Mercy

“It’s important to have a sense of mercy about these things,” she said stroking his hair. “It’s far too easy to be cruel when the world needs a tender touch.” Her hand stilled over his golden crown. She brushed his bangs away from his eyes. The young prince sat nestled in her lap. It had been too long without word from his father, the king, and the court grew worried about the coming burden the young boy faced if he failed to return.

Desandra sang a lilting tune filled with the peaks and valleys of hope and sorrow— she knew there were no words to comfort the creeping fears that came to the prince at night. Only momentary reprieves and gentle attention were cherished gifts now.

He worried her. As all gentle boys worry powerful mothers.

She worried about the cost of kindness. The burden an absent father placed on a family. An errant king from a kingdom.

She cursed him as she mourned the unrumpled sheets aside her in bed.

Mercy in rule and grace in judgement. Two qualities in short supply as they passed beyond the Age of Heroes.

***

Months had passed since the king had ridden to Malton Keep. He’d assembled a company after the courtier Amara failed to return. Something she’d never done before. Even with the adventures into the courts of the far east and hostile southern reaches. A mission to Malton Keep? One of the bastions of power for the king and his alliance? She should have been back within days. Now, the queen, felt on the verge of becoming the queen mother. Either way, it had to be her hand that steadied the court in Leon’s absence.

Desandra knew she had to send another company to seek out the king, but the last three had vanished without a trace. Something dark had hold of Malton Keep and no weak wrist-ed noble could wave her off about it. If she had to hear another whine about the royal coffers she’d melt down the coins in their purse and mask them with it. She shook herself at the sudden, vicious thought. She couldn’t raise Alden in sight of such acts and preach the necessity of kindness. She couldn’t keep him in sight at all if whatever dwell in the Keep were to advance to the capitol of Rania.