Chapter 68

 From the Editor's Desk:

Today was a day of celebration, for it was on this day that the Vinolian ships returned home. The Vinolian Gazette was there, standing among the crowds as the flagship sailed into harbor and the soldiers, one by one, filed down the gangplank in that orderly and disciplined fashion that is one of the signums of Her Majesty's troops. Last, but certainly not least, not setting foot on the stones of his homeland, before any of his men, came General Jerradin. Tall and imposing, he stood there, the very embodiment of the Vinolian warrior spirit; terrifying in battle, but magnanimous in victory. Shield to Vinoli and those whom she calls friend. Sword to her enemies.

As soon as the General had stepped ashore, members of the city-watch called out for the crowds to make way, as members of the council were approaching. Marcus, current leader of the council and Regent during the absence of our beloved Monarch, held a speech, the entirety of which has been reprinted within the pages of this publication, for the perusal of our readers. 

Once the esteemed Councilor had finished his speech, to thunderous applause, another member of the Council gave the band a signal and soon, the first tunes of our national anthem wafted through the air, followed by the sound of a thousand voices singing, some better than others, but each with the same conviction and the same intention: To honor the heroes who, at the risk of life and limb, have helped restore a rightful Prince to his throne and have helped spread our culture and our values beyond their own homeland.

Touching as this display of patriotism was, it paled compared to what followed: As soon as the last verse had been sung and the homecoming soldiers rushed into the waiting arms of their family. It was sight to bring a tear to the most cynical eye.

This Publication is printed with the approval of The Royal Bureau of Public Relations and our beloved Queen and Sovereign: Her Imperial Majesty, Argath I.

Vinoli Above All

****

Shifting his weight from one leg to the other, Jeraddin stifled a yawn and continued listening to Marcus' banal speech with only half an ear. He did not join in when the singing started. Had it been the old national anthem, he would have, but that one had died with the old King, replaced by a new one, that was not to the lynx's taste. Instead, to avoid being suspected of unpatriotic behavior, he simply mimed the words instead. Fortunately, no-body noticed. 

Finally, the ceremony came to an end and the soldiers and their families dispersed, either heading home, or out on the town to celebrate their homecoming. Jeraddin was about to head home as well, when he found his path blocked by several representatives of various government-approved papers. They swarmed around the lynx, waving their notebooks and quills, each of them trying to get his attention.

Jeraddin sighed, he was really not in the mood for this. Still, best to give the press what it wants, but on his own terms:

"Quiet" he said, in an authoritative tone. 

Immediately, they noise stopped. 

"Now then, I will answer one question" Jeraddin held up his index-finger for emphasis. "From one of you." His finger swept over the scribes and landed on the youngest among them; a chipmunk.

The Chosen Scribe stepped forward, trying to keep the butterflies in his stomach from fluttering. 

"Um...." He began, eloquently.

"Go ahead" Jeraddin said, encouragingly. "Ask your question."

 The Chipmunk took a deep breath, the butterflies stopped.

"General" he said, after having cleared his throat. "You have just returned after a long campaign overseas. What are you going to do now?"

"As soon as I get back home, I'm going to take a bath. Afterwards, we'll see. Though I can say that I will enjoy sleeping in my own bed again. Now, if you'll excuse me."

At a gesture from Jeraddin, the scribes parted like the red sea, allowing the lynx to pass. Soon, he was back on the street where he lived, looking up at his home. Never before had the town-house looked as welcoming to Jeraddin as it did this very moment.

"Well" he said to himself. "I suppose absence really does make the heart grow fonder."

He pushed open the door and went inside.

****

Another figure returned to Vinoli that day, albeit on a different ship than the one Risha's and Leorin's father and Nasari's husband had been travelling on. No friends or family members had gathered at the harbor to welcome this traveler home, nor was he mobbed by scribes. He was all alone and this suited him fine. 

Making his way through the crowds, the solitary figure eventually found himself outside the palace-gates. Boldly, he stepped forward.

"Halt!" Said one of the guards currently on duty. "No-one enters without permission!"

"Oh, but I have permission" Salsky announced, with a smirk."See here."

Reaching into the folds of his cloak, the water-rat produced a passcard, stamped with the Royal seal. 

"Very well" the first guard said, after having inspected the card carefully. "You may enter."

"Thank you" Salsky said. He was just about to set foot on the palace-grounds, when he stopped and turned to the guard.

"By the way" he said. "I have a message to deliver to someone named Lorenzo. You wouldn't know where I can find him, by any chance?"

Before she had embarked on her journey to Guanaca, Argath had gathered the members of her Council and had given them instructions on how her Kingdom should be governed, while she was away. She also gave Lorenzo instructions to keep an eye on the Councilors and make sure that none of them took any unauthorized initiatives.

Many who found themselves in Lorenzo's position would have been tempted to promote it, from temporary to permanent, but not Argath's right paw. Whatever flaws in his character the fox possessed, disloyalty was not one of them. He was loyal to his friends and he was loyal to his Queen and mentor. Not the least because, in exchange for that loyalty, she provided him with all the money and power he could want. 

He was busy going over reports from his various spies in the capital, when one of the palace-guards entered, with a shabby-looking water-rat in tow.

"Sir" the guard said, saluting. "This soldier says that he has an important message for you."

"That's right" Salsky interjected. "From the Queen herself."

"Give the letter to him" said Lorenzo, pointing at the guard. 

Salsky did as he was told and the guard handed the letter over to Lorenzo.The Fox opened the letter and read its contents. Once he was done, he looked up.

"Return to your post" he said to the guard. "I wish to speak to him (he pointed at Salsky), alone."

The Guard saluted and left the room.  Once they were alone, Lorenzo motioned for Salsky to come closer.

"Have a seat, soldier" Lorenzo said, motioning to the chair intended for visitors.

Grateful, for his feet was beginning to ache, Salsky sat down.

"Her Majesty speaks well of you, um..."

"Salsky, Sir."

"A Frigonian name. Interesting."

"I'm Frigonian  only by birth, In my heart I am Vinolian".

"Of course. Our Queen wants me to take you into my service, as a member of the Bureau of Information Gathering. She believes you can be of more use to Vinoli there than in the army."

Salsky said nothing, but his stomach did and quite loudly at that.

"Hungry?" Lorenzo asked, raising the eyebrow located above his good eye. "Listen, there are some formalities that need to be taken care of. Go down to the kitchen and have them feed you, then return here."

"Yes, Sir" Salsky said eagerly, getting off the chair. "Thank you, Sir."

As soon as Salsky had left, Lorenzo picked up the letter and read it through one more time. Here's what it said:

I have learned that my sister and Jeraddin's brood did not drown as we had been told, but are still alive. Should the subversive elements within the Kingdom find out about this, it may well embolden them to start a revolution. Keep your eyes open. I know not of the whereabouts of Merees, but if by chance she would find a way back into Vinoli, make sure to deal with her before she has the opportunity to cause any mischief. 

I grow weary playing in the sandbox that is Guanaca. I have appointed Felix as the new Governor and shall return to Vinoli shortly, bringing my consort with me. 

-Argath.

The Rest of the letter detailed what Lorenzo had already told Salsky. Once he had finished reading it, the fox crumpled the letter into ball and tossed it in a nearby waste-basket.