King Edward improved the lives of his people by keeping the villages safe from marauding thieves, maintained peace with nearby nations, and promoted farming advances that not only increased the land’s yield but planned for storage of food and firewood throughout the winter. The people loved King Edward and the King loved his people. He rode high in the saddle, was robust, and enjoyed sampling the wares of the villagers and farmers who worked the lands in his kingdom. He was as much a man of the people as any king could be and the people counted themselves blessed to have such a man on the throne.
King Edward’s tragic death came not at the hand of a foreign assassin nor while jumping his horse majestically through the hedges on a fox hunt. His death came through the indignity of tripping on his chamber pot, slipping on the contents and concussing his head on the cold, stone floor. He was bedridden for weeks. As the physicians bled him and gave him colonics, their craft only further weakened their patient, in agony from an ever-swelling brain. He went mad from the pain, begging his staff to take him to a guillotine to release him from his suffering. The queen, the court, and the royal family wept watching this great man slowly die from such an undignified cause. The chambermaid was hung for dereliction of her duties, but the crown prince who pulled the chambermaid from her work so he could loosen his tether beneath her skirt suffered not at all. Few were told the truth of the King’s accident, to protect his dignity and perceived infallibility.
When he was at last released from his suffering the kingdom went into mourning for two years to mark his loss. Behind the scenes, the court and king’s aides were worried about their positions and what it might mean when the crown prince took power. The queen was from a neighboring country, so could not ascend to the throne yet wielded considerable influence and was no fool. She ran things while the crown prince waited to take his seat of power.
Like her husband, she cared for the people and kept his good works in place, maintained good relations with neighboring countries yet let them know of her resolve to protect her people from harm. She even opened schools in some of the villages hoping to improve the lot of the children and in turn the fortune of the country. Many wanted her to take the crown and follow the honorable work of her husband. But the crown prince was hungry to take control once the official mourning was completed. He had been planning a grand ceremony and was spending freely from the treasury to impress the dignitaries that would arrive from around the world to witness his ascension.
***
His crowning ceremony was unlike anything ever seen. Live trees bursting with exotic birds tied to their branches were brought into the royal hall on gigantic carriages pulled by sixteen-horse teams. Dozens of wine-filled fountains, twenty hands high, filled the hall and flowed like water. The prince imported strange and wild people from far off lands – a maasai from Africa, an eskimo from the far, far north, an Indian from the New World, and a pig-tailed oriental from China; all of them caged for the guests to view in safety. His robe was made of blood-red silk with jewels glittering along its length. Trimmed and lined with mink, fox, cheetah and ermine it’s weight and length required twenty attendants following behind him at all times. The dinner featured exotic dried fruits and nuts from all corners of the world and dishes made from lion, bear, leopard, and giraffe carried in as whole roasted carcasses to impress the visitors. The kitchens had been expanded and over-sized ovens built just for the occasion. The sight of the roasted beasts turned the stomach of most guests, but all pretended to nibble on their servings lest they displease the new king.
A giant clock and tower was added to the courtyard, designed to ring in the new era of King Timothy’s rule and to remind people of it daily. The tower was taller than any structure in the kingdom and near the top arched openings echoed the bells ringing out across the land. Inside the tower a grand wood-lined entry hall led to spiral stairs with a hand-carved rail depicting King Timothy’s greatness. All the gears, cogs, springs and other mechanisms inside the tower including the stairs and great room had been built from the black oak forest surrounding the castle; most of it leveled in the process. A mill was built near the tower to process the felled trees. The King had the remaining forest burned to prevent anyone else access to the ancient wood. The clock had four faces each with a mosaic depicting the King’s portrait. The hands were made of bronze with gold leaf and its deafening chimes rang out four times a day to remind everyone of Timothy’s power and warn them that his will was ever-present throughout his kingdom.
Timothy kept all his father’s experienced courtiers and advisors on the advice of his mother, but quickly grew tired of their resistance to his plans. He wanted to grow his army and improve their weapons to be able to wage war, or at least threaten to do so. He wanted to deepen the castle walls and build a barrier to keep out the peasants lest one of them be a spy.
“But sire,” a counselor said, “the people are the kingdom.”
“Fool!” Timothy spat, “What is a kingdom without a king? I must be protected and preserved. One peasant is like the next, just another mewling mouth to feed. Let them earn their place in the kingdom! Serve as a soldier or pay taxes to remain safe and protected. No more of this suckling on the royal teat! Wean them all!”
King Timothy locked away or killed those in the court that opposed him or refused to follow his will. Some escaped to nearby countries where the King worried they plotted to overthrow him. A new stone perimeter was built around the castle with cannon-filled towers. Existing walls were tripled in their depth and height. The castle grounds were filled with moats, bogs, pits and razor-sharp metal barriers to slow any advancing marauders. Since King Timothy had pulled many farmers from their lands to serve in his army, the crops began to wither. He ordered that the remaining farmers produce more or pay a tax for the shortfall. The country rapidly ran low on food except inside the castle grounds where exotic menus were the norm, and wine continued to fill the fountains.
Despite all of this, the schools remained open. The King’s mother secretly sent funds and books through her loyalists so that the children could still learn to read, write and do their maths. But when Timothy learned of this, he was furious.
“Training new spies mother?! As if anything in the kingdom escapes my eye!”
He turned her room into a prison and ordered all the schools and books be burned. He also demanded that all lamps, lamp oils, wax, grease, tallow or any other lamp fuel be collected. “The farmers and their children must labor in the fields to feed the army! They shall have no time to commune and plot against me! At night, let them sleep for the next day’s work!” He banned the use of lamps of any kind and it became law that all cooking fires had to be extinguished before nightfall. “The only light allowed at night is that of the moon and the stars, and I could cover those in sack cloth if I would! Anyone striking a flame in the dark will be hung for treason!” Timothy decreed. All fires had to be out by the ringing of the last bell from the great clock tower.
Within the castle lamps and torches burned freely, and now with an ample supply of fuel. Fearing plots against him, King Timothy became moody and unpredictable, yet many still tried to seek his favor. He was after all the King and had power without limit. But getting close to him was a dangerous game, like riding a tiger — he might turn on you without warning. Some of the greasier members of the court were able to praise and lie their way into his trusted circle. They fed his theories of conspiracy and gleefully carried out his cruel decrees, all the while secreting funds from the royal treasury.
Despite the danger, education persisted throughout the land. Tree sap and earwax was used to make meager flames for eager minds. In dugout rooms, hidden under camouflaged doors children and adults would gather, whispering forbidden knowledge in the hope of better days.
While on an “homage tour” a tax collector removed a peasant family from their home so he could bed for the night, with his soldiers camped outside. The collector was used to the silk sheets and overstuffed mattresses of the castle, and slept poorly on the straw-filled bedding. He decided to go for a stroll under the full moon and was surprised to find only his guards sleeping outside. He wondered where the peasants were sleeping, so crept quietly listening for tell-tale snoring. Instead he heard soft murmurs. He followed the sound to a moss-covered door in the ground which he quickly pulled open. There, huddled shoulder-to-shoulder around a dim candle, children looked up in terror as their teacher moved to protect them. The collector laughed with delight at discovering them, knowing the King would reward him richly for uncovering such treachery.
King Timothy was furious. When told of the wood sap and earwax candles he decreed, “Cut the ears from all the children! Let them and their parents be reminded of their treason and to be ever-mindful of what they hear and speak.” He ordered his army to collect the ears to display as a warning. As the patrols fanned out, many of the soldiers had misgivings. They took to noisily arriving at villages and farms, and stopping to feed and water their horses, giving families ample time to hide their children. After a week, no ears had been returned to the King.
“Fools! Do they think I do not see how they are plotting against me?” He considered having the army killed but realized that would weaken his defenses. He then remembered that his mother was still alive.
“Mother dear,” he said, as he strolled through her moldy room, “you have always had a love of education. Why that bastard father of yours allowed you to read escapes me but I need that keen brain of yours in service of your people.” The queen was pale and thin, surviving only on the food and water a few loyal servants could sneak under her door. She maintained a brave façade, and listened carefully to her vile spawn.
He lamented, “the children continue to learn, and my army refuses to punish them. What do you think I should do?”
The queen stood, weakly rising from the floor, steadying herself against the damp stone wall. She straightened her back in regal posture to face the King. “Your majesty, where strength fails mercy often succeeds. You could build your own schools and mold the lessons to create loyal citizens that would honor and obey you.”
The King paced the room, stopping at a barred window, looking out over the palace grounds. The clock tower jarringly chimed noon. “No, I don’t think so,” he turned toward the queen, “you think you’re clever, but not so wise as me. I can see the poison in your solution, and will not have it!” He walked toward her, menacing in demeanor, but she stood fast, unwilling to shrink from his advance. “Where does the mind live mother? In the head or in the heart? And what of the soul? Soon enough you will know the answer as you will be separated from yours! Guards!” Four large men in chain mail appeared. “Take her to the chapel, and have some of the young women feed her and make her presentable. The queen is as ripe as a whore’s undercarriage. She’s going to give a speech, and I want her to look her best.”
Word was sent that the Queen Mother would be giving a speech in one week’s time, and all were invited. The people were hopeful but cautious, having learned not to trust news from the court. If the Queen Mother was indeed to speak, it could mean that she had regained her influence and the pall of King Timothy’s rule might be lifted. But it could also be a trap, a test of loyalty, and those who dared to listen to the Queen hung for treason. However, to shun the invitation would be an insult to the King. It was decided that elders from each village and farm would go to spare the children and those with stronger backs who would be best placed to hide, run, or rebuild depending on what happened.
On the appointed day the elders were invited inside the palace compound to better see the event. Fearing the worst they acquiesced to avoid raising suspicion, feeling their hearts sink as the only door out was lowered behind them. Inside they found food and drink spilling off of tables that ringed the inner wall. Not sure if they should eat the food, they hesitated as their stomachs protested. The King appeared on the balcony of the clock tower, “Eat! Help yourselves to as much as you like, and fill the sacks to take back for your families! This is a celebration!” Nervously, the elders ate and filled the burlap sacks the soldiers, armed with crossbows, had handed them. Their uncertainty grew as they knew the King was cruel and could take the food or kill them at any moment but couldn’t risk leaving any food behind.
Suddenly, the bell tower rang out and the King reappeared. “Welcome all! Thank you for coming on this momentous day! The Queen Mother will be here shortly but first I wanted to let you know that as your King, God Almighty has charged me with stewardship over you. It is my solemn duty to protect this kingdom, its people and its resources. It may be difficult to understand, but everything I do is for you, my people. My father was a good man, but he was weak. The borders were soft and enemies ran freely across the land. No more! The army thrives and enemies are kept at bay! But there is an insidious cancer growing within our people. One that must be cut out before it poisons the very lifeblood of our lands.”
The elders began to clutch their sacks closer, fearful that the King meant to eliminate them on the spot. The King then signaled to one of his lackeys, and the Queen Mother was brought to the balcony in chains.
“It seems many of you are still loyal to my mother, as she is loyal to idea of education. Both are foolish luxuries that will lead this kingdom to ruin! You must work and toil, to build up this kingdom, to enhance its strength and defense! Not to waste time on the dusty ideas of long-dead men!” The elders were silent, as were the soldiers, each watching the other. “To show you that I understand your sacrifice and that I too am willing to do anything to protect these lands and the people therein, I offer you my resolve!” The King grabbed his mother by the hair and leaned her over the balcony wall. He drew his sword and laid it on the back of her neck. “I will sacrifice my own flesh and blood to show my commitment to protecting this kingdom. My mother is a wolf in our midst, spreading lies and inciting unrest. And it will no longer be tolerated!” The King leaned in, whispering in his mother’s ear, “Let’s find out if you’re still so wise once your head and body are no longer one!”
He lifted his sword to strike and was run through the shoulder with an arrow. The King dropped the sword and before it hit the ground fifty more arrows were shot into the King. The soldiers’ crossbows now empty, they drew their swords anticipating an attack from the King’s loyalists. Instead the lackeys, lickspittles and toadies scattered to grab what valuables they could and escape the imminent change in administration. They ran to the compound where the elders and solders made quick work of them. They were bound, and ropes fashioned into nooses to hang the wretched dogs.
“Stop!” The queen commanded from the balcony, “Stop at once! Do no further harm to these men!” The crowd looked up, hungry to release their misery on the King’s wormy acolytes. “These men will meet justice in due course, but do not follow my son’s path. We must all, each of us, lead by example. I know you are angry and frustrated and have suffered cruel hardships. The way forward is not to mistreat those who have wronged us but to take their evil intent as a caution. We must look for and promote the best in each other, and nurture those qualities. Only light can overturn the darkness.”
The was no mourning period for King Timothy, and Queen Charlotte took the throne without pomp or circumstance. Loyalists living in exile were invited back to court, the King’s many prisoners were released, the soldiers were allowed to choose to remain in the army or to return home to their farms. The King’s court was tried and penalties meted out, but no heads rolled. The queen had banned executions believing there was more to be gained in keeping wayward citizens alive to be reformed or held in prison as a caution for those that would try to undermine the good works of the kingdom.
The Queen reopened the schools, and had the King’s cannons and clock parts melted and recast into ink wells, rulers, telescopes, compasses and sundials. The clock tower was converted into one of the finest libraries in Europe. The kingdom again thrived, but the Queen chose not to remarry and had no other heirs to take over the throne. Thus, she decreed that the brightest students, once they had come of age, would be invited to serve in the court as a pathway to becoming the next king or queen. When the time came the Queen instructed her court and advisors to vote to select the best candidate. That candidate was then trained in the duties of the Monarch and if the Queen deemed him or her intelligent, wise, just, kind, and thinking first of the people rather than the monarchy, a coronation would be held. The kingdom continues to thrive, and Queen Charlotte’s system serves it well to this day.