told me, but…” he squeezed my hand. “Where is he?”

She smiled pointing. “He’s with your father, in the family communal room.” And chuckled as Seth took off again, dragging me behind. I didn’t bother telling him to slow down this time.

We entered the communal room and Seth literally skidded to a stop. “Samuel!”

Alex grinned up at Seth and me, and a man, just a couple years older than I was turned. He and Seth were clearly brothers as Christian and I were. There was a similar appearance. Black hair, brown eyes, but this Samuel was a little leaner.

“Seth!!” The man smiled and started to come to his brother, but stopped. “Oh, my God! It’s true!” He reached out to touch his brother’s face. “The scars are gone!”

Seth was crying but nodded. “Yes, they’re gone.” Then he grabbed his brother in a hug that had to hurt it was so tight. “I’ve missed you!”

Samuel chuckled but was also crying. “Air, I need to be able to breathe.” He chuckled as Seth let him go a little, but still held him. “I missed you. I sent father messages telling him where I was. He didn’t tell you?”

Seth shook his head. “No. Didn’t you know? He wasn’t our real father.” He pointed to Alexander. “King Alexander is our real father.”

Alex stood, as he was also crying. So why should I be left out? I was crying, too. “I wanted him to tell you.” He smiled at his other son. Then he walked up hugging them both. “Both of my sons are back. I wanted so much to tell you…but….”

Samuel was trying to grasp it all. “So, Arthur Thorne isn’t our father? I knew he couldn’t be, but mother never said who is real father was. She said it was too dangerous.” He asked Seth. Then Alexander.

“No.” Seth shook his head. He took his brother’s arm. “Arthur Thorne was the man that set off the explosion that killed Mother, Dad.” He told Alex. Then he looked at Samuel. “We were taken away by one of the ladies that cared for us. She saved our lives.”

“So, Mom isn’t our Mother, and Arthur Thorne isn’t our father…” Samuel looked at the two. “Arthur did all this?”

Alex was now more than furious. “He’ll hang for this for sure.”

“He’s dead,” Seth reported quietly. “He and Darius are dead.”

Alex wasn’t upset about it but smiled. “How?”

Seth pointed at me. “Darius issued The Challenge. Erik took it and won.”

Alex smiled even broader. “I hate for anyone to die, but….thank you.”

I smiled. “Well, it’s really Darius’ fault. His style of fighting may have been pretty. Those moves were very much like a ballet, but how I was taught was a little more technique than the artsy style taught nobility and soldiers must be more for show. It was one of those moves of his that caused him to step into my sword.” I shrugged. “So, really, he did it to himself.”

Seth nodded. “Then Arthur was enraged and lunged at us with Darius’ boot dagger, only he fell and the blade went in his gut.” Seth said. “He also did it himself.” Then he grinned pulling me closer. “This is…my brother, Samuel.” He introduced. “Samuel, this is…my husband. Prince Erik of A’Dore.”

“Formally of A’Dore.” I put my hand out to Samuel. “Now of Blethos.”

Seth nodded with a chuckle. “That’s right. Prince Erik of Blethos.”

Samuel didn’t even blink. He smiled at me and did a slight bow. “Your Highness. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Then he backed away a little and indicated a young woman off to the side. Brown hair, brown eyes and very, very pretty. Perhaps twenty. In her arms was a baby. “This is Terry. My wife. And our son, Michael.” The baby was about seven or eight months old. But awake and looking at all that was going on with alert brown eyes. Then Samuel looked at his brother. “Your nephew.”

Seth walked a little closer, then stopped, sniffed his armpit. “Maybe I should clean up. I remember you, Terry. You don’t know how thrilled I am to see you.” Then he nodded to his father and me. “But first, there’s something that needs to be done.”

Samuel snickered. “A bath would be good. You smell like a horse. And sweat.”

I smiled at the woman. “It’s nice to meet you, Terry. I need to clean up, too.”

Seth turned to me. “We need the Royal Scribe. I want to outlaw The Challenge right now.”

I nodded. “I’ll see if someone can find him. I’ll even arrange for the water for a bath.” I nodded and went to find someone in the hall. Sending word by a Palace Staff to get those things needed had begun. I went back to the communal room where I heard Seth talking with Samuel.

“…but I love him. It’s not just a political move. He is my husband.”

Samuel nodded, but only looked puzzled a few seconds. “Are you happy, Seth?”

“Very,” Seth answered.

Alex had taken his grandson and was playing with him on his knee, talking as many adults do to a baby. Making silly faces and making the baby smile as he grabbed his grandfather’s nose.

“So where did you disappear to?” Seth asked Samuel with his arm still around my waist. Seth didn’t even worry that Samuel would be offended. But Samuel didn’t seem to notice or care.

“Haven,” Samuel replied with a smile. “I know, equal distance from Blethos’ capital to Thorne Valley, but in the opposite direction.” He chuckled. “And I was glad to be rid of Throne. What about Deena?”

Seth looked up surprised remembering her. “She slipped my mind.” He looked up as the Royal Scribe came in, paper, ink well, and quill in hand. “Just a second. I can decree something, can’t I?” He asked his father.

Alex looked up and nodded. “You’re king. Of course, you can.”

Seth thought, looking at me. “How do I word this?”

I shrugged. “Be clear. Make it illegal to make The Challenge. And put a charge if someone’s challenged. The challenged, remember the one challenged may win, but he’s just defending himself.”

Seth nodded. “Okay, from this moment. Anyone issuing The Challenge will be subject to prosecution. Any man going through with that challenge that they issued, that man, though victorious, will be tried for murder. No exceptions.” The scribe was smiling as he wrote what Seth said. “I take it you approve.”

The scribe looked up. “You’re king. It doesn’t matter, but yes, I approve. It’s about time.”

“I want it posted and sent to every town, hamlet or whatever immediately. And could you send in whoever’s in charge of the guards, please?” Seth asked.

“At once.” The scribe bowed and left.

I smiled. Seth was handling his duties well. It took a few moments before the Captain of the Guard came in.

“Your Majesty?” The captain bowed.

“Dispatch some guards to the manor house in Thorne Valley. Deena Thorne must be found and brought here as soon as she’s found. But she is not to be allowed in that house, if she is; remove her. If not in the house, she must not be allowed in, understood?”

The Captain of the Guard bowed. “Perfectly, Sire.” Then he left.

“Now,” Seth grinned at his brother. “We need to go and take a bath. I’ll be back to greet my sister and see my nephew when done? We’ll have a great dinner to celebrate. Okay?”

Samuel nodded. “Sure.”

“Don’t you dare leave,” Seth said emphatically. Then he looked at his brother more serious thinking. “In fact, how about moving in here?”

Samuel’s eyes got bigger. “In the palace?”

“We are the king’s sons. We were born here. Yes, in here. Michael needs to be here.” Seth pointed at his nephew.

Samuel looked at his son but nodded as he knew what Seth was meaning. “Because he will be the crown prince.”

Terry came forward. “Sam!” She was certainly not ready for this. “You’re making our son be king?”

“He is the next king of Blethos. He was born to it.” Seth nodded, then grinned. “Which really takes the pressure off Erik and me. No matter how hard we try, neither of us will ever have a child.” Seth chuckled.

Samuel chuckled and nodded a shrug. “That’s true. But what of our life in Haven?”

“What are you doing there?” Seth asked.

“I make furniture,” Samuel answered. “I’m pretty good, too.” He said proudly.

Terry nodded. “The best in Haven. Perhaps all of Blethos. I’m a seamstress.”

Seth nodded. “But Samuel was born a prince. Now, you Terry, are a princess. Little Michael is now the Crowned Prince.”

Terry shook her head trying to take it all in. “A week ago we were no one. Now, this!?”

Seth shrugged. “Surprise.”

“But I’m not of noble birth!” Terry said worriedly.

“So?” I asked. “Nobility is not something you’re born with, it’s who you are.” Then I smiled at her. “I’d say you are.”

Terry looked at all of us as if someone was to tell her this was all a mistake or some joke. But here was the former king, Alex nodding, the new king, Seth and his husband all nodding. Then she walked back, looking at the room. “My only previous worry was getting Miss Agatha’s seam straight and on time, but now, I’m a princess?” She shook her head. “I guess I won’t be getting her seam straight.”

Seth and I went to our room to get cleaned up. Entering our room, there was only one bath ready, steam drifted up.

“I guess we’ll have to share.” Seth grinned as he slipped his shirt off.

“I suppose.” I smiled back. “No problem.” He looked extremely happy. “Meeting Samuel was good. He seems to be a nice guy.”

Seth nodded as he sat to unlace his shoes. “He is. I’ve known Terry for five years when they started dating.” He sighed. “I’m glad he found someone.” Then he frowned. “But we’ll have to deal with Deena.”

I unlaced my shoes. “What are the laws here, for heirs?”

He shrugged. “She is the sole heir to the Thorne estate. But I can’t forgive what she did.”

Walking over, I tilted his head up so he would look at me. “Is she a criminal?”

“No.” Seth griped. “But she made my life miserable. I just can’t seem to get around that.” He said angrily.

I nodded. “Being a bad sister isn’t a crime. But there should be consequences to her father’s actions.”

Seth nodded. “I’m just so angry.” He said loudly it was almost a grunt. “I’m angry at Thorne, Darius, and Deena. What they did….”

Leaning in kissing him gently. “I can’t know or understand, because it happened to you, baby.”

Seth grinned. “Baby? Is that what I am to you?”

I realized what I’d said. “Sorry.”

He shook his head standing. “Don’t be. That you think of me that way…is really nice. Don’t stop.” He kissed me a little more forcefully. “But I may rely on you to decide what to do. Is that alright?”

I grinned. “That’s what I’m here for.”

“Yes, you are.” Seth grinned kissing me again.

I pushed him back. “None of that, or we’ll have to forgo dinner with Samuel, Terry and your father.” I smiled.

Seth shrugged. “I am so glad you chose me.”

I smiled. “Well, we could put dinner back a bit. We don’t have to say why.”

We did make love, then got in the bath. Hey, we both stunk, so we didn’t really offend each other as we made love. The hot bath was not as hot when we got in, but the warmth was needed for our tired muscles.

“Why is Deena not married?” I asked as I washed Seth’s back. “She’s what…. twenty-five?”

Seth nodded. “Same as me, but a couple of months apart. And she was married. She married a nobleman, of course, but he was killed.”

“How tragic.” I felt a moment of sorrow for her.

“He was a thief. He fancied himself as the noble bandit.” Seth chuckled. “And pretty good except that once and last one. But he went into the house of another nobleman and got killed when the man defended his home.” He shook his head. “Since then, Deena’s been engaged two times.”

“You don’t sound like it was all bad.”

Seth nodded. “It wasn’t, but she never loved her husband, nor the others she was engaged to. She’s too selfish. It was always about her.” Then he shook his head. “I don’t even think she’s even set foot in the vineyard. Never tended a grapevine or even in the winery.”

I turned his face toward me. “Then, she’s good at business?”

He shook his head. “Not really. She’s smart enough, but I doubt she’d do it.”

I nodded. “Okay. Well, we’ll think of something.”

He sighed. “Personally, I loved the vineyard. Say what you will, Arthur Thorne had a good business.” Then he smiled to himself. “His father was good at business. His first wife, Darius’ and Deena’s mother was good at business. That’s why it did so well.” Then his voice to on a dreamlike voice as he remembered. “I loved the peace being out there.” He smiled. “The grapes didn’t care what I looked like. That was when I felt the most at peace. In fact, I lived in Thorne Manor, but spent most of my time in the vineyard. Even slept some nights in the winery on warm nights.”

“You seemed to have a good relationship with Grace,” I said. “Everyone wasn’t mean to you.”

Seth shook his head. “No, Grace was okay. My scars didn’t bother her. And most of the workers in the vineyard and winery were fine. It was just Arthur, Darius, and Deena that kept on about the curse and my scars.”

I kissed the back of Seth’s neck. “I’m sorry, baby.” Squeezing him to me.

We did put a stop on any profits going to the accounts of the Thornes. Profits were now going into an account we set up for the winery that couldn’t be touched by Deena.

Having Samuel, Terry and Seth there seemed to brighten Alex’s demeanor, and even quell his fatigue. And little Michael was entertaining with what he would do, babble at us, always reaching for faces. He was a very happy child.

I sent Christian a note by Demetrius letting him know that Arthur and Darius Thorne had died and how. It was another two weeks before we got word that Deena had been caught and was being brought to the palace. She was escorted into the throne room where Alexander sat on the throne with two guards at her side. Deena bowed as she stopped in front. She was very pretty. I admit that.

“Deena Thorne,” Alex said sadly. “You are no doubt aware of the circumstances around your father’s and brother’s death?”

“I know Prince Erik killed them,” Deena said looking angrily at me.

“No.” Alex shook his head. “By all accounts, including those employed at Thorne Manor, it was Darius that issued The Challenge. And it is also known that it was Darius that stepped into the blade that killed him. Your father’s own clumsiness was what killed Arthur. Didn’t anyone tell you that?”

They must have because she refused to look at Alex.

“Now, what to do with you,” Alex said slowly.

“I committed no crime!” Deena said loudly.

Alex nodded. “Well, not anything that can be prosecuted.” He smiled sadly.

“So, what’s to become of me?” Deena asked.

Alex shook his head. “I have no idea. I’m no longer the king.” He stood up. “That’s up to your cousin.” He stepped aside as Seth walked over to the throne. Deena was now paler than she had been. “It’s what he’s going to do to you that you should be worried about.”

“Deena.” Seth began, looking at me, then his face got a look of sheer hatred. “You made my life Hell.” He said calmly. “Your father killed my mother….”

“He couldn’t have!” Deena shouted back.

“He did!!” Seth shouted louder. “Admitted by him, that admission was witnessed and I was shown proof. He killed my mother! The Queen!” He was beginning to shake. “My brother and I were denied the opportunity to know her. Your father tried to take away my birthright and my brother’s. If it weren’t for his lust of a pretty woman, I’m sure he’d have killed us. But he wooed her and married her. But that’s not why you’re here. We need to decide what becomes of you.”

Deena looked, her old self coming into her eyes as she glared at Seth, playing on who he once was. “Who are you to…”

“I am your KING!!” Seth shouted angrily. So loud even Deena backed up but was held in place by the two guards at her side. “If not by birth, by choice. By a man that truly loves me.”

“That’s sick!” Deena spat. “A man, loving a man…”

“I don’t want to HEAR IT!” Seth yelled coming down to face her more directly. “Whether you believe it or not. The curse was a lie! You treated me like horse dung on your boot. YOU TREATED ME LIKE SHIT!!” He said so loud in her face, even I cringed a little. Deena was now terrified. “At best you treated me like a servant to fetch and clean up. Get this, do that….never once like a brother. You hoped that by virtue of your birth, you’d be queen. Or at least, the sister of a king. You could have been. You could have been my sister. But you’re not.” He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “I can’t do anything about what you’ve done. I can’t raise Arthur or Darius, I’d love to be able to raise Arthur and kill him again and again, but I can’t. But now, what to do with you.” He shook his head. “But I’m too close to things to make a judgment.” He looked at me. “So, I defer your judgment to Erik.”

Deena looked at me in disbelief. “But he’s not even of Blethos.”

“Yes, he is.” Seth nodded. “And it will be done by him because I said so.”

I stepped beside Seth. “Deena Thorne, we don’t charge the family for crimes committed by other family members in A’Dore. I’ve read the law for Blethos. I can’t put a charge to you. Whether by ignorance or by you turning a blind eye, there will be consequences. What your father did, his crime against former King Alexander, Prince Phillip and who I now know as Prince Samuel of Blethos payment has to be made. You will be released.” I watched Deena sigh with relief. “But don’t think about going back to Thorne Manor. The Royal Family of Blethos gets that as compensation for the crimes of your father. All profits to your family’s account have been stopped. That includes the manor, vineyards, and winery. They all are compensations to the Royal Family of Blethos.”

Deena looked alarmed at that. “But Thorne Manor is my home!”

“Which you did nothing for,” Seth said. “You never tended one plant. You never did anything in the winery. What would you do there if you went back? Did you ever empty a chamber pot, do laundry or even dust the furniture? No.”

“It’s my home,” Deena said weakly.

“The accounts that are in your family’s name is still there,” I said but smiled because of what I knew. “However, I do have to say, that your father did spend a good bit of his profits. I saw the many works of art in the house and other things. That explains where the profits went. There is enough money to live on, if you choose to live somewhere else. I’d be careful, though. It won’t last forever if you spend as he did. Or you can marry.”

Deena thought quickly. “I’ll move away!”

I nodded. “You can do that. You should be okay if you spend wisely. But I caution you. Don’t move anywhere in A’Dore, they won’t really like you after my brother, King Christian lets everyone there know what your father did.”

“And word about what Arthur did is spreading in Blethos. So, I’d be equally cautious here. The name of Thorne won’t get you what it used to. Perhaps you should use your married name now. Moore.”

Deena was a lot more humble being escorted out than she was coming in.

I looked at Seth, he looked very tired. “Are you okay?”

He shook his head. “Not really, but I will be.” He smiled, pulling me to him. “Now, I have one more thing to do.”