“Another time, brother,” she said, emphasizing the word brother .
He calmed at her words, and relaxed his guard.
Gwen turned to Tirus, determined to get this weasel out of her city.
“Kendrick is my true brother,” she said to Tirus. “He is as pure and true a brother to me as are all my siblings. And if he were to ask me for the kingship, I would gladly give it to him.”
She sighed.
“But it was my father’s wish that I should have it, and that is what Kendrick honors. That is what I honor, too, whether I cherish the role or not. You should honor your eldest brother’s wishes, too. He was a good and kind brother to you. Do you think it would please him to witness this now?”
Tirus stared back, and she could see his jaws continually clenching and unclenching. Clearly, he was in over his head and had not expected it to be this difficult.
“My brother cared for nothing but the throne,” Tirus said darkly. “And himself.”
“Is that why you tried to assassinate him?” Godfrey chimed in. “I remember that feast that night, in your castle. The poison meant for our father killed your own son.”
Tirus turned furious.
“I would give you a lashing boy, if I could.”
“It was your father who tried to poison ours,” a soldier, beside Tirus, called out. “That poison killed our brother.”
“I have only four sons now of the five, thanks to him,” Tirus added.
Gwendolyn looked closely at four of the soldiers standing beside Tirus, each with raised face visors, and she recognized them from her childhood. Her four cousins. They were all nearly the same age as her siblings, and she was surprised to see them all so grown up. They had become true knights. It was a shame they were sons to this man, because they had been good people once, as close as siblings.
“And what of your daughter?” Reece asked.
Tirus glared at him. Perhaps, in that glare, he recalled Reece’s affections for her.
“She lives, too,” he replied grudgingly.
“And is a daughter not worth mentioning then?” Gwendolyn asked. “Is that the sort of fairness you envision in your kingdom?”
Tirus scowled.
“Women are property,” he replied. “Your father was a fool to name you queen, to try to elevate women to more than what they are.”
Now it was Gwen’s turn to redden; but she forced herself to keep a calm head.
“I am Queen,” she said, “and there is nothing you can do about it.”
Tirus shook his head, and smiled for the first time, more of a sneer.
“Have you not seen my forces lined up outside your walls? I’ve twice the men you have. All hardened Upper Islemen. All who have lived outdoors their entire lives in the freezing rain and cold, who have slept on rocks, who have tasted no luxuries. All who are deathly loyal to me.”
“Yet another example of your kindness and fairness?” Godfrey asked wryly.
Tirus reddened, caught once again.
“These men will kill upon my command,” he continued. “I have given you a generous offer. I will give it once. Abdicate the throne to me, and I will let all of you will live. Defy me, and our men will crush yours. You have one night to decide. You will give me my answer at sunrise, or you will witness the final destruction of your city, and I will take the Western Kingdom by force.”
Tirus turned to go, but before he could, Gwendolyn stepped forward and called out:
“Uncle! You can have my answer now if you like.”
Tirus stopped and turned back to her, a satisfied look on his face. He smiled, as he clearly prepared to accept her acquiescence.
“You are but a bully and a coward,” she said. “My father looks down on you in disgrace. Do not ever enter these gates again. If you do, you will be met by an army of swords that will send you back to the Upper Isles in disgrace.”
His face dropped in shock, clearly not expecting such strength and defiance from a woman. He shook his head disapprovingly.
“You speak hastily,” he said. “That does not befit a ruler.”
“Indecision does not befit a ruler, either,” she retorted. “Nor, may I add, do greed and opportunism, especially when directed towards one’s own family.”
Tirus’ expression darkened.
“You are a young, foolish girl. Out of courtesy to your father I will give you one night to contemplate your ill-spoken words and have your advisors talk sense into you. I look forward to receiving your apology and surrender in the morning.”
Tirus turned with his entourage, re-mounted, and they all rode off. As they did, Gwen spotted a look on the faces of some of her cousins, as if they wanted to apologize for their father and be close to her, as they had when they were younger.
Their contingent soon rode out of view, passing through the gates of Silesia.
“Lower the gates,” Gwendolyn commanded.
Several soldiers rushed forward and pulled down the heavy iron portcullis. Soon, all that was left in the silent, inner courtyard were hoof prints in the dust.
Gwendolyn turned and looked at the others, as they did to her, all of them stunned in the morning silence.
“You did well,” Kendrick said. “You made our father proud.”
“He is a pig,” Reece said. “And a liar, and a braggart.”
“He always sought to dethrone our father,” Godfrey said. “Now that he is dead, and Andronicus on the way out, he sees an opening for the throne.”
“He has no legal right,” Aberthol said.
“But he has the men,” Srog observed wisely. “Of course, we can defend. And we will. Our city is meant to withstand a siege. But after the Empire attack, our defenses are severely weakened. He, unfortunately, chose the perfect moment, when we are weak and vulnerable.”
“What are the odds?” Gwendolyn asked.
Srog grimaced.
“We can hold back his ten thousand men,” he said. “For a time. We can kill quite a number of them. But we shall lose most of ours, eventually. Strategically, right now, we cannot afford a war. We need time to rebuild, to heal, to re-fortify. Strategically, the wisest military move would be to accept his offer.”
“Accept his offer!?” Godfrey said, outraged. “Have we then ousted Andronicus only to live as slaves to someone else?”
“What of Thor, and Mycoples?” Reece asked. “Are we forgetting them? Thor will return soon, after he has accepted Andronicus’ surrender, and we will have all the might we need to repel our MacGil cousins.”