“My poor health was the argument used by myloving wives, daughters, and physicians against my traveling here,”he continued, “but I would not be dissuaded.”He turned to Aleksi.“I wanted to be here to do whatever I could for my son.”
Aleksi worked to swallow around the lump inhis throat.
“So, I left my home amid much pleading andwailing from my wives with the physician they demanded I take towatch over me, and a sack full of the medicinal herbs used to makemy healing tisane that I promised to consume three times daily as Ihad been since the inception of my symptoms.”
He turned from their table and strolledaround the chambers as he spoke.“But then, only a day or two intoour journey, a strange thing happened.I spilled my cup of tisaneone night before I drank any and didn’t tell anybody or go to thebother of refilling it.The next morning I was breathing easier, mystomach was cramping less and my arms and legs were not so heavy.The next day and night, I poured out my tisanes without anyoneknowing, and felt even better the next morn.I did this every dayand night for half a fortnight.When my physician realized I wasgrowing stronger rather than weaker by the day, he put it to thetisane he didn’t know I was pouring out and recommended that Idouble my doses, so as to increase its healing power.”
He stopped and glanced about the chambers,all ears and eyes on him.Aleksi looked over at King Asad and QueenOona, who didn’t look surprised by Maksimillian’s tale.
“Now, I am not a naturally suspicious man,though perhaps I should be,” his father continued, “but I’m not astupid man.Two days before our arrival here, I confronted myphysician.”He turned and stared at Anastasia for a long momentbefore standing at her table and setting both hands down flat,facing her.“What do you think he admitted to, the physicianhandpicked by your mother, my daughter?”
Anastasia shook her head, her eyes grown wideand her complexion pale.“I—I don’t know.”
“Yes you do,” their father said softly.
“No, no, I don’t—”
“Yes,” he shouted and slammed his hands downon the table.“You do.”
“No,” Anastasia cried, shaking her headharder.“No, I know nothing.”
“You know nothing,” he growled, his face onlya hair’s breadth from hers.“You know nothing about my queen, yourmother, slowly poisoning me with help from the physician with whomshe is having an affair.You know nothing about the bargain shemade with my second wife, that when I died from this poisoning, mysecond-born son, Vladimir, would inherit the throne, with Theodesiaacting as chief counsel to the boy?”
“No, Father.”
Aleksi sat at attention as his fatherstraightened and stepped back, standing at the table’s edge.
“Then why are you still here?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean that you are still here to send wordto your mother if Aleksandr headed home before I died, beforeVladimir became king.So she could make certain my firstborn sondidn’t return home alive to challenge for the throne.”
Anastasia shook her head, sobbing wordlessly.Aleksi sat as still and rigid as stone, trying to take in all thathis father had said.
“You may as well admit it,” their father saidto Anastasia.“The physician told me everything, including thatyour sister, Gertruda, is your mother’s right hand in all ofthis.”
Anastasia dropped her head into her hands,moaning and wailing.Their father turned around and looked atAleksi, his expression asking his son’s forgiveness.Aleksi gavehis father a nod of his head, acknowledging the request, which hisfather returned in kind.
Maksimillian rolled his shoulders and turnedback to Anastasia.“So, my daughter, for your part in this, I willgive you a dowry of two hundred gold pieces, which your prince hasalready agreed to, with the understanding that you leave the palaceof my friend and host, King Asad, by tomorrow dawn, and never setfoot in this or my kingdom again.”
“But, but, Father—”
“Do not call me father.I’m done with you.You were raised with plentitude and privilege.You had your everyneed and whim answered, yet it was not enough, it would never beenough, because you have your mother’s selfish, greedy heart.”
Anastasia started to stand, but their fatherheld up his hand, stopping her.
“Before you leave us,” he said, “I want youto know that I will be announcing my successor tomorrow eve at afeast generously hosted by King Asad, so if anything were to happento me before I return home, there will be no confusion over whoinherits my throne.”
“Why would there be confusion, Fa—my king?”Anastasia asked.“The throne goes to your legitimate son,Vladimir.”
“No,” Maksimillian said.He turned to Aleksi.“The throne will go to my firstborn son, Aleksandr.”
CHAPTER 18
The Heir
The entire chamber went silent for a breathbefore Anastasia screamed in indignation.“You can’t name yourbastard your heir.”
