Uprising In Gonjolard (Part 8) | Freewrite: 3/22/24 | Prompt: A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Part 7

Prince Gawdawfel of House Tallonz. He's a twisted, complicated soul bent on ruling over all he sees.

His deceased mother regrets her attempts to solicit the good in him failed. Now, she can only watch his destructive path from The Mirror of Secrets.

The former Queen backed away from Izohra. All she could do was now finished. She lowered her head and retreated deep inside the Mirror of Secrets, tears falling down her cheeks as she heard a loud knock on her son's door.

Izorah then disappeared from the Mirror of Secrets. Her services for the Crown on behalf of Prince Gawdawfel's mother were no longer required.

Unbeknownst to the prince, Lauryn of the Long Sword has set out for Gonjolard.

Will Gawdawfel heed his Izorah's warnings in spite of surprises that may be headed his way?

The knock at Prince Gawdawfel's door was swift. He allowed entrance to his trusted manservant, Arnaldo.

The only attendant who truly knew the mind and heart of his master, Arnaldo's heart ached as he stared beyond the prince to the Mirror of Secrets, for he alone knew his master's path to the throne wouldn't be an easy one.

The secrets Arnaldo held close had long been silenced. In the many years during his service to first the Queen, he hoped her son's path of vengeance would not return to him tenfold. Sources told Arnaldo of trouble on the day of Gonjolard's Festival.

Arnoldo's solution was to divert his attention to more pressing issues.

"Your king and court await, sire. The prisoners will be brought before you, ready for your swift and undeserving just judgment."

The prince stood waiting patiently as Arnoldo ushered in the groom and squire. Once dressed and decorated, Arnoldo led the procession for the prince's entrance into the great hall.

Meanwhile, in the dungeon under the castle, Alphonse paced while waiting to be presented before the Crown for sentencing. His clothing smelled of urine, and his sweaty palms mixed with the filth that had accumulated on the walls.

That he had already been judged and convicted wrongfully for his alleged part in the rebellion was of no consequence.

Lauryn stepped cautiously between the moist, soft verdant landscape that glistened in the twilight until she reached the edge of the garden. Had she not known the location of the secret entrance that led to the back of the castle, her meeting would not have been possible.

She paused, frozen upon hearing voices. As the footsteps came closer toward the light, she saw two palace guards. Instinctively, she grabbed for her long blade, but held her position and backed away into the shadows.

Unnoticed, she continued to hold her breath while her blade stood ready to relieve the guards of their heads. The element of surprise was in her favor.

Simon stood, glancing cautiously waiting for her arrival. Detection would mean certain death for them both. He too heard the guards. However, his reason for being in the vicinity of the dungeon wouldn't be questioned.

Instantly, he spotted movement in the brush. Lauryn rushed into his arms, and they hugged briefly.

"I was worried. Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Simon pleaded.

"I can handle myself, don't you ever forget. If not tonight, then never. The entire uprising depends upon this meeting." Lauryn wanted to say that she'd longed to see Alphonse for the past six months, but kept her distance.

But Simon knew his sister hadn't traveled this far to reach Gonjolard not to carry through with the plans of the SOB. And meeting Alphonse was the key.

In silence, they hurried down the path to the dungeon. Simon quickly unlocked the door. Only he was on duty after relieving the second guard.

Lauryn followed Simon closely and stood behind him as he unlocked Alphonse's cell.

Immediately, she stepped from behind.

Alphonse gasped, then quickly recovered. "How did you?" he wanted to ask with a frown on his face, but she covered his mouth with hers. She didn't even mind the grit on his face and odor as she kissed it repeatedly.

Simon bristled. Why didn't I know this? he thought. As he'd never seen them together, he also didn't understood their connection.

Alphonse pushed Lauryn away, but held her at arm's length.

"How can you stand that putrid smell? It's enough to kill a fella." She broke the silence and wanted to chuckle, as did he, but he continued to stare at her in the fading light of day.

"What are you doing here?" Alphonse questioned in a puzzled tone, shaking his head. "And Simon, why would he agree to bring you here? What's happening?"

"Vicar Tibost did not betray you. He kept you safe by having my brother capture you and keep you close." Lauryn was silent for a long moment unsure of how to explain.

Alphonse's stunned look wasn't lost on Simon. "Simon is your brother! And you call this being kept safe!" he seethed with agitation. He took a moment to compose himself, pushing his hair from his forehead.

"Yes, my brother is Simon. One of four. Our meeting last year didn't afford us time to get acquainted with family, if you remember." She flashed a half-knowing smile. "And our arrangement in the SOB is to keep our family outside of the group as safe as possible so the lords and the Crown won't know our connections. It's our code to safeguard each other and the SOB. Family is the weakest link in our plans. It's forbidden to tell them of our activities. The Crown send anyone suspected of aiding the SOB to debtor's prison."

Alphonse fell silent while absorbing this new information.

"So, Vicar Tibost sent you to explain his betrayal?" Lauryn felt his touch stiffen.

"Look, Alphonse, we don't have much time, and I've much to tell you."

"I'm listening. Whether I believe you is another issue," he responded tersely.

Lauryn knew she needed to convince Alphonse else the SOB's entire plan for the uprising in Gonjolard would be for naught. She started.

"Vicar Tibost had hoped you would forgive him for the deceit. Using you as barter for a diversion to carry the false rebellion plans to the Crown was a solid solution. As I've said, we all have a small part to play. And the least known of the other, the better to keep the entire rebellion intact."

"As you see, my brother works as a jailer. We have eyes and ears throughout the kingdom. Each of us has a role. We follows orders. That way, no one can reveal our plans if, God forbid, that person is captured and tortured on the rack or chained to the walls in the castle."

"You did deliver the correct information to Vicar Tibost. However, the vicar switched the plan and replaced it with false information, keeping the true document for himself. He made sure he gave the false document to you so that you could be captured by Simon with the information, with hopes you'd deliver the falsehoods to the Crown. If all goes well, the Crown will believe it, thus pursuing the rebellion in another direction tomorrow during the Festival."

"That Vicar Tibost used you to deliver false information to the palace as part of the SOB's plan, was crucial to the group's success. With the help of Simon, capturing and taking care of you ensured nothing happened before he could deliver you to the Crown."

Simon stood listening to all Lauryn set out.

"I'll now confide in you the information I shared with the SOB at their last meeting. I promised never to speak of my time in the castle, but now I must because I know its inner workings as I once lived behind its walls."

Shocked, Alphonse listened intently as Lauryn then told of all she'd divulged to the SOB. With his back to them, Simon also took in all she knew.

"Why were you chosen to deliver the plans to me?" Suspicion rose up, although he didn't want to believe Lauryn would betray him.

"Because you would trust no one else, especially after your meeting with Vicar Tibost. After divulging I knew the castle's secret's, they agreed, but no one knew of us. You have the most important role in this rebellion. You bring false plans to the King. You'll make them believable as leader of the SOB. The Crown wouldn't otherwise expect old villagers to have planned this so expertly."

Alphonse also listened intently as she told of her relationship with King Hartfelt and Prince Gawdawfel. What angered him the most was knowing that her father was sentenced to debtor's prison for his refusal to release her to the Crown. There he died despite her efforts to intervene on his behalf. "For that," Lauryn told Alphonse, "I had a date with the prince to collect his head."

Lauryn continued to outline the castle's secret rooms and guard positions around the castle. She then divulged news that Alphonse found useful.

"Prince Gawdawfel boasted of and confided secret information to me. I have seen it. The king ordered several small groups of soldiers at lookout points around the kingdom. I know of those areas where the SOB can draw them away from the castle during the Gonjolard Town Fair. Having you deliver false plans and guide them to a false location will divert the majority of the king's army, leaving the castle unguarded. Josiah, a member of the castle guard and secretly a member of the SOB accompanied me to find you. He stands ready to assist us tomorrow."

Lauryn stared into Alphonse's eyes.

"Were it not for your willingness to sacrifice yourself and bring the true plans to Vicar Tibost, we could not have spread the word to the west side of the country. Now the SOBs of the western front will be ready when you deliver the majority of the king's army into their hands and away from the Fair where the king and his son will preside. Only a small number of soldiers will be left to guard the castle. The eastern SOBs will ambush from that direction. Together with the townspeople, we will crush the Crown."

She leaned in closer.

"You won't face Gawdawfel alone. Not while I'm alive." Lauryn spoke softly as she pressed her head into Alphonse's chest.

He returned her gaze as her words penetrated his resolve.

The next instant, Lauryn was gone as swiftly as she came so that Simon could ready Alphonse.

They stepped out into the twilight. The plans for the rebellion was now in the hands of Simon, as evidence.

Alphonse was headed to the castle to be brought before the royal family of Tallonz, King Hartfelt and his son, Prince Gawdawfel, to answer for his crimes.

Fidgeting, King Hartfelt shuffled his feet and adjusted his crown as he waited his son's entrance. His eyes darted from one side of the grand room to the other, trying to gauge all dangers.

He wasn't naive to the fact that this proceeding would present the perfect opportunity for those anxious to cause trouble for the kingdom. Of special concern was the heightened hatred that had been brewing for years against his son.

The most important occasion in the crown's history was due to take place; that of delivering justice to the rebels.

Interrupting his thoughts were two large ornate doors that swung open. Immediately, Arnaldo announced the presence of Prince Gawdawfel of House Tallonz.

[to be continued.]

Welcome back to my freewrite prompt story for this week. The photo that is the subject of the story spoke to me about a person who is of a royal lineage.

Describe what you see.
A male in a prominent position of power or part of a royal family sits gazing in a mirror. A hand with long fingernails holds a dagger. His reflection reveals that he's excited or just admiring himself. Elegant drapery rests behind a vanity filled with several items that could be used in summoning spirits.

Describe what you feel.
With a lighted candle in his hand, the man could possibly be examining closely his features or altered appearance. I feel he is proud of himself for various reasons. Perhaps he is summoning a sorcerer before he leaves for battle.

Write a story or poem about what you think is going on. I leave with you my story for:

Original PIC1000 Challenge
A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words - 3/22/24

and

PIC1000 Challenge for thumbnail image
A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words - 4/5/24

^{Image used with permission of contest owner}