Del Muero

estates to him, and he got rid of three more members of the royal family with rights to contend for the throne. He chuckled as he recalled their whimperings and beggi

ng hard on his estate. In a few days he would be done with the women and the queen

red to intrude on his privacy in this manner except the queen. She

it, Gon

ue the trial of the rebels? I assure you that

ighed, 'What exac

decision about

o do with them you wi

quickly. In the meantime, permit me to have them f

quired them only last week. Besides you are

eas of the type of fun I want. Give

now let things re

outcome will not be good if you continue keeping

even remotely associated with the uprisings whether they were members of the council, members of the royal family or lords of the provinces were put to death with their entire family and their estates confisicated by the crown. The ruthlessness with which he dealt with the up

dus called for his

rip to the Slovian Mount

nan bowed low, but

Lifardus asked

or that day and you said that it was very important and that it

. Is t

our ma

s week. Next week then, or the week after. But

rised to see the guard from the previous night still hanging by h

ching the queen's cham

aside. Gonterote was

maids in attendance

, she greeted

ueen's table. 'Aren't you

t y

hands behind his back. The place was n

esty in need

to the Slovian prisons soon. Prepare to meet me at Ildron in a

our ma

him to the source of the threat. Gonterote came out a few minutes later with some of her attendants following him as he walked towards a guardsroom at the far end of the royal council hall. She knew that he never moved about carelessly or acted withou

ising,

is yet unconfirmed, but there is news that an u

he northern pa

gnment. I picked up the news from some fellow gu

t think to inform me

our majesty and stoppe

s

he heard her snort at the guard'

is you

esty', he replied

ifardus tur

nterote ordered pointing at th

snickered at the king. Lifardus was shocked beyond words. T

his tongu

cut him to little pieces. Do it so slowly that it will take him a long, long time to die.

shock. If nothing at all, the behaviour of the guard confirmed the truth of the rumour, and that he thought

far

was a very serious matter. Dismissing all the attendan

t the othe

them

lo

this matter will b

then she sighed. 'Then I will pr

t y

nderstand.

north instead. I will han

m? Bring them

ad turning to fa

om their city and being them here. Whatever you intend to do to them s

Don't be late for tomor

ntime, I will see to this Sant

ctually dared to snicker at him and to make faces at the queen. This forebode trouble. If he was going to handle this tomorrow he had to

opposition against his orders. So he had finally decided to rebel. He chuckled. He thought over Gonterote's suggestion. It was an aggressive move, but the impact would not spread as quickly as he wanted. He would despatch the army

uch that he lost sleep over it. He lay still for a moment and then rolled out of bed. He took his time preparing for the council meeting. His intention was to keep the council members waiting for a while so as to catch them off guard with an unannounced entrance. It struck

send for

your m

rst Command of the king's army, Bearon, and was well known for his brutality. A

out your message, your majesty. Commander Aurel

ime. Let's be

nutes. Soon the hall was quiet. Lifardus looked around. Twelve council members. Their numbers were greatly reduced and so was their influence. Gonterote came in a moment later and

are uprisings

knees swearing that there were no uprisings in their citie

rgescale, so much so that it gives some conf

a chance to prove their innocence as there was

Each of you will send me your last child along with their bequeathed inherita

ain even that none would ever see their child again, but it was either send the child t

. It is confirmed that the

ing in Merode. No one in my city would dare to go aga

e futility of his pleadings so he

l be a joint council meeting in a wee

the council members. The guards led Lord Blas to one of the cells behind the royal council hall where prisoners whose case was to be judged before the

eft the royal city to Merode under the cover of darkness. He had to bring the

s when Hernan came to announce the arrival of commander

maje

n a few day's time. In a week's time, present yourself at th

your m

may l

s he left the k

d their lord. If Aurelio was to march agains