toward the young officer. “Ah, Captain Kyle, nice to see you. You look no worse for wear. To answer your question, yes, it’s good to be back. I want you to know I will see you are rewarded for your efforts. Without you and my men, it would have been a much more difficult return to Turill. ” The duke turned away from his captain and gazed at the crowd of people that had turned out to see their Prince’s return. The civilians had begun to disperse and return to their daily activities.
Greyson could tell the old man was planning as he watched the men and women of Bandara carrying on with their lives. The duke’s mind was seldom at rest, he looked at every situation to find how he could make it benefit him. Greyson wished he had the duke’s insight. If he had he would be far more than a captain now.
“Greyson, I want you to bring a small group of our men and follow me.”
“Where to, my lord?”
“We need to go see the King. He is out of sorts and I have just the thing to set his mind at ease.” Greyson looked at the duke quizzically as he called for a squad of his best men.
***
Cain was sitting on the throne, he had tried to quell his anger but the more he thought about his sister, the angrier he got. He imagined wrapping his hands around her delicate throat and strangling the life from her. Prince Cain. How dare the people call him “Prince”? He was King, his birthright had been stole from him, were they too stupid to see that? They had readily accepted her as Queen. She had always been the people’s favorite, and she exploited that every chance she got. Raygan had gotten her way once again. “By God, it will be the last time,” Cain muttered through gritted teeth.
“May I have a word, Majesty?” William Blackthorn asked as he walked into the throne room. The self-proclaimed King had been so engrossed in his plans for revenge, he hadn’t heard the duke come in.
Cain motioned the duke in. He recognized the man with Blackthorn as the duke’s Captain Greyson Kyle, the man who had betrayed his sister. He was going to have the man charged with treason, but perhaps he should have him promoted instead. “What do you want William? I’m not in the mood for any nonsense.”
The duke put his hands behind his back. “I wanted to talk about your sister and those traitors out there calling you Prince Cain. I think the people of Bandara have forgotten who their King is. They have made it clear where their loyalties lie, sire. They have chosen Raygan over you.”
Cain gripped the arms of the throne. “Just what do you suggest I do, Duke Blackthorn? My sister has run away, she is not here to deal with. If she were, I promise you she would answer for her treachery.”
The duke raised his eye brows. “No, your sister is not here, but the people who support her are. Believe me, Majesty, if your sister returns, we will have a problem. We have spoken about this before and what must happen regarding your sister. I have asked the Lord Justice to help us, but if his agents fail, we must be in control of the streets of Turill. We can’t deal with Raygan right at the moment, but the people can be taught a lesson now. They must learn who has the power in Bandara.”
Cain threw his arms in the air. “What would you have me do, hang them?”
“Why yes, Majesty, that is exactly what advice I would give.”
Cain slowly lowered his arms. The young Prince was shocked by the duke’s response. He thought for a moment, tapping his finger on the arm of the throne. No ruler of Bandara had ever done anything like that in the history of the Kingdom.
“Do you always want to be Prince Cain? If your sister escapes Havalon, do you want to serve her? The people are the key, you must show them who wields the power of the phoenix throne. Majesty, Bandara is your birthright, will you stand by and see it torn from your grasp?” The duke shook his head and shrugged. “Perhaps you will be satisfied to be known as the Phoenix Queen’s brother.”
“Have it done,” Cain shouted.
“Captain Kyle, if you would be so kind. I know this is a tough order, but see one thousand citizens