Act 10.
Name: Patrick Halberd
Position: King of the lands west of The Queen’s Lands.
Relatives:
One sister: Margaret Halberd Aka Lady Knight, Aka The Dark Knight.
Brief History: Born into a wealthy family. When he was nine and Margaret was 10, their mother and father were tried for treason against the then king Albert. It was thought by many of the other noble families that the king had made up the charges because he feared the families growing power and wealth.
After a quick trail the Parents were found guilty and summarily executed. The children were placed in the care of a close family friend
During the next few years, it was thought that Margaret went to learn to fight from a reclusive warrior and gained her phenomenal strength through magical means.
During her absence, Patrick showed signs of being a mage and subsequently became a full mage. One of only three known in the western lands.
Upon reaching the age of 16 and having stayed hidden during his training, Patrick, with several disgruntled nobles as allies backing him up, marched on the old king and overthrew him, becoming King in his stead.
His sister returned a year later to find her brother sitting on the throne.
The reunion was not a happy one.
Index III: Major Personalities.
Queen’s Champion PP. 456
The King stared at his sister in disbelief.
"What do you mean, no?" he asked.
"Just what it sounds like." said Margaret. "No. As in I won’t do it."
Linda was staring at the floor. They seemed to have forgotten that she was there but that only made matters worse.
They were arguing over matters of state, but Linda could feel the underlying personal tension going on between them and that made her the most uncomfortable.
Linda knew through conversations with Margaret, that she did not approve of her brother becoming king. Not about actually getting rid of the old king, who Linda found out was not a particularly good or nice one, but the actual taking over of the role.
She wanted nothing to do with the nobility and rich families. She would have preferred becoming a common soldier or something. But with her brother on the throne she was elevated to a state she did not wish to be.
Sister to a king and protector of his lands.
She hated it when anyone addressed her as ‘Lady’, or ‘My Lady’, but could do little about it.
"Look." continued the king. "I am king around here."
"And this affects me how?" said Margaret
Patrick's faced turned a deep crimson, and Linda feared his head may actually exploded. And with some of the weird things she had seen so far in this world, she would not have been too surprised if it had happened.
Patrick took a deep breath and said in a calm voice.
"It’s not like I am asking you to marry him. Just take care of him and show him around while I talk to his sister. That’s all."
"Why me exactly?" said Margaret. "Can’t you get some flighty daughter of one of the noble families. They helped you get where you are. I am sure they would love to have a possibility of getting connections to another Royal family."
Patrick sighed.
"Unfortunately." he said. "He wants to see you. It seems you have a reputation, what with all the running around and fighting off whole armies practically single handed."
"I only did that to stop them from cutting off your head when they thought that attacking a new and young king would be an easy thing. I never learned this to become some famous freak."
"Why did you do it then?" asked Patrick.
Margaret was silent for a while.
"To stop other people, like Albert, from doing to other families what he had done to us." she said quietly.
For the first time since she had first met him, Linda saw that Patrick was genuinely at a loss for words.
"I am sorry I jumped the gun and did it for you." Patrick started to say.
"But that’s the problem." interrupted his sister. "I realised while training that it was useless to seek revenge. I wasn’t even going to do anything about him. His own actions would punish him in the end. I came back to get you and get away from here. But I find you sitting on the throne. You can understand I was a little peeved."
"Well, what’s done is done." said her brother. "I am King here and part of being a ruler is that you have to make alliances and I think that Beylor will be happy if I get along well with his daughter."
His sister smiled at him.
"It doesn’t hurt that she is pretty and the two of you have been corresponding since you first met two years ago."
Patrick blushed a deep red.
"That does help." he said.
He quickly composed himself and cleared his throat.
"Anyway." he said hurrying things along. "The problem is her brother. I have to make sure he is happy with his visit as well, and I don’t want him hanging around the two of us all the time. That’s where you come in. Just keep him distracted while he is here. Please?"
Margaret seemed to be sulking and finally she said.
"Fine. But I am not wearing a dress."
"Fine." said Patrick. "Just as long as he doesn’t bother Amy and myself. That’s all we need."
He turned to Linda.
"Champion. I apologies for what you have witnessed. My sister and I may argue a lot but don’t let that bother you. I think we will argue to the day we die."
"And maybe beyond." said Margaret.
The two siblings laughed.
Linda relaxed and said.
"No need to apologies. I have witnessed worse rows before."
"I would like it if you stayed as a guest for the next couple of days. I am sure my guests would like to meet you as well." said Patrick.
Margaret gave her the ‘don’t leave me here alone’ look.
"I accept your Majesties hospitality." she said.
"Good." said Patrick. "I will have a room set up for you. Now if you will excuse me I have other preparations to make."
He turned and left the room.
Linda looked at her friend who was still in a bit of a sullen mood.
"We should go and get you ready for your date." she said.
"It’s not a date!" protested Margaret.
Linda laughed, and taking her friend by the arm walked off down the corridor.
"I wouldn’t worry about it though." said Linda. "They won’t be here long and he sounds like just a curiosity seeker, wanting to see the dreaded Dark knight."
Margaret made a displeased sound.
"So we just have to entertain him for a while." continued Linda. "What could possibly go wrong?"