The Reign of Mathias E-Book

Robert McDermott

• Herausgeber: Robert McDermott
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

In the second book in the series, we find Mathias and Fayette in a shaky union. When a new threat emerges it tests their resolve to its capacity. Who can they trust and will the Empire be the same after? What does a young street girl called Ida hold for their futures?

Leseprobe

Dedication

I give thanks to my God, my wife and my family without whom I could not write one word.

Robert

Chapter 1

Footsteps echoed down the hall of the Golden tower.

“Where is Mathias?” Fayette in no mood for games strode franticly from room to room searching for her husband. A servant approached and bowed before her.

“Your highness, I believe your husband was seen in the regal pinnacle.”

The regal pinnacle was the highest point of the tower, it also served as a point of focus when an important announcement was to be made to the city. Up the stairs she went, step by step until she reached a large wooden door. She pushed past the door and walked over to Mathias who was leaning on the rail looking down upon the city.

“I don’t want this any more” his voice quiet and shaky

Unnerved by his honesty and lack of aggression, she stood for a moment in silence before replying.

“Explain yourself Mathias”

“This, the grandeur, the servants, all of it. I hate it, its not me. I’m a farm boy and its all I ever wanted. For a brief moment I thought of all the good I could do but I was grief stricken and driven. Now I feel empty. I want to feel soil beneath my feet, to hear the sound of cattle and not diplomats and servants.”

“That life is over Mathias, we sacrificed that the moment we became rulers of Feidum. Lutum is gone, your family is gone, its time to move on Mathias.”

Mathias stood up and looked Fayette in the eye, his eyes were bloodshot.

“I don’t care, I can’t breath, Fayette, this place smothers me and I need to get out. It claws at my mind. I hate everyone here, they use you and seek you for their own devices. Back in the countryside people were genuine”

Fayette put her hand on Mathias’s face and spoke softly, not something she had been used to doing but ruling an empire had taught her a few things.

“Then lets change them, set them the example. If you leave then fine, but you calm my rage and I set you on fire. With us ruling together this country has grown and flourished. Look at all the good you have done.”

Mathias looked her in the eye and sighed.

“I guess you’re right. But help me deal with Wigbert, he’s become too much for me.”

“I take it you don’t want him killed off?” Fayette said with a quirky smile.

“I’m afraid that’s not my style”

“Don’t worry, we’ll think of something”

The Empire had seen much growth during the short 2 years of their reign. Mathias had been true to his word and set up the order of the righteous blade as the main religion in the country. The main problem was Wigbert, a generally loyal servant but also the same man that murdered Alexander after Mathias had promised his safety. Even after helping Mathias escape from prison the doubt still persisted in his mind over Wigbert’s loyalties. Eventually the entire relationship soured, every time he saw Wigbert the memory of betrayal came back to his mind. It was this that caused Mathias to seek to block Wigbert from meeting him. Sending him from court on the Empires business for any reason became common occurrence, a fact that irked Wigbert deeply.

Ruling an Empire was far different than either Fayette or Mathias had expected. Fayette rose to the challenge however after some time Mathias became weary of the politics. Even emperors need to keep their vassals happy. For a lad that was raised feeding cattle it was all a bit much. When a cow or bull stepped out of line Mathias used to get a red hot poker and tap it on the backside. It always amazed him how a little bit of pain brought cattle into line. One night when he had enough of the Lords bickering he had reached for the poker which, conveniently, he had left with the tip in the fire. It was one of those wonderful moments that he knew marrying Fayette was the right decision. Swift like an eagle she slips the poker out of his hand and wrapped his fingers round a glass of wine. Never had a room emptied so quickly but Fayette had realised that she needed diplomacy for the times Mathias went off the rails. She offered the Lords their hearts desires if only they would leave, most of the requests were minor things that barely effected the Empire and so she was glad to see the back of them. That night she knew something was wrong with him, the difficulty was getting it out of him. Not normally a soft sensitive type of person Fayette had been used to fighting and pushing to get what she wanted and yet she knew this wasn’t a healthy course of action to take with Mathias. She knew he was strong but underneath it all, soft at the same time.

Mathias left the room in a sombre mood. A darkness hung over him as if someone had cursed him. Often times his parents recited stories of what happened to oath-breakers when he was small. It may have been a tactic to get the truth out of him at that age but he felt as if there was more to it than just a story. Did he break his oath or was he blameless? Over and over he replayed the death of Alexander in his head. By right he should have been glad of his death since it was none other than Alexander who chose Mathias for his ploy. The death of his parents could be linked to Alexander but he didn’t end their lives. No the man that did that ended is vile fashion at Mathias’s hand. He replayed the moment his blade cut the man asunder. No Alexander may have betrayed him but Mathias had forgiven all and given his word on an agreement for peace only moments before Wigbert lodged an arrow in his heart. Rage ebbed through his veins as he descended the stairwell. Reaching the hall he could see fear in the servants faces. They seemed to know something was wrong. Had he become a monster or were they just being delicate. No, Fayette testified of the good that was happening in the empire during their reign. He shook of the thought of depression and headed for the stables before mounting a horse and bolting for the city exit.

A host of rangers followed him from a distance as he left Maiestate behind him. Their job was the protection of their rulers by any means and sometime Mathias seemed hell bent on testing them. A lone man in the forest could fall prey to many dangers.

The horse galloped through a dense cluster of trees, branches whipping Mathias’s face. He could feel a little blood trickle into his mouth from his cheek but felt emotionless save for the urge to go faster, to get away. Seconds later a dozen rangers clad in dark hoods chased after him. A few moments later and he was completely out of sight. He knew the rangers would track him for miles and wouldn’t give up but for the time being he was alone save for his horse.

As he paused for a moment he closed his eyes and listened to the silence, to the birds, to the breathing of his horse. A smile came over his face, this felt like home, nature.

He breathed a sigh of relief and ran his hand through his hair.

“If only an Emperor could rule from a cottage in the woods” he thought

He continued on, distantly aware that the rangers were most likely caught up to him and viewing from a distance. Happening upon a path he followed it for a few miles until it lead to a cottage. Smoke was puffing out of the stone chimney and he could smell a hint of dinner in the air. Ignoring the voice in his head to not intrude he ambled up to the door and knocked it twice. A moment passed and an elderly woman came to the door.

“Yes? Oh you have a royal garb on… you must be one of the royal guard? She said inquisitively

Mathias stared at he for a moment and then smile

“Yes, I am indeed Mrs?”

“My name is Mable, my husband is dead if you must know and I’m here on my own”

“I beg your pardon, you shouldn’t tell a stranger those kind of things. What if I was a thief or a murderer?”

“Are you?” she asked with a smile.

“No”

“Well then there you go I’m a great judge of character, now how can I help you?”

“Sorry I was riding past and your cottage reminded me of home. I smelt a lovely smell and couldn’t resist saying hello”

“I’m guessing you want a bite to eat then?” she asked somewhat pointedly

“No, I just came to say hello”

“Oh so my food isn’t good enough for a royal guard?”

“No”

“Then you’ll stay for dinner and that’s the end of it”

Mathias took a seat at her table and breathed in the aroma of savoury meet.

“Beef and taters today, is that all right for ye?” She said with a smile

Mathias looked at her, his face glowing with a joyful calm

“Mable, beef and taters will be lovely.”

She set out a portion for Mathias and some for herself and they sat and quietly ate the meal. The scent of the house, the mannerisms of Mable. Mathias could feel an aura of home in this place. He proceeded to kick back his chair and lean against the wall as he used to when he lived in Lutum. Mable took a look at him for a moment.

“Do ye pipe at all?” she asked

“I don’t Mable…but I will. My father used to pipe and I feel close to him in this place”

The old woman nodded and proceeded to pull out a draw with two pipes and some leaf. She handed one to Mathias and sat down beside him before kicking back her seat for comfort. Mathias looked at her and laughed.

“You know something Mable, there's something special and different about you.”

Mable lit her pipe and took a draw before speaking

“Young man, those words sound like you’re trying to flirt with me” she said with a coy grin. The statement causing Mathias to choke briefly on his smoke. Mable let out a chuckle.

“Still got it”

Mathias stared at her for a moment before daring to draw from his pipe again. The smell reminded him of evenings at home once the farm work was done. His father would sit by the from door and smoke his pipe. Mathias would sit beside him and the two would talk.

The sun began to set and Mathias jumped up with the stark realisation that the journey back to the city would become unsafe the darker it got.

“I had better go. Its late and I need to get back”

“Nonsense, stay the night and keep me company and journey back in the morning.”

“No, I can’t stay… people are waiting on me”

Mabel sighed and kicked forward off her chair. Putting down her pipe she went inside briefly before coming out with a small package.

“Well then, here some leaf for when you sit down at home and take the pipe also, I have no need for two of them now do I.”

Mathias held the pipe and leaf in his hands and looked at the woman with a tear in his eye.

“Mabel, you are one of the nicest people I have met in a long time”

“Nonsense now safe journeys your majesty”

Mathias turned to walk to his horse before stopping in his tracks.

“Majesty? How’d you know?”

“I’m old not stupid” she chuckled and closed the door behind her.

The ride home was at a canter, Mathias knew the rangers had the area well scoured and should a wolf approach then an arrow would surely appear out from the foliage to intervene. Fortunately the journey had no call for such action and he arrived back at the golden tower at a hair past midnight.

Fayette was strangely fine with Mathias riding off into the distance, it was obvious the rangers had kept her informed.