The Crown: A Tale of Blood, Women and Wine

By Jacques Nazaire

This story which is part novel and part play was written in the year 1999. The setting is the dark ages approximately 800 AD. The theme of this story regards integrity, loyalty and promises. We are introduced to a now bitter officer who makes a promise to a king, not for himself but for the love of his friends. This story includes violence, nudity, foul language and touchy subjects however at the end it is simply a story about making a promise and keeping it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 31, 2010
• ISBN: 9781426936449

Jacques Nazaire

Jacques Nazaire is a real estate developer. He begin writing short stories at the age of ten (10). While Jacques attended Junior high school in Chicago, he begin writing war themed plays. while in High School, Jacques continued writing plays but also wrote articles for the school newspaper, whereupon he served as an editor as well. While attending college, Jacques begin writing novels. He had completed five novels by the time he graduated college. In 20110, Jacques penned this story "The Crown" which is part novel and part screenplay. Realizing that technology is changing and that soon every child will have an e-book reader, Jacques decided to finally publish this play on line.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

In the midst of the dark ages, there were events, battles, individuals and their stories which went unrecorded and some that were barely recorded. The events which lead to the following story begin at approximately 757 A.D. We will start at the battle of Surrey.

The battle started at Surrey Field and spread into the Surrey cemetery. It was a very dark night. The primary source of lighting came from flaming arrows as they pierced thorough the flesh of many young soldiers. If an arrow didn’t injure a young soldier, a sword or spear might. The battle was fierce and evenly fought up to this point. What provoked this battle was an invasion by a large force from Francia. This was a battle for land. This was the era of Feudalism and land was key. Britannia was quickly becoming a rich and powerful nation. During the night of this battle, the invaders wore dark brown armor. The force from Britannia, on the other hand, were fitted in shiny blue armor, from head to toe.

In the middle of the battle field stands a young brave lieutenant, Kent. His unit has been separated from the rest of Britannia’s Southern Regional Brigade. The night is dark but you can still see the shine in Kent’s blue eyes as they match his shiny blue armor. His metal headgear has been knocked off in battle but he fights on. He has a handsome face. The young women in his town have always spoken of how he is as pretty as a girl. Tonight his face still manages to be pretty even in the heat of battle. The sweat sliding off his brows brings a glistening to his eyes that creates an even greater glare through the night. As for his men, they are separated from the rest of their brigade and therefore are uncertain of how the war is going. There is a shadow of confidence that looms around them since they have a track record of victory. Nevertheless, there is also a cool air of fear sipping through the shadows. The separation from the rest of the army means more importantly a separation from the upper leadership. Leadership is the single most important thing in Britannia. Tonight, the upper ranking leaders of the army are not near and as such, Lieutenant Kent realizes that if the battle turns dire, the only thing that may separate his men from death is he. Nevertheless, the young Lieutenant continues to have confidence in his men but more importantly, his men continue to have confidence in him. Naturally the voices keep calling.

SERGEANT #1: Lieutenant Kent, help. Help me sir.

SERGEANT #2: Help me sir, please.

The dashing young lieutenant scrambles to aid his men during this chaotic night as each become in need.

CORPORAL # 1: Help lieutenant.

SERGEANT #3: (after being aided) Thanks lieutenant.

Lieutenant Kent is able to help many of his men, but as he moves onward, he notices the evil which is approaching. The leader of the enemy, Count Thingfrith, was slicing and stabbing a number of his men. Kent runs towards the Count in an attempt to stop the terror. Arrhh exclaims the young lieutenant as he charges on foot towards the deadly horseman. The Count however knocks down the young lieutenant with his sword. The lieutenant’s mind races. How can this be? He is an officer trusted to lead his men to victory and more importantly lead his man safely. There is a promise made from the crown to officer, from officer to the crown. More problematic to this young man is the promise made to the families of his young soldiers. Unlike the public oath made the crown, there is an unspoken promise between all good officers and the families who send their loved ones to war. How can he let down the mother who sends her only son, the young child who waits for his father or the young lady who wishes to once more kiss the only lover that she has ever had? How can he break this unspoken promise to these families? Everyone knows that it is the officer who is responsible for the men’s clothing, food and livelihood. So, how can he fail his men now? There is no higher virtue in Britannia than to be a successful leader. Tonight, will he be sinner or saint? Will he be a failure or a success? He must not only try, but he must save as many soldiers as he possibly can. He must get up.

As the Lieutenant scrambles to his feet, the Count quickly kills two more of his men. This is not only problematic but it is also irritating to the young lieutenant.

KENT: You will kill no more!

In spite of those words, Lieutenant Kent can do little as he is no match for the Count, the powerful and experienced leader of this enemy. Kent cannot stop him. The horseman quickly knocks the lieutenant back down with his sword creating a deep wound on Kent’s left arm.

COUNT: I will not kill you just yet. I want you to witness the death of all your men.

KENT: Never!

To his horror, Lieutenant Kent sees the Count kill a few more of his men and yells.

KENT: Run men. Run and save yourselves.

As Kent’s men run in attempt to escape, the Count chases on horseback. Kent, out of desperation, races in front of the Count’s horse, latches on and hugs the horse’s legs, which causes the horse to fall upon him. The effect of this slows down the horse but unfortunately crushes the wall of Kent’s chest as well. The horse slowly gets back on all fours, with the Count on top. The Count intends to continue on the carnage but not before taunting the injured lieutenant.

COUNT: You have slowed me down but you will not prevent me from destroying your men. Your men can no longer defend themselves. Look how they run. You see? You see?

While still lying on the ground and holding his injured chest, Kent proudly shouts.

KENT: Yes. I see. I see the general. It’s General Goode.

CORPORAL #2: Hey it is General Goode. That’s him up there. He has arrived. He’s found us.

At the backdrop of the moonlight and on top of a small hill everyone can see the General. General Goode, who is the leader of the Southern Regional Brigade (The Blue Brigade), is perched upon his great white horse. He pierces down and manages to make eye contact with the Count. The Count acknowledges the general with a nod of the head and charges towards him with his weapon in hand. General Goode, dressed in the shiniest of blue armor and also with a sword in his hand charges towards the Count. The soldiers on both sides of the battlefield hold their breaths in anticipation of the outcome as the two leaders continue on a collision course towards each other. Finally, the two leaders clash. A split second later, as everyone looks on, the Count’s upper torso falls off the horse as apparently, he has been dismembered by the General. The rest of the Count’s soldiers run away. With the Count’s blood dripping from his sword, General Goode valiantly raises it into the air to signify victory.

SERGEANT #1: You’ve done it again sir. You’ve done it again.

CORPORAL #1: Thank the all mighty for General Goode.

The General leaps off of his horse and approaches Lieutenant Kent.

GOODE: Lieutenant, how are you?

KENT: I won’t make it Sir.

GOODE: You have fought well young man.

KENT: No sir. I wasn’t able to stop him. He killed many of my men. They called for help and I wasn’t able to stop him.

GOODE: You did well young man. You have served your men well. You were able to slow down the enemy until I arrived. Without your leadership, your entire unit would have been annihilated. You are a true leader. I am proud to have had you in my command.

KENT: Thank you sir. I understand what you are saying. Now, I feel that I can die with pride.

CHAPTER 2

The war is over. We are now in the Kingdom of Britannia. At the royal palace, in a circular gold bathtub sits the young Prince, Ira. He is in the midst of his morning bath. Surrounding his tub is the usual group of beautiful female servants assigned to him (Emma, Lucy, Cindy and Amy). As Amy, the bath maid scrubs the young prince’s back, his mind dwells on one thing. No, not his gorgeous female servants, but rather the accomplishments of his so called men and any pomp and circumstances that may be associated with the same. Because of Ira’s youth, he is not concerned so much with women or the joys of being in control of them. He, like many boys his age, thinks of action and adventure. As was young Ira’s reputation, he was less concerned with beauty pageants and more concerned with military pageantry as well as being a member of the royal family. Ira was less into taking advantage of people and more into demonstrating the advantages of being a prince. Nevertheless today he was quite anxious.

IRA: Let’s not dilly dally ladies. You know we can’t take too long with this bath stuff this morning.

EMMA: Oh no?

IRA: I’m sorry but No.

LUCY: What’s so special about this morning your highness?

CINDY: Yeah. I’d like to know what the special occasion is.

IRA: Must you really ask? Don’t you know that we’ve won the war? My men are expecting to meet with me.

AMY: (Sarcastically) To discuss strategy with you nonetheless you highness?

IRA: No. No. No. It’s so that I can congratulate and commend them on a job well done. That’s the least I can do considering that I didn’t help them fight.

The servants are amused by the prince’s words as they usually are; so for further amusement they press on.

CINDY: What happened, your dear highness? Were you late for the war?

IRA: You know darn well what happened?

LUCY: It was past your bedtime?

The women chuckle.

IRA: That’s not funny.

LUCY: I’m sorry your highness. You know I love you to death but seriously, you did not expect to fight in the war?

IRA: You know the only reason I didn’t go is because father wouldn’t let me.

EMMA: Don’t you think that he has a point?

IRA: Just because I am ten years old doesn’t mean that I’m too young. A person is never too young to do his job. Mother once told me that leaders are not man-made. They are gifts from God. A gift such as that is given to a nation through the concept of birth. I was born to be a leader. What kind of a leader doesn’t go to war?

LUCY: Well your father was wise enough to stay here and defend the castle.

IRA: He only stayed because he’s ill. Everyone knows that he’s sick so that excuses him. Everyone also knows that I’m not sick and that doesn’t look good.

AMY: Think of it this way your highness. Why would you want to go into battle surrounded by smelly, sweaty, hairy old men when you can stay here with us?We cook and clean for you; we cater to your every need. What else can you want?

IRA: With father being the way he is, I want to take care of my men.

LUCY: If you’re out taking care of your men, then who would take care of us?

CINDY: Yeah. Don’t you know we need a strong brave fellow like you to take care of us?

IRA: I don’t know how to explain this to you but since you are only women you may not understand so I’ll just say this. You dames are my favorite people but umm. You see umm. It’s very simple. I’m a prince. The guards, the men out there dressed in the golden yellow uniforms, they are very capable of protecting you dames. You can feel safe with them. But when it comes to my high ranking officers, only I can make them feel safe.

EMMA: That’s General Goode’s job and I heard his not too bad at it.

IRA: You don’t understand. There is a world out there beyond this castle and beyond this kingdom. That’s what father always says. There is an entire country that I need to take care of because I will be king one day. General Goode is not the king and he never will be.

AMY: Oh please stop it your highness, stop this talk of wars and politics. Please, don’t you know that we would just die if anything were to happen to you? I’m serious. Anyway the war is over and hopefully there won’t ever be another one. Please talk no more of war.

IRA: Ok, ok. Hey where’s that wonderful little sister of mine?

Enters the nanny, Alice.

ALICE: Your highness. Irene is already dressed and prepared for breakfast. We are just waiting for you. By the way, the generals have arrived.

IRA: Excellent!

CHAPTER 3