Sweet Waters Throne

87 Chapter 8Days had turned to a week and Princess Sansa hadn’t been seen ever since she walked inside Visenya’s shop with her male slave. Rumors started to escalate in the Hand’s palace that Princess Sansa was seen boarding a ship at the harbor with her male slave. These rumors were so loud that even Lord Balrus started to believe it may be true.

However, some of the good folks said they saw her getting inside the shop which later at night burned to the ground. “The Hand’s wife must have disappeared into the flames” and one question which was asked throughout the capital was about the owner of that shop.

The fact that Visenya had five young girls serving her at the shop is what created a mystery. No one had ever seen Visenya, of course apart from Princess Sansa who always requested for a private session and paid more than everyone else. The girls who worked for Visenya left the capital before even the fire erupted and it was Visenya who paid for their passages.

Hence Lord Balon was in crossroads as to what happened to his wife because of lack of evidence. The girls who worked at the shop couldn’t be found, and everything in that shop burned to the ground. It is said men wearing Maldonian armors and were referred to as the City’s guards passed through the shop and collected the remains of that horrible fire.

As to where they took the remains, no one could say and even when the Lord Commander of City’s guards was called before Lord Balon in the throne room, he denied any involvement in the accident. “I shall speak to my men Lord Hand. But I can assure you Princess Sansa hasn’t perished in that stinking outlet. We both know her...” he paused as if studying Lord Balon’s facial expression.

“We both know what?” asked Lord Balon.

“Your wife’s liking to her sworn protector”

Lord Balon had to adjust himself on the Sweet Waters throne “Her sworn protector? Are you saying my wife had an affair with Sir Rickard Storm?” his eyes widened with amazement. It may not come as a shock to Lord Balon considering his wife’s adultery, but he never expected Sir Rickard Storm to have an affair with his wife.

Sir Rickard Storm was a very decorated knight who was also a war hero during the battle of the elves when he fought side by side with Artemis. Rickard was the same age as Lord Balon, both at thirty-three years old and full of energy to rule and serve the realm. It was Artemis who chose Sir Rickard Storm to be Lord Hand’s wife sworn protector, a decision which Lord Balon happily accepted.

.....

Now a Lord Commander of City’s guards stood before him spilling beans of his wife’s infidelities with a man who he thought was supposed to protect her. Not so long ago the princess was caught up with a servant.

The Lord Commander explained “I’m saying Sir Rickard Storm has fled the capital at the same time your wife goes missing. My money will be on them sailing across the Silent Sea and onto the big cities where one’s title doesn’t matter except golds they have”

It was so much to digest and take for Lord Balon, he hated Princess Sansa for being a kind of a woman who he will never satisfy and Rickard Storm for betraying him. This is said to be the start of Lord Balon’s destruction, as the chronicles later explained.

The next day Lord Balon took his two daughters who had no clue as to where their mother was and sent them back to Nemphis where his mother was still alive. “Your grandmother will take care of you” he said to his eldest Laila. “If I don’t come back, you shall be the next Lady of Nemphis”

“I don’t want to be the Lady of Nemphis” Leila objected. “Where is mother?”

“I am going to find her and bring her home”

“Did something happen to her?”

Lord Balon screamed “Laila! Just take care of your sister, I will bring your mother home” he finished and ordered the carriage to move.

While all this was happening, Lord Barlus, Lord Dagon and Lord Angun were watching closely from upstairs. Lord Akirbus the master of coin had travelled to Old City with Artemis and Aurora to prepare balance sheets and accounts on how to manage the city, hence he missed this occasion and the day which is said Lord Balon completely lost himself.

“He’s losing it” said Lord Balrus.

“You are an eunuch without a cock my friend, until you taste a woman’s twat believe me it can turn any man mad” replied Lord Dagon. Then they all laughed and continued to do so as Lord Balon span around like a true mad man.

“I hear she sailed off to Arkala, or Penrith or Whitebridge. But she’s amongst those three cities, with her sworn protector Sir Rickard Storm” Lord Balrus told his friends.

Lord Angun seemed intrigued “For the first time in my life, Lord Balrus lacks clarity about someone’s whereabouts. You are losing your touch old friend” he made a joke with a small chuckle.

“I’m sixty-two years old, the rodents have been acting slow in these past few months and I can’t keep up. Maybe it’s time I let down my crown and award it to someone more deserving” said Lord Balrus.

“Could it be true? Some good folks said she could have burn in the store” Lord Angun was looking for explanation and clearing of the rumors.

This was up to Lord Balrus to clarify. He cleared his throat first and continued “She did walk inside the store with her male slave, but unfortunately the slave never made it out. My rodents say she came out half burned and ran onto her lover’s arms, Sir Rickard Storm and it was an hour of the wolf. He placed her on his horse and raced to the port, from there my rodents couldn’t keep track of them any longer”

“I thought you were the king of Maldonia without a crown?” Lord Dagon inquired. And this was met with a “Precisely my lord” from Lord Balrus and a wide smile. They seemed to be getting along together so well, after Lord Angun refused a position as Lord of Old City because he thought it was below his standards. Perhaps he was the next Hand of the King ever since Lord Balon seemed to be in haste to leave.

During the evening, Lord Balon called out the three inside the council chamber. He announced his resignation as Hand of the King and apologized for his next moves, he knew Artemis would be so wroth with him but there was nothing he could do. “I have to find my wife, I apologize my lords” he insisted.

Lord Balrus, Angun and Dagon wished him good fortune as if it wasn’t them who were laughing at him just moments earlier. A brooch meant for the Hand was taken by Lord Balrus for safe keeping until the king comes back and choose another Hand, this time it was clear as water that it will be Lord Angun. Former hand to King Arteides and a political man with experience of ruling a kingdom.

As per Lord Dagon’s words “We need an experienced Hand, not some young soldier whose wife gets fucked by servants” and they counted days until Artemis would return to the capital and inform him of what happened.

The Silent Sea, just like it’s name it’s usually silent during the night. There are no waves but just calm winds to push the ships to the destination, Lord Balon was on a ship sailing to the Liberty Cities. He didn’t know which city to start with, either Arkala, Penrith or Whitebridge.

What he did know was he was going to slit Princess Sansa’s throat and her paramour Rickard Storm who he hated with all he had. As Hand of the King, Lord Balon was accustomed to luxuries and wealth. He came to Blackmount a worthless lord and left a wealthy man with three female slaves, ten armed knights and bags of gold.

It was all his and he earned it for being a loyal Hand to Artemis. With that amount of gold he could rule the Liberty Cities, and he was sure to find Princess Sansa in no time. White bridge is where Aprophil, the bastard of King Arteides lived and he was one of the wealthiest men in the city. And it was White bridge where Lord Balon aimed to make a home, a vibrant city full of torches.

This looked like a city where Princess Sansa would stay because she liked vibrant places and liked parties, also she never stopped talking about White bridge during her days with Lord Balon. However, Princess Sansa knew that’s where her husband would first look and hence cheated him out and sailed to Arkala with her paramour.

It was later said the good folks of Arkala called Princess Sansa “The Burnt Lady” because of her face which was half burnt and all that beauty she was very much fond of faded, she spent her days inside crying all day and it was Rickard Storm who was there for her all the time.