Mhelene was everything I remember. Skies the same azure hue as Amber. Large puffy clouds that could often bring unwanted rain in the winter. But it's spring now, and they just keep the sun from making the land too hot. I shifted Shadow at a leisurely rate. Mhelene is not "far" from Amber, being one of the Golden Circle Shadows. However, I was in no hurry to reach my destination, and neither was Harlequin The sail was easy-going. Finally I began to place landmarks that I recognized and the waters became those of the Cimmura river. In a few hours we would pull into a port in the city of Cimmura. Cimmura is the capital of the province Elenia, and is located at its heart. Cimmura. My one- time home for several years. It hasn't changed a bit. A bit larger, perhaps. A few more beggars in the streets, a few more dirty hovels lining the streets. Since it has only been 20 years since I was last here, some people may recognize me. My story was to be the son of the person that I was 20 years ago.
Harlequin and I were finely dressed. Some of my kin occasionally go "slumming." They want to pretend and blend in with common folk. I guess it's a bit safer; if you stand out, you could be a target. But I always travel with style. After all, I was Prince Consort for my last few years here in Elenia. I don't think I could successfully blend for very long with common folk. My wit was always a bit too quick and my tongue sometimes quicker. The common folk don't have a head on their shoulders; that's why they are common. They are barely above the dirt which collects in their ears.
Harlequin and I rode to the Royal Palace. There was a pair of guards at the entrance, and I could see some more inside. I turned to one of the men. He was slightly obese and his hair was slicked with grease. "Hello there, friend," I said in a firm tone. "Is Kalten still on the throne after all these years?"
"Yes, sir. May I as-"
"Good. Now run inside and tell your lord that Khirk, son of Manion is here to see him."
The guard opened his mouth a bit as if buying time to think of something objectionable to say. Though I was calm on the inside, I made my outer appearance very angry.
"Now go and get your lord before my friend here slices some flesh off of your body and fries it up for bacon." I looked at him firmly.
He immediately closed his mouth, looked at our blades, swallowed, and entered the palace. Without waiting for permission, I rode into the outer courtyard. Harlequin followed. For the moment, the two of us were relatively alone. "Was that really necessary?" Harle asked. "I think he would have done what you asked."
I flashed him one of my infrequent smiles. This was going to be fun. "You have to take a little bit of initiative when dealing with Elenes. They can be quite stubborn. Kalten should have trained his men a little better. They should not question visiting lords."
Harlequin simply sighed. Well, he might see a new side to me that he has never seen before. I found it really easy to switch to intimidation tactics. Just like I used to be. Just like my father was, I corrected myself. I have to get my story straight.
A page came out of the inner palace. The greasy man had not returned, though I could not blame him. The page spoke up: "You may come in now, my lords." Harlequin and I had already seen to our horses, and so we followed him into the palace. It was just as I remembered: bright candles everywhere, rich tapestries on the walls, statues here and there. The page open the grand double doors that led into the throne room. And there upon the throne was my old friend Kalten, and . . . what's this? A rather striking woman sitting next to him. She looked oddly familiar, but I could not place her in my memory. The two of us approached the couple and knelt onto one knee, almost simultaneously. "Your Majesty," I said.
"Rise, Khirk," he said. "Your resemblance to my dear friend is uncanny. Yet I happen to know that Manion had no children with my cousin, Ehlana." His eyebrows raised as he awaited an answer.
"Alas, you are correct, my liege. But I was a child born from Manion and a previous wife. Before he met the late Queen."
"A previous wife? I find it very hard to believe that my dearly departed friend would have married and not told me."
"Well at that time, I believe that he had thought it was wise to keep it from all including you. After all, it was while he was exiled to Lamorkland."
"Ah, that would explain it," he paused for a second. "Where are my manners? This is my Queen Dominique."
"Uh," I faltered a second. "This is my friend [pseudonym]"
The four of us moved to a more comfortable setting and enjoyed food and drink. It was fairly late, but we stayed up a bit talked....