Queen Maisy & the Foreign Nobles

By Robert Collins

Maisy, the Witch Queen of Hatham, has a visitor to her court: Young King Roland of the Midmark Lands. His visit widens Maisy’s world, so she seeks to go abroad to visit his domain. What she learns there will have an impact upon her rule, Roland’s family, and her former rival, the former King of Farrengir.

Maisy will need both her wits and her magic to thrive as “The Witch Queen.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Collins
• Release date: Feb 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463652916

Robert Collins

Two people with different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities met at a European and Balkan music and dance ensemble named Koroyar and their lives became intertwined, combining their gifts to continue exploring life as an avenue of creative expression. Robert Collins has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, and has been an educator in the Los Angeles area for thirty years. He studied writing with Joan Oppenheimer in San Diego, with Cork Millner privately, and also in the Santa Barbara Writer's Conferences. Elizabeth Herrera Sabido, at the age of sixteen years, began working as a secretary at the Secretaria de Industria y Comercio in Mexico City where she was born, then she was an educator for twenty-six years, and a teacher of international dance for The Los Angeles Unified School District. She has also studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, and is a Reiki Master Teacher. Attracted by the Unknown, the Forces of the Universe, and the human psyche, during their lives they have studied several different philosophies. Elizabeth has been involved with various religions, Asian studies, and Gnosticism with SamaelAun Weor, and Robert has explored spiritual healing practices in Mexico, and studied with Carlos Castaneda's Cleargreen and Tensegrity. Elizabeth and Robert start their day at four-thirty in the morning. They enjoy playing volleyball and tennis, and in the afternoons play music, alternating between seven different instruments each. Their philosophy of Personal Evolution has led them to explore over 110 countries between the two of them such as Japan, Nepal, Egypt, Bosnia- Herzegovina, the Philippines, Turkey,Russia, etc.

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QUEEN MAISY & THE FOREIGN NOBLES

The Witch Queen, Book 4

by

Robert Collins

Ebook Edition

Copyright © 2020 by Robert Collins

License Notes, eBook edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

Who asks to speak to the Royal Court this day, Captain? Queen Maisy asked Captain Samuel.

His Lordship, Duke Aldous of Alnheim, Samuel answered. Escorting him is Ambassador Gerhard, representative of His Majesty, King Ruprecht the Third.

Bring them before us, Captain.

Samuel bowed and stepped out of the Royal Reception Room.

Spring was clearly in the air at Hatham Castle. To Maisy that had always meant the end of the dull colors of winter. The grays and browns would be replaced, little by little, by an explosion of color. Greens in the trees and on the grass; yellows, whites, and reds of the various flowers; and a grand mix of colors from the returning birds. Everyone was happy they’d survived the cold and the snow. Everyone was happy to be able to move about again. Everyone was just happy.

But since coming to the castle to claim her inheritance, first as Princess and now as Queen, spring meant something more. It was the time when the visitors to the castle started to return. Dukes from her own kingdom, nobles from other lands, and all manner of ordinary folk began to trek to the Reception Room. There would be requests for aid, reports from various and sundry, and the obligatory social calls to earn a little favor from The Witch Queen.

It was one of the many aspects to Royal life that nipped at her. Things such as this were never mentioned in ballads or stories. There was romance, adventure, and sometimes tragedy. There was never the hard work of governing.

Which is no doubt why no one mentions in, she mused. No one, King or peasant, wants to sing about their drudgery.

Samuel returned a moment or two later with two men behind him. Both were on the tall side of average. Both had fair hair, though the Ambassador’s was a shade darker than the other man. As they approached Maisy noticed that the other man’s blue eyes were a contrast to the light brown eyes the Ambassador had.

That was not the only contrast between the men. Maisy knew Ambassador Gerhard as a roundish man fond of good food and good drink. The man with him was dressed as well as Gerhard, but his figure was far more than of a warrior. He was broad-shouldered, with sturdy arms and legs. That the man appeared to be as old as her father impressed Maisy all the more.

Samuel and the two guests bowed to Maisy. The new man took a step towards her and knelt down. Your Majesty, Gerhard said, I desire to present to you His Lordship, Duke Aldous of Alnheim.

Maisy nodded to the Ambassador, then turned to the Duke. Your Lordship, welcome to Hatham Castle. My Royal Court also welcomes you. She waited for the men and women around her to bow their heads in respect. Rise, Your Lordship, and tell me what brings you here.

The Duke came to his feet. I have come on behalf of His Majesty, King Ruprecht the Third of Alnheim, Walbrecht, Golsheim, Saxinheldt, and the Dukedom of Mutterheldt. While his tone was friendly, his command of the language of Hatham sounded poor.

The list of lands the King ruled over was a puzzle the first time Maisy had heard it from Gerhard. He explained to her a little of the history of the Midmark Lands so she would understand the array of domains one King commanded.

The Midmark Lands had never been tamed by the Empire of Fire. At that time it had been the domain of uncivilized tribes speaking the same language, known in the present simply as the Mark Tongue. Some of those tribes had raided the Empire of Fire, while members of others served the Emperors. When the Empire fell the tribes took lands for their own. In time the lands became proper dukedoms and kingdoms as they embraced God and became civilized.

The Midmark Lands, as these domains came to be known, were as yet not united under a single ruler, unlike Hatham or Farrengir. Some were organized into an alliance. King Ruprecht’s grandfather had begun to assemble his own domain through marriage. His son and grandson had expanded on the holdings through marriage and a conquest. Maisy’s husband, Prince Tomaso, told her the speculation in the Royal Court of Domatia was that Ruprecht hoped his heir would further expand their domain, with the goal of one day creating a proper Kingdom of Mark.

I pray His Majesty asked you to bring good tidings, Your Lordship, Maisy replied.

The Duke whispered to the Ambassador.

Ambassador, if His Lordship is not comfortable speaking our language, you may translate between us, Maisy told them.

The Ambassador spoke to the Duke. The Duke turned from him, smiled to Maisy, and said, slowly, Thank you, Your Majesty. He turned back to Gerhard. He spoke in his own tongue, while Gerhard spoke to Maisy for him.

Last autumn, the removal of King Renard of Farrengir presented our domains with new challenges, Aldous said through Gerhard. The family of His Majesty have not always been on the best of terms with the rulers of Farrengir. His Majesty hopes that with a new King of Farrengir promising to improve relations with ourselves and with Your Majesty’s domain, relations will be friendlier.

As I hope and pray as well, Your Lordship, Maisy said.

To that end, Your Majesty, His Majesty has asked me to enter a negotiation to modify the treaty that exists between your kingdom and another.

Modify a treaty, Your Lordship? To what end?

Your Majesty, the Prince of Doselburg, Prince Hedwig, is no longer an ally of His Majesty. The Prince has chosen to grant shelter to the former King Renard. The Kingdom of Hatham trades with Doselburg by sea. His Majesty wishes if you would prefer sea trade with our allies, and curtail your kingdom’s trade with Doselburg.

Maisy turned to her husband. Your Highness, would you care to comment upon this request?

It wasn’t a question she’d ordinarily have asked in public, before her guests. She’d wait to ask it in a private session of the Royal Court, allowing her other advisors and friends to give their answers as well. But Tomaso wasn’t only her husband. He was also a Prince of Domatia. While he neither spoke for, nor formally represented his father, a request of the magnitude that Duke Aldous was making demanded that she have the views of Hatham’s most important ally in the wider world represented.

Better to get any concerns out in the open, rather than string another of our allies along waiting for us to make up our minds.

Tomaso bowed his head to her. Majesty, I can say that His Majesty, King Ruprecht, is a fair and true ally of His Majesty, King Rufino. I can also say that Doselburg have been traditional opponents of Domatia. They have long been allies of Farrengir, until recently our greatest rival.

Maisy turned to Gerhard and Aldous. I understand Doselburg has allies as well, Your Lordship.

Does Your Majesty mean the Coastal League? the Duke asked through Gerhard.

I do.

His Majesty has no complaint against the Coastal League, Your Majesty. His Majesty is aware that some in the League trade with Hatham. His Majesty does not wish to curtail that trade at all. Merely that between Doselburg and Hatham.

Is it only the matter of the Prince of that land sheltering the former King of Farrengir, Your Lordship?

There is that, Your Majesty, but there is another matter as well. The present Prince, Hedwig, has neither been kind nor fair to His Majesty. His father, Prince Hermann, was inclined to treat us fairly. Prince Hedwig now makes demands about the trade between His Majesty’s lands and his own. He had attempted, without success I add, to involve the Coastal League in his dispute.

Are they not his allies, Your Lordship?

The Coastal League is not an alliance of warriors, Your Majesty, but of merchants and sailors. The princedoms and kingdoms that have entered into the League have pledged open trade without excessive taxes, or laws to limit trade between them. The League’s members are to protect merchants on land and ships at sea. But there are no pledges between members to aid each other in time of war. Profit, Your Majesty, and not conquest or revenge are the motivators of the Coastal League.

Maisy had heard about the Coastal League, and was somewhat aware of its strange nature. Before King Renard had been overthrown for his many selfish and foolish deeds, she and Hatham had very little to do with the Midmark Lands. There was trade and not much more.

Renard’s removal had, she realized, widened her world. It would be far easier for rulers of other lands to visit the Witch Queen with Farrengir no longer hostile to her. Magic had played some role in Renard’s ouster. Hatham was where the Fairy Folk had given magic to mortals several generations back. Maisy was not only Queen of the land where magic came from, but was also a Witch. Magic was no longer limited to ancient tales of the Empire of Fire, or the minor domains around Hatham in their little corner of the world.

What it means to sit on this throne is greater than it was when I first arrived here. Perhaps greater that what it meant to my uncle, or my long-dead father, or any other King. I believe I’m starting to understand more of what the Fairy Queen has been telling me about how important it was for me to reclaim my destiny.

Obviously, Your Lordship, I cannot give you an answer to His Majesty’s proposal this day, she said. This will be a matter for my Royal Court to talk over.

I see. She heard slowness in his own language, and in the reply from Gerhard.

May I explain, Your Lordship?

Please do, Your Majesty.

First, if you did not already know, I was not raised in this castle. I shall not recite the whole tale now. Suffice it to say my mother was abducted by the King of Sufflack while pregnant and my father murdered. To prevent her child from being raised by such an evil man, she switched me at birth with a baby boy. I was raised the daughter of a village headman. The boy was raised to be a Prince of Sufflack. That Prince now rules that kingdom.

I should like to hear the whole story at some time, Your Majesty.

If the Ambassador does not enlighten you, I would be happy to tell it all to you. I tell you a little of that tale so that you will know more about me. As I was not raised to rule, but raised as a common girl, I am more cautious in some matters than other rulers. I desire to have the support of my Royal Court before moving forward on any grand effort. I wish to hear their views before I come to a decision.

What if you desire a certain decision, and they disagree with your desire, Your Majesty?

Maisy shrugged. Either they persuade me to change my mind, Your Lordship, or I persuade them to change theirs.

Did not God have a hand in making you Queen, Your Majesty?

Maisy smiled. Certainly, Your Lordship. But so did the Fairy Queen that resides near Hatham.

I see, Your Majesty.

It might seem unusual, Your Lordship, but I am an unusual woman.

Indeed, Your Majesty.

Now, as I recall, Your Lordship, you said there were two matters of some importance you wished to ask me. I believe the first was the question of our treaties, yes?

Yes, Your Majesty. The other was to seek your permission for a visit of the Young King Roland. His Majesty desires to see Hatham, talk over certain matters with you, attempt to firm up the friendship between his Royal house and yours, and to participate in a tournament.

And who is this young King Roland, Your Lordship?

His Majesty King Ruptecht’s eldest son, and King of Walbrecht.

The son is also King?

Yes, Your Majesty. His Majesty, King Ruprecht, felt it was vital to secure the succession of his eldest son. His Majesty has two other sons, Prince Berthold and Prince Erich. There is a danger that, without the succession carved in stone, the Princes might seek to make their own claims. That could put the Royal house in crisis. His Majesty decided that the best effort to prevent such a crisis was to advance Prince Roland to the title of King. King Roland now commands a domain that is of central importance to the lands His Majesty, King Ruprecht, rules over.

I see. I pray that was a most wise decision, Your Lordship.

As do we all, Your Majesty.

First, do you know why His Majesty, King Roland, I mean, wishes to see Hatham?

His Majesty is making it a custom to visit the lands of his allies while his father is still in good health.

And His Majesty thinks of us as an ally?

Perhaps not a strong ally, Your Majesty, but that is part of his reasoning.

Do you know what matters he wishes to talk to me about?

I do not, Your Majesty.

This matter of a tournament. Will my subjects have to bear the cost, Your Lordship?

Aldous appeared confused. You and your subjects will bear some cost, Your Majesty.

We have had no tournaments here, Your Lordship. Forgive me if I am ignorant of what it entails.

He nodded in understand. Of course, Your Majesty. Tournaments are a part of my life. I presume that all who speak with know my reputation and my enthusiasm. I would be pleased to explain tournaments in detail with you.

I will consider your generous offer, Your Lordship. As to the request for a visit by His Majesty, King Roland, I shall also get the views of my Royal Court. But I do not think there will be any problem with granting the request. Motherhood is not allowing me to travel as much as I would like. I must therefore receive more guests than be a guest.

Of course, Your Majesty.

Will you and the Ambassador accept my invitation to dine with us this night?

It would be an honor, Your Majesty.

Then I thank you for your visit, Your Lordship. I pray it will continue to be pleasant for all of us.

The Duke bowed his head. As do I, Your Majesty.

CHAPTER TWO

Maisy turned to her Royal Scribe. Master Edward, you may begin taking notes. From him she looked around the table at the members of her Royal Court. Let us begin this session of the Royal Court. Clearly the matter at hand is modifying the treaty with King Ruprecht, and suspending trade with Prince Hedwig of Doselburg. Opinions?

She was not surprised when Master Alvin, the Royal Treasurer, was the first to speak. Your Majesty, such an action could be costly to the kingdom. Not only would that reduce the goods coming into the kingdom that we can tax, but it could curtail the goods our kingdom exports.

Could not other lands accept the goods we sell? Edward asked him.

Most likely, Edward. But that would take time. Time that goods may sit unclaimed. Much of what we export comes from our farms. If those goods sit too long, they’ll spoil.

Wouldn’t that mean lower prices for our own folk? Karen, who was both Mistress of the Castle and Maisy’s closest friend, asked Alvin. I can’t see that being bad.

Alvin shook his head. It would seem good a for a time, for some, but it would be bad for others, Mistress Karen.

Why is that? Maisy asked him. Explain what you mean, if you would.

Certainly, Majesty. I have been studying how the buying and selling of goods works. It’s why I accepted Your Majesty’s generous offer to serve you. In the Empire of Fire, this field of study was known as ‘economics.’ I’ve managed to acquire some of the ancient texts on the subject, and have been doing some writing of my own.

Alvin looked around the table. "The difficulty in lowering prices on goods is that it reduces the income of those who sell the goods. Let’s take the issue simply. I have a basket of apples. Normally I sell them to all of you. Suppose I am forbidden to sell to all but Her Majesty and Mistress Karen. I still have to earn income from the apples I’ve grown. That leaves me with the hope that I can sell what I have to the both of them to make up for the loss of sales to the rest of you.

"However, Her Majesty and Mistress Karen couldn’t buy all my apples at the price I normally charge. There’s a certain amount they can afford to pay. If I keep my prices as they are, I’ll lose coins, obviously. What therefore can I do?

"The solution is to lower my price. I make my apples cheaper, and Her Majesty and Mistress Karen can afford to buy more of them. But I will earn less from my basket of apples as I would have if I’d sold them to everyone. If I earn so little that I cannot pay for what I need, I’ll stop growing and selling apples.

This is the difficulty I foresee. If our trade with Doselburg declines, that will mean more for Her Majesty’s subjects to buy. However, the goods will have to be sold for less, meaning less income for those who produce these goods. That will cause some to suffer. Alvin turned back to Maisy. That is why this concerns me, Majesty.

Another part of this concerns me, Your Majesty, said Major Walter, the head of the Royal Guard. If we do this, it will no doubt compel Doselburg to turn away from us.

Obviously, Major, Karen said.

Who among our neighbors will they turn to for support? The first kingdom I can think they would turn to is our old rival Sufflack.

Maisy shook her head. King Thomas and I are friends, Major.

The overture could still be made, Your Majesty. If Sufflack does not benefit from allying with us, they might ally with Doselburg. That could harm the peace between our two kingdoms.

Does that not depend upon King Thomas, Major? If we turn away from Doselburg, it will be because they are sheltering Renard and Damien. King Thomas knows how I feel about the both of them. He shares my sentiments. I don’t think he is likely to forge an alliance with the land that harbors two former nobles as odious as his own father was.

Perhaps it would be best to make our reasoning clear to His Majesty, Majesty, Edward said. He raised an eyebrow; Maisy assumed it was at his own awkward phrasing. If Hatham does this in support of King Alezan, and in opposition to Renard and Damien, perhaps King Thomas will be better able to understand and sympathize.

A fair suggestion, Edward, Maisy replied.

That leads to a point I wish to make, Tomaso said. "It is important that Her Majesty, that the Kingdom of Hatham, uphold our allies. King Alezan of Farrengir is becoming an ally of ours. He is becoming friendly with my father. If Father were here, he would urge us to respect our allies.

And what of Renard and Damien? They were no friends of ours. Certainly not friends of Her Majesty. Now they are given shelter by Prince Hedwig. Do they intend to live out their lives under his protection? Tomaso shook his head. I am certain, as I am sitting here, that they are planning to return to power in Farrengir.

They have few friends left there, Highness, Edward said.

True, Master Edward. But it doesn’t take many friends to cause trouble. Tomaso turned to Maisy. Is that not so, Majesty?

Indeed is it, Highness, she replied.

The downfall of Renard and his brother began, as she saw it, when they refused to make peace with the Outlaw Dukedoms, the lands she was now calling by the name they preferred, the Dukedoms of the Sharp Hills. Two seasons later Farrengir invaded two of those dukedoms, with the intent of capturing them. Renard told his Royal Court that the dukedoms continued to be a threat, raiding and refusing to accept the kingdom’s generous offer of peace.

Maisy suspected otherwise, as did the rulers of the dukedoms. Renard had forced his peace delegation to make demands of the dukedoms that they would never agree to. He’d sent horsemen to the border of one of them, hoping an over-reaction to the provocation would end the talks or give him a reason to attack. She became convinced that Renard wanted war and would do anything to get it.

She therefore made a secret offer to help the dukedoms with magic. She sent Captain Corbin to assist them, a former noble of one of the dukedoms who, once a month, turned into a great wolf. She enchanted several cloaks to make the wearers invisible. Of course she denied publicly any interference in the conflict. It had taken only a handful of men, armed with magic, to completely undermine Farrengir’s campaign and bring the kingdom’s army to grief.

If a handful of men could disrupt an army so thoroughly, she thought, certainly a handful could disrupt the workings of a kingdom.

If they are doing this, Tomaso continued, "then either they are doing so under the nose of Prince Hedwig, or they are doing so with his blessing. If they are making him the fool, then he must assert himself and boot them out of