“Gaillard!” a voice called from below a vine-covered arches.
“Your Grace.”
King Lovell, in truth, had none of his younger sibling’s charm and dignity. About one head shorter than him, he had become fatter and fatter over the years, to the point that few horses could bear him now. Blonde, almost white hair fell softly on his sagging cheeks.
“The pig is dead” he finally spat. “You know who I am talking of ; Maertijn, the baron Beaumaris.”
Gaillard hesitated an instant.
“He will need to be replaced.”
“He will need to be buried. Or maybe not. I was of a mind to dismember his body and expose him on a butcher’s hook.”
“That would be unwise, brother” Aveline's husband sighed
“Unwise?”
“Whatever his faults he was regent during your minority, and as king regnant you confirmed him as your advisor. To disavow him now would be to renege your own policy and ultimately to question your own authority.”
“He was the one standing against my authority, don’t you remember?”
“I do, but what I am trying to explain…”
The king started to pace relentlessly, his fat face red with anger.
“I want people to understand what fate my enemies can expect.” he blurted. “I want people to fear me!”
“So be it then.” Gaillard shrugged. “But I doubt people would fear you for striking your own men after their death. Many will actually see that as a sign of weakness.”
“So you are on his side, against me?”
“What…”
Without notice the king punched his brother with all his strength. His fury made him faster than anybody would have expected from a man of his girth, stronger also. Before Gaillard could react he landed a second blow on his chest, slamming him against the wall, and closed his heavy hand around his neck.
“I asked you a question. Did you betray me with Maertijn?”
“Are you…” Gaillard began in disbelief, then something in his brother’s eyes made him stop.
“How can I trust you? How can I go to war and give you a command, knowing that you wait for but an opportunity to betray me? You always have, uh? Answer me.”
“I am your brother, Lovell. I have always been faithful to you! How can you doubt it?”
As suddenly as he had struck Lovell let go and stepped away like a drunken man. When he faced Gaillard again his eyes were full of tears.
“Nobody likes me” he said. “Truly a king has no friend. I am… Forgive me, brother.”
Gaillard did not answer for a while.
“They are all traitors. I will show them who I am.” Lovell went on. “All of them! Beginning with that bastard Beaumaris.”
As he sat on a stone bench he did not seem to notice Gaillard stood away from him.
“Do you forgive me?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” The king slobbered. “I will leave tomorrow for Castel Saint-Jacques. Will you come with me?”
His brother hesitated.
“Yes. Yes, I think I will. If you would have me at your side.”
“Good.”
“I will give some instructions to my stewards then.”
As the two brothers parted neither noticed that Aveline had been looking at them from the balcony.