The Marenon Chronicles Collection - By Jason D. Morrow Page 0,159

would not come as a surprise to anyone waiting for him on the outside that he had died, exposed to the weather. Perhaps his wife would think that the heat got to him. No. Daniel had done nothing to deserve this fate, and too much of his life in Marenon had already been taken away from him. It was time for Daniel to go home.

“You’re free to go to your wife,” Julian said. “You can go there and stay.”

Daniel’s eyes widened and he pulled himself up to his feet. “Are you the one responsible for my imprisonment?”

“No,” Julian said. “I only learned of it today. I am the Human King of Marenon, Julian Hobbes.” He motioned to Robin. “This is the captain of the Royal Guard. We’ve come to release you.” Julian took a deep breath, disappointed. He thought he had finally found the proof of the council’s deception, but he had nothing.

“All I ask is that you answer some questions about who brought you here,” Julian said.

Daniel scratched at his long beard, no doubt filled with fleas. “Do you think I can get a bath?”

Of course, Julian thought. He had been so thoughtless. How could he just start asking a man who had been wrongfully imprisoned for two years to sit under the questioning of a king he had never heard of? The man had not even flinched at the declaration of the king standing in front of him. He didn’t care. The man just wanted a bath and a shave before he met his wife in his newfound freedom.

“Wilkes, make sure the man gets a new set of clothes, a bath and a clean shave,” Julian said.

Wilkes nodded and took Daniel away while Julian and Robin waited just outside of the prison complex. There was a set of chairs normally used by a few guards, but they were obliged to allow the king and Robin to rest undisturbed. Julian looked at Robin, knowing something was on the man’s mind, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear it. But Julian knew he needed to listen to people around him more. He was too self-reliant.

Begrudgingly he asked Robin what was on his mind.

Robin didn’t answer for along moment, obviously trying to choose his words carefully.

“I just wonder,” he said, “what is your plan? I doubt Daniel has much more to say. You aren’t going to try to get the memory orb are you?”

Julian couldn’t believe his ears. “What do you take me for, Robin? Do you think I’m a savage?”

“Of course not, Sire! I just don’t know what is to be done. It’s such a delicate matter.”

“Robin, you have known me for along time. Please do not take me for a cold-blooded killer. You know that I could not do it.”

“What if he was a true criminal? A murderer perhaps?”

Julian looked at the man, surprised by his bold questions.

“I hope I have not overstepped my boundaries,” Robin added humbly.

“You have,” Julian answered. “But to answer your question, I really don’t know. That sort of information may very well be worth the life of a criminal, but I can’t justify it being worth the life of an innocent man.” Julian stared at no spot in particular. “Even if it could save the lives of thousands.”

The two sat silently for nearly an hour. Daniel was no doubt taking his time getting clean and trimmed for his wife. When he came out from his bath, he was dressed in fresh clothes and he looked like a completely different person. His sunken eyes and emaciated frame still showed that he had been a victim of a terribly long and uncomfortable imprisonment, however. Julian and Robin stood to greet him, and probably for the first time in two years, Daniel was smiling with true joy. He walked to Julian and fell down to his knees, muttering over and over his thanks and appreciation for what Julian had done for him. Julian glanced at Robin feeling awkward. Robin grinned.

“Please, stand,” he told Daniel. “You don’t need to thank me.”

Daniel stood reluctantly and wiped a few tears away from his now bare cheeks. His clear blue eyes were bright with anticipation. “You must meet my wife. She must know the man…the king that saved my life.”

Julian started to protest, but Daniel wouldn’t hear it.

“Please. You must be a great king. My wife is a wonderful cook. She will make you the best, heartiest meal in all of Marenon.”

“I imagine you two will be wanting alone