Royal Blood

By Simon Rose

The Stone of the Seer is an exciting historical fantasy series of adventure novels for young adults, primarily set in the turbulent era of the English Civil War.

In Royal Blood, book two in the series, Lady Elizabeth Usborne, Kate, and Tom, along with the tempus inspectoris and the mysterious black Viking stone, are in the heart of London in early 1649, as King Charles prepares to face his accusers at his trial in Westminster Hall, while Elizabeth, Kate, and Tom desperately attempt to evade capture by Daniel Tombes, the witchfinder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon Rose
• Release date: Jun 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781999466374

Simon Rose

Simon Rose is the author of The Alchemist's Portrait, The Sorcerer's Letterbox, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse, The Heretic's Tomb, The Doomsday Mask, The Time Camera, The Sphere of Septimus, Flashback, Future Imperfect, Twisted Fate, Parallel Destiny, the Shadowzone series, and the Stone of the Seer series. He is also the author of The Children's Writer's Guide, The Time Traveler's Guide, The Working Writer's Guide, The Social Media Writer's Guide, a contributor to The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction and has written many non-fiction books with Crabtree Publishing, Beech Street Books, Weigl Publishers, and Capstone.Simon offers a number of services for writers, including editing, coaching, mentoring, consulting, manuscript evaluation, and writing workshops. He has provided substantive and copy editing services for many other writers over the years. This has been for novels, short stories, fiction, nonfiction, biographies, inspirational books, and many other genres. He also offers copywriting services for business, including website and social media content. Full details can be found on his website at simon-rose.com. He is the founder of Children’s Authors and Illustrators on Facebook, served as the Writer-in Residence with the Canadian Authors Association, is a member of the Calgary Association of Freelance Editors, and served as the Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI Western Canada.Simon offers a wide variety of presentations, workshops, and author in residence programs for schools, along with virtual author visits. He is an instructor for adults with the University of Calgary and offers a variety of workshops and writing courses for both children and adults.You may also follow him on Twitter or Instagram, connect on Facebook, or visit his channel on YouTube.

Book preview

Royal Blood

Book Two in the Stone of the Seer Series

By

Simon Rose

Royal Blood

Copyright © 2022 Simon Rose

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations for the purpose of a book review. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, please contact the publisher. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third party websites or their content.

Published by Simon Rose

www.simon-rose.com

Cover art and layout by Heather Dickson

www.hleightondickson.com

Print and ebook layout by Ryah Deines

First edition 2022

Print ISBN: 978-1999466367

Ebook ISBN: 978-1999466374

The Stone of the Seer series is dedicated to my father, Derrick Rose, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

1928 to 2020

"Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free,

I’m following the path God laid for me,

I took his hand when I heard his call,

I turned my back and left it all."

Sadly missed

S.R.

Royal Blood

The story, main characters, and some of the settings in this novel are fictional but are based on true events and the story features real historical characters, such as King Charles I. The English Civil War was a series of conflicts in England, Scotland, and Ireland in the 1640s and early 1650s. The war originated in the struggle between Charles I and Parliament regarding how the country should be governed.

The king’s defeat in the civil war led to his trial and execution in January 1649. The monarchy was abolished and replaced first by the Commonwealth of England and then the Protectorate, before the monarchy was restored in 1660. However, the defeat of Charles I confirmed that an English monarch could not rule the country without the consent of Parliament, although this wasn’t legally established until the Glorious Revolution in 1688.

Following the story, the glossary has links to online sources where you can learn more about the historical events, settings, and leading characters from the English Civil War, as well as from some of the other historical periods that are featured in the story.

The Stone of the Seer series

The Stone of the Seer

Royal Blood

Revenge of the Witchfinder

Table of Contents

Title Page

Chapter One The Streets of London

Chapter Two Perils and Purges

Chapter Three Family Matters

Chapter Four Cheating Fate

Chapter Five Trial and Error

Chapter Six The Letter of the Law

Chapter Seven Uncertain Times

Chapter Eight The Witchfinder

Chapter Nine Change of Plan

Chapter Ten The Devil’s Work

Chapter Eleven The Captain

Chapter Twelve Hard Evidence

Chapter Thirteen Judgment Day

Chapter Fourteen A Dangerous Enterprise

Chapter Fifteen The Palace

Chapter Sixteen Royal Blood

Chapter Seventeen The World Turned Upside Down

Chapter Eighteen An Uncertain Refuge

Chapter Nineteen Echoes

Chapter Twenty Vengeance is Mine

Glossary

About the Author

Books by Simon Rose

Chapter One

The Streets of London

After they’d left Habingdon and safely arrived in London, Elizabeth had written a letter to Tom’s Uncle John to let him know what had happened. He was still serving with the army in the north but had promised to visit them when he had the chance.

Elizabeth and Sir Henry hadn’t used their London house over the previous few years while the war had been going on, but her sister, Lady Mary Walton, had tended to its upkeep. Mary’s husband, Sir Edward, had died a year earlier but had served in the House of Commons and had been a firm believer in the sovereignty of Parliament. He’d played a leading role in many of the debates prior to the war and Mary had helped to draft many of his speeches and other writings. She was very well informed about the issues of the day and apparently she and Kate had had many discussions about politics when Kate had stayed with her in London. Mary had also helped Kate with her studies, including her Latin and Greek. Mary had looked after the Usborne’s house once Elizabeth and her husband had stopped going there. Now she was often busy with Martha, her ailing mother-in-law, but still spent time at the house with Elizabeth and the children whenever she could.

The Usborne’s small London home was situated quite close to the Thames river, around half a mile from London Bridge. There were no servant’s quarters but the house had four small bedrooms and Elizabeth had insisted that Tom have a room of his own. The smallest room had been used to store some of things that they’d brought from Habingdon, including the medical books and the time viewer. The device had remained disassembled in its box since they’d arrived in the city.

London had been overwhelmingly for Parliament throughout the war and remained so as 1648 came to a close. It was quite chilly in mid-December and Tom and Kate had to wrap up warmly when they ventured out into the street to go to the markets. They each carried a small basket in which to carry home the fruits and vegetables they were going to buy that day.

I hope I didn’t wake you last night, said Kate, as they made their way down the cobblestone street after leaving the market stalls. I had a nightmare and I think I screamed when I woke up.

I thought I heard something, said Tom, but I was half asleep. I don’t think that your mother heard anything. Was it another unusual dream? Like the ones you told me about at Habingdon?

She nodded.

Yes, similar to the others. It’s so strange. Sometimes it just seems as odd as any dreams often are, but then it’s almost as if I’m looking through someone else’s eyes.

That does sound strange, said Tom. But it’s very hard to make sense of dreams most of the time.

The narrow streets and alleys flanked by half-timbered buildings were busy that morning, especially around the market stalls. There were also plenty of soldiers in evidence in some parts of the city, since London was more or less now under military occupation.

The war’s stirred up some extreme feelings, said Kate, as they passed a noisy tavern. There are those that feel that everything should change, but others don’t want to go that far. The army leaders had some debates in Putney last year. The Levellers wondered what the ordinary soldiers been fighting for if things were going to stay much the same. After all, some believe that the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live as the greatest he.

What? said Tom.

It was something that Thomas Rainsborough said at the Putney debates. Aunt Mary told me about it.

Who’s Thomas Rainborough?

He was one of the leaders of Levellers. He died very recently in the north, killed by the royalists.

You certainly know a lot about all this.

She nodded.

I’m very interested in what’s going on, but as I said Aunt Mary also told me lots of things when I was staying with her not long ago.

As they turned the corner, a crowd was gathered in front of a churchyard filled with crumbling gravestones. In front of the church’s main gate, a man was standing on a low makeshift platform made from several wooden crates, addressing those assembled. The crowd was lively, with plenty of shouts and cheers as the man made a speech. Some people associated with him were handing out pamphlets to anyone that would accept them. He was stressing the need for a just settlement now that the war was over and that the common people must have a say in the running of the country. Tom was reminded of how his father used to make similar speeches before the war. As Kate had remarked, there were many different views about what should happen next. Some in the crowd were demanding that the man be arrested and Kate and Tom were forced to step aside as a group of soldiers arrived, presumably to break up the meeting and take the man into custody.

Moving away from the crowd, Kate suddenly stumbled, supporting herself on the outer wall of a nearby shop to steady herself. She looked all around, her eyes darting from one direction to another, as if in panic, breathing rapidly.

Are you alright? asked Tom, as he rushed over to her.

Yes, I think so, she said hesitantly, as her breathing slowly returned to normal. For a moment, it was as if … I don’t even know what it was.

Are you ill? asked Tom.

No, it’s fine, Tom, she insisted. I’m alright. It was just that for a moment, I was seeing things through someone else’s eyes, like in the dreams, but this time it was more than one person. It was almost as if I connected to the feelings of all the people around me. It’s gone now but it was very odd indeed.

Are you sure you’re alright?

She smiled.

Yes, now come along and let’s go back to the house. They’ll be wondering where we are.

As Kate and Tom continued on their way home, neither of them noticed the man dressed in black clothing following them along the city streets at a discreet distance, his face partially hidden by his wide-brimmed hat.

When they arrived home, it was almost dark. Kate inserted the key into the lock and opened the front door, where Mary was standing inside the front entrance. She was ten years older than Elizabeth and although she resembled her sister, her complexion wasn’t as pale and Mary’s black hair was heavily streaked with grey.

Oh hello, she said. I was wondering when you two would be home. I’m about to get ready to go and see my mother-in-law. I should be back in an hour or so.

Kate and Tom stepped inside, but once Tom closed the door behind them, someone knocked loudly on the outside.

Who could that be? said Mary, as she grabbed the handle and opened the door.

Outside stood a tall man dressed in black, a thick cloak around his shoulders and his hat pulled down almost over his eyes.

My apologies, Lady Mary, he said. My name is Josiah Whitney. I’m here to see Lady Elizabeth on a matter of the utmost importance.

Chapter Two

Perils and Purges

After a brief conversation between Mary and Whitney near the front door, Kate and Tom went into the sitting room, where Elizabeth was seated in a chair by the fireplace, reading a book. Mary followed them, accompanied by Whitney.

Mr. Whitney is here to see you, said Mary. He says he’s here on behalf of Parliament.

Whitney had removed his hat and cloak at the front entrance. He was a tall man in his early fifties, with short grey hair and a neatly trimmed goatee.

Have we met before, Mr. Whitney? asked Elizabeth, closing the book and placing it on a small table beside her chair.

No, my lady, he replied. I’d heard that you’d returned to the city recently but didn’t know where you were staying. I was made aware of your daughter when she was here in London earlier this year, so I recognized her at the market.

He turned to Kate and Tom.

I’m sorry if I alarmed you, by following you here.

I’ve done my best to keep a low profile since we arrived here from Habingdon, Mr. Whitney, said Elizabeth. There are those here that still believe that I favour the king and his supporters, despite my husband’s lengthy military service. Exactly what can I do for you?

Whitney gestured to Kate and Tom.

Perhaps the children shouldn’t be present, he said.

Elizabeth shook her head.

No, they should stay, Mr. Whitney. My daughter’s very familiar with current affairs and Tom’s father was a great believer in the cause. Please, have a seat.

Whitney nodded.

Very well.

He sat down in the chair opposite her in front of the fireplace. Mary, Kate, and Tom carried some chairs over from beside the nearby dining table and joined them.

As you know, the king is now in custody in London, Whitney began. Discussions are continuing but there will soon be a trial.

A trial? said Mary. Of the king?

Yes, Whitney replied. They plan to declare him to be an enemy of the people and accuse him of all the deaths that took place on both sides during the war.

Can they even do that? asked Kate. He’s still the king.

Not legally, no, said Whitney. The king is above the law, or at least there’s no law in England but that of God that can bring him to any form of justice.

But his opponents now have the power, Elizabeth added.

With the army, yes, by force of arms, said Whitney.

"But it would still