Robin Many Feathers

Chapter 5

"Nightwing! Wait!" Garth couldn't believe it. One moment, the handsome young man in black and twilight was eagerly moving towards him, obvious in his delight to see Garth again. Almost as happy as Garth himself was. In the next, he had gone pale behind his mask and stopped. Then he was moving away, twisting and ducking between other participants and losing himself in the crowd.

Garth looked around frantically. What had caused Nightwing to run? Had he seen something? Garth had wondered if Nightwing hid his face because he was running, hiding from something. Was it here? Had he seen it? He felt a hand settle on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry your highness, but I do believe your young suitor fled due to my presence."

Garth looked at Lord Wayne. "What? Why?"

Speculation gleamed in the man's eyes. "I think your Nightwing may have information on the location of pr - people I am trying to apprehend. There has been a substantial amount of pirating off the coast of Haly that I want brought to a halt."

Garth was confused. Pirating? Since when had the Lord Marshall been worrying about pirates? Garth was about to ask when he felt a chill go down his spine. He stiffened and his face grew remote as his most recent guest and his retinue joined them on the reviewing stand.

"Given up on that whey-faced brat of a prince have you Bats? Can't say as I blame you. He was more trouble than he was worth. Although, I do believe Haly owes the Laughing Lands for babysitting him for the last ten years." A large smile of malice graced the features of The Laughing King.

Both King Garth and the Lord Marshall of Haly turned cold eyes on the other King.

The Laughing King had arrived early that morning with all the panoply and tradition one would expect of an insane monarch. He had entered Garth's court that morning with laughter that grated down the spine and the heads of three couriers. When a shocked Garth had demanded an explanation for these grisly trophies, the Laughing King had responded that his invitation to the Atlantan festivities had been stolen, terribly rude - sorry to be so late, and that he had been interrogating these men as to the invitations location when, well, they just lost their heads. Which is also horribly rude, so they must have stolen the invitation and burnt it, which is also rude, making it so he, The Laughing King, would be seen as rude for not coming and gracing these festivities with his presence confirming that these three rogues had gotten what they deserved and their punishment fit their crime. For being rude.

Garth dismissed court for the games as soon as custom allowed and doubled the guard.

The Laughing King's entourage appeared to be made up entirely of thugs, cutthroats and black guards. Their greedy hands and eyes seemed to strip the castle of all valuables as they stood around their king. Many of the ladies of the court increased their escort or retired to their rooms when they felt the eyes of the Laughing King's men land upon them. Garth had made sure none of the pages were left alone after he came across several of the Laughing King's men accosting one of the castle servants. An air of being under siege slowly settled on the Atlantan Castle. Sappers undermining the goodwill and spirit of the court, barbs and barely veiled insults catapulted into the harmony that had been present.

The oppression lightened out on the fields of competition. The Laughing King and his entourage had spent most of the day settling into their quarters so their presence had not yet cast a pall upon the games.

The reprieve had just ended.

Eyes that made glacial fields seem warm narrowed on the Laughing King. "Yes. I do believe the Kingdom of Haly does 'owe' the Laughing Kingdom. We will come to pay it. Soon." A black shadow seemed to hover over the Lord Marshall of Haly for a moment, but was gone.

The Laughing King backed up mentally. He had no wish to take on the Might of the Bat. At least, not yet. He turned on what to him was an easier target.

"How go the festivities your highness? Did the righteous prevail? Did the do-gooders do good? Any rewards or kisses need to be handed out? We will be happy to volunteer our august presence for such trivial details."

Eyes as hard as the amethysts they resembled looked back at the Laughing King.

"The games have finished my lord and the prizes distributed. It is a pity your own men could not have competed. It would have been interesting to see how they would have fared. The rules here were stringent and observed. Quite different from your own country from what I understand." The eyes narrowed as if finding a target and about to let the arrow fly. "And what of your own search for the Haly heir? You have more invested in finding him than the Lord Marshall does. If Prince Richard is not found in six months, the betrothal will be broken will it not? What caused the young prince to disappear anyway? In your announcements, it was a love match."

The Laughing King physically took a step back. For all his youth, King Garth was no naïve innocent to be taken advantage of.

"Of, of course it was a love match! Who could know me and not love me?" The Laughing King put a hand to his heart in a dramatic gesture. "I pine for his presence everyday. To be without his companionship is to be without my heart!" A leering grin spread over the madman's face, as he made an obscene gesture. "He filled my nights with his sweet cries, his luscious body…"

The Laughing King's monologue was interrupted by a low growling. Bruce Wayne's anger was held in check by the slimmest of threads and one hand set upon his chest to hold him back. King Garth locked eyes with the Lord Marshall, as if to stay his hand with his own patience. He had his own drama to play out.

"Yes, I'm sure. You would have taken - payment - for the items he requested." Garth looked over at the Laughing King with a raised eyebrow. "They were very expensive items, weren't they? If I understand correctly, they were The Mask of the Forest, The Mask of Twilight, a Crystal Rope, Garb of the Undermountain, and…" Garth's eyes widened suddenly in realization, "A cloak of feathers. Feathers from every bird in your kingdom, taken without harm." Garth's realization was put to the back of his mind. His sights were upon the Laughing King, a shark scenting blood.

The Laughing King looked uncomfortable. "Mere trinkets. Items with which to satisfy a young boy's taste for toys. I'm sure he's discarded them now for some new novel. Perhaps a golden thimble or needle has taken his fancy." In trying to gloss over the importance of the betrothal gifts, the Laughing King missed the satisfaction that flitted across Garth's face.

"Mere trinkets? Really. That is news." Garth turned predatory eyes on the other monarch. "I had heard that the making of those 'mere trinkets' almost broke the treasury of your kingdom." At this news, several of the Laughing King's entourage turned speculative looks upon their king. "It is said that your kingdom has been in dire straits for sometime and that forcing the betrothal on Prince Richard was the solution to your problems." King Garth began to advance upon the Laughing King "It is also said that you brutalized the young heir in payment. That he drugged your wine on the night of the last gifting and escaped your castle easily since the guards had no orders." Garth had advanced into the Laughing King's face. His eyes were hard with hatred. "It is known that you raped and terrorized a minor put into your protection. A member of a royal household." Garth backed off all of a sudden and gained a nonchalant air about him. Lord Wayne held himself in check easily, wanting to hear what else this remarkable young king had to say.

"But, I suppose, the fact that your treasury is empty is of the most concern to you." Garth looked at the Laughing King idly, mockingly. "Isn't your army made up of mercenaries? How is that working out? Are they willing to take jokes in lieu of gold? I'm sure you know some good ones."

The Laughing King was beside himself with outrage. How dare this bratling King! "I don't know what you're talking about! My treasury, the Kingdom's treasury is fine! Just fine! My army is loyal to me; they love me as their monarch! Gold and money is far beneath my notice. My kingdom would never lower itself to such petty issues. And as for 'poor Richard', if he is so 'traumatized'" The Laughing King drew himself up to his full height, caught up in his own defense. "'We', renounce our engagement to the heir of Haly. We would not force Our presence where it is not wanted. Once Prince Richard is found, he himself will renew our betrothal and we will be married," The Laughing King directed a malicious look at the Lord Marshall of Haly "And our countries will be joined." The Laughing King looked down at the King of Atlantan, feeling victorious in his righteousness.

Garth had only one word for the Laughing King.

"Witnessed."

The word was repeated by the Lord Wayne, leader of clan Bat and Protector to Haly.

"Witnessed."

It was echoed once more by the red haired Master of the Hunt, who had brought Atlantan troops with him, in case the Laughing King's men tried any funny business.

"Witnessed"

A silence hovered over the dais and the competition field. It was as if a curse from a fairy tale had just been broken.

The Laughing King gathered his tattered dignity about him. "Yes. Well. We will be returning to the castle to prepare for the evening's festivities." With more haste than dignity, the Laughing King retired to the castle proper.

The hush that had fallen over the field had been broken. Whispers, talk and conjecture rose like a breeze stirring into a wind. News of the broken betrothal and the financial straits of the Laughing Kingdom would soon be known all over the kingdom.

Garth was in shock. A cape of feathers. He had never guessed. He had not known. All this time… A shadow fell over Garth. He looked up into the blazing eyes of the Protector of Haly.

"You knew? You knew and did nothing to help him?" Batman's anger was acquiring a new target.

Garth held up placating hands. "I found out several weeks after the events had transpired. My people had a much more difficult journey than Prince Richard. They were dodging the patrols sent out to find him as well as crossing the countryside." Garth glared up angrily at Lord Wayne. "And don't you think that if I had known in advance I would have gotten Richard out of there? If only because he is of Royal Blood, the same as I! I had hoped to make a match with him when the announcements had gone out of the betrothal between him and the Laughing King." A grim smile of satisfaction crossed Garth's face. "At least that travesty has been ended."

Lord Wayne's anger drained away. King Garth was correct. His charge was free. Lord Wayne bowed his head to the king of Atlantan. "My apologies, your highness. My worry for Dick is overcoming my good sense. Thank you for using your resources on his behalf."

Garth waved Lord Wayne's thanks away. "Thank me when we have found him and convinced him he no longer needs to hide."

At this statement, Roy stepped towards his king. "I believe I know where the heir of Haly is."

Garth turned to his red-haired companion. "So do I."

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Dick was shaking by the time he reached the safety of the stables. He could not have said if it was from fear, frustration or pent up tears. He only knew he wanted the anonymity of Robin Many Feathers, a simple stable boy who was planning to disappear during the night. In his haste to don his quieter identity, Dick forgot to change out of the tunic of Undermoutain, throwing the cloak of many feathers over it and hurrying to the many tasks awaiting his attention.

Mic had already left the stable, deserting his post for the excitement of the games and turning of events. This allowed Dick the privacy he needed to calm himself and think of his next move rather than just react. As Dick went about the mundane chores of caring for the horses and putting the stable to rights, he realized that he would be conspicuous if he followed his first inclinations and left in the middle of the festivities. People and guards would remember one lone man leaving at the height of the holiday, thinking he was a thief or a rogue stealing away with valuables. However, if he left in the morning, losing himself in the common folk and traders who had to return early to their fields and work, no one would notice him. Just one more soul who's holiday was cut short by necessity. Richard began to move about the stable with more confidence once his plans were solidified. He could do this. He would persevere and stay hidden for the rest of the year, breaking the engagement to the hideous Laughing King. He would protect Haly and keep his realm safe…

Richard dropped the buckets of water he had been carrying to the heavy war horses. The water pooled and puddle around his feet as if to call forth the tears he would not shed. Safety. Protection. Richard stumbled over to a mound of hay and sank down into it. So close. So very close. All he would have had to do was remove his mask and made himself known and protection would have been his. Safety and shelter would have been granted to him, the nightmare ended. At least for a little while. Until the Laughing King found out. Until he was forced to return and into an alliance he wanted no part of. An alliance that would not only be detrimental to Haly, but a death sentence to Lord Wayne. Richard shivered at that memory. He could still feel the hot breath of the Laughing King upon his neck. He could still feel his lecherous hands and that mocking voice, deciding that the wedding gift from Haly would be the head of the Lord Marshal on a stick.

Richard buried his head in his hands. He would not let that happen. He could not let that happen. He would remain hidden until the engagement was broken. He would protect his realm, his people, as any good king would. Richard's resolve firmed. He would run. But that did not mean he could not fly once more.

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